Information processing systems and information processing programs

Abstract

The objective is to provide an information processing system and program that can present recommended content that takes user attributes into account, even for users whose attributes have not been set. [Solution] The information processing system is an information processing system that creates an album using content selected by a user, wherein when a user with no attributes set selects content to include in the album, the processor presents the user with recommended content for when the user has no attributes, and when a predetermined number of content items are selected by the user, the processor associates the attributes identified based on the selected content with the user, and further presents the user with the recommended content based on the identified attributes using an estimation model that estimates recommended content based on the user's attributes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an information processing system and an information processing program.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an information processing system including: a first acquisition unit that acquires a viewing history of broadcast content viewed by a user; a second acquisition unit that acquires subject information regarding a subject included in captured image data possessed by the user; an estimation unit that estimates attribute information indicating the user's preference for the broadcast content based on the viewing history acquired by the first acquisition unit and the subject information acquired by the second acquisition unit; and a presentation unit that presents information corresponding to the attribute information estimated by the estimation unit to the user.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There are sites that create an album using the content selected by a user and provide it through sales or the like. For example, there is a content sales site that creates and sells an album by a user selecting content such as photos or videos. Here, when a user selects content, recommended content may be presented. It is conceivable that the recommended content is determined from the content selected by other users and the attributes of the user who is about to receive the album.

[0005] However, for example, for a user who has never received content and whose attributes are not set, only general recommended content can be presented.

[0006] Therefore, this disclosure aims to provide an information processing system and information processing program that can present recommended content that takes into account the user's attributes, even for users whose attributes have not been set. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the information processing system according to the first embodiment is an information processing system that creates an album using content selected by a user, and comprises a processor, wherein when a user with no attributes set selects content to include in the album, the processor presents the user with recommended content for cases where the user has no attributes, and when a predetermined number of content items are selected by the user, it associates the attributes identified based on the selected content with the user, and further presents the user with the recommended content based on the identified attributes using an estimation model that estimates recommended content based on the user's attributes.

[0008] The information processing system according to the second embodiment, in the information processing system according to the first embodiment, deletes the attribute associated with the user if an album using the selected content is not purchased, and saves the attribute associated with the user if an album using the selected content is purchased.

[0009] The information processing system according to the third embodiment is an information processing system according to the first embodiment in which each of the contents is assigned at least one of a plurality of tags, including a first tag and a second tag, and the processor presents the user with a plurality of recommended contents such that the number of contents assigned the first tag corresponds to the number of contents assigned the second tag when the user has no attributes; when a first attribute corresponding to the first tag is identified as an attribute of the user, the processor presents the user with a plurality of recommended contents such that the number of contents assigned the first tag is greater than the number of contents assigned the second tag when the user has identified attributes, and when a second attribute corresponding to the second tag is identified as an attribute of the user, the processor presents the user with a plurality of recommended contents such that the number of contents assigned the second tag is greater than the number of contents assigned the first tag when the user has identified attributes.

[0010] The information processing system according to the fourth embodiment, in the information processing system according to the third embodiment, presents the user with a plurality of recommended content such that, when presenting the user with the recommended content based on the identified attributes, the content includes a predetermined minimum number of content with the first tag and a predetermined minimum number of content with the second tag.

[0011] The information processing system according to the fifth embodiment is an information processing system according to the third embodiment in which the first tag includes information that identifies the person represented by the content, and the first attribute includes multiple attributes that each have a preference for a different person.

[0012] The information processing system according to the sixth embodiment is an information processing system according to the first embodiment in which the processor proposes a layout for each page of the album and changes the recommended content according to the layout of the pages of the album.

[0013] The information processing system according to the seventh embodiment, in the information processing system according to the fifth embodiment, the processor proposes a layout for each page of the album, and for pages where the layout is a double-page spread, it presents the recommended content which includes content that displays the identified preferred person of the first attribute in the center.

[0014] The information processing system according to the eighth aspect is an information processing system according to the third aspect, wherein the content represents an event in which multiple people appear, the second tag includes information indicating that it represents all the people appearing in the event or a group consisting of at least two people appearing in the event, the second attribute is an attribute indicating preference for all the people or group appearing in the event, the processor proposes a layout for each page of the album, and for pages where the layout is a double-page spread and which correspond to the last page, it presents the recommended content including the content to which the second tag has been assigned.

[0015] In the information processing system according to the ninth embodiment, the processor presents a plurality of contents whose similarity between contents is less than a threshold as the recommended content.

[0016] The information processing system according to the tenth embodiment is an information processing system according to the first embodiment in which the content represents an event, a ticket for participating in the event displays a two-dimensional code for creating the album corresponding to the event, and when the processor receives information from the user indicating the two-dimensional code, it presents the recommended content from among a plurality of contents representing the event corresponding to the two-dimensional code.

