JP4397118B2 - Communication system and method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a communication system and a method thereof, and more particularly, to a communication system and a method thereof that can easily transmit an image obtained by imaging to another communication device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When setting multiple items of personal information stored in the personal information memory in correspondence with each other and performing data communication with electronic devices of the same specifications that come into contact with other people, first the surface corresponding to level 1 If personal information is exchanged and contact with another person continues for a certain period of time, formal personal information corresponding to Level 2 is exchanged, and optional information is set in advance in the personal information from the other party. If the information that matches the conditions is included, private personal information corresponding to level 3 is exchanged, while the personal information of each other received is stored in the received personal information memory. An electronic device with a function is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-194666.
[0003]
In addition, the mobile phone device including the voice input means, the transmission means for transmitting the voice information converted by the input means to the communication partner, the character information input means, and the character memory, captures an image and outputs the image information. A digital camera, an image memory for storing the image information, a system control unit for associating the image information of the digital camera or the image information of the image memory, and the character information of the character memory, and displaying the associated information Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-205761 discloses a mobile telephone device with a camera function, which includes display means and switching means for switching image information from the image memory to audio information so as to be transmitted by the audio information transmission means. Has been.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the electronic device with a communication function described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-194666, only corresponding information is exchanged according to each other's information disclosure level, and an image cannot be easily transmitted. The problem that occurred.
[0005]
The mobile phone with a camera function described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-205761 is also an invention in which a face of a partner is photographed with an attached camera and stored in association with an address or a phone number. It is a self-contained device without an information exchange function such as sending information.
[0006]
In addition, when multiple people take a commemorative photo with multiple electronic cameras and distribute the photos taken after the names have gone home via the Internet, etc., an image is attached to the email and the email is sent to each other's email address. How to do is known. There is also known a method of uploading an image obtained by capturing an image on a homepage of a website and notifying the upload information by e-mail. However, when there are a large number of people who distribute images, there is a problem in that it is very time-consuming even to send an e-mail.
[0007]
Also, when a net meeting is performed in a video conference using a communication network such as the Internet, conventionally, there has been a problem that it takes a lot of time and effort to extract and input the address of a partner who is to carry out the video conference.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to obtain the address of a communication partner via wireless communication or a recording medium, and to transmit information such as an image by communication connection to the automatically obtained address. It is an object to provide a possible communication system and method.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a communication system that receives an address of an image transmission destination from another communication device and transmits information such as an image to the address. Imaging means for obtaining the address, transmission / reception means for automatically transmitting the address to the other communication device and receiving the address automatically from the other communication device, and transmission means for transmitting the captured image to the received address. It is characterized by that.
[0010]
According to the present invention, an imaging unit that captures a subject image to obtain an image, a transmission / reception unit that automatically transmits an address to another communication device and automatically receives an address from the other communication device, and the received address Since the transmission means for transmitting the captured image is provided, information such as an image can be transmitted by communication connection to an automatically obtained address.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a communication system and method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 shows a communication system according to the present invention.
[0013]
As shown in the figure, the communication system is owned by the users 8, 8A, etc., and has an electronic camera 10, 10A, etc. equipped with wireless communication means for photographing subjects such as the users 8, 8A, 8B,. 10, 10 </ b> A... And personal computers 80 and 80 </ b> A capable of exchanging information.
[0014]
The electronic cameras 10 and 10A exchange the information of the addresses of the users 8 and 8A and the data such as face photographs with the antennas 156 and 156A, which are wireless communication means, and record them on the recording media 177 and 177A. It is possible. Further, data such as own address information and a face photograph may be temporarily recorded on the recording medium 177 and 177A and transmitted to the other electronic camera 10 or 10A.
[0015]
Next, after the users 8, 8A, etc. return home, the electronic cameras 10, 10A are wirelessly connected to the personal computers 80, 80A. Then, data such as addresses and face photographs are transmitted to the personal computers 80 and 80A via the antennas 856 and 856A which are wireless communication means. Information such as addresses and image data may be transmitted to the personal computers 80 and 80A via the recording media 177 and 177A.
[0016]
When the personal computers 80 and 80A acquire the address and the like, the personal computers 80 and 80A start communication via a communication network such as a public line to the automatically acquired address, and transmit the images recorded in association with each other. To do. Then, the user 8, 8A... Can be processed very smoothly from the meeting of each other to the reunion on the net and from the commemorative photo to the distribution of the photos.
