JP2000115753A - Communication system and method, photographing device to be controlled and terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly attain communication by transferring image and audio information in an area designated by a terminal. SOLUTION: The photographing device to be controlled consists of a camera 12 having a wide angle lens 11, a microphone group 13 consisting of microphones each having different directivity, a remote control terminal group 6 having a display section, a buffer memory 2, an optical distortion correction section 3 and a control unit 4. The remote control terminal group 6 generates control information to designate a prescribed image area and the control information and audio information are given to the control unit 4. The image in the area designated by the user is read from the buffer memory 2 and the optical distortion correction section 3 applies processing to correct optical distortion to the image information and applies magnification or reduction processing to the corrected image to obtain the image information in the prescribed area. Moreover, audio information in an area designated by the control information is selected and the audio information and the image information are transferred to the remote control terminal group 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication system and method for transferring an image captured by a remote video camera and a sound collected by a microphone to another point via communication, a controlled imaging apparatus, and a terminal. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a camera device which can be remotely controlled has been known. This camera device has a tilt / pan function and a zoom function, and the tilt angle (vertical direction) / pan angle (horizontal direction) and zoom are freely controlled according to a control signal from a remote place, and the camera can be moved in any direction. And a desired image obtained at a predetermined magnification can be transferred to a remote place. Also, various devices and systems capable of transmitting audio and video to a remote location for communication have been proposed. Furthermore, in recent years, with the digitization of communication systems, various types of services have been provided to telephone devices, and high-performance telephone devices capable of transmitting images and the like have been put to practical use.

[0003]

However, in a conventional remote controllable camera device, a time delay occurs when the camera is pointed in a predetermined direction by a control signal, and the speed of camera control is increased. There are structural limitations, and there is a problem that not only power for operating the mechanism is required, but also labor and labor for maintenance and the like are required. Further, in the conventional camera device, since only one control system is provided, only one image can be obtained at a time. To obtain images from a plurality of places at the same time, a plurality of sets are required. In addition to installing a camera device, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of systems for control, which not only complicates the control system but also causes a large-scale system. In addition, although it is possible to reproduce the sound of a plurality of systems at once with a conventional device, in order to smoothly communicate,
It is desirable to reproduce a plurality of input voices by selecting or controlling the volume, and a communication system capable of selecting or controlling the volume is desired.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to be able to electronically simultaneously transfer multi-directional video and audio in response to requests from a plurality of remote locations without control of a mechanism or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication system and method, a controlled imaging device, and a terminal device capable of smoothly communicating with respect to voice.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an image pickup device having a wide-angle lens and substantially all of the range imaged by the image pickup device are set as a sound collection range. As described above, a plurality of voice input units having a plurality of directivities, a storage unit for storing an image captured by the imaging unit, and a plurality of voice input units are switched according to a required predetermined area. Audio control means for adjusting the volume level of each of the input means; and transfer means for transferring image information of a required predetermined area and audio information controlled by the audio control means to a remote terminal device. A controlled imaging device; and a terminal device connected to the controlled imaging device via a transmission path and having a request unit for remotely requesting an image of a predetermined area from the imaging unit. It is a trust system.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup means having a wide-angle lens, and a plurality of sound input means having a plurality of directivities so that substantially all of the range imaged by the image pickup means is a sound collection range. A storage unit for storing an image captured by the imaging unit, and switching between a plurality of voice input units according to an image area requested from a remote terminal, or adjusting a volume level of each of the plurality of voice input units. A controlled image capturing apparatus, comprising: a voice control unit for performing a transfer operation; and a transfer unit configured to transfer image information of a required image area and voice information controlled by the control unit to a remote terminal device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image pickup means having a wide-angle lens, and a plurality of voice input means having a plurality of directivities so that substantially all of the range imaged by the image pickup means is a sound collection range. Storage means for storing an image picked up by an image pickup means, and sound control means for switching between a plurality of sound input means or adjusting a volume level of each of the plurality of sound input means in accordance with a required image area And a transfer device for transferring the image of the required image area and the audio information controlled by the control device to a predetermined remote place. A display unit for displaying image information transmitted from the controlled imaging device; a unit for reproducing audio information transmitted from the controlled imaging device; and an image of a predetermined area requested to the controlled imaging device. And requesting means for constant, a terminal device which is characterized in that a transfer means for transferring to the controlled imaging device information specifying an image of a predetermined area.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a step of collecting image information by capturing an image by an image capturing means having a wide-angle lens, and a step of obtaining a range of an image captured by the image capturing means by a plurality of voice input means having a plurality of directivities. Collecting audio information, storing an image captured by the imaging unit, switching between a plurality of audio input units according to a predetermined required area, or An audio control step of adjusting a volume level of each of the input means, a step of transferring image information of a required predetermined area and audio information controlled by the audio control means to a remote terminal device, Requesting an image of a predetermined area remotely from the communication method.

