JP2005223861A - Image photographing apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique capable of performing a management check on an object to be photographed and notifying the result when photographing an article or the like.
When a shutter button 5 is operated in a half-pressed state, a tag reader / writer 2 transmits a radio wave in the direction of a photographic lens 3 to read out electronic tag information from an electronic tag possessed by the photographic subject. A management check is performed using the electronic tag information, and the check result is displayed. When photographing is performed by pressing the shutter button 5, image data of the photographed image, electronic tag information, and a check result are stored in association with each other.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image capturing device that captures an image of an object and captures the captured image, and a data processing device that processes the captured data.

  In recent years, electronic tags based on RFID (Radio Frequency ID) or the like have become widespread instead of tags based on barcodes or the like, and accordingly, various article management systems using electronic tags have been proposed.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, when an electronic tag storing an ID with a unified data format is attached to an article or service, a new product or service is registered in a database, or various services are performed. Information is read from this electronic tag and used to register this information in a database or distributed over a network to manage goods and services.

  JP 2002-150241 A (paragraphs [0009], [0046] to [0048], FIG. 1)

  As described above, various types of devices that manage articles and services using electronic tags have been proposed. However, there is no management method using an electronic tag that has been proposed at present, in which information in the electronic tag is associated with a captured image associated with a product or service to which the electronic tag is attached.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of performing a management check on an object to be photographed and photographing the result when photographing an article or the like.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of providing information on a photographed object read from an electronic tag together with the photographed image when an article is photographed.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a technique for reading information from an electronic tag when photographing an article and associating the read information with a photographed image.

In order to solve the above problems, an image photographing apparatus according to the present invention includes photographing means, electronic tag reading means, notification means, and image storage means.
The photographing means photographs a subject to be photographed.

The electronic tag reading means reads electronic tag information stored in the electronic tag.
The notification means performs a management check using the electronic tag information read by the electronic tag reading means and notifies the result.

  The image storage means stores the image data of the image taken by the photographing means, the electronic tag information read by the electronic tag reading means, and information based on the result of the management check in association with each other.

With this configuration, it is possible to perform a management check of the object to be photographed with the electronic tag attached based on the electronic tag information read from the electronic tag, and notify the user of the result.
In addition, the product table storage means for storing the identification information of the article to be subject to the management check is further provided, and the notification means stores the identification information corresponding to the identification information in the read electronic tag information in the product table storage means. The configuration may be such that the management check is performed when stored.

As a result, only the articles registered in advance in the merchandise table storage means can be set as management check targets.
The scope of the present invention also includes a program executed in the image photographing apparatus.

According to the present invention, it is possible to perform a management check based on information on the article read from the electronic tag at the time of shooting and the information, and notify the user of the result.
In addition, the captured image data can be stored in association with information read from the electronic tag at the time of shooting or information indicating the check result, and when data is processed later as management information, A database can be created.

An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
In the present embodiment, an electronic tag that stores various pieces of information for an article to be managed as electronic tag information is added. Then, when photographing with an image photographing device such as an electronic camera, the electronic tag information is read from the electronic tag, various management checks are performed based on the read electronic tag information, and the result is notified to the photographer. Further, when an image is captured by the image capturing device, the captured image can be stored in association with the electronic tag information and the check result. By using such a technique, it is possible to manage the expiration date of goods in, for example, logistics and inventory management. As a result, when displaying a captured image at a later date, the electronic tag information and the check result read out at the time of shooting can be seen together, and since they are associated with each other, they are easy to process when performing electronic processing.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an image photographing apparatus used for commodity photographing in the present embodiment.
The image photographing apparatus 1 shown in the figure is characterized in that a tag reader / writer 2 and a mode switch 6 are provided.

  Of these, the mode switch 6 switches on / off of the interlocking mode. When the mode switch 6 is in the interlocking mode OFF, the image capturing apparatus 1 functions as a normal image capturing apparatus such as a camera. When the mode switch 6 is set to ON and the interlock mode is set, the electronic tag information in the electronic tag held by the object to be photographed as shown below is read, and the management check using this electronic tag information is performed. In addition, the electronic tag information and the check result are stored and managed together with the photographed image.

