U.S. patent application number 11/213824 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-29 for recording apparatus, communications apparatus, recording system, communications system, and methods therefor.
Invention is credited to Muta, Tomomitsu, Tsubaki, Hisayoshi, Watanabe, Mikio.
Application Number | 20050285944 11/213824 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26601513 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050285944 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Watanabe, Mikio ; et
al. |
December 29, 2005 |
Recording apparatus, communications apparatus, recording system,
communications system, and methods therefor
Abstract
A recording apparatus includes a communications device which can
receive from another communications apparatus by wireless an
image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing process
or a sound recording condition of restricting a sound recording
process, and a device which performs an image-capturing or sound
recording process according to the received image-capturing
condition or sound recording condition. Thus, a user can
automatically set a recording function of a recording apparatus in
a restricted state without special care in a position where
image-capturing, sound recording, etc. are prohibited, thereby
recording on an allowed condition. Since it further includes a
communications device which can receive by wireless from another
communications apparatus a reproducing condition of restricting a
reproducing function of an image, and a reproducing device which
reproduces an image according to the received reproducing
condition, an available function can be used by easily specifying a
user of the communications apparatus.
Inventors: |
Watanabe, Mikio; (Asaka-shi,
JP) ; Muta, Tomomitsu; (Asaka-shi, JP) ;
Tsubaki, Hisayoshi; (Asaka-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
26601513 |
Appl. No.: |
11/213824 |
Filed: |
August 30, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11213824 |
Aug 30, 2005 |
|
|
|
09969653 |
Oct 4, 2001 |
|
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/207.1 ;
386/E5.072 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/9261 20130101;
H04N 5/907 20130101; H04N 1/00307 20130101; H04N 1/00127 20130101;
H04N 2201/3212 20130101; H04N 1/00281 20130101; H04N 5/77 20130101;
H04N 2005/91335 20130101; H04N 2201/3264 20130101; H04N 1/00925
20130101; H04N 2201/3276 20130101; H04N 2201/0055 20130101; H04N
2201/0074 20130101; H04N 5/85 20130101; H04N 2101/00 20130101; H04N
5/772 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/207.1 |
International
Class: |
H04N 005/225 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 4, 2000 |
JP |
2000-304707 |
Nov 1, 2000 |
JP |
2000-334610 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A communications apparatus, comprising: a communications device
which receives a reproducing condition of restricting a function of
reproducing an image from another communications apparatus by
wireless; and a reproducing device which reproduces the image
according to the reproducing condition.
2. The communications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
communications device receives by wireless an image-capturing
condition of restricting an image-capturing function from another
communications apparatus, and comprises an image-capturing device
which performs an image-capturing process according to the
image-capturing condition.
3. The communications apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
image-capturing condition includes at least one of prohibition of
all image-capturing processes, setting a time in which an
image-capturing process is restricted, prohibition of
image-capturing using a flash, prohibition of image-capturing with
a resolution of at least a predetermined number of pixels,
prohibition of image-capturing using a specified model of a
recording apparatus, inserting predetermined information claiming a
copyright into data of a captured image, compressing a captured
image, settings of a condition of resolution of captured image
information, and restrictions on sound issued by a recording
apparatus after an image-capturing process.
4. The communications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
reproducing condition includes at least one of a reproducing
condition of prohibiting all reproducing processes, a condition of
setting a time at which a reproducing process is restricted, a
reproducing condition of prohibiting a reproducing process with a
resolution of at least a predetermined number of pixels, a
reproducing condition of inserting predetermined information
claiming a copyright for an image, a compressing condition when an
image is output, and resolution of an image to be reproduced.
5. The communications apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
communications device receives by wireless an image-capturing
condition of restricting an image-capturing function from another
communications apparatus, and comprises an image-capturing device
which performs an image-capturing process according to the
image-capturing condition.
6. The communications apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the
image-capturing condition includes at least one of prohibition of
all image-capturing processes, setting a time in which an
image-capturing process is restricted, prohibition of
image-capturing using a flash, prohibition of image-capturing with
a resolution of at least a predetermined number of pixels,
prohibition of image-capturing using a specified model of a
recording apparatus, inserting predetermined information claiming a
copyright into data of a captured image, compressing a captured
image, settings of a condition of resolution of captured image
information, and restrictions on sound issued by a recording
apparatus after an image-capturing process.
7. The communications apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a recording unit which records identification
information unique to a communications apparatus to which the
recording unit belongs; and a transmission device which reads the
identification information recorded in the recording unit, and
transmits the information to another communications apparatus.
8. A communications apparatus, comprising: a recording device which
records in advance first identification information for specifying
a first user of a communications apparatus; a communications device
which can receive identification information from another
communications apparatus by wireless, associated with a reproducing
condition of restricting a function of reproducing an image, for
specifying a second user of a communications apparatus; a matching
device which compares the first identification information
specifying the first user with the second identification
information specifying the second user; and a reproducing device
which reproduces an image according to a comparison result.
9. The communications apparatus according to claim 8, further
comprising: a recording unit which records identification
information unique to a communications apparatus to which the
recording unit belongs; and a transmission device which reads the
identification information recorded in the recording unit, and
transmits the information to another communications apparatus.
10. A communications apparatus, comprising: a recording device
which records in advance first identification information
specifying a first user of the communications apparatus; a
communications device which receives by wireless from another
communications apparatus identification information which is
associated with an image-capturing condition of restricting an
image-capturing function about an image-capturing process, and
specifies a second user of the communications apparatus; a matching
device which compares the first identification information
specifying the first user and the second identification information
specifying the second user; and an image-capturing device which
performs an image-capturing process according to a comparison
result.
11. The communications apparatus according to claim 10, further
comprising: a recording unit which records identification
information unique to a communications apparatus to which the
recording unit belongs; and a transmission device which reads the
identification information recorded in the recording unit, and
transmits the information to another communications apparatus.
12. A communications apparatus, comprising: a recording device
which records an image and a first reproducing condition of
restricting a function of reproducing the image; a reception device
which receives a second reproducing condition of restricting a
function of reproducing an image from another communications
apparatus; a matching device which compares the first reproducing
condition with the second reproducing condition; and a reproducing
device which reproduces an image according to a comparison
result.
13. The communications apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the
first and second reproducing conditions contains at least one of
identification information unique to the communications apparatus,
identification information specifying a operator, and
identification information specifying one who carries out
reproduction.
14. The communications apparatus according to claim 12, further
comprising: an image pickup device which captures an image of a
subject, wherein the recording device records the captured image
after associating the captured image with the received second
reproducing condition, wherein the reproducing device reproduces an
image according to one of the comparison result and the second
reproducing condition.
15. The communications apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the
first and second reproducing conditions contains at least one of
identification information unique to the communications apparatus,
identification information specifying a operator, and
identification information specifying one who carries out
reproduction.
16. The communications apparatus according to claim 12, further
comprising: a recording unit which records identification
information unique to a communications apparatus to which the
recording unit belongs; and a transmission device which reads the
identification information recorded in the recording unit, and
transmits the information to another communications apparatus.
17. A communications apparatus, comprising: a recording device
which records a reproducing condition of restricting a function of
reproducing an image of an electronic camera after associating the
condition with first identification information specifying a user
of the electronic camera; a reception device which receives second
identification information specifying a user of the electronic
camera; and a transmission device for reading a reproducing
condition of an electronic camera recorded as associated with the
first identification information in the recording device according
to the received second identification information, and transmitting
the condition.
18. The communications apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:
the recording device records an image-capturing condition of
restricting an image-capturing function of an electronic camera as
associated with the first identification information; and the
transmission device transmits an image-capturing condition of an
electronic camera as associated and recorded with the first
identification information in the recording device according to the
received second identification information.
19. The communications apparatus according to claim 17, wherein at
least one of the first and second identification information refers
to a telephone number of a portable telephone.
20. A communications apparatus, comprising: a recording device
which records a reproducing condition of restricting a function of
reproducing an image of an electronic camera after associating the
condition with identification information specifying a user of the
electronic camera; and a transmission device which transmits a
reproducing condition of an electronic camera recorded as
associated with the identification information to the recording
device.
21. The communications apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:
the recording device records an image-capturing condition of
restricting an image-capturing function of an electronic camera as
associated with the identification information; and the
transmission device transmits the image-capturing condition of the
electronic camera recorded as associated with the identification
information.
22. The communications apparatus according to claim 20, wherein at
least one of the first and second identification information refers
to a telephone number of a portable telephone.
23. A communications system, comprising: a first communications
apparatus, comprising: a first communications device which receives
a reproducing condition of restricting a function of reproducing an
image from another communications apparatus by wireless; and a
reproducing device which reproduces an image according to the
received reproducing condition; a second communications apparatus,
comprising a first recording device which records first
identification information specifying a user of the first
communications apparatus; and a second communications device which
transmits the first identification information recorded in the
first recording device to another communications apparatus; and a
third communications apparatus, comprising: a second recording
device which records a reproducing condition of restricting a
reproducing function of an image of the first communications
apparatus as associated with second identification information
specifying a user of the first communications apparatus; a
reception device which receives the first identification
information specifying the user of the first communications
apparatus; and a transmission device which reads and transmits a
reproducing condition of an image of the first communications
apparatus recorded as associated with the second identification
information in the second recording device according to the first
identification information.
24. The communications system according to claim 23, wherein: the
first communications device of the first communications apparatus
receives an image-capturing condition of restricting an
image-capturing function from another communications apparatus by
wireless; the first communications apparatus comprises an
image-capturing device which performs an image-capturing process
according to the received image-capturing condition; the second
recording device of the third communications apparatus records the
image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing
function of the first communications apparatus as associated with
second identification information specifying a user of the first
communications apparatus; and the transmission device of the third
communications apparatus reads and transmits the image-capturing
condition of the image of the first communications apparatus
recorded as associated with the second identification information
in the second recording device according to the received first
identification information.
