JP4434219B2 - Image server - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is mounted on a vehicle, designates a timing for capturing an image in an image upload device that captures an image while the vehicle is traveling and transmits the image to an image server, stores an image received from the image upload device, and saves the user It is related with the image server delivered to.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a service in which a fixed point camera is installed on a road and a road image photographed by this camera is distributed to a person who requests the road in order to convey a traffic congestion condition or the like to a remote person. For example, a service called MONET distributes road conditions as live moving images to mobile phone users. When the road situation is conveyed by the image, the person who sees the image can visually grasp the road situation instantaneously. Therefore, the notification of the road condition by the image is superior in that it is more direct than the notification of the road condition by the character information. In addition, the distribution of images is not limited to traffic jam conditions, and it is also possible to convey information about roads such as weather, landscape conditions, approach routes to highways, etc., and accident situations.

If a vehicle traveling on a road can take images that convey information about the road and upload the images to an image server that distributes the images to the user, various images can be installed without installing a large number of fixed-point cameras at various locations. It is convenient because it is possible to distribute images of places. As a system for uploading an image from such a vehicle to an image server, there is a technique described in Patent Document 1.
JP 2000-172982 A

  However, in the technique described in this publication, only the sensor attached to the vehicle or the vehicle occupant determines the shooting location of the traveling vehicle. Therefore, even if a third party outside the vehicle wants to leave or view an image of the location where the vehicle is currently traveling, the image will be captured as long as it is not accidentally shot by a sensor or passenger in the vehicle. There is a problem that it is not uploaded, that is, transmitted to the server.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to upload an image around a vehicle to an image server that distributes the image to the user in accordance with a request from a user outside the vehicle.

  In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an image server arranged on a network, wherein the image receiving means for receiving, from a vehicle, images around the vehicle taken by the vehicle by wireless communication. And receiving a request for delivery of an image at a specified shooting location from the user via the network, and based on this request, the vehicle captures an image at a shooting timing based on the shooting location and transmits the image to the vehicle. It is characterized by being an image server provided with an image delivery means for making a request by wireless communication and delivering an image received by the image receiving means to the user as a response to this request.

  As a result, in the image server arranged on the network, the image distribution means receives a request for image distribution at the specified shooting location from the user via the network, and based on this request, the vehicle is shot based on the shooting location. The vehicle is requested by wireless communication to take an image at the timing of transmission and the image is transmitted, and the image receiving means receives the image taken by the vehicle from the vehicle by wireless communication. Since the distribution means distributes the received image to the user, it is possible to upload an image around the vehicle to an image server that distributes the image to the user in accordance with a request from the user outside the vehicle.

  Note that the image distribution means requests the vehicle by wireless communication based on a request for image distribution at a specified shooting location from the user. This does not mean that wireless communication is always performed with respect to the vehicle when there is, but is a concept that includes wireless communication with the vehicle when necessary based on a request for image distribution.

  Here, the shooting location is a concept including both the position of the vehicle at the shooting time and the position of the shooting target. Information on the shooting direction and time may be added to specify the shooting target.

  The invention according to claim 1 comprises a correspondence between a planned route, a passing position in the planned route, and a scheduled passing time of a vehicle that is traveling on a planned route planned in advance. A vehicle operating route database is provided, and the image distribution means determines a target vehicle to be requested by wireless communication so as to capture an image and transmit the image based on the operating route database.

  As a result, the image server has an operation route database of vehicles traveling on the predetermined scheduled route, and a request can be transmitted after determining a vehicle that requests image capturing based on the operation route database. It is possible to take an image efficiently.

  The invention according to claim 2 relates to the image server according to claim 1, wherein the image receiving means relates to an image of the surroundings of the vehicle photographed by the vehicle and a photographing situation when the image is photographed from the vehicle. Image photographing information, which is information, is received by wireless communication, and the image and the image photographing information are stored based on the image photographing information, and the image distribution means is an image at a photographing location designated by the user via the network. If the image storage means does not store the image at the shooting location designated by the user, the vehicle captures the image at the shooting timing based on the shooting location and transmits the image and image shooting information. Thus, the vehicle is requested by wireless communication, and the image received by the image receiving means is distributed to the user as a response to the request.

  Thereby, in the image server arranged on the network, the image delivery means receives a request for delivery of the image at the designated shooting location from the user via the network, and delivers the image at the designated shooting location to the user. If an image at the shooting location designated by the user is not stored, a request for shooting by wireless communication is received to capture a surrounding image of the vehicle, and a vehicle for generating shooting information of the captured image The wireless communication request is made to take an image at the shooting timing based on the shooting location, and the image receiving means receives the image taken by the vehicle and the shooting information of the image from the vehicle by wireless communication. Since this image and the shooting information of the image are distributed to the user, the image around the vehicle is updated according to the request of the user outside the vehicle. It is possible to upload images to an image server to deliver to The.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image server according to the second aspect, the shooting information of the image includes shooting time information and shooting location information when the image is shot, and the image storage means receives the It is characterized in that the captured images are sorted and stored according to the shooting time or shooting location at which the images were shot.

  In this way, if the images are organized and stored by shooting location or shooting time, the convenience of the user who uses the images is improved.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image server according to the second or third aspect, the shooting information of the image includes position information and traveling speed information of the vehicle that shot the image when the image was shot. The image receiving means receives a moving image taken while the vehicle is traveling, and the vehicle is taken for each frame of the moving image based on the traveling speed information and position information of the vehicle included in the moving image shooting information. The position is calculated.

  As a result, each frame of the moving image and the position of the vehicle when the frame is shot are calculated, so that information regarding the shooting position can be distributed in detail to the user.

  Note that the term “frame” is a concept that includes one frame image of each moving image and still images taken continuously in time series.

  Further, the invention according to claim 5 is the image server according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the image server includes map information, and the shooting information of the image is taken when the image is taken. The image distribution means has position information of the vehicle, and the image distribution means links the map information and the received image based on the position information of the vehicle that captured the image when the image was captured, and a user interface based on this cooperation As described above, an image specified by the user and shooting information of the image are distributed to the user.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image server according to the fifth aspect, the photographing information of the image includes photographing direction information of the photographed image, and the user interface includes the photographed image and the image. The shooting direction information is also displayed together.

