Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To reduce the effort required of users when selecting images. [Solution] The information processing device includes a management means for managing user images, a sorting means for sorting images from the managed images that match a rule selected by the user, and a display control means for displaying a settings screen for the user to select the rule. The settings screen includes, as the rule, a first rule generated by the user and a second rule for sorting images that do not match the first rule.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a process for selecting a desired image from a plurality of images.

Background Art

[0002] There is a method for selecting an image that matches a predetermined sorting rule from a plurality of images.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a method that enables a user to generate a sorting rule for automatically selecting a desired image.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] There are cases where a user wants to send a specific image out of a plurality of images obtained by shooting to an external storage A, and send images other than the specific image to an external storage B. In this case, according to the method of Patent Document 1, the user has to generate a sorting rule 1 for sorting the specific image, and further generate a sorting rule 2 for sorting images other than the specific image. When the sorting rule 1 is a rule for selecting an image whose subject category is an animal, in order to generate the sorting rule 2, it is necessary to specify conditions so as to select all subject categories other than animals and generate a sorting rule. In particular, when the sorting rule 1 is a rule for sorting images based on a plurality of conditions, the user has to specify the plurality of conditions one by one to generate the sorting rule 2, which is cumbersome. Thus, generating a rule for selecting images other than a specific image becomes a burden on the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The information processing device relating to this disclosure includes a management means for managing user images, a sorting means for sorting images from the managed images that match a rule selected by the user, and a display control means for displaying a setting screen for the user to select the rule, wherein the setting screen includes, as the rule, a first rule generated by the user and a second rule for sorting images that do not match the first rule. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The technology disclosed herein can reduce the effort required of users when sorting images. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A diagram showing an example of a system configuration. [Figure 2] A flowchart illustrating the overall processing flow of the image management system. [Figure 3] A diagram showing an example of an image management table. [Figure 4] Table for managing generated and sent rules. [Figure 5] This diagram shows examples of the sending rule list screen and the sending rule generation screen. [Figure 6] A flowchart to explain the process of generating transmission rules. [Figure 7] A flowchart illustrating the process of deleting sending rules. [Figure 8] A diagram showing an example of a transmission settings management table. [Figure 9] This diagram shows examples of the image management service list screen and the image management service settings screen. [Figure 10] A flowchart illustrating the process for the image management service settings screen. [Figure 11] A diagram showing an example of the sending rule settings screen. [Figure 12]A flowchart to explain the process of setting up sending rules. [Figure 13] A flowchart illustrating the process of displaying sending rules and setting the completion button. [Figure 14] A flowchart to explain the image transmission process. [Figure 15] A diagram illustrating multiple generation and transmission rules. [Figure 16] A flowchart illustrating the process of deleting sending rules. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The technology of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings, based on embodiments. Note that the configurations shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and the technology of this disclosure is not limited to the illustrated configurations.

[0010] <Embodiment 1> [System Configuration] Figure 1(a) shows an example of the configuration of an image management system, which is an information processing system according to this embodiment. The image management system includes an image management device 101, a terminal 102, and an external device 103. The image management device 101 is connected via a network to one or more external devices 103 and one or more user terminals 102.

[0011] The image management device 101 is an information processing device that receives image data transmitted from a camera or terminal of a user with an account and provides a service to store the received image data. The service provided by the image management device 101 is, for example, a cloud service that uploads and stores images taken with a digital camera in real time using a network such as Wi-Fi. Furthermore, the image management device 101 is described as having a function to automatically select the stored images. The image management device 101 also provides a service to automatically transmit the selected images to an external device 103. By automatically transmitting images to the external device 103 in this way, the burden on storage capacity can be suppressed.

[0012] In this embodiment, the user is a user who has an account for the service provided by the image management device 101. The user can generate an account via the terminal 102 owned by the user connected to the network.

[0013] The terminal 102 is a device having a display unit and an operation unit such as a touch panel, and for example, is a PC, a tablet, a smartphone, a camera, etc. The terminal 102 is assumed to be a terminal that transmits images to the image management device 101, but the user may transmit images to the image management device 101 from a terminal different from the terminal 102.

[0014] The image management device 101 can display a screen on the display unit of the terminal 102. The user can give various instructions to the image management device 101 via the screen. The image management device 101 has a function of receiving input operations performed by the user via the terminal 102. For example, the user can perform operations such as viewing and deleting images of users managed by the image management device 101 via the screen displayed on the terminal 102. Also, the user can change settings related to the service operating in the image management device 101 via the screen.

[0015] External devices 103a and 103b are information processing devices or servers on the cloud that provide services (referred to as image management services), such as cloud storage services contracted by the user for the purpose of storing, sharing, and editing images. The services provided by external devices 103a and 103b are sometimes referred to as external services to distinguish them from the services provided by the image management device 101. When referring to either external device 103a or 103b, it may be written as external device 103. The number of external devices 103, i.e., the number of image management services, is not limited. The image management device 101 transmits the specified images to the external devices 103. In this embodiment, the name of the image management service 104 provided by external device 103a is "SmartIn," and the name of the image management service 105 provided by external device 103b is "HugeBox." When referred to as "SmartIn," it may refer to the image management service 104 or the external device 103a, and when referred to as "HugeBox," it may refer to the image management service 105 or the external device 103b.

[0016] The network can be, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet. The image management device 101, the external device 103, and the user's terminal 102 are connected via the network, and are configured to enable mutual communication between these devices.

[0017] In this embodiment, images are described as still images, but images may also be videos. The image management device 101, terminal 102, and external devices 103a and 103b are assumed to be capable of processing both still images and videos. Unless otherwise specified, images are described as encompassing the concepts of both videos and still images.

[0018] [Hardware configuration] Figure 1(b) is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the image management device 101, which is an information processing device according to this embodiment. The image management device 101 is implemented, for example, as a server on the cloud.

[0019] The arithmetic unit 113 is a unit that performs data transmission, reception, and storage processing. The arithmetic unit 113 is implemented by, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The arithmetic unit 113 may include a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) in addition to or instead of a CPU.

[0020] The storage unit 112 is a unit that stores images, transmission rules, programs executed by the arithmetic unit 113, and content received from the terminal 102 via the communication unit 111. The storage unit 112 includes, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), and HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The arithmetic unit 113 executes programs by loading programs stored in the ROM or HDD of the storage unit 112 into the RAM of the storage unit 112. The arithmetic unit 113 also uses the storage unit 112 as a temporary data storage area.

[0021] The communication unit 111 is a unit that connects to the network and transmits and receives information with the terminal 102 and external devices 103. The communication unit 111 is implemented, for example, by a network card. The bus 114 connects the communication unit 111, the storage unit 112, and the arithmetic unit 113.

[0022] In this embodiment, the image management device 101 is described as a device for the sake of explanation, but the image management device 101 may be a system in which multiple information processing devices behave as a single image management device 101.

[0023] [Functional Configuration] Figure 1(c) shows an example of the functional configuration of the image management device 101. The image management device 101 has the function of storing images, the function of receiving input from terminal 102, the function of transmitting a screen to terminal 102, and the function of transmitting images to the image management service. Specifically, it has the following functional units.

[0024] The management unit 121 stores and manages user images in the storage unit 112. The management unit 121 also functions as a rule management unit, storing and managing the generation and transmission rules described later in the storage unit 112. Furthermore, the management unit 121 stores and manages the settings for image management services 104 and 105 in the storage unit 112. The management unit 121 retrieves this information from the storage unit 112.

[0025] The display control unit 122 transmits screen information to the terminal 102 via the communication unit 111 and controls the display of the screen on the terminal 102's display unit. In this embodiment, the process by which the display control unit 122 displays the screen on the terminal 102 is defined as the process by which the display control unit 122 generates screen information, and the communication unit 111 transmits that screen information to the terminal 102, thereby displaying the screen on the terminal 102.

[0026] The configuration unit 124 receives user instructions for the screen from the terminal 102 via the communication unit 111. The screen for configuring the image management service includes an instruction UI for instructing the transmission of images that match the generated transmission rules and images that do not match the generated transmission rules. Details will be described later.

[0027] The transmission control unit 123 transmits images managed by the management unit 121 to the image management services 104 and 105 via the communication unit 111. Transmitting images to the image management services means transmitting the images toward an external device so that it can receive them. The transmission control unit 123 also functions as a sorting unit that sorts (selects) images to determine if they match the transmission rules.

[0028] The image analysis unit 125 performs image recognition on images managed by the management unit 121. Details will be described later.

[0029] Each functional unit shown in Figure 1(c) is realized by the arithmetic unit 113, such as a CPU, reading a program stored in a ROM or HDD included in the storage unit 112 into the RAM included in the storage unit 112 and executing it. Other hardware, such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), may also be used to speed up calculations. Each function may be realized through the collaboration of software and hardware such as a dedicated IC, or some or all functions may be realized solely by hardware. Alternatively, some or all functions may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC or electronic circuit.

[0030] [Overall processing flow] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the image management device 101 when it receives instructions from a user via terminal 102. The processing shown in the flowchart of Figure 2 is performed by loading program code stored in the ROM of the storage unit 112 into the RAM of the storage unit 112, and then executing it by the arithmetic unit 113 such as the CPU. Alternatively, some or all of the functions of the steps in Figure 2 may be implemented by hardware such as ASICs or electronic circuits. The symbol "S" in the description of each process means that it is a step in that flowchart, and the same applies to subsequent flowcharts.

[0031] In S201, the arithmetic unit 113 acquires events such as user operations on the terminal 102. In S202, the arithmetic unit 113 switches the subsequent processing depending on the type of event acquired in S201.

[0032] In S202, if the arithmetic unit 113 determines that it has received an event from the user's terminal 102 for the creation or deletion of a generation and transmission rule, it performs the processing in S203 to S206. As a result, a generation and transmission rule is created or a generation and transmission rule is deleted. Details will be described later. When S205 or S206 is completed, the arithmetic unit 113 returns to S201 to wait for an event again.

[0033] Furthermore, in S202, if the calculation unit 113 determines that it has received an event from the user's terminal 102 to associate the transmission rule with the image management service, it performs the processing in S207 to S212. In S207 to S212, the target image management service is selected, and the transmission service is associated with the selected image management service. Details will be described later. When S212 is completed, the calculation unit 113 returns to S201 to wait for events again.

[0034] Furthermore, in S202, if the calculation unit 113 obtains an event indicating that the user's image has been uploaded to the image management device 101, it proceeds to S213.

[0035] In S213, the calculation unit 113 analyzes the uploaded image.

[0036] In S214, the arithmetic unit 113 processes the uploaded images and sends them to external devices that provide image management services 104 and 105. Details will be described later. When S214 is completed, the arithmetic unit 113 returns to S201 to wait for events again.

[0037] In S202, if the calculation unit 113 receives an event to terminate processing, it proceeds to S215. In S215, the calculation unit 113 performs termination processing, and the flowchart in Figure 2 ends.

