JP2005278018A - Portable telephone with camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable telephone with a camera equipped with a simple remote photography function which is improved without damaging features of the small size, lightweight and portability of a portable telephone. <P>SOLUTION: In portable telephones 10 and 20 having photography functions, a plurality of portable telephones 10 and 20 are imparted with functions for associating the photography functions communicably each other, and a means for remote-controlling the photography functions of the portable telephones 10 and 20 with cameras thus associated is provided. The remote control functions include a photography function, a timer function, a transfer function, and a function for associating the other portable telephone using phone book data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera-equipped mobile phone. More specifically, the present invention relates to a camera-equipped mobile phone that can remotely control a shooting function of a plurality of mobile phones having a shooting function.

  In recent years, mobile phones with a data transmission function and a camera function have become widespread in addition to the communication function. A mobile phone with a camera function takes a picture and records an image on a small recording medium. There is also a technique for further developing such a mobile phone, and there is a technique for using a camera-equipped mobile phone in combination with a mobile phone equipped with a remote control communication means.

  For example, with a camera function including a mobile phone with a camera function having a mobile phone side remote communication means and a remote operation device having a remote control side remote communication means for transmitting and receiving an operation signal to the mobile phone side remote communication means There is a mobile phone system (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  This technology is a mobile phone system with a camera function that is configured by an operation member that is detachable from a camera main body having a photographing function and that can be remotely operated. In this case, there is a camera provided with photographing angle adjusting means, a zoom function, a focus function, and the like.

  Since this technology is a dedicated video shooting device, it may be equipped with a large remote control device. However, in the technology using a mobile phone, it is not possible to use a large device for the remote shooting function that is not frequently used. Economical and impractical.

  In addition, there is a camera in which an imaging field identification unit having a structure capable of accommodating only a scheduled imaging field area within the optical directivity angle is provided (for example, see Patent Document 2).

  This technology is a camera that emits a light beam that can be recognized only within the photographing range from the camera body to confirm that the subject person is within the photographing range at the time of self-timer / remote operation photographing.

  With this technology, there is a problem in that the light of the camera body cannot be sufficiently recognized in a fine weather or a person with weak eyesight. Further, in order to produce a light amount that can be visually recognized, the power consumption increases, which is disadvantageous.

  Furthermore, a plurality of remote operation transmission signals for starting the camera in response to the remote operation signal, remote operation reception means for receiving the remote operation signal, a timer for measuring the count time from the input of the remote operation signal to the transmission command, There is a camera having a remote control reception control function for canceling a command (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

This technology can issue a stop command after the self-timer is activated during self-timer shooting by remote control. In this technique, the remote operation is limited to the start and stop of shooting.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-50999 (pages 2 and 3, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-53186 (2nd to 10th pages, FIG. 1) JP 2004-12491 A (2nd to 10th pages, FIG. 1)

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera-equipped mobile phone having a simple remote shooting function, which is a further improvement of the above-described conventional technique, without impairing the small, lightweight, and excellent portability characteristics of the mobile phone. It is what.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and is characterized by taking the following technical means. That is, the present invention provides a means for remotely controlling a shooting function of a camera-equipped mobile phone with a function for associating a plurality of mobile phones with each other so that they can communicate with each other in a mobile phone having a shooting function. A mobile phone with a camera, characterized by comprising:

  The association in the present invention is to form a group of mobile phones by adding a mutual remote communication function to a plurality of camera-equipped mobile phones with a shooting function. Here, the remote shooting function is mainly used, and functions related thereto are given.

  According to the present invention, photographing can be performed by freely operating a camera-equipped mobile phone installed at a distance. The present invention can also be used as a remote communication device or remote control device in which a mobile phone is not passed through a relay station like a transceiver. Then, mutual functions, such as a communication function and a photographing function, which are conventionally provided in a mobile phone are grouped so that a plurality of cameras can be operated by remote control.

  By using a camera-equipped mobile phone to associate a plurality of cameras and operating the remote-operating mobile phone, it is possible to take a picture with the photographing mobile phone.

  The camera-equipped mobile phone according to the present invention has a function of displaying the predetermined time of the camera-equipped mobile phone having a photographing function for releasing the shutter at a predetermined time on the mobile phone on the remote operation side. With this function, when taking a picture with a self-timer function at a position away from the camera, the photographing timing can be easily communicated to the photographed person. According to the present invention, this timing can be set and executed by the mobile phone on the operation side.

