Information processing system and camera system

• US 20040174435A1
• Filed: 03/16/2004
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Corporation Limited (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Kondoh, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 7,379,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.99
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• 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 1/00137 Transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00342 with a radio frequency tag transmitter or receiver storage of additional information in an RFID tag attached to an image bearing paper sheet H04N1/32138
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32128 attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32138 in an electronic device attached to the sheet, e.g. in an RFID tag
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4406 Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity mechanisms actuated y cards, PIN or the like in apparatus for dispensing G07F7/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4426 involving separate means, e.g. a server, a magnetic card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4433 to an apparatus, part of an apparatus or an apparatus function
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4182 for identification purposes, e.g. storing user identification data, preferences, personal settings or data restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code in combination with an additional device, e.g. dongle or smart card G06F21/123
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 : involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/441 : Acquiring end-user identification , e.g. using personal code sent by the remote control or by inserting a card
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0053 : Optical, e.g. using an infrared link
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 : By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3205 : of identification information, e.g. name or ID code H04N2201/3209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3225 : of data relating to an image, a page or a document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3246 : of data relating to permitted access or usage, e.g. level of access or usage parameters for digital rights management [DRM] related to still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3274 : Storage or retrieval of prestored additional information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 : between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 : using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

An information processing system, such as a camera system, includes a radio communication system and an information appliance (such as a camera) communicable with the radio communication system within a predetermined distance. The information appliance includes an image pickup for obtaining image data by photographing a subject, a storing part for storing information peculiar to a user of the information appliance, a radio communication part for transmitting a predetermined radio signal and for reading information from the radio communication system, and an authorization part for authorizing the user by collating information from the radio communication system read at the radio communication part with stored information peculiar to the user. The radio communication system includes storage for storing predetermined information and a transmission part for receiving a radio signal generated at the information appliance and for transmitting the stored predetermined signal as a radio signal.

Claims

1. A camera system comprising:

a radio communication medium and a camera communicable with said radio communication medium within a predetermined distance,

said camera comprising;

an image pickup part for obtaining image data by photographing a subject;

a storing part for storing information peculiar to a user of said camera;

a radio communication medium reading part for transmitting a predetermined radio signal and reading information from the radio communication medium;

an authorization part for authorizing the camera user by collating information read at the radio communication medium reading part with the camera user'"'"'s own information stored in the storing part; and

a record part for recording information related to the camera user authorized at the authorization part while connecting said information related to the camera user with the image data photographed at the image pickup part, and

said radio communication medium comprising;

a storing part for storing predetermined information; and

a transmission part for receiving the predetermined radio signal transmitted from the radio communication medium reading part of the camera and transmitting the predetermined information stored in the storing part as a radio signal.

2. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises:

a radio communication medium writing part;

a random number generating part;

an updating part for updating the camera user'"'"'s own information stored in the storing part; and

a processing part for performing a series of processing in which random numbers generated by the random number generating part are obtained, information based on the random numbers is transmitted to the radio communication medium side for being recorded in the radio communication medium, employing the radio communication medium writing part, and the camera user'"'"'s own information stored in the storing part is updated, employing the updating part when the camera user is authorized by the authorization part.

3. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises:

an input part by which the user of said camera requires that authorization processing of the camera user is started; and

a control part for supplying power to said radio communication medium reading part when said authorization processing of the camera user is required through said input part so that said authorization processing of the camera user is performed by the authorization part and finishing supplying power to said radio communication medium reading part after a predetermined time passes.

4. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises a record part creating and recording information showing that the camera user is unclear on a header part of image data photographed at the image pickup part of the camera when authorization of the camera user by the authorization part is failed.

5. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises a control part for controlling so that photographing using the camera is not performed until authorization of the camera user succeeds by the authorization processing part.

6. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises:

an entry processing and entry cancellation processing part of the camera user; and

a control part for controlling so that entry processing and entry cancellation processing of the camera user can be performed by the entry processing and entry cancellation processing part only when a predetermined camera user is authorized by the authorization processing part.

7. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises a switching part selectively switching a first mode in which information showing that the camera user is unclear on a header part of image data photographed at the image pickup part of the camera is created and recorded in said record part when authorization of the camera user by the authorization part is failed and a second mode in which control is executed by the control part so that photographing using the camera is not performed until authorization of the camera user by the authorization processing part succeeds.

8. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein said radio communication medium comprises information peculiar to the camera corresponding to said camera user'"'"'s own information as said predetermined information stored in said storing part, and said camera comprises said camera'"'"'s own information as information stored in said storing part.

9. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein said radio communication medium comprises information peculiar to a group jointly using the camera corresponding to said camera user'"'"'s own information as said predetermined information stored in said storing part, and said camera comprises the information peculiar to the group jointly using the camera as information stored in said storing part.

10. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises

a control part for controlling so that when a part of information peculiar to a group using said camera coincides by collating information read at said radio communication medium reading part with the camera user'"'"'s own information stored in said storing part in said authorization processing part, photographing using the camera becomes possible, and when it does not coincide, photographing using the camera becomes impossible.

11. The camera system according to claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises a control part for controlling so that the directivity of the electromagnetic wave transmitted from said radio communication medium reading part becomes high.

12. A camera system comprising:

a radio communication medium in the side of a subject and a camera communicable with said radio communication medium within a predetermined distance,

said camera comprising;

an image pickup part for obtaining image data by photographing the subject;

a radio communication medium reading part for transmitting a predetermined radio signal and reading information from the radio communication medium;

an information maintenance part for temporarily maintaining information from said radio communication medium of the side of the subject read at the radio communication medium reading part as information peculiar to said subject; and

an information record part recording for, while relating to a file of image data photographed, information peculiar to the subject maintained in said information maintenance part when an image is photographed employing said image pickup part, and

said radio communication medium comprising;

a storing part for storing predetermined information containing said subject'"'"'s own information; and

a transmission part for receiving said predetermined radio signal transmitted from the radio communication medium reading part of the camera and transmitting the predetermined information stored in the storing part as a radio signal.

13. The camera system according to claim 12, wherein said camera further comprises

a radio communication medium writing part;

a random number generating part;

an updating part for updating the camera user'"'"'s own information stored in the storing part; and

a processing part for performing a series of processing in which random numbers generated by the random number generating part are obtained, information based on the random numbers is transmitted to the radio communication medium side for being recorded in the radio communication medium, employing the radio communication medium writing part, and the camera user'"'"'s own information stored in the storing part is updated, employing the updating part when the camera user is authorized by the authorization part.

14. A camera system comprising:

a radio communication medium in the side of a camera user, a radio communication medium in the side of a subject, and a camera communicable with each said radio communication medium within a predetermined distance,

said camera comprising;

an image pickup part for obtaining image data by photographing the subject;

a storing part for storing in advance information peculiar to said camera user;

a subject information acquisition mode setting part setting said camera to a mode for acquiring information peculiar to said subject;

a radio communication medium reading part for transmitting a predetermined radio signal and reading information from each said radio communication medium;

an authorization part for authorizing the camera user by collating information from the radio communication medium of the camera user side read at the radio communication medium reading part with the camera user'"'"'s own information stored in the storing part;

an information maintenance part for temporarily maintaining information from said radio communication medium of the subject side read at the radio communication medium reading part as information peculiar to said subject; and

an information record part for recording, while relating to a file of image data photographed, said subject'"'"'s own information maintained in said information maintenance part along with information related to the camera user authorized at said authorization part when an image is photographed employing said image pickup part in the case in which said subject information acquisition mode is set employing said subject information acquisition mode setting part, and

each said radio communication medium comprising;

a storing part for storing predetermined information containing said camera user'"'"'s own information or said subject'"'"'s own information; and

a transmission part for receiving said predetermined radio signal transmitted from the radio communication medium reading part of the camera and transmitting the predetermined information stored in the storing part as a radio signal.

15. The camera system according to claim 14, wherein said camera further comprises

a radio communication medium writing part;

a random number generating part;

an updating part for updating the camera user'"'"'s own information stored in the storing part; and

a processing part for performing a series of processing in which random numbers generated by the random number generating part are obtained, information based on the random numbers is transmitted to the radio communication medium side for being recorded in the radio communication medium, employing the radio communication medium writing part, and the camera user'"'"'s own information stored in the storing part is updated, employing the updating part when the camera user is authorized by the authorization part.