JP2009017070A - Camera and photographing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera and a photographing method that decide the state wherein an image that an appreciator desires to view, and urge a photographer to take an image that the appreciator will be delighted with, to improve the quality of the content. <P>SOLUTION: In the camera 100, an appreciator preference database 9d for the appreciator 31 of images is stored. Furthermore, a timer 1t and a position determining unit 1d for GPS, and the like, are provided in the camera 100; and when an image that the appreciator stored in the preference database 9d is desired of can be photographed, based on the outputs thereof (S4, S7, and S104), display to that effect is made on a display panel 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a camera and a photographing method.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image appreciation method has been widely used in which images are transmitted using PC communication, the Internet, a mobile phone line, and the like using the ease of image transmission of a digital camera and the images can be enjoyed in that environment. As a method of using these networks, a photograph on the blog or other page can be posted on a server on the Internet so that many people can view it, and it can also be sent to personal computers such as acquaintances and mobile phones. It is possible to show an image as soon as possible.

Conventionally, people who want to see photos have only created albums for viewing at home after shooting, but such changes in the use of photos have brought about significant changes in the way the cameras are taken. In other words, the preference of the photographer has been important in the past, but it is important to take into consideration what kind of photos will be appreciated because third parties will also appreciate it. Has been desired.

In order to take a photograph that the viewer likes, it is necessary to acquire the viewer's preference. As for user preferences, Patent Document 1 discloses a preference information setting method in which a distribution history of contents for a user is recorded in an action history database and an advertisement corresponding to the user's hobbies and preferences is distributed. . Patent Document 2 discloses an image providing method in which, when an image is displayed on a viewer's display unit, a photographer receives a secondary request from a client and can take a photograph according to the client's preference. Has been.
JP 2004-94384 A JP 2005-73031 A

In addition, in order to take a picture according to the taste of an appreciator such as an acquaintance, it is necessary to determine the use status of the camera. As this means, a clock function or the like is known. The shooting date and time information is attached to the image data at the time of taking a picture, which is useful for recollecting memories, and makes it easy to search later.

Although the date and time information can be obtained by the conventional clock function, it is not possible to know the taste of the viewer by itself. In addition, the preference information setting method disclosed in Patent Document 1 analyzes the user's preference, but only selects a destination to which an already completed advertisement is transmitted, and the quality of the content itself. It is not intended to improve. In addition, the preference information setting method disclosed in Patent Document 2 can obtain an image in accordance with the client's preference, but the photographer moves as the client says. Will be stressed.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and determines the situation in which an image can be captured by the viewer, prompts the viewer to take an image, and improves the quality of the content. An object of the present invention is to provide a camera and a photographing method that can be used.

In order to achieve the above object, a camera according to a first aspect of the present invention provides an information acquisition unit that acquires information associated with image viewers and preference information related to the images of the image viewers, and a shooting situation associated with the preference information. An imaging state acquisition unit to be acquired, an imaging state determination unit that detects the degree of coincidence between the imaging state and the preference information, and an imaging control unit that performs imaging based on the determination result of the imaging state determination unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the camera further includes a photographing auxiliary display unit that prompts photographing according to the determination result of the photographing state determination and performs display for assisting photographing.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the camera according to the first aspect further includes a display unit that indicates that a situation in which an optimal shooting can be performed is approaching based on the determination result of the shooting state determination unit.
Furthermore, a camera according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes the database in which the above information is recorded in the first aspect of the present invention.

Furthermore, the camera according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes a receiving unit that receives the information from an external database in which the information is recorded.
Furthermore, in the camera according to the sixth invention, in the first invention, the preference information includes at least calendar information for an event and subject conditions preferred by the image viewer.
Furthermore, in a camera according to a seventh aspect based on the first aspect, the preference information is obtained by conducting a predetermined questionnaire survey on the image viewer.
Further, in the camera according to the eighth invention, in the first invention, the preference information is acquired based on the access history of the image viewer with respect to a large number of images recorded in an external server.

In order to achieve the above object, a shooting method according to a ninth aspect of the present invention includes a step of acquiring information associated with an image viewer and preference information related to the image of the image viewer, and a current shooting situation related to the preference information. , A step of detecting a degree of coincidence between the shooting situation and the preference information, and a step of shooting based on a determination result of the shooting situation determination unit.

