IMAGE ACQUISITION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF AUTHENTICATING IMAGE ACQUISITION DEVICE IN THE IMAGE ACQUISITION SYSTEM

• US 20090315671A1
• Filed: 08/26/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Gocho, Nagahiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,742,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.800
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/38 Releasing-devices separate from shutter integral with shutter G03B9/08
• 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 2005/91342 the copy protection signal being an authentication signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2005/91364 the video signal being scrambled
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 using transform coding

Abstract

An image acquisition system includes an image acquisition device and a commanding device configured as a member separate from the image acquisition device to transmit a command to the image acquisition device for controlling the image acquisition device in such a manner as to permit the image acquisition device to operate in response to the command. The image acquisition device transmits to the commanding device identification information permitting the image acquisition device to identify the commanding device. The commanding device receives the transmitted identification information and transmits a command with authentication information contains authentication information permitting the image acquisition device to authenticate the commanding device, the authentication information containing one of the received identification information and information derived from the identification information.

Claims

1. An image acquisition system comprising:

an image acquisition device having a image acquisition unit; and

a commanding device configured as a member separate from the image acquisition device and adapted to transmit a command to the image acquisition device to control the image acquisition device, thereby permitting the image acquisition device to perform an operation corresponding to the command, wherein

the image acquisition device includes an identification information transmission unit configured to transmit identification information to the commanding device to permit the image acquisition device to identify the commanding device, and

the commanding device includes;

an identification information receiving unit configured to receive the identification information transmitted from the image acquisition device; and

a command transmission unit configured to transmit a command to control the image acquisition device as a command with authentication information containing the authentication information for permitting the image acquisition device to authenticate the commanding device, the authentication information containing one of the identification information and the information derived from the identification information received by the identification information receiving unit.

2. The image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein the image acquisition device includes:

a command receiving unit configured to receive the command transmitted from the command transmission unit of the commanding device;

an authentication information recognition unit configured to recognize the authentication information contained in the authentication command received by the command receiving unit and containing the one of the identification information and the information derived from the identification information; and

a function limiting unit configured to limit a predetermined function of the image acquisition device based on the authentication information recognized by the authentication information recognition unit.

3. The image acquisition system according to claim 2, wherein

the image acquisition device further includes an image output unit configured to output an image acquired by the image acquisition unit, and

the function limiting unit of the image acquisition device limits the functions for the image output unit.

4. The image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein the identification information transmitted by the identification information transmission unit of the image acquisition device is variable.

5. The image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein the identification information transmitted by the identification information transmission unit of the image acquisition device is encrypted.

6. The image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein the identification information transmitted by the identification information transmission unit of the image acquisition device is one of the image acquired by the image acquisition device and information derived from the image.

7. The image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein the identification information transmitted by the identification information transmission unit of the image acquisition device contains image acquisition device unique information unique to each image acquisition device.

8. The image acquisition system according to claim 7, wherein the commanding device further includes:

a storage unit configured to store the same information as the information unique to the image acquisition device; and

a comparator unit configured to compare the information unique to the image acquisition device contained in the identification information received by the identification information receiving unit with the information stored in the storage unit.

9. The image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein the information derived from the identification information contained in the authentication information contained in the authentication command transmitted by the command transmission unit of the commanding device is the identification information received by the identification information receiving unit and converted according to a predetermined rule.

10. The image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein

the command transmission unit of the commanding device transmits the authentication command containing the information unique to the commanding device, and

the image acquisition device further includes:

a storage unit configured to store the same information as the information unique to the commanding device;

a command receiving unit configured to receive the authentication command transmitted from the command transmission unit of the commanding device; and

a comparator unit configured to compare the information unique to the commanding device contained in the authentication command received by the command receiving unit with the information stored in the storage unit.

11. The image acquisition system according to claim 4, wherein the Identification information which is variable includes invariable information unique to the image acquisition device and variable identification information which is variable.

12. The image acquisition system according to claim 11, wherein the command transmission unit of the commanding device regards, as the information derived from the identification information contained in the authentication information, the variable identification information contained in the identification information received by the identification information receiving unit and the information unique to the commanding device.

13. The image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein the image acquisition device further includes:

a random number generating unit configured to generate a random number; and

an identification information generating unit configured to generate identification information containing the random number generated by the random number generating unit as the identification information transmitted by the identification information transmission unit.

14. The image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein the image acquisition device further includes an identification information generating unit configured to generate identification information containing data selected from a prestored table as the identification information transmitted to the commanding device.

15. The image acquisition system according to claim 2, wherein

the commanding device further includes a commanding device-side counting unit configured to start a counting operation from the time of receiving the identification information by the identification information receiving unit,

the command transmission unit of the commanding device transmits the authentication command containing a count value of the commanding device-side counting unit when transmitting the authentication command after receiving the identification information,

the image acquisition device further includes:

an image acquisition device-side counting unit configured to start a counting operation with the transmission of the identification information by the identification information transmission unit as a starting point; and

a comparator unit configured to compare, upon reception of the authentication command by the command reception unit, the count value on the commanding device-side counting unit contained in the received authentication command with the count, value of the image acquisition device-side counting unit, and

the function limiting unit of the image acquisition device sets a limit to the function based on the comparison result of the comparator unit.

16. The image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein

the image acquisition device further includes an identification information transmission command unit, configured to give a transmission command to transmit the identification information, and

the identification information transmission unit of the image acquisition device transmits the identification information in response to the transmission command from the identification information transmission command unit.

17. The image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein

the command transmission unit of the commanding device further includes an identification information transmission command transmission unit configured to transmit, an identification information transmission command to instruct the image acquisition device to transmit the identification information, and

the identification information transmission unit of the image acquisition device transmits the identification information in accordance with reception of the identification information transmission command transmitted from the identification information transmission command transmission unit of the commanding device.

18. The image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein

the image acquisition device operates in a plurality of modes including a prohibit mode not permitting execution of the function of the image acquisition device for other than the commanding device, and

the identification information transmission unit of the image acquisition device transmits the identification information at the time of switching to the prohibit mode in accordance with a prohibit mode switching command received from the command transmission unit of the commanding device to switch to the prohibit mode.

19. The image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein the identification information transmission unit of the image acquisition device transmits the identification information while a power supply of the image acquisition device is turned on.

20. The image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein the commanding device further includes a confirmation unit configured to announce the reception, if any, of the identification information by the identification information receiving unit from the image acquisition device.

21. The image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein

the commanding device further includes an identification information returning unit configured to return to the image acquisition device the identification information received from the image acquisition device by the identification information receiving unit, and

the image acquisition device further includes a confirmation unit configured to compare the identification information returned by the identification information returning unit of the commanding device with the identification information transmitted by the identification information transmission unit, and outputting the comparison result.

22. The image acquisition system according to claim 2, wherein the command transmission unit of the commanding device transmits to the image acquisition device a command to control the image acquisition device as one of the authentication command and a general command without the authentication information.

23. The image acquisition system according to claim 2, wherein the commanding device transmits, as the authentication command, an authentication mode switching command for limiting the function by the function limiting unit of the image acquisition device and an image acquisition command for an image acquisition operation of the image acquisition device.

24. The image acquisition system according to claim 22, wherein the commanding device further includes a switching unit configured to switch the general command and the authentication command to be transmitted by the command transmission unit.

25. The image acquisition system according to claim 22, wherein the command transmission unit of the commanding device transmits an image acquisition command for an image acquisition operation of the image acquisition device as the general command, and an authentication mode switching command for limiting the function by the function limiting unit of the image acquisition device as the authentication command.

26. The image acquisition system according to claim 25, wherein the commanding device further includes a switching unit configured to switch the general command and the authentication mode switching command to be transmitted by the command transmission unit.

27. The image acquisition system according to claim 2, wherein the image acquisition device further includes a command determination unit configured to determine the content of the authentication command received by the command reception unit.

28. The image acquisition system according to claim 27, wherein the function limiting unit of the image acquisition device limits the function of the image acquisition device in accordance with the content of the authentication command determined by the command determination unit.

29. The image acquisition system according to claim 27, wherein

the image acquisition device further includes mode setting unit configured to, in the case where the content of the authentication command determined by the command determining unit is an authentication mode switching command for giving a command to switch the authentication mode for the image acquisition device, set the authentication mode of the image acquisition device in accordance with the particular authentication mode switching command, and

the function limiting unit of the image acquisition device limits the function of the image acquisition device in accordance with the authentication mode set by the mode setting unit.

30. The image acquisition system according to claim 29, wherein

the mode setting unit of the image acquisition device further sets a prohibit mode as the authentication mode at the time of switching on power for the image acquisition device, and

the function limiting unit of the image acquisition device prohibits the image acquisition device from execution of the functions thereof by other than the commanding device in the case where the prohibit mode is set by the mode setting unit.

31. The image acquisition system according to claim 29, wherein the mode setting unit of the image acquisition device has a memory configured to store the currently set authentication mode at the time of switching off the power of the image acquisition device.

32. The image acquisition system according to claim 31, wherein the memory of the mode setting unit of the image acquisition device is a nonvolatile memory capable of holding the contents of storage even in the case where the power is switched off.

33. The image acquisition system according to claim 31, wherein the mode setting unit of the image acquisition device further reads the authentication mode stored in the memory and sets the particular authentication mode at the time of switching on the power for the image acquisition device.

34. The image acquisition system according to claim 29, wherein the mode setting unit of the image acquisition device sets the authentication mode only in response to the authentication mode switching command from the commanding device.

35. The image acquisition system according to claim 29, wherein

the image acquisition device further includes a time measuring unit configured to count time,

the mode setting unit of the image acquisition device further sets the prohibit mode as the authentication mode based on the time counted by the time measuring unit, and

the function limiting unit of the image acquisition device prohibits the image acquisition device from execution of the functions thereof by other than the commanding device in the case where the prohibit mode is set by the mode setting unit.

36. The image acquisition system according to claim 35, wherein

the time measuring unit of the image acquisition device continues to count the time even after the power of the image acquisition device is switched off, and

the mode setting unit of the image acquisition device sets the prohibit mode upon counting of a predetermined time by the time:

measuring unit.

37. The image acquisition system according to claim 29, wherein

the mode setting unit of the image acquisition device sets the authentication mode to a prohibit mode one of immediately, upon the elapse of a preset time and in accordance with the result of the voltage monitor, in the case where the battery is one of consumed and removed, and

the function limiting unit of the image acquisition device prohibits the execution of the function of the image acquisition device for other than the commanding device in the case where the prohibit mode is set by the mode setting unit.

38. The image acquisition system according to claim 1, wherein the authentication command is transmitted one of optically and by radio.

39. The image acquisition system according to claim 2, further comprising, in addition to the commanding device having the command transmission unit configured to transmit the authentication command, a commanding device lacking the command transmission unit but having a general command transmission unit configured to transmit a general command which is a command without the authentication information, and wherein

the function limiting unit of the image acquisition device permits a predetermined function of the image acquisition device only in a range permitted in advance for the general command.

40. The image acquisition system according to claim 29, wherein

the image acquisition device further includes a built-in memory, and

the function limiting unit of the image acquisition device causes a acquired image to be stored only in the built-in memory in the case where the prohibit mode prohibiting the execution of the function of the image acquisition device by other than the commanding device is set as the authentication mode by the mode setting unit and in the case where the image acquisition operation is performed by the image acquisition unit based on the authentication command from the commanding device identified by the command identification unit.

41. The image acquisition system according to claim 29, wherein

the image acquisition device further includes a built-in memory, and

the function limiting unit of the image acquisition device, in an operation of one of reading, displaying, copying, moving and printing an image stored in the built-in memory, limits the operation to be performed only in response to the authentication command from the commanding device authenticated by the authentication information recognized by the authentication information recognition unit.

42. The image acquisition system according to claim 40, wherein

the image acquisition device is configured to mount a removable memory thereon, and

the image stored in the built-in memory, if one of copied and moved to the removable memory, is encrypted and stored in the removable memory.

43. The image acquisition system according to claim 42, wherein the commanding device further includes a selecting unit configured to select whether the image acquired by the image acquisition unit is recorded in the built-in memory or in the removable memory.

44. The image acquisition system according to claim 2, wherein the function limiting unit of the image acquisition device is adapted not to limit the function for an image acquisition operation of the image acquisition unit regardless of the recognition result of the authentication information in the authentication information recognition unit, and adapted to limit the other functions based on the authentication information added to the authentication command received by the command receiving unit and recognized by the authentication information recognition unit.

45. The image acquisition system according to claim 44, wherein

the command transmission unit of the commanding device transmits the authentication command further with function range information designating the limited range of the function, and

the function limiting unit of the image acquisition device limits the function in accordance with the function range information added to the authentication command received by the command receiving unit.

46. A method of authentication for an image acquisition device between the image acquisition device having image acquisition unit and a commanding device configured as a member separate from the image acquisition device for transmitting a command to the image acquisition device proper to control the image acquisition device, thereby permitting the image acquisition device to perform an operation corresponding to the command, the method comprising:

transmitting identification information from the image acquisition device to the commanding device to permit the image acquisition device to identify the commanding device; and

in the commanding device, receiving the identification information transmitted by the image acquisition device, and transmitting a command with authentication information containing the authentication information which contains one of the received identification information and information derived from the identification information and which permits the image acquisition device to authenticate the commanding device.