JP2006121287A - Recording equipment, communication equipment for management, recording management method, and recording management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide recording equipment, communication equipment for management, a recording management method, and a recording management system by which unauthorized photographing or sound recording can be restricted. <P>SOLUTION: A photographing management region notification signal S1 is transmitted from photographing management equipment 10, and then, a photographing management region 1 is formed. Photographing equipment 11 receiving the photographing management region notification signal S1 is made into a photographing management state, and then, photographing is restricted. The photographing equipment 11 transmits a command S2 to apply the authorization for photographing to the photographing management equipment 10, and then, the authorization for photographing is applied. The photographing management equipment 10 discriminates the propriety of the photographing by analyzing the received signal regarding the application of the authorization for photographing transmitted from the photographing equipment 11. The photographing management equipment 10 transmits a photographing propriety response S3 to the photographing equipment 11. If the signal from the photographing management equipment 10 indicates the authorization for photographing, the photographing equipment 11 is allowed to photograph in the photographing management region 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording device, a management communication device, a recording management method, and a recording management system suitable for restricting unauthorized photographing or recording in an area where photographing or recording is restricted.

  In recent years, for example, in art museums, museums, concert venues, lecture halls, etc., there are cases where viewers are prohibited from shooting or recording without permission (hereinafter, abbreviated as appropriate). However, even when shooting is actually prohibited, it was possible for viewers to take photos without permission.

  In Patent Document 1 below, in order to prevent viewers from shooting without permission, a signal related to shooting conditions transmitted from a device that manages shooting restrictions (hereinafter referred to as management communication device as appropriate) is received. In addition, there is described an invention relating to a recording device or the like that is capable of photographing based on designated photographing conditions.

JP 2002-112214 A

  However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to specify the shooting conditions in detail on the imaging device side because the shooting conditions are specified by the management communication device. For example, even if the user of the photographic device desires a shooting condition that “a high-resolution photo can be taken even if the number of shots is small”, the user can only shoot under the condition specified unilaterally by the management communication device. There wasn't.

  In addition, since the management communication device side prohibits / permits shooting for each shooting device, the amount of information managed by the management communication device increases and the burden increases. Furthermore, when the signal transmitted from the management communication device cannot be received on the photographing device side, there is a possibility that unauthorized photographing not intended by the user may be performed.

  Therefore, instead of unilateral management by a management communication device of a device that performs shooting (hereinafter referred to as a recording device as appropriate), bidirectional transmission / reception of signals between the management communication device and the recording device restricts shooting. A system to manage the system is desired.

  Further, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, the signal transmitted from the management communication device is shooting conditions and billing information, and is not related to the shooting target. For example, if information on the display of the subject to be photographed and information on tourism can be added to the signal regarding whether or not to shoot, and the information can be sent to the photographing device, the user will not only take a picture, but also the historical background of the exhibit, , You can know tourist information.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a recording device and a management device that can specify the shooting conditions more finely by communication between the management communication device and the recording device, and that can transmit and receive information other than a signal relating to shooting permission. Communication device, recording management method, and recording management system are provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 manages a signal for applying for recording permission in a recording device having a communication function in an area where video and / or audio recording is restricted. A recording device comprising: a transmission unit that transmits to a communication device for reception; and a reception unit that receives a signal indicating whether or not recording can be transmitted from the management communication device.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the first transmission means for transmitting to the recording device a signal indicating that the recording of video and / or audio is restricted in the management communication device for managing whether or not recording is possible. And a receiving means for receiving a signal for applying for permission of recording transmitted from the recording device, and a second communication means for transmitting a signal indicating whether or not recording is possible to the recording device. Equipment.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the recording management method for managing whether video and / or audio can be recorded by the recording device, the recording is restricted from the management communication device for managing the recording to the recording device. A first transmission step for transmitting a signal indicating that there is a second transmission step for transmitting a signal for requesting permission of recording from the recording device to the management communication device; On the other hand, the recording management method includes a third transmission step of transmitting a signal indicating whether or not recording is possible, and the recording device performs a photographing operation according to the signal indicating whether or not recording is possible.

