Image sharing system and program

Abstract

To provide an image sharing system and program that enables two-way image sharing between elderly people and their families. [Solution] The image sharing system 1 includes a user registration means 11 for registering elderly persons and their families in association; a family image registration means 12 for registering family images to be sent to the elderly person's terminal 3 from a family terminal 2; an elderly person image registration means 13 for registering elderly person images sent from the elderly person's terminal 3; an elderly person image transmission means 14 for transmitting the elderly person images registered by the elderly person image registration means 13 to a family terminal 21 used by a family member registered in association with the elderly person by the user registration means 11; and a family image transmission means 15 for transmitting the family images registered by the family image registration means 12 to an elderly person's terminal 3 used by an elderly person registered in association with the family member by the user registration means 11.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image sharing system and program for sharing images among the elderly and their families.

Background Art

[0002] In Japan, which is the most aging country in the world, many elderly people live alone or with their spouses. Conventionally, many systems for monitoring such elderly people from a remote location have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). In recent years, digital photo frames that enable family members to transfer and display photos (images) to a remote location where the elderly live have also become widespread.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Non-Patent Documents

[0004]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] With the conventional digital photo frame described above, images can be transferred and shared from family members to the elderly, allowing the elderly to know what their family is up to. However, with this digital photo frame, image transfer is one-way, from family members to the elderly, so family members cannot know what the elderly are up to, and it cannot be used in the way described in the aforementioned monitoring system.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an image sharing system and program that enables two-way image sharing between elderly people and their families. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The image sharing system of the present invention includes: a user registration means for registering elderly persons and their families in association; a family image registration means for registering images (hereinafter referred to as "family images") to be transmitted to a terminal used by an elderly person registered by the user registration means (hereinafter referred to as "elderly person terminal") from a terminal used by a family member registered in association with the elderly person by the user registration means (hereinafter referred to as "family terminal"); an elderly person image registration means for registering images transmitted from an elderly person terminal (hereinafter referred to as "elderly person image"); an elderly person image transmission means for transmitting the elderly person images registered by the elderly person image registration means to a family terminal used by a family member registered in association with the elderly person by the user registration means; and a family image transmission means for transmitting the family images registered by the family image registration means to an elderly person terminal used by an elderly person registered in association with the family member by the user registration means.

[0008] According to the image sharing system of the present invention, family images registered from family members registered in association with the elderly person are transmitted to the elderly person's terminal, allowing them to be displayed on the elderly person's terminal. Conversely, images of the elderly person registered from the elderly person's terminal are transmitted to family members registered in association with the elderly person's terminal, allowing them to be displayed on the family members' terminals.

[0009] The user registration method can involve registering elderly individuals and their families in association with each family household. This allows the elderly individual's family to have multiple households, and the elderly individual's terminal can receive and display family images from the family terminals used by those multiple households associated with the elderly individual. Conversely, images of the elderly individual registered on the elderly individual's terminal can be sent to the family terminals used by those multiple households associated with the elderly individual, and these can also be displayed on the family terminals.

[0010] Furthermore, the image sharing system of the present invention may include an operation history registration means for registering the operation history of an elderly person's terminal transmitted from the elderly person's terminal, and an operation history transmission means for transmitting the operation history registered by the operation history registration means to a family terminal used by a family member registered in association with the elderly person by the user registration means. As a result, the operation history of the elderly person's terminal is transmitted to a family terminal used by a family member registered in association with the elderly person, and can be displayed on the family terminal.

[0011] The image sharing program of the present invention provides a computer with the following functions: a user registration means for registering elderly persons and their families in association; a family image registration means for registering images (family images) to be sent to a terminal used by the elderly person registered by the user registration means (elderly terminal) from a terminal used by a family member registered in association with the elderly person (family terminal); an elderly person image registration means for registering images (elderly person images) sent from the elderly person terminal; an elderly person image transmission means for transmitting the elderly person images registered by the elderly person image registration means to a family terminal used by a family member registered in association with the elderly person (user registration means); and a family image transmission means for transmitting the family images registered by the family image registration means to an elderly person terminal used by the elderly person registered in association with the family. A computer running this program can achieve the same functions and effects as the image sharing system of the present invention described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] (1) The configuration includes a user registration means for registering elderly persons and their families in association; a family image registration means for registering images (family images) to be sent to a terminal used by the elderly person registered by the user registration means (elderly terminal) from a terminal used by a family member registered in association with the elderly person (family terminal); an elderly person image registration means for registering images (elderly person images) sent from the elderly person terminal; an elderly person image transmission means for sending the elderly person images registered by the elderly person image registration means to a family terminal used by a family member registered in association with the elderly person (user registration means); and a family image transmission means for sending the family images registered by the family image registration means to an elderly person terminal used by the elderly person registered in association with the family member (user registration means). This configuration makes it possible to share images bidirectionally between elderly persons and their families.