In order to achieve the above object, a camera according to a tenth aspect of the present invention includes a preference information storage unit that stores preference information related to an image viewer's image, and a shooting status detection unit that detects a shooting status related to the preference information. , Comparing the preference information and the shooting situation, and determining whether or not the preference information is satisfied, and when the shooting situation determination unit determines that the preference information is satisfied, displays that fact A display unit is provided.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect, the photographing state detection unit is at least one of date information and position information.
In the camera according to a twelfth aspect, in the tenth aspect, the preference information includes assist information for assisting photographing so as to obtain an image in accordance with the preference of the image viewer. The unit displays the assist information.
Furthermore, the camera according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the tenth aspect of the present invention, further comprising a communication unit for inputting the preference information from an external database.
The camera according to a fourteenth aspect is the camera according to the tenth aspect, wherein the preference information storage unit stores the image data stored in association with the image viewer and photographed along the preference information. It has a communication unit that transmits directly to the viewer.

In order to achieve the above object, a photographic information display method according to a fifteenth aspect of the invention is a photographic information display method in a camera having a preference information storage unit in which preference information related to an image viewer's image is stored. If the shooting situation determination unit determines that the preference information is satisfied, and compares the preference information with the shooting situation, determines whether the preference information is satisfied, A message is displayed.

In order to achieve the above object, a server according to the sixteenth aspect of the invention is a server that can be accessed by a viewer, a display control unit that displays an image according to the access from the viewer, and the access state of the viewer An interest determination unit that detects the degree of interest in the image, and a communication unit that transmits information regarding the viewer's preference obtained by the interest determination unit to the outside.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a camera and a shooting method capable of determining a situation in which an image that the viewer wants to view can be captured, prompting the viewer to capture an image, and improving the quality of the content. .

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment will be described using a camera to which the present invention is applied according to the drawings. The camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a live view function in which a subject image is photoelectrically converted by an imaging device, and the acquired image data is displayed as a moving image in real time, and image data is recorded in accordance with a shooting command. It can be recorded on a medium. In addition, this camera is connected to a server through a network, obtains information about the viewer's preference from the server, and can instruct and assist shooting based on this information.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera and its surroundings according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A camera 100 used by a user includes a photographic lens 2, an AF (autofocus) control unit 2a, an aperture 2b, an aperture control unit 2c, an image sensor 3, and an analog front end (hereinafter referred to as AFE) unit 4. Yes. The taking lens 2 has a focus lens inside, and forms an image of the incident subject 20 on the image sensor 3.

The AF control unit 2a performs image processing in an image processing unit 5 to be described later, detects an in-focus position of the photographic lens 2, detects it by a so-called hill-climbing method, drives the focus lens, and moves it to the in-focus position. Note that the hill-climbing method is a method for detecting the in-focus position (focus position) from the contrast signal peak of the photographed image. In addition to the hill-climbing method, for example, a known focusing method such as a phase difference method or a triangulation method can be used. It may be replaced. When the in-focus position is reached by AF, the distance can be determined by detecting the photographing lens 2 at this time. In this case, when the photographing lens 2 is a zoom lens, the distance is determined in consideration of the zoom position and the like.

A diaphragm 2b that provides the effects of a shutter and a diaphragm is provided in or near the photographing lens 2. The diaphragm 2b is opened to a predetermined aperture at the time of photographing, and is closed when the exposure is finished to finish the exposure. The aperture control unit 2c drives the aperture 2b to set the aperture diameter. By changing the aperture, the depth of field of the lens changes, so you can change the expression by adjusting the blurring of the background, etc. Can do. The image pickup device 3 is a CCD or CMOS sensor having a large number of light receiving surfaces (pixels), and receives an image from the subject 20 via the photographing lens 2 and converts it into an image signal.

The analog front end (AFE) unit 4 includes analog-to-digital conversion (AD) means, and converts a signal from the image sensor 3 into a digital signal. The AFE unit 4 performs various processes on the image signal output from the image sensor 3. The AFE unit 4 is also provided with a function of reading several pixels of the image pickup device 3 together and reading them together. For example, when the signal level of each pixel is small, such as 4 pixels (2 × 2) and 9 pixels (3 × 3), several pixel signals can be added to improve the S / N. Sensitivity can also be increased.

