Patent Publication Number: US-2002007311-A1

Title: Method and system for registering and opening digital album and electronic service site running system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] As a preserving and utilizing system for photographic image data photographed a digital camera of the related art, there is proposed a system for providing services by storing photograph image data in a large capacity server installed in a camera shop and then providing services through downloading or printing of such stored data as disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 10-150523 (related art  1 ). This system records and stores the image data photographed by the a camera to the server from the terminals installed in various points via the communication line and thereby enables various output services to the storage requesting persons. In these services, the storage requesting persons can exchange the data with the other persons.  
       [0002] Moreover, as a multimedia information collection management system of the related art, there is proposed a system for providing information to terminals having accessed through the Internet by registering, to the database of the information management device, the multimedia information obtained using the public telephone line from an information collection device including a camera and a microphone and then opening such multimedia information through the Internet (related art  2 ).  
       [0003] However, the photograph image data storing and utilizing system of the related art  1  is limited only to use by a storage requesting person and this system cannot allow the third party to freely use the stored data by opening such stored data to the third party, resulting in the problem that the storage requesting person cannot share the storing expense to the third party and the third party cannot obtain the necessary image information.  
       [0004] Moreover, the multimedia information collection management system of the related art  2  can disclose the registered image data but does not describe that the image provider registers the image by giving the open YES/NO information and only the information given the open YES information can be opened to the third party.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The present invention relates to an electronic service site by preparing a mechanism for making reference to goods and services and for proposing a transaction and connecting a plurality of user terminals to this electronic service site via the communication line that is particularly suitable for application to a method and a system for registering and opening digital album for management and lending of image information by receiving such image information.  
       [0006] The present invention has an object to provide a method and a system for registering and opening digital album in which it is no longer required to store the images in the terminal of image provider, the third party can conveniently utilize the image information which is registered allowing the opening thereof and thereby many users can take part in the system.  
       [0007] In order to achieve the object explained above, the digital album registering and opening method that is one of the typical inventions of the present invention discloses an electronic service site running system for enabling connection of a plurality of terminals to the electronic service site through the communication line by opening the electronic service site through preparation of the mechanism for storing image information and generating proposal to transaction. The running system explained above accepts image information having the open YES/NO information and retrieval information from the image provider terminal, stores the image information given the open YES information as the digital open album information, enables opening of the digital open album information at the electronic service site, accepts a retrieval request to the electronic service site from the image user terminal, retrieves, based on the retrieval request, the image information matched with the retrieval request from the digital opening album information and provides the retrieval result to the image user terminal.  
       [0008] Moreover, the running system stores the image information of which registration has been accepted as the digital private album information, enables retrieval, edition and output of the digital private album information via the electronic private service site, accepts the retrieval request for the electronic private service site from the image provider terminal which has requested registration of image, retrieves the image information matched with the retrieval request from the digital private album information based on the retrieval request and provides the retrieval result to the image provider terminal which has issued a request for storing the image. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a digital album registering and opening system as an embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image provider terminal connected to the digital album registering and opening system of FIG. 1.  
     [0011]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the digital album provider terminal.  
     [0012]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the image user terminal.  
     [0013]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a travel agency terminal.  
     [0014]FIGS. 6A, 6B are operation flow diagrams of the digital album registering and opening system.  
     [0015]FIG. 7 is a diagram of an example of ID/password input screen displayed on the image provider terminal.  
     [0016]FIG. 8 is a diagram of the screen transmission and retrieval selection screen example.  
     [0017]FIG. 9 is a diagram of a new and change transmission selection screen example.  
     [0018]FIG. 10 is a diagram of a transmission and selection screen example.  
     [0019]FIG. 11 is a diagram of a private registration screen example.  
     [0020]FIG. 12 is a diagram of a private register check screen example.  
     [0021]FIG. 13 is a diagram of a gathered screen example of examination of private image to be displayed on the image provider terminal or image user terminal.  
     [0022]FIG. 14 is a diagram of an opening and registration screen example to be displayed on the image provider terminal.  
     [0023]FIG. 15 is a diagram of an open and registration check list screen example.  
     [0024]FIG. 16 is a diagram of a registration point display and selection screen example.  
     [0025]FIG. 17 is a diagram of a retrieval and selection screen example to be displayed on the image user terminal.  
     [0026]FIG. 18 is a diagram of a retrieval result list screen example to be displayed on the image provider terminal.  
     [0027]FIG. 19 is a diagram of a finally selected image display screen example to be displayed on the image provider terminal.  
     [0028]FIG. 20 is a diagram of a gathered screen example of examination of open image.  
     [0029]FIG. 21 is a diagram of a retrieval result list screen example.  
     [0030]FIG. 22 is a diagram of a credit number input screen example.  
     [0031]FIG. 23 is a diagram of a finally selected image display screen example.  
     [0032]FIG. 24 is a structural diagram of a digital album registering and opening system of the other embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0033] The electronic service site of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 24.  
     [0034] First, the digital album registering and opening system in relation to the electronic service site of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 23. FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of the digital album registering and opening system of an embodiment.  
     [0035] As illustrated in FIG. 1, in the digital album registering and opening system in which an electronic service site is opened is formed by connecting a plurality of image provider terminals  2 , a plurality of image user terminals  4  and a travel agency terminal  5  to the digital album provider terminal  3  operated by a digital album service company through the Internet network  1  forming the communication line, a provider terminal  6  and the public telephone circuit  1 A forming the communication line. This connection can be established when the registration application is approved after it is applied to the provider terminal  6  from a user terminal formed of the image provider terminal  2 , image user terminal  4  and travel agency terminal  5 . Therefore, the image provider, image user and travel agency can easily take part in this digital album registering and opening system through connection with the Internet network  1  via personal computers. In FIG. 1, the image provider is displayed with representative two providers of the image provider A and image provider B. Moreover, the image user is displayed with representative two users of the image user C and image user D. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and such providers and users may be selected from more or less providers or users. Moreover, the image user may become an image provider and the image provider may become the image user. For the convenience of explanation, these providers and users are explained separately here.  
     [0036] With this connection, the image provider terminal  2 , image user terminal  4  and travel agency terminal  5  can transmit and receive the signal to and from the digital album provider terminal  3  via the public telephone circuit  1 A, provider terminal  6  and Internet network  1 . Namely, the image provider terminal  2  can request registration and opening of the image data picked up with a digital still camera and a digital video camera or the like as a digital album by providing such image data to the digital album provider terminal  3 . Moreover, the image user terminal  4  and travel agency terminal  5  can use the digital album given the open YES information of the digital album provider terminal  3 .  
     [0037] Namely, this embodiment has a distinctive characteristic that storage of image data can be requested with a charge and can receive the retrieval service of these images in the case where the image provider takes part in this system. Thereby, the image provider can freely edit the images picked up and store these images in this system and can also extract these images easily. Therefore, it is no longer required to provide a large capacity storage in the image provider terminal  2  and moreover storage of such images is unnecessary. The image provider can alleviate the storage charge or receive a compensation fee of the opening by adding, under the condition for the opening, the opening condition to the image information under the request of storage.  
     [0038] Moreover, the other characteristic of this preferred embodiment is that the image information can be easily provided for user who requires the image information by opening with a charge the image information registered with the image provider under the condition of opening. Since the image provider can alleviate the storage charge of the private image information by opening a part of the private image information and therefore can widely collect the image information, the image provider can provide versatile image information to the image users.  
     [0039] Next, the image provider terminal operated with an image provider will be explained practically with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image provider terminal connected to the digital album registering and opening system of FIG. 1.  
     [0040] As illustrated in FIG. 2, this image provider terminal  2  is formed of a personal computer installing a browser, including an input device  21 , a control device  22 , a display device  23 , a storage  24 , a communication device  25 , an image input device  26  and a printer  27 . The input device  21  includes a character input unit consisting of a keyboard or the like and is connected to the control device  22  to input thereto the input result. The control device  22  is constituted of a micro- computer to perform the predetermined step corresponding to the control operation of the digital album provider terminal  3 . The display device  23  is constituted of a CRT display or a liquid crystal display device or the like and is connected to the control device  22  to display input contents and receiving contents or the like. The storage  24  stores the intrinsic information of an image provider and is connected to the control device  22 . The communication device  25  has a function to enable the image provider terminal  2  to transmit and receive the data to and from the telecommunication line  1  A and is connected between the telecommunication line  1  A and control device  22 . The image input device  26  includes an image input unit consisting of an image reading device and an electronic image input device or the like and an audio input unit such as a microphone and is connected to the control device  22  to input such input result to the control device  22 . The printer  27  is connected to the control device  22  to output character data and image data or the like and print the characters and images on papers.  
     [0041] Next, the digital album provider terminal  3  in the provider side will be explained practically with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the digital album provider terminal to be used for digital album registering and opening system of FIG. 1.  
     [0042] This digital album provider terminal  3  comprises an input device  31 , a server  32 , a display device  33 , a storage  34 , a communication device  35  and a printer  36 . The input device  31  has an input unit such as a keyboard or the like and is connected to the server  32 . The server  32  stores a running system for realizing the principal control operation of the present invention. The display device  33  is constituted of a CRT display or a liquid crystal display device or the like and is connected to the server  32  to display the transmitting/receiving screens and input screen or the like required for the provider. The storage  34  is formed of a large capacity hard disc or the like that can store the image data to be registered as a digital album and is connected to the server  32 .  
     [0043] Moreover, this storage  34  comprises a member registration DB (database) (not illustrated) for storing various image data and including various pieces of information of members taking part in this system and a opening image management DB (not illustrated) including various information pieces such as the application condition and contract condition of the image information to be opened. The communication device  35  has a function to enable transmission and reception between the server  32  and telecommunication line  1 . The printer  36  is connected to the server  32  to output character data and image data or the like to print characters and images on papers.  
     [0044] Next, the image user terminal  4  to be operated with an image user will be explained practically with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the image user terminal used for the digital album registering and opening system of FIG. 1.  
     [0045] The image user terminal  4  is formed of a personal computer installing a browser and comprises an input device  41 , a control device  42 , a display device  43 , a storage  44 , a communication device  45  and a printer  46 . The input device  41  has an input unit such as a keyboard or the like and is connected to the control device  42 . The control device  42  is formed of a micro-computer to perform the predetermined step corresponding to the control operation of the digital album provider terminal  3 . The display device  43  is constituted of a CRT display or a liquid crystal display device or the like and is connected to the control device  42  to display the transmitting and receiving screens and input screen or the like required for the image user. The storage  44  stores the intrinsic information of the image user and is connected to the control device  42 . The communication device  45  has a function to enable transmission and reception of data between the control device  42  and telecommunication line  1 . The printer  46  is connected to the control device  42  to output character data and image data or the like to print characters and images on papers.  
     [0046] Next, the travel agency terminal  5  operated with a travel agency will be explained practically with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the travel agency terminal used for the digital album registering and opening system of FIG. 1.  
     [0047] The travel agency terminal  5  is formed of a personal computer installing FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and comprises an input device  51 , a control device  52 , a display device  53 , a storage  54 , a communication device  55 , a printer  56  and an image input device  57 . The input device  51  includes an input unit such as a keyboard or the like and is connected to the control device  52 . The control device  52  is constituted of a microcomputer or the like to perform the predetermined step corresponding to the control operation of the digital album provider terminal  3 . The display device  53  is constituted of a CRT display or a liquid crystal display device or the like and is connected to the control device  52  to display the transmitting and receiving images and input image or the like required for the travel agency. The storage  54  is connected to the control device  52 . The communication device  55  has a function to enable transmission and reception between the control device  52  and telecommunication line  1 . This travel agency terminal  5  is used with both functions of the image registration terminal and image use terminal to provide services to those having no terminal, those who cannot make access to the provider with the telecommunication line and those who are planning travels.  
     [0048] Next, operations of the digital album registering and opening system will be explained with reference to FIG. 6 to FIG. 23. FIG. 6 is an operation flow diagram of the digital album registering and opening system of FIG. 1.  
     [0049] The image provider, image user and travel agency previously make a contract with the provider to take part in this digital album registering and opening system to register the ID and password and to enable connection with the provider terminal  6  for the image provider terminal  2 , image user terminal  4  and travel agency terminal  5 . On the occasion of making this contract, it is thought that the required expense is set differently depending on the application contents, for example, the expense is set higher in such a case that the service is used for distribution of catalogues or the like.  
     [0050] As illustrated in FIG. 6A, the image provider terminal  2  is powered to drive the image provider terminal  2  (step  61 ). An image to be registered to the image provider terminal  2  is inputted (step  63 ). This image input can be made in various methods, for example, a media having the image picked up with a digital still camera or digital video camera is inserted into the image input device  26  of the image provider terminal  2  for reading of the image thereof and such image is then stored in the predetermined area, for example, of the storage  24 , or such camera is connected to the image input device  26  for the input of image, or such camera is connected to a mobile radio terminal to input the image by radio to the image input device  26  from the mobile terminal.  
     [0051] Thereafter, the image provider terminal  2  drives a browser (step  64 ) to make access to the specific site of the provider terminal  6  (step  65 ). With access to the specific site, the running system of the digital album provider terminal  3  displays the ID/password input screen  200  of FIG. 7 on the display device  23  of the image provider terminal  2 . In this ID/password input screen  200 , the ID and password of the image provider in the ID input column  201  and password input column  202  is inputted and the execution button  203  is then clicked (step  67 ) to identify a member. When a member is identified, the image transmission/retrieval selection screen  210  of FIG. 8 is transmitted from the digital album provider terminal  3  and is then displayed on the display device  23  of the image provider terminal  2 . Therefore, the image provider can select any one of the image transmitting button  211  and image retrieval button  212  (step  68 ).  
     [0052] Thereby, the image provider can select the shift to the flow for newly registering an image by selecting the image transmitting button  211  (step  70 ) or the shift to the flow for reading and retrieving the image information already registered by selecting the image retrieval button  212  (step  90 ).  
     [0053] When going to the step  70  to newly register the images, since the new/change transmission selection screen  215  of FIG. 9 is transmitted and displayed from the digital album provider terminal  3 , the image provider is capable of selecting an any one of the new transmission button  216  and change transmission button  217  (step  70 ).  
     [0054] Thereby, the image provider can select the shift to the flow for registering a new image (step  72 ) by selecting the new transmission button  216  or the shift to the retrieval flow for correcting image information already registered (step  80 ) by selecting the change transmission button  217 .  
     [0055] When going to the step  72  for registering the new images, since the transmission selecting screen  220  of FIG. 10 is transmitted from the digital album provider terminal  3  and displayed on the display device  23  of the image provider terminal  2 , the image provider can select any one of the private button  221  and opening button  222 .  
     [0056] Thereby, the image provider can select at a time the image to be registered now as the image to be opened or as the private image on the transmission selection screen  220 . Here, when the private button  221  is selected, the step goes to the step  76  and when the opening button  222  is selected, the step goes to the step  82 .  
     [0057] In the step  76  having selected the private button, the private registering screen  225  of FIG. 11 is transmitted from the digital album provider terminal  3  and displayed on the display device  23  of the image provider terminal  2 . The control device of the image provider terminal  2  reads and displays, when it is instructed from the digital album provider terminal  3  to display the registration list screen  225 , the image  233  to be registered first from the predetermined file of the storage  24 . The image provider can input the retrieval information corresponding to the display image to the name input column  226 , place input column  227 , date input column  228 , message input column  229  and other input column  230  on this registration list screen  225 . In this embodiment, an image  233  to be displayed on the private registration screen  225  is explained with an example for calling the sequentially stored image  233  from the predetermined storage file of the predetermined storage  24 . However, it is also possible to call an image by providing an input area for selecting the recording area of the image  233  to be called to this private registration image  225 , for example, a file selection area provided with the pull-down menu.  
     [0058] In the retrieval information, it is also possible to input a writer-name in place of the true name, a building name such as Kyoto Ginkakuji-temple as the place, a photograph pickup date as the date, weather as one word and impression of photographer or the like as the other input data. Moreover, since the name of input person can be identified with the ID/password in the step  67 , it is convenient that the input person is displayed with the default display method. Moreover, when the camera used to pickup an image has the position information and time information, it is also convenient to fetch such information to the place and date.  
     [0059] When a next image exists, the next button  232  is displayed to provide the accessible condition and when the next button  232  is clicked, the image  233  to be registered next is called from the predetermined recording file and is then displayed. Therefore, the relevant content is inputted to the input columns  226  to  230 . The images to be registered are displayed in the input sequence. Each image and retrieval information are temporarily registered to the digital album provider terminal  3  by clicking the transmission button  234  after repeating such displays as many times as the number of images to be registered.  
     [0060] As explained above, the image displayed on the transmission selection screen  220  is the image  233  previously inputted to the image provider terminal  2 . Moreover, in the case where correction and addition are made to the retrieval information in regard to the preceding image in this private registration input screen  225 , the screen can be returned to the preceding input image screen by clicking the return button  231  and therefore the input such as correction and addition can be made to such screen.  
     [0061] When temporary registration is performed as explained above, the digital album provider terminal  3  transmits the look screen of private registration confirmation  240  to the image provider terminal  2 . The image provider can officially register the temporarily registered image together with the retrieval information by confirming the look screen of private registration confirmation  240  and then clicking the decision button  248 . Thereby, the digital album provider terminal  3  stores the temporarily registered content to the storage  34  to complete the private registration (step  77 ).  
     [0062] The confirming method in this step  77  will be explained practically. First, since a plurality of images (three images in this example)  241  and corresponding typical retrieval information  242 , for example, place are displayed, the image provider confirms whether this content is YES or NO. When the next image exists, the next button  247  is displayed to provide the accessible condition and therefore the image to be confirmed next is displayed by clicking the next button  247 . Therefore, it can be confirmed whether such content is YES or NO. After confirming the images up to the final image by repeating above step, the image can be registered officially by clicking the decision button  248 . Here, confirmation can be made to the preceding image by clicking the return button  246 . Moreover, if an image which shall not be registered is included, registration of such image can be stopped by selecting such image and then clicking the cancel button  249 . Since the final confirmation can be made on the confirmation screen, only the images to be registered can surely be registered.  
     [0063] In this confirming method, a large image can be displayed and confirmation can therefore be done easily because a plurality of limited images are displayed on one screen. Moreover, since the typical retrieval information is displayed together with the images, important retrieval information can be confirmed easily.  
     [0064] As explained above, the image having the private information is received with the digital album provider terminal  3  and it is then stored as the digital album in the storage  34 .  
     [0065] Meanwhile, it is requested to open the new image information at a time from the beginning, the step can be shifted to the step  82  to open at a time the image information by selecting, in the transmission selecting screen  220  of FIG. 10, by selecting the open button  222 . When the open button  222  is selected, the digital album provider terminal  3  displays the open registration input screen  260  of FIG. 14 on the image provider terminal  2 . In this open registration input screen  260 , the images to be displayed are called from the predetermined file of the storage  24  and are sequentially displayed. Moreover, this open registration input screen  260  is provided with the retrieval information input column of the same content as that of the private registration screen  225  of FIG. 11. Therefore, the name input column  262 , place input column  263 , date input column  264 , one word input column  265  and other input column  266  can be inputted as the retrieval information conforming to the image  261 . When the next image exists, the next button  279  is displayed to provide the accessible condition and the image  261  to be registered next is displayed by clicking the next button  279 . Thereby, the relevant content can be inputted to the input columns  262  to  266 . The image and retrieval information can be temporarily registered by clicking the transmission button  280  after above step is repeated as many times as the number of images to be registered.  
     [0066] When the temporary registration is performed as explained above, since the look screen of open registration confirmation  290  of FIG. 15 is transmitted from the digital album provider terminal  3  and displayed, the image information including temporary registered open YES/NO information and retrieval information is officially registered to the open image management DB of the storage  34  (step  84 ) and is stored as the digital album in the storage  34  of the digital album provider terminal  3  by confirming the open registration confirmation list screen  290  and then clicking the decision button  295 . Thereafter, the step goes to the step  85  of the open point adding flow.  
     [0067] The confirming method in the step  84  of this open registration flow will be practically explained.  
     [0068] As explained in the private registration, since a plurality of images (three images in this embodiment)  291  and the corresponding typical retrieval information  292 , for example, place are displayed, whether this content is YES or NO is confirmed. When the next image exists, the next button  294  is displayed to provide the accessible condition, and thereby the screen to be confirmed next is displayed by clicking the next button  294 . Therefore, whether this content is YES or NO is confirmed. After the images up to the final image is confirmed by repeating such step, the official registration is performed by clicking the decision button  295 .  
     [0069] The preceding image can also be confirmed by clicking the return button  293 . Moreover, if an image which shall not be registered is included, registration of this image can be cancelled by selecting such image and then clicking the cancel button  296 .  
     [0070] Even in this method, since a plurality of limited images are displayed in one screen, a large image can be displayed and it can be confirmed easily. Moreover, since typical retrieval information can be displayed together with the image, important retrieval information can be confirmed easily.  
     [0071] As explained above, the information including the open information is transmitted from the digital provider terminal  2  and is then received with the digital album provider terminal  3 , such image is then stored in the storage  34  as the digital album and registration content is registered and managed in the open image management DB.  
     [0072] The digital album provider terminal  3  calculates, in the step  85  of the open point adding flow, the point for opening and registration of each image for every image and changes the content to the open image management DB, obtains the total for every image provider to be identified with ID and causes the image provider terminal  2  to generate such content and then goes to the step  86 .  
     [0073] This point means alleviation of storage expense of image information for the image provider terminal  2  and therefore it is possible to expect the positive opening and registration of image provider with generation of this point. Moreover, it is also possible to expect to open many images in higher quality by changing the point based on the opening conditions such as quality of image, number of images to be opened and input information amount or the like. Moreover, it is also effective to change the point depending on the application conditions of the images opened. For example, it is also possible to add the point of each image based on the number of times of retrieval and list-up and the number of times of output (transmission) to the image provider terminal  2 . This point is counted up for every image information and changed and managed in the open management DB and is totaled for every image provided to be identified with the ID. How to use this total point can be selected in the registration point display selection screen  300  (step  86 ).  
     [0074] In this step  86 , since the registration point display selection screen  300  is transmitted from the digital album provider terminal  3  and displayed on the display device  23  of the image provider terminal  2 . Moreover, since the registration point display selection screen  300  includes the point  301  generated by this open registration and the total point  302  generated by the open registration in the past including the present open registration, the image provider can select how to use the point. As the selection for the point, any one of the use button  303  and store button  304  can be selected. When the store button  303  is selected here, the image transmission/retrieval selection screen  210  of FIG. 8 is displayed (step  68 ) and when the use button  304  is selected, the step goes to the step  87  to select a manner of use.  
     [0075] In the step  87  for selecting the way of using the points, the use selection display screen not illustrated is displayed and the image provider registers the image to this digital album registration and opening system via this display screen to select supplementation of storage expense or deposition of the corresponding cost to the predetermined finance institute. Upon completion of this step, the digital album provider terminal  3  instructs display of the image transmission/retrieval selection screen  210  of FIG. 8.  
     [0076] The flow for newly registering the image to this system as the private or open image has been explained above. However, in this embodiment, the image information that is once registered can be corrected. In this embodiment, it is possible to shift to the retrieval flow for correcting image information already registered by selecting the change transmission button  217  in the new/change transmission selection screen  215  of FIG. 9 (step  70 ).  
     [0077] When going to the retrieval step  80  for correcting the image information, a gathered screen  250  of examination of private image of FIG. 13 is transmitted from the digital album provider terminal  3  and is then displayed on the display device  23  of the image provider terminal  2 . In the gathered screen  250  of examination of private image, information is inputted to any one or more of the name input column  251 , place input column  252 , date input column  253 , one word input column  254  and the other input column  255  as the retrieval information. When the retrieval button  256  is clicked here, the digital album provider terminal  3  retrieves the image information which is registered with the member name of the image provider from the digital album to retrieve the information matched with the retrieval condition (step  80 ). Thereafter, the step goes to the step  72  to select the private image or open image.  