[0038] [Image analysis processing] The image analysis performed in S213 is carried out by the image analysis unit 125. In this embodiment, as an example, subject classification processing is performed in the image analysis process. Subject classification processing is the process of extracting subjects contained in the image to be analyzed and identifying the classification (category) of the extracted subjects. In this embodiment, the subject category values ​​are assumed to be three: "food," "animals," and "landscape." The image analysis unit 125 identifies 0 or one or more subject category values ​​for a single image. A number of subject category values ​​of 0 indicates that the subjects contained in the image do not fall under any of "food," "animals," or "landscape." The subject categories recognized by the image analysis unit 125 may be other than "food," "animals," and "landscape."

[0039] Figure 3 shows an example of an image management table 320 used by the image management device 101 to manage images uploaded to the image management device 101 by a user A. The image management table 320 stores the image ID value, which uniquely identifies the image, in column 321, and the subject category value, which is determined as a result of the analysis process in S213, in column 322. In the image management table 320, the image ID value and the subject category value included in the image are associated with each other. When the analysis process in S213 is completed, one record holding the information of the analyzed image is added to the image management table 320 in Figure 3.

[0040] For example, suppose in S213, the subject category of the subject in the image with image ID "IMG_101" is determined to be "animal". In this case, in row 323 of Figure 3, where the information for the image with image ID "IMG_101" is stored, the value of the subject category in column 322 will be "animal". Similarly, in row 324, where the information for the image with image ID "IMG_102" is stored, the value of the subject category will be "landscape", which is the result of the analysis. Also, suppose in S213, the subject category of the subject in the image with image ID "IMG_103" is determined to be none of "food", "animal", or "landscape". In this case, in row 325, where the information for the image with image ID "IMG_103" is stored, the value of the subject category in column 322 will be "none".

[0041] [About sending rules] The image management device 101 of this embodiment can select images that match the transmission rules from among the images managed by the management unit 121. This selection process is also called the "sorting process." The transmission rules may also be called sorting conditions, sorting rules, or distribution rules.

[0042] Furthermore, the image management device 101 has a function to automatically send images selected to match a certain transmission rule to the image management service associated with that transmission rule. For example, a user can associate transmission rule 1 with image management service 104 and transmission rule 2 with image management service 105. Then, images matching transmission rule 1 can be automatically sent to image management service 104, and images matching transmission rule 2 can be automatically sent to image management service 105.

[0043] In this embodiment, the transmission rules are described as including generated transmission rules and non-applicable rules. The generated transmission rules may be pre-generated transmission rules, but in this embodiment, they are described as transmission rules generated by the user.

[0044] Figure 4 shows the generated transmission rule management table 400 for managing generated transmission rules. The generated transmission rule management table 400 includes a column 401 that holds the value of the transmission rule ID which uniquely identifies the generated transmission rule, a column 402 that holds the transmission rule name which is the name of the generated transmission rule, and a column 403 that holds the value of the judgment condition. Column 403 holds the value of the judgment condition received from terminal 102.

[0045] As shown in Figure 4, the generation and transmission rules of this embodiment include the subject category value of the image to be selected as a judgment condition for selecting images. For example, a user can generate a new generation and transmission rule by selecting at least one of the subject category values, "food," "animals," or "landscape," as a judgment condition. For example, suppose a user selects "animals" as a judgment condition and generates a generation and transmission rule. In this case, from among the images uploaded by a specific user, the image corresponding to "IMG_101" in Figure 3, which has been analyzed to contain animals, will be selected as matching that generation and transmission rule.

[0046] In this embodiment, the determination conditions constituting the generation and transmission rule are described as including one type of determination condition for determining the subject category of the image, but the determination conditions may include items other than the subject category. Alternatively, the generation and transmission rule may include multiple types of determination conditions.

[0047] For example, the determination condition may include whether or not the image contains the face of a specific person. In this case, the management unit 121 stores face information such as face features and the person's name in the storage unit 112 in association with the image ID. The image analysis unit 125 analyzes whether or not the image contains the relevant face based on the face features. The display control unit 122 displays the person's name on the screen and determines the face information to be used in the determination condition based on user input instructions. If the face information obtained by the image analysis unit 125 after recognizing the image matches the face information indicated by the determination condition, it is determined that the condition is met.

[0048] Furthermore, facial expressions, such as whether a person's face is smiling or closed, may also be included as a determination criterion. In this case, the image analysis unit 125 identifies whether a person's face in the image is smiling or closed based on pre-prepared feature quantities indicating a smile or closed eyes.

[0049] Furthermore, the criteria for selection may include conditions that ensure only images that were successfully captured are selected. The criteria for selection may also be based on shooting information embedded in the image. For example, the criteria may be based on information such as the time the image was taken, the camera used to take the image, and the location where the image was taken.

[0050] Furthermore, the judgment conditions included in the generation and transmission rules may be judgment conditions that combine the image analysis results and shooting information described above.

[0051] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the user-selectable transmission rules automatically include a "non-applicable rule" for selecting images that do not fall under the generated transmission rules. Without the "non-applicable rule," if a user wants to select images that do not match the generated transmission rules, they would have to select criteria to exclude those images from the generated transmission rules and generate a new generated transmission rule. In this embodiment, for illustrative purposes, the criteria are selected from the values ​​"food," "animals," and "landscapes." There may be many more selectable values ​​for the criteria, and generating a generated transmission rule to select images that do not fall under the generated transmission rules would be time-consuming for the user. Therefore, in this embodiment, if there are generated transmission rules, the "non-applicable rule" is automatically made available for selection, thereby enabling the user to select images that do not fall under the generated transmission rules.

[0052] [Flowchart for generating and deleting generated sending rules] This section explains the actions taken in steps S203 to S206 of Figure 2 when the image management device 101 receives an instruction from the user's terminal 102 to generate or delete a generation and transmission rule.

[0053] In step S203 of Figure 2, the display control unit 122 displays the transmission rule list screen 501 (see Figure 5) on the terminal 102.

[0054] In S204 of Figure 2, the display control unit 122 receives the content of the operation performed by the user via the transmission rule list screen 501 and determines whether the user's operation is to generate a transmission rule or to delete a transmission rule.

[0055] Figures 5(a) and 5(d) show examples of the transmission rule list screen 501, which displays a list of generated transmission rules. Figure 5(a) shows the transmission rule list screen 501 displayed when there are no generated transmission rules.

[0056] The transmission rule generation button 502 is a button used by the user to issue an instruction to generate a new transmission rule. When the transmission rule generation button 502 is pressed by the user, the terminal 102 sends an instruction to the image management device 101 to generate a transmission rule.

[0057] In S204, if the display control unit 122 determines that it is time to generate a transmission rule, it proceeds to S205. In S205, the process of adding a transmission rule is performed.

[0058] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating the details of the process performed by the image management device 101 in S205. The process shown in Figure 6 is realized when the arithmetic unit 113 of the image management device 101 executes a program stored in the storage unit 112. Some or all of the functions of the steps in Figure 6 may be implemented by hardware such as an ASIC or electronic circuit.

[0059] In S601, the setting unit 124 receives an instruction from terminal 102 to generate a generation and transmission rule.

[0060] In S602, the display control unit 122 displays the transmission rule generation screen 511 (see Figure 5(b)) on the terminal 102.

[0061] Figure 5(b) shows an example of the transmission rule generation screen 511 displayed on terminal 102 as a result of S602. The input field 512 included in the transmission rule generation screen 511 is an input field for the user to enter the name of the transmission rule to be generated.

[0062] In S603, the setting unit 124 determines whether text has been entered into the input field 512 of the transmission rule generation screen 511. If the setting unit 124 determines that text has been entered into the input field 512 (S603 is YES), the process proceeds to S604.

[0063] In S604, the display control unit 122 receives the text entered in the input field 512, and displays the transmission rule generation screen 511 with the received text on the terminal 102. Then, the process returns to S603.

[0064] On the other hand, if the setting unit 124 determines that no text has been entered in the input field 512 (S603 is NO), it proceeds to S605.

[0065] In S605, the setting unit 124 determines whether a determination condition has been specified. If the setting unit 124 determines that a determination condition has been specified (S605 is YES), the process proceeds to S606.

[0066] The checkboxes 513 to 515 included in the transmission rule generation screen 511 are for specifying the judgment conditions for the generated transmission rule to be created. Checkbox 513 is for instructing that the judgment condition include "food". Checkbox 514 is for instructing that the judgment condition include "animals". Checkbox 515 is for instructing that the judgment condition include "landscape". When any of the checkboxes 513 to 515 are selected, the setting unit 124 determines that the judgment condition has been specified.

[0067] In S606, the display control unit 122 receives information indicating the judgment conditions specified by the user, and displays the transmission rule generation screen 511 on the terminal 102 with the checkboxes indicating the received judgment conditions selected. Then, it returns to S603.

[0068] Furthermore, if checkboxes 513 to 515 are pressed and change from selected to deselected, terminal 102 sends an instruction to image management device 101 to remove the designation of "food," "animals," or "landscape" as a condition for determining the transmission rule.

[0069] On the other hand, if the setting unit 124 determines that no judgment condition has been specified (S605 is NO), it proceeds to S607.

[0070] In S607, the setting unit 124 determines whether it has received an instruction from the terminal 102 indicating the completion of the generation and transmission rule generation. When the user presses the complete button 516 included in the transmission rule generation screen 511, the terminal 102 sends an instruction to the image management device 101 indicating the completion of the generation and transmission rule generation, and the setting unit 124 receives the instruction. If the setting unit 124 determines that it has received an instruction indicating the completion of the generation and transmission rule generation (S607 is YES), it proceeds to S608. If the setting unit 124 determines that it has not received an instruction indicating the completion of the generation and transmission rule generation (S607 is NO), it returns to S603.

[0071] In S608, the management unit 121 generates a transmission rule ID value to identify the generated transmission rule. The management unit 121 then associates the transmission rule ID value, the transmission rule name received in S604, and the determination condition received in S606, and stores them in the storage unit 112. Then the process proceeds to S609.

[0072] For example, suppose the flowchart in Figure 6 is started without any generated transmission rules. In S602, the transmission rule generation screen 511 shown in Figure 5(b) is displayed. Suppose the user operates the terminal and enters "Pet Photo" in the input field 512 of the transmission rule generation screen 511, and presses the checkbox 514 corresponding to the judgment condition "Animal" to select it. In this case, terminal 102 sends information to the image management device 101 indicating "Pet Photo" as the transmission rule name and "Animal" as the judgment condition. As a result, the image management device 101 determines S603 as YES, and in S604 receives "Pet Photo" as the transmission rule name. Then, S605 determines as YES, and in S606 receives "Animal" as the judgment condition. Finally, the transmission rule generation screen 511 shown in Figure 5(c) is displayed on terminal 102.

[0073] When the user presses the complete button 516 on the transmission rule generation screen 511 shown in Figure 5(c), the image management device 101 determines S607 to be YES, and the process proceeds to S608. In S608, the management unit 121 associates the issued transmission rule ID "R_01" with the transmission rule name "Pet Photo" and the determination condition "Animal," and stores it in the generated transmission rule management table 400, as shown in Figure 4.

[0074] In S609, the display control unit 122 terminates the display of the transmission rule generation screen 511 and displays the updated transmission rule list screen 501 on the terminal 102. The flowchart in Figure 6 then ends.

