JP2014230198A - Digital camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately associate a photographed image with obtained information.SOLUTION: A digital camera 10 comprises: a photographing unit 13 for obtaining an image according to a photographing instruction; a recording unit 20 for recording a data file of the image obtained by the photographing unit 13 onto a recording medium 50; a communication unit 16 that notifies an external apparatus 30 of the acquisition of the image before the data file of the image is recorded onto the recording medium 50, and obtains positional information corresponding to the notice obtained by the external apparatus 30 and information obtained by the external apparatus 30 on the basis of the positional information from the external apparatus 30 after the data file of the image obtained according to the latest photographing instruction is recorded onto the recording medium 50; and a data management unit 17 for associating the information obtained from the external apparatus 30 by the communication unit 16 with the data file of the image recorded by the recording unit 20.

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital camera.

  There is known a camera that writes additional information about an image in a header portion of data of a captured image (see Patent Document 1). When the camera is operated to acquire additional information by a menu switch operation, the camera receives a signal from a satellite with a GPS antenna built in the camera and performs positioning. Then, when a mobile phone is connected to the camera, the mobile phone is dialed to an access point close to the current location, and the current location information is sent to the server via the mobile phone, and a map of the current location, Request detailed information such as weather, name of current location, etc. The camera selects an image according to the switch operation, and adds the information acquired from the server to the header portion of the data of the selected image.

JP 2001-2111364 A

  In the prior art, since the current position is acquired by the camera itself, the correspondence between the position information and the captured image can be managed. However, if you do not have a GPS antenna on the camera side and you want to acquire detailed information such as the current position, a map around the current position, the name of the current position, etc. on the mobile phone side, Is difficult to associate.

  The digital camera according to the present invention notifies an external device that an image is acquired in accordance with a shooting instruction, a recording unit that records a data file of an image acquired by the shooting unit on a recording medium, and that the image has been acquired. The position information corresponding to the notification acquired by the external device, and the information acquired by the external device based on the position information, the data file of the image acquired in response to the latest shooting instruction is recorded on the recording medium A communication unit that is acquired from an external device, and a data management unit that associates information acquired from the external device with the communication unit and an image data file recorded by the recording unit are provided.

  With the digital camera according to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately associate a captured image with information acquired from an external device.

It is a block diagram which illustrates the composition of the digital camera by one embodiment of the invention. It is a block diagram which illustrates the composition of a digital camera. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of the process by the whole structure containing a digital camera.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The digital camera 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention acquires information from a high-functional mobile phone 30 such as a smartphone in order to associate search information (for example, a keyword) with a captured image.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration including a digital camera 10. A user of the digital camera 10 takes a picture with the digital camera 10 while carrying the high function mobile phone 30. The digital camera 10 and the high function mobile phone 30 are connected by short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), for example.

  In FIG. 1, a server 41 and wireless LAN (Local Area Network) access points 43 and 43B are connected to a network 42. The server 41 constitutes a website that provides a known search service.

  The access points 43 and 43B are installed at stations, commercial facilities, and the like, and are called hot spots, for example. The digital camera 10 wirelessly connected to the high function mobile phone 30 can access the server 41 via the access point 43 using the wireless LAN function of the high function mobile phone 30. Note that the telephone function of the high-function mobile phone 30 may be used to access the server 41 on the network 42 via a mobile phone network (not shown).

  The server 41 includes a storage device, a data processing device, and a communication control device between the network 42 and manages data necessary for providing information.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the digital camera 10. In FIG. 2, the digital camera 10 includes an imaging optical system 11, an aperture 12, an imaging device 13, an image processing unit 14, a display unit 15, a communication unit 16, a CPU 17, a RAM 18, a flash memory 19, An image recording / reproducing unit 20, an operation member 21, a geomagnetic sensor 22, and a diaphragm driving unit 23 are provided.

  The imaging optical system 11 forms a subject image on the imaging surface of the imaging element 13. The imaging optical system 11 includes a plurality of lens groups including a focusing lens. The diaphragm 12 adjusts the amount of subject light incident on the image sensor 13. The aperture diameter of the diaphragm 12 is driven and controlled by the diaphragm driver 23. The CPU 17 issues a drive instruction to the aperture drive unit 23.

  The image sensor 13 is configured by a CMOS image sensor or the like. The image sensor 13 photoelectrically converts an object image formed on the imaging surface with an imaging pixel and outputs an image signal. The image processing unit 14 performs predetermined image processing on the image signal read from the image sensor 13 and converted into a digital signal by an A / D conversion unit (not shown). The image processing unit 14 further performs a resizing process for causing the display unit 15 to display a reproduced image based on the image data after the image processing.

  The display unit 15 is configured by a liquid crystal panel. The display unit 15 displays a live view image, a playback image, a menu screen, and the like. The communication unit 16 performs wireless communication in response to an instruction from the CPU 17. The communication unit 16 is configured to be capable of short-range wireless communication with the high-function mobile phone 30, wireless communication via a wireless LAN access point 43, and wireless communication via a mobile phone network. .

  The CPU 17 executes a control program using the RAM 18 as a work area, and performs various controls on each part of the digital camera 1. Further, the CPU 17 detects the brightness of the subject from the image signal, obtains an exposure value by APEX calculation based on the detection result, and determines the ISO sensitivity, the aperture value, and the shutter speed. Also, an image file of a predetermined format storing image data is generated, or compression processing is performed. The flash memory 19 stores programs and data executed by the CPU 17.

  The image recording / reproducing unit 20 records an image file on the recording medium 50 or reads an image file recorded on the recording medium 50 based on an instruction from the CPU 17. The recording medium 50 is constituted by, for example, a memory card that is detachably attached to a card slot (not shown).

  The operation member 21 includes a power switch, a shutter button, a command dial, and the like, and sends an operation signal corresponding to each operation to the CPU 17. The command dial is a dial for setting an aperture value and a shutter speed.

  The geomagnetic sensor 22 is constituted by, for example, a three-axis magnetic sensor. Based on the magnetic detection signals of the respective axis components output from the geomagnetic sensor 22, the CPU 17 calculates the azimuth (azimuth for photographing) and the elevation angle that the imaging optical system 11 of the digital camera 10 faces. The elevation angle is an angle formed by a straight line indicating the photographing direction and a straight line indicating the horizon direction, and an elevation angle of 90 degrees corresponds to the zenith.

<Information file>
The CPU 17 of the present embodiment generates an information file for searching for an image taken on the recording medium 50 and causes the image recording / reproducing unit 20 to record the information file on the recording medium 50. The information file includes individual information of each captured image. In general, each image file includes information indicating shooting date / time, shooting position, shooting direction, shooting conditions, and the like as Exif information. The information file includes other information that is not included in the Exif information, for example, a location corresponding to the shooting position (latitude / longitude information), a region name, a facility name, an event name, and other related keywords as text data. The data included in the Exif information may be converted into text and included in the information file.

<Acquisition of information to be included in information file>
The digital camera 10 does not include a GPS receiver that receives radio waves from GPS satellites. Therefore, the CPU 17 acquires shooting position information (latitude and longitude information) from the high-performance mobile phone 30 carried by the user. Further, the CPU 17 also acquires from the high-function mobile phone 30 information on the location and area corresponding to the shooting position, the name of the facility, the name of the event, and the word group related to these.

  On the other hand, the high-function mobile phone 30 calculates the shooting position based on the radio wave received from the GPS satellite. Even when the high-function mobile phone 30 cannot receive the radio wave from the GPS satellite, the high-function mobile phone 30 calculates the shooting position based on the position information of the access point 43 from the radio wave received from the access point 43 of the wireless LAN.

  The high-function mobile phone 30 further accesses a search site on the network 42 and acquires POI (Point of interest) information corresponding to the shooting position from the server 41. Thereby, an area name, a facility name, etc. are obtained. The high-function mobile phone 30 further performs a search by using a search site on the network 42 with the region name or facility name as a keyword. The high function mobile phone 30 transmits the word group hit in the search to the digital camera 10 together with the shooting position.

