JP4386064B2 - Print order system using network - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides a print ordering system that allows a first computer operated by a customer and a photo processing system having a second computer operated by a photo shop to be connected via a network and receives a photo print creation order via the network, and The present invention relates to a photo processing system and a photo order receiving system used in the system.

  With the spread of the Internet (network), a print ordering system that orders the creation of photo prints via the Internet is known. When ordering photo print creation via the Internet, it is necessary to upload image data from a customer's computer (personal computer).

  However, since image data has a large data capacity, there is a problem that it takes a long time to upload. On the other hand, although broadband such as ADSL is becoming widespread, although the downlink speed is fast, the upload (upload) is not so fast. Moreover, it can be said that quite a lot of people are still in an environment that takes time to upload image data in view of the spread of broadband.

  On the other hand, from the standpoint of a photo shop, when a customer who requested simultaneous printing and writing of image data to a recording medium reorders a photo print (a reprint order), he wants to guide him to his own photo shop as much as possible. There is. This is because the image data is written to the recording medium, and if the image data is used as it is and uploaded to the Internet, the photo print can be reordered. However, as described above, there is a case where the print order is abandoned in an environment where it takes time to upload the image data. Therefore, such photo shops also lost the opportunity to reorder prints.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its problem is to provide a print ordering system capable of reducing the time required for uploading data when a customer orders a photo print via a network, and the system. It is to provide a photo processing system and a photo order reception system to be used.

In order to solve the above problems, a print ordering system using a network according to the present invention is as follows.
A print ordering system that enables a first computer operated by a customer and a photo processing system having a second computer operated by a photo shop to be connected via a network and receives an order for creating a photo print via the network,
An image acquisition means for acquiring image data for which a photo print is to be created when an order for photo print creation is received from a customer;
ID giving means for giving a unique image ID to each of the image data;
An image database for registering the image data and the image ID in association with each other;
Later, when receiving a photo print order from a customer, an ID acquisition means for acquiring the image ID from the customer via a network;
Database search means for searching the image database using the image ID as a key;
In the case where image data to which the image ID is assigned exists, a photo print is created based on the image data.
In this print ordering system, at least a first computer operated by a customer and a photo processing system having a second computer operated by a photo shop are connected by a network such as the Internet.

  The photo processing system used in this print ordering system is provided with an image acquisition means for acquiring image data when receiving a photo print creation order from a customer. The image acquisition means is, for example, a scanner that reads image data from a developed negative film. The acquired image data is registered in the image database. A unique image ID (identification code) is assigned to each image data, and the image data and the image ID are associated and registered in the database.

  When receiving a photo print creation order from a customer at a later date, the image ID is acquired from the customer via the network. In the photo processing system, if image data corresponding to the acquired image ID exists in the image database, a photo print can be created using the image data. That is, the customer does not need to send (upload) image data via the network. The data amount of the image ID itself is very small, and the time required for the customer to place an order is small. As a result, it is possible to provide a print ordering system that can reduce the time required for uploading data when a customer orders a photo print via a network, and a photo processing system used in this system.

  The case where the image data does not exist in the image database is, for example, a case where the image data is deleted after a period in which the image data is registered in the database. In such a case, a procedure such as downloading image data from the first computer may be performed again.

As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus including a recording medium writing device that associates image data with an image ID and stores them in a recording medium can be cited.
In order for a customer to reorder a photo print, it is necessary to acquire image data and an image ID by some method. Therefore, the image data and the image ID required at the time of reordering are provided by storing the image data and the image ID in a recording medium (CD-R, MO, etc.) and providing them to the customer by the recording medium writing device. Can be easily obtained.

  As another preferred embodiment of the present invention, client software installed in the first computer is recorded on the recording medium, and a customer uses the client software to send an image of a print order to the photo processing system side. An image ID can be transmitted.

  In order for the customer's first computer and the photo processing system to be connected via a network and for the customer to place a print order, client software for that purpose is required. Therefore, by recording this software together with image data on a recording medium, the customer can install this software on the first computer and place a print order via the network.

