JP2002009879A - Wearable network system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a new use of portable electronic units by combining the portable electronic units and systematically using them. SOLUTION: An electronic still camera 1, a watch 2 and a portable telephone terminal 8 have wireless communication functions by radio 3 and they constitute a local network. Picture information recorded by the electronic still camera 1 is transmitted to the watch 2 and the portable telephone terminal 8 and picture information can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 200 of the watch 2 and the display 805 of the portable telephone terminal 8. A transmission function to an electronic still camera 1 from the watch 2 and a transmission function to an electronic still camera 1 from the portable telephone terminal 8 are given. The portable telephone terminal 8 displays the picture based on the picture information sent from the electronic still camera 1 on the display 805 as a stand-by picture and it is transmitted to a server 904 through a base station 901, a telephone line network 902 and the Internet 903.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a wearable network system for linking portable electronic devices such as a camera, a portable telephone terminal, and a wristwatch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, portable telephone terminals provided with a display device having a large number of pixels (generally, a liquid crystal display) have become widespread. Some mobile phone terminals of this type can display a predetermined image (also referred to as wallpaper) as a standby screen.

There is also a wristwatch equipped with a display device having a large number of pixels. Some wristwatches of this type can display not only time information but also character information such as an address book or a schedule or image information such as an image in a wide range by making the most of its display performance.

[0004] On the other hand, portable digital cameras (hereinafter simply referred to as "digital cameras") have become widespread. A digital camera can be carried on a trip or mountain climbing, and can capture and electronically record images of various scenes. Recently, a wristwatch that incorporates sensors for temperature, air pressure, humidity, direction, water depth, blood pressure, number of steps, position, and the like and displays a measurement result has been devised.

[0005]

However, these portable telephone terminals, wristwatches, and digital cameras are all portable electronic devices, but it has not been possible to use them in combination until now. The other is just used for checking the time and recording the image,
There was a problem that each had only a single use value.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to make portable electronic devices available in a system by combining them, and to propose a new use of portable electronic devices. Is what you do.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wearable network system comprising a plurality of portable electronic devices, and at least one of the plurality of devices. Comprises data generation means for generating data for transmission to another device, and transmission means for transmitting data generated by the data generation means, and the other device includes data transmitted by the transmission means. And a data processing means for executing a process based on the data received by the receiving means to form a local network among the plurality of electronic devices, One is a mobile phone terminal, connected to an external network via the mobile phone terminal, one of the plurality of devices is a camera, and the camera Said data generating means captures a subject to generate image data, said transmitting means transmits the image data the generated to the mobile phone terminal.

[0008] Therefore, data generated from one portable electronic device is transmitted, and received and processed by the other electronic device, whereby the portable electronic devices are linked to each other to form a local computer. A network is formed. Then, by connecting to the external network via the mobile phone terminal forming the local network, the local network is connected to the external network. Therefore, it becomes possible to take an image of an appropriate subject with a camera in a local network, transmit the image data to the mobile phone terminal, and further transmit the image data from the mobile terminal to an external network.

[0009] In the wearable network system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the portable telephone terminal includes display means for displaying the received image as a standby screen, and the data processing means includes a receiving means. To display an image based on the received image data on the display means as a standby screen.

That is, the portable telephone terminal forming the local network has a function of displaying a standby screen called wallpaper on the display means. Then, when an appropriate subject is imaged by the camera and the image data is transmitted, the mobile phone terminal receiving the image displays an image based on the received image data as a standby screen. Therefore, various wallpapers can be used for the standby screen of the mobile phone terminal by capturing an arbitrary subject with the camera in the local network.

A wearable network system according to a third aspect of the present invention has means for allowing a portable telephone terminal and a camera to transmit and receive data to and from each other wirelessly, and transmits image data captured by the camera to the portable telephone terminal. The data is transferred, and the data processing means of the mobile phone terminal sets the image as a standby screen of the mobile phone terminal.

That is, the portable telephone terminal is provided with setting means for displaying a standby screen called wallpaper on the display means. Then, when an appropriate subject is imaged by the camera and the image data is transmitted, the mobile phone terminal receiving the image sets the image based on the received image data as a standby screen. Therefore, by capturing an arbitrary subject, various wallpapers can be used for the standby screen.

In a wearable network system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the portable telephone terminal has means for connecting to the Internet, and means for transmitting image data sent from the camera to a server on the Internet. Have. Therefore, the user of each terminal can send the data of the image captured by the digital camera to the Internet server via the mobile phone terminal, thereby supplying the image captured at any time to the Internet server as needed. be able to.

[0014] In the wearable network system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the Internet server accumulates the transmitted image data and stores it so that it can be accessed from outside. Therefore, a person other than the photographer can enjoy various images by accessing and taking in the server via the Internet, and can be applied to various network businesses.

In the wearable network system according to the present invention, the data generating means generates a thumbnail image, and the data transmitting means transmits the thumbnail image. In other words, transmission and reception of images captured by transmission and reception of thumbnail images are performed.

In the wearable network system according to the present invention, the data generating means performs an image reduction process in accordance with a display size of the receiving electronic device. Therefore, even when the display size of the electronic device on the receiving side is smaller than the size of the image captured by the camera, an appropriate image display can be performed.

In the wearable network system according to the present invention, the transmitting means of the camera detects whether or not the portable telephone terminal is busy, and performs a transmitting process if the portable telephone terminal is not busy. When the user is busy, the transmission process is interrupted, and the transmission process is performed again after a predetermined time. Therefore, the image data is not transmitted while the mobile phone terminal is busy and the process related to the call is being executed, thereby avoiding a situation in which the process is concentrated and becomes physically busy. .

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

Here, the intended range of the present invention is not limited to the electronic still camera described in the embodiment. Any device that records images electronically may be used. For example, a moving image camera may be used, or a portable information terminal having an imaging function, an electronic organizer, a personal computer, or the like may be used. Also, a wristwatch does not necessarily mean only a type of watch worn on an “arm”. Any device that is used exclusively for checking the time and has a portable shape may be used.

The term "image" is used for a general purpose, and includes an imaged analog video signal, a luminance / color difference combined image signal, a signal compressed in a JPEG format or the like, and a signal modulated for communication. It includes a signal, a thumbnail with a reduced amount of information, an image displayed on a liquid crystal display, and the like.

(First Embodiment) <Link Configuration of Camera, Wrist Watch, and Mobile Phone Terminal in First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a wearable network system according to the present embodiment. In addition, 1 is a so-called electronic still camera such as a digital camera that electronically records images, and 1a is a diagram viewed obliquely from the upper front and 1b is a diagram viewed from the rear. 101 is a shutter key, 102 is a liquid crystal display, 103 is a microphone for inputting sound, and 104 is a speaker for outputting sound. The speaker may be a detachable earphone or headphones, and the microphone may be a detachable microphone.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a wristwatch; 200, a liquid crystal display of the wristwatch; 210, a microphone for inputting voice; and 211, a speaker for outputting voice.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a portable telephone terminal, and the portable telephone terminal 8 has a long device main body 802 which can be held by one hand. An extendable rod antenna 803 is provided on the top of the device main body 802, and a speaker 804 for a call for reproducing an audio signal sent from a call partner by placing an ear during a call is provided on an upper front surface. ing. Below the speaker 804, a display unit 805 including an LCD for displaying a message received on a standby screen to be described later, an operation guide of the mobile phone terminal 8, an operation status, and the like is arranged. A plurality of keys 807 are arranged below the display unit 805, and a microphone 808 for the user to input a voice while holding a call is arranged near the lower end of the keys 807.

The key 807 is composed of a power key, an on-hook key, an off-hook key, a numeric keypad, a mode key, and the like, which are generally provided in a portable telephone terminal.

The electronic still camera 1, the wristwatch 2, and the portable telephone terminal 8, as will be apparent from the following description, each have a wireless communication function using the radio 3 and constitute a local network. For example,
Image information recorded by the electronic still camera 1 is transmitted to the wristwatch 2 and the mobile phone terminal 8, and the image information can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 200 of the wristwatch 2 and the display unit 805 of the mobile phone terminal 8. Also, a transmission function from the wristwatch 2 to the electronic still camera 1 side, and a mobile phone terminal 8
Also has a function of transmitting data from the electronic still camera 1 to the electronic still camera 1.
From electronic still camera 1 to wristwatch 2 or mobile phone terminal 8
Is transmitted to one wristwatch 2 by one image information.
Not only a single transmission mode in which the same image information is transmitted only once, but also a mode in which the same image information is continuously or simultaneously transmitted to a plurality of wristwatches may be included.

Although a communication system will be described later, a known communication system can be used, and thus a detailed description thereof will not be given. It is also conceivable that the electronic still camera 1 transmits unilaterally, or that a response signal is returned from the wristwatch 2 to establish a link. A wireless LAN can also be constructed. Although there is a problem of directivity, infrared communication may be used. In other words, the local network means an environment in which data can be exchanged between electronic devices without being limited to a LAN having a server.

The mobile phone terminal 8 communicates with the base station 901 so that the base station 901 and the telephone network 90 can communicate with each other.
2 can be connected to the Internet 903. A server 904 is connected to the Internet 903. The server 104 accumulates image data transmitted from the mobile phone terminal 8 and stores the image data so that the image data can be accessed from outside, as described later. Therefore, the telephone network 90 is connected to the personal computer 905 having a built-in modem.
2 and the server 904 can be accessed via the Internet 903 and image data can be downloaded from the server 904.

<Structure of Electronic Still Camera in First Embodiment> FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera 1. In this figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a photographic lens, 11 denotes a diaphragm mechanism provided on the optical axis of the photographic lens 10, 12 denotes a driving unit of the diaphragm mechanism 11, and 13 denotes an image pickup signal of a subject upon receiving light passing through the diaphragm mechanism 11. , A driver for driving the CCD 13, a timing generator (abbreviation) for generating various timing signals such as a signal for controlling a charge accumulation time (imaging time) of the CCD 13. : TG), 16 is a sample-and-hold circuit (abbreviation: S / H) for sampling the imaging signal from the CCD 13 and removing noise, and 17 is an analog-to-digital converter (abbreviation for converting the imaging signal after noise removal into a digital signal). : A / D). The image sensor (image sensor) is not limited to a CCD, but may be another device such as a C-MOS or an image pickup tube.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a luminance value from the output of the A / D 17.
A color processing circuit for generating a color difference combined signal (hereinafter referred to as an "image signal"); 19, a video transfer circuit; 20, a buffer memory for holding the image signal; 21, an image signal, compressed by a predetermined encoding method (generally, a JPEG method) A compression / expansion circuit for performing / expansion processing, a photometric sensor 22 for measuring the brightness of the subject, and a fixed or removable flash memory 23 for recording the compressed image signal. The buffer memory 20 has an area for storing at least one screen image. A storage area for a plurality of screens is provided, and the captured images are sequentially stored, and a compression process is performed later to enable quick shooting. The flash memory 23 has a mode for storing a compressed image and a mode for storing an uncompressed image. Thumbnails can also be saved. Furthermore, audio data can be stored.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a CPU which executes a control program stored in a program ROM 24a on a work RAM 24b to perform recording and reproduction control of an image and various control processes accompanying these controls. Work RAM 24
The same memory as b and the buffer memory 20 may be used, or roles may be changed.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a key input unit for generating a key input signal in response to various key operations such as a shutter key 101 and a transfer key 105, and 26 denotes a signal suitable for displaying an image signal held in the buffer memory 20. A digital video encoder for converting to a format; 102, a liquid crystal display for an image monitor for displaying a signal from the digital video encoder 26; 30, data between an external device (wristwatch 2, mobile phone terminal 8) via an antenna 31 A communication unit 32 having a modulation circuit for transmitting and receiving data is provided, and a bus 32 connects the components.

