JPH11177869A - Image pickup communication equipment and image-picked up image communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image pickup communication equipment and an image- picked up image communication method capable of adding a more concrete image pickup spot without accompanying the enlargement of a system. SOLUTION: When an image pickup operation is performed, an object image is fetched from a camera part and recorded (step SA2). Successively, when the telephone number of a provider is automatically dialed and called (step SA3), a public base station closest to the terminal performs a relay processing and outgoing signals on which the base station ID of the public base station is superimposed are transmitted from the public base station to the terminal. After the base station ID is obtained (step SA4), corresponding location data are retrieved by using the base station ID (step SA5). When the location data corresponding to the base station ID are retrieved, the location data are added to object image data (step SA6) and the object image data to which the location data are added are transmitted by an electronic mail form (step SA7).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image capturing communication apparatus and a captured image communication method capable of obtaining a subject image to which data indicating a captured position is added.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A still video camera system disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-347977 is known as a system capable of recording and reproducing an imaging position. This still video camera system, when imaging,
The latitude and longitude received and measured by the GPS receiver are recorded on a recording medium together with the image of the subject, and the latitude and longitude are displayed together with the image of the subject during reproduction.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional system, since the GPS, which is a satellite positioning system using an artificial satellite, is used, the size of the apparatus is increased. Further, since the latitude and longitude consisting of numerical values are recorded and reproduced, it is not possible to specifically recognize the imaging point even by looking at the numerical values displayed by the reproduction.

The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and an imaging communication apparatus and an imaging communication system capable of adding more specific imaging points without increasing the size of the system. It is intended to provide a method.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging communication apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, in which communication with one of a plurality of base stations connected to a communication line is performed. Position-related data obtaining means for obtaining position-related data related to the position of the base station; subject image data generating means for imaging a subject to generate image data thereof; and the image generated by the subject image data generating means And transmitting means for transmitting the data and the position-related data obtained by the position-related data obtaining means via the base station. Therefore, the position-related data transmitted together with the image data of the subject by the transmission means can indicate a specific imaging position in relation to the position of the base station, and the data indicating the specific position is
It can be added to the captured image data.

[0006] In the imaging communication device according to the second aspect, the location-related data is ID data unique to each of the base stations located in various places. Therefore, based on the ID data transmitted by the transmitting means, for example, the provider can add the location of the corresponding base station to the image data of the imaged subject.

Further, in the imaging communication device according to the third aspect, the location-related data is location data indicating locations of the base stations located in various places. Therefore, by performing imaging around the base station, it is possible to add almost accurate position data of the imaging point to the image data of the subject.

[0008] The imaging communication device according to claim 4 further includes a storage unit for storing the image data to which the location data is added. Therefore, in the case of the imaging communication device, the subject image data to which the imaging position data is added is secured by the imaging communication device without downloading the subject image data to which the imaging position data is added from the provider. .

In the imaging communication device according to the present invention, the transmitting means transmits a plurality of image data taken by the subject image data generating means at a time.
Thereby, the cost required for transmission is reduced.

On the other hand, according to the imaging communication method of the present invention, there is provided an imaging communication device for transmitting a captured image via a base station connected to a network, and an imaging communication device connected to the network for transmitting a captured image. An imaging communication method for a system having a storage device for receiving and storing captured images, the imaging communication device obtaining position information based on position-related data transmitted from a base station, and obtaining captured image data. To the storage device via the base station, and the storage device stores the image data added with the position information sent from the imaging communication device. Therefore, by downloading the captured image data and the position-related data stored in the storage device, it is possible to obtain the image data of the subject whose imaging location is clearly clear by the position-related data.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging communication method for transmitting a captured image via a base station connected to a network, and an imaging communication device connected to the network for transmitting a captured image. An imaging communication method for a system having a storage device for receiving and storing a captured image, wherein the imaging communication device obtains position-related data transmitted from a base station, and stores the position-related data in the captured image data. Is transmitted to the storage device via the base station, the storage device searches for position information based on the position-related data sent from the imaging communication device,
The transmitted image data is stored together with the searched position information. That is, the provider provided with the storage device searches for the position information based on the transmitted position-related data, and stores the searched position information and the transmitted image data. It is not necessary for the side to store the position information corresponding to the position-related data.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, PHS
(Personal handy-phone system), but is not limited to this.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, a network composed of a public telephone network (digital line network, analog line network, dedicated line network, etc.) 1 is connected to a provider 2 and base stations (public base station 3 and private base station 4). The provider 2 has facilities such as computers required for data transmission and reception and has a database 2A. The public base station 3 is a PHS base station and is located in various places. Are located.

The terminal 5 is used for the PHS and is connected to the public base station 3.
Any one of the base station 4 and the private base station 4 can communicate with the provider 2 and other communication terminals via the network 1 and can be connected to a PC (personal computer) 6. Has an imaging function similar to that of a so-called digital camera.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the terminal 5. The antenna 7 is connected to a receiving unit 9, a transmitting unit 10, and a control unit 11 via an antenna switch 8. The receiving unit 9 receives a signal input from the antenna 7 via the antenna switch 8 for distributing transmission / reception, and performs frequency conversion by a three-stage mixer.
The frequency is converted from the 1.9 GHz band to an IF signal in the vicinity of 250 MHz (1st IF), 10 MHz (2nd IF), and 1 MHz. The transmission unit 10 converts the frequency of the π / 4-shifted QPSK modulated wave input from the modulation / demodulation unit 12 from around 10 MHz to around 250 MHz and further into a 1.9 GHz band using a two-stage mixer, and from the antenna 7 via the antenna switch 8. Radiate. The synthesizer 13 outputs a local oscillation signal for frequency conversion in the receiving unit 9 and the transmitting unit 10.

The modulation / demodulation unit 12 performs a π / 4 shift QPSK modulation / demodulation process. On the receiving side, the IF signal from the receiving unit 9 is demodulated and separated into IQ data, which is transferred to the TDMA processing unit 14 as a data string. On the transmitting side, TDM
IQ data is created from the data transferred from the A processing unit 14 and modulated by π / 4 shift QPSK to transmit data.
Output to 0.

The TDMA processing unit 14 performs frame synchronization and slot data format processing. On the receiving side, data for one slot is extracted at a predetermined timing from the received data sent from the modulation / demodulation unit 12, a unique word (synchronization signal) is extracted from this data, frame synchronization is achieved, and control data is transmitted. After the descrambling of the audio data section and the audio data section, the control data is sent to the control section 11 and the audio data is sent to the speech codec section 15.
Transfer to On the transmitting side, the speech codec unit 15
Control data, etc. are added to the voice data transferred from the device, scrambled, etc., and then a unique word is added to create transmission data for one slot. The signal is inserted and transmitted to the modem unit 12.

The speech codec 15 performs compression / expansion processing of digital data. On the receiving side, TDMA
The ADPCM audio signal (4b
it × 8 KHz = 32 Kbps) to PCM audio signal (8
The data is decompressed by compounding to (bit × 8 KHz = 64 Kbps) and output to the audio circuit unit 16. On the sending side,
The PCM audio signal sent from the audio circuit unit 16 is
TDM compressed by encoding to PCM audio signal
A is output to the A processing unit 14.

The audio circuit section 16 performs an analog / digital conversion process. On the receiving side, the speech codec unit 1
The D / A converter 5 converts the PCM audio signal sent from the D / A 5 into an analog audio signal and drives the speaker 17. On the transmission side, the analog audio signal input from the microphone 18 is A / D converted at a predetermined clock timing, and the transmission gain is adjusted based on the control signal from the control unit 11,
The PCM audio signal is output to the audio circuit unit 16. further,
The audio circuit section 16 outputs a ringer signal, which is reproduced by a ringer speaker 19.

The control unit 11 includes a key input unit 20,
The RAM 21, the storage device 22, the liquid crystal display unit 23, and the camera unit 24 are connected. The camera unit 24 has a configuration similar to that of a so-called digital camera, and includes a lens system, an imaging circuit unit including a CCD and the like disposed behind the lens system, a signal processing unit, and the like. The key input unit 20 is provided with not only numeric keys and the like normally arranged in the PHS terminal but also keys usually arranged in a so-called digital camera such as a shutter key. The control unit 11 operates based on the program stored in the storage device 22 while using the RAM 21 as a work area, and controls each unit.

The storage device 22 has a storage medium 22a. The storage medium 22a stores base station location data shown in FIG. 3 together with the program.
The base station location data is stored corresponding to the base station ID unique to the public base station 3 included in the downlink signal CS transmitted from each public base station 3 to the terminal 5 and each base station ID. And the location information of the public base station 3. Therefore, by obtaining the base station ID, it is possible to search for the location in the base station location data. In FIG. 3, the locations correspond to the base station IDs on a one-to-one basis, but the locations may correspond to a plurality of base station IDs. The location data may be a building name, a station name, a district name, or the like instead of the address.
Further, the base station ID may be an area number. Further, the location data may be directly transmitted from the base station.

The RAM 21 is used not only for work, but also as a memory for subject image data picked up by the camera unit 24. Also, as shown in FIG.
The liquid crystal display unit 23, together with the key input unit 20,
The lens system of the camera section 24 is arranged on the back side (not shown). Then, in the imaging mode, the subject image formed by this lens system is configured to be displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 23 disposed on the front side.

In the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the user operates the predetermined key provided on the key input unit 20 at the time when the user carries out the terminal 5 and goes out to take an image, and sets the imaging mode. Set. Then, the control unit 11 operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 based on the program, and determines whether or not an imaging operation has been performed, that is, whether or not a shutter key has been operated (step SA).
1). Then, the apparatus waits until an imaging operation is performed. If the operation is performed, the subject image formed on the CCD by the lens system is fetched from the camera unit 24 at this time, and RA operation is performed.
Recording is performed in a predetermined area of M21 (step SA2).

Next, the telephone number of the provider 2 registered in the RAM 21 is automatically dialed and a call is made (step SA3). Then, the base station ID which is currently receiving the radio wave (connecting the line) is acquired (step SA4), and the location corresponding to the location in the base station location data shown in FIG. The data is searched (step SA5). When the location data corresponding to the base station ID is obtained, apology value data is added to the subject image data recorded in step SA2, and this is stored in a predetermined memory area of the RAM 21 (step S2).
A6). Subsequently, the subject image data to which the location data is added is transmitted in an e-mail format (step SA).
7) The subject image data to which the location data has been added is transmitted to the provider 2 via the public base station 3 and the network 1.

That is, in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, when the shutter key is operated, the calling, the addition of the location data, and the transmission are automatically performed in sequence thereafter, and the subject imaged at that time is automatically transmitted. Is transmitted to the provider 2 together with the location data indicating the imaging point.

It is not always known whether or not a radio wave from the base station can be pulled in at the time of photographing (there is a possibility of being out of the service area). In that case, the location data may be acquired from the base station ID of the radio wave being drawn in at the time when the radio wave is drawn or when the image is transmitted, and transmitted together with the image.

On the other hand, the computer of the provider 2 operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG.
A predetermined receiving process is executed to fetch data (step SB1). Subsequently, it is determined whether the received data is mail data or control data (step SB2). If the captured data is mail data, it is determined whether or not the mail data is image data of a captured subject (step SB3). This determination may be performed based on the data format of the received data, or may be performed by adding a predetermined identifier at the time of the transmission processing in step SA7 described above and transmitting the data. If the result of this determination is that the image data is a captured subject image data, it is stored in the image-only area of the user's mailbox preset in the database 2A (step SB).
4).

If the mail data is not subject image data in step SB3, the mail data is stored in the normal area of the user's mailbox set in the database 2A in advance (step SB5).

By the operation of the terminal 5 according to the flow chart of FIG. 4 and the operation of the provider 2 shown in steps SB1 to SB5 in FIG. The image data is stored in the dedicated area of the mailbox of the user every time the imaging operation is performed, and the normally transmitted mail is stored in the normal area of the mailbox.

After the user returns home, the terminal 5 is connected to the PC 6 as shown in FIG. 1 when the subject image data to which the location data of each point taken from the user's mailbox is added is taken in. I do. Here, the PC 6 is connected to the provider 2 via the terminal 5, but the PC 6 connected to the subscriber line by wire may be used to connect to the provider 2. Thereafter, when the telephone number of the provider 2 is input and a call is made, the provider 2 is connected to the provider 2 via the private base station 4 and the network 1 and the user operates the terminal 5 or the PC 6 to request transmission of the subject image data. Is performed, a subject image data transmission request is transmitted to the provider 2. Then, the provider 2 operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 and executes a predetermined receiving process (step SB1).

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the mail data has been received (step SB2). At this time, since the data transmitted from the terminal 5 or the PC 6 is not the mail data, the process shifts to Step SB6 to determine whether or not the received data is the subject image data transmission request.
If the request is a subject image data transmission request, the data in the dedicated image area of the mailbox is transmitted to the terminal 5 or the PC.
6 (step SB7), and if the request is not a transmission request for subject image data but a normal mail transmission request or the like, other mail processing (for example, normal mail transmission or the like) is executed (step SB8). ).

On the other hand, the PC 6 operates in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 based on a program installed in advance, and fetches data transmitted from the provider 2 via the network 1, the self-managed base 4, and the terminal 5, and stores the data in a buffer. (Step SC1). Subsequently, the same processing as in step SB2 described above is performed to determine whether or not the captured data is subject image data (step SC2). As a result of this determination, if the captured data is data other than the subject image data,
Other processing corresponding to the fetched data is executed (step SC4).

If the fetched data is subject image data, album processing is performed, and subject image data to which location data has been added is stored in a memory in a predetermined album format. Therefore, by reading out the subject image data to which the location data stored in the memory is added at any time and displaying it on a monitor, or by printing out, the subject image to which the imaging point is added can be visually recognized.

In this embodiment, the location data is added to the subject image data at step SA6 in the flowchart of FIG. 4 and recorded on the terminal 5 side. Therefore, within the memory capacity range of the terminal 5, the subject image data to which the location data is added is also stored in the terminal 5, and the subject image data to which the location data is added can be stored in the terminal 5 without being downloaded from the database 2A. It is also possible to take out from 5.

Second Embodiment A feature of this embodiment is that an arbitrary number of captured subject image data can be transmitted collectively.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the control unit 11 in the terminal 5 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this flowchart, steps SD1, SD2 and SD4 to SD other than step SD3
7 is performed in step S of the flowchart shown in FIG.
This is the same as the processing of A1, SA2 and SA4 to SA7.
Then, in the only different step SD3, it is determined whether or not the calling operation has been performed by the user, and the processing of steps SD1 to SD3 is repeated until the calling operation is performed. Therefore, every time the shutter key is pressed during this time, a subject image is recorded.

When the user performs an outgoing call operation after taking an arbitrary number of images of the subject, the determination in step SD3 is YES.
In S, the same processes as those in steps SA4 to SA7 described above are performed in steps SD4 to SD7, and an arbitrary number of subject image data to which the location data has been added is transferred to the provider 2 in a lump. That is, in the above-described first embodiment, one image of subject image data is automatically transferred for each image pickup, whereas in the second embodiment, a plurality of images of subject image data are transferred at any time. Thus, the communication cost required for the transfer can be reduced.

Third Embodiment A feature of this embodiment is that the location data is not searched based on the base station ID, the base station ID itself is transmitted, and the location data is searched on the provider side based on the base station ID. To be added to the subject image data.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the control unit 11 in the terminal 5 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In this flowchart, the processing in steps SE1 to SE4 is the same as the processing in steps SA1 to SA4 in the flowchart shown in FIG. In step SE5, the base station ID acquired in step SE4 is transmitted together with the subject image data.

On the other hand, the computer of the provider 2 is shown in FIG.
Has the base station location data shown in FIG. Steps SF1 to SF3, SF7, SF9 to SF11 are the same as SB1 to SB3, SB5, SB6 to SB8 in FIG.

Then, in accordance with the incoming call, it operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, executes a predetermined receiving process, and fetches data (step SF1). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the fetched data is mail data (step SF2). If the result of the determination is that the data is mail data, it is determined whether or not the data is image data of a captured subject (step SF3). If the result of this determination is that the image data is a captured subject image data, the above-described SE5 in FIG.
By using the base station ID transmitted together with the subject image data by the processing in the above, a location search is executed in the same manner as in step SA4 described above, and the base station ID corresponds to the base station ID in the base station location data shown in FIG. The location data is searched (step SF4).

When the location data corresponding to the base station ID is retrieved, the location data is added to the subject image data (step SF5), and thereafter, the user's mailbox set in the database 2A in advance is stored. It is stored in the dedicated area (step SF6).

That is, in the first and second embodiments described above, the base station location data shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the terminal 5 side, and the location data corresponding to the base station ID is stored in the terminal 5 side. Was added, but this third
In the embodiment, the provider 2 has the base station location data shown in FIG. 3, and the provider 2 adds location data corresponding to the base station ID.

Therefore, the amount of data that must be stored in the terminal 5 can be reduced.
The memory capacity required for the above can be reduced. Also,
It is not necessary for each terminal 1 to store the base station location data shown in FIG. 3, for example, only one provider 2 needs to store the data, and the entire system is streamlined and the cost can be reduced. .

In the first to third embodiments, the location data of the public base station is added using the location data of the base station shown in FIG. 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Area data indicating the area to which the public base station belongs is stored in association with the base station ID, and this base station I
Data indicating a certain wider range may be added, such as adding area data corresponding to D. Also,
In the embodiment, only the location data is added to the subject image data. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other data such as date and time data, weather, and temperature data may be added.

[0046]

As described above, the present invention obtains location-related data related to the location of a base station in accordance with communication with any one of a plurality of base stations connected to a communication line. A subject is imaged to generate image data of the subject, and the image data of the subject and the acquired position-related data are transmitted. Therefore, the position-related data transmitted together with the image data of the subject can indicate a specific imaging position in relation to the position of the base station, without requiring a large-scale system using a satellite, and Data indicating a specific position can be added to captured image data.

Also, ID data unique to each base station is transmitted as the position-related data, or the receiving side that has received it transmits location data indicating the location of the base station to the image data based on the ID data. Added to it. Therefore, it is not necessary to store the location data corresponding to the ID data of the base station at each transmitting side, and only the provider responsible for reception stores the location data corresponding to the ID data, so that the implementation is possible. Is possible, so
Implementation at low cost becomes possible.

Further, since location data indicating the locations of the base stations located in various places is transmitted together with the image data of the subject as location-related data,
Using the existing mail transmission system as it is, image data in which the imaging point of the subject is indicated by the location of the base station can be transmitted, saved, and downloaded.

Further, since the imaging communication device is provided with a storage means for storing the image data of the subject to which the location data is added, the subject image data to which the location data has been added is not downloaded from the provider or the like. In both cases, it becomes possible to obtain the subject image data to which the position data of the imaging is added by the imaging communication device.

Further, since a plurality of captured image data are transmitted collectively, the cost required for transmission can be reduced.

The position information is obtained based on the position-related data sent from the base station, the position information is added to the captured image data, and transmitted to the storage device via the base station. Since the stored image data with the added position information is stored in the storage device, the image data stored in the storage device is downloaded and the position-related data is downloaded. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain image data of a subject whose imaging location is clear.

On the provider side having the storage device,
The position information is searched based on the transmitted position-related data, and the searched position information and the transmitted image data are stored. It is not necessary to store the position information to be performed, and the configuration of the imaging communication device can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

[0053]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a terminal according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of base station location data used in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a provider in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the PC in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a terminal according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of a terminal according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a provider in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 network 2 provider 2A database 3 public base station 5 terminal 9 transmitting unit 10 receiving unit 11 control unit 24 camera unit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A position-related data acquisition means for acquiring position-related data relating to the position of a base station in response to communication with one of a plurality of base stations connected to a communication line; Subject image data generating means for generating the image data using the base station, and transmitting the image data generated by the subject image data generating means and the position-related data obtained by the position-related data obtaining means via the base station. An imaging communication device, comprising: a transmitting unit that transmits. 2. The imaging communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position-related data is ID data unique to each of the base stations located in various places. 3. The imaging communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the location-related data is location data indicating locations of the base stations located in various places. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising storage means for storing the image data to which the location data has been added. 5. The imaging communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits a plurality of image data captured by the subject image data generation unit at a time. 6. An imaging communication device that transmits a captured image via a base station connected to a network, and a storage device that is connected to the network and receives and stores the captured image transmitted from the imaging communication device. In the imaging communication method of the system having, the imaging communication device obtains position information based on the position-related data sent from the base station, adds the position information to the captured image data, and And transmitting the image data to the storage device, and the storage device stores the image data added with the position information sent from the imaging communication device. 7. An imaging communication device that transmits a captured image via a base station connected to a network, and a storage device that is connected to the network and receives and stores the captured image transmitted from the imaging communication device. An imaging communication method for a system comprising: the imaging communication device obtains position-related data sent from a base station, adds the position-related data to captured image data, and adds the position-related data to the storage device via the base station. The storage device searches for position information based on the position-related data sent from the imaging communication device, and stores the sent image data together with the searched position information. Imaging communication method.