JP2016009986A - Imaging device, image processing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To publish an image stored in a digital camera, and the like, extensively depending on the desire of a user by simpler operation.SOLUTION: An imaging device has imaging means, first receiving means for receiving an acquisition request of an image captured by the imaging means and reduced, first transmission means for transmitting the reduced image set to be published by using a first communication system, second receiving means for receiving an acquisition request of a captured image corresponding to the reduced image set to be published, and second transmission means for transmitting the acquisition request of a captured image to a transmission source, by using a second communication system different from the first communication system.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

In recent years, a data processing apparatus such as a digital camera equipped with a simple access point function is known. When the digital camera activates a simple access point function, another device detects the digital camera as an access point and participates in the network formed by the digital camera. As a result, the digital camera can be easily communicated with other devices, and the image data stored in the digital camera or the like can be easily transmitted to other devices.
Patent Document 1 discloses a method for receiving transmission destination information, information on conditions desired to be transmitted, and a transmission request from a device, and transmitting only necessary image files based on the received conditions.

JP 2012-0665347 A

  However, the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above is based on the transmission destination information stored in the transmission source device, the information regarding the condition of the image desired to be transmitted, and the information included in the transmission request from the transmission destination device. To determine whether or not transmission is possible. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain and store the transmission destination information stored in advance in the transmission source device and the information regarding the condition of the image desired to be transmitted.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to publish an image stored in a digital camera or the like over a wide range according to a user's request with a simpler operation.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an imaging unit, a first receiving unit that receives a request for obtaining a reduced image of the captured image obtained by the imaging unit, and the reduction setting that is publicly set using the first communication method. A first transmission unit configured to transmit an image to a plurality of devices; a second reception unit configured to receive an acquisition request for the captured image corresponding to the reduced image that is set to be public; and a captured image related to the acquisition request; And a second transmission unit configured to transmit to the transmission source of the captured image acquisition request using a second communication method different from the first communication method.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to publish images stored in a wide range of digital cameras or the like according to the user's wishes with a simpler operation.

It is a figure which shows a digital camera. It is a figure which shows a mobile telephone. It is the figure which represented typically the connection form of a digital camera and a mobile telephone. It is explanatory drawing of the use case of an image provision. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process of a digital camera and a mobile telephone. It is a figure which shows an example of a public setting screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a thumbnail display screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the request display screen. It is a flowchart which shows the process of a digital camera. It is a flowchart which shows the detailed process in a captured image transmission process. It is a flowchart which shows the process of a mobile telephone.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The information processing system according to the present embodiment includes a digital camera as an example of an imaging device and a mobile phone as an example of a terminal device. A digital camera as an imaging device transmits a captured image to a mobile phone. The device that transmits the captured image is not limited to the imaging device, and may be an information processing device. In this case, the information processing device acquires a captured image obtained by imaging by the imaging device from the captured image or the like, and transmits this to the mobile phone. Examples of the information processing apparatus include a portable media player, a so-called tablet device, and a personal computer.
The mobile terminal is not limited to a mobile phone. As another example, the portable terminal may be a digital camera with a wireless function, a portable media player or a so-called tablet device, a personal computer, a smartphone, or the like.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a digital camera 100. The control unit 101 is, for example, a CPU, and controls each unit of the digital camera 100 according to an input signal and a program described later. Note that instead of the control unit 101 controlling the entire apparatus, a plurality of hardware may share the processing to control the entire apparatus. The imaging unit 102 converts subject light imaged by a lens included in the imaging unit 102 into an electrical signal, and performs noise reduction processing and the like. Further, the imaging unit 102 outputs digital data as image data. After the image data is stored in the buffer memory, the control unit 101 performs a predetermined calculation and records it on the recording medium 110.
The non-volatile memory 103 is an electrically erasable / recordable non-volatile memory, and stores a program to be described later executed by the control unit 101. The work memory 104 is used as a buffer memory that temporarily holds image data picked up by the image pickup unit 102, an image display memory of the display unit 106, a work area of the control unit 101, and the like.

The operation unit 105 is used to receive an instruction for the digital camera 100 from a user. The operation unit 105 includes, for example, operation members such as a power button for instructing the user to turn on / off the digital camera 100, a release switch for instructing imaging, and a reproduction button for instructing reproduction of image data. including. A touch panel formed on the display unit 106 described later is also included in the operation unit 105.
The release switch has SW1 and SW2. When the release switch is in a so-called half-pressed state, SW1 is turned on. As a result, the digital camera 100 accepts an instruction for performing imaging preparation such as AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash) processing. Further, when the release switch is in a fully-pressed state, SW2 is turned on. Thereby, the digital camera 100 accepts an instruction to perform imaging.

The display unit 106 displays a viewfinder image at the time of imaging, displays captured image data, displays characters for interactive operation, and the like. Note that the display unit 106 is not necessarily built in the digital camera 100. The digital camera 100 may be connected to the internal or external display unit 106 and may have at least a display control function for controlling display on the display unit 106.
The recording medium 110 records image data such as a captured image output from the imaging unit 102 and a thumbnail image corresponding to the captured image. Here, the thumbnail image is an example of a reduced image. The recording medium 110 may be configured to be detachable from the digital camera 100 or may be built in the digital camera 100. That is, the digital camera 100 only needs to have a means for accessing at least the recording medium 110.
The wireless LAN unit 111 is an interface for connecting to an external device. The digital camera 100 of this embodiment can exchange data with an external device via the wireless LAN unit 111. The control unit 101 realizes wireless communication with an external device by controlling the wireless LAN unit 111.

Note that the digital camera 100 in the present embodiment can operate as a slave device in the infrastructure mode. When the digital camera 100 operates as a slave device, the digital camera 100 can connect to a peripheral access point (hereinafter referred to as an AP) and participate in a network formed by the AP. In addition, the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment is a kind of AP, but can also operate as a simple AP with a limited function (hereinafter referred to as a simple AP). The AP in this embodiment is an example of a relay device.
When the digital camera 100 operates as a simple AP, the digital camera 100 forms a network by itself. Devices around the digital camera 100 can recognize the digital camera 100 as an AP and participate in a network formed by the digital camera 100. It is assumed that a program for operating the digital camera 100 is held in the nonvolatile memory 103 as described above.

Although the digital camera 100 according to this embodiment is a kind of AP, it is a simple AP that does not have a gateway function for transferring data received from a slave device to an Internet provider or the like. Therefore, even if data is received from another device participating in the network formed by the own device, it cannot be transferred to a network such as the Internet.
The Bluetooth (registered trademark) unit 112 is also an interface for connecting to an external device. Similar to the wireless LAN unit 111, the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment can exchange data with an external device via the Bluetooth unit 112. The control unit 101 realizes wireless communication with an external apparatus by controlling the Bluetooth unit 112. Note that the functions and processing of the digital camera 100 to be described later are realized by the control unit 101 reading out a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 103 or the like and executing the program. The above is the description of the digital camera 100.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the mobile phone 200. The control unit 201 controls each unit of the mobile phone 200 according to an input signal and a program described later. Note that instead of the control unit 201 controlling the entire apparatus, the entire apparatus may be controlled by a plurality of pieces of hardware sharing the processing. The imaging unit 202 converts subject light imaged by a lens included in the imaging unit 202 into an electrical signal. The imaging unit 202 further performs noise reduction processing and outputs digital data as image data. The captured image data is stored in the buffer memory, and then a predetermined calculation is performed by the control unit 201 and recorded on the recording medium 210.
The nonvolatile memory 203 is an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory, and stores various programs executed by the control unit 201. It is assumed that a program for communicating with the digital camera 100 is also stored in the nonvolatile memory 203 and installed as a camera communication application.

  Note that the processing of the mobile phone 200 in the present embodiment is realized by reading a program provided by a camera communication application. It is assumed that the camera communication application has a program for using the basic functions of the OS installed in the mobile phone 200. Note that the OS of the mobile phone 200 may have a program for realizing the processing in the present embodiment. The work memory 204 is used as a buffer memory for temporarily storing image data generated by the imaging unit 202, an image display memory for the display unit 206, a work area for the control unit 201, and the like.

The operation unit 205 is used to receive an instruction for the mobile phone 200 from the user. The operation unit 205 includes, for example, a power button for a user to instruct ON / OFF of the power supply of the mobile phone 200 and an operation member such as a touch panel formed on the display unit 206.
A display unit 206 displays image data, displays characters for interactive operation, and the like. Note that the display unit 206 is not necessarily built in the mobile phone 200. The mobile phone 200 may be connected to a display device as an external device and has at least a display control function for controlling the display device.

The recording medium 210 can record image data output from the imaging unit 202. The recording medium 210 may be configured to be detachable from the mobile phone 200 or may be built in the mobile phone 200. That is, the mobile phone 200 only needs to have at least a means for accessing the recording medium 210.
The wireless LAN unit 211 is an interface for connecting to an external device. The cellular phone 200 of this embodiment can exchange data with an external device via the wireless LAN unit 211. The control unit 201 realizes wireless communication with an external device by controlling the wireless LAN unit 211. Note that the mobile phone 200 according to the present embodiment can operate at least as a slave device in the infrastructure mode, and can participate in a network formed by neighboring APs.

The Bluetooth unit 215 is also an interface for connecting to an external device. Similar to the wireless LAN unit 211, the mobile phone 200 of this embodiment can exchange data with an external device via the Bluetooth unit 215. The control unit 201 realizes wireless communication with an external device by controlling the Bluetooth unit 215.
The public network connection unit 212 is an interface used when performing public wireless communication. The mobile phone 200 can make a call or data communication with another device via the public network connection unit 212. During a call, the control unit 201 inputs and outputs an audio signal via the microphone 213 and the speaker 214. In the present embodiment, the public network connection unit 212 includes an interface for performing communication using 3G. Not only 3G but other communication methods such as LTE, WiMAX, ADSL, FTTH, so-called 4G may be used. In addition, the wireless LAN unit 211 and the public network connection unit 212 are not necessarily configured by independent hardware, and may be shared by, for example, one antenna.
Note that functions and processing of the mobile phone 200 described later are realized by the control unit 201 reading a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 203 and executing the program. The above is the description of the mobile phone 200.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a connection form between the digital camera 100 and the mobile phone 200 in the present embodiment. When the digital camera 100 and the mobile phone 200 transmit and receive data wirelessly, two connection forms shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B are possible.
FIG. 3A shows a form in which the digital camera 100 and the mobile phone 200 participate in a wireless LAN network formed by an external AP 300 that is an example of an external relay device. The digital camera 100 and the mobile phone 200 detect a beacon signal periodically transmitted by the external AP 300 and participate in a wireless LAN network formed by the external AP 300. After participating in the same wireless LAN network, the digital camera 100 and the mobile phone 200 are ready to transmit and receive data via the wireless LAN through mutual device discovery and device capability acquisition (establish communication between devices). .
Further, the external AP 300 in this embodiment can be connected to an external network such as the Internet using a public network or the like. Therefore, the mobile phone 200 can transmit data over the Internet via the external AP 300.

FIG. 3B illustrates a form in which the digital camera 100 and the mobile phone 200 are directly connected without using the external AP 300. In this case, the digital camera 100 operates as a simple AP to form a wireless LAN network. When the digital camera 100 operates as a simple AP, the digital camera 100 starts to periodically transmit a beacon signal. The mobile phone 200 detects the beacon signal and participates in the wireless LAN network formed by the digital camera 100. As in the case of FIG. 3A, communication is established through mutual device discovery, device capability acquisition, and the like, and data transmission and reception is possible.
As described above, the digital camera 100 in this embodiment does not have a function of communicating with an external network such as the Internet. Therefore, the mobile phone 200 participating in the wireless LAN network formed by the digital camera 100 cannot transmit data to the Internet or the like via the simple AP.
As described above, the digital camera 100 and the mobile phone 200 have two connection forms. In the present embodiment, the digital camera 100 and the mobile phone 200 are directly connected without using the external AP 300 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a use case for providing an image from the digital camera 100 to the mobile phone 200 according to the present embodiment. Assume that the owner A of the digital camera 100 is participating in a bus tour. Tour participants B, C, and D each own a mobile phone 200. The participant D is assumed to be an old friend with the owner A.
The owner A of the camera took a bus tour together with his friend D and happened to be close together with B and C, so he went sightseeing together and took pictures during the tour. Since only A carries the digital camera 100 on that day, it is assumed that all the captured pictures are stored in the digital camera 100 of A. In such a case, for example, the owner A may be asked to see a photograph taken by the bus tour from B, C, and D in the bus of the returning bus.

Generally, when it is said that you want to show the captured image, it is easiest for the owner of the camera to give the camera to the person who wants to see the picture and see the image in the camera directly It is. However, if the camera contains an image that you do not want to show, the method cannot be executed.
As a method of showing only the selected image, it can be used for a service such as a web album later. However, as in this case, it takes time and effort to exchange the contact information with B and C, which are not related to the old knowledge, and to contact at a later date. As the owner A of the digital camera 100, it is less troublesome to show it easily on the spot. In addition, the owner A may show images to B and C, which are not so close, but there may be a case where only the friend D wants to give the image.

In such a situation, the information processing system according to the present embodiment changes the type of image to be disclosed in accordance with the closeness between the partner who requested the image browsing and itself. Specifically, the following use cases are assumed. That is, first, as shown in FIG. 4A, A is requested to view an image by a tour companion or the like.
As shown in FIG. 4B, when A is requested for a thumbnail image, A selects only the images related to the tour from the captured images in the digital camera 100 and requests the corresponding thumbnail image. It operates so that it may transmit to the mobile phone 200 of all the other parties. Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, A transmits a captured image only to the mobile phone 200 of a specific partner among the partners who requested image acquisition. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4, A provides a captured image only to the friend D. That is, accompanying persons B and C other than the friend D can browse the thumbnail image, but cannot acquire the captured image itself.

As in the above case, the owner of the digital camera 100 has a desire to publish the photographed image widely and casually, but there is a conflicting request that he / she wants to select the image to be shared and the person to whom the image is to be handed over. There is. In order to realize this demand, the digital camera 100 according to the present embodiment transmits captured images and thumbnail images using different communication methods. Specifically, the digital camera 100 uses two communication methods, Bluetooth and a wireless LAN network. Here, the communication in Bluetooth in this embodiment can be connected without pairing, and simultaneously connects to and communicates with a number of partner devices. In addition, the wireless LAN in the present embodiment basically communicates only with a single counterpart device at the same time.
In the present embodiment, the digital camera 100 transmits a thumbnail image corresponding to the captured image to the mobile phone 200 via Bluetooth. Thereafter, when the digital camera 100 receives a captured image acquisition request corresponding to the thumbnail image from the mobile phone 200, the digital camera 100 transmits the requested public image to the mobile phone 200 via the wireless LAN network.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing processing of the digital camera 100 and the mobile phone 200. In step S <b> 501, the digital camera 100 performs public setting of thumbnail images according to a user operation (setting process). The digital camera 100 recognizes that the thumbnail image that has been set to be public is permitted to be disclosed to an unspecified number of people.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a public setting screen 600 displayed on the display unit 106 of the digital camera 100 in S501. When the user determines that the thumbnail image corresponding to the captured image displayed on the publish setting screen 600 may be disclosed, the user selects the OK button 501. When the OK button 501 is selected, the digital camera 100 accepts a public setting instruction for a thumbnail image corresponding to the captured image being displayed. Then, the digital camera 100 performs the public setting for the thumbnail image according to the public setting instruction. The digital camera 100 completes the public setting by performing this operation on each thumbnail image.

As another example, the digital camera 100 may manage the validity / invalidity of Bluetooth communication (communication control processing), and perform the public setting depending on whether the communication is valid. Specifically, the control unit 101 of the digital camera 100 performs the public setting for the thumbnails that are captured with Bluetooth “ON”, that is, in a state where Bluetooth communication is enabled.
In this case, the control unit 101 does not perform the public setting for the thumbnails captured in the Bluetooth “OFF” state, that is, when the Bluetooth communication is valid. Further, when the digital camera 100 captures an image with Bluetooth “ON”, the digital camera 100 confirms with the user whether or not the thumbnail image can be disclosed immediately after the image capture, and only when the input of the disclosure setting instruction by the user is accepted. It is good also as setting.

There are cases where private images are mixed in the digital camera 100 as shown in FIG. Even in such a case, the digital camera 100 performs the public setting only for the captured image that the user desires to open by inputting the public setting instruction only for the thumbnail image that the user wants to show to others. be able to. Here, the digital camera 100 performs the public setting by storing the list information indicating the thumbnail image related to the public setting instruction in the recording medium 110 as an external file different from the thumbnail image.
As another example, the digital camera 100 may perform the public setting by adding (embedding) setting information indicating that the public setting has been made to the thumbnail image related to the public setting.

In subsequent S502, the digital camera 100 sets Bluetooth to “ON” in response to a user operation. Next, in S503, the mobile phone 200 activates an application in response to a user operation. Next, in S504, the digital camera 100 and the mobile phone 200 establish a connection with Bluetooth. Hereinafter, the data communication in S505 to S511, S521, and S522 is realized by Bluetooth.
In step S <b> 505, the mobile phone 200 transmits an image list request to the digital camera 100. Here, the image list request is information for requesting an image list, and the image list is list display information for displaying a list of thumbnail images that are recorded in the digital camera 100 and set publicly. That is, the image list transmitted in S506 includes only thumbnail images that are set to be public, and does not include thumbnail images that are not set to be public. In step S <b> 506, the digital camera 100 transmits an image list to the mobile phone 200 in response to the image list request.

When the user of the mobile phone 200 desires to obtain a thumbnail image, the user selects the desired thumbnail image by operating the mobile phone 200. In response to this, in step S507, the mobile phone 200 transmits to the digital camera 100 a request for acquiring a thumbnail image selected by the user from among the thumbnail images included in the image list. In step S508, the digital camera 100 transmits a thumbnail image related to the acquisition request. Then, when the mobile phone 200 receives the thumbnail image, it displays it on the display unit 206.
As described above, the Bluetooth connection is characterized in that it can be connected without pairing and can be connected simultaneously with a large number of partners. For this reason, in S508, the digital camera 100 can transmit the image list and thumbnail images to an unspecified number of people including those who are not known as shown in FIG. 4B.

Subsequently, when the user of the mobile phone 200 desires to obtain a captured image corresponding to the thumbnail image, the user selects the thumbnail image corresponding to the desired captured image by operating the mobile phone 200. In contrast, in step S509, the mobile phone 200 transmits a captured image acquisition request corresponding to the thumbnail image selected by the user to the digital camera 100.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a thumbnail display screen 700 displayed on the display unit 206 of the mobile phone 200. In the example of FIG. 7, the thumbnail images are displayed in three columns, and further thumbnail images can be displayed by scrolling up and down.
The user browses the thumbnail images on the thumbnail display screen 700 and selects a thumbnail image corresponding to the captured image that the user wants to acquire. As a result, a check 701 is displayed on the selected thumbnail image. When the selection of thumbnail images is completed, the user selects the save button 702. Corresponding to this, the mobile phone 200 accepts image selection in step S509, with the image given the check 701 as the image selected by the user.

In step S <b> 510, the mobile phone 200 transmits a captured image acquisition request corresponding to the selected thumbnail image to the digital camera 100. At this time, the mobile phone 200 transmits the captured image ID related to the acquisition request and the information of the mobile phone 200 itself to the digital camera 100.
In step S <b> 511, the digital camera 100 displays the received captured image acquisition request on the display unit 106. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a request display screen 800 displayed on the display unit 106 of the digital camera 100. The user of the digital camera 100 determines whether or not to respond to the captured image acquisition request, and selects the OK button 801 when permitting the request, or the cancel button 802 when rejecting. When the OK button 801 is selected, the digital camera 100 accepts acquisition request permission information, and when the cancel button 802 is selected, the acquisition request permission information is received (acceptance process).

  The request display screen 800 displays a thumbnail image corresponding to the captured image for the acquisition request, information about the acquisition request transmission source mobile phone 200, and the like. Assume that the owner A of the digital camera 100 wants to send a captured image only to the friend D. In this case, the user of the digital camera 100 can confirm that the transmission source of the captured image acquisition request is the friend D by looking at the information of the mobile phone 200 displayed on the request display screen 800.

If the digital camera 100 receives the permission information of the acquisition request in S511, the digital camera 100 stores the image ID of the captured image and the information of the mobile phone 200 related to the acquisition request in the work memory 104, and advances the process to S512. On the other hand, if the digital camera 100 receives the rejection information of the acquisition request in S511, the process proceeds to S521.
In S512, the digital camera 100 forms a wireless LAN network by the simple AP function. In S513, the digital camera 100 transmits the SSID and password of the formed network. In S514, the mobile phone 200 participates in the network formed by the digital camera 100. Thereby, the wireless LAN network connection through the wireless LAN unit is established.

In step S515, the mobile phone 200 transmits a captured image acquisition request. At this time, the request to be transmitted is only information on the mobile phone 200. In S516, the digital camera 100 transmits the captured image. In S517, the mobile phone 200 completes the reception of the captured image from the digital camera 100.
In S518, the mobile phone 200 transmits a network deletion request formed by the mobile phone 200 and the digital camera 100 using the simple AP function. In step S519, the digital camera 100 disconnects the wireless LAN network connection with the mobile phone 200. In step S520, the digital camera 100 deletes the network formed by the simple AP function of the camera.

On the other hand, if the digital camera 100 accepts the rejection information of the acquisition request in S511, the process proceeds to S521. In step S <b> 521, the digital camera 100 transmits an error message to the mobile phone 200. In S <b> 522, the mobile phone 200 transmits a Bluetooth connection disconnection request via the Bluetooth unit 215. In response to this, the digital camera 100 receives the disconnection request.
In step S523, the digital camera 100 disconnects the Bluetooth connection with the mobile phone 200. In step S524, the digital camera 100 turns off the Bluetooth switch. In S525, the mobile phone 200 ends the application according to the user operation. Thus, a series of processing ends.

9 and 10 are flowcharts showing the processing of the digital camera 100. FIG. When Bluetooth is turned on, the control unit 101 of the digital camera 100 starts advertising in S901 and transmits a signal indicating the presence of the own device. Next, in S902, when the control unit 101 receives the Bluetooth connection request from the mobile phone 200 by the Bluetooth unit 112, the control unit 101 advances the process to S903. In step S <b> 903, the control unit 101 establishes a connection between the mobile phone 200 and Bluetooth.
Next, in S904, when the control unit 101 receives a request from the mobile phone 200 via the Bluetooth unit 112 (YES in S904), the control unit 101 advances the process to S905. When the control unit 101 does not receive the request, the control unit 101 returns to S904 and waits for the request. Here, the process of S904 is an example of a reception process.

If the request acquired in S904 is an image list request (YES in S904, YES in S905), the control unit 101 advances the process to S906. In step S906, the control unit 101 transmits the image list to the mobile phone 200 (transmission process). After completing the transmission, the control unit 101 returns to S904 and waits for a request.
If the request received in S904 is a thumbnail image acquisition request (YES in S904, NO in S905, YES in S907), the control unit 101 advances the process to S908. In step S <b> 908, the control unit 101 confirms the requested thumbnail image ID and the image ID stored in the recording medium 110. Next, in step S909, the control unit 101 transmits a thumbnail image that matches the requested image ID to the mobile phone 200 via the Bluetooth unit 112, that is, using the Bluetooth communication method (transmission). processing). The control unit 101 then advances the process to S904 and waits for a request. The processing of S901 to S908 is processing corresponding to the processing of S504 to S508 in FIG.

When the request acquired in S904 is a captured image acquisition request (YES in S904, NO in S905, NO in S907, YES in S910), the control unit 101 advances the process to S911. In step S <b> 911, the control unit 101 receives the ID of the captured image and the information on the mobile phone 200 that are transmitted following the acquisition request for the captured image. Here, the information of the mobile phone 200 is a nickname given by the user, a model name of the mobile phone 200, or the like.
Next, in S912, the control unit 101 displays the request display screen 800 shown in FIG. In step S <b> 913, the control unit 101 determines whether the captured image acquisition request is permitted, that is, whether the captured image transmission is permitted. Specifically, when the OK button 801 on the request display screen 800 is selected and the input of permission information is accepted, the control unit 101 determines that the acquisition request is permitted. In addition, when the cancel button 802 is selected and the input of rejection information is accepted, the control unit 101 determines to reject the acquisition request. As mentioned above, the process of S911-S914 is a process corresponding to the process of S510, S511.

If the request is permitted in S913 (YES in S913), the control unit 101 advances the process to S914. In step S914, the control unit 101 transmits a request rejection and error message to the mobile phone 200 via the Bluetooth unit 112, and then the process proceeds to step S904. Note that the process of S914 is a process corresponding to the process of S521.
On the other hand, when the request is permitted in S913 (YES in S913), the control unit 101 advances the process to S915. In step S <b> 915, the control unit 101 transmits a request permission to the mobile phone 200. Next, in S916, the control unit 101 performs captured image transmission processing.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing detailed processing in the captured image transmission processing (S916). The captured image transmission process is a process corresponding to the processes of S512 to S520. In step S <b> 1001, the control unit 101 stores, in the work memory 104, the image ID received in step S <b> 911 and information on the mobile phone 200 that is the transmission source of the captured image acquisition request. Next, in S1002, the control unit 101 forms a wireless LAN network by the simple AP function of the own device.
Next, in step S <b> 1003, the control unit 101 transmits network information formed on the mobile phone 200 via the Bluetooth unit 112. In step S <b> 1004, the control unit 101 confirms whether a wireless LAN network connection has been established with the mobile phone 200. If the wireless LAN network connection is established (YES in S1004), the control unit 101 advances the process to S1005. If the wireless LAN network connection has not been established (NO in S1004), the control unit 101 waits until it is established.

In step S <b> 1005, the control unit 101 receives a captured image acquisition request via the wireless LAN unit 111. In step S <b> 1006, the control unit 101 compares the information of the mobile phone 200 that is the transmission source of the received captured image acquisition request with the information of the mobile phone 200 stored in step S <b> 1001. As a result of the comparison, the control unit 101 transmits an error message to the mobile phone 200 when it cannot be confirmed as the same mobile phone 200. In step S <b> 1007, the control unit 101 transmits the captured image according to the acquisition request to the mobile phone 200 via the wireless LAN unit 111, that is, using the communication method of the wireless LAN network (transmission processing).
In step S <b> 1008, the control unit 101 receives a network deletion request formed by the simple AP function from the mobile phone 200 via the wireless LAN unit 111. In step S1009, the control unit 101 disconnects the wireless LAN network connection with the mobile phone 200. When the disconnection is completed, the control unit 101 advances the process to step S1010. In step S1010, the control unit 101 deletes the network formed by its own simple AP function. Thus, the captured image transmission process ends, and then the control unit 101 advances the process to S904.

  Returning to FIG. When the request acquired in S904 is a Bluetooth connection disconnection request received via the Bluetooth unit 112 (YES in S904, NO in S905, NO in S907, NO in S910), the control unit 101 performs the process in S917. Proceed to In step S917, the control unit 101 disconnects the Bluetooth connection with the mobile phone 200, proceeds to step S901, and starts advertising. Note that if the Bluetooth of the digital camera 100 is turned OFF by a user operation at the time of the processing of S917, the process ends without returning to S901.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the processing of the mobile phone 200. Note that it is assumed that the Bluetooth of the mobile phone 200 is in the ON state during the processing shown in FIG. The mobile phone 200 activates an application in response to a user operation. Thereby, the process shown in FIG. 11 is started. In step S <b> 1101, the control unit 201 of the mobile phone 200 scans neighboring Bluetooth devices.
Next, in step S1102, the control unit 201 displays a list of detected devices on the display unit 206. In step S <b> 1103, the control unit 201 selects the digital camera 100 from the displayed device list according to a user operation. Further, the control unit 201 transmits a Bluetooth connection request to the digital camera 100 via the Bluetooth unit 215.

In step S <b> 1104, the control unit 201 confirms whether a Bluetooth connection with the digital camera 100 has been established. If the Bluetooth connection is established (YES in S1104), the control unit 201 advances the process to S1105. If the Bluetooth connection has not been established (NO in S1104), the control unit 201 waits until it is established. Note that the processing in S1101 and S1102 corresponds to the processing in S503 and S504 in FIG.
Next, in step S <b> 1105, the control unit 201 transmits an image list request to the digital camera 100 via the Bluetooth unit 215. Next, in step S <b> 1106, the control unit 201 receives an image list from the digital camera 100 via the Bluetooth unit 215. In step S <b> 1107, the control unit 201 transmits a thumbnail image acquisition request to the digital camera 100 via the Bluetooth unit 215 (transmission processing). This acquisition request requests acquisition of a thumbnail image that matches the image ID included in the image list received in S1106.

In step S <b> 1108, the control unit 201 receives a thumbnail image related to the acquisition request via the Bluetooth unit 215 (reception processing). In step S <b> 1109, the control unit 201 displays the received thumbnail image on the display unit 206. Next, in step S1110, the control unit 201 receives a thumbnail image selection instruction in accordance with a user operation. For example, when a thumbnail image is checked on the thumbnail display screen 700 shown in FIG. 7 and the save button 702 is selected, the control unit 201 accepts a selection instruction indicating the checked thumbnail image.
Upon receiving the selection instruction, the control unit 201 advances the process to S1111. In step S1111, the control unit 201 transmits a captured image acquisition request to the digital camera 100 via the Bluetooth unit 215 (transmission processing). Next, in step S <b> 1112, the control unit 201 transmits the ID of the captured image corresponding to the selected thumbnail and the information on the mobile phone 200 to the digital camera 100 via the Bluetooth unit 215.

Next, in step S <b> 1113, the control unit 201 receives permission / rejection of a captured image acquisition request from the digital camera 100. In step S <b> 1114, the control unit 201 confirms whether the received content is permission or denial of the acquisition request. In the case of permission (YES in S1114), control unit 201 advances the process to S1115. In the case of rejection (NO in S1114), control unit 201 advances the process to S1116.
In step S1115, the control unit 201 displays the received error message on the display unit 206, and ends the process. Note that the control unit 201 may automatically disconnect the Bluetooth connection and terminate the application in step S1115. In step S <b> 1116, the control unit 201 receives information on the network formed by the digital camera 100 via the Bluetooth unit 215.

In step S <b> 1117, the control unit 201 participates in the network formed by the digital camera 100 via the wireless LAN unit 211 and requests a wireless LAN network connection. Thereby, the mobile phone 200 establishes a wireless LAN network connection with the digital camera 100.
In step S <b> 1118, the control unit 201 transmits a captured image acquisition request and mobile phone information to the digital camera 100 via the wireless LAN unit 211. Next, in step S <b> 1119, the control unit 201 receives a captured image from the digital camera 100 via the wireless LAN unit 211. Next, in step S <b> 1120, the control unit 201 transmits a network deletion request formed by the simple AP function of the digital camera 100 to the digital camera 100 via the wireless LAN unit 211. In step S <b> 1121, the control unit 201 disconnects the wireless LAN network connection with the digital camera 100. Here, the wireless LAN network connection is disconnected because it is not necessary to connect the wireless LAN network after the reception of the captured image is completed. At this time, it is also possible to suppress battery consumption of the digital camera 100 by deleting the network formed by the simple AP function of the digital camera 100. Note that the network deletion request does not necessarily need to be transmitted, and the digital camera 100 may delete the network formed by its own simple AP function when detecting that the mobile phone 200 is disconnected.
As mentioned above, the process of S1116-S1121 is a process corresponding to the process of S512-S519 of FIG.

  Next, in step S <b> 1122, the control unit 201 transmits a Bluetooth connection disconnection request to the digital camera 100 via the Bluetooth unit 215. In step S <b> 1123, the control unit 201 disconnects the Bluetooth connection with the digital camera 100. Thereafter, the control unit 201 ends the application in accordance with the user operation. Thus, the processing of the mobile phone 200 is completed. In the present embodiment, the connection via the Bluetooth unit has been described with Bluetooth 4.0, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  As described above, in the information processing system according to the present embodiment, only the image selected by the user from the images stored in the digital camera 100 can be disclosed widely. Furthermore, the digital camera 100 can easily transmit a captured image according to the other party. Furthermore, in the information processing system, the user does not need to register information on the transmission destination of the imaging device and information on the image to be transmitted in advance for these processes.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media. Then, the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiments, it is possible to publish images stored in a wide range of digital cameras or the like according to a user's request with a simpler operation.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.

100 digital camera, 101 control unit, 102 imaging unit, 111 wireless LAN unit, 112 Bluetooth unit, 200 mobile phone

Claims (12)

Imaging means;
First receiving means for receiving an acquisition request for a reduced image of a captured image obtained by the imaging means;
First transmission means for transmitting the reduced image set publicly to a plurality of devices using a first communication method;
Second receiving means for receiving an acquisition request for the captured image corresponding to the reduced image that has been set open to the public;
And a second transmission unit configured to transmit the captured image related to the acquisition request to a transmission source of the acquisition request for the captured image using a second communication method different from the first communication method. An imaging device. The apparatus further includes an accepting unit that accepts input of information indicating whether or not to permit transmission of the captured image from the user,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second transmission unit transmits the captured image when the reception unit receives permission information.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit configured to perform public setting on the reduced image in response to a user operation. Communication control means for invalidating communication by the first communication method;
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a public setting is made for the reduced image corresponding to the captured image captured in a state where communication by the first communication method is valid.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the setting unit performs public setting of the reduced image by giving setting information indicating that the public setting is made to the reduced image.   5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the setting unit stores, in the storage unit, list information indicating the reduced image that is publicly set as information different from the reduced image.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission unit transmits list display information for displaying a list of the plurality of reduced images that are publicly set. The first communication method is Bluetooth,
The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second communication method is a wireless LAN network. First receiving means for receiving an acquisition request for a reduced image of a captured image;
First transmission means for transmitting the reduced image set publicly to a plurality of devices using a first communication method;
Second receiving means for receiving an acquisition request for the captured image corresponding to the reduced image that has been set open to the public;
And a second transmission unit configured to transmit the captured image related to the acquisition request to a transmission source of the acquisition request for the captured image using a second communication method different from the first communication method. Information processing apparatus. An information processing method executed by an imaging apparatus,
An imaging step for imaging an image;
A first reception step of receiving a request for obtaining a reduced image of the captured image obtained in the imaging step;
A first transmission step of transmitting the reduced image set publicly to a plurality of devices using a first communication method;
A second receiving step of receiving an acquisition request for the captured image corresponding to the reduced image that is publicly set;
And a second transmission step of transmitting the captured image related to the acquisition request to a transmission source of the acquisition request for the captured image using a second communication method different from the first communication method. Information processing method. An information processing method executed by an information processing apparatus,
A first reception step of receiving a request for acquiring a reduced image of a captured image;
A first transmission step of transmitting the reduced image set publicly to a plurality of devices using a first communication method;
A second receiving step of receiving an acquisition request for the captured image corresponding to the reduced image that is publicly set;
And a second transmission step of transmitting the captured image related to the acquisition request to a transmission source of the acquisition request for the captured image using a second communication method different from the first communication method. Information processing method. Computer
First receiving means for receiving an acquisition request for a reduced image of a captured image;
First transmission means for transmitting the reduced image set publicly to a plurality of devices using a first communication method;
Second receiving means for receiving an acquisition request for the captured image corresponding to the reduced image that has been set open to the public;
A program for causing a captured image related to the acquisition request to function as a second transmission unit that transmits a captured image acquisition request to a transmission source using a second communication method different from the first communication method.

Images