JP2010147890A - Object specifying tag and image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing system for easily specifying an object photographed in image data photographed by a digital camera. <P>SOLUTION: The object specifying tag T for preserving the light-receiving time of receiving stroboscopic light is mounted on a figure A. Light-receiving time information preserved in the object specifying tag T after photographing is performed by the digital camera D and the photographing time information of the image data photographed by the digital camera, which agree with or similar to each other, are extracted. From the extracted result, the identification information of the object specifying tag T and the image data are related by a relating information. In a reception device C, by displaying on a monitor 33 only the image data related to the identification information from among several pieces of the image data, order data are easily acquired. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a subject identification tag and an image processing system, and more particularly to a technique for identifying a subject photographed from a plurality of image data photographed by a digital camera.

  As related to a technique for identifying a subject from a plurality of image data photographed by a digital camera, Patent Document 1 discloses that a digital camera that photographs each of amusement parks has a wireless tag for each visitor as a subject. It shows that it has a function of communicating a tag ID with a tag and the like, and a function of sending a captured image (image data in the present invention) and a tag ID to an image server. The terminal device is configured to read out image data having a tag ID from the photographed image data based on the tag ID, display it on the screen, and receive a print order for the designated image.

  That is, in Patent Document 1, when a subject existing within a predetermined distance from the digital camera is photographed, a tag ID such as a wireless tag possessed by the subject is stored together with the photographed image together with the photographed image. By designating, a photographed image including the tag ID is extracted, so that it is possible to reduce the trouble of searching for a photograph of a specific subject from many photographed images.

JP 2005-216092 A (paragraph numbers [0006], [0007], FIGS. 1 to 5)

  As described in Patent Document 1, not only at amusement parks, but in environments where many people are photographed, such as school events, company events, and personal parties, images captured with a digital camera The ability to specify the person photographed in the image data for each data makes it easy to receive print orders and sort the printed image data.

  Therefore, as described in Patent Document 1, in a case where a person who is a subject possesses a wireless tag or the like and a digital camera acquires a tag ID such as a wireless tag possessed by a person in the vicinity of the digital camera, The tag ID of a person who turns his back to the camera or a person who is present at a position far from the shooting area of the camera is also acquired. Therefore, when the photographed images are sorted by the tag ID, the photographed images photographed with the back facing or the photographed images not included in the images are extracted, and the necessary photographed images are selected. This takes time and there is room for improvement.

  Moreover, the digital camera which acquires tag ID like patent document 1, and transmits a picked-up image to a server cannot use a commercially available digital camera as it is, modification which adds a function in order to receive tag ID, Not only is it necessary to provide a device for transmitting captured images to the server outside the camera, but the system is likely to be complicated, and there is room for improvement in these respects.

  An object of the present invention is to rationally configure a subject identification tag and an image processing system that facilitate identification of a subject photographed in image data photographed by a digital camera.

  A feature of the present invention is that a light receiving element that receives a light beam sent toward a subject at the time of photographing with a digital camera, a timer that clocks time, and a light reception timing storage that stores timer information of the timer at the time when the light is received by the light receiving element The subject specifying tag is configured by including a processing unit.

  According to this configuration, when a strobe that emits visible light or a strobe that emits infrared light is used when shooting a subject with a digital camera, the subject (e.g., within a range that receives light from the strobe) , A person) light receiving element receives the light beam. And the timer information of the timer at the timing of receiving the light beam is stored. In particular, when the subject identification tag is provided on the chest or neck of a person as a subject, the light receiving element receives light from the strobe in a state where the face of the person is in a posture toward the digital camera. In addition, a general digital camera has a function of saving a shooting time for each shot image data. Therefore, a subject can be specified for each image data by comparing the photographing time for each image data with the timer information. In this way, a subject specifying tag that makes it easy to specify the subject being photographed in the image data photographed by the digital camera is configured.

  The present invention includes a semiconductor memory that stores timer information and identification information from the light reception timing storage processing unit, and an output control unit that sends out the timer information and identification information stored in the semiconductor memory to the outside. May be provided. According to this, it becomes possible to send the light reception time information and the identification information stored in the semiconductor memory of the subject identification tag to the outside via the output control unit, and the subject is photographed even using a plurality of subject identification tags. The specified image data can be specified.

  A feature of the present invention is that a plurality of subject specifying tags according to claim 1 are used, and light reception time information as the timer information stored in the plurality of subject specifying tags and photographing of each image data photographed by a digital camera. Comparing means for comparing the photographing time information as timing information, extracting the light receiving time information that matches or approximates the photographing time information, and associating each image data with the subject specifying tag by the associating information is provided. There is in point.

  According to this configuration, light reception time information (timer information) is obtained from a plurality of subject identification tags, and is compared with or coincides with the shooting time information (shooting timing information) of each image data shot by the digital camera. The image data and the subject specifying tag are associated with each other by association information. As a result, an image processing system that can identify a subject photographed in image data photographed by a digital camera from related information is configured.

  The present invention displays image data acquisition means for acquiring image data shot by a digital camera, shooting time information acquisition means for acquiring shooting time information recorded in association with image data, and an order screen on a monitor. An order screen display means, wherein the order screen display means extracts the image data acquired by the image data acquisition means associated with the same subject identification tag and displays it on a monitor. And a list display mode in which all of the image data acquired by the image data acquisition means is displayed on the monitor, and in the list display mode, the image data associated with the subject identification tag is highlighted. Also good. According to this, in the sort display mode, only image data in which a person as a subject is photographed can be displayed on the order screen, and in the list display mode, all image data can be displayed and displayed on the order screen. From the image data, it is possible to grasp the possibility that a person as a subject is photographed based on the highlighted display.

  The present invention comprises an input terminal for designating what is to be output among the image data displayed on the monitor and designating the number of outputs, and information for specifying image data designated as an output object by the input terminal And order data acquisition means for storing the number of outputs as order data. According to this, the image data displayed on the monitor can be designated as an output target, and the output number such as the number of prints can be set.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Basic configuration]
As shown in FIG. 1, a subject identification tag T attached to a plurality of persons A as subjects is used, the identification information of the subject identification tag T is edited, the time of a timer is adjusted, and digital A processing terminal B that acquires and holds image data captured by the camera D is provided. The image data transmitted from the processing terminal B is acquired and specified by the identification information of the subject specifying tag T among the image data. The image processing system is configured to include a receiving device C that receives an order in a form in which a person A is photographed is displayed on an order screen 60 (see FIG. 7).

  The processing terminal B and the two receiving devices C are connected by a communication network L. The communication network L is an Ethernet (trademark) type of CSMA / CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection) system including a cable 1 for physically transmitting information and a repeater 2 composed of a LAN switch, a hub, and the like. It is constructed as a LAN. Note that there may be only one receiving device C, or three or more receiving devices. The communication network L may be constructed by an intranet using the Internet technology, or may be constructed without using a cable by the wireless LAN technology.

  Although not shown in the drawing, after the order is received by the receiving device C, a printing device (not shown) prints image data on a printing medium such as photographic paper based on the order data, or a writer (see FIG. Output processing such as processing for writing image data to a medium such as a CD-R and creating an electronic album is realized.

  This image processing system prepares subject identification tags T assigned identification information and names of persons A at the number of people A at weddings, parties, school or company events, and each object identification tag. Photographing is performed with T attached to the chest pocket or collar of person A as the subject. When a digital camera D equipped with a strobe light emitter Ds is used for photographing and a person A is photographed, the light receiving time is used as timer information of an internal timer every time the subject specifying tag T receives strobe light during photographing. To save the information.

  That is, the subject specifying tag attached to the person A only when the person A exists in the area where the digital camera D receives the strobe light at the time of shooting and the person A is in the posture toward the digital camera D. T receives the strobe light. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the person A is captured in the image data from the light reception time information of the subject specifying tag T.

  Thereafter, when the processing terminal B acquires the image data of the digital camera D, it acquires the shooting time information from the Exif information of the image data, creates a shooting time table, and receives the shooting time table and the image data. To C.

  In the receiving device C, when the identification information and the light reception time information are acquired from the subject specifying tag T, the reception device C compares the light reception time information with the photographing time information in the photographing time table, and is photographed for each image data. The person who is present is specified and displayed on the monitor 33 of the accepting apparatus C so as to be identifiable. Thus, in this image processing system, the user who operates the receiving apparatus C can efficiently order a photo print or an electronic album without needlessly checking image data that has not been photographed.

  In this image processing system, the processing mode is set so as to acquire the shooting time information from the Exif information of the image data. However, the Exif information is not necessarily used. For example, every time the digital camera D performs shooting. A circuit for performing processing for storing the photographing time information may be provided, and the photographing time information may be acquired from these.

  In this image processing system, since the subject identification tag T is attached to the front side of the person, if the person is in a posture facing the digital camera D at the time of shooting, the person is shot in the image data, but the shot is taken. It is treated in the same way as the state that is not.

  Although it is ideal that the irradiation area of the strobe light emitter Ds provided in the digital camera D coincides with the shooting area of the lens of the digital camera D, the irradiation area of the strobe light is usually slightly wider than the shooting area. . Therefore, when a person photographed for each image data is specified based on the photographing time information and the light reception time information, image data in which the person is not photographed is displayed on the receiving device C. In such a case, the person (user) can determine whether or not the person has taken a picture.

  This image processing system uses the subject identification tag T that stores the light reception time by receiving the strobe light in the visible light region. For example, when the strobe light in the infrared light region is received, the light reception time is set. By using the subject identification tag T to be stored and shooting using the strobe light emitter Ds that emits infrared light, excessive illumination by the strobe light emitter Ds is avoided when shooting outdoors or in a room with sufficient brightness. It is also possible to configure so as to be able to.

