JP2022163507A - Imaging system and print production system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an imaging system and a print production system that can switch to another camera and continue imaging when an abnormality such as a failure or breakage occurs in a camera installed in a predetermined place.SOLUTION: An imaging system includes an imaging instruction unit that instructs a first imaging device or a second imaging device to execute imaging processing, an image receiving unit that receives a captured image generated by the imaging processing from the first imaging device or the second imaging device, and a determination unit that determines which of the first imaging device and the second imaging device the imaging processing is caused to execute. Based on a response from the first imaging device to the instruction from the imaging instruction unit, the determination unit determines whether to continuously use the first imaging device for the imaging processing or to switch the imaging device to be used for the imaging processing from the first imaging device to the second imaging device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a photographing system and a print manufacturing system.

In theme parks and the like, there is a service in which a customer is photographed, the printed photograph is pasted on an original mount, and the photograph is sold to the customer. In addition, there is a service that installs cameras at attractions and automatically captures the moment during the attraction experience. For example, there is known a ride photo that automatically captures a moment of excitement such as the moment a roller coaster falls.

In the automatic photography system, in order to photograph the natural facial expressions of the park visitors, cameras are sometimes installed in places such as high places where the park visitors are not aware of it. However, it is often difficult for people to go in and out of such places, and if a camera breaks down or is damaged, it is difficult to replace it with another camera, making it impossible to continue shooting.

Japanese Patent No. 6393360

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a photographing system and a print production system that can switch to another camera to continue photographing when an abnormality such as a failure or breakage occurs in a camera installed at a predetermined location.

A photographing system according to the present invention includes a photographing instruction unit that instructs a first photographing device or a second photographing device to execute photographing processing; an image receiving unit that receives an image; and a determination unit that determines which of the first imaging device and the second imaging device is to perform imaging processing, wherein the determination unit receives an instruction from the imaging instruction unit. Determination whether to continue using the first imaging device for the imaging process or to switch the imaging device used for the imaging process from the first imaging device to the second imaging device based on the response of the first imaging device to It is something to do.

A print production system of the present invention includes the photographing system of the present invention, an acquisition unit that acquires identification information via a reader, a transmission unit that transmits the photographed image and the identification information, and an image received from the transmission unit. a server device for storing the photographed image and the identification information in association with each other; and upon receiving an input of the identification information, notifying the input identification information to the server device, and allowing the server device to associate the inputted identification information with the notified identification information. and an image printing device that receives the captured image received and prints out the received captured image.

According to the present invention, when an abnormality such as a failure or breakage occurs in a camera installed at a predetermined location, it is possible to switch to another camera and continue photographing.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a print manufacturing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. It is a functional block diagram of a control device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a print manufacturing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the print manufacturing system includes a control device 1, a first photographing device 2A, a second photographing device 2B, a display device 3, a reader 4, a server device 5, an image printing device 6, and a sensor 8. In preparation, an image photographed by the photographing device 2 is printed out.

The control device 1 is communicably connected to the first imaging device 2A, the second imaging device 2B, the display device 3, the reader 4, the server device 5, and the sensor 8 via a wired or wireless network. 2 A of 1st imaging devices and the 2nd imaging device 2B are digital cameras, for example. The display device 3 displays images, and is, for example, a liquid crystal display.

This print production system is introduced to leisure facilities and the like. For example, the first photographing device 2A and the second photographing device 2B photograph scenes in which visitors U are enjoying attractions.

The sensor 8 detects the approach of the entering guest U and notifies the control device 1 of it. The control device 1 instructs the first imaging device 2A or the second imaging device 2B to take an image in response to the notification from the sensor 8 . The first photographing device 2A or the second photographing device 2B that has received the photographing instruction photographs the entering guest U and transfers the photographed image to the control device 1 . An SDK (Software Development Kit) is used for remote control of the first photographing device 2A and the second photographing device 2B, such as photographing instructions and transfer of photographed images.

The control device 1 displays the captured image on the display device 3 . As shown in FIG. 1, after enjoying an attraction, a park visitor U confirms his or her own image displayed on the display device 3 and holds a ticket T over the reader 4 . The ticket T is distributed to each park visitor U at the time of admission, and is printed with a two-dimensional code indicating identification information unique to the park visitor. The reader 4 reads the two-dimensional code and transmits identification information to the control device 1 .

