PORTABLE COMPUTER, DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM USING THE SAME, AND METHOD OF PRODUCING A MAP STORED WITH ACTUAL PHOTO-IMAGE DATA USING THE SAME PORTABLE COMPUTER AND DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20020001032A1
• Filed: 07/29/1997
• Published: 01/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nippon LSI Card Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nippon LSI Card Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: OHKI, SINJI
• Application Number:
  US08/902,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20020001032A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1635 Stackable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00323 with a measuring, monitoring or signaling apparatus, e.g. for transmitting measured information to a central location
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0051 Card-type connector, e.g. PCMCIA card interface

Abstract

The present invention provides a portable computers capable of facilitating management of actual photo-image in association with each other, thereby remarkably expanding the application range of the actual phot-image data. The portable computer is connectable directly or through a memory medium to the main computer in a fixed base. The portable computer comprises: a digital camera detachably provided for successively taking actual photo-images; position specifying identification data setting means for setting identification data to specify at least one of photographing related positions consisting of a position of an object for photography taken by said digital camera and a position where photography was taken by said digital camera; and actual photo-image data memory means for storing the identification data set by said position specifying identification data setting means in association with actual photo-image data outputted from the digital camera.

Claims

1. A portable computer which is connectable directly or through a memory medium to the main computer in a fixed base, comprising:

a digital camera detachably provided for successively taking actual photo-images;

position specifying identification data setting means for setting identification data to specify at least one of photographing related positions consisting of a position of an object for photography taken by said digital camera and a position where photography was taken by said digital camera; and

actual photo-image data memory means for storing the identification data set by said position specifying identification data setting means in association with actual photo-image data outputted from the digital camera.

2. A portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said position specifying identification data setting means comprises:

base data memory means for storing a map or drawing data including at least photographing related positions; and

display means for displaying said data.

3. A portable computer as claimed in claim 2, wherein said position specifying identification data setting means further includes input means for inputting photographing related positions on the map or drawing displayed on the display means.

4. A portable computer as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said position specifying identification data setting means further includes a GPS adaptor for measuring an absolute position by using a communication satellite.

5. A portable computer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said position specifying identification data setting means sets as identification data an address for storing actual photo-image data in the memory of the main computer.

6. A portable computer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, including measuring means for measuring a physical quantity relating to at least one environmental condition selected from temperature, humidity, noise level and illumination at the time of photographing, wherein measured data outputted from said measuring means are stored in association with the actual photo-image data into said actual photo-image data memory means.

7. A portable computer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, including laser light irradiating means for irradiating a laser light to an object for photography.

9. A method of producing a map stored with actual photo-image data, comprising the steps of:

transporting a portable computer as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 to the position where a photography is taken;

taking actual photo-images which can be viewed from the position where photographs are taken using a digital camera detachably provided with the portable computer; and

storing the actual photo-image data outputted from the digital camera in association with position data on drawing data as identification data for specifying photographing related positions.

10. A method of producing a map stored with live photo-image data as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

taking a plurality of actual photo-images using the digital camera so as to overlap the respective adjacent side end portions with each other; and

subjecting a data processing such as cutting the overlapped portions of the actual photo-images on a main computer after transferring the actual photo-image data directly or via a recording medium from the portable computer to the main computer.

11. A method of producing a map stored with actual photo-image data as claimed in claim 9 or 10, further comprising:

using a digital camera with wide-angle lens as a digital camera; and

a step of subjecting a correction processing to the wide-angle actual photo-image data outputted from the digital camera for correcting distortions of photo-image due to the wide-angle lens.

8. A data management system for managing a storing of actual photo-image data outputted from a digital camera when taking the actual photo-images using the digital camera, in association with identification data for specifying photographing related positions into actual photo-image memory means, successively.