JP2003244516A - Imaging system, imaging device, and device and method for remotely controlling imaging - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operational convenience of an imaging device by making the device remotely controllable. <P>SOLUTION: The image recording section 22 of the imaging device 2 records one-frame of imaged signals on a recording medium 22a according to a recording request transmitted from an imaging remote controller 3 by radio. Consequently, the image recording operation of the imaging device 2 is controlled remotely by means of the remote controller 3. In addition, the acquired image acquiring section 32 of the remote controller 3 acquires the image signals taken by means of the imaging section 21 of the device 2, by transmitting a request for the images to the device 2 by radio and the acquired image signals are reproduced and displayed by means of the display section 33 of the remote controller 3. Consequently, the operator of the remote controller 3 can check the acquired image, before the imaging device 2 records the image. <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 an image pickup system for wirelessly remotely controlling an image pickup operation, an image pickup apparatus and an image pickup remote control apparatus constituting the image pickup system, and an image pickup remote control method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a digital still camera (hereinafter abbreviated as DSC) capable of easily carrying an image and recording it as digital data has become widespread. For DSC, not only the resolution and image quality have been improved year by year, but also various additional functions for recorded images, photographing operations, etc. have been proposed to improve convenience and commercial value.

As a function relating to a recorded image, for example, a function of directly transmitting to an external device via a cable makes it possible to transmit image data to a printer device or the like without passing through a PC (personal computer). ing. In addition, with the recent development of short-distance wireless communication technology such as Bluetooth, it has been considered to transfer image data wirelessly. Furthermore, a function of transmitting a captured image on the spot and displaying it on a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) has been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-2001
Japanese Patent No. 103409 discloses a system capable of wirelessly transmitting and displaying an image captured and recorded to a wristwatch.

As a function for photographing operation, a function of remotely controlling a shutter switch or the like using infrared communication or the like has been proposed instead of a self-timer function which has been conventionally provided. Such features are usually
It is realized by using a dedicated remote controller provided as an accessory of DSC.

[0005]

By the way, the above-mentioned D
The remote control function of the SC makes it possible to operate the shutter switch using a remote controller.
However, in that case, since it is not possible to shoot while adjusting the angle of view, it may not be possible to shoot an image as intended.

[0006] Further, as described above, a mobile phone or a PDA
It is possible to provide a short-range wireless communication function to a mobile terminal such as. Therefore, if such a portable terminal that is carried around on a daily basis can be used as a remote controller for the DSC, it is far more convenient than always carrying a dedicated remote controller together with the DSC.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup system capable of remotely controlling the image pickup apparatus and enhancing the convenience of the operation. Another object of the present invention is to provide an imaging device capable of remotely controlling the imaging operation and enhancing the convenience of the operation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an imaging remote control device which is more convenient when operating the imaging device remotely.

[0009]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in an image pickup system for remotely controlling an image pickup operation by radio, picked-up image signals sequentially output in accordance with image pickup by an image pickup device are provided. An image pickup having a picked-up image transmitting unit that wirelessly transmits in response to the received transmission request, and an image recording unit that records one frame of the picked-up image signal on a recording medium when a recording request for the picked-up image is received. An apparatus, a captured image acquisition unit that wirelessly transmits the transmission request to acquire the captured image signal, a display unit that reproduces and displays the acquired captured image signal, and an image recording request that wirelessly transmits the recording request. And an imaging remote control device having means.

In such an image pickup system, the image recording means of the image pickup apparatus records one frame of the picked-up image signal on the recording medium in response to the recording request wirelessly transmitted from the image pickup remote controlling apparatus. As a result, the image recording operation in the imaging device is remotely controlled by the imaging remote control device. Further, the captured image acquisition means of the imaging remote control device wirelessly transmits a transmission request of a captured image signal to the imaging device to acquire the request, and the acquired captured image signal is reproduced / displayed by the display means. As a result, the imaged remote control device can view the imaged image before the image recording operation in the imager.

Further, according to the present invention, in an image pickup device in which an image pickup operation is wirelessly remotely controlled, an image pickup image signal which is sequentially output in accordance with an image pickup by an image pickup element is wirelessly transmitted in response to a received transmission request. An imaging apparatus comprising: an image transmitting unit; and an image recording unit that records one frame of the captured image signal on a recording medium when a recording request for the captured image is received wirelessly. It

In such an image pickup apparatus, the image recording means records one frame of the picked-up image signal on the recording medium in response to the wirelessly transmitted recording request. As a result, the image recording operation in the imaging device is remotely controlled. Also,
The captured image signal is wirelessly transmitted by the captured image transmission means in response to the transmission request. As a result, it is possible to browse the image captured before the recording operation is requested in the device that performs the remote operation.

