JP3958136B2 - Digital camera - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital camera used in a place where there is a range where photographing is restricted.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in a museum, factory, military facility, etc., there is a case where it is desired to prohibit photographing by a visitor in order to protect the copyright of the work or to protect the airtightness. In art museums and museums, there are cases where it is desirable to protect the copyright of a work or to ban photography of some of the works. In factories and military facilities, there is a case where it is desired to prohibit photographing in order to protect trade secrets and military secrets. Furthermore, in zoos and aquariums, it may be desirable to prohibit the shooting of some creatures that are sensitive to flash photography.
[0003]
For this reason, in art museums, factories, etc., a method of restricting photographing by alerting the visitor by attaching a sticker such as “photographing prohibited” or by allowing a staff member to monitor the visitor is employed.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the rules may not be observed even if caution is given by using a sticker, and even if there is a large number of visitors or even if the venue or site is large, monitoring is sufficient even if the staff is monitoring. There is also a problem that it is difficult to completely limit the shooting.
[0005]
On the other hand, it is impossible to satisfy visitors' requirements by prohibiting camera photography at museums, zoos, factories, etc. In addition, there are art works and facilities that may be photographed on the site of the museum and the like, and it is preferable for the museum and the like to permit the visitor to photograph these.
[0006]
A method for photographing at a predetermined location is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-2977736. In the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-2977736, when shooting is performed in a running vehicle, the shooting is automatically performed even if the passenger does not operate when the shooting target is known in advance. The present invention relates to a vehicle photographing system capable of
[0007]
In this vehicle photographing system, a user registers a photographing object in the navigation system in advance. Then, the position information of the vehicle is detected by the navigation system, the distance and direction from the vehicle position to the registered object to be imaged are calculated, and the calculated distance and direction can be captured by the camera with a predetermined distance or direction. Shooting is performed when reaching.
[0008]
However, in the above-described vehicle photographing system, it is necessary to determine the photographing location in advance, and it is not suitable for the purpose of photographing at a place where the photographer wants to photograph arbitrarily while observing like a photographing in a museum or a factory. It is.
[0009]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a digital camera that automatically controls so that only a person who is permitted to shoot can shoot within a specific range.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The digital camera according to the present invention includes an image acquisition unit that captures an image by capturing a subject, a position detection unit that detects a position of the camera itself, and a detected position of the camera itself that allows a user having a specific condition. As long as it is determined by the determination means that the camera is within the specific range, the user of the camera has a specific condition. It is characterized by comprising confirmation means for confirmation and control means for controlling the image acquisition means so that photographing can be performed within a specific range only when confirmation is made by the confirmation means.
[0011]
Here, the image acquired by the “image acquisition unit” may be a still image or a moving image.
[0012]
The “determination means” includes a position table that stores range information indicating a specific range and uses the position table to determine whether the digital camera is within the specific range.
[0013]
“Specific conditions” are conditions provided by a user who is permitted to shoot within a specific range, for example, by having a special registration given to the person concerned or paying a special fee by the user. The “determination means” confirms whether the specific condition is provided using, for example, an ID or a password.
[0014]
The “determination means” has a function of connecting to a storage medium removable from the digital camera storing the range information registered in the position table, reading the range information from the storage medium, and updating the contents of the position table. There may be.
[0015]
In addition, the “position table” has range information indicating the prohibited shooting range together with the specific range, and the “determination unit” uses the position table to set the position of the digital camera to the specific range or the prohibited shooting range. Provided with a function for determining whether or not the image acquisition unit is in control, and when the determination unit determines that the position of the digital camera is within the shooting prohibited range, the control unit controls the image acquisition unit so that the image cannot be captured. May be.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
According to the digital camera of the present invention, when the position of the camera itself is detected and the position of the camera itself is within a specific range, only the user who satisfies the specific condition is automatically allowed to shoot. Therefore, even if the monitor does not monitor whether or not shooting is performed within a specific range, shooting using a digital camera can be automatically restricted, so that shooting can be efficiently controlled. .
[0017]
The specific range has been changed by connecting to a storage medium that can be attached to and detached from the digital camera that stores the range information registered in the position table by the judging means, reading the range information from the storage medium, and updating the contents of the position table. Since the contents of the position table can sometimes be updated based on the storage medium range information, the position table range information can be easily changed.
[0018]
In addition, by setting not only a specific range but also a prohibited shooting range as range information stored in the position table, the shooting prohibited range is prohibited so that any shooting within the prohibited shooting range is prohibited. Thus, confidentiality and copyright management can be reliably performed.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 and 2 are block diagrams showing a preferred embodiment of the digital camera of the present invention. The configuration of the digital camera 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
[0020]
The digital camera 1 includes an image acquisition unit 2, a position detection unit 10, a determination unit 20, a control unit 30, a confirmation unit 40, and the like. The image acquisition unit 2 captures and records a subject and is controlled by the control unit 30. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the image acquisition unit 2 includes an imaging unit 3 that captures an image of a subject, and processes the captured image to perform smart media (registered trademark) via the frame memory 5 and the compression / decompression unit 6. The signal processing unit 4 stores the information in a storage medium 50 such as the above. The image taken by the image acquisition unit 2 is stored in the storage medium 50.
[0021]
The digital camera 1 has a display unit 8 and an operation unit 9, and the user of the digital camera 1 views the captured image through the display unit 8. Further, the user can view and edit the captured image by operating the operation unit 9 while viewing the menu displayed on the display unit 8 by the character generator 5a.
[0022]
The position detecting means 10 detects the position of the digital camera 1 itself, and has, for example, a so-called GPS (Global Positioning System) function. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the position detection means 10 includes a GPS antenna 11, a GPS reception circuit 12, a GPS information acquisition circuit 13, and the like. The GPS antenna 11 and the GPS receiving circuit 12 receive a carrier wave of GPS information and send it to the information acquisition circuit 13. Then, the information acquisition circuit 13 detects the position information of the digital camera 1 from the carrier wave and stores it in the system memory 34.
[0023]
The determination unit 20 determines whether or not the position of the digital camera 1 detected by the position detection unit 10 is within a specific range in which photographing is permitted only for a user who has specific conditions. The determination unit 20 has a position table 21 in which range information indicating a specific range is recorded, and compares the position table 21 with the position information output from the position detection unit 10. Then, a determination result as to whether or not the digital camera 1 is within a specific range is sent to the control means 30.
[0024]
Further, the position table 21 includes range information indicating a photographing permission range in which photographing can be performed indefinitely and range information indicating a photographing prohibition range in which photographing is completely prohibited in addition to range information indicating a specific range. Then, the determination unit 20 determines whether the detected position of the digital camera 1 is in the photographing possible range, the photographing prohibited range, or the specific range using the position table 21. Thereafter, the determination unit 20 outputs to the control unit 30 a determination result indicating whether the position of the digital camera 1 belongs to the photographing prohibited range, the specific range, or the photographing possible range.
[0025]
The control unit 30 controls the operation of the digital camera 1 and has a function of controlling the image acquisition unit 2 based on the determination result of the determination unit 20. Specifically, when it is determined that the digital camera 1 is within the shootable range, the image acquisition unit 2 is brought into a shootable state without limiting the function. On the other hand, when it is determined that the position of the digital camera 1 is within the shooting prohibited range, the control unit 30 restricts the shooting function of the image acquisition unit 2 and then turns off the power of the digital camera 1 itself.
[0026]
When it is determined that the position of the digital camera 1 is within a specific range, the control unit 30 requests the confirmation unit 40 to perform authentication so that the image acquisition unit 2 cannot perform photographing until confirmation is made. Control. Then, only when the confirmation unit 40 can confirm that the user has a specific condition, the control unit 30 releases the restriction of the image acquisition unit 2 and makes it ready for photographing.
[0027]
When the determination unit 20 determines that the position of the digital camera 1 is within a specific range, the confirmation unit 40 confirms whether the user of the digital camera 1 is a user having a specific condition. . Specifically, the confirmation unit 40 confirms whether or not a specific condition is provided using an ID and a password. That is, the confirmation means 40 determines whether the ID and password input via the operation unit 9 match the ID and password registered in the database 41 in advance, so that the user has a specific condition. Make sure that
[0028]
Next, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an art museum which is a facility for using the digital camera of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing an operation example of the digital camera 1 of the present invention. An operation example of the digital camera 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0029]
First, as shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the second painting exhibition room is set to a specific range and the third painting exhibition room is set to a photographing prohibited range by an art exhibition organizer or the like in the museum. It should be noted that places other than the second painting exhibition room and the third painting exhibition room are set within a photographing permission range where the visitor can photograph freely.
[0030]
At this time, the photographing prohibition range, the photographing permission range, and the specific range are set in the digital camera 1 by the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, the photographing prohibition range, the photographing permission range, and the specific range shown in FIG. 3 are generated as range information that can be compared with the position information detected by the position detection means 10 (step ST1). Thereafter, range information indicating the shooting prohibited range, the shooting allowed range, and the specific range is stored in the storage medium 50 using a personal computer or the like (step ST2).
[0031]
Then, the storage medium 50 storing the range information is attached to the digital camera 1 (step ST3). Then, the range information stored in the position table 21 is refreshed by the judging means 20, and the range information stored in the storage medium 50 is newly registered in the position table 21 (step ST4). As a result, the shooting possible range, the shooting prohibited range, and the specific range are set in the position table 21, and the shooting preparation is completed (step ST5).
[0032]
As described above, the contents of the position table 21 can be updated using the storage medium, so that even if the contents of the exhibition change, for example, in a museum, the shooting prohibited range and the specific range can be easily changed accordingly. Will be able to.
[0033]
Next, a case where the user uses the digital camera 1 described above with reference to FIG. 5 will be described. First, as described above, a specific range or the like is set in the position table 21 of the digital camera 1 (step ST10), and the digital camera 1 is lent from the museum to a visitor who wants to take a picture in the museum. When the user turns on the digital camera 1, the position of the digital camera 1 is detected by the operation of the position detection means 10 (step ST11).
[0034]
Thereafter, the position of the digital camera 1 detected by the determination means 20 is compared with the range information stored in the position table 21 (step ST12), and the digital camera 1 is in any of the shooting prohibited range, the shootable range, or the specific range. Is determined (step ST13).
[0035]
Specifically, when the user enters the first painting exhibition room of FIG. 3 (see FIG. 3), the position of the digital camera 1 detected by the position detection means 10 indicates a position within the shootable range. Become. Then, it is determined by the determination means 20 that the position of the digital camera 1 is within the shootable range (step ST20), and the digital camera 1 enters the shootable mode by the control means 30 (step ST21). A work of art can be photographed using (step ST22). The image of the subject photographed by the user is stored in the storage medium 50 (step ST23).
[0036]
When the user enters the third painting exhibition room (see FIG. 3), the position of the digital camera 1 detected by the position detection means 10 indicates a position within the photographing prohibited range. Then, it is determined by the determining means 20 that the position of the digital camera 1 is within the photographing prohibition range (step ST30), and the digital camera 1 enters the photographing prohibiting mode by the control means 30 (step ST31). Then, the function of the image acquisition means 2 is limited by the control means 30 (step ST32), and the power source of the digital camera 1 is turned off (step ST33). This prevents the user from taking pictures in the third painting exhibition room.
[0037]
When the user enters the second painting exhibition room (see FIG. 3), the position of the digital camera 1 detected by the position detection means 10 indicates a position within a specific range. Then, the determination unit 20 determines that the digital camera is in a specific range (step ST40), and the control unit 30 restricts the function of the image acquisition unit 2 to prohibit photographing. At the same time, the confirmation means 40 is activated by a command from the control means 30, and the user is requested for an ID and a password (step ST41). When the user uses the operation unit 9 to give an ID and password, the confirmation means 40 determines whether the input ID and password are correct (step ST42).
[0038]
As a result, when the confirmation means 40 can confirm that the user has a specific condition, the function restriction of the image acquisition means 2 is released by the control means 30 and the photographing enable mode is entered (steps ST21 to ST23). . On the other hand, when the confirmation means 40 fails to confirm, the image acquisition means 2 remains in a restricted state, and photographing cannot be performed (step ST41, step ST42).
[0039]
According to the above embodiment, when the position of the digital camera 1 is detected and the position of the digital camera 1 is within a specific range, only the user who satisfies the specific condition is permitted to take a picture. Since it is possible to automatically limit shooting using the digital camera 1 without monitoring whether shooting is performed in a specific range, it is possible to efficiently control shooting.
[0040]
Specifically, when a visitor visits or inspects a facility that requires copyright, animal protection, secret management, etc., a request may be made to take a picture. On the other hand, the facility side has taken measures such as posting posters that prohibit photography, and prohibiting camera use. However, some visitors may not comply with the rules, and may be reluctant to ban cameras. Therefore, by using the digital camera shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to regulate the object to be photographed in the above-described facility, and the request can be satisfied on both the visitor side and the facility side.
[0041]
In addition, for example, a pamphlet at an art museum is not provided to visitors who have previously photographed a work of art, but an ID and password are given to a visitor who has paid a certain fee, and a certain range of works of art By enabling photographing, it is possible to provide a service for selling photographed images. Then, the visitor can receive a service such as obtaining an image obtained by photographing a work of art and himself.
[0042]
In addition, the contents of the exhibition changed in, for example, an art museum by connecting to a removable storage medium storing the new specific range by the judging means 20, reading the new specific range from the storage medium 50, and updating the contents of the position table. Even in this case, the contents of the photographing prohibition range, the photographing possible range, and the specific range can be easily changed correspondingly.
[0043]
The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the position detection unit 10 refers to the case where the position of the digital camera 1 is detected using so-called GPS, but can recognize whether the position of the digital camera 1 is in a specific range. Anything is acceptable. For example, within the specific range, different identification signals are output within the imageable range, the image-forbidden range, and the specific range, and the position detection unit 10 detects the position signal. Then, the determination unit 20 determines whether the identification signal detected by the position detection unit 10 indicates a photographing possible range, a photographing prohibited range, or a specific range. Thereby, when GPS is used for indoor position detection, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the position detection system due to radio wave interference caused by a roof or a wall.
[0044]
In addition, when GPS is used as the position detection means 10, when the GPS accuracy is not sufficient, a photographing possible range, a photographing prohibited range, and a specific range may be set for each facility building. As shown in FIG. 6, when a plurality of specific ranges are set for one facility, a different password may be set for each specific range. Thereby, for example, when different artworks are displayed for each specific range, copyright protection or the like can be performed for each artwork.
[0045]
Further, in the confirmation means 40 of FIG. 2, the user inputs the ID and password by operating the operation unit 9, but specific conditions are provided by so-called electronic authentication using an IC chip or the like. You may make it authenticate.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the digital camera of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the digital camera of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of creation or updating of a position table in the digital camera of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an operation example of the digital camera of the present invention. Plan view showing another example of a facility where the digital camera of the invention is used
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital camera 2 Image acquisition means 10 Position detection means 20 Determination means 21 Position table 30 Control means 40 Confirmation means 41 Database 50 Storage medium

Claims (4)

In digital cameras,
Image acquisition means for capturing an image by photographing a subject;
Position detecting means for detecting the position of the digital camera itself;
Determining means for determining whether or not the detected position of the digital camera itself is within a specific range in which photographing is permitted only to a user having specific conditions;
Confirmation means for confirming that the user of the digital camera has a specific condition when the determination means determines that the digital camera is within the specific range;
A digital camera comprising: a control unit that controls the image acquisition unit so that photographing can be performed within the specific range only when confirmation is made by the confirmation unit. The determination means has a position table storing range information indicating the specific range, and uses the position table to determine whether the digital camera is within the specific range. The digital camera according to claim 1. The position table has range information indicating a shooting prohibited range in which shooting is prohibited together with the specific range,
The determination means has a function of determining whether the position of the digital camera is in the specific range or the photographing prohibited range using the position table,
3. The image acquisition unit according to claim 2, wherein when the determination unit determines that the position of the digital camera is within the shooting prohibited range, the control unit controls the image acquisition unit so that shooting is not possible. The digital camera described in 1. The determination unit has a function of connecting to a storage medium removable from the digital camera storing range information to be registered in the position table, reading the range information from the storage medium, and updating the contents of the position table. The digital camera according to claim 2, wherein the digital camera is a camera.

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