JP2004166001A - Digital camera rental system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera rental system capable of retrieving picture data without using a memory card and of using a digital camera when desired. <P>SOLUTION: A radio I/F 113 is provided for the digital camera 10 for rent, radio communication is enabled via a file server and an access point 201 of a management center 20, imaged picture data are stored in the file server. The stored picture data are written into a removable medium by a medium writer 205 or transmitted to a client PC through the Internet 215 from an Internet connecting part 209. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera rental system, and more particularly, to a digital camera rental system that includes services from lending a digital camera to transmitting photographed image data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, digital cameras have come into widespread use due to the development of semiconductor technology and digital image processing technology. In addition to improving the image quality, of course, since the image information is digital data, it becomes easy for the user to process the image himself or distribute it using the Internet. And high convenience (for example, Patent Document 1: JP-A-2002-183620).
[0003]
At present, the internal configuration of a general digital camera includes an input button for a user to set a mode and perform photographing, a liquid crystal panel for confirming a photographed image, an imaging device including a CCD and a CMOS sensor, and internal control. , A ROM storing an internal processing program, a RAM required for the internal processing by the program, a memory card for recording a captured image and enabling data to be taken out, and a battery Consists of
[0004]
In recent years, models that have a function of connecting a mobile phone to a digital camera and directly connecting to the Internet from the digital camera and distributing mail have appeared. From a different viewpoint, a mobile phone with a built-in image sensor and a function of transmitting an image captured by the image sensor has appeared, and such a mobile phone can be considered as a kind of digital camera.
[0005]
Considering an example of using a digital camera, for example, take a digital camera to a theme park, zoo, amusement park, etc. Written to a memory card equipped in the The digital camera usually compresses an image in a predetermined compression format and writes it on a memory card each time a shooting button is pressed. When the memory card becomes full, the user will replace it with an empty memory card.
[0006]
After the photographing, the user brings the memory card storing the photographed image to a DPE store or the like to request printing, or takes it home and downloads the image data from the digital camera to the personal computer and saves it on the hard disk. Or stored in another storage medium such as a CD-R or printed out by a printer.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-183620
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Looking at the usage of such a digital camera, when the number of shots increases, it is necessary to replace the memory card or to have a large capacity memory card in advance.
[0009]
At present, the increase in the capacity of memory cards is proceeding at a tremendous speed, but large-capacity memory cards are still expensive, and even if you have multiple memory cards, the total cost of purchasing them will only increase. It is not easy for digital camera users.
[0010]
As a method that does not require such a memory card, a method of transmitting a communication device such as a mobile phone to a digital camera separately by transmitting a communication device such as a mobile phone to a digital camera and transmitting the data via a public line is almost used. As a result, the data volume increases, especially for high-quality image data taken with a digital camera with a resolution of 1 million pixels or more, rather than having a mobile phone with imaging means. At present, it has not been widely used.
[0011]
On the other hand, many of the usage forms of digital cameras are often used when going to theme parks as described above, and in such places there is a demand to take pictures on the spot. However, there is also a problem that the digital camera itself cannot meet such needs because it is not low enough to be purchased on the spot when going to a theme park or the like.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in view of the above, and its purpose is to be able to retrieve image data shot by a digital camera without using a memory card, and to use the digital camera when necessary. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a digital camera rental system.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention according to claim 1 includes an imaging unit that captures an image, a wireless communication unit that wirelessly transmits and receives image data, and the image data that is captured by the imaging unit. A digital camera having control means for controlling transmission by the wireless communication means, and a wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with the wireless communication means of the digital camera, covering a predetermined range An access point provided for the digital camera, a management center having a management computer for registering information for identifying a user of the digital camera when renting the digital camera, and an access point connected to the access point and the management computer. The image data transmitted by the wireless communication means of the digital camera, A file server that classifies and stores the information for identifying the user, and an output computer that extracts the image data stored in the file server based on the information for identifying the user and outputs the image data using an arbitrary output medium. This is a digital camera rental system whose gist is to have.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a digital camera rental system to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a service flow in the digital camera rental system, and FIG. 3 shows an operation procedure inside the digital camera. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of image browsing using the Internet.
[0016]
First, an overall configuration of a digital camera rental system (hereinafter, simply referred to as a system) according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0017]
The present system 1 is roughly composed of three components: a digital camera 10, a management center 20, and an access point 30.
