JP2015046195A - Information processing device and camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To transmit the content of a request from a client to a terminal of a respondent.SOLUTION: A server 100 comprises: request content information reception means that receives request content information including the content of a request related to photographing from a client terminal; determination means that specifies a photographing point and request importance based on the request content information, and determines a search range of a response terminal based on the specified photographing point and request importance; and transmission means that transmits photographing request information based on the request content information to a response terminal in the search range determined by the determination means.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and a camera.

  The following information providing systems are known. In this information providing system, an imaging request from a requester is received on an acceptor terminal, an imaging request is transmitted to a mobile communication terminal around the imaging point, and a response from the mobile communication terminal is received (for example, a patent) Reference 1).

JP 2005-227841 A

  However, in the conventional information providing system, it is not considered how important the request from the client is.

The information processing apparatus according to the present invention specifies a request content information receiving unit that receives request content information including a request content related to shooting from a client terminal, specifies a shooting point and the importance of the request based on the request content information, and specifies A determining unit that determines a search range of the answering terminal based on the shooting point and the importance of the request, and a transmitting unit that transmits the shooting request information based on the request content information to the answering terminal within the search range determined by the determining unit It is characterized by providing.
The camera according to the present invention is based on receiving means for receiving photographing request information transmitted from the information processing apparatus, specifying means for specifying the content of the photographing request from the client based on the photographing request information, and on the request content information. The determination means for determining whether or not to accept the request, and when the determination means determines that the request is accepted, the content of the imaging request specified by the specifying means is displayed on the monitor and the request content to the photographer Request content notifying means for notifying.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to determine the search range of the answer terminal in consideration of the importance of the request.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of one Embodiment of an information provision system. It is the flowchart figure which showed the flow of the process in the server 100 and the camera 200, and the flow of the data between both. It is a figure which shows the correspondence of the urgency of a request, and a search range. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the request content to the monitor 206 in the camera 200. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of an answer result. It is a figure which shows the example of evaluation with respect to a reply result.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an information providing system according to the present embodiment. The information providing system 10 includes a computer functioning as an information processing apparatus, such as a server 100, a camera 200, and an information terminal operated by a client, which will be described later, such as a personal computer 300. Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which there is one camera 200, a plurality of cameras 200 may be connected to the server 100.

  The server 100 includes an operation member 101, a connection IF (interface) 102, a control device 103, an HDD (hard disk drive) 104, and a monitor 105.

  The operation member 101 includes various devices operated by the user, such as a keyboard and a mouse. The connection IF 102 is an interface for connecting the server 100 and the camera 200. In the present embodiment, the server 100 transmits / receives data to / from the camera 200 via the connection IF 102. As the connection IF 102, a USB interface for connecting the server 100 and the camera 200 by wire, a wireless LAN module for wireless connection, or the like is used.

  The control device 103 includes a CPU, a memory, and other peripheral circuits, and controls the entire server 100. The memory constituting the control device 103 is a volatile memory such as SDRAM, for example. This memory includes a work memory for the CPU to expand the program when the program is executed, and a buffer memory for temporarily recording data.

  The HDD 104 is a recording device for recording various data fetched via the connection IF 102, data of various programs executed by the control device 103, and the like. The program data recorded in the HDD 104 is provided by being recorded on a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, and the user installs the program data in the HDD 104 using the storage medium. The control device 103 can execute the program. For example, a program for executing processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. The monitor 105 is a liquid crystal monitor, for example, and displays various display data output from the control device 103.

  The camera 200 includes an operation member 201, a lens 202, an image sensor 203, a control device 204, a memory card slot 205, a monitor 206, a connection IF 207, and a GPS sensor 208. The operation member 201 includes various input members operated by the user, such as a power button, a release button, a zoom button, a cross key, an enter button, a play button, and a delete button.