[0075] Figure 5(d) shows an example of the transmission rule list screen 501 that is displayed when there are generated transmission rules. Label 532 indicates that there is a transmission rule whose name is "Pet Photos". In other words, Figure 5(d) shows the transmission rule list screen 501 that is displayed when the generated transmission rule management table 400, as shown in Figure 4, is stored.

[0076] The delete button 533 is a button used by the user to instruct the deletion of the generation and transmission rule indicated by the label 532. When the delete button 533 is pressed, the terminal 102 sends an instruction to the image management device 101 to delete the generation and transmission rule corresponding to the name displayed on the label 532.

[0077] Next, in S204 of Figure 2, the display control unit 122 will explain the process when it determines that the operation performed by the user via the transmission rule list screen 501 is an operation to delete a generated transmission rule. If it is determined that the operation is to delete a generated transmission rule, the process proceeds to S206. That is, if the delete button 533 is pressed, the process proceeds to S206.

[0078] Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating the deletion process of generation and transmission rules performed by the image management device 101 in S206. The process shown in Figure 7 is realized when the arithmetic unit 113 of the image management device 101 executes a program stored in the storage unit 112. Some or all of the functions of the steps in Figure 7 may be implemented in hardware such as ASICs or electronic circuits.

[0079] In S701, the setting unit 124 receives a command from the terminal 102 to delete a generated transmission rule. For example, let's assume that the user presses the delete button 533 on the transmission rule list screen 501 in Figure 5(d) for a transmission rule whose name is "Pet Photo" and whose transmission rule ID is "R_01". In this case, the terminal 102 sends a command to delete the generated transmission rule with transmission rule ID "R_01", and the setting unit 124 receives that command.

[0080] In S702, the management unit 121 deletes the information of the generated transmission rule specified in S701 from the generated transmission rule management table 400. For example, if the generated transmission rule management table 400 shown in Figure 4 is stored, row 404, in which the transmission rule ID "R_01" is stored in column 401, is deleted. As a result, the number of generated transmission rules stored by the management unit 121 in the storage unit 112 becomes 0.

[0081] In S703, the display control unit 122 displays a transmission rule list screen 501 on the terminal 102, with the transmission rule name corresponding to the generated transmission rule deleted in S702 hidden. That is, the transmission rule list screen 501 shown in Figure 5(a) is displayed on the terminal 102. This flowchart then concludes.

[0082] [Selection process for image management service to which sending rules are linked] Sending rules (non-applicable rules and generated sending rules managed in the generated sending rule management table 400) can be associated with image management services. By associating sending rules with image management services, images that match a sending rule can be automatically sent to the image management service associated with that sending rule. In this way, the destination can be changed according to the content of the image, reducing the effort required of users to decide the destination while reviewing images.

[0083] Figure 8 shows a transmission settings management table 800 for managing the settings configured for each image management service. The transmission settings management table 800 is stored in the storage unit 112. The transmission settings management table 800 includes a column 811 that holds the name of the image management service, a column 812 that holds the boolean value of the transmission setting, a column 813 that holds the boolean value of the transmission rule usage setting, and a column 814 that holds the value of the selected transmission rule ID.

[0084] The transmission settings management table 800 generates a row (record) for each image management service that is linked with the image management device 101. For example, suppose a user has accounts for an image management service named "SmartIn" and an image management service named "HugeBox," and is performing the process of linking each image management service with the image management device 101. In this case, the transmission settings management table 800 will store row 801, which contains "SmartIn" in column 811, and row 802, which contains "HugeBox" in column 811.

[0085] The values ​​for the transmission settings stored in column 812 are explained below. A transmission setting of "True" indicates that images are automatically sent to the target image management service. A transmission setting of "False" indicates that images are not automatically sent to the target image management service.

[0086] The values ​​for the Sending Rule Usage setting stored in column 813 are explained below. A Sending Rule Usage setting of "True" indicates that the setting is configured to automatically send images to the image management service using the sending rule. A Sending Rule Usage setting of "False" indicates that the setting is configured to send all images managed in the image management table 320 to the image management service without using the sending rule.

[0087] Column 814 stores the value of the send rule ID (referred to as the selected send rule ID), which indicates the send rule used when the send rule usage setting is set to "True".

[0088] Figure 8(a) shows the transmission settings management table 800 after integration with the image management service. The initial values ​​for transmission settings and transmission rule usage settings are assumed to be "False".

[0089] First, we will explain how to change the values ​​of the transmission settings and transmission rule usage settings. In S202 of Figure 2, if the calculation unit 113 determines that it has received an instruction from the user's terminal 102 to link the transmission rule to the image management service, it proceeds to S207.

[0090] In step S207 of Figure 2, the display control unit 122 displays the image management service list screen 900 (see Figure 9) on the terminal 102.

[0091] Figure 9(a) shows an example of the image management service list screen 900. The image management service list screen 900 includes buttons 902 and 903 corresponding to "SmartIn" and "HugeBox," which are image management services linked with the image management device 101. Button 902 is the button to start the "SmartIn" setup. When button 902 is pressed, terminal 102 sends a message to the image management device 101 indicating that "SmartIn" has been selected. Button 903 is the button to start the "HugeBox" setup. When button 903 is pressed, terminal 102 sends a message to the image management device 101 indicating that "HugeBox" has been selected.

[0092] In step S208 of Figure 2, when an image management service is selected from the image management service list screen 900, the display control unit 122 displays the image management service settings screen 910 (see Figure 9) corresponding to the selected image management service on the terminal 102.

[0093] Figure 9(b) shows an example of the image management service settings screen 910 when button 902 on the image management service list screen 900 is pressed and the settings unit 124 receives a command to specify the image management service "SmartIn".

[0094] The checkbox 912 included in the image management service settings screen 910 is used to enable or disable the automatic transmission of images to the selected image management service. The Complete button 914 is used to complete the settings for the selected image management service.

[0095] In S209 of Figure 2, user instructions are obtained via the image management service settings screen 910.

[0096] Figure 10 is a flowchart illustrating the process of acquiring user instructions performed by the image management device 101 in S209. The process shown in Figure 10 is realized by the arithmetic unit 113 of the image management device 101 executing a program stored in the storage unit 112. Some or all of the functions of the steps in Figure 10 may be implemented by hardware such as ASICs or electronic circuits. The explanation assumes that the image management service selected by the user on the image management service list screen 900 is "SmartIn".

[0097] In S1001, the setting unit 124 determines whether or not it has received an instruction from terminal 102 to enable automatic image transmission. If checkbox 912 on the image management service setting screen 910 is selected, terminal 102 sends an instruction to the image management device 101 to enable automatic image transmission. If the setting unit 124 determines that an instruction to enable automatic image transmission has been given (S1001 is YES), it proceeds to S1002.

[0098] In S1002, the display control unit 122 displays the image management service settings screen 910 on the terminal 102, as shown in Figure 9(c), with the checkbox 912 selected and the transmission rule setting button 923 displayed. The management unit 121 stores the transmission settings management table 800, in which the transmission enable value associated with the identifier "SmartIn" of the target image management service has been changed to "True". As a result, the transmission settings management table 800 is in the state shown in Figure 8(b). Then, the management unit 121 returns the process to S1001. If the management unit 121 determines that it has not received an instruction to enable automatic image transmission (S1001 is NO), it proceeds to S1003.

[0099] In S1003, the setting unit 124 determines whether or not it has received an instruction from terminal 102 to disable automatic image transmission. If the user deselects checkbox 912 on the image management service setting screen 910, terminal 102 sends an instruction to image management device 101 to disable automatic image transmission. If the setting unit 124 determines that an instruction to disable automatic image transmission has been given (S1003 is YES), it proceeds to S1004.

[0100] In S1004, the display control unit 122 displays the image management service settings screen 910 on the terminal 102, as shown in Figure 9(b), with the checkbox 912 unselected and the transmission rule setting button 923 not displayed. The management unit 121 stores the transmission settings management table 800, in which the transmission enable value associated with the identifier "SmartIn" of the target image management service has been changed to "False". As a result, the transmission settings management table 800 is in the state shown in Figure 8(a). Then, the management unit 121 returns the process to S1001. If the management unit 121 determines that it has not received an instruction to disable automatic image transmission (S1003 is NO), it proceeds to S1005.

[0101] In S1005, the setting unit 124 determines whether or not it has received an instruction to set a transmission rule from the terminal 102. If the transmission rule setting button 923 on the image management service setting screen 910 is pressed, the terminal 102 sends an instruction to set a transmission rule to the image management device 101. If the setting unit 124 determines that it has received an instruction to set a transmission rule (S1005 is YES), it proceeds to S1006.

[0102] In S1006, the setting unit 124 identifies the user instruction as "transmission rule setting". The flowchart in Figure 10 then ends, and the process proceeds to S210 in Figure 2. If the setting unit 124 determines that it has not received an instruction to use a transmission rule (S1005 is NO), it proceeds to S1007.

[0103] In S1007, the setting unit 124 determines whether it has received an instruction from terminal 102 indicating that the image management service settings are complete. If the complete button 914 on the image management service setting screen 910 is pressed, terminal 102 sends an instruction to image management device 101 indicating that the image management service settings are complete. If the setting unit 124 determines that it has received an instruction indicating that the image management service settings are complete (S1007 is YES), it proceeds to S1008.

[0104] In S1008, the setting unit 124 identifies the user instruction as "completed". The flowchart in Figure 10 then ends, and the process proceeds to S210 in Figure 2. If the management unit 121 determines that it has not received an instruction that the image management service settings are complete (S1007 is NO), it returns the process to S1001.

[0105] In S210 of Figure 2, the display control unit 122 determines whether the user's instruction via the image management service settings screen 910 is "Complete" or "Set transmission rule". If the display control unit 122 determines that the user's instruction is "Complete", it returns to S207. The display control unit 122 then terminates the display of the image management service settings screen 910 and displays the image management service list screen 900 of Figure 9(a) on the terminal 102.

[0106] In S210 in Figure 2, if the display control unit 122 determines that the user's instruction is "Use transmission rule", it proceeds to S211. In S211, the display control unit 122 displays the transmission rule setting screen 1100 (see Figure 11) on the terminal 102.

[0107] Furthermore, if checkbox 912 is selected and the transmission settings are enabled (S1001 is YES), the process may proceed to S1006 and display the transmission rule setting screen 1100 (see Figure 11) on terminal 102.

[0108] [Process to specify the transmission rules used for sending images via the image management service] Figure 11 shows an example of the transmission rule setting screen. Figure 11(a) is an example of the transmission rule setting screen 1100 that is displayed in S211 after the transmission rule setting button 923 on the image management service setting screen 910 in Figure 9(c) is pressed.

[0109] The first radio button 1132 is a radio button used to disable the use of the transmission rule. The second radio button 1133 is a radio button used to enable the use of the transmission rule. When one of the first radio button 1132 or the second radio button 1133 is selected, the screen is controlled so that the other is deselected.

[0110] The Complete button 1134 is used to indicate the completion of the settings on the Send Rule Settings screen 1100. In the Send Rule Settings screen 1100 shown in Figure 11(a) displayed in S211, the Complete button 1134 is displayed in a state where the user can press it (referred to as the enabled state).

