JP2003219415A - Photographed image providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To build a photographed image providing system for lightly providing the passing time and image of an object. <P>SOLUTION: An antenna 2 for sensing the passing of RC chip worn on a marathon runner 1 connects a measuring spot personal computer 4 for recording ID information and the passing time to a still-picture camera 7. Further, the computer 4 is connected to an accumulating personal computer 5 for accumulating the ID information and the passing time of each measuring spot via a communication channel, and the computer 5 is connected to a mass meeting headquarter personal computer 6 via the channel. The computer 6 builds a LAN 11 together with a Web server 8, a mail server 9 and an image storage server 10, and is connected to an internet 13. Meanwhile, the camera 7 is connected to the server 10, and a reading personal computer 14 or a portable telephone 15 is connected to the internet 13 to receive a provision of information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera photographed image providing system, and in particular, at a marathon event, it provides a marathon runner with photographed images of passing times and marathon runners in near real time, and further, the information is provided via the Internet. The present invention relates to a camera-captured image providing system that enables browsing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art General citizen marathon competitions in which hundreds to tens of thousands of general marathon runners participate are often held. At that time, it takes tens of minutes for the rear marathon runner to pass the start point, and it is impossible to measure the net time or the split time. At the tournament, it is the mainstream to introduce a measuring system using RC chips and automatically measure the time of each marathon runner. The RC chip is a small transmitting chip having a size of 2 to 3 cm and a weight of about 3 g, and each marathon runner is used by being attached to a shoe lace or the like. Therefore, a carpet-shaped antenna is provided at the time measurement point, and when the marathon runner passes through the antenna, the ID information assigned to the RC chip attached to the shoe is read and recorded together with the passing time.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system for measuring time at a conventional marathon event. The figure shows a situation in which the marathon runners 1a and 1b pass through the carpet-shaped antennas 2a and 2b provided at the time measurement points. The marathon runners 1a and 1b are equipped with RC chips 3a and 3b on their shoes, respectively. I am wearing it. Antennas 2a, 2b
Is connected to the measurement point personal computers 4a and 4b for reading and recording the marathon runner ID, and the respective measurement point personal computers 4A and 4b are connected to the counting personal computer 5 and further to the competition headquarters personal computer 6 through a communication line.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the measurement points of a marathon course that is normally used. Therefore, as shown in the figure, the start point of the marathon course, 5 km point, 10
Carpet-like antennas are installed at each of the 40 km point and the goal point. When marathon runners 1a and 1b with RC chips 3a and 3b attached to shoes pass through carpet-shaped antennas 2a and 2b provided at a measurement point on the course, radio waves from these antennas 2a and 2b cause RC chips. 3a, 3
The ID (corresponding to the bib number) of the marathon runner registered in b is read, and the antenna 2a,
The ID information and the transit time at the measurement point are recorded on the measurement point computers 4a and 4b connected to 2b. Next, the ID information and the passage time of the marathon runner recorded in each measurement point personal computer 4a, 4b are transmitted to the personal computer 5 in near real time by a wired or wireless communication means and are aggregated. Furthermore, the contents of the total are also recorded by using the wired or wireless means.
It will be possible to announce the results in real time by sending the results to, storing the information and using it to support the operation of the tournament.

On the other hand, by connecting the above-mentioned measuring system using the RC chip to a mail server, the marathon is addressed to the mail address registered in advance for each marathon runner ID (for example, the mail address of a marathon runner's supporter). A system has also been put into practical use that delivers the run time at the runner's measurement point and the lap time at the measurement point by e-mail. Practical use of such a measurement system at marathon events will enable accurate time measurement, and supporters will be able to hear the progress of marathon runners in near real time, providing new services. Therefore, the marathon event can be more exciting.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in order to further increase the enjoyment as a supporter when cheering for a marathon event, in order to know more about the situation of the marathon runners that he / she is cheering on, the If the video of the marathon runner is provided, it will be more realistic and interesting and enjoyable. Therefore, in order to satisfy the above-described requirements, it is an object of the present invention to construct a camera-captured image providing system that easily provides marathon runner images to many supporters.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a camera photographed image providing system according to the present invention has the following configuration. The camera photographed image providing system according to claim 1, wherein an RC chip storing ID information for identifying an object to be measured moving on a predetermined path and an antenna arranged at each measurement point on the path. R to attach the measurement object
A measuring means for reading the ID information from the C chip and recording it together with the transit time, a totaling means for totaling the data from the plurality of measuring means, a storing means for accumulating the recorded data of the totaling means, and a reading means for reading the ID information. A camera for photographing the DUT, photographed image data and the ID
An image storage server that stores information and the passage time,
A mail server for transmitting electronic mail, the mail server passing through the Internet to a mail receiving means such as a personal computer or a mobile phone whose mail address is registered in advance, at each measurement point of the measured object. It is configured to transmit the time and the captured image.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera-captured image providing system in which an RC chip storing ID information for identifying an object to be measured moving on a predetermined route and an antenna arranged at each measurement point on the route. RC to be attached via DUT
Measuring means for reading the ID information from the chip and recording it together with the transit time, totaling means for totaling the data from the plurality of measuring means, accumulating means for accumulating the recorded data of the totaling means, and the corresponding data at the time of reading the ID information. A camera for photographing the measurement object, an image accumulation server for accumulating the photographed image data, the ID information, and the passage time, W
A web page browsing means such as a personal computer or a mobile phone is provided with a web server for providing an eb page.
The web server is accessed via the Internet so that the transit time and the photographed image of each measured point of the object to be measured can be browsed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the camera image providing system, wherein the image is a moving image.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the camera photographed image providing system, the object to be measured is a marathon runner and the route is a marathon course.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera photographed image providing system, wherein the measuring means, the totaling means, the accumulating means, the camera, the image accumulating server, the mail server or the Web.
The server and the LAN are connected to each other, and the LAN is connected to the Internet via an unauthorized access preventing means such as a firewall.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a camera-captured image providing system according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a designated image photographed using a still image camera in synchronization with the passage of a marathon runner is sent to a person on the Internet together with a predetermined mail via an image storage server, and is registered in advance. The feature is that the image of the designated marathon runner can be provided to the supporters of the marathon event with the lap time or goal time based on the ID information.

To explain the configuration of FIG. 1, at each measurement point provided on the marathon course (path), a carpet-like shape for detecting passage of the RC chip 3 attached to the shoes of the marathon runner (object to be measured) 1 or the like. The antenna 2 is installed, and this antenna 2 is a measuring point personal computer (measuring means) 4 for recording the ID information registered in the RC chip 3 and the transit time.
And the still image camera 7 installed at a position where the marathon runner 1 passing through the measurement point can be photographed. Furthermore, each measurement point personal computer 4 is connected to a totalization personal computer (totaling means) 5 that aggregates the ID information and the transit time of each measurement point via a wired or wireless communication line, and the totalization personal computer 5 is also wired or wireless. Connect to the event headquarters computer (storage means) 6 installed at the event headquarters that operates the marathon event via the communication line.

The tournament headquarters personal computer 6 constructs a LAN 11 together with a Web server 8 for providing home page data, a mail server 9 for sending and receiving mail, and an image storage server 10 for storing and providing images, and the LAN 11 is externally connected. Firewall to prevent unauthorized access to
Connect to the Internet 13 via 2. On the other hand, the still image camera 7 is connected to the image storage server 10 via a communication line. Therefore, the supporter of the marathon is the browsing personal computer 14 or the mobile phone 15 compatible with the Internet.
Is connected to the Internet 13 to receive information.

Next, the operation of FIG. 1 will be described. When the marathon runner 1 wearing the RC chip 3 on his shoes passes over the carpet-shaped antenna 2 installed at each measurement point, the radio waves constantly transmitted from the antenna 2 are transmitted by the marathon runner registered in the RC chip. Read ID information. The antenna 2 acquires the ID information and at the same time I
The D information and its acquisition time (passing time) information are sent to the measuring point personal computer 4 and the still image camera 7. When the still image camera 7 receives the ID information and the transit time information, the still image camera 7 photographs the marathon runner 1 passing through the vicinity of the antenna 2, and the measurement point information indicating which position on the marathon course the measurement point is and the marathon runner ID. The information, the transit time information, and the captured image data are sent to the image storage server 10 via the communication line.

