JP7287146B2 - photography system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a photography system for automatically photographing a subject.

When taking a picture of oneself with a camera, that is, taking a so-called "selfie", one often has the same facial expression or an unnatural facial expression due to the camera being conscious of it. In a studio photography service where a cameraman takes pictures in a studio, the environment such as lighting is well-equipped, and it is possible to rent various costumes, but it is difficult to make a natural expression with the cameraman in mind. rice field. In addition, there were high costs such as personnel expenses and location fees.

With the on-site photography service, where a photographer travels to a location of the customer's choice to shoot, outdoor photography is possible, making it easy to capture natural facial expressions and smiles, such as when the customer is playing. However, the labor and transportation costs were high, and outdoor shooting was easily affected by the weather.

JP-A-2000-250126 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-101847 JP 2016-189518 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographing system capable of photographing a natural expression of a subject at a low cost.

A photographing system of the present invention includes one or more photographing devices that photograph at predetermined time intervals, a management server that receives photographed images from the photographing devices, and a photographed image that is received from the management server and displayed. a display device, wherein the management server causes the photographing device to start photographing processing when receiving a photographing start instruction, terminates photographing processing by the photographing device when a photographing end instruction is received, and after completion of photographing processing, The captured image is transmitted to the display device.

In one aspect of the present invention, a switch for transmitting the imaging start instruction and the imaging end instruction to the management server is further provided.

In one aspect of the present invention, the display device accepts a selection of the captured image being displayed, notifies the management server of the image selection result, and the management server receives the image selection result and selects the selected image. control the printer so that the printed image is printed out.

In one aspect of the present invention, the photographing device detects a subject's face, calculates a degree of smile, and performs photographing when the degree of smile is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

In one aspect of the present invention, the management server controls the photographing device so as to shorten the photographing time interval after a first predetermined period of time has elapsed since the photographing process by the photographing device was started.

In one aspect of the present invention, the management server controls the photographing device to lengthen the photographing time interval when a second predetermined time longer than the first predetermined time elapses from the start of photographing processing by the photographing device. .

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the natural expression of a to-be-photographed object can be image|photographed by suppressing cost.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a photography system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an image list screen; It is a figure which shows the functional structure of a management server. It is a figure which shows the functional structure of a display apparatus. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing photographing processing according to the embodiment; (a) is a diagram showing a start button displayed on a display device, and (b) is a diagram showing an end button.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the photographing system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a photographing device 1, a management server 2, a display device 3, a switch 4, and a printer 5. The camera is installed in a place where the customer G spends a certain period of time without being disturbed, and photographs the customer G. The imaging device 1, the display device 3, the switch 4, and the printer 5 are communicably connected to the management server 2 via a wireless/wired network.

When a customer G who enters a store in which this photographing system is installed is guided to a table T and presses a switch 4, the management server 2 instructs the photographing device 1 to start photographing. The photographing device 1 is, for example, a digital camera, and one or more of them are fixedly installed. It is preferable that a plurality of photographing devices 1 be installed so that the customer G can be photographed from various angles. Moreover, it is preferable that the photographing device 1 is installed in a place where the customer G cannot easily see it.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, a customer G seated at a table T is photographed by three photographing devices 1A, 1B and 1C. Each of the imaging devices 1A to 1C performs imaging at regular time intervals. For example, the imaging devices 1A to 1C each take an image at an interval of 3 minutes. The photographing devices 1A to 1C transfer the photographed images to the management server 2. FIG.

At the beginning when the customer G presses the switch 4 to start photographing, he may be concerned about the position of the photographing device 1 and when the photograph is being taken. When the conversation gets lively, they stop worrying about being filmed. The photographing device 1 can photograph the natural expression of the customer G who is enjoying food and drink and conversation.

When the customer G presses the switch 4 again, the management server 2 instructs the photographing device 1 to end photographing. The management server 2 generates a list screen of images shot by each shooting device 1 during the shooting period (from when the switch 4 is pressed once until when it is pressed again), and transmits it to the display device 3. . The switch 4 may be composed of two switches: a switch (button) for starting shooting and a switch for ending shooting.

The display device 3 displays a photographed image list screen as shown in FIG. When the customer G operates the display device 3 and selects a favorite image from the photographed image list screen, the management server 2 is notified of the selection result. The management server 2 prints out the selected image from the printer 5 . The printed matter is provided to the customer G with charge or free of charge. For example, the customer G is provided with a print of a customer G with a natural smile who is absorbed in conversation and forgets to take a picture.

In the present embodiment, the photographing device 1 installed in advance regularly photographs a predetermined place, and the cost of a photographer or the like is not required. can be done.

Next, the configuration of the management server 2 will be described. The management server 2 receives an instruction to start/end photographing from the switch 4, receives photographed images from the photographing device 1, displays a photographed image list screen on the display device 3, and prints images selected by the customer from the printer 5. It is for output.

As shown in FIG. 3, the management server 2 is a computer comprising a control section 20, a storage section M, and a communication section C. As shown in FIG. The storage unit M is a storage area for storing programs, data, and the like necessary for the control unit 20 to execute various processes, and uses a hard disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like. A communication unit C communicates with the photographing device 1 , the display device 3 , the switch 4 and the printer 5 .

The control unit 20 is a central processing unit (CPU) that controls the entire management server 2 . The control unit 20 implements various functions by reading and executing an operating system (OS) and application programs stored in the storage unit M. FIG.

The control unit 20 has functions of a start instruction receiving unit 21 , a photographing control unit 22 , a photographed image receiving unit 23 , an end instruction receiving unit 24 , an image transmitting unit 25 , a selection result receiving unit 26 and a print control unit 27 .

The start instruction receiving unit 21 receives an instruction to start shooting from the switch 4 via the communication unit C. FIG.

When the start instruction receiving unit 21 receives the instruction to start photographing, the photographing control unit 22 controls the photographing apparatus 1 to start photographing processing. For example, the imaging control unit 22 instructs the imaging device 1 about the imaging time interval. Further, as will be described later, when the termination instruction receiving section 24 receives an instruction to end imaging, the imaging control section 22 controls the imaging apparatus 1 to terminate imaging processing.

The photographed image receiving unit 23 receives the photographed image from the photographing device 1 via the communication unit C. FIG. The received photographed image is stored in the storage unit M with identification information assigned thereto.

The termination instruction receiving section 24 receives an instruction to terminate shooting from the switch 4 via the communication section C. FIG.

The image transmission unit 25 transmits the captured image received from the imaging device 1 to the display device 3 via the communication unit C. FIG. For example, the image transmission unit 25 generates a photographed image list screen and transmits it to the display device 3 .

The selection result receiving unit 26 receives, from the display device 3, an image selection result that the customer has selected as an image desired to be printed out of the images on the photographed image list screen.

The print control unit 27 controls the printer 5 so that the selected image is printed out based on the image selection result.

Next, the configuration of the display device 3 will be described. The display device 3 has a communication section, a display section for displaying information to the customer, an operation section for receiving operations from the customer, and the like. For example, a tablet terminal equipped with a touch panel can be used. As shown in FIG. 4, the display device 3 has functions of an image receiving section 31, a display processing section 32, a selection receiving section 33, and a selection result notification section .

The image receiving unit 31 receives the captured image from the management server 2 .

The display processing unit 32 displays the captured image received from the management server 2 on the touch panel. For example, the photographed image list screen received from the management server 2 is displayed.

The selection acceptance unit 33 accepts a selection of an image desired to be printed out from the customer. For example, the selection reception unit 33 receives image selection from the customer via the touch panel.

The selection result notification unit 34 notifies the management server 2 of the selected image. For example, the selection result notification unit 34 notifies the management server 2 of the identification information of the selected image. The management server 2 can determine which image the customer has selected from the identification information notified from the display device 3 .

Next, photographing processing using this photographing system will be described with reference to the sequence diagram shown in FIG.

When the customer G presses the switch 4 on the table T, the switch 4 instructs the management server 2 to start photographing (step S1). The management server 2 controls the photographing devices 1 (1A to 1C) to start photographing processing (step S2).

The photographing devices 1A to 1C photograph at predetermined time intervals and transmit the photographed images to the management server 2 (steps S3 and S4).

When the customer G presses the switch 4 on the table T again, the switch 4 instructs the management server 2 to finish photographing (step S5). The management server 2 controls the photographing devices 1 (1A to 1C) to end the photographing process (step S6).

The management server 2 transmits the photographed image photographed by the photographing device 1 to the display device 3 (step S7). The display device 3 displays a photographed image list screen (step S8).

The customer G operates the display device 3 and selects a favorite image (step S9). The display device 3 notifies the image selection result to the management server 2 (step S10).

When receiving the image selection result, the management server 2 transfers the data of the selected image to the printer 5 and instructs it to print out. (Step S11). The printer 5 performs print processing (step S12). The printing method of the printer 5 is not particularly limited, and an inkjet method, a sublimation thermal transfer method, a fusion thermal transfer method, or the like can be used.

According to this embodiment, in response to an instruction to start photographing from the customer G, the photographing device 1 automatically photographs the customer G at predetermined time intervals. As time elapses and the customer G becomes absorbed in the conversation, he/she no longer cares about being photographed, and the natural facial expression of the customer G is photographed by the photographing device 1.例文帳に追加

In the above embodiment, an example in which the photographing device 1 takes pictures at predetermined time intervals has been described. For example, the degree of smile is calculated by image processing, and photographing is performed when the degree of smile reaches or exceeds a predetermined value. The degree of smile may be calculated by the imaging device 1, the management server 2, or a separately provided computer. Photographing may be performed at predetermined time intervals, and photographing may be performed when the degree of smile reaches or exceeds a predetermined value.

The plurality of image capturing devices 1 may perform image capturing at the same time, the timing of image capturing may be shifted, and the image capturing time interval of each image capturing device 1 may be different.

At the start of photographing, the customer G may be worried about the photographing and may have a stiff expression. Therefore, until a predetermined time T1 (first predetermined time) elapses after the customer G presses the switch 4 to start photographing, the photographing time interval is lengthened to reduce the number of photographs. When the subject no longer cares about the photographing and becomes absorbed in the conversation, the photographing time interval may be shortened to increase the number of photographs of natural facial expressions.

As the store stay time becomes longer, the number of photographed images increases, and it becomes difficult to confirm all the photographed images on the display device 3 after the photographing process is completed. Therefore, after a predetermined time T2 (second predetermined time, T2>T1) has elapsed from the start of shooting, the time interval between shootings may be lengthened to prevent the total number of shots from becoming excessively large. .

In the above embodiment, an example in which the imaging device 1 captures a still image has been described, but the imaging device 1 may capture a moving image, and the management server 2 may extract the still image from the moving image.

In the above embodiment, an example of instructing the start/end of the photographing process by pressing the switch 4 has been described, but as shown in FIGS. A button B2 may be displayed, and by pressing this button, the start/end of the photographing process may be instructed.

In the above embodiment, an example in which an image that the customer G likes and selects is printed on paper and the printed matter is provided to the customer has been described, but the image data of the image selected by the customer G may be provided. . For example, the customer G is provided with a card describing a URL for downloading image data. The customer G uses his/her smartphone or the like to access the data download website based on the URL written on the card, and downloads the image data.

The photographed images photographed by the photographing device 1 may include an image with a poor facial expression, such as an expressionless person's eyes being closed, or an image that is blurred or out of focus. Also, if the number of captured images is large, it takes time to check the captured images. Therefore, the management server 2 or the display device 3 analyzes the captured images, deletes blurry images or poorly captured images, or deletes images with a high degree of similarity. A photographed image may be displayed. Also, an image with a high degree of smile may be preferentially displayed on the display device 3 as a recommended image.

When the photographing system described above is applied to a plurality of tables in the store, it is preferable to associate the photographing device 1 with the table (the display device 3 and the switch 4 installed on the table). When the customer presses the switch 4 on the table to instruct the start of photographing, the management server 2 causes the corresponding photographing device to start photographing processing. When the customer presses the switch 4 on the table again to instruct the end of photographing, the management server 2 terminates the photographing processing of the corresponding photographing device, transmits the photographed image photographed by the corresponding photographing device to the display device 3, and displays it. Let

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying constituent elements without departing from the scope of the present invention at the implementation stage. Further, various inventions can be formed by appropriate combinations of the plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be omitted from all components shown in the embodiments. Furthermore, components across different embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

1 imaging device 2 management server 3 display device 4 switch 5 printer

Claims (7)

a plurality of imaging devices that perform imaging at predetermined time intervals;
a management server that receives captured images from the plurality of imaging devices;
a display device that receives and displays the captured image from the management server;
with
The management server causes the plurality of photographing devices to start photographing processing when receiving a photographing start instruction, terminates the photographing processing by the plurality of photographing devices when a photographing end instruction is received, and after the photographing processing ends, the photographed image. is transmitted to the display device, and when a first predetermined time elapses from the start of photographing processing by the plurality of photographing devices, the plurality of photographing devices are controlled to shorten the photographing time interval. system. 2. The photographing system according to claim 1, further comprising a switch for transmitting said photographing start instruction and photographing end instruction to said management server. The display device accepts selection of the displayed captured image, notifies the management server of the image selection result,
3. The photographing system according to claim 1, wherein said management server, when notified of said image selection result, controls a printer so that the selected image is printed out. 4. The photographing system according to claim 1, wherein said photographing device detects a subject's face, calculates a degree of smile, and performs photographing when said degree of smile is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. The management server controls the plurality of photographing devices so as to lengthen the photographing time interval when a second predetermined time longer than the first predetermined time elapses from the start of photographing processing by the plurality of photographing devices. 5. The photography system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . 6. The photographing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the management server controls the plurality of photographing devices so that photographing timings are shifted from each other. 6. The photographing system according to claim 1, wherein said management server controls said plurality of photographing devices so that photographing time intervals are different from each other.

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