  The lens 202 may be configured to be detachable from the camera 200 via a mount unit (not shown), or may be integrated with the camera 200. The lens 202 is composed of a plurality of optical lenses, but is represented by a single lens in FIG. The lens 202 includes a zoom lens (not shown), and the zoom magnification can be changed by driving the zoom lens by the lens driving unit 202a. The image sensor 203 is configured by an image sensor such as a CCD or a CMOS, for example, and generates an analog image signal by photoelectrically converting a subject image by a light beam that has passed through the lens 102 and outputs the generated analog image signal to the control device 204. .

  The control device 204 includes a CPU, a memory, and other peripheral circuits, and controls the camera 200. Note that the memory constituting the control device 204 includes SDRAM and flash memory. The SDRAM is a volatile memory, and is used as a work memory for the CPU to develop a program when the program is executed or as a buffer memory for temporarily recording data. The flash memory is a non-volatile memory in which data of a program executed by the control device 204, various parameters read during program execution, and the like are recorded. For example, a program for executing the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 2 to be described later may be recorded in this flash memory instead of the HDD 104.

  The control device 204 converts the analog image signal input from the image sensor 203 into a digital image signal, and after performing various image processing, generates main image data in a predetermined image format, for example, JPEG format. Further, the control device 204 generates display image data, for example, thumbnail image data, based on the generated main image data. The control device 104 generates an image file that includes the main image data and the thumbnail image data, and further includes header information, and outputs the image file to the memory card slot 205.

  The memory card slot 205 is a slot for inserting a memory card as a storage medium, and writes and records the image file output from the control device 204 on the memory card. The memory card slot 205 reads an image file stored in the memory card based on an instruction from the control device 204.

  The monitor 206 is a liquid crystal monitor (rear monitor) mounted on the back surface of the camera 100, and the monitor 206 displays an image stored in a memory card, a setting menu for setting the camera 200, and the like. . Further, when the mode of the camera 200 is set to the live view mode by the user, the control device 204 monitors image data for display (hereinafter referred to as “through image”) acquired in time series from the image sensor 103. Output to. As a result, a through image is displayed on the monitor 206.

  The connection IF 207 is an interface for connecting the server 100 and the camera 200. In the present embodiment, the server 100 transmits / receives data to / from the server 100 via the connection IF 207. Note that as the connection IF 207, a USB interface for connecting the server 100 and the camera 200 in a wired manner, a wireless LAN module for wireless connection, or the like is used.

  The GPS sensor 208 includes a GPS signal reception unit and a position calculation unit. The GPS signal receiving unit receives position information for specifying the position from the GPS satellite, and the position calculating unit specifies the current position of the camera 200 based on the position information received by the GPS signal receiving unit.

  In the information providing system in the present embodiment, the server 100 accepts a request for taking a photograph from the requester via the information terminal 300 connected via the network. Specifically, the requester operates the information terminal 300 to designate a place on the map, and to the person who lives in the vicinity of the place or the person who passes the vicinity of the place, Make a request to have a photo taken. Information indicating the request content from the requester (data indicating the request content) is transmitted from the information terminal 300 to the server 100 via the network.

  When the server 100 receives the above-described shooting request from the requester, the server 100 notifies the photographer in the vicinity of the shooting point specified based on the request content. For example, when the camera 200 is connected to a communication network via a base station, the output from the GPS sensor 208 is based on the position of the base station or when the camera 200 has a GPS function. The position of the current camera 200 is identified based on the information, and among the plurality of cameras 200 that can communicate with the server 100, the position of the camera 200 in the vicinity of the imaging point identified based on the request content from the requester is identified. To do. The server 100 notifies the specified camera 200 of the request content, thereby notifying the photographer who is the owner of the camera 200 of the request content.

