JP4192407B2 - Watches - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present inventionWatchesAbout.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, mobile phone terminals equipped with a display device having a large number of pixels (generally a liquid crystal display) have become widespread. Some mobile phone terminals of this type can display a predetermined image (also called wallpaper) as a standby screen.
[0003]
There is also a wristwatch provided with a display device having a large number of pixels. Some watches of this type can display not only time information but also character information such as an address book and a schedule or image information such as an image by making the best use of the display performance.
[0004]
On the other hand, portable digital cameras (hereinafter simply referred to as “digital cameras”) are also widespread. Digital cameras can be used for travel, mountain climbing, and so on. Recently, a wristwatch that has built-in sensors such as temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, direction, water depth, blood pressure, number of steps, position, etc. has been devised.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, these mobile phone terminals, wristwatches, and digital cameras are all portable electronic devices, but until now they could not be used in combination, so one was used for time confirmation and the other was used for image confirmation. There was a problem that they were only used for recording and all had a single utility value.
[0006]
  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,In watchesThe purpose is to propose a new usage.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to solve the above-described problem, a wristwatch according to the present invention includes:Timing means, setting means for setting a predetermined timing such as every hour, specific date and time, detection means for detecting that the timing means has reached a predetermined timing set by the setting means, and When the detection means detects the predetermined timing, a request means for outputting a transfer request signal to a camera having a separate transmission / reception function, a reception means for receiving an image sent from the camera, and the reception means Display means for displaying the image received in step (b), and displaying the image received from the camera at the predetermined timing.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
Here, the intended scope of the present invention is not limited to the electronic still camera described in the embodiment. Any image recording may be used as long as it is electronically recorded. For example, a moving image camera, a portable information terminal with an imaging function, an electronic notebook, a personal computer, or the like may be used. A wristwatch does not necessarily mean only a type of watch that is worn on an “arm”. What is necessary is just to use it for the confirmation of time, and to have the shape which can be carried.
[0020]
In addition, the term “image” is used for general purposes, and is an imaged analog video signal, an image signal synthesized with luminance and color difference, a signal compressed in JPEG format, a signal modulated for communication, information Including thumbnails with reduced amounts, images displayed on the liquid crystal display, and the like.
[0021]
(First embodiment)
<Link Configuration of Camera, Wristwatch, and Mobile Phone Terminal in First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the wearable network system according to the present embodiment. Reference numeral 1 denotes a so-called electronic still camera such as a digital camera that electronically records images. Figures 1b are views from the back. Reference numeral 101 denotes a shutter key, 102 denotes a liquid crystal display, 103 denotes a microphone for inputting sound, and 104 denotes a speaker for outputting sound. The speaker may be a detachable earphone or headphone, and the microphone may be a detachable microphone.
[0022]
Further, 2 is a wristwatch, 200 is a liquid crystal display of the wristwatch, 210 is a microphone for inputting sound, and 211 is a speaker for outputting sound.
[0023]
Reference numeral 8 denotes a mobile phone terminal. The mobile phone terminal 8 has a long device body 802 that can be held with one hand. A telescopic rod antenna 803 is provided at the top of the device main body 802, and a speaker 804 for calling for reproducing an audio signal sent from the other party by putting an ear on the front is arranged at the upper front. ing. Below the speaker 804, a display unit 805 including an LCD for displaying a message received on a standby screen (to be described later), operation guidance of the mobile phone terminal 8, operation status, and the like is disposed. A plurality of keys 807 are arranged below the display unit 805, and a microphone 808 is arranged near the lower end of the keys 807 so that the user can input voice while holding a call.
[0024]
The key 807 is configured by a key that is generally provided in a mobile phone terminal, such as a power key, an on-hook key, an off-hook key, a numeric keypad, and a mode key.
[0025]
As will be apparent from the following description, these electronic still camera 1, wristwatch 2 and mobile phone terminal 8 each have a wireless communication function by radio 3 and constitute a local network. Image information recorded by the still camera 1 can be transmitted to the wristwatch 2 or the mobile phone terminal 8, and the image information can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 200 of the wristwatch 2 or the display unit 805 of the mobile phone terminal 8. Further, it has a transmission function from the wristwatch 2 to the electronic still camera 1 side and a transmission function from the mobile phone terminal 8 to the electronic still camera 1 side. The transmission mode from the electronic still camera 1 to the wristwatch 2 or the mobile phone terminal 8 is not limited to a single transmission mode in which one piece of image information is transmitted to one wristwatch 2 only once. The same image information may be transmitted continuously or in a broadcast manner.
[0026]
Although the communication method will be described later, a known communication method can be used, and thus will not be described in detail. Transmission from the electronic still camera 1 side can be considered unilaterally, or a response signal can be returned from the wristwatch 2 to establish a link. A wireless LAN can also be constructed. Although there is a problem of directivity, infrared communication may be used. In other words, the local network means an environment in which data can be exchanged between electronic devices without being limited to a LAN provided with a server.
[0027]
The mobile phone terminal 8 can connect to the Internet 903 via the base station 901 and the telephone line network 902 by communicating with the base station 901. A server 904 is connected to the Internet 903, and this server 104 accumulates image data transmitted from the mobile phone terminal 8 and stores it so as to be accessible from the outside, as will be described later. Therefore, the personal computer 905 with a built-in modem can access the server 904 via the telephone line network 902 and the Internet 903 and download image data from the server 904.
[0028]
<Configuration of Electronic Still Camera in First Embodiment>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera 1. In this figure, 10 is a photographic lens, 11 is an aperture mechanism provided on the optical axis of the photographic lens 10, 12 is a drive unit of the aperture mechanism 11, and 13 is an imaging signal of a subject that receives light passing through the aperture mechanism 11. 14 is a driver for driving the CCD 13, and 15 is a timing generator (abbreviated) for generating various timing signals such as a signal for controlling the charge accumulation time (imaging time) of the CCD 13. TG), 16 is a sample-and-hold circuit (abbreviation: S / H) that samples the image pickup signal from the CCD 13 and removes noise, and 17 is an analog-digital converter (abbreviation) that converts the image pickup signal after noise removal into a digital signal. : A / D). The image sensor (image sensor) is not limited to the CCD, but may be another element such as a C-MOS or an image pickup tube.
[0029]
Reference numeral 18 denotes a color process circuit for generating a luminance / color difference composite signal (hereinafter referred to as “image signal”) from the output of the A / D 17, 19 a video transfer circuit, 20 a buffer memory for holding the image signal, and 21 a video signal. A compression / decompression circuit that compresses / decompresses a predetermined encoding method (generally JPEG), 22 is a photometric sensor that measures the brightness of the subject, and 23 is a fixed or removable flash that records the compressed image signal. It is memory. The buffer memory 20 has an area for storing an image for at least one screen. A storage area for a plurality of screens is provided, and captured images are sequentially stored, and then a compression process is performed later to enable rapid shooting. The flash memory 23 has a mode for storing a compressed image and a mode for storing an uncompressed image. You can also save thumbnails. Furthermore, audio data can be saved.
[0030]
Reference numeral 24 denotes a CPU that executes a control program stored in the program ROM 24a on the work RAM 24b to perform image recording and reproduction control and various control processes attached to these controls. The work RAM 24b and the buffer memory 20 may use the same memory, or their roles may be changed.
[0031]
A key input unit 25 generates a key input signal in response to various key operations such as the shutter key 101 and the transfer key 105, and 26 converts an image signal held in the buffer memory 20 into a signal format suitable for display. A digital video encoder 102, a liquid crystal display for image monitoring that displays a signal from the digital video encoder 26, and 30 transmits and receives data to and from an external device (watch 2 and mobile phone terminal 8) via an antenna 31. A communication unit 32 including a modulation circuit is a bus for connecting the units.
[0032]
A clock circuit 40 stores date and time information. The time measurement processing is performed by the CPU 24, and the time / date information is periodically rewritten. Reference numeral 41 denotes a power supply circuit that supplies power of the battery and the secondary battery to each unit. Reference numeral 42 denotes an audio control unit that takes in audio input from the microphone 103 and outputs audio from the speaker 104.
[0033]
A remote controller 50 exchanges signals with the remote control receiver 51. The remote control receiving unit 51 is controlled by the CPU 24. A shutter operation or the like can be performed by the remote controller 50.
The electronic still camera 1 having such a configuration can be switched between an image recording mode and a reproduction mode by a predetermined key operation of the key input unit 25, and the recording mode is an image pickup periodically taken out from the CCD 13. A through mode in which signals are converted into signals suitable for display and sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display 102 can be divided into a capture mode in which a desired imaging signal is recorded in the flash memory 23 by operating the shutter key 101.
110 is a Bluetooth transmission / reception circuit module, and 111 is a Bluetooth antenna. An interface circuit 112 is connected to a data output terminal 113 for connection to a personal computer.
[0034]
<Through mode in the first embodiment>
In the through mode (subject monitor mode), the CCD 13 disposed behind the photographic lens 10 is driven by a signal from the driver 14, and the subject images collected by the photographic lens 10 are photoelectrically converted at regular intervals to produce one image. Minute signal is output. This signal is sampled by S / H 16 and converted into a digital signal by A / D 17, and then an image signal is generated by color process circuit 18. This image signal is transferred to the buffer memory 20 via the video transfer circuit 19, and after the transfer to the buffer is completed, it is read out by the video transfer circuit 19, sent to the liquid crystal display 102 via the digital video encoder 26, Displayed as a through image.
[0035]
<Capture Mode in First Embodiment>
If the orientation of the camera is changed in this state, the composition of the through image displayed on the liquid crystal display 102 changes, and exposure is performed by “half-pressing” the shutter key at an appropriate time (when the desired composition is obtained). When the focus is set automatically or manually and then “fully pressed”, the mode is switched to the capture mode, the image signal stored in the image buffer of the buffer memory 20 is fixed at the image signal at that time, and is displayed on the liquid crystal display 102. The displayed through image is also fixed at the same point image. Then, the image signal stored in the image buffer of the buffer memory 20 at that time is sent to the compression / decompression circuit 21 via the video transfer circuit 19, and 8 × 8 pixels for each component of luminance information and color difference information. After being JPEG-encoded in units called basic blocks, they are recorded (captured) in the flash memory 23.
Further, after the shutter key is “fully pressed”, the sound input from the microphone 103 within a predetermined time is also recorded in the flash memory 23 together with the captured image when the “full press” is performed. Therefore, a sound recording image is recorded in the flash memory 23.
[0036]
<Reproduction mode in the first embodiment>
In the playback mode, the path from the CCD 13 to the buffer memory 20 is blocked, and the latest captured image is read from the flash memory 23 and decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 21. To the image buffer of the buffer memory 20. Then, the data in the image buffer is sent to the liquid crystal display 102 via the video transfer circuit 19 and the digital video encoder 26 and displayed as a reproduced image. At this time, if audio data is stored together with the captured image, reproduced audio is generated from the speaker 104 by the operation of the audio control circuit 42.
[0037]
The reproduced image can be changed by operating a predetermined key of the key input unit 25, for example, a plus (+) key or a minus (−) key, and a communication unit 30 by operating a predetermined function key. It is also possible to transmit to the outside via
[0038]
<Configuration of wristwatch in the first embodiment>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the wristwatch 2. In this figure, 201 is an oscillation circuit that generates an accurate periodic signal, 202 is a timing circuit that divides the periodic signal generated by the oscillation circuit 201 to generate a date / time signal that represents the current date and time, and 203 is a date / time adjustment. A key input unit that generates a key signal such as 215 is a liquid crystal display as a display unit, 205 is a memory that stores a clocking function and a control program for realizing various functions attached to the function, 207 is an antenna, 206 is A communication unit 208 executes a control program and controls the entire wristwatch. When the received image is stored in the memory 205, it is desirable to store the reception date / time information of the image in the image (for example, a file header) or in a file system that manages image data. . The date / time information may be displayed so as to overlap a part of the image, or may be used for managing the image.
[0039]
The memory 205 may have an area for storing the received image or audio recording image. If the received image is only displayed on the liquid crystal display 215 as a video through and not stored, the storage capacity can be reduced.
[0040]
The liquid crystal display 215 is a small flat display device with n × m pixels, and preferably a display capable of color or monochrome multi-gradation display.
[0041]
Reference numeral 209 denotes an audio control unit that takes in audio input from the microphone 210 and outputs audio from the speaker 211. A remote control transmission unit 212 has the same function as the remote control 50 in FIG. 2, and can control the electronic still camera 1 from the clock 2 by remote control operation.
[0042]
Here, the communication unit 206 realizes wireless data connection with the same protocol as the communication unit 30 of the electronic still camera 1. The protocol only needs to be wireless. For example, infrared communication (IrDA), which is a conventional short-range wireless technology, may be used, but considering the drawbacks of IrDA (weak to obstacles), FM (frequency The use of wireless communication techniques such as modulation and spread spectrum is preferred. Even if one of the electronic still camera 1 or the wristwatch 2 is in a pocket or bag, data connection can be performed without any problem.
[0043]
For example, using a radio wave of 2.45 GHz band, it will cover a short distance of about 10 m, and realize a transfer rate of up to 721 Kbps (transfer rate is 1 Mbps; the next version will be increased to 2 Mbps) with a one-to-one connection. A short-distance weak transmission output mobile communication technology called “Bluetooth” is one of candidate technologies that should be adopted. This can be realized only by mounting a small transceiver module (corresponding to the Bluetooth module 30 in FIG. 2 and the communication unit 206 in FIG. 3). In addition, a wireless LAN communication system such as 64 kbps PHS self-employed standard third edition standard or 11 Mbps IEEE 802.11 HR DSSS can be applied.
[0044]
<Configuration of cellular phone terminal in first embodiment>
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the mobile phone terminal 8. The speaker 804, display unit 805, key 807, and microphone 808 are connected to the control unit 809. Further, a call speaker 810, a transmission / reception unit 811 connected to the antenna 803, a received data storage unit 813, an I / F (interface) unit 814, and a standby screen data storage unit 815 are connected to the control unit 809. Has been.
[0045]
The transmission / reception unit 811 performs wireless communication with the base station 901 illustrated in FIG. 3 via the antenna 803. The received data storage unit 813 stores received mail data, and the I / F unit 814 is an interface unit for inputting / outputting data to / from other devices such as a PC (personal computer). The standby screen data storage unit 815 stores image data transmitted from the electronic still camera 1 as standby screen data.
[0046]
The control unit 809 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The CPU operates according to a program stored in the ROM while using the RAM as a work area, thereby controlling each unit and necessary for the mobile phone terminal 8. Execute the process. That is, the control unit 809 transmits a calling signal for calling another telephone terminal from the transmission / reception unit 811 to the telephone line network 902 shown in FIG. 1, and the calling signal is transmitted from the base station 901. When the user inputs a command to connect the mobile phone terminal 8 to the telephone network 902 in response to the reception process for generating the ring tone from the speaker 810 and the generation of the ring tone, Connection processing for connecting the mobile phone terminal 8 to the telephone line network 902, and when a call with the other party becomes possible, the voice signal input from the microphone 808 by the user is transmitted from the transceiver unit 811 to the base station 901 side and received The process etc. which generate an audio | voice from the speaker 84 with the audio | voice signal which performed are performed.
[0047]
In addition, the control unit 809 executes processing for transmitting message data to the server via the telephone line network 902 and the Internet 903, and fetching message data stored in the server and displaying the message data on the display unit 805. In addition to such general message data transmission / reception processing, a standby screen image based on image data (standby screen data) stored in the standby screen data storage unit 815 is displayed on the display unit 805, or A process of transmitting the standby screen data to the mobile phone terminal 8 of the other party via the telephone line network 902 or transmitting to the server via the telephone line network 902 and the Internet 903 is executed.
[0048]
Further, in order to perform message data and standby screen data communication as described above, the control unit 809 includes an encoder 891 that converts message data and standby screen data into a transmission signal, and a received signal. A decoder 892 for restoring message data and standby screen data is incorporated.
[0049]
The antenna 803 and the transmission / reception unit 811 connected to the antenna 803 not only have a function of performing wireless communication with the base station 901, but also are transmitted from the transmission unit 30 of the electronic still camera 1 via the antenna 31. It also has a function of receiving data.
[0050]
Next, the operation will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the control program of the electronic still camera 1, and is a schematic flowchart of the program executed by the CPU 24 in the recording mode. This program determines a mode change (S2) in response to a predetermined key operation of the key input unit 25 while performing a through image display process (S1) for displaying a captured image on the liquid crystal display 102 as a monitor. If there is no change, the exposure control process (S4) and the image recording process (S6) are executed in response to the pressing operation (S3, S5) of the shutter key 101.
[0051]
In addition, an audio recording process (S7) for recording audio input from the microphone 103 within a predetermined time from the pressing operation of the shutter key 101 is also executed. However, when the mode is changed, the change destination mode is reproduced. It is determined whether or not the mode is selected (S8). If the mode is the playback mode, the “playback mode control” of FIG. 25 is executed. If not, the other mode selection processing is executed. Here, the operation of the shutter key 101 is not limited to pressing down, but may be performed by a touch key, a remote controller, computer control, or the like.
[0052]
In FIG. 6, in “playback mode control”, first, the i-th captured image is read from the flash memory 23, decompressed by the compression / expansion circuit 21, and then displayed on the liquid crystal display 102 via the digital video encoder 26 ( S11). If audio data is stored together with the i-th captured image, it is read from the flash memory 23 and reproduced by the speaker 104 via the audio control circuit 42 (S12). Here, the initial value of the variable i is the number of the last captured image stored in the flash memory 23, that is, the number of the last recorded image.
[0053]
When it is desired to change the display image (YES in S12), a predetermined key of the key input unit 25, for example, a plus (+) key or a minus (−) key is operated to update the value of the variable i (S14). ) Again, the i-th captured image is read from the flash memory 23, decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 21, and then displayed on the liquid crystal display 102 via the digital video encoder 26 (S11) to reproduce the sound. (S12).
[0054]
When the desired image display and sound are confirmed, it is next determined whether or not to transmit an image (or sound recording image) (S15). This determination is performed, for example, by determining an operation of a predetermined key of the key input unit 25. If the image transmission is not performed (NO determination in S15), the program is terminated as it is, but if the image transmission is performed (YES determination in S15), the i-th captured image, that is, the captured image being displayed on the liquid crystal display 102 is displayed. Reduced images (also referred to as thumbnail images) are generated (S16).
[0055]
Next, it is checked whether the receiving electronic device (in this case, the mobile phone terminal) is busy (S17). If the receiving electronic device uses the same receiving unit for communication between the local network and the outside, it is physically busy to send data, but it cannot be sent. When the telephone communication receiving unit and the Bluetooth receiving unit are separate, reception may be permitted even when the telephone is busy and reception data may be stored in a buffer. In the present embodiment, transmission is not accepted as “busy” while the telephone receiving unit is transmitting and receiving. If the user is busy, after waiting for a predetermined time (S18), the processing from S15 is repeated. If the user is not busy, the reduced image is transmitted to the outside via the communication unit 30 (S19). If there is audio data, it is transmitted (S20) and the program is terminated. Here, the size of the reduced image is, for example, a size suitable for the display size of the liquid crystal display 215 of the wristwatch 2, and the reduction rate is, for example, M × N when the number of pixels of the captured image is M × N. × N is a value that can be converted into the number of pixels (n × m) of the display unit 43 of the wristwatch 2 and the display unit 805 of the mobile phone terminal 8. Note that thumbnails generally refer to index heading screens created by thinning out large images. When an image is stored in a flash memory or the like, an image compressed by a compression method such as JPEG and a thumbnail of the image are stored and stored as a set (the thumbnail is also often JPEG compressed). At the time of reproduction, a list is first displayed as thumbnails, and a compressed image corresponding to the selected thumbnail is read out, expanded, and displayed. In the present invention, when an image is transferred, the captured image itself may be transferred, but in general, a compressed image compressed by JPEG is generally transferred. In addition, when transferring to an electronic device having a small display unit such as a wristwatch, it is sufficient to send an uncompressed thumbnail. If so, the transmission capacity is small, and there is no need to provide a decompression circuit on the receiving side. In the above description, a thumbnail is created when an image is transmitted (S16). If a thumbnail is also stored in advance as a set with an image, the stored thumbnail may be read out without being created again. This also applies to other embodiments described later.
[0056]
In this embodiment, immediately after the process of S16 is completed, it is checked whether the receiving electronic device (mobile phone terminal) is busy. However, when the transmission process is performed in S19 and S20 Check whether the receiving electronic device (in this case, the mobile phone terminal) is busy, and if it is busy, the transmitting device (in this embodiment, the camera) retransmits after a predetermined time. You may do it.
[0057]
FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a clock control program executed by the control unit 208 of the wristwatch 2. This program first reads a date / time signal from the timing circuit 202 (S21), and then determines whether or not data is received from the electronic still camera 1 by the communication unit 206 (S22). (NO determination of S22), the date display on the liquid crystal display 215 is updated using the date signal read from the time measuring circuit 40 (S23).
[0058]
On the other hand, if it is determined in S22 that data has been received, it is then determined whether the received data is appropriate (S24). If the received data is appropriate, an image is reproduced from the received data (S25). Then, the reproduced image is displayed on the display unit 43 (S26). If there is audio data in the received data, the audio is reproduced by the speaker 211 via the audio circuit 209 (S26).
[0059]
FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of a control program executed by the control unit 809 of the mobile phone terminal 8.
[0060]
If the standby screen data processing mode is set by a predetermined operation on the key 807, the processing is executed according to this flowchart. That is, it is determined whether image data is received from the electronic still camera 1 (S31), and the standby state is maintained until image data is received. If image data has been received, the received image data is stored in the standby screen data storage unit 815 as standby screen data (step S32). Next, it is determined whether or not the reception of the image data is completed (step S33), and the processes of steps S32 and S33 are repeated until the data reception is completed.
[0061]
When the reception of the image data transmitted from the electronic still camera 1 is completed, it is determined whether or not an operation for transmitting the stored image data to a specific partner is performed based on the presence or absence of a predetermined operation on the key 807 (step S34). If the operation is performed, a call process for transmitting a call signal for calling another mobile phone terminal 8 is performed, and the image stored in the standby screen data storage unit 815 when a call is established. Data is transmitted (step S8). Therefore, by this processing, the counterpart mobile phone terminal 8 can store this in the standby screen data storage unit 815 and display it as a standby screen on the display unit 805 as will be described later.
[0062]
Also, it is determined whether or not an operation for distributing the stored image data to the Internet has been performed based on the presence or absence of a predetermined operation on the key 807 (step S36). If the operation is performed, the image data stored in the standby screen data storage unit 815 is transmitted to the server 904 on the Internet 903 by connecting to the Internet 903 via the telephone line network 902 (step S37). Accordingly, image data captured by each user with the electronic still camera 1 is sequentially stored in the server 904 on the Internet 903 so as to be accessible from the outside. Thus, a system is constructed in which a person other than the photographer can enjoy the personal images of others by freely accessing the server 904 on the Internet 903 via the personal computer 905, and downloading and playing back the image data. Of course, the image data may be downloaded by a known charging method.
[0063]
In step S38, it is determined whether any of a plurality of types of image data already stored in standby screen data storage unit 815 has been selected. If any image data is selected, the image data is set as a standby screen (step S39), and the standby screen is displayed on the display unit 805 as a standby screen based on the standby screen data (step S40). ). Accordingly, by the processing in steps S39 and S40, as shown in FIG. 9A, the standby screen image W1 based on the selected image data is displayed as the standby screen on the display unit 805 of the mobile phone terminal 8. be able to. Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the display state of the display unit 805 can be changed to the standby screen image W2 by selecting other image data.
[0064]
In the above description, as shown in FIG. 10A, it is assumed that the person A is carrying the electronic still camera 1, the wristwatch 2, and the mobile phone terminal 8 together. As shown in (b), it can be assumed that the person B carries the electronic still camera 1 and the person C carries the wristwatch 2 and the mobile phone terminal 8. In this case, if the distance between the persons B and C is close and within the reach of the radio wave, the data transmitted from the electronic still camera 1 can be received by the wristwatch 2 or the mobile phone terminal 8 of the person C. According to this usage, the cellular phone terminals 8 of persons around the person B (who belong to the group) can also have common standby screen data.
(Second Embodiment)
Although the mobile phone terminal is not shown in the following embodiments, it is needless to say that the mobile phone terminal can be applied as an electronic device constituting the wearable network, as in the first embodiment.
<Link Configuration of Camera and Wristwatch in Second Embodiment>
[0065]
FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a camera-watch link system according to the second embodiment. Reference numeral 600 denotes a so-called electronic still camera such as a digital camera that electronically records images. A view 600b is a view from the back. Reference numeral 601 denotes a shutter, 602 denotes a liquid crystal display, 603 denotes a microphone for inputting sound, and 604 denotes a speaker for outputting sound. Reference numeral 700 denotes a wristwatch, reference numeral 715 denotes a liquid crystal display of the wristwatch, reference numeral 710 denotes a microphone for inputting voice, and reference numeral 720 denotes a speaker for outputting voice.
[0066]
The electronic still camera 600 and the wristwatch 700 have a wireless communication function based on the radio 3, as will be apparent from the following description. For example, image information recorded by the electronic still camera 600 is transmitted to the wristwatch 700. The image information can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 715 of the wristwatch 700. It also has a transmission function from the wristwatch 700 to the electronic still camera 600 side. The transmission mode from the electronic still camera 600 to the wristwatch 700 is not limited to a single transmission mode in which one piece of image information is transmitted to a single wristwatch 700, but the same image information for a plurality of wristwatches. May be included in a continuous or broadcast manner.
[0067]
Although the communication method will be described later, a known communication method can be used, and thus will not be described in detail. Further, the antenna of the electronic still camera 600 is not shown in FIG. Transmission from the electronic still camera 600 side can be considered unilaterally, or a response signal can be returned from the wristwatch 700 to establish a link. A wireless LAN can also be constructed. Although there is a problem of directivity, infrared communication may be used.
[0068]
<Configuration of Electronic Still Camera in Second Embodiment>
[0069]
FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera 600. In this figure, 610 is a photographic lens, 611 is an aperture mechanism provided on the optical axis of the photographic lens 610, 612 is a drive unit of the aperture mechanism 611, 613 is an imaging signal of a subject that receives light that has passed through the aperture mechanism 611. , 614 is a driver for driving the CCD 613, 615 is a timing generator (abbreviation) for generating various timing signals such as a signal for controlling the charge accumulation time (imaging time) of the CCD 613. TG), 616 is a sample and hold circuit (abbreviation: S / H) for sampling the imaging signal from the CCD 613 and removing noise, and 617 is an analog-digital converter (abbreviation) for converting the imaging signal after noise removal to a digital signal. : A / D). The image sensor (image sensor) is not limited to the CCD, but may be another element such as a C-MOS or an image pickup tube.
[0070]
Reference numeral 618 denotes a color process circuit for generating a luminance / color difference composite signal (hereinafter referred to as “image signal”) from the output of the A / D 617, 619 a video transfer circuit, 620 a buffer memory for holding the image signal, and 621 an image signal. A compression / decompression circuit that performs compression / decompression processing using a predetermined encoding method (generally JPEG method), 622 is a photometric sensor that measures the brightness of the subject, and 623 is a fixed or removable flash that records the compressed image signal. It is memory. The buffer memory 620 has an area for storing an image for at least one screen. If a storage area for a plurality of screens is provided, the captured images are stored sequentially, and a compression process is performed later, a high-speed shooting becomes possible. The flash memory 623 includes a mode for storing a compressed image and a mode for storing an uncompressed image. You can also save thumbnails.
[0071]
Reference numeral 624 denotes a CPU that executes a control program stored in the program ROM 624a on the work RAM 624b to perform image recording and reproduction control and various control processes incidental to these controls. The work RAM 624b and the buffer memory 620 may use the same memory, or the role assignment may be changed.
[0072]
Reference numeral 625 denotes a key input unit that generates a key input signal in response to various key operations such as the shutter key 601 and the transfer key 605, and 626 converts the image signal held in the buffer memory 620 into a signal format suitable for display. A digital video encoder 602, a liquid crystal display for an image monitor for displaying a signal from the digital video encoder 626, and a modulation circuit 630 for transmitting / receiving data to / from an external device (watch 700) via an antenna 631. A communication unit 632 is a bus that connects the units.
[0073]
A clock circuit 640 stores date and time information. The time measurement process is performed by the CPU 624, and the time / date information is periodically rewritten. Reference numeral 641 denotes a power supply circuit that supplies the power of the battery and the secondary battery to each unit.
[0074]
A remote controller 650 exchanges signals with the remote control receiver 651. The remote control receiver 651 is controlled by the CPU 624. A shutter operation or the like can be performed with the remote controller 650.
[0075]
The electronic still camera 600 having such a configuration can be switched between an image recording mode and a reproduction mode by a predetermined key operation of the key input unit 625, and the recording mode is an image pickup periodically taken out from the CCD 613. The signal can be divided into a through mode in which the signal is converted into a signal suitable for display and sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display 602, and a capture mode in which a desired imaging signal is recorded in the flash memory 623 by operating the shutter key 601.
[0076]
<Through mode in the second embodiment>
In the through mode, the CCD 613 arranged behind the photographic lens 610 is driven by a signal from the driver 614, and the subject images collected by the photographic lens 610 are photoelectrically converted at a certain period to output a signal for one image. The This signal is sampled by S / H 616 and converted to a digital signal by A / D 617, and then an image signal is generated by color process circuit 618. This image signal is transferred to the buffer memory 620 via the video transfer circuit 619. After the transfer to the buffer is completed, the image signal is read out by the video transfer circuit 619 and sent to the liquid crystal display 602 via the digital video encoder 626. Displayed as a through image.
[0077]
<Capture mode in the second embodiment>
If the camera orientation is changed in this state, the composition of the through image displayed on the liquid crystal display 602 changes, and exposure is performed by “half-pressing” the shutter key at an appropriate time (when the desired composition is obtained). When the focus is set automatically or manually and then “fully pressed”, the mode switches to the capture mode, the image signal stored in the image buffer of the buffer memory 620 is fixed at the current image signal, and is displayed on the liquid crystal display 602. The displayed through image is also fixed at the same point image. Then, the image signal stored in the image buffer of the buffer memory 620 at that time is sent to the compression / decompression circuit 21 via the video transfer circuit 619, and 8 × 8 pixels for each component of luminance information and color difference information. After being JPEG-encoded in units called basic blocks, they are recorded (captured) in the flash memory 623.
[0078]
<Reproduction mode in the second embodiment>
In the playback mode, the path from the CCD 613 to the buffer memory 620 is blocked, and the latest captured image is read from the flash memory 623 and decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 21, and then the video transfer circuit 619 is operated. To the image buffer of the buffer memory 620. Then, the data in the image buffer is sent to the liquid crystal display 602 via the video transfer circuit 619 and the digital video encoder 626, and displayed as a reproduced image.
[0079]
The reproduced image can be changed by operating a predetermined key of the key input unit 625, for example, a plus (+) key or a minus (−) key, and a communication unit 630 by operating a predetermined function key. It is also possible to transmit to the outside via
[0080]
<Configuration of Wristwatch in Second Embodiment>
FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the wrist watch 700. In this figure, 701 is an oscillation circuit that generates an accurate periodic signal, 702 is a time counting circuit that divides the periodic signal generated by the oscillation circuit 701 and generates a date / time signal representing the current date and time, and 703 is a date / time adjustment. 715 is a liquid crystal display as a display unit, 705 is a memory for storing a clocking function and various control functions attached to the function, 707 is an antenna, 706 is A communication unit 708 is a control unit that controls the entire wristwatch by executing a control program.
[0081]
The memory 705 may have an area for storing received images. If the received image is only displayed on the liquid crystal display 715 as a video through and not stored, the storage capacity can be reduced. When the received image is stored in the memory 705, it is desirable to store the reception date / time information of the image in the image (such as a file header) or in a file system that manages image data. The date / time information may be displayed so as to overlap a part of the image, or may be used for managing the image.
The liquid crystal display 715 is a small flat display device with n × m pixels, and preferably a display capable of color or monochrome multi-gradation display.
Reference numeral 709 denotes an audio control unit that takes in audio input from the microphone 710 and outputs audio from the speaker 711. A remote control transmission unit 712 has the same function as the remote control 650 in FIG. 12, and can control the electronic still camera 600 from the clock 700 by remote control operation.
[0082]
Next, the operation will be described.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a control program of the electronic still camera 600, and is a schematic flowchart of a program executed by the CPU 624 in the recording mode. This program determines a mode change in response to a predetermined key operation of the key input unit 625 (S602) while performing a through image display process (S601) for displaying a captured image on the liquid crystal display 602 as a monitor, and selects a mode. If there is no change, the exposure control process (S604) or the image recording process (S606) is executed in response to the pressing operation of the shutter key 601 (S603, S605). It is determined whether or not the previous mode is the playback mode (S607). If the playback mode is the playback mode, the “playback mode control” of FIG. 15 is executed. If not, the other mode selection processing is executed. Is. Here, the operation of the shutter key 601 is not limited to pressing down, but may be performed by a touch key, a remote controller, computer control, or the like.
[0083]
In FIG. 15, in “playback mode control”, the i-th captured image is first read from the flash memory 623, decompressed by the compression / expansion circuit 621, and then displayed on the liquid crystal display 602 via the digital video encoder 626 ( S611). Here, the initial value of the variable i is the number of the last captured image stored in the flash memory 623, that is, the number of the last recorded image.
[0084]
When it is desired to change the display image (YES in S612), the value of the variable i is updated by operating a predetermined key of the key input unit 25, for example, a plus (+) key or a minus (−) key (S613). After that, the i-th captured image is read again from the flash memory 623, decompressed by the compression / expansion circuit 621, and then displayed on the liquid crystal display 602 via the digital video encoder 626 (S611).
[0085]
If the desired image display is confirmed, it is next determined whether or not to perform image transmission (S614). This determination is performed, for example, by determining an operation of a predetermined key of the key input unit 625. If the image transmission is not performed (NO determination in S614), the program is terminated as it is, but if the image transmission is performed (YES determination in S614), the i-th captured image, that is, the captured image being displayed on the liquid crystal display 602 is displayed. The reduced image (also referred to as a thumbnail image) is generated, and the reduced image is transmitted to the outside via the communication unit 630, and then the program ends. Here, the size of the reduced image is, for example, a size suitable for the display size of the liquid crystal display 715 of the wristwatch 700, and the reduction rate is, for example, M when the number of pixels of the captured image is M × N. XN is a value that can be converted into the number of pixels (n × m) of the liquid crystal display 715 of the wristwatch 700.
[0086]
FIG. 16 is a schematic flowchart of a clock control program executed by the control unit 708 of the wristwatch 700. This program first reads a date / time signal from the timing circuit 702 (S621), and then determines whether or not data is received from the electronic still camera 600 by the communication unit 706 (S622). (NO determination in S622), the date and time display on the display unit is updated using the date and time signal read from the timing circuit 701 (S623). For example, FIG. 17A shows an example of date and time display on the liquid crystal display 715 of the wristwatch 700. In this example, date information “1999/08/11” and time information “12:23” are displayed.
[0087]
On the other hand, if it is determined in S622 that there is data reception, it is then determined whether the received data is appropriate (S624). If the received data is appropriate, an image is reproduced from the received data (S625). The reproduced image is displayed on the display unit (S626). For example, FIG. 17B is an example of image display on the liquid crystal display 715 of the wristwatch 700. In this example, an image showing the upper body of a person is displayed.
[0088]
Next, a modification of the second embodiment will be described.
[0089]
FIG. 18 is a flowchart for transferring an image of the electronic still camera 600 to the wristwatch 700 in response to the operation of the shutter key 601. In this flowchart, when an operation of the shutter key 601 is detected (S631), an imaging process is performed. That is, the image captured by the CCD 613 is subjected to a predetermined process and taken into the buffer memory 620 (in the video through process, the display process is carried out while being repeatedly taken into the buffer memory 620) (S632), the compression process is carried out (S633), and the flash It is recorded in the memory 623 (S634). At this time, for example, an image compressed in the JPEG format and a thumbnail image are recorded as a pair. At the same time, the compressed image or thumbnail image is modulated and transmitted (S635).
[0090]
The image to be modulated may be once written to the flash memory 623 and then read, or may be directly modulated / transmitted in parallel with or without writing to the flash memory 623.
[0091]
FIG. 19 is a flowchart for performing transfer processing in response to the operation of the transfer key 605 instead of performing image transfer processing in response to the operation of the shutter key 601. In this flowchart, first, the playback mode is set (S641). Then, the image recorded in the flash memory 23, generally the last taken image is read out, decompressed, and read out to the buffer memory 620. The thumbnails may be read together or first. Then, it is displayed on the liquid crystal display 602 (S643). Here, when the image is to be sent to the wristwatch 700, the transfer key 605 is operated (S644). Then, the image or thumbnail image compressed under the control of the CPU 624 is modulated and transmitted (S645).
[0092]
In FIG. 20, the image is not transferred in response to an artificial key operation such as the shutter key 601 or the transfer key 605, but is transferred according to the time measurement data of the clock circuit 640 of the electronic still camera 600. It is a flow. That is, the clock data of the clock circuit 640 of the electronic still camera 600 is taken in (S651), and when the clock data becomes, for example, every hour or a specific set date / time (S652), an image is automatically transmitted ( S653).
[0093]
FIG. 21 is a flowchart for transmitting a transfer request signal to the electronic still camera 600 using the clock data of the clock circuit 640 on the wristwatch 700 side instead of the clock unit 640 on the camera side. That is, the clock data of the clock circuit 702 of the wristwatch 700 is taken in (S661), and when the clock data reaches, for example, every hour or a specific set date / time (S662), the electronic still camera 600 is automatically set. The image transfer request is output (S663), and the electronic still camera 600 that has received the transfer request signal performs image transfer processing, and the wristwatch 700 receives the transfer image.
[0094]
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 22, when a predetermined switch of the wristwatch 700 is pressed (S671), an image transfer request signal may be transmitted to the electronic still camera 600 (S672).
[0095]
As described above, according to the electronic still camera 600 and the wristwatch 700 of the second embodiment, while the electronic still camera 600 is reproducing any image, the reduced image data of the reproduced image can be wirelessly transmitted. In addition, when the wristwatch 700 exists in the wireless radio wave arrival area, the reduced image data can be received by the wristwatch 700 and displayed on the liquid crystal display 715 of the wristwatch 700.
[0096]
Therefore, the following systematic usage can be realized, and a new usage of a wristwatch equipped with a display device can be sought.
(A) In FIG. 23A, a person A carries the electronic still camera 600 and the wristwatch 700 together. When the person A reproduces and confirms the image captured by the electronic still camera 600, the person A can confirm the image on the liquid crystal display 602 of the electronic still camera 600. Furthermore, the person A transmits the reproduced image to the liquid crystal of the wristwatch 700. It can also be confirmed on the display 715. According to this usage, the liquid crystal display 715 of the wristwatch 700 can be used in place of the monitor screen (liquid crystal display 602) of the electronic still camera 600.
(B) In FIG. 23B, a person B carries an electronic still camera 600, and a person C carries (wears) a wristwatch 700. When the distance between the persons B and C is close and within the reach of the radio wave, the image data transmitted from the electronic still camera 600 can be received by the wristwatch 700 of the person C. According to this usage method, it is possible to easily transfer images between the persons B and C. Further, when the persons B and C are other people, image transfer to an unspecified person can be performed, and for example, it can be used like an encounter game in a crowd.
[0097]
In the above embodiment, the electronic still camera is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any image recording apparatus capable of electronically recording an image may be used, and needless to say, the image recording apparatus can be applied to a moving image camera as described above.
[0098]
In addition, it goes without saying that the above embodiment can be variously modified within the intended scope of the present invention. For example, a transmission image to the wristwatch 700 may be JPEG compressed image data. In this case, it is natural that the wristwatch 700 has a JPEG decompression function.
[0099]
Alternatively, the transfer image to the wristwatch 700 is not necessarily a single piece of image data. For example, the image data to be transferred may be divided into a plurality of pieces and transferred for each piece of divided data. The image data may be divided at a fixed length from the beginning of the image data, or may be divided into a plurality of regions (may be in units of scanning lines) on a two-dimensional plane of the image. The pixel data included in the data may be used as a transfer unit. Alternatively, the frequency components of the image may be divided and the data of each divided frequency component may be used as a transfer unit. The image reproduction may be performed after all the transfer data is received, or may be sequentially performed every time the transfer data is received.
[0100]
Alternatively, the transfer image to the wristwatch 700 may be a through image displayed on the liquid crystal display 602 of the electronic still camera 600 at a predetermined cycle (generally, a 1/30 second cycle). In this case, the through image may be used as the transfer image to the wristwatch 700 as it is, but the intermittent image of the through image may be used as the transfer image.
[0101]
Alternatively, the electronic still camera 600 may be operated from the wristwatch 700. For example, when the zoom operation, exposure operation, focusing operation, image quality adjustment operation, field angle adjustment operation, continuous shooting function on / off operation, etc. of the electronic still camera 600 can be performed from the wrist watch 700, the wrist watch 700 can be controlled by the electronic still camera. It is preferable because it can be used as 600 remote controllers. Further, it can be applied to a personal LAN or a network game.
[0102]
(Third embodiment)
[0103]
FIG. 24 is a configuration diagram of an information recording system according to the second embodiment, in which 301 is a so-called electronic still camera such as a digital camera that electronically records images, and 2 is a wristwatch. These electronic still camera 301 and wristwatch 302 are housed in independent dedicated bodies (corresponding to the first casing and the second casing described in the gist of the invention) as can be understood from the drawings. Yes.
[0104]
As will be apparent from the following description, each of the electronic still camera 301 and the wristwatch 302 has a wireless communication function using the wireless 3. For example, the electronic still camera 301 transmits a date / time acquisition request when recording, and The date / time information transmitted from the wristwatch 302 in response to the request is received by the electronic still camera 301, and the date / time management of the electronic still camera 301 is performed using the date / time information.
[0105]
FIG. 25 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera 301. In this figure, 310 is a photographic lens, 311 is an aperture mechanism provided on the optical axis of the photographic lens 310, 312 is a drive unit of the aperture mechanism 311, 313 is an imaging signal of a subject that receives light that has passed through the aperture mechanism 311. 314 is a driver for driving the CCD 313, 315 is a timing generator (abbreviation) for generating various timing signals such as a signal for controlling the charge accumulation time (imaging time) of the CCD 313. TG) 316 is a sample and hold circuit (abbreviation: S / H) that samples the image pickup signal from the CCD 313 and removes noise, and 317 is an analog-digital converter (abbreviation) that converts the image pickup signal after noise removal into a digital signal. : A / D).
[0106]
Reference numeral 318 denotes a color process circuit for generating a luminance / color difference composite signal (hereinafter referred to as “image signal”) from the output of the A / D 317, 319 a video transfer circuit, 320 a buffer memory for holding the image signal, and 321 an image signal. A compression / decompression circuit that compresses / decompresses a predetermined encoding method (generally JPEG method), 322 is a photometric sensor that measures the brightness of the subject, and 323 is a fixed or removable flash that records the compressed image signal. It is memory.
[0107]
Reference numeral 324 denotes a control program stored in the program ROM 324a on the work RAM 324b to control image recording and reproduction, and various control processes incidental to these controls (for example, one of them relates to recording mode control described later). CPU that performs processing).
[0108]
A key input unit 325 generates a key input signal in response to an operation of a shutter button or various buttons. A digital video encoder 326 converts an image signal held in the buffer memory 320 into a signal format suitable for display. 327 is a liquid crystal display for image monitoring that displays a signal from the digital video encoder 326, 330 is a communication unit that transmits and receives data to and from an external device (for example, a wristwatch 302 described later) via an antenna 331, and 332 is each unit. A bus to be connected.
[0109]
The electronic still camera 301 having such a configuration can be switched between an image recording mode and a reproduction mode by a predetermined key operation of the key input unit 25, and the recording mode is an image pickup periodically taken out from the CCD 313. A through mode in which signals are converted into signals suitable for display and sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display 327 can be divided into a capture mode in which a desired imaging signal is recorded in the flash memory 323 by operating a shutter key.
[0110]
In the through mode, the CCD 313 arranged behind the photographic lens 310 is driven by a signal from the driver 314, and the subject images collected by the photographic lens 310 are photoelectrically converted at a certain period to output a signal for one image. The This signal is sampled by S / H 316 and converted into a digital signal by A / D 317, and then an image signal is generated by color process circuit 318. This image signal is transferred to the image buffer of the buffer memory 320 through the video transfer circuit 319, and after the transfer to the buffer is completed, the image signal is read out by the video transfer circuit 319 and then sent to the liquid crystal display 327 through the digital video encoder 326. Sent and displayed as a through image.
[0111]
If the orientation of the camera is changed in this state, the composition of the through image displayed on the liquid crystal display 327 changes, and exposure is performed by “half-pressing” the shutter key at an appropriate time (when the desired composition is obtained). After the focus is set, “full press” switches to the capture mode, and the image signal stored in the image buffer of the buffer memory 320 is fixed at the current image signal and displayed on the liquid crystal display 327. The through image is also fixed at the same point image. Then, the image signal stored in the image buffer of the buffer memory 320 at that time is sent to the compression / decompression circuit 321 via the video transfer circuit 319, and 8 × 8 pixels for each component of luminance information and color difference information. After being JPEG-encoded in units called basic blocks, they are recorded (captured) in the flash memory 323.
[0112]
In the playback mode, the path from the CCD 313 to the buffer memory 320 is blocked, and the latest captured image is read from the flash memory 323 and decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 321, and then the video transfer circuit 319 is operated. To the image buffer of the buffer memory 320. Then, the data in the image buffer is sent to the liquid crystal display 327 via the video transfer circuit 319 and the digital video encoder 326, and displayed as a reproduced image.
[0113]
FIG. 26 is a block diagram of the wristwatch 302. In this figure, 340 is an oscillation circuit that generates an accurate periodic signal, 341 is a time counting circuit that divides the periodic signal generated by the oscillation circuit 340 and generates a date / time signal indicating the current date and time, and 342 is a date / time adjustment. A key input unit that generates a key signal such as 343 is a display unit that mainly displays date and time information, 344 is a memory that stores a time measuring function and a control program for realizing various functions incidental to the function, 345 is an antenna, Reference numeral 346 denotes a communication unit, and reference numeral 347 denotes a control unit that executes a control program and controls the entire wristwatch.
[0114]
Here, the communication unit 346 realizes wireless data connection with the same protocol as the communication unit 330 of the electronic still camera 301.
[0115]
FIG. 27 is a schematic flowchart of a clock control program executed by the control unit 347 of the wristwatch 302. This program first reads a date / time signal from the timing circuit 341 (S301), and then determines whether a data request from the camera device 301 is received by the communication unit 346 (S302). If not (NO in S302), the date display on the display unit 343 is updated using the date / time signal read from the timing circuit 341 (S303). On the other hand, if a data request has been received (YES in S302). (Determination), a response signal is returned (S304), the date and time signal read from the timer circuit 341 is transmitted by the communication unit 346 (S305), and the date and time display on the display unit 343 is updated using the same date and time signal (S303).
[0116]
The above processing is repeatedly executed in accordance with a display update period (generally a 1 second period) of date / time information. As a result, the date / time information display on the display unit 343 is updated every cycle, and the presence / absence of a data request from the outside is periodically determined. When there is a data request, the latest date / time signal at that time is displayed. An effect of transmitting from the antenna 345 via the communication unit 346 is obtained.
[0117]
FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a control program of the electronic still camera 301, and is a schematic flowchart of a program executed by the CPU 324 in the recording mode. This program selects a mode other than the recording mode in response to a predetermined key operation of the key input unit 325 (S311 and S312), or presses the shutter key while performing a through image display process (S310). The exposure control process (S314) and the image recording process (S319) are executed in response to the operation (S313, S315). In particular, the date / time signal request process before the image recording process (S319) is performed. (S316) and date and time information reception processing (S318) are included.
[0118]
That is, when a full press of the shutter key is detected (YES in S315), first, a date / time information request signal is transmitted from the antenna 331 via the communication unit 330. If the wristwatch 302 exists at a short distance, the wristwatch 302 returns a response signal in response to the request signal (see S304 in FIG. 27), so that reception of the response signal is determined (S317), and the response signal continues. The date / time information (see S305 in FIG. 247) transmitted from the wristwatch 302 is received, and the date / time information is temporarily stored in a predetermined area of the work RAM 324b. Then, the image is compressed and recorded in the flash memory 323. If date / time information is stored in a predetermined area of the work RAM 324b, the date / time information is recorded in the flash memory 323 in association with the image data. The “predetermined area” is not necessarily an area of the work RAM 324b. A dedicated memory may be prepared to use all or a part of the memory.
[0119]
FIG. 29 is a conceptual diagram showing a recording state of the flash memory 323. An image storage area 350 of the flash memory 323 includes a first area 352 for recording the compressed image data, and a first area 352 of the first area 352. And a second area 351 for recording date / time information indicating the recording date / time of the recorded image data. Of course, the image data to be recorded in the first area 352 may be uncompressed data, and the date / time information to be recorded in the second area 351 is, as shown, Or data arranged in a Japanese calendar display format, or a numerical value representing an elapsed time from a specific date in the past (for example, 1900/01/01 00:00:00) as an initial value It may be data. In the case of numerical data, it is preferable because it can be easily processed into the display format of the Western calendar or Japanese calendar.
[0120]
FIG. 30 is a diagram in which the data recorded in the flash memory 323 is reproduced and displayed on the liquid crystal display 327 of the electronic still camera 301. In this figure, 360 is a reproduced image, 361 is a subject image, 362 is date / time information, and the reproduced image 360 including the subject image 361 other than the date / time information 362 is data recorded in the first area 352 of the flash memory 323. The date information 362 corresponds to the data recorded in the second area 351.
[0121]
As described above, in the present embodiment, when recording an image with the electronic still camera 301, a request signal for a date / time signal is transmitted to a nearby wristwatch 302, and a date / time signal transmitted from the wristwatch 302 is received. However, since the date and time information of the wristwatch 302 is highly reliable, this highly reliable date and time information can be used as the image recording date and time. As a matter of course, the electronic still camera 301 of the embodiment can obtain a special effect that the reliability of the recording date and time can be greatly improved.
[0122]
Note that the electronic still camera 301 of this embodiment may have a unique timekeeping function. When the wristwatch 302 is not carried around or not nearby, the built-in timekeeping function can be used to record the shooting date and time without any trouble, and the date / time information of the wristwatch 302 can be used to adjust the date and time of the built-in timekeeping function.
[0123]
In the above embodiment, the electronic still camera is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any image recording apparatus having a recording date and time recording function may be used, and as described above, a camera using a silver halide film such as an APS camera may be used, and it is needless to say that the present invention can also be applied to a movie camera.
[0124]
In the above description, the date and time information acquired by another device (the wristwatch 302 in the above example) is transferred to the image recording device, but the transfer information is not limited to this. Any information that is necessary for our daily life and specific actions may be used. For example, navigation information such as the current position and direction, and weather information such as temperature and humidity may be used. For navigation information, sensors such as a compass and GPS (Global Positioning System) may be built in the wristwatch 302, and for weather information, a temperature / humidity sensor or the like may be built in the wristwatch 302. In any case, useful information such as navigation information and weather information can be transferred to the image recording device and recorded at the same time as the image, and for example, a preferred information recording system can be realized by traveling, climbing, etc. Can do.
[0125]
Furthermore, in the above description, the information recording system using the electronic still camera 301 and the wristwatch 302 is taken as an example. However, the intended scope of the present invention is not limited to this example, and can be applied to various deformation systems. .
[0126]
For example, if a camera-based system is referred to as a “camera system”, the camera system in accordance with the idea of the present invention includes at least time measuring means (see the time measuring circuit 341 in FIG. 26) and measures the current time. System (see the block diagram of the wristwatch 302 in FIG. 26) and a camera device (see the block diagram of the electronic still camera 301 in FIG. 25) having an imaging means (see the CCD 313 in FIG. 25). In this case, the timepiece device transmits the time information or the date information data (refer to the date signal read in step S301 in FIG. 27) to the camera device (see the communication unit 346 in FIG. 26). And the camera device receives receiving means (communication unit 3 in FIG. 25) for receiving data transmitted from the transmitting means. 0 See) may have a.
[0127]
Alternatively, the timepiece device has sensor means (for example, a GPS sensor), and transmission means for transmitting data acquired by the sensor means or data generated based on the acquired data to the camera apparatus ( 26, and the camera device may include a receiving unit (see the communication unit 330 in FIG. 25) that receives data transmitted from the transmission unit.
[0128]
Alternatively, the timepiece device is a wristwatch, the camera device is carried by a person wearing the wristwatch on an arm, and the transmission means has a weak transmission output for short distance (for example, the above-described Bluetooth). It may be based on mobile communication technology called.
[0129]
Alternatively, the transmission unit (see the communication unit 346 in FIG. 26) of the timepiece device may perform a transmission process in response to a predetermined operation (for example, an artificial button operation).
[0130]
Alternatively, the transmission means (see the communication unit 346 in FIG. 26) of the timepiece device may automatically perform transmission processing at a predetermined time (date or time).
[0131]
Alternatively, when viewed as an information recording system, not only data transmission from the wristwatch 302 to the electronic still camera 301 (or silver halide camera or movie camera) but also, for example, the wristwatch 302 and the electronic still camera 301 (or silver halide camera or movie) Data may be transmitted from both the camera) to the printing device (printer apparatus). The electronic still camera 301 (or a silver halide camera or movie camera) is provided with transmission means (see the communication unit 330 in FIG. 25), and the printer device has reception means (corresponding to the communication unit 330 in FIG. 25); Only). The body of the printer device (not shown) (corresponding to the third housing described in the gist of the invention) is separate from the body of the wristwatch or camera device.
[0132]
(Fourth embodiment)
<Link Configuration of Camera and Wristwatch in Fourth Embodiment>
FIG. 31 is a configuration diagram of the camera and wristwatch link system according to the embodiment. Reference numeral 400 denotes a so-called electronic still camera such as a digital camera that electronically records images. A view 400b is a view from the back. 401 is a shutter key, 402 is a liquid crystal display, 403 is a microphone for inputting sound, and 404 is a speaker for outputting sound. The speaker may be a detachable earphone or headphone, and the microphone may be a detachable microphone. Also, 500 is a wristwatch, 515 is a liquid crystal display of the wristwatch, 510 is a microphone for inputting sound, and 511 is a speaker for outputting sound.
[0133]
The electronic still camera 400 and the wristwatch 500 have a wireless communication function based on the radio 3, as will be apparent from the following description. For example, image information recorded by the electronic still camera 400 is transmitted to the wristwatch 500. The image information can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 515 of the wristwatch 500. It also has a transmission function from the wristwatch 500 to the electronic still camera 400 side. The transmission mode from the electronic still camera 400 to the wristwatch 500 is not limited to a single transmission mode in which one piece of image information is transmitted to a single wristwatch 500, but the same image information for a plurality of wristwatches. May be included in a continuous or broadcast manner.
[0134]
<Configuration of Electronic Still Camera in Fourth Embodiment>
FIG. 32 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera 400. In this figure, 410 is a photographic lens, 411 is a diaphragm mechanism provided on the optical axis of the photographic lens 410, 412 is a drive unit of the diaphragm mechanism 411, 413 receives light that has passed through the diaphragm mechanism 411, and receives an imaging signal of the subject. 414 is a driver for driving the CCD 413, 415 is a timing generator (abbreviated) that generates various timing signals such as a signal for controlling the charge accumulation time (imaging time) of the CCD 413. TG) 416 is a sample and hold circuit (abbreviation: S / H) that samples the image pickup signal from the CCD 413 and removes noise, and 417 is an analog-digital converter (abbreviation) that converts the image pickup signal after noise removal into a digital signal. : A / D). The image sensor (image sensor) is not limited to the CCD, but may be another element such as a C-MOS or an image pickup tube.
[0135]
Reference numeral 418 denotes a color process circuit for generating a luminance / color difference composite signal (hereinafter referred to as “image signal”) from the output of the A / D 417, 419 a video transfer circuit, 420 a buffer memory for holding the image signal, and 421 an image signal. A compression / decompression circuit that compresses / decompresses a predetermined encoding method (generally JPEG), 422 is a photometric sensor that measures the brightness of the subject, and 423 is a fixed or removable flash that records the compressed image signal. It is memory. The buffer memory 420 has an area for storing an image for at least one screen. A storage area for a plurality of screens is provided, and captured images are sequentially stored, and then a compression process is performed later to enable rapid shooting. The flash memory 423 includes a mode for storing a compressed image and a mode for storing an uncompressed image. You can also save thumbnails. Furthermore, audio data can be saved.
[0136]
Reference numeral 424 denotes a CPU that executes a control program stored in the program ROM 424a on the work RAM 424b to perform image recording and reproduction control and various control processes incidental to these controls. The work RAM 424b and the buffer memory 420 may use the same memory, or their roles may be changed.
[0137]
A key input unit 425 generates a key input signal in response to various key operations such as the shutter key 401 and the transfer key 405, and 426 converts an image signal held in the buffer memory 420 into a signal format suitable for display. A digital video encoder 402, a liquid crystal display 402 for displaying images from the digital video encoder 426, and a modulation circuit 430 for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external device (watch 500) via an antenna 431. A communication unit 432 is a bus for connecting each unit.
[0138]
Reference numeral 440 denotes a clock circuit which stores date and time information. The time measurement process is performed by the CPU 424, and the time / date information is periodically rewritten. Reference numeral 441 denotes a power supply circuit that supplies power of the battery and the secondary battery to each unit. Reference numeral 442 denotes an audio control unit for capturing audio input from the microphone 403 and outputting audio from the speaker 404.
[0139]
A remote controller 450 exchanges signals with the remote control receiver 451. The remote control receiver 451 is controlled by the CPU 424. A shutter operation or the like can be performed by the remote controller 450.
[0140]
The electronic still camera 400 having such a configuration can be switched between an image recording mode and a reproduction mode by a predetermined key operation of the key input unit 425, and the recording mode is an image pickup periodically taken out from the CCD 413. The signal can be divided into a through mode in which the signal is converted into a signal suitable for display and sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display 402, and a capture mode in which a desired imaging signal is recorded in the flash memory 423 by operating the shutter key 401.
[0141]
<Through mode in the fourth embodiment>
In the through mode, the CCD 413 disposed behind the photographic lens 410 is driven by a signal from the driver 14, and the subject images collected by the photographic lens 410 are photoelectrically converted at regular intervals to output a signal for one image. The This signal is sampled by S / H 416 and converted into a digital signal by A / D 417, and then an image signal is generated by color process circuit 418. This image signal is transferred to the buffer memory 420 via the video transfer circuit 419. After the transfer to the buffer is completed, the video signal is read out by the video transfer circuit 419 and sent to the liquid crystal display 402 via the digital video encoder 426. Displayed as a through image.
[0142]
<Capture mode in the fourth embodiment>
If the orientation of the camera is changed in this state, the composition of the through image displayed on the liquid crystal display 402 changes, and exposure is performed by “half-pressing” the shutter key at an appropriate time (when the desired composition is obtained). When the focus is set automatically or manually and then “fully pressed”, the mode is switched to the capture mode, and the image signal stored in the image buffer of the buffer memory 420 is fixed at the image signal at that time, and is displayed on the liquid crystal display 402. The displayed through image is also fixed at the same point image. At that time, the image signal stored in the image buffer of the buffer memory 420 is sent to the compression / decompression circuit 421 via the video transfer circuit 419, and 8 × 8 pixels for each component of the luminance information and the color difference information. After being JPEG-encoded in units called basic blocks, they are recorded (captured) in the flash memory 423.
Further, after the shutter key is “fully pressed”, the sound input from the microphone 403 within a predetermined time is also recorded in the flash memory 423 together with the captured image when the “full press” is performed. Therefore, a sound recording image is recorded in the flash memory 423.
[0143]
<Playback Mode in the Fourth Embodiment>
In the playback mode, the path from the CCD 413 to the buffer memory 420 is blocked, and the latest captured image is read from the flash memory 423 and decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 421, and then the video transfer circuit 419 is operated. To the image buffer of the buffer memory 420. Then, the data in the image buffer is sent to the liquid crystal display 402 via the video transfer circuit 419 and the digital video encoder 426 and displayed as a reproduced image. At this time, when audio data is stored together with the captured image, reproduced audio is generated from the speaker 404 by the operation of the audio control circuit 442.
[0144]
The reproduced image can be changed by operating a predetermined key of the key input unit 425, for example, a plus (+) key or a minus (−) key, and a communication unit 430 by operating a predetermined function key. It is also possible to transmit to the outside via
[0145]
<Configuration of Wristwatch in Fourth Embodiment>
FIG. 33 is a block diagram of the wrist watch 500. In this figure, 501 is an oscillation circuit that generates an accurate periodic signal, 502 is a clock circuit that divides the periodic signal generated by the oscillation circuit 501 and generates a date / time signal indicating the current date and time, and 503 is a date / time adjustment. 515 is a liquid crystal display as a display unit, 505 is a memory for storing a clocking function and a control program for realizing various functions attached to the function, 507 is an antenna, 506 is A communication unit 508 is a control unit that controls the entire wristwatch by executing a control program. When the received image is stored in the memory 505, it is desirable to store the reception date / time information of the image in the image (such as a file header) or in a file system that manages image data. The date / time information may be displayed so as to overlap a part of the image, or may be used for managing the image.
[0146]
The memory 505 may have an area for storing the received image or sound recording image. If the received image is only displayed on the liquid crystal display 515 as a video through and not stored, the storage capacity is small.
[0147]
The liquid crystal display 515 is a small flat display device having n × m pixels, and preferably a display capable of color or monochrome multi-gradation display.
[0148]
Reference numeral 509 denotes an audio control unit that takes in audio input from the microphone 510 and outputs audio from the speaker 511. A remote control transmission unit 212 has the same function as the remote control 450 in FIG. 32, and can control the electronic still camera 400 from the watch 2 by remote control operation.
[0149]
Here, the communication unit 506 realizes wireless data connection with the same protocol as the communication unit 430 of the electronic still camera 400. The protocol only needs to be wireless. For example, infrared communication (IrDA), which is a conventional short-range wireless technology, may be used, but considering the drawbacks of IrDA (weak to obstacles), FM (frequency The use of wireless communication techniques such as modulation and spread spectrum is preferred. Even if one of the electronic still camera 400 or the watch 500 is in a pocket or bag, data connection can be performed without any problem.
[0150]
For example, using a radio wave of 2.45 GHz band, it will cover a short distance of about 10 m, and realize a transfer rate of up to 721 Kbps (transfer rate is 1 Mbps; the next version will be increased to 2 Mbps) with a one-to-one connection. A short-distance weak transmission output mobile communication technology called “Bluetooth” is one of candidate technologies that should be adopted. This can be realized simply by mounting a small transceiver module (corresponding to the communication unit 430 in FIG. 32 and the communication unit 506 in FIG. 33) of about 0.5 square meters. In addition, a wireless LAN communication system such as 64 kbps PHS self-employed standard third edition standard or 11 Mbps IEEE 802.11 HR DSSS can be applied.
[0151]
Next, the operation will be described.
FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a control program of the electronic still camera 400, and is a schematic flowchart of a program executed by the CPU 424 in the recording mode. This program determines a mode change in response to a predetermined key operation of the key input unit 425 (S402) while performing a through image display process (S401) for displaying a captured image on a liquid crystal display 402 as a monitor. If there is no change, the exposure control process (S404) and the image recording process (S406) are executed in response to the pressing operation of the shutter key 401 (S403, S405).
[0152]
The voice recording process (S407) for recording the voice input from the microphone 403 within a predetermined time from the pressing operation of the shutter key 401 is also executed. If the mode is changed, the change destination mode is reproduced. Whether or not the mode is selected is determined (S408). If the playback mode is set, the “playback mode control” shown in FIG. 35 is executed. If not, the other mode selection processing is executed. Here, the operation of the shutter key 401 is not limited to pressing down, but may be performed by a touch key, a remote controller, computer control, or the like.
[0153]
35, in “playback mode control”, the i-th captured image is first read from the flash memory 423, decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 421, and then displayed on the liquid crystal display 402 via the digital video encoder 426 (see FIG. 35). S411). If audio data is stored together with the i-th captured image, it is read from the flash memory 423 and reproduced by the speaker 404 via the audio control circuit 442 (S412). Here, the initial value of the variable i is the number of the last captured image stored in the flash memory 423, that is, the number of the last recorded image.
[0154]
When it is desired to change the display image (YES in S412), a predetermined key of the key input unit 425, for example, a plus (+) key or a minus (−) key is operated to update the value of the variable i (S414). ) Again, the i-th captured image is read out from the flash memory 423, decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 421, and then displayed on the liquid crystal display 402 via the digital video encoder 426 (S411) to reproduce the sound. (S412).
[0155]
If the desired image display and sound are confirmed, it is next determined whether or not to transmit an image (or sound recording image) (S415). This determination is performed, for example, by determining an operation of a predetermined key of the key input unit 425. If the image transmission is not performed (NO determination in S415), the program is terminated as it is, but if the image transmission is performed (YES determination in S415), the i-th captured image, that is, the captured image being displayed on the liquid crystal display 402 is displayed. Reduced image (also referred to as thumbnail image) is generated (S416), and the reduced image is transmitted to the outside via the communication unit 430 (S417). If there is audio data, it is transmitted (S418), and the program is terminated. Here, the size of the reduced image is, for example, a size suitable for the display size of the display unit 43 of the wristwatch 500, and the reduction rate is, for example, M when the number of pixels of the captured image is M × N. XN is a value that can be converted into the number of pixels (n × m) of the display unit 43 of the wristwatch 500.
[0156]
FIG. 36 is a schematic flowchart of a clock control program executed by the control unit 508 of the wristwatch 500. This program first reads a date / time signal from the timing circuit 502 (S421), and then determines whether or not data is received from the electronic still camera 400 by the communication unit 506 (S422). (NO determination in S422), the date display on the liquid crystal display 515 is updated using the date signal read from the timing circuit 402 (S423). For example, FIG. 37A shows an example of date and time display on the liquid crystal display 515 of the wristwatch 500. In this example, date information “1999/08/11” and time information “12:23” are displayed.
[0157]
On the other hand, if it is determined in S422 that there is data reception, it is next determined whether or not the data is proper reception data (S424). If the data is proper data, an image is reproduced from the reception data (S425). The reproduced image is displayed on the display unit 43 (S426). If there is audio data in the received data, the audio is reproduced by the speaker 511 via the audio circuit 509 (S426). For example, FIG. 37B shows an example of image display on the liquid crystal display 515 of the wristwatch 500. In this example, an image showing the upper body of a person is displayed. Further, although not shown, the sound recorded when the person is copied is reproduced.
[0158]
(Fifth embodiment)
[0159]
FIG. 38 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention, and is a chart showing a flow of transferring an image of the electronic still camera 400 to the wristwatch 500 in response to an operation of the shutter key 401. In this flowchart, when an operation of the shutter key 401 is detected (S431), an imaging process is performed. In other words, an image captured by the CCD 413 is subjected to predetermined processing and taken into the buffer memory 420 (in video through processing, display processing is performed while being repeatedly taken into the buffer memory 420) (S432), compression processing is performed (S433), and flash It records in the memory 423 (S434). At this time, for example, an image compressed in the JPEG format and a thumbnail image are recorded as a pair. Also, the voice input from the microphone 403 within a predetermined time from the operation of the shutter key is recorded in the flash memory 423 (S435). Thereafter, the compressed image or thumbnail image and audio data are modulated and transmitted (S435).
[0160]
The image and sound to be modulated may be once written to the flash memory 423 and then read, or may be directly modulated / transmitted in parallel with or without writing to the flash memory 423.
[0161]
(Sixth embodiment)
FIG. 39 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention, which does not perform image or audio recording image transfer processing in response to the operation of the shutter key 401, but responds to the operation of the transfer key 405. 5 is a flowchart for performing transfer processing. In this flowchart, first, the playback mode is set (S441). Then, the image recorded in the flash memory 423, generally the last photographed image is read out, decompressed, and read out to the buffer memory 420. The thumbnails may be read together or first. Then, it is displayed on the liquid crystal display 402 (S443). If audio data is recorded together with the image, it is reproduced by the speaker 404 (S444). Here, when the image is to be sent to the wristwatch 500, the transfer key 405 is operated (S445). Then, the image or thumbnail image compressed by the control of the CPU 424 and the audio data are modulated and transmitted (S446).
[0162]
(Seventh embodiment)
FIG. 40 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention, which does not transfer an image in response to an artificial key operation such as the shutter key 401 or the transfer key 405, but rather an electronic still camera 400. This is a flow in which an image is transferred according to the time measurement data of the clock circuit 440. In other words, the clock data of the clock circuit 40 of the electronic still camera 400 is taken in (S451), and when the clock data becomes, for example, every hour or a specific set date / time (S452), an image or audio is automatically recorded. The image is transmitted (S453).
[0163]
(Eighth embodiment)
[0164]
FIG. 41 shows an eighth embodiment of the present invention, in which not the time counting means 440 on the camera side but the time measuring data of the time measuring circuit 502 on the wristwatch 500 is used to transfer to the electronic still camera 400. It is a flowchart which transmits a request signal. That is, the clock data of the clock circuit 502 of the wristwatch 500 is taken in (S461), and when the clock data becomes, for example, every hour or a specific set date / time (S462), the electronic still camera 400 is automatically set. The electronic still camera 400 that has received the transfer request signal performs image transfer processing, and the wristwatch 500 receives the transfer image. .
[0165]
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 42, when a predetermined switch of the wristwatch 500 is pressed (S471), an image transfer request signal may be transmitted to the electronic still camera 400 (S472).
[0166]
(Ninth embodiment)
43 to 47 show a ninth embodiment of the present invention. That is, the flash memory 423 of the electronic still camera 400 is provided with an image data storage area 431 and an audio data storage area 432 as shown in FIG. In the image data storage area 431, the image data that has been captured and JPEG encoded in the capture mode is stored in the image data NO. Is stored in correspondence with. In the audio data storage area 432, as will be described later, the audio data transmitted from the wristwatch 500 side contains the audio data NO. Is stored in correspondence with.
[0167]
Further, as shown in FIG. 44, a data correspondence memory 441 is provided in a part of the work RAM 424b. The data correspondence memory 441 indicates the correspondence between the image data stored in the image data storage area 431 and the audio data stored in the audio data storage area 432, based on the image data NO. And voice data NO. And memorize it.
[0168]
FIG. 45 is a flowchart of the control program of electronic still camera 400 in the present embodiment. In this flowchart, S481 to S486 and S491 are the same processes as S401 to S407 in FIG. However, in the image recording process (S486), the image data is stored in the image data storage area 431 shown in FIG. Next, the image data No. 1 in the image data storage area 431 in which the image data is stored is stored. Is stored in the data correspondence memory 441 (S487). Subsequently, as described later, it is determined whether audio data transmitted from the wristwatch 500 side has been received (S488). If received, the audio data is stored in the audio data storage area 432 (S489). Further, the audio data NO .. of the audio data storage area 432 storing the audio data is stored. The image data No. stored in S487 is read. And stored in the data correspondence memory 441 (S490).
[0169]
In “playback mode control” of FIG. 46, S501 to S506 are the same processes as S411 to S416 in FIG. If the i-th reduced image is transmitted (S416), the data corresponding memory 241 is referred to store the audio data corresponding to the i-th image (image data NO.i image). It is determined whether or not there is (S507). If the corresponding image data is stored, it is read from the audio data storage area 432 and transmitted (S508).
[0170]
FIG. 47 is a schematic flowchart of a clock control program executed by the control unit 508 of the wristwatch 500. As in the embodiment shown in FIG. 36, this program first reads a date / time signal from the time measuring circuit 502 (S511), and then determines whether or not data is received from the electronic still camera 400 by the communication unit 506. If there is no data reception (NO in S512), it is determined whether there is audio data to be transmitted to the electronic still camera 400 (S513). At this time, for example, if a sound is input from the microphone 510 while performing a predetermined key operation of the key input unit 503, it is determined that there is transmission of the sound data (YES determination in S512), and the sound data input from the microphone 510 is determined. Transmit (S514). Whether or not the data transmitted in S514 is received is determined in S488 in FIG. In addition, the date display on the liquid crystal display 515 is updated using the date signal read from the timer circuit 502 (S515).
[0171]
On the other hand, if it is determined in S522 that there is data reception, it is then determined whether the received data is appropriate (S516). If the received data is appropriate, an image is reproduced from the received data (S517). The reproduced image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 515 (S518). Further, it is determined whether or not there is audio data in the received data (S519). If there is, audio is reproduced based on this audio data (S510). Therefore, by performing the processing of S517 and S520, as illustrated in FIG. 37B, not only an image of the upper body of the person is displayed on the liquid crystal display 515 of the watch 500, but this image is also displayed. A comment or the like recorded simultaneously with the recording is output from the speaker 511.
[0172]
As described above, according to the electronic still camera 400 and the wristwatch 500 of the present embodiment, while the electronic still camera 400 is reproducing any image, the reduced image data of the reproduced image can be wirelessly transmitted, and When the wristwatch 500 exists within the wireless radio wave arrival area, the reduced image data can be received by the wristwatch 500 and displayed on the liquid crystal display 515 of the wristwatch 500. In addition, during playback of an arbitrary image with the electronic still camera 400, the reduced image data of the playback image and audio data associated therewith can be wirelessly transmitted, and the wristwatch 500 is within the radio wave reachable area. , The reduced image data can be received by the wristwatch 500 and displayed on the liquid crystal display 515 of the wristwatch 500, and the voice data can be received and reproduced by the speaker 511.
[0173]
Therefore, the following systematic usage can be realized, and a new usage of a wristwatch equipped with a display device can be sought.
(A) In FIG. 48A, a person A carries the electronic still camera 400 and the wristwatch 500 together. When the person A reproduces and confirms the image captured by the electronic still camera 400, the person A can confirm the image on the liquid crystal display 402 of the electronic still camera 400. Furthermore, the person A transmits the reproduced image to the liquid crystal of the wristwatch 500. It can also be confirmed on the display 515. According to this usage, the liquid crystal display 515 of the wristwatch 500 can be used instead of the monitor screen (liquid crystal display 402) of the electronic still camera 400.
[0174]
Further, when the person A takes a picture with the electronic still camera 400, the person A transmits the voice from the wrist watch 500 to the electronic still camera 400, and associates and stores the picture taken with the electronic still camera 400 and the received voice. You can also. Further, by transmitting the image and sound stored in association with the electronic still camera 400, the image can be confirmed on the liquid crystal display 515 of the wristwatch 500 and the related sound from the speaker 511 can be received.
(B) In FIG. 48B, the person B carries the electronic still camera 400, and the person C carries (worn) the wristwatch 500. When the persons B and C are close to each other and located in the radio wave reachable range, the wristwatch 500 of the person C can receive the image data and audio data transmitted from the electronic still camera 400. According to this usage, it is possible to easily exchange images and sounds between the persons B and C. In addition, when the persons B and C are other people, it is possible to transfer images and sound to unspecified persons, and for example, it can be used like an encounter game in a crowd.
[0175]
In the above embodiment, the electronic still camera is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any image recording apparatus capable of electronically recording an image may be used, and needless to say, the image recording apparatus can be applied to a moving image camera as described above.
[0176]
In addition, it goes without saying that the above embodiment can be variously modified within the intended scope of the present invention. For example, a transmission image to the wristwatch 500 may be JPEG compressed image data. In this case, it is natural that the wristwatch 500 is equipped with a JPEG decompression function.
[0177]
Alternatively, the transfer image to the wristwatch 500 is not necessarily a single piece of image data. For example, the image data to be transferred may be divided into a plurality of pieces and transferred for each piece of divided data. The image data may be divided at a fixed length from the beginning of the image data, or may be divided into a plurality of regions (may be in units of scanning lines) on a two-dimensional plane of the image. The pixel data included in the data may be used as a transfer unit. Alternatively, the frequency components of the image may be divided and the data of each divided frequency component may be used as a transfer unit. The image reproduction may be performed after all the transfer data is received, or may be sequentially performed every time the transfer data is received.
[0178]
Alternatively, the transfer image to the wristwatch 500 may be a through image displayed on the liquid crystal display 402 of the electronic still camera 400 at a predetermined cycle (generally a 1/30 second cycle). In this case, the through image may be used as the transfer image to the wristwatch 500 as it is, but the intermittent image of the through image may be used as the transfer image.
Alternatively, the electronic still camera 400 may be operated from the wristwatch 500. For example, if the zoom operation, exposure operation, focusing operation, image quality adjustment operation, field angle adjustment operation, continuous shooting function on / off operation, etc. of the electronic still camera 400 can be performed from the wrist watch 500, the wristwatch 500 can be controlled. It is preferable because it can be used as 400 remote controllers. Further, it can be applied to a personal LAN or a network game. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a link system between a mobile phone, a portable information device and a clock.
[0179]
Furthermore, by incorporating a camera in the watch, it is possible to build a variety of camera-watch link systems. That is, an image captured on the watch side can be transferred to the camera, or can be associated with sound on the watch side or the camera side.
Furthermore, it can be used in a network by connecting to a wireless LAN or the Internet.
[0180]
【The invention's effect】
  As explained above, according to the present invention,In watchesNew usage forms can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a wristwatch according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a mobile phone terminal 8 in the same embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a recording mode control program in the electronic still camera of the second embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a playback mode control program in the electronic still camera of the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a clock control program in the wristwatch according to the embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a standby screen data processing program in the mobile phone terminal according to the embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example of a standby screen in the mobile phone terminal according to the embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a system usage example of the embodiment;
FIG. 11 is a system configuration diagram of the second embodiment;
FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera according to the embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a wristwatch according to the embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a recording mode control program in the electronic still camera of the embodiment.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a playback mode control program in the electronic still camera of the embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a clock control program in the wristwatch according to the embodiment;
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a display example of a wristwatch according to the embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart at the time of operating a shutter key in the electronic still camera of the embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart when a transfer key is operated in the electronic still camera according to the embodiment;
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing image transfer by time keeping in the electronic still camera of the embodiment;
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an image transfer request based on time measurement in the timepiece according to the embodiment;
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an image transfer request by a predetermined switch in the timepiece according to the embodiment;
FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a system usage example of the embodiment;
FIG. 24 is a block diagram of an information recording system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 25 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera according to the embodiment.
FIG. 26 is a block diagram of a wristwatch according to the embodiment.
FIG. 27 is a schematic flowchart of a clock control program in the same embodiment.
FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a control program for the electronic still camera according to the embodiment;
FIG. 29 is a conceptual diagram showing a recording state of the flash memory in the same embodiment.
FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a display example of the liquid crystal display in the embodiment.
FIG. 31 is a system configuration diagram showing a third mode of the present invention.
FIG. 32 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera according to the embodiment.
FIG. 33 is a block diagram of the wristwatch according to the embodiment.
FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a recording mode control program in the electronic still camera of the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 35 is a flowchart of a playback mode control program in the electronic still camera of the embodiment.
FIG. 36 is a flowchart of a clock control program in the wristwatch according to the embodiment;
FIG. 37 is a diagram showing a display example of a wristwatch according to the embodiment.
FIG. 38 is a flowchart at the time of operating a shutter key in the electronic still camera according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 39 is a flowchart when a transfer key is operated in the electronic still camera according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing image transfer by timekeeping in the electronic still camera according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 41 is a flowchart illustrating an image transfer request based on time measurement in the timepiece according to the eighth embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing an image transfer request by a predetermined switch of a watch in a modified example.
FIG. 43 is a memory configuration diagram of a flash memory according to a ninth embodiment of the invention.
44 is a memory configuration diagram of a work RAM in the embodiment. FIG.
FIG. 45 is a flowchart of a recording mode control program in the electronic still camera of the embodiment.
46 is a flowchart of a playback mode control program in the electronic still camera of the embodiment. FIG.
FIG. 47 is a flowchart of a clock control program in the wristwatch of the embodiment.
48 is a diagram showing a system use example of the same embodiment; FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Electronic still camera
2 watches
8 Mobile phone terminals
20 Buffer memory
21 Compression / decompression circuit
23 Flash memory
24 CPU
24a Program ROM
24b Work RAM
25 Key input section
30 Communication Department
40 Clock circuit
50 remote control
101 Shutter key
102 Liquid crystal display
103 microphone
104 Speaker
105 Transfer key
200 LCD display
204 display
205 memory
206 Communication unit
208 Control unit
210 microphone
211 Speaker
301 Electronic still camera
302 watch
313 CCD
323 flash memory
324 CPU
324b Work RAM
330 Communication unit
340 Timing circuit
344 memory
346 Communication Department
347 control unit
400 electronic still camera
500 watches
420 Buffer memory
421 Compression / decompression circuit
423 Flash memory
424 CPU
424a Program ROM
424b Work RAM
425 Key input part
815 Standby screen data storage unit

Claims (1)

Timekeeping means,
Setting means for setting a predetermined timing such as every hour on the hour, a specific date and time,
Detecting means for detecting that the timing means has reached a predetermined timing set by the setting means;
Requesting means for outputting a transfer request signal to a camera having a separate transmission / reception function when the detection means detects the predetermined timing;
Receiving means for receiving an image sent from the camera;
Display means for displaying an image received by the receiving means;
And displaying an image received from the camera when the predetermined timing is reached.

Images