JP2012058473A - Position information acquisition device, imaging device, and control method for them - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging instruction information desirable to a user and matching an imaging device used by the user and imaging environment.SOLUTION: A GPS unit 201 that can communicate with a camera unit 101 includes position detection means for detecting the position of the GPS unit 201, imaging instruction information storage means for storing photographing position information and imaging instruction information including an imaging parameter of the camera unit 101, transmission means for transmitting the position information detected by the position detection means to the camera unit 101, receiving means for receiving an imaging parameter edited by the camera unit 101 at photographing from the camera unit 101, and preserving means for preserving the imaging parameter after edition received by the receiving means.

Description

  The present invention relates to a position information acquisition device such as a GPS unit, an imaging device such as a digital camera, and a control method and program thereof.

  There is known a camera that acquires position information of a camera based on positioning information transmitted from a GPS satellite or a wireless base station, displays the position information at the time of photographing, and records the photographed position.

  In addition, a digital camera that informs the user of the shooting spot and the shooting time and indicates the shooting direction is proposed so that the user does not notice that he / she is at the shooting spot and does not pass without shooting. . For example, in Patent Document 1, an imaging apparatus includes an imaging instruction information storage unit that stores imaging instruction information including an imaging position and an imaging direction, a position detection unit, an imaging position from the imaging instruction information, and current positions from the position detection unit. An imaging instruction unit that instructs imaging according to a distance from a position is disclosed.

JP 2006-251383 A

  In Patent Document 1, the user is informed of the shooting spot and the shooting time and only indicates the shooting direction, and the user must set the shooting parameters for shooting according to the shooting situation. In addition, since the imaging parameters at the time of shooting are not configured to be reflected in the imaging instruction information at the time of the next shooting, it is necessary for the user to set the imaging parameters according to the shooting environment each time shooting is performed. is there. Therefore, it has been desired to provide not only imaging instruction information for the imaging spot, imaging time, and imaging direction but also imaging parameters desirable for the user according to the camera used by the user and the imaging environment.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to obtain desired imaging instruction information for a user according to an imaging apparatus and a shooting environment used by the user.

  The position information acquisition apparatus of the present invention is a position information acquisition apparatus that can communicate with an imaging apparatus, and includes position detection means for detecting the position of the position information acquisition apparatus, position information of a shooting spot, and imaging parameters of the imaging apparatus. Imaging instruction information storage means for storing imaging instruction information including: transmission means for transmitting position information detected by the position detection means to the imaging apparatus; and imaging parameters edited at the time of shooting by the imaging apparatus The image processing apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives from the apparatus; and a storage unit that stores the edited imaging parameter received by the receiving unit.

  According to the present invention, the user can reflect the imaging parameters at the time of shooting in the shooting instruction information at the next shooting. Thereby, at the time of the next shooting, there is an effect that imaging instruction information desirable for the user can be obtained according to the imaging device used by the user and the shooting environment.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the camera unit and GPS unit which comprise the imaging | photography system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation which the GPS unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment performs. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation which the GPS unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment performs. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation which the camera unit and GPS unit which concern on 1st Embodiment perform. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the camera unit and GPS unit which comprise the imaging | photography system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation which the camera unit and GPS unit which concern on 2nd Embodiment perform.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the camera unit 101 and the GPS unit 201 constituting the photographing system according to the first embodiment.

  A camera unit 101 that is an imaging device is a portable digital camera. The communication module unit 103 is an example of a communication unit for communicating with an external personal computer (PC) or the GPS unit 201. The ROM 107 is a non-volatile memory in which a startup program for starting the camera unit 101 is stored. The RTC 109 is a real time clock for the camera unit 101 to acquire time information. The clock 115 is an oscillator for supplying a clock to the RTC 109. The RTC power supply 113 is a backup power supply that is supplied for the RTC 109 to measure and operate.

  The operation unit 117 is an example of an operation unit for activating the camera unit 101, changing the imaging parameter setting, or operating the camera unit 101 during shooting. Here, the imaging parameters are the shooting mode setting function, strobe setting function, zoom setting function, image stabilization setting function, exposure setting function, ISO sensitivity setting function, white balance setting function, etc. of the camera related to the shooting. It is a function or setting value.

  The imaging unit 119 is an image signal processing block for converting incident light captured from the outside by the camera unit 101 into an electrical signal and processing it as image data. The recording medium 121 is a memory for recording and storing captured image data, positioning information (position information) received from the GPS unit 201, and the like. The CPU 105 is a central processing unit that transmits / receives data to / from the GPS unit 201 and controls the entire camera system of the camera unit 101. The main power supply 111 is a power supply for supplying a voltage to each block of the camera unit 101.

  A GPS unit 201 that is a position information acquisition device is a portable GPS terminal that can communicate with the camera unit 101. The communication module unit 203 is an example of a communication unit for communicating with an external PC or the camera unit 101 or connecting to a communication line such as the Internet to perform data communication. The ROM 207 is a non-volatile memory in which a startup program for starting the GPS unit 201 is stored. The GPS unit 209 includes an RTC for acquiring time information, and is an example of a position detection unit for acquiring positioning information transmitted from a GPS satellite or a wireless base station and detecting a position. The clock 215 is an oscillator for supplying a clock to the RTC of the GPS unit 209. The RTC power supply 213 is a backup power supply that is supplied to the RTC of the GPS unit 209 to measure and operate.

  The imaging instruction information storage unit 219 is a memory that records and stores imaging instruction information arbitrarily input by the user to the GPS unit 201 and imaging information including imaging parameters received from the camera unit 101. Here, the imaging instruction information in the present embodiment is the imaging spot position information, the imaging direction from the imaging position, the imaging time at which imaging should be performed, and the imaging parameters at the time of imaging according to the camera used by the user. Etc. The shooting information in the present embodiment is information in which imaging parameters edited by the user at the time of shooting, the shooting position, and the shooting time are associated with each other.

  The imaging instruction unit 217 is an example of an instruction unit for informing the user that the current position and the position of the imaging spot are within the set distance range, or informing the user of imaging instruction information. The imaging device information storage unit 221 is a memory that records and saves camera information registered by the user. Here, the camera information in the present embodiment is a settable range of imaging parameters of the camera.

  Next, the processing operation of the photographing system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts showing processing operations executed by the GPS unit 201. FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing operations executed by the camera unit 101 and the GPS unit 201. These processing operations are realized by the CPU 105 of the camera unit 101 and the CPU 205 of the GPS unit 201 executing control programs, respectively.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2, as shown in FIG. 2, the user registers the camera information of the camera unit 101 owned by the user in the GPS unit 201 before shooting (step S <b> 101). When registering camera information, for example, a user downloads camera information from the Internet via the communication module unit 203 of the GPS unit 201. The GPS unit 201 records and saves camera information in the imaging device information storage unit 221. By this registration work, the GPS unit 201 can acquire the camera information of the camera unit 101 owned by the user.

  Next, the user inputs imaging instruction information in a desired specific area to the GPS unit 201 (step S102). When inputting the imaging instruction information, for example, the user downloads from the imaging instruction information database on the Internet via the communication module unit 203 of the GPS unit 201. The GPS unit 201 records and stores the imaging instruction information in the imaging instruction information storage unit 219. By this input operation, the GPS unit 201 can acquire imaging instruction information in a specific area desired by the user.

  Next, as a second stage, as shown in FIG. 3, the GPS unit 201 acquires positioning information and time information transmitted from a GPS satellite or a radio base station (step S201). Then, the current position is compared with the shooting spot position information stored in the imaging instruction information storage unit 219 (step S202). If the current position and the position of the shooting spot are closer than the predetermined set distance a based on the comparison result (step S203), the GPS unit 201 notifies the user that it is a shooting spot via the imaging instruction unit 217 ( Step S204).

  Next, as a third stage, as shown in FIG. 4, consider a case where the user activates the camera unit 101 and enters a state in which photographing can be performed (step S301). In this case, the camera unit 101 notifies the GPS unit 201 via the communication module unit 103 that the registered camera is ready for photographing (step S302). In addition, the camera unit 101 performs Rec mode setting (step S303). This setting may be performed automatically or may be performed according to a user operation.

