Patent Publication Number: US-2004046871-A1

Title: Photographing apparatus, photographing restrain system, and photographing restrain release system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to an improvement of the technology to effectively restrain a photographing apparatus from operation when someone intends to take a forbidden object or to take pictures in a forbidden area. The term “photographing apparatus” used herein means a digital still camera (digital camera for short), a digital video camera, and a portable communication terminal equipped with a digital camera.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] The recent development of digital technology has greatly affected the technological innovation relating to the digital camera and digital video camera. The highly improved performance and significantly reduced size have permitted the digital camera to be built into a portable communication terminal, such as portable telephone and PHS terminal. At present, such a portable communication terminal functions as a visual telephone because it can transmit through mobile communication networks the data of still pictures taken by a digital camera. On the other hand, a digital video camera permits the moving pictures it takes to be reproduced in real time on the display unit of a portable communication terminal or a personal computer by transmitting the data of moving pictures through mobile communication networks.  
       [0005] In urban communities, there are facilities such as theaters (or movie theaters) and banks, where photographing is prohibited from the standpoint of copyright protection and security. There are also facilities such as sports stadiums and zoological gardens, where flash photographing is forbidden to avoid adverse effects on players and animals. In addition, some administrators of art galleries and museums are planning to charge those who take pictures in forbidden areas.  
       [0006] Unfortunately, it would be difficult to completely restrain everybody from photographing in such facilities because the portable communication terminal is so small that its user can easily bring it into forbidden areas and photograph forbidden objects without being noticed. Moreover, the portable communication terminal mentioned above permits its user to transmit the image data of pictures of forbidden objects to another terminal immediately after photographing. Then it permits its user to erase the image data from it (digital camera). In such a case it would be difficult to prove the stealthy photographing.  
       [0007] The portable communication terminal equipped with a digital camera as mentioned above is so constructed as to produce a mimic shutter sound when its user takes a picture, so that it warns that someone near it is being photographed. This provision is designed to protect the subject&#39;s right of portrait; however, it is not so effective because the mimic shutter sound cannot be made so loud as to annoy surroundings. On the other hand, a digital video camera emits light from an LED mounted near the lens when it is in operation, thereby letting the subject know that he or she is being photographed. However, this provision is not intended to prevent stealthy photographing.  
       [0008] Thus, it is difficult to surely restrain one from photographing (with or without flash) forbidden subjects with a digital camera built into a portable communication terminal or a digital video camera which has the provision as mentioned above. Such conventional cameras, therefore, pose problems with infringement of copyright and portrait right and with securities. Moreover, they easily permit stealthy photographing because they do not fully inform the subject (and surroundings) that he or she is being photographed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographing apparatus or a portable terminal equipped with a photographing apparatus which surely restrains one from taking pictures in any area where photographing is prohibited.  
       [0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, the photographing apparatus consists of an electrically controlled photographing unit, a signal receiving unit to receive signals from an external remote unit, and a photographing control unit which controls the operation of the photographing unit (or controls actions relating to photographing operation) in response to control signals which are output from the signal receiving unit to control the photographing unit.  
       [0011] Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0012]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the first embodiment of the photographing restrain system according to the present invention.  
     [0013]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the second embodiment of the photographing restrain system according to the present invention.  
     [0014]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the third embodiment of the photographing restrain system according to the present invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing operations in each unit of the photographing restrain system of FIG. 3.  
     [0016]FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the photographing warning system according to the present invention.  
     [0017]FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating by example the photographing restrain system of the present invention which is used in an outdoor area where unconditional photographing is prohibited.  
     [0018]FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating by another example the photographing restrain system of the present invention which is used in an outdoor area where unconditional photographing is prohibited.  
     [0019]FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing operations in each unit of the photographing restrain system of FIG. 7.  
     [0020]FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating by example the commercial information providing system that employs the portable communication terminal according to the present invention.  
     [0021]FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing operations in each unit of the commercial information providing system of FIG. 9.  
     [0022]FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating by example the photographing restrain release system that employs the portable communication terminal according to the present invention.  
     [0023]FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing operations in each unit of the photographing restrain release system of FIG. 11.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0024] The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     [0025]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the first embodiment of the photographing restrain system according to the present invention.  
     [0026] The photographing restrain system is installed in such facilities as theaters (or movie theaters) and banks, where photographing is prohibited for copyright protection or securities. As shown in FIG. 1, it consists of a photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  and a portable communication terminal  103 . The former is positioned near a subject  105  to be photographed. It transmits wirelessly the photographing restrain information regarding the subject  105 . Such information includes whether or not photographing (with flash) is permitted and how many pictures are allowed. In other words, the subject  105  has limits previously imposed on permission of photographing, number of pictures, and use of flash. Incidentally, the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  has a memory unit to previously store the photographing restrain information mentioned above, a wireless transmitter to send the photographing restrain information stored in the memory, and a control unit for them, which are not shown in FIG. 1. On the other hand, the portable communication terminal  103  (which receives the photographing restrain information) consists of a communication unit  109 , a memory unit  111 , a short-distance wireless communication unit  113 , a display unit  115 , and a control unit  117 . It also has a digital camera or CCD camera  107 .  
     [0027] The CCD camera  107  in the portable communication terminal  103  takes a photograph of the subject  105  under control by the control unit  117 . The communication unit  109  interchanges information, under control by the control unit  117 , with portable communication terminals (not shown) and information processing terminals such as personal computers (not shown) through mobile communication networks. The memory unit  111  stores, under control by the control unit  117 , image data of the subject  105  photographed by the CCD camera  107  and any other various data received by the communication unit  109  from portable communication terminals (not shown) through mobile communication networks.  
     [0028] The short-distance wireless communication unit  113  transmits in non-contact mode, under control by the control unit  117 , various data read from the memory unit  111  by the control unit  117  directly to other portable communication terminals (not shown) in the neighborhood of the portable communication terminal  103 . In addition, the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  also receives, under control by the control unit  117 , the photographing restrain information regarding the subject  105  which has been wirelessly transmitted from the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  and outputs the photographing restrain information to the memory unit  111  through the control unit  117 . In this embodiment, the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  employs Bluetooth (a trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. USA).  
     [0029] The display unit  115  displays, under control by the control unit  117 , image data of the subject  105  photographed by the CCD camera  107 , and it also display in a prescribed mode various data received by the communication unit  109  from other portable communication terminals (not shown) through mobile communication networks. The control unit  117  controls the CCD camera  107 , the communication unit  109 , the memory unit  111 , the short-distance wireless communication unit  113 , and the display unit  115 .  
     [0030] The following deals with the flow of processing that takes place in the photographing restrain system when the subject  105  is photographed by the CCD camera  107  of the portable communication terminal  103 . (As mentioned above, the subject  105  is under some restrain in permission of picture taking and flash use and the number of pictures.)  
     [0031] In FIG. 1, the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  wirelessly transmits continuously or intermittently the above-mentioned photographing retrain information about the subject  105 . On the other hand, in the portable communication terminal  103 , the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  becomes ready to receive the photographing retrain information which is wirelessly transmitted from the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  as the user turns on the CCD camera  107  and sets the portable communication terminal  103  in photographing mode (and also turns on the short-distance wireless communication unit  113 ).  
     [0032] If the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  in its stand-by state receives photographing restrain information other than “photographing—prohibited”, then the control unit  117  controls the CCD camera  107  based on such photographing restrain information, thereby permitting it to take pictures of the subject  105 . Incidentally, if the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  in its stand-by state does not receive the photographing restrain information, then the CCD camera  107  of the portable communication terminal  103  performs photographing in the usual way under control by the control unit  117 . Photographing restrains other than “photographing—prohibited” will be explained later one by one.  
     [0033] When the control unit  117  recognizes that the above-mentioned photographing restrain information is “photographing—prohibited” (or taking a picture of the subject  105  is prohibited), then the control unit  117  sends the CCD camera  107  a command to prevent its photographing action. As an alternative, it would be possible to prevent the control unit  117  from writing in the memory unit  111  the image data of the subject  105  taken by the CCD camera  107 , instead of preventing the CCD camera  107  from taking pictures.  
     [0034] Next, when the control unit  117  recognizes that the above-mentioned photographing restrain information is “limited pictures” (or photographing the subject  105  is limited in the number of pictures), then the control unit  117  adds the number of pictures (image data) taken by the CCD camera  107 . Upon recognizing that the added value has reached the previously set number of pictures, the control unit  117  controls the CCD camera  107  to suspend its photographing action.  
     [0035] Furthermore, when the control unit  117  recognizes that the above-mentioned photographing restrain information contains any command to display the restrain regarding the photographing of the subject  105  in addition to the “limited pictures” information and the “flash—prohibited”information, then the control unit  117  causes the display unit  115  to display such information in response to the command. Also, when the control unit  117  recognizes that the above-mentioned photographing restrain information contains any command to display the prohibition of the photographing of the subject  105  in addition to “photographing—prohibited” (or taking a picture of the subject  105  is prohibited), then the control unit  117  causes the display unit  115  to display such information (“photographing—prohibited”) in response to the command.  
     [0036] In this case, the control unit  117  disables the photographing action of the CCD camera  107  or the control unit  117  restrains itself from writing image data (of pictures taken by the CCD camera  107 ) into the memory unit  111 . Alternatively, the control unit  117  may merely indicate on the display unit  111  that the photographing of the subject  105  is prohibited instead of disabling the photographing action or any other actions relating to photographing.  
