JP2002218436A - Method and system for acquiring image, photographing intermediary system, communication terminal and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for acquiring an image of a remote optional photographing object. SOLUTION: A first communication terminal 2 transmits photographing request information that specifies a photographing object to a photographing intermediary system 1 via a network. The respective pieces of locational position information of a plurality of portable communication terminals 3 accompanied with a photographing means are acquired, and a communication terminal 3a located in the vicinity of the photographing object is selected as a second communication terminal among these communication terminals. The intermediary system 1 transmits the photographing request information to the second communication terminal 3a. The second communication terminal 3a photographs a photographic image corresponding to the photographing request information and transmits the photographic image to the intermediary system 1. The intermediary system 1 transfers the photographic image to the first communication terminal 2. Thus, it is possible to easily acquire the photographic image of an optional photographing object located at a remote place.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image acquisition method, an image acquisition system, an imaging mediation system, a communication terminal, and a computer program for acquiring an image of an object to be photographed at a remote place.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, real-time images of famous points such as theme parks and sightseeing spots have been provided via a communication network such as the Internet.
For example, a fixed camera that shoots a certain sightseeing spot at fixed time intervals is installed, and automatically creates web content including images captured by the fixed camera, and automatically creates the web content on the Internet. To be published to the public. A person who wants to obtain an image of the tourist spot can obtain a real-time image of the tourist spot from all over the world by accessing a website where the web content is published.

[0003]

However, in order to obtain a real-time image of the remote place, it is necessary to search the huge Internet to find the website, which involves complicated work.

[0004] In addition, since the camera is a fixed camera, an image of a point where the fixed camera is not installed cannot be obtained. Even if the fixed camera is installed at the desired point, it does not always capture the desired shooting target, so there are few opportunities to obtain the desired image, and it has not always been used effectively. .

[0005] There is a high need to obtain a real-time image of an object to be photographed at a remote place. In particular, when an emergency such as an accident, a natural disaster, or emergency medical care occurs, it is necessary to accurately grasp the situation at the site as soon as possible. There has been a demand for a system for acquiring an image that can grasp the situation of the image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a method for acquiring an image of an arbitrary photographing object at a remote place.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for acquiring an image of an object to be photographed at a remote location, the information comprising: A first transmitting step of transmitting from the first communication terminal to the management device via the network, a position information obtaining step of obtaining respective position information of the plurality of portable communication terminals accompanied by the photographing means, and the respective position information Selecting, as a second communication terminal, a communication terminal that is present in the vicinity of the imaging target among the plurality of communication terminals, based on the plurality of communication terminals; and transmitting the request information from the management device to the second communication terminal via the network. A transmitting step of transmitting the photographed image corresponding to the photographing request information by the photographing means of the second communication terminal; and transmitting the photographed image to the network. From the second communication terminal via and a third transmission step of transmitting to said management apparatus.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image acquisition method according to the first aspect of the present invention, the management device stores the photographed image in a storage step;
A transfer step of transferring the captured image to a communication terminal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image acquisition method according to the second aspect of the present invention, the transfer step includes a step of determining whether the photographed image conforms to the photographing request information, A permission step of permitting transfer of the photographed image from the management device to the first communication terminal on condition that the photographed image conforms to the photographing request information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image acquisition method according to the third aspect of the present invention, the determining step includes generating a sample image of the photographed image in the management device,
Transmitting the sample image to the first communication terminal;
Wherein the permitting step includes a step of permitting the transfer of the captured image from the management device to the first communication terminal in response to an image confirmation notification transmitted from the first communication terminal to the management device. Have.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image acquisition method according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the first communication is performed in synchronization with the transfer of the captured image to the first communication terminal. The method further includes a charging step of performing charging processing for the terminal owner.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image acquisition method according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the transfer step includes the step of adding advertisement information to the photographed image to the first communication terminal. And a step of transferring.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image acquisition method according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the photographing step is performed from the first communication terminal to the second communication terminal. Controlling a photographing operation of the photographing means via the network.

The invention according to claim 8 is a system for acquiring an image of a photographing target located in a remote place, wherein the first communication terminal is capable of transmitting photographing request information specifying the photographing target via a network, A plurality of portable communication terminals that are accompanied by image photographing means and can transmit photographed images via the network, position acquiring means for acquiring respective location information of the plurality of communication terminals, Based on the location information, selecting means for selecting a communication terminal that is present in the vicinity of the imaging target among the plurality of communication terminals as a second communication terminal, and the imaging request information received from the first communication terminal, Request transfer means for transferring to the second communication terminal via the network.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for mediating a requester who desires to acquire an image of an object to be photographed at a remote place and a photographer who photographs the image, wherein the first communication terminal transmits Request accepting means for accepting the imaging request information specifying the imaging target via a network, and selecting a second communication terminal existing near the imaging target from among a plurality of portable communication terminals accompanied by the imaging means, Request transfer means for transmitting the photographing request information to the second communication terminal via the network, and image receiving means for receiving a photographed image corresponding to the photographing request information from the second communication terminal via the network And

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal which can be used for a process of acquiring an image of a photographic object at a remote place via a network, wherein the photographing request information specifying the photographic object at the remote place is transmitted. Input means for inputting, transmission means for transmitting the request information to the management device via the network, and reception means for receiving the image to be photographed from the management device via the network.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable communication terminal which can be used in a process of acquiring an image of a photographing target at a remote place via a network, and notifies the management device of its own position information. A notifying unit, a receiving unit that receives shooting request information specifying a shooting target from the management device via a network, a shooting unit that shoots an image corresponding to the shooting request information, and a shooting image that is shot by the shooting unit. Image transmitting means for transmitting to the management device via a network.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program, wherein the communication system is executed by a computer in a communication system in which a communication terminal and a management device are connected to each other via a network. Act as an acquisition system.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, a computer program is executed by a computer included in the management device in a communication system in which a communication terminal and a management device are connected via a network.
The management device operates as an imaging mediation system according to claim 9.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in a communication system in which a communication terminal and a management device are connected via a network, the computer program is executed by a microcomputer built in the communication terminal. The communication terminal operates as the communication terminal of claim 10.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in a communication system in which a communication terminal and a management device are connected by a network, the computer program is executed by a microcomputer built in the communication terminal. The communication terminal operates as the communication terminal of claim 11.

[0022]

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

<1. First Embodiment><1-1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image acquisition system 10 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image acquisition system 10 according to the present embodiment
It includes an imaging mediation system 1 serving as a management device, a position information system 4, and a plurality of communication terminals T. Communication terminal T
Are portable, typically mobile phones. FIG. 1 shows only three communication terminals T,
Actually, a large number of communication terminals T use this image acquisition system 10.
Included in. Each of the communication terminals T includes a photographing unit,
A GPS sensor for detecting the position of the communication terminal T itself is attached.