The photo order reception system according to the present invention is:
In order to make it possible to connect a first computer operated by a customer and a photo processing system having a second computer operated by a photo shop via a network, and to construct a print order system for receiving an order for creating a photo print via the network, A photo order reception system on the network,
The photo processing system includes:
An image acquisition means for acquiring image data for which a photo print is to be created when an order for photo print creation is received from a customer;
ID giving means for giving a unique image ID to each of the image data;
An image database for registering the image data and the image ID in association with each other;
Later, when receiving a photo print order from a customer, an ID acquisition means for acquiring the image ID from the customer via a network;
Database search means for searching the image database using the image ID as a key;
If there is image data to which the image ID is assigned, a photo print is created based on the image data.
The photo order reception system
Data receiving means for receiving the image data acquired by the image acquiring means of the photo processing system and the unique image ID assigned by the ID assigning means of the photo processing system;
Image storage means for storing the received image data and the image ID;
Album providing means for providing image data registered in the image storage means in the form of an album to customers who have accessed via the network;
Order data generating means for generating order data including the image ID when an image for ordering photo print creation is designated by a customer using the album providing means;
It has.
The print ordering system having this configuration is constructed by a customer's first computer, a photo processing system, and a photo order receiving system existing on the network.
The photo processing system includes image acquisition means for acquiring image data when receiving an order for creating a photo print from a customer. The image acquisition means is, for example, a scanner that reads image data from a developed negative film. The acquired image data is registered in the image database. A unique image ID (identification code) is assigned to each image data, and the image data and the image ID are associated and registered in the database. When receiving a photo print creation order from a customer at a later date, the image ID is acquired from the customer via the network. In the photo processing system, if image data corresponding to the acquired image ID exists in the image database, a photo print can be created using the image data. That is, the customer does not need to send (upload) image data via the network. The data amount of the image ID itself is very small, and the time required for the customer to place an order is small. As a result, when a customer places an order for a photo print via the network, the time required for uploading data can be reduced.
This photo order receiving system is usually constituted by a server system. Image data and an image ID are uploaded from the photo processing system to the photo order receiving system. These image data and image ID are stored in the image storage means. An electronic album is provided to the customer based on the image data stored therein. By accessing the photo order acceptance system via the network, customers can view images in album form. While viewing this screen, the customer designates an image for which an order is desired. Order data is generated by inputting image designation and data necessary for print creation (for example, designation of print size and number of prints). This order data does not include image data, but includes an image ID. Therefore, when the order data is transmitted to a photo processing system that actually performs photo processing, image data is not transmitted, so that the data capacity can be reduced. In addition, customers who order photo prints do not need to upload images.

In the photo order receiving system of the present invention, when image data corresponding to the image ID included in the order data is not stored in the photo processing system, a download request for the image data is automatically sent to the first computer of the customer. Thus, the image data is transmitted from the first computer to the photo processing system.
According to this configuration, the order data is transmitted to the photo processing system, and when the image data corresponding to the image ID included in the order data is not stored in the photo processing system, the image data is transmitted to the first computer. A request (download request) is automatically made. When this download request is made, the first computer is configured to transmit the image data to the requesting photo processing system. According to this configuration, even when image data is not stored on the photo processing system side (for example, when the storage period has elapsed), the image data can be acquired from the first computer, so that print processing cannot be performed. It does not become a state. Further, since this download request is made automatically, it is not necessary to interrupt the photo processing or to give an instruction from the operator.

The photo processing system according to the present invention is:
A photo processing system used together with a photo order receiving system,
An image acquisition means for acquiring image data for which a photo print is to be created when an order for photo print creation is received from a customer;
ID giving means for giving a unique image ID to each of the image data;
An image database for registering the image data and the image ID in association with each other;
Later, when receiving a photo print order from a customer, an ID acquisition means for acquiring the image ID from the customer via a network;
Database search means for searching the image database using the image ID as a key;
When the image data to which the image ID included in the order data downloaded from the photo order reception system is present exists in the image database, a photo print is created based on the image data, and the image data exists. If not, the image data is automatically requested to be downloaded to the first computer.
The photo processing system having this configuration searches the image database using the image ID included in the order data downloaded from the photo order receiving system as a key. If image data corresponding to the image database is stored, a photo print is created using the stored image data. When downloading the order data, it is not necessary to download the image data. Therefore, the download can be performed in a short time. If no image data is left in the image database, the image data can be downloaded from the first computer without going through the photo order receiving system. Since this download request is made automatically, the photo processing is not interrupted or the operator does not give an instruction.

  As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an image ID further includes an ID of a photo processor for creating a photo print. As a result, it is possible to identify the machine that first performed the photographic print creation process.

  Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is one in which the image ID further includes a photo shop ID. As a result, it is possible to identify the photo shop where the photo print was first created. For example, when reordering is performed via a network, a photo shop to which order data is to be transmitted can be designated based on this ID.

  A preferred embodiment of a print ordering system using a network according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of the first embodiment will be described.

<Schematic Configuration of System According to First Embodiment>
In FIG. 1, the photo processing system 1 includes a printer processor 10 (photo processor), an image processor 11, and a communication device 12. The printer processor 10 includes a digital exposure engine, and prints an image on a photographic photosensitive material such as paper based on the image data to create a photographic print. The image processor 11 can read a frame image of a developed negative film with a scanner and convert it into digital data, or can acquire image data from a recording medium such as a flexible disk or an MO disk. The communication device 12 acquires photo print order data via a network such as the Internet N.

  The photo processing system 1 includes a recording medium writing device. This is for recording image data read by a scanner from a developed negative film or the like on a recording medium such as a CD-R and providing it to a customer. The customer can order the simultaneous printing of the negative film by visiting the photo shop and at the same time write the image data on the recording medium. Alternatively, it is possible to order only the writing to the recording medium without ordering the creation of the photo print.

  The photo processing system 1 is installed in a photo shop, and the number of machines installed is not limited to a specific number. The photograph processing system 1 can be connected to a personal computer 30 (corresponding to a first computer) operated by a customer via the Internet N. The photo processing system 1 also has a personal computer function (corresponding to a second computer). That is, the second computer of the photo processing system 1 and the customer's first computer are configured to be communicable via the Internet.

<System functional block diagram>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining functions of the photo processing system 1 and the personal computer 30. However, only functions necessary for explaining the present invention are shown.

  The photographic processing system 1 creates a photographic print as described above. When receiving a photographic print order from a customer, the photographic processing system 1 needs to acquire image data for creating a photographic print. For this purpose, an image acquisition unit 13 is provided, which is composed of a scanner 13a and various input devices 13b. The scanner 13a acquires image data from a frame image formed on a developed negative film or positive film. The various input devices 13b can acquire image data from various recording media (CD-ROM, flexible disk, digital camera recording medium, etc.).

  The image data storage unit 14 is a memory in which the image data acquired from the image acquisition unit 13 is temporarily stored. The database control unit 15 (corresponding to database search means) causes the acquired image data to be registered in the image database 16. At this time, the image data is registered together with the image ID assigned by the ID assigning means 17. Therefore, the image can be inquired by searching the image database 16 using the assigned image ID as a key. This image ID is used when a reorder is received from the customer later.

  When the image data is acquired, the ID assigning unit 17 automatically assigns a unique code to each image data. The assigned ID is entered in the header portion of the image data and is incorporated in the same image file. The ID is configured using appropriate code data, but is not limited to a specific data format. As the ID, the image ID is the most important and is a unique ID for specifying the image data. Other machine IDs and photo shop IDs may be added. The machine ID is an ID for specifying a printer processor that has performed a photographic process using image data. The photo shop ID is an ID for specifying the photo shop that has performed the photo processing based on the image data. The ID assigning means 17 can be realized by software having such a function.

  The image processing unit 18 has a function of performing various image processing on the acquired image data. For example, image processing based on color / density correction data is performed so that a photographic print having an appropriate color / density can be obtained. Such correction data is input via a correction data input unit 23 such as a keyboard. In addition, image processing for color matching between the input device and the output device is also performed. In addition, image data enlargement / reduction processing corresponding to the print size is also performed. The image data registered in the image database 16 is preferably registered after image processing by the image processing unit 18. This is because it is not necessary to perform the same image processing when reordering.

  The transfer control unit 19 transfers the image data to the exposure engine 20 and the CD-R writing device 21. The exposure engine 20 is, for example, a PLZT engine, a laser engine, or a CRT engine, and prints and exposes a latent image by scanning exposure light onto the emulsion surface of the photographic material. The photographic light-sensitive material on which the image has been subjected to printing exposure is subjected to known development processing and drying processing, and is discharged as a photographic print to the outside of the apparatus.

  A CD-R writing device 21 is also known and writes image data to a CD-R. The image file written here includes image data and an image ID (preferably including a machine ID and a photo shop ID). The image ID is required when ordering (reordering) photo prints at a later date. In addition, the client software is written on the CD-R together with the image data. This software is stored in the client software storage unit 22. This software is required when customers reorder photo prints at a later date. Note that the recording medium writing apparatus is not limited to the CD-R, and an apparatus for writing on a DVD, an MO, or the like may be used.

  The data transmitter / receiver 24 communicates with the customer's personal computer 30 via the Internet to transmit / receive various data. The data analysis unit 25 analyzes the received data. Specifically, the order data received from the customer's personal computer 30 is analyzed, and various data necessary for photo print creation are extracted. The ID acquisition unit 26 acquires the image ID included in the order data, and passes this to the database control unit 15. The database control unit 15 searches whether the image data exists in the image database 16 using the received image ID as a key. If image data exists, the image data recorded in the image database 16 is used. If there is no image data, a command is issued to the data transmitter / receiver 24 to download the image data from the personal computer 30 on the customer side.

  The order data extracted by the data analysis unit 25 is set in the order data setting unit 27. As the order data, for example, setting of the print size and the number of prints can be given. Based on these data, the image processing unit 18 and the like are controlled.

  Next, functions of the customer's personal computer 30 will be described. As the personal computer 30 to be used, a commercially available personal computer 30 having a general function can be used. The transmission / reception unit 31 has a function of communicating with the photo processing system 1 via the Internet, and transmits / receives various data. In addition, client software 32 is installed in the personal computer 30. This software is client software written by the CD-R writing device 21. This software is necessary for a customer to order a print (reorder) via the network using the personal computer 30. Typical functions of this software are an image display function 32a for displaying an image on a monitor and a print ordering function 32b. A large number of image files 33 for displaying images are also stored. Of course, if the CD-R in which the image data is written in the photo processing system 1 is set in the personal computer 30, the image can also be displayed. As a display form, for example, it can be displayed in the form of an album.

<Print processing procedure>
Next, the print processing procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, a customer visits a photo shop and requests simultaneous printing (development of a negative film and creation of a photo print) and writing of image data to a CD-R (# 1). There is no need to request creation of a photo print.

  First, the frame image of the developed negative film is read by the scanner 13a (# 2). A unique image ID is generated and assigned to each of the read image data based on the function of the ID assigning means 17 (# 3). The image ID is written in the header portion and registered in the image database 16 (# 4). The machine ID and photo shop ID may be written together in the header part.

  Next, after performing appropriate image processing using the read image data, the exposure engine 20 prints and exposes the image on the photographic photosensitive material to create a photographic print (# 5). On the other hand, the image data is written to the CD-R by the CD-R writing device 21 using the same image data (# 6). Also, the client software is written together with the CD-R to which image data is written. At a later date, the customer visits the photo shop to receive the finished photo print and CD-R (# 7).

  Next, the procedure for reordering photo prints will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the customer installs the client software stored in the CD-R provided from the photo shop in the personal computer 30 (# 10). Then, this software is activated (# 11). Display on the computer screen the image you are requesting to print. This image may be an image written on a CD-R or may be an image stored on another hard disk.

  The customer selects an image for which photo print creation is requested from the displayed images (# 12). At the same time, the print order is set (# 13). Specifically, the print size and the number of prints are set. When the setting is completed, order data is generated (# 14). The order data does not include the image data itself, but includes only the image ID. That is, the image data is specified by the image ID. The generated order data is transmitted to the photo processing system 1 (# 15).

  The transmitted order data is received by the photo processing system 1 (# 20). The order data is analyzed by the function of the data analysis unit 25 (# 21). Then, the image ID included in the order data is extracted (# 22). The database control unit 15 searches the image database 16 using the image ID as a key (# 23). Then, it is searched whether the image data corresponding to the image ID is stored in the database (# 24). If stored, the image data is extracted from the image database 16 (# 25). This image data is used for print processing. Further, since it has been confirmed that the image data is stored, an order acceptance completion process is performed (# 26). For example, notification is sent to the client software. Or you may notify a customer that order reception was completed by electronic mail. Next, a photographic print is created using the extracted image data. This procedure has already been described.

  According to the above configuration, it is not necessary to transmit image data from the customer to the photo processing system 1 when ordering photo prints from the customer to the photo processing system 1 (photo shop) via the network. Since the image ID is transmitted, the data capacity is considerably smaller than that when image data is transmitted. Therefore, the time required for ordering prints can be shortened.

