JP2002290819A - Support device, device, and support system for photography, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photography support device which sets the optimum photographic conditions for a subject in an electronic still camera through a communication network. SOLUTION: This system is equipped with a receiving means which receives a subject image picked up by a photographing device, a photographic condition setting means which sets photographic conditions suitable for the photography of the subject image, and a transmitting means which transmits photographic condition setting information showing the set photographic conditions to the photographing device having picked up the subject image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photographing support device, a photographing device, a photographing support system, and a program for setting photographing conditions at the time of photographing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in an electronic still camera, various photographing conditions such as a shutter speed and an aperture value are automatically set by selecting a photographing mode prepared in advance. Is known to. In recent years, shooting conditions such as a shutter speed can be manually set according to a photographer's preference, and the same shooting conditions can be set at the next shooting by presetting the contents of the shooting conditions set once. There are also things.

[0003]

However, even if the photographer can manually set the photographing conditions according to his / her preference as described above, or even if the photographing conditions preset in advance can be reused, Since the setting contents of the photographing conditions are numerical values and technical terms, it is not easy to envision a photographing result with the setting contents. For this reason, there has been a problem that it is difficult for a normal photographer to set photographing conditions for obtaining a photographing result that matches the image while envisioning the photographing result, that is, the image of the photographed image. Also, in an electronic still camera, due to the complexity of setting shooting conditions and restrictions on the internal memory capacity,
There is also a problem that the photographing conditions that can be set are limited, and the needs of a user who wants to set more detailed photographing conditions cannot be satisfied.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a photographing support apparatus, a photographing apparatus, a photographing support system, and a program capable of setting appropriate photographing conditions according to an actual photographing situation. The purpose is to do.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 13, a photographing support system connected to a photographing apparatus via a communication network. A receiving device (e.g., a photographing support device 1) that receives a subject image captured by the photographing device (for example,
A transmission control unit 15); a photographing condition setting unit (for example, a CPU 11) that sets photographing conditions suitable for photographing the subject image based on the subject image received by the receiving unit; Transmitting means (for example, the transmission control unit 15) for transmitting photographing condition setting information indicating the photographing conditions set by the means to the photographing apparatus which has photographed the subject image.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a subject image taken by a photographing device connected via a communication line network received by the receiving means is received, and the subject image is taken by the photographing condition setting means. The photographing condition suitable for the photographing is set, and the photographing condition setting information indicating the photographing condition is transmitted to the photographing device that has photographed the subject image by the transmitting unit. Therefore, the operator of the photographing device desires photographing. This makes it possible to set photographing conditions suitable for a subject without performing difficult operations, which is very convenient and also makes it extremely unlikely that photographing will fail.

Here, the photographing apparatus is, for example, an electronic still camera having a function of connecting to a communication network such as the Internet. The photographing apparatus can convert captured digital data. Any form may be used as long as it has a function of transmitting data via a communication line network, and it may be composed of a plurality of devices.

The photographing condition setting information includes, for example, whether or not an autofocus function is used, a focus distance, a shutter speed, an aperture value, and the like. Anything is acceptable.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the imaging support apparatus according to the first aspect, a photographing instruction signal transmitting means for transmitting a photographing instruction signal for instructing the photographing apparatus transmitting the subject image to store the photographed image ( For example, a CPU 11 and a transmission control unit 15 are provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained. Since the photographing instruction signal for instructing the storage of the photographed image is transmitted, the operator of the photographing apparatus does not need to perform the photographing operation. Therefore, even when the operator himself / herself is photographed as a subject, there is no need to request another person for photographing, which is convenient.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographing support apparatus for providing photographing condition setting information for setting photographing conditions.
An imaging device (camera terminal 2) connected via a communication line network
0) and imaging means (for example, M
PU42, etc.), transmitting means (for example, mobile phone 40, wireless communication unit 63, etc.) for transmitting the subject image captured by the image capturing means to the photographing support device, and the subject image transmitted by the transmitting means. Shooting condition setting information receiving means (for example, the mobile phone 40, the wireless communication unit 63, etc.) for receiving the shooting condition setting information set by the shooting support apparatus, and the shooting condition received by the shooting condition setting information receiving means. Setting means (for example, the MPU 42 or the like) for setting photographing conditions at the time of photographing based on the condition setting information.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the subject image picked up by the image pickup means is transmitted to the photographing support device by the transmitting means, and the photographing condition set based on the subject image is set by the photographing condition setting information receiving means. Condition setting information is received from the photographing support device, and by setting means,
Since the photographing conditions at the time of photographing are set based on the photographing condition setting information, the operator of the photographing apparatus can set the photographing conditions suitable for the subject to be photographed without performing difficult operations, It is very convenient and the chance of failing in shooting is extremely small.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the photographing apparatus of the third aspect, a photographed image storage means (for example, a flash memory 53) for storing a photographed image, and a photographing instruction signal for instructing storage of the photographed image. (For example, the mobile phone 40, the wireless communication unit 63, and the like)
A storage control unit (for example, MPU42) for storing a photographed image photographed under the photographing conditions set by the setting unit in the photographed image storage unit based on the photographing instruction signal received by the photographing instruction signal receiving unit. Such)
And characterized in that:

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the third aspect of the invention can be obtained, and in particular, a photographing instruction signal for instructing photographing is received by the photographing instruction signal receiving means. And by the storage control means
The photographed image photographed under the set photographing conditions is stored in the photographed image storage means, so that the operator does not need to perform the photographing operation by himself. Therefore, even when the operator himself / herself is photographed as a subject, there is no need to request another person for photographing, which is convenient.

The photographing instruction signal receiving means may be any means as long as it is connected to a communication network such as the Internet and can exchange data with a photographing support device. For example, a mobile phone or a wireless communication network such as a PHS may be used. In this case, for example, as long as wireless communication is possible, photographing in nature is possible, and the operator of the photographing apparatus has a wider selection range of the photographing place.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the photographing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, a notice means (for example, an advance notice means for announcing the storage timing of the photographed image based on the reception of the photographing advance notice signal instructing the storage of the photographed image). , MPU42, etc.).

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the same effect as in the fourth aspect can be obtained, and in particular, the storage timing of the photographed image is notified based on the reception of the photographing advance notice signal by the advance notice means. Therefore, the operator can prepare for the attitude, pose, and the like in photographing in accordance with the storage timing, which is convenient.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the photographing apparatus of the fifth aspect, a light emitting means (for example, an indicator 36) is provided.
Etc.), the notifying means, based on the reception of the shooting notice signal by causing the light emitting means to emit light,
The storage timing of the photographed image is notified in advance.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the same effect as that of the fifth aspect of the invention can be obtained. In particular, by causing the light emitting means to emit light by the notice means, the photographing notice signal can be obtained. Based on the reception, the storage timing of the captured image is notified in advance, so that the operator of the imaging device can know the storage timing of the captured image by emitting light, which is visually recognized and extremely easy to understand, It is easy to grasp the same timing even if the user is away from the imaging device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the photographing apparatus of the fifth aspect, a display means (for example, a TFT display monitor 32 or the like) is provided, and the notice means displays the count on the display means, so that It is characterized in that the storage timing of a captured image is notified in advance.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the same effect as that of the fifth aspect of the invention can be obtained. In particular, by displaying the count on the display means by the notice means, the captured image can be displayed. Since the storage timing is notified in advance, the operator of the photographing apparatus can clearly and numerically grasp the moment of the storage timing of the captured image, which is convenient.

According to the present invention, there is provided a photographing apparatus (camera terminal 20) having an image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject, and a photographing support apparatus for providing photographing condition setting information for setting photographing conditions to the photographing apparatus. The shooting control server 10)
A photographing support system (photographing support system 1) connected via a communication network 2, wherein the photographing device transmits a subject image photographed by the photographing unit to the photographing support device (for example, A mobile phone 40, a wireless communication unit 63, and the like; and shooting condition setting information receiving means for receiving shooting condition setting information set based on the transmitted subject image (for example, the mobile phone 40, the wireless communication unit 63, and the like). And setting means (for example, MPU42 or the like) for setting shooting conditions at the time of shooting based on the shooting condition setting information received by the shooting condition setting information receiving means. A photographing condition setting means for setting photographing conditions suitable for photographing the subject image based on the subject image transmitted from the means (for example,
A photographing condition setting information transmitting unit (for example, the transmission control unit 15 or the like) for transmitting photographing condition setting information indicating a photographing condition set by the photographing condition setting unit to the photographing device that has photographed the subject image; ).

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication apparatus comprising: a photographing apparatus having an image pickup means for photographing a subject; and a photographing support apparatus for providing photographing condition setting information for setting photographing conditions to the photographing apparatus. A subject image that is connected via the network 2 and captured by the transmitting unit of the photographing device is transmitted to the photographing support device, and the subject image is photographed based on the subject image transmitted from the photographing device by the obtaining unit of the photographing support device. The photographing condition setting information indicating the photographing condition is transmitted to the photographing device that has photographed the subject image by the photographing condition setting information transmitting unit of the photographing support device, and the photographing condition setting information of the photographing device is set. The photographing condition setting information set based on the subject image transmitted from the photographing support device is received by the receiving unit, and the photographing condition setting information is received by the setting unit. Since the photographing conditions at the time of photographing are set based on the setting information, the operator of the photographing apparatus can set the photographing conditions suitable for the subject to be photographed without performing difficult operations, which is very convenient. .

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the photographing support system according to the eighth aspect, the photographing support device transmits a photographing instruction signal for instructing storage of the photographed image to a photographing device for transmitting a subject image. The apparatus includes a photographing instruction signal transmitting unit (for example, the CPU 11 and the transmission control unit 15). The photographing apparatus includes a photographing image storing unit (for example, the flash memory 53) for storing a photographed image, and And a storage control unit (for example, the MPU 42) for storing a photographed image photographed under the photographing conditions set by the setting unit in the photographed image storage unit.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the same effect as that of the eighth aspect of the invention can be obtained. In particular, the subject image is transmitted by the photography instruction signal transmitting means of the photography support device. A photographing instruction signal for instructing storage of a photographed image is transmitted to the photographing device, and the photographing set by the setting unit based on the reception of the photographing instruction signal from the photographing support device by the storage control unit of the photographing device Since the photographed image taken according to the condition is stored in the photographed image storage means, the operator of the photographing apparatus does not have to perform the photographing by himself, and the photographed image is automatically stored, so that the operation is not required. Easy and easy to use.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the photographing support system according to the ninth aspect, the photographing device receives fee information for the photographing condition setting information or the fee for the photographing instruction signal. Phone 40,
A payment information transmitting unit (for example, the mobile phone 40, a wireless reception unit) that transmits payment information of the fee to the photographing condition setting device based on the fee information received by the fee information receiving unit. Unit 63 etc.), and the photographing support device includes a fee information transmitting unit (for example, the CPU 11 and the transmission control unit 15) for transmitting the photographing condition setting information or the fee information for the photographing instruction signal
And charging means (for example, CPU 11 or the like) for charging the shooting condition setting information or the shooting instruction signal based on receiving the payment information.