According to the present invention, there is provided a controlled photographing apparatus having an image pickup means having a wide-angle lens, voice input means having different directivities within a sound collection range of the entire viewing angle of the wide-angle lens, and transfer means. . An operation button for designating an image area, in request means provided in the terminal device,
Operation information formed in accordance with an operation state of an operation button for designating an enlargement / reduction ratio of a screen and audio information around the request unit are supplied to the control unit. The image information of the specified area designated in this way is read out from the storage means, and the image information is subjected to processing for correcting optical distortion, and is also subjected to enlargement or reduction processing to obtain image information of the predetermined area. You. The obtained image information and the audio information of the area are selected and transmitted to the terminal device side. In this way, even though only one imaging unit is installed, parallel processing is performed on a plurality of terminal devices, and in each of the terminal devices, the image of an individual predetermined area of the installation point of the imaging unit is obtained. Information and audio information are available.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an appearance of a remote control terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 1, the controlled photographing section of the communication system according to the present invention comprises a photographing section 1, a buffer memory 2, an optical distortion correcting section 3, a control unit 4, a transmission line 5, and a remote control terminal group 6. You. The photographing unit 1 includes a camera 12 having a wide-angle lens 11 on the front surface, a microphone group 13, amplifier groups 14 and 17, and an A / D converter group 15.
, A D / A converter group 16, a speaker group 18, and a housing (not shown) for accommodating each part.

For example, the housing of the photographing unit 1 includes an amplifier group 1
4, 17, an A / D converter group 15, and a D / A converter group 1
6 and the like are stored. A camera 12 having a wide-angle lens 11 on the front is attached to the upper part of the housing, and a microphone group 13 and a loudspeaker group 18 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the housing at a viewing angle of the wide-angle lens 11. They are radially mounted and integrated accordingly. That is, the microphone groups 13 having different directivities are configured to collect sound from the entire viewing angle of the wide-angle lens 11 of the camera 12, and the speaker groups 1 having different directivities are provided.
At 8, the sound is emitted over the entire viewing angle of the wide-angle lens 11 of the camera 12.

A camera 12 having a wide-angle lens 11 on the front.
Always captures an image covering approximately 180 ° at the installation position and forms a digital image signal. The digital image signal formed by the camera 12 is supplied to the buffer memory 2 and temporarily stored while being updated at predetermined time intervals, for example.

The buffer memory 2 is supplied with control information generated by the control unit 4 as described later. The buffer memory 2 cuts out an image in a predetermined area according to the control information. Image information of a predetermined area cut out in the buffer memory 2 is supplied to the optical distortion correction unit 3.

The control information generated by the control unit 4 is also supplied to the optical distortion correction unit 3 as described later. The optical distortion correction unit 3 performs optical distortion correction processing and enlargement / reduction processing on an image in a predetermined area according to the control information. That is, a method for correcting distortion is determined from the cutout position and cutout size of the image specified by the control information from the control unit 4, and the correction processing and the enlargement / reduction processing are performed according to this correction method. Therefore, an image as if zoomed in / out is formed by the image enlargement / reduction processing, and an image as if panned / tilted by changing the offset value of the image to be corrected is formed. A desired image is reproduced. Desired image information formed in the optical distortion correction circuit 3 is supplied to the control unit 4.

The microphone groups 13 having different directivities, each having a sound collecting range covering the entire viewing angle of the wide-angle lens 11 of the camera 12, include, for example, m microphones 1
.., 13m. The input audio signals of m channels collected by the microphones 131, 132,.
, 13m are amplified by way of amplifiers 141, 142,... 14m provided corresponding to the 13m, and the amplified outputs are A / D converters 151, 152,.
・ Supplied to each of 15 m.

A / D converters 151, 152,... 15
In each of m, digital-to-analog conversion is performed to form a digital audio signal, and the m-channel digital audio signal is supplied to the control unit 4.

Further, a group of speakers 18 having different directivities that emit sound over the entire viewing angle of the wide-angle lens 11 of the camera 12 is composed of, for example, m speakers 181, 18
, 18 m, and amplifiers 171, 172,.
And 16 m of D / A converters. As will be described later, the control unit 4 controls only a predetermined channel in the m-channel audio reproduction system.
, And a reproduced sound is output in a predetermined range.

On the other hand, the remote control terminal group 6 is composed of, for example, n remote control terminals 61, 62,... Remote control terminals 61, 62, ... 6n
2, a display unit 71 made of, for example, a liquid crystal display panel or the like is provided substantially at the center of the upper side of the front as shown in FIG. Operation buttons 76, 77, 78, and 79 and operation buttons 74 and 75 for specifying an enlargement / reduction ratio of the screen are provided. Specifically, the operation button 76 is a U button for moving the image area upward, the operation button 77 is a D button for moving the image area downward, and the operation button 78
Is an L button for moving the image area to the left, and the operation button 79 is an R button for moving the image area to the right. The operation button 74 is a T button for zooming out and reducing the image, and the operation button 75 is a W button for zooming in and enlarging the image. By operating these operation buttons 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 arbitrarily by the user, a desired image at the installation point of the photographing unit 1 is designated.

The remote control terminals 61, 62,...
n, a microphone 7 as shown in FIG.
2 and a speaker 73 are provided. Although not shown, each of the remote operation terminals 61, 62,... 6n has an audio processing unit, a video processing unit, a transmission processing unit, and the like inside. The audio processing unit includes an amplifier, an A / D converter, a D / A converter, and the like, and performs input / output processing of an audio signal. The video processing unit includes a D / A converter, a signal processing circuit, and the like. The video processing unit forms a display signal from video information from the control unit 4, supplies the display signal to the display unit 71, and converts an image of a predetermined area into an image. Display on the screen.
Further, the transmission processing unit is constituted by a network interface circuit, a transmission code / decoder, and the like. The audio signal obtained via the microphone 72 and the four operation buttons 76, 77, 78, and 79
And operation buttons 74 and 7 for designating a screen enlargement / reduction ratio
5 is converted into the transmission form corresponding to the transmission medium and the like, and the obtained information is sent out on the transmission line, and the control supplied to the other side is converted. The original information is restored from the information of the predetermined transmission form from the unit 4 and supplied to each unit.

The above-mentioned remote control terminals 61, 62,...
6n are connected to transmission lines 51, 52,... 5n such as a network / telephone line, for example, so that information can be exchanged between a remote location at n points and the control unit 4 of the controlled photographing device. State. Specifically, in each of the remote operation terminals 61, 62,... 6n, four operation buttons 76, 77,
Operation information formed in accordance with the operation states of the operation buttons 78 and 79 and the operation buttons 74 and 75 for specifying the enlargement / reduction ratio of the screen, and audio information around the remote operation terminals 61, 62,. Are supplied to the control unit 4. On the other hand, from the control unit 4, the photographing unit 1 designated by the user
, 6n are supplied to each of the remote control terminals 61, 62,... 6n. In other words, n remote control terminals 61,
6n are subjected to parallel processing, and in each terminal, image information and audio information of a predetermined area different from each other at the installation location of the imaging unit 1 are obtained.

As described above, the control unit 4 for performing the information exchange processing includes, for example, a video processing unit 41 and an audio processing unit 42.
And a transmission processing unit 43 and the like. The video processing unit 41 forms control information in response to each request from the remote operation terminal group 6 and supplies the control information to each of the buffer memory 2 and the optical distortion correction unit 3 so that a desired image is formed. A plurality of pieces of information are obtained, and this image information is supplied to the transmission processing unit 43. That is, in the video processing unit 41, control information for instructing a cutout position and a cutout size of an image is formed according to operation information from the remote operation terminal group 6. By supplying the control information formed in the video processing unit 41 to each of the buffer memory 2 and the optical distortion correction unit 3, a desired image is reproduced in the optical distortion correction circuit 3 in a pseudo manner. Information is supplied to the control unit 4.

The voice processing unit 42 determines a speaker for reproducing each voice information from the remote operation terminal group 6 from the speaker group 18 in accordance with the operation information from the remote operation group 6, and selects the selected speaker. Output audio information to the speaker and select a predetermined audio signal from the m-channel digital audio signal in accordance with the operation information from the remote operation group 6, and transmit the selected digital audio signal. It is supplied to the unit 43. Therefore, the voice processing unit 42 exchanges voice information of the installation location of the imaging unit 1 and voice information from a plurality of installation locations of the remote operation terminal group 6.
The digital audio signal output from the audio processing unit 42 is reproduced as audio by passing through the path of the D / A converter group 16, the amplifier group 17, and the speaker group 18.

The transmission processing unit 43 is composed of a network interface circuit, a transmission code / decoder, etc., and outputs the audio information from the audio processing unit 42 and the video processing unit 41.
Is converted into a transmission form corresponding to a transmission medium or the like, and the obtained information is sent out on a transmission path so as to be transferred to one of the remote operation terminal groups 6 that are the request destinations. On the other hand, the original operation information and audio information are restored from the information in a predetermined transmission form supplied from the remote operation terminal group 6 and the operation information is supplied to the video processing unit 41 and the audio processing 42. At the same time, the audio information is supplied to the audio processing unit 42.

The processing according to the remote operation performed as described above will be described in further detail. FIG. 3 schematically shows a processing procedure according to a remote operation in one embodiment of the present invention. As an example, a camera 1 using a remote control terminal 61
The process will be described with an example of panning 2 to the right. It is assumed that an initial value is set for the value of the optical distortion corresponding to the cutout position and the cutout size of the image.

The remote operation terminal 61 sends operation information to the control unit 4 at every unit time. First, when the R button 79 is pressed (step S1), for example, 6-bit operation information such as “100000” is formed in the remote operation terminal 61, and this operation information is supplied to the control unit 4.

In the video processing section 41 of the control unit 4, the button pressed by the operator is detected from the operation information from the terminal side, and the processing corresponding thereto is performed. In this case, since the R button 79 has been pressed, first,
In step S11, the current horizontal position of the camera 12 is read.

Then, in step S21, it is determined whether it is necessary to update the cutout position of the image. If it is necessary to update the cutout position of the image, the process proceeds to step S31. If the cutout position is already at the right end of the limit and it is not necessary to update the cutout position of the image, the process proceeds to step S34. I do.

If it is determined in step S21 that the cutout position of the image needs to be updated, the cutout position of the image is moved to the right in step S31, and an update process is performed. When the update of the cutout position of the image is completed, in step S33, a correction method of the optical distortion is determined. That is, since the optical distortion inherent to the camera lens is uniquely determined by the position in the angle of view, in this case, the desired distortion is determined based on the cutout size set by the previous operation and the cutout position of the new image. The distortion correction coefficient for forming the cutout image is determined. Upon completion of the process in the step S33, the process shifts to a step S34.

On the other hand, in step S35, the camera 1
The digital image signal formed in 2 is supplied to the buffer memory 2 and temporarily stored while being updated at a predetermined time interval, for example. Therefore, step S35
Each time the image update process in the initial stage is completed, the process proceeds to step S34, and the optical distortion correction unit 3 performs a correction process based on a distortion correction coefficient for forming a desired image. The corrected image information is extracted as new clipped image information, and the image information is transferred to the terminal via the transmission processing unit 43 of the control unit 4. If no operation has been performed (step S7), the process directly proceeds to step S34, and a correction process based on a distortion correction coefficient for forming a desired image is performed in the optical distortion correction unit 3 as in the previous case. The same applies hereinafter.

In the remote control terminal 61 that has received the image information, the display screen of the display unit 71 is updated (step S36). By operating the remote control terminal 61 in this manner, the user can display an image of a desired area where the imaging unit 1 is installed on the display screen, and in this state, a series of processing is completed. .

When the L button 78 is pressed (step S2), the same processing as when the R button 78 is pressed is performed, and the image information in the left direction is extracted as new clipped image information. .

When the U button 76 and the D button 77 are pressed (steps S3 and S4),
First, in step S12, the current vertical position of the camera 12 is read. Then, in step S22, it is determined whether or not the cutout position of the image needs to be updated. When it is necessary to update the cutout position of the image, the process proceeds to step S31. When it is not necessary to update the cutout position of the image, the process proceeds to step S34, and when the above-described R button 78 is pressed. Is performed.

Further, a T button 74 and a W button 75
When pressed (steps S5 and S6), first, the current angle of view of the camera 12 is read in step S13. Then, in step S23, it is determined whether or not the cutout size of the image needs to be updated. When it is necessary to update the cutout size of the image, the process proceeds to step S32. When it is not necessary to update the cutout size of the image, the process proceeds to step S34, and when the above-described R button 78 is pressed. Is performed.

