JP2003179700A - Portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable terminal which transfers data to a server by using a radio function by handling various kinds of information data on the periphery of the portable terminal including not only character and graphic data but also picture data and the present positional data of the portable terminal. <P>SOLUTION: The portable terminal connected by radio with an electronic newspaper server for supplying electronic newspapers through the network photographs the object of information collection by a picture input means belonging to the portable terminal, and transmits the picture data to the electronic newspaper server. In the case of this transmission, the positional data of the portable terminal, oral voice data from an information collecting person, and environmental data such as the ambient temperature of the portable terminal are transmitted in connection with the picture data. The various kinds of data received by the electronic newspaper server are examined in an editing conference room and an instruction to the information collecting person, a request for support to another information collecting person having a portable terminal and issuing of an article by the electronic newspaper server are performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device having a wireless communication function, and in particular handles not only character and graphic data but also image data and various information data relating to the periphery of the mobile terminal device and uses the wireless function. The present invention relates to a mobile terminal device characterized by performing communication processing such as data transfer to a server.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Portable terminal devices (hereinafter referred to as portable terminals)
Wireless communication function is connected to or built in, and using this,
Recently, mobile terminals that communicate with host computers and other mobile terminals have been developed, announced, and put into practical use in various fields. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-236598, "Data transmission system by mobile terminal", a handy terminal is used as a mobile terminal for data transmission, a database in the computer is accessed from the mobile terminal, and predetermined analysis is performed in the computer. A method of transmitting the result to a mobile terminal has been published.

[0003]

When the network of the mobile terminal and the server is used, information such as news is stored in the server, and the mobile terminal refers to the information by wireless communication. It is possible to achieve the function of so-called electronic newspaper, which can always get the latest news in real time. However, this function using a mobile terminal can always obtain the information in the server, but cannot generate the information in the server, that is, the means for inputting so-called news information, as it is.

In recent years, in particular, it is conceivable that news information will be added not only to manuscripts based on character information but also to still images such as photographs and video data such as moving images. There are still some issues that cannot be solved by communication systems. In addition, in addition to the input device for acquiring information, the present situation is that no suitable device for collecting data, especially a device that takes into account the speed of collecting data has been taken into consideration.

[0005]

In order to solve this problem, a portable terminal according to the present invention has a photographing means for photographing a moving image or a still image as an image signal, and position information detection for detecting position information on a photographing position. Means, storage means for storing the image signal and the position information in association with each other, and transmission means for wirelessly transmitting the image signal and the position information stored in the storage means to a network connected to a server having a database. , Are provided. Then, associating and storing the image signal and the position information in association with each other and transmitting the information will be described in detail in a structure shown in FIG. Particular features of the present invention include an electronic camera that captures still images and a video that captures moving images. Furthermore, GPS (Gloval Positioning) that detects the current position of the mobile terminal
System) etc., and various detection means for acquiring environmental data around the mobile terminal. Further, a voice mail means is also provided to save time for inputting an original with a pen or a keyboard and transmitting it. The server for receiving information from the mobile terminal has a receiving and storing means for each of the above-mentioned information and an editing means for editing the information and registering it as immediate news data.

The electronic camera and the digital video can input the situation of the news gathering site as video information and can make it a digital signal, and the portable terminal can transfer the image information to the server. As a result, it is possible to achieve a so-called basic news gathering function of inputting not only a manuscript in characters that can be conventionally input only by a mobile terminal, but also video information and transferring it to a server. In addition, the current position detection means can automatically report the location of the interviewer to the server without reporting by the interviewer himself, and it is possible to track the location of the photographed photograph and the behavior of the interviewer himself. Can be done. Also, by having a voice input means, the interviewer will not miss the timing of the interview due to the loss of time waiting for the other party to make an input or call the manuscript while interviewing the site, Interviewers can concentrate on interviews without having to worry about communication by simply talking about the situation while shooting.

The server receives the image information, the voice mail information, and the position information of the mobile terminal transmitted from the mobile terminal. The reporter on the server side uses this information to judge the situation at the site, creates a news manuscript, and reports it as immediate news. Further, depending on the situation at the site, it is possible to individually send action instructions to local information collectors, and to perform operations such as sending information collectors at other locations to support.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a news gathering support system and a mobile terminal according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the term "coverage" will be used to mean "information collection".

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of an electronic newspaper system utilizing the news gathering support system according to the present invention. An electronic newspaper server 100 is at the center of the electronic newspaper system.
There is 0. The electronic newspaper server 1000 is a computer 1
010, the storage device 1020, and a network interface (not shown).
Stores information collected and information distributed as news. The computer 10 controls the storage device and manages the connection with the network 1040.
It is 10. PHS (Person
al Handy phone System) base station 1050, cellular base station 1060, etc. are connected, and a device for browsing news can be connected here.

Reference numeral 1051 denotes a mobile terminal having a wireless communication function, and a PHS (not shown) connected to the mobile terminal 1051.
The telephone is used to connect to the network 1040 via the PHS base station 1050. And network 1040
The latest news information is acquired from the electronic newspaper server 1000 via and is displayed on the liquid crystal display of the mobile terminal 1051. The mobile phone 1061 is a mobile phone.
Although 1 does not have a display like the mobile terminal 1051, it has an audio output device, so that it is possible to output news information as audio using this. further,
The network 1040 is connected to each home 1090 via a telephone line 1080. In each home, the latest news information is acquired from the electronic newspaper server 1000 and displayed by the terminal device 1091 using the TV installed in the home as an output device.

