JP2003153230A - Image information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image data distribution system capable of continuously distributing a transmission image from the same mobile camera to a user terminal. SOLUTION: An image database has: a camera dependent image database 51; and an area dependent image database 52, receives an image data packet in a form of attaching a terminal identifier, position information 103 and photographing time information 104 to image data 105, stores the received packet to a file area in the camera dependent image database 51 corresponding to the terminal identifier and to a file area in the area dependent image database 52 depending on the position information, and the image information providing system selectively reads image data from the camera dependent image database 51 or the area dependent image database 52 in response to the image service request from a user and distributes the image data to a user terminal of a request source.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image information providing system, and more particularly to an image information providing system for accumulating images taken by a mobile camera and providing them to a user.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a traffic monitoring system has been put into practical use in which a surveillance center monitors images from fixed cameras installed at intersections of highways and main points of highways. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-69454 (Prior Art 1), images of fixed cameras installed in various places on a road are transmitted to a map image information terminal station via a wireless base station together with position information, and map images are transmitted. The position information and the image information received at the information terminal side are stored in the position information management database and the image information management database, respectively, and the user driving the car uses the car phone to display the map image information on the in-vehicle terminal device. When connecting to a terminal station and requesting the transmission of an image by designating a target point on the map displayed on the terminal screen, the image of the designated point stored in the above video information management database is output to the terminal screen. Such a wireless communication system has been proposed.

Further, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-232135 (Prior Art 2), for example, an image taken by a video camera mounted at a predetermined position of a moving body (for example, an automobile) is recorded as voice data or GPS (Global Positioning). Syste
Along with the position data measured in m), it is transmitted to the central unit using a wireless line, and the central unit stores the received image data for each coordinate position that corresponds to a major intersection or building on the road, for example. Incidentally, when the user specifies the position on the navigation screen and requests the transmission of the image data, the central device returns the image data corresponding to the position specified by the user and outputs the image data on the navigation screen. A system has been proposed. In the above system,
By storing the shooting position coordinates and shooting direction together with each image data on the central device side, when the user sets the route to the destination on the navigation device side, the position coordinates of the main intersections on the route are stored. The direction of travel is calculated,
Image data that matches the traveling direction at each intersection is provided.

[0004]

However, in the image data distribution system using the fixed camera shown in the prior art 1, the image capturing range that can be provided to the user is limited to the installation point of the camera. The purpose of the service is limited to traffic congestion, remote monitoring for security and safety management.

On the other hand, if a moving camera is used, the photographing location can be freely expanded as compared with a fixed camera. However, in the case of the prior art 2, image data collected from a moving body is used as a main point (intersection) on the road. The image captured by the mobile camera is not being effectively used at locations other than the main points, as it is managed by classifying it by position and seating table corresponding to buildings and buildings).

Further, in the above-mentioned prior art 2, the central device is
Since the image data is accumulated in correspondence with the position coordinates indicated by GPS and the image data corresponding to the specific position coordinates designated by the user on the map of the navigation device is distributed, the user has a navigation device. No user cannot specify the position coordinates and cannot receive the image data distribution service.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image data distribution system which can effectively use the mobility of a mobile camera. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image data distribution system capable of servicing an image captured in an area designated by a user for a user terminal not having a navigation function. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an image data distribution system capable of continuously distributing transmission images from the same mobile camera to user terminals.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, image data taken while moving is received from a plurality of mobile camera terminals, accumulated in an image database, and accumulated. In an image information providing system for selectively delivering image data in response to a request from a user terminal, the image database includes a camera-specific image database and a region-specific image database, and the mobile camera terminals convert the image data into image data. An image data packet is received in a format with a terminal identifier, terminal position information, and shooting time information, and a file area corresponding to the terminal identifier in the camera-specific image database and the position in the area-specific image database. Received packet processing means that accumulates in a file area determined by information, and image service requests from users Flip it, characterized in that an information distribution service processing means for distributing selectively image data from the camera based image database or region image database read, the requesting user terminal.

