JP6230335B2 - Information processing apparatus and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for deleting data.

  There are techniques for deleting data. In Patent Literature 1, management items such as creation date / time, last update date / time, last access date / time, and shooting date / time are classified as deletion candidate files in order from the oldest file, and those that have been confirmed by the user are deleted. The technology is described.

JP 2007-331121 A

As the amount of data to be saved increases, the free space of the storage device decreases, and it becomes difficult to find necessary data. Therefore, it is desirable to delete unnecessary data as much as possible. Therefore, in the technique of Patent Document 1, a file with an old management item is presented to the user as a deletion candidate file. However, data with old management items is not necessarily unnecessary for the user compared with new data. Some old data may contain things that the user wants to keep important, and new data may be immediately unnecessary for the user.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to facilitate deletion of data unnecessary for a user.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an acquisition means for acquiring text information belonging to the deleted data as a first attribute assigned to the data deleted from the storage means, and stores the information in the storage means. Of the text similar to the information of the acquired text as the deletion candidate data based on the second attribute given to the data and the first attribute acquired by the acquiring means . There is provided an information processing apparatus comprising: a specifying unit that specifies data to which information belongs ; and a processing unit that performs processing related to deletion of data specified by the specifying unit.

In addition, the present invention provides an acquisition unit that acquires a first attribute assigned to data deleted from a storage unit, a detection unit that detects a free space in the storage unit, and data stored in the storage unit , Based on the second attribute assigned to the data and the first attribute acquired by the acquiring unit, a specifying unit that specifies data that is a deletion candidate, and a process related to the deletion of the data specified by the specifying unit When the detected free space of the storage unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference, the storage unit is instructed to present the deletion candidate to the user and to delete the deletion candidate that the user has approved to delete. An information processing apparatus is provided that includes a processing unit that performs processing and performs processing for instructing deletion of all of the identified deletion candidates when the free space is less than the reference .

Further, the present invention provides a plurality of types of attributes indicating the tendency of data to be deleted, which are assigned to data deleted from the storage means , and the text information belonging to the data or the data is a captured image. Acquisition means for acquiring any one of the first attribute of the subject identification information, the location information indicating the shooting location, the quality information of the captured image or the date information indicating the shooting date and time , and stored in the storage means Identifying means for identifying data that is a deletion candidate based on the second attribute of the same type as the first attribute and the first attribute acquired by the acquiring means, which are assigned to the data, obtaining, as a process relating to deletion of the data specified by the specifying means, as the identification information, the location information or the quality information is the first attribute of said plurality of types of attributes The case, performs a process of instructing the deletion of the deletion candidate presentation processing and user to user of the deletion candidate is approved the deletion, when the text information or the date and time information is acquired as the first attribute , an information processing apparatus and a processing means for performing only the presentation process.
Further, the present invention relates to an acquisition unit that acquires a first attribute assigned to data deleted from a terminal operated by a user or a storage unit of its own device, and data stored in the storage unit. Based on the assigned second attribute and the first attribute acquired by the acquisition unit, a specification unit that specifies data that is a deletion candidate, and a process related to deletion of the data specified by the specification unit, the storage When the means is the storage means of the terminal, the process of presenting the deletion candidate to the user and the instruction to delete the deletion candidate approved by the user are performed, and the storage means is the storage means of the own device In this case, an information processing apparatus is provided that includes processing means for performing processing for instructing deletion of all the specified deletion candidates.

Further, according to the present invention, the information processing apparatus acquires the information of the text belonging to the deleted data as the first attribute given to the data deleted from the storage unit, and the information processing apparatus includes: From the data stored in the storage means , the acquired information of the text as data that becomes a deletion candidate based on the second attribute assigned to the data and the first attribute acquired in the acquisition step. There is provided an information processing method comprising a specifying step of specifying data to which similar text information belongs, and a processing step in which the information processing apparatus performs processing related to deletion of the data specified in the specifying step.

According to the present invention, there is provided an acquisition step in which the information processing apparatus acquires a first attribute assigned to data deleted from the storage means, a detection step of detecting a free capacity of the storage means, and the information processing apparatus A specifying step of specifying data that is a deletion candidate based on the second attribute assigned to the data and the first attribute acquired in the acquiring step from the data stored in the storage means; and the information When the processing device performs processing related to deletion of the data specified in the specifying step, if the detected free space of the storage unit is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference with respect to the storage unit, Perform presentation processing and processing to instruct deletion of deletion candidates approved by the user, and if the free space is less than the standard, An information processing method and a processing step of performing processing for instructing deletion of the deletion candidate.

Further, the present invention provides a plurality of types of attributes indicating the tendency of data to be deleted, which is assigned to data deleted from the storage means by the information processing apparatus, and the text information belonging to the data or the data An acquisition step of acquiring any type of first attribute of identification information of a subject in the case of a captured image, location information indicating a shooting location, quality information of a captured image, or date / time information indicating a shooting date ; The information processing apparatus deletes from the data stored in the storage unit based on the second attribute of the same type as the first attribute and the first attribute acquired in the acquisition step, which is given to the data A specifying step of specifying candidate data; and the information processing apparatus, as a process related to deletion of the data specified in the specifying step, the plurality of types of attributes The identification information out, when the location information or the quality information is acquired as the first attribute, the processing for instructing deletion of the deletion candidate presentation processing and user to user of the deletion candidate is accepted the deletion performed, if the text information or the date and time information is acquired as the first attribute, to provide an information processing method and a processing step of performing only the presentation process.
According to the present invention, the information processing apparatus obtains a first attribute assigned to data deleted from a terminal operated by a user or storage means of the own apparatus, and the information processing apparatus includes the storage means. A step of specifying data that is a deletion candidate based on the second attribute assigned to the data and the first attribute acquired in the acquisition step, and the information processing apparatus, As processing related to deletion of data specified in the specifying step, when the storage unit is a storage unit of the terminal, an instruction is given to present the deletion candidate to the user and to delete the deletion candidate approved by the user A process step of performing a process of instructing deletion of all the specified deletion candidates when the storage unit is a storage unit of the own device. An information processing method comprising.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily delete data unnecessary for a user.

The figure which shows an example of the whole structure of the information processing system of 1st Embodiment The figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of a 2nd user terminal The figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of a 1st user terminal The figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of information processing apparatus The figure which shows an example of a function structure of information processing apparatus The figure which shows the example of the index information memorize | stored in each memory | storage part Table showing an example of the number of generation time information acquired (number of acquisitions) The figure which shows an example of the displayed presentation information Sequence diagram showing an example of operation of each device in synchronization processing Sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of each device in the deletion support process Table showing an example of index information stored in the first specific method The figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the 1st user terminal of 2nd Embodiment. Table showing an example of index information stored in the second specifying method The figure which shows the example of the deletion candidate specified in the 5th specific method Table showing an example of displayed presentation information The figure which shows an example of a function structure of the information processing apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows an example of the image displayed on a 1st user terminal

[1] First Embodiment [1-1] Overall Configuration FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of an information processing system according to a first embodiment. In this example, an information processing system 1 including an information processing apparatus 10, a first user terminal 20, a second user terminal 30, and a network 2 to which these apparatuses and terminals are connected is illustrated. The network 2 is a system that performs communication including the Internet, a mobile communication network, and the like, and mediates exchange of data between devices and terminals connected to the system.

  The first user terminal 20 includes photographing means for taking a photograph and storage means for storing data, and data indicating a photograph taken by the photographing means in response to a user operation (hereinafter referred to as “photo data”). Store in the storage means. The first user terminal 20 includes communication means for performing wireless communication with the network 2, and exchanges photographic data and the like with the information processing apparatus 10 and the second user terminal 30 via the network 2. In the present embodiment, the first user terminal 20 is a smartphone.

  The second user terminal 30 includes communication means for performing wired communication with the network 2, and exchanges photographic data and the like with the information processing apparatus 10 and the first user terminal 20 via the network 2. The second user terminal 30 includes storage means for storing data, and stores, for example, photographic data received from the first user terminal 20 in the storage means. In the present embodiment, the second user terminal 30 is a personal computer and is used by the same user as the first user terminal 20.

  The information processing apparatus 10 is a server apparatus that performs a synchronization process that synchronizes data stored in a plurality of storage units. Data synchronization refers to matching the data stored in each storage means. In the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus 10 includes storage means for storing data itself, and the photographic data stored in the storage means included in the first user terminal 20, the second user terminal 30, and the own apparatus, respectively. Synchronize. The information processing apparatus 10 synchronizes not only newly stored data but also deleted data.

In addition, the information processing apparatus 10 performs processing for specifying data to be deleted candidates according to the tendency of data deleted by the user and presenting the data to the user, and deleting the data approved by the user. This process supports data deletion, and is hereinafter referred to as a deletion support process.
The synchronization process and the deletion support process may be performed by a mechanism that uses computer resources in a form called so-called cloud computing.

[1-2] Hardware Configuration FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the second user terminal 30. The second user terminal 30 is a computer that includes a control unit 31, a storage unit 32, a communication unit 33, an operation unit 34, and a display unit 35. The control unit 31 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a real-time clock. The CPU is stored in the ROM or the storage unit 32 using the RAM as a work area. The operation of each part is controlled by executing a program. The real time clock calculates the current date and time and notifies the CPU.

  The storage unit 32 includes a hard disk or the like and functions as a storage unit that stores data and programs used for control by the control unit 31 and stores photo data synchronized in the above-described synchronization service. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 32 has a storage area with a capacity of 1 TB (terabyte). The communication unit 33 includes a communication circuit for performing communication (wired communication in the present embodiment), and performs communication for transmitting and receiving data between the information processing apparatus 10 and the first user terminal 20 via the network 2. Means. The operation unit 34 includes operation elements such as a keyboard and a mouse, and supplies operation data representing the content of the operation to the control unit 31 according to a user operation. The display unit 35 includes a liquid crystal display, for example, and displays an image based on control from the control unit 31.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the first user terminal 20. The first user terminal 20 is a computer including a control unit 21, a storage unit 22, a communication unit 23, a UI (User Interface) unit 24, and a photographing unit 25. The control unit 21 has the same function as the control unit 31 described above. The storage unit 22 includes a flash memory and functions as a storage unit that stores data and programs used for control by the control unit 21 and stores photo data synchronized in the synchronization service. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 22 has a storage area with a capacity of 10 GB (gigabyte), and stores data synchronized with the data stored in the storage unit 32, for example.

  The communication unit 23 includes a communication circuit for performing communication (in this embodiment, wireless communication), and performs communication for transmitting and receiving data between the information processing apparatus 10 and the second user terminal 30 via the network 2. Means. The UI unit 24 includes a display surface and a touch panel overlaid on the display surface, and receives an operation from the user and displays an image. The UI unit 24 supplies operation data corresponding to the received user operation to the control unit 21, and the control unit 21 performs processing according to the operation data. The photographing unit 25 is a photographing unit that has a function as a digital camera, for example, and takes a photograph in accordance with a user operation. The photographing unit 25 is controlled by the control unit 21 to take a photograph, and supplies the control unit 21 with photograph data indicating the photographed photograph.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 10. The information processing apparatus 10 is a computer that includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a communication unit 13. These units have the same functions as the units of the same name provided in the first user terminal 20. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 12 functions as a storage unit that stores data synchronized with the data stored in the storage units 22 and 32, for example. In the above synchronization service, it is assumed that a storage area having a capacity of 100 GB is allocated to a user who uses the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30.

[1-3] Functional Configuration The information processing apparatus 10 performs the above-described synchronization processing and deletion support processing based on the above hardware configuration. The control unit 11 executes the program stored in the storage unit 12 to control each unit, thereby realizing the functions described below.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 10. The information processing apparatus 10 includes a synchronization unit 101, an acquisition unit 102, a specification unit 103, and a processing unit 104.

[1-3-1] Synchronization means 101
The synchronization unit 101 is an example of a unit that synchronizes data stored in a plurality of storage units. In this embodiment, the synchronization unit 101 synchronizes the storage units included in the own device, the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30, that is, the storage units 12, 22 and 32. In addition, these storage units store index information (indexes) of the photo data stored therein, and whenever new photo data is stored or deleted, the data is stored and deleted by synchronization. Are also updated by the control unit of each device.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of index information stored in each storage unit. FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C show index information stored in the storage units 12, 22, and 32, respectively. In each index information, “file name”, “generation time information”, “deletion status”, and “deletability” are recorded. “File name” is the file name of the photo data, and “Generation time information” is information indicating the time when the data was generated. In the example of FIG. 6, the month when the photo indicated by the photo data was taken It is.

  The “generation time information” is recorded based on the shooting date and time included in the information of Exif (Exchangeable image file format) added to the photo data at the time of shooting, for example. For example, if the shooting date / time is September 20, 2010 at 12:00, generation time information of September 2010 including the shooting date / time is recorded. Note that the time indicated by the generation time information may not be in units of one month as in this example, but may be in units of one day, one week, or one year, or in units of one hour or one minute.

  “Deleted state” is information indicating whether or not photo data has been deleted from the storage unit, and is recorded as “not deleted” if not deleted, and “deleted” if deleted. That is, even if the photo data is deleted, the “file name” and “generation time information” of the photo data remain recorded in the index information. “Deletability” is information indicating whether or not to perform deletion by synchronization, and “○” is recorded when it is performed, and “X” is recorded when it is not performed. In this embodiment, whether or not deletion is possible is “◯” when the photo data is stored for the first time, and can be changed to “x” by a user performing a predetermined operation described later.

  The synchronization means 101 performs synchronization as follows using index information as shown in FIG. The synchronization unit 101 acquires each index information, and when there is photo data having a file name that is recorded only in a part of the index information among “undeleted” photo data, the photo data is newly added. The stored photo data is stored in a storage unit in which it is not stored. In addition, the synchronization unit 101 records when there is photo data (“A0111.jpg” in the example of FIG. 6) that is recorded in each index information but is “deleted” in some index information. Then, it is determined whether or not to delete the photo data in the storage unit storing other index information.

  Specifically, the synchronization unit 101 deletes the photo data in the storage unit (the storage unit 12 in the example of FIG. 6) that stores the index information whose “deletability” is “o”. The photo data is not deleted in the storage unit (the storage unit 32 in the example of FIG. 6) that stores the index information that is “x”. The synchronization means 101 synchronizes the photo data as described above. The synchronization unit 101 stores all index information acquired at the time of synchronization, and can be referred to from the acquisition unit 102, the identification unit 103, and the processing unit 104.

[1-3-2] Acquisition unit 102
The acquisition unit 102 is an example of a unit that acquires an attribute (an example of “first attribute” in the present invention, hereinafter referred to as “deleted data attribute”) added to data deleted from the storage unit. The acquiring unit 102 acquires a predetermined type of attribute as a deletion data attribute. The attributes assigned to the data include, for example, the size and type of data, the creator, and the presence / absence of sharing. Among these attributes, those indicating the tendency of data to be deleted are determined as types of deleted data attributes. The attribute type determined in this way is hereinafter referred to as “a type indicating a deletion tendency”. In the present embodiment, the acquisition unit 102 acquires the generation time information (information indicating the time when data was generated) described above as an attribute of a type indicating a deletion tendency, that is, a deletion data attribute.

