JP4067418B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera having a wireless communication function, and more particularly to a digital camera capable of automatically transferring captured image information to an external information storage device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A digital camera that captures a subject image and acquires captured image information as a digital signal generally records the acquired captured image information in a removable recording medium such as a memory card, a built-in memory of the camera, or the like. The recording capacity of the recording media and the built-in memory is limited. When the recording capacity becomes full and recording of new captured image information becomes impossible, the recording medium can be replaced, or the recorded captured image information can be transferred to external image information. The captured image information that has been transferred to the storage device and then transferred is erased, and shooting and recording are continued.
[0003]
Since the transfer of recorded captured image information generally requires a complicated operation, a digital camera has been proposed that adds a wireless communication function and automatically transfers the recorded captured image information to the outside. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, and Patent Document 3). According to these digital cameras, the user can take a picture without worrying about the recording capacity of the memory inside the camera.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-336574 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-111184 A [Patent Document 3]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-84448
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, all the digital cameras described in the above documents automatically transfer the captured image information recorded inside the camera to the outside, and the transferred captured image information is in a predetermined condition (when the recording capacity is insufficient Etc.), the user cannot easily grasp the captured image. That is, since it is not possible to confirm the transferred captured image, it is not possible to easily recognize what kind of image information has been transferred.
[0006]
In addition, since the captured image information is automatically transmitted to the outside and stored, operations such as a print request based on the transferred captured image information, cancellation of the print request, and deletion of the stored image information are performed by the digital camera. Not easy to do by.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a digital camera that can take a picture without worrying about the recording capacity of a memory inside the camera, and allows a user to easily grasp a taken image. Is. It is another object of the present invention to enable a digital camera to instruct each process for photographed image information that has been photographed and transferred to the outside.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A digital camera having a wireless communication function according to the present invention includes an image recording memory for recording captured image information including main image data and thumbnail image data in units of image files, and recording the captured image information in the image recording memory. An image information management unit that controls and transfers the captured image information recorded in the image recording memory to an external information storage device in units of image files using the wireless communication function; The unit transfers the captured image information to the external information storage device in units of image files, and then leaves at least the main image data of the image file while leaving the thumbnail image data included in the transferred image file in the image file. It erases a while the transferred to an external data storage device, leaving the thumbnail image data, small Also, additional information is recorded in the image file from which the main image data of the image file has been deleted, and the image file in which the additional information is recorded is transferred to the external information storage device using the wireless communication function. To do . According to the present invention, an image based on the thumbnail image data can be displayed on the display unit of the digital camera, and all the captured images can be easily confirmed. Further, even after the captured image information is automatically transferred to the external information storage device, the control information regarding the captured image information can be transferred to the external information storage device. In this case, it is not necessary to transfer the thumbnail image data again, but if the captured image information recorded in the image recording memory is transferred as it is, the transfer process can be easily performed.
[0010]
In the digital camera according to the present invention, the additional information may be erasure instruction information for instructing erasure of captured image information transferred to the external information storage device. According to the present invention, even after the captured image information is automatically transferred to the external information storage device, the transferred captured image information can be erased. It is possible to prevent the recording area from being occupied.
[0011]
In the digital camera of the present invention, the image file in which the erasure instruction information is recorded is the external information only during a period until a predetermined time elapses after the image file including the main image data is transferred to the external information storage device. Includes those that can be transferred to a storage device. According to the present invention, when the printing based on the photographed image information transferred to the external information storage device is automatically printed, the use of the transferred photographed image information can be efficiently controlled.
[0012]
In the digital camera according to the aspect of the invention, the additional information may be print instruction information for printing based on photographed image information transferred to the external information storage device. According to the present invention, since the print instruction can be issued even after the captured image information is automatically transferred to the external information storage device, the print instruction can be transferred only for the necessary image, and the print based on the transferred captured image information can be transferred. Printing can be performed efficiently.
[0013]
The digital camera of the present invention includes one in which wireless communication with the external information storage device is performed using a wireless LAN.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0015]
The digital camera 100 in FIG. 1 obtains a digital photographed image signal by the imaging unit 11 and the signal processing unit 12. Further, the flash control unit 13 causes the flash 14 to emit light, and flash photography is also possible. The digital photographed image signal is subjected to compression processing by the compression / expansion unit 15 and recorded in the image recording memory 16 as photographed image information. Recording in the image recording memory 16 is performed in units of image files including compressed main image data and attached information and thumbnail data. The image file name is automatically given based on a predetermined standard. FIG. 4 shows an example of an image file recorded in the image recording memory 16. The digital camera shown in FIG. 1 uses the image recording memory 16 incorporated in the digital camera as a memory for recording image files. However, a memory card slot connected to the bus 50 via a card interface is provided. The captured image information may be recorded in a memory card inserted in the memory card slot.
[0016]
The captured image information recorded in the image recording memory 16 is transferred to the outside via the wireless interface 17 and the antenna 18 in units of image files. Details of the transfer of the captured image information will be described later.
[0017]
In the reproduction mode, main image data or thumbnail image data recorded in the image recording memory 16 is read from the image recording memory 16 and an image based on the main image data or thumbnail image data is displayed on an LCD (liquid crystal display) 23. In this case, when the main image data is included in the image file of the image recording memory 16, the read / write main image data is expanded by the compression / decompression unit 15 and written to the frame memory 21. If the main image data is not included in the image file (this situation will be described later), the read thumbnail image data is written in the frame memory 21. The LCD (liquid crystal display) control unit 22 causes the LCD 23 to display an image corresponding to the data in the frame memory 21. The LCD 23 can display not only an image based on the main image data in the image recording memory 16 but also a so-called through image based on a digital imaging signal obtained from the signal processing unit 12. It is also used for displaying various setting states of the digital camera 100, displaying an operation menu, and the like.
[0018]
The input / output interface 31 is connected to the operation unit 32 and the LED 33, and inputs operation signals from a power switch, a shooting mode / playback mode switch, a release button, various setting switches, and the like included in the operation unit 32, and digital A signal for the LED 33 for displaying the status of the camera 100 is output. The LED 33 is provided on the exterior or viewfinder (none of which is shown) of the digital camera 100.
[0019]
The wireless interface 17 performs wireless communication with the outside via the antenna 18. Any wireless communication may be used. For example, communication with a wireless LAN is performed. The wireless LAN is based on the IEEE802.11b standard or the like, and is connected to the Internet via a so-called access point having the function of a wireless LAN host base station. Then, it can be connected to a photographing information storage device (not shown) such as a server device that provides an image storage service via the Internet. The connection process with the photographing information storage device is controlled by the control unit 41 and started at various timings to be described later. Various information necessary for wireless communication processing, such as connection destination address information, is stored in advance in the nonvolatile memory 43 or the like.
[0020]
Note that the wireless communication can use a mobile phone line in addition to the communication with the wireless LAN. When a mobile phone line is used, the function of the mobile phone may be built in the digital camera 100 or may be transmitted to the mobile phone by short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth.
[0021]
The control unit 41 controls the entire operation of the digital camera 100, and is configured mainly by a processor that operates according to a predetermined program. The control unit 41 is configured to control the imaging unit 11 and the signal processing unit 12 according to an operation signal from the operation unit 32, main image data obtained through the signal processing unit 12 and the compression / decompression unit 15, and attached information. In addition to controlling the recording operation of the captured image information including the image, the image display operation on the LCD 23, and the display operation of the LED 33, the wireless communication control operation via the wireless interface 17 as described above, the wireless interface 17 of the captured image information And a recording operation for adding additional information to captured image information to be described later.
[0022]
The system memory 42 and the non-volatile memory 43 store data and programs used for various processes in the digital camera 100, and are used as work memories. The timer 44 and the clock 45 include shooting timings. This is used for control of image recording and recording management of shooting information. The system bus 50 transfers data between the elements of the digital camera 100.
[0023]
Next, the operation of the digital camera 100 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The digital camera 100 has a shooting mode and a playback mode, and can be switched by operating the operation unit 32. In the shooting mode, an image shot by the imaging unit 11 is displayed as a through image on the LCD 23, and the shot image information is recorded in the image recording memory 16 when the release switch of the operation unit 32 is operated. In the playback mode, an image based on the captured image information recorded in the image recording memory 16 is displayed on the LCD 23. The display image is switched by operating the operation unit 32. In the image display mode, it is possible to operate the captured image information corresponding to the displayed image. This point will be described later.
[0024]
The power state of the digital camera 100 has an operation state and a standby state that shifts to the operation state under a predetermined condition. In the standby state, power is not supplied to most elements of the digital camera. The captured image information transfer process using the wireless communication function is automatically started in the standby state of the power source or when the standby state is entered. It should be noted that a function of manually starting the captured image information transfer process by operating the operation unit 32 may be added.
[0025]
FIG. 2 shows a schematic operation flow of the digital camera 100 when the power is on. In the standby state, the presence / absence of operation of the camera switch is detected (step 201). The camera switch is a switch for starting a camera function, and several switches of the operation unit 32 are assigned. Any switch assignment is optional, but one or more switches that would normally be operated when starting camera operation are assigned. For example, a power switch (in this case, since the power is already on, an operation associated with normal power-on is not performed), a mode switch, a release switch, a shooting condition setting switch, and the like are assigned.
[0026]
If the operation of the camera switch is not detected, it is determined whether or not the interval timer that counts the interval for starting the transfer process is counting up (step 202). If the interval timer is counting up, in step 203, the standby state is canceled and the interval timer is reset, and the captured image information is transferred (step 204). Details of the captured image information transfer process will be described later.
[0027]
When the transfer process is completed, it is determined in step 205 whether all the information to be transferred has been transferred. If transfer has been completed, the power is turned off in step 209 and the process ends. The determination as to whether or not the captured image information recorded in the image recording memory 16 should be transferred is performed, for example, by storing a transfer necessity flag for each image file in the image recording memory 16 and determining whether or not the flag is present. . When information to be transferred remains in the image recording memory 16, the interval timer is activated (step 206), and a transition is made to a standby state (step 207). Then, the state of the power switch is determined (step 208). If the power switch is not turned off, the process returns to step 201. If the power switch is turned off, the power is turned off and the process is terminated.
[0028]
When an operation of the camera switch is detected in step 201, the standby state is canceled, the interval timer is reset (step 210), and camera processing is performed (step 211). The camera processing in step 211 is a camera processing mode and photographing processing and playback processing according to the operation of the operation unit 32. Since these processing methods can adopt conventional processing methods as appropriate, their description is omitted. Note that after the power switch is turned on in the power-off state and the initialization process is performed, the process proceeds to step 211.
[0029]
When the camera process ends, the state of the power switch is determined (step 212). If the power switch is turned off, the power is turned off and the process ends. If the power switch is not turned off, it is determined in step 213 whether or not a period of no operation of the operation unit 32 has continued for a certain period. If no operation is performed for a certain period, the transfer process in step 204 is started. .
[0030]
Next, the transfer process in step 204 will be described with reference to the schematic flowchart of FIG. In step 301, it is determined whether there is information to be transferred to the image recording memory 16. This determination is made by checking the transfer necessity flag for each image file, as in step 205 of FIG. If there is no information to be transferred, the transfer process is terminated and the process proceeds to step 205 in FIG.
[0031]
If the information to be transferred is in the image recording memory 16, connection processing with an external information storage device is performed (step 302). Then, it is determined whether or not communication with the information storage device is possible (step 303). If communication is possible, information (image file) to be transferred is transferred in step 305. If it is not determined in step 303 that communication is possible, it is determined whether or not the number of connection processes is equal to or less than a predetermined value (step 304). If it is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the process returns to step 302 to perform connection processing again. If communication with an external information storage device is not possible after a predetermined number of connection processes, the transfer process is terminated and the process proceeds to step 205 in FIG.
[0032]
When the transfer of the image file is completed in step 305, the transfer information is erased in step 306. This process deletes a part of the transferred information (image file), and at least deletes the main image data while leaving at least the thumbnail image data. The image ancillary information may be left or deleted, but it is preferable to leave it in consideration of the use of the image information in the digital camera (for example, confirmation of shooting conditions during thumbnail image playback).
[0033]
The unit of information (number of image files) for performing the information transfer in step 305 and the transfer information erasing in step 306 is arbitrary. In consideration of switch operation in the middle, changes in the communication environment, and the like, it is preferable to confirm the transfer completion and erase the information of the transferred image file in a certain unit of information (for example, every image file). Information may be erased by assigning a transferred flag for each image file, and actual information erasing may be performed after the transfer process is completed.
[0034]
Step 307 is a step for detecting whether or not the camera switch is operated. When the switch operation is detected, the process proceeds to step 210 in FIG. This step is for enabling a camera operation such as a photographing operation at a timing at which the process can be stopped even during the process of transferring information in step 305 and deleting the transfer information in step 306.
[0035]
Step 308 is a step of determining whether or not information to be transferred remains. If it remains, the process returns to step 303 and the same processing is repeated. If there is no information to be transferred, the transfer process is terminated and the process proceeds to step 205 in FIG.
[0036]
As described above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the captured image information recorded in the image recording memory 16 is transferred to an external information storage device without the user being aware of it. Since the large-capacity main image data in the transferred captured image information is automatically deleted, it is possible to perform imaging with little concern about the capacity of the image recording memory. Even if the main image data is deleted, the corresponding thumbnail image data remains, so that the photographed image can be confirmed.
[0037]
Next, a case where additional information is transferred with respect to the captured image information after transfer is described. Since the digital camera 100 in FIG. 1 transfers captured image information without a user instruction, information unnecessary for the user is also stored in an external information storage device. The additional information transferred here can be transferred and used for an instruction to delete the stored captured image information. Therefore, the digital camera 100 has a function of recording erasure instruction information in an image file. Recording of the erasure instruction information is performed by an instruction from the operation unit 32 during reproduction of the image recording memory 16. Then, the transfer necessity flag of the image file in which the erasure instruction information is recorded is set.
[0038]
When such an operation is performed, an image file in which deletion instruction information is recorded as additional information is automatically transferred by the processing described with reference to FIGS. In this case, it is not necessary to transfer the thumbnail image data again, but if the captured image information recorded in the image recording memory is transferred as it is, the transfer process can be easily performed. When the digital camera 100 has a function of starting a transfer operation by operating the operation unit 32, the transfer operation may be started immediately when additional information is recorded.
[0039]
The additional information may be used not only for erasing stored image information but also for other purposes. For example, when an external information storage device performs print service processing, it can be used for transmission of print instructions and print conditions based on transferred captured image information.
[0040]
Further, when an external information storage device performs print processing simultaneously with storage of photographed image information, it can be used to specify an image that does not require printing. In this case, it is preferable that printing is canceled by an instruction to delete the stored captured image information, and that additional information can be transferred only during a period from when the captured image information is transferred to when a predetermined time elapses.
[0041]
The digital camera 100 described above is suitable for use as a rental camera. In this case, the transferred captured image information is identified by the camera ID and stored in a storage area for each user associated with the ID. The accumulated photographed image information can be reliably returned by making it accessible after returning the lent camera. Even when the simultaneous print service is performed, it is preferable to transfer the print by exchanging with the lent camera.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a digital camera that can take a picture without worrying about the recording capacity of the memory inside the camera and allows the user to easily grasp the photographed image is provided. Can be provided. In addition, it is possible to instruct each process on the captured image information that has been shot and transferred to the outside from the digital camera.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic operation flow of the digital camera in a power-on state. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an image file recorded in the image recording memory.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Digital camera 11 ... Imaging part 12 ... Signal processing part 13 ... Strobe control part 14 ... Strobe 15 ... Compression / decompression part 16 ... Image recording memory 17 ... -Wireless interface 18 ... Antenna 21 ... Frame memory 22 ... LCD controller 23 ... LCD
31 ... Input / output interface 32 ... Operation unit 33 ... LED
41 ... Control unit 42 ... System memory 43 ... Non-volatile memory 44 ... Timer 45 ... Clock 50 ... System bus

Claims (5)

A digital camera having a wireless communication function,
An image recording memory for recording captured image information including main image data and thumbnail image data in units of image files;
Controls recording of captured image information to the image recording memory and transfers the captured image information recorded in the image recording memory to an external information storage device in units of image files using the wireless communication function An image information management unit
The image information management unit transfers the captured image information to the external information storage device in units of image files, and then leaves at least the thumbnail image data included in the transferred image file in the image file. The main image data is erased and transferred to the external information storage device, and additional information is recorded in an image file from which at least the main image data of the image file is erased while leaving the thumbnail image data. A digital camera that transfers the image file in which the additional information is recorded to the external information storage device using the wireless communication function . The digital camera according to claim 1 ,
The digital camera, wherein the additional information is erasure instruction information for instructing erasure of captured image information transferred to the external information storage device. The digital camera according to claim 2 ,
The image file in which the erasure instruction information is recorded can be transferred to the external information storage device only during a period until a predetermined time elapses after the image file including the main image data is transferred to the external information storage device. Digital camera. The digital camera according to claim 1 ,
The additional information is a digital camera which is print instruction information for printing based on photographed image information transferred to the external information storage device. The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
A digital camera in which wireless communication with the external information storage device is performed using a wireless LAN.

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