One feature of the present invention is that the image information providing system includes table means for converting the position information attached to the received packet from the mobile camera terminal into a regional number, and the received packet processing means is Each image data packet received from the mobile camera terminal is stored in the file area having the area number designated by the table means in the area-specific image database.

Another feature of the present invention is that the information distribution service processing means provides a user terminal that requests an image service,
When the user selects a mobile camera terminal by sending a selection screen for specifying the service category and the mobile camera terminal or area to be focused on, the image captured by the mobile camera terminal specified by the user from the camera-specific image database above When the data is read and the user specifies the area, the image data taken by an unspecified number of mobile camera terminals within the area specified by the user is read from the area-specific image database and distributed to the requesting user terminal. To do.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the information distribution service processing means uses the mobile camera to capture image data captured by an unspecified number of mobile camera terminals within a region designated by the user from the regional image database. It is read as a continuous image for each terminal and delivered to the requesting user terminal.

The information distribution service processing means is
The service category designation screen and the area of interest designation screen are transmitted to the user terminal that requested the image service, and the image is stored in the file area of the regional image database corresponding to the area of interest designated by the user on the area of interest designation screen. The mobile camera terminal that is the transmission source is specified from the image data, and is displayed on the selection screen as a candidate for the mobile camera terminal to be specified by the user.

When the user requests the image service by designating the photographing time zone, the information distribution service processing means obtains the time information of the time zone designated by the user from the image database for each camera or the image database for each area. The image data stored therein is read and delivered to the requesting user terminal.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
A description will be given with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an image information providing system according to the present invention. This image information providing system includes a plurality of mobile camera terminals (MC
S) 10 (10-1, 10-2, ...) And a plurality of base stations (BS) 20 (20-1, 20-2, ...) Communicating with these mobile camera terminals via wireless lines. And a base station controller (BSC) 21 connecting these base stations to the network 30, and an image server 40 connected to the network 30.

The image server 40 is a mobile camera terminal (MC
The image database 50 for accumulating the images (moving images) captured in S) is provided, and the images accumulated in the image database 50 are delivered to the user terminals.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a typical embodiment of the image information providing system. The mobile camera terminal 10 is mounted in, for example, an automobile, and an image captured during traveling is transmitted to the image server 40 via the nearest base station 20,
It is stored in the image database 50. However, the mobile camera terminal 10 may be mounted on a moving body (including a flying body and a ship) other than an automobile, and may be carried by a person and photographed while walking. The image server 40 is the network 30.
Fixed user terminal connected to the mobile terminal (P) or a mobile terminal (P connected to the network 30 via a wireless line).
In response to the request from S), the image data is read from the image database 50 and distributed to the requesting user terminal.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the mobile camera terminal 10. The mobile camera terminal 10 measures the current position of the video camera 11, the image processing unit 12 for converting the image output from the video camera 11 into image data in which the amount of information is compressed, and the current position of the mobile camera terminal 10. Positioning device 1
3, a clock device 14 for indicating the current time, a packet assembling circuit 15, a radio transmitting / receiving circuit 16 connected to the packet assembling circuit 15, and the packet assembling circuit 1 described above.
5 and the control device 17 connected to the wireless transmission / reception circuit 16
And an input / output device 18 connected to the control device 17.

The packet assembly circuit 15 outputs from the image processing unit 12, for example, JPEG system, MPEG.
When the compressed image data according to the method is fetched and the accumulated amount of the compressed image data reaches a predetermined amount, for example, GPS
The position information indicated by the positioning device 13 such as the above and the time information indicated by the time measuring device 14 are fetched, and for example, the packet PD shown in FIG. 4 is generated and output to the wireless transmission / reception circuit 16.

The packet PD is composed of a header portion 101 and a data portion, and the data portion has a terminal identifier (MCS-I).
D) 102, position information 103, time information 104,
And image data 105.

FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the locus of the mobile camera terminal 10 and position information and time information. Here, P (P1,
P2, P3, ...) is the position of the mobile camera terminal 10 at the time when each packet PD is generated, t (t1, t2, t).
(3, ...) Indicates the generation time of each packet. Further, S11, S12, ... Mean identification information (region number) of the region defined on the map.