Further, according to the present invention, in an image pickup remote control device for remotely operating an image pickup operation in the image pickup device, the image pickup device transmits the picked-up image signals sequentially output in accordance with the image pickup by the image pickup device in the image pickup device. A captured image acquisition unit that requests and acquires the captured image signal, a display unit that reproduces and displays the acquired captured image signal, and an image recording request unit that wirelessly transmits a recording request for an image captured by the imaging device. There is provided an imaging remote control device comprising:

In such an image pickup remote controlling apparatus, the image recording requesting means wirelessly transmits the image recording request in the image pickup apparatus, whereby the image recording operation in the image pickup apparatus can be remotely controlled. Further, the captured image signal is wirelessly acquired by the captured image acquisition unit with respect to the image capturing apparatus, and the captured image signal is reproduced / displayed by the display unit. Thus, the imaged image can be viewed before the image recording operation in the image pickup apparatus.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram for explaining the principle of the imaging system of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an image pickup system 1 of the present invention includes an image pickup device 2 for picking up and recording an image, and an image pickup remote control device 3 for remotely controlling the operation of the image pickup device 2.
Composed by. Further, all data transmission / reception between the image pickup apparatus 2 and the image pickup remote control apparatus 3 is performed wirelessly. The image capturing apparatus 2 is a device having an image capturing function and a recording function, such as a DSC or a digital video camera having a still image recording function. Further, the imaging remote control device 3 is preferably realized as a portable device such as a mobile phone, a PDA, or a wristwatch.

The image pickup device 2 photoelectrically converts incident light from a subject by an image pickup element and outputs an image signal.
1 and the image signal output from the imaging unit 21 to the recording medium 2
It has an image recording unit 22 for recording in 2a and a captured image transmitting unit 23 for wirelessly transmitting a captured image signal from the image capturing unit 21 to the remote imaging device 3. In addition, the imaging unit 21
The display unit 24 may be capable of displaying the image captured by or the image recorded in the recording medium 22a. Further, a recording image transmitting unit 25 that reads out the image signal recorded in the recording medium 22a and wirelessly transmits it to the imaging remote controlling apparatus 3 may be provided.

In the following description, the image signals sequentially output from the image pickup unit 21 will be referred to as a picked-up image signal, and the image signal recorded on the recording medium 22a by the image recording unit 22 will be referred to as a recorded image signal. And

The image pickup section 21 sequentially outputs picked-up image signals corresponding to incident light. The image recording unit 22 records one frame of the captured image signal from the imaging unit 21 as a digital signal of a predetermined data format in the recording medium 22a in response to a recording request wirelessly transmitted from the imaging remote control device 3.
Write in. As the recording medium 22a, for example, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, various disk media such as an FD (flexible disk), or the like can be applied.

The picked-up image transmission unit 23 wirelessly sends the picked-up image signal from the image pickup unit 21 in response to a transmission request sent from the image pickup remote control device 3 by wireless. At this time, for example, one frame of the sequentially output picked-up image signals is converted into thumbnail images whose image size is compressed and transmitted.

The display unit 24 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Cry).
stal display) and the like, and reproduces and displays captured image signals sequentially output from the image capturing unit 21. The image displayed at this time is called a camera through image and is used for adjusting the angle of view before recording the image. In addition, the display unit 24
Can also read, reproduce and display the recorded image signal on the recording medium 22a.

The recorded image transmission section 25 reads out a recorded image signal in the recording medium 22a and wirelessly transmits it in response to a transmission request transmitted from the imaging remote controlling apparatus 3 by radio. On the other hand, the imaging remote control device 3 acquires a captured image signal output from the image capturing unit 21 of the image capturing apparatus 2 wirelessly and a recording request unit 31 that wirelessly requests the recording operation of the captured image signal in the image capturing apparatus 2. Image acquisition unit 32
And a display unit 3 for reproducing and displaying the acquired captured image signal.
Have three. Further, the imaging device 2 may include a recording image acquisition unit 34 that wirelessly acquires the recording image signal recorded in the recording medium 22a.

The recording request unit 31 wirelessly transmits the recording request to the image pickup apparatus 2. As a result, the operation of recording the image captured by the image capturing apparatus 2 is remotely operated, and the captured image signal is recorded on the recording medium 22a.

The picked-up image acquisition unit 32 wirelessly transmits a transmission request for the picked-up image signal, and receives the picked-up image signal wirelessly transmitted from the picked-up image transmission unit 23 of the image pickup apparatus 2 in response to the transmission request. The captured image signal received is reproduced and displayed on the display unit 33. As a result, the camera through image of the imaging device 2 is displayed on the display unit 33.

The recorded image acquisition section 34 wirelessly transmits a transmission request for the recorded image signal to the image pickup apparatus 2, and the recorded image signal wirelessly transmitted from the recorded image transmission section 25 of the image pickup apparatus 2 in response to the transmission request. To receive. The received recorded image signal can be reproduced and displayed on the display unit 33.

In such an image pickup system 1, it becomes possible to remotely control the recording operation of the picked-up image in the image pickup device 2 from the image pickup remote control device 3 and display the camera through image in the image pickup device 2. it can. Therefore, the user of the imaging remote control device 3 can adjust the angle of view by acquiring the camera through image and requesting the camera through image before requesting the recording operation. Can be recorded.

Further, the image signal recorded in the recording medium 22a by remote control can be wirelessly transmitted and acquired by the imaging remote control device 3. This recorded image signal is
For example, by displaying it on the display unit 33, it is possible to confirm the image actually recorded. Also, if the camera through image is acquired as a thumbnail image,
It is possible to acquire a recorded image signal that has not been subjected to data processing such as compression, and save the acquired image signal.

Next, a specific example of a signal transmission / reception procedure for remotely controlling the image recording operation will be described with reference to FIG.
First, in the image pickup apparatus 2, the picked-up image signals from the image pickup unit 21 are sequentially output, and a standby state for receiving a signal wirelessly from the image pickup remote control apparatus 3 is set. At this time, the camera through image may be displayed on the display unit 24.

In this state, in the image capturing remote control device 3, the captured image acquisition section 32 transmits a transmission request for the captured image signal. The image pickup unit 21 receives this transmission request,
The picked-up image transmitting unit 23 acquires the picked-up image signal from the image pickup unit 21 at this time, converts the picked-up image signal into, for example, a thumbnail image signal, and then transmits the picked-up image remote control device 3. In the imaging remote control device 3, the captured image signal from the imaging device 2 is received by the captured image acquisition unit 32, and the received captured image signal is reproduced / displayed on the display unit 33.

The request for transmitting the picked-up image signal can be arbitrarily sent based on the operation input by the user of the image pickup remote control device 3. The captured image acquisition unit 32 may also transmit the transmission request at regular time intervals. As a result, the user of the imaging remote control device 3 can
It is possible to always view the latest camera-through image without frequent operation input.

Next, a recording request for the picked-up image signal is transmitted from the recording request section 31 at an arbitrary timing. In the imaging device 2, when the recording request is received, the image recording unit 22 converts the captured image signal for one frame output from the imaging unit 21 at this time into a predetermined data format and stores it in the recording medium 22a. Will be recorded.

Next, in the image pickup remote control device 3, a transmission request for the recording image signal is transmitted from the recording image acquisition section 34 based on the operation input by the user. In the image pickup apparatus 2, when the transmission request is received, the recording image transmitting unit 25 transmits, for example, the image signal recorded immediately before to the recording medium 22.
It is read from a and transmitted to the imaging remote controlling apparatus 3.

In the image pickup remote control device 3, the recorded image signal from the image pickup device 2 is received by the recorded image acquisition section 34. The received recorded image signal is reproduced / displayed on the display unit 33, for example. Alternatively, it is recorded as an image file in a recording medium included in the imaging remote controlling apparatus 3.

When the image pickup apparatus 2 receives a request for recording the picked-up image signal on the recording medium 22a, not only the image recording operation is performed by the image recording section 22, but also the image output from the image pickup section 21 at this time. The image signal may be transmitted from the captured image transmission unit 23. The imaging remote control device 3 receives the captured image signal and displays it on the display unit 33, so that the recorded image can be immediately confirmed.

As described above, in the image pickup system 1 of the present invention, the image recording operation in the image pickup device 2 can be remotely controlled from the image pickup remote control device 3, and at that time, the image pickup remote control device 3 is operated through the camera. You can browse the images. Therefore, it is possible to take an image as intended by the user of the imaging remote control device 3, and convenience at the time of remote control is enhanced.

By the way, in such a system, the wireless communication procedure relating to the transfer of the picked-up image signal or the recorded image signal and the request for the recording operation as described above is performed by the image pickup apparatus 2 and the image pickup remote control apparatus 3. It can be realized by being specified between. The specification of the communication procedure can include data specifications of the image signal to be transferred.

The definition of such a communication procedure includes, for example, a wireless physical data transmission system, a protocol for packet transmission / reception using this data transmission system and link establishment, and a serial communication protocol performed according to these protocols. It may be specified in the upper layer of the communication protocol. Therefore, no matter what communication protocol is specified in the lower layer, the communication procedure described above is specified in the upper layer, thereby realizing the system of the present invention.

For example, Bluetooth can be considered as a wireless communication standard applicable to the image pickup system 1.
In Bluetooth, as a lower layer communication protocol,
BB (Baseband), LMP (Link Manager Protoco
l), L2CAP (Logic Link Control And Adaptation)
Protocol), SDP (Service Discovery Protoco
l), and RFCOMM (RF Communication Proto
col) etc. are specified.

In Bluetooth, a frequency hopping type spread spectrum system is adopted as a wireless data transmission / reception system. BB is a protocol that enables a physical RF (Radio Frequency) link between Bluetooth modules, and defines frequency hopping management, error correction for packets, and the like. LMP is a protocol for performing various settings related to communication links in the BB layer, and defines link establishment, device authentication, and the like. L2CAP is a protocol that operates in parallel with LMP to manage a logical connection with upper layer data.

SDP is a protocol for inquiring services and device information that can be provided by each other between the client and the server in the upper layer. RFCOMM is a conforming protocol that emulates a serial port. Furthermore, in Bluetooth, this RFCOM
OBEX (Object Exchange Protocol) that defines the procedure (connection, transmission, disconnection, etc.) for object data exchange in the presentation layer on the M layer
Is specified.

Therefore, this OBEX layer or RF
On the COMM layer, the transfer procedure of the captured image signal as described above, the request procedure of the recording operation for the recording medium 22a,
By defining the transfer procedure of the recorded image signal,
The present invention can be realized.

The specifications for transmitting and receiving image data using Bluetooth include BIP (Basic Imaging).
Profile) is specified. According to the Bluetooth standard, Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group)
In the above, the exchange of signals between corresponding devices is defined as a profile, and in order to communicate between the devices, it is necessary that both sides correspond to the same profile. BIP is a profile for transmitting and receiving image data on the OBEX layer, and the above communication procedure is defined as a standard, and is most desirable as a communication protocol applied to the above system.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the case where the Bluetooth standard BIP (version 0.95) is used will be specifically described. Here, a DS is used as the imaging device 2.
C, a configuration example of an imaging system when a mobile phone is applied as the imaging remote control device 3 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal structure of a DSC applicable to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the DSC 4 constituting the imaging system includes a camera block 41 having an imaging function and a camera signal processing LSI 4 for performing signal processing such as analog-digital conversion of a captured image signal.
2 and an image processing unit 4 for performing compression / expansion processing of image signals
3 and a memory 44 for temporarily storing image data and the like.
And a memory card 45a which is a removable semiconductor memory
An R / W (reader / writer) 45 that writes and reads data to and from a display unit 46 that displays an image on a monitor,
A control microcomputer 47 for controlling the entire apparatus is provided, and each of these is connected to the bus. Further, the control microcomputer 47 is connected with an input unit 48 for a user's operation input and a Bluetooth module 49 for wireless communication with an external device.

The camera block 41 includes an optical system, an iris, a shutter, and a CCD (Charge) for the incident light from the subject.
It is composed of an imaging device such as a Coupled Device).
The camera signal processing unit 42 performs conversion of an output signal from the image sensor into a digital signal, various image quality corrections, signal conversion processing, and the like. The image processing unit 43 performs compression / expansion processing of an image signal, conversion processing of data specifications such as resolution, etc. based on a predetermined data format. The memory 44 temporarily stores various signals including an image signal according to the processing in each functional block.

The R / W 45 writes the output image signal from the image processing section 43 in the set memory card 45a. Further, the image data recorded in the memory card 45a is read and sent to the control microcomputer 47 and the image processing unit 43. The display unit 46 is, for example, an LCD (Liquid Cry).
stal display) and displays a camera through image or an image read from the memory card 45a.

The control microcomputer 47 is a control processing unit for controlling each circuit block of the DSC 4, and an instruction input signal from the input unit 48 or a Bluetooth module 49.
Based on the control signal received from the external device via
Control each circuit block. The input unit 48 is configured by, for example, a shutter release button for operating the shutter of the camera block 41, a selection switch for selecting an operation mode, and the like, and sends an instruction input signal to the control microcomputer 47 according to an operation by the user. Output.

The Bluetooth module 49 is, for example, an antenna and an RF transceiver for transmitting and receiving a signal by a frequency hopping type spread spectrum system,
It is configured by a processor that performs baseband processing, interface processing with the control microcomputer 47, and the like, and performs wireless communication with an external device such as a mobile phone according to a communication procedure controlled by the control microcomputer 47.

In such a DSC 4, the control microcomputer 4
Under the control of 7, the image signal output from the camera block 41 is displayed on the display unit 4 via the camera signal processing unit 42.
6 and is displayed as a camera through image. Further, when the shutter of the camera block 41 is released by the instruction input signal from the input unit 48, the captured image signal is sent from the camera signal processing unit 42 to the image processing unit 43 and data compression processing is performed, and in the R / W 45. It is recorded in the memory card 45a.

Further, the image data recorded in the memory card 45a can be read out, subjected to decompression processing by the image processing section 43, and then displayed on the display section 46. Further, as will be described later, in accordance with a control signal received from an external device via the Bluetooth module 49, a recording process of a captured image signal, a camera through image, or a wireless transmission process of an image read from the memory card 45a, etc. Is done.

Next, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal structure of a portable telephone capable of remotely controlling the DSC 4. The mobile phone 5 shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the DSC 4 shown in FIG.
A Bluetooth module 51 having the same function as the Bluetooth module 49 of the above, a wireless module 52 for communication for wireless communication in accordance with a predetermined wireless communication standard for telephone communication, a control microcomputer 53 for controlling the entire device, and a user A voice input / output unit 54 for inputting / outputting voice for a telephone call, an image processing unit 55 for performing various data processing on an image signal, a display unit 56 for displaying an image, and an input for operation input by a user. It is configured by the unit 57.

The Bluetooth module 51 performs wireless data transmission / reception with the DSC 4 under the control of the control microcomputer 53. Wireless module 52 for communication
Is equipped with an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio waves, a modulation / demodulation circuit, etc., and is controlled by the control microcomputer 53.
Wireless data transmission / reception is performed with an external base station for telephone communication (not shown). The control microcomputer 53 is the mobile phone 5
The control processing unit controls each circuit block, and controls the operation in each circuit block based on a control signal from the input unit 57 or the Bluetooth module 51.

The voice input / output unit 54 has a speaker and a microphone, reproduces the voice signal supplied from the control microcomputer 53 and outputs the voice, and converts the user's voice into the voice signal to control the control microcomputer 53. Output to. The image processing unit 55 performs data conversion processing such as expansion processing of the image signal received by the Bluetooth module 51. The display unit 56 includes a monitor such as an LCD and reproduces an output image signal from the image processing unit 55 to display an image.
The input unit 57 includes various button switches and the like for telephone call operation and remote operation of the DSC 4, and supplies a control signal based on an operation input from the user to the control microcomputer 53.

The mobile phone 5 has a telephone call function based on different wireless communication standards and a remote control function for the DSC 4. When the telephone call function is executed, based on the operation of the input unit 57, after the wireless communication connection with the base station is established in the call wireless module 52, the radio signal from the base station is received, and the demodulation processing and the like are performed. Done. Then, the output audio signal is supplied to the audio input / output unit 54 via the control microcomputer 53, is subjected to decoding processing, and audio is output from the speaker. Along with this, the voice data input from the microphone of the voice input / output unit 54 is converted into a predetermined data format, and then supplied to the wireless communication module 52 via the control microcomputer 53 to the base station. It is transmitted wirelessly.

On the other hand, when executing the remote control function for the DSC 4, the wireless communication connection with the DSC 4 is established in the Bluetooth module 51 based on the operation of the input unit 57. Then, the image signal received from the DSC 4 is expanded by the image processing unit 55, and then displayed on the display unit 56. Further, the image recording operation in the DSC 4 can be controlled.

In the image pickup system composed of the DSC 4 and the mobile phone 5 as described above, communication is performed using the BIP of the Bluetooth standard, as described above. In this BIP, specifications for image transmission / reception, remote control of a camera, etc. are defined as features according to the purpose at the application level. In order to remotely operate the DSC 4 from the mobile phone 5, it is necessary that both of them support the remote camera feature.

In "Remote Camera Feature", OBE
Requests and transmissions of data on the X layer are
It is specified by a command called "Function" that uses "t" and "Push". Of these, “Get Mo
"nitoring Image Function", and "Get Image Function" can be used to request transmission of image data.

In the mobile phone 5, "Get Monitoring I
When the "mage Function" is executed, the DS that received it
At C4, the camera through image is converted into a thumbnail image and transmitted to the mobile phone 5. The data format of this thumbnail image is defined as JPEG data having a pixel number of 160 × 120. Also, `` Get Moni
By setting the flag (Store Flag) for the recording request to "0x01" when the "toring Image Function" is executed, the shutter operation in the DSC 4 and the recording operation on the recording medium such as the memory card 45a can be requested. Furthermore, by executing “Get Image Function”, it is possible to request transmission of the recorded image data.

Hereinafter, taking as an example a case where a user holding the mobile phone 5 in his hand fixes the DSC 4 to a tripod or the like, the mobile phone 5 and the DSC 4 at the time of shooting / recording one image are taken. The processing in each case will be described.

First, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of the imaging remote control processing in the mobile phone 5. Figure 4
At the start of the flowchart shown in FIG.
Then, the operation mode for performing remote operation on the DSC 4 is set. In step S401, the control microcomputer 5
By the control of 3, the Bluetooth module 51 establishes the Bluetooth connection with the DSC 4.

In step S402, the search function based on the SDP (Service Discovery Profile) of the lower layer is used to obtain support information indicating whether or not BIP is supported from the DSC 4. Step S
In 403, from the support information acquired, DSC
In step 4, it is checked whether BIP is supported and whether "Remote Camera Feature" is supported. Then, if these are supported, the process proceeds to step S404, and if they are not supported, the process proceeds to step S410.

In step S404, O in BIP
Establishes a connection on the BEX layer. In step S405, in response to the operation input by the user, “Store Flag
= 0x00 ”and“ Get Monitoring Image Functio
n ”is executed to request the DSC 4 to transmit a camera through image. In step S406, the image signal of the camera-through image is received from the DSC 4, and the image processing unit 5
After the decoding processing in 5, the display unit 56 reproduces and displays.

The user browses the camera through image displayed on the display unit 56 to adjust the angle of view, and requests the shutter operation from the input unit 57 when the position of the subject is displayed correctly. To do. Accordingly, in step S407, "Store Flag = 0x01" is set, "Get Monitoring Image Function" is executed, and D
An image recording operation is required for SC4. On the other hand, if the angle of view is not adjusted correctly by browsing the camera through image, finely adjust the position of the subject,
Browse new camera through images. That is, the process returns from step S407 to step S405 until the recording operation is requested, and steps S405 and S406.
The process of is repeated.

When the image recording operation is requested in step S407, the image signal is recorded in the memory card 45a in the DSC 4 and the camera through image at this time is wirelessly transmitted. Then, in step S408, the camera through image is received and reproduced and displayed on the display unit 56. Thereby, the recorded image can be confirmed.

Since the image received at this time is a thumbnail image with the number of pixels reduced, in order to obtain the recorded complete image signal, in step S409, the image is received according to the user's operation input. "Get Image Functi
“On” is executed, a request to acquire the recorded image signal is transmitted, and this is received. The received recorded image signal may be recorded in a memory (not shown), or may be reproduced by the display unit 56 after being decoded by the image processing unit 55. In step S410, the connection with the DSC 4 is disconnected.

In the above flow chart, the camera-through image transmission request and display processing in steps S405 and S406 should be automatically performed at regular intervals until the recording operation request is issued in step S407. May be. As a result, the user can automatically browse the latest camera through image without performing an input operation until the shutter operation is requested.

Next, FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the flow of image recording processing in the DSC 4 until one image is recorded by remote control. In step S501, a Bluetooth connection is established by receiving a signal radio wave from the mobile phone 5 and responding to it. In step S502, support information indicating that BIP and "Remote Camera Feature" are supported is notified in response to a request from the mobile phone 5. In step S503, the OBEX connection by BIP is established with the mobile phone 5.

In step S504, a command for requesting a camera through image, that is, "Get Monitoring Image
Function "is received. In step S505,
An image signal for transmission to the mobile phone 5 is generated. At this time, one of the captured image signals from the camera signal processing unit 42
The frames are extracted and converted into a predetermined thumbnail image signal in the image processing unit 43. Step S50
At 6, the thumbnail image is transmitted from the Bluetooth module 49, and the camera through image is transmitted to the mobile phone 5.

At the same time, in step S507, it is determined whether or not a recording flag (Store Flag) is set from the data received in step S504, and "Store
If "Flag = 0x00", the process returns to step S504,
The next "Get Monitoring Function" is in standby for reception. If “Store Flag = 0x01”, the process proceeds to step S508. In step S508, the captured image signal for one frame extracted in step S505 is converted into a predetermined data format in the image processing unit 43 and sent to the R / W 45, and the memory card 4
5a.

Thereafter, in step S509, a request for transmitting the recording image signal, that is, "Get Image Function" is made.
In step S508, the recording image signal recorded in the memory card 45a is read out and transmitted from the Bluetooth module 49 to the mobile phone 5. In step S510, the connection with the mobile phone 5 is disconnected.

In the above embodiment, the image recording operation in the DSC 4 is performed by the communication procedure defined by BIP.
While being operated remotely from the mobile phone 5, the camera-through image can be viewed on the mobile phone 5 at that time. Therefore, it is possible to shoot and record an image as intended by the user without moving from the installation position of the DSC 4 without looking through the viewfinder of the DSC 4 to adjust the angle of view.

In the above embodiment, Bluetooth is used as the wireless communication standard, but other than this, for example, a wireless LAN standard (IEEE 802.11b standard or the like, IE
EE: Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engin
eers) can also be used. However, when the Bluetooth standard and the wireless LAN standard are compared, although both use the same frequency band, the Bluetooth standard using the frequency hopping method is considered to be stronger against interference. Also, the Bluetooth standard is more advantageous in terms of power consumption, size of the wireless module, and the like. DSC4
For the remote control device, a portable device such as a PDA or a wristwatch is desirable, and therefore factors such as power consumption and the size of the wireless module are important.

The remote control function is provided not only as a dedicated device but also as a portable device such as a PDA or a wrist watch in addition to the mobile phone 5 described above.
More convenient. At the same time, an effect of increasing the commercial value of both the mobile device and the DSC 4 can be obtained.

[0074]

As described above, in the image pickup system of the present invention, the image recording operation in the image pickup device is remotely operated by the image pickup remote control device, and the image pickup remote control device responds to the transmission request of the picked-up image signal. It can be acquired and displayed. As a result, in the image capturing remote control device, the imaged image can be viewed before the image recording operation in the image capturing device, and an image as intended is captured and recorded at a position away from the image capturing device. It becomes possible.

In the image pickup apparatus of the present invention, the image recording operation is performed in response to the wirelessly transmitted recording request, and the captured image signal is wirelessly transmitted in response to the wireless transmission request. As a result, an image that has been captured before the recording operation is requested can be viewed on the device that performs remote control, and the user of this device can capture the image as intended at a position away from the imaging device. , It becomes possible to record.

Furthermore, in the image pickup remote control device of the present invention,
By wirelessly transmitting the image recording request in the imaging device, the image recording operation in the imaging device can be remotely controlled, and the captured image signal can be wirelessly acquired in response to the transmission request and reproduced / displayed. As a result, the imaged image can be viewed before the image recording operation in the imaging device, and at a position away from the imaging device,
It is possible to capture and record an image as intended.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram for explaining the principle of an imaging system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration example of a DSC applicable to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a mobile phone capable of remotely controlling a DSC.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of an imaging remote control process in a mobile phone.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of image recording processing in DSC until one image is recorded by remote control.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Imaging system, 2 ... Imaging device, 3 ... Imaging remote control device, 21 ... Imaging unit, 22 ... Image recording unit, 22
a ... recording medium, 23 ... captured image transmitting unit, 24 ... display unit, 25 ... recorded image transmitting unit, 31 ... recording request unit,
32: captured image acquisition unit, 33: display unit, 34: recorded image acquisition unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 7/18 H04Q 9/00 301E 5K048 H04Q 9/00 301 311T 311 H04N 101: 00 // H04N 101: 00 5/91 J (72) Wataru Tanimoto Wataru Tanimoto 6-35 Kita-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo F-term in Sony Corporation (reference) 5C022 AA13 AB65 AC03 AC12 AC42 AC72 5C052 AA01 AA16 AB09 DD02 EE08 5C053 FA08 FA23 FA27 KA04 LA02 5C054 AA01 AA05 CA04 CC02 CD03 DA07 EA01 EG03 FA00 GA04 GB02 5K027 AA11 FF01 FF22 HH29 5K048 AA14 BA10 DB01 EB02 EB15 FB15

