Portable electronic device and photography-restricting system

• US 20050093980A1
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nonaka, Yuichi, Kinugasa, Toshiro
• Application Number:
  US10/963,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20050093980A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• 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 1/00925 Inhibiting an operation
• 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 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

A portable electronic device comprises a photograph-taking component configured to capture an image of an object; a receiver configured to receive information on photography restriction from a first external communication source, wherein the first external communication source transmits first information if the portable electronic device is considered to be within a photography restriction area; and a controller configured to place the portable electronic device in a restricted photography mode if the first information is received by the receiver, the restricted photography mode allowing the photograph-taking component to capture an image of a given object, the captured given object being represented by image data. The portable electronic device is configured to operate the photograph-taking component in the restricted photography mode and a non-restricted photography mode.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a photograph-taking component configured to capture an image of an object;

a receiver configured to receive information on photography restriction from a first external communication source, wherein the first external communication source transmits first information if the portable electronic device is considered to be within a photography restriction area; and

a controller configured to place the portable electronic device in a restricted photography mode if the first information is received by the receiver, the restricted photography mode allowing the photograph-taking component to capture an image of a given object, the captured given object being represented by image data,

wherein the portable electronic device is configured to operate the photograph-taking component in the restricted photography mode and a non-restricted photography mode.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an encoder configured to encode the image data of the captured given object if the first information is received by the receiver.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising:

a decoder configured to decode the encoded image data based on permission received from a second external source.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the captured image is not displayed on a display of the portable electronic device.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the image of the captured given object is displayed on the display of the portable electronic device if an authorization is received from a second external source.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter to transmit the image data of the captured given object to a remote device if the first information is received and the portable electronic device is placed in the restricted photography mode.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the image of the captured given object is not displayed on a display of the portable electronic device if the portable electronic device is placed in the restricted photography mode.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the image data of the captured given object is of a first type if the given object is captured in the restricted photography mode and a second type if the given object is captured in the non-restricted photography mode.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the image data of the first type is a low quality picture and the image data of the second type is a high quality picture.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an output component configured to output a sound or light when an image is captured in the restricted photography mode and output no sound or light when an image is captured in the non-restricted photography mode.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the controller controls the output component according to the restricted photography mode or non-restricted photography mode of the portable electronic device.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is configured to receive and transmit audio signals to provide telephone features.

13. The device of claim 1, where in the portable electronic device is configured to be held and operated in a hand of a user.

14. A method for controlling an image capturing feature of a portable electronic device configured to capture images, the method comprising:

receiving a photography restriction signal by the portable electronic device from a communication source provided external to the portable electronic device;

converting a photography mode of the portable electronic device from a first photography-capturing mode to a second photography-capturing mode in response to the photography restriction signal received from the external communication source; and

thereafter, capturing an image of an object using the second photography-capturing mode of the portable electronic.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the external communication source is configured to send the photography restriction signal to portable electronic devices that are within an area wherein photography is restricted.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first photography-capturing mode is a normal mode wherein no photography restriction is placed on the portable electronic device, and the second photography-capturing mode is a restricted mode wherein one or more restrictions are placed on photographic features of the portable electronic device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the portable electronic device stores image data of a captured image in an encrypted form if the image is captured while the portable device is in the second photography-capturing mode.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the portable electronic sends image data of a captured image to a remote location if the image is captured while the portable device is in the second photography-capturing mode.

19. A portable electronic device including an image capturing feature, the portable electronic device comprising

means for receiving a photography restriction signal by the portable electronic device from a communication source provided external to the portable electronic device;

means for setting the portable electronic device from a first photography-capturing mode to a second photography-capturing mode in response to the photography restriction signal received from the external communication source; and

means for capturing an image of an object using the second photography-capturing mode of the portable electronic.

20. A handheld electronic device including a computer program for controlling an image capturing feature of the handheld electronic device, the program comprising:

code for receiving a photography restriction signal by the handheld electronic device from a communication source provided external to the handheld electronic device;

code for converting a photography mode of the handheld electronic device from a first photography-capturing mode to a second photography-capturing mode in response to the photography restriction signal received from the external communication source; and

code for capturing an image of an object using the second photography-capturing mode of the handheld electronic.