Patent Abstract:
Provided is a server, wherein an image group and a terminal ID are received from an imaging terminal, a first ID specifying a first image among the image group, the terminal ID, and the first image are stored in a first storage, a second ID specifying a second image among the image group, the terminal ID, and the second image are stored in a first storage, a user ID and a terminal ID are received from an data terminal, the user ID and the terminal ID are stored in a second storage, the terminal ID is extracted by conducting a search thereof inside the second memory using the user ID as the key, the first image and the second image are extracted as a result of conducting a search thereof inside the first storage using the terminal ID as the key, a first summary image is stored in association with the terminal ID and the first ID in a third storage, a second summarized image is stored in association with the terminal ID and the second ID in the third storage, and the first summary image and the second summary image are sent to the data terminal.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a U.S. continuation application filed under 35 USC 111(a) claiming benefit under 35 USC 120 and 365(c) of PCT application JP2010/065440, filed on Sep. 8, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is related to a method for providing a function for managing, storing, printing, and sending image data by cooperation of an imaging terminal, a data terminal, a connected display, and server, and an imaging terminal, data terminal, display terminal, and server. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    With the spread of digital cameras, the number of images taken by a single user has increased dramatically compared to the period when silver halide film type cameras were prevailing. This is largely due to the low cost per image taken. Furthermore, in recent years the storage capacity of storage devices such as a flash memory used in a digital camera has increased significantly with the miniaturization of semiconductor technology leading to an increase in the number of photographed images. A camera user can photograph a large amount of images without concern for cost or storage capacity limitations and by adjusting images after they are taken can select and keep only those deemed good. 
         [0006]    In addition, in recent years, imaging elements have been increasingly installed in mobile type data terminals other than cameras such as mobile personal computers, mobile phones, mobile music players, and the like. This has made imaging possible using mobile data terminals. Many of these data terminals can connect to the internet and not only are photographed images stored in a storage means within the terminal but can also be sent to a server via the internet and used in various Web services. 
         [0007]    Recently, many mobile phones include an imaging function. Although many people do not usually carry cameras, since most people usually carry mobile phones, more images are being taken compared to the period which relied exclusively on camera dedicated devices for taking photographs. Since many mobile phones include a function for connecting to the internet, many of the images taken using a mobile phone are utilized in various services on the internet. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In this way, the spread of digital cameras, the large increase in capacity of storage devices, the installation of imaging devices in various mobile terminals and connecting these devices and terminal to the internet has led to a dramatic increase in the number of images taken by a single user. As stated above, this has provided various benefits to users. On the other hand, in order for a user to take a large number of images using a plurality of imaging terminals it is difficult to manage and maintain the images taken leading to new problems. There are seven problems. which are facing photographers, which need to be addressed relating to managing and maintaining a large number of images. 
         [0009]    First, there is a problem whereby copying to a data terminal which manages and maintains image data from an imaging device is troublesome. Generally, image data taken by a camera or a data terminal is stored in a detachable storage media. SD memory cards or compact flash (registered trademark) cards are mainly used as storage media. After a user takes an image, these storage media are removed from the imaging terminal, a connection is made to the data terminal for managing and maintaining images and the image is copied to the data terminal. A personal computer is often used as such a data terminal for managing and maintaining images. For general users, copying a large amount of image data to a personal computer from a storage media is troublesome. 
         [0010]    Second, there is a problem whereby it is difficult for a user to consolidate the locations of each image in order to use a plurality of imaging terminals such as a camera or mobile phone, image data held by a user who owns a plurality of imaging terminals is separated into storage media attached to each imaging terminal and stored. In order to consolidate the image data it is necessary to sequentially copy the image data from each storage media to a personal computer for managing and maintaining the image data. Not only is this process troublesome but in the case where the format of image data is different in each data terminal, it is necessary to convert the format of the image data before managing all the images in a personal computer. This process becomes more difficult when there is a large amount of image data. 
         [0011]    Third, since there are many methods for using image data it is necessary for a user to copy image data or convert the format of each image for each usage method. For example, in the case where data taken with a camera is uploaded to a server of an SNS (Social Networking Service), a user must carry out a number of complex operations such as first copying image data from a storage media in the camera to a personal computer, adjusting the resolution or convert the format of the images on the personal computer before uploading the SNS server. In addition, in the case of printing image data, a user copies image data from the storage media of a camera to a personal computer, further copies the image data to a disk before taking the disk to a print service provider. In order to use an image browsing device such as a digital photo frame which have become widespread in recent years, after copying image data to another storage media via a personal computer it is necessary to connect the storage media to the image browsing device. In particular, it becomes even more troublesome when using images taken with a plurality of imaging terminals for various different purposes and there are not many users who have already managed all of their image data. 
         [0012]    Fourth, backing up image data is difficult. In addition to a user taking a large amount of images using a plurality of imaging terminals, the storage capacity per image is increasing along with improvements in the capabilities of recent imaging devices. The total volume of image data taken by a single user has increased significantly due to these synergetic effects. The total volume of all images is often more than a storage device of a personal computer let alone a memory card or a storage disk. As a result, it becomes more difficult to perform a backup so that image data is not lost. In the case where the volume of image data to be backed up exceeds the capacity of usual storage media, a Large capacity external storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is used as a backup means. Alternatively, it is possible to use a backup service on a server which can be connected to the internet. However, these not only incur costs but also time to transfer such a large amount of data. 
         [0013]    The first to third problem and the fourth problem have a two sided relationship. Because it is difficult to organize a large amount images, a large capacity storage means is required for maintaining most image data that cannot be organized. In addition, because all of this image data is stored in a large capacity storage means, it becomes even more difficult to organize the image data and the image data which cannot be organized further increases. For many users this is a vicious circle. 
         [0014]    Attempts have been made to solve these problems using the internet. There are already many mobile phones and personal computers that can be connected to the internet. In addition, proposals have made to directly connect cameras, mobile music players or storage media used in cameras to the internet (JP4,251,757B, JP3,664,203B, JP2003-283900A). In addition, proposals have also been disclosed to either select or set whether image data is stored to a memory card of an imaging terminal or directly uploaded to the internet (JP2010-178360A). However, attempts to utilize the internet such as these produce further problems such as the fifth, six and seventh problems described below. As a result, management and maintenance of image data utilizing the internet is not widely used and therefore does not lead to solving the first to fourth problems described above. 
         [0015]    Fifth, costs are incurred when consolidating a large amount of image data taken with a plurality of imaging terminals in a storage device of a Web server. Although many services which store image data in a server on the internet provide such services with free of charge, such services have an upper limit storage capacity and charge a fee for storage of data which exceeds this capacity. This upper limit storage capacity is below the storage capacity required by most users for unified storage of all their data. Many users do not like to pay such costs and therefore do not use these services. As a result, the first to the fourth problems are not solved. 
         [0016]    Sixth, maintaining privacy and impossibility of improving convenience are problems. When a user manages image data in a unified storage device in a Web server, at least the provider of the Web service can specify the image data taken by each user. Furthermore, because it is assumed that most recent photograph storage services mainly publish image data on the internet or provide browsing by internet acquaintances, data related to image data held by a user may be disclosed on the internet. In addition, by correlating in advance data which can uniquely specify an imaging device or data which can uniquely specify a user on the internet with image data taken with a plurality of imaging devices, each image data can specify who and by what device such images were taken. If this is possible, it becomes possible to significantly improve the convenience of a Web service related to the storage of image data. However, while such image data is data which has a possibility of being disclosed on the internet, it is difficult to correlate data related to an imaging device or a user with such image data. 
         [0017]    Seventh, there are many Web service on the internet related to storing, sharing, and sending images and thus a situation arises where image data taken by a single user is scattered among various Web services. Generally, a single user uses a number of Web services. For example, a certain user generally uses various image data service such as a service Z on the internet mainly for backing up image data, a print service U on the internet for printing image data, a service V on the internet for exchanging a diary with acquaintances which includes image data and electronic mail for sending image data to acquaintances. In this case, even if all the image data taken by a single user exists in a server on the internet, since this data is scattered on and managed by various services, the difficulty of organizing such data described as the first to the third problems above are not resolved. 
         [0018]    The present invention attempts to solve the problems described above by providing a server, an imaging terminal, a data terminal, a display terminal, and a system in which a user can uniformly organize, manage, and maintain image data which are taken by various imaging terminals and which are scattered and stored among various servers and terminals by using a gateway service on the internet. In addition, according to the present invention, because it is possible to separate and store image data among various storage media, it is possible to solve the problem of cost incurred when storing a large amount of image data on a server and to solve the problem of backup without increasing the complexity of organizing, managing and maintaining image data. 
         [0019]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a server providing a network service including: receiving from a first imaging terminal of a first user a first image data group comprised from a plurality of image data and a first imaging terminal ID for uniquely specifying the first imaging terminal; storing in a first storage means a first image ID for uniquely specifying a first image data being one image data in the first image data group, the first imaging terminal ID, and the first image data with the first image ID and the first imaging terminal ID correlated with the first image data; storing in the first storage means a second image ID for uniquely specifying a second image data being another image data in the first image data group sent from the first imaging terminal, the first imaging terminal ID, and the second image data with the second image ID and the first imaging terminal ID correlated with the second image data; receiving a first user ID for specifying the first user among users of the network service and the first imaging terminal ID from a first data terminal of the first user; storing in a second storage means the first user ID and the first imaging terminal ID with the first user ID correlated with the first imaging terminal ID; searching in the second storage means using the first user ID as a search key and extracting the first imaging terminal ID as a search result; searching in the first storage means using the extracted first imaging terminal ID as a search key and extracting the first image data and the second image data as a search result; generating a first summary image, which represents the first image data, having a smaller amount of data than the first image data; generating a second summary image, which represents the second image data, having a smaller amount of data than the second image data; storing in a third storage means the first summary image with the first imaging terminal ID and the first image ID correlated with the first summary image; storing in the third storage means the second summary image with the first imaging terminal ID and the second image ID correlated with the third storage means; and sending the first summary image and the second summary image to the first data terminal. 
         [0020]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a server providing a network service including: receiving a first image data group comprised from a plurality of image data and a first imaging terminal ID for uniquely specifying a first imaging terminal of a first user from the first imaging terminal of the first user, the first image data group being imaged by the first imaging terminal; storing in a first storage means a first image ID for uniquely specifying a first image data being one image data in the first image data group with the first imaging terminal ID and the first image data correlated with the first image ID; storing in the first storage means a second image ID for uniquely specifying a second image data being another image data in the first image data group with the first imaging terminal ID and the second image data correlated with the second image ID; receiving a first user ID for specifying the first user among users of the network service and the first imaging terminal ID from a first data terminal; searching in a second storage means using the first user ID as a search key and extracting the first imaging terminal ID as a search result; searching in the first storage means using the extracted first imaging terminal ID as a search key and extracting the first image data and the second image data as a search result; generating a first summary image, which represents the extracted first image data, having a smaller amount of data than the first image data; generating a second summary image, which represents the extracted second image data, having a smaller amount of data than the second image data; storing in a third storage means the first summary image with the first imaging terminal ID and the first image ID correlated with the first summary data; storing in the third storage means the second summary image with the first imaging terminal ID and the second image ID correlated with the second summary image; and sending the first summary image and the second summary image to the first data terminal. 
         [0021]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a server providing a network service including: receiving from a first imaging terminal of a first user a first image data group comprised from a plurality of image data and a first imaging terminal ID for uniquely specifying the first imaging terminal; sending a first image ID for uniquely specifying a first image data being one image data in the first image data group, a second image ID for uniquely specifying a second image data being another image data, and the first imaging terminal ID to a server of a bridge service; receiving a first scrambled PID and a second scrambled PID from the server of the bridge service; storing in a first storage means the first scrambled PID and the first image data with the first scrambled PID correlated with the first image data; storing in the first storage means the second scrambled PID and the second image data with the second scrambled PID correlated with the second image data; receiving a first user ID for specifying the first user among users of the network service and the first imaging terminal ID from a first data terminal of the first user; storing in a second storage means the first user ID and the first imaging terminal ID with the first user ID correlated with the first imaging terminal ID; searching in the second storage means using the first user ID as a search key and extracting the first imaging terminal ID as a search result; sending the extracted first imaging terminal ID to the server of the bridge service; receiving the first scrambled PID and the second scrambled. PID from the server of the bridge service; searching in the first storage means using the received first scrambled PID as a search key and extracting the first image data as a search result; searching in the first storage means using the received second scrambled PID as a search key and extracting the second image data as a search result; generating a first summary image, which represents the extracted first image data, having a smaller amount of data than the first image data; generating a second summary image, which represents the second image data, having a smaller amount of data than the second image data; storing in a third storage means the first summary image and the first scrambled PID with the first summary image correlated with the first scrambled PID; storing in the third storage means the second summary image and the second scrambled PID with the second summary image correlated with the second scrambled PID; and sending the first summary image and the second summary image to the first data terminal. 
         [0022]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a server providing a network service including: receiving from a first imaging terminal of a first user a first image data group comprised from a plurality of image data and a first imaging terminal ID for uniquely specifying the first imaging terminal, the first image data group being imaged by the first imaging terminal; sending a first image ID for uniquely specifying a first image data being one image data in the first image data group, a second image ID for uniquely specifying a second image data being another image data, and the first imaging terminal ID to a server of a bridge service; receiving a first scrambled PID and a second scrambled PID from the server of the bridge service; storing in a first storage means the first scrambled PID and the first image data with the first scrambled PID correlated with the first image data; storing in the first storage means the second scrambled PID and the second image data with the second scrambled PID correlated with the second image data; receiving a first user ID for specifying the first user among users of the network service and the first imaging terminal ID from a first data terminal; storing in a second storage means the first user ID and the first imaging terminal ID with the first user ID correlated with the first imaging terminal ID; searching in the second storage means using the first user ID as a search key and extracting the first imaging terminal ID as a search result; sending the extracted first imaging terminal ID to the server of the bridge service; receiving the first scrambled PID and the second scrambled PID from the server of the bridge service; searching in the first storage means using the received first scrambled PID as a search key and extracting the first image data as a search result; searching in the first storage means using the received second scrambled PID as a search key and extracting the second image data as a search result; generating a first summary image, which represents the extracted first image data, having a smaller amount of data than the first image data; generating a second summary image, which represents the extracted second image data, having a smaller amount of data than the second image data; storing in a third storage means the first summary image and the first scrambled PID with the first summary image correlated with the first scrambled PID; storing in the third storage means the second summary image and the second scrambled PID with the second summary image correlated with the second scrambled PID; and sending the first summary image and the second summary image to the first data terminal. 
         [0023]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a system including: a first imaging terminal of a first user, a server of a network service, and a bridge server; wherein: the first imaging terminal of the first user sends a first image data group comprised from a plurality of image data and a first imaging terminal ID for uniquely specifying the first imaging terminal to a server of a network service; the server of the network service sends a first image ID for uniquely specifying a first image data being one image data among the first image data group, a second image ID for uniquely specifying a second image data being another image data, and the first imaging terminal ID to a bridge server; the bridge server generates a first scrambled PID formed by a non-reversible calculation of the first image ID and the first imaging terminal ID; the bridge server generates a second scrambled PID formed by a non-reversible calculation of the second image ID and the first imaging terminal ID; the bridge server stores in a fifth storage means the first imaging terminal ID, the first scrambled PID, and the second scrambled PID with the first imaging terminal ID and the first scrambled RD correlated with the second scrambled PID; the bridge server sends the first scrambled PID and the second scrambled PID to the sever of the network service; the server of the network service stores in a first storage means the first scrambled PID and the first image data with the first scrambled RID correlated with the first image data; the server of the network service stores in the first storage means the second scrambled PID and the second image data with the second scrambled PID correlated with the second image data; a first data terminal of the first user sends a first user ID for specifying the first user among users of the network service and the first imaging terminal ID to the server of the network service; the server of the network service stores in a second storage means the received first user ID and the first imaging terminal ID with the received first user ID correlated with the first imaging terminal ID; the server of the network service searches in the second storage means using the first user ID as a search key and extracting the first imaging terminal ID as a search result; the server of the network service sends the extracted first imaging terminal to the bridge server; the bridge server searches in the fifth storage means using the received first imaging terminal ID as a search key; the bridge server sends the first scrambled PID and the second scrambled PID extracted as a search result to the server of the network service; the server of the network service receives the first scrambled PID and the second scrambled PID; the server of the network service searches in the first storage means using the received first scrambled RID as a search key and extracting the first image data as a search result; the server of the network service searches in the first storage means using the received second scrambled PID as a search key and extracting the second image data as a search result; the server of the network service generates a first summary image, which represents the extracted first image data, having a smaller amount of data than the first image data; the server of the network service generates a second summary image, which represents the extracted second image data, having a smaller amount of data than the second image data; the server of the network service stores in a third storage means the first summary image and the first scrambled PID with the first summary image correlated with the first scrambled PID; the server of the network service stores in the third storage means the second summary image and the second scrambled PID with the second summary image correlated with the second scrambled PID; the server of the network service sends the first summary image and the second summary image to the first data terminal; and a display means of the first data terminal displays the received first summary image and the second summary image. 
         [0024]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a system including: a first imaging terminal of a first user, a server of a network service, and a bridge server; wherein: the first imaging terminal of the first user sends a first image data group comprised from a plurality of image data to a first data terminal of the first user; the first data terminal sends the first image data group and a first imaging terminal ID for uniquely specifying the first imaging terminal to a server of a network service; the server of the network service sends a first image ID for uniquely specifying a first image data being one image data among the first image data group, a second image ID for uniquely specifying a second image data being another image data, and the first imaging terminal ID to a bridge server; the bridge server generates a first scrambled PID formed by a non-reversible calculation of the first image ID and the first imaging terminal ID; the bridge server generates a second scrambled PID formed by a non-reversible calculation of the second image ID and the first imaging terminal ID; the bridge server stores in a fifth storage means the first imaging terminal ID, the first scrambled PID, and the second scrambled PID with the first imaging terminal ID and the first scrambled PID correlated with the second scrambled PID; the bridge server sends the first scrambled PID and the second scrambled PID to the server of the network service; the server of the network service stores in a first storage means the first scrambled PID and the first image data with the first scrambled PID correlated with the first image data; the server of the network service stores in the first storage means the second scrambled PID and the second image data with the second scrambled PID correlated with the second image data; the first data terminal of the first user sends a first user ID for specifying the first user among users of the network service and the first imaging terminal ID to the server of the network service; the server of the network service stores in a second storage means the received first user ID and the first imaging terminal ID with the received first user ID correlated with the first imaging terminal ID; the server of the network service searches in the second storage means using the first user ID as a search key and extracting the first imaging terminal ID as a search result; the server of the network service sends the extracted first imaging terminal to the bridge server; the bridge server searches in the fifth storage means using the received first imaging terminal ID as a search key; the bridge server sends the first scrambled PID and the second scrambled PID extracted as search results to the server of the network service; the server of the network service receives the first scrambled PID and the second scrambled PID from the bridge server; the server of the network service searches in the first storage means using the received first scrambled PID as a search key and extracting the first image data as a search result; the server of the network service searches in the first storage means using the received second scrambled PID as a search key and extracting the second image data as a search result; the server of the network service generates a first summary image, which represents the extracted first image, having a smaller amount of data than the first image data; the server of the network service generates a second summary image, which represents the extracted second image data, having a smaller amount of data than the second image data; the server of the network service stores in a third storage means the first summary image and the first scrambled PID with the first summary image correlated with the first scrambled PID; the server of the network service stores in the third storage means the second summary image and the second scrambled PID with the second summary image correlated with the second scrambled PID; the server of the network service sends the first summary image and the second summary image to the first data terminal; and a display means of the first data terminal displays the received first summary image and the second summary image. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary structural diagram of an image data processing system related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary structural diagram of a server X of an image data processing system related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary structural diagram of a server Y of an image data processing system related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary structural diagram of an a server Y and a server U of an image data processing system related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is an exemplary structural diagram of server V of an image data processing system related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary structural diagram of an imaging terminal of an image data processing system related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is an exemplary structural diagram of a data terminal of an image data processing system related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is an exemplary structural diagram of an imaging terminal of an image data processing system related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is an exemplary structural diagram of a data terminal of an image data processing system related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0034]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart of a process related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0035]      FIG. 11  is an exemplary diagram of a user registration screen related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0036]      FIG. 12  is an exemplary diagram of a user data table related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0037]      FIG. 13  is an exemplary diagram of a list display screen of a requested image group related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0038]      FIG. 14  is a flowchart of a process related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0039]      FIG. 15  is an exemplary diagram of a browsing display screen renewed by a process related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0040]      FIG. 16  is a flowchart of a process related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0041]      FIG. 17  is an exemplary diagram of a storage service table in a server Y related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0042]      FIG. 18  is an exemplary diagram of a storage service selection screen provided by a server Y related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0043]      FIG. 19  is an exemplary diagram of an authentication screen provided by a server Z related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0044]      FIG. 20  is an exemplary diagram of a renewed browsing display screen provided by a server X related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0045]      FIG. 21  is a sequence diagram of a process related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0046]      FIG. 22  a flowchart of a process related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0047]      FIG. 23  in an example diagram of an authentication screen in a print service related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0048]      FIG. 24  is a flowchart of a process related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0049]      FIG. 25  is an example diagram of a display terminal ID acquisition screen provided by a server X related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0050]      FIG. 26  is a flowchart of a process related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0051]      FIG. 27  is an exemplary diagram of a Web service table in a server Y related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0052]      FIG. 28  is an exemplary diagram of a Web service selection screen displayed on a data terminal related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0053]      FIG. 29  is an exemplary diagram of an authentication screen displayed on a data terminal related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0054]      FIG. 30  is an exemplary diagram of a user table in a server V related to one embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0055]      FIG. 31  is an exemplary diagram of an image sending destination selection screen displayed on a data terminal related to one embodiment of the present invention, and 
           [0056]      FIG. 32  is an exemplary of a message displayed on a data terminal related to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0057]    Embodiments currently considered as a best for realizing the invention are explained below. Because the scope of the present invention is clearly defined by the scope of the attached claims, the explanation should not be interpreted as narrowing the present invention and is merely intended to exemplify the general principles of the invention. 
         [0058]      FIG. 1  shows an example of an embodiment of the present invention and shows an exemplary structure of an image data processing system. The image data processing system which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention includes a server  100  of an image gateway service X, a server  120  of a bridge service Y, a server  140  of a storage service Z, a server  150  of a print service U, a server  160  of a Web service V, a server  137  of a storage service W, a server  138  of a print service T, a server  139  of a Web service S, an imaging terminal  170  of a user A, a second imaging terminal  115  of the user A, an imaging terminal  116  of a user C, a data terminal  180  of the user A, a display terminal  190  of the user A, a data terminal  195  of a user B, and a data terminal  117  of the user C and all these servers, data terminals and display terminals are connected by a network  199 . 
         [0059]    Furthermore, in the present specification and attached diagrams, the server  100  of the image gateway X is sometimes abbreviated to the server X, the server  120  of the bridge service Y to the server Y, the server  140  of the storage service Z to the server Z, the server  150  of the print service U to the server U, the server  160  of the Web service V to the server V, the server  137  of the storage service W to the server W, the server  138  of the print service U to the server U, and the server  139  of the Web service S to the server S. In addition, the imaging terminal  170  of the user A is sometimes abbreviated to the imaging terminal A, the data terminal  180  of the user to the data terminal A, the display terminal  190  of the user A to the display terminal A, and the data terminal  195  of the user B to the data terminal B. An image described in the present specification may be a still image or a motion image. 
         [0060]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary structural diagram of the server X  100 . The server X includes a sending and receiving means  101  a temporary entity storage means  102 , a summary image storage means  103 , a user data table  105 , a temporary image storage means  109 , an authentication means  104 , a HTML generation means  106 , a summary image generation means  107 , a search means  108 , and a generation means  111  of an URL for sending image. 
         [0061]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary structural diagram of the server Y  120 . The server Y includes a sending and receiving means  121 , a storage means  122 , an SPID table  123 , a storage service table  124 , a Web service table  125 , a sending destination temporary storage means  126 , a search means  131 , an SPUD generation means  133 , and an HTML generation means  134 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 4  ( a ) is an exemplary structural diagram of the server Z  140 . The server Z includes a sending and receiving means  141 , an HTML generation means  142 , an authentication means  143 , an image data storage means  144 , a search means  145 , and a user data table  146 .  FIG. 4  ( b ) is an exemplary structural diagram of the server U  150 . The server U includes a sending and receiving means  151 , an HTML generation means  152 , an authentication means  153 , an image data storage means  154 , a search means  155 , and a user data table  156 . In addition, the server U  150  is connected to a printing device  157  via a network  119 . The network  119  may be the same as the network  199  or a different network. 
         [0063]      FIG. 5  is an exemplary structural diagram of the server V  160 . The server V includes a sending and receiving means  161 , an HTML generation means  162 , a search means  163 , a user data table  164 , and an authentication means  168 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary structural diagram of the imaging terminal A  170 . The imaging terminal A includes a sending and receiving means  171 , an imaging means  172 , an image storage means  173 , a CID storage means  174 , and an input means  175 . The imaging terminal A may or may not include the sending and receiving means  171 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 7  is an exemplary structural diagram of the data terminal A  180 . The data terminal A includes a sending and receiving means  181 , an HTML analysis means  182 , a display means  183 , an input means  184 , an image storage means  185 , and a search means  186 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 8  is an exemplary structural diagram example of the display terminal A  190 . The display terminal A includes a sending and receiving means  191 , an HTML analysis means  192 , a display means  193 , an input means  194 , an image storage means  149 , and an HID storage means  148 . 
         [0067]      FIG. 9  is an exemplary structural diagram example of the data terminal B  195 . The data terminal B includes a sending and receiving means  196 , a message analysis means  197 , a display means  198 , an input means  158 , and an image storage means  159 . 
         [0068]    Furthermore, because the exemplary structures of the second imaging terminal  115  of user A and the imaging terminal of user C shown in  FIG. 1  are the same as the imaging terminal of the user A shown in  FIG. 6 , an explanation with reference to the diagram is omitted. In addition, because the exemplary structure of the imaging terminal  117  of the user C shown in  FIG. 1  is the same as the imaging terminal of the user A shown in  FIG. 7 , an explanation with reference to the diagram is omitted. 
         [0069]    In the present specification, image data imaged by an imaging terminal and stored in an image storage means of the imaging terminal is called an original image. In addition, an image obtained by processing a certain original image is called a processed image of the original image. When comparing two images among certain original images or processed images, the image with a large amount of information is called an entity image and the image with a small amount of data is called a summary image. For example, when a RAW format original image is converted to a JPEG format (Joint Photographic Experts Group) which has a smaller amount of information, the original image is the entity image and the processed image of the original image is the summary image. Furthermore, in the case where two processed images are generated from one original image, the processed image with a large amount of information is the entity image and the processed image with a small amount of information is the summary image. An entity image may have any format such as RAW, JPEG, TIFF (Tagged File Format), or GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) inherent to each imaging terminal if the entity image is image data stored in an image storage means of an imaging terminal. A summary image may also have any format such as JPEG, RAW, PNG (Portable Network Graphic), TIFF, or GIF. 
         [0070]    Three embodiments of the present invention are exemplified below. First, in the processes shown in the flowcharts in  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 16 , an entity image imaged by the user A using imaging the terminal A is stored between the server X, the data terminal A, and the server X. At this time, regardless of the storage location of the entity image, the user A treats the entity image as a single unified image using the image gateway service X as the only intermediate. The processes shown by the flowcharts in  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 14 , and  FIG. 16  are common to all three embodiments, and each process in each embodiment is performed after step S 1613  in  FIG. 16 . In the first embodiment explained in the flowchart of  FIG. 22 , regardless of the storage location of an entity image, a printing process of an image selected in the print server U is performed by the user A with server X as an intermediate. In the second embodiment explained in the flowchart of  FIG. 24 , regardless of the storage location of an entity image, a selected image is displayed by the display terminal A by the user A with server X as an intermediate. In the third embodiment explained in the flowchart of  FIG. 26 , regardless of the storage location of an entity image, the user A sends a selected image to the data terminal of the user B who is an acquaintance in the Web service V. 
         [0071]    First, an explanation of the present invention starts with reference to the flowchart in  FIG. 10 . The user A takes images using the imaging means  172  by operating the input means  175  of the imaging terminal A and a plurality of imaged entity image groups are stored in the image storage means  173 . At this time, each individual entity image among the entity image group imaged by the imaging terminal A is correlated with an ID for uniquely specifying that image and stored in the storage means  173  (step S 1001 ). In the present specification, an ID for uniquely specifying an image among entity images imaged using the imaging terminal A is called a PID. In this example, a PID for specifying each entity image is correlated with each of the entity images taken by the user A and stored. When each entity image is taken and stored, the sending and receiving means  171  may or may not be connected to the network  199 . 
         [0072]    Next, the sending and receiving means  171  of the imaging terminal A is connected to the network  199  (step S 1002 ). The sending and receiving means  171  sends the entity image group stored in the image storage means  173  in a state in which each image is correlated with a PID to the server X 100  via the network  199 . Furthermore, at this time, the sending and receiving means  171  sends an ID which can specify the imaging terminal A among all the imaging terminals after correlating with each entity image and PID (step S 1003 ). In the present specification, an ID for specifying a certain imaging terminal among all the imaging terminals is called a CID. In addition, the CID of the imaging terminal A is called CIDa. CIDa is stored in the CID storage means  174  of the imaging terminal A. 
         [0073]    In this example, the imaging terminal A includes the sending and receiving means  171  and is connected to the network  199  in step  1002 . In the present invention, either of the following two processes may be performed instead of steps S 1002  and S 1003 . In one method, the sending and receiving means  171  of the imaging terminal A and the sending and receiving means  181  of the data terminal A are not connected via network  199  but are directly connected and an entity image group stored in the image storage means  173  and a PID of each entity image are sent to the server X 100  via the data terminal A. The second method can be applied to an information terminal without a sending and receiving means to a network. In this method, the user A detaches the image storage means  173  from the imaging terminal A 170  and connects it to the input means  184  of the data terminal A. Following this, the user A extracts an entity images from the image storage means  173  and sends the entity images and each PID to the server X 100 . As in these two methods, an entity image stored in the image storage means  173  of the imaging terminal A may be sent to the server X 100  via the data terminal A. 
         [0074]    Furthermore, when sending an entity image group to the server X 100  from the imaging terminal A 170  and the data terminal A 180 , each entity image is correlated with a RD and sent to the server. However, a PID may be generated by the server X after an entity image is sent to the server X 100  from the imaging terminal A or the data terminal A without being correlated with a PID. 
         [0075]    Next, when the sending and receiving means  101  of server X receives the entity image group, PIDs correlated with each image and a CIDa, they are stored in the temporary entity storage means  102 . That is, a PID for specifying each image and a CIDa are correlated with each entity image and stored in the temporary entity image means  102  (step S 1004 ). The image gateway service X is used by a plurality of users. One user of the image gateway service X can also use a plurality of imaging terminals. As a result, entity images taken by different imaging terminals of a plurality of users are stored in the temporary entity storage means  102 . However, each PID and a CID is correlated with all of the entity images stored in the temporary entity storage means  102  and stored. Therefore, any entity image stored in the temporary entity storage means  102  is specified when a combination of a PID and a CID is provided. 
         [0076]    However, according to this method, the operator of the image gateway service X can know the entity images taken by user A by searching the entity images stored in the temporary entity storage means  102  using CIDa as a search key. This is often an undesirable situation from the viewpoint of privacy protection. The following methods are used to prevent the operator of the image gateway service X from being able to search entity images taken by each user. 
         [0077]    First, the sending and receiving means  101  of the server X sends the CIDa and a PID group correlated with entity images sent from the imaging terminal A in step S 1003  to the bridge server Y 120  via the network  199 . When the sending and receiving means  102  of the server X receives these, the SPI generation means  133  combines each of the PIDs in the received PID group and the CIDa and calculates a scrambled PID using an irreversible calculation F shown by the formula below. The scramble PID is notated by SPID. 
         [0000]        SPIDn=F ( PIDn,CIDa ) 
         [0000]    Here, the suffix n is a number which specifies each entity image among the entity images imaged by the imaging terminal A. In addition, the calculation F here satisfies F(x1, y1)≠F(x2, y2) in the case where x1≠x2 or y1≠y2. Due to this property, the SPID can be used as an ID for specifying each entity image among an entity image group stored in the temporary entity storage means. The generated SPID group is correlated with the CIDa and stored in the SPID table in the storage means  122  of server Y. The sending and receiving means  121  sends the generated SPID group to the server X via the network  199 . When the sending and receiving mean  101  of the server X receives the SPID group, the SPID instead of a PID are correlated with each entity image sent from the imaging terminal A in step S 1003  and stored in the temporary entity storage means  102  (step S 1004 ). Because F is an irreversible calculation, the operator of the image gateway service X cannot get to an SPID from the CIDa. Therefore, the operator of the image gateway service X can no longer search for an entity image taken by user A using the CIDa. 
         [0078]    Next, the user A performs a user registration in the image gateway service X using the data terminal A  180 . The data terminal A may be any kind of data terminal such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, a mobile type data terminal, a camera, or a music player for example. The data terminal A may also be arranged with an imaging function. The user A inputs data for specifying the server X  100  by operating the input means  184 . For example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) may be the data for specifying the server X  100 . Next, the sending and receiving means  181  sends this data to the server X via the network  199 . When the sending and receiving means  101  of the server X receives this data, the HTML generation means  106  generates an HTML code for a user data registration screen or an authentication screen. The sending and receiving means  101  sends the HTML code to the data terminal A via the network  180 . When the sending and receiving means  181  receives the HTML code, the HTML analysis means  182  analyzes the code and this is displayed on a display means. Next, the user A inputs the data required for registering a user in the image gateway service X using the input means  184 . In the case where the HTML code is for an authentication screen, the user A inputs the data required for authentication using the input means  184 . The case of user registration is explained below. 
         [0079]    An example of a user registration screen is shown in  FIG. 11 . The display means  183  includes a user registration screen window  1101  of the image gateway service X. Furthermore, the window  1101  includes a display  1102  which displays the fact that this is a screen of the image gateway service X, a user ID input section  1111 , a password input section  1112 , a camera ID 1  input section  1111 , a camera ID 2  input section  1122 , a camera ID 3  input section  1123  and a user registration button  1130 . The user ID here is for uniquely specifying each user among the users of the image gateway service X. It is possible to input any number of camera IDs. In the present specification, a user ID in the image gateway service X is expressed as UIDx. In addition, a UID of user A in the image gateway service X is expressed as UIDxa. In the example shown in  FIG. 11 , “hoge@example.com” is input as UIDxa and “12345” is input as a password. However, in the example in  FIG. 11 , the display in the password input section  1112  is displayed in turned letters. Furthermore, a CID for uniquely specifying an imaging terminal held by user A is input to the camera ID input section. In the example shown in  FIG. 11 , “N12345678” is input as a CIDa. As is shown in the example in  FIG. 11 , in the present invention, it is possible to register a plurality of CIDs with respect to a single user ID. That is, the user A can use a plurality of imaging terminals in the present example. Any number of CIDs may be correlated with one UID and registered. 
         [0080]    Furthermore, the user A moves a cursor  1103  displayed in the display means  183  using the input means  184  and selects the user registration button  1130 . The sending and receiving means  181  sends UIDxa, a password, and CIDa to the server X 100  via network  199  (step S 1005 ). When the sending and receiving means of  101  of the server X receives these data, the user data table  105  correlates UIDxa, the password, and CIDa and stores them. 
         [0081]    An example of the user data table  105  is shown in  FIG. 12 . The user data table includes a user ID column  1201 , a password column  1202 , a CID column  1203  and an HID column  1204 . Although not shown in  FIG. 12 , the user data table may also include a column which stores attribute data of a user such as a name and an address, which are correlated with a user ID, and stored. In addition, the user data table may also be formed by a plurality of tables. In  FIG. 12 , data which is stored in step S 1006  is stored as the user ID 1211 , the password  1212  and the CID  1213 . In the user table  105  it is possible to correlate a plurality of CIDs with one user ID and to store them. In the user table  105  it is also possible to correlate a plurality of HIDs with one user ID and to store them. A correlation of a user ID of the image gateway service X and a CID of an imaging terminal held by this user is stored in the user table. In step S 1006 , it is also possible to correlate a plurality of CIDs with respect to a single UID and to store these in a column of the user table  1203 . This is the case when a single user uses a plurality of imaging terminals. In the case where user A has completed the user registration of the image gateway service X in advance, it is enough to send the authentication data to server X. 
         [0082]    Next, the search means  108  searches for an entity image group taken by the imaging terminal A from the temporary entity storage means  102  which stores the entity image group taken by a plurality of users using a plurality of imaging terminals. In step S 1004 , in the case where an entity image and a CID are correlated and stored in the temporary entity storage means  102 , the search means  108  searches the temporary entity storage means  102  using the CIDa as a search key and thereby the entity image group taken by imaging terminal A is obtained (step S 1007 ). In step S 1004 , in the case where an entity image and an SPID are correlated and stored in the temporary entity storage means  102 , an entity image taken by the imaging terminal A is obtained using the following procedure. First, the sending and receiving means  101  sends the CIDa to the server Y 120  via the network  199 . When the sending and receiving means  121  of the server Y receives the CIDa, the search means  131  searches the SPID table and a SPID group correlated with the CIDa is obtained. The sending and receiving means  121  sends this SPID group to the server X 100  via the network  199 . The search means  108  of the server X searches the temporary entity storage means  102  using the SPID group as a search key (step S 2007 ). 
         [0083]    Next, the summary image generation means  107  of the server X generates a summary image group of the entity image group searched in step S 1007 . Next, the HTML generation means  106  of the server X generates an HTML code for displaying a list of the summary image group of images taken using the imaging terminal A using the generated summary image group. A PID or an SPID is correlated with each summary image. The sending and receiving means sends this HTML code to the data terminal A  120  via the network  199  (step S 1008 ). When the sending and receiving means  181  of the data terminal A receives the HTML code, the code is displayed on the display means  183  after being analyzed by the HTML analysis means  182  (step S 1009 ). 
         [0084]    Furthermore, in this explanation, the storage of a summary image in the server X 100  to the summary image storage means  103  is performed in step S 1405  described below. However, following step S 1008  described above, a summary image generated in step S 1008  may be correlated with the CIDa and a PID or the SPID and stored in the summary image storage means  103 . 
         [0085]    An example of a browsing display screen of a summary image group is shown in  FIG. 13 . The display means  183  includes a window  1300  of the browsing display screen. The browsing display screen window  1300  includes a display  1301  which displays the fact this is the image gateway service X and an authentication completed user data display  1302 . The browsing display window  1300  further includes a summary image display area  1310 , a storage destination selection button area  1320  and a sending destination selection button area  1330 . The storage destination selection button area  1320  includes a button  1321  for data terminal A and a storage service button  1323 . The sending destination selection button area  1330  includes a print service button  1331 , a display terminal button  1332  and an acquaintance button of a different service  1333 . The summary image of an entity image searched from the temporary entity storage means  102  in step S 2005  is displayed in the summary image display window  1310 . In addition, in the example in  FIG. 13 , a [T] mark attached to each summary image is displayed. The [T] mark expresses the fact that an entity image which is the source of each summary image is stored in the temporary entity image storage means  102 . In  FIG. 13 , for example, the [T] mark  1312  attached to the summary image  1311  being displayed expresses the fact an entity image which is the source of the summary image  1311  is stored in the temporary entity image storage means  102 . The method for displaying in the display means  183  indicating the fact that an entity image is stored in the temporary entity image storage means  102  does not require that a [T] mark be attached. Ant method may be used such as an explanation using an image, a color, a character or a separation by areas. A summary image of each entity image may be displayed in the summary image display area, a folder of summary images which express the fact that a plurality of entity images are collected in the folder may be displayed in the summary image display area, and a [T] mark mat be attached to the folder. 
         [0086]    A process for storing an entity image group taken by the imaging terminal A 170  in the temporary entity storage means  102  of the server X has been explained above using the flowchart shown in  FIG. 10 . Because it is also possible to store an entity image group taken by a second imaging terminal  115  of the user A in the temporary entity storage means  102  of the server X using the same process a detailed explanation is omitted here. In this case, an HID of the second imaging terminal  115  of the user A is input in a user registration screen or an authentication screen displayed in the data terminal A shown in  FIG. 11 , the HID is sent to the server X and the user ID  1211  of the user A is correlated with the CID column  1204  in the user data table  105  shown in  FIG. 12  and stored. In addition, each entity image taken by the second imaging terminal of the user A is correlated with a PID and the CID of the second imaging terminal of the user A or the SPID and stored in the temporary entity storage means  102 . In addition, in the present invention, the same processes as in  FIG. 14 ,  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 22 ,  FIG. 24 , and  FIG. 26  are possible with respect to an entity image taken with the second imaging terminal of the user A and stored in the temporary entity storage means of the server X. A detailed explanation of a process of an entity image taken by the second imaging terminal of the user A is omitted here. 
         [0087]    In addition, because it is also possible to store an entity image group taken by the imaging terminal  116  of the user C in the temporary entity storage means  102  of the server X using the same process a detailed explanation is omitted here. In this case, an HID of the second imaging terminal  116  of the user C is input in a user registration screen or authentication screen displayed in the data terminal C  117 , the HID is sent to the server X and the user ID of the user C is correlated with the CID column  1204  in the user data table  105  shown in  FIG. 12  and stored. In addition, each entity image taken by the imaging terminal  117  of the user C is correlated with a PID and the CID of the imaging terminal of the user C or an SPID and stored in the temporary entity storage means  102 . In addition, in the present invention, the same processes as in  FIG. 14 ,  FIG. 16 ,  FIG. 22 ,  FIG. 24 , and  FIG. 26  are possible with respect to an entity image taken by the imaging terminal of the user C and stored in the temporary entity storage means of the server X. A detailed explanation of a process of an entity image taken by the imaging terminal of the user C is omitted here. 
         [0088]    Next, a process following the process shown by the flowchart in  FIG. 10  is explained using the flowchart shown in  FIG. 14 . Again referring to  FIG. 13 , the cursor  1303  displayed in the display means  183  is moved using the input means  184  of the data terminal A and an optional summary image is selected. In the example of  FIG. 13 , the summary images  1313 ,  1314 ,  1315 , and  1316  are selected. In the example of  FIG. 13 , the summary image enclosed by a double line indicates that it is a summary image selected here. Next, the cursor  1303  displayed in the display means  183  is moved using the input means  184  of the data terminal A and the button  1321  of the data terminal A is selected as a storage destination (step S 1401 ). 
         [0089]    Then, the sending and receiving means of the data terminal A sends a PID and the CIDa or the SPUD correlated with the selected summary image or the information for specifying the data terminal A to the server X via network  199 . The sending and receiving means  101  of the server X receives this data (step S 1402 ). Here, a method for correlating a PID and the CIDa or an SPID with each summary image in step S 1008  and sending to the data terminal A and sending the PID and the CIDa or the SPID of a summary image selected in step S 1401  to the server X has been explained. However, a method is not limited to the method explained above. For example, it is not necessary to correlate a PID and the CIDa or an SPID in the data terminal A with each summary image. Any method may be used as long as the server X obtains a PID and the CIDa or an SPID of a summary image selected in step S 1401 . 
         [0090]    Next, search means  108  searches the temporary entity storage means using a combination of the PID and the CIDa received in step S 1402  as a search key or the SPID as a search key (step S 1403 ). Next, the sending and receiving means  101  sends an entity image group to the data terminal A after each image in the entity image group obtained as a result of the search is correlated with the PID and the CIDa or the SPID. When the sending and receiving means  101  of the data terminal A receives the entity image group, the entity image group is stored in the image storage means  185  after each image is correlated with the PID and the CIDa or the SPID (step S 1404 ). 
         [0091]    Next, the server X correlates the PID and the CIDa or the SPID and data for uniquely specifying the data terminal A as storage destination data with each summary image group of an image selected in step S 1401  and stores the summary image group in the summary image storage means  103  (step S 1405 ). In the example shown in the present embodiment, the summary image group stored in step S 1405  is generated by the summary image storage means  103  for use in an HTML code of the browsing display screen in step S 1008 . However, in the present invention the summary images stored in step S 1405  may be generated by a separate process to that of step S 1008 . In addition, the summary images stored in step S 1405  may be generated by the imaging terminal A and sent to the server X together with an entity image group. In addition, in the case where a summary image selected in step S 1401  is already stored in the summary image storage means  103  in step S 1008 , it is not necessary to store the image in step S 1405 . Next, the temporary entity storage means  102  deletes the entity image group sent from the data terminal A in step S 1404  (step S 1406 ). 
         [0092]    Using the processes described above, the entity image group taken by the imaging terminal A and which is temporarily stored in the server X is moved from the temporary entity storage means of the server X to the data terminal A. Using this type of process it is possible to prevent an increase in the amount of image data held by the image gateway service X. 
         [0093]    Next, at an arbitrary time after step S 1405  is performed, the HTML generation means of the server X generates HTML code for a renewed browsing display screen. The sending and receiving means  101  sends this HTML code to the data terminal A 180  via the network  199 . When the sending and receiving means  181  of the data terminal A receives the HTML code, the code is displayed is on the display means  183  after being analyzed by the HTML analysis means  182  (step S 1407 ). 
         [0094]    An example of a renewed browsing display screen is shown in  FIG. 15 . The screen shown in  FIG. 15  is the same as the display in  FIG. 13  except the display of the summary image display area  1310 . Using the processes in steps S 1401  to S 1406 , the entity images represented by the summary images  1313 ,  1314 ,  1315 , and  1316  in  FIG. 13  are moved from the temporary entity storage means  102  of the server X to the image storage means  185  of the data terminal A. When  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 15  are compared, the mark attached to a summary image which represents these four entity images changed from a [T] mark to an [L] mark. An [L] mark expresses the fact that the entity images corresponding to each summary image are stored in the image storage means  185  of the data terminal A. The attachment of an [L] mark is not necessary for representing this fact. As long as the method distinguishes between an entity image stored in the temporary storage means  102  and an entity image stored in the storage means  185  of the data terminal A, an explanation using an image, color, a character, or a separation by area may also be used. A summary image of representing each entity image may be displayed in the summary image display area, a folder of summary images which express the fact that a plurality of entity images are collected in the folder may be displayed in the summary image display area, and an [L] mark may be attached to the folder. 
         [0095]    Next, a process whereby an entity image of the image selected by the user A among an entity image group taken in step A 1001  and stored in the temporary entity storage means  102  is copied to the image data storage means  144  of the storage service Z, only the summary image group is stored in the summary image storage means of the server X and these selected entity image groups are deleted from the temporary entity storage means  102  is explained using the flowchart shown in  FIG. 16 . Again referring to  FIG. 15 , the cursor  1303  displayed in the display means  183  is moved using the input means  184  of the data terminal A and an arbitrary summary image is selected. In the example in  FIG. 15 , the summary images  1515 ,  1516 ,  1517 , and  1518  are selected. In the example of  FIG. 15 , the summary image enclosed by a double line indicates that it is a summary image selected here. Furthermore, the cursor  1303  displayed in the display means  183  is moved using the input means  184  of the data terminal A and the button  1323  of the storage service is selected as a storage destination (step S 1601 ). 
         [0096]    Next, the sending and receiving means  181  sends each PID and the CIDa of the selected summary images  1515 ,  1516 ,  1517 ,  1518  or the SPID and the information representing the fact that the storage service button  1323  is selected to the server X 100  via network  199 . The sending and receiving means  101  of server X receives this data (step S 1402 ). Here, a method for correlating the PID and the CIDa or the SPID with each summary image in step S 1407  and sending to the data terminal A and sending the PID and the CIDa or the SPID of the summary image selected in step S 1601  to the server X has been explained. However, in the present invention, a method is not limited to the method explained above. For example, it is not necessary to correlate the RD and the CIDa or the SPID in the data terminal A with each summary image. Any method may be used as long as the server X obtains the PID and the CIDa or the SPID of the summary image selected in step S 1601 . Next, search means  108  searches the temporary entity storage means using a combination of the PD and the CIDa received here as a search key or the SPID as a search key (step S 1603 ). However, in this example, the summary image  1515  is attached with a mark [L] as is shown in  FIG. 15 . This represents the fact that the summary image is deleted from the temporary entity storage means  102  of the server X in step S 1406  and the entity image represented by this summary image is stored in the image storage means  184  of the data terminal A. Therefore, the entity image indicated by the summary image  1515  must be obtained from the data terminal A after the server X 100  sends the PID and the CIDa or the SPID to the data terminal A 180 . In this way, in the case where the entity image doesn&#39;t exist in the temporary entity storage means  102  of the server X, the entity image is obtained by the server X from a data terminal or a server which stores the entity image. Because this process is explained in detail in steps S 2204  to S 2206 , step S 2404  to S 2406  and step S 2604  to S 2606 , it is omitted here. 
         [0097]    Next, the sending and receiving means  101  redirects a connection between the data terminal A 180  and the sever X 100  to the server Y 120  using the data received in step S 1602  which expresses the fact that the button  1323  of the storage service is selected. Next, the HTML generation means  134  generates HTML code for generating a storage service selection screen using the data of the storage service stored in the storage service table  124  in server Y. An example of the storage service table  124  is shown in  FIG. 17 . The storage service table  124  includes a storage service name column  1701 , an authentication URL column  1702 , and a sending URL column  1703 . In the example of the present embodiment, a bridge service Y provides a bridge services to two storage services, a storage service Z, and a storage service W are provided to a user. Furthermore, the storage service Y and the storage service Z may be any service as long as they provide a storage function of image data. For example, as long as the storage services used in the present invention provide a storage function of image data, a service which mainly provides storage and a browsing function of images (FLICKR etc.), or a service (FACEBOOK etc.) which mainly provides an exchange of diaries such as an SNS (Social Networking Service) or a service which mainly provides electronic mail (GMAIL etc.) can be used. 
