JP5367547B2 - Image collection method and portable device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to acquire image data of his/her periphery taken from another person's point of view. <P>SOLUTION: The method executes each of the following steps: a detecting step in which a mobile device 110a carried by a user 2a detects a mobile device 110b existing within a predetermined distance from the own terminal, a photographing request step in which the mobile device 110a requests the mobile device 110b to execute photographing, a photographing execution step in which the mobile device 110b executes photographing in response to the request from the mobile device 110a, an image transmitting step in which the mobile device 110b transmits the captured image data in accordance with information designated in the request from the mobile device 110a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image collection method and a portable device.

  In recent years, with the widespread use of digital cameras, camera-equipped mobile phones, etc., anyone can easily record various events in their daily lives as image data. In addition, a service called life log that collects image data and the like recorded in such daily life as individual activity records and enables tracking of individual past activities is also used (for example, Non-Patent Document 1). And Non-Patent Document 2).

“About Life-X”, [online], Sony Marketing Inc., [October 15, 2009 search], Internet <URL: http://life-x.jp/about/> “Online Album Zorg”, [online], Zorg Co., Ltd. [searched on September 15, 2009], Internet <URL: http://www.zorg.com/>

  However, in the prior art, it is difficult for an individual to record various events of daily life as image data from his / her own viewpoint, but it is difficult to acquire image data taken from a viewpoint other than himself / herself. To fully understand what happened to an individual, it is often necessary to consider events that occur around the person, even those that are not visible to the person. For this reason, when recording an individual's activity as image data, it is preferable that image data taken from a viewpoint other than his / her own can be acquired.

  For example, if you hear a live performance of nostalgic music from the park over the street while walking along the road, you can get the record of the event if you can get the image data of the performer taken from the viewpoint of the person in the park. Can remain meaningful. If such image data cannot be acquired, only the scenery on this side of the frog can be recorded, and it is difficult to recall later that a nostalgic live music was heard in that scene. become.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image collection method and a portable device capable of acquiring image data obtained by viewing the surroundings of the user from the viewpoint of another person.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an image collection method according to the present invention, in one aspect, includes a photographing request device carried by a user within a predetermined distance from the device itself. a detection step of determining periodically whether it can detect the imaging apparatus, when the imaging device in the detection step is detected, the photographing request device, a notification step of notifying the fact to the user the imaging request apparatus, in response to operation by the user, when requesting execution of the shooting to the detected photographing apparatus in the detection step, the address of the storage device corresponding to a user of the photographing request device the transfer destination information specifying the image request step including capturing request for execution of photographing, the photographing apparatus, a photographing execution step of executing the photographing in response to the request in the image request process, wherein Shadow device transmits the image data photographed in the photographing execution process, and a storage device to the specified address in the transfer destination information included in the image request, to a storage device corresponding to the user of the imaging device And an image transmission step.

The portable device according to the present invention, in one embodiment, a detection means for determining whether it can detect a photographing apparatus present within a prescribed distance from the own device periodically, the imaging device at said detecting step Is detected, and the transmission destination of the captured image data is detected with respect to the imaging device detected by the detection means , triggered by an operation by the user. Transfer destination information indicating the address of the storage device corresponding to the user of the other portable device from the photographing request transmission means that designates the execution of photographing and the other portable device within a predetermined distance from the own device The image capturing execution means for performing image capturing when there is a request for execution of image capturing, and the image data captured by the image capturing executing means are designated as addresses as the transfer destination information A storage device corresponding to the user's serial other mobile devices, characterized by comprising an image transmitting means for transmitting to the storage device corresponding to the user's own device.

  The image collection method and the portable device according to the present invention have an effect that it is possible to acquire image data obtained by viewing the periphery of the device from the viewpoint of another person.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image collection system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the mobile device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the image management apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the mobile device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the image management apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the photographing request apparatus. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the photographing apparatus. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an image collection system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the mobile device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of recording of authentication results. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the service providing apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the mobile device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the authentication request processing. FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of request source authentication processing. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the processing procedure of the imaging request transmission process. FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the processing procedure of the photographing process. FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the service providing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

  Embodiments of an image collection method and a portable device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. In the following embodiments, the same parts as those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  First, an image collection system and an image collection method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the image collection system according to the present embodiment includes portable devices 110a and 110b and image management devices 120a and 120b.

  The portable device 110a is a wearable device that is worn on the user's 2a head, shoulders, and the like. The portable device 110a executes shooting from the viewpoint of the user 2a to generate image data. Has the function of saving. The portable device 110b is a wearable device that is worn on the head or shoulder of the user 2b, and performs image capturing from the viewpoint of the user 2b to generate image data. The generated image data is used as the image management device 120b. Has the function of saving.

  The portable devices 110a and 110b transmit image data storage requests including image data to the wireless base station 20 by wireless communication in order to store the image data in the image management devices 120a and 120b, respectively. The radio base station 20 transfers the received image data storage request to the transmission destination indicated by the request through the network 10.