Sensitivity can be increased by such an operation, and it is possible to devise photography such as increasing the shutter speed. When the shutter speed is high, it is possible to shoot as if the moving subject is stopped. In addition, camera shake and the like can be prevented.

The AFE unit 4 has a function of selecting signals output from the image sensor 3 and can extract image data in a limited range from the light receiving range. In general, when pixel signals thinned out from the pixels of the image sensor 3 are extracted, high-speed reading is possible. Thus, the image signal for composition confirmation is processed at high speed by the image processing unit 5 and displayed on the display panel 8 via the display control unit 8a, thereby enabling framing.

The output of the AFE unit 4 is connected to the image processing unit 5. The image processing unit 5 corrects the color, gradation, and sharpness of the input signal. Further, it has an intensifying unit that amplifies the image signal obtained from the image sensor 3 to a predetermined level and sets the correct gray level and the correct gray level. This is a digital operation so that the digitized signal level becomes a predetermined level. In addition, the image processing unit 5 includes a resizing unit that processes a signal from the image sensor 3 to a size that can be displayed on the display panel 8 so that a live image can be displayed on the display unit in real time. By this function, an image incident on the image sensor can be confirmed prior to shooting, and the timing and photo opportunity at the time of shooting can be determined while viewing this.

In addition, the image processing unit 5 has an image determination function for determining characteristics of an image input from the image sensor using the signal of the image processing unit 5. The image determination function includes a face detection unit 5a for determining a human face from contour information obtained by processing image information, a facial expression determination unit 5b for determining a facial expression, etc. Has a personal authentication unit 5d. The image processing function further includes a distance determination unit 5c that determines the distance of the subject by determining the contrast of the signal level of the image.

In this way, the image processing unit 5 and the peripheral auxiliary units (the face detection unit 5a, the facial expression determination unit 5b, the personal authentication unit 5d, etc.) determine what kind of photograph the user is going to take when taking a picture. Further, it is used to determine the preference of the viewer who sees the picture and optimize the shooting control.

In addition, a viewer preference database 9d is connected to the image processing unit 5, and this viewer database 9d is a database that stores viewer preference information, particularly preference information related to images. What kind of image the viewer designated as the transmission destination likes is recorded in the viewer preference database 9d, and if it is a condition that such an image can be photographed, it is determined and the photographer takes a photograph. Is encouraged.

The camera 100 includes a compression unit 6, a recording unit 9a, a recording medium 9, a transmission / reception unit 9c, a transmission setting unit 9e, a display panel 8, a display control unit 8a, and a multi-image processing unit 8b. The compression unit 6 compresses the signal output from the image processing unit 5 at the time of shooting. The compression unit 6 includes MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 4 and H.264. A compression unit for moving images composed of a compression core unit such as H.264 and JPEG (Joint
A still image compression unit such as a Photographic Experts Group) core unit is provided. The compression unit 6 also performs image expansion when reproducing an image recorded on the recording medium 9 on the display panel 8.

The recording unit 9 a records the compressed image signal on the recording medium 9. The recording medium 9 is a storage recording medium that can be attached to and detached from the camera. In recording an image signal, time information when a photograph is taken may also be recorded. The shooting time information is measured by a clock unit 1t in the MPU 1 described later, and the MPU 1 associates with the image.

The captured image data recorded on the media 9 or the recording unit 9a is transferred to other devices such as the server 33 that manages images via the communication network 32 such as the Internet, a mobile phone network, and a telephone line by the transmission / reception unit 9c. be able to. The transmission / reception unit 9c is connected to the transmission setting unit 9e, and the transmission setting unit 9e is a designation unit that designates a transmission destination when transmitting an image. The captured image can be sent immediately to a designated destination. At this time, the viewer's preference information may be acquired from the server 31 or the like and stored in the viewer's preference database 9d.

The display panel 8 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal, an organic EL, or the like, and displays a subject image as a through image (also referred to as a live view display) for observation at the time of photographing, and reproduces and displays an expanded recorded image during reproduction.

