Image processing system and image processing method

Abstract

An image processing system comprises: an image recognizing unit which performs image recognition to an image; a rule setting unit which sets a sorting rule to be used in case of transmitting the image recognized by the image recognizing unit to an external web service; and a transmitting unit which transmits, according to the sorting rule having a condition conforming to the image among the sorting rules set by the rule setting unit, information concerning the image to the corresponding external web service, thereby enabling to cooperate a still image/moving image sharing service and various web services with others.

1 . An image processing system which sorts an image transmitted through a network into an associated external web service, comprising:
 an image recognizing unit configured to perform image recognition to the transmitted image;   a rule setting unit configured to set a sorting rule to be used in case of transmitting the image recognized by the image recognizing unit to the external web service; and   a transmitting unit configured to transmit, according to the sorting rule having a condition conforming to the image among the sorting rules set by the rule setting unit, information concerning the image to the corresponding external web service.   
     
     
         2 . The image processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein a condition of the sorting rule set by the rule setting unit includes a part or all of information indicating an image recognition result by the image recognizing unit, information indicating a location where the image was shot, information indicating a time when the image was shot, and information indicating an imaging apparatus which performed the shooting. 
     
     
         3 . The image processing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sorting rule generating unit configured to analyze a tendency of a shooting target of a still image/moving image shot by a user by using the image recognition, and select the sorting rule according to the analyzed tendency. 
     
     
         4 . The image processing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an image processing unit configured to perform an action according to the sorting rule, to the image conforming to the condition of the sorting rule, wherein the transmitting unit transmits a process result by the image processing unit to the corresponding external web service. 
     
     
         5 . The image processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting unit transmits a processed image, an image analysis result, a direct image, or a combination thereof according to a service of a sorting destination. 
     
     
         6 . The image processing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a user inputting unit configured to cause a user to register a new sorting rule,
 wherein the rule setting unit stores the sorting rule registered through the user inputting unit, as a user-input sorting rule.   
     
     
         7 . The image processing system according to  claim 6 , wherein the user inputting unit displays, on a displaying apparatus, a sorting rule setting window for describing both a condition by which the sorting of the image into the external web service occurs and an action which is performed when the condition is satisfied. 
     
     
         8 . The image processing system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sorting performing unit configured to automatically sort the image into the associated external web service. 
     
     
         9 . The image processing system according to  claim 8 , further comprising an automatic sorting confirming unit configured to cause a user to confirm whether or not to allow the sorting performing unit to automatically sort the image into the associated external web service. 
     
     
         10 . An image processing system which sorts an image transmitted through a network into an associated external web service, comprising:
 an image recognizing unit configured to perform image recognition to the transmitted image;   a sorting result holding unit configured to obtain sorting information indicating sorting of still image/moving image into the external web service manually performed by a user, and hold the obtained sorting information;   a sorting result collecting unit configured to collect the sorting information of all the users held by the sorting result holding unit, perform learning and analysis to the collected sorting information, and judge a sorting tendency of the user; and   a sorting performing unit configured to automatically sort the image into the associated external web service on the basis of the sorting tendency judged by the sorting result collecting unit.   
     
     
         11 . The image processing system according to  claim 10 , wherein the sorting information indicating the sorting of the still image/moving image into the external web service held by the sorting result holding unit includes a part or all of information indicating an image recognition result by the image recognizing unit, information indicating a location where the image was shot, information indicating a time when the image was shot, and information indicating an imaging apparatus which performed the shooting. 
     
     
         12 . The image processing system according to  claim 10 , further comprising an automatic sorting confirming unit configured to cause the user to confirm whether or not to allow the sorting performing unit to automatically sort the image into the associated external web service. 
     
     
         13 . The image processing system according to  claim 10 , wherein the sorting result collecting unit collects and analyzes information indicating a sorting rule used by the user, so as to use the information to select a rule by which the sorting performing unit automatically sorts the image into the associated external web service. 
     
     
         14 . An image processing method which sorts an image transmitted through a network into an associated external web service, comprising:
 performing image recognition to the transmitted image;   setting a sorting rule to be used in case of transmitting the recognized image to the external web service; and   transmitting, according to the sorting rule having a condition conforming to the image among the set sorting rules, information concerning the image to the corresponding external web service.   
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable storage medium which stores a program for causing a computer to function as each of the units of the image processing system described in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . An image processing apparatus which sorts an image transmitted through a network into an associated application, comprising:
 an image recognizing unit configured to perform image recognition to the transmitted image;   a rule setting unit configured to set a rule to be used in case of transferring the image recognized by the image recognizing unit to the application; and   a transferring unit configured to transfer, according to the rule having a condition conforming to the image among the rules set by the rule setting unit, information concerning the image to the corresponding application.