JP2007122096A - Position specification device, position specification method and position specification program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a position specification device, a position specification method and a position specification program, capable of specifying a position wherein photographing is easily performed without causing increase of cost. <P>SOLUTION: A server device 80 previously stores shape information showing shape of a plurality of photographic objects present inside a position specification target range and belonging to a predetermined kind in a hard disk not shown in a Figure associatively with position information showing corresponding positions of the photographic objects. A digital camera 20 photographs the photographic object belonging to the predetermined kind to acquire image information showing the photographic object. The server device 80 reads the position information stored associatively to the shape information showing the shape similar to the shape of the photographic object shown by the acquired image information in a prescribed level or above from the hard disk, and specifies the position wherein the photographing is performed on the basis of the read position information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a position specifying apparatus, a position specifying method, and a position specifying program, and more particularly, to a position specifying apparatus, a position specifying method, and a position specifying program for specifying a position where an image has been taken.

  In a conventional automobile navigation device, when a departure point, a destination, a waypoint, etc. are set in advance, an optimum route is selected based on map information, and only the route information is output as the vehicle travels. Guidance information cannot be output at a specific time, and the route information from the departure point to the destination set by one car navigation device can be transferred to another car navigation device for use. I couldn't do that.

  In order to solve this problem, Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus for presenting guidance information to a user according to a situation, and includes at least time information or / and location information, time to be presented and / or For guidance information consisting of a series of instructions based on a predetermined specification that can describe guidance information to be output according to a place by a combination of a name capable of identifying the type of each information and the content of the information It is described in means for inputting a script, means for acquiring the current time or / and current situation, or generating a virtual current time and / or virtual current situation, and the input guidance script. Means for processing the instruction according to the current time or / and the current location obtained by situation acquisition or situation generation; With the of the scan traction process outputs guidance information to be output, technology and means for presenting to a user is disclosed.

Further, Patent Document 2 describes information to be acquired in each area for the purpose of easily obtaining desired information from various information provided in the navigation apparatus for automobiles. The type is set, and the current position or specified point is determined to be in the area in the stored setting information, and is set automatically or simply by specifying whether or not acquisition is possible. A technique for acquiring type information is disclosed.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-215211 JP 2001-99663 A

  However, in the techniques disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, it is necessary to use GPS (Global Positioning Systems) in order to specify the current position (current position). There was a problem of becoming.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a position specifying device, a position specifying method, and a position specifying program capable of easily specifying a position where an image has been taken without causing an increase in cost. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, a position specifying device according to the present invention is a position specifying device for specifying a position where photographing has been performed, and a plurality of subjects that exist within a position specifying target range and belong to a predetermined type. Storage information stored in advance in association with position information indicating the position of the corresponding subject, and shape information indicating the shape of the image is acquired, and image information indicating the subject is obtained by photographing the subject belonging to the predetermined type Reading out the position information stored in association with the shape information indicating the shape that is similar to the shape of the subject indicated by the image information acquired by the acquisition means and a predetermined level or more from the storage means And specifying means for specifying the position where the photographing is performed based on the position information.

  According to the position specifying device of the present invention, the shape information indicating the shapes of a plurality of subjects existing within the position specifying target range and belonging to a predetermined type is stored in association with the position information indicating the position of the corresponding subject. Stored in advance by means. The storage means includes a RAM (Random Access Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), a semiconductor storage element such as a flash EEPROM (Flash EEPROM), a smart media (SmartMedia (registered trademark)), a flexible A portable recording medium such as a disk, a fixed recording medium such as a hard disk, or an external storage device provided in a server computer connected to a network is included.

  In the present invention, the acquisition unit acquires the image information indicating the subject by photographing the subject belonging to the predetermined type. The acquisition of image information by the acquisition means includes acquisition by imaging with a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) area sensor or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor.

  Here, in the present invention, the position information stored in association with the shape information indicating a shape that is similar to the shape of the subject indicated by the image information acquired by the acquisition unit by a specified level or more by the specifying unit. Is read from the storage means, and the position where the photographing was performed is specified based on the position information.

  As described above, according to the position specifying device of the present invention, the position information indicating the position of the corresponding subject is the shape information indicating the shapes of a plurality of subjects that exist in the position specifying target range and belong to the predetermined type, and The image information indicating the subject is acquired by photographing the subject belonging to the predetermined type in advance and stored in association with the storage unit, and the shape of the subject indicated by the acquired image information is equal to or higher than a predetermined level. Since the position information stored in association with the shape information indicating a similar shape is read from the storage means, and the position where the photographing was performed is specified based on the read position information, GPS is used. As a result of eliminating the necessity, it is possible to easily specify the position where the photographing was performed without causing an increase in cost.

  The specifying means of the present invention derives the shape information indicating a shape that is more than a predetermined level similar to the shape of the subject indicated by the image information by pattern matching between the image information and the shape information. Also good.

  In the present invention, the predetermined type may be a building. Here, the building includes structures such as a tower, a bridge, a port, a lighthouse, and a ship, as well as buildings such as hotels, museums, art galleries, movie theaters, theaters, concert halls, station buildings, and office buildings.

  In particular, the storage means of the present invention corresponds to at least one of character information indicating a character provided in a building existing within the position identification target range and mark information indicating a mark provided in the building. The information is further stored in advance in a state associated with the shape information, and the specifying unit extracts, from the image information, at least one of a character and a mark provided in a building indicated by the image information, You may narrow down the object of the shape information which shows the shape more than the said predetermined level only to the said shape information linked | related with the information which shows at least one of the marks, and is memorize | stored in the said memory | storage means.

  Furthermore, the present invention further stores in advance map information indicating a map within the position specifying target range by the storage unit for each predetermined segment area, and includes a segment area including the position identified by the identifying unit. You may further provide the reading means which reads map information from the said memory | storage means, and the display means which displays the map shown by the map information read by the said reading means. The display means includes various displays such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, a plasma display, and a CRT display.

  In addition, the present invention further stores, in advance for each predetermined segment area, map information indicating a map in the position specification target range by the storage means, input means for inputting destination information indicating a destination, and the specification Reading means for reading out map information indicating the map from the position specified by the means to the destination indicated by the destination information input by the input means from the storage means, and map information read by the reading means Display means for displaying the displayed map. The display means also includes various displays such as a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, a plasma display, and a CRT display. The input by the input means includes input from an external device via a communication network such as a network, in addition to input using an input device such as a keyboard, mouse, trackball, touch panel, and tablet.

  Furthermore, the present invention may be such that the specifying means inputs the image information via a network, and the display means inputs the map information via the network. The network includes a single network or a combination of various networks such as the Internet, a wireless local area network (LAN), and a telephone line network.

  On the other hand, in order to achieve the above object, the position specifying method of the present invention is a position specifying method for specifying a position where photographing has been performed, and is a plurality of positions that exist within a position specifying target range and belong to a predetermined type. The shape information indicating the shape of the subject is associated with the position information indicating the position of the corresponding subject and stored in advance by the storage means, and image information indicating the subject by photographing the subject belonging to the predetermined type The position information stored in association with the shape information indicating the shape that is similar to the shape of the subject indicated by the acquired image information by a predetermined level or more is read from the storage means, and the read position information is Based on this, the position where the photographing was performed is specified.

  Therefore, according to the position specifying method of the present invention, since it operates in the same manner as the position specifying apparatus of the present invention, the position where the shooting was performed can be specified easily without increasing the cost as in the case of the position specifying apparatus. be able to.

  In order to achieve the above object, the position specifying program according to the present invention determines the position of the subject corresponding to the shape information indicating the shapes of a plurality of subjects existing in the position specifying target range and belonging to a predetermined type. A position at which shooting is performed using a storage unit that is stored in advance in association with the position information that is indicated, and an acquisition unit that acquires image information indicating the subject by shooting the subject belonging to the predetermined type. Is a position specifying program executed to specify the shape information, and is stored in association with the shape information indicating a shape similar to the shape of the subject indicated by the image information acquired by the acquiring means by a predetermined level or more. A reading step for reading the position information from the storage means, and the position information read by the reading step. A specifying step of specifying a position subjected to the imaging Te is intended to execute on a computer.

  Therefore, according to the position specifying program of the present invention, it is possible to cause a computer to act in the same manner as the position specifying apparatus of the present invention. It is possible to specify the position where the operation is performed.

  According to the present invention, shape information indicating the shapes of a plurality of subjects existing within the position specifying target range and belonging to a predetermined type is stored in advance by the storage unit in association with position information indicating the positions of the corresponding subjects. In addition, the image information indicating the subject is acquired by photographing the subject belonging to the predetermined type, and the shape information indicating a shape similar to the shape of the subject indicated by the acquired image information by a predetermined level or more Since the position information stored in association with the information is read from the storage means, and the position where the photographing was performed is specified based on the read position information, it is not necessary to use GPS, resulting in high cost. The effect that the position where the image was taken can be easily specified without incurring this is obtained.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, a case will be described in which the present invention is applied to a position specifying system having a server device connected to a network and a digital camera configured to be accessible to the server device via the network.

[First Embodiment]
First, with reference to FIG. 1, the structure of the position specifying system 10 to which the present invention is applied will be described.

  As shown in the figure, in the position specifying system 10 according to the present embodiment, the server device 80 owned by the operator of the system 10 is connected to a connection device 18 such as a modem, a router, or a TA (Terminal Adapter). Are connected to the network 12 (in the present embodiment, the Internet), and include the digital cameras 20 each owned by the user of the location system 10.

  The server device 80 according to the present embodiment functions as a WWW (World Wide Web) server, and the digital camera 20 functions as a WWW client.

  That is, the digital camera 20 has a communication function similar to that of a mobile phone, can communicate via the public telephone network 14 described later, and has a WWW browser installed, and starts the WWW browser. Thus, the server device 80 can be arbitrarily accessed via the network 12. At this time, the access position is specified by a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). For identification of the digital camera 20, an IP (Internet Protocol) address is used, but another location designation code such as a URL may be used.

  On the other hand, a public telephone network 14 constructed and provided by a telephone company in each country or each region is interconnected to the network 12 by a gateway system 16. The public telephone network 14 includes, for example, a PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) and an ISDN (Integrated Service Digital Network).

  The telephone network further includes various types of wireless telephone networks 14A and 14B such as PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) and PHS (Personal Handy-phone System). The wireless telephone networks 14A and 14B can provide functional services such as a data transmission / reception function and a calling number authentication function to the digital camera 20.

  Thus, by using the network 12 and the radio telephone network 14A or the radio telephone network 14B as communication lines and carrying the digital camera 20, the user can access the server device 80 in a mobile environment. .

  FIG. 2 shows a main configuration of the electrical system of the digital camera 20 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the digital camera 20 according to the present embodiment includes an optical unit 22 configured to include a lens 21 (also see FIG. 1) for forming a subject image, and light from the lens 21. It includes a charge coupled device (hereinafter referred to as “CCD”) 24 disposed behind the shaft, and an analog signal processing unit 26 that performs various analog signal processing on the input analog signal. Yes.

  The digital camera 20 also performs an analog / digital converter (hereinafter referred to as “ADC”) 28 that converts an input analog signal into digital data, and performs various digital signal processing on the input digital data. And a digital signal processing unit 30.

  The digital signal processing unit 30 has a built-in line buffer having a predetermined capacity, and also performs control to directly store the input digital data in a predetermined area of the memory 48 described later.

  The output terminal of the CCD 24 is connected to the input terminal of the analog signal processing unit 26, the output terminal of the analog signal processing unit 26 is connected to the input terminal of the ADC 28, and the output terminal of the ADC 28 is connected to the input terminal of the digital signal processing unit 30. . Accordingly, the analog signal indicating the subject image output from the CCD 24 is subjected to predetermined analog signal processing by the analog signal processing unit 26, converted into digital image data by the ADC 28, and then input to the digital signal processing unit 30.

  On the other hand, the digital camera 20 is provided with a liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as “LCD”) 38 for displaying a photographed subject image, a menu screen, and the like. An LCD interface 36 that generates a signal for displaying a screen or the like on the LCD 38 and supplies the signal to the LCD 38 is provided.

  The digital camera 20 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 40 that controls the operation of the entire digital camera 20, a memory 48 that stores digital image data obtained by photographing, and a memory interface that controls access to the memory 48. 46.

  Further, the digital camera 20 includes an external memory interface 50 for making the portable memory card 52 accessible by the digital camera 20, and a compression / decompression processing circuit 54 for performing compression processing and decompression processing on the digital image data. It is configured to include.

  In the digital camera 20 according to the present embodiment, a flash memory is used as the memory 48 and an xD picture card is used as the memory card 52.

  The digital signal processing unit 30, the LCD interface 36, the CPU 40, the memory interface 46, the external memory interface 50, and the compression / decompression processing circuit 54 are connected to each other via a system bus BUS. Therefore, the CPU 40 controls the operation of the digital signal processing unit 30 and the compression / decompression processing circuit 54, displays various information via the LCD interface 36 to the LCD 38, and the memory interface 46 or the external memory interface to the memory 48 and the memory card 52. 50 can be accessed each.

  On the other hand, the digital camera 20 includes a timing generator 32 that mainly generates a timing signal for driving the CCD 24 and supplies the timing signal to the CCD 24, and the driving of the CCD 24 is controlled by the CPU 40 via the timing generator 32.

  Further, the digital camera 20 is provided with a motor drive unit 34, and the driving of a focus adjustment motor, a zoom motor, and an aperture drive motor (not shown) provided in the optical unit 22 is also controlled by the CPU 40 via the motor drive unit 34. The

  In other words, the lens 21 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of lenses, is configured as a zoom lens that can change (magnify) the focal length, and includes a lens driving mechanism (not shown). The lens drive mechanism includes the focus adjustment motor, the zoom motor, and the aperture drive motor, and these motors are each driven by a drive signal supplied from the motor drive unit 34 under the control of the CPU 40.

  Further, a release button (so-called shutter) (not shown), various buttons such as a power switch, a cross cursor button, and switches (generally referred to as “operation unit 56” in the figure) are connected to the CPU 40. The operation state with respect to these operation units 56 can be always grasped. As described above, the digital camera 20 according to the present embodiment can change the zoom magnification, and the operation unit 56 has a tele / wide switch operated when zooming up or down. It is included.

  On the other hand, the digital camera 20 according to the present embodiment includes a communication control unit 62 that performs communication control of data communication by packet exchange using a predetermined communication protocol. The communication control unit 62 modulates a carrier wave with packet data for transmission under the control of the communication control unit 62 and transmits this as a radio signal from the antenna 60, while demodulating the radio signal received from the antenna 60. A transmitter / receiver 64 for restoring packet data is connected.

  Therefore, the CPU 40 can transmit and receive various types of information to and from the server device 80 via the communication control unit 62, the transceiver 64, and the antenna 60.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the main configuration of the electrical system of server device 80 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  As shown in the figure, the server device 80 according to the present embodiment is used as a CPU (central processing unit) 80A that controls the operation of the entire server device 80, a work area when the CPU 80A executes various processing programs, and the like. To display a RAM 80B, a ROM 80C in which various control programs and various parameters are stored in advance, a hard disk 80D used to store various information, a keyboard 80E used to input various information, and various information. And an input / output port 80G for transmitting / receiving various kinds of information to / from an external device via the network 12, and these units are connected to each other by a system bus BUS.

  Accordingly, the CPU 80A accesses the RAM 80B, ROM 80C, and hard disk 80D, acquires various input information via the keyboard 80E, displays various information on the display 80F, and a device connected to the network 12 via the input / output port 80G. Various types of information can be exchanged between the two.

  On the other hand, FIG. 4 schematically shows main storage contents of the hard disk 80D provided in the server device 80. As shown in the figure, the hard disk 80D is provided with a database area DB for storing various databases and a program area PG in which processing programs for performing various processes by the server device 80 are stored in advance. Yes.

  Further, the database area DB exists in an area (hereinafter referred to as “processing target area”) that is a position identification target in the position identification system 10 and belongs to a predetermined type (here, a building). An image information database DB1 for storing information related to the image of the subject and a map information database DB2 for storing information indicating a map in the processing target area are included. Hereinafter, the configuration of these databases will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (A), the image information database DB1 according to the present embodiment is a building where name information, image information, position information, and character / mark information exist in the processing target area. It is configured to be stored every time.

  The name information is information indicating the name of the corresponding building, and the image information is an image of the corresponding building (here, image information indicating a three-dimensional image (hereinafter, “three-dimensional image model”). It is information indicating))). The image information according to the present embodiment includes information indicating the color of the building as well as information indicating the shape of the building. In addition to the official name of the corresponding building, the name information may include a name different from the official name such as a common name or a nickname.

  Further, the position information is information indicating the position of the corresponding building (two-dimensional position information of latitude and longitude here), and the character / mark information includes characters drawn on the corresponding building, This is information indicating a mark. In the image information database DB1 according to the present embodiment, text data is applied as information indicating characters in the character / mark information, and image data is applied as information indicating marks.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), the map information database DB2 according to the present embodiment is configured so that each piece of information of name information, image information, and range information is determined for each predetermined divided area in the processing target area. It is comprised so that it may be memorize | stored.

  The name information is information indicating the name of the corresponding divided area (here, information indicating the address), and the image information is information indicating a map image of the corresponding divided area, and the range information. Is information indicating the range of the position of the corresponding segmented area. The divided areas according to the present embodiment are each rectangular areas, and the range information according to the present embodiment indicates the positions of the upper left corner point and the lower right corner point of the rectangular shape in plan view. It is indicated by information (two-dimensional position information of latitude and longitude here).

  Note that the image information database DB1 and the map information database DB2 according to the present embodiment register the image information itself in each image information column, as shown in FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B). However, the present invention is not limited to this, the image information is stored in another storage device or another storage area, and the path (Path) indicating the location of the image information and the image file name are stored in the image information column. It may be in the form of registration.

  Next, the operation of the position specifying system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  First, the overall operation at the time of shooting of the digital camera 20 according to the present embodiment will be briefly described.

  First, the CCD 24 performs imaging through the optical unit 22 and sequentially outputs analog signals for R (red), G (green), and B (blue) indicating the subject image to the analog signal processing unit 26. The analog signal processing unit 26 performs analog signal processing such as correlated double sampling processing on the analog signal input from the CCD 24 and sequentially outputs the analog signal to the ADC 28.

  The ADC 28 converts the R, G, and B analog signals input from the analog signal processing unit 26 into 12-bit R, G, and B signals (digital image data) and sequentially outputs them to the digital signal processing unit 30. To do. The digital signal processing unit 30 accumulates digital image data sequentially input from the ADC 28 in a built-in line buffer and temporarily stores the digital image data directly in a predetermined area of the memory 48.

  The digital image data stored in a predetermined area of the memory 48 is read out by the digital signal processing unit 30 under the control of the CPU 40, and white balance adjustment is performed by applying a digital gain according to a predetermined physical quantity. Processing and sharpness processing are performed to generate 8-bit digital image data.

  The digital signal processing unit 30 performs YC signal processing on the generated 8-bit digital image data to generate a luminance signal Y and chroma signals Cr and Cb (hereinafter referred to as “YC signal”), and the YC signal. Are stored in an area different from the predetermined area of the memory 48.

  The LCD 38 is configured to display a moving image (through image) obtained by continuous imaging by the CCD 24 and can be used as a finder. When the LCD 38 is used as a finder, the LCD 38 is generated. The YC signals thus output are sequentially output to the LCD 38 via the LCD interface 36. As a result, a through image is displayed on the LCD 38.

  Here, after the AE (Automatic Exposure) function is activated and the exposure state is set at the timing when the release button is half-pressed by the user, the AF (Auto Focus) function is activated and focus control is performed. When the YC signal stored in the memory 48 at that time is fully pressed, the compression / decompression processing circuit 54 compresses the YC signal in a predetermined compression format (JPEG format in the present embodiment), and then the external memory. The file is recorded as an electronic file (image file) in the memory card 52 via the interface 50.

  Next, the operation of the digital camera 20 when executing the position inquiry process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of a position inquiry processing program executed by the CPU 40 of the digital camera 20 when an instruction to execute position inquiry processing is input to the digital camera 20 by an operation on the operation unit 56. The program is stored in a predetermined area of the memory 48 in advance.

  In step 100 in the figure, a predetermined shooting instruction screen is displayed on the LCD 38 via the LCD interface 36, and in the next step 102, input of predetermined information is waited.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the display state of the shooting instruction screen displayed on the LCD 38 by the processing of step 100 described above. As shown in the figure, on the photographing instruction screen according to the present embodiment, a message for prompting photographing in a state of being located in the center with respect to a characteristic building having a special shape or color is displayed. When a message as shown in the figure is displayed, the user of the digital camera 20 puts a characteristic building around the digital camera 20 on the digital camera 20 in a state where the building is located in the center. To shoot. In this shooting, any building that can be shot on the spot may be used as a subject. However, in this embodiment, as described later, the shooting of a characteristic building is prompted on the shooting instruction screen. Since the position specifying system 10 specifies the position by pattern matching between the captured image and the image information of the building registered in the image information database DB1, it is better to use a characteristic building as a subject. This is because the accuracy of position identification can be improved.

  When shooting according to the shooting instruction screen is executed, step 102 becomes affirmative and the process proceeds to step 104.

  In step 104, image information obtained by photographing (here, digital image data after compression processing by the compression / decompression processing circuit 54 (hereinafter referred to as “processing target image information”)) and the zoom magnification at this point are shown. Information (hereinafter referred to as “zoom magnification information”) is transmitted to the server device 80 via the network 12 or the like, and the next step 106 waits for reception of predetermined information.

  When the processing target image information and zoom magnification information are received from any of the digital cameras 20, the server device 80, as will be described later, information indicating the position of the access source digital camera 20 based on the received information. And the information which shows the image of the map of the division area where the said position is contained is transmitted to the said digital camera 20. FIG. Accordingly, step 106 is affirmative and the process proceeds to step 108.

  In step 108, a position presentation screen predetermined based on the information received in step 106 is displayed on the LCD 38 via the LCD interface 36, and then the position inquiry processing program is terminated.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the display state of the position presentation screen displayed on the LCD 38 by the processing of step 108 described above. As shown in the figure, on the position presentation screen according to the present embodiment, the position indicated by the information indicating the position received from the server device 80 (here, information indicating the longitude and latitude) indicates the current position. In addition to being displayed as information, a map of the segmented area including the position is displayed. Therefore, the user can easily grasp the current position by referring to the position presentation screen.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 9, the operation of the server device 80 when executing the position specifying process will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the position specifying processing program executed by the CPU 80A of the server device 80 when processing target image information and zoom magnification information are received from any of the digital cameras 20. The program is stored in advance in the program area PG of the hard disk 80D.

  In step 200 of the figure, the received processing target image information is subjected to expansion processing, and is indicated by image information obtained by this processing (hereinafter, image information after expansion processing is referred to as “processing target image information”). Image information corresponding to the characteristic building region is extracted from the subject image. In the position specifying processing program according to the present embodiment, the extraction of the image information corresponding to the characteristic building area is performed by extracting the center portion of the subject image (here, the subject image is indicated by the processing target image information). Extract a part that has a contrast within a predetermined range centered on the contrast of a rectangular area located in the center when it is divided into a total of 25 rectangular areas of the same area (5 in the horizontal direction and 5 in the vertical direction). However, the present invention is not limited to this. Extraction by extracting a part having a spectral characteristic within a predetermined range including the spectral characteristic of the central part of the subject image, the color of the central part of the subject image Other conventionally known image extraction techniques, such as extraction by extracting a part that is substantially the same color as the above, extraction by extracting a part that satisfies a plurality of the above conditions, etc. It is needless to say that can be applied.

  In the next step 202, image information corresponding to an image showing characters and marks is extracted from the image information showing the building (hereinafter referred to as “photographed building”) extracted by the processing in step 200. In the position specifying processing program according to the present embodiment, the image information corresponding to the image indicating the character and the mark is extracted by a thin line having substantially the same color, and the image indicating the extracted building is displayed. This is done by extracting an area that is equal to or smaller than a predetermined size based on the size of the character, but is not limited to this. For example, other conventionally known characters such as extraction using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology are used. -Needless to say, mark extraction technology can be applied.

  In the next step 204, it is determined whether or not the character / mark information including the character and the mark matching the character and the mark extracted by the processing in the above step 202 is registered in the image information database DB1, and an affirmative determination is made. If YES, the process proceeds to step 206. If NO is determined, the process proceeds to step 208. In the position identification processing program according to the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not it is registered in step 204. Image information indicating characters and marks extracted by the processing in step 202 is used as a conventionally known OCR technique. Is converted to text data (character code), and it is determined whether or not the same character / mark information as the text data is registered in the image information database DB1, but the present invention is not limited to this. It goes without saying that it is not a thing.

  Note that there may be a case where no character or mark is extracted by the process of step 202. In this case, a negative determination is made in step 204.

  In step 206, the building corresponding to the character / mark information determined to be registered in the processing of step 204 is applied as a subsequent processing target (hereinafter referred to as “processing target registered building”). In step 208, all the buildings registered in the image information database DB1 are set to be processing target registered buildings, and then the process proceeds to step 210. Transition. In the position specifying processing program according to the present embodiment, the setting as the processing target registered building corresponds to the processing target registered building with the flags provided in advance for all the registered buildings. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is needless to say that the setting can be made by other methods. In addition, after that, only the processing target registered building is targeted and the processing is performed.

  In step 210, pattern matching between the image information indicating the photographed building and the image information corresponding to the processing target registered building in the image information database DB1 is performed using a conventionally known technique, and in the next step 212, If the similarity to the registered building subject to processing that is most similar to the photographed building (that is, the maximum similarity obtained by pattern matching) is greater than or equal to a predetermined value and the result is affirmative Goes to step 214. In the position specifying processing program according to the present embodiment, the pattern matching is performed based on the image information corresponding to the processing target registered building (image information that is a three-dimensional image model in the present embodiment). Two-dimensional image information indicating the projection image of the processing target registered building is generated for each direction of 360 degrees around the horizontal direction of the processing target registered building, while image information indicating the shooting building is the image information. Each of the image information indicating the generated projection image and the enlarged or reduced imaged building are processed so that the size of the imaged building indicated by is substantially the same as the size of the generated projection image. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that a conventionally known pattern matching technique can be applied. Further, in the position specifying processing program according to the present embodiment, the predetermined value applied in the processing of step 212 is set to a predetermined fixed value. However, the position specifying system 10 is not limited to this and is required by the position specifying system 10. It can also be set as the form which can be set arbitrarily according to the precision etc. of position specification.

  In step 214, the processing target registered building having the highest similarity in the pattern matching is regarded as a shooting building, and the received zoom magnification information and the similarity in the pattern matching are maximized. The distance from the shooting building to the shooting position and the direction of the shooting position based on the shooting building are derived based on the projection direction when the projection image of the processing target registered building applied at the time is generated. .

  In the next step 216, the position information corresponding to the processing target registered building having the highest similarity in the pattern matching is read from the image information database DB1, and the position information and the distance and direction derived in the step 214 are read out. The shooting position (latitude and longitude in this case) is specified as the current position of the digital camera 20 that is the access source based on.

  In the next step 218, the map information that is included in the range indicated by the range information of the current position specified by the processing in step 216 is read from the map information database DB2, and in the next step 220, the read map information and The position information indicating the identified current position is transmitted to the digital camera 20 that is the access source via the network 12 or the like, and then the position identification processing program is terminated.

  If the determination in step 212 is negative, the process proceeds to step 222, and error notification information for notifying that the position cannot be specified from the photographed building is sent to the access source digital camera 20. Transmission is performed via the network 12 or the like, and then the position specifying processing program is terminated.

  As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, shape information (in this case, image information in the image information database DB1) indicating the shapes of a plurality of subjects that exist within the position identification target range and belong to a predetermined type. ) In association with position information indicating the position of the corresponding subject (here, position information in the image information database DB1) by the storage means (here, the hard disk 80D), and belongs to the predetermined type. Image information indicating the subject is acquired by photographing the subject, and the position information stored in association with the shape information indicating a shape similar to the shape of the subject indicated by the acquired image information by a predetermined level or more Is read from the storage means, and the position where the shooting was performed based on the read position information is set as the current position. Since the specific, it results necessary to use a GPS, so that it is possible to identify the current position easily without incurring high cost (was photographing position).

  Further, in the present embodiment, the shape information indicating a shape that is similar to the shape of the subject indicated by the image information by a predetermined level or more is derived by pattern matching between the image information and the shape information. The derivation of the shape information can be easily performed by a conventionally known technique.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, the memory | storage means WHEREIN: The character information which shows the character provided in the building which exists in the said position specification object range, and the mark provided in the said building (here Then, the character and mark information in the image information database DB1 is further stored in advance in a state associated with the corresponding shape information, and the character and mark provided in the building indicated by the image information from the image information. Are extracted, and the target of shape information indicating a shape more than the predetermined level is narrowed down only to the shape information stored in the storage means in association with information indicating at least one of the extracted character and mark. Therefore, the current position can be specified in a short time and with high accuracy.

  In the present embodiment, the storage means further stores in advance map information (here, image information in the map information database DB2) indicating the map within the position specifying target range for each predetermined segment area. In addition, since the map information of the divided area including the specified current position is read from the storage means and the map indicated by the map information is displayed, the current position can be easily determined by referring to the displayed map. I can grasp it.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the server device inputs the image information via a network (here, the network 12) to specify the current position (the position where the image was taken), and the digital camera receives the map information. Since it is assumed to be input and displayed via the network, it is not necessary to provide the digital camera with a specifying means for specifying the current position and the storage means, and the configuration of the digital camera can be simplified. .

[Second Embodiment]
In the second embodiment, a description will be given of an example in which a map from a specified current position to a destination specified by the user is displayed. The configuration of the position specifying system 10 according to the second embodiment is the same as that according to the first embodiment (see FIGS. 1 to 5), and thus the description thereof is omitted here. To do.

  First, the operation of the digital camera 20 when executing the destination guidance process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of a destination guidance processing program executed by the CPU 40 of the digital camera 20 when a destination guidance processing execution instruction is input to the digital camera 20 by an operation on the operation unit 56. The program is stored in a predetermined area of the memory 48 in advance.

