JP2006185071A - Portable electronic apparatus having camera function, file processing program and download program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the convenience of distributing an image to a plurality of persons as to a portable electronic apparatus having a camera function, a file processing program for storing an image file in a prescribed area and a download program for downloading the image file from the prescribed area. <P>SOLUTION: Storing destination information in storing an image file including image data in an image storing area on a network is encoded to a prescribed format and an image 52 of the encoded information and an image 51 of the image file to be stored in the image storing area are simultaneously displayed on a display device 7. When judging that an additional copy of a displayed image 51 is required, a user requesting the additional print photographs the displayed encoded image by his own camera. By decoding the photographed image, the storing destination information of the image file can be recognized and the image file can be acquired. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable electronic device having a camera function represented by a digital camera, a file processing program for storing an image file in a predetermined area, and a download program for downloading an image file from the predetermined area. This is a convenience for distribution to multiple people.

  When a digital image taken in a friend is reprinted and distributed to each person, an electronic mail can be used as the distribution means. Note that “reprint” in a digital image means copying of an image file. Distributing images by e-mail takes time and is troublesome when there are many images and distribution destinations. Therefore, it is possible to use a so-called online album. If you create an album by uploading the images you took to an album site on the web, just tell the upload destination information (URL) and album name, etc. You can download and receive it accordingly. Many such album sites now exist on the Web.

  On the other hand, Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe a method of obtaining a barcode information by capturing a two-dimensional barcode with a camera, analyzing the obtained image data, and a method of using the method.

JP 2004-126942 A JP 2004-30357 A

  The image distribution method using the above online album is less time-consuming than the distribution by e-mail, but it is necessary to notify each person of necessary information such as the URL of the upload destination and the album name. It is quite troublesome.

The portable electronic device according to the first to sixth aspects of the present invention includes an imaging unit that images a subject to generate digital image data, and storage destination information when an image file including the image data is stored in an image storage area on the network. Coding means for coding the image into a predetermined format, a display device capable of displaying an image, and a display for simultaneously displaying an image of coded information and an image of an image file to be stored in the image storage area on the display device Control means.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, each image file is coded by combining storage destination information and image identification information for identifying the image file.
The invention of claim 3 further includes information adding means for adding information for identifying whether or not the image is to be stored in the image storage area to the image file.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided input means for inputting the necessity of storage in the image storage area for each image file, and information indicating that the storage is necessary is added to the image file for which the storage necessity has been input. .
In the invention of claim 5, by including the storage destination information in the image file, it represents information indicating that the image file needs to be stored in the image storage area, and the image file includes the storage destination information. If not, it indicates information indicating that it is not necessary to store the image file in the image storage area.
In the invention of claim 6, the encoding means further encodes access permission information for permitting access to the image storage area on the network where the image file is stored in a predetermined format.
The file processing program according to the inventions of claims 7 and 8 includes an extraction means for extracting a computer to which information indicating that storage is required in an image storage area is added from a plurality of image files, and an extracted image It functions as a file processing means for storing a file in an image storage area on the network.
The invention according to claim 8 uses communication means for accessing an image storage area via a network line and uploading an image file to the area as file processing means.
The download program according to the ninth to eleventh aspects of the present invention provides a computer that decodes an image of information encoded in a predetermined format to obtain image storage destination information and image identification information; The image storage area on the network specified by the destination information is accessed via a network line, and functions as a communication means for downloading an image file identified by the image identification information from the area.
In the invention of claim 10, the communication means functions to try the download again after a predetermined time when there is no image file identified by the image identification information in the image storage area.
In the invention of claim 11, the decrypting means further decrypts the image of the encoded information and obtains access permission information for permitting access to the image storage area on the network specified by the acquired storage destination information. The communication means functions to access the image storage area based on the access permission information.

According to the portable electronic device of the present invention, storage destination information when an image file including image data is stored in an image storage area on a network is encoded in a predetermined format, and an image of the encoded information and the image storage are stored. Since the image file to be saved in the area is displayed on the display device at the same time, if the person who wants the image looks at the displayed image and wants the image, it is displayed at the same time as the image The image storage information and image identification information can be acquired simply by taking an image of the coded information, and a desired image can be obtained from a shared area on the network based on the acquired information. Therefore, it is not necessary for the image distributor to notify the image applicant of the upload destination by e-mail or the like, and the labor for distributing the image can be reduced.
According to the file processing program of the present invention, the computer can extract a plurality of image files to which saving is added, and the extracted image files can be stored in the image storage area on the network. Can automatically save only the image files that need to be saved, reducing the trouble for the image distributor and reducing the time required to save the files.
According to the download program of the present invention, a computer decodes an image of information encoded in a predetermined format to acquire image storage destination information and image identification information, and is specified by the acquired storage destination information. Since the image storage area on the network can be accessed via a network line and the image file identified by the image identification information can be downloaded from the area, only the necessary files can be downloaded automatically, and the image applicant can save time and effort. Can be reduced.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the present embodiment, for example, digital images taken at a friend's trip or alumni association are printed for convenience and distributed to each person. Distribution of images is based on the use of online albums on the Web. And

  1 to 3 are a top view, a rear view, and a front view of a digital camera DSC1 as a portable electronic device. A power switch 1, a release button 2, an operation dial 3 and the like are provided on the upper surface of the camera DSC1, and a photographing lens 4, a light emission window 5 of a flash device, an objective window 6 of a finder, and the like are provided on the front surface. Includes a viewfinder eyepiece window 60, a liquid crystal monitor 7, and an upload button 8. The upload button 8 is used in the image distribution preparation stage, and the detailed function thereof will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the camera DSC 1 includes a control unit (circuit) 11 configured by a CPU and the like. The control unit 11 includes an imaging unit (circuit) 12 configured by an image sensor, an image processing circuit, and the like. , A display unit 13 composed of the liquid crystal monitor 7 and its driving circuit, a storage unit (circuit) 14 for storing various information, a time measuring means (circuit) 15, an external interface unit (circuit) 16, various types Operation switches 17 that are turned on / off by operation of the operation member are connected. An upload button that is turned on by operating the upload button 8 is also included in the switches 17.

  The imaging unit 12 receives the subject light flux that has passed through the photographing lens 4 with an imaging element, and generates digital image data from the photoelectric conversion output. The generated image data is filed and recorded on the memory card MC as an image file.

  The display unit 13 drives the liquid crystal monitor 7 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 11 and sequentially updates and displays images repeatedly picked up in the shooting mode so that the liquid crystal monitor 7 can be used as a finder substitute. When the playback mode is set, an image already recorded on the memory card MC can be read and displayed on the liquid crystal monitor 7. The reproduction mode includes a normal reproduction mode and an upload mode. In the upload mode, an image 51 and a two-dimensional barcode image 52 corresponding to the image 51 are displayed side by side as shown in FIG. The two-dimensional barcode is obtained by coding the URL and album name of the online album site to which the image is uploaded and the Exif information in a predetermined format, and the coding is performed by the control unit 11 based on a predetermined coding program. Do.

  As the URL and album name as upload destination information, those registered in advance in the storage unit 14 of the camera DSC1 are used. These may be input by the user freely from the menu screen or the like, or a specific URL may be fixedly registered. Exif information is information indicating the shooting date / time, file name (image identification information), shooting conditions, and the like of the image, and is always added to an image file conforming to the Exif standard, which is a standard.

  The digital camera DSC1 configured as described above is held by a photographer who intends to distribute an image. On the other hand, DSC2 in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a digital camera owned by a person who wants to reprint (the side receiving image distribution), and the basic configuration is the same as that of camera DSC1. However, it is not necessary to have the upload button 8 and the upload mode as described above if the image is simply provided (not provided), and a conventional digital camera is sufficient. Alternatively, a mobile phone with a camera function may be used.

Next, an image distribution / acquisition procedure in this embodiment will be described.
<Work prior to uploading>
The work that the photographer should perform after shooting is uploading images to the album site, but it is necessary to select an image to be uploaded prior to that. Uploading images that no one wants to reprint is meaningless and is a waste of time. Therefore, the photographer sets the upload mode when photographing is completed, and displays the images (thumbnail images) 51 photographed this time one by one on the liquid crystal monitor 7 together with the image 52 of the two-dimensional barcode. If the applicants who wish to reprint the image view the displayed image 51 and decide that the image file is desired, the two-dimensional barcode image 52 displayed next to the image 52 is photographed by their own camera DSC2 (see FIG. 5). In FIG. 5, the DSC 2 captures the image 51 together, but only the barcode image 52 is important, and the image need not be particularly captured. You don't have to shoot anything you don't want.