The coverage support system according to the present invention is a PHS.
Supported by the news gathering terminal 1071 connected to the network 1040 via the base station 1070. The news gathering terminal 1071 shoots a news gathering target 1072, in this case, a house in which a fire has occurred, with an internal electronic camera or a digital video. Then, a news gatherer creates an article with a built-in microphone without using a pen, a keyboard, and the like, and further collects the position information acquired by the position detection means of the built-in news gathering terminal, and transmits it to the electronic newspaper server 1000.

The electronic newspaper server 1000 receives the transmitted coverage data and stores it in the storage device 1020. This interview data is examined in the editorial conference room 1030, and depending on the examination result, detailed instructions for further interviews and provision of support and interviews for other interviewers in the vicinity are possible. Make arrangements. The news gathering data thus obtained is edited as a newspaper article in the editing conference room 1030 and distributed in real time by the electronic newspaper server 1000 to enable immediate news coverage.

The portable terminal 1051 and the wireless telephone 106
1. Normally, the terminal device 1091 at home requests the news transmission from the terminal side to the electronic newspaper server 1000, but this request can be made by requesting all the news at once as in conventional newspapers and TV news. Instead, you can select and request necessary items (such as stock prices) and receive past news in addition to real time. In addition, depending on the content of real-time news, the electronic newspaper server 1000 sends an emergency news to the terminal as an extra, regardless of the request from the terminal side, and the terminal side responds to the news sent urgently. By adopting the configuration of automatically receiving the news, all the terminal holders can surely receive the urgent news (eg evacuation advisory).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal structure of a news gathering terminal which is the information acquisition means of the news gathering support system according to the present invention. The data collection terminal is basically CPU2000
With the bus 2001 as a core, peripheral devices are connected. The program that controls the operation of the CPU is RO
It is written in M2080, and the CPU sequentially reads and executes it. Further, it is loaded from the ROM 2080 or the storage device 2020 to the RAM 2030 and executed as necessary.

A method of operating a news gathering terminal by a news gathering person using the news gathering terminal is performed by using a touch panel display in which a touch panel 2050 described later with reference to FIG. 3 and a display 2040 composed of liquid crystal or the like are integrated. That is, a button required for operation is displayed on the display 2040, the button is touched with a finger or a pen, and the touch panel 2050 detects the contact to convey the intention of the news gatherer to the news gathering terminal. In addition to this, there is an ordinary switch (not shown) as an operation method, which enables operations such as shutter of an electronic camera, start / stop of digital video, and power on / off.

The image capturing section of the news gathering terminal will be described. The image sensor 2010 that detects an image receives an image from the object of coverage through the lens 2011 and converts the image into an image signal. The image signal is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter (not shown), and is stored in the frame memory 2012 as image data of, for example, 640 horizontal pixels × 480 vertical pixels, each pixel being 8 bits. The interviewer monitors the image in the frame memory with a viewfinder 2013 composed of a small liquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube or the like, presses a shutter for an electronic camera, and presses a recording start / stop button for a digital video. In addition, the image in the frame memory is V-RAM2041 as necessary.
It is also loaded in the specified area of (Video RAM) and is larger than the viewfinder 2013.
It can be observed even on 0.

When the image written in the frame memory 2012 is a still image, it is JPE which is a still image compression system.
JPEG processing circuit 2015 for processing using the G method
The image is subjected to image compression processing (hereinafter referred to as JPEG) and stored in the storage device 2020. In the case of digital video moving images, MPE, which is a moving image compression method, is used.
MPEG processing circuit 2014 for processing using the G method
The image is subjected to image compression processing (hereinafter referred to as MPEG) and is also stored in the storage device 2020. Storage device 2
If necessary, the image data stored in 020
Restored by EG2014 or MPEG2015 and loaded into frame memory 2012, and V-RAM204
It is transferred to 1 and can be confirmed on the display.

In this configuration example, the frame memory 2012 and the V-RAM 2041 are treated as completely different memories and the image data is transferred. However, the same memory may be used, and in this case, the image data input from the image pickup device is used. Whether to display on the display can be switched by changing the access address to the V-RAM.

The current position of the news gathering terminal is GPS20.
The coordinate data calculated by 60 is acquired at the same time as the image is captured, and is simultaneously stored when the image data is stored in the storage device 2020. Further, an article by the interviewer's own voice acquired by a microphone (not shown) is also stored as voice data together with the image data. The stored coverage data is converted into a serial signal by the serial I / F 2070 at the time when the data in the storage device 2020 is updated and when the connection with the transfer destination is secured by the PHS 2072, which will be described later, and modulation / modulation is performed. After a certain modulation is applied through the demodulation circuit 2071, the PHS 2072 is used for transmission.

On the contrary, an instruction from the editing conference room in FIG. 1 is received by using the PHS2072, demodulated by the modulation / demodulation circuit 2071, and transmitted via the serial I / F to the CP.
The U2000 captures and displays it on the display 2040. The above-described operation of the news gathering terminal is performed by touching the touch panel 2050 stuck on the display 2040 with a finger or a pen, and the contact signal of the finger or the pen is recognized by the CPU 2000 through the touch panel I / F 2051, and the intention of the news gatherer is determined. Understand and execute.

