Abstract: To provide a user with more appropriate information on the spot around the route. A search system includes an acquisition unit, a determining unit, a search unit, and an output unit. The acquisition unit acquires a current position of a moving body and information on a route from the current position to a position of a destination. The determining unit determines a width of a search range dynamically changed along the route, based on the current position and the information on the route. The search unit searches for a spot present within the search range. The output unit outputs information on a searched spot.

Abstract: A server collects image pickup data picked up by an image pickup device that is held by a moving body. The server generates spot information in which information regarding a spot specified based on a post in a social networking service is associated with position information indicating a position of the spot and transmits the spot information to an information display device. The information display device displays a screen including first information for receiving a request for image pickup data regarding the spot information, and transmits request information including the position information of the spot information to the server when the first information is selected by a user. The server collects image pickup data picked up by the image pickup device in a region that satisfies a condition for the position indicated by the position information in the request information and transmits the collected data to the information display device.

Abstract: An acquisition circuit acquires first position information indicating a position and a first image captured by a camera at the position indicated by the first position information. A memory stores second position information indicating a prescribed position on a map and feature information extracted from a second image corresponding to the prescribed position. The second position information is associated with the feature information. A processor estimates the position indicated by the first position information on the basis of the second position information in the case that the position indicated by the first position information falls within a prescribed range from the prescribed position indicated by the second position information and the first image corresponds to the feature information.

Abstract: An information processing device includes a first obtaining unit that obtains, from an external information processing device, image information added to a captured image published for external access by the external information processing device under a preset obtainment condition, a first storage that stores the image information obtained by the obtaining unit, and a first controller that categorizes the image information stored in the first storage under a preset attribute condition. The image information includes at least positional information and time information each added to the captured image. The first controller categorizes the image information at least based on the positional information and the time information.

Abstract: An information retrieval apparatus includes a retrieval phrase acquisition device and a controller. The retrieval phrase acquisition device acquires a retrieval phrase from outside. The controller is configured to generate a feature word from the retrieval phrase. The feature word is related to a word representing a retrieval target. The controller is configured to retrieve the retrieval target corresponding to the feature word based on the feature word from an accumulation database that accumulates the feature word and the retrieval target corresponding to the feature word.

Abstract: An information processing device includes a first obtaining unit that obtains, from an external information processing device, image information added to a captured image published for external access by the external information processing device under a preset obtainment condition, a first storage that stores the image information obtained by the obtaining unit, and a first controller that categorizes the image information stored in the first storage under a preset attribute condition. The image information includes at least positional information and time information each added to the captured image. The first controller categorizes the image information at least based on the positional information and the time information.

Abstract: An acquisition circuit acquires first position information indicating a position and a first image captured by a camera at the position indicated by the first position information. A memory stores second position information indicating a prescribed position on a map and feature information extracted from a second image corresponding to the prescribed position. The second position information is associated with the feature information. A processor estimates the position indicated by the first position information on the basis of the second position information in the case that the position indicated by the first position information falls within a prescribed range from the prescribed position indicated by the second position information and the first image corresponds to the feature information.

Abstract: To provide a user with more appropriate information on the spot around the route. A search system includes an acquisition unit, a determining unit, a search unit, and an output unit. The acquisition unit acquires a current position of a moving body and information on a route from the current position to a position of a destination. The determining unit determines a width of a search range dynamically changed along the route, based on the current position and the information on the route. The search unit searches for a spot present within the search range. The output unit outputs information on a searched spot.

Abstract: An information retrieval apparatus includes a retrieval phrase acquisition device and a controller. The retrieval phrase acquisition device acquires a retrieval phrase from outside. The controller is configured to generate a feature word from the retrieval phrase. The feature word is related to a word representing a retrieval target. The controller is configured to retrieve the retrieval target corresponding to the feature word based on the feature word from an accumulation database that accumulates the feature word and the retrieval target corresponding to the feature word.

Abstract: To enhance accuracy in correction of a defective pixel. An image of an object is captured using a digital camera, and stored in an image memory 14. A processor 16 detects a defect, using pixels located in the vertical and horizontal directions relative to, in lines of the same color as, and separated by one line from, the focused line. With any defect found, the presence or absence of line crawl is next determined. When it is determined that line crawl is present, the presence or absence of a diagonal edge is then determined. Subsequently, the surrounding pixels used to correct a defective pixel are selected in consideration of whether or not line crawl or a diagonal edge are present.

Abstract: A more preferable WB gain is calculated during strobe illuminated photography. When a WB gain for an image captured through strobe illuminated photography is calculated, the degree of contribution of strobe light is first estimated. When the degree of contribution is estimated, the image is first divided into a plurality of blocks, and typical brightness values and typical color values of the respective blocks are determined (S23). Subsequently, the highest-brightness block among the blocks analogous to the color of strobe light is identified as a strobe color block (S26). When there is a strobe color block, the degree of contribution of strobe light is estimated on the basis of the position of the strobe color block, a difference between the brightness of the strobe color block and the brightnesses of other blocks, and the like (S32 to S48).

Abstract: A more preferable WB gain is calculated during strobe illuminated photography. When a WB gain for an image captured through strobe illuminated photography is calculated, the degree of contribution of strobe light is first estimated. When the degree of contribution is estimated, the image is first divided into a plurality of blocks, and typical brightness values and typical color values of the respective blocks are determined (S23). Subsequently, the highest-brightness block among the blocks analogous to the color of strobe light is identified as a strobe color block (S26). When there is a strobe color block, the degree of contribution of strobe light is estimated on the basis of the position of the strobe color block, a difference between the brightness of the strobe color block and the brightnesses of other blocks, and the like (S32 to S48).

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital camera that is capable of capturing a picture in which the brightness between a main subject and a nighttime background are well balanced. When an image capture instruction is received while a night scene portrait mode is set, in a pixel addition output mode, an image sensor 16 is set to a high sensitivity state by performing pixel addition, and outputs low resolution non-flash image data. Further, in an overall pixel output mode, the image sensor 16 outputs high resolution flash image data in a low sensitivity state without performing pixel addition. Next, a resolution conversion circuit 40 converts a resolution of non-flash image data to be equivalent to a resolution of flash image data. Then, an image combining circuit 60 adds respective pixel values of corresponding pixels in the non-flash image data and the flash image data having the same resolution and combines both sets of image data to generate image data for recording.

Abstract: To provide an auto white balance apparatus capable of performing stable white balance adjustment. A parent block is divided into child blocks by a block-dividing circuit 110, and a typical value is calculated every child block by a typical-value calculating circuit 120, and then the distance between the typical color difference component of each parent block and the typical color difference component of each child block is obtained on a color difference plane. A child block satisfying a condition equal to or less than a threshold value S is selected to recalculate reliability of a parent blocks by using only selected child blocks. Moreover, a white balance evaluating circuit 130 corrects reliabilities of parent blocks in accordance with the number of unselected child blocks.

Abstract: A date-stamped captured image is subjected to camera shake correction. When adding date data to a captured image, an image processing IC of a digital camera stores in a storage section image data pertaining to an area where date data are to be added. When a date-stamped captured image is subjected to hand shake correction, the image data stored in the storage section are written over the captured image, thereby causing the date to disappear and perform camera shake correction. After camera shake correction, the date data are again added.

Abstract: A more preferable WB gain is calculated during strobe illuminated photography. When a WB gain for an image captured through strobe illuminated photography is calculated, the degree of contribution of strobe light is first estimated. When the degree of contribution is estimated, the image is first divided into a plurality of blocks, and typical brightness values and typical color values of the respective blocks are determined (S23). Subsequently, the highest-brightness block among the blocks analogous to the color of strobe light is identified as a strobe color block (S26). When there is a strobe color block, the degree of contribution of strobe light is estimated on the basis of the position of the strobe color block, a difference between the brightness of the strobe color block and the brightnesses of other blocks, and the like (S32 to S48).

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital camera that is capable of capturing a picture in which the brightness between a main subject and a nighttime background are well balanced. When an image capture instruction is received while a night scene portrait mode is set, in a pixel addition output mode, an image sensor 16 is set to a high sensitivity state by performing pixel addition, and outputs low resolution non-flash image data. Further, in an overall pixel output mode, the image sensor 16 outputs high resolution flash image data in a low sensitivity state without performing pixel addition. Next, a resolution conversion circuit 40 converts a resolution of non-flash image data to be equivalent to a resolution of flash image data. Then, an image combining circuit 60 adds respective pixel values of corresponding pixels in the non-flash image data and the flash image data having the same resolution and combines both sets of image data to generate image data for recording.

Abstract: To enhance accuracy in correction of a defective pixel. An image of an object is captured using a digital camera, and stored in an image memory 14. A processor 16 detects a defect, using pixels located in the vertical and horizontal directions relative to, in lines of the same color as, and separated by one line from, the focused line. With any defect found, the presence or absence of line crawl is next determined. When it is determined that line crawl is present, the presence or absence of a diagonal edge is then determined. Subsequently, the surrounding pixels used to correct a defective pixel are selected in consideration of whether or not line crawl or a diagonal edge are present.

Abstract: Provide an electronic still camera using a color filter array (CFA) and a single CCD making it possible to simultaneously execute the processing for color signal interpolation and the processing for resizing. In the electronic still camera according to the present invention, an R signal, a G signal, and a B signal are output from each pixel of an image sensor 12 having a CFA. A processor 16 simultaneously executes processing for interpolation and processing for resizing by computing (R, G, B) values at a given pixel position according to the color signals. Low frequency components Rlow, Glow, Blow of the color signal at the given pixel position are computed from signals from adjoining pixels, and the high frequency component Shigh is computed from a brightness value Y. The image data interpolated and changed to a desired size is stored in a memory 18, or is output via an interface I/F 20 to an external device such as a computer or a printer.

Abstract: To provide an auto white balance apparatus capable of performing stable white balance adjustment. A parent block is divided into child blocks by a block-dividing circuit 110, and a typical value is calculated every child block by a typical-value calculating circuit 120, and then the distance between the typical color difference component of each parent block and the typical color difference component of each child block is obtained on a color difference plane. A child block satisfying a condition equal to or less than a threshold value S is selected to recalculate reliability of a parent blocks by using only selected child blocks. Moreover, a white balance evaluating circuit 130 corrects reliabilities of parent blocks in accordance with the number of unselected child blocks.