[0111] In S211 of Figure 2, when the transmission rule setting screen 1100 shown in Figure 11(a) is displayed, the process proceeds to S212. In S212, processing is performed in response to the user's actions on the transmission rule setting screen 1100, and the transmission rule selected by the user is associated with the target image management service.

[0112] Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating the details of the process performed by the image management device 101 in S212. The process shown in Figure 12 is realized when the arithmetic unit 113 of the image management device 101 executes a program stored in the storage unit 112. Some or all of the functions of the steps in Figure 12 may be implemented by hardware such as an ASIC or electronic circuit.

[0113] In S1201, the setting unit 124 determines whether it has received an instruction from the terminal 102 to enable the use of transmission rules. If the second radio button 1133 on the transmission rule setting screen 1100 in Figure 11 is pressed by the user, the terminal 102 sends an instruction to the image management device 101 to enable the use of transmission rules. If the setting unit 124 of the image management device 101 determines that it has received an instruction to enable the use of transmission rules (S1201 is YES), it proceeds to S1202. In S1202 and S1209, the display control unit 122 performs a process to update the transmission rule setting screen 1100.

[0114] Figure 13(a) is a flowchart showing the details of the process in S1202. The process shown in Figure 13(a) is realized when the calculation unit 113 of the image management device 101 executes a program stored in the storage unit 112. Some or all of the steps in Figure 13(a) may be implemented in hardware such as an ASIC or electronic circuit.

[0115] In S1301, the display control unit 122 obtains the generation and transmission rule management table 400, which is managed by the management unit 121.

[0116] In S1302, the display control unit 122 determines whether there is one or more generation and transmission rules in the generation and transmission rule management table 400 acquired in S1301. If it is determined that there is one or more generation and transmission rules (S1302 is YES), the process proceeds to S1303. If there are no generation and transmission rules (S1302 is NO), this flowchart is terminated.

[0117] In S1303, the display control unit 122 sets the second radio button 1133 on the transmission rule setting screen 1100 to be selected and the first radio button 1132 to be deselected. The display control unit 122 also sets the transmission rule setting screen 1100 to include a transmission rule list 1101 that contains an area for selecting the generated transmission rules included in the generated transmission rule management table 400 and the aforementioned non-applicable rules. The non-applicable rules are transmission rules that instruct the transmission of images that do not match the generated transmission rules. Then, this flowchart is terminated and the process proceeds to S1209 in Figure 12.

[0118] In S1209, the display control unit 122 determines the status of the complete button 1134 and displays the transmission rule setting screen 1100, which reflects the settings from the previous steps, on the terminal 102.

[0119] Figure 13(b) is a flowchart illustrating the details of S1209. The process shown in Figure 13(b) is realized when the calculation unit 113 of the image management device 101 executes a program stored in the storage unit 112. Some or all of the steps in Figure 13(b) may be implemented in hardware such as an ASIC or electronic circuit.

[0120] In S1311, the display control unit 122 determines whether or not it has been instructed to enable the use of transmission rules. If it has been instructed to enable the use of transmission rules (S1311 is YES), it proceeds to S1312. If it has not been instructed to enable the use of transmission rules (S1311 is NO), it proceeds to S1314.

[0121] In S1312, the display control unit 122 determines whether one or more transmission rules (generated transmission rules or non-applicable rules) have been selected from the transmission rule list 1101 on the transmission rule setting screen 1100. If one or more transmission rules are selected (S1312 is YES), the process proceeds to S1314. If no transmission rules are selected (S1312 is NO), the process proceeds to S1313.

[0122] In S1313, the display control unit 122 is set to a disabled state so that the press of the complete button 1134 on the transmission rule setting screen 1100 is not recognized.

[0123] In S1314, the display control unit 122 sets the complete button 1134 on the transmission rule setting screen 1100 to the enabled state.

[0124] In S1315, the display control unit 122 displays the transmission rule setting screen 1100, which contains the settings configured in the previous steps, on the terminal 102. Then, this flowchart ends and the process returns to S1201 in Figure 12.

[0125] The transmission rule setting screen 1100, which is displayed as a result of transitioning to S1202 and S1209, includes checkboxes 1102 and 1103 for selecting transmission rules, as shown in Figure 11(b). As mentioned above, in this embodiment, the transmission rules automatically include non-applicable rules, so a checkbox 1103 for selecting non-applicable rules is included. Also, the complete button 1134 is displayed in a disabled state. In Figure 11, the black complete button 1134 indicates a disabled complete button, and the white complete button 1134 indicates an enabled complete button.

[0126] On the other hand, if the setting unit 124 determines that it has not received an instruction to enable the use of the transmission rule (S1201 is NO), it proceeds to S1203.

[0127] In S1203, the setting unit 124 determines whether or not it has received a selection of a transmission rule from the terminal 102. If the transmission rule setting screen 1100 is included in the transmission rule list 1101 and either checkbox 1102 or 1103 is selected, the terminal 102 sends the selected transmission rule to the image management device 101. If the setting unit 124 determines that it has received a selection of a transmission rule (S1203 is YES), it proceeds to S1204. If the setting unit 124 determines that it has not received a selection of a transmission rule (S1203 is NO), it proceeds to S1205.

[0128] In S1204, the display control unit 122 sets the checkbox that the user has pressed among the checkboxes 1102 and 1103 included in the transmission rule setting screen 1100 to be selected, and proceeds to S1209.

[0129] In the flowchart shown in Figure 13(b), which is executed when transitioning from S1204 to S1209, the process transitions to S1314, where the display control unit 122 sets the complete button 1134 to the enabled state. Then, in S1315, the display control unit 122 displays the transmission rule setting screen 1100 with the settings configured in the previous steps on the terminal 102. Then, the process returns to S1201 in Figure 12.

[0130] In S1205, the setting unit 124 determines whether it has received a notification from terminal 102 to deselect the transmission rule. If the checkboxes 1102 and 1103 on the transmission rule setting screen 1100 are deselected, terminal 102 sends the deselected transmission rule to the image management device 101. If the setting unit 124 determines that it has received a notification to deselect the transmission rule (S1205 is YES), it proceeds to S1206. If the setting unit 124 determines that it has not received a notification to deselect the transmission rule (S1205 is NO), it proceeds to S1207.

[0131] In S1206, the display control unit 122 sets the selected state of the checkbox that the user has pressed among the selected checkboxes included in the transmission rule setting screen 1100 to be deselected, and proceeds to S1209.

[0132] In the flowchart shown in Figure 13(b), which is executed when transitioning from S1206 to S1209, if all checkboxes 1102 and 1103 are deselected, S1312 determines NO, and the process transitions to S1313. In S1313, the complete button 1134 is set to disabled. If checkboxes 1102 and 1103 are selected, S1312 determines YES, and the process transitions to S1314, where the complete button 1134 is set to enabled. In S1315, the display control unit 122 displays the transmission rule setting screen 1100 with the settings configured in the previous steps on the terminal 102. Then, the process returns to S1201 in Figure 12.

[0133] In S1207, the setting unit 124 determines whether or not it has received an instruction from terminal 102 to disable the use of the transmission rule. If the first radio button 1132 on the transmission rule setting screen 1100 in Figure 11 is pressed, terminal 102 sends an instruction to disable the use of the transmission rule to image management device 101. If the setting unit 124 of image management device 101 determines that it has received an instruction to disable the use of the transmission rule (S1207 is YES), it proceeds to S1208. If the setting unit 124 determines that it has not received an instruction to disable the use of the transmission rule (S1207 is NO), it proceeds to S1210.

[0134] In S1208, the display control unit 122 sets the first radio button 1132 included in the transmission rule setting screen 1100 to the selected state, sets it to exclude the transmission rule list 1101, and proceeds to S1209.

[0135] In the flowchart shown in Figure 13(b), which is executed when transitioning from S1208 to S1209, S1311 is determined to be NO because the use of transmission rules is selected as disabled, so the process transitions to S1314, and the complete button 1134 is set to the enabled state. Then, in S1315, the display control unit 122 displays the transmission rule setting screen 1100 with the settings configured in the previous steps on the terminal 102. Then, the process returns to S1201 in Figure 12.

[0136] For example, if the first radio button 1132 is pressed, the display control means displays a transmission rule setting screen 1100 on the terminal 102, as shown in Figure 11(a), where the first radio button 1132 is selected and the complete button 1134 is enabled.

[0137] In S1210, the setting unit 124 determines whether or not it has received an instruction from the terminal 102 to complete the specification of the transmission rule. If the completion button 1134 in the enabled state on the transmission rule setting screen 1100 in Figure 11 is pressed, the terminal 102 sends an instruction to the image management device 101 to complete the specification of the transmission rule. If the setting unit 124 of the image management device 101 determines that it has received an instruction to complete the specification of the transmission rule (S1210 is YES), it proceeds to S1211. If the setting unit 124 determines that it has not received an instruction to complete the specification of the transmission rule (S1210 is NO), it returns to S1201.

[0138] In S1211, the management unit 121 updates the values ​​of the transmission rule usage settings and selected transmission rule IDs associated with the target image management service in the transmission setting management table 800 with the contents of the transmission rule setting screen 1100.

[0139] For example, suppose the second radio button 1133 on the transmission rule setting screen 1100 in Figure 11 is selected and the complete button 1134 is pressed. In this case, the management unit 121 stores "True" as the setting value for the transmission rule usage setting in column 813, which is associated with the identifier of the target image management service, in the transmission setting management table 800 in Figure 8. If the first radio button 1132 is selected and the complete button 1134 is pressed, the value for the transmission rule usage setting in column 813, which is associated with the identifier of the target image management service, in the transmission setting management table 800 is stored as "False". If the value of the transmission rule usage setting is "False", the value "empty" is stored in the selected transmission rule ID column 814 in the transmission setting management table 800.

[0140] Assume that either checkbox 1102 or 1103 on the transmission rule setting screen 1100 is selected and the complete button 1134 is pressed. In this case, the management unit 121 stores the value of the transmission rule ID of the transmission rule corresponding to the selected checkbox in column 814 of the transmission setting management table 800, which is associated with the identifier of the target image management service.

[0141] In S1212, the display control unit 122 terminates the display of the transmission rule setting screen 1100, displays the image management service setting screen 910 on the terminal 102, and ends this flowchart.

[0142] (Process flow for associating generation and transmission rules with the image management service) The generation and transmission rule management table 400 shown in Figure 4 is stored, and the process flow when associating a generation and transmission rule with transmission rule ID "R_01" with the image management service "SmartIn" is explained below.

[0143] The user presses button 902 on the image management service list screen 900 shown in Figure 9(a) at S207 in Figure 2 to select "SmartIn" as the target image management service. As a result, at S208, the display control unit 122 displays the image management service setting screen 910 shown in Figure 9(b), which corresponds to "SmartIn," on the terminal 102. The user presses the checkbox 912 and the transmission rule setting button 923 on the image management service setting screen 910. As a result, the image management device 101 proceeds to S211 in Figure 2, and the display control unit 122 displays the transmission rule setting screen 1100 shown in Figure 11(a) for setting "SmartIn" on the terminal 102.