     [0037] Incidentally, the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  may be operated such that the transmission level of the photographing restrain information to be transmitted therefrom is adjusted to such an extent that unless the user approaches within several meters from the subject  105 , the user&#39;s portable communication terminal  103  cannot receive such information. In this way it is possible to avoid an erratic operation of the portable communication terminal  103  when a user takes a picture of anything other than the subject  105  in the vicinity of the subject  105 . In addition, the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  with a controlled low transmission level as mentioned above is effective in any facility (such as a movie theater in which photographing is entirely prohibited), if a plurality of such units are arranged in the facility so that the portable communication terminal  103  can receive the photographing restrain information at any place in the facility.  
     [0038] Incidentally, a wrong-minded person may attempt to escape the photographing restrain by covering the portable communication terminal  103  (except for the CCD camera  107 ) with a radio wave shielding material so that the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  cannot receive the photographing restrain information from the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101 . However, such an attempt will be foiled if the portable communication terminals  103  is constructed as follows. That is, the CCD camera  107  is placed near the antenna of the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  in the casing of the portable communication terminal  103  so that the CCD camera is also covered if the antennal is covered with a radio wave shielding material. If the CCD camera  107  is placed near the antenna of the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  in the casing of the portable communication terminal  103  as mentioned above, it is impossible to shut out the radio wave of photographing restrain information entering the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  unless the CCD camera  107  is also covered with the radio wave shielding material. The same effect as above may also be produced when the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  is based on wireless LAN or even when radio wave is replaced by infrared data communication conforming to IrDA (Infrared Data Association).  
     [0039] As mentioned above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the photographing restrain system is constructed such that the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  built into the portable communication terminal  103  receives the photographing restrain information which is wirelessly transmitted from the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  and then it outputs signals to the control unit  117  which controls each part of the portable communication terminal  103 . With this system, it is possible to certainly restrain the portable communication terminal  103  equipped with a photographing mechanism from taking pictures (or using a flash) in some facilities, such as theaters, movie theaters, and banks, where photographing or flashing is prohibited. Thus it is possible to solve problems with securities in banks and problems with infringement of copyright and portrait right. In addition, it would be possible to charge for photographing in art galleries. Incidentally, according to this embodiment, the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  is arranged near the subject  105  as mentioned above. However, it may be carried by an attendant in the facility concerned. Moreover, this embodiment may also be applicable to a digital video camera as well as the portable communication terminal  103  equipped with the CCD camera  107 .  
     [0040]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the second embodiment of the photographing restrain system according to the present invention.  
     [0041] This photographing restrain system is to be installed in a facility (such as theater and movie theater) where photographing is prohibited in full measure. It consists of the portable communication terminal  103  (shown in FIG. 1), the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  123 , and the reset signal transmitter  125 . The subject is indicated by  105 .  
     [0042] The photographing restrain information transmitting unit  123  functions in almost the same way as the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, it is arranged at the entrance  121   a  or in the neighborhood of the entrance  121   a  of the area in which photographing is prohibited. It wirelessly transmits the photographing restrain information continuously or intermittently to the portable communication terminal  103  in the area  121  where photographing is prohibited. The photographing restrain information transmitting unit  123  is equipped with a memory unit  127  to previously store the photographing restrain information mentioned above, a wireless transmitter  129  to send the photographing restrain information stored in the memory unit, and a control unit  131  to control the memory unit  127  and the wireless transmitter  129 .  
     [0043] On the other hand, the reset signal transmitter  125  is arranged at the exit  121   b  or in the neighborhood of the exit  121   b  of the area  121  where photographing is prohibited. It wirelessly transmits to the portable communication terminal  103  a reset signal to remove restrains imposed on the portable communication terminal  103  according to the photographing restrain information transmitted from the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  123 .  
     [0044] The photographing restrain system constructed as mentioned above works in the following manner when a user carrying the portable communication terminal  103  enters the area  121  where photographing is prohibited.  
     [0045] In FIG. 2, it is assumed that a user carrying the portable communication terminal  103  enters the area  121  where photographing is prohibited through the entrance  121   a . The short-distance wireless communication unit  113  of the portable communication terminal  103  receives the photographing restrain information (for the subject  105 ) which is transmitted from the wireless transmitter  129  of the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  123 . The thus received information is downloaded to the memory unit  111  of the portable communication terminal  103 . Consequently, when the user takes pictures using the portable communication terminal  103  in the area  121  where photographing is prohibited, the control unit  117  restricts the action of the CCD camera  107  according to the photographing restrain information stored in the memory unit  111 . So, even though the user turns on the CCD camera  107  to photograph the subject  105 , the control unit  117  prevents the CCD camera  107  from operating normally.  
     [0046] Then, when the user leaves the area  121  (where photographing is prohibited) through the exit  121   b , the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  of the portable communication terminal  103  receives the reset signal transmitted from the reset signal transmitter  125 . The thus received signal is transferred to the control unit  117  from the short-distance wireless communication unit  113 . Upon reading the reset signal, the control unit  117  resets the photographing restrain information stored in the memory unit  111 .  
