Imaging apparatus, information processing apparatus and method, and computer program therefor

Abstract

An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that captures an image; a recording unit that records the image on a recording medium; a first position estimating unit that estimates a position of the imaging apparatus using a first position estimation technique to generate first position information, and calculates a first evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the first position information; a second position estimating unit that estimates the position of the imaging apparatus using a second position estimation technique different from the first position estimation technique to generate second position information, and calculates a second evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the second position information; a position-information obtaining unit that select, from the first and second position information, position information whose evaluation value is higher than the other; and an application executing unit that performs data processing using the selected position information.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An imaging apparatus that captures an image, comprising:
 an imaging unit configured to capture an image;   a recording unit configured to perform a process of recording the captured image on a recording medium;   a first position estimating unit configured to estimate a position of the imaging apparatus using a first position estimation technique to generate first position information, and to calculate a first evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the first position information;   a second position estimating unit configured to estimate the position of the imaging apparatus using a second position estimation technique to generate second position information, the second position estimation technique being different from the first position estimation technique, and to calculate a second evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the second position information;   a position-information obtaining unit configured to select, from the first position information and the second position information, position information whose evaluation value is higher than the other; and   an application executing unit configured to perform data processing using the position information selected by the position-information obtaining unit.   
     
     
       2. The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first position estimating unit is configured to generate the first position information by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System; and
 wherein the second position estimating unit is configured to generate the second position information by performing a position estimation process using a technique that is different from the position estimation process using the Global Positioning System.   
     
     
       3. The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first position estimating unit is configured to generate the first position information by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System; and
 wherein the second position estimating unit is configured to generate the second position information by searching for a base station of wireless communication, receiving base-station identification information from the detected base station, and searching a database in which base-station identification information is associated with position information.   
     
     
       4. The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first position estimating unit is configured to generate the first position information by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System and to calculate the first evaluation value on the basis of measurement status information obtained by analyzing data received from a satellite; and
 wherein the second position estimating unit is configured to generate the second position information by searching for a base station of wireless communication, receiving base-station identification information from the detected base station, and searching a database in which base-station identification information is associated with position information, and to calculate the second evaluation value on the basis of a reception signal level of a reception signal received from the base station at the time the base station is detected, the reception signal level corresponding to an electric field intensity.   
     
     
       5. The imaging apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the first position estimating unit is configured to set a low evaluation value in a case where the measurement status information is two-dimensional and a high evaluation value in a case where the measurement status information is three-dimensional. 
     
     
       6. The imaging apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the second position estimating unit is configured to compare the reception signal level with a predetermined threshold and to set a high evaluation value in a case where the reception signal level is greater than or equal to the threshold and a low evaluation value in a case where the reception signal level is less than the threshold. 
     
     
       7. The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the application executing unit is configured to perform a process of recording the position information selected by the position-information obtaining unit as position information in a recording file of the captured image. 
     
     
       8. The imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the application executing unit is configured to perform a process of using the position information selected by the position-information obtaining unit as current position information representing a current position on a map displayed on a display unit. 
     
     
       9. An information processing apparatus comprising:
 a first position estimating unit configured to estimate a position of the information processing apparatus using a first position estimation technique to generate first position information, and to calculate a first evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the first position information;   a second position estimating unit configured to estimate the position of the information processing apparatus using a second position estimation technique to generate second position information, the second position estimation technique being different from the first position estimation technique, and to calculate a second evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the second position information;   a position-information obtaining unit configured to select, from the first position information and the second position information, position information whose evaluation value is higher than the other; and   an application executing unit configured to perform data processing using the position information selected by the position-information obtaining unit.   
     
     
       10. The information processing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the first position estimating unit is configured to generate the first position information by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System; and
 wherein the second position estimating unit is configured to generate the second position information by performing a position estimation process using a technique that is different from the position estimation process using the Global Positioning System.   
     
     
       11. The information processing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the first position estimating unit is configured to generate the first position information by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System; and
 wherein the second position estimating unit is configured to generate the second position information by searching for a base station of wireless communication, receiving base-station identification information from the detected base station, and searching a database in which base-station identification information is associated with position information.   
     
