JP2007166007A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera capable of cost effectively configuring a recording system of image data for improving the searching performance for searching desired image data among a huge amount of image data acquired by photographing with a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: The camera is provided with: a photographing means 103; a GPS means 102 for detecting positional information of the camera; a CPU 101 for discriminating whether or not the position of the camera is a prescribed position on the basis of information associated with the positional information detected by the GPS means 102; and a recording means 105 for recording image data photographed by the photographing means 103 and the information based on the positional information in cross reference with each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly to a camera equipped with a GPS function.

  In recent years, a navigation system using a global positioning system, that is, a GPS (Global Positioning System) has been developed. The navigation system is mounted on a vehicle, for example, as a car navigation system, or mounted on an electronic device such as a mobile phone.

By the way, as a portable communication device equipped with this navigation system, for example, Patent Literature 1 discloses the following technology. The portable communication device disclosed in Patent Document 1 associates image data captured by the portable communication device with location information that is information relating to a location where the image data was captured, and stores the image data in the image storage unit. Categorize and record in folders by location. Accordingly, it can be said that the portable communication device described in Patent Document 1 is a portable communication device with improved searchability for searching for a desired image from captured images.
JP 2003-298987 A

  However, the portable communication device described in Patent Document 1 uses a map database in order to classify image data into location-specific folders based on position information acquired using GPS. For this reason, the portable communication device described in Patent Document 1 requires a system that can be said to be large-scale, such as providing a large memory or connecting to the Internet or a base station. Therefore, a portable communication device that can improve the searchability of captured image data with a simpler system configuration is desired. Such a portable communication device, for example, a camera, has been difficult to put into practical use due to the weight of the system configuration by using the map database.

  In other words, in the work of associating GPS position information with maps and place name information, the map image database for search and the place name information database become enormous, and there are many to deal with place names and users around the world. The necessity to correspond to place names expressed in other languages has become a barrier to practical use.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image data recording system that improves searchability when searching for desired image data from a vast amount of image data acquired by photographing. An object of the present invention is to provide a camera that has a simple configuration and can be manufactured at low cost.

  In order to achieve the above object, a camera according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a photographing unit that executes a photographing operation to acquire image data, a position detecting unit that detects positional information of the camera, and the position Based on the position information detected by the detection means, a determination means for determining in which geographical area the position of the camera is, and based on the determination result by the determination means, the image data is converted into the geographical area. And recording means for recording in association with the area information indicating.

  In order to achieve the above object, a camera according to a second aspect of the present invention detects a position of the camera at the time of shooting by the shooting means for executing shooting operation and acquiring image data. In a camera comprising: a position detection unit; and a recording unit that records the image data acquired by the imaging unit and the position information detected by the position detection unit in association with each other, the position detection unit stores the position information. Clock means for performing detection operations at predetermined time intervals, and the operation of the position detection means based on the output of the clock means, according to the camera position information acquired at predetermined time intervals, Reference position information determination means for determining reference position information that is a position, the reference position information, and the position information recorded in association with the image data , The following information based on the difference amount information, and further comprising a, a classification means for classifying the image data.

  In order to achieve the above object, a camera according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a photographing unit that executes a photographing operation to acquire image data, a position detecting unit that detects position information of the camera, Classification of the image data based on the number of photographed images, a position number based on the information detected by the position detecting means, and the number of photographed images determined by the number of photographed image determining means. And a classification record control means for controlling the recording.

  According to the present invention, an image data recording system that improves searchability when searching for desired image data from a large amount of image data acquired by photographing can be realized with a simple configuration and at low cost. Can be provided.

Hereinafter, a characteristic part of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a characteristic part of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  First, as shown in the figure, the camera according to this embodiment includes a control unit 101, a switch 101-a provided in connection with the control unit 101, a GPS unit 102 for acquiring position information, and a shooting operation. An image capturing unit 103 that executes to acquire image data, an image processing unit 104 that performs predetermined image processing, a recording unit 105 that records various data including the image data, a clock unit 106 that provides time information, And display means 107 comprising, for example, an LCD or the like. Each component will be specifically described below.

  In the camera according to the present embodiment, a control unit (CPU) 101 including a microcontroller detects an operation of the switch 101-a by a user and executes a predetermined sequence described later based on the detection result. Control each component of the camera.