     [0047] In the meantime, the above-mentioned photographing restrain system has the disadvantage that if the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  of the portable communication terminal  103  fails to receive the reset signal from the reset signal transmitter  125  when the user carrying the portable communication terminal  103  leaves the area  121  where photographing is prohibited through the exit  121   b , the photographing restrain imposed on the portable communication terminal  103  will not be removed. It follows therefore that if the user leaves the area  121  where photographing is prohibited while the portable communication terminal  103  has not yet received the reset signal from the reset signal transmitter  125 , the photographing restrain remains imposed on the portable communication terminal  103  even when the user is outside the area  121  where photographing is prohibited.  
     [0048] This disadvantage will be eliminated if the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  123  is modified such that it wirelessly transmits the photographing restrain information together with the timing action starting instruction. Thus, upon passing through the entrance  121   a , the portable communication terminal  103  (carried by the user) receives the photographing restrain information together with the timing action starting instruction. Then, the control unit  117  starts timing, and when the measured time length has reached the previously set time length, the photographing restrain imposed on the portable communication terminal  103  is removed. In this way it is possible to avoid the above-mentioned problem even when the portable communication terminal  103  fails to receive the reset signal from the rest signal transmitter  125 .  
     [0049] As mentioned above, the second embodiment of the photographing restrain system according to the present invention works in such a way that the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  123  down-loads the photographing restrain information into the portable communication terminal  103  passing through the entrance  121   a  of the area (or the facility such as theater and movie theater) where photographing is prohibited. Therefore, it produces almost the same effect as the first embodiment mentioned above. In addition, it does not need the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  123  for individual subjects for which photographing is prohibited. This makes the system simple and inexpensive.  
     [0050] Moreover, if the user entering the area  121  where photographing is prohibited pays charge for photographing the subject  105  to the administrator of the facility, the administrator will permit the user to photograph the subject  105  and limit the number of pictures to be taken of the subject  105 . Thus, the administrator would be able to charge for the photographing of the forbidden subject  105 . Incidentally, the down-loading of the photographing restrain information from the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  123  may take place not only when the user passes through the entrance  121   a  but also at any time and any place while the user is in the forbidden area  121 . Moreover, this embodiment may also be applicable to a digital video camera as well as the portable communication terminal  103  equipped with the CCD camera  107 .  
     [0051]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the third embodiment of the photographing restrain system according to the present invention.  
     [0052] As shown in FIG. 3, the photographing restrain system is identical with that shown FIG. 2 except that the photographing restrain content changing information transmission unit  133  is installed for each of the forbidden subjects  105  in the forbidden area  121 . (For the sake of simple illustration, one each of  105  and  133  is shown in FIG. 3.) The photographing restrain content changing information transmission unit  133  transmits the photographing restrain content changing information which changes the content of the photographing restrain information which has been down-loaded from the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  123  into the portable communication terminal  103  of the user passing through the entrance  121   a . The photographing restrain content changing information transmission unit  133  also wirelessly transmits, in addition to the photographing restrain content changing information, information to the portable communication terminal  103  telling that photographing restrain is imposed on the subject  105 .  
     [0053] In other words, the above-mentioned system works in such a way that when the user photographs the forbidden subject  105  using the portable communication terminal  103 , the portable communication terminal  103  receives the photographing restrain content changing information from the photographing restrain content changing information transmission unit  133  and adds this information to the photographing restrain information from the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  123 . In this way it is possible to change the content of photographing restrain for each subject  105 .  
     [0054] The operation of the photographing restrain system constructed as mentioned above will be explained below with reference to FIG. 4 (flowchart).  
     [0055] In FIG. 4, as the user carrying the portable communication terminal  103  passes through the entrance  121   a  of the area  121  where photographing is restrained, the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  of the portable communication terminal  103  receives the photographing restrain information from the wireless transmitter  129  of the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  123 , and the received information is down-loaded into the memory unit  111  of the portable communication terminal  103 . (Step S 141 ) Then, the user finds the object  105  in the area  121  where photographing is restrained and presses the start-up button (not shown) of the operating unit (not shown) of the CCD camera of the portable communication terminal  103 . The control unit  117  is informed of the operation of the operating unit (in Step S 142 —Yes). Then the control unit  117  turns on the CCD camera  107  and makes the portable communication terminal  103  ready for photographing. (Step S 143 ) Then, the control unit  117  turns on the short-distance wireless communication unit  113 , thereby making it ready to receive the photographing restrain content changing information (corresponding to the object  105 ) from the photographing restrain content changing information transmission unit  133 . (Step S 144 ) If the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  receives the photographing restrain content changing information in the stand-by state (Step S 145 —Yes), then the portable communication terminal  103  executes the photographing of the subject  105  under the condition that the content of the photographing restrain content changing information is added to the photographing restrain information which has been down-loaded from the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  123  in Step S 141 . (Step S 146 )  
     [0056] On the other hand, if the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  does not receive the photographing restrain content changing information in the stand-by state (Step S 145 —No), the portable communication terminal  103  executes the photographing of the subject  105  based on the photographing restrain information which has been down-loaded from the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  123  in Step S 141 . (Step S 147 ) Incidentally, the actions in Step S 142  to Step S 146  or Step s 147  are continued until the start-up button (not shown) of the CCD camera is turned off by the user or until any other action is taken which suggests that the user intends to leave the forbidden area  121 . (Step S 147 —No)  
     [0057] Then, if it is confirmed that the user intends to leave the forbidden area  121  through the exit  121   b  (Step S 148 —Yes), the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  receives the reset signal from the reset signal transmitter  125  (Step S 149 ) and it is output to the control unit  117  from the short-distance wireless communication unit  113 . Upon reading the reset signal, the control unit  117  resets the photographing restrain information stored in the memory unit  111 . (Step S 150 )  
     [0058] As mentioned above, the third embodiment of the photographing restrain system of the present invention produces the same effect as the second embodiment. In addition, it is additionally equipped with the photographing restrain content changing information transmission unit  133  for each subject  105 , so that it receives from  133  the photographing restrain chaining information for each subject  105  when the user photographs the subject  105  using the portable communication terminal  103 . This provision makes it possible to change the content of the photographing restrain for individual subject  105  in the forbidden area  121 . Moreover, this embodiment may also be applicable to a digital video camera as well as the portable communication terminal  103  equipped with the CCD camera  107 .  
     [0059]FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the photographing warning system according to the present invention.  
     [0060] As shown in FIG. 5, the photographing warning system consists of the portable communication terminal  103  which is equipped with a digital camera (or CCD camera) and the portable communication terminal  153  which is not equipped with a digital camera (or CCD camera). The portable communication terminal  103  and the portable communication terminal  153  are identical in structure except that only the former is equipped with the CCD camera  107 . In other words, both the portable communication terminals  103  and  153  have the communication unit  109 , the memory unit  111 , the short-distance wireless communication unit  113 , the display unit  115 , and the control unit  117 , which function as explained above with reference to FIGS.  1  to  3 .  
     [0061] Incidentally, the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  employs Bluetooth (a trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. USA) as mentioned above. While kept on continuously, the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  transmits continuously to the soundings the photographing start information (informing that the portable communication terminal  103  will start the photographing action). While kept on intermittently, the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  transmits intermittently to the soundings the photographing start information.  
     [0062] The photographing warning system constructed as mentioned above works in the following manner when a user carrying the portable communication terminal  103  enters a forbidden area to take pictures.  
     [0063] Referring to FIG. 5, it is assumed that one user carrying the portable communication terminal  103  turns on the CCD camera  107  (or turns the portable communication terminal  103  into its photographing mode). At this time, the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  is also turned on, and it transmits continuously or intermittently the photographing start information to the surroundings.  
     [0064] On the other hand, it is assumed that the other user carrying the portable communication terminal  153  keeps the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  on continuously or intermittently. Then, the portable communication terminal  153  receives continuously or intermittently the photographing start information which is being transmitted continuously or intermittently from the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  of the portable communication terminal  103 , and it outputs the photographing start information to the control unit  117 . Upon reading the photographing start information, the control unit  117  actuates a speaker (not shown) built into the portable communication terminal  153 , thereby producing a warning sound, or actuates the display unit  115 , thereby displaying a warning message on the display unit  115 , or actuates a vibration mechanism (not shown), thereby informing the user carrying the portable communication terminal  153  that someone is going to take pictures nearby.  
     [0065] Incidentally, the portable communication terminal  103  may be constructed such that it not only transmits wirelessly the photographing start information but also produces a mimic shutter sound when the user takes a picture. This provision will let anybody (who does not carry the portable communication terminal  153 ) know that someone is going to take a picture. Also, a digital photographing apparatus (such as video camera) capable of continuous photographing may be constructed such that it wirelessly transmits continuously or intermittently a warning that someone is taking pictures.  
     [0066] As mentioned above, one embodiment of the photographing warning system according to the present invention functions in such a way that when a user attempts to take a picture by using the CCD camera  107  of his portable communication terminal  103 , the portable communication terminal  103  produces a warning sound so that the subject  105  and others are protected from stealthy photographing, or wirelessly transmits the photographing start information to the surroundings of the portable communication terminal  103  through the short-distance wireless communication unit  113 , thereby telling the surrounding people that someone is going to take pictures. In this way it is possible to prevent stealthy photographing.  
     [0067]FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating by example the application of the photographing restrain system of the present invention to an outdoor site where unconditional photographing is prohibited.  
     [0068] In the case shown in FIG. 6, the outdoor site where unconditional photographing is prohibited is Shonan Beach in summer which is crowded with young girls in bathing suit. (Young girls are indicated by  155 ,  157 ,  159 ,  161 , and  163 .) The system employs the portable communication terminal  173  which has not only the same construction as the above-mentioned portable communication terminal  103  but also the GPS antenna  169  to receive radio waves from a plurality of GPS satellites ( 165  and  167 ) and the GPS receiver  171  to obtain the position information from the received radio waves.  
     [0069] If the position information obtained by the GPS receiver  171  indicates that the user carrying the portable communication terminal  173  is in Shonan Beach, then the control unit  117  prevents the CCD camera  107  from photographing operation or restrains itself from writing the image data into the memory unit  111 . Thus it is possible to protect young girls ( 155 - 163 ) in bathing suit from being photographed by someone without notice. In this way their right of portrait is protected.  
     [0070] Incidentally, the same effect as mentioned above may be produced even in the case where the young girls ( 155 - 163 ) individually carry the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  as shown in FIG. 1. In this case the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  wirelessly transmits the photographing restrain information continuously or intermittently as mentioned above. In this way it is possible to protect the young girls in bathing suit from being photographed by the user carrying the portable communication terminal  103  who approaches them a certain distance away. Incidentally, FIG. 6 shows the case of photographing with the portable communication terminal  103  equipped with the CCD camera  107 . However, the same procedure as shown in FIG. 6 is also applicable to photographing with a digital video camera.  
     [0071]FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating by example the application of the photographing restrain system of the present invention to an outdoor site where unconditional photographing is prohibited.  
     [0072] In the case shown in FIG. 7, the outdoor site where unconditional photographing is prohibited is a test course for a new model car which is under control by a motor company. According to this system, the new model car  177  running on the test course  175  is provided with the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  (as shown in FIG. 1) which wirelessly transmits the photographing restrain information continuously or intermittently. Thus the new model car  177  is protected from stealthy photographing by the user carrying the portable communication terminal  103  who approaches the test course a certain distance away. In addition, this system has a server  179  (under control by the motor company) which gives through wireless communication various information to the portable communication terminal  103  carried by the user who intends to photograph the new model car  177 .  
     [0073]FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing operations in each unit of the photographing restrain system of FIG. 7.  
     [0074] In FIG. 8, the system works as follows. When a user approaches the test course  175  a certain distance away, the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  of his portable communication terminal  103  receives the photographing restrain information from the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  which is mounted on the new model car  177 . (Step S 181 —Yes) Then, the system checks to see if the CCD camera  107  took a picture by the user&#39;s operation. (Step S 182 ) If it is known that the CCD camera  107  took a picture (Step S 182 —Yes), then the control unit  117  stops writing the image information (from the CCD camera  107 ) in the memory unit  111 . (Step S 183 )  
     [0075] Next, the control unit  117  checks to see if the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  has received the commercial image information of the motor company from the server  179  owned by the motor company. The commercial image information may be a superimposed dialogue indicating the price of the new model car  177 . (Step S 184 ) If it is known from this checking that the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  has received the commercial image information (Step S 184 —Yes), then the control unit  117  displays the commercial image information on the display unit  115  (Step S 185 ) and also adds “1” to the reception number counter in the memory unit  111 . Next, the control unit  117  checks the count value of the reception number counter in order to see whether or not the number of reception of the commercial image information (received from the short-distance wireless communication unit  113 ) has reached the prescribed number (Step S 186 ). If it is found from this checking that the number of reception of the commercial image information does not reach the prescribed number (Step S 186 —No), then the flow returns to Step S 181 .  
     [0076] On the other hand, if it is found from this checking that the number of reception of the commercial image information has reached the prescribed number (Step S 186 —Yes), then the control unit  117  informs the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  through the server  179  that the number of reception of the commercial image information has reached the prescribed number. Then the control unit  117  rests the count value of the reception number counter. (Step S 187 ) If there is a notice from the server  179  for invitation to the trial ride of the new model car, then the control unit  117  receives the notice through the short-distance wireless communication unit  113 . (Step S 188 ) If the photographing restrain information is not received in Step S 181 , then the control unit  117  operates the CCD camera  107  such that the portable communication terminal  103  (CCD camera  107 ) can take pictures in the usual way without any restrain. (Step S 189 )  
     [0077] Incidentally, the commercial image information which is wirelessly transmitted to the portable communication terminal  103  from the server  179  is not limited to that of the motor company; it may be any commercial image information requested by any firms other than the motor company. In this case, of course, the motor company will obtain the advertisement fees from the firms who requested advertisement. Incidentally, FIGS. 7 and 8 show the case of photographing with the portable communication terminal  103  equipped with the CCD camera  107 . However, the same procedure as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is also applicable to photographing with a digital video camera.  
     [0078]FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating by example the commercial information providing system that employs the portable communication terminal according to the present invention.  
     [0079] The system shown in FIG. 9 works as follows. It is assumed that a user carrying the portable communication terminal  103  is passing by a camera shop  191  (which is a mass merchandiser of electric appliances). When this user takes a picture using the portable communication terminal  103  equipped with the CCD camera  107 , the server  193  installed in this camera shop  191  wirelessly transmits commercial information (in the form of image information) for the camera shop to the portable communication terminal  103 .  
     [0080]FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing operations in each unit of the commercial information providing system of FIG. 9.  
     [0081] In FIG. 10, it is assumed that the present position of the user carrying the portable communication terminal  103  is outside the area where photographing is prohibited. In this case the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  does not receive the photographing restrain information from the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  as shown in FIG. 1. (Step S 201 —Yes) Consequently, the control unit  117  controls the CCD camera  107  in such a way that the CCD camera  107  of the portable communication terminal  103  can take pictures in the usual way without any restrictions. Next, the control unit  117  checks to see if the CCD camera  107  took pictures in the neighborhood of the camera shop  191 . (Step S 202 ) If it is found by this checking that the CCD camera  107  took pictures (Step S 202 —Yes), then the control unit  117  checks to see if the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  has received the commercial image information from the server  193  owned by the camera shop  191 . (Step S 203 )  
     [0082] If it is found by this checking that the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  has received the commercial image information (Step S 203 —Yes), then the control unit  117  displays the commercial image information on the display unit  115  (Step S 204 ) and adds “1” to the reception number counter in the memory unit  111 . Next, the control unit  117  checks the count value of the reception number counter in order to see whether or not the number of reception of the commercial image information (received by the short-distance wireless communication unit  113 ) has reached the prescribed number (Step S 205 ). If it is found from this checking that the number of reception of the commercial image information does not reach the prescribed number (Step S 205 —No), then the flow returns to Step S 201 .  
     [0083] On the other hand, if it is found from this checking that the number of reception of the commercial image information has reached the prescribed number (Step S 205 —Yes), then the control unit  117  informs the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  through the server  193  that the number of reception of the commercial image information has reached the prescribed number. Then the control unit  117  rests the count value of the reception number counter. (Step S 206 ) When the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  receives from the server a notice of point addition for the user to receive a premium (or a gift) from the camera shop  191  (Step S 207 ), the control unit  117  adds the informed point number to the point number counter in the memory unit  111 . (Step S 208 )  
     [0084] Next, when the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  receives the notice of the offer of a premium from the server  193 , the control unit  117  resets the count value of the point number counter and completes a series of processing (Step S 209 ). If the photographing restrain information is received in Step S 201 , the control unit  117  disables the CCD camera  107 . (Step S 210 ) (In other words, the CCD camera  107  of the portable communication terminal  103  becomes unable to take pictures in the usual way on account of the photographing restrain information.) Incidentally, the commercial image information which is wirelessly transmitted to the portable communication terminal  103  from the server  193  in Step S 203  is not limited to that of the camera shop  191 ; however, it may be any commercial image information requested by other firms. In this case, the camera shop  191  gains the advertisement fee from the firm who requested advertisement, as a matter of course. Incidentally, FIGS. 9 and 10 show the case of photographing with the portable communication terminal  103  equipped with the CCD camera  107 . However, this procedure is also applicable to photographing with a digital video camera.  
     [0085]FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating by example the photographing restrain release system that employs the portable communication terminal according to the present invention.  
     [0086] The system shown in FIG. 11 is constructed as follows. It is assumed that a user carrying the portable communication terminal  103  is in an art gallery  211  where photographing is prohibited. Then, the portable communication terminal  103  receives a notice of permission of photographing from the server  213  installed in the art gallery  211 . In response to this notice, the portable communication terminal  103  informs the server  213  that the procedure necessary for the user to pay the photographing fee has completed. Thus, the portable communication terminal  103  becomes able to photograph the subject (painting  215  in this case). In addition, the portable communication terminal  103  has a function to edit and prints the image information of the painting  215  (as a subject) to make a picture postcard or to transfer the image information to another portable communication terminal  103 . This function is realized by the editing-transferring program which is down-loaded from the server  213 .  
     [0087]FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing operations in each unit of the photographing restrain release system of FIG. 11.  
     [0088] In FIG. 12, it is assumed that a user carrying the portable communication terminal  103  is in the art gallery  211  (Step S 221 —No). Then, the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  receives the photographing restrain information from the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  as shown in FIG. 1. At the same time, it also receives the editing-transferring program from the server  213 . As the result, the control unit  117  restricts the action of the CCD camera  107  in response to the photographing restrain information. (Step S 222 ) If the control unit  117  notices in this state that the user operates a specific button on the operating panel of the portable communication terminal  103 , then it wirelessly transmits a request for permission of photographing to the server  213  through the short-distance wireless communication unit  113 . (Step S 223 )  
     [0089] Next, the control unit  117  checks to see if the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  has received the notice of permission for photographing which was wirelessly sent from the server  213 . (Step S 224 ) If it is found from this checking that the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  has received the notice of permission for photographing (Step S 224 —Yes), the control unit  117  checks to see if the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  has received the information of charge for photographing the painting  215  and the demand for procedure of charge payment which are wirelessly transmitted from the server  213 . (Step S 225 ) If it is found from this checking that the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  has received the information of charging and the demand for procedure of charge payment (Step S 225 —Yes), then the control unit  117  checks to see if the user has completed the prescribed procedure for charge payment. The procedure for charge paying includes informing the card number of the user&#39;s credit card or the account number of the user&#39;s bank account to the server  213  through the portable communication terminal  103 . (step S 226 )  
     [0090] If it is found from this checking that the prescribed procedure has been completed (Step S 226 —Yes), then the control unit  117  checks to see if the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  has received the notice of partial release of photographing restrain wirelessly transmitted from the server  213 . (Step S 227 ) Incidentally, the notice of partial release of photographing restrain is a notice informing that the photographing of a specific art object such as the painting  215  is allowed. If it is found from this checking that the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  has received the notice of partial release of photographing restrain (step S 227 —Yes), the CCD camera  107  starts the action of photographing the specific art object. (Step S 228 )  
     [0091] Next, the portable communication terminal  103  invokes the editing-transferring program mentioned above and then edits the image information of the photographed art object to make it suitable for picture postcards. (Step S 229 ) Then, it processes the edited image information of an art object so that it will be printed later on (Step S 230 ) or so that it will be transferred to another portable communication terminal  103  (Step S 231 ). Thus a series of processing is completed. Incidentally, if the user carrying the portable communication terminal  103  is outside the forbidden area in the art gallery  211 , then the short-distance wireless communication unit  113  does not receive the photographing restrain information from the photographing restrain information transmitting unit  101  (Step S 221 —Yes). In this case, the control unit  117  makes the CCD camera  107  possible to take pictures in the usual way without any restrictions. (Step S 232 ) Incidentally, FIGS. 11 and 12 show the case of photographing with the portable communication terminal  103  equipped with the CCD camera  107 . However, this procedure is also applicable to photographing with a digital video camera.  
     [0092] Some preferred embodiments of the present invention were mentioned in the foregoing; they are merely exemplary and do not intend to restrict the scope of the invention. They may be modified variously. For example, the photographing restrain release system shown in FIG. 11 may find use in the following situation. That is, it will be used to exceptionally permit people to take pictures in the facilities where photographing is prohibited, such as famous shrines and temples in tourist resorts like Nara, Kyoto, and Kamakura.  
     [0093] In this case the system may be used as follows. Ordinary visitors are required to pay a less amount of admission fee but visitors who want to take pictures are charged each time the photographing restrain is partly released. Alternatively, visitors pay the same admission fee as before but receive coupon tickets each time the photographing restrain is partly released, and visitors with the coupon tickets get a discount for their next visit. (This will help increase the number of repeating visitors.) The system may also be as follows. If visitors pay additional fee in the forbidden facilities, then the server in the facilities transfers text data relating to them to the portable communication terminal  103 . Another possible arrangement is such that when visitors photograph shrines and temples using their portable communication terminal  103 , the server in the facilities sends a variety of commercial (image) information. In this way the administrator of the facilities will obtain advertisement fee from sponsors.  
     [0094] The system shown in FIG. 11 may be used in such a way that if a visitor pays a prescribed fee in a famous tourist resort or amusement park, the server in the facility gives a message (informing the best photographing spot in the facility) to the visitor through his portable communication terminal  103 , and the server provides a synthetic image in which the visitor&#39;s face is combined with the background image of the spot which the visitor has photographed with his portable communication terminal  103 . In this case the visitor may transmit the synthetic image to his friend to inform his present position. In addition, the system shown in FIG. 11 may also be used in such a way that if a user takes a picture at a railway station using his portable communication terminal  103 , then additional information (such as time table in the station) is transferred (for pay) to his portable communication terminal  103 .  
     [0095] Incidentally, the charging processing may be carried out in such a way that a notice about photographing is sent from the portable communication terminal  103  to the telephone office through mobile communication networks which charges the users.  
     [0096] As mentioned above, according to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to surely prevent the photographing apparatus or the portable terminal having a photographing unit from taking pictures in an area where photographing is prohibited.  
     [0097] Also, according to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to surely prevent the photographing apparatus or the portable terminal having a photographing unit from taking pictures stealthily because the object (or surroundings) is informed that he or she is being photographed.  
     [0098] The foregoing invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments. However, those skilled, in the art will recognize that many variations of such embodiments exist. Such variations are intended to be within the scope of the present invention and the appended claims.