[0018]
The internal configuration of the digital camera 10 includes a CPU 101, an imaging unit 103, an operation unit 105, a display unit 107, a nonvolatile memory 109, a volatile memory 111, a wireless interface (I / F) 113, a wired I / F 115, and an antenna 117. Become.
[0019]
The CPU 101 is a microprocessor, and controls each function of the digital camera 10 by executing a predetermined program that is determined in advance by the CPU 101.
[0020]
The imaging unit 103 includes, for example, imaging elements such as a CCD area image sensor and a CMOS area image sensor, and an image processing processor such as a converter that amplifies an image signal captured by the imaging element and converts the signal into digital data.
[0021]
The operation unit 105 is various buttons and keys provided in the digital camera 10, receives these various buttons and key operations, and transmits operations from the buttons and keys to the CPU 101. As a result, it is possible to issue an instruction to change or set a shooting mode or to execute another service.
[0022]
The display unit 107 is a display monitor provided in the digital camera 10, and is, for example, a liquid crystal display device or an electroluminescence display device. With this display unit 107, for example, it is possible to confirm an image photographed by the user and confirm a mode setting of the digital camera 10.
[0023]
The non-volatile memory 109 is a memory for storing a program (for example, microcode) executed by the CPU 101, login information, and captured image data, and for example, a flash memory or the like is used.
[0024]
The volatile memory 111 is a work area used by the CPU 101 and a memory used for temporarily storing photographed image data. For example, an SDRAM or the like is used.
[0025]
The wireless I / F 113 is an interface for wirelessly connecting to the access point 30 by wireless, and includes a wireless LAN interface circuit.
[0026]
The wired I / F 115 is an interface for directly connecting the digital camera 10 to an external PC (personal computer), a printer, or the like, and is implemented by, for example, a USB controller circuit and a USB connector, or an IEEE 1394 controller circuit and an IEEE 1394 connector. Have been. Note that both the USB and the IEEE 1394 may be provided. However, considering the cost of the digital camera 10, only one of them may be provided.
[0027]
The wired I / F 115 is also used as an I / F for registering information (user name and password) for logging in to the file server in the nonvolatile memory 109 and for upgrading microcode. You.
[0028]
The antenna 117 is connected to the wireless I / F 113 and is used for communication with the access point 30.
[0029]
Next, the management center 20 is configured by the following functional units.
[0030]
It comprises a file server 201, a management PC 203, a media writer 205, a web server 207, and an Internet connection unit 209, and is connected by two LAN lines (LAN 211 and 213). The Internet connection unit 209 is connected to the Internet 215, and can be connected to a customer's PC (customer PC 40) through the Internet 215.
[0031]
The file server 201 is a so-called FTP server, and is used as a server for storing and storing image data received from the access point 30 as described later.
[0032]
The management PC 203 is a computer for managing the management center 20, controls the media writer 205, issues information for the digital camera 10 to log in to the file server 201, registers with the file server 201 and the digital camera 10, and The web server 207 is managed. As this management PC 203, for example, a general personal computer may be used. The management PC 203 is also used as a computer for outputting image data, and controls the media writer 205 and controls access to image browsing via a web server.
[0033]
The media writer 205 is controlled by the management PC 203 and records image data stored in the file server 201 on a removable medium (portable recording medium) such as a DVD-ROM, DVD-R, or CD-R. Device.
[0034]
The web server 207 is a so-called HTTP server, is connected to the Internet 215 through the Internet connection unit 209, and transmits and receives image data to and from the customer PC 40 through the Internet 215.
[0035]
The Internet connection unit 209 is a gateway for connecting the system 1 and the Internet 215, and may be a broadband router, a communication line interface circuit (for example, a DSL modem or an optical fiber if the communication line is DSL (ADSL or SDSL)). For example, an optical fiber media converter).
[0036]
LANs 211 and 213 are wired LAN lines, and are realized by, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark).
[0037]
In connection with the LANs 211 and 213, the file server 201 and the management PC 203 are connected by the LAN 211, and further connected to the access point 30. On the other hand, the web server 207 and the Internet connection unit 209 are connected to the LAN 213, and the file server 201 and the management PC 203 are also connected.
[0038]
The reason why the LAN line is divided into two is that the former is a LAN for data transmission in the system (LAN 211) and the latter is a LAN for distribution to the Internet (LAN 213), so that unauthorized entry from the Internet is possible. It is to deal with. In addition, if security is sufficiently ensured, it may be integrated into one LAN line.
[0039]
Next, the access point 30 is a general wireless LAN access point, and a plurality of access points 30 are provided so as to cover an area necessary for performing wireless communication with the digital camera 10 as the system 1. Each of them comprises a wireless I / F 303 comprising an antenna 117 and a wireless LAN interface circuit.
[0040]
The installation of the access point 30 preferably covers, for example, a range in which the lent digital camera 10 is used, such as a theme park, a zoo, or an amusement park, as a communication range.
[0041]
Further, the access point 30 and the file server 201 are preferably dedicated to this system, so that communication costs when the digital camera 10 communicates with the file server 201 via the access point 30 can be eliminated. Become.
[0042]
Lastly, the customer PC 40 is a personal computer or the like owned by the user of the present system 1 at home, and is connected to the Internet 215 (a modem for a general telephone line, a DSL modem for a DSL line, an optical In the case of a line, a media converter or the like is provided.
[0043]
Next, the operation of the above system according to the present embodiment will be described.
[0044]
First, the flow of the entire service from lending a digital camera to returning it will be described with reference to FIG.
[0045]
(1) Lending digital cameras
First, when lending a digital camera, a staff member of the management center 20 connects the digital camera 10 to be lent to the management PC 203 via the wired I / F 115 and performs “camera lending registration”.
[0046]
As a result, the management PC 203 newly generates, for example, a user name and a password as information for specifying the user of the digital camera 10, and performs user registration with the file server 201 (T1). As the user name and password to be registered at this time, an arbitrary user name and password may be used based on a request from a user who borrows the digital camera 10.
[0047]
Further, the management PC 203 transmits information (IP address, user name, and password of the file server 201) for the digital camera 10 to log in to the file server 201 to the connected digital camera 10 (T2).
[0048]
As a result, the digital camera 10 acquires the login information, and registers the acquired login information in the nonvolatile memory 109 (T3).
[0049]
After that, the process in the CPU 101 of the digital camera 10 returns to step S1.
[0050]
After the above registration work is completed, the digital camera 10 is lent to the user (T4).
[0051]
(2) Digital camera shooting
When photographing is performed using the lent digital camera 10 (T5), the digital camera 10 stores the photographed image as a file of image data and uses login information registered in the digital camera 10 to store the photographed image. Then, the user logs in to the file server 201 via the access point 30 (T6).
[0052]
Thereby, the file server 201 authenticates the login information and returns the permission information (T7). Thereby, the digital camera 10 transmits the image data to the file server 201 by the FTP protocol (T8). At this time, if there is image data that has not been transmitted in the previously photographed image, it is also transmitted at the same time.
[0053]
Then, the file server 201 receives the transmitted image data, and classifies and registers the image data for each login information (T9).
[0054]
As a result, images taken by the user with the digital camera 10 are stored in the file server 201.
[0055]
(3) Display of captured image with digital camera 10
On the other hand, the user can also view images taken so far on the display unit 107 of the digital camera 10 (T10). In such a case, the digital camera 10 switches to the display mode.
[0056]
Thereby, the digital camera 10 confirms whether there is no image data for which the display request has been made in itself, and if there is no image data (T12), the digital camera 10 sends to the file server 201 by the registered login information. Login is performed (T12).
[0057]
The file server 201 confirms the login (T13) and transmits the requested image data (T14).
[0058]
Thus, the digital camera 10 displays the image data transmitted from the file server 201 on the display unit 107 (T15).
[0059]
As a result, the images taken so far can be browsed on the display unit 107 of the digital camera 10 including those in the file server 201 at any time.
[0060]
(4) Return digital camera
When returning the digital camera 10, first, when the user returns the digital camera 10 to the management center 20, an employee of the management center 20 connects the returned camera to the management PC 203 and performs “camera return registration”. Become.
[0061]
Thereby, the management PC 203 logs in to the file server 201 (T16). When the file server 201 permits the login of the camera return (T17), the image data classified by the login information of the digital camera 10 is transmitted from the file server 201 to the management PC 203 (T18).
[0062]
The management PC 203 acquires all the image data (T19), transfers the acquired image data to the media writer 205, and writes the acquired image data to a removable medium desired by the user (T20).
[0063]
Finally, the rewritable media is passed from the attendant to the user. As a result, the image data shot by the user while being lent is delivered to the user in the form of a removable medium.
[0064]
Next, an operation procedure of the digital camera from lending to returning of the digital camera will be described with reference to FIG. The (T number) in the description is added to correspond to the flow of the entire service shown in FIG.
[0065]
(1) Lending digital cameras
First, the CPU 101 of the digital camera 10 is set to the “registration mode” when the rental registration is performed. At this time, as processing in the digital camera 10, the CPU 101 constantly monitors the operation mode (S 1), and the operator switches to the “registration mode” using the operation unit 105 so that the digital camera 10 enters the “registration mode”. And waits for the login information from the management PC 203 (S2).
[0066]
When the management PC 203 transmits the login information (T2), the CPU 101 receives the login information (S2: Y), acquires the login information (S5), and registers the acquired login information in the nonvolatile memory 109. (S6) (T3).
[0067]
After that, the process in the CPU 101 of the digital camera 10 returns to step S1.
[0068]
After the above registration work is completed, the digital camera 10 is lent to the user (T4).
[0069]
(2) Digital camera shooting
First, the user switches the digital camera 10 to the “shooting mode” by switching to the “shooting mode” using the operation unit 105. At this time, the digital camera 10 constantly monitors whether or not the shooting button has been pressed (S1).
[0070]
When the photographing button is pressed for photographing by the digital camera 10 (S3: Y), the CPU 101 outputs a photographing trigger to the imaging unit 103 (S7).
[0071]
The imaging unit 103 thereby converts the optical information into digital data and generates image data (S8).
[0072]
Next, the CPU 101 acquires the image data from the imaging unit 103 and registers the image data in the nonvolatile memory 109 as a file (S9). At the time of this image registration, the shooting time is registered as image data management information. At the time of this image registration, compression processing of image data such as JPEG may be performed to reduce the file size.
[0073]
Next, the login information registered in the non-volatile memory 109 is read, and the login to the file server 201 is performed via the access point 30 (S10) (T6). The file server 201 authenticates the login information and returns permission information (T7).
[0074]
If the login is successful (S11: Y), the CPU 101 acquires the image data from the nonvolatile memory 109 and transmits the image data to the file server 201 via the wireless I / F processor by the FTP protocol (S16) (S16). T8). At this time, if there is image data which has not been transmitted in the previously photographed image, it is also transmitted at the same time (S16). The file server 201 that has received the image data classifies and registers it for each piece of login information (T9).
[0075]
After transmitting the image data, in the digital camera 10, the CPU 101 registers, in the image data management information on the nonvolatile memory 109, the already-transmitted flag and the transmission completion date and time as information indicating that the file has been transmitted to the file server 201. (S17).
[0076]
Further, for the image data that has been successfully transmitted, an operation of moving a file to the volatile memory 111 is performed. At this time, the capacity of the volatile memory 111 is calculated, and if the storage capacity is not enough to store at least one piece of image data (S18: Y), it is checked whether there is an image that has been displayed even once. (S19), if there is (S19: Y), the file is deleted (S20). If not (S19: N), the image with the oldest photographing time is deleted (S21). Thereby, a free area of the volatile memory 111 is generated, and thereafter, the image data that has been successfully transmitted is moved (S22).
[0077]
On the other hand, if the login has failed in step S11 (S11: N), an "unsent" flag indicating that the image data has not been transmitted to the file server 201 is registered (S12).
[0078]
When the number of unsent files increases and the area for storing image data for the next shooting becomes insufficient in the nonvolatile memory 109 (S13), a message such as "memory full" is displayed to notify the user (S14). ).
[0079]
If the login fails in this way, the user informs the attendant of the fact, and for example, the attendant guides the user to an area having a strong radio wave, or performs the login operation manually (S15), or A countermeasure such as replacement with a new digital camera 10 is taken.
[0080]
The reason for storing the untransmitted file in the non-volatile memory 109 is that the volatile memory 111 loses all data in the volatile memory 111 when the battery is reset due to a dead battery or an internal error. This is to prevent the risk that even untransmitted image data is erased in such a case.
[0081]
In order to prepare for such a situation, there is a method of storing all image data in the nonvolatile memory 109 from the beginning. However, the nonvolatile memory 109 such as a flash memory is expensive, and in the present embodiment, only untransmitted files are used. Is stored in the nonvolatile memory 109, and the transmitted file is stored in the volatile memory 111 such as an inexpensive SDRAM.
[0082]
(3) Displaying captured images with a digital camera
First, the user switches the digital camera 10 to the “display mode” by switching to the “display mode” by using the operation unit 105 (S1) (T10), and the CPU 101 of the digital camera 10 It is always monitored whether the scroll button of the operation unit 105 is pressed (S4).
[0083]
In the operation unit 105, for example, in this case, the “+” button indicates an operation of displaying a file whose shooting time is one newer, and the “−” button indicates an operation of displaying a file whose shooting time is one older. Assuming that the display number parameter N has been assigned, if the "-" button is pressed, the display number parameter N is decremented (S23).
[0084]
If the image data of the number N (referred to as the image N) exists in the volatile memory 111 (S25), the CPU 101 performs JPEG decoding and the like, and displays it on the display unit 107 (S35).
[0085]
Further, a “displayed” flag is registered in the image data management information for a file that has been displayed even once.
[0086]
On the other hand, when the image N does not exist in the volatile memory 111 (S25) (T11), the operation of acquiring the file of the image N transmitted from the file server 201 of the management center 20 is performed.
[0087]
First, it is checked whether there is a free space in the volatile memory 111 storing the image data to be obtained (S26). If there is a free space, the user immediately logs in to the file server 201 (S30) (T12).
[0088]
Conversely, if there is no free space, it is checked whether there is a file already displayed (S27). If there is, the file is deleted (S28). If not, the image data with the oldest shooting date and time is deleted (S29).
[0089]
If the response from the file server 201 is obtained and the login fails (S31: N), an error message “not displayable” is displayed on the display unit 107 (S32).
[0090]
Conversely, if the login is successful (S31: Y), the file server 201 transmits the file of the image N (T14), so the image N is received from the file server 201 by the FTP protocol (S33), and the volatile memory The image data is registered in 111 (S34).
[0091]
Then, the CPU 101 performs JPEG decoding or the like on the image data, and displays the image data on the display unit 107 (S35) (T15).
[0092]
(4) Return digital camera
There is no special processing operation of the digital camera 10 itself when the digital camera 10 is returned. However, when the digital camera 10 is connected to the management PC 203, the login information registered for reading the login information from the management PC 203 is deleted. Although only transmission is performed, this is not a special process because it is performed by directly accessing the nonvolatile memory 109 from the management PC 203.
[0093]
Next, a procedure for browsing an image shot from the present system via the Internet will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, the Internet 215 is an output medium for image data.
[0094]
(5) Web registration
When browsing images via the Internet 215, the URL of the web server 207 registered when the user wishes to distribute images via the Internet 215 when returning the digital camera, the user name generated when lending the digital camera, and the password are recorded. Give the completed card (which may be a receipt) to the user. If the user has an e-mail address in place of such a card or receipt, the URL of the web server 207, the user name generated at the time of lending the digital camera, and the password are sent to the e-mail address at a later date. May be.
[0095]
For this reason, when the user desires to browse images through the Internet 215, the staff of the management center 20 further executes “web registration” by specifying the user name of the user who returned the digital camera 10 to the management PC 203. Become.
[0096]
As a result, the management PC 203 logs in to the file server 201 with the user name and the password managed by itself (U1).
[0097]
After logging in, the user is requested to transmit the image data photographed from the file server 201 (U2), receive all of the data (U3), and display a preview screen (a list in which thumbnail images of a plurality of images can be collectively viewed). Screen) is generated (U4).
[0098]
The blew screen may be provided with a means for the user to select a file, for example, link information to full-size screen data in the file server 201 corresponding to each thumbnail image.
[0099]
Next, the management PC 203 logs in to the web server 207, creates a new user directory, and registers the preview screen data created earlier (U5).
[0100]
The web server 207 generates a user directory and registers the preview screen data in this directory (U6).
[0101]
(6) User Internet access
The user starts up the web browser of the customer PC 40 owned by the user and accesses the URL of the web server 207 via the Internet 215 (U7).
[0102]
Then, the web server 207 transmits the homepage material of the web (U8). The transmitted homepage material also includes a box for entering a user name and password.
[0103]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the web browser of the customer PC 40. As shown in the figure, a "customer page" button 403, a user name and a password are input along with a title such as "customer photo studio" as a page 401 for presenting a picture of the accessed user on the displayed page. Box 405 appears (U9).
[0104]
The user inputs a user name and a password notified from the management center 20 in the box 405 and clicks a “customer page” button in order to acquire image data captured by the user. As a result, the user name and password are transmitted from the customer PC 40 to the web server 207, and this is an image request by the user (U10).
[0105]
The web server 207 that has obtained the user name and the password notifies the management PC 203 of this information, and requests a check whether the user name and the password are valid. If it is valid, the management PC 203 authenticates this (U11), and responds permission to the web server 207 (U12).
[0106]
As a result, the web server 207 transmits the preview screen in the corresponding directory to the customer PC 40 (U13).
[0107]
The customer PC 40 receiving the preview screen displays the preview screen (U14).
[0108]
(7) Screen selection and acquisition
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a preview screen displayed on the web browser of the customer PC 40. As shown in the figure, a thumbnail image 407, a check box 409 for selecting the thumbnail image 407, and a "select screen selection" button 411 are displayed on the displayed page.
[0109]
The user checks the check box of the image to be viewed from among them, and then clicks a “select screen” button 411 to request transmission of an image corresponding to the selected thumbnail image 407. At this time, the web server 207 A user name and a password for logging in to are also transmitted (U15).
[0110]
As a result, the user logs in to the file server 201 holding the image linked to the selected thumbnail image 407, confirms the login information (U16), and if this is permitted (U17), the user is selected. The full-size image data corresponding to the thumbnail image 407 is transmitted from the file server 201 to the customer PC 40 (U18).
[0111]
At this time, since the user has already been authenticated by the web server, the web server 207 automatically logs in to the file server 201, and the web server 207 transmits a desired full-size image from the file server 201. You may make it acquire temporarily and transmit to the customer PC40.
[0112]
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the transmitted full-size image data on a web browser in the customer PC 40.
[0113]
As shown, the full-size image 413 transmitted from the file server 201 to the customer PC 40 is displayed on the customer PC 40 (U19).
[0114]
In this state, the user can save the full-size image as a file in the HDD or print it.
[0115]
As described above, the user of the digital camera 10 does not need to worry about the capacity of the memory card for recording the image data of the digital camera 10 as in the related art, and can shoot as many images as he wants. The image data can be obtained later through a removable medium or the Internet 215. In addition, the system 1 allows the user to borrow and use the digital camera 10 whenever he wants to use it.
[0116]
Although the embodiment to which the present invention is applied has been described, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the file server and the web server are divided as separate nodes, but may be integrated if security is ensured.
[0117]
Also, when the number of users is large in the management PC, the PC may be extended independently for lending and return, or the number of media writers may be increased.
[0118]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the image data is basically transmitted each time a picture is taken, except when communication is not possible due to poor communication between the digital camera and the access point. As long as the capacity of the non-volatile memory (or a volatile memory) permits, the data is stored in these memories until a certain number of shots is accumulated, and transmitted when the memory capacity is reduced. Is also good. As a result, the number of transmissions from each user decreases, and congestion due to frequent transmissions due to an increase in the number of users can be prevented.
[0119]
Further, the image data may be provided only by the removable medium, and the browsing service on the Internet may not be performed. On the contrary, only the browsing service on the Internet may not be provided by the removable medium.
[0120]
Furthermore, a printer for printing image data may be provided in the management center, and when the digital camera is returned, the image data may be printed out as desired by the user. As a result, a printed image can be provided. Further, when performing such a print service, for example, the user can use a personal computer or the like installed in the management center as the above-mentioned customer PC, and select image data to be printed from there, and print out the image data. It may be. As a result, it is possible for a user who does not have a means for connecting to the Internet, such as a personal computer, to freely browse image data and provide a printed image.
[0121]
Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the customer PC is shown as a means for connecting to the Internet on the user side. However, instead of this, access from a mobile phone may be made. In such a case, various services such as printing a designated image and mailing it by separately displaying thumbnail screens one by one according to the mobile phone display screen exclusively for access from the mobile phone are provided. It is also possible to add.
[0122]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, photographed image data is stored and stored in a file server, so that a memory card is not required, and a digital camera user can photograph without worrying about the capacity of the memory card. Can be continued. In addition, since the cost of the memory card itself and the cost of the card connector are reduced from the digital camera, the cost of the digital camera can be reduced accordingly.
[0123]
In addition, by making the digital camera to be lent as a single model, the recyclability is improved. For example, when a higher-performance imaging device appears, only the related units should be replaced, and the software should be updated by a wired I / F. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a user with a low-cost and always high-performance digital camera.
[0124]
Further, according to the present invention, the image data is stored in the storage means so that the image data can be transmitted later. Therefore, even if the image transmission fails, the image data is not lost. By transmitting the untransmitted image data at the time of success, all the images can be transmitted reliably, and the quality of service can be improved.
[0125]
In addition, by transmitting an image according to the storage capacity of the storage unit, it is possible to reliably prepare a minimum free area required for shooting.
[0126]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, images that cannot be transmitted are stored in the non-volatile memory, so that even if the battery runs out or an internal error occurs, the images are retained and the quality of service can be improved. It becomes.
[0127]
Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to acquire a desired image from the file server and display the image even when the image data to be displayed on the display means is not in the storage means.
[0128]
Furthermore, according to the present invention, since image data can be provided via a network, convenience for the user is improved.
[0129]
In addition, since a password is used for accessing the homepage, the privacy of the user is assured, and a highly secure service can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a digital camera rental system to which the present invention has been applied.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a service flow in the digital camera rental system.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure inside the digital camera.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of image browsing using the Internet.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a web browser of a customer PC.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a preview screen displayed on a web browser of a customer PC.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example of transmitted full-size image data on a web browser on a customer PC.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Digital camera rental system
10 Digital camera
20 Management Center
30 access points
40 Customer PC
101 CPU
103 Imaging unit
105 Operation unit
107 Display
109 Non-volatile memory
111 volatile memory
113, 303 Wireless I / F
115 Wired I / F
117,301 Antenna
201 File Server
203 Management PC
205 Media Writer
207 Web server
209 Internet connection unit
215 Internet

Claims (5)

Image capturing means for capturing an image, wireless communication means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving image data, and control means for controlling the image data captured by the image capturing means to be transmitted by the wireless communication means, A digital camera having
An access point provided with a wireless communication unit for performing wireless communication with the wireless communication unit of the digital camera, provided to cover a predetermined range,
When renting the digital camera, a management center having a management computer for registering information specifying a user of the digital camera,
A file server that is connected to the access point and the management computer, classifies and stores the image data transmitted by the wireless communication unit of the digital camera for each piece of information that specifies the user,
An output computer that retrieves the image data stored in the file server according to the information identifying the user and outputs the image data via an arbitrary output medium;
Digital camera rental system characterized by having. The control unit connects to the file server via the access point every time an image is captured by the imaging unit, and attempts to transmit the image data stored in the storage unit to the file server,
If the transmission is successful, register information indicating that transmission has been completed for the successfully transmitted image data, and calculate the free space of the storage unit each time the image data is successfully transmitted. Erase sent images,
If transmission fails, register information indicating that transmission has not been completed,
2. The digital camera rental system according to claim 1, wherein each time transmission of the image data is attempted, image data in which information indicating non-transmission is registered is transmitted simultaneously with transmission of newly photographed image data. The digital camera further has display means for displaying a captured image,
The control unit registers information indicating that display has been completed for the image data displayed by the display unit,
When there is no image data selected to be displayed on the display means in the storage means, the free space of the storage means is calculated, and when the free space is smaller than a predetermined free area value, information indicating that the display has been completed. After erasing at least one of the image data of the registered image data or the transmitted image data of the transmitted image data from the storage unit, the file data is transmitted from the file server via the access point. The image data selected to be displayed on the display means is acquired and stored in the storage means, and the image data is displayed by the display means. Digital camera rental system. The output computer has network connection means for connecting to the user's computer via a network,
2. The digital camera rental system according to claim 1, wherein said image data is transmitted to said user's computer via said network designated as said output medium via said network connection means. The network connection means has a web server connected to the file server,
A homepage is provided for each user of the digital camera on the web server, a preview screen for displaying a list of images taken by the user for each homepage, and a screen for selecting an image therein The user accesses the web server via the network and inputs a previously obtained password, so that the web server displays at least the image data captured by the user as a thumbnail. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said preview screen is provided, and when a thumbnail image is selected, said image data in said file server linked to the selected thumbnail image is transmitted to said user's computer. Digital camera rental system described.

Images