<Description of flowchart>
The flow of processing by the overall configuration including the digital camera 10 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 3, the flow of processing by the digital camera 10 (CPU 17) is shown on the left side, and the flow of processing by the high function mobile phone 30 is shown on the right side. It is assumed that the digital camera 10 and the high-function mobile phone 30 are connected by short-range wireless communication.

<Processing of Digital Camera 10>
When the photographing mode is set by operating the operation member 21, the CPU 17 activates the process shown in FIG. In step S101 in FIG. 3, the CPU 17 determines whether or not a release operation has been performed. The release operation corresponds to a shooting instruction. When the shutter button constituting the operation member 21 is pressed and a release operation signal is input, the CPU 17 makes a positive determination in step S101 and proceeds to step S102. When the release operation signal is not input, the CPU 17 makes a negative determination in step S101 and repeats the determination process. When a negative determination is made in step S101, for example, a release operation is waited while repeating the photometric process.

  In step S102, the CPU 17 performs image acquisition. The CPU 17 controls the aperture value and the shutter speed determined based on the APEX calculation, causes the image sensor 13 to capture an image, and proceeds to step S103. The acquired image data is stored in the RAM 18 that functions as a buffer memory. In step S103, the CPU 17 sends an instruction to the communication unit 16 to cause the high function mobile phone 30 to transmit information indicating that the image has been shot, and the process proceeds to step S104.

  In step S104, the CPU 17 causes the image processing unit 14 to perform predetermined image processing on the image data stored in the RAM 18, and then proceeds to step S105. In step S105, the CPU 17 creates a file that generates an image file of a predetermined format storing the image data after the image processing, and proceeds to step S106.

  In step S106, the CPU 17 receives the ACK signal transmitted from the high-function mobile phone 30, displays a mark informing the ACK signal on the display unit 15, and proceeds to step S107. If an ACK signal is not received from the high function mobile phone 30, the process proceeds to step S107 without displaying a mark.

  In step S107, the CPU 17 determines whether or not a release operation has been performed. When the shutter button constituting the operation member 21 is pressed and a release operation signal is input, the CPU 17 makes a positive determination in step S107, returns to step S102, and repeats the above-described processing. When the release operation signal is not input, the CPU 17 makes a negative determination in step S107 and proceeds to step S108. The reason for determining the release operation in step S107 is that the image of the next frame is acquired without waiting for the end of image file recording when continuous shooting is performed.

  In step S108, the CPU 17 sends an instruction to the image recording / reproducing unit 20, records the image file in the RAM 18 on the recording medium 50, and proceeds to step S109. When multiple frames are shot, multiple image files are recorded. In step S109, the CPU 17 determines whether or not an end operation has been performed. For example, when the switching operation to the reproduction processing mode is performed, the CPU 17 makes a positive determination in step S109 and ends the processing. If the CPU 17 is not operated to switch to the reproduction processing mode, the CPU 17 makes a negative determination in step S109 and returns to step S101. When returning to step S101, the above-described processing is repeated.

  In step S <b> 110, the CPU 17 requests information regarding the captured image (information included in the information file and individual information regarding each captured image). Specifically, the CPU 17 sends an information request to the high function mobile phone 30 via the communication unit 16 and proceeds to step S111. In step S111, the CPU 17 acquires information from the high function mobile phone 30, and proceeds to step S112. As described above, the information to be acquired is a group of words hit at a search site on the network 42 in addition to the area name, facility name, event name, and the like.

  In step S112, the CPU 17 generates an information file based on the acquired information, records (updates) the generated information file on the recording medium 50 by the image recording / reproducing unit 20, and ends the process of FIG.

<Processing of high-function mobile phone 30>
For example, when an icon for executing an application program that acquires information to be included in the information file is selected, the high-function mobile phone 30 activates the processing illustrated in FIG. In step S201 in FIG. 3, the high-function mobile phone 30 starts so-called GPS logger processing. That is, position information is acquired every predetermined time, and the relationship between the acquired current position and time is temporarily stored in the internal memory, and the process proceeds to step S202.

  In step S <b> 202, the high-function mobile phone 30 determines whether or not it has received a picture from the digital camera 10. The advanced mobile phone 30 makes an affirmative decision in step S202 when received and proceeds to step S203, and makes a negative decision in step S202 if not received and proceeds to step S210.

  In step S203, the high function mobile phone 30 transmits ACK to the digital camera 10 and proceeds to step S204. In step S204, the high function mobile phone 30 stores the current position information (most recent position information) and the current time in the internal memory, and proceeds to step S205.

  In step S <b> 205, the high function mobile phone 30 determines whether or not it has received a picture from the digital camera 10. If the high-function mobile phone 30 receives the affirmative decision, step S205 is affirmed, the process returns to step S203, and the above-described processing is repeated. If not received, the high function mobile phone 30 makes a negative determination in step S205 and proceeds to step S206. The reason for determining again that the image has been taken is to give priority to the process of leaving the shooting position information over the processes in and after step S206 when continuous shooting is performed.

  In step S206, the high-function mobile phone 30 accesses the search site on the network 42 described above, searches for information for each shooting position stored in the internal memory, and proceeds to step S207. The reason for searching for each shooting position is to avoid duplicate searches when the shooting positions are common. In step S207, the high-function mobile phone 30 stores the information obtained by the search together in the internal memory for each shooting, and proceeds to step S208. The reason for collecting each shot is to add information to each shot image even when the shooting positions are common.

  In step S <b> 208, the high function mobile phone 30 determines whether an information request from the digital camera 10 has been received. The advanced mobile phone 30 makes an affirmative decision in step S208 when an information request is received, and proceeds to step S209. If an information request is not received, the advanced mobile phone 30 makes a negative determination in step S208 and returns to step S202. When returning to step S202, the above-described processing is repeated.

  In step S209, the high-function mobile phone 30 transmits the information stored together for each photographing in step S207 to the digital camera 10, and proceeds to step S210. In step S210, it is determined whether an end operation has been performed. When the end operation is performed, the high-function mobile phone 30 makes an affirmative determination in step S210 and ends the process. If the termination operation is not performed, the high function mobile phone 30 makes a negative determination in step S210 and returns to step S202. When returning to step S202, the above-described processing is repeated.

According to the embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) The digital camera 10 includes an image sensor 13 that acquires an image in response to a shooting instruction, an image recording / reproducing unit 20 that records a data file of an image acquired by the image sensor 13 on a recording medium 50, and an image sensor. 13 notifies the high-function mobile phone 30 that the image has been acquired, and in response to this notification, the shooting position acquired by the high-function mobile phone 30 and the name acquired by the high-function mobile phone 30 based on the shooting position The communication unit 16 that acquires a word group from the high-performance mobile phone 30, and the image position, name, and word group acquired from the high-function mobile phone 30 by the communication unit 16 and the image data file recorded by the image recording / playback unit 20 And a CPU 17 for associating with each other. Thereby, it is possible to appropriately associate the photographed image with the photographing position, name, and word group acquired from the high function mobile phone 30. Since it is not necessary to provide a GPS receiver in the digital camera 10, the power consumption of the camera can be reduced compared to the case where a GPS receiver is provided.

(2) In the digital camera 10 of the above (1), the communication unit 16 uses the image sensor 13 before the image data file acquired by the image sensor 13 is recorded on the recording medium 50 by the image recording / reproducing unit 20. After the image data file obtained by the image sensor 13 is recorded on the recording medium 50 by the image recording / reproducing unit 20 in response to the latest photographing instruction, The shooting position, name, and word group are acquired from the high-function mobile phone 30. As a result, it is possible to notify the high-function mobile phone 30 that the image has been taken first, and to enable search processing in the high-function mobile phone 30. Furthermore, since the shooting position, name, and word group are acquired from the functional mobile phone 30 after waiting for the recording of the file of the most recently shot image, that is, the last frame, a series of shooting and recording processing can be prioritized over information acquisition.

