JP2001111712A - Communication system, digital camera and mobile phone configuring the communication system, control method for the digital camera and control method for the mobile phone - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control a digital still camera 1 to allow a mobile phone 30 to transmit image data to a sever 60. SOLUTION: The digital still camera 1 selects a transmission destination of image data and the image data to be sent. The digital still camera 1 transmits the image data to the mobile phone 30 in the unit of packets. The mobile phone 30 receiving the image data in the unit of packets transmits the image data to the sever 60. A user controls the digital still camera 1 to transmit the image data to the server 60 without the need for operating the mobile phone 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication system comprising a digital camera and a portable telephone capable of data communication with each other, a portable telephone and a control method thereof, and a digital camera and a control method thereof.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Mobile phones (PHS (pers
onal handy phones) are extremely popular. It is possible to talk at a desired place by carrying a mobile phone.

On the other hand, with the development of personal computers, digital still cameras have also become popular. The subject can be imaged using a digital still camera, and the obtained image data can be loaded into a personal computer to process the image.

As described above, with the spread of mobile phones and digital still cameras, it has been considered to transmit image data captured using a digital camera from a mobile phone.

[0005] Image data photographed using a digital still camera is transmitted to a mobile phone by operating the digital still camera. Thereafter, the user operates the mobile phone to transmit the image to the image server or the like via the network. Thus, the operation on the digital still camera and the operation on the mobile phone are separately required. The operation of the user must be complicated.

[0006]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to enable image data to be transmitted to a desired communication device via a telephone line by operating a digital camera.

In the communication system according to the present invention, the digital camera and the mobile phone can perform data communication with each other, and the mobile phone can communicate with the communication device through a telephone line.

[0008] The digital camera includes a destination designation unit for designating a destination communication device to which image data is to be transmitted via the telephone line, an image data designation unit for designating image data to be transmitted, and the transmission unit. There is provided first transmission means for transmitting data representing the transmission destination designated by the destination designation means and transmission image data designated by the image data designation means to the mobile phone.

[0009] In the portable telephone, receiving means for receiving the transmission destination data and the transmission image data transmitted from the first transmission means, and the transmission image data received by the reception means are specified by the transmission destination data. There is provided a transmitting means for transmitting to the communication device of the transmission destination.

The present invention also provides a method for controlling the digital camera. That is, in a digital camera capable of data communication with a portable telephone capable of communicating with a communication device through a telephone line, a communication device of a transmission destination to which image data is to be transmitted through the telephone line and image data to be transmitted are designated. , And data representing the designated transmission destination and transmission image data are transmitted to the mobile phone.

The present invention also provides a method for controlling the above-mentioned portable telephone. That is, in a portable telephone capable of performing data communication with a digital camera and communicating with a communication device via a telephone line, data transmitted from the digital camera and representing the destination of image data and the data transmitted from the digital camera. The image data to be transmitted to the communication device is received, and the received transmission image data is transmitted to the communication device of the transmission destination specified by the transmission destination data.

According to the present invention, in the digital camera, a destination communication device to which image data is to be transmitted via the telephone line and image data to be transmitted are specified. Data and image data representing the designated destination are transmitted from the digital camera to the mobile phone.

In the above-mentioned portable telephone, the digital telephone
When the data representing the destination and the image data transmitted from the camera are received, the image data is transmitted to the destination represented by the destination data.

By operating the digital camera, a user can transmit image data to a desired communication device from a mobile phone. When transmitting image data, there is no need to operate both the digital camera and the mobile phone.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and shows an outline of an image communication system.

The image communication system includes a transmission / reception system 50 and a server 60 capable of communicating data with each other via a network.
It is composed of

In this embodiment, the transmission / reception system 50
Can transmit and receive data, but may be dedicated to data transmission.

The transmission / reception system 50 includes the digital still camera 1 and the mobile phone 20 which can perform data communication with each other. In this embodiment, the digital
Although the still camera 1 and the mobile phone 20 are wireless communication,
Wire communication may be used.

The server 60 includes a controller such as a CPU, a memory for temporarily storing data, a modem for connecting to a network, a monitor display device, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital still camera 1.

An optical viewfinder 3 is formed at the upper left of the back of the digital still camera 1.

On the right side of the optical viewfinder 3, a mode setting dial 4 is formed rotatably. An index 6 is formed on the left side of the mode setting dial 4. The mode setting dial 4 is turned by the user so that a desired mode is positioned on the index 6. The modes include an imaging mode for capturing an image of a subject, a reproduction mode for displaying an image represented by image data recorded on a memory card, and a transmission mode for transmitting data to the mobile phone 20.

Inside the mode setting dial 4, up, down, left and right keys 5 are provided.

