JP2000151871A - Portable image communication terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the portable image communication terminal where image data of a photograph photographed by a built-in digital camera is sent to an opposite party by means of a built-in portable telephone set so as to share the image data in common with the opposite party. SOLUTION: The portable image communication terminal is provided with an entry means 7 such as a pen pressure sensing tablet, a display section 8b such as a liquid crystal display device, an image pickup means 6 that receives a scene as digital image data, an image data storage section 2b that stores image data, a number data storage section 2a that stores telephone number information of an opposite party, a selection control means 9 that reads a storage address of a destination, a transmission means 4 that transmits selected image data or receives the data, and a central processing unit 10 that controls the transmission means 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for transmitting image data of a photograph taken by a built-in digital camera to a portable image communication terminal device of the present invention through a built-in mobile phone. The present invention relates to a portable image communication terminal device capable of sharing data with a partner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to transmit image data of a photograph taken by a digital camera to a partner, the image data is temporarily stored in a personal computer (personal computer) of a desktop type, a notebook type, a laptop type or the like. Then, the image data to be transmitted is selected and transmitted to the other party via a modem, a public line, or the like.

[0003] These personal computers, whether of a desktop type or a notebook type, have a basic OS (Operating System) for managing the system, software for capturing images, and a system for transmitting images. It is necessary to install various software such as communication software for controlling a communication protocol by controlling image software and a modem.

Since the personal computer has a certain size, it is usually used on a desk. Even a notebook personal computer is portable, but consumes a significant amount of power when handling transmission and reception of image files, and thus basically requires power supply from a commercial power supply.

[0005]

However, the size of the personal computer is unsuitable for carrying by a person, and particularly in a construction site, an accident site, a disaster site, etc., it is difficult to secure a commercial power supply. Is mostly. Therefore, even if you can shoot the scene with a digital camera,
It was extremely difficult to transmit the image data of the photographed photograph to a management department such as a head office or a headquarters.

[0006] As a result, images cannot be shared between the site and the management department in many cases, so that communication is hindered and the progress of work is hindered or the process is delayed. It is pointed out. In particular, at the recovery site in the event of a disaster, it is crucial to understand the disaster area as soon as possible to determine the action,
Related organizations of the government and local governments have been keen to introduce a completely new portable image communication terminal device that can immediately transmit and receive image data of a photograph taken on the spot to and from the other party online.

[0007]

The inventor of the present invention has conducted intensive studies, and as a result, has found that the present invention is based on input means such as a pressure-sensitive tablet, a display unit such as a liquid crystal display device, and the scene as digital image data. An image pickup unit that can be captured, an image data storage unit that stores image data generated by the image pickup unit in a predetermined storage area, a number data storage unit that stores telephone number information of the other party, and an input unit that is selected by the input unit. Selection control means for reading a storage address of image data from the image data storage unit and reading a storage address of a transmission destination selected by the input means from the number data storage unit; A transmission unit that transmits the selected image data or receives the image data, and a central processing unit that controls the transmission unit. The above-mentioned portable image communication terminal device and the like can provide a completely new portable image communication terminal device that can immediately transmit and receive image data of a photograph taken on the spot to and from the other party online, and solve the above problems. It was done.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The configuration of a portable image communication terminal according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The processing of each component will be described with reference to each step of the image transmission program shown in FIG. First, FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a portable image communication terminal device according to the present invention, which roughly includes a digital camera 1a, a main body 1b, and an antenna 1c for communication. The digital camera 1a can generate a photographed image as digital image data.
The main body 1b can store image data generated by the digital camera 1a as an image file.

[0009] The stored image file is transmitted via the transmission means 4 as a built-in portable telephone, via a general public network (PSTN 14), a portable telephone network, and the like, and is connected to the portable type according to the present invention owned by the other party. It is received by the image communication terminal device. The main body 1b has substantially the same shape and size as a so-called electronic organizer, and has such a shape that there is no inconvenience even if it is always carried in a pocket of a jacket or the like.

The antenna 1c is an antenna used for making and receiving calls when transmitting and receiving image files because the transmission means 4 built in the main body 1b operates as a mobile phone. Preferably, in order to further increase the gain, the antenna is shaped like a rod antenna, and the root portion is bent and rotatable so that the direction can be arbitrarily changed. At this time, if the mobile phone base station 13 stands perpendicular to the ground, the vertical polarization transmitted from the mobile phone base station 13 and the vibration direction are aligned, so that the sensitivity is the best.

The digital camera 1a includes a main body 1
b, but it may be structured to be rotatable 360 degrees with respect to the main body 1b on the rotating shaft 1d. By doing so, the digital camera 1a can be appropriately pointed toward the opposite side (subject), and the main body 1b can be pointed toward the user (photographer) to check the state of the photograph to be taken. Can be.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable image communication terminal device according to the present invention. The input means 7 is a keyboard, a mouse, or the like for inputting commands, data, etc., and is preferably applied to the surface by a pressure-sensitive tablet, that is, a plastic input pen 1e having a rounded tip and a shape that is hardly damaged. An input device for inputting a character or the like by detecting a pressure (pen pressure) applied when the character or the like is written, but is not limited to this.

Next, the display means 8 is a display device for displaying image data photographed and stored by the digital camera 1a as an image, preferably a monochrome or color liquid crystal display (LCD). Part 8b;
And a drive control unit 8a which is a driver of the display unit 8b. The display unit 8b is applicable to any type of liquid crystal display device such as a kinematic liquid crystal display device, a TFT liquid crystal display device, and an STN liquid crystal display device, as well as a plasma display device.

Next, the drive control unit 8a includes a display unit 8b
Is a circuit or software for driving an appropriate segment based on a command from a central processing unit 10 (hereinafter, referred to as a CPU 10).

Next, the recording means 5 is a nonvolatile recording device, for example, a built-in hard disk drive, RO
M (Read Only Memory), Flash memory card, EE
PROM (Electric Erasable Programmable Read Only)
Any type of recording device such as a memory, a floppy disk drive, etc. can be applied.

Next, the image pickup means 6 corresponds to the digital camera 1a, and controls the image pickup device 6b such as a CCD camera device and the image pickup device 6b appropriately based on a command from the CPU 10. An imaging control unit 6c and a video signal control unit 6a for converting an electric signal from the imaging element unit 6b into a digital signal and performing digital signal processing.
including.

The image pickup device section 6b is preferably a CCD camera device having 280,000 pixels or more and a device which can be driven with low power. However, any other image pickup device may be applied. The driving of the imaging element unit 6b is controlled by receiving necessary control signals such as an imaging timing pulse and a clock pulse from the imaging control unit 6c, and an operation as a digital camera is realized.

Since the electric signal from the image sensor 6b is usually an analog signal, the video signal controller 6a converts the electric signal into digital data that can be processed by the portable image communication terminal of the present invention. Is converted into digital image data (S100). Further, the recording means 5
In order to be able to record and save as image data, etc.
Signal processing according to a predetermined format is also performed.

Next, the storage means 2 includes an image data storage section 2b for storing the digital image data generated by the image pickup means 6, and a telephone number of a partner transmitting the specified image data among the image data. And the like, and a number data storage unit 2a storing therein a number data storage unit 2a, a RAM (Randam Access Memory) as a volatile memory, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a flash memory, an EEPROM,
Smart media or smart card (registered trademark), etc.
Any memory is applicable.

The image data generated by the image pickup means 6 is stored in the image data storage section 2b by an appropriate method (S101). FIG. 1 shows, for example, that an image file a is stored from address 0000 and an image file b is stored from address 00FB as storage addresses for memory management, and some image files c, d, e, and f are stored in appropriate storage addresses. ,... Are stored.

These image files a, b,... Are displayed in a list on the display section 8b based on a command from the CPU 10 (S102). Here, when a desired image is selected from the list display using the input pen 1e (S10).
3) The transmission file control section 9b of the selection control means 9 reads the storage address where the selected image file is stored. For example, when the image file d is selected, the storage address 32F1 is read and the storage unit 2F is read.
Is temporarily stored in a temporary area, a working area, or the like to prepare for the next processing (S104).

Next, instructions are displayed on the display section 8b so as to select a transmission destination. More specifically, similarly to the list display of the image files, the CPU 10 performs control for displaying a list of transmission destinations on the display unit 8b (S1).
05), when a desired transmission destination is selected from the list display with the input pen 1e (S106), the number selection control section 9a of the selection control means 9 reads the storage address where the selected transmission destination is stored. . For example, when the transmission destination C is selected, the storage address 0154 is read and temporarily stored in a temporary area or a working area of the storage means 2 to prepare for the next processing (S10).
7).

Then, based on the information of the image file d and the transmission destination d selected as described above, the transmission means 4
Makes a call to the destination C (S109), and after establishing communication,
The image file d is transmitted to the partner terminal according to a predetermined protocol (S110).

Specifically, the CPU 10 determines, after the image file d to be transmitted and its destination C are determined,
First, the call control unit 4a is activated to be in an off-hook state. Next, referring to the storage address of the transmission destination C selected from the number data storage unit 2a, control is performed to load telephone number information and deliver it to the call control unit 4a. The call control unit 4a processes the telephone number information as a calling telephone number, and receives a command from the CPU 10 to insert the telephone number information into a predetermined octet according to the communication protocol of the mobile phone.
As a result, the transmitting unit 4b makes a call to the destination telephone number.

When the terminal of the other party responds, since the link has already been established, the call control unit 4a starts negotiation in the application layer and prepares for transmission of the selected image file d. After completion of the negotiation, the CPU 10 sequentially reads out the image data of the image file d by the transmission file control unit 9b, transfers the image data to the call control unit 4a via the bus, and completes transmission of all the image data to be transmitted. The link is released to disconnect the call and return to the recovery state (S111).

Here, if the transmission means 4 adopts a so-called deemed voice transmission mode, the call control section 4a temporarily converts digital image data into an analog signal and transfers it to the call control section 4a. Also, if the transmission means 4 is PH
S. or digital mobile phones, see JT-Q. 93
Since image data can be transmitted digitally using protocols such as 1a, PIAFS, and cdma-one, there is no need to convert image data to analog.

FIG. 3 shows a portable image communication terminal device according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 3, the receiving unit 4c is also provided so that the transmitting means 4 can also receive (see FIG.
(See FIG. 1). The receiving section 4c and the transmitting section 4b may be integrally formed as a single chip, or may be provided as independent circuits. When the antenna 1c is commonly used, a hybrid circuit or the like may be provided as appropriate to prevent the backflow of the transmission current, but the present invention is not limited to this.

The transmission means 4 may be provided with an interface 4d as a separate connector or the like. The interface unit 4d is preferably a standardized connector such as RS-232C, pin jack, etc., and can be used as an ordinary mobile phone by connecting to various other external devices.

Further, when transmitting the image file, the portable image communication terminal device of the present invention can add character data as a comment to the image data (S1).
08). Specifically, the character data adding section 11a of the comment means 11 is operated by the input pen 1e or the like.
(S112), or selects character data corresponding to the comment sentence previously recorded in the recording means as a default with the input pen 1e or the like (S112), and determines as the optional data of the image data to be transmitted. (Octet) (S113).

The character data is inserted into empty octets of image data according to a predetermined format. When the image data is received, the character data separation unit 11
With b, only the character data is separated from the format of the received image data according to a predetermined program, and displayed as text along with the received image data on the display unit 8b (see FIG. 3).

Next, the power supply means 3 is a device for supplying power required to drive the portable image communication terminal device of the present invention, and specifically includes a manganese dry battery, an alkaline dry battery, and a nickel cadmium battery. Any type of battery such as rechargeable battery, lithium ion rechargeable battery, solar cell, etc.
Can be built in. In addition, in order to use the portable image communication terminal device of the present invention on a desk, an adapter for converting DC from an external commercial power supply may be connectable in some cases. The power supply means 3 also includes a power supply for memory backup.

As described above, a series of controls for transmitting the photographed image file (together with the text comment) to the terminal of the other party are performed based on the execution of the image transmission program recorded in advance in the recording means 5 or the like. Controls the components of the present invention.

[0033]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the input means 7 such as a pen pressure sensitive tablet and the display unit 8b such as a liquid crystal display device are provided.
Imaging means 6 capable of capturing a scene as digital image data, an image data storage unit 2b for storing image data generated by the imaging means 6 in a predetermined storage area, and a number data storage unit for storing telephone number information of the other party 2a and the selection of reading the storage address of the image data selected by the input means 7 from the image data storage section 2b, and reading the storage address of the destination selected by the input means 7 from the number data storage section 2a. Control means 9;
A portable device comprising: a transmission unit 4 that transmits the selected image data to the destination read by the selection control unit 9 or receives the image data; and a central processing unit 10 that controls the transmission unit. The following advantages can be obtained by using the image communication terminal device.

That is, the present invention relates to the central processing unit 10,
In addition to the configurations of the storage unit 2, the input unit 7, and the display unit 8b, the transmission unit 4 which is a wireless communication unit similar to a mobile phone, and the imaging unit 6 as a digital camera have an integrated structure. As a whole, the size of the apparatus can be reduced. As a result, since the weight of the device can be reduced, there is an excellent effect that the device can be carried in a pocket of clothes.

With the effect of excellent portability, the portable image communication terminal device of the present invention can be taken to a disaster site caused by an earthquake, for example, and a photograph of the site can be taken. Instantly convert image data
It can also be transmitted to a person who is carrying the device at another site. As a result, the situation of the site can be accurately grasped by each other, and there is an extremely great advantage that the efficiency of disaster relief activities is improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, comment means for adding character data to the image data and separating only the character data from the image data to which the character data is added. The central processing unit 10 inserts character data into the format of the image data when transmitting the image data, and separates only the character data from the format of the image data when receiving the image data. And a portable image communication terminal device for controlling display on the display unit 8b.
In addition to the excellent effects of the first aspect, the following advantages are obtained.

That is, a comment means 11 for adding a comment as character information as character data or separating only character data from image data to which the character data is added is provided, and is controlled by the central processing unit 10. With this, not only image data but also text information can be transmitted together, so important site information that is not enough with images alone can be transmitted to the other party immediately, resulting in insufficient information. An excellent advantage is that communication disruption can be prevented beforehand.

Next, in a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the central processing unit 10 displays a list of image files stored in the image data storage unit 2b on the display unit 8b. The portable image communication terminal device has the following excellent advantages in addition to the excellent effects and advantages according to the first or second aspect of the present invention.

That is, the image data taken in by the image pickup means 6 can be displayed in a list on the display section 8b, so that when a large number of taken images are stored,
Since the image data is displayed in a list, it is possible to identify at a glance which image is to be transmitted, and it is possible to quickly transmit the desired image data without confusion, especially in the case of a situation such as a disaster site where time is at stake. It has an excellent advantage.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable image communication terminal device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portable image communication terminal device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a state diagram when the same image data is shared by using the portable image communication terminal device of the present invention oppositely;

FIG. 4 is a main flowchart of an image transmission program executed by a central processing unit in the portable image communication terminal device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1c Antenna 2a Number data storage unit 2b Image data storage unit 3 Power supply unit 4 Transmission unit 6 Imaging unit 7 Input unit 8b Display unit 9 Selection control unit 10 Central processing unit 11 Comment unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C062 AA09 AA11 AB18 AB25 AB42 AC24 AC34 AE08 AF03 AF13 BB03 5C064 AA01 AA03 AB03 AC04 AC05 AC13 AD08

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An input unit such as a pen pressure sensitive tablet, a display unit such as a liquid crystal display, an imaging unit capable of capturing a scene as digital image data, and an image data generated by the imaging unit in a predetermined storage area. , A number data storage unit for storing telephone number information of the other party, and a storage address of the image data selected by the input unit are read from the image data storage unit and selected by the input unit. Selection control means for reading the storage address of the destination to be transmitted from the number data storage unit, and transmission for transmitting the selected image data to the destination read by the selection control means or receiving the image data And a central processing unit for controlling the transmission means. 2. The central processing unit according to claim 1, further comprising comment means for adding character data to the image data and separating only character data from the image data to which the character data is added. When the image data is transmitted, character data is inserted into the format of the image data, and when the image data is received, control is performed such that only the character data is separated from the format of the image data and displayed on the display unit. A portable image communication terminal device characterized by the above-mentioned. 3. The portable image communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit displays a list of image files stored in the image data storage unit on the display unit. .