FIG. 6 shows the contents of the data part of the packet PD output from the packet assembling circuit 15 while the mobile camera terminal 10 is moving along the locus of FIG. PD1-1 is
The packet data is generated at the position P1, and includes the time information t1 and the image data D (S11) captured in the area S11. The PD1-2 is packet data generated at the position P2 and includes the time information t2 and the image data D (S11) captured in the area S11. Similarly, the packet data PD1-3 generated at the position P3 includes the time information t3 and the image data D (S12) captured in the area S12, and the packet data PD1-4 generated at the positions P4 and P5. P
D1-5 are the time information t4 and t5, respectively, and the area S2.
The image data D (S22) captured in 2 is included.

These packets contain the terminal identifier MCS.
-As the ID, for example, "MCS-1" indicating the mobile camera terminal 10-1 is attached. One of the features of the present invention is that the image server 40 classifies image data received from each mobile camera terminal based on the camera-specific image database classified by the terminal identifier MCS-ID and the position information P. Accumulate it in the regional image database,
When the user specifies a specific camera (or mobile camera terminal), the accumulated image data is read from the camera-specific image database, and when the area is specified, the accumulated image data is read from the area-specific image database.
The point is that it can be delivered to the request source.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the image server 40. The image server 40 includes a communication control device 41 connected to the network 30, a reception buffer 42 for temporarily storing packets received from the network 30, and a storage buffer for temporarily storing transmission packets to the network 30. It comprises a transmission buffer 43, a processor 44 connected to the reception buffer 42 and the transmission buffer 43, a position coordinate area conversion table 47 and a map database 48 referred to by the processor 44. Further, in the image database 50, a camera-specific image database 51 and a region-specific image database 52 are formed.

The processor 44 retrieves the received packet from the receive buffer 42, stores the data portion extracted from the received image packet in the camera-specific image database 51 and the region-specific image database 52, and from the user. The image database 51 for each camera or the image database 5 for each region according to the request of
2 to retrieve the image data to be delivered and send it to the transmission buffer 43 as a packet addressed to the requesting user. The reception packet processing unit 45 and the information distribution service processing unit 46 are programs executed by the processor 44.

FIG. 8 shows the structure of the image database 50,
The function of the reception packet processing unit 45 is schematically shown. The camera-specific image database 51 includes a plurality of file areas F corresponding to the terminal identifier 102 attached to each image packet PD.
(MCS-1), F (MCS-2), ..., and the regional image database 52 has a plurality of file areas F (S11), F (S12) corresponding to the regional numbers on the map described in FIG. It consists of ...

The received packet processing unit 45 receives the terminal identifier 1 of the image packet PD received from each mobile camera terminal 10.
02 is checked, and the packet data excluding the header 101 is set to the terminal identifier 1 in the camera-specific image database 50.
It is stored in the file area corresponding to 02. Further, the reception packet processing unit 45 uses the position coordinate area conversion table 4
7, position information 103 of the received image packet PD
The area number Sp corresponding to the position coordinate indicated by is obtained, and the packet data is stored in the file F (Sp) corresponding to the area number in the area-specific image database 52.

In each file area F (MCS-i) in the camera-specific image database 51, moving image data picked up by the same camera is time-sequentially included in packets including shooting time information and shooting position information. Memorized in. Each file area F
(MCS-i) has a limited memory capacity, so
In the image database for each camera 50, for example, each file area is used as a ring memory, and the image data is sequentially stored in a format in which the latest image data is written in the storage position of the oldest image data.

On the other hand, in each file area in the regional image database 52, image data received from an unspecified number of mobile camera terminals moving in the same area is accumulated in time series. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a certain area S51
When the camera A shoots the scene at time t1 to t10, the camera B shoots at time t3 to t15, and the camera C shoots at time t5 to t14, the file area F (S51 corresponding to the area S51). ), Two cars in the time zone t3 to t5,
From t5 to t10, the image data captured by the three cameras are accumulated in a mixed state on the time axis. In this case, the terminal identifier 102 attached to each packet data
Focusing on the above, if the image data having the same terminal identifier is read out in time sequence, for example, it becomes possible to continuously provide the images captured by the camera A to the user.