[0013] (2) With a configuration that associates and registers elderly people and their families on a household basis, even if the elderly person's family includes multiple households, it becomes possible to share images bidirectionally between the elderly person and their family on a household basis.

[0014] (3) With a configuration that includes an operation history registration means for registering the operation history of the elderly person's terminal transmitted from the elderly person's terminal, and an operation history transmission means for transmitting the operation history registered by the operation history registration means to a family terminal used by a family member who has been registered in association with the elderly person by the user registration means, the operation history of the elderly person's terminal is transmitted to a family terminal used by a family member who has been registered in association with the elderly person, making it possible to check on the well-being of the elderly person. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image sharing system in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of a household list screen displayed on a family terminal. [Figure 3]It is a diagram showing an example of a household addition screen displayed on a family terminal. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing an example of a list screen of the elderly displayed on a family terminal. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing a state in which an elderly person addition button on a list screen of the elderly displayed on a family terminal is selected. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing an example of an elderly person addition screen displayed on a family terminal. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing an example of a family list screen displayed on a family terminal. [Figure 8] It is a diagram showing an example of a family addition screen displayed on a family terminal. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing an example of a transmitted image list screen displayed on a family terminal. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing an example of an image addition screen displayed on a family terminal. [Figure 11] It is a diagram showing an example of a received item list screen displayed on a family terminal. [Figure 12] It is a diagram showing an example of an elderly person image displayed on a family terminal. [Figure 13] It is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on an elderly person terminal. [Figure 14] It is a diagram showing an example of a photo shooting screen displayed on an elderly person terminal. [Figure 15] It is a diagram showing an example of an operation history list screen displayed on a family terminal.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image sharing system in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an image sharing system 1 in an embodiment of the present invention includes a storage unit 10, a user registration unit 11, a family image registration unit 12, an elderly person image registration unit 13, an elderly person image transmission unit 14, a family image transmission unit 15, an operation history registration unit 16, and an operation history transmission unit 17.

[0017] Image sharing system 1 is implemented by running an image sharing program that causes an on-premise server or cloud server, acting as a computer, to function as each of the above means 10 to 17. Data transmission and reception between image sharing system 1 and terminals used by the elderly person's family (family terminal) 2 and terminals used by the elderly person (elderly terminal) 3 are implemented by client image sharing programs running on family terminal 2 and elderly terminal 3, respectively. These client image sharing programs are either native application programs running on family terminal 2 and elderly terminal 3 or web application programs provided by image sharing system 1.

[0018] The storage means 10 stores information about the elderly person as a user and their family, as well as images registered by the elderly person and their family. The user registration means 11 is a means for registering the elderly person and their family in association. The user registration means 11 provides a registration screen to a terminal (family terminal) 2 used by the elderly person's family to register the elderly person and their family in association. Based on the information transmitted from the family terminal 2 through this registration screen, the user registration means 11 registers the elderly person and their family in association with the storage means 10. In this embodiment, the user registration means 11 is capable of registering the elderly person and their family in association with each family household.

[0019] The family image registration means 12 is a means for an elderly person's family to register images (family images) that they share with the elderly person in the image sharing system 1. The family image registration means 12 allows family images to be registered from the family terminal 2 to be sent to the elderly person's terminal 3. The elderly person's terminal 3 is a terminal used by an elderly person who has been registered by the user registration means 11. The family terminal 2 is a terminal used by a family member who has been registered in association with the elderly person by the user registration means 11. The family image registration means 12 provides the family terminal 2 with a registration screen for registering images to be sent to the elderly person's terminal 3. The family image registration means 12 registers the images sent from the family terminal 2 through this registration screen in the storage means 10.

[0020] The elderly person image registration means 13 is a means for registering images (elderly person images) that an elderly person wishes to share with their family in the image sharing system 1. The elderly person image registration means 13 allows the elderly person terminal 3 to register images of the elderly person to be sent to the terminal of the elderly person's family (family terminal 2). The elderly person image registration means 13 provides the elderly person terminal 3 with a registration screen for registering images to be sent to the family terminal 2. The elderly person image registration means 13 registers the images sent from the elderly person terminal 3 through this registration screen in the storage means 10.

[0021] The elderly person image transmission means 14 is a means for transmitting images of elderly people registered in the storage means 10 to the family terminal 2 of the family. The elderly person image transmission means 14 transmits images of elderly people registered by the elderly person image registration means 13 to the family terminal 2 used by family members who have been registered in association with the elderly person by the user registration means 11.

[0022] The family image transmission means 15 is a means for transmitting family images registered in the storage means 10 to the elderly person's terminal 3. The family image transmission means 15 transmits the family images registered by the family image registration means 12 to the elderly person's terminal 3, which is used by the elderly person who has been registered in association with that family by the user registration means 11.

[0023] The operation history registration means 16 is a means for registering the operation history of the elderly terminal 3 transmitted from the elderly terminal 3. The operation history registration means 16 registers the operation history of the elderly terminal 3 in the storage means 10.

[0024] The operation history transmission means 17 is a means for transmitting the operation history registered in the storage means 10 by the operation history registration means 16 to the family terminal 2 used by a family member who has been registered in association with the elderly person by the user registration means 11.

[0025] Next, the operation of the image sharing system 1 with the above configuration will be explained in detail. On the family terminal 2 and the elderly terminal 3, a client image sharing program is executed to connect to the image sharing system 1 and send and receive data.

[0026] Figure 2 shows an example of the household list screen displayed on family terminal 2. After connecting to image sharing system 1 from family terminal 2 and authenticating, the household list screen shown in Figure 2 can be displayed. This household list screen displays a list of registered households. Furthermore, households can be added and deleted from this household list screen.

[0027] Figure 3 shows an example of a household addition screen displayed on the family terminal 2. When the add button 21 on the household list screen 20 shown in Figure 2 is selected, the household addition screen 30 shown in Figure 3 is displayed on the family terminal 2. After entering the "household name" and "household details" on this household addition screen 30 and selecting the create household button 31, the entered information is stored in the storage means 10 by the user registration means 11.

[0028] Figure 4 shows an example of the elderly list screen displayed on family terminal 2. When any household is selected from the household list 22 displayed on the household list screen 20 shown in Figure 2, the elderly list screen 40 shown in Figure 4 is displayed on family terminal 2. Elderly people can be added and removed from this elderly list screen 40. When the elderly add button 41 on the elderly list screen 40 is selected, as shown in Figure 5, the user can choose between "Read QR code with camera" ("QR code" is a registered trademark) or "Read from image".

[0029] When "Load from image" as shown in Figure 5 is selected, the elderly person addition screen 50 shown in Figure 6 is displayed on the family terminal 2. On this elderly person addition screen 50, an elderly person can be added by loading an image file containing the QR code of the person being cared for as a two-dimensional code. The QR code of the person being cared for is identification information that is pre-assigned to the elderly person (person being cared for) to be registered in association with the family. This QR code of the person being cared for can also be displayed on the elderly person terminal 3. When "Read QR code with camera" as shown in Figure 5 is selected, an elderly person can also be added by reading the QR code of the person being cared for displayed on the elderly person terminal 3 with the camera. The elderly person added in this way is stored in the storage means 10 in association with the family for each household by the user registration means 11.

[0030] Figure 7 shows an example of the family list screen displayed on the family terminal 2. When the family tab 43 is selected from the elderly list screen 40 shown in Figure 4, the family list screen 51 shown in Figure 7 is displayed on the family terminal 2. From this family list screen 51, family members can be added and deleted. When the add family button 52 on the family list screen 51 is selected, the add family screen 53 shown in Figure 8 is displayed on the family terminal 2. On this add family screen 53, the name and email address of the family member to be added can be entered and added. The added family members are stored in the storage means 10, associated with the elderly person for each household by the user registration means 11.

