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

• US RE45,319 E1
• Filed: 03/27/2014
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US14/227,478
• Time in Patent Office: 285 Days
• Field of Search: 34821199-2112, 455/456.6, 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: 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 5/23206 Transmission of camera control signals via a network, e.g. 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.

21. An information processing method, comprising:

receiving a location request from an application executed in an information processing apparatus for identifying an estimated position of the information processing apparatus;

from a GPS-based position estimating device, obtaining a first position estimate of the information processing apparatus; and

from an access-point based position information estimating processor, obtaining a second position estimate of the information processing apparatus, including

scanning wireless transmissions from a plurality of access points, wherein said scanning including scanning information stored in a position information database, and

selecting with circuitry the estimated position from a more accurate of the first position estimate and the second position estimate.

22. The information processing method of claim 21, wherein the scanning includes scanning for wireless transmissions in a predetermined frequency band that includes frequencies at least 2 GHz or higher.

23. The information processing method of claim 22, wherein the predetermined frequency band is included in a range of 2 GHz through 11 GHz.

24. The information processing method of claim 21, wherein the scanning includes scanning position information of said plurality of access points.

25. The information processing method of claim 21, further comprising:

providing the estimated position to the application in response to receiving the location request.

26. The information processing method of claim 25, further comprising:

executing the application with a CPU and performing processing by the CPU on the estimated position.

27. The information processing method of claim 21, wherein the scanning includes obtaining the second position estimate based on a transmitted identifier.

28. The information processing method of claim 27, wherein the identifier is a service set identifier, SSID, of at least one WLAN access point.

29. The information processing method of claim 27, wherein the identifier is a media access control, MAC, address of at least one WLAN access point.

30. The information processing method of claim 29, wherein the obtaining includes obtaining includes obtaining the MAC address and a reception signal level from the at least one WLAN access point.

31. The information processing method of claim 30, wherein the estimating the second position estimate includes estimating the second position estimate based on the MAC address and the reception signal level from the at least one WLAN access point.

32. The information processing method of claim 21, wherein the scanning includes communicating with at least one WLAN access point via a WLAN driver.

33. The information processing method of claim 21, wherein the scanning information stored in a position information database includes scanning for a MAC address, and latitude and longitude for each of the plurality of access points, at least one of the plurality of access points being a WLAN access point.

34. The information processing method of claim 21, wherein the scanning includes obtaining the second position estimate by searching the position information database based on a MAC address.

35. The information processing method of claim 21, wherein the identifying includes obtaining from the GPS-based position estimation device latitude and longitude information, measurement status information, dispersion data, and ephemeris data.

36. The information processing method of claim 21, wherein the obtaining a second position estimate includes storing access point position information in a storage device and periodically updating the storage device with updated access point position information.

37. The information processing method of claim 21, wherein the obtaining a second position estimate includes using different position evaluation processes for a detected access point depending on a communication frequency band in which the scanning is performed.

38. The information processing method of claim 21, further comprising:

associating in an image file having an EXIF file format the estimated position with a captured image, wherein

the estimated position is a position of information processing apparatus at a time of image capture.

39. The information processing method of claim 21, further comprising:

wherein at least one of the obtaining a first position estimate and the obtaining a second position estimate includes communicating with a base station of a cellular phone.

40. The information processing method of claim 21, further comprising:

obtaining a third position estimate of the information processing apparatus according to another position information estimating processor, wherein

the selecting includes selecting with the circuitry the estimated position from a more accurate of the first position estimate, the second position estimate and the third position estimate.

41. The information processing method of claim 21, wherein:

the selecting includes selecting with a central processing unit as the circuitry the estimated position.

42. The information processing method of claim 21, further comprising:

capturing an image with an imaging unit in the information processing apparatus, the estimated position being a position of the image processing apparatus at a time when the imaging unit captured the image.

43. The information processing method of claim 42, wherein:

the capturing includes capturing the image with a CCD sensor.

44. The information processing method of claim 21, further comprising:

comparing a first evaluation value with a second evaluation value, wherein

the selecting includes selecting with circuitry the estimated position based on a result of the comparing, and

the first position estimate comprises latitude and longitude information and a first evaluation value, the second position estimate comprises latitude and longitude information and a second evaluation value, the first evaluation value and the second evaluation value being indices of accuracy.

45. An information processing apparatus, comprising:

circuitry configured to

receive a location request from an application executed in the information processing apparatus to identify an estimated position of the information processing apparatus,

obtain from a GPS-based position estimating device a first position estimate of the information processing apparatus,

obtain from an access-point based position information estimating processor a second position estimate of the information processing apparatus,

scan wireless transmissions from a plurality of access points including information stored in a position information database, and

select the estimated position from a more accurate of the first position estimate and the second position estimate.

47. The information processing apparatus of claim 45, wherein the scanning includes scanning for wireless transmissions in a predetermined frequency band that includes frequencies at least 2 GHz or higher.

48. The information processing apparatus of claim 47, wherein the predetermined frequency band is included in a range of 2 GHz through 11 GHz.

49. The information processing apparatus of claim 45, wherein the scanning includes scanning position information of said plurality of access points.

50. The information processing apparatus of claim 45, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

provide the estimated position to the application in response to receiving the location request.

51. The information processing apparatus of claim 50, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

execute the application with a CPU and perform processing by the CPU on the estimated position.

52. The information processing apparatus of claim 45, wherein the scanning includes obtaining the second position estimate based on a transmitted identifier.

53. The information processing apparatus of claim 52, wherein the identifier is a service set identifier, SSID, of at least one WLAN access point.

54. The information processing apparatus of claim 52, wherein the identifier is a media access control, MAC, address of at least one WLAN access point.

55. The information processing apparatus of claim 54, wherein the obtaining includes obtaining includes obtaining the MAC address and a reception signal level from the at least one WLAN access point.

56. The information processing apparatus of claim 55, wherein the estimating the second position estimate includes estimating the second position estimate based on the MAC address and the reception signal level from the at least one WLAN access point.

57. The information processing apparatus of claim 45, wherein the scanning includes communicating with at least one WLAN access point via a WLAN driver.

58. The information processing apparatus of claim 45, wherein the scanning information stored in a position information database includes scanning for a MAC address, and latitude and longitude for each of the plurality of access points, at least one of the plurality of access points being a WLAN access point.

59. The information processing apparatus of claim 45, wherein the scanning includes obtaining the second position estimate by searching the position information database based on a MAC address.

60. The information processing apparatus of claim 45, wherein the identifying includes obtaining from the GPS-based position estimation device latitude and longitude information, measurement status information, dispersion data, and ephemeris data.

61. The information processing apparatus of claim 45, wherein the obtaining a second position estimate includes storing access point position information in a storage device and periodically updating the storage device with updated access point position information.

62. The information processing apparatus of claim 45, wherein the obtaining a second position estimate includes using different position evaluation processes for a detected access point depending on a communication frequency band in which the scanning is performed.

63. The information processing apparatus of claim 45, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

associate in an image file having an EXIF file format the estimated position with a captured image, wherein

the estimated position is a position of information processing apparatus at a time of image capture.

64. The information processing apparatus of claim 45, further comprising:

wherein at least one of the obtaining a first position estimate and the obtaining a second position estimate includes communicating with a base station of a cellular phone.

65. The information processing apparatus of claim 45, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

obtain a third position estimate of the information processing apparatus according to another position information estimating processor, wherein

the selecting includes selecting with the circuitry the estimated position from a more accurate of the first position estimate, the second position estimate and the third position estimate.

66. The information processing apparatus of claim 45, wherein:

the selecting includes selecting with a central processing unit as the circuitry the estimated position.

67. The information processing apparatus of claim 45, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

capture an image with an imaging unit in the information processing apparatus, the estimated position being a position of the image processing apparatus at a time when the imaging unit captured the image.

68. The information processing apparatus of claim 67, wherein:

the capturing includes capturing the image with a CCD sensor.

69. The information processing apparatus of claim 45, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

compare a first evaluation value with a second evaluation value, wherein

the selecting includes selecting with circuitry the estimated position based on a result of the comparing, and

the first position estimate comprises latitude and longitude information and a first evaluation value, the second position estimate comprises latitude and longitude information and a second evaluation value, the first evaluation value and the second evaluation value being indices of accuracy.

46. A non-transitory computer readable storage device that includes computer readable instructions that when executed by processing circuitry performs an information processing method, the method, comprising:

receiving a location request from an application executed in an information processing apparatus for identifying an estimated position of the information processing apparatus;

from a GPS-based position estimating device, obtaining a first position estimate of the information processing apparatus; and

from an access-point based position information estimating processor, obtaining a second position estimate of the information processing apparatus, including scanning wireless transmissions from a plurality of access points,

wherein said scanning including scanning information stored in a position information database, and

selecting with the processing circuitry the estimated position from a more accurate of the first position estimate and the second position estimate.

70. The information processing method of claim 46, wherein the scanning includes scanning for wireless transmissions in a predetermined frequency band that includes frequencies at least 2 GHz or higher.

71. The information processing method of claim 70, wherein the predetermined frequency band is included in a range of 2 GHz through 11 GHz.

72. The information processing method of claim 46, wherein the scanning includes scanning position information of said plurality of access points.

73. The information processing method of claim 46, further comprising:

providing the estimated position to the application in response to receiving the location request.

74. The information processing method of claim 73, further comprising:

executing the application with a CPU and performing processing by the CPU on the estimated position.

75. The information processing method of claim 46, wherein the scanning includes obtaining the second position estimate based on a transmitted identifier.

76. The information processing method of claim 75, wherein the identifier is a service set identifier, SSID, of at least one WLAN access point.

77. The information processing method of claim 75, wherein the identifier is a media access control, MAC, address of at least one WLAN access point.

78. The information processing method of claim 77, wherein the obtaining includes obtaining includes obtaining the MAC address and a reception signal level from the at least one WLAN access point.

79. The information processing method of claim 78, wherein the estimating the second position estimate includes estimating the second position estimate based on the MAC address and the reception signal level from the at least one WLAN access point.

80. The information processing method of claim 46, wherein the scanning includes communicating with at least one WLAN access point via a WLAN driver.

81. The information processing method of claim 46, wherein the scanning information stored in a position information database includes scanning for a MAC address, and latitude and longitude for each of the plurality of access points, at least one of the plurality of access points being a WLAN access point.

82. The information processing method of claim 46, wherein the scanning includes obtaining the second position estimate by searching the position information database based on a MAC address.

83. The information processing method of claim 46, wherein the identifying includes obtaining from the GPS-based position estimation device latitude and longitude information, measurement status information, dispersion data, and ephemeris data.

84. The information processing method of claim 46, wherein the obtaining a second position estimate includes storing access point position information in a storage device and periodically updating the storage device with updated access point position information.

85. The information processing method of claim 46, wherein the obtaining a second position estimate includes using different position evaluation processes for a detected access point depending on a communication frequency band in which the scanning is performed.

86. The information processing method of claim 46, further comprising:

associating in an image file having an EXIF file format the estimated position with a captured image, wherein

the estimated position is a position of information processing apparatus at a time of image capture.