JP2006295566A - Terminal apparatus and program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform photographing and store image data, even when the storage capacity of a terminal apparatus, having an image photographing function, is not fully secured. <P>SOLUTION: The terminal apparatus, having the image photographing means, is provided with a storage means for storing image data acquired by the image photographic means; a communication means for communicating with an image storing server connected to a network; a determining means for determining whether the image data can be stored in the storage means; and a control means for transmitting the image data to the image storing server, by using the communication means when the determining means determines that the image data cannot be stored in the storage means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for storing captured images in a terminal device having an image capturing function, such as a mobile phone or a digital camera.

  Currently, mobile phones equipped with cameras are widespread, but many of the cameras installed in mobile phones are high-performance ones having megapixel class effective pixels. The capacity of image data captured by such a camera may be about 500 KB.

  On the other hand, the storage area of the internal memory in which image data is stored in the mobile phone is shared with other contents (such as ringtones) and has a capacity of about 10 MB. Therefore, since a built-in memory is insufficient for storing a large amount of image data, a mobile phone generally has a function of using an external memory such as an SD card.

Note that there is a technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 as a conventional technique related to storing captured images.
JP 2003-134258 A

  When using an external memory, the user selects whether to save the captured image data in the device built-in memory or the external memory in the current mobile phone before starting the imaging. However, if the storable capacity of the memory selected by the user is not enough to save the captured image, the camera will start, but the “shoot” button cannot be pressed, resulting in the moment you want to take There is a problem that can not be.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in a terminal device such as a mobile phone having an image photographing function, even when the storage capacity of image data in the terminal device is not sufficient, photographing is performed and image data is stored. It is an object to provide a technology that makes it possible.

  The above-described problem is a terminal device including an image capturing unit for communicating with a storage unit for storing image data acquired by the image capturing unit and an image storage server connected to a network. A communication unit; a determination unit that determines whether the image data can be stored in the storage unit; and the communication unit when the determination unit determines that the image data cannot be stored in the storage unit. And a control means for transmitting the image data to the image storage server using a terminal device.

  The terminal device further includes a temporary storage unit that temporarily stores image data captured by the image capturing unit, and a display unit that displays the image data stored in the temporary storage unit. When the user is inquired whether or not to save the displayed image data, and receives an instruction to save the image data from the user, the processing by the determination unit and the control unit can be performed. .

  Further, when the image data displayed on the display means is inquired of the user as to which of the storage means and the image storage server the image data is to be stored and an instruction to store the image data in the storage means is received, the determination means The image data may be transmitted to the image storage server when receiving an instruction to store the image data in the image storage server.

  In addition, the present invention is a terminal device including an image capturing unit for communicating with a storage unit for storing image data acquired by the image capturing unit and an image storage server connected to a network. Determining means for determining whether the image data acquired by the image photographing means can be stored in the storage means, and determining that the image data cannot be stored in the storage means by the determination means. If it is made, a part of the image data already stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the image storage server in order of shooting time, and the image data transmitted to the image storage server is deleted from the storage unit, It can also be configured as a terminal device having control means for storing the image data acquired by the image photographing means in the storage means.

  According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not a captured image can be stored in the storage unit, and when the captured image cannot be stored in the storage unit, the image data is transmitted to the image storage server. Even when the capacity is not sufficient, it is possible to capture and store the image data.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(System configuration)
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, this system has a mobile phone 1 and an image storage server 2, and the mobile phone 1 and the image storage server 2 can communicate with each other via a network 3 such as the Internet.

  FIG. 1 shows, as an internal configuration of the cellular phone 1, a process execution function part that executes processes related to the present invention and a memory area that stores image data. As a process execution function part, it has the camera function part 11, the control part 12, the communication function part 13, and the preservation | save process part 14. FIG.

  The camera function unit 11 includes a camera as hardware and means for operating the camera. The control unit 12 has a function of performing control related to image storage and the like according to the present invention. The communication function unit 13 has a function of communicating with other devices via the network 3. The storage processing unit 14 has a function of performing processing for storing image data in the permanent storage memory area 18 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 12. Further, the storage processing unit 14 determines whether the image data can be stored in the permanent storage memory area from the capacity of the permanent storage memory area 18, the security lock state, and the like, and returns an error if the image data cannot be stored. It also has a function.

  The control unit 12 may have the function of the storage processing unit 14. Although not shown, the mobile phone 1 includes a display unit that displays a captured image and a graphical user interface for operation. The means for operating the camera, the control unit 12, the communication function unit 13, and the storage processing unit 14 are implemented by causing each CPU to execute each program. These programs can be installed on a mobile phone from a server connected to the network, or a recording medium storing the program can be connected to the mobile phone and installed on the mobile phone from the recording medium.

  The memory area includes a camera use memory area 15, an application execution memory area 16, an application use memory area 17, and a permanent storage memory area 18. The camera use memory area 15 is a memory area used by the camera function unit 11 and is an area for temporarily storing captured images. The application execution memory area 16 is a memory area used for executing an application program for realizing the control unit 12. The application use memory area 17 is a memory area (ScratchPad or the like) in which data used by the control unit 12 can be stored. The permanent storage memory area 18 is a memory area for permanently storing image data and the like, and is an image data management area in the built-in memory or an external memory area.

  Each of the memory areas described above may be realized using separate memories as hardware, or may be realized partially using the same memory as hardware (for example, an application execution memory area and an application use memory) region).

  The image storage server 2 includes a communication function unit 21, a control unit 22, and a storage device 23 such as a hard disk. The communication function unit 21 has a function of communicating with other devices via the network 3. In addition, the control unit 22 receives an image acquisition request and a function for storing the image data received from the mobile phone 1 in the storage device 23 in association with an identifier (user ID, mobile phone identifier, etc.) for identifying the user. A function of acquiring the requested image data and transmitting it to the request source.

(Operation of mobile phone: first example)
Next, the operation of the mobile phone 1 will be described with reference to the sequence diagrams of FIGS.

  First, in response to a predetermined operation by the user, an application that realizes the control unit 12 is activated (step 1). Simultaneously with the activation, the control unit 12 secures a temporary storage area for one image in the application execution memory area 16 or the application use memory area 17 (step 2). And the control part 12 requests | requires starting with respect to the camera function part 11 (step 3).

  The camera function unit 11 is activated based on a request from the control unit 12 (step 4). The camera function unit 11 captures a subject based on a user instruction (step 5), acquires image data (step 6), and temporarily stores the image data in the camera use memory area 15 (step 7).

  Subsequently, the control unit 12 acquires the image data from the camera use memory area 15 (Step 8), and stores it in the temporary storage area secured in Step 2 (Step 9) (hereinafter, stored in the temporary storage area). This image is referred to as temporarily stored image data). Subsequently, in FIG. 3, the control unit 12 displays the temporarily saved image data on the display unit (step 10), and asks the user whether to delete the temporarily saved image data or to save the temporarily saved image data permanently. Select (step 11).

  When the user selects deletion (“delete” in step 12), the temporarily stored image data is deleted from the temporary storage area (step 13). When the user selects permanent storage (“save” in step 12), the control unit 12 requests the storage processing unit 14 to store the temporarily stored image data in the permanent storage memory area 18 (step 14). . The storage processing unit 14 determines whether or not the requested image data can be stored in the permanent storage memory area 18 from the viewpoint of whether the capacity is sufficient and whether or not the security lock is performed (step 15). If it is possible, the temporarily stored image data is stored in the permanent storage memory area 18 and a response indicating that the storage is successful is returned to the control unit 12 (step 16). If the data cannot be stored, the storage processing unit 14 returns a storage processing error to the control unit 12.

  The control unit 12 determines whether the response received from the storage processing unit 14 is a successful storage or an error (step 17). If the storage is successful, the temporarily stored image data is deleted (step 13). If it is an error, the image data is stored in the image storage server 2. Here, the image data, the transmission destination, and the identification information for identifying the image data (for example, the user ID, the identification information of the mobile phone) are transmitted to the image storage server 2 via the communication function unit 13 (step 18). 19).

  When receiving the information (step 20), the image storage server 2 stores the image data in the storage device 23 in association with the identification information (step 21). When the storage is completed, the image storage server 2 sends a notification indicating the completion to the mobile phone 1 (step 22), and the control unit 12 that has received the notification deletes the temporarily stored image data (step 23). 24, 13).

(Operation of mobile phone: second example)
In the first example, when saving is selected in step 11, the image data is first saved in the permanent saving memory area 18. In step 11, the saving to the image saving server 2 and the permanent saving are performed. It may be possible to select saving to the memory area 18. The sequence in that case is shown in FIG.

  In this case, in step 10, a screen for selecting one of deletion of the temporarily stored image data, storage in the image storage server 2, and storage in the permanent storage memory area 18 is displayed on the display unit. When deletion or saving to the permanent storage memory area is selected, the same processing as in the first example is performed. If saving to the image saving server 2 is selected, the process proceeds to step 18 and saving processing to the image saving server 2 is performed.

(Operation of mobile phone: third example)
Saving to the permanent saving memory area 18 is not performed, and either deletion or saving to the image saving server 2 may be selected in step 11. The sequence in that case is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the processing of steps 14 to 17 in the case of FIG. 3 is omitted.

  In this case, if deletion is selected in step 11, the temporarily stored image data is deleted, and if saving to the image storage server 2 is selected, the image storage server 2 is not attempted without attempting to save to the permanent storage memory area 18. The save process is executed.

(Operation of mobile phone: fourth example)
In the first example, if the capacity of the permanent storage memory area 18 is insufficient when the temporarily stored image data is permanently stored, the image storage server 2 starts with the oldest image data stored in the permanent storage memory area 18. The image data may be deleted from the permanent storage memory area 18. As a result, newly captured image data can always be stored in the permanent storage memory area 18.

