JP5804841B2 - IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGING DEVICE CONTROL METHOD - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus and an imaging apparatus control method, and more particularly to a technique suitable for use in a camera having a network communication function.

  When a mobile terminal performs a network connection, access information (server URL, account, password, etc.) necessary for the network connection is stored in advance, and the information is read and automatically connected to the network (patent) Reference 1).

JP 2003-143578 A

  However, if the mobile terminal is lent to another person while the access information is stored, or if the mobile terminal is stolen by another person, there is a problem that the other person illegally connects to the network using the access information.

In order to solve such problems, it may be possible to enter a passcode when using the camera and change the setting when lending it to someone else, but it is troublesome.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable a network connection using account information stored in advance only when a camera is in a specific location.

An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores information indicating a specific location in a storage medium, a detection unit that detects a current location of the imaging device, a communication unit that connects to a network and communicates with a server, and the detection Comparing means for comparing the current location and the specific location indicated by the information stored in the storage medium, and whether or not the detected current location matches the specific location based on the result of the comparison In response , the user interface related to communication with the server automatically communicates with the server via the network using the access information stored in the imaging apparatus via the network. And switching means for switching between the process of requesting the user to input the access information .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to easily access the network at a place where the camera is always used without inputting a passcode or the like. In addition, it is necessary to enter a passcode when it is not the usual place, such as when a friend uses it while traveling, so that unauthorized network connection can be prevented.

It is a system configuration figure showing an example of composition of an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the electric system of the camera of embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the location information preserve | saved at the storage medium of a camera. It is a flowchart explaining the procedure for a camera to log in to a server. It is a rear view of the camera explaining the user interface of a camera. It is a flowchart explaining the procedure of reliable place registration. It is a figure explaining an example of the user interface provided in the camera. It is a figure which shows the example which selects and sets a desired place from the list of registration places. It is a figure explaining the location information which can be authenticated memorize | stored in a location information storage part. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen displayed in order to perform a place addition process operation. It is a figure explaining the location information which can be authenticated memorize | stored in a location information storage part. It is a flowchart explaining the process sequence until it registers location information. It is a figure which shows the example of a transition, when adding or deleting an expiration date. It is a figure which shows the example in the case of setting the place data containing a specific place.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, description will be given based on the embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration example of the first embodiment of the present invention. First, the outline of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The camera 103 has a network communication function for connecting to the server 102 via a network and transmitting and receiving data to and from the server. In this embodiment, the connection is made via a wireless LAN.

  In this embodiment, an intranet wireless LAN is used as the wireless LAN, but this wireless LAN may be a public line such as a hot spot. The camera 103 accesses the server 102 via the Internet via the intranet wireless LAN. At this time, the server 102 address and server access information such as server login account and password are stored in the camera 103.

  The camera 103 specifies the current position of the camera 103 using information from the GPS satellite 101 when accessing the server, and when the current position matches a predetermined “trusted place”, the user is prompted to input authentication information. Access the server without requesting it. If the current position is not a “trusted place”, the user is requested to input authentication information, and then the server is accessed.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the electrical system of the camera 103 according to the present embodiment. An imaging block 201 includes a lens, a CCD, and a camera signal processing module. A CPU 202 controls the entire camera device. A ROM 203 stores a program for controlling the entire camera 103.

  A RAM 204 is used as a temporary memory when performing various processes in the camera 103. Reference numeral 211 denotes a battery-backed RAM that stores information that the camera 103 wants to retain even when the camera 103 is turned off. In the present embodiment, a location information storage unit 40 is provided. A display block 205 includes a display unit 50 (liquid crystal display unit) and its control unit.

