Patent ID: 9699366
Date: 2017-07-04
CPC Classifications: H04N

Claim:
1. An image providing apparatus that provides image data to a portable device carried by a user, the image providing apparatus comprising: a plurality of auxiliary imaging units, each having a shooting range, to generate auxiliary image data; a provider communication unit that performs communication with the portable device; a provider communication control unit that receives, from the portable device, via the provider communication unit, transmission request information requesting the image providing apparatus to transmit composite image data, wherein the transmission request information includes current position information related to a current position of the portable device; a shooting range information recording unit that records therein a plurality of pieces of shooting range information related to the respective shooting ranges of the plurality of auxiliary imaging units; and an image synthesizing unit that generates, based on (1) the current position information included in the transmission request information received from the portable device via the provider communication unit and (2) the plurality of pieces of shooting range information, composite image data by combining the auxiliary image data respectively generated by two or more of the plurality of auxiliary imaging units, or by combining the auxiliary image data generated by at least one of the auxiliary imaging units and image data captured by the portable device, wherein the provider communication control unit transmits, via the provider communication unit, the composite image data to the portable device, wherein the image synthesizing unit that generates composite image data by combining the auxiliary image data respectively generated by two or more of the plurality of auxiliary imaging units, does so by (1) determining, for each of the plurality of pieces of shooting range information, whether the piece of shooting range information includes the current position information included in the transmission request information received from the portable device via the provider communication unit and (2) responsive to a determination that a piece of shooting range information includes the current position information, including an image from the auxiliary imaging unit corresponding to the piece of shooting range in the composite image and otherwise, responsive to a determination that a piece of shooting range information does not include the current position information, not including an image from the auxiliary imaging unit corresponding to the piece of shooting range in the composite image.