JP6543900B2 - Image transmitting apparatus, image transmitting method and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image transmitting apparatus having an imaging function, an image transmitting method, and a program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a technique of individually selecting and transmitting a plurality of images when transmitting the image to the outside in order to share the image with another person (see Patent Document 1).

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2006-197089

  However, in the technology described in Patent Document 1 described above, it is necessary to select whether or not to transmit an image captured by the user after imaging to the external network each time, and for the user who selects the image to be transmitted after imaging There was a risk that the burden on

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to reduce the time and effort required for the user to transmit a captured image.

In order to achieve the above object, an image transmitting apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is
Imaging means for imaging an object and outputting image data;
Evaluation means for evaluating image data output by the imaging means;
A determination unit that determines whether the evaluation value by the evaluation unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value;
First accepting means for accepting that the image data is to be transmitted to the outside before the image data is outputted by the imaging means;
When the first accepting means accepts the transmission to the outside, the image data for which the evaluation value is judged to be equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold is transmitted to the outside after the acceptance of the transmission. Means,
A releasing unit that cancels transmission to the outside accepted by the accepting unit each time the image data is transmitted by the transmitting unit;
It is characterized by having.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the burden on the user of transmitting a captured image after imaging.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the hardware of the image transmission apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the image sharing in this embodiment typically. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration for executing image sharing processing among the functional configurations of the image transmission apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a flowchart explaining the flow of the image sharing process which the image transmission apparatus of FIG. 1 which has the functional structure of FIG. 3 performs. It is a schematic diagram which shows the other example of the operation which concerns on image sharing. It is a schematic diagram which shows the other example of image sharing. It is a flowchart explaining the other example of the flow of the image sharing process which the image transmission apparatus of FIG. 1 which has the functional structure of FIG. 3 performs. It is a flowchart explaining the other example of the flow of the image sharing process which the image transmission apparatus of FIG. 1 which has the functional structure of FIG. 3 performs.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image transmission apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The image transmission device 1 is configured as, for example, a digital camera.

  The image transmission device 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 11, a read only memory (ROM) 12, a random access memory (RAM) 13, a bus 14, an input / output interface 15, an imaging unit 16, and an input unit. 17, an output unit 18, a storage unit 19, a communication unit 20, and a drive 21.

  The CPU 11 executes various processes in accordance with a program stored in the ROM 12 or a program loaded from the storage unit 19 into the RAM 13.

  Data and the like necessary for the CPU 11 to execute various processes are also stored in the RAM 13 as appropriate.

  The CPU 11, the ROM 12 and the RAM 13 are connected to one another via a bus 14. An input / output interface 15 is also connected to the bus 14. An imaging unit 16, an input unit 17, an output unit 18, a storage unit 19, a communication unit 20, and a drive 21 are connected to the input / output interface 15.

  Although not shown, the imaging unit 16 includes an optical lens unit and an image sensor.

The optical lens unit is configured of a lens that condenses light, such as a focus lens or a zoom lens, in order to capture an object.
The focus lens is a lens that forms an object image on the light receiving surface of the image sensor. The zoom lens is a lens that freely changes the focal length in a certain range.
The optical lens unit is also provided with peripheral circuits for adjusting setting parameters such as focus, exposure, white balance, etc., as necessary.

The image sensor includes a photoelectric conversion element, an AFE (Analog Front End), and the like.
The photoelectric conversion element is composed of, for example, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) type photoelectric conversion element or the like. A subject image is incident on the photoelectric conversion element from the optical lens unit. Therefore, the photoelectric conversion element photoelectrically converts (captures) an object image, accumulates an image signal for a certain period of time, and sequentially supplies the accumulated image signal as an analog signal to the AFE.
The AFE performs various signal processing such as A / D (Analog / Digital) conversion processing on this analog image signal. A digital signal is generated by various signal processing, and is output as an output signal of the imaging unit 16.
Hereinafter, such an output signal of the imaging unit 16 is referred to as “captured image data”. Data of the captured image is appropriately supplied to the CPU 11 and the like.

  The input unit 17 includes various buttons and the like, and inputs various information to the CPU 11 or the storage unit 19 according to a user's instruction operation.

