JP2013192029A - Portable terminal including photographing function and image acquisition system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that it is difficult to photograph a desired place.SOLUTION: An image acquisition system includes: a server; a portable terminal including a photographing function; and an information terminal which is to be connected to the portable terminal via the server. The portable terminal includes: a photographing unit; a radio communication circuit; a display; and a control circuit which forms information showing utilization permission of the photographing unit and outputs it via the radio communication circuit. The information terminal receives information from the portable terminal and supplies a utilization request to the information terminal via the server. The information terminal supplies image data outputted from the photographing unit to the information terminal via the server in response to the utilization request.

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable terminal having a photographing function and an image acquisition system using the portable terminal, and more particularly to a technique effective when applied to a portable terminal equipped with a camera and an image acquisition system using the portable terminal.

  Patent Document 1 discloses that a camera installed in a remote place is operated from a mobile terminal.

Japanese Patent No. 045332685

  In Patent Document 1, a camera is installed at a predetermined location and is suitable for capturing a specific image. However, it is not suitable for a place where it is difficult to constantly secure a power supply for the camera. In addition, when trying to acquire images of desired areas (for example, sightseeing spots around the world), it is required to install a camera at each location, which is not realistic.

  Other problems and novel features will become apparent from the description of the specification and the accompanying drawings.

  According to one embodiment, a person who does not have a camera-equipped mobile phone (a third party) can use the camera of the mobile phone from a remote location and was photographed according to the instructions of the third party Images are made available to third parties.

  According to one embodiment, it is possible to obtain an image of a region desired by a third party.

1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an image acquisition system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image acquisition system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the image acquisition system according to the first embodiment. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the mobile terminal according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the information terminal according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the information terminal according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to Embodiment 1. FIG.

Embodiment 1
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the embodiments described below, the same symbols are used in the drawings for portions that perform similar functions, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.
Embodiment 1
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an image acquisition system according to the first embodiment. The image acquisition system includes a portable terminal 1 having a photographing function, communication networks 2 and 4, an image distribution server 3, and an information terminal 5.
The mobile terminal 1 is a mobile terminal having a photographing function, for example, a mobile phone with a camera or a child camera.
In FIG. 1, mobile terminal users 6 and 7 are mobile terminal users who own and use the mobile terminal 1 with camera. Information terminal users 8 and 9 are information terminal users who use the information terminal 5. The communication network 2 is a wireless network so that the portable terminal 1 is portable. Although not particularly limited, the communication network 4 is also a wireless network.

  FIG. 3 shows an operation flow of each of the mobile terminal 1, the image distribution server 3, and the information terminal 5. And the information terminal 5 is comprised. It goes without saying that this operation flow can be realized by creating a combination of electronic components and / or software. Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The mobile terminal 1 with a camera has a position information detection circuit that detects its position. The mobile terminal users 6 and 7 operate the mobile terminal 1 to turn on the power of the mobile terminal 1 and permit the image distribution server 3 to use information related to the position of the mobile terminal 1. By performing this operation, the position information detected by the position information detection circuit is supplied to the image distribution server 3.

  The image distribution server 3 has map information in advance and receives the position information via the communication network 2 to plot the position of the terminal 1 on the map information based on the received position information. In FIG. 1, the camera-equipped mobile terminal 1 is shown as one for ease of explanation. However, actually, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 2, a plurality of camera-equipped mobile terminals 1 are provided, and each of the camera-equipped mobile terminals 1 detected by the position information detection circuit is provided. Is supplied to the image distribution server 3 via the communication network 4. Therefore, the image distribution server 3 performs a position information totaling process 301 in which the positions of a plurality of portable terminals are plotted on map information prepared in advance.

  The position information of the plurality of portable terminals plotted on the map in the position information totaling process 301 is supplied from the image distribution server 3 to the information terminal 5 as the total position information.

  Software for displaying map information is installed in the information terminal 5 in advance. Using this software, the positions of a plurality of portable terminals are plotted on the map from the total position information and displayed. The users 8 and 9 who use this information terminal 5 select a mobile terminal 1 in a desired area (area where an image is to be acquired) from a plurality of displayed mobile terminals (specific camera device selection process). 551). That is, an electronic camera mounted on a mobile terminal in a desired area is selected. By performing this processing, a use request indicating that the camera of the selected mobile terminal 1 is to be used is supplied from the information terminal 5 to the image distribution server 3.

  The image distribution server 3 receives the use request for the portable terminal from the information terminal 5 to identify the selected portable terminal, and issues a use request for requesting the use of the camera to the identified portable terminal. The use request control process 302 to be formed is executed. Thereby, a usage request is supplied to the specified portable terminal.

  In the mobile terminal to which the usage request is supplied from the image distribution server 3, a camera usage request by a third party is displayed in the processing of the specific terminal usage permission 101. When the users 6 and 7 who carry the portable terminal respond to the use request of the camera, in the processing of the specific terminal use permission 101, the use permission indicating the use permission is requested via the image distribution server 3. Transmit to the original information terminal 5. On the other hand, when the usage request is not responded, the image distribution server 3 is notified of that.

  The users 8 and 9 of the information terminal 5 receive the use permission and perform the angle of view correction and button press processing 552. In this process 552, the users 8 and 9 operate the information terminal 5 to send a preview image transmission request (not shown) to the portable terminal 1 via the image distribution server 3. In response to the preview image transmission request, the mobile terminal 1 captures a moving image or a continuous still image in real time and sends it to the information terminal 5 via the image distribution server 3. In accordance with the sent image data, the information terminal 5 displays a real-time moving image or a continuous still image. In process 552, the users 8 and 9 check the real-time display image displayed on the information terminal 5 and perform the view angle correction operation using the view angle direction key and the zoom key so that the desired view angle is obtained. Do. By performing the angle-of-view correction operation, an angle-of-view request for requesting angle-of-view correction is supplied from the information terminal 5 to the portable terminal 1 via the image distribution server 3. Although not particularly limited, in response to a view angle request, the portable terminal 1 displays a view angle correction instruction image corresponding to the requested view angle correction (view angle correction processing 102). The users 6 and 7 operate the position of the camera so as to match the angle-of-view correction instruction image displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 1. Also at this time, the mobile terminal 1 continues to supply the preview image captured by the electronic camera to the information terminal 5. The users 8 and 9 press the shutter of the information terminal 5 when the desired angle of view is reached. In the shutter pressing process 553, the information terminal 5 detects the pressed shutter and sends a shooting command signal to the portable terminal 1 via the image distribution server 3.

  The portable terminal 1 receives the shooting command signal, performs a capture operation on the image being shot in the shooting process 103, stores the shot image, and stores the stored shot image via the image distribution server 3. The information is supplied to the information terminal 5.

  By the above operation, for example, an image of a sightseeing spot can be acquired from an information terminal away from the desired sightseeing spot. Further, since a fixed camera is not used, it is not necessary to secure a power source for the fixed camera.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the image acquisition system shown in FIG.
As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, a plurality of camera-equipped mobile terminals 1 that supply information to the image distribution server 3 are provided. In FIG. 2, a plurality of camera-equipped mobile terminals are shown as mobile terminals 11, 12, and 13. These portable terminals are connected to a common image distribution server 3 via a communication network 2, and the image distribution server 3 is further connected to an information terminal via a communication network 4. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the case where one information terminal is provided has been described for ease of explanation. However, as shown in FIG. 2, the information terminals are also like information terminals 51, 52, 53. A plurality of them are connected to the common image distribution server 3. The operation of each information terminal is the same as described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 2, the configuration of the image distribution server 3 that is shared is shown in more detail. That is, the image distribution server 3 includes a position information processing server 31 that processes position information supplied from each mobile terminal, a camera device / information terminal approval server 32 that registers each mobile terminal and information terminal, A captured image storage server 33 that stores images captured by an electronic camera device mounted on each portable terminal is included. Further, the image distribution server 3 includes a communication server 34 for performing wireless communication between each portable terminal and each information terminal via the communication networks 2 and 4. Each of the above servers may be configured as a hardware independent server, or may be configured as a software independent server.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the display screen of the display in the mobile terminal with camera. That is, FIG. 4 shows an arrangement example of an image displayed on the display device 1100 (an image taken by an installed camera), operation instructions, operation buttons, and the like. Although not particularly limited, a switch or the like for operating the mobile terminal is provided outside the display device 1100. However, the description is omitted because it is not related to the operation of this embodiment.

  Next, an example of display on the display 1100 of the mobile terminal 1 will be described with reference to FIG. On the display 1100 of the portable terminal 1, as shown in the figure, an image (a mountain, a river, a house in the figure) captured by the mounted electronic camera device is displayed. In the figure, a display 1001 is a camera usage permission display. For example, when there is a request from a third party to use the electronic camera device (in FIG. 3, a usage request is supplied). Is a display for informing the request. ON and OFF shown as a display 1002 are operation buttons for notifying whether to permit the use of the camera when the camera use permission 1001 is displayed. To allow use, press ON. To reject, press OFF. A display 1003 is a display showing zooming up and zooming down of the camera device, and indicates a request from the information terminal user to the mobile terminal user for zooming up and zooming down by blinking. The mobile terminal user recognizes this request by blinking, and touches the display 1003 to zoom up and down the camera device. That is, the display 1003 portion serves as a portion indicating a request from the information terminal user and an operation unit by the portable terminal user. In the figure, a display unit 1004, a display unit 1005, a display unit 1006, and a display unit 1007 are display units that display instructions regarding the angle of view from the information terminal user. When an angle of view request (FIG. 3) is supplied from the information terminal 5, any one of the display unit 1004, the display unit 1005, the display unit 1006, and the display unit 1007 blinks according to an instruction from the information terminal user. The user of the mobile terminal moves the direction of the mounted camera device in the direction of the blinking display unit. That is, the correction direction of the angle of view is recognized by blinking of the display units 1004 to 1007, and the direction of the mounted camera is moved.