If it is determined in step S23 that the cutout size of the image needs to be updated, in step S32, the cutout size of the image is enlarged or reduced, and an update process is performed. When the update of the cutout size of the image is completed, in step S33, a method for correcting optical distortion is determined. That is, since the optical distortion inherent to the camera lens is uniquely determined by the position in the angle of view, in this case, the desired distortion is determined based on the cutout position set by the previous operation and the cutout size of a new image. The distortion correction coefficient for forming the cutout image is determined. Upon completion of the process in the step S33,
The process proceeds to step S34, and the same processing as when the above-described R button 78 is pressed is performed.

The operation of the control unit 4 in the above-described embodiment will be described in more detail. FIG. 4A shows a configuration as an example of the photographing unit 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention and the installation state thereof. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, the five microphones 131 to 135 and the speaker 1
81 to 185 are combined with each other and arranged at equal intervals on the housing of the imaging unit 1.

In FIG. 4A, reference numeral 81 denotes a user on the controlled photographing apparatus side where the photographing unit 1 is installed. For example, when the user 81 is located in the vicinity of the point a and the image of the area is designated by the remote operation terminal group 6, the arrow 9 in FIG.
As shown by reference numeral 1, the image of the area obtained through the wide-angle lens 11 is subjected to correction processing, and is transferred to a request destination of the remote operation terminal group 6. At this time, the microphone 132 and the speaker 182 are selected by the control unit 4. Accordingly, the audio information captured via the microphone 132 is transferred to the request destination of the remote operation terminal group 6 together with the image information, and the audio information from the remote operation terminal group 6 is reproduced from the speaker 182. Accordingly, communication is smoothly performed between the installation location of the imaging unit 1 and a plurality of users in front of the remote operation terminal group 6.

When the image of the area near the point b is designated by the remote operation terminal group 6, the image of the area obtained through the wide-angle lens 11 is corrected as shown by an arrow 92 in the figure. The request is transferred to the request destination of the remote operation terminal group 6. At this time, the microphone 134 and the speaker 184 are selected by the control unit 4.

FIG. 4B shows another example of the configuration of the photographing unit 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention and its installation state. Note that in the case of the example shown in FIG.
185 are arranged at equal intervals on the housing of the photographing unit 1.

In FIG. 4B, reference numeral 81 indicates a user on the installation side of the photographing unit 1, and reference numeral 82 in FIG. 4 indicates an operation unit provided separately. The operation unit 82 is provided with a microphone and a switch for selecting a speaker. For example, when the user 81 is located near the point a and the image of the area is designated by the remote operation terminal group 6, the image of the area obtained through the wide-angle lens 11 as indicated by an arrow 91 in the figure Is corrected and transferred to the request destination of the remote operation terminal group 6. At this time, in the case of the above-described example, the microphones 131 to 13 are automatically controlled by the control unit 4.
5 and any of the speakers 181 to 185 are selected. In the case of this example, the user 81 manually selects a microphone and a speaker. Accordingly, the voice information taken in through the microphone designated by the operation unit 82 is transferred to the remote operation terminal group 6 together with the image information, and the voice information from the remote operation terminal group 6 is selected by the user 81. Is reproduced from a predetermined speaker. Thus, communication is smoothly performed between the user 81 at the installation location of the imaging unit 1 and a specific user among the plurality of users in front of the remote operation terminal group 6.

Hereinafter, a practical use of the embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described. As described above, a plurality of users in front of the remote operation terminal group 6 can see an image of a desired area by the camera 12 at the installation location of the imaging unit 1 without being aware of each other. It is possible to have a conversation with the user at the installation location of each other via each other's microphone and speaker. For example, if one embodiment of the present invention is applied to mail-order sales, a user at a remote place can use the camera. The product can be viewed freely by operating it, and it is possible to talk to a clerk or the like as needed to easily receive information on the product, thereby achieving efficiency and simplification.

FIG. 4 is provided with an audio changeover switch.
In the case shown in B, the user at the installation location of the photographing unit 1 can limit the voice connection as necessary, and can use a specific user among the plurality of users on the remote operation terminal group 6 side. You can prevent others from participating in the conversation. Therefore,
If one embodiment of the present invention is applied to mail-order sales, it is possible for a user at the installation location of the imaging unit 1 to efficiently and in detail explain a product while picking up a product in front of the camera 12 as necessary. Become.

In the above description of one embodiment, it is possible to exchange information of different points with respect to audio information. However, the remote control terminal group 6 also has a photographing unit 1 and a buffer memory 2. Alternatively, an optical distortion correction unit 3 and a control unit 4 may be provided to exchange video information in both directions, thereby forming a two-way communication system.

Further, in the description of the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which predetermined ones are selected from the microphone group 13 and the speaker group 18 and used.
The voice emphasis or suppression processing may be performed according to a predetermined area specified by using the gain control means and the addition means.

Further, in the above description of the example of FIG. 4A, the case where the microphone group 13 and the speaker group 18 are attached to the housing of the photographing unit 1 has been described. However, as shown in FIG. The speakers may be installed, and the speakers may be arranged in a distributed manner.

[0046]

According to the present invention, it is possible to electronically simultaneously transfer multi-directional video and audio in response to requests from a plurality of remote locations without control of a mechanism or the like. It is also possible to smoothly communicate with respect to voice.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an appearance of a remote operation terminal device and a state of information exchange according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram used for describing the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram used for describing an example and another example of the audio processing according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photographing part, 2 ... Buffer memory, 3 ... Optical distortion correction part, 4 ... Control unit, 11 ... Wide angle lens, 12 ... Camera, 51, 52, 5n ... Transmission line, 61, 62, 6n remote control terminal, 131,
132, 13n: microphones, 181, 18
2, 18n ... speaker

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C054 AA02 CC05 DA09 EB05 EB07 FD00 FD07 GA04 GD09 HA24 5C064 AA01 AC02 AC06 AC07 AC12 AC16 5K015 AB01 JA00 5K101 KK07 KK11 NN06 NN07 NN14 NN18

Claims (6)

[Claims] An imaging unit having a wide-angle lens; a plurality of voice input units having a plurality of directivities so that substantially all of the range imaged by the imaging unit is a sound collection range; Storage means for storing an image picked up by the CPU, voice control means for switching between the plurality of voice input means in accordance with a required predetermined area, or adjusting a volume level of each of the plurality of voice input means, A controlled imaging device having a transfer unit for transferring image information of a predetermined area to be performed and audio information controlled by the audio control unit to a remote terminal device; And a terminal device connected via the terminal device and having a request unit for requesting the image pickup unit to remotely request an image of the predetermined area. 2. An image pickup means having a wide-angle lens, a plurality of sound input means having a plurality of directivities so that substantially all of the range imaged by the image pickup means is a sound collection range, and the image pickup means Storage means for storing an image picked up by the user, and switching between the plurality of voice input means or adjusting the volume level of each of the plurality of voice input means in accordance with an image area requested from a remote terminal A controlled imaging apparatus comprising: voice control means; and transfer means for transferring image information of the requested image area and voice information controlled by the control means to a remote terminal device. 3. An image pickup means having a wide-angle lens, a plurality of sound input means having a plurality of directivities so that substantially all of a range imaged by the image pickup means is a sound collection range, and the image pickup means A storage unit for storing an image captured by the control unit, and a voice control unit that switches between the plurality of voice input units according to a required image area or adjusts a volume level of each of the plurality of voice input units. A terminal device connected via a transmission path to a controlled imaging device having a transfer unit for transferring an image of the requested image area and audio information controlled by the control unit to a predetermined remote place. A display unit for displaying image information transmitted from the controlled imaging device; a unit for reproducing audio information transmitted from the controlled imaging device; and a request for the controlled imaging device. A terminal device comprising: a requesting unit that specifies an image of a predetermined region to be transferred; and a transfer unit that transfers information specifying the image of the predetermined region to the controlled imaging device. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the requesting means has an operation member for instructing angle-of-view information.
An apparatus for designating a predetermined area according to a state of the operation member. 5. The controlled photographing device according to claim 3, wherein the controlled imaging device cuts out a predetermined image area from the storage unit based on operation information from the requesting unit, corrects optical distortion, and enlarges or reduces the distortion. A communication system for outputting an image of the predetermined area as requested. 6. A step of collecting image information by picking up an image by an image pickup means having a wide-angle lens, and a step of collecting substantially all of a range imaged by the image pickup means by a plurality of voice input means having a plurality of directivities. Collecting voice information as a sound collection range; storing an image captured by the image capturing means; switching between the plurality of voice input means according to a required predetermined area; Means for adjusting the sound volume level of each of the means, transferring image information of a required predetermined area, and sound information controlled by the sound control means to a remote terminal device; Requesting an image of the predetermined area from the means remotely.