Each of the communication terminals T can be used by a client who wants to take a picture of an object to be photographed in a remote place. Each of these communication terminals T can be used to capture an image of an object to be captured in response to a capturing request from another communication terminal, and to transfer the image.
Hereinafter, of the set of the communication terminals T, the communication terminal 2 is used as the client side communication terminal (first communication terminal), and one of the communication terminals 3 (for example, the communication terminal 3a) is used by the photographer who performs the shooting. Consider a scene selected as a terminal (second communication terminal). However, these relationships are not fixed, and in some cases, the communication terminal 3a functions as a first communication terminal and the communication terminal 3b functions as a second communication terminal. Some communication terminals do not have to include the imaging unit and the GPS sensor. In this case, such a communication terminal can be used only as the first communication terminal.

In the present embodiment, each of the communication terminals T can be connected to the Internet 5 via the telephone network 6. Further, the photographing mediation system 1 and the position information system 4 are also connected to the Internet 5 and can communicate with each other. In this specification,
"Network" combining telephone network 6 and Internet 5
7 will be referred to.

<1-2. Functional configuration of communication terminal T> FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a functional configuration according to the present embodiment of a communication terminal T (2, 3) configured as a mobile phone. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication terminal T includes a control unit 30 for controlling the entire device. The control unit 30 includes a microcomputer. More specifically, a CPU 301 as its main body, a ROM 302 for storing control software, etc., and an RA as a work area
An M303 and a storage unit 304 composed of a battery-backed SRAM or the like are provided, and each is connected by a bus line.

A display unit 305 for displaying various information, operation keys 306 as input and operation means, a communication unit 308, a photographing unit 330, and a GPS sensor 320 are connected to a bus line of the control unit 30. As described above, in the first communication terminal 2 on the client side, the photographing unit 3
The 30 and the GPS sensor 320 are not essential.

The communication unit 308 is connected to an antenna (not shown) and communicates with other mobile phones and computers via the network 7. The imaging unit 330 includes a camera including an imaging optical system such as a lens and an imaging device such as a CCD, and can shoot a color image regardless of a still image or a moving image. The captured image is compressed to a format such as JPEG for a still image, or to a format such as MPEG-4 for a moving image. The photographing unit 330 includes a compass 340, and can measure the direction of the camera and add the direction of the photographed image to the photographed image as direction data. The GPS sensor 320 receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of artificial satellites at predetermined time intervals, and obtains the current accurate latitude and longitude data based on the principle of triangulation based on the distance from the artificial satellite and the orbit of the satellite. Can be.

The operation keys 306 include a number key, a cross key,
And a shutter key for photographing, and can perform various operations such as a telephone call, data communication, and image photographing. The display unit 305 is configured by a liquid crystal such as a TFT capable of color display, and can display an image captured by the imaging unit 330 or an image downloaded through the communication unit 308. Various command buttons are displayed on the display unit 305, and various commands can be issued to the CPU 301 by operating the operation keys 306 and selecting the command buttons.

Further, the communication terminal T is provided with an execution environment of a program described in a language such as Java (trademark). That is, the program can be downloaded from a predetermined server storage device via the network 7 and stored in the storage unit 304.
The data is copied onto the AM 303 and the CPU 301
Various operations can be performed by executing arithmetic processing according to the program 310 in the program.

In each communication terminal T, a client terminal program is downloaded in advance from the photographing mediation system 1 and stored in the storage unit 304. By executing this client terminal program, the first An operation as a communication terminal can be performed. Similarly, in each communication terminal T, a program for the photographer side terminal is downloaded in advance from the photographing mediation system 1 and stored in the storage unit 304. By executing the program for the photographer side terminal, The operation as the second communication terminal can be performed. It is only necessary to download and store the client terminal program in the communication terminal having no imaging unit.

Each communication terminal T is connected to the photographing mediation system 1 via the network 7 in advance, registers the use of the photographing mediation system 1, and registers necessary data. At the same time as the use registration, the necessary programs are downloaded.

<1-3. Functional Configuration of Imaging Mediation System 1> FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the imaging mediation system 1. The imaging mediation system 1 has a hardware configuration similar to that of a normal computer. That is, the photographing mediation system 1 is a CP that performs various arithmetic processes.
U101 and ROM 102 for storing basic programs
, A RAM 103 serving as a work area, and a fixed disk 104 storing various information are connected to a bus line. The bus line includes a display 105 for displaying various information, a keyboard 106a and a mouse 106b for receiving input from an operator, a reading device 107 for reading various data from a recording medium 90 such as an optical disk and a magnetic disk, and A communication unit 108 for communicating with another computer or mobile phone via the network 7 is connected via an interface (I / F) for convenience.

The program is read out from the recording medium 90 via the reading device 107 in advance and is stored in the fixed disk 104 in the photographing mediation system 1. Then, the program is copied to the RAM 103 and the CPU 10
1 executes the arithmetic processing according to the program 110 in the RAM 103 to perform the operation as the imaging mediation system 1. Such a program can be downloaded from a predetermined server storage device via the network 7 and stored in the fixed disk 104.

FIG. 4 shows various databases stored in the fixed disk 104 of the photographing mediation system 1 and the CPU 10.
1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a functional configuration realized by an operation of a computer 1 according to a program 110. FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a fixed disk 104 has a client database (hereinafter abbreviated as client DB) 12 for handling client data.
0, a photographer database that handles photographer data
Latitude / Longitude Database (hereinafter abbreviated as Latitude / Longitude DB) that handles data of 130 and Latitude / Longitude
140 has been built.

The requester DB 120 is composed of data such as a user ID, a password, a name, an address, a telephone number, a credit card number, and a billing amount. The photographer DB 130 includes data such as a name, an address, a telephone number, a transfer account number, a contact address, a flag indicating whether photographing is possible, a latitude and longitude, a past photographing result, and an image photographing amount. In addition, from each communication terminal T,
The data input at the time of use registration of the photographing mediation system 1 is registered as a part of the data of the requester DB 120 and the photographer DB 130.

The latitude / longitude DB 140 stores the map table 14
1, an address table 142, and a target table 143. The map table 141 has map images of various places at various scales, and the maximum scale map image is, for example, 100 m × 100 m. All map images are associated with the XY coordinates of the map image and the actual latitude and longitude. That is, this map table 14
By using No. 1, it is possible to obtain actual latitude and longitude data at an arbitrary point on an arbitrary map image.

