JP2002262274A - Photographing image providing system, communication connection mediation terminal, photographing image providing program, program for communication connection mediation terminal and program for image photographing terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographing image providing system that enhances a degree of freedom and the extendability. SOLUTION: Upon the receipt of a registration request from a client terminal 300, a communication connection mediation terminal 100 registers access information of the client terminal 300 to a storage device 42 to register the client terminal 300 as an image photographing terminal 200, and when receiving a connection request from the client terminal 300, the communication connection mediation terminal 100 transmits a list of link destinations of the image photographing terminal 200 to the client terminal 300 on the basis of access information of the storage device 42. When receiving a transmission request from the client terminal 300, the image photographing terminal 200 transmits image data captured from a camera 250 to the client terminal 300.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for providing image data captured by a camera installed in a remote place in response to access from a client terminal, and a terminal and a program applied to the system. A photographed image providing system suitable for improving the degree of freedom and expandability, a communication connection mediation terminal, a photographed image providing program,
The present invention relates to a program for a communication connection mediation terminal and a program for an image capturing terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, it has become possible to connect a video camera installed in a remote place to a network, and to view the image on another client terminal connected to the network. Also, on the client terminal, remote control the video camera, adjust the shooting direction and zoom magnification,
A desired image can also be obtained.

Conventionally, as such a system, for example, a camera control device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-42279 (hereinafter referred to as a first conventional example) and an information providing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-136345 are disclosed. There has been a system (hereinafter, referred to as a second conventional example) and a video transmission device (hereinafter, referred to as a third conventional example) disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-196404. In the first conventional example, when a file transfer request in the form of an Internet file transfer request arrives at a camera control device 1001 from an external device 1002 connected to a network, the character string portion of the file name of the transfer request is received. Characters are treated as if camera control characters are described. As a result, if the character string contains a description that conforms to the camera control format, the camera is controlled according to the description, and the camera shoots the image. Transfer as contents.

In the second conventional example, first, a desired area is photographed by a camera 101 capable of changing a photographing direction and a zoom magnification according to a command from a user. Camera control device 10
Reference numeral 2 detects a shooting direction and a zoom magnification of the camera 101, converts the shot video into a video having a desired resolution and a frame rate, and generates guidance information. The terminal 103 receives an image captured by the camera 101 and guidance information via the network 105, and generates an output image.
The monitor 104 displays the output video of the terminal 103. The network 105 includes the camera control device 102 and the terminal 10
3 for transmitting control data and images transmitted / received between them.

In the third conventional example, when an instruction to select an image to be superimposed and synthesized is given from the viewer 102 operating on the client side, the superimposed image acquisition means 105
Requests the server machine 103 for the superimposed image and stores it in the superimposed image storage means 106. On the other hand, the video taken by the camera device 107
Is converted to digital data. Then, the captured video data is synthesized with the superimposed image by the image synthesizing unit 109, compressed and encoded by the compression encoding unit 110, and transmitted to the viewer 102 by the data transmitting unit 111.

[0006]

However, in each of the first to third conventional examples, the user uses a fixed camera which is installed in advance by a system administrator or the like. Therefore, the degree of freedom and expandability were poor, and it was not always easy to use.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such unresolved problems of the prior art, and is provided with a photographed image providing system and a communication system suitable for improving flexibility and expandability. It is an object to provide a connection mediation terminal, a photographed image providing program, a communication connection mediation terminal program, and an image photographing terminal program.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographed image providing system, comprising: a photographing unit; and an image capturing unit for capturing an image photographed by the photographing unit as data. Means for communicatively connecting an image capturing terminal having means and a client terminal, and in response to a provision request from the client terminal, providing a client terminal with image data captured by the image capturing terminal. Storage means for storing access information accessible to the client terminal;
A terminal registration unit for registering the client terminal as the image capturing terminal, and an image data providing unit for providing the client terminal with image data captured by the image capturing terminal based on access information of the storage unit, The terminal registration unit, when receiving a registration request from the client terminal, registers the client terminal as the image capturing terminal by registering access information of the client terminal in the storage unit, and the image data providing unit When there is a provision request from the client terminal, based on the access information of the storage means, the image data captured by the image photographing terminal corresponding to the provision request is provided to the client terminal.

With such a configuration, in order to register a client terminal as an image capturing terminal, a user makes a registration request at the client terminal. When there is a registration request from the client terminal, the access information of the client terminal is registered in the storage unit by the terminal registration unit. Thereby, the client terminal is registered as an image capturing terminal.

[0010] To use a photographed image photographed by the image photographing terminal, the user makes a provision request at the client terminal. When there is a provision request from the client terminal, the image data provision means provides the client terminal with the image data taken in by the image photographing terminal related to the provision request, based on the access information of the storage means.

Here, the image data providing means may have any configuration as long as the image data provided by the image capturing terminal is provided to the client terminal based on the access information of the storage means. It may be provided integrally with any one of the image capturing terminal and another terminal different from the image capturing terminal, or may be provided separately in the image capturing terminal and the other terminal. As the specific configuration of the former,
The image data providing unit is configured, for example, as a unit that acquires image data from an image photographing terminal based on access information of a storage unit and transmits the acquired image data to a client terminal. Provided in any one of As a specific configuration of the latter, the image data providing means includes, for example, an inter-terminal connection means for communicably connecting the image capturing terminal and the client terminal based on access information of the storage means, and an image data capturing means. Image data transmitting means for transmitting the captured image data to the client terminal. The image data transmitting means is provided in the image capturing terminal, and the inter-terminal connecting means is provided in another terminal. Hereinafter, the same applies to the photographed image providing program according to claim 10.

The storage means stores the access information by all means and at all times, and may store the access information in advance, or may store the access information without storing it in advance. During operation of the present system, access information may be stored by an external input or the like. Hereinafter, Claim 2
A photographed image providing system according to claim 9, a communication connection mediation terminal according to claim 9, a photographed image providing program according to claim 10,
The same applies to the communication connection mediating terminal program according to the eleventh aspect.

