JP2005323254A - Mobile telephone set with camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To photograph a proper image, in proper shutter timing through remote operation. <P>SOLUTION: A mobile telephone set with a camera comprises a telephone circuit 34 which receives incoming signals and shutter release signals from a remote mobile telephone set by wireless, a mode control part 36 which sets a remote camera mode, wherein a picture is taken in accordance with operation of the remote mobile telephone set when receiving the incoming signal, and a system control part 40, which photographs a moving picture by the camera 16 and transmits the moving images to the remote mobile telephone set in real time, when the remote camera mode is set, and photographs a static picture by the camera 16 when the shutter release signal is received from the remote telephone set. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera-equipped mobile phone, and more particularly to a camera-equipped mobile phone that can be operated remotely.

  In general, when a self-timer is used, a camera releases a shutter after a predetermined time has elapsed.

On the other hand, mobile phones with cameras have become widespread. Patent Document 1 describes a camera-equipped cellular phone that detects an incoming call and automatically releases a shutter when a call is made from another remote cellular phone. Patent Document 2 describes a camera-equipped mobile phone that has a self-timer and a touch sensor, starts counting when the human body leaves the touch sensor, and starts shooting when the time is up. ing.
JP 2003-18254 A JP 2002-204386 A

  The device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to release the shutter when an incoming call from a remote mobile phone is detected, and the time from the call operation on the remote mobile phone to the incoming call on the mobile phone for photographing. The length of the call, that is, the time it takes for the call to start on the other party's phone is also affected by the communication environment such as the congestion of the phone. As a result, the remote control side accurately determines when the shooting will be performed. There is a problem that it is difficult to grasp. In addition, there is a problem that it is impossible to confirm in advance on the side of remote control how the image is to be taken. Therefore, it is often the case that a desired image is finally obtained by taking a picture, confirming the image, and repeating trial and error several times.

  In the device described in Patent Document 2, preparation must be made in a predetermined self-timer time to the shooting position and facing the camera.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a camera-equipped mobile phone that can capture an appropriate image at an appropriate shutter timing even when remotely operated.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a camera for photographing, a wireless communication means for wirelessly receiving an incoming signal and a release signal from a remote mobile phone, and receiving the incoming signal, A mode control means for setting a remote camera mode for performing shooting according to an operation of a remote mobile phone, and when the remote camera mode is set, a video is shot by the camera and transmitted to the remote mobile phone in real time, When a release signal is received from a remote mobile phone, the camera is provided with camera control means for taking a still image with the camera.

  With this configuration, it is possible to give a release instruction while visually recognizing a real-time moving image (through image) after calling a mobile phone for photographing from a remote location and calling it.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the wireless communication unit transmits information indicating a waiting time until the start of photographing of the still image in the remote camera mode from the remote mobile phone. The camera is configured to capture a still image after the standby time has elapsed.

  With this configuration, it is possible to perform shooting while setting a standby time from a remote location.

  When the authentication information is received from the remote mobile phone and the authentication information is compared with the authentication information stored in advance, the invention according to claim 3 is the case where the authentication information is matched. Is configured to include an authentication control means for permitting remote operation of the remote mobile phone and rejecting remote operation of the remote mobile phone if they do not match.

  With this configuration, an erroneous operation due to an incoming call from the third party's mobile phone is prevented, and unauthorized remote operation by the third party is restricted.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to capture an appropriate image at an appropriate shutter timing even when remote control is performed.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a principal part of a camera-equipped mobile phone to which the present invention is applied.

  In FIG. 1, a mobile phone 1 mainly includes a microphone 12 for inputting a transmission voice, a speaker 14 for outputting a reception voice, a camera 16 for photographing, a display 20 for displaying, and keys for performing operations. An image captured by the pad 16, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 24 for notifying incoming calls, an audio processing unit 26 for encoding audio input from the microphone 12 and decoding received audio, and a camera 16 The mode setting of the mobile phone 1, the image processing unit 28 that performs the encoding and decoding of the received image, the antenna 32 and the telephone circuit 34 that communicate with another mobile phone wirelessly via the mobile phone communication network. A mode control unit 36 for controlling, a timer setting unit 38 for setting the timer of the camera 16, a system control unit 40 for controlling all parts of the mobile phone 1, an image, Memory 42 for storing information necessary for the operation of the program and the program for operating the telephone 1 is composed of a.

  The display 20 displays a screen for guiding a user's remote operation (for example, a password input screen, a camera menu, a timer setting screen), displays a result of the remote operation (for example, error message or timer setting completion), and displays an image. Various displays such as display are performed.

  The keypad 22 accepts various operations such as input of a telephone number, transmission instruction, input of a personal identification number, input of timer time, and release operation.

  Modes controlled by the mode control unit 36 include a standby mode, a busy mode, a camera mode, a remote camera mode, and the like. Specifically, the mode control unit 36 sets the standby mode when the mobile phone 1 is turned on. In this standby mode, when the other party is designated by the keypad 22 and a call is instructed, the standby mode is switched to the busy mode, and when the call or predetermined communication ends, the standby mode is restored. In the standby mode, when an incoming signal is received via the mobile phone communication network by the antenna 32 and the telephone circuit 34, the standby mode is switched to the busy mode, and the standby mode is entered when the call or predetermined communication is completed. return. In the standby mode, when activation of the camera 16 is instructed by the keypad 22, the standby mode is switched to the camera mode. In the camera mode, when the local camera shooting is finished, the mode is switched to the standby mode. On the other hand, in the camera mode, when an incoming signal is received via the mobile phone communication network by the antenna 32 and the telephone circuit 34, the camera mode is switched to the remote camera mode.

  Here, the remote camera mode is a mode in which shooting is performed by the camera 16 in accordance with an operation of another remote mobile phone.

  When the telephone circuit 34 receives a timer time from another mobile phone via the mobile phone communication network in the remote camera mode, the timer setting unit 38 sets the received timer time in the temporary memory 18 of the camera 16. The timer of the camera 16 is set.

  Here, the timer time is a waiting time from when the telephone circuit 34 receives a release signal from a remote mobile phone until the camera 16 starts photographing.

  There are various modes for setting the timer time. First, there is a mode in which a timer time is received in advance separately from the release signal, the timer time is set in the camera 16 in advance, and shooting is performed after the timer time is counted in response to reception of the release signal. Secondly, there is a mode in which the timer time is received together with the release signal, and the photographing is performed after the timer time is counted with the reception of the release signal.

  The system control unit 40 generates screen information to be displayed on the remote mobile phone, and wirelessly transmits the screen information to the remote mobile phone via the mobile phone communication network.

  Here, the screen displayed on the remote mobile phone includes a personal identification number input screen for inputting a personal identification number, a camera menu for selecting a remote operation item, and a timer setting screen for setting the timer of the camera 16. and so on.

  Further, when an incoming call from a remote mobile phone is detected in the camera mode, the system control unit 40 requests a personal identification number from the remote mobile phone. Then, when a personal identification number is received from a remote mobile phone, the received personal identification number is compared with the personal identification number stored in advance in the memory 42. Refuses remote operation.

  Further, in the remote camera mode, the system control unit 40 transmits a moving image captured by the camera 16 to a remote mobile phone in real time, and when the release signal is received from the remote mobile phone, the camera 16 captures a still image. .

  The camera 16 shoots a still image when a release signal is detected by the telephone circuit 34 in the remote camera mode. Here, when the timer time is set in the temporary memory 18 of the camera 16, the timer time (for example, 10 seconds) is measured after receiving the release signal, and the still image is taken after the timer time elapses. .

  Note that the camera control means and authentication control means of the present invention are mainly configured by the system control unit 40.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the mobile phone 1A (hereinafter referred to as “mobile phone A”) is remotely operated from the mobile phone 1A (hereinafter referred to as “mobile phone A”) via the mobile phone communication network, photographing is performed. The flow of processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The mode of the cellular phone B is switched to the camera mode in advance by operating the keypad 22 of the cellular phone B for photographing, and the cellular phone B is set at a predetermined photographing position. For example, it is installed in the holder 2 as shown in FIG. After installation, the keypad 22 of the mobile phone A for remote operation is operated to make a call from the mobile phone A to the mobile phone B (S2). In the mobile phone B for photographing, when there is an incoming call from the mobile phone A for remote operation via the mobile phone communication network, it is determined whether or not the current mode is the camera mode (S4).

  If the mobile phone B is in a mode other than the camera mode (for example, a busy mode) when an incoming call is received, the remote operation of the mobile phone A is rejected, and an error message is transmitted from the mobile phone B to the mobile phone A (S6). ) Communication between mobile phone A and mobile phone B is disconnected (S70).

  On the other hand, if the mobile phone B is in the camera mode at the time of an incoming call, a message “Please enter your PIN” is sent from the mobile phone B to the mobile phone A, and the message is displayed on the display 20 of the mobile phone A. It is displayed (S8). When the personal identification number is input from the mobile phone A for remote operation (S10), the personal identification number is transmitted from the cellular phone A to the cellular phone B (S12). In the mobile phone B that has received the password from the mobile phone A, it is determined whether or not the received password matches the password stored in advance in the memory 42 of the mobile phone B (S14).

  If the personal identification numbers do not match, it is determined whether the personal identification number has already been entered three times (S15). If the personal identification number has already been entered three times, the remote operation is rejected and the communication is disconnected (S70). If it is less than three times, the message “Wrong. Please enter again” is transmitted from the mobile phone B to the mobile phone A, and the message is displayed on the display 20 of the mobile phone A ( S16).

  On the other hand, if the passwords match, the remote operation is permitted, and the cellular phone B switches from the camera mode to the remote camera mode (S18), and the camera menu is transmitted from the cellular phone B to the cellular phone A. The camera menu is displayed on the display 20 of the mobile phone A (S20). Here, remote control items such as “Timer setting”, “Preview”, “End”, etc. are displayed as text (character strings) or icons (designs) as camera menus. An item is selected using the keypad 22 of the mobile phone A (S22).

  When “timer setting” is selected from the camera menu, a standby time (timer time) from when the release operation is performed with the mobile phone A for remote operation until the actual shooting is started with the mobile phone B for shooting is set. It can be performed. Specifically, when “timer setting” is selected, a timer setting screen is displayed on the display 20 of the mobile phone A (S32), and the timer time is input using the keypad 22 of the mobile phone A (S34). ). For example, the time until the shutter is released is input in units of seconds from 1 second to 15 seconds. The input timer time is transmitted from the mobile phone A to the mobile phone B (S36). The mobile phone B sets the timer of the camera 16 by setting the received timer time in the temporary memory 18 of the camera (S38). Then, a message “A timer for XX seconds has been set” is transmitted from the mobile phone B to the mobile phone A, and the message is displayed on the display 20 of the mobile phone A (S40).

  When “Preview” is selected from the camera menu, a through image (which is a real-time video) transmitted from the mobile phone B for shooting is displayed on the display 20 of the mobile phone A for remote control, and the subject It is possible to confirm in advance how the image will be copied. Specifically, when “Preview” is selected, a through image request is transmitted from the mobile phone A to the mobile phone B (S52), and the mobile phone B sets the shooting mode of the camera 16 to the moving image mode. In step S54, the moving image shot by the camera 16 is transferred to the mobile phone A in real time at a predetermined rate of frames (for example, 10 frames per second) and displayed on the display 20 of the mobile phone A. (S56).

  When a release operation is performed with the keypad 22 of the mobile phone A for remote operation with the through image displayed in this manner (S58), a release instruction is transmitted from the mobile phone A to the mobile phone B (S60). . The mobile phone B that has received the release instruction takes a still image (S62). Specifically, when the timer is set, a still image is shot after the timer time has elapsed since the release instruction was received, and there is no timer setting (that is, the timer time is 0 second). In this case, photographing is performed almost simultaneously with reception of the release instruction.

  A still image photographed with the camera of the mobile phone B after being remotely operated by the mobile phone A is stored in the memory 42 of the mobile phone B. Thereafter, the image stored in the memory 42 of the mobile phone B for photographing may be read from the mobile phone A for remote operation and displayed.

  If “end” is selected in the camera menu, the communication between the mobile phone A and the mobile phone B is disconnected (S70).

  In the process shown in FIG. 3, when setting the timer, the timer time is input by the mobile phone A for remote operation (S32 to 38), and then the through image is visually confirmed by the mobile phone A, and then the release is performed. Although the operation is performed, the present invention is not particularly limited to such a case. For example, the release operation may be performed immediately by inputting the timer time with the mobile phone A for remote operation (S32 to 38). A timer time is added to the release signal and transmitted from the mobile phone A to the mobile phone B. The mobile phone B that has received the release signal with the timer time takes a still image after the timer time has elapsed since the release signal was received.

A mobile phone with a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention Explanatory diagram used to describe a set of mobile phones used for remote shooting A flowchart showing an exemplary flow of remote shooting processing

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mobile phone (mobile phone A for remote control, mobile phone B for photographing), 16 ... Camera, 20 ... Display, 22 ... Keypad, 32 ... Antenna, 34 ... Telephone circuit (wireless communication means), 36 ... Mode control unit, 38 ... timer setting unit, 40 ... system control unit (camera control means, authentication control means), 42 ... memory

Claims (3)

A camera to shoot,
Wireless communication means for wirelessly receiving an incoming signal and a release signal from a remote mobile phone;
Mode control means for setting a remote camera mode for performing shooting according to the operation of the remote mobile phone when receiving the incoming signal;
When the remote camera mode is set, the camera controls the camera to shoot a moving image and transmit it to the remote mobile phone in real time, and to receive a release signal from the remote mobile phone and to take a still image by the camera Means,
A mobile phone with a camera, comprising: The wireless communication means receives from the remote mobile phone information indicating a waiting time from reception of the release signal to start of shooting of the still image in the remote camera mode,
The camera-equipped mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein when the release signal is received, the camera captures a still image after the standby time has elapsed.   When authentication information is received from the remote mobile phone, the authentication information is compared with previously stored authentication information. If they match, remote operation of the remote mobile phone is permitted. The camera-equipped mobile phone according to claim 1, further comprising authentication control means for refusing remote operation of the mobile phone.

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