  The photographer who has received the request from the server 100 takes a picture at the shooting point based on the request contents, and uploads the image obtained as a result to the server 100. The requester can browse the image taken based on the request content by accessing the server 100 from the information terminal 300. Note that, when an image is uploaded by the photographer, the server 100 may notify the requester that the image in accordance with the requested content has been uploaded by sending an e-mail or the like. Thereby, the client can know that the image has been uploaded without regularly checking the site.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in server 100, camera 200, and information terminal 300 in this embodiment, and the flow of data between them. Hereinafter, the processing flow of the server 100, the camera 200, and the information terminal 300 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the processing of the information terminal 300 will be described. In step S <b> 1, the CPU of the information terminal 300 determines whether or not the shooting location is specified on the map by the requester. For example, the user specifies a shooting location on a map displayed on a monitor included in the information terminal 300. Information regarding the shooting point specified here, for example, latitude and longitude information of the shooting point is included in the request content information. If the determination in step S1 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S2, and the CPU determines whether or not the client has specified the shooting target at the shooting point, that is, what the client wants to shoot. For example, the user designates a landscape, a building, a tourist attraction, or the like that can be seen from the shooting point as a shooting target. Information for specifying the imaging target specified here is also included in the request content information.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S3, and the CPU determines whether or not the requester has designated the urgency level of the request. The requester specifies the degree of urgency of the request in three stages, for example, “Urgent” with the highest urgency, “Slightly hurry” with the second highest urgency, and “Anytime” with the lower urgency To do. Information indicating the degree of urgency designated here is also included in the request content information. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S4, in which the CPU requests information including information for specifying the shooting location specified in the processing of steps S1 to S3, information for specifying the shooting target, and information indicating the degree of urgency. Create In step S <b> 5, the CPU transmits the created request content information to the server 100.

  Next, processing on the server 100 side will be described. In step S10, the control device 103 of the server 100 determines whether or not the request content information described above has been received from the requester. If a positive determination is made in step S10, the process proceeds to step S20. In step S <b> 20, the control device 103 specifies a shooting location based on the request content information. Then, it progresses to step S30.

  In step S <b> 30, the control device 103 searches for a camera 200 that exists around the specified shooting point. For example, an ID indicating the camera 200 is registered in the server 300 as information for identifying the photographer, and the position of the camera 200 is indicated from the camera 200 by a predetermined time interval or a predetermined operation of the camera 200. Information is transmitted to the server 300. Since the control device 103 can specify the position of each camera 200 based on the position information transmitted from the camera 200, it is possible to search for the camera 200 existing around the shooting point.

  At this time, the control device 103 specifies the importance of the request based on the request content information. Here, the control device 103 specifies the urgency level of the request as the importance level of the request, and determines the search range of the camera 200 centered on the shooting point according to the urgency level. Specifically, in the case of a request with a high degree of urgency, the control device 103 determines that it is necessary to notify the request contents to more photographers, and widens the search range of the camera 200. On the other hand, in the case of a request with a low degree of urgency, the control device 103 determines that it is not necessary to notify the request details to so many photographers, and narrows the search range of the camera 200.

  For example, data indicating the correspondence between the urgency level of the request and the search range as shown in FIG. 3 is recorded in advance, and the control device 103 determines the search range based on the correspondence. Specifically, when the control device 103 determines that the information indicating the degree of urgency is information indicating “emergency”, the control device 103 sets a range having a radius of 1 km centered on the imaging point as a search range. If it is determined that the information indicating the degree of urgency is information indicating “a little hurry”, a range having a radius of 200 m centering on the shooting point is set as a search range. In addition, when it is determined that the information indicating the degree of urgency is information indicating “anytime”, a range having a radius of 10 m centering on the shooting point is set as a search range.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S40, and the control device 103 determines whether or not the camera 200 exists within the search range described above based on the search result in step S30. When an affirmative determination is made in step S40, the process proceeds to step S50, and the control device 103 transmits the imaging request information based on the request content from the requester to the camera 200 existing within the search range, and performs the processing. finish. The shooting request information includes information necessary for notifying the photographer of the request content, for example, information for specifying the shooting point, information for specifying the shooting target, and urgency level, similar to the request content information. Is included. The request content information may include information regarding a plurality of requests.

