JP2013225910A - Image transmission system, computer, transmission control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a user with an image transmission system, an image storage device, and a program capable of uploading image data with simple operation.SOLUTION: An image transmission system 1 comprises a digital camera 10, a PC 40, and a Web server 50. The digital camera 10 stores a plurality of pieces of image data, printing request information, and transmission request information. The digital camera 10 determines whether a connection destination is a printing device or an external apparatus differing from the printing device when detecting external connection, transmits image data with which the printing request information is associated to the printing device, when it is determined that the connection destination is the printing device, and transmits image data with which the transmission request information is associated to the external apparatus, when it is determined that the connection destination is the external apparatus. The PC 40 receives the transmitted image data, and transmits the received image data to the Web server 50 through a communication network channel 51.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image transmission system, an image storage device, and a program for transmitting image data to another external device whose main application is different.

Conventionally, in home purge and blog update, a user captures a subject with a digital camera, generates image data, and uploads the generated image data to a Web server.
This Web server has a function that allows a user or other users to browse the uploaded image when the user uploads image data via a communication network line (see Patent Document 1).

  By the way, even if image data is generated by the digital camera, since the digital camera is not provided with a network communication function, the procedure for uploading the image data is as follows. That is, first, image data is transferred to a personal computer by USB connection of the digital camera to the personal computer or by causing the personal computer to read the memory card. Thereafter, the image data is uploaded to the web server by performing an upload operation on the screen of the personal computer.

JP 2002-142184 A

  However, the above-described procedure has a problem that it is necessary to perform an upload operation on the screen of the personal computer every time image data is uploaded from the digital camera to the web server, and the upload operation becomes complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image transmission system, an image storage device, and a program that allow a user to upload image data with a simple operation.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided image storage means for storing a plurality of image data, print request information for requesting printing of the image in association with each of the plurality of image data stored in the image storage means, and Information storage means for storing transmission request information for requesting transmission of image data to the outside, and transmission record information indicating whether transmission has been completed for the image data requested to be transmitted, and detecting an external connection When the connection to the outside is detected by the first detection unit and the first detection unit, based on the data transmitted from the outside at the time of the connection, whether the connection destination is a printing device, Alternatively, a connection destination determination unit that determines whether the external device is different from the printing device, and a print request stored in the information storage unit when the connection destination determination unit determines that the connection destination is a printing device. information A first transmission unit that reads the image data associated with the print request information from the image storage unit and transmits the image data to the printing apparatus, and the connection destination determination unit determines that the connection destination is an external device. In this case, the transmission request information stored in the information storage unit is read out, and the image data associated with the transmission request information and untransmitted is read out from the image storage unit and transmitted to the external device. An image storage device including a transmission unit; a second detection unit that detects connection with the image storage device; and a connection with the image storage device detected by the second detection unit. An execution control means for controlling to execute a program for transmitting data to the outside via a communication network, and a program executed by the control by the execution control means. To determine whether the image data transmitted from the image storage device has been transmitted to the outside via the communication network, and the image data transmitted by the transmitted determination unit. If it is determined that the transmitted image data has already been transmitted to the image storage device, the transmitted image data is transmitted via the communication network. A third transmission unit that stores information transmitted to the outside and stores the transmitted information to the image storage device, and further includes an external device. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the external device further includes a calculation unit that calculates a hash value of image data transmitted from the image storage device, and the transmitted determination unit is And determining whether or not the image data has already been transmitted based on the hash value calculated by the calculating means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the image storage device captures an image of a subject and generates image data, and image data generated by the imaging unit. And a control means for storing in the image storage means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily upload image data because arbitrary image data can be transmitted to the second external device simply by connecting the image storage device to the first external device.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the image transmission system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the digital camera which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the image recording part which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a figure which shows the memory content of the image recording part which concerns on the said embodiment. 3 is a display screen of the digital camera according to the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control part which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of PC (personal computer) which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the digital camera and PC (personal computer) which concern on the said embodiment. It is a display screen of PC (personal computer) concerning the embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image transmission system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The image transmission system 1 includes a digital camera 10 as an image storage device, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 40 as a first external device connected to the digital camera, and a communication network line 51 to the PC 40. And a Web server 50 as a second external device connected via the. This digital camera 10 can also be connected to a printer 60.

  Here, the digital camera 10 and the PC 40 are connected by, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus). The communication network line 51 is, for example, an internet line.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the digital camera 10.
The digital camera 10 includes an imaging lens unit 11 as an imaging unit, an imaging unit 12 as an imaging unit, a unit circuit 13 as an imaging unit, an image processing unit 14 as an imaging unit, an encoding / decoding processing unit 15, a preview. An engine 16, an image recording unit 17, a program memory 18, a display unit 19, a key input unit 20, a communication unit 21, and a control unit 30 as control means connected to each unit 11 to 21 via a bus line 22. .

  The key input unit 20 includes a shutter key 201, a function key A (decision instruction key) 202, a cursor key (selection instruction key) 203, and a function key B (cancel instruction key) 204.

  The imaging lens unit 11 is mounted with an optical system member, and includes a zoom lens 111, a focus lens 112, a lens motor 113 that drives the zoom lens 111 and the focus lens 112 based on a control signal from the control unit 30, and The lens position detection unit 114 that acquires the movement positions of the zoom lens 111 and the focus lens 112 is provided.

  The lens motor 113 advances and retracts the zoom lens 111 and the focus lens 112 when a focus instruction is detected by half-pressing the shutter key 201 or when a zoom operation is detected by the cursor key 204.

The imaging unit 12 is configured by an image sensor such as a CMOS, and is disposed on the optical axis of the imaging lens unit 11 described above, and generates an imaging signal corresponding to the optical image of the subject.
The unit circuit 13 receives an analog imaging signal output from the imaging unit 12, receives a CDS that holds the input imaging signal, a gain adjustment amplifier (AGC) that amplifies the input imaging signal, and an amplified imaging. It comprises an A / D converter (ADC) that converts the signal into a digital image signal.

The image processing unit 14 performs various image processing on the imaging signal output from the unit circuit 13.
The display unit 19 is a liquid crystal panel with a built-in driver. When an imaging signal and a drive control signal for driving the driver are input, the display unit 19 displays an image based on the imaging signal.

  The preview engine 16 performs reduction processing on the imaging signal output from the image processing unit 14 and causes the display unit 19 to display the image signal. In addition to the generation of such a through image, the preview engine 16 causes the display unit 19 to display an image based on the image data immediately before being recorded in the image recording unit 17 during image recording.

  The encoding / decoding processing unit 15 encodes the signal output from the image processing unit 14 at the time of image recording and outputs it as image data to the image recording unit 17, and reads out from the image recording unit 17 at the time of image reproduction. The decoded image data is decoded and output to the display unit 19.

The communication unit 21 is connected to the digital camera 10 and an external device such as a printer 60 as a printing device or a PC 40 as a first external device, and transmits an image file stored in the image recording unit 17.
The program memory 18 stores a program for executing processing shown in a flowchart described later.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the storage area of the image recording unit 17.
The storage area of the image recording unit 17 includes a file entity storage area 171 as image storage means for storing a plurality of image data, and a file management area 172 as information storage means for storing information associated with the plurality of image data. , Composed of.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents stored in the file management area 172 of the image recording unit 17.
In the file management area 172, file management information is recorded for each of the plurality of image data. This file management information includes a storage address item 173, a file name item 174, a print designation item 175, a print number item 176, a transmission designation item 177, and a transmission record item 178.

  In the print designation item, flag 0 is set when there is no print designation, and flag 1 is set when there is print designation. That is, print request information for requesting printing of an image is stored in the print designation item.

In the transmission designation item, flag 0 is set when transmission is not designated, and flag 1 is set when transmission is designated. That is, transmission request information for requesting transmission of image data to the outside is stored in the transmission designation item.
In the transmission record item, a flag 0 is set when not transmitted, and a flag 1 is set when transmitted. That is, the transmission record item stores transmission record information indicating whether or not the transmission of the image data is completed.

  Specifically, for example, the image data with the file name “img0001.jpg” has no print designation and no transmission designation. The image data of the file name “img0002.jpg” has three print designations and no transmission designation. The image data of the file name “img0003.jpg” has no print designation and has been sent with a transmission designation.

  The transmission designation method is specifically as shown in FIG. That is, an image 191 based on the image data is displayed on the display unit 19 of the digital camera 10, and a selection screen 192 for prompting the user to upload the image 191 is displayed. Here, by detecting the user's operation, if the selection of “upload” is detected, there is a transmission designation, and the image recording unit 17 has flag 1 as a transmission designation item of image data (file name) corresponding to this image. Is set. On the other hand, when the selection of “Cancel” is detected, there is no transmission designation, and flag 0 is set in the transmission designation item of the image data (file name) corresponding to this image in the image recording unit 17. This setting process is performed with a user interface at the same level as the known print reservation process.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 30.
The control unit 30 is a one-chip microcomputer, and includes a first detection processing unit 31 as a first detection unit, a connection destination determination processing unit 32 as a connection destination determination unit, and a first transmission processing unit as a first transmission unit. 33 and a second transmission processing unit 34 as second transmission means.