  First, the camera according to the present embodiment is provided with GPS means 102 that receives a signal from a satellite and converts it into position information, connected to the CPU 101. With this GPS means 102, the position information of the camera at the time of image data shooting can be acquired.

  The image data acquired by the photographing unit 103 responsible for the photographing operation is subjected to general image processing by the image processing unit 104. Thereafter, the image data is recorded in the recording unit 105 together with the position information acquired by the GPS unit 102. In the present embodiment, image data and position information (details will be described later) are recorded in association with each other. Correspondingly, the recording unit 105 is divided into two areas, and only image data is stored in one area. Of course, after temporary recording, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which image data associated with the position information is sequentially recorded on the other side.

  Note that the image data can be visually recognized by the display means 107 including, for example, an LCD. Further, when the user visually recognizes the image data displayed on the display unit 107, desired image data can be searched from the image data recorded on the recording unit 105.

  Further, the camera according to the present embodiment is provided with a clock means 106 having a function of providing time information and a timer function of measuring time, connected to the CPU 101. The time information by the clock means 106 can also be recorded in the recording means 105.

  Hereinafter, an operation control concept unique to the camera according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, in the camera according to the present embodiment, home position information (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) indicating the user's home location is set (details of the setting will be described later). Further, by comparing the home position information (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) with the position information (X, Y) indicating the location where the image data was taken, the home position as shown in FIG. A change direction θ _L and a change distance D _L of the change in position of the image data up to the shooting position are obtained.

Since the home position information and the two-dimensional coordinate information of the position information have already been acquired as (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) and (X, Y) by the GPS means 102, the change direction θ _L and the change distance D _L can be obtained by calculation. Here, for example, the change direction θ _L is an angle calculated with true north as 0 degrees as shown in FIG. As a calculation formula,
θ _L = arctan ((X−X ₀ ) / (Y−Y ₀ ))
It is.

As for the change distance D _L, as can be seen from Figure 2,

Is required.

Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram of a method for classifying the image data based on the change distance D _L. In the camera according to the present embodiment, image data acquired by shooting is classified based on the shooting location and recorded in the recording means 105 (details will be described later with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4).

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 3, in the camera according to the present embodiment, the image data captured at a position within a radius of [Delta] D _L was made around a position apart D _L from home position, as the same lumping being classified. That is, here [Delta] D _L shown as specific [Delta] D _L1, [Delta] D _L2 serves as a indication of whether the image data is classified as the same lumping. Figure 3 is thus based on the distance from home position, the shooting area of the image data to be classified as the same bundling other words [Delta] D _L, illustrates specifically and schematically.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C, the operation control by the system configuration described above will be described to further clarify the features of the camera according to the present embodiment.

  Note that the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C are flowcharts of operation control controlled by the CPU 101 in FIG. This flowchart is a main flowchart of the camera according to the present embodiment, and is a flowchart of operation control that is automatically activated when a power switch (not shown) is turned on by a user.

  First, it is determined whether or not it is set to a no position information mode described later (step S100). If it is determined in this step S100 that the mode without position information is set, the flow proceeds to a flowchart (not shown) of operation control when the mode is set to no position information. Note that the position information absence mode is a mode for performing camera operation control that has been generally performed in the past (not operation control peculiar to the camera according to the present embodiment). Description is omitted.

  If it is determined in step S100 that the position information absence mode is not set, first, the clock means 106 is caused to reset and start the timekeeping (step S101). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not an operation for performing photographing by the photographing unit 103 is performed by an operation of the switch 101-a by the user (step S102). Here, when the step S102 is branched to NO, it is determined whether or not an operation for reproducing the image data is performed by the operation of the switch 101-a by the user (step S110). If the process branches to NO in step S110, the process branches to step S111.

  In step S111, it is determined whether or not the clock means 106 has counted a predetermined time set in advance (or set to a desired value by the user), that is, whether or not the predetermined time has elapsed (step S111). . If it is determined in step S111 that the predetermined time has not yet elapsed, the process returns to step S102. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S111 that the predetermined time has elapsed, the position information is acquired by the GPS means 102 and recorded in the recording means 105 or a memory (not shown) (step S112).

  That is, when neither the shooting operation nor the reproduction operation is performed, the GPS unit 102 is caused to acquire position information at predetermined time intervals by the loop formed by the above steps S102, S110, and S111.

  After the acquisition and recording of the position information in step S112, it is determined whether similar position information has been acquired a predetermined number of times or more (step S113). When step S113 is branched to NO, the process returns to step S101, and the clock means 106 is started again. On the other hand, when step S113 is branched to YES, it is determined that the current position of the camera is a place where the camera is stored, and whether or not the position information of the current position is usable position information. Is determined (step S114). Specifically, in this step S114, for example, while acquiring similar position information, the position information indicates position information indicating a position outside the range assumed in advance, in other words, the position of the place where the camera is purchased. It is only necessary to determine whether or not the location information is a location information far from the information, for example, the location information acquired at the stay location during a long-term stay while traveling.

  When step S114 is branched to NO (that is, when it is determined that the current position information is not usable position information), a warning display is displayed on the display means 107 (step S115), and the process proceeds to step S116. . In step S116, it is determined whether or not the user who has confirmed the warning display in step S115 has operated the switch 101-a for setting the home position information.

  If it is determined in step S116 that the user has operated the switch 101-a to set home position information, the current position information is set as the user's home position information (step S117). Thereafter, the process returns to step S101. On the other hand, when step S116 is branched to NO, the process returns to step S101 and causes the clock means 106 to start measuring time again.

When branching to YES in step S114 (that is, when it is determined that the current position information is available position information), similar position information repeatedly acquired in a series of steps so far is used. The average value is calculated as X ₀ , Y ₀ , and these values, that is, (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) are set as the user's home location information and recorded in the recording means 105 (step S118). Thereafter, the process returns to step S101.

  By the way, when step S110 is branched to YES (that is, when an operation for reproducing the image data is performed by the user operating the switch 101-a), the reproduction mode is entered. In this playback mode, first, the user operates the switch 101-a to search for image data using, for example, a place name classification as an index (an example of a display screen displayed on the display means 107 during this search is shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not an operation to be described later is performed (step S120).

  When step S120 is branched to YES, image data corresponding to a desired theme is displayed on the display means 107 based on the operation of the switch 101-a by the user (step S122). On the other hand, when step S120 is branched to NO, the latest image data is sequentially displayed on the display means 107 (step S121).

  After the image data is displayed on the display means 107 in step S121 or step S122, the displayed image data is sequentially switched in response to the operation of the switch 101-a by the user. (Step S123). Thereafter, the operation of the switch 101-a by the user is detected, and it is determined whether or not to end the reproduction display of the image data (step S124).

  When step S124 is branched to NO, the process returns to step S120, and a series of image data reproduction processes are followed again. On the other hand, when step S124 is branched to YES, it is determined whether or not a power switch (not shown) is turned off by the user (step S125). If it is determined in this step S125 that a power switch (not shown) has been turned off, the camera is shut down. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S125 that the power switch (not shown) is not turned off, the process returns to step S101.

  By the way, when step S102 is branched to YES (that is, when an operation for performing photographing is performed by the user operating the switch 101-a), the photographing unit 103 is based on the operation of the switch 101-a by the user. Then, the imaging of the subject image and digitization of the image data acquired by the imaging are performed (step S130). Thereafter, the image data acquired in step S130 is output to the image processing unit 104, and is corrected and compressed by the image processing unit 104 (step S131).

  Subsequently, the GPS unit 102 acquires position information (X, Y) of the current position of the camera, and records the position information (X, Y) in the recording unit 105 or a memory (not shown) (step S132). . Thereafter, the position information (X, Y) and the image data are associated and recorded in the recording means 105 (step S133).

Subsequently, referring to the recording means 105, it is determined whether or not the location information of the user's home has already been set (step S134). If it is determined in step S134 that the location information of the user's home has not yet been set, step S134 is branched to NO, and the home location information (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) is manually input to the user. Thus, a warning display is displayed on the display means 107 (step S135).

Thereafter, the user who has confirmed the warning display in step S135 inputs the home position information (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) using the switch 101-a or input means (not shown) (step S136). In addition, for example, a configuration in which representative location information for each prefecture is described in advance in an instruction manual, etc., so that the user manually inputs home location information while referring to the description. It is done.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the home position information (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) has been input by the user (step S137). If it is determined in step S137 that the home position information (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) has been input by the user, the process proceeds to step S140 described later.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S137 that the home position information (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) has not been input by the user, the user is requested to use the home position information (X ₀ , Y ₀ ). Whether or not to use the home position information (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) is displayed on the display means 107 so as to select whether or not it is desired, and based on the subsequent operation of the switch 101-a by the user. A determination is made (step S138).

In step S138, when detecting the operation of the switch 101-a and do not wish to use the home location _{(X 0, Y} 0), the home location branches to YES _{(X 0, Y} 0) without It sets to the mode which performs processing (the above-mentioned position information absence mode) (step S139). Thereafter, the process proceeds to a flowchart (not shown) of operation control when the position information absence mode is set.

On the other hand, when the operation of the switch 101-a that it is desired to use the home position information (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) is detected, the process branches to NO and returns to step S135. Basically, the home position information (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) is automatically set in a series of steps S111 to S118.

Incidentally, when it is determined in step S134 that the user's home position information (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) has already been set, and in step S137, the user inputs home position information (X ₀ , Y ₀ ). If it is determined that the process has been performed, the process proceeds to step S140. In step S140, the home position information (X ₀ , Y ₀ ) is compared with the position information (X, Y) acquired in step S132 (step S140). Specifically, the change direction θ _L and the change distance D _L described with reference to FIG. 2 are calculated by the above-described calculation.

Subsequently, the value determined in the step S140, respectively set to the changing direction theta _L and change the distance _{D L} (step S141 and step S142). After that, whether or not there is image data corresponding to a region (θ _L , D _L ) similar to the region (θ _L , D _L ) obtained in step S141 and step S142 among the image data that has already been taken and acquired. Is determined with reference to the recording means 105 (step S143).

When this step S143 is branched to YES, the image data is classified as the same data as the image data corresponding to the similar region (θ _L , D _L ) and recorded in the recording means 105 (step S144). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not a power switch (not shown) is turned off by the user (step S145). If it is determined in this step S145 that the power switch (not shown) is turned off, the camera is shut down. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S145 that the POWER SW (not shown) is not turned off, the process returns to step S101.

On the other hand, if branched the step S143 to NO, the change direction theta _L and change the distance _{D L,} which correlated with the image data (step S146). Thereafter, a new area (θ _L , D _L ) is set and recorded in the recording means 105 (step S147). Then, the region (θ _L , D _L ) and the image data are associated with each other and recorded in the recording unit 105 (step S148). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S145, and it is determined whether or not a power switch (not shown) is turned off by the user. If it is determined that the POWER SW (not shown) is turned off, the camera is shut down. If it is determined that the POWER SW (not shown) is not turned off, the process returns to Step S101.

In addition, as a specific example of the recording form in which the region (θ _L , D _L ) and the image data are recorded in association with each other in step S148, the image data corresponds to the classification in the recording unit 105. Recording form to be moved to a folder. In addition, there is a recording form in which classification information indicating the classification is added to the image data as header information. Of course, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which the specific information for identifying the image data and the classification table indicating the classification are registered with the specific information and the classification of the classified image data.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, an example of a determination method of similarity determination of position information in the present embodiment (step S143 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4A) will be described. This flowchart is an operation control controlled by the CPU 101 in FIG.

Step of Step S151 to Step S157 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is a step to continue to set the _{D L} and the [Delta] D _L. In each of the subsequent steps, determination of the area where the image data is taken is performed using position information associated with the image data.

First, it is determined whether or not the image data is image data taken at a distance of less than 100 m from the home (that is, D _L <100 m) (step S151). If it is determined in step S151 that the image data is image data shot at a distance of less than 100 m from the home (ie, D _L <100 m), the image data is classified as image data shot near the home. In such a case, ΔD _L = 100 m is set so as to be recorded in the recording means 105 as the same classification (near home) if the area is within an area within a radius of 100 m centering on the position (step S161).

If it is determined in step S151 that D _L <100, it is determined whether or not the image data is image data taken at a distance of less than 2 km from the home (ie, D _L <2 km). (Step S152). If it is determined in step S152 that the image data is image data taken at a distance of less than 2 km from the home (ie, D _L <2 km), for example, an elementary school or the like is located within this range. Therefore, if the change is within a radius of 500 m from the position, for example, it is desired to make the same classification within the elementary school, so ΔD _L = 500 m is set (step S162).

If it is determined in step S152 that D _L <2 km, it is determined whether or not the image data is image data taken at a distance of less than 40 km from the home (ie, D _L <40 km). (Step S153). If it is determined in step S153 that the image data is image data taken at a distance less than 40 km from the home (ie, D _L <40 km), for example, a commuting range that is a position less than 40 km from the home Is applicable. Therefore, image data (for example, photos taken at after-five restaurants) within a radius of 2 km from the position (for example, a restaurant is considered to exist) are all in the same classification (for example, work-related). Therefore, ΔD _L = 2 km is set (step S163).

If it is determined in step S153 that D _L <40 km is not satisfied, it is determined that the image data is image data taken during a trip (step S155). Then, it is determined whether or not the image data is image data taken at a distance of less than 200 km from the home (that is, D _L <200 km) (step S156). If it is determined in step S156 that the image data is image data shot at a distance of less than 200 km from home (ie, D _L <200 km), the number of image data shot in the area is It is determined whether or not the number is larger than the predetermined number (step S164).

For example, when a large amount of image data is taken at Utsunomiya and then taken to Oyama to further take image data at a travel destination in a trip in North Kanto, desired image data is selected from a large amount of image data. It is a step of measures to deal with the possibility that it will be difficult to search for. That is, if it is determined in step S164 that the number of image data photographed in the area is larger than a predetermined number, the process proceeds to step S163 in order to improve the searchability of desired image data. _L = 2 km is set, and the image data captured within the range of 2 km is recorded in the recording unit 105 as the same classification.

However, if it is determined in step S164 that the number of image data photographed in the area is smaller than the predetermined number, it may be difficult to search for desired image data without performing a fine classification. Is low, ΔD _L = 20 km is set (step S165).

If it is determined in step S156 that D _L <200 km, it is determined whether the image data is image data taken at a distance of less than 1000 km from the home (that is, D _L <1000 km). (Step S157). Here, the movement of 1000 km is such a movement that a person living in Tokyo, for example, travels to Kansai.

Therefore, when it is determined in step S157 that the image data is image data taken at a distance of less than 1000 km from the home (that is, D _L <1000 km), the number of image data shot in the area is first determined. It is determined whether or not the number is larger than the predetermined number (step S166). If it is determined in step S166 that the number of image data is greater than the predetermined number, the process branches to YES, and the process proceeds to step S165 to make the classification slightly finer and facilitate search, and ΔD _L = The image data taken within the range is set to 20 km and the same classification.

On the other hand, when branching to NO in step S166 (when the number of image data is not greater than the predetermined number), if the radius is 100 km, ΔD _L = to be classified as image data taken on the same trip. It is set to 100 km (step S167).

  Specifically, according to the classification based on the determination of the number of image data in the above step S166, if the image data is less than the predetermined number, for example, the image data is classified by a group equivalent to “Keihanshin”, and the predetermined number of image data. If there are more, for example, classification may be made in a group equivalent to “Kyoto”, “Osaka”, and “Kobe”. Here, the “predetermined number” may be either a default value or a value arbitrarily determined by the user. Note that the “predetermined number” in step S164 is the same for the “predetermined number” setting in step S158 described later.

By the way, when it is determined in step S157 that D _L = 1000 km or more, the travel distance is equivalent to an overseas trip. Therefore, in order to switch the [Delta] D _L corresponding to the number of image data photographed in the area, the number of image data photographed in the area is equal to or more than a predetermined number (Step S158) . If it is determined in step S158 that the number of image data shot in the area is equal to or greater than the predetermined number, the process branches to YES and proceeds to step S167, where ΔD _L = 100 km is set. On the other hand, when step S158 is branched to NO, ΔD _L = 300 km is set (step S159). Note that the step of determining the number of image data in step S158 is a step for improving the searchability of desired image data, similar to the step of determining the number of image data in step S164 and step S166 described above.

Above-described step S159, step S161, step S162, step S163, after setting the value of [Delta] D _L by passing through any of the steps of the step S165, and step S167, and [Delta] D _L in the image data, already the absolute value of the difference between [Delta] D _L in the image data acquired in the shooting to (for example, image data obtained in the previous shot), the value | [Delta] D | a (step S171).

  Subsequently, it is compared whether or not the value of ΔD satisfies the relationship | ΔD |> 0 (step S172). That is, step S172 is a step of performing similarity determination of position information in image data. If it is determined in step S172 that | ΔD |> 0, it is determined that the position information in the image data is dissimilar (step S174), and then the process returns to the main flowchart. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S172 that | ΔD |> 0 is not satisfied (that is, when | ΔD | = 0), it is determined that the position information in the image data is similar (step S174), and thereafter Returning to step S143 of the main flowchart shown in FIG. 4A.

  According to the image data classification method described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 described above, the image data is recorded for each shooting location of the image data, and the desired image data can be searched very easily. It can be recorded in the means 105.

Note that, in the camera according to the present embodiment, as described above, the image data acquired by photographing is associated with the region (θ _L , D _L ) and recorded in the recording unit 105. Thus, when the user searches for desired image data from the image data recorded in the recording means 105, the search can be quickly performed by using the region (θ _L , D _L ) as a clue. And it becomes easy. That is, the searchability of desired image data is dramatically improved. Then, the benefits to the user due to this effect increase as the number of image data captured by the camera increases.

Therefore, various methods for easily searching for desired image data from image data recorded by the camera according to the present embodiment having such very useful features can be easily considered. For example, a method of displaying a search screen as shown in FIG. That is, the image data is classified for each area based on the area (θ _L , D _L ) and displayed on the display means 107, and the user selects desired image data by referring to this display. is there. In addition, the image data recorded by the camera according to the present embodiment is recorded in a recording unit that is detachably provided to the camera according to the present embodiment, and the search and reproduction device can search and record via the recording unit. Of course, it can be reproduced.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the captured image data is classified and associated with a predetermined area. Therefore, when it is desired to recollect memories of a trip or the like while viewing the image data, as shown in FIG. 6. For example, desired image data can be searched by selecting a classification such as a place name shown on the display unit 107 as an index.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a simple image data recording system that improves the searchability when searching for desired image data out of a vast amount of image data acquired by shooting. It is possible to provide a camera that is configured and made possible at low cost.

  Specifically, the camera according to the present embodiment has the following effects.

  First, in the camera according to the present embodiment, as described above, the image data is acquired by the simple configuration and the stand-alone system camera by the technology for performing data management based on the position information of the camera and the home position information of the user. And position information indicating the shooting location of the image data can be recorded in association with each other. Therefore, it is possible to provide an inexpensive camera that can easily search for desired image data from an enormous number of image data.

  The camera according to the present embodiment is also characterized in that image data that has been shot is classified and managed for each region in a classification that facilitates retrieval of desired image data. Then, the problem that was difficult to put into practical use because the captured image data was associated with the specific place name of the area where the image data was captured was solved.

  In other words, a large amount of memory is required for map information search, etc., and desired image data can be easily searched from a large amount of image data without suffering disadvantages such as high cost and large equipment. It has become possible. That is, in the camera according to the present embodiment, a camera capable of reducing the storage capacity of the database and simplifying the system and enabling a low-cost and comfortable search performance is realized by the above-described technique.

  The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. . For example, the acquisition of the user's home position information can also be performed by using a technique as shown in FIG.

  That is, as shown in the figure, by acquiring the position information of the camera every day in the morning and evening, the position information of the user's home and the position information of the workplace can be determined and acquired. Specifically, as the position information of the home, the position information detected most frequently among the position information of the camera detected in the morning and evening is determined as the position information of the home. Based on the same idea, the most detected position information among the position information of the camera detected in the daytime is determined as the position information of the workplace.

  Then, when such a method is converted into a flowchart, for example, a flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is obtained. Note that this flowchart can be used as an alternative step to a series of steps S113 to S117 shown by a broken line in FIG. 4C. Therefore, it can be said that the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation control for determining the position information of the user's home and workplace by the CPU 101. Note that the CPU 101 determines the date and morning / day / night by referring to the output of time information from the clock means 106.

First, the position information with the highest frequency is determined from the position information of the camera detected periodically, and the position information is set as position information P _X1 (step S201). Then, the positional information P _X1 determines whether the position information is detected primarily Sunday night (step S202).

If it is determined in step S202 that the position information P _X1 is position information detected mainly on Sunday night, the position information P _X1 is set as home position information and recorded in the recording means 105 ( Step S203). Thereafter, the process returns to step S101 of the main flowchart shown in FIG. 4A.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S202 that the position information _PX1 is not position information detected mainly on Sunday night (when branching to NO), the position information detected most frequently on weekday mornings. It is referred to as _{P X2} (step S204). Then, it is determined whether or not the position information P _X1 and the position information P _X2 are the same position information (step S205).

If it is determined in step S205 that the position information P _X1 and the position information P _X2 are the same position information, the process branches to YES and proceeds to step S203. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S205 that the position information P _X1 and the position information P _X2 are not the same position information, the position information detected most frequently at noon on weekdays is set to P _X2 (step S205). S206). Then, the position information _{P X2} in the position information _{P X1} and the step S206 it is determined whether the same position information (step S207).

If it is determined in step S207 that the position information P _X1 and the position information P _X2 are not the same position information, the process branches to NO and proceeds to step S203. On the other hand, when it is determined in the step S207 that the position information P _X1 and the position information P _X2 are the same position information, the position information P _X1 is set as the position information of the workplace and is recorded. 105 (step S208). Thereafter, the process returns to step S101 of the main flowchart shown in FIG. 4A.

  As described above, according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, work location information may be set instead of home location information. However, this point can be dealt with by transforming the main flowchart into a form using work location information. In addition, by using other position information instead of the home position information in this way, it is possible to produce various variations regarding the method of using the camera according to the present embodiment.

  As described above, when the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is used as an alternative to steps S113 to S117 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4C, for example, a mode in which operation control of steps S113 to S117 is performed immediately after step S112. 8 and the mode for performing the operation control shown in FIG. 8 is provided, and the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is selectively inserted in parallel with the corresponding operation control step of the main flowchart. Of course.

  Further, the above-described embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, the problem described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and the effect described in the column of the effect of the invention Can be extracted as an invention.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the concept used on the operation control of the camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. Conceptual diagram of a method for classifying the image data by using the changed distance D _L. The 1st part of the flowchart which shows the operation control of the camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The 2nd part of the flowchart which shows the operation control of the camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The 3rd part of the flowchart which shows the operation control of the camera which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows one method of similarity determination of positional information. The figure which showed schematically an example of the search screen of desired image data. The conceptual diagram which shows the method for acquisition of a user's home location information. The flowchart which shows the method for acquisition of a user's home location information.

Explanation of symbols

    DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Control means, 101a ... Switch, 101 ... CPU, 102 ... GPS means, 103 ... Imaging | photography means, 104 ... Image processing means, 105 ... Recording means, 106 ... Clock means, 107 ... Display means.

Claims (9)

Photographing means for executing photographing operation to acquire image data;
Position detecting means for detecting position information of the camera;
Determining means for determining a detected position direction with respect to a geographical area range to which the position of the camera belongs and a reference position based on position information detected by the position detecting means;
Recording means for recording the image data in association with area information indicating the geographical area range based on a determination result by the determination means;
A camera comprising:   2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising search means for searching for desired image data from the image data recorded in the recording means with reference to the area information associated with the image data. The listed camera. The camera further comprises a clock means,
The camera according to claim 1, wherein the position detection unit performs the position information detection operation based on an output of the clock unit.   The camera according to claim 1, wherein the position detection unit detects position information of the camera at the time of shooting by the shooting unit. An imaging unit that executes an imaging operation to acquire image data, a position detection unit that detects position information of the camera at the time of imaging by the imaging unit, the image data acquired by the imaging unit, and the position detection unit In a camera provided with a recording means for associating and recording the detected position information,
Clock means for causing the position detection means to perform the detection operation of the position information at predetermined time intervals;
Reference position information determination means for determining reference position information that is a reference position in the camera according to the position information of the camera acquired at predetermined time intervals by the operation of the position detection means based on the output of the clock means. When,
Classification means for classifying the image data according to information based on difference information between the reference position information and the position information recorded in association with the image data;
The camera further comprising:   6. The camera according to claim 5, wherein the classification means registers the specific information and the classification of the classified image data in specific information for specifying the image data and a classification table indicating the classification.   6. The camera according to claim 5, wherein the classification unit moves the image data to a folder corresponding to the classification in the recording unit.   6. The camera according to claim 5, wherein the classification unit adds classification information indicating the classification as header information to the image data. Photographing means for executing photographing operation to acquire image data;
Position detecting means for detecting information of the position of the camera;
A number-of-photographs judging means for judging the number of photographed images of the image data
A classification record control means for controlling the classification and recording of the image data based on the position information based on the information detected by the position detection means and the number of shots determined by the number of shots determination means;
A camera comprising:

Images