     [0078] Namely, in this embodiment, the retrieval information of the image information extracted with the retrieval and open YES/NO can be selected by retrieving the image information already registered. Particularly, in this embodiment, the albums can be edited by correcting and changing the retrieval information of the image information registered as the private images. Moreover, when the open is selected in the next step  72  by reviewing the image information registered as the private images, such image information can be changed at a time to the open images.  
     [0079] Since the private registration can be changed to the open registration as explained above, it is possible to select that the image information is temporarily registered first as the private registration and it is changed to the open registration later. Thereby, the possibility of erroneous open of the image information which shall not be opened can be reduced.  
     [0080] In this embodiment, selection for private or open is executed at a time in the step  72 , but it is also possible that such selection can also be executed for each image information by canceling the step  72  and considering the private registration screen  225  of FIG. 11 and the open registration screen  260  of FIG. 14 as one registration screen and providing the selection input column for open or private to this registration screen.  
     [0081] Next, the operation flow of the image user terminal  4  will be explained with reference to FIG. 6B. As illustrated in FIG. 6B, the image user terminal  4  is powered in the step  90  to start the image user terminal  4 . The image user terminal  4  drives a browser (step  92 ) to make access to the specific site of the provider terminal  6  (step  93 ). The ID/password input screen  200  of FIG. 7 is displayed on the display device  43  of the image user terminal  4  by accessing this specific site. Since the image transmission/retrieval selection screen  210  of FIG. 8 is transmitted from the digital album provider terminal  3  and is displayed on the display device  43  of the image user terminal  4  when the ID and password of the image provider of the ID input column  201  and password input column  202  are inputted in this ID/password input screen  200  and then clicking the execution button  203  (step  94 ), an image user can select-any one of the image transmission button  211  and image retrieval button  212  (step  95 ).  
     [0082] Here, when the image transmission button  211  is selected, the step goes to the new registration flow explained previously or to the step  70  for correcting the registered image information. When the image retrieval button  212  is selected, the step goes to the step  98  for retrieving the digital album. Namely, it is also possible to shift to the flow of new registration and correction of image information by selecting the step  70  to cause the image user terminal  4  to function as the image provider terminal  2 .  
     [0083] In the step  98  for retrieval, since the retrieval selection screen  310  of FIG. 17 is transmitted from the digital album provider terminal  3  and is displayed on the display device  43  of the image user terminal  4 , a user can select any one of the private button  311  and open button  312 . Namely, in the image user terminal  4  of this embodiment, an image user can shift to the private retrieval flow for retrieving all image information pieces registered by himself to this system by selecting the private button  221 . On the other hand, an image user can shift to the open retrieval flow for retrieving all image information pieces opened in this system by selecting the open button  312 . In this sense, the image user terminal  4  of this embodiment has a function of the image provider terminal  2 . It is of course possible that the image user terminal  4  is used only for retrieving the private image or open image in the step  98  after shifting from the step  94  by canceling the step  95 . Moreover, the image user terminal  4  can be used only for retrieving the open image information in the step  110  after shifting from the step  94  by canceling the steps  95  and  98 .  
     [0084] In the step  101  of the private retrieval flow, the gathered screen of examination of private image  250  of FIG. 13 is transmitted from the digital album provider terminal  3  and displayed on the display device  43  of the image user terminal  4 . Therefore, a user can instruct the retrieval of the image information which is registered with the image provider as the private or open image information by inputting the information to any one or more of the name input column  251 , place input column  252 , date input column  253 , one word input column  254  and the other input column  255  as the retrieval condition columns and then clicking the retrieval button  256 . When the retrieval instruction is issued, the digital album provider terminal  3  retrieves the image information registered with the ID of the image provider from the image information stored in the storage  34  under the retrieval condition explained above and displays such image information together with a look screen of retrieval result  320  of FIG. 18 on the image user terminal  4  (step  102 ).  
     [0085] The retrieval image can be confirmed in this look screen of retrieval result  320  (step  103 ). This confirming method will be explained in more practical. Since a plurality of images (three images in this example)  321  are displayed, whether this content is YES or NO is confirmed. When the next image exists, the next button  323  is displayed to provide the accessible condition. Since the image to be confirmed next is displayed by clicking the next button  323 , whether this content is YES or NO is confirmed. After the images are confirmed up to the final image by repeating such step, selection is executed when the decision button  324  is clicked and thereafter the step goes to the step  104 .  
     [0086] The preceding image can also be confirmed by clicking the return button  322  in the look screen of retrieval result  320  and if an unnecessary image is included, it is possible to cancel such image by selecting it and clicking the cancel button  325 .  
     [0087] Shifting to the step  104 , the final selection image display screen  330  is transmitted from the digital album provider terminal  3  and is then displayed. Therefore, the finally selected image  331  is fetched into the storage  44  of the image user terminal  4  and stored therein together with the retrieval information  335  by clicking the decision button  334  after the final confirmation. The edition and printing or the like can be done in the image user terminal  4  by utilizing the image stored in the storage  44 .  
