# US 7,610,629 B2 · Access control apparatus, access control method, and access control program > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,629 B2 - Document ID: US7610629B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/115,846 - Filed: 2008-05-06 - Published: 2008-11-13 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2004-01-23 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Tetsu Fukuda; Tomoyuki Ohno - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610629B2 ## CPC - H04N 21/84: Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors {(systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73)} - G06F 21/36: by graphic or iconic representation - H04N 1/00204: {with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server (programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561)} - H04N 1/00244: {with a server, e.g. an internet server (fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324)} - H04N 1/00291: {with receiver circuitry (television receiver circuitry per se H04N5/44)} - H04N 1/00427: {using a menu list (H04N1/00421, H04N1/00424, H04N1/00429 take precedence)} - H04N 1/00442: {Simultaneous viewing of a plurality of images, e.g. using a mosaic display arrangement of thumbnails} - H04N 1/00453: {arranged in a two dimensional array} - H04N 1/00461: {marking or otherwise tagging one or more displayed image, e.g. for selective reproduction} - H04N 1/2158: {using a detachable storage unit} - H04N 1/32128: {attached to the image data, e.g. file header, transmitted message header, information on the same page or in the same computer file as the image (for information embedded in the image H04N1/32144)} - H04N 1/4406: {Restricting access, e.g. according to user identity (mechanisms actuated y cards, PIN or the like in apparatus for dispensing G07F7/08)} - H04N 1/4426: {involving separate means, e.g. a server, a magnetic card} - H04N 1/444: {to a particular document or image or part thereof} - H04N 21/25875: {involving end-user authentication (restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06)} - H04N 21/2743: Video hosting of uploaded data from client - H04N 21/4221: {Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext} - H04N 21/478: Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application - H04N 21/6125: {involving transmission via Internet (transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82)} - H04N 21/6175: {involving transmission via Internet (broadcast-related systems characterised by the transmission system being the Internet H04H60/82)} - H04N 21/6582: {Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number (arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38)} - H04N 21/8153: {comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image} - H04N 2201/0087: Image storage device - H04N 2201/3214: of a date - H04N 2201/3215: of a time or duration - H04N 2201/3253: Position information, e.g. geographical position at time of capture, GPS data - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Additional information indicating photographic conditions for a received image signal is compared with additional information indicating photographic conditions for an access target image signal. If the both conditions satisfy a predetermined relationship, an access to the access target image signal is permitted. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An access control apparatus for controlling an access to an image signal through a network, the image signal being obtained by photographing, comprising: a communication unit that communicates with an external apparatus through the network; and a control unit that compares first additional information added to an image signal received from the external apparatus with second additional information added to an image signal stored in a storage device, and that controls the access from the external apparatus to the stored image signal according to a result of the comparison, wherein both the first and second additional information includes at least one of time information and location information which respectively indicate when and where the image signal is obtained by the photographing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An access control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit permits the access from the external apparatus to the stored image signal if it is determined that the time information in the first additional information falls within a range defined based on the time information in the second additional information. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An access control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit permits the access from the external apparatus to the stored image signal if it is determined that the location information in the first additional information falls within a range defined based on the location information in the second additional information. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An access control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image signal registration unit that receives and stores an image signal in the storage device while relating the image signal to the first additional information; and an access restriction setting unit that sets an access restriction to the image signal stored in the storage device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An access control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit that displays an image based on the image signal stored in the storage device; and an access restriction setting unit that lets a user select an image from a plurality of images displayed by the display unit, and that controls the access from the external apparatus to the selected image signal in the storage device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An access control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the access from the external apparatus to the stored image signal based on the comparison result and an input password. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An access control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit permits the access from the external apparatus to the stored image signal at a first level according to the comparison result, and permits the access from the external apparatus to the stored image signal at a second level according to the input password. ### Claim 8 An access control method for controlling an access from an external apparatus to an image signal through a network, the image signal being obtained by photographing, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an image signal having first additional information from the external apparatus; comparing the first additional information of the received image signal with second additional information added to an image signal stored in a storage device; and controlling access from the external apparatus to the stored image signal according to a result of the comparison, wherein the first and second additional information includes at least one of time information and location information which respectively indicate when and where the image signal is obtained by the photographing. ### Claim 9 A computer-readable medium on which is stored an access control program for causing an access control apparatus that controls an access from an external apparatus to an image signal through a network, the image signal being obtained by photographing, to execute the steps of: receiving an image signal having first additional information from the external apparatus; comparing the first additional information of the received image signal with second additional information added to an image signal stored in a storage device; and controlling access from the external apparatus to the stored image signal according to a result of the comparison, wherein the first and second additional information includes at least one of time information and location information which respectively indicate when and where the image signal is obtained by the photographing.