Image distribution apparatus and method of controlling the same, image transmission apparatus and method of controlling the same, which are excellent in user location information security, and storage medium

• US 8,510,855 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2011
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Oka, Hiroto
• Primary Examiner(s): REVAK, CHRISTOPHER A
• Application Number:
  US13/176,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20120011593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 726/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS

Abstract

An image distribution apparatus capable of preventing a third party from knowing that a photographer is away from a specific place, based on information indicative of shooting date and time or a shooting location, which is stored in a manner associated with an image shot by the photographer. A blog server receives an image from an camera-equipped cellular phone. The image has location information added thereto which is indicative of a location where the cellular phone existed during shooting processing of the image. The blog server stores the image, and determines whether a location indicated by the location information is within a predetermined area. The blog server permits distribution of the image via a network if the location is determined to be within the predetermined area, but inhibits distribution of the image if the location is not determined to be within the predetermined area.

Claims

1. An image distribution apparatus comprising:

an image receiving unit configured to receive an image from an image transmission apparatus where the image is shot in response to an operation by a user, the image having location information added thereto which is indicative of a location where the image transmission apparatus existed when the image was shot;

a storage unit configured to store the image;

a setting unit configured to set a geographical place relevant to the user;

a determination unit configured to determine whether or not a location indicated by the location information added to the image received from the image transmission apparatus is within a predetermined area including the set geographical place relevant to the user; and

a distribution control unit configured to permit distribution of the image via a network if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is within the predetermined area, and inhibit the distribution of the image if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is not within the predetermined area,

wherein the image distribution apparatus comprises a processor executing a program stored in a memory to implement at least a part of function of at least one of said units.

2. The image distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distribution control unit permits distribution of the image when a predetermined time period has elapsed even if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is not within the predetermined area.

3. The image distribution apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit configured to detect that the image transmission apparatus has moved into the predetermined area, and

wherein said distribution control unit permits distribution of the image if it is detected that the image transmission apparatus has moved into the predetermined area, even if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is not within the predetermined area.

4. The image distribution apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a request-receiving unit configured to receive a request for viewing the image from an information communication apparatus;

and

a transmission control unit configured to cause the image to be transmitted to the information communication apparatus if distribution of the image of which viewing is requested is permitted, and cause a message different from the image to be transmitted to the information communication apparatus if distribution of the image of which viewing is requested is inhibited.

5. The image distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image receiving unit receives a text together with the image, and

wherein said distribution control unit permits distribution of the image and the text via a network if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is within the predetermined area, and inhibits distribution of the image via the network but permits distribution of the text via the network if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is not within the predetermined area.

6. The image distribution apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an area information-receiving unit configured to receive area information indicative of whether or not the location indicated by the location information is within the predetermined area, from the image transmission apparatus, and

wherein said determination unit performs the determination, based on the area information.

7. The image distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said determination unit starts the determination after the image, to which the location information is added, is received by said image receiving unit.

8. An image transmission apparatus, where an image is shot in response to an operation by a user, comprising:

a storage unit configured to store the image, the image having location information added thereto which is indicative of a location where the image transmission apparatus existed when the image was shot;

a setting unit configured to set a geographical place relevant to the user;

a determination unit configured to determine whether or not a location indicated by the location information is within a predetermined area including the set geographical place relevant to the user; and

a transmission control unit configured to cause the image to be transmitted to an image distribution apparatus via a network if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is within the predetermined area, and cause the image to be prevented from being transmitted to the image distribution apparatus if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is not within the predetermined area,

wherein the image transmission apparatus comprises a processor executing a program stored in a memory to implement at least a part of function of at least one of said units.

9. The image transmission apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a detection unit configured to detect that the image transmission apparatus has moved into the predetermined area, and

wherein said transmission control unit causes the image to be transmitted if it is detected that the image transmission apparatus has moved into the predetermined area, even if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is not within the predetermined area.

10. The image transmission apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said transmission control unit transmits the image when a predetermined time period has elapsed even if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is not within the predetermined area.

11. The image transmission apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said determination unit starts the determination after said storage unit has stored the image and before said transmission control unit causes the image to be transmitted.

12. A method of controlling an image distribution apparatus, comprising:

receiving an image from an image transmission apparatus where the image is shot in response to an operation by a user, the image having location information added thereto which is indicative of a location where the image transmission apparatus existed when the image was shot;

storing the image;

setting a geographical place relevant to the user;

determining whether or not a location indicated by the location information added to the image received from the image transmission apparatus is within a predetermined area including the set geographical place relevant to the user; and

permitting distribution of the image via a network if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is within the predetermined area, and inhibiting the distribution of the image if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is not within the predetermined area.

13. A method of controlling an image transmission apparatus, where an image is shot in response to an operation by a user, comprising:

storing the image, the image having location information added thereto which is indicative of a location where the image transmission apparatus existed when the image was shot;

setting a geographical place relevant to the user;

determining whether or not a location indicated by the location information is within a predetermined area; and

causing the image to be transmitted to an image distribution apparatus via a network if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is within the predetermined area, and causing the image to be prevented from being transmitted to the image distribution apparatus if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is not within the predetermined area.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program for causing a computer to execute a method of controlling an image distribution apparatus,

wherein the method comprises:

receiving an image from an image transmission apparatus where the image is shot in response to an operation by a user, the image having location information added thereto which is indicative of a location where the image transmission apparatus existed when the image was shot;

storing the image;

setting a geographical place relevant to the user;

determining whether or not a location indicated by the location information added to the image received from the image transmission apparatus is within a predetermined area including the set geographical place relevant to the user; and

permitting distribution of the image via a network if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is within the predetermined area, and inhibiting the distribution of the image if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is not within the predetermined area.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program for causing a computer to execute a method of controlling an image transmission apparatus, where an image is shot in response to an operation by a user,

wherein the method comprises:

storing the image, the image having location information added thereto which is indicative of a location where the image transmission apparatus existed when the image was shot;

setting a geographical place relevant to the user;

determining whether or not a location indicated by the location information is within a predetermined area; and

causing the image to be transmitted to an image distribution apparatus via a network if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is within the predetermined area, and causing the image to be prevented from being transmitted to the image distribution apparatus if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information is not within the predetermined area.