Imaging device, terminal device, and imaging system

• US 20040109199A1
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsubaki, Hisayoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,705,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00167 Processing or editing H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0019 on souvenir-type products or the like, e.g. T-shirts or mugs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00251 with an apparatus for taking photographic images, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0067 Converting to still picture data

Abstract

A terminal device 1 including a wireless communication unit 11 is carried by a subject user who will become a subject, and a wireless communication unit 21 for performing directional data communication in an imaging direction is provided in a camera 2. When the terminal device 1 and the camera 2 become able to communicate data each other, the subject user carrying the terminal device 1 is photographed, and image data obtained in this way are transmitted to the terminal device 1. The terminal device 1 displays the image data. If necessary, the subject user issues an instruction to print the image data, and transmits information on the instruction to print to the camera 2. The camera 2 assigns the information on the instruction to print to the image data, and transmits the information on the instruction to print and the image data to an image server 4 and further to a printer 5.

Claims

1. An imaging device comprising:

an imaging means for photographing a subject and obtaining image data representing an image of the subject;

a imaging device wireless communication means imaging to perform directional wireless data communication; and

a control means for controlling drive of the imaging means so that the imaging means is driven to obtain the image data when a subject wireless communication means in a terminal device carried by the subject, comprising a display means for displaying the image data and the subject wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating data, and the imaging wireless communication means have become able to communicate with each other.

2. The imaging device as defined in claim 1, wherein the control means is a means for assigning terminal information that specifies the terminal device carried by the subject to the image data.

3. The imaging device as defined in claim 1, wherein the control means is a means for further controlling drive of the imaging device wireless communication means so that the imaging device wireless communication means transmits the image data obtained by the imaging means to the terminal device.

4. The imaging device as defined in claim 3, wherein the control means is a means for generating small capacity image data of which data volume is less than the image data and transmitting the small capacity image data to the terminal device instead of the image data.

5. The imaging device as defined in claim 1, wherein the imaging device wireless communication means and the imaging means are arranged so that a data communication direction of the imaging device wireless communication means and an imaging direction of the imaging means are substantially identical.

6. The imaging device as defined in claim 5, wherein the imaging device wireless communication means and the imaging means are arranged so that the data communication range of the imaging device wireless communication means is less than an imaging angle of view of the imaging means.

7. The imaging device as defined in claim 1, wherein the control means is a means for controlling the drive of the imaging means so that photography is prohibited after a predetermined number of images have been photographed continuously.

8. The imaging device as defined in claim 1, wherein the control means is a means for controlling the drive of the imaging means so that imaging is prohibited for a predetermined time after photography.

9. The imaging device as defined in claim 1, wherein the control means is a means for controlling the drive of the imaging means so that the imaging means performs photography only when the terminal device gives an instruction to perform photography.

10. A terminal device comprising:

a subject wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating data with the imaging wireless communicating means in the imaging device as defined in claim 1;

and

a display means for displaying information, including image data, wherein the terminal device is carried by a subject.

11. The terminal device as defined in claim 10, further comprising:

an informing means for informing the subject that the subject wireless communication means has become able to communicate data with the imaging device wireless communication means, an image will be photographed and/or photography has been finished.

12. An imaging system comprising:

an imaging device including an imaging means for photographing a subject and obtaining image data representing an image of the subject, an imaging device wireless communication means to perform directional wireless data communication, and a control means for controlling drive of the imaging means so that the imaging means is driven to obtain the image data when a subject wireless communication means in a terminal device carried by the subject, including a display means for displaying the image data and the subject wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating data, and the imaging device wireless communication means have become able to communicate with each other; and

a terminal device carried by the subject, including a subject wireless communication means for wirelessly communicating data with the imaging device wireless communication means for in the imaging device and a display means for displaying information, including the image data.

13. The imaging system as defined in claim 12, comprising:

a plurality of the imaging devices of which imaging ranges overlap, wherein the control means in each of the imaging devices is a means for controlling the drive of the imaging device wireless communication means and the imaging means so that when all the plurality of the imaging devices have become able to communicate data with the terminal device, the imaging means in the plurality of the imaging devices photograph respectively.

14. The imaging system as defined in claim 12, further comprising:

an image server for storing the image data obtained by the imaging device.

15. The imaging system as defined in claim 12, further comprising:

a print out means for printing out the image data obtained by the imaging device.

16. The imaging system as defined in claim 15, wherein the print out means is a means for printing out only the image data for which an instruction to print has been issued.

17. The imaging system as defined in claim 16, wherein the instruction to print can be issued at the terminal device.