JP2004363753A - Automatic photographing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic photographing system for automatically photographing an object whereby a system fault and a fault in an imaging apparatus are quickly found out. <P>SOLUTION: A system diagnostic means 31 diagnoses a system fault on the basis of a state of a response from the imaging apparatus 10, and a photographing diagnostic means 32 diagnoses a fault in the imaging apparatus 10 on the basis of an image photographed by the imaging apparatus 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic photographing system that automatically takes a commemorative photo or snapshot of a visitor at an amusement facility such as a theme park or an amusement park.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art An automatic photographing system is known in which photographing is performed with an imaging device that is installed at a predetermined place in an amusement facility such as a theme park or an amusement park and automatically and intermittently releases a shutter (for example, Patent Document 1). This is automatically performed using a camera in which a photographer who has conventionally performed a photographer has taken a picture.
[0003]
Furthermore, in order to automatically identify the subject when shooting, an image is distributed based on identification information such as a subject ID transmitted from the transmitter, and a transmitter such as a wireless tag is distributed to the visitors. An imaging system has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 2). In this system, identification information and captured images are stored in association with each other, and services such as printing of captured images, provision of media, and distribution of images can be performed for each visitor.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-136607
[0005]
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-177750 A
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, as described above, in the automatic photographing system, photographing is automatically performed without human intervention. Therefore, even if a failure occurs in the photographing system, there is a problem that it cannot be known until the photographing result is viewed. For example, when a photographer or the like takes a picture, he / she notices the trouble at the time of taking a picture and can immediately take measures such as repairing or replacing the camera. Whether or not there is no confirmation of the image. If a failure or the like is left unrecognized in an automatic photographing system, it will cause fatal damage in the automatic photographing service, so this itself must be avoided as much as possible.
[0007]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an automatic imaging system capable of automatically diagnosing system and imaging device failures.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The automatic photographing system of the present invention includes an imaging device that automatically photographs a subject, and an image management server that manages images captured by the imaging device, and the image management server responds to the imaging device. System diagnosis means for diagnosing a system failure based on the status of response from the imaging device when requested, and imaging diagnostic means for diagnosing a failure of the imaging device based on an image taken by the imaging device It is characterized by being.
[0009]
Here, the “system failure” refers to an automatic photographing system such as a failure of a transmission unit that connects an imaging device and an image management server, a failure of a transmission function of the imaging device or the image management server, a failure of a power supply of the imaging device, or the like. This is a state in which the shooting function is abnormal.
[0010]
Further, the “imaging device failure” refers to a state in which an object such as an obstacle is present in the imaging area of the imaging device and a subject cannot be photographed, or a subject such as a CCD pixel defect of the imaging device cannot be photographed normally.
[0011]
The “imaging diagnosis means” may be any device that diagnoses a failure of the imaging device based on an image captured by the imaging device, and detects the failure by analyzing the captured image itself. Alternatively, an image database storing a reference image captured by the imaging apparatus, and an image comparison unit that detects an abnormality of the imaging apparatus by comparing the reference image of the image database and the image captured by the imaging apparatus. It may be.
[0012]
Note that the image database may include a plurality of reference images with different shooting conditions, and the image comparison unit may select a reference image to be used for diagnosis from the shooting conditions when shooting the images. This “photographing situation” means a situation when photographing a subject such as season, climate, and time.
[0013]
Further, the automatic photographing system may be composed of one imaging device or may be equipped with an imaging device. Furthermore, the “imaging device” may be a fixed camera fixed at a predetermined location, or a moving camera that performs imaging while moving the location.
[0014]
Furthermore, the automatic photographing system may further include a transmitter attached to the subject and a subject specifying device that specifies the subject by receiving a signal from the transmitter.
[0015]
The “transmitter” may be possessed by a visitor such as a theme park or may be a diagnostic transmitter attached to a subject of an image used for diagnosis.
[0016]
Further, when there is a request for an image to be used for diagnosis from the imaging diagnostic means, the “moving camera” detects the diagnostic transmitter while moving and shoots the subject to which the detected diagnostic transmitter is attached. Alternatively, the subject may be photographed when a diagnostic transmitter is detected by the subject specifying device.