  When it is determined in step # 24 that the image data is not stored in the image database 16, the image data must be transmitted as usual. That is, it requests the personal computer 30 to transmit image data related to the order (# 30). This request is also automatically made based on the software function. The personal computer 30 transmits image data based on this request command. That is, the photo processing system 1 downloads image data from the personal computer 30 (# 31). The image data receiving process is completed by downloading all necessary image data (# 32). Then, the procedure from step # 26 is executed to create a photo print.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 4, the processing after step # 20 executed in the photo processing system 1 is automatically performed based on the function of the software. Therefore, there is no need for the operation of the photograph shop operator.

<Schematic Configuration of System According to Second Embodiment>
Next, a system configuration according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This configuration is also a configuration for receiving a print order via the Internet N, but is different in that a server device 40 that functions as the photo order receiving system 2 is provided on the Internet. That is, the print order is made through the photo order reception system 2. In constructing this system, the functions described in FIG. 2 can be used as the functions of the photo processing system 1 in the photo shop. However, client software is not necessary for the personal computer 30 on the customer side. This is because the photo order receiving system 2 has a function of receiving a print order. The personal computer 30 only needs to have a function of accessing the Internet.

  Next, functions of the photo order receiving system will be described with reference to FIG. The data transmitter / receiver 41 transmits / receives various data. The data analysis unit 42 has a function of analyzing the content of received data. For example, if the request is for displaying a home page, an appropriate file stored in the HTML file 43 is transmitted via the data transmission / reception unit 41. When image data is received, it is stored in the image storage means 44. The image storage unit 44 has the same configuration as the image database 16 described in FIG. That is, the image data is uploaded from the photo processing system 1 and received, but the image ID is transmitted together with the image data. Therefore, the image data and the image ID are stored in association with each other.

  The album providing unit 45 has a function of displaying an image stored in the image storage unit 44 on the personal computer screen in the form of an electronic album. That is, an HTML file for displaying an electronic album is generated using the image data taken out from the image storage means 44 and transmitted to the customer's personal computer 30 via the data transmission / reception unit 41. The customer can select an image to be printed, set the print size, the number of prints, and the like while the image is displayed on the personal computer screen.

  The order data generating means 46 generates order data to be transmitted to the photo processing system 1 based on the data input by the customer. This order data includes only the image ID, not the image data itself, in order to specify the image. In addition, data of print size and number of prints, customer data, and the like are included. Thus, since the order data does not include image data, the data transmission time from the photo order receiving system 2 to the photo processing system 1 can be shortened.

<Print processing procedure>
Next, a print processing procedure in the print order system according to the second embodiment will be briefly described. When a request for print processing and image data writing processing is received from a customer, the processing performed in the photo processing system 1 is the same as in FIG. That is, the image data is registered in the image database 16 together with the image ID. In addition to this, the image data and the image ID are uploaded to the photo order receiving system 2. The uploaded image data is stored in the image storage unit 44. The uploaded image data is stored in association with customer data so that an unrelated third party cannot see the image.

  Next, the procedure for reordering photo prints will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the customer activates the browser using the personal computer 30 (# 40). Then, the photo order receiving system 2 is accessed (# 41). As a result, a homepage for ordering photos is displayed on the personal computer screen. In order to view his / her own image, the customer ID and password are entered (# 42). This customer ID and password can be obtained via the Internet by a predetermined procedure.

  By entering the ID and password, a customer-specific electronic album can be displayed (# 43). While viewing this album, an image to be requested for photo print creation is selected (# 44). The print size and the number of prints are also set (# 45). Also set for the photo shop that requests print processing. Thereby, order data is generated (# 46). The generated order data is transmitted to the photo processing system 1 (# 47). The order data includes an image ID for specifying an image, but does not include the image data itself. Therefore, the order data is transmitted to the photo processing system 1 in a short time.

  The processing after the order data is received by the photo processing system 1 is the same as the processing after step # 20 shown in the flowchart of FIG. However, if no image data is stored in the image database 16, a request for image data is made to the photo order receiving system 2.

  As described above, since the re-order of the photo print is performed using the image ID, the time required for data transfer can be greatly shortened. From the standpoint of a photo shop, it is possible to appeal to the customer as a selling point that "if you reorder at your store, you can complete the data transfer in a short time." Thereby, the customer can be enclosed.