  The processing flow of the control unit 12 in this case is shown in FIG. This processing flow is processing of the control unit 12 after the storage processing unit 14 determines that the storage in the permanent storage memory area 18 cannot be performed due to insufficient capacity and returns an error to the control unit 12.

  The control unit 12 selects the image data from the permanent storage memory area 18 in order from the oldest image data that can secure the capacity of the temporarily stored image data to be stored (step 41), and selects the selected image data from the image storage server. 2 is stored (step 42). Then, the image data selected in step 41 is deleted from the permanent storage memory area 18 (step 43), and the temporary storage image data is stored in the permanent storage memory area 18 (step 44). Deletion and storage of image data in the permanent storage memory area 18 can be performed via the storage processing unit 14.

  For example, if the oldest image data stored in the permanent storage memory area 18 is larger in size than the image data to be stored, the image data is stored in the image storage server 2, and the permanent storage memory area Delete from 18. If the oldest image data stored in the permanent storage memory area 18 and the next oldest image data are deleted and the capacity of the image data to be stored can be secured for the first time, the oldest image data and the next The old image data is stored in the image storage server 2 and deleted from the permanent storage memory area 18. Whether the image data is new or old can be easily realized by adding shooting time information when saving the image data.

(About effect)
According to the system of the present embodiment, not only can the user perform a shooting operation at the moment when he / she wants to shoot, but also the user can shoot without specifying a memory area or the like having a sufficient remaining capacity in advance. The recorded image is always stored in either the data storage area attached to the terminal device or the data storage area in the server on the network.

  As a result, it is not necessary to know in advance whether or not the user can save when entering the shooting operation, and the chances of shooting with the camera mounted on the mobile phone increase. In addition, by increasing the data storage area in the server on the network according to the user's storage capacity, it is possible to accumulate data indefinitely, and the number of storable images that existed in conventional cameras including analog It is possible to remove the concept.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications can be made within the scope of the claims. For example, the present invention can be applied to a digital camera by providing the digital camera with the function of the present invention.

It is a system configuration figure in an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the mobile phone (first example). FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the mobile phone (first example). It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a mobile telephone (2nd example). It is a sequence diagram for demonstrating operation | movement of a mobile telephone (3rd example). 12 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the mobile phone (fourth example).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cellular phone 2 Image storage server 3 Network 11 Camera function part 12 Control part 13 Communication function part 14 Storage processing part 15 Camera use memory area 16 Application execution memory area 17 Application use memory area 18 Permanent preservation memory area 21 Communication function part 22 Control Part 23 storage device

Claims (6)

A terminal device provided with image photographing means,
Storage means for storing image data acquired by the image photographing means;
A communication means for communicating with an image storage server connected to a network;
Determination means for determining whether or not the image data can be stored in the storage means;
And a control unit that transmits the image data to the image storage server using the communication unit when the determination unit determines that the image data cannot be stored in the storage unit. Terminal device. The terminal device further includes temporary storage means for temporarily storing the image data photographed by the image photographing means, and display means for displaying the image data stored in the temporary storage means,
A process in which the determination unit and the control unit perform processing when the user is inquired whether to save the image data displayed on the display unit and receives an instruction from the user to store the image data. The terminal device according to 1. The terminal device further includes temporary storage means for temporarily storing the image data photographed by the image photographing means, and display means for displaying the image data stored in the temporary storage means,
When the image data displayed on the display means is inquired of a user as to which of the storage means and the image storage server the image data is to be saved, and when an instruction to save the image data is received in the storage means, the determination means and the The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device transmits the image data to the image storage server when receiving an instruction to store the image in the image storage server by performing processing by a control unit. A terminal device provided with image photographing means,
Storage means for storing image data acquired by the image photographing means;
A communication means for communicating with an image storage server connected to a network;
Determining means for determining whether or not the image data acquired by the image photographing means can be stored in the storage means;
When the determination unit determines that the image data cannot be stored in the storage unit, a part of the image data already stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the image storage server in order of the shooting time. And a control means for deleting the image data transmitted to the image storage server from the storage means and storing the image data acquired by the image photographing means in the storage means. A terminal device comprising: an image capturing unit; a storage unit for storing image data acquired by the image capturing unit; and a communication unit for communicating with an image storage server connected to a network.
Determination means for determining whether the image data can be stored in the storage means;
Control means for transmitting the image data to the image storage server using the communication means when the determination means determines that the image data cannot be stored in the storage means;
Program to function as. A terminal device comprising: an image capturing unit; a storage unit for storing image data acquired by the image capturing unit; and a communication unit for communicating with an image storage server connected to a network.
Determining means for determining whether or not the image data acquired by the image photographing means can be stored in the storage means;
When the determination unit determines that the image data cannot be stored in the storage unit, a part of the image data already stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the image storage server in order of the shooting time. Control means for deleting the image data transmitted to the image storage server from the storage means and storing the image data acquired by the image photographing means in the storage means;
Program to function as.

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