  When a plurality of camera-equipped mobile phones are associated and the self-timer is set on the mobile phone on the remote operation side, the mobile phone on the remote operation side tells the shooting timing of the camera-equipped mobile phone on the shooting side. This timing display can be realized by various display devices and means provided in the mobile phone.

  In the camera-equipped mobile phone according to the present invention, the number of continuous shots of the camera-equipped mobile phone having a continuous shooting function that repeats shooting at regular time intervals, that is, the number of shots can be set by the mobile phone on the remote control side. It is.

  That is, the number of continuous shots can be freely changed at the shooting position without operating the main body on the shooting side. By associating a plurality of camera-equipped mobile phones and setting the continuous shooting function on the mobile phone on the remote control side, the number of continuous shots can be entered numerically on the telephone on the remote control side.

  Also, if you have the function to automatically transfer photos taken with the camera to other associated mobile phones, you can save the trouble of sending images taken by several people later, and take images taken in real time. Since it can be confirmed by everyone, it is preferable.

  In addition, as described above, the camera of the mobile phone for photographing is included in the display unit of the mobile phone for operation and the display unit of the display phone that are associated with the mobile phone having the function of associating a plurality of mobile phones with cameras. With the function of transferring and displaying the video that is being displayed, it is possible for a plurality of subjects to easily check on the spot whether or not the subject is properly within the shooting range.

  Furthermore, when performing the association, a function can be provided that enables association setting using the phone book data registered in the memory of each mobile phone. In this case, the mobile phone to be associated is stored in the phone book memory. It can be easily selected and set from among them.

  According to the present invention, a camera-equipped cellular phone having a remote shooting function can be realized without impairing the characteristics of the cellular phone such as small size, light weight, and excellent portability, which greatly contributes.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a camera-equipped mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The camera-equipped mobile phones 10 and 20 of the present invention are associated with each other so that they can communicate with each other with respect to the photographing function. That is, the first camera-equipped mobile phone 10 is provided with a remote operation function for controlling the photographing function of the second camera-equipped mobile phone 20, and the second camera 11 receives a second signal 11 from the first camera-equipped mobile phone. The camera of the camera-equipped telephone 20 can be operated.

  The process of performing such association and the subsequent operation function will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  First, camera mode activation 100 is performed. Next, mode selection 101 is performed to select either the normal camera mode or the associated camera mode. When the association camera mode is selected, the process proceeds to the association menu flowchart 102.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the association menu. The associating menu is started 130, and a selection 131 is set that determines whether the target camera-equipped mobile phone is used as a camera, for shooting, for operation and instruction, or for display only. Next, a selection 132 is performed as to whether the other party to be set is set by direct input or selected from the telephone directory. When the destination confirmation 133 is reached, a meeting 134 is performed to determine whether or not the association is to be made, and if rejected, the association is not performed and the process is terminated. If approved, the association is completed 136.

  Next, it is determined 137 whether or not to perform another association, and if NO, the process ends 138. If YES, return to the association menu and repeat the above association assignment process.

  When the association is completed, the process returns to FIG.

  At the start of shooting 103, the camera activation 104 of the camera-equipped mobile phone is performed, and the image captured by the lens is displayed 105 on the LCD. Next, the moving image transfer 106 is performed on the displayed image to the associated mobile phone with camera.

  The camera-equipped mobile phone for remote operation and the camera-equipped cellular phone for display display 107 and 109 the transmitted image. In the camera-equipped mobile phone for remote operation, this image display is confirmed and the shutter button is pressed 108.

  Next, the flow proceeds to the flow shown in FIG.

  When the shutter button is pressed 108, the photographing camera performs photographing 110. Next, a photographed image display 111 is performed. The displayed image is transferred 112 to the associated mobile phone. The camera-equipped mobile phone for operation and display performs display 116 and 120 of the transmitted image.

  The photographing mobile phone performs image storage 113, then transfers 114 the stored data to the associated mobile phone, and the operation ends 115. The operation and display mobile phones receive data 117 and 121 respectively and then end 118 and 122 respectively.

  Such a function can be achieved, for example, by setting the camera of the second camera-equipped mobile phone by remote operation so that the operation of releasing the shutter of the camera can be remotely controlled. Other functions such as a self-timer function, a continuous shooting function, and a function for transferring a photograph taken can also be provided.

