IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGING SYSTEM, AND GAME APPARATUS

• US 20090322788A1
• Filed: 09/15/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Sawano, Takao
• Application Number:
  US12/210,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20090322788A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/632
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32771 in response to a request, e.g. for a particular document
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32776 using an interactive, user-operated device, e.g. a computer terminal, mobile telephone H04N1/32782, H04N1/32784 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/387 Composing, repositioning or otherwise geometrically modifying originals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay
• 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 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 the additional signal being at least another television signal

Abstract

An imaging apparatus comprises position information obtaining means, decoration image selection means, and composite image generation means. The position information obtaining means obtains position information indicative of a position where the imaging apparatus is present. The decoration image selection means selects a predetermined decoration image from predetermined storage means based on the position information. The composite image generation means composites the predetermined decoration image selected by the decoration image selection means and a taken image to generate a composite image.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus for compositing a taken image taken by imaging means and a decoration image stored in storage means to generate a composite image, the imaging apparatus comprising:

position information obtaining means for obtaining position information indicative of a position where the imaging apparatus is present;

decoration image selection means for selecting a predetermined decoration image from the storage means based on the position information; and

composite image generation means for compositing the predetermined decoration image selected by the decoration image selection means and the taken image to generate a composite image.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising wireless communication means for performing wireless communication, wherein

the position information obtaining means includes identification information obtaining means for obtaining identification information of a wireless communication relay point which is present in a communicable range of the wireless communication means, and

the decoration image selection means selects a predetermined decoration image from the storage means based on the identification information obtained by the identification information obtaining means.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when there are a plurality of wireless communication relay points which are present in the communicable range of the wireless communication means, the identification information obtaining means obtains identification information of a wireless communication relay point having the largest radio wave intensity.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the position information obtaining means includes position information measuring means for measuring position information of the imaging apparatus, and

the decoration image selection means selects a predetermined decoration image from the storage means based on the position information measured by the position information measuring means.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising date and time information obtaining means for obtaining date and time information regarding a current date and time,

the decoration image selection means selects a predetermined decoration image from the storage means based on the position information and the date and time information obtained by the date and time information obtaining means.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising decoration image update means for adding, updating, or deleting the decoration image via at least one of a predetermined communication line and an external storage unit which is connectable to the imaging apparatus.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying at least one of the taken image, the decoration image, and the composite image.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

operation input means for accepting a predetermined operation input; and

decoration image editing means for performing editing of the decoration image displayed on the display means or a decoration image on the composite image based on the operation input accepted by the operation input means.

9. The imaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the operation input means is a pointing device, and

the decoration image editing means performs editing by means of the pointing device.

10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the pointing device is a touch panel,

the touch panel is located on the display means so as to cover the display means, and

the decoration image editing means performs editing of the decoration image displayed on the display means or a decoration image on the composite image based on an input by a user with respect to the touch panel.

11. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the decoration image selection means selects a plurality of decoration images, and

the imaging apparatus further comprises user selection means for causing a user to select a desired image among the plurality of decoration images selected by the decoration image selection means.

12. An imaging system comprising a server for storing a decoration image in storage means, and an imaging apparatus for compositing a taken image taken by imaging means and a predetermined decoration image to generate a composite image, the server being connected to the imaging apparatus via a network,

the imaging apparatus comprising:

position information obtaining means for obtaining position information indicative of a position where the imaging apparatus is present;

position information transmission means for transmitting the position information to the server;

decoration image reception means for receiving a predetermined decoration image from the server; and

composite image generation means for compositing the predetermined decoration image received by the decoration image reception means and the taken image to generate a composite image,

the server comprising;

position information reception means for receiving the position information from the imaging apparatus;

decoration image selection means for selecting a predetermined decoration image from the storage means of the server using the position information received by the position information reception means; and

decoration image transmission means for transmitting the predetermined decoration image selected by the decoration image selection means to the imaging apparatus.

13. The imaging system according to claim 12, wherein

the imaging apparatus further comprises wireless communication means for performing wireless communication,

the position information obtaining means includes identification information obtaining means for obtaining identification information of a wireless communication relay point which is present in a communicable range of the wireless communication means, and

the position information transmission means transmits the identification information obtained by the identification information obtaining means as the position information to the server.

14. The imaging system according to claim 13, wherein

the wireless communication relay point is present within the network, and

the position information transmission means, the decoration image reception means, the position information reception means, and the decoration image transmission means each perform transmission or reception via the wireless communication relay point within the network.

15. The imaging system according to claim 13, wherein when there are a plurality of wireless communication relay points which are present in the communicable range of the wireless communication means, the identification information obtaining means obtains identification information of a wireless communication relay point having the largest radio wave intensity.

16. The imaging system according to claim 12, wherein

the position information obtaining means includes position information measuring means for measuring position information of the imaging apparatus, and

the position information transmission means transmits the position information measured by the position information measuring means.

17. The imaging system according to claim 12, wherein

the imaging apparatus further comprises:

date and time information obtaining means for obtaining date and time information regarding a current date and time; and

date and time information transmission means for transmitting the date and time information to the server,

the server further comprises;

date and time information reception means for receiving the date and time information from the imaging apparatus, and

the decoration image selection means selects a predetermined decoration image from the storage means of the server based on the position information and the date and time information received by the date and time information reception means.

26. The imaging system according to claim 12, wherein

the server further comprises date and time information obtaining means for obtaining date and time information regarding a current date and time, and

the decoration image selection means selects a predetermined decoration image from the storage means of the server based on the position information and the date and time information obtained by the date and time information obtaining means.

28. The imaging system according to claim 12, wherein the imaging apparatus further comprises display means for displaying at least one of the taken image, the decoration image, and the composite image.

29. The imaging system according to claim 28, wherein

the imaging apparatus further comprises:

operation input means for accepting a predetermined operation input; and

decoration image editing means for performing editing of the decoration image displayed on the display means or a decoration image on the composite image based on the operation input accepted by the operation input means.

30. The imaging system according to claim 29, wherein

the operation input means is a pointing device, and

the decoration image editing means performs editing by means of the pointing device.

31. The imaging system according to claim 30, wherein

the pointing device is a touch panel,

the touch panel is located on the display means so as to cover the display means, and

the decoration image editing means performs editing of the decoration image displayed on the display means or a decoration image on the composite image based on an input by a user with respect to the touch panel.

36. The imaging system according to claim 12, wherein the imaging apparatus further comprises decoration image deletion means for deleting the decoration image received by the imaging apparatus at a predetermined timing.

37. The imaging system according to claim 36, wherein the predetermined timing is a timing at which a power of the imaging apparatus is turned off.

38. The imaging system according to claim 36, wherein

the imaging apparatus further comprises composite image storing means for storing the composite image in a predetermined storage medium, and

the predetermined timing is a timing at which the composite image storing means stores the composite image.

42. The imaging system according to claim 12, wherein

the decoration image selection means selects a plurality of decoration images, and

the imaging apparatus further comprises user selection means for causing a user to select a desired image among the plurality of decoration images selected by the decoration image selection means.

18. An imaging system comprising a server for storing a decoration image in storage means, a relay apparatus which is connected to the server via a network, and a imaging apparatus which is connected to the relay apparatus for compositing a taken image taken by imaging means and a predetermined decoration image to generate a composite image,

the relay apparatus comprising:

position information obtaining means for obtaining position information indicative of a position where the relay apparatus is present;

first position information transmission means for transmitting the position information to the server;

first decoration image reception means for receiving a predetermined decoration image from the server; and

first decoration image transmission means for transmitting the decoration image received by the first decoration image reception means to the imaging apparatus,

the imaging apparatus comprising;

second decoration image reception means for receiving the predetermined decoration image from the relay apparatus; and

composite image generation means for compositing the predetermined decoration image received by the second decoration image reception means and the taken image to generate a composite image,

the server comprising;

first position information reception means for receiving the position information from the relay apparatus;

decoration image selection means for selecting a predetermined decoration image from the storage means of the server using the position information received by the first position information reception means, and

second decoration image transmission means for transmitting the predetermined decoration image selected by the decoration image selection means to the relay apparatus.

19. The imaging system according to claim 18, wherein

the relay apparatus further comprises wireless communication means for performing wireless communication,

the position information obtaining means includes identification information obtaining means for obtaining identification information of a wireless communication relay point which is present in a communicable range of the wireless communication means, and

the position information transmission means transmits the identification information obtained by the identification information obtaining means as the position information to the server.

20. The imaging system according to claim 19, wherein

the wireless communication relay point is present within the network, and

the first position information transmission means, the first decoration image reception means, the first position information reception means, and the second decoration image transmission means each perform transmission or reception via the wireless communication relay point within the network.

21. The imaging system according to claim 19, wherein when there are a plurality of wireless communication relay points which are present in the communicable range of the wireless communication means, the identification information obtaining means obtains identification information of a wireless communication relay point having the largest radio wave intensity.

22. The imaging system according to claim 18, wherein

the position information obtaining means includes position information measuring means for measuring position information of the relay apparatus, and

the position information transmission means transmits the position information measured by the position information measuring means.

23. The imaging system according to claim 18, wherein

imaging apparatus further comprises:

position information measuring means for measuring position information of the imaging apparatus; and

second position information transmission means for transmitting the position information to the relay apparatus,

the relay apparatus further comprises;

second position information reception means for receiving the position information from the imaging apparatus, and

the first position information transmission means transmits the position information received by the second position information reception means.

