JP2003333417A - Digital camera and its photographing processing mode setting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To freely set the functions of a digital camera. <P>SOLUTION: A signal processing LSI 15 is provided in the digital camera 5. A first memory circuit 27 that cannot be rewritten and a second memory circuit 28 that can be rewritable electrically are provided in the signal processing LSI 15. The first memory circuit 27 stores a basic program for controlling hardware and a communication control program for fetching a program from the outside of the camera. When the communication control program is executed, a photographing processing program transferred from a client computer 25 outside the camera is stored into the second memory circuit 28. The digital camera 5 executes the photographing processing program stored in the second memory circuit 28 for carrying out exposure control or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital camera whose photographing processing mode is rewritable and a system for setting the photographing processing mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A digital camera stores programs for executing various photographing processing modes. These shooting processing modes include shooting mode, metering mode,
There are image processing modes.

The former photographing mode is a standard photographing mode,
There are landscape shooting mode, panorama shooting mode, night view mode, and the like, and a desired shooting mode is selected by a switch operation. For example, in standard shooting mode, electronic zoom is set to standard magnification and exposure control is standard (program control)
Becomes In the landscape shooting mode, the electronic zoom is set to a wide angle, and the exposure control has a small aperture priority. In this small aperture priority, the aperture value that is equal to or less than the camera shake limit speed and has the smallest aperture size is selected.

The metering modes include average metering, center-weighted metering, spot metering and the like. For example, in the average photometry, the amount of light incident on the photographing device is controlled based on the average luminance of the photographing scene. In the center-weighted photometry, the average brightness of the central part of the shooting scene is multiplied by a large weighting coefficient, the average brightness of the peripheral part is multiplied by a small weighting coefficient, and the exposure is controlled based on the sum of these values.

The image processing modes include image compression conversion, contrast adjustment (tone adjustment), sharpness processing, contour processing, and the like. Image compression conversion includes no compression, low compression rate, high compression rate, and the like. The contrast adjustment includes high-contrast adjustment with a large γ value and low-contrast adjustment with a small γ value.

[0006]

As described above, since there are various shooting processing modes, if all of these are mounted on a digital camera to achieve high functionality, the digital camera is expensive. It becomes a thing. In addition, there are photographing processing modes that are rarely used by some users, but it is useless to install such a photographing mode.

Further, the photographing processing mode is constantly upgraded to develop a new mode and improve the accuracy of the function, and a new model digital camera based on it is put on the market. Therefore, even if recently purchased, it will soon become an old model with poor functionality.

Further, when a new model digital camera is equipped with a new photographing processing mode or an upgraded photographing processing mode, the software must be completed in accordance with the sales period. In general, new models of digital cameras need to be brought to market as quickly as possible. For this reason, the development period of the software is also short, so that the development cost is high.

It is an object of the present invention to provide at low cost a digital camera which can always execute the latest photographing processing mode.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographing processing mode setting system capable of setting up the latest photographing processing mode in a digital camera.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the digital camera of the present invention incorporates a program for executing a desired photographing processing mode from the outside and writes it in a storage means, and based on this program. It is characterized by performing a photographing process.

Further, the photographing processing mode setting system of the present invention is a photographing processing mode setting system for loading a photographing processing mode stored in a server into a digital camera connected to a client computer via a communication line and setting the photographing processing mode. The server includes first storage means for storing a plurality of programs having different shooting processing modes, and charging means for calculating a charge according to the program selected by the client computer and the number of shootable images. The digital camera has a second storage means for storing the program sent from the server and the data of the number of shootable images, a means for executing a shooting processing mode based on the program stored in the second storage means, and a shootable image. Means to prohibit shooting when the number of images reaches And butterflies.

The server is provided with means for creating an album from the images of the digital camera sent via the client computer after the image is taken by the digital camera, and means for accepting the order and the delivery destination from the client computer. To be able to efficiently provide electronic albums and print photos.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In FIG. 1, a server 1 is provided so as to be connectable to the Internet 2. A user can access the server 1 from a personal computer 3 (hereinafter referred to as a PC) at home or a dedicated terminal 4 installed in a DPE store (minilab store) or the like.
It should be noted that communication lines and Internet service providers are not shown.