  The GPS unit 201 receives communication from the camera unit 101 (step S321), and acquires positioning information and time information transmitted from a GPS satellite or a wireless base station (step S322). Then, the current position is compared with the shooting spot position information stored in the imaging instruction information storage unit 219 (step S323). The GPS unit 201 determines whether the current position and the position of the shooting spot are closer than a predetermined set distance a based on the comparison result (step S324). If the result is close, the imaging device information storage unit 221 and the imaging instruction information storage unit 219 are accessed, and imaging instruction information corresponding to the camera to be photographed and the photographing spot is acquired (step S325). Thereafter, the GPS unit 201 notifies the user of the acquired imaging instruction information via the imaging instruction unit 217 (step S326).

  Next, as a fourth stage, upon receiving imaging instruction information from the GPS unit 201, the user performs camera settings for the camera unit 101 (step S401) and performs imaging (step S402). At this time, the user can shoot with the same imaging parameters as the imaging instruction information, but can also change to imaging parameters more desirable for the user. In this example, the following description is given on the assumption that the user changes the setting of the imaging parameter. After shooting, the camera unit 101 notifies the GPS unit 201 that shooting has been performed through the communication module unit 103 (step S403).

  The GPS unit 201 receives communication from the camera unit 101 (step S421), acquires positioning information at the time of shooting (step S422), and transmits it to the camera unit 101 via the communication module unit 203 (step S423). . The camera unit 101 receives communication from the GPS unit 201 (step S404), and records and saves the captured image in a recording medium (step S405). At this time, the positioning information and time information received from the GPS unit 201 are added to the image as the shooting position and shooting time (step S406).

  Next, as a fifth stage, the camera unit 101 sends the shooting parameters edited at the time of shooting by the user, the shooting information in which the shooting position and the shooting time are associated, to the GPS unit 201 via the communication module unit 103. Transmit (step S501). In this case, only the difference between the imaging parameters after editing and those before editing may be returned.

  The GPS unit 201 receives communication from the camera unit 101 (step S521), and saves shooting information in the imaging instruction information storage unit 219 (step S522). Accordingly, the GPS unit 201 can obtain imaging parameters desirable for the user according to the camera used by the user and the imaging environment, in addition to the initial imaging instruction information. The GPS unit 201 reflects the edited imaging parameter obtained here in the conventional imaging instruction information (step S523). Thereby, the imaging parameter etc. which the user adjusted manually are reflected in imaging instruction information. Therefore, when the user performs shooting in the same environment (shooting spot, shooting time, camera to be used, etc.), the edited imaging parameter can be presented as new imaging instruction information.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the camera unit 101 and the GPS unit 201 that constitute the photographing system according to the second embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the component similar to FIG. 1 of the said 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the second embodiment, the camera unit 101 includes an imaging instruction information storage unit 123 and an imaging instruction unit 125. The imaging instruction information storage unit 123 records and saves the edited imaging parameter, the imaging position, and the imaging time in association when the user edits the imaging parameter from the imaging instruction information received from the GPS unit 201 and shoots. Memory. The imaging instruction unit 125 is an example of instruction means for notifying the user of imaging instruction information.

  Next, the processing operation of the imaging system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, the first stage and the second stage are the same as those in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the first embodiment, respectively. As a third stage, as shown in FIG. 6, consider a case where the user activates the camera unit 101 and enters a state where photographing can be performed (step S301). In this case, the camera unit 101 notifies the GPS unit 201 via the communication module unit 103 that the registered camera is ready for photographing (step S302). In addition, the camera unit 101 performs Rec mode setting (step S303).

  The GPS unit 201 receives communication from the camera unit 101 (step S321), and acquires positioning information and time information transmitted from a GPS satellite or a wireless base station (step S322). Then, the current position is compared with the shooting spot position information stored in the imaging instruction information storage unit 219 (step S323). The GPS unit 201 determines whether the current position and the position of the shooting spot are closer than a predetermined set distance a based on the comparison result (step S324). If the result is close, the imaging device information storage unit 221 and the imaging instruction information storage unit 219 are accessed, and imaging instruction information corresponding to the camera to be photographed and the photographing spot is acquired (step S325). Thereafter, the GPS unit 201 transmits the acquired imaging parameter, current position information, and time information to the camera unit 101 via the communication module unit 203 (step S327).

  Upon receiving communication from the GPS unit 201 (step S304), the camera unit 101 notifies the user of imaging instruction information corresponding to the imaging spot and the camera to be imaged using the imaging instruction unit 125 (step S305).

  Next, as a fourth stage, upon receiving imaging instruction information from the camera unit 101, the user performs camera settings for the camera unit 101 (step S401) and performs imaging (step S402). At this time, the user can shoot with the same imaging parameters as the imaging instruction information, but can also change to imaging parameters more desirable for the user. In this example, the following description is given on the assumption that the user changes the setting of the imaging parameter. After shooting, the camera unit 101 notifies the camera that has been registered with the GPS unit 201 via the communication module unit 103 (step S403).

  The GPS unit 201 receives communication from the camera unit 101 (step S421), acquires positioning information at the time of shooting (step S422), and transmits it to the camera unit 101 via the communication module unit 203 (step S423). . The camera unit 101 receives communication from the GPS unit 201 (step S404), and stores the captured image in a recording medium (step S405). At this time, the positioning information and time information received from the GPS unit 201 are added to the image as the shooting position and shooting time (step S406).

  Next, as a fifth stage, the camera unit 101 records and saves in the imaging instruction information storage unit 123 imaging information in which the imaging parameters edited by the user at the time of imaging, the imaging position, and the imaging time are associated. (Step S502). Accordingly, the camera unit 101 can obtain imaging parameters desirable for the user according to the camera used by the user and the imaging environment, in addition to the initial imaging instruction information. The camera unit 101 reflects the edited imaging parameter obtained here in the conventional imaging instruction information (step S503). Thus, when the user performs shooting in the same environment (shooting spot, shooting time, camera to be used, etc.), the edited imaging parameter can be presented as new imaging instruction information.

  As described above in the first and second embodiments, the user can reflect the imaging parameters after the imaging in the imaging instruction information for the next imaging. Thereby, at the time of the next shooting, imaging instruction information desirable for the user according to the camera used by the user and the shooting environment can be obtained.

  Although the present invention has been described in detail based on preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. A part of the above-described embodiments may be appropriately combined.

  In the second embodiment described above, the imaging instruction information includes an imaging parameter in advance. However, the imaging instruction information may be stored in the recording medium of the camera unit 101. At this time, the imaging instruction information stored in the GPS unit 201 may be information that does not include imaging parameters. The imaging instruction information stored in the camera unit 101 may be stored in a built-in recording medium or a removable recording medium.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the camera information registration method is not particularly limited, and the user may transmit the camera information from the camera unit 101 to the GPS unit 201. In addition, the user may download camera information from the camera information database via an external PC. Here, the interface for communication may be a wireless system or a wired system.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, there is no particular limitation on the method for inputting the imaging instruction information, and the user may download from the imaging instruction information database via an external PC. In this case, the interface for communication may be a wireless system or a wired system. The camera information and the imaging instruction information may be stored in advance in a recording medium built in the GPS unit 201, or may be stored in a removable recording medium.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, there are no particular restrictions on the imaging instruction means used to notify the user of a shooting spot or imaging instruction information. For example, means such as voice guidance, light emission, vibration, or image display of the GPS unit 201 or the camera unit 101 may be used.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, when the GPS unit 201 informs the user that it is a shooting spot, not only position information but also information such as time information and weather information may be added. Further, when the GPS unit 201 of the first embodiment or the camera unit 101 of the second embodiment informs the user of the imaging instruction information, not only the position information but also information such as time information and weather information is added. May be.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, there is no particular restriction on the timing when the camera unit 101 and the GPS unit 201 communicate with each other. For example, the camera activation timing may be the timing when the operation unit of the camera receives an operation from the user. Further, the timing of shooting with the camera may be set as the timing after the camera has written the image data on the recording medium.

  In addition, the user can select whether to reflect the edited imaging parameters stored in the GPS unit 201 of the first embodiment or the camera unit 101 of the second embodiment in the conventional imaging instruction information. You may do it. Alternatively, information before and after editing may be notified.

  In order to optimize the imaging instruction information database, the GPS unit 201 of the first embodiment and the camera unit 101 of the second embodiment may transmit the imaging parameters after editing to an external device. . Examples of the external device include a server on the Internet and an imaging instruction information database stored in an external PC.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the camera unit 101 may be a camera-equipped mobile phone, a PDA having an imaging function, or the like. The GPS unit 201 may be a mobile phone having position detecting means, a portable PC having position detecting means, a PDA having position detecting means, or the like.

(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 recording media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (9)

A position information acquisition device capable of communicating with an imaging device,
Position detection means for detecting the position of the position information acquisition device;
Imaging instruction information storage means for storing imaging instruction information including imaging spot position information and imaging parameters of the imaging device;
Transmitting means for transmitting the position information detected by the position detecting means to the imaging device;
Receiving means for receiving imaging parameters edited at the time of shooting with the imaging device from the imaging device;
A position information acquisition apparatus comprising: a storing unit that stores the edited imaging parameter received by the receiving unit. An imaging device capable of communicating with a position information acquisition device,
Receiving means for receiving from the position information acquisition device position information detected by the position information acquisition device, and imaging instruction information including imaging spot position information and imaging parameters of the imaging device;
Editing means for editing the imaging parameters of the imaging instruction information received by the receiving means at the time of shooting;
An imaging apparatus comprising: a storage unit that associates and stores the positional information received by the receiving unit and the imaging parameters edited at the time of imaging by the editing unit. An imaging device capable of communicating with a position information acquisition device,
Receiving means for receiving position information detected by the position information acquisition device;
Imaging instruction information storage means for storing imaging instruction information including position information of imaging spots and imaging parameters of the imaging device;
Editing means for editing the imaging parameters of the imaging instruction information stored in the imaging instruction information storage means at the time of shooting;
An imaging apparatus comprising: a storage unit that associates and stores the positional information received by the receiving unit and the imaging parameters edited at the time of imaging by the editing unit. A position information acquisition device communicable with an imaging apparatus, a position detection unit for detecting the position of the position information acquisition apparatus, and an imaging instruction for storing imaging instruction information including position information of a shooting spot and imaging parameters of the imaging apparatus A method for controlling a position information acquisition device comprising an information storage means,
Transmitting the position information detected by the position detection means to the imaging device;
Receiving imaging parameters edited during imaging with the imaging device from the imaging device;
Storing the received imaging parameter after editing, and a control method for a position information acquisition apparatus. A method for controlling an imaging apparatus capable of communicating with a position information acquisition apparatus,
Receiving from the position information acquisition device position information detected by the position information acquisition device, and imaging instruction information including the position information of the imaging spot and the imaging parameters of the imaging device;
Editing the imaging parameters of the received imaging instruction information at the time of imaging;
A method for controlling an imaging apparatus, comprising: storing the received position information and the imaging parameters edited at the time of imaging in association with each other. An imaging apparatus capable of communicating with a position information acquisition apparatus, comprising: an imaging instruction information storage unit that stores imaging instruction information including position information of a shooting spot and imaging parameters of the imaging apparatus;
Receiving position information detected by the position information acquisition device;
Editing the imaging parameters of the imaging instruction information stored in the imaging instruction information storage means at the time of shooting;
A method for controlling an imaging apparatus, comprising: storing the received position information and the imaging parameters edited at the time of imaging in association with each other. A program for controlling a position information acquisition device capable of communicating with an imaging device,
Position detection means for detecting the position of the position information acquisition device;
Imaging instruction information storage means for storing imaging instruction information including imaging spot position information and imaging parameters of the imaging device;
Transmitting means for transmitting the position information detected by the position detecting means to the imaging device;
Receiving means for receiving imaging parameters edited at the time of shooting with the imaging device from the imaging device;
A program for causing a computer to function as storage means for storing imaging parameters after editing received by the reception means. A program for controlling an imaging device capable of communicating with a position information acquisition device,
Receiving means for receiving from the position information acquisition device position information detected by the position information acquisition device, and imaging instruction information including imaging spot position information and imaging parameters of the imaging device;
Editing means for editing the imaging parameters of the imaging instruction information received by the receiving means at the time of shooting;
A program for causing a computer to function as a storage unit that stores the positional information received by the reception unit and the imaging parameters edited at the time of imaging by the editing unit in association with each other. A program for controlling an imaging device capable of communicating with a position information acquisition device,
Receiving means for receiving position information detected by the position information acquisition device;
Imaging instruction information storage means for storing imaging instruction information including position information of imaging spots and imaging parameters of the imaging device;
Editing means for editing the imaging parameters of the imaging instruction information stored in the imaging instruction information storage means at the time of shooting;
A program for causing a computer to function as a storage unit that stores the positional information received by the reception unit in association with the imaging parameters edited at the time of shooting by the editing unit.

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