JP2010258593A - Photographing method, electronic apparatus, communication apparatus, and photographing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photographing method capable of restraining cost increase and battery consumption, an electronic apparatus, a communication apparatus, and a photographing system. <P>SOLUTION: This photographing method includes: a positional information request step of transmitting a positional information request signal to a device other than the own device when acquiring imaging data; and a first recording step of, when positional information being a response to the positional information request signal is received, recording the positional information by being related to the imaging data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging method, an electronic device, a communication device, and an imaging system that can record positional information in association with imaging data.

  A digital still camera generally has a function of adding shooting date / time information to a taken photo and recording it in a memory. There is also a request from the user to add location information obtained in addition to the date and time. However, it is necessary to mount a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiving function for acquiring position information, which leads to an increase in cost.

  On the other hand, there is a digital still camera equipped with a wireless communication function such as a wireless local area network (LAN) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) and having a function of transferring shooting data to another device. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-050703 (Patent Document 1) discloses a photographing system that transmits photograph data of a digital still camera to a server via a mobile phone. In this photographing system, the position information measured by the GPS built in the mobile phone is added to the photo data at the timing when the photo data is sent to the mobile phone.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-171528 (Patent Document 2) discloses an imaging system that transmits positional information together when an imaging instruction is sent to a digital still camera by remote operation from a mobile phone. Yes.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-212364 (Patent Document 3) discloses a digital still camera provided with position information acquisition means. And this digital still camera acquires the information regarding the present location from a server by cable-connecting with a mobile telephone.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-249566 (Patent Document 4) discloses a technique related to an in-vehicle camera. This in-vehicle camera captures an object outside the vehicle in order to identify the object.

JP 2003-050703 A JP 2004-171528 A JP 2001-2111364 A JP 2007-249666 A

  In the photographing system described in Patent Document 1, photo data itself is transmitted wirelessly from a digital still camera, and a mobile phone adds position information at the reception timing. For this reason, the above-described photographing system has a drawback in that a considerable radio band is required when transmitting photographic data. Further, the above-described photographing system has a drawback that the battery consumption of the digital still camera is large because relatively large photographic data is transmitted from the digital still camera to the mobile phone.

  Further, in the photographing system described in Patent Document 2, a mobile phone and a digital still camera that can be remotely operated from the mobile phone must be prepared as a set, leading to an increase in cost. Furthermore, since the photographing system described in Patent Document 2 needs to be remotely operated from a mobile phone, there is a disadvantage that the operation becomes complicated.

  Further, the digital still camera described in Patent Document 3 is provided with position information acquisition means, leading to an increase in cost.

  Moreover, the vehicle-mounted camera of patent document 4 identifies the object outside a vehicle by processing the image | photographed image. For this reason, this in-vehicle camera does not record photographed photograph data or utilize position information.

  The objective of this invention is providing the imaging | photography method, an electronic device, a communication apparatus, and an imaging | photography system which can solve the said subject and can suppress a raise in cost and battery consumption.

The present invention is for solving the above-described problem, and the photographing method of the present invention includes:
A position information requesting step for transmitting a position information request signal by wireless communication to a device other than the own device when acquiring imaging data;
A first recording step of receiving position information as a response to the position information request signal and recording the position information in association with the imaging data;

The electronic device of the present invention is
Photographing means for obtaining imaging data;
A wireless communication means for communicating with a communication device other than its own device;
When the acquisition is performed, a position information request signal is transmitted to the communication device, and when the wireless communication means receives position information that is a response to the position information request signal, the received position information is associated with the acquired imaging data. First recording means for recording.

The communication device of the present invention is
Position information acquisition means for receiving GPS signals and generating position information;
Wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with electronic devices other than the own device;
And a position information return means for returning the position information when a position information request signal is received from the electronic device.

The photographing system of the present invention is
The electronic device;
The communication device is connected to the electronic device so as to be capable of wireless communication.

  According to the present invention, since the position information is acquired by wireless communication from other than the own device when obtaining the imaging data, it is not necessary to provide the position information acquiring means in the own device, and the increase in cost can be suppressed. it can. In addition, according to the present invention, the position information can be acquired without transmitting the imaging data, so that battery consumption can be suppressed.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the imaging | photography method of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the electronic device of 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the communication apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the imaging | photography system of 4th Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part of the circuit structure of the imaging | photography system. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of an electronic device. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a communication apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the mode of a process with an electronic device and a communication apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the electronic device in the imaging | photography system of 5th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement regarding the radio | wireless communication of the electronic device in the imaging | photography system of 6th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operations other than the radio | wireless communication of the same electronic device. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a communication apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the mode of a process with an electronic device and a communication apparatus.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of a photographing method according to the first embodiment.

  The imaging method 100 of the first embodiment includes a position information requesting step 101 and a first recording step 102.

  The position information requesting step 101 is a step of transmitting a position information requesting signal by wireless communication other than the own device when acquiring imaging data such as photograph data and moving image data. The device other than the own device is any communication device 103 among GPS devices such as a mobile phone, a car navigation system, and a GPS receiver.

  In the first recording step 102, when the above-mentioned position information, which is a response to the above-mentioned position information request signal, is received, this position information is recorded in association with the above-described imaging data.

  According to the photographing method 100 including such steps, the position information request signal is transmitted to the communication apparatus 103 other than the own apparatus, for example, at the time of acquisition of the imaging data in the position information request step 101.

  Next, when position information which is a response to the position information request signal is received in the first recording step 102, the position information is recorded in association with the imaging data.

  According to the first embodiment as described above, the location information is acquired without transmitting location information acquisition means to the own device and without transmitting imaging data that easily consumes the battery. Thus, according to the first embodiment, this position information can be recorded in association with the imaging data.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, since the position information is acquired by wireless communication from a device other than the own device when the imaging data is obtained, it is not necessary to provide the position information acquiring unit in the own device, which increases the cost. Can be suppressed. Moreover, according to the first embodiment, since the position information is acquired by wireless communication, the position information can be acquired except when there is no communication device that transmits the position information within the communication range. There is little fear of failing to acquire. Furthermore, according to the first embodiment, the position information can be acquired without transmitting the imaging data, so that battery consumption can be suppressed.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of the electronic apparatus according to the second embodiment.

  The electronic device 200 includes a photographing unit 201, a wireless communication unit 202, and a first recording unit 203.

  The imaging unit 201 is a unit for acquiring imaging data. As the photographing unit 201, for example, a camera unit including a lens, a diaphragm, and a light receiving sensor can be used.

  The wireless communication unit 202 is a unit for communicating with a communication device 204 other than its own device. As this wireless communication means 202, for example, wireless LAN compliant with IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.) 802.11 standards, infrared communication such as Bluetooth or IrDA (Infrared Data Association) may be used. it can.

  The first recording means 203 is composed of, for example, a writable and readable semiconductor element. When the position information request signal is transmitted to the communication device 204 at the time of the above photographing, and the position information that is a response to the position information request signal is received by the wireless communication means 202, the first recording means 203 receives the received position information. Is recorded in association with the aforementioned imaging data.

  The electronic device 200 configured as described above operates as follows.

  The imaging unit 201 performs imaging to acquire imaging data.

  The wireless communication unit 202 transmits a position information request signal to another communication device 204 at the time of the above photographing. When the wireless communication unit 202 receives position information that is a response to the position information request signal, the first recording unit 203 records the received position information in association with the above-described imaged data.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the electronic device 200 acquires position information from a device other than the own device when acquiring the imaging data, and thus the own device does not need to include a position information acquisition unit. For this reason, according to this 2nd Embodiment, the raise of the cost of the electronic device 200 can be suppressed. Moreover, according to the second embodiment, the electronic device 200 can acquire the position information without transmitting the imaging data, so that battery consumption can be suppressed in the electronic device 200.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of the communication device according to the third embodiment.

  The communication device 300 includes position information acquisition means 301, wireless communication means 302, and position information return means 303. As the communication device 300, for example, any one of GPS devices such as a mobile phone, a car navigation system, and a GPS receiver can be used.

  The position information acquisition unit 301 receives a GPS signal and generates position information.

  The wireless communication unit 302 is a unit for performing wireless communication with another electronic device 304. As this wireless communication means 302, for example, wireless LAN, infrared communication such as Bluetooth or IrDA can be used.

  When the wireless communication unit 302 receives the positional information request signal, the positional information return unit 303 returns the above-described positional information via the wireless communication unit 302. The position information request signal is transmitted from the electronic device 304.

  The communication device 300 configured as described above operates as follows.

  When the wireless communication means 302 receives the position information request signal from the electronic device 304, the position information acquisition means 301 receives the GPS signal and generates position information. Then, the position information reply unit 303 transmits the generated position information to the electronic device 304 using the wireless communication unit 302. As a result, the electronic device 304 can record the received position information in association with the above-described captured image data.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, the communication device 300 can provide the position information to the electronic device 304 when the photographing data is obtained. For this reason, according to this 3rd Embodiment, the electronic device 304 does not need to be provided with a positional information acquisition means, and can suppress the raise of the cost of the electronic device 304. FIG. In addition, according to the third embodiment, the electronic device 304 can acquire the position information without transmitting the imaging data, and thus the battery consumption can be suppressed in the electronic device 304.

  Next, a photographing system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the imaging system of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a main part of the circuit configuration of the photographing system. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the electronic device. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the communication device. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a state of processing between the electronic device and the communication device.

  An imaging system 400 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes an electronic device 401 and a communication device 402. As the electronic device 401, for example, any of a digital still camera, a digital video camera, and a digital recorder can be used. In addition, as the communication device 402, any one of GPS devices such as a mobile phone, a car navigation system, and a GPS receiver can be used. Furthermore, as the communication device 402, a PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants, personal portable information terminal) equipped with a GPS receiver can be used. The communication device 402 can receive radio waves from the GPS satellite 403 and generate position information as will be described later.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the electronic device 401 includes an imaging unit 411, a memory 413, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 414, a key operation unit 415, and a wireless communication unit 416. These are connected to each other via a bus 412.

  The imaging unit 411 is an imaging unit for acquiring imaging data. For example, a camera unit (imaging unit) including a lens, a diaphragm, and a light receiving sensor can be used.

  The memory 413 is a first recording unit that records image data in association with position information. As the memory 413, for example, a readable / writable semiconductor element can be used.

  The CPU 414 performs processing according to the program recorded in the memory 413 and performs various controls. The key operation unit 415 includes a shutter key and other keys.

  The wireless communication unit 416 is a wireless communication unit for communicating with another communication device 402. As the wireless communication unit 416, for example, wireless LAN, infrared communication such as Bluetooth or IrDA can be used.

  The communication device 402 includes a GPS receiving unit 421, a memory 423, a CPU 424, a key operation unit 425, and a wireless communication unit 426. These are connected to each other via a bus 422.

  The GPS receiver 421 is a position information acquisition unit that receives a GPS signal and generates position information. The memory 423 stores the generated position information, stores a control program, and stores other temporary data.

  The CPU 424 performs processing according to the program recorded in the memory 423 and performs various controls. The key operation unit 425 includes dial keys, cross keys, and other function keys.

  In the imaging system 400 configured as described above, the operation of the electronic device 401 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the shutter key of the electronic device 401 is operated (step 601, hereinafter, “step” will be referred to as “S”), the imaging unit 411 performs shooting (S602). Then, the CPU 414 of the electronic device 401 records the captured image data in the memory 413 (S603).

  Simultaneously with shooting, the wireless communication unit 416 transmits a position information request signal to the communication device 402 (S604). At this time, the number of the image data (photo data) can be added to the position information request signal to make it easy to understand the correspondence with the image data. In step S605, the CPU 414 analyzes the wireless data decoded by the wireless communication unit 416, and determines whether position information has been received. If position information has not been received (N in S605), the CPU 414 determines in S606 whether or not a timeout has occurred. In step S606, when the CPU 414 determines that a timeout has occurred, the CPU 414 ends the control without acquiring position information.

  When the wireless communication unit 416 acquires the position information from the communication device 402 (Y in S605), the CPU 414 records the position information in the memory 413 in association with the imaging data in S607.

  Next, the operation of the communication device 402 will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, in step S <b> 701, the CPU 424 of the communication device 402 determines whether or not the wireless communication unit 426 has received a position information request signal. The CPU 424 analyzes the signal decoded by the wireless communication unit 426. When the CPU 424 determines that the signal is a position information request signal (Y in S701), the GPS receiving unit 421 receives the GPS signal and generates position information (S702). Then, the CPU 424 transmits the generated position information from the wireless communication unit 426 to the electronic device 401. At this time, the number of the imaging data (photograph data) received together with the position information request signal can be added to the position information to make it easy to understand the correspondence between the imaging data and the position information.

  The overall operation of such an imaging system 400 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the shutter key is operated on the electronic device 401 (S801), the wireless communication unit 416 of the electronic device 401 transmits a position information request signal to the communication device 402 (S802). When the wireless communication unit 426 of the communication device 402 receives the position information request signal, the GPS reception unit 421 of the communication device 402 receives the GPS signal and generates position information (S803).

  Then, the communication device 402 transmits the position information generated by the wireless communication unit 426 to the electronic device 401 as a response signal (S804). When the wireless communication unit 416 of the electronic device 401 receives the position information, the CPU 414 of the electronic device 401 records this position data in the memory 413 in association with the imaging data.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the electronic device 401 can acquire the position information by wireless communication from the communication device 402 when obtaining the shooting data. Therefore, the electronic device 401 receives the position information acquisition unit (GPS or the like). ) Is not necessary. For this reason, according to the fourth embodiment, an increase in cost can be suppressed in the electronic device 401. Moreover, according to the fourth embodiment, the electronic device 401 can acquire the position information without transmitting the imaging data, and thus the battery consumption can be suppressed in the electronic device 401.

  Furthermore, according to the fourth embodiment, when the user uses the electronic device 401, if the user forgets to carry the user-owned communication device 402 and there is no communication device 402 in the vicinity, the function of the communication device 402 is increased. Position information can also be received from other user-owned communication devices. For this reason, according to this 4th Embodiment, the possibility of the acquisition failure of position information can be suppressed as much as possible.

  Next, a photographing system according to a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The configuration of the photographing system of the fifth embodiment is almost the same as that of the fourth embodiment, but the operation is different. The different operations will be mainly described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the electronic device in the imaging system of the fifth embodiment.

  In the photographing system 400, when the electronic device 401 does not receive the position information, the position information received and recorded last time is recorded in association with the imaging data.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. 6 showing the fourth embodiment, and the operation part 501 is different. For this reason, the description of FIG. 9 will be focused on the operation portion 501, and the operation of the same portion will be described briefly.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the shutter key of the electronic device 401 is operated (S601), shooting is performed (S602). Then, the CPU 414 records the captured image data in the memory 413 (first recording unit and second recording unit) (S603).

  Simultaneously with shooting, the wireless communication unit 416 transmits a position information request signal (S604). In S605, the CPU 414 of the electronic device 401 determines whether or not position information has been received. If the position information has been received (Y in S605), the CPU 414 records the position information in the memory 413 in S608. In step S609, the CPU 414 reads the position information once recorded from the memory 413. In step S607, the CPU 414 records the position information in the memory 413 in association with the imaging data. Then, this control ends.

  If position information is not received (N in S605) and it is further determined that a timeout has occurred (Y in S606), the control proceeds to S609. In step S609, the CPU 414 performs processing by regarding the position information (position information received last time) recorded in the memory 413 as position information received this time. That is, the CPU 414 records the previously received position information in the memory 413 in association with the imaging data captured this time.

  If it is determined in S606 that a timeout has occurred, this means that position information has not been acquired or has not been acquired. The reason why the location information could not be acquired is that there is no communication device 402 that receives a location information request signal and transmits the location information nearby, or the electronic device 401 is turned off. . Even if the user has the electronic device 401, the position information cannot be acquired if the battery is exhausted and communication is not possible.

  As described above, when the position information is not acquired (N in S605, Y in S606), the CPU 414 of the electronic device 401 reads the previously recorded position information from the memory 413 (S609), and the previous position information is obtained this time. It is regarded as position information and is recorded in the memory 413 in association with the imaging data recorded this time.

  Strictly speaking, the previous position information is different from the current position information. However, it is considered that the previous position information is often close to the current position information. Further, even if position information that is a little apart is associated, it is estimated that the number of image data is very small, and it is considered that it is difficult to cause a problem.

  Next, an imaging system according to the sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The configuration of the photographing system of the sixth embodiment is almost the same as that of the fourth embodiment, but the operation is different. The different operations will be mainly described with reference to FIGS.

  In the photographing system 400, the electronic device 401 transmits a position information request signal for requesting periodic transmission of position information to the communication device 402. The communication device 402 that has input this signal periodically acquires position information and transmits the acquired position information to the electronic device 401. This position information request signal is included in an attribution request frame described later.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation related to wireless communication of an electronic device in the imaging system of the sixth embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing operations other than wireless communication of the electronic device. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the communication device. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a state of processing between the electronic device and the communication device.

  First, operations related to wireless communication of the electronic device 401 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, in step S1001, the CPU 414 of the electronic device 401 determines whether position information has been received. If position information has been received (Y in S1001), the CPU 414 records the position information in the memory 413 (S1002). As described above, the electronic device 401 overwrites and records the memory 413 each time it receives the position information through the wireless communication.

  Next, operations other than wireless communication in the electronic device 401 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when the shutter key is operated in S1101, the imaging unit 411 performs shooting (S1102). The CPU 414 reads the position information recorded in S1002 of FIG. 10 from the memory 413 (S1103), and records the position data in the memory 413 in association with the shooting data (S1104). At the same time, the CPU 414 also records imaging data in the memory 413.

  Next, the operation of the communication device 402 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As illustrated in FIG. 12, in step S <b> 1201, the CPU 424 of the communication device 402 determines whether the state belongs to the electronic device 401. When the CPU 424 of the communication device 402 determines that the state belongs to the electronic device 401 (Y in S1201), the GPS receiving unit 421 receives the GPS signal and generates position information (S1202). In step S1203, the wireless communication unit 426 of the communication device 402 transmits the position information to the electronic device 401 and starts a timer. Next, in S1204, the CPU 424 determines whether or not a timeout has occurred. If it is determined that the CPU 424 has timed out (Y in S1204), the control returns to S1201.

  As described above, when the communication device 402 becomes a state belonging to the electronic device 401, the communication device 402 periodically transmits position information to the electronic device 401.

  Next, the processing state of the electronic device 401 and the communication device 402 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 13, when the power of the electronic device 401 is turned on (S1301), the electronic device 401 transmits an association request frame to the communication device 402 (S1302). This attribution request frame also includes a position information request signal for requesting periodic transmission of position information. The communication device 402 returns an attribution response signal when attribution is possible (S1303), and the attribution of the communication device 402 to the electronic device 401 is completed (communication is established). When the attribution of the communication device 402 is completed, the GPS reception unit 421 of the communication device 402 receives the GPS signal, generates position data (S1304), and the wireless communication unit 426 transmits the position information to the electronic device 401 (S1305). ). The communication device 402 operates the timer (S1306), and the electronic device 401 records the received position information in the memory 413 (S1307).

  In S1306, the communication device 402 periodically acquires position information every time a predetermined timer time elapses (S1308), and transmits the position information to the electronic device 401 (S1309). In addition, when receiving the position information, the electronic device 401 records the position information in the memory 413 (S1310). As long as the communication device 402 belongs to the electronic device 401, the control of S1306, S1308, S1309, and S1310 is periodically repeated.

  According to the imaging system 400 operating in this way, when communication is established (when the communication device 402 belongs to the electronic device 401), the communication device 402 periodically transmits position information, and the electronic device 401 is periodically positioned. Can receive information. For this reason, the electronic device 401 can record the latest position information received a little before shooting at the memory 413 in association with the imaging data.

  According to the photographing system 400, compared with the fourth embodiment that communicates every time the shutter is pressed, the effect of suppressing battery consumption is particularly great when the shutter is pressed in a short period, such as during continuous shooting.

  In the sixth embodiment, when communication between the electronic device 401 and the communication device 402 is established, that is, when the communication device 402 belongs to the electronic device 401, the communication device 402 periodically sends position information to the electronic device 401. As described in the example of transmission. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when communication between the electronic device 401 and the communication device 402 is established, the electronic device 401 can be configured to periodically transmit a position information request signal to the communication device 402.

  Next, the photographing system of the seventh embodiment will be described.

  This imaging system has substantially the same configuration as that of the fourth embodiment, but is different in that the electronic apparatus 401 includes a stopping unit that stops transmission of the position information request signal.

  As this stopping means, a method of hardware configuration with an electronic circuit, a method of software configuration by incorporating a program, or the like can be used. For this reason, this stop means is not illustrated.

  This stop means is operated by the user when the remaining amount of the battery is low, for example. It can also be configured to automatically operate when the remaining battery level is below a predetermined value. Further, it may be configured to automatically operate when establishment of communication with the communication device 402 cannot be confirmed. While the stop unit is operating, the electronic device 401 does not transmit a position information request signal even if shooting is performed, so that position information cannot be associated with imaging data. However, in the electronic device 401, the battery consumption can be suppressed.

  In addition, when the operation of the stop unit is canceled by the user, or when the battery is charged or the establishment of communication with the communication device 402 can be confirmed, and the operation of the stop unit is automatically canceled, the electronic device 401 restarts the transmission of the position information request signal that is performed for each shooting. Thereby, position information can be recorded in association with imaging data.

  As described above, according to the photographing system including the stopping unit, it is temporarily impossible to record the image data in association with the position information, but it is possible to suppress battery consumption due to wireless communication as much as possible. Further, when it is known that there is no communication device 402 in the vicinity, the battery consumption for transmission of the position information request signal can be suppressed by operating the stop unit.

  While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

  Examples of applications of the present invention include digital still cameras, digital video cameras, digital recorders and the like as electronic devices. Communication devices include mobile phones, car navigation systems, GPS-equipped devices such as GPS receivers.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image | photographing method 101 Position information request | requirement step 102 1st recording step 103 Communication apparatus 200 Electronic device 201 Image pickup means 202 Wireless communication means 203 First recording means 204 Communication apparatus 300 Communication apparatus 301 Position information acquisition means 302 Wireless communication means 303 Means 304 Electronic Device 400 Imaging System 401 Electronic Device 402 Communication Device 403 GPS Satellite 411 Imaging Unit 412 Bus 413 Memory 414 CPU
415 Key operation unit 416 Wireless communication unit 421 GPS reception unit 422 Bus 423 Memory 424 CPU
425 Key operation unit 426 Wireless communication unit 501 Operation part

Claims (17)

A position information requesting step for transmitting a position information request signal by wireless communication to a device other than the own device when acquiring imaging data;
And a first recording step of recording the position information in association with the imaging data when position information that is a response to the position information request signal is received. In the first recording step, when position information is not received even after a preset time has elapsed, a second recording step of recording the previously received position information in association with the imaging data is further provided. The imaging method according to claim 1. The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the position information request signal is a signal for requesting periodic transmission of position information. 4. The photographing method according to claim 1, further comprising a stop step of temporarily stopping transmission of the position information request signal in the position information request step. The electronic device is one of a digital still camera, a digital video camera, and a digital recorder,
The photographing method according to claim 1, wherein the communication device is any one of a mobile phone, a car navigation system, and a GPS-equipped device. The imaging method according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication is a wireless LAN or infrared communication. Photographing means for obtaining imaging data;
A wireless communication means for communicating with a communication device other than its own device;
When the acquisition is performed, a position information request signal is transmitted to the communication device, and when the wireless communication means receives position information that is a response to the position information request signal, the received position information is associated with the acquired imaging data. And a first recording means for recording. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second recording unit configured to record the previously recorded position information in association with the imaging data when the first recording unit does not receive the position information even after a preset time has elapsed. Item 8. The electronic device according to Item 7. 9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the position information request signal is a signal for requesting periodic transmission of position information. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a stopping unit that stops transmission of the request signal. 11. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the wireless communication unit is a wireless LAN or infrared communication. 12. The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the electronic apparatus is any one of a digital still camera, a digital video camera, and a digital recorder. Position information acquisition means for receiving GPS signals and generating position information;
Wireless communication means for performing wireless communication with electronic devices other than the own device;
A communication device comprising: a position information return means for returning the position information when a position information request signal is received from the electronic device. The position information return means periodically transmits the position information to the communication device when the position information request signal is a signal requesting to periodically transmit the position information. The communication device described in 1. 15. The communication apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the wireless communication unit is a wireless LAN or infrared communication. The communication device according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the communication device is one of a mobile phone, a car navigation system, and a GPS-equipped device. An electronic device according to any one of claims 7 to 12,
17. An imaging system comprising: the communication device according to claim 13 connected to the electronic device so as to be capable of wireless communication.

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