  Next, processing on the camera 200 side that receives the imaging request information will be described. In step S110, the control device 204 of the camera 200 receives the shooting request information from the server 100, and proceeds to step S120.

  In step S120, the control device 204 displays the content of the imaging request on the monitor 206 and notifies the photographer. For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the control device 204 displays an icon 4a on the through image to notify the photographer that the shooting request information has been received from the server 100. As a result, the photographer can grasp that there is a photographing point based on the requested content around the current location. In this case, the control device 204 may display the number of requesters who have requested the shooting point in the icon 4a. For example, the control device 204 may count the number of requests for the shooting point based on the received shooting request information and display the count result without the icon 4a. As a result, the photographer can grasp the number of requesters for the request.

  Further, the control device 204 may change the display form of the icon 4a according to the urgency of the request. For example, the color of the icon 4a is changed according to the degree of urgency, the size of the icon 4a is changed, or the shape of the icon 4a is changed. Alternatively, the icon 4a may be blinked only when the urgency level is “emergency”, and may be constantly lit in other cases. Thereby, the photographer can grasp the urgency of the request only by looking at the icon 4a. Or you may make it notify not with an icon but with a character and another figure.

  The photographer (respondent) can confirm the details of the request content by selecting the icon 4a. For example, the photographer operates the cross key or the determination button included in the operation member 201 to select the icon 4a, or touches the icon 4a with a finger or a touch pen when the monitor 206 includes a touch panel. Thus, the icon 4a can be selected. When detecting that the icon 4a is selected by the photographer, the control device 204 displays the details of the request content by changing the screen display as shown in FIG. 4B, for example. In the example shown in FIG. 4B, a message 4b indicating the request content is displayed on the through image together with an icon 4a indicating the degree of urgency. The photographer can accurately grasp the contents of the request from the client by confirming this message 4b. That is, the photographer who has seen the screen shown in FIG. 4B can grasp that it is only necessary to photograph a landscape at which the flower can be confirmed at the photographing point.

  As a method of notifying the photographer of an accurate shooting point, for example, by transmitting a display image of the control device 103 of the server 100, the control device 204 displays a map on the monitor 206, and the shooting point is displayed on the map. You may make it notify by displaying. If the camera 200 has a GPS function, the current position may be specified based on the output from the GPS sensor 208, and route guidance from the current position to the shooting point may be performed. Alternatively, the shooting point may be notified by displaying an image of the shooting point on the monitor 206.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S130, and the control device 204 determines whether or not shooting has been performed by the photographer. When an affirmative determination is made in step S130, the process proceeds to step S140, where the control device 204 converts the analog image signal input from the image sensor 203 into a digital image signal, performs various image processing, and then performs a predetermined image format. For example, main image data in JPEG format is generated. Further, the control device 204 generates display image data, for example, thumbnail image data, based on the generated main image data. The control device 104 generates an image file that includes the main image data and the thumbnail image data, and further includes header information, and records the image file in the memory card in the memory card slot 205. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S150.

  The photographer uploads an image file to the server 100 for reporting to the client after shooting based on the request. Therefore, in step S150, the control device 204 determines whether or not the photographer has operated the operation member 201 to instruct uploading of the image file to the server 100. If the determination in step 150 is affirmative, the process advances to step S160, and the control device 204 transmits the image file instructed to be uploaded by the photographer to the server 100, and ends the process.

  At this time, the photographer may be able to upload by attaching a report message to the image file. For example, in response to the request shown in Fig. 4 (b), a message to explain the flowering status of the photographed image file is “full bloom”, “is in full bloom”, “not yet bloomed” It may be possible to attach message information for indicating "". This message information may be recorded, for example, in the header information of the image file, or may be recorded in association with the image file in a data file different from the image file.

  Next, processing on the server 100 side that receives an image file will be described. In step S <b> 60, the control device 103 receives an image file as answer information from the camera 200. Upon reception of this image file, the processing from step S70 is started. In step S70, the control device 103 records the received image file in the HDD 104, and proceeds to step S80.

  In step S <b> 80, the control device 103 determines whether or not an instruction to display a response to the request from the requester, that is, response information transmitted from the camera 200 in response to the request. For example, the requester accesses the site and confirms whether an answer has arrived for his request. If an answer has arrived, a link to the answer page displaying the contents is clicked to instruct the display of the answer. If a positive determination is made in step S80, the process proceeds to step S90.

  In step S90, for example, the control device 103 transmits an answer display screen on which an image photographed by the photographer as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed to the access source client terminal, such as a personal computer, and ends the process. . As a result, the requester can confirm the response to the request content on the screen of his / her personal computer or the like. As described above, when the report message from the photographer is attached to the image file, the report message 5a is displayed on the image. As a result, the client can grasp the situation at the site more accurately by the report message from the photographer who has actually seen the site.

According to the present embodiment described above, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(1) In the server 100, the control device 103 receives request content information including a request content related to shooting from the requester's terminal, specifies a shooting point based on the request content information, and performs a camera based on the specified shooting point. The search range of 200 is determined, and the imaging request information based on the request content information is transmitted to the cameras 200 within the determined search range. Thereby, the request from the client can be automatically transmitted to the camera 200 within the search range.

(2) The control device 103 specifies the urgency level of the request based on the request content information, and determines the search range of the camera 200 centered on the shooting point according to the urgency level. Thereby, the optimal search range can be determined according to the degree of urgency.

(3) The control device 103 receives an image file from the camera 200 as answer information, and presents an answer display screen based on the received image file on the requester's terminal. As a result, the client can check the answer from the photographer on the personal computer owned by the client.

(4) In the camera 200, the control device 204 receives the imaging request information from the server 100, specifies the content of the imaging request from the client based on the received imaging request information, and specifies the specified imaging request content. The information is displayed on the monitor 206. This makes it possible to notify the photographer of the contents of the request from the client.

(5) The control device 204 specifies the shooting point based on the shooting request information, displays the specified shooting point on the map, and notifies the photographer. Thereby, the photographer can grasp an accurate photographing point.

(6) The control device 204 displays the icon 4a on the through image to notify the photographer that the shooting request information has been received from the server 100. As a result, the photographer can grasp that there is a shooting point based on the requested content around the current location.

(7) The control device 204 changes the display form of the icon 4a according to the urgency of the request. Thereby, the photographer can grasp the urgency of the request only by looking at the icon 4a.

-Modification-
In addition, the information provision system of embodiment mentioned above can also be deform | transformed as follows.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the client has described an example in which the answer result can be confirmed using a terminal such as a personal computer. However, in addition to this, the client may be able to evaluate the content of the response after confirming the response result. For example, the control apparatus 103 accepts input of evaluation data by the requester on the information terminal 300, and the requester adds the star mark to the response result as shown in FIG. It may be. In the example of FIG. 6, an example is shown in which three stars are added as “very satisfied” to the response content. Alternatively, the control device 103 sets an evaluation value to be given to the answer result based on the number of stars given by the requester, the importance of the request, for example, the urgency level of the request or the number of requesters. You may make it calculate.

  Further, the control device 103 may disclose past evaluation results for each photographer to a person accessing the site. Thereby, the photographer can confirm the evaluation result for his / her answer. In addition, other access users can grasp which photographer's evaluation is high. The client may be able to arbitrarily select a photographer who makes a request with reference to the evaluation result. Further, the requester may be able to make a request only to a photographer whose evaluation is a certain value or more. As a result, the client can make a request only for photographers who have a high evaluation in the past, and there is a high possibility that a high-quality answer result will be obtained.

  In addition, the business operator that provides the information providing system in the present embodiment gives points to the photographer based on the evaluation result from the client, and provides the photographer with a privilege according to the points. Also good. For example, a prize may be provided to a photographer who has acquired a certain point or more, and a large number of user-specific storage areas in the HDD 104 may be provided.

(2) In the embodiment described above, the control device 103 uses the urgency level of the request as the importance level of the request so that the search range of the camera 200 centering on the shooting point is determined according to the importance level of the request. I did it. However, the control device 103 uses the number of requesters for one shooting point as the importance of the request, and determines the search range of the camera 200 centered on the shooting point according to the number of requesters. May be. For example, the larger the number of clients for one shooting point, the wider the search range centered on that shooting point. Specifically, when the number of requests for a certain tourist attraction is 10 or more, the search range is a range with a radius of 1 km centering on the shooting point. When the number of requested persons is 5 or more and less than 10, the search range is set to a range of 200 m in radius from the shooting point. Further, when the number of requested persons is less than 5, the search range is a range with a radius of 10 m centering on the shooting point. In this way, it is possible to set an appropriate search range according to the importance of the request, taking into account that the greater the number of requests for a certain shooting point, the higher the importance of the request for that point. Alternatively, the control device 103 may determine a range where the distance from the shooting point is equal to or less than a predetermined distance as the search range of the camera 200 regardless of the urgency of the request.

  Alternatively, without determining the search range on the server 100 side, the camera 200 side may determine whether to accept the request according to the degree of urgency. For example, the photographer may be configured to accept a request only when the degree of urgency is “emergency” and not accept a request otherwise. In this case, when the control device 204 determines that the urgency is “emergency” based on the imaging request information received from the server 100, the control device 204 displays the icon 4a shown in FIG. 4 on the through image. The photographer is notified, and in other cases, the icon 4a is not displayed.

  Alternatively, when the emergency level is “emergency”, the control device 204 displays the icon 4a if the current position is within a radius of 1 km from the shooting point, and when the emergency level is “slightly quick”, the current position If the radius is within 200 m from the shooting point, the icon 4 a is displayed. If the urgency is “anytime”, the icon 4 a may be displayed if the current position is within the radius of 10 m from the shooting point. . Alternatively, the photographer may be configured to display the icon 4a only when the current position is within a predetermined range from the shooting point regardless of the degree of urgency. In addition, when the mode of the camera 200 is shifted to a sleep mode for reducing power consumption, the icon is displayed only when the urgency is “emergency” or when the number of requested persons for the shooting point is equal to or more than a predetermined number. 4a may be displayed.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the control device 103 creates shooting request information based on the request contents from the client, and transmits the shooting request information to the camera 200, thereby shooting the shooting person. An example of making a request was explained. At this time, the requester may be able to arbitrarily set a reply deadline for the request. For example, the requester can arbitrarily set how long the image of the shooting location is desired to be taken, and the control device 103 accepts a reply from the photographer only within the time limit set by the requester. do it. Thereby, it is possible to prevent a reply from being made at a time when the client does not want it.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, the control device 103 transmits an answer display screen as shown in FIG. 5 to the requester's terminal of the access source, for example, a personal computer, so that the requester can display the screen on the personal computer or the like. An example where the answer result can be confirmed has been described. At this time, if there are a plurality of cameras 200 within the search range, a plurality of answers may be received. In such a case, the control device 103 transmits an answer list screen displaying a list of answer results to the access source client's terminal, and when any answer is selected by the client from the list, What is necessary is just to transmit the reply display screen which displayed the content of the reply to the terminal of the requesting client.

  In this case, the control device 103 may set the display order of the answers on the answer list screen in the order from the oldest answer acceptance time or the newest answer acceptance time. Alternatively, as described above in the modified example (1), when the photographer is evaluated, the higher the evaluation of the photographer's answer, the higher the answer may be displayed. In addition, the requester may arbitrarily change the display order of the answers on his / her terminal. As a result, even when there are a plurality of responses to one request, the requester can easily find the response he desires.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the client has described an example in which the photographing point is designated by designating the point on which the photographing is requested on the map. However, the client may specify the shooting point by specifying a landmark name or address. Or you may enable it to designate the same place as an imaging | photography point from the past request history. Further, when position data indicating a shooting point is attached to the image owned by the client, the shooting point may be designated using the position data.

(6) In the above-described embodiment, the photographer who has received the request has described an example in which shooting is performed at a shooting point. At this time, the control device 204 determines whether or not the angle of view needs to be changed in order to shoot the object from the shooting point. If it is determined that the angle of view needs to be changed, the lens drive is performed. The angle of view may be changed by controlling the unit 202a to drive the zoom lens and automatically changing the zoom magnification. Alternatively, the control device 204 may prompt the photographer to change the angle of view.

(7) Further, the control device 203 may notify the photographer of request information (photographing point). For example, if the shooting location is included in the through image from the current location of the camera 200 and the requested shooting location, the control device 203 may display the location. In addition, when the shooting point is not included on the through image, the direction of the shooting point may be indicated by an arrow or the like. In this case, the camera 200 needs to be equipped with an electronic compass for detecting the direction. Alternatively, the control device 203 controls the lens driving unit 202a to zoom when the field of view is included in the through image if the angle of view is widened from the current position of the camera 200 and the requested shooting location. The angle of view may be widened by driving the lens and automatically changing the zoom magnification. Also in this case, the camera 200 needs to be equipped with an electronic compass for detecting the direction. In addition, the control device 203 may display a map on the monitor 206 and display information indicating the shooting point on the map.

(8) In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the camera 200 is used as the answering terminal used by the photographer has been described. However, other devices having a photographing function and a communication function, such as a mobile phone or a portable information terminal, can be used as the answering terminal.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the configurations in the above-described embodiments as long as the characteristic functions of the present invention are not impaired. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which combined the above-mentioned embodiment and a some modification.

100 Server, 101, 201 Operation member, 102, 207 Connection IF, 103, 204 Control device, 104 HDD, 105, 206 Monitor, 200 Camera, 202 Lens, 202a Lens drive unit, 203 Image sensor, 205 Memory card slot, 208 GPS sensor, 300 information terminal

Claims (11)

Request content information receiving means for receiving request content information including request content related to shooting from the client terminal;
Determining means for identifying the photographing point and the importance of the request based on the request content information, and determining the search range of the answering terminal based on the identified photographing point and the importance of the request;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a transmission unit configured to transmit imaging request information based on the request content information to answer terminals within the search range determined by the determination unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The determination means specifies an urgency level of a request based on the request content information, specifies an importance level of the request based on the urgency level of the request, and determines the search range. Processing equipment. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The determination means specifies the number of requesters who have requested the shooting point, specifies the importance of the request based on the number of requesters, and determines the search range. Information processing apparatus. In the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Answer information receiving means for receiving answer information from the answer terminal;
An information processing apparatus, further comprising: presentation means for presenting the received answer information to a client. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4,
An information processing apparatus, further comprising accepting means for accepting an evaluation of the answer content from a client who is presented with the answer information. Receiving means for receiving photographing request information transmitted from the information processing device;
Based on the shooting request information, a specifying means for specifying the content of the shooting request from the client;
Determination means for determining whether to accept the request based on the request content information;
When it is determined by the determination means that the request is accepted, the content of the photographing request specified by the specifying means is displayed on a monitor, and a request content notification means for notifying the photographer of the request content is provided. Camera. The camera according to claim 6, wherein
The request content notifying unit specifies a shooting point based on the shooting request information, and notifies the photographer of the specified shooting point. The camera according to claim 6 or 7,
The determination unit specifies a shooting point based on the shooting request information, and determines whether to accept a request based on a distance from a current location to the shooting point. The camera according to claim 6 or 7,
The determination unit specifies a shooting point and the urgency level of the request based on the shooting request information, and determines whether to accept the request based on a distance from the current location to the shooting point and the urgency level of the request. A camera characterized by that. In the camera according to any one of claims 6 to 9,
The request content notifying means displays information indicating that the photographing request information has been received on the monitor. The camera of claim 10, wherein
The request content notifying unit changes a display form of information indicating that the photographing request information has been received according to the urgency of the request.

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