JPH11183996A - Positional information recording camera apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a positional information recording camera apparatus capable of replacing positional information with map information and displaying it so that the positional information at a spot can be subjectively grasped at the time of picking up a video. SOLUTION: A navigation camera apparatus 1 is constituted of both a navigation function and a camera function. In the case of the navigation function, a control part 4 calculates the latitude and the longitude of a present place from a GPS signal received by a positional information detection part 3, and stores them as the positional information in a storage part 5. The control part 4 searches the name of a map information file corresponding to the positional information from a recording and reproducing part 6 based on the positional information and reads it out in the storage part 5. Then, the map information of the map information file read out is displayed on a display part 7. In the case of the camera function, picked up video information is recorded in the recording and reproducing part 6 corresponding to the positional information, and the video information is displayed on the display part 7 at the time of reproducing the video information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a GPS (Global P
The present invention relates to a moving image or still image photographing device and a navigation device using an ositioning system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A photographing apparatus for photographing an image of an arbitrary point on the ground in association with positional information has been proposed.

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-64169, a GPS built-in camera that receives a GPS signal from an artificial satellite and records position information such as the date and time and the latitude and longitude of the current location in accordance with shooting. There is.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-248726, a GPS-based position image for detecting and recording position information of each photographing point from a GPS signal when photographing images at various points. There is a data collection device. For playback of the video recorded by this device, a map including a shooting point is displayed using a separately provided playback device and a map information storage medium, and the video information storage medium on which the video is recorded is incorporated in the playback device. This is performed by designating a point on the map at which the video is to be reproduced.

[0005] Here, GPS stands for Global Positioning S.
ystem (Global Positioning System) is a system composed of 24 satellites launched, a control station on the ground, and a user's mobile station. By measuring the distance between the mobile station and three or more satellites, the position (latitude / longitude) of the mobile station itself on a plane can be known. If four or more artificial satellites are used, the three-dimensional position (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the mobile station can be measured.

[0006] Recently, a navigation system used in a navigation device mounted on an automobile and used in combination with map information by a CD-ROM has become relatively inexpensive, and the market has been rapidly expanding.

[0007] The two conventional examples both use GPS to record positional information such as latitude and longitude along with video information. further,
In the latter conventional example, video information and map information are displayed by using another device after photographing.

[0008]

However, in the above two conventional examples, even if positional information such as latitude and longitude is known at the time of photographing, there is an inconvenience that the user cannot subjectively know where he is on the map at that time. Occurs. Also, even if it is possible to check the map information corresponding to the shooting location later using another device, there is no real-time property,
The operation becomes complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has as its object to convert position information into map information so that the position information of the point can be subjectively grasped at the time of capturing an image. It is an object of the present invention to provide a position information recording camera device that can be replaced and displayed.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position information recording camera apparatus, comprising:
Photographing means for photographing an image, position information detecting means for detecting position information indicating a position of a photographing point of the image, control means for associating image information corresponding to the image with the position information, and control means Recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing the video information and the position information associated with each other, and display means for displaying the video information to be reproduced; It is characterized in that the recording / reproducing means has a navigation function of reproducing map information indicating a map based on the position information and displaying the reproduced information on the display means.

In the above invention, the position information recording camera device has both a camera function of shooting and recording / reproducing a video and a navigation function of displaying a current position. That is, at the time of the camera function, the control unit associates the image captured by the imaging unit as image information with the position information detected by the position information detection unit.
Further, the associated video information and position information are recorded by the recording / reproducing means, and when reproducing the video information, the video information is reproduced by the recording / reproducing means and displayed on the display means.

On the other hand, at the time of the navigation function, the recording / reproducing means reproduces map information indicating a map of the surrounding area including the current position based on the position information detected by the position information detecting means, and displays it on the display means.

Therefore, the use of the present position information recording camera device provides the convenience that the map information of the point where the image was captured by the camera function can be confirmed by the navigation function. As a result, it is possible to subjectively grasp the position information of the point at the time of shooting the video.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position information recording camera apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the recording / reproducing means includes the video information and the video information. It is characterized in that it is possible to record both map information.