The provision of the access information means that the access information can be obtained by the client terminal. The provision of the access information may be performed, for example, by transmitting the access information to the client terminal. The information may be stored in a terminal with which the client terminal can communicate or in a storage unit thereof so that the client terminal can access and obtain the information. Hereinafter, the same applies to the photographed image providing program according to claim 10.

The access information may be any information as long as the information is accessible to the client terminal, and includes information directly accessible to the client terminal and information semi-accessible to the client terminal. The directly accessible information includes, for example, an address indicating the storage location of the client terminal, and the semi-accessible information includes, for example, a network address accessible to the client terminal or its storage means. Hereinafter, the same applies to the captured image providing system according to claim 2, the communication connection mediating terminal according to claim 9, the captured image providing program according to claim 10, and the communication connection mediating terminal program according to claim 11.

The terminal registration means may have any configuration as long as the access information of the client terminal is registered in the storage means. For example, the terminal registration means requests the client terminal to transmit the access information. When the access information is received along with the transmission request, the received access information may be registered in the storage means, or the access information may be generated, and the generated access information may be registered in the storage means. May be transmitted to the client terminal. Hereinafter, the same applies to the captured image providing system according to claim 2, the communication connection mediating terminal according to claim 9, the captured image providing program according to claim 10, and the communication connection mediating terminal program according to claim 11.

Further, the present system may be realized as a network system in which an image photographing terminal and a client terminal are communicably connected, or the image photographing terminal, the client terminal, and another terminal other than these may be communicated. You may make it implement | achieve as a network system connected as much as possible. In the latter case, the components may belong to any of the image capturing terminal, the client terminal, and other terminals as long as they are communicably connected to each other. For example, a storage unit, a terminal registration unit, and an image data providing unit may be provided in another terminal,
The storage unit and the terminal registration unit may be provided in another terminal, and the image data providing unit may be provided in the image capturing terminal. Hereinafter, the same applies to the captured image providing system according to claim 2.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographed image providing system, comprising: an image photographing terminal having a photographing means; an image capturing means for capturing an image photographed by the photographing means as data; Communicatively connecting a communication connection mediating terminal that mediates a communication connection between the image capturing terminal and the client terminal, and responding to a provision request from the client terminal, the image data captured by the image capturing terminal. In a system for providing to a client terminal, the communication connection mediation terminal includes a storage unit for storing access information accessible to the client terminal, a terminal registration unit for registering the client terminal as the image capturing terminal, The communication between the image capturing terminal and the client terminal is performed based on the access information in the storage unit. Terminal connection means for enabling connection, and the terminal registration means, when receiving a registration request from the client terminal, registers the client terminal by registering the access information of the client terminal in the storage means. Registered as the image capturing terminal, the terminal-to-terminal connection unit, when receiving a connection request from the client terminal, based on the access information of the storage unit, the image capturing terminal and the client terminal related to the connection request Communicably connected, the image capturing terminal,
Further, the image data transmitting means has image data transmitting means for transmitting the image data captured by the image capturing means to the client terminal. When the image data transmitting means receives a transmission request from the client terminal, the image capturing means The image data fetched by the means is transmitted to the client terminal.

With this configuration, in order to register the client terminal as an image capturing terminal, the user transmits a registration request at the client terminal to the communication connection mediation terminal. In the communication connection mediation terminal, upon receiving the registration request from the client terminal, the access information of the client terminal is registered in the storage unit by the terminal registration unit.
Thereby, the client terminal is registered as an image capturing terminal.

In order to use a captured image captured by the image capturing terminal, the user first transmits a connection request at the client terminal to the communication connection mediation terminal. In the communication connection mediation terminal, upon receiving the connection request from the client terminal, the terminal-to-terminal connection means connects the image capturing terminal and the client terminal communicable with each other based on the access information in the storage means. .

Next, the user transmits a transmission request at the client terminal to the image capturing terminal while the terminals are communicably connected. In the image capturing terminal, the image captured by the capturing unit is captured as data by the image capturing unit, and when a transmission request is received from the client terminal, the captured image data is transmitted to the client terminal by the image data transmitting unit. Sent.

Further, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the photographic image providing system according to the second aspect, when the terminal registration means receives the registration request, the terminal registration means transmits the registration request to the client terminal. A request is made for transmission of the access information, and when the access information is received in response to the transmission request, the received access information is registered in the storage means.

With such a configuration, when the communication connection mediation terminal receives the registration request from the client terminal,
The terminal registration unit requests the client terminal to transmit the access information. When the access information is received along with the transmission request, the received access information is registered in the storage unit. Here, when the terminal registration unit receives the access information along with the transmission request,
Although the received access information is registered in the storage unit, if the access information is not received despite the transmission request, for example, the access information is generated, and the generated access information is stored in the storage unit. Register and send to client terminal.

Further, in the photographed image providing system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the photographed image providing system according to the second aspect, when the terminal registration means receives the registration request, the terminal registration means transmits the access information. The generated access information is registered in the storage means and transmitted to the client terminal. With such a configuration, in the communication connection mediation terminal, upon receiving a registration request from the client terminal, the access information is generated by the terminal registration unit, the generated access information is registered in the storage unit, and the client terminal Sent to.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the photographed image providing system according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, wherein the terminal-to-terminal connecting means receives the connection request. At this time, of the access information of the storage means, the information of the image photographing terminal related to the connection request is transmitted to the client terminal.

With such a configuration, when the communication connection mediation terminal receives a connection request from the client terminal,
The terminal-to-terminal connection means transmits the access information of the storage means to that of the image photographing terminal related to the connection request to the client terminal. Thereby, since the client terminal can obtain the access information of the image capturing terminal related to the connection request, the client terminal becomes accessible to the image capturing terminal,
As a result, the image capturing terminal and the client terminal are communicably connected.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the photographed image providing system according to any one of the second to fifth aspects, wherein the image photographing terminal further comprises a photographing means. Operating means for operating the photographing means so that the image content to be changed is changed, and operating control means for controlling the operating means, wherein the operation control means is configured to receive an operation request from the client terminal. , The operating means is controlled.

With this configuration, in order to operate the photographing means of the image photographing terminal, the user transmits an operation request at the client terminal to the image photographing terminal while the terminals are communicably connected. . In the image photographing terminal, when an operation request is received from the client terminal, the operation control unit controls the operation unit. As a result, the photographing means is operated by the operation means so that the content of the image photographed by the photographing means changes.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the photographed image providing system according to the sixth aspect, wherein the image photographing terminal further transmits the image data captured by the image capturing means. When the image data synthesizing unit receives a synthesis request from the client terminal, the image data synthesizing unit synthesizes the image data according to the synthesis request with the image data captured by the image capturing unit. The image data transmitting means, when receiving the transmission request, transmits the image data synthesized by the image data synthesizing means to the client terminal.

With this configuration, in order to combine the images captured by the image capturing terminal, the user sends a compositing request to the image capturing terminal at the client terminal while the terminals are communicably connected. Send. In the image capturing terminal, upon receiving the combining request from the client terminal, the image data combining unit combines the image data according to the combining request with the image data captured by the image capturing unit.

Next, in order to use the synthesized photographed image, the user transmits a transmission request at the client terminal to the image photographing terminal. In the image capturing terminal, upon receiving a transmission request from the client terminal, the image data transmitting unit transmits the image data synthesized by the image data synthesizing unit to the client terminal.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the photographic image providing system according to the seventh aspect, wherein the storage means includes the image data transmitting means, the operation control means, and the image data providing means. An image capturing terminal program for causing a computer to execute processing realized as a synthesizing unit is stored, and when the registration request is received, the terminal registration unit registers access information of the client terminal in the storage unit. And transmitting the program for the image capturing terminal in the storage means to the client terminal, wherein the client terminal comprises a computer, and when the program for the image capturing terminal is received, the image is stored in accordance with the received program for the image capturing terminal. Data transmission means, operation control means, and image data synthesis So as to constitute a stage.

With this configuration, in order to register the client terminal as an image capturing terminal, the user transmits a registration request at the client terminal to the communication connection mediation terminal. In the communication connection mediation terminal, upon receiving the registration request from the client terminal, the access information of the client terminal is registered in the storage unit by the terminal registration unit, and the program for the image capturing terminal in the storage unit is transmitted to the client terminal. .

When the client terminal receives the program for the image photographing terminal, the image data transmitting means, the operation control means and the image data synthesizing means are configured in accordance with the received program for the image photographing terminal. On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, a communication connection mediating terminal according to claim 9 of the present invention is a terminal communicably connected to a client terminal and an image photographing terminal in the photographed image providing system according to claim 2. A storage unit for storing access information accessible to the client terminal; a terminal registration unit for registering the client terminal as the image capturing terminal; and the image capturing terminal based on the access information of the storage unit. Terminal connection means for communicably connecting to the client terminal, wherein the terminal registration means, when receiving a registration request from the client terminal, registers access information of the client terminal in the storage means. By registering the client terminal as the image capturing terminal, the terminal connection means When receiving a connection request from the client terminal based on the access information of the storage means is adapted to communicably connecting an image capturing device according to the connection request and its client terminal.

With such a configuration, an operation equivalent to that of the communication connection mediating terminal in the photographed image providing system according to the second aspect can be obtained. On the other hand, in order to achieve the above purpose,
A photographed image providing program according to claim 10 of the present invention is a program for causing the photographed image providing system according to claim 1 to be executed by a computer system, wherein the terminal registers the client terminal as the image photographing terminal. A registration unit, and a program for executing a process implemented as an image data providing unit that provides image data captured by the image capturing terminal to the client terminal based on the access information of the storage unit. The means, when a registration request is received from the client terminal, registers the client terminal as the image capturing terminal by registering the access information of the client terminal in the storage means, and the image data providing means, When there is a request from the client terminal Based on the access information of the storage means, so as to provide the image data captured by the image capturing device according to the provision request to the client terminal.

With such a configuration, when the program is read by the photographed image providing system and the photographed image providing system executes the processing in accordance with the read program, the same operation as the photographed image providing system according to claim 1 can be achieved. can get. On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, a communication connection mediating terminal program according to claim 11 of the present invention is a program for executing the communication connection mediating terminal according to claim 9 comprising a computer, Executes processing realized as terminal registration means for registering a client terminal as the image photographing terminal, and terminal connection means for communicably connecting the image photographing terminal and the client terminal based on access information of the storage means. The terminal registration unit, when receiving a registration request from the client terminal, registers the client terminal as the image capturing terminal by registering the access information of the client terminal in the storage unit. The terminal connection means receives a connection request from the client terminal. When, on the basis of the access information of the storage means is adapted to communicably connecting an image capturing device according to the connection request and its client terminal.

With such a configuration, when the program is read by the communication connection mediation terminal and the communication connection mediation terminal executes processing according to the read program,
An operation equivalent to that of the communication connection mediation terminal according to the ninth aspect is obtained. On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, a program for an image photographing terminal according to claim 12 of the present invention is provided.
A program for causing a photographed image terminal including a computer in the photographed image providing system to execute, the image data transmitting unit transmitting image data captured by the image capturing unit to the client terminal, and controlling the operation unit. Operating control means, and a program for executing processing realized as image data synthesizing means for synthesizing the image data captured by the image capturing means, wherein the operation control means receives an operation request from the client terminal. When receiving, control the operation means,
The image data synthesizing unit, when receiving a synthesizing request from the client terminal, synthesizes the image data according to the synthesizing request and the image data captured by the image capturing unit, and the image data transmitting unit includes: When a transmission request is received, the image data synthesized by the image data synthesizing means is transmitted to the client terminal.

With such a configuration, the program is read by the image photographing terminal, and the image photographing terminal executes processing according to the read program.
An operation equivalent to that of the described image capturing terminal can be obtained.

[0038]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 11 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a photographed image providing system, a communication connection mediating terminal, a photographed image providing program, a communication connection mediating terminal program, and an image photographing terminal program according to the present invention.

In the present embodiment, a photographed image providing system, a communication connection mediating terminal, a photographed image providing program, a communication connection mediating terminal program, and an image photographing terminal program according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. In response to an access from the terminal 300, the image data captured by the camera 250 of the image capturing terminal 200 installed at a remote location is provided, and the communication connection mediation between the image capturing terminal 200 and the client terminal 300 is performed. This is applied to a case where a new image capturing terminal 200 is added to and registered in the terminal 100.

First, the configuration of a network system to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network system to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the Internet 199 includes an image capturing terminal 200 having a camera 250,
A client terminal 300 for use by a user and a communication connection mediation terminal 100 for mediating a communication connection between the image capturing terminal 200 and the client terminal 300 are connected. Although only one client terminal 300 is illustrated in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, a plurality of client terminals 300 are actually connected to the Internet 199.

Next, the configuration of the communication connection mediation terminal 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the communication connection mediation terminal 100. The communication connection mediation terminal 100 has a function as a WWW (World Wide Web) server, and, as shown in FIG. 2, a CPU 3 that controls calculations and controls the entire system based on a control program.
0, a ROM 32 in which a control program or the like of the CPU 30 is stored in a predetermined area in advance, a RAM 34 for storing data read from the ROM 32 or the like, and a calculation result required in a calculation process of the CPU 30, and data to an external device. And an I / F 38 that mediates input / output of the data, and these are connected to each other via a bus 39 which is a signal line for transferring data so as to be able to exchange data.

The I / F 38 includes, as external devices, an input device 40 such as a keyboard and a mouse capable of inputting data as a human interface, a storage device 42 for storing data and tables as files, and an image signal A display device 44 for displaying a screen based on the information and a signal line for connecting to the Internet 199 are connected.

The storage device 42 is a program to be executed by the image photographing terminal 200 and includes a camera operation process,
A program for an image capturing terminal for executing the image data synthesizing process and the image data transmitting process is stored. The camera operation processing, the image data synthesis processing, and the image data transmission processing will be described in detail later. CPU 30
Comprises a microprocessing unit MPU and the like, starts a predetermined program stored in a predetermined area of the ROM 32, and executes terminal registration processing and inter-terminal connection processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. It is designed to run in splits.

First, the terminal registration process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the terminal registration process. The terminal registration process is performed for the new image capturing terminal 200.
This is a process for adding and registering a file. When executed by the CPU 30, first, as shown in FIG.
It shifts to 0. Hereinafter, all inputs in each step are performed by interactive communication with the user of the accessed terminal.

In step S100, it is determined whether a registration request has been received, and if it is determined that a registration request has been received,
(Yes) moves on to step S102, but if not (No), it waits in step S100 until a registration request is received. In step S102, the URL
(Universal Resource Locater) or a request for input of access information such as an IP address, the process proceeds to step S104, and it is determined whether or not the access information is input. When it is determined that the access information is input (Yes), , Step S1
Shift to 06.

In step S106, the input access information is registered in the storage device 42, and the flow advances to step S108 to read out the image photographing terminal program from the storage device 42. Then, the flow advances to step S110 to read out the read out image photographing terminal. The application program is transmitted to the accessed terminal, and a series of processing is terminated to return to the original processing. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S104 that the access information is not input (No), the process proceeds to step S112, and a predetermined time (for example, 3
It is determined whether or not (minute) has elapsed. If it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed (Yes), the process proceeds to step S114.

In step S114, access information is generated, and the flow advances to step S116 to transmit the generated access information to the accessed terminal.
Move to 6. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S112 that the predetermined time has not elapsed since the request for inputting the access information (No), the process proceeds to step S104.

Next, the terminal connection processing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the terminal connection processing. The terminal connection processing is performed by the client terminal 30
This is a process of transmitting a list of link destinations of the image capturing terminal 200 to the client terminal 300 in response to an access from 0. When the process is executed by the CPU 30, the process first proceeds to step S200 as shown in FIG. It has become.

In step S200, it is determined whether a connection request has been received, and if it is determined that a connection request has been received,
If (Yes), the process proceeds to step S202. If not (No), the process waits in step S200 until a connection request is received. In step S202, the access information is read from the storage device 42, and step S204
Then, a link destination list of the image capturing terminal 200 is created based on the read access information, and the process proceeds to step S20.
Then, the process proceeds to step 6, where the created link destination list is transmitted to the accessed terminal, and a series of processing is terminated to return to the original processing.

Next, the configuration of the image capturing terminal 200 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows the image capturing terminal 2
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a 00. Image shooting terminal 20
0, as shown in FIG. 5, a CPU 50 for controlling the operation and the entire system based on the control program, a ROM 52 storing a control program for the CPU 50 in a predetermined area in advance, data read from the ROM 52 or the like, And a I / F 58 that mediates the input and output of data to and from an external device.
The buses 59 are signal lines for transferring data, and are connected to each other so that data can be exchanged.

The I / F 58 includes, as external devices, an input device 60 such as a keyboard and a mouse capable of inputting data as a human interface, a storage device 62 for storing data and tables as files, and an image signal A display device 64 for displaying a screen based on the image data; an image capturing device 66 for capturing an image captured by the camera 250 as data; a camera operating device 68 for changing and operating a shooting direction and a zoom magnification of the camera 250; A signal line for connection is connected. Further, the image capturing device 66 and the camera operating device 68
Is connected to the camera 250.

The storage device 62 stores image data for synthesis to be synthesized with the image data fetched by the image fetching device 66. Examples of the image data for synthesis include character image data, frame image data such as a background and a frame, and postcard image data serving as a background when a postcard is created. CPU5
Reference numeral 0 denotes a microprocessing unit MPU or the like, which activates a program for an image capturing terminal received from the communication connection mediation terminal 100, and performs camera operation processing shown in the flowcharts of FIGS.
The image data synthesizing process and the image data transmitting process are executed in a time-division manner.

First, the camera operation processing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the camera operation processing. The camera operation process is performed on the client terminal 3
The processing for changing the shooting direction and the zoom magnification of the camera 250 in response to the access from the CPU 50
Is executed, first, as shown in FIG. 6, the process proceeds to step S300.

In step S300, it is determined whether or not a change request for changing the shooting direction of the camera 250 has been received. If it is determined that the change request has been received (Yes), the process proceeds to step S302, and the process proceeds to step S302. By controlling the operation device 68, a process of changing the shooting direction of the camera 250 is executed, and the process proceeds to step S304. Step S30
In step 4, it is determined whether a change request for changing the zoom magnification of the camera 250 has been received. If it is determined that the change request has been received (Yes), the process proceeds to step S306, and the camera operation device 68 By performing the control, a process of changing the zoom magnification of the camera 250 is executed, and a series of processes is ended to return to the original process.

On the other hand, in step S304, the camera 250
When it is determined that the change request for changing the zoom magnification of (1) is not received (No), the process proceeds to step S300. on the other hand,
If it is determined in step S300 that a change request for changing the shooting direction of the camera 250 has not been received (No), the process proceeds to step S304. Next, the image data combining process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the image data synthesizing process.

The image data synthesizing process is a process of synthesizing image data photographed by the camera 250 in response to access from the client terminal 300. When the image data synthesizing process is executed by the CPU 50, as shown in FIG. The process proceeds to step S400. Step S40
In step S402, it is determined whether a combination request has been received. If it is determined that a combination request has been received (Yes), the process proceeds to step S402.
However, if it is determined that this is not the case (No), the process waits in step S400 until a combining request is received.

In step S402, a selection of the image data to be synthesized is input from the image data for synthesis in the storage device 62, and the process proceeds to step S404, where the image captured by the camera 250 is used as data from the image capturing device 66. Then, the process proceeds to step S406, where the selected image data for combination and the acquired image data are combined, and a series of processes is completed to return to the original process.

Next, the image data transmission processing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the image data transmission processing. The image data transmission processing is performed by the camera 250 according to the access from the client terminal 300.
Transmitting image data captured by the CPU
When executed at 50, first, as shown in FIG.
The process proceeds to step S500.

In step S500, it is determined whether a transmission request has been received, and if it is determined that a transmission request has been received,
If (Yes), the process proceeds to step S502, but if not (No), the process waits in step S500 until a transmission request is received. In step S502, it is determined whether or not the image data is combined. If it is determined that the image data is not combined (No), the process proceeds to step S50.
4, the image capturing device 6 converts the image captured by the camera 250 into data as in the process of step S404.
6, the process proceeds to step S506, and the acquired image data is transmitted to the accessed terminal, and a series of processes is completed to return to the original process.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S502 that the image data has been synthesized (Yes), the process proceeds to step S5.
In step 08, the combined image data is transmitted to the accessed terminal, and a series of processing is terminated to return to the original processing. Next, the configuration of the client terminal 300 will be described in detail. The client terminal 300, like the communication connection mediation terminal 100 and the image capturing terminal 200, has a CPU,
It has the same functions as a general computer in which a ROM, a RAM, an I / F, and the like are connected by a bus, and has a camera 250, an image capturing device 66, and a camera operating device 68.
Is connected to the I / F, and registration is performed by the communication connection mediation terminal 100, and thereafter, it functions as the image capturing terminal 200.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
First, a case where a new image capturing terminal 200 is registered in the communication connection mediation terminal 100 will be described. To register a new image capturing terminal 200 in the communication connection mediation terminal 100, the user first accesses the communication connection mediation terminal 100 in the image capturing terminal 200 and transmits a registration request. The transmission of the registration request is performed, for example, by transmitting the Web
This can be done by clicking a button or a link item of the item “register” on the page.

Upon receiving the registration request, communication connection mediation terminal 100 requests the user to input access information through steps S100 and S102. Here, the user inputs the access information of the image capturing terminal 200 in response to the input request. In the communication connection mediation terminal 100, when the access information is input, the input access information is registered in the storage device 42 through steps S104 to S110, and the program for the image photographing terminal is read out from the storage device 42 and read. The issued image shooting terminal program is transmitted to the image shooting terminal 200.

In the image capturing terminal 200, upon receiving the image capturing terminal program, the received image capturing terminal program is stored in the storage device 62, and the camera operation process, the image data synthesizing process, and the image data transmitting process can be executed. State. If the access information is not input before the predetermined time elapses after the input of the access information is requested, the communication connection mediation terminal 100 executes step S
104, access information is generated through S112 to S116, and the generated access information is stored in the image capturing terminal 200.
Sent to.

Upon receiving the access information, the image capturing terminal 200 allocates the received access information as its own. As described above, when the access information of the image capturing terminal 200 is not originally assigned, the access information is automatically assigned a short while after the input of the access information is requested. Although the case where the image capturing terminal 200 is registered has been described above, the client terminal 300 may be registered as the image capturing terminal 200. In that case, the camera 250 and the image capturing device 66
After installing the camera operation device 68 on the client terminal 300, the user may access the communication connection mediation terminal 100 at the client terminal 300 and transmit a registration request. Subsequent operations are the same as in the case of registration of the image capturing terminal 200.