The photographer presses the upload button 8 with the display state at that time when at least one of the applicants who wants to reprint the image captures the two-dimensional barcode. When the upload button 8 is pressed, the control unit 11 determines that the image needs to be increased, adds the upload destination information to the image file, and records it again on the memory card MC. For example, upload destination information can be recorded as a part of Exif information. Note that the upload button 8 does not have to be pressed for an image that is not photographed by one person, and in that case, upload destination information is not added to the image file.
When the above work is completed for all images, preparation for uploading is complete.

<Upload>
Next, the photographer transfers the image file from the camera DSC 1 to the personal computer (hereinafter, PC) 100 shown in FIG. The PC 100 is owned by a photographer at home or the like, has a control unit 101 and a hard disk 102, and is in an environment where Internet connection is possible via the public line network 300. It should be noted that the PC of the person who wishes to reprint the reference numeral 200 has the same configuration.

  When the photographer transfers all the image files to an arbitrary folder in the hard disk 102, the photographer runs dedicated upload software on the PC 100 to perform uploading.

The processing procedure of the upload software is shown in FIG.
When the upload is instructed after specifying the folder in which the image file is stored after the software is activated, the program selects one of the image files from the folder as a processing target file (steps S1 to S3). One file may be selected in order. Then, additional information (for example, Exif information) is checked for the image file selected this time, and the presence / absence of the upload destination information is determined (step S4). The upload destination information is information recorded in accordance with the operation of the upload button 8 as described above.

  If there is upload destination information, it is determined that the upload is necessary, and it is determined whether or not it is already connected to the image server 400 of the album site that is the upload destination (communication has been established) (step S5). If not connected, the URL included in the upload destination information is designated and connected to the image server 400 via the communication line network 300 (step S6). Next, the image file is uploaded to the album area (image storage area) defined by the album name included in the upload destination information (step S7). On the other hand, if there is no upload destination information as additional information of the image file, the image file is not uploaded (steps S4 → S8).

  Next, it is determined whether or not processing has been completed for all the image files in the folder (step S8). If completed, the process returns to step S1, and if there is an unprocessed image file, the process proceeds to step S3. Return to select the next image file and repeat the above process.

  According to this, only the image file that needs to be uploaded, in other words, only the image file that has been requested to be reprinted by at least one person is automatically selected and uploaded, so that the trouble of the photographer is greatly reduced. At the same time, since unnecessary image files are not uploaded, upload time can be reduced to a minimum.

  In the above description, whether or not uploading is necessary is determined based on the presence or absence of upload destination information. Information indicating whether or not uploading is necessary is recorded separately in the image file as Exif information, for example, based on the information. Thus, the necessity of upload may be determined.

<Download>
The person who wants to reprint the image transfers the image file obtained by shooting the barcode image 52 from the camera DSC 2 to a predetermined folder of the PC 200 and runs dedicated download software on the PC 200 to download the image file.

The processing procedure of the download software is shown in FIG.
After the software is activated, when the download start folder is designated by specifying the folder storing the image file of the barcode image and the download destination folder, the program selects one of the image files (steps S11 to S14). Then, the barcode image of the selected image file is decoded to obtain upload destination information and Exif information (step S15). Since the Exif information includes the file name of the image file to be downloaded, this can be used as the image identification information.

  After obtaining the information, it is determined whether or not the image server 400 is already connected to the upload destination (step S16). If it is not connected, the URL included in the upload destination information is designated and connected to the image server of the image server 400 via the communication line network 300 (step S17). Next, an image file to be downloaded is searched from the image storage area defined by the album name included in the upload destination information based on the image identification information such as the file name. When the target image file is found, the file is downloaded to the folder designated in step S12 (step S18 → S19). On the other hand, if the photographer has not yet uploaded the image file, the image file to be downloaded cannot be found. In this case, after a predetermined time has elapsed in the timer process in step S22, the download is attempted again (steps S18, S20, S22). At this time, a message prompting to execute the download again may be displayed (step S20).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the processing has been completed for all the files in the folder in which the image file of the barcode image is stored (step S21). If the processing has been completed, the processing returns to step S11 and is not yet processed. If there is a file, the process returns to step S14 to select the next file, and the above processing is repeated.

  According to the above, since only the image file that the person who wishes to reprint desires to reprint is automatically downloaded, the labor of downloading can be greatly reduced.