Here, the same packet data is stored in the image database 51 for each camera and the image database 52 for each region.
However, in order to effectively use the storage capacity of the image database 50, the image data 105 is stored in a shared file area different from the two image databases 51 and 52. Instead of the image data 105, a pointer address indicating the storage position of the image data 105 in the shared file may be stored in the camera-specific and region-specific image databases 51 and 52.

FIG. 10 schematically shows the function of the information distribution service section 46. When receiving the image distribution service request from the user, the information distribution service unit 46 uses the position coordinate area conversion table 47 and the map database 48 to display various menu screens for allowing the user to specify the service area or the mobile camera terminal. Is generated and delivered to the request source user terminal.

When the user requests the image distribution service for each area, the information distribution service unit 46 selects the mobile camera from the file area F (Sp) corresponding to the area Sp designated by the user in the area image database 52. Terminal identifier 10
Separately, the image data is read in the order of shooting time and delivered to the request source user terminal. When the delivery of a series of images shot by one camera is completed, the image data of another camera stored in the file area F (Sp) is read in the order of the shooting time and delivered to the requesting user terminal. This allows the user to successively observe the images captured by the plurality of mobile camera terminals traveling in the designated area. When the user specifies the time zone, the information distribution service unit 46
Checks the time information 104 attached to each image data, and makes only the image data photographed in the designated time zone a distribution target.

When the user requests the image distribution service for each camera, the information distribution service unit 46 causes the file area F (corresponding to the mobile camera terminal (identifier: MCS-i) designated by the user in the image database for each camera 51 corresponding to the file area F ( MCS
From-i), the image data is read out in the order of shooting time and delivered to the requesting user terminal. In this case, the file area F (MCS-
Since the image data of the latest video transmitted from the mobile camera terminal having the identifier MCS-i is stored in i) one after another, the user continues the image taken while the mobile camera terminal MCS-i is running. It becomes possible to observe it.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of the received packet processing routine 200 corresponding to the received packet processing unit 45. In the reception buffer 42, each mobile camera terminal 10
In addition to the image packet transmitted from the user terminal, the control packet for the image distribution service transmitted from the user terminal is also stored. In the receive packet processing routine, the receive packets stored in the receive buffer 42 are read (step 20
1) Determine the type of received packet (202). If the received packet is an image packet transmitted from the mobile camera terminal 10, the received packet identifier field 102
The terminal identifier (MCS-i) is extracted from (204) and the corresponding file area F (MCS-i) of the camera-specific image file 51 is extracted.
Then, the data parts 102 to 105 of the received packet are stored as the latest record (205).

Next, after extracting the position information (position coordinates) P from the field 103 of the received packet (206) and referring to the position location area conversion table 47, the area number Sp corresponding to the position information P is obtained. (207), the data parts 102 to 105 of the received packet are stored as the latest record in the corresponding file area F (CSp) of the regional image file 52 (208).

When the received packet is a control packet indicating a service request (210), the information delivery service unit 46 described in FIG. 12 is activated (211). If the received packet is a control packet requesting termination of the service (21
2) Stop the corresponding information distribution service (21
3). If the received packet is a control packet other than the information distribution service, other processing corresponding to the type of the received packet is executed (220).

FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of an information distribution service routine 300 corresponding to the information distribution service section 46. In the information distribution service routine 300, after executing the user authentication process (step 301), an initial screen for service selection is transmitted to the user terminal (302),
The system waits for the user to specify the service category (303). The initial screen is, for example, the camera-specific image database 51.
Either the camera tracking service for distributing the accumulated image of the image or the regional image service for distributing the accumulated image of the regional image database 52 is selected.

When the response from the user to the initial screen is received, the service category designated by the user is checked (304), and if the regional image service is designated,
A regional service processing routine 400 described later with reference to FIG. 13 is executed. When the user has designated the camera tracking service, the area designation screen is transmitted (305) and a response from the user is waited for (306). The area designation screen displays, for example, the shooting range of images that can be provided by the image server 40 by area names on the map (for example, Chuo Ward, Shinjuku Ward, etc.).

