JP2009116500A - Information processing apparatus, control method for the information processing apparatus, control program of the information processing apparatus, camera, control method of the camera, and control program of the camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique which can realize effective image appreciation using various attributes, such as, photographic location and date of image. <P>SOLUTION: When combining map information 51 stored in a map database 23 of an image management server 20 and the date of an image recording part 22 stored in the image recording part 22 and displaying it on an information terminal 8, etc. as a display image 50, when a landscape image 52 suitable for date of map information 51 is not found in the image recording part 22; and when there is no big change in the map information 51, effective image appreciation using various attributes, such as the photographic location and the date of the image is obtained, by displaying combined map information 51 and landscape image 52 as much as possible by displaying the image with map information 51, by utilizing a past landscape image 52 of the same location. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing apparatus control method, an information processing apparatus control program, a camera, a camera control method, and a camera control program, and is effective when applied to, for example, a process of associating a map and an image Technology.

With the widespread use of digital technology and information networks, various ways of using digital cameras are being sought.
In recent years, the memory capacity that can be handled by a digital camera tends to increase, and many years of images can be recorded inside the camera. In addition, digitized images can be output to the outside via an information network such as the Internet, while external images can be acquired by a digital camera and used for various purposes. ing.

Under such circumstances, for example, there are an infinite number of images that can be handled by the user, and there is a demand for a technique for continuously browsing and enjoying only images related to specific memories.
Conventionally, for example, a technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known as a technique for associating and using a map and an image.

  That is, in the technique of Patent Document 1, information such as a shooting position, a shooting direction, and a shooting date is attached to a photographic image of a disaster site or a construction site and transmitted to a server. A technique is disclosed in which an on-site photo image is displayed on top of a photo so as to present the situation of the site to the viewer in an easily understandable manner.

  However, the technique of Patent Document 1 is mainly a technique for reporting the situation at the time of a disaster and objectively grasping the situation, and for enjoying an old landscape by relating various images. It was not a thing.

Further, as a technique for using a map and an image in association with each other in the camera itself, for example, a technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 is known.
In the technique of this Patent Document 2, when shooting, if information on the shooting point, shooting direction, and focal length of the shooting lens is recorded together with the shot image, and the map display mode is turned on when playing back the shot image, A digital camera is disclosed in which a map image that faces the direction of a subject of a photographed image from the photographing point is displayed on the lower side of the image based on each information of a photographing point, a photographing direction, and a focal length of the photographing lens. Yes.

However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 merely associates a captured image with a map display, and does not disclose a point of viewing various current and past captured images in association with each other.
JP 2007-52809 A JP 2006-20166 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of realizing effective image appreciation using various attributes such as an image shooting location and age.

A first aspect of the present invention is a first storage means for storing a plurality of map data for each age,
Second storage means for storing the landscape image together with the shooting position and shooting time of the landscape image;
A display control unit that transmits the map data of the age specified from the display device and the landscape image corresponding to the map data to the display device for display;
Including
The display control unit
In the second storage means, when there is no landscape image corresponding to the map data of the designated first age, and there is the landscape image of a second age different from the first age, the second age There is provided an information processing apparatus having control logic for displaying a landscape image on the display device together with the map data of the first age.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect,
The control logic displays the landscape image of the second age together with the map data of the first age on the display device when there is no change between the map data in each of the first and second age. An information processing apparatus is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect or the second aspect,
The display control unit
When the display device is an information terminal, the displayed map data and the age of the landscape image are displayed together,
When the display device is a camera having a landscape image capturing function, an information processing apparatus for displaying new map data regardless of the age of the landscape image is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control method for an information processing apparatus that transmits map data of a specified age from a display device and a landscape image corresponding to the map data to the display device for display.
When the landscape image corresponding to the map data of the designated first age cannot be used and the landscape image of a second age different from the first age is available, the landscape image of the second age is Provided is a method for controlling an information processing apparatus to be displayed on the display device together with the map data of the first age.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the control method for the information processing device according to the fourth aspect,
An information processing apparatus for causing the display device to display the landscape image of the second age together with the map data of the first age when there is no change between the map data in each of the first and second age. Provide a control method.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the control method for the information processing device according to the fourth aspect or the fifth aspect,
When the display device is an information terminal, the displayed map data and the age of the landscape image are displayed together,
When the display device is a camera having a landscape image capturing function, a control method of an information processing apparatus for displaying new map data regardless of the age of the landscape image is provided.