[0017]
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a signal processing system of the electronic camera 10.
[0018]
The image processing unit of the electronic camera 10 forms an image of a subject on a light receiving surface, photoelectrically converts it, outputs it as an image signal, image size change, sharpness correction, gamma correction, contrast correction, white An image processing unit 153 that performs processing such as balance correction, and an A / D converter 154 that converts an analog image signal into digital image data are provided.
[0019]
The communication means of the electronic camera 10 that transmits / receives information such as image data to / from other communication devices by communication is a short-distance transmission / reception means 157 that transmits or receives information such as image data on a carrier wave such as a radio wave ( (Including functions of a transmission unit and a reception unit), an antenna 156 that transmits and receives a carrier wave and data, and a communication connector 162 that transmits information such as image data to another communication device via a communication cable.
[0020]
Further, the electronic camera 10 displays information such as image data on a display unit 168 and a compression / expansion unit 167 for performing compression control on information such as JPEG or motion JPEG, or processing for expanding / decompressing compressed data. OSD 169 for on-screen display of various characters, message data and the like together with the image, D / A converter 170 for converting the digital image data into a YC signal or RGB signal for display, and the image data temporarily A frame memory 171 for storing is provided.
[0021]
In addition, the electronic camera 10 is provided with an input unit 172 provided with a release button, a communication button, a transmission button, a function switch, a cross key, a confirmation switch, a mode switching switch, etc., and setting information of the input unit 172, etc. An I / O 173 that is an interface for recording, a recording medium mounting unit 178 that detachably mounts the recording medium 177, and a recording medium interface 179 that records and reads information such as addresses and image data with respect to the recording medium 177. Is provided. The recording medium 177 is a detachable recording medium typified by a semiconductor such as a memory card, a magnetic recording type typified by MO, etc., an optical recording type, or the like.
[0022]
The electronic camera 10 controls the entire electronic camera 10 and controls image data sampling timing, image data recording control, image data graphic recognition, reading processing of information such as a user's mail address, and communication control. Information processing means 180 for performing control such as display control, unique identification information such as the model name and serial number of the electronic camera 10, an operation program, a ROM storing each constant, and a work area when the program is executed A system memory 181 configured by a RAM serving as a storage unit, and a nonvolatile memory 182 capable of rewriting information and capable of continuing to store stored information even after the power is turned off are provided.
[0023]
The recording medium 177 or the nonvolatile memory 182 can also store information such as addresses and face photos of other users 8A, 8B.
[0024]
Further, the electronic camera 10 includes a calendar clock 190 that keeps time, a light emitting unit 193 that emits light to the subject at the time of shooting to compensate for the shortage of light amount, and a light emission that adjusts the light emission timing of the light emitting unit 193 and the amount of light emitted. Control means 194 is provided.
[0025]
The information processing means 180 of the electronic camera 10 and its peripheral circuits are connected by a bus 199 so that information can be transmitted to each other at high speed.
[0026]
A photographing process of the electronic camera 10 configured as described above will be described.
[0027]
An image to be photographed is formed on the light receiving surface of the imaging unit 150 by the lens of the electronic camera 10, and the formed subject image is photoelectrically converted and output to the image processing unit 153. The image processing means 153 performs amplification and noise reduction processing on this image signal, and after converting it into digital data by the A / D converter 154, stores it in the frame memory 171 for a time.
[0028]
The information processing means 180 instructs to sequentially transmit the image data stored in the frame memory 171 to the D / A converter 170 and displays it on the display means 168 together with information generated from the OSD 169.
[0029]
When the user presses a release button provided on the input unit 172, the information processing unit 180 enters a mode for photographing a subject. Then, the information processing unit 180 transfers the image data stored in the frame memory 171 to the compression / decompression unit 167, and outputs a command for executing the compression processing of the image data under a predetermined condition. Then, the recording medium interface 179 performs processing for sequentially recording the image data on the recording medium 177.