  The tag reader / writer 2 reads electronic tag information from the electronic tag and writes information. Note that the tag reader / writer 2 communicates by radio waves only with the electronic tag possessed by the subject to be photographed by the image photographing device 1, so that it transmits and receives radio waves having directivity in the direction in which the photographing lens 3 faces. It is configured.

FIG. 1B shows an example of a transmission / reception antenna provided in the tag reader / writer 2.
The transmission / reception antenna 21 shown in the figure has directivity by covering the opposite side and both left and right sides of the direction of the photographic lens 3 with a shield plate 22, and is attached to an electronic tag possessed by the photographic subject in the direction of the photographic lens 3. It is configured to transmit and receive radio waves. Note that the configuration of the antenna in the figure is merely an example, and directivity may be given by another configuration. Further, an object may be specified by providing an antenna in the vicinity of the photographing lens 3, increasing directivity by using a transmission / reception radio wave in a high frequency band such as a short wave band or a microwave band, or measuring an electric field strength. Good.

  In the image photographing device 1 in FIG. 1A, when the shutter button 5 is pressed halfway with the mode switch 6 set to the interlock mode ON, the tag reader / writer 2 faces the photographing lens 3. Send radio waves in the direction. Then, a response radio wave is received from the electronic tag attached to the article, and the obtained electronic tag information is stored. Further, a notification such as a result of the management check based on the electronic tag information is displayed on a display unit (not shown) together with a through image captured by the photographing lens 3. When the shutter button 5 is fully pressed in this state, an image is captured and photographed, and the photographed image and electronic tag information read from the electronic tag are associated and stored.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the image capturing apparatus 1 of FIG.
In the example of the figure, the image capturing apparatus 1 includes an A / D converter 13, an image processing unit 15, an input / output control unit 16, an image processing memory 19, an electronic tag memory 20, an image memory 23, a communication interface 24, a memory. The card interface 25 and the tag reader / writer 28 are connected by a bus line 29 so that data can be exchanged with each other via the bus line 29.

The lens 10 includes an optical lens made of glass or plastic and a driving device thereof, and is driven in the optical axis direction according to a control instruction from the imaging control unit 14 to perform focusing or realize a zoom function. The CCD 11 converts an optical signal into an electric signal, photoelectrically converts an optical image of a subject formed through the lens 10 and outputs an analog imaging signal corresponding to the optical image of the subject. The imaging process 12 amplifies an analog signal input from the CCD image recording apparatus 11 when a control instruction is issued from the imaging control unit 14, samples it, and outputs it to the A / D converter 13. The A / D converter 13 converts the analog signal input from the imaging control unit 14 into a digital signal. The shooting control unit 14 controls image shooting processing by the image shooting apparatus 1, and executes a program stored therein to control the lens 10 to realize focusing and zoom functions, or the CCD 11. And an imaging process such as controlling the imaging process 12 to record image data of a captured image in an image memory. The image processing unit 15 performs image processing in consideration of various shooting conditions set in advance on the output from the A / D converter 15 when shooting, and then performs compression processing to perform shooting. Generate image data of an image. The image processing unit 15 also stores in the image processing memory 19 image data of an image obtained by combining the information in the electronic tag memory 20 and the result of the management check with the image data of the through image output from the A / D converter 13. Generate.

  The input / output control unit 16 displays a through image and various types of information displayed on the display unit 18 as well as various processes in response to an input instruction made by the user operating the input unit 17 by executing a program stored therein. Process control. The input unit 17 is a switch or the like for a user to input an operation, and includes a plurality of operation keys such as a shutter button, a power key, a mode selection key, a cross key, and an enter key. A key input signal corresponding to the key operation is output to the input / output control unit 16. The display unit 18 includes a color LCD and a driving circuit thereof, and displays a subject image captured by the CCD 11 as a through image, or displays a captured image stored in the image memory 23 or a memory card. The image processing memory 19 is a memory for storing image data processed by the image processing unit 15, and the input / output control unit 16 displays on the display unit 18 based on the image data in the image processing memory 19. Or the image data of the photographed image is stored in the image memory 23. The electronic tag memory 20 is a memory for storing information read from the electronic tag by the tag reader / writer 28. The image memory 23 is a memory in which data of a plurality of photographed images photographed by the image photographing device 1 is stored. The communication interface 24 is an interface that is connected to an external device or a network to exchange data. The memory card interface 25 is an interface for mounting a memory card for storing image data. Based on a user instruction, the input / output control unit 16 mounts image data in the image memory 23 by the memory card interface 25. Transfer to memory card. The timer 26 measures the date and time, and the input / output control unit 16 sets the date and time counted by the timer 26 as the system date and time. The table memory 27 is a memory for storing a product table to be described later. The table memory 27, the image processing memory 19, and the electronic tag memory 20 may be configured as separate memories or may be configured by dividing an area on one memory.

  The tag reader / writer 28 accesses the electronic tag according to an instruction from the input / output control unit 16, and includes a control unit 281, a memory 282, a transmission / reception unit 283, and an antenna 284.

  When there is an instruction to read / write the electronic tag from the input / output control unit 16, the control unit 281 transmits the radio wave to the transmission / reception unit 283, converts the radio wave received as a response into digital data by the transmission / reception unit 283, and then stores it in the memory 282. Remember. When the data read from the electronic tag is requested from the input / output control unit 16, the control unit 281 transfers the data stored in the memory 282 to the electronic tag memory 20.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of electronic tag information stored in an electronic tag attached to a subject to be photographed by the image photographing device 1 and readable by the tag reader / writer 28.

  In the electronic tag, an ID code 31 and product information 32 are stored as electronic tag information. When receiving the radio wave from the tag reader / writer 28 of the image capturing apparatus 1, the electronic tag returns the ID code 31 and the product information 32 as a response by radio wave.

  The ID code 31 is an identifier that uniquely identifies each electronic tag. The merchandise information 32 indicates various information about the article to which the electronic tag is added, and is information for identifying the merchandise such as a merchandise name, a merchandise code, a production number, and manufacturer identification information. In this embodiment, when an article to which an electronic tag is added is photographed by the image photographing apparatus 1, product information 32 is stored as additional information of the photographed image, and a product table to be described later is referred to based on the product information. Then, the user is notified based on the reference result.

The ID code 31 may also serve as product specifying information by adding a number corresponding to the product number or product name to the ID code 31.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a product table stored in the table memory 27 of the image capturing apparatus.

  The product table is a table in which products managed by the image capturing device of the present embodiment are registered. The image capturing device refers to this table by the electronic tag information read from the electronic tag, and is registered in the product table. Is the management target. The product table in the table memory 27 is appropriately updated by data input from the outside via the communication interface 24.

  In the example of FIG. 4, product information and management information for a product to be managed are stored in the product table. Of these, the product information is information for specifying the product to be managed. In the example of FIG. 4, the manufacturer name such as the product name, the product code specifying the product type, the serial number, and the unique symbol of the manufacturing site is specified. Information is stored as product information. The management information is information used for product management, and stores management check information used for a management check for a product to be managed and information indicating the type of the management check information. In the example of the figure, as the management information, it is stored that the expiration date is a check target, and the expiration date of the product is 17:00 on April 1, 2004.

  In the image capturing apparatus 1, when the shutter button 5 is operated halfway and the electronic tag information is read from the electronic tag, whether or not information corresponding to the product information in the electronic tag information is recorded in the product table. If the product is recorded, the product is to be managed. Then, a management check corresponding to the check contents of the product table is performed using the management check information, and the result is notified to the user. For example, when the check content is the expiration date, the expiration date and time stored as management check information is compared with the system date and time counted by the timer 26 to determine whether or not the expiration date has passed. The remaining period until the time is notified to the user as a check result.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of data regarding a captured image stored in the image memory 23.
The image memory 23 stores data about a plurality of captured images captured by the image capturing apparatus 1. This data includes image information and electronic tag information, and the image information that is information about the captured image captured by the image capturing apparatus 1 is associated with the electronic tag information read from the electronic tag when captured in the interlock mode. And stored in the image memory 23.

  The data in the image memory 23 is read into a data processing apparatus that manages merchandise at a store, a showroom or the like via a memory card mounted on the memory card interface 25, or by the communication interface 24. Sent by network communication. This data is recorded and managed in a database as management information on the data processing device.

  In the configuration example of FIG. 5, the data for one captured image includes the image data 51 of the captured image such as JPEG, the attribute information 52, the shooting date and time, the setting at the time of shooting (white balance, shutter speed, aperture, etc.), etc. Is remembered. When the mode switch 6 is set to ON at the time of shooting, the attribute information 52 includes the identifier of the electronic tag generated from the ID code read from the electronic tag.

  The electronic tag information includes an identifier 53 generated from the ID code, product information (product name, product code, serial number, etc.) 54 specifying the product to which the electronic tag is added, and a management check such as the date of manufacture. Information and management information 55 that is a check result thereof are stored, and the electronic tag information and the image information are associated with each other by an identifier and an identifier 53 in the attribute information 52.

  Data in the image memory 23 stored in such a data configuration is read into a data processing apparatus such as a store through the memory card mounted on the memory card interface 25 or the communication interface 24. When the captured image is displayed based on this data, the associated product information 54 and information in the management information 55 are also displayed together with the captured image. This data is registered as a database as management information.

Next, usage examples and operations of the image capturing apparatus 1 and the data processing apparatus will be described.
In a store or a showroom, when the user directs the image capturing device 1 toward a product or exhibit displayed on the display and presses the shutter button halfway, the image capturing device 1 is attached to the product or the like. Read electronic tag information from the tag. Then, based on the electronic tag information, the product (exhibit) is checked for management, for example, the expiry date and the exhibition period are checked, and the result is displayed to the user by a method such as displaying on the display unit of the image capturing apparatus 1. Notify them.

  When the shutter button is fully pressed, an image is taken, and the data of the taken image is stored in association with tag information and check results. As a result, the data is stored in a form in which the image data and the check management result of the photographed object are associated with each other, and can be registered in the database or the like as management information at a later date. Then, for example, the ones that are close to the deadline may be extracted from the database and output, or linked to other data processing.

  6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the operation process of the image photographing apparatus 1 when the shutter button 5 of the image photographing apparatus 1 is half-pressed. When the shutter button 5 is pressed halfway, the image photographing device 1 transmits radio waves from the tag reader / writer 28, reads information from the electronic tag in the direction of the photographing lens 3, and reads the read electronic tag information. Based on this, the management check of the article to be photographed is performed. In the processing shown in FIG. 6, the management check is performed to check the expiration date such as the expiration date of the article.

The processing shown in FIG. 6 is realized by the input / output control unit 16 executing a program stored in its own internal memory.
When the shutter button 5 is pressed halfway down by the user, this process is started, and the input / output control unit 16 first clears the image processing memory 19 as an initialization process (step S1), and then the electronic tag. The memory 20 is cleared (step S2).

  Next, the input / output control unit 16 takes in the image data output from the A / D converter 13 to the image processing memory 19 in step S3. In step S4, a through image is displayed on the display unit 18 based on the image data.

  Next, the input / output control unit 16 checks the setting state of the mode button 6 in step S5. As a result, if the mode switch 6 is set to OFF and the interlock mode is not set (step S6, N), the image photographing device 1 does not read out the electronic tag information in the electronic tag held by the photographing object. The process ends.

  In step S6, if the mode button 6 is set to ON and the interlock mode is set (step S6, Y), the input / output control unit 16 causes the tag reader / writer 28 to read the electronic tag information from the electronic tag. . As a result, when the information cannot be read (eg, the photographed object does not have an electronic tag) (step S7, N), this process is terminated.

  When the electronic tag information can be read from the electronic tag in step S7 (step S7, Y), the information is transferred from the memory 282 of the tag reader / writer 28 to the electronic tag memory 20 and stored as step S8. . The input / output control unit 16 generates an identifier for the electronic tag based on the ID code read from the electronic tag in step S9, and stores it in the image processing memory 19 (step S10).

  Next, in step S11 of FIG. 7, the input / output control unit 16 searches the product table in the table memory 27 using the product information in the read electronic tag information, and determines whether the product is a management target. Investigate. As a result, if the information corresponding to the same product information is not registered in the product table (step S12, N), the product currently being photographed is not the product to be managed, so there is no corresponding product as step S13. After notifying the user by displaying a message on the display unit 18 or the like, the present process is terminated.

  In step S12, if information corresponding to the same product information is registered in the product table (step S12, Y), the product information is displayed on the display unit 18 together with the through image as step S14.

  Next, the input / output control unit 16 reads the system date and time from the timer 26 in step S15, and compares it with the expiration date and time for managing the expiration date and the exhibition expiration date in the table as a management check (step S16). As a result, if the expiration date has already passed (step S17, Y), the expiration date and time and the excess period thereof are notified to the user by means such as displaying on the display unit 18 as step S18, and the expiration date has not passed. In the case (step S17, N), the user is notified of the expiration date and time until the expiration date as step S19.

  In step S19, the input / output control unit 16 stores the period until the expiration date and time such as the expiration date in the electronic tag memory 20 in association with the electronic tag information read from the electronic tag, and ends this process.

  As described above, the image photographing apparatus according to the present embodiment can read information from the electronic tag attached to the article before photographing, perform a management check based on this information, and notify the user of the result. . Therefore, on the basis of this notification, it is possible to perform processing such as removing a product from the display shelf.

  In the above example, the date and time until the due date is notified in steps S18 and S20 as a result of the management check. However, for example, only those within 3 times until the due date, only those that have expired, etc. You may make it notify only the thing applicable to conditions.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation process performed in the image photographing apparatus 1 when photographing an image. The processing in FIG. 6 is also realized by the input / output control unit 16 executing a program stored in its own internal memory.

  This process is started when the shutter button 5 is fully pressed by the user. In step S21, the input / output control unit 16 instructs the imaging control unit 14 to perform shooting, and the imaging control unit 14 15, the output data from the A / D converter 13 is corrected by parameters set such as white balance, and then compressed to generate image data, which is stored in the image processing memory 19. The input / output control unit 16 transfers the image data from the image processing memory 19 to the image memory 23 and stores it.

  Next, the input / output control unit 16 determines whether or not an identifier is generated in step S10 of FIG. 6 and stored in the image processing memory 19 for the captured image. (Step S22, N), the mode switch 6 is set to OFF, and the electronic tag information is not read, so this processing is terminated.

  If an identifier has been generated in step S22 (step S22, Y), the information read from the electronic tag and the photographed image are stored in association with each other, so the product information and management check in the electronic tag memory 20 are stored together with this identifier. The result is stored in the image memory 23 (step S23).

  Next, in step S24, the input / output control unit 16 uses the tag reader / writer 28 to read the information from the electronic tag again and perform collation. Then, the date / time information is read from the timer 6 (step S25), and this is written in the electronic tag together with the ID code of the image photographing apparatus 1 as step S26, and then this processing is terminated. The date and time information and ID code written in the electronic tag in step S26 are used for the purpose of checking when the image photographing apparatus 1 photographed the product that became the photographing object at a later date.

  With the processing of FIG. 8, the image photographing apparatus of the present embodiment can record the image data of the photographed image in association with the electronic tag information read from the electronic tag possessed by the photographing object.

  As described above, according to the image photographing apparatus of the present embodiment, it is possible to perform a management check based on information on the article read from the electronic tag at the time of photographing and the information, and notify the user of the result. In addition, the captured image data can be stored in association with information read from the electronic tag at the time of shooting or information indicating the check result, and when data is processed later as management information, A database can be created.

Note that the image capturing apparatus of the present embodiment may be configured not only as a single apparatus but also as a part of another apparatus.
In this embodiment, the electronic tag information read from the electronic tag attached to the article is stored and managed in association with the photographed image. However, audio data or moving image data in which the electronic tag information is recorded on the article, It may be stored and managed in association with character data or the like, or may be stored and managed in association with a plurality of such data such as still images and audio data.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the result of the management check is displayed on the display unit and notified to the user. However, another method, for example, a configuration of notifying by voice may be used.
In the present embodiment, the information used for the management check such as the expiration date is stored in the product table, but may be stored in the electronic tag information read from the electronic tag. At this time, the product table may be configured to store one type of information for specifying the product to be managed, instead of the table configuration.

  Further, the product table may not be stored inside the image capturing apparatus, but may be configured to make an inquiry to the outside of the image capturing apparatus using electronic tag information and request a management check using the read communication line.

(A) is a schematic diagram of an image photographing apparatus of the present embodiment, (b) is a diagram showing an example of a transmission / reception antenna provided in a tag reader / writer. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structural example of an image imaging device. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the electronic tag information memorize | stored in the electronic tag added to a to-be-photographed object. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the goods table memorize | stored in the memory for tables of an imaging device. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the data about the picked-up image memorize | stored in the image memory. It is a flowchart (the 1) which shows the operation | movement process of an image imaging device when a shutter button is half-pressed. 12 is a flowchart (No. 2) illustrating an operation process of the image capturing apparatus when the shutter button is half-pressed. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement process performed within an image imaging device at the time of imaging | photography of an image.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image photographing device 2 Tag reader / writer 3 Shooting lens 5 Shutter button 6 Mode switch 10 Lens 11 CCD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Imaging process 13 A / D converter 14 Image | photographing control part 15 Image processing part 16 Input / output control part 17 Display part 18 Output part 19 Memory for image processing 20 Memory for electronic tag 21 Transmission / reception antenna 22 Shield plate 23 Image memory 24 Communication interface 25 Memory Card Interface 26 Timer 27 Table Memory 28 Tag Reader / Writer 29 Bus Line

Claims (7)

Photographing means for photographing an object to be photographed;
An electronic tag reading means for reading out electronic tag information stored in the electronic tag;
Informing means for performing a management check using the electronic tag information read out by the electronic tag reading means, and informing the result;
Image storage means for storing image data of a photographed image by the photographing means, the electronic tag information read by the electronic tag reading means, and information based on the result of the management check in association with each other. Shooting device. Further comprising a product table storage means for storing identification information of an article to be subjected to the management check,
The image according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit performs the management check when identification information corresponding to the identification information in the read electronic tag information is stored in the product table storage unit. Shooting device.   The product table storage unit stores management information used by the notification unit for the management check in association with the identification information, and the notification unit performs the management check using the management information. Item 3. The image photographing device according to Item 2. It further comprises a time measuring means for measuring time,
The management check is a time limit check, and the notification unit performs the management check by comparing a date measured by the timing unit with information on a date stored as the management information. The image photographing device according to claim 3. It further comprises input means for receiving operation instructions from the user,
The electronic tag reading unit reads the electronic tag information when the input unit receives a first instruction from the user, and the notification unit performs the management check and notifies the result. 5. The image capturing device according to any one of 1 to 4.   When there is a second instruction after the first instruction from the user by the input means, the photographing means performs photographing, and the image storage means performs the image data, the electronic tag information, and the management check. 6. The image photographing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein information based on the result is stored in association with each other. A program executed in the image capturing device,
A function to shoot a shooting object;
A function of reading electronic tag information stored in the electronic tag;
A function of performing a management check using the read electronic tag information and informing the result;
A function of storing image data of a captured image, the read electronic tag information, and information based on the result of the management check in association with each other;
A program that realizes

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