[0144] To enable the use of transmission rules, the user presses the second radio button 1133 on the transmission rule setting screen 1100 in Figure 11(a). As a result, the image management device 101 performs the process shown in S212 in Figure 2. In the flowchart in Figure 12, which shows the details of S212, the setting unit 124 determines YES in S1201 and proceeds to S1202. In Figure 13(a), which shows the details of S1202, since there is a generated transmission rule as shown in Figure 4, the setting unit 124 determines YES in S1302, and the display control unit 122 sets to display the transmission rule list 1101 in S1303.

[0145] Then, when the process transitions from S1202 to S1209, in S1311 of Figure 13(b), which shows the details of S1209, the display control unit 122 determines that an instruction to enable the use of transmission rules has been given (S1311 is YES), and therefore proceeds to S1312. In the transmission rule setting screen 1100 of Figure 11(a), no transmission rules have been selected yet, so in S1312 the display control unit 122 determines NO, and proceeds to S1313, setting the complete button 1134 to the disabled state.

[0146] As a result, in S1315, the display control unit 122 displays the transmission rule setting screen 1100 shown in Figure 11(b) on the terminal 102, with the second radio button 1133 selected, the transmission rule list 1101 included, and the complete button 1134 disabled. The checkbox 1102 in the transmission rule list 1101 is a checkbox for selecting the generated transmission rule whose transmission rule ID is "R_01".

[0147] The user presses checkbox 1102 on the transmission rule setting screen 1100 in Figure 11(b) to associate the generated transmission rule with the target image management service. In this case, in the processing of the image management device 101, the setting unit 124 determines NO in S1201, determines YES in S1203, and proceeds to S1204, where the display control unit 122 sets checkbox 1102 to the selected state.

[0148] Then, when the process transitions from S1204 to S1209, in S1311 in Figure 13(b), the display control unit 122 determines that an instruction to enable the transmission rule has been given (S1311 is YES), and proceeds to S1312. Since the user has selected the transmission rule, in S1312 the display control unit 122 determines YES and proceeds to S1314, setting the complete button 1134 to the enabled state.

[0149] As a result, in S1315, the display control unit 122 displays a transmission rule setting screen 1100 on the terminal 102, as shown in Figure 11(c), in which the checkbox 1102 of the transmission rule list 1101 is selected and the complete button 1134 is enabled.

[0150] When the user presses the complete button 1134 on the transmission rule setting screen 1100 in the state shown in Figure 11(c), the image management device 101 processes up to S1210 in Figure 12, where it is determined to be YES and proceeds to S1211.

[0151] In S1211, the management unit 121 stores "True" in column 813 of row 801 in the transmission setting management table 800, which holds the transmission rule usage settings associated with the target image management service "SmartIn". It also stores "R_01", which indicates the selected generated transmission rule, in column 814 of the selected transmission rule ID associated with the image management service "SmartIn". As a result, the transmission setting management table 800 stored in the storage unit 112 will be as shown in Figure 8(d).

[0152] (Process flow for associating the "not applicable" rule with the image management service) This section explains the process for associating a non-applicable rule with the image management service "HugeBox". For example, the value of the non-applicable rule's transmission rule ID is assumed to be "Other". It is assumed that the generated transmission rule management table 400 shown in Figure 4 is stored, and the transmission settings management table 800 shown in Figure 8(d) is also stored.

[0153] The user selects "HugeBox" as the target image management service by pressing button 903 on the image management service list screen 900 shown in Figure 9(a) at S207 in Figure 2. As a result, at S208, the display control unit 122 displays the image management service settings screen 910 corresponding to "HugeBox". The user presses the checkbox 912 and the transmission rule setting button 923 on the image management service settings screen 910. As a result, the processing of the image management device 101 transitions to S211 in Figure 2, and the display control unit 122 displays the transmission rule setting screen 1100 for setting "HugeBox" on the terminal 102.

[0154] The user presses the second radio button 1133 on the transmission rule settings screen 1100 to enable the use of transmission rules. As a result, the image management device 101 performs the process shown in S212 of Figure 2. The process flow is the same as (the process flow for associating generated transmission rules with the image management service), so it is omitted here.

[0155] To associate the non-applicable rule with the target image management service "HugeBox", the user presses the checkbox 1103 for selecting the non-applicable rule on the transmission rule setting screen 1100. In this case, in the processing of the image management device 101, the setting unit 124 determines NO in S1201, determines YES in S1203, and proceeds to S1204, where the display control unit 122 sets the checkbox 1103 to the selected state.

[0156] Then, when the process transitions from S1204 to S1209, in S1311 in Figure 13(b), the display control unit 122 determines that an instruction to enable the transmission rule has been given (S1311 is YES), and proceeds to S1312. Since the user has selected a transmission rule, in S1312 the display control unit 122 determines YES and proceeds to S1314, setting the complete button 1134 to the enabled state. As a result, in S1315, the display control unit 122 displays the transmission rule setting screen 1100 on the terminal 102 as shown in Figure 11(d), where the checkbox 1103 of the transmission rule list 1101 is selected and the complete button 1134 is enabled.

[0157] When the user presses the complete button 1134 on the transmission rule setting screen 1100 in the state shown in Figure 11(d), the image management device 101 processes up to S1210 in Figure 12, where it determines YES and proceeds to S1211.

[0158] In S1211, the management unit 121 sets the transmission setting management table 800 to store "True" in column 813 of row 802, which holds the transmission rule usage settings associated with the target image management service "HugeBox". It also sets the column 814 of the selected transmission rule IDs associated with the image management service "HugeBox" to store "Other", indicating the selected non-applicable rule. As a result, the transmission setting management table 800 stored in the storage unit 112 will be as shown in Figure 8(e).

[0159] [Image transmission process] Figure 14 is a flowchart illustrating the image transmission process performed by the image management device 101 in S214. The process shown in Figure 14 is realized when the arithmetic unit 113 of the image management device 101 executes a program stored in the storage unit 112. Some or all of the steps in Figure 14 may be implemented in hardware such as an ASIC or electronic circuit.

[0160] In the flowchart explanation in Figure 14, it is assumed that the management unit 121 stores the generation and transmission rule management table 400 shown in Figure 4. It is also assumed that it stores the transmission setting management table 800 shown in Figure 8(e). Furthermore, it is assumed that the image information managed by the management unit 121 is as shown in the image management table 320 shown in Figure 3.

[0161] (Process flow for sending images that match the generation and transmission rules) The flowchart in Figure 14 is performed on the image to be sent. First, we will explain assuming that the image to be sent is the image with the image ID "IMG_101".

[0162] S1401 to S1412 constitute the first loop process. In S1401, the transmission control unit 123 selects the image management service to which the image will be sent from the linked image management services. The transmission control unit 123 then executes the processes in S1402 to S1411 for the destination image management service. If it is determined in S1412 that there is an unselected image management service, the process returns to S1401, a destination image management service is selected from the unselected service, and the processes in S1402 to S1411 are repeated. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the destination is selected from the linked image management services, "SmartIn" and "HugeBox". First, we will explain assuming that "SmartIn" is selected as the destination image management service.

[0163] In S1402, the transmission control unit 123 obtains a value associated with the destination image management service from the transmission setting management table 800 managed by the management unit 121.

[0164] If "SmartIn" is selected as the destination, the transmission control unit 123 retrieves the value associated with the destination image management service "SmartIn" from row 801 of the transmission setting management table 800 in Figure 8(e).

[0165] In S1403, the transmission control unit 123 determines whether the transmission setting value associated with the destination image management service is "True," indicating that the transmission setting is valid. If the transmission control unit 123 determines that the transmission setting is "True" (S1403 is YES), it proceeds to S1404. If the transmission control unit 123 determines that the transmission setting is "False" (S1403 is NO), it does not send images to the destination image management service, and proceeds to S1412.

[0166] As shown in Figure 8(e), the transmission setting value associated with the image management service "SmartIn," which is stored in column 812 of row 801, is "True." Therefore, the transmission control unit 123 determines that the transmission setting is "True" and proceeds to S1404.

[0167] In S1404, the transmission control unit 123 determines whether the value of the transmission rule usage setting associated with the destination image management service is "True," indicating that it is valid. If the transmission control unit 123 determines that the transmission rule usage setting is "True" (S1404 is YES), it proceeds to S1405. If the transmission control unit 123 determines that the transmission rule usage setting is "False" (S1404 is NO), it proceeds to S1410, as the setting is to send all images, and sends the images to be sent to the destination image management service.

[0168] As shown in Figure 8(e), the value of the transmission rule usage setting associated with "SmartIn," which is stored in column 813 of row 801, is "True." Therefore, the transmission control unit 123 determines that the transmission rule usage setting is valid and proceeds to S1405.

[0169] S1405 to S1411 constitute the second loop process. In S1405, the transmission control unit 123 selects an ID value to be processed from among the selected transmission rule ID values ​​associated with the destination image management service. Then, it executes the processes in S1406 to S1410 on the ID value to be processed. If it is determined in S1411 that there is a selected transmission rule ID value that has not been selected, the process returns to S1405, a target ID value is selected from among the unselected selected transmission rule ID values, and the processes in S1406 to S1410 are repeated.

[0170] As shown in Figure 8(e), the value of the selected transmission rule ID associated with "SmartIn," which is stored in column 814 of row 801, is "R_01." Therefore, the transmission control unit 123 selects "R_01" as the ID value to be processed.

[0171] In S1406, the transmission control unit 123 determines whether the ID value to be processed indicates a generated transmission rule. If the transmission control unit 123 determines that it is a generated transmission rule (S1406 is YES), it proceeds to S1407. If the transmission control unit 123 determines that it is not a generated transmission rule (S1406 is NO), it proceeds to S1408.

[0172] In S1407, the transmission control unit 123 determines whether the image to be transmitted matches the generation transmission rule indicated by the ID value of the image to be processed. If the transmission control unit 123 determines that the image satisfies the determination conditions of the generation transmission rule (S1407 is YES), it proceeds to S1410. If the transmission control unit 123 determines that the image does not satisfy the determination conditions of the generation transmission rule (S1407 is NO), it proceeds to S1408.

[0173] The process for determining whether an image to be sent matches the transmission rule is described below. First, the transmission control unit 123 obtains the subject category value, which is a determination condition associated with the generated transmission rule, from the generated transmission rule management table 400. Next, the transmission control unit 123 obtains the subject category value associated with the image ID value of the image to be sent from the image management table 320. Then, the transmission control unit 123 determines whether the subject category value of the image is included in the subject category value of the transmission rule. For example, if the subject category of the image is equal to the subject category of the generated transmission rule, the transmission control unit 123 determines that the image to be sent matches the generated transmission rule indicated by the ID value of the image to be processed.

[0174] If the ID value of the image to be processed is "R_01", then "R_01" is stored in the generated transmission rule management table 400 in Figure 4. Therefore, the transmission control unit 123 determines that the transmission rule indicated by the ID value of the image to be processed, "R_01", is a generated transmission rule (S1406 is YES). Next, the transmission control unit 123 retrieves the judgment condition "animal" associated with the ID value of the image to be processed, "R_01", from Figure 4. Also, if the destination image is "IMG_101", the transmission control unit 123 retrieves the subject category value "animal" associated with the image ID "IMG_101" from the image management table 320 in Figure 3. The subject category value indicated by the judgment condition and the subject category value of the image are the same, "animal". Therefore, the transmission control unit 123 determines that the image to be transmitted matches the transmission rule (S1407 is YES) and proceeds to S1410.