The seventh aspect of the present invention is a first storage means for storing a plurality of map data for each age,
Second storage means for storing the landscape image together with the shooting position and shooting time of the landscape image;
A display control unit that transmits the map data of the age specified from the display device and the landscape image corresponding to the map data to the display device for display;
A control program for an information processing device including:
In the second storage means, when there is no landscape image corresponding to the map data of the designated first age, and there is the landscape image of a second age different from the first age, the second age There is provided a control program for an information processing apparatus that causes a computer to execute a process of displaying a landscape image together with the map data of the first age on the display device.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the control program for the information processing device according to the seventh aspect,
Processing to display the landscape image of the second age on the display device together with the map data of the first age when there is no change between the map data in each of the first and second age. A control program for an information processing apparatus to be executed is provided.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the control program for the information processing apparatus according to the seventh aspect or the eighth aspect,
When the display device is an information terminal, the displayed map data and the age of the landscape image are displayed together,
When the display device is a camera having a landscape image capturing function, a control program for an information processing apparatus is provided that causes the computer to execute a process of displaying new map data regardless of the age of the landscape image. To do.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided selection means for selecting a predetermined first image from the image database;
Search means for searching for other users who have selected the first image from the image database;
Display means for acquiring and displaying the second image of a place that can be confirmed on the map data among other second images selected by the other user;
A camera including

An eleventh aspect of the present invention is a first step of selecting a predetermined first image from an image database;
A second step of searching other users who have selected the first image from the image database;
A third step of acquiring and displaying the second image of a place that can be confirmed on the map data among other second images selected by the other user;
The control method of the camera containing is provided.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention is a first step of selecting a predetermined first image from an image database;
A second step of searching other users who have selected the first image from the image database;
A third step of acquiring and displaying the second image of a place that can be confirmed on the map data among other second images selected by the other user;
Provided is a camera control program that causes a computer to execute the above.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the technique which can implement | achieve effective image appreciation using various attributes, such as the imaging | photography place and age of an image, can be provided.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and an information processing system including the information processing apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a configuration of a camera configuring the information processing system. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of the operation of the information processing system of the present embodiment.
As an example, the information processing system of the present embodiment includes an image management server 20 (information processing apparatus), an information terminal 8 (display device), and a camera 10 connected to the image management server 20 via an information network 90. (Display device).

  As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image management server 20 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 21, an image recording unit 22, a map database 23, a communication unit 24, a display control unit 25, an operation determination unit 26, and a change determination unit. 27, user search history information 28, and an image processing unit 29.

The image recording unit 22 stores the landscape image 52 together with the image history storage unit 22b such as the shooting position and shooting age.
The map database 23 stores the map information 51 together with the generation date of the map information 51.

  In this embodiment, “age” is a term that collectively refers to time concepts such as year, month, day, hour, minute, and second, and does not simply indicate time in units of years, such as the year. Absent. However, for the sake of simplicity, in the following, a case where management is performed in units of years, such as years A and B, will be described as an example of the age.

The communication unit 24 has a function of performing information communication with the outside via the information network 90.
The display control unit 25 performs control to transmit and display the map information 51 and the landscape image 52 to the camera 10 and the information terminal 8 connected via the communication unit 24.

The operation determination unit 26 determines an operation request from the external camera 10 or the information terminal 8.
The change determination unit 27 determines whether there is a change between a plurality of pieces of map information 51 having different generation ages.

The user search history information 28 stores various operation requests for the map information 51, the landscape image 52, and the like of the external camera 10 and the image management server 20 of the information terminal 8 for each user.
The image processing unit 29 searches for an image in the image recording unit 22 based on the image itself, and determines the presence / absence or size of a person in the landscape image 52 as will be described later.

The control unit 21 controls all the components of the image management server 20 described above.
The control unit 21, the display control unit 25, the operation determination unit 26, the change determination unit 27, and the image processing unit 29 are realized by a control program 20 a that is executed by a microcomputer (not shown) that constitutes the image management server 20. Alternatively, hardware logic may be used.

  On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the camera 10 of the present embodiment includes a microcontroller (computer) 11, a photographing unit 12, an image memory 13, a GPS unit 15, an input unit 18, and a communication unit 16. have.