According to the above invention, the recording / reproducing means comprises:
Since both the video information and the map information can be recorded, it is not necessary to provide dedicated recording / reproducing means for each of the video information and the map information. Therefore, in the position information recording camera device, the camera function and the navigation function can be switched very easily.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position information recording camera device for solving the above problems.
In the position information recording camera device described in the above, the control means records the video information having the same position information in correspondence with the map information in the recording / reproducing means in a file format, and a file of the video information Or the corresponding file of the video information can be read from the file of the map information.

According to the above invention, the control means associates the video information having the same position information with the map information, and records each of them in the recording / reproducing means in a file format. Then, the corresponding map information file can be read from the video information file recorded in this way, and vice versa.

Therefore, both the corresponding video information and map information can be easily referred to in a short time.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position information recording camera device for solving the above problems.
In the position information recording camera device according to any of
The position information detecting means detects the position information continuously or intermittently with the movement of the user, and
It is characterized in that the reproducing means can record and reproduce the route that has passed based on the detected position information.

According to the invention, the position information detecting means detects the position information continuously or intermittently with the movement of the user. Then, the recording / reproducing means can record / reproduce the route that has passed when moving based on the position information.

Therefore, the moving route can be easily confirmed later by the recording / reproducing means, which is convenient when going to the same place again or explaining the route.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position information recording camera device for solving the above problems.
In the position information recording camera device according to any of
The recording / reproducing means has a removable recording medium.

According to the above invention, since the recording / reproducing means has a detachable recording medium, another recording medium may be used when the amount of video information or map information to be recorded increases. Information storage becomes easy.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the position information recording camera device of the invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that:
In the position information recording camera device according to any of
It is characterized in that it is possible to store a user-specific program in the recording / reproducing means and to function a user-specific navigation software.

According to the above-mentioned invention, since a user-specific program can be stored in the recording / reproducing means and the user-specific navigation software can function, it is possible to create a map convenient for the user. it can.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the position information recording camera device of the invention according to claim 7 is provided.
In the position information recording camera device according to any of
A program for instructing the control means on an operation procedure is supplied from the recording / reproducing means.

According to the above invention, since the program for instructing the operation procedure to the control means is supplied from the recording / reproducing means, for example, the program is read from the recording / reproducing means when the power of the position information recording camera device is turned on. The camera function or the navigation function can be activated. Further, the functions of the position information recording camera device can be extended by editing / adding a program.

[0028]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a position information recording camera device of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The position information recording camera device according to the present embodiment is a device having a camera function of a digital camera, a video camera, and the like, and also having a navigation function of displaying a current position on a map like an in-vehicle navigation system. . FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a navigation camera device 1 as a position information recording camera device according to the present embodiment.

The navigation camera device 1 comprises the following components: a photographing unit 2, a position information detecting unit 3, a control unit 4, a storage unit 5, a recording / reproducing unit 6, a display unit 7, and an operation unit 8.

The photographing section 2 as a photographing means is a photographing device having a CCD used for a digital camera, a video camera or the like, and for photographing a moving image or a still image at an arbitrary point on the ground. The position information detecting unit 3 serving as position information detecting means is a GPS that receives a radio signal from the GPS.
Equipped with an antenna, the current position is calculated from the radio signal,
It outputs position information such as latitude and longitude to the control unit 4 described later.

The control unit 4 as a control means is realized by a CPU or the like, controls the operation of each component of the navigation camera device 1 to control the entire system, and performs position information, map, It controls the flow of information and video information.

The storage unit 5 is realized by a RAM or the like, and has a function of temporarily storing position information, map information, and video information whose flow is controlled by the control unit 4. It stores the video information sent from the photographing unit 2 when capturing a video, and stores the position information transmitted from the position information detecting unit 3 when detecting the position information. When reproducing the video information or the map information, the video information or the map information read from the recording / reproducing unit 6 described later is stored.

