JP5159544B2 - Imaging apparatus and network camera system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and a network camera system, and more particularly to a technique suitable for use in transmitting moving image data over a network.

  In recent years, the Internet has become widespread, and information transmission by the WWW (World Wide Web) or the like has been generally performed. Under such circumstances, there has been proposed a technique for automatically recognizing a person shown in a photographed image and transferring the image to a terminal owned by the recognized person.

  For example, the server stores a face image of a person the user wants to distribute a person image and an e-mail address of the person's transmission destination in a database. When an image of one or more persons as a subject is uploaded from the user's terminal, the face image of the person who is the subject of the image received by the server is compared with the face image to be recognized registered in the database , Identify the person to whom you want to deliver Then, the server acquires an e-mail address corresponding to the specified person from the database. The server distributes an e-mail attached with an image in which the person is a subject or an e-mail attached with a URL for downloading a person image with the e-mail address as a destination (for example, Patent Document 1). See).

JP 2004-326281 A

  However, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, an image can be automatically transmitted to the person who is the subject, but the subject can know how the subject was photographed. Was after the filming was over. In other words, even if the subject's collar is broken or the tie is bent, it is difficult for the subject to notice it unless someone points out, and the subject confirms it only after shooting. I couldn't.

  In view of the above-described problems, the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of taking a photograph with high satisfaction for one or more persons who are subjects, particularly when taking a photograph of a person. It is aimed.

An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes an image pickup unit that picks up a subject and generates image pickup data, a face detection unit that detects a face from the image pickup data generated by the image pickup unit, and a face detected by the face detection unit. performs personal identification, a personal identification means for authenticating based on the authentication result of the personal identification means, image processing means for performing from the imaging data, a process to cut out the authenticated person by the personal identification means, the image Network communication means for sending the image data processed by the processing means to a network associated with the person authenticated by the personal identification means on the network, a photographing instruction means for instructing main photographing, Storage means for recording imaging data generated by actual imaging performed in response to the instruction of actual imaging by the imaging instruction unit, and the imaging instruction unit Therefore, the face detection means, the personal identification means, the image processing means, and the like are used for moving image imaging data that is generated by the imaging means and is not recorded in the storage means before the actual photographing is instructed. And the said network communication means performs each process, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The network camera system of the present invention includes the imaging device described above and a display terminal that displays a moving image transmitted from the imaging device on a display device, and the display terminal displays an image displayed on the display device. Is not suitable for the user's intention, it has a communication means for requesting re-shooting to the imaging apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to confirm in advance an image how the subject is photographed before the actual photographing.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a network camera system using the imaging apparatus of the present invention.
The imaging apparatus 1500 according to the present embodiment includes three main components, that is, an image processing unit 1100, an imaging unit 1200, and a communication unit 1300. The imaging unit 1200 includes a lens 1210 on which an image is incident, a sensor 1220 that converts light collected by the lens 1210 into an electrical signal, and a development processing unit 1230 that develops a signal obtained from the sensor 1220. With such a configuration, the subject is imaged to generate imaging data.

  The developed signal is provided as image data to the image processing unit 1100, and after undergoing processing such as encoding, is provided to the communication unit 1300 as encoded data. The communication unit 1300 functions as a network communication unit, and the network control unit 1310 performs processing such as packetizing according to the form of the network that transmits the input encoded data, and transmits it to the network interface 1320. Output as data.

  The network interface 1320 sends the transmission data input from the network control unit 1310 to the network 1400 in a form corresponding to the network configuration. The network 1400 can be assumed as a typical one such as a wired LAN such as Ethernet (registered trademark), a wireless LAN represented by IEEE 802.11b, or a public line network such as ISDN.

  The image processed by the image processing unit 1100 is stored in the memory card 1700 via the media drive 1600. The memory card 1700 is detachable, and image data stored in the memory card 1700 can be read out via the media drive 1600 and processed again by the image processing unit 1100.

  In the present embodiment, the image processing unit 1100, the imaging unit 1200, and the communication unit 1300 are described as separate blocks in FIG. 1, but these blocks are used when the present embodiment is configured by actual hardware. Can be realized as separate ICs. Alternatively, various realization forms are possible such that several parts of each part (for example, the development processing unit 1230, the image processing unit 1100, and the network control unit 1310) are collectively realized on one chip. It is not limited in form. The display terminal described here has a communication function and an image display function, and a mobile phone is a good example.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the image processing unit 1100.
In FIG. 2, the image processing unit 1100 includes a frame buffer 1110, an image data DMAC (direct memory access controller) 1120, a raster / block conversion memory 1140, a codec processing unit 1150, and encoded data DMAC 1160. Further, it also has a control sequencer 1170, an image processing memory 1121, and a data buffer 1112.

  The control sequencer 1170 is connected to the image data DMAC 1120, the raster / block conversion memory 1140, the codec processing unit 1150, and the encoded data DMAC 1160 in the image processing unit 1100 through control signal lines. And control of each of these units is implemented.

  Further, the development processing unit 1230 is connected with a frame data transfer completion interrupt signal line, and the communication unit 1300 is connected with an image-communication unit control signal 1171 to control the movement by exchanging signals with each other. The codec processing unit 1150 is connected to the image processing memory 1121 and performs various image processing using this memory.

  Further, the codec processing unit 1150 has a parameter register 1151 therein, and performs various image processing according to the value written by the control sequencer 1170 to the parameter register.

  Further, the codec processing unit 1150 includes a face recognition unit 1152 and a personal identification unit 1153, and performs face detection and personal identification of a person from the captured image. Each of the frame buffer 1110, the image processing memory 1121, and the data buffer 1112 is on-chip on the same IC when the other components of the image processing unit 1100 are realized in one IC. It can be configured as a memory. Further, it can be realized as a memory device (for example, SDR (Single Data Rate) or DDR (Double Data Rate) SDRAM (synchronous DRAM)) connected to the IC outside the IC. In addition, the memories can have various configurations such as being arranged on different memory devices or being arranged on one same memory device.

Hereinafter, basic operations and the like of the imaging apparatus 1500 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
In FIG. 1, first, image information of light collected by the lens 1210 of the imaging unit 1200 is captured by the sensor 1220 as an electrical signal. As the sensor 1220, a CCD image sensor, a CMOS image sensor, or the like can be used. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the CCD is a progressive pixel with square pixels.

  The number of effective pixels is a so-called VGA size of 640 × 480, and a VGA image of one frame can be output every 1/30 seconds. That is, it is assumed that one video period (image data update interval for one screen) in this embodiment is 1/30 second (approximately 33.3 mS). The image data photoelectrically converted by the sensor 1220 and captured as an electrical signal is sequentially read out and passed to the development processing unit 1230. The development processing unit 1230 performs signal processing on the image data obtained from the sensor 1220 to generate a luminance signal and a color difference signal, and outputs them in a format that can be easily processed later. Here, it is assumed that the output is in the YUV422 format.

Hereinafter, the operation of the imaging apparatus 1500 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
After the power is turned on, first, driving of the imaging unit 1200 is started in step S1001. Next, in step S1002, a through image is taken and through image capture is started. The through image described here is an image that is sequentially captured by the imaging unit 1200 at a specific frame rate, and is not intended to be recorded on the memory card 1700. The user recognizes the state of the subject in real time. Refers to a video for

  By displaying the through image on a display (not shown) of the imaging apparatus 1500 before the main shooting, the user can recognize the angle of view and the subject that can be captured by the current imaging unit 1200 before the main shooting.

  In step S <b> 1003, a human face photograph (face image) stored in a memory card (storage device) 1700 is read from the media drive 1600. An image of a person stored in the memory card 1700 may be prepared in advance by a user having each terminal, or may be acquired using the imaging device 1500 before preparation for actual shooting.

  At this time, extraction of a person included in the through image (step S1004), personal identification, and association with each terminal are performed by the face recognition unit 1152 and the personal identification unit 1153 included in the image processing unit 1100.

  Further, in order to facilitate the association with each terminal that is the output destination of the cut-out moving image of the person, it is preferable to copy one person per image and associate the file name and the terminal name in advance. Although details of how to extract a person's face from a through image are not described here, as a specific technique, a technique described in JP-A-11-173632 or the like can be used.

  Next, in step S1005, a person's face is extracted from the through image captured from the imaging unit 1200, and compared with the person's face extracted from the images received from the display terminals 1400a to 1400h described above. Identify. Regarding the details of individual identification, a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-046697 can be used as a specific technique.

  In step S1006, if it is determined that the same person as the image read from the memory card 1700 is present in the through image, the through image obtained by extracting the face of the person is developed. At the time of development, the human face of the subject is cut out with a size and resolution so that the facial expression can be confirmed on the display 1401a of the display-equipped terminal 1400a without being cut out. Alternatively, the whole body of the subject person may be cut out to a size that fits on the display 1401a so that the relationship of the standing position with the surroundings and how much the person is shadowed by other people can be confirmed. In addition, regarding the resolution of the display 1401a, the processing performance determination unit 1311 may store data as data in advance, or the processing performance determination unit 1311 may obtain resolution information by communication from the terminal with display 1400a.

  Further, in step S1007, the communication unit 1300 outputs the face through images extracted by the display terminals 1400a to 1400h in real time. At the same time, the through image before extracting the face is displayed on the display of the imaging apparatus 1500. At this time, the entire image of the shooting angle of view is displayed in real time on the display of the imaging apparatus 1500, and if a subject that has been successfully identified by the individual is included in the display, the display terminal of the subject owns the subject. An image cut out with the face at the center is displayed in real time.

  Next, in step S1008, it is determined whether or not to finish driving the imaging device 1500. This is performed by determining whether or not an operation for ending photographing is performed by the user. As a result of this determination, if shooting is continued, the process proceeds to step S1009, where it is confirmed whether or not the actual shooting preparation completion button has been pressed on each of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h. The operation in each of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h at this time will be described later with reference to FIG. If the communication unit 1300 recognizes permission to shoot as a result of this confirmation, a shooting instruction is issued in step S1010, and the process shifts to driving for actual shooting. The main photographing here is an imaging mode that uses a mechanical shutter included in the lens 1210 (not shown), and refers to a high-definition still image that does not perform pixel addition in the sensor 1220.

  After the actual shooting is finished, in step S1011 the image processing unit 1100 creates a still image in which each identified person's face and its surroundings are cut out, and the communication unit 1300 sends each person's face to the display terminals 1400a to 1400h. The cut out still image corresponding to is transmitted. Further, the still image before being cut out is stored in the memory card 1700 via the media drive 1600.

  Next, in step S1012, the communication unit 1300 receives a request for re-shooting from each of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h. Thereafter, in step S1013, it is confirmed whether there is a request for re-shooting. If there is no request as a result of this confirmation, the process ends as it is. On the other hand, if a request for re-photographing is made, in step S1014, the communication unit 1300 transmits a message indicating that re-photographing is performed to the display terminals 1400a to 1400h, and the process returns to step S1006.

Next, driving of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h with an image display function will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, from the image acquired by the imaging unit 1200 of the imaging apparatus 1500 in step S2001, a through image obtained by cutting out the face of the user having each of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h and its surroundings is received.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S2002, and the cut-out through images are displayed on the displays 1401a to 1401h of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h, and it is possible to check in real time how the user has taken the image with the imaging device 1500.

  Next, in step S2003, it is determined whether shooting preparation is completed. Each of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h displays a message asking whether or not to shift to the main shooting to the user who is viewing the cut-out through image, and performs a predetermined operation if the shift is permitted. Instruct the user. For example, if the preparation for the main photographing is completed, the user may press the preparation completion button of each display terminal 1400a to 1400h. As a result of this determination, when it is ready to perform the main shooting (still image shooting using the mechanical shutter by the imaging device 1500), the process proceeds to step S2004, and when it is not ready, the process returns to step S2001. .

  In step S2004, the image capturing apparatus 1500 is notified that preparations for main shooting have been completed. When all the display terminals 1400a to 1400h send to the imaging apparatus 1500 that the preparation for the main imaging has been completed, the imaging apparatus 1500 performs the main imaging. Then, after the actual shooting is performed, each display terminal 1400a to 1400h receives a still image obtained by cutting out the portion of each terminal where the user's face is captured from the captured still image (step S2005).

The display terminals 1400a to 1400h display the received still images on the displays 1401a to 1401h in step S2006, and prompt the user for confirmation.
Next, the process proceeds to step S2007, and it is determined whether or not there is a request for re-shooting the image that has been actually shot without the user's satisfaction. If the result of this determination is that there is a request for re-photographing, the process advances to step S2008 to wait for the user to press the re-photographing button. If the user presses the re-shooting button, the process advances to step S2009 to issue a re-shooting request to the imaging apparatus 1500. On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S2007 is that there is no request for re-shooting, the processing ends.

  In this manner, a person is extracted from the moving image being shot and the image recorded on the memory card 1700, and authentication of personal identification is performed. And according to an authentication result, an individual through image is cut out and outputted to each terminal with a display for every person. By doing so, each user can see his / her own appearance before the actual photographing.

  As described above, it is possible to sequentially confirm what expression each user who is a subject is photographed with the imaging apparatus 1500. For example, if the collar is broken or the tie is bent, the through image displayed on the display-equipped terminal can be seen and recognized before shooting. As a result, it is possible to shoot a still image that is highly satisfactory for the user who is the subject.

Furthermore, by recognizing the part of the still image where the person has moved after the actual shooting, it is possible to quickly re-shoot when the image is taken with a blink or an undesired expression of the person who is the subject.
In addition, although the example which image | photographs a still image was given and demonstrated to this imaging | photography, this imaging | photography may be a moving image. By outputting the through image to the terminal with a display according to the authentication result before moving image shooting, it is possible to check in advance what the state will be at the start of moving image shooting, as with still images. .

(Second Embodiment)
In the present embodiment, a case where an imaging unit 1200 is further provided in a terminal having an image display function will be described.
Hereinafter, the driving of the imaging apparatus will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
After the power is turned on, the driving of the imaging unit 1200 is first started in step S3001, and a through image is captured in step S3002.

  Next, in step S3003, a face photo (face image) of a person taken by a camera (not shown) of each of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h is received from the communication unit 1300. The received image may be temporarily stored in the memory card 1700 via the media drive 1600. Next, in step S3004, a human face is detected from images received from the display terminals 1400a to 1400h.

  Next, in step S3005, a person's face is extracted from the through image captured from the imaging unit 1200, and the person's face is extracted from the images received from the display terminals 1400a to 1400h to identify the person. And search and identify the faces of the same person.

  Next, in step S3006, if it is determined that there is the same person as the image received from each of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h in the through image, the through image extracted from the face is developed, and the through image is displayed. create.

  In step S3007, the communication unit 1300 transmits to the corresponding transmission destination terminal so that a through image of the face extracted by each of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h can be displayed in real time. At the same time, the through image before extracting the face is displayed on the display of the imaging apparatus 1500.

  Next, in step S3008, it is determined whether or not to finish driving the imaging device 1500. If the result of this determination is that shooting will continue, processing proceeds to step S3009, where it is confirmed that the preparation button for main shooting has been pressed on each of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h. The operation in each of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h will be described later with reference to FIG. As a result of the confirmation, when the communication unit 1300 recognizes that the ready button for main shooting has been pressed on each of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h, the process proceeds to driving of main shooting in step S3010.

After the completion of the main shooting, the process proceeds to step S3011, where the image processing unit 1100 creates a still image in which each identified person's face and its surroundings are cut out, and the communication unit 1300 sends the individual images to the display terminals 1400a to 1400h. The cut out still image corresponding to the face is transmitted. Further, the still image before being cut out is stored in the memory card 1700 via the media drive 1600.
Next, in step S <b> 3012, the communication unit 1300 receives a request for re-imaging from each of the display terminals 1400 a to 1400 h.

  In step S3013, it is determined whether there is a request for re-shooting. If there is no request for re-shooting as a result of this determination, the processing is ended as it is. If a request for re-photographing is made, the process proceeds to step S3014, the communication unit 1300 transmits a message indicating that re-photographing is performed to each display terminal 1400a to 1400h, and then the process returns to step S3006.

  Next, driving of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h with an image display function will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this example, it is assumed that a camera (not shown) is incorporated in a terminal with an image display function.

First, in step S4001, the imaging unit 1200 is driven.
Next, in step S4002, it is determined whether or not the shooting mode is set. If the result of this determination is that the camera is in shooting mode, processing proceeds to step S4003 and shooting of a through image is started. In step S4004, the process waits until the shutter button is pressed. If the shutter button is pressed, the process advances to step S4005 to take a still image that captures the user's face.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S4006, and the still image acquired by the imaging in step S4005 is transmitted to the imaging apparatus 1500. At this time, the imaging apparatus 1500 performs personal authentication in the image processing unit 1100 based on the captured image. When the process of step S4006 is completed, the process returns to step S4002. If the user does not like the shot image, the shooting mode is selected again in step S4002, and a still image showing the user's face is shot again.

  When the user's face has been shot, the result of the determination in step S4002 is not the shooting mode, and the process proceeds from step S4002 to step S4007. In step S4007, a through image obtained by cutting out the face of the user having each of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h and its surroundings from the image acquired by the imaging unit 1200 of the imaging device 1500 is received.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S4008, and the cut-out through images are displayed on the displays 1401a to 1401h of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h. As a result, the user can confirm in real time how the image capturing apparatus 1500 is capturing images.

  Next, in step S4009, it is determined whether or not preparation for performing the main shooting (still image shooting using a mechanical shutter by the imaging device 1500) is completed. Each of the display terminals 1400a to 1400h performs a display for inquiring whether or not to shift to the main shooting to the user who is viewing the cut-out through image, and performs a predetermined operation if the shift is permitted. Instruct the user to If the result of this determination is not complete, processing returns to step S4007. If completed, the process advances to step S4010.

  In step S4010, the display terminals 1400a to 1400h transmit information indicating that preparation for main shooting has been completed to the imaging device 1500.

When the fact that preparations for main shooting have been completed is sent from all terminals to the imaging apparatus 1500, the imaging apparatus 1500 performs main shooting. Then, after the actual shooting, each display terminal 1400a to 1400h receives a still image obtained by cutting out a portion where the user's face of each terminal is captured from the captured still image (step S4011).
Next, in step S4012, each display terminal 1400a-1400h displays the received still image on each display, and prompts the user for confirmation.

  In step S4013, it is determined whether there is a request for re-shooting. In this step, if the user does not like the actually captured image because the user does not like the intention and does not like the image, the user makes a re-imaging request. If re-photographing is to be performed, the process proceeds to step S4014. When the re-shooting button is pressed in step S4014, a request for re-shooting is issued to the imaging apparatus 1500 (step S4015). When the process of step S4015 is completed, the process returns to step S4007 and the above-described process is repeated. Further, if the result of determination in step S4013 is not a request for re-shooting, the process ends.

  Compared to the first embodiment, the image of the face of each person is prepared by a terminal equipped with a camera as in the present embodiment, so that it is not necessary to prepare the image of the subject in advance before shooting. The preparation time can be greatly reduced.

  In addition, a person is extracted from the moving images being shot and images sent from each display and camera-equipped device, personal identification is performed, and an individual moving image is output to each terminal for each authenticated person. Thus, it is possible to provide an optimal moving image desired by each user.

(Other embodiments according to the present invention)
Each unit constituting the imaging apparatus according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention can be realized by operating a program stored in a RAM or a ROM of a computer. This program and a computer-readable recording medium recording the program are included in the present invention.

  In addition, the present invention can be implemented as, for example, a system, apparatus, method, program, storage medium, or the like. Specifically, the present invention may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices. The present invention may be applied to an apparatus composed of a single device.

  In the present invention, a software program (in the embodiment, a program corresponding to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 to 6) for executing each step in the imaging method described above is directly or remotely supplied to the system or apparatus. In addition, this includes a case where the system or the computer of the apparatus is also achieved by reading and executing the supplied program code.

  Accordingly, since the functions of the present invention are implemented by computer, the program code installed in the computer also implements the present invention. In other words, the present invention includes a computer program itself for realizing the functional processing of the present invention.

  In that case, as long as it has the function of a program, it may be in the form of object code, a program executed by an interpreter, script data supplied to the OS, and the like.

  Various recording media can be used as a recording medium for supplying the program. For example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, MO, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card 1700, ROM, DVD (DVD-ROM, DVD) -R).

  As another program supply method, a browser on a client computer is used to connect to an Internet home page. The computer program itself of the present invention or a compressed file including an automatic installation function can be downloaded from the homepage by downloading it to a recording medium such as a hard disk.

  It can also be realized by dividing the program code constituting the program of the present invention into a plurality of files and downloading each file from a different homepage. That is, a WWW server that allows a plurality of users to download a program file for realizing the functional processing of the present invention on a computer is also included in the present invention.

  In addition, the program of the present invention is encrypted, stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, distributed to users, and key information for decryption is downloaded from a homepage via the Internet to users who have cleared predetermined conditions. Let It is also possible to execute the encrypted program by using the key information and install the program on a computer.

  In addition to the functions of the above-described embodiments being realized by the computer executing the read program, the OS running on the computer may perform part or all of the actual processing. The functions of the above-described embodiments can be realized.

  Further, the program read from the recording 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. Thereafter, the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a block diagram explaining the structural example of the image process part in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the detail of the imaging device in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 3 is a driving flowchart of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a driving flowchart of the moving image display terminal corresponding to the operation of the imaging apparatus in the first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a driving flowchart of the imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a drive flowchart of the moving image display terminal corresponding to operation | movement of an imaging device in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1100 Image processing unit 1110 Frame buffer 1112 Data buffer 1120 Image data DMAC
1121 Image processing memory 1140 Raster / block conversion memory 1150 Codec processing unit 1151 Parameter register 1152 Face recognition unit 1153 Personal identification unit 1160 Encoded data DMAC
1170 Control Sequencer 1171 Image-Communication Unit Control Signal 1200 Imaging Unit 1210 Lens 1220 Sensor 1230 Development Processing Unit 1300 Communication Unit 1310 Network Control Unit 1320 Network Interface 1311 Processing Performance Judgment Unit 1400 Network Networks 1400a-h Terminals with Display 1401a-h Display 1500 Imaging device 1600 Media drive 1700 Memory card

Claims (5)

Imaging means for imaging a subject and generating imaging data;
Face detection means for performing face detection from imaging data generated by the imaging means;
Personal identification means for performing personal identification of the face detected by the face detection means and authenticating;
Based on the authentication result of the personal identification means, image processing means for performing from the imaging data, a process to cut out the authenticated person by the personal identification means,
Network communication means for sending the imaging data processed by the image processing means to a network with a terminal associated with the person authenticated by the personal identification means as a destination ;
Photographing instruction means for instructing the main photographing;
Storage means for recording imaging data generated in the main shooting performed in response to the instruction of the main shooting by the shooting instruction unit;
With respect to moving image imaging data that is generated by the imaging unit and is not recorded in the storage unit before actual imaging is instructed by the imaging instruction unit, the face detection unit, the personal identification unit, An image processing apparatus and an image pickup apparatus, wherein the network communication means performs respective processes. The storage means stores in advance image data of a person's face,
The personal identification means identifies an individual by comparing the face of a person stored in the storage means with the face of a person included in an image taken by the imaging device. Item 2. The imaging device according to Item 1.   The personal identification means identifies an individual by comparing the face of a person included in an image transmitted from a terminal on the network with the face of a person included in an image taken by the imaging device. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is characterized. Wherein the network communication means, Previous Kioku signal destination after sending the processed imaging data, any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that receiving an indication of whether photographing from the destination The imaging device according to item . An imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , and a display terminal that displays a moving image transmitted from the imaging apparatus on a display device,
The network camera system according to claim 1, wherein the display terminal includes communication means for requesting the imaging device to perform re-shooting when an image displayed on the display device does not meet a user's intention.

Images