[0017]
Further, the “system diagnosis unit” has a function of requesting the imaging apparatus to output a test signal having a predetermined pattern and diagnosing a system failure by performing pattern matching of the test signal transmitted from the imaging apparatus. It may be a thing.
[0018]
The automatic photographing system may further include information providing means for providing information on photographing to the subject. Here, “information relating to photographing” refers to information provided to a subject when photographing, for example, outputting a display or sound indicating that photographing is performed on the subject or previewing a photographed image on the subject. . Further, the image management server has a failure output means for outputting that an imaging device failure or system failure has occurred, and the failure output means indicates that an imaging device failure or system failure has occurred from the information providing means. May be provided.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
According to the automatic imaging system of the present invention, system diagnosis means for diagnosing a system failure based on the response status from the imaging device when a response is requested from the imaging device, and the imaging device based on an image captured by the imaging device The imaging diagnostic means for diagnosing the malfunction of the system allows the system malfunction and the malfunction of the imaging device to be discovered automatically and quickly, so that the automatically captured image cannot be provided to the subject. Can be prevented.
[0020]
Note that the imaging diagnosis unit compares the image database storing the reference image captured by the imaging device with the reference image of the image database and the image captured by the imaging device to detect an abnormality of the imaging device. With this configuration, it is possible to diagnose a failure in the imaging device that is not known when diagnosing a failure in the imaging device only from the image, so that the reliability of the diagnosis of the imaging device can be improved.
[0021]
Further, if the image database has a plurality of reference images with different shooting situations, and the image comparison means selects the reference image used for diagnosis from the shooting situation when shooting the subject, for example, season, climate, Even when the subject is captured differently depending on the shooting situation such as time, the imaging apparatus can be diagnosed using the reference image that matches the shooting situation, so that the reliability of the diagnosis can be improved.
[0022]
Furthermore, if the imaging device is a movable mobile camera provided with a subject specifying device, and the mobile camera detects a diagnostic transmitter attached to the subject of the image used for diagnosis, the subject is photographed. Since a diagnostic image that can be compared with a reference image can be acquired even with a moving camera whose shooting area changes, the reliability of diagnosis of the moving camera can be improved.
[0023]
Further, when the imaging device is a movable mobile camera equipped with a subject identifying device, and the mobile camera detects a transmitter attached to a location that is a subject of an image used for diagnosis, the subject is photographed and an image is taken. Is transmitted to the image management server, it is possible to obtain a diagnostic image that can be compared with a reference image even for a moving camera whose shooting area changes, thereby improving the reliability of diagnosis of the moving camera. it can.
[0024]
Further, the imaging apparatus has a function of outputting a test signal having a predetermined pattern, and the system diagnosis unit requests the imaging apparatus to output a test signal, and uses the test signal transmitted from the imaging apparatus. If a system failure is diagnosed, it is possible to accurately detect an abnormality that has occurred in the transmission path.
[0025]
The image management server further includes information providing means for providing information related to photographing to the subject, the image management server includes failure output means for outputting a failure of the imaging apparatus or a system failure, and the failure output means is provided by the information providing means. If it has a function to output that an imaging device failure or system failure has occurred, the information providing means automatically notifies the subject of the failure when the imaging device failure or system failure has occurred. Therefore, it is possible to immediately inform the subject that the image cannot be acquired by the imaging device, and when the image of the subject is not acquired by the image management server due to a failure, the image acquired and the subject Can be prevented from being misidentified.
[0026]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an automatic photographing system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are schematic views showing an example of use of a preferred embodiment of the automatic photographing system of the present invention. The automatic photographing system 1 is installed in, for example, a theme park, an amusement park, and the like, and includes a plurality of imaging devices 10 that photograph the visitors (subjects) U of the theme park and acquire images of the subjects, and the imaging devices 10. The image management server 30 or the like that manages the images acquired by the above-described information is provided, and the plurality of imaging devices 10 and the image management server 30 can transfer data via a network 3 such as a LAN. Then, after the image capturing apparatus 10 automatically captures a still image with a visitor such as a theme park as the subject U, the image management server 30 prints out the acquired image or an information recording medium such as smart media (registered trademark). And is transferred to the lab 8 or the like and printed by the lab 8 to be provided to the entrant U, or distributed to each terminal device 6 via the Internet or the like. To the visitors U.