Recording / reproducing section 6 as recording / reproducing means
Manages recording and reproduction of video information and map information. To realize the recording / reproducing section 6, a magneto-optical disc player using a magneto-optical disc, which is capable of rewriting information and is inexpensive as a recording medium, is suitable. It may be a hard disk or the like. In particular, since the magneto-optical disk is a removable recording medium, if video information or map information increases, it may be recorded on another magneto-optical disk,
It is easy to store information. Here, a description will be given of a magneto-optical disk as an example.

The display unit 7 as a display means is provided with a liquid crystal panel or a CRT for displaying the video information or the map information stored in the storage unit when capturing a video, reproducing video information, and reproducing map information. It is a display.

The operation unit 8 includes a photographing key for instructing photographing of an image, a recording key for instructing recording of image information or map information on a magneto-optical disk, and an instruction of reproducing image information or map information. To select a playback key, a stop key for stopping recording / playback of video information or map information, or a video information file which is a file of video information to be played or a map information file which is a file of map information. Such as the selection key of
This is input means for the user to instruct the operation of the navigation camera device 1. As an input method, in addition to key input, a form may be used in which the menu screen displayed on the display unit 7 is input by touching with a pen or a finger.

Next, an example of a file format of the magneto-optical disk will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the file format includes a media management area F1, a file management area F2, a program area F3, a location information management area F4, map information files F5 and F6, and video information files F7 and F8.
Consists of

The media management area F1 includes a map information disc on which map information is recorded, a video information disc for recording video information, a disc on which both map information and video information are recorded, or other media information. This is an area for recording important information related to the disk medium, such as an identifier written with an arbitrary symbol of an arbitrary byte indicating the type of the disk, such as a disk for the purpose of use, and where the information recording area is.

By providing the media management area F1, the contents recorded on the magneto-optical disk, for example,
It is easy to identify whether the disc is a map information disc or a video information disc. Since the control unit 4 can determine the control content only by determining the type of the magneto-optical disk in this way, it is possible to reduce the burden of the operation of the user.

The file management area F2 is an area for recording file names such as map information files and video information files, file sizes, information on file information recording areas, and the like. It is.

The program area F3 is an area for storing user-specific application programs. By providing the program area F3, not only the existing camera function and navigation function, but also various applications can be expected, for example, it can be used as a game machine. Further, the basic functions of the navigation camera device 1 can be extended by editing / adding an application program.

The location information management area F4 is an area for recording information for associating location information with a file name. By providing the position information management area F4, a map information file F5 or a map information file F6 described later is associated with the video information file F7 or the video information file F8, and it is easy to read one from the other. Thereby, for example, there is an advantage that switching from the display of the map information to the display of the corresponding video information can be quickly performed.

The map information files F5 and F6 are areas in which map information in an arbitrary range and position information corresponding to the map information are recorded. Not only map information but also arbitrary image information can be recorded. In addition, this map information file F5
F6 can be rewritten and added by the user, and a user-specific navigation disc can be created.

The video information files F7 and F8 are stored in the photographing unit 2
This is an area where the video captured by the camera is recorded as video information. As the additional information, position information at a shooting point, a shooting time, and the like can be recorded.

The above map information files F5 and F6
The video information files F7 and F8 may be located anywhere within the information recording area on the magneto-optical disk.

Next, the operation of the navigation camera device 1 having the above configuration will be described.

First, the case where the navigation camera device 1 functions as a navigation device will be described.
When the magneto-optical disk on which the map information is recorded is set in the navigation camera device 1, the control unit 4 determines that the magneto-optical disk is the map information disk from the media management area F1, and the navigation camera device 1 Controls the entire system to function as

When the position information detecting unit 3 receives a GPS signal through a GPS antenna, the position information detecting unit 3
The control unit 4 outputs the PS signal to the control unit 4 and calculates the latitude and longitude of the current position. The calculated latitude / longitude is stored in the storage unit 5 as position information.

Further, the control unit 4 determines
A map information file name corresponding to the position information in the position information management area F4 is searched for. Assuming that the map information file name is the map information file F5, the control unit 4 checks the recording position of the map information file F5 on the magneto-optical disk from the file management area F2 and stores the map information file F5 in the storage unit 5. read out.

Next, the read map information file F
5 is displayed on the display unit 7 and the current location is marked on the map. The user can see where he is on the map by looking at this marking.

Next, a case where the navigation camera device 1 functions as a camera device will be described. First, when a magneto-optical disk formatted for video recording is set in the navigation camera device 1, the control unit 4 detects that the magneto-optical disk is a video information disk, and the navigation camera device 1 functions as a camera device. So control the whole system. When the photographing key of the operation unit 8 is pressed, the photographing unit 2 photographs a video at that point. The captured video is stored in the storage unit 5 as video information and displayed on the display unit 7.

On the other hand, the position information detecting section 3 receives a GPS signal through the GPS antenna, and the position information detecting section 3 outputs this GPS signal to the control section 4, and the control section 4 calculates the latitude and longitude of the current location. The calculated latitude / longitude is stored in the storage unit 5 as position information.

Next, when the recording key of the operation unit 8 is pressed, the control unit 4 associates the video information with the position information, and the associated video information and the position information are directly or compressed. It is recorded on the magneto-optical disk, for example, at the position of a video information file F7. In order to reproduce the recorded video information, the video information file is selected and designated by the selection key of the operation unit 8, and then the reproduction key is pressed. Then, the control unit 4 reads out the video information to the storage unit 5 and displays it on the display unit 7.

As described above, if the present navigation camera device 1 is used, it is possible to switch between the navigation function and the camera function only by switching the position information disc and the video information disc. As a result, two functions can be efficiently provided by one device without any troublesome operation. Therefore, the user can know where the point is located on the map at the time of shooting the video, and can subjectively grasp the position information.

Since the magneto-optical disk formatted as shown in FIG. 2 is used, the following operation is also possible.

First, since the magneto-optical disk is provided with a program area F3, when the navigation camera apparatus 1 is turned on with the magneto-optical disk set in the navigation camera apparatus 1 in advance, the program area F3 is programmed. Is read, and thereafter, the control unit 4 performs control according to the operation instruction of this program. Therefore, if a user-specific application program is recorded in the program area F3, a navigation system that is convenient for the user can be constructed. For example, a desired map can be freely created.

In the above navigation function,
The map information stored in the storage unit 5 can be recorded on the magneto-optical disk as another map information file.
If a magneto-optical disk formatted as shown in FIG. 2 is used, the map information of the destination is recorded in advance as a map information file in this manner, and the video information of the destination is recorded on the magneto-optical disk by the above-described camera function. Can be recorded as a video information file. If both the map information file and the video information file are recorded on one optical disc, the navigation function and the camera function can be switched more quickly.

In this case, if the location information of the point is added to each of the recorded map information file and the recorded image information file, one of the map information file and the video information file is stored in the storage unit 5. From the state of being read and displayed on the display unit 7, the other can be easily read.

For example, the same position information is recorded at an arbitrary position in the map information file F5 and the video information file F7, and a file name corresponding to the position information is recorded in the position information management area F4. Assuming that the map information file F5 is read into the storage unit 5 and displayed on the display unit 7, the video information file F7 can be easily read from the map information file F5, and vice versa. This makes it possible to easily refer to the corresponding map information and video information in a short time.

Further, at the time of the navigation function, the position information detecting section 3 detects the position information of each point continuously or intermittently with the movement of the user, stores the detected position information in the storage section 5, and stores it in the magneto-optical disk. When the map information is recorded, for example, as the map information file F6, by recording these pieces of position information at the same time, it is possible to record the route that has passed during the movement. Thus, if the map information file F6 is reproduced later, the traveling route can be easily confirmed. Therefore, it is convenient when going to the same place again or explaining directions.