According to the tenth aspect, the ninth aspect is provided.
It goes without saying that the same effect as that of the described invention can be obtained. In particular, the charge information transmitting means of the photographing support apparatus transmits the photographing condition setting information or the charge information corresponding to the photographing instruction signal, and the photographing apparatus receives the charge information. The photographing condition setting information or the charge information corresponding to the photographing instruction signal is received, and the payment information of the charge is transmitted by the payment information transmitting means of the photographing apparatus based on the charge information received by the charge information receiving means. Transmitted to the device, by the charging means of the photographing support device, based on the receipt of the payment information,
Since billing for the photographing condition setting information or the photographing instruction signal is performed, the photographing condition setting information provided to the photographing device by the photographing support device, the charge for the photographing instruction, and the billing process can be easily performed via the network. I can do it.

[0028] The invention according to claim 11 is the invention according to claim 9 or 1.
0, a photographing fee management device (photographing fee management server 50) connected to the photographing device and the plurality of photographing support devices via a communication network, wherein each of the photographing support devices includes: A charge information transmitting unit (for example, a CPU 11 or a transmission control unit 15) for transmitting the photographing condition setting information or the charge information corresponding to the photographing instruction signal; A charge information receiving unit (for example, the mobile phone 40, the wireless communication unit 63, etc.) for receiving the information, and the identification information including the identification information of the imaging support apparatus that transmitted the charge information based on the charge information by the charge information receiving unit. Payment information transmitting means (for example, a mobile phone 40, a wireless communication unit 63, and the like) for transmitting fee payment information to the photographing fee management device; A charging unit (for example, a control unit of the photographing fee management server 50) for charging the photographing condition setting information or the photographing instruction signal based on receiving the payment information; Distribution calculating means (for example, a control unit of the photographing charge management server 50) for calculating a distribution of the fee charged by the charging means for each of the photographing condition setting devices.
And characterized in that:

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the ninth or tenth aspect can be obtained. Are connected via a communication network, and the photographing condition setting information or the charge information corresponding to the photographing instruction signal is transmitted by the charge information transmitting means of the photographing support apparatus. The photographing condition setting information or the instruction is transmitted by the charge information receiving means of the photographing apparatus. The fee information for the signal is received, and the payment information transmitting unit transmits the fee payment information including the identification information of the photographing support device that transmitted the fee information to the photography fee management device based on the fee information received by the fee information receiving unit. Based on the received payment information, the charging unit of the shooting fee management apparatus charges the shooting condition setting information or the shooting instruction signal, Since the distribution calculator calculates the distribution of the fee charged by the charging unit for each photographing condition setting device, the operator of the photographing device requests the photographing condition setting information and the fee processing for the photographing instruction signal. There is no need to perform this for each device, and the billing fee is calculated by distributing it to individual photographing support devices.
The distribution process is performed smoothly and accurately.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the photographing support system according to the tenth or eleventh aspect, the photographing device is a storage medium for storing valuable information equivalent to money (for example, a flash memory 53 (media) or the like). And rewriting means (for example, MPU42 or the like) for rewriting the monetary value of the valuable information based on the fee information,
The payment information is information relating to rewriting of a monetary value of the storage medium.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
Of course, the same effect as the invention described in 0 or 11 can be obtained. In particular, the storage medium of the imaging apparatus stores valuable information equivalent to money, and the payment information is the monetary value of the storage medium. Since the rewriting means rewrites the monetary value of the valuable information based on the fee information by the rewriting means, the operator of the photographing apparatus has already paid for the payment information. In addition, the operator of the photographing apparatus does not need to perform a complicated payment procedure, which is convenient, and the administrator of the photographing support apparatus can reliably collect the fee.

The invention of claim 13 is the invention of claims 10 to 1
3. The imaging support system according to any one of 2, wherein the imaging device transmits a storage request signal for requesting storage of a subject image captured according to imaging conditions set by the setting unit to the imaging support device. A signal transmission unit (for example, the mobile phone 40, the wireless communication unit 63, etc.), wherein the photographing support device determines a photographing timing based on the photographing instruction signal based on the storage request signal transmitted by the storage request signal transmitting unit; Open photographed image storage means (for example, CPU 11 or the like) for synchronously storing a subject image as a photographed image in a storage area that can be browsed on a communication network.
Publishing means (for example, CPU 11) for publishing the photographed image stored in the public photographed image storage means on a communication network.
Etc.) and identification information transmitting means (for example, CPU 11, transmission control) for transmitting identification information for designating a storage area of a photographed image stored in the public photographed image storage means to the photographing apparatus which transmitted the photographed image. 15 and the like).

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the first aspect
Of course, the same effects as those of the invention described in any one of 0 to 12 can be obtained, and in particular, synchronization with the shooting timing by the shooting instruction signal based on the storage request signal transmitted by the storage request signal transmitting means. Then, the subject image is stored as a photographed image in a storage area that can be browsed on the communication network, and the photographing image stored in the public photographed image storage unit is published on the communication line network by the publishing unit, and the identification information is transmitted. The identification information for designating the storage area of the photographed image stored in the public photographed image storage means is transmitted to the photographing device that transmitted the photographed image by the means.
You can shoot regardless of the capacity of the media. Further, since the storage area where the image is stored can be accessed by the identification information, the photographed image can be easily browsed.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the photographic support system according to the twelfth aspect, the plurality of photographic support devices are provided, and the photographic device is configured to include the photographic support device designation information stored in the storage medium. A photographing support device determining means (for example, MP
U42).

According to the fourteenth aspect, the same effect as that of the twelfth aspect can be obtained. In particular, a plurality of photographing support devices are provided, and Since the photographing support device to be connected is determined based on the designation information of the photographing support device stored in the storage medium, the operator of the photographing device does not need to specify the photographing support device to be connected. It becomes.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the photographing support system according to the thirteenth aspect, the photographing device transmits destination designating information for designating a destination of the photographed image to the photographing support device. Designated information transmission means (for example,
The photographing support device designates the photographed image stored in the photographed image storage means with the transmission destination designation information transmitted by the transmission destination designation information transmitting means. Image transmission means (for example, CPU 11, a transmission control unit, etc.) for transmitting to the specified destination.

According to the invention of claim 15, claim 1 is
It goes without saying that the same effects as those of the invention described in 3 are obtained.
In particular, transmission destination specification information that specifies the transmission destination of a captured image is transmitted to the imaging support apparatus by the transmission destination specification information transmitting unit of the imaging apparatus, and the image transmission unit of the imaging support apparatus transmits
The photographed image stored in the photographed image storage unit is transmitted to the destination specified by the destination designation information transmitted by the destination designation information transmitting unit of the photographing device, so that the operator of the photographing device does not use the photographing device. This is convenient because it is possible to transmit a photographed image to a terminal device or the like without having to perform the operation.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, a computer connected to a photographing device via a communication line network has a function of receiving a subject image photographed by the photographing device, and a function of receiving the subject image based on the received subject image. To realize a function of setting shooting conditions suitable for shooting the subject image and a function of transmitting shooting condition setting information indicating the set shooting conditions to the shooting device that transmitted the subject image. Program.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer which is connected to a photographing device via a communication line network, and which incorporates the present program having storage means for storing photographing condition setting information for setting photographing conditions. A subject image captured by a photographing device is received via a communication line, and a photographing condition suitable for photographing the received subject image is set, and photographing condition setting information indicating the photographing condition includes:
Since the image of the subject is transmitted to the imaging device that has captured the image, the operator of the imaging device can shoot under the imaging conditions suitable for the subject without performing difficult imaging condition setting operations, which is very convenient.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer connected via a communication network to a photographing support apparatus for providing photographing condition setting information for setting photographing conditions, and a function for photographing a subject. A function of transmitting the subject image to the shooting support device, a function of receiving shooting condition setting information set based on the transmitted subject image from the shooting support device, and a function of receiving the shooting condition setting information based on the received shooting condition setting information. And a function for setting a photographing condition at the time of photographing.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, an object is connected to a photographing support device for providing photographing condition setting information for setting photographing conditions via a communication line network, and a computer incorporating the present program allows an object to be photographed. The captured subject image is transmitted to the imaging support device, and imaging condition setting information set based on the transmitted subject image is received from the imaging support device, based on the received imaging condition setting information, Since the photographing conditions at the time of photographing are set, the operator of the computer can set the photographing conditions at the time of photographing without performing complicated photographing condition settings, which is very convenient.

[0042]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] Hereinafter, a photographing support system, a photographing support device, and a photographing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

First, the configuration will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall structure of a photographing support system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a photographing support system 1 of the present invention includes a photographing control server 10 (photographing support device) that provides photographing conditions, a camera terminal 20 (photographing device) that requests the photographing control server 10 for photographing conditions, and the like. The camera control server 10 and the camera terminal 20 are connected to each other via a network 2 such as a public network or the Internet. In addition, the camera terminal 20 is configured by, for example, an electronic still camera 30 and a mobile phone 40, and via the base station 3,
It is connected to a network 2 such as the Internet.

The photographing control server 10 is a device for providing photographing condition setting information according to the present invention, and is composed of a workstation or the like having the function of a WWW server. It may be. Then, as shown in FIG.
It includes a U11, a RAM 12, a display unit 13, an input unit 14, a transmission control unit 15, a storage device 16, a recording medium 17, and the like. Each unit except the recording medium 17 is connected by a bus 18.

The CPU 11 reads a program, a database, and the like stored in the recording medium 17 and temporarily stores data in the RAM 12 to control each unit, transfer data, and perform various calculations.

The RAM 12 forms a storage area for temporarily storing programs, data, and the like in various processes executed by the CPU 11, a work area processed by input instructions and input data, and the like.

The display unit 13 is composed of, for example, a CRT or an LCD, and displays various display data and images input from the CPU 11. Specifically, for example, when the photographing condition setting process is performed by the operator of the photo studio, an image or the like transmitted from the camera terminal 20 described later is displayed.

The input unit 14 includes, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, and the like, and can select and specify designation information displayed on the screen of the display unit 13 or can input desired designation information. Specifically, for example, it is used as information input and setting designating means when a photographing condition setting process is performed by a photo studio operator or the like.

The transmission control unit 15 is composed of a modem, a terminal adapter, a router, or the like, and controls communication with an external device via a communication line such as a telephone line, an ISDN line, or a dedicated line.

The storage device 16 stores programs and data in advance, and the storage device 16 has a configuration including a recording medium 17 readable by the CPU 11, such as a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. . The recording medium 17 includes a portable medium such as a CD-ROM and a memory card and a fixed medium such as a hard disk. Also,
The programs and data stored in the recording medium 17 are as follows:
A configuration may be adopted in which a part or all of the information is received from the transmission control unit 15 via a network such as a WAN or a LAN from another server or client.
May be a recording medium of a server or a client constructed on a network.

More specifically, the recording medium 17 stores an application program for realizing each function such as the photographing condition setting processing of the present embodiment, each processing program, data processed by the processing program, and the like. ing.

The data stored in the recording medium 17 includes, for example, a setting condition information database 171 and a user data management database 172.

The setting condition information database 171 is a database in which reference information for performing a shooting condition setting process requested from the camera terminal 20 is recorded, and includes model data 171a, setting status data 171b, and shooting condition data 171c. , And transmission image size data 171d, etc., in a table format in which each is combined.

The model data 171a specifies the electronic still camera 30 of the requester of the photographing conditions, and specifies the photographing conditions recorded in the photographing condition data 171c described later and the image size recorded in the transmission image size data 171d. A model name (for example, consisting of alphanumeric characters) and a number for selection / setting.

The setting condition data 171b is stored in the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10 as photographing condition data 171c described later in the photographing request image received from the camera terminal 20.
Is automatically determined without manual intervention, and specifically includes various arithmetic expressions for selecting the setting parameters of the shooting condition data 171c.
For example, there are a focus distance calculation formula for adjusting focus, a color tone determination calculation formula for determining a color tone function, an aperture value calculation formula, and the like. Also, for example, the photographing control server 10
When a professional photographer or the like performs the photographing condition setting process, or when the photographing control server 10 transmits the selection items regarding the question about the photographing situation to the camera terminal 20, the professional photographer or the operator of the camera terminal 20 selects the photographing condition. The CPU 11 selects the photographing condition data 171c according to the content, and the setting selection data 171b is associated with the question selection content with the photographing condition data 171c.

The photographing condition data 171c is the model data 1
71a, according to the selection of the setting condition data 171b,
The setting parameters of the photographing conditions in the electronic still camera 30 selected by the PU 11
Although there is a difference depending on the model, for example, the following setting parameters are used. That is, whether or not an autofocus function is used, a focus distance (∞, macro, etc.), a shutter speed, an aperture value, an EV shift amount by an exposure control function,
Exposure control function type (normal, night scene, etc.), photometric method (center-weighted, multi, etc.), type of light source (sunlight, fluorescent light, etc.) used as a reference for auto white balance function, color emphasized by color adjustment function And various setting parameters such as whether or not to perform sharpness by the image quality adjustment function and the degree of sharpness.

The transmission image size data 171d is image size data suitable for the image display capability of the electronic still camera 30 of each model. That is, the image size (resolution) that can be displayed as it is by the various electronic still cameras 30 is, for example, the maximum image size (for example, 80 pixels).
0 × 600 pixels) as well as a smaller size (lower resolution) preview image size and a smaller thumbnail image size (for example, 320 × 600 pixels).
240 pixels).

The user data management database 172 is
A database that records user information for performing authentication processing, fee charging processing, and the like of the user of the camera terminal 20 connected via the network 2, and includes, for example, authentication information such as a user name, a telephone number, and a password. Used electronic still camera model information and the like are stored in association with each other, and an area for recording a payment method for charge accounting is also provided.

The camera terminal 20 is connected to the base station 3 as described above.
Is a device that is connected to the network 2 such as the Internet or the like, thereby connecting to the photographing control server 10 and transmitting and receiving photographing condition setting information. As shown in FIG. , Mobile phone 4
0, the electronic still camera 30 and the mobile phone 4
0 is connected, for example, by a dedicated cable 4 or the like.
In addition, the mobile phone 40 is, for example, a PHS, in addition to the mobile phone.
(Personal Handyphone System), PDA (Personal
Digital Assistant), a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile personal computer having a wireless communication function and an Internet connection may be used, and the camera terminal 20 is a mobile communication terminal having an electronic camera function as described above. If so, it may be used alone. In the present embodiment, a camera terminal 20 including an electronic still camera 30 and a mobile phone 40 having a wireless communication function and capable of connecting to the Internet will be described below.

The electronic still camera 30 is a camera device main body that constitutes the camera terminal 20 of the present invention together with the mobile phone 40. In FIG. 1, 30a is a three-dimensional view as viewed obliquely from the upper front, 30b is a plan view as viewed from the back, 31 is a shutter key, 32 is a TFT type liquid crystal monitor, 33 is a strobe, and 34 is switching of various operation modes. Are the mode switching keys 35, "+" and "-" keys used for various setting operations, and 36 is an indicator.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the electronic still camera 30. The electronic still camera 30 converts an image captured by the CCD 41, which is a fixed image sensor, into a predetermined standard such as JPEG, TIFF, GIF, or the like. With image processing functions such as conversion to encoded data based on
It is configured around the PU42. An optical image of a subject is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 41, which is the fixed image pickup device, through the fixed lens 43, the focus lens 44, and the aperture 45. The focus lens 44 is held by a drive mechanism 46 composed of an AF motor or the like.
When a control signal is output to the F driver 47, the AF driver 47 supplies a drive signal to a drive mechanism 46, which causes the focus lens 44 to move back and forth on the optical axis. The aperture 45 is driven by a drive signal generated by an aperture drive unit 48 based on a control signal from the MPU 42,
The light amount of the subject image incident on the CCD 41 is adjusted.

Further, a TG (Timminng Generator) 49 for generating a timing signal is connected to the MPU 42, and a V signal is generated based on the timing signal generated by the TG 49.
The driver 50 (vertical driver) drives the CCD 41, and accordingly, the CCD 41 outputs an analog imaging signal corresponding to the brightness of the subject image and sends it to the unit circuit 51. The unit circuit 51 converts the CDS holding the image signal output from the CCD 41, a gain adjustment amplifier (AGC) which is an analog amplifier supplied with the image signal from the CDS, and the image signal amplified and adjusted by the gain adjustment amplifier. A / D converter (AD) for converting to image data
The output signal of the CCD 41 is sampled by adjusting the black level here and converted into a digital signal by the MPU.
42. The digital signal (imaging signal) sent to the MPU 42 is temporarily stored in the DRAM 52,
After various image processes are performed by the MPU 42, the flash memory (FLASH) 53 which is finally removable as an image file composed of compressed video signal data is provided.
Is stored in

The flash memory 53 (media) is an image storage means and an image recording medium in the camera terminal 20 of the present invention, and is a photographic image in which compressed image data is recorded after being fetched from the CCD 41 in accordance with a photographic operation. A recording area is provided.

Further, the MPU 42 has an MROM 54,
The power supply circuit 55 and the various switch groups (34, 3
5), the TFT liquid crystal monitor 32, the strobe 33, the indicator 36, and a communication interface (communication I / F) 57. The MROM 54 is a ROM in which an operation program of the MPU 42 is recorded. The MROM 54 stores various data such as program AE data constituting a program diagram showing a combination of an aperture value (F) corresponding to an appropriate exposure value (EV) at the time of shooting and a shutter speed. The MPU 42 functions as a photographing condition setting by operating according to the operation program using the built-in RAM as a working memory. Further, the MPU 42 sets the charge accumulation time of the CCD 41, the degree of opening of the aperture 45, the gain of the gain adjustment amplifier (AGC) of the unit circuit 51, and the like according to the program diagram. MP
The charge storage time set by U42 is supplied as a shutter pulse to the V driver 50 via the TG 49, and the V driver 50 drives the CCD 41 in accordance therewith, thereby controlling the charge storage time, that is, the exposure time (shutter speed). Further, the operation program stored in the MROM 54 includes a program relating to autofocus control, and based on the program, the MPU 42
The focus lens 46 is driven to perform focusing.

The program data and the like stored in the MROM 54 can be stored if the recorded contents can be held.
A configuration in which the program data and the like may be separately provided in a fixed manner or in a recording medium such as an IC card that can be removably mounted, and may be supplied from another server or other device. It may be.

In the recording mode, the TFT liquid crystal monitor 32 displays sequentially captured images as through images,
In the reproduction mode, a video based on an analog video signal generated from the image data recorded in the flash memory 53 (media) is displayed. In addition, a countdown or the like for notifying the photographing moment transmitted from the photographing control server 10 is also displayed. The strobe light 33 is driven as necessary at the time of a shooting operation in which the shutter key 31 is pressed, and emits auxiliary light. The indicator 36 is driven by the MPU 42 in accordance with a command sent from the photographing control server 10 and emits light for notifying the moment of photographing. The communication interface (communication I / F) 57 is connected to the cable 4
The MPU 42 performs data communication with the mobile phone 40 via the communication I / F 57.

The portable telephone 40 is a device used to enable information transmission and reception between the photographing control server 10 and the electronic still camera 30. Specifically, the portable telephone 40 converts a photographed image of the electronic still camera 30 into a base station. Shooting control server 1 via 3
0, or outputs the photographing condition setting information transmitted from the photographing control server 10 to the electronic still camera 30,
Photographing control server 10 connected via the Internet
Is used to select and transmit the selection information from. Then, for example, a CPU (not shown), a RAM (not shown), an audio processing unit (not shown), a storage unit (not shown),
A display unit 61, a key group 62 of an input unit, a wireless communication unit 63, and the like are provided. For example, the storage unit (not shown) stores WWW
A browser is stored, and the display unit 61 displays selection information and the like transmitted from the imaging control server 10, and the operator inputs and specifies information using the key group 62 of the input unit. The designation information and the like are transmitted to the imaging control server 10 via the wireless communication unit 63.

The operation of the photographing support system 1 according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the electronic still camera 30 and the mobile phone 4
The operator of the camera terminal 20 to which the camera terminal 20 is connected via the cable 4 connects to the network 2 such as the Internet via the wireless communication unit 63 of the mobile phone 40 and the base station 3 (step S101). Next, for example, a URL or the like for requesting a page for requesting the remote shooting processing of the shooting control server 10 is input using the key group 62 of the input unit, and connected to the shooting control server 10 (step S102).

Then, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10
Receives the connection signal from the camera terminal 20, reads the operation program of the remote shooting process recorded in the storage device 16, stores it in the RAM 12, and controls the following operations according to the program. First, the shooting control server 10 first transmits a menu screen to the camera terminal 20 and causes the display unit 61 of the mobile phone 40 of the camera terminal 20 to display the menu screen.
Next, when the operator selects the remote shooting processing menu using the key group 62 of the input unit, a user authentication process (step S103) is performed. In this user authentication process, first, a mobile phone number, a predetermined password, and the like, which are user authentication information, are input and transmitted to the imaging control server 10. Then, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10 checks the authentication information stored in the user data management database 172 to determine whether or not the user is the corresponding user. The model data of the user is extracted. Here,
If the user is a new user and accesses the imaging control server 10 for the first time, a user registration process for registering the model data, user information, and the like in the imaging control server 10 is performed.

