JP2002344856A - Video/audio recorder and system configuration - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video/audio recorder such as a compact video camera and its system, capable of long time photographing, which solves problems in a conventional video camera such that the photographing time, is limited by the restrictions in an outer appearance and the size because the conventional video camera uses a tape or a disk whose shape and standard are determined. SOLUTION: The video/audio recorder comprises a mobile terminal 13 comprising; an image pickup device section 4 that converts the image of an object into an image signal 3; a conversion section 6 that converts a received image signal 3 into digital data 7; a storage section 8 that temporarily stores the digital data; a setting section 9 that sets a communication destination and a password; and a communication section 10 that connects with a stationary device 18 decided through the setting by way of a communication channel 14, and the stationary device 18 comprising; a setting section 15 that sets and stores a password; a communication section 16 that connects with the mobile terminal 13 of the password decided through the setting; and a storage section 17 with a large capacity. Through the configuration above, the storage section with large capacity stores communicated data from the mobile terminal so as to downsize the mobile terminal and attain high storage capacity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video and audio recording device such as a video camera and a digital camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a video camera, image quality has been improved, and a video signal captured by an image pickup unit for converting a subject into an image signal is converted into a digital signal without deterioration and recorded on a tape or a disk. . With the advancement of technology, digital cameras that are small enough to fit in handbags are now being commercialized. In addition, the digitization of recording has progressed, and it can be imported into a personal computer or the like using a DV terminal and edited freely. On the other hand, with the IT revolution, the increase in communication speed is about to be dramatically improved. As an example,
The practical use of world-standard W-CDMA, the connection of optical communication to homes, the Internet service of cable television, etc. have been raised, and the videophone and the like are in the stage of practical use.

[0003] Hereinafter, a process from imaging to recording will be described with reference to FIG. A conventional video camera 30 includes an imaging unit 34 that forms an image of a subject on a CCD 32 via a lens group 31 and converts the image signal 33 into an image signal 33, a conversion unit 36 that converts the image signal 33 into digital data 37, and a recording head. It is basically composed of a large-capacity storage section 38 for recording on a tape or a disk via the storage section. The photographing (recording) is performed by the imaging unit 34
Then, the subject is converted into an image signal 33, the image signal 33 is converted into digital data 37 by a conversion unit 36, and this digital data is recorded in a large-capacity storage unit 38 such as a tape or a DVD. For reproduction, the digital data 39 is read, converted into an image signal 42 by the conversion unit 41, and displayed on the image display unit 43 such as an LCD. By integrating the imaging unit, the conversion unit, the storage unit, and the display unit into a commercial product, video cameras that are compact and easy to use enough to fit in a handbag are commercially available.

[0004]

However, since a video camera uses a tape, a disk, a memory IC, or the like having a fixed shape standard, the shooting time is naturally determined,
In addition, the external size can be restricted. Especially memory IC
Is widely used in digital cameras, but its storage capacity is limited due to cost and manufacturing technology, and its storage capacity is orders of magnitude smaller than that of tapes and discs. However, when a still picture of high quality shooting (4 million pixel level) is taken, there is a disadvantage that only 4 to 8 pictures can be recorded.