[0017] The information processing system according to the 11th embodiment is an information processing system according to the 10th embodiment in which the event includes multiple events, and the processor presents the recommended content from multiple contents representing the multiple events when it does not receive information indicating the two-dimensional code from the user.

[0018] An information processing program according to the 12th embodiment is an information processing program for creating an album using content selected by a user, comprising a processor, wherein the processor causes the computer to perform the following actions when a user with no attributes selected content to be included in the album: present the user with recommended content for when the user has no attributes; when the user has selected a predetermined number of content items, associate the attributes identified based on the selected content with the user; and further present the user with the recommended content based on the identified attributes using an estimation model that estimates recommended content based on the user's attributes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the first embodiment, even for users whose attributes have not been set, recommended content that takes the user's attributes into consideration can be presented.

[0020] According to the second embodiment, even before purchase, recommended content that takes the user's attributes into consideration can be presented.

[0021] According to the third embodiment, multiple recommended content can be presented in proportions that take into account the user's attributes.

[0022] According to the fourth aspect, content not based on user attributes can be included in and presented as recommended content.

[0023] According to the fifth aspect, content representing the user's preferred person can be included in the recommended content.

[0024] According to the sixth aspect, recommended content according to the layout of the album page can be presented.

[0025] According to the seventh aspect, content that displays the user's favorite person in the center according to the layout of the album page can be presented as recommended content.

[0026] According to the eighth aspect, content that displays all of the user's favorite people according to the layout of the album page can be presented as recommended content.

[0027] According to the ninth aspect, recommended content can be presented so that no similar content is included.

[0028] According to the tenth aspect, recommended content can be presented from content corresponding to events in which the user participated.

[0029] According to the eleventh aspect, recommended content can be presented from content corresponding to multiple events.

[0030] According to the twelfth aspect, even for a user whose attributes are not set, recommended content considering the user's attributes can be presented.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the information processing system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a block diagram showing a main part configuration of the electrical system of the printing device in the information processing system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a block diagram showing a main part configuration of the electrical system of the server and the user terminal in the information processing system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of the server in the information processing system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5]This figure shows an example of a screen that displays recommended content. [Figure 6] This flowchart shows an example of the flow of recommended image presentation processing performed by the server of the information processing system according to this embodiment. [Figure 7] This flowchart shows an example of the flow of recommended image presentation processing performed by the server of the information processing system according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0032] Hereinafter, an example of this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an information processing system in which a user terminal, a printing device, and a server are connected via various communication lines such as networks will be described as an example. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of the information processing system 10 according to this embodiment.

[0033] As shown in Figure 1, the information processing system 10 according to this embodiment includes a server 11, a printing device 12, and a user terminal 14. The server 11, the printing device 12, and the user terminal 14 are connected to each other via a communication line 18 such as a LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), the Internet, or an intranet. The server 11, the printing device 12, and the user terminal 14 are each capable of sending and receiving various types of data to and from each other via the communication line 18. In this embodiment, the printing device 12 forms an image corresponding to the print instruction when the server 11 instructs the printing device 12 to print an album containing images selected by the user terminal 14.

[0034] In Figure 1, only one server 11, one printer 12, and one user terminal 14 are shown, but there may be multiple instances of each, or multiple instances of any one of them.

[0035] The printing apparatus 12 according to this embodiment has multiple functions, such as a printing function for performing printing operations and a post-processing function for performing post-processing on printed paper. The multiple functions may include a reading function for reading a document and obtaining image information representing the document, a copying function for copying the image recorded on the document onto paper, a facsimile function for sending and receiving various data via a telephone line (not shown), a transfer function for transferring document information such as image information read by the reading function, etc., and a storage function for accumulating document information such as image information that has been read.

[0036] In the following explanation, the facsimile function may be referred to as "fax," the reading function as "scan," the printing function as "print," and the copying function as "copy."

[0037] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the main electrical components of the printing device 12 in the information processing system 10 according to this embodiment.

[0038] The printing apparatus 12 according to this embodiment includes a control unit 20, as shown in Figure 2. The control unit 20 may include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0039] On the other hand, the printing apparatus 12 according to this embodiment includes an HDD (hard disk drive) 26 for storing various data and application programs. The printing apparatus 12 also includes a display control unit 28 connected to a user interface 22, which controls the display of various operation screens on the user interface 22's display. The printing apparatus 12 also includes an operation input detection unit 30 connected to the user interface 22, which detects operation instructions input via the user interface 22. In the printing apparatus 12, the HDD 26, the display control unit 28, and the operation input detection unit 30 are electrically connected to a system bus 42. In this embodiment, the printing apparatus 12 uses an HDD 26 as the storage unit, but it is not limited to this, and a non-volatile storage unit such as flash memory may be used. In this embodiment, the user interface 22 is a touch panel capable of display and operation input, but it is not limited to this, and a separate user interface with a display and operation unit may be used.