25. A communications system, comprising: a first communications
apparatus, comprising: a recording device which records in advance
first identification information specifying a first user of the
first communications apparatus; a communications device which
receives by wireless from a second communications apparatus second
identification information which is associated with a reproducing
condition of restricting a function of reproducing an image of the
first communications apparatus, and specifies a second user of the
first communications apparatus; a matching device which compares
the first identification information with the second identification
information; and a reproducing device which reproduces an image
according to a comparison result; and the second communications
apparatus comprising: a transmission device which transmits the
second identification information specifying the second user of the
first communications apparatus to the first communications
apparatus.
26. A communications system, comprising: an electronic camera,
comprising a recording device which records in advance first
identification information specifying a first user of the
electronic camera; a communications device which receives by
wireless from another communications apparatus second
identification information which is associated with an
image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing
function of the electronic camera, and specifies a second user of
the electronic camera; a matching device which compares the first
identification information with the second identification
information; and an image-capturing device which performs an
image-capturing process according to a comparison result; and a
communications apparatus, comprising: a transmission device which
transmits to the electronic camera the second identification
information specifying the second user of the electronic
camera.
27. A communications system, comprising: a first communications
apparatus, comprising: a first recording device which records an
image associated with a first reproducing condition of restricting
a reproducing function of the image; a first communications device
which receives a second reproducing condition of restricting a
reproducing function of an image from another communications
apparatus; a matching device which compares the first reproducing
condition with the second reproducing condition; and a reproducing
device which reproduces an image according to a comparison result;
a second communications apparatus, comprising: a second recording
device which records the first identification information
specifying a user of the first communications apparatus; and a
second communications device which transmits the first
identification information recorded in the second recording device
to another communications apparatus; and a third communications
apparatus, comprising: a third recording device which records the
second reproducing condition of the image of the first
communications apparatus associated with second identification
information specifying the user of the first communications
apparatus; a reception device which receives the first
identification information specifying the user of the first
communications apparatus; and a transmission device which reads and
transmits the second reproducing condition recorded as associated
with the second identification information in the third recording
device according to the received first identification
information.
28. The communications system according to claim 27, wherein: the
first communications apparatus further comprises an image pickup
device which captures an image of a subject; the first recording
device of the first communications apparatus records an image
obtained by an image-capturing process as associated with the
received reproducing condition; and the reproducing device of the
first communications apparatus reproduces an image according to one
of the comparison result and the second reproducing condition.
Description
[0001] This application is a Divisional of co-pending application
Ser. No. 09/969,653, filed on Oct. 4, 2001, the entire contents of
which are hereby incorporated by reference and for which priority
is claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, a
communications apparatus, a recording system, a communications
system, and methods therefor, and more specifically to a recording
apparatus, a communications apparatus, a recording system, a
communications system, and methods therefor which can restrict an
image-capturing or sound recording process performed by the
recording apparatus at an instruction of another communications
apparatus, or set a reproducing condition and an image-capturing
condition by automatically recognizing a user of the communications
apparatus.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] The conventional camera leaves to an operator the
determination as to whether or not image-capturing is permitted.
Therefore, an image can be actually taken where image-capturing is
prohibited.
[0006] Furthermore, the conventional sound recording device leaves
to a user the determination as to whether or not recording is
permitted. Therefore, a sound recording process can be actually
performed where sound recording is prohibited.
[0007] As described above, there has been the problem that no
effective restricting method can be used when common people are
prohibited from image-capturing, for example, important cultural
assets, etc., or when taking images of works of art, etc. using a
flash is prohibited.
[0008] Additionally, there has been the problem that no effective
prohibiting or restricting method can be used when common people
are prohibited from recording sound of performances, for example,
in a concert hall, etc.
[0009] In addition, copyrighted articles such as works of art, etc.
are in many cases prohibited from being freely image-captured from
the viewpoint of the protection of copyright. To have common people
observe such restrictions, guards are assigned to watch an
important place, people behave themselves, etc., but restrictions
and regulations have not been completely observed.
[0010] Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. 10-98765,
10-107875 and 10-243462 disclose the method of prohibiting the
transmission of a signal using a portable telephone, etc.
[0011] Furthermore, there has conventionally been a method of
obtaining permission to enter a strictly managed room using a key,
an ID card, etc. Relating to a device such as a cash dispenser,
etc., a user inputs a user ID card carried by the user and his or
her own password memorized by the user to use the device. In
addition, there has been a method of permitting or restricting the
use of computers communicating with each other through a network by
specifying a user by transmitting the account on the slave side and
a unique password to the master side. In the local wireless
communications technology, both communicators hold access keys to
their own communications connection devices so that subsequent
communications can be easily established.
[0012] Furthermore, the method of authenticating a person by
capturing the physical characteristics such as the retina,
fingerprints, etc. is generally known, and Japanese Patent
Application Publication No. 5-342333 discloses the personal
authentication device capable of improving the precision in
authenticating a finger image of low density.
[0013] Additionally, Japanese Patent Application Publication No.
11-313237 discloses a digital camera and an image transmission
system, to prevent the image transmitted from a digital camera from
being viewed by an uncertain person on the reception side, provided
with an authentication information addition device which adds a
password or the information corresponding to it to the image data
to be transmitted when the image is transmitted from the digital
camera.
[0014] Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Publication No.
11-313237 discloses an image processing device capable of easily
specifying a user through an authentication medium and enhancing
the security of image data depending on the authentication check
result of a user, and capable of restricting the function available
to the user.
[0015] However, since a camera does not normally have the function
of authenticating a user, an image captured by a specific person
can be freely viewed by others when a plurality of persons take
images using cameras. Therefore, an image taken by a person can be
viewed by other users.
[0016] The conventional method of specifying a person using a key,
an ID card, a password, and an authentication medium requires a
complicated operation when it is applied to a camera because it
requests a user to perform an operation or input any data.
[0017] Furthermore, there has been the problem with a method of
specifying a person according to a physical characteristic that it
requires a complicated operation of presenting a physical
characteristic such as a fingerprint, retina, etc. to the device,
and that the authenticating device provided exclusively for the
camera degrades the portability of the camera.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The present invention has been developed in view of the
above mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide an
improved recording apparatus, communications apparatus, recording
system, and methods therefor which can automatically set the
recording function of the recording apparatus in a restricted state
without a user's special care in a position where image-capturing,
sound recording, etc. are restricted.
[0019] Furthermore, the present invention also aims at providing a
communications apparatus and a communications system capable of
automatically restricting the available function by automatically
specifying a user who is using the communications apparatus or the
electronic camera.
[0020] To attain the above mentioned object, the present invention
includes a first communications device which can receive from
another communications apparatus by wireless an image-capturing
condition of restricting an image-capturing process or a sound
recording condition of restricting a sound recording process, and a
device of performing an image-capturing or sound recording process
according to the received image-capturing condition or sound
recording condition.
[0021] According to the present invention, since the recording
apparatus includes a first communications device which can receive
from another communications apparatus by wireless an
image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing process
or a sound recording condition of restricting a sound recording
process, and a device of performing an image-capturing or sound
recording process according to the received image-capturing
condition or sound recording condition, the recording apparatus can
automatically set the recording function of the recording apparatus
in a restricted state without a user's special care in a position
where image-capturing, sound recording, etc. are restricted.
[0022] Furthermore, to attain the above mentioned object, the
present invention includes a recording device which records an
image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing process
by a recording apparatus carried by a user or a sound recording
condition of restricting a sound recording process, and a
communications device which can transmit the image-capturing
condition or sound recording condition recorded in the recording
device to the recording apparatus by wireless.
[0023] According to the present invention, since the communications
apparatus includes a recording device which records an
image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing process
by a recording apparatus carried by a user or a sound recording
condition of restricting a sound recording process, and a
communications device which can transmit the image-capturing
condition or sound recording condition recorded in the recording
device to the recording apparatus by wireless, the communications
apparatus can automatically set the recording function of the
recording device carried by the user in a restricted state in a
position where image-capturing, sound recording, etc. are
restricted.
[0024] To attain the above mentioned object, the present invention
also includes a communications device which can receive a
reproducing condition of restricting the function of reproducing an
image from another communications apparatus by wireless, and a
reproducing device which reproduces an image according to the
received reproducing condition.
[0025] According to the present invention, since the communications
apparatus includes a communications device which can receive a
reproducing condition of restricting the function of reproducing an
image from another communications apparatus by wireless, and a
reproducing device which reproduces an image according to the
received reproducing condition, an available function can be
restricted by easily specifying a user of the communications
apparatus.
[0026] Furthermore, to attain the above mentioned object, the
present invention includes a recording device which records in
advance first identification information for specifying a first
user of a communications apparatus, a communications device which
can receive second identification information from another
communications apparatus by wireless, associated with a reproducing
condition of restricting the function of reproducing an image, for
specifying a second user of a communications apparatus, a matching
device which compares the first identification information
specifying the first user with the second identification
information specifying the second user, and a reproducing device
which reproduces an image according to a comparison result.
[0027] Since the present invention includes a recording device
which records in advance first identification information for
specifying a first user of a communications apparatus, a
communications device which can receive second identification
information from another communications apparatus by wireless,
associated with a reproducing condition of restricting the function
of reproducing an image, for specifying a second user of a
communications apparatus, a matching device which compares the
first identification information specifying the first user with the
second identification information specifying the second user, and a
reproducing device which reproduces an image according to a
comparison result, an available function can be restricted by
simply specifying a user of the communications apparatus.
[0028] Furthermore, to attain the above mentioned object, the
present invention includes a recording device which records an
image and a first reproducing condition of restricting the function
of reproducing the image, a reception device which receives a
second reproducing condition of restricting the function of
reproducing an image from another communications apparatus; a
matching device which compares the first reproducing condition with
the second reproducing condition, and a reproducing device which
reproduces an image according to a comparison result.