In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides an image and sound recording apparatus and system, such as a video camera capable of photographing for a long time and a digital camera having a large number of recorded images.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve this problem, the present invention has the following configuration.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, at least an imaging unit for converting a subject into an image signal, and a conversion unit for converting a captured image signal (or an audio signal captured by a microphone) into digital data. A storage unit for temporarily storing digital data, a conversion unit for converting digital data into an image signal, a display unit for displaying an image based on the image signal, and a setting for setting a communication destination and a password (or identification number). And a setting unit for setting a personal identification word (or an identification number), and a setting unit for setting a personal identification word (or identification number). This is an image / audio recording device comprising a fixed unit including a communication unit connected to a portable terminal having the same (or identification number) and a large-capacity storage unit. With this configuration, image data and sound data digitized by the portable terminal are transferred and accumulated in a large-capacity storage unit of a fixed machine installed in another place (home, automobile, etc.) via a communication line. The storage capacity of the device is smaller than before, and a compact form such as an IC memory or memory card for temporary storage can be used. This facilitates miniaturization of the device itself and reduces power consumption. Since the storage capacity of the fixed machine can be freely increased, there is no limit on the recording time. For example, if a DVD is used as a guide and 4.5 GB is about 2 hours, a 50 GB hard disk can record 22 hours of video.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a communication line is automatically connected from a portable terminal to a fixed device by recording (or recording) of the portable terminal, and data of the portable terminal is transferred to the fixed device. The image / sound transfer system is characterized in that the image / sound transfer system transfers the image / sound to the storage unit. With this configuration, when recording of the portable terminal is started, a communication line is automatically connected from the portable terminal to the fixed device, and the data of the portable terminal is transferred to the storage unit of the fixed device. A manual dial connection is not required for communication connection with the fixed machine, and long-time photographing or recording can be performed with the same handling as a conventional device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a communication line is automatically connected from a portable terminal to a fixed machine by recording (or recording) of the portable terminal, and the photographing date and time or This is an image / sound transfer system that transfers data of a portable terminal to a storage unit of a fixed unit, with the transmission date and time as a file name, every shooting, each date, or every fixed time as one file. With this configuration, the reproduction of the image data stored in the fixed device can be designated by the shooting date and time, the transmission date and time, or the time at a fixed interval.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a communication line is automatically connected from a portable terminal to a fixed machine by recording (or recording) of the portable terminal, and the photographing time stored in the storage unit is recorded. Attached to transmission data as address data,
An image / audio transfer system for transferring data of a portable terminal to a storage unit of a fixed device. With this configuration, the reproduction of the image data stored in the fixed machine can be designated by the shooting time. For example, assuming that the total of the data stored in the fixed machine is 10 hours, it is possible to specify the time from 4 hours and 24 minutes to playback.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, by performing a reproducing operation of the portable terminal, a communication line is automatically connected from the portable terminal to the fixed device, and a reproduction portion of the portable terminal is designated by the portable terminal. The file name or address data is transmitted (or designated) to the fixed device, and based on this data, the image (or audio) data of the reproduction position is transferred from the storage portion of the fixed device to the storage portion of the portable terminal, and is converted by the conversion portion. An image / sound transfer system characterized in that digital data is converted into an image signal and displayed on a display unit. According to this configuration, by performing the reproduction operation of the portable terminal, the communication line is automatically connected from the portable terminal to the fixed device, the data of the reproduction position is transmitted from the portable terminal to the fixed device, and this data is transmitted. Originally, the data at the reproduction location is transferred from the storage unit of the fixed unit to the storage unit of the portable terminal to reproduce the image, so that even if the storage capacity of the portable terminal is small, the storage capacity of the fixed unit can be arbitrarily reproduced. .

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image / audio transfer system for compressing digital data and transmitting / receiving the data through a communication line. With this configuration, image / audio data corresponding to the temporary storage capacity of the portable terminal can be transmitted / received in a short time, so that the communication cost is reduced.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, data in a storage unit for temporarily storing digital data is transmitted to a fixed machine in the order of oldest data temporarily stored, and new data is sequentially overwritten on old data. Image / audio transfer system. With this configuration, the oldest data and the new data are exchanged, so that the image / audio data of the temporary storage capacity (several minutes to several hours) of the portable terminal can be reproduced without the communication function.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, when the storage capacity of the storage unit for temporarily storing digital data of the portable terminal exceeds a prescribed amount, a fixed value automatically determined by the portable terminal. This is an image / audio transfer system that connects to a fixed device via a communication line, collectively transmits data to a fixed device, transfers data, and then disconnects the communication line. With the above configuration,
The number of times of communication between the mobile terminal and the fixed device can be reduced.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the portable terminal and the fixed unit repeatedly connect and disconnect the communication line for each fixed communication capacity. According to the above configuration, when a line with a high communication speed is used (broadband communication network), the communication time is shortened and the communication cost is reduced.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the transmitting / receiving section of the portable terminal is a portable terminal connected or integrated with a portable telephone. With this configuration, the mobile phone can be provided with a communication function, and the communication network of the mobile phone can be used. In addition, by integrating this system with a mobile phone or PHS, the microphone, the display device, and the communication function can be shared, so that the cost of the portable terminal is lower than that of a single unit, and the portable terminal is easy to carry. It becomes convenient.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the fixed machine is a server of a trader, a personal computer, or a home server. With this configuration,
By using the large-capacity storage unit as a server of a company, new business opportunities such as rental and management of memory via the Internet are created. In addition, since the increase or decrease of the rental memory can be freely determined, there is an advantage that the user does not need to personally invest in fixed equipment. When the fixed machine is a personal computer or server, there is an advantage that the image (recording) record can be left as it is in the storage device of the personal computer or server and can be edited.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the fixed device and the portable terminal device register one of the identification numbers into the other setting portion by a simple registration manual operation through a wired or infrared connection. It is configured. With this configuration, it is possible to exchange identification number data between a fixed device and a portable terminal device of different manufacturers and models by a simple registration operation without affecting similar devices in different homes.

[0019]

(Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, Embodiment 1
The present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image / sound recording device according to the present invention. An imaging unit 4 that forms an image of a subject on the CCD 2 via the lens group 1 and converts the image signal 3 into an image signal 3, and a conversion unit 6 that converts the captured image signal 3 (or an audio signal captured by a microphone) into digital data 7. A clock unit 5 for transmitting shooting date / time or communication date / time data to a storage unit; a storage unit 8 composed of an IC memory, a memory card, a small hard disk or the like for temporarily storing time data and digital data 7; A setting unit 9 for setting a password and a password (or identification number);
A mobile terminal 13 smaller than the communication unit 10 having a modem function for connecting to the fixed device 18 determined by the setting via the communication line 14 is configured, and the same password (or identification number) as the mobile terminal 13 is used. Setting unit 1 for setting and storing
And a communication unit 16 having a modem function for connecting to (or restricting data communication with) the portable terminal 13 having the same password.
An image / audio recording device is constituted by a fixed device 18 having a large capacity and a storage unit 17 and having no restrictions on the size and shape.

The operation is as follows. When the storage capacity of the storage unit 8 of the portable terminal 13 reaches a specified amount by photographing, the communication line 14 is automatically connected from the communication unit 10 of the portable terminal 13 to the communication unit 16 of the fixed unit 18. After confirming that the passwords in the setting unit match, the recording data stored in the storage unit 8 of the mobile terminal 13 is stored in the storage unit 8 from the clock 5 at each time of continuous shooting, transfer, or at a fixed time. Alternatively, a file is created using the transmission date and time as a file name and transferred to the storage unit 17 of the fixed machine 18, or the shooting time data (accumulated shooting time for each date) stored in the storage unit 8 is used as address data as transmission data. In addition, the data is transferred to the storage unit 17 of the fixed machine 18, and after the transfer is completed, the communication line 14 is automatically disconnected. (If the transfer speed is low, a communication line may be connected during shooting.)

The temporary storage method of the portable terminal 13 is as follows. A predetermined amount is stored in the storage unit 8 for temporarily storing digital data.
When the storage capacity becomes equal to or more than the specified amount, the data is transmitted to the fixed device 18 in the order of older data temporarily stored, and the newly photographed data is overwritten on the transmitted data. Thereby, when the reproduction operation of the portable terminal 13 is performed, and when the reproduction data is in the storage unit 8 of the portable terminal 13, the reproduction is performed without communication with the fixed device 18. If there is no reproduction data, the communication line 14 is automatically connected from the portable terminal 13 to the fixed device 18, and the rest of the storage data not transmitted from the portable terminal 13 and the address data (or file name) of the reproduction part are exchanged. The data is transmitted to the fixed unit 18, and the former is additionally stored in the storage unit 17, and the image (or sound) of the reproduced portion is stored in the storage unit 17 of the fixed unit 18 based on the address data of the latter.
The data is transferred to and stored in the storage unit 8 of the mobile terminal 13. The digital data 19 is converted into an image signal 2 by the converter 11.
It is converted to 0 and displayed on the display unit 12 for reproduction. In the above, the address data (file name) of the playback location
May be configured such that a file name list is transmitted from a fixed device to a portable terminal, and a reproduction location (file name) is selected on the portable terminal. In the above description, it is needless to say that the connection of the communication line for data transfer may be manually performed as necessary. In this case, a configuration that can be implemented by a simple operation such as one push is preferable. Although the above description has been made with reference to images, the same applies to audio.

In the data transfer of the communication line 14, the communication time is shortened and the communication cost is reduced by compressing digital data and transmitting / receiving the communication line. Also, privacy can be protected by performing encryption. The communication unit 10 of the mobile terminal 13 can be connected to a mobile phone or integrated with the mobile phone to use an existing telephone line or the Internet as a communication unit. Further, the communication unit 10
It goes without saying that the (communication means) may be a portable communication card insertion, Bluetooth or wireless LAN card, and there is basically no limitation as long as it is wireless. The communication unit 16 of the fixed machine 18 is not limited to wired or wireless communication. In addition, fixed machine,
Servers of (Internet) traders, which are still popular today, and personal computers may be substituted by installing software according to this system configuration. The storage unit of the fixed machine is a hard disk / DV
There is no limitation as long as it is a large-capacity storage medium such as D / tape, and a configuration may be adopted in which data is temporarily stored in a fixed-capacity hard disk and then dubbed to an individual DVD or tape.

In the above configuration, the identification number is a number given to each item at the time of manufacture, and can be identified individually by adding a ROM or hardware.
By providing the same identification number to the fixed device and the portable terminal device and selling them as a set, the setting of the password can be omitted. In addition, the fixed device and the portable terminal device are configured such that one identification number is taken into the other setting unit and registered by a wired or infrared connection by a simple manual operation such as a button operation, so that the manufacturer and the model can be obtained. It is possible to exchange data of an identification number and a password without affecting a similar system at another (different home) even between a fixed machine and a portable terminal machine having different personal computers.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, the large capacity of a fixed machine installed in another place (each home or automobile) via a communication line through a portable terminal, which converts image / sound data into digital data. By storing the data in the storage unit, the storage capacity of the portable terminal device can be reduced, and the size of the portable terminal can be reduced. Furthermore, in places where communication lines (telephones) can be reached, you do not have to worry about the remaining amount of tapes and disks, etc. Depending on the capacity of the fixed machine, you can shoot continuously with a video camera or arbitrarily shoot with a digital camera. This has the effect. In addition, there is an effect that a new business model of memory leasing and management of data captured by the terminal device using the communication line can be developed by using a password or encrypted transmission. In addition, automatic file creation at the time of data transfer enables reproduction of date, time, and shooting.

[0025]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an image / audio recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a video camera in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Lens group, 2. 2. CCD, 3. image signal; 4. imaging unit; Clock section, 6. Conversion unit, 7. Digital data,
8. 8. storage unit; Setting unit; Communication unit; Conversion unit; Display unit, 13. 13. mobile terminal, Communication line, 15. Setting unit, 16. Communication unit; (Large capacity)
Storage unit, 18. Fixing machine, 19. Digital data, 20.
Image signal.

Claims (12)

