Digital camera and imaging system for recording imaging information in association with image data

A digital camera has an imaging information record mode where imaging information including information on a target to be picked up is recorded in association with image data as well as a regular shooting mode. When imaging information to be recorded is determined, the details of the information is sent to external apparatus via a radio interface and an antenna and corrected by the user interface of the external apparatus. The corrected image is input via the antenna again and updated. The updated image is recorded as property information in an image file including the shot image. According to the digital camera, it is possible to readily correct and add imaging information recorded as property information of image data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a digital camera which records imaging information including information on a target to be picked up in association with image data under an imaging information record mode and a imaging system which uses such a digital camera.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the case of photographing and recording a working situation in a construction site or a manufacturing factory, data concerning an image to be picked up such as a scene is predetermined. A user picks up images on the basis of such imaging guide data. A shot image is managed together with imaging conditions such as imaging date/time information, diaphragm, and shutter speed as well as data on imaging scene.

A digital camera usually records data of an image in an image file form including image data property information. The property information can be recorded including imaging conditions such as imaging date/time information, diaphragm, and shutter speed as well as user's memo in picking up. Thus, using a digital camera for recording an image of a working situation simplifies recording and management of an image.

A technology which uses a digital camera for recording an image of a working situation is described in “A digital camera system for recording of work” in the JP-A-2001-24982. This camera system generates information on individual images to be picked up (imaging information including target to be imaged, scenes, and bibliographic information on a target to be imaged) on a computer for managing an image database, sends to and stores into a digital camera the generated imaging information, records the image data in association with the imaging information, and sends to the computer the image data and the imaging information for management. The imaging information is generated about images to be picked up on the very day. Thus, it is possible to prevent omission of picking up images by managing the information to discriminate between the imaging information after picking up and the imaging information before picking up.

Imaging information sent to and stored into a digital camera can be displayed and checked on the display of the digital camera per image to be shot. The imaging information can be corrected or additional items can be input by using input means of the digital camera. However, the interface of a digital camera is simple and not ready for complicated input operations such as a correction to the imaging information. In order to record environmental parameters such as the longitude and latitude information and the outside air temperature of an imaging site, a digital camera must be equipped with a GPS unit and various sensors. This approach, however, generates additional costs and is not favorable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a digital camera that can easily correct and add imaging information recorded as property information of image data and an imaging system which uses such a digital camera.

The invention provides a digital camera, which records imaging information including information on a target to be picked up in association with image data under an imaging information record mode, has an imaging information storage section for storing the imaging information, a communications section for communicating with an external portable terminal via wired or wireless communications, an imaging controller for performing imaging control including imaging control in the imaging information record mode, and an imaging information management section for managing the imaging information, wherein the imaging information management section, in the imaging information record mode, sends imaging information selected from the imaging information stored in the imaging information storage section to the external portable terminal via the communications section and updates the imaging information in the imaging information storage section when receiving the imaging information from the external portable terminal, and the imaging controller, in the imaging information record mode, reads the selected imaging information from the imaging information storage section and stores the imaging information in association with the image data in recording image data.

The imaging information is recorded as property information of an image file including the image data.

The invention provides a shooting having a digital camera, which records imaging information including information on a target to be picked up in association with image data under an imaging information record mode, and a portable terminal, wherein said digital camera including: an imaging information storage section for storing said imaging information; a communications section for communicating with an external portable terminal via wired or wireless communications; an imaging controller for performing imaging control including imaging control in said imaging information record mode; and an imaging information management section for managing said imaging information, wherein said imaging information management section, in said imaging information record mode, sends imaging information selected from the imaging information stored in said imaging information storage section to said external portable terminal via said communications section and updates said imaging information in said imaging information storage section when receiving said imaging information from said external portable terminal, and said imaging controller, in said imaging information record mode, reads said selected imaging information from said imaging information storage section and stores the imaging information in association with said image data in recording image data, and the portable terminal, which is connected via said communications section, including a display section, an operating section and an imaging information modification controller, wherein said imaging information modification controller displays the imaging information received from said digital camera onto said display section and sends said imaging information which is undergone a correction to said digital camera, said correction includes a correction implemented by way of operation on said operating section.

The imaging information is recorded as property information of an image file including said image data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the invention will be described referring to drawings.FIG. 1shows a general configuration of a digital camera according to an embodiment of the invention.

A digital camera100shown inFIG. 1acquires digital image signal by way of an image pickup section11, a signal processor12, and an A/D converter13. A strobe light controller14causes a strobe light15to flash for stroboscopic photography. The digital image signal undergoes compression process by a compression/decompression section16and recorded onto a memory card19inserted in a memory card slot18via a card interface17. Recording onto the memory card19is made per image file including compressed image data and property information.

To display an image which is based on image data recorded on the memory card19, the compression/decompression section16performs decompression of image data read from the memory card19and writes the data into a frame memory21. An LCD (liquid crystal display) controller22displays an image associated with the data in the frame memory21. The LCD23can display an image which is based on a digital image signal acquired from the A/D converter13as well as an image which is based on the image data on the memory card19. The LCD23is also used to display various states of the digital camera100and an operation menu.

An input/output interface31, which is connected to a switch/LED32, inputs various operation signal from switches of the digital camera100and outputs a signal for an LED to display states of the digital camera100. A radio interface33performs short-range radio communications to external apparatus via an antenna34. The short-range radio communications include Bluetooth, infrared data communications of the IrDA system and wireless LAN. Communications with external apparatus may use wired communications means.

A controller41controls the operation of the entire digital camera100. A processor operating on a predetermined program mainly constitutes the controller41. The controller41records and manages imaging information described later as well as controls imaging operation, image recording operation, and image display operation. A system memory42and a nonvolatile memory43store data and a program used for various process in the digital camera100and serves as a working memory. A timer44and a clock45are used to control imaging timing and to record/manage imaging information. A system bus50transfers data between each components of the digital camera100.

Regular imaging operation, image recording operation, and image display operation of the digital camera100having the aforementioned components are not described because they are basically the same as those in the related art.

The digital camera100has an imaging information recording mode that imaging information including information on a target to be picked up is recorded in association with image data as well as a regular imaging mode. Imaging information items are a scene name to identify a target to be picked up, outside air temperature at a imaging site, imaging date/time, image file name, and longitude and latitude information of a imaging site, which are respectively set as required in response to a user's request. The imaging information is generated on a personal computer and previously stored into the digital camera100. Input to the digital camera100may use the memory card19or short-range radio communications. In the case the memory card19is used to input imaging information, the memory card is also used to record an image file.

FIG. 2shows an example of an imaging information item list. Value of an item, destination tag name in an image file and its record format type are set in each item. The example ofFIG. 2shows that value “Foundation concrete A” and other data are input in the item “scene name”. Outside air temperature information, imaging date/time, and image file name are blank because such values are automatically generated by the digital camera100or a user manually inputs when an image is picked up. The imaging information is generated per image to be picked up and is input as a imaging information list file to the digital camera100.FIG. 3shows part of the imaging information list file to be input.

The imaging information input to and stored into the digital camera100is referred in imaging and is used for identifying a target to be picked up. When the digital camera100is set to the imaging information record mode by way of operation of a switch, the controller41refers to the stored imaging information and displays imaging targets on the LCD23as shown inFIG. 4to prompt the user to select one. Selection is made by moving a cursor401. When selection is made, the details of the selected imaging information is recorded onto an image file including the image as property information in recording of the image. The imaging information is preferably generated as file in an order to identify an imaging target in accordance with the imaging order. Imaging information on a picked up image is preferably not displayed. The initial position of a cursor after mode switchover preferably points to an imaging target which is picked up at first.

Imaging information can be modified by way of operation of external apparatus. Modification of imaging information is implemented by sending a selected imaging information to external apparatus such as a PDA via radio communications, receiving the modified imaging information, and updating the stored imaging information to the received imaging information. Modification of imaging information includes input of a value into an item to which is not yet input, a correction of an input value, addition of a new item, as well as generation of a new item.

FIG. 5shows an exemplary general configuration of a shooting system which modifies imaging information by using a PDA. A PDA200inFIG. 5has a controller242for controlling the operation of the entire PDA200, a system memory242, a nonvolatile memory243, a timer244, a clock245, an input/output interface231, an operating section232, a transceiver circuit233, an antenna234, a GPS interface235, a GPS module236, a card interface211, a memory card slot212, a memory card213, a frame memory221, an LCD controller222, an LCD223, and a system bus500.

The controller constituted by a processor controls the operation of the PDA200in accordance with various programs. The PDA200is equipped with the transceiver circuit233and the antenna234so as to allow communications with the digital camera100. The PDA200has a well-known structure except that a GPS module is provided, so that details of the functions are not described.

The PDA displays the imaging information received from the digital camera100via short-range radio communications and awaits modification of the imaging information. Modification of imaging information is made by operation on the operating section232. The modified imaging information is sent to the digital camera100. In the case that longitude and latitude information is added to the imaging information, the longitude and latitude information acquired by using the GPS module236is added to the imaging information. Transmission of the modified information from the PDA200to the digital camera100is made by way of a transmission instruction by the operating section232of the PDA200. In case a transmission instruction is not detected for a predetermined time after reception of imaging information, the imaging information may be automatically sent.

Next, imaging operation using the imaging system inFIG. 5in the imaging information recording mode will be described.FIG. 6shows a general flow of imaging operation of the digital camera100.FIG. 7shows a general operation flow of the PDA200.

Assume that imaging information shown inFIG. 3is input to the digital camera100via the memory card19. When the digital camera100is set to the imaging information record mode, a list of imaging information recorded in step601is displayed. Listing of imaging information does not need to cover all items of an imaging information but may include at least a imaging scene and other items may be omitted.

When the user selects imaging information (a shooting scene) in step602, an attempt is made to connect to the PDA200in step603. Whether connection of the digital camera100to the PDA200is available or not is determined in step604. In the case connection is available, the imaging information selected in step605is sent to the PDA200. The digital camera100awaits imaging information sent from the PDA200in step606. After receiving imaging information from the PDA200, the digital camera updates the imaging information in step607.

Even in the case connection to the PDA200is unavailable in step604, imaging itself is available. When an image is picked up in step608, the digital camera100records the picked up image data and the imaging information in step609. The digital camera100determines whether imaging is complete or not. In the case imaging is not complete, the execution returns to step601and repeats the same process.

When the PDA200receives a connection request from a digital camera100, the PDA200performs connection process in step701. When the connection is established, the PDA200receives imaging information and displays the received imaging information in step702. The PDA200then acquires GPS information and adds the acquired information to the received imaging information in step703.FIG. 8shows a display example of the PDA200assumed when the PDA200received the imaging information of the scene name “Foundation concrete B” in the imaging information list file shown inFIG. 3and added GOS information.

Next, the PDA200corrects the imaging information in step704, and sends the corrected imaging information to the digital camera100to end the process in step705.

FIG. 9shows an example of updated imaging information in the digital camera100. In this example, longitude and latitude information based on GPS information are added to the imaging information of the scene name “Foundation concrete B” and an outside air temperature is manually input.FIG. 10shows the format of an image file that the imaging information of the update scene name “Foundation concrete B” is added as property information.

As explained the above, it is possible to easily correct and add imaging information recorded as property information of image data.