[0029] Since the present invention includes a recording device
which records an image and a first reproducing condition of
restricting the function of reproducing the image with them
associated with each other, a reception device which receives a
second reproducing condition of restricting the function of
reproducing an image from another communications apparatus; a
matching device which compares the first reproducing condition with
the second reproducing condition, and a reproducing device which
reproduces an image according to a comparison result, an available
function can be restricted by easily specifying a user of the
communications apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] The nature of this invention, as well as other objects and
advantages thereof, will be explained in the following with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference
characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the
figures and wherein:
[0031] FIG. 1 shows a wireless image-capturing system capable of
restricting image-capturing by an electronic camera;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a signal processing system of
an electronic camera;
[0033] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an information processing
system of a communications apparatus;
[0034] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a communications process performed
by an electronic camera and a communications apparatus;
[0035] FIG. 5 shows a communications system configured by the
electronic camera and the communications apparatus according to the
present invention;
[0036] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a signal processing system of
an electronic camera;
[0037] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a signal processing unit of a
portable telephone;
[0038] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a signal processing unit of a
server;
[0039] FIG. 9 is a table of unique identification information about
a user of an electronic camera issued by the electronic camera or a
portable telephone;
[0040] FIG. 10 is a table of a basic authentication code recorded
by a recording device of a server;
[0041] FIG. 11 is a table of information as to whether or not each
electronic camera recorded by the recording device of the server
can be used;
[0042] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a pairing process performed by the
electronic camera and the portable telephone;
[0043] FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a process of authenticating a user
when the communications are started between the electronic camera
and the portable telephone;
[0044] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an image-capturing process by an
electronic camera; and
[0045] FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a reproducing process by an
electronic camera.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0046] Hereunder a preferred embodiment will be described in detail
for a structure of a recording apparatus, a communication
apparatus, a recording system, a communications system, and the
methods therefor according to preferred embodiments of the present
invention in accordance with the accompanied drawings.
[0047] FIG. 1 shows the wireless image-capturing system capable of
restricting image-capturing by an electronic camera.
[0048] In FIG. 1, the present invention comprises an electronic
camera 10 which is an embodiment of a recording apparatus carried
by a user and capable of establishing wireless communications with
other communications apparatuses; a portable telephone 12; a
wireless communications range 14 in which image-capturing is
restricted in an art gallery, a museum, etc.; and a communications
apparatus 16 which is provided in an art gallery, a museum, etc.
and can transmits and receives information to and from the
electronic camera 10 and a communications apparatus such as the
portable telephone 12, etc. in the wireless communications range
14.
[0049] When a user requests to take an image in an art gallery or a
museum in which image-capturing is permitted or restricted on an
accounting condition, the user pays a use rate for image-capturing
to the art gallery or the museum to acquire the permission to take
images. The communications apparatus 16 specifies the electronic
camera 10 of the user who paid the use rate, and transmits the
information about the recording condition such as an
image-capturing condition, sound recording condition, etc. to the
electronic camera 10. The electronic camera 10 which receives the
information about the image-capturing condition is permitted to
take images with the image-capturing function restricted according
to the specified image-capturing condition, and the user can take
images without considering the image-capturing condition.
Furthermore, in an art gallery and a museum where image-capturing
is prohibited, the wireless communications apparatus 16 transmits
the sound recording condition of prohibiting image-capturing using
the electronic camera 10. Therefore, a user cannot take images
using the electronic camera 10 although he or she requests to take
images.
[0050] When voice is recorded in a concert hall in which sound
recording is permitted or restricted on an accounting condition
using the electronic camera 10, the recording condition such as a
sound recording condition, etc. is received from the communications
apparatus 16 as in the above mentioned image-capturing process, and
the sound recording process can be performed on the specified sound
recording condition. The sound recording process performed where
sound recording is prohibited is suppressed on the recording
condition received from the communications apparatus 16.
[0051] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the signal processing system of
the electronic camera according to the present invention.
[0052] In FIG. 2, the electronic camera 10 comprises an image
pickup device 60 which is an image-capturing device configured by a
solid-state image pickup device, etc. for outputting image data by
forming a subject to be image-captured on a photo-receiving surface
and photoelectric conversion; a D/A converting device 61 for
converting analog data output from an image pickup device 60 into
digital data; an information processing device (CPU) 62 for
controlling the entire electronic camera 10, and simultaneously
controlling sampling timing of image data the recording and
transmission, communications, display, image-capturing and sound
recording according to a recording condition, change of a wait
state, etc. of image data; an pixel number setting device 63 for
setting the number of pixels indicating the resolution of an image
to be captured at an instruction of the information processing
device; an image processing device 64 for changing an image size,
amending sharpness, amending gamma, amending contrast, amending
white-balance, etc.; a release button; a communications button;
transmission button; a function switch; a cross key, a
determination switch; a mode switch; etc.
[0053] Furthermore, the electronic camera 10 comprises: an input
device 68 capable of inputting use rate information about an
image-capturing or sound recording process by a user, or
information about a condition of recording an image or voice; and a
recording medium interface 74 for converting data so that a
recording medium 36 which can be freely attached and detached can
record and read image data and voice data. The recording medium 36
can be a semiconductor such as a memory card, an MO, etc., and a
freely attached and detached recording medium for magnetic
recording, optical recording, etc.
[0054] The information processing device 62 is connected to ROM
storing unique information such as a model code, a production
number, etc. of the electronic camera 10, identification
information specifying an operation program, each constant, a user,
etc., RAM which is a storage device as a work area when a program
is executed, and memory 72 configured by frame memory for
temporarily storing image data. Furthermore, the information
processing device 62 has the function of a compression releasing
device for controlling the compression of the information about the
image data, etc. according to the information about the recording
condition received from another communications apparatus, and
controlling the extension and development of the compressed
data.
[0055] A wireless communications device of the electronic camera 10
used when transmitting and receiving information to and from
another communications apparatus is configured by a wireless
communications control device 76 for transmitting or receiving
image data through a carrier at an instruction from the information
processing device 62, and an antenna 32 for transmitting and
receiving the carrier and data.
[0056] The wireless communications device can transmit image data
or voice data recorded in a recording medium, transmit a telephone
number received from another communications apparatus such as a
portable telephone, etc., unique identification information
specifying a user, a password, etc., and transmit use rate
information about an image-capturing or sound recording process
performed by a user, acknowledgment information about a recording
condition, etc. to another communications apparatus.
[0057] The wireless communications device can also receive the
recording condition such as an image-capturing condition of
restricting an image-capturing process or a sound recording
condition of restricting a sound recording process, or receive the
use rate information about an image-capturing or sound recording
process. Furthermore, it can be provided with a communications
device capable of receiving a telephone number from a
communications apparatus such as a portable telephone, etc., the
information such as a password, etc.
[0058] Furthermore, the electronic camera 10 also comprises a D/A
converting device 78 for displaying on a display device 38 the
information about communications situation, the accounting
information about a use rate for an image-capturing process, the
acknowledgment information, the restricting information about an
image-capturing process, the information about a captured image,
etc.; a light emitting device 40 such as a flash, etc. for emitting
light to supplement the necessary amount of light for a subject to
be image-captured; an emission control device 80 for controlling
the emission timing and the amount of light emitted by the light
emitting device 40; an electronic watermark device 82 for putting
an electronic watermark into an image of a recorded and copyrighted
article; an electric source unit 84 for supplying power to each
control device of the electronic camera 10; and a microphone 86 for
recording (or sound recording) collected voice through the
information processing device 62.
[0059] The collected voice information is converted into digital
data by an A/D converting device not shown in the attached
drawings, the voice information can be compressed according to the
recording condition received from the communications apparatus 16,
and the resolution of the voice information can be set according to
the recording condition.
[0060] Described below is the communicating process of the
electronic camera 10 configured as described above. When power is
supplied to the electronic camera 10, the wireless communications
control device 76 receives information from the communications
apparatus 16, and performs a process of establishing
communications. If the communications apparatus 16 is not
recognized, an image-capturing process can be normally performed on
an image-capturing condition without restrictions. If the
communications apparatus 16 is recognized, a pairing process is
performed to establish subsequent communications with the
communications apparatus 16, the information about the recording
condition of restricting the image-capturing process and the sound
recording process is received from the communications apparatus 16,
and the received information is recorded in the memory 72.
[0061] Described below is the image-capturing process by the
electronic camera 10.
[0062] An image to be captured is formed on a photo-receiving
surface of the image pickup device 60. The formed subject is
processed by a photo-electric conversion, processed by a D/A
conversion, and output to the image processing device 64. Thus, the
obtained image data is set to a predetermined number of recording
pixels according to the recording condition by the pixel number
setting device 63, the image processing device 64 performs the
process of reducing the amplitude and noise, and the result is
temporarily stored in the memory 72. The information processing
device 62 transmits the image data stored in the memory 72 to the
D/A converting device 78, and displays it on the display device
38.
[0063] When a release button in the input device 68 is pressed, a
subject image-capturing or voice recording mode is entered. Then,
the information processing device 62 reads information about the
recording condition stored in the memory 72, and sets the
image-capturing condition and the sound recording condition. If
emission of a flash, etc. is permitted in the recording condition,
the light emitting device 40 is instructed to emit light depending
on the brightness of a subject so that an image can be captured,
and the obtained image data is temporarily stored in the memory 72.
The image data stored in the memory 72 is read by the information
processing device 62, a process of compressing the image data is
performed on a predetermined recording condition according to the
recording condition, and the image data and voice data are
sequentially recorded in the recording medium 36 through the
recording medium interface 74. Furthermore, instead of recording
the image data and voice data in the recording medium 36 through
the recording medium interface 74, the image data and voice data
can be output to another communications apparatus through the
wireless communications control device 76.
[0064] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the information processing
system of the communications apparatus 16.
[0065] In FIG. 3, the information processing system of the
communications apparatus 16 comprises: an information processing
device 120 for controlling the entire communications apparatus 16,
a change of a wait state, etc.; memory 122 configured by ROM in
which a program for operating the information processing device
120, various constants, etc. are written, and RAM which is a work
area for use by the information processing device 120 performing a
process; a touch panel having the function of a display device for
displaying the use rate information about an image-capturing
process or a sound recording process or the information about a
recording condition to notify a user of the information, and the
function of an input device for use by a user inputting various
information; and a recording device 128, such as a hard disk, which
records information including large amounts of obtained images, an
image-capturing information, an image-capturing condition of
restricting an image-capturing and sound recording with a recording
apparatus carried by a user.