[Claims] At least an imaging unit for converting a subject into an image signal, a conversion unit for converting a captured image signal (or an audio signal captured by a microphone) into digital data,
A storage unit for temporarily storing digital data, a conversion unit for converting digital data into an image signal, a display unit for displaying an image based on the image signal, and a setting unit for setting a communication destination and a password (or identification number) A mobile terminal comprising a communication unit connected to a fixed device determined by the setting via a communication line, and a setting unit for setting a password (or identification number); Or an audio / video recording device comprising a fixed unit including a communication unit connected to a portable terminal having the same identification number) and a large-capacity storage unit. 2. An imaging unit for converting at least a subject into an image signal; a conversion unit for converting a captured image signal (or an audio signal captured by a microphone) into digital data;
A storage unit for temporarily storing digital data, a conversion unit for converting digital data into an image signal, a display unit for displaying an image based on the image signal, and a setting unit for setting a communication destination and a password (or identification number) A mobile terminal comprising a communication unit connected to a fixed device determined by the setting via a communication line, and a setting unit for setting a password (or identification number); Or a communication unit connected to a mobile terminal with the same identification number) and an image / audio recording device comprising a fixed unit with a large-capacity storage unit. A video / audio transfer system, wherein a communication line is connected from the portable terminal to the fixed device, and data of the portable terminal is transferred to the storage unit of the fixed device. 3. A clock section for transmitting at least photographing date or communication date / time data to a storage section, an image pickup section for converting a subject into an image signal, and a digital signal for capturing a captured image signal (or an audio signal captured by a microphone). A conversion unit, a storage unit for temporarily storing the shooting date / time or communication time and digital data, a setting unit for setting a communication destination, and communication for connecting to a fixed machine determined by the setting via a communication line. Recording and / or recording of a portable terminal in a communication unit connected to the portable terminal and an image / audio recording device comprising a fixed unit with a large-capacity storage unit. Automatically connect the communication line from the mobile terminal to the fixed device, and use the shooting date and time or transmission date and time stored in the time storage unit as a file name for each shooting or date or for a fixed time The way of file, image and sound transfer system, characterized in that to transfer the data of the mobile terminal in the storage unit of the fixed unit. 4. A clock unit for transmitting photographing time data to a storage unit, an imaging unit for converting a subject into an image signal, and converting a captured image signal (or an audio signal captured by a microphone) into digital data. A conversion unit, a storage unit for temporarily storing photographing time data and digital data, a setting unit for setting a communication destination, and a communication unit connected via a communication line to a fixed device determined by the setting from the mobile terminal. And an image / audio recording device comprising a fixed unit including a communication unit connected to the portable terminal and a large-capacity storage unit.
Automatically connect the communication line from the portable terminal to the fixed device, add the shooting time stored in the storage unit to the transmission data as address data, and transfer the data of the portable terminal to the storage unit of the fixed device. An image / audio transfer system characterized by the following. 5. A display unit for displaying an image according to an image signal, a conversion unit for converting digital data into an image signal, a storage unit for temporarily storing digital data, a communication destination and a password (or identification code). Number) and a communication unit connected via a communication line to a fixed device determined by the setting, and the mobile terminal is configured.
A fixed unit is constituted by a setting unit for setting a password (or identification number), a communication unit for connecting to a portable terminal having a matching password (or identification number) determined by the setting, and a large-capacity storage unit. In the image / audio recording device, the mobile terminal automatically performs a reproduction operation on the mobile terminal, thereby automatically connecting the communication line from the mobile terminal to the fixed device, and the fixed device transmits the file name or the first image or the first image of each file. The address data (shooting time) is sent to the mobile terminal, and the file name or address data of the playback location is transmitted (or designated) from the mobile terminal to the fixed device. Based on this data, the image of the playback location is stored in the storage unit of the fixed device. (Or audio) data is transferred to the storage unit of the portable terminal, the digital data is converted into an image signal by the conversion unit, and displayed on the display unit. Temu. 6. An image / audio transfer system according to claim 1, wherein digital data is compressed and transmitted / received through a communication line. 7. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the data in the storage unit for temporarily storing digital data of the portable terminal is
An image / audio transfer system wherein data is transmitted to a fixed machine in the order of old data, and new data is overwritten on old data which has been sequentially transmitted. 8. The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein when the storage capacity of the storage unit for temporarily storing digital data of the portable terminal exceeds a predetermined amount, the portable terminal establishes a communication destination determined by the setting unit. An image / audio transfer system characterized by connecting to a fixed machine via a communication line, transmitting data to the fixed machine at once, and disconnecting the line after data transmission. 9. An image / audio transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the portable terminal and the fixed unit repeatedly connect and disconnect the communication line for each fixed communication capacity. 10. An image / audio transfer system according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit of the portable terminal is connected to or integrated with a portable telephone. 11. The fixing machine according to claim 1, wherein
An image / audio transfer system characterized by being a server of a trader, a personal computer or a home server. 12. A fixed device and a portable terminal device according to claims 1 to 5, wherein one of the personal identification words (identification number) is taken into the other setting unit and registered by a simple manual operation of registration through a wired or infrared connection. An image / sound recording device characterized in that it has a configuration to perform the following.