JP4652248B2 - Imaging system, imaging control method, and imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a photographing system , a photographing control method, and more particularly to a photographing system , a photographing control method, and a photographing device including a photographing device that photographs a subject and a photographing device that remotely operates the photographing device.

  With the spread of networks in recent years, there are an increasing number of photographing apparatuses such as digital cameras having a network function. The network function of the photographing apparatus is provided by USB, IEEE 1394, wireless LAN, or the like, and the photographed digital image data can be transmitted to a PC. Patent Document 1 discloses a digital still camera that can exchange information via a communication line.

As another example using the network function, there is a photographing system including a photographing device that photographs a subject and a PC that remotely operates the photographing device. Such a photographing system is used for a surveillance camera system, for example.
JP-A-11-27567

  In the imaging system described above, the operation method is naturally different between the imaging apparatus and the PC. Therefore, there is a problem that a user who is used to the photographing apparatus cannot apply the operation method at all. Another problem is that a general photographing system does not support all the operations that can be performed by the photographing apparatus on the PC.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a photographing system , a photographing control method, and a photographing device that include a photographing device that photographs a subject and a photographing device that can be remotely operated in the same manner as the operation of the photographing device. For the purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a photographing system having a first photographing device and a second photographing device, wherein the first photographing device receives digital image data representing a subject, Operation including digital image data transmitting means for transmitting to the second photographing apparatus, shape information of an operation element operated by a user, position information for displaying the operation element, and name information for identifying the operation element Control information transmitting means for transmitting child information, and control means for receiving operation state information indicating an operation state of the second imaging apparatus from the second imaging apparatus and controlling the operation based on the operation state information The second imaging device displays a subject image based on the received digital image data on a display unit included in the second imaging device and also receives the subject image from the first imaging device. Said operation And the object image displaying means for displaying on said display means by superimposing operator indicated by the child information on the subject image, the object image display means operated by the user to transition the operation state of the second imaging device Operation means including the operation element displayed by the operation means, and the operation state information for creating the operation state information based on the operation content operated by the user with the operation means and transmitting the operation state information to the first photographing apparatus Transmitting means.

Here, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographing system having a first photographing device and a second photographing device, wherein the first photographing device receives digital image data representing a subject as the first photographing device. And transmitting operation information including shape information of an operation element operated by a user, position information for displaying the operation element, and name information for identifying the operation element . Operating state information indicating the operating state of the second imaging device is received from the second imaging device, and control is performed based on the operating state information, and the second imaging device is a subject based on the received digital image data. An image is displayed on a display unit included in the second imaging device, and an operator indicated by the operator information received from the first imaging device is superimposed on the subject image and displayed on the display unit , Second imaging device Create the operating state information based on the operation content operated by a user at the operation means including an operation element displayed by the object image display means operated by the user to transition the operation state, the said operating state information Since it is transmitted to the first imaging device, it is possible to provide an imaging system that includes an imaging device that images a subject and an imaging device that can be remotely operated in the same manner as an operation on the imaging device.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the operator displayed on the display means of the second photographing apparatus can be used as the operation means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, even if the first photographing device and the second photographing device are different devices, the operator displayed on the first photographing device is displayed on the second photographing device. Is possible.

The invention of claim 2 has a plurality of the first imaging devices, and the second imaging device displays a list of subject images indicated by the digital image data received from the plurality of first imaging devices. Based on the subject image selected by the selection means, selection means for allowing the user to select from the list of subject images, the list display means for transmitting, and the first imaging device for transmitting the operation state information. Imaging apparatus specifying means for specifying the first imaging apparatus that transmits information.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the user can select an imaging device that is remotely operated from a plurality of first imaging devices.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photographing control method in a photographing system having a first photographing device and a second photographing device, wherein digital image data representing a subject is obtained by the first photographing device. An operation element including a digital image data transmission stage to be transmitted to the second photographing apparatus, shape information of an operation element operated by a user, position information for displaying the operation element, and name information for identifying the operation element A control information transmission step for transmitting information; a control step for receiving operation state information indicating an operation state of the second image capturing device from the second image capturing device; and controlling an operation based on the operation state information; And displaying the subject image based on the received digital image data on the display means of the second imaging device and receiving from the first imaging device. A subject image display stage in which an operator indicated by the operator information is superimposed on the subject image and displayed on the display means; and the subject operated by a user to change the operating state of the second photographing apparatus An operation state information transmission step of creating the operation state information based on the operation content operated by the user with the operation unit including the operation element displayed by the image display unit, and transmitting the operation state information to the first photographing apparatus. And having.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the imaging system includes a plurality of the first imaging devices, and a subject indicated by digital image data received from the plurality of first imaging devices by the second imaging device. A list display step for displaying a list of images, a selection step for causing the user to select the first photographing device for transmitting the operation state information from the list of subject images, and a subject image selected in the selection step. And an imaging device specifying step of specifying the first imaging device that transmits the operation state information.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the photographing apparatus in a photographing system including a photographing apparatus and another device, wherein the photographing device transmits digital image data representing a subject to the other device. Data transmitting means, and manipulator information transmitting means for transmitting manipulator information including shape information of the manipulator operated by the user, position information for displaying the manipulator, and name information for identifying the manipulator; A control unit that receives operation state information indicating an operation state of the other device from the other device and controls an operation based on the operation state information, and the other device receives the received The subject image based on the digital image data is displayed on the display means of the other device, and the operator indicated by the operator information received from the photographing device is superimposed on the subject image before the display. A subject image display means for displaying on the display means, an operation means including an operator displayed by the subject image display means operated by a user to change the operation state of the other photographing device, and the operation means. And operating state information transmitting means for creating the operating state information based on the operation content operated by the user and transmitting the operating state information to the photographing apparatus .

Here, in the invention of claim 5, by applying the second imaging apparatus according to claim 1 as the other equipment, the same effect as the invention described in claim 1 is obtained.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the photographing device in a photographing system having another device and a photographing device, and the other device transmits digital image data representing a subject to the photographing device. Digital image data transmission means and operator information transmission for transmitting operator information including shape information of an operator operated by a user, position information for displaying the operator, and name information for identifying the operator And control means for receiving operation state information indicating an operation state of the photographing apparatus from the photographing apparatus and controlling operation based on the operational state information, and the photographing apparatus receives the digital A subject image based on the image data is displayed on a display unit included in the photographing apparatus, and an operation element indicated by the operation element information received from the first photographing apparatus is superimposed on the subject image. In addition, a subject image display unit for displaying on the display unit, an operation unit including an operator displayed by the subject image display unit operated by a user to change the operation state of the photographing apparatus, and the operation unit And operating state information transmitting means for generating the operating state information based on the operation content operated by the user and transmitting the operating state information to the other device .
Here, in the invention of claim 6, by applying a first imaging apparatus according to claim 1 as the other equipment, the same effect as the invention described in claim 1 is obtained.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the photographing system includes a plurality of the other devices, and the photographing device displays a list of subject images indicated by digital image data received from the plurality of other devices. Based on the subject image selected by the selection unit, the selection unit that causes the user to select the display unit, and the other device that transmits the operation state information from the subject image list, and transmits the operation state information. Photographing apparatus specifying means for specifying the other apparatus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging system and an imaging device that include an imaging device that images a subject and an imaging device that can be remotely operated in the same manner as an operation on the imaging device. .

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the overall configuration of the imaging system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows digital cameras 70 and 72 that can communicate via a wireless LAN or the like. The digital camera 70 corresponds to the first photographing apparatus and is a digital camera that photographs a subject. The digital camera 72 corresponds to the second photographing apparatus and is a digital camera that remotely operates the digital camera 70. The digital camera 72 displays a through image 74 that is a moving image obtained by the image sensor of the digital camera 70.

  In this configuration, the operation content operated by the user in order to change the operation state in the digital camera 72 is transmitted to the digital camera 70. For example, when the release button is pressed in the digital camera 72, this is transmitted to the digital camera 70, and the digital camera 70 performs shooting.

  As described above, in the photographing system according to the present embodiment, a user who is familiar with the digital camera 70 can apply the operation method.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, an external configuration of the digital camera according to the present embodiment will be described. Here, the digital cameras 70 and 72 described above will be described as the digital camera 10.

  In front of the digital camera 10, a lens 21 for forming a subject image, a strobe 44 that emits light for irradiating the subject when necessary, and a viewfinder used to determine the composition of the subject to be photographed. 20 is provided. On the top surface of the digital camera 10, a release button (so-called shutter button) 56A that is pressed when performing shooting and a power switch 56B are provided.

  Note that the release button 56A of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment is pressed down to an intermediate position (hereinafter referred to as “half-pressed state”) and to a final pressed position beyond the intermediate position. A two-stage pressing operation of a state (hereinafter referred to as a “fully pressed state”) can be detected.

  In the digital camera 10, the release button 56A is pressed halfway to activate the AE (Automatic Exposure) function to set the exposure state (shutter speed and aperture state), and then AF (Auto Focus (automatic focus) function works to control the focus, and then exposure (photographing) is performed when it is fully pressed.

  On the other hand, on the back of the digital camera 10, an eyepiece of the above-described finder 20, a liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as “LCD”) 38 for displaying a photographed subject image, a menu screen, and the like are photographed. A mode changeover switch 56 </ b> C that is slid when the mode is set to any one of a shooting mode that is a mode to be performed and a playback mode that is a mode in which a subject image obtained by shooting is played back on the LCD 38 is provided. Further, the LCD 38 is provided with a touch panel (not shown) and can detect a user's contact with the LCD 38. The LCD 38 corresponds to subject image display means.

  Further, on the back surface of the digital camera 10, a cross cursor button 56D and a forced light emission switch 56E that is pressed when setting the forced light emission mode, which is a mode for forcibly causing the flash 44 to emit light during photographing, are further provided. It has been.

  The cross-cursor button 56D has a total of five arrow keys indicating four upward, downward, left, and right directions of movement in the display area of the LCD 38 and a determination key positioned at the center of the four arrow keys. Consists of two keys.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the configuration of the main part of the electrical system of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The digital camera 10 includes an optical unit 22 including the lens 21 described above, a charge coupled device (hereinafter referred to as “CCD”) 24 disposed behind the optical axis of the lens 21, and an input analog. And an analog signal processing unit 26 that performs various analog signal processing on the signal.

  The digital camera 10 also performs an analog / digital converter (hereinafter referred to as “ADC”) 28 that converts an input analog signal into digital data, and performs various digital signal processing on the input digital data. And a digital signal processing unit 30.

  The digital signal processing unit 30 has a built-in line buffer having a predetermined capacity, and also performs control to directly store the input digital data in a predetermined area of the memory 48 described later.

  The output terminal of the CCD 24 is connected to the input terminal of the analog signal processing unit 26, the output terminal of the analog signal processing unit 26 is connected to the input terminal of the ADC 28, and the output terminal of the ADC 28 is connected to the input terminal of the digital signal processing unit 30. . Accordingly, the analog signal indicating the subject image output from the CCD 24 is subjected to predetermined analog signal processing by the analog signal processing unit 26, converted into digital image data by the ADC 28, and then input to the digital signal processing unit 30.

  On the other hand, the digital camera 10 generates a signal for displaying a subject image, a menu screen or the like on the LCD 38 and supplies the signal to the LCD 38, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 40 that controls the operation of the entire digital camera 10. A memory 48 for storing digital image data obtained by photographing, and a memory interface 46 for controlling access to the memory 48 are included.

  Further, the digital camera 10 includes an external memory interface 50 for enabling the portable memory card 52 to be accessed by the digital camera 10, a compression / decompression processing circuit 54 for performing compression processing and decompression processing on digital image data, and the like. And a wireless LAN interface 60 for communicating with the other digital camera.

  In the digital camera 10 of the present embodiment, a VRAM (Video RAM) is used as the memory 48 and a smart media (Smart Media (registered trademark)) is used as the memory card 52.

  The digital signal processing unit 30, the LCD interface 36, the CPU 40, the memory interface 46, the external memory interface 50, the wireless LAN I / F 60, and the compression / decompression processing circuit 54 are connected to each other via a system bus BUS. Accordingly, the CPU 40 controls the operation of the digital signal processing unit 30 and the compression / decompression processing circuit 54, displays various information via the LCD interface 36 to the LCD 38, communicates using the wireless LAN interface 60, the memory 48 and the memory card 52. Can be accessed via the memory interface 46 through the external memory interface 50 respectively.

  On the other hand, the digital camera 10 includes a timing generator 32 that mainly generates a timing signal for driving the CCD 24 and supplies the timing signal to the CCD 24, and the driving of the CCD 24 is controlled by the CPU 40 via the timing generator 32.

  Further, the digital camera 10 is provided with a motor drive unit 34, and driving of a focus adjustment motor, a zoom motor, and an aperture drive motor (not shown) provided in the optical unit 22 is also controlled by the CPU 40 via the motor drive unit 34. The

  In other words, the lens 21 according to the present embodiment has a plurality of lenses, is configured as a zoom lens that can change (magnify) the focal length, and includes a lens driving mechanism (not shown). The lens drive mechanism includes the focus adjustment motor, the zoom motor, and the aperture drive motor. These motors are each driven by a drive signal supplied from the motor drive unit 34 under the control of the CPU 40.

  Further, the release button 56A, the power switch 56B, the mode changeover switch 56C, the cross cursor button 56D, and the forced light emission switch 56E (generally referred to as “operation unit 56” in the figure) are connected to the CPU 40, and the CPU 40. Can always grasp the operation state of the operation unit 56. Note that the operation unit 56 and an operation element to be described later correspond to operation means.

  In addition, the digital camera 10 includes a charging unit 42 that is interposed between the strobe 44 and the CPU 40 and charges power for causing the strobe 44 to emit light under the control of the CPU 40. Further, the strobe 44 is also connected to the CPU 40, and the light emission of the strobe 44 is controlled by the CPU 40.

  Next, an overall operation at the time of shooting of the digital camera 10 according to the present embodiment will be briefly described.

  First, the CCD 24 performs imaging through the optical unit 22 and sequentially outputs analog signals for R (red), G (green), and B (blue) indicating the subject image to the analog signal processing unit 26. The analog signal processing unit 26 performs analog signal processing such as correlated double sampling processing on the analog signal input from the CCD 24 and sequentially outputs the analog signal to the ADC 28.

  The ADC 28 converts the R, G, and B analog signals input from the analog signal processing unit 26 into 12-bit R, G, and B signals (digital image data) and sequentially outputs them to the digital signal processing unit 30. To do. The digital signal processing unit 30 accumulates digital image data sequentially input from the ADC 28 in a built-in line buffer and temporarily stores the digital image data directly in a predetermined area of the memory 48.

  Digital image data stored in a predetermined area of the memory 48 is read out by the digital signal processing unit 30 under the control of the CPU 40, and a white balance is adjusted by applying a digital gain according to a predetermined physical quantity. Processing and sharpness processing are performed to generate digital image data of predetermined bits, for example, 8 bits.

  The digital signal processing unit 30 performs YC signal processing on the generated digital image data of predetermined bits to generate a luminance signal Y and chroma signals Cr and Cb (hereinafter referred to as “YC signal”), and a YC signal. Are stored in an area different from the predetermined area of the memory 48.

  The LCD 38 is configured to display a moving image (through image) obtained by continuous imaging by the CCD 24 and can be used as a finder. When the LCD 38 is used as a finder, the LCD 38 is generated. The YC signals thus output are sequentially output to the LCD 38 via the LCD interface 36. As a result, a through image is displayed on the LCD 38.

  Here, when the release button 56A is half-pressed by the user, after the AE function is activated and the exposure state is set as described above, the AF function is activated and focus control is performed, and then the fully-pressed state is continued. In this case, the YC signal stored in the memory 48 at this time is compressed in a predetermined compression format (in this embodiment, JPEG format) by the compression / decompression processing circuit 54 and then passed through the external memory interface 50. To the memory card 52.

  Next, an outline of software operations in the digital cameras 70 and 72 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows software blocks of each digital camera when the digital cameras 70 and 72 are applied as the photographing system shown in FIG. The digital cameras 70 and 72 are equipped with key drivers 80a and 80b, applications 82a and 82b, and API (Application Program Interface) 84a and 84b, respectively. In addition, libraries and functions not shown are also installed.

  The key drivers 80a and 80b include a physical key driver such as a release button and a touch panel driver. Accordingly, the key drivers 80a and 80b also detect that the operator is pressed.

  The applications 82a and 82b are applications for operating the digital camera. APIs 84a and 84b are APIs used by the applications 82a and 82b.

  In the present embodiment, for example, when a release button is pressed by the digital camera 72, the key driver 80a detects the pressing and notifies the application 82a of the detection. In the case of normal processing that is not set for remote operation, the API 84a mounted on the digital camera 72 is used as indicated by the dotted line. However, when the remote operation setting is set, the digital operation is performed via a wireless LAN. The camera 70 is notified that the release button has been pressed. The application 82b of the digital camera 70 executes processing when the release button is pressed using the API 84, as in the case of notification from the key driver 80b, and the return value from the API 84b is digitally transmitted via the wireless LAN. The camera 72 is notified.

  In this way, remote operation by the digital camera 72 is possible. Also, the application 82a of the digital camera 72 can send a message to the digital camera 70 via the wireless LAN instead of calling the API 84a, and can acquire the return value of the API 84b from the digital camera 70 in the same manner as when the API 84a is called. Conventionally used software can be used.

  Similarly, the application 82b of the digital camera 70 is notified of the same detection contents notified from the key driver 80b via the wireless LAN, and transmits the return value of the API 84b to the digital camera 72 via the wireless LAN. Therefore, it is possible to use software that has been used conventionally.

  Next, operation state information used between the digital cameras 70 and 72 will be described with reference to FIG. The operation state information indicating the operation state includes a FUNCTION and a VALUE as shown in FIG.

  FUNCTION indicates a function, and VALUE indicates a value used in the function. For example, the function when FUNCTION is 01h (h indicates a hexadecimal number) is MODE (operation mode), and when VALUE at that time is 02h, the operation mode is PLAY (playback). Yes.

  Such operation state information can be used as it is if it is the same model, and in the case of different models, it is previously unified between different models. It is desirable that this operation state information covers all operation states.

  With the above-described operation state information, the operation state of the digital camera 72 can be notified to the digital camera 70, and the digital camera 70 can be controlled based on the operation state.

  The protocol used in the communication between the digital cameras 70 and 72 described above may be UDP that is light in processing when transmitting digital image data, and may be reliable TCP in the case of other operation state information, for example. Further, digital image data may be transmitted by broadcast or multicast instead of unicast.

  Hereinafter, processing in the digital cameras 70 and 72 will be described with reference to flowcharts. In the following description, a remotely operated digital camera such as the digital camera 70 is expressed as a slave, and a remotely operated digital camera such as the digital camera 72 is expressed as a master.

  First, slave processing will be described with reference to FIG. In step 101, a digital image data transmission thread for transmitting digital image data indicating a subject to the master is activated. This thread corresponds to digital image data transmission means, and details of this processing will be described later.

  Step 102 is waiting for the above-described operation state information. When the operating state information is received, in step 103, the slave controls the operation of the digital camera based on the operating state information. Thereafter, in step 104, the slave transmits an ACK message indicating that the operating state information has been received to the master. Note that the above-described digital image data indicating a subject is digital image data indicating a through image in the present embodiment.

  Next, the processing of the digital image data transmission thread will be described with reference to FIG. In step 201, the slave acquires data for one page of the through image. In step 202, the slave transmits the acquired data as digital image data.

  Thereafter, the slave sets a timer in step 203. This timer is a timer for measuring an interval for transmitting a through image. If a timeout occurs at step 204, the process of step 201 is executed again.

  The digital image data transmission thread described above is a thread that is generated or deleted as necessary.

  Next, a master process corresponding to the slave process will be described with reference to FIG. In step 301, the master activates a digital image data reception thread. Details of the processing of this digital image data reception thread will be described later.

  Next, in step 302, the master executes master basic processing. This master basic process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Step 401 is waiting for a user operation. When an operation is performed by the user, in step 402, the master creates operation state information based on the operation content. In the next step 403 (operation state information transmission means), the master transmits the created operation state information to the slave. Thereafter, in step 404, the master sets a timer. This timer is an ACK message wait timer, and is a timer for confirming whether or not the slave has received.

  In step 405, the message branches. If the timeout message is received from the thread managing the timer, the master transmits the operation state information again in step 403. On the other hand, when an ACK message is received from the slave, the process ends.

  Next, the processing of the digital image data reception thread (see FIG. 8: S301) will be described with reference to FIG. Step 501 waits for digital image data reception from the slave. In step 502, the master determines whether or not there is manipulator information indicating a manipulator to be displayed on the subject image indicated by the digital image data. There are two types of operators based on operator information provided in advance in the master and those based on operator information received from the slave.

  When the master and the slave are of the same model, the control information is the same for the master and the slave, so the control is displayed based on the control information that the master has in advance. As a result, a user accustomed to the operation of the slave can perform a remote operation with exactly the same operation.

  On the other hand, when the master and slave are different models, the master acquires the operating element information from the slave, so that a user who is accustomed to the operation of the slave can perform remote operation with exactly the same operation.

  Return to the description of the flowchart. In the determination process in step S502, when there is operation information indicating an operation element to be displayed in an overlapping manner, the master displays the operation element in an overlapped manner on the subject image in the designated display area in step 503. Here, the designated display area is an area that is set to display the subject images from a plurality of slaves so that the subject images do not overlap.

  If there is no operation element to be displayed in a superimposed manner, the master displays the subject image in the designated display area in step 504.

  Next, in the above-described processing of the slave and the master, processing for receiving operation information from the slave and displaying the operation information on the subject image will be described. First, the structure of the operator information will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the operator information includes an X coordinate, a Y coordinate, a button radius, and a button name.

  The X coordinate and the Y coordinate are position information on which the operation element is displayed on the LCD. The button radius is shape information indicating the radius of the operation element expressed as a button. The button name is name information for identifying the button.

  The master receives and displays from the slave the number of operation elements that display the above-described operation element information.

  Processing of the slave that transmits the operation element information will be described with reference to FIG. In step 601 (operation element information transmitting means), the slave transmits operation element information. In step 602, a digital image data transmission thread for transmitting digital image data indicating a subject to the master is activated.

  Step 603 is waiting for reception of operating state information. When the operating state information is received, in step 604, the slave controls the digital camera based on the operating state information. Thereafter, the slave transmits an ACK message to the master in step 605.

  Next, a master process corresponding to the slave process will be described with reference to FIG. Step 701 is waiting for operation information reception. When the control information is received, the master stores the control information in step 702. When the operator information is saved, it is determined that the operator information is present in the digital image data reception thread process (see FIG. 10) described above, and the operator is displayed.

  In step 703, the master activates a digital image data reception thread, and in step 704, master basic processing (see FIG. 9) is executed.

  FIG. 14 shows a screen displayed on the master LCD 38 by the above processing. FIG. 14 shows a subject image 90 and a plurality of operating elements 92. As shown in FIG. 14, the operator is displayed so as to be superimposed on the subject image. The user's contact with the operation element is detected by the touch panel.

  Next, a process in which the master displays a list of subject images indicated by digital image data received from a plurality of slaves and causes the user to select a slave that transmits operation state information from the list of subject images will be described with reference to FIG. explain.

  Since this process only needs to be handled by the master, only the process of the master will be described. In step 801 (list display means), digital image data reception threads are activated for the number of subject images to be displayed. This process is a process of activating six digital image data reception threads when, for example, subject images received from six slaves are displayed on the LCD 38 as shown in FIG. By this processing, it is possible to display a list of subject images indicated by digital image data received from a plurality of slaves.

  Step 802 is waiting for selection of a subject image by the user. When the user touches the subject image, the CPU 40 can specify the subject image selected by the user from the position information detected by the touch panel (selecting means). When the subject image is selected, in step 803 (imaging device specifying means), the master specifies the digital camera that transmits the operation state information based on the selected subject image. As this specifying method, for example, there is a method of associating the displayed subject image with the IP address of the slave that transmitted the subject image. In step 804, the master executes master basic processing (see FIG. 9) for the identified slave.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the imaging | photography system which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure on the external appearance of the digital camera which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the electric system of the digital camera which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation | movement outline | summary of the software in a digital camera. It is a figure which shows operation state information. It is a flowchart which shows a process of a slave (the 1). It is a flowchart which shows the process of a digital image data transmission thread | sled. It is a flowchart which shows the process of a master (the 1). It is a flowchart which shows a master basic process. It is a flowchart which shows the process of a digital image data receiving thread. It is a figure which shows operation element information. It is a flowchart which shows a process of a slave (the 2). It is a flowchart which shows a process of a master (the 2). It is a figure which shows a to-be-photographed image and several operation elements. It is a flowchart which shows the process of a master (the 3). It is a figure which shows the image which displayed the to-be-photographed image received from six slaves.

Explanation of symbols

10, 70, 72 Digital camera 36 LCD interface 38 LCD
40 CPU
56A Release button 56B Power switch 56C Mode switch 56E Forced light switch 56D Cross cursor button 56 Operation unit 60 Wireless LAN interface 74 Through image 80a, 80b Key driver 82a, 82b Application 84a, 84b API
90 Subject image 92 Controller

Claims (7)

An imaging system having a first imaging device and a second imaging device,
The first photographing device includes:
Digital image data transmitting means for transmitting digital image data representing a subject to the second photographing device;
Manipulator information transmission means for transmitting manipulator information including shape information of the manipulator operated by the user, position information for displaying the manipulator, and name information for identifying the manipulator;
Control means for receiving operation state information indicating an operation state of the second image capturing apparatus from the second image capturing apparatus, and controlling operation based on the operation state information;
Have
The second imaging device includes:
A subject image based on the received digital image data is displayed on a display unit included in the second imaging device, and an operator indicated by the operator information received from the first imaging device is superimposed on the subject image. and the object image displaying means for displaying on said display means together,
Operation means including an operator displayed by the subject image display means operated by a user in order to change the operation state of the second imaging device;
An operation state information transmitting unit configured to create the operation state information based on an operation content operated by a user with the operation unit, and to transmit the operation state information to the first imaging device;
A shooting system. A plurality of the first imaging devices;
The second imaging device includes:
List display means for displaying a list of subject images indicated by the digital image data received from the plurality of first imaging devices;
Selection means for allowing a user to select the first imaging device that transmits the operation state information from the list of subject images;
An imaging device specifying unit for specifying the first imaging device that transmits the operation state information based on the subject image selected by the selection unit;
The imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising:   An imaging control method in an imaging system having a first imaging device and a second imaging device,
  Digital image data transmission stage for transmitting digital image data representing a subject to the second imaging device by the first imaging device, shape information of an operator operated by the user, and displaying the operator Operating information indicating the operating status of the second imaging device from the second imaging device, and the operating information transmitting stage for transmitting the operator information including name information for identifying the operating information. And controlling the operation based on the operation state information,
  Have
  A subject image based on the digital image data received by the second imaging device is displayed on a display unit included in the second imaging device, and indicated by the operator information received from the first imaging device. Displayed by the subject image display step of displaying an operation element on the display means by superimposing the operation element on the subject image, and by the subject image display means operated by the user in order to change the operation state of the second photographing apparatus. An operation state information transmitting step of creating the operation state information based on operation contents operated by a user with an operation means including an operation element, and transmitting the operation state information to the first imaging device;
  A shooting control method.   The photographing system includes a plurality of the first photographing devices,
  A list display step for displaying a list of subject images indicated by the digital image data received from the plurality of first imaging devices by the second imaging device, and the first imaging device for transmitting the operation state information. A selection step for allowing a user to select from the list of subject images, and a photographing device identification step for identifying the first photographing device that transmits the operation state information based on the subject image selected in the selection step;
  The imaging control method according to claim 3, further comprising:   The imaging apparatus in an imaging system having an imaging apparatus and another apparatus,
  The imaging device
  Digital image data transmitting means for transmitting digital image data representing a subject to the other device;
  Manipulator information transmission means for transmitting manipulator information including shape information of the manipulator operated by the user, position information for displaying the manipulator, and name information for identifying the manipulator;
  Control means for receiving operation state information indicating an operation state of the other device from the other device and controlling the operation based on the operation state information;
  Have
  The other device is
  The subject image based on the received digital image data is displayed on a display unit included in the other device, and the display unit is displayed by superimposing an operator indicated by the operator information received from the photographing device on the subject image. Subject image display means for displaying on
  An operation unit including an operator displayed by the subject image display unit operated by a user in order to change an operation state of the other photographing apparatus;
  An operation state information transmitting unit configured to create the operation state information based on an operation content operated by a user using the operation unit, and to transmit the operation state information to the photographing apparatus;
  An imaging apparatus in an imaging system having   The imaging apparatus in an imaging system having another apparatus and an imaging apparatus,
  The other device is
  Digital image data transmitting means for transmitting digital image data representing a subject to the photographing device;
  Manipulator information transmission means for transmitting manipulator information including shape information of the manipulator operated by the user, position information for displaying the manipulator, and name information for identifying the manipulator;
  Control means for receiving operation state information indicating an operation state of the image capturing apparatus from the image capturing apparatus and controlling an operation based on the operation state information;
  Have
  The imaging device
  A subject image based on the received digital image data is displayed on a display unit included in the photographing apparatus, and an operator indicated by the manipulation element information received from the first photographing apparatus is superimposed on the subject image. Subject image display means for displaying on the display means;
  An operation unit including an operator displayed by the subject image display unit operated by a user in order to change an operation state of the photographing apparatus;
  An operation state information transmitting unit configured to create the operation state information based on an operation content operated by a user using the operation unit, and to transmit the operation state information to the other device;
  An imaging apparatus in an imaging system having   The imaging system has a plurality of the other devices,
  The imaging device
  List display means for displaying a list of subject images indicated by the digital image data received from the plurality of other devices;
  Selection means for allowing the user to select the other device that transmits the operation state information from the list of subject images;
  An imaging device specifying unit that specifies the other device that transmits the operation state information based on the subject image selected by the selection unit;
  The imaging device according to claim 6, further comprising:

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