Patent Publication Number: US-2011074797-A1

Title: Display terminal device, image display control method, and storage medium

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-227704, filed on Sep. 30, 2009, the entire subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Aspects of the present invention relate to a display terminal device which displays image information associated with a plurality of display information, an image display control method, and a storage medium. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is known a digital photo frame which displays an image on a display unit by reading the image stored in a certain storage medium. Further, it is know a digital photo frame or a general display unit which can perform display control for a slideshow of displaying a plurality of images by intermittently switching the images in a certain time period. In addition, it is known a reproduction device which can perform display control for the slideshow by varying play speed and play time under preset conditions such that reproduction of the slideshow does not become monotonous or boring. 
     However, in the reproduction device, it is necessary to set the play speed or the play time in advance, and such setting operation is complicated. In addition, if a plurality of manual input information, such as a comment, are added to an image by a plurality of users using a device having a hand input device, such as a touch panel, there is a desire to perform control for displaying the image by a slideshow under conditions suitable for input conditions of the manual input information. However, currently, a technique for realizing this desire has not been provided. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a display terminal device which can switch a plurality of image information and display information, which is a plurality of input information added to the image information, according to a switching time suitable for an input condition of the display information when reproducing and displaying the display information on the same display screen as of the image information, which is being displayed. 
     According to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a display terminal device comprising: a display unit including a display area for displaying image information; a display control unit configured to control the display unit to display a plurality of image information by switching the image information; an image information acquiring unit configured to acquire display information to be displayed while being added to the image information and acquire the image information which is associated with a plurality of display information; and a display condition control unit configured to control a reproduction display condition, under which while image information is displayed on the display unit, a plurality of display information associated with the image information are consecutively reproduced and displayed, and control a switching condition, under which one of the image information is switched into another of the image information, based on the plurality of display information acquired by the image information acquiring unit. 
     According to another illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a display terminal device including a display area for displaying image information and a display control unit configured to control the display unit to display a plurality of image information by switching the image information. The method comprises: acquiring display information to be displayed while being added to the image information and acquiring the image information which is associated with a plurality of display information; and based on the acquired plurality of display information, controlling a reproduction display condition, under which while image information is displayed on the display unit, a plurality of display information associated with the image information are consecutively reproduced and displayed, and controlling a switching condition, under which one of the image information is switched into another of the image information. 
     According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium having a computer program stored thereon and readable by a computer for a display terminal device including a display area for displaying image information and a display control unit configured to control the display unit to display a plurality of image information by switching the image information, the computer program, when executed by the computer, causing the computer to perform operations. The operations comprise: acquiring display information to be displayed while being added to the image information and acquiring the image information which is associated with a plurality of display information; and based on the acquired plurality of display information, controlling a reproduction display condition, under which while image information is displayed on the display unit, a plurality of display information associated with the image information are consecutively reproduced and displayed, and controlling a switching condition, under which one of the image information is switched into another of the image information. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects of the present invention will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of illustrative embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic configuration view of a display terminal device  10 ; 
         FIG. 2  is an electrical configuration view of the display terminal device  10 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an explanatory diagram of a flash ROM  24 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an explanatory diagram of an image information database  2411 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an explanatory diagram of a slideshow information database  2421 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory diagram of a display screen of the display terminal device  10 ; 
         FIGS. 7A  and B are explanatory diagrams of a display information database  2431 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a main process executed by the display terminal device  10 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart of a switching time-setting process executed by the display terminal device  10 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an explanatory view of a switching time information database  2422 ; 
         FIG. 11  is an explanatory diagram of a display screen of the display terminal device  10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is an explanatory diagram of a display screen of the display terminal device  10 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart of an image transmission process executed in a first modified illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart of main process  2  executed in the first modified illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 15  is an explanatory diagram of an image information database  2412  in the first modified illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 16  is a flowchart of a process of reproducing display information executed in the first modified illustrative embodiment; and 
         FIG. 17  is a flowchart of a process of reproducing display information according to a second modified illustrative embodiment in step S 104  of the main process shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, a display terminal device according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be appreciated that these drawings are used merely to illustrate technical features that the present invention can adopt. The configuration of the apparatus, the flowchart of each process, and the like described herein are intended to be explanatory only, so that the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     First, with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the outer configuration and electrical configuration of a display terminal device  10  according to an illustrative embodiment will be described. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the display terminal device  10  of this illustrative embodiment will be described. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the display terminal device  10  includes a rectangular casing and a display unit  12  provided in the casing to display image information. A touch panel is provided to overlap the display unit  12 , and acquires position information, which is input by a finger of a user or a touch pen  11  for the touch panel. The touch pen  11  is described by way of an example. 
     Next, with reference to  FIG. 2 , the electrical configuration of the display terminal device  10  will be described. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the display terminal device  10  of this illustrative embodiment includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU)  21 , a Read Only Memory (ROM)  22 , a Random Access Memory (RAM)  23 , flash ROM  24 , and a display monitor  26  and a touch panel  27 , which configure the display unit  12 , and also includes a time-measuring unit  28  and a communication unit  25 . All of these components are connected to each other via bus. 
     The CPU  21  is configured to control the entire display terminal device  10 . The ROM  22  stores a program or settings necessary for basic operations of the display terminal device  10 . The CPU  21  controls the operations of the display terminal device  10  following the program stored in the ROM  22 . The RAM  23  is a storage device that temporarily stores various data. The flash ROM  24  is a nonvolatile semiconductor memory that has various storage areas, which will be described later. 
     The display unit  12  includes an operation screen on which the user performs various operations on the display terminal device  10 , a display monitor  26  that displays image data or the like acquired from other devices, and the general-use touch panel  27  that is provided to overlap the display monitor  26 . When the user makes a touch input by referring to the display unit  12 , the touch panel  27  can acquire position information on the touch input. The time-measuring unit  28  is a device that has a function of a watch to display the present time, and also has a function of adding present time information to the position information acquired by the touch panel. The communication unit  25  is a device that can transmit and receive image information to be displayed on the display unit  12 , to and from other devices via the Internet  30 . Herein, the communication unit  25  may be a device that can transmit and receive information via telephone lines. 
     Next, with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the configuration of the flash ROM  24  will be described. The flash ROM  24  has a plurality of storage areas that includes an image information storage area  241 , a slideshow information storage area  242 , a display information storage area  243 , and the like. The image information storage area stores an image information database  2411  as shown in  FIG. 4 , which includes image information on pictures or the like acquired from other devices. The slideshow information storage area  242  stores a slideshow information database  2421  as shown in  FIG. 5 , which includes information on a slideshow of displaying a plurality of image information by intermittently switching them at certain time intervals. The display information storage area  243  stores display information databases  2431 - 1  and  2431 - 2  as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . 
     Herein, with reference to  FIG. 4 , the image information database  2411  will be described. In the image information database  2411 , the items of image ID, image information, input information, input person information, number of input characters, and input time of input information are stored while being associated with one another. In the item of image ID, information for identifying image information is stored in the form of numerical information. The image ID is set to be automatically numbered when the display terminal device  10  acquires the image information. In the item of image information, the file name of the image information is stored. The image information is stored, such that information, for example, on file formats, such as Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG), Portable Network Graphics (PNG), and Graphics Interchange Format (GIF), corresponds to each file name. In the item of input information, identification information on information which the user has input by operating the display terminal device  10  is stored in the form of symbols. Although a detailed description of input information will be given later, manual input information input via the touch panel  27  of the display terminal device  10  or text data, i.e., information on characters input using a keyboard (not shown) or the like which can be connected to the display terminal device  10  is stored. In the item of input person information, identification information on input persons, each of whom has input input information, is stored. In the item of number of input characters, if input information is text data as described above, information on the number of the characters which have been input is stored by detecting the number of the characters, which have been input, by analyzing the text data. In the item of input time of input information, information on a time when the input information was started to be input by the user is stored. 
     Specifically, for example, if the image ID is  001 , image information AAA is associated but any of the items of input information, input person information, and number of input characters is not stored. In  002  of the image ID, input person information K, L, M, and N is stored, associated with image information BBB and input information B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , and B 4 . In this illustrative embodiment, since B 3  and B 4  of the input information are text data, numerical values 7 and 10 are stored as information on the number of input characters while associated with each other. In addition, the input times 2008/09/01/15:00, 2008/09/02/9:00, 2008/09/03/15:00, 2008/09/04/10:00 are stored, while associated with input information B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , and B 4 , respectively. 
     Next, with reference to  FIG. 5 , the slideshow information database  2421  will be described. In the slideshow information database  2421 , slideshow ID items and image ID items are stored while associated with each other. In the slideshow ID, identification information for identifying information on a slideshow is stored in the form of symbols. The slideshow ID is set to be automatically numbered when a user makes out the slideshow by selecting a plurality of image information. In the item of image ID, an image ID of image information is stored as information to be displayed as the slideshow, selected from a plurality of image information stored in the image information database  2411 . For example, when the slideshow ID is L 1 , image ID  001 ,  002 ,  003 ,  004  is stored while associated with L 1 . Therefore, when the user selects L 1  of the slideshow ID by operating the display terminal device  10 , image information and display information associated with  001 ,  002 ,  003 , and  004  of the image ID can be displayed on the display unit  12  by a slideshow. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 6 to 7B , input information of the display information associated in the image information database  2411  will be described in detail.  FIG. 6  is an explanatory diagram of a display screen of the display unit  12  of the display terminal device  10 , in which image information BBB corresponding to image ID  002  of the image information database  2411  and display information corresponding thereto are display at the same time. As shown in  FIG. 6 , both input information B 1  and input information B 2  are information that the user has input for the image information as a symbol, a picture and characters, such as a comment, by the user&#39;s hand using the touch panel. As shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the input information B 1  and B 2  are respectively stored in the display information storage area  243  as the display information databases  2431 - 1  (FIG.  7 A) and  2431 - 2  ( FIG. 7B ) including coordinate information for display on the display unit  12 . A character information display area  50  displayed in the lower portion of the display unit  12  is an area in which text data corresponding to input information B 3  and B 4  stored in the image information database  2411  are displayed as character information. For example, in this illustrative embodiment, the text data of input information B 3  is set to include information of a comment “CUTE DOG,” including 7 input characters, and the text data of input information B 4  is set to include information of a comment “HAVE A WALK NEXT TIME,” including 17 input characters. 
     Here, with reference to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the display information databases  2431 - 1  and  2431 - 2  will be described in detail. In the display information databases  2431 - 1  and  2431 - 2 , items of X coordinate, Y coordinate, and input time are stored while associated with one another. In the items of X coordinate and Y coordinate, information representing a relative display position of input information input to the touch panel  27  is stored in the form of numerical values at every certain time interval (e.g., 200 ms interval), using a certain reference position in a display area of corresponding image information, for example, the center position or the position of an upper left corner as reference coordinates (0, 0). In the item of input time, time information acquired from the time-measuring unit  28  provided in the display terminal device  10  is stored in the form of year/month/day/hour:minute:second:ms, corresponding to X and Y coordinate information. For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the input information B 1 , input by the user, indicates that the time of a touch input in a position, having an X coordinate of x 1  and a Y coordinate of y 1 , is 2008/09/01/15:00:00:000. In this illustrative embodiment, the input information B 1  indicates that a touch input is made in a position, having an X coordinate of x 2  and a Y coordinate of y 2 , at a time 2008/09/01/15:00:00:200 after a certain time interval of 200 ms. After that, at every time interval of 200 ms, coordinate information, which the user has input on the touch panel by the user&#39;s hand, is stored in the display information database  2431 - 1 . That is, the display information database  2431 - 1  shown in  FIG. 7  indicates that input information B 1  of this illustrative embodiment is stored in the form of information that includes X coordinates from x 1  to x 151  and Y coordinates from y 1  to y 151 . In this manner, input information B 1  shown in  FIG. 6  is drawn by specifying the coordinate information and the times. Similarly, input information B 2  indicates that X coordinates are stored as information on x 200  to x 351  and Y coordinates are stored as information on y 200  to y 351  in the display information database  2431 - 2 . In addition, in the display information database  2431 - 1 , an input time when input information B 1  is input by the user is calculated to be 3 seconds as an input start time of 2008/09/01/15:00:00:000 is subtracted from an input complete time of 2008/09/01/15:00:03:000. Similarly, an input time of input information B 2  can be calculated to be 3 seconds as an input start time of 2008/09/02/9:00:04:000 is subtracted from an input complete time of 2008/09/02/09:00:07:000. 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , a description will be given of a main process executed by the display terminal device  10 . The main process shown in  FIG. 8  is a process that the CPU  21  executes following the program stored in the ROM  22 . 
     The main process shown in  FIG. 8  starts when the power of the display terminal device  10  is turned on. First, the CPU  21  determines whether or not there is a slideshow selection instruction (S 101 ). Here, it is determined whether or not the user has instructed and input an ID of a slideshow, which the user intends to reproduce, from the slideshow database by operating the display terminal device  10 . A detailed description of an instruction input method herein is omitted. However, for example, an input method including displaying a selection screen of slideshow IDs on the display unit  12 , so that the user inputs an instruction using the touch pen  11  or a finger, or a method of allowing the user to directly input the number of the slideshow ID can be used. 
     In the process of step S 101 , if the CPU  21  determines that there is no slideshow selection instruction (S 101 : NO), the process returns to step S 101  and continues to repeat. In the process of step S 101 , if the CPU  21  determines that there is a selection instruction of a slideshow (S 101 : YES), a switching time-setting process is executed (S 102 ). 
     Here, with reference to  FIG. 9 , the switching time-setting process will be described.  FIG. 9  is a flowchart of a switching time-setting process. First, the CPU  21  executes the process of extracting image information, which is associated with the selected slideshow (S 201 ). In detail, in this process, the ID of the slideshow selected in the process of step S 101  in  FIG. 8  is specified in the slideshow information database  2421 , and the image information on the image ID stored in the item of corresponding image ID is extracted from the image information database  2411 . For example, in this illustrative embodiment, in the process of step S 101 , if L 1  is selected as slideshow ID by the user,  001 ,  002 ,  003 , and  004  of image IDs are specified with reference to the slideshow information database  2421 , and furthermore, a plurality of information corresponding to image IDs, such as  001 ,  002 ,  003 , and  004 , are extracted with reference to the image information database  2411 . 
     Next, the CPU  21  executes a process of determining whether or not display information corresponding to the image ID extracted in step S 201  is stored with reference to the image information database  2411  (S 202 ). If it is determined that there is no corresponding display information as the result of the process  5202  (S 202 : NO), the CPU  21  executes a process of setting a switching time to a certain time (S 208 ), and executes a process of determining whether or not there is next image information to be extracted (S 209 ). 
     Here, the process of above steps S 201 , S 202 , S 208 , and S 209  will be described in detail. In the process of step S 201 , image ID  001  is extracted first, and the CPU  21  determines that display information corresponding to image ID  001  is not stored with reference to the image information database  2411  (S 202 : NO). Then, in the process of step S 208 , the switching time is set to a certain time (for example 5 seconds in this illustrative embodiment), and a switching time information database  2422  shown in  FIG. 10  is temporarily composed and stored in the RAM  23 . In the switching time information database  2422  shown in  FIG. 10 , items of image ID, image information, and switching time are stored while associated with each other. Herein, the switching time indicates a time until one image information displayed on the display unit  12  of this illustrative embodiment is switched into another image information. Therefore, in the case of image ID  001 , the switching time is stored to be 5 seconds. After the process of step S 208 , in the process of step S 209 , it is determined that image ID  002  after image ID  001  is stored (S 209 : YES), and the process returns to step S 201 . 