[0027]
Here, a plurality of imaging devices 10 in FIG. 1 are installed in the facility, and each imaging device 10 automatically captures the visitors U in the imaging area 5A. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of imaging devices 10 include a fixed camera 10 </ b> A that is fixed at a fixed place and a movable camera 10 </ b> B that can move within the theme park. Specifically, the fixed camera 10A shown in FIG. 3A is a camera fixed at a predetermined location, and photographs the visitors U existing in a predetermined photographing area 5A. . The mobile camera 10B shown in FIG. 3B freely moves within the theme park, and captures the visitors U present in the shooting area 5A of the mobile camera 10B.
[0028]
The subject specifying device 20 shown in FIG. 2 receives a signal from a transmitter (wireless tag) possessed by a visitor U and specifies a subject. Here, the transmitter RT is an IC card type capable of transmission / reception or transmission such as a non-contact type (wireless) IC card, a battery built-in type non-contact ID card capable of transmission / reception or transmission, and an electromagnetic induction type. A (non-powered) non-contact ID card or a long distance type (communication range of about several meters) wireless tag (RFID: Radio Frequency IDentification) or the like is used. The transmitter RT stores a subject ID for identifying the person of the visitor U, and the subject ID is transmitted from the transmitter RT.
[0029]
The subject ID may be different for each user, but the same ID information may be given in a group such as a pair such as a family or a lover or a group. Thereby, even if it is a photographic image in which the individual user is not shown, it is possible to obtain a picture showing other users in the group, children in the family, and the like.
[0030]
In addition, the subject specifying device 20 includes a wide area detection unit 21 that detects that the visitor U has entered the wide area 19 and a shooting area detection unit 22 that detects the visitor U that has entered the shooting area 5A. . The wide area detection means 21 includes a wide area detection antenna 21A that makes the communication area in the wide area 19 communicable, and gates 21B and 21B that count the number of visitors U entering and exiting the imaging area 5A. The wide area detection antenna 21A detects a signal from the transmitter RT and counts the number thereof, thereby grasping the congestion state of the imaging area 5A. The gates 21B and 21B detect signals from the transmitter RT and count the number thereof, and also have a function of counting visitors who do not have the transmitter RT, and predict the number of people heading to the shooting area 5A. .
[0031]
The shooting area detection means 22 is a receiver including an antenna or the like set up in the vicinity of the shooting area 5A, and receives the subject ID from the transmitter RT that enters the shooting area 5A to identify the subject. Note that the imaging area detection unit 22 may further include an ultrasonic sensor 22A and an infrared sensor 22B in order to assist pan / tilde control in the imaging apparatus 10.
[0032]
Here, in the case of the moving camera 10B in FIG. 3B, the location of the shooting area 5A changes, so the mobile camera 10B includes the shooting area detection means 22, and the shooting area detection means 22 detects the transmitter RT. When you do, shooting will be performed automatically.
[0033]
The image management server 30 stores the image transmitted from the imaging device 10 in association with the subject ID, and makes it possible to provide the image to the visitor U who is the subject by printing or the like. Note that the image management server 30 performs print output and the like after performing image quality improvement processing such as offset correction and shading correction on the captured image as necessary.
[0034]
Further, in the automatic photographing system 1, as shown in FIG. 2, a CRT or a liquid crystal display or the like is provided in the vicinity of the photographing area 5A, an indication that photographing is performed on the subject, and a photographed image is previewed on the subject. The information providing means 15 including a display unit for performing the above, a speaker for announcing the countdown until photographing, the state of the imaging device 10, and the like is installed.
[0035]
Here, an operation example in which the attendee U is automatically photographed by the automatic photographing system 1 of FIG. 1 will be described. First, when the visitor U enters the wide area 19 while holding the transmitter RT, the wide area detection means 21 detects the subject ID transmitted from the transmitter RT. Then, in the image management server 30, the number of visitors who enter the photographing area 5A set in the wide area 19 is predicted.
[0036]
Next, when a visitor U enters the shooting area 5A, the shooting area detection means 22 detects the subject ID from the transmitter RT, and shooting by the imaging device 10 is automatically performed. Then, the image acquired by the imaging device 10 is transmitted to the image management server 30 via the network 3. Then, the image management server 30 performs a predetermined image quality improvement process on the image and stores the image and the subject ID in association with each other. Thereafter, when the visitor U returns home, an image obtained by photographing the visitor U is searched from the image management server 30 using the subject ID stored in the transmitter RT as a search key, and the image is provided.
[0037]
By the way, in the automatic photographing system 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a failure of the imaging device 10, a failure of a transmission path constituting the network 3, or the like may occur. When an image cannot be acquired due to a failure, it is desirable to perform recovery work quickly. However, the automatic photographing system 1 as described above has a problem that it is difficult to find a failure. That is, the image photographed by the imaging device 10 is distributed to the visitors U in the vicinity of the exit of a theme park or the like in a printed state, for example. That is, an image taken after a certain period of time has passed since the photograph of the attendee U is handed to the attendee U. Therefore, it is difficult to detect at the time of shooting that the imaging device 10 is out of order. In addition, even when there is a failure in the transmission path of the network 3, it is difficult to notice the failure because the photographing by the imaging device 10 and the preview display by the display unit are correctly performed. Therefore, the image management server 30 of the automatic photographing system 1 has a function of diagnosing the following failure.
[0038]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the automatic photographing system of the present invention. The image management server 30 in FIG. 4 requests the imaging device 10 for a response, and system diagnosis means 31 for diagnosing a system failure based on the situation when the imaging device 10 responds in response to the request. The imaging diagnostic means 32 for diagnosing a failure of the imaging apparatus 10 based on the image taken by the imaging apparatus 10 in response to the request, the system diagnostic means 31 and the imaging diagnostic means 32 have found a fault. A failure output means 35 is provided for outputting that there is a failure sometimes.
[0039]
The system diagnosis unit 31 makes a call response to the imaging apparatus 10 and outputs a failure output means 35 to the effect that there is a system failure when there is no response from the imaging apparatus 10. The system diagnostic unit 31 has a function of requesting the imaging apparatus 10 to transmit a test signal. Here, the imaging apparatus 10 has a test signal having a predetermined pattern in advance, and outputs a test signal in response to a request from the system diagnosis unit 31. When there is no response to the request from the imaging apparatus 10, the system diagnosis unit 31 determines that a system error has occurred, and outputs information indicating that a transmission error has occurred to the failure output unit 35. .
[0040]
Further, the system diagnosis unit 31 determines that an error has occurred in the network 3 when the pattern of the test signal transmitted from the imaging device 10 is abnormal, and indicates that a transmission error has occurred in the failure output unit 35. Is output.
[0041]
The system failure refers to an automatic photographing system such as a defect in a transmission unit that connects the imaging apparatus 10 and the image management server 30, a malfunction in the transmission function of the imaging apparatus 10 or the image management server 30, a malfunction in the power supply of the imaging apparatus 10, and the like. 1 is a state in which the photographing function according to 1 is abnormal.
[0042]
The imaging diagnostic unit 32 has a function of requesting the imaging device 10 to capture an image used for failure diagnosis (hereinafter referred to as “diagnostic image”), and stores a reference image captured by the imaging device 10. The image database 34 includes image comparison means 33 that compares the reference image and the image captured by the imaging device 10 to detect an abnormality of the imaging device 10.
[0043]
Here, when the imaging device 10 requests the imaging diagnosis unit 32 to capture an image used for diagnosis (hereinafter referred to as “diagnostic image”), the imaging device 10 captures imaging conditions (imaging range, pan / The image capturing apparatus 10 performs image capturing using the image capturing conditions. The reference image is an image captured in advance using the imaging conditions stored in each imaging apparatus 10, and the subject of the diagnostic image and the subject of the reference image that are captured in response to a request from the imaging diagnostic unit 32 are substantially the same. Has become. In addition, the image database 34 stores a plurality of reference images obtained by shooting substantially the same subject in different shooting conditions such as weather, season, and time.
[0044]
The image comparison means 33 compares the image used for diagnosis with the reference image, and determines whether or not the mean square value of the difference between the two images, the half-value width of the cross-correlation function, etc. are at a predetermined value. In particular, the image comparison unit 33 has a function of detecting a shooting situation such as weather, season, time, etc. when shooting is performed by the imaging apparatus 10, and makes a diagnosis from a plurality of reference images according to the detected shooting situation. The reference image to be used is selected.
[0045]
As described above, when the shooting situation changes by preparing multiple reference images for different shooting situations and selecting the reference image to be used according to the climate, season, time, etc. when acquiring the diagnostic image Even so, the diagnosis can be performed using the reference image suitable for the photographing situation, so that a plurality of highly reliable failure diagnosis can be performed.
[0046]
Further, the imaging diagnosis means 32 can perform not only a fixed camera 10A fixed at a fixed place but also a failure diagnosis of a movable camera 10B that can move the place. That is, in the case of the fixed camera 10A, since the shooting area 5A does not change, if the subject of the diagnostic image is set to a predetermined object in the shooting area of the fixed camera 10A, the diagnostic image is always substantially the same subject. Will be copied. On the other hand, in the case of the moving camera 10B, the shooting area 5A changes with the movement of the moving camera 10B. Therefore, when the imaging of the diagnostic image is requested, it is not always possible to capture the same subject as the reference image.
[0047]
Therefore, a diagnostic transmitter attached to a subject that is a subject of the diagnostic image is installed at a predetermined location in the theme park. The diagnostic transmitter stores a subject ID indicating a diagnostic subject. When the mobile camera 10B detects a diagnostic transmitter, the subject is photographed. Then, since the mobile camera 10B can acquire an image that can be compared with the reference image, the accuracy of the failure diagnosis of the mobile camera 10B can be improved.
[0048]
Furthermore, the image management server 30 includes a failure output unit 35 that outputs that a failure of the imaging device 10 or a system failure has occurred. The failure output unit 35 uses an image or sound when the system diagnosis unit 31 determines that a system failure has occurred, or when the imaging diagnosis unit 32 diagnoses the imaging device 10 as a failure. The administrator is notified that such a situation has occurred. Further, the failure output means 35 is, for example, the system of the imaging apparatus 10 such as “A system error has occurred, and the automatic photographing service at this location has been suspended. It has a function of outputting from the information providing means 15 that a failure or system failure has occurred. As a result, when the imaging device 10 fails or a system failure occurs on the subject side, the information providing unit 15 can automatically notify that the imaging device 10 has failed. It is possible to notify the user U immediately and to prevent the user U from misidentifying that the image is acquired when the image of the visitor U is not acquired by the image management server 30 due to a failure. it can.
[0049]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the automatic photographing system according to the present invention, and the operation example of the automatic photographing system will be described with reference to FIGS. The failure diagnosis described below may be performed at the time of starting the system, or may be performed periodically at regular intervals.
[0050]
First, a call request is made from the system diagnosis means 31 to the imaging apparatus 10 (step ST1), and whether or not there is a response is determined (step ST2). If there is no response from the imaging apparatus 10, it is determined that there is a system error, and an output to that effect is output from the failure output means (step ST10).
[0051]
Thereafter, a request for a test signal is made from the system diagnosis means 31 to the imaging apparatus 10 (step ST3), and whether or not there is a response is determined (step ST4). If there is no response from the imaging apparatus 10, it is determined that there is a system error, and an output to that effect is output from the failure output means 35 (step ST10). On the other hand, when the test signal is transmitted, the transmitted test signal pattern is compared with the test signal pattern of the system diagnosis means 31 to determine whether or not they match (step ST5). If the patterns do not match, it is determined that there is an error in the transmission means, and that fact is output from the failure output means 35 (step ST11).
[0052]
When the test signal patterns match, the system diagnostic unit 31 requests the imaging apparatus 10 to acquire a diagnostic image (step ST6). Here again, it is determined whether or not there is a response (image transmission) from the imaging device 10 (step ST7), and if there is no response, an output indicating a system error is output from the failure output means (step ST10).
[0053]
When the imaging apparatus 10 is a fixed camera 10A, a predetermined subject is photographed using photographing conditions for photographing a diagnostic image, and a diagnostic image is transmitted from the fixed camera 10A to the photographing diagnosis unit 32. On the other hand, when the imaging device 10 is the mobile camera 10B, the diagnostic camera is searched while the mobile camera 10B is moving, and when the diagnostic transmitter is detected, imaging is performed, and the diagnostic imaging means is taken from the mobile camera 10B. A diagnostic image is transmitted to 32.
[0054]
Thereafter, the imaging diagnostic means 32 selects a reference image that matches the imaging conditions of the diagnostic image, and compares the diagnostic image with the reference image (steps ST8 and ST9). As a result, if there is an error, the failure output means 35 outputs that it is a camera error (step ST12). Further, the failure output means 35 outputs that the information providing means 15 cannot take a picture due to a system failure or a failure of the imaging device 10, and notifies the subject (entrance) U in the vicinity of the imaging device 10 that photography is not possible. The
[0055]
According to the above embodiment, the system diagnosis means for diagnosing a system failure using a response from the imaging apparatus 10 when the imaging is requested to the imaging apparatus by the system diagnosis means 31, and the diagnostic image captured by the imaging apparatus 10 And imaging diagnostic means for diagnosing a failure of the imaging device 10, so that a system failure and a malfunction of the imaging device 10 can be automatically and quickly detected, so that the subject is automatically captured. It is possible to prevent a problem that an image cannot be provided even if the user thinks that it has been done.
[0056]
In addition, the imaging diagnosis unit 32 compares the reference database in the image database 34 and the diagnostic image, in which the reference image obtained by previously imaging the substantially same subject as the diagnostic image to be captured is stored for each imaging device 10. If the image comparison means 33 for detecting an abnormality of the imaging device 10 is provided, it is possible to diagnose a failure of the imaging device 10 that is not known when a failure of the imaging device 10 is diagnosed only from a diagnostic image. The reliability of diagnosis of the device 10 can be increased.
[0057]
Furthermore, if the image database 34 has a plurality of reference images with different imaging conditions, and the image comparison unit 33 selects a reference image used for diagnosis from an imaging situation when imaging an image used for diagnosis, Even when the subject is captured differently depending on the shooting situation, the imaging device 10 can be diagnosed using a reference image that matches the shooting situation, so that the reliability of the diagnosis can be improved.
[0058]
In addition, if the system diagnosis unit 31 requests the output of a test signal having a predetermined pattern and performs pattern matching of the test signal transmitted from the imaging device 10, the system failure is diagnosed. An abnormality that has occurred can be detected.
[0059]
Furthermore, the imaging device 10 includes a movable mobile camera 10B provided with the subject specifying device 20, and the mobile camera 10B becomes a subject of an image used for diagnosis in response to a request for an image used for diagnosis from the system diagnosis unit 31. If a diagnostic transmitter attached to a place is detected and a subject is photographed to obtain an image to be used for diagnosis, even a moving camera whose photographing area 5A changes can be compared with a reference image. Since the image to be used can be acquired, the reliability of diagnosis of the mobile camera can be improved.
[0060]
The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in FIG. 2, the imaging diagnosis unit 32 is provided on the image management server 30 side, but may be provided on the imaging device 10 side. At this time, the imaging apparatus 10 has an image database 34. When a failure diagnosis request is received from the image management server 30, the image is captured and compared with a reference image, and the result is sent to the image management server 30. become.
[0061]
In FIG. 5, when a diagnostic image is requested from the image management server 30, the diagnostic image is acquired in response to the diagnostic transmitter. In the case of the mobile camera 10B, the diagnostic transmitter is detected. When this happens, a diagnostic image may be automatically transmitted. That is, the moving camera 10B automatically captures images by detecting the subject approaching the moving camera 10B by the imaging area detection means 22, and uses this to diagnose while the moving camera 10B is moving. When the transmitter is detected, a diagnostic image may be automatically captured and transmitted to the image management server 30.
[0062]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example when the above-described mobile camera 10B automatically transmits a diagnostic image, and the failure diagnosis of the mobile camera 10B will be described with reference to FIG. First, when the mobile camera 10B detects the transmitter RT (step ST20), it is determined from the subject ID output from the transmitter RT whether or not it is a diagnostic transmitter (step ST21). When the subject ID is a diagnostic transmitter, the subject is photographed according to the photographing conditions stored in the mobile camera 10B (step ST22). Then, the image acquired by the moving camera 10B is transmitted to the imaging diagnosis unit 32 and compared with the reference image (step ST23). As a result, if there is an error, the failure output means 35 outputs that the mobile camera 10B is abnormal (step ST25).
[0063]
As a result, the image used for diagnosis can be automatically sent from the mobile camera 10B without a request for diagnosing the failure from the image management server 30, and the failure can be diagnosed efficiently. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a preferred embodiment of an automatic photographing system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the automatic photographing system of the present invention.
3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an imaging apparatus in the automatic imaging system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the automatic photographing system of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the automatic photographing system of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another operation example of the automatic photographing system of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Automatic shooting system
10 Imaging device
10A fixed camera
10B Moving camera
20 Subject identification device
30 Image management server
31 System diagnostic means
32. Imaging diagnostic means
33 Image comparison means
34 Image Database
36 Fault output means
RT transmitter

Claims (9)

An imaging device that automatically captures a subject, and an image management server that manages images captured by the imaging device;
The image management server
Imaging diagnostic means for diagnosing a failure of the imaging device based on an image captured by the imaging device;
A system diagnosis unit provided in the image management server for diagnosing a system failure based on a response status from the imaging device when a response is requested to the imaging device;
An automatic photographing system characterized by comprising The imaging diagnostic means is
An image database storing reference images taken by the imaging device;
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image comparison means for comparing the reference image in the image database and the image taken by the imaging device to detect an abnormality of the imaging device. Automatic shooting system. The image database has a plurality of the reference images having different photographing situations, and the image comparison means selects the reference images used for diagnosis from the photographing situations when photographing the subject. The automatic photographing system according to claim 2. 4. The transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmitter attached to the subject; and a subject specifying device that specifies the subject by receiving a signal from the transmitter. The automatic photographing system according to the item. The automatic imaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the imaging device is a movable moving camera including the subject specifying device. The transmitter is a diagnostic transmitter attached to a subject to be used for diagnosis, and the moving camera moves the diagnostic transmitter while moving when there is a request for an image to be used for diagnosis from the imaging diagnostic means. 5. The automatic photographing system according to claim 4, wherein the automatic photographing system detects and detects a subject having the detected diagnostic transmitter. The transmitter is a diagnostic transmitter attached to a subject of an image used for diagnosis, and the subject having the diagnostic transmitter when the moving camera detects the diagnostic transmitter by the subject specifying device The automatic photographing system according to claim 5, wherein the automatic photographing system is for photographing an image. The imaging device has a function of outputting a test signal having a predetermined pattern, and the system diagnosis unit requests the imaging device to output the test signal, and is transmitted from the imaging device. The automatic photographing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which has a function of diagnosing the system failure using a signal. The image management server further includes information providing means for providing information relating to photographing to the subject, and the image management server includes failure output means for outputting a failure of the imaging device or the system failure, and the failure output means The automatic photographing according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the information providing means has a function of outputting a notification that a failure of the imaging device or a system failure has occurred. system.

Images