Electronic apparatus having a user identification function and user identification method

• US 7,382,405 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Issued: 06/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Kusaka, Yosuke, Nakamura, Shoei
• Primary Examiner(s): Villecco; John M.
• Application Number:
  US10/497,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20050001024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,009 Days
• Field of Search: 348/231.6, 348/78, 348/207.11, 348/211.99, 348/211.2, 348/211.4, 348/211.6, 348/207.99, 348/231.3, 348/207.1
• US Class Current: 348/231.6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2218/12 Classification; Matching
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/16 Human faces, e.g. facial parts, sketches or expressions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00106 using land mobile radio networks, e.g. mobile telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00114 with transmission of additional information signals for control or supervision between transmitter and receiver H04N1/32101
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00129 with a display device, e.g. CRT or LCD monitor with a television apparatus H04N1/00283; arrangements for control of display devices G09G
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00153 for sharing images with a selected individual or correspondent
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00251 with an apparatus for taking photographic images, e.g. a camera
• 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 1/0097 Storage of instructions or parameters, e.g. customised instructions or different parameters for different user IDs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2125 Display of information relating to the still picture recording
• 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 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/611 : where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 : Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 : Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 : Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 : Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 : Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 : Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

In an electronic apparatus having a user identification function or in a user identification method, an electronic apparatus and an electronic instrument having stored therein user personal information communicate in wireless with each other so as to enable the electronic apparatus to automatically identify the electronic apparatus user. If the electronic apparatus identifies a plurality of possible users, the electronic apparatus automatically selects the user by executing specific user identification processing.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function for identifying a user comprising:

a wireless communication unit that executes wireless communication with an electronic instrument carried by the user of the electronic apparatus and obtains personal information on the user from the electronic instrument;

a user selection unit that, if a plurality of possible users of the electronic apparatus are determined to be present based upon results of the wireless communication, automatically selects a user most likely to use the electronic apparatus as the electronic apparatus user from the plurality of possible users; and

a setting unit that selects operational settings for the electronic apparatus based upon the personal information on the user selected by the user selection unit.

2. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, wherein:

the wireless communication unit communicates with electronic instruments by using an electromagnetic wave signal and limits a wireless communication range of the electronic apparatus within a predetermined distance range relative to the electronic apparatus by restricting a transmission output level of the electromagnetic wave signal.

3. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, wherein:

the wireless communication unit has wireless communication directivity in a direction in which the user is highly likely to be present relative to the electronic apparatus when the user uses the electronic apparatus.

4. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 3, wherein:

the electronic apparatus is a photographing apparatus having a photographic optical system; and

the wireless communication unit has wireless communication directivity toward a side opposite from a subject along an optical axis of the photographic optical system.

5. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, wherein:

if a user of an electronic instrument with which wireless communication has been achieved is a user registered at the electronic apparatus, the user selection unit decides that the user is allowed to use the electronic apparatus.

6. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, wherein:

the user selection unit selects a user of an electronic instrument present over a shortest distance to the electronic apparatus as the electronic apparatus user from the plurality of possible users of the electronic apparatus based upon varying distances between the electronic apparatus and the electronic instruments.

7. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 6, wherein:

the wireless communication unit attempts communication with the electronic instrument by adjusting a wireless communication range to a plurality of settings to enable the user selection unit to select the electronic apparatus user.

8. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 7, wherein:

as an output level of a wireless transmission signal from the wireless communication unit is gradually increased while communicating with the electronic instruments, the user selection unit checks whether or not the user of each electronic instrument is a possible user of the electronic apparatus and selects a possible user of the electronic apparatus who is firstly detected as the electronic apparatus user.

9. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 6, wherein:

the user selection unit selects the electronic apparatus user based upon reception output levels at the electronic instruments receiving a wireless transmission signal transmitted by the wireless communication unit.

10. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 9, wherein:

with an output level of the wireless transmission signal from the wireless communication unit sustained at a constant level while communicating with the electronic instruments, the user selection unit obtains output level data from the electronic instruments having received the wireless transmission signal and selects a user of an electronic instrument having returned output level data indicating a highest output level among the output level data returned from the electronic instruments carried by the possible users of the electronic apparatus as the electronic apparatus user.

11. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 6, wherein:

the user selection unit selects the electronic apparatus user based upon attenuation rates of the wireless transmission signal transmitted by the electronic instruments.

12. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 11, wherein:

with output level data of wireless transmission signals transmitted by the electronic instruments received at the wireless communication unit from the electronic instruments carried by the possible users of the electronic apparatus, the user selection unit detects reception output levels of the wireless transmission signals transmitted by the electronic instruments carried by the possible users of the electronic apparatus calculates attenuation rates of the wireless transmission signals from the electronic instruments based upon the output level data and the detected reception output levels, and selects a user of an electronic instrument corresponding to a lowest wireless transmission signal attenuation rate among the electronic instruments carried by the possible users of the electronic apparatus as the electronic apparatus user.

13. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 6, wherein:

the user selection unit detects distances between the electronic apparatus and the electronic instruments carried by the possible users of the electronic apparatus and selects the electronic apparatus user based upon the detected distances.

14. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 13, wherein:

the electronic apparatus and the electronic instruments each include a positional measurement unit that obtains through measurement position data indicating a position thereof; and

with the position data received at the wireless communication unit from the electronic instruments carried by the possible users of the electronic apparatus, the user selection unit calculates distance data indicating distances between the electronic apparatus and the individual electronic instruments based upon the position data of the electronic apparatus and the position data received from the electronic instruments, with each set of data obtained through the measurement by the positional measurement unit, and selects a user of an electronic instrument corresponding to distance data indicating the smallest distance as the electronic apparatus user.

15. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, wherein:

based upon a predetermined user priority order, the user selection unit selects a user ranked highest in the priority order as the electronic apparatus user from the plurality of possible users of the electronic apparatus.

16. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, further comprising:

a storage unit that stores in a memory last utilization time points at which the electronic apparatus was last used by individual users, wherein;

based upon the last utilization time points corresponding to the individual users stored in the storage unit, the user selection units selects a user having used the electronic apparatus most recently among the plurality of possible users of the electronic apparatus as the electronic apparatus user.

17. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operating member operated by the electronic apparatus user; and

a control unit that engages the wireless communication unit and the user selection unit to execute a user identification operation when the operating member is operated.

18. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 17, wherein:

the operating member is a power-on operating member operated to turn on power to the electronic apparatus; and

the control unit engages the wireless communication unit and the user selection unit to execute a user identification operation when the power-on operating member is operated and power to the electronic apparatus is turned on.

19. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, further comprising:

a contact detection unit that detects a user contact with the electronic apparatus; and

a control unit that engages the wireless communication unit and the user selection unit to execute a user identification operation when the contact detection units detects a user contact.

20. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 19, further comprising:

a holding unit hand-held by the user operating the electronic apparatus, wherein;

the contact detection unit is provided near the holding unit.

21. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit that engages the wireless communication unit and the user selection unit in executing a user identification operation with a predetermined time cycle.

22. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit that disables a user identification operation by the wireless communication unit and the user selection unit, if the electronic apparatus is set in an operating mode in which the user does not operate the electronic apparatus in close proximity to the electronic apparatus.

23. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, wherein:

the electronic instrument includes an operating member;

when the operating member is operated by the user, the electronic instrument wirelessly issues a notification of a user operation of the operating member to the wireless communication unit of the electronic apparatus; and

the electronic apparatus further comprises a control unit that engages the wireless communication unit and the user selection unit in executing a user identification operation when the notification of a user operation of the operating member from the electronic instrument is received at the wireless communication unit.

24. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, further comprising:

a switching unit operated to switch over between a mode in which a user identification operation by the wireless communication unit and the user selection unit is enabled and a mode in which the user identification operation by the wireless communication unit and the user selection unit is disabled.

25. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, further comprising:

a remote control unit that enables remote control of the electronic apparatus, wherein;

the wireless communication unit and the user selection unit are internally provided at the remote control unit.

26. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, wherein:

the user selection unit selects a preset default user as the user if no possible user of the electronic apparatus is detected.

27. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operating member, wherein;

when the operating member is operated by the user, the setting unit initializes the operational settings of the electronic apparatus based upon the personal information on the user selected by the user selection unit.

28. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, further comprising:

a manual user change unit operated to manually change the electronic apparatus user.

29. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit; and

a control unit that controls the display unit to display the user automatically selected by the user selection unit.

30. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, further comprising:

a notification unit that issues a notification indicating that the user has been selected by the user selection unit, to the electronic instrument carried by the user.

31. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, further comprising:

a storage unit that stores in memory a user having lastly used the electronic apparatus ; and

a reporting unit that provides a report on a mismatch if the user selected by the user selection unit does not match with the user stored in a memory at the storage unit.

32. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, further comprising:

a user characteristics detection unit that detects information indicating physical characteristics of users of the electronic apparatus, wherein;

the user selection unit selects a user whose physical characteristics information detected by the user characteristics detection unit matches user characteristics information received from the electronic instrument through wireless communication as the electronic apparatus user.

33. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit, wherein;

the setting unit selects a display setting for the display unit in conformance to a degree of expertise of the user selected by the user selection unit in handling the electronic apparatus, which is indirectly judged based upon general personal information on the user.

34. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 33, wherein:

the display setting is a specific size of characters displayed at the display unit or a specific style of text displayed at the display unit.

35. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit, wherein;

the setting unit adjusts a display setting for the display unit or the operational settings for the electronic apparatus in conformance to the degree of expertise of the user selected by the user selection unit in handling the electronic apparatus, which is indirectly judged based upon user'"'"'s age information.

36. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit, wherein;

the setting unit adjusts the size of characters displayed at the display unit based upon personal information indicating the visual acuity of the user selected by the user selection unit.

37. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, wherein:

the electronic apparatus is a photographing apparatus operated to photograph a subject;

the electronic apparatus further comprises;

a viewfinder through which the subject is observed; and

a diopter adjustment unit that adjusts a diopter of the viewfinder; and

the setting unit automatically adjusts the diopter of the viewfinder via the diopter adjustment unit based upon personal information indicating the diopter of the user selected by the user selection unit.

38. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 1, wherein:

the electronic instrument is either embedded inside the user'"'"'s body or is worn in close contact with a surface of the user'"'"'s body, and is capable of wirelessly communicating with the electronic apparatus coming into contact with the user through an electrical current or an electromagnetic wave traveling through the user'"'"'s body;

the electronic apparatus further comprises a holding unit hand-held by the user operating the electronic apparatus; and

the wireless communication unit communicates with the electronic instrument through the hand of the user holding the holding unit.

39. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function for identifying a user, comprising:

a wireless communication unit that wirelessly communicates with electronic instruments present in the vicinity of the electronic apparatus;

a user selection unit that selects an electronic instrument carried by a user other than an operator of the electronic apparatus from electronic instruments with which wireless communication has been achieved and obtains, via the wireless communication unit, personal information on the user from the selected electronic instrument; and

a control unit that controls operations of the electronic apparatus based upon the user personal information obtained by the user selection unit.

40. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 39, wherein:

the electronic apparatus is a photographing apparatus that generates image data through a photographing operation;

the personal information is information indicating the color of the irises of the user;

the electronic apparatus further comprises an electronic flash unit that emits flash light to illuminate the user to be photographed; and

the control unit extracts any red-eye portion of the user image from the image data obtained by photographing the user with the electronic flash unit illuminating the user and retouches the red-eye portion by using a color corresponding to the information indicating the iris color.

41. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 39, wherein:

the electronic apparatus is a photographing apparatus that performs a photographing operation;

the electronic apparatus further comprises an electronic flash unit emits flash light to illuminate the user to be photographed;

the personal information is information indicating whether or not the eyes of the user tend to appear red in a photographed image obtained through a flash photographing operation performed by using the electronic flash unit; and

if the eyes of the user are determined to tend to appear red based upon the personal information, the control unit causes the pupils of the user to contract by engaging the electronic flash unit to emit flash light to illuminate the user prior to the flash photographing operation so that the eyes of the user do not readily turn red in the image obtained through the flash photographing operation.

42. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function according to claim 39, wherein:

the electronic apparatus is a photographing apparatus that generates an image through a photographing operation;

the electronic apparatus further comprises an electronic flash unit and an illumination unit that illuminates the user to be photographed;

the personal information is information indicating whether or not the eyes of the user tend to appear red in a photographed image obtained through a flash photographing operation performed by using the electronic flash unit; and

if the eyes of the user are determined to tend to appear red based upon the personal information, the control unit causes the pupils of the user to contract by engaging the illumination unit to illuminate the user prior to the flash photographing operation so that the eyes of the user do not readily turn red in the image obtained through the flash photographing operation.

43. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function for identifying a user, comprising:

a display unit;

a wireless communication unit that executes wireless communication with an electronic instrument carried by the user of the electronic apparatus and obtains personal information on the user from the electronic instrument;

a control unit that, if a plurality of possible users of the electronic apparatus are determined to be present based upon results of the wireless communication, controls the display unit to display the plurality of users at the display unit;

a manual user selection unit operated to manually select a single user from the plurality of possible users displayed at the display unit; and

a setting unit that selects operational settings for the electronic apparatus based upon the personal information on the user selected through the manual user selection unit.

44. An electronic apparatus having a user identification function for identifying a user, comprising:

a wireless communication unit that executes wireless communication with an electronic instrument carried by the user of the electronic apparatus and obtains personal information on the user from the electronic instrument through wireless communication;

a user selection unit that checks whether or not each user of the electronic instruments is a possible user of the electronic apparatus, as an output level of a wireless transmission signal from the wireless communication unit is gradually increased while communicating with the electronic instruments, and selects a possible user of the electronic apparatus who is first detected as the electronic apparatus user; and

a setting unit that selects operational settings for the electronic apparatus based upon the personal information on the user selected by the user selection unit.

45. An identification method for identifying a user of an electronic apparatus available for use by the user through wireless communication between the electronic apparatus and an electronic instrument carried by the user and having stored therein information on the user, comprising:

a wireless communication step in which the electronic apparatus executes wireless communication with the electronic instruments present in the vicinity of the electronic apparatus;

a first identification step in which if the electronic apparatus judges that there is a single possible user of the electronic apparatus based upon results of the wireless communication step, the electronic apparatus selects the user as the user of the electronic apparatus; and

a second identification step in which, if the electronic apparatus judges that there are a plurality of possible users of the electronic apparatus based upon the results of the wireless communication step, the electronic apparatus automatically selects a user most likely to be the user of the electronic apparatus as the electronic apparatus user.

46. A user identification method through which an electronic apparatus available for use by a user identifies the user of the electronic apparatus by wirelessly communicating with an electronic instrument carried by the user and having stored therein information on the user, comprising:

a search step in which the electronic apparatus wirelessly communicates with electronic instruments present in the vicinity of the electronic apparatus while gradually increasing the output level of a wireless transmission signal and searches for possible users of the electronic apparatus; and

an identification step in which the electronic apparatus selects a possible user of the electronic apparatus first detected by the electronic apparatus through the search step as the electronic apparatus user.

47. An identification method for identifying a user of an electronic apparatus available for use by the user through wireless communication between the electronic apparatus and an electronic instrument carried by the user and also having stored therein information on the user, comprising:

a wireless communication step in which the electronic apparatus executes wireless communication with the electronic instruments present in the vicinity of the electronic apparatus;

an identification step in which the electronic apparatus automatically selects a user most likely to be the user of the electronic apparatus as the electronic apparatus user based upon results of the wireless communication step;

a notification step in which the electronic apparatus issues an notification indicating that the user has been selected to the electronic instrument carried by the selected user through wireless communication; and

a reporting step in which the electronic instrument having received the notification reports to the user carrying the electronic instrument that the user has been selected as the electronic apparatus user by the electronic apparatus.

48. A user identification method through which an electronic apparatus having a non-contact IC card reading function and available for use by a user identifies the user of the electronic apparatus by wireless communicating with a non-contact IC card which is carried by the user and has stored therein information on the user, comprising:

a wireless communication step in which the electronic apparatus executes wireless communication with a non-contact IC card present in the vicinity of the electronic apparatus;

a first identification step in which, if the electronic apparatus determines that there is a single possible user of the electronic apparatus based upon results of the wireless communication step, the electronic apparatus selects the user as the user of the electronic apparatus; and

a second identification step in which, if the electronic apparatus determines that there are a plurality of possible users of the electronic apparatus based upon the results of the wireless communication step, the electronic apparatus automatically selects a user most likely to be the user of the electronic apparatus as the electronic apparatus user.

49. An identification method through which an electronic instrument carried by a user identifies an electronic apparatus to be utilized by the user by wirelessly communicating with the electronic apparatus to be utilized by the user, comprising:

a wireless communications step in which the electronic instrument carried by the user executes a wireless communication with electronic apparatuses present in the vicinity of the electronic instrument;

a first identification step in which, if the electronic instrument determines that there is a single electronic apparatus available for use by the user carrying the electronic instrument based upon results of the wireless communication step, then the electronic instrument selects the electronic apparatus as the electronic apparatus to be used by the user; and

a second identification step in which, if the electronic instrument determines that there are a plurality of electronic apparatuses available for use by the user carrying the electronic instrument based upon the results of the wireless communications step, then the electronic instrument automatically selects an electronic apparatus that the user most likely intends to use as the electronic apparatus to be used by the user.

50. An identification method through which an electronic instrument carried by a user identifies an electronic apparatus to be utilized by the user by wireless communication with the electronic apparatus to be utilized by the user, comprising:

a wireless communications step in which the electronic instrument carried by the user executes a wireless communication with electronic apparatuses present in the vicinity of the electronic instrument;

an identification step in which the electronic instrument automatically selects an electronic apparatus which is most likely to be used by the user as the electronic apparatus to be used by the user based upon results of the wireless communication step; and

a notification step in which a notification indicating that the user is to use the electronic apparatus selected through the identification step is issued to the selected electronic apparatus by the electronic instrument.