Next, a case in which an image captured by the image capturing terminal 200 is used by the client terminal 300 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11
5 is a diagram showing a display screen on the client terminal 300. FIG. In order to use the image captured by the image capturing terminal 200 at the client terminal 300, the user first accesses the communication connection mediation terminal 100 at the client terminal 300. When the communication connection mediation terminal 100 is accessed, a screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. On the display screen of FIG. 9, a link item 400 “past link”
A link item 402 of "favorite" is displayed. Here, for example, the user
The connection request is transmitted by clicking 4 in accordance with the link item 400.

Upon receiving the connection request, the communication connection mediation terminal 100 reads the access information from the storage device 42 via step S200, and based on the read access information, creates a link destination list of the image photographing terminal 200. The created link destination list is stored in the client terminal 30.
Sent to 0. Upon receiving the link destination list, the client terminal 300 displays a display screen as shown in FIG. In the display screen of FIG.
For each of the image capturing terminals 200 registered in 00, a captured image 406 captured there and a button 408 of the item “OK” are displayed. Here, the user selects the photographed image by placing the mouse cursor 404 on the desired photographed image and clicking the mouse cursor 404, and then determines by clicking the button 408.

Since the access information of the image photographing terminal 200 corresponding to each photographed image is assigned,
When the user determines the photographed image, the client terminal 30
At 0, the image capturing terminal 200 is accessed based on the access information assigned to the captured image. When the user accesses the image capturing terminal 200, a screen as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. In the display screen of FIG.
0, a plurality of buttons 412 to 418 for changing / operating a moving image 410 currently being photographed, and a photographing direction of the camera 250,
A slide bar 420 for changing / operating the zoom magnification of the camera 250 and a button 422 for instructing a timing to capture an image captured by the camera 250 are displayed.

Here, when the user wants to change the shooting direction of the camera 250, the user clicks one of the buttons 412 to 418, and the client terminal 300
A request to change the shooting direction is transmitted to the image shooting terminal 200. Upon receiving the request to change the shooting direction, the image shooting terminal 200 controls the camera operation device 68 via steps S300 and S302, and thereby changes the shooting direction of the camera 250. The change result of the imaging direction is reflected on the display screen of the client terminal 300.

When the user wants to change the zoom magnification of the camera 250, he slides the slide bar 420, and the client terminal 300 transmits a request for changing the zoom magnification to the image photographing terminal 200. Upon receiving the request to change the zoom magnification, the image photographing terminal 200 controls the camera operation device 68 via steps S304 and S306, thereby changing the zoom magnification of the camera 250. The change result of the zoom magnification is reflected on the display screen of the client terminal 300.

The user adjusts the photographing direction and zoom magnification of the camera 250 and, when the photographed image to be finally captured is determined, clicks the button 422.
In the client terminal 300, a transmission request is transmitted to the image capturing terminal 200. Upon receiving the transmission request, the image capturing terminal 200 goes through steps S500 to S506,
An image captured by the camera 250 is captured as data from the image capturing device 66, and the captured image data is transmitted to the client terminal 300. Thus, the user can obtain a desired captured image with the desired image capturing terminal 200.

If the user wishes to combine photographed images, for example, to create a postcard incorporating the photographed images, the client terminal 300 clicks a button “image composition” (not shown). , A synthesis request is transmitted to the image capturing terminal 200. Upon receiving the synthesis request, the image photographing terminal 200 requests the user to select the image data for synthesis through step S400. Here, when the user selects desired image data for combination, the processing in steps S402 to S402 is performed.
Through 406, the image captured by the camera 250 is captured as data from the image capturing device 66, and the selected image data for combination and the captured image data are combined. Obtaining the synthesized image data is almost the same as in the case of capturing the image data described above.
When the image capturing terminal 200 receives the transmission request, the combined image data is transmitted to the client terminal 300 through steps S500, S502, and S508.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the communication connection mediation terminal 100 receives the registration request from the client terminal 300,
The client terminal 300 is registered as the image capturing terminal 200 by registering the access information of the image capturing terminal 200 in the storage device 42. When a connection request is received from the client terminal 300, the image capturing terminal 200 Is transmitted to the client terminal 300, and the image capturing terminal 20
0, when a transmission request is received from the client terminal 300, image data captured from the camera 250 is transmitted to the client terminal 300.

As a result, a new image capturing terminal 200 that can be used by the client terminal 300 can be newly added by registration, so that the degree of freedom and expandability can be relatively improved as compared with the related art, and usability can be improved. Can be improved. Further, in the present embodiment, the storage device 42
Stores a program for an image capturing terminal for executing a camera operation process, an image data synthesizing process, and an image data transmitting process. When the communication connection mediation terminal 100 receives a registration request, The information is registered in the storage device 42 and the storage device 42
Client terminal 3
00 and the client terminal 3
00, when the program for the image capturing terminal is received,
The received image photographing terminal program is stored in the storage device 62 so that the camera operation process, the image data combining process, and the image data transmitting process can be executed.

Thus, the client terminal 300 is connected to the camera 250, the image capturing device 66, and the camera operating device 6.
8, the registration as the image capturing terminal 200 can be performed relatively easily. In the above embodiment, the storage device 42 corresponds to the storage unit according to claims 1 to 5, 8 to 11, and the camera 250 corresponds to the imaging unit according to claim 1, 2, or 6. The device 66 corresponds to the image capturing means according to claim 1, 2, 7, or 12,
The camera operation device 68 corresponds to the operation means according to claim 6 or 12. Steps S100 to S11
6 corresponds to the terminal registration means according to claims 1 to 4, and 8 to 11, and corresponds to steps S200 to S206 and S500.
Steps S508 to S508 correspond to the image data providing means described in claim 1 or 10, and steps S200 to S206 correspond to the terminal connection means described in claim 2, 5, 9, or 11.

Further, in the above embodiment, steps S500 to S508 correspond to the image data transmitting means according to the second, seventh, eighth or twelfth aspect.
Step S306 corresponds to the operation control unit described in claim 6, 8, or 12, and steps S400 to S406 correspond to the image data combining unit described in claim 7, 8, or 12.

In the above embodiment, control of the camera 250 such as image capture, image synthesis, change of the shooting direction, and change of the zoom magnification is performed by direct communication between the image shooting terminal 200 and the client terminal 300. Although the configuration is not limited to this, the control related to the camera 250 may be configured to be performed via the communication connection mediation terminal 100. Specifically, the communication connection mediation terminal 100
When a control request for the camera 250 is received from the client terminal 300, the control for the image capturing terminal 200 is performed based on the request.

In the above embodiment, the client terminal 300 receives the link destination list from the communication connection mediation terminal 100 and determines the displayed image based on the received link destination list. Although the configuration is such that the terminal 200 is accessed, the display screen of the image capturing terminal 200 may be configured to be displayed as a part of the front screen of the communication connection mediation terminal 100 in this case.
Thus, the user of the client terminal 300 looks as if the user is interacting with the communication connection mediation terminal 100. That is, since the display screen is not completely switched to another screen, it is possible to prevent the amateur user from being confused by switching the screens to some extent.

In the above-described embodiment, the client terminal 300 is configured to change the shooting direction of the camera 250 by clicking the buttons 412 to 418. Such a specific configuration is conceivable. For example, button 41
2 is a command of “up.dat”, a button 414 is a command of “right.dat”, and a button 416 is a command of “d.
The command "own.dat" and the button 418 "left.
"dat" command. Then, when the button 412 is clicked on the client terminal 300, “htt” in which the address information of the image capturing terminal 200 and the command corresponding to the button 412 are combined.
p: //aaa.bbb.com/up.dat "
By accessing the generated address and detecting that the address has been accessed, the image capturing terminal 200 detects a request to change the capturing direction of the camera 250 (in this case, moving upward).

In the above embodiment, when executing the processes shown in the flow charts of FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 to 8, the control programs stored in the ROMs 32 and 52 are executed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the programs may be read from the storage medium storing the programs indicating these procedures into the RAMs 34 and 54 and executed.

Here, the storage medium is a semiconductor storage medium such as a RAM or a ROM, a magnetic storage type storage medium such as an FD or HD, an optical reading type storage medium such as a CD, CDV, LD or DVD, or an MO or the like. A magnetic storage type / optical readout type storage medium includes any storage medium that can be read by a computer regardless of an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other read method.

Further, in the above embodiment, the photographed image providing system, the communication connection mediating terminal, the photographed image providing program, the communication connection mediating terminal program, and the image photographing terminal program according to the present invention are provided on the Internet 19.
Although the description has been given of the case where the present invention is applied to the network system composed of N.9, the present invention is not limited to this. Of course, the Internet 19
Not only the network that communicates by the same method as 9 but also
It can also be applied to ordinary networks.

In the above embodiment, the photographed image providing system, communication connection mediating terminal, photographed image providing program, communication connection mediating terminal program, and image photographing terminal program according to the present invention are shown in FIG. To
In response to the access from the client terminal 300, the image data captured by the camera 250 of the image capturing terminal 200 installed at a remote location is provided, and the image capturing terminal 2
The case where a new image capturing terminal 200 is added and registered to the communication connection mediating terminal 100 that mediates a communication connection between the client terminal 300 and the client terminal 300 is applied. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also applicable to the case.

[0083]

As described above, according to the photographed image providing system according to the first aspect of the present invention, an image photographing terminal that can be used by a client terminal can be newly added by registration. In comparison, the degree of freedom and scalability can be relatively improved, and the effect of improving usability can be obtained.

Further, according to the photographed image providing system according to claims 2 to 8 of the present invention, an image photographing terminal which can be used by a client terminal can be newly added by registration. The degree of freedom and expandability can be relatively improved, and the effect of improving usability can be obtained. Further, according to the photographed image providing system according to claim 8 of the present invention, if the client terminal has a photographing means and an image photographing terminal, it can be registered as an image photographing terminal. The effect that it can be performed relatively easily is also obtained.

On the other hand, according to the communication connection mediating terminal according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the same effect as the photographic image providing system according to the second aspect can be obtained. On the other hand, according to the photographed image providing program according to claim 10 of the present invention, the same effect as the photographed image providing system according to claim 1 can be obtained. On the other hand, according to the communication connection mediating terminal program of the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the same effect as the communication connection mediating terminal of the ninth aspect can be obtained.

On the other hand, according to the program for an image photographing terminal according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the same effect as that of the photographic image providing system according to the eighth aspect can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication connection mediation terminal 100.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a terminal registration process.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an inter-terminal connection process.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image capturing terminal 200.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a camera operation process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating image data synthesis processing.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating image data transmission processing.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display screen on the client terminal 300.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display screen on a client terminal 300.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display screen on a client terminal 300.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Communication connection mediation terminal 200 Image capturing terminal 300 Client terminal 199 Internet 30, 50 CPU 32, 52 ROM 34, 54 RAM 38, 58 I / F 40, 60 Input device 42, 62 Storage device 44, 64 Display device 66 Image capture Loading device 68 camera operation device 250 camera

Claims (12)