The display control unit 8 a controls display on the display panel 8. The multi-image processing unit 8b is a control unit for displaying a plurality of images on the display panel 8. By this multi-image processing unit 8b, it is possible to display characters of a destination address and various warnings on the captured image and the captured image. The display panel 8 displays a list of images that have been shot and transmitted, and from there, an image to be uploaded to a blog service or the like operated by the server 33, or a layout for uploading and displaying the image on a blog can be selected. You may do it. In addition, the multi-screen display function 8b makes it possible to display various auxiliary displays such as information for assisting shooting and examples of images that the viewer likes.

The camera 100 is provided with an auxiliary light emitting unit 11, an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 1, a release switch 1a, a mode switch 1b, and another switch 1c. The auxiliary light emitting unit 11 includes a white LED and a Xe discharge light emitting tube, and the amount of light can be controlled by the amount of current. Depending on the situation, the subject 20 is irradiated with light to prevent lack of brightness and uneven brightness.

The MPU 1 is a control unit that controls the entire camera. A release switch 1a, a mode switch 1b, another switch 1c, and a ROM (not shown) storing a program and the like are connected to the MPU 1. A clock unit 1t for detecting the date and time is provided in the MPU 1, and the shooting date and time of the photo is detected and associated with the captured image. Note that the switches 1b and 1c are generically displayed switches, and are actually composed of a large number of switch groups. The MPU 1 is connected to a position determination unit 1d, and the position determination unit 1 detects a position by GPS or the like. Using this detected position, the shooting position at the time of shooting and the above shooting date and time are recorded on the medium 9 together with the image data.

Each switch 1a-1c detects a user's operation, and notifies the result to MPU1 which is a calculation control means consisting of a microcontroller. The MPU 1 switches the operation according to the operation of these switches. Further, the MPU 1 fulfills a shooting control function for controlling the AF control unit 2a, the aperture control unit 2c, and the like, and a recording control function for the acquired image data in the recording unit 9a and the recording medium 9 during shooting.

The camera 100 configured as described above is connected to a server 33 via a communication network 32, and a personal computer (PC) 34 owned by the user 31 can be connected to the server 33. The configuration of the server 33 will be described later with reference to FIG.

Next, the operation of the camera configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a typical usage state. In the example shown in FIG. 2, a grandmother (user, viewer 31) who is looking forward to the growth of his grandchild is always using a personal computer PC34, a large screen TV or a mobile phone linked with the personal computer PC34, etc. I'm looking forward to seeing a picture of my grandson's peaceful sleeping face. The camera 100 memorizes the viewer's preferences, displays the preference information of the grandmother (viewer 31) on the display panel 8, sees this, and the photographer takes a photograph desired by the grandmother (viewer 31). The photographing result can be immediately transmitted to the grandmother (viewer 31).

Each viewer has a preference, and information as shown in FIG. 3 is recorded in the viewer preference database 9 d in the camera 100. Based on this information, the camera 100 operating according to the flowchart of FIG. 4 to be described later displays a display that prompts the photographer to take a picture when the usage environment matches the condition (here, when a predetermined time is reached). The camera controls warnings and warnings. As a result, it is possible to shoot and send a photograph that the viewer 31 wants to see without missing it.

In the viewer preference database 9d, as shown in FIG. 3, information on what photograph the viewer wants to see on a predetermined date is recorded. The information regarding preference here is an example, and there are various examples according to the taste of the viewer. Even if the photographer does not know the date and time of the athletic meet, visit date, etc., if there is information to that effect, the photographer searches for the date using the Internet etc., is converted to the relevant day information, and that day When the time or the day approaches, the camera 100 notifies the photographer to that effect. Although details will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 described later, it is assumed that the photographer has calendar information in a calendar unit 33i on a predetermined server 33 and can write events therein.

Also, what shooting mode is recommended according to the shooting scene is recorded in the viewer preference database 9d. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when shooting at an athletic meet, the ISO sensitivity is high and the shutter priority mode is stored, and a recommended mode of shooting with a telephoto lens is stored. The recommended shooting mode or the like may be provided as information that can be provided as a service of the server 33, or may be previously stored in a recording unit of the camera (for example, the viewer preference database 9d). .