The control device 1 associates the captured image with the identification information, and transmits them to the server device 5 . The entering customer U causes the image printing device 6 to read the two-dimensional code of the ticket T when leaving the park. The image printing device 6 notifies the server device 5 of the identification information obtained from the two-dimensional code. When the identification information is notified from the image printing device 6 , the server device 5 transmits the captured image linked to the identification information to the image printing device 6 . The image printing device 6 prints the photographed image received from the server device 5 on paper and outputs the printed paper. A park visitor U can obtain a commemorative printed matter 7. - 特許庁

In such a system, in order to photograph the natural facial expressions of the park visitors U, a photographing device is installed at a place such as a high place where the park visitors U are not aware of it. However, conventionally, if a photographing device installed in such a place breaks down or is damaged, it is difficult to immediately replace it with another photographing device, and photographing cannot be continued.

Therefore, in the imaging system according to the present embodiment, at least two imaging devices (a first imaging device 2A and a second imaging device 2B) are installed. When photographing cannot be performed with the first photographing device 2A, or when it is estimated that photographing cannot be performed in the near future, the equipment to be used is switched to the second photographing device 2B. Then, the photographing is continued using the second photographing device 2B.

The configuration of the control device 1 that performs switching control of such imaging devices will be described. The control device 1 is a computer including a communication unit, a storage unit, a CPU, and the like. The CPU executes a control program to control a sensor signal reception unit 101, a shooting instruction unit 102, and an image reception unit as shown in FIG. Functions of the unit 103, the display processing unit 104, the identification information acquisition unit 105, the data transmission unit 106, and the determination unit 110 are realized.

The control device 1 may further have the function of the number-of-times-of-imaging information acquisition unit 112 . The function of the number-of-shots information acquisition unit 112 will be described later.

The sensor signal receiving unit 101 receives a detection signal of an approaching guest from the sensor 8 .

When the sensor signal receiving unit 101 receives the detection signal, the imaging instruction unit 102 instructs the first imaging device 2A or the second imaging device 2B to perform imaging processing. The photographing instruction unit 102 instructs the first photographing device 2A to execute photographing processing when the photographing system starts operating, and instructs the second photographing device 2B to execute photographing processing after the determination unit 110 determines whether to switch the device to be used. instruct.

The image receiving unit 103 receives a captured image from the first imaging device 2A or the second imaging device 2B. The captured image is stored in the storage unit 100 .

The display processing unit 104 causes the display device 3 to display the captured image.

The identification information acquisition unit 105 acquires, from the reader 4, the identification information of the park visitor indicated by the two-dimensional code printed on the ticket.

The data transmission unit 106 associates the photographed image displayed on the display device 3 with the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit 105 and transmits them to the server device 5 .

The determination unit 110 determines whether the continuous use of the first imaging device 2A is possible or whether the equipment used is switched to the second imaging device 2B.

For example, if the response signal from the first imaging device 2A indicates normal after the imaging instruction unit 102 has transmitted the imaging instruction to the first imaging device 2A, the determination unit 110 determines that the continuous use of the first imaging device 2A is prohibited. If it is determined that it is possible and the response signal indicates an abnormality, it is determined that the equipment used should be switched to the second imaging device 2B.

After the photographing instruction unit 102 transmits the photographing instruction to the first photographing device 2A, it is determined whether or not the first photographing device 2A can be continuously used depending on whether photographed image data has been transferred from the first photographing device 2A. may When photographed image data is transferred from the first photographing device 2A, it is determined that continuous use is possible, and when it is not transferred, it is determined that continuous use is impossible, and the used equipment is switched to the second photographing device 2B.

Further, the determination unit 110 periodically checks the state of the first imaging device 2A, and determines whether to continue using or switch to the second imaging device 2B based on the state of the first imaging device 2A. good. For example, the determination unit 110 requests status information from the first photographing device 2A periodically (every time photographing processing is performed a predetermined number of times or at predetermined time intervals). The first photographing device 2A transmits its own status information (state information) to the control device 1 in response to the request. The determination unit 110 determines whether or not the first imaging device 2A is operating normally based on the status information from the first imaging device 2A, and determines whether to continue using it or switch to the second imaging device 2B. .

After the determination unit 110 determines to switch the device to be used to the second imaging device 2B, the imaging instruction unit 102 instructs the second imaging device 2B to perform imaging processing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if an abnormality such as damage or failure occurs in the first photographing device 2A, it is possible to switch the equipment used to the second photographing device 2B and continue photographing.

The determination unit 110 may display on the display device 3 that the equipment used has been switched to the second imaging device 2B. The administrator can know from the display contents of the display device 3 that an abnormality such as damage or failure has occurred in the first photographing device 2A. The control device 1 may send an e-mail to the administrator's e-mail address to notify that the device used has been switched to the second imaging device 2B.

The first photographing device 2A is repaired or replaced on days when the facility is closed. After that, the control device 1 checks the state of the second photographing device 2B and determines whether or not the second photographing device 2B can be used continuously. If it is determined that the device cannot be used continuously, the device to be used is switched to the first photographing device 2A.

Whether or not to continue using the first imaging device 2A may be determined based on the number of shots (shutter count) of the first imaging device 2A. In general, the number of shutter durability times is set in the shutter unit of the photographing apparatus. When the number of shots reaches a predetermined shutter endurance number (or a predetermined ratio of the number of shots), the device used is switched to the second photographing device 2B.

The imaging frequency information acquisition unit 112 acquires the imaging frequency information of the first imaging device 2A. For example, the number-of-pictures information obtaining unit 112 obtains, from the first photographing device 2A, information about the number of times of photographing recorded in the main body of the first photographing device 2A.

If the number of shots is written in EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) of the shot image data transferred from the first imaging device 2A, the shot number information acquisition unit 112 may acquire the shot number information from EXIF.

Further, the photographing number information acquisition unit 112 may count the number of photographed images transferred from the first photographing device 2A, and regard the count value as the photographing number.

The display device 3 may display the number of times of photographing by the first photographing device 2A and the number of shutter endurance times of the shutter unit. An alert may be displayed on the display device 3 when the number of shots exceeds 90% of the shutter endurance number.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which two imaging devices, the first imaging device 2A and the second imaging device 2B, are installed has been described, but three or more imaging devices may be installed.

Although the present invention has been described in detail using specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1 control device 2 imaging device 3 display device 4 reader 5 server device 6 image printing device

Claims (5)

a photographing instruction unit that instructs the first photographing device or the second photographing device to execute photographing processing;
an image receiving unit that receives a photographed image generated by photographing processing from the first photographing device or the second photographing device;
a determination unit that determines which of the first imaging device and the second imaging device is to perform imaging processing;
with
Based on the response of the first photographing device to the instruction from the photographing instruction unit, the determination unit continues to use the first photographing device for photographing processing, or selects the photographing device to be used for photographing processing from the first photographing device. An imaging system that determines whether to switch from an imaging device to the second imaging device. The determination unit selects a photographing device used for photographing processing from the first photographing device to the second photographing device when the photographed image is not transferred from the first photographing device in response to the instruction from the photographing instruction unit. 2. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein it determines to switch to . a photographing instruction unit that instructs the first photographing device or the second photographing device to execute photographing processing;
an image receiving unit that receives a photographed image generated by photographing processing from the first photographing device or the second photographing device;
a determination unit that determines which of the first imaging device and the second imaging device is to perform imaging processing;
with
The determination unit acquires device status information from the first imaging device used for imaging processing, and determines whether to continue using the first imaging device for imaging processing or to perform imaging processing based on the device status information. a photographing system that determines whether to switch the photographing device to be used from the first photographing device to the second photographing device. a photographing instruction unit that instructs the first photographing device or the second photographing device to execute photographing processing;
an image receiving unit that receives a photographed image generated by the photographing process from the first photographing device or the second photographing device;
a determination unit that determines which of the first imaging device and the second imaging device is to perform imaging processing;
a shooting number information acquisition unit that acquires information on the number of shooting times of the first shooting device used for shooting processing;
with
The imaging system, wherein the determination unit determines to switch the imaging device used for imaging processing from the first imaging device to the second imaging device when the number of times of imaging reaches a predetermined value. an imaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 4;
an acquisition unit that acquires identification information via a reader;
a transmission unit that transmits the captured image and the identification information;
a server device that associates and stores the captured image and the identification information received from the transmission unit;
When the input of the identification information is received, the input identification information is notified to the server device, the photographed image associated with the notified identification information is received from the server device, and the received photographed image is printed out. a printing device;
A print production system comprising:

Images