JP4330327B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera, and more particularly to a digital camera having a communication function for transmitting a captured image in an e-mail format.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, digital cameras have rapidly spread, and for example, a system for managing a digital image data obtained by acquiring a site photograph of a construction site with a digital camera instead of an optical camera has been proposed. In such a system, it is preferable that the digital image data obtained by the digital camera can be easily transmitted to a desired terminal. Conventionally, a digital camera having a function of transmitting an image via the Internet has been proposed.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-243153
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional technology has problems such as complicated image transmission processing or transmission of image data but complicated management of image data at the transmission destination. In particular, when a photograph is taken using a digital camera at a construction site, and the obtained image data is transmitted, the image data can be easily and quickly obtained by a field worker who is not necessarily familiar with the operation of the digital camera. It is desired to be able to send to the destination.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the related art, and an object thereof is to provide a digital camera that can easily transmit photographed digital image data.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an imaging means for capturing an image, a means for storing transmission conditions for each of a plurality of transmission destinations, and a selection means for selecting one transmission destination from the plurality of transmission destinations. Storing an image captured by the imaging unit for each transmission destination folder selected by the selection unit; inputting a transmission operation; and when the transmission operation is input, the transmission destination folder And means for transmitting the image stored in the e-mail format to the destination using the transmission condition.
[0007]
By creating a folder for each destination and storing the captured image in this folder, the operator can select the desired destination without selecting complicated image data such as selecting image data at the time of transmission and setting transmission conditions. Easy to send to.
[0008]
Here, it is preferable that at least a unique camera identification number is stored, and the transmission means automatically generates an email subject by reading the camera identification number and arranging it in a predetermined format. is there. When sending image data in the e-mail format, the subject (subject) of the e-mail can be automatically created on the digital camera side to save the operator's operation. When the subject is automatically created, by including the identification number (ID) of the digital camera, it is possible to specify from which digital camera the image data is transmitted on the server side that has received the e-mail.
[0009]
And a means for storing at least a unique camera identification number, a folder project number, and a shooting date / time, and the transmitting means reads out the camera identification number, the folder project number, and the shooting date / time and arranges them in a predetermined format. It is also preferable to automatically generate an email subject. The folder project number is a number for mutually identifying folders of the same destination. When sending image data to the same destination multiple times, the server side groups image data groups based on this project number. Can be managed. The project number is updated after transmitting all the image data in the folder, for example.
[0010]
And means for storing at least a unique camera identification number, a folder project number, an image number in the folder, and a total number of images in the folder, and the means for transmitting includes the camera identification number, the folder project number, and the image number in the folder It is also preferable to automatically generate an email subject by reading out the total number of images in the folder and arranging them in a predetermined format. From the image number in the folder and the total number of images in the folder, the server side can confirm whether or not all the image data in the folder has been received.
[0011]
Further, the digital camera of the present invention downloads the software in the external memory when the external device is connected to the USB connector and the USB connector and the software exists in the external memory, and the external memory It is preferable to include means for allowing parameter setting from the external device when no software is present.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram of a communication system using the digital camera of the present embodiment. In this system, an image captured by a digital camera is transmitted to a server. The digital camera 10 is wirelessly connected to the Internet 12 and transmits the acquired image data to the mail server 14 in an e-mail format. A destination (e-mail address) for sending an e-mail from the digital camera 10 is set in advance in a memory in the digital camera 10, and the user can send an e-mail to a predetermined destination only by operating the send button. By transmitting the image data directly from the digital camera 10 in the e-mail format, the field worker can easily and quickly transmit it. The image data is transmitted as an e-mail attachment file. When the image data is acquired in the JPEG format, the JPEG image data is converted into text data using an encoder such as Base64 and transmitted.
[0014]
The mail server 14 receives an electronic mail transmitted from the digital camera 10 via the Internet 12, extracts image data attached to the electronic mail, and supplies the image data to the ASP server 16. When the digital camera 10 acquires a plurality of pieces of image data and transmits the plurality of pieces of image data one by one in an e-mail format, the mail server 14 receives a plurality of e-mails. The image data is sorted based on the mail subject (subject) data and supplied to the ASP server 16. The data in the subject is specifically a project number, and more specifically a folder project number. In the digital camera 10, a folder is formed for each transmission destination, and the acquired image data is stored together in each folder. When different image data groups are transmitted to the same destination, these image data cannot be identified from each other in a single folder. Therefore, the digital camera 10 manages the plurality of image data with the project number assigned to each folder. The project number is automatically inserted into the subject of the electronic mail and transmitted to the mail server 14. The mail server 14 sorts the image data based on the project number in the subject and supplies it to the ASP server 16.
[0015]
The ASP server 16 stores image data for each project number supplied from the mail server 14 in a database, and edits or processes the image data stored for each project number into a predetermined format to generate file data. To do. At the same time, when the ASP server 16 receives an e-mail from the digital camera 10, more precisely, when receiving image data from the mail server 14, the ASP server 16 determines the digital camera 10 based on the ID of the digital camera 10 included in the e-mail subject. A management terminal that manages the camera 10 is specified, and a reception notification is transmitted to the management terminal. The reception notification can be transmitted in the e-mail format via the Internet 12. The management terminals 18 and 20 that manage the digital camera 10 can confirm that the image data acquired by the digital camera 10 has been stored in the ASP server 16 by receiving the reception notification from the ASP server 16. When image data from a plurality of digital cameras 10 is received, the ASP server 16 transmits a reception notification to each terminal managing each digital camera 10.
[0016]
When an administrator of the digital camera 10 needs an image data file, the administrator accesses the ASP server 16 using the management terminal 18 (or 20), and acquires file data edited or processed by the ASP server 16. Display on the terminal display device. The administrator visually confirms the file data displayed on the display device of the management terminal 18, thereby confirming the image data acquired by the digital camera 10 in the field, and further creating a file in a predetermined format obtained by editing the image data. Obtainable.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the digital camera 10 in FIG. The digital camera 10 includes a sensor 10a such as CMOS or CCD, a DSP 10b, a CPU 10c, a memory interface I / F 10d, a JPEG codec 10e, a memory 10f, a communication interface I / F 10g, a video interface I / F 10h, a signal processor 10i, an electronic viewfinder ( EVF) 10j and various buttons. Signals from various buttons are input to the CPU 10c.
[0018]
Image data obtained by the sensor 10a is subjected to gamma correction, color difference signal processing, and luminance signal processing by the DSP 10b, and then displayed on the EVF 10j through the video interface I / F 10h and the signal processor 10i. When the release button is operated, the CPU 10c detects the operation of the release button, converts the image data into the JPEG format by the JPEG codec 10e, and stores it in the flash memory. When image data is stored in the flash memory, it is collectively managed in a folder created for each destination. For example, when there are two transmission destinations 1 and 2, folders 1 and 2 having transmission destination numbers are created, image data to be sent to the transmission destination 1 is stored in the folder 1, and an image to be sent to the transmission destination 2 Data is stored in folder 2. The CPU 10c assigns a project number from each initial value to each destination folder. The shooting date and time is also stored.
[0019]
When the release button is operated, the CPU 10c continues to display the image when the release button is operated, that is, the image stored in the flash memory, on the EVF 10j for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds). That is, in the normal state, the images sampled at a predetermined sampling timing are sequentially displayed on the EVF 10j. Therefore, when the subject is moving, the moving image is displayed on the EVF 10j. When operated, the image data at that time is not updated and is continuously displayed on the EVF 10j. Specifically, when the release button is operated, the image data at that time is stored in the RAM of the memory 10f, and the stored image data is repeatedly read and continuously displayed on the EVF 10j. Therefore, even when the subject is moving, not the current image formed on the sensor 10a but the image when the release button is operated is displayed as a still image on the EVF 10j.
[0020]
When the send button is operated, the CPU 10c detects this operation, converts the image data stored in the destination folder into text data as an attached file of the e-mail, and attaches it to the subject of the e-mail. The data such as the project number is acquired from the flash memory and automatically inserted and transmitted to the mail server 14. Conversion from JPEG data (binary data) to text data is executed by the CPU 10c. The above conversion can also be performed by the DSP 10b.
[0021]
When the communication speed is not sufficient, transmission of a plurality of image data at a time may cause communication interruption due to some kind of failure. Therefore, it is preferable that the digital camera 10 stores a plurality of image data in the transmission destination folder, and transmits the plurality of images in a plurality of times even when transmitting the plurality of images. For example, when 24 pieces of image data are stored in the transmission destination folder 1 and all of them are transmitted, one piece of image data is assigned to one and divided into a total of 24 e-mails. The project number of each subject of a total of 24 emails is the same. After transmitting all the image data in the transmission destination folder, the CPU 10c deletes the transmitted image data stored in the flash memory, and increments the project number of the transmission destination folder by 1 for the next transmission. Prepare for. Each of the plurality of image data is identified with a unique file name such as nnnnnnnnnn.jpg incremented from the initial value.
[0022]
FIG. 3 schematically shows data stored in the flash memory. When, for example, an 8 Mb (byte) memory is used as the flash memory, a control program and setting parameters are stored in 1 Mb, and captured image data is stored in 7 Mb. The image data is compressed and stored in the JPEG format as described above. As setting parameters, transmission conditions for each transmission destination are stored, for example, transmission conditions for five transmission destinations. Specifically, the transmission conditions of each destination include an ISP (Internet Service Provider) telephone number, PPP user ID, PPP password, POP server address, POP user ID, POP password, SMTP server address, destination account, This is a report destination account, e-mail text data, and the like. A plurality of broadcast destination accounts can be set, and the body data of the e-mail can be set finely over a plurality of lines such as the first line, the second line, the third line, and the like. When taking a picture of a construction site, the title is entered in the first line of the text data, the construction name in the second line, the construction type, etc. in the third line. These setting parameters are read from the flash memory and developed on the RAM.
[0023]
Next, various buttons of the digital camera 10 will be described.
[0024]
FIG. 4 shows an external view of the digital camera 10. 4A is a front view and FIG. 4B is a rear view. An EVF 10j, a status display LCD 11b, a power switch 11c, a selection button 11e, and a set button 11f are provided on the rear surface of the digital camera 10, and a release button 11d is provided on the upper part of the camera. In addition, a lens 11i, a light amount sensor 11h, and a strobe 11g are provided on the front of the digital camera 10, and a slot 11k and a USB connector 11j for mounting a communication card or memory card are provided on the side. When transmitting image data captured by the digital camera 10 to a desired transmission destination by e-mail, when a communication card is inserted into the card slot 11k and image data is stored in an external memory, or a version stored in the external memory When the upgrade program is downloaded and the control program of the digital camera 10 is upgraded, a memory card is inserted.
[0025]
The status display LCD 11b displays the number of images that can be taken, the radio wave state when the communication card is installed, the remaining battery level, and the like.
[0026]
The selection button 11e is a button for selecting a desired transmission destination from a plurality of transmission destinations, and is a transmission button for transmitting image data stored in the flash memory by e-mail. When the selection button 11e is pressed long, the CPU 10c creates an e-mail and transmits image data. When the selection button 11e is pressed for a short time, the CPU 10c sequentially changes and displays the transmission destination number on the status display LCD.
[0027]
The set button 11f is a button for confirming the transmission destination. After selecting the transmission destination with the selection button 11e, the CPU 10c confirms the transmission destination by operating the set button 11f, and the folder of the confirmed transmission destination. The captured images are stored sequentially.
[0028]
FIG. 5 shows a process flowchart of the digital camera 10 when various buttons are operated. In the following, a case where captured image data is transmitted to a desired transmission destination will be described.
[0029]
First, when the user (on-site worker) operates the power switch 11c of the digital camera 10 to turn on the power (S101), the CPU 10c reads the setting parameters stored in the flash memory (S102). Next, the CPU 10c identifies the mode (S103). This mode identification process identifies whether a communication card is installed in the card slot 11k, a memory card is installed, or a card is not installed. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a communication card is attached and the CPU 10c is identified as a mode in which image data is transmitted to a transmission destination via the Internet. Then, the CPU 10c processes the image obtained from the sensor 10a into a video signal by the video I / F 10h and the signal processor 10i and displays the video signal on the EVF 10j (S104). The user determines a composition to be photographed while visually recognizing the image displayed on the EVF 10j (framing), and depresses the release button 11d. When the CPU 10c detects a pressing operation of the release button 11d, a predetermined photographing process is executed (S105), and the obtained image data is stored in the flash memory. The photographing process will be further described in detail. When the user operates the selection button 11e for a long time after shooting, the CPU 10c detects this, converts the image data stored in the flash memory into text data, and transmits an e-mail (S106).
[0030]
FIG. 6 shows a detailed flowchart of the photographing process (S105) in FIG. First, the user selects and sets a desired transmission destination from among a plurality of transmission destinations prepared using the selection button 11e and the set button 11f (S201). The transmission destination is changed by, for example, 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 → 1 for every short time pressing operation, and is set by pressing the set button 11f when the desired transmission destination is reached. Is done.
[0031]
After the transmission destination is selected, the CPU 10c acquires various parameters for photographing, for example, exposure amount, strobe ON / OFF, etc., and prepares for photographing (S202). The image signal from the sensor 10a is converted into a video signal by the video I / F 10h and the signal processor 10i and output to the EVF 10j to display an image. When the release button 11d is operated in this state (S203), the CPU 10c instructs the camera module, specifically the memory I / F 10d and RAM, to store an image (photographed image) when the release button 11d is operated (photographed image). S204). Then, the CPU 10c reads out the image stored in the RAM, outputs it to the EVF 10j, and displays it (S205). Thereby, instead of an image (real-time image) from the sensor 10a, a captured image (still image) when the release button is operated is displayed on the EVF 10j. Further, the CPU 10c stores the captured image in the flash memory (S206). When storing in the flash memory, the data is stored in the destination folder selected in S201. In addition, serial numbers incremented from the initial value are attached to the images, and the shooting date and time is acquired and stored.
[0032]
After storing the captured image in the flash memory, the CPU 10c determines whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) has elapsed from the operation of the release button 11d using a timer (S207). If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the CPU 10c continues to display the captured image on the EVF 10j. By visually recognizing the captured image with the EVF 10j, the user can easily confirm that the image is surely captured and the content of the captured image. It should be noted that the user can confirm the completion of shooting while looking at the EVF 10j. Further, since the captured image is continuously displayed within a predetermined time, the CPU 10c prohibits various button operations (S210). That is, the CPU 10c ignores a signal input from various buttons.
[0033]
On the other hand, when the predetermined time has elapsed, the CPU 10c determines that the user has confirmed the completion of shooting, displays the image (real-time image) from the sensor 10a on the EVF 10j again (S208), and allows button operation. (S209). As a result, the next image can be taken and the e-mail of the image data can be transmitted.
[0034]
FIG. 7 shows a detailed flowchart of the transmission process (S106) in FIG. First, when the user presses and holds the transmission button, that is, the selection button 11e (S301), the CPU 10c performs SOF (first address) and EOF (last address) on the image data stored in the transmission destination folder in the flash memory. Is specified. When there is one image data in the transmission destination folder, SOF and EOF are assigned to the same image data. SOF is designated as the image data with the smallest number among the image data subjected to serial number processing, and EOF is designated as the image data with the largest number.
[0035]
Next, the CPU 10c accesses the server using the connection condition of the transmission destination read from the flash memory (S303). Specifically, connection is made by PPP, and further authentication by POP is performed. A user ID and a password are used for PPP connection and authentication. After accessing the server, the CPU 10c creates a mail (S304). At this time, the CPU 10c automatically creates an electronic mail subject and body data.
[0036]
FIG. 8 schematically shows an automatically created e-mail. An e-mail consists of a header, subject (subject), body, and attached file, and the subject is automatically created in the format AAAAAAAAAA-BB-CCCC-DDDDDDDDDD-EEEEEEEEEEEE-FFF-GGG. Here, A is a unique identification number (ID) assigned to the digital camera 10 and is defined by 10 ASCII digits. The unique ID is stored in advance in the flash memory as a setting parameter. The server that has received the e-mail can identify the image data transmitted from which digital camera 10 by reading the ID included in the subject. Then, by storing a table that associates camera IDs with administrator information, the administrator of the digital camera 10 can be specified. If the format desired by the administrator is defined as one of the administrator information, Image data can be edited to format. B is a transmission destination number. When there are five transmission destinations, it is defined by two ASCII digits from 01 to 05. This transmission destination number functions as a transmission destination folder name. C is a folder project number, which is a number for distinguishing the same destination folder from each other. It is defined by 6 ASCII digits and the initial value is 000000. After transmitting all the data in the folder set by the transmission destination number, the CPU 10c deletes the image data in the folder and increments the folder project number to prepare for the next transmission. The current folder project number is stored and managed in the flash memory. With this project number, the server can accurately manage sequentially transmitted image data for each group (project). D is a file serial number, which is defined by 10 ASCII digits and is incremented sequentially. File serial numbers are also stored and managed in the flash memory. E is the shooting date and time, and F is a file serial number in the folder and is defined by three ASCII digits. G is the total number of files in the folder, and is defined by three ASCII digits. Both F and G are stored and managed in the flash memory. The image data in which the final number of the file sequential number in the folder F matches the number of the total number of files in the folder G is the final image data of the destination folder. The CPU 10c reads the data A to G and the text data from the flash memory, and automatically generates subject data and text to generate an e-mail attached with image data.
[0037]
The folder project number C, the file serial number in the folder, and the total number of files in the folder may be expanded on the RAM and stored in the flash memory when the power is turned off.
[0038]
After creating the electronic mail, the CPU 10c transmits the created electronic mail to the server (S305). After transmission, it is determined whether or not all image data in the folder has been transmitted (S306). If there is untransmitted image data, mail creation and mail transmission processing is repeated to transmit all image data. To do. In this way, when there are multiple image data in a folder, instead of sending multiple image data at once, create an e-mail for each image data and send the image data for each mail. Communication interruption due to communication failure can be avoided. Even if the image data is transmitted one by one, it can be easily identified as belonging to the same folder by the file serial number in the subject, and the image data can be easily grouped and managed by the folder project number.
[0039]
When all the data in the folder is transmitted, as described above, the CPU 10c deletes all the image data in the folder (S307), and increments the folder project number to prepare for the next transmission (S308). With the above processing, all the image data in the folder selected as the transmission destination is automatically transmitted only by the operation of the transmission button (that is, long press of the selection button 11e).
[0040]
The transmission processing has been described above, but when the captured image is stored in an external memory, the operator can store it by a similar operation.
[0041]
That is, when a memory card is inserted into the card slot 11k of the digital camera 10, the CPU 10c identifies the storage mode to the external memory in S103 of FIG. After the captured images are sequentially stored in the selected transmission destination folder, when the transmission button is operated (the selection button 11e is pressed and held), the image data stored in the transmission destination folder is transferred to the external memory card. When the transfer of all images is completed, the CPU 10c deletes all the image data in the destination folder, increments the folder project number, and prepares for the next action (transmission to the server or transfer to the external memory).
[0042]
As described above, in this embodiment, the image data to be transmitted is sorted into the transmission destination folder and sequentially stored in the flash memory, so that the operator can easily transmit the image data to the transmission destination. In addition, processing on the server side can be facilitated by automatically creating and sending an email subject.
[0043]
Note that the operator or administrator of the digital camera 10 may want to change the setting parameters and control program of the digital camera 10. The upgrade of the control program of the digital camera 10 and the change of the setting parameters are executed as follows.
[0044]
FIG. 9 shows a connection state when the setting parameters of the digital camera 10 are changed and the control program is upgraded. A personal computer (PC) 24 is connected to the USB connector 11j of the digital camera 10 via a USB cable, and a memory card 22 is attached to the card slot 11k. The CPU 10c of the digital camera 10 recognizes that the external device is connected to the USB connector 11j, and shifts to the parameter setting mode or the upgrade software download mode instead of the normal shooting mode. The upgrade software is supplied from the memory card 22 and the setting parameter change is input from the PC 24.
[0045]
FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of setting parameter change or program download processing. First, when the power is turned on, the boot program stored in the boot area of the flash memory is executed (S401), and it is determined whether or not an external device is connected to the USB connector 11j (S402). If no external device is connected to the USB connector 11j, the process proceeds to the normal shooting mode described above (S403). On the other hand, when an external device (PC) is connected to the USB connector 11j, the CPU 10c further determines whether or not the memory card 22 is mounted in the card slot 11k (S404). When the memory card 22 is not attached, the CPU 10c shifts to a parameter setting mode by the PC (S408). In this setting mode, parameters input from the PC 24 are written to the flash memory, and the connection conditions, body data, and the like are corrected.
[0046]
If the memory card 22 is mounted and a downloader is present in the memory card 22 (S405), the downloader is expanded on the RAM and activated (S406), and is present in the memory card 22 according to the downloader. The program (user firmware) to be copied is copied to the flash memory (S407). If the downloader is not present even when the memory card 22 is mounted, the mode is shifted to the setting mode by the PC 24. Through the above processing, the setting parameters can be easily changed and upgraded. When the PC 24 is connected to the USB connector 11j, the power of the digital camera 10 is supplied from the PC 24, not the built-in battery.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a photographed image can be easily and quickly transmitted to a desired transmission destination in an e-mail format.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a system according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a digital camera.
FIG. 3 is a format explanatory diagram of a flash memory.
FIG. 4 is an external view of a digital camera.
FIG. 5 is an overall process flowchart of the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a detailed flowchart of imaging processing.
FIG. 7 is a detailed flowchart of a transmission process.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an e-mail format.
FIG. 9 is a connection explanatory diagram of a digital camera and an external device.
FIG. 10 is a processing flowchart of the digital camera when an external device is connected.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 digital cameras, 12 internet, 14 mail servers.

Claims (4)

Imaging means for taking an image;
Means for storing transmission conditions for each of a plurality of transmission destinations;
Selecting means for selecting one destination from the plurality of destinations;
Means for storing an image photographed by the imaging means in a folder assigned to a transmission destination selected by the selection means;
Means for inputting a send operation;
Means for transmitting an image stored in the destination folder to the destination in an e-mail format using the transmission condition when the transmission operation is input;
In addition,
Means for storing at least a unique camera identification number, a folder project number for mutually identifying folders of the same destination, and a folder project number that is automatically incremented when all images in the folder are transmitted ;
Have
The digital camera is characterized in that the transmitting means automatically generates a subject of an e-mail by reading out the camera identification number, folder project number, and photographing date and time and arranging them in a predetermined format. Imaging means for taking an image;
Means for storing transmission conditions for each of a plurality of transmission destinations;
Selecting means for selecting one destination from the plurality of destinations;
Means for storing an image photographed by the imaging means in a folder assigned to a transmission destination selected by the selection means;
Means for inputting a send operation;
Means for transmitting an image stored in the destination folder to the destination in an e-mail format using the transmission condition when the transmission operation is input;
Have
The means for transmitting generates and transmits an e-mail for each image when there are a plurality of images in the folder, and
At least the unique camera identification number, the folder that identifies the same destination folder from each other , and the folder project number, the image number in the folder, and the total number of images in the folder that are automatically incremented when all images in the folder are sent Means for storing;
Have
The digital camera automatically generates an email subject by reading the camera identification number, the folder project number, the image number in the folder, and the total number of images in the folder and arranging them in a predetermined format. The digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising:
Means for erasing transmitted images when transmission of all images stored in the folder is completed;
Means for automatically changing the folder project number;
A digital camera comprising: The digital camera according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a USB connector;
When an external device is connected to the USB connector and the software exists in the external memory, the software in the external memory is downloaded, and when the software does not exist in the external memory, the external device Means to allow parameter setting;
A digital camera comprising:

Images