  In this way, it becomes very easy for the user to understand what image is viewed at which position and in which direction. Note that the shooting direction information of an image includes a shooting direction when a shooting direction of a single image is constant as in a normal image, and a single image such as an omnidirectional image or a panoramic image. This is a concept that includes both the position in the image and the correspondence between the shooting direction at that position when the shooting direction is not constant.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image server according to the fifth or sixth aspect, the map information includes building information, and the user interface displays the photographed image and the building information related to the image. It is characterized by being displayed together.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image server according to any one of the fifth to seventh aspects, the image distributed by the image distribution means to the user is a moving image, and the user interface is a moving image by the user. It is characterized by being able to perform frame advance and rewind of an image.

  In the image server according to any one of claims 6 to 8, the image distributed by the image distribution unit to the user is a panoramic image including images in a plurality of shooting directions. The user interface is characterized in that a user can display an image portion in a specified shooting direction in a panoramic image.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing the image distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle 1 traveling on the road 2 has an omnidirectional photographing function capable of photographing 360 ° around the own vehicle and a communication function for performing wireless communication with the base station 3. The vehicle 1 includes a captured image 6 captured by the omnidirectional capturing function, a position of the vehicle when the captured image 6 is captured, a capturing time, a traveling direction (azimuth) of the vehicle at the time of capturing, and the vehicle 1 at the time of capturing. The shooting information of the shot image 6 including the traveling speed and the like is transmitted to the image server 5 via the base station 3 and the base station network 4 to which the base station 3 is connected. The image shooting information is information related to the shooting status when an image is shot. The photographed image 6 is an image in which omnidirectional images viewed from the vehicle 1 are grouped in a form of an image as if the surroundings were viewed through a fisheye lens. Since this image is distorted from the actual landscape, it is very difficult for humans to see.

  Note that the shooting location is a concept that includes both the position of the vehicle when the captured image 6 is captured and the position of the capturing target when the captured image 6 is captured. The latter shooting target position may be, for example, the road 2 immediately before the vehicle 1 or may be a distant landscape that can be directly seen from the road 2.

  The image server 5 that has received the photographed image 6 and the photographing information of the photographed image 6 is connected via a wide area network (not shown) to which the image server 5 is connected, and is distributed to a user who requests image distribution. The shooting information of the image 7 and the distribution image 7 is distributed. At this time, the image server 5 includes information on the position of the photographing target in the photographing information if necessary. Here, the distribution image 7 is a developed image in which the distortion of the image is corrected so that the captured image 6 can be easily seen by humans. In the present specification, the conversion of the image from the captured image 6 to the distribution image 7 is referred to as development.

  In addition, the vehicle 1 receives a designation of timing for photographing from the image server 5 by wireless communication, and performs photographing at the timing as designated. In the present embodiment, the timing for shooting is the position of the vehicle 1 when shooting is performed. Taking a picture when the vehicle 1 comes to a certain position is the same as taking a picture when the vehicle 1 comes to a certain position.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a configuration of a device that is mounted in the vehicle 1 and that performs image capturing and transmission to the image server 5.

  These devices in the vehicle 1 include an image control computer 10, an omnidirectional camera 21, a GPS sensor 22, an azimuth sensor 23, a speed sensor 24, an A radio device 25, an A antenna 26, a B radio device 27, and a B antenna 28. Is done.

  The omnidirectional camera 21 is a camera. In this embodiment, this camera is a camera that receives a 360-degree omnidirectional landscape at a time and always outputs the received omnidirectional video. As such, the omnidirectional camera described in Japanese Patent No. 2939087 can be used.

  The GPS sensor 22 calculates the current position of the vehicle 1 by receiving information from GPS satellites, and outputs this as current position information.

  The direction sensor 23 is a device that detects the current direction of the vehicle 1 such as east, west, south, and north using a gyroscope and outputs this as direction information.

  The speed sensor 24 detects the rotational speed of the tire of the vehicle 1, calculates the traveling speed of the vehicle 1 from the rotational speed and elapsed time, and outputs this as speed information.

  The A radio device 25 converts communication data into a radio signal, and transmits this radio signal from the A antenna 26 to a base station corresponding to the communication system of the A radio device 25. The communication system of the A radio device 25 is a PDC. The B radio device 27 converts communication data into a radio signal, and transmits this radio signal from the B antenna 28 to a base station corresponding to the communication system of the B radio device 27. Note that the communication system of the B radio 27 is a wireless LAN. Therefore, the communication by the B wireless device 27 has a larger transmission capacity than the communication by the A wireless device 25, and the communication cost per unit information is cheaper. On the other hand, the wireless LAN communication area is narrower than the PDC communication area.

  The image control computer 10 includes a sensor control unit 11, an image recording unit 12, an information processing unit 13, and a communication control unit 14.

  The sensor control unit 11 receives current position information, direction information, and speed information of the vehicle 1 from the GPS sensor 22, the direction sensor 23, and the speed sensor 24, and outputs the received information to the information processing unit 13. is there. The sensor control unit 11 receives and outputs these information periodically, for example, every several seconds in the present embodiment, and also receives a control signal requesting the information from the information processing unit 13. Information is received and output.

  The image recording unit 12 receives an omnidirectional video from the omnidirectional camera 21, records it as an omnidirectional moving image, and outputs it to the information processing unit 13 at the same time. The image recording unit 12 is configured to record the omnidirectional video received from the omnidirectional camera 21 as a moving image when receiving an image recording control signal from the information processing unit 13.

  The information processing unit 13 receives a designation of the position of the vehicle 1 when performing photographing from the communication control unit 14 and stores the designation information in a memory (not shown). Also, in this memory, a periodic time for shooting and designation of a fixed position set at the time of design are stored. Further, the information processing unit 13 periodically receives the current position information from the GPS sensor 22 from the sensor control unit 11, reads the designation information stored in the memory from the memory, and determines the current position of the vehicle 1. Compare with the specified position. The information processing unit 13 then passes the specified time by a predetermined time from the time when the vehicle 1 approaches the specified position until the vehicle 1 moves away from the specified position by a predetermined distance, and from the time when the specified time is approached. Until this time, a control signal for image recording is output to the image recording unit 12 and a moving image is received from the image recording unit 12. This moving image is received by the omnidirectional camera 21.

  In addition, the information processing unit 13 outputs a control signal requesting the current position information, direction information, and speed information to the sensor control unit 11 a plurality of times, for example, every few seconds, during the above-described shooting period. Based on this, the information output by the sensor control unit 11 is received. Then, from the received information, image photographing information including time, current position information, direction information, and speed information at each time is created. In the present embodiment, since the image to be captured is an omnidirectional image, the direction information in the shooting information of the created image is the central portion of the omnidirectional image, that is, the front portion viewed from the vehicle, It is information on which direction corresponds to.

  An example of the imaging information of the image created by the information processing unit 13 is shown in FIG. This creation information is composed of a tag, which is a character string indicating a data attribute, surrounded by brackets, and data attributed by the tag. In an area surrounded by <picture> tag and </ picture> tag, information for identifying an image corresponding to the shooting information of this image is stored. Between <name> to </ name>, the file name of the corresponding image is shown. #### indicates that numbers from <lowerindex> to </ lowerindex> to numbers between <upperindex> to </ upperindex> are sequentially entered. In other words, the image corresponding to the shooting information of this image is captured0001. jpg to capture0030. It shows that the images are continuous still images up to jpg, that is, moving images.

  The area surrounded by the <information> tag and the </ information> tag stores the current position information, time, direction information, and speed information of the vehicle 1 when this image is taken. Between <place> to </ place>, current position information is stored that includes the latitude indicated between <longitude> to </ longitude> and the longitude indicated between <latitude> to </ latitude>. FIG. 3 shows that the current position information when the image is taken is a statistic of 135 ° 23′15.1 ″ and a north latitude of 35 ° 19′23 ″.

  Between <time> to </ time>, information of the time including the date shown between <date> to </ date> and the local time shown between <localtime> to </ localtime> is stored. . In FIG. 3, it is shown that the time when the image was taken was 10: 10'38.101 seconds JST on February 1, 2002.

  Direction information is indicated by an azimuth angle between <direction> to </ direction>. In FIG. 3, the central portion of the photographed image indicates that the direction is an azimuth of 95 ° 20′0 ″ when viewed from the vehicle 1.

  Speed information is indicated between <speed> and </ speed>. FIG. 3 shows that the speed of the vehicle 1 when photographed is 85.10 km / h.

  Between <frame> to </ frame>, information of a frame number indicating which still image in the image, that is, a frame corresponds to the information described above is stored. The </ frame> tag is also a tag indicating the end of information related to one frame. That is, the information described after this tag is information regarding the subsequent frames. As described above, when there are a plurality of pieces of shooting information of a set of continuous still images (moving images), a plurality of pieces of information delimited by a tag of </ frame> are collected to form shooting information of one image.

  In addition, the information processing unit 13 transmits, to the communication control unit 14 as communication data, a portion captured from the captured moving image at the above-described central time, and information including the shooting time in the shooting information of the received image. It is like that. The information processing unit 13 includes information specifying that the communication data is transmitted via the A wireless device 25 in the communication data. In addition, the purpose of selecting the portion captured at the above-mentioned central time from the moving image is that the image captured at the central time zone during the capturing period is a representative portion of the moving image. Because there is. For example, when shooting a moving image from before entering an intersection to after exiting, the center time zone is just around the center of the intersection. The photographed image at the central portion can be seen as far as the streets intersected by photographing with the omnidirectional camera 21.

  Further, the information processing unit 13 transmits the remaining part other than the image included in the communication data from the captured moving image to the communication control unit 14 as communication data. Further, the information processing unit 13 includes information specifying that the communication data is transmitted via the B wireless device 27 in the communication data. However, when the communication control unit 14 cannot perform this communication via the B wireless device 27, the communication control unit 14 receives a notification to that effect. In this way, when receiving a notification that communication data cannot be transmitted via the B radio 27, the information processing unit 13 performs communication from the B radio 27 Nmax times (Nmax is a natural number). The communication data transmission to 14 is repeated, and if a notification that communication is still impossible is received, the transmission of the communication data is stopped.

  The communication control unit 14 is a device that controls the A radio device 25 and the B radio device 27, connects to the base station and the base station network, and performs data communication with the image server 5. Further, the communication control unit 14 receives the designation of the position of the vehicle 1 when the image server 5 performs shooting from the A radio device 25 and outputs it to the information processing unit 13. Further, when the communication control unit 14 transmits communication data such as an image received for wireless transmission from the information processing unit 13 through the data communication or image shooting information to the image server 5, which communication data is included in the communication data. This communication data is output to either the A radio device 25 or the B radio device 27 in accordance with the designation as to whether the data is transmitted through the device. Further, the communication control unit 14 can detect whether or not transmission to the image server 5 by outputting communication data to the B wireless device 27 can be performed based on the reception level of the B wireless device 27 and communication is not possible. Can be notified to the information processing unit 13. The communication control unit 14 receives communication data converted from a radio signal from the image server 5 received by the A radio device 25 from the PDC base station, and outputs the communication data to the information processing unit 13. The radio signal emitted from the image server 5 is a radio signal for designating the timing at which the image control computer 10 performs shooting, for example.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by the information processing unit 13 of the vehicle 1 configured as described above to capture an image with the omnidirectional camera 21 and transmit the image to the image server 5. The specific operation of the information processing unit 13 will be described below based on this flowchart. However, the processing of steps 445 and 450 is performed by the communication control unit 14. Prior to this processing, the information processing unit 13 has previously received the designation of the position of the vehicle 1 when shooting from the image server 5 from the communication control unit 14 and stored in the memory (step 400). When the vehicle 1 is traveling in such a state, the vehicle 1 acquires the current position information from the GPS sensor 22 from the sensor control unit 11 as a periodic process (step 401).

  Next, the information processing section 13 reads designation information stored in the memory from the memory (step 405).

  In step 410, the information processing unit 13 compares the current position of the vehicle 1 acquired in steps 401 and 405 with the designated shooting position. Then, the information processing unit 13 determines whether or not to start shooting with the omnidirectional camera 21 by determining whether or not the vehicle 1 has approached a predetermined distance from the specified position. Also, if there is a shooting time designation in the designation in the memory, it is determined whether or not shooting by the omnidirectional camera 21 should be started by determining whether or not a predetermined time has passed from that time. This determination process is repeated until it is determined that shooting should be started.

  If it is determined that shooting should be started, the information processing unit 13 starts shooting by the omnidirectional camera 21 and receives current position information, direction information, speed information, and the like from the sensor control unit 11 a plurality of times during shooting. . (Step 415).

  When shooting is completed depending on whether the vehicle 1 is away from the specified shooting position by a predetermined distance or whether a predetermined time has elapsed from the specified shooting time, the process proceeds to step 420, and the information processing unit 13 An image taken in the middle of the shooting period is extracted. Then, the information processing unit 13 creates shooting information of the image from the current position information, direction information, speed information, and the like received from the sensor control unit 11 (step 425), and summarizes the extracted image and the shooting information of the created image. (Step 430), communication data is created so that this image and the photographing information of the image are transmitted to the image server 5 via the A wireless device 25, and this communication data is transmitted to the communication control unit 14 (Step 435).

  Next, a variable n to be used in the subsequent steps is initialized to 1 (step 440), and the remaining portion obtained by taking the image extracted in step 420 from the captured moving image is transferred to the image server via the B wireless device 27. The communication data is generated so as to be transmitted to the communication controller 5, and the communication data is transmitted to the communication control unit 14. Here, the communication control unit 14 receives this communication data, and determines from the information included in this communication data that this communication data should be transmitted via the B radio. Then, whether or not the B wireless device 27 is usable is determined by detecting the reception level of the B wireless device 27 (step 445). If the communication control unit 14 determines that the B radio device 27 is usable, the process proceeds to step 450, and the communication control unit 14 transmits the communication data received by the information processing unit 13 using the B radio device 27. . Then, the process returns to the regular process in step 401.

  If the communication control unit 14 determines that the B radio device 27 is not usable, the communication control unit 14 notifies the information processing unit 13 that communication by the B radio device 27 is not possible. Then, the process proceeds to step 455, and the information processing unit 13 that has received this notification increments the variable n by one. Next, the information processing unit 13 determines whether or not the variable n exceeds a predetermined value Nmax, and if not, transmits the same communication data as in the previous step 435 to the communication control unit 14, thereby processing. To step 445. In other words, the information processing unit 13 and the communication control unit 14 try to transmit communication data to the B radio device 27 until either the B radio device 27 becomes available or n exceeds Nmax.

  If the information processing unit 13 determines in step 460 that n exceeds Nmax, the information processing unit 13 gives up transmitting the communication data from the B wireless device 27 and returns the processing to the periodic processing in step 401. .

  By such processing, an image taken by the vehicle 1 based on designation from the image server 5 or setting at the time of installation is transmitted to the image server 5.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image distribution system including each device of the vehicle 1 described above. This image distribution system includes an A radio base station 31 that communicates with an A antenna 26 and a PDC of a vehicle 1, a B radio base station 32 that communicates with a B antenna 28 via a wireless LAN, and a cable that participates in these base stations. Wireless communication is performed with a base station network 33 which is a network, an image server 5 connected to the base station network 33, a base station 35 and a fixed user 36 connected to the image server 5 via the base station network 34, and the base station 35. It consists of in-vehicle users 37.

  The fixed user 36 is a terminal installed in an office or home and a user who operates the terminal. This computer requests and receives images and image shooting information from the image server 5 via the base station network 34. Be able to.

  The in-car user 37 is a terminal installed in the car and a user who operates the terminal, and this computer requests and receives image and image shooting information from the image server 5 via the base station 35 and the base station network 34. Etc. can be performed.

  The image server 5 is a device that performs processing for receiving and storing images and image shooting information from the vehicle 1 via the base station network 33, the A radio base station 31, and the B radio base station 32. The image server 5 communicates with the fixed user 36 via the base station network 34, and with the in-vehicle user 37 via the base station network 34 and the base station 35, and images stored from the fixed user 36 and the in-vehicle user 37. In addition, a list inquiry of image information of images is received, and the list is returned to the fixed user 36 and the in-vehicle user 37 based on the inquiry. Further, the image server 5 receives a signal requesting from the fixed user 36 or the in-vehicle user 37 to distribute an image at a specified shooting location and shooting information of the image. Note that the shooting location is a concept including both the position of the vehicle 1 when the image is taken and the position of the shooting target when the image is taken. The latter shooting target position may be, for example, the road 2 immediately before the vehicle 1 in FIG. 2, or may be a distant scenery that can be directly seen from the road 2. Further, information on the shooting direction and time may be used to specify the shooting target.

  Further, the image server 5 distributes the image and the image capturing information including the shooting location information in response to the reception of the request. If the requested image is not stored, the image server 5 selects an appropriate vehicle from vehicles equipped with the same equipment as the vehicle 1 and captures an image at the timing of shooting based on the requested shooting location. Thus, the vehicle is requested by transmitting a radio signal.

  The image server 5 includes a processing device (not shown) for performing such processing, and the processing device executes programs having various functions. Each program is executed in parallel, and data is exchanged between the programs.

  The image server 5 has a database in which information used for such processing is recorded. Specifically, it has a captured image database 51, a map information database 52, and an operation route database 53.

  The photographed image database 51 records images received from the vehicle and image photographing information. These images and shooting information of the images are organized and stored by shooting time or shooting location at which the images were shot. However, the image recorded in the photographed image database 51 is developed from the photographed image 6 to the distribution image 7 by processing to be described later.

  The map information database 52 records map information including place names, road positions, lane shapes, and building information. Building information includes the name of a building such as a parking lot name or store name, the name of the owner of the building, a telephone number, an e-mail address, a homepage address relating to the building, a location code of the building, and a building advertisement. , Catch copy, and other information related to the building.

  The operation route database 53 is a vehicle that operates according to a predetermined route and a predetermined schedule, such as a regular route bus or a regular delivery truck of a transportation company, and has functions of image capturing and transmission like the vehicle 1. The operation schedule for associating the time with the travel position is recorded. If these vehicles having a determined operation schedule are used for photographing, it becomes a criterion for selecting a vehicle for photographing a requested image, so that images can be efficiently photographed and distributed.

  The above-described program uses these databases. As a program that is loaded and executed by the processing device of the image server 5, the image server 5 includes a database read / information processing program 54, a shooting command transmission program 55, a shooting information processing program 56, a user data distribution program 57, and an image conversion program. 58, and a vehicle data reception program 59.

  FIG. 6 shows an image distribution system in which the image server 5 stores images and image shooting information received from the vehicle 1 and distributes image and image shooting information from the fixed user 36 and the in-vehicle user 37. It is a timing chart which shows processing, such as delivering these according to a request, based on communication with image server 5, vehicle 1, fixed user 36, and in-vehicle user 37.

  Hereinafter, the operation of these programs is performed when the image server 5 receives a request for distribution of image and image shooting information from the fixed user 36 or in-vehicle user 37 and distributes the image and image shooting information according to the request. The order of the processing to be performed will be described, thereby clarifying the operation of each program and the entire image server 5. In the following description, the fixed user 36 and the in-vehicle user 37 are collectively referred to as a user.

  In the vehicle 1, when a device for transmitting a photographed image and photographing information of the image to the image server 5 is installed, a location and time to be photographed periodically are set by a system administrator or the like (step 505). ). This setting is performed by recording a designated place and time in the memory of the vehicle 1. Then, the information processing unit 13 periodically captures images according to this setting, and images and images created on the image server 5 via the A radio base station 31, the B radio base station 32, and the base station network 33 are created. Is sent (step 510).

  The vehicle data reception program 59 of the image server 5 receives these transmitted images and image shooting information. Upon receipt of these (step 515), the vehicle data reception program 59 transmits the received image to the image conversion program 58, and transmits shooting information of the received image to the shooting information processing program 56.

  The image conversion program 58 is a program that receives an image from the vehicle data reception program 59, expands the image, and transmits the expanded image to the database read / information processing program 54. The image captured by the information processing unit 13 and received by the vehicle data reception program 59 is an omnidirectional image such as the captured image 6 of FIG. Such an omnidirectional image is a distortion of the actual scenery as described above, and is difficult for humans to see and handle. Therefore, the image is converted into an image having an actual screen ratio such as the distribution image 7 so as to be easily handled visually by humans. This image conversion is called image expansion. According to the inventor's study, the file size of the image after the development is larger than the file size of the image before the development. This is because, as in the photographed image 6 shown in FIG. 2, there are unnecessary portions unrelated to the actual landscape at the center and at the four corners in the image before development. One of the causes is that the amount of information is reduced. Further, as a result of actual measurement by the inventor of the case where the image before expansion and the image after expansion are compressed and saved in the JPEG format, the image of 600 × 450 pixels and 100 KB before the expansion becomes a 25 KB image of 1370 × 170 pixels after the expansion. The file size was reduced by 1/4.

  The photographing information processing program 56 receives image photographing information from the vehicle data reception program 59, performs predetermined processing on the information, and transmits processing result information to the database read / information processing program 54. ing. The predetermined processing is, for example, interpolation of image shooting information. As described above, the information processing unit 13 acquires and shoots image information of a plurality of times during a period during which a moving image is captured. However, since acquisition of shooting information of this image includes position measurement by GPS, the number of times of acquisition is practically limited, and for example, 1 of an image shot at 30 frames per second like a moving image. It is difficult to acquire shooting information of an image corresponding to each frame. Therefore, the shooting information of the image acquired during shooting is less than the number of shooting frames, and the position information and direction information corresponding to each frame are complemented and calculated based on the shooting information of this image later. Like that. This is interpolation of image information. The imaging information processing program 56 requests the database read / information processing program 54 to transmit map information in order to perform this interpolation, and receives the map information transmitted from the database read / information processing program 54 accordingly. FIG. 7 schematically shows the flow of the interpolation process.

  FIG. 7A is a map in which an area including position information in image shooting information is extracted from the received map information and displayed. In this map, the intersection and the shape of the lane of the road connected to the intersection are shown. These are information that the map information has. FIG. 7B illustrates a plurality of speed information, direction information, and position information included in the image photographing information in the displayed map area. In the figure, a circle indicates position information, an arrow direction indicates direction information, and an arrow length indicates speed information. Each circle corresponds to one frame number. The time series of movement can be determined by referring to the order of frame numbers. FIG. 7C shows the estimated route of the vehicle 1 by superimposing FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B. The photographing information processing program 56 determines that this movement is a right turn because the vehicle 1 has performed the movement order as shown in FIG. 7B on the road as shown in FIG. 7A, and the vehicle 1 turns right. It is estimated that the vehicle will enter a right turn lane before, and the travel route is estimated based on that. FIG. 7D shows the route of the vehicle 1 when all the frames are taken at all the frames based on the estimated moving route and speed information on the assumption that all the frames are taken at regular intervals. The estimation of the upper position is indicated by a circle. At this time, direction information, speed information, and the like can be similarly estimated. In this way, the shooting information processing program 56 interpolates shooting information of images in all frames. By performing such interpolation, the photographing information of the image becomes more detailed.

  The database read / information processing program 54 receives the image developed from the image conversion program 58 and simultaneously receives the photographing information of the image subjected to the predetermined processing from the photographing information processing program 56. Then, the received image and the shooting information of the image are associated with each other, and the image and the shooting information of the image are stored in the shot image database 51 by arranging them according to the shooting time or shooting location at which the image was shot. The shooting time and shooting location of the image are determined by referring to the shooting information of the image. The database reading / information processing program 54 reads the map information from the operation route database 53 and transmits the read information to the photographing information processing program 56 when the photographing information processing program 56 requests transmission of the map information. It has become.

  The data received by the vehicle data reception program 59 in step 515 by the processing of the vehicle data reception program 59, the photographing information processing program 56, the image conversion program 58, and the database reading / information processing program 54 as described above is stored in the photographed image database 51. Saved (step 520).

  When the user accesses the image server 5 in which the captured image and the captured image information of the image are stored in the captured image database 51 through the network such as the base station network 34 for image browsing, the image The data distribution program 57 for the user of the server 5 requests the database read / information processing program 54 to transmit a list of images included in the captured image database 51 and map information in the map information database 52.

  Upon receiving this image list and map information transmission request, the database read / information processing program 54 searches the photographed image database 51 to create this list, and reads the map information from the map information database 52 to create the list. And the read map information are transmitted to the data distribution program 57 for the user.

  The data distribution program 57 for the user who has received this list and map information from the database read / information processing program 54 combines the received list with map information, plots the photographed points on the map, and adds the photographing time. Data is transmitted to the user as Web data. The processing up to this point after receiving the access from the user is the processing of the image server 5 in step 525. Note that the user can browse the web data using a web browser (step 528).

  When the user who receives this Web data browses the image of the spot plotted in this figure, it designates the shooting location of the image to be browsed and requests distribution of the image and image shooting information (step). 530), the data distribution program 57 for the user receives this distribution request, and requests the database read / information processing program 54 for the designated image and image photographing information.

  The database read / information processing program 54 receives this request, and searches whether or not the requested image and the shooting information of the image exist in the shot image database 51. Since it is determined as a result of the search, the database read / information processing program 54 reads the image and the shooting information of the image from the shot image database 51, and maps the map information around the position information described in the shooting information of the image to the map. It reads out from the information database 52, and transmits this image, image photographing information, and map information to the data distribution program 57 for the user.

  When the user data distribution program 57 receives this transmission, it distributes it as Web data to the requesting user. The processing performed by the user data distribution program 57 and the database read / information processing program 54 after the user data distribution program 57 receives the request for distribution of the image and the photographing information of the image corresponds to step 535. .

  This Web data is dynamic data whose display can be interactively changed. An example of the Web data displayed using a Web browser is shown in FIGS. In FIG. 8, a split screen using the multi-frame function of HTML is displayed. The upper right split screen is a panoramic display of a portion of a certain direction area in a moving image in all directions requested by the user. However, the letters “xx” and “OO” are displayed in the lower left corner and the upper right corner of the divided screen. xx and OO are place names. In this display, the data distribution program 57 for the user associates the direction information of the shooting information with this image at the Web data creation stage, thereby judging the direction of the road extending from the intersection in this screen, and the map information and the shooting. This can be realized by linking the information with the position of the vehicle, determining which road is the road to which place name, and reflecting it in the user interface.

  The split screen on the left is a map showing which position the displayed image is and which image can be seen when facing. In this map, what is written in a band is a road, and what is indicated by a circle in this map is the position of the vehicle, and the arrow is in the direction of the center of the viewpoint, that is, in the center of the displayed image. Direction. An area indicated by diagonal lines in the map indicates an area where shooting data exists, that is, an area where a moving image is shot by this vehicle. These can be displayed by the user data distribution program 57 linking the road position and lane shape of the map information with the vehicle position and direction information of the shooting information.

  Also, the lower center split screen displays the current position information of the shooting information of the image and the shooting time information in characters. This can be displayed by associating the road position of the map information with the vehicle position and shooting time of the shooting information.

  The split screen that can be operated by the four users at the lower right can change the display of the upper right image interactively by sending and returning the image capture time, or rotating the viewpoint to the left and right. It is like that. This can be realized, for example, by using a technology such as Java (registered trademark) or cgi. The user data distribution program 57 distributes such an interactive interface, so that the user can enjoy a visual effect as if he / she was walking around while virtually looking at the place where the user was photographed. .

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of an image displayed on the upper right split screen. In this image, buildings such as stores and offices are displayed. Above these buildings, the company name or store name, telephone number, home page address, e-mail address, etc. of each building are displayed. This display can be displayed by linking the current position information and direction information of the shooting information of the image on which the data distribution program 57 for the user is displayed with the building information in the map information.

  Also, in step 528, the user who has received the Web data of the figure in which the photographed point and the photographing time are described on the map distributes the image of the photographing place and the photographing information of the image that have not been photographed in the figure. (Step 537), the user data distribution program 57 receives this distribution request, and requests the database reading / information processing program 54 for the image at the designated photographing location and the photographing information of the image.

  Upon receiving this request, the database read / information processing program 54 searches for whether or not the requested image and image shooting information exist in the captured image database 51. Since it is determined that there is no search result, the database read / information processing program 54 searches the operation route database 53 for a vehicle that has an operation schedule to move to a position where the designated shooting location requested in the future can be imaged. If a corresponding vehicle is found as a result of the search, the data distribution program 57 for the user is notified of when, for example, how many minutes later, in the operation schedule of the vehicle, the shooting can be performed. If there are a plurality of applicable vehicles, or if one vehicle has a timing at which a plurality of images can be taken, a plurality of information on when the images can be taken is notified based on them.

  The data distribution program 57 for the user who has received the notification of when the shooting can be performed notifies the user as a list of shooting reservation available times. The processing performed by the user data distribution program 57 and the database read / information processing program 54 up to the point after the user data distribution program 57 receives the request for distribution of the image and the photographing information of the image corresponds to step 540. .

  The user who has received the notification of the list selects one or a plurality of shooting times from the list and transmits a signal requesting to acquire an image at the time to the image server 5 (step 545).

  When the user data distribution program 57 receives this request, it transmits information on the selected time to the database read / information processing program 54 (step 550). The database read / information processing program 54 receives the information of the selected time, searches for a vehicle that can be photographed at this time based on the operation schedule searched in step 540, and then sets the network address and telephone number of the radio of the vehicle. And the like, and the specified position information and time at which the image and image shooting information are required are notified to the shooting command transmission program 55. At this time, if the designated shooting location is a shooting target such as a landscape, a location where the landscape can be shot is estimated and used as the specified position information.

  When the shooting command transmission program 55 receives from the database reading / information processing program 54 the specified position information that requires the identification number of the specific vehicle, the image and the shooting information of the image, the specified position only for the vehicle of the identification number. Send a signal to request to take a picture. The processing of the database read / information processing program 54 and the imaging command transmission program 55 from the time when the database read / information processing program 54 receives the selected time information corresponds to Step 555.

  The specific vehicle receives the request signal transmitted by the shooting command transmission program 55 (step 560), and performs shooting based on the request signal by the processing shown in FIG. 4 of the information processing unit 13 and the communication control unit 14. The photographed image and the photographing information of the image are transmitted to the image server 5 (step 565). The image and the shooting information of the image are the shooting location image designated for browsing by the user and the shooting information of the image.

  In the image server 5 that has received the image and the shooting information of the image, the vehicle data reception program 59 receives the image and the shooting information of the image, and the image conversion program 58 expands the image, in the same manner as the processing in step 507. Is sent to the database read / information processing program 54, and the shooting information processing program 56 processes the shooting information of the image and sends it to the database read / information processing program 54. The database read / information processing program 54 receives the received images and images. Is stored in the captured image database 51. At this time, the database read / information processing program 54 includes information on the shooting location designated by the user in the shooting information of the image. At this time, the database read / information processing program 54 notifies the user data distribution program 57 that the user has acquired the image specified in step 545 and the image shooting information. Upon receiving this notification, the user data distribution program 57 notifies the user of the completion of the shooting of the designated image using Web data or e-mail. The processing performed by each program of the image server 5 from step 565 to this notification processing corresponds to step 570.

  After that, when the user disconnects from the image server 5, the user waits for the user to access again. After the access, the user can use the user interface as described in FIGS. Information and the like are distributed (step 580).

  By the operation of the image server 5 and the image control computer 10 as described above, the image server 5 receives a request for distribution of an image at a specified shooting location from the user via the network, and sends the image at the specified shooting location to the user. If the image at the shooting location designated by the user is not stored, the image control computer 10 mounted on the vehicle is requested by radio communication to take an image at the designated location based on the shooting location. To do.

  The image control computer 10 receives from this image server 5 designation of a position for photographing with the omnidirectional camera 21 mounted on the vehicle, and performs this photographing at a designated timing. The image photographing information is transmitted to the image server 5 via the A wireless device 25 and the B wireless device 27.

  Then, the image server 5 receives from the image control computer 10 an image captured by the vehicle and image capturing information by wireless communication, and distributes the image and image capturing information to the user. According to the user's request, it is possible to upload an image around the vehicle to the image server 5 that distributes the image to the user.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the image distribution system of the first embodiment is modified so that the image control computer 10 communicates with the image server 5 via one type of communication system.

  In the image distribution system of the present embodiment, the configurations of the A radio base station 31, the base station network 33, the image server 5, the base station network 34, the base station 35, the fixed user 36, and the in-vehicle user 37 shown in FIG. The operation is the same as that of the first embodiment. However, the B radio base station 32 does not exist. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the configuration of a device for taking an image and transmitting it to the image server 5 mounted in the vehicle according to the present embodiment. A difference from the configuration of the equivalent device shown in FIG. 1 in the first embodiment is that the B radio device 27 and the B antenna 28 in FIG. 1 do not exist in this embodiment.

  The configurations and operations of the sensor control unit 11, the image recording unit 12, the omnidirectional camera 21, the GPS sensor 22, the azimuth sensor 23, the speed sensor 24, the A radio device 25, and the A antenna 26 are the same as those in FIG. 1 in the first embodiment. It is equivalent to what attached | subjected the code | symbol.

  The information processing unit 13 and the communication control unit 14 have the same configuration as that of the first embodiment given the same reference numerals in FIG. However, in the operation, the information processing unit 13 transmits all the captured images and the shooting information of the images to the communication control unit 14 so as to be transmitted to the image server 5 via the A wireless device 25. The communication control unit 14 transmits all communication data received from the information processing unit 13 for transmission to the image server 5 from the A radio device 25.

  As described above, even if two types of wireless devices are not used as in the first embodiment, an image around the vehicle can be uploaded to the image server 5 that distributes the image to the user according to a request from the user outside the vehicle. Is possible.

(Third embodiment)
Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the image distribution system according to the second embodiment is modified so that image expansion is performed not by the image server 5 but by the image control computer 10.

  In the image distribution system of the present embodiment, the configurations and operations of the A radio base station 31, the base station network 33, the base station network 34, the base station 35, the fixed user 36, and the in-vehicle user 37 shown in FIG. It is equivalent to one embodiment. However, the B radio base station 32 does not exist.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the configuration of a device for taking an image and transmitting it to the image server 5 mounted in the vehicle according to the present embodiment. In the second embodiment, the difference from the configuration of the equivalent device shown in FIG. 10 is that the image developing unit 15 is interposed between the omnidirectional camera 21 and the image recording unit 12.

  The image developing unit 15 receives an omnidirectional video from the omnidirectional camera 21, develops this image, and outputs it to the image recording unit 12. Accordingly, the moving image recorded by the image recording unit 12 is an already developed image.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a configuration of the image server 5 according to the present embodiment. The image server 5 is different from the image server 5 shown in FIG. 5 in the first embodiment in that the image conversion program 58 does not exist. That is, the moving image received by the vehicle data reception program 59 is transmitted to the database read / information processing program 54 without being developed by the image conversion program 58. This is because the image has already been developed by the image development unit 15 in the vehicle, so that it is not necessary to develop it again.

  As described in the first embodiment, the file size of the image is reduced by the expansion. Further, according to actual measurement with a JPEG format file, the file size is reduced to about ¼ by the development. For this reason, by developing an image captured on the vehicle side in advance and transmitting it to the image server 5, the amount of transfer data at the time of transmission is reduced.

  In the first to third embodiments of the present invention, the image control computer 10 corresponds to an image upload device.

  In the first to third embodiments, the A wireless device 25 corresponds to a first wireless communication device. The A radio device 25 is adapted to the PDC communication system, but the first radio communication device is not necessarily compatible with the PDC communication system, and is compatible with any communication system. Also good.

  Further, the direction information of the first to third embodiments corresponds to the shooting direction information.

  In the first embodiment, the B wireless device 27 corresponds to a second wireless communication device. The B wireless device 27 is adapted to a wireless LAN communication system, but the second wireless communication device is not necessarily compatible with the wireless LAN communication system, and is compatible with any communication system. It may be.

  In the first to third embodiments, the process of receiving the designation of the position of the vehicle 1 from the communication control unit 14 when the information processing unit 13 shown in FIG. The receiving means for receiving the designation of the timing for photographing the surroundings of the vehicle by the camera mounted on the vehicle is configured via the first wireless communication device mounted on the vehicle. However, the receiving means only needs to receive the designation of the timing for photographing, and it is not necessary to receive the designation of the position of the vehicle 1 when photographing as in the process of step 400. For example, the designation of the photographing time is specified. May be received.

  In the first to third embodiments, the information processing unit 13 receives the designation of the timing for taking a picture from the image server 5, but the receiving means may receive it from anywhere, It is not always necessary to receive the image from the image server 5, and for example, the designation of the timing for taking a picture may be received by direct communication from the user.

  In addition, the processing of the information processing unit 13 and the communication control unit 14 in step 415 to step 460 shown in FIG. 4 performs shooting at the timing when the specified shooting is performed, and the captured image is received from the user. Transmitting means is configured to transmit via the first wireless communication device to an image server that distributes an image based on the request.

  In the first to third embodiments, the image captured by the information processing unit 13 is a moving image. However, this is not necessarily a moving image, and may be a still image, for example.

  In the first embodiment, as a representative portion of the moving image, a moving image taken at the central time of the time zone when the moving image was taken is used. However, this is not necessarily the central time. Also good.

  Also, the reception and storage processing in steps 515 and 520 of FIG. 6 performed by the vehicle data reception program 59, the image conversion program 58, the image processing information processing program 56, and the database read / information processing program 54 shown in FIG. Receiving means is configured. However, the image receiving means only needs to receive from the vehicle an image around the vehicle taken by the vehicle by wireless communication. For example, the image server 5 receives the image and immediately delivers the image to the user. In some cases, you do not need to save what you receive. In this case, it is not always necessary to receive image capturing information.

  Further, the processing of steps 535, 540, and 555 of the data distribution program 57 for the user, the database read / information processing program 54, and the shooting command transmission program 55 is a request for distribution of the image at the specified shooting location from the user via the network. Based on this request, the vehicle requests the vehicle by wireless communication so that the vehicle takes an image at the shooting timing based on the shooting location and transmits the image, and the image receiving means receives as a response to this request. An image distribution means for distributing the processed image to the user is configured.

  In the operation in this embodiment, if the image of the shooting location specified by the user is not in the captured image database 51, the vehicle has an operation schedule so that the corresponding shooting location can be captured from the operation route database 53. However, it is not always necessary to do this, and it is not necessary to do so, and all the vehicles that are equipped with equipment such as the vehicle 1 and are connected to the base station network 33 are searched. Alternatively, a signal requesting that shooting be performed with the specified position information may be transmitted in a broadcast manner. In this case, because the broadcast does not specify the transmission partner, the shooting command transmission program 55 that transmits a shooting request signal to the vehicle does not need to know information about the vehicle that can perform shooting. Alternatively, this transmission may not be broadcast, but may be multicast which is a transmission method for delivering data to a specific plurality. In that case, the imaging command transmission program 55 needs to know the information of the partner vehicle.

  In the first to third embodiments, the image server 5 has map information, and the user data distribution program 57 distributes the map information together with the image and the photographing information of the image to the user. No need to deliver.

  In the first to third embodiments, the omnidirectional camera 21 is used for photographing. However, it is not always necessary to be a camera capable of photographing omnidirectional.

  Further, the Web data distributed by the user data distribution program 57 does not have to be dynamic data whose display can be interactively changed.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of image shooting information in the first embodiment, but the image shooting information is not configured unless all of such position information, time, direction information, and speed information are available. In addition, only one of them can constitute image photographing information.

  Of the above-described means, the means constituted by the processes shown in the flowcharts and the timing charts and the means constituted by the programs shown in FIGS. 5 and 12 are to realize the functions of the respective means. As long as it is configured, it may not necessarily be configured by software processing, and may be configured as dedicated hardware.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a configuration of a device for taking an image and transmitting the image server 5 mounted in the vehicle 1 in the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a conceptual diagram schematically showing an image distribution system according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the imaging | photography information of the image which the information processing part 13 produces. 5 is a flowchart of processing performed for the information processing unit 13 and the communication control unit 14 to capture an image and transmit it to the image server 5. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image delivery system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the exchange of the process of the data between the image server 5, a user, and a vehicle. It is the figure which showed typically the flow of the process of the interpolation of the imaging | photography information of an image. It is a figure which shows an example of what displayed the Web data which the data distribution program 57 for users distributes using a Web browser. It is a figure which shows a further example of what displayed the web data delivered by the data delivery program for users 57 using a web browser. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the apparatus for imaging | photography and transmission to the image server 5 mounted in the vehicle which concerns on 2nd this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the apparatus for imaging | photography and transmission to the image server 5 mounted in the vehicle which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image server 5 which concerns on 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle, 2 ... Road, 3 ... Base station, 4 ... Base station network, 5 ... Image server, 6 ... Captured image, 7 ... Delivery image, 10 ... Image control computer, 11 ... Sensor control part, 12 ... Image recording , 13 ... Information processing unit, 14 ... Communication control unit, 21 ... Omnidirectional camera, 22 ... GPS sensor, 23 ... Direction sensor, 24 ... Speed sensor, 25 ... A radio, 26 ... A antenna, 27 ... B radio 28 ... B antenna, 31 ... A radio base station, 32 ... B radio base station, 33 ... base station network, 34 ... base station network, 35 ... base station, 36 ... fixed user, 37 ... in-vehicle user, 51 ... Shooting image database, 52 ... Map information database, 53 ... Operation route database, 54 ... Database reading / information processing program, 55 ... Shooting command transmission program, 56 ... Shooting information processing program, 57 ... User Only data distribution program, 58 ... image conversion program, 59 ... vehicle data acceptance program.

Claims (9)

An image server arranged on a network,
Image receiving means for receiving, by wireless communication, an image around the vehicle taken by the vehicle from the vehicle;
A request for image distribution at a specified shooting location is received from a user via the network, and based on this request, the vehicle captures an image at the timing of shooting based on the shooting location and transmits the image. Image delivery means for making a request to the vehicle by wireless communication, and delivering the image received by the image receiving means as a response to the request to the user;
Of the vehicles, the vehicle route database of the vehicle comprising the correspondence between the planned route, the passing position in the planned route, and the scheduled passing time of the vehicle that is supposed to travel on the planned route planned in advance, With
The image distribution unit determines an object vehicle to be requested by wireless communication so as to capture the image and transmit the image based on the operation route database. The image receiving means receives, through wireless communication, an image of the surroundings of the vehicle photographed by the vehicle and image photographing information that is information relating to a photographing situation when the image is photographed. Save the image and the shooting information of the image based on the shooting information of the image,
The image delivery means receives a request for delivery of an image at a specified shooting location from a user via the network, and if the image storage means does not save an image at the specified shooting location, the vehicle Requests the vehicle by wireless communication to take an image at the shooting timing based on the shooting location and transmit the image and shooting information of the image, and the image receiving means receives as a response to the request The image server according to claim 1, wherein the image is delivered to the user. The shooting information of the image includes shooting time information and shooting location information when the image is shot,
The image server according to claim 2, wherein the image storage unit stores the received images by sorting them by shooting time or shooting location at which the image was shot. The shooting information of the image includes position information and travel speed information of a vehicle that has shot the image when the image is shot,
The image receiving means receives a moving image taken while the vehicle is running, and is taken for each frame of the moving image based on the traveling speed information and position information of the vehicle included in the moving image shooting information. The image server according to claim 2, wherein the position of the vehicle at the time is calculated. With map information,
The shooting information of the image includes position information of a vehicle that has shot the image when the image is shot,
The image distribution means links the map information and the received image based on the position information of the vehicle that captured the image when the image was captured, and the user interface based on this cooperation The image server according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the specified image and shooting information of the image are distributed to the user. The shooting information of the image includes shooting direction information of the shot image,
The image server according to claim 5, wherein the user interface is configured to display a photographed image and photographing direction information of the image together. The map information includes building information,
The image server according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the user interface is configured to display a photographed image and building information related to the image together. The image distributed to the user by the image distribution means is a moving image,
The image server according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the user interface is configured to allow the user to perform frame advance and rewind of the moving image. The image distributed by the image distribution means to the user is a panoramic image including images in a plurality of shooting directions,
The image server according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the user interface is configured so that a user can display an image portion in a specified shooting direction in the panoramic image. .

Images