The address table 142 contains "XX prefecture XX city ○
○ ward ○○ town ○ chome ○ street ○ No.
Latitude and longitude are associated. That is, if this address table 142 is used, the latitude and longitude data can be obtained from the address. Conversely, an address can be obtained from latitude and longitude data.

The target table 143 associates the names of the targets such as station names, intersection names, and building names in various places with the latitude and longitude. That is, if the target table 143 is used, the latitude and longitude data can be obtained from the name of the target.

In FIG. 4, a request receiving section 171, a photographer selecting section 172, a request transferring section 173, an image receiving section 174,
Image transfer unit 175, image processing unit 176, image determination unit 17
7, the billing processing unit 180, and the position acquisition unit 160 correspond to functional elements realized by the CPU 101 and the like of the imaging mediation system 1. The various functional elements connected to the communication unit 108 communicate with the external communication terminal T and the position information system 4 connected to the network 7 via the communication unit 108 as necessary.

The request receiving unit 171 receives, via the network 7, the photographing request information specifying the photographing target from the first communication terminal 2 of the requester. The location to be photographed is converted into latitude and longitude data by referring to the latitude and longitude DB 140 based on the photographing request information. The photographer selection unit 172 includes a request reception unit 171
Receiving the latitude and longitude data converted by the
With reference to 0, one of the photographable second communication terminals 3 (for example, the communication terminal 3a) which is a photographing candidate near the latitude and longitude data is selected. The request transfer unit 173 is the second communication terminal 3a selected by the photographer selection unit 172.
In response to the request, the photographing request information received from the first communication terminal 2 is transferred via the network 7, and whether or not the photographer of the selected second communication terminal 3a accepts the photographing request is confirmed. The image receiving unit 174 receives, via the network 7, an image captured by the second communication terminal 3 a of the photographer who has accepted the request, and stores the image on the fixed disk 104.

The image transfer unit 175 includes the fixed disk 104
Is transferred to the first communication terminal 2 via the network 7. Further, the image transfer unit 175 includes an image processing unit 176 and an image determination unit. Image processing unit 17
Reference numeral 6 denotes a processing unit that can process a captured image,
77 determines whether or not the photographed image matches the photographing request information received from the first communication terminal 2. Billing processing unit 18
0 performs a charging process in accordance with the amount of image data transmitted to the first communication terminal 2 in the image transfer unit 175. The position acquisition unit 160 acquires the latitude and longitude data of the photographable communication terminal T by making an inquiry to the position information system 4 via the network 7 at predetermined time intervals.

<1-4. Acquisition of latitude and longitude data>
The acquisition of the latitude and longitude data of the communication terminal T will be described.

First, the position information system 4 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the position information system 4 is in a state where it can communicate with a plurality of communication terminals T which are mobile phones via a network 7. The location information system 4
The current position of each communication terminal T including the GPS sensor 320,
That is, the system obtains the latitude / longitude data of each communication terminal T, and includes a position information table 40 for storing the latitude / longitude data.

Each communication terminal T having a GPS sensor 320
Is a radio wave transmitted from a plurality of artificial satellites at predetermined time intervals, so that accurate current latitude and longitude data can be obtained. The position information system 4 communicates with each of these communication terminals T at predetermined time intervals, and the position information table 40
Has been rewritten and updated. Thus, the current latitude / longitude data of each communication terminal T can be obtained by referring to the position information table 40. The position information system 4 returns the latitude and longitude data with reference to the position information table 40 in response to the inquiry about the position of each communication terminal T via the network 7. To specify each communication terminal T at the time of inquiry, the telephone number of each communication terminal T may be used.

Next, a process for determining whether or not the communication terminal T can perform photographing will be described. Here, since it is assumed that a photographing request is issued from the communication terminal 2, the communication terminal 2 is excluded from the following determination processing. Executing the above-described photographer-side terminal program at the communication terminal T indicates to the photographing mediation system 1 that the photographing is possible. That is, in the communication terminal T, when the photographer-side terminal program is not executed, the photographing request information is not received, and when the candidate photographer cannot photograph even if the photographing request information is received, The photographer-side terminal program need not be executed.

When the candidate photographer can take a photograph, the program for the photographer side terminal is executed.
At the moment when the program for the photographer's terminal is executed, information indicating that photographing is possible is transmitted to the photographing mediation system 1. Upon receiving the information, the photographing mediation system 1 rewrites and updates the flag of the photographer DB 130 as to whether or not the photographing of the communication terminal T is possible so that the photographing is possible. At the same time, a contact address such as the IP address of the communication terminal T is transmitted and reflected in the data of the photographer DB 130,
It becomes possible to transmit and receive data to and from the imaging mediation system 1. When the photographer-side terminal program is terminated, information indicating that photographing is not possible is transmitted to the photographing mediation system 1, and a flag indicating whether or not photographing of the communication terminal T is possible in the photographer DB 130 is performed. It is determined to be impossible, and the data in the photographer DB 130 is rewritten and updated.

Next, the position acquisition unit 1 of the photographing mediation system 1
60 will be described. First, the position acquisition unit 160 refers to the communication terminal T registered in the photographer DB 130 with reference to the flag indicating whether or not photographing is possible and the telephone number data, and to select a communication terminal that can photograph (hereinafter referred to as a “photographable terminal”). ) Create a phone number table only. An inquiry is made by transmitting the telephone number table to the location information system 4,
Acquire the latitude and longitude data of each photographable terminal. The position acquisition unit 160 rewrites and updates the photographer DB 130 based on the acquired latitude and longitude data.

The position acquisition section 160 automatically repeats the inquiry to the position information system 4 at predetermined time intervals. Thus, the latitude / longitude data of the photographable terminal is always stored. The process of acquiring the latitude / longitude data of the photographable terminal by the position acquiring unit 160 is performed independently of the photographing mediation process described below.

<1-5. Shooting mediation process flow> FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of a photographing mediation process in which a photographing mediation system 1 mediates a client who desires to acquire an image of a photographing target located in a remote place and a photographer who photographs the image.

First, the request receiving section 171 receives the photographing request information from the client's first communication terminal 2 via the network 7 (step S10). FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow in which the request receiving unit 171 receives the imaging request information.
When making a request for photographing, the client executes the client terminal program of the mobile phone and connects to the photographing mediation system 1 via the network 7.

By connecting to the photographing mediation system 1, a user information input screen D21 as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. The registered requester transmits the user information to the imaging mediation system 1 by inputting the user information of the user ID and the password notified in advance and selecting a transmission button.

Upon receiving the user information (step S11), the request receiving section 171 determines whether or not the requester has already been registered with reference to the requester DB 120 (step S12). If the data in the requester DB 120 and the user information do not match, it is determined that the data is illegally used, and the process ends.

