JP2011024139A - Imaging device, imaging method, program, and imaging system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that it is difficult to accurately know photographing requests from a plurality of users in remote photographing among digital cameras. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging device has a communication function among imaging devices, and has both an operation side function and an operated side function which can perform remote operations mutually. The operation side function has an object position specifying means which specifies object position information showing a position of an object to be photographed and a photographing request transmission means which transmits photographing request information including the object position information to an imaging device at an operated side. The operated-side function has a photographing request receiving means which receives a plurality of pieces of photographing request information transmitted from the imaging device at the operation side and a photographing request display means which displays the photographing request information received by the photographing request receiving means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, an imaging method, a program, and an imaging system. In particular, the present invention relates to a technique that enables a through image to be shared between imaging devices via a network communication function, and allows remote control between them.

  In recent years, with the miniaturization of wireless communication modules, it has become possible to mount wireless communication modules on digital cameras. In addition, with the increase in communication speed, a technique for remotely operating a digital camera equipped with a wireless communication module by connecting the Internet or digital cameras to each other has been proposed and developed. A number of proposals have been made as a network camera control system for controlling a camera at a remote location (Patent Document 1, etc.).

  However, unlike controlling a fixed device such as a network camera, there are the following problems in remote digital camera control. In digital camera control, it is necessary to request a remote camera user to adjust the angle of view at the time of shooting, and the digital camera is required to have a function as a mediating means between users. Therefore, the following control method that supports communication between digital cameras has been proposed. A half-press of the shutter button of the operating camera that requests the shooting operation is detected, and shooting notification information indicating that shooting is to be performed is transmitted to the operated camera that actually performs shooting (Patent Document 2).

JP 2006-222617 A JP 2004-112770 A

  Control of an imaging device (such as a digital camera) at a remote location requires a short time for imaging, and it is required to receive a plurality of requests from the user at the same time and shoot within that time. However, when a plurality of requests are transmitted to one imaging apparatus, the request as an inter-user communication mediating means for the imaging apparatus is further complicated. For example, the user of the operated-side imaging device needs to receive information on the angle of view that each wants to capture from a plurality of operating-side imaging devices and perform alignment. In addition, the user of the operated imaging device needs to determine which of the plurality of shooting requests should be processed with priority. For this reason, it is necessary to transmit information such as which subject has many requests to the imaging apparatus and who requests from the user.

  According to the present invention, information on images to be photographed by a plurality of operation-side imaging devices is transmitted to the operated-side imaging device and displayed, so that a user of the operated-side imaging device can easily determine a captured image to be prioritized. Objective. It is another object of the present invention to support photographing using the information to be transmitted and image sharing after photographing.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. Operation-side functions and operated-side functions that have a communication function between image-capturing devices and allow the user to remotely control each other while confirming image information transmitted by the operated-side image-capturing device with the image-capturing device on the operation side The operation side function includes subject position instruction means for instructing subject position information indicating the position of the subject to be photographed, and photographing request information including the subject position information as the operated side. An imaging request transmission unit configured to transmit to the imaging apparatus, and the operated-side function includes: an imaging request reception unit configured to receive a plurality of the imaging request information transmitted by the imaging apparatus on the operation side; and the imaging request Photographing request display means for displaying the photographing request information received by the receiving means.

  According to the present invention, communication between users for photographing by remote operation via the imaging device is facilitated, and the user on the side requested to photograph based on the setting intended by the remote user acquires the image It becomes possible to do. In addition, it is possible to share information in image acquisition among a plurality of imaging devices, and it is possible to improve usability in image acquisition between remote users.

