JP2012113578A - Retrieval apparatus, retrieval method, retrieval program, camera device employing the same and retrieval system - Google Patents

Abstract

It is possible to perform a search according to an elevation angle using general-purpose map data.
A current position of a digital camera is detected based on information from a GPS module (step S101). Further, the direction and elevation angle of the digital camera are detected based on the detection output from the gyroscope (step S102). Further, with reference to the elevation angle / distance conversion table, the elevation angle obtained in step S102 is converted into a distance from the digital camera (step S103). Then, (1) position, (2) direction (azimuth), and (3) a position on the map data corresponding to the distance is searched (step S105), and an entity (latitude / longitude) existing at the searched point (latitude / longitude) ( The name of the object is read from the map data (step S106).
[Selection] Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a search device, a search method, a search program, a camera device using these, and a search system that detect an elevation angle of the device and perform a search on map data based on the elevation angle.

  Conventionally, a digital camera described in Patent Document 1 is known as a device that detects an elevation angle of the device and executes processing based on the detected elevation angle. This digital camera adds photographing condition data for determining the measured photographing position, photographing altitude, photographing azimuth, photographing elevation angle, photographing angle of view and exposure to the photographed image data and stores them in the memory card. When shooting at the same shooting position and shooting conditions as previously taken, the image data to be referenced is read from the memory card, the image of the reference data, the image being through output, the shooting position, the shooting Reference data for the altitude, shooting direction, and shooting elevation angle and error data between the data being measured are displayed. Therefore, it is possible to shoot at the same shooting position and shooting conditions as in the past shooting by viewing the error data and shooting without error.

JP 2004-80359 A

  However, in the case of such a conventional technique, the data at the time of the previous photographing is compared with the data at the time of the current photographing, and the photographing is performed with no error, so that the processing is performed in a place that has never been visited in the past. It cannot be done and this technology cannot be used.

  Further, the processing is executed using not only general data such as position and direction but also special data such as a shooting elevation angle which is an elevation angle of the digital camera (device). Therefore, for example, general-purpose map data used in GPS (Global Positioning System) is data that includes general data such as position and distance but does not include data related to elevation, which is special data. It is also impossible to use the above-mentioned conventional technique for searching.

  The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and a search apparatus, a search method, a search program, and a camera using these, capable of performing a search according to an elevation angle using general-purpose map data. An object is to provide an apparatus and a search system.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the search device according to the first aspect of the present invention, detection means for detecting the current position of the device, the elevation angle, and the direction in which the device is facing, and detection by the detection device A conversion means for converting the elevation angle to a distance from the device; an acquisition means for acquiring a name of a target existing on the map data at a position corresponding to the distance from the current position in the direction; It is characterized by providing.

  In the search device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the acquisition unit transmits the current position, direction, and distance to the outside, and responds to the transmission by the transmission unit from the outside. It is characterized by comprising receiving means for receiving the name of the object to be transmitted.

  In the search device according to the third aspect of the present invention, the conversion unit includes a storage unit that stores a distance corresponding to an elevation angle, and the distance corresponding to the elevation angle detected by the detection unit is By reading from the storage means, the elevation angle is converted into a distance from the device.

  In the search method according to the fourth aspect of the invention, a detection step of detecting a current position of the device, an elevation angle, and a direction in which the device is facing, and the elevation angle detected by the detection step are A conversion step of converting to a distance from the device, and an acquisition step of acquiring a name of a target existing in a position corresponding to the distance from the current position on the map data in the direction. To do.

  In the search program according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the computer included in the apparatus is detected by the detection means for detecting the current position of the apparatus, the elevation angle, and the direction in which the apparatus is facing, and the detection means. A conversion means for converting the elevation angle to a distance from the device; an acquisition means for acquiring a name of a target existing on the map data at a position corresponding to the distance from the current position in the direction; It is characterized by functioning.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, a photographing means for photographing a subject, and a name of an object acquired by the retrieval apparatus. Based on the above, there is provided setting means for setting shooting conditions indicating the control content of the shooting means, and control means for controlling the shooting means based on the shooting conditions set by the setting means.

