Apparatus and method for searching target position and recording medium

• US 20030032436A1
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Mikuni, Shin
• Granted Patent: US 7,027,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/457
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/51 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0284 Relative positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/14 between corresponding nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/08 between user and terminal device

Abstract

A target position search apparatus comprises an information obtaining device which obtains position information of a target object, and position information, an imaging azimuth, and a angle of view of a camera; a calculation device which calculates a position of the target position on an image obtained by the camera based on the position information of the target object, and the position information, imaging azimuth, and angle of view of the camera which are obtained by the information obtaining device; and an output device which outputs the position information of the target object in the image calculated by the calculation device.

Claims

1. A target position search apparatus comprising:

an information obtaining device that obtains position information of a target object, and imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, and imaging angle-of-view information of a camera;

a calculation device which calculates a position of the target position in an image obtained by the camera based on the position information of the target object, and the imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, and imaging angle-of-view information of the camera which are obtained by the information obtaining device; and

an output device that outputs information showing the position of the target object in the image calculated by the calculation device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the information obtaining device obtains imaging angle information of the camera, and

the calculation device calculates the position of the target position in the image obtained by the camera based on the position information of the target object, and the imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, imaging angle-of-view information, and the imaging angle information of the camera which are obtained by the information obtaining device.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display device which displays the image obtained by the camera, and wherein

the output device outputs display the information showing the position of the target object in the image to the display device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a determination device which determines whether or not the target object stays within an angle of view of the camera based on the position information of the target object, and the imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, and imaging angle-of-view information of the camera, and wherein

the output device outputs display information showing a direction of the target object to the display device when the determination device determinates that the target object does not stay within the angle of view of the camera.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a designation device which designates an optional target object, and wherein

the information obtaining device obtains the position information of the optional target object designated by the designation device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a transmission device which transmits information concerning the optional target object designated by the designation device to an external database which stores position information corresponding to the information concerning the target object, and wherein

the information obtaining device receives the position information stored in the data base in correspondence with the information concerning the target object transmitted by the transmission device, thereby obtaining the position information of the target object.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the information obtaining device receives the imaging position information and the imaging azimuth information of the camera which are transmitted from an external apparatus including the camera, thereby obtaining the imaging position information and imaging azimuth information, and

the output device outputs the information showing the position of the target object in the image to the external apparatus including the camera.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information obtaining device receives the position information of the target object which is transmitted from an external apparatus as the target object, thereby obtaining the position information of the target object.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination device which determines whether or not the target object and the camera are in an approach state, and wherein

the calculation device calculates the position of the target object in the image obtained by the camera when the determination device determinates that the target object and the camera are in an approach state.

10. A target position search apparatus comprising:

an image pickup device that picks up an image;

a display device that displays the image picked up by the image pickup device;

an information obtaining device that obtains imaging position information and imaging azimuth information of the image pickup device;

a transmission device that transmits the imaging position information and the imaging azimuth information of the image pickup device that are obtained by the information obtaining device to an external apparatus;

a reception device which receives position information of the target object in the image picked up by the image pickup device, which is calculated by the external apparatus based on the imaging position information and the imaging azimuth information transmitted from the transmission device, position information of the target object, and an angle-of-view information of the image pickup device; and

a control device which outputs display information corresponding to the position information of the target object in the image received by the reception device to the display device.

11. A target position search apparatus comprising:

an information obtaining device which obtains position information of a target object, and an imaging position information, an imaging azimuth information, and angle-of-view information of a camera;

a determination device which determinates whether or not the target object stays within an angle of view of the camera based on the position information of the target object and the imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, and angle-of-view information of the camera which are obtained by the information obtaining device; and

a control device that performs a predetermined process corresponding to a result of determination made by the determination device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control device performs an informing process when the determination device determinates that the target object stays within the angle of view of the camera.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control device performs a process of recording an image taken by the camera when the determination device determinates that the target object stays within the angle of view of the camera.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control device performs a process of external transmission of the image taken by the camera when the determination device determinates that the target object stays within the angle of view of the camera.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the determination device transmits information corresponding to a result of determination made by the determination device to an external apparatus including the camera.

16. A target position search apparatus comprising:

an image pickup device that picks up an image;

a display device that displays the image obtained by the image pickup device;

an information obtaining device that obtains imaging position information and imaging azimuth information of the image pickup device;

a transmission device that transmits the imaging position information and the imaging azimuth information of the image pickup device that are obtained by the information obtaining device to an external apparatus which determines whether or not the target object stays within an angle of view of the image pickup device based on the imaging position information and the imaging azimuth information transmitted from the transmission device, position information of a target object, and an angle-of-view information of the image pickup device;

a reception device which receives information showing a result of determination made by the external apparatus; and

a control device that performs a predetermined process corresponding to the information showing the result of determination received by the reception device.

17. A target position search apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining position information of a target object, and imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, and angle-of-view information of a camera;

means for calculating a position of the target position in an image obtained by the camera based on the position information of the target object, and the imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, and angle-of-view information of the camera which are obtained by the information obtaining means; and

means for outputting information showing the position of the target object in the image calculated by the calculating means.

18. A target position search apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining position information of a target object, and imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, and angle-of-view information of a camera;

means for determining whether or not the target object stays within an angle of view of the camera based on the position information of the target object and the imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, and angle-of-view information of the camera which are obtained by the information obtaining means; and

means for performing a predetermined process corresponding to a result of determination made by the determining means.

19. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising:

a first computer readable program code for causing a computer to obtain position information of a target object, and imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, and angle-of-view information of a camera;

a second computer readable program code for causing a computer to calculate a position of the target position on an image obtained by the camera based on the position information of the target object, and the imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, and angle-of-view information of the camera which are obtained by the first computer readable program code; and

a third computer readable program code for causing a computer to output information showing the position of the target object in the image calculated by the second computer readable program code.

20. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising:

a first computer readable program code for causing a computer to obtain position information of a target object, and imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, and angle-of-view information of a camera;

a second computer readable program code for causing a computer to determine whether or not the target object stays within an angle of view of the camera based on the position information of the target object, and the imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, and angle-of-view information of the camera which are obtained by the first computer readable program code; and

a third computer readable program code for causing a computer to perform a predetermined process corresponding to a result of determination made by the second computer readable program code.

21. A target position search method comprising:

a first step for obtaining position information of a target object, and imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, and angle-of-view information of a camera;

a second step for calculating a position of the target position in an image obtained by the camera based on the position information of the target object, and the imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, and angle-of-view information of the camera which are obtained by the first step; and

a third step for outputting information showing the position of the target object in the image calculated by the second step.

22. A target position search method comprising:

a first step for obtaining position information of a target object and imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, and angle-of-view information of a camera;

a second step for determining whether or not the target object stays within an angle of view of the camera based on the position information of the target object and the imaging position information, imaging azimuth information, and angle-of-view information of the camera which are obtained by the first step; and

a third step for performing a predetermined process corresponding to a result of determination made by the second step.