JP2006018498A - Electronic appliance, digital camera, and information processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To protect data distributed via a communication medium and a storage medium. <P>SOLUTION: An RFID tag 3 is mounted to an attachment of this digital camera 1. An ID of the attachment 2 is stored in the RFID tag 3. The digital camera 1 stores a captured image in a JPEG format file. A CPU 20 adds the ID of the attachment to a header of the file. The CPU 20 gives a viewing right for the image to only a user having the attachment 2 with the corresponding ID. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention is applied to an electronic device and a digital camera that can be attached and detached, and an information processing apparatus that uses information acquired from the electronic device and the digital camera described above.

  Currently, with the spread of digital cameras and the increase in communication speed, opportunities for exchanging image information, which are electronic photographs, are increasing. Since an electronic photograph is digital image information, it can be easily copied as compared to a photograph recorded on paper. For this reason, if an electronic photo is given to another person, it is highly likely that the photo will be transmitted without permission or disclosed to the public without knowing it. There are encryption techniques for preventing electronic photo copying and transfer, but this is a very inconvenient system for users who are troubled with passwords and who are not good at machines.

  Conventionally, there is an information protection management system that records encrypted data on a recording medium, receives a decryption key for decrypting the data from an information provider, and records the decryption key on an RFID chip attached to the recording medium ( Patent Document 1).

  However, when the encrypted data is decrypted, this data becomes viewable data, and as with normal data, it can be sent without permission or publicly disclosed without its knowledge. There is a possibility that

JP 2003-69549 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device and a digital camera that protect data distributed via a communication medium or a recording medium, and an information processing apparatus that uses information acquired from the electronic device or the digital camera. .

  An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes an accessory part having an information holding means for holding identification information, a reading means for reading information held in the identification information holding means, and identification information of the accessory part read by the reading means as image information. Identification information adding means for adding to information to be recorded, etc., and recording control means for recording the information with the added identification information on a recording medium.

  The digital camera according to the present invention includes an accessory including an RFID tag, a reading unit that reads information recorded on the RFID tag, an imaging unit that captures an image, and an image captured by the imaging unit and the reading unit. File generating means for generating a file including the identification information of the attached parts, and recording control means for recording the file generated by the file generating means on a recording medium.

  Furthermore, the information processing apparatus includes an information acquisition unit that acquires information via a communication medium or a recording medium, a reading unit that reads identification information of an accessory part, and an identification information that is added to the information acquired by the information acquisition unit. Information acquired by the information acquisition means when the identification information added by the information acquisition means matches the identification information read by the reading means; Access restriction means for permitting access to the access point.

  The electronic device according to the present invention reads identification information of an accessory part of the electronic device, adds the identification information to predetermined information, and records the information in a recording unit. When reading the information recorded in the recording means, the electronic device compares the identification information of the accessory part added to the read information with the identification information of the accessory part attached to the electronic device. And when these identification information corresponds, information is read.

  In the electronic device according to the present invention, the identification information of the accessory part is a key for restricting reading of information. Since only the user who owns the accessory with the specific identification information recorded can read the information, the information is never browsed without the user's knowledge.

  Further, in the electronic device according to the present invention, the identification information can be switched only by performing the operation of attaching and removing the accessory part without the user inputting a password or the like. This eliminates the need for an input operation, and even a user who is not good at machine operation can easily restrict viewing of images.

  The present invention is applied to an electronic device having a detachable accessory. In the present invention, an RFID tag is provided on the accessory part, and the ID of the accessory part is recorded on the RFID tag. The electronic device adds the accessory part ID to the newly input data. The ID of the accessory part becomes control information for controlling the data access right. The electronic device compares the ID of the accessory part added to the data and the ID of the accessory part attached to the electronic device as a process for controlling access to the data. When these IDs match, access to the data is permitted.

  Hereinafter, a digital camera 1 to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the digital camera 1 includes a detachable accessory 2. In the drawing, reference numeral 2a is a strap attached to the digital camera, reference numeral 2b is a battery attached to the digital camera, and reference numeral 2c is a card-type semiconductor memory 2c inserted into the digital camera. The strap 2a, the battery 2b, and the semiconductor memory 2c to which the present invention is applied are provided with RFID tags 3a, 3b, and 3c in which respective IDs are recorded. The digital camera 1 reads the ID of the accessory 2 attached at the time of taking an image and adds it to the taken image. Also, the digital camera 1 compares the ID of the accessory part added to the image with the ID of the accessory part attached to itself, and permits reading of the image when they match.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the digital camera 1. Light from the subject passes through the lens 10 block and forms an image on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 11. The CCD 11 converts light into an electrical signal and outputs it to a CAM (Content Addressable Memory) 12. The image stored in the CAM 12 is output to the SDRAM 13 via an SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM) interface module. The SDRAM 13 is divided into a capture area 13a, a recorded image area 13b, and a display image area 13c. The image output from the CCD 11 is stored in the capture area 13a. The capture area 13a is an image temporary storage area.

  The image stored in the capture area 13a is output to the size converter 14. The size conversion unit 14 changes the input raw image to a specified image size. The size converter 14 outputs the recorded image area 13b and the display image area 13c. The image output to the display image area 13 c is converted into an RGB signal by the video decoding unit 15 and output to the display unit 16. On the other hand, the image output to the recorded image area 13 b is subjected to JPEG compression by a JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) encoding unit 17. The image subjected to JPEG compression is output to the microcontroller 18.

  The microcontroller 18 is realized as a function of the CPU 20. The microcontroller 18 controls the auxiliary recording device 19 and reads / writes data from / to the auxiliary recording device 19. Examples of the auxiliary recording device 19 include a small HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a semiconductor memory, and an optical disk.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the RFID reading unit 22 includes an input antenna 30, an output antenna 31, a modulation unit 32, a demodulation unit 33, and a controller 34. The modulation unit 32 receives control information from the controller 34 and outputs an electromagnetic wave having a specific frequency from the output antenna 31. The RFID tag 3 transmits the ID of the accessory 2 that records electromagnetic waves as electromotive force. The demodulator 33 demodulates the radio wave received by the input antenna 30 and outputs it to the controller 34. The controller 34 outputs a user-specific ID to the CPU 20 via the interface 35.

  The CPU 20 adds a header and a thumbnail image to the image subjected to JPEG compression, and generates an EXIF (EXchangeable Image file Format) file. The image file format may be a JFIF (Jpeg File Interchange Format) file, a still image file other than the JPEG format, a moving image file, or the like.

  The CPU 20 adds browsing control information to the EXIF file. The browsing control information is information that the CPU 20 refers to when executing the browsing restriction process. The browsing control information includes the ID of the accessory part 2 attached at the time of shooting, information indicating whether or not to enforce the browsing right, and the like.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the process until the EXIF file is generated. When the user turns on the digital camera 1 (step S11), the CPU 20 activates the RFID reading unit 22. The RFID reading unit 22 starts reading the RFID tag 3 (step S12). When the accessory part 2 is attached to the digital camera 1, the RFID tag 3 of the accessory part 2 outputs the ID of the accessory part 2 using an electromagnetic wave of a specific frequency as an electromotive force. The CPU 20 inputs the ID of the accessory part 2 read by the RFID reading unit 22 (step S13; YES). On the other hand, when the accessory 2 is not attached, the CPU 20 cannot acquire the ID of the accessory 2 (step S13; NO). The CPU 20 periodically outputs a control signal to the RFID reader 22 and repeats reading of the RFID tag 3.

  The CPU 20 records the ID of the accessory part in a memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically-Eraserble and Programmable ROM) 21 (step S13). When the user captures an image, the captured image is JPEG compressed by the JPEG encoding unit 17 and output to the CPU 20 (step S14). The CPU 20 creates thumbnail images and header information, and generates an EXIF file. The ID of the accessory part 2 is added to the header information (step S15). Information related to image browsing such as the ID of the accessory 2 is referred to as browsing control information. The CPU 20 records the created EXIF file in the auxiliary recording device 19 (step S16).

  The browsing control information created by the above-described procedure can be edited on the display screen. The right to edit the browsing control information is given to the owner of the accessory that was attached when the image was taken. More specifically, the CPU 20 acquires the ID of the accessory part 2 attached to the digital camera 1 before displaying the editing screen of the browsing control information, and acquires the acquired ID and the accessory part stored in the EXIF file. Compare the ID. The CPU 20 permits editing of the browsing control information when these IDs match.

  FIG. 5 is an example of an input screen for inputting whether to enforce the viewing right. The user operates the digital camera 1 to open the menu screen 41 shown in FIG. 5A, and operates the toolbar 43 on the menu screen to open the browsing right setting menu screen 42. The viewing right setting menu screen 42 is provided with a list box 43 for selecting whether or not the viewing right is enforced. CPU20 will add this information to an image file, if the presence or absence of browsing right enforcement is selected from a user. In addition, on the viewing right setting menu screen 42, “permitted / impossible” of copying, “permitted / impossible” of printing, and the like may be set.

  The browsing control information can also be changed. FIG. 6 is an example of an input screen for inputting the change contents of the browsing control information. The user selects an arbitrary image 52 on the screen 51 shown in FIG. 6A, and instructs to change the browsing control information of the image 52 selected on the menu bar 53 in FIG. In response to this instruction, the CPU 20 opens a setting change screen 54 shown in FIG. The setting change screen 54 includes a check button 55 for selecting whether or not the viewing right is enforced, a text box 57 for inputting an ID for permitting browsing, and an adding button 56 for instructing addition of the ID input in the text box 57. Is provided. When the add button 56 is pressed, the CPU 20 writes the ID input in the text box 57 as the browseable ID in the viewing right control information of the EXIF file. As a result, it is possible to permit browsing of a person other than the photographer or to permit browsing of a plurality of persons.

  The CPU 20 restricts image browsing using the accessory part ID and browsing control information. The browsing restriction process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When the user gives an instruction to reproduce an image (step S21), the CPU 20 reads the browsing control information described in the EXIF file and checks whether or not to enforce the browsing right of the designated image. When the viewing right is not enforced (step S22; NO), the CPU starts reading the image (step S23). On the other hand, when enforcing the viewing right (step S22; YES), the CPU 20 instructs the RFID reading unit 22 to read the RFID tag 3 (step S24). When the CPU 20 acquires the reading result from the RFID reading unit 22 (step S25; YES), the CPU 20 compares the reading result of the RFID tag 3 with the ID added to the image. When the reading result of the RFID tag 3 is equal to the ID described in the browsing control information (step S26; YES), the CPU 20 starts an image reading process (step S23). On the other hand, when the reading result of the RFID tag 3 and the ID described in the browsing control information are different (step S26; NO), the CPU 20 interrupts reading of the image and displays an error message such as “cannot browse” (step S26). S27). On the other hand, even when the RFID reading unit 22 cannot acquire the reading result (step S25; NO), the CPU 20 interrupts reading of the image and displays an error message such as “cannot be viewed” (step S27).

  Since the browsing control information is embedded in the EXIF file, even a device other than the digital camera 1 such as a personal computer or a server may limit the browsing described in the browsing control information embedded in the EXIF file. it can.

  FIG. 8 schematically shows how an image stored in an EXIF file is browsed with a personal computer. In this figure, a personal computer 4 is connected to a reader 5 of the RFID tag 3. The personal computer 4 is provided with a semiconductor memory reading socket. The strap 2a is provided with an RFID tag 3a.

  When the user attaches the semiconductor memory to the personal computer 4 and brings the strap 2a close to the reader 5 and tries to display the EXIF file recorded in the semiconductor memory, the personal computer 4 starts viewing control of the EXIF file.

  The browsing control of the personal computer 4 is the same as that of the digital camera 1. The personal computer 4 compares the ID of the strap 2a attached to the reader 5 with the ID stored in the EXIF file, and gives permission to view image information in the EXIF file if they match.

  Also, a plurality of IDs can be registered in the EXIF file, and the right to view images can be given to a plurality of users. FIG. 9 schematically shows how a plurality of users browse images. In the EXIF file 8 shown in FIG. 9, three IDs are stored. These IDs are the IDs of the straps 6a, 6b, and 6c. The right to edit the image is owned by the owner of the strap (here, the strap 6a) attached to the digital camera 1 when the image was taken. The owner of the strap 6a displays a screen as shown in FIG. 6 on the display unit of the personal computer 4a or the digital camera 1, and registers ID2 and ID3 which are IDs of the strap 6b and the strap 6c. Thereby, even a user who owns the strap 6c can browse images.

  As described above, the digital camera 1 to which the present invention is applied includes the RFID reading unit 22 and reads the ID of the accessory part 2 from the RFID tag 3 attached to the accessory part 2. Then, an EXIF file including the captured image and the ID of the accessory 2 attached when the image is captured is generated. Before reading the image, the digital camera 1 compares the ID of the accessory 2 attached to the digital camera 1 with the ID of the accessory 2 stored in the EXIF file. If these IDs do not match, the digital camera 1 reads the image. To refuse.

  In the digital camera 1 to which the present invention is applied, an image cannot be displayed unless the EXIF file includes browsing control information and the ID of the accessory 2 is present. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the image from being released in a place unexpected by the user.

  In the present embodiment, it is possible to edit the browsing control information and register the IDs of a plurality of accessory parts 2 and IDs other than the accessory parts 2 recorded at the time of photographing in the browsing control information. The browsing control information can be edited with an electronic device such as the digital camera 1, a personal computer, or a general-purpose computer.

  Further, since the RFID reading unit reads the ID of the accessory part 2, it is not necessary for the user to input the ID, and even a person who is not good at machine operation can easily limit image browsing.

  Next, an example of a method for storing the browsing control information in the EXIF file will be specifically described. As shown in FIG. 10, the EXIF file includes an SOI (Start Of Image) 61 indicating the beginning of the file, an APP1 (Exif data) 62 and APP2 (Contents List Data, Stream Data) 63 for storing data in the TIFF format, and a JPEG format. Are composed of a JPEG Table 64 and JPEG compressed image 65 for storing the data, and an EOI (End Of Image) 66 indicating the end of the file. APP1 is a part that stores thumbnail images and shooting information, and is called an EXIF data unit 62. As shown in FIG. 11, the EXIF data portion 62 has a TIFF header portion 71 arranged at the head, and subsequently an IFD (Image File Directory) 72.

  The browsing control information is stored in the IFD 72. As shown in FIG. 12, the IFD 72 has information on a tag 81, a data type 82, a data count 83, a data pointer, or a data field 84. The tag 81 is a code number for identifying what data is stored in the data field 84.

  Here, copyright information is stored in the data field whose tag 81 is 33432 (8298.H). In this embodiment, information related to the enforcement of the viewing right is described in the first 5 bits of the data field. Specifically, the top 5 bits are assigned the names private bit, protect bit, and public bit, respectively, private bit indicates whether it is open to non-photographers, and protect bit is open to friends In the presence / absence and public bit, the presence / absence of public disclosure is entered. Here, the bit is set to 0 when not released, and the bit is set to 1 when released.

  A plurality of IDs are described in the user comment. The user comment tag 81 is 37510 (9286.H). In this data field 84, a data pointer is described. The data pointer indicates the actual storage location of the user comment in the data portion 73.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of a digital camera. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a digital camera. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a RFID reading part. It is a flowchart explaining the process which produces an EXIF file. It is a figure which shows the input screen which inputs whether the browsing right is enforced. It is a figure which shows the input screen which inputs the change content of browsing control information. It is a flowchart explaining the procedure of the process which places browsing restrictions. It is the figure which showed typically a mode when browsing the image with which browsing restrictions were applied with a personal computer. It is the figure which showed typically a mode when the browsing authority was given to the some user. It is a figure which shows the structure of an EXIF file. It is a figure which shows the structure of an EXIF data part. It is a figure which shows the structure of IFD.

Explanation of symbols

1 digital camera, 2 accessory parts, 2a strap, 2b battery, 2c semiconductor memory, 3 RFID tag, 16 display unit, 18 microcontroller, 19 auxiliary recording device, 20 CPU, 22 RFID reading unit

Claims (9)

An accessory having an identification information holding means for holding identification information;
Reading means for reading the information held in the identification information holding means;
Identification information adding means for adding the identification information of the accessory part read by the reading means to predetermined information to be recorded;
An electronic apparatus comprising: a recording control unit that records information to which the identification information is added on a recording medium. When reading the information recorded on the recording medium, identification information comparison means for comparing the identification information of the accessory part added to the information and the identification information of the accessory part read by the reading means,
Read control means for reading information recorded on the recording medium when the identification information of the accessory part added to the information matches the identification information of the accessory part read by the reading means. The electronic device according to claim 1.   2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information holding unit is an RFID tag.   Identification for adding and changing the identification information added to the information recorded on the recording medium when the identification information of the accessory part added to the information matches the identification information of the accessory part read by the reading means The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising an information updating unit.   2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording control means stores the identification information and information to which the identification information is added in one file. An accessory with an RFID tag;
Reading means for reading information recorded on the RFID tag;
Photographing means for photographing an image;
A file generating means for generating a file including an image taken by the photographing means and identification information of the accessory part read by the reading means;
A digital camera comprising: a recording control unit that records the file generated by the file generation unit on a recording medium. When reading the file recorded on the recording medium, the identification information comparison means for comparing the identification information of the accessory part stored in the file and the identification information of the accessory part read by the reading means,
And a reading control means for reading information recorded on the recording medium when the identification information of the accessory stored in the file matches the identification information of the accessory read by the reading means. The digital camera according to claim 6.   7. The accessory part is at least one of a strap attached to the digital camera, a detachable battery serving as a power source of the digital camera, and a semiconductor memory attached to the digital camera. The digital camera described. Information acquisition means for acquiring information via a communication medium or a recording medium;
Reading means for reading the identification information of the accessory parts;
Identification information comparison means for comparing the identification information added to the information acquired by the information acquisition means with the identification information read by the reading means;
Access restriction means for permitting access to the information acquired by the information acquisition means when the identification information added to the information acquired by the information acquisition means matches the identification information read by the reading means; An information processing apparatus characterized by that.

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