  A key input interface 206 includes buttons and switches, and forms a user interface together with the display block 205. Reference numeral 207 denotes a media drive module, which includes a circuit for reading / writing data from / to an SD card and a control module. Reference numeral 208 denotes a network interface block which manages the network functions of USB and wireless LAN. Reference numeral 209 denotes a position detection block which measures the current position of the camera 103 using GPS and performs current location information detection processing. 210 is a bus, 211 is a RAM with a backup, and includes a location information storage unit 40.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the camera for explaining the user interface of the camera 103 of the present embodiment. First, an operation flow when reliable location information and access information are already stored in the camera 103 will be described.
FIG. 5A shows a display example of the liquid crystal display of the camera 103 in the playback mode state. In this mode, nine thumbnails are displayed on the liquid crystal. In this case, the upper left image is the current image. In this state, the user presses the menu button 51 to display the menu on the liquid crystal display.

  The state of the menu display is shown in FIG. The user selects “Up to Server” from the menu displayed as shown in FIG. 5B by using the up and down arrow keys and presses the set button 52. By this user operation, the camera 103 enters a function flow for uploading to the server.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for the camera 103 to log in an image to the photo sharing server. This flow starts when the user presses the set button 52. This flow is executed by the CPU 202. The flow program is stored in the ROM 203, and when the set button 52 is pressed, the program is loaded into the CPU 202 and started.

  First, the current position of the camera 103 is acquired (S401). Acquisition of the current position is executed by the position detection block 209. A position detection block 209 detects signals from a plurality of GPS satellites, and detects the current position of the camera 103 using a GPS mechanism. The GPS mechanism itself is a general mechanism and will not be described in detail here. In S 401, the detected current position of the camera 103 is stored in the RAM 204.

  Here, in this embodiment, a GPS satellite is used to acquire the current position, but the method for acquiring the position is not limited to GPS. For example, the present invention can be applied if the current position can be roughly specified, such as a method using base station information of a mobile phone network and a method using Internet address information.

  Next, a comparison process for comparing the current position acquired in S401 with a reliable place is performed (S402). FIG. 3A shows reliable location information stored in the RAM with camera backup 211. The center position and the radius of an area corresponding to a reliable place are stored (the rank will be described later). The distance between the position detected in S401 and the reliable place is calculated, and whether or not the distance is smaller than the radius is included in the area indicated by the reliable place. To save. The value of the reliable flag is “1”, although it is reliable, and “0”, although it is not reliable.

  Next, the user interface for accessing the network is switched according to the value of the reliable flag (S403). That is, if the current position is within the reliable location area, the process proceeds directly to S405 without going through S404. If the current position is not within the reliable location area, the user is requested to input a passcode (network access information) (S404).

An example of a liquid crystal display for passcode input is shown in FIG. In the user interface of FIG. 5C, the digit position is selected using the left and right arrow keys 53 and 54, and the number is selected using the up and down arrow keys. The user can input a passcode by pressing the set button 52 after all four digits are matched with the passcode.
Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 4, the server access information is acquired (S405).

FIG. 3B shows access information stored in the camera backup RAM 211. The server URL, account ID, password, and the like are stored.
In S406, the access information is used to communicate with the server and log in to the server. The lower layer of the communication function is executed in the network interface block 208. In the present embodiment, the camera has a wireless LAN communication function, communicates with the server via the wireless LAN and the Internet, and uploads an image using the server's API (Application Program Interface).

  Here, the wireless LAN, the Internet, and the server API itself are general mechanisms and will not be described in detail here. When the communication with the server is completed and the upload of the image is completed, the flow for the camera to upload the image to the photo sharing server is completed. The display on the liquid crystal display also returns to the thumbnail display of FIG.

  As described above, by applying this embodiment, it is possible to easily access the network without using a large-scale system and using only the mechanism in the camera, and without entering a passcode or the like at a place where the camera is always used. In addition, a camera that can prevent misuse can be realized by entering a passcode when a friend uses it on a trip and is not an ordinary place.

  In S405, the user may select one of the two stored access information. FIG. 5D shows a user interface in that case. The user specifies the two displayed server names with the up and down arrow keys, and presses the set button 52 to select and confirm. Thereafter, the server communicates with the server in S406.

  If the current access position is not a reliable place, the access information itself to the server may be input instead of inputting the passcode in S404. The user interface in that case is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5 (e), the cursor is first on the upper left.

  In FIG. 5E, the left column aligned with “server name” and “URL” is the item selection area, and the right area aligned with “ACEBOOK” and “http: // xxx ...” is the character input area. is there. Use the up and down arrow keys to move the cursor from the state where the cursor is in the upper left. Use the up and down arrow keys to specify the item, and the set key or the right arrow key to move the cursor to the input area.

  FIG. 5 (f) shows the cursor moved to the server name input area. From this state, use the left and right arrow keys to move the cursor within the input area, and use the up and down arrow keys to specify the character. Pressing the set key confirms the character input and returns the cursor to the item selection area. When the access information is input by the above operation, the cursor is moved to “setting”, and the set key is pressed, the process ends. Thereafter, the access information input in S405 is set, and the server is accessed in S406.

  Further, after it is determined in S403 that the current access position is not a reliable place, a warning may be displayed and server access may not be permitted. The user interface in that case is shown in FIG. After displaying the warning in FIG. 5G, the flow is terminated without accessing the server.

  As described above, by applying this embodiment, it is possible to easily access a network at a place where the camera is always used in various variations by using only the mechanism in the camera without using a large-scale system. In addition, when it is not a usual place such as a friend using on a trip, it is possible to realize a camera that can prevent misuse by restricting its use.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a flow for registering reliable location information in the camera will be described. This embodiment has the same system configuration and hardware as the first embodiment.
From the playback mode state shown in FIG. 5A, the user presses the menu button 51 to display the menu on the liquid crystal display. When the user moves the cursor downward using the up and down arrow keys 55 and 56 from the menu shown in FIG. 5B, the menu scrolls, and “ "Trusted location registration" appears. Here, the user selects “Trusted location registration” and presses the set button 52. By this user operation, the camera enters a reliable location registration flow.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of reliable location registration.
This flow starts when the user presses the set button 52. This flow is executed by the CPU 202 as in the first embodiment. The flow program is stored in the ROM 203, and when the set button 52 is pressed, the program is loaded into the CPU and started.

First, the current position of the camera 103 is acquired, and the acquired current position of the camera 103 is stored in the RAM 204 (S601).
Next, the current position acquired in S601 is compared with a reliable place (S602).

  FIG. 3A shows reliable location information in the present embodiment. In the case of this embodiment, two reliable locations are registered. Here, the rank stored together with the center position and radius indicates the reliability of the place. The rank “A” indicates high reliability, and the trusted location registration described in the present embodiment can be performed only at the location of rank “A”.

  Incidentally, the rank is not referred to in the connection flow to the server described in the first embodiment, and the server can be accessed using the access information stored in the camera 103 at any reliable location. The distance between the position detected in S601 and the reliable place of rank “A” is calculated, and whether or not the distance is smaller than the radius is determined to be included in the area indicated by the reliable place. Save to "trusted flag".

  Next, the user interface for accessing the network is switched according to the value of the reliable flag (S603). That is, if the current position is within the reliable location area, the process proceeds directly to S605 without going through S604. If the current position is not within the reliable place area, the user is requested to enter a passcode (S604). Since the passcode input is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description is omitted. A new reliable place is registered (S605).

  Since the center position of the reliable place has already been obtained by GPS, in S605, the user is prompted to input the remaining information, that is, the place name, radius, and rank. FIG. 7B shows a user interface at that time. FIG. 7B shows an item selection mode. In the state where the cursor is at “place:” in the upper left in FIG. 7B, when the right arrow key 53 or the set button 52 is pressed, the place name input mode is set.

In the place name input mode, the cursor is moved with the left and right arrow keys 53 and 54, and the character string is input by selecting the alphabet with the up and down keys 55 and 56. Finally, the set button 52 is pressed to return to the item selection mode. In the item selection mode, an item can be selected with the up and down keys, and when the set button 52 is pressed in the state of the selected item, a value can be input in the same manner as the place name input.
Returning to the flow of FIG. 6, the access information is input in S605 as described above, and this flow ends.

  As described above, by applying this embodiment, access information in the camera can be easily obtained without using a large-scale system, only the mechanism in the camera, and without entering a passcode or the like at a place where the camera is always used. Can be edited. In addition, a camera that can prevent misuse can be realized by entering a passcode when a friend uses it on a trip and is not an ordinary place.

(Third embodiment)
In the above-described embodiment, in a configuration that stores a reliable place (hereinafter, a place that can be authenticated), an unspecified place is set as a place that can be authenticated by a method that sets place information with only one piece of position information of the current position. I can't.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, by providing means for setting place information composed of a plurality of groups of position information, for example, an irregular place such as the vicinity of Tokyo Station or Hibiya Park is set. In order to realize this, the location information that can be authenticated can be set by the location information group specified by the name by connecting to the location server having the location information in the data in the location addition process that can be authenticated.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a place addition process image that can be authenticated, in which a transition on the screen is displayed in the case where the vicinity of Tokyo Station is selected and set from the list of registered places.
In 801, location addition is started from the processing after server authentication. In step 802, “Registered location” is selected from the locations that can be authenticated, and a list of registered locations is received and acquired from the server. The list of location information acquired at this time may be all location information held by the server, or may be a list created with location information near the current position of the imaging apparatus. In step 803, a location is selected from the registration location list and can be authenticated.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the authenticable location information stored in the location information storage unit 40 of the imaging apparatus when selected from the registered location list and registered as an authenticable location.
Reference numeral 900 denotes an example of registration location information acquired when, for example, “Tokyo Station neighborhood” is selected from the list of registration locations acquired from the server. Reference numeral 901 denotes a registered name, which registers the name of the place specified by the name. Reference numerals 902, 903, and 904 are constituted by a plurality of position information and distance information set so as to include the entire place specified by the name.

920 is a diagram illustrating that a plurality of pieces of position information and distance data include data that is specified by a name. For example, in the case of “around Tokyo station”, three pieces of position information and distance data are combined and included in three circles as shown in the figure.
As described above, even a place in an indefinite range can be easily set by acquiring a position information list of places specified by names.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, in the configuration for storing a place where authentication can be performed according to the third embodiment described above, a wide range of places can be set by setting an expiration date. For example, when traveling over a wide area such as a trip, the current location or a registered location within a narrow range may require authentication processing such as entering login information every time you move to a location other than the registered location, or It was necessary to select and register all from the registration location.

  Therefore, if a function is provided that can be set as location information that can authenticate a wide range of location information when an expiration date is set, a location that can be authenticated over a wide range can be easily set. Moreover, since it cannot be used as a place that can be authenticated after that period, it is safe in terms of security.

  When setting a wide area as a place that can be authenticated, connect to the server with a place addition process that can be authenticated, and have a function to acquire and select a wide range of place registration lists for a limited time. Enable to set by location information group.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed for performing a place addition processing operation that can be authenticated. As shown in this example, a wide range setting is possible by setting a period, and a transition on the screen of the display unit 50 when, for example, Kyoto Prefecture is selected from a list of wide range locations is displayed.

  In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1001 denotes a place addition operation screen that can be authenticated, and a period setting operation can be selected. When “Period setting” is selected, “Period setting is present” or “Period setting is not possible” can be selected. When “Period setting is present” is selected, the operation moves to the period setting operation 1002 and the start date and end date are input. Set an expiration date.

  When the start date and the end date are entered, the screen returns to the authenticating location addition operation screen 1003, and the “wide range setting” operation becomes valid when the period is set. When “wide range setting” is selected, a connection is made to the location information server, and a wide list of registered locations is acquired from the location information server. The process proceeds to a wide area selection operation 1004, and a wide list of registered places is displayed. In this case, “Kyoto Prefecture” and “Nara Prefecture” are displayed. For example, if “Kyoto Prefecture” is selected from the displayed list, location information of “Kyoto Prefecture” is registered as a place that can be authenticated.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the authenticable location information stored in the location information storage unit 40 of the imaging device when selected from the wide-range location list and registered as an authenticable location. Reference numeral 1100 denotes an example of wide area information acquired when, for example, “Kyoto Prefecture” is selected from the wide area list acquired from the server.

  In FIG. 11, reference numeral 1101 denotes a registered name, which is a name of a place specified by the name. Reference numerals 1102, 1103, and 1104 include a plurality of position information and distance data set so as to include the entire place specified by the name. Reference numeral 1105 denotes an expiration date, and the distance data 1104 is set in a relatively narrow range in the location information where the expiration date described in the third embodiment is not set. On the other hand, the expiry date is set for a wide range of place information, and the distance data 1104 is set within a relatively large range.

  1120 is a diagram for explaining that a plurality of pieces of position information and distance data are data including a place specified by a name. For example, in the case of “Kyoto Prefecture”, it is described that two position information and distance data are combined and included in two circles shown in the figure.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a flow of a program stored in the ROM as software for executing the authentication in one embodiment of a place addition process that can be authenticated. Execute. Specifically, FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining processing procedures from the start of adding location information 1001 to 1004 in FIG. 10 until registration of location information.

First, a location addition operation that can be authenticated is started (S1201). Next, a period is set (S1202). Next, it is determined whether or not there is a period setting (S1203). If the period is not set, the item that can be selected by the addition operation of the place that can be authenticated is selected as the current position or the registered place (S1204). If the period setting is “present”, the item that can be selected by the addition operation of the place that can be authenticated is selected as the current position or the registered place (S1205).
If the current position is selected, the current position information is acquired (S1209) and registered as authenticable place information (S1211).

  If the additional item selected in S1204 or S1205 is a registration location, a registration location information list is acquired and a list selection operation screen is displayed on the operation screen (S1206). If the additional item selected in S1205 is a wide range setting, a wide area information list is acquired and a list selection operation screen is displayed on the operation screen (S1207).

  Next, a location is selected from the displayed location information list (S1208). Thereafter, S1208 acquires location information of the selected location from the server (S1210). Next, it registers with a camera as a place which can be authenticated with the place information acquired by S1201 (S1211).

  Next, an example will be described in which the period setting can be changed if the registered location information that can be authenticated is a wide range setting and is not information set from a wide range location list. This is a configuration that sets the expiration date of authenticable location information set without an expiration date, and updates the expiration date without the expiration date to the location information with the expiration date and returns it to the location information without the expiration date. . Thereby, when lending the imaging apparatus to another person, it is possible to prevent the server authentication from being automatically performed and uploading the image even if the place can be authenticated by removing the period from the rented due date.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of displaying a transition on the screen of the display unit 50 when an expiration date is added or deleted by a place edit processing operation that can be authenticated.
From the post-authentication processing operation screen 801, “edit place that can be authenticated” is selected. In the place edit processing that can be authenticated, a registered name list is created and displayed from the place information registered in the camera on the setting place selection screen 1301 (in this example, “A park”). When the registered name list is selected on the setting location selection screen 1301, a period setting operation screen is displayed on the location information setting change screen 1302.

  When no expiration date is set in the period setting, the screen is displayed, the expiration date is deleted as no expiration date (no period limitation), and the location information is registered and changed (1303). When expiration date set (with limited time) is set in the period setting, the expiration date is further set on the expiration date setting operation screen, and the location information is registered and changed together with the expiration date period information (1304).

If a wide range of locations is changed from the location information registered in the camera in 1302, the wide range of locations can be set to have no expiration date.
Further, in the present embodiment, the expiration date can be changed by the place editing operation that can be authenticated in FIG. 13, but the distance information can be changed and registered in the same manner. It is also possible to change and register the distance information so that the registered name and distance can be set.

  As described above, even a wide range of location information can be easily set using a location specified by a name. In addition, it is possible to select “with a limited time” or “without a limited time”, and by selecting and setting “with a limited time”, server access will be restricted if it is not during the period. Kept.

(Fifth embodiment)
In the configuration for storing a place where authentication can be performed according to the third embodiment described above, the current position detection information is integrated into one registered place, so that the server can be specified without having a group of position information specified by name. An embodiment for enabling setting of the location will be described.

In FIG. 14, 14A is a diagram showing an example of displaying transitions on the screen of the display unit 50 when setting location data including a specific location from a plurality of detected position information of the current location.
In FIG. 14, 14B is a diagram for explaining a mechanism for setting place data including a specific place from the detected position information of a plurality of current positions. In the present embodiment, in order to simplify the description, an example in which two pieces of detected position information are collectively used as location information will be described.

  In 14A, location group registration is selected on the operation screen 504 for adding a place that can be authenticated. In the position group registration setting screen 1401, the first current position is set, and the current position is set. Next, a second current position setting processing screen 1402 is displayed. Move the location to detect and register the current location. Next, when the confirmation button is confirmed, a registration name setting screen 1403 for location group registration is displayed, and a registration name is input. Here, location information included from the set positions of the two current location information is created and registered together with the registered name as a location that can be authenticated in the storage unit of the imaging apparatus.

14B, 1421 is the current position information detected first, and for example, the current position is set at the west end of station A. Reference numeral 1422 denotes current position information detected second, and for example, sets the current position at the east end of station A. When the two pieces of position information are registered in combination, position information including the two pieces of position information and location information 1423 of the distance are created and registered.
Although the present invention has been described in detail based on preferred embodiments thereof, the present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments, and various forms within the scope of the present invention are also included in the present invention. included. A part of the above-described embodiments may be appropriately combined.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (computer program) that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various computer-readable storage media. Then, the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads out and executes the program.

101 GPS satellite, 102 server, 103 camera, 201 imaging block, 202 CPU, 203 ROM, 204 RAM, 205 display block, 206 key input interface, 207 media drive module, 208 network interface block, 209 position detection block, 211 with backup RAM, 40 location information storage unit, 50 display unit

Claims (7)

Storage means for storing information indicating a specific location in a storage medium;
Detection means for detecting the current location of the imaging device;
A communication means for communicating with a server by connecting to a network;
A comparing means for comparing the detected current location with a specific location indicated by information stored in the storage medium;
Based on whether or not the detected current location matches the specific location based on the result of the comparison, a user interface related to communication with the server is sent to the server stored in the imaging device. An imaging device comprising: a process for automatically communicating with the server by the communication means via the network using access information; and a switching means for switching between a process for requesting a user to input the access information. apparatus. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information indicating the specific location indicates a range based on a specific position and a distance from the position, and the information can be changed . It said storage means, the image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that receiving and storing information indicating the specific location from the server. It said storage means, the image pickup apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that also further stores valid period information indicating the specific location. A storage step of storing information indicating a specific location in a storage medium ;
A detection step of detecting the current location of the imaging device ;
A communication step of connecting to the server and communicating with the server via a communication means ;
A comparison step of comparing the detected current location with a specific location indicated by information stored in the storage medium ;
Depending on whether the results based-out the detected current location of the processing of the comparing step matches said particular location, the user interface according to communication with the server, is stored in the imaging apparatus A switching step of switching between a process of automatically communicating with the server by the communication means using the access information to the server and a process of requesting the user to input the access information. A method for controlling an image pickup apparatus . On the computer,
A storage step of storing information indicating a specific location in a storage medium ;
A detection step of detecting the current location of the imaging device ;
A communication step of connecting to the server and communicating with the server via a communication means ;
A comparison step of comparing the detected current location with a specific location indicated by information stored in the storage medium ;
Depending on whether the results based-out the detected current location of the processing of the comparing step matches said particular location, the user interface according to communication with the server, is stored in the imaging apparatus And a switching step of switching between the process of automatically communicating with the server via the network using the access information to the server and the process of requesting the user to input the access information. A program characterized by that . A computer-readable storage medium storing the program according to claim 6 .

Images