[0031] Figure 9 shows an example of the image transmission list screen displayed on the family terminal 2. When a user selects an elderly person from the list of elderly people 42 displayed on the elderly person list screen 40 shown in Figure 4, the image transmission list screen 60 shown in Figure 9 is displayed on the family terminal 2. From this image transmission list screen 60, users can add and delete images (family images) to share with the selected elderly person. When the image addition button 61 on the image transmission list screen 60 is selected, the image addition screen 70 shown in Figure 10 is displayed on the family terminal 2. On this image addition screen 70, users can add family images and messages. The added family images and messages are stored in the storage means 10 by the family image registration means 12. The family image transmission means 15 transmits the family images and messages stored in the storage means 10 to the elderly person's terminal 3.

[0032] Figure 11 shows an example of the received item list screen displayed on the family terminal 2. When the received item tab 64 is selected from the transmitted image list screen 60 shown in Figure 9, the received item list screen 71 shown in Figure 11 is displayed on the family terminal 2. On this received item list screen 71, images (elderly images) registered in the storage means 10 by the elderly image registration means 13 from the elderly terminal 3 are sent to the family terminal 2 by the elderly image transmission means 14 and displayed in a list. When any elderly image is selected from the elderly image list 72 displayed on this received item list screen 71, the selected elderly image 73 is displayed on the family terminal 2 as shown in Figure 12.

[0033] Figure 13 shows an example of a display screen shown on the elderly terminal 3. When the elderly terminal 3 connects to the image sharing system 1 and authenticates, the display screen 80 shown in Figure 13 is displayed on the elderly terminal 3. The display screen 80 of the elderly terminal 3 is provided with an image display area 81 for displaying family images transmitted by the family image transmission means 15, a video button 82 and a photo button 83 for taking and sending moving images or photographic images (still images) that the elderly person wishes to share with their family (elderly person images), and a calendar display area 84 for displaying a calendar.

[0034] Furthermore, the elderly terminal 3 has the function to change the layout and displayed items of the display screen 80. The elderly terminal 3 also has the function to change the font size, font color, and background color. By changing the layout of the display screen 80 in this way, it can be customized to suit the individual elderly person's needs. This also makes it possible to make it easier to use for elderly people who have difficulty reading small text, or for elderly people with color vision deficiencies, etc.

[0035] In the image display area 81, family images registered in the storage means 10 are transmitted to the elderly terminal 3 by the family image transmission means 15 and displayed. These family images are registered from the family terminal 2 by the family of the elderly person using the elderly terminal 3, as described above. If multiple family images are registered in the storage means 10, the multiple registered family images are displayed in a slideshow format in the image display area 81. In addition, the message registered along with the family image is also displayed in the image display area 81.

[0036] When the photo button 83 on the display screen 80 is selected, the photo-taking screen 84 shown in Figure 14 is displayed on the elderly terminal 3. When the elderly person selects the start-shoot button 85, a countdown to shooting begins, and after a few seconds, the photo is taken. The captured photo image is automatically sent to the image sharing system 1 and registered in the storage means 10 by the elderly person image registration means 13. The photos registered in the storage means 10 are displayed in a list on the received item list screen 71. If the video button 82 is selected, a video is taken in the same way as a photo, and the captured video is automatically sent to the image sharing system 1 and registered in the storage means 10 by the elderly person image registration means 13.

[0037] Furthermore, the actions of the elderly user on the elderly terminal 3 are transmitted from the elderly terminal 3 to the image sharing system 1 and registered as operation history in the storage means 10 by the operation history registration means 16. These actions include launching the client image sharing program, changing settings, enlarging images, playing messages, and sending images. The elderly terminal 3 is also equipped with a camera to detect the elderly user's face, and this face detection is also registered in the storage means 10 as part of the elderly user's operation history.

[0038] The operation history registered in the storage means 10 is transmitted to the family terminal 2 by the operation history transmission means 17. Figure 15 shows an example of the operation history list screen displayed on the family terminal 2. The operation history list screen 90 in Figure 15 is displayed on the family terminal 2 by selecting the monitoring tab 65 in Figure 9.

[0039] The operation history list screen 90 displays a list of the date, time, and content of operations performed by the elderly person. While it is possible to display each operation individually, similar operations can also be grouped together and transmitted via the operation history transmission means 17 for a predetermined time period, and then displayed. This prevents unique operations from being lost in a large list of operations. Furthermore, providing an organized list enhances the awareness and understanding of family members monitoring the elderly person. Additionally, transmitting organized information can save on communication costs.