  FIG. 5 shows a display example on the display 5100 of the information terminal 5. This display example is an example in which the position information of a plurality of mobile terminals is supplied from the image distribution server 3, and the position of each mobile terminal is displayed on the map by software that displays a preinstalled map. Although it does not restrict | limit in particular, As a map, the map of East Japan is shown and the position of a some portable terminal (AF) is plotted on the map. Further, the address of the blinking plot and the capability of the electronic camera device mounted on the mobile terminal there are displayed. Although not particularly limited, a portable terminal corresponding to the plot is selected by touching a plot portion in a desired region from a plurality of plots. Depending on the map display software installed in advance, the scale of the map to be displayed can be freely changed.

  FIG. 6 shows a display example of the display 5100 in the information terminal 5. In this display example, a specific mobile terminal in a desired area is selected from the display example shown in FIG. 5 above, and the arrangement on the display 5100 after receiving usage permission (FIG. 3) from the specific mobile terminal. It is shown. The image taken by the electronic camera device mounted on the specific mobile terminal is the same as the image shown in FIG. 6 includes a shutter button display unit 5001, a view angle direction instruction button display unit (view angle direction key) 5002, and a zoom instruction button display unit (zoom key) 5003. The information terminal user performs an operation while touching the view angle direction instruction button display unit 5002 so that the camera device faces the desired view angle. Thereby, an angle of view is instructed to the mobile terminal user. Further, by operating the zoom instruction button display unit 5003 while touching it, the mobile terminal user is instructed to zoom in and zoom down. When a desired angle of view and zoom are reached, a shooting command (FIG. 3) is transmitted by touching the shutter button display unit 5001 and shooting is performed.

  In each of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 described above, an example has been described in which input can be made to the terminal by touching each display portion of the display. A part may be provided.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the camera-equipped mobile terminal 1. An example of a camera-equipped mobile terminal will be described below with reference to FIG.

  The camera-equipped mobile terminal 1 includes an image storage circuit 501, a camera performance information storage circuit 502, a position information detection circuit 503, a photographing device 504, a camera device control circuit 505, an ID storage circuit 507, a communication circuit 508, a display 509, an angle of view. A correction display creation circuit 510 and a camera device operation circuit 511 are included.

  When the user of the camera-equipped mobile terminal 1 performs an operation that the position information of the mobile terminal 1 may be used by the image distribution server 3 using the camera device operation circuit 511, the camera device operation circuit 511 The information is also supplied to the camera device control circuit 505. In response to this information, the camera device control circuit 505 reads the specific information ID given to the camera-equipped mobile terminal 1 from the ID storage circuit 507, and sends the specific information ID and the position information via the wireless communication circuit 508. To the image distribution server. Here, the specific information ID is information unique to each portable terminal, for example, an IP address used in communication, and is written in the ID storage circuit 507 in advance. As described above, the image distribution server 3 receives a plurality of position information from the mobile terminal, performs position information aggregation processing, and sends the aggregation position information to the information terminal 5.

  When a use request is supplied from the information terminal 5 to the camera-equipped mobile terminal via the image distribution server 3, the camera device control circuit 505 is notified of the use request via the wireless communication circuit 508. As shown in FIG. 4, the camera use permission is displayed on the display 509. In response to this display, when the user of the mobile terminal 1 performs an operation (operating the button 1002 in FIG. 4) using the camera device operation circuit 511 so as to permit the use of the camera, the camera device control circuit 505. Supplies a signal representing the use permission shown in FIG. 3 to the requesting information terminal via the communication circuit 508 via the image distribution server 3. The mobile terminal 1 captures an image from the photographing device 504 in parallel with the supply of the signal indicating the use permission, and supplies the captured image data to the image distribution server 3 via the communication circuit 508. .

  When a view angle request is supplied from the information terminal 5 to the camera-equipped mobile terminal 1, the camera device control circuit 505 forms a display according to the mobile terminal user's desired correction amount by the view angle correction display creation circuit 510. Are displayed on the display 509. As described above, the user of the camera-equipped mobile terminal 1 operates the camera device according to the desired correction amount displayed on the display 509. Also at this time, the photographed image from the photographing device 504 is continuously transmitted to the information terminal 5 via the communication circuit 508. When a shooting command is supplied from the user of the information terminal 5, the camera device control circuit 505 causes the image storage circuit 501 to temporarily store the image data captured from the camera 504. Next, the image data stored in the image storage circuit 501 is transmitted to the information terminal 5 through the image distribution server 3 via the communication circuit 508. Through the above series of operations, the image of the camera device can be sent to the information terminal.

  The camera-equipped mobile terminal according to this embodiment is provided with the camera performance information storage circuit 502 as described above. In the camera performance information storage circuit 502, information indicating the performance of the camera device, for example, the number of pixels and the type of camera (camera performance information) is written in advance. The camera performance information is also supplied to the server when the position information is supplied to the image distribution server. As a result, the information terminal can obtain the camera performance information from the image distribution server, and can display information on the performance of the camera device as shown in FIG. In view of this, it is also possible to select a mobile terminal for which a use request is made.

  Since the specific information ID and the position information are supplied from the portable terminal to the image distribution server as described above, the image distribution server 3 can take correspondence between the position information and the camera-equipped portable terminal. When the user of the information terminal 5 selects a portable terminal from the plot on the map, the specific information ID corresponding to this is obtained from the position information on the map, and the portable terminal having this specific information ID is identified. The mobile terminal selected by the user of the information terminal can be selected from the plurality of mobile terminals with cameras, and a usage request can be issued to the selected mobile terminal.

  In this embodiment, the portable terminal 1 with a camera has been described as an example. However, an electronic camera device having a position detection function and a communication function may be used. Further, when viewed as a portable terminal, the electronic camera device only needs to include at least the photographing device 504.

  The position information shown in FIG. 3 is supplied when the portable terminal permits the information terminal to use the camera device mounted on the portable terminal. Therefore, the position information can be regarded as information indicating use permission. The specific information ID can also be regarded as information indicating permission of use since it permits use of the camera device of a specific mobile terminal with camera.

  Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited thereto and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the information terminal 5 may also be a mobile terminal with a camera. In this case, it is possible to mutually use the electronic camera devices mounted on each. In the above example, the zoom-up and zoom-down operations have been described as instructed from the information terminal user to the mobile terminal user. However, the information terminal may issue an instruction to the camera device control circuit 505. In this way, the user of the information terminal can directly zoom up and down.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile terminal with camera 2 Communication network 3 Image distribution server 4 Communication network 5 Information terminal 11 Mobile terminal 12 Mobile terminal 13 Mobile terminal 31 Location information processing server 32 Camera apparatus / information terminal authentication server 33 Captured image storage server 34 Communication server 51 Information Terminal 52 Information terminal 53 Information terminal 501 Image storage circuit 502 Camera performance information storage circuit 503 Position information detection circuit 504 Camera 505 Camera control device 507 ID storage circuit 508 Communication circuit 509 Display 510 View angle correction display creation circuit 511 Camera device operation circuit

Claims (7)

A camera,
A wireless communication circuit;
An indicator,
A control circuit that forms information representing permission to use the photographing device and outputs the information via the wireless communication circuit;
A portable terminal having a photographing function of outputting image data from the photographing device via the wireless communication circuit in response to a use request of the photographing device supplied via the wireless communication circuit. A position information detection circuit for obtaining a position;
The mobile terminal according to claim 1, wherein the information indicating use permission includes information related to a position obtained by a position information detection circuit.   The portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the display device performs display in accordance with the angle-of-view information when receiving angle-of-view information specifying the angle of view of the photographing device. An image acquisition system comprising a server, a plurality of portable terminals each having a photographing function, and an information terminal to be connected to one of the plurality of portable terminals via the server,
Each of the plurality of mobile terminals includes a photographing device, a wireless communication circuit, a display, and a control circuit that forms information indicating permission to use the photographing device and outputs the information through the communication circuit.
The information terminal receives the information from each of the mobile terminals, supplies a use request to the information terminal via the server,
The image acquisition system in which the terminal supplies image data output from the photographing device to the information terminal via the server in response to the use request.   5. Each of the mobile terminals having the plurality of photographing functions includes a position information detection circuit for obtaining a position, and the information indicating use permission includes information on the position obtained by the position information detection circuit. Image acquisition system.   6. The image acquisition system according to claim 5, wherein each of the portable terminals receives angle-of-view information designating an angle of view of the photographing device, and performs display according to the angle-of-view information on the display.   The image acquisition system according to claim 6, wherein one of the plurality of portable terminals is selected by the server in accordance with designation from the information terminal.

Images