Abstract: An image editing method comprises: a step of acquiring identification information on each of a plurality of operation instruction units for instructing editing of an image, a step of automatically selecting one or more images for editing from a group of images to classify the one or more images into a group of usable images based on the identification information, a step of determining a right to edit reaching contents of processing which each operation instruction unit is authorized to perform against each image in the group of usable images, and a step of performing editing processing on an image to be edited in the group of usable images based upon the determined right to edit according to an editing instruction supplied from each operation instruction unit.

Abstract: The saving device for image sharing saves images offered by a sharer of the images for image sharing and accessibly shares in an album form among at least one share. The device includes a sharee layout storing means configured to store first layout information of a sharee's album, a shared area determining means configured to determine a shared area to be shared in the sharee's album from a sharer's album, and a layout changing means configured to automatically change a layout of the shared area based on the first layout information of the at least one sharee. An image sharing system includes the device, and an image sharing method uses the device.

Abstract: The saving device for image sharing saves images offered by a sharer of the images for image sharing and accessibly shares in an album form among at least one share. The device includes a sharee layout storing means configured to store first layout information of a sharee's album, a shared area determining means configured to determine a shared area to be shared in the sharee's album from a sharer's album, and a layout changing means configured to automatically change a layout of the shared area based on the first layout information of the at least one sharee. An image sharing system includes the device, and an image sharing method uses the device.

Abstract: In an image network system used for network print service which receives an order for printing or the like by using a communication network such as the Internet, there are provided a center server capable of providing service which is different depending upon points given to a customer according to an order track record, at a time of using the system, capable of suitably setting a storage capacity and a storage period of an image for a user without placing a burden on the user while importance is placed on an operational efficiency of the system, capable of allowing a user to upload images as many as possible in an album, and useful for prompting an order, and an image network system including the center server.

Abstract: In an image network system used for network print service which receives an order for printing or the like by using a communication network such as the Internet, there are provided a center server capable of providing service which is different depending upon points given to a customer according to an order track record, at a time of using the system, capable of suitably setting a storage capacity and a storage period of an image for a user without placing a burden on the user while importance is placed on an operational efficiency of the system, capable of allowing a user to upload images as many as possible in an album, and useful for prompting an order, and an image network system including the center server.

Abstract: The saving device for image sharing includes an image acquiring unit configured to acquire the images offered by a sharer of the images, a sharee information storing unit configured to store sharee information with respect to at least one sharee, a subject assessing unit configured to assess whether or not a person subject is included in the acquired images, an image associating unit configured to associate the images assessed as not including a person subject with the images assessed as including a person subject, based on the sharee information, and a shared image determining unit configured to determine the images to be shared with the sharee or sharees from among the associated images and the images assessed as including a person subject, based on the sharee information. The image sharing system and an image sharing method use such a device.

Abstract: The saving device for image sharing saves images offered by a sharer of the images for image sharing and accessibly shares in an album form among at least one share. The device includes a sharee layout storing means configured to store first layout information of a sharee's album, a shared area determining means configured to determine a shared area to be shared in the sharee's album from a sharer's album, and a layout changing means configured to automatically change a layout of the shared area based on the first layout information of the at least one sharee. An image sharing system includes the device, and an image sharing method uses the device.

Abstract: The image selecting apparatus includes plural operation indicating units that indicate arrangement places of images on an electronic album, an operator recognizing unit that acquires identification information of the plural operation indicating units, an image selecting unit that automatically selects, based on the identification information, as an image of an available image group, at least one image to be arranged on the electronic album out of an image group, an arrangement determining unit that determines propriety of arrangement of the images in the arrangement places and an arrangement instructing unit that determines images to be arranged in the determined arrangement places out of the available image group, and arranges the images. The image selecting method is performed by the image selecting apparatus.

Abstract: The saving device for image sharing includes an image acquiring unit configured to acquire the images offered by a sharer of the images, a sharee information storing unit configured to store sharee information with respect to at least one sharee, a subject assessing unit configured to assess whether or not a person subject is included in the acquired images, an image associating unit configured to associate the images assessed as not including a person subject with the images assessed as including a person subject, based on the sharee information, and a shared image determining unit configured to determine the images to be shared with the sharee or sharees from among the associated images and the images assessed as including a person subject, based on the sharee information. The image sharing system and an image sharing method use such a device.

Abstract: It is so arranged that a mount image suited to a user photo image can be selected. To accomplish this, a creator accesses a scrapbook server using a computer and executes a simulation for creating a scrapbook by affixing part images such as photographic images and decorative images to an image of a paper mount on the display screen of the computer. When a user photo image and a mount image are selected, thumbnail images of decorative images recommended as decorative images for the user photo image and mount image are displayed in a small window. The creator selects a desired decorative image from among the thumbnail images of the recommended decorative images. The selected decorative image is displayed on a scrapbook edit image.