[0040] Furthermore, the printing apparatus 12 according to this embodiment includes a printing control unit 34 that controls the printing process by the printing unit 24, the transport of paper to the printing unit 24 by the transport unit 25, and the post-processing by the post-processing unit 46. The printing apparatus 12 may also include a reading control unit that controls the optical image reading operation by the document reading unit and the document feeding operation by the document transport unit. The printing apparatus 12 also includes a communication line I / F (interface) unit 36 ​​connected to a communication line 18, which transmits and receives communication data with other external devices such as a server 11 connected to the communication line 18. The printing apparatus 12 may also include a facsimile I / F (interface) unit connected to a telephone line (not shown), which transmits and receives facsimile data with a facsimile device connected to the telephone line. The printing apparatus 12 may also include a transmission / reception control unit that controls the transmission and reception of facsimile data via the facsimile I / F unit 38. In the printing apparatus 12, the printing control unit 34 and the communication line I / F unit 36 ​​are electrically connected to a system bus 42.

[0041] With the above configuration, the printing apparatus 12 according to this embodiment controls the display of information such as operation screens and various messages on the user interface 22 display via the display control unit 28, using the control unit 20. The printing apparatus 12 also controls the operation of the printing unit 24, transport unit 25, and post-processing unit 46 via the print control unit 34, and controls the transmission and reception of communication data via the communication line I / F unit 36, using the control unit 20. Furthermore, the printing apparatus 12 grasps the operation content on the user interface 22 based on the operation information detected by the operation input detection unit 30, using the control unit 20, and performs various controls based on this operation content.

[0042] In this embodiment, an example of an application stored on HDD26 is an application that performs functions such as printing.

[0043] Next, the main electrical components of the server 11 and user terminal 14 according to this embodiment will be described. Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the main electrical components of the server 11 and user terminal 14 in the information processing system 10 according to this embodiment. Since the server 11 and user terminal 14 are typical computer configurations, the server 11 will be described as a representative example below. The user terminal 14 may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone.

[0044] As shown in Figure 3, the server 11 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 11A as an example of a processor, ROM 11B, RAM 11C, storage 11D, operation unit 11E, display unit 11F, and communication line I / F (interface) unit 11G. The CPU 11A controls the overall operation of the server 11. The ROM 11B stores various control programs and parameters in advance. The RAM 11C is used as a work area when the CPU 11A executes various programs. The storage 11D stores various data and application programs. The operation unit 11E is used to input various information. The display unit 11F is used to display various information. The communication line I / F unit 11G is connected to the communication line 18 and transmits and receives various data with other devices connected to the communication line 18. The communication line I / F unit 11G may also be configured to communicate directly with each device using various well-known wireless communication methods. The above parts of the server 11 are electrically interconnected by a system bus 11I. In this embodiment, the server 11 uses storage 11D as the storage unit, but examples of storage include non-volatile storage units such as HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) and flash memory.

[0045] With the above configuration, the server 11 according to this embodiment uses the CPU 11A to access the ROM 11B, RAM 11C, and storage 11D, acquire various data via the operation unit 11E, and display various information on the display unit 11F. The server 11 also uses the CPU 11A to control the transmission and reception of communication data via the communication line interface unit 11G.

[0046] Next, we will describe the functional configuration of server 11. Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of server 11.

[0047] Functionally, as shown in Figure 4, the server 11 is configured to include a user information database (DB) 50, an image database (DB) 51, an acquisition unit 52, a selection reception unit 53, an attribute identification unit 54, an estimation unit 55, a layout proposal unit 56, a presentation unit 57, a purchase processing unit 58, and a storage unit 59.

[0048] In this embodiment, we will explain an example in which an album is created using images selected by the user from a group of images taken at an event featuring a group of at least two people.

[0049] The user information database (DB) 50 stores each user's purchase history and each user's attributes stored by the storage unit 59.

[0050] Here, user attributes include multiple attributes indicating preferences for different individuals, attributes indicating preferences for all individuals appearing in an event, and attributes indicating preferences for groups appearing in an event.

[0051] For example, a user's attributes may include attributes indicating support for the entire idol group X, attributes indicating support for a specific person A within that idol group, attributes indicating support for a specific person B within that idol group, and attributes indicating support for a specific person C within that idol group.

[0052] Image database (DB) 51 stores a collection of images taken at events featuring groups of at least two people.

