JP2002165198A - Apparatus for image processing, method therefor and contents delivery system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain high-definition images with ease, without a large amount of modification for apparatus constitution. SOLUTION: In an apparatus for image processing, a video signal D1 is generated by imaging frame images on a film 12, that video signal D1 has the number of still images which are an integral multiple of reference static images in number per unit time at a prescribed format, the signal D1 is divided into more than one kind of video data D2 and D3 corresponding to the number of the reference static images per unit time, by using more than one first liquid crystal projector 27A and a second liquid crystal projector 27B, to respectively project the signals D2 and D3 at the projecting speed corresponding to the number of the reference still images per unit time, while projecting alternately at each static image for the signals D2 and D3 to a screen 28 with prescribed time difference intervals, high-definition images of the video of the signal D1 can be attained displaying it on the screen 28, without modifying the apparatus constitution by a large amount.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a content distribution system.
The present invention is suitable for application to a digital cinema system for distributing and showing image data converted into an HD format of an efinition television system via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there has been proposed a digital cinema system in which an HD format video signal converted from a cinema film by a telecine apparatus is transmitted to a cinema via a network such as the Internet, and is projected by a projector of the cinema. .

In a digital cinema system, a video signal in HD format is actually transmitted to
A G encoder or the like compresses and encodes the data, encrypts the data, and transmits it to a movie theater via a network. The receiving side of the movie theater or the like decrypts the data, decompresses and decodes the video signal, and then outputs a video signal to a screen via a projector. Is projected.

[0004] However, the field frequency defined by the current HD format video signal in the telecine device includes 24 fields / second, 60 fields / second, 120 fields / second, etc., and the original 24 frames / second.
If a movie film in seconds is converted into 60 fields / second or 120 fields / second, the number of images to be displayed per unit time increases, so that flicker can be reduced.

[0005]

In a digital cinema system having such a configuration, when the original movie film of 24 frames / sec is converted into a video signal of 60 fields / sec or 120 fields / sec by the telecine apparatus, Since the signal processing circuits such as encoders at the subsequent stage must also process at high speed, a new signal processing circuit capable of high-speed processing must be provided and the entire system must be rebuilt. There was a problem that it was difficult to achieve.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and proposes an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a content distribution system that can easily achieve high image quality without greatly changing the apparatus configuration. It is assumed that.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, by capturing an image of an imaging target, the number of still images is an integral multiple of the reference number of still images per unit time in a predetermined format. A signal is generated, and a video signal composed of an integral number of still images is divided into a plurality of types of video signals corresponding to the reference number of still images per unit time, and the video signal is projected at a projection speed corresponding to the reference number of still images per unit time. By using a plurality of projection units each configured to project a video signal, one still image in the video signal is formed at a predetermined time difference interval with respect to a predetermined projection target.
An image of a video signal is displayed on a projection target by alternately projecting the images one by one.

As described above, even when a video signal whose number of still images is an integral multiple of the reference number of still images per unit time is captured, a plurality of types of video signals corresponding to the number of reference still images per unit time are obtained. By dividing and projecting the still images in the video signal one by one alternately at a predetermined time difference interval at a projection speed corresponding to the number of reference still images per unit time via a plurality of projection means, the reference per unit time is obtained. There is no need to prepare new signal processing means for processing at a processing speed corresponding to the number of still images that is an integral multiple of the number of still images or new projection means for high-speed projection. Instead, it is possible to display a video of a video signal having the number of still images that is an integral multiple of the number of reference still images per unit time, thereby achieving high image quality.

Further, according to the present invention, in a content distribution system in which a content distribution side and a content reception side are connected via a network, and the content reception side receives and displays content data transmitted from the content distribution side, The distribution side includes an imaging unit configured to generate a video signal having an integral multiple of the number of still images with respect to the reference number of still images per unit time in a predetermined format by imaging the imaging target, and an integral multiple of the number of still images. Dividing means for dividing a video signal into a plurality of types of video signals corresponding to the reference number of still images per unit time, and transmitting means for transmitting content data generated by modulating the video signal to a content receiving side via a network And the content receiving side receives the content data A receiving means for restoring a video signal by demodulating the video signal, and a plurality of projection means adapted to project the video signal at a projection speed corresponding to the reference number of still images per unit time, and And display means for alternately projecting the still images in the video signal one by one at predetermined time intervals to display the video of the video signal on the projection target.

As described above, even when a video signal having a still image number that is an integral multiple of the reference still image number per unit time is captured on the content distribution side, a plurality of video signals corresponding to the reference still image number per unit time are obtained. By dividing the video signal into different types of video signals and then modulating it and transmitting it as content data to the content receiving side via the network, the content receiving side demodulates the content data and restores the video signal per unit time. A plurality of still images in a video signal are alternately projected one by one at predetermined time intervals on a predetermined projection target using a plurality of projection units each configured to project at a projection speed corresponding to the number of reference still images. The number of still images that is an integral multiple of the reference number of still images per unit time. It is not necessary to prepare new signal processing means for processing at high processing speed or new projection means for high-speed projection, and an integral multiple of the reference number of still images per unit time without greatly changing the configuration The image of the video signal composed of the number of still images can be displayed to improve the image quality.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a digital cinema system as a content distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A content distribution side 2 and a content reception side 3 are connected via a network such as the Internet 4. Connected.

On the content distribution side 2, the telecine device 1
By taking a frame image of the 35 [mm] movie film 12 at 24 frames / sec by 1 with the CCD camera section 11A capable of taking images at 48 fields / sec twice as large as that of the conventional camera, 4
The video signal D1 is converted into an 8-field / second video signal D1 (hereinafter, referred to as telecine processing) and sent to the dividing circuit 13.

As shown in FIG. 2, the dividing circuit 13 includes a video signal D2 (A1, A2, A3, A4...) And a video signal D3 (B1, B2, B3,...) Of 24 fields / second in a normal HD format. B4...), And the video signal D2 and the video signal D3 are sequentially transmitted to the data recorder 14.

The data recorder 14 divides the video signals D2 and D3 into packets of a predetermined data amount unit, temporarily records them as image data D4, reads them out sequentially, and sends them to the data processing unit 15 at the next stage. I do.

The data processing unit 15 includes a digital watermark embedding circuit 16 and an HD-MPEG (High-Definition-Moving Pic).
Environment Experts Group) Encoder 17 and encryption circuit 1
The image data D4 is first input to the digital watermark embedding circuit 16 in packet units.

The digital watermark embedding circuit 16 embeds personal information such as the name, contact information, and address of the content creator into the image data D4 as digital watermark information by a predetermined method, and only inserts the digital watermark information by a dedicated viewer. The image data D4 can be extracted.
Is used to display the electronic watermark information when unauthorized use is made, thereby clarifying the location of the copyright.

The HD-MPEG encoder 17 converts the image data D4 embedded with digital watermark information into M
The image compression and encoding process according to the PEG2 standard is performed, thereby reducing the amount of data transmission.

Further, the encryption circuit 18 performs encryption, for example, by a public key encryption method on the image data D4 in which digital watermark information is embedded and subjected to image compression / encoding processing. Prevents the contents of the image data D4 from leaking to a third party.

As described above, the data processing unit 15 embeds the digital watermark information in the image data D4, performs the image compression encoding process, and then encrypts the transmission data so that the transmission data can be transmitted via the Internet 4. The data is converted into D5, and is temporarily stored in the server device 19.

The server device 19 as a transmitting means
The transmission data D5 stored once is read out again and modulated to be transmitted as content data D6 from a public line network (not shown) to the content receiving side 3 via the Internet 4.

As described above, the content distribution side 2 first uses the CCD camera 11A to perform 24 frames / sec at 35 [mm].
By capturing a frame image of the movie film 12 at 48 fields / second, which is twice the normal value, the video signal D1 is converted into a 48-field / second video signal D1. Video signal D2 (A1, A2, A3, A4 ...) and video signal D
3 (B1, B2, B3, B4...) Respectively, so that the data recorder 14, the data processing unit 15, and the server device 19 at the subsequent stage can use the normal format for the video signals D2 and D3 of 24 fields / second in the HD format. Data processing is sufficient.

Accordingly, the content distribution side 2 does not need to provide a data recorder, a data processing unit, and a server device for the video signal D1 having a double data processing speed corresponding to 48 fields / sec. 1
4. The data processing unit 15 and the server device 19 are not diverted to change the device configuration as much as possible.

On the other hand, the content receiving side 3 receives the content data D6 distributed from the content distribution side 2 via the Internet 4 by the server device 21 as a receiving means and demodulates the original transmission data. The transmission data D7 corresponding to D5 is restored, stored once, read out again, and sent to the data processing unit 22.

The data processing unit 22 includes the content distribution side 2
, A digital watermark extraction circuit 23 that performs processing reverse to that of each circuit of the data processing unit 15,
An EG decoder 24 and an encryption / decryption circuit 25 are provided.
Enter 5

The encryption / decryption circuit 25 decrypts the transmission data D7 in accordance with the public key encryption method to decrypt the transmission data D7. HD-MPE
The G decoder 24 subjects the decrypted transmission data D7 to image decompