Image commercial transactions system and method, image transfer system and method, image distribution system and method, display device and method

Abstract

An image commercial transactions system and method, an image transfer system and method, an image distribution system and method, and a display device and method are disclosed. A reception dealer accepts the transfer of an image recorded on a recording medium in a predetermined format with a handling condition intrinsic to the image, and transfers the image with the handling condition, and an advertisement, in digital data format, and a charge accounting dealer effects an electronic charge accounting transaction for the transfer of data of the image with the handling condition and the advertisement. Accordingly, a forwarding request user is helpful in making public the advertisement by having the data of the advertisement along with the data of the image forwarded, instead of the reception dealer, whereby a transfer fee for the data of image can be made lower. Consequently, it is possible to enhance the usability for the transfer significantly.

Claims

1. An image commercial transactions system comprising:

a reception host including:

a photographic image printing machine having a photographic image scanner for converting a picture on a film into photographic digital image data,

a server for storing said photographic digital image data,

a computer for accepting a sale of a digital image stored on said server in a digital data format with a handling condition related to said digital image, and

transferring means for transferring said digital image with said handling condition in said digital data format stored in said server to a selected one of a plurality of receiver sides via an Internet line so that digital image data transferred via said Internet line is developed into a printed picture modified based on said handling condition; and

a charge accounting dealer for effecting an electronic charge accounting transaction for the transfer by said reception host of data of said digital image with said handling condition to said selected one of said plurality of receiver sides, wherein said computer further transfers information data related to said transferred digital image to a user's computer, wherein said selected one of said plurality of receiver sides is selected by a user and is different from said user's computer.

2. The image commercial transactions system according to claim 1, wherein said reception host transfers said data of said digital image subjected to one of a scrambling process and a masking process.

3. The image commercial transactions system according to claim 2, wherein said reception host subjects said data of said digital image to a scrambling process/enciphering, and transfers key data of said scrambling process/enciphering.

4. The image commercial transactions system according to claim 1, wherein said reception hosts transfers said digital image with said handling condition and an advertisement in said digital data format.

5. The image commercial transactions system according to claim 4, wherein said reception host transfers data of said advertisement synthesized with said data of said image and with said handling condition.

6. An image commercial transactions method comprising:

a reception step including:

an image scanning step for converting a picture on a film into photographic digital image data,

a processing step of enabling a reception host to accept a transfer of a digital image stored on a server in a digital data format with a handling condition related to said digital image, and

a transfer step of enabling said reception host to transfer said digital image with said handling condition in said digital data format to a selected one of a plurality of receiver sides via an Internet line so that digital image data transferred via said Internet line is developed into a printed picture modified based on said handling condition; and

a charge accounting step of enabling a charge accounting dealer to effect an electronic charge accounting transaction for the transfer of data of said digital image with said handling condition to said selected one of said plurality of receiver sides, wherein in said transfer step information data related to said transferred digital image is transferred to a user's computer, wherein said selected one of said plurality of receiver sides is selected by a user and is different from said user's computer.

7. The image commercial transactions method according to claim 6, wherein in said transfer step said reception host transfers said data of said digital image subjected to one of a scrambling process and a masking process.

8. The image commercial transactions method according to claim 6, wherein in said transfer step said reception host subjects said data of said digital image to a scrambling process/enciphering, and transfers key data of said scrambling process/enciphering.

9. The image commercial transactions method according to claim 6, wherein said transfer step enables said reception host to generate predetermined additional information for said data of said digital image, and transfers said generated additional information in said digital data format along with said data of said image with said handling condition.

10. The image commercial transactions method according to claim 6, wherein said reception host transfers said digital image with said handling condition and an advertisement in said digital data format.

11. The image commercial transactions method according to claim 10, wherein said reception host transfers data of said advertisement synthesized with said data of said image and with said handling condition.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image commercial transactions system and method, an image transfer system and method, an image distribution system and method, and a display device and method, and more particularly, is suitably applicable to a photographic image commercial transactions system for transferring a photographic image exposed on a photographic film by photographing a subject, using a still camera, to a remote place, or for transferring an image data photographed with an electronic camera to a remote place, for example.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, a photographic image exposed on a photographic film is typically printed on a photographic paper and handled as a print photograph. And the print photograph can be transferred to the acquaintance who lives in the far place or foreign country by air mail, for example.

By the way, to transfer the print photograph to the acquaintance in the far place, it was necessary to ask a photograph shop such as a Development Print Enlargement (DPE) shop to reprint the print photograph for mail, or a mailing company to mail the print photograph.

To forward a relatively large number of print photographs, it takes the reprint charge and the mailing price which are higher depending on the number (weight) of print photographs, resulting in a problem of degraded usability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, an object of this invention is to provide an image commercial transactions system and methods, an image transfer system and method, an image distribution system and method, and a display device and method, which are capable of enhancing the usability.

The foregoing object and other objects of the invention have been achieved by the provision of an image commercial transactions system and methods, an image transfer system and method, an image distribution system and method, and a display device and method; wherein a reception dealer accepts the transfer of an image recorded on a recording medium in a predetermined format with the handling condition intrinsic to the image, and transfers the image with the handling condition, and an advertisement, in a digital data format, and a charge accounting dealer effects an electronic charge accounting transaction for the transfer of the data of the image with the handling condition and with, for example, an advertisement.

Accordingly, in the case of forwarding with advertisement data, a forwarding request user is helpful in making public the advertisement by having the data of the advertisement along with the data of the image forwarded, instead of the reception dealer, whereby the transfer fee for the data of image can be made lower.

The nature, principle and utility of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts are designated by like reference numerals or characters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of an APS film;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view for describing a user's camera using area as well as a laboratory using area of an APS film;

FIG. 3 is a schematic front view for describing an APS film drawn out of a film cartridge;

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view for describing an APS film in which a photographic image is exposed and formed;

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view for describing three kinds of printing types for a photographic image;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic views showing a configuration of user data;

FIG. 7 is a schematic rear view showing a configuration of a dark box portion of an APS camera;

FIG. 8 is a schematic front view showing a rear cover of an APS camera;

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view for describing an APS film drawn out of a film cartridge inside an APS camera;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an APS camera;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an entire configuration of a photographic image printing machine;

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a photographic image scanner;

FIG. 13 is a schematic front view showing an interior configuration of a basement portion of a lower side body in a photographic image scanner;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a photographic image scanner;

FIG. 15 is a schematic view for describing a selected image displayed on a monitor;

FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a printing selection panel;

FIG. 17 is a schematic front view for describing control of a light receiving face of an electric charge coupled device;

FIG. 18 is a flow chart showing a procedure of printing condition changing process;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an image data processor;

FIGS. 20A to 20C are schematic views for describing respective displays of photographic images;

FIG. 21 is a schematic view showing a configuration of printing condition confirmation image;

FIGS. 22A to 22C are schematic views showing a configuration of a print photograph;

FIG. 23 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an index print;

FIG. 24 is schematic conception view showing a principle on the entire configuration of photographic image commercial transactions system;

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a photographic image commercial transactions system according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a photographic image commercial transactions system;

FIG. 27 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an index print;

FIG. 28 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an index print;

FIG. 29 is a schematic conception view showing a data format of film data according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a photographic image commercial transactions system according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a reception shop photographic image printing machine and a reception shop personal computer;

FIGS. 32A to 32C are schematic views for describing a print photograph shop with frame ornament as well as message printed thereon;

FIGS. 33A to 33C are schematic views for describing a print photograph shop with advertisement printed thereon;

FIG. 34 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an index print;

FIGS. 35A and 35B are schematic views for describing a print photograph shop of advertisement image;

FIG. 36 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an index print with advertisement images displayed therein;

FIG. 37 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an index print with advertisement images displayed therein;

FIG. 38 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an index print with an advertisement character string displayed therein;

FIG. 39 is a schematic conception view showing a data format of film data according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 40 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a photographic image commercial transactions system according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 41 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a reception shop personal computer;

FIG. 42 is a schematic conception view showing a data format of selling film data;

FIG. 43 is a block diagram showing a configuration of photographic image commercial transactions system according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 44 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a forwarding content display screen displayed on a monitor;

FIG. 45 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a personal computer of a forwarding request user;

FIG. 46 is a schematic view showing a detailed configuration of a forwarding content display screen;

FIG. 47 is a schematic view showing a detailed configuration of a forwarding content display screen;

FIG. 48 is a schematic view showing a detailed configuration of a forwarding content display screen;

FIG. 49 is a flow chart showing a display process procedure of a forwarding contents display screen;

FIG. 50 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a photographic image commercial transactions system according to a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 51 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of data transmitting section;

FIG. 52 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a satellite broadcast reception device;

FIG. 53 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a photographic shop;

FIG. 54 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a screen to confirm print photograph shop orders;

FIG. 55 is a schematic view for describing transmission of transmission request data utilizing surplus of data allocation relay quantities in channels;

FIG. 56 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an image print ordering screen;

FIG. 57 is a schematic view for describing a portable music reproducing device in receipt of music service;

FIG. 58 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an icon image;

FIG. 59 is a schematic view for describing appearance of a sticker label;

FIG. 60 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a personal computer according to another embodiment;

FIG. 61 is a schematic sectional view showing a configuration of a photographic image printing machine having an optical system of a line scanner type according to another embodiment;

FIG. 62 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration of a scanner section; and

FIG. 63 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an electronic shutter circuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Preferred embodiments of this invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings:

(1) Photographic Image

At present, the photographic films that are used most widely are those referred to as a 135 film with a width of 35 mm, as defined by the standards in accordance with Japan Industrial Standard (JIS) and International Standardization for Organization (ISO).

Lately, the photographic films with a width of 24 mm, or so-called Advanced Photo System (APS) (Trademark) films have been put into the market.

Because this APS film has a narrower width than the 135 film, the still camera specifically designed for the APS film (i.e., APS camera) can be significantly reduced in size as compared with the still camera for the 135 film, whereby the APS films have spread rapidly along with the APS cameras. According to the present invention, it is possible to record user information using the APS camera and APS film with partial remodeling.

As shown in FIG. 1, in an APS film 1, an optically transmissive photosensitive layer 3 is laminated on one face of a base film 2 like a strip with a width of 24 mm, and an optically transmissive magnetic layer 4 is laminated on the other face of the base film 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the APS film 1, a strip-like exposure object area 5 is provided along a longitudinal direction of the APS film 1 (hereinafter referred as a film lengthwise direction) substantially in the central part of the photosensitive layer 3, and a user's camera using area 6 and a laboratory using area 7 that are strip-like unexposure areas are provided on both marginal portions in a cross direction of the APS film 1 (hereinafter referred to as a film width direction).

Further, in the laboratory using area 7, an adjacent pair of film position predicting perforation 8 and film positioning square perforation 9 are perforated in succession at a predetermined pitch along the film lengthwise direction.

In this connection, in the APS film 1, the width of the exposure object area 5 is chosen at about 16.9 mm, taking into consideration the width of a guard area (not shown) provided between the exposure object area 5 and the user's camera using area 6 or the laboratory using area 7, and the width of each of the user's camera using area 6 and the laboratory using area 7 is chosen at about 2.5 mm. Also, a pair of film position predicting perforation 8 and film positioning square perforation 9 have sides of about 2 mm and are perforated about 1.35 mm inside from the margin in the film width direction.

And the APS film 1 is contained within a film cartridge 10 shaped like a substantially elliptical barrel, as shown in FIG. 3, and an APS camera (not shown) is loaded in this state. If the APS film 1 is drawn out of the film cartridge 10 within the APS camera, the APS film 1 is positioned by the use of a film position predicting perforation 8A among a pair of film position predicting perforation 8A and film positioning square perforation 9A, and a film positioning square perforation 9B among a pair of film position predicting perforation 8B and film positioning square perforation 9B that is drawn subsequently.

Thereby, in the APS film 1, an exposing area 11 of a predetermined frame size and having an aspect ratio of 9 to 16, like an aspect ratio of High Definition Television (HDTV), is provided in succession at a predetermined pitch along the film lengthwise direction in the exposure object area 5, and a photographic image is exposed over an entire surface of the exposing area 11, as shown in FIG. 4. The characters shown in Figure (Y.T. 29.5.96) are actually a magnetically recorded digital signal, and particularly the Y.T can be changed to an Identification (ID) of such as the owner of the camera.

In this connection, in the APS film 1, in the case where the photographic image exposed over the entire surface of the exposing area 11 is printed on the printing paper, there are three options of printing type including a first printing type H of printing on the printing paper in a predetermined frame size having an aspect ratio of 9 to 16, a second printing type C (Classic type) of printing on the printing paper in a frame size having an aspect ratio of 2 to 3 that is narrower in the film lengthwise direction than the aspect ratio of 9 to 16, and a third printing type P (Panorama type) of printing on the printing paper in a frame size having an aspect ratio of 1 to 3 that is narrower in the film width direction than the aspect ratio of 9 to 16, as shown in FIG. 5.

By the way, in the APS film 1, some kinds of data can be recorded in the user's camera using area 6 and the laboratory using area 7, and the data recorded in the user's camera using area 6 and the laboratory using area 7 can be utilized in the process of printing the photographic image on the printing paper.

In practice, in the user's camera using area 6 (FIG. 4) on the other side (i.e., magnetic layer 4) of the APS film 1, the photographing condition data (hereinafter referred to as user data) is magnetically digitally recorded in correspondence to each exposing area 11, at the time of taking a picture using the APS camera (hereinafter referred to as a photographing time).

This user data is used to have the photographing condition reflected for each exposing area in printing the photographic image. Hence, the user data can be said as the printing condition of photographic image or further the handling condition of photographic image, and is fundamentally preserved forever.

Herein, the user data 12 is configured to contain in order the synchronous data 12A, the real data 12B, and the parity data 12C for error detection of the real data 12B, as shown in FIG. 6A.

The real data 12B contained in the user data 12 is configured to contain a photographing date and time, photographing camera information, a printing type chosen by the user among the first to third printing types H, C, P, the number of printings specified by the user, frame position information, camera Identification (ID) assigned to the APS camera for use in photographing, information on whether a film cartridge is replaced or not, subject brightness information, information on whether an artificial light source is used or not, information on subject image magnification in the camera-to-subject distance, a title and message printed on one face or the other face of photograph, and the photographer's name, as shown in FIG. 6B.

And the user data 12 is recorded as a sequence of bits represented by the position of "1" or "0" bit in one byte, or a combination of "1" and "0" bits in one byte.

In this connection, the photographing camera information consists of the aperture value, shutter speed, International Standardization for Organization (ISO) speed, exposure compensation value, stroboscopic photography, and photographing lens focal length. The frame positional information has the information indicating the direction of the exposing area 11 within the APS camera, and the information as to whether or not the photographic image on the exposing area 11 has been printed on the printing paper.

In addition, in the user's camera using area 6 on one face (i.e., photosensitive layer 3) of the APS film 1, the frame number assigned sequentially to the exposing area 11 along the film lengthwise direction is optically recorded in correspondence to the exposing area 11 as the frame number data. Incidentally, the frame number data is represented by the number and the bar code expressing the number.

Also, in the laboratory using area 6 (FIG. 4) on the other side (i.e., magnetic layer 4) of the APS film 1, the data such as the printing condition (hereinafter referred to as laboratory data) that has been set on the basis of the user data is magnetically recorded, at the time of printing the photographic image on the printing paper (hereinafter simply referred to as the printing time) using a photographic image printing machine described later at a photograph shop, and the laboratory data can be rewritten as required.

Further, in the laboratory using area 7 on one face (i.e., photosensitive layer 3) of the APS film 1, at the top part of the APS film 1, the predetermined information such as the film type or the maximum allowable number of photographic images regarding the standards of the APS film 1, the name of the manufacturer which has manufactured the APS film 1, and the film ID assigned to the APS film 1 are optically recorded as the initial data.

In this connection, in the user's camera using area 6 and the laboratory using area 7, the frame number data and the initial data are recorded as a latent image that is optically detectable or viewable by the human eyes after developing the APS film 1.

Accordingly, the frame number data and the initial data optically recorded have no effect on the recording or reproduction of the user data and the laboratory data magnetically recorded, and the user data and the laboratory data magnetically recorded has no effect on the frame number data and the initial data optically recorded.

Therefore, in the user's camera using area 6 and the laboratory using area 7, the user data and the frame number data on one side can be recorded in opposition to the initial data and the laboratory data on the other side, whereby a large quantity of data can be recorded by making effective use of one side and the other side of the film.

Herein, an APS camera 15 loaded with an APS film 1 comprises a dark box 16 and a rear cover 17 for hermetically closing the dark box 16, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

In the dark box 16 (FIG. 7), a shutter release button 18 and a frame size setting switch 19 for setting the printing type are arranged outside. Inside the dark box 16, a cartridge receiving chamber 20 of well-known structure to receive a film cartridge 10, an exposure opening portion 21 to expose the photographic image on the APS film 1, and a film housing 22 for receiving the APS film 1 that has been exposed are arranged side by side.

On the upper side of the exposure opening portion 21, a pair of upper film guides 23 and 24 are provided substantially in parallel, and on the lower side of the exposure opening portion 21, a pair of lower film guides 25 and 26 are also provided substantially in parallel.

Further, inside the film housing 22, a guide roller 27 for automatically rolling the APS film 1 is provided, and a film winding spool 28 for winding the APS film 1 is provided freely rotatably.

And on the inner surface of the rear cover 17 (FIG. 8), a film pressure plate 29 is provided in opposition to the exposure opening portion 21 of the dark box 16.

Thus, in the APS camera 15, if a film cartridge 10 is loaded into the cartridge receiving chamber 19, an APS film 1 is automatically drawn out of the film cartridge 10, passed between the exposure opening portion 21 and the film pressure plate 29, and automatically rolled by the guide roller 27, thereby winding the APS film 1 around the film winding spool 28.

By the way, between a pair of lower film guides 25 and 26, a film detecting light source 31 composed of an Light Emitting Diode (LED) having a diameter of about 1.5 mm, for example, is provided at one end along the longitudinal direction (hereinafter referred to as a guide longitudinal direction) of the lower film guides 25 and 26, and similarly a film predicting light source 32 also composed of an LED is provided at the other end thereof along the guide longitudinal direction.

On the contrary, on the film pressure plate 29 of the rear cover 17, photo-detectors 33 and 34 are provided in opposition to the film position detecting light source 31 and the film predicting light source 32, respectively. A magnetic head 35 is provided in opposition to a predetermined location between a pair of upper film guides 23 and 24.

And in the APS camera 15, a marginal part of the user's camera using area 6 in the APS film 1 that has been drawn out of the film cartridge 10 is passed between a pair of upper film guides 23 and 24, and a marginal part of the laboratory using area 7 is passed between a pair of lower film guides 25 and 26, as shown in FIG. 9. At the same time, the APS film 1 is pressed against the exposure opening portion 21 from the opposite side by the film pressure plate 29 of the rear cover 17, to stretch out the exposure object area 5 while preventing vertical movement of the APS film 1.

In the APS camera 15, the other side of the user's camera using area 6 (FIG. 4) in the APS film 1 is opposed to the magnetic head 32, and the laboratory using area 7 (FIG. 4) is passed successively between the film position detecting light source 31 and a photo-detector 33, and between the film predicting light source 32 and a photo-detector 34.

Thereby, in the APS camera 15, when the APS film 1 is automatically drawn out of the film cartridge 10, the film position predicting perforation 8 is detected by means of the film predicting light source 32 and the photo-detector 34, and then the film positioning square perforation 9 is detected by means of the film position detecting light source 31 and the photo-detector 33, whereby the APS film 1 is positioned in such a way that the near central part of the exposing area 11 that is unexposed is located substantially in the central part of the exposure opening portion 21.

Herein, in the exposure opening portion 21, the length of the exposure opening portion 21 along the transport direction of the APS film 1 is selected to be, for example, about 30.03 mm, in accordance with the length of the exposing area 11 along the film lengthwise direction, and the width of the exposure opening portion 21 along a direction almost orthogonal to the transport direction of the APS film 1 is selected to be, for example, about 16.93 mm in accordance with the width of the exposing area 11 along the film width direction.

Accordingly, in the APS camera 15, if the shutter release button 18 is depressed in a state where the APS film 1 has been positioned, a photographing light arriving from a subject (not shown) is taken via a camera lens, a diaphragm, and a shutter (not shown) into the exposure opening portion 21, to expose the exposing area 11 that is unexposed in the APS film 1 with the photographing light taken in, so that an image in the field of view including a subject image can be formed on the exposing area 11 as a photographic image.

In this connection, in the APS camera 15, the exposing area 11 is stretched out at this time, as described earlier, whereby the photographic image formed on the exposing area 11 is prevented from being distorted.

In the APS camera 15, if the shutter release button 18 is depressed in this way, the user data is magnetically recorded by the magnetic head 32 on the user's camera using area 6, while the APS film 1 is being wound around the film winding spool 28. Thereby the film position predicting perforation 8 and the film positioning square perforation 9 are detected in succession by means of the film predicting light source 32 and the photo-detector 34, and the film position detecting light source 31 and the photo-detector 33, whereby the APS film 1 is positioned in such a way that the near central part of the new exposing area 11 that is unexposed is located substantially in the almost central part of the exposure opening portion 21.

In this way, in the APS camera 15, every time the shutter release button 18 is depressed, a photographic image is formed on the exposing area 11 that is unexposed, and the user data is magnetically recorded on the user's camera using area 6. Thereafter, the new exposing area 11 that is unexposed is positioned with respect to the exposure opening portion 21.

In this connection, in the APS camera 15, every time a photographic image is formed on the exposing area 11, the user data corresponding to the exposing area 11 is recorded in the user's camera using area 6 repeatedly, or three times, for example. Error correction or error detection is also possible by adding an error correction code to a digital signal recorded in the user's camera using area 6.

Thereby, in a photographic image printing machine (not shown), for example, the user data that has been recorded repeatedly or about three times for each exposing area 11 in the APS film 1 is all reproduced in the printing time. By making an error detection through the comparison of the user data reproduced, the correct user data is discriminated from the proportion of the same user data and is employed for the printing. That is, in the photographic image printing machine, if all the user data reproduced three times are exactly the same, the user data is discriminated to be correct. If the user data reproduced twice are the same, among the user data reproduced three times, the same user data is discriminated to be correct. However, if all the user data reproduced three times are different, the user data is reproduced again or can be judged to be an error.

The film predicting light source 32 and the film position detecting light source 31 are made to emit an infrared ray having a wavelength of, for example, about 940 nm, out of the wavelength region where the APS film 1 is photosensitive, whereby the exposing area 11 of the APS film 1 is prevented from being exposed owing to an infrared ray emitted from the film predicting light source 32 and the film position detecting light source 31.

In practice, in the APS camera 15, a system controller 40 configured by a microcomputer is provided internally as shown in FIG. 10.

If a film cartridge 10 is loaded, the system controller 40 controls to drive a film drawing mechanism (not shown) to draw an APS film 1 from the film cartridge 10, while the film position predicting perforation 8 and the film positioning square perforation 9 are detected in succession by means of a perforation sensor 41 comprised of the film predicting light source 32 and the photo-detector 34, and the film position detecting light source 31 and the photo-detector 33, to issue a detection signal. Based on the detection signal, the system controller 40 produces a control signal, and sends the control signal via an amplification circuit 42 to a motor 43.

Thereby, the system controller 40 controls to drive the motor 43, based on the control signal, to cause rotation of the film winding spool 28 connected to the motor 43, so that the APS film 1 is wound around the film winding spool 28 by a certain amount of length. Then, the exposing area 11 is positioned with respect to the exposure opening portion 21.

In this connection, if the perforation sensor 41 issues a detection signal by detecting the film positioning square perforation 9, the system controller 40 counts up an internal counter, based on the detection signal, to allow the frame number to be recognized for the exposing area 11 positioned with respect to the exposure opening portion 21.

If the shutter release button 18 is depressed in a state where the exposing area 11 is positioned with respect to the exposure opening portion 21 in the above way, the system controller 40 controls a stepping motor control circuit 45 to drive a stepping motor 46 to adjust the focusing and exposure. Thereafter, the shutter is released to receive a photographing light into the exposure opening portion 21, so that a photographic image is exposed and formed on the exposing area 11.

The system controller 40 has received various kinds of information including the printing type for the photographic image selected via a frame size setting switch 19, and the photographing date and time or the photographer's name input via an input portion 47 such as a keypad provided on the outer surface of the rear cover 17 (FIG. 8), and produces the user data based on various kinds of information that has been received, and other kinds of information such as the exposure condition supplied by adjusting the focusing and exposure.

In this connection, the input portion 47 is provided with a display panel 47A. If information is input via an input key, the information is displayed on the display panel 47A, making it possible to confirm visually whether or not the information to be recorded in the user's camera using area 6 of the APS film 1 has been recorded correctly as the user data. For instance, the display panel 47A is used to verify code inputting of selecting titles to be recorded in the user's camera using area and to be added when printing out. Other information to be displayed on the display panel 47A includes exposure information and the like.

If the photographic image has been exposed and formed on the exposing area 11, the system controller 40 controls the amplification circuit 42 to drive the motor 43, to pass the user data corresponding to the exposed photographic image to a magnetic recording circuit 48, while causing the APS film 1 to be wound around the film winding spool 28. Thus, the magnetic recording circuit 48 magnetically records the user data in the user's camera using area 6 of the APS film 1 via a magnetic head 35, and a new exposing area 11 that is unexposed is positioned with respect to the exposure opening portion 21, in the same way as described above.

In this way, in the APS camera 15, a photographic image can be exposed and formed in the exposing area 11 of the APS film 1 successively, while at the same time, the user data corresponding to the photographic image can be recorded in the user's camera using area 6.

If all the photographic images by the maximum allowable number have been exposed and formed in the exposing area 11 of the APS film 1, the system controller 40 controls the film drawing mechanism to rewind the APS film 1 within the film cartridge 10. Hence, the film cartridge 10 within which the exposed APS film 1 is contained can be taken out of the APS camera 15, whereby the exposed APS film 1 taken outside can be protected by the film cartridge 10.

If a film winding button (not shown) is depressed before exposure of all the exposing areas 11 in the APS film 1 with the photographic images, the system controller 40 controls to magnetically record the information on the user's camera using area 6 corresponding to the exposing area 11 positioned with respect to the exposure opening portion 21 at that time, together with the information indicating that the film cartridge 10 is replaced halfway.

Thereafter, the system controller 40 controls to drive the film drawing mechanism to rewind the APS film 1 within the film cartridge 10, while magnetically recording the frame number data of the exposing area 11 at which the photographic image has been most lately exposed in the user's camera using area 6 at top of the APS film 1.

Thereby, even if a film cartridge 10 once loaded into the APS camera 15 is taken out before completion of exposure of all the exposing areas 11 of the APS film 1 with the photographic images, the system controller 40 can recognize the frame number of the exposing area 11 having the photographic image exposed just before replacement with reference to the user's camera using area 6 at top of the APS film 1 drawn out of the film cartridge 10 into the APS camera 15 again, when the film cartridge 10 is loaded into the APS camera 15 again. Consequently, the photographic image can be exposed and formed only on the exposing area 11 that is unexposed, following the exposing area 11 of the recognized frame number.

The APS film 1 having the photographic images exposed in all or part of the exposing areas 11 is accommodated within the film cartridge 10 and brought into the photograph shop. At the photograph shop, after the APS film 1 is developed, the photographic images are printed on the printing paper using a photographic image printing machine.

(2) Photographic Image Printing Machine

Herein, a photographic image printing machine 100 installed in the photograph shop consists of a photographic image scanner 101 connected to a monitor 102 and a printer 103, shown in FIG. 11.

The photographic image scanner 101 has a lower side body 105 of an L-character shape and an upper side body 106 mounted on a back plate 105A of the lower side body 105, with a printing selection panel 107 disposed on the front face of the upper side body 106, for example, as shown in FIG. 12.

A power supply indication panel 108 is attached on a lateral face of the upper side body 106, and inside the upper side body 106, there are provided an optical mechanism, a Charge Coupled Device (CCD), and a drive circuit as will be described later.

On the other hand, on a basement portion 105B of the lower side body 105, a monitor adjustment panel 109, a cartridge loading chamber 110, and a light transparent window 111 are provided, and a main power switch 112 is provided on a lateral face of the back plate 105A on the lower side body 105.

Inside the basement portion 105B of the lower side body 105, there are contained a pair of film transport rollers 118A and 118B, a pair of idle roller 119A and 119B, and a film housing 121, and a lamp 122 opposed to the window 111, as shown in FIG. 13.

Further, a diffusion filter 123 and a pair of film guides 124 and 125 are disposed in a region from the lamp 122 to the window 111, each of film guides 124 and 125 being formed with an opening portion in accordance with an angle of view (i.e., angle of view having an aspect ratio of 9 to 16) for the exposing area 11 (FIG. 4) in the APS negative film 1A.

In the basement portion 105B, if a film cartridge 10 having a developed APS film (hereinafter referred to as an APS negative film) 1A contained is loaded into the cartridge loading chamber 110, the APS negative film 1A is drawn out of the film cartridge 10 by a film drawing mechanism (not shown), and the drawn APS negative film 1A is passed successively between the pair of film transport rollers 118A and 118B, between the film guides 124 and 125, and between the pair of idle rollers 119A and 119B, and wound around a film winding roll 126 within the film housing 121.

Between the film guides 124 and 125, the perforation detecting sensors 127A and 127B are provided in such a way as to carry the laboratory using area 7 (FIG. 2) of the APS negative film 1A drawn out of the film cartridge 10. Further, a user data magnetic head 128 and a frame number optical head 129 are provided in opposition to the user's camera using area 6 (FIG. 2), and a laboratory data magnetic head 130 and an initial data optical head 131 are provided in opposition to the laboratory using area 7.

Thereby, in the basement portion 105B, when the APS negative film 1A is drawn out of the film cartridge 10, the film position predicting perforation 8 (FIG. 2) and the film positioning square perforation 9 (FIG. 2) are detected in succession by means of the perforation detecting sensors 127A and 127B, so that the exposing area 11 can be positioned with respect to the opening portions of the film guides 124 and 125.

In the basement portion 105B, in a state where the exposing area 11 of the APS negative film 1A is positioned with respect to the opening portions of the film guides 124 and 125, a ray of light emitted from the lamp 122 is diffused through the diffusion filter 123 and radiated over an entire surface of the exposing area 11, a photographic image light having transmitted through the exposing area 11 being passed through the window 111 and received on a light receiving face of the charge coupled device in the upper side body 105A.

Thereby, in the photographic image scanner 101, the photographic image light received by the charge coupled device is converted photo-electrically, making it possible to generate the photographic image data of a photographic image exposed on the exposing area 11 of the APS negative film 1A.

In the photographic image scanner 101, the photographic image data for display is produced based on the photographic image data, and sent to the monitor 102 (FIG. 11) to display a photographic image on the basis of the photographic image data for display.

Further, in the photographic image scanner 101, the photographic image data for printing is generated on the basis of the photographic image data, and sent to the printer 103 to produce a print photograph shop having a photographic image printed on the printing paper of a predetermined size (hereinafter referred to as a print size) on the basis of the photographic image data for printing.

In this connection, in the monitor adjustment panel 109 (FIG. 12), there are provided a color adjustment switch 133, a zoom control switch 134, a focus control switch 135, a diaphragm control switch 136, and a main power indicator lamp 137. By manually operating the color adjustment switch 133, the zoom control switch 134, the focus control switch 135 and the diaphragm control switch 136, the quality of photographic image displayed on the monitor 102 can be adjusted.

In practice, in the photographic image scanner 101, a system controller 140 configured by a microcomputer is provided to control the overall system to automatically perform a process of producing the photographic image data which is executed in a series of steps, as shown in FIG. 14.

If an APS negative film 1A is drawn out of the film cartridge 10 (FIG. 13) loaded into the cartridge loading chamber 110 (FIG. 13), the system controller 140 controls a film drive circuit 141.

Thereby, the film drive circuit 141 drives a film drive motor 142 to rotate the pair of film transport rollers 118A and 118B (FIG. 13), the pair of idle rollers 119A and 119B (FIG. 13), and the film winding reel 126 (FIG. 13), to wind the APS negative film 1A around the film winding reel 126.

In accordance with a result of detecting the film position predicting perforation 8 (FIG. 2) and the film positioning square perforation 9 (FIG. 2) in the APS negative film 1A that is provided by a perforation detecting circuit 143 from the perforation detecting sensors 127A and 127B (FIG. 13), the system controller 140 controls to stop the driving of the film drive motor 142 temporarily, and position the exposing area 11 (FIG. 4) of the APS negative film 1A with respect to the opening portion of the film guides 124 and 125.

In this way, the system controller 140 is adapted to perform alternately and successively the winding of the APS negative film 1A and the positioning of the exposing area 11 of the APS negative film 1A.

In addition, the system controller 140 controls the optical head for initial data 131 via an optical reproducing circuit 144, while transporting the APS negative film 1A, thereby reproducing the initial data from the laboratory using area 7 of the APS negative film 1A, and controls the optical head for frame number 129 via an optical reproducing circuit 145, thereby reproducing the frame number data from the user's camera using area 6 of the APS negative film 1A.

The system controller 140 controls the magnetic head for user data 128 via a magnetic reproducing circuit 146, thereby reproducing the user data from the user's camera using area 6 of the APS negative film 1A.

Also, the system controller 140 controls a zoom motor drive circuit 148, a focus motor drive circuit 149 and a diaphragm motor drive circuit 150, on the basis of various kinds of information including the photographing camera information, the subject brightness information, the information as to whether or not the artificial light source is used, and the subject image magnification with respect to the camera-to-subject distance, every time the user data corresponding to the exposing area 11 of the APS negative film 1A is reproduced.

Thereby, the zoom motor drive circuit 148 drives a zoom motor 151 to move a zoom lens 152 along an optical axis to adjust the magnification of photographic image light.

The focus motor drive circuit 140 drives a focus motor 153 to move a focus lens 154 along the optical axis to adjust the focusing of photographic image light.

Further, the diaphragm motor drive circuit 150 drives a diaphragm motor 155 to adjust a diaphragm 156 for the photographic image light via the diaphragm motor 155 in accordance with the magnification adjusted by the zoom lens 152.

In this way, the system controller 140 controls to adjust the zoom lens 152, the focus lens 154 and the diaphragm 156 to reproduce the photographing condition of photographic image, on the basis of the corresponding user data, every time the exposing area 11 of the APS negative film 1A is positioned with respect to the opening portions of the film guides 124 and 125. In this state, a power voltage is supplied from a power supply circuit 157 to a lamp drive circuit 158, so that the lamp 122 is lighted by the lamp drive circuit 158.

Thereby, a ray of light emitted from the lamp 122 is diffused through the diffusion filter 123, and radiated over an entire surface of the exposing area 11, so that the photographic image light transmitted through the exposing area 11 is passed through the window 111, an objective lens 159, the zoom lens 152, the focus lens 154 and the diaphragm 156 in succession and received on a light receiving face of a charge coupled device 160.

Herein, the light receiving face of the charge coupled device 160 has an aspect ratio of 9 to 16, like the exposing area 11, such that a photographic image exposed on the exposing area 11 is projected over an entire area of the light receiving face as a photographic image light with the same angle of view. And the charge coupled device 160 converts photo-electrically the photographic image light received over the entire area of the light receiving face, and sends a thus-obtained analog photoelectric signal to an image data processor 161.

The image data processor 161 converts the analog photoelectric signal supplied from the charge coupled device 160 into digital form under the control of the system controller 140, thereby reproducing the photographic image data for a photographic image exposed on the exposing area 11 of the APS negative film 1A.

Also, the image data processor 161 is supplied with the user data, the initial data and the frame number data from the system controller 140, and performs the data processing such as transforming the angle of view in accordance with the printing type, for the photographic image data on the basis of the user data, the initial data and the frame number data, so that the photographic image data for display is sent to the monitor 102 (FIG. 11).

Thereby, the image data processor 161 displays a photographic image on the monitor 102, on the basis of the photographic image data for display, whereby the printing condition of the photographic image can be visually confirmed on the monitor before printing.

The image data processor 161 performs the data processing for the photographic image data, including appending the information as to the printing number of images contained in the user data to the photographic image data, and sends the photographic image data for printing to the printer 103 (FIG. 11), so that the printer 103 can produce the print photograph shops in accordance with the printing number of images.

By the way, in the photographic image scanner 101, a remote controller 162 is provided to allow the input of a main power ON/OFF instruction, a transport instruction for the APS negative film 1A, a printing type change specifying instruction, and a printing number change specifying instruction.

In practice, if a photoelectric signal in accordance with a transport instruction for the APS negative film 1A is issued from the remote controller 162, the system controller 140 accepts the photoelectric signal via a light receiving element 163 and controls the film drive circuit 141 to drive the film drive motor 142 on the basis of the transport instruction, so that the exposing area 11 of the specified frame number among the exposing areas 11 of the APS negative film 1A is positioned with respect to the opening portions of the film guides 124 and 125.

If a photoelectric signal in accordance with a printing type change specifying instruction or a printing number change specifying instruction is issued from the remote controller 162, the system controller 140 accepts the photoelectric signal via the light receiving element 163, and sends the printing type change data or printing number change data in accordance with the accepted photoelectric signal to the image data processor 161.

Though the image data processor 161 usually sets up the printing type for the photographic image and the printing number of images on the basis of the user data supplied from the system controller 140, it changes the printing type or the printing number of images for the photographic image on the basis of the printing type change data, if the printing change data is supplied from the system controller 140.

In this connection, if the system controller 140 receives a photoelectric signal in accordance with a transport instruction for the APS negative film 1A, a printing type change specifying instruction, and a printing number change specifying instruction from the remote controller 162, the system controller 140 sends a selected image display instruction on the basis of the photoelectric signal to the image data processor 161.

Then, the image data processor 161 produces the selected image data on the basis of the selected image display instruction supplied from the system controller 140, synthesizes the image data with the photographic image data for display, and sends the synthesized image data to the monitor 102.

Thereby, on the monitor 102, there is displayed a selected image based on the selected image data superposed on a photographic image based on the photographic image data for display, for example, as shown in FIG. 15. In accordance with the operation of the remote controller 162, the selected image can be changed consecutively, whereby one can readily instruct to transport the APS negative film 1A, change the printing type, or change the printing number by operating the remote controller 162 while viewing a display screen of the monitor 102.

In addition, on the printing selection panel 107 of the photographic image scanner 101, there are provided an automatic mode selection switch 165, a zoom control switch 166, a focus control switch 167, a diaphragm control switch 168, and an aspect ratio change switch 169, as shown in FIG. 16.

The system controller 140 is placed in an automatic mode when the automatic mode selection switch 165 on the printing selection panel 107 is in the ON state, and controls the zoom motor drive circuit 148, the focus motor drive circuit 149 and the diaphragm motor drive circuit 150 on the basis of the user data, and permanently sets the aspect ratio to a ratio of 9 to 16 for the photographic image light which can be received on the light receiving face of the charge coupled device 160, as described previously.

On the contrary, the system controller 140 is placed in a manual mode when the automatic mode selection switch 165 of the printing selection panel 107 is in the OFF state, and if a zoom control switch 166, a focus control switch 167 or a diaphragm control switch 168 is manipulated, the system controller 140 controls the zoom motor drive circuit 148, the focus motor drive circuit 149 or the diaphragm motor drive circuit 150 on the basis of an operation instruction supplied from the printing selection panel 107 upon the manipulation.

Also, when the system controller 140 is in the manual mode, if an aspect ratio change switch 169 is manipulated, the system controller 140 changes the aspect ratio of the photographic image light that can be received on the light receiving face of the charge coupled device 160 on the basis of an operation instruction supplied from the printing selection panel 107 upon a manipulation of the aspect ratio change switch 169, and displays the sort of the aspect ratio selected by the aspect ratio change switch 169 on an aspect ratio indication section 170 of the printing selection panel 107.

In this connection, when the system controller 140 is in the manual mode, if the aspect ratio change switch 169 is manipulated, the system controller 140 selects the breadth of an effective light receiving area of the light receiving face 160A in the charge coupled device 160 to a predetermined length indicated by a, in the case where the aspect ratio of 9 to 16 or 1 to 3 is chosen, or selects the breadth of the effective light receiving area to a predetermined length indicated by b, in the case where the aspect ratio of 3 to 4 is chosen, or selects the breadth of the effective light receiving area to a predetermined length indicated by c, in the case where the aspect ratio of 9 to 16 in half size is chosen, or selects the breadth of the effective light receiving area to a predetermined length indicated by d, in the case where the aspect ratio of 3 to 4 in half size is chosen, as shown in FIG. 17.

Further, the system controller 140 selects the longitudinal length of the effective light receiving area to a predetermined length indicated by e, in the case where the aspect ratio of 9 to 16 or 3 to 4, or the aspect ratio of 9 to 16 or 3 to 4 in half size is chosen, or selects the longitudinal length of the effective light receiving area to a predetermined length indicated by f, in the case where the aspect ratio of 1 to 3 is chosen.

In addition, on the printing selection panel 107 (FIG. 16), there are provided an image type change switch 171, a monitor image changeover switch 172, a selected image display switch 173, a size selection switch 174 and a printing change switch 175.

If the image type change switch 171 is operated, the system controller 140 (FIG. 14) controls the image data processor 161 (FIG. 14) to produce either the black and white photographic image data or the color photographic image data from the photographic image (positive image or negative image) of the APS negative film 1A on the basis of an operation instruction issued from the printing selection panel 107 upon that operation.

If the monitor screen changeover switch 172 is operated, the system controller 140 controls the image data processor 161 to display either the photographic image or the selected image on the monitor 102 (FIG. 11) on the basis of an operation instruction issued from the printing selection panel 107 upon that operation. Further, if the selected image display switch 173 is operated, the system controller 140 controls the image data processor 161 to display the selected image along with the photographic image on the monitor 102 (FIG. 11) on the basis of an operation instruction issued from the printing selection panel 107 upon that operation.

Further, if the size selection switch 174 is manipulated, the system controller 140 controls the image data processor 161 to enable the printer 103 (FIG. 11) to produce the print photograph shop in the service, cabinet or quarter print size on the basis of an operation instruction issued from the printing selection panel 107 upon that operation, and to display the print size selected by the size selection switch 174 on a size indication section 178 of the printing selection panel 107.

Further, if the printing change switch 175 is changed over to the frame number set-up side, the system controller 140 displays the frame number input via an input panel 177 on the printing selection panel 107 on a frame number indication section 178 of the printing selection panel 107, and controls the film drive circuit 141 to drive the film drive motor 142 on the basis of the input frame number, so that the exposing area 11 at the specified frame number among the exposing areas 11 of the APS negative film 1A is positioned with respect to the opening portions of the film guides 124 and 125.

If the printing change switch 175 is changed over to the printing number set-up side, the system controller 140 displays the printing number input via the input panel 177 on a printing number indication section 179 of the printing selection panel 107, and controls the image data processor 161 to enable the printer 103 (FIG. 11) to produce the print photograph shops by the newly specified printing number, on the basis of the input printing number, instead of the user data.

Thereby, the system controller 140 can readily change the printing condition obtained on the basis of the user data, whereby the print photograph shops can be produced from the photographic image even under the other condition than that the user has specified as the user data at the photographing time.

After the print photograph shops are printed on the basis of the photographic image data that is produced from the photographic image of the APS negative film 1A, the system controller 140 (FIG. 14) generates the laboratory data on the basis of the user data and a variety of sorts of information given via the printing selection panel 107 and the remote controller 162, and sends the generated laboratory data to a magnetic recording circuit 180, which then magnetically records the laboratory data on the laboratory using area 7 of the APS negative film 1A by means of the magnetic head for laboratory data 130.

Thereby, the system controller 140 can preserve the history of photographic image such as the printing condition as the laboratory data in the laboratory using area 7 of the APS negative film 1A.

Accordingly, in the case where the APS negative film 1A once employed in printing the photographic image is used again to print the photographic image, the system controller 140 controls a magnetic recording/reproducing circuit 180 to reproduce the laboratory data from the laboratory using area 7 of the APS negative film 1A by means of the magnetic head for laboratory data 130, and execute the printing process of photographic image on the basis of the reproduced laboratory data, whereby the print photograph shops can be produced by reprinting the photographic image in the past.

In this connection, if the printing condition is changed to perform the printing process for the photographic image in the APS negative film 1A at the second time or beyond, the system controller 140 reproduces the laboratory data in accordance with the changed printing condition, so that the laboratory data in the laboratory using area 7 of the APS negative film 1A can be rewritten.

Herein, the image data processor 161 (FIG. 14) performs a printing condition changing process in accordance with the following procedure as shown in FIG. 18 under the control of the system controller 140, in printing the photographic image.

That is, the image data processor 161 generates the photographic image data for display by applying a predetermined data processing to the photographic image data on the basis of the user data and sends the photographic image data for display to the monitor 102 (FIG. 11) at step SP1, whereby a photographic image 183, as well as a printing type 184 and a frame number 185 are displayed on the monitor 102, on the basis of the photographic image data for display.

Subsequently, at step SP2, if a selected image display instruction is issued from the system controller 40 in accordance with the remote controller 162 (FIG. 14) or an operation on the printing selection panel 107 (FIG. 16), the image data processor 161 synthesizes the selected image data produced on the selected image display instruction and the photographic image data for display, and sends the synthesized image data to the monitor 102. Thereby, a selected image 186 for confirming the result of changing the printing condition, for example, on the basis of the selected image data is displayed in superposition on the photographic image 183 on the basis of the photographic image data for display on the monitor 102.

At step SP2, if the image data processor 161 is given a selected image display suspend instruction from the system controller 140, for example, when the remote controller 162 is operated to input an instruction for suspending to change the printing condition, the display of the selected image is suspended and the procedure returns to step SP1.

On the contrary, if the image data processor 161 is given a selected image display update instruction from the system controller 140, for example, when the remote controller 162 is operated to input an instruction for updating the printing number at step SP2, the procedure goes to step SP3.

At step SP3, if the image data processor 161 is given a selected image display instruction for displaying the content of changing the printing condition from the system controller 40 in accordance with an operation of the remote controller 162 or the printing selection panel 107, the image data processor 161 synthesizes the selected image data produced on the basis of the selected image display instruction and the photographic image data for display, and sends the synthesized image data to the monitor 102, whereby a selected image 190 consisting of, for example, a print size 187, a printing number 188 and a confirmation section 189 for confirming the content of changing the printing condition on the basis of the selected image data, can be displayed in superposition on the photographic image 183 on the basis of the photographic image data for display on the monitor 102.

Thus, the image data processor 161 is configured to allow the user to change the printing condition while confirming visually the selected image displayed on the monitor 102.

In practice, the image data processor 161 accepts a photoelectric signal S1 from the charge coupled device 160 into a microprocessor 195, as shown in FIG. 19.

The microprocessor 195 operates under the control of the system controller 140 to cause an analog/digital conversion circuit provided internally (not shown) to convert the analog photoelectric signal S1 given from the charge coupled device 160 into digital form, thereby producing the Red Green Blue (RGB) data.

Also, the microprocessor 195 reads the correction data D1 and the color conversion data D2 stored in advance in a memory 196, performs a brightness correction process for the RGB data, on the basis of the correction data D1, and a color conversion process on the basis of the color conversion data D2, and then sends the thus-obtained correction conversion processed data D3 to an image processor 197.

In addition, the microprocessor 195 has been already given the user data D4, the initial data D5 and the frame number data D6 from the system controller 140, and also sends the user data D4, the initial data D5 and the frame number data D6 to the image processor 197.

In this connection, the correction data D1 is to correct for the conversion deviation in the charge coupled device and the analog/digital conversion circuit, and the color conversion data D2 is to effect conversion between the positive film and the negative film as well as to select either one of the black and white image and the color image in accordance with an operation on the printing selection panel 107 (FIG. 16).

The image processor 197 operates with the intervention of the microprocessor 195 under the control of the system controller 140. Given the correction conversion processed data D3, the user data D4, the initial data D5 and the frame number data D6 from the microprocessor 195, the image processor 197 reads the corresponding sensitivity correction data D7 from the memory 199, which is stored therein in advance, on the basis of the information indicating the film type of the APS negative film 1A contained in the initial data D5.

The image processor 197 performs a sensitivity correction process for correcting the correction conversion processed data D3 for the film sensitivity deviation which is different for each film type on the basis of the sensitivity correction data D7, thereby producing the photographic image data in accordance with the photographic image of the APS negative film 1A.

In addition, the image processor 197 performs a deviation correction process for correcting the photographic image data for the monitor deviation, and a size adjustment process for adjusting the size of photographic image in accordance with the angle of view on the display screen of the monitor 102, after adjusting the angle of view for the photographic image on the basis of the user data D4 and in accordance with the printing type. Further, the image processor 197 performs a superimposing process of a variety of kinds of information obtained on the basis of the user data D4, thereby producing the photographic image data for display D8.

The image processor 197 sends the photographic image data for display D8 via the microprocessor 195 and an interface 200 to the monitor 102 (FIG. 11).

In this connection, the image processor 197, which is given a selected image display instruction from the system controller 140 via the microprocessor 195, as required, produces the predetermined selected image data D9 on the basis of the selected image display instruction, and sends the selected image data D9, together with the photographic image data for display D8, via the microprocessor 195 and the interface 200 to the monitor 102.

After finishing the transfer of the selected image data D9, the image processor 197 produces the printing condition confirmation image data D10 on the basis of the photographic image data for display D8 amounting to one APS negative film 1A, and sends the printing condition confirmation image data D10 via the microprocessor 195 and the interface 200 to the monitor 102.

Thereby, in the photographic image scanner 101 (FIG. 11), a photographic image 183 of predetermined size or an enlarged photographic image 201, along with the printing type 184, the frame number 185 and a title message 202 are displayed on the monitor 102, on the basis of the photographic image data for display D8, as shown in FIGS. 20A to 20C.

In the photographic image scanner 101, after the photographic image 183 and the selected image 190 are displayed on the monitor 102 at step SP3 of FIG. 18, a printing condition confirmation image 203 is displayed on the monitor 102, on the basis of the printing condition confirmation image data D10, as shown in FIG. 21. This printing condition confirmation image 203 is displayed with the photographic images 183 amounting to one APS negative film 1A as the thumb-nail image, and the print photograph shop size 187 and the printing number 188 are displayed below the thumb-nail image.

On the other hand, the image processor 197 (FIG. 19) performs a deviation correction process for correcting the photographic image data for the printer deviation, and a size adjustment process for adjusting the size of photographic image in accordance with the print size, after adjusting the angle of view for the photographic image on the basis of the user data D4 in accordance with the printing type. Further, the image processor 197 synthesizes a title message contained in the user data D4, as required, thereby producing the photographic image data for printing D11.

The image processor 197 sends the photographic image data for printing D11, together with the printing condition data D12 including the printing number and the print size, via the microprocessor 195 and the interface 200 to the printer 103 (FIG. 11).

In addition, the image processor 197 performs a deviation correction process for correcting the photographic image data amounting to one APS negative film 1A for the printer deviation, apart from the photographic image data for printing D11, and a predetermined process on the basis of the printing type contained in the user data D4. Then the image processor 197 synthesizes a title message contained in the user data D4, thereby producing the index image data D13.

Further, the image processor 197 sends the index image data D13 via the microprocessor 195 and the interface 200 to the printer 103.