1 is a schematic diagram of digital camera remote shooting according to the present embodiment. The block diagram of the imaging device which concerns on this embodiment. 1 is a schematic diagram of digital camera remote shooting according to a first embodiment. The figure of the flowchart of the alignment process which concerns on 1st embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an alignment screen using object areas according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an example diagram of photographing request information according to the first embodiment. The figure of the flowchart of the picked-up image recording after imaging | photography concerning 1st embodiment. FIG. 5 is an example of management information stored by a shooting request information adding unit of the operated camera according to the first embodiment. The figure of the picked-up image transfer which concerns on 1st embodiment, and a picked-up image preservation | save flowchart. The figure of the flowchart of the photography request deletion which concerns on 1st embodiment. The figure of the flowchart of the alignment process which concerns on 2nd embodiment. The example figure of the alignment screen by the angle of view which concerns on 2nd embodiment. The figure of the flowchart of the picked-up image transfer which concerns on 3rd embodiment, and photography request information deletion. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of subject position information sharing according to the fourth embodiment. The figure of the position information display screen after sharing subject position information concerning a 4th embodiment. The figure of the flowchart of imaging | photography timing detection and automatic imaging | photography concerning 5th embodiment. FIG. 14 is an example of shooting request information managed by shooting request management means according to the sixth embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of image correction and image transfer according to the sixth embodiment. The example figure of the photography request information which the photography request storage part concerning a 7th embodiment manages. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of image correction and storage after image reception according to the seventh embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the following embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and do not limit the scope of the embodiments.

  First, an outline of performing photographing processing by operating remotely using the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram when photographing is performed by remote control between imaging devices. Here, the imaging apparatus is described as a digital camera. The imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment operates in cooperation with each other between a plurality of digital cameras that are communicably connected by a network communication function as shown in FIG. Thereby, an imaging system including a plurality of imaging devices is configured. In FIG. 1, the digital camera A 101 includes a monitor 102 for displaying a through image reflected on a lens as a user interface, a shutter button 103, and setting buttons 104, 105, 106, and 107 for performing various settings of the digital camera. Similarly, the digital camera B107 and the digital camera C113 include a monitor, a shutter button, and a setting button. Digital cameras can be operated with each other via a network, and through images from other digital cameras can be received and displayed on their monitors. In this embodiment, the digital camera operated from another remote digital camera is the operated side (hereinafter referred to as the operated camera), and the digital camera operated remotely is referred to as the operating side (hereinafter referred to as the operating side). Camera).

  The digital camera which is the subject of the present invention has an operation side function and an operated side function, and can operate in the operation side mode and the operated side mode. Further, the operation side function and the operated side function may be executed in parallel in the apparatus. Therefore, the role may be changed between devices according to the situation. In the operation side mode, a through image that is image information received from another remote digital camera is displayed on the monitor, and a shooting request is transmitted to the remote digital camera by a shooting area setting operation or a shutter button being pressed. The state in which the through image is transmitted to another remote digital camera and the photographing request is received is the operated side mode. In the operated-side mode, the shooting area is changed and shot by receiving a shooting request, and the acquired shot image is transmitted to the digital camera in the operation-side mode. The digital camera in the operation mode receives the captured image and completes the remote shooting. In FIG. 1, the digital camera C113 is an operated-side mode, and the digital cameras A101 and B107 are operating-side mode digital cameras. The digital camera C113 transmits the through image to another digital camera, and the user of the digital camera A101 that refers to the through image operates the digital camera A101 in the operation side mode in order to perform remote shooting with the digital camera C. A through image of the digital camera C113 is displayed on the monitor 102 of the digital camera A101. The user of the digital camera A 101 refers to the through image and transmits a photographing request to the digital camera C 113 by the shutter button 103. When the digital camera C113 receives the photographing request, the digital camera C113 performs photographing, and transmits the photographed image to the digital camera A101. The digital camera A101 receives the shot image, and the remote shooting is completed.

<Overall configuration>
Next, an overall configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The description of the overall configuration diagram will be made taking remote shooting as an example. The imaging device in the operation side mode in FIG. 1 is indicated by an imaging device A 201 in which the operation side imaging function 202 is operating in FIG. The imaging apparatus A201 also has an operated-side imaging function 212. The image pickup apparatus in the operated-side mode in FIG. 1 is shown as an image pickup apparatus B 213 in which the operated-side image pickup function 214 is operating in FIG. The imaging device B 213 also has an operation side imaging function 226. That is, each imaging apparatus has an operation side imaging function unit having an operation side imaging function and an operated side imaging function unit. First, in the operation-side imaging function 202, the subject position instruction unit 203 allows the user to confirm the through image received from the imaging device B213 on the monitor, and receives an instruction of subject position information that the user wants to shoot using the touch panel and setting button. When receiving an instruction of the subject position information from the user, the photographing request storage unit 204 stores the photographing request information. The shooting request information includes subject position information, a shooting request identifier, photographer information, shooting apparatus information, and shooting setting information. Details of the imaging request information will be described later with reference to FIG. Further, the shooting setting information will be described in detail in an embodiment using this information. When the imaging request information is created, the imaging request transmission unit 205 transmits the imaging request information to the imaging apparatus B213. Next, in the operated-side imaging function 214, the imaging request receiving unit 215 receives imaging request information from the imaging request transmission unit 205. The received shooting request information is stored by the shooting request management means 216. The shooting request display means 217 displays the subject position information and other information included in the shooting request information on the monitor.

  The user of the imaging device B 213 performs shooting according to the shooting request information on the monitor. When shooting is performed, the shooting request detection unit 219 detects subject position information indicated by the shooting request information displayed on the monitor at the time of shooting. The shooting request information adding unit 220 records the shooting request information of the subject position information detected by the shooting request detection unit 219 in association with the shot image. When the image recording is completed, the captured image transmission unit 222 transmits the imaging request identifier and the captured image to the imaging apparatus A 201 according to the imaging apparatus information included in the imaging request information. Next, in the operation-side imaging function 202, the captured image receiving unit 207 receives the imaging request identifier and the captured image. The received captured image is stored by the captured image storage unit 209. Thereafter, using the shooting request identifier as a key, the shooting request deleting unit 206 of the operation side imaging function 202 deletes the shooting request information stored in the shooting request storage unit 204. Similarly, the shooting request deletion unit 218 of the operated-side imaging function 214 deletes the shooting request information stored in the shooting request management unit 216. Up to here is the outline of the remote shooting to which the present embodiment is applied.

  Next, other configurations will be described. The photographed image correcting unit 221 corrects the photographed image according to the photographing setting information before transmitting the photographed image to the imaging apparatus A201. The received image correcting unit 208 corrects the received image according to the shooting setting information. The shooting timing notification means 223 detects the timing when the area designated for shooting approaches the center of the shooting area and notifies the user. The automatic photographing unit 224 automatically performs photographing at the timing detected by the photographing timing notification unit 223. The subject position transmitting unit 225 transmits the subject position information together with the through image, and the operation-side imaging function 202 receives the subject position information by the subject position receiving unit 210 and displays the superimposed image on the through image by the indicated position display unit 211. It becomes possible to do.

<First embodiment>
The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As a first embodiment, an example will be described in which subject position information is designated by an object area within a shooting area and shooting is performed. FIG. 3 shows a state before the imaging request in which the digital cameras A301 and B310 in the operation side mode refer to the through image of the digital camera C319 in the operated side mode. In this embodiment, the user of the digital camera A301 requests the subject c309 and the user of the digital camera B310 requests the subject b317.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the photographing position alignment process. In S401, the user of the digital camera A301 designates the object area 510 surrounding the subject c509 shown in FIG. 5A as subject position information. The subject position receiving unit 210 receives the subject position information. After specifying the subject position information, the photographing request storage unit 204 stores photographing request information including the subject position information. FIG. 6A shows photographing request information associated with the designation of the subject c509. In the present embodiment, the shooting request information includes a shooting request identifier, shooting position information, a photographer name, a device name, a device model number, and communication destination information. The imaging request identifier is an identifier uniquely indicated for each imaging request. The shooting position information indicates position information in a through image that indicates an area that the user wants to shoot. The photographer name indicates information on the user of the operation-side camera that makes a shooting request. The device model number indicates the model number of the operation side camera that requests the photographing. The communication destination information indicates the operation side camera that is the transmission source of the imaging request information. The operated camera can refer to the shooting destination information and transmit a shot image that is a response to the shooting request. However, the contents of the above information are not limited to the contents described here, and may include other contents. In the present embodiment, the shooting position information indicates the position of the pixel in the through image displayed on the monitor of the operation side camera. Here, in the monitor of the operation side camera, the scanning line direction is the x-axis direction, the sub-scanning line direction is the y-axis direction, and the position is indicated by (x, y). For example, referring to FIG. 6A, the target included in the region from the pixel (500, 80) to the pixel (650, 550) is an imaging target.

  Similarly for the digital camera B310, as shown in FIG. 5B, subject position information is specified for the subject b708 in the object area 710, and the shooting request information shown in FIG. 6B is stored. In S <b> 402, in each of the digital cameras A <b> 301 and B <b> 310, shooting request information held in the shooting request storage unit 204 is transmitted to the digital camera C <b> 319 by the shooting request transmission unit 205. In S403, the imaging request receiving unit 215 of the digital camera C319 receives the imaging request information. In S404, the imaging request management means 216 stores the received imaging request information with a unique management number, as shown in FIG. 6C. In S405, the shooting position information included in the shooting request information is displayed on the monitor. The shooting request display means 217 displays the shooting position information 1010 of the digital camera B310 superimposed on the subject b1008 as shown in FIG.

  Note that if the object area of the shooting request information specified by the user of the operating camera is not included in the through image, only a part of the object area may be displayed as indicated by 510 in FIG. is there. In addition, it is assumed that the through image is not displayed unless the requested object area is included. In this case, it may be displayed that the request has been received but is not displayed in the current through image.

  At the same time, the shooting position information 1011 of the digital camera A301 is superimposed on the subject c1009 and displayed. The user of the digital camera C319 performs shooting while adjusting the angle of view with reference to the shooting position information. For example, the user of the digital camera C319 performs shooting so as to include shooting position information from the digital cameras A301 and B310 as shown in FIG. Here, the display of the shooting position information during angle of view adjustment can apply existing technology to recognize a subject included in the object area and track and display the subject during angle of view adjustment.

<Shooting image recording flow>
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure for recording a captured image after shooting. In S1201, the captured image is stored in a memory (not shown). In step S1202, the shooting request detection unit 219 detects whether the shooting area displayed on the monitor at the time of shooting includes the subject position information specified by the shooting request information. When the subject position information specified by the shooting request information is detected (YES in S1202), S1203 is performed. In S1203, the shooting request information adding unit 220 records the shooting request information detected by the shooting request detection unit 219 in association with the shot image. Here, since the subject position information is detected in the shooting request information of the digital cameras A301 and B310, the file name of the shot image and the shooting request management number are stored in association with each other as shown in FIG. Thereafter, the process returns to S1202, and the detection of other photographing request information is repeated. If subject position information is not detected in S1202 (NO in S1202), the process ends. In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which one file name having a plurality of management numbers is stored as shown in FIG. 8, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a file is stored for each management number. Also good.

<Transfer shot image, save flow>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure of captured image transfer and captured image storage. In step S1401, it is checked whether there is an object to which an image is transferred with reference to the shooting request management number shown in FIG. 8 recorded by the shooting request information adding unit 220. If it exists (YES in S1401), S1402 is executed. If it does not exist (NO in S1401), the process is terminated. In S1402, the photographic image transmission unit 222 acquires the corresponding photographic request information from the photographic request information table shown in FIG. 6C using the photographic request management number shown in FIG. 8 as a key. Thereafter, the photographed image and the photograph request identifier are transmitted to the digital cameras A301 and B310 according to the communication destination information. In step S1403, the captured image reception unit 207 receives the captured image and the imaging request identifier transmitted from the digital camera C319. In S1404, the captured image received by the captured image storage unit 209 is stored. Here, in S1402, the image transmission by the captured image transmission unit 222 can be performed at an arbitrary timing instead of every image capture based on a user instruction for performing transmission by the user of the digital camera C319. Further, the image transmission by the captured image transmission unit 222 can be performed when the processing of the digital camera C319 is in an idle state. Note that the transfer timing is not limited to the above, but may be caused by other operations on the digital cameras A301 and B310 on the operation side.