When the communication unit 21 is connected to the outside, the first detection processing unit 31 detects the connection with the outside.
When the connection to the outside is detected by the first detection processing unit 31, the connection destination determination processing unit 32 is based on the data transmitted from the connection destination, or the connection destination is a printing device. Determine if it is a different external device.

  For example, when data based on a PictBridge (registered trademark) connection is received from a connection destination, it is determined that the connection destination is a printing apparatus. On the other hand, when reception of data other than data based on PictBridge (registered trademark) is detected, it is determined that the connection destination is a PC.

  If the connection destination determination processing unit 32 determines that the connection destination is a printing device, the first transmission processing unit 33 sets the flag status of the print request information stored in the file management area 172 of the image recording unit 17. The image data associated with the print request information is read from the file entity storage area 171 and transmitted to the printing apparatus.

  If the connection destination determination processing unit 32 determines that the connection destination is not a printing device, the second transmission processing unit 34 reads the state of the transmission request information flag stored in the file management area 172 of the image recording unit 17. The image data associated with the transmission request information is read from the file entity storage area 171 and transmitted to the external device. Each processing program of the first detection processing unit 31 to the second transmission processing unit 34 is stored in the program memory 18 and is loaded and executed by an instruction of the control unit 30 as necessary.

  The Web server 50 has identification information that can identify the Web server 50 on the communication network line 51. The identification information is, for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or an IP address.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the PC 40.
The PC 40 includes a control unit 41 that processes the entire PC, a program memory 42, a work memory 43, a recording medium 44, a display unit 45, an operation unit 46, and a communication processing unit 47.

  In the figure, the control unit 41 is composed of an arithmetic circuit such as a CPU. Further, the program memory 42 to the recording medium 44 are configured by an SD-RAM, an HDD, or the like. Further, the display unit 45 is configured by a display device such as a CRT or LCD. The operation unit 46 includes a character input device represented by a keyboard and a position designation device such as a mouse and a touch pad. The communication processing unit 47 is configured by a device equipped with an external connector, and has a function as a communication modem and a plug-in function.

  The program memory 42 causes the control unit 41, the work memory 43, or the recording medium 44 to function as an identification information storage processing program 420 for causing the control unit 41 to function as identification information storage means. A second detection processing program 421 for reading, a reading processing program 422 for causing the control unit 41 to function as reading means, a receiving processing program 423 for causing the control unit 41 and communication processing unit 47 to function as receiving means, and a control unit 41 and the communication processing unit 47 to function as a third transmission unit, a third transmission processing program 424, a control unit 41 to function as a hash value calculation unit, a hash value calculation processing program 425, a control unit 41, Upload history to work memory 43 or recording medium 44 Upload history storage processing program 426 to function as 憶 means, and stores the upload determining program 427 to function as an upload determining means to the control unit 41. And the control part 41 loads these programs and performs a process by the process mentioned later.

For each of the above programs, identification information for identifying the Web server 50 stored by the identification information storage processing program 420 is stored in the recording medium 44.
The second detection processing program 421 is a program for causing the control unit 41 to detect connection with the digital camera 10.
The read processing program 422 causes the control unit 41 to read the identification information stored in the recording medium 44 when the control unit 41 detects the connection with the digital camera 10 by executing the second detection processing program. It is a program.

The reception processing program 423 is a program for causing the communication processing unit 47 to receive the image data transmitted by the second transmission processing unit 34 under the control of the control unit 41.
The third transmission processing program 424 transmits the image data received by the reception processing program 423 to the communication processing unit 47 via the communication network line 51 based on the identification information read by the reading processing program 422. This is a program for uploading to the server 50.

The hash value calculation processing program 425 is a program for causing the control unit 41 to calculate a hash value of image data received by executing the reception processing program 423.
The upload history storage processing program 426 is a program for storing the hash value of image data that has already been uploaded in the recording medium 44 as an upload history.
The upload determination processing program 427 causes the control unit 41 to compare the hash value stored in the recording medium 44 by the upload history storage processing program 426 and the hash value of the image data uploaded by the third transmission processing program 424. When the hash values match, it is determined that the upload has been completed, and when the hash values do not match, the program determines that the upload has not been completed.

  Here, the reason why the hash value is used as the upload history is that the file name and the time stamp can be changed, but the hash value obtained from the image data cannot be changed, so that the duplicate upload of the image data can be avoided.

Next, operations of the control unit 30 of the digital camera 10 and the control unit 41 of the PC 40 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, the control unit 41 of the PC 40 is connected to the Web server 50 via the communication network line 51. In this state, the user connects the digital camera 10 to the PC 40 via USB.
When it is detected that the USB connection is established, the control units 30 and 41 of the digital camera 10 and the PC 40 load the respective programs from the program memories 18 and 42 to prepare for execution, and the control unit 41 further includes a communication processing unit. 47, negotiation of PictBridge (registered trademark) communication is performed with the digital camera 10 to establish communication (steps ST11 and ST21). Thereafter, the control unit 41 waits for execution of data transfer from the digital camera 10 (step ST22).

  On the other hand, the connection destination determination processing unit 32 of the control unit 30 of the digital camera 40 determines whether the connected external device is the PC 40 or the printer 60 by negotiation of PictBridge communication (step ST12). For this determination, for example, a method for determining whether the connected external device is the PC 40 or the printer 60 based on the IP address included in the data transmitted by the above negotiation, or a command specific to the printer is included in the transmitted data. There is a method of making a determination based on whether or not it is added.

  When the connection destination determination processing unit 32 determines that the connection destination is the PC 40, the control unit 30 refers to the flag states of the transmission designation item 177 and the transmission record item 178 in the file management area 172 (step ST13).

  Next, it is sequentially determined whether or not there is any image data in which 1 is set in the flag of the transmission designation item 177 and 0 is set in the flag of the transmission record item 178 (step ST14).

If it is determined that there is no image data, this process ends. If it is determined that there is image data, the image data is transferred to the PC 40 by PictBridge (registered trademark) communication (step ST15).
Thereafter, the control unit 30 waits for an upload result transmitted from the PC 40 (step ST16).

  On the other hand, the control unit 41 of the PC 40 calculates a hash value for the image data transferred from the digital camera 10, that is, the image data to be uploaded (step ST24).

  Next, the hash value calculated in step ST24 is collated with the hash value of the image data stored in the recording medium 44 by the upload history storage processing program 426 in the past (step ST25), and the image data to be uploaded has already been uploaded. It is determined whether or not there is (step ST26). If this determination is YES, the process proceeds to step ST27, and if NO, the process proceeds to step ST28.

  If the image data to be uploaded has already been uploaded, that is, if it is determined as YES in step ST26, the image data specified by this hash value is not uploaded, and information indicating that the upload has been completed, The result is output to the digital camera 10 waiting for the upload result (step ST27).

On the other hand, if the image data to be uploaded has not yet been uploaded, that is, if NO is determined in step ST26, the HTTP processing is performed with the Web server 50 using the HTTP POST sequence for the communication processing unit 47. Protocol) communication is performed to upload the image data (step ST28), and the hash value of the uploaded image data is stored in the recording medium 44 (step ST29).
Specifically, the above upload history is displayed on the display unit 45 of the PC 40 as shown in FIG. This upload history includes a file name 401 of data that has been uploaded, a creation date 402, a file size 403, an upload date 404, and the like.

  Then, information indicating that the upload of the image data to be uploaded is completed is output to the digital camera 10 waiting for the upload result (step ST30).

  On the other hand, when receiving the result of upload completion in step ST16, the digital camera 10 sets a flag 1 in the transmission record item 178 corresponding to the transmitted image data, and then determines whether or not to continue the upload operation for the user. The process waits for selection, and if “continuation” is detected, the process returns to step ST13. On the other hand, if this determination is NO, the present process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step ST12 that the connection destination is the printer 60, the control unit 30 refers to the state of the flag of the print designation item 175 and the number of print items 176 in the file management area 172, and sets the print designation item 175. With respect to the image data in which the flag is set to 1, the print instruction for the number of sheets stored in the print number item 176 is waited, and when the user issues a print instruction by a predetermined operation, the corresponding image data is transferred to the printer 60. (Step ST18), and this process is terminated.

According to this embodiment, there are the following effects.
(1) By simply connecting the digital camera 10 to the PC 40, it is determined whether the connection destination is a PC (transmission device) or a printer (printing device), and image data designated for transmission and image data designated for printing according to this discrimination result. Can be sent separately.

  (2) Using a hash value as the upload history, each time an attempt is made to upload image data, the hash value of the image data to be uploaded is checked against the hash value of the upload history. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the same data from being uploaded twice.

(3) Since the upload history is stored in the storage of the PC 40, the storage of the digital camera 10 is not compressed compared to the case where the upload history is stored in the storage of the digital camera 10 having a capacity smaller than that of the PC 40.
(4) Even if the user generates image data using a plurality of digital cameras 10, the upload history can be centrally managed by the PC 40.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications, improvements, etc. within a scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.
For example, in the present embodiment, the PC 40 is used to relay between the digital camera 10 and the Web server 50, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, any configuration may be used as long as the device has a connection interface with a digital camera and a connection interface with a communication network.
Further, although the upload history is displayed on the PC 40, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration without a display device may be employed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image transmission system 10 Digital camera 17 Image recording part 18 Program memory 21 Communication part 30 Control part 31 1st detection process part 32 Connection destination judgment process part 33 1st transmission process part 34 2nd transmission process part 40 PC (personal computer) )
41 Control Unit 42 Program Memory 44 Recording Medium 45 Display Unit 47 Communication Processing Unit 50 Web Server 51 Communication Network Line 171 File Entity Storage Area 172 File Management Area

The present invention relates to an image transmission system , a computer, a transmission control method, and a program.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image transmission system , a computer, a transmission control method, and a program that can prevent double uploading of image data .

The present invention includes an image storage means for storing a plurality of image data, and the transmission request information in association with each of the plurality of image data stored in the image storage means, a request for transmission to the external of the image data, Information storage means for storing transmission record information indicating whether or not transmission of image data requested to be transmitted is completed, first detection means for detecting connection with an external device, and the first detection means When the connection with the external device is detected by the above, the transmission request information stored in the information storage unit is read out, and the image data associated with the transmission request information and untransmitted is read out from the image storage unit. a first transmitting means for transmitting to the device, an image storage device and a second detecting means for detecting a connection between the image storage apparatus, by the second detecting means and the image storage device When a continuation is detected, a transmission determination unit that determines whether the image data transmitted from the image storage device has been transmitted to the outside via the communication network, and an image that has been transmitted by the transmission determination unit A transmission control unit configured to control transmission of the transmitted image data so that the transmitted image data is not transmitted to the outside via the communication network when the data is determined to be data. .

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent double uploading of image data.

Claims (3)

Image storage means for storing a plurality of image data;
In association with each of the plurality of image data stored in the image storage means, print request information for requesting printing of the image, transmission request information for requesting transmission of the image data to the outside, and transmission requested Information storage means for storing transmission record information as to whether or not transmission of image data has been completed;
First detecting means for detecting connection with the outside;
When a connection with the outside is detected by the first detection means, the connection destination is a printing device or an external device different from the printing device based on data transmitted from the outside at the time of the connection A connection destination judging means for judging whether the device is a device;
When the connection destination determining unit determines that the connection destination is a printing apparatus, the print request information stored in the information storage unit is read, and the image data associated with the print request information is read out from the image storage unit. First transmitting means for reading from and transmitting to the printing device;
When the connection destination determination unit determines that the connection destination is an external device, the transmission request information stored in the information storage unit is read, and the transmission request information is associated with the untransmitted image data. Second transmission means for reading from the image storage means and transmitting to the external device When the connection destination determination means determines that the connection destination is an external device, the transmission request information stored in the information storage means is read. An image storage device comprising: a second transmission unit that reads the image data associated with the transmission request information and has not been transmitted from the image storage unit, and transmits the image data to the external device;
Second detection means for detecting connection with the image storage device;
Execution control means for controlling to execute a program for transmitting image data to the outside via a communication network when connection with the image storage device is detected by the second detection means;
A transmitted determination means for determining whether image data transmitted from the image storage device has been transmitted to the outside via the communication network by a program executed by the control of the execution control means;
When it is determined by the transmitted determination means that the image data has already been transmitted, information that has already been transmitted for the transmitted image data is transmitted to the image storage device, while it is determined that the transmitted image data is not transmitted image data. A third transmission unit for transmitting the transmitted image data to the outside via the communication network, storing the transmitted image data, and transmitting the transmitted information to the image storage device; An image transmission system comprising: an external device comprising: The external device further includes calculation means for calculating a hash value of image data transmitted from the image storage device,
The image transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitted determination unit determines whether the image data has been transmitted based on the hash value calculated by the calculation unit. The image storage device includes:
An imaging means for capturing a subject and generating image data;
The image transmission system according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that stores the image data generated by the imaging unit in the image storage unit.

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