     Returning to the explanation of the process of step S 201  ( FIG. 9 ), if it is determined that the image information extracted in step S 201  has display information (S 202 : YES), it is determined whether or not input information in the display information is text information (S 203 ). In the process of step S 203 , if the CPU  21  determines that the input information is not text information (S 203 : NO), an input time is calculated from an input time corresponding to the display information (S 204 ). 
     Here, the process of steps S 201  to S 206  will be described in detail with respect to this illustrative embodiment. If image ID  002  after image ID  001  is extracted in the process of step S 201 , the process of step S 202  determines that there is input information B 1  corresponding to image ID  002  by referring to the image information database  2411  ( FIG. 4 ) (S 202 : YES). Then, the process of step S 203  determines whether or not input information B 1  is text information (S 203 ). Since the CPU  21  determines that input information B 1  is not text information (S 203 : NO), an input time of input information B 1  is calculated to be 3 seconds as described above with reference to the display information database  2431 - 1  corresponding to input information B 1 , and is temporarily stored in the RAM  23 . 
     Then, in the process of step S 206 , CPU  21  determines that all display information is not processed yet with reference to the image information database  2411  (S 206 : NO) since input information B 2 , B 3 , and B 4  in addition to input information B 1  corresponding to image ID  002  is stored, and returns to the process of step S 203 . In the process of S 203 , the CPU  21  determines whether or not input information B 2  after input information B 1  is text information, and determines that input information B 2  is not text information similarly to B 1  (S 203 : NO). In addition, with reference to the display information database  2431 - 2 , an input time is calculated to be 3 seconds as described above and is temporarily stored in the RAM  23  (S 204 ). In the process of step S 206 , it is determined that there is another display information, which is not processed yet (S 206 : NO), and the process returns to the process of step S 203 . 
     Returning to the process of step S 203 , the CPU  21  determines whether or not input information B 3  stored after input information B 2  is text information with reference to the image information database  2411 . In this illustrative embodiment, since input information B 3  is text information, in the process of step S 203 , the CPU  21  determines that input information B 3  is text information (S 203 : YES), extracts 7, i.e., information on the corresponding number of input characters, from the image information database  2411 , calculates an input time to be 7 seconds by conversion from the number of characters×1 second, and temporarily stores the input time in the RAM  23  (S 205 ). Then, also in the process of step S 206 , it is determined that all of display information is not processed (S 206 : NO), the process returns to step S 203 . 
     Next, in the process of step S 203 , the CPU  21  determines whether or not input information B 4  stored after input information B 3  is text information with reference to the image information database  2411 . In this illustrative embodiment, since input information B 4  is also text information, in the process of steps S 203  and S 205 , the CPU  21  executes the same manner as for input information B 3 , calculates the input time to be 17 seconds, and temporarily stores in the RAM  23  (S 204 ). 
     With reference to the image information database  2411 , the CPU  21  determines that all of the process for the display information corresponding to image ID  002  is completed (S 206 : YES), and stores a total of the input times calculated in the process of step S 204  and step S 205  as a switching time in the switching time information database  2422  (S 207 ). In this illustrative embodiment, as described above, the CPU  21  sums all of 3 seconds (i.e., the input time of input information B 1 ), 3 seconds (i.e., the input time of input information B 2 ), 7 seconds (i.e., the input time of input information B 3 ), and 17 seconds (i.e., the input time of input information B 4 ), and stores the switching time corresponding to image ID  002  as 30 seconds in the switching time information database  2422  (S 207 ). 
     After the process of step S 207 , the CPU  21  determines whether or not there is next image information by referring to the slideshow information database  2421  (S 209 ), and determines that there is image ID  003  after image ID  002  (S 207 : YES). Therefore, the process returns to step S 201 , and the CPU  21  executes the process from steps S 202  to S 270  for image ID  003 . Then, the CPU  21  executes the above-described process for image ID  004 . Therefore, the switching times for image ID  003  and image ID  004  are stored in the switching time information database  2422  such that they are calculated to be 17 seconds and 34 seconds. In the process of step S 209  for image ID  004 , the CPU  21  determines that there is no next image information (S 209 : NO), and completes the switching time-setting process. 
     Returning to the main process in  FIG. 8 , after the switching time-setting process of step S 102  is executed, the CPU  21  executes a process of displaying image information (S 103 ). In the process of step S 103 , the CPU  21  performs the process of extracting image ID corresponding to the slideshow ID, to which the selection instruction was made in the process of step S 101 , with reference to the slideshow information database  2421 , and displaying the extracted image ID on the display unit  12 . Specifically, since L 1  has been selected as the slideshow ID in step S 101 , initial image ID  001  corresponding to L 1  of the slideshow ID is specified, and image information AAA is displayed on the display unit  12  with reference to the image information database  2411  (S 103 ). 
     After step S 103 , the process of reproducing display information corresponding to the image information that is being displayed is executed (S 104 ). In the process of step S 103 , image ID  001  is specified in this illustrative embodiment. However, since display information corresponding to image ID  001  is not stored in the image information database  2411 , no display information is displayed to be reproduced in step S 104 . Then, the CPU  21  determines whether or not the switching time is passed (S 105 ). 
     Describing step S 105  in detail, after the display of image information AAA corresponding to image ID  001  in the process of step S 103 , the timer of the time-measuring unit  28  is started, a switching time of 5 seconds corresponding to image ID  001  is acquired from the switching time information database  2422 , and it is determined whether or not 5 seconds are passed in the timer (S 105 ). If the CPU  21  determines that the switching time is not passed, the process is repeated until the switching time is passed (S 105 : NO). In the process of step S 105 , if the CPU  21  determines that the switching time of image ID  001  is passed (S 105 : YES), it determines whether or not there is next image information to be displayed on the display unit  12 . If the CPU  21  determines that there is next image information to be displayed (S 106 : YES), it returns to the process of step S 103 , switches the display to next image information to be displayed, and executes the following process of S 104  to S 106  in the same manner. Otherwise, if the CPU  21  determines that there is no next image information to be displayed in the process of step S 106  (S 106 : NO), the main process is completed. 
     In the process of step S 106  for image ID  001 , which is described above, the CPU  21  determines that there is image ID  002  to be displayed after image ID  001  (S 106 : YES), image information BBB corresponding to image ID  002  is displayed on the display unit  12  (S 103 ). 
     Here, the process of steps S 103  to S 106  for image ID  002  will be described in detail with reference to explanatory diagrams of the display screen in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . First, the display screen state in (a) of  FIG. 11  indicates a state, in the process of step S 103 , after image information AAA corresponding to image ID  001  of an image, which is not shown, is switched to image information BBB corresponding to image ID  002 . Then, in the process of step S 104 , since input information B 1 , i.e., display information is associated with the image information BBB, which is being displayed, with reference to the image information database  2411 , the process of reproducing and displaying input information B 1  to overlap the image information BBB, which is being displayed, as shown in (b) of  FIG. 11  based on corresponding coordinate information on the display information database  2431 - 1  is executed. (b) of  FIG. 11  indicates the sate after input information B 1  is reproduced and displayed. It is noted that the reproduction display described herein indicates a process of adding displays in the sequence, by which input information is input, to display positions corresponding to coordinate information stored in the display information database  2411 - 1  at certain time intervals (i.e., 200 ms intervals in this illustrative embodiment). Therefore, while image information BBB is being displayed, the user can observe the way how input information B 1  is input for 3 seconds by the above-described reproduction display. 
     In the process of step S 104 , after the reproducing and displaying of input information B 1 , the CPU  21  executes a process of performing plying and displaying for 3 seconds by starting the reproduction display of input information based on the display information database  2431 - 2  corresponding to input information B 2 . Therefore, as shown on the display screen in (c) and (d) of  FIG. 11 , input information B 2  is reproduced and displayed as display information to overlap the display of image information BBB. 
     Further, in the process of step S 104 , then the CPU  21  executes a process of reproducing and displaying input information B 3  of display information associated with image ID  002 , as character information by extracting it with reference to the image information database  2411 . As shown in (e) of  FIG. 12 , input information B 1  and B 2 , which is also shown in  FIG. 11 , is displayed to overlap image information BBB of the display screen, and in addition, character information  51  corresponding to input information B 3  is newly added to the lower portion of the screen. Reproduction display of character information, which is described above, indicates a process of sequentially displaying input characters by adding and displaying one character in 1 second. Therefore, in this illustrative embodiment, since the number of input characters is stored to be 7 in input information B 3  with reference to the image information database  2411 , display information on input information B 3  is reproduced and displayed for 7 seconds by displaying characters one by one. Therefore, (e) of  FIG. 12  indicates a display screen state when the reproduction display of input information B 3  is completed. It is noted that, as shown in (e) of  FIG. 12 , a description of input person information M, which is information on an input person of input information B 3 , can be displayed in the character information display area  50 . Then, it is possible to allow the user to know who input character information as input information. 
     Then, in the process of step S 104 , after input information B 3  of the character information display area  50  is reproduced and displayed, reproduction display is performed for input information B 4  in the same manner as for input information B 3 , with reference to the image information database  2411 . In addition, in input information B 4 , since the number of input characters is set to be 17, reproduction display time is 17 seconds, and characters are reproduced and displayed one by one within this time period. (f) of  FIG. 12  shows a display screen state when the reproduction display of input information B 4  as display information is completed. In this illustrative embodiment, if there is a number of character information as input information like image ID  002 , when reproducing and displaying of one character information is completed, the display in the character information display area  50  is canceled first, and reproduction display of next character information to be reproduced is started. 
     In the process of step S 105  in the main process in  FIG. 8 , after display of image information BBB is started, it is determined whether or not a switching time of 30 seconds corresponding to image ID  002 , stored in the switching time information database  2422 , is passed. If it is determined that 30 seconds are passed in the process of step S 105  (S 105 : YES), the CPU  21  determines that there is image ID  003  to be displayed next (S 106 : YES), returns to the process of step S 103 , and starts displaying image information CCC corresponding to image ID  003 . (g) of  FIG. 12  shows a display screen state after display is switched to image information CCC. After (g) of  FIG. 12 , the explanatory diagrams of the display screen are omitted. However, steps S 103  to S 106  described above are respectively and sequentially executed for image ID  003  and image ID  004 . In the process of step S 106  for image ID  004 , the CPU  21  determines that there is no next image information to be displayed (S 106 : NO), and the main process is completed. 
     Therefore, in the case where display information which is a plurality of input information added to image information is reproduced on the same display screen as image information, which is being displayed, display can be switched at a switching time suitable for input conditions of a plurality of display information. Therefore, the user can observe a plurality of image information and a plurality of display information under optimum conditions. 
