Mobile information device, image pickup device, and information acquisition system

Abstract

A portable information device includes: an image sensor used to pick up an image of a subject; a locator configured to acquire position information about an image pickup position for the subject; an orientation sensor configured to acquire an orientation information corresponding to an imaging direction at the image pickup position; a display configured to, while the subject is being imaged via the image sensor, display (a) an imaging data of the subject obtained via the image sensor and (b) related information on the subject obtained based on acquired data from the locator and from the orientation sensor; an input portion with which a user posts comment, while the subject is being imaged via the image sensor; and a controller configured to, while the subject is being imaged via the image sensor, control the display to display the posted comment and the related information.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable information device comprising:
 an image sensor used to pick up an image of a subject;   a locator configured to acquire position information about an image pickup position for the subject;   an orientation sensor configured to acquire an orientation information corresponding to an imaging direction at the image pickup position;   a display configured to, while the subject is being imaged via the image sensor, display (a) an imaging data of the subject obtained via the image sensor and (b) related information on the subject obtained based on acquired data from the locator and from the orientation sensor;   an input portion with which a user posts comment, while the subject is being imaged via the image sensor; and   a controller configured to, while the subject is being imaged via the image sensor, control the display to display the posted comment and the related information.   
     
     
         2 . The portable information device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a distance measurer configured to measure a distance between the subject and the image pickup position to obtain distance information,   wherein the related information is obtained based on the acquired data including the distance information.   
     
     
         3 . The portable information device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an angle sensor configured to obtain angle information on an elevation angle for the subject from the image pick up position,   wherein the related information is obtained based on the acquired data including the angle information.   
     
     
         4 . The portable information device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the input portion includes a touch screen-type keyboard with which the user posts the comment.   
     
     
         5 . The portable information device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the input comment is posted in association with the image pick up position for the subject.   
     
     
         6 . The portable information device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the display includes a touch panel that is used for posting the comment while the image of the subject is displayed.   
     
     
         7 . The portable information device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the display has a mode of simultaneously displaying both the image of the subject and an icon for posting the comment.   
     
     
         8 . The portable information device according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein, in the mode, both a text field and a touch screen-type keyboard are displayed simultaneously for assisting the posting of the comment.   
     
     
         9 . The portable information device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the related information includes at least one of a name of the subject, an address about the subject, a telephone number about the subject, a peripheral image data of the subject, a type of the subject, latitude and longitude of the subject, descriptions of the subject, an internal image of the subject, commercial information on the subject, and coupon information on the subject.   
     
     
         10 . The portable information device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the imaging data of the subject and the acquired data are transmitted to an information search server via a telecommunication network,   the related information is obtained based on the imaging data of the subject and the acquired data, and   the related information is transmitted from the information search server via the telecommunication network and is displayed on the display.   
     
     
         11 . An information search system comprising:
 a server and a portable information device between which information is transmitted via a telecommunication network; and   a database, wherein   the portable information device comprises:
 an image sensor used to pick up an image of a subject; 
 a locator configured to acquire position information about an image pickup position for the subject; and 
 an orientation sensor configured to acquire an orientation information corresponding to an imaging direction at the image pickup position, 
   related information corresponding to the image pickup position and the orientation information is stored in the database,   the server searches the related information for the subject in the database, based on an imaging data of the subject obtained via the image sensor and acquired data from the locator and from the orientation sensor, and   the related information is transmitted from the server via the telecommunication network to the portable information device.   
     
     
         12 . The information search system according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the portable information device comprises at least one of a distance measurer configured to measure a distance between the subject and the image pickup position to obtain distance information and an angle sensor configured to obtain angle information on an elevation angle for the subject from the image pick up position, and   the server searches the related information on the subject in the database based on the acquired data including at least one of the distance information and the angle information.