  If password authentication is required when accessing a specific image storage area of the image server, access permission information such as a user ID and password may be included in the upload destination information. This is made possible by allowing the photographer to input the permission information to the camera DSC1. In this case, the download software on the PC 200 decodes the barcode image recorded in the DSC 2 to recognize the access permission information and automatically designates it at the time of access, so that the person who wishes to reprint does not notice anything. You can also download image files. On the other hand, an unrelated person who does not know the password cannot download or view the image.

  Further, the photographer may be able to recognize the desired number of additional prints for each image file. This can be realized, for example, by counting the number of times the camera DSC 1 has pressed the upload button 8 for each image file and recording the counting result as additional information in the image file. If the photographer presses the upload button 8 each time a barcode image is photographed, the counting result inevitably becomes the desired number of additional image files. Then, if the album site recognizes the desired number of extra prints and prohibits the browsing of images when the corresponding number of downloads has been made, the browsing and downloading of images by unrelated persons can be reduced as much as possible. it can. Alternatively, the photographer may be informed by the data transmission of the PC 100 that the number of downloads has increased and the desired number of sheets has been reached, and the photographer who knows that can delete the image file.

  Further, the image distribution method using the Internet has been described above, but a smaller network such as an in-house LAN may be used. In this case, the online album cannot be used, but image distribution / acquisition similar to the above can be performed by storing the image file in any image storage area on the network. The image storage area may be the photographer's own PC. In such a small-scale network, the possibility of access by outsiders is low, so access restrictions can be relaxed.

  The camera DSC1 may be a compact type or a single-lens reflex type, and may be a mobile phone with a camera function. Furthermore, the information encoding method is not limited to the two-dimensional barcode.

The top view of the digital camera in one embodiment. The rear view of the said camera. The front view of the said camera. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image distribution / acquisition system including the camera. FIG. The figure which shows a mode that the person who desires reprinting photographs a barcode image. The flowchart which shows the processing content of the image upload program. The flowchart which shows the processing content of the download program of an image.

Explanation of symbols

7 LCD monitor 8 Upload button 11 Control unit 12 Imaging unit 13 Display unit 14 Storage unit 51 Thumbnail image 52 Two-dimensional barcode image 100 Personal computer (photographer side)
200 Personal computer (for those who wish to reprint)
300 Public network 400 Image server DSC1 Digital camera (photographer side)
DSC2 digital camera (for those who wish to reprint)

Claims (11)

Imaging means for imaging a subject and generating digital image data;
Encoding means for encoding storage destination information when storing an image file including the image data in an image storage area on a network into a predetermined format;
A display device capable of displaying images;
A portable electronic device having a camera function, comprising: display control means for simultaneously displaying on the display device an image of the coded information and an image of an image file to be stored in the image storage area.   2. The camera function according to claim 1, wherein the encoding unit encodes each image file by combining the storage destination information and image identification information for identifying the image file. Portable electronic device.   3. The portable electronic device having a camera function according to claim 1, further comprising information adding means for adding information identifying whether or not the image storage area is necessary to the image file.   Input means for inputting the necessity of storage in the image storage area for each image file, and the information adding means adds information indicating the necessity of storage to the image file that has been input for storage. A portable electronic device having a camera function according to claim 3.   By including the storage location information in the image file, it represents information indicating that the image file needs to be stored in the image storage area, and by not including the storage location information in the image file. The portable electronic device having a camera function according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the portable electronic device represents information indicating that storage of the image file in the image storage area is unnecessary.   The encoding means further encodes access permission information for permitting access to an image storage area on the network where the image file is stored in the predetermined format. Portable electronic devices. Computer
An extracting means for extracting, from a plurality of image files, information to which information indicating that storage is required in an image storage area is added;
A file processing program for functioning as a file processing means for storing the extracted image file in an image storage area on a network.   8. The file processing program according to claim 7, wherein the file processing means is communication means for accessing the image storage area via a network line and uploading the image file to the area. Computer
Decoding means for decoding an image of information encoded in a predetermined format to obtain image storage destination information and image identification information;
A download program for accessing an image storage area on the network specified by the acquired storage destination information via a network line and functioning as a communication means for downloading an image file identified by the image identification information from the area .   10. The function according to claim 9, wherein when the image file identified by the image identification information does not exist in the image storage area, the communication unit functions so as to try downloading again after a predetermined time. Download program.   The decoding means further functions to acquire an access permission information for permitting access to an image storage area on the network specified by the acquired storage destination information by decoding an image of the encoded information. The download program according to claim 9, wherein the communication unit functions to access the image storage area based on the access permission information.

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