JP2006041566A - Video camera and network system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a conventional problem in cost and operation that apparatuses such as a personal computer or a card reader are independently required to store frame images according to a user's preference and works of the connection or disconnection of the apparatuses to or from a recording medium, in order to acquire an image like an image photographed in a photo booth of an amusement center by using a video camera. <P>SOLUTION: A video camera 100 selects one item of a thumbnail image according to the preference of a user from a list of thumbnail images transmitted from a personal computer or a cellular phone 200 via a network (S2-S4), and receives the selected image from the personal computer or the cellular phone 200 to store the received image in a specific directory of a memory card (S5). After that, the video camera 100 reads an actually-photographed still image reproduced from the specific directory of the memory card to cause a display unit 105 to display the image, and reads the selected thumbnail image as an outer frame image from the specific directory and the display unit 105 overlaps the images like an image picked up in a photo booth in an amusement center. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a video camera and a network system using the video camera, and particularly uses a video camera having a function of combining a still image shot by a video camera having a network function with a frame image prepared in advance and the video camera. Related to network system.

  Conventionally, the caller's face images taken by each of the two camera-equipped mobile phones to be communicated are arranged side by side on the display part of one or both of the camera-equipped mobile phones, and the images are arbitrarily selected. There is known an image composition system that composes an outer frame image and stores the composite image data in a memory (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the image composition system described in Patent Document 1, the image data of the outer frame is stored in advance in a memory in a camera-equipped mobile phone, or downloaded from a network and saved in a memory in the camera-equipped mobile phone. By using a background image and a frame image, an image similar to that photographed by a photography device (commonly called “print club”) in a game hall or the like (hereinafter referred to as a “printer image” in this specification) ”, And the image composition for obtaining the photo image is called“ photo image overlay ”). Can also be created.

JP 2002-171497 A

  However, the above-described image composition system uses a mobile phone with a camera. Instead of a mobile phone with a camera, a still image of a subject image can be placed on a removable portable recording medium (such as an SD memory card or a memory stick). I cannot use a video camera with the function of recording.

  In the case of performing photokura superimposition using a video camera, for example, the captured still image 10 shown in FIG. 7 and the outer frame image used for the photokura superposition as shown in FIG. 8, for example, stored in advance in a portable recording medium. The synthesized frame image 11 is generated by synthesizing with the frame image 11 for use. Here, the frame image for the outer frame image used for the photo-clapping must be stored in the specific directory of the portable recording medium.

  When using a frame image of the user's preference other than the frame image provided by the video camera manufacturer as the frame image stored in the specific directory, the portable recording medium is temporarily removed from the video camera. A portable recording medium is connected to a personal computer (personal computer) via a card reader, and a user's favorite frame image created by the personal computer or downloaded via the network is stored in a specific folder of the portable recording medium via the card reader. Need to save.

  For this reason, conventionally, in order to obtain a photo frame image using a video camera, a separate device such as a personal computer or a card reader is required to store a user's favorite frame image, and these and a portable recording medium, Connection and removal work is also necessary, which is problematic in terms of cost and work.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a video camera capable of acquiring a desired frame image via a network without removing a portable recording medium from the video camera body and a network system using the video camera. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, a video camera of the present invention is a video camera having a server function connectable to a network, and uses image data received from a client via a network and a captured still image of a captured subject image as a recording medium. A recording unit for recording, a display unit, and a synthesizing unit for selectively reproducing the received image data and the subject still image recorded on the recording medium and displaying the synthesized still image on the display unit. Features.

  In this invention, a subject still image shot by itself is recorded on a recording medium, and the subject still image reproduced from the recording medium is inserted into an outer frame image based on image data received from a client via a network. The so-called precracked superimposed still image can be displayed on the display unit, so that the recording medium can be superimposed without removing the recording medium from the video camera. And devices such as card readers are not required.

In order to achieve the above object, the network system according to the present invention is provided between a video camera having a server function connectable to a network and a client that records a thumbnail image list including a plurality of frame images. In a network system that transmits and receives data via a network, the above video camera
First receiving means for receiving a thumbnail image list or a single frame image from the client, and a first transmission for transmitting a transmission request for any one frame image selected from the received thumbnail image list to the client Means, recording means for recording a photographed still image of a photographed subject image and any one frame image received from a client, a received image data and a subject still image recorded on the recording medium; And a combining unit that selectively reproduces and displays on the display unit a combined still image in which the subject still image is inserted into the outer frame image based on the received image data.
The above client
Received by the second transmitting means for transmitting the thumbnail image list to the video camera, the second receiving means for receiving a transmission request for any one frame image transmitted from the video camera, and the second receiving means. And a third transmission means for selecting one frame image based on the transmission request from the thumbnail image list and transmitting it to the video camera.

  In the present invention, the video camera can obtain a composite image of one frame image (thumbnail image) selected from the thumbnail image list received from the client and the subject still image reproduced from the recording medium.

  According to the present invention, a favorite thumbnail image (frame image) is selected from a list of thumbnail images received by a video camera via a network and acquired, and this is recorded on a recording medium. Since the still image and the photo frame are superimposed, the photo frame can be superimposed on the user's favorite frame image other than the photo frame provided by the video camera manufacturer, and a personal computer or card for storing the user's favorite frame image A device such as a reader is not necessary, and connection and removal of the memory card and the like can be dispensed with, so that cost reduction and workability can be greatly improved.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of a network system using a video camera according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a video camera 100 configured to be connectable to the network of the present invention is connected to a personal computer and / or a mobile phone (hereinafter referred to as “this”) via a network (such as the Internet or a local area network) 500. Is referred to as “PC / mobile phone”) 200.

  The personal computer / mobile phone 200 is a personal computer and / or mobile phone that has a network environment and is equipped with a web browser, image editing software, and the like, and is connected via a network (such as the Internet or a local area network) 400. Two-way connection to the website 300 is made. In this network system, the video camera 100 is a server, and the personal computer / mobile phone 200 and the website 300 are regarded as clients.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a video camera according to the present invention together with a client. The video camera 100 includes a communication unit 101 that communicates via a network with a web browser 202 of a personal computer 201 (when the personal computer / mobile phone 200 in FIG. 1 is a personal computer) as a client, and the communication unit 101 receives the video camera 100. It has a control unit 102 that analyzes a GET method or POST method of HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), generates necessary response data, and transmits it to the personal computer 201 via the communication unit 101.

  In addition, the video camera 100 reads out still images such as thumbnail images from the memory card 104 under the control of the control unit 102, or subject images obtained via a camera unit and an image processing unit (not shown) as necessary. A memory card read / write unit 103 that writes a still image of the video signal to the memory card 104, and a display unit 105 that displays the image signal read from the memory card 103.

  Further, although not shown, the video camera 100 also includes a recording / reproducing unit that records and reproduces the video signal of the subject image on, for example, a magnetic tape. Furthermore, every time a video signal of a moving image is recorded on the magnetic tape, the video camera 100 generates a still image of the video signal immediately after the recording starts, and includes date information and a time code indicating the recording start position of the magnetic tape Along with other identification information, a function to record a thumbnail image for searching the head of the magnetic tape on the memory card 104, and still images taken in the still image mode, together with detailed information such as name, image size, width, height, etc. A thumbnail image list is recorded on the memory card 104, and an arbitrary selected still image is reproduced from the thumbnail image list.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. First, frame images are prepared and a list of thumbnail images is created. This operation will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a diagram rewritten by adding an operation sequence to the configuration diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 1, and the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In FIG. 3, first, the personal computer / mobile phone 200 on the client side downloads a frame image from the website 300 via the network (400 in FIG. 1) (step S1). The frame image is a frame image for an outer frame image used for the photo-clapping, and is a still image as shown by 11 in FIG. 8, for example. When the personal computer / mobile phone 200 is a personal computer, the personal computer itself can create the frame image.

  At this time, if the personal computer / mobile phone 200 is a personal computer, a thumbnail image list is also created. This thumbnail image list is an image group in which a plurality (9 in this case) of thumbnail images, which are still images, are arranged and arranged, for example, as indicated by 30 in FIG. It consists of a frame image 31 and detailed information (serial number, image size, name, horizontal width, vertical width, etc.) 32. In addition, user-specific comments on the client side may be posted.

  In a mobile phone, this may be omitted if there is no function for creating such a thumbnail image list 30, but the video camera 100 may select a favorite thumbnail image (frame image) from the thumbnail image list 30. Since it is not possible, the client side user decides what frame image to send.

  Next, data is exchanged between the personal computer / mobile phone 200 and the video camera 100 via a network. The network (Internet / local area network) used at that time is a Pea to Pea network, and the personal computer / mobile phone 200 as a client and the video camera 100 as a server communicate with each other at 1: 1. This is different from the network (Internet / local area network) used when the client-side personal computer / mobile phone 200 downloads a frame image or the like from the website 300.

  The data transfer method uses the HTTP POST method from the client-side personal computer / mobile phone 200 to the server-side video camera 100, and the server-side video camera 100 from the client-side personal computer / mobile phone 200 to the HTTP side. Use the GET method.

  Details are as follows. After creating a thumbnail image list 30 using a personal computer as the personal computer / mobile phone 200, an HTTP POST method is executed to transmit the thumbnail image list 30 to the server-side video camera 100 (step S2 in FIG. 3). This is not necessary when the personal computer / mobile phone 200 cannot be used to create the thumbnail image list 30 by using only the mobile phone. The POST method is a method included in an HTTP request when information is transmitted from the client to the server.

  Subsequently, the personal computer / cell phone 200 acquires “one image from the thumbnail image” in order to acquire a file including information for knowing what thumbnail image the thumbnail camera 30 has selected from the thumbnail image list 30. The HTTP GET method corresponding to the command “select the user” is issued (step S3 in FIG. 3). Alternatively, in order to obtain a file containing information for knowing what image the server-side video camera 100 clicked in the HTML format thumbnail image list 30, the HTTP GET method is issued.

  The GET method is a method included in an HTTP request when a client requests information from a server. If the personal computer / mobile phone 200 is a mobile phone and the thumbnail image list 30 cannot be created, there is no need to issue a GET method.

  For example, when a mode called a frame image try-on mode is selected for the video camera 100, two thumbnail images and an actually captured image are displayed up to the size of the display unit (liquid crystal unit or viewfinder unit) 105 of the video camera 100, respectively. It has a built-in function to try on thumbnail images that are resized and superimposed on the photo.

  Therefore, the user of the video camera 100 selects the frame image try-on mode, selects any one thumbnail image (frame image) from the thumbnail image list 30 received by the communication unit 101, and selects the selected thumbnail image. It is possible to virtually synthesize the actually captured image and resize it to the size of the display unit 105 of the video camera 100 so that a completed image can be easily imagined. The thumbnail images (frame images) in the list 30 are repeatedly switched one by one in order, and the most favorite thumbnail image is finally selected.

  Subsequently, as a response, a file including information of one thumbnail image finally selected from the thumbnail image list 30 by the user of the video camera 100 is sent from the video camera 100 to the personal computer / mobile phone 200 (step of FIG. 3). S4). When the personal computer / mobile phone 200 cannot create the thumbnail image list 30 by using only the mobile phone, this file return is not necessary.

  Upon receiving the file from the video camera 100, the client-side personal computer / mobile phone 200 executes the HTTP POST method to send one selected thumbnail image (frame image) (step S5 in FIG. 3). In the video camera 100, one selected thumbnail image (frame image) sent from the personal computer / mobile phone 200 is received by the communication unit 101 in FIG. 2, and is received under the control of the memory card read / write unit 103. Store in a specific directory on the card 104.

  Thereafter, in order to display the photo disc image on the display unit 105, the photo camera 100 executes the photo disc superposition mode (or a mode close thereto) from the menu screen, and the memory card read / write unit 103 stores the photo disc image in a predetermined directory of the memory card 104. One still image arbitrarily selected from a plurality of actually captured still images recorded in the still image mode in advance is read out and displayed on the display unit 105. In this state, the selected thumbnail image is selected from the specific directory. (Frame image) is read out and synthesized by the display unit 105.

  That is, for example, the thumbnail image (frame image) selected from the thumbnail image list 30 from the client and stored in a specific directory of the memory card is the still image 11 shown in FIG. When the photographed still image actually selected in the still image mode and selected from a plurality of still images stored in another directory of the memory card 104 is the image 10 shown in FIG. In addition to reading the image 11 from the specific directory, the white portion in the image 11 is replaced with the image 11 and the image 10 is read from the other directory and synthesized in a time-series manner. As shown in FIG. 9, the selected thumbnail image 11 is an outer frame image, Still pictures 10 is fitted, so that the photobooth image 13 is displayed.

  In the video camera 100, if a file containing information for knowing what kind of thumbnail image has been selected from the received thumbnail image list 30 has not been created, the personal computer / mobile phone 200 once again uses the figure. Step 3 of step 3 is performed. This is repeated until the file is created. Further, the composite image superimposed with the above-mentioned photokura is additionally stored in the above-mentioned another directory of the memory card 104 in which a plurality of still images actually taken in the still image mode are stored as a list.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when it is desired to perform super-cracking on a frame image other than the photo-clutch frame provided by the manufacturer on the spot where a still image is captured by the video camera 100, a network is connected from the personal computer / cell phone 200 to From the thumbnail image list 30 received via, it is possible to select and obtain a favorite thumbnail image (frame image), and to superimpose it with a still image taken from the memory card 104, Equipment such as personal computers and card readers are not required to store user-preferred frame images, and connection and removal operations with memory cards etc. can be eliminated, greatly reducing costs and workability. It can be improved.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram of another embodiment of a network system using a video camera according to the present invention. In the figure, the same components as in FIG. In FIG. 5, a command “Send thumbnail list of still images” is issued from the client-side personal computer / mobile phone 200 to the server-side video camera 100 so that the client can select desired image data (step of FIG. 5). S11). The above instruction is transmitted by issuing an HTTP GET method.

  When the video camera 100 receives the above command via the network, as a response, the video camera 100 displays a thumbnail list of a plurality of still images actually shot in the still image mode in the other directory of the memory card 104. The still image thumbnail list stored as is transmitted to the personal computer / mobile phone 200 via the network (step S12 in FIG. 5).

  Here, an example of a list of thumbnail images of a plurality of still images actually captured and stored in the still image mode in another directory of the memory card 104 is shown by 40 in FIG. In this still image thumbnail image list 40, No. 1 to No. 6 are still images actually captured in the still image mode, and No. 7 is a composite image superimposed on the photo camera 100 by the photo disc. As shown in FIG. 6, detailed information 42 similar to the detailed information 32 of the frame image is recorded and reproduced in association with each still image in the thumbnail image list 40.

  The personal computer / mobile phone 200 selects one still image of No. ** from the still image thumbnail image list 40 sent from the video camera 100 via the network, and “No. ** Send still image ** "and issue an HTTP GET method (step S13 in FIG. 5). In this still image thumbnail image list 40, in accordance with a request from the video camera 100, the state in which the one frame image to be superimposed on the photocrack previously transmitted is superimposed on the video camera 100 is displayed. Since the composite image is included as indicated by No. 7 in FIG. 6, the client can check the result of how the frame image transmitted by the client is superimposed on the basis of the composite image.

  The video camera 100 transmits the still image of No. ** selected by the personal computer / mobile phone 200 to the personal computer / mobile phone 200 via the network as a response to the command transmitted from the personal computer / mobile phone 200 in step S13. (Step S14 in FIG. 5).

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, a recording medium for recording a subject-captured still image in a still image mode or recording a received frame image is not limited to a memory card. Any recording medium that can record and reproduce signals can be used, and the recording medium may not be detachable from the video camera.

It is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of the system of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the schematic block diagram of one Embodiment of the video camera of this invention with a client. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of one embodiment of the system of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a thumbnail image (frame image) list. It is a schematic explanatory drawing of other embodiment of this invention system. It is a figure which shows an example of the list of the thumbnail images currently recorded on the memory card of the video camera. It is a figure which shows an example of a picked-up still image. It is a figure which shows an example of the selected thumbnail image (frame image). An example of a photo frame that combines a shot image with a frame image

Explanation of symbols

10 Captured images 11 Frame images (thumbnail images)
13 Photo frame image obtained by combining captured image and frame image 30, 40 Thumbnail image list 31, 41 Thumbnail image 32, 42 Detailed information of thumbnail image 100 Video camera with network connection function 101 Communication unit 102 Control unit 103 Memory card read / write unit 104 Memory card 105 Display unit 200 Personal computer / mobile phone 201 Personal computer 202 Web browser 300 Website 400 General network 500 Pea to Pea network via general network

Claims (2)

In a video camera with a server function that can be connected to a network,
Recording means for recording image data received via a network and a captured still image of a captured subject image on the recording medium;
A display unit;
A video camera comprising: combining means for selectively reproducing the received image data and the subject still image recorded on the recording medium and displaying the combined still image on the display unit. In a network system that exchanges data via a network between a video camera having a server function that can be connected to a network and a client that records a list of thumbnail images composed of a plurality of frame images.
The video camera
First receiving means for receiving the thumbnail image list or one frame image from the client;
First transmission means for transmitting to the client a transmission request for any one frame image selected from the received thumbnail image list;
A recording means for recording a photographed still image of the photographed subject image and the arbitrary one frame image received from the client on a recording medium;
A composite still image in which the received still image data and the subject still image recorded on the recording medium are selectively reproduced and the subject still image is inserted into an outer frame image based on the received image data. And a combining means for displaying on the display unit,
The client
Second transmission means for transmitting the thumbnail image list to the video camera;
Second receiving means for receiving a transmission request for the arbitrary one frame image transmitted from the video camera;
And a third transmission unit for selecting one frame image based on the transmission request received by the second reception unit from the thumbnail image list and transmitting the selected frame image to the video camera. A network system using a video camera.

Images