JP2002300575A - Image transmission system and image acquisition apparation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image transmission system having a range of location where the user can receive image information is large and the places that the user can request are numerous. SOLUTION: In the image transmission system with a DSC 50 for receiving image information, a car navigation unit 30 for displaying the image information, and a server device 10 for sending the image information obtained by the DSC 50 to the above car navigator 30 are connected with one another through communication, the server device 10 sends the image information obtained by the DSC 50, corresponding to that request to the car navigation unit 30, based on the request from the car navigation unit 30. The user can obtain image information at a location where an operation vehicle 1 can move, by installing the DSC 50 on the operation vehicle 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image transmission system for transmitting image information obtained by, for example, a digital still camera via a communication line to a car navigation device, and an image acquisition device used in the image transmission system. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A car navigation device used as an image display device is a GPS (Global Positioning System).
m) and the position of the vehicle is measured by autonomous navigation, and a current position mark indicating the current position of the vehicle is displayed on a map on a display unit (monitor) based on the measurement result. The car navigation device also has a function of searching for and displaying a route to a destination and showing a route by voice, display, or the like, thereby guiding the driver to the destination.

[0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
As proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 215316, etc., there is one that transmits event information and the like performed in a gas station, a convenience store, a restaurant, a theme park, or the like in response to a user request. Further, JP 20
As proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 01-21368 and the like, gas stations, convenience stores, restaurants,
An image acquisition device provided in a theme park or the like is connected via a communication line, and in response to a user's request, image information indicating the status of the requested location at the time of the request is transmitted, and congestion in the restaurant's store is performed. There is also a car navigation device that displays a situation or the like on a monitor.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned JP-A-2001-2001
The car navigation device described in Japanese Patent No. 21368 transmits image information indicating the status of the requested location at that time to the user in response to the user's request as described above, and transmits the image information to a monitor provided on the user side. Can be displayed. However, since the image acquisition device used in this proposal is installed on a specific immovable object, the place where the user can request is limited.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and by installing an image acquisition device on a moving body,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image transmission system in which image information can be acquired at a place where the moving body can move, so that the range of places where the image information can be acquired is widened, and places where a user can request are dramatically increased. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image acquisition device constituting the above-described image transmission system.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image transmission system comprising: a plurality of image acquisition devices for acquiring image information; an image display device for displaying image information; and a request from the image display device. In an image transmission system in which an image transmission device that transmits image information acquired by the image acquisition device to the image display device is communicably connected, the image acquisition device is installed on one or a plurality of moving objects. And

[0007] In the case of the first invention, the image transmitting apparatus includes:
The image information acquired by the image acquisition device based on the request from the image display device is transmitted to the image display device. Since the image information can be acquired at a place where the moving object can be moved by installing the image acquiring device on the moving object, it is possible to realize an image transmission system in which many types of image information are transmitted to the image display device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image transmission system comprising: a plurality of image acquisition devices for acquiring image information; an image display device for displaying image information; and an image acquisition device for acquiring image information based on a request from the image display device. Communicably connected to an image transmitting device that transmits the obtained image information to the image display device, the image acquisition device includes a unit that transmits the acquired image information, and the image display device includes image information to be displayed. Input means for inputting a designation signal for designating, a means for transmitting the designation signal input by the input means to the image transmission apparatus, and a means for receiving image information, wherein the image acquisition apparatus comprises: Means for transmitting the designated signal to the image transmitting apparatus, the apparatus being installed in one or a plurality of moving objects, wherein the image transmitting apparatus is provided with an image acquiring apparatus corresponding to the received designated signal. Characterized in that it comprises means for transmitting to the image display device the acquired image information by.