  The invention according to claim 13 is an area in which recording is restricted in a recording management system comprising a management communication device that manages whether video and / or audio recording is possible and a recording device having a communication function. A first transmitting means for transmitting a signal to the recording device, a receiving means for receiving a signal for applying for permission of recording transmitted from the recording device, and a second for transmitting a signal indicating whether recording is possible to the recording device. Management communication device including a transmission means, a transmission means for transmitting a signal requesting permission for recording to the management communication device in an area where recording is restricted, and whether or not the recording is transmitted from the management communication device A recording management system comprising: a recording device including a receiving unit that receives a signal indicating

  According to the present invention, the management communication device and the recording device can communicate with each other, and the shooting conditions can be specified more precisely. In addition, the management communication device and the recording device communicate with each other, so that shooting management can be performed more reliably.

  According to the present invention, since the recording device manages the photographing permission / prohibition state, the burden on the management communication device can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to easily notify the user of the photographing permission / prohibition state.

  According to the present invention, since the recording device transmits a signal indicating whether or not recording is possible transmitted from the management communication device and performs photographing processing when photographing is permitted, unauthorized photographing unintended by the user is prevented. be able to.

  According to the present invention, when photographing is permitted, information regarding the subject of photographing is transmitted from the management communication device, so that the user of the recording device can also record additional information regarding the subject of photographing.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, description will be made using an imaging device as an example of a recording device and an imaging management device as an example of a management communication device.

  FIG. 1 shows an overview of the present invention. For example, a shooting management area 1 for limiting shooting is formed in a specific place such as an art museum or a museum. The shooting management area 1 is provided with a shooting management apparatus 10 that manages shooting by the shooting apparatus 11 in the shooting management area 1.

  A plurality of imaging management devices may be provided, and each imaging management area may be formed. In addition, by providing a photographing management device only in a place where it is desired to restrict photographing, it is possible to distinguish a place where photographing is restricted from a place where photographing can be freely performed.

  The photographing device 11 is, for example, a digital camera having a communication function, a mobile phone with a camera function, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants) with a camera, or the like. Also included are video cameras and camcorders (abbreviations for camera and recorder) that can take not only still images but also moving images.

  The imaging management device 10 and the imaging device 11 can communicate with each other. As the communication method, for example, wireless LAN (Local Area Network) such as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11b, Bluetooth, or infrared communication is used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the imaging management device 10 transmits a signal indicating that the location to which the imaging device 11 belongs is in the imaging management region 1 (hereinafter referred to as an imaging management region notification signal S1 as appropriate). The imaging management area notification signal S1 is transmitted as a signal that does not specify the receiving device (also referred to as broadcast), and a range in which the imaging management area notification signal S1 reaches is the imaging management area 1. Therefore, among the communication methods as described above, a communication method that allows the maximum communication distance to cover the imaging management area 1 is selected.

  The photographic device 11 that has received the photographic management area notification signal S1 enters the photographic management state and cannot shoot freely in the photographic management area 1.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the configuration of the imaging management device 10 in one embodiment of the present invention. Each part of the imaging management device 10 is controlled by a controller, and each controller is controlled by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown).

  The imaging management device 10 is provided with a display device 25 such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that presents the operating state of the imaging management device 10, imaging conditions, and the like, and a display controller 26 that controls the display device 25. Furthermore, the imaging management device 10 is provided with an input device 27 for inputting various information by the user and an input control controller 28 for controlling the input device 27. The input device 27 is, for example, a button or a touch panel.

  The imaging management device 10 is provided with an antenna 29 for transmitting and receiving signals. The antenna 29 may be built in the imaging management device 10. A signal received by the antenna 29 is supplied to a radio controller 31 via a radio interface (I / F) 30. In the radio controller 31, for example, demodulation processing of a received signal is performed. The signal transmitted from the imaging management device 10 is subjected to, for example, modulation processing by the wireless controller 31 and transmitted from the antenna 29 via the wireless I / F 30.

  Note that a means (first transmission means) for transmitting a photographing management area notification signal S1 that does not specify a photographing apparatus and a means (second transmission means) for transmitting a photographing availability response to a specific photographing apparatus described later are separately provided. May be provided, or may be integrated.

  The photographing management controller 32 manages the photographing management area notification signal S1 transmitted from the photographing management device 10 and the response to the photographing permission application. In other words, the shooting management controller 32 generates a shooting management area notification signal S1. When a shooting permission application is received from the shooting device 11, the shooting management controller 32 determines whether shooting is possible and generates a signal related to shooting availability, which will be described later. To do.

  Reference numeral 37 indicates a recording unit. The recording unit 37 is provided in the imaging management device 10 and stores, for example, a ROM (Reed Only Memory) storing a program executed by the CPU, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that is a rewritable memory, and various data. It consists of HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that accumulates. In addition, a recording unit controller 38 that performs processing such as converting data to be recorded in the recording unit 37 into a predetermined format is provided.

  Further, the imaging management device 10 is provided with a communication I / F 34 controlled by the communication controller 33, and can be connected to a telephone line or the Internet. Although not shown, an external I / F that can be connected to a personal computer, for example, may be provided.

  Since the above-described units of the imaging management device 10 are connected by the bus 35, each controller can be controlled by the CPU, and signals can be transmitted / received to / from each other. The imaging management device 10 is turned on / off by operating the power supply unit 36.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the photographing device 11 in one embodiment of the present invention. Each part of the photographing apparatus 11 is controlled by a controller, and each controller is controlled by a CPU (not shown) via a bus 41.

  The photographing apparatus 11 is provided with a display device 44 such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The display device 44 displays information such as a subject image, a menu mode, an image corresponding to each mode, and a slide show of captured images. The display device 44 is controlled by a display controller 45. The display controller 45 performs signal processing (for example, A / D (Analog to Digital) conversion) for displaying a predetermined image on the display device 44.

  The input device 46 is, for example, a plurality of input means such as a shutter button and a cross key. An operation input to the input device 46 is detected by the input controller 47 and a predetermined operation is performed. For example, when an input for displaying the menu mode is made on the input device 46, it is detected by the input controller 47, and the menu mode is displayed on the display device 44. The user selects a desired menu mode (for example, shooting mode) from the menu mode, and further operates a cross key to select a desired function (for example, high image quality mode).

  Here, the photographing process will be described. The camera controller 49 controls the camera unit 48 under the control of the CPU and performs a shooting operation. The camera unit 48 is, for example, an image sensor such as a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS). The camera unit 48 converts subject information into an electrical signal.

  The converted electrical signal is supplied to the camera controller 49, and is processed by a signal processor (not shown) provided in the camera controller 49, for example, noise reduction processing, luminance correction processing, defect correction processing, color correction, and high definition. Predetermined signal processing such as processing is performed.

  The image signal subjected to the signal processing is compressed by, for example, a JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Expert Group) method and recorded in a designated recording destination. The recording destination is recorded and stored in, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) (not shown) that is a rewritable memory provided in the photographing apparatus 11 or an external recording medium 54 that is removable from the photographing apparatus 11. The The external recording medium 54 is, for example, a semiconductor memory, a writable optical disk, and the like, and the external recording medium control controller 55 performs data formatting processing according to the type of the external recording medium.

  The photographing device 11 is provided with a photographing management controller 50. The imaging management controller 50 generates a signal to be transmitted to the imaging management device 10 and performs processing for analyzing the signal received from the imaging management device 10.

  The imaging device 11 is provided with an antenna 51. The antenna 51 may be built in the photographing apparatus 11. A signal received by the antenna 51 is supplied to the wireless controller 53 via a wireless interface (I / F) 52. In the radio controller 53, for example, demodulation processing of received signals is performed. Further, the signal transmitted from the photographing device 11 is subjected to, for example, modulation processing by the wireless controller 53 and transmitted from the antenna 51 via the wireless I / F 52.

  The photographing apparatus 11 is turned on / off by the power supply unit 42 controlled by the power supply controller 43. Further, although not shown, for example, an external I / F that can be connected to a personal computer or a printer may be provided.

  FIG. 5 shows communication between the imaging management device 10 and the imaging device 11 in this embodiment. The photographing management device 10 notifies the photographing device 11 in the photographing management region 1 that it is a photographing management region by a photographing management region notification signal S1 by broadcast transmission.

  The imaging device 11 that has received the imaging management area notification signal S1 enters the imaging management state, and free imaging is restricted. The photographing management area notification signal S1 is analyzed by the photographing management controller 50 of the photographing device 11, and a signal indicating that photographing is restricted is supplied to the CPU. In a CPU to which a signal indicating that photographing is restricted is supplied, sending an instruction signal for photographing processing is restricted. Further, since the photographing management area notification signal S1 includes unique number information for each photographing management device, the photographing device 11 can identify which photographing management region it has entered.

  When the user of the photographing device 11 desires photographing within the photographing management area 1, the photographing device 11 transmits a photographing permission application command S <b> 2 to the photographing management device 10. The timing at which the photographing permission application command S2 is transmitted from the photographing device 11 may be transmitted by a user operation, or the photographing permission application command S2 is automatically issued after the photographing device 11 receives the photographing management area notification signal S1. You may make it transmit.

  Further, the photographing permission application command S2 may be transmitted at the start of photographing. For example, the photographing permission application command S2 is transmitted at a timing such as when the shutter is pressed, when autofocus starts, or when the lens cover is opened. As described above, by transmitting the photographing permission application command S2 at the start of photographing, it is possible to apply for permission while photographing, and a special operation for communicating with the photographing management device 10 becomes unnecessary.

  Here, the photographing permission application command S2 will be described. FIG. 6A shows an example of the photographing permission application command S2 in one embodiment of the present invention. The photographing permission application command S2 includes information of a photographing management device unique number indicating a destination, a photographing permission application indicating a command code, a photographing permission number indicating additional information, and a photographing device unique number indicating a transmission source.

  The photographing management device unique number as the destination is a number assigned to each photographing management device, and is an identification number when a plurality of photographing management devices are installed.

  The photographing permission number is a number acquired in advance by the photographing device 11 and is managed by both the photographing management device 10 and the photographing device 11. The photographing permission number is issued, for example, by paying a fee, and is added to the photographing permission application command S2 by inputting the number.

  The imaging management device 10 that has received the application command S2 collates the imaging permission number included in the application command S2 with the imaging permission number of the imaging management device 10, and determines whether or not imaging is possible. If the photographing permission number is missing or incorrect, photographing is not permitted. A photographing permission number may be registered in the photographing management device 10 in advance, or a photographing permission number issued externally may be obtained through an external bus. In this way, the photographing management device 10 only needs to manage the photographing permission number, and the burden of photographing management can be reduced compared to the conventional case.

  The photographing management device 10 determines whether photographing is possible, and transmits a photographing availability response S3 to the photographing device 11.

  FIG. 6B shows an example of the photographing availability response S3 in this embodiment. The destination of the response is a photographing device unique number included in the transmission source of the photographing permission application command S2. The code includes information related to whether or not photographing is possible, the additional information includes a photographing permission number, and the transmission source includes a photographing management device unique number.

  In the photographing device 11 that has received the photographing availability response S3, the photographing management controller 50 analyzes the content of the response S3 and notifies the CPU of the photographing availability. In the CPU, when photographing is permitted, the camera control controller 49 is controlled to appropriately perform photographing processing. If the shooting is rejected, the shooting process is prohibited. In addition, when imaging | photography is refused, you may display the message to that effect on the display apparatus 44. FIG.

  A modification of the application command S2 and the photographing availability response S3 will be described. Since the imaging management device 10 and the imaging device 11 are the same as those described in the above-described embodiment, the description is omitted to avoid redundant description.

  In the first modification, the imaging condition is included in the imaging availability response S3 transmitted from the imaging management device 10. The shooting conditions include, for example, the number of shots, the resolution of the shot image, and the shooting time of the moving image.

  The photographing availability response S3 is analyzed by the photographing management controller 50, and a signal relating to the analyzed photographing permission and photographing conditions is transmitted to the CPU. For example, when the shooting condition is the number of shots, the number of shots that can be shot is stored in a memory (not shown), and the remaining number of shots that can be shot is displayed on the display device 44. When the number of shots reaches the designated number of shots, the CPU may perform a process of deleting the shooting permission number of the shooting device 11.

  When the shooting condition is, for example, “permit only shooting at low resolution”, the CPU controls the camera controller 49 during shooting processing to perform shooting in the low resolution mode.

  Next, a second modification will be described. In the second modification, the application command S2 includes photographing permission information and billing information indicating that a predetermined fee has been paid. For example, a predetermined fee is paid at the entrance of a museum, and an external recording medium suitable for the photographing apparatus is obtained.

  The photographing apparatus 11 reads the photographing permission information and billing information data from the external recording medium when the photographing permission application command S2 is transmitted. As shown in FIG. 7, the photographing permission application command S <b> 2 generated by the photographing management controller 50 includes permission information and billing information data, and transmits it to the photographing management device 10.

  In the photographing management device 10, the photographing management controller 32 analyzes the received photographing permission application command S2. Since the photographing permission application command S2 already includes photographing permission information, the photographing management device 10 transmits a response indicating permission of photographing to the photographing device 11.

  The data included in the external recording medium may be either the photographing permission information or the billing information. For example, when the data included in the external recording medium is accounting information, the imaging management device 10 can also specify imaging conditions according to the accounting information.

  That is, the imaging management device 10 that has received the imaging permission application command S2 including the billing information designates the imaging condition according to the amount of the charge included in the accounting information, and transmits the imaging availability response S3 to the imaging device 11. To do. Specifically, the number of shots can be set according to the amount of charge included in the billing information, or shooting conditions can be set to the extent that a moving image can be shot.

  Next, a third modification will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, in the third modified example, additional information is included in the photographing permission / inhibition response S3 in addition to the photographing permission number. The additional information is, for example, sightseeing information, image data, description of exhibits, lyric data, and the like. For example, in a photography management device that manages the photography of an exhibit A in a museum, when the photography of the exhibit A is permitted, data related to the exhibit A (for example, historical background, author, etc.) in the response indicating the permission for photography Can be added.

  The imaging device analyzes the data related to the exhibit A included in the received response and temporarily stores it in the RAM or recording medium. When the exhibit A is photographed by the photographing device, the image data file storing the image data of the exhibit A is stored together with the data related to the exhibit A stored in the RAM or the recording medium. May be. Thereby, the image data and the information related to the photographing target are recorded in association with the created image file, and the user can know and record not only the image but also various information related to the image target.

  The present invention can be variously modified and applied without departing from the gist of the present invention, and is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, an expiration date may be provided for the imaging permission number, and the imaging permission number after the expiration date may be invalidated and deleted. Thereby, unauthorized photographing using the same photographing permission number repeatedly can be prevented.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which shooting is restricted has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to recording restriction.

It is a basic diagram which shows the imaging | photography management area | region in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the imaging | photography management area notification signal transmitted to the imaging device from the imaging management apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the imaging | photography management apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the imaging device in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the communication relationship of the imaging device and imaging | photography management apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the imaging | photography permission application command and imaging | photography enable / disable response in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the communication relationship using the recording medium in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the information transmitted to the imaging device from the imaging management apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Shooting Management Area 10 Shooting Management Device 11 Shooting Device 32, 50 Shooting Management Controller 54 External Recording Medium

Claims (18)

In recording equipment with communication function,
A transmission means for transmitting a signal requesting permission for recording to a management communication device in an area where recording of video and / or audio is restricted;
A recording device comprising receiving means for receiving a signal transmitted from the management communication device and indicating whether or not recording is possible. The recording device according to claim 1,
The recording device, wherein the receiving means is a receiving means for further receiving additional information related to the recording target transmitted from the management communication device. The recording device according to claim 1,
The signal for applying for permission to record is a recording device that is transmitted to the management communication device at the start of recording. The recording device according to claim 1,
Furthermore, it comprises a recording medium that is detachable from the recording device,
The recording device, wherein the transmission means is transmission means for further transmitting data stored in the recording medium. The recording device according to claim 4,
The recording device, wherein the data is data relating to permission for the recording and / or billing data. In the management communication device that manages the availability of recording,
First transmission means for transmitting a signal indicating that the recording of video and / or audio is a restricted area to a recording device;
Receiving means for receiving a signal for applying for permission of the recording transmitted from the recording device;
A management communication device comprising: a second transmission unit configured to transmit a signal indicating whether or not recording is possible to the recording device. The management communication device according to claim 6,
The management communication device, wherein the second transmission means is a transmission means for further transmitting additional information related to the recording target. In a recording management method for managing whether video and / or audio can be recorded by a recording device,
A first transmission step of transmitting a signal indicating that the recording is restricted from the management communication device that manages the recording to the recording device;
A second transmission step of transmitting a signal requesting permission for recording from the recording device to the management communication device;
A third transmission step of transmitting a signal indicating whether or not recording is possible from the management communication device to the recording device;
A recording management method, wherein the recording device performs a photographing operation in accordance with a signal indicating whether or not recording is possible. The record management method according to claim 8,
The signal for applying for permission to record is a record management method transmitted at the start of recording. The record management method according to claim 8,
The recording management method, wherein the second transmission step is a transmission step of further transmitting data stored in a recording medium that is detachable from the recording device. The record management method according to claim 10,
The recording management method, wherein the data is data relating to permission for recording and / or billing data. The record management method according to claim 8,
The recording management method, wherein the third transmission step is a transmission step of further transmitting additional information related to the recording target. In a recording management system comprising a management communication device for managing video / audio recording availability and a recording device having a communication function,
First transmission means for transmitting a signal indicating that the recording is limited to the recording device;
Receiving means for receiving a signal for applying for permission of the recording transmitted from the recording device;
A management communication device comprising a second transmission means for transmitting to the recording device a signal indicating whether the recording is possible;
In a region where the recording is restricted, a transmission means for transmitting a signal requesting permission for the recording to the management communication device;
A recording management system comprising: a recording device including a receiving unit that receives a signal indicating whether or not recording is possible, which is transmitted from the management communication device. The record management system according to claim 13,
The recording management system, wherein the receiving unit of the recording device is a receiving unit that further receives additional information related to the recording target transmitted from the management communication device. The record management system according to claim 13,
The recording management system in which the signal for applying for the recording transmitted from the recording device is transmitted at the start of recording. The record management system according to claim 13,
The recording device includes a recording medium that is detachable from the recording device,
The recording management system, wherein the transmission means of the recording device is a transmission means for further transmitting data stored in the recording medium. The record management system according to claim 16, wherein
The recording management system, wherein the data is data relating to recording permission and / or billing data. The record management system according to claim 13,
The recording management system, wherein the second transmitting means is a transmitting means for further transmitting additional information related to the recording target.

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