Imaging apparatus, information processing apparatus and method, and computer program therefor

• US 8,184,170 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2008
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2007
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamaji, Hidenori
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US12/110,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20110254978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: 34821199-2112, 455 111- 121, 455/13.1, 455/557, 455/556.1
• US Class Current: 348/211.99
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/485 whereby the further system is an optical system or imaging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42202 environmental sensors, e.g. for detecting temperature, luminosity, pressure, earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that captures an image; a recording unit that records the image on a recording medium; a first position estimating unit that estimates a position of the imaging apparatus using a first position estimation technique to generate first position information, and calculates a first evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the first position information; a second position estimating unit that estimates the position of the imaging apparatus using a second position estimation technique different from the first position estimation technique to generate second position information, and calculates a second evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the second position information; a position-information obtaining unit that select, from the first and second position information, position information whose evaluation value is higher than the other; and an application executing unit that performs data processing using the selected position information.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus that captures an image, comprising:

an imaging unit configured to capture an image;

a recording unit configured to perform a process of recording the captured image on a recording medium;

a first position estimating unit configured to estimate a position of the imaging apparatus using a first position estimation technique to generate first position information, and to calculate a first evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the first position information;

a second position estimating unit configured to estimate the position of the imaging apparatus using a second position estimation technique to generate second position information, the second position estimation technique being different from the first position estimation technique, and to calculate a second evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the second position information;

a position-information obtaining unit configured to select, from the first position information and the second position information, position information whose evaluation value is higher than the other; and

an application executing unit configured to perform data processing using the position information selected by the position-information obtaining unit.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first position estimating unit is configured to generate the first position information by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System;

and

wherein the second position estimating unit is configured to generate the second position information by performing a position estimation process using a technique that is different from the position estimation process using the Global Positioning System.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first position estimating unit is configured to generate the first position information by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System;

and

wherein the second position estimating unit is configured to generate the second position information by searching for a base station of wireless communication, receiving base-station identification information from the detected base station, and searching a database in which base-station identification information is associated with position information.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first position estimating unit is configured to generate the first position information by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System and to calculate the first evaluation value on the basis of measurement status information obtained by analyzing data received from a satellite;

and

wherein the second position estimating unit is configured to generate the second position information by searching for a base station of wireless communication, receiving base-station identification information from the detected base station, and searching a database in which base-station identification information is associated with position information, and to calculate the second evaluation value on the basis of a reception signal level of a reception signal received from the base station at the time the base station is detected, the reception signal level corresponding to an electric field intensity.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first position estimating unit is configured to set a low evaluation value in a case where the measurement status information is two-dimensional and a high evaluation value in a case where the measurement status information is three-dimensional.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second position estimating unit is configured to compare the reception signal level with a predetermined threshold and to set a high evaluation value in a case where the reception signal level is greater than or equal to the threshold and a low evaluation value in a case where the reception signal level is less than the threshold.

7. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application executing unit is configured to perform a process of recording the position information selected by the position-information obtaining unit as position information in a recording file of the captured image.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application executing unit is configured to perform a process of using the position information selected by the position-information obtaining unit as current position information representing a current position on a map displayed on a display unit.

9. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a first position estimating unit configured to estimate a position of the information processing apparatus using a first position estimation technique to generate first position information, and to calculate a first evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the first position information;

a second position estimating unit configured to estimate the position of the information processing apparatus using a second position estimation technique to generate second position information, the second position estimation technique being different from the first position estimation technique, and to calculate a second evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the second position information;

a position-information obtaining unit configured to select, from the first position information and the second position information, position information whose evaluation value is higher than the other; and

an application executing unit configured to perform data processing using the position information selected by the position-information obtaining unit.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first position estimating unit is configured to generate the first position information by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System;

and

wherein the second position estimating unit is configured to generate the second position information by performing a position estimation process using a technique that is different from the position estimation process using the Global Positioning System.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first position estimating unit is configured to generate the first position information by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System;

and

wherein the second position estimating unit is configured to generate the second position information by searching for a base station of wireless communication, receiving base-station identification information from the detected base station, and searching a database in which base-station identification information is associated with position information.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first position estimating unit is configured to generate the first position information by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System and to calculate the first evaluation value on the basis of measurement status information obtained by analyzing data received from a satellite;

and

wherein the second position estimating unit is configured to generate the second position information by searching for a base station of wireless communication, receiving base-station identification information from the detected base station, and searching a database in which base-station identification information is associated with position information, and to calculate the second evaluation value on the basis of a reception signal level of a reception signal received from the base station at the time the base station is detected, the reception signal level corresponding to an electric field intensity.

13. An information processing method performed by an information processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:

with a first position estimating unit, estimating a position of the information processing apparatus using a first position estimation technique to generate first position information, and calculating a first evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the first position information;

with a second position estimating unit, estimating the position of the information processing apparatus using a second position estimation technique to generate second position information, the second position estimation technique being different from the first position estimation technique, and calculating a second evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the second position information;

with a position-information obtaining unit, selecting, from the first position information and the second position information, position information whose evaluation value is higher than the other; and

with an application executing unit, performing data processing using the selected position information.

14. The information processing method according to claim 13, wherein the first position information is generated by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System;

and

wherein the second position information is generated by performing a position estimation process using a technique that is different from the position estimation process using the Global Positioning System.

15. The information processing method according to claim 13, wherein the first position information is generated by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System;

and

wherein the second position information is generated by searching for a base station of wireless communication, receiving base-station identification information from the detected base station, and searching a database in which base-station identification information is associated with position information.

16. The information processing method according to claim 13, wherein the first position information is generated by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System, and the first evaluation value is calculated on the basis of measurement status information obtained by analyzing data received from a satellite;

and

wherein the second position information is generated by searching for a base station of wireless communication, receiving base-station identification information from the detected base station, and searching a database in which base-station identification information is associated with position information, and the second evaluation value is calculated on the basis of a reception signal level of a reception signal received from the base station at the time the base station is detected, the reception signal level corresponding to an electric field intensity.

17. The information processing method according to claim 16, wherein, when the first evaluation value is calculated, a low evaluation value is set in a case where the measurement status information is two-dimensional and a high evaluation value is set in a case where the measurement status information is three-dimensional.

18. The information processing method according to claim 16, wherein, when the second evaluation value is calculated, the reception signal level is compared with a predetermined threshold, and a high evaluation value is set in a case where the reception signal level is greater than or equal to the threshold and a low evaluation value is set in a case where the reception signal level is less than the threshold.

19. The information processing method according to claim 13, wherein, when the data processing is performed using the selected position information, a process of recording the selected position information as position information in a recording file of the captured image is performed.

20. The information processing method according to claim 13, wherein, when the data processing is performed using the selected position information, a process of using the selected position information as current position information representing a current position on a map displayed on a display unit is performed.