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. When the main routine for image shooting is entered, it is first determined whether or not the camera is in shooting mode (S0). If it is shooting using the camera 100, it is determined as the shooting mode. If shooting using the camera 100 is not performed, the non-shooting mode is set and the process proceeds to step S1.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not it is a predetermined timing (S1). In order to determine whether or not an event stored in advance in the viewer preference database 9d is approaching, the time is constantly monitored by the clock 1t in the camera 100, and the predetermined timing (step S1) For example, it is determined whether or not every 10 minutes. If the result of the determination is a predetermined timing, the condition recorded in the viewer preference database 9d is referred to (S2).

Next, it is determined whether the conditions read from the viewer preference database 9d are close to the current situation. That is, it is determined whether there is an event corresponding to the next day (S3), and further, it is determined whether it is an important event (S4). As a result of the determination, in the case of a special event, the preparation information is displayed on the display panel 8 (S5). As the preparation information, a display that calls attention to what is necessary for shooting, such as whether the battery of the camera is charged and whether the recording capacity of the recording medium 9 is sufficient is displayed. In addition, preparation of accessories such as a tripod, a spare battery, a telephoto lens, and a converter lens is urged as necessary.

If the preparation information is displayed in step S5 or if the result of the determination in steps S3 and S4 is not applicable, it is subsequently determined whether or not it is the day of the event (S6). As a result of the determination, if it is a corresponding day of the event, it is next determined whether or not it is a special event. Here, special events refer to events that are only once or twice a year. If it is determined that the event is a special event, a reference image is displayed on the display panel 8 (S8). As a reference image, information obtained from an action history of a viewer or a questionnaire is used. As a result, it is possible to take a picture reflecting the taste of the viewer.

By reflecting the viewer's preference in this way, for example, even when shooting at an athletic meet, there are favorite images, such as goal scenes or running, depending on the viewer. Can be resolved. Even if it is not a special event, there is a person (grandmother in this example) who wants to send a daily photograph, and the transmission destination of the person who wants such an image is displayed (S9).

If it is not a predetermined timing in step S1, or if there is no corresponding event on the day in step S6, or if the destination display in step S9 is performed, then another mode such as a playback mode or a transmission mode is selected. It is determined whether or not (S10). As a result of the determination, in the other mode, the viewer's preference database is read (S11). As will be described later, the viewer's preference database is created by the server 33, and this data is read from the server 33 and stored in the viewer's preference database 9 d in the camera 100.

Subsequently, the viewer's preference is directly input if necessary (S12). That is, although the viewer's preference is input from the server 33, there are cases where the server 33 cannot grasp the event or the like, so that the photographer can input the event information directly. The data stored in the viewer preference database 9d may be corrected.

Next, the other mode is executed (S13). As described above, the other mode includes a reproduction mode and a transmission mode. If the result of determination in step S10 is that there is no other mode, or if the other mode in step S13 is executed, processing returns.

If the result of determination in step S0 is that the camera is in the shooting mode, the person who wants to send a picture while performing live view display of displaying the image data from the image sensor 3 on the display panel 8 Are displayed on the display panel 8 together (S21).

Next, when the release button is half-pressed, the process proceeds to step S22, where it is determined whether or not the scene is desired to be viewed by the viewer (S22). This determination is made based on whether or not the condition read into the viewer preference database 9d matches the date and time information by the clock unit 1t. The determination may be made taking into account the position information by the position determination unit 1d. If the result of determination is that the image has been taken, it is subsequently determined whether or not the subject is a predetermined subject (S23). This determination is made based on the determination output by the face detection unit 5a, the facial expression determination unit 5b, the personal authentication unit 5d, and the like.

If the result of determination in step S23 is that the predetermined subject has been requested, based on data stored in the viewer preference database as shown in FIG. The predetermined mode is set (S24). Then, it is determined whether or not the release button has been fully pressed (S25). As a result of the determination, when the release button is fully pressed, shooting is performed, and the shot image is transmitted to a person who wants to view (S26). Returns when transmission is complete.

As a result of the determination in step S22, if it is determined that the corresponding image is not captured, it is next determined whether or not it is other image capturing, that is, whether or not normal image capturing other than the corresponding image capturing is performed ( S31). As a result of the determination, if it is another shooting, or if it is determined that the subject is not a predetermined subject as a result of the determination in step S23, the release button is fully pressed to determine whether or not the release operation is being performed (S32). ). If the release button is fully pressed as a result of the determination, a shooting operation is performed and normal recording is performed on the recording medium 9 (S33).