[0030]
When a user operates a mode switching dial provided in the electronic camera 10 to select a mode for communicating with another electronic camera 10A or the like, the electronic camera 10 and the electronic camera 10A communicate with each other at a short distance. To start. Then, when communication is established by authenticating each other, information such as each other's mail address and face photo is exchanged and recorded in the recording medium 177, 177A or the non-volatile memory 182 or the like. At this time, the number of electronic cameras for exchanging information such as addresses is not limited to two, and information may be exchanged between three or more electronic cameras. Then, the users 8, 8A, etc. set the images to be distributed via the input means of the electronic cameras 10, 10A, and the setting results are stored in the recording media 177, 177A in association with the addresses.
[0031]
In the above description, the embodiment in which the communication terminal is an electronic camera has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the electronic camera, and an audio that has a wireless communication function and can record audio information. Even a communication terminal such as a player can achieve the object of the present invention.
[0032]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a signal processing system of a personal computer.
[0033]
According to the figure, the information transmission / reception unit of the personal computer 80 includes an antenna 856 used as a short-distance wireless communication unit, a transmission / reception unit 857 (including the functions of a transmission unit and a reception unit), and other public lines via the public line 860 Public line transmission / reception means 865 (including functions of transmission means and reception means) for transmitting / receiving information to / from the personal computer 80A and the like is provided.
[0034]
The personal computer 80 includes a display unit 868 for displaying information such as images and characters, a display control unit 869 for outputting an image signal for display to the display unit 868 based on a command from the information processing unit, I / O 873 that reads various information input by the person via the input unit 872 and transmits the information to an information processing unit described later, or outputs a display command to a notification unit such as an LED based on an instruction from the information processing unit. Is provided.
[0035]
Further, the personal computer 80 is provided with a recording medium mounting portion 878 for mounting the recording medium 877 in a removable manner, and a recording medium interface 879 for recording and reading information such as image data with respect to the recording medium 877. Yes. The recording medium 877 is a detachable recording medium similar to the recording media 177 and 177A.
[0036]
Further, in the personal computer 80, an information processing means (CPU) 880 for controlling the entire personal computer 80, a ROM in which programs for operating the information processing means 880 and various constants are recorded, and information processing means 880 execute processing. A memory 884 composed of a RAM which is a storage means as a work area when performing the operation, various constants related to personal computer processing, dial-up telephone numbers when connecting to communication devices on the network, attribute information, URL (Uniform Resource Locators), address, gateway information DNS (Domain Name System), etc., a recording means 886 such as a hard disk for recording information such as connection information, and a calendar clock 890 for recording time are provided.
[0037]
Peripheral circuits including the information processing means 880 in the personal computer 80, the display control means 869, the I / O 873, the memory 884, the recording means 886, the calendar clock 890, and the like are connected by a bus 899. It is possible to control the peripheral circuits.
[0038]
The short-range wireless communication means is a communication means using a carrier wave of light such as radio waves, ultrasonic waves, and infrared rays. When radio waves are used, it may be based on wireless communication specifications such as a wireless LAN (local area network).
[0039]
In the above description, the communication device is described as an example of the personal computer 80. However, the communication device may be a communication terminal such as a mobile phone or an electronic notebook as long as the communication device includes a recording unit, a communication unit, and the like. Further, the electronic camera 10 may have the function of the personal computer 80.
[0040]
When the user operates a mode switching dial provided on the electronic camera 10 to select, for example, a storage class (may be a mode such as a still image mode), the electronic cameras 10 and 10A are connected to the personal computers 80 and 80A. The mode is regarded as a recording medium. Then, the personal computers 80 and 80A access the electronic cameras 10 and 10A to acquire information on directories and files recorded on the recording media 177 and 177A. Then, it is determined whether or not a batch file such as an image transmission file exists.
[0041]
If it is determined that a batch file such as an image transmission file is recorded on the recording media 177 and 177A, the personal computers 80 and 80A read the batch file and activate the mail transmission software. Communication is started with the existing address via the public line 860 or the like, and a mail manuscript with an image attached is created. The user 8, 8A,... Can send a desired image to a predetermined address simply by writing a comment here and pressing the send button. When all users perform e-mail transfer, all desired images can be obtained via e-mail.
[0042]
In addition, when an image is shared on the Internet WEB page, the following method can be used.
[0043]
In advance, one of the users registers in the image sharing service server, acquires a registration address and an ID number for identifying the user, and registers the same in the electronic camera 10. As shown in FIG. 1, after the users 8 and 8A take an image using the electronic camera 10 or the like, a plurality of users exchange the wireless communication or the recording media 177, 177A. The information is exchanged in order to record the registration address and ID of the image sharing service server in the electronic camera 10A of another user. Also in this case, there may be two or more electronic cameras. Then, the user selects an image to be distributed, and the result is recorded on the recording media 177, 177A of the electronic cameras 10, 10A.