  The search system according to the invention of claim 7 is a search system comprising a terminal and a server connected via a network, wherein the terminal includes a current position, an elevation angle, and an angle of the terminal. Detection means for detecting the direction in which the device is facing, conversion means for converting the elevation angle detected by the detection means into a distance from the device, and transmission for transmitting the current position, direction, and distance to the server And a receiving means for receiving the name of the object transmitted from the server in response to transmission by the transmitting means, wherein the server transmits the current position and direction transmitted by the transmitting means of the terminal. And a receiving means for receiving the distance, and an acquisition means for acquiring the name of the target that exists in the direction and corresponding to the distance from the current position on the map data When, characterized in that a transmission unit that transmits the object name acquired by the acquiring unit to the terminal.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform a search according to the elevation angle of the device using general-purpose map data, and obtain the name of an object existing at a distance according to the elevation angle of the device from the general-purpose map data. It becomes possible to do.

It is a system configuration figure showing the system concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a management server. 1 is a block diagram of a digital camera according to a first embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows a part of best shot table. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a part of a best shot table continued from FIG. 4. It is a conceptual diagram which shows an elevation angle / distance conversion table. (A) is a flowchart showing a processing procedure on the digital camera side, and (b) is a flowchart showing a processing procedure on the management server side. It is a block diagram of the digital camera which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the digital camera.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a subject information transmission / reception system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a digital camera 1 that functions as a terminal device has not only a photographing function but also an information transmission / reception function. The wireless base station 2 connects the digital camera 1 to a communication service company (including an Internet provider) 4 to which the digital camera 1 subscribes.

  The communication service company 4 is provided with a system (Web server 43) and a mail system (mail server 42) for connecting to a WWW (Internet) 5, which will be described later, in addition to a communication circuit processing unit 41 required for the communication service. . Also, a function for connecting the digital camera 1 to the WWW 5 using the wireless base station 2 as an AP (access point) is provided. The subject information providing service company 6 includes a system (Web server 61) for connecting to the WWW 5 and a management server 63.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing details of the management server 63, and the Web server 61 is connected to the management server 63 via a hub 64. In the management server 63, an input operation unit (keyboard, mouse, etc.) 631, a control unit (main frame) 632, a system program storage unit 633, a map data storage unit 634, a display unit 635, and a communication control unit 636 are mutually connected by a system bus. Connected to the system.

  The map data storage unit 634 stores map data. In the map data stored in the map data storage unit 634, the names of the objects that can be subjects such as buildings, mountains, rivers, etc. existing in the map are stored together with their position information (latitude / longitude). Yes. The control unit 632 includes a work RAM 637. Then, a service such as distributing or downloading information such as the name of an existing object to the digital camera 1 operated by the registrant for a fee or free of charge, or receiving and uploading information transmitted from the digital camera 1 I do. The system program storage unit 633 stores a program and the like shown by a flowchart described later.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the digital camera 1. In the photographing mode which is the basic mode, the digital camera 1 performs a focusing operation by moving the zoom lens 12-1 and moving the zoom lens 11-1 and the focus lens 12-2. A lens optical system 12 constituting an imaging lens including an AF driving unit 11-2, a zoom lens 12-1, and a focus lens 12-2.

  Further, the digital camera 1 includes a diaphragm 32 disposed on the optical axis of the lens optical system 12, a diaphragm drive unit 33 that drives the diaphragm 32, a CCD 13 that is an image sensor, a timing generator (TG) 14, and a vertical driver. 15, a sample hold circuit (S / H) 16, an A / D converter 17, a color process circuit 18, a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller 19, a DRAM interface (I / F) 20, and a DRAM 21.

  The digital camera 1 further includes a control unit 22, a VRAM controller 23, a VRAM 24, a digital video encoder 25, a display unit 26, a JPEG (Joint Photograph Cording Experts Group) circuit 27, a storage memory 28, and a GPS (Global Positioning System). ) A module 29, a key input unit 30, a gyro unit 31, and a wireless communication unit 32 are provided.

  In the monitoring state in the photographing mode, the zoom driving unit 11-1 drives a zoom lens driving motor (not shown) based on a control signal from the control unit 22 when there is an optical zoom instruction, thereby moving the zoom lens 12-1. The magnification itself of the image formed on the CCD 13 is changed by moving back and forth along the optical axis. The AF drive unit 11-2 drives a focus lens drive motor (not shown) to move the focus lens 12-2. Then, the CCD 13, which is an image sensor disposed behind the photographing optical axis of the lens optical system 12 constituting the image pickup lens, is scanned and driven by a timing generator (TG) 14 and a vertical driver 15, and images are formed at regular intervals. A photoelectric conversion output corresponding to the optical image is output for one frame.

  The CCD 13 is a solid-state imaging device that captures a two-dimensional image of a subject, and typically captures an image of several tens of frames per second. The imaging element is not limited to a CCD, and may be a solid-state imaging device such as a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor).

  The photoelectric conversion output is appropriately gain-adjusted for each RGB primary color component in the state of an analog value signal, sampled and held by a sample hold circuit (S / H) 16, and digital data ( The color process circuit 18 includes a pixel interpolation process and a γ correction process, and a digital luminance signal Y and color difference signals Cb and Cr are generated. The DMA (Direct Memory Access) It is output to the controller 19.

  The DMA controller 19 uses the luminance signal Y and the color difference signals Cb and Cr output from the color process circuit 18 by using the composite synchronization signal, the memory write enable signal, and the clock signal from the color process circuit 18 as well as a DRAM interface. DMA transfer is performed via the (I / F) 20 to the DRAM 21 used as a buffer memory.

  The control unit 22 is responsible for the overall control operation of the digital camera 1, and is a program such as a flash memory that stores a CPU or MPU (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) and a program for executing processing shown in the flowcharts described later. It is composed of a storage memory, a RAM used as a work memory, and the like. After the DMA transfer of the luminance and color difference signals to the DRAM 21 is completed, the luminance and color difference signals are read from the DRAM 21 via the DRAM interface 20 and written to the VRAM 24 via the VRAM controller 23.

  In addition, the control unit 22 extracts processing programs and menu data corresponding to each mode stored in a program storage memory such as a flash memory in response to the status signal from the key input unit 30, and Execution control of each function, specifically shooting operation, zoom lens operation control during optical zoom, live view image display, autofocus, shooting, recording, execution control of recorded image playback, display, etc. Etc. and function selection menu display control at the time of function selection, setting screen display control, and the like.

  The digital video encoder 25 periodically reads out the luminance and color difference signals from the VRAM 24 via the VRAM controller 23, generates a video signal based on these data, and outputs the video signal to the display unit 26. The display unit 26 functions as a monitor display unit (electronic finder) in the shooting mode, and performs display based on the video signal from the digital video encoder 25, so that image information captured from the VRAM controller 23 at that time is displayed. Live-view images based on are displayed in real time.

  In addition, the control unit 22 executes shooting recording processing in response to the shooting instruction. In this shooting / recording process, the control unit 22 uses the full-press of the shutter key as a trigger to trigger the CCD 13, the vertical driver 15, the sample hold circuit 16, the color process circuit 18, and the DMA controller 19 from the through image shooting mode to the still image. The switch to the shooting mode is instructed, and the image data obtained by the shooting and recording process in the still image shooting mode is temporarily stored and recorded in the DRAM 21.

  The shutter key has a half shutter function that can be half-pressed and fully pressed, and the controller 22 detects half-press and full-press of the shutter key.

  In this stored recording state, the control unit 22 transmits the luminance and color difference signals for one frame written in the DRAM 21 to each of Y, Cb, and Cr components of 8 pixels by 8 pixels by the DRAM interface 20. The data is read in units called basic blocks and written into the JPEG circuit 27. The JPEG circuit 27 compresses data by processing such as ADCT (Adaptive Discrete Cosine Transform) and Huffman coding which is an entropy coding method. . The obtained code data is read out from the JPEG circuit 27 as a data file of one image, and is recorded and stored in the storage memory 28. Further, as the compression processing of the luminance and color difference signals for one frame and the completion of the writing of all the compressed data to the storage memory 28, the control unit 22 instructs to switch from the still image shooting mode to the through image shooting mode.

  In the playback mode, which is the basic mode, the control unit 22 selectively reads out the image data recorded in the storage memory 28, and is compressed by a procedure that is completely opposite to the procedure in which data is compressed in the shooting mode by the JPEG circuit 27. The decompressed image data is decompressed, the decompressed image data is expanded and stored in the VRAM 24 via the VRAM controller 23, and then periodically read out from the VRAM 24 to generate a video signal based on the image data. The display unit 26 reproduces and outputs.

  The storage memory 28 includes a recording medium such as a built-in memory (flash memory), a hard disk, or a removable memory card, and stores and records image data, photographing information, and the like.

  The key input unit 30 includes a mode dial, a cursor key, a SET key, a zoom button (W button, T button), a shutter key, a clear key, a power button, and the like. A key processing unit (not shown) that generates a signal and sends it to the control unit 22 is configured.

  The GPS module 29 receives the L1 band C / A code from the geodetic satellite, demodulates and decodes it, and determines the latitude and longitude of the current position. The latitude / longitude information (position information) determined by the GPS module 29 is taken into the control unit 22.

  The gyro unit 31 includes a gyro sensor that detects the direction of the imaging lens when the user holds the digital camera 1 in his / her hand. The gyro sensor detects the direction (azimuth) of the imaging lens as the direction of the digital camera 1, detects the elevation angle of the optical axis of the imaging lens as the elevation angle of the digital camera 1, and outputs this detection output to the control unit 22. To do. Therefore, the control unit 22 can acquire the position information of the digital camera 1 from the GPS module 29 as the current position, and can acquire the lens direction from the gyro unit 31 as the azimuth and elevation angle indicating the direction of the digital camera 1. It is.

  In the present embodiment, the azimuth and the elevation angle are detected by the single gyro unit 31. However, the first and second gyro units are provided, and the azimuth and the elevation angle are detected by different gyro units. You may do it.

  The wireless communication unit 32 is connected to the antenna 321 and performs communication processing including modulation / demodulation based on the PSK method and terminal authentication processing based on the CDMA method. The wireless communication unit 32 performs WWW connection control, includes a packet data generation circuit and a packet data restoration circuit, and performs data processing according to a communication protocol.

  Note that “AF (Auto Focus)” is a control in which the AF driving unit 11-2 drives the focus lens 12-2 in a shooting condition set in a subject search mode described later. “AE (Auto Exposure)” is a control for driving the diaphragm 32 by the diaphragm driving unit 33, and “viewing angle adjustment” is a control for driving the zoom lens 12-1 by the zoom driving unit 11-1.

  A program storage memory such as a flash memory included in the control unit 22 stores a best shot table 221 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and an elevation / distance conversion table 222 shown in FIG. 6 together with programs and data. .

  In the best shot table 221 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the names of the entities included in the map data stored in the map data storage unit 634 of the management server 63, for example, XX mountain, XX Setting data indicating the photographing conditions of the digital camera 1 set in advance corresponding to the names A, B, C,... ing. This setting data includes parameters corresponding to the parameters (shooting parameters) that can be set in the above-described manual shooting mode, and includes shutter speed, aperture, EV shift, sensitivity, filter, exposure mode, WB (white balance), and color enhancement. , Sharpness, saturation, contrast, and the like, which are composed of parameters indicating the control contents of 11 types of control items that can be controlled by the digital camera 1. In the setting data, “auto” means that the shutter speed, aperture, and WB (white balance) values are determined based on the program AE data and the corresponding data stored in advance.

  The elevation angle / distance conversion table 222 shown in FIG. 6 is composed of two-dimensional coordinates in which the elevation angle is set on the x-axis and the distance from the digital camera 1 is set on the y-axis. This is a table in which a line 223 is set. Therefore, when the elevation angle of the digital camera 1 is detected, it is possible to convert the elevation angle into a distance from the digital camera 1 by reading the distance corresponding to the characteristic line 223 from the elevation angle / distance conversion table 222. . Further, as the elevation angle / distance conversion table 222 indicates, as the characteristic line 223 indicates, a larger distance value is read as the elevation angle value increases.

  In other words, the elevation angle / distance conversion table 222 is based on the principle that a farther subject will be photographed as the elevation angle of the camera increases, and a farther subject will be photographed as the elevation angle increases. On the assumption that the angle of elevation of the digital camera 1 and the distance from the digital camera 1 to the subject are estimated. Therefore, the elevation angle of the digital camera 1 can be easily converted into the distance from the digital camera 1 to the target without complicated calculations.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. The control unit 22 of the digital camera 1 executes processing as shown in FIG. 5A based on the program stored in the ROM, and the management server 63 connected to the digital camera 1 has a system program storage unit. Based on the program stored in 633, processing is executed as shown in FIG.

  That is, the control unit 22 of the digital camera 1 detects the current position of the digital camera 1 based on information from the GPS module 29 (step SA1). Moreover, based on the detection output from the gyro part 31, it detects as the direction and elevation angle of the digital camera 1 (step SA2). Furthermore, with reference to the elevation angle / distance conversion table 222 shown in FIG. 7, the elevation angle obtained in step SA3 is converted into a distance from the digital camera 1 (step SA3).

Through the above processing, the control unit 22 of the digital camera 1 is in a state of acquiring the following data.
(1) Current position of the digital camera 1 (2) Direction (azimuth) indicating the direction of the digital camera 1
(3) Distance from digital camera 1 corresponding to elevation angle

  In subsequent step SA4, it is determined whether or not a half-pressing operation on the shutter key is detected. If a half-press operation on the shutter key is detected, the (1) position, (2) direction (azimuth), and (3) distance are transmitted to the outside via the wireless communication unit 32 and the antenna 321 (step SA5). . The transmission information is transmitted to the system of the subject information providing service company 6 via the base station 2, the system of the communication service company 4, and the WWW 5.

  On the other hand, has the management server 63 constituting the system of the subject information providing service company 6 received (1) position, (2) direction (azimuth), and (3) distance transmitted from the digital camera 1 in step SA5? It is determined whether or not (step SB1). If all these information are received, the position on the map data corresponding to these received information is searched (step SB2). That is, since the latitude / longitude of “(1) position” is known, the latitude / longitude of “(1) position” starts from “(2) direction (azimuth)” and “(3) distance” The advanced point (latitude / longitude) is searched on the map data stored in the map data storage unit 634.

  Further, as described above, the map data stored in the map data storage unit 634 includes the name of an entity that can be a subject such as a building, a mountain, a river, or the like existing in the map, as its position information ( (Latitude / Longitude). Therefore, if a point (latitude / longitude) corresponding to the received information in the process of step SB5 is searched, the name of the entity (target) existing at the searched point (latitude / longitude) is read from the map data. (Step SB3). Then, the name of the object that is the read entity is transmitted to the digital camera 1 (step S4).

  Therefore, the management server 63 can perform a search according to the elevation angle of the digital camera 1 using the general-purpose map data, and exists at a distance corresponding to the elevation angle of the digital camera 1 from the general-purpose map data. The name of the object can be transmitted, and the digital camera 1 can acquire it.

  That is, the control unit 22 of the digital camera 1 determines whether or not the name of the target transmitted in step SB4 has been received (step SA6). If the name is received, the corresponding shooting parameter is read out from the best shot table 221 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 (step SA7). Therefore, for example, when “name G” in the seventh column of the best shot table 221 is received, shutter speed = auto, aperture = auto, EV shift = 0, sensitivity = standard, filter = × (none), exposure Shooting parameters of mode = P (open), WB = auto, color enhancement = × (none), sharpness = standard, saturation = <high>, and contrast = standard are read out.

  Thereafter, the control unit 22 determines whether or not the shutter key is fully pressed (step SA8). If the shutter key is fully pressed, shooting is performed with the shooting parameters read in step SA7 (step SA9) and recording is performed (step SA10). That is, as described above, the control unit 22 uses the shutter key full press operation as a trigger to trigger the CCD 13, the vertical driver 15, the sample hold circuit 16, the color process circuit 18, and the DMA controller 19 from the through image shooting mode to the still image. The switching to the shooting mode is instructed, and the image data obtained by the shooting and recording process in the still image shooting mode is temporarily stored in the DRAM 21. The luminance and color difference signals for one frame written in the DRAM 21 are compressed by the JPEG circuit 27 and recorded and stored in the storage memory 28.

  The image represented by the image data recorded in the storage memory 28 is taken with the shooting parameters read out in step SA8, and the user can take a picture by adjusting the elevation angle of the digital camera 1. The image was taken with parameters suitable for shooting the intended subject. Therefore, it is possible to shoot and record a subject at a position away from the digital camera 1 with a distance corresponding to the elevation angle with appropriate parameters without complicated manual operation.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not an instruction to end shooting such as switching to a reproduction mode or the like or turning off the power is generated (step SA11). The processing from step SA1 is repeated until a shooting end instruction is generated. If a shooting end instruction is generated, the processing according to this flow is ended.

  In the present embodiment, only the map data storage unit 634 storing map data is provided on the management server 63 side, and the best shot table 221 and the elevation / distance conversion table 222 are provided on the digital camera 1 side. . However, the map data storage unit 634, the best shot table 221 and the elevation angle / distance conversion table 222 may be provided on the management server 63 side.

In this case, from the digital camera 1 side (1) Current position of the digital camera 1 (2) Direction (azimuth) indicating the direction of the digital camera 1
(3) Send the elevation angle of the digital camera 1,
On the management server 63 side, the elevation angle is converted into the distance by the elevation angle / distance conversion table 222, the name is searched on the map data, the shooting parameter corresponding to the name is read from the best shot table 221, and the name and shooting parameter are set. It is transmitted to the digital camera 1.

  In such a configuration, it is not necessary to provide the best shot table 221 and the elevation / distance conversion table 222 on the digital camera 1 side, and the configuration of the digital camera 1 can be simplified.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of the digital camera 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, only the digital camera 1 is used without using the subject information transmission / reception system as in the above-described embodiment. Therefore, the digital camera 1 is not provided with the wireless communication unit 32 having the antenna 321 shown in FIG. 1, but is provided with a map data storage unit 634 instead.

  The map data storage unit 634 stores the same map data as the map data storage unit in the first embodiment shown in FIG. Therefore, in the map data stored in the map data storage unit 634, the names of existing objects that can be subjects such as buildings, mountains, rivers, and the like existing in the map are stored together with their position information (latitude / longitude). Has been.

  The configuration of the digital camera 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment except that a map data storage unit 634 is provided instead of the wireless communication unit 32. Therefore, also in the present embodiment, the program storage memory such as the flash memory of the control unit 22 includes the best shot table 221 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and the elevation angle / distance shown in FIG. A conversion table 222 is stored.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Based on the program stored in the ROM, the control unit 22 of the digital camera 1 executes processing as shown in FIG. That is, the control unit 22 of the digital camera 1 detects the current position of the digital camera 1 based on information from the GPS module 29 (step S101). Moreover, based on the detection output from the gyro part 31, it detects as the direction and elevation angle of the digital camera 1 (step S102). Further, the elevation angle / distance conversion table 222 shown in FIG. 7 is referred to, and the elevation angle obtained in step S102 is converted into a distance from the digital camera 1 (step S103).

Through the above processing, the control unit 22 of the digital camera 1 is in a state of acquiring the following data.
(1) Current position of the digital camera 1 (2) Direction (azimuth) indicating the direction of the digital camera 1
(3) Distance from digital camera 1 corresponding to elevation angle

  In subsequent step S104, it is determined whether or not a half-press operation on the shutter key is detected. If a half-press operation on the shutter key is detected, a position on the map data corresponding to the (1) position, (2) direction (azimuth), and (3) distance is searched (step S105). That is, since the latitude / longitude of “(1) position” is known, the latitude / longitude of “(1) position” starts from “(2) direction (azimuth)” and “(3) distance” The advanced point (latitude / longitude) is searched on the map data stored in the map data storage unit 634.

  Further, as described above, the map data stored in the map data storage unit 634 includes the name of an entity that can be a subject such as a building, a mountain, a river, or the like existing in the map, as its position information ( (Latitude / Longitude). Therefore, if the corresponding point (latitude / longitude) is searched in the process of step S105, the name of the entity (target) existing at the searched point (latitude / longitude) is read from the map data (step S106). .

  Therefore, the digital camera 1 can perform a search according to the elevation angle of its own device using the general-purpose map data stored in the map data storage unit 634, and can change the elevation angle of the own device from the general-purpose map data. The name of the target existing at the corresponding distance can be acquired.

  If the name is received, the control unit 22 of the digital camera 1 reads out the corresponding shooting parameter from the best shot table 221 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 (step S107). Therefore, for example, when “name G” in the seventh column of the best shot table 221 is received, shutter speed = auto, aperture = auto, EV shift = 0, sensitivity = standard, filter = × (none), exposure Shooting parameters of mode = P (open), WB = auto, color enhancement = × (none), sharpness = standard, saturation = <high>, and contrast = standard are read out.

  Thereafter, the control unit 22 determines whether or not the shutter key has been fully pressed (step S108). If the shutter key is fully pressed, shooting is performed with the shooting parameters read in step S107 (step S109) and recording is performed (step S110). That is, as described above, the control unit 22 uses the shutter key full press operation as a trigger to trigger the CCD 13, the vertical driver 15, the sample hold circuit 16, the color process circuit 18, and the DMA controller 19 from the through image shooting mode to the still image. The switching to the shooting mode is instructed, and the image data obtained by the shooting and recording process in the still image shooting mode is temporarily stored in the DRAM 21. The luminance and color difference signals for one frame written in the DRAM 21 are compressed by the JPEG circuit 27 and recorded and stored in the storage memory 28.

  The image represented by the image data recorded in the storage memory 28 is taken with the shooting parameters read in step S108, and the user can take a picture by adjusting the elevation angle of the digital camera 1. The image was taken with parameters suitable for shooting the intended subject. Therefore, it is possible to shoot and record a subject at a position away from the digital camera 1 with a distance corresponding to the elevation angle with appropriate parameters without complicated manual operation.

  Subsequently, it is determined whether or not a shooting end instruction such as switching to a playback mode or the like or turning off the power has occurred (step S111). The processing from step S101 is repeated until a shooting end instruction is generated. If a shooting end instruction is generated, the processing according to this flow is ended.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a digital camera is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this and may be applied to other devices such as a portable navigation device.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the acquired name may be sequentially notified by display or sound, or may be added to the captured image data and displayed together with the image data in the playback mode. .

  In the present embodiment, the name may be acquired or the imaging parameters may be read in consideration of the current date and time and altitude.

  In the present embodiment, depth of field and zoom magnification may be included as shooting parameters.

1 Digital Camera 2 Base Station 4 Communication Service Company 6 Subject Information Providing Service Company 13 CCD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Vertical driver 16 Sample hold circuit 17 A / D converter 18 Color process circuit 19 DMA controller 21 DRAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 22 Control part 28 Storage memory 29 GPS module 30 Key input part 31 Gyro part 32 Wireless communication part 41 Communication circuit process part 42 Mail server 43 Web server 61 Web server 63 Management server 221 Best shot table 222 Distance conversion table 223 Characteristic line 632 Control Unit 633 System program storage unit 634 Map data storage unit 635 Display unit 636 Communication control unit 637 RAM

Claims (7)

Detecting means for detecting the current position of the device, the elevation angle, and the direction in which the device is facing;
Conversion means for converting the elevation angle detected by the detection means into a distance from the device;
On the map data, an acquisition means for acquiring a name of a target that exists in the direction and corresponding to the distance from the current position;
A search device comprising: The acquisition unit includes a transmission unit that transmits the current position, direction, and distance to the outside.
2. The search apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising receiving means for receiving the name of the object transmitted from outside in response to transmission by the transmitting means. The conversion means includes storage means for storing a distance corresponding to an elevation angle,
The search device according to claim 1, wherein the elevation angle is converted into a distance from the device by reading a distance corresponding to the elevation angle detected by the detection unit from the storage unit. A detection step for detecting a current position of the device, an elevation angle, and a direction in which the device is facing;
A conversion step of converting the elevation angle detected by the detection step into a distance from the device;
On the map data, an acquisition step of acquiring a name of an object existing at a position corresponding to the distance from the current position in the direction;
The search method characterized by including. The computer that the device has
Detecting means for detecting the current position of the device, the elevation angle, and the direction in which the device is facing;
Conversion means for converting the elevation angle detected by the detection means into a distance from the device;
On the map data, an acquisition means for acquiring a name of a target that exists in the direction and corresponding to the distance from the current position;
A search program characterized in that it is made to function. The search device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Photographing means for photographing the subject;
Based on the name of the target acquired by the search device, setting means for setting shooting conditions indicating the control content of the shooting means;
Control means for controlling the photographing means based on the photographing conditions set by the setting means;
A camera apparatus comprising: A search system comprising a terminal and a server connected via a network,
The terminal
Detection means for detecting the current position of the terminal, the elevation angle, and the direction in which the device is facing;
Conversion means for converting the elevation angle detected by the detection means into a distance from the device;
Transmitting means for transmitting the current position, direction and distance to the server;
In response to the transmission by the transmission means, the receiving means for receiving the name of the object transmitted from the server,
The server
Receiving means for receiving the current position, direction and distance transmitted by the transmitting means of the terminal;
On the map data, an acquisition means for acquiring a name of a target that exists in the direction and corresponding to the distance from the current position;
Transmitting means for transmitting the name of the object acquired by the acquiring means to the terminal;
A search system comprising:

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