If it is determined in step S31 that no other image is taken, and the release button is not fully pressed in step S32, the process returns. When shooting in a special mode, the tips may be displayed in S22 to assist shooting.

As described above, in the flowchart of the camera according to the first embodiment of the present invention, if there is an event such as a special event based on the conditions stored in the viewer preference database 9d, the fact is displayed to the photographer. (S1 to S9). Further, when entering the shooting mode, it is determined whether or not the corresponding image is shot, and if it is detected that the subject is a predetermined subject, shooting is performed in the predetermined mode stored in the viewer preference database 9d. For this reason, it is possible to easily take a photo according to the taste and preference of the viewer.

Next, the server 33 for acquiring the viewer's preference will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, as a method of acquiring the viewer's preference, a method may be used in which a questionnaire is simply sent to the viewer and the result is input to the camera and recorded, but in the present embodiment, the server 33 The viewer's preference is detected.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the server 33 and its surroundings. In the server 33, a communication unit 33a for communicating with the camera 100 about image data and viewer preference information is provided. A recording unit 33b is provided for recording images and comments received by the communication unit 33a. The calendar unit 33i stores calendar information such as events. The calendar unit 33i can be accessed by a mobile phone or the like, and can confirm a family schedule from the outside. When accessed from the personal computer 34, the display control unit 33c performs display control of content such as images recorded in the recording unit 33b.

In the server 33, a communication unit 33h for communicating with the personal computer 34 of the blog viewer is provided. The operation determination unit 33h determines which viewer has performed what operation through the personal computer 34, the viewing content determination unit 33d determines which image has been viewed, and the frequency / time unit 33e Monitor how often and how long you watched. The interest determination unit 33g receives the outputs of the appreciation content determination unit 33d, the number of times / time unit 33e, and the operation determination unit 33f, and determines which viewers like what image, what timing, and the like. The interest determination unit 33g detects the viewer's preference and transmits it to the camera 100 from the communication unit 33a.

Since it is configured in this manner, the server 33 grasps the viewer's preference for each viewer based on the viewer's access history, such as the image that the blog viewer likes to view and when to view it. be able to. The owner of the camera 100 can obtain information on the viewer's preference from the server 33 by accessing the server 33 or by registering in advance. The information acquired here can be stored in the viewer preference database 9d of the camera 100, and can be used for taking a photo according to the viewer's preference. If the preference for each viewer is determined, it is not always necessary to place an image in the blog format. For example, the photographed image may be immediately transmitted directly to the viewer.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, it is a relatively simple example in which a photographing is requested when a predetermined time approaches. In the second embodiment, in consideration of position information and the like, when the camera approaches a certain condition, if there is a user who wants to send, that fact is displayed, and information for assisting the shooting method of the camera is displayed.

Since the camera in the second embodiment is the same as the camera 100 shown in FIG. 1, detailed description thereof is omitted. In the viewer preference database 9d in the camera 100, a database relating to viewer preferences is stored. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a situation in which an image that A who is the viewer 31 likes can be photographed and a photographing condition for obtaining a sample image 35 of the favorite image and an image similar to the sample image 35 are created as a database. ("Condition 1", "Condition 2", "Condition 3" in the figure), control and warning are performed at the time of shooting, and the sample image 35 and assist information 36 are displayed on the display panel 8 together with the live view.

Such information is transmitted to the camera 100 after the viewer 31 selects and sets the information on the personal computer 34. FIG. 6 shows an example where Mr. A who is the viewer 31 wants to see an up image of a woman on the lake. The camera 100 detects a position or the like by GPS or the like in the position determination unit 1d, and determines a shooting state based on this. As a result of the determination, when the shooting position is in a position suitable for the shooting position of the image that Mr. A of the viewer 31 wants, that effect is displayed and the photographer is prompted to take a picture. If you can shoot an image as you wish, you can send it and make A happy.

As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, as in the first embodiment, not only the shooting is urged in advance of a predetermined event day, but also a predetermined viewer is notified by position information such as GPS information. It is determined whether or not the image to be viewed can be captured, and when the condition is close to being met, a warning is displayed to prompt shooting.

Next, the operation in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the shooting mode is set (S100). If the result of determination is that the camera is not in shooting mode, it is next determined whether or not it is a predetermined timing (S101). This determination may be performed at predetermined time intervals, for example, every 5 minutes, as in step S1 (FIG. 4). As a result of the determination, if it is not a predetermined timing, a standby state is entered.