Next, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10
Sends an OK signal to the camera terminal 20 to approve the remote shooting (step S104).

Next, the camera terminal 2 that has received the OK signal
0 of the electronic still camera 30 (step S
105: Yes), the program of the remote photographing request processing recorded in the MROM 54 is read, stored in the RAM built in the MPU 42, and the following operations are controlled according to the program. First, the MPU 42 starts transmission of the through image displayed on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 32 to the shooting control server 10 in a shooting standby state set in advance by the operator of the camera terminal 20 (step S106). 10 starts receiving the same image (step S107). Thereafter, a through image is sequentially transmitted from the camera terminal 20 at predetermined time intervals until the photographing conditions are set, and the photographing control server 10 receives the through image and sets an image (subject image) for setting the photographing conditions. Update.

Next, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10
Determines the photographing condition setting information from the subject image received in step S107 based on the data in the setting condition information database 171 (step S10).
8).

More specifically, the CPU 11 analyzes the image and performs calculations in accordance with various calculation formulas such as a focus distance calculation formula, a color tone determination calculation formula, and an aperture value calculation formula of the setting status data 171b, and the CPU 11 corresponds to the calculated value. A setting parameter to be extracted is extracted from the photographing condition data 171c, or a question selection item (for example, day / night, weather, distance to a subject, etc.) for determining the setting status of image data is transmitted to the camera terminal 20, Based on the selection content of the operator, the CPU 11
Set the setting parameters of the shooting condition setting information to the shooting condition data 1
By extracting the shooting condition setting information from the shooting condition setting information 71c, the shooting condition setting information is determined. The contents of the shooting condition setting information extracted from the shooting condition data 171c include whether or not the autofocus function is used, a focus distance (距離, macro, etc.), a shutter speed, an aperture value, and an EV shift amount by the exposure control function. , Exposure control function type (normal, for night view, etc.), photometric method (center-weighted, multi, etc.), light source type (sunlight, fluorescent light, etc.) used as a reference in the auto white balance function, and color adjustment function to emphasize These are various parameter setting contents and parameter values such as the type of color, whether or not to perform sharpness by the image quality adjustment function, and the degree of sharpness.

Next, the CPU 11 proceeds to step S108
Is transmitted to the camera terminal 20 (step S109).
The PU 42 receives the photographing condition setting information (step S110), and performs a photographing condition setting process according to the photographing condition setting information (step S111). In particular,
According to the photographing condition setting information transmitted from the photographing control server 10 as described above, that is, various parameter setting contents and parameter values, the charge accumulation time of the CCD 41, the opening degree of the aperture 45, the gain adjustment amplifier of the unit circuit 51 (AGC) gain setting and the like are performed.

Next, in this state, the photographing control server 10
CPU 11 extracts a message for the operator of the camera terminal 20 from a message file (not shown) in the storage device 16 and transmits the message to the camera terminal 20 via the transmission control unit 15 (step S112). Then, the camera terminal 20 receives the message via the wireless communication unit 63 of the mobile phone 40, and the CPU of the mobile phone 40 outputs the message to the electronic still camera 30 and outputs the message to the TFT liquid crystal monitor 32.
(Step S113). The mobile phone 40
The message may be displayed on the display unit 61 of FIG. Here, the message from the imaging control server 10 is a received image analysis process in step S108, a determination process of imaging condition setting information, a notice to an operator of the camera terminal 20 according to a result of the imaging process, and the like. , "The image is not good due to backlight," and "Be careful of camera shake because the set shutter time is long."

Next, in step S114, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10 transmits a signal immediately before photographing to the camera terminal 20, and when the signal is received by the camera terminal 20 (step S115: Yes), the electronic still camera 3
The 0 MPU 42 controls the indicator blinking process of blinking the indicator 36 for a predetermined number of seconds (for example, 10 seconds) in order to notify the operator of the photographing in accordance with the received signal immediately before the photographing (step S116).

Next, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10
Is set after the number of seconds of blinking of the indicator,
A shutter signal is transmitted to the camera terminal 20 (Step S117). When the MPU 42 of the electronic still camera 30 determines that the shutter signal has been received (step S
118: Yes), the shutter key 31 is driven, and the captured image is taken into the DRAM 52 from the CCD 41. The MPU 42 compresses the captured captured image and stores the compressed captured image data in the flash memory 53.
It is recorded in the photographed image recording area of (media) (step S119).

Next, information on a method of paying a fee for the shooting condition setting process and the remote shooting process of the shooting control server 10 is transmitted to the shooting control server 10 (step S12).
0). Specifically, for example, a payment method selection screen or the like is transmitted from the imaging control server 10 to the camera terminal 20, and the payment method selection screen is displayed on the display unit 61 of the mobile phone 40 (or on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 32 of the electronic still camera 30). Good), the operator of the camera terminal 20 uses the key group 62 of the input unit to select a payment method such as a convenience store payment, a card payment, or a telephone charge, and selects the shooting control server 10.
It is carried out by the method of sending to.

Upon receiving the payment method information transmitted from the camera terminal 20, the imaging control server 10 records the payment method information in the user data management database 172,
This processing ends when the payment processing is performed (step S121).

As described above, according to the photographing support system 1 of the first embodiment, the photographing setting conditions suitable for the photographing condition can be determined without performing a difficult operation anywhere by using wireless communication such as a mobile phone. You can easily set and take photos,
It is very convenient.

Further, since the shutter key 31 is automatically released by the photographing control server 10, the operator of the electronic still camera 30 can himself become a subject, and the blinking of the indicator 36 makes it possible to prepare for photographing. Become.

The first embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and can be appropriately modified. That is, the photographing condition setting process, the remote photographing process, and the like of the present embodiment are performed by the CP of the photographing control server 10 according to a preset program.
It was automatically performed under the control of U11. For example, a professional photographer such as a photo studio
It is also possible to use the method of operating the shooting control server 10 by setting the optimum shooting conditions by judging from the through image transmitted from the camera.

The mobile phone 40 of the camera terminal 20
As described above, any mobile communication device may be used as long as wireless communication and the Internet are possible. For example, an electronic camera and a mobile communication device are integrated with each other. You may use as.

In step S114, a signal immediately before photographing for instructing an indicator blinking process is transmitted from the photographing control server 10 to the camera terminal 20, and then in step S117, the shutter signal is transmitted to the photographing control server 1.
0 is transmitted to the camera terminal 20 at step S11.
In 4, the signal for instructing both the indicator blinking process and the process of releasing the shutter after the blinking process may be transmitted, and the process of step S117 may be omitted.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a photographing support system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The configuration of the photographing support system according to this embodiment is as follows.
Since the configuration is almost the same as the imaging support system 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the description will be made using the imaging support system 1 and the description of each configuration of the imaging control server 10 and the camera terminal 20 will be omitted. The operation of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the electronic still camera 30 and the mobile phone 4
The operator of the camera terminal 20 connected to the network terminal 0 via the cable 4 connects to the network 2 such as the Internet via the wireless communication unit 63 of the mobile phone 40 and the base station 3 (step S201). Next, for example, a URL or the like for requesting a page for requesting the remote shooting processing of the shooting control server 10 is input using the key group 62 of the input unit, and connected to the shooting control server 10 (step S202).

Next, a photographing condition setting process is performed between the photographing control server 10 and the camera terminal 20 (step S203). Note that this photographing condition setting processing is performed in step S in the flowchart of FIG. 4 described in the first embodiment.
The same processing as that performed from step 103 to step S113 is performed.

When the photographing condition setting process is completed, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10 transmits a countdown signal to the camera terminal 20 as a signal immediately before photographing (step S).
204).

Then, the MPU 42 of the electronic still camera 30 of the camera terminal 20 receives the countdown signal as the immediately preceding photographing signal (step S205), and performs a countdown process in synchronization with the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10 (step S206a). ). Specifically, the count is displayed on the TFT liquid crystal monitor 31 of the electronic still camera 30 as 10, 9, 8, 7,.

On the other hand, the photographing control server 10
The PU 11 counts down in synchronization with the countdown processing of the electronic still camera 30 (step S206).
b), the process of determining whether or not the count number has become 0 is repeatedly performed (step S207). When it is determined that the count value has become “0” (step S207: Yes), shooting control is performed in the next step S208 and subsequent steps. A photographing process is performed between the server 10 and the camera terminal 20. This step S20
The photographing process in step S8 is performed from step S117 to step S117 in the flowchart of FIG. 4 described in the first embodiment.
This photographing processing (step S
208) is performed, the operation of the second embodiment ends.

As described above, according to the photographing support system 1 in the second embodiment of the present invention, it is easy to set appropriate photographing conditions in the electronic still camera 30 as in the first embodiment. In addition to the above, the count is displayed, so the shutter timing is very easy to understand.

The above-described second embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and can be appropriately modified. For example, the count display is displayed on the display unit 61 of the mobile phone 40 of the camera terminal 20.
You may go to.

In step S204, a countdown signal is sent from the photographing control server 10 to the camera terminal 20.
Is transmitted to step S208 after the countdown ends.
In the photographing process of (1), a shutter signal is transmitted from the photographing control server 10 to the camera terminal 20 (the process of step S117 in the first embodiment).
In 04, the shooting control server 10 may transmit to the camera terminal 20 an instruction signal of a countdown process and a shutter process, in which a shutter release process after the countdown is added, together with the countdown signal.

[Third Embodiment] Next, FIG. 6 and FIG.
With reference to FIG. 3A, a photographing support system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

The configuration of the photographing support system according to the third embodiment is almost the same as that of the photographing support system 1 according to the first embodiment of FIG.
In addition, the detailed description of the internal structures of the imaging control server 10 and the camera terminal 20 will be omitted, and only different points will be described below.

In the third embodiment of the present invention, the photographing control server 10 is installed in a photo studio and a photo development store. In addition, the flash memory 53 (media) of the electronic still camera 30 of the camera terminal 20 is detachable, and the operator can use the flash memory 53 (for example, the photographing control server 10).
Purchased at photo studios, photo processing stores, etc. where the above is installed. The purchase amount of the flash memory 53 (media) includes service charges for the photographing condition setting process and the remote photographing process for a predetermined amount (for example, 10 times), and a media identification number is recorded for each. . The remote photography service fee included in this media varies depending on the payment amount of the purchaser.