[Claims] An image capturing terminal having an image capturing means, an image capturing means for capturing an image captured by the image capturing means as data, and a client terminal communicably connected,
In a system for providing image data captured by the image capturing terminal to the client terminal in response to a provision request from the client terminal, storage means for storing access information accessible to the client terminal, and the client Terminal registration means for registering a terminal as the image capturing terminal; and image data providing means for providing image data captured by the image capturing terminal to the client terminal based on access information of the storage means, the terminal registration The means, when a registration request is received from the client terminal, registers the client terminal as the image capturing terminal by registering the access information of the client terminal in the storage means, and the image data providing means, Request to provide from client terminal Can, based on the access information of the storage unit, the captured image providing system, characterized in that is adapted to provide the image data captured by the image capturing device according to the provision request to the client terminal. 2. An image capturing terminal having an image capturing means, an image capturing means for capturing an image captured by the image capturing means as data, a client terminal, and a communication connection between the image capturing terminal and the client terminal. In a system that communicably connects a communication connection mediation terminal to the client terminal and provides image data captured by the image capturing terminal to the client terminal in response to a provision request from the client terminal, the communication connection mediation terminal includes: Storage means for storing access information accessible to the client terminal;
Terminal registration means for registering the client terminal as the image capturing terminal, and terminal-to-terminal connection means for communicably connecting the image capturing terminal and the client terminal based on access information of the storage means, The terminal registration unit, when receiving a registration request from the client terminal, registers the client terminal as the image capturing terminal by registering the access information of the client terminal in the storage unit, Receiving a connection request from the client terminal, based on the access information of the storage unit, communicably connects the image capturing terminal related to the connection request and the client terminal, the image capturing terminal further includes: Transmitting an image data captured by the image capturing unit to the client terminal; The image data transmitting means, when receiving a transmission request from the client terminal, transmitting the image data captured by the image capturing means to the client terminal. A photographed image providing system characterized by the following. 3. The terminal registration unit according to claim 2, wherein the terminal registration unit receives the registration request,
Requesting the client terminal to transmit the access information, and when the access information is received along with the transmission request, the received access information is registered in the storage unit. Image providing system. 4. The terminal according to claim 2, wherein the terminal registration unit, upon receiving the registration request,
A photographed image providing system wherein the access information is generated, and the generated access information is registered in the storage unit and transmitted to the client terminal. 5. The terminal-to-terminal connection unit according to claim 2, wherein, when receiving the connection request, the terminal-to-terminal connection unit selects one of the access information of the storage unit that belongs to the image photographing terminal according to the connection request. A captured image providing system configured to transmit to a client terminal. 6. The image capturing terminal according to claim 2, wherein the image capturing terminal further operates the image capturing unit so that the content of an image captured by the image capturing unit changes. And an operation control means for controlling the operation means when the operation control means receives an operation request from the client terminal. 7. The image capturing terminal according to claim 6, wherein the image capturing terminal further includes an image data combining unit that combines the image data captured by the image capturing unit. When receiving the synthesis request, the image data according to the synthesis request is synthesized with the image data captured by the image capturing unit. The image data transmitting unit, when receiving the transmission request, transmits the image data. A photographed image providing system wherein image data synthesized by the synthesizing means is transmitted to the client terminal. 8. The image capturing terminal according to claim 7, wherein the storage unit stores a program for an image capturing terminal for causing a computer to execute processing realized as the image data transmitting unit, the operation control unit, and the image data combining unit. When the terminal registration unit receives the registration request,
When registering the access information of the client terminal in the storage means and transmitting the program for the image capturing terminal in the storage means to the client terminal, the client terminal comprises a computer, and when the program for the image capturing terminal is received Wherein the image data transmitting means, the operation control means, and the image data synthesizing means are configured in accordance with the received image photographing terminal program. 9. A terminal communicably connected to a client terminal and an image photographing terminal in the photographed image providing system according to claim 2, wherein: storage means for storing access information accessible to the client terminal; A terminal registration unit that registers the client terminal as the image capturing terminal; and an inter-terminal connection unit that communicably connects the image capturing terminal and the client terminal based on access information of the storage unit. The registration unit, when receiving the registration request from the client terminal, registers the client terminal as the image capturing terminal by registering the access information of the client terminal in the storage unit, the terminal connection unit, When a connection request is received from the client terminal, the access of the storage unit is performed. A communication connection mediating terminal configured to communicably connect the image photographing terminal relating to the connection request and the client terminal based on the access information. 10. A program to be executed by the photographed image providing system according to claim 1, comprising a computer system, a terminal registration unit for registering the client terminal as the image photographing terminal, and access information of the storage unit. Is a program for executing processing realized as image data providing means for providing the image data captured by the image capturing terminal to the client terminal based on the registration request from the client terminal. If there is, the client terminal is registered as the image capturing terminal by registering the access information of the client terminal in the storage unit, and when the image data providing unit receives a providing request from the client terminal, , Based on the access information of the storage means, A photographed image providing program for providing image data captured by an image photographing terminal according to the provision request to the client terminal. 11. A program for causing a communication connection mediation terminal according to claim 9 to be executed by a computer, comprising: terminal registration means for registering said client terminal as said image capturing terminal; and access information of said storage means. A program for executing a process realized as terminal-to-terminal connection means for communicably connecting the image capturing terminal and the client terminal, wherein the terminal registration means receives a registration request from the client terminal. When the client terminal is registered as the image capturing terminal by registering the access information of the client terminal in the storage unit, the terminal connection unit, when receiving a connection request from the client terminal, Image capture according to the connection request based on the access information in the storage means A program for a communication connection mediation terminal, wherein the terminal and the client terminal are communicably connected. 12. A program to be executed by a photographed image terminal comprising a computer in the photographed image providing system according to claim 8, wherein the image data transmitted by the image capturing means is transmitted to the client terminal. A transmission means, an operation control means for controlling the operation means, and a program for executing processing realized as an image data synthesizing means for synthesizing the image data fetched by the image fetching means, wherein the operation control means is When an operation request is received from the client terminal, the operation unit is controlled. When the image data synthesizing unit receives the synthesis request from the client terminal, the image data and the image data related to the synthesis request are controlled. Combining the image data with the image data captured by the capturing means; When receiving, the image data of the image data synthesized by the synthesizing means imaging terminal program, characterized in that is adapted to transmit to the client terminal.