The output unit 18 is configured by a display, a speaker, and the like, and outputs an image and sound.
The storage unit 19 is configured by a hard disk, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), or the like, and stores data of various images.
The communication unit 20 controls communication with other devices (not shown) via a network including the Internet.

  A removable medium 31 made of a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory or the like is appropriately attached to the drive 21. The program read from the removable media 31 by the drive 21 is installed in the storage unit 19 as needed. The removable media 31 can also store various data such as image data stored in the storage unit 19 in the same manner as the storage unit 19.

  The image transmitting apparatus 1 configured as described above has a function of transmitting a captured image to a preset sharing destination by performing a sharing operation at the time of imaging, and sharing the image with an external network. Furthermore, the image transmission device 1 also has a function of performing image evaluation and not performing image sharing with an external network if the evaluation result of the image does not satisfy the sharing standard.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing image sharing in the present embodiment.
In the image transmitting apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, a shutter button 17a for instructing normal imaging and an shutter button 17a are separately provided as an input unit 17 for image sharing. A shared shutter button 17b is provided to instruct the imaging of the image.
In the present embodiment, when the user lightly touches the shared shutter button 17b, the contact is detected, and an icon IC1 (hereinafter, referred to as “shared imaging icon IC1”) indicating that shared imaging is performed is output. It is displayed and output to the unit 18. Note that sharing imaging means transmitting the image immediately after the imaging operation. Thus, the user can recognize that image sharing is performed before the operation is completed by operating the shared shutter button 17b.

  In the present embodiment, when the user presses the shutter button 17a, as shown in FIG. 2B, normal imaging is performed, and a captured image is stored in the storage unit 19. In this case, the captured image is not shared and is not transmitted to another device or the like.

On the other hand, when the user depresses the shared shutter button 17b, as shown in FIG. 2C, shared imaging is performed, and the captured image is uploaded to, for example, the cloud server SV. The captured image is shared with the device 100 or directly transmitted to another device.
In the present embodiment, even when the user presses the shared shutter button 17 b, the shared imaging icon IC 1 is displayed on the output unit 18 and output. This allows the user to recognize that image sharing is to be performed.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration for executing an image sharing process among the functional configurations of such an image transmission apparatus 1. As shown in FIG.
The image sharing process is a series of processes for evaluating a captured image captured by the imaging unit 16 by operating the shared shutter button 17b by the user and transmitting the captured image satisfying the sharing standard to the sharing destination. .

  When executing the image sharing process, as shown in FIG. 3, in the CPU 11, the shared information setting unit 51, the operation detecting unit 52, the storage control unit 53, the image evaluating unit 54, and the image determining unit 55 The transmission control unit 56 and the output control unit 57 function.

  Further, in one area of the storage unit 19, a shared information storage unit 71 and an image storage unit 72 are set.

The shared information storage unit 71 includes a sharing method such as e-mail to an external device or uploading to a cloud server, a destination such as an external device to be shared or a cloud server, and a sharing standard as a criterion for determining presence / absence of sharing. Information related to various sharing (hereinafter referred to as "shared information") is stored.
Here, specifically, the “sharing reference” is, for example, a threshold of the brightness or focusing degree of the image obtained by evaluating the image, and the image which is considered to satisfy the reference beyond the threshold is an image. It becomes an object of sharing.

  The image storage unit 72 stores data of an image such as a captured image captured by the imaging unit 16.

  The shared information setting unit 51 sets shared information by an input operation to the input unit 17 by the user. Specifically, the shared information setting unit 51 is a method of sharing with an external network such as e-mail to an external device or uploading to a cloud server, a destination such as an external device or a cloud server as a sharing destination, brightness and combination of images. Based on the degree of focusing, a sharing standard is set to determine whether to share an image. The shared information setting unit 51 stores the set shared information in the shared information storage unit 71.

  The operation detection unit 52 detects an operation as to whether the shutter button or the shared shutter button has been operated. Further, the operation detection unit 52 determines whether the target detected by the operation is a shutter button or a shared shutter button.

  The storage control unit 53 controls the image storage unit 72 to store the captured image output from the imaging unit 16.

  The image evaluation unit 54 evaluates the image. Specifically, the image evaluation unit 54 evaluates the image based on the brightness and focusing degree of the image in the image to be evaluated, and stores the evaluation result in the shared information storage unit 71 for each image.

The image determination unit 55 refers to the shared information storage unit 71 and determines whether the evaluation result by the image evaluation unit 54 satisfies the sharing standard set by the shared information setting unit 51.
For the image determined to satisfy the sharing standard by the image determining unit 55, for example, information that is to be subjected to image sharing in the header area is stored in the image storage unit 72 as additional information, and the image and the image are It is associated with information that sharing is to be performed.

  The transmission control unit 56 controls the communication unit 20 to transmit an image for image sharing to the set sharing destination. That is, the transmission control unit 56 refers to the additional information of the image, and uses the sharing method set based on the sharing information stored in the sharing information storage unit 71 for the image being an object of image sharing. Control unit 20 controls the communication unit 20 to transmit data to the sharing destination.

  The output control unit 57 controls the output unit 18 to display and output, for example, a live view image, a notification that transmission has been completed, and the like to the user.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the flow of the image sharing process performed by the image transmission apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 having the functional configuration of FIG.
The image sharing process is started by an operation of the image sharing process start to the input unit 17 by the user.

  In step S11, the sharing information setting unit 51 sets the conditions of the sharing destination. Specifically, the sharing information setting unit 51 sets a destination of the external device to be a sharing destination or a cloud server, a sharing method, and a sharing standard for determining whether to share an image. The information related to the setting is stored in the shared information storage unit 71.

  In step S12, the operation detection unit 52 detects an input operation on the shutter button or the share button by the user. Then, imaging processing is performed in the imaging unit 16 based on the detection result. As a result of the imaging process, a captured image is output from the imaging unit 16 to the image storage unit 72.

  In step S13, the storage control unit 53 controls the image storage unit 72 to store the captured image output from the imaging unit 16.

In step S14, the operation detection unit 52 determines whether the detected input operation is the sharing operation as the sharing operation.
If the shutter button is operated instead of the sharing button, it is determined as NO in step S14, and the image sharing processing ends.
If the sharing button has been operated, YES is determined in step S14, and the process proceeds to step S15.

  In step S <b> 15, the image evaluation unit 54 evaluates the captured image stored in the image storage unit 72. Specifically, the image evaluation unit 54 evaluates the image based on the brightness and the degree of focusing of the captured image, and stores the evaluation result in the shared information storage unit 71.

In step S16, the image determination unit 55 refers to the shared information storage unit 71 and determines whether the evaluation result of the image evaluation unit 54 satisfies the sharing standard set by the shared information setting unit 51.
If the sharing standard is not satisfied, it is determined as NO in step S16, and the image sharing process ends.
If the sharing standard is satisfied, YES is determined in step S16, and the process proceeds to step S17.

  In step S17, the transmission control unit 56 refers to the shared information storage unit 71, and controls the communication unit 20 to transmit an image to the set sharing destination by a sharing method set in advance. Specifically, the transmission control unit 56 controls the communication unit 20 to transmit by e-mail to an external device or upload it to an external server according to the set sharing method and sharing destination.

  In step S18, the output control unit 57 controls the output unit 18 to display and output a transmission completion display, which is a display indicating that the transmission has been completed.

  Therefore, in the image transmitting apparatus 1, by operating the shared shutter button 17b different in position from the shutter button 17a, the image sharing can be easily performed without performing the transmission operation of the image related to the image sharing. Further, since the shutter button 17a and the shared shutter button 17b having a different position, it is possible to make the user aware of image sharing unlike the normal imaging operation, and it is possible to reduce the risk of image sharing due to the user's erroneous operation. .

First Modification
In the embodiment described above, the operation members of the shared shutter button 17b and the shutter button 17a are divided to switch the presence or absence of image sharing. In this example, setting of whether or not to share an image can be alternately switched by inputting a user operation on a screen configured of a touch panel screen configured of the input unit 17 and the output unit 18. Configure to

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another example of the operation relating to image sharing.
As shown in the example of FIG. 5, in this example, the display surface of the live view image is configured as a touch panel screen, and an operation of sliding a finger on the input unit 17, so-called “flick operation” Set whether to share or not. At this time, if it is set to perform image sharing, the shared imaging icon IC1 is displayed on the output unit 18. Thereafter, when the shutter button 17a is operated, imaging is performed, and image sharing / non-sharing processing is performed according to the setting of whether to share the image. Further, in the present embodiment, the image sharing / non-sharing processing is performed with the same setting for the subsequent images by the setting operation. Therefore, the user does not have to perform the image sharing operation every imaging operation by performing the setting operation once.

  In addition, on the touch panel screen displaying the live view image, the user can view the live view image and perform the setting operation as to whether or not to share the image while confirming the composition. In this case, image sharing due to a user's erroneous operation can be prevented in order to perform sharing setting and an imaging instruction by different operations.

  In this example, the user performs an operation input on the touch panel screen to perform setting operation of whether or not to share the image in the subsequent captured image. However, for example, the setting of sharing is canceled for each sheet When image sharing is performed, the user may perform operation input on the touch panel screen every time.

Second Modified Example
In the embodiment described above, image sharing is performed under the intention of the user by operating the sharing shutter button. In this example, the image evaluation unit 54 evaluates the image, and when the evaluation result of the image satisfies the sharing standard, the image is automatically shared.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing another example of image sharing.
In this example, as shown in FIG. 6, image sharing is performed automatically when imaging is performed with the face of a person registered in advance as a sharing reference determined to be within the angle of view through the live view image. Configured to be In this case, since the image sharing is performed only when the face of the person registered in advance is within the angle of view, it is possible to avoid the risk of sharing the image by mistake by the user's erroneous operation. Since only the operation is required, the user can perform image sharing without any special operation and the like.

  Note that, unlike the above-described modification, when a person who has registered for a face is recognized, sharing is not performed, or when a person other than the person who has registered for a face appears, image sharing is not performed. Alternatively, the image sharing may be performed by performing mask processing on the face of a person other than the face registered person.

<Third Modification>
In the embodiment described above, the image is captured and stored as the user operates the operation member, and then the process related to image sharing is performed according to the sharing operation. However, in this example, the operation is performed. It is determined that the captured image is not stored by determining whether the operation on the member is a sharing operation.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the flow of the image sharing process performed by the image transmitting apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 having the functional configuration of FIG. 3.
In this example, only the processes of step S11 and steps S14 to S18 are performed without performing the processes of step S12 and step S13 of FIG. That is, the processes of step S31 of FIG. 7 and step S11 of FIG. 4 and steps S32 to S36 of FIG. 7 and steps S14 to 18 of FIG. 4 are the same process.
Therefore, in this example, the captured image with the shared image is not stored in the device, and the captured image is held only at the sharing destination.

Fourth Modified Example
In the embodiment described above, the image transmitting apparatus 1 is configured to share the captured images one by one each time with the sharing operation, but in the present embodiment, the image sharing is performed after waiting for an image transmission instruction. Configure to perform such processing collectively. That is, the image transmitting apparatus 1 holds information relating to image sharing, and performs a process relating to image sharing collectively based on the information relating to image sharing when a transmission instruction is given.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the flow of the image sharing process performed by the image transmitting apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 having the functional configuration of FIG. 3.
In this example, the process of steps S14 to S18 is performed without performing the process of step S13 of FIG. Further, processing of holding an image is performed by associating information related to image sharing (in the present example, information to the effect of transmission) between step S16 and step S17. Furthermore, when there is an instruction for image transmission, the process of step S17 is performed.
That is, step S51 and step S52 of FIG. 7, step S11 and step S12 of FIG. 4, step S53 to step S55 of FIG. 7, step S14 to step S16 of FIG. 4, step S59 and step S60 of FIG. The processes of step S17 and step S18 are the same process. Then, the processes of steps S56 to S58 are newly added.

  Specifically, in step S56, when the storage control unit 53 satisfies the sharing standard, the storage control unit 53 associates the information indicating that transmission is to the image. The storage control unit 53 causes the shared information storage unit 71 to store the association between the information to be transmitted and the image.

  In step S57, the storage control unit 53 temporarily stores the captured image in the image storage unit 72 and holds the image.

In step S58, the operation detection unit 52 determines whether an instruction to transmit an image to the input unit 17 has been detected.
If the instruction to transmit the image to the input unit 17 is not detected, it is determined as NO in Step S58, the process returns to Step S52, and the processes after Step S52 are performed.
If an instruction to transmit an image to the input unit 17 is detected, YES is determined in step S58, and the process proceeds to step S59.

In step S59, the transmission control unit 56 refers to the shared information storage unit 71 and, based on the association between the information to be transmitted and the image, a plurality of shared destinations set by the sharing method set in advance. The communication unit 20 is controlled to collectively transmit the images. Specifically, the transmission control unit 56 collectively transmits by mail to an external device or uploads to an external server collectively according to the set sharing method and the sharing destination only for the image sharing image. The communication unit 20 is controlled as follows.
Therefore, in the present example, images to be shared can be transmitted collectively.

The image transmission device 1 configured as described above includes an imaging unit 16, an input unit 17, an image determination unit 55, and a communication unit 20.
The imaging unit 16 images a subject and outputs image data.
The input unit 17 receives that the image data output by the imaging unit 16 is to be transmitted to the outside.
When the operation detection unit 52 receives that the image data is to be transmitted to the outside, the image determination unit 55 controls so that information to be transmitted to the outside can be associated with the image data output by the imaging unit 16.
The communication unit 20 transmits the image data associated with the information to be transmitted to the outside by the image determination unit 55 to the outside.
Thus, in the image transmission device 1, the user selects an image to be transmitted because the image data is transmitted to the outside only by accepting that the image data output by the imaging unit 16 is to be transmitted to the outside. The burden can be reduced.

In addition, the image transmitting apparatus 1 receives, through the input unit 17, that the image data is to be transmitted to the outside.
Further, the image transmission device 1 further includes a storage control unit 53 that performs control so as to associate information indicating that the image data is to be transmitted to the outside when the image data output by the imaging unit 16 is stored.
The communication unit 20 transmits the image data associated with the information to the outside by the image determination unit 55 to the outside.
As a result, in the image transmission device 1, a plurality of image data can be collectively transmitted at one time and transmitted to the outside, and can be transmitted to the outside, for example, when a connection with a network or the like is made.

In addition, the image transmission device 1 controls the output unit 18 to display a screen for setting to transmit image data to the outside together with live view images corresponding to a plurality of image data sequentially output by the imaging unit 16. An image determination unit configured to transmit image data to the outside when an operation to transmit image data to the outside is performed while the output control unit 57 and the output unit 18 are displaying the screen And 55.
In addition, when the image determination unit 55 is further set to transmit the image data to the outside, the image determination unit 55 performs control so as to associate the information indicating that the image data is to be transmitted to the outside.
As a result, in the image transmission device 1, the user can set the image sharing while checking the live view image, and only desired image data can be set as the image sharing target.

Further, when the image transmission device 1 receives an instruction to transmit to the outside by the input unit 17, the image transmission device 1 holds the image data output by the imaging unit 16 after receiving the notification to transmit, to the outside. The system further includes an operation detection unit 52 that detects an instruction to transmit image data associated with information to be transmitted to the outside.
When the operation detection unit 52 detects an instruction to transmit, the communication unit 20 transmits the image data held by the image storage unit 72.
Thereby, in the image transmission device 1, the image data held by the image storage unit 72 can be transmitted. For example, when the image data can be transmitted collectively, or when connection with a network or the like is performed, the image can be transmitted. Data can be transmitted, and image data can be transmitted later.

The operation detection unit 52 is output by the imaging unit 16 based on an operation on an operation member (shared shutter button 17b) different from the operation member (shutter button 17a) for imaging instruction provided in the present image transmission apparatus. It receives that image data is to be transmitted to the outside.
As a result, in the image transmitting apparatus 1, the risk of image sharing due to an erroneous operation can be reduced because the image sharing is instructed by the operation member different from the operation member for normal imaging.

The output control unit 57 controls the output unit 18 to display live view images corresponding to the plurality of image data sequentially output by the imaging unit 16.
While the live view image is displayed on the output unit 18 under the control of the output control unit 57, the operation detection unit 52 externally outputs the image data output from the imaging unit 16 based on the operation on the shared shutter button 17b. Accept to send.
As a result, in the image transmitting apparatus 1, the setting of image sharing can be performed while confirming the live view image, and only desired image data can be set as the image sharing target.

The image transmission device 1 also includes an image evaluation unit 54 that evaluates the image data output by the imaging unit 16.
The image determination unit 55 determines whether the evaluation by the image evaluation unit 54 is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold.
The communication unit 20 transmits image data whose evaluation has been determined by the image determination unit 55 to be equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value to the outside.
As a result, in the image transmitting apparatus 1, only the image data of the predetermined level or more provided in advance is the target of sharing, so that the user can share only the high quality image.

The image evaluation unit 54 evaluates at least one of the brightness of the image data, the in-focus state, and the facial expression recognition.
As a result, in the image transmitting apparatus 1, the user can share only the image of higher quality.

The communication unit 20 includes at least an external network as a transmission destination of the image data.
As a result, in the image transmitting apparatus 1, an image can be shared by an external network such as SNS (Social Networking Service) via a server or the like.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications, improvements, and the like in the range in which the object of the present invention can be achieved are included in the present invention.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation detection unit 52 can be configured to receive the non-sharing instruction via the input unit 17 or the like. At this time, the image determination unit 55 stores information indicating non-sharing in the image. The storage control unit 53 can be configured to further store an image that has become a non-shared target in the image storage unit 72 based on the non-shared information.
Specifically, the operation detection unit 52 detects an operation input indicating that the image data output by the imaging unit 16 is not transmitted to the outside.
The image storage unit 72 stores image data.
On the other hand, when the operation detection unit 52 accepts that the image data is not to be transmitted to the outside, the storage control unit 53 does not associate the information to be transmitted to the outside together with the image data output by the imaging unit 16. Control.
The image storage unit 72 stores image data when the image determination unit 55 performs control corresponding to the operation detection unit 52.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the images which are targets of image sharing are collectively transmitted, but, for example, a predetermined number of sheets may be sequentially transmitted.
Specifically, the input unit 17 receives an instruction to transmit a plurality of pieces of image data output from the imaging unit 16 to the outside by a predetermined number.
The storage control unit 53 controls to associate information indicating that a plurality of pieces of image data are to be transmitted to the outside by a predetermined number of sheets, when the input unit 17 accepts that the predetermined number of sheets be transmitted to the outside.
The communication unit 20 externally transmits a plurality of image data associated with the information indicating that the storage control unit 53 externally transmits a predetermined number of sheets.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the information for determining whether or not the image sharing is to be performed is stored in the image, but, for example, the storage unit 19 is configured to manage information in a table or the like. May be

Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, although the image transmission apparatus 1 to which this invention is applied was demonstrated as an example of the digital camera, it is not specifically limited to this.
For example, the present invention can be applied to electronic devices in general having an image sharing processing function. Specifically, for example, the present invention is applicable to a laptop personal computer, a printer, a television receiver, a video camera, a portable navigation device, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a portable game machine, and the like.

The series of processes described above can be performed by hardware or software.
In other words, the functional configuration of FIG. 3 is merely an example and is not particularly limited. That is, it is sufficient if the image transmitting apparatus 1 is equipped with a function capable of executing the above-described series of processes as a whole, and what functional block is used to realize this function is not particularly limited to the example of FIG. .
Further, one functional block may be configured by hardware alone, may be configured by software alone, or may be configured by a combination of them.

When the series of processes are executed by software, a program that configures the software is installed on a computer or the like from a network or a recording medium.
The computer may be a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware. The computer may be a computer capable of executing various functions by installing various programs, for example, a general-purpose personal computer.

  The recording medium including such a program is not only configured by the removable medium 31 of FIG. 1 distributed separately from the apparatus main body to provide the program to the user, but also the user in a state incorporated in advance in the apparatus main body The recording medium etc. provided to The removable medium 31 is made of, for example, a magnetic disk (including a floppy disk), an optical disk, or a magneto-optical disk. The optical disc is composed of, for example, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), a Blu-ray (registered trademark) Disc (Blu-ray Disc), or the like. The magneto-optical disk is configured by an MD (Mini-Disk) or the like. The recording medium provided to the user in a state of being incorporated in the apparatus main body is, for example, the ROM 12 of FIG. 1 in which the program is recorded, the hard disk included in the storage unit 19 of FIG.

  In the present specification, in the step of describing the program to be recorded on the recording medium, the processing performed chronologically along the order is, of course, parallel or individually not necessarily necessarily chronologically processing. It also includes the processing to be performed.

  While some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are merely illustrative and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. The present invention can take other various embodiments, and furthermore, various changes such as omissions and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and the gist of the invention described in the present specification, etc., and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

The invention described in the claims at the beginning of the application of the present application is appended below.
[Supplementary Note 1]
Imaging means for imaging an object and outputting image data;
First accepting means for accepting that the image data is to be transmitted to the outside before the image data is outputted by the imaging means;
A transmitting unit that transmits image data output by the imaging unit to the outside after the reception of the transmission is received when the transmission to the outside is received by the first reception unit;
An image transmission apparatus comprising:
[Supplementary Note 2]
The first accepting means is accepted to transmit the image data to the outside,
A control unit configured to control information associated with the image data to be transmitted to the outside when the image data output from the imaging unit is stored;
And further
The transmitting unit transmits the image data associated with the information to be transmitted to the outside by the control unit to the outside.
The image transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that:
[Supplementary Note 3]
A display control unit configured to control the display unit to display a screen for setting to transmit the image data to the outside together with live view images corresponding to a plurality of image data sequentially output by the imaging unit;
A setting unit configured to transmit the image data to the outside when an operation to transmit the image data to the outside is performed during display of the screen on the display unit;
And further
The control unit further controls to associate the information indicating that the image data is to be transmitted to the outside when the setting unit is set to transmit the image data to the outside.
The image transmitting apparatus according to appendix 2, characterized in that
[Supplementary Note 4]
A holding unit that holds the image data output by the imaging unit after the reception of the transmission is received when the transmission by the first reception unit is received;
Detection means for detecting an instruction to transmit image data associated with the information to be transmitted to the outside to the outside;
And further
The transmission unit transmits the image data held by the holding unit when the instruction to transmit is detected by the detection unit.
The image transmitting apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 3, characterized in that
[Supplementary Note 5]
The first accepting means transmits image data outputted by the imaging means to the outside based on an operation on an operation member different from the operation member for imaging instruction provided in the present image transmission apparatus. Accept
The image transmitting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that:
[Supplementary Note 6]
The apparatus further comprises display control means for controlling to display live view images corresponding to the plurality of image data sequentially output by the imaging means on the display means.
The first accepting means, while the live view image is displayed on the display means under the control of the display control means, the image data outputted by the imaging means based on the operation on the operation member Accept sending to outside,
The image transmitting apparatus according to supplementary note 5, characterized in that
[Supplementary Note 7]
Evaluation means for evaluating image data output by the imaging means;
A determination unit that determines whether the evaluation value by the evaluation unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value;
And further
The transmission unit transmits image data whose evaluation value is determined to be equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value by the determination unit to the outside.
The image transmitting apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 6, characterized in that
[Supplementary Note 8]
The evaluation unit evaluates at least any one of brightness of the image data, focusing condition, and facial expression recognition.
The image processing apparatus according to appendix 7, characterized in that
[Supplementary Note 9]
The transmission means includes at least an external network at a transmission destination of the image data.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 8, characterized in that
[Supplementary Note 10]
Second accepting means for accepting that the image data output by the imaging means is not to be transmitted to the outside;
And storage means for storing the image data.
The control means, on the other hand, associates the information indicating that the image data is to be transmitted with the image data output by the image pickup means when the second reception means accepts that the image data is not to be transmitted to the outside. Control not to be
The storage unit stores the image data when the control unit performs control corresponding to the second reception unit.
The image transmitting apparatus according to Additional remark 2 or 3, characterized in that.
[Supplementary Note 11]
Third reception means for receiving an instruction to transmit a plurality of pieces of image data output by the imaging means to a predetermined number each;
And further
The control means is configured to associate information indicating that the plurality of image data are to be transmitted to the outside by the predetermined number when the third reception means receives an instruction to transmit the predetermined number of sheets to the outside. Control
The transmission means transmits the plurality of image data to the outside, the information associated with the information that the predetermined number of sheets are to be transmitted to the outside by the control means.
The image transmitting apparatus according to Additional remark 2 or 3, characterized in that.
[Supplementary Note 12]
An image transmission method implemented by an image transmission apparatus comprising an imaging means and a transmission means, comprising:
An imaging step of imaging an object and outputting image data from the imaging means;
An accepting step of accepting that the image data is to be transmitted to the outside before the image data is output by the imaging unit;
A transmitting step of transmitting image data output by the imaging unit from the transmitting unit to the outside after the reception of the transmission is received when the transmission to the outside is received in the reception step;
An image transmission method comprising:
[Supplementary Note 13]
A computer for controlling the image transmission device;
Imaging means for imaging a subject and outputting image data;
A receiving unit that receives an instruction to transmit to the outside before the image data is output by the imaging unit;
A transmitter configured to transmit image data output by the imaging unit to the outside after the reception of the transmission is received when the transmission is received by the reception unit;
A program characterized by acting as

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image transmission apparatus, 11 ... CPU, 12 ... ROM, 13 ... RAM, 14 ... Bus, 15 ... Input-output interface, 16 ... Imaging part, 17 ... An input unit 18, an output unit 19, a recording unit 20, a communication unit 20, a drive 31, a removable media, 51, a shared information setting unit, 52 Operation detection unit, 53: storage control unit, 54: image evaluation unit, 55: image determination unit, 56: transmission control unit, 57: output control unit, 71: shared information Storage unit, 72 ... image storage unit

Claims (9)

Imaging means for imaging an object and outputting image data;
Evaluation means for evaluating image data output by the imaging means;
A determination unit that determines whether the evaluation value by the evaluation unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value;
First accepting means for accepting that the image data is to be transmitted to the outside before the image data is outputted by the imaging means;
When the first accepting means accepts the transmission to the outside, the image data for which the evaluation value is judged to be equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold is transmitted to the outside after the acceptance of the transmission. Means,
A releasing unit that cancels transmission to the outside accepted by the accepting unit each time the image data is transmitted by the transmitting unit;
An image transmission apparatus comprising: The first accepting means is accepted to transmit the image data to the outside,
A control unit configured to control information associated with the image data to be transmitted to the outside when the image data output from the imaging unit is stored;
And further
The transmitting unit transmits the image data associated with the information to be transmitted to the outside by the control unit to the outside.
The image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, The first accepting means transmits image data outputted by the imaging means to the outside based on an operation on an operation member different from the operation member for imaging instruction provided in the present image transmission apparatus. Accept
The image transmission apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The apparatus further comprises display control means for controlling to display live view images corresponding to the plurality of image data sequentially output by the imaging means on the display means.
The first accepting means is configured to, while the live view image is displayed on the display means by the control of the display control means, based on an operation on an operation member different from the operation member for the imaging instruction. Accepting that the image data output by the imaging unit is to be transmitted to the outside,
The image transmitting apparatus according to claim 3 , characterized in that: The evaluation unit evaluates at least any one of brightness of the image data, focusing condition, and facial expression recognition.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that: The transmission means includes at least an external network at a transmission destination of the image data.
The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that: Second accepting means for accepting that the image data output by the imaging means is not to be transmitted to the outside;
And storage means for storing the image data.
The control means, on the other hand, associates the information indicating that the image data is to be transmitted with the image data output by the image pickup means when the second reception means accepts that the image data is not to be transmitted to the outside. Control not to be
The storage unit stores the image data when the control unit performs control corresponding to the second reception unit.
The image transmitting apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that: An image transmission method implemented by an image transmission apparatus comprising an imaging means and a transmission means, comprising:
An imaging step of imaging an object and outputting image data from the imaging means;
Evaluating the image data output by the imaging means;
A determination step of determining whether the evaluation value obtained by the evaluation step is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value;
An accepting step of accepting that the image data is to be transmitted to the outside before the image data is output by the imaging unit;
When transmission to the outside is received in the reception step, the image data whose evaluation value is determined to be equal to or more than a predetermined threshold in the determination step is transmitted from the transmission unit to the outside after reception of the transmission. A sending step,
Each time the said image data Ri by said transmitting step is transmitted, a release step of releasing the intent to transmit to an external accepted by the accepting step,
An image transmission method comprising: A computer for controlling the image transmission device;
Evaluation means for evaluating the image data output by the imaging means;
Judgment means for judging whether the evaluation value by the evaluation means is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value;
A receiving unit that receives an instruction to transmit to the outside before the image data is output by the imaging unit;
When it is accepted by the acceptance unit that transmission is to be transmitted to the outside, the transmission unit causes the transmission unit to transmit the image data of which the evaluation value is determined to be equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold. Control means,
A releasing unit that cancels transmission to the outside accepted by the receiving unit every time the image data is transmitted by the transmission control unit.
A program characterized by acting as

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