JPH09163203A - Electronic camera system with transmitting function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To restrict communication charge by detecting originating position information from map information through the use of a global positioning system(GPS) and selecting a nearest distance personal computer communication access point. SOLUTION: An electronic camera 1 and an automatic access point detecting device (AP detecting device) 2 are respectively independent bodies and separated from a connection cable 4 at the time of photographing and a still picture is photographed only by an electronic camera 1. The electronic camera 1 gives an instruction for detecting a nearest personal computer communication access point to the AP detecting device 2. In the AP detecting device 2, a detecting part 13 receives plural kinds of satellite radio wave from a satellite antenna 16 and detects a present position through the user of GPS based on a received signal and map information of a compact disk 14. Then, the nearest personal computer communication access point which originates a call is specified and its information is transmitted to the electronic camera 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic camera system with a transmission function capable of transmitting an image via a telephone line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been an increasing number of methods of use for transmitting image data taken by an electronic camera using a telephone line or the like, taking advantage of immediacy. For that purpose, a modem for modulating the image data into a signal suitable for a telephone line and a transmitter are required.

For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 167965/1993 discloses an image pickup apparatus equipped with a modem function and a telephone function. The photographed image is used on the spot by using a telephone line or the like.
An image pickup device with a transmission function is disclosed that enables an image to be transmitted to a recording device that is arranged apart.

[0004]

However, according to the image pickup apparatus with a transmission function disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-167965, an image signal is sent to a wireless station, and the recording apparatus is sent from the wireless station via a telephone line. Or from a wireless station via a database of a personal computer communication network to a recording device.

Considering the communication charge in such a device, when the telephone line is used, it depends on the transmission distance. That is, the longer the transmission distance, the higher the communication charge. Also, when using personal computer communication, the communication fee increases as the distance between the personal computer communication access points increases. Therefore, in order to suppress the need for communication, it is necessary to transmit from the access point closest to the place of origin. Therefore, the sender must know the nearest access point in advance.

Therefore, the present invention provides an electronic camera system with a transmission function for automatically selecting and transmitting the nearest access point when transmitting an image signal such as a photographed still image using a network such as personal computer communication. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in an electronic camera system with a transmission function capable of transmitting a photographed image signal, the photographed image is wirelessly or cabled by a wireless line or a telephone line. An electronic camera that generates an image signal that can be transmitted via a digital camera and transmits the image signal to a desired location, and a global positioning system (GP
S) is used to detect the transmission position information from the map information, and the transmission position detection means has personal computer communication access point information associated with the map information in advance, and transmission is performed from the current position detected by the transmission position detection means. The position information is generated, the closest personal computer communication access point is selected based on the originating position information and the personal computer communication access point information, and the image is displayed from the electronic camera to a desired location via the closest personal computer communication access point. An electronic camera system with a transmission function for transmitting a signal is provided.

Further, in the electronic camera system with a transmission function, the transmission position detecting means is separate from the electronic camera and is connected when transmitting an image. In such a configuration, the transmission position is detected by the transmission position detecting means, and the nearest personal computer communication access point is automatically detected from the transmission position information and the predetermined personal computer communication access point information, and the photographed image is the closest. It is possible to send from the personal computer communication access point.

Further, by making the transmitting position detecting means separate from the electronic camera with the transmitting function, the electronic camera can be downsized, and the existing navigation system can be used as it is.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A shows an external view of an embodiment of an electronic camera system with a transmission function of the present invention, and will be described.

This system is composed of an electronic camera 1 having a transmission function and an access point automatic detection device 2 (hereinafter abbreviated as AP detection device) for detecting a transmission position, which is connected by a connection cable 4 to a radio station. It is possible to connect to a general telephone line, a line for personal computer communication, etc. through 3.

The electronic camera 1 has a wireless antenna 5 on the upper surface for transmitting an image between the electronic camera 1 and the wireless station 3.
A main power switch 6, a photometric switch 7, a liquid crystal monitor 8 for displaying personal computer communication access point automatic search, operating states of various switches, captured images, etc., an image transmission switch 9, and a transmission mode switch 10. A connection terminal 11 for communicating with the AP detection device 2 is provided on the side surface. The image transmission switch 9 is pressed (turned on) when image transmission is desired,
The transmission mode switch 10 is a changeover switch for selecting automatic or manual.

The AP detecting device 2 is for detecting the origination position from the current position. For example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) is applied to the AP detecting device 2 for automatic detection of a personal computer communication access point in an in-vehicle car navigation system. It is a function added. This AP
The detection device 2 includes a liquid crystal screen 12 for displaying a map and the like,
A detection unit 13 that detects the current position by PS and associates it with a personal computer communication access point installed in advance;
A compact disc 14 storing map information, personal computer communication access point information, and software for automatically detecting the nearest personal computer communication access point. The detecting unit 13 is connected to communicate with the electronic camera 1. A terminal 15 is provided. In addition, the detection unit 13
Is provided with a satellite antenna 16 for receiving radio waves from a plurality of satellites.

Further, the electronic camera 1 and the AP detection device are separate bodies, separated from the connection cable 4 at the time of photographing, and after photographing a still image only by the electronic camera 1 as shown in FIG. 1B, It is possible to send captured images.

Next, FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the electronic camera system with the above-mentioned transmission function, which will be described. The electronic camera 1 includes a photographing optical system 21a including a photographing lens and an image pickup device such as a CCD, and an image signal generation circuit 2 for generating an image signal.
An image pickup circuit 21 composed of 1b, and the image pickup circuit 21
Image memory 2 for temporarily storing the image signal generated in
2, a modulation circuit 23 that reads an image signal from the image memory 22 at the start of image transmission, and modulates the image signal into a transmission signal suitable for a connected telephone line; and the modulation circuit 2.
A telephone circuit 24 for transmitting a transmission signal modulated by 3 to a telephone line, and a liquid crystal monitor 8 for displaying a "memory FULL" or the like when a photographed image, an operating condition of the camera and the image memory 22 are full. The circuit 25 and the CPU 2 which controls these components and the overall operation of the electronic camera 1.
6 and an operation switch group 27 including the main power switch 6, the photometric switch 7, the image transmission switch 9, and the transmission mode switch 10 described above. The modulation circuit 23 functions as a modem, and in this embodiment, a RISC microcomputer is used. further,
In the telephone circuit 24, from the electronic camera 1 to the wireless station 3
Although the wireless antenna 5 for image transmission is provided in the above, a connection terminal 28 such as a modular jack for directly connecting to the line with a cable may be provided.

The AP detection device 2 has a receiving circuit 31 for receiving a plurality of satellite radio waves from the satellite antenna 16.
And a transmission position detection circuit 32 that detects the current position based on the received signal and the map information on the compact disc 14 and identifies the nearest personal computer communication access point for transmission, and records the map information and personal computer communication access point information. The reproducing circuit 33 for reproducing the compact disc 14 and the like, a display circuit 34 for displaying map information, and a CPU 35 for controlling the operation of these components and the overall operation of the AP detection apparatus 2. This AP detection device 2
Can be realized with the same configuration as a car navigation system that is generally mounted on a vehicle, that is, it can be used by simply recording the personal computer communication access point information and software for searching it on a compact disc.
It can also be used as a single electronic camera.

Next, the photographing operation of the electronic camera 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when the operator turns on the main power switch 6, the CPU 2
6 detects that the main power supply is turned on, and enters a shooting standby state (step S1). Then, it is detected whether or not the photometric switch 7 is turned on (step S2), and if it is turned on (YES), image pickup is performed by the image pickup circuit 21 (step S3), and the picked-up subject image is imaged as an image signal. It is stored in the memory (step S4).

Next, the operation of transmitting the image signal photographed by the electronic camera 1 as described above will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the AP detection device 2 uses a car navigation system.

First, it is detected whether or not the image transmission switch 9 provided on the electronic camera 1 is turned on (step S1).
1) If it is turned on (YES), it is detected whether the transmission mode switch 10 is set to automatic or manual (step S12). If the image transmission switch is not turned on (NO), the standby state is maintained until it is turned on.

Next, in step S12, when the transmission mode switch 10 is automatically set, the electronic camera 1 issues a command for detecting the nearest PC communication access point to the AP detection device 2, and the transmission position of the AP detection device 2 is sent. The detection circuit 32 receives a plurality of satellite information from the reception circuit 31, and further detects the current position which is the transmission position based on the map information reproduced from the compact disc 14 by the reproduction circuit 33 (step S13).

Further, the present position is collated with the personal computer communication access point information of the compact disc 14 to find the closest personal computer communication access point, and the information is sent to the electronic camera 1 (step S1).
4).

On the other hand, when the transmission mode switch 10 is set to manual in step 12, the operation switch group 27 in the electronic camera 1 is operated to specify the transmission destination of the image signal (step S15).

Next, the electronic camera 1 is connected to the desired destination via the telephone circuit 24 via the nearest personal computer communication access point determined in the automatic mode or manually designated personal computer communication access point. (Step S16).

When the line connection to the destination is completed, the image signal is read from the image memory 22, converted into a signal suitable for the telephone line in the modulation circuit 23, and the image signal is sequentially transmitted from the telephone circuit 24. (Step S
17). When all the image signals are transmitted to the transmission destination, the series of sequences ends.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the transmission position can be detected automatically or manually by the AP detection device 2, and the transmission position information and the personal computer communication access point information stored in advance can be used for the personal computer communication closest to the personal computer communication. The access point can be detected automatically.

According to the present embodiment described above, the origination position can be detected, and the nearest personal computer communication access point is automatically detected from the origination position and the personal computer communication access point information stored in advance. As a result, the captured image can be transmitted from the nearest personal computer communication access point, and the transmission fee for image transmission can be suppressed.

In addition, the electronic camera and the A
By separately providing the P detection device, a general car navigation system is used as the AP detection device. As a result, it is not necessary to add a new function to the electronic camera side, a large increase in cost is suppressed, and the electronic camera does not become large.

[0028]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the nearest access point is automatically selected when transmitting an image signal such as a photographed still image using a network such as personal computer communication. An electronic camera system with a transmission function for transmitting can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external appearance of an embodiment of an electronic camera system with a transmission function according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electronic camera system with a transmission function shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a shooting operation of an electronic camera.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of transmitting an image signal captured by an electronic camera.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Electronic camera, 2 ... Access point automatic detection device (AP detection device), 3 ... Wireless station, 4 ... Connection cable, 5
... wireless antenna, 6 ... main power switch, 7 ... photometric switch, 8 ... liquid crystal monitor, 9 ... image transmission switch, 10 ... transmission mode switch, 11, 15 ... connection terminal, 12 ... liquid crystal screen, 13 ... detection unit, 14 … Compact disc, 16
... satellite antenna.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location // G03B 19/02 G03B 19/02

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In an electronic camera system with a transmission function capable of transmitting a captured image signal, the captured image is generated into an image signal that can be transmitted via a wireless line or a telephone line by either wireless or cable, An electronic camera for transmitting to a desired location and a transmission position detecting means for detecting transmission position information from map information using a global positioning system (GPS) and having personal computer communication access point information previously associated with the map information are provided. , Generating the transmission position information from the current position detected by the transmission position detecting means, selecting the closest personal computer communication access point based on the transmission position information and the personal computer communication access point information, and selecting the maximum from the electronic camera. The above-mentioned image communication is sent to the desired location via the personal computer communication access point in the shortest distance. Transmission function with an electronic camera system, characterized by sending a. 2. The electronic camera system with a transmission function according to claim 1, wherein the transmission position detecting means is separate from the electronic camera and is connected when transmitting an image.