Terminal device

Abstract

To enable an automatic imaging in a place in which a lot of persons have interest at present.SOLUTION: A server device communicates with a plurality of terminal devices, and receives image information or contribution information which includes attribute information indicative of generation time and a generation spot, so as to detect a recommended imaging area which is an area in which the number of image information or the contribution information of a reference number or greater are generated in a first period. The server device then transmits the recommended imaging area information, which includes information indicative of the recommended imaging area, to cause the terminal device to automatically image in the recommended imaging area, to a terminal device other than a transmission source of the image information or the contribution information related to the recommended imaging area. The terminal device performs automatic imaging in the recommended imaging area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for capturing an image. [Background technology]

[0002] Using a navigation device, a drive recorder, etc., the scenery outside a vehicle is photographed while the vehicle is traveling. Patent Document 1 describes a vehicle video recording device equipped with a control unit that records the video photographed by a CCD camera onto an SD memory card. This video recording device performs recording processing under preset conditions other than accidents, such as places where attention is required. Examples of places where attention is required include areas where traffic accidents frequently occur, railroad crossings, school routes, tourist spots, and places with beautiful views. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-28651 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Patent Document 1 records video at locations that have been pre-registered in a database along with map data, but does not record video at locations that are currently of interest to many people, i.e. locations that have been provided as popular spots.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has as its main object to enable automatic photography in places that are currently attracting the attention of many people. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The invention described in the claims is characterized in that it is a terminal device comprising: a photographing means for photographing scenery; a communication means for receiving recommended photographing area information from an external server device, the recommended photographing area including information indicating a recommended photographing area which is an area in which a reference number or more of image information or posted information has been generated within a first period; and a control means for causing the photographing means to perform photographing when the current location is within the recommended photographing area. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 shows a configuration of an automatic photography system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 shows a schematic configuration of a server. [Diagram 3] 1 shows a schematic configuration of a navigation device. [Figure 4] 4 shows examples of the configuration of various data. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a recommended shooting area. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart of a photographing process and a posting process performed by the navigation device. [Figure 7] 13 is a flowchart of a detection process and a distribution process by a server. [Figure 8] 4 is a flowchart of an automatic photographing process performed by the navigation device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the server device includes a receiving means for receiving image information or posted information including attribute information indicating the generation time and generation point from a plurality of terminal devices, a detecting means for detecting a recommended shooting area which is an area in which a reference number or more of image information or posted information was generated within a first period based on the attribute information, and a transmitting means for transmitting recommended shooting area information including information indicating the recommended shooting area and for causing a terminal device to automatically shoot in the recommended shooting area to a terminal device other than the sender of the image information or posted information relating to the recommended shooting area.

[0009] The server device communicates with a plurality of terminal devices, receives image information or posted information including attribute information indicating the generation time and the generation point, and detects a recommended photography area that is an area where a reference number or more of image information or posted information has been generated within a first period. The server device then transmits recommended photography area information including information indicating the recommended photography area for causing the terminal device to automatically photograph in the recommended photography area to a terminal device other than the sender of the image information or posted information related to the recommended photography area. This allows the server device to provide information on recommended photography areas that are attracting the interest of many people to the terminal device.

[0010] In one aspect of the server device, the image information includes automatic photography information indicating whether the image information was automatically photographed by the terminal device, and the detection means excludes image information including automatic photography information indicating that the image information was automatically photographed from the count of the number of cases. This makes it possible to prevent a problem in which a recommended photography area continues for an inappropriately long period of time due to a large number of image information generated based on automatic photography.

[0011] In another aspect of the server device, the detection means assigns different weights to the image information and the posted information when counting the number of items, thereby making it possible to count the number of items of image information and posted information in an appropriate manner according to the importance, priority, etc. of the image information and the posted information.