  In step 300 in the figure, a predetermined shooting instruction screen is displayed on the LCD 38 via the LCD interface 36, and in the next step 302, input of predetermined information is waited.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of a display state of the photographing instruction screen displayed on the LCD 38 by the process of step 300 described above. As shown in the figure, the shooting instruction screen according to the present embodiment prompts the user to input the name of the destination (destination), and is positioned at the center of the characteristic building having a special shape or color. A message that prompts the user to take a picture in a state of being displayed is displayed, and a rectangular frame for inputting the destination is displayed. When the screen as shown in the figure is displayed, the user of the digital camera 20 inputs the name of the destination into the rectangular frame by an operation on the operation unit 56, and then there is a characteristic that exists around the user. The building is photographed with the digital camera 20 in a state where the building is located in the center. In this shooting, any building that can be shot on the spot may be used as the subject. However, it is the position according to the first embodiment that prompts the shooting of a characteristic building on the shooting instruction screen. Like the specifying system 10, the position specifying system 10 according to the present embodiment also specifies the position by pattern matching between the captured image and the image information of the building registered in the image information database DB1. This is because the accuracy of position specification can be improved by using a characteristic building as a subject.

  When shooting according to the shooting instruction screen is executed, step 302 is affirmative and the routine proceeds to step 304.

  In step 304, image information obtained by photographing (here, digital image data after compression processing by the compression / decompression processing circuit 54 (hereinafter referred to as “processing target image information”)) and the zoom magnification at this point are shown. Information (hereinafter referred to as “zoom magnification information”) and information indicating the destination (hereinafter referred to as “destination information”) input on the shooting instruction screen are connected to the server device 80 via the network 12 or the like. In step 306, reception of predetermined information is awaited.

  When the processing target image information, the zoom magnification information, and the destination information are received from any of the digital cameras 20, the server device 80 receives the access source digital camera 20 based on the received information, as will be described later. The information indicating the position of the image and the information indicating the image of the map from the position to the destination are transmitted to the digital camera 20. In response to this, step 306 becomes affirmative and the process proceeds to step 308.

  In step 308, a destination guidance screen predetermined based on the information received in step 306 is displayed on the LCD 38 via the LCD interface 36, and then the destination guidance processing program is terminated.

  Note that the process of step 308 causes the LCD 38 to display information indicating the current position (in this case, information indicating longitude and latitude) and the current position in substantially the same manner as the position presentation screen shown in FIG. A destination guidance screen including an image showing a map leading to the destination is displayed. Therefore, by referring to the destination guidance screen, the user can easily grasp the current position and the route to the destination.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 12, the operation of the server device 80 when executing the destination presentation process will be described. FIG. 12 shows the flow of processing of the destination presentation processing program executed by the CPU 80A of the server device 80 when processing target image information, zoom magnification information, and destination information are received from any of the digital cameras 20. This is a flowchart, and the program is stored in advance in the program area PG of the hard disk 80D.

  In step 400 of the figure, processing excluding steps 218 and 220 of the position specifying process program (see also FIG. 9) according to the first embodiment is executed, and in step 402, the position specifying process is executed. It is determined whether or not the process of step 222 (error notification process) of the program has been executed. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 404.

  In step 404, the position information corresponding to the destination indicated by the received destination information is read from the image information database DB1, and then the position specified by the position specifying processing program (the current position of the access source digital camera 20). From the map information database DB2, map information indicating a map reaching the position indicated by the read position information is read from the map information database DB2, and in the next step 406, the read map information and the position information indicating the specified current position are accessed. Is transmitted to the digital camera 20 via the network 12 or the like, and then the destination presentation program is terminated.

  In addition, when it becomes affirmation determination in the said step 402, a real destination presentation process program is complete | finished, without performing the process of the said step 404-step 406.

  As described above in detail, the second embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment, and is within the position identification target range by the storage means (here, the hard disk 80D). Map information (here, image information in the map information database DB2) is further stored in advance for each predetermined segment area, and destination information indicating the destination (here, destination information) is input. The map information indicating the map from the specified current position (position where the image was taken) to the destination indicated by the destination information input is read from the storage means, and the map indicated by the read map information is displayed. Therefore, the route from the current position to the destination can be easily grasped by referring to the displayed map.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where the digital camera 20 is applied as an apparatus having the acquisition unit of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant; Other devices having a photographing function such as a portable information terminal and a mobile phone may be applied. Also in this case, the same effects as those of the above embodiments can be obtained.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where the acquisition unit, the storage unit, and the specifying unit of the present invention are allocated and applied to different devices (the digital camera 20 and the server device 80) has been described. For example, all of these means can be applied to the digital camera 20. In this case, since the server device 80 and the network 12 are not necessary, the present invention can be realized at low cost and easily as compared with the above embodiments.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where the specifying unit of the present invention is applied to the server device 80 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the above-described specifying unit is applied to the digital camera 20. It can also be set as the form to do.

  As a form example in this case, a position specifying processing program (see FIG. 9) excluding steps 218 and 220 is installed in advance in the digital camera 20 and the server device 80 in response to a request from the digital camera 20. The image information database DB1 is downloaded to the digital camera 20, and the position specifying process program is executed by the CPU 40 of the digital camera 20 using the image information database DB1.

  In this case, the digital camera 20 allows the user to input a destination (destination) and transmits the destination to the server device 80, while the server device 80 receives the destination in the image information database DB1 accordingly. It is preferable to download only the information on the buildings located around the destination because the memory capacity for storing the downloaded information in the digital camera 20 can be saved. In this case, if the map information database DB2 is also downloaded to the digital camera 20, the process of step 218 of the position specifying process program is also executed, and the map indicated by the map information obtained thereby is displayed as an example. A position presentation screen as shown in FIG. 8 can also be displayed, which is preferable. In these cases, it is preferable to compress the information to be downloaded because the download time can be shortened. In this case, the information downloaded by the digital camera 20 needs to be expanded.

  In these cases, the same effects as those in the above embodiments can be obtained.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where a building that is an artificial object is applied as a predetermined type of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to adopt a form in which natural objects such as canyons are applied. Also in this case, the same effects as those of the above embodiments can be obtained.

  In addition, the configurations (see FIGS. 1 to 3) of the position specifying system 10, the digital camera 20, and the server device 80 described in the above embodiments are merely examples, and are appropriately selected within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say, it can be changed.

  Further, the data structures (see FIG. 5) of various databases shown in the above embodiments are merely examples, and it goes without saying that they can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  The processing flow of the various programs shown in the above embodiments (see FIGS. 6, 9, 10, and 12) is also an example, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. Needless to say.

  Furthermore, the display states of the various screens shown in the above embodiments (see FIGS. 7, 8, and 11) are also examples, and it goes without saying that they can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention. Yes.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the whole structure of the position specification system which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the electric system of the digital camera which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the electric system of the server apparatus which concerns on embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the main memory content of the hard disk with which the server apparatus which concerns on embodiment was equipped. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows the data structure of the image information database which concerns on embodiment, (B) is a schematic diagram which shows the data structure of the map information database which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the position inquiry process program which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the example of a display state of the imaging | photography instruction | indication screen which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the example of a display state of the position presentation screen which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the position specific process program which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the destination guidance process program which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the example of a display state of the imaging | photography instruction | indication screen which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the destination presentation process program which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 Positioning System 12 Network 20 Digital Camera 24 CCD (Acquisition Means)
38 LCD (display means)
40 CPU
56 Operation unit (input means)
62 Communication Control Unit 80 Server Device 80A CPU (Specification Unit, Reading Unit)
80D hard disk (storage means)
80G I / O port DB1 Image information database DB2 Map information database

Claims (9)

A position specifying device for specifying a position where shooting was performed,
Storage means that is stored in advance in association with position information that indicates the position of the corresponding subject in which the shape information that indicates the shape of a plurality of subjects that exist within the position identification target range and belong to a predetermined type;
Obtaining means for obtaining image information indicating the subject by photographing the subject belonging to the predetermined type;
The position information stored in association with the shape information indicating the shape similar to the shape of the subject indicated by the image information acquired by the acquisition means by a predetermined level or more is read from the storage means, and the position information is stored in the position information. A specifying means for specifying the position where the shooting was performed based on;
Positioning device equipped with. The position specifying device according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit derives the shape information indicating a shape that is similar to a shape of the subject indicated by the image information by a predetermined level or more by pattern matching between the image information and the shape information. apparatus. The position specifying device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined type is a building. The storage means associates at least one of character information indicating a character provided in a building existing in the position identification target range and mark information indicating a mark provided in the building with corresponding shape information. Stored in advance,
The specifying unit extracts at least one of a character and a mark provided in a building indicated by the image information from the image information, and is associated with information indicating at least one of the extracted character and a mark and the storage unit The position specifying device according to claim 3, wherein a target of shape information indicating a shape that is more than the predetermined level is narrowed down only to the shape information stored in the position information device. The storage means further stores in advance map information indicating a map within the position identification target range for each predetermined segment area,
A reading means for reading out the map information of the divided area including the position specified by the specifying means from the storage means;
Display means for displaying a map indicated by the map information read by the reading means;
The position specifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: The storage means further stores in advance map information indicating a map within the position identification target range for each predetermined segment area,
An input means for inputting destination information indicating the destination;
Reading means for reading out map information indicating a map from the position specified by the specifying means to the destination indicated by the destination information input by the input means from the storage means;
Display means for displaying a map indicated by the map information read by the reading means;
The position specifying device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: The specifying means inputs the image information via a network,
The position specifying device according to claim 5, wherein the display unit inputs the map information via the network. A position specifying method for specifying a position where shooting was performed,
Shape information indicating the shapes of a plurality of subjects existing within the position specifying target range and belonging to a predetermined type is stored in advance by the storage means in association with position information indicating the positions of the corresponding subjects,
Acquiring image information indicating the subject by photographing the subject belonging to the predetermined type;
The position information stored in association with the shape information indicating a shape that is similar to the shape of the subject indicated by the acquired image information by a predetermined level or more is read from the storage unit;
Identify the position where the shooting was performed based on the read position information,
Location method. Storage means that is stored in advance in association with position information that indicates the position of the corresponding subject, and shape information that indicates the shape of a plurality of subjects that exist within the position identification target range and belong to a predetermined type; An acquisition means for acquiring image information indicating the subject by photographing a subject belonging to the specified type, and a position specifying program that is executed to specify the position at which the image was taken,
A reading step of reading out from the storage means the position information stored in association with the shape information indicating a shape similar to a shape of the subject indicated by the image information acquired by the acquisition means by a predetermined level;
A specifying step for specifying the position where the photographing was performed based on the position information read by the reading step;
A location program that causes a computer to execute.

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