  The microcontroller 11 is for performing sequence control of the entire camera 10, and is performed in response to an operation by a user of the release 17 connected to the microcontroller.

  In accordance with the operation of the release 17, the photographing unit 12 captures a subject with an imaging element (not shown) and converts it into an electrical signal. Here, the captured image signal converted into the electric signal is recorded in the image memory 13 which is a storage means.

  The GPS unit 15 receives radio waves from the satellite at the timing when the user operates the release 17 and outputs position information to the microcontroller 11 as an electrical signal. The microcontroller 11 records the captured position information in the image memory 13 in association with the captured image.

The communication unit 16 is a communication unit for transmitting an image, and is used for transmitting image data to the outside of the camera 10 when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
The input unit 18 provides an operation interface for the camera 10 by the user.

The display unit 19 displays the captured subject image and the map information 51 and landscape image 52 information exchanged with the image management server 20 via the information network 90.
The microcontroller 11 is provided with a camera control program 14 and controls access operations to the image management server 20 as will be described later.

  The information terminal 8 is composed of a personal computer, for example, and includes a terminal main body 8a and a display 8b. Although not particularly shown, the terminal main body 8a is provided with a user interface such as a computer, a communication interface connected to the information network 90, and a keyboard (not shown), and is operated by the user via the information network 90. Exchange information with the.

  Information such as the map information 51 coming from the image management server 20 and the display image 50 made up of the landscape image 52 is displayed on the display 8b as necessary, and is visualized and presented to the user who operates the information terminal 8.

  In the information processing system of the present embodiment configured as described above, an image captured by the camera 10 is an information network such as the Internet or a LAN with the location (location) information and date / time information at the time of shooting added. The image is sent to the image management server 20 via 90 and recorded in the image recording unit 22 via the communication unit 24.

  As described above, the image recording unit 22 includes the image history storage unit 22b that records the position and age information in association with the landscape image 52. For example, an operation request from the information terminal 8 or the like is sent to the communication unit 24. The display control unit 25 displays an image corresponding to the operation on the display 8b of the information terminal 8 under the control of the control unit 21.

  As described above, this image management server 20 can use the map database 23 classified by age (this may be outside the image management server 20), and the map information 51 can be used at the place. The corresponding landscape image 52 described above can be displayed. Then, in accordance with the age of the map information 51, the control unit 21 selects and displays the landscape image 52 corresponding to the age, and the display control unit 25 selects the map information 51 and the landscape. The image 52 is combined and displayed on the display unit 19 as a display image 50 on one screen.

  This state is also illustrated in FIG. That is, the landscape image 52 of the year A (second age) is displayed on the display unit 19 as the display image 50 together with the map information 51 of the same year A, and the past time can be remembered.

Further, the map information 51 may be transmitted to the camera 10 via the communication unit 24 or the information network 90.
While viewing the map information 51, the user of the camera 10 can see where the photograph can be taken and where the scenery can be recalled by the landscape image 52.

  However, when transmitting to this camera 10, it is preferable that the map information 51 is the latest. This is because if an old map is displayed, you may walk the wrong road and get lost.

Of course, in this case, the scenery image 52 may be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner that there is no possibility that the scenery image 52 may exist anymore.
For example, a method of displaying the shooting age in the vicinity of the landscape image 52 as a note like “A year” in the display image 50 of FIG. 1, a method of changing the size of the landscape image 52, and the color of the border of the landscape image 52 The user of the information terminal 8 or the camera 10 recognizes that the map information 51 and the landscape image 52 are different by devising the shape or shape.

  The display image 50 displayed on the camera 10 is displayed on the display unit 19 of the camera 10 by transmitting, for example, a combination of the map information 51 and the landscape image 52, for example, a JPEG compressed image to the camera 10. It becomes possible.

  On the other hand, in the control of the display image 50 displayed on the information terminal 8, the display control unit 25 controls the display of the map information 51 and the landscape image 52 separately so that they can be appropriately selected and independently scaled. To do.

An example of the simultaneous display of the map information 51 and the landscape image 52 under the control of the display control unit 25 will be described with reference to FIG.
Basically, as shown in FIG. 3A, the display control unit 25 controls to display a landscape image 52a photographed in the year A when the map information 51a in the year A is viewed. It is preferable that the location of the map information 51a at which the landscape image 52 was taken is displayed so as to correspond.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, when displaying the map information 51b whose shooting date is B year (first age), the display control unit 25 does not have the landscape image 52 of B year in the image recording unit 22. Then, the previous landscape image 52a (image of year A at the location of the map information 51b of year B) can be diverted and displayed, and the landscape image 52 disappears from the display image 50, and the map information 51b Prevent the appreciation from becoming boring.

  The scenery often does not change in one or two years, and for those who want to enjoy the townscape at that time, the map information 51a for year A displays the landscape image 52a, but the map information 51b for year B Is unkind when there is no image display.

  Assuming that a person who knows the land in year B after a while, but knows the land in year B, sees the map information 51b in year B, even if it is a landscape image 52a in year A If there is a display, it can be considered as a process suitable for the purpose of recollecting the past time, rather than strictly considering that there is no image.

  However, when the shooting age is C, and there is a large map change in which the shooting location of the landscape image in the map information 51c of C is no longer clear (the change of the map information 51 between each age) The presence / absence determination is performed by the change determination unit 27), and the display control unit 25 considers that the scenery has been lost and does not display an image as shown in FIG.

  That is, in the map information 51c for the year C in FIG. 3C, new roads are increased in the lower left with respect to the map information 51a for the past year A, and it is expected that the landscape has changed greatly. .

  As described above, the display control unit 25 of the image management server 20 according to the present embodiment transmits the map information 51 to the display 8b of the information terminal 8 or the display unit 19 of the camera 10, and the user views the map information 51. However, in the use of nostalgia, image display of as many corresponding landscape images 52 as possible is performed as much as possible to assist the image as much as possible. However, as much as possible, an incorrect image is determined whether or not the map information 51 has changed. The determination is omitted at 27 so that the user can enjoy it.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart when the image management server 20 as described above performs display control of such map information 51 and landscape image 52.
First, when a user of the information terminal 8 or the camera 10 executes a map reproduction operation request via the information network 90, the operation determination unit 26 of the image management server 20 detects the operation request via the communication unit 24. Then, it is determined whether or not the operation request is from the information terminal 8 (step S101).

  And in the case of the operation request from the information terminal 8, it branches to step S102 and receives designation | designated of a place and time. Here, when the user designates “1980, Kichijoji” or the like, the display control unit 25 reads the corresponding map information 51 from the image recording unit 22, transmits it to the information terminal 8 via the communication unit 24, and displays it. A map is displayed in 8b (step S103), and the presence / absence of the landscape image 52 at the location of the map information 51 in the corresponding age in the image recording unit 22 is determined (step S103a), and the corresponding landscape image 52 exists. In such a case, the landscape image 52 corresponding to the age is also displayed on the display 8b so as to form the display image 50 (step S104).

Then, the history of the user's operation request is recorded in the user search history information 28, and the process ends (step S110).
On the other hand, when the landscape image 52 corresponding to the age of the map information 51 is not found in step S103a described above, the display control unit 25 diverts the past landscape image 52 as much as possible by the processing in step S105 and subsequent steps. I do.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3B, the display control unit 25 displays the landscape image 52 photographed before that year on the map information 51 to form the display image 50. To be able to arouse user memories.

  In the display control of the display control unit 25, a landscape image 52 after the year may be displayed depending on the situation, but there is a possibility that a building rebuilt later is reflected, Since nostalgia is weakened, this embodiment shows an example in which an old image is preferentially displayed.

  Thus, if there is a landscape image 52 older than the map information 51, if there is a similar landscape image 52 in the specified year, it may be displayed, but if there is no landscape image 52, (Step S106), the change determination unit 27 compares the map information 51 of the year of shooting the landscape image 52 with the map information 51 of the year that the user wants to see (Step S107). If there is no change in the map, the display control is further performed. The unit 25 determines the presence or absence of a person in the past landscape image 52 to be diverted by the image processing unit 29 (step S108). If no person is shown in the past landscape image 52, the past landscape image 52 is used. Even if it exists, the display image 50 is displayed (step S109).

  The processing from step S106 to step S109 is a device to stir as much nostalgic feeling as possible, and the display control unit 25 assumes that if the map has not changed, the landscape will not change significantly. I am trying to provide a lot of image information.

  In addition, since the image of a person in the landscape image 52 often reflects fashion trends, and it may be unnatural if the year is different, the display control unit 25 according to the present embodiment is a landscape in which a person is reflected. The image 52 is not displayed if the year is different. However, when the person is small, it may be displayed.

  In addition, since the user is interested in which place in which era can be determined by the operation, input, and length of the viewing time of the display image 50, the user can prepare for later retrieval. The display control unit 25 and the operation determination unit 26 record in the user search history information 28 such as the user's operation, input, and the length of the viewing time of the display image 50 (step S110).

  For example, the system is configured such that if the landscape image 52 in the display image 50 is clicked, the system is enlarged. Based on the click information, it is also determined which landscape image 52 the user is interested in and recorded in the user search history information 28. Is possible.

  The recording in the user search history information 28 enables the display control unit 25 to transfer information on the location in which the user is interested to the user's camera 10, and the display unit 19 in the camera 10 in FIG. The map display etc. are enabled.

  Further, as described above, the camera 10 may be provided with a communication function such as the communication unit 16 and the image information such as the landscape image 52 may be transmitted to the image management server 20. Communication with 10 is performed in steps S111 to S116.

  That is, in the above-described step S101, the operation determination unit 26 determines whether or not it is an upload image recording request when determining that the operation request is received from the camera 10 (step S111).

When recording of the upload image is requested, it is determined whether or not the location information and time information attached to the landscape image 52 is attached (step S112). If there is no attachment, the user is prompted for input. (Step S113, Step S114),
After acquiring the location information and time information, recording is performed in the image recording unit 22 and the image history storage unit 22b together with the image (step S115).

  In the case of the present embodiment, the camera 10 is provided with the GPS unit 15, and as described above, the shooting position information and the shooting time information of the landscape image 52 can be automatically acquired. If there is no function or clock function, the user may input manually.

  As described above, in a situation where communication between the camera and 10 is established, location information (in this case, the latest map information 51) of the landscape image 52 that the user often sees is transmitted to the camera 10 in step S116.

  At this time, the landscape image 52 that is especially interesting to see many times is transferred from the image management server 20 to the camera 10 so that the user can enjoy shooting while checking the location of the building. It may be.

  As processing other than uploading the landscape image 52 from the camera 10 (step S111), a search for a landscape image 52 similar to a nostalgic landscape is accepted (step S121), and the image processing unit 29 of the image management server 20 uses the camera. The image search by matching the landscape image received from 10 and the landscape image 52 in the image recording unit 22 is executed, and the information of the landscape image 52 of the spot where a similar building or the like can be photographed is transferred from the image management server 20 to the camera 10. Then, it can be confirmed on the display unit 19 or the like of the camera 10 so that photographing can be assisted.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, an example of photographing assistance of the camera 10 and an example of control of the camera 10 by the image management server 20 of the present embodiment will be described.
The nostalgic year map and place that the user of the camera 10 and the information terminal 8 always sees is the place 68e in the map information 51 of year A (circled place on the map information 51 on the display 8b) as shown in FIG. If so, some other users gathered via the information network 90 may miss the same place.

  Even if the circled place 68e is destroyed by construction, a part of the place 69e (including the place 68e and the place 69a in this case) that other users (users of the information terminal 9) feel nostalgic May remain even like the place 69a in the map information 51 displayed on the display 8b of the information terminal 9.

  The fact that the user thinks that the same scenery is nostalgic means that the scenery nostalgic for the user of the information terminal 9 may be similar to the scenery that the user of the information terminal 8 feels nostalgic. Map information 51 displayed on the display unit 19 of the camera 10 so that the user 69 of the information terminal 8 can confirm the remaining place 69a in the information of the place 69e that the user 9 misses. (Image map 68a) is controlled. The user of the information terminal 8 uses the camera 10 in which this information (the image map 68a including the map information 51 including the location 69a) is recorded in the image memory 13 to the nostalgic map information 51 while viewing the nostalgic image map 68a. You can go to shoot a similar landscape.

  Note that the display control unit 25 selects the location 69e that other users (in this case, the user of the information terminal 9) feel nostalgic for the past operation history of the user stored in the user search history information 28 as described above. And can be displayed as map information 51 (image map 68a) on the camera 10 of the user of the information terminal 8 and the camera 10.

The image search in the image management server 20 will be described again with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of control of the camera 10 for displaying the above-described image map 68 a on the camera 10. 6 is performed by the camera control program 14 in the camera 10.

  First, it is determined whether or not the user's operation is a map display request (step S201), and in the case of a map display request, corresponding map information 51 is displayed in step S203 by specifying the location and time in step S202. Displayed on the unit 19. The map information 51 may be recorded in the image memory 13 built in the camera 10, or the camera 10 is connected to the image management server 20 via the information network 90, and an image recording unit of the image management server 20 is connected. It may be drawn from a database such as 22.

  If "1980 Hachioji station building" is selected here, it is searched and displayed on the display unit 19, but the user who wants to photograph the image displayed there is now a similar photo. There may be a demand for searching for a place where the camera can be photographed by operating the camera 10.

  By this location, shooting time, and image designation operations, location and image information is transmitted to the image management server 20 (steps S205 and S206), and a location where a similar image can be obtained near the location is recorded in the image recording unit. A search is made from 22 and the reception of the search result is waited (step S207). If there is information, the map information 51 and the landscape image 52 are displayed (step S208). Thereby, the user of the camera 10 can shoot a landscape similar to a favorite landscape.

  The location information transmitted in step S205 may be the location searched in step S202 or the location where the photographer is currently located. If it is the place searched in step S202, it is possible to take a picture after going to an old nostalgic place, and if it is the current place, it is possible to search for a place where it can be taken immediately.

Control of the original photographing function of the camera 10 is executed in the flow after step S211.
That is, if it is determined in step S201 described above that the operation is other than a map display request, it is determined in step S211 whether the request is for a shooting operation.

  When the photographing operation is requested, the photographing operation by the photographing unit 12 is executed (step S212), and the position information and time information are acquired by the GPS unit 15 (step S213). (Step S214).

  Further, the image taken by the camera 10 can be transmitted to the image management server 20 via the information network 90 so that it can be shown to other people or used as a search image.

  That is, if it is determined in step S211 that it is not a photographing operation, it is determined whether or not an image transmission operation request is made (step S221). If an image transmission operation request is made, step S222 and step S212 in the past are determined. In addition, the image that has been captured in step S213 is transmitted to the image management server 20. Further, other assist information or the like may be acquired from the image management server 20 to the camera 10 at a timing during connection to the image management server 20 (step S223). By acquiring such information, a map or image of a nostalgic place preferred by the user can be confirmed on the display unit 19 of the camera 10 as shown by 10a in FIG.

There may be a number of nostalgic places. In this case, the received information may be limited as the latest search result or information on the place closest to the shooting place.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by the image management server 20 in response to the image search (steps S202 to S208) in the camera 10 described above.

This corresponds to the control performed in step S122 of the flowchart illustrated in FIG.
First, in step S301, the operation determination unit 26 acquires user information of the camera 10 that issued the search request, and acquires location information from the camera 10 in step S302.

  Accordingly, the display control unit 25 searches the image recording unit 22 for an image similar to the image received from the camera 10 (step S303), and further, based on the searched landscape image 52, the above-described FIG. A person who thinks that the same image at the same place is a favorite image on the map such as the image map 68a (user A who likes the place 69e including the place 68e (the user of the information terminal 9 in FIG. 5)). (Step S304), the landscape image 52 that the user A likes is transmitted (step S305), and is used as a reference for photographing by the user of the camera 10.

  The landscape image 52 transmitted to the camera 10 by this search is changed to the landscape image 52 of the place where the map information 51 is not changed by the determination by the change determination unit 27 and seems to remain at the present time. It is preferable that the user can go to the place and enjoy shooting.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the map information 51 of an arbitrary age and the landscape image 52 of the corresponding age are combined and displayed as the display image 50 on the information terminal 8 or the camera 10, the map information Even if the landscape image 52 of the age corresponding to 51 does not exist, if there is no significant change in the map information 51, the display image 50 can be configured together with the map information 51 using the past corresponding landscape image 52. .

  As a result, the map information 51 and the corresponding landscape image 52 are combined to form a display image 50 and presented to the user, so that the landscape image 52 is assisted in the sense of a nostalgic place, and the user can view the landscape image at that time. It is possible to provide the camera 10 that can enjoy the appreciation and that can be applied to capture the nostalgic landscape image 52.

That is, it is possible to realize effective image appreciation using various attributes such as the shooting location and age of images such as landscape images.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a modification of image display in the information terminal 8 and the camera 10 in the present embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram thereof.

  In this way, display control as shown in FIG. 8 is also conceivable as a method of enjoying a map and an image in cooperation. In this modification, the landscape images corresponding to the map information 51b corresponding to the B year as illustrated in FIG. 9B only in the A year, the B year, and the C year in the chronological order. There is an example in which the map information 51b of year B is used as necessary when the map information 51a and map information 51c of years A and C before and after that are browsed.

  That is, steps S401 to S408 are the same as the processing in the flowchart of FIG. Steps S411 to S415 are cases where, when there is no image in the map information 51a of the year A older than the year B, the landscape image 52b of the year B is diverted and displayed together with the map information 51a. In this case, if there is no change between the map information 51b and the map information 51a, it is presumed that the scenery will not change greatly, and the landscape image 52b is made to be a little old (sepia) and the sepia landscape image 52b. -1 is displayed on the map information 51a. This is shown in FIG. 9 (a).

  On the other hand, in year C, which is newer than year B, when a new road is created and the scenery changes from year B, the display is suppressed in the example of the flowchart of FIG. 4 above. Since there is a way of thinking that it is desired to see the place where there was, the old B year landscape image 52b is black and white in the place where the map information 51c has changed from the map information 51b as shown in FIG. 9C. It is displayed as a landscape image 52b-2. This control is processed in steps S431 to S435 in FIG.

In this case, if necessary, the landscape image 52b may be made a translucent image so that the user wants to see a map in front.
If the place where the image is located is outside the map display range of the map information 51a, the map information 51b, and the map information 51c, but is in the immediate vicinity, the out-of-range landscape image 53 is obtained by the processing from step S421 to step S425. Are displayed near the outer periphery of the map information 51a, the map information 51b, and the map information 51c.

In this case, the out-of-range landmark 53a is displayed together with the out-of-range landscape image 53 so that the out-of-range landscape image 53 can be distinguished from the normal image.
The memories of the past are not necessarily remembered accurately even to the map, so if you look at a little different place by the idea to display this out-of-range landscape image 53, there is a place of memories of yourself (user) It can be suggested to the user browsing the map.

Next, specific processing examples of map and landscape image display processing in the information terminal 8 and the information terminal 9 in each of the above-described embodiments will be described.
That is, the map display in the present embodiment is performed, for example, on the WEB (WWW) constructed on the information network 90 such as the Internet by the information terminal 8 or the like on the image recording unit 22 or the map database 23 of the image management server 20. The SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) format is easy to obtain data from such a database. In this SVG format, a drawing is expressed in the form of a vector image so that the display range can be expanded or reduced. In recent years, many map databases have prepared map data based on this description.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a specific processing example of a map or landscape image display process.
When displaying an image in the information processing system of the present embodiment, the information terminal 8 or the like first accesses the database (step S501), acquires an image of the map information 51 in the SVG format, and displays the display range. In accordance with the control (step S502), the data is converted into a bitmap (rasterization) and output to a display device such as the display 8b (step S503).

In this state, the latitude / longitude range of the map display range is calculated (step S504).
Then, if a map range change request (step S505) or a year change request (step S506) is generated from the user, the process starts again from referring to the database of the image management server 20 described above.

  On the other hand, in the case of the information processing system of the present embodiment, when displaying a photographic image (captured image) such as a landscape image 52, it is not a file of vector data corresponding to simple graphic enlargement / reduction, but a more natural image. In the raster format, which is an enumeration of dots excellent in expression, it is assumed that an image is acquired as a JPEG file that is easily compatible with photographic technology and distribution technology via the information network 90.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a photographic image display process according to the present embodiment.
That is, when displaying an image, the presence / absence of an image within the map range is determined (step S511). If there is no image, the above-described diversion process is performed (step S512), and a JPEG image is acquired (step S513). Then, bitmap processing and image processing are performed (step S514), and pixels at corresponding positions on the map are replaced (step S515). The images are combined in this way, and this is converted into a JPEG image assuming that the image is transferred from the information terminal 8 to the camera 10 as shown in FIG. 5 (step S516).

In this way, the map and the photographed image are combined.
Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the configuration exemplified in the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of a structure of the information processing apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention, and the information processing system containing the said information processing apparatus. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structural example of the camera which comprises an information processing system. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of an effect | action of the information processing system which is one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the display control in the information processing apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of camera shooting assistance and an example of camera control performed by the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart explaining an example of the effect | action of the camera by the information processing apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining an example of an effect | action of the information processing apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the modification of the image display in the information terminal etc. which are one embodiment of invention. It is the conceptual diagram. It is a flowchart which shows the specific process example of the display process of the image in the information processing apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the display process of the photographic image in the information processing apparatus which is one embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

8 Information terminal 8a Terminal body 8b Display 9 Information terminal 10 Camera 11 Microcontroller 12 Imaging unit 13 Image memory 14 Camera control program 15 GPS unit 16 Communication unit 17 Release 18 Input unit 19 Display unit 20 Image management server 20a Control program 21 Control unit 22 image recording unit 22b image history storage unit 23 map database 24 communication unit 25 display control unit 26 operation determination unit 27 change determination unit 28 user search history information 29 image processing unit 50 display image 51 map information 51a map information 51b map information 51c map Information 52 Landscape image 52a Landscape image 68a Image map 68e Location 69a Location 69e Location 90 Information network

Claims (12)

First storage means for storing a plurality of map data for each age;
Second storage means for storing the landscape image together with the shooting position and shooting time of the landscape image;
A display control unit that transmits the map data of the age specified from the display device and the landscape image corresponding to the map data to the display device for display;
Including
The display control unit
In the second storage means, when there is no landscape image corresponding to the map data of the designated first age, and there is the landscape image of a second age different from the first age, the second age An information processing apparatus comprising control logic for displaying a landscape image on the display device together with the map data of the first age. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The control logic displays the landscape image of the second age together with the map data of the first age on the display device when there is no change between the map data in each of the first and second age. An information processing apparatus characterized in that The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The display control unit
When the display device is an information terminal, the displayed map data and the age of the landscape image are displayed together,
When the display device is a camera having a landscape image shooting function, the information processing apparatus displays new map data regardless of the age of the landscape image. A method of controlling an information processing apparatus that transmits map data of a specified age from a display device and a landscape image corresponding to the map data to the display device for display,
When the landscape image corresponding to the map data of the designated first age cannot be used and the landscape image of a second age different from the first age is available, the landscape image of the second age is A control method for an information processing apparatus, wherein the display device displays the map data together with the map data of the first generation. The control method of the information processing apparatus according to claim 4,
When there is no change between the map data in each of the first and second ages, the landscape image of the second era is displayed on the display device together with the map data of the first era. Control method for information processing apparatus. In the control method of the information processing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5,
When the display device is an information terminal, the displayed map data and the age of the landscape image are displayed together,
When the display device is a camera having a landscape image shooting function, the new map data is displayed regardless of the age of the landscape image. First storage means for storing a plurality of map data for each age;
Second storage means for storing the landscape image together with the shooting position and shooting time of the landscape image;
A display control unit that transmits the map data of the age specified from the display device and the landscape image corresponding to the map data to the display device for display;
A control program for an information processing device including:
In the second storage means, when there is no landscape image corresponding to the map data of the designated first age, and there is the landscape image of a second age different from the first age, the second age A control program for an information processing apparatus that causes a computer to execute a process of displaying a landscape image on the display device together with the map data of the first age. The control program for an information processing device according to claim 7,
Processing to display the landscape image of the second age on the display device together with the map data of the first age when there is no change between the map data in each of the first and second age. A control program for an information processing apparatus, which is executed by a computer. In the control program of the information processing apparatus according to claim 7 or 8,
When the display device is an information terminal, the displayed map data and the age of the landscape image are displayed together,
When the display device is a camera having a landscape image capturing function, the information processing apparatus causes the computer to execute a process of displaying the new map data regardless of the age of the landscape image. Control program. Selecting means for selecting a predetermined first image from an image database;
Search means for searching for other users who have selected the first image from the image database;
Display means for acquiring and displaying the second image of a place that can be confirmed on the map data among other second images selected by the other user;
Including a camera. A first step of selecting a predetermined first image from an image database;
A second step of searching other users who have selected the first image from the image database;
A third step of acquiring and displaying the second image of a place that can be confirmed on the map data among other second images selected by the other user;
A control method for a camera. A first step of selecting a predetermined first image from an image database;
A second step of searching other users who have selected the first image from the image database;
A third step of acquiring and displaying the second image of a place that can be confirmed on the map data among other second images selected by the other user;
A program for controlling a camera.