JP4332489B2 - Imaging system and imaging method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging system and an imaging method having a camera and an image storage device separated from the camera.

  In the prior art, it was not possible to shoot on both the camera side and the image storage device. Further, a thumbnail image is sent from the camera side to the image storage device side, and the image is only acquired or deleted from the image storage device side according to a user instruction.

  However, in the above conventional example, there is no flexibility that the camera side can be photographed as a single camera and the remote camera can be photographed from a remote location. Moreover, even if it is possible to shoot on both the camera side and the storage device side, there has been a problem that the number of images taken on the camera side increases regardless of the intention of the user on the image storage device side. .

  Therefore, the object of the present invention is to distinguish between an image photographed on the camera side and an image photographed on the image storage device side, even though it can be photographed on both the camera side and the storage device side. It is to do.

  Another object of the present invention is to avoid an increase in the number of images unnecessary for the user on the image storage device side.

  A first aspect of an imaging system of the present invention is an imaging system having a camera and an image storage device separated from the camera, the means for communicating with the image storage device, the means for taking an image, and the taken image Having a means for transmitting the image to the image storage device, means for controlling the camera to take an image, means for receiving the taken image, means for storing the received image, and taking a picture on the camera side For discriminating between images sent on the image storage device and images taken on the image storage device side, means for approving images taken and sent on the camera side, and images taken and sent on the camera side not approved Means for automatically deleting.

  A second aspect of the imaging system of the present invention is an imaging system having a camera and an image storage device separated from the camera, and means for capturing an image, means for temporarily storing the captured image, A camera having means for deleting the stored image; means for generating a thumbnail image of the captured image; means for sending the image to the image storage device; means for receiving the image; means for storing the image; Characterized by having means for instructing acquisition of an image from the camera, means for instructing the camera to transmit an entity image, and means for automatically deleting an image not instructed to acquire from the camera To do.

  An imaging method of the present invention is an imaging method in an imaging system having a camera and an image storage device separated from the camera, the step of communicating with the image storage device, the step of capturing an image, and storing the captured image as an image A step of transmitting to the apparatus, a step of taking an image by controlling the camera, a step of receiving the taken image, a step of storing the received image, and an image taken and sent by the camera side A step of distinguishing images taken on the storage device side, a step of approving images taken and sent by the camera side, and a step of automatically deleting images taken and sent by an unapproved camera side It is characterized by including.

  A program according to the present invention causes a computer to execute each step of the imaging method.

  The computer-readable recording medium of the present invention is characterized by recording a war record program.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to distinguish between an image photographed on the camera side and an image photographed on the image storage device side, even though it can be photographed on both the camera side and the storage device side. .

  Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to avoid an increase in the number of images unnecessary for the user on the image storage device side.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments to which the invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an imaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, reference numerals 11, 12, and 13 denote cameras in the imaging system. Reference numerals 111, 121, and 131 denote release switches. Reference numeral 14 denotes an image storage device. Reference numeral 141 denotes a release switch for performing photographing in the image storage device 14. As shown in the figure, it is assumed that there can be a plurality of cameras in the imaging system. Each camera and storage device can communicate with each other, and each imaging device can take a picture.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a camera in the imaging system.
In FIG. 2, 11 is a camera in the imaging system. Reference numeral 201 denotes a lens unit, and 202 denotes an image sensor such as a CCD that converts optical information into an electrical signal of an image. Reference numeral 203 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog image signal to digital. An image processing unit 204 performs predetermined signal processing such as white balance correction on the A / D converted image signal. A central processing unit (CPU) 205 controls the entire camera. A ROM 206 stores control programs and data. A main memory (RAM) 207 is used as a work area and a data storage area. Reference numeral 208 denotes a system bus for exchanging signals. Reference numeral 209 denotes a storage device such as a flash memory or a hard disk drive for storing data and programs to be retained even when the power is turned off. Reference numeral 210 denotes a liquid crystal viewfinder and a display device such as an LCD for confirming and setting a photographed image, and 211 denotes an input device such as a switch and a digitizer for the user to input and instruct. Reference numeral 212 denotes a communication interface for transmitting an image to the image storage device and receiving control from the image storage device.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the image storage device in the imaging system.
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 14 denotes an image storage device in the imaging system. A central processing unit (CPU) 301 is responsible for overall control. A ROM 302 stores control programs and data. A main memory (RAM) 303 is used as a work area and a data storage area. Reference numeral 304 denotes a storage device such as a hard disk drive for storing data such as image data and programs to be retained even when the power is turned off. Reference numeral 305 denotes a timing device for notifying the elapse of a predetermined time. A system bus 306 exchanges signals. Reference numeral 307 denotes a display device such as a display for displaying a finder image, checking a photographed image, and setting, and reference numeral 308 denotes an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse for a user to input and give instructions. It is. Reference numeral 309 denotes a communication interface for communicating with the camera.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of photographing / transmission processing in the camera in the imaging system. Steps S401 to S403 indicate each step.

  First, an image shooting process is performed (step S401). The image taken at this time is stored in the storage device 209 in the camera. Next, the captured image is transmitted to the image storage device of the imaging system using the communication interface (step S402). When the transmission ends, the captured image is deleted from the storage device 209 in the camera in order to prevent the storage area from being wasted (step S403), and the process ends.

  FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of an image storage form in the image storage device in the imaging system.

  Reference numeral 304 denotes the entire storage device of the image storage device. Reference numeral 510 denotes a temporary storage area in the image storage device that temporarily stores an image that has been captured by a camera in the imaging system and is transmitted to the image storage device and has not yet been approved after reception. Reference numeral 511 denotes an image not yet approved after being received from the camera stored in the area. An area 520 stores an image captured by the camera in the imaging system, transmitted to the image storage device, and approved by the user after reception, or an image captured from the image storage device side. Reference numerals 521 and 522 denote images approved by the user after reception from the camera stored in the area or images taken from the image storage device side. As described above, an unapproved image, an approved image, and an image taken from the image storage device are stored in different areas.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image reception processing in the image storage device in the imaging system. Steps S601 to S604 indicate each step.

  First, an image transmitted from a camera in the imaging system is received (step S601). Next, it is determined whether or not the transmission source of the image is a camera being controlled for photographing from the image device (step S602). If the transmission source of the image is a camera being controlled, the image is received. The image is saved in the area 520 for storing the approved image or the image taken from the image storage device side (step S603). If the transmission source of the image is not the camera being controlled, the received image is temporarily stored. The storage area 510 process is saved (step S604), and the process ends.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image storage expiration check process in the image storage device in the imaging system. Steps S701 to S703 indicate each step.

  This process is called at regular intervals by an interrupt signal from the timing device 305. First, it is determined whether an image to be checked still exists in the temporary image storage area 510 (step S701). As a result of the determination, if there is no more image in the area, the process is terminated. If it is determined in step S701 that an image still exists, the storage period of the image data is calculated from the storage date and time and the current date and time of the image data, and exceeds the predetermined effective storage period of the image. It is determined whether or not (step S702). As a result of the determination, if the storage period of the image exceeds the effective storage period, the image is deleted from the temporary storage area (step S703), and the storage period of the image exceeds the effective storage period. If not, nothing is done and the process returns to step S701.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image approval process in the image storage device in the imaging system. Steps S801 to S802 indicate each step.

  When the approval of the unapproved image designated by the user is instructed from the input device 308, this processing is executed. First, the image designated by the user is moved from the temporary storage area 510 to the image storage area 520 (step S801). Next, a screen update process for updating the unapproved data on the display device 307 to the approved data is performed (step S802), and the process ends.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of photographing / transmission processing in the camera in the imaging system. Steps S901 to S903 indicate each step.

  First, an image capturing process is performed (step S901). The image taken at this time is stored in the storage device 209 in the camera. Next, a thumbnail image of the captured image is generated (step S902). The thumbnail image has a predetermined size and is not so large, and is generated on the RAM 207. Then, the thumbnail image is transmitted to the image storage device of the imaging system using the communication interface (step S903), and the process ends.

  FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of an image storage form in the image storage device in the imaging system.

  Reference numeral 304 denotes the entire storage device of the image storage device. Reference numeral 1010 denotes a thumbnail image storage area in the image storage device for storing thumbnail images that have been captured by the camera in the imaging system and are transmitted to the image storage device and have not yet been instructed by the user after acquisition. . Reference numeral 1011 denotes a thumbnail image that is not yet instructed by the user to acquire the original image after reception from the camera stored in the area. Reference numeral 1020 denotes an area for storing the original image transmitted from the camera after the user instructs the acquisition of the original image in the image storage device in the imaging system. Reference numerals 1021 and 1022 denote images transmitted from the camera after an instruction to acquire the original image is given by the user. Thus, the thumbnail image and the image sent after the instruction to acquire the original image have different storage areas.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of thumbnail image reception processing in the image storage device in the imaging system. Steps S1101 to S1103 indicate each step.

  First, a thumbnail image transmitted from a camera in the imaging system is received (step S1101). Next, the identifier of the camera and the image of the camera is stored. Here, the file name of the thumbnail image is generated by combining the registration number of the camera and the file name of the original image file of the thumbnail image in the camera (step S1102). Then, the received thumbnail image is stored in the storage area 1011 with the file name (step S1103), and the process ends.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image storage expiration check process in the image storage device in the imaging system. Steps S1201 to S1204 indicate each step.

  This process is called at regular intervals by an interrupt signal from the timing device 305. First, it is determined whether there is still a thumbnail image to be checked in the thumbnail image storage area 1010 of the image (step S1201). As a result of the determination, if there is no thumbnail image in the area, the process is terminated. If the result of determination in step S1201 is that there is still a thumbnail image, the storage period of the thumbnail image is calculated from the storage date and time and the current date and time of the thumbnail image, and this is the predetermined effective storage period of the image. It is determined whether or not it exceeds (step S1202). As a result of the determination, if the storage period of the image exceeds the effective storage period, an instruction is issued to the thumbnail image transmission source camera via the communication interface 309 to delete the original image of the thumbnail image (step S1203). As a result, the camera is erased and the thumbnail image is deleted from the thumbnail image storage area 1010 (step S1204), and the process returns to the determination in step S1201. If it is determined in step S1202 that the storage period of the image does not exceed the effective storage period, nothing is performed and the process returns to step S1201.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an original image acquisition process in the image storage device in the imaging system. Note that steps S1301 to S1304 indicate each step.

  This processing is executed when the input device 308 instructs the acquisition of the original image of the thumbnail image designated by the user. First, the camera in the imaging system in which the original image is stored and the identifier of the original image in the camera are extracted from the file name in the thumbnail image storage area 1010 (step S1301), and the original image is transmitted to the camera. Is instructed to do so (step S1302). Next, the original image transmitted from the camera is received and stored in the image storage area 1020 (step S1303). Then, after deleting the thumbnail image from the thumbnail image storage area 1010 (step S1304), a screen update process for updating the thumbnail data on the display device 307 to the acquired image is performed (step S1305), and the process ends. .

  As another embodiment, in the image storage device in the imaging system, the user determines whether to save an image transmitted from the camera side in a temporary area or from the beginning until it is approved by the user. May be configured to be settable.

  Further, the image storage device in the imaging system may be configured so that the user can set whether or not to automatically delete the image after a lapse of a certain time.

  Further, in the image storage device in the imaging system, the distinction between the unapproved image and the approved image is not based on the storage area where the image exists, but with the flag in the image data data or the file name of the image data or the image data. You may comprise according to the correspondence table provided separately.

  Also, in the image storage device in the imaging system, the thumbnail image and the main image are not distinguished from the storage area where the image exists, but are provided separately from the flag in the image data or the file name of the image data or the image data. Alternatively, the correspondence table may be used.

  Another object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (basic system or operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function is determined based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of a structure of the imaging system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of a structure of the camera in an imaging system. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of a structure of the image storage device in an imaging system. It is a flowchart which shows an example of imaging | photography and transmission processing in the camera in an imaging system. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the preservation | save form of the image in the image storage apparatus in an imaging system. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the image reception process in the image memory | storage device in an imaging system. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image storage expiration check process in the image storage device in the imaging system. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the image approval process in the image memory | storage device in an imaging system. It is a flowchart which shows an example of imaging | photography and transmission processing in the camera in an imaging system. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the preservation | save form of the image in the image storage apparatus in an imaging system. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the thumbnail image reception process in the image memory | storage device in an imaging system. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image storage expiration check process in the image storage device in the imaging system. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the original image acquisition process in the image memory | storage device in an imaging system.

Explanation of symbols

11-13: Cameras 111, 121, 131: Release switches for performing photographing in cameras 11, 12, 13 14: Image storage device 141: Release switches for performing photographing in image storage device 201: Lens unit 202: Image sensor 203: A / D converter 204: Image processing unit 205: CPU of camera
206: Camera ROM
207: Camera RAM
208: Camera system bus 209: Camera storage device 210: Camera display device 211: Camera input device 212: Camera communication interface 301: CPU of image storage device
302: ROM of the image storage device
303: RAM of the image storage device
304: Storage device of image storage device 305: Timing device of image storage device 306: System bus of image storage device 307: Display device of image storage device 308: Input device of image storage device 309: Communication interface of image storage device 510: Temporary storage area 511: Unapproved image 520: Approved image and image storage device captured image storage area 521, 522: Image approved by user or image captured from the image storage device side 1010: Thumbnail image storage area 1011 Thumbnail image 1020: Original image storage area 1021, 1022: Original image

Claims (6)

An imaging system having a camera and an image storage device separated from the camera,
Means for communicating with the image storage device;
Means for taking images,
A camera having means for transmitting a captured image to an image storage device;
Means for controlling the camera and taking images;
Means for receiving the captured image;
Means for storing the received image;
Means for distinguishing between an image photographed and sent on the camera side and an image photographed on the image storage device side;
A means for approving the image sent by the camera,
An image pickup system comprising: means for automatically deleting an image photographed and sent by an unapproved camera side. An imaging system having a camera and an image storage device separated from the camera,
Means for taking images,
Means for temporarily storing captured images;
Means for deleting the stored image;
Means for generating a thumbnail image of the captured image;
A camera having means for sending an image to an image storage device;
Means for receiving images;
Means for storing images;
Means for instructing to obtain an image from the camera;
Means for instructing the camera to transmit an entity image;
An image pickup system comprising: means for automatically deleting an image that has not been instructed to be acquired from a camera. The imaging according to claim 2 , wherein the image that has not been instructed to be acquired from the camera is automatically deleted when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the image was captured. system. An imaging method in an imaging system having a camera and an image storage device separated from the camera,
Communicating with the image storage device;
The process of taking images,
Transmitting a captured image to an image storage device;
Controlling the camera to take an image,
Receiving a captured image; and
Storing the received image;
A step of distinguishing between an image shot and sent on the camera side and an image shot on the image storage device side;
Approving the image taken and sent by the camera,
And a step of automatically deleting an image photographed and sent by an unapproved camera side.   The program for making a computer perform each process of the imaging method of Claim 4.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 5 is recorded.

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