  The image management device 120a is a server device that stores and discloses image data of the user 2a, and the image management device 120b is a server device that stores and discloses image data of the user 2b. The image management devices 120a and 120b correspond to devices that provide a life log service, for example.

  In the image collection system having such a configuration, the image collection method according to the present embodiment is executed as follows. The mobile device 110a periodically checks whether or not another mobile device 110 exists within the predetermined range 1. Here, the predetermined range 1 is a range in which it is assumed that an event related to the user 2a is likely to occur. For example, the predetermined range 1 is a range having a radius of about 10 meters.

  When the portable device 110a detects that the portable device 110b exists within the predetermined range 1, the portable device 110a transmits a photographing request to the portable device 110b (step S11). In the photographing request transmitted by the portable device 110a, authentication information such as an ID for identifying the user of the own device (in this case, authentication information of the user 2a) and information indicating the transfer destination of the image data (this scene) Includes the network address of the image management apparatus 120a.

  Upon receiving the shooting request, the portable device 110b executes shooting to generate image data, and transmits an image data storage request including the generated image data to the image management device 120b (step S12). The image data storage request transmitted by the portable device 110b in this scene includes authentication information such as an ID for identifying the user of the portable device 110b as the authentication information of the transmission source and is included in the photographing request. Authentication information and information indicating the transfer destination are included in association with each other. The image data storage request reaches the image management apparatus 120b via the wireless base station 20 and the network 10.

  When the image management device 120b receives the image data storage request from the portable device 110b, the image management device 120b checks whether or not the image data storage request includes information indicating the transfer destination. In this scene, the image data storage request includes the information of the image management device 120a as the information indicating the transfer destination, so that the image management device 120b has the correct authentication information of the user of the portable device 110b that is the transmission source. After performing the normal operation of storing the image data in the area corresponding to the ID included in the authentication information, an image data storage request is transmitted to the image management apparatus 120a. The transmitted image data storage request includes authentication information stored in association with information indicating the transfer destination as authentication information of the transmission source, and includes a copy of the image data.

  Upon receiving the image data storage request, the image management apparatus 120a checks whether or not the image data storage request includes information indicating the transfer destination. In this scene, since information indicating the transfer destination is not included, the image management apparatus 120a confirms that the authentication information included in the image data storage request is correct, and then stores the information in the area corresponding to the ID included in the authentication information. Image data is saved (step S13).

  As described above, in the image collection method according to the present embodiment, when the portable device 110a detects that the portable device 110b exists within the predetermined range 1, the imaging request specifying the information indicating the transfer destination is issued to the portable device 110b. Therefore, the user 2a can acquire image data obtained by viewing his / her surroundings from the viewpoint of another person.

  In the above description, the case where the user 2a acquires the image data captured by the mobile device 110b has been described. However, the user 2b can acquire the image data captured by the mobile device 110a by the same procedure. it can. In addition, the numbers of the portable device 110 and the image management device 120 illustrated in FIG. 1 are examples, and the number of these devices is arbitrary.

  Next, a more detailed configuration of the portable devices 110a and 110b and the image management devices 120a and 120b shown in FIG. 1 will be described. Since the configurations of the mobile devices 110a and 110b are the same, the configuration will be described using the mobile device 110a as an example. Since the image management apparatuses 120a and 120b have the same configuration, the configuration will be described using the image management apparatus 120a as an example.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the mobile device 110a. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mobile device 110 a includes a photographing unit 111, a communication unit 112, a communication unit 113, a storage unit 114, and a control unit 115. The imaging unit 111 digitally processes a signal obtained by the imaging sensor to generate image data.

  The communication unit 112 is a communication unit for performing communication over a relatively short distance, and is used for detecting another portable device 110 and exchanging requests and responses with the other portable device 110. Is done. The communication unit 112 communicates with the opposite device using, for example, light, sound waves, or weak radio waves. The communication unit 113 is a communication unit for performing communication over a relatively long distance, and is used for exchanging requests and responses with the image management apparatus 120 via the radio base station 20.

  The storage unit 114 is a semiconductor storage device, for example, and is necessary for the operation of the control unit 115 such as the ID of the user who owns the device and the network address of the image management device 120 corresponding to the user who owns the device. Various kinds of setting information and image data generated by the photographing unit 111 are stored.

  The control unit 115 is a control unit that totally controls the portable device 110a, and includes a photographing request processing unit 115a and a photographing execution processing unit 115b. The imaging request processing unit 115a includes an imaging unit detection unit 115c and an imaging request transmission unit 115d, and detects another portable device 110 existing in the predetermined range 1 or a device having the same function. The detected apparatus is requested to execute photographing and transmit image data. The imaging execution processing unit 115b includes an imaging request receiving unit 115e, an imaging execution unit 115f, and an image transmission unit 115g. The imaging execution processing unit 115b captures an image in the imaging unit 111 at a preset timing and a timing requested by another device. And the generated image data is transmitted to the image management apparatus 120 corresponding to the self apparatus.

  The photographing means detection unit 115c detects another portable device 110 existing in the predetermined range 1 or a device having a function equivalent to this. Specifically, the imaging means detection unit 115c transmits a predetermined detection signal with an intensity that reaches within the predetermined range 1 from the communication unit 112, and when a response from any device is received. It is determined that another portable device 110 or the like is within the predetermined range 1. In addition, the imaging unit detection unit 115 c transmits a response from the communication unit 112 when a predetermined detection signal is received by the communication unit 112.

  The imaging request transmission unit 115d transmits an imaging request from the communication unit 112 when another imaging apparatus 110 or the like is detected by the imaging unit detection unit 115c. The imaging request transmission unit 115d acquires the ID and the like of the user who owns the device from the storage unit 114 and includes it as authentication information in the imaging request, and also the network of the image management device 120 corresponding to the user who owns the device. The address is acquired from the storage unit 114 and included in the photographing request as information indicating the transfer destination of the image data.

  When the imaging request is received by the communication unit 112, the imaging request receiving unit 115e specifies authentication information included in the imaging request and information indicating the transfer destination, and requests the imaging execution unit 115f to execute imaging. The imaging execution unit 115f causes the imaging unit 111 to generate image data at a preset timing or a timing requested by the imaging request reception unit 115e, and requests the image transmission unit 115g to transmit image data.

  The image transmission unit 115g acquires authentication information such as the network address of the image management device 120 corresponding to the user who owns the own device and the ID of the user who owns the own device from the storage unit 114, and the acquired network address is obtained. An image data storage request that is set as a transmission destination and the acquired authentication information is set as the authentication information of the transmission source is transmitted from the communication unit 113. The generated image data is included in the image data storage request.

  When the image data is generated at the timing requested by the imaging request receiving unit 115e, the image transmission unit 115g receives the authentication information designated by the imaging request receiving unit 115e and the information indicating the transfer destination, that is, the received imaging request. The authentication information included and the information indicating the transfer destination are associated with each other and included in the transmitted image data storage request.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image management apparatus 120a. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the image management apparatus 120 a includes a communication unit 121, an image storage unit 122, a user information storage unit 123, and a control unit 124. In FIG. 3, only the configuration related to the image collection method according to the present embodiment is illustrated, and the configuration for publishing the image data is not illustrated.

  The communication unit 121 exchanges requests and responses with other devices connected to the network 10 and also exchanges requests and responses with the portable device 110 via the radio base station 20. used.

  The image storage unit 122 and the user information storage unit 123 are, for example, a hard disk device or a semiconductor storage device. The image storage unit 122 stores the image data of each user registered in the user information storage unit 123 in an area provided for each user. The user information storage unit 123 stores an authentication number such as a user ID and a personal identification number, and various setting information of services used by the user.

  The control unit 124 is a control unit that controls the entire image management apparatus 120a, and includes an image reception unit 124a, a storage location determination unit 124b, an image storage unit 124c, and an image transfer unit 124d.

  When the image data storage request is received by the communication unit 121, the image reception unit 124a causes the storage location determination unit 124b to determine the storage location of the image data included in the image data storage request. If the image data storage request does not include information indicating the transfer destination, the storage location determination unit 124b determines the storage location of the image data as the own device, and otherwise sets the storage location of the original image data as the own device. The image data copy storage location is determined to be another device indicated by the information indicating the transfer destination included in the image data storage request.

  The image storage unit 124 c performs authentication by checking the ID included in the image data storage request as the authentication information of the transmission source with the user ID stored in the user information storage unit 123. When the authentication is successful, the image storage unit 124c stores the image data in the area of the image storage unit 122 corresponding to the user who has been authenticated successfully. On the other hand, when the authentication is not successful, the image storage unit 124c discards the image data.

  When the storage location determination unit 124b determines that the storage location of the copy of the image data is another device, the image transfer unit 124d sets the network data set as information indicating the transfer destination as the transmission destination. A save request is transmitted from the communication unit 121. The image data storage request transmitted by the image transfer unit 124d includes authentication information stored in association with information indicating the transfer destination as authentication information of the transmission source, and includes a copy of the image data.

  Next, operations of the portable device 110a shown in FIG. 2 and the image management device 120a shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to flowcharts.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the portable device 110a. As shown in FIG. 4, in the mobile device 110a, when a shooting request is received by the communication unit 112 (Yes at Step S101), the shooting executing unit 115f causes the shooting unit 111 to execute shooting (Step S102). Then, the image transmission unit 115g transmits an image data storage request including the image data generated by the imaging unit 111 to the image management apparatus 120a (step S103).

  On the other hand, when the photographing request is not received by the communication unit 112 (No at Step S101), if the photographing unit detection unit 115c detects that the portable device 110b or the like exists within the predetermined range 1 (Step S104). (Yes), the imaging request transmission unit 115d transmits an imaging request (step S105).

  The portable device 110a repeatedly executes the above processing procedure. In addition to the operation shown in FIG. 4, the portable device 110a causes the photographing unit 111 to perform photographing at a preset timing, and performs an operation of transmitting the generated image data to the image management device 120a. .

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image management apparatus 120a. As shown in FIG. 5, in the image management apparatus 120a, when the image data storage request is received by the communication unit 121 (Yes in step S201), the storage location determination unit 124b determines whether the image data needs to be transferred. judge.

  If it is determined that image data transfer is not necessary (No at Step S202), the image storage unit 124c stores the image data in the image storage unit 122 (Step S203). On the other hand, when it is determined that the image data needs to be transferred (Yes at Step S202), the image storage unit 124c stores the image data in the image storage unit 122 (Step S204), and the image transfer unit 124d The image data storage request including the data copy is transferred to the device corresponding to the information indicating the transfer destination (step S205).

  The image management apparatus 120a repeatedly executes the above processing procedure. In addition to the operations shown in FIG. 5, the image management apparatus 120 a performs operations such as publishing image data stored in the image storage unit 122 via the network 10.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the portable device 110 worn by the user detects another device existing within a predetermined range and requests the device to take a picture. , It is possible to obtain an image of the surroundings viewed from a viewpoint other than yourself.

  In the present embodiment, examples of the portable devices 110a and 110b that include a function for requesting another device for shooting and a function for executing shooting according to a request from another device have been described. The device may be configured to have only one of the functions.

  For example, a device that has a function of requesting another device for shooting but does not have a function of performing shooting in accordance with a request from another device, like the shooting request device 130 shown in FIG. And a storage unit 114 and a control unit 135 including a photographing request processing unit 115a.

  On the other hand, an apparatus that does not have a function of requesting shooting from another apparatus, but has a function of executing shooting in accordance with a request from another apparatus, is similar to the shooting unit 111 shown in FIG. The communication unit 112, the communication unit 113, the storage unit 114, and the control unit 145 including the photographing execution processing unit 115b can be configured.

  In this way, when the functions of the portable device 110a are separated into two devices, the photographing request device 130 and the photographing device 140, the user carries both the photographing request device 130 and the photographing device 140 according to the purpose and convenience. Alternatively, only one of them may be carried. In this case, the photographing device 140 may be fixedly installed on a street or a store.

  In this embodiment, when the portable device 110 receives a shooting request from another device, the portable device 110 transmits image data to the image management device designated by the shooting request via the image management device corresponding to the own device. However, the image data may be transmitted through a different route. For example, when a shooting request is received from another device, the portable device 110 directly transmits the image data to the image management device designated by the shooting request without going through the image management device corresponding to the device itself. It is good as well. In addition, when a photographing request is received from another device, the portable device 110 may transmit the image data to the device that has transmitted the photographing request.

  In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which a user can acquire an image around him / herself viewed from a viewpoint other than himself / herself at a timing desired by the user.

  First, an image collection system and an image collection method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the image collection system according to the present embodiment includes portable devices 210a and 210b, image management devices 220a and 220b, and a service providing device 250. In FIG. 8, the illustration of the radio base station 20 is omitted for convenience of explanation.

  The portable device 210a is a wearable device that is worn on the user's 2a's head, shoulders, and the like. The portable device 210a executes shooting from the viewpoint of the user 2a to generate image data. Has the function of saving. The portable device 210b is a wearable device that is worn on the head or shoulder of the user 2b. The portable device 210b executes shooting from the viewpoint of the user 2b to generate image data, and the generated image data is used as the image management device 220b. Has the function of saving.

  The portable devices 210a and 210b transmit image data storage requests including image data to the service providing device 250 in order to store the image data in the image management devices 220a and 220b, respectively. The service providing apparatus 250 sends the received image data storage request based on a network address set as information indicating the transmission destination of the image data, a network address set as information indicating the transfer destination of the image data, or the like. The image is transferred to the image management device 220a or the image management device 220b.

  The image management apparatus 220a is a server apparatus that stores and discloses image data of the user 2a, and the image management apparatus 220b is a server apparatus that stores and discloses image data of the user 2b. The image management devices 220a and 220b correspond to devices that provide a life log service, for example.

  The service providing device 250 provides services such as authentication of the opposite mobile device 210 and transfer of an image data storage request to the mobile devices 210a and 210b.

  In the image collection system having such a configuration, the image collection method according to the present embodiment is executed as follows. The portable device 210a periodically checks whether or not another portable device 210 exists within the predetermined range 1.

  Then, when the portable device 210a detects that the portable device 210b exists within the predetermined range 1, the portable device 210a transmits an authentication request to the portable device 210b (step S21). The authentication request transmitted by the portable device 210a includes authentication information such as an ID for identifying the user of the own device (in this case, authentication information of the user 2a).

