Image-capturing system and image-capturing method

• US 20060158544A1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakajima, Nobuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,679,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/333.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2112 using still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32117 in a separate transmission or protocol signal prior to or subsequent to the image data transmission, e.g. in digital identification signal [DIS], in non standard setup [NSS] or in non standard field [NSF] for mode signalling H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3253 Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means

Abstract

An image-capturing system having a function of allowing the user to easily find the position of an image-capturing device is provided. An image-capturing system includes: an image-capturing unit; an image storage unit for storing a camera position image taken toward the image-capturing unit from an image-capturing region taken by the image-capturing unit; and a remote control unit which allows the user to perform operation for remote control of the image-capturing unit. With such an arrangement, the remote control unit includes a reception unit for receiving the camera position image stored in the image storage unit, and a display unit for displaying the camera position image received by the reception unit. The remote control unit further includes an image-capturing request unit for making a request to the image-capturing unit for image capturing.

Claims

1. An image-capturing system comprising:

an image-capturing unit;

an image storage unit for storing a camera position image taken toward said image-capturing unit from an image-capturing region taken by said image-capturing unit; and

a remote control unit which allows the user to perform operation for remote control of said image-capturing unit,

wherein said remote control unit includes

a reception unit for receiving said camera position image stored in said image storage unit, and

a display unit for displaying said camera position image received by said reception unit.

2. An image-capturing system according to claim 1, wherein said remote control unit further includes an image-capturing request unit for making a request to said image-capturing unit for image capturing.

3. An image-capturing system according to claim 1, further including a position information storage unit for storing information regarding the position of said image-capturing unit in said camera position image, wherein said reception unit further receives said information regarding the position of said image-capturing unit stored in said position information storage unit,

and wherein said display unit displays the position of said image-capturing unit based upon said information received by said reception unit, superimposed upon said camera position image received from said reception unit.

4. An image-capturing system according to claim 1, wherein said image storage unit stores said camera position image including a display indicating the position of said image-capturing unit, superimposed upon an image taken toward said image-capturing unit from said image-capturing region.

5. An image-capturing system according to claim 1, further including an antenna unit for transmitting said camera position image stored in said image storage unit to said remote control unit in the form of a wireless signal,

wherein said antenna unit is installed so as to enable transmission of said camera position image to said remote control unit which is present at a position where the user can visually confirm at least a part of an object included in said camera position image, in the form of a wireless signal.

6. An image-capturing system according to claim 5, wherein said antenna unit is installed in said image-capturing region.

7. An image-capturing method comprising:

capturing an image by an image-capturing unit;

storing a camera position image taken toward said image-capturing unit from an image capturing region taken from said image-capturing unit; and

remotely controlling said image-capturing unit base on user operation,

wherein said remotely controlling includes;

receiving said camera position image stored in said image storage unit by a reception unit, and

displaying said camera position image received by said reception unit.