[0040] More specifically, for example, regarding image zooming operations, if image A is zoomed in and then another image B is zoomed in within one hour, the operation history for the latter is not registered (or registered but not displayed), thereby limiting the information displayed to family members and providing simpler information. Furthermore, image zooming operations and setting change operations are treated as separate groups (unrelated information), and operations from the other group are registered as is, making it easier for elderly users to understand the operations.

[0041] As described above, in the image sharing system 1 of this embodiment, family images registered from family members registered in association with the elderly person are transmitted to the elderly terminal 3 used by the elderly person, and can be displayed on the elderly terminal 3. On the other hand, images of the elderly person registered from the elderly terminal 3 used by the elderly person are transmitted to the family terminal 2 used by family members registered in association with the elderly person, and can be displayed on the family terminal 2. In other words, the image sharing system 1 of this embodiment makes it possible to share images bidirectionally between the elderly person and their family.

[0042] Furthermore, in the image sharing system 1 of this embodiment, elderly people and their families are registered in association with each family household. Therefore, if an elderly person's family includes multiple households, family images registered from the family terminals 2 used by the multiple households registered in association with the elderly person are transmitted to the elderly terminal 3 used by the elderly person, and can be displayed on the elderly terminal 3. On the other hand, images of the elderly person registered from the elderly terminal 3 used by the elderly person are transmitted to the family terminals 2 used by the multiple households registered in association with the elderly person, and can be displayed on the family terminals 2. In other words, in the image sharing system 1 of this embodiment, even if an elderly person's family includes multiple households, it is possible to share images bidirectionally between the elderly person and their family on a household basis. Moreover, when images are shared on a household basis, images are not shared between households other than the elderly person, thus protecting privacy.

[0043] Furthermore, in the image sharing system 1 of this embodiment, the operation history of the elderly person's terminal 3 is transmitted to the family terminal 2 used by a family member registered in association with that elderly person. This can then be displayed on the family terminal 2, making it possible to check on the elderly person's well-being. [Industrial applicability]

[0044] The image sharing system and program of the present invention are useful as an image sharing system and program for sharing images between elderly people and their families, and are particularly suitable as an image sharing system and program that enables two-way image sharing between elderly people and their families. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0045] 1. Image sharing system 2 Family devices 3. Terminals for the elderly 10 Memory means 11. User Registration Methods 12. Family Image Registration Method 13. Method for registering images of elderly people 14. Means for transmitting images of the elderly 15. Family image transmission method 16 Operation history registration means 17 Operation history transmission means

Claims

1. A user registration method that links elderly people and their families, A family image registration means for registering images (hereinafter referred to as "family images") to be transmitted to a terminal used by an elderly person registered by the user registration means (hereinafter referred to as "elderly person terminal") from a terminal used by a family member registered in association with the elderly person by the user registration means (hereinafter referred to as "family terminal"), A means for registering images transmitted from the aforementioned elderly terminal (hereinafter referred to as "elderly image"), An elderly person image transmission means that transmits an elderly person image registered by the elderly person image registration means to a family terminal used by a family member registered in association with that elderly person by the user registration means, Family image transmission means transmits family images registered by the family image registration means to an elderly person's terminal used by the elderly person who has been registered in association with that family by the user registration means. An image sharing system that includes this feature.

2. The image sharing system according to claim 1, wherein the user registration means registers elderly persons and their families in association with each family household.

3. Operation history registration means for registering the operation history of the elderly terminal transmitted from the elderly terminal, Operation history transmission means transmits the operation history registered by the operation history registration means to a family terminal used by a family member registered in association with the elderly person by the user registration means. The image sharing system according to claim 1 or 2, including the following:

4. A user registration method that links elderly people and their families, A family image registration means for registering images (hereinafter referred to as "family images") to be transmitted to a terminal used by an elderly person registered by the user registration means (hereinafter referred to as "elderly person terminal") from a terminal used by a family member registered in association with the elderly person by the user registration means (hereinafter referred to as "family terminal"), A means for registering images transmitted from the aforementioned elderly terminal (hereinafter referred to as "elderly image"), An elderly person image transmission means that transmits an elderly person image registered by the elderly person image registration means to a family terminal used by a family member registered in association with that elderly person by the user registration means, Family image transmission means transmits family images registered by the family image registration means to an elderly person's terminal used by the elderly person who has been registered in association with that family by the user registration means. An image sharing program that enables computers to function as such.

Images