  When the portable device 210b receives the authentication request, the portable device 210b transmits the authentication information included in the authentication request to the service providing device 250 to execute the authentication process (step S22). Then, the authentication result is returned to the portable device 210a (step S23). When the authentication success is returned as the authentication result, the portable device 210b includes authentication information such as an ID for identifying the user of the own device (in this case, the authentication information of the user 2b) in the response. On the other hand, when the authentication failure is returned as the authentication result, the portable device 210b does not execute photographing even when the portable device 210a transmits a photographing request to the portable device 210b.

  When a successful authentication is returned from the portable device 210b as an authentication result, the portable device 210a transmits the authentication information included in the response to the service providing device 250 to execute the authentication process. If the authentication result is successful, the portable device 210a notifies the user 2a using light or sound that the photographing means is present within the predetermined range 1 (step S24).

  The user 2a receiving the notification performs a predetermined operation on the portable device 210a at a timing desired by the user 2a and transmits a photographing request (step S25). In the photographing request transmitted by the portable device 210a, authentication information such as an ID for identifying the user of the own device (in this case, authentication information of the user 2a) and information indicating the transfer destination of the image data (this scene) Includes the network address of the image management apparatus 220a.

Upon receiving the shooting request, the portable device 210b executes shooting to generate image data, and transmits an image data storage request including the generated image data to the service providing device 250 (step S26). The image data storage request to the mobile device 210b is transmitted in this situation, the network address of the image management apparatus 220b corresponding to the portable device 2 10b is set as information indicating the transmission destination, identifying the user of the portable device 2 10b Authentication information such as an ID is set in association with information indicating the transmission destination. Further, authentication information included in the photographing request and information indicating the transfer destination are associated with each other and included in the image data storage request.

  When receiving the image data storage request, the service providing apparatus 250 transfers the image data storage request to an apparatus corresponding to information indicating the transmission destination of the image data included in the image data storage request. In this scene, since the network address of the image management apparatus 220b is set as information indicating the transmission destination of the image data, the service providing apparatus 250 transfers the image data storage request to the image management apparatus 220b. When the image management apparatus 220b receives the image data storage request, the image management apparatus 220b confirms that the authentication information associated with the information indicating the transmission destination of the image data is correct, and then the area corresponding to the ID included in the authentication information The image data is stored in (Step S27).

  Further, if the image data storage request includes information indicating the transfer destination of the image data, the service providing apparatus 250 transfers the image data storage request to the apparatus corresponding to the information. In this scene, since the network address of the image management apparatus 220a is set as information indicating the transfer destination of the image data, the service providing apparatus 250 sends an image data storage request including a copy of the image data to the image management apparatus 220a. Send. In the image data storage request transmitted to the image management apparatus 220a, information set as information indicating the transfer destination of the image data in the received image data storage request is set as information indicating the transmission destination of the image data. The Further, authentication information associated with information indicating the transfer destination of the image data in the received image data storage request is set in association with information indicating the transmission destination of the image data. When the image management apparatus 220a receives the image data storage request, it confirms that the authentication information associated with the information indicating the transmission destination of the image data is correct, and then the area corresponding to the ID included in the authentication information The image data is stored in (Step S28).

  As described above, in the image collection method according to the present embodiment, when the mobile device 210a detects that the mobile device 210b exists within the predetermined range 1, it is possible to request the mobile device 210b to take an image. Therefore, the user 2a knows whether or not the user 2a can acquire image data obtained by viewing his / her surroundings from the viewpoint of another person, and then requests the user 2a. Image data viewed from another person's viewpoint can be acquired at the timing.

  Further, in the image collection method according to the present embodiment, since the device that requests photographing and the device that performs photographing authenticate the opposite device, photographing for a person with an unauthorized purpose, It is possible to reduce the risk that the photographed image data is misused.

  In the above description, the case where the user 2a acquires the image data captured by the portable device 210b has been described. However, the user 2b can acquire the image data captured by the portable device 210a by the same procedure. it can. Further, the numbers of the portable device 210 and the image management device 220 shown in FIG. 8 are examples, and the number of these devices is arbitrary.

  Next, more detailed configurations of the mobile devices 210a and 210b and the service providing device 250 shown in FIG. 8 will be described. Since the mobile devices 210a and 210b have the same configuration, the configuration will be described using the mobile device 210a as an example.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the portable device 210a. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the mobile device 210 a includes a photographing unit 111, a communication unit 112, a communication unit 113, a storage unit 214, a control unit 215, an operation unit 216, and a notification unit 217.

  The storage unit 214 is a semiconductor storage device, for example, and is necessary for the operation of the control unit 215 such as the ID of the user who owns the device and the network address of the image management device 220 corresponding to the user who owns the device. Various kinds of setting information and image data generated by the photographing unit 111 are stored. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the storage unit 214 stores the authentication processing result requested by the mobile device 210 a from the service providing device 250 in association with the ID of the user to be authenticated.

  The operation unit 216 receives an operation for sending an imaging request to another apparatus from a user. When the notification unit 217 can request another device to take a picture, the notification unit 217 notifies the user to that effect. The notification by the notification unit 217 is realized by light, sound, vibration, or the like, for example.

  The control unit 215 is a control unit that controls the mobile device 210a as a whole, and includes a shooting request processing unit 215a, a shooting execution processing unit 215b, and an authentication unit 215h. The imaging request processing unit 215a includes an imaging means detection unit 215c and an imaging request transmission unit 215d, and detects another portable device 210 existing in the predetermined range 1 or a device having an equivalent function. The detected apparatus is requested to execute photographing and transmit image data. The imaging execution processing unit 215b includes an imaging request receiving unit 215e, an imaging execution unit 215f, and an image transmission unit 215g. The imaging execution processing unit 215b performs imaging on the imaging unit 111 at a preset timing and a timing requested from another device. And the generated image data is transmitted to the image management device 220 corresponding to the device itself.

  The authentication unit 215h executes processing related to authentication of the opposite device. Specifically, when another photographing device 210 existing in the predetermined range 1 or a device having the same function is detected by the photographing means detection unit 215c, the ID of the user who owns the device, etc. Are acquired from the storage unit 214, and an authentication request in which these are set as authentication information is transmitted to request authentication of the device itself. When there is a response of successful authentication, the authentication unit 215h transmits the authentication information included in the response to the service providing apparatus 250 and requests execution of the authentication process for the response source apparatus. Then, when there is a response of successful authentication from the service providing apparatus 250, the notification unit 217 is notified that it is possible to request another apparatus to perform shooting.

  Further, when the authentication unit 215h receives an authentication request from another device, the authentication unit 215h transmits authentication information included in the authentication request to the service providing device 250 to request execution of authentication processing for the requesting device, and the authentication result To the requester. When the authentication success is returned as the authentication result, the authentication unit 215h acquires the ID of the user who owns the device from the storage unit 214, and includes these as authentication information in the response.

  The authentication unit 215h stores the result of the authentication process requested to the service providing apparatus 250 in the storage unit 214 as illustrated in FIG. When the authentication result corresponding to the authentication information that should request authentication processing from the service providing apparatus 250 is stored in the storage unit 214, the authentication result is stored in the storage unit 214 without making a request to the service providing apparatus 250. The authentication result is used as a response from the service providing apparatus 250.

  The imaging means detection unit 215c detects another portable device 210 existing in the predetermined range 1 or a device having a function equivalent to this. Specifically, the imaging means detection unit 215c transmits a predetermined detection signal with an intensity that reaches within the predetermined range 1 from the communication unit 112, and when a response from any of the devices is received. It is determined that another portable device 210 or the like exists within the predetermined range 1. In addition, the imaging unit detection unit 215 c transmits a response from the communication unit 112 when a predetermined detection signal is received by the communication unit 112.

  In addition, when no other portable device 210 existing within the predetermined range 1 or any device having an equivalent function is detected, the photographing means detection unit 215c requests the other device to perform photographing. Is notified to the notification unit 217.

  The photographing request transmission unit 215d causes the communication unit 112 to transmit a photographing request when an operation indicating a photographing request transmission instruction is performed on the operation unit 216. The imaging request transmission unit 215d acquires the ID of the user who owns the device from the storage unit 214 and includes it as authentication information in the imaging request, and the network of the image management device 220 corresponding to the user who owns the device. The address is acquired from the storage unit 214 and included in the imaging request as information indicating the transfer destination of the image data.

  The imaging request receiving unit 215e acquires an authentication result corresponding to the authentication information included in the imaging request from the storage unit 214 when the imaging request is received by the communication unit 112. If the authentication result corresponding to the authentication information exists in the storage unit 214 and the authentication result is successful, the imaging request reception unit 215e requests the imaging execution unit 215f to execute imaging.

  The imaging execution unit 215f causes the imaging unit 111 to generate image data at a preset timing or a timing requested from the imaging request reception unit 215e, and requests the image transmission unit 215g to transmit the image data.

  The image transmission unit 215g acquires authentication information such as the network address of the service providing apparatus 250 and the ID of the user who owns the apparatus from the storage unit 214, and sets the acquired network address as information indicating the transmission destination of the image data. Then, the communication unit 113 transmits an image data storage request that is set by associating the acquired authentication information with information indicating the transmission destination of the image data. The generated image data is included in the image data storage request.

  When image data is generated at the timing requested by the imaging request receiving unit 215e, the image transmission unit 215g transmits the authentication information included in the received imaging request in association with the information indicating the transfer destination. Included in the image data storage request.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the service providing apparatus 250. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the service providing apparatus 250 includes a communication unit 251, a user information storage unit 252, and a control unit 253.

  The communication unit 251 exchanges requests and responses with other devices connected to the network 10 and also exchanges requests and responses with the portable device 210 via a wireless base station (not shown). Used to do.

  The user information storage unit 252 is, for example, a hard disk device or a semiconductor storage device, and stores an authentication number such as a user ID and a personal identification number, and various setting information of services used by the user.

  The control unit 253 is a control unit that totally controls the service providing apparatus 250, and includes an authentication unit 253a, an image reception unit 253b, a transfer destination determination unit 253c, and an image transfer unit 253d.

  The authentication unit 253a performs authentication processing by comparing the authentication information received by the communication unit 251 with the authentication information stored in the user information storage unit 252, and sends the authentication result from the communication unit 251 to the requester of the authentication process. To send to.

  When the image data storage request is received by the communication unit 251, the image reception unit 253 b causes the transfer destination determination unit 253 c to determine the transfer destination of the image data storage request. The transfer destination determination unit 253c determines that the device indicated by the information indicating the transmission destination included in the image data storage request is the transfer destination of the original image data. Further, when the image data storage request includes information indicating the transfer destination, the transfer destination determination unit 253c determines that the device indicated by the information indicating the transfer destination is the transfer destination of the copy of the image data.

  The image transfer unit 253d resets the network address of the apparatus determined as the transfer destination of the original image data by the transfer destination determination unit 253c as the transmission destination, and causes the communication unit 251 to transmit the image data storage request. In addition, if there is a device that is determined as the transfer destination of the copy of the image data by the transfer destination determination unit 253c, the image transfer unit 253d sets the network address of the device as the transmission destination, and the image including the copy of the image data A data storage request is transmitted from the communication unit 251. In the image data storage request transmitted to the apparatus determined to be the transfer destination of the copy, the information set as the information indicating the transfer destination of the image data in the received image data storage request indicates the transmission destination of the image data. It is set as information to show. Further, authentication information associated with information indicating the transfer destination of the image data in the received image data storage request is set in association with information indicating the transmission destination of the image data.

  Next, operations of the portable device 210a shown in FIG. 9 and the service providing device 250 shown in FIG. 11 will be described with reference to flowcharts.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the portable device 210a. As shown in FIG. 12, in the portable device 210a, when a shooting request is received by the communication unit 112 (Yes at Step S301), the shooting execution processing unit 215b executes a shooting process described later (Step S302). When the authentication request is received by the communication unit 112 (No at Step S301, Yes at Step S303), the authentication unit 215h executes a request source authentication process described later (Step S304).

  When an operation indicating a shooting request transmission instruction is performed on the operation unit 216 (No at Step S301, No at Step S303, Yes at Step S305), the shooting request processing unit 215a executes a shooting request transmission process described later ( Step S306). Further, when another portable device 210 or the like existing in the predetermined range 1 is detected by the photographing unit detection unit 215c (No at Step S301, No at Step S303, No at Step S305, Yes at Step S307), the authentication unit 215h Authentication request processing described later is executed (step S308).

  If another portable device 210 or the like existing within the predetermined range 1 is not detected by the photographing means detection unit 215c (No at Step S301, No at Step S303, No at Step S305, No at Step S307), the photographing means detection unit 215c Then, the notification unit 217 is instructed to stop the notification to the effect that it is possible to request another device to perform shooting (step S309).

  The portable device 210a repeatedly executes the above processing procedure. In addition to the operations shown in FIG. 12, the portable device 210 a causes the photographing unit 111 to perform photographing at a preset timing, and performs an operation for transmitting the generated image data to the service providing device 250. .

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the authentication request processing. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the authentication unit 215h transmits an authentication request to another detected device (step S401), and receives an authentication result as a response (step S402). If the authentication result is not successful (No at Step S403), the authentication unit 215h ends the authentication request process.

  On the other hand, if the authentication result is successful (Yes at Step S403), the authentication unit 215h acquires the authentication result corresponding to the ID included as authentication information in the response from the storage unit 214 (Step S404). Here, when there is no authentication result (No at Step S405), the authentication unit 215h sends the authentication information included in the response to the service providing apparatus 250 to request execution of the authentication process (Step S406), and provides the service. The authentication result returned from the device 250 is recorded in the storage unit 214 in association with the ID included in the authentication information (step S407).

  Then, if the authentication result acquired in step S404 is authentication success, or if the authentication result returned from the service providing apparatus 250 is authentication success (Yes in step S408), the authentication unit 215h captures the image on another apparatus. The notification unit 217 is notified that the request can be requested, and the authentication request process is terminated (step S409). On the other hand, if the authentication result acquired in step S404 is an authentication failure, or if the authentication result returned from the service providing device 250 is an authentication failure (No in step S408), the authentication unit 215h takes a picture of another device. The authentication request process is terminated without causing the notification unit 217 to notify that the request can be made.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of request source authentication processing. As illustrated in FIG. 14, the authentication unit 215h acquires an authentication result corresponding to an ID included as authentication information in the authentication request from the storage unit 214 (step S501). If there is no authentication result (No at Step S502), the authentication unit 215h transmits the authentication information included in the authentication request to the service providing apparatus 250 to request execution of the authentication process (Step S503). The authentication result returned from the providing device 250 is recorded in the storage unit 214 in association with the ID included in the authentication information (step S504).