A clock circuit 40 stores date and time information. The clocking process is performed by the CPU 24, and the timed date / time information is periodically rewritten. Reference numeral 41 denotes a power supply circuit for supplying electric power of a battery and a secondary battery to each unit. Reference numeral 42 denotes a sound control unit for taking in sound input from the microphone 103 and outputting sound from the speaker 104.

Reference numeral 50 denotes a remote controller for exchanging signals with the remote controller receiver 51. The remote control receiving unit 51 has a CP
It is controlled by U24. A shutter operation or the like can be performed by the remote controller 50. The electronic still camera 1 having such a configuration includes a key input unit 2
5 can be switched between an image recording mode and an image recording mode by a predetermined key operation.
A through mode in which imaging signals periodically taken out from the CD 13 are converted into signals suitable for display and sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display 102, and a capture mode in which a desired imaging signal is recorded in the flash memory 23 by operating the shutter key 101. And can be divided into Reference numeral 110 denotes a Bluetooth transmission / reception circuit module, and reference numeral 111 denotes a Bluetooth antenna. Reference numeral 112 denotes an interface circuit, which is a data output terminal 11 for connecting to a personal computer.
3 are connected.

<Through Mode in First Embodiment> In the through mode (monitor mode of the subject), the CCD 13 disposed behind the photographic lens 10
, And the subject image collected by the photographic lens 10 is photoelectrically converted at regular intervals, and a signal for one image is output. Then, this signal is sampled by the S / H 16 and converted into a digital signal by the A / D 17, and then an image signal is generated by the color process circuit 18.
This image signal is transferred to the buffer memory 20 via the video transfer circuit 19, and after the transfer to the buffer is completed, is read out by the video transfer circuit 19 and sent to the liquid crystal display 102 via the digital video encoder 26. It is displayed as a through image.

<Capture Mode in First Embodiment> When the direction of the camera is changed in this state, the composition of the through image displayed on the liquid crystal display 102 changes, and an appropriate time (a desired composition is obtained). ), The exposure and focus are set automatically or manually by pressing the shutter key halfway and then fully pressed, the mode switches to the capture mode, and the image signal stored in the image buffer of the buffer memory 20 is displayed. The through image displayed on the liquid crystal display 102 is also fixed at the same time as the image signal at that time. Then, the image signal stored in the image buffer of the buffer memory 20 at that time is sent to the compression / expansion circuit 21 via the video transfer circuit 19, and the 8 × 8 pixels are output for each component of the luminance information and the color difference information. After being JPEG-encoded in units called basic blocks, they are recorded (captured) in the flash memory 23. Further, after the shutter key is “fully pressed”, the sound input from the microphone 103 within a predetermined time is also recorded in the flash memory 23 together with the captured image when the “full press”. Therefore, an audio recording image is recorded in the flash memory 23.

<Reproduction Mode in First Embodiment>
In the reproduction mode, the path from the CCD 13 to the buffer memory 20 is cut off, and the latest captured image is read out from the flash memory 23, and compressed / compressed.
After being decompressed by the decompression circuit 21, it is sent to the image buffer of the buffer memory 20 via the video transfer circuit 19. Then, the data in the image buffer is sent to the liquid crystal display 102 via the video transfer circuit 19 and the digital video encoder 26, and is displayed as a reproduced image. At this time, when the audio data is stored together with the captured image, the audio is generated from the speaker 104 by the operation of the audio control circuit 42.

The reproduced image can be changed by operating a predetermined key of the key input section 25, for example, a plus (+) key or a minus (-) key, and can be changed by operating a predetermined function key. It is also possible to transmit to the outside via the communication unit 30.

<Structure of Wristwatch in First Embodiment> FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the wristwatch 2. In this figure, reference numeral 201 denotes an oscillation circuit for generating an accurate periodic signal;
2 is a clock circuit for dividing the periodic signal generated by the oscillation circuit 201 to generate a date and time signal indicating the current date and time;
3 is a key input unit for generating a key signal such as date and time adjustment,
215, a liquid crystal display as a display unit; 205, a memory for storing a control program for realizing a clock function and various functions attached to the function; 207, an antenna; 206, a communication unit; This is a control unit that controls the entire wristwatch. When the received image is stored in the memory 205, it is desirable to store the reception date and time information of the image in the image (in a file header or the like) or in a file system that manages the image data. . The date and time information may be displayed so as to overlap a part of the image, or may be used for image management and the like.

The memory 205 may have an area for storing a received image or a sound recording image. If the received image is only displayed on the liquid crystal display 215 as a video through and is not stored, the storage capacity can be reduced.

The liquid crystal display 215 is a small-sized flat display device having n × m pixels, and is preferably a device capable of multicolor display in color or monochrome.

Reference numeral 209 denotes an audio control unit for taking in audio input from the microphone 210 and outputting audio from the speaker 211. 212 is a remote control transmission unit,
It has the same function as the remote controller 50 of FIG. 2, and can control the electronic still camera 1 by operating the remote controller from the timepiece 2.

Here, the communication unit 206 realizes a wireless data connection using the same protocol as the communication unit 30 of the electronic still camera 1. The protocol may be wireless, for example, infrared communication (IrDA), which is a common technique of short-range wireless, may be used. However, in consideration of a drawback of IrDA (weak against obstacles), FM has little directivity.
It is preferable to use wireless communication techniques such as (frequency modulation) and spread spectrum. Even if one of the electronic still camera 1 and the wristwatch 2 is in a pocket or a bag, data connection can be performed without any trouble.

For example, a short distance of about 10 m is covered using a radio wave in the 2.45 GHz band, and a maximum transfer rate of 721 Kbps (a transfer rate of 1 Mb) can be achieved by one-to-one connection.
ps; the next version will be increased to 2 Mbps). A short-range, weak transmission output mobile communication technology called “Bluetooth” is one of the candidate technologies to be adopted. It can be realized only by mounting a small transceiver module (corresponding to the Bluetooth module 30 in FIG. 2 and the communication unit 206 in FIG. 3). Other, 64Kb
A wireless LAN communication system such as the psPHS self-management standard third edition standard or 11 Mbps IEEE 802.11 HR DSSS can be applied.

<Structure of Mobile Phone Terminal in First Embodiment> FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the mobile phone terminal 8.
The speaker 804, the display unit 805, the keys 807, and the microphone 808 are connected to a control unit 809.
Further, the control unit 809 includes a calling speaker 810,
A transmitting / receiving unit 811, a reception data storage unit 813, an I / F (interface) unit 8 connected to the antenna 803;
14 and a standby screen data storage unit 815 are connected.

The transmitting / receiving unit 811 performs wireless communication with the base station 901 shown in FIG. The reception data storage unit 813 stores received mail data, and the I / F unit 814 stores
(Personal computer), which is an interface unit for inputting and outputting data to and from other devices. The standby screen data storage unit 815 stores image data transmitted from the electronic still camera 1 as standby screen data.

The control unit 809 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM
The CPU operates in accordance with a program stored in the ROM while using the RAM as a work area, thereby controlling each unit and executing processing necessary for the mobile phone terminal 8. That is, the control unit 8
09 is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 811 to the telephone line network 90 shown in FIG.
2, a call process for transmitting a call signal for calling another telephone terminal, a reception process for generating a ring tone from the speaker 810 when a call signal is transmitted from the base station 901, a ring tone. When the user inputs a command to connect the mobile phone terminal 8 to the telephone network 902 in response to the occurrence of, the connection processing for connecting the mobile phone terminal 8 to the telephone network 902 via the transmission / reception unit 811; When the user is able to make a call, the voice signal input by the user from the microphone 808 is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 811 to the base station 901 side, and a process of generating a voice from the speaker 84 based on the received voice signal is performed.

Further, the control unit 809 controls the telephone network 902
Then, a process of transmitting message data to the server via the Internet 903 or taking in the message data stored in the server and displaying the message data on the display unit 805 is executed. In addition to such general message data transmission / reception processing, the standby screen data storage unit 815
Display a standby screen image based on the image data (standby screen data) stored in the display unit 805, or transmit the standby screen data to the other party's mobile phone terminal 8 via the telephone network 902, or A process for transmitting to the server via the telephone network 902 and the Internet 903 is executed.

Further, the control unit 809 includes the following:
An encoder 891 for converting the message data and the standby screen data into a signal for transmission to perform data communication of the message data and the standby screen data, and a decoder 8 for restoring the message data and the standby screen data from the received signal
92 are built in.

The antenna 803 and the transmission / reception unit 811 connected to the antenna 803 not only have a function of performing wireless communication with the base station 901, but also have a function of transmitting from the transmission unit 30 of the electronic still camera 1 via the antenna 31. It also has a function of receiving transmitted data.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a control program of the electronic still camera 1,
4 is a schematic flowchart of a program executed by a CPU 24 in a recording mode. This program determines a mode change in response to a predetermined key operation of the key input unit 25 (S1) while performing a through image display process (S1) of displaying a captured image on the liquid crystal display 102 as a monitor.
2) If there is no mode change, the shutter key 101
The exposure control process (S4) and the image recording process (S6) are executed in response to the push-down operation (S3, S5).

In addition, a voice recording process (S7) for recording voice input from the microphone 103 within a predetermined time after the pressing operation of the shutter key 101 is also executed. It is determined whether or not the mode is the reproduction mode (S8). If the mode is the reproduction mode, the "reproduction mode control" of FIG.
If not, another mode selection process is executed. Here, the operation of the shutter key 101 is not limited to pressing down, but may be touch key, remote control, computer control, or the like.

In FIG. 6, in the “reproduction mode control”,
First, the i-th captured image is stored in the flash memory 23.
After the data is read out and decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 21,
The image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 102 via the digital video encoder 26 (S11). If audio data is stored together with the i-th captured image, the audio data is read from the flash memory 23 and reproduced by the speaker 104 via the audio control circuit 42 (S
12). Here, the initial value of the variable i is the number of the last captured image stored in the flash memory 23, that is, the number of the last recorded image.

When a change of the display image is desired (YES in S12), a predetermined key of the key input unit 25, for example, a plus (+) key or a minus (-) key is operated to change the value of the variable i. After the update (S14), the i-th captured image is read out again from the flash memory 23, decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 21, and displayed on the liquid crystal display 102 via the digital video encoder 26 (S11). Is reproduced (S12).

After confirming the desired image display and sound, it is next determined whether or not to transmit an image (or a sound recording image) (S15). This determination is made by, for example, the key input unit 2
This is performed by determining the operation of the predetermined key 5. When the image transmission is not performed (NO determination in S15), the program is terminated as it is. When the image transmission is performed (YES determination in S15), the i-th captured image, that is,
A reduced image (also called a thumbnail image) of the captured image displayed on the liquid crystal display 102 is generated (S1).
6).

Next, it is checked whether the receiving electronic device (in this case, the portable telephone terminal) is busy (S1).
7). When the receiving-side electronic device performs communication between the local network and the outside using the same receiving unit, it is physically busy and cannot transmit even if it tries to transmit data. In the case where the receiving unit for telephone communication and the Bluetooth receiving unit are separately provided, reception may be permitted even when the telephone is busy, and the reception data may be stored in a buffer. In the present embodiment, while the telephone receiving unit is transmitting / receiving, the transmission is determined as “busy” and the transmission is not accepted. If the user is busy, after waiting for a predetermined time (S18), the process from S15 is repeated. If the user is not busy, the reduced image is transmitted to the outside via the communication unit 30 (S19). If there is voice data, the voice data is transmitted (S20), and the program ends. Here, the size of the reduced image is, for example, wristwatch 2
And the reduction ratio is, for example, when the number of pixels of the captured image is M × N, this M × N is represented by the display unit 4 of the wristwatch 2.
3 and the number of pixels of the display unit 805 of the mobile phone terminal 8 (n ×
m). In general, a thumbnail often indicates a heading screen for an index created by thinning out large images. When an image is stored in a flash memory or the like, an image compressed by a compression method such as JPEG and a thumbnail of the image are stored and stored as a set (thumbnail is also often subjected to JPEG compression). At the time of reproduction, first, a list is displayed as thumbnails, and a compressed image corresponding to the selected thumbnail is read, decompressed, and displayed. In the present invention, when transferring an image, the captured image itself may be transferred, but generally, a compressed image that has been JPEG-compressed is generally transferred. Also, when transferring to an electronic device having a small display unit such as a wristwatch, it is sufficient to send an uncompressed thumbnail. Then, the transmission capacity is small, and there is no need to provide an extension circuit on the receiving side. In the above description, a thumbnail is created when an image is transmitted (S1).
6) If the thumbnail is stored in advance as a set with the image, the stored thumbnail may be read out without being newly created. This is also applicable to other embodiments described later.

In this embodiment, S16
Immediately after the end of the process, the receiving electronic device (mobile phone terminal)
Checked if he was busy, but S1
When the transmission processing is performed in steps 9 and 20, it is checked whether the receiving-side electronic device (in this case, the mobile phone terminal) is busy. Camera) may retransmit after a predetermined time.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a timekeeping control program executed by the control unit 208 of the wristwatch 2. This program first reads a date and time signal from the timing circuit 202 (S21), then determines whether or not data has been received from the electronic still camera 1 by the communication unit 206 (S22). (NO in S22), the date and time display on the liquid crystal display 215 is updated using the date and time signal read from the clock circuit 40 (S2).
3).

On the other hand, if it is determined in S22 that there is data reception, it is next determined whether or not the received data is appropriate (S24). If the received data is appropriate, an image is reproduced from the received data (S24). Then, the reproduced image is displayed on the display unit 43 (S26). If there is audio data in the received data, the audio is reproduced by the speaker 211 via the audio circuit 209 (S26).

FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of a control program executed by control unit 809 of portable telephone terminal 8.

If the standby screen data processing mode is set by a predetermined operation on the key 807, the processing is executed according to this flowchart. That is, it is determined whether or not image data has been received from the electronic still camera 1 (S31), and the standby state is maintained until image data is received. If image data has been received, the received image data is used as standby screen data as a standby screen data storage unit 81.
5 (step S32). Next, it is determined whether or not the reception of the image data has been completed (step S33), and the processes of steps S32 and S33 are repeated until the data reception is completed.

When the reception of the image data transmitted from the electronic still camera 1 is completed, it is determined whether or not an operation of transmitting the stored image data to a specific partner has been performed based on the presence or absence of a predetermined operation on the key 807. (Step S34). If the operation is performed, a calling process for transmitting a calling signal for calling another mobile phone terminal 8 is performed, and when a call state is established, the image stored in the standby screen data storage unit 815 is stored. The data is transmitted (step S8). Therefore, by this processing, the other party's mobile phone terminal 8 can store this in the standby screen data storage unit 815 and display it on the display unit 805 as a standby screen as described later.

It is determined whether or not an operation for distributing the stored image data to the Internet has been performed based on whether or not a predetermined operation has been performed on the key 807 (step S3).
6). If the operation is performed, the user connects to the Internet 903 via the telephone line network 902, and
3, the standby screen data storage unit 815
Is transmitted (step S3).
7). Therefore, the image data captured by each user with the electronic still camera 1 is sequentially stored in the server 904 on the Internet 903 so that the image data can be accessed from outside. Therefore, a person other than the photographer can
5 to access the server 904 on the Internet 903 to download and reproduce the image data, thereby constructing a system for freely enjoying another person's personal image. Of course, the download of the image data may be charged by a known charging method.

In step S38, it is determined whether any of the plurality of types of image data already stored in standby screen data storage section 815 has been selected. If any image data is selected, the image data is set as a standby screen (step S39), and a standby screen is displayed on the display unit 805 as a standby screen based on the standby screen data (step S40). ). Therefore, by the processing in steps S39 and S40, FIG.
As shown in (5), the standby screen image W1 based on the selected image data can be displayed on the display unit 805 of the mobile phone terminal 8 as a standby screen. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, by selecting another image data, the display unit 8 is displayed.
05 can be changed to the standby screen image W2.

In the above description, FIG.
As shown in (a), the person A is the electronic still camera 1,
It is assumed that the wristwatch 2 and the mobile phone terminal 8 are both carried, but as shown in FIG. 2B, the person B carries the electronic still camera 1 and the person C carries the wristwatch 2 and the mobile phone. A case where the terminal 8 is carried can also be assumed. In this case, if the distance between the persons B and C is short and they are located within the reach of the radio wave, the data transmitted from the electronic still camera 1 can be received by the wristwatch 2 or the mobile phone terminal 8 of the person C. According to this usage, persons around person B (persons belonging to the group)
May have common standby screen data. (Second Embodiment) Although a mobile phone terminal is not shown in the following embodiments, it is noted that a mobile phone terminal can be applied as an electronic device constituting a wearable network, as in the first embodiment. Of course. <Link configuration between camera and wristwatch in the second embodiment>

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a link system between a camera and a wristwatch according to the second embodiment. Reference numeral 600 denotes a so-called electronic still camera such as a digital camera for electronically recording an image. A diagram viewed obliquely from above, 600b is a diagram viewed from the back. 601 is a shutter, 602 is a liquid crystal display, 603 is a microphone for inputting sound, and 604 is a speaker for outputting sound. 700 is a wristwatch, 715 is a liquid crystal display of the wristwatch, 710 is a microphone for inputting sound, and 720 is a speaker for outputting sound.

As will be apparent from the following description, the electronic still camera 600 and the wristwatch 700 each have a wireless communication function using the radio 3.
The image information recorded by the electronic still camera 600 is stored in the wristwatch 7.
00, and the image information can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 715 of the wristwatch 700. Also,
It also has a transmission function from the wristwatch 700 to the electronic still camera 600 side. Electronic still camera 600 to watch 7
In the transmission mode to 00, one image information is transmitted to one wristwatch 7
It is possible to include not only a single transmission mode in which transmission is performed once every 00, but also a mode in which the same image information is continuously or broadcastly transmitted to a plurality of wristwatches.

Although a communication system will be described later, a known communication system can be used, and therefore, a detailed description thereof will not be given. Also,
The antenna of the electronic still camera 600 is not shown in FIG. It is also conceivable that the electronic still camera 600 transmits the message unilaterally, or that the wristwatch 700 returns a response signal to establish a link. A wireless LAN can also be constructed. Although there is a problem of directivity, infrared communication may be used.

<Structure of Electronic Still Camera in Second Embodiment>

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera 600. In this figure, 610 is a photographic lens,
Reference numeral 611 denotes an aperture mechanism provided on the optical axis of the photographic lens 610; 612, a driving unit of the aperture mechanism 611; 613, an image sensor (hereinafter, referred to as "CCD") that receives light passing through the aperture mechanism 611 and outputs an imaging signal of a subject. )), 614 is the CCD 61
And 615, a timing generator (abbreviation: T) for generating various timing signals such as a signal for controlling the charge accumulation time (imaging time) of the CCD 613.
G) and 616, a sample-and-hold circuit (abbreviation: S / H) for sampling the imaging signal from the CCD 613 to remove noise, and 617, an analog-to-digital converter (abbreviation: A / D). The image sensor (image sensor) is not limited to a CCD, but may be another device such as a C-MOS or an image pickup tube.

Reference numeral 618 denotes a color process circuit for generating a combined luminance / color difference signal (hereinafter, referred to as an "image signal") from the output of the A / D 617, reference numeral 619 denotes a video transfer circuit,
620, a buffer memory for holding image signals; 621, a compression / expansion circuit for compressing / expanding the image signals by a predetermined encoding method (generally, JPEG method); 622, a photometric sensor for measuring the brightness of a subject; The flash memory is a fixed or removable flash memory that records a compressed image signal. The buffer memory 620 has at least one
It has an area for storing images for the screen. If a storage area for a plurality of screens is provided, the captured images are sequentially stored, and compression processing is performed later, rapid shooting becomes possible. The flash memory 623 has a mode for storing a compressed image and a mode for storing an uncompressed image. Thumbnails can also be saved.

624 is a program ROM 624a
Is a CPU that executes the control program stored in the work RAM 624b to perform recording and reproduction control of images and various control processes accompanying these controls. Work RA
The same memory may be used for M624b and the buffer memory 620, or the role assignment may be changed.

A key input unit 625 generates a key input signal in response to various key operations such as a shutter key 601 and a transfer key 605, and 626 denotes a buffer memory 620.
602 is a liquid crystal display for an image monitor that displays a signal from the digital video encoder 626, and 630 is an antenna 631.
A communication unit having a modulation circuit for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external device (wristwatch 700) through the communication unit 632 is a bus connecting each unit.

A clock circuit 640 stores date and time information. The timekeeping process is performed by the CPU 624, and the timed date / time information is periodically rewritten. Reference numeral 641 denotes a power supply circuit which supplies power of a battery and a secondary battery to each unit.

Reference numeral 650 denotes a remote controller.
Exchanges signals with one. Remote control receiver 651
Is controlled by the CPU 624. A shutter operation or the like can be performed with the remote controller 650.

The electronic still camera 600 having such a configuration can be operated by a predetermined key operation of the key input section 625.
The mode can be switched between an image recording mode and a reproduction mode. The recording mode includes a through mode in which an image pickup signal periodically taken out from the CCD 613 is converted into a signal suitable for display and sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display 602, and a shutter mode. The capture mode can be divided into a capture mode in which a desired image pickup signal is recorded in the flash memory 623 by operating the key 601.

<Through Mode in the Second Embodiment> In the through mode, the CCD 613 disposed behind the photographic lens 610 is driven by a signal from the driver 614, and the subject image collected by the photographic lens 610 is fixed. Each time, photoelectric conversion is performed and a signal for one image is output. This signal is sampled by S / H 616, and A / H
After being converted into a digital signal in D617, an image signal is generated in the color processing circuit 618. This image signal is transferred to the buffer memory 620 via the video transfer circuit 619, and after the transfer to the buffer is completed, read out by the video transfer circuit 619 and sent to the liquid crystal display 602 via the digital video encoder 626. It is displayed as a through image.

<Capture Mode in Second Embodiment> When the direction of the camera is changed in this state, the composition of the through image displayed on the liquid crystal display 602 changes, and an appropriate time (a desired composition is obtained). ), The exposure and focus are set automatically or manually by pressing the shutter key halfway and then fully pressed, the mode switches to the capture mode, and the image signal stored in the image buffer of the buffer memory 620 is displayed. The through image, which is fixed by the image signal at that time and displayed on the liquid crystal display 602, is also fixed by the image at the same time. Then, the image signal stored in the image buffer of the buffer memory 620 at that time is sent to the compression / expansion circuit 21 via the video transfer circuit 619, and the 8 × 8 pixel is output for each component of the luminance information and the color difference information. After being JPEG-encoded in units called basic blocks, they are recorded (captured) in the flash memory 623.

<Reproduction Mode in Second Embodiment>
In the playback mode, the path from the CCD 613 to the buffer memory 620 is cut off, and the latest captured image is read out from the flash memory 623 and decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 21 before the video transfer circuit 619 Through the buffer memory 620
To the image buffer. The data in the image buffer is transferred to the liquid crystal display 6 via a video transfer circuit 619 and a digital video encoder 626.
02 and displayed as a reproduced image.

The reproduced image can be changed by operating a predetermined key of the key input section 625, for example, a plus (+) key or a minus (-) key, and by operating a predetermined function key. It is also possible to transmit to the outside via the communication unit 630.

<Structure of Wristwatch in Second Embodiment> FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a wristwatch 700. In this figure, reference numeral 701 denotes an oscillation circuit for generating an accurate periodic signal, reference numeral 702 denotes a clock circuit for dividing the periodic signal generated by the oscillator circuit 701 to generate a date and time signal indicating the current date and time, and reference numeral 703 denotes a date and time adjustment. 715 is a key input unit for generating a key signal, 715 is a liquid crystal display as a display unit, 7
Reference numeral 05 denotes a memory for storing a control program for realizing a clock function and various functions attached to the function, 707 an antenna, 706 a communication unit, and 708 a control unit for executing the control program and controlling the entire wristwatch. is there.

The memory 705 may have an area for storing the received image. If the received image is only displayed on the liquid crystal display 715 as a video through and is not stored, the storage capacity can be reduced. Also, the memory 70
When the received image is stored in the file 5, it is desirable to store the received date and time information of the image in the file (such as a file header) or in a file system that manages the image data. The date and time information may be displayed so as to overlap a part of the image, or may be used for image management and the like. The liquid crystal display 715 is a small flat display device with n × m pixels, and desirably uses a device capable of multicolor display in color or monochrome. An audio control unit 709 captures audio input from the microphone 710 and outputs audio from the speaker 711. A remote control transmission unit 712 has the same function as the remote control 650 in FIG. 12, and can control the electronic still camera 600 from the timepiece 700 by remote control operation.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a control program of the electronic still camera 600, and is a schematic flowchart of a program executed by the CPU 624 in the recording mode. This program determines a mode change in response to a predetermined key operation of the key input unit 625 (S602) while performing a through image display process (S601) of displaying a captured image on the liquid crystal display 602 as a monitor as a monitor. If there is no change,
Pressing down the shutter key 601 (S603, S6
05), the exposure control process (S604) and the image recording process (S606) are executed. If there is a mode change, it is determined whether or not the change destination mode is the playback mode (S607). In the case of the reproduction mode, the "reproduction mode control" shown in FIG. 15 is executed. Otherwise, the other mode selection processing is executed. Here, the operation of the shutter key 601 is not limited to pressing down, but may be performed by touch key, remote control, computer control, or the like.

Referring to FIG. 15, in the “reproduction mode control”, first, the i-th captured image is read from the flash memory 623, decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 621, and then read to the liquid crystal display 602 via the digital video encoder 626. It is displayed (S611). Here, the initial value of the variable i is the number of the last captured image stored in the flash memory 623, that is, the number of the last recorded image.

When a change of the display image is desired (S612)
The determination of YES is made by operating a predetermined key of the key input unit 25, for example, a plus (+) key or a minus (-) key, to update the value of the variable i (S613), and then again capture the i-th image. After the image is read from the flash memory 623 and decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 621, the liquid crystal display 6 is transmitted via the digital video encoder 626.
02 (S611).

After confirming the desired image display, it is next determined whether or not to transmit an image (S614). This determination is made, for example, by determining the operation of a predetermined key of the key input unit 625. When not transmitting an image (S6
(NO determination of 14) terminates the program as it is,
When image transmission is performed (YES in S614), the i-th captured image, that is, the liquid crystal display 60
After generating a reduced image (also referred to as a thumbnail image) of the captured image being displayed in 2 and transmitting the reduced image to the outside via the communication unit 630, the program ends. Here, the size of the reduced image is, for example, a size adapted to the display size of the liquid crystal display 715 of the wristwatch 700, and the reduction ratio is, for example, M ×
When N is set, this M × N is a value that can be converted into the number of pixels (n × m) of the liquid crystal display 715 of the wristwatch 700.

FIG. 16 is a schematic flowchart of a timekeeping control program executed by control unit 708 of wristwatch 700. This program first reads a date and time signal from the clock circuit 702 (S621).
At 06, it is determined whether or not data has been received from the electronic still camera 600 (S622). If no data has been received (NO at S622), the date and time display on the display unit is performed using the date and time signal read from the clock circuit 701. Is updated (S6
23). For example, FIG. 17A shows an example of the date and time display on the liquid crystal display 715 of the wristwatch 700. In this example, date information of “1999/08/11” and “12:
23 "time information is displayed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S622 that there is data reception, it is next determined whether or not the received data is appropriate (S624). If the received data is appropriate, an image is reproduced from the received data (S624). (S625), and the reproduced image is displayed on the display unit (S626). For example, FIG. 17B shows an example of an image display on the liquid crystal display 715 of the wristwatch 700. In this example, an image of the upper body of a person is displayed.

Next, a modification of the second embodiment will be described.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart for transferring the image of the electronic still camera 600 to the wristwatch 700 in response to the operation of the shutter key 601. In this flowchart, when the operation of the shutter key 601 is detected (S631), the imaging process is performed. That is, the image captured by the CCD 613 is subjected to a predetermined process,
20 (in the video through process, the display process is performed while repeatedly taking in the buffer memory 620) (S
632), a compression process is performed (S633), and the data is recorded in the flash memory 623 (S634). At this time, for example, J
The image compressed in the PEG format and the thumbnail image are recorded in pairs. At the same time, the compressed image or thumbnail image is modulated and transmitted (S635).

The image to be modulated is stored in the flash memory 62 once.
3 may be written and then read, or the modulation / transmission processing may be directly performed in parallel with or without writing to the flash memory 623.

FIG. 19 shows that the image transfer processing is not performed in response to the operation of the shutter key
9 is a flowchart of performing a transfer process in response to the operation of FIG. In this flowchart, first, the reproduction mode is set (S641). Then, the image recorded in the flash memory 23, generally, the last captured image is read out, expanded, and read out to the buffer memory 620.
The thumbnails may be read out together or earlier. Then, the image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 602 (S643).
Here, when an image is to be sent to the wristwatch 700, the transfer key 605 is operated (S644). Then, the CPU 62
The image or the thumbnail image compressed under the control of Step 4 is modulated and transmitted (S645).

FIG. 20 shows a case where an image is not transferred in response to an artificial key operation such as a shutter key 601 or a transfer key 605.
This is a flow in which an image is transferred in accordance with the timekeeping data of 40. That is, the clock data of the clock circuit 640 of the electronic still camera 600 is captured (S651), and when the clock data is, for example, every hour or a specific set date / time (S652), an image is automatically transmitted (S652). S
653).

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for transmitting a transfer request signal to the electronic still camera 600 using the timing data of the timing circuit 640 of the wristwatch 700 instead of the timing means 640 of the camera. That is, the wristwatch 700
The timing data of the timing circuit 702 of FIG.
1) When the timekeeping data becomes, for example, every hour or a specific set date / time (S662), an image transfer request is automatically output to the electronic still camera 600 (S662).
663), the electronic still camera 600 having received the transfer request signal performs image transfer processing, and the wristwatch 700 receives the transferred image.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG.
When the predetermined switch of 00 is pressed (S671), the electronic still camera 600 may be modified to transmit an image transfer request signal to the electronic still camera 600 (S672).

As described above, according to the electronic still camera 600 and the wristwatch 700 of the second embodiment, while an arbitrary image is being reproduced by the electronic still camera 600, reduced image data of the reproduced image is wirelessly transmitted. It is possible,
In addition, when the wristwatch 700 is present in the radio wave reach area, the reduced image data is stored in the wristwatch 700.
And can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 715 of the wristwatch 700.

Therefore, the following systematic usage can be realized, and a new use of a wristwatch equipped with a display device can be sought. (A) In FIG. 23A, a person A carries the electronic still camera 600 and the wristwatch 700 together. The person A can confirm the image captured by the electronic still camera 600 on the liquid crystal display 602 of the electronic still camera 600 when reproducing and confirming the image. It can also be confirmed on the display 715. According to this usage, the liquid crystal display 715 of the wristwatch 700
Can be used instead of the monitor screen (liquid crystal display 602) of the electronic still camera 600. (B) In FIG. 23B, a person B carries an electronic still camera 600, and a person C carries (wears) a wristwatch 700. In a case where the distance between the persons B and C is close to each other and the radio waves are located within the range, the image data transmitted from the electronic still camera 600 can be received by the wristwatch 700 of the person C.
According to this usage method, it is possible to easily transfer an image between the persons B and C. Further, when the persons B and C are other persons, it is possible to transfer an image to an unspecified person,
For example, it can be used like an encounter game in a crowd.

In the above embodiment, an electronic still camera has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any image recording device that can electronically record images can be used.
Needless to say, it can be applied to a video camera.

The above embodiments can of course be variously modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, the image transmitted to the wristwatch 700 may be JPEG-compressed image data. In this case, the watch 70
It is natural that the decompression function of JPEG is installed in 0.

Alternatively, the image transferred to the wristwatch 700 is not necessarily one set of image data. For example, the data of the image to be transferred may be divided into a plurality of pieces and transferred for each divided data. . The image data may be divided at a fixed length from the beginning of the image data, or may be divided into pixels, for example, by dividing a two-dimensional plane of the image into a plurality of regions (or scan line units). May be used as a transfer unit. Alternatively, the frequency components of the image may be divided and the data of each divided frequency component may be used as a transfer unit. The reproduction of the image may be performed after all the transfer data is received, or may be sequentially performed every time the transfer data is received.

Alternatively, the image transferred to wristwatch 700 may be a through image displayed on liquid crystal display 602 of electronic still camera 600 at a predetermined cycle (generally 1/30 second cycle). In this case, the through image may be directly used as the transfer image to the wristwatch 700, or an intermittent image of the through image may be used as the transfer image.

Alternatively, the electronic still camera 600 may be operated from the wristwatch 700. For example, a zoom operation of the electronic still camera 600 from the wristwatch 700,
It is preferable that the wristwatch 700 can be used as a remote control of the electronic still camera 600 when an exposure operation, a focusing operation, an image quality adjustment operation, an angle of view adjustment operation, and an on / off operation of a continuous shooting function can be performed. Further, the present invention can be applied to a personal LAN and a network game.

(Third Embodiment)

FIG. 24 is a block diagram of an information recording system according to the second embodiment. Reference numeral 301 denotes a so-called electronic still camera such as a digital camera for electronically recording an image, and 2 denotes a wristwatch. These electronic still cameras 30
1 and the wristwatch 302 are housed in independent exclusive bodies (corresponding to the first housing and the second housing described in the gist of the invention), respectively, as can be understood from the drawing.

As will be apparent from the following description, the electronic still camera 301 and the wristwatch 302 each have a wireless communication function using the radio 3.
The electronic still camera 301 transmits a date and time acquisition request at the time of recording, receives the date and time information transmitted from the wristwatch 302 in response to the request, and receives the date and time information from the wristwatch 302, and uses the date and time information to execute the date and time It is designed to manage.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera 301. In this figure, 310 is a photographic lens,
Reference numeral 311 denotes an aperture mechanism provided on the optical axis of the photographic lens 310. Reference numeral 312 denotes a driving unit of the aperture mechanism 311. )) 314 is CC
D313 is a driver for driving D313, and 315 is a CCD3.
13, a timing generator (abbreviation: TG) for generating various timing signals such as a signal for controlling a charge accumulation time (imaging time), and a sample and hold circuit (abbreviation) for sampling an imaging signal from the CCD 313 and removing noise : S / H) 317 is an analog-to-digital converter (abbreviation: A / D) for converting the image signal after noise removal into a digital signal.

Reference numeral 318 denotes a color process circuit for generating a combined luminance / color difference signal (hereinafter referred to as an “image signal”) from the output of the A / D 317, reference numeral 319 denotes a video transfer circuit,
320 is a buffer memory for holding image signals, 321 is a compression / expansion circuit for compressing / expanding the image signals by a predetermined encoding method (generally, JPEG method), 322 is a photometric sensor for measuring the brightness of a subject, and 323 is The flash memory is a fixed or removable flash memory that records a compressed image signal.

324 is a program ROM 324a
Is executed on the work RAM 324b to perform recording and reproduction control of images and various control processes accompanying these controls (for example, one of them is a process relating to a recording mode control described later). CPU.

Reference numeral 325 denotes a key input unit for generating a key input signal in response to operation of a shutter button or various buttons. Reference numeral 326 denotes a digital signal for converting an image signal held in the buffer memory 320 into a signal format suitable for display. A video encoder 327 is a liquid crystal display for an image monitor that displays a signal from the digital video encoder 326, and 330 is a communication unit 332 that transmits and receives data to and from an external device (for example, a wristwatch 302 described later) via an antenna 331. Is a bus that connects each part.

The electronic still camera 301 having such a configuration can be switched between an image recording mode and an image reproducing mode by a predetermined key operation of the key input unit 25.
Further, the recording mode includes a through mode in which an image pickup signal periodically taken out from the CCD 313 is converted into a signal suitable for display and sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display 327, and a desired image pickup signal is operated by operating a shutter key.
23 can be divided into a capture mode for recording on the H.23.

In the through mode, the CCD 313 disposed behind the photographic lens 310 is driven by a signal from the driver 314, and the subject image collected by the photographic lens 310 is photoelectrically converted at regular intervals to generate a signal for one image. Is output. After this signal is sampled by the S / H 316 and converted to a digital signal by the A / D 317,
The color process circuit 318 generates an image signal. This image signal is transferred to the image buffer of the buffer memory 320 via the video transfer circuit 319, read out by the video transfer circuit 319 after the transfer to the buffer is completed, and sent to the liquid crystal display 327 via the digital video encoder 326. Sent and displayed as a through image.

When the direction of the camera is changed in this state, the composition of the through image displayed on the liquid crystal display 327 changes, and the shutter key is "half-pressed" at an appropriate time (when a desired composition is obtained). After the exposure and focus are set and "full press", the mode is switched to the capture mode, and the image signal stored in the image buffer of the buffer memory 320 is fixed with the image signal at that time and displayed on the liquid crystal display 327. The through image is fixed at the same point. Then, the image signal stored in the image buffer of the buffer memory 320 at that time is sent to the compression / expansion circuit 321 via the video transfer circuit 319, and the luminance signal and the color difference information are divided into 8 × 8 pixels. After being JPEG-encoded in units called basic blocks, they are recorded (captured) in the flash memory 323.

In the reproduction mode, the path from the CCD 313 to the buffer memory 320 is cut off, and the latest captured image is stored in the flash memory 323.
, And after being decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 321, is sent to the image buffer of the buffer memory 320 via the video transfer circuit 319. The data in the image buffer is transferred to the video transfer circuit 3.
The data is sent to the liquid crystal display 327 via the digital video encoder 326 and the digital video encoder 326 and displayed as a reproduced image.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram of the wristwatch 302. In this figure, 340 is an oscillation circuit that generates an accurate periodic signal, 341 is a clock circuit that divides the periodic signal generated by the oscillation circuit 340 to generate a date and time signal indicating the current date and time, and 342 is a date and time adjustment A key input unit for generating a key signal such as 343 is a display unit for mainly displaying date and time information, 344 is a memory for storing a control program for realizing a clock function and various functions attached to the function, 345 is an antenna, Reference numeral 346 denotes a communication unit, and 347 denotes a control unit which executes a control program and controls the entire wristwatch.

Here, the communication section 346 realizes wireless data connection using the same protocol as the communication section 330 of the electronic still camera 301.

FIG. 27 is a schematic flowchart of a timekeeping control program executed by control unit 347 of wristwatch 302. This program first reads a date and time signal from the clock circuit 341 (S301).
At 46, it is determined whether or not a data request has been received from the camera device 301 (S302). If the data request has not been received (NO at S302), the date and time signal read from the timing circuit 341 is used. The date and time display on the display unit 343 is updated (S303). On the other hand, if a data request has been received (YES determination in S302), a response signal is returned (S304), and the date and time signal read from the timing circuit 341 is transmitted to the communication unit. After the transmission at 346 (S305), the date and time display on the display unit 343 is updated using the same date and time signal (S303).

The above processing is repeatedly executed in accordance with the cycle of updating the display of the date and time information (generally, the cycle of one second). As a result, the date and time information display on the display unit 343 is updated in the same cycle, and the presence / absence of a data request from the outside is periodically determined. When a data request is made, the latest date / time signal at that time is output. The effect of being transmitted from the antenna 345 via the communication unit 346 is obtained.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a control program for the electronic still camera 301, and is a schematic flowchart of a program executed by the CPU 324 in the recording mode. This program selects a mode other than the recording mode in response to a predetermined key operation of the key input unit 325 (S311 and S312) or depresses a shutter key while performing a through image display process (S310). Exposure control processing (S314) and image recording processing (S319) are executed in response to the operations (S313 and S315). In particular, the image recording processing (S31) is performed.
Before performing 9), the processing includes a characteristic processing routine of performing processing for requesting a date and time signal (S316) and receiving processing for date and time information (S318).

That is, when the full-press operation of the shutter key is detected (YES in S315), first, a request signal of date and time information is transmitted from the antenna 331 via the communication unit 330. If the above-mentioned wristwatch 302 is located at a short distance, the wristwatch 302 returns a response signal to the request signal (see S304 in FIG. 27), so that it is determined whether or not the response signal has been received (S317). Watch 302
And the date and time information (see S305 in FIG. 247) transmitted from the work RAM 324b.
Is temporarily stored in a predetermined area. Then, the image is compressed and recorded in the flash memory 323.
If the date and time information has been stored in the predetermined area of 324b, the date and time information is recorded in the flash memory 323 in association with the image data. The “predetermined area” does not necessarily need to be the area of the work RAM 324b. A dedicated memory may be prepared and all or part of the memory may be used.

FIG. 29 is a conceptual diagram showing a recording state of the flash memory 323. An image storage area 350 of the flash memory 323 has a first area 352 for recording compressed image data, and a first area 352 for recording the compressed image data. A second area 351 for recording date and time information indicating the recording date and time of the image data recorded in the area 352. In addition, the first area 3
It goes without saying that the image data to be recorded in the second area 351 may be data of an uncompressed process. May be data arranged in
Alternatively, a specific date and time in the past (for example,
010: 00: 00) as an initial value, and may be numerical data representing an elapsed time from that value. Numerical data is preferable because it can be easily processed into a display format of the Christian era or the Japanese era.

FIG. 30 is a diagram in which data recorded in the flash memory 323 is reproduced and displayed on the liquid crystal display 327 of the electronic still camera 301. In this figure,
360 is a reproduced image, 361 is a subject image, 362 is date and time information, and a reproduced image 360 including a subject image 361 other than the date and time information 362 corresponds to data recorded in the first area 352 of the flash memory 323. Date and time information 362
Corresponds to the data recorded in the second area 351.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when an image is recorded by the electronic still camera 301, the request signal of the date and time signal is transmitted to the nearby wristwatch 302, and the date and time signal transmitted from the wristwatch 302 is transmitted. Is received and recorded simultaneously as data representing the recording date and time of the image. However, since the date and time information of the wristwatch 302 is highly reliable, such highly reliable date and time information can be used as the image recording date and time. The electronic still camera 301 of the present embodiment naturally has a special effect that the reliability of the recording date and time can be greatly improved.

The electronic still camera 3 according to the present embodiment
01 may have its own timekeeping function. When the above-mentioned wristwatch 302 is not carried around or not nearby, the built-in timekeeping function can be used to record the shooting date and time without any trouble.
The date and time information of the wristwatch 302 can also be used to adjust the date and time of the built-in clock function.

In the above embodiment, the electronic still camera has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any image recording device having a recording function of the shooting date and time may be used, and as described above, a camera using a silver halide film such as an APS camera may be used, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a movie camera.

In the above description, the image recording apparatus has:
Although the date and time information acquired by another device (the wristwatch 302 in the above example) is transferred, the transfer information is not limited to this.
The information may be information necessary for our daily life or specific actions, and may be, for example, navigation information such as the current position and direction, and weather information such as temperature and humidity. Navigation information can be obtained from a compass or GPS (Global Positioning S).
The sensors 302 and the like may be built in the wristwatch 302, and the weather information may be a temperature and humidity sensor built in the wristwatch 302. In any case, useful information such as navigation information and weather information can be transferred to the image recording device and recorded at the same time as the image. For example, it is possible to carry a preferable information recording system by carrying on a trip or mountain climbing. Can be.

Further, in the above description, the information recording system using the electronic still camera 301 and the wristwatch 302 has been described as an example. However, the intended scope of the present invention is not limited to the above example, and various modified systems may be used. Applicable to

For example, if a camera-based system is referred to as a “camera system”, a camera system in accordance with the concept of the present invention will include at least time-measuring means (FIG. 2).
6 (refer to the block diagram of the wrist watch 302 in FIG. 26).
And a camera device (see the block diagram of the electronic still camera 301 in FIG. 25) having an imaging means (see the CCD 313 in FIG. 25).
The clock device includes a transmission unit (see a communication unit 346 in FIG. 26) that transmits the data of the time information or date information to be measured (see the date and time signal read in step S301 in FIG. 27) to the camera device. The camera device only needs to have a receiving unit (see the communication unit 330 in FIG. 25) for receiving the data transmitted from the transmitting unit.

Alternatively, the timepiece device has sensor means (for example, a GPS sensor) and transmits data acquired by the sensor means or data generated based on the acquired data to the camera device. The camera device may include a transmission unit (see the communication unit 346 in FIG. 26), and the camera device may include a reception unit (see the communication unit 330 in FIG. 25) that receives the data transmitted from the transmission unit.

Alternatively, the timepiece device is a wristwatch,
The camera device is carried by a person who wears the wristwatch on the wrist, and the transmission means has a weak transmission output for a short distance (for example, by the above-described mobile communication technology called Bluetooth). Is also good.

Alternatively, the transmitting means of the clock device (FIG. 26)
The communication unit 346 may perform the transmission process in response to a predetermined operation (for example, an artificial button operation).

Alternatively, the transmitting means of the clock device (FIG. 26)
The communication unit 346 may automatically perform transmission processing at a predetermined time (date or time).

Also, when viewed as an information recording system, not only data transmission from the wristwatch 302 to the electronic still camera 301 (or silver halide camera or movie camera), but also, for example, the wristwatch 302 and the electronic still camera 3
01 (or a silver halide camera or a movie camera) may transmit data to a printing device (printer device). Transmission means (FIG. 25) to the electronic still camera 301 (or a silver halide camera or a movie camera)
Of the printer device, and a receiving unit (corresponding to the communication unit 330 in FIG. 25; however, only a receiving function) may be provided. Body of the printer device (not shown) (corresponding to the third housing described in the gist of the invention)
Is separate from the body of the wristwatch or camera device.

(Fourth Embodiment) <Link Configuration of Camera and Watch in Fourth Embodiment> FIG. 31 is a configuration diagram of a link system between a camera and a watch according to the fourth embodiment. Reference numeral 400 denotes a so-called electronic still camera such as a digital camera that electronically records images.
00b is a diagram viewed from the back. Reference numeral 401 denotes a shutter key, 402 denotes a liquid crystal display, 403 denotes a microphone for inputting sound, and 404 denotes a speaker for outputting sound. The speaker may be a detachable earphone or headphones, and the microphone may be a detachable microphone. Also, 500
Is a wristwatch, 515 is a wristwatch liquid crystal display,
Reference numeral 510 denotes a microphone for inputting audio, and 511 denotes a speaker for outputting audio.

As will be apparent from the following description, the electronic still camera 400 and the wristwatch 500 each have a wireless communication function using the radio 3.
The image information recorded by the electronic still camera 400 is
00, and the image information can be displayed on the liquid crystal display 515 of the wristwatch 500. Also,
It also has a transmission function from the wristwatch 500 to the electronic still camera 400 side. Electronic still camera 400 to watch 5
In the transmission mode to 00, one image information is transmitted to one wristwatch 5
It is possible to include not only a single transmission mode in which transmission is performed once every 00, but also a mode in which the same image information is continuously or broadcastly transmitted to a plurality of wristwatches.

<Structure of Electronic Still Camera in Fourth Embodiment> FIG. 32 is a block diagram of an electronic still camera 400. In this figure, 410 is a photographic lens,
Reference numeral 411 denotes an aperture mechanism provided on the optical axis of the photographic lens 410. Reference numeral 412 denotes a driving unit of the aperture mechanism 411. ), 414 is the CCD 41
A driver 415 for driving the CCD 413 is a timing generator (abbreviation: T) for generating various timing signals such as a signal for controlling the charge accumulation time (imaging time) of the CCD 413.
G) 416, a sample-and-hold circuit (abbreviation: S / H) for sampling the image signal from the CCD 413 to remove noise (abbreviation: S / H); 417, an analog-to-digital converter (abbreviation: A / D). The image sensor (image sensor) is not limited to a CCD, but may be another device such as a C-MOS or an image pickup tube.

Reference numeral 418 denotes a color process circuit for generating a combined luminance / color difference signal (hereinafter, referred to as an "image signal") from the output of the A / D 417; 419, a video transfer circuit;
420 is a buffer memory for holding image signals, 421 is a compression / expansion circuit for compressing / expanding the image signals by a predetermined encoding method (generally, JPEG method), 422 is a photometric sensor for measuring the brightness of a subject, and 423 is The flash memory is a fixed or removable flash memory that records a compressed image signal. The buffer memory 420 has at least one
It has an area for storing images for the screen. A storage area for a plurality of screens is provided, and the captured images are sequentially stored, and a compression process is performed later to enable quick shooting. The flash memory 423 has a mode for storing a compressed image and a mode for storing an uncompressed image. Thumbnails can also be saved. Furthermore, audio data can be stored.

424 is a program ROM 424a.
Is a CPU that executes a control program stored in the work RAM 424b to perform recording and reproduction control of an image and various control processes accompanying these controls. Work RA
The same memory may be used for the M424b and the buffer memory 420, or the role assignment may be changed.

A key input section 425 generates a key input signal in response to various key operations such as a shutter key 401 and a transfer key 405.
A digital video encoder for converting an image signal held in the digital video encoder into a signal format suitable for display; 402, a liquid crystal display for an image monitor for displaying a signal from the digital video encoder 426;
A communication unit 432 provided with a modulation circuit for transmitting and receiving data to and from an external device (wristwatch 500) via the interface 432 is a bus connecting each unit.

A clock circuit 440 stores date and time information. The timekeeping process is performed by the CPU 424, and the timed date / time information is periodically rewritten. A power supply circuit 441 supplies electric power of the battery and the secondary battery to each unit. Reference numeral 442 denotes an audio control unit for taking in audio input from the microphone 403 and outputting audio from the speaker 404.

Reference numeral 450 denotes a remote controller.
Exchanges signals with one. Remote control receiver 451
Is controlled by the CPU 424. A shutter operation or the like can be performed with the remote controller 450.

[0140] The electronic still camera 400 having such a configuration is operated by a predetermined key operation of the key input unit 425.
The mode can be switched between an image recording mode and a reproduction mode. The recording mode includes a through mode in which an image pickup signal periodically taken out from the CCD 413 is converted into a signal suitable for display and sequentially displayed on the liquid crystal display 402, and a shutter mode. The operation can be divided into a capture mode in which a desired imaging signal is recorded in the flash memory 423 by operating the key 401.

<Through Mode in Fourth Embodiment> In the through mode, the CCD 413 disposed behind the photographic lens 410 is driven by a signal from the driver 14, and the subject image collected by the photographic lens 410 is fixed. Each time, photoelectric conversion is performed and a signal for one image is output. Then, this signal is sampled by the S / H 416 and A / H
After being converted into a digital signal in D417, an image signal is generated in the color process circuit 418. This image signal is transferred to the buffer memory 420 via the video transfer circuit 419, and after the transfer to the buffer is completed, read out by the video transfer circuit 419 and sent to the liquid crystal display 402 via the digital video encoder 426. It is displayed as a through image.

<Capture Mode in Fourth Embodiment> When the direction of the camera is changed in this state, the composition of the through image displayed on the liquid crystal display 402 changes, and an appropriate time (a desired composition is obtained). ), The exposure and focus are set automatically or manually by pressing the shutter key halfway, and then fully pressed, the mode switches to the capture mode and the image signal stored in the image buffer of the buffer memory 420 is displayed. The through image displayed on the liquid crystal display 402 and fixed by the image signal at that time is also fixed by the image at the same time. And
The image signal stored in the image buffer of the buffer memory 420 at that time is transmitted to the video transfer circuit 41.
9, is sent to the compression / expansion circuit 421, and is JPEG-coded in units called basic blocks of 8 × 8 pixels for each component of luminance information and color difference information, and then recorded (captured) in the flash memory 423. You. Also,
After the shutter key is “fully pressed”, the sound input from the microphone 403 within a predetermined time is also recorded in the flash memory 423 together with the captured image when the “full press”. Therefore, an audio recording image is recorded in the flash memory 423.

<Reproduction Mode in Fourth Embodiment>
In the reproduction mode, the path from the CCD 413 to the buffer memory 420 is cut off, and the latest captured image is read from the flash memory 423.
After being decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 421, it is sent to the image buffer of the buffer memory 420 via the video transfer circuit 419. Then, the data in the image buffer is transmitted to the liquid crystal display 40 via the video transfer circuit 419 and the digital video encoder 426.
2 and displayed as a reproduced image. At this time, if audio data is stored together with the captured image, the operation of the audio control circuit 442 causes the speaker 40 to operate.
4 reproduces a voice.

The reproduced image can be changed by operating a predetermined key of the key input section 425, for example, a plus (+) key or a minus (-) key, and can be changed by operating a predetermined function key. It is also possible to transmit to the outside via the communication unit 430.

<Structure of Wristwatch in Fourth Embodiment> FIG. 33 is a block diagram of wristwatch 500. In this drawing, reference numeral 501 denotes an oscillation circuit for generating an accurate periodic signal; 502, a clock circuit for dividing the periodic signal generated by the oscillation circuit 501 to generate a date and time signal indicating the current date and time; 515 is a key input unit for generating key signals, etc., 515 is a liquid crystal display as a display unit, 5
Reference numeral 05 denotes a memory for storing a control program for realizing a timekeeping function and various functions attached to the function, 507 an antenna, 506 a communication unit, and 508 a control unit for executing the control program and controlling the entire wristwatch. is there. Also,
When storing the received image in the memory 505, it is desirable to store the reception date and time information of the image in the (file header or the like thereof) or in a file system that manages the image data. The date and time information may be displayed so as to overlap a part of the image, or may be used for image management and the like.

The memory 505 may have an area for storing a received image or a sound recording image. If the received image is only displayed on the liquid crystal display 515 as a video through and is not stored, the storage capacity can be reduced.

The liquid crystal display 515 is a small-sized flat display device having n × m pixels, and desirably uses a device capable of color or monochrome multi-gradation display.

[0148] Reference numeral 509 denotes an audio control unit for taking in audio input from the microphone 510 and outputting audio from the speaker 511. 212 is a remote control transmission unit,
It has the same function as the remote control 450 in FIG. 32, and can control the electronic still camera 400 by operating the remote control from the timepiece 2.

Here, the communication unit 506 realizes wireless data connection using the same protocol as the communication unit 430 of the electronic still camera 400. The protocol may be wireless, for example, infrared communication (IrDA), which is a conventional technique of short-range wireless, may be IrDA.
Considering the disadvantage of A (weak against obstacles), it is preferable to use a wireless communication technique such as FM (frequency modulation) or spread spectrum with low directivity. Even if one of the electronic still camera 400 and the wristwatch 500 is in a pocket or a bag, data connection can be performed without any trouble.

For example, a short distance of about 10 m is covered using a radio wave in the 2.45 GHz band, and a maximum transfer speed of 721 Kbps (a transfer rate of 1 Mb
ps; the next version will be increased to 2 Mbps). A short-range, weak transmission output mobile communication technology called “Bluetooth” is one of the candidate technologies to be adopted. Currently, a small transceiver module of about 0.5m2 (communication unit 430 of FIG. 32 and FIG. 33)
(Corresponding to the communication unit 506).
In addition, 64Kbps PHS third-party standard and 11Mbps IEEE 802.11 HR DSS
A wireless LAN communication method such as S can be applied.

Next, the operation will be described. FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a control program of the electronic still camera 400, and is a schematic flowchart of a program executed by the CPU 424 in the recording mode. This program determines a mode change (S402) in response to a predetermined key operation of the key input unit 425 while performing a through image display process (S401) of displaying a captured image on the liquid crystal display 402 as a monitor. If there is no change,
Pressing down the shutter key 401 (S403, S4
05), the exposure control process (S404) and the image recording process (S406) are executed.

In addition, a voice recording process (S407) for recording voice input from the microphone 403 within a predetermined time after the pressing operation of the shutter key 401 is also executed. It is determined whether or not the mode is the reproduction mode (S408). If the mode is the reproduction mode, the "reproduction mode control" of FIG. 35 is executed, and if not, the other mode selection processing is executed. It is. Here the shutter key 401
Is not limited to pressing down, but may be performed by touch keys, remote control, computer control, or the like.

In FIG. 35, in the “reproduction mode control”, first, the i-th captured image is read from the flash memory 423, decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 421, and then transmitted to the liquid crystal display 402 via the digital video encoder 426. It is displayed (S411). Also,
If audio data is stored together with the i-th captured image, the audio data is read from the flash memory 423, and reproduced by the speaker 404 via the audio control circuit 442 (S412). Here, the initial value of the variable i is the number of the last captured image stored in the flash memory 423, that is, the number of the last recorded image.

When the user wants to change the displayed image (S412)
The determination of YES is made by operating a predetermined key of the key input unit 425, for example, a plus (+) key or a minus (-) key, to update the value of the variable i (S414), and then again capture the i-th image. After the image is read from the flash memory 423 and decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 421, the liquid crystal display 4 is read via the digital video encoder 426.
02 (S411), and reproduces the sound (S41).
2).

After confirming the desired image display and sound, it is next determined whether or not to transmit an image (or a sound recording image) (S415). This determination is performed, for example, by determining the operation of a predetermined key of the key input unit 425.
When the image transmission is not performed (NO in S415), the program is terminated as it is, but when the image transmission is performed (S415).
(YES determination at 415) generates an i-th captured image, that is, a reduced image (also referred to as a thumbnail image) of the captured image displayed on the liquid crystal display 402 (S416), and transmits the reduced image via the communication unit 430. It is transmitted to the outside (S417). If there is voice data, it is transmitted (S418), and the program ends. Here, the size of the reduced image is, for example, a wristwatch 5
00 is a size suitable for the display size of the display unit 43, and the reduction ratio is, for example, the number of pixels of the captured image is M ×
When N is set, this M × N is displayed on the display unit 43 of the wristwatch 500.
Is a value that can be converted to the number of pixels (n × m).

FIG. 36 is a schematic flowchart of a timekeeping control program executed by control unit 508 of wristwatch 500. This program first reads a date and time signal from the clock circuit 502 (S421).
At 06, it is determined whether or not data has been received from the electronic still camera 400 (S422). If no data has been received (NO at S422), the date and time of the liquid crystal display 515 are read using the date and time signal read from the clock circuit 402. The display is updated (S423). For example, FIG. 37A shows an example of the date and time display on the liquid crystal display 515 of the wristwatch 500. In this example, date information of “1999/08/11” and time information of “12:23” are displayed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S422 that there is data reception, it is next determined whether or not the received data is appropriate (S424). If the received data is appropriate, an image is reproduced from the received data (S424). (S425), and the reproduced image is displayed on the display unit 43 (S426). If there is audio data in the received data, the audio is reproduced by the speaker 511 via the audio circuit 509 (S426). For example, FIG. 37B shows an example of an image display on the liquid crystal display 515 of the wristwatch 500. In this example, an image of the upper body of a person is displayed. Although not shown, the voice recorded when the person is photographed is reproduced.

(Fifth Embodiment)

FIG. 38 shows the fifth embodiment of the present invention, and is a flow chart for transferring the image of the electronic still camera 400 to the wristwatch 500 in response to the operation of the shutter key 401. In this flowchart,
When the operation of the shutter key 401 is detected (S431), an imaging process is performed. That is, the image picked up by the CCD 413 is subjected to predetermined processing and
0 (in the video through processing, the display processing is performed while repeatedly loading the data into the buffer memory 420) (S4).
32), a compression process is performed (S433), and the data is recorded in the flash memory 423 (S434). At this time, for example, JP
The image compressed in the EG format and the thumbnail image are recorded as a pair. Also, the sound input from the microphone 403 within a predetermined time after the operation of the shutter key is recorded in the flash memory 423 (S435). Thereafter, the compressed image or thumbnail image and audio data are modulated and transmitted (S435).

The image and sound to be modulated may be once written to the flash memory 423 and then read out, or may be directly subjected to the modulation / transmission processing in parallel with or without writing to the flash memory 423. Good.

(Sixth Embodiment) FIG. 39 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which an image or audio recorded image transfer process is performed in response to the operation of the shutter key 401. 10 is a flowchart for performing transfer processing in response to an operation of the transfer key 405 instead of the transfer key 405. In this flowchart, first, the reproduction mode is set (S441). Then, the image recorded in the flash memory 423, generally, the last captured image is read out, decompressed, and read out to the buffer memory 420. The thumbnails may be read out together or earlier. Then, it is displayed on the liquid crystal display 402 (S443). When audio data is recorded together with the image, the audio data is reproduced by the speaker 404 (S444). Here, when an image is to be sent to the wristwatch 500, the transfer key 405 is operated (S445). Then, the image or the thumbnail image compressed under the control of the CPU 424 and the audio data are modulated and transmitted (S446).

(Seventh Embodiment) FIG. 40 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention, in which an image is displayed in response to an artificial key operation of a shutter key 401, a transfer key 405, or the like. Electronic still camera 40 instead of transferring
This is a flow in which an image is transferred according to the clock data of the clock circuit 440 of 0. That is, the clock data of the clock circuit 40 of the electronic still camera 400 is captured (S4
51), when the timekeeping data is, for example, every hour or a specific set date / time (S452), an image or a sound recording image is automatically transmitted (S453).

(Eighth Embodiment)

FIG. 41 shows an eighth embodiment of the present invention, in which the electronic still camera 400 uses the timing data of the timing circuit 502 of the wristwatch 500 instead of the timing means 440 of the camera. 6 is a flowchart for transmitting a transfer request signal. That is, the clock data of the clock circuit 502 of the wristwatch 500 is fetched (S461), and when the clock data becomes, for example, every hour or a specific set date / time (S462), the electronic still camera 400 is automatically sent to the electronic still camera 400. The electronic still camera 400 that has received the transfer request signal performs image transfer processing, and the wristwatch 500 receives the transferred image. .

Alternatively, as shown in FIG.
When the predetermined switch of 00 is pressed (S471), an image transfer request signal may be transmitted to the electronic still camera 400 (S472).

(Ninth Embodiment) FIGS. 43 to 47 show a ninth embodiment of the present invention. That is,
Flash memory 423 of the electronic still camera 400
As shown in FIG. 43, the image data storage area 43
1 and an audio data storage area 432 are provided.
In the image data storage area 431, in the capture mode, the image data captured and JPEG-encoded is stored with the image data NO. Is stored in correspondence with. The voice data storage area 432 stores a wristwatch 5 as described later.
The voice data transmitted from the voice data No. 00 side is the voice data NO. Is stored in correspondence with.

Further, as shown in FIG. 44, a data correspondence memory 441 is provided in a part of the work RAM 424b. The data correspondence memory 441 stores the correspondence between the image data stored in the image data storage area 431 and the audio data stored in the audio data storage area 432 in the image data NO. And voice data NO. And memorize it.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart of a control program for electronic still camera 400 according to the present embodiment. In this flowchart, S481 to S486
And S491 correspond to S401 to S49 in FIG.
This is the same processing as 407. However, the image recording process (S
486), the image data storage area 4 shown in FIG.
31 stores the image data. Next, the image data No. of the image data storage area 431 in which the image data is stored. Is read and stored in the data correspondence memory 441 (S487). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not audio data transmitted from the wristwatch 500 has been received as described later (S488). If received, the audio data is stored in the audio data storage area 432 (S4
89). Further, the audio data No. in the audio data storage area 432 in which the audio data is stored. Read,
The image data NO. Is stored in the data correspondence memory 441 (S490).

In the “reproduction mode control” of FIG.
501 to S506 correspond to S411 in FIG.
This is the same process as steps S416. Then, if the i-th reduced image is transmitted (S416), the audio data corresponding to the i-th image (image of image data No. i) is stored by referring to the data correspondence memory 241. It is determined whether or not there is (S507). If the corresponding image data is stored, it is read from the audio data storage area 432 and transmitted (S50).
8).

FIG. 47 is a schematic flowchart of a timekeeping control program executed by control unit 508 of wristwatch 500. This program first reads the date and time signal from the clock circuit 502 (S511), as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 36, and then determines whether or not the communication unit 506 has received data from the electronic still camera 400. (S
If no data is received (NO in S512), it is determined whether there is audio data to be transmitted to the electronic still camera 400 (S513). At this time, for example, while performing a predetermined key operation of the key input unit 503,
When voice is input from microphone 510, it is determined that voice data is transmitted (YES determination in S512), and
The voice data input from 0 is transmitted (S514).
The presence or absence of reception of the data transmitted in S514 is determined in S488 of FIG. 45 described above. In addition, the timing circuit 5
The date and time display on the liquid crystal display 515 is updated using the date and time signal read from the file 02 (S515).

On the other hand, if it is determined in S522 that there is data reception, it is next determined whether or not the received data is appropriate (S516). If the received data is appropriate, an image is reproduced from the received data (S516). Then, the reproduced image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 515 (S518). Further, it is determined whether or not there is audio data in the received data (S519).
The sound is reproduced (S510). Therefore, by performing the processing of S517 and S520, the liquid crystal display 51 of the wristwatch 500 as illustrated in FIG.
5, not only an image of the upper body of the person is displayed, but also a comment or the like recorded when this image is recorded is output from the speaker 511 at the same time.

As described above, according to electronic still camera 400 and wristwatch 500 of the present embodiment, while an arbitrary image is being reproduced by electronic still camera 400, reduced image data of the reproduced image can be transmitted wirelessly. In addition, when the wristwatch 500 is present in the radio wave reach area, the reduced image data can be received by the wristwatch 500 and displayed on the liquid crystal display 515 of the wristwatch 500. Also, while an electronic still camera 400 is reproducing an arbitrary image, reduced image data of the reproduced image and audio data associated with the reduced image data can be wirelessly transmitted, and the wristwatch 500 can be located within a radio wave reach area. Exists, the reduced image data can be received by the wristwatch 500 and displayed on the liquid crystal display 515 of the wristwatch 500, and the audio data can be received and reproduced by the speaker 511.

Therefore, the following systematic use can be realized, and a new use of a wristwatch equipped with a display device can be sought. (A) FIG.
, The person A carries the electronic still camera 400 and the wristwatch 500 together. When the person A plays back and confirms an image captured by the electronic still camera 400, the person A uses the liquid crystal display 402 of the electronic still camera 400.
Can be confirmed by the user, and further by transmitting the reproduced image, the liquid crystal display 515 of the wristwatch 500 is transmitted.
You can also check with. According to this usage, the liquid crystal display 515 of the wristwatch 500 is connected to the electronic still camera 4.
00 can be used in place of the monitor screen (liquid crystal display 402).

Further, person A is an electronic still camera 400
When the electronic camera is photographed, the sound can be transmitted from the wristwatch 500 to the electronic still camera 400, and the image photographed by the electronic still camera 400 and the received sound can be stored in association with each other. Further, by transmitting the image and the sound stored in association with the electronic still camera 400, the image can be confirmed on the liquid crystal display 515 of the wristwatch 500 and the related sound from the speaker 511 can be heard. (B) In FIG. 48B, a person B carries an electronic still camera 400, and a person C carries (wears) a wristwatch 500. When the distance between the persons B and C is short and located within the reach of the radio wave, the image data and the audio data transmitted from the electronic still camera 400 are transferred to the person C.
Of the watch 500. According to this usage method, the transfer of the image and the sound between the persons B and C can be easily performed. Further, when the persons B and C are other persons, it is possible to perform image and sound transfer to an unspecified person, for example,
You can use it like a dating game in a crowd.

In the above embodiment, an electronic still camera has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any image recording device that can electronically record images can be used.
Needless to say, it can be applied to a video camera.

Further, it is needless to say that the above-described embodiment can be variously modified within the range intended by the present invention. For example, an image transmitted to wristwatch 500 may be JPEG-compressed image data. In this case, the watch 50
It is natural that the decompression function of JPEG is installed in 0.

Alternatively, the image transferred to the wristwatch 500 does not necessarily need to be one set of image data. For example, the data of the image to be transferred may be divided into a plurality of pieces and transferred for each divided data. . The image data may be divided at a fixed length from the beginning of the image data, or may be divided into pixels, for example, by dividing a two-dimensional plane of the image into a plurality of regions (or scan line units). May be used as a transfer unit. Alternatively, the frequency components of the image may be divided and the data of each divided frequency component may be used as a transfer unit. The reproduction of the image may be performed after all the transfer data is received, or may be sequentially performed every time the transfer data is received.

Alternatively, the image transferred to wristwatch 500 may be a through image displayed on liquid crystal display 402 of electronic still camera 400 at a predetermined cycle (generally 1/30 second cycle). In this case, the through image may be used as it is as the transfer image to the wristwatch 500, or an intermittent image of the through image may be used as the transfer image. Or watch 500
The electronic still camera 400 may be operated from. For example, from the wristwatch 500 to the electronic still camera 4
It is preferable that the zoom operation, exposure operation, focus operation, image quality adjustment operation, angle of view adjustment operation, on / off operation of the continuous shooting function, etc. of the 00 can be performed because the wristwatch 500 can be used as a remote control of the electronic still camera 400. . Further, the present invention can be applied to a personal LAN and a network game. Further, the present invention can be applied to a link system between a mobile phone and a portable information device and a clock.

Further, by incorporating a camera in the timepiece, it is possible to construct a link system between the camera and the watch which is rich in variations. That is, an image captured on the clock side can be transferred to the camera, and the clock side or the camera side can associate the image with the sound. Furthermore,
By connecting to a wireless LAN or the Internet, it can also be used as a network.

[0180]

As described above, according to the present invention, data generated from one portable electronic device is transmitted,
By receiving and processing this on the other electronic device,
Portable electronic devices can be linked to each other to form a local network, and can be connected to an external network via a mobile phone terminal that forms the local network. It is also possible to image an appropriate subject with a camera, transmit the image data to the mobile phone terminal, and further transmit the image data from the mobile terminal to an external network. As a result, a portable electronic device can be used in a system by combining the electronic devices, and a new use form can be provided.

Further, the portable telephone terminal forming the local network has a function of displaying a standby screen called wallpaper on the display means, so that the portable telephone terminal can wait in the local network. Various wallpapers can be used for the screen.

Further, since the portable telephone terminal has means for connecting to the Internet and means for transmitting image data sent from the camera to the Internet server, images taken at any time can be read from the Internet server at any time. Can be supplied to Further, the server of the Internet accumulates the data of the transmitted image and stores it so as to be accessible from the outside, so that a person other than the photographer accesses the server via the Internet and loads it. Various images can be enjoyed, and application to a network business in which transmitted image data is used as distribution content becomes possible.

Further, by transmitting and receiving thumbnail images, it is possible to transmit captured image data while reducing the data amount. By performing image reduction processing in accordance with the display size of the receiving electronic device, Even when the display size of the electronic device on the receiving side is smaller than the size of the image captured by the camera, appropriate image display is possible. Further, the transmission means of the camera detects whether the mobile phone terminal is busy, performs transmission processing if not busy, interrupts transmission processing when busy, and resumes transmission processing after a predetermined time. Is performed, the image data is not transmitted during the execution of the process related to the call, and it is possible to avoid a situation in which the process is concentrated and becomes physically busy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the wristwatch according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a mobile phone terminal 8 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a recording mode control program in the electronic still camera according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a playback mode control program in the electronic still camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a timekeeping control program in the wristwatch of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a standby screen data processing program in the mobile phone terminal of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example of a standby screen in the mobile phone terminal of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of using the system of the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a system configuration diagram of a second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the wristwatch according to the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a recording mode control program in the electronic still camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a playback mode control program in the electronic still camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a timekeeping control program in the wristwatch of the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a display example of the wristwatch in the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart at the time of operating a shutter key in the electronic still camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart at the time of operating a transfer key in the electronic still camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing time-based image transfer in the electronic still camera of the embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an image transfer request by time measurement in the timepiece according to the embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an image transfer request by a predetermined switch in the timepiece according to the embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of using the system of the embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a configuration diagram of an information recording system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram of the wristwatch according to the embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a schematic flowchart of a timekeeping control program according to the embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a control program of the electronic still camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a conceptual diagram showing a recording state of a flash memory in the embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a display example of a liquid crystal display in the embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a system configuration diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a block diagram of the electronic still camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram of the wristwatch according to the embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart of a recording mode control program in the electronic still camera according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart of a playback mode control program in the electronic still camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart of a timekeeping control program in the wristwatch according to the embodiment.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing a display example of the wristwatch in the embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart at the time of operating a shutter key in the electronic still camera according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart at the time of operating a transfer key in the electronic still camera according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart illustrating image transfer by time measurement in the electronic still camera according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing an image transfer request by time measurement in the timepiece according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing an image transfer request by a predetermined switch of a timepiece according to a modified example.

FIG. 43 is a memory configuration diagram of a flash memory according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 44 is a memory configuration diagram of a work RAM in the embodiment.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart of a recording mode control program in the electronic still camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 46 is a flowchart of a playback mode control program in the electronic still camera according to the embodiment.

FIG. 47 is a flowchart of a timekeeping control program in the wristwatch of the embodiment.

FIG. 48 is a diagram showing an example of using the system of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 electronic still camera 2 wristwatch 8 mobile phone terminal 20 buffer memory 21 compression / expansion circuit 23 flash memory 24 CPU 24 a program ROM 24 b work RAM 25 key input unit 30 communication unit 40 clock circuit 50 remote control 101 shutter key 102 liquid crystal display 103 microphone 104 Speaker 105 Transfer key 200 Liquid crystal display 204 Display unit 205 Memory 206 Communication unit 208 Control unit 210 Microphone 211 Speaker 301 Electronic still camera 302 Watch 313 CCD 323 Flash memory 324 CPU 324b Work RAM 330 Communication unit 340 Clock circuit 344 Memory 346 Communication unit 347 Control unit 400 Electronic still camera 500 Wrist watch 420 Buffer memory 421 Compression / expansion circuit 42 Flash memory 424 CPU 424a program ROM 424b work RAM 425 key input unit 815 standby screen data storage unit

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5K027 AA11 BB01 CC08 FF22 HH29 5K033 DA19 EA07 5K034 EE03 FF13 5K067 AA12 AA21 AA33 AA34 BB04 CC10 DD23 DD24 DD30 DD52 DD57 EE02 EE10 EE16 FF25 FF23 FF23 FF23 FF23 FF23 FF23 FF37 FF23 FF23 FF37 FF23 FF23 FF37 FF23 FF25 FF23 FF23 FF37 LL12 NN06 NN18 NN21

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A data generating means comprising a plurality of portable electronic devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of devices generates data to be transmitted to another device;
A transmitting unit for transmitting the data generated by the data generating unit; a receiving unit for receiving the data transmitted by the transmitting unit; and a processing unit based on the data received by the receiving unit. Data processing means to execute,
A local network is formed between the plurality of electronic devices, and one of the other devices is a mobile phone terminal, which is connected to an external network via the mobile phone terminal. One is a camera, wherein the data generating means of the camera captures an image of a subject and generates image data thereof, and the transmitting means transmits the generated image data to a mobile phone terminal. Network system. 2. The mobile phone terminal includes display means for displaying the received image as a standby screen, and the data processing means displays an image based on the image data received by the receiving means on a standby screen. 2. The wearable network system according to claim 1, wherein processing is performed to cause the display means to display the information. 3. The portable telephone terminal and the camera have means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data to and from each other, transferring data of an image taken by the camera to the portable telephone terminal, wherein the data processing means of the portable telephone terminal comprises: A wearable network system, wherein the image is set as a standby screen of a mobile phone terminal. 4. The wearable network according to claim 1, wherein said portable telephone terminal has means for connecting to the Internet, and means for sending image data sent from said camera to an Internet server. system. 5. The wearable network system according to claim 4, wherein the server of the Internet accumulates the transmitted image data and stores the data so that the image data can be accessed from outside. 6. The wearable network system according to claim 1, wherein the data generation unit generates a thumbnail image, and the data transmission unit transmits the thumbnail image. 7. The wearable network system according to claim 1, wherein said data generating means performs an image reduction process in accordance with a display size of a receiving electronic device. 8. The transmission means of the camera detects whether the mobile phone terminal is busy, performs transmission processing if not busy, interrupts transmission processing if busy, and interrupts the transmission processing for a predetermined time. The wearable network system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission process is performed again later.