[0053] For example, the event in question is a music concert featuring an idol group, and it was held multiple times. Each image in the image database 51 is assigned identification information (e.g., the date) that identifies which event the image was taken at.

[0054] Furthermore, each image included in the image database 51 is assigned at least one of several types of tags.

[0055] Multiple types of tags include tags that contain information identifying the person represented in the image, tags that indicate all the people appearing at the event, and tags that indicate a group consisting of at least two people appearing at the event.

[0056] For example, multiple types of tags include tags that represent person A, tags that represent person B, tags that represent person C, and tags that represent all members of idol group X.

[0057] Here, the ticket for participating in the event displays a QR code that allows you to create an album corresponding to the event.

[0058] When the acquisition unit 52 receives information indicating a two-dimensional code from the user terminal 14, it acquires multiple images representing the event corresponding to the two-dimensional code from the image database 51. As a result, multiple images taken at the event corresponding to the ticket held by the user are acquired from the image database 51.

[0059] If the acquisition unit 52 does not receive information indicating a 2D code from the user terminal 14, it acquires multiple images representing multiple events from the image database 51. As a result, multiple images taken at each of the multiple events held are acquired from the image database 51.

[0060] The selection reception unit 53 receives the selection of images to be included in the album from the user terminal 14, from among the multiple images presented by the presentation unit 57.

[0061] In this embodiment, the example described is the creation of an album printed by the printing device 12, but it is not limited to this, and it may also be the creation of an album that is digital data on the cloud, or a group of photos (group folder) named "album".

[0062] The attribute identification unit 54 identifies the user's attributes based on the selected images when a predetermined number of images are selected by the user.

[0063] Specifically, the attribute identification unit 54 identifies the user's attributes based on the types of tags assigned to multiple images selected by the user.

[0064] For example, if the proportion of tags indicating that person A is represented among the multiple tags attached to multiple images selected by the user is above a threshold, the attribute identification unit 54 identifies the attribute indicating that person A is supported as an attribute of the user. Also, if the proportion of tags indicating that all members of idol group X are represented among the multiple tags attached to multiple images selected by the user is above a threshold, the attribute identification unit 54 identifies the attribute indicating that all members of idol group X are supported as an attribute of the user.

[0065] The estimation unit 55, if the user's attributes are stored in the user information DB 50, uses an estimation model that estimates recommended images based on the user's attributes to estimate recommended images based on the stored user attributes. Note that the recommended images are examples of recommended content.

[0066] If the user's attributes are not set and the user's attributes are not stored in the user information DB 50, the estimation unit 55 uses an estimation model to estimate a recommended image based on the attributes identified by the attribute identification unit 54.

[0067] Here, as an estimation model for estimating recommended images, for example, a model that estimates multiple images selected from albums purchased by other users with the same attributes as each user, based on each user's attributes and purchase history, may be used as the recommended image, and a neural network model may also be used.

[0068] The layout proposal unit 56 proposes layouts for each page of the album. Proposed layouts include, for example, a layout in which at least one image is placed on each left and right page, and a layout in which one image is placed on a double-page spread.

[0069] If the user's attributes are stored in the user information DB 50, the display unit 57 displays a recommended image based on the user's attributes on the user terminal 14.

[0070] For example, as shown in Figure 5, the user terminal 14 is presented with a suggested layout for the page in question in the album, along with a recommended image (see the dashed box in Figure 5). At this time, the selection reception unit 53 receives a request from the user terminal 14 to drag and drop an image selected from the recommended image or all images (see the thick box in Figure 5) into the image placement area in the layout.

[0071] Figure 5 shows an example where 10 recommended images are presented, along with all pages displayed in the lower section of the screen. Figure 5 also shows an example of a layout where horizontal images are placed on the left page and vertical images on the right page.

[0072] Furthermore, when a user whose attributes have not been set selects an image to include in an album, the display unit 57 displays recommended images on the user terminal 14 in cases where the user has no attributes.

[0073] Specifically, if the user's attributes are not stored in the user information DB 50 and the attributes have not been identified by the attribute identification unit 54, the display unit 57 will display a recommended image for when the user has no attributes on the user terminal 14.

[0074] For example, the display unit 57 displays images that have been selected or purchased by many users, which are pre-determined based on each user's purchase history, as well as recommended images when the user does not have any attributes, on the user terminal 14.

[0075] If the user's attributes are not stored in the user information DB 50, but the attributes have been identified by the attribute identification unit 54, the presentation unit 57 presents a recommended image based on the identified attributes to the user terminal 14.

[0076] Furthermore, the display unit 57 presents multiple recommended images to the user terminal 14 as recommended images when the user does not have any attributes, such that the number of images tagged to represent a group appearing in the event corresponds to the number of images tagged to represent a specific person.

[0077] For example, when presenting 10 recommended images, the user terminal 14 will display five images tagged with an indication that they represent a group appearing at the event, and five images tagged with an indication that they represent a specific person, as recommended images.

[0078] Furthermore, if the display unit 57 identifies an attribute of the user indicating a preference for groups appearing in the event, it will present multiple recommended images to the user terminal 14 as recommended images based on the identified attribute, such that the number of images tagged with an indication that they represent groups appearing in the event is greater than the number of images tagged with an indication that they represent a specific person.

[0079] For example, when presenting 10 recommended images, the user terminal 14 will display 7 images tagged with an indication that they represent a group appearing at the event, and 3 images tagged with an indication that they represent a specific person, as recommended images.

[0080] Furthermore, if the display unit 57 identifies an attribute of the user indicating a preference for a specific person A, it will display multiple recommended images on the user terminal 14 as recommended images based on the identified attribute, such that the number of images tagged to represent the specific person A is greater than the number of images tagged to represent the group appearing in the event.

[0081] For example, when presenting 10 recommended images, the user terminal 14 will display three images tagged with an indication that they represent a group appearing at the event, and seven images tagged with an indication that they represent a specific person A.

[0082] Furthermore, when the presentation unit 57 presents recommended images to the user based on identified attributes, it is preferable that the presentation unit 57 presents multiple recommended images to the user such that a predetermined minimum number (e.g., 1 image) of images tagged with a tag indicating that they represent a group appearing at the event are included, and a predetermined minimum number (e.g., 1 image) of images tagged with a tag indicating that they represent a specific person are included.

[0083] Furthermore, the display unit 57 may change the recommended image according to the layout of the album pages.

[0084] Specifically, the display unit 57 may display recommended images, including an image in the center of a page where the layout is a two-page spread, showing the preferred person indicated by the specified attribute.

[0085] Furthermore, the display unit 57 may also display to the user recommended images, including images tagged with an indication of the group appearing in the event, for pages where the layout is a double-page spread and which correspond to the last page.

[0086] Furthermore, the display unit 57 may also display multiple images whose similarity between images is below a threshold as recommended images. This prevents the display of multiple images with similar configurations as recommended images.

[0087] The purchase processing unit 58 receives an instruction from the user terminal 14 to purchase an album containing the selected images, performs the purchase process, and also sends a print instruction to the printing device 12 to print the album containing the selected images.

[0088] If an album using the selected image is not purchased, the storage unit 59 deletes the attribute identified by the attribute identification unit 54 and associated with the user.

[0089] When an album using the selected image is purchased, the storage unit 59 stores the attributes identified by the attribute identification unit 54 and associated with the user in the user information DB 50 as the user's attributes.

[0090] Next, we will describe the specific processes performed in the information processing system 10 according to this embodiment, which is configured as described above.

[0091] First, the user terminal 14 sends a request to the server 11 to create an album using images selected from a group of images taken at an event featuring a group of at least two people. Furthermore, if the user possesses a ticket to participate in the event, the user terminal 14 obtains information indicating the QR code displayed on the ticket and sends it to the server 11.

[0092] Next, in server 11, the CPU 11A reads an information processing program from ROM 11B or storage 11D, loads it into RAM 11C, and executes it, thereby performing the recommended image presentation process shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[0093] In step S100, CPU 11A retrieves user information, including the attributes of the user, from user information DB 50.

[0094] In step S102, the CPU 11A, acting as the acquisition unit 52, determines whether or not it has received information indicating a two-dimensional code from the user terminal 14. If it has received information indicating a two-dimensional code from the user terminal 14, it proceeds to step S104. On the other hand, if it has not received information indicating a two-dimensional code from the user terminal 14, it proceeds to step S106.

[0095] In step S104, when the CPU 11A, acting as the acquisition unit 52, receives information indicating a two-dimensional code from the user terminal 14, it acquires multiple images captured in the event corresponding to the two-dimensional code from the image DB 51.

[0096] In step S106, if the CPU 11A, acting as the acquisition unit 52, does not receive information indicating a 2D code from the user terminal 14, it acquires multiple images taken during multiple events from the image DB 51.

[0097] In step S108, the CPU 11A, acting as the layout proposal unit 56, determines the layout to propose for each page of the album.

[0098] In step S110, the CPU 11A determines whether the user's attributes are stored in the user information DB 50. If the user information obtained in step S110 includes the user's attributes, the process proceeds to step S112. On the other hand, if the user information obtained in step S110 does not include the user's attributes, the process proceeds to step S114.

[0099] In step S112, the CPU 11A, acting as an estimation unit 55, uses an estimation model that estimates recommended images based on the user's attributes to estimate recommended images based on the user's attributes.

[0100] In step S114, the CPU 11A, acting as a presentation unit 57, acquires images selected by many users, which are pre-determined based on each user's purchase history, as recommended images when the user's attributes are not available.

[0101] In step S116, the CPU 11A, acting as a display unit 57, presents to the user terminal 14, for each page of the album, the layout determined in step S108 and the recommended image obtained in step S112 or S114.

[0102] In step S118, the CPU 11A, acting as a selection reception unit 53, receives a selection from the user terminal 14 for an image to be included in the album from among the multiple images presented by the presentation unit 57.

[0103] In step S120, the CPU 11A determines whether the user's attributes are stored in the user information DB 50. If the user's attributes are included in the user information obtained in step S110, the process proceeds to step S130. On the other hand, if the user's attributes are not included in the user information obtained in step S110, the process proceeds to step S122.

[0104] In step S122, the CPU 11A, acting as the attribute identification unit 54, determines whether a predetermined number of images have been selected by the user. If a predetermined number of images have been selected by the user, the process proceeds to step S124. On the other hand, if a predetermined number of images have not been selected by the user, the process returns to step S118.

[0105] In step S124, the CPU 11A, acting as an attribute identification unit 54, identifies the user's attributes based on the selected image.

[0106] In step S126, the CPU 11A, acting as an estimation unit 55, uses an estimation model to estimate a recommended image based on the attributes identified in step S124.

[0107] In step S128, the CPU 11A, acting as the presentation unit 57, presents the recommended image estimated in step S126 to the user terminal 14.

[0108] In step S130, the CPU 11A determines whether the user has finished selecting an image. If the user has finished selecting an image, the process proceeds to step S132. On the other hand, if the user has not finished selecting an image, the process returns to step S118.

[0109] In step S132, the CPU 11A determines whether or not a request to purchase an album has been received from the user terminal 14. If a request to purchase an album has been received, the process proceeds to step S136. On the other hand, if no request to purchase an album has been received, the process proceeds to step S134.

[0110] In step S134, the CPU 11A, acting as the storage unit 59, deletes the attributes identified by the attribute identification unit 54 and associated with the user.

[0111] In step S136, the CPU 11A, acting as a storage unit 59, stores the attributes identified by the attribute identification unit 54 and associated with a user in the user information DB 50 as the attributes of that user.

[0112] In step S138, the CPU 11A, acting as a purchase processing unit 58, receives an instruction from the user terminal 14 to purchase an album containing the selected images, performs the purchase process, and also sends a print instruction to the printing device 12 to print the album containing the selected images.

[0113] By processing the data in this way, even for users with no purchase history and no set attributes, it is possible to suggest images that take the user's attributes into account when creating an album.

[0114] <Variation> It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0115] In the embodiments described above, the use of images as content was explained as an example, but the invention is not limited to this. Other types of content may be used as content, such as video, audio data, etc.

[0116] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, each process is executed on any computer. Alternatively, any computer may execute these processes using a processor as hardware, a program as software, or a combination thereof. In this case, the processor is configured to work in cooperation with the program to execute the various processes in this embodiment, and can function as a unit or means in this embodiment. The execution order of the processes by the processor is not limited to the order described and may be changed as appropriate. Any computer may be a general-purpose computer, a computer designed for a specific purpose, a workstation, or any other system capable of executing each process.

[0117] A processor may consist of one or more hardware components, and the type of hardware is not limited. For example, a processor may consist of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), a programmable logic device such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), a dedicated circuit for executing a specific process such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a GPU (Graphic Processing Unit), or an NPU (Neural Processing Unit). Furthermore, the type of hardware may be a combination of different types of hardware. When multiple hardware components are configured to execute one or more processes of a processor, these components may reside in physically separate devices or in the same device. Also, in any embodiment, the order of each process performed by the processor is not limited to the order described above and may be changed as appropriate. Hardware is composed of electrical circuits (circuitry) that combine circuit elements such as semiconductor elements.

[0118] Furthermore, the program may be firmware or software such as microcode. Alternatively, the program may be, for example, a group of program modules, each function of which may be implemented by a processor configured to perform its respective function. The program may be program code or multiple code segments stored on one or more non-temporary computer-readable media (e.g., storage media or other storage). The program may be divided and stored on multiple non-temporary computer-readable media located on physically separate devices. The program code or code segments may represent any combination of procedures, functions, subprograms, routines, subroutines, modules, software packages, classes, or instructions, data structures, or program statements. The program code or code segments may be connected to other code segments or hardware circuits by sending and receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. The program of this application may also be provided as a program product.

[0119] Furthermore, this disclosure is not limited to the foregoing, and it is of course possible to implement it in various modified forms without departing from its intent.

[0120] The following additional information is disclosed regarding the embodiments described above. (((1))) An information processing system that creates an album using content selected by the user, The processor comprises, When a user with no attributes set selects content to include in the aforementioned album, the system presents the user with recommended content for when the user has no attributes. When a predetermined number of content items are selected by the user, the attributes identified based on the selected content are associated with the user, and an estimation model that estimates recommended content based on the user's attributes is used to further present the user with the recommended content based on the identified attributes. Information processing system.

[0121] (((2))) The aforementioned processor, If an album using the selected content is not purchased, the attribute associated with the user is deleted. The information processing system described in (((1))) saves the attribute associated with the user when an album using the selected content is purchased.

[0122] (((3))) Each of the aforementioned contents is assigned at least one of several types of tags, including the first tag and the second tag. The aforementioned processor, When the user does not have the aforementioned attributes, multiple recommended content items are presented to the user such that the number of content items with the first tag corresponds to the number of content items with the second tag. If a first attribute corresponding to the first tag is identified as an attribute of the user, then, based on the identified attribute, multiple recommended content items are presented to the user such that the number of content items with the first tag is greater than the number of content items with the second tag. The information processing system described in (((1))) or (((2))) provides the user with multiple recommended content, provided that, when a second attribute corresponding to the second tag is identified as an attribute of the user, the number of content items to which the second tag is assigned is greater than the number of content items to which the first tag is assigned.

[0123] (((4))) The aforementioned processor, The information processing system according to (((3))) presents the user with a plurality of recommended content such that the content with the first tag is included in a predetermined minimum number of items and the content with the second tag is included in a predetermined minimum number of items when presenting the user with the specified attribute.

[0124] (((5))) The first tag includes information that identifies the person represented by the content, The first attribute is an information processing system as described in (((3))) that includes multiple attributes, each of which has a preference for a different person.

[0125] (((6))) The aforementioned processor, I propose the layout for each page of the aforementioned album. An information processing system described in any one of (((1))) to (((5))) that modifies the recommended content according to the layout of the album pages.

[0126] (((7))) The aforementioned processor, I propose the layout for each page of the aforementioned album. The information processing system described in (((5))) presents the recommended content, which includes content that displays the preferred person of the first attribute identified above in the center, for pages where the layout is a double-page spread.

[0127] (((8))) The aforementioned content represents an event involving multiple characters. The second tag includes information indicating that it represents all the people appearing in the event or a group consisting of at least two people appearing in the event. The second attribute is an attribute that likes all or the group of people appearing in the event. The aforementioned processor, I propose the layout for each page of the aforementioned album. The information processing system described in (((3))) presents the recommended content, which includes the content to which the second tag has been assigned, for a page in which the layout is a double-page spread and which corresponds to the last page.

[0128] (((9))) The aforementioned processor, An information processing system according to any one of (((11))) to (((8))) that presents multiple pieces of content whose similarity between them is below a threshold as the recommended content.

[0129] (((10))) The aforementioned content represents the event, The ticket for participating in the aforementioned event displays a 2D code for creating the aforementioned album corresponding to the aforementioned event. The aforementioned processor, An information processing system according to any one of (((11))) to (((9))) that, upon receiving information from a user indicating the two-dimensional code, presents the recommended content from among a plurality of contents representing the event corresponding to the two-dimensional code.

[0130] (((11))) The aforementioned event includes multiple events, The aforementioned processor, The information processing system described in (((10))) presents the recommended content from among multiple contents representing the multiple events when it does not receive information indicating the two-dimensional code from the user.

[0131] (((12))) An information processing program for creating an album using content selected by the user, The processor comprises, When a user with no attributes set selects content to include in the aforementioned album, the system presents the user with recommended content for when the user has no attributes. When a predetermined number of content items are selected by the user, the attributes identified based on the selected content are associated with the user, and an estimation model that estimates recommended content based on the user's attributes is used to further present the user with the recommended content based on the identified attributes. An information processing program that causes a computer to perform a task.

[0132] According to (((1))), even for users whose attributes have not been set, recommended content that takes the user's attributes into consideration can be presented.

[0133] According to (((2))), even before a purchase, it is possible to present recommended content that takes the user's attributes into consideration.

[0134] According to (((3))), multiple recommended content can be presented in proportions that take into account the user's attributes.

[0135] According to (((4))), content that is not based on user attributes can be included in and presented as recommended content.

[0136] According to (((5))), content representing the user's preferred person can be included in the recommended content.