  When the user has to delete several tens to hundreds of pieces of photo data, for example, because the free space of the storage means is reduced, the user decides whether to delete one by one. Since the effort is enormous, photos taken at a certain time may be deleted together. As described above, the generation time information may indicate a tendency of data to be deleted. The acquisition unit 102 refers to each index information stored in the synchronization unit 101 and acquires generation time information associated with the file name of the photo data whose deletion state is “deleted”.

  FIG. 7 is a table showing an example of the number of acquired generation time information (number of acquisitions). In this table, the generation date information “February 2009”, “April 2011”, “September 2010” and “November 2010” is “20”, “10”, “5” and “ It is shown that the number of acquisitions “3” is acquired. The acquisition unit 102 supplies the specifying unit 103 with a table representing generation time information and the number of acquisitions as shown in FIG. 7 as a result of acquiring the deletion data attribute, that is, generation time information.

  Note that the type indicating the deletion tendency is merely the type of attribute, and does not mean the detailed way of expressing it. For example, although “August 2013” and “August 2011” are expressed differently, both are attributes of the same type (generation time information). Also, “August 1, 2013 12:00” and “August 1, 2013” are different in the degree of information to be expressed, but both are attributes (generation time information) of the same type. The deletion data attribute acquired by the acquisition unit 102 may include generation time information as mentioned here.

[1-3-3] Identification means 103
The specifying unit 103 is configured to select, from the data stored in the storage unit (in the present embodiment, the storage units 12, 22, and 32), an attribute of a type indicating the deletion tendency assigned to the data (“second attribute of the present invention”). ”And hereinafter referred to as“ stored data attribute ”) and the deletion data attribute acquired by the acquisition unit 102. More specifically, the specifying unit 103 specifies data corresponding to the tendency indicated by the deletion data attribute (that is, the tendency of data to be deleted) among the stored data as deletion candidates. As described above, since the generation time information is the deletion data attribute in this embodiment, the generation time information is also used as the storage data attribute. The specifying unit 103 refers to the generation time information of each data stored in the storage unit (that is, not deleted), and deletes the data generated at the time corresponding to the generation time information acquired by the acquisition unit 102 as a deletion candidate. As specified.

  The time according to the generation time information is, for example, the time itself indicated by the generation time information. In that case, the specifying unit 103 refers to each index information stored in the synchronization unit 101 and generates generation time information (in the example of FIG. 7) represented in the table supplied from the acquisition unit 102 among the undeleted photo data. “February 2009”, “April 2011”, “September 2010”, and “November 2010”) are identified as deletion candidates. The identification unit 103 notifies the processing unit 104 of the identified deletion candidate file names and the corresponding deletion data attributes (generation time information in this embodiment).

  Note that the specifying unit 103 does not need to use all of the generation time information. For example, the specifying unit 103 includes the shooting date / time included in a predetermined order (for example, the second) from the largest number of acquisitions. You may specify as a deletion candidate. In addition, the specifying unit 103 deletes data generated during the period including the period indicated by the generation period information and the months before and after it, the period including the period every year, etc. as the period according to the generation period information. You may specify as a candidate. In short, the specifying unit 103 may specify data generated at a time corresponding to the acquired generation time information as a deletion candidate.

[1-3-4] Processing unit 104
The processing unit 104 is an example of a unit that performs processing related to deletion of data specified by the specifying unit 103 (hereinafter referred to as “deletion related processing”). In this embodiment, the processing means 104 instructs the user to delete the specified data as a deletion candidate (hereinafter referred to as “presentation processing”), and if the user approves the deletion, instructs the deletion. Processing (hereinafter referred to as “instruction processing”) is performed as deletion related processing. For example, the processing unit 104 performs a presentation process when the user performs an operation for requesting a deletion related process (hereinafter referred to as “request operation”) in the first user terminal 20 or the second user terminal 30.

  The processing means 104 inquires the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30 about the size and ratio of the free capacity of each storage unit (hereinafter referred to as “free capacity information”), and stores the responses. . This inquiry may be performed in the deletion related process, or may be performed periodically (every day or the like) separately from the inquiry. The processing unit 104 stores the deletion candidate file name and deletion data attribute notified from the specifying unit 103, deletion permission information associated with the file name in each index information stored in the synchronization unit 101, and the like. The available free space information is transmitted as information presented in the presentation process (hereinafter referred to as “presentation information”) to the terminal (hereinafter referred to as the first user terminal 20) where the requested operation is performed. The presentation information is presented to the user by displaying the presentation information transmitted from the first user terminal 20.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the displayed presentation information. In this example, a candidate image P1 represented by photo data that is a deletion candidate is displayed on the UI unit 24 of the first user terminal 20. Below the candidate image P1, a character string “A0042.jpg” which is the file name and attribute of the candidate image P1 and “generation time information is February 2009” is displayed. A thumbnail image group Q10 including a thumbnail image Q1 of the candidate image P1 is displayed next to the candidate image P1. The thumbnail image group Q10 includes thumbnail images of other photos that are candidates for deletion. When the user drags the thumbnail image group Q10 up and down, the thumbnail images of deletion candidates presented by the processing means 104 are displayed in order. When the user taps a thumbnail image, the candidate photo, file name, and attribute indicated by the tapped thumbnail image are displayed. The user confirms what kind of photo is a deletion candidate by using these images displayed based on the presentation information.

  In addition, the UI unit 24 displays a table in which each row indicates “storage location”, “free space”, and “deletability”. In this example, “smartphone”, “PC”, and “server” (the first user terminal 20, the second user terminal 30, and the information processing apparatus 10) are displayed as storage locations. Further, “20% (2 GB)”, “55% (550 GB)”, and “35% (35 GB)” are displayed as the free capacity of these storage locations. In addition, deletion permission / inhibition operators B2, B3, and B4 each including character strings “◯”, “×”, and “◯” are displayed in the deletion permission / inhibition line. These deletion permission / inhibition controls are switched between “◯” and “×” each time they are tapped. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that all the deletion permission / inhibition controls for certain deletion candidates are displayed as “◯” when displayed for the first time. The user determines whether or not to delete the candidate photo from the storage locations while confirming the free space in each storage location, and reflects the result by operating each deletion enable / disable operation element.

  The UI unit 24 also includes the characters “deletion execution of displayed deletion candidates”, “deletion execution of deletion candidates (ΔΔ) of the above attributes” and “deletion execution of all deletion candidates (□□)”. Manipulator images B5, B6 and B7 each including a column are displayed. When the operator image B5 is tapped in the state shown in FIG. 8, the processing means 104 is stored in the first user terminal 20 (smartphone) and the information processing apparatus 10 (server) whose deletion permission / inhibition is “◯”. An instruction process for instructing deletion of the candidate image P1 is executed. On the other hand, the processing unit 104 does not perform the instruction process on the second user terminal 30 whose deletion permission / inhibition is “x”. For this reason, the candidate image P1 is continuously stored only in the second user terminal 30 (PC).

  When the operator image B6 is tapped in the state shown in FIG. 8, the processing unit 104 stores the deletion candidate photo data whose generation time information is February 2009 and whose deletion possibility is “◯”. Instruction processing to delete from the place is performed. Further, when the operator image B7 is tapped in the state shown in FIG. 8, the processing unit 104 causes the photo data indicated by all the thumbnail images included in the thumbnail image group Q10, that is, the deletion candidate by the specifying unit 103. An instruction process is performed to delete all the photo data specified as “from” a storage location where the deletion possibility is “◯”. In this way, the instruction process can be executed by changing the range to be deleted step by step, so that the user can determine whether or not to delete a plurality of deletion candidates (having the same or the same attribute). All of them can be deleted, and the time for deleting data can be reduced compared with the case where the range to be deleted is fixed.

[1-4] Operation The information processing system 1 performs the above-described synchronization processing and deletion support processing based on the above configuration. The operation of each device in these processes will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation of each device in the synchronization process. The synchronization process is started when, for example, an operation for requesting synchronization of photo data (hereinafter referred to as “synchronization operation”) is performed by the user at the first user terminal 20 or the second user terminal 30. In the example of FIG. 9, first, the first user terminal 20 receives a synchronization operation (step S11). Next, the first user terminal 20 transmits request data for requesting execution of the synchronization process to the information processing apparatus 10 (step S12).

  When the information processing apparatus 10 receives the request data in step S12, the information processing apparatus 10 requests index information from each of the storage units of the own apparatus, the first user terminal 20, and the second user terminal 30 (step S13), and acquires the index information. (Step S14). Next, the information processing apparatus 10 performs a synchronization process using each acquired index information (step S15). The information processing apparatus 10 exchanges data with the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30 (step S16), stores the photo data newly stored in a certain storage unit in another storage unit, The photograph data deleted in the storage unit is deleted from another storage unit whose deleteability is “◯”. Steps S15 and S16 are operations performed by the synchronization unit 101.

  FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation of each device in the deletion support process. The deletion support process is started, for example, when a user performs an operation for requesting photo data deletion support in the first user terminal 20 or the second user terminal 30 (hereinafter referred to as “deletion support operation”). In the example of FIG. 10, first, the first user terminal 20 accepts a deletion support operation (step S21). Next, the first user terminal 20 transmits request data for requesting execution of the deletion support process to the information processing apparatus 10 (step S22).

  When receiving the request data in step S22, the information processing apparatus 10 acquires the deletion data attribute from the index information acquired in the synchronization process (step S23). Step S <b> 23 is an operation performed by the acquisition unit 102. Next, the information processing apparatus 10 specifies photo data that is a deletion candidate based on the above-described storage data attribute and the acquired deletion data attribute (step S24). Step S24 is an operation performed by the specifying unit 103. Subsequently, the information processing apparatus 10 inquires of the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30 about the free capacity, respectively (step S25). The information processing apparatus 10 transmits the presentation information to the first user terminal 20 using the response in step S25 and the identification result in step S24 (step S26).

  The first user terminal 20 displays the presentation information as shown in FIG. 8 transmitted in step S26 (step S27). The first user terminal 20 transmits request data for requesting deletion of deletion candidates to the information processing apparatus 10 by performing an operation of tapping any of the operator images B5, B6, or B7 illustrated in FIG. Step S28). When receiving the request data in step S28, the information processing apparatus 10 transmits instruction data for instructing deletion of the deletion candidate indicated by the request data to the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30 (step S29). When the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30 receive the instruction data in step S29, the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30 delete the deletion candidates indicated by the instruction data from the storage units included in the instruction data (step S30). Steps S25, S26 and S29 are operations performed by the processing means 104.

[1-5] Effects According to First Embodiment In this embodiment, deletion candidates are specified based on a storage data attribute and a deletion data attribute (both are generation time information). In the example shown in FIG. 7 and the like, the user has deleted the photograph data indicating the photograph taken at the time shown in FIG. 7 (February 2009 and the like) in the past. In other words, photos taken at this time tend to be deleted by the user, and are more likely to be unnecessary for the user than photos taken at other times. Also, for example, even if the photos taken at the time including the time before and after the time shown in FIG. 7 (the time according to the generation time information) are not deleted yet, compared to the photos taken at other times, There is a high possibility that it is unnecessary for the user. As described above, according to the present embodiment, by specifying the deletion candidate based on the type of attribute indicating the deletion tendency such as the deletion data attribute and the storage data attribute, the deletion candidate is specified based on the type attribute indicating the deletion tendency. Compared to the case where no data is performed, it is possible to easily delete data unnecessary for the user.

  In the present embodiment, generation time information (information indicating the time when data was generated) is used as a type of attribute indicating a deletion tendency. In addition to the Exif information in the photographic data described above, generation time information may be included in the file name, data profile, and the like. As described above, since the generation time information is relatively easy to acquire among the data attributes, the deletion support process is performed for more types of data than when other attributes are acquired as deletion data attributes. It can be carried out.

[2] Second Embodiment Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on differences from the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, only an attribute of a type indicating one deletion tendency, which is generation time information, is used. In the second embodiment, an attribute of a type indicating five deletion tendencies is used. Hereinafter, five methods for specifying deletion candidates using these types of attributes will be described.

[2-1] First Identification Method The first identification method is used when data indicating a captured image (for example, a photograph or a moving image) (hereinafter referred to as “captured image data”) is stored in the storage unit. It is done. The photograph data described in the first embodiment is also one of the photographed image data. In the first specifying method, information (hereinafter referred to as “subject identification information”) for identifying a subject included in the image indicated by the photographed image data (that is, a subject photographed in a photograph or a moving image) is of a type indicating a deletion tendency Used as an attribute. The term “subject” as used herein includes not only a person or an object of a size that can be held by a person, but also an object representing a landscape (also referred to as a scene) such as sky, topography, or weather phenomenon (rain, snow, etc.).

  When the first specifying method is used, the acquisition unit 102 acquires subject identification information of the deleted captured image data as a deletion data attribute. The acquisition unit 102 stores pattern images such as various objects and human faces, for example, and performs pattern matching when the captured image data is stored in the storage unit 12 that is a storage unit of the own apparatus by synchronization processing. Then, the subject is recognized from the image indicated by the captured image data. Note that the acquisition unit 102 may recognize the subject using another known image recognition technique (such as an object image recognition technique or a face recognition technique). The acquisition unit 102 records the subject identification information of the recognized subject in the index information stored in the storage unit 12 in association with the file name of the captured image data in which the subject is recognized.

  FIG. 11 is a table showing an example of index information stored in the storage unit 12 in the first specifying method. In this index information, “subject identification information” is recorded instead of “shooting date and time” shown in FIG. The acquisition unit 102 performs synchronization processing by the synchronization unit 101, deletes the captured image data from the storage unit 12, and when the “deleted state” becomes “deleted”, the “subject” "Identification information" is acquired as the deletion data attribute of the captured image data. In the example of FIG. 11, the acquisition unit 102 acquires subject identification information “Mr. A” as the deletion data attribute of the captured image data with the file name “A0109.jpg”. Similar to the first embodiment, the acquisition unit 102 supplies the identification unit 103 with a table representing subject identification information that is a deletion data attribute and the number of acquisitions.

  The specifying unit 103 refers to the subject identification information of each data that has not been deleted, and specifies captured image data indicating an image including the subject identified by the subject identification information acquired by the acquiring unit 102 as a deletion candidate. For example, in the example of FIG. 11, the specifying unit 103 specifies the captured image data with the file name recorded in association with the acquired subject identification information “Mr. A” as a deletion candidate. Whether or not the user needs captured image data often depends on what is captured in the image indicated by the captured image data. That is, the subject identification information may indicate a tendency of data to be deleted, and often indicates the tendency more strongly than other types of attributes indicating a deletion tendency. According to such a first specifying method, it is possible to make it easier to delete data unnecessary for the user than when other types of attributes indicating a deletion tendency are used.

[2-2] Second Identification Method Similarly to the first identification method, the second identification method is used when photographed image data is stored, and photographing location information indicating a place where an image was photographed. Is used as a type of attribute indicating a deletion tendency. For this reason, the 2nd specific method is used when the 1st user terminal is provided with the positioning means which measures the position of an own terminal.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the first user terminal according to the second embodiment. In this example, the 1st user terminal 20a provided with the positioning part 26 in addition to each part shown in FIG. 3 is shown.

  The positioning unit 26 is positioning means for measuring the position of the terminal itself using, for example, GPS (Global Positioning System) technology. The measured position is represented by latitude and longitude, for example. When an image is photographed by the photographing unit 25, the control unit 21 causes the positioning unit 26 to measure the position, and the character string representing the location including the measured position in the Exif information added to the photographed photographed image data Is recorded as shooting location information. For example, the control unit 21 of the first user terminal 20a causes the storage unit 22 to store a table in which ranges of latitude and longitude and names of places in the range (such as city names and facility names) are associated in advance. The location name of the range including the latitude and longitude measured by the positioning unit 26 is recorded in the index information as shooting location information.

When the second specifying method is used, the acquisition unit 102 acquires the shooting location information of the deleted data as a deletion data attribute. For example, the acquisition unit 102 acquires the deletion data attribute by referring to the following index information.
FIG. 13 is a table showing an example of index information stored in the second specifying method. In this index information, “shooting location information” is recorded instead of “shooting date and time” shown in FIG. Similar to the first specifying method, the acquiring unit 102 acquires “shooting location information” corresponding to the captured image data whose “deleted state” is “deleted” as a deleted data attribute. In the example of FIG. 13, the acquisition unit 102 acquires shooting location information “E city” as the deletion data attribute of the shooting image data with the file name “A0120.jpg”. As in the first embodiment, the acquisition unit 102 supplies the specifying unit 103 with a table representing the shooting location information that is the deletion data attribute and the number of acquisitions.

  The specifying unit 103 refers to the shooting location information of each piece of data that has not been deleted, and specifies shot image data indicating an image shot at a location corresponding to the shooting location information acquired by the acquiring unit 102 as a deletion candidate. For example, in the example of FIG. 13, the specifying unit 103 specifies the captured image data with the file name recorded in association with the acquired shooting location information “E city” as a deletion candidate. Note that the specifying unit 103 is not limited to the captured image data captured at the location indicated by the acquired imaging location information, but, for example, around the location (in the example of FIG. ) May be specified as a deletion candidate. When using the second identification method, compared to the case where deletion candidates are identified without using photographing location information, the photographed image data photographed in each place is identified when an action involving movement such as travel or driving is performed. This makes it easier to delete such captured image data.

[2-3] Third Identification Method Similarly to the first and second identification methods, the third identification method is also used when captured image data is stored, and the image specified by the captured image data is used. Quality information indicating quality is used as a type of attribute indicating a deletion tendency. There are two main types of quality information here. One is the degree of focus (hereinafter referred to as “focus matching degree”) when the image is taken, and the higher the focus matching degree, the higher the quality. An image with a low focus matching degree is a so-called blurred image. The other is the resolution of the image. The higher the resolution, the higher the quality.

  When the third specifying method is used, the acquisition unit 102 acquires the quality information of the deleted captured image data as the deletion data attribute. If the degree of focus matching is used as quality information, the acquisition unit 102 identifies, for example, a subject in the image, detects the sharpness of the contour of the subject, and responds to the detected sharpness. The degree of focus matching is measured (the greater the degree of sharpness, the greater the degree of focus matching). The identification of the subject and the detection of the sharpness of the outline may be performed using a well-known image analysis technique. The acquisition unit 102 records the focus matching degree measured for each captured image data in the index information, and acquires the focus matching degree as a deletion data attribute as in the first specifying method. The acquisition unit 102 supplies the acquired focus matching degree group to the specifying unit 103.

  The specifying unit 103 refers to the quality information of each non-deleted captured image data, and specifies captured image data having a quality corresponding to the acquired quality information as a deletion candidate. For example, the specifying unit 103 calculates an average value of the focus matching degree group supplied from the acquisition unit 102 and specifies photographed image data indicating an image having a lower focus matching degree than the average value as a deletion candidate. Note that the specifying unit 103 may specify deletion candidates using not only an average value but also an intermediate value, a minimum value, a maximum value, or the like. The lower the degree of focus matching, the easier it is to obtain photographic image data that is unnecessary for the user. When the focus matching degree is used as the deletion data attribute, the deletion candidate can be specified so as to apply to the tendency of accepting the low focus matching degree of the user.

  Next, a case where the resolution is used as quality information will be described. If the resolution is included in the Exif information of the captured image data, the acquiring unit 102 acquires the resolution included in the Exif information of the deleted captured image data as a deletion data attribute. Note that the acquisition unit 102 may acquire the resolution by calculating the resolution from the size and aspect ratio of the captured image data, or by analyzing the captured image data using another known technique. The acquisition unit 102 supplies the specifying unit 103 with a table representing the resolution acquired in this manner and the number of acquisitions.

  For example, the specifying unit 103 specifies, as a deletion candidate, photographed image data whose resolution matches that shown in the table supplied from the acquiring unit 102. The lower the resolution, the more likely it becomes unnecessary photographed image data for the user. On the other hand, the photographed image data whose resolution is too large may be unnecessary for the user because the area occupied in the storage area increases. As described above, when the resolution is used as the deletion data attribute, if the user has a tendency to determine whether or not the photographed image data is required according to the resolution, the deletion candidate is specified so as to apply to the tendency. Can do.

[2-4] Fourth Identification Method In the fourth identification method, text information belonging to data is used as a type of attribute indicating a deletion tendency. The text information belonging to the data is, for example, information such as a tag attached to the data or a file name of the data. When the fourth specifying method is used, the acquisition unit 102 acquires text information belonging to the deleted data as a deleted data attribute. The acquisition unit 102 acquires the information on the text by referring to the data header and the file name. The acquisition unit 102 supplies the number of acquisitions for each piece of text as a table to the specifying unit 103 (for example, when three pieces of text information “summer vacation” are acquired, “3” is acquired for “summer vacation”. Number is associated).

  The specifying unit 103 specifies data to which text information similar to the acquired text information belongs as a deletion candidate. For example, the specifying unit 103 stores dictionary data in which similar words are registered, and extracts words that are similar in the dictionary data to the text information supplied from the acquiring unit 102. If “summer vacation” and “summer vacation” are registered as similar words in this dictionary data, and the text information “summer vacation” is acquired, the specifying unit 103 extracts the phrase “summer vacation”. The similarity determination between text information is not limited to this, and may be performed using other known techniques.

If there is information representing the acquired text information and the extracted phrase from the text information belonging to the undeleted data, the specifying unit 103 specifies the data to which the text information belongs as a deletion candidate.
Text information, that is, tags and file names can be determined by the user regardless of the data contents. For this reason, common points that can be understood only by users who cannot be understood by data analysis or the like may be expressed. If the fourth specifying method is used, deleted data and data having such a common point can be specified as deletion candidates.

[2-5] Fifth Identification Method The fifth identification method is also used when photographed image data is stored, as in the first identification method, and the above-described subject identification information and photographing date / time information are included in the fifth identification method. Used as a type of attribute indicating a deletion tendency. When the fifth specifying method is used, the acquisition unit 102 obtains subject identification information for identifying a subject included in the image indicated by the deleted captured image data, and shooting date / time information indicating the shooting date / time when the image was captured, Acquired as a delete data attribute. The acquisition unit 102 acquires these pieces of information as described in the first specifying method and the first embodiment.

The specifying unit 103 refers to the subject identification information and the shooting date / time information of each data that has not been deleted, and is an image in which the acquired subject identification information matches the identified subject, and is indicated by the acquired shooting date / time information. The photographed image data indicating the image photographed at the date and time when the difference from the photographed date and time is equal to or less than the threshold is extracted. The specifying unit 103 specifies the one obtained by removing one of the extracted captured image data as a deletion candidate.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of deletion candidates specified by the fifth specifying method. FIG. 14 shows images P11, P12, P13, and P14 obtained by continuously photographing the child crying. In these images, the subjects coincide with each other, and the difference in photographing date and time is about several seconds. For example, when the threshold is set to 10 seconds, the specifying unit 103 specifies, for example, images P12, P13, and P14 excluding the image P11 as deletion candidates.

  The specifying unit 103 may select one piece of captured image data that is not a deletion candidate based on a predetermined rule. For example, the specifying unit 103 may select the photographed image data with the earliest photographing date and time as the one photographed image data, or may select the photographed image data with the latest photographing date and time. Further, the specifying unit 103 may select photographed image data in which the subject is the largest. In addition, the specifying unit 103 measures the above-described degree of focus matching (the degree that the focus when the image is captured matches the subject) in each captured image data, and determines the data with the largest value as 1 You may choose as one photography image data. Further, the identification unit 103 may detect the subject that is cut off at the edge of the image or the subject that is blinded by the image recognition process, and exclude them from the target of one captured image data. As described above, it is desirable that the specifying unit 103 uses a rule that selects an image having characteristics common to images that the user wants to leave.

  The photographer may retake the same subject repeatedly so that a better image can be left, not limited to the continuously photographed images as shown in FIG. In these cases, the photographed image data indicating the same image is stored in duplicate, so one is necessary, but the other items are likely to be unnecessary for the user. The specifying unit 103 specifies an image based on the subject and the shooting date and time as described above, and thus makes an image that is likely to be unnecessary as a deletion candidate. As described above, when the fifth specifying method is used, it is possible to easily delete data indicating duplicate images as compared to the case of specifying deletion candidates regardless of the subject and the shooting date and time.

[2-6] Identification of Delete Candidate Based on Priority Order When the specifying unit 103 uses the first to fifth specifying methods as described above, it deletes data that satisfies the conditions determined for each specifying method. As specified. For example, in the first specifying method, the condition is satisfied when the subject identified by the acquired subject identification information is included in the image, and the captured image data indicating the image is specified as the deletion candidate. The specifying unit 103 may specify all data satisfying such a condition as deletion candidates, or may specify data from a higher priority to a predetermined order among data satisfying the conditions as deletion candidates. Good. This priority order is hereinafter referred to as “deletion priority order”.

  For example, the specifying unit 103 calculates a value representing the priority by a method determined for each specifying method, and sets the data having the highest deletion priority in descending order of the calculated priority. For example, with the first and second specifying methods, the specifying unit 103 calculates the priority of data specified by, for example, a large number of acquired deletion data attributes (subject identification information and shooting location information) as a large value. . A deleted data attribute having a large number of acquisitions means that a large amount of data with that attribute has been deleted in the past. As a result, the deletion priority is higher for an image including a subject that is frequently captured in the deleted captured image data or an image captured in a place where a large number of deleted captured image data is captured.

  Further, when the focus matching degree is used as quality information in the third specifying method, the specifying unit 103 calculates, for example, a value obtained by multiplying the reciprocal of the measured focus matching degree by a predetermined coefficient as the priority. As a result, the lower the focus matching degree, that is, the higher the degree of defocusing, the higher the deletion priority. Further, when the resolution of the image is used as the quality information in the third specifying method, the specifying unit 103 calculates, for example, a value predetermined according to the resolution as the priority. As described above, the lower the resolution, the easier the image data becomes unnecessary for the user. On the other hand, the image data with too high resolution may be unnecessary for the user because the area occupied in the storage area increases. Therefore, the priority is not necessarily increased as the resolution is lower, but is preferably determined so as to increase as the resolution is unnecessary for the user.

  Further, if the specifying unit 103 is the fourth specifying method, for example, priority is given to the captured image data having a large number of acquired deletion data attributes (also text information) similar to the text information belonging thereto. Is calculated with a large value. As a result, among the photographed image data, the higher the number of photographed image data having similar text information belonging to the past, the higher the deletion priority. For example, three pieces of photographed image data to which similar text information of “summer vacation” and “summer vacation” belonged are deleted, and photographing of which similar text information of “winter vacation” and “winter vacation” belonged. When six pieces of image data have been deleted, the priority of deletion is higher in the photographic image data to which the latter (the number of acquisitions is six) to which the latter has a higher acquisition number than the photographic image data to which the former (the number of acquisitions is three). Becomes higher. Further, if the specifying unit 103 is the fifth specifying method, for example, the number of deletion candidates (including the deletion candidates) whose subjects match and whose photographing date / time difference is equal to or smaller than a threshold is calculated as the priority. To do. For example, in the example of FIG. 14, the specifying unit 103 specifies “3” as the deletion candidate since three of the four photographed image data are specified as deletion candidates. As a result, the higher the deletion priority, the higher the captured image data that indicates images with more overlap.

The specifying unit 103 specifies, from among the data satisfying the conditions determined for each of the first to fifth specifying methods, data having a higher priority calculated for each of the data from the highest priority to a predetermined order as deletion candidates. The specifying unit 103 notifies the processing unit 104 of the priority calculated for each of the deletion candidates in addition to the specified deletion candidate file names and the corresponding deletion data attributes.
The priority of the deletion candidate is not limited to a numerical value, and may be represented by symbols such as “high”, “medium”, “low”, “A”, “B”, and “C”. In short, any priority may be used as long as the deletion priority order of the photographed image data can be compared, and in any case, the deletion priority order may be so high that it is unnecessary for the user. desirable.

The processing unit 104 performs a deletion related process as a deletion candidate having a higher deletion priority in order from the highest priority notified from the specifying unit 103. Specifically, for example, in the presentation process, the processing unit 104 transmits presentation information including an instruction to present to the user in order from deletion candidates having a high deletion priority.
FIG. 15 is a table showing an example of the displayed presentation information. In this example, the UI unit 24 of the first user terminal 20 provides, as presentation information, a ranking image B21 indicating the deletion priority of deletion candidates, a thumbnail image group Q20 of deletion candidates of each deletion priority, and identification of deletion candidates. A character string (in this example, “common subject”, “common creation time”, etc.) representing the type of attribute used for the deletion, a candidate image P21 represented by the selected thumbnail image, and a file of the deletion candidate The name and attribute (in this example, the attribute “subject is the Eiffel Tower”) are displayed. When the thumbnail image group Q20 is dragged left and right, the deletion target to be displayed is changed. Further, when the ranking image B21 or the thumbnail image group Q20 is dragged upward from the state shown in FIG. 15, a thumbnail image of a deletion image having a low deletion priority is displayed.

By displaying the presentation information as shown in FIG. 15, the user can confirm the deletion priority level of deletion candidates, how many deletion candidates have the same deletion priority level, and how these deletion candidates are. You can know whether it was chosen for any reason. In addition, if the calculated priority is so high that it is unnecessary for the user, the deletion candidate that is unnecessary for the user is more likely to be displayed from the beginning, and the user can delete it with fewer operations. The contents (image itself, file name, attribute, etc.) can be confirmed and an operation for executing deletion can be performed.
In the second embodiment, the specifying unit 103 specifies deletion candidates using the first to fifth specifying methods. However, the specifying unit 103 is not limited to this, and some of the specifying methods may be used. The specifying method based on the generation time information described in the first embodiment may be used.

[3] Third Embodiment Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described focusing on differences from the first and second embodiments. In the first embodiment, the deletion candidate is specified based on the deletion data attribute. However, in the third embodiment, the deletion candidate is specified based on the free capacity of the storage unit.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the third embodiment. In this example, an information processing apparatus 10b including a detection unit 105 in addition to the units illustrated in FIG. 5 is illustrated.

  The detection unit 105 is an example of a unit that detects the free capacities of the first storage unit and the second storage unit when the acquisition unit 102 acquires the deletion data attribute from the first storage unit and the second storage unit, respectively. is there. The first and second storage means are, for example, any combination of storage units provided in the information processing apparatus 10b, the first user terminal 20, and the second user terminal 30, respectively. The detecting unit 105 inquires about the free space information (the size and the ratio of the free space in each storage unit) as performed by the processing unit 104 in the first embodiment, and receives the response to check the free space. Perform detection. The detecting unit 105 notifies the identifying unit 103 of the detected free space.

  The specifying unit 103 preferentially specifies the data stored in the smaller one of the first and second storage units detected by the detecting unit 105 as a deletion candidate. In the information processing system, data synchronization processing is performed. Since “deletability” as described in the explanation of FIG. 6 is included in the index information, certain data is stored in the first and second storages. It may be stored in only one of the means. For example, the specifying unit 103 calculates the priority for each piece of data that satisfies the predetermined condition as described in the second embodiment, but is stored in only one of the first and second storage units. When the data is stored and the predetermined condition is satisfied, the priority of the data stored in the one having the less free space is calculated by, for example, doubling. Assuming that the original priorities of these data are the same, the data stored in the smaller free space has a higher priority of deletion because the priority is doubled. As a result, the data stored in the storage means having the smaller free space has a higher priority for deletion, and as a result, the data is easily deleted. According to the present embodiment as described above, as the storage unit has a smaller free space, more data can be deleted and the free space can be increased.

[4] Modifications Each of the above-described embodiments is merely an example of an embodiment of the present invention, and may be modified as follows. Moreover, you may implement each embodiment mentioned above and each modification shown below, combining each as needed.

[4-1] Deletion Related Processing In each of the above embodiments, the processing unit 104 performs both the presentation processing and the instruction processing as the deletion related processing. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and only the presentation processing may be performed. Then, a process for instructing deletion of all specified deletion candidates may be performed without performing the presentation process. Further, the processing unit 104 may perform a deletion related process that varies depending on the deletion candidate. For example, the processing unit 104 performs the presentation process and the instruction process for the deletion candidate specified by the first to third specifying methods described in the second embodiment, but specifies by the fourth and fifth specifying methods. For the deleted candidates, only the presentation process is performed. Further, the processing unit 104 may perform a deletion related process that varies depending on the storage unit. For example, the processing unit 104 performs a presentation process and an instruction process on the storage unit of the terminal operated by the user, but performs a process of deleting all the specified deletion candidates without performing the presentation process on the storage unit of the own device. It is to do.

  In addition, when the detection unit 105 described in the third embodiment detects the free capacity of the storage unit, the processing unit 104 determines whether the storage unit detects the free capacity of the storage unit detected by the detection unit 105. The corresponding process may be performed as a deletion related process. In this case, for example, when the detected free space is 10% or more, the processing unit 104 performs both the presentation process and the instruction process. When the detected free capacity is less than 10%, the processing unit 104 does not perform the presentation process. For example, the process of deleting all the specified deletion candidates is performed. Thus, the smaller the free capacity of the storage means, the easier it is for the data to be deleted by reducing the effort of the user when deleting the data.

[4-2] Execution Time of Deletion Support Process In the example of FIG. 10, the deletion support process is started when the user performs a deletion support operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the deletion support process may be started after the synchronization process shown in FIG. 9 is performed, or may be performed periodically. In addition, when the free space of the storage unit becomes less than a threshold (for example, 10%), the deletion support process may be started when requested by the control unit that controls the storage unit. Moreover, these multiple opportunities may be used together. In any case, it is desirable that the deletion support process is performed at a timing when the necessity of deleting data and securing a free space has increased.

[4-3] Deletion Data Attribute Used for Identification The identification unit 103 may specify deletion candidates using all the deletion data attributes acquired by the acquisition unit 102, or may specify using a part of them. Also good. A part is used in the following cases, for example.
FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed on the UI unit 24 of the first user terminal in the present modification. In FIG. 17A, as an image to be displayed after the user deletes data stored in the first user terminal 20, “deletion of XX data has been completed. Trend of data deleted this time A manipulator image B31 including a character string “Do you want to see deletion candidates that fall under?” And a character string “Browse” is displayed.

  When the user taps the manipulator image B31, the acquisition unit 102 acquires the deletion data attribute of the XX data deleted by the user, and the specifying unit 103 specifies the deletion candidate based on the deletion data attribute. To do. In FIG. 17B, as the presentation information that presents the deletion candidates identified in this way, the character string “list of deletion candidates” and the Eiffel Tower indicated by the captured image data with the file name “A0120.jpg” are displayed. An image P31 as a subject, a character string “candidate identification reason: deletion data and subject are common” indicating the type of attribute indicating the deletion tendency used to specify deletion candidates, and thumbnail images Q30 of other deletion candidates Are displayed on the UI unit 24. In this case, since the user has just deleted the data, before forgetting the reason for deleting the data, the user confirms the deletion candidate corresponding to the tendency of the deleted data. Accordingly, it is possible to perform the deletion candidate confirmation operation more efficiently than when the deletion candidate is confirmed after a lapse of time.

[4-4] Data as Delete Candidates Data as delete candidates is not limited to photographed image data, that is, data indicating a photographed image such as a photograph or a moving image. For example, when generation time information or text information belonging to data is used as a deletion data attribute, data indicating CG (Computer Graphics), data indicating a presentation material including an image, or a document not including an image is selected. It may be the data shown. When the user deletes these data, it is conceivable to consider the generation time and text information belonging to each. In this case, the deletion data attribute indicates the tendency of data to be deleted, and the specifying unit 103 can specify data corresponding to the tendency indicated by the deletion data attribute as a deletion candidate.

[4-5] Storage Unit In the above embodiments, there are three storage units for storing data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two (for example, the storage unit of the first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal). 30 storage units), four or more, or one. In either case, the attribute of the data deleted from the storage means, that is, the deleted data attribute is acquired, and the deletion related processing of the deletion candidate data specified based on the acquired deleted data attribute is performed. It only has to be.

[4-6] Data Synchronization In each of the above embodiments, when performing data synchronization, it was possible to select whether or not to perform deletion according to synchronization based on the information on whether or not deletion was recorded in the index information. However, all data may be deleted by synchronization without fail. In the information processing system, data synchronization itself does not have to be performed. In other words, it is not essential to delete data deleted by a user from a certain storage means using other storage means. However, also in this case, the deletion related process by the processing unit 104 is performed, and the data specified as the deletion candidate is deleted.

[4-7] Type of attribute indicating deletion tendency The specifying means 103 is an attribute obtained by analyzing data (subject identification information, quality information, etc .; hereinafter referred to as “analysis attribute”) in each of the above embodiments. And attributes obtained for shooting (generation time information, shooting location information, etc., hereinafter referred to as “photographing attributes”), and attributes (generation time information, quality information, text information, etc.) provided to data. .) Are used as attributes of a type indicating a deletion tendency, and deletion candidates are identified.

  For example, if the analysis attributes are similar, these data tend to have a common point that the subject is the same or the subject is out of focus. When the common point is the reason for the user to delete the data, among the undeleted data, the data having the common point is more likely to be deleted than the data having no common point. . Thus, the analysis attribute represents the tendency of data to be deleted. Other examples of analysis attributes include the genre and tone of music obtained by analyzing music data, the type of document obtained by analyzing document data, and the language used. As described above, the specifying unit 103 may specify deletion candidates based on various analysis attributes.

  If the shooting attributes are similar, the captured image data tends to have common points such as the same shooting time and the same shooting location. Therefore, the shooting attribute represents the tendency of data to be deleted, like the analysis attribute. Other examples of the shooting attributes include an aperture value and shutter speed at the time of shooting, a mode in which these are set for each scene such as at night or dusk, and a mode relating to colors such as black and white or pastel. Thus, the specifying unit 103 may specify deletion candidates based on various shooting attributes.

  Also, if the assigned attributes are similar, the data tend to have common points such as the same generation time and similar data content. Therefore, the assigned attribute represents the tendency of data to be deleted, like the analysis attribute and the shooting attribute. Other examples of the assigned attribute include a singer name, a song name, and a genre that are given to the music data, and a title, a category, the number of pages, and the number of characters that are given to the document data. Thus, the specifying unit 103 may specify deletion candidates based on various grant attributes.

[4-8] Category of Invention The present invention can be understood as an information processing apparatus and an information processing system including the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus is not limited to the information processing apparatus 10 illustrated in the example of FIG. The first user terminal 20 and the second user terminal 30 are also information processing apparatuses that process information by a control unit included therein. In addition to the above, the present invention can also be understood as an information processing method for realizing processing performed by the information processing apparatus. The processing here is, for example, the synchronization processing shown in FIG. 9 and the deletion support processing shown in FIG. The present invention can also be understood as a program for causing a computer such as an information processing apparatus to function as each unit shown in FIG. This program may be provided in the form of a recording medium such as an optical disk storing the program, or may be provided in the form of being downloaded to a computer via a network such as the Internet, and making it available for installation. You may do.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information processing system, 2 ... Network, 10 ... Information processing apparatus, 20 ... 1st user terminal, 30 ... 2nd user terminal, 11, 21, 31 ... Control part, 12, 22, 32 ... Storage part, 13, 23, 33 ... Communication unit, 24 ... UI unit, 25 ... Shooting unit, 26 ... Positioning unit, 34 ... Operation unit, 35 ... Display unit, 101 ... Synchronization unit, 102 ... Acquisition unit, 103 ... Identification unit, 104 ... Processing Means, 105... Detection means.

Claims (8)

Obtaining means for obtaining information of text belonging to the deleted data as the first attribute assigned to the data deleted from the storage means;
Information of the text acquired as data to be deleted from the data stored in the storage unit based on the second attribute assigned to the data and the first attribute acquired by the acquisition unit A means for identifying data to which text information similar to is included,
An information processing apparatus comprising: processing means for performing processing related to deletion of data specified by the specifying means. Obtaining means for obtaining a first attribute assigned to data deleted from the storage means;
Detection means for detecting free space in the storage means;
A specifying unit for specifying data that is a deletion candidate based on the second attribute assigned to the data and the first attribute acquired by the acquiring unit from the data stored in the storage unit;
As processing related to the deletion of the data specified by the specifying means, if the detected free capacity of the storage means is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference with respect to the storage means, the process of presenting the deletion candidate to the user and the user And a processing means for performing a process for instructing deletion of deletion candidates whose deletion has been approved, and performing a process for instructing deletion of all of the specified deletion candidates when the free space is less than the reference. Processing equipment. A plurality of types of attributes indicating the tendency of data to be deleted, which are assigned to data deleted from the storage means, and are text information belonging to the data, or subject identification information when the data is a captured image Acquisition means for acquiring any one of the first attribute of the location information indicating the shooting location, the quality information of the shot image, or the date information indicating the shooting date ;
Data that is a deletion candidate based on the second attribute of the same type as the first attribute given to the data and the first attribute acquired by the acquiring unit from the data stored in the storage unit Identifying means for identifying
When the identification information, the location information, or the quality information among the plurality of types of attributes is acquired as the first attribute as processing related to deletion of the data specified by the specifying means, the deletion candidate user performs presentation processing and the user instructs the deletion of the deletion candidates acknowledge the deletion process to the case where text information or the date and time information is acquired as the first attribute, processing means for performing only the presentation processing An information processing apparatus comprising: An acquisition means for acquiring a first attribute assigned to data deleted from the storage means of the terminal operated by the user or the own device;
A specifying unit for specifying data that is a deletion candidate based on the second attribute assigned to the data and the first attribute acquired by the acquiring unit from the data stored in the storage unit;
As processing related to deletion of data specified by the specifying means, when the storage means is the storage means of the terminal, an instruction to present the deletion candidate to the user and to delete the deletion candidate approved by the user An information processing apparatus comprising: a processing unit that performs a process of instructing deletion of all the specified deletion candidates when the storage unit is a storage unit of the own apparatus. An information processing device that obtains information of text belonging to the deleted data as a first attribute assigned to the data deleted from the storage unit;
The information processing apparatus, from said data stored in the storage means, as a first attribute and deletion candidate based on the acquired in the second attribute and the acquisition step, which is given to the data Data is acquired A specifying step for identifying data to which text information similar to the text information belongs ;
An information processing method comprising: a processing step in which the information processing apparatus performs a process related to deletion of the data specified in the specifying step. An acquisition step in which the information processing apparatus acquires the first attribute given to the data deleted from the storage means;
A detecting step for detecting a free capacity of the storage means;
Specification that the information processing apparatus identifies data that is a deletion candidate based on the second attribute assigned to the data and the first attribute acquired in the acquisition step, from the data stored in the storage unit Steps,
When the information processing apparatus performs processing related to deletion of the data specified in the specifying step, if the detected free space of the storage unit is greater than or equal to a predetermined reference with respect to the storage unit, the deletion candidate user And a process for instructing deletion of deletion candidates approved by the user, and a process for instructing deletion of all the specified deletion candidates when the free space is less than the reference. An information processing method comprising: processing steps. When the information processing apparatus has a plurality of types of attributes indicating the tendency of data to be deleted, which are given to data deleted from the storage means, and the text information belonging to the data or the data is a captured image An acquisition step of acquiring any type of first attribute of the subject identification information, the location information indicating the shooting location, the quality information of the captured image, or the date information indicating the shooting date ;
Based on the second attribute of the same type as the first attribute given to the data and the first attribute obtained in the obtaining step from the data stored in the storage means by the information processing apparatus A specific step for identifying data to be deleted;
When the information processing apparatus acquires the identification information, the location information, or the quality information as the first attribute among the plurality of types of attributes as the process related to the deletion of the data specified in the specifying step. If the deletion information is acquired as the first attribute, the process of presenting the deletion candidate to the user and the process of instructing deletion of the deletion candidate approved by the user are obtained. information processing method and a processing step of performing only. An information processing apparatus acquires a first attribute assigned to data deleted from a terminal operated by a user or storage means of the own apparatus;
Specification that the information processing apparatus identifies data that is a deletion candidate based on the second attribute assigned to the data and the first attribute acquired in the acquisition step, from the data stored in the storage unit Steps,
When the storage means is a storage means of the terminal, the information processing apparatus, as a process related to deletion of the data specified in the specifying step, approved the deletion candidate presentation process to the user and the user approved the deletion. An information processing method comprising: processing for instructing deletion of deletion candidates, and processing for instructing deletion of all the specified deletion candidates when the storage unit is a storage unit of the own device.

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