     [0088] In the final selection image display screen  330 , one image  331  is displayed and the retrieval information  335  is also displayed in one screen and thereby contents can surely be confirmed. Moreover, when a plurality of images are selected, the preceding and successive images can be confirmed by clicking the prior button  332  and next button  333 .  
     [0089] As explained above, in this embodiment, the image information registered with an image provider can be watched, printed out or down-loaded by retrieving it under the desired retrieving conditions and therefore it is now possible to extract such image information by making access to the digital album provider terminal  3  whenever required without self-storage and self-management.  
     [0090] On the other hand, going to the step  110  of open retrieval flow, since the gathered screen of examination of the open image  340  is transmitted from the digital album provider terminal  3  and displayed, an image user can instructs the retrieval of image information open-registered to the digital bank by inputting the information to any one or more columns of the name input column  341 , place input column  342 , date input column  343 , one word input column  344  and the other input column  345  as the retrieval condition columns. When the image information retrieval is instructed, the digital album provider terminal  3  retrieves the image information open-registered in the storage  34  under the retrieval condition and only the matched image information is displayed together with the look screen of retrieval result  350  of FIG. 21 on the image user terminal  4  (step  111 ).  
     [0091] In this look screen of retrieval result  350 , the retrieval image can be confirmed (step  112 ). This confirming method will be explained in more practical. Since a plurality of images (three images in this example)  351  are displayed as in the case of the step  103 , whether this content is YES or NO is confirmed. When there is the next image, the next button  353  is displayed to provide the accessible condition. When the next button  353  is clicked, the image to be confirmed next is displayed and therefore whether this content is YES or NO is confirmed. After the images are confirmed up to the final image by repeating such step, the decision button  354  is clicked for selection. Here, the step goes to the step  115  of the image purchasing contract flow. The preceding image can also be confirmed by clicking the return button  352  in the look screen of retrieval result  350  and moreover if an unnecessary image is included, selection of such image can be canceled by selecting such image and then clicking the cancel button  355 .  
     [0092] Going to the step  115  of the image purchasing contract flow, since the credit number input screen  360  of FIG. 22 is transmitted from the digital album provider terminal  3  and is then displayed, when the card name of the applicable credit company is selected, the card number is inputted to the card number input column  362  and the contact button  363  is clicked, the digital album provider terminal  3  determines that payment contract has been agreed, allowing the step to go to the step  117  for confirming the purchased image. Here, the retrieval operation can be completed by clicking the cancel button  364  in the credit number input screen  360 . Moreover, an advertisement  356  can also be displayed and the storage expense of the image provider can be reduced by sharing the storage expense to the advertisement company.  
     [0093] Going to the step  117  for confirming the purchased image, the display screen of final selected image  370  of FIG. 23 is transmitted from the digital album provider terminal  3  and displayed. When the final confirmation is made and the decision button  374  is clicked, the final selected image  371  is fetched and stored in the storage  44  of the image user terminal  4  together with the retrieval information  375 . The image user can edit and print out the image stored in this storage  44  at the image user terminal  4 .  
     [0094] In the display screen of final selected image  370 , since one image  371  is displayed and the retrieval information  375  is also displayed on one screen, the contents can surely be confirmed. Moreover, when a plurality of images are selected, the preceding and successive images can be confirmed by clicking the prior button  372  and next button  373 .  
     [0095] In above operation flow, the image provider terminal  2  and the image user terminal  4  are physically separated in the explanation but these terminals may be the same terminal physically as explained above. However, the functions of the image provider terminal  2  and the image user terminal  4  are considered separately.  
     [0096] Moreover, in regard to the registration and retrieval operations of the travel agency terminal  5 , since these are identical to that of the image provider terminal  2  and image user terminal  4 , the operation flows of such operations are not explained.  
     [0097] In above embodiment, the image provider terminal  2  is connected to the provider terminal  6  via the public telephone circuit and the image information is inputted by repeating transmission and reception between the image provider terminal  2  and digital album provider terminal  3 . But, it is also possible to give the function as the terminal to the digital camera and digital video camera itself and to register the image by transmitting by radio the obtained image to the provider terminal  3  with the single operation. In this case, the position information and date information or the like provided in the camera are used as the input information, the open YES/NO information is inputted simultaneously with the photographing by providing a switch to input the open YES/NO condition and moreover the operation flow explained above is automatically executed in the side of provider having received such information. Thereby, image can be registered simply and the images can sequentially be registered immediately after the pick-up of image or during photographing of images. As explained above, when an image has been registered quickly, the worth of the image to be opened becomes higher.  
     [0098] Particularly, the travel agency is required to offer the profile of destination with the latest and practical image to the prospective traveler and therefore it is specifically effective to use the open image explained above. Moreover, it is also considered to expect increase of the prospective travelers by obtaining the latest image of destination and then registering and opening the image by entrusting a camera to a traveler.  