As shown in FIG. 13A, the flash memory 53 (media) has a medium identification number storage area 53a and a service charge balance storage area 53.
b, an index data storage area 53c for selecting various images and an image data storage area 53d are provided.

Further, when the operator of the camera terminal 20 purchases the above-mentioned media, the sales person or the like of the media store stores the media identification number and the amount of the additional service fee in accordance with the purchase amount paid by the purchaser. Control server 1
The photographing control server 1 is inputted using the input unit 14
0 is stored in a media data file (not shown) of the storage medium 17.

Next, the operation of the photographing support system 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

As described in the first and second embodiments, the camera terminal 20 is connected to the photographing control server 10 via the network 2, and the remote photographing process is executed between the two devices. (Step S301). In this remote shooting processing, the same processing as that executed in steps S101 to S119 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment is performed. Note that the remote photographing process (step S301) may execute the process using the countdown described in the second embodiment.

When the remote photographing process is completed, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10 calculates the fee for the service of the remote photographing process, and transmits the fee data and the payment method selection screen to the camera terminal 20 (step S30).
2).

Next, the MPU 42 of the electronic still camera 30 of the camera terminal 20 receives the same charge data (step S303), and the flash memory 53 (media) used in the electronic still camera 30 stores the remote photographing service. It is determined whether or not the fee is included (step S304). When the MPU 42 determines that the media includes the service charge (step S30).
4: Yes) proceeds to step S305, but if the MPU 42 determines that the medium does not include a service charge (step S304: No), the process proceeds to step S305.
It moves to 311.

Next, in step S305, MP
U42 is the photographing control server 1 in step S303
It is determined whether or not the fee for the remote shooting service received from 0 can be paid with the current service fee balance recorded in the balance storage area 53c of the flash memory 53, and when it is determined that the payment is possible (step S305: Yes) ) Shifts to step S306, and when it is determined that payment by the media is impossible (step S305: No)
Shifts to step S311.

Next, in step S 306, the MPU 31 of the electronic still camera 30 transmits a payment signal for paying a service fee for the media to the imaging control server 10 via the wireless communication unit 63 of the mobile phone 40.
Then, when the imaging control server receives the payment designation signal by the medium (step S307: Yes), the process proceeds to step S310.

On the other hand, in step S308, the MPU 42 of the electronic still camera 30 of the camera terminal 20 calculates the balance obtained by subtracting the service charge received in step S303 from the current balance of the medium, and rewrites the balance value in the balance storage area 53c. .

Next, the MPU 42 extracts the media identification number from the media identification number storage area 53a and transmits it to the photographing control server 10 (step S309). The photographing control server 10 receives the media identification number in step S310, and However, the operation is completed by inquiring the media data file (not shown) and rewriting the balance data of the corresponding identification number.

On the other hand, when paying a service fee for remote photography processing using a card, the MPU of the electronic still camera 30
Reference numeral 42 denotes a payment control signal from the card,
0 (step S311), and the card information is transmitted using the key group 62 of the input unit.
(Step S312). Here, the card information is, for example, the type, number, and expiration date of the credit card.

At this time, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10
Determines that the card designating signal transmitted from the camera terminal 20 has been received (step S307:
No), the camera terminal 2 continues in step S313
When the card information transmitted from 0 is received, the operation of the present embodiment ends. It is assumed that the photographing control server 10 that has received the information on the card performs a billing process using the card based on the information.

As described above, according to the photographing support system 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the operator of the electronic still camera 30 can use a medium (flash memory 53) including a service charge for remote photographing processing in advance. )
Since the payment for the media itself and the fee for the remote photography service can be made only once, the settlement processing for the remote photography service can be performed extremely easily, which is very convenient. As a result, an increase in demand for remote photography services can be expected.

The third embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and can be appropriately modified. That is, the photographing control server 10 has been described as being installed in a photo studio, a photo development store, or the like, which is a flash memory 53 (media) store. A terminal device of a general-purpose computer may be connected to the imaging control server 10 via the network 2, and various operations may be executed via the terminal device.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a photographing support system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7, 8 and 13B.

As shown in FIG. 7, the configuration of a photographing support system 100 according to the fourth embodiment is as follows: a photographing control server 10, an electronic still camera 30, a camera terminal 20 including a mobile phone 40, a photographing charge management system. The server 50 is connected via a network 2 such as the Internet. Since the internal structures of the photographing control server 10 and the camera terminal 20 are almost the same as those of the first to third embodiments, detailed description will be omitted, and only different points will be described below.

In the fourth embodiment according to the present invention, the flash memory 53 (media) of the electronic still camera 30 of the camera terminal 20 is detachable, for example, in which the photographing control server 10 is installed. It is not limited to the store where it is located, but is also sold at, for example, convenience stores. In the purchase price of the flash memory 53 (media), the service fee for the shooting condition setting process and the remote shooting process is a predetermined amount (for example, 10 times).
And a media identification number attached to each. The added service fee varies depending on the amount paid by the purchaser.

As shown in FIG. 13A, in the flash memory 53 (media), as shown in FIG. 13A, a medium identification number storage area 53a, a service charge balance storage area 53b, An index data storage area 53c and an image data storage area 53d for selecting an image are provided.

The photographing fee management server 50 is a device for managing and distributing the photographing fee in the fourth embodiment according to the present invention. More specifically, in the fourth embodiment, since the seller of the media including the shooting fee service is different from the remote shooting service executor (for example, the administrator of the shooting control server 10), the shooting is performed. The fee management server 50 performs a process of distributing the service fee at hand of the media seller to the service executor. The photographing fee management server 50 includes a workstation and the like, and includes a control unit including a CPU and a RAM, a storage unit, a storage medium, a transmission control unit and the like (not shown).

A storage medium (not shown) is provided with a photographing fee management database 501. The photographing fee management database 501 is a database in which data relating to a photographing fee distribution process is recorded. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 13B, a media identification for identifying a medium is performed. A media ID storage area 501a for recording the number, a balance storage area 501b for recording the balance of the service charge, a payee data storage area 501c for recording the payee data of the service charge, and an amount for storing the payment amount data It comprises a storage area 501d.

When the operator of the camera terminal 20 purchases the media, the clerk of the media store stores the media identification number and the amount of the additional service charge in a terminal device such as a general-purpose computer (not shown). Is connected to the photographing fee management server 50 via the network 2 by using
It is assumed that the relevant information has been input to the D storage area 501a and the balance storage area 501b. Further, the amount of the remote shooting service fee collected from the operator of the camera terminal 20 (that is, the media purchaser) is delivered to the management company of the shooting fee management server 50 and managed by the shooting fee management server 50 side. Shall be.

Next, the operation of the photographing support system 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

As described in the first to third embodiments, first, the camera terminal 20 is connected to the network 2 (step S401). Then, it is connected to the photographing control server 10 via the network 2 (step S
402), remote photography processing is performed between both devices (step S403). In this remote shooting processing, the same processing as that executed in steps S101 to S119 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment is performed. This remote shooting process (step S4)
03) may execute the process using the countdown described in the second embodiment.

When the remote photographing process is completed, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10 calculates a fee for the service of the remote photographing process, and transmits the fee data and a payment method input screen to the camera terminal 20 (step S40).
4).

Next, the MPU 42 of the electronic still camera 30 of the camera terminal 20 receives the same charge data (step S405), and the flash memory 53 (media) used in the electronic still camera 30 stores the remote photographing service. It is determined whether or not the fee is included (step S406). Then, when the MPU 42 determines that the media includes the service charge (step S40).
6: Yes) proceeds to step S407, but if the MPU 42 determines that the media does not include a service charge (step S406: No), the process proceeds to step S407.
It moves to 417.

Next, in step S407, the MPU
42 is the shooting control server 10 in step S405
It is determined whether or not the fee for the remote photography service received from is payable with the current service fee balance recorded in the balance storage area 53c of the flash memory 53, and when it is determined that payment is possible (step S407: Yes). Moves to step S408, and when it is determined that payment by the media is impossible (step S407: No),
It moves to step S417.

Next, the MPU 4 of the electronic still camera 30
2 transmits a payment designation signal for paying a service fee by media to the imaging control server 10 via the wireless communication unit 63 of the mobile phone 40 (step S408).
Then, the imaging control server 10 (Step S409: Yes), which has received the payment designation signal by the medium, proceeds to Step S412.

On the other hand, in step S410, the MPU 42 of the electronic still camera 30 of the camera terminal 20 calculates the balance obtained by subtracting the service fee received in step S405 from the current balance of the medium, and rewrites the balance value in the balance storage area 53c. .

Next, the MPU 42 extracts the media identification number from the media identification number storage area 53a and transmits it to the photographing control server 10 (step S411). The photographing control server 10 receives the media identification number in step S412, and Makes an inquiry to the media data file and rewrites the balance data of the corresponding identification number.

Next, in step S413, the camera terminal 20 disconnects the connection with the photographing control server 10 and connects to the photographing fee management server 50 via the network 2.

Then, the media identification number, the payee data, and the service fee data received in step S405 are transmitted to the photographing fee management server 50 (step S4).
14). Here, the payee data refers to the photographing control server 1 that has provided a remote photographing service to obtain a photographing service fee.
0, for example, the shooting control server 1
0 is the name of the shop, the management company, etc., the identification number, and the like. The payee data may be input using the key group 62 of the mobile phone 40 and transmitted to the photographing fee management server 50, or the photographing control server 10 may receive the photographing setting conditions when receiving the photographing setting conditions. , Payment destination data may also be transmitted, and the data stored in the RAM (not shown) of the mobile phone 40 may be read and transmitted to the shooting fee management server 50.

Next, the photographing fee management server 50 receives the media identification number, payee data, and service fee data from the camera terminal 20 (step S41).
5). Then, the control unit (not shown) searches the media ID storage area 501a of the media identification shooting fee management database 501 based on the received data, and determines the payee data storage area 501c of the corresponding media identification number.
Write each data in the amount storage area 501d,
The operation ends when the balance is calculated and the value in the balance storage area 501b is rewritten (step S416).

According to the data recorded in the photographing fee management database 501, the control unit of the photographing fee management server 50 performs a fee distribution process for distributing the fee in the media between the media store and the photographing service provider. Do. Specifically, the user is prompted to distribute the additional remote shooting service fee delivered from the store at the time of selling the media to the store where the shooting control server 10 is installed, a trader, and the like. As a result, the fee is distributed to the media store and the shooting control server 10 that has provided the remote shooting service.

On the other hand, when paying the service fee for remote photography processing by card, the MPU of the electronic still camera 30
Reference numeral 42 denotes a payment control signal from the card,
0 (step S417). Then, the operator
The card information is input using the key group 62 of the mobile phone 40 and transmitted to the photographing control server 10 (step S41).
8). Here, the card information is, for example, the type, number, expiration date, etc. of the credit card.

At this time, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10
Determines that the card designating signal transmitted from the camera terminal 20 has been received (step S409:
No), the camera terminal 2 continues in step S419
When the card information transmitted from 0 is received, the operation of the present embodiment ends. It is assumed that the photographing control server 10 that has received the information on the card performs a billing process using the card based on the information.

As described above, according to the photographing support system 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the photographing control server 10 that performs the remote photographing process separately from the store that sold the media.
The media including the remote service charge are sold, for example, at convenience stores. In this case, the media store sends the remote shooting service fee of the sold media fee to the shooting fee management server 50 together with the identification number and the additional fee data. Then, the shooting fee management server 50 performs a service fee distribution process based on the media identification number transmitted from the camera terminal 20 and the remote service execution destination data, and
The money will be distributed to the remote service shop. As a result, since the place where the remote shooting media is purchased is not limited to the location where the shooting control server 10 exists, the operator of the electronic still camera 30 can purchase the media anywhere, and the range of the request in the remote shooting service can be increased. Is very convenient.

The fourth embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and can be appropriately modified. That is, for example,
Media identification number data, balance data, etc. are converted into barcodes and attached to the media as barcode stickers, read by a barcode reader of a POS terminal of a media store, and automatically transferred to the shooting fee management server 50. The configuration may be as follows.

[Fifth Embodiment] Next, FIGS.
A photographing support system according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The configuration of the photographing support system according to the fifth embodiment is almost the same as that of the photographing support system 1 according to the first to third embodiments in FIG.
0, and the internal structure of the camera terminal 20 is also substantially the same, so a detailed description will be omitted, and only different points will be described below.

In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the photographing control server 10 has an image database (not shown) capable of storing images photographed by the camera terminal 20. This image database may be inside the storage medium 17 of the imaging control server 10 or in the storage device of another external device connected to the imaging control server 10 via the network 2 such as a LAN or WAN.

Then, in the flash memory 53 (media), as shown in FIG. 13C, a medium identification number storage area 53a, a service charge balance storage area 53
b, in addition to an index data storage area 53c for selecting various images and an image data storage area 53d, a URL storage area 53 for recording a URL as a storage destination of a captured image
e is provided.

Next, the operation of the photographing support system 1 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

First, the flow of the operation for storing the captured image in the capture control server 10 and performing the settlement process will be described with reference to FIG.

In the same manner as described in the first embodiment, the camera terminal 20 is connected to the photographing control server 10 via the network 2 such as the Internet (step S501), and then connected to the photographing control server 10. After that (step S502), the remote photographing process is executed between the two devices (step S503). In this remote shooting processing (step S503), the same processing as that executed in steps S103 to S118 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment is performed. The remote shooting process (step S503) may be configured to execute the process using the countdown display described in the second embodiment.

When the remote photographing process is completed, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10 transmits a selection screen as to whether or not to store the photographed image in the photographing control server 10 to the camera terminal 20. , The operator of the camera terminal 20 makes a selection using the key group 62 (step S504).

If the operator selects to save in the photographing control server 10 (step S504: Yes),
When the mobile phone 40 transmits a save request signal to the imaging control server 10 (step S505) and selects not to save in the imaging control server 10 (step S504: No).
Indicates that the MPU 42 of the electronic still camera 30 stores the captured image in an image storage area 53 of a flash memory 53 (media).
d (Step S506), and then Step S51
Move to 6.

Next, in step S507, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10
It is determined whether or not the image storage signal has been received by the photographing control server 10, and it is determined that the image storage signal has been received (step S 507:
Yes) proceeds to step S508. On the other hand, CP
If U11 fails to confirm the reception of the save request signal (step S507: No), the process proceeds to step S515, where the photographing service fee is calculated and transmitted to the camera terminal 20 together with the payment method designation screen, and the process proceeds to step S518. Move to

[0146] In step S508, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10 stores the image photographed by the remote photographing process in step S503 in an image database (not shown), browses it on a homepage via the network 2, and It is saved in the data area set to be downloadable.

Next, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10
Transmits the URL of the homepage or the like in which the image is stored and the storage period setting screen to the camera terminal 20 (step S509). Next, the camera terminal 20 receives the image storage destination URL (step S510), and the MPU 42 of the electronic still camera 30 stores the URL in the URL storage area 53 of the flash memory 53 of the electronic still camera 30.
e (step S511).

Next, the operator of the camera terminal 20 transmits the display section 61 of the cellular phone 40 transmitted from the photographing control server 10.
The user designates a desired storage period on the storage period setting screen displayed by using the key group 62 of the input unit, and transmits the designated storage period to the imaging control server 10 (step S512).

Next, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10
Receives the image storage period designation information (step S51).
3), calculate the photographing service fee according to the designated storage period, and transmit it to the camera terminal 20 together with the payment method input screen (step S514).

The camera terminal 20 receives the photographing service fee data (step S516), and displays a payment method input screen on the display unit 61. The operator inputs a payment method (for example, card information or the like) using the key group 62 of the input unit and transmits the payment method to the imaging control server 10 (step S5).
17).

Next, the photographing control server 10 receives the payment method selected by the user of the camera terminal 20 (step S).
518) Then, the operation is completed by performing the settlement processing based on the operation.

In step S507, an image storage request signal to the photographing control server 10 is sent to the photographing control server 10.
Is not received, it means that the user of the camera terminal 20 saves the image in the medium (flash memory 53). Then, after step S517,
Payment processing using a medium including a photographing service may be performed in the same manner as described in the third and fourth embodiments.

Next, the flow of the download operation of the image stored in the photographing control server 10 will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the camera terminal 20 is connected to the photographing control server 10 via the network 2 such as the Internet (step S521).

Then, the CPU (not shown) of the mobile phone 40 of the camera terminal 20 determines whether or not there is a storage destination URL in the URL storage area 53e of the medium (flash memory 53) of the electronic still camera 30. (Step S522). The CPU (not shown) of the mobile phone 40
Is determined to have a URL (step S522: Y
es) accesses the URL, downloads an image that can be viewed on a homepage or the like, and stores it in the image data storage area 53d of the medium (step S).
523)

Next, the CPU (not shown) of the mobile phone 40 determines whether or not there is another URL (step S524), and when it is determined that there is another URL (step S524:
If “Yes” is determined in step S522 that the operation is not performed, the operation ends. On the other hand, if the CPU (not shown) of the mobile phone 40 determines that there is no URL in step S522, the CPU waits for another operation instruction.

As described above, according to the photographing support system 1 of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the photographed image is stored in the photographing control server 10 side, so that the camera terminal 20
You can shoot without worrying about the capacity of the media.
, It is possible to share images with others such as friends, which is very convenient. Further, when the camera terminal 20 is connected to the shooting control server 10, the user can automatically access the URL where the image is stored, so that the image can be downloaded without any troublesome operation on the network.

The fifth embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and can be appropriately modified. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which an image stored in the imaging control server 10 is downloaded and then automatically deleted or deleted by a downloader or the like.

[Sixth Embodiment] Next, a photographing support system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 11 and 13D.

The configuration of the photographing support system according to the sixth embodiment is almost the same as that of the photographing support system 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG.
Exist on the network 2 and have a shooting control server 10a, a shooting control server 10b, and a shooting control server 10c.
For example, it is assumed that the photo studios are installed in different places such as photo studio a, photo studio b, photo studio c. Each shooting control server 10 has the same function,
Since the internal structure is almost the same as those of the first to fifth embodiments, similar to the camera terminal 20, detailed description will be omitted, and only different points will be described below.

In the flash memory 53 (media),
As shown in FIG. 13D, in addition to the index data storage area 53c and the image data storage area 53d for selecting various images, a connection for recording the URL of the installation destination of the imaging control server 10 requesting the remote imaging processing. A destination URL storage area 53f is provided. And this connection destination URL
In the storage area 53f, when the media is purchased,
Imaging control server 1 that can provide remote imaging service
It is assumed that URLs of 0a, the imaging control server 10b, the imaging control server 10c, etc. are recorded in order.

Next, the operation of the photographing support system 1 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the camera terminal 20 is connected to the network 2 such as the Internet (step S60).
1). Then, the CPU of the mobile phone 40 of the camera terminal 20
(Not shown) reads out the URL data of the shooting control server 10a having the highest connection priority, which is recorded in the connection destination URL storage area 53f of the flash memory 53 (media) of the electronic still camera 30, and uses the same URL. Attempt to connect to the indicated shooting control server 10a (step S60)
2). Next, the camera terminal 20 operates the photographing control server 1.
0a (step S60)
3: Yes), the process proceeds to step S606, and the remote photographing process (the same process as that performed from step S103 to step S121 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment) is performed, and the operation ends. I do.

On the other hand, if the photographing control server 10a is busy and a connectable signal is not transmitted (step S603: No), the CPU of the mobile phone 40 (not shown)
Determines whether there is a connectable imaging control server 10 (step S604). If there is no connectable control server 10 (step S604: No), the process ends as it is. When the control server 10 is present (step S604: Yes), the URL data of the imaging control server 10b having the second highest priority stored in the connection destination URL storage area 53f of the flash memory 53 is read, and the URL is requested. The shooting control server 10
b (step S605), and the process proceeds to step S603. Next, when it is possible to connect to the imaging control server 10b having the second highest priority (step S603: Y
es), the remote photographing process (step S605) is executed, and if connection is not possible (step S603: No), the process returns to step S604 to try to connect to the photographing control server 10c having the third highest priority. The same operation is repeatedly performed as long as there is a connectable shooting control server 10 as long as there is a connection.

As described above, according to the photographing support system 1 of the sixth embodiment, when the camera terminal 20 is connected to a network, the photographing control server 1 capable of automatically providing a remote service is provided.
Since it is connected to 0, the operator of the camera terminal 20 does not need to input the URL and the like of the connection destination shooting control server 10 each time, which is very convenient.

Also, the photographing control server 10a that attempted to connect
If the connection to the photographing control server 10b is not possible, an attempt is made to connect to another photographing control server 10b that can be connected.
Since the user can immediately request the remote photographing service without trying to connect to a, the satisfaction of the user of the camera terminal 20 increases.

The sixth embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and can be appropriately modified. That is, the URL of the shooting control server 10 capable of remote shooting is recorded in the medium.
A method of storing a telephone number as 3f and connecting by telephone communication may be used.

The data of the photographing control server 10, which is a connection destination candidate, may not be recorded in the medium in advance, and may be set by the operator of the camera terminal 20 by himself.

The data of the plurality of photographing control servers 10a, 10b and 10c, which are connection destination candidates and stored in the medium, are not set in a priority order in advance.
Which camera control server 10 is to be connected to the camera terminal 20
The side may ask the operator of the camera terminal 20.

[Seventh Embodiment] Next, a photographing support system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The configuration of the photographing support system according to the seventh embodiment is the same as that of the photographing support system 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. Are almost the same, detailed description is omitted.

In the seventh embodiment of the present invention, as in the fifth embodiment, the photographing control server 10 stores an image database (not shown) capable of storing images photographed by the camera terminal 20. Have. This image database is stored in the storage medium 17 of the imaging control server 10 in the L format.
It may be in a storage device of another external device connected to the imaging control server 10 via the network 2 such as AN or WAN.

Next, the seventh embodiment of the present invention constructed as described above is described.
FIG. 1 shows an operation of the photographing support system 1 according to the embodiment.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the same manner as described in the first embodiment, the camera terminal 20 is connected to the photographing control server 10 via the network 2 such as the Internet (step S501), and then connected to the photographing control server 10. After that (step S502), the remote photographing process is executed between the two devices (step S703). In this remote shooting processing (step S703), the same processing as that performed in steps S103 to S118 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 of the first embodiment is performed. Note that the remote shooting process (step S703) may execute the process using the countdown display described in the second embodiment.

When the remote photographing process is completed, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10 transmits to the camera terminal 20 a selection screen as to whether or not to store the photographed image in the photographing control server 10, and the display unit 61 of the mobile phone 40. , The operator of the camera terminal 20 makes a selection using the key group 62 (step S704).

Then, when the operator selects "do not save" on a selection screen (not shown) (step S704: N
In o), after the MPU 42 of the electronic still camera 30 records a captured image in the image storage area 53d of the flash memory 53 (media) (step S711), the process proceeds to step S711.
It moves to 712. On the other hand, when the operator selects “save” on the selection screen (not shown) (step S704: Yes)
In s), the control unit (not shown) of the mobile phone 40 transmits a save request signal to the imaging control server 10 via the communication unit 63 (step S705).

Next, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10
Determines whether or not the image storage signal of step S705 has been received (step S706). If it is determined that the image storage signal has been received (step S706: Yes), the image captured by the remote photography process of step S703 is It is stored in a database (not shown) and stored in a data area that is set to be viewable and downloadable on a homepage via the network 2. On the other hand, the CPU 11
However, when the reception of the storage request signal cannot be confirmed (step S706: No), the process proceeds to step S710.

Next, the operator of the camera terminal 20 inputs the e-mail address information of another terminal or the like to which the image stored in the photographing control server 10 is to be transmitted using the key group 62 of the input unit of the mobile phone 40. Then, the data is transmitted to the photographing control server 10 (step S707). Next, the imaging control server 10 receives the e-mail address information of the transmission destination from the camera terminal 20 (step S708), and transmits the stored image to the transmission destination (step S709).

Next, the CPU 11 of the photographing control server 10
Calculates the photographing service fee, and displays the payment method input screen on which the photographing service fee data is posted on the camera terminal 20.
Send to When the captured image is stored in the imaging control server 10, a configuration may be adopted in which the amount of money is increased in accordance with the storage period, and when the stored image is transmitted to another terminal or the like,
An additional charge may be used.

The camera terminal 20 receives the photographing service fee data (step S712), and displays a payment method input screen on the display unit 61. The operator inputs a payment method using the key group 62 (for example, card information or the like),
The data is transmitted to the photographing control server 10 (step S713).
Then, the photographing control server 10 receives the payment method selected by the user of the camera terminal 20 (step S714), and performs the payment processing based on the received payment method, thereby ending the operation.

As described above, according to the photographing support system 1 of the seventh embodiment of the present invention, a photographed image is temporarily stored in the photographing control server 10, so that the capacity of the media of the camera terminal 20 can be reduced. You can shoot without having to
Just by transmitting the e-mail address of another terminal (for example, a friend's mobile phone or home personal computer) to the shooting control server 10, the e-mail address is transmitted to the corresponding address. Eliminate the hassle of sending,
It is very convenient. When the camera terminal 20 is connected to the photographing control server 10, a U in which an image is automatically stored is stored.
Since the user can access the RL, the user can download the image without performing a troublesome operation on the network.

The seventh embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and can be appropriately modified. For example, based on electronic address data of another transmission destination from the camera terminal 20, the imaging control server 10 may transmit the URL data of the image storage destination to that address. In this case, even if the destination e-mail application cannot display the image, the image can be browsed and downloaded by connecting to the image storage destination URL via the Internet.

The first to seventh embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and can be appropriately modified. That is, the photographing condition setting process, the remote photographing process, and the like of the present embodiment are performed by the photographing control server 10 according to a preset program.
Was automatically implemented under the control of the CPU 11 of
For example, a method in which a professional photographer of a photo studio or the like judges an image from the electronic still camera 30 and operates the shooting control server 10 to execute the method.

The mobile phone 40 of the camera terminal 20
Any mobile communication device capable of wireless communication and Internet connection as described above may be used. A device in which an electronic camera and the above mobile communication device are the same is used as the camera terminal 20. May be.

In the payment processing using media including a remote service charge, the payment processing using a credit card has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Electronic money, a prepaid card, a bank withdrawal, etc. Any settlement method may be used.

[0186]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a subject image taken by a photographing device connected via a communication network received by the receiving means is received, and the subject image is set by the photographing condition setting means. The photographing conditions suitable for photographing the subject are set, and the photographing condition setting information indicating the photographing conditions is transmitted to the photographing device that has photographed the subject image by the transmission unit. This makes it possible to set photographing conditions suitable for a desired subject without performing a difficult operation, which is very convenient and extremely rarely causes failure in photographing.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the first aspect of the invention can be obtained. Since the photographing instruction signal for instructing the storage of the photographed image is transmitted, the operator of the photographing apparatus does not need to perform the photographing operation. Therefore, even when the operator himself / herself is photographed as a subject, there is no need to request another person for photographing, which is convenient.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the transmitting means transmits the subject image captured by the imaging means to the photographing support device, and the photographing condition setting information receiving means sets the photographing set based on the subject image. Condition setting information is received from the photographing support device, and by setting means,
Since the photographing conditions at the time of photographing are set based on the photographing condition setting information, the operator of the photographing apparatus can set the photographing conditions suitable for the subject to be photographed without performing difficult operations, It is very convenient and the chance of failing in shooting is extremely small.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the same effect as that of the third aspect of the invention can be obtained, and in particular, a photographing instruction signal for instructing photographing is received by the photographing instruction signal receiving means. And by the storage control means
The photographed image photographed under the set photographing conditions is stored in the photographed image storage means, so that the operator does not need to perform the photographing operation by himself. Therefore, even when the operator himself / herself is photographed as a subject, there is no need to request another person for photographing, which is convenient.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the same effect as that of the fourth aspect is obtained, and in particular, the storage timing of the photographed image is notified based on the reception of the photographing advance notice signal by the advance notice means. Therefore, the operator can prepare for the attitude, pose, and the like in photographing in accordance with the storage timing, which is convenient.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the same effect as that of the fifth aspect of the invention can be obtained. In particular, by causing the light emitting means to emit light by the notice means, the photographing notice signal can be obtained. Based on the reception, the storage timing of the captured image is notified in advance, so that the operator of the imaging device can know the storage timing of the captured image by emitting light, which is visually recognized and extremely easy to understand, It is easy to grasp the same timing even if the user is away from the imaging device.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the same effect as that of the fifth aspect of the invention can be obtained. In particular, by displaying the count on the display means by the notice means, the captured image can be displayed. Since the storage timing is notified in advance, the operator of the photographing apparatus can clearly and numerically grasp the moment of the storage timing of the captured image, which is convenient.

[0193] According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, a photographing apparatus provided with photographing means for photographing a subject and a photographing support apparatus for providing photographing condition setting information for setting photographing conditions to the photographing apparatus are provided by a communication line. A subject image that is connected via the network 2 and captured by the transmitting unit of the photographing device is transmitted to the photographing support device, and the subject image is photographed based on the subject image transmitted from the photographing device by the obtaining unit of the photographing support device. The photographing condition setting information indicating the photographing condition is transmitted to the photographing device that has photographed the subject image by the photographing condition setting information transmitting unit of the photographing support device, and the photographing condition setting information of the photographing device is set. The photographing condition setting information set based on the subject image transmitted from the photographing support device is received by the receiving unit, and the photographing condition setting information is received by the setting unit. Since the photographing conditions at the time of photographing are set based on the setting information, the operator of the photographing apparatus can set the photographing conditions suitable for the subject to be photographed without performing difficult operations, which is very convenient. .

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, the same effect as that of the eighth aspect of the invention can be obtained. In particular, the subject image is transmitted by the photography instruction signal transmitting means of the photography support device. A photographing instruction signal for instructing storage of a photographed image is transmitted to the photographing device, and the photographing set by the setting unit based on the reception of the photographing instruction signal from the photographing support device by the storage control unit of the photographing device. Since the photographed image taken according to the condition is stored in the photographed image storage means, the operator of the photographing apparatus does not have to perform the photographing by himself, and the photographed image is automatically stored, so that the operation is not required. Easy and easy to use.

According to the tenth aspect, the ninth aspect is provided.
It goes without saying that the same effect as that of the described invention can be obtained. In particular, the charge information transmitting means of the photographing support apparatus transmits the photographing condition setting information or the charge information corresponding to the photographing instruction signal, and the photographing apparatus receives the charge information. The photographing condition setting information or the charge information corresponding to the photographing instruction signal is received, and the payment information of the charge is transmitted by the payment information transmitting means of the photographing apparatus based on the charge information received by the charge information receiving means. Transmitted to the device, by the charging means of the photographing support device, based on the receipt of the payment information,
Since billing for the photographing condition setting information or the photographing instruction signal is performed, the photographing condition setting information provided to the photographing device by the photographing support device, the charge for the photographing instruction, and the billing process can be easily performed via the network. I can do it.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the ninth or tenth aspect can be obtained. Are connected via a communication network, and the photographing condition setting information or the charge information corresponding to the photographing instruction signal is transmitted by the charge information transmitting means of the photographing support apparatus, and the photographing condition setting information or the instruction is transmitted by the charge information receiving means of the photographing apparatus. The fee information for the signal is received, and the payment information transmitting unit transmits the fee payment information including the identification information of the photographing support device that transmitted the fee information to the photography fee management device based on the fee information received by the fee information receiving unit. Based on the received payment information, the charging unit of the shooting fee management apparatus charges the shooting condition setting information or the shooting instruction signal, Since the distribution calculator calculates the distribution of the fee charged by the charging unit for each photographing condition setting device, the operator of the photographing device requests the photographing condition setting information and the fee processing for the photographing instruction signal. There is no need to perform this for each device, and the billing fee is calculated by distributing it to individual photographing support devices.
The distribution process is performed smoothly and accurately.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
Of course, the same effect as the invention described in 0 or 11 can be obtained. In particular, the storage medium of the imaging apparatus stores valuable information equivalent to money, and the payment information is the monetary value of the storage medium. Since the rewriting means rewrites the monetary value of the valuable information based on the fee information by the rewriting means, the operator of the photographing apparatus has already paid for the payment information. In addition, the operator of the photographing apparatus does not need to perform a complicated payment procedure, which is convenient, and the administrator of the photographing support apparatus can reliably collect the fee.