[0044]
After each user returns home, the electronic cameras 10, 10A,... Are set to the still image mode and connected to the personal computers 80, 80A. Then, application software such as personal computers 80, 80A automatically registers the registered addresses and IDs recorded in the recording media 177, 177A,... Mounted on the electronic cameras 10, 10A and the images to be shared with the personal computers 80, 80A. And transfer to the image sharing service server using a communication protocol such as FTP. By uploading all the images described in the batch file, each user 8, 8A... Can access the image sharing server to view or download a desired image.
[0045]
In addition, when a video conference is performed via the Internet, the following method can be used.
[0046]
When the user 8 carrying the electronic camera 10 meets the user 8A carrying the electronic camera 10A at the destination, the video conference addresses are communicated with each other by wireless communication (or recording). Recording is performed on the recording media 177 and 177A of the electronic cameras 10 and 10A (by exchanging the media). At the same time, a face photograph of the other user 8, 8A is taken and recorded in association with the address.
[0047]
When each user returns home, when the electronic cameras 10, 10A,... Are set in the video conference mode and connected to the personal computers 80, 80A, the application software automatically sets the addresses of communication destinations recorded in the recording media 177, 177A. Read out and register in the video conferencing application software address list. Also, a face photo corresponding to this address list is registered.
[0048]
The video conference application software that has acquired the address from the electronic cameras 10 and 10A starts communication with a predetermined address. Therefore, the electronic camera 10 and the electronic camera 10A via the personal computer 80, the public line 860, and the personal computer 80A and the image and audio. It is possible to conduct a video conference by transmitting and receiving information including.
[0049]
FIG. 4 shows a description example of an image transmission file (batch file) in which an image transmission destination address, an image file name, and the like are described.
[0050]
According to the figure, the image transmission file includes an address indicating a communication destination or an image transmission destination when performing communication, and purpose information for instructing an image print service, image upload, image transmission, and the like. The file name of the image to be transmitted is described. The personal computers 80, 80A, ... transmit the image file described in the image transmission file to the address described in the image transmission file according to the purpose.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the communication system and the method thereof according to the present invention, the imaging unit that captures the subject image and obtains the image, the address is automatically transmitted to the other communication device, and the other communication device automatically Since the transmission / reception means for receiving an address and the transmission means for transmitting the captured image to the received address are provided, it is possible to transmit information such as an image by connecting to an automatically obtained address. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a communication system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a signal processing system of an electronic camera. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a signal processing system of a personal computer. Explanation of symbols]
8, 8A, 8B ... User 10, 10A ... Electronic camera, 80, 80A ... PC, 150 ... Imaging means, 153 ... Image processing means, 154 ... A / D converter, 156, 156A ... Antenna, 157 ... Transmission / reception Means 162 ... Communication connector 167 ... Compression / decompression means 168 ... Display means 169 ... OSD 170 ... D / A converter 171 ... Frame memory 172 ... Input means 173 ... I / O 177, 177A ... Recording medium, 178... Recording medium mounting unit, 179... Recording medium interface, 180 .. information processing means, 181... System memory, 182... Non-volatile memory, 190 ... calendar clock, 193. ... Bus, 856, 856A ... Antenna, 857 ... Transmission / reception means, 860 ... Public line, 865 ... Transmission / reception means, 868 Display means, 869 ... display control means, 872 ... input means, 873 ... I / O, 877 ... recording medium, 878 ... recording medium mounting section, 879 ... recording medium interface, 880 ... information processing means, 884 ... memory, 886 ... Recording means, 890 ... calendar clock, bus ... 899

Claims (4)

In a communication system comprising two electronic cameras and one communication device,
One of the two electronic cameras is
An imaging means for capturing an image;
A recording medium for recording the captured image;
Wireless communication means for performing short-range wireless communication with the other electronic camera of the two electronic cameras ;
A registered address of the image sharing service server and a user registered in the image sharing service server via the wireless communication means from the other electronic camera owned by the user registered in the image sharing service server that distributes images Receiving means for receiving the ID number of
Image selecting means for selecting an image to be distributed or shared via the image sharing service server;
Recording control means for associating the result of selection by the image selection means with the registration address and the ID number received from the other electronic camera owned by the user registered in the image sharing service server and recording them on the recording medium When,
Camera side connection means for connecting to the communication device,
The communication device is:
A communication device side connection means for connecting the one electronic camera;