[Subject identification tag]
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the subject identifying tag T has a card-like tag body 10 having a clip 5 on the back surface for mounting on a breast pocket or collar. As shown in FIG. 2, the tag body 10 includes a light receiving element S, a trigger circuit 11, a timer 12, a light reception time information storage processing unit 13 (an example of a light reception timing storage processing unit), a semiconductor memory 14, An output control circuit 15, an output control unit 16, an identification information editing unit 17, and a timer adjustment unit 18 are provided. The subject specifying tag T incorporates a battery (not shown) and is controlled by a microprocessor. On the front surface side, the light receiving portion of the light receiving element S is exposed, and identification information consisting of numerals (denoted as ID in the drawing) is printed in numerals.

  The subject specifying tag T is not necessarily provided with the clip 5, and may be attached to clothes with a safety pin, or may be attached to clothes with an adhesive tape or the like. Moreover, what is used in the form which can be worn on the body like a necklace, an earring, and a pierced earring may be used.

  The light receiving element S is composed of a photodiode, a phototransistor, or the like. When infrared light is used, a light receiving element S that senses infrared light is used, and an optical filter that transmits infrared light is used. The trigger circuit 11 outputs a control signal when a light receiving signal having a light quantity exceeding a set value is received from the light receiving element S in a short time.

  The timer 12 includes a crystal oscillator, a counter, a decoder, and the like, and is configured to continuously record date / time information (time is in units of hours, minutes, and seconds). The light reception time information storage processing unit 13 functions as a light reception timing storage processing unit, acquires time information (timer information) of the timer 12 at the timing when the control signal from the trigger circuit 11 is acquired, and stores the time information. The data is saved (written) in the semiconductor memory 14 with a data structure such as CSV.

  The semiconductor memory 14 is an EEPROM-type non-volatile memory, static RAM, or the like, and stores light reception time information and identification information. The semiconductor memory 14 is formed with a light reception time information storage area 14A and an identification information storage area 14B. The input / output control circuit 15 transmits and receives information in a contactless manner via the antenna 15A. The output control unit 16 performs processing for reading information from the semiconductor memory 14 and supplying the information to the input / output control circuit 15. The identification information editing unit 17 edits the identification information in the identification information storage area 14 </ b> B based on the information acquired via the input / output control circuit 15. The timer adjustment unit 18 adjusts the timer 12 based on information acquired through the input / output control circuit 15.

  In the subject identification tag T, the light reception time information storage processing unit 13, the identification information editing unit 17, and the timer adjustment unit 18 are configured by software, and this software is executed by a microprocessor. The light reception time information storage processing unit 13, the identification information editing unit 17, and the timer adjustment unit 18 may be configured by a combination of software and hardware, or may be configured only by hardware.

  Each time the light reception time information storage processing unit 13 acquires the control signal from the trigger circuit 11, the subject identification tag T acquires the time information of the timer 12 and stores it in the light reception time information storage region 14A. save. In this case, light reception time information is stored according to a data structure such as CSV. Thereafter, when the input / output control circuit 15 receives a control code for requesting information in the semiconductor memory 14, the control code is given to the input / output control circuit 15 to be stored in the light reception time information storage area 14A. The input / output control circuit 15 reads the received light reception time information and the identification information stored in the identification information storage area 14B, and the input / output control circuit 15 sends the light reception time information and the identification information through the antenna 15A.

  Further, the identification information editing unit 17 adds a person's name to the identification information stored in the identification information storage area 14B based on the information acquired via the input / output control circuit 15, or the identification information storage area 14B. Processing such as changing the identification information stored in is performed. The timer adjustment unit 18 resets or adjusts information on the date of the timer 12 (time is a unit of hours, minutes, and seconds) based on the information acquired through the input / output control circuit 15.

[Processing terminal / Reception device]
As shown in FIG. 1, the processing terminal B includes a computer main body 21 having a microprocessor, a display 22 for displaying information, a keyboard 23 functioning as an information input terminal, a mouse 24 functioning as a pointing device, and subject identification. A card reader 25 that accesses information with the tag T is provided. The computer main body 21 includes a media drive 21 </ b> A that acquires image data from a semiconductor type medium M used for photographing with the digital camera D.

  The receiving device C includes a housing 31 and a card reader 32 that accesses information between the subject identification tag T outside the housing 31 and a liquid crystal monitor 33 on the top of the housing 31. The exchange certificate printer 34 is provided on the front side of the housing 31, and the control unit 35 is provided therein. A touch panel 33A as an input terminal is formed on the display surface of the monitor 33, and the exchange certificate printer 34 prints the exchange certificate R.

  The receiving device C includes a control unit 35 inside the casing 31, and the control unit 35 performs an operation such as bringing a finger or the like into contact with an image or icon displayed on the monitor 33. Operation is acquired via the touch panel 33A, and print size information, information (frame number) for specifying image data to be printed, and order data such as the number of prints can be acquired in a GUI format.

  An outline of an information processing system between the processing terminal B and the receiving device C is shown in FIG. That is, the computer main body 21 of the processing terminal B is provided with an input / output interface 41 for accessing a signal to the microprocessor CPU. The display 22, keyboard 23, mouse 24, and media drive 21A are connected to the input / output interface 41. The card reader 25 is connected, and the communication unit 42 is connected.

  A timer adjustment unit 43, an identification information processing unit 44, an image data storage unit 45, a shooting time table generation unit 46 (an example of a shooting time information acquisition unit), and a transmission processing unit 47 are connected to the data bus of the CPU. A hard disk 48 is connected. Although not shown in the drawing, in this information processing system, a semiconductor memory is connected to the data bus of the CPU, and the operating system manages the control.

  The control unit 35 of the accepting device C includes an input / output interface 51 for accessing a signal to the microprocessor CPU. A monitor 33, a touch panel 33A, an exchange printer 34, and a card reader 32 are connected to the input / output interface 51. And a communication unit 52 are connected.

  The data bus of the CPU is connected to the card information acquisition means 53, the photographing information acquisition means 54, the image data acquisition means 55, the association means 56, the order screen display means 57, and the order data acquisition means 58, and the hard disk 59 is connected. Connected. Although not shown in the drawing, in the control unit 35, a semiconductor memory is connected to the data bus of the CPU, and the operating system manages the control.

  The timer adjustment means 43 realizes adjustment to make time information of the timer 12 of the subject specifying tag T appropriate by transmitting a control code from the card reader 25 to the subject specifying tag T. The identification information processing means 44 transmits the control code from the card reader 25 to the subject identification tag T, thereby making the identification information stored in the semiconductor memory 14 of the subject identification tag T unique and characters such as arbitrary values and names. A process of changing to information or storing in a form of adding a name to the identification information is performed.

  The image data storage means 45 takes in the image data stored in the medium M used for photographing in the digital camera D via the media drive 21A and stores it in the hard disk 48. The shooting time table generating means 46 functions as shooting time information acquisition means for acquiring shooting time information from Exif information stored in the header area of each image data file. This shooting time table generating means 46 generates a shooting time table in which shooting time information is associated with the frame number of the image data shot in the shooting time information (the number given to the image data file). The transmission processing unit 47 transmits the image data and the photographing time table to the receiving device C via the communication network L.

  The card information acquisition unit 53 acquires identification information and light reception time information stored in the semiconductor memory 14 of the subject identification tag T via the card reader 32. Incidentally, the identification information stored in the light reception time information storage area 14A is a file having a data structure such as CSV, and the identification information is attached as the file name of this file. Therefore, the card information acquisition means 53 performs processing for reading the light reception time information from the file and processing for acquiring the file name from the file. The shooting information acquisition unit 54 acquires a shooting time table that has already been generated in the processing terminal B.

  In the present invention, an identification information acquisition system is configured so that identification information consisting of numbers printed on the surface of the tag body 10 is acquired even when the user inputs the identification information via the touch panel 33A. Also good.

  The image data acquisition means 55 holds the image data in the hard disk 59 when the image data acquired by the processing terminal B is transmitted to the accepting device C via the communication network L. The association means 56 generates association information that associates the identification information with the image data based on the photographing time table and the light reception time information. That is, the association means 56 extracts image data of photographing time information that matches or approximates the light reception time information, and generates association information that associates the identification information with the frame number of the image data.

  The order screen display means 57 displays the order screen 60 shown in FIG. The order data acquisition means 58 acquires order data from an operation on the touch panel 33A. Further, the order screen display means 57 can display in the sort display mode in which only the image data associated with the identification information is displayed on the order screen 60, or can display all the image data as shown in FIG. In addition, when identification information (identification information of the user who performs the order) is associated with the displayed image data, display is performed in a list display mode in which the image data is highlighted.

  Timer adjustment unit 43, identification information processing unit 44, image data storage unit 45, shooting time table generation unit 46, transmission processing unit 47, card information acquisition unit 53, shooting information acquisition unit 54, image data acquisition unit 55, related The appending means 56, the order screen display means 57, and the order data acquisition means 58 are configured by software. For example, they may be configured by a combination of software and hardware, or only by hardware. Also good.

[Process flow]
The outline of the processing flow in the image processing system of the present invention can be shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, and the information flow can be shown in FIG. In this processing flow, a photographer photographs a person A in a ceremony hall or a venue with a digital camera D at a wedding or a party, and image data that the person A in the venue should print as a user from the image data photographed by the photographer. The flow of processing until ordering is shown.

  That is, subject identification tags T corresponding to the number of persons invited to the venue are prepared, the clock time of the digital camera D is adjusted appropriately, and the times of the timers 12 of the plurality of subject identification tags T are adjusted. The name of the person wearing the subject identification tag T is appropriately adjusted and given (stored) to the subject identification tag T (step # 01).

  In this process, the adjustment to make the clock time of the digital camera D appropriate is to operate the digital camera D directly.

  When the timer 12 of the subject identification tag T is adjusted, the timer adjustment unit 43 performs a predetermined operation by performing a predetermined operation on the computer main body 21 with the subject identification tag T set in the card reader 25 in the processing terminal B. Information and a control code are transmitted to the subject identification tag T. In the subject identification tag T, the input / output control circuit 15 receives the time information and the control code via the antenna 15A, and the timer adjustment unit 18 performs a process of rewriting the time information of the timer 12.

  Similarly, when the name of the person wearing the subject identification tag T is stored in the subject identification tag T, a predetermined operation is performed with the subject identification tag T set in the card reader 25 in the processing terminal B. By doing so, the identification information processing means 44 transmits the name information and the control code to the subject specifying tag T. In the subject identification tag T, the input / output control circuit 15 receives the name information and the control code via the antenna 15A, and the identification information editing unit 17 adds the name to the identification information in the identification information storage area 14B of the semiconductor memory 14. The writing process is performed as follows.

  The subject specifying tag T does not necessarily need to store the name of the person wearing the subject specifying tag T. However, by storing the name in the subject specifying tag T, the person who places an order in the receiving device C Can be displayed on the order screen 60 (see FIG. 7). In order to give a person's name, it is efficient to obtain in advance a name of the person A who gathers at the venue, etc., by using a name list, etc. May be applied to the subject identification tag T.

  The subject identification tag T thus given a name is handed over after confirming the name of the person A when entering the venue, and the light receiving element S is provided by the clip 5 on the jacket of the person A or the neck. Is attached to face the person A (step # 02).

  After that, every time when the digital camera D performs shooting (the shutter is released), the light receiving element S of the subject specifying tag T of the person A existing in the shooting area receives the strobe light. At the time of this light reception, the light reception time information storage processing unit 13 acquires time information from the timer 12 by the control signal from the trigger circuit 11, and stores this as light reception time information in the light reception time information storage area 14A of the semiconductor memory 14 (# 03). Step).

  In the commercially available digital camera D, Exif information is stored in the header area of the image data recorded on the medium M along with shooting. In this Exif information, information such as the shooting date and time, the shutter speed at the time of shooting, the aperture value (F value) of the lens, the presence / absence of use of the strobe light emitter Ds, and the like are written.

  When shooting is completed, the media M used for shooting by the digital camera D is set in the media drive 21A of the computer main body 21 of the processing terminal B to acquire image data (steps # 04 and # 05).

  In the computer main body 21, the image data storage unit 45 stores the image data in the hard disk 48 and simultaneously acquires Exif information stored in the header area of each image data. The shooting time table generation unit 46 extracts shooting time information from the acquired Exif information, and associates the shooting time information with a frame number (for example, a file number of the image data) of the image data shot at that time. A shooting time table is generated. This shooting time table is generated as a file that associates the frame number of each image data with the time when the image data was shot.

  The transmission time table 47 and the image data generated in this way are transmitted to the receiving terminals B via the communication network L (step # 06).

  Thereafter, when the user (photographed person A) brings the subject specifying tag T close to the card reader 32 of the accepting device C, and the card reader 32 reaches a state accessible to the subject specifying tag T, the card information acquisition means 53 requests a file of light reception time information, and the processing terminal B acquires a file in which the light reception time information is stored. As a result, the reception device C acquires the light reception time information and the identification information (steps # 07 and # 08).

  That is, when the input / output control circuit 15 of the subject identification tag T receives a control code for requesting a light reception time information file from the card information acquisition unit 53, this control code is given to the output control unit 16. The output control unit 16 reads the light reception time information stored in the light reception time information storage area 14 </ b> A of the semiconductor memory 14 and the identification information stored in the identification information storage area 14 </ b> B and gives them to the input / output control circuit 15. As described above, this information is a file in which identification information is attached as the file name of the file, and the light reception time information has a data structure such as CSV. This file is transmitted from the input / output control circuit 15 via the antenna 15A to the card reader 32, and is acquired by the card information acquisition means 53.

  After acquiring the light reception time information and the photographing time information, the associating means 56 obtains the association information from the comparison between the plurality of photographing time information stored in the photographing time table and the filed light receiving time information. Generate (Step # 09).

  In this process, a plurality of light reception time information and a plurality of photographing time information are compared, and a matching or approximated one is specified to generate association information. The association information has a data structure that associates the frame number of the image data (for example, the file number of the image data) and the identification information.

  That is, the photographing time table has a data structure in which a plurality of pieces of time information at which photographing is performed is associated with image data (associated with a frame number of image data). Similarly, the light reception time information has a data structure in which a plurality of pieces of time information received are continuously stored. Therefore, for each light reception time information, a time that matches or approximates the time is specified from the shooting time table, and the identification information of the subject specifying tag T is added to the image data associated with the specified shooting time. Will be associated.

  When performing association in this way, if there is an error between the light reception time information and the photographing time information, this error takes the same value between the light reception time information and the photographing time information of the identification information. For example, even when the interval between shooting time information is short, such as when continuous shooting is performed, the shooting time can be accurately determined by comparing the light reception time information with the error value specific to the identification information. Information associated with the information can be generated.

  Next, the order screen 60 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the monitor 33, image data corresponding to the identification information is displayed, and order data is acquired (steps # 10 to # 12).

  The order screen 60 includes an image display unit 61 that displays a list of thumbnail images of a plurality of image data at the center, a number display unit 62 that displays the number of prints, and a number change button 63 that increases or decreases the number of prints. Has been. A page switching button 64 for switching and displaying thumbnail images of the plurality of image display units 61 in a form of switching pages is disposed below the image display unit 61.

  Further, at the lower position of the order screen 60, there are formed three types of control buttons 65 that realize an operation for stopping the process, an operation for returning to the previous process, and an operation for completing the process. An information display section 66 for displaying the print size, the total number of prints, and the total amount of the print fee is formed at a position adjacent to the control button 65. A display mode selection button 68 is formed.

  In this way, when information is accessed by bringing the subject identification tag T close to the card reader 32 of the accepting device C, the person is photographed based on the identification information acquired by the subject identification tag T. Image data is extracted and displayed on the order screen 60 in the sort display mode. Since the number of images displayed on the order screen 60 is limited, it is possible to confirm all of the sorted images by operating the page switching button 64. Then, the order data is acquired by the user selecting what is necessary from this display.

  Further, at the upper end of the order screen 60, a message indicating that the user's name and a thing that the user is likely to have taken is displayed as a title. When the display mode selection button 68 is selected, the order screen 60 is displayed in the list display mode. The order screen 60 can display all image data taken by the cameraman by operating the page switching button 64. In particular, when this display is performed, as the title of the order screen 60, a message indicating that the user's name and the surroundings of a user who is likely to be photographed are highlighted is displayed. .

  As a form of highlighting, it is selected to make the frame part F around the image display part 61 lighter than the one not photographed by the user, to have a different hue, or to blink. Further, as another form of highlighting, an icon or a message may be displayed near the image data.

  On this order screen 60, the user designates image data to be printed, designates the number of prints, and finishes inputting the order, whereby order data is generated, and identification information is attached to the order data. Saved. The exchange certificate R including the identification information and the user name is printed by the exchange certificate printer 34 and delivered to the user (step # 13).

  A print process for printing image data on a print medium by the printing apparatus based on the order data acquired in this way is realized. Also, it is possible to create an electronic album by writing image data as order data to a medium such as a CD-R.

  In addition, the above-described reception device C displays a print fee. However, when it is installed in an environment that does not charge a print fee such as a wedding hall, it is not necessary to display the print fee.

[Modification of image processing system]
In this alternative embodiment, instead of using the processing terminal B of the above-described embodiment, the image data of the digital camera D is acquired by the accepting device C as shown in FIG. By approaching the reader 32, the image processing system is configured to sort and display image data that is likely to be taken by the user, as in the above embodiment.

  That is, the accepting device C includes the monitor 33 having the touch panel 33 </ b> A in the housing 31, the card reader 32 in the housing 31, and the control unit 35 in the housing 31, as in the above-described embodiment. ing. A receipt printer 36 that prints on a receipt re and a media drive 37 are provided on the front surface of the housing 31. The case 70 that supports the receiving device C includes a print processing unit P and a fee settlement unit Q.

  The print processing unit P prints image data on the print medium Pa and discharges it. The fee settlement unit Q has a coin insertion slot 71, a bill insertion slot 72, and the like, and realizes a process of receiving a print fee.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 35 of the receiving apparatus C includes an input / output interface 51 for accessing a signal to the microprocessor CPU. A monitor 33, a touch panel 33A, a media drive are connected to the input / output interface 51. 37, a receipt printer 36, and a card reader 32 are connected.

  The CPU data bus includes a card information acquisition unit 53, a shooting information acquisition unit 54 (an example of a shooting time information acquisition unit), an image data acquisition unit 55, an association unit 56, an order screen display unit 57, and an order data acquisition. The means 58, the print control means 73, and the fee processing means 74 are connected, and the hard disk 59 is connected. Although not shown in the drawing, a semiconductor memory is connected to the data bus of the CPU in this information processing system, and the operating system manages the control.

  The card information acquisition unit 53 acquires identification information and light reception time information stored in the semiconductor memory 14 of the subject identification tag T via the card reader 32. Incidentally, the identification information stored in the light reception time information storage area 14A is a file having a data structure such as CSV, and identification information is added to the name of this file. Accordingly, the card information acquisition means 53 performs processing for reading light reception time information from the file and processing for acquiring the file name from the file. The shooting information acquisition unit 54 functions as a shooting time information acquisition unit, and acquires shooting time information from Exif information of image data acquired from the medium M by the media drive 37.

  The image data acquisition means 55 acquires the image data from the medium M via the media drive 37 and stores it in the hard disk 59. The association means 56 generates association information that associates the identification information with the image data based on the photographing time information and the light reception time information. That is, the association means 56 extracts image data of photographing time information that matches or approximates the light reception time information, and generates association information that associates the identification information with the frame number of the image data.

  The order screen display means 57 displays the order screen 60 shown in FIG. 7 on the monitor 33 as in the embodiment, and the order data acquisition means 58 acquires order data from an operation on the touch panel 33A. Further, the order screen display means 57 enables display in the sort display mode in which only the image data associated with the identification information is displayed on the order screen 60 or displays all the image data. When identification information (identification information of the user who performs the order) is associated with the image data, display is performed in a list display mode in which the image data is highlighted.

  The print control means 73 transmits the order data to the print processing unit P, and the print control means 73 realizes print processing for the print medium. The fee processing means 74 displays the fee required for the print processing on the monitor 33 based on the order data, and determines whether or not the fee is charged to the fee settlement unit Q.

[Processing flow of modified example]
In this modification, processing is not performed by the processing terminal B as in the above-described embodiment, and after receiving the image data by the receiving device C, the reception time information and the identification information are acquired by the card reader 32 of the receiving device C. Thus, the same processing as that of the embodiment is performed, and the outline of the processing flow can be shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, and the information flow can be shown in FIG.

  In other words, the subject identification tag T is attached to a person, and shooting is performed with the digital camera D. After the shooting is completed, the media M used for shooting with the digital camera D is set in the media drive 37 of the reception device C. To obtain image data. The acquired image data is stored in the hard disk 59, and shooting time information is acquired from each image data (steps # 101 to # 105).

  Next, when the user (photographed person A) brings the subject specifying tag T close to the card reader 32 of the accepting device C, and the card reader 32 reaches a state accessible to the subject specifying tag T, the card information acquisition means 53 requests a file of light reception time information, and the accepting device C acquires a file in which the light reception time information is stored. As a result, the light reception time information and the identification information are acquired (steps # 107 and # 108).

  When the light reception time information and the photographing time information are acquired, the associating unit 56 associates the plurality of photographing time information stored in the photographing time table with the filed light receiving time information. Information is generated (step # 109).

  Thereafter, an order screen 60 is displayed on the monitor 33. In this order screen 60, image data in which a person who has accessed the information by bringing the subject identification tag T close is extracted, and in the sort display mode. Is displayed. Since the number of images displayed on the order screen 60 is limited, it is possible to confirm all of the sorted images by operating the page switching button 64. Then, the order data is acquired by the user selecting what is necessary from this display.

  When the display mode selection button 68 is selected, the order screen 60 is displayed in the list display mode. The order screen 60 can display all image data taken by the cameraman. In particular, when this display is performed, the image data associated with the identification information is highlighted.

  When the order is completed, the amount of the fee required for printing is displayed on the monitor 33. When the fee is paid to the fee settlement unit Q corresponding to this display, the order data is transmitted to the print processing unit P. Print processing is performed.

[Effect of the embodiment]
As described above, in the present invention, the subject specifying tag T is configured to store the time information of the timing at which the strobe light is received. Therefore, when the subject identification tag T is attached to a plurality of persons and the digital camera D having the strobe light emitter Ds is used for shooting, the light reception time information is stored in the subject identification tag T. Also, since the subject identification tag T is attached to the front side of the person A as the subject, the photographing time information is not stored in the subject identification tag T of the person A in a posture facing the digital camera D at the time of photographing. Similarly, the shooting time information is not stored in the subject identification tag T for the person A at a position outside the shooting area of the digital camera D.

  After photographing, a plurality of pieces of image data obtained by photographing a person wearing the subject identification tag T based on the association information generated from the stored light reception time information and the photographing time information of the Exif information of the image data. Can be extracted from the image data and displayed on the monitor 33.

  By performing this display on the accepting device C, the order screen 60 is displayed on the monitor 33 of the accepting device C simply by the user accessing the subject identification tag T to the card reader 32 and accessing the information on the accepting device C. At the same time, the order screen 60 sorts and displays image data that is likely to be taken by the user, and the user is useless to check image data that has not been taken. There is no need to perform any operation.

  In addition, by providing a processing terminal B and connecting to a plurality of receiving devices C through a communication network L, order data can be acquired simultaneously from a plurality of users, and order data acquired by the plurality of receiving devices C is acquired by the processing terminal B. It is also possible to do.

[Another embodiment]
The present invention may be configured as follows in addition to the embodiment described above.

(A) As the processing of the embodiment, the processing terminal B does not adjust the time of the timer 12 of the subject specifying tag T, and stores only the error value between each subject specifying tag T and the accurate time. The processing mode is set so that the value of the information is transmitted to the receiving apparatus C in association with the identification information.

  By setting the processing form in this way, the association information is generated for each of the plurality of subject specifying tags T based on the shooting time information and the light receiving time information without adjusting the value of the timer 12 of the subject specifying tag T. Is possible.

(B) As the subject specifying tag T, one having an electrical terminal is used, and for example, it is configured to be able to transmit light reception time information and identification information by being inserted into a media drive. With this configuration, a system can be easily configured using a media drive without using a card reader.

(C) When a zoom lens is used for photographing with the digital camera D, a zoom lens that can adjust the light emitting area of the strobe light emitting device Ds according to the focal length of the zoom lens is used. For this adjustment, for example, a condenser lens, diffuser, etc. can be freely adjusted at the front position of the light source, and the degree of light collection / diffusion by the condenser lens, diffuser, etc. is changed according to the adjustment of the zoom lens. It can respond.

(D) In order to minimize the error between the photographing time information of the image data photographed by the digital camera D and the value of the timer 12 of the subject specifying tag T, for example, the digital camera D before the photographing of the person is started. Only the subject identification tag T is photographed. After this photographing, the light reception time information is obtained from the subject specifying tag T, an error is obtained, and the time of the timer 12 is adjusted by this error value. By performing this adjustment, the error between the photographing time information of the digital camera D and the light receiving time information of the subject specifying tag T can be made extremely small.

(E) The association means 56 of the processing terminal B is configured so that image data captured by a plurality of digital cameras D can be associated. In this case, the processing mode is set so that the image data captured by the digital camera D is associated with each other by storing the image data captured by the plurality of digital cameras D in the same directory, for example, by storing the image data in one folder. It is possible to set.

(F) A cameraman who works as a photographer may not acquire images, but may acquire image data of a plurality of digital cameras D brought by persons participating in a party or the like. Even when the system is configured in this way, the processing mode is not basically different from that of the embodiment or the modified example of the embodiment, and the same processing is sufficient.

(G) The subject identification tag T of the present invention does not necessarily need to store the identification information. When the subject identification tag T is set in the receiving device C and the print is ordered, the light reception time information of the subject identification tag T Sort display is realized by only acquiring (timer information) and displaying image data having photographing time information that matches the light reception time information on the monitor 33 of the receiving apparatus C. In particular, as in a modification of the image processing system, the processing is completed without using the identification information in the case of performing printing in the apparatus having the monitor 33 without performing processing such as storing and sending out the order data. Is also possible.

The figure which shows the constitution of the image processing system Block diagram showing the configuration of the subject identification tag Perspective view of subject identification tag Block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing system The figure which shows the flow of information in the image processing system Flow chart showing the flow of processing of the image processing system Diagram showing the order screen in sort display mode Diagram showing the order screen in list display mode The figure which shows the structure of the modification of an image processing system The block diagram which shows the structure of the modification of an image processing system The figure which shows the flow of information in the modification of an image processing system The flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the modification of an image processing system

Explanation of symbols

12 Timer 13 Light reception timing storage processing unit (light reception time information storage processing unit)
14 Semiconductor memory 16 Output control unit 33 Monitor 33A Input terminal (touch panel)
46 Shooting time information acquisition means (shooting time table generation means)
54 Shooting time information acquisition means (shooting information acquisition means)
55 Image data acquisition means 56 Association means 57 Order screen display means 58 Order data acquisition means D Digital camera S Light receiving element T Subject identification tag

Claims (5)

  A light receiving element that receives a light beam sent toward a subject at the time of photographing with a digital camera, a timer that ticks the time, and a light reception timing storage processing unit that stores timer information of the timer at the timing when the light beam is received by the light receiving element The subject identification tag.   A semiconductor memory for storing timer information and identification information from the light reception timing storage processing unit is provided, and an output control unit for sending the timer information and identification information stored in the semiconductor memory to the outside. The subject specifying tag according to claim 1.   A plurality of subject specifying tags according to claim 1, and light reception time information as the timer information stored in the plurality of subject specifying tags and shooting time information as shooting timing information of each image data shot by the digital camera. An image processing system comprising an associating means for comparing information with each other, extracting information whose light reception time information matches or approximates photographing time information, and associating each image data with a subject specifying tag by association information. Image data acquisition means for acquiring image data shot by a digital camera, shooting time information acquisition means for acquiring shooting time information recorded in association with the image data, and order screen display means for displaying an order screen on the monitor And
The order screen display means extracts the image data associated with the same subject identification tag from the image data obtained by the image data obtaining means and displays it on a monitor, and the image data obtaining means obtains the order screen display means. 4. The image processing system according to claim 3, wherein display is performed in a list display mode in which all image data is displayed on a monitor, and image data associated with a subject identification tag is highlighted in the list display mode.   An input terminal for specifying an output target among the image data displayed on the monitor and specifying the number of outputs, information for specifying the image data specified as an output target by the input terminal, and the number of outputs The image processing system according to claim 4, further comprising order data acquisition means for storing.

Images