     [0099] In the present invention explained above, it is no longer required to, by separately registering the private image and open image to the digital album provider terminal, store the image to the terminal owned by the image provider, the third party can conveniently use this open image, the storing expense of image can be shared to a user of the open image (image retrieving person and advertisement agency for inserting the advertisement to the open image or the like) to reduce the storing expense of the image provider and many open images can be collected by promoting the participation of the image provider.  
     [0100] Moreover, since it is possible to retrieve the information such as photographing place and date, a user who is planning the travel can detect the profile of the destination and prepare for the travel through the retrieval based on the traveling place and the latest date. A user who wants to obtain the scenery of a certain place in a certain season and to use such scenery can get such image through the retrieval based on such place and season and also can get the desired image by adding particularly one word and the other information to the retrieval conditions.  
     [0101] In the embodiment explained above, both image provider terminal  2  and image user terminal  4  can register the image to the digital album of the storage  34  of the digital album providing terminal  3  or can use the image registered in the digital album through retrieval thereof by making access to the specific electronic service site opened with this digital album service company. Particularly, since the digital album stores the image including the open YES/NO information, there is no overlap of the image information and thereby capacity of the storage  34  can be alleviated. However, the present invention is never limited thereto. Namely, the open YES image among the images offered by the image provider can be stored merely in the other storage area. In this case, it is also possible that the open YES image is stored in the storage area separately from the open NO image or the open YES image is copied and stored in the other storage area. Moreover, it is also possible to open the electronic service site for storing these open YES images as the digital open album and to open such image only to the image user terminal.  
     [0102]FIG. 24 illustrates an embodiment of the profile that the open YES image is copied to open the open service site  401  and private service site  402 . Namely, the digital album service company  400  that is running such two service sites establishes the digital album registering and opening system by connecting a plurality of private terminals  6 , a plurality of image user terminals  4  and the travel agency terminal  5  via the public telephone circuit  1 A forming the telecommunication line.  
     [0103] The digital album company  400  explained above opens the open service site  401  and private site  402  by providing one or a plurality of servers and a large capacity storage. The private site  402  stores the digital private album information stored by accumulating the image information provided with the retrieval information offered from the private terminal  6  and the member registration DB of the members offering the images by utilizing such private service site  402 . Moreover, the open service site  401  stores the digital open album information stored by accumulating the open YES image information among the image information offered from the private terminal  6  and the member registration DB utilizing the open service site  401 .  
     [0104] Moreover, the private terminal  6  is provided with the operation function to execute, for the private service site  402 , the image registration and correction flow indicated with the operation flow of FIG. 6A. Moreover, in FIG. 6A, when the image retrieval button  212  is selected in the step  68 , the step goes to the step  101  of FIG. 6B to execute the private retrieval explained in regard to FIG. 13, FIG. 18 and FIG. 19. Namely, this private terminal  6  is capable of registering, by making access to the private service site  402 , the image photographed by itself, extracting an image by freely retrieving and editing such registered image and also registering the image photographed by itself as the open image.  
     [0105] On the other hand, the basic operation flow is identical to that of FIG. 6B in the image user terminal  4 . However, the image user terminal  4  is also provided with the operation flow to go to the step  110  when the member authentication is completed because it makes access, in the step  93 , to the open service site  401  having recorded only the open YES image information.  
     [0106] As explained above, the digital album company  400  is provided with the electronic service site running system for opening two electronic service sites  401 ,  402  by preparing a mechanism to store the image information and apply the transaction and enabling connection of such electronic service sites with a plurality of user terminals (private terminal  6  and image user terminal  4 ) via the telecommunication line and this running system stores the image information given the open YES information as the digital open album information by accepting the image information having the open YES/NO information and retrieval information from the user terminal (private terminal  6 ), opens the electronic service site (open service site) to open the digital open album information, accepts the retrieval request to the electronic service site (open service site) from the user terminal (image user terminal  4 ) and retrieves the image information matched with the retrieval request from the digital open album information based on the retrieval request in order to provide the retrieval result to the user terminal (open service site).  
     [0107] Moreover, the running system moreover stores the received image information as the digital private album information by accepting the image information including the open YES/NO information and retrieval information from the user terminal (private terminal  6 ), opens the electronic service site (private service site) which can retrieve, edit and output this digital private album information, accepts the retrieval request for the electronic service site (private service site) from the user terminal (private terminal  6 ), and retrieves, based on the  5  retrieval request, the image information matched with the retrieval request from the digital private album information in order to provide this retrieval result to the user terminal (private terminal  6 ).  
     [0108] According to this embodiment, the system can be structured by clearly separating the sites for private use and use of the opened image and thereby privacy can be protected easily.  
     [0109] Moreover, according to the present invention, it is no longer required to store the image into the image provider terminal registering the image information including the open YES/NO information to the digital album provider terminal, the third party can conveniently use the registered open YES image information and the digital album registering and opening method and digital album registering and opening system that can promote the participation of many users can be provided.