When it is confirmed that the user information matches and is a registered client, the first communication terminal 2 displays a photographing request information input screen D22. In this shooting request information input screen D22, an image transfer method of a still image or a moving image, request information of a shooting target, and a method of designating a point of a shooting target are input. The request information is information for specifying a photographing target to the photographer, and specifically inputs a desired photographing target. In this example, it is "Congestion of Kiyomizu-dera Temple". When these pieces of information serving as photographing request information are input, they are transmitted to the photographing mediation system 1 via the network 7.

The request receiving section 171 receives the photographing request information input to the first communication terminal 2 (step S13).
The image transfer method and the request information in the photographing request information are stored as they are. Next, the first communication terminal 2 is set based on the method of designating the location of the shooting target in the shooting request information.
To display a point designation screen of the photographing target (step S1)
4).

If the method of designating the point to be photographed is “designate by map”, the request receiving unit
With reference to the map table 141, the first communication terminal 2 displays a map designation screen D23 as shown in FIG. On the map designation screen D23, a grid-like selection frame is displayed on the map image M together with the map image M. By operating the selection cursor C with the operation keys 306 of the first communication terminal 2, an arbitrary selection frame can be designated. When a selection frame is designated and transmitted with the selection cursor C, the portion of the map image M displayed in the designated selection frame is enlarged, and a new map image M having a larger scale is displayed. In this manner, the map images M having a large scale are sequentially displayed, and finally a map image having a maximum scale of, for example, 100 m × 100 m is displayed. When the map image having the maximum scale is designated and transmitted by the selection cursor C in the same manner, the map image is transmitted as the center coordinate data in the designated selection frame. The request receiving unit 171 that has received the center coordinate data refers to the map table 141 of the latitude / longitude DB 140 and converts it into latitude / longitude data (step S15).

When the method of designating the point to be photographed is "designate by address", the request receiving section 171 causes the first communication terminal 2 to display an address input screen D24 as shown in FIG. The address input screen D24 prompts the user to input an address. The requester inputs the address of the point to be photographed into the first communication terminal 2 and transmits the address to the photographing mediation system 1. The request receiving unit 171 that has received the input address stores the latitude and longitude DB 140
Is converted to latitude / longitude data with reference to the address table 142 (step S16). Here, if the received address does not exist in the address table 142, the first communication terminal 2
, And this operation is repeated until an address existing in the address table 142 is received.

When the method of designating the point to be photographed is “designation by target”, the request receiving section 171 causes the first communication terminal 2 to display a target input screen D25 as shown in FIG. The target input screen D25 prompts the user to input the name of the target. The client inputs the name of the target that is the target of the point to be photographed to the first communication terminal 2 and transmits the name to the photographing mediation system 1. The request receiving unit 171 that has received the input target name refers to the target table 143 of the latitude / longitude DB 140 and converts it into latitude / longitude data (step S17). If there are a plurality of input target names in the target table 143, the address list of the hit data is generated by referring to the latitude / longitude data of the target and the address table 142. The address list is displayed on the first communication terminal 2, and the requester is caused to specify a point to be photographed from the address list. If the input target name does not exist in the target table 143, the first communication terminal 2 is caused to input the target name again, and the target name existing in the target table 143 is input. This operation is repeated until receiving.

Through the above processing, the request receiving section 171 acquires the image transfer method, the request information for specifying the object to be photographed, and the latitude and longitude data of the point to be photographed as the photographing request information. The request receiving unit 171 further adds address data corresponding to the latitude / longitude data to the shooting request information with reference to the address table 142 based on the latitude / longitude data of the point to be imaged. The request receiving unit 171 transfers the photographing request information to the photographer selecting unit 172.

Photographer selection unit 1 receiving the photographing request information
Reference numeral 72 refers to the photographer DB 130 based on the latitude and longitude data of the point to be photographed, and searches for a communication terminal (hereinafter, “candidate terminal”) that is a candidate for photographing and exists near the point to be photographed (step S21). . Specifically, the latitude / longitude data of the point to be photographed is compared with the latitude / longitude data of the photographable communication terminal T in the photographer DB 130, and a candidate terminal existing within, for example, 200 m from the point to be photographed is searched for.

First, whether or not there is a candidate terminal that can be photographed is confirmed by the above search (step S22).
If the candidate terminal does not exist, the first communication terminal 2 displays that the candidate terminal does not exist in the vicinity of the imaging target point, and inquires whether to search for the candidate terminal again or to end (step S202). When the requester selects the end, the process ends, and when the user selects the re-search, step S2
The process returns to 1 to search again for a candidate terminal existing near the point to be photographed. When re-searching, the search condition may be changed. For example, the condition of 200 m or less from the point to be photographed may be changed to a condition of 500 m or less.

Next, it is confirmed whether a plurality of candidate terminals exist (step S23). When there is only one candidate terminal, the photographer selection unit 172 selects the candidate terminal as the second communication terminal 3a (Step S24a).

When there are a plurality of candidate terminals,
The candidate terminal closest to the point to be photographed is the second communication terminal 3a
Select as Here, an error is determined when at least another candidate terminal exists at a difference of a predetermined distance, for example, about 20 m from the distance of the candidate terminal closest to the shooting target point. At this time, the photographer selection unit 172 stores the photographer DB1
The most suitable candidate terminal is selected as the second communication terminal 3a with reference to 30 past shooting result data. This past photographing result data is composed of the number of times of photographing in response to a photographing request from the photographing mediation system 1 in the past and the number of successful transactions in which the transaction has been completed, and the past transaction success rate can be calculated. The photographer selection unit 172 calculates the transaction completion rate and selects the second communication terminal 3a having the highest transaction completion rate (step S24b).

With the above processing, the photographer selecting section 172 selects the second communication terminal 3a to request photographing. The photographer selecting unit 172 acquires the contact address of the selected second communication terminal 3a with reference to the photographer DB 130, adds the contact address to the photographing request information, and transmits this photographing request information to the request transfer unit 173. Hand over.

Request transfer unit 17 that has received the photographing request information
Reference numeral 3 denotes a photographer selection unit 172 based on the contact address.
A contact is made with the second communication terminal 3a selected in (step S25). Specifically, the request transfer unit 173 transmits a notification that there is an imaging request to the second communication terminal 3a, and displays a contact screen D31 as shown in FIG.

The photographer of the second communication terminal 3a that has received the photographing request can select whether or not to confirm the photographing request information by using the displayed command button. A response is made to the mediation system 1 (step S26). If it is selected not to confirm the photographing request information, or if there is no response within a predetermined time, it is determined that the photographer of the second communication terminal 3a cannot photograph. At this time, it is checked in step S23 whether or not there are a plurality of candidate terminals (step S201). If there are a plurality of candidate terminals, the process returns to step S24b, and the photographer selection unit 172 again sends another image to the communication terminal 3a. A communication terminal (for example, communication terminal 3b) is selected. If the number of candidate terminals is one in step S23, the first communication terminal 2 is queried as to whether to search for a candidate terminal again or to end the search (step S202).

If the photographer of the second communication terminal 3a that has received the photographing request selects to confirm the photographing request information, the request transfer section 173 transmits the photographing request information to the second communication terminal 3a.
The data is transferred to the communication terminal 3a, and the photographing request information screen D32 is displayed (step S27). This shooting request information screen D3
In 2, the image transfer method, the request information, and the address of the point to be photographed among the photographing request information are displayed. The photographer possessing the second communication terminal 3a can confirm the contents of the photographing request information and select whether or not to accept the photographing request by using the displayed command button (step S2).
8).

If the user selects not to accept the photographing request, the process proceeds to step S201, and the above-described processing is performed. If the user selects to accept the photographing request, the request transfer unit 173 notifies the first communication terminal 2 of the fact and saves the photographing request information on the fixed disk 104.

The second communication terminal 3a that has accepted the photographing request is
An image can be automatically taken by the processing of the program for the photographer's terminal. That is, the photographing unit 330 operates to display the live view image on the display unit 305. At the same time, by pressing the shutter key of the operation key 306, if the image transfer method is a still image, shooting of a still image is performed, and if the image transfer method is a moving image, shooting of a moving image is started.

The photographer who is the owner of the second communication terminal 3a moves to a place where the photographing target can be photographed based on the photographing request information, and performs photographing by pressing the shutter key. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a captured image captured by the second communication terminal 3a. The photographed image P1 is an image corresponding to “Kiyomizu-dera congestion degree” which is request information for specifying a photographing target.

When the shutter key of the second communication terminal 3a is depressed and the photographing is performed, processing of the photographer's terminal program causes the photographed image to be a still image and the one of the photographed images to be a moving image. The photographed image of the still image in the frame is automatically transmitted to the photographing mediation system 1 in association with the photographing request information. Here, the photographing request information includes a serial number, and when the photographed image is transmitted from the second communication terminal 3a to the photographing mediation system 1, the information of the serial number is transmitted at the same time, whereby the association is performed. . In addition, the captured image is transmitted with the latitude and longitude data from the GPS sensor 320 of the second communication terminal 3a and the azimuth data from the compass 340 at the time of capturing.

Upon receiving the photographed image P1 (step S29), the image receiving section 174 determines which photographing request information the received photographed image P1 corresponds to from the serial number received at the same time, and determines the corresponding photographing request information. Fixed disk 1
Read from 04. Here, the serial number is used for associating the photographed image P1 with the photographing request information. However, the serial number is used to specify the second communication terminal 3a together with the photographed image.
okie is transmitted to the photographing mediation system 1 and the image receiving unit 1
74 may determine from the Cookie and the latitude / longitude data added to the photographed image which photographing request information corresponds to which photographing request information. Also, the request transfer unit 173
Passes the photographing request information directly to the image receiving unit 174,
You may make it wait for reception of the picked-up image P1.

The image receiving section 174 receives the captured image P
1 is stored in the fixed disk 104, and the photographing request information is transferred to the image transfer unit 175. The image transfer unit 175 that has received the photographing request information performs a photographed image transfer process (step S30). FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the flow of the captured image transfer process of the image transfer unit 175.

The image transfer unit 175 firstly outputs the image
7 is made to determine whether or not the photographed image conforms to the photographing request information. The image determination unit 177 reads the captured image P1 from the fixed disk 104, and causes the image processing unit 176 to generate a sample image (Step S301). This sample image is obtained by lowering the image quality of the photographed image or cutting out a part of the photographed image. Specifically, the photographed image P1 is subjected to a processing process such as a mask process, and the photographed image P1 is photographed. Then, a sample image is generated to the extent that human eyes can judge whether the image has been damaged. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sample image generated by the image processing unit 176. FIG.
In the sample image P2, the mask processing is performed on the photographed image P1. The human eye can determine what was shot, but cannot determine the details of the image. In the generation of the sample image P2, processing such as adding noise, inverting negative / positive, applying mosaic, or reducing the number of pixels or the resolution may be performed.

The image judging section 177 transmits the sample image P2 generated by the image processing section 176 to the first communication terminal 2 which has issued the photographing request, and displays the sample image P2 on the display section 305 of the first communication terminal 2.
To display the sample image P2 (step S30).
2). At the same time, whether or not the sample image P2 matches the shooting request information input to the first communication terminal 2 is selected by a command button displayed together with the sample image P2 (step S303).

The requester of the first communication terminal 2 looks at the displayed sample image P2 and selects whether or not the sample image P2 matches (step S304). If the requester selects conformity, the image determination unit 177 returns a conformance to the image transfer unit 175.

If the requester selects that the sample image P2 does not match, the image determination unit 177 selects whether or not the sample image P1 matches the photographer of the second communication terminal 3a that has photographed the photographed image P1 (see FIG. 4). Step S311). If the photographer chooses not to match, the requester and the photographer both have determined that they do not match, so the image determination unit 177 returns to the image transfer unit 175 that they do not match.

If the photographer selects that the photographed image P1 conforms, the judgment of the requester and the photographer does not match, and the image judging unit 177 determines whether or not the photographed image P1 conforms to the photographing request information. Is determined (step S313).
Specifically, the image determination unit 177 reads the photographed image P1 from the fixed disk 104, and acquires the latitude / longitude data and the direction data included in the photographed image P1. Then, it is determined whether or not the point of the latitude / longitude data of the photographing request information is suitable by calculating whether or not the point of the latitude / longitude data included in the photographed image P1 is in the direction of the azimuth data. This determination result is returned to the image transfer unit 175.

The determination process performed by the image determination unit 177 when the determination between the client and the photographer does not match may be automatically performed as described above. May be determined by looking at the photographing request information and the photographed image P1.

When the image determination unit 177 determines that the transaction is not appropriate, the image transfer unit 175 determines that the transaction of the intermediary for photographing has failed, and notifies the first communication terminal 2 and the second communication terminal 3a that the transaction has failed. (Step S315,
In step S316, the number of times of photographing, which is the past photographing result data in the client DB 120, is increased by one and rewritten and updated, and the process ends.

The image transfer unit 175 includes the image determination unit 1
If it is determined in step 77 that the image data is compatible, it is determined that the transaction of the photographing mediation has been established, and the official photographed image is transferred to the first communication terminal 2 (step S305). Specifically, when the image transfer method is a still image, the formal photographed image P1 is read from the fixed disk 104 and transferred to the first communication terminal 2. If the image transfer method is a moving image, the second communication terminal 3
The photographed images P1 photographed in a are sequentially transmitted to the image receiving unit 174.
Is transmitted to the first communication terminal 2 by the image transfer unit 175 as it is. This moving image is continuously transferred to the first communication terminal 2 until the client selects the end button. In this way, the client can browse the almost real-time captured image.

Next, the image transfer unit 175 transmits the request
The number of times of photographing and the number of successful transactions, which are the 20 pieces of past photographing result data, are each increased by 1 and rewritten and updated, and the data amount of the photographed image data transferred to the first communication terminal 2 is transferred to the charging processing unit 180.

Billing processing section 180 that has received the data amount
Calculates an image shooting fee and a system usage fee (also referred to as a billing amount) according to the data amount. Then, the billing amount in the client DB 120 is rewritten and updated (step S3).
06). It should be noted that billing to the client is separately performed based on the billing amount accumulated for each predetermined period. In addition, the accounting processing unit 180 transmits transaction information including an image capturing fee and the like to the second communication terminal 3a that has captured the image, terminates the communication (step S307), and rewrites and updates the image capturing amount in the photographer DB 130. It should be noted that payment of money to the photographer is separately performed based on the image photographed amount accumulated for each predetermined period. These charges can be made, for example, by automatic debit of a charge from a credit card account on a bank server.

Although the first embodiment has been described above, if this image acquisition system is used, a client who wants to acquire an image of an object to be photographed at a remote place pays a price for the photographing. A photographed image of an arbitrary photographed object at a remote place can be easily browsed.

<2. Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the client acquires the image by paying for the photographing. However, in the second embodiment,
The difference is that an advertisement is added to the image transferred to the client.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram schematically showing various databases stored in the fixed disk 104 of the imaging mediation system 1 according to the second embodiment and a functional configuration realized by the CPU 101 operating according to the program 110. is there. The components having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 15, an advertisement database (hereinafter referred to as an advertisement D) is stored on the fixed disk 104 together with a client DB 120, a photographer DB 130, and a latitude / longitude DB 140.
B) 150 is constructed.

In the first embodiment, the requester DB 120 includes the credit card number for paying the consideration, but is unnecessary in the second embodiment because the payment is not paid. Instead, customer information such as the client's hobbies and preferences is included. This customer information is registered together with data such as other names, addresses, telephone numbers, and the like when the use registration of the imaging mediation system 1 is registered.

The advertisement DB 150 includes various advertisement images, advertiser names, advertisement transfer results, and keywords associated with the advertisement images. For example, an advertisement for a travel agency is stored together with keywords such as “travel”, “journey”, and “overseas”. That is, the corresponding advertisement image can be obtained from the keyword “travel”. These advertisement images are separately registered by an application from an advertiser.

In FIG. 15, a request receiving unit 171, a photographer selecting unit 172, a request transferring unit 173, and an image receiving unit 17
4. The image transfer unit 175, the advertisement addition unit 178, the position acquisition unit 160, and the transaction processing unit 190 correspond to the functional elements realized by the CPU 101 and the like of the imaging mediation system 1. The difference from the first embodiment is that the image transfer unit 175
Does not include the image processing unit 176 and the image determination unit 177, but includes an advertisement adding unit 178 instead. Further, a transaction processing unit 190 is provided instead of the charging processing unit 180. The advertisement adding unit 178 adds an advertisement image suitable for the photographer who made the photographing request to the photographed image P1 transferred to the first communication terminal 2 by the image transfer unit 175. In addition, the transaction processing unit 190 calculates an advertisement fee or the like according to the amount of image data transmitted to the first communication terminal 2 in the image transfer unit 175.

The flow of the photographing mediation process of the photographing mediation system 1 in the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the photographed image transfer process (step S30) (see FIG. 5). FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a flow of the captured image transfer process of the image transfer unit 175 according to the present embodiment.

First, the image transfer section 175 which has received the photographing request information from the image receiving section 174 causes the advertisement adding section 178 to add an advertisement image suitable for the client information of the client. Specifically, the advertisement adding unit 178 refers to the client DB 120 and acquires customer information such as a hobby and a preference of the client who has requested the shooting (step S351). Next, the advertisement DB 150
, An advertisement image suitable for the client is acquired from the keyword of the customer information (step S352), and the advertisement image is added to the captured image P1 in the fixed disk 104 (step S353). For example, it is assumed that the client is interested in travel and has registered “Travel” as customer information at the time of use registration. The advertisement adding unit 178 acquires an advertisement image of “XX travel agency” suitable for the keyword of “travel” and adds it to the captured image P1.

The image transfer unit 175 transfers the photographed image P1 to which the advertisement image has been added by the advertisement addition unit 178 to the first communication terminal 2.
(Step S354). FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display of the first communication terminal 2. In FIG.
The advertisement image A is displayed together with the photographed image P1.

In the present embodiment, since the photographed image is always transferred to the first communication terminal 2 without judging whether or not the photographed image matches, the number of successful transactions is reflected as the photographer's past photographing result data. Can not. Therefore, the image transfer unit 175
Is configured to display a questionnaire screen on the first communication terminal 2 after the transfer of the photographed image and to evaluate the photographer, and the evaluation is reflected in the photographer DB 130 as photographer's past photographing result data. Is done. The image transfer unit 17
5 transfers the data amount of the captured image data transferred to the first communication terminal 2 to the transaction processing unit 180.

Transaction processing unit 180 that has received the data amount
Calculates an image shooting fee and a system usage fee (also referred to as an advertising fee) according to this data amount. And advertisement D
The advertisement transfer result in B150 is rewritten and updated (step S355). The billing of the advertising fee to the advertiser is separately performed based on the amount accumulated for each predetermined period. Further, the transaction processing unit 180 transmits the transaction information including the image photographing fee and the like to the photographed second communication terminal 3a, ends the communication (step S356), and rewrites and updates the image photographed amount in the photographer DB 130. It should be noted that payment of money to the photographer is separately made based on the image photographing amount accumulated for each predetermined period.

Although the second embodiment has been described above, if this image acquisition system is used, a client who wants to acquire an image of an object to be photographed in a remote place can pay without paying for the photographing. A photographed image of an arbitrary photographed object at a remote place can be easily browsed.

<3. Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 18 shows a communication terminal (for example, communication terminal 3) that can be selected as the second communication terminal in the present embodiment.
It is a perspective view of a). The imaging unit 330 of the communication terminal 3a
It comprises a housing 332 and a substantially U-shaped frame 335. The housing 332 includes an imaging optical system 331 such as a lens,
An image sensor such as D and a compass 340 are provided inside. The housing 332 is supported by a first shaft 333 provided on the frame 335 so as to be rotatable about the first shaft 333. Further, the frame 335 is supported rotatably about a second shaft 334 orthogonal to the first shaft 333. That is, the housing 332 can direct the optical axis of the imaging optical system 331 in an arbitrary direction by the first axis 333 and the second axis 334 that are orthogonal to each other.

The first shaft 333 and the second shaft 334 can be driven by a motor and gears (not shown), and the optical axis can be directed in any direction by operating the operation key 306. In addition, the CPU 301 executes arithmetic processing according to the program 310, so that it is possible to control a predetermined photographing operation such as a change in an optical axis direction and a change in a focal length.

The flow of the imaging mediation process of the imaging mediation system 1 in the third embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment (see FIGS. 5 and 12). As described above, in step S305, when the image transfer method is a moving image, the captured images P1 captured by the second communication terminal 3a are sequentially transferred to the first communication terminal 2, and the requester is almost in real time. You can browse the captured images. In this embodiment, at this time, the photographing operation of the photographing section 330 of the second communication terminal 3a from the first communication terminal 2 such as the photographing direction and zoom can be controlled via the network 7.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the first communication terminal 2. Various command buttons (C10L, C10L,
10U, C10R, C10D, C20, C21) are displayed.

An operation command is assigned to each of these command buttons. For example, a "left" button C1
When 0L is selected, a command to turn the optical axis of the imaging unit 330 of the first communication terminal 2 to the left is transmitted to the imaging mediation system 1. The imaging mediation system 1 transfers the command to the second communication terminal 3a, so that the second communication terminal 3a receives the operation command from the first communication terminal 2. The photographer-side terminal program of the second communication terminal 3a that has received the operation command controls the photographing operation of the photographing unit 330 according to the operation command, and the photographing unit 330 changes the direction of the optical axis to the left. Similarly, when the “up” button C10U, the “down” button C10D, and the “right” button C10R are selected, the photographing unit 330 of the second communication terminal 3a changes the optical axis direction, and photographs the client in an arbitrary direction. The subject can be photographed.

When the "zoom-in" button C20 and the "zoom-out" button C21 are selected, the second
The photographing unit 330 of the communication terminal 3a changes the focal length,
The photographing target can be photographed at an arbitrary size of the client.

Although the third embodiment has been described above, if this image acquisition system is used, a requester who wants to acquire an image of an object to be photographed at a remote place can be easily designated by an arbitrary person at a remote place. Can be browsed under conditions such as an arbitrary shooting direction and size.

<4. Modifications> The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the first communication terminal 2 executes the client terminal program and connects to the imaging mediation system 1, but the first communication terminal 2 browses web contents of the imaging mediation system 1 with a browser. There may be.

The transmission and reception of data between the photographing mediation system 1 and the second communication terminal 3a may use electronic mail. For example, from the photographing mediation system 1 to the second communication terminal 3
In transmitting the photographing request information to a, the mail address of the second communication terminal 3a may be designated as the contact address and transmitted as an e-mail. Similarly, an electronic mail may be used in transmitting a photographed image from the second communication terminal 3a to the photographing mediation system 1. At this time, the photographing request information includes the serial number, and the e-mail (request mail) at the time of the request has the serial number as the title. When the photographer takes a picture and transmits the photographed image to (the mail address of) the photographing mediation system 1, the photographed image is attached to an e-mail (reply to the request e-mail) including the serial number in the title and transmitted. . The photographing mediation system 1 determines from the title of the received mail which photographing request information the image attached to the mail corresponds to. According to this, the photographing request and the photographed image can be obtained without using the dedicated program such as the photographer-side terminal program in the second communication terminal 3a.

[0107] Further, the photographing request information is transmitted from the first communication terminal 1 to the photographing mediation system 1, and the photographing mediation system 1 is transmitted.
This photography request information is stored once, and later,
When the image associated with the shooting request information is shot, the shot image shot by the first communication terminal 1 may be transferred by e-mail or the like. According to this,
Regardless of whether or not there is a candidate terminal close to the point to be photographed at the time of requesting the photographing, it is possible to browse a photographed image of an arbitrary photographing object in a remote place.

Although the first communication terminal 2 is a mobile phone, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a normal computer or the like that can be connected to the network 7 may be used. That is, as long as the terminal can be connected to the network 7, the technology according to the present invention can be applied, and a captured image at an arbitrary point can be obtained from any terminal.

In the above embodiment, the communication terminal 3
Is a mobile phone provided with the photographing unit 330, but a digital camera connected to a normal mobile phone by a cable or the like may be used. Alternatively, a digital camera having a wireless network 7 communication function may be used.

In the above embodiment, the communication terminal 3
Although the GPS sensor 320 is built in itself and the latitude / longitude data as the position information is acquired, the position information of the base station of the mobile phone may be used. That is, a method of receiving radio waves from a plurality of base stations and calculating the position of the mobile phone from the strength of the radio waves may be used. According to this, it is possible to acquire the position information of the communication terminal 3 without having the GPS sensor 320 built-in.

Further, in the above embodiment, the photographing mediation system 1 and the position information system 4 are configured as separate devices, but the same device may be provided with functions corresponding to the respective devices. With this configuration, the image acquisition system has a simpler configuration.

[0112]

According to the first, eighth and twelfth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to acquire a photographed image of an arbitrary photographing target located in a remote place in a short period of time without having to go to that point.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to browse a photographed image of an arbitrary photographing target located at a remote place on the first communication terminal.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the photographed image can be browsed on condition that the photographed image conforms to the photographing request information, a highly reliable photographed image can be browsed. it can.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the photographed image can be viewed after the first communication terminal confirms that the photographed image conforms to the photographing request information. You can browse images.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, by charging the first communication terminal for the transfer of the photographed image, and paying the price for the photographing, the photographed image of an arbitrary photographing target at a remote place can be obtained. Can be viewed.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, by adding an advertisement to a photographed image, a photographed image of an arbitrary photographed object at a remote place can be browsed without paying for the photographing.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, by controlling the photographing operation of the photographing means of the second communication terminal from the first communication terminal, a photographed image of an arbitrary photographing target at a remote place under arbitrary conditions. Can be browsed.

Further, according to the ninth and thirteenth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to easily mediate between a client who desires to obtain an image of an object to be photographed at a remote place and a photographer who photographs the image.

According to the tenth and fourteenth aspects of the present invention, the photographing request information specifying the photographing target located at a remote place is input, and the photographing target image is received via a network. Can be obtained.

According to the eleventh and fifteenth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to photograph an image corresponding to the photographing request information specifying the photographing target and transmit the photographed image to the management device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image acquisition system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a functional configuration of a communication terminal (mobile phone).

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a photographing mediation system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating various databases and a functional configuration of the imaging mediation system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a shooting mediation process of the shooting mediation system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of receiving photographing request information of the photographing mediation system.

FIG. 7 is a diagram exemplifying an input screen of shooting request information of a first communication terminal.

FIG. 8 is a diagram exemplifying a screen for designating a point to be photographed by a first communication terminal on a map;

FIG. 9 is a diagram exemplifying a screen for designating a location to be imaged by the first communication terminal by an address;

FIG. 10 is a diagram exemplifying a screen for designating a point to be imaged by a first communication terminal with a target;

FIG. 11 is a diagram exemplifying a screen displaying shooting request information of a second communication terminal.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a captured image transfer process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram exemplifying a captured image captured by a second communication terminal.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a sample image generated by the imaging mediation system.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram schematically illustrating various databases and a functional configuration of a photographing mediation system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a flow of a captured image transfer process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a screen displaying a captured image of the first communication terminal according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a second communication terminal according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram exemplifying a screen for controlling a second communication terminal of a first communication terminal in the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 shooting mediation system T communication terminal (mobile phone) 2 first communication terminal 3a, 3b communication terminal selectable as second communication terminal 4 location information system 7 network 10 image acquisition system 110 program 120 requester DB 130 photographer DB 140 Latitude / Longitude DB 150 Advertisement DB 160 Position Acquisition Unit 171 Request Receiving Unit 172 Photographer Selection Unit 173 Request Transfer Unit 174 Image Receiving Unit 175 Image Transfer Unit 178 Advertisement Adding Unit 180 Billing Processing Unit 310 Program 320 GPS Sensor 330 Imaging Unit P1 Photographed Image P2 Sample image A Advertising image

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A method for acquiring an image of an imaging target at a remote location, comprising: a first transmission step of transmitting imaging request information specifying the imaging target from a first communication terminal to a management device via a network. A position information obtaining step of obtaining respective location information of a plurality of portable communication terminals accompanied by an image capturing means; and a location information acquisition step of the plurality of communication terminals in the vicinity of the imaging target based on the respective location information. Communication terminal
A selection step of selecting a communication terminal; a second transmission step of transmitting the request information from the management device to the second communication terminal via the network; and a second communication terminal transmitting a photographed image corresponding to the photographing request information. And a third transmitting step of transmitting the photographed image from the second communication terminal to the management device via the network. 2. The image acquisition method according to claim 1, wherein the management device stores the captured image, and a transfer process of transferring the captured image from the management device to the first communication terminal. An image acquisition method, further comprising: 3. The image acquisition method according to claim 2, wherein the transferring step includes: determining whether the captured image conforms to the imaging request information; and determining whether the captured image is the imaging request information. And a permitting step of permitting transfer of the captured image from the management device to the first communication terminal, provided that the method conforms to the following. 4. The image acquisition method according to claim 3, wherein the determining step includes: generating a sample image of the captured image in the management device; and transmitting the sample image to the first communication terminal. A step of permitting the transfer of the captured image from the management device to the first communication terminal in response to an image confirmation notification transmitted from the first communication terminal to the management device. An image acquisition method, comprising: 5. The image acquisition method according to claim 2, wherein in synchronization with the transfer of the captured image to the first communication terminal,
An image acquisition method, further comprising a charging step of performing charging processing for a holder of the first communication terminal. 6. The image acquisition method according to claim 2, wherein the transfer step includes a step of adding advertisement information to the captured image and transferring the captured image to the first communication terminal. Characteristic image acquisition method. 7. The image acquisition method according to claim 1, wherein said photographing step comprises: transmitting said photographing operation of said photographing means associated with said second communication terminal from said first communication terminal to said network. Controlling the image by way of an image. 8. A system for acquiring an image of a photographing target in a remote place, comprising: a first communication terminal capable of transmitting photographing request information specifying the photographing target via a network; And a plurality of portable communication terminals capable of transmitting the captured image via the network, and position acquisition means for acquiring the respective location information of the plurality of communication terminals, based on the respective location information, Selecting means for selecting, as a second communication terminal, a communication terminal present in the vicinity of the imaging target among the plurality of communication terminals; and transmitting the imaging request information received from the first communication terminal to the second communication terminal via the network. An image acquisition system, comprising: a request transfer unit that transfers a request to a communication terminal. 9. A system for mediating between a client who desires to obtain an image of an object to be photographed at a remote location and a photographer who shoots the image, wherein a photographing operation which specifies the object to be photographed is performed from a first communication terminal. Request accepting means for accepting request information via a network, and selecting a second communication terminal existing near the object to be photographed from among a plurality of portable communication terminals with photographing means, Request transfer means for transmitting the photographing request information via the network; and image receiving means for receiving a photographed image corresponding to the photographing request information from the second communication terminal via the network. And a shooting mediation system. 10. A communication terminal that can be used in a process of acquiring an image of an imaging target at a remote location via a network, comprising: input means for inputting imaging request information specifying an imaging target at a remote location; A communication terminal comprising: a transmitting unit that transmits request information to a management device via a network; and a receiving unit that receives the image to be captured from the management device via the network. 11. A portable communication terminal that can be used for a process of acquiring an image of an object to be photographed at a remote place via a network, comprising: a notifying unit for notifying own position information to a management device; Receiving means for receiving the specified photographing request information from the management device via the network, photographing means for photographing an image corresponding to the photographing request information, and transmitting the photographed image photographed by the photographing means to the management device via the network. A communication terminal comprising: an image transmitting unit that transmits an image. 12. A computer program, wherein a communication terminal is operated by a computer in a communication system in which a communication terminal and a management device are connected by a network, whereby the communication system operates as the image acquisition system according to claim 8. 13. In a communication system in which a communication terminal and a management device are connected via a network, the management device operates as a shooting mediation system according to claim 9 by being executed by a computer included in the management device. Characteristic computer program. 14. In a communication system in which a communication terminal and a management device are connected via a network, the communication terminal operates as a communication terminal according to claim 10 by being executed by a microcomputer built in the communication terminal. A computer program characterized by the following. 15. In a communication system in which a communication terminal and a management device are connected via a network, the communication terminal operates as the communication terminal according to claim 11 by being executed by a microcomputer built in the communication terminal. A computer program characterized by the following.