[0062]

As described above, the position information recording camera device according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises:
Position information detecting means for detecting position information indicating a position of a shooting point of the image, control means for associating image information corresponding to the image with the position information, and image information associated with the control means Recording and reproducing means for recording and reproducing the position information, and a display means for displaying the video information to be reproduced, in the position information recording camera device, the map information indicating a map of the periphery including the current location, The recording / reproducing means has a navigation function of reproducing based on the position information and displaying the reproduced information on the display means.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain the convenience that the map information of the place where the video was shot by the camera function can be confirmed by the navigation function. As a result,
This has the effect that the position information of the point can be subjectively grasped when capturing the video.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, as described above, in the position information recording camera device according to the first aspect, the recording / reproducing means includes the video information and the map information. Is a configuration capable of recording both.

Therefore, it is not necessary to provide dedicated recording / reproducing means for each of the video information and the map information. Therefore, the present position information recording camera apparatus has an effect that the camera function and the navigation function can be switched very easily.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position information recording camera device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the control means determines that the image whose position information coincides with the position information. The information and the map information are associated with each other and recorded in the recording / reproducing means in a file format, and the corresponding map information file is read from the video information file or the corresponding video information is read from the map information file. This is a configuration in which a file can be read.

Therefore, it is possible to easily refer to both the corresponding video information and map information in a short time.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, as described above, in the position information recording camera device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the position information detecting means includes a user's movement. The position information is detected continuously or intermittently with the recording and reproducing means,
It is a configuration that can record / reproduce a route that has passed based on the detected position information.

Therefore, the recording / reproducing means makes it possible to easily confirm the movement route later, and has the effect that it is convenient when going to the same place again or explaining directions.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position information recording camera device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the recording / reproducing means is detachable. It is a structure having a medium.

Therefore, when the amount of video information or map information to be recorded is increased, another recording medium may be used, and it is possible to easily store information.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position information recording camera apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the recording / reproducing means includes a user-specific program. Is stored, and the navigation software dedicated to the user can function.

Therefore, there is an effect that a navigation system convenient for the user can be constructed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a position information recording camera apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the program instructs the control means to perform an operation procedure. Is supplied from the recording / reproducing means.

Therefore, for example, when the power of the position information recording camera device is turned on, the program can be read from the recording / reproducing means to operate the camera function or the navigation function. Further, there is an effect that the function of the position information recording camera device can be extended by editing / adding a program.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a position information recording camera device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a structure of a file format of the position information recording camera device of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 navigation camera device (position information recording camera device) 2 photographing unit (photographing means) 3 position information detecting unit (position information detecting unit) 4 control unit (control unit) 6 recording / reproducing unit (recording / reproducing unit) 7 display unit (Display means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI H04N 5/765 H04N 5/781 510L 5/781

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A photographing means for photographing an image, a position information detecting means for detecting position information indicating a position of a photographing point of the image, and a control means for associating the image information corresponding to the image with the position information. And a recording / reproducing means for recording / reproducing the video information and the positional information associated with the control means, and a position information recording camera device comprising a display means for displaying the reproduced video information, Record the map information that indicates the map of the surrounding area including the current location.
A position information recording camera device having a navigation function in which reproduction means reproduces based on the position information and displays it on the display means. 2. The position information recording camera device according to claim 1, wherein said recording / reproducing means can record both said video information and said map information. 3. The recording means according to claim 1, wherein said control means associates said image information with said position information with said map information.
It is characterized in that it is possible to record in a file format on the reproducing means and read out the corresponding map information file from the video information file or read out the corresponding video information file from the map information file. The position information recording camera device according to claim 1. 4. The position information detecting means detects the position information continuously or intermittently as the user moves, and the recording / reproducing means passes based on the detected position information. 4. The position information recording camera device according to claim 1, wherein a route can be recorded / reproduced. 5. The position information recording camera device according to claim 1, wherein said recording / reproducing means has a removable recording medium. 6. The position information according to claim 1, wherein a user-specific program is stored in said recording / reproducing means, and a user-specific navigation software can function. Recording camera device. 7. The position information recording camera device according to claim 1, wherein a program for instructing said control means to perform an operation procedure is supplied from said recording / reproducing means.