In the case of the second invention, the image acquisition device is
By transmitting the designation signal to the image transmission device,
The image transmitting device can transmit image information acquired by the image acquiring device corresponding to the designation signal to the image display device based on the designation signal received from the image display device. By installing the image acquisition device on a moving object, it is possible to realize an image transmission system that can transmit a large amount of image information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image transmission system comprising: a plurality of image acquisition devices for acquiring image information; an image display device for displaying image information; and an image acquisition device for acquiring image information based on a request from the image display device. In an image transmission system communicably connected to an image transmission device that transmits the obtained image information to the image display device, the image acquisition device includes a unit that transmits the position information to the image transmission device, and includes one or more mobile devices. An image display device installed on the body, an input unit for inputting position information, a unit for transmitting the position information input by the input unit to the image transmitting device, and a unit for receiving image information from the image transmitting device A position information storage unit for storing position information received from the image acquisition device; and the image table from the position information stored in the position information storage unit. Selecting means for selecting position information close to the position information received from the apparatus, and means for transmitting a command to obtain an image to an image obtaining apparatus corresponding to the position information selected by the selecting means, wherein the image The acquisition device is characterized by further comprising means for transmitting the image information acquired based on the command.

[0011] In the case of the third invention, the image transmitting apparatus includes:
A position information storage unit that stores the position information received from the image acquisition device; and from the position information stored in the position information storage unit, position information that is close to the position information received from the image display device is selected. A command to acquire image information is transmitted to the image acquisition device corresponding to the information. Therefore, it is possible to realize an image transmission system in which data to be stored in the image transmission device is small.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image transmission system, comprising: a plurality of image acquisition devices for acquiring image information; an image display device for displaying image information; and an image acquisition device for acquiring image information based on a request from the image display device. In an image transmission system communicably connected to an image transmission device that transmits the obtained image information to the image display device, the image acquisition device includes a unit that transmits the acquired image information and its position information to the image transmission device. Installed in one or a plurality of moving objects, the image display device, input means for inputting position information, means for transmitting the position information input by the input means to the image transmitting device, from the image transmitting device Means for receiving image information, the image transmitting device comprising: a storage unit for storing the image information and the position information received from the image acquisition device in association with each other; From the stored image information, characterized in that it comprises a means for transmitting image information corresponding to the positional information close to the positional information received from the image display device to the image display device.

[0013] In the case of the fourth invention, the image transmitting apparatus comprises:
A storage unit that stores the position information and the image information received from the image acquisition device, and from the image information stored in the storage unit,
An image transmission system that selects image information corresponding to position information close to the position information received from the image display device and transmits the image information to the image display device can be realized.

An image acquisition apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is an image acquisition apparatus having means for transmitting acquired image information to the outside, wherein the image acquisition apparatus has means for transmitting the position information to the outside, and is installed on a moving body. It is characterized by.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the mobile unit is moved by installing the mobile unit, image information can be acquired at a place where the mobile unit can move, and means for transmitting position information is provided. However, it is possible to realize an image acquisition device that can obtain position information of a place where image information is acquired.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a digital still camera (hereinafter, referred to as DSC) as a means for acquiring image information, and a car navigation device (hereinafter, referred to as a car navigation system) and image transmission as means for transmitting position information. This will be described in detail based on an embodiment of an image transmission system using a server device as an apparatus. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an image transmission system according to the present invention. A corporation operating this system includes a DSC 50 and a car navigation system 3 on a plurality of operation vehicles 1.
0, and multiple users who use this system
The car navigation 30 is installed in each of the user vehicles 2. Car navigation system 30 provided for operation vehicle 1 and user vehicle 2
Are connected to a telephone network 100 via a mobile phone 101 as necessary, and a server device 10 is connected to the telephone network 100.

When the user inputs a designation signal for designating the position of the image information to be displayed through the car navigation system 30 provided in the user's vehicle 2, the server 1
No. 0 selects the operation vehicle 1 located closest to the request and transmits the image information acquired by the DSC 50 provided in the operation vehicle 1 to the user vehicle 2 via the telephone network 100.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the server device 10 according to the present invention. The server device 10 includes a CPU 1
1, a RAM 12 for temporarily storing data generated in the CPU 11, a hard disk (HD) 13 for storing a computer program read by an external storage device 16, and a position information for the car navigation 30 acquired from the car navigation 30. And a communication interface 15 for communicating with the outside, and each is connected via a bus 17.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the car navigation system 30 according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the DSC 50 according to the present invention. The car navigation system 30 has a CPU 3
1. RAM 32 for temporarily storing image information received from server device 10, display section 33 for displaying the operation status of car navigation system 30 or received image information, keys necessary for operating car navigation system 30, and images to be displayed Operation unit 3 having an input key for inputting a designation signal for designating information
4. Various sensors 35 such as a gyro sensor and a vehicle speed sensor,
A CD-ROM for reading the program and the like from a CD-ROM 40 in which map data, a current position measurement program for measuring the current position, a road condition display program, a search processing program for searching for a route from the current position to the destination, and the like are recorded. A drive 36, a GPS receiver 37 having an antenna 37B, which will be described later, and a communication interface 38 for communicating with the outside are provided, each of which is connected via a bus 39.

The GPS receiver 37 receives radio waves transmitted from at least three or more of the 24 GPS satellites 37A via the antenna 37B. Then, the data is read out by the CD-ROM drive 36 and R
In accordance with the current position measurement processing program stored in the AM 32, the operation vehicle 1 or the user vehicle 2 equipped with the car navigation system 30 uses data detected by the GPS receiver 37.
Is measured as longitude and latitude coordinates. The current position of the operation vehicle 1 or the user vehicle 2 is measured according to the current position measurement program using the detection results of the various sensors 35. The car navigation system 30 measures the current position from the measurement result and the measurement result by GPS.

A car navigation system 30 installed in the operation vehicle 1
Is connected to the DSC 50 via the communication interface 38.

The DSC 50 has a CPU 51 and a CCD (Charge C) for converting optical information into image information which is digital data.
ouple Device) 53, R for temporarily storing the image information
A communication interface 54 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the AM 52 and the car navigation system 30 is provided, and each is connected via a bus 55. Such a DSC 50 has a lens (not shown) installed on a dashboard or the like facing forward in the operation vehicle 1 so that the front can be photographed.

The normal operation of the image transmission system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a normal processing procedure in the image transmission system according to the present invention. These processings are divided into two areas by one vertical broken line, and the processing on the left side is the processing performed by the car navigation system 30. The processing in the area on the right is performed by the server 1
0 indicates processing to be performed.

The car navigation system 30 measures the coordinates corresponding to the current position of the vehicle on which the car navigation system 30 is installed, based on the data received by the GPS receiver 37, and uses the autonomous navigation of the vehicle based on the detection results of the various sensors 35. The current position is measured, and the position (coordinates) of the vehicle is derived from these measurement results (S11). CD based on this result
Reading map data from the CD-ROM 40 by the ROM drive 36 (S12), and displaying the map data on the display unit 3;
3 is displayed (S13). Also, based on the measurement results,
The current position of the vehicle is indicated on the map displayed on the display unit 33 by the current position mark (S14). Then, the current position of the vehicle is measured again as in step S11. When the vehicle on which the car navigation system 30 is installed is the operation vehicle 1, the measured current position information is transmitted to the server device 10 (S1).
5). The server device 10 is waiting for the reception of the current position information (S21), and receives the current position information (S2).
2) Update the information in the location information storage unit 14 (S2)
3).

Next, the car navigation system 30 determines whether or not the vehicle has moved (S16). If the vehicle has moved, the car navigation system 30 determines whether or not the current position mark of the vehicle exists in the map displayed on the display unit 33. A determination is made (S17). As a result, if the current position mark exists on the map of the display unit 33, only the current position mark is updated and displayed on the display unit 33 (S19). The new map data is read from the CD-ROM 40 by the CD-ROM drive 36 and displayed on the display unit 33 (S18), and the new current position mark of the vehicle is displayed on the displayed map in order to change the map displayed on the map. Is displayed (S19). Then, the current position of the vehicle is measured again, and the above-described processing is repeated.

Next, the processing procedure of the image transmission system when a designation signal for designating the position of the image information to be displayed on the car navigation system 30 of the user vehicle 2 will be described. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing processing procedures when a designation signal is input to the image display device in the image transmission system according to the present invention. These processings are divided into three regions by two vertical broken lines. The processing in the left area is the processing performed by the car navigation 30 provided in the user vehicle 2, the processing in the central area is the processing performed by the server device 10, and the processing in the right area is the car navigation 30 provided in the operation vehicle 1. DSC5
0 indicates processing to be performed.

When the user who gets on the user vehicle 2 inputs a designation signal for designating the position of the image information to be displayed by the operation unit 34 of the car navigation system 30 provided in the user vehicle 2 (S31), the user vehicle 2 Car navigation system 30
Transmits the designation signal to the server device 10 (S32).
The server device 10 is in a state of waiting for reception of the designation signal (S41), and when receiving the designation signal from the car navigation system 30 provided in the user vehicle 2 (S42), the designation is performed based on the position information stored in the position information storage unit 14. The car navigation system 30 provided for the operation vehicle 1 closest to the traffic light is selected (S
43), and transmits an image information transmission command to the car navigation system 30 provided in the selected operation vehicle 1 (S44).

The car navigation system 30 provided in the operation vehicle 1 includes:
When the image information transmission instruction is received from the server device 10 (S52), the image information acquisition instruction is transmitted to the connected DSC 50 (S53). When the DSC 50 receives the image information acquisition command (S62), the DSC 50 acquires the image information (S63), and transmits the image information to the car navigation 30 provided in the operation vehicle 1 (S64). The car navigation system 30 provided in the operation vehicle 1 receives the image information (S55),
The image information is transmitted to the server device 10 (S56). The server device 10 receives the image information (S46), and transmits the image information to the car navigation system 30 provided in the user vehicle 2 (S47). Car navigation system 30 provided for the user vehicle 2
Receives the image information (S34) and displays it on the display unit 33 (S35).

In the above embodiment, the server device 10
Stores the current position information received from the car navigation system 30 included in the operation vehicle 1 as data for selecting image information to be transmitted to the car navigation system 30 included in the user vehicle 2,
If there is a request to acquire image information, the corresponding DS
Although the image information is acquired by C50, the image information acquired by the DSC 50 provided in the operation vehicle 1 at regular time intervals is transmitted to the server device 10 together with the current position information measured by the car navigation system 30 provided in the operation vehicle 1, and the server The device 10 may store the image information and the current position information.

As means for acquiring image information, DS
Although the C50 is installed on a dashboard or the like in the operation vehicle 1, a camera installed on the vehicle for confirming the rear of the vehicle may be used. Further, image information acquired by an image acquisition device provided for an immovable body such as a gas station, a convenience store, a restaurant, a theme park, etc. may be used together.

Further, a corporation operating this system may contract with a taxi company, a bus company, or the like, and install a device capable of acquiring image information and a device capable of acquiring position information in a taxi, a bus, or the like. When the user can acquire image information, the image information may be provided.

[0032]

According to the first aspect, the image transmitting apparatus transmits the image information obtained by the image obtaining apparatus to the image display apparatus based on a request from the image display apparatus. Since the image information can be acquired at a place where the moving object can be moved by installing the image acquiring device on the moving object, it is possible to realize an image transmission system in which many types of image information are transmitted to the image display device.

In the case of the second invention, the image acquisition device is:
By transmitting the designation signal to the image transmission device,
The image transmitting device can transmit image information acquired by the image acquiring device corresponding to the designation signal to the image display device based on the designation signal received from the image display device. By installing the image acquisition device on a moving object, it is possible to realize an image transmission system with a large amount of image information that can be transmitted.

In the case of the third invention, the image transmitting device is
A position information storage unit that stores the position information received from the image acquisition device; and from the position information stored in the position information storage unit, position information that is close to the position information received from the image display device is selected. A command to acquire image information is transmitted to the image acquisition device corresponding to the information. Therefore, it is possible to realize an image transmission system in which data to be stored in the image transmission device is small.

[0035] According to the fourth aspect, the image transmitting apparatus comprises:
A storage unit that stores the position information and the image information received from the image acquisition device, and from the image information stored in the storage unit,
An image transmission system that selects image information corresponding to position information close to the position information received from the image display device and transmits the image information to the image display device can be realized.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the moving body is moved by installing on the moving body, image information can be obtained in a place where the moving body can move, and means for transmitting position information is provided. However, it is possible to realize an image acquisition device that can obtain position information of a place where image information is acquired.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image transmission system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a server device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a car navigation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital still camera according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a normal processing procedure in the image transmission system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when position information is input to an image acquisition device in the image transmission system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when position information is input to an image acquisition device in the image transmission system according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 operation vehicle 2 user vehicle 10 server device 30 car navigation device 50 digital still camera 100 telephone network 101 mobile phone

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C053 FA07 FA23 JA30 LA14 LA20 5C054 AA02 CE02 DA01 DA09 FA04 GA01 GB01 GB06 GD03 HA26 5H180 AA01 BB05 BB13 CC04 FF04 FF05 FF33 FF22 FF33

Claims (5)

[Claims] A plurality of image acquisition devices for acquiring image information; an image display device for displaying image information; and an image display device for acquiring image information acquired by the image acquisition device based on a request from the image display device. An image transmitting system in which an image transmitting apparatus is communicably connected to an image transmitting apparatus for transmitting to an image transmitting apparatus, wherein the image acquiring apparatus is installed in one or a plurality of moving objects. A plurality of image acquisition devices for acquiring image information; an image display device for displaying image information; and an image display device for acquiring image information acquired by the image acquisition device based on a request from the image display device. Communicably connected to an image transmitting apparatus for transmitting the image information, the image acquiring apparatus includes a unit for transmitting the acquired image information, and the image display apparatus inputs a designation signal for designating image information to be displayed. In an image transmission system including an input unit, a unit that transmits a designation signal input by the input unit to the image transmission device, and a unit that receives image information, the image acquisition device includes:
It is installed in one or a plurality of moving objects, and includes means for transmitting a designation signal corresponding to the acquired image information to the image transmission device, wherein the image transmission device transmits image information corresponding to the designation signal received from the image display device. An image transmission system, comprising: means for transmitting to the image display device. 3. A plurality of image acquisition devices for acquiring image information, an image display device for displaying image information, and an image display device for acquiring image information acquired by the image acquisition device based on a request from the image display device. In an image transmission system in which an image transmission device is communicably connected to an image transmission device, the image acquisition device is provided on one or a plurality of moving objects, and includes means for transmitting position information to the image transmission device, and an image display device. The input means for inputting the position information, means for transmitting the position information input by the input means to the image transmitting apparatus, and means for receiving image information from the image transmitting apparatus, the image transmitting apparatus, A position information storage unit that stores the position information received from the image acquisition device; and a position closer to the position information received from the image display device, based on the position information stored in the position information storage unit. Selecting means for selecting the position information, and means for transmitting a command to obtain an image to the image obtaining apparatus corresponding to the position information selected by the selecting means, the image obtaining apparatus, based on the command An image transmission system, further comprising: a unit configured to transmit the acquired image information to the image transmission device. 4. An image display device for acquiring image information, an image display device for displaying image information, and an image display device for displaying image information acquired by the image acquisition device based on a request from the image display device. In an image transmission system communicably connected to an image transmission device for transmitting to the image transmission device, the image acquisition device is installed on one or more moving objects, and transmits the acquired image information and its position information to the image transmission device The image display device comprises: an input unit for inputting position information; a unit for transmitting the position information input by the input unit to the image transmitting device; and a unit for receiving image information from the image transmitting device. A storage unit for storing the image information and the position information received from the image acquisition device in association with each other, and the image table stored in the storage unit. Means for transmitting image information corresponding to position information close to the position information received from the display device to the image display device. 5. An image acquisition apparatus comprising: means for transmitting acquired image information to the outside; wherein the image acquisition apparatus is provided on a moving body and includes means for transmitting the position information to the outside.