[0012] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the information providing method executed by the server device includes a receiving step of receiving image information or posted information including attribute information indicating the generation time and the generation point from a plurality of terminal devices, a detecting step of detecting a recommended photography area which is an area where a reference number or more of image information or posted information has been generated within a first period based on the attribute information, and a transmitting step of transmitting recommended photography area information including information indicating the recommended photography area and for causing a terminal device to automatically photograph in the recommended photography area to a terminal device other than the sender of the image information or posted information related to the recommended photography area. This method also allows information on recommended photography areas that are attracting the interest of many people to be provided to the terminal device.

[0013] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an information provision program executed by a server device having a computer causes the computer to function as a receiving means for receiving image information or posted information including attribute information indicating the time and location of generation from a plurality of terminal devices, a detecting means for detecting a recommended photography area which is an area where a reference number or more of image information or posted information has been generated within a first period based on the attribute information, and a transmitting means for transmitting recommended photography area information including information indicating the recommended photography area and for causing a terminal device to automatically photograph in the recommended photography area to a terminal device other than a sender of image information or posted information related to the recommended photography area. The above-mentioned server device can be realized by executing this program on a computer.

[0014] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a terminal device includes an imaging means for capturing landscape images, a communication means for receiving, from an external server device, recommended photography area information including information indicating a recommended photography area which is an area in which a reference number or more of image information or posted information has been generated within a first period of time, and a control means for causing the imaging means to capture an image when the current location is within the recommended photography area.

[0015] The terminal device receives information indicating a recommended photography area, which is an area where a reference number or more of image information or posted information has been generated within a first period, from an external server. Then, when the current position enters the recommended photography area, the photography means automatically photographs the scenery. This allows photography to be automatically performed in the recommended photography area that is attracting the interest of many people.

[0016] In one aspect of the above terminal device, the communication means transmits image information automatically captured based on the recommended photography area information to the server device together with automatic photography information indicating that the image information has been automatically captured. In this aspect, the automatically captured image information is transmitted to the server device together with automatic photography information indicating that the image information has been automatically captured. Thus, the server device can exclude the image information obtained by automatic photography from the process of determining the recommended photography area.

[0017] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a photographing method executed by a terminal device equipped with a photographing means for photographing scenery includes a communication step of receiving, from an external server device, recommended photographing area information including information indicating a recommended photographing area, which is an area where a reference number or more of image information or posted information has been generated within a first period, and a control step of causing the photographing means to perform photographing when the current location is within the recommended photographing area. This method also makes it possible to automatically photograph in the recommended photographing area that is attracting the interest of many people.

[0018] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a photography program executed by a terminal device including a photography means for photographing scenery and a computer causes the computer to function as a communication means for receiving, from an external server device, recommended photography area information including information indicating a recommended photography area where a reference number or more of image information or posted information has been generated within a first period, and a control means for causing the photography means to perform photography when the current location is within the recommended photography area. The above-mentioned terminal device can be realized by executing this program on a computer. EXAMPLES

[0019] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] [Device configuration] (Overall composition) 1 shows a schematic configuration of an automatic photography system according to an embodiment. The automatic photography system includes a server 7 and a plurality of navigation devices 1. The navigation devices 1 are capable of transmitting and receiving data to and from the server 7 via wireless communication.

[0021] (server) 2 shows a schematic configuration of the server 7. The server 7 is a computer device, and includes a communication unit 71, a control unit (CPU) 72, a ROM 73, a RAM 74, a map database (hereinafter, the database will be referred to as “DB”) 75, and a recommended shooting area DB 76.

[0022] The communication unit 71 transmits and receives data to and from the navigation device 1 via wireless communication. The control unit 72 controls the entire server 7. The ROM 73 stores programs executed by the server 7. The RAM 74 functions as a work memory when the server 7 performs various processes. The map DB 75 stores road map data. The recommended shooting area DB 76 stores recommended shooting areas provided by the server 7 to the navigation device 1. The recommended shooting areas will be explained in detail later. In the above configuration, the communication unit 71 is an example of a receiving means and a transmitting means of the present invention, and the control unit 72 is an example of a detecting means of the present invention.

