Imaging apparatus, imaging method, imaging system, program

An imaging method comprising:

• performing imaging operations with imaging direction sequentially fixed to respective unit-images that constitute the entire image representing the whole imaging area;
• recording the imaged unit-image onto a recording medium;
• detecting a difference between a first unit-image that has newly been imaged and a second previous unit-image that has been stored in the recording medium and that is located at the same position as the first unit-image;
• performing, when a difference is detected between the first and second unit-images, imaging operations for the first unit-image and its surrounding unit-images;
• and
• sequentially recording the newly imaged unit-images onto the recording medium.

An imaging apparatus comprising:

• imaging means for performing imaging operations with imaging direction sequentially fixed to respective unit-images that constitute the entire image representing the whole imaging area;
• recording means for recording the imaged unit-image onto a recording medium;
• movement determination means for determining presence/absence of a movement between a first unit-image that has newly been imaged and a second unit-image that constitutes the previous entire image and that is located in the same imaging direction as the first unit-image;
• and
• control means for controlling at least the above respective means, wherein
• when it is determined that a movement exists between the first and second unit-images by the movement determination detection means, the imaging means performs imaging operations for the next entire image with the imaging direction fixed to the first unit-image and its surrounding unit-images, and
• the recording means sequentially records, onto the recording medium, the unit-images that have been imaged in the above manner by the imaging section.

An imaging method comprising:

• performing imaging operations with the imaging direction sequentially fixed to respective unit-images that constitute the entire image representing the whole imaging area;
• recording the imaged unit-image onto a recording medium;
• determining presence/absence of a movement between a first unit-image that has newly been imaged and a second unit-image that constitutes the previous entire image and that is located in the same imaging direction as the first unit-image;
• and
• performing, when a movement exists between the first and second unit-images, imaging operations for the next entire image with the imaging direction fixed to the first unit-image and its surrounding unit-images, and
• sequentially recording the unit-images that have been imaged in the above manner in the recording medium.

An imaging system comprising:

• an imaging apparatus which performs imaging operations with imaging direction sequentially fixed to respective unit-images that constitute the entire image representing the whole imaging area;
• a control unit which records the unit-image imaged by the imaging apparatus in a recording medium, and determines presence/absence of a movement between a first unit-image that has newly been imaged and a second unit-image that constitutes the previous entire image and that is located in the same imaging direction as the first unit-image;
• and
• a user terminal which can access the recording medium, wherein
• when it is determined that a movement exists between the first and second unit-images by the control unit, the imaging apparatus performs imaging operations for the next entire image with imaging direction fixed to the first unit-image and its surrounding unit-images, and
• the control unit sequentially records the unit-images that have been imaged in the above manner by the imaging apparatus onto the recording medium.

A program which allows a computer to:

• perform imaging operations with imaging direction sequentially fixed to respective unit-images that constitute the entire image representing the whole imaging area;
• record the imaged unit-image onto a recording medium;
• determine presence/absence of a movement between a first unit-image that has newly been imaged and a second unit-image that constitute the previous entire image and that is located in the same imaging direction as the first unit-image;
• perform, when a movement exists between the first and second unit-images, imaging operations for the next entire image with the imaging direction fixed to the first unit-image and its surrounding unit-images, and
• sequentially record the unit-images that have been imaged in the above manner in the recording medium.