Abstract: The network server stores the order information and the customer information received from the order entry channel in a database with identification information of the retailer system that has mediated the order, extracts, in response to a request from the retailer system, at least one of the order information, the customer information corresponding to the identification information of the retailer system having made the request, and information obtained based on at least one of the order information and the customer information from the database, and provides to the retailer system. The network order system includes the network server for receiving and managing at least the order information.

Abstract: An image editing method comprises: a step of acquiring identification information on each of a plurality of operation instruction units for instructing editing of an image, a step of automatically selecting one or more images for editing from a group of images to classify the one or more images into a group of usable images based on the identification information, a step of determining a right to edit reaching contents of processing which each operation instruction unit is authorized to perform against each image in the group of usable images, and a step of performing editing processing on an image to be edited in the group of usable images based upon the determined right to edit according to an editing instruction supplied from each operation instruction unit.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides an object processing apparatus, comprising: a connecting unit which connects to one or more external information terminals; an input unit which accepts input of a desired object manipulation among predetermined one or more kinds of object manipulations corresponding to a particular object from an information terminal connected via the connecting unit; a processing unit which processes a desired object based on a kind of an object manipulation accepted by the input unit; a usage environment identifying unit which identifies a usage environment of an information terminal connected via the connecting unit; and an input control unit which restricts, in accordance with a usage environment of an information terminal identified by the usage environment identifying unit, a kind of an object manipulation that the input unit can accept from the information terminal.

Abstract: A preview image providing method for providing a preview image of an object having an image thereon includes the steps of: estimating the user's needs from information unique to the user; determining an image and an object based on the results of estimation; and providing a preview image of the determined object, which is synthesized with the determined image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which includes a extension width determination unit for determining a extension width based on a depression time of the cursor at a reference position on an image display unit where a releasing operation of the cursor was performed, which is a time during which the cursor had been kept depressed until the releasing operation was performed, and an ornament piece arrangement unit for arranging the plurality of ornament pieces at positions radially extended away from the reference position with the extension width determined by the extension width determination unit.

Abstract: A required number of images for creating an album are compensated using existing still images, and an album with a fine appearance is created by effectively using a small number of available still images (still images in stock). A value N, which is obtained by subtracting the total number of selected images from the total number of images that a template of a photo album requires (the total number of combination frames), is determined as the minimum number of shortfall images that are required for compensating the shortage of images. An image (original image for creation) appropriate for the original, from which images for compensating the shortage of images are created, is selected from among selected images. New images are created by applying a predetermined image processing to the selected original image for creation, until the minimum number N of shortfall images is satisfied.

Abstract: The image selecting apparatus includes plural operation indicating units that indicate arrangement places of images on an electronic album, an operator recognizing unit that acquires identification information of the plural operation indicating units, an image selecting unit that automatically selects, based on the identification information, as an image of an available image group, at least one image to be arranged on the electronic album out of an image group, an arrangement determining unit that determines propriety of arrangement of the images in the arrangement places and an arrangement instructing unit that determines images to be arranged in the determined arrangement places out of the available image group, and arranges the images. The image selecting method is performed by the image selecting apparatus.

Abstract: The saving device for image sharing saves images offered by a sharer of the images for image sharing and accessibly shares in an album form among at least one share. The device includes a sharee layout storing means configured to store first layout information of a sharee's album, a shared area determining means configured to determine a shared area to be shared in the sharee's album from a sharer's album, and a layout changing means configured to automatically change a layout of the shared area based on the first layout information of the at least one sharee. An image sharing system includes the device, and an image sharing method uses the device.

Abstract: The saving device for image sharing includes an image acquiring unit configured to acquire the images offered by a sharer of the images, a sharee information storing unit configured to store sharee information with respect to at least one sharee, a subject assessing unit configured to assess whether or not a person subject is included in the acquired images, an image associating unit configured to associate the images assessed as not including a person subject with the images assessed as including a person subject, based on the sharee information, and a shared image determining unit configured to determine the images to be shared with the sharee or sharees from among the associated images and the images assessed as including a person subject, based on the sharee information. The image sharing system and an image sharing method use such a device.

Abstract: A size of a region to be allocated to an image layout date is bigger than a size of a region to be allocated to a date other than the image layout date (image-not-layout date). An image to be allocated to the image layout date is enlarged so that a size of the image matches a size of an allocation region allocated to the image layout date, and the enlarged images is laid. Characters indicating the dates are arranged to regions allocated to previous dates, the image layout date, and following dates. Accordingly, a calendar with an attractive appearance can be generated by altering the layout of the dates and information to be output, even if a user has taken photographs on not so many days in the unit such as a month or a week.