<Shooting request deletion flow>
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for deleting a shooting request. The digital camera A301 and the digital camera C319 will be described. In step S1501, the user of the operating camera calls the shooting request deletion unit 206 by specifying shooting instruction information that has already been specified. The shooting request deletion unit 206 deletes the shooting request information stored in the shooting request storage unit 204 in the same camera. Next, the shooting request deletion information including the shooting request identifier is transmitted to the digital camera C319. In step S1502, the shooting request deletion unit 218 of the digital camera C319 receives shooting request deletion information. In step S1503, the shooting request deletion unit 218 deletes the shooting request information shown in FIG. 6C having the same shooting request identifier from the shooting request management information held by the shooting request management unit. Thereafter, the process ends. In S1501, the order of transmission of the deletion request and deletion of the shooting request information may be reversed.

  As described above, by displaying the subject position information requested by a plurality of operating camera users on the operated camera, the operated camera user can accurately grasp the request from the client and take a picture. It becomes possible to do. Further, by displaying the user information that has made the request together with the subject position information, it is possible to make a decision material such as which user has priority. Furthermore, it manages shooting requests, and automatically transfers shot images to the operating camera that matches the request, thereby reducing the effort of image distribution. As a result, communication in remote shooting of the user becomes smooth and usability can be improved.

<Second Embodiment>
The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 11, and 12. In the second embodiment, a method for designating an angle of view desired to be photographed as subject position information will be described. Further, the system configuration of the present embodiment uses the system configuration shown in FIG. 3 as in the first embodiment. The description will be made using the digital camera A301 and the digital camera C319.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the photographing position alignment process. In step S1601, the user of the digital camera A301 uses the subject position instruction unit 203 to specify an angle of view desired to be photographed as subject position information as shown in FIG. After specifying the subject position information, the imaging request storage unit 204 stores request information including the subject position information. Since S1602 to S1604 are the same as S402 to S404 of FIG. 4 described in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted. In step S1605, shooting position information included in the shooting request information is displayed on the monitor. The shooting request display means 217 displays the angle-of-view information indicating the shooting position information in an overlapping manner as shown in FIG. The user of the digital camera C319 performs shooting by adjusting the angle of view 1807 so that the angle of view information overlaps the shooting area 1802 of the operated camera as shown in FIG.

  As described above, the user of the operating camera designates the angle of view and makes a request to the operated camera, so that the user of the operated camera can shoot at any angle of view including the subject. This makes it possible to accurately capture what is desired and take a picture.

<Third embodiment>
The third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 13. In the third embodiment, a method for automatically deleting shooting request information when shooting including subject position information specified by shooting request information is performed will be described. In the present embodiment, in the case of automatically deleting a shooting request, an example will be described in which the user has enabled the automatic deletion flag as shooting setting information in the shooting request information, and the shooting setting information is transmitted to the operated camera. .

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure for transferring a photographic image and deleting photographic request information. Since S1901 to S1904 are the same as S1401 to S1404 shown in FIG. In step S1905, after the transmission of the photographed image is completed according to the photographing request information in step S1904, the photographing request deletion unit 218 checks the corresponding photographing request information. If the automatic deletion flag is invalid (NO in S1905), the process returns to S1901 to continue the captured image transfer process. If the automatic deletion flag is valid (YES in S1905), S1906 is performed. In step S1906, the corresponding shooting request information is deleted from the shooting request management unit 216. Then, the process returns to S1901.

  In step S1907, the image capturing request information is retrieved from the image capturing request storage unit 204 using the image capturing request identifier received in step S1903 as a key, and is checked by the image capturing request deleting unit 206. If the automatic deletion flag is invalid (NO in S1907), the process is completed. If the automatic deletion flag is valid (YES in S1907), S1908 is performed. In step S1908, the corresponding shooting request information is deleted from the shooting request deleting unit 206.

  As described above, by automatically deleting the shooting request information when shooting is completed, it is possible to reduce the management effort of manually deleting the shooting request information that has already been shot.

<Fourth embodiment>
The fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 14, and 15. In the fourth embodiment, a method of sharing subject position information designated by other operating cameras among a plurality of operating cameras will be described.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the method for sharing subject position information. In FIG. 14, S2001 to S2004 are the same as S401 to S404 of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted. As in the first embodiment, it is assumed that the digital camera A301 and B310 respectively specify subject position information as shown in FIG. Further, it is assumed that the shooting request management means 216 of the digital camera C319 holds the shooting request information of the digital cameras A301 and B310 as shown in FIG. In step S2005, the subject position transmitting unit 225 transmits the subject position information held by the photographing request management unit 216 to the subject position receiving unit 210 of the digital cameras A301 and B310. That is, the subject position information is transmitted to all the operating cameras that want to share information. In step S2006, the subject position information transmitted from the operated camera is received by the subject position receiving unit 210. In S2007, the received subject position information is displayed superimposed on the received through image. As a result, the monitor screens of the digital cameras A301 and B310 are as shown in FIG. At this time, which subject position information is designated by whom may be displayed together, or may be displayed in a display format different from that designated by the user.

  As described above, by sharing the subject position information between the operation side cameras, it is possible to perform an operation in cooperation with another user's shooting request. For example, when another user has already designated the same subject as the user, it is possible to perform processing by transmitting photographing request information including only a photographing instruction without transmitting subject position information. Thereby, it is not necessary to repeat the same setting for every user, and the working efficiency of the entire remote shooting is improved.

<Fifth embodiment>
The fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 16. In the fifth embodiment, automatic shooting using subject position information will be described.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a procedure of automatic photographing processing in the operated camera. In S2201, shooting position information is displayed by the shooting request display means 217. The user of the operated camera adjusts the angle of view of the digital camera according to the shooting position information. In step S2202, the photographing timing notifying unit 223 detects that the photographing position information is within the field angle area where the photographing is being performed, and notifies the operator of the photographing timing. As a notification method, an LED, a monitor or the like can be used. The detection timing can be the timing when the shooting position information falls within the shooting angle of view, the timing when the center of the shooting position information overlaps the center of the view angle, and the shooting position information falls within the shooting angle of view. . Note that the notification method and the detection timing are not limited to the above methods, and the notification method may be an alert sound, and the detection timing may be an elapsed time from the start of processing. In step S2203, the automatic photographing unit 224 receives the notification from the photographing timing notification unit 223 and performs automatic photographing.

  As described above, the camera on the operated side automatically shoots based on the subject position information, thereby eliminating the difference in shooting timing between the shooting instruction and the actual shooting due to the transmission / reception of the instruction in the remote operation. Shooting is possible.

<Sixth embodiment>
The sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 17, and FIG. In the sixth embodiment, a method for correcting an image by the operated camera in accordance with an image correction request will be described. In the present embodiment, a case where an image correction request is set as shooting setting information included in the shooting request information will be described.

  FIG. 17 shows the shooting request information managed by the shooting request management means 216. The main photographing request information is photographing request information to be photographed, and includes a photographing request identifier, photographing position information, communication destination information, and correction information. The configuration of the imaging request information is an example and may include other information. FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a procedure of image transfer processing when image correction after shooting is applied. In S2401, it is checked whether there is a target to which the captured image is transferred. If it does not exist (NO in S2401), the transfer process ends. If it exists (YES in S2401), S2402 is executed. In S2402, it is checked whether an image correction request is set in the shooting request information. If it is set (YES in S2402), S2403 is executed. If not set (NO in S2402), S2404 is executed. In the present embodiment, since the resolution is specified as the correction information in the target photographing request information, the resolution is corrected for the photographed image. In step S2403, the captured image correction unit 221 corrects the captured image according to the image correction request. As a correction method, resolution adjustment, compression rate adjustment, image format conversion, effect application, and the like can be applied. In this embodiment, since the resolution is specified as the correction information, the resolution is corrected. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S2404. In step S <b> 2404, the captured image transmission unit 222 transmits the captured image to the operation side camera. After S2404, the process returns to S2401, and the process is repeated.

  As described above, by correcting the image with the operated camera, a captured image in accordance with the shooting setting intended by the user of the operating camera can be acquired even when shooting with different settings. Is possible.

<Seventh embodiment>
The seventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 19, and FIG. In the seventh embodiment, a method for correcting an image with an operating camera in accordance with an image correction instruction will be described. In the present embodiment, a case where an image correction instruction is set as shooting setting information included in shooting request information will be described.

  FIG. 19 shows photographing request information stored in the photographing request storage means 204 of the operation side camera. The main photographing request information includes a photographing request identifier, photographing position information, communication destination information, and correction information. Note that the configuration of the main photographing request information is an example, and may include other information. FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure after reception of a captured image in the operation-side camera when image correction processing is applied. In step S2601, the captured image reception unit 207 receives the captured image and the imaging request identifier transmitted from the operated camera. In step S2602, the received image correction unit 208 searches the shooting request storage unit 204 for shooting request information using the shooting request identifier as a key, and checks whether an image correction instruction exists. If there is a correction instruction (YES in S2602), S2603 is performed. If there is no correction instruction (NO in S2602), S2604 is performed. In this embodiment, since the resolution is specified as the correction information in the shooting request information held by the shooting request storage unit 204, the resolution is corrected for the shot image. Note that, similarly to the sixth embodiment, the present invention can also be applied to other correction processes. In step S2603, the received image correction unit 208 performs image correction according to the image correction instruction. Then, it progresses to S2604. In step S2604, the captured image is stored by the captured image storage unit 209. Thereafter, this flow is terminated.

  As described above, by correcting the captured image with the operation-side camera and saving it, even if the image captured with different settings is received from the operated-side camera, the user of the operation-side camera It is possible to acquire an image according to the intended shooting setting.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (17)