(3) In the digital camera 10 of the above (2), the communication unit 16 allows the image recording / reproducing unit 20 to record the image data file acquired by the imaging device 13 according to the latest photographing instruction on the recording medium 50. When there is no next shooting instruction, the shooting position, name, and word group are acquired from the high-function mobile phone 30. Thereby, when there is a next photographing instruction, photographing can be prioritized over information acquisition.

(4) In the digital camera 10, the information acquired by the high-performance mobile phone 30 based on the shooting position includes at least one name of a place name, a facility name, and an event name, and information related to the name. And a word group searched based on the name. Accordingly, for example, when a large number of images are taken in the recording medium 50, the event name can be searched for as a keyword, so that it is easy to search for a specific image.

(5) In the digital camera 10, the communication unit 16 further receives the ACK signal from the high-function mobile phone 30 in response to the notification, and further notifies the CPU 17 and the display unit 15 that the communication unit 16 has received the ACK signal. Therefore, it is possible to notify the user of the digital camera 10 that the high-performance mobile phone 30 has been notified that the image has been taken.

(6) In the digital camera 10, the communication unit 16 captures the shooting position acquired by the high function mobile phone 30 and the name and word group acquired by the high function mobile phone 30 based on the shooting position for each shooting. Is acquired from the high-performance mobile phone 30 as information summarized in the above. As a result, for example, after continuous shooting, it is easier to associate the captured image with the captured image as compared to the case where the shooting positions, names, and word groups relating to shooting of a plurality of frames are acquired without distinction.

(Modification 1)
In the above description, an example has been described in which the high-function mobile phone 30 performs a search using a region name or facility name as a keyword on a search site on the network 42. In addition, information on the shooting direction, elevation angle, shooting angle of view, and focal length is transmitted from the digital camera 10 to the high function mobile phone 30, and the high function mobile phone 30 performs a search based on these information. It may be configured. For example, the high-function mobile phone 30 compares the received information with map data to identify a building that may be included in the photographed image, and performs a search using the name of the building as a keyword.

(Modification 2)
An image may be included in information acquired by the digital camera 10 from the high-performance mobile phone 30. For example, images that are taken in the same direction at the same shooting position and that have different shooting times or images that have different seasons are included.

  The above description is merely an example, and is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Digital camera 13 ... Image pick-up element 15 ... Display part 16 ... Communication part 17 ... CPU
18 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 ... Flash memory 20 ... Image recording / reproducing part 21 ... Operation member 30 ... High functional mobile phone 41 ... Server 42 ... Network 43, 43B ... Access point

Claims (5)

A shooting unit that acquires an image in response to a shooting instruction;
A recording unit for recording a data file of an image acquired by the photographing unit on a recording medium;
Before the data file of the image is recorded on the recording medium, the external device is notified that the image has been acquired, the position information corresponding to the notification acquired by the external device, and the position information based on the position information A communication unit that acquires information acquired by the external device from the external device after the data file of the image acquired in response to the latest shooting instruction is recorded on the recording medium;
A data management unit associating information acquired from the external device with the communication unit and a data file of an image recorded by the recording unit;
A digital camera comprising: The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein
The communication unit, after the image data file acquired according to the most recent shooting instruction is recorded on the recording medium by the recording unit and when there is no next shooting instruction, from the external device A digital camera that acquires position information and the information. The digital camera according to claim 1 or 2,
Information acquired by the external device based on the location information includes at least one name of a place name, a facility name, and an event name, and information related to the name and searched based on the name A digital camera characterized by including: The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The communication unit receives a reply from the external device for the notification,
The digital camera further comprising a notifying unit for notifying that the reply has been received by the communication unit. In the digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The communication unit acquires the position information acquired by the external device and the information acquired by the external device based on the position information from the external device as information collected for each shooting. Digital camera.

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