Below the optical viewfinder 3, a display screen 9 of a character display device for displaying characters, numerals and the like is formed. The telephone number of the transmission destination is displayed on the character display screen 9 as described later. Below this character display screen 9,
An execution button 10 for giving an execution command is provided. Further, a display screen 11 of an image display device for displaying an image is formed below the execution button 10. On the display screen 11, an image represented by image data transmitted to the mobile phone 30, a subject image represented by imaging, an image represented by image data recorded on a memory card, and the like are displayed as described later. Is done.

On the upper surface of the digital still camera 1, a shutter release button 2 is formed on the right side. A power switch 8 is formed substantially at the center.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the digital still camera 1. As shown in FIG.

The overall configuration of the digital still camera 1 is controlled by a CPU 20.

Signals indicating the depression of the various switches described above are input to the CPU 10 (operation switch group 25).

The digital still camera 1 includes a communication processing circuit 28 and a built-in antenna 29 for performing data communication with a mobile phone 30 (the mobile phone 30 for performing data communication is registered in advance). ing.

When the imaging mode is set by the mode setting dial 4, the image of the subject is changed by the imaging lens 21 to the CCD 22.
Image on the light receiving surface of. A video signal representing a subject image is output from the CCD 22. The video signal is converted to digital image data in the analog / digital conversion circuit 23.

The digital image data is transmitted to a signal processing circuit 24.
In, predetermined signal processing such as white balance adjustment and gamma correction is performed. The digital image data output from the signal processing circuit 24 is supplied to the image display device 11 (the image display device also uses the same reference numerals as the display screen) through the image memory 26. The subject image obtained by the imaging is displayed on the display screen of the image display device 11.

When the shutter release button 2 is pressed, the image data output from the signal processing circuit 24 is temporarily stored in the image memory 26. The digital image data is read out from the image memory 26, and is again returned to the signal processing circuit 24.
To enter. Digital image data is stored in the signal processing circuit 24
Is compressed. The compressed image data is provided to the memory card 15 and recorded.

When the transmission mode is set by the mode setting dial 4, the image data recorded on the memory card 15 is read. The read image data is provided to the built-in antenna 29 via the communication processing circuit 28. The image data is transmitted to the mobile phone 30 by the built-in antenna.

When the reproduction mode is set by the mode setting dial 4, the image data recorded on the memory card 15 is read and input to the signal processing circuit 24. In the signal processing circuit 24, the compressed image data is expanded. The decompressed image data is input to the image display device 11. The reproduced image is displayed on the display screen of the image display device 11.

Further, the digital still camera 1 is provided with a flash memory 27 for storing character data representing predetermined characters such as telephone numbers, as described later. The character data stored in the flash memory 27 is read out and given to a character display device 9 (using the same code as the character display screen) to display characters such as numbers such as telephone numbers and names. You. of course,
When displaying characters such as telephone numbers on the display screen of a liquid crystal display device for displaying images, a character generator for displaying the characters will be used. Displaying characters on a dot matrix display would require software to display the characters.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the mobile phone 30. As shown in FIG.

The overall operation of the mobile phone 30 is controlled by the CPU 40.

The CPU 40 is connected to a non-volatile memory 37 in which a telephone number, an e-mail address, a URL (Uniform resource locater) and the like are stored.

The CPU 36 is externally provided with a memory 36 for temporarily storing various data.

Various switches such as a numeric keypad, a call button, and a disconnect button are formed on the mobile phone 30. Signals from these switches and the like are input to the CPU 40 (operation switch group 38).

The voice input from the microphone 41 is modulated in the modulation circuit 42 and supplied to the analog / digital conversion circuit 43. Analog / digital conversion circuit 43
Converts the analog voice signal into digital voice data. The audio data is provided to the built-in antenna 35 via the transmission / reception buffer 33 and the transmission / reception circuit 34. Digital voice data is transmitted from the built-in antenna 35 to the other party's telephone.

The voice data transmitted from the other party's telephone is
The signal is received by the transmission / reception circuit 34 via the built-in antenna 35. The audio data is supplied to a digital / analog conversion circuit 44 via a transmission / reception buffer 33. The audio data is converted to an analog audio signal in the digital / analog conversion circuit 44. The converted analog audio signal is demodulated in the demodulation circuit 45 and output from the speaker 46 as audio.

The mobile phone 30 can also receive image data transmitted from the digital still camera 1 and transmit it to the server 60 via a network.

The image data transmitted from the digital still camera 1 is received by the built-in antenna 31.
The signal is demodulated in the transmission / reception circuit 32. The image data is output from the transmission / reception circuit 32 and is temporarily stored in the transmission / reception buffer 33.

The image data is output from the transmission / reception buffer 33 and supplied to the transmission / reception circuit 34. The image data is modulated in the transmission / reception circuit. The modulated image data is provided to the built-in antenna 35. With the built-in antenna 35,
The image data is transmitted to the server 60 via the network. The image data is received when the receiving user accesses the server 60.

When receiving image data transmitted from the server 60 via the network, the image data is received by the built-in antenna 35 and demodulated by the transmission / reception circuit 34. The image data is output from the transmission / reception circuit 34, applied to the transmission / reception buffer 33, and temporarily stored.

The image data is output from the transmission / reception buffer 33 and supplied to the transmission / reception circuit 32. The transmission / reception circuit 32 has a carrier different from the carrier of the transmission / reception circuit 34, and the different carrier is modulated by the image data. The modulated image data is provided to the built-in antenna 31. The image data is transmitted to the digital still camera 1 by the built-in antenna 31.

FIGS. 5 to 7 are flowcharts showing the processing procedure when transmitting image data to the server 60 using the transmission / reception system 50. 8 to 10 show an example of an image displayed on the display screen of the character display device 9 of the digital still camera 1 (of course, the image may be displayed on the display screen of the image display device 11). Needless to say).

When the transmission mode is set by the mode setting dial 4, the mobile phone 30 registered in advance to perform data communication with the digital still camera 1 is set.
It is determined whether or not is in a state in which data communication is possible (step 71). If the power of the mobile phone 30 is turned on and data communication with the digital still camera 1 is possible (YES in step 71), the display screen of the character display device 9 is displayed as shown in FIG. The phone number input selection image appears. If the power of the mobile phone 30 is turned off and the distance between the mobile phone 30 and the digital still camera 1 is large and the sensitivity is insufficient (NO in step 71), the character of the digital still camera 1 is displayed. An error message is displayed on the display device 9 (step 84).

The telephone number input selection image includes “acquire from telephone” and “directly enter” indicating where the telephone number (the destination to which image data is to be transmitted, including the e-mail address and URL) is obtained. Is displayed. "Acquire from phone" means the non-volatile memory of mobile phone 30
The telephone number data stored in the telephone number 37 is received from the mobile phone 30, a telephone number list represented by the telephone number data is displayed on the display screen of the character display device 9, and from the displayed telephone number list, This is for selecting a telephone number. "Direct input" refers to the mode setting dial 4 and the execution button formed on the digital still camera 1.
Enter the telephone number using 10.

A cursor 16 is also displayed on the telephone number input selection image. The cursor 16 surrounds one of the characters “acquire from telephone” and “direct input”. When the left arrow of the up / down / left / right key 5 is pressed, the cursor 16
Moves to the left (surrounds "get from phone"). When the right arrow of the up / down / left / right key 5 is pressed, the cursor 16 moves to the right (encloses “direct input”). Execute button 10
By pressing, the telephone number is input in the method surrounded by the cursor 16.

When the telephone number of the transmission destination is obtained from the mobile phone 30 (YES in step 72), a request for a transmission destination number list of the telephone number is transmitted from the digital still camera 1 to the mobile telephone 30.

When the destination number list request for the telephone number is received by the mobile phone 30, the destination number list data stored in the nonvolatile memory 37 is read. The read destination number list data is transmitted from the mobile phone 30 to the digital still camera 1. In the digital still camera 1, a destination telephone number list is obtained (step 73). Then, the destination telephone number list image shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the character display device 9 of the digital still camera 1.

The destination telephone number list image displays the name and telephone number of the destination (only one of them may be used). Among the names of the transmission destinations, one name is surrounded by the cursor 16. When the up arrow key of the up / down / left / right key 5 is pressed, the cursor 16 moves upward, and when the down arrow key of the up / down / left / right key 5 is pressed, the cursor 16 moves downward. When the execution button 10 is pressed, the telephone number of the name surrounded by the cursor 16 is determined as the transmission destination of the image data (step 74).

When the user of the digital still camera 1 directly inputs a telephone number (N in step 72)
O), the telephone number input image shown in FIG. When the up arrow key is pressed by the up / down / left / right keys 5 while the telephone number input image is displayed, the number is incremented. When the down arrow key is pressed by the up / down / left / right key 5, the number is decremented.
When the execute button 10 is pressed, the number at that digit is determined, and the number at the next digit is input using the up / down / left / right keys 5. Thus, the telephone number of the destination of the image data is directly input by the user of the digital still camera 1 (step 75).

When the transmission destination of the image data is selected, the image data to be transmitted is selected (step 76). Up / down / left / right keys 5 are also used to select image data. When the right arrow key of the up / down / left / right key 5 is pressed, the frame number is incremented, and the image of the incremented frame number is displayed on the display screen of the image display device 11. When the left arrow key is pressed, the frame number is decremented, and the image of the decremented frame number is displayed on the display screen of the image display device 11. When the execution button 10 is pressed, the image display device 11
The image data representing the image displayed on the display screen is determined as the image data to be transmitted. The image to be selected may be one frame or a plurality of frames.

When the transmission destination is changed, the processing from step 72 is repeated again (YE in step 77).
S).

When the execute button 10 is pressed again by the user, a transmission command is given to the digital still camera 1 (step 78). Then, data indicating an instruction to start a call is transmitted from the digital still camera 1 to the mobile phone 30 (step 79).

When the mobile phone 30 receives the data indicating the call start instruction transmitted from the digital still camera 1, the mobile phone 30 performs the calling process of the server 60. The mobile phone 30 and the server 60 are connected, and the selected still image data is transmitted from the digital still camera 1 to the mobile phone 30 in packet units (step 8).
0).

The packet transmission of the image data is repeated until the transmission of the image data representing the selected image is completed (step 81).

If an error occurs before the transmission of the image data ends (YES in step 82), the error is displayed on the display screen of the character display device 9 of the digital still camera 1.
A message is displayed (step 83). digital·
The user of the still camera 1 knows that the transmission of the image data to the server 60 has failed. If necessary, it will be repeated from the input of the telephone number of the transmission destination (step 72).

When the transmission of the image data to the server 60 is completed successfully, the connection between the mobile phone 30 and the server 60 is disconnected.
Thereafter, the connection between the mobile phone 30 and the digital still camera 1 is disconnected.

When the user of the telephone number of the transmission destination selected by the user of the digital still camera 1 accesses the server 60, the image data transmitted to the server 60 is received.

In the above-described embodiment, the image data is transmitted to the server 60 and the server 60 is accessed to receive the image data. It is needless to say that the data can be transmitted to the receiving device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an image communication system.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the digital still camera.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the digital still camera.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the mobile phone.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a part of a processing procedure in a transmission mode.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a part of a processing procedure in a transmission mode.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission process of image data.

FIG. 8 is an example of an image displayed on a character display device of a digital still camera.

FIG. 9 is an example of an image displayed on a character display device of a digital still camera.

FIG. 10 is an example of an image displayed on the character display device of the digital still camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 digital still camera 4 mode setting dial 5 up / down / left / right keys 9 character display device 10 image display device 15 memory card 20, 60 CPU 28 communication processing circuit 29, 31, 35 built-in antenna 30 mobile phone 32, 34 transmission / reception circuit 33 Send / receive buffer 60 servers

Claims (5)

[Claims] In a system in which a digital camera and a mobile phone can communicate data with each other and the mobile phone can communicate with a communication device through a telephone line, the digital camera can transmit image data through the telephone line. Destination designating means for designating a communication device of a destination to which an image is to be transmitted, image data designating means for designating image data to be transmitted, data representing the destination designated by the destination designating means, and image data designation Receiving means for transmitting the transmission image data designated by the means to the mobile phone, wherein the mobile phone receives the transmission destination data and the transmission image data transmitted from the first transmission means. And transmitting the transmission image data received by the receiving means to the communication device of the transmission destination specified by the transmission destination data. A communication system comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the data to a device. 2. A destination designation device for designating a destination communication device to which image data is to be transmitted via a telephone line in a digital camera capable of data communication with a portable telephone capable of communicating with a communication device through a telephone line. Means, image data designating means for designating image data to be transmitted, data representing the destination designated by the destination designating means, and transmission image data designated by the image data designating means, to the portable telephone. Transmission means,
Digital camera with. 3. A portable telephone capable of data communication with a digital camera and communicating with a communication device through a telephone line, wherein the data is transmitted from the digital camera and represents a destination of image data. Receiving means for receiving data and image data to be transmitted to the communication device; and transmitting means for transmitting the image data received by the receiving means to the communication device at the destination specified by the destination data. Mobile phone. 4. In a digital camera capable of data communication with a portable telephone capable of communicating with a communication device through a telephone line, a destination communication device to which image data is to be transmitted via the telephone line and image data to be transmitted. A digital camera control method for transmitting data representing the specified destination and transmission image data to the mobile phone. 5. A portable telephone capable of data communication with a digital camera and communicating with a communication device through a telephone line, the data transmitted from the digital camera and representing a destination of image data. A method for controlling a mobile phone, comprising: receiving data and image data to be transmitted to the communication device; and transmitting the received image data to the communication device at a destination specified by the destination data.