[0175] In S1410, the transmission control unit 123 sends the image to be transmitted to the destination image management service. Then the process proceeds to S1412.

[0176] If the destination image management service is "SmartIn", the transmission control unit 123 sends the image to be transmitted, with image ID "IMG_101", to the image management service "SmartIn".

[0177] In S1412, the transmission control unit 123 returns to S1401 because processing for all image management services is not yet complete.

[0178] In S1401, the transmission control unit 123 selects "HugeBox," which is an unselected image management service from the linked image management services, as the destination and repeats the processes in S1402 to S1411. The explanation of the steps already described will be omitted from here on.

[0179] In S1402, the transmission control unit 123 obtains a value associated with the destination image management service "HugeBox" from the transmission setting management table 800 shown in Figure 8(e).

[0180] As shown in Figure 8(e), the value of the transmission setting associated with "HugeBox" held in column 812 of row 802 is "True". Therefore, in S1403, the transmission control unit 123 determines that the transmission setting is valid and proceeds to S1404.

[0181] As shown in Figure 8(e), the value of the transmission rule usage setting associated with "HugeBox," which is stored in column 813 of row 802, is "True." Therefore, in S1404, the transmission control unit 123 determines that the transmission rule usage setting is valid and proceeds to S1405.

[0182] In S1405, as shown in Figure 8(e), the transmission control unit 123 selects the value "Other," which is the value of the selected transmission rule ID associated with "HugeBox" and is stored in column 814 of row 802, as the ID value to be processed.

[0183] In S1406, the transmission control unit 123 determines that the ID value "Other" to be processed is not included in the generated transmission rule management table 400 in Figure 4, and therefore is not a generated transmission rule (S1406 is NO). For this reason, the transmission control unit 123 proceeds to S1408.

[0184] In S1408, the transmission control unit 123 determines whether the ID value to be processed indicates a non-applicable rule. If the ID value to be processed is "Other", the transmission control unit 123 determines that the ID value to be processed is a value indicating a non-applicable rule. If the transmission control unit 123 determines that the ID value to be processed is a non-applicable rule (S1408 is YES), it proceeds to S1409. If the transmission control unit 123 determines that the ID value to be processed is not a non-applicable rule (S1408 is NO), it proceeds to S1411.

[0185] In S1409, the transmission control unit 123 determines whether the image to be transmitted does not match any of the generation transmission rules included in the generation transmission rule management table 400.

[0186] The S1409 process is a step to check whether the image to be transmitted matches the non-applicable rule. The transmission control unit 123 checks whether the image to be transmitted matches any of the generation transmission rules included in the generation transmission rule management table 400 in Figure 4 in order to determine whether the image to be transmitted matches the non-applicable rule. If it is determined that the image to be transmitted does not match any of the generation transmission rules (S1409 is NO), then the image to be transmitted has been determined to match the non-applicable rule.

[0187] The image to be sent in this instance has been determined to match the generated transmission rule with transmission rule ID "R_01". Therefore, the transmission control unit 123 determines S1409 to be YES and proceeds to S1411 without transitioning to S1410. In other words, since the image to be sent does not match any non-matching rules, it is controlled not to be sent to the "HugeBox" to which the non-matching rule is associated.

[0188] In S1411, the transmission control unit 123 determines that it has processed all selected transmission rule ID values ​​associated with the destination image management service and proceeds to S1412.

[0189] In S1412, the transmission control unit 123 determines that it has processed all image management services and terminates this flowchart.

[0190] (Process flow for sending images that do not meet the non-applicable rule) Next, we will explain the flowchart in Figure 14, assuming that the image to be sent is the image with the image ID "IMG_102".

[0191] In S1401, the transmission control unit 123 selects "SmartIn" from among the linked image management services "SmartIn" and "HugeBox" as the image management service to which the image to be transmitted will be sent.

[0192] As mentioned above, S1403 and S1404 are determined to be YES, so the process proceeds to S1405.

[0193] In S1405, the transmission control unit 123 selects "R_01" as the ID value to be processed for the selected transmission rule ID associated with "SmartIn".

[0194] In S1406, the transmission control unit 123 determines that the ID value "R_01" to be processed is a generated transmission rule (S1406 is YES), and proceeds to S1407.

[0195] In S1407, the transmission control unit 123 obtains the judgment condition "animal" associated with the ID value "R_01" of the image to be processed from Figure 4. The transmission control unit 123 also obtains the subject category value "landscape" associated with the image ID "IMG_102" of the image to be transmitted from the image management table 320 in Figure 3. Since the subject category value indicated by the judgment condition and the subject category value of the image to be transmitted are different, the transmission control unit 123 determines that the image to be transmitted does not match the generation transmission rule (S1407 is NO) and proceeds to processing in S1408.

[0196] In S1408, the transmission control unit 123 determines that the ID value of the processing target, "R_01," is not a value indicating a non-applicable rule (S1408 is NO), and proceeds to S1411. In other words, the image with image ID "IMG_102," which is the image to be transmitted this time, is controlled not to be transmitted to "SmartIn," to which the generation transmission rule is associated.

[0197] In S1411, the transmission control unit 123 determines that it has processed all selected transmission rule ID values ​​associated with the destination image management service and proceeds to S1412.

[0198] In S1412, the transmission control unit 123 returns to S1401 because processing for all image management services is not yet complete.

[0199] In S1401, the transmission control unit 123 selects "HugeBox," which is an unselected image management service from the linked image management services, as the destination and repeats the processes in S1402 to S1411.

[0200] In S1402, the transmission control unit 123 obtains a value associated with the destination image management service "HugeBox" from the transmission setting management table 800 shown in Figure 8(e).

[0201] As mentioned above, S1403 and S1404 are determined to be YES, so the process proceeds to S1405.

[0202] In S1405, as shown in Figure 8(e), the transmission control unit 123 selects the value "Other," which is the value of the selected transmission rule ID associated with "HugeBox" and is stored in column 814 of row 802, as the ID value to be processed.

[0203] In S1406, the transmission control unit 123 determines that the ID value "Other" to be processed is not a generated transmission rule (S1406 is NO), and proceeds to S1408.

[0204] In S1408, the transmission control unit 123 determines that the ID value to be processed, "Other," is a value indicating a non-applicable rule (S1408 is YES), and proceeds to S1409.

[0205] In S1409, the transmission control unit 123 determines whether the image to be transmitted matches any of the generation transmission rules included in the generation transmission rule management table 400 in Figure 4.

[0206] The only generation and transmission rule included in the generation and transmission rule management table 400 in Figure 4 is the generation and transmission rule with transmission rule ID "R_01". The image to be transmitted is determined not to match this generation and transmission rule. Therefore, the transmission control unit 123 determines that the image to be transmitted, with image ID "IMG_102", does not match any generation and transmission rule (S1409 is NO). In other words, the image to be transmitted this time is determined to match a non-applicable rule. Therefore, the process proceeds to S1410.

[0207] In S1410, the transmission control unit 123 transmits the image to be transmitted, whose image ID is "IMG_102", to the destination image management service "HugeBox".

[0208] In S1412, the transmission control unit 123 determines that it has processed all image management services and terminates this flowchart.

[0209] As described above, in this embodiment, the non-applicable rules can be displayed on the screen where the user selects the transmission rules, allowing the user to select a non-applicable rule. Therefore, images that do not match other transmission rules can be selected and those selected images can be transmitted. This improves user convenience.

[0210] The timing of the image transmission process does not have to be when the management unit 121 stores the image. For example, the image management device 101 includes an image capture unit, and the image transmission process may be executed at the time the image capture unit captures an image. Alternatively, the image management device 101 includes an image generation unit, and the transmission process may be executed at the time the generation unit generates an image.

[0211] Furthermore, the display control unit 122 may display a UI screen on the terminal 102 for deleting images stored by the management unit 121, allowing the user to delete images they specify.

[0212] Furthermore, the image analysis unit 125 may cache the results of the image analysis in the management unit 121. If the analysis of a certain image is requested again, instead of performing the image analysis and returning the result, it may return the result cached in the management unit 121.

[0213] Furthermore, to prevent images from being sent again, they may be deleted from the image management table 320, or a flag indicating that an image has been sent may be set and its value changed to a value indicating that it has been sent.

[0214] Figure 15 is a diagram illustrating the process when there are two generation and transmission rules. As shown in Figure 15(b), a generation and transmission rule is added to select images that contain landscapes, with the judgment condition being "landscape", the transmission rule name being "landscape photo", and the transmission rule ID being "R_02".

[0215] If the generation and transmission rule management table 400 shown in Figure 15(b) is stored, the transmission rule setting screen 1100 will be in the state shown in Figure 15(a) when the second radio button 1133 on the transmission rule setting screen 1100 is pressed. In this state, checkboxes 1501 and 1502 for selecting two or more generation and transmission rules, and a checkbox 1503 for selecting an inapplicable rule are displayed.

[0216] For example, although not shown in the diagram, suppose both checkboxes 1501 and 1502 for selecting the generation and transmission rules are selected, and the complete button 1134 is pressed. In this case, the transmission settings management table 800 will associate "R_01," which indicates a transmission rule for selecting animal images, and "R_02," which indicates a transmission rule for selecting landscape images, with "HugeBox," the target image management service. In this case, the image transmission process at S214 in Figure 2 will select images containing animals or images containing landscapes, and the selected images will be sent to "HugeBox."

[0217] Furthermore, for example, as shown in Figure 15(a), suppose checkbox 1502 for selecting a generation and transmission rule is selected, checkbox 1503 corresponding to the non-applicable rule is selected, and the complete button 1134 is pressed. In this case, as shown in Figure 15(c), the transmission settings management table 800 associates "HugeBox" with "R_02," which indicates a transmission rule for selecting landscape images, and "Other," which indicates a non-applicable rule. In this case, during the image transmission process in S214, images containing landscapes, or images that do not contain either landscapes or animals, are selected, and the selected images are sent to "HugeBox." In other words, even if a generation and transmission rule is generated in addition to the generation and transmission rule whose judgment condition is "animals," it is possible to configure the system to send images other than those containing animals to the target image management service.

[0218] <Embodiment 2> This embodiment describes the process of updating the value of the selected transmission rule ID associated with the image management service when a generated transmission rule is deleted. This embodiment will mainly describe the differences from Embodiment 1. Unless otherwise specified, the configuration and processing are the same as in Embodiment 1.

[0219] [Process for deleting generated sending rules] Figure 16 is a flowchart detailing the deletion process of the generated transmission rule, which the image management device 101 performs in S206 of Figure 2 in this embodiment. The process shown in Figure 16 is realized by the calculation unit 113 of the image management device 101 executing a program stored in the storage unit 112. Some or all of the functions of the steps in Figure 16 may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC or electronic circuit.

[0220] In the explanation of the flowchart in Figure 16, it is assumed that at the start of the flowchart, the management unit 121 stores the generation and transmission rule management table 400 shown in Figure 4. In the flowchart of Figure 16, steps that are the same as those in the flowchart of Figure 7 of Embodiment 1 are numbered the same way in Figure 16.

[0221] At the start of the flowchart in Figure 16, the transmission rule list screen 501 in Figure 5(d) is displayed on terminal 102. The user presses the delete button 533 corresponding to the generated transmission rule with transmission rule ID "R_01" on the transmission rule list screen 501 in Figure 5(d). In this case, in S701, the setting unit 124 receives an instruction from terminal 102 to delete the generated transmission rule with transmission rule ID "R_01".

[0222] In S702, the management unit 121 deletes the generated transmission rule with transmission rule ID 701 "R_01" from the generated transmission rule management table 400 in Figure 4, which is stored in the storage unit 112. Since there is only one generated transmission rule in Figure 4, after the deletion of the generated transmission rule, the number of generated transmission rules stored in the storage unit 112 becomes none (0).

[0223] In S703, the display control unit 122 processes the display of the transmission rule list screen 501 shown in Figure 5(a) on the terminal 102, which does not contain any transmission rule with transmission rule ID "R_01".

[0224] (Case 1) In this embodiment, when a generated transmission rule is deleted, the value of the transmission rule ID indicating the deleted generated transmission rule is deleted from column 814, which holds the selected transmission rule ID in the transmission setting management table 800 stored in the storage unit 112. Case 1 describes the processing flow of S1601 to S1611 in that case. In Case 1, it is assumed that the transmission setting management table 800 shown in Figure 8(c) is stored at the start of the flowchart in Figure 16.

[0225] S1601 to S1611 is a loop process. In S1601, the management unit 121 selects the image management service to be processed from the linked image management services. The management unit 121 then executes the processes S1602 to S1610 on the image management service to be processed. If it is determined in S1611 that there is an unselected image management service, the process returns to S1601, a new image management service to be processed is selected from the unselected image management services, and the processes S1602 to S1610 are repeated. In this embodiment, the processing target is selected from the linked image management services "SmartIn" and "HugeBox". First, we will explain assuming that "SmartIn" is selected as the image management service to be processed.

[0226] In S1602, the management unit 121 retrieves a value from the transmission settings management table 800 that is associated with the image management service to be processed.

[0227] If the image management service to be processed is "SmartIn", the management unit 121 retrieves a value from row 801 associated with "SmartIn" in the transmission settings management table 800 in Figure 8(c).

[0228] In S1603, the management unit 121 determines whether the value of the transmission rule usage setting associated with the image management service to be processed is "True," indicating that it is valid. If the management unit 121 determines that the value of the transmission rule usage setting is "True" (S1603 is YES), it proceeds to S1604. If the management unit 121 determines that the value of the transmission rule usage setting is "False" (S1603 is NO), it proceeds to S1611.

[0229] For the image management service "SmartIn," as shown in Figure 8(c), the value of the transmission rule usage setting held in column 813 of row 801 is "True." Therefore, the management unit 121 determines YES in S1603 and proceeds to S1604.

[0230] In S1604, the management unit 121 determines whether the value of the selected transmission rule ID associated with the image management service to be processed includes the value of the transmission rule ID of the generated transmission rule deleted in S702. If the management unit 121 determines that it includes the value of the transmission rule ID of the deleted generated transmission rule (S1604 is YES), it proceeds to S1605. If it determines that it does not include the value of the transmission rule ID of the deleted generated transmission rule (S1604 is NO), it skips S1605 and proceeds to S1606.

[0231] In S1605, the management unit 121 deletes the value of the transmission rule ID that represents the generated transmission rule deleted in S702 from the selected transmission rule ID values ​​associated with the image management service to be processed in the transmission setting management table 800. The transmission setting management table 800, reflecting the result, is stored in the storage unit 112. Then, the process proceeds to S1606.

[0232] For the image management service "SmartIn," as shown in Figure 8(c), the value of the selected transmission rule ID held in column 814 of row 801 is "R_01." Also, as mentioned above, the value of the transmission rule ID indicating the generated transmission rule that was deleted this time is "R_01." Therefore, in S1604, the management unit 121 determines YES and proceeds to S1605. In S1605, the management unit 121 deletes "R_01" from the selected transmission rule ID values ​​associated with the image management service "SmartIn," which are held in column 814 of row 801 in the transmission setting management table 800 shown in Figure 8(c). As a result, the value of the selected transmission rule ID held in column 814 of row 801 in the transmission setting management table 800 becomes "empty." The management unit 121 stores the transmission setting management table 800 with the value "empty" held in the selected transmission rule ID column of row 801.

[0233] In S1606, the management unit 121 determines whether the number of transmission rules remaining in the generated transmission rule management table 400 after deleting a generated transmission rule is 0. If it determines that the number of transmission rules is 0 (S1606 is YES), the process proceeds to S1607. If there is one or more generated transmission rules in the generated transmission rule management table 400 (S1606 is NO), the process proceeds to S1609.

[0234] In S1607, the management unit 121 determines whether the value of the selected transmission rule ID associated with the image management service to be processed in the transmission setting management table 800 includes "Other," which indicates an inapplicable rule. If the management unit 121 determines that an inapplicable rule is included (S1607 is YES), it proceeds to S1608. If the management unit 121 determines that an inapplicable rule is not included (S1607 is NO), it proceeds to S1609.

[0235] The generated transmission rule management table 400 at the start of this flowchart is as shown in Figure 3, and if a generated transmission rule is deleted from it, the number of generated transmission rules becomes 0. In this case, the management unit 121 determines YES in S1606 and proceeds to 1607. For the image management service "SmartIn", as shown in Figure 8(c), the value of the selected transmission rule ID held in column 814 of row 801 does not include "Other". Therefore, if the transmission setting management table 800 shown in Figure 8(c) is stored, the management unit 121 determines NO in S1607 and proceeds to S1609.

[0236] In S1609, the management unit 121 determines whether the selected transmission rule ID associated with the image management service to be processed in the transmission setting management table 800 is "empty" or not. If the management unit 121 determines that the selected transmission rule ID is "empty" (S1609 is YES), it proceeds to S1610. If the management unit 121 determines that the selected transmission rule ID is not "empty" (S1609 is NO), it skips S1610 and proceeds to S1611.

[0237] In S1610, the management unit 121 changes the value of the transmission rule usage setting associated with the image management service to be processed in the transmission setting management table 800 to "False". The transmission setting management table 800, reflecting the result, is stored in the storage unit 112. Then, the process proceeds to S1611.

[0238] If the state was as shown in Figure 8(c) before the start of this flowchart, as described above, S1605 would result in the value in column 814 of row 801 associated with the image management service "SmartIn" in the transmission settings management table 800 being changed to "empty". Therefore, in S1609, the management unit 121 determines YES and proceeds to S1610. As a result of S1610, the value in column 813 of row 801 associated with the image management service "SmartIn" is changed to "False". As a result, the stored transmission settings management table 800 will be in the state shown in Figure 8(b).

[0239] In S1611, the management unit 121 returns the process to S1601 because processing for all image management services is not yet complete.

[0240] In S1601, the transmission control unit 123 selects "HugeBox," which is an unselected image management service from among the linked image management services, as the processing target, and repeats the processing in S1602 to S1610.

[0241] In S1602, the management unit 121 retrieves the settings for the image management service "HugeBox" from the transmission setting management table 800 shown in Figure 8(b), which is stored in the storage unit 112. In the transmission setting management table 800 shown in Figure 8(b), the value of the transmission rule usage setting associated with the image management service "HugeBox" is "False," so S1603 is determined to be NO and the process proceeds to S1611.

[0242] Since processing has been completed for all image management services in S1611, this flowchart is terminated.

[0243] (Case 2) Case 2 describes the process of deleting the value of the transmission rule ID indicating an inapplicable rule from column 814, which holds the selected transmission rule ID in the transmission setting management table 800 stored in the storage unit 112, when a generated transmission rule is deleted. In Case 2, it is assumed that the transmission setting management table 800 shown in Figure 8(f) is stored at the start of the flowchart in Figure 16.

[0244] Assume that steps S701 to S703 are processed in the same way as in Case 1.

[0245] In S1601, the management unit 121 selects "SmartIn" as the image management service to be processed.

[0246] In S1602, the management unit 121 retrieves a value from row 801 associated with "SmartIn" in the transmission settings management table 800 shown in Figure 8(f).

[0247] As shown in Figure 8(f), for the image management service "SmartIn", the value of the transmission rule usage setting held in column 813 of row 801 is "True". Therefore, the management unit 121 determines YES in S1603 and proceeds to S1604.

[0248] As shown in Figure 8(f), for the image management service "SmartIn", the value of the selected transmission rule ID held in column 814 of row 801 is "Other". Also, as mentioned above, the value of the transmission rule ID indicating the generated transmission rule that was deleted is "R_01". In Case 2, the deleted generated transmission rule and the transmission rule associated with the image management service being processed are different, so in S1604 the management unit 121 determines NO and proceeds to S1606.

[0249] Similar to Case 1, since the current number of generated transmission rules is 0, the management unit 121 determines YES in S1606 and proceeds to 1607.

[0250] As shown in Figure 8(f), for the image management service "SmartIn", the value of the selected transmission rule ID held in column 814 of row 801 includes "Other". Therefore, in case 2, in S1607, the management unit 121 determines YES and proceeds to S1608.

[0251] In S1608, the management unit 121 removes "Other," which indicates an inapplicable rule, from the selected transmission rule IDs associated with the image management service to be processed in the transmission setting management table 800. The transmission setting management table 800, reflecting the result, is stored in the storage unit 112. Then, the process proceeds to S1609.

[0252] In the case of the transmission settings management table 800 shown in Figure 8(f), the value "Other" is deleted from the selected transmission rule IDs associated with the image management service "SmartIn" that are stored in column 814 of row 801. As a result, the value of the selected transmission rule ID stored in column 814 of row 801 in the transmission settings management table 800 becomes "empty". The management unit 121 stores the transmission settings management table 800 with the value "empty" stored in the selected transmission rule ID column of row 801.

[0253] In S1609, the management unit 121 determines that the value of the selected transmission rule ID for the image management service "SmartIn" is "empty," and proceeds to S1610.

[0254] In S1610, the management unit 121 changes the value of the transmission rule usage setting associated with the image management service to be processed in the transmission setting management table 800 to "False". The transmission setting management table 800, reflecting the result, is stored in the storage unit 112. Then, the process proceeds to S1611.

[0255] As a result of S1610, the value in column 813 of row 801, which is associated with the image management service "SmartIn", is changed to "False". As a result, the stored transmission settings management table 800 will be in the state shown in Figure 8(b).

[0256] In S1611, the management unit 121 returns the process to S1601 because processing for all image management services is not yet complete.

[0257] In S1601, the transmission control unit 123 selects "HugeBox," which is an unselected image management service from among the linked image management services, as the processing target, and repeats the processing in S1602 to S1610.

[0258] Since the value of the transmission rule usage setting associated with the image management service "HugeBox" is "False", S1603 is determined to be NO and processing proceeds to S1611.

[0259] Since processing has been completed for all image management services in S1611, this flowchart is terminated.