An operation side function unit and an operated side that have a communication function between the imaging devices and allow a user to remotely control each other while confirming image information transmitted by the operated imaging device with the operating side imaging device. An imaging apparatus having both a functional unit and
The operation side functional unit is:
Subject position instruction means for instructing subject position information indicating the position of the subject to be photographed;
Photographing request transmission means for transmitting photographing request information including the subject position information to the operated imaging device;
The operated side functional unit is:
Photographing request receiving means for receiving the photographing request information transmitted by the operation-side imaging device;
An imaging apparatus comprising: an imaging request display unit that displays the imaging request information received by the imaging request reception unit. The operated side functional unit is:
Photographing request detection means for detecting a subject indicated by the subject position information displayed by the photographing request display means within an angle of view at the time of photographing a photographed image;
2. The imaging according to claim 1, further comprising imaging request information adding means for recording the imaging request information including subject position information of the subject detected by the imaging request detection means in association with the captured image. apparatus. The operated side functional unit is:
According to the photographing request information recorded by the photographing request information adding means, there is a photographing image transmitting means for transmitting the photographed image and the photographing request information associated with the photographed image to the imaging apparatus that has transmitted the photographing request information. And
The operation side functional unit is:
A captured image receiving means for receiving the captured image and the imaging request information associated with the captured image;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a captured image storing unit that stores the captured image received by the captured image receiving unit. The subject position instruction means of the operation side function unit receives a plurality of object regions that are regions including a subject that the user of the operation side imaging device wants to photograph as the subject position information,
The photographing request display means of the operated-side function unit is configured such that the object area received by the operating-side imaging device is included in the image information displayed by the operated-side imaging device. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object area is displayed in the image information. The subject position instructing means of the operation side function unit specifies an angle of view of an image that the user of the operation side imaging device wants to photograph as the subject position information,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging request display unit of the operated-side function unit displays angle-of-view information as the subject position information. The captured image transmission means of the operated-side functional unit is
The captured image is transmitted to the operation-side imaging device at every shooting, at a timing according to a user instruction, or at a timing when the operated-side imaging device is in an idle state. Item 5. The imaging device according to Item 4. The operation-side function unit further includes a shooting request storage unit that stores shooting request information,
The operated-side function unit further includes a shooting request storage unit that stores the shooting request information received by the shooting request receiving unit,
An imaging request for deleting the imaging request information from the imaging request storage unit of the operating side imaging device and the imaging request management unit of the operated side imaging device based on a user instruction of the operating side imaging device The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a deleting unit.   The photographing request deleting means of the operated-side function unit, when the photographing request detecting means detects that the subject instructed by the photographing request information is included in the photographed image after photographing, The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the imaging request information is deleted. The operated side functional unit is:
Subject position transmitting means for transmitting the subject position information received by the photographing request receiving means to a plurality of imaging devices that share the subject position information;
The operation side functional unit is:
Subject position receiving means for receiving the subject position information from the subject position transmitting means of the operated side functional unit;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an instruction position display unit that displays the subject position information received by the subject position reception unit together with the image information.   The operated-side function unit includes a shooting timing notification means for notifying a timing to be shot when the subject indicated by the subject position information falls within a range of an angle of view in a shooting region designated by a user. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:   The imaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the operated-side function unit further includes an automatic imaging unit that automatically performs imaging at a notification timing of the imaging timing notification unit. The shooting request information further includes shooting setting information,
The operated-side function unit further includes a captured image correction unit that corrects the captured image in accordance with the shooting setting information before the captured image transmission unit transmits the captured image to the operation-side imaging device. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3. The shooting request information further includes shooting setting information,
The operation-side function unit further includes a shooting request storage unit that stores shooting request information,
After receiving the shooting request information and the shot image transmitted from the operated imaging device, the shooting image receiving unit detects corresponding shooting request information stored in the shooting request storage unit. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a received image correction unit that corrects the received captured image in accordance with a shooting setting of the stored corresponding shooting request information.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing request information includes a photographing request identifier, photographer information, photographing apparatus information, and photographing setting information in addition to the subject position information. Operation-side functions and operated-side functions that have a communication function between image-capturing devices and allow the user to remotely control each other while confirming image information transmitted by the operated-side image-capturing device with the image-capturing device on the operation side An imaging method for an imaging apparatus provided with both,
A subject position indicating step as the operation side function for instructing subject position information indicating the position of the subject to be photographed;
A shooting request transmission step as the operation-side function for transmitting shooting request information including the subject position information to the operated imaging device;
A shooting request receiving step as the operated-side function for receiving the shooting request information transmitted by the imaging device on the operation side;
An imaging method comprising: an imaging request display step as the operated-side function for displaying the imaging request information received in the imaging request reception step. An operation side function unit and an operated side that have a communication function between the imaging devices and allow a user to remotely control each other while confirming image information transmitted by the operated imaging device with the operating side imaging device. A program for an imaging apparatus having both a functional unit and
The operation side function unit of the imaging device is
Subject position instruction means for instructing subject position information indicating the position of the subject to be photographed;
Function as imaging request transmission means for transmitting imaging request information including the subject position information to the operated imaging device;
The operated-side function unit of the imaging device is
Photographing request receiving means for receiving a plurality of the photographing request information transmitted by the imaging device on the operating side;
A program that functions as an imaging request display unit that displays the imaging request information received by the imaging request reception unit. The imaging device on the operating side and the imaging device on the operated side are communicably connected, and the user can remotely shoot while checking the image information transmitted by the operating side imaging device on the operating side imaging device. An imaging system,
The operation side device is:
Subject position instruction means for instructing subject position information indicating the position of the subject to be photographed;
Photographing request transmission means for transmitting photographing request information including the subject position information to the operated imaging device;
The operated device is:
Photographing request receiving means for receiving a plurality of the photographing request information transmitted by the imaging device on the operating side;
An imaging system comprising: an imaging request display unit for displaying the imaging request information received by the imaging request reception unit.

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