According to the thirteenth aspect, according to the first aspect,
Of course, the same effects as those of the invention described in any one of 0 to 12 can be obtained, and in particular, synchronization with the shooting timing by the shooting instruction signal based on the storage request signal transmitted by the storage request signal transmitting means. Then, the subject image is stored as a photographed image in a storage area that can be browsed on the communication network, and the photographing image stored in the public photographed image storage unit is published on the communication line network by the publishing unit, and the identification information is transmitted. The identification information for designating the storage area of the photographed image stored in the public photographed image storage means is transmitted to the photographing device that transmitted the photographed image by the means.
You can shoot regardless of the capacity of the media. Further, since the storage area where the image is stored can be accessed by the identification information, the photographed image can be easily browsed.

According to the fourteenth aspect, the same effect as that of the twelfth aspect can be obtained, and in particular, a plurality of photographing support devices are provided, and Since the photographing support device to be connected is determined based on the designation information of the photographing support device stored in the storage medium, the operator of the photographing device does not need to specify the photographing support device to be connected. It becomes.

According to the fifteenth aspect, the first aspect is provided.
It goes without saying that the same effects as those of the invention described in 3 are obtained.
In particular, transmission destination specification information that specifies the transmission destination of a captured image is transmitted to the imaging support apparatus by the transmission destination specification information transmitting unit of the imaging apparatus, and the image transmission unit of the imaging support apparatus transmits
The photographed image stored in the photographed image storage unit is transmitted to the destination specified by the destination designation information transmitted by the destination designation information transmitting unit of the photographing device, so that the operator of the photographing device does not use the photographing device. This is convenient because it is possible to transmit a photographed image to a terminal device or the like without having to perform the operation.

According to the sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer which is connected to a photographing device via a communication line network and which incorporates the present program having storage means for storing photographing condition setting information for setting photographing conditions. A subject image captured by a photographing device is received via a communication line, and a photographing condition suitable for photographing the received subject image is set, and photographing condition setting information indicating the photographing condition includes:
Since the image of the subject is transmitted to the imaging device that has captured the image, the operator of the imaging device can shoot under the imaging conditions suitable for the subject without performing difficult imaging condition setting operations, which is very convenient.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, an object is connected to a photographing support device that provides photographing condition setting information for setting photographing conditions via a communication line network, and a computer incorporating the present program allows a subject to be photographed. The captured subject image is transmitted to the imaging support device, and imaging condition setting information set based on the transmitted subject image is received from the imaging support device, based on the received imaging condition setting information, Since the photographing conditions at the time of photographing are set, the operator of the computer can set the photographing conditions at the time of photographing without performing complicated photographing condition settings, which is very convenient.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall structure of a photographing support system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal structure of a shooting control server of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal structure of the electronic still camera of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an overall structure of a photographing support system according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operation 1 of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an operation 2 of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 13A illustrates an example of the contents of a storage area of a flash memory according to a third embodiment. (B) It is a figure showing the example of contents of the storage area of the flash memory in a 4th embodiment. (C) A diagram showing an example of contents of a storage area of a flash memory according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 14D is a diagram illustrating an example of the contents of a storage area of a flash memory according to a sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 shooting support system 2 network 10 shooting control server (shooting support device) 11 CPU 15 transmission control unit 17 recording medium 20 camera terminal (shooting device) 30 electronic still camera 36 indicator 40 mobile phone 42 MPU 53 flash memory (media) 63 wireless Communication unit

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A photographing support device connected to a photographing device via a communication line network, comprising: a receiving unit for receiving a subject image photographed by the photographing device; A photographing condition setting unit configured to set photographing conditions suitable for photographing the subject image; and photographing condition setting information indicating the photographing condition set by the photographing condition setting unit. A photographing support apparatus comprising: a transmitting unit that transmits the photographing apparatus to the photographing apparatus. 2. The photographing support apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a photographing instruction signal transmitting unit that transmits a photographing instruction signal for instructing storage of the photographed image to a photographing apparatus that transmits a subject image. Photography support equipment. 3. A photographing apparatus connected via a communication network to a photographing support apparatus for providing photographing condition setting information for setting photographing conditions, the photographing means for photographing a subject, and the photographing means Transmitting means for transmitting a subject image captured by the camera to the photographing support apparatus; and photographing condition setting information for receiving, from the photographing support apparatus, photographing condition setting information set based on the subject image transmitted by the transmitting means. An image capturing apparatus comprising: a receiving unit; and a setting unit configured to set a capturing condition at the time of capturing based on the capturing condition setting information received by the capturing condition setting information receiving unit. 4. A photographing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: a photographed image storage means for storing a photographed image; a photographing instruction signal receiving means for receiving a photographing instruction signal for instructing storage of the photographed image; Storage control means for storing a photographed image photographed under the photographing conditions set by the setting means in the photographed image storage means based on the photographing instruction signal received by the receiving means. apparatus. 5. The photographing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a notice unit for notifying a storage timing of the photographed image based on a photographing notice signal instructing a notice of storage of the photographed image. apparatus. 6. The photographing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a light emitting unit, wherein the notifying unit is configured to notify the storage timing of the captured image by causing the light emitting unit to emit light. Characteristic imaging device. 7. The photographing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a display unit, wherein the notifying unit is configured to notify the storage timing of the captured image by displaying a count on the display unit. An imaging device characterized by the above-mentioned. 8. A photographing apparatus provided with an image pickup means for photographing a subject, and a photographing support apparatus for providing photographing condition setting information for setting photographing conditions to the photographing apparatus are connected via a communication network. A photographing support system, wherein the photographing device includes: a transmitting unit configured to transmit a subject image captured by the imaging unit to the photographing support device; and a photographing condition setting information set based on the transmitted subject image. Receiving means for receiving photographing condition setting information, and setting means for setting photographing conditions at the time of photographing based on the photographing condition setting information received by the photographing condition setting information receiving means. A photographing condition setting unit configured to set photographing conditions suitable for photographing the subject image based on the subject image transmitted from the transmitting unit; A photographing condition setting information transmitting unit that transmits photographing condition setting information indicating a photographing condition set by the photographing device to the photographing device that has photographed the subject image. 9. The photographing support system according to claim 8, wherein the photographing support device includes: a photographing instruction signal transmitting unit that transmits a photographing instruction signal for instructing storage of the photographed image to a photographing device that transmits a subject image. The photographing apparatus further includes: a photographed image storage unit that stores a photographed image; and a photographed image photographed under the photographing conditions set by the setting unit based on the reception of the photographing instruction signal. A photographing support system, comprising: storage control means for storing. 10. The photographing support system according to claim 9, wherein the photographing device receives the photographing condition setting information or the fee information for the photographing instruction signal, and receives the fee information by the fee information receiving unit. Payment information transmitting means for transmitting payment information of the fee to the photographing condition setting device based on the fee information, wherein the photographing assistance device transmits the fee information for the photographing condition setting information or the photographing instruction signal. A photographing support system comprising: a charge information transmitting unit for transmitting; and a charging unit for charging the photographing condition setting information or the photographing instruction signal based on receiving the payment information. 11. The photographing support system according to claim 9, further comprising a photographing fee management device connected to the photographing device and the plurality of photographing support devices via a communication network. Comprises: fee information transmitting means for transmitting the photographing condition setting information or fee information for the photographing instruction signal; the photographing apparatus comprising: fee information receiving means for receiving the photographing condition setting information or fee information for the photographing instruction signal. A payment information transmitting unit that transmits, to the photographing fee management device, payment information of the fee including identification information of the photographing support device that transmitted the fee information, based on the fee information by the fee information receiving unit. The photographing fee management device is configured to respond to the photographing condition setting information or the photographing instruction signal based on receiving the payment information. Imaging support system comprising: an accounting unit for charging, and a dividend calculating means for calculating the respective imaging condition setting device-specific distributions of charges are fee by said charging means. 12. The photographing support system according to claim 10, wherein the photographing device includes a storage medium for storing valuable information equivalent to money, and rewriting a monetary value of the valuable information based on the fee information. And a rewriting unit that performs rewriting, wherein the payment information is information relating to rewriting of a monetary value of the storage medium. 13. The photographing support system according to claim 10, wherein said photographing device sends a storage request signal requesting storage of a subject image photographed under photographing conditions set by said setting means. A recording request signal transmitting unit for transmitting to the photographing support device, wherein the photographing support device, based on the recording request signal transmitted by the recording request signal transmitting unit, Public photographed image storage means for storing an image as a photographed image in a storage area that can be viewed on a communication network, and public means for publishing a photographed image stored in the public photographed image storage means on a communication network, Transmits image identification information for designating a storage area of a captured image stored in the public captured image storage unit to the imaging device that transmitted the captured image Photographing support system characterized in that it comprises an image identification information transmission means that, the. 14. The photographing support system according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of said photographing support devices are provided, said storage medium includes designation information of the photographing support device, and said photographing device is stored in said storage medium. A photographing support system comprising: a photographing support device determining unit that determines a photographing support device to be connected based on the stored designation information of the photographing support device. 15. The photographing support system according to claim 13, wherein the photographing device transmits destination designation information for designating a destination to which the photographed image is transmitted to the photographing support device. The imaging support apparatus includes: an image transmission unit that transmits the captured image stored in the captured image storage unit to the destination specified by the destination specification information transmitted by the destination specification information transmission unit. A photographing support system characterized by: 16. A computer connected to a photographing device via a communication network, a function of receiving a subject image captured by the photographing device, and photographing the subject image based on the received subject image. A program for realizing: a function of setting shooting conditions suitable for: and a function of transmitting shooting condition setting information indicating the set shooting conditions to the shooting device that has transmitted the subject image. 17. A photographing support device for providing photographing condition setting information for setting photographing conditions, a function of photographing a subject to a computer connected via a communication network, and A function for transmitting to the photographing support device, a function for receiving photographing condition setting information set based on the transmitted subject image from the photographing support device, and a function for transmitting a photographing condition based on the received photographing condition setting information. A function for setting the shooting conditions and a program for realizing the function.