Multiple image transmission method and mobile device having multiple image simultaneous imaging function

• US 20060170785A1
• Filed: 09/24/2003
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Mashitani, Ken, Hamagishi, Goro, Higashino, Masahiro, Terada, Fusao
• Granted Patent: US 7,518,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.990
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25825 involving client display capabilities, e.g. screen resolution of a mobile phone optimising the visualisation of content during browsing in the Internet G06F16/9577; processing of terminal status or physical abilities in wireless networks H04W8/22; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2213/007 Aspects relating to detection of stereoscopic image format, e.g. for adaptation to the display format
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

By rotating a second camera (4) by a hinge (5) by 180 degrees so as to obtain an opening state, the second camera 4 faces a surface side. As a result, a first camera (3) and the second camera (4) are aligned horizontally, and use the same direction as a photographing range. When the second camera (4) is rotated, a system controller determines that a state is in a stereoscopic vision photographing mode. When a camera shutter is operated by a user, both the first camera (3) and the second camera (4) are allowed to perform a photographing process, and obtained two image data are stored in a memory after being attached to information indicating that the image is for the right eye and the image is for the left eye, and etc. Then, the two image data are transmitted by an e-mail function to a terminal of a communicating partner.

Claims

1. A transmission method for transmitting image data to a terminal of a communicating partner using a communication network, the multiple-image transmission method, comprising:

a transmitting-side terminal for transmitting a plurality of image data for a stereoscopic vision to the communication network; and

an intermediary station of the communication network for determining whether or not the terminal of the communicating partner is stereoscopic vision-applicable, transmitting a plurality of the image data for the stereoscopic vision to a stereoscopic vision-applicable terminal, and on the other hand, transmitting one image data, out of a plurality of said image data to a stereoscopic vision-nonapplicable terminal.

2. A method for transmitting image data to a terminal of a communicating partner using a communication network, the mobile apparatus having a plural-image simultaneous photographing function, comprising:

an intermediary station of the communication network for determining whether or not the terminal of the communicating partner is stereoscopic vision-applicable, and conveying a result thereof to a transmitting-side terminal; and

a transmitting-side terminal for transmitting, when the terminal of the communicating partner is stereoscopic vision-applicable, a plurality of image data for a stereoscopic vision to the terminal of the communicating partner, and transmitting, when the terminal of the communicating partner is stereoscopic vision-nonapplicable, one image data out of said plurality of image data.

3. A mobile apparatus having a multiple-image simultaneous photographing function, comprising:

a stereoscopic camera means for obtaining a plurality of image data for a stereoscopic vision by executing a simultaneous photographing; and

a communication means for transmitting said plurality of image data for stereoscopic vision to a communication network.

8. A mobile apparatus having the multiple-image simultaneous photographing function according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein said stereoscopic camera means, as a result of being provided with two cameras, executes a simultaneous photographing so as to obtain a plurality of image data for the stereoscopic vision.

9. A mobile apparatus having the multiple-image simultaneous photographing function according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein said stereoscopic camera means is provided with one camera, and a terminal with which the other camera is detachably provided, and carries out the simultaneous photographing using the both cameras so as to obtain a plurality of image data for the stereoscopic vision.

10. A mobile apparatus having the multiple-image simultaneous photographing function according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein said stereoscopic camera means is provided with one camera, in addition, a means for remotely operating another camera apparatus, and a means for receiving photographed image data, and executes the simultaneous photographing using said camera and said camera apparatus so as to obtain a plurality of image data for the stereoscopic vision.

11. A mobile apparatus having a multiple-image simultaneous photographing function according to claim 10, comprising a means for displaying two images, wherein image photographed by the camera of said mobile apparatus is displayed on one image display side, and an image received from another camera apparatus is displayed on the other image display side.

12. A mobile apparatus having a multiple-image simultaneous photographing function according to claim 10, comprising a stereoscopic image display means for allowing stereoscopic vision to be carried out by a plurality of image data for the stereoscopic vision, wherein stereoscopic vision display for confirmation is carried out using an image being photographed by the camera of said mobile apparatus, and an image being received from another camera apparatus.

13. A mobile apparatus having a multiple-image simultaneous photographing function according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the two cameras is rendered capable of moving a location, and an interval between the two cameras is rendered variable.

14. A mobile apparatus having the multiple-image simultaneous photographing function according to claim 8, provided with two cameras, one of which is on a surface side of the apparatus, and the other of which is on a rear side of the apparatus, and any one of the cameras rotated by a hinge so as to be faced to the surface side or the rear side.

15. A mobile apparatus having a multiple-image simultaneous photographing function according to claim 14, wherein a rotation angle of the camera is settable.

16. A mobile apparatus having a multiple-image simultaneous photographing function according to any one of claims 3 to 11, or claims 13 to 15, comprising a stereoscopic image display means for allowing a stereoscopic vision on the basis of a plurality of image data for the stereoscopic vision.

4. A mobile apparatus having a multiple-image simultaneous photographing function, comprising:

a stereoscopic camera means for obtaining a plurality of image data for a stereoscopic vision by executing a simultaneous photographing;

a means for measuring a distance between the mobile apparatus and an object to be imaged on the basis of said plurality of image data for stereoscopic vision; and

a means for generating information based on a measured distance so as to present the information to a user.

5. A mobile apparatus having a multiple-image simultaneous photographing function, comprising:

a stereoscopic camera means for obtaining a plurality of image data for the stereoscopic vision by executing a simultaneous photographing;

a means for generating three-dimensional data on the basis of said plurality of image data for the stereoscopic vision;

a means for carrying out an approximate measuring of location information; and

a means for obtaining detailed location information on the basis of a correspondence between three-dimensional map data of a present location obtained by said approximate measuring, and three-dimensional data formed of said plurality of image data for the stereoscopic vision, and presenting the information to a user.

6. A mobile apparatus having a multiple-image simultaneous photographing function according to claim 5, wherein the approximate measuring of said location information is performed by a GPS.

7. A mobile apparatus having a multiple-image simultaneous photographing function according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the three-dimensional data based on said plurality of image data for the stereoscopic vision is transmitted to a data processing center via a communication network, and the detailed location information calculated by the data processing center is obtained by a communication.