  Then, the authentication unit 215h returns the authentication result acquired in step S501 or the authentication result returned from the service providing apparatus 250 to the authentication request transmission source. If the authentication result is successful, the authentication unit 215h acquires the ID of the user who owns the device from the storage unit 214, and includes these in the response as authentication information (step S505).

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating the processing procedure of the imaging request transmission process. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the shooting request transmission unit 215d of the shooting request processing unit 215a transmits a shooting request including authentication information and information indicating a transfer destination (step S601). When the processing result is received (step S602), the imaging request transmission unit 215d notifies the user of the processing result through the notification unit 217 or the like (step S603).

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating the processing procedure of the photographing process. As shown in FIG. 16, the imaging request receiving unit 215e of the imaging execution processing unit 215b acquires an authentication result corresponding to an ID included as authentication information in the imaging request from the storage unit 214 (step S701). Here, when the authentication result corresponding to the ID exists in the storage unit 214 and the authentication result is successful authentication (Yes in step S702), the imaging execution unit 215f executes imaging (step S703), and the image transmission unit 215g. Transmits the generated image data to the service providing apparatus 250 (step S704). Then, the imaging execution processing unit 215b returns a processing result to the transmission source of the imaging request (step S705).

  On the other hand, if the authentication result corresponding to the ID does not exist in the storage unit 214, or if the existing authentication result is not successful authentication (No in step S702), the imaging execution processing unit 215b performs the imaging request without executing imaging. The processing result is returned to the transmission source (step S705).

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation of the service providing apparatus 250. As shown in FIG. 17, in the service providing apparatus 250, when the authentication request is received by the communication unit 251 (Yes in step S801), the authentication unit 253a stores the authentication information and user information received by the communication unit 251. The authentication information stored in the unit 252 is collated to perform authentication processing (step S802), and the authentication result is transmitted from the communication unit 251 to the authentication processing request source (step S803).

When the image data storage request is received by the communication unit 251 (No in step S801,
In step S804, the image transfer unit 253d transfers the image data storage request (step S805). The service providing apparatus 250 repeatedly executes the above processing procedure.

2a, 2b User 10 Network 20 Wireless base station 110 Portable device 110a, 110b, 210a, 210b Portable device 111 Imaging unit 112 Communication unit 113 Communication unit 114, 214 Storage unit 115, 215 Control unit 115a, 215a Imaging request processing unit 115b 215b Imaging execution processing unit 115c, 215c Imaging means detection unit 115d, 215d Imaging request transmission unit 115e, 215e Imaging request reception unit 115f, 215f Imaging execution unit 115g, 215g Image transmission unit 215h Authentication unit 216 Operation unit 217 Notification unit 120a, 120b, 220a, 220b Image management device 121 Communication unit 122 Image storage unit 123 User information storage unit 124 Control unit 124a Image reception unit 124b Storage location determination unit 124c Image storage unit 124d Image transfer unit 130 Shooting request device 1 5 the control unit 140 imaging device 145 control unit 250 the service providing apparatus
251 Communication unit 252 User information storage unit 253 Control unit 253a Authentication unit 253b Image reception unit 253c Transfer destination determination unit 253d Image transfer unit

Claims (2)

A detection step of periodically determining whether or not the photographing request device carried by the user can detect a photographing device existing within a predetermined distance from the own device;
When the imaging device is detected in the detection step, the imaging request device notifies the user to that effect, and
When the photographing request device requests the photographing device detected in the detection step to perform photographing in response to an operation by the user, an address of a storage device corresponding to the user of the photographing request device is specified. A shooting request process for including the transfer destination information to be included in a shooting request for requesting execution of shooting;
An imaging execution step in which the imaging device executes imaging in response to a request in the imaging request step;
The image capturing device captures the image data captured in the image capturing execution step into a storage device whose address is specified by the transfer destination information included in the image capturing request, and a storage device corresponding to the user of the image capturing device. An image transmission method comprising: an image transmission step of transmitting. Detecting means for periodically determining whether or not a photographing apparatus existing within a predetermined distance from the own apparatus can be detected;
If the imaging device is detected in said detection means, and notifying means for notifying the fact to a Subscriber,
Taking an operation by the user as an opportunity, a photographing request transmission means for requesting execution of photographing by designating a transmission destination of photographed image data for the photographing apparatus detected by the detecting means;
When there is a request to execute shooting from another portable device within a predetermined distance from the own device, specifying the address of the storage device corresponding to the user of the other portable device as transfer destination information Photographing execution means for performing photographing;
The image data photographed by the photographing execution means is transmitted to the storage device corresponding to the user of the other portable device whose address is designated as the transfer destination information and the storage device corresponding to the user of the own device. A portable device comprising:

Images