The PC 3 and the dedicated terminal 4 can be connected to the digital camera 5 via a communication cable such as a USB cable. A program for reading image data from the digital camera 5, an Internet communication program for transmitting and receiving data to and from the server 1, and a shooting mode program for the digital camera 5 are transferred to and output to the PC 3 and the dedicated terminal 4. The programs for and have been installed (these programs are collectively referred to as driver programs below). When connecting the PC 3 and the digital camera 5, the digital camera 5 is set in the cradle 6 and the USB cable provided in the cradle 6 is connected to the PC 3.

In FIG. 2, the digital camera 5 converts an optical image of a subject formed by passing through the taking lens 11 and the variable aperture 12 into an analog image signal by the image pickup device 13. The analog image signal output from the image sensor 13 is
It is converted into a digital image signal in the A / D converter 14. The signal processing LSI 15 will be described in detail later,
A system LSI provided with an arithmetic processing circuit, a memory circuit for storing a program, and the like.

The aperture control unit 16 adjusts the aperture diameter of the variable aperture 12. The operation unit 17 includes a shutter button, a shooting mode switching dial, and the like. LCD monitor 18
Is used as a viewfinder at the time of shooting as well as used for image reproduction and display. The memory card drive 19 is loaded with a removable memory card 20 and writes and reads image data. Video signal output section 2
1 outputs a video signal to a television monitor connected to the digital camera 5, and displays a setting screen or the like on the television monitor.

The USB interface 22 is connected to the digital camera 5 and the dedicated terminal 4 via the above-mentioned USB cable.
And are connected for data communication. The cradle terminal 23 is
It is composed of a charging terminal and a data communication terminal. The charging terminal is supplied with power for charging the digital camera 5 set in the cradle 6 when the cradle 6 is connected to an external power source. The data communication terminal is a terminal for performing data communication with the PC 3 via the USB interface 24 provided in the cradle 6. In addition,
It is also possible to connect the USB interface 22 and the PC 3 and perform data communication without using the cradle 6. In the following, the PC 3 and the dedicated terminal 4 may be collectively referred to as the client computer 25.

In FIG. 3, the signal processing LSI 15 includes an arithmetic processing circuit 26, a non-rewritable first memory circuit 27,
A second memory circuit 28 capable of electrically writing / erasing,
The image data memory 29, the display control circuit 30 for controlling the display output to the liquid crystal monitor 18 and the television monitor, the memory card control circuit 31 for controlling the drive of the memory card drive 19, the input / output of control signals for other hardware, etc. It is composed of an I / O port 32 for execution.

The first memory circuit 27 is provided with a basic program area 27a and a communication control program storage area 27b. A hardware control program for the digital camera 5 and the like are stored in the basic program area 27a. The communication control program storage area 27b stores an input / output processing program for data (programs and image data) performed with the client computer 25. The second memory circuit 28 stores an image processing program and a shooting mode program described later. The image data memory 29 includes the A / D converter 14
The image data output from is temporarily stored. This image data is read when the image processing described later is performed.

In FIG. 4, the client computer 25 realizes the functions of the main control unit 35, the network communication unit 36, and the program transfer unit 37 by the client computer program and the central processing unit. The main control unit 35 receives the input signal from the input unit 38 and outputs the control signal to each unit, and the display output unit 39.
It manages the entire client computer 23 such as by controlling the display.

The network communication unit 36 manages data communication with the server 1, and stores the program downloaded from the server 1 in the program storage unit 40. The program storage unit 40 is configured by using a part of a hard disk storage device, for example. The program transfer unit 37 manages to transfer the programs stored in the program storage unit 40 to the digital camera 5.

Network communication interface 41
Is a general one used for LAN communication and Internet communication. The communication interface 42 has a USB terminal for connecting the client computer 25 and the digital camera 5, and the PC 3 has various terminals for connecting the peripheral devices thereof.

The server 1 is provided with a server control unit 45, a program distribution management unit 46, and an image data management unit 47. When the server control unit 45 receives an access request for purchasing a program from the client computer 25, it activates the program distribution management unit 46. When the server control unit 45 receives an access request for uploading image data from the client computer 25, the server control unit 45 activates the image data management unit 47.