[0137] According to (((6))), it is possible to display recommended content according to the layout of the album pages.

[0138] According to (((7))), depending on the layout of the album page, content that displays the user's favorite person in the center can be included in the recommended content.

[0139] According to (((8))), depending on the layout of the album page, content displaying all the people the user likes can be included in the recommended content.

[0140] According to (((9))), recommended content can be presented in a way that does not include similar content.

[0141] According to (((10))), recommended content can be presented based on the content corresponding to the events the user has participated in.

[0142] According to (((11))), recommended content can be presented from content corresponding to multiple events.

[0143] According to (((12))), even for users whose attributes have not been set, recommended content that takes the user's attributes into account can be presented. [Explanation of symbols]

[0144] 10. Information Processing Systems 11 servers 12 Printing device 14 User terminals 50 User Information Database 51 Image Database 52 Acquisition Department 53 Selection Reception Department 54 Attribute identification part 55 Estimation part 56 Layout Proposal Department 57 Presentation section 58. Purchasing Processing Department 59 Preservation Department

Claims

1. An information processing system that creates an album using content selected by the user, The processor comprises, When a user with no attributes set selects content to include in the aforementioned album, the system presents the user with recommended content for when the user has no attributes. When a predetermined number of content items are selected by the user, the attributes identified based on the selected content are associated with the user, and an estimation model that estimates recommended content based on the user's attributes is used to further present the user with the recommended content based on the identified attributes. Information processing system.

2. The aforementioned processor, If an album using the selected content is not purchased, the attribute associated with the user is deleted. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein when an album using the selected content is purchased, the attributes associated with the user are stored.

3. Each of the aforementioned contents is assigned at least one of several types of tags, including the first tag and the second tag. The aforementioned processor, As recommended content when the user does not have the aforementioned user attributes, multiple recommended content items are presented to the user such that the number of content items with the first tag corresponds to the number of content items with the second tag. If a first attribute corresponding to the first tag is identified as an attribute of the user, then, based on the identified attribute, multiple recommended content items are presented to the user such that the number of content items with the first tag is greater than the number of content items with the second tag. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein, if a second attribute corresponding to the second tag is identified as an attribute of the user, the system presents the user with multiple recommended content such that the number of content items to which the second tag is assigned is greater than the number of content items to which the first tag is assigned.

4. The aforementioned processor, The information processing system according to claim 3, which, when presenting the user with the specified attribute, presents a plurality of recommended contents to the user such that the contents with the first tag are included in a predetermined minimum number of contents and the contents with the second tag are included in a predetermined minimum number of contents.

5. The first tag includes information that identifies the person represented by the content, The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein the first attribute includes multiple attributes, each of which indicates a preference for a different person.

6. The aforementioned processor, I propose the layout for each page of the aforementioned album. The information processing system according to claim 1, which changes the recommended content according to the layout of the album pages.

7. The aforementioned processor, I propose the layout for each page of the aforementioned album. The information processing system according to claim 5, which, for a page where the layout is a double-page spread, presents the recommended content, which includes content that displays the preferred person of the first attribute identified above in the center.

8. The aforementioned content represents an event involving multiple characters. The second tag includes information indicating that it represents all the people appearing in the event or a group consisting of at least two people appearing in the event. The second attribute is an attribute that indicates a preference for all or all of the people appearing in the event. The aforementioned processor, I propose the layout for each page of the aforementioned album. The information processing system according to claim 3, wherein the layout is a double-page spread, and the recommended content including the content to which the second tag is assigned is presented for the page corresponding to the last page.

9. The aforementioned processor, The information processing system according to claim 1, which presents multiple pieces of content whose similarity between them is below a threshold as recommended content.

10. The aforementioned content represents the event, The ticket for participating in the aforementioned event displays a 2D code for creating the aforementioned album corresponding to the aforementioned event. The aforementioned processor, The information processing system according to claim 1, which, upon receiving information from a user indicating the two-dimensional code, presents the recommended content from a plurality of contents representing the event corresponding to the two-dimensional code.

11. The aforementioned event includes multiple events, The aforementioned processor, The information processing system according to claim 10, which, when it does not receive information from the user indicating the two-dimensional code, presents the recommended content from among the multiple contents representing the multiple events.

12. An information processing program for creating an album using content selected by the user, The processor comprises, When a user with no attributes set selects content to include in the aforementioned album, the system presents the user with recommended content for when the user has no attributes. When a predetermined number of content items are selected by the user, the attributes identified based on the selected content are associated with the user, and an estimation model that estimates recommended content based on the user's attributes is used to further present the user with the recommended content based on the identified attributes. An information processing program that causes a computer to perform a task.

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