[0023] (Navigation device) Fig. 3 shows the configuration of the navigation device 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the navigation device 1 includes a stand-alone positioning device 10, a GPS receiver 18, a system controller 20, a camera 31, a data storage unit 36, a communication interface 37, a communication device 38, a display unit 40, an audio output unit 50, and an input device 60.

[0024] The system controller 20 , the camera 31 , the data storage unit 36 ​​, the communication interface 37 , the display unit 40 , the audio output unit 50 and the input device 60 are connected to each other via a bus line 30 .

[0025] The independent positioning device 10 includes an acceleration sensor 11, an angular velocity sensor 12, and a distance sensor 13. The acceleration sensor 11 is, for example, a piezoelectric element, detects the acceleration of the vehicle, and outputs the acceleration data. The angular velocity sensor 12 is, for example, a vibration gyroscope, detects the angular velocity of the vehicle when the vehicle changes direction, and outputs the angular velocity data and the relative direction data. The distance sensor 13 measures a vehicle speed pulse consisting of a pulse signal generated in association with the rotation of the vehicle's wheels.

[0026] The GPS receiver 18 receives radio waves 19 carrying downlink data including positioning data from multiple GPS satellites. The positioning data is used to detect the absolute position of the vehicle (hereinafter also referred to as the "current position") from latitude and longitude information, etc.

[0027] The system controller 20 includes an interface 21 , a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 22 , a ROM (Read Only Memory) 23 , and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 24 , and controls the entire navigation device 1 .

[0028] The interface 21 performs interface operations with the acceleration sensor 11, the angular velocity sensor 12, the distance sensor 13, and the GPS receiver 18. From these, the interface 21 inputs vehicle speed pulses, acceleration data, relative direction data, angular velocity data, GPS positioning data, absolute direction data, and the like to the system controller 20.

[0029] The CPU 22 controls the entire system controller 20. The ROM 23 has a non-volatile memory (not shown) that stores a control program for controlling the system controller 20. The RAM 24 readably stores various data such as route data preset by a user via the input device 60, and provides a working area for the CPU 22.

[0030] The camera 31 photographs and records the scenery in front of the vehicle. The photographed image data is stored in a data storage unit 36. The photographed image is usually used for AR (Augmented Reality) navigation using real images. In this embodiment, the image includes a still image and a video image.

[0031] The data storage unit 36 ​​is configured, for example, with a HDD and stores various data used in navigation processing such as map data. The communication device 38 performs wireless communication with the server 7 via a network. Note that the communication device 38 may be a dedicated wireless communication unit built into the navigation device 1, or may be a unit that is connected to a mobile phone by wire or wirelessly and connects to the network using the communication function of the mobile phone.

[0032] The display unit 40 displays various display data on a display device such as a display under the control of the system controller 20. Specifically, the system controller 20 reads map data from the data storage unit 36. The display unit 40 displays the map data and the like read from the data storage unit 36 ​​by the system controller 20 on a display screen. The display unit 40 includes a graphic controller 41 that controls the entire display unit 40 based on control data sent from the CPU 22 via the bus line 30, a buffer memory 42 that is a memory such as a VRAM (Video RAM) and temporarily stores image information that can be displayed immediately, a display control unit 43 that controls the display 44 such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) based on image data output from the graphic controller 41, and a display 44. The display 44 functions as an image display unit, and is, for example, a liquid crystal display device with a diagonal size of about 5 to 10 inches, and is attached near the front panel inside the vehicle.

[0033] The audio output unit 50 is configured to include a D / A converter 51 that performs D / A (Digital to Analog) conversion of audio digital data sent via the bus line 30 from the CD-ROM drive 31, DVD-ROM 32, RAM 24, etc. under the control of the system controller 20, an amplifier (AMP) 52 that amplifies the audio analog signal output from the D / A converter 51, and a speaker 53 that converts the amplified audio analog signal into audio and outputs it inside the vehicle.

[0034] The input device 60 is composed of keys, switches, buttons, a remote control, a voice input device, etc. for inputting various commands and data. The input device 60 is disposed on the front panel of the main body of the in-vehicle electronic system mounted in the vehicle or around the display 44. In addition, if the display 44 is of a touch panel type, the touch panel provided on the display screen of the display 44 also functions as the input device 60.

[0035] In the above configuration, the camera 31 is an example of the imaging means of the present invention, the communication device 38 is an example of the communication means of the present invention, and the CPU 22 is an example of the control means of the present invention.

[0036] [Operation] Next, the operations carried out between the navigation device 1 and the server 7 will be described.

[0037] (Send images and posting information) A user of the navigation device 1 can manually capture an image of the area in front of the vehicle by operating the input device 60, and upload the captured image to the server 7. For example, the user manually captures a place with beautiful scenery or a place that catches his / her eye while driving, and uploads the image data to the server 7.

[0038] FIG. 4(a) shows an example of the data structure of image information uploaded from the navigation device 1 to the server 7. The image information includes a terminal ID, date and time, location information, image data, audio data, and additional information. The "terminal ID" is identification information uniquely assigned to the navigation device 1. The "date and time" indicates the date and time when the image was captured. The "location information" indicates the latitude and longitude of the point where the image was captured. The "audio data" is audio data recorded by a microphone or the like while the image was being captured. The additional information is information related to the captured image data.

[0039] The additional information includes an image classification flag indicating the classification of the captured image. An example of an image classification table that defines the image classification flag is shown in FIG. 4(c). As image classifications, a large number of classifications that indicate the impression of the captured image, such as "place with beautiful scenery" and "amazing scene", are prepared in advance. After manually capturing an image, the user operates the input device 60 to specify the corresponding classification from the image classification table. The navigation device 1 includes the image classification flag corresponding to the classification specified by the user in the image information as additional information.

[0040] The additional information also includes an automatic capture flag indicating whether the image was automatically captured by the navigation device 1. Specifically, when image data obtained by the navigation device 1 capturing an image automatically based on the recommended capture area information provided by the server 7 is transmitted to the server 7, "automatic capture flag: ON" is included in the additional information. On the other hand, when image data obtained by the user manually capturing a favorite landscape or the like is transmitted to the server 7, "automatic capture flag: OFF" is included in the additional information. The automatic capture flag is an example of automatic capture information of the present invention.

[0041] Furthermore, the additional information may include the address of the shooting location, the name of the area, and the like.

[0042] Furthermore, a user can post what he or she feels when seeing a landscape or the like at a certain place as a tweet to the server 7. When a user operates the navigation device 1 to tweet, posted information including the content of the tweet is transmitted to the server 7.

[0043] FIG. 4(b) shows an example of the data structure of posted information based on a tweet. The posted information includes a terminal ID, date and time, location information, posted data, and additional information. As described above, the "terminal ID" is identification information of the navigation device 1. The "date and time" indicates the date and time when the tweet was made, and the "location information" indicates the latitude and longitude of the point where the tweet was made. The posted data indicates the content of the tweet. The "additional information" can include the address of the place where the tweet was made, the name of the area, etc.

[0044] (Detection of recommended shooting area) The server 7 receives image information and posted information from multiple navigation devices 1 and determines a recommended photography area. Here, a "recommended photography area" is an area that is attracting the interest of many people, and specifically, is an area where there is a predetermined number (reference number: for example, 100) of image information and posted information within a certain period of time within a predetermined range (for example, within a radius of 100 m).

[0045] The server 7 detects, as a recommended photography area, a location where image information and posted information are concentrated, based on the shooting date and time of the image contained in the image information and posted information received from multiple navigation devices 1, the shooting location, the sending location and sending date and time of the tweet, etc. The server 7 can detect a recommended photography area for each area, day of the week, time period, and combinations of these. For example, the server 7 can detect a recommended photography area under conditions such as "Sunday afternoon in Tokyo."

[0046] Fig. 5 shows an example of recommended photography areas displayed on a map. The example in Fig. 5 shows the positions of image information and posted information received by the server 7 from multiple navigation devices 1 on a map under the condition of "XX month, XX day (△ day of the week) from 14:00 to 15:00". As shown in Fig. 5, the server 7 determines areas where a predetermined number or more of photography locations indicated by location information included in the image information and posted locations indicated by location information included in the posted information are concentrated as recommended photography areas P1 to P3.

[0047] As described above, the server 7 limits the detection of the recommended photography area to a certain period of time, but this is to ensure the freshness of the information. Therefore, the server 7 excludes image information and posted information that are no longer included in the above-mentioned certain period after a certain time has passed since the upload from the navigation device 1 from the number of items counted when determining the recommended photography area. This makes it possible to always provide fresh information to the user.

[0048] 4(d) shows an example of storage of the recommended photography area DB 76 of the server 7. For each recommended photography area detected as described above, the recommended photography area DB 76 stores the position (latitude, longitude) and range of the recommended photography area, conditions such as the day of the week and time period, the number of cases, and the terminal ID of the navigation device 1 that is the sender of the image information or posted information. As will be described later, the server 7 distributes information on the recommended photography areas determined in this manner in response to a request from the navigation device 1.

[0049] When detecting the recommended photography area, the server 7 may count the number of image information and posted information equally, or may count either one with weighting. For example, one image information may be counted as 1.5 pieces of image information, and one posted information may be counted as 1 piece of posted information. In addition, when the image classification flag described above is added to the image information, the image information may be counted with weighting (for example, 1.5 pieces of image information).

[0050] In the above embodiment, the server 7 receives image information and posted information from multiple navigation devices 1, but it may also detect a location where image information and posted information received from multiple terminal devices other than the navigation device 1 are concentrated as a recommended shooting area.

[0051] [Processing flow] Next, various processes corresponding to the above-mentioned operations will be described with reference to flowcharts.

[0052] (Photography processing) First, there will be described the photographing process executed by the navigation device 1. Fig. 6(a) is a flowchart of the photographing process. This process is performed by the CPU 22 of the navigation device 1 executing a program prepared in advance in response to a user's operation.

[0053] First, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the user has operated the input device 60 to instruct the start of shooting (step S10). If the start of shooting has been instructed (step S10: Yes), the CPU 22 controls the camera 31 to start shooting (step S11). Next, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the user has instructed the end of shooting (step S12). If the end of shooting has not been instructed (step S12: No), the CPU 22 continues shooting.

[0054] On the other hand, when an instruction to end shooting is given (step S12: Yes), the CPU 22 controls the camera 31 to end shooting (step S13). Then, as shown in Fig. 4(a), the CPU 22 generates image information including additional information such as the date and time of shooting, location information of the location where the shooting was performed, the captured image data, audio data acquired during shooting, and image classification input by the user (step S14), and transmits the image information to the server 7 (step S15). Thus, the shooting process ends.

[0055] In the above example, the user inputs an instruction to end image capture, but the CPU 22 may be set to automatically end image capture after a certain time has elapsed since the user inputs an instruction to start image capture.

[0056] (Posting process) Next, a description will be given of the posting process executed by the navigation device 1. Fig. 6(b) is a flowchart of the posting process. This process is also performed by the CPU 22 of the navigation device 1 executing a program prepared in advance in response to a user operation.

[0057] First, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the user has issued a posting instruction, i.e., tweeted, by operating the input device 60 (step S21). If the user has tweeted (step S21: Yes), the CPU 22 acquires the content of the tweet as posting data (step S22). Then, as shown in FIG. 4(b), the CPU 22 generates posting information including the date and time of the tweet, location information of the location where the tweet was made, posting data, additional information, etc. (step S24) and transmits it to the server 7 (step S24). This ends the posting process.

[0058] Through the above-described photographing process and posting process, the multiple navigation devices 1 transmit a large amount of image information or posted information to the server 7. Therefore, the server 7 accumulates the image information and posted information uploaded from the multiple navigation devices 1.

[0059] (Recommended shooting area detection process) Next, a description will be given of the detection process of the recommended shooting area executed by the server 7. Fig. 7(a) is a flowchart of the detection process of the recommended shooting area. This process is performed by the control unit 72 of the server 7 executing a program prepared in advance.

[0060] First, the control unit 72 judges whether or not it is a predetermined detection timing (step S31). As described above, the detection of the recommended shooting area is performed according to predetermined conditions such as the day of the week and the time period. Therefore, the control unit 72 judges whether or not it is the timing to detect the recommended shooting area. If it is not the detection timing (step S31: No), the process ends. On the other hand, if it is the detection timing (step S31: Yes), the control unit 72 maps the shooting locations and the posted locations based on the image information and the posted information received from the navigation device 1 as illustrated in FIG. 5 (step S32), and judges whether or not there is an area where a predetermined number or more of shooting locations and posted locations are concentrated within a predetermined range within a certain time period (step S33).

[0061] If there is no area with a predetermined number of shooting locations and posted locations (step S33: No), the process ends. On the other hand, if there is an area with a predetermined number of shooting locations and posted locations (step S33: Yes), the control unit 72 determines the area as a recommended shooting area (step S34), and registers the area's location and range, conditions, the number of pieces of image information and posted information, the terminal ID of the navigation device 1 that sent the image information and posted information, and the like in the recommended shooting area DB 76, as shown in Fig. 5(d) (step S35). In this way, the process of detecting the recommended shooting area ends.

[0062] In the determination of step S33, the control unit 72 excludes from the count the image information for which the automatic shooting flag included in the additional information is ON, among the image information received from the navigation device 1. This is to prevent a problem in that if image information obtained by automatic shooting is included in the count, the number of image information in the recommended shooting area will increase excessively, and the recommended shooting area will remain indefinitely even after interest in that area has actually waned.

[0063] (Distribution processing) Next, a distribution process by the server 7 will be described. The distribution process is a process in which the server 7 distributes recommended shooting area information including the recommended shooting area in response to a request from the navigation device 1. Fig. 7(b) is a flowchart of the distribution process. This process is performed by the control unit 72 of the server 7 executing a program prepared in advance.

[0064] First, the server 7 acquires, from the navigation device 1, position information of the vehicle in which the navigation device 1 is installed (step S41). In this example, it is assumed that the navigation device 1 transmits the vehicle position information to the server 7 in real time.

[0065] Based on the position information received from the navigation device 1, the control unit 72 refers to the recommended photography area DB 76 and judges whether or not there is a recommended photography area near the current position of the vehicle (step S42). In this case, "near" is judged based on whether or not it is within a predetermined distance. If there is no recommended photography area near the current position of the vehicle (step S42: No), the process ends. On the other hand, if there is a recommended photography area near the current position of the vehicle (step S42: Yes), the control unit 72 transmits the recommended photography area information of the recommended photography area to the navigation device 1 through the communication unit 71 (step S43). Also, if there are multiple recommended photography areas near the current position of the vehicle, the control unit 72 transmits the recommended photography area information of all of them.

[0066] The recommended photography area information includes at least the position information and range (see FIG. 4(d)) indicating the recommended photography area. In addition, the recommended photography area information may include instruction information for the navigation device 1 to start automatic photography when the recommended photography area is entered. Furthermore, if the recommended photography area has conditions regarding the day of the week, time period, etc., the control unit 72 adds the conditions (see FIG. 4(d)) to the recommended photography area information and transmits it to the navigation device 1. In this way, the distribution process ends.

[0067] In the above example, the navigation device 1 is assumed to constantly transmit current location information to the server 7 in real time. Instead, a request for delivery of recommended shooting area information may be made from the navigation device 1 to the server 7 based on a user's operation. In this case, the navigation device 1 transmits to the server 7 the request for delivery of recommended shooting area information together with its own current location information.

[0068] (Automatic photography processing) Next, a description will be given of the automatic photographing process executed in the navigation device 1. The automatic photographing process is a process in which the navigation device 1 automatically photographs images based on the recommended photographing area information transmitted to the navigation device 1 by the distribution process. Fig. 8 is a flowchart of the automatic photographing process. This process is performed by the CPU 22 of the navigation device 1 executing a program prepared in advance.

[0069] First, the CPU 22 receives the recommended photography area information from the server 7 and stores it in the RAM 24 or the data storage unit 36 ​​(step S51). Next, the CPU 22 judges whether or not the current position of the vehicle is within the recommended photography area (step S52). The recommended photography area is determined based on the position information and range included in the recommended photography area information. If the current position is not within the recommended photography area (step S52: No), step S52 is repeated. On the other hand, if the current position is within the recommended photography area (step S52: Yes), the CPU 22 controls the camera 31 to automatically start photography (step S53).

[0070] Next, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the current position has left the recommended shooting area (step S54). If the current position has not left the recommended shooting area (step S54: No), shooting continues (step S53).

[0071] On the other hand, if the current position has moved out of the recommended shooting area (step S54: Yes), the CPU 22 controls the camera 31 to automatically end shooting, and generates image information including image data obtained by shooting (step S55). Here, the image information has a configuration as exemplified in FIG. 4(a), but as described above, for image data captured by the automatic shooting process, "automatic shooting flag: ON" indicating that the image was captured automatically is included in the additional information. Then, the CPU 22 controls the communication device 38 to transmit the generated image information to the server 7. In this way, the automatic shooting process ends.

[0072] In the above example, the navigation device 1 uploads the automatically captured image data to the server 7, but the data may be stored in the data storage unit 36 ​​of the navigation device 1 instead of being uploaded to the server 7.

[0073] As described above, in this embodiment, the server 7 collects image information and posted information uploaded by an unspecified number of users, determines areas with high information freshness and density for each area, day of the week, and time period as recommended photography areas, and distributes the information to the navigation device 1. The navigation device 1 automatically takes pictures when entering a recommended photography area. This makes it possible to automatically take pictures at popular spots that many people are interested in.

[0074] [Variations] In the above embodiment, when the navigation device 1 requests the server 7 to deliver the recommended photography area information, the information on the vehicle position is included in the delivery request and transmitted. At this time, if a guide route to the destination is set in the navigation device 1, the navigation device 1 may also include the guide route in the delivery request and transmit it to the server 7. In this case, the server 7 can transmit to the navigation device 1 a current position of the navigation device 1 and a plurality of pieces of recommended photography area information close to the guide route. The navigation device 1 automatically takes a photograph every time the vehicle position enters a recommended photography area based on the plurality of pieces of recommended photography area information. This allows the navigation device 1 to obtain a plurality of pieces of recommended photography area information corresponding to the guide route at once, thereby making it possible to reduce the amount of communication data between the navigation device 1 and the server 7.

[0075] In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a navigation device, but the present invention can also be applied to a vehicle-mounted drive recorder or a terminal device such as a smartphone. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1 Navigation devices 7 Server 22 CPU 31 Camera 38 Communication Equipment 71 Communications Department 72 Control section 76 Recommended shooting area DB

Claims

[Claim 1] A photographing means for photographing a landscape; A communication means for receiving, from an external server device, recommended photography area information including information indicating a recommended photography area which is an area in which a reference number or more of image information or posted information has been generated within a first period; a control means for causing the photographing means to perform photographing when the current position is within the recommended photographing area; A terminal device comprising:

Images