  Even if the image data is not stored in the photo store or lost, the image data can be downloaded from the customer's personal computer 30 or the photo order reception system 2, so that the print processing cannot be performed. Further, when image data is not stored in the image database of the photo store, a download request for image data to the personal computer 30 or the photo order receiving system 2 is automatically made based on the function of the software. Therefore, it is not necessary to interrupt the photo process or to give an instruction from the operator.

  The case where the image data is not stored in the image database refers to a case where the image data is initially stored but is not stored at present. For example, there are the following cases.

(1) When storing image data as a database, the storage capacity is limited, so it is necessary to delete old image data. Therefore, each photo store sets a period for storing the image data. If the period has elapsed, the image data is not stored in the image database. In this case, the customer side usually cannot recognize the storage period of the image data.

(2) When a customer pays a membership fee to a photo store and saves it in the image database, the customer may reorder after the storage period has passed. In the case of a charge, it is normal for the photo store to contact the customer that the retention period is approaching by e-mail etc., but the customer may reorder without knowing that .

  In the case as described above, image data may be downloaded again. As a photo store, it is preferable to set the storage period as long as possible in consideration of the storage capacity.

<Another embodiment>
(1) The photo order receiving system 2 is configured by the server device 40, but the configuration mode is arbitrary. For example, in order to reduce the load on the server, a plurality of server devices may be configured to distribute functions. Further, only one photo order receiving system 2 may be provided on the Internet, or may be provided for each photo store. For example, in the case of a chain store, a configuration in which only one server device is provided in the main store may be used. Or you may give the function of the photo order reception system 2 to the server which each photo shop manages, respectively.

(2) The configuration of the photographic processing system may be an apparatus in which a printer processor and an image processor are integrated.
(3) It does not matter whether the network is wired or wireless. A network in which wireless and wired are appropriately combined may be used.

1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a print order system according to a first embodiment. The figure which shows the functional block structure of the system of FIG. Flow chart showing print processing procedure Flow chart showing print processing procedure The figure which shows the structure of the print order system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. Block diagram showing the functions of the photo order reception system Flowchart showing the procedure of print processing in the second embodiment

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photo processing system 2 Photo order reception system 13 Image acquisition means 15 Database control part 16 Image database 17 ID provision means 21 CD-R writing apparatus 26 ID acquisition means 30 Personal computer 32 Client software 40 Server apparatus 41 Data transmission / reception part 44 Image storage means 45 Album providing means 46 Order data generating means

Claims (2)

In order to establish a print ordering system that allows a first computer operated by a customer and a photo processing system having a second computer operated by a photo shop to be connected via a network and receives an order for creating a photo print via the network, A photo order reception system on the network,
The photo processing system includes:
An image acquisition means for acquiring image data for which a photo print is to be created when an order for photo print creation is received from a customer;
ID giving means for giving a unique image ID to each of the image data;
An image database for registering the image data and the image ID in association with each other;
Later, when receiving a photo print order from a customer, an ID acquisition means for acquiring the image ID from the customer via a network;
Database search means for searching the image database using the image ID as a key;
If there is image data to which the image ID is assigned, a photo print is created based on the image data.
The photo order reception system
Data receiving means for receiving the image data acquired by the image acquisition means of the photo processing system and the unique image ID given by the ID giving means of the photo processing system;
Image storage means for storing the received image data and the image ID;
Album providing means for providing image data registered in the image storage means in the form of an album to customers who have accessed via the network;
Order data generating means for generating order data including the image ID when an image for ordering photo print creation is designated by a customer using the album providing means;
In the photo processing system, when the image data corresponding to the image ID included in the order data is not stored, a download request for the image data is automatically issued, and the image is received from the customer's first computer. Configured to send data to the photo processing system
Photo order acceptance system characterized by this. A photo processing system for use with the photo order receiving system according to claim 1,
An image acquisition means for acquiring image data for which a photo print is to be created when an order for photo print creation is received from a customer;
ID giving means for giving a unique image ID to each of the image data;
An image database for registering the image data and the image ID in association with each other;
Later, when receiving a photo print order from a customer, an ID acquisition means for acquiring the image ID from the customer via a network;
Database search means for searching the image database using the image ID as a key;
If the image data to which the image ID included in the order data downloaded from the photo order acceptance system is present is present in the image database, a photo print is created based on the image data, and the image data exists. If not, the photo processing system is configured to automatically request download of image data to the first computer of the customer.