[0260] As described above, in this embodiment, when a user deletes a generated transmission rule, the generated transmission rule and non-applicable rules associated with the image management service are automatically deleted based on the deleted generated transmission rule. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the user does not need to check the transmission rules associated with the image management service and delete the generated transmission rules and non-applicable rules that can no longer be used. Therefore, according to this embodiment, user convenience can be improved.

[0261] In the above explanation, if column 814, which holds the selected transmission rule ID in the transmission setting management table 800 in Figure 8, becomes "empty", the value of the transmission rule usage setting is changed to "False", while the value of the transmission setting in column 812 remains "True". The setting where the transmission setting in column 812 is "True" and the transmission rule usage setting in column 813 is "False" means that the target image management service is set to unconditionally send all images uploaded by users managed by the management unit 121. To prevent images that users did not intend to send from being sent, in S1610 in Figure 16, the management unit 121 may change the value of the transmission setting held in column 812 in the transmission setting management table 800 to "False". As a result, even if column 814, which holds the selected transmission rule ID, becomes "empty", the transmission control unit 123 will not send any images.

[0262] The setting unit 124 may also have the user decide what to do when column 814, which holds the selected transmission rule ID, becomes "empty," and receive the content of that decision from terminal 102. Depending on the content of the received decision, the management unit 121 may decide in S1610 whether or not to change the value of the transmission setting held in column 812 of the transmission setting management table 800 to "False."

[0263] Furthermore, in Embodiment 2, it is not necessary for non-applicable rules to be automatically displayed on the transmission rule setting screen 1100. Even when the user selects transmission rules to associate with the image management service from only the generated transmission rules, the method for deleting generated transmission rules in Embodiment 2 can be applied. That is, when the number of generated transmission rules becomes 0, the setting is automatically changed to either not sending images to the image management service or sending all images to the image management service. Therefore, the effort required for the user to change the setting is reduced, thereby improving user convenience.

[0264] <Other Embodiments> Although the above-described embodiment illustrates an example of processing by the image management device 101, it is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made. Furthermore, parts of the above-described embodiment may be combined as appropriate. Although the information was described as being managed in a table format, the method of managing the information is not limited to a table format, and it may be managed in other formats, such as JSON format.

[0265] The image management device 101 is equipped with an authentication system, and the communication unit 111 may add a user ID and password to the communication content with the terminal 102. Furthermore, the communication content with the terminal 102 may be encrypted before transmission and reception.

[0266] This disclosure can also be implemented by supplying a program that implements one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and by having one or more processors in the computer of that system or device read and execute the program. It can also be implemented by a circuit (e.g., an ASIC) that implements one or more functions. Furthermore, the program may be recorded on a recording medium readable by a computer and provided.

[0267] The above-described embodiments include the following configurations.

[0268] (Composition 1) A management system for managing user images, Sorting means for sorting out images that match the rules selected by the user from the managed images, Display control means for displaying a setting screen for the user to select the rules, and having, The setting screen includes, as the rules, a first rule generated by the user and a second rule for sorting out images that do not match the first rule An information processing apparatus characterized by this.

[0269] (Configuration 2) The information processing apparatus according to Configuration 1, further comprising transmission control means for transmitting the image to be transmitted among the managed images to an external apparatus of the transmission destination.

[0270] (Configuration 3) The transmission control means transmits the image that matches the first rule to the external apparatus selected when the user selects the first rule on the setting screen, and transmits the image that matches the second rule to the external apparatus selected when the user selects the second rule on the setting screen. The information processing apparatus according to Configuration 2, characterized by this.

[0271] (Configuration 4) The display control means displays a second setting screen for the user to select whether to enable or disable a transmission setting for automatically transmitting the managed images to the external apparatus of the transmission destination, and when a selection to enable the transmission setting is made, displays the setting screen.<00,00900>The information processing apparatus according to Configuration 2 or 3, characterized by this.

[0272] (Configuration 5) The display control means ​On the second setting screen, display a button for displaying the setting screen in response to a selection to enable the transmission setting, and display the setting screen in response to the button being pressed. The information processing apparatus according to Configuration 4, characterized in that.

[0273] (Configuration 6) The transmission control means When the transmission setting is valid, without a user instruction, transmit the image to be transmitted among the managed images to the external device. The information processing apparatus according to Configuration 4 or 5, characterized in that.

[0274] (Configuration 7) The setting screen is a screen for selecting the first rule or the second rule associated with the external device, The transmission control means When the first rule is associated with the external device, transmit an image that matches the first rule to the external device, and when the second rule is associated with the external device, transmit an image that matches the second rule to the external device. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Configurations 4 to 6, characterized in that.

[0275] (Configuration 8) Further have rule management means for managing the first rule generated by the user, The display control means When the transmission setting is valid and the number of the first rules managed by the rule management means is one or more, display the setting screen on which the user can select the first rule and the second rule. The information processing apparatus according to any one of Configurations 4 to 7, characterized in that.

[0276] (Configuration 9) Rule management means for managing the first rule generated by the user, and The system further comprises a deletion means for deleting the first rule managed by the rule management means. An information processing device according to any one of configurations 2 to 8.

[0277] (Composition 10) A first setting value that does not transmit the images managed by the management means to the external device, A second setting value that transmits all images managed by the management means to the external device, The system further includes a setting means that sets one of the following: a third setting value for transmitting images that match the rule from among the images managed by the management means to the external device; The transmission control means controls the transmission of an image to the external device based on the settings of the setting means. The setting means is, If the number of first rules managed by the rule management means becomes 0 as a result of the deletion of the first rule managed by the rule management means, and if the third setting value was set, then set to the first setting value or the second setting value. The information processing apparatus according to configuration 9, characterized by the features described therein.

[0278] (Composition 11) The sorting means is, If there are multiple user-generated first rules, images that do not match any of the multiple first rules are selected as images that match the second rule. An information processing apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 10, characterized by the above.

[0279] (Composition 12) The display control means is Control the device so that the aforementioned settings screen is displayed via the network. An information processing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 11, characterized by the features described herein.

[0280] (Composition 13) A management system for managing user images, Rule management means for managing rules generated by a user, Sorting means for sorting images that match a rule selected by a user from the managed images, Display control means for displaying a setting screen for a user to select the rule, A first setting value for not transmitting the images managed by the management means to an external device, a second setting value for transmitting all the images managed by the management means to the external device, Setting means for setting to any one of a third setting value for transmitting images that match the rule among the images managed by the management means to the external device, Deleting means for deleting the rule managed by the rule management means, Transmission control means for transmitting the managed images to the external device based on the setting of the setting means, and having, The setting means, As a result of the rule managed by the rule management means being deleted, when the number of rules managed by the rule management means becomes zero and the third setting value is set, setting to the first setting value or the second setting value An information processing apparatus characterized by the above.

[0281] (Configuration 14) A management step of managing a user's images, A sorting step of sorting images that match a rule selected by a user from the managed images, A display step of displaying a setting screen for a user to select the rule, and having, The setting screen includes, as the rule, a first rule generated by a user and a second rule for sorting images that do not match the first rule. An information processing method characterized by the above.

[0282] (Configuration 15) A program for causing a computer to execute each means of the information processing apparatus according to any one of Configurations 1 to 12.

Explanation of Signs

[0283] 101 Image management device 121 Management Department 123 Transmission Control Unit 122 Display Control Unit

Claims

1. A management system for managing user images, A sorting means for sorting images from the managed images that match the rules selected by the user, It includes a display control means that displays a settings screen for the user to select the aforementioned rules, The aforementioned settings screen includes, as rules, a first rule generated by the user and a second rule for sorting images that do not conform to the first rule. An information processing device characterized by the following:

2. The system further includes a transmission control means for transmitting the image to be transmitted from the managed images to an external device that is a destination. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

3. The transmission control means is Images that match the first rule are sent to the external device selected when the user selected the first rule on the settings screen, and images that match the second rule are sent to the external device selected when the user selected the second rule on the settings screen. The information processing apparatus according to feature 2.

4. The display control means is A second settings screen is displayed for the user to select whether to enable or disable the transmission setting that automatically sends the managed images to the destination external device. If the user selects to enable the transmission setting, the settings screen is displayed. The information processing apparatus according to feature 2.

5. The display control means is In the second settings screen, a button for displaying the settings screen is displayed on the second settings screen in response to the selection to enable the transmission settings, and the settings screen is displayed in response to the button being pressed. The information processing apparatus according to feature 4.

6. The transmission control means is If the aforementioned transmission setting is enabled, the images to be transmitted from the managed images will be sent to the external device without user instruction. The information processing apparatus according to feature 4.

7. The aforementioned settings screen is a screen for selecting the first rule or the second rule to associate with the external device. The transmission control means is If the first rule is associated with the external device, an image matching the first rule is transmitted to the external device; if the second rule is associated with the external device, an image matching the second rule is transmitted to the external device. The information processing apparatus according to feature 4.

8. The system further includes rule management means for managing the first rule generated by the user, The display control means is If the transmission setting is enabled and the number of first rules managed by the rule management means is one or more, the settings screen is displayed, allowing the user to select between the first rule and the second rule. The information processing apparatus according to feature 4.

9. A rule management means for managing the first rule generated by the user, The system further comprises a deletion means for deleting the first rule managed by the rule management means. The information processing apparatus according to feature 2.

10. The system further includes a setting means that sets to one of the following: a first setting value that does not transmit images managed by the management means to the external device; a second setting value that transmits all images managed by the management means to the external device; and a third setting value that transmits images from among the images managed by the management means that match the rule to the external device. The transmission control means controls the transmission of an image to the external device based on the settings of the setting means. The setting means is, If the number of first rules managed by the rule management means becomes zero as a result of the deletion of the first rule managed by the rule management means, and if the third setting value has been set, then set to the first setting value or the second setting value. The information processing apparatus according to feature 9.

11. The sorting means is, If there are multiple first rules generated by the user, images that do not match any of the multiple first rules are selected as images that match the second rule. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

12. The display control means is Control the device so that the aforementioned settings screen is displayed via the network. The information processing apparatus according to feature 1.

13. A management system for managing user images, A rule management system for managing user-generated rules, A sorting means for sorting images from the managed images that match the rules selected by the user, A display control means that displays a settings screen for the user to select the aforementioned rules, A setting means that sets to one of the following: a first setting value that does not transmit images managed by the management means to an external device; a second setting value that transmits all images managed by the management means to the external device; and a third setting value that transmits images from the images managed by the management means that match the rule to the external device. A deletion means for deleting the rule managed by the rule management means, The system includes a transmission control means that transmits the managed image to the external device based on the settings of the setting means, The setting means is, If, as a result of the deletion of a rule managed by the rule management means, the number of rules managed by the rule management means becomes zero, and the third setting value was set, then it will be set to the first setting value or the second setting value. An information processing device characterized by the following:

14. Management steps for managing user images, A sorting step in which images matching the rules selected by the user are sorted from the managed images, The system includes a display step that shows a settings screen for the user to select the aforementioned rules, The aforementioned settings screen includes, as rules, a first rule generated by the user and a second rule for sorting images that do not conform to the first rule. An information processing method characterized by the following:

15. A program for causing a computer to execute each of the means of the information processing apparatus described in any one of claims 1 to 12.

Images