  FIG. 5 illustrates a situation in which the subject 30 is remotely photographed. When the second camera-equipped mobile phone 20 is placed on a table or the like and the first camera-equipped cellular phone 10 held at hand is operated, This shows a state in which the camera shutter of the camera-equipped mobile phone operates.

  6 to 9 show an example of displaying the shutter timing of the first camera-equipped mobile phone 10 (remote operation side mobile phone) when the self-timer function is provided. The conventional self-timer is usually on the side of the photographing camera. However, it is difficult to see at a distance. Further, when the light quantity is increased, the power consumption increases. Therefore, in the present invention, the mobile phone 10 on the remote operation side is attached.

  FIG. 6 shows an example in which the self-timer displays for a certain period of time, in which the backlight of the numeric keys of the mobile phone blinks in sequence and counts down. FIG. 7 shows a liquid crystal display, for example, when the second hand rotates. FIG. 8 shows an example of counting down with an audio signal, and FIG. 9 shows an example of counting down by vibration.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure when continuous shooting is performed.

  After the camera-equipped mobile phone is set to the remote operation mode 140, continuous shooting and normal shooting mode selection 141 are performed. When continuous shooting is performed, the mode shifts to the continuous shooting mode 143 and the continuous shooting interval (long or short) setting 144 is performed. Next, the continuous shooting number setting 145 is performed. This setting can be entered using the numeric keypad. Next, when the photographing button is pressed 146, the photographing start 147 is started.

  FIGS. 11 to 14 show examples using the photographing mobile phone 20, the operation mobile phone 10, and the display mobile phone 40. The photographing mobile phone 10 displays an image of the subject 30 as shown in FIG. 12, and transfers this to the operation mobile phone 20 and the display mobile phone 40 as a moving image.

  FIG. 13 shows an operation mobile phone 20 on which an image of a subject is displayed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 14, the image of the subject is also transferred and displayed on the display mobile phone 40. By looking at these, confirming that the preparation for shooting is completed, and pressing the shutter of the mobile phone 20 for remote control, shooting is performed, and the image is stored in the mobile phone for shooting. Also, this image is transferred to the remote control and display mobile phone.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the mobile phone with a camera of the Example of this invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an association process and subsequent operational functions. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an association process and subsequent operational functions. It is a flowchart of an association menu. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a situation where a subject 30 is remotely photographed. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the example which displays shutter timing. It is explanatory drawing of the example which displays shutter timing. It is explanatory drawing of the example which displays shutter timing. It is explanatory drawing of the example which displays shutter timing. It is a flowchart when performing continuous shooting. It is explanatory drawing of an Example. The example which used is shown. It is explanatory drawing of an Example. It is explanatory drawing of an Example.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20, 40 Mobile phone with camera 11 Signal 100 Camera mode activation 101 Mode selection 102 Transition 103 Shooting start 104 Camera activation 105, 107, 109 Display 106 Transfer 108 Shutter button press 110 Shooting 111, 116, 120 Image display 112, 114 Transfer 113 Save 115, 118, 122 Operation end 117, 118 Data reception 130 Menu start 131, 132 selection 133 Confirmation 134 Meeting 134 Meeting 136 Completion 137 Judgment 138 End 140 Setting 141 Selection 142 Normal shooting 143 Continuous shooting mode 144 Continuous shooting interval setting 145 Set the number of continuous shots 146 Press the shooting button 147 Start shooting

Claims (6)

  A mobile phone having a photographing function is provided with a function for associating a plurality of mobile phones with each other so that they can communicate with each other so that the photographing function of the associated mobile phone with a camera can be remotely controlled. A mobile phone with a camera.   2. The camera-equipped mobile phone according to claim 1, further comprising a function of displaying the predetermined time of the camera-equipped mobile phone having a photographing function for releasing the shutter at a predetermined time on a mobile phone on a remote operation side.   2. The camera-equipped cellular phone according to claim 1, further comprising a function for setting the number of times of continuous shooting of a camera-equipped cellular phone having a continuous-shooting function that repeats photographing at regular time intervals by a cellular phone on a remote operation side. .   2. The camera-equipped cellular phone according to claim 1, further comprising a function of automatically transferring a photograph taken by the camera to another associated cellular phone.   2. The function of transferring and displaying an image grasped by a camera of a photographing mobile phone to the display unit of the associated operation mobile phone and the display unit of the display mobile phone. Camera phone.   2. The camera-equipped mobile phone according to claim 1, further comprising a function for performing the association setting on the other-side camera-equipped phone using telephone directory data registered in a memory of each mobile phone.

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