Information processing system and camera system

• US 6,961,540 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2000
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Moise, Emmanuel L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ, JULIO R
• Application Number:
  US09/604,352
• Time in Patent Office: 1,953 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211.2, 348/211.1, 348/211.3, 348/211.9, 455/420, 455/452.2, 455/412.1, 455/572, 455/403, 455/411, 455/41.2, 455/70, 455/73, 455/558, 455/557, 455/418, 455/419, 235/382, 235/383, 235/385, 235472-487, 379/102.01, 379/88.01, 379/67.1, 379/16, 705/18, 705/41, 705/44
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• 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 (camera) system comprises a radio communication terminal (medium) and an information appliance (camera) communicable the radio communication terminal (medium) within a predetermined distance. The information appliance (camera) comprises (an image pickup part for obtaining image data by photographing a subject,) a storing part for storing information peculiar to a user of the information appliance (camera), a radio communication part (medium reading part) (transmitting a predetermined radio signal and) reading information from the radio communication terminal (medium), and an authorization part for authorizing the information appliance (camera) user by collating information from the radio communication terminal read at the radio communication part (medium reading part) with information peculiar to the information appliance (camera) user stored in the storing part (and a record part for recording the information related to the camera user authorized at the authorization part while relating the information related to the camera user authorized at the authorization part to the image data photographed at the image pickup part). The radio communication terminal (medium) comprises a storing part for storing predetermined information and a transmission part for receiving a radio signal generated at the information appliance (the predetermined radio signal generated at a radio communication medium reading part of the camera) and transmitting the predetermined signal stored in the storing part as a radio signal.

Claims

1. An information processing system comprising:

a radio communication terminal; and

an information appliance communicable with said radio communication terminal within a predetermined distance,

said information appliance comprising;

a first storing part for storing information specific to a user of said information appliance, said information specific to the user including information specific to the information appliance;

a radio communication part for reading information from said radio communication terminal;

an authorization part for authorizing said user of the information appliance by collating information from said radio communication terminal read by said radio communication part with the information specific to the user of said information appliance including the information specific to the information appliance stored in the first storing part; and

a user interface part as an input part by which the user requires that the authorization processing is performed; and

said radio communication terminal comprising;

a second storing part for storing predetermined information specific to the user; and

a transmission part for receiving a radio signal transmitted from said information appliance and transmitting, as a radio signal, said predetermined information specific to the user stored in the second storing part.

2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein said radio communication terminal comprises a portable telephone, the information specific to the user comprises a telephone number, and the telephone number differs for each user.

3. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein said radio communication terminal employs an operation part of a portable telephone to transmit a code number in addition to the information specific to the user.

4. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein said information appliance further comprises a control part for controlling the radio communication terminal reading part so that the directivity of an electromagnetic wave transmitted from the radio communication terminal reading part is made high.

5. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the information appliance comprises a personal computer.

6. The information processing system according to claim 5, wherein the information appliance comprises a stationary type personal computer.

7. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the information appliance comprises one of a household electric appliance and a consumer electronics product.

8. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the radio communication terminal comprises a non-contact IC card.

9. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the radio communication terminal comprises a wearable non-contact type radio communication terminal.

10. The information processing system according to claim 9, wherein the radio communication terminal comprises a non-contact tag.

11. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the information appliance further comprises

a control part for supplying power to the radio communication part when the authorization processing is required through the user interface part, and the control part stops supplying power to the radio communication part after a predetermined time period.

12. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein the information appliance comprises a personal computer.

13. The information processing system according to claim 12, wherein the information appliance comprises a stationary type personal computer.

14. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein the information appliance comprises one of a household electric appliance and a consumer electronics product.

15. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein the radio communication terminal comprises a non-contact IC card.

16. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein the radio communication terminal comprises a wearable non-contact type radio communication terminal.

17. The information processing system according to claim 16, wherein the radio communication terminal comprises a non-contact tag.

18. An information processing system comprising:

a radio communication terminal; and

an information appliance communicable with the radio communication terminal within a predetermined distance,

said radio communication terminal comprising;

a first storing part for storing predetermined information, which comprises user-specific information for an appliance user;

a transmission part for receiving a radio signal transmitted from the information appliance and transmitting, as a radio signal, the predetermined information stored in the first storing part; and

said information appliance comprising;

a second storing part for storing information specific to a user of the information appliance;

a radio communication part for reading information from the radio communication terminal;

an authorization part for collating information from the radio communication terminal read by the radio communication part with the information specific to the user of the information appliance stored in the second storing part, and for allowing the appliance user to use the information appliance if the information from the radio communication terminal coincides with the information specific to the user of the information appliance; and

a controller for controlling the authorization part, such that registration and de-registration of an appliance user as a user of the information appliance by the authorization part can be performed only when a predetermined appliance user is authorized by the authorization part.

19. The information processing system according to claim 18, wherein the radio communication terminal comprises a non-contact IC card.

20. The information processing system according to claim 19, further comprising a non-contact IC card for the predetermined appliance user as a system manager.

21. The information processing system according to claim 18, wherein the radio communication terminal comprises a portable telephone.