     
       12. The information processing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the first position estimating unit is configured to generate the first position information by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System and to calculate the first evaluation value on the basis of measurement status information obtained by analyzing data received from a satellite; and
 wherein the second position estimating unit is configured to generate the second position information by searching for a base station of wireless communication, receiving base-station identification information from the detected base station, and searching a database in which base-station identification information is associated with position information, and to calculate the second evaluation value on the basis of a reception signal level of a reception signal received from the base station at the time the base station is detected, the reception signal level corresponding to an electric field intensity.   
     
     
       13. An information processing method performed by an information processing apparatus, comprising the steps of:
 with a first position estimating unit, estimating a position of the information processing apparatus using a first position estimation technique to generate first position information, and calculating a first evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the first position information;   with a second position estimating unit, estimating the position of the information processing apparatus using a second position estimation technique to generate second position information, the second position estimation technique being different from the first position estimation technique, and calculating a second evaluation value serving as accuracy evaluation information of the second position information;   with a position-information obtaining unit, selecting, from the first position information and the second position information, position information whose evaluation value is higher than the other; and   with an application executing unit, performing data processing using the selected position information.   
     
     
       14. The information processing method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first position information is generated by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System; and
 wherein the second position information is generated by performing a position estimation process using a technique that is different from the position estimation process using the Global Positioning System.   
     
     
       15. The information processing method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first position information is generated by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System; and
 wherein the second position information is generated by searching for a base station of wireless communication, receiving base-station identification information from the detected base station, and searching a database in which base-station identification information is associated with position information.   
     
     
       16. The information processing method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first position information is generated by performing a position estimation process using the Global Positioning System, and the first evaluation value is calculated on the basis of measurement status information obtained by analyzing data received from a satellite; and
 wherein the second position information is generated by searching for a base station of wireless communication, receiving base-station identification information from the detected base station, and searching a database in which base-station identification information is associated with position information, and the second evaluation value is calculated on the basis of a reception signal level of a reception signal received from the base station at the time the base station is detected, the reception signal level corresponding to an electric field intensity.   
     
     
       17. The information processing method according to  claim 16 , wherein, when the first evaluation value is calculated, a low evaluation value is set in a case where the measurement status information is two-dimensional and a high evaluation value is set in a case where the measurement status information is three-dimensional. 
     
     
       18. The information processing method according to  claim 16 , wherein, when the second evaluation value is calculated, the reception signal level is compared with a predetermined threshold, and a high evaluation value is set in a case where the reception signal level is greater than or equal to the threshold and a low evaluation value is set in a case where the reception signal level is less than the threshold. 
     
     
       19. The information processing method according to  claim 13 , wherein, when the data processing is performed using the selected position information, a process of recording the selected position information as position information in a recording file of the captured image is performed. 
     
     
       20. The information processing method according to  claim 13 , wherein, when the data processing is performed using the selected position information, a process of using the selected position information as current position information representing a current position on a map displayed on a display unit is performed. 
     
     
       21. An information processing apparatus, comprising:
 processing circuitry; and   a computer-readable, non-transitory storage storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, control the processing circuitry to
 receive a location request from an application executed in the information processing apparatus to identify an estimated position of the information processing apparatus, 
 obtain a first, GPS-based position estimate of the information processing apparatus and a first evaluation value representing an accuracy of the first position estimate, the first evaluation value being determined from whether the first position estimate is two-dimensional or three-dimensional, 
 obtain a second, access-point-based position estimate of the information processing apparatus and a second evaluation value representing an accuracy of the second position estimate, the second position estimate being based on stored position information and a result of a scan for wireless transmissions from a plurality of access points, the stored information including latitude and longitude information of the plurality of access points, and 
 select the estimated position from a more accurate of the first position estimate and the second position estimate.  
   
     
     
       22. The information processing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the scan for wireless transmissions is provided in a predetermined frequency band that includes frequencies at least 2 GHz or higher.  
     
     
       23. The information processing apparatus of claim 22, wherein the predetermined frequency band is included in a range of 2 GHz through 11 GHz.  
     
     
       24. The information processing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the second position estimate is based on access point position information that has been stored in a storage device and that has been periodically updated.  
     
     
       25. The information processing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the instructions include instructions to obtain the second position estimate by using a position evaluation process for a detected access point depending on a communication frequency band being used.  
     
     
       26. The information processing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the instructions further include instructions to:
 obtain a third position estimate of the information processing apparatus, and   select the estimated position from a more accurate of the first position estimate, the second position estimate and the third position estimate.    
     
     
       27. The information processing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the instructions further include instructions to:
 compare the first evaluation value with the second evaluation value, and   select the estimated position based on a comparison result.    
     
     
       28. An information processing system, comprising:
 processing circuitry; and   a computer-readable, non-transitory storage storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, control the processing circuitry to
 receive a location request from an application executed in an information processing apparatus to identify an estimated position of the information processing apparatus, 
 obtain a first, GPS-based position estimate of the information processing apparatus and a first evaluation value representing an accuracy of the first position estimate, the first evaluation value being determined from whether the first position estimate is two-dimensional or three-dimensional, 
 obtain a second, access-point-based position estimate of the information processing apparatus and a second evaluation value representing an accuracy of the second position estimate, the second position estimate being based on stored position information and a result of a scan for wireless transmissions from a plurality of access points, the stored information including latitude and longitude information of the plurality of access points, and 
 select the estimated position from a more accurate of the first position estimate and the second position estimate, wherein 
 the instructions include instructions to output a command to display a map on a display device based on the estimated position.  
   
     
     
       29. The information processing system of claim 28, wherein the scan for wireless transmissions is provided in a predetermined frequency band that includes frequencies at least 2 GHz or higher.  
     
     
       30. The information processing system of claim 29, wherein the predetermined frequency band is included in a range of 2 GHz through 11 GHz.  
     
     
       31. The information processing system of claim 28, wherein the second position estimate is based on access point position information that has been stored in a storage device and that has been periodically updated.  
     
     
       32. The information processing system of claim 28, wherein the circuitry is configured to obtain the second position estimate by using a position evaluation process for a detected access point depending on a communication frequency band being used.  
     
     
       33. The information processing system of claim 28, wherein the instructions further include instructions to:
 obtain a third position estimate of the information processing apparatus, and   select the estimated position from a more accurate of the first position estimate, the second position estimate and the third position estimate.    
     
     
       34. The information processing system of claim 28, wherein the instructions further include instructions to:
 compare the first evaluation value with the second evaluation value, and   select the estimated position based on a comparison result.    
     
     
       35. An information processing system, comprising:
 processing circuitry; and   a computer-readable, non-transitory storage storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, control the processing circuitry to
 receive a location request from an application executed in an information processing apparatus to identify an estimated position of the information processing apparatus, 
 obtain a first, GPS-based position estimate of the information processing apparatus and a first evaluation value representing an accuracy of the first position estimate, the first evaluation value being determined from whether the first position estimate is two-dimensional or three-dimensional, 
 obtain a second, access-point-based position estimate of the information processing apparatus and a second evaluation value representing an accuracy of the second position estimate, the second position estimate being based on stored position information and a result of a scan for wireless transmissions from a plurality of access points, the stored information including latitude and longitude information of the plurality of access points, 
 select the estimated position from a more accurate of the first position estimate and the second position estimate, and 
 associate in an image file having an EXIF file format the estimated position with a captured image, wherein 
 the estimated position is a position at a time of image capture.  
   
     
     
       36. The information processing system of claim 35, wherein the scan for wireless transmissions is provided in a predetermined frequency band that includes frequencies at least 2 GHz or higher.  
     
     
       37. The information processing system of claim 36, wherein the predetermined frequency band is included in a range of 2 GHz through 11 GHz.  
     
     
       38. The information processing system of claim 35, wherein the second position estimate is based on access point position information that has been stored in a storage device and that has been periodically updated.  
     
     
       39. The information processing system of claim 35, wherein the instructions include instructions to obtain the second position estimate by using a position evaluation process for a detected access point depending on a communication frequency band being used.  
     
     
       40. The information processing system of claim 35, wherein the instructions further include instructions to:
 obtain a third position estimate of the information processing apparatus, and   select the estimated position from a more accurate of the first position estimate, the second position estimate and the third position estimate.    
     
     
       41. The information processing system of claim 35, wherein the instructions further include instructions to:
 compare the first evaluation value with the second evaluation value, and   select the estimated position based on a comparison result.