Thereby, in the photographic image scanner 101 (FIG. 11), the printer 103 prints a photographic image on the printing paper of specified print size in accordance with a specified printing type among the first to third printing types H, C and P, and on the basis of the photographic image data for printing D11 and the printing condition data D12, thereby producing the print photograph shops 205A, 205B and 205C, and also printing a user specified message 206 on the print photograph shop 205, as shown in FIGS. 22A to 22C.

In the photographic image scanner 101, the printer 103 can produce an index print 208 having the photographic images 207 amounting to one APS negative film 1A displayed as the thumb-nail image on the basis of the index image data D13, as shown in FIG. 23, whereby a plurality of print photograph shops 205 and the index print 208, together with the film cartridge 10 (FIG. 3) containing the APS negative film 1A, can be delivered to the user.

In this connection, in the index print 208, each photographic image 207 is displayed in thumb-nail at an angle of view with the first printing type H, and has the frame number 209 and the printing type 210 on the lower right corner of the photographic image 207.

On the lower right corner of the index print 208, for example, the film ID is displayed with a bar code 211 to associate the index print 208 with the APS negative film 1A.

Further, the photographic image 207A, 207B specified with the second printing type C or third printing type P (FIG. 5) that is different from the first printing type H has a line 212 indicating the angle of view for the specified printing type.

Hence, in the index print 208, it is possible to visually confirm how the composition of the photographic image 207 having an angle of view with the first printing type H changes with reference to the line 212 indicating the angle of view for the second printing type C or the third printing type P specified by the user.

By the way, the image processor 197 (FIG. 19) performs a predetermined data processing for the photographic image data, which can be handled by the personal computer (not shown), and converts the data format into a predetermined data format such as Bitmap, Tag Image File Format (TIFF), Graphics Interchange Format (GIF), or Joint Photographic coding Experts Group (JPEG), thereby producing the converted photographic image data.

The image processor 197, which is given the laboratory data D14 from the system controller 140 via the microprocessor 195, produces the photographic image header data consisting of the frame number and the printing condition of photographic image intrinsic to the converted photographic image data on the basis of that laboratory data D14, the user data D4 and the frame number data D6, and appends that produced photographic image header data to the top of the converted photographic image data.

Further, the image processor 197, which is given the predetermined transmission data from the personal computer via the system controller 140 and the microprocessor 195, produces the film header data on the basis of that transmission data and the initial data D5, and appends this film header data to the top of the converted photographic image data amounting to one APS negative film 1A to produce the film data D15. Then the image processor sends the produced film data D15 via the microprocessor 195 and the interface 200 to the personal computer (not shown).

Thereby, at the photograph shop stop where the photographic image printing machine 100 (FIG. 11) is installed, a personal computer connected to the photographic image printing machine 100 performs various processing for the film data D15 to process the photographic image, or transmits the film data D15 to a desired remote site via the Internet. In the same way as the film data D15, image data captured by a digital camera (electronic camera) can be transmitted via a personal computer. However, the two data have different characteristics due to the difference of exposure characteristics between a film and CCD imager, which obliges appropriate correction amount for each data so as to obtain high definition and high color reproduction.

(3) Principle of Photographic Image Commercial Transactions System

A photographic image commercial transactions system that implements the electronic commercial transactions with the photographic image will be described below using the photographic image printing machine 100 as shown in FIG. 11.

In the photographic image commercial transactions system 220 as shown in FIG. 24, a photograph shop 221 owned by the reception dealer concerned inside or outside the country (hereinafter referred to as a reception photograph shop), and a photograph shop 222 owned by the delivery dealer concerned (hereinafter referred to as a delivery photograph shop) are connected via a network constructed by a service provider 223 on the reception shop side and a service provider 224 on the delivery shop side, and the Internet 225, which is connected to a banking agency 226 owned by the charge accounting dealer.

In the reception photographic shop 221 and the delivery photographic shop 222, there are installed a photographic image printing machine 10A, 100B which is comprised of a photographic image scanner 101, a monitor 102 and a printer 103, and a personal computer 227, 228 connected to the photographic image printing machine. The photographic image printing machine 100A, 100B performs the printing process of photographic images, and the personal computer 227, 228 performs the data processing and the transmission or reception process of data.

In practice, in the reception photograph shop 221, the user who requests the printing of photographic images (hereinafter referred to as a printing request user) brings a film cartridge 10 containing an exposed APS film. If the user requests the printing of photographic images exposed on the APS film, the APS film is developed to produce an APS negative film.

In the reception photograph shop 221, a photographic image printing machine (hereinafter referred to as a reception shop photographic image printing machine) 100A performs the printing process as shown in FIGS. 12 to 21, using the APS negative film, whereby the print photograph shops and the index print as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 are produced from the photographic images of the APS negative film.

In the reception photograph shop 221, the delivery date and time for the print photograph shops is designated at the time of requesting the printing of photographic images. If the printing request user comes to the shop again after the delivery date and time for the print photographs, a plurality of print photograph shops and an index print, together with a film cartridge 10 containing the APS negative film, are delivered to the printing request user, in exchange of the development cost of the APS film and the printing cost of the print photographs.

By the way, the reception shop photographic image printing machine 100A produces the photographic image data from the photographic images of the APS negative film in the printing process of the photographic images, produces the film data D15 from the produced photographic image data, and sends the film data D15 to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a reception shop personal computer) 227.

If the reception shop personal computer 227 is given the film data D15 from the reception shop photographic image printing machine 10A, the reception shop personal computer 227 saves the film data D15 in a reception shop server 229, produces the index data D16 of the index image for displaying in thumb-nail the photographic images of equivalent composition and quality to the print photograph shops on the basis of the film data D15, and saves the produced index data D16 in the reception shop server 229.

In the reception photograph shop 221, when the printing process of photographic images is finished or when the printing request user does not come to the shop to receive the print photograph shops even greatly beyond the designated date and time of delivery, the reception shop personal computer 227 reads the corresponding index data D16 from the reception shop server 229, produces the notification data EM1 for electronic mail indicating the end of the printing process of photographic images, using the read index data D16, and then sends the thus-produced notification data EM1 via a public line network (not shown) to a personal computer 230 owned by the printing request user.

Thereby, in the reception photograph shop 221, the printing request user is notified on the monitor screen of the personal computer 230 that the printing process of photographic images has been finished, and can visually confirm the printed state of photographic images (i.e., a finished state of print photographs) by displaying the index image on the monitor.

In addition, in the reception photograph shop 221, if a request for the forwarding of print photograph shops is made by the user who desires the forwarding of print photograph shops (hereinafter referred to as a forwarding request user), the film data D15 is produced from the APS negative film (or APS film) which the forwarding request user has carried in, using the reception shop photographic image printing machine 10A. Then, the reception shop personal computer 227 sends the film data D15 via the reception shop side service provider 223, the Internet 225 and the delivery shop side service provider 224 to a photograph shop (referred to as a delivery photograph shop) 222 located closest to the user to whom the forwarding of print photograph shops is made (hereinafter referred to as a photograph shop reception user).

In this connection, in the reception photograph shop 221, when the film data D15 to be transferred upon a request of forwarding the print photograph shops has been already produced and saved in the reception shop server 229, the reception shop personal computer 227 reads out the corresponding film data D15 from the reception shop server 229, and sends the read film data D15 via the reception shop side service provider 223, the Internet 225 and the delivery shop side service provider 224 to the delivery photograph shop 222.

In the delivery photograph shop 222, the personal computer (referred to as a delivery shop personal computer) 228 receives the film data D15 transmitted from the reception photograph shop 221 and temporarily saves the received film data D15 in a delivery shop server 231. Also, the delivery shop personal computer 228 produces the index data D16 on the basis of the film data D15 and saves the index data D16 in the delivery shop server 231.

In the delivery photograph shop 222, the delivery shop personal computer 228 reads out the index data D16 from the delivery shop server 231, produces the notification data EM2 for electronic mail indicating the forwarding of print photographs, using the read index data D16, and transmits the produced notification data EM2 via the public line network (not shown) to a personal computer 232 owned by the photograph shop receipt user.

Thereby, in the delivery photograph shop 222, the photograph shop receipt user is notified on the monitor screen of the personal computer 232 that the print photograph shops have been forwarded to the address of the photograph shop receipt user, and can visually confirm the print photograph shops which are forwarded by displaying the index image on the monitor screen.

In the delivery photograph shop 222, the delivery shop personal computer 228 reads out the film data D15 from the delivery shop server 231, and forwards the read film data D15 to a photographic image printing machine (referred to as a delivery shop photographic image printing machine) 100B.

The delivery shop photographic image printing machine 100B produces the photographic image data for printing and the index image data, on the basis of the converted photographic image data of the film data D15 and the corresponding photographic image header data, so that the photographic image based on the converted photographic image data can be reproduced faithfully to the printing condition specified by the reception photograph shop 221 and/or the forwarding request user on the basis of the photographic image header data, thereby producing the print photograph shops and the index print on the printing paper.

Thereby, in the delivery photograph shop 222, the print photograph shops and the index print are delivered to the user when the photograph shop receipt user comes to the shop, or mailed to the address of the photograph shop receipt user.

Thus, in the photographic image commercial transactions system 220, the print photograph shops and the index print can be easily forwarded to the acquaintance located far away from the forwarding request user (referred to as a photograph shop receipt user), instead of the forwarding request user.

On the other hand, in the reception photograph shop 221, if the sale of the photographic images is requested by the user who desires the sale of the photographic images (referred to as a sale request user), the reception shop photographic image printing machine 100A is used to produce the film data S15 from the APS negative film (or APS film) which the sale request user has carried in, and also produce the index data D16 from the film data D15. The reception shop personal computer 227 saves the film data D15 and the index data D16 in the reception shop server 229, and publicizes the photographic images to be sold over the Internet 225, on the basis of the index data D16.

In this connection, in the reception photograph shop 221, when the index data D16 for use in the publication of photographic images has been already produced upon a request of selling the print photograph shops from the sale request user and saved in the reception shop server 229, the reception shop personal computer 227 reads out the corresponding index data D16 from the reception shop server 229, and makes public the photographic images to be sold over the Internet 225.

That is, if the reception shop personal computer 227 receives a request of reading the index data D16 from the personal computer 232 of the user who desires to purchase the photographic images (referred to as a purchasing demand user) via the delivery shop side service provider 224, the Internet 225 and the reception shop side service provider 223, the reception shop personal computer 227 reads out the corresponding index data D16 from the reception shop server 229 in accordance with the reading request, and transmits the read index data D16 via the reception shop side service provider 223, the Internet 225 and the delivery shop side service provider 224 to the personal computer 232 of the purchasing demand user.

Thereby, the personal computer 232 of the purchasing demand user displays the index image based on the received index data D16 on the monitor screen, thereby enabling a desired image to be selected and designated from among the photographic images to be sold displayed in thumbnail.

If a desired photographic image for the purchasing demand user is selected and designated to purchase, on the basis of the index image displayed on the monitor screen, the personal computer 232 of the purchasing demand user produces the notification data EM3 for electronic mail indicating the photographic image that has been selected and designated, and transmits the notification data EM3 via the public line network to the delivery shop personal computer 228 in the delivery photograph shop 222 to notify the delivery photograph shop 222 of a request of purchasing the print photographs,.

In the delivery photograph shop 222, upon accepting the request of purchasing the photographic images, the delivery shop personal computer 228 reads out the corresponding film data D15 from the reception shop personal computer 227 of the reception photograph shop 221 via the delivery shop side service provider 224, the Internet 225 and the reception shop side service provider 223, and sends the read film data D15 to the delivery shop photographic image printing machine 100B, which then produces the print photograph shops of the photographic images desired by the purchasing demand user on the basis of the film data D15.

Thereby, in the delivery photograph shop 222, the photographic images that the purchasing demand user desires to purchase are made the print photographs, and when the purchasing demand user comes to the shop, the print photograph shops are delivered, or mailed to the user's address. Incidentally, in the delivery photograph shop 222, the index print is produced in addition to the print photographs, and can be delivered to the purchasing demand user.

Thus, in the photographic image commercial transactions system 220, the photographic images taken by the selling request user such as a photographer can be readily sold to the remote customer (purchasing demand user), for example.

In addition to such a configuration, in the case of this photographic image commercial transactions system 220, when the film data D15 is transmitted in the reception photograph shop 221, the reception shop personal computer 227 produces the billing information including the credit card number of registration owned by the forwarding request user, selling request user or purchasing request user, the account number of the bank with which the reception photograph shop 221 has an account, and the forwarding fee in accordance with the forwarding or selling form of the print photographs, and transmits this billing information appended to the film data D15.

For example, when the film data D15 is sent, the reception shop side service provider 223 retrieves the billing information from the film data D15, and transmits this billing information as the chargeable data D20 via the Internet 225 to the banking agent 226.

Thereby, the banking agent 226 performs the charge accounting process for the forwarding of print photograph shops or the sale of photographic images on the basis of the chargeable data D25 supplied from the reception shop side service provider 223. As a result of the charge accounting process, the banking agent 226 electronically transfers the funds from one account to another for transactions among the forwarding request user, sale request user, purchasing demand user, reception photograph shop 221, delivery photograph shop 222, reception shop side service provider 223 and delivery shop side service provider 224, thereby settling accounts for the forwarding of print photograph shops or the sale of photographic images, so that the electronic commercial transactions for the forwarding of print photograph shops or the sale of photographic images can be concluded.

In this connection, in the photographic image commercial transactions system 220, at the time of requesting the forwarding of print photographs, for example, the forwarding fee for the print photograph shops and the index print is paid from the account of the forwarding request user to the account of the reception photograph shop 221, the printing fee for the print photograph shops is paid to the account of the delivery photograph shop 222, and the service charge is paid to each account of the reception shop side service provider 223 and the delivery shop side service provider 224.

In the photographic image commercial transactions system 220, when there is a request for the sale of photographic images, for example, the printing fee for the print photograph shops is paid from the account of the purchasing demand user to the account of the delivery photograph shop 222, the selling price for the print photograph shops is paid to the account of the selling request user, a part of the selling price being paid as the forwarding fee for the print photograph shops and the index print from the account of the selling request user to the account of the reception photograph shop 221, and the service charge is paid to each account of the reception shop side service provider 223 and the delivery shop side service provider 224.

The personal computer 230 for the forwarding request user and the selling request user accepts the index data D16 from the reception shop personal computer 227 of the reception photograph shop 221 via the reception shop side service provider 223, and displays the index image based on the index data D16 on the monitor screen of the personal computer 230, whereby the user can visually confirm the print photograph shops to be forwarded and the photographic images to be sold on the monitor screen.

In the delivery photograph shop 222, the delivery shop personal computer 228 reads periodically the index data D16 from the reception shop personal computer 227, and sends the read index data D16 to the personal computer 232 of the purchasing demand user, whereby it is possible to introduce a variety of kinds of photographic images to be sold to the purchasing demand user on the monitor screen of the personal computer 232.

Further, in the delivery photograph shop 222, the delivery shop personal computer 228 reads a variety of kinds of index data D16 from the reception shop personal computer 227, and saves the read index data D16 in the delivery shop server 231. Also, the delivery shop personal computer 228 reads periodically the index data D16 from the delivery shop server 231, and provides the read index data D16 to the personal computer 232 of the purchasing demand user, whereby it is possible to introduce a variety of kinds of photographic images that are sellable to the purchasing demand user.

(4) First Embodiment

In FIG. 25, reference numeral 250 denotes a photographic image commercial transactions system as a whole according to a first embodiment of the invention. A reception photograph shop 251 and a delivery photograph shop 252 are connected via a network consisting of a reception shop side service provider 253 and a delivery shop side service provider 254, as well as the Internet 255, with a banking agency 256 connected to the Internet 255.

In the reception photograph shop 251, there are provided a reception shop photographic image printing machine 100A, a reception shop personal computer 257, and a reception shop server 258. Also, in the delivery photograph shop 252, there are provided a delivery shop photographic image printing machine 100B, a delivery shop personal computer 260, and a delivery shop server 261.

In the reception photograph shop 251, at the time of requesting the forwarding of print photographs, like the reception photograph shop 221 of the photographic image commercial transactions system 220 as shown in FIG. 24, the reception shop personal computer 257 is enabled to transmit the film data D15 comprised of the converted photographic image data, the photographic image header data having the printing condition, and the film header data.

In the reception photograph shop 251, at the time of requesting the forwarding of print photographs, if the photographic images to be forwarded and the photographic image not to be forwarded are specified among the photographic images of the APS negative film 1A, the reception shop personal computer 257 performs, for the film data D15 supplied from the reception shop photographic image printing machine 100A, a scrambling process for making the photographic images not to be forwarded an obscure (dim impression) state (referred to as a scrambled state), or a masking process for making the photographic images not to be forwarded white over the entire area of the image, or an invisible state (Referred to as a masked state. A photographic image to be forwarded is replaced with another image or overlapped by another image and the upper one is displayed.), thereby producing the film data for forwarding D30. Instead of the scrambling process, it is also possible to apply an enciphering process.

The reception shop personal computer 257 saves the film data for forwarding D30 in the reception shop server 258, and transmits the film data for forwarding D30 via the reception shop side service provider 253, the Internet 255 and the delivery shop side service provider 254 to the delivery shop personal computer 260.

If the delivery shop personal computer 260 is given the film data for forwarding D30 from the reception shop personal computer 257, the delivery shop personal computer 260 saves the film data for forwarding D30 in the delivery shop server 261, and sends the film data for forwarding D30 to the delivery shop photographic image printing machine 100B.

Thereby, the delivery shop photographic image printing machine 100B prints on the printing paper the photographic images based on the converted photographic image data from the film data for forwarding D30, faithfully to the printing condition specified at the reception shop in accordance with the photographic image header data of the film data for forwarding D30, thereby producing the print photograph shops and the index print.

Thus, in the delivery photograph shop 253, the index print in which the photographic images to be forwarded that are designated by the forwarding request user are only made visible, and the remaining photographic images not to be forwarded are made a scrambled or masked state, among the photographic images of the APS negative film 1A, and the print photograph shops in which the photographic images to be forwarded are only printed, are delivered to the photograph shop recipient user.

By the way, in the reception photograph shop 251, at the time of forwarding the print photographs, the delivery shop side settling information including the account number of transaction for the delivery photograph shop 252, the printing fee of photographic images and so on is supplied from the delivery photograph shop 252. To the delivery shop side settling information, the billing information is produced by appending the reception shop side settling information including the credit card number of registration owned by the forwarding request user, the account number of transaction for the reception photograph shop 251, the account numbers of transaction for the reception shop side service provider 253 and the delivery shop side service provider 254, and the forwarding fee in accordance with the number of forwarding the print photograph shops and the forwarding form. This billing information is saved in the film data for forwarding D30 and transmitted to the reception shop side service provider 253.

If the film data for forwarding D30 is transmitted from the reception photograph shop 251, the reception shop side service provider 253 retrieves the billing information from the film data for forwarding D30, and transmits this billing information as the chargeable data D33 via the Internet 255 to the banking agent 256.

Thereby, the banking agent 256 performs the charging process on the basis of the chargeable data D33 supplied from the reception shop side service provider 253, and executes the electronic settling process for forwarding the print photograph shops based on the results of the charging process, thereby closing an electronic commercial transaction for forwarding the print photographs.

In practice, in the reception shop photographic image printing machine 10A, as shown in FIG. 26, the photographic images of the APS negative film 1A are optically read in the order of frame number by means of a photographic image scanner 265 comprised of the optics from the lamp 122 to the charge coupled device 169, as shown in FIG. 14, and the driver/controller thereof, and a photoelectric signal S1 as acquired is sent to an image data processor 161A.

At this time, the system controller 140A controls the magnetic reproducing circuit 146A to reproduce the user data D4 from the user's camera using area 6 (FIG. 2) of the APS negative film 1A by means of a magnetic head for user data 128A, and send the reproduced user data D4 to the image data processor 161A, as well as to send the frame number data D6 and the initial data D5 reproduced from the user's camera using area 6 and the laboratory using area 7 (FIG. 2) of the APS negative film 1A to the image data processor 161A.

The system controller 140A generates the laboratory data D14 on the basis of the printing condition set up by the forwarding request user or the printing operator of the reception photograph shop 251, and the user data D4, and sends the generated laboratory data D14 to the image data processor 161A.

In this connection, the system controller 140A controls the laboratory data D14 to be sent via the magnetic recording/reproducing circuit 180A to the magnetic head for laboratory data 130A, and saved in the laboratory using area 7 of the APS negative film 1A by means of the magnetic head for laboratory data 130A, whereby it is possible to preserve the history as to the printing condition in the APS negative film 1A as the laboratory data D14.