FIG. 3 is a three-view drawing showing an example of a news gathering terminal according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, the news gathering terminal 3000 has a form similar to that of a commercially available video camera. Reference numeral 3020 denotes a photographing lens which receives light from a subject and focuses the image pickup element 3021 incorporated therein. Reference numeral 3030 denotes a first microphone, which is directed toward the subject and records the sound of the scene. Reference numeral 3040 denotes a finder, which displays an image of the subject output from the image pickup device on a display device 3041 such as a small-sized liquid crystal or cathode ray tube. The reporter uses this to visually recognize the image of the subject being photographed.

Reference numeral 3010 denotes a liquid crystal display integrated with a touch panel. The operation of the news gathering terminal is performed by displaying a menu or the like and touching it with a finger or a pen 3060 to select and operate. Also, when playing back the captured video for confirmation, the video can be displayed. Further, the current position of the news gathering terminal detected by the built-in position detecting means such as GPS (not shown) can be displayed in the form of a mark on the map. When not in use, the pen can be stored in the body like 3060. Reference numeral 3050 denotes a second microphone, which is installed at a position facing the mouth of the news gatherer when the news gatherer holds the news gathering terminal 3000 in order to record the voice of the news gatherer himself. Using this, the interviewer creates an oral article while shooting,
Send to voice mail server. A shooting switch 3080 functions as a shutter button when shooting a still image and a recording start / stop button when shooting a moving image. Reference numeral 3070 is a metal fitting for attaching a strap.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a specific operation when actually collecting data at a fire site using the news gathering support system according to the present invention. In this figure, a fire occurs and the news gathering terminal 4070 is active at the fire site 4080. The coverage data acquired by the coverage terminal is wirelessly transferred to the electronic newspaper server through the PHS base station 4050, which is a type of wireless telephone. The data collected is 4010
The position of the news gathering terminal 4070 itself displayed on the map near the site, the image 4020 of the fire site 4080, and a voice mail 4040 accompanied by the image 4020 by the news gatherer himself explaining the site by voice. In the editing conference room described in FIG. 1, looking at these video, audio, and location information,
Create the necessary articles and put them in the newspaper.

Reference numeral 4030 is a map around the site, which shows the current position of a news gatherer near the site, who also has a news gathering terminal. In the editorial conference room, when it is judged that it is necessary to support the news gathering or to collect news from another direction depending on the condition of the fire site, the support gathering instruction is sent to the news gathering person who is in the most advantageous position for the news gathering. This is the PHS base station 40
It is sent to the news gathering terminals 4071 and 4072 through 60.
In addition, PHS handset 407, which does not have a news gathering terminal
A supporter is sent to the reporter who has 3 by telephone, and this reporter collects information and creates articles with his normal camera and sends it offline to the newspaper company. And because the news gathering terminal 4074 is in a geographically unfavorable position,
I do not participate in this interview, so I do not receive any support instructions.
At the same time as requesting support coverage, a map of the vicinity of the site or an image of the fire site as shown is sent to the coverage terminals 4071 and 4072 for reference.

The position of each news gathering terminal displayed on the map in the vicinity of the site in 4030 is the same as the information of the news gathering terminal 4070, and is the request sent from the electronic newspaper server 4000 via the PHS base station 4060. This is displayed as a result of the data collecting terminal transferring data indicating its own position to the electronic newspaper server 4000. Further, not only the editorial conference room and the news gatherer themselves make the decision to support the news gathering, but also other news gatherers themselves in the vicinity may make the decision. For this reason, information such as images taken by the news gathering terminal 4070 is transferred to the electronic newspaper server 4000, and at the same time, information is transferred to another news gathering terminal, so that other news gatherers know the state of the scene as in the editing conference room. It is possible to provide coverage support at their own discretion. As a transfer route of the information collected at this time, there are a method of once passing through the electronic newspaper server 4000 and then a broadcast communication, and a method of directly transferring the news gathering terminal 4070 to another news gathering terminal.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a second example of the internal structure of the news gathering terminal which is the information acquisition means of the news gathering support system according to the present invention. CPU 5000 and bus 500
Taking the configuration in which peripheral devices are connected with 1 as the core,
A program for controlling the operation of the CPU is written in the ROM 5070, and the CPU sequentially reads and executes this. In addition, if necessary, the ROM 5080 and the storage device 502
It is loaded from 0 to the RAM 5090 and executed. In addition, a display 5 including a touch panel 5040 and liquid crystal
The configuration described above is the same as the block diagram described in FIG. 2, including the point that the news gathering terminal is operated using the touch panel display in which 03 is integrated.

The image capturing section of the news gathering terminal in this embodiment will be described. The image pickup element 5010 that detects an image receives an image from the object of coverage through the lens 5011 and converts the image into an image signal. The image signal is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter (not shown), and is stored in the frame memory 5012 as image data of, for example, horizontal 640 pixels × vertical 480 pixels and each pixel 8 bits. The interviewer monitors the image in the frame memory with a viewfinder 5013 composed of a small liquid crystal display, a cathode ray tube or the like, presses a shutter for an electronic camera, and presses a recording start / stop button for a digital video. Further, the image in the frame memory is transmitted via the bus 5001 as necessary to a V-RAM (video RAM) 504.
1 is also loaded in the designated area, and the finder 50
It can be observed even on a display 5030 which is larger than the display 13 of FIG.

When the image written in the frame memory 5012 is a still image, the still image compression method JPE is used.
JPEG processing circuit 5060 for processing using the G method
(Hereinafter, referred to as JPEG) via the bus 5001, undergoes image compression processing, and then is stored in the storage device 5020 through the bus 5001 again. In the case of a digital video moving image, the moving image compression method MPEG
Is transferred to the MPEG processing circuit 2014 (hereinafter, referred to as MPEG) that performs processing using the method via the bus 5001.
After undergoing the image compression processing, it is stored in the storage device 5020 through the bus 5001 again.

The image data stored in the storage device 5020 is transferred again via the bus 5001 if necessary, restored by JPEG 5060 or MPEG 5050, loaded into the frame memory 5012, and then V-RA.
It is transferred to M5031 and can be confirmed on the display. In this configuration example, the frame memory 5012 and V-
Although the image data was transferred by treating the RAM 5031 as a completely different memory, this may be the same memory. In this case, whether to display the image data input from the image pickup device on the display is determined by the V-RAM. It can be switched by changing the access address. GPS51
Since the position detection by 00, the data transfer by PHS5092, and the operation of the news gathering terminal by the touch panel are the same as those in FIG. 2, they are omitted here.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the first embodiment for detecting the position of the news gathering terminal according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, a GPS (Gloval Positioning Sys
tem) 6010 is built in, and among the 20 or more GPS satellites orbiting the earth, at least three satellites receive radio waves and perform surveying to determine the current position of the news gathering terminal. calculate. The calculated current position is
The mark 6030 can be displayed on the display 6020 provided in the news gathering terminal 6000 together with the built-in map data. This allows the interviewer to know his current position. The news gathering terminal according to the present invention has a function of transmitting the calculated current position coordinates to the server 6050 by using the PHS 6040.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the second embodiment for detecting the position of the news gathering terminal according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the news gathering terminal 7000 is not provided with any special position detecting means. Here, PHS (Personal Handy phone Syste
m), the PHS uses a relatively small area (diameter of about 100 m) as one area and installs a base station to cover the area, and uses this to perform wireless communication of mobile phones. is there. The merit is that the transmission range of the radio wave of one phone is narrowed down to about several hundreds of meters, so that the power of the mobile phone can be suppressed and the band of the radio wave can be effectively used. The drawback is that it is necessary to install base stations at intervals of several hundred meters, but since those base stations can be installed at a much lower cost than base stations for cellular radio, they are promising as a future urban mobile phone system. ing. In the present invention, this PHS
A means for grasping the current position of the news gathering terminal by using is shown.

In FIG. 7A, there are several tens in this area.
Base stations of PHS are lined up at intervals of 0 m. Specifically, the base station A (7010), base station B (7020), base station C (7030), and base station D (7040) are several hundred meters long.
Are lined up at intervals. And each defense range is a circle with a diameter of several hundred meters, and each area A (701)
1), area B (7021), area C (7031),
It becomes area D (7041). Interview terminal 7000 here
Is within the area D (7041) and the base station D
(7040) communicates wirelessly.
At this time, the news gathering terminal 7000 can be determined to be in the area D (7041) because it is connected to the base station D (7040).

FIG. 7B shows an example in which the current position of the news gathering terminal is displayed on a map based on this information. 7050
Is a screen displaying a map, and an area 7051 showing an area D (7041) shown in FIG. 7A is displayed at 7051. This area is where a news gathering terminal can exist, has a relatively large error of several hundred meters, and it is not possible to obtain three-dimensional coordinate information such as ground height. Coordinates can be detected even in a place where a signal cannot be received, and above all, approximate coordinates can be determined only by the standard equipment PHS without installing a system such as GPS.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the basic structure of a device for detecting the relative position coordinates of the news gathering terminal using the acceleration sensor. FIG. 8A shows a structural diagram of the device. Three acceleration sensors X (8010), Y (8020), and Z (8030) are installed orthogonally in the three-dimensional directions of X, Y, and Z, respectively. An acceleration sensor is a device that converts the acceleration applied to the sensor into an electric signal representing the acceleration with a strain gauge or the like. By using this, a three-dimensional acceleration vector as shown in FIG. 8B can be obtained. Acceleration becomes velocity when integrated once, and displacement when integrated again. Using this, it is possible to calculate the relative coordinates starting from a specific position of the news gathering terminal.

FIG. 9 is an example of a block diagram of a circuit for calculating the absolute coordinates of the news gathering terminal using the acceleration sensor shown in FIG. 9010 is an acceleration sensor X, 9040 is an acceleration sensor Y, and 9070 is an acceleration sensor Z, which are the acceleration sensors described in FIG. Here, the acceleration sensor X
A method of processing the output signal from (9010) to calculate the absolute coordinates in the X direction will be described. Here, the calculation of the Y direction and the Z direction is exactly the same as the calculation of the X direction. Acceleration sensor X
The acceleration data 9011 output from (9010) is
It is converted into speed data 9012 through the integrating circuit 9020. The speed data 9012 is further included in the integration circuit 903.
0, converted to displacement data 9031, and data 9
It is added to 111 and stored in the memory X (9110).

The memory X (9110) is loaded with an initial value obtained from the absolute coordinate acquisition means 9000 as an initial value, which can be surely grasped by the news gathering terminal. Using this as a starting point, the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor is integrated with respect to the relative position from the starting point and added as a displacement to calculate the absolute coordinates of the news gathering terminal in the form of absolute coordinates + relative coordinates. Specifically, when a new displacement change occurs,
A new absolute coordinate 9101 is calculated by adding the calculated displacement 9031 and the absolute coordinate 9111 at that time stored in the memory X (9110), and the new absolute coordinate 9101 is calculated again. Remember. As a result, the memory X (9110) always contains the updated absolute coordinates of the news gathering terminal, and the absolute coordinates can be calculated by reading this.

In this method, absolute coordinates are calculated by accumulating relative coordinates, and when used for a long time, errors are accumulated and the absolute coordinate values to be output gradually become less accurate. . Therefore, if necessary, the absolute coordinates obtained by the absolute coordinate acquisition means 9000 are used as the memory X (911).
The value of 0) needs to be reset. The absolute coordinate acquisition means 9000 acquires the coordinates by the artificial satellite using the GPS shown in FIG. 8 and the coordinates by the PHS shown in FIG. 9, especially when the news gathering terminal moves to switch the area. Since the boundary position can be obtained as an accurate absolute coordinate, the memory X (911
Reset the contents of 0). Further, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 13, when the position of the news gathering terminal is surely known on the map, the position can be designated by a pointing device such as a pen and used as the absolute coordinate.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the format of still image data transmitted from the news gathering terminal to the electronic newspaper server in the news gathering support system according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the image data format 10000 is
It is roughly divided into three parts. That is, a header 10010 indicating that this data is an image, additional information 1 such as date and time when the image was taken, place, temperature, and voice memo
0020, and image information 10030. here,
This data transfer is performed according to the transfer order 10040. That is, first, the header 10010 is transmitted, then the additional information 10020, and finally the image information 10030.

Here, in this embodiment, the image information 100
30 is roughly divided into two. That is, the rough image data 100
31 and the fine image data 10032. For example, JP
A general still image compression means such as EG uses an algorithm called DCT (discrete cosine transform). This decomposes one image composed of, for example, 640 × 480 pixels into small blocks of, for example, 8 × 8 pixels, and converts each into frequency components in the vertical and horizontal two-dimensional directions. This is a numerical representation of the frequency characteristics of the image, specifically the elements that the image is unfocused or sharp, and for example, in a defocused image, the information components are concentrated in low frequencies, Part of the data can be compressed.

Further, since the data of the low frequency part and the data of the high frequency part can be separated, in the present embodiment, the original image data is divided into the low frequency component and the high frequency component, and each is divided into the rough image data 10031 and the fine image. Data 10032
First, the coarse image data 10031 is transferred, and then the remaining fine image data 1 of all the fine image data after subtracting the previously transferred coarse image data 11031.
0032 is used as the procedure for transferring. According to this method, especially when an urgent report is required, it is possible to transfer a rough image that gives an approximate image of the scene in a short time before transferring all the data over time. Then, if the order is to send all the image data again, it is possible to see the image of the scene before the transfer of all the image data is completed.

Even if the wireless telephone line is disconnected due to interference or noise during the transfer, a rough image will be sent before the transfer procedure is completed, so the image of the site will be viewed for the time being before the resending process. It will be possible. here,
In normal image compression, image data converted into frequency components is Huffman encoded and transferred. This gives a code with a short bit length to a pattern of data with a high frequency (for example, low frequency) and a code with a long bit length to a pattern of data with a low frequency (for example, high frequency), and this code is called a Huffman code.

Of course, this code table will have different codes depending on the respective image data when completely optimized, but normally, the code table which is statistically substantially optimized in the case of, for example, a video input image. Are using. With the transfer method according to the invention, therefore, the coarse image data 10031
The content of the Huffman code table for transferring the image data is different from that of the Huffman code table for transferring the fine image data 10032.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the format of moving image data transmitted from the news gathering terminal to the electronic newspaper server in the news gathering support system according to the present invention. Figure 1
1 (a) is image data 1 taken by the sensor of the news gathering terminal
The moving image information is 1000 and the length of time t1 is output in real time. In FIG. 11B, the image data 11000 is converted into the rough image data 110 by the same method as in FIG.
10 and fine image data 11020.
The rough image data 11010 is transferred in the same time as the real time of 1.

Subsequently, the fine image data 110
20 is transferred over time t2 (> t1). Figure 11
FIG. 11C is a procedure for reproducing the image data transferred in FIG. The reproduction 11030 of the rough image data is performed by the rough image data 11010 at time t1 in FIG.
Is transferred, the reproduction is performed at the same time, and the reproduction ends at the same time t1 as the shooting time. Next, when the fine image data 11020 is transferred over the time t2, the fine image reproduction 11040 is started thereafter, and the same time t1 as the real time is reached.
Playback ends with.

Now, an algorithm of a moving image compression system such as MPEG which is generally used will be described. A moving image is a collection of still images, and specifically, for example, 3 per second.
A moving image is displayed by switching 0 still images. Therefore, it is fundamental to compress each still image forming a moving image using a still image compression algorithm such as JPEG. In this case, the coarse image data 11010 and the fine image data 11020 in FIG. 11B are the coarse image data 10031 and the fine image data 10 in FIG.
It is exactly the same as 032. That is, the coarse image data 11010 in FIG. 11B is obtained by arranging the coarse image data 11031 in FIG. 10 for the time t1.
The fine image data in (b) is obtained by arranging the fine image data 11032 in FIG. 10 for the time t1.

However, in the case of a moving image, not only the redundancy of the data is determined and compressed only in each still image forming the moving image, but also the correlation between the still images arranged in the time axis direction is correlated. Further compression becomes possible by determining. Specifically, when 10 images that are not moved at all are lined up, instead of sending 10 still images, it is sufficient to send only one still image and the number of screens. In the actual time-axis compression, a change portion between continuous still images, that is, a moving portion is detected, and only a motion component is transferred, so that it is not necessary to send the next still image.

This method can also be applied to this embodiment, and the rough image data 11010 shown in FIG.
Sends the motion component between each still image and its screen in the coarse image. Then, the fine image data 11020 may send each still image in the fine image and the motion component between the screens. However, the still image component in the fine image data 11020 is the remaining part of the entire image information after subtracting the rough image data, as in FIG. 10, but the moving part between the screens in the time axis direction is the rough image. Since the moving part between and the moving part between the fine images are different, this data will be completely retransmitted rather than the rest of the part subtracted from the coarse image data.

FIG. 11D shows a procedure for transmitting the rough image data 11050 and the fine image data 11070 similarly to FIG. 11B, but here, the rough image data 11050.
And the fine image data length 11060 is transferred between the fine image data 11070 and the fine image data 11070. By sending the fine image data length 11060, the fine image data 1107
The time when the transfer of 0 ends can be known, and the end time of the fine image reproduction 11090 in FIG. 11E can be matched with the transfer end time of the fine image data 11070. As a result, in FIG. 11E, the time required to first perform the rough image reproduction 11080 and start the fine image reproduction 11090 is "t2-t1 + fine image data length transfer time (negligible compared to the data body. small)"
Therefore, it is possible to reproduce a fine image earlier than “t2” in FIG.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a method for recording the footsteps of a news gatherer by the news gathering support system according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, a method of recording the footprints of the first news gatherer 12000 and the footprints of the second news gatherer 12010 on the map 12020 and displaying them on the monitor of the editing conference room in FIG. 1 is shown. The first interviewer 12000 is map 12
020 is being collected while moving from right to left.
Although the house 12040 that was burnt down is photographed and its information is transferred, this is reproduced on the window 12041 on the screen.

The first news gatherer 12000 progresses from the right to the left of the map toward the center of occurrence of the incident (for example, the epicenter), but the passing points of the first news gatherer are plotted on the map. , The route of the first interviewer is always displayed. In addition, the environmental condition of the first news gatherer at the current time is displayed in 12030. That is, the acceleration sensor of the news gathering terminal carried by the news gatherer detects the situation such as an earthquake or collapse of the scaffold in a dangerous place, and also detects the environmental temperature etc., and transfers the environmental data together with the current position of the news gatherer to the server. To do.

Similarly, the second interviewer 12010 can freely reproduce the footstep display and the image of the building 12060 which is on fire in the middle at 12061. Also,
The environmental information of the second interviewer 12010 can also be known at 12050. In this case, it can be judged from the high vibration and temperature that the fire scene is approaching with poor footing. It is also possible to order a withdrawal order if necessary.

FIG. 13 shows GPS using artificial satellites,
In addition to the position detecting means using the acceleration sensor, an embodiment showing means for improving the accuracy of the position detecting means of the news gathering terminal by surely grasping the absolute position of the one corresponding to the news gathering base that is the base of the news gathering terminal FIG. Interview terminal 1
The position detecting means mounted on 3000 or a news gathering vehicle 13010 serving as a news gathering station usually uses a GPS system for calculating coordinates on the earth by using radio waves from an artificial satellite 13020. However, since the GPS system is diverting the radio waves of the US military satellites, and because the details of the radio wave format are military secrets, it is not possible to use all of the data, and in the position calculation An error of up to about 200 m may occur.

An error of about 200 m is not a serious problem when moving by car, but this error can be a serious problem when a reporter moves by walking.
In the present embodiment, in addition to the position detecting means such as GPS, the interviewer himself / herself directly confirms his / her location on the map to correct the error. FIG. 13A shows a news gathering vehicle 13010 and an artificial satellite 13020, which serve as a news gathering base.
And it is the figure which showed the relationship of the news gathering terminal 13010. The interview vehicle 13010 and the interview terminal 13000 are G
PS is listed and receives radio waves from artificial satellite 13020. However, as described above, the position detection by GPS may cause an error of about 200 m at maximum.

Here, the news gathering vehicle 13010 and the news gathering terminal 1
When the distance of 3000 is not so far apart, the position detection error occurring in both receiving the same radio wave is almost the same in both direction and distance. Vehicle 130
If the position of 10 is definitely specified by another method, G
The detection error of PS can be known accurately. At the same time, the error in the position of the news gathering terminal 13000 is also corrected, and the position of the news gathering terminal 13000 can be reliably detected. Even when the position detecting means of the news gathering terminal 13000 is not the GPS but the relative position detecting method by the acceleration sensor described in FIG. 9, the news gathering terminal 13000 is the news gathering vehicle 13010.
If the accurate position of the news gathering vehicle 13010 is loaded on the news gathering terminal 13000 when leaving, the distance L between the news gathering vehicle 13010 and the news gathering terminal as shown in FIG. The accurate position of the news gathering terminal 13000 can always be calculated by the sensor.

FIG. 13B shows an example of a method for defining the accurate position of the news gathering vehicle 13010. A map 13030 displaying the current position 13040 of the news gathering vehicle by GPS is displayed on the display mounted on the news gathering vehicle. Since this current position 13040 is obtained by GPS, an error of maximum 200 m occurs. Here, since the stop position of the news gathering vehicle can be grasped by the person who has driven the news gathering vehicle or the one on board, the mouse cursor 13050 indicates the exact position of the news gathering vehicle on the map.

13060 is the current position of the news gathering terminal, but the relative position between the news gathering vehicle and the news gathering terminal is G
If the PS error is the same, the relative position can be accurately grasped. The news gathering terminal is G
Even if the PS does not have a position detection by the acceleration sensor described in FIG. 9, when the news gathering terminal departs from the news gathering vehicle, by resetting the initial value of the current position of the news gathering terminal, the news gathering vehicle And the relative position of the news gathering terminal can be accurately grasped. In 13070, the relative position of the news gathering vehicle and the news gathering terminal is displayed. In this case, the right side of the map, that is, the east direction is 0 degree, and the direction is displayed in the counterclockwise direction by the angle display of 360 degrees / circle and the linear distance is displayed. By defining the exact position of the data collection vehicle by direct definition on the map, and by accurately grasping the relative position of the data collection vehicle and the data collection terminal,
It is possible to accurately calculate the current position of the news gathering terminal.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the form of a news gathering terminal according to the present invention. Here, an example of the form of the news gathering terminal when the camera and the mobile terminal are integrated is shown. In FIG. 14A, an image is captured with a plate-shaped news gathering terminal held horizontally. 14002 is a photographing lens,
14001 is a shutter or start of moving image shooting /
It is a stop button. Although not visible in the figure, there is a finder on the opposite side of the photographing lens 14002 of the news gathering terminal, and framing the photographing can be performed by looking through the finder. Reference numeral 14003 denotes a touch panel / liquid crystal display installed in the news gathering terminal, where the news gathering terminal can be controlled, the photographed image can be confirmed, the manuscript can be written, and the like.

FIG. 14B shows a plate-shaped news gathering terminal 1401.
This is an example of a configuration in which 0 is set like a general still camera. Taking lens 14012, shutter button 1
The presence of 4013 is similar to that of FIG. 14A, but here, since the depth 14015 of the news gathering terminal in the direction toward the subject is small, the viewfinder is replaced by the optical viewfinder 1401.
It can be configured with 1. That is, by receiving the scene of the subject with the optical finder and observing with the finder 14014, it is not necessary to use a finder like the small CRT described in FIG.
Power saving can be achieved. FIG. 14C shows a form similar to that of a general video camera, and particularly excellent in holding balance of the camera when capturing a moving image.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a method of forming the news gathering terminal separately from the image input means and transferring the image information from the image input means. In this embodiment, a news gathering terminal 150
00 is a separate electronic camera 1 without a built-in image input means.
Image information is received from the 5010 or the video camera 15020. The interviewers were electronic camera 15010 and video camera 1.
An image of the site is taken at 5020, and the news gathering terminal 15000 is used in a state of being put in a news gatherer's bag or pocket. There are various methods for connecting the news gathering terminal 15000 to the electronic camera 15010 and the video camera 15020. In this embodiment, three types of methods are listed.

The first method is wireless transmission, which is the digital information output 1501 from the electronic camera 15010.
1 is a radio wave 15031 from the transmitter 15030.
And is wirelessly transferred to the news gathering terminal 15000. When the image input means is the video camera 15020,
The video output 15022, which is an analog signal, is transmitted to the news gathering terminal by using the video transmitter 15050, for example, by mounting it on a carrier wave in the UHF band or the like of the TV signal. The news gathering terminal receives the image information by the wave detector that can receive this radio wave.

The output 15011 of the electronic camera may be an analog image signal such as a video format similar to the output signal of the video camera, instead of the above digital signal,
Conversely, if the video camera has a digital output, it may be sent on the same transmitter as the output of the electronic camera. The second method is a wired connection, and the electronic camera 1
The digital output 15012 of the 5010 is connected to a news gathering terminal by a digital I / F such as Centronics or SCSI, and the captured image information is transferred. Also, the analog output 15 such as the video output of the video camera 15020.
021 is input as an analog signal to the news gathering terminal by wire. The same applies to the first method when the electronic camera outputs an analog signal or when the video camera outputs a digital signal.

When the news gathering terminal 15000 receives an analog signal, an analog video signal is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter installed in the news gathering terminal, and stored in a memory in the news gathering terminal. Transferred to the server. The third method is offline transfer via a separate storage medium. In this embodiment, the electronic camera 15
Reference numeral 010 has an IC card interface, and image information is stored in an IC card 15040 attached to this interface.

After taking a picture, this IC card 15
By taking out 040 and attaching it to the news gathering terminal 15000, the news gathering terminal reads the image information from the IC card 15040 and transfers it to the electronic newspaper server. Although not shown, when the image information of the video camera 15020 is digital, an IC card may be used in the same manner. Even if the video camera records the video information on a normal video tape, for example, the news gathering terminal 15000 may record the video tape. As long as it has a reproducing function, the image information may be sent via a video tape like an IC card. At this time, the news gathering terminal can also use the video tape as its own large-capacity storage medium for storing information other than video information.

Further, although not shown, if the camera portion is shaped so that it can be directly attached to the helmet or the head, the interviewer can take photographs and conduct interviews with his / her hands free, and the contents are Data such as the location and environment of the interviewer are automatically transferred to the electronic newspaper server.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to transfer information to a higher-level server at any time by taking advantage of the characteristics of a mobile terminal that can take out information at any time. Eventually, anyone with a mobile terminal can provide information anytime, anywhere, and especially in the field of electronic newspapers, it is possible to report news bulletins and on-site information much faster than before.

Further, not only the conventional character information but also the environmental conditions such as images, place of the site, temperature, etc. can be reported one by one. Especially, the photographed image and the position information are recorded in the portable terminal in association with each other and stored in the server. Since the information associated with the information is sequentially transferred, the information provider can transfer the information without being aware of communication. Therefore, it is possible to provide more information to the server while reducing the burden on the information provider. Further, not only the information is provided by each information provider's individual action of giving necessary instructions to the information provider by utilizing the information, but comprehensive information can be collected from a plurality of information providers.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of an electronic newspaper system using a news gathering support system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an internal configuration of a news gathering terminal that serves as information acquisition means of the news gathering support system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a three-view drawing showing an example of a news gathering terminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific operation using the news gathering support system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a second example of the internal configuration of a news gathering terminal that serves as information acquisition means of the news gathering support system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a first embodiment for detecting the position of a news gathering terminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a second embodiment for detecting the position of a news gathering terminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic configuration of a device for detecting relative position coordinates of a news gathering terminal using an acceleration sensor.

FIG. 9 is an example of a block diagram of a circuit for calculating absolute coordinates of a news gathering terminal using an acceleration sensor.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a format of still image data transmitted from the news gathering terminal to the electronic newspaper server.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a format of moving image data transmitted from the news gathering terminal to the electronic newspaper server.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of recording a footstep of a news gathering person by the news gathering support system according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment showing means for improving the accuracy of the position detecting means of the news gathering terminal by surely grasping the absolute position of the news gathering base.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the form of a news gathering terminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of transferring the image information from the image input unit by configuring the news gathering terminal separately from the image input unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1000 electronic newspaper server 1010 computer 1020 storage device 1030 editing conference room 1040 network 1051 mobile terminal 1061 wireless telephone 1070 PHS base station 1071 coverage terminal 1072 coverage target 4000 electronic newspaper server 4050, 4060 PHS base station 4070 , 4071, 4072, 4074 Coverage terminals 7010, 7020, 7030, 7040 PHS base stations 8010, 8020, 8030 Accelerometer 9000 Absolute coordinate acquisition means 13000 Coverage terminal 13010 Coverage vehicle 13020 Artificial satellite 13030 Map 15000 Coverage terminal 15010 Electronic camera 15020 Video camera 15030 transmitter

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI theme code (reference) H04Q 7/34 H04B 7/26 109M 5K101 7/38 106A 9/00 301 H04Q 7/04 Z H04N 5/91 L (72 ) Inventor Yoshihiko Nozoe 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Inside the Imaging Media Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Chiyo Akamatsu, 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa In-lab F-term (reference) DD52 EE02 EE10 EE16 FF03 FF23 HH22 HH24 JJ52 JJ56 KK13 KK15 5K101 KK12 LL12 MM07 NN06 NN07 NN11

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A photographing means for photographing a moving image or a still image as an image signal, a position information detecting means for detecting positional information on a photographing position, and a storage means for storing the image signal and the positional information in association with each other. A mobile terminal, comprising: a transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the image signal and the position information stored in the storage unit to a network connected to a server having a database. 2. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is a removable recording medium. 3. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the position information is position information obtained from GPS. 4. The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the position information is position information obtained from a base station. 5. An image sensor for converting light from a subject obtained through a lens into an image signal, a frame memory for recording the image signal, and a compression image signal for compressing and encoding the image signal stored in the frame memory. A compression processing circuit for generating a position information, position information detection means for detecting position information regarding a shooting position, storage means for storing the image signal and the position information acquired at the same time as the image signal, and connection with a server having a database A mobile terminal, comprising: a transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the image signal and the position information stored in the storage unit to the established network. 6. An image pickup unit for picking up a moving image or a still image as an image signal, a position information detection unit for detecting position information regarding an image pickup position, and a detachable unit for storing the image signal and the position information in association with each other. A mobile terminal comprising: a storage unit that is a recording medium; and an acceleration sensor that detects relative position coordinates of the mobile terminal. 7. The mobile terminal according to claim 6, wherein the relative position coordinates are obtained by integrating twice the acceleration obtained by the acceleration sensor. 8. The mobile terminal according to claim 6, further comprising a transmission unit that wirelessly transmits the image signal and the position information stored in the storage unit to a network connected to a server having a database.