[0066] The information input system of the communications apparatus
16 is provided with an input controller 132 for receiving
information such as a password of a user of the electronic camera
10, identification information, etc. input through the input device
of the touch panel 102, and transmitting the information to the
information processing device 120. Furthermore, the image signal
processing system of the communications apparatus 16 is provided
with a display controller 134 for sequentially converting the
information to be displayed on the display device of the touch
panel 102 into a video signal of a predetermined frame rate, and
transmitting the signal to the display device of the touch panel
102.
[0067] The wireless communications device of the communications
apparatus 16 used when information is transmitted or received
through communications to and from another communications apparatus
is configured by a wireless interface 136 capable of transmitting
information such as a recording condition, etc. recorded in the
recording device 128 to a recording apparatus at an instruction
from the information processing device 120, and receiving various
information from a communications apparatus such as the electronic
camera 10, etc.; and an antenna 92 for transmitting and receiving a
carrier and data.
[0068] The wireless communications device can receive image data or
voice data transmitted from, for example, the electronic camera 10,
receive a telephone number transmitted from another communications
apparatus such as a portable telephone, etc., information such as a
password unique to a user, etc., and receive use rate information
about an image-capturing or sound recording process performed by a
user, acknowledgment information about a recording condition,
etc.
[0069] The wireless communications device can transmit a recording
condition, for example, an image-capturing condition of restricting
an image-capturing process or a sound recording condition of
restricting a sound recording process, etc. recorded in the
recording device 128, and transmit use rate information, etc. about
the image-capturing or sound recording process.
[0070] Furthermore, the communications apparatus 16 comprises: a
coin machine 94 (rate reception device), provided with a slot for a
coin, for controlling the process of received coins and changes; a
coin machine control device 138 for transmitting the information
about a received amount to the information processing device 120,
receiving change information from the information processing device
120, and transmitting it to the coin machine 94; and a
communications line interface 142 for establishing communications
through a wire communications line 140 capable of receiving from
another communications apparatus the accounting information about
an image-capturing or sound recording process of a user.
[0071] Each of the peripheral circuits containing the information
processing device 120, the memory 122, the input controller 132,
the display controller 134, the recording device 128, the wireless
interface 136, the coin machine control device 138, and the
communications line interface 142 in the communications apparatus
16 is connected through a bus 124, and the information processing
device 120 can control each of the peripheral circuits.
[0072] The communications device for use when the electronic camera
10 and the communications apparatus 16 establish wireless
communications with each other uses an electric wave, an ultrasonic
wave, infrared light, etc. as a carrier. When infrared is used for
a communications device, the operability can be improved by a
communications device capable of establishing communications in a
wide range using diffused light.
[0073] In the wireless communications in an art gallery, a museum,
a concert hall, etc., a comparatively low electric wave for a
communications distance of 10 mm to 100 m is preferably used to
restrict the wireless communications range 14. The communications
apparatus 16 is provided in a place where it is necessary to
restrict image-capturing such as an art gallery, a museum, a
concert hall, etc., and is always searching for a communications
apparatus to be connected to. The location of the communications
apparatus 16 is around the center of the area where communications
are controlled. If an area in which image-capturing by an
electronic camera is to be restricted is large or includes a
plurality of rooms, then a plurality of communications apparatus 16
are to be installed.
[0074] FIG. 4 is a table showing the flow of the communicating
process performed by an electronic camera and a communications
apparatus.
[0075] As shown in FIG. 4, the communications apparatus 16 starts
wireless communications and search for a connected-to apparatus in
the first step 1 `transmission by wireless, search for connected-to
apparatus`. In this step, for example, the communications apparatus
16 functions as a master communications apparatus using an electric
wave in transmitting and receiving information, and performs a
process of waiting for a slave communications apparatus (a
recording apparatus such as the electronic camera 10, a portable
telephone 12, etc.) synchronizing with the frequency hopping
pattern and the time slot.
[0076] In the next step 2 `supplying power, image-capturing and
communications mode`, a user enters the wireless communications
range 14 with his or her electronic camera 10, and the process mode
of the electronic camera 10 is set in an image-capturing mode. When
the electronic camera 10 is set in the image-capturing mode, the
electronic camera 10 returns a reply in synchronization with a
synchronous signal issued by the communications apparatus 16.
[0077] In the next step 3 `detecting electronic camera,
establishing wireless connection`, the communications apparatus 16
detects the electronic camera 10 according to the reply from the
electronic camera 10, establishes wireless communications, and
enables information to be transmitted and received.
[0078] In the next step 4 `reading model code of electronic
camera`, the communications apparatus 16 reads information such as
the model code, the unique number, etc. of the electronic camera
10, records the information in the recording device 128 of the
communications apparatus 16, and enters the next step 5 `reading
user specific information when portable telephone is available,
transmitting accounting information`.
[0079] In steps 5 to 7 described later, an accounting process of
paying the rate for image-capturing is performed. In step 5, for
example, the user information such as the identification
information specifying a user, a credit number, the phone number of
a portable telephone, a password, etc., and the information about
the payment of a use rate are received from the electronic camera
10 or the portable telephone 12 the user carries. Then, use rate
information about image-capturing in the art gallery, the museum,
etc. is transmitted. Instead of the communications apparatus 16
receiving the user information directly from the portable telephone
12, the electronic camera 10 and the portable telephone 12 can set
in advance an authentication code to establish a local wireless
communications so that the user information can be received from
the electronic camera 10 and the portable telephone 12, and
transmitted to the communications apparatus 16.
[0080] As a method of paying the use rate for image-capturing, the
use rate for image-capturing and the information about the payment
method can be displayed on the touch panel 102 of the
communications apparatus 16 to show the user the use rate. As a
method of receiving the use rate, the use rate can be put into the
coin machine 94, or a prepaid card, etc. can be put into the coin
machine 94 to pay the use rate.
[0081] In the next step 6 `selecting and acknowledging accounting`,
according to the accounting information received from the
communications apparatus 16, the display device 38 of the
electronic camera 10 displays the notification that the
image-capturing is charged for, the accounting information which is
the condition of taking images, and the recording condition
(restricting information about image-capturing, etc.) such as
restricted items about image-capturing, etc. According to the
displayed recording condition, the user inputs a selected desired
image-capturing condition or acknowledgment information about the
accounting condition.
[0082] When the user does not accept (or rejects) the accounting
condition about the image-capturing, the communications apparatus
16 reads the setting information for prohibiting the
image-capturing or the recording condition of prohibiting the
image-capturing for the number of pixels equal to or larger than a
predetermined value from the recording device 128, and transmits
the information or the condition to the electronic camera 10. The
recording condition in accordance with the use rate, etc. which the
user has accepted can be read from the recording device 128 and
transmitted to the recording apparatus.
[0083] Furthermore, if the user accepts the accounting condition of
the image-capturing, the electronic camera 10 transmits the
acknowledgment information about the accounting to the
communications apparatus 16. The contents of restricting the
image-capturing can be the prohibition of image-capturing and
recording, the prohibition of image-capturing using a flash, the
prohibition of recording at or higher than a predetermined
resolution or number of pixels, the prohibition or restriction
against image-capturing by a specified model (a processional
camera, a single lens reflex camera, etc.) of the electronic camera
10, the permission to take images with predetermined information
(an electronic watermark, etc.) claiming a copyright inserted into
image data, the settings of a compressing condition of a captured
image, the settings of a condition of the resolution of captured
image information, the restrictions on the sound issued by a
recording apparatus after the image-capturing process, etc.
[0084] The prohibition of recording at or higher than the
predetermined resolution or pixels refers to regulating an
image-capturing condition of, for example, no settings for
recording one million or more pixels on the camera side for a
copyrighted image, automatic settings for the resolution of less
than a million pixels (VGA, etc.).
[0085] The method of inserting predetermined information claiming a
copyright into image data is to permit image-capturing with an
electronic watermark, etc. by inserting a predetermined code
claiming the copyright into image data to be recorded. An
electronic watermark can be inserted into image data by randomizing
the electronic watermark, or after a converting process (after the
discrete cosine transform, or the Wavelet transform prescribed in
JPEG2000) when an image is compressed, etc. The electronic
watermark can be inserted on all image-capturing conditions or
cases.
[0086] When a recording apparatus such as an electronic camera,
etc. has the function of recording voice, the recording function
can be prohibited or restricted. For example, the sound recording
in a specific concert hall or conference can be prohibited or
restricted. The restriction of the sound recording process may be
the restriction of recording system relating to the quality of the
recorded sound (the compressing system and condition on the voice
information to be recorded, the condition of the resolution such as
the number of bits of the voice information to be recorded,
etc.).
[0087] After receiving the accounting information from the
electronic camera 10, the communications apparatus 16 transmits the
confirmation information about the accounting information and the
information such as a recording condition, etc. to the electronic
camera 10 in the next step 7 `confirming accounting, transmitting
image-capturing restricting information`. In the next step 8
`receiving and setting image-capturing restricting information`,
the electronic camera 10 which receives the confirmation
information about accounting, various information such as a
recording condition, etc. temporarily stores various received
information in the memory 72, displays it on the display device 38
to notify the user of the information. Then, the information
processing device 62 of the electronic camera 10 sets the
image-capturing or voice recording mode according to the received
information about a recording condition.
[0088] In the next step 9 `image-capturing`, an image-capturing or
voice recording process is performed according to a user
instruction to capture an image or record data and according to the
set recording condition. The recorded image is recorded in the
recording medium 36, and the information about the recording
condition such as the number, the resolution, the size, the
compression rate when the image is recorded, etc. of the images
captured in step 10 `transmitting image number information` is
transmitted from the electronic camera 10 to the communications
apparatus 16.
[0089] In the next step 11 `accounting`, after receiving the
information about the image-capturing and recording processes from
the electronic camera 10, the communications apparatus 16 charges a
user a use rate according to the received information about the
image-capturing and recording processes.
[0090] When a series of image-capturing processes is completed, the
electronic camera 10 and the communications apparatus 16 complete
the communications process in the next step 12 `completing
connection`.
[0091] FIG. 5 shows the communications system configured by the
electronic camera and the communications apparatus according to the
present invention.
[0092] In FIG. 5, the communications system is configured by an
electronic camera 1010 (an embodiment of a communications
apparatus) provided with an image pickup device, a wireless
communications device, etc.; a portable telephone 1040 which is a
communications apparatus provided with a wireless communications
device, a recording device, etc.; and a server 1090 which is a
communications apparatus provided with a recording device for
recording information, a wireless communications device, etc. The
electronic camera 1010 can transmit and receive information to and
from the portable telephone 1040 through the communications device
for local wireless communications. The portable telephone 1040 can
transmit and receive information to and from the server 1090
through the communications device such as a public line, etc.
[0093] For example, a user carries his or her own portable
telephone 1040, and take images using the electronic camera 1010.
At this time, the electronic camera 1010 automatically starts
communications with the portable telephone 1040, automatically
obtains from the portable telephone 1040 the first identification
information unique to the user of the portable telephone 1040, and
records the identification information with the captured
images.
[0094] When an image is reproduced, the electronic camera 1010
automatically starts communications with the portable telephone
1040, automatically obtains from the portable telephone 1040 the
second identification information unique to the user of the
portable telephone 1040, and compares the obtained information with
the first identification information recorded together with the
captured images. As a comparison result, if the first
identification information recorded with the images is the same as
the newly received second identification information, and it is
determined that the operator is the same as the person who
reproduces the images, then a state in which a high resolution
image can be reproduced can be set.
[0095] As a comparison result, if the first identification
information is not the same as the second identification
information, then it is determined that the operator is not a
person who reproduces the images, and reproducing images is
prohibited, or reproducing is permitted only at a low resolution
level as necessary.
[0096] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the signal processing system of
an electronic camera.
[0097] In FIG. 6, the electronic camera 1010 is provided with: an
image pickup device (including a part of the functions of an
image-capturing device) 1110 for outputting image data by forming
an image of a subject on a photo-receiving surface and performing a
photoelectric conversion on the image; an information processing
device 1116 for controlling the entire electronic camera 1010, the
sampling timing of image data, recording image data, recognizing
graphics of image data, reading model information about the
electronic camera 1010, communications, display, matching check of
identification information, etc.; and an input device 1118 provided
with a release button, a communications button, a transmission
button, a function switch, a cross key, a confirmation switch, a
mode switch, etc.
[0098] The electronic camera 1010 is also provided with an image
processing device 1120 for changing the size of an image, amending
sharpness, amending gamma, amending contrast, amending white
balance, etc., frame memory 1121 temporarily storing image data,
and memory 1123 comprising PROM storing the unique number of the
electronic camera 1010 such as a model name, a production number,
etc., identification information, an operation program, the
identification information and password identifying the owner of
the electronic camera 1010, various constants, etc. and RAM which
is a storage device as a work area when the program is
executed.
[0099] The electronic camera 1010 is also provided with a
compression releasing device 1124 for controlling the compression
of information such as image data, etc. in the method represented
by the JPEG and the motion JPEG, and controlling the extension and
development of the compressed data, and a recording medium
interface 1127 (recording device) for converting data so that image
data can be recorded in or read from an attachable and detachable
recording medium 1126. The recording medium 1126 is an attachable
and detachable recording medium represented by a semiconductor,
magnetic recording, and optical recording media such as a memory
card, MO, etc.
[0100] The wireless communications device of the electronic camera
1010 used when information such as image data, etc. is transmitted
and received to and from another communications apparatus such as
the portable telephone 1040, etc. through communications is
configured by an antenna 1128 for transmitting and receiving a
carrier and data, and a communications device 1129 for transmitting
or receiving image data through a carrier at an instruction of the
information processing device 1116.
[0101] The electronic camera 1010 is also provided with a D/A
converting device 1133 for displaying the information about the
communications connection device and image data on a display device
1132, and a character generator 1134 for converting the
identification information specified by the information processing
device 1116 into the data of displayed characters and messages.
[0102] Described below is the image-capturing process by the
electronic camera 1010 with the above mentioned configuration.
[0103] When power is applied to the electronic camera 1010 and the
image-capturing mode is entered, the information processing device
1116 of the electronic camera 1010 first enters an `unauthenticated
mode` which is an image-capturing mode of restricting the function
of image-capturing an image. Then, the information processing
device 1116 instructs the communications device 1129 to start local
wireless communications. After starting the wireless
communications, it searches for a communications apparatus which
can be provided with an `authentication code` indicating an
image-capturing condition. If, near the electronic camera 1010,
there is the portable telephone 1040, etc. which is owned by the
user of the electronic camera 1010 and can be provided with the
image-capturing condition, then wireless communications are
established according to the reply from the portable telephone
1040, and the pairing process for continuing the subsequent
communications is started. Then, it transmits to a communications
apparatus such as the portable telephone 1040, etc. identification
information (containing the identification information specifying
the user of the electronic camera 1010) unique to the electronic
camera 1010 such as an ID number, a production number, a serial
number, etc. stored by the memory 1123, etc. (recording unit) which
is a recording device of the electronic camera 1010 through the
communications device 1129 which is a transmission device.
[0104] In the next step, the electronic camera 1010 requests the
portable telephone 1040 to transmit an `authentication code` (an
embodiment of an image-capturing condition of restricting the
image-capturing function which can be identification information
specifying a user or an owner, and can be identification
information associated with the image-capturing condition). The
information processing device 1116 (having a part of the functions
of the image-capturing device, and also having the function as a
matching device) of the electronic camera 1010 checks whether or
not the `authentication code` received by the communications device
1129 by wireless from the portable telephone 1040 matches the
identification information recorded in the memory which is the
recording device of the electronic camera 1010. If the
`authentication code` matches the identification information as a
result of the matching check, then the information processing
device 1116 sets the image-capturing mode as an `authenticated
mode` in which the image-capturing function is not restricted so
that the subsequent image-capturing process is performed in each
image-capturing mode.
[0105] On the other hand, an image captured by the electronic
camera 1010 is formed on the photo-receiving surface of the image
pickup device 1110, and the formed image of the subject is
photoelectrically converted and output to the image processing
device 1120. Thus, the obtained image data is processed by the
image processing device 1120 for amplification and noise reduction,
and temporarily stored in the frame memory 1121. The information
processing device 1116 sequentially transmits the image data stored
in the frame memory 1121 to the D/A converting device 1133, and
displays it on the display device 1132.
[0106] When the release button provided in the input device 1118 is
pressed, a mode of image-capturing a subject is entered. Then, the
information processing device 1116 transfers the image data stored
in the frame memory 1121 to the compression releasing device 1124,
and outputs an instruction to perform the process of compressing
the image data on a predetermined image-capturing condition. Then,
the information processing device 1116 performs the process of
instructing the recording medium interface 1127 to record the image
data in the recording medium 1126. At this time, an authentication
code storage unit of an image file also records the identification
information unique to the electronic camera 1010 or the
identification information (telephone number of a portable
telephone, information about a serial key, etc.) about the portable
telephone 1040 specifying the operator.
[0107] The authentication code storage unit recording the
`authentication code` can be the header portion of the image file,
or can be embedded as a pattern of a `watermark` into an image
itself. The image-capturing condition in the `unauthenticated mode`
can permit only an image coarser than the VGA size to be recorded,
can prohibit image-capturing an image with the number of pixels
larger than a predetermined value, or can permit image data
containing less image information having a compression rate higher
than a predetermined rate to be recorded. Furthermore, the
image-capturing condition in the `authentication mode` can permit
image-capturing an image at the maximum resolution, or can permit
recording image data containing a larger volume of information at a
low compression rate.
[0108] The image-capturing condition in the `unauthenticated mode`
can be an image-capturing condition of completely prohibiting an
image-capturing process, a condition of setting a time at which
image-capturing is restricted, an image-capturing condition of
prohibiting a flash, an image-capturing condition of prohibiting
image-capturing in a specific type of recording apparatus (an
electronic camera, etc.), an image-capturing condition of inserting
predetermined information such as a `watermark`, etc. with which a
copyright is claimed for the captured image, a condition on the
resolution of image information about a captured image, an
image-capturing condition of restricting a calling tone issued by a
recording apparatus after image-capturing an image, etc.
[0109] When a captured image is transferred to another
communications apparatus, communications are established with
another communications apparatus which is a destination of an
image, and a transmission button provided in the input device 1118
is pressed. Then, the information processing device 1116
sequentially reads specified image data from the recording medium
1126, converts the data into a predetermined data format applicable
to a predetermined image-capturing condition, and transmits the
result to another communications apparatus through the
communications device 1129 and the antenna 1128.
[0110] Described below is the reproducing process performed by the
electronic camera 1010 with the above mentioned configuration.
[0111] When the process mode of the electronic camera 1010 is set
as a `reproducing mode`, the information processing device 1116 of
the electronic camera 1010 is first set as the `unauthenticated
mode` which is a reproducing mode of restricting the function of
reproducing an image. Then, the information processing device 1116
instructs the communications device 1129 to start local wireless
communications. Then, it starts the wireless communications, and
searches for a communications apparatus which can be provided with
an `authentication code` corresponding to the reproducing
condition. If, near the electronic camera 1010, there is the
portable telephone 1040, etc. which is owned by the user of the
electronic camera 1010 and can be provided with the image-capturing
condition, then wireless communications are established according
to the reply from the portable telephone 1040, and the pairing
process for continuing the subsequent communications is started.
Then, it transmits to a communications apparatus such as the
portable telephone 1040, etc. identification information unique to
the electronic camera 1010 such as an ID number, a production
number, a serial number, etc. stored by the memory 1123, etc. which
is a recording device of the electronic camera 1010.
[0112] In the next step, the electronic camera 1010 requests the
portable telephone 1040 to transmit an `authentication code` (an
embodiment of a reproducing condition of restricting an image
reproducing function which can be identification information
specifying a user or an owner who is performing a reproducing
process, and can be identification information associated with the
image-capturing condition). It is checked whether or not the
`authentication code` the electronic camera 1010 receives from the
portable telephone 1040 matches the identification information
similar in format to the `authentication code` recorded in the
memory 1123 of the electronic camera 1010 or the image file for
which reproducing is specified. If the `authentication code`
matches the identification information as a result of the matching
check, then the information processing device 1116 sets the
reproducing mode as an `authenticated mode` in which the
reproducing function is not restricted so that the subsequent
reproducing process is performed in each reproducing mode. If the
`authentication code` which is a reproducing condition of
restricting the reproducing function is not recorded in the image
file, then it is determined that the image data is not restricted
in a reproducing process, the `authenticated mode` is set, and the
main recorded image is reproduced and displayed as is.
[0113] In the image reproducing mode, the display device 1132 of
the electronic camera 1010 displays a list of image files recorded
in the recording medium 1126. The displayed list of image files can
be displayed by characters, or a reduced image display with the
main image reduced (referred to as a thumbnail image) so that a
user can easily understand the display.
[0114] A user operates the input device 1118 while referring to the
list of image files displayed on the display device 1132 to select
an image to be reproduced. The file information about the image
selected by the user is transmitted to the information processing
device 1116, and the information processing device 1116 reads the
image file selected by the user from the recording medium 1126. The
read image data is converted into image data for display by the
compression releasing device 1124, and transmitted to the
information processing device 1116. If an `authentication code` is
embedded in the image data, the compression releasing device 1124
reads the `authentication code`.
[0115] The information processing device 1116 converts image data
depending on whether the current reproducing mode of the electronic
camera 1010 is the `unauthenticated mode` of restricting the
process of reproducing an image, or the `authenticated mode` of not
restricting the process of reproducing an image, and the converted
data is stored in the frame memory 1121.
[0116] The image data stored in the frame memory 1121 is
sequentially transmitted to the D/A converting device 1133, and
displayed on the display device 1132.
[0117] The reproducing condition in the `unauthenticated mode` can
be a condition of reproducing an image equal to or coarser than,
for example, the VGA size, a condition of displaying only a reduced
image, or a condition of reproducing only an image captured in an
unauthenticated mode. In addition, a reproducing condition in the
`unauthenticated mode` can be a reproducing condition of
prohibiting all reproducing processes, a reproducing condition of
prohibiting a process of reproducing an image of equal to or larger
than a predetermined number of pixels, a reproducing condition of
inserting predetermined information such as a `watermark`, etc.
Claiming a copyright on an image, a condition of compression when
an image is output, or a condition about the resolution of an image
to be reproduced.
[0118] Furthermore, the reproducing condition in the `authenticated
mode` can be a condition of setting a reproducing time, a
reproducing condition of reproduction at the maximum resolution, a
condition of permitting an image for which the `authentication
code` is not recorded to be reproduced, or a condition of
permitting only a reduced image to be displayed when the
`authentication code` recorded in an image file is different from
the `authentication code` received from the portable telephone 1040
when an image is reproduced.
[0119] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the signal processing unit of a
portable telephone.
[0120] In FIG. 7, the information transmission and reception unit
of the portable telephone 1040 is configured by a communications
device 1141 for a public line for wireless communications with a
public line, a transmission and reception device 1143 for wireless
communications, a transmission and reception buffer 1144 for
temporarily storing information to be transmitted and received in
real time when a public line and local communications are
established, a communications device 1145 for establishing wireless
communications with a communications apparatus located close to the
portable telephone 1040, an antenna 1146, and a transmission and
reception device 1147.
[0121] The portable telephone 1040 is provided with a display
device 1150 for displaying information such as a communications
situation, the intensity of an electric wave, available capacity of
a battery, a telephone number, an image, etc., and an input device
1152 for inputting information when a telephone number or an image
is selected, information to be transmitted or received is selected,
etc.
[0122] Furthermore, the portable telephone 1040 is provided with an
information processing device (CPU) 1160 for controlling the entire
portable telephone 1040, PROM 1161 storing a program for operating
the information processing device 1160, various constants, a
telephone number, identification information unique to an owner, a
communications address, etc., RAM 1162 of a storage device which is
a work area when the information processing device 1160 performs a
process, a D/A converting device 1167 for converting digital voice
data into analog voice data to drive a speaker 1166, and an A/D
converting device 1169 for converting voice data input from a
microphone 1168 into digital data.
[0123] Each of the peripheral circuits in the portable telephone
1040 containing the information processing device 1160, the
transmission and reception device 1143, the transmission and
reception device 1147, the display device 1150, the input device
1152, the PROM 1161, and the RAM 1162 is connected through the
communications device such as a bus line, an I/O, etc., and the
information processing device 1160 can control each of the
peripheral circuits.
[0124] The communications device 1145 for the peripheral devices
transmits and receives information to and from another
communications apparatus through a communications device using an
electric wave, an ultrasonic wave, infrared light, etc. When an
electric wave is used, the communications specification of
`Bluetooth` which has recently attracted much attention can be
adopted. When infrared light is used, the specification of IrDA can
be effective.
[0125] Described below is a series of processes in which an
`authentication code` indicating the image-capturing condition or
the reproducing condition is transmitted to the electronic camera
1010.
[0126] Upon establishment of the wireless communications with the
electronic camera 1010, the communications device 1145 of the
portable telephone 1040 for local communications notifies that it
is a communications apparatus to which the `authentication code`
indicating an image-capturing condition or a reproducing condition
can be transmitted. Then, the device starts the pairing process for
continuing the subsequent communications with each other.
[0127] The communications device 1145 of the portable telephone
1040 receives from the electronic camera 1010 the identification
information specifying the electronic camera 1010 such as a unique
ID, a production number, a serial number, etc., or the
identification information specifying the owner of the electronic
camera 1010. The information processing device 1160 of the portable
telephone 1040 reads the telephone number of the portable telephone
1040, the identification information unique to the owner of the
portable telephone 1040, etc., and transmits them together with the
identification information received from the electronic camera 1010
to a communications apparatus such as a specific server 1090, etc.
through the communications device 1141 for a public line. In
addition, a request to issue an `authentication code` can be
transmitted to the server 1090 as necessary.
[0128] Furthermore, instead of the portable telephone 1040
receiving and obtaining the identification information unique to
the apparatus from the electronic camera 1010, a user can input
identification information about the electronic camera 1010 or a
code for authentication into the portable telephone 1040, and
records it in the recording device such as the PROM 1161 of the
portable telephone 1040. In this case, the information processing
device 1160 of the portable telephone 1040 reads the identification
information unique to the portable telephone 1040 and the
identification information unique to the electronic camera 1010
from the PROM 1161, and transmits them to a communications
apparatus such as the specific server 1090, etc. through the
communications device 1141 for a public line.
[0129] The server 1090 issues a `authentication code` which is the
image-capturing condition or the reproducing condition of the
electronic camera 1010 to the portable telephone 1040 according to
the identification information about the electronic camera 1010 and
the portable telephone 1040 transmitted by the portable telephone
1040. The `authentication code` can be information associating the
reproducing condition or the image-capturing condition of the
electronic camera 1010 with the identification information issued
by the portable telephone 1040 to specify the user of the
electronic camera 1010. Furthermore, the identification information
issued by the portable telephone 1040 can be the telephone number,
etc. of the portable telephone 1040. The information processing
device 1160 of the portable telephone 1040 which has received the
`authentication code` through the communications device 1141
records the received `authentication code` in the recording device
of the PROM 1161, etc., and transmits it to the electronic camera
1010 through the local communications device 1145.
[0130] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the signal processing unit of
the server.
[0131] In FIG. 8, the server 1090 is provided with a display device
1192 for displaying the information about the operation situation,
communications situation, images, etc. of the server 1090, a
display controller 1193 for sequentially outputting the information
displayed on the display device 1192, and an input device 1194
through which a user inputs information when he or she selects an
image, information to be transmitted or received, etc.
[0132] The information transmission and reception unit of the
server 1090 is provided with a communications device 1197 for
establishing communications with a communications network 1196 such
as a public line, etc., an antenna 1198 for wireless communications
with another communications apparatus, and a communications device
1199 for use in performing wireless communications.
[0133] The server 1090 is also provided with an information
processing device (CPU) 1200 for controlling the entire server
1090, memory 1204 configured by ROM storing a program for operating
the information processing device 1200, various constants, a
telephone number, identification information unique to an owner, a
communications address, etc. and RAM of a storage device which is a
work area when the information processing device 1200 performs a
process, frame memory 1206 for temporarily storing an image
displayed on the display device 1192, and a recording device 1208
for recording the identification information, etc. specifying the
reproducing condition or the recording condition and a user of each
electronic camera.
[0134] The peripheral circuits in the server 1090 containing the
information processing device 1200, the display controller 1193,
the input device 1194, the communications device 1197, the
communications device 1199, the memory 1204, and the frame memory
1206 are connected through a bus line 1210 and the communications
device such as an I/O, etc., and the information processing device
1200 can control each peripheral circuit.
[0135] The recording device 1208 can record the reproducing
condition of restricting the reproducing function of a plurality of
cameras associated with the identification information specifying a
user of each electronic camera or the identification information
specifying each electronic camera 1010, and can record the
image-capturing condition of restricting the image-capturing
function of a plurality of cameras associated with the
identification information specifying a user of each electronic
camera or the identification information specifying each electronic
camera.
[0136] Furthermore, the communications device 1197 or 1199 of the
server 1090 can receive unique identification information
specifying each electronic camera, identification information
specifying the user of the electronic camera 1010, the telephone
number of the portable telephone 1040 or unique identification
information specifying the owner of the portable telephone 1040,
etc. Furthermore, the communications device 1197 or 1199 of the
server 1090 can transmit to the portable telephone 1040, etc. the
reproducing condition and the image-capturing condition of the
electronic camera recorded in the recording device 1208 as
associated with the identification information specifying the user
of each electronic camera or each electronic camera by selecting
the conditions according to the received identification
information.
[0137] FIG. 9 is a table of the identification information unique
to the user of the electronic camera 1010 issued by the electronic
camera 1010 or the portable telephone 1040.
[0138] As shown in FIG. 9, the telephone number (described as the
portable telephone number in FIG. 9) of each portable telephone is
issued to each user of a plurality of electronic cameras 1010.
[0139] FIG. 10 is a table of `basic authentication codes` recorded
in the recording device 1208 of the server 1090.
[0140] As shown in FIG. 10, each of the electronic cameras A to E
records the identification information unique to each camera
associated with the `basic authentication code`.
[0141] FIG. 11 is a table of the information, recorded by the
recording device of the server 1090, as to whether or not each
electronic camera is available.
[0142] As shown in FIG. 11, a user is associated with an electronic
camera available to the user. The mark `O` shows that the
electronic camera 1010 is available in the `authenticated mode`,
and the mark `X` shows that it is only available in the
`unauthenticated mode`.
[0143] Described below is the case in which `user a` captures or
reproduces an image using a `camera A` when the information shown
in the tables in FIGS. 9 to 11 is recorded in the server 1090.
[0144] First, the portable telephone 1040a owned by the `user a`
obtains the serial number `12345678` unique to the apparatus from
the `camera A`. The `camera A` stores the identification
information `AAAA` unique to the apparatus for authentication in
addition to the serial number. The portable telephone 1040a
transmits to the server 1090 the telephone number `09011112222` of
the portable telephone which is the identification information
about the portable telephone 1040a specifying the `user a` together
with the received serial number unique to the camera, and requests
the server 1090 to issue an `authentication code`.
[0145] When the server 1090 receives the portable telephone number
and the serial number unique to the electronic camera 1010, it
refers to the table shown in FIG. 11, and obtains the information
that the `user a` can use the `camera A` in the `authenticated
mode`. The information processing device 1200 of the server 1090
transmits to the portable telephone 1040a through the
communications device 1197 or 1199 the information
`AAAA09011112222` obtained by combining the `basic authentication
code` recorded in the recording device with the portable telephone
number specifying the `user a` as an `authentication code`.
[0146] The portable telephone 1040a receives the `authentication
code` through the communications device of a public line, etc., and
transmits the `authentication code` through the wireless local
communications device to the `camera A`. Upon receipt of the
`authentication code`, the `camera A` compares the identification
information unique to the apparatus stored in the recording device
of the `camera A` with the identification information `AAAA` unique
to the apparatus contained in the higher order of the received
`authentication code`. The information `09011112222` contained in
the lower order of the `authentication code` can also be used to
authenticate the user.
[0147] If it is determined that the identification information
recorded by the `camera A` matches the identification information
contained in the `authentication code` received from the portable
telephone 1040a as a comparison result, then the image-capturing or
reproducing mode of the `camera A` is set as the `authenticated
mode`, and the subsequent processes are performed. If it is
determined that the identification information recorded by the
`camera A` does not match the identification information contained
in the `authentication code` received from the portable telephone
1040a as a comparison result, then the image-capturing or
reproducing mode of the `camera A` is set as the `unauthenticated
mode`, and the subsequent processes are performed.
[0148] When the `camera A` captures an image, the authentication
code storage unit of an image file records the identification
information unique to the `camera A` and the identification
information specifying the operator. Thus, when the recorded image
is reproduced, the reproduction mode is set according to the
`authentication code` (information about the reproducing condition)
recorded in the image file.
[0149] Described below is the case in which `user b` captures or
reproduces an image using a `camera C` when the information shown
in the tables in FIGS. 9 to 11 is recorded in the server 1090.
[0150] First, the portable telephone 1040b owned by the `user b`
obtains the serial number `12341234` unique to the apparatus from
the `camera C`. The `camera C` stores the identification
information `CCCC` unique to the apparatus for authentication in
addition to the serial number. The portable telephone 1040b
transmits to the server 1090 the telephone number `09011113333` of
the portable telephone which is the identification information
about the portable telephone 1040b specifying the `user b` together
with the received serial number unique to the camera, and requests
the server 1090 to issue an `authentication code`.
[0151] When the server 1090 receives the portable telephone number
and the serial number unique to the electronic camera 1010, it
refers to the table shown in FIG. 11, and obtains the information
that the `user b` cannot use the `camera C` in the `authenticated
mode`. The information processing device 1200 of the server 1090
transmits to the portable telephone 1040b through the
communications device 1197 or 1199 the unavailability notification
about the `camera C`.
[0152] The portable telephone 1040b receives the unavailability
notification through the communications device of a public line,
etc., and transmits the unavailability notification through the
wireless local communications device to the `camera C`. Upon
receipt of the unavailability notification, the `camera C` sets the
image-capturing or reproducing mode of the `camera C` as the
`unauthenticated mode`, and the subsequent processes are
performed.
[0153] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the pairing process of specifying
a connected-to apparatus by the electronic camera 1010 and the
portable telephone 1040.
[0154] When the portable telephone 1040 enters a communications
state, the process program performed by the information processing
device of each communications apparatus branches to `Start` in step
S200 (hereinafter referred to as S200 for short) shown in FIG. 12.
The power source of the electronic camera 1010 is applied in S102
`Applying power source`, and control is passed to the next S104
`Selecting pairing in a setup mode` to establish communications
with another specific communications apparatus.
[0155] In the next S106 `Inputting password for electronic camera
manager`, for example, the password identifying the owner of the
electronic camera 1010 is input by operating the input device 1118.
In the determination in the next S108 `Password?`, the information
processing device 1116 of the electronic camera 1010 compares the
password input by the user with the password recorded in advance in
the recording device such as the memory 1123, etc. The password
specifying the owner of the electronic camera 1010 recorded in the
memory 1123, etc. is recorded in the nonvolatile memory when the
electronic camera 1010 is produced. The password can be assigned
such that the owner of the electronic camera 1010 can be
appropriately changed.
[0156] If the two passwords do not match each other as a result of
the comparison in S108, the process by the information processing
device 1116 is passed to S110 `Failing in authenticating process`,
and the subsequent image-capturing or reproducing process is
restricted. Then, control is passed to S120 `End`, thereby
terminating the password comparing process.
[0157] If the two passwords match each other as a result of the
comparison, the process by the information processing device 1116
is passed to S112 `Searching for portable telephone`. In S112, the
wireless communications are started, and a process of searching for
a communications apparatus (the portable telephone 1040, etc.)
which can be provided with the image-capturing condition or the
reproducing condition of the electronic camera 1010 of the portable
telephone 1040, etc. in a wireless communications range.
[0158] The portable telephone 1040 is also set in the set-up mode,
control is passed to S202 `Selecting pairing in set-up mode`, a
state in which communications can be established with another
specific communications apparatus (corresponding to the electronic
camera 1010) is entered, and the other party is searched for. When
the wireless communications are synchronized between the
communications apparatuses of the portable telephone 1040 and the
electronic camera 1010, the process of connecting communications is
completed. At this time, the display device 1132 of the electronic
camera 1010 displays a list of the names, etc. of one or more
communications apparatuses whose communications connecting
processes have been completed, and the user can select a
communications apparatus for subsequently performing the
communications.
[0159] In the next S114 `Selecting portable telephone`, for
example, the portable telephone 1040 is selected as the other party
in communications. When the other party in the communications is
determined, control is passed to the next S116 `Generating Pin
code, and transmitting it to portable telephone` and the
information processing device 1116 of the electronic camera 1010
issues the `Pin` code (personal identification number) and displays
it. The user reads the Pin code, and inputs the Pin code through
the input device 1152 of the portable telephone 1040 in S204
`Inputting received Pin code by user`.
[0160] The portable telephone 1040 compares the input Pin code with
the Pin code received from the electronic camera 1010. When they
match each other, control is passed to S206 `Communicating with
electronic camera, and generating and storing link key`, the link
key for mutual authentication is generated, and the key is recorded
in the recording device such as the PROM 1161, etc. Then, control
is passed to the next S120, thereby terminating the authenticating
process.
[0161] The process program of the electronic camera 1010 is passed
to S118 `Communicating with portable telephone, and generating and
storing link key`, the link key for mutual authentication is
generated, and recorded in the recording device such as the memory
1123, etc. Then, control is passed to the next S120, thereby
terminating the authenticating process.
[0162] Normally, in the wireless communications, communications are
established among a plurality of communications apparatuses, the
pairing process is performed between the communications apparatuses
so that communications can be established through automatic
authentication from the next communications. When the pairing
process is performed, the `link key` required in each
communications apparatus, and the identification information such
as an ID, etc. unique to the communications apparatus of the other
party are stored for use in the subsequent connecting processes,
thereby realizing an automatic authenticating process.
[0163] Furthermore, the pairing operation is performed between the
electronic camera 1010 and the portable telephone 1040 in advance,
and the function is restricted when the electronic camera 1010 is
used according to whether or not communications can be performed
through automatic authentication between the electronic camera 1010
and the portable telephone 1040 so that the `link key` used for
connection can also be used as an authentication code.
[0164] If the portable telephone 1040 paired with the electronic
camera 1010 is not at hand of the operator, communications are not
realized by automatic authentication, but are used in the
`unauthenticated mode`.
[0165] FIG. 13 is a flowchart used when a user authenticating
process is performed by starting the communications between the
electronic camera 1010 and the portable telephone 1040.
[0166] When the portable telephone 1040 enters the communications
state, the process program performed by the information processing
device of each communications apparatus is branched to step S140
`Start` shown in FIG. 13. When electric power is applied to the
electronic camera 1010, the process program of the electronic
camera 1010 is passed to S142 `Activating in `unauthenticated mode`
with electric power turned on`, and control is passed to the next
S144 `Searching for peripheral device` to establish communications
with another specific communications apparatus.
[0167] In S144, wireless communications are started, and the
process of searching for a communications apparatus such as the
portable telephone 1040, etc. in a wireless communications range.
When the portable telephone 1040 receives a search signal issued by
the electronic camera 1010, it performs the synchronizing process
between communications apparatuses in the wireless communications
in S242 `Reply to electronic camera`, and transmits a reply to the
electronic camera 1010.
[0168] The process program of the electronic camera 1010 which has
received the reply passes to S146 `Establishing transmission line`,
and continues the subsequent communications by recognizing the
portable telephone 1040. On the other hand, the process program of
the portable telephone 1040 also passes to S244 `Establishing
transmission line` to recognize the electronic camera 1010. Then,
in the next S246 `Transmitting authentication code`, the
`authentication code` is transmitted to the electronic camera
1010.
[0169] The electronic camera 1010 which has received the
`authentication code` passes to S148 `Authenticating process`, and
compares the identification information unique to the electronic
camera 1010 contained in the received `authentication code` with
the identification information recorded in the recording device of
the electronic camera 1010. If the information match each other as
a comparison result, then the reproducing or image-capturing mode
of the electronic camera 1010 is set as the `authenticated mode` in
the next S150 `Switching to the authenticated mode`. If the
information does not match each other as a comparison result, then
the reproducing or image-capturing mode of the electronic camera
1010 is set as the `unauthenticated mode`, and the subsequent
processes are performed. Then, control is passed to the next S152
`End`, thereby terminating the authenticating process routine.
[0170] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the image-capturing process
performed by the electronic camera 1010
[0171] In FIG. 14, if a user operates the release button provided
in the input device 1118 of the electronic camera 1010, the process
program performed by the information processing device 1116 of the
electronic camera 1010 branches to S160 `Start`, and control is
passed to the next S162 `Inputting image from image pickup
device`.
[0172] In S162, the image pickup device 1110 obtains an image at a
predetermined timing. In the next S164 `Color and pixel converting
process on signal from image pickup device`, an image signal output
from the image pickup device 1110 is transmitted to the image
processing device 1120 to perform an image process by amplifying a
signal, reducing noise, converting the number of pixels, etc.
[0173] In the next S166 `Storing processed image data in frame
memory`, the image data obtained from the image processing device
1120 is temporarily stored in the frame memory 1121. Then, in S168
`Compressing image data`, the information processing device 1160
reads the image data recorded in the frame memory 1121, transmits
it to the compression releasing device 1124, and compresses the
image by a compressing method or at a compression rate depending on
the image-capturing condition.
[0174] In the next S170 `Adding authentication code to image data`,
the information indicating the reproducing condition such as the
`authentication code`, etc. to the authentication code storage unit
of an image file to be recorded, and the image file is recorded in
the recording medium 1126 in the next S172 `Recording image data in
storage medium`. When the image file is completely recorded, the
process program of the electronic camera 1010 passes to S174 `End`,
thereby terminating the image-capturing process routine, and
returning control to the original process routine.
[0175] FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the reproducing process performed
by the electronic camera 1010.
[0176] In FIG. 15, when the process mode of the electronic camera
1010 is set as the reproducing mode, the process program of the
information processing device 1116 of the electronic camera 1010 is
branched to S180 `Start`. Then, in the next S182 `Inputting image
from storage medium`, an image file recorded in the user-desired
recording medium 1126 is read.
[0177] The information processing device 1116 determines whether or
not an `authentication code` indicating the reproducing condition
has been added to the authentication code recording unit of the
read image file. If the `authentication code` has not been
assigned, then it is determined that the file contains an image for
which a reproducing condition is not provided, the process program
branches to S186 `Releasing main image`, the main image recorded in
the image file is released and developed as is into the image data
for display, and the developed data is displayed on the display
device 1132, etc. in the next S194 `Displaying image on display
device`.
[0178] If the image file contains the `authentication code`, then
control is passed to the next S188 `Reading and confirming
authentication code`, the `authentication code` is read from the
image file, and compared with the `authentication code` received
from another communications apparatus such as the portable
telephone 1040, etc. after the determination in the next S190
`Authentication codes matching?`. If it is determined that the
`authentication codes` match each other as a comparison result,
then the process program branches to S186, the main image is
released as in the case in which the `authentication code` has not
been recorded, and the image is displayed as is on the display
device 1132, etc. in the next S194.
[0179] If the `authentication codes` do not match each other in
S190, then it is determined that a reproducing process is
restricted in the image file, the information processing device
1116 reads a reduced image (thumbnail image) recorded in the image
file in the next S192 `Releasing thumbnail image`, develops it into
image data for display, and displays it on the display device 1132
in the next S194. An image to be displayed can be reduced in
resolution to be displayed on the display device 1132 by reading
the image data of the main image and processing it by thinning the
pixels, etc.
[0180] When the image displaying process terminates in S1194, the
process program of the information processing device passes to S196
`End`, thereby returning to the original process routine.
[0181] In the above mentioned embodiments, the portable telephone
1040 is used as an apparatus for authenticating a user when the
electronic camera 1010 is used. However, the present invention is
not restricted to the portable telephone 1040, but a communications
apparatus provided with a communications device such as a PDA, a
portable personal computer, etc. can attain the purpose of the
present invention.
[0182] Furthermore, according to the above mentioned embodiments,
the portable telephone 1040 is used for one electronic camera 1010.
However, by providing a communications apparatus or an antenna
which replaces the portable telephone 1040 in a certain area at a
constant interval, the electronic camera 1010 can be set to be
available only in a specific area such as an amusement park, a
theme park, etc. Furthermore, the above mentioned communications
apparatus and an antenna can be provided in an art gallery, a
museum, etc. to set the image-capturing condition of restricting
the image-capturing process in a place where image-capturing is
restricted.
[0183] In the above mentioned embodiments of the present invention,
an `authentication code` is obtained when the electronic camera
1010 establishes wireless communications. However, the present
invention is not restricted to this application, but an
authenticating process can be performed by periodically receiving
an `authentication code`.
[0184] Furthermore, the server 1090 records the information shown
in FIGS. 9 through 11 in advance in the above mentioned embodiments
of the present invention to output to the electronic camera 1010
the `authentication code` specifying an image-capturing or
reproducing condition of the electronic camera 1010. However, the
present invention is not restricted to this application, but the
portable telephone 1040 records the information shown in FIGS. 10
and 11 in advance to output to the electronic camera 1010 the
`authentication code` specifying an image-capturing or reproducing
condition of the electronic camera 1010. Otherwise, the electronic
camera 1010 records the information shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 in
advance to obtain the identification information specifying a user
from each portable telephone and set the image-capturing or
reproducing condition, thereby attaining the object of the present
invention.
[0185] As described above, the recording apparatus according to the
present invention includes a first communications device which can
receive from another communications apparatus by wireless an
image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing process
or a sound recording condition of restricting a sound recording
process, and a device of performing an image-capturing or sound
recording process according to the received image-capturing
condition or sound recording condition. With the configuration, the
recording function of a recording apparatus can be automatically
set in a restricted state without special care of the restriction
in a place where image-capturing or sound recording is
restricted.
[0186] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
communications apparatus includes a recording device which records
an image-capturing condition of restricting an image-capturing
process by a recording apparatus carried by a user or a sound
recording condition of restricting a sound recording process, and a
communications device which can transmit the image-capturing
condition or sound recording condition recorded in the recording
device to the recording apparatus by wireless. With the
configuration, the communications apparatus can automatically set
the recording function of the recording device carried by the user
in a restricted state in a position where image-capturing, sound
recording, etc. are restricted.
[0187] When there is the possibility that image-capturing can badly
affect anything, or where image-capturing is legally prohibited, a
subject can be protected by automatically prohibiting
image-capturing by a camera. Furthermore, by automatically
restricting the image-capturing condition of a camera,
image-capturing a copyrighted article can be effectively
restricted, thereby protecting the copyright without fail.
Additionally, by allowing image-capturing a copyrighted article
using a camera on a specified condition, the conditional
image-capturing process on a copyrighted article can be widely
utilized.
[0188] Furthermore, the communications apparatus of the present
invention includes a communications device which can receive a
reproducing condition of restricting the function of reproducing an
image from another communications apparatus by wireless, and a
reproducing device which reproduces an image according to the
received reproducing condition. With the configuration, the user of
the communications apparatus can be easily specified, thereby
restricting an available function.
[0189] Another embodiment of the present invention includes a
recording device which records in advance first identification
information for specifying a first user of a communications
apparatus, a communications device which can receive identification
information from another communications apparatus by wireless,
associated with a reproducing condition of restricting the function
of reproducing an image, for specifying a second user of a
communications apparatus, a matching device which compares the
first identification information specifying the first user with the
second identification information specifying the second user, and a
reproducing device which reproduces an image according to a
comparison result. With the configuration, an available function
can be restricted by easily specifying a user of the communications
apparatus.
[0190] A further embodiment of the present invention includes a
recording device which records an image and a first reproducing
condition of restricting the function of reproducing the image, a
reception device which receives a second reproducing condition of
restricting the function of reproducing an image from another
communications apparatus; a matching device which compares the
first reproducing condition with the second reproducing condition,
and a reproducing device which reproduces an image according to a
comparison result. With the configuration, an available function
can be restricted by easily specifying a user of the communications
apparatus.
[0191] Since the electronic camera is provided with the function of
automatically recognizing a user, the load of authenticating a user
can be reduced without forcing the user to specifically perform an
authenticating operation, a user of an electronic camera can be
specified, and an image-capturing or reproducing process can be
restricted. Furthermore, an authenticating data can be associated
with an image to embed recorded or authentication data inside the
image, thereby restricting a user who can view the image data.
[0192] It should be understood, however, that there is no intention
to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the
contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternate
constructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope
of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.
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