24. The imaging system according to claim 18, wherein

the imaging apparatus further comprises:

date and time information obtaining means for obtaining date and time information regarding a current date and time; and

first date and time information transmission means for transmitting the date and time information to the relay apparatus,

the relay apparatus further comprises;

first date and time information reception means for receiving the date and time information from the imaging apparatus; and

second date and time information transmission means for transmitting the date and time information received from the imaging apparatus to the server,

the server further comprises;

second date and time information reception means for receiving the date and time information from the relay apparatus, and

the decoration image selection means selects a predetermined decoration image from the storage means of the server based on the position information and the date and time information received by the second date and time information reception means.

25. The imaging system according to claim 18, wherein

the relay apparatus further comprises:

date and time information obtaining means for obtaining date and time information regarding a current date and time; and

date and time information transmission means for transmitting the date and time information to the server,

the server further comprises;

date and time information reception means for receiving the date and time information from the relay apparatus, and

the decoration image selection means selects a predetermined decoration image from the storage means of the server based on the position information and the date and time information received by the date and time information reception means.

27. The imaging system according to claim 18, wherein

the server further comprises date and time information obtaining means for obtaining date and time information regarding a current date and time, and

the decoration image selection means selects a predetermined decoration image from the storage means of the server based on the position information and the date and time information obtained by the date and time information obtaining means.

32. The imaging system according to claim 18, wherein the imaging apparatus further comprises display means for displaying at least one of the taken image, the decoration image, and the composite image.

33. The imaging system according to claim 32, wherein

the imaging apparatus further comprises:

operation input means for accepting a predetermined operation input; and

decoration image editing means for performing editing of the decoration image displayed on the display means or a decoration image on the composite image based on the operation input accepted by the operation input means.

34. The imaging system according to claim 33, wherein

the operation input means is a pointing device, and

the decoration image editing means performs editing by means of the pointing device.

35. The imaging system according to claim 34, wherein

the pointing device is a touch panel,

the touch panel is located on the display means so as to cover the display means, and

the decoration image editing means performs editing of the decoration image displayed on the display means or a decoration image on the composite image based on an input by a user with respect to the touch panel.

39. The imaging system according to claim 18, wherein the imaging apparatus further comprises decoration image deletion means for deleting the decoration image received by the imaging apparatus at a predetermined timing.

40. The imaging system according to claim 39, wherein the predetermined timing is a timing at which a power of the imaging apparatus is turned off.

41. The imaging system according to claim 39, wherein

the imaging apparatus further comprises composite image storing means for storing the composite image in a predetermined storage medium, and

the predetermined timing is a timing at which the composite image storing means stores the composite image.

43. The imaging system according to claim 18, wherein

the decoration image selection means selects a plurality of decoration images, and

the imaging apparatus further comprises user selection means for causing a user to select a desired image among the plurality of decoration images selected by the decoration image selection means.

44. A game apparatus for compositing a taken image taken by imaging means and a decoration image stored in storage means to generate a composite image, the game apparatus comprising:

position information obtaining means for obtaining position information indicative of a position where the game apparatus is present;

decoration image selection means for selecting a predetermined decoration image from the storage means using the position information; and

composite image generation means for compositing the predetermined decoration image selected by the decoration image selection means and the taken image to generate a composite image.

45. An imaging system comprising a server for storing a decoration image in storage means, and a game apparatus for compositing a taken image taken by imaging means and a predetermined decoration image to generate a composite image, the server being connected to the game apparatus via a network,

the game apparatus comprising:

position information obtaining means for obtaining position information indicative of a position where the game apparatus is present;

position information transmission means for transmitting the position information to the server;

decoration image reception means for receiving a predetermined decoration image from the server; and

composite image generation means for compositing the predetermined decoration image received by the decoration image reception means and the taken image to generate a composite image,

the server comprising;

position information reception means for receiving the position information from the game apparatus;

decoration image selection means for selecting a predetermined decoration image from the storage means of the server based on the position information received by the position information reception means; and

decoration image transmission means for transmitting the predetermined decoration image selected by the decoration image selection means to the game apparatus.

46. An imaging system comprising a server for storing a decoration image in storage means, a relay apparatus which is connected to the server via a network, and a game apparatus which is connected to the relay apparatus for compositing a taken image taken by imaging means and a predetermined decoration image to generate a composite image,

the relay apparatus comprising:

position information obtaining means for obtaining position information which is information on where the relay apparatus is located;

first position information transmission means for transmitting the position information to the server;

first decoration image reception means for receiving a predetermined decoration image from the server; and

first decoration image transmission means for transmitting the predetermined decoration image received by the first decoration image reception means to the game apparatus,

the game apparatus comprising;

second decoration image reception means for receiving the predetermined decoration image from the relay apparatus; and

composite image generation means for compositing the predetermined decoration image received by the second decoration image reception means and the taken image to generate a composite image,

the server comprising;

first position information reception means for receiving the position information from the relay apparatus;

decoration image selection means for selecting a predetermined decoration image from the storage means of the server based on the position information received by the position information reception means; and

second decoration image transmission means for transmitting the predetermined decoration image selected by the decoration image selection means to the relay apparatus.