     Meanwhile, the configuration and the process described in the above illustrative embodiment are explanatory and various alterations are conceivable. Next, a first modified illustrative embodiment of the above illustrative embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 13 to 15 . In the first modified illustrative embodiment, the schematic and electrical configurations of the display terminal device  10  are the same as those of the display terminal device  10  of the above-described illustrative embodiment and thus a description thereof will be omitted. 
     In the first modified illustrative embodiment, when transmitting image information to at least one display terminal device  10  at another point, the display terminal device  10  can transmit image information by designating a transmission method of transmitting image information to be circulated through a plurality of display terminal devices  10  or a transmission method of simultaneously transmitting image information to a plurality of display terminal devices  10 . In the following, there will be described a main process  2  that is executed by the display terminal device  10  at its own point when image information transmitted by the designated transmission method is received from the display terminal device  10  at another point. 
     With reference to  FIG. 13 , the image transmission process executed by the display terminal device  10  of the first modified illustrative embodiment will be described.  FIG. 13  is a flowchart of the image transmission process. First, the CPU  21  determines whether or not there is a transmission instruction for image information (S 301 ). If it is determined that there is no transmission instruction in the process of step S 301  (S 301 : NO), the process returns to step S 301  and is executed repeatedly. It is noted that the transmission instruction of image information described herein refers to an instruction that the user makes by operating the display terminal device  10  to transmit stored image information to the display terminal device  10  at another point. For example, for such determination, a method can be employed, which includes displaying an icon (not shown) corresponding to the transmission instruction of image information on the display screen of the display unit  12  and determining whether or not the transmission destination instruction is input based upon touching of the icon via the touch panel  27  by the user. 
     In the process of step S 301 , if the CPU  21  determines that there is a transmission instruction of image information (S 301 : YES), executes a process of selecting image information to be transmitted (S 302 ). For example, reduced images of a plurality of stored image information can be displayed in a thumbnail manner or file names of image information can be displayed in the form of a list on the display unit  12 , so that the user can select one image information, which is input for an instruction via the touch panel  27 , by touching one image information that the user wants to transmit while watching the display screen. 
     Then, the CPU  21  determines whether or not a circulative transmission method is instructed (S 303 ). Herein, the CPU  21  determines whether it is instructed to transmit image information selected in the process of step S 302  to a plurality of other display terminal devices in a circulative transmission method or to simultaneously transmit a plurality of other display terminal devices (S 303 ). In the process of step S 303 , if the CPU  21  determines that the circulative transmission method is instructed (S 303 ), it executes a process of designating a plurality of transmission destinations for circulation (S 304 ). Specifically, transmission destination information of other display terminal devices, such as the telephone numbers or network addresses, stored in the display terminal device  10  is displayed on the display unit  12 , so that the user can set transmission destination information on a transmission destination, to which the user wants to transmit, by selecting it. 
     Then, the CPU  21  executes a process of designating the sequence of circulative transmission in transmission destination information set in the process of step S 304  (S 305 ). Specifically, the CPU  21  executes the process of displaying a display screen, which displays an instruction allowing selection of a transmission sequence from transmission destination information set in the process of step S 304 , on the display unit  2  and receiving information on the sequence of circulative transmission by the user. 
     Then, the CPU  21  executes a process of transmitting image information selected in step S 302  to first transmission destination in the sequence of circulative transmission designated in the process of step S 305  (S 307 ). It is noted that in the step S 307 , transmission method information is also transmitted, which includes information on the circulation sequence of transmission destination information to be circulated set in the process of step S 304 , while associating the transmission method information with image information. Therefore, when one of other display terminal devices  10  receives image information transmitted in the process of step S 307 , it can confirm transmission destination information of next one of other display terminals  10 , to which circulative transmission is designated, in addition to received image information. 
     If it is determined in the process of step S 303  that the method of simultaneously transmitting a plurality of other display units  10  is instructed instead of the circulative transmission method (S 303 : NO), a process of setting a plurality of transmission destination information for simultaneous transmission is executed (S 306 ). Specifically, transmission destination information of other display terminal devices  10 , such as telephone numbers or network addresses, stored in the display terminal device  10  is displayed on the display unit  12 , so that the user can set the transmission destination information on a transmission destination, to which the user wants to transmit, by selecting it. 
     After the process of step S 306 , the CPU  21  executes a process of associating image information, selected in step S 302 , with transmission method information indicating the transmission method, instructed in step S 303 , and simultaneously transmitting it according to transmission destination information on other display terminal devices designated in step S 306  (S 307 ). After the process of step S 307 , the CPU  21  then determines whether or not there is an instruction to transmit image information (S 308 ). If it is determined that there is an instruction to transmit image information in the process of step S 308  (S 308 : YES), the process returns to step S 302  and the same process is executed repeatedly. If it is determined that there is no instruction to transmit image information in the process of step S 308  (S 308 : NO), the image transmission process as the main process is completed. 
     Next, with reference to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , main process  2  executed by the display terminal device  10  in the first modified illustrative embodiment will be described. The main process  2  is set to execute a process for transmitted image information, to which the transmission method is designated by the above-described image transmission process. 
       FIG. 14  is a flowchart of the main process  2  executed by the display terminal device in the first modified illustrative embodiment. In addition, the main process  2  is the same as the main process illustrated in  FIG. 8 , except for only several steps, and thus a description of the steps of the same process will be omitted. 
     First, the CPU  21  determines whether or not there is a slide show selection instruction (S 401 ). Herein, since the same process as the main process in  FIG. 8  is executed, a detailed description is omitted. However, specifically, also in the first modified illustrative embodiment, the process of specifying the ID of a slideshow, selected in the process of step S 401  from among the slideshow information database  2421 , and extracting image information on image ID, stored in the item of corresponding image ID, from the image information database  2412  shown in  FIG. 15 , is executed. 
     Here, with reference to  FIG. 15 , the image information database  2412  in the first modified illustrative embodiment will be described. The image information database  2412  shown in  FIG. 15  is the same as the image information database  2411  ( FIG. 4 ) of the above-described illustrative embodiment, except that each item of the transmission method matches with each image ID. In the item of the transmission method, information, which presents how transmission was made when the display terminal device  10  transmits an image to other display terminal devices  10 , is stored according to the above-described image transmission process ( FIG. 13 ). For example, as for image ID  001 , nothing is stored in the item of transmission method, indicating that it is not transmitted by the above-described image transmission process. As for image ID  002  and image ID  004 , information labeled as “simultaneousness” is stored in the item of transmission method, indicating that it is image information transmitted by the simultaneous transmission method in the above-described image transmission process. In addition, as for image ID  003 , information labeled as “circulation” is stored in the item of corresponding transmission method, indicating that it is image information that is transmitted, to which the circulative transmission method is designated by the above-described image transmission process. 
     Returning to main process  2  in  FIG. 14 , since the slideshow ID, which is selected in step S 401 , is L 1 , the same process is executed from the switching time-setting process in step S 402  to the process of displaying image information in step S 403  and from the main process illustrated in  FIG. 8  to the process of step S 103 . In the process of step S 403 , with reference to the image information database  2412 , image information AAA corresponding to initial image ID  001 , in which the slideshow ID is specified as L 1 , is displayed. With reference to the image information database  2412 , since display information corresponding to image ID  001  is not stored, the same process as the main process shown in  FIG. 8  is executed from step S 404  to step S 406 . Returning to the process of step S 403  again, the process of switching the display from image information AAA to image information BBB corresponding to BBB, which is supposed to be displayed next, is executed. 
     In addition, after image information BBB corresponding to image ID  002  is displayed by the process of step S 403 , the CPU  21  executes a process of reproducing display information (S 404 ). Here, the process of reproducing display information executed in step S 404  is different from step S 104  in the main process shown in  FIG. 8 , and thus will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 16 . 
       FIG. 16  is a flowchart of the process of reproducing display information executed in the above-described process of step S 404 . First, it is determined whether or not image information, displayed in step S 403  of  FIG. 4 , is image information transmitted by the circulative transmission method (S 501 ). Specifically, information on the transmission method corresponding to image information displayed in the process of step S 403  ( FIG. 8 ) is determined with reference to the image information database  2412 . In this first modified illustrative embodiment, as for image ID  002  corresponding to image information BBB, which is displayed in the process of step S 403 , the CPU  21  determines that information labeled as “simultaneousness” is stored in the item of transmission method (S 501 : NO). 
     Next, the CPU  21  executes a process of reproducing corresponding display information in order of display information corresponding to input person information having more cases stored in the image information database  2412 , among display information corresponding to image ID determined in the process of step S 501  (S 503 ). Here, step S 503  will be described in detail. First, input information which is display information associated with image ID  002  determined in the process of step S 501  is specified to be B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , and B 4 . Then, input person information corresponding to input information is specified such that input person information K corresponds to input information B 1 , input person information L corresponds to B 2 , input person information M corresponds to B 3 , and input person information N corresponds to B 4 . As for specified input person information, the number of cases stored in the image information database  2412  is calculated and specified input person information is ranked by the number of calculated cases. For example, in this first modified illustrative embodiment, with reference to the image information database  2412 , if input person information corresponding to input information on image ID  002  is examined in order of more cases, it is possible to specify input person information such that input person information N indicates 3 cases and is the greatest, input person information M indicates 2 cases, and K and L indicate 1 case. Therefore, in the process of step S 503 , the CPU  21  executes a process of displaying input information serving as display information corresponding to image ID  002  in order of the number of input cases of above-described input person information. Thus, input information B 4  corresponding to input person information N is first reproduced, input information B 3  corresponding to input information M is then reproduced, and input information B 1  and B 2  corresponding to input person information K and L is reproduced. In the above description, input information B 1  and input information B 2 , having the same number of input cases of input person information, are set to be reproduced in order of earlier input time. However, the present invention is not specifically limited thereto. 
     If it is determined that image information displayed in step S 403  of  FIG. 14  is image information transmitted by the circulative method in the process of step S 501  (S 501 : YES), display information corresponding to determined image information is reproduced in order of earlier input time (S 502 ). Specifically, in the case where image information corresponding to image ID  003  is displayed, for example, in the process of step S 403 , it is first determined that information labeled as “circulation” is stored in the item of corresponding transmission method with reference to the image information database  2412  (S 501 : YES). As for input information C 1  and C 2  of display information corresponding to image ID  003 , a process of reproducing input information in order of C 1  and C 2 , i.e., in order of input time from past to present on the display unit  12  is executed (S 502 ). After the process of step S 502  or step S 503  is executed, the process of reproducing display information as the main process is completed. 
     As described above, in the case where image information is transmitted simultaneously to a plurality of other display terminal devices  10  designated as a transmission destination, the display terminal device  10  of its own terminal can reproduce display information added to image information received from other display terminal devices  10  designated as a transmission destination, in order of display information corresponding to the order of input persons who provided more display information in the past. Therefore, the user can sequentially display and observe image information in order of the familiarity of image information of other users, i.e., in order of the number of transmission/reception of image information or display information. In addition, when image information is transmitted such that it is circulated through a plurality of other display terminals  10 , the display terminal device  10  of its own terminal can reproduce display information added to image information, which is received from other display terminal devices  10  after being circulated, in order of the input time from past to present, i.e., in order of the input caused by the circulation. Therefore, the user can observe display information added to image information, which is circulated as above, in order of the circulation. 
     Returning to main process  2  in  FIG. 2 , after the process of reproducing display information in step S 404  is executed, the CPU  21  executes the process of step S 405  and step S 406 . The process of steps S 405  and S 406  in this first modified illustrative embodiment are the same as that of steps S 105  and S 106  in the above-described main process of  FIG. 8 , and thus a detailed description will be omitted. 
     Accordingly, when the display terminal device  10  of this first modified illustrative embodiment transmits image information to a display terminal device  10  at another point, it can designate a transmission method so that image information is transmitted to be circulated through a plurality of other display terminal devices  10  or simultaneously transmitted to a plurality of other display terminal devices  10 . When image information, transmitted by the designated transmission method, is receive from the display terminal device  10  at another point, the display terminal device  10  at its own point can reproduce display information under reproduction conditions suitable for transmission of image information by executing main process  2 . 
     In addition, various modifications other than the above-described first modified illustrative embodiment can be made. In the process of step S 104  in the main process of FIG.  8 , among input information as a plurality of display information, input information input through the touch panel is reproduced to be written over image information. However, this is not intended to be limiting, but other methods can be used. For example, a method may include a process of determining whether or not a plurality of display information is input information, which is input by the user through the touch panel, or text information, a process of determining whether or not there is an overlapping area of input information when all input information, which is determined to be input information input through the touch panel, is displayed simultaneously on the display screen, and a process of, if it is determined that there is no overlapping area of input information, reproducing a plurality of input information so that it is overwritten. If it is determined that there is an overlapping area of input information, it is possible to cancel one input information after it is reproduced and process the next input information as if newly reproducing it. This is because, if a plurality of input information is reproduced to be overwritten on the same image information, overlapping input information making it difficult to identify the information. Herein, as described above, a second modified illustrative embodiment of step  104  will be described with reference to  FIG. 17 . 
       FIG. 17  is a flowchart of the process of reproducing display information executed by the display terminal device  10 , according to the second modified illustrative embodiment of step S 104  of the main process ( FIG. 8 ). First, the CPU  21  determines whether or not input information serving as display information is text information or not (S 601 ). Specifically, it is determined whether or not input information on display information corresponding to image information, which is displayed in the process of step S 103  in  FIG. 8 , is text information. If it is determined not to be text information (S 601 : NO), it is determined whether or not there is an overlapping area when all input information, which is determined not to be text information, is simultaneously displayed (S 603 ). Specifically, for example, if displayed image information is BBB, it is determined that input information B 1  and B 2  of display information is not text information by referring to the image information database  2411  as display information, corresponding image ID of which is  002  (S 603 : NO). Then, it is determined whether or not there is an overlapping area of input information on the display screen of the display unit  12  when both input information B 1  and B 2  is displayed (S 603 ). Specifically, it is possible to determine whether or not same coordinate information is stored by referring to coordinate information on the display information databases  2431 - 1  and  2431 - 2  corresponding to input information B 1  and B 2 . In this illustrative embodiment, even with reference to  FIG. 6 , there is no overlapping area even if input information B 1  and B 2  is simultaneously displayed. Therefore, it is determined that there is no overlapping area in the process of step S 603  (S 603 : NO), and the CPU  21  executes the process of sequentially reproducing input information serving as display information, determined in the process of step S 603 , on the display unit  12  as if overwriting it (S 604 ). 
     In addition, in the process of step S 603 , if it is determined that there is an overlapping area when input information on display information is simultaneously displayed (S 603 : YES), input information is individually reproduced in order of input time corresponding to input information so that the order of input time is from past to present. In addition, in the process of step S 601 , also in the case where input information is determined to be text information (S 601 : YES), the process of step S 602  is executed in the same manner as described above. In this manner, it is possible to prevent a plurality of display information, input through the touch panel, from overlapping on the display panel, which would otherwise become difficult to identify. Therefore, the user can appreciate image information and a plurality of display information under more appropriate reproduction conditions. 
     In addition, as another modified illustrative embodiment, for example, in the process of step S 205  of the switching time-setting process in  FIG. 9 , if input information on display information is text information, input time is calculated by conversion of the number of characters×1 second. However, this is not intended to be limiting. The user may be allowed to appropriately adjust reproduction time to be, for example, 1 character×0.5 second or 1 character×2 seconds. 
     In the above-described illustrative embodiment, the image information to be displayed on the display unit  12  is a still image. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the image information may be a moving image.