The system controller 140A controls the laboratory data D14 to be reproduced by the magnetic recording/reproducing circuit 180A via the magnetic head for laboratory data 130A, and sent to the image data processor 161A, when the APS negative film 1A is used to reprint the print photographs, because the laboratory data D14 has been already recorded in the laboratory using area 7.

In addition, the system controller 140A controls the remote controller 162 (FIG. 14) to choose the photographic images to be forwarded and the photographic images not to be forwarded among the photographic images of the APS negative film 1A, and has received the selection specifying data D34 for specifying the scrambling or masking process for the photographic images not to be forwarded, whereby the system controller 140A sends the input selection specifying data D34 to the image data processor 161A.

The system controller 140A is provided with the transmission data D35 including the reception photograph shop ID or the reception shop side service provider ID from a predetermined circuit (not shown) of the reception shop personal computer 257, and also sends the transmission data D35 to the image data processor 161.

Thereby, the image data processor 161A produces the converted photographic image data of the photographic image exposed on the APS negative film 1A on the basis of a photoelectric signal S1 passed from the photographic image scanner 265, and produces the photographic image header data including the printing condition on the basis of the user data D4, the frame number data D6, the laboratory data D14 and the selection specifying data D34 corresponding to the converted photographic image data, thereby appending the produced photographic image header data to the corresponding converted photographic image data.

In this way, the image data processor 161A produces the converted photographic image data and the photographic image header data in accordance with all the photographic images of the APS negative film 1A. Then, the image data processor 161A generates the film header data including the billing information on the basis of the initial data D5 and the transmission data D35, and appends the generated film header data to the top of the series of data consisting of the converted photographic image data and the photographic image header data, thereby sending the thus-obtained film data D15 to a scrambling/masking processor 266 in the reception shop personal computer 257.

In this connection, the image data processor 161A sends the film header data and/or photographic image header data to the system controller 140A, which then controls the magnetic recording/reproducing circuit 180A to record the film header data and/or photographic image header data in the laboratory using area 7 of the APS negative film 1A by means of the magnetic head for laboratory data 130A. Hence, the history of the transmission of the film data D15 can be preserved in the APS negative film 1A.

Herein, in the reception shop personal computer 257, the selection specifying data D34 supplied from the system controller 140A of the reception shop photographic image printing machine 100A is received by a control data generator 267.

The control data generator 267 reads the predetermined key data D36 from a key data generator 268, and produces the scramble control data D37 for use in the scrambling process on the basis of the read key data D36, thereby sending the scramble control data D37 to a scrambling/masking processor 266, when it is specified to perform the scrambling process for the photographic images not to be forwarded on the basis of the selection specifying data D34.

The control data generator 267 sends the masking control data D38 stored in advance for use in the masking process to the scrambling/masking processor 266, when it is specified to perform the masking processing for photographic images not to be forwarded on the basis of the selection specifying data D34.

Thereby, the scrambling/masking processor 266 performs the scrambling/masking process only for the converted photographic image data of the photographic images not to be forwarded among the converted photographic image data of the film data D15 supplied from the image data processor 161A of the reception shop photographic image printing machine 10A, on the basis of the corresponding scramble control data D37 or masking control data D38 supplied from the control data generator 267.

The scrambling/masking processor 266 saves the information indicating whether the scrambling process or masking process is performed for the converted photographic image data corresponding to all the photographic image header data, and thereby saves the film data for forwarding D30 consisting of the converted photographic image data having passed through the scrambling process or masking process and the converted photographic image data of photographic images to be forwarded, via a key data inserter 269 in the reception shop server 258.

And the reception shop server 258 reads the film data for forwarding D30 under the control of the reception shop personal computer 257, and sends the film data for forwarding to the reception shop side service provider 253.

Thus, the reception shop side service provider 253 transmits the film data for forwarding D30 supplied from the reception shop server 258 via a transmitter 270, a communication satellite 271 and a receiver 272 that constitutes the Internet 255 to the delivery shop side service provider 254.

The delivery shop side service provider 254 sends the received film data for forwarding D30 to the delivery shop server 261 of the delivery photograph shop 252 (FIG. 25). The delivery shop server 261 saves the film data for forwarding D30 supplied from the delivery shop side service provider 254, and reads out and reads and sends the saved film data for forwarding D30 to the delivery shop personal computer 260 under the control of the delivery shop personal computer 260.

Then the delivery shop personal computer 260 sends the film data for forwarding D30 read from the delivery shop server 261 via a key data extractor 273 and a descrambling processor 274 to the image data processor 161B of the delivery shop photographic image printing machine 100B.

Thereby, the image data processor 161B produces the printing photographic image data D39 for the photographic images faithfully to the printing condition specified in the reception shop side, the printing condition data D40 and the index image data D41 on the basis of the film data for forwarding D30 under the control of the system controller 140B, and sends the printing photographic image data D39 for the photographic images, the printing condition data D40 and the index image data D41 to the printer 103B.

Thus, the printer 103B produces the print photograph shops for the photographic images to be forwarded, and produces an index print 278 in which the photographic images in visible state to be forwarded 275, and the photographic images in scrambled state not to be forwarded 276 and/or the photographic images in masked state not to be forwarded 277 are printed as the index, as shown in FIG. 27.

In addition, in the case of this photographic image commercial transactions system 250, the system controller 140A of the reception shop photographic image printing machine 100A sends the selection specifying data D34 and the scramble transmission data D42 to the image data processor 161A and the control data generator 267 of the reception shop personal computer 257, if the selection specifying data D34 as well as the scramble transmission data D42 for specifying to transmit the photographic images to be forwarded having undergone the scrambling process are input via the remote controller 162, in producing the film data D15.

The image data processor 161A produces the converted photographic image data on the basis of a photoelectric signal S1 supplied from the photographic image scanner 265, and then produces the photographic image header data on the basis of the user data D4, the frame number data D6, the laboratory data D14, the selection specifying data D34 and the scramble transmission data D42 corresponding to the converted photographic image data, thereby appending the photographic image header data to the corresponding converted photographic image data.

In this way, the image data processor 161A produces the converted photographic image data and the photographic image header data in accordance with all the photographic images of the APS negative film 1A. Then the image data processor 161A appends the film header data to the top of the series of data consisting of the converted photographic image data and the photographic image header data, and sends the thus-obtained film data D15 to the scrambling/masking processor 266 of the reception shop personal computer 257.

In this connection, the system controller 140A reads the key data D43 used to effect the scrambling process for the photographic images to be forwarded from the key data generator 268 of the reception shop personal computer 257.

And the system controller 140A associates the key data D43 with the frame number of the photographic images to be forwarded, and sends the key data D43 together with the laboratory data D14 via the magnetic recording/reproducing circuit 180A to the magnetic head for laboratory data 130A, which then records the key data D43 and the laboratory data D14 in the laboratory using area 7 of the APS negative film 1A. Thereby, the system controller 140A can store the key data D43 for use in the transmission of the photographic images to be forwarded in addition to the history of transmission of the photographic images to be forwarded in the laboratory using area 7 of the APS negative film 1A.

On the other hand, the control data generator 267 of the reception shop personal computer 257 produces the scramble control data D37 or the masking control data D38 on the basis of the selection specifying data D34 supplied from the system controller 140A of the reception shop photographic image printing machine 100A, in the same manner as described above, and sends the scramble control data D37 or the masking control data D38 to the scrambling/masking processor 266.

The control data generator 267 reads the key data D43 from the key data generator 268 on the basis of the scramble transmission data D42 supplied from the system controller 140A, produces the scramble control data D44 for the photographic images to be forwarded on the basis of the read key data D43, and sends the scramble control data D44 to the scrambling/masking processor 266, as well as supplying the key data D43 from the key data generator 268 to the key data inserter 269.

Thereby, the scrambling/masking processor 266 performs the scrambling/masking process for the converted photographic image data of the photographic images not to be forwarded among the converted photographic images of the film data D15 supplied from the image data processor 161A, on the basis of the corresponding scramble control data D37 or masking control data D38.

The scrambling/masking processor 266 performs the scrambling process for the converted photographic image data for the photographic images to be forwarded among the converted photographic images of the film data D15, on the basis of the scramble control data D44, and sends the thus-obtained film data for transmission D45 to the key data inserter 269.

And the key data inserter 269 saves the key data D43 supplied from the key data generator 268 in the photographic image header data appended to the converted photographic image data for the photographic images to be forwarded among the photographic image header data obtained on the basis of the film data for forwarding D45, and sends the thus-obtained film data for forwarding D46 to the reception shop server 258, where the film data for forwarding D46 is saved.

Thus, the film data for forwarding D46 saved in the reception shop server 258 is read from the reception shop server 258 under the control of reception shop personal computer 257, and passed via the reception shop side service provider 253, the transmitter 270, the communication satellite 271, the receiver 272 and the delivery shop side service provider 254 to the delivery shop server 261, where the film data for forwarding D46 is saved, while the film data for forwarding D46 is read from the delivery shop server 261 under the control of the delivery shop personal computer 260 and supplied to the key data extractor 273.

The key data extractor 273 extracts the key data D43 from the photographic image header data appended to the converted photographic image data for the photographic images to be forwarded among the photographic image header data contained in the film data for forwarding D46 supplied from the delivery shop server 261, sends the extracted key data D43 to the control data generator 279, and sends the film data for forwarding D46 to the descrambling processor 274.

The control data generator 279 produces the descramble control data D47 to restore the original photographic image from the photographic image in scrambled state to be forwarded, on the basis of the key data D43 supplied from the key data extractor 273, and sends the descramble control data D47 to the descrambling processor 274.

And the descrambling processor 274 performs the descrambling process for the converted photographic image data of the photographic images to be forwarded among the converted photographic image data contained in the film data for forwarding D46 supplied from the key data extractor 273, in accordance with the descramble control data D47 supplied from the control data generator 279, and sends the thus-obtained film data for forwarding D45 to the image data processor 161B of the delivery shop photographic image printing machine 100B.

Thereby, the image data processor 161B produces the printing photographic image data D39 of each photographic image, the printing condition data D40, and the index image data D41 on the basis of the film data for forwarding D42 under the control of the system controller 140B, sends the printing photographic image data D39 of each photographic image, the printing condition data D40, and the index image data D41 to the printer 103B, which then prints the print photograph shops for the photographic images to be forwarded and the index print 278 as shown in FIG. 27.

In this way, in the photographic image commercial transactions system 250, the converted photographic image data for all the photographic images to be forwarded are subjected to the scrambling process, whereby the print photograph shops to be forwarded can be transferred with higher security.

And in this photograph