When the one electronic camera is connected, the image selected by the image selection means, the registered address of the image sharing service server, and the ID number of the user registered in the image sharing service server are automatically recorded from the recording medium. Reading means for reading out,
Image transfer means for accessing the image sharing service server using the registered address and ID number read from the recording medium, and transferring the image selected by the image selection means to the image sharing service server;
Download means for accessing the image sharing service server using a registered address and ID number read from the recording medium, and downloading an image uploaded to the image sharing service server;
A communication system comprising: In a communication system comprising two electronic cameras and two communication devices,
The two electronic cameras are
An imaging means for capturing an image;
A communication mode for performing communication between the two electronic cameras , and a mode switching means for switching the mode between the video conference modes;
Wireless communication means for performing short-range wireless communication between the two electronic cameras ;
When the mode is set in the communication mode via said wireless communication means, the other of the user's address for video conferencing in one of the electronic camera of the two electronic cameras the two electronic cameras It transmits to the electronic camera, and transmitting and receiving means for receiving an address for video conferencing user of the other electronic camera from the other of the electronic camera,
A recording medium for recording a video conference address received by the transmission / reception means;
Camera side connection means for connecting to the communication device,
The two communication devices are:
A communication device side connection means for connecting the two electronic cameras respectively ;
Reading means for reading the video conference address from the recording medium from the recording medium of the connected electronic camera when the electronic camera is connected to the video conference mode.
Using said video conferencing address read from the recording medium to start the communication between the two communication equipment, video conferencing communication means for performing video conferencing using the imaging means of the connected electronic camera When,
A communication system comprising: In a communication method for performing communication between two electronic cameras and one communication device,
An imaging step of capturing an image with one of the two electronic cameras and recording the captured image on a recording medium;
By the one of the electronic camera, a wireless communication step of performing short-distance wireless communication with the other of the electronic camera of the two electronic cameras,
By the one of the electronic camera, an image from the other of the electronic camera by the user registered with the image sharing service server owned to deliver, the user who has registered in the registered address and the image sharing service server of the image sharing service server A receiving step for receiving the ID number;
In the one electronic camera, an image selection step of selecting an image to be distributed or shared via the image sharing service server;
In the one electronic camera, the result of selection in the image selection step is associated with the registration address and the ID number received from the other electronic camera owned by the user registered in the image sharing service server and recorded. A recording control process for recording on a medium;
A connection step of connecting the one electronic camera and the communication device;
In the communication device,
When the one electronic camera is connected, the image selected in the image selection step, the registration address of the image sharing service server, and the ID number of the user registered in the image sharing service server are automatically recorded from the recording medium. A reading process to read into
An image transfer step of accessing the image sharing service server by using the registration address and ID number read from the recording medium by the communication device and transferring the image selected in the image selection step to the image sharing service server When,
A download step of accessing the image sharing service server by using the registration address and ID number read from the recording medium by the communication device, and downloading an image uploaded to the image sharing service server;
A communication method comprising: A communication method of performing the two electronic camera provided with imaging means for capturing an image, a communication between two communication devices,
A wireless communication step of performing short-range wireless communication between the two electronic cameras ;
A communication mode for communicating with the two electronic cameras, when set in the communication mode by the mode switching means for switching the mode between video conference mode, the use of one of the electronic camera of the two electronic cameras the address for video conferencing and transmits to the other electronic camera's transmission and reception step for receiving the other user address for video conferencing in the electronic camera of the two electronic cameras from the other of the electronic camera,
In the two electronic cameras, a recording step of recording the video conference address received in the transmission / reception step on the recording medium;
Said two electronic cameras, a connecting step of connecting each of said two communication devices,
A step of reading out the video conference address from the recording medium from the recording medium of the connected electronic camera when the electronic camera is connected in the video conference mode; and
Before SL using a video conferencing address read from the recording medium to start the communication between the two communication equipment, said connected using the imaging unit of the electronic camera performing video conferencing videoconference communication process When,
A communication method comprising:

Images