Abstract: An image accumulation device is provided so as to include: an input unit that inputs, as input images, images of specific shot locations; an image database in which specific locations in a predetermined region, shot images relating to the specific locations, position information of shot locations of the shot images and shooting time information of the shot images are associated and stored; and an identification unit that identifies, on the basis of the input images and the image database, at least one of specific locations corresponding to the shot locations of the input images and shooting times of the input images.

Abstract: A face image in which a user's face turns to a direction different from the front is picked up clearly and individual authentication is executed more precisely. An authentication system for executing authentication of a user is provided, wherein the authentication system comprises a first image pickup unit for picking up a face image of the user; a second image pickup unit for picking up a face image of the user from a direction different from that of the first image pickup unit, a direction calculation unit for acquiring a direction to which the user's face turns on the basis of the face images picked up by the first and the second image pickup units, and a selection unit for selecting at least one of the face images picked up by the first and second image pickup units on the basis of the direction to which the user's face turns.

Abstract: A face image in which a user's face turns to a direction different from the front is picked up clearly and individual authentication is executed more precisely. An authentication system for executing authentication of a user is provided, wherein the authentication system comprises a first image pickup unit for picking up a face image of the user; a second image pickup unit for picking up a face image of the user from a direction different from that of the first image pickup unit, a direction calculation unit for acquiring a direction to which the user's face turns on the basis of the face images picked up by the first and the second image pickup units, and a selection unit for selecting at least one of the face images picked up by the first and second image pickup units on the basis of the direction to which the user's face turns.

Abstract: An album providing system with a function of registering/distributing contents, having a contents registration/distribution apparatus comprising a registration unit which accepts registration of contents, and a distribution unit which distributes the registered contents and an album generation apparatus with the function of registering/distributing contents comprising an image input unit which inputs an image, a two-dimensional code issue unit which associates with the image and issues a two-dimensional code having an embedded access destination to the contents registration/distribution apparatus, and a print unit which prints an album in which a two-dimensional code corresponding to the image is arranged near the image.

Abstract: A partial image identifying section extracts objects from an inputted image inputted by an image inputting section, and identifies types of the objects. A characteristic information generating section generates characteristic information of each object on the basis of a characteristic amount computed for each object. A plurality of partial image databases are provided for the respective types of objects. For each object, a degree of similarity computing section computes, on the basis of both characteristic information, degrees of similarity with all objects registered in the partial image database which corresponds to the type of the object. A photographing time period specifying section specifies a photographing time period, from the respective degrees of similarity computed by the degree of similarity computing section. A registering section registers extracted objects in association with the specified photographing time period, in the databases of the types corresponding to the objects.

Abstract: The image storing apparatus stores an image uploaded from a customer via a network on a large-capacity medium by associating it with customer information indicating the customer, image attribute information or image selection information so as to manage the image of the customer. And if capacity, quantity, a recording period or a current date of the images of a certain customer exceeds a predetermined threshold, one image or a plurality of images of the customer are moved to another medium so as to secure storage capacity of the above described large-capacity medium.

Abstract: Negative films and prints neglected in households are organized efficiently. A user [2] requests of a DPE store [3] image reading from negative films neglected in his/her home. The DPE store [3] requests image reading from a laboratory [4]. In the laboratory [4], images are read from the negative films by an image generation apparatus [40], and image data sets are obtained. The time period of production of the respective negative films is specified by reading a code number recorded on the negative films, and information [J] including date/time information representing the time period is obtained. The image data sets are sent to an image storage server [6] together with the information [J], and classified and stored according to the user and the time period.

Abstract: The image playback device includes: an image database storing, in association with one another, specific places in a predetermined region, photographed images relating to the specific places, position information of photographed places of the photographed images, and photographing time period information of the photographed images; a display section displaying the specific places; a selecting section for selecting a specific place; an operation section for instructing display, in the order of the eras, of the photographed images relating to the specific place selected by the selecting section; and a display control section which, in accordance with operation of the operation section, reads-out the photographed images relating to the specific place from the image database in the order of the eras, and displays the photographed images at the display section.

Abstract: An album providing system with a function of registering/distributing contents, comprising: a contents registration/distribution apparatus comprising a registration unit which accepts registration of contents, and a distribution unit which distributes the registered contents; and an album generation apparatus with the function of registering/distributing contents comprising an image input unit which inputs an image, a two-dimensional code issue unit which associates with the image and issues a two-dimensional code having an embedded access destination to the contents registration/distribution apparatus, and a print unit which prints an album in which a two-dimensional code corresponding to the image is arranged near the image.

Abstract: The image playback device includes: an image database storing, in association with one another, specific places in a predetermined region, photographed images relating to the specific places, position information of photographed places of the photographed images, and photographing time period information of the photographed images; a display section displaying the specific places; a selecting section for selecting a specific place; an operation section for instructing display, in the order of the eras, of the photographed images relating to the specific place selected by the selecting section; and a display control section which, in accordance with operation of the operation section, reads-out the photographed images relating to the specific place from the image database in the order of the eras, and displays the photographed images at the display section.

Abstract: An image accumulation device is provided so as to include: an input unit that inputs, as input images, images of specific shot locations; an image database in which specific locations in a predetermined region, shot images relating to the specific locations, position information of shot locations of the shot images and shooting time information of the shot images are associated and stored; and an identification unit that identifies, on the basis of the input images and the image database, at least one of specific locations corresponding to the shot locations of the input images and shooting times of the input images

Abstract: A partial image identifying section extracts objects from an inputted image inputted by an image inputting section, and identifies types of the objects. A characteristic information generating section generates characteristic information of each object on the basis of a characteristic amount computed for each object. A plurality of partial image databases are provided for the respective types of objects. For each object, a degree of similarity computing section computes, on the basis of both characteristic information, degrees of similarity with all objects registered in the partial image database which corresponds to the type of the object. A photographing time period specifying section specifies a photographing time period, from the respective degrees of similarity computed by the degree of similarity computing section. A registering section registers extracted objects in association with the specified photographing time period, in the databases of the types corresponding to the objects.

Abstract: In an image use system wherein image registration is received for use by users, images related to each other can be searched for efficiently. A keyword database stores story keywords and a plurality of search keywords related to each of the story keywords. When a search is carried out based on any one of the story keywords, all images added with the search keywords related to the story keyword are searched for, and a list of thumbnail images of the images that have been found are obtained as a search result.

Abstract: Negative films and prints neglected in households are organized efficiently. A user 2 requests of a DPE store 3 image reading from negative films NF neglected in his/her home. The DPE store 3 requests image reading from a laboratory 4. In the laboratory 4, images are read from the negative films NF by an image generation apparatus 40, and image data sets S1 are obtained. The time period of production of the respective negative films NF is specified by reading a code number recorded on the negative films NF, and information J including date/time information representing the time period is obtained. The image data sets S1 are sent to an image storage server 6 together with the information J, and classified and stored according to the user and the time period.

Abstract: The image storing apparatus stores an image uploaded from a customer via a network on a large-capacity medium by associating it with customer information indicating the customer, image attribute information or image selection information so as to manage the image of the customer. And if capacity, quantity, a recording period or a current date of the images of a certain customer exceeds a predetermined threshold, one image or a plurality of images of the customer are moved to another medium so as to secure storage capacity of the above described large-capacity medium.