The program distribution management unit 46 performs a process of transmitting the HTML data forming the program sales form to the access source. With this HTML data, a list of programs to be sold is displayed on the client computer 25. In addition, the program distribution management unit 46
When receiving the program sales form in which the necessary items are input, reads out a predetermined shooting mode program file, image processing program file, etc. from the program database 48, and performs a process for transmitting these program files to the client computer 25. To do.

The image data management unit 47 performs a process of storing the image data uploaded from the client computer 25 in the image database 50. The electronic album creating unit 51 creates an electronic album based on the image data stored in the image database 50. This electronic album is composed of HTML data in which a directory of image data stored in the image database 50 is designated. By accessing the website designated by the predetermined URL, the web page on which the uploaded images are arranged can be viewed on the client computer 25. This electronic album incorporates a print order form for images, and it is possible to order prints while browsing the electronic album. The print order form with the necessary information entered is displayed on the client computer 2
5 to the server 1 and the information is stored in the order information database 52.

The billing processing unit 53 sums up the program fee sold to the user and the ordered print fee when the information that the payment of the program fee or the print fee is made by the electronic settlement using the credit card is received. , Perform processing for billing.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. A user who purchases the digital camera 5 first purchases a program necessary for shooting. In order to purchase the program, the PC 3 at home is connected to the Internet to access the program selling site operated by the camera maker, that is, the server 1.
When purchasing the program at the store, the server 1 is automatically accessed when the dedicated terminal 4 is activated.

In the server 1, the program distribution management unit 4
6 operates, and the HTML data including the sales form of the program is transmitted to the client computer 25. As shown in FIG. 6, on the client computer 25, a web page provided with a shooting mode program list 50 and a purchase program designation field 51 based on the transmitted HTML data is displayed. The list 50 displays program numbers and names, explanatory notes regarding the electronic zoom function and exposure control, and the program capacity and price. If the client computer 25 and the digital camera 5 are connected, the free memory capacity of the digital camera 5 is displayed.

The user is the client computer 2
Operate 5 to specify the desired program. After specifying the shooting mode program to purchase, as shown in Fig. 7,
A web page is displayed that specifies an image processing program, a photometric program, and a program that defines the number of shots.
The number of shootable images may be determined according to the type (compression ratio) of the image compression program.

When the user performs all input operations for designating each program, the purchase program information is transmitted from the client computer 25 to the server 1. The server control unit 45 reads out the program file corresponding to the order from the program database 48 based on the received purchase program information. The read program file is transmitted to the client computer 25. When the program fee is paid using a credit card after the transmission processing is normally performed, the billing processing unit 53 bills the fee by electronic settlement.

The program file transmitted from the server 1 is stored in the camera program storage unit 35 via the network communication unit 36. The user confirms that the client computer 25 and the digital camera 5 are connected, operates the client computer 25, and installs the purchased program in the digital camera 5. At this time, the program transfer unit 37 operates and the communication control program of the digital camera 5 is executed. The program read from the program storage unit 40 is transferred to the digital camera 5 and is transferred to the signal processing LSI 15
Of the second memory circuit 28.

When the writing of the program to the second memory circuit 28 is completed, the digital camera 5 can take a picture. The arithmetic processing circuit 26 reads out and executes the photographing mode program from the second memory circuit 28, and sends a control signal to the aperture controller 16 and the image sensor 13. When a plurality of shooting mode programs are purchased, the shooting mode program to be executed can be switched by operating the shooting mode dial of the operation unit 17. The shooting mode program controls the aperture diameter of the variable diaphragm 12 and the charge storage time of the image sensor 13, and sets the diaphragm and shutter speed.
When shooting is performed, the image processing program installed in the digital camera 5 performs gamma correction and image compression processing, and the image data is recorded in the memory card 20.

When the number of captured images reaches the number specified by the program for the number of captured images, it becomes impossible to capture images thereafter. At this time, the user connects the digital camera 5 to the PC 3 or the dedicated terminal 4, accesses the image data management site operated by the camera maker, that is, the server 1,
Upload the captured image. When the upload of the image data is completed, the memory card 20 and the second memory circuit 28 are cleared, and the image data and the shooting processing program are erased.

The uploaded image data is transferred from the image data management section 47 of the server 1 to the image database 50.
Stored in. Further, the electronic album creating unit 51 operates to create a web page in which the uploaded images are organized as an electronic album. The URL information of the website where the electronic album can be browsed is sent from the server 1 to the client computer 25. The user
The client computer 25 can access this website and browse the taken images as an electronic album.

As shown in FIG. 8, the print order form is incorporated in the web page in which the electronic album is created. This print order form is provided with various input fields such as a photographed image, a delivery destination of a print photograph, selection of a print character insertion, selection of an advertisement, selection of the number of prints and the like. For example, a print fee for a character-containing print is more expensive than usual, and a print fee is discounted for an advertisement print in which an advertisement of a printing company is posted.

When the user chooses to receive prints at home, the electronic payment is paid by the billing processing unit 53, and the user is charged with a print fee or discounted depending on whether the print is a character print or an advertisement print. The printing company delivers the printed image to the address registered in advance by the user.

On the other hand, when the pick-up at the print shop is selected, the selection of the shop and the date and time of pick-up are further specified. At the designated date and time, the user goes to the print service shop to pay the print fee and receive the print photo.

In the above embodiment, the photographing function and the image processing function are realized by software by writing the program in the rewritable built-in memory of the digital camera. However, for example, FPGA (field programmable gate) An image processing circuit may be configured using an array. In this case, the image processing function is realized by downloading the program in which the image processing circuit information of the FPGA is determined and writing the program in the FPGA.
Further, although the image and the program are erased when the specified number of shots is reached, the user may freely rewrite them. The storage medium in which the program is written is not limited to the built-in memory and may be a removable memory card.

In the present invention, the version information of the program installed in the digital camera is read on the client computer and the version information is sent to the server so that the correction program and the upgrade program can be automatically downloaded and installed. May be. The Internet connection is not limited to using a PC or a dedicated terminal. For example, the digital camera 5
It is also possible to provide an internet communication function on the cradle 6 which is a dedicated stand for, and use a TV monitor together to perform an input operation by remote control or the like to download or install the program. Further, the program is not limited to being downloaded using the Internet, and the program recorded on an optical disk or a magnetic disk may be read by a PC and then transferred to a digital camera so that the program can be installed.

[0041]

As described above, according to the digital camera and the photographing processing mode setting system of the present invention, the function of the digital camera can be freely changed by the software by rewriting the program. It is possible to provide only a shooting processing function to perform.
Furthermore, since it is not necessary to proceed with hardware development and software development of a digital camera at the same time, the cost increase due to the shortening of the software development period can be suppressed, the number of sales models can be reduced, and the digital price lower than before can be achieved. Can supply a camera.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a program distribution system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a digital camera.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a signal processing LSI.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a client computer and a server.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process from purchase of a program to receipt of a print photograph.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen when a program is purchased.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing another display screen when a program is purchased.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a display screen when a print order is placed.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 server 3 Personal computer (PC) 4 dedicated terminals 5 digital cameras 26 Arithmetic processing circuit 27 First Memory Circuit 27a Basic program storage area 27b Communication control program storage area 28 Second memory circuit 36 Network Communication Department 37 Program Transfer Section 45 Server control unit 46 Program Delivery Management Department 47 Image data management section 48 program database 51 Electronic Album Creation Department 52 Order information storage section 53 Charge processing unit

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Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A program for executing a desired photographing processing mode is externally fetched and written in a storage means,
A digital camera characterized by performing a photographing process based on this program. 2. A shooting processing mode setting system for loading a shooting processing mode stored in a server through a communication line into a digital camera connected to a client computer and setting the shooting processing mode, wherein the server has a different shooting processing mode. The digital camera includes a first storage unit that stores a plurality of programs, and a billing unit that calculates a charge based on the program selected by the client computer and the number of shootable images. Second storage means for storing data on the number of shootable images, means for executing a shooting processing mode based on a program stored in the second storage means, and means for prohibiting shooting when the number of shootable images is reached. An image pickup processing mode setting system characterized by comprising. 3. The server comprises means for creating an album from the images of the digital camera sent via the client computer after the image is captured by the digital camera, and means for accepting orders and delivery destinations from the client computer. The photographing processing mode setting system according to claim 2, further comprising: