JP2010141379A - Digital camera device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital camera device in which a plurality of digital cameras are used and can be remotely controlled by each other. <P>SOLUTION: The digital camera device for acquiring imaging data by picking up a subject can be used as both a control side for controlling another digital camera device to be controlled and a controlled side to be controlled by the other digital camera device as the control side. When used as the control side, the digital camera wirelessly transmits a control signal for controlling the operation of the controlled side to the controlled side, and when used as the controlled side, the digital camera device performs an operation based on the control signal upon wirelessly receiving the control signal from the controlled side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera device having a subject photographing function and a communication function, and a communication system having a plurality of the digital camera devices.

  Conventionally, a digital camera that digitizes and records a photographed image of a subject is generally used. Usually, in a digital camera, a switch or the like provided on the main body is directly operated by a user, and various operations such as photographing are performed according to the operation content (which reflects the user's intention).

  However, for example, when the user himself / herself is a subject, the digital camera used for photographing needs to be set at a position away from the user. In this case, the user cannot directly take a picture by operating the digital camera. For this reason, it is convenient for a digital camera to be able to perform remote control as appropriate.

Patent Document 1 proposes a system in which a plurality of digital cameras within a specific range can share each other's shooting data, and Patent Document 2 operates a fixed camera at a remote location, A system for acquiring data of a shot video has been proposed.
JP 2004-179919 A Japanese Patent No. 3747908

  As described above, convenience can be improved if the digital camera can be remotely controlled. Furthermore, if it is possible to remotely control each other using a plurality of digital cameras, it is considered that convenience is further improved.

  For example, it is assumed that the digital camera A is near the user A and the digital camera B is near the user B, and the users are in positions away from each other. In this case, the user A can remotely control the digital camera B through the operation of the digital camera A, and the user B can remotely control the digital camera A through the operation of the digital camera B. For example, any user can remotely control the digital camera, which is very convenient. The system disclosed in Patent Document 2 is not configured to perform remote control with each other using a plurality of digital cameras.

  In view of the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera device that can perform remote control with each other using a plurality of communication devices and a communication system that can perform the remote control.

  In order to achieve the above object, a digital camera device according to the present invention obtains shooting data by shooting a subject, and is a digital camera device that controls another digital camera device that is a controlled side. The control side can be used as any of the controlled side controlled by the other digital camera device which is the control side, and when used as the control side, control for controlling the operation of the controlled side When a signal is wirelessly transmitted to the controlled side and used as the controlled side, an operation based on the control signal is performed when the control signal is wirelessly received from the control side. .

  According to this configuration, it can be used as either the control side or the controlled side, and when used as the control side, a control signal for controlling the operation of the controlled side is sent to the controlled side. On the other hand, when wireless transmission is performed and the control side is used, when the control signal is wirelessly received from the control side, an operation based on the control signal is performed. Therefore, it becomes possible to perform remote control with each other using a plurality of the digital camera devices.

  In the above configuration, when used as a control side, the control signal for acquiring shooting data and wirelessly transmitting the shooting data to the own device is wirelessly transmitted to the controlled side, and When shooting data sent wirelessly from the controlled side is received and used as the controlled side, when the control signal is received wirelessly from the control side, the shooting data is acquired and the shooting data is controlled. It is good also as a structure which carries out radio transmission to the side.

  According to this configuration, imaging data obtained by imaging on the controlled side is transmitted to the control side. Therefore, it becomes easy to record and manage shooting data on the control side.

  Further, in the above configuration, in response to a user instruction, the first process of wirelessly transmitting a predetermined response request signal to the other digital camera device, when the response request signal is received, the source of the response request signal On the other hand, a second process for wirelessly transmitting a predetermined response signal, and when receiving the response signal, a predetermined communication establishment signal is wirelessly transmitted to a response signal transmission source designated by the user. When the third process is executed, the third process is executed. When the third process is executed, the control establishment side is used as a control side. When the communication establishment signal is received, the communication establishment signal is transmitted. It is good also as a structure which will be in the state used as a to-be-controlled side controlled by the transmission source.

  According to this configuration, the digital camera device designated by the user (that is, the digital camera device that the user wants to control) is set as the control side, and the digital camera device capable of wireless communication with this is set as the controlled side. The established communication system can be established. Even if there are multiple digital camera devices that can be controlled, only those specified by the user (that is, what the user wants to be controlled) can actually be controlled. It becomes.

  Moreover, in the said structure, it is good also as a structure which is not fixed to a specific position and can move the position at the time of use. According to this configuration, when used as the control side, the user operates the digital camera device at an arbitrary position, and when used as the controlled side, the subject can be arbitrary. It becomes easy.

  Further, in the above configuration, an encryption unit that encrypts information to be wirelessly transmitted to the other digital camera device, and an encryption release unit that decrypts information wirelessly received from the other digital camera device, It is good also as a structure provided with. According to this configuration, it is possible to improve confidentiality in wireless communication between the control side and the controlled side.

  The communication system according to the present invention includes a plurality of digital camera devices having the above-described configuration, and the plurality of digital camera devices are used as the control side or the controlled side, respectively. To do. According to this configuration, it is possible to perform photographing by remote control while enjoying the advantages of the above configuration.

  As described above, the digital camera device according to the present invention can be used as either the control side or the controlled side, and when used as the control side, controls the operation of the controlled side. When the control signal is wirelessly transmitted to the controlled side and used as the controlled side, an operation based on the control signal is performed when the control signal is wirelessly received from the control side. Therefore, it becomes possible to perform remote control with each other using a plurality of the digital camera devices.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below by taking a digital camera device (digital camera) having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 as an example.

  First, the configuration of the digital camera according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the digital camera 1 includes a CCD [Charge Coupled Device] 11, a signal processing unit 12, an image processing unit 13, a built-in memory 14, a storage medium connection unit 15, a control unit 16, an operation unit 17, and a display. Unit 18, encryption processing unit 19, communication unit 20, and the like.

  The CCD 11 generates a signal corresponding to the optical image of the subject in response to a shooting execution instruction from the control unit 16. The generated signal is transmitted to the signal processing unit 12. The signal processing unit 12 performs predetermined signal processing on the signal transmitted from the image sensor 11 and transmits the signal to the image processing unit 13.

  The image processing unit 13 uses the signal transmitted from the signal processing unit 12 to generate a photographic image (digital format shooting data) representing the image of the subject. The signal processing unit 12 and the image processing unit 13 can also generate a monitor image that is an image representing a subject and has a sufficiently smaller number of pixels (information amount) than a photographic image. How this monitor image is used will become clear in a later description.

  The built-in memory 14 is configured by a rewritable nonvolatile memory and is built in the digital camera 1 main body. The storage medium connection unit 15 has a mechanism to which an external storage medium 2 (for example, an SD card) is detachably connected, and the digital camera 1 can access the external storage medium 2 when connected. The built-in memory 14 and the external storage medium 2 record various information such as generated photographic images.

  The control unit 16 is constituted by, for example, a CPU and executes various processes through control of each unit in the digital camera 1. The contents of main processing executed in the digital camera 1 will be described in detail again.

  The operation unit 17 includes, for example, a button switch (including a shutter button) operated by the user, and transmits the operation content to the control unit 16. Thereby, the digital camera 1 can perform processing reflecting the user's intention.

  The display unit 18 has a display and executes various displays according to instructions from the control unit 16. The encryption processing unit 19 performs encryption processing and decryption processing on communication data. By performing the encryption process, it is possible to improve confidentiality in communication with other devices.

  In response to an instruction from the control unit 16, the communication unit 20, for example, uses one or a plurality of other devices (in particular, its own device) according to a communication standard (which may be Wi-Fi) based on IEEE 802.11a / IEEE 802.11b. Wireless communication with another digital camera having a function equivalent to the above.

  The digital camera 1 configured as described above has a function as a general digital camera. For example, the digital camera 1 can perform still image and moving image shooting, zoom and focus adjustment, image quality adjustment, and the like in accordance with a user instruction. In addition, the digital camera 1 is not fixed at a specific position like a fixed camera, and can be easily carried by a user or the like (the position at the time of use can be moved).

  Furthermore, by using a plurality of digital cameras 1 having equivalent functions, the digital camera 1 may execute remote control using wireless communication with another device (digital camera 1 other than the own device). It is possible. More specifically, one of these digital cameras 1 is the control side, the other is the controlled side, and the control side remotely controls the controlled side.

  Here, the contents of the remote control processing executed in the digital camera 1 will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

  The control unit 16 monitors whether or not a response request transmission instruction has been given by the user (step S1) and whether or not a response request signal has been received from another device (step S2). At this time, the user issues a response request transmission instruction to the digital camera 1 that is desired to be used as the control side.

  When there is an instruction to send a response request (Y in Step S1), the control unit 16 sends a response request signal (a signal for requesting other devices to transmit a response signal) through the communication unit 20. (Including ID information of the own device) is wirelessly transmitted to an unspecified other device (step S3). As a result, a response request signal is transmitted to all other devices in a state where wireless communication with the own device is possible.

  The ID information is an identifier unique to each digital camera, for example, and is information that can identify the own device from other devices. Further, instead of wirelessly transmitting a response request signal to an unspecified other device, a response request signal may be wirelessly transmitted to one or more specific other devices.

  Thereafter, the control unit 16 determines whether a response signal has been received from any other device within a predetermined time from the transmission of the response request signal (step S4). The predetermined time here is set to a time sufficiently longer than the time required for transmission of the response signal in the other device that has received the response request signal.

  If it is determined as a result of the determination that no other device has received (N in step S4), wireless communication with any other device is considered impossible. Return. In this case, for example, “no other device capable of wireless communication exists” may be displayed on the display unit 18.

  If it is received from any other device (Y in step S4), information related to the response signal is recorded in the built-in memory 14, and whether the other device can be controlled based on the response signal (own device) To operate according to the instructions from). Then, the ID information and the like of the other device determined to be controllable are displayed on the display unit 18. Thereafter, the user's instruction regarding which of the other machines determined to be controllable is actually to be controlled is received.

  As a result, the user can specify which other device can actually be controlled after recognizing which other device can be controlled (whether it can be controlled). It is. At this time, the user can designate one or a plurality of other machines. If there is no other device that can be controlled, or if no other device is designated by the user, the process returns to step S1 after discarding the information related to the response signal.

  Thereafter, the control unit 16 transmits a communication establishment signal (a signal for newly establishing a communication system to each of the other devices designated by the user through the communication unit 20 and includes ID information of the own device. ) Is wirelessly transmitted (step S5).

  Further, the control unit 16 recognizes that it has become the control side that controls the transmission destination (communication partner) of the communication establishment signal (step S6). As a result, processing (steps S11 to S18) on the control side described later is executed.

  On the other hand, when the response request signal is received with respect to the process of step S2 (Y of step S2), the control unit 16 records information on the response request signal in the built-in memory 14 and responds through the communication unit 20. A response signal is wirelessly transmitted to the other device that has transmitted the request signal (step S7). The response signal includes various information related to the transmission source such as ID information and information on the version of the communication software employed. Therefore, the receiving side of the response signal can determine whether the transmission source can be controlled.

  After transmitting the response signal, the control unit 16 determines whether a communication establishment signal has been received within a predetermined time from when the response signal is transmitted (step S8). Here, the predetermined time is set to a time sufficiently longer than the time required for transmission of the communication establishment signal in the other device that has received the response signal.

  As a result, if it is determined that it has not been received (N in step S8), the information related to the response request signal is discarded, and the process returns to step S1. On the other hand, if it is determined that it has been received (Y in step S8), the information related to the communication establishment signal is recorded in the built-in memory 14 and controlled by the transmission establishment source (communication partner) of the communication establishment signal. It is recognized that it is on the side (step S9). As a result, processing (steps S21 to S25) on the controlled side, which will be described later, is executed.

  Note that the control-side and controlled-side digital cameras 1 exchange an encryption key used for encrypting information to be communicated through wireless communication. In the subsequent wireless communication, the information transmitting side encrypts the information wirelessly transmitted by the encryption processing unit 19, while the receiving side releases the encryption of the information wirelessly received by the encryption processing unit 19. As the encryption key, for example, date information such as communication date and time, a process number of communication processing, or the like may be used in addition to a random number generated each time.

  Through the series of processes described above, a communication system (communication system) including the control side and the controlled side is newly established. Next, main processes (steps S11 to S18) executed by the digital camera on the control side will be described.

  The control unit 16 causes the display unit 18 to display monitor images sequentially transmitted from the controlled side (step S11). Further, along with the execution of the processing, it is monitored whether there are various control instructions by the user (step S12), whether a photographic image is received from the controlled side (step S13), and whether a communication end instruction is issued by the user (step S14).

  If there is a control instruction from the user (Y in step S12), a control signal corresponding to the instruction is generated and wirelessly transmitted to the controlled side specified by the instruction (step S15). In addition to the information specifying the operation to be executed (for example, taking a picture, changing the zoom magnification, focus adjustment, image quality adjustment, flash ON / OFF switching, etc.) in the user's control instruction, there are a plurality of controlled sides. Includes information for specifying the instruction to which.

  Further, when the photographic image is received (Y in Step S13), the control unit 16 stores the photographic image in the built-in memory 14 or the external storage medium 2 (Step S16). As a result, a photographic image obtained by photographing on the controlled side is recorded and managed on the controlling side.

  If there is a communication end instruction from the user (Y in step S14), the end of communication is notified to the controlled side (step S17). Further, after performing processing (communication end processing) such as deleting information temporarily stored for establishing the communication system this time (information on the communication partner, etc.) from the built-in memory 14 (step S18). Then, the process returns to step S1.

  Next, main processes (steps S21 to S25) executed by the digital camera on the controlled side will be described.

  The control unit 16 continuously generates the above-described monitor image (the amount of information is sufficiently smaller than that of the photographic image) and sequentially wirelessly transmits it to the control side (step S21). By transmitting a monitor image having a relatively small amount of information, it is possible to suppress the processing load and the like related to wireless communication as much as possible while supplying the control information on the controlled side to the control side.

  Further, along with the execution of the processing, the control unit 16 monitors whether a control signal has been received from the control side (step S22) and whether a communication end notification has been received from the control side (step S23).

  When a control signal is received from the control side (Y in step S22), various operations are executed according to the control signal (step S24). In particular, when the control signal is related to a photography instruction, a photographic image representing the subject is acquired and transmitted to the control side.

  The transmission may be automatically executed for all of the acquired photographic images, or may be executed only when there is a transmission instruction from the control side. In addition, after the photographic image is transmitted, the photographic image data recorded on the controlled side may be automatically deleted.

  Also, when there is a communication end notification from the control side (Y in step S23), information temporarily stored for establishing the current communication system (information on the communication partner, etc.) is stored from the built-in memory 14. After performing processing such as erasing (communication end processing) (step S25), the processing returns to step S1. The controlled side also accepts a communication end instruction (see step S14) from the user, and when the instruction is given, the control side and the controlled side perform a communication end process, and the process of step S1 You may make it return to.

  Next, in order to facilitate understanding of the contents of the above-described processing, specific examples of the processing will be described. Here, in a communication system having three digital cameras, that is, a digital camera A at the user's hand and a digital camera B and a digital camera C located at a distance from the user, the digital camera A is the control side, Assume a situation in which camera B and digital camera C are controlled. Digital camera A is assumed to be in a state in which wireless communication with digital camera B and digital camera C is possible.

  First, the user gives an instruction to send a response request to the digital camera A in order to make the digital camera A the control side. At this time, the digital camera A recognizes the instruction (Y in step S1) and wirelessly transmits a response request signal (step S3).

  By transmitting the response request signal by the digital camera A, the digital camera B and the digital camera C receive the response request signal (Y in step S2), and wirelessly transmit the response signal to the digital camera A (step S7). .

  Further, the digital camera A receives the response signal by the transmission of the response signal by the digital camera B and the digital camera C (Y in step S4). Thereafter, the digital camera B and the digital camera C are designated by the user as digital cameras that are actually to be controlled.

  As a result, the digital camera A wirelessly transmits a communication establishment signal to the digital cameras B and C (step S5), and recognizes that it has become the control side (step S6). On the other hand, by the transmission of the communication establishment signal by the digital camera A, the digital camera B and the digital camera C receive the communication establishment signal (Y in step S8) and recognize that they are on the controlled side (step S9).

  By performing the processing so far, as shown in FIG. 4, a communication system is established in which the digital camera A is the control side and the digital camera B and the digital camera C are the controlled side. Thereafter, the digital camera B and the digital camera C continuously acquire monitor images and transmit them to the digital camera A (step S21). The digital camera A receives the monitor image and displays it on the display unit 18 (step S11).

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the monitor image is displayed as a monitor image transmitted from both digital cameras when the display in the display unit 18 is divided into screens, and which digital camera is associated with the monitor image. This is realized by displaying each message. Accordingly, the user can simultaneously view the monitor images related to the digital camera B and the digital camera C through the digital camera A.

  Here, it is assumed that after the communication system shown in FIG. 4 is established, the digital camera B further performs photography. In this case, the user gives the digital camera A a control instruction for causing the “digital camera B” to execute “photographing”. As a result, the digital camera A recognizes the control instruction (Y in step S12), and transmits a control signal for causing the digital camera B to take a picture (step S15).

  As a result, the digital camera B receives the control signal (Y in step S22), and executes photography according to the control signal. Further, the acquired photographic image is transmitted to the digital camera A (step S24).

  The digital camera A receives this photographic image (Y in step S13) and stores it in the built-in memory 14 (step S16). By executing the processes described above, the digital camera A (located at the user's hand) can acquire a photographic image captured by the digital camera B (located at a position away from the user), and can be recorded / managed. it can.

  Furthermore, it is assumed that after establishing the communication system shown in FIG. 4, the digital camera B and the digital camera C are simultaneously photographed to take a group photo of people. As shown in FIG. 6, the digital camera B is set so that the subject is on the left side of the human group 5 and the digital camera C is set so that the subject is on the right side of the human group 5. Suppose that At this time, the subject of each digital camera overlaps at approximately the center of the group of persons 5.

  The user gives the digital camera A a control instruction for causing “digital camera B” and “digital camera C” to execute “photographing at the same time”. As a result, the digital camera A recognizes the control instruction (Y in step S12), and transmits a control signal for performing photography to the digital camera B and the digital camera C almost simultaneously (step S15). .

  As a result, the digital camera B and the digital camera C receive the control signal (Y in step S22), and execute photography according to the control signal. Further, the acquired photographic image is transmitted to the digital camera A (step S24). Thereafter, the digital camera A receives these photographic images (Y in step S13) and stores them in the built-in memory 14 or the like (step S16). By executing the above processes, the digital camera A can acquire a photographic image that represents the substantially left half of the collective body 5 and a photographic image that also represents the substantially right half.

  After that, it is possible to generate a photographic image representing the whole of the person aggregate 5 by synthesizing both photographic images. Here, since the original photographic images were taken almost at the same time, even if a person or the like related to the subject moved slightly, the shift between the photographic images due to this movement is minimized. Therefore, the composition of the photographic image can be performed relatively easily and accurately. The digital camera 1 itself may be provided with a function for executing such composition in accordance with a user instruction.

  As described above, the digital camera 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention acquires a photographic image (photographing data) by photographing a subject, and other digital cameras 1 on the controlled side are obtained. The control side to be controlled and the controlled side controlled by the other digital camera 1 that is the control side can be used.

  When used as a control side, a control signal for acquiring a photographic image and wirelessly transmitting the photographic image to the own device is wirelessly transmitted to the controlled side (see step S15). Then, the photograph image transmitted wirelessly from the controlled side is received (see step S13). When used as the controlled side, when the control signal is wirelessly received from the control side, a photographic image is acquired and the photographic image is wirelessly transmitted to the control side.

  Thus, according to the digital camera 1, it is possible to execute remote control with each other using a plurality of digital cameras. Further, it is easy to record and manage a photographic image obtained by photographing on the controlled side on the control side.

  Also, when the digital camera 1 receives the response request signal in response to a user instruction, the wireless camera 1 wirelessly transmits a response request signal to other digital cameras 1 (see steps S1 and S3). The process of wirelessly transmitting the response signal to the transmission source (steps S2 and S7), and when the response signal is received, the digital camera device designated by the user among the transmission source of the response signal, Each process of the process of wirelessly transmitting the communication establishment signal (see steps S4 and S5) is executed.

  Then, when the process of step S5 is executed, it is in a state of being used as a control side for controlling the transmission destination of the communication establishment signal (see step S6), and when the communication establishment signal is received, the source of the communication establishment signal To be used as a controlled side (see steps S8 and S9).

  Therefore, the communication in which the digital camera 1 designated by the user (that is, the digital camera 1 that the user wants to be the control side) is the control side and the other digital camera 1 capable of wireless communication with this is the controlled side. A system (communication system) can be established. Even if there are a plurality of digital cameras 1 that can be controlled, only those designated by the user (that is, what the user wants to be controlled) can actually be controlled. It has become.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this content. The present invention can be implemented with various modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  The present invention can be used in the field of digital camera devices and the like.

It is a block diagram of the digital camera apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the process performed in the said digital camera apparatus. It is a flowchart of the process performed in the said digital camera apparatus. It is explanatory drawing regarding the communication system (communication system) which has the said digital camera apparatus. It is explanatory drawing regarding the display state of a monitor image. It is explanatory drawing regarding the condition which image | photographs the aggregate | assembly of a person.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera apparatus 2 External storage medium 5 Collective of person 11 CCD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Signal processing part 13 Image processing part 14 Built-in memory 15 Storage medium connection part 16 Control part 17 Operation part 18 Display part 19 Encryption processing part 20 Communication part

Claims (6)

In a digital camera device that acquires shooting data by shooting a subject,
The control side that controls the other digital camera device that is the controlled side and the controlled side that is controlled by the other digital camera device that is the control side can be used as either,
When used as a control side,
A control signal for controlling the operation of the controlled side is wirelessly transmitted to the controlled side,
When used as a controlled side,
A digital camera device that performs an operation based on a control signal when the control signal is wirelessly received from a control side. When used as a control side,
The control signal for acquiring shooting data and wirelessly transmitting the shooting data to the own device is wirelessly transmitted to the controlled side,
Receives image data transmitted wirelessly from the controlled side,
When used as a controlled side,
2. The digital camera device according to claim 1, wherein when the control signal is wirelessly received from the control side, photographing data is acquired and the photographing data is wirelessly transmitted to the control side. A first process of wirelessly transmitting a predetermined response request signal to the other digital camera device in response to a user instruction;
A second process of wirelessly transmitting a predetermined response signal to the transmission source of the response request signal when receiving the response request signal; and
A third process of wirelessly transmitting a predetermined communication establishment signal to the one designated by the user among the transmission sources of the response signal when the response signal is received;
Execute each process of
When the third process is executed, it is used as a control side for controlling the transmission destination of the communication establishment signal,
3. The digital camera device according to claim 2, wherein when the communication establishment signal is received, the digital camera apparatus is in a state of being used as a controlled side controlled by a transmission source of the communication establishment signal.   The digital camera device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the digital camera device is not fixed to a specific position and can be moved in use. An encryption unit for encrypting information to be wirelessly transmitted to the other digital camera device;
An decryption unit for decrypting information received wirelessly from the other digital camera device;
The digital camera device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: A plurality of digital camera devices according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
The plurality of digital camera devices are used as the control side or the controlled side, respectively.

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