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An image pickup system for wirelessly remotely controlling an image pickup operation, wherein picked-up image transmitting means wirelessly transmits picked-up image signals sequentially output in accordance with image pickup by an image pickup element in response to a received transmission request. And an image recording unit that records a frame of the captured image signal on a recording medium when a recording request for the captured image is received, and the captured image by wirelessly transmitting the transmission request. And a captured image acquisition unit that acquires a signal, a reproduction display unit that reproduces and displays the acquired captured image signal, and an image recording requesting unit that wirelessly transmits the recording request. An imaging system characterized by the following. 2. In the image pickup apparatus, the picked-up image transmitting means, when receiving the transmission request, transmits one frame of the picked-up image signal as a thumbnail image with a reduced image size. Item 1. The imaging system according to Item 1. 3. The image pickup system according to claim 2, wherein the picked-up image transmitting means wirelessly transmits the thumbnail image even when the recording request is received. 4. The image pickup system according to claim 1, wherein, in the image pickup remote control device, the picked-up image acquisition means transmits the recording request at regular time intervals. 5. The image capturing remote control device further includes a record image acquisition unit that transmits a record image transmission request for an image signal recorded in the image capture device to acquire the recorded image signal, When the imaging device receives the recording image transmission request,
The image pickup system according to claim 1, further comprising a recorded image transmission unit that reads out an image signal recorded in the recording medium immediately before that and transmits the image signal to the image pickup remote controlling apparatus. 6. A wireless physical data transmission method, a protocol for packet transmission / reception and link establishment using the data transmission method, and serial communication performed in accordance with the protocol between the imaging device and the imaging remote control device. 2. A communication protocol including a rule is defined, and the captured image signal transfer procedure is performed according to an object exchange protocol that defines a communication procedure for exchanging object data according to the communication protocol. Imaging system. 7. The imaging system according to claim 6, wherein a frequency hopping type spread spectrum system is used as the physical data transmission system. 8. The object exchange protocol is a Bluetooth standard BIP (Basic Imaging Profile).
The imaging system according to claim 7, wherein the imaging system is defined based on the following. 9. The imaging remote control device reproduces and outputs sound based on a received audio signal by a different wireless communication network different from a wireless communication network used with the imaging device, and collects sound. The image pickup system according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup system is a mobile phone further including a wireless communication unit for transmitting the voice signal obtained by the above. 10. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging remote control device is a portable information processing device further including an information processing unit that performs various kinds of information processing according to an input. 11. An image pickup apparatus for remotely image-taking an image pickup operation, and a picked-up image transmission means for wirelessly transmitting picked-up image signals sequentially output according to image pickup by an image pickup element in response to a received transmission request. An image recording unit that records one frame of the captured image signal on a recording medium when a recording request for the captured image is received wirelessly. 12. An imaging remote control device for wirelessly remotely controlling an imaging operation in an imaging device, wherein the imaging device requests to wirelessly transmit imaged image signals that are sequentially output as an image is captured by an image sensor. And a display unit that reproduces and displays the acquired captured image signal, and an image recording request unit that wirelessly transmits a recording request for the image captured by the imaging device. An imaging remote control device characterized by: 13. A remote imaging method for remotely controlling an imaging operation of an imaging device by wirelessly transmitting, in the imaging device, imaging image signals sequentially output in accordance with imaging by an imaging element. Requesting, and reproducing and displaying the captured image signal wirelessly transmitted from the imaging device in response to the request, and wirelessly transmitting a recording request for an image captured by the imaging device. Remote imaging method.