On the other hand, the measuring point personal computer 4 records the measuring point information, the marathon runner ID information, and the transit time information inside the personal computer, and sends them to the totaling personal computer 5 via the communication line. Further, the counting personal computer 5 sends the measurement point information, the marathon runner ID information, and the passing time information to the tournament headquarters personal computer 6 via the communication line. The competition headquarters personal computer 6 stores the received measurement point information, marathon runner ID information, and passage time information in a database. The image storage server 10 stores measurement point information, marathon runner ID information, passage time information, and captured image data in a database.

FIG. 2 shows the contents of the database in which still images are stored in the image storage server in the camera-captured image providing system according to the present invention. This figure shows the contents of the database of start points, 5 km points, and goal points as measurement points. Image data taken by a still image camera each time the ID information of a marathon runner sent from each measurement point is detected, The transit time information at that time is stored for each measurement point. The web server 8 is equipped with a screen that allows input of measurement point information and marathon runner ID information. The function of acquiring and displaying the passing time at the desired measurement point from the event headquarters PC 6 and the desired marathon It has a function of acquiring the photographed image of the runner from the image storage server 10 and displaying it. Therefore, the Web server 8
Persons accessing the site are the measurement points and marathon runner IDs.
By specifying the information, the photographed image of the marathon runner corresponding to the corresponding passage time can be viewed.

The event headquarters personal computer 6 has a mail address corresponding to the marathon runner ID information registered in advance,
A mail body composed of predetermined measurement point information, marathon runner ID information, and passage time information is created, and an Internet mail is transmitted via the mail server 9. Furthermore,
In addition to the measurement point information, the marathon runner ID information, and the transit time information, a predetermined photographed image can be attached to the Internet mail in response to a request from the registrant of the mail address. Therefore, the recipient of the Internet mail can know the passing time and the still image at each measurement point of the marathon runner in near real time. The format of the image captured by the still image camera 7 is J, which is used for data compression of the still image.
PEG can be used.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the camera-captured image providing system according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a designated image taken by using a video camera is sent to a corresponding person on the Internet together with a predetermined mail via an image storage server. Based on pre-registered ID information, a marathon is executed. The feature is that it is possible to provide moving images (still images are also possible) of the designated marathon runners to the supporters of the tournament by adding lap time or goal time.

Explaining the configuration of FIG. 3, a carpet-shaped antenna 2 for detecting passage of an RC chip 3 attached to shoes of the marathon runner 1 is installed at each measurement point provided on the marathon course. The antenna 2 is RC
Measurement point PC 4 for recording ID information registered in the chip 3 and passage time, and a video camera 1 installed at a position where the marathon runner 1 passing through the measurement point can be photographed.
6 and are connected. Furthermore, each measurement point PC 4
Connected to a personal computer 5 that aggregates ID information and transit times at each measurement point via a wired or wireless communication line, and the personal computer 5 also operates a marathon event via a wired or wireless communication line. Connect to the event headquarters PC 6 installed at the event headquarters.

The tournament headquarters personal computer 6 constructs a LAN 11 together with a Web server 8 for providing homepage data, a mail server 9 for sending and receiving mails, and an image storage server 10 for storing and providing images, and the LAN 11 is externally connected. Firewall to prevent unauthorized access to
Connect to the Internet 13 via 2. On the other hand, the video camera 16 is connected to the image storage server 10 via a communication line. Therefore, the supporter of the marathon is the browsing personal computer 14 or the mobile phone 15 compatible with the Internet.
Is connected to the Internet 13 to receive information.

Next, the operation of FIG. 3 will be described. When the marathon runner 1 wearing the RC chip 3 on his shoes passes over the carpet-shaped antenna 2 installed at each measurement point, the radio waves constantly transmitted from the antenna 2 are transmitted by the marathon runner registered in the RC chip. Read ID information. The antenna 2 acquires the ID information and at the same time I
The D information and its acquisition time (passing time) information are sent to the measuring point personal computer 4, and only the acquisition time is sent to the video camera 16. When the moving image camera 16 receives the passage time of the marathon runner who first passed the predetermined measurement point, the moving image camera 16 starts capturing a moving image. The passing time of the marathon runners in the second place and below is unnecessary, so it is discarded, shooting is continued until a preset time, and the shooting ends at that time. Marathon runners who do not pass by the designated time are considered to have withdrawn. The shooting speed of a moving image, for example, one image shooting per second or ten images shooting per second is set in advance in the moving image camera 16, and the shooting image is
MPEG, which is a digital data format in which the amount of information is compressed
1, MPEG2, MPEG4, Motion JPEG
Etc. to the image storage server 10 via a communication line.

On the other hand, the measuring point personal computer 4 records the measuring point information, the ID information of the marathon runner, and the passing time information inside the personal computer, and sends them to the totaling personal computer 5 via the communication line. Further, the counting personal computer 5 sends the measurement point information, the marathon runner ID information, and the passing time information to the tournament headquarters personal computer 6 via the communication line. The competition headquarters personal computer 6 stores the received measurement point information, marathon runner ID information, and passage time information in a database. The image storage server 10 stores the measurement point information and the captured moving image data in the database, and also sets the shooting start time of each measurement point at the competition headquarters personal computer 6
It is acquired from and stored in the database.

FIG. 4 shows the contents of a database in which moving images are stored in the image storage server in the second embodiment of the camera-captured image providing system according to the present invention. This figure shows
The contents of the database of the start point, 5km point, and goal point are shown as the measurement points. At each measurement point, the shooting starts when the first marathon runner passes, and one image is taken per second until the predetermined time. The shooting start time is stored. The image storage server 10 is equipped with an image editing tool for cutting out a moving image (a still image is also possible) at a designated time at a corresponding measurement point when a measurement point and a time are designated.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method of cutting out a moving image from a moving image stored by an image storage server in the camera-captured image providing system according to the present invention. In the case of cutting out a moving image as shown in the figure, when a desired measurement point and a specified time are input to the image storage server as a moving image request, the image storage server displays a moving image as, for example, (specified time-1 second). ~ Specified time + 1 second), a moving image having a predetermined time width is cut out and output. In Fig. 5, if 0 hours 15 minutes 02 seconds is specified at the measurement point of 5 km, the moving image requires 0 hours 15 minutes 02 seconds ± 1 second, so the image editing tool uses the image data stored as the 5 km point. N
o. 2, No. 3, No. 4 is cut out and output. As described above, the image editing tool has a function of calculating from the shooting start time and the shooting speed of the measurement point and cutting out the corresponding image.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a method of cutting out a still image from a moving image stored by an image storage server in the camera-captured image providing system according to the present invention. When a still image is cut out as shown in the figure, a desired measurement point and a predetermined time are input as a still image request to the image storage server. In Fig. 6, 0 hours 1 at the measurement point of 5 km
Since 5 minutes 02 seconds was specified, the image editing tool is 5 km
The image data No. stored as a point. 3 is cut out and output.

The Web server 8 has a screen for inputting measurement point information and marathon runner ID information, and has a function of acquiring and displaying the passing time at the desired measurement point from the event headquarters PC 6. It has a function of acquiring a corresponding moving image or a still image from the image storage server 10 and displaying the moving image at a designated passage time at a desired measurement point. Therefore, the access person of the Web server 8 is
By specifying the measurement point and the ID information of the marathon runner, the photographed image of the marathon runner corresponding to the corresponding passage time can be viewed.

[0028] The competition headquarters personal computer 6 is sent to the mail address corresponding to the marathon runner ID information registered in advance.
A mail body composed of predetermined measurement point information, marathon runner ID information, and passage time information is created, and an Internet mail is transmitted via the mail server 9. Furthermore,
In addition to the measurement point information, the marathon runner ID information and the transit time information, a predetermined moving image is sent to the Internet email in response to the request from the registrant of the email address.
Or it is possible to attach a still image. Therefore, the recipient of the Internet mail can know the passing time and the moving image or the still image at each measurement point of the marathon runner in near real time.
The format of the image taken by the video camera 16 is
MPEG1, MPEG used for video data compression
2, MPEG4, Motion JPEG can be used. The example in which the camera-captured image providing system is applied to the measurement system of the marathon event has been described above as an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, a commemorative photo providing service at a theme park, etc., and shooting of festival festivals and floats It can be applied to an image providing service of camera shooting at various events, such as distribution after being distributed.

[0029]

As described above, according to the inventions of claims 1 to 5, the transit time and the image of the object to be measured can be viewed in real time by a personal computer, a mobile phone or the like connected to the Internet. Greatly effective in enjoying the event more interestingly. Furthermore, the invention according to claim 2 can be enjoyed as a commemorative image by accessing the image storage server and knowing the passing time and the image of itself even after the end of the event, etc., and when the marathon event is used, the record is improved. It is also possible to make the training information necessary for.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a camera-captured image providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a content of a database in which still images are stored in an image storage server in the camera-captured image providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system configuration diagram showing a second embodiment in the camera-captured image providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a content of a database in which moving images are stored in an image storage server in the camera-captured image providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method of extracting a moving image from a moving image accumulated by an image accumulation server in the camera-captured image providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a method of extracting a still image from a moving image accumulated by an image accumulation server in the camera-captured image providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a system configuration diagram of time measurement in a conventional marathon event.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing measurement points of a marathon course that is normally used.

[Explanation of symbols]

Marathon runners 1, 1a, 1b, 2, 2a, 2
b ・ ・ Antenna, 3, 3a, 3b ・ ・ RC chip, 4, 4a, 4b ・ ・ Measurement point computer, 5 ・ ・ Totaling computer, 6 ・ ・ Competition headquarters computer, 7
..Still image camera, 8 ... Web server, 9 ... Mail server, 10 ... Image storage server, 11 ... LAN, 12 ...
.Firewalls, 13 ... Internet,
14 ... Browse PC, 15 ... Mobile phone,
16 ... Video camera

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 7/16 H04N 7/16 Z F term (reference) 5B050 AA08 BA10 BA12 BA15 CA08 DA02 FA02 FA19 GA08 5B058 CA15 KA02 KA04 YA12 5B075 ND06 PQ29 UU24 5C054 AA01 AA05 CA04 CH04 DA07 DA09 EA07 EG05 FA04 FE26 GB05 GD06 HA06 HA16 5C064 BA01 BB05 BC11 BC18 BC20 BC23 BD08

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An RC chip storing ID information for identifying an object to be measured moving on a predetermined path, and an RC chip to be attached to the object to be measured via an antenna arranged at each measurement point on the path. Measuring means for reading the ID information from the measuring means and recording it together with the transit time; a summing means for summing the data from a plurality of measuring means; a storing means for accumulating the recorded data of the counting means; A camera for photographing an object, an image accumulation server for accumulating the photographed image data, the ID information, and the passage time, and a mail server for transmitting an electronic mail, the mail server via the Internet Then, the e-mail receiving means such as a personal computer or a mobile phone that has registered an e-mail address in advance records the transit time at each measurement point of the measured object and photographs it. A camera-captured image providing system characterized by transmitting the captured image. 2. An RC chip storing ID information for identifying an object to be measured moving on a predetermined path, and an RC chip to be attached to the object to be measured via an antenna arranged at each measurement point on the path. Measuring means for reading the ID information from the measuring means and recording it together with the transit time; a summing means for summing the data from a plurality of measuring means; a storing means for accumulating the recorded data of the counting means; A camera for photographing an object, an image accumulation server for accumulating photographed image data, the ID information, and the passage time, and a web server for providing a web page, wherein the web server stores the image Based on the data accumulated in the server, a web page including the transit time at the measurement point of the DUT and the captured image is provided on the network. A system for providing images taken by a camera, which is characterized in that 3. The camera-captured image providing system according to claim 1, wherein the image is a moving image. 4. The camera photographed image providing system according to claim 1, wherein the object to be measured is a marathon runner, and the route is a marathon course. 5. The measuring means, the totalizing means, the accumulating means, the camera, the image accumulating server, the mail server or the Web server are connected to each other via a LAN, and the LAN is used.
The camera-captured image providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the camera is connected to the Internet via an unauthorized access prevention means such as a firewall.