         [0098]    Next, the sending and receiving means  121  sends the HTML code to the data terminal A via the network  199  (step S 1604 ). When the sending and receiving means  181  of the data terminal A receives the HTML code, the display means  183  displays the storage service selection screen after the code is analyzed by the HTML analysis means  182 . An example of the storage service selection screen is shown in  FIG. 18 . The window  1801  of the storage service selection screen includes a display  1802  which indicates that this is a service of the bridge service Y, a checkbox  1811  for selecting the storage service Z, a checkbox  1812  for selecting the storage service W, and a selection completed button  1804 . The storage service selection screen may or may not include the bridge service display  1802 . In addition, the checkbox  1811  and  1812  may be any type of checkbox as long as it is possible to select each storage service. In addition, it may be possible to select one storage service or a plurality of storage services simultaneously. In this example, when the storage service selection screen is displayed, the HTML generation means of the server Y generates HTML code and sends the code to the data terminal A after the connection to the data terminal A is redirected from the server X 100  to the server Y 120 . Other than this, a code such as a script (javascript etc.) for receiving data from the server Y is attached in advance to the HTML code sent to the data terminal A from the server X, and the storage service selection screen output by the server Y may be directly displayed on the screen of the image gateway service X. Furthermore, the server X may include a function equivalent to a storage service table and the server X may send the storage service selection screen to the data terminal A. 
         [0099]    Next, the cursor  1803  displayed on the display means  183  is moved using the input means  184  of the data terminal A and the checkbox for selecting a storage service is selected. In the example of  FIG. 18  the checkbox  1811  is selected. Following this, the cursor  1803  is moved using the input means  184  and the selection completion button  1804  is selected. The sending and receiving means  181  sends data which expresses the fact the checkbox  1811  is selected to the server Y 120  via the network  199  (step S 1604 ). When the sending and receiving means  121  of the server Y receives this data, the search means  131  searches the storage service table  124  for the authentication URL  1712  correlated and stored with the storage service Z. The sending and receiving means  121  redirects a connection between the terminal A and the server Y to the server Z  140  according to the authentication URL  1712 . 
         [0100]    When the sending and receiving means  141  establishes a connection with the data terminal A, the HTML generation means  142  generates an HTML code for generating an authentication screen of the storage service Z and the sending and receiving means  141  sends the code to the data terminal A via the network  199  (step S 1606 ). When the sending and receiving means  181  of the data terminal A receives the code, an authentication screen of the storage service Z is displayed on the display means  183  after the code is analyzed by the HTML analysis means  182 . An example of the storage service Z authentication screen is shown in  FIG. 19 . The storage service Z authentication screen includes an authentication screen window  1901 . The authentication screen window  1901  includes a display  1902  which expresses the fact that this is a screen of the storage service Z, a user ID input section  1911 , a password input section  1912  and an authentication button  1904 . In the example in  FIG. 19 , after the cursor  1903  is moved to the user ID input section  1911  using the input means  184 , the user ID [hoge@ServiceZ.com] of the user A in the service Z is input and the password  1922  is input after moving the cursor  1903  to the password input section  1912 . Here, the user ID of the storage service Z is expressed as UIDz. In addition, the UID of the user A in the storage service Z is expressed as UIDza. In the example in  FIG. 19 , the password  1922  is displayed as turned characters. Next, when the cursor  1903  is moved by the input means  184  and the authentication button  1904  is selected, the sending and receiving means  181  sends the user ID  1921  and the password  1822  to the server Z via the network  199 . When the user ID and the password are received by the sending and receiving means of the server Z, the authentication means  143  performs an authentication by searching for the UIDza and the password data of the user A stored in advance in the user table (step S 1607 ). Here, it is presumed that the UIDza and the password of the user A are stored in advance in the user data table  146 . That is, the user A is a user of the image gateway service X as well as a user of the storage service Z. In the case where the user A is not a user of the storage service Z at the time when step S 1606  is performed, the UIDza and the password are stored in server Z at this time. 
         [0101]    Next, the sending and receiving means  141  of the server Z sends data which expresses that fact that the user A is authenticated to the server Y 120  via the network  199 . When the sending and receiving means  121  of the server Y receives this data, the sending and receiving means  121  of the server Y sends to the server X 100  data required for sending an entity image of the user A selected in step S 1601  to the server Z  140 . This data may be an ID for uniquely specifying the server Z  140  which is a sending destination on network  199 , a receiving address or a port number when receiving an entity image group in the server Z  140 , a session data generated for sending this data by the server Y or a negotiation data between the server X and the server Z or a digest data of an image data for guaranteeing security or accuracy of the entity image group. However, any data may be used as long as it is used for sending an entity image group selected in step S 1601  to the server Z  140  from server X  100 . In addition, the sending and receiving means  121  of the server Y sends data necessary for receiving an entity image group of an image selected in step S 1601  from the server X 100  to the server Z 140 . This data may be an ID for uniquely specifying the server X 100  which is a sending destination on network  199 , a receiving address or a port number when receiving an entity image group in the server X 100 , a session data generated for sending this data by the server Y or a negotiation data between the server X and the server Z or a digest data of image data for guaranteeing security or accuracy of the entity image group. However, any data may be used as long as it is used for sending an entity image group selected in step S 1601  to the server Z 140  from the server X 100  (step S 1608 ). In this example, the server Y performs negotiation for sending and receiving entity image groups between the server X and the server Z for sending and sending and receiving of entity image groups is directly carried out between the server X and the server Z via the network  199 . However, the server Y may relay sending and receiving of entity image groups. In addition, the server Y does not have to perform negotiation and a negotiation may be performed directly between the server X and the server Z. 
         [0102]    Next, the sending and receiving means  101  of the server X and the sending and receiving means  141  of the server Z receive data sent from the server Y  120  in step S 1608 . Next, the sending and receiving means  101  of the server X and the sending and receiving means  141  of server Z the establish a session for sending and receiving the entity image group selected in step S 1601 . The sending and receiving means  101  of the server X sends the entity image group of an image selected in step S 1601  correlated with each PID and the CIDa or each SPID to the sever Z via network  199  (step S 1609 ). The sending and receiving means  141  of the server Z receives the entity image group and stores them in the image data storage means  144  correlated with each PID and the CIDa or each SPID (step S 1610 ). 
         [0103]    Next, the server X correlates each PID and the CIDa or each SPID and the information which uniquely specifies the storage service Z as storage destination data with each summary image group of an image selected in step S 1601  and stores the summary image group in the storage means  103  (step S 1611 ). In the example shown here, the summary image storage means  103  generates the summary image group stored in step S 1611  for use in an HTML code of a browsing display screen in step S 1008 . However, in the present invention, the summary images stored in the summary image storage means  103  in step S 1611  may be generated independently in step S 1008 . In addition, in the case where summary images selected in step S 1601  are already stored in the summary image storage means  103  in step S 1008 , it is not necessary to store them in step S 1611 . In addition, the summary images stored in the summary image storage means  103  in step S 1611  may be generated by the imaging terminal A and sent to the server X with an entity image group. Next, the temporary entity storage means  102  of the server X deletes the entity image group sent from the data terminal A in step S 1609  (step S 1612 ). 
         [0104]    Next, at an arbitrary time after step S 1611  is performed, the HTML generation means of the server X generates an HTML code for a renewed image data browsing display screen. The sending and receiving means  101  sends this HTML code to the data terminal A 180  via the network  199 . When the sending and receiving means  181  of the data terminal A receives the HTML code, the code is displayed on the display means  183  after being analyzed by the HTML analysis means  182  (step S 1613 ). 
         [0105]    An example of a renewed browsing display screen is shown in  FIG. 20 . The screen shown in  FIG. 20  is the same as the display in  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 15  except the display of the summary image display area  1310 . Using the processes in steps S 1601  to S 1613 , the entity image group represented by the summary images  1516 ,  1517 ,  1518 , and  1519  in  FIG. 15  are moved from the temporary entity storage means  102  of the server X to the image storage means  144  of the server Z. In addition, the entity image group represented by the summary image  1515  in  FIG. 15  is copied to the image data storage means of the server Z from the image storage means  185  of the data terminal A. When  FIG. 15  and  FIG. 20  are compared, the display attached to the summary images  1516 ,  1517 , and  1518  among these images changes from a [T] mark to an [S] mark. An [S] mark expresses the fact that the entity images which represent each summary image or the summary images are stored in the image storage means  144  of the server Z. The attachment of an [S] mark is not necessary for representing this fact. As long as the method distinguishes between an entity image stored in the temporary storage means  102  of the server X and an entity image stored in the storage means  185  of the data terminal A, and an entity image or summary image stored in the image data storage mean  144  of the server Z, an explanation using an image, a color, a character or, a separation by area may also be used. In addition to mark [L]  1515  which represents the fact the entity image with respect to the summary image  1515  is stored in the image storage means  185  of the data terminal A, an [S] mark  2016  which is stored in the image data storage means  144  of the server Z is also attached to the entity image or summary image. This expresses the fact that an image represented by the summary image  1515  is stored in both the image storage means  185  of the data terminal A and the image data storage means  144  of the server Z. 
         [0106]    Furthermore, an SPID generation and storage function in the server Y 120  and another bridge function provided by the server Y may be realized by different servers. In addition, these different servers may be operated by different operators 
         [0107]    The processes of the first embodiment of the present invention shown in each flowchart in  FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 14 , and  FIG. 16  are organized together and shown in the sequence shown in  FIG. 21 .  FIG. 21  shows each step explained in each flowchart described above is processed in which of the imaging terminal, the data terminal, or the server. By the processes described above, a summary image of all images taken by the imaging terminal A is stored in the summary image storage means  103  of the server X. The entity image of the summary image is stored in the temporary entity storage means  102  of the server X, the image storage means  185  of the data terminal A and the image data storage means  144  of the storage service Z. In this state, the user A can use various services such as printing images, displaying images on a display terminal or sending image data to another user using the image gateway service X as an entrance. 
         [0108]    A print process of an image using a print service U is explained as a first embodiment with the processes shown in  FIG. 21  as common processes after step S 1613 , image display using a display terminal A is explained as a second embodiment, and a process whereby user A sends image data to a user B who is an acquaintance on a Web service V is explained. All three embodiments start at step S 1613 . That is, in each of the three embodiments, a process begins from a state where a browsing display screen of the summary images shown in  FIG. 20  is displayed in the display means  183  of the data terminal A. 
       First Embodiment 
     Printing Using a Print Service U) 
       [0109]    Next, a process for batch printing a plurality of images of which entity images are stored in different terminals or servers using a print service U via an image gateway service X is explained using the flowchart shown in  FIG. 22 . Again referring to  FIG. 20 , the cursor  1303  displayed in the display means  183  is moved using the input means  184  of the data terminal A and an arbitrary summary image is selected. In the example in  FIG. 20 , summary images  2051 ,  2052 , and  2054  are selected. In  FIG. 20 , the summary image enclosed by a double line refers to the fact that it is a selected image at this time. In the example shown in  FIG. 20 , a [T] mark  2053  is attached to the summary image  2052  and an entity image represented by this summary image is stored in the temporary entity storage means  102  of the server X. Similarly, an [L] mark  2055  is attached to the summary image  2054  and an entity image represented by this summary image is stored in the image storage means  185  of the data terminal A. Furthermore, an [S] mark  2011  is attached to the summary image  2051  and an entity image represented by this summary image is stored in the image data storage means  144  of the server Z. Next, the cursor  1303  displayed on the display means  183  is moved using the input means  184  of the user A and a button  1331  for a print service is selected as a sending destination (step S 2201 ). 
         [0110]    Next, the sending and receiving means  181  sends each of the PID and the CIDa or each SPID of each selected summary image  2051 ,  2052 , and  2054  and information which expresses the fact that the button  1331  for the print service is selected is sent to the server X 100  via the network  199 . Here, any data which expresses the fact that the summary images  2051 ,  2052 , and  2054  are selected may be sent instead of the PID and CIDa or the SPID of the selected summary image. The sending and receiving means  101  of the server X receives this data (step S 2202 ). Here, a method for correlating each of the PID and the CIDa or each SPID with each summary image in step S 1613  and sending to the data terminal A and sending the PID and the CIDa or the SPID of the summary image selected in step S 2201  to the server X has explained. However, a method is not limited to the method explained above. For example, it is not necessary to correlate each of the PID and the CIDa or the SPID in the data terminal A with each summary image. Any method may be used as long as the server X obtains the PID and the CIDa or the SPID of the summary image selected in step S 2201 . 
         [0111]    Next, search means  108  searches the temporary entity storage means  102  using the PID and the CIDa or the SPID correlated with the summary image  2052  as a search key and an entity image corresponding to the summary image  2053  is obtained. This entity image is correlated with the UIDxa and stored in the temporary image storage means  109  (step S 2203 ). In addition, the sending and receiving means of the server X sends the PID and the CIDa or the SPID of the summary image  2054  together with a storage destination of an entity image represented by the summary image  2054  stored in the summary image means in step S 1405  to the data terminal A and thereby requests that an entity image represented by the summary image  2054  is obtained. When the sending and receiving means  181  of the imaging terminal of the user A receives this request, the search means  186  searches the image storage means  185  using the PID and the CIDa or the SPID, which are received, as a search key and obtains the entity image represented by the summary image  2054 . This search becomes possible because the entity image represented by the summary image  2054  in step S 1404  is correlated with the PID and the Ma or the SPID and stored. The sending and receiving means  181  sends this entity image to the server X 100  via the network  199 . The sending and receiving means  101  of the server X receives this entity image. This entity image is correlated with the UIDxa and stored in the temporary image storage means  109  (step S 2204 ). 
         [0112]    Furthermore, the sending and receiving means  101  of the server X redirects a connection with the data terminal A to the server Z. The sending and receiving means  141  of the server Z sends an HTML code generated by the HTML generation means  142  for generating an authentication screen of the storage service Z to the data terminal A via network  199 . When the sending and receiving means  181  receives the HTML code, the HTML analysis means  182  analyzes the code and the display means displays the authentication screen of the storage service Z shown as an example in  FIG. 19 . Next, the user A inputs the user ID  1921  and the password  1922  using input means  184  which are authentication data and selects the authentication button  1904 . Next, the sending and receiving means  181  sends this authentication data to the server Z  140  via the network  199 . When the sending and receiving means  141  of the server Z 140  receives this data, the authentication means  143  authenticates the user A. Following this process, a connection between the data terminal A and the server Z is again redirected to the server X. 
         [0113]    Sending and receiving means  141  of server Z sends data which expresses the fact that user A is authenticated to server X via network  199 . When the sending and receiving means  101  of server X receives this data, a request for obtaining an entity image represented by the summary image  2051  is sent to the server Z 140  via network  199  together with the PID and the CIDa or the SPID of this entity image (step S 2205 ). When the sending and receiving means  141  of server Z receives this, the search means  145  performs a search using the PID and the CIDa or the SPID of the requested entity image as a search key. This search becomes possible because the entity image represented by the summary image  2051  in step S 1610  is correlated with the PID and the CIDa or the SPID and the PID and the CIDa or the SPID are stored. The entity image represented by the summary image  2052  obtained as a result of this search is sent to the server X  100  via the network  199  by the sending and receiving means  141 . The sending and receiving means  101  receives the image. The entity image is correlated with UIDxa and stored in the temporary image storage means  109  (step S 2206 ). Furthermore, the order of the three processes of processes in step S 220 , a process in S 2204 , and processes steps from S 2205  to  2206  may be interchanged. 
         [0114]    The entity image represented by the summary images  2052 ,  2054 , and  2051  selected by user A in step S 2201  are correlated with UIDxa and stored by server X in the temporary image storage means  109  using the processes in steps S 2203  to S 2206  described above. Next, the sending and receiving means  101  of the server X redirects a connection between the data terminal A 180  and the server X  100  to the server U  150 . The HTML generation means  152  of server U generates an HTML code for generating an authentication screen of print service U and the sending and receiving means  151  sends this code to the data terminal A via network  199 . When the sending and receiving means  180  of the data terminal A receives this code, an authentication screen is displayed on the display means  183  after analysis by the HTML analysis means  182 . 
         [0115]    An example of the authentication screen of the print service U is shown in  FIG. 23 . The authentication screen of the print service U includes a display  2302  which shows that window  2301  is a screen of the print service U, a user ID input section  2311 , a password input section  2312 , a sending destination name input section  2313 , a sending destination address input section  2314 , and an authentication button  2304 . In the example in  FIG. 23 , the cursor  1903  is moved to the user ID input section  2311  by the input means  184  and the user ID [hoge@ServiceU.com]  2321  of the user A in the print service U is input and the password  2322  is input to the password input section  2312 . Here, the user ID in the print service U is expressed as UIDu. In addition, UIDu of user A is express as UIDua. In the example shown in  FIG. 23 , the password  1922  is displayed by turned letters. Furthermore, in the example shown in  FIG. 23 , a name  2323  is input to the sending destination name input section  2313  and an address  2324  is input to the sending destination address input section  2314 . Next, when the cursor  1903  is moved by the input means  184  and authentication button  2304  is selected, the input means sends the user ID UIDua  2321  and the password  2322  to the server U 150  via network  199 . When the sending and receiving mean  151  of the server U receive the ID and the password, the authentication means  153  performs an authentication (step S 2207 ). Furthermore, the sending destination name and sending destination address may be input by the user A using the input means  184  in the authentication screen of the print service U as is shown here. Alternatively, the data stored in advance in the user data storage means  156  of the print server U may be displayed in  FIG. 23 . Alternatively, data stored in advance in the user data table  105  of the server X may be sent to the server U via network  199  and this data may be used in the server U. In this case, the user table  105  of the server X must include a column for storing a user data such as a name and an address in addition to the columns shown in  FIG. 12 . In addition, the authentication of the user A by the server U may be omitted and replaced by the authentication process in step S 2207  after the authentication of the user A by the server X in step S 1005 . In this case, step S 2207  is omitted. 
         [0116]    Next, the server U sends data which expresses the fact that the user A is authenticated is sent to the server X via network  199 . When the server X receives this data, the sending and receiving means  101  sends an entity image group stored in the temporary image storage means  109  in step S 2203 , S 2204  and  2206  to the server U via network  199  (step S 2008 ). When the sending and receiving means  151  of server U receives the entity image group, the user ID (UIDua) of the user A in the print service U is correlated with the entity image group and stored in the image data storage means  154 . Next, the sending and receiving means  151  sends the entity image group to a printing device  157  via network  119  (step S 2009 ), and the printing device  157  prints the images (step S 2010 ). The entity image group stored in the image data storage means  154  is deleted from the image data storage means  154  when a process in step S 2009  is complete and the delivery of the printed entity images is complete and no longer required by the service U. Furthermore, the image gateway service X may be adapted to a plurality of print services, for example, the same processes are performed in the case where the entity images of the summary images selected in  FIG. 20  are sent to the server of a print service T shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       Second Embodiment 
     Display of an Image by Display Terminal A 
       [0117]    Next, a process for displaying a plurality of entity images stored on a terminal or server on a display terminal A via the image gateway service X is explained using the flowchart shown in  FIG. 24 . The display terminal A 190  may be an image display terminal such as a digital photo-frame or a data device arranged with a display means such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, a camera, a television, or a music player. In addition, the display terminal A 190  may also be a data terminal for outputting to other media such as printed paper. The processes in the second embodiment also start after performing step S 1613  the same as the first embodiment. 
         [0118]    Again referring to  FIG. 20 , the cursor  1303  displayed in the display means  183  is moved using the input means  184  of the data terminal A and an arbitrary summary image is selected. In the example in  FIG. 20 , the summary images  2051 ,  2052 , and  2054  are selected. In  FIG. 20 , the summary images enclosed by double lines express the fact that these are summary images selected at this time. In the example in  FIG. 20 , a [T] mark  2053  is attached to the summary image  2052  and an entity image represented by the summary image is stored in the temporary entity storage means  102  of the server X. Similarly, an [L] mark  2055  is attached to the summary image  2054  and an entity image represented by this summary image is stored in the image storage means  185  of the data terminal A. Furthermore, an [S] mark  2011  is attached to the summary image  2051  and an entity image represented by this summary image is stored in the image data storage means  143  of the data server Z. Next, the cursor  1303  displayed in the display means  183  is moved by the input means  184  of the data terminal A and the button  1322  of the display terminal is selected as a sending destination (step S 2401 ). 
         [0119]    Next, entity images of summary images selected in step S 2401  are stored in the temporary image storage means  109  of the server X using the series of processes in step S 2402  to S 2406  in the flowchart in  FIG. 24 . This series of processes is exactly the same as the processes from step S 2202  to  2206  in the first embodiment except for the following point. In step S 2202  in the first embodiment, the data terminal A sends data expressing the fact that a print service selection button  1331  is selected in addition to summary images selected in step S 2201  and a PID and a CIDa or an SPID correlated with the summary images to the server X. In step S 2402  in the second embodiment, the data terminal A sends data expressing the fact that a display terminal selection button  1332  is selected in addition to the summary images selected in step S 2401  and a PID and a CIDa or an SPID correlated with the summary images to the server X. Here, instead of the PID and the CIDa or the SPID of the selected summary images, data expressing the fact that the summary images  2051 ,  2052  and  2054  are selected may be sent. Except this point, the processes from step S 2202  to S 2206  in the first embodiment and the processes from step S 2402  to S 2406  in the second embodiment are the same and thus an explanation is omitted here. Furthermore, the order of the three processes of a process in step S 2402 , a process in S 2404  and processes from S 2405  to  2406  may be interchanged. Using these processes, the entity images represented by the summary images  2052 ,  2054 , and  2051  are correlated with UIDxa and stored in the temporary image storage means  109 . 
         [0120]    Next, the HTML generation means  106  of server X generates an HTML code for generating a screen for obtaining a display terminal ID and the sending and receiving means  101  sends the HTML code to the data terminal A 180  via the network  199 . The sending and receiving means  180  of the data terminal  180  receives the HTML code and the display means  184  displays the screen for obtaining a display terminal ID after the code is analyzed by the HTML analysis means  182 . An example of a screen for obtaining a display terminal ID is shown in  FIG. 25 . The display means  183  includes a window  2501  of the image gateway service X. Furthermore, the window  2501  includes a display  2502  which expresses the fact that this is a screen of the image gateway service X, data  2503  for specifying the user A, the display terminal ID input sections  2521 ,  2522 , and  2523 , and a registration button  2504 . The display terminal ID is for uniquely specifying a display terminal connected to the network  199 . Here, the display terminal ID is written as HID. In addition, the HID of the display terminal A 190  is written as HIDa. In the present invention, it is possible to register a plurality of HIDs with respect to a single user D. That is, in the present example, the user A can use a plurality of display terminals. 
         [0121]    Next, the user A inputs an HIDa  2531  by operating the input means  184  and selects the registration button  2504 . The sending and receiving means  181  sends HIDa to the server X via the network  199 . When the sending and receiving means  101  of the server X receives the HIDa, it is stored in the user data table  105  (step S 2407 ). In the example in  FIG. 12 , an HIDa  1214  is correlated with the UIDxa  1211  of the user A and stored using this step. An HIDa may be stored in the user data table in advance after being obtained in the screen for obtaining authentication data shown in  FIG. 11  during the process in step S 1005 . 
         [0122]    The display terminal A 190  is connected to the network  199  at an arbitrary time after the HIDa is correlated with the UIDxa and stored in the user data table  105 . Next, the sending and receiving means  191  of the display terminal A sends the HIDa of the display terminal A to the server X 100  via the network  199 . The HIDa may be sent after being stored in the HID storage means  148  at the time of manufacture of the display terminal A or after being input by the user A using the input means  194 . When the sending and receiving means  101  of the server X receives the HIDa from the display terminal A (step S 2408 ), the search means  108  searches the user table  105  using the HIDa as a search key and obtains the UIDxa of the user A. Furthermore, the search means  108  searches the temporary image storage means  109  using the UIDxa as a search key and obtains the entity image group stored in step S 2403 ,  2404  and S 2406 . 
         [0123]    The sending and receiving means  101  sends the entity image group obtained here to the display terminal A  190  via the network  199  (step S 2409 ). When the sending and receiving means  191  of the display terminal A receives the entity image group, the entity image group is stored in the image storage means  159  and the display means  198  displays the entity image group (step S 2410 ). 
       Third Embodiment 
     Display of an Image Using Display Terminal of User B 
       [0124]    Next, a process for displaying a plurality of entity images, which are stored on a terminal or a server, on a data terminal  195  of user B via the image gateway service X is explained using the flowchart shown in  FIG. 26 . In the second embodiment, the display terminal A 190  is owned by the user A and as a result, the user A can send the HIDa for uniquely specifying the display terminal A 190  to the server X via the data terminal A  180  (step S 2407 ). In the third embodiment, the data terminal B  195  is not owned by the user A and since the user A does not know the HID of the data terminal B  195 , cannot send the HID of the data terminal B to the server X from the data terminal  180 . In addition, in the example in the third embodiment, the user B is an acquaintance of the user A via a Web service V, for example. 
         [0125]    The data terminal B  195  may be an image display terminal such as a digital photo-frame or a data device arranged with a display means such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, a camera, a television, or a music player. In addition, the data terminal B 195  may also be a data terminal for outputting to other media such as printed paper. The processes in the third embodiment also start after performing the process in step S 1613  the same as the first and the second embodiments. 
         [0126]    Again referring to  FIG. 20 , the cursor  1303  displayed in the display means  183  is moved using the input means  184  of the data terminal A and an arbitrary summary image is selected. In the example in  FIG. 20 , the summary images  2051 ,  2052 , and  2054  are selected. In  FIG. 20 , summary images enclosed by double lines express the fact that these are summary images selected at this time. In the example in  FIG. 20 , a [T] mark  2053  is attached to the summary image  2052  and an entity image represented by the summary image is stored in the temporary entity storage means  102  of the server X. Similarly, an [L] mark  2055  is attached to the summary image  2054  and an entity image represented by this summary image is stored in the image storage means  185  of the data terminal A. Furthermore, an [S] mark  2011  is attached to the summary image  2051  and an entity image represented by this summary image is stored in the image data storage means  144  of the data server Z. Next, the cursor  1303  displayed in the display means  183  is moved by the input means  184  of the data terminal A and the acquaintance button  1333  of another service is selected as a sending destination (step S 2601 ). 
         [0127]    Next, entity images of summary images selected in step S 6401  are stored in the temporary image storage means  109  of the server X using the series of processes in step S 2602  to S 6406  in the flowchart in  FIG. 26 . This series of processes is exactly the same as the processes from step S 2402  to  2406  in the second embodiment except for the following point. In step S 2402  in the second embodiment, the data terminal A sends data expressing the fact that the display terminal  1332  is selected in addition to the summary images selected in step S 2401  and a PID and a CIDa or an SPID correlated with each summary images to the server X. In step S 2602  in the third embodiment, the data terminal A sends data expressing the fact that an acquaintance of another service button  1333  is selected in addition to the summary images selected in step S 2601  and a PID and a CIDa or an SPID correlated with each summary images to the server X. Here, instead of a PID and a CIDa or the SPID of each selected summary images, data expressing the fact that the summary images  2051 ,  2052 , and  2054  are selected may be sent. Except this point, the processes from steps S 2402  to S 2406  in the second embodiment and the processes from steps S 2602  to S 2606  in the third embodiment are the same and thus an explanation is omitted here. Furthermore, the order of the three processes of a process in step S 6403 , a process in S 2604 , and processes from S 2605  to  2606  may be interchanged. Using these processes, the entity images represented by the summary images  2052 ,  2054 , and  2051  are correlated with UIDxa and stored in the temporary image storage means  109 . 
         [0128]    Next, the sending and receiving means  101  of the server X redirects connection between the data terminal A and the server X 100  to the server Y 120  using the data expressing the fact the acquaintance of another service selection button  1333  received in step S 2602  is selected. Next, the HTML generation means  134  generates an HTML code for generating a Web service selection screen using data of a Web service stored in a Web service table  125  of the server Y. An example of a Web service table  125  is shown in  FIG. 27 . The Web service table  125  includes a Web service name column  2701 , an authentication URL column  2702 , a URL for obtaining an acquaintance list column  2703  and a URL for sending a message column  2704 . In the example in the third embodiment, the bridge service Y provides a bridge to two Web services, a Web service V  160  and a Web service S  139 . Furthermore, here, the Web service V  160  and the Web service Ss 139  may be any services as long as they store an acquaintance list of the user A. For example, as long as the storage services used in the present invention provide a storage function for storing an ID list of acquaintances of a user in each server, any service can be used such as a service which mainly provides storage and a browsing function of images (FLICKR etc.), or a service (FACEBOOK etc.) which mainly provides an exchange of diaries such as an SNS (Social Networking Service) or a service which mainly provides an electronic mail (GMAIL etc.), a messenger service (SKYPE etc.), which provides chat or voice telephony, or a goods sales service (AMAZON etc.). 
         [0129]    Next, the sending and receiving means  121  sends an HTML code for generating the Web service selection screen to the data terminal A via the network. When the sending and receiving means  181  of the data terminal A receives the HTML code, the Web service selection screen is displayed by the display means  183  after the HTML code is analyzed by the HTML analysis means  182 . 
         [0130]    An example of the Web service selection screen is shown in  FIG. 28 . The window  2801  of the Web service selection screen includes a display  2802  that shows that this is the a service of the bridge service Y, a Web service V selection button  2811 , a Web service S selection button  2812 , and a selection completed button  2804 . The Web service selection screen may or may not include the bridge service display  2802 . In addition, the buttons  2811  and  2812  do not have to be buttons as long as each Web service can be selected. In this example, when the Web service election screen is displayed, the HTML generation means of server Y generates an HTML code and sends the code to the data terminal A after the connection to the data terminal A is redirected from the server X  100  to the server Y  120 . Other than this, a code such as a script (javascript etc.) for receiving data from the server Y is attached in advance to the HTML code sent to the data terminal A from the server X, and the Web service selection screen output by the server Y may be directly displayed on the screen of the image gateway service X. Furthermore, the server X may include a function equivalent to a Web service table and the server X may send the Web service selection screen to the data terminal A. 
         [0131]    Next, the cursor  2803  displayed on the display means  183  is moved using the input means  184  of the data terminal A and the Web service selection button is selected. In the example of  FIG. 28  the button  2811  is selected. Following this, the cursor  2803  is moved using the input means  184  and the selection completion button  2804  is selected. The sending and receiving means  181  sends data which expresses the fact that the button  2811  is selected to the server Y 120  via the network  199  (step S 2607 ). When the sending and receiving means  121  of the server Y receives this data, the search means  131  searches the Web service table  125  using the Web service name V as a search key and the authentication URL  1212  correlated and stored with the Web service Z is obtained. The sending and receiving means  121  redirects a connection between the terminal A and the server Y to the server V  160  according to the authentication URL  2712 . 
         [0132]    When the sending and receiving means  161  establishes a connection with the data terminal A, the HTML generation means  162  generates an HTML code for generating an authentication screen of the Web service V and the sending and receiving means  161  sends the code to the data terminal A via the network  199 . When the sending and receiving means  181  of the data terminal A receives the code, an authentication screen of the Web service V is displayed on the display means  183  after the code is analyzed by the HTML analysis means  182 . An example of the Web service V authentication screen is shown in  FIG. 29 . The Web service V authentication screen includes an authentication screen window  2901 . The authentication screen window  2901  includes a display  2902  which expresses the fact that this is a screen of the Web service V, a user ID input section  2911 , a password input section  2912  and an authentication button  2904 . In the example in  FIG. 29 , after the cursor  2903  is moved to the user ID input section  2911  using the input means  184 , the user ID [hoge@svcV.com] of the user A in the Web service V is input and the password  2922  is input after moving the cursor  2903  to the password input section  2912 . Here, the ID for uniquely specifying a user of the Web service V is expressed as UIDv. In addition, the ULD of the user A in the Web service V is expressed as the UIDva. In the example in  FIG. 29 , the password  2922  is displayed as turned characters. Next, when the cursor  2903  is moved by the input means  184  and the authentication button  2904  is selected, the sending and receiving means  181  sends the user ID  2921  and the password  2822  to the server V via the network  199 . When the user ID and the password are received by the sending and receiving means of the server V, the authentication means  168  performs an authentication (step S 2608 ). In the example shown here, the user A is a user of the image gateway service X as well as a user of the Web service V, and UIDv and the password are stored in the user table  164  of the server V in advance. In step S 2608 , the user A may send the UIDva and a password to the server V via the data terminal A 180  and perform a user registration in user table  164 . 
         [0133]    Next, the search means  164  of the server V searches the user table  164  using UIDva as a search key. An example of the user table is shown in  FIG. 30 . In this example, the user table  164  includes a user ID column  3001 , a user display name column  3003 , and an acquaintance ID column  3004 . In column  3004 , UIDv&#39;s of a plurality of acquaintances may be correlated with a single UIDv and stored. In the example in  FIG. 30 , two UIDs [foo@svcV.com]  3014  and [bar@svcV.com]  3015  are correlated with a UIDva  3011  and stored. The search means  163  searches for the UIDva and obtains the UIDv&#39;s of acquaintances and using the UIDv&#39;s of these acquaintances obtains the display names [Betty]  3023  and [Fred]  3033 . Next, the sending and receiving means  161  of the server V sends the acquaintance UID and each display name obtained in this search to the server Y via the network  199 . The server Y stores the acquaintance ID and each display name in the sending destination temporary storage means  126  (step S 2609 ). Other than these, a UIDv of each acquaintance and additional information of each acquaintance may also be sent to the server Y. 
         [0134]    When the sending and receiving means  121  of the server Y receives the data, the HTML generation means  134  generates an HTML code for generating an image sending destination authentication screen. The sending and receiving means  121  of the server Y sends the HTML code to the data terminal A via the network  199 . When the sending and receiving means  181  of the data terminal A receives the code, an image sending destination authentication screen is displayed on the display means  183  after the code is analyzed by the HTML analysis means  182 . An example of the image sending destination authentication screen is shown in  FIG. 31 . The image sending destination authentication screen window  3101  includes a display  1302  which expresses the fact that this is an a screen of the bridge service Y, a display  3103  which expresses that cat that this is an image sending destination authentication screen, acquaintance display names  3121  and  3122  of the user A in the Web service V, selection checkboxes  3111  and  31112  of each acquaintance, and a selection completed button  3105 . In the image sending destination selection screen  3101 , the display  1302  may indicate that this is a screen of the bridge service Y, a screen of the Web service V or a screen of the image gateway service X. Here, while the image sending destination selection screen is generated by the server Y  120  and sent to the data terminal A  180 , the screen may also be generated by the server Y  160  and sent to the data terminal A  180 . In addition, while display names of acquaintances are sent to the server Y in step S 2609 , the display names may also be sent to the data terminal A 180  after being sent to the server X and the server X 100  creates the image sending destination selection screen. 
         [0135]    Next, the user A moves the cursor  3104  displayed on the display means tip  183  using the input means  184  of the data terminal A, selects the selection checkbox  3111  of the user B [Betty], who is an acquaintance of user A, and then selected the selection completed button  3105  (step S 2610 ). Here, [Betty] is the display name of user B and [foo@svcV.com] is the UIDvb of that ID. Next, when the sending and receiving means  121  of the server Y receives this notification, data which expresses the fact that the selection is completed is correlated with the ID of the acquaintance selected by the user A in step S 2610  among acquaintances in the acquaintance list of the user A stored in the sending destination temporary storage area  12  in step S 2609  and stored. Alternatively, the ID of an acquaintances other than the acquaintance selected in step S 2610  may be deleted from the sending destination temporary storage area  126 . Next, the sending and receiving means  121  of the server Y sends a request for an image sending URL of entity images correlate with UIDxa and stored in step S 2603 , S 2604 , and S 2606  to the server X via the network  199  (step S 2611 ). When the sending and receiving means  101  of the server X receives this request, the image sending URL generation means  111  generates an image sending URL of the entity image group. Next, the image sending URL generated for the entity image group correlated with UIDxa and stored in the temporary image storage means in step S 2603 , S 2604 , and S 2606  is correlated and stored. In addition, the image sending URL generated by the sending and receiving means  101  is sent to the server Y 120  via the network  199  (step S 2612 ). 
         [0136]    The sending and receiving means  121  of the server Y receives the image sending URL from the server X. Next, the sending and receiving means  121  sends UIDva which is the ID of an acquaintance selected by the user A in step S 2610  and stored in the sending destination temporary storage area in step S 2609  and the image sending URL received from the server X to the server V  160  via network  199  with respect to a message sending URL  2711  shown in  FIG. 27  (step S 2613 ). 
         [0137]    The sending and receiving means  161  of the server V receives these and sends the image sending URL received from the server Y to the data terminal  8195  via the network  199  using UIVb of [Betty] of user B received from the server Y as a receiving address (step S 2614 ). Therefore, the image sending URL to [Betty] selected by the user A as a sending destination is includes in a message to [foo@svcV.com]. The UIDv may be the ID of a message sending means such as a general electronic mail or any other ID of a message sending means. Data other than the image sending URL may also be includes in an electronic mail to the data terminal B. 
         [0138]    When the sending and receiving means  196  of the data terminal B receives the electronic mail message which includes the image sending URL from the server V, the message is analyzed by the message analysis means  197  and displayed on the display means  198 . An example of a message displayed on the data terminal B is shown in  FIG. 32 . The display means  198  includes a window  3201  for displaying a message. The window  3201  includes a display  3202  which shows that Web service V is the provider of the message, a display  3203  which shows that user A is the image sending source and an image sending URL display  3204 . The user B moves the cursor  3205  displayed in the display means  198  using the input means  158  and selects the image URL display  3204 . 
         [0139]    Next, the sending and receiving means  196  sends a request for obtaining an image sent to the user B by the user A to the server X indicated by the image sending URL via the network  199  (step S 2615 ). When the sending and receiving means  101  of the server X receives this request, the temporary image storage means is searched using the received image sending URL as a search key and an entity image group correlated with the UIDxa in step S 2612  and stored in the temporary image storage means is obtained. Next, the sending and receiving means  101  sends the entity image group to the data terminal B 195  via the network  199 . When the sending and receiving means  196  of the data terminal B receives the entity image group, the entity image group is stored in the image storage means  159  and displayed in the display means  158  (step S 2616 ). A message sent to the data terminal B 195  from the server V 160  may be sent by an HTML code as well as by electronic mail. In addition, acceptance of image browsing by user B using the data terminal B may be performed by selecting a button rather than a URL. In addition, the image gateway service X may be adapted to a plurality of Web services. For example, in the case where the user A sends a summary image selected in step S 2601  to an acquaintance in the Web service S via the server of the Web service S shown in  FIG. 1 , the same processes explained in  FIG. 26  are performed. 
         [0140]    In the present invention, a summary image of an entity image taken by the user A is stored in a summary image storage means  103  of the server X. However, the entity images of an image taken by the user A are stored in the temporary entity storage means  102  of the server X and in the image storage means  185  of the data terminal A and the image data storage means  144  of the server Z. For example, in the case where the user attempts to delete the entity images from the image storage means  185  of the data terminal A, summary images are stored in server X. However, entity images corresponding to these summary images may not exist. Again referring to  FIG. 20 , when this situation occurs the mark [X]  2060  shows that entity images corresponding to summary image  2061  stored by the server X have been deleted from the data terminal A and do not exist anywhere. Any method for displaying this fact may be used apart from an [X] mark. 
         [0141]    Next, the operational effects related to the present invention are explained in detail using the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment described above. The following nine effects are obtained using a server, a data terminal, an imaging terminal, a display terminal, a method, and a system of the present invention. 
         [0142]    The first effect is that it is possible to reduce a cumbersome procedure of copying to a data terminal which performs management and maintenance of image data from a data terminal. In step S 1003 , when the imaging terminal A is connected to the network, all the entity images are sent to the server X and stored in the temporary entity storage means. At this time, it is not necessary for the user A to perform a process for management. According to a conventional method, it is necessary to select which image data is to be uploaded to a server via a network or at least perform this setting in advance. According to the present invention, because entity images are only uploaded to the server X once, the cumbersome procedure of copying to a data terminal is greatly reduced. 
         [0143]    Furthermore, as stated previously, the imaging terminal A may upload entity images to the serve X via the data terminal A in the present invention. In addition, entity images stored in a storage media of the imaging terminal A may be uploaded to the server X via the data terminal A without providing the imaging terminal A with a sending and receiving means, but by connecting the storage media to the data terminal A. In this case also, the user A does not need to set which entity images are to be copied to the data terminal A or the server X since all the entity images may be automatically uploaded to the server X. As a result, the first effect is effective also in this case. 
         [0144]    The second effect is that it is possible for the user A to maintain image data groups taken with a plurality of imaging terminals as one batch. According to the present invention, as is shown in  FIG. 11 , it is possible to correlate a plurality of CIDs with UIDxa of the user A in the image gateway service X. All the entity images imaged by a plurality of imaging terminals are stored in the temporary entity storage means  102  of the server X. In the case where the user A uses a plurality of imaging terminals, the temporary entity storage means is searched using all the CIDs and the PIDs or the SPID correlated with the UIDxa. In this way, in a browsing display screen of the image gateway service X shown in  FIG. 15 , it is possible to manage image data taken with all imaging terminals in an integrated manner and greatly reduce the work required for managing image data compared to a conventional method. 
         [0145]    The third effect is that it is possible for a user to batch manage entity images stored across a plurality of storage destinations. According to the present invention, the plurality of storage destinations of the entity images may be a server or an imaging terminal. In addition, the plurality of storage destinations of the entity images may also be servers on different networks. For example, all entity image groups taken by the user A using the imaging terminal A are stored in the temporary entity storage means of the server X in step S 1404 . However, following this, one part of the entity images is moved to the storage means of the data terminal A in step S 1404  and another part is moved to the storage means of server Z in step S 1609 . Therefore, in step S 1613 , at the point where the screen in  FIG. 2  is displayed in the data terminal A, the entity images taken using the imaging terminal A are separated and stored in the server X, the data terminal A and the server Z. However, as is clear from the explanations in the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment, the user A can execute printing images, backing up images, or sending images to an acquaintance without being aware of the location of the entity images. Even when there is a plurality of storage destinations, the effort required for management of images by a user does not increase, which is an important effect of the present invention. 
         [0146]    The fourth effect is that it is easy to backup a large amount of image data. In the present image, all entity images taken by all the imaging terminal of a user can be easily copied or moved to an arbitrary data terminal or a server via the image gateway service X. Therefore, it is possible to easily backup image data by copying entity images to a plurality of data terminals or servers. For example, in  FIG. 20 , an [L] mark  1511  and an [S] mark are attached to the summary image  1515 . This represents the fact that the entity images represented by the summary image  1515  are stored in both image storage means  185  of the data terminal A and the image data storage means  141  of the server Z. This means that even if the entity images stored in either storage location are lost it is possible to use the entity images via the screen of the image gateway service X. 
         [0147]    The fifth effect is that it is possible to reduce a cost for managing and storing a large amount of entity data taken with a plurality of imaging terminals in a Web server. With regards to cost it is necessary to examine the three following points: the cost to the operator of the image gateway service X, the cost to the operator of the storage service Z, and the cost to the user A. 
         [0148]    First, the cost to the operator of the image gateway service X is examined. It was necessary for a Web service or storage service which stores entity images in a server to store in advance all entity images in a storage means in a server of that service. As a result, if a limit is not set to the volume of entity images entrusted by a user or a charge is set for storing a large amount of image data above an maximum amount, the cost to the service provider increases making it impossible to maintain operation of the service. However, according to the present invention, while all entity images are temporarily stored in the temporary entity storage means  102  in the server X, only summary images are stored in the summary image storage means  103  after moving the entity images to a data terminal or other storage service. Usually, because the amount of a summary image is significantly small compared to its entity image, the amount of data per person that is stored in the server X can be reduced compared to a conventional method. As a result, the image gateway service X can reduce costs regardless of the interface provided to a user for uniformly managing all image data. 
         [0149]    Next, the cost to an operator of the storage service Z is examined. Most of the storage services on the internet provide a user with a screen for browsing image data or exchanging with image data with acquaintances and realize profits by displaying advertisements on this screen. According to a conventional method, the cost of providing the storage capacity required by a single user often exceeds the profit from these advertisements. As a result, the use of a storage service is limited to the display of photographs or acquaintance introduction on the internet and opportunities for profit are lost while the number of visiting users decreases. According to the present invention, the operator of the storage service Z can accept entity images within a range matching advertising profits and thereby improve the visiting frequency of users to the storage service Z and increase profits. 
         [0150]    Finally, the cost to a user is examined. Until recently, it was cumbersome for a user to store entity images in a plurality of storage destinations and it was often the case that entity images would be stored together in one data terminal or one storage service. However, according to the present invention, such cumbersome operations are not required and it is possible to store entity images in an arbitrary storage destination. As a result, it is possible to store many entity images in an available storage means among a plurality of data terminals. Alternatively, it is possible to use a plurality of Web storage service on the internet and easily separate and store entity images so that each storage service can be used freely. Therefore, the cost of storing a large amount of entity images to a user can be significantly reduced compared to a conventional method. 
         [0151]    The sixth effect of the present invention is protection of privacy in the case where image data is kept on the internet. According to a conventional method, in the case image data taken by a user is stored in a server in each internet services, the image data is correlated with a user ID of that internet service and stored. As a result, it is possible for at least the operator of the internet service to specify all the entity images taken by each user by searching image data stored in the server from the user ID. In the method of the present invention, the image gateway service X stores all the reserved images correlated with the user UIDa and stored by simply temporarily storing entity images in the temporary entity storage means  102 . Therefore, the problem of privacy is less significant compared to a conventional method. Furthermore, in step S 1004 , in the case where an entity image group is correlated not only with a combination of a PID and a CIDa but also an SPID and stored in the temporary entity storage means  102 , there is no method for specifying an image taken by the user A using the imaging terminal A even for the operator of the image gateway service X. This is realized because an SPID is represented by the following formula and the calculation F is non-reversible and a correlation of a CIDa and an SPID is not stored in server X. 
         [0000]        SPIDn=F ( PIDn,CIDaa ) 
         [0152]    The seventh effect is that it is possible to unify various operations such as backup, printing, sending to an acquaintance, display on a data terminal, or display terminal of all images taken on a plurality of imaging terminals by a single user. In the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment, a user can execute backing up images, printing images, or sending images to an acquaintance by selecting a service or terminal on the bridge service Y after selecting an image which the user wishes to use on a screen of the image gateway service X shown in  FIG. 20 . At this time, it is not necessary for the user A to be aware of which imaging terminal took each image or the storage destination of the entity images. In addition, it is not necessary for a user to be aware if the sending destination of an image is a Web service, a display terminal, or a data terminal. 
         [0153]    The eighth effect is that it is possible to easily send or share image data on the image gateway service X by integrally using the acquaintance relationships known by a user of the image gateway service X on other Web services. Most internet users use various Web services and possess acquaintance relationships on each service. For example, a user may have a sending destination list on an electronic mail service, an acquaintance list of exchanging diaries on an SNS service, a telephone number list on a messenger service such as a chat or voice telephony, or a list of acquaintances for exchanging photographs on a photograph sharing service. In the system of the present invention, it is possible to easily send image data by selecting all of the acquaintance selection buttons  1333  of another service shown in  FIG. 20  and selecting a Web service for on which a user wishes to a use an acquaintance list on the bridge service Y. 
         [0154]    The ninth effect is a high scalability of service expansion. As explained herein, in the present invention it is possible to easily execute backing up image data, displaying image data, printing image data, or sending image data to an acquaintance on another Web service by linking the image gateway service X, the display terminal or the data terminal and various Web services. Actually, there are many services on the internet such as storage services, image browsing services, print services, and Web services including an acquaintance list. It is possible to realize the method of the present invention even if a function provided by the server Y explained above is provide by the server X. However, it is possible to add or delete corresponding storage services, image browsing services, print services, and Web services including an acquaintance list without adding changes to the server X by providing the server Y with a bridge function which links the image gateway service X and various terminals or servers. For example, in step S 1604  or step S 2607 , the server Y provides a storage service selection screen shown in  FIG. 19  or a Web service selection screen shown in  FIG. 28  to the data terminal A. Even in the case where storage services, print services, or Web services, which is compatible with the image gateway service X, increase, according to the method of the present invention, it is not necessary to make the bridge service Y compatible or to change the server X. 
         [0155]    Furthermore, in the present invention there may be a plurality of image gateway services X. For example, a further image gateway service R is connected to the network  199  of the first embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1  which links storage services Z and W, print services U and T, and Web services V and S. In this case also, it is possible to provide a user of the image gateway service R with the first to the eighth effects described above simply by adding a mechanism corresponding to the image gateway service R to the server Y without adding changes to each server of Z, W, U, T, V, and S. 
         [0156]    According to the present invention, a server, an imaging terminal, a data terminal, a display terminal, and system are provided in which a user can uniformly organize, manage and maintain image data which are taken by various imaging terminals and which are scattered and stored among various servers and terminals by using a gateway service on the internet. In addition, according to the present invention, because it is possible to separate and store image data among various storage media, it is possible to solve the problem of cost incurred when storing a large amount of image data on a server and to solve the problem of backup without increasing the complexity of organizing, managing, and maintaining image data.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6