When the user specifies the area name, the information distribution service routine 300 causes the user terminal to display a detailed area name obtained by further subdividing the user specified area and a detailed area specification screen for selecting the image mode and the photographing time zone. Send (3
07), wait for a response from the user (308). The image mode in this case means whether to deliver the image data from the image server 40 to the user terminal 10 by using a compressed image or a restored image. The detailed area corresponds to the area number given to each file area F (Sp) in the area-specific image database 52.

When the user specifies the detailed area name, image mode, and time zone, the area-specific service processing routine 400 searches for a mobile camera terminal that is passing or moving within the area specified by the user (309), and from the map database 48. The map data of the designated area is read (310), a camera designation screen in which the icons of the mobile camera terminals are superimposed on the map is generated (311), and this is transmitted to the user terminal (312), and the user It waits for a response from (313).

The mobile camera terminal passing or moving within the user-designated area has the terminal identifier (MCS- of the packet data accumulated in the file area F (Sp) corresponding to the user-designated area Sp in the regional image database 52. I
It can be grasped by checking D) 102. Further, the moving direction of the mobile camera terminal and the display position of the camera icon on the map can be determined from the position information 103 indicated by the two packet data having the same terminal identifier but different time information.

Therefore, the camera designation screen is, for example, as shown in FIG.
On the map shown in FIG.
A camera icon pointing to the right is displayed at position 1 and camera B
For the camera, the camera icon pointing to the upper right is displayed at the position of time t3, and for the camera C, the camera icon pointing to the left is displayed at the position of time t5, and the user is allowed to select the number (camera number) attached to each camera icon. This allows you to specify the camera you want to track. Further, when the user designates the time zone, the camera icon may be displayed at the position indicated by the first packet data in the designated time zone.

When the user designates the camera number (mobile camera terminal identifier) MCS-k to be tracked, packet data is sorted in time sequence from the file area F (MCS-k) corresponding to the user-designated camera in the camera-specific image database 52. Is read (314). However, when the time zone is designated, the packet data corresponding to the designated time zone is read from the file area F (MCS-k) in time order.

Next, the image mode designated by the user is judged (315), and if the compressed image mode is designated, header information is added to the packet data read from the file area F (MCS-k). Then, the data is transmitted to the requesting user terminal (317), and the process returns to step 314 to read the next packet data. If the decompressed image mode is specified, the compressed image data read from the file area F (MCS-k) is restored to the image data before compression (316).
After that, a header is added to the packet data and the packet data is transmitted to the requesting user terminal.

By repeatedly reading the packet data from the file area F (MCS-k) and transmitting the packet data to the user terminal, the images taken by the camera designated by the user are successively transmitted to the user terminal. Can be delivered. When the user gives an instruction to end the distribution service during the image distribution service, a distribution service end control packet is issued from the user terminal, and the information distribution service stop processing (213) in the reception packet processing routine described in FIG. The transmission of the image packet to the user terminal is stopped.

FIG. 13 shows a regional service processing routine 4
00 shows a detailed flowchart of 00. In the regional service processing routine 400, steps 305 to 308 in FIG.
Similarly to the above, the area designation screen and the detailed area designation screen are transmitted to the user terminal (401 to 403), and a response from the user is waited (404). When the user specifies the detailed area, the first data packet of the file area F (Sp) corresponding to the user-specified area Sp in the area-specific image database 52 is read (405). However, when the user has designated the time zone, the time information of the read data packet is checked and the data packet is skipped until the time information reaches the designated time zone.

The mobile camera terminal identifier (MCS-ID) 102 attached to the first packet to be distributed is stored as the camera number X (406). Next, the image mode designated by the user is determined, and if the compressed image mode is designated, header information is added to the packet data read from the file area F (Sp), and the requesting user terminal is notified. It is transmitted (409). If the decompressed image mode is specified, the compressed image data read from the file area F (Sp) is restored to the image data before compression (40
After 8), header information is added to the packet data and the packet data is transmitted to the requesting user terminal (409).

In the regional service processing, the packet data whose mobile camera terminal identifier (MCS-ID) 102 matches the camera number X is read from the file area F (Sp) as the next distribution data packet (410). That is, the mobile camera terminal identifier 102 that does not match the camera number X is ignored, and only the packet data that matches the camera number X is read out in chronological order, and steps 407-4 are executed.
09 is repeated. Thereby, the image data captured by the camera with the camera number X in the designated area is sequentially delivered to the user terminal.

When all the data packets having the camera number X have been delivered (411), the value of the camera number X is registered in the transmitted data management table (not shown) (41).
2) After that, from the file area F (Sp), the mobile camera terminal identifier (M
The first packet data having the CS-ID) 102 is read, and the process returns to step 406. As a result, it becomes possible to sequentially deliver the image data captured by the camera having the next camera number X in the designated area to the user terminal.

When all the mobile camera terminal identifiers passing or moving within the designated area have been registered in the transmitted data management table, step 41 is set in the file area F (Sp).
Since there is no packet data to be read in 3 (41
4) Send the service end screen to the user terminal (41
5), the regional service processing routine ends. In this case, on the service end screen, the user is asked whether or not to continue the information distribution service. If the user wants to end, the information distribution service is ended, and if the user wants to continue, the information distribution service routine 300 Step 302
You may return to.

As is apparent from the above embodiments, according to the present invention, the user designates the camera by accumulating the image data taken by the mobile camera in the image database for each camera and the image database for each region. If
If the images shot by the designated camera are continuously distributed and the user desires to deliver the shot images in the specified area, move the images shot by an unspecified moving camera running in the specified area. It is possible to deliver as a continuous image for each camera.

In the embodiment, the area is specified by the two-step operation of the area specifying screen and the detailed area specifying screen. However, a schematic map of the area specified on the area specifying screen is transmitted to the user terminal, and the above is sent to the user. One or more points of interest may be designated on the map, and the area including the user designated point may be obtained from the position coordinate area conversion table 47. When the user-specified point extends over a plurality of file areas (a plurality of areas) of the regional image database 52, the area obtained by integrating the plurality of areas is regarded as one area, and the above-described regional service processing is executed. do it.

Further, in the embodiment, each mobile camera terminal 10
The data packet including the latest image generated in 1. is temporarily stored in the image database 50, and the image server 40 distributes the accumulated data of the image database 50 to the user terminal, but the data storage capacity of the image database 50 is reduced. In order to do so, a part of the image data may be stored in each mobile camera terminal 10 that is a data generation source.

For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the mobile camera terminal 10 has a local image database 60 and a local image server function 61, and the mobile camera terminal 1
The image data packet (FIG. 4) generated with 0 is accumulated in the local image database 60. Image server 40
In response, the data section is caused to transmit an indexing packet including the terminal identifier 102, the position information 103, and the time information 104 in association with each packet data stored in the local image database 60. However, one index packet may be generated for each of a plurality of image packets generated in the mobile camera terminal.

In this case, the image server 40 can identify the source of the image data to be distributed by using the indexing packet stored in the image database 50. Therefore, when the image data is needed, it is generated. The original mobile camera terminal may be requested to transmit the image data and transferred to the user terminal. Each mobile camera terminal 10 holds image data for T1 hours, and the image server 40 holds index data for T1 hours and image data for T2 (<T1) hours, and erases them in the image server. The completed image data may be ordered from the source mobile camera terminal 10 as necessary. Alternatively, the image server 40 may instruct the mobile camera terminals 10 to distribute the image data to the user terminals.

[0055]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a continuous distribution service of image data photographed by a specific camera and passing through a designated area according to the designation from the user. Alternatively, a distribution service of image data captured by an unspecified number of moving cameras can be selectively provided, and an image distribution service that makes the most of the mobility of mobile camera terminals can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an image information providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a typical embodiment of an image information providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a camera mobile terminal 10.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a format of a packet transmitted from the camera mobile terminal 10.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between a locus of the camera mobile terminal 10 and position information and time information.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing packet data corresponding to FIG. 5 generated by the camera mobile terminal 10.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image server 40.

FIG. 8 is a configuration of an image database 50 and the image server 4
The figure which showed roughly the function of the received packet processing part 45 of 0.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a trajectory of a mobile camera terminal in one area.

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the function of an information distribution service unit 46 of the image server 40.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a received packet processing routine 200 corresponding to the received packet processing unit 45.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an information distribution service routine 300 corresponding to the information distribution service unit 46.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a regional service processing routine 400.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the camera mobile terminal 10.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: camera mobile terminal, 11: camera, 12: image processing unit, 13: positioning device, 14: timing device, 15: packet assembly circuit, 16: transmission / reception circuit, 17: control device, 1
8: input / output device, 20: wireless base station, 21: base station control device, 40: image server, 41: communication control device, 42:
Reception buffer, 43: Transmission buffer, 44: Processor, 45: Reception packet processing unit, 46: Information distribution service processing unit, 47: Position coordinate area conversion table, 48: Map database, 50: Image database, 51: Image by camera Database, 52: Regional image database, 101: Header, 102: Mobile camera terminal identifier,
103: position information, 104: time information, 105: image data.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) // G08G 1/09 H04N 5/91 LF term (reference) 5C022 AA01 AC69 5C053 FA11 FA23 FA29 FA30 GB06 HA29 JA21 LA01 LA11 LA14 5C054 AA02 CC02 CE15 CG02 CH01 CH08 DA07 DA09 EA01 EA03 EA05 FA09 FC11 FE02 FF01 HA28 5C064 AA01 AC04 AC09 AD08 AD16 BA07 BB05 BB10 BC18 BC20 BC25 BD02 BD08 5H180 AA01 AA21 BB04FFBBBB

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Image data captured while moving from a plurality of mobile camera terminals is stored in an image database, and the stored image data is selectively distributed in response to a request from a user terminal. In the image information providing system, the image database comprises an image database for each camera and an image database for each region, and a format in which image data is attached to each mobile camera terminal with a terminal identifier, terminal position information, and shooting time information. The image data packet is received by, and the received image data packet is stored in a file area corresponding to the terminal identifier in the camera-specific image database and a file area determined by the position information in the area-specific image database. Depending on the packet processing means and the image service request from the user, the image for each camera Image information providing system characterized by comprising a database or reading selectively the image data from the regional image database, and an information distribution service processing means for delivering to the requesting user terminal. 2. A table means for converting the position information attached to the packet received from the mobile camera terminal into a region number, wherein the received packet processing means receives each image data packet from the mobile camera terminal. The image information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the image data is stored in a file area having an area number designated by the table means in the area-specific image database. 3. The information distribution service processing means transmits a selection screen for designating a service category and a mobile camera terminal or an area to be noticed to a user terminal requesting an image service, and the user selects the mobile camera terminal. If specified,
When the image data captured by the mobile camera terminal designated by the user is read from the camera-specific image database and the user designates an area, an unspecified number of mobile cameras within the area designated by the user are read from the area-specific image database. The image information providing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image data captured by the terminal is read out and delivered to the requesting user terminal. 4. The information distribution service processing means reads image data taken by an unspecified number of mobile camera terminals within a region designated by a user from the image database for each region as a continuous image for each mobile camera terminal. The image information providing system according to claim 3, wherein the image information is delivered to the user terminal of the request source. 5. The information distribution service processing means transmits a service category designation screen and a region of interest designation screen to a user terminal requesting an image service, and the region of interest designated by the user on the region of interest designation screen is displayed. The mobile camera terminal which is the transmission source is specified from the image data accumulated in the file area of the corresponding regional image database, and is displayed on the selection screen as a candidate of the mobile camera terminal to be specified by the user. The image information providing system according to item 3. 6. The information distribution service processing means, when the user requests an image service by designating a shooting time zone,
6. The image data having time information of a time zone designated by the user is read from the camera-specific image database or the region-specific image database and delivered to the requesting user terminal. The image information providing system according to any one.