If the result of determination in step S101 is a predetermined timing, camera status determination is performed (S102). This state determination monitors the position of the camera based on the detection of the position determination unit 1d and the current time based on the output of the clock unit 1t. Based on these detection outputs, the contents (FIG. 7) stored in the viewer preference database 9d in the camera 100 are referred to (S103).

Based on the reference result of the viewer preference database, it is determined whether or not the predetermined condition is approached (S104). In the example of FIG. 7, it is determined whether or not the camera position is the lake, the Tama River, dawn or near Shinjuku, or whether it is July 2nd. As a result of the determination, if a predetermined condition is approached, a warning is given (S105). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not to start the display (S106). When the display is started as a result of the determination, the sample image 35 and the assist information excluding the live view 37 from the display screen as shown in FIG. 36 is displayed (S107). The photographer looks at this display screen, and if it agrees, turns off the display and performs photographing (S108 → Y). When the photographing display ends, the process returns and returns to step S100 again. In addition, when each determination in step S101, step S104, step S106, or step S108 is No, it returns to step S100.

If the result of determination in step S100 is that it is in shooting mode, then live view display and information display are performed (S111). Here, a live view 37 and assist information 36 are displayed as shown in FIG. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the release button has been fully pressed (S112). If the result of determination is that the release button has been operated, shooting is carried out (S113). In steps S111 to S113, the photographer decides a composition or the like according to the assist information 36, and performs a release operation and performs photographing when a composition that the viewer likes is obtained.

When shooting is completed, it is determined whether or not direct transmission is performed (S114). Direct transmission is a mode in which the e-mail address of the viewer who requested the image is known, and the image data is directly transmitted to the viewer's personal computer 34, mobile phone, or the like. Whether or not to transmit directly is set in advance in the viewer preference database 9d or the like. If the result of determination is direct transmission, the image is directly transmitted to the viewer (S115).

If the result of determination in step S114 is not direct transmission, the image is transmitted to the server 33 and uploaded to a blog or the like (S121). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the user has preference information (S122). If so, the camera 100 generates data as shown in FIG. 7 based on the photographer's preference. Download and import.

In this way, according to the acquired viewer's preference data, the image desired by the viewer can be known, and the optimum image can always be taken and transmitted. If the viewer is dissatisfied with the previous image, the viewer may be able to write in the data shown in FIG. 7 and provide feedback. For example, the viewer may be able to write on condition 3 in FIG. 7 and the camera may be able to capture it.

In the above description of the second embodiment, the database in which the preference information of the image viewer is recorded is provided in the camera 100, but the database may be provided in the external server 33. In this case, the configuration of the camera 100 is simplified and a more advanced database can be constructed.

As described above, in each embodiment of the present invention, the shooting state is determined so that shooting can be performed according to the taste of the viewer. In the past, after selecting a photographed image, the person to send was set. However, in the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the conditions for photographing an image that the transmission partner is pleased with are approaching, the camera displays the fact so that the viewer (the other party) is pleased. A photograph can be taken.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, since there is a viewer's preference database, an image preferred by the viewer can be taken based on this database. In addition, since information related to viewer preferences is input from an external database, detailed analysis can be performed by an external server, and the camera configuration can be simplified. Furthermore, the content of the viewer preference database can be easily corrected or added by connecting to the personal computer 34 or the like.

Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the image can be directly transmitted to the transmission destination after shooting, and the image can be transmitted to the transmission destination in a timely manner. In the first embodiment, the photographer is prompted to take a picture depending on whether or not the day corresponds to the event by the clock function, and an effect can be obtained with a simple configuration. Further, in the second embodiment, the photographer is further urged to shoot after taking the shooting position by GPS or the like, so that shooting that matches the viewer's request can be performed.

The camera in the present embodiment may be a compact camera or a single-lens reflex camera, or may be a camera built in a mobile phone, a PDA, or the like. The present invention is applicable to any camera that can photograph a person.

It is a block diagram of the camera concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention, and its periphery. It is a figure which shows the typical use condition of the camera concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the preference of the viewer recorded on the viewer preference database in the camera concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the image | photographing operation | movement of the camera concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the server concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention, and its periphery. It is a figure which shows the typical use condition of the camera concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the preference of the viewer recorded on the viewer preference database in the camera concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the information acquisition of the camera concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... MPU, 1a ... Release switch, 1b ... Mode changeover switch, 1c ... Other switch, 1d ... Position determination part, 1t ... Clock part, 2 ... Shooting lens 2a ... AF (autofocus) control unit, 2b ... aperture, 2c ... aperture control unit, 3 ... imaging device, 4 ... analog front end (AFE) unit, 5 ... Image processing unit, 5a ... face detection unit, 5b ... expression determination unit, 5c ... distance determination unit, 5d ... personal authentication unit, 6 ... compression unit, 8 ... display panel, 8a ... display control unit, 8b ... multi-image processing unit, 9 ... recording medium, 9a ... recording unit, 9c ... transmission / reception unit, 9d ... viewer preference database, 9e ... Transmission setting unit, 11 ... auxiliary light emitting unit, 20 ... subject, 31 ... user Viewer) 32... Communication network 33 33 server 33a communication unit 33b recording unit 33c display control unit 33d appreciation content determination unit 33f ..Operation determination unit, 33g ... Interest determination unit, 33h ... Communication unit, 33i ... Calendar unit, 34 ... Personal computer (PC), 35 ... Sample image, 36 ... Assist Information, 37 ... Live view, 100 ... Camera

Claims (16)

An information acquisition unit for acquiring information associated with image viewer and preference information related to the image of the image viewer;
A shooting situation acquisition unit for acquiring a shooting situation associated with the preference information;
A shooting situation determination unit for detecting the degree of coincidence between the shooting situation and the preference information;
A shooting control unit that performs shooting based on the determination result of the shooting state determination unit;
A camera characterized by comprising   The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a photographing auxiliary display unit that prompts photographing according to a determination result of the photographing state determination or performs a display for assisting photographing.   The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit that indicates that a situation in which an optimal shooting can be performed is approaching based on a determination result of the shooting state determination unit.   The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a database in which the information is recorded.   The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a receiving unit that receives the information from an external database in which the information is recorded.   2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the preference information includes at least calendar information on which an event is performed and subject conditions preferred by the image viewer.   The camera according to claim 1, wherein the preference information is obtained by conducting a predetermined questionnaire survey on the image viewer.   The camera according to claim 1, wherein the preference information is acquired based on an access history of an image viewer with respect to a large number of images recorded in an external server. Obtaining information associated with image viewer and preference information related to the image of the image viewer;
Obtaining a current shooting situation associated with the preference information;
Detecting the degree of coincidence between the shooting situation and the preference information;
Shooting based on the determination result of the shooting state determination unit;
A photographing method characterized by comprising: A preference information storage unit in which preference information related to the image of the image viewer is stored;
A shooting situation detection unit for detecting a shooting situation related to the preference information;
A shooting situation determination unit that compares the preference information with the shooting situation and determines whether the preference information is satisfied;
When it is determined that the preference information is satisfied by the shooting situation determination unit, a display unit that displays the fact,
A camera characterized by comprising   The camera according to claim 10, wherein the photographing state detection unit is at least one of date information and position information.   11. The preference information includes assist information for assisting shooting so that an image conforming to the preference of the image viewer is obtained, and the display unit displays the assist information. The listed camera.   The camera according to claim 11, further comprising a communication unit for inputting the preference information from an external database.   The said preference information memory | storage part has a communication part which transmits the image data memorize | stored linked | related with the said image viewer, and was image | photographed along the said preference information directly to the said image viewer. 10. The camera according to 10. An imaging information display method in a camera having a preference information storage unit in which preference information related to an image viewer's image is stored,
Detect the shooting situation related to the above preference information,
Compare the preference information and the shooting situation, determine whether the preference information is satisfied,
When it is determined by the shooting situation determination unit that the preference information is satisfied, a message to that effect is displayed.
An imaging information display method characterized by the above. A server that can be accessed by viewers,
A display control unit that displays an image in response to access from the viewer;
An interest determination unit for detecting the access state of the viewer and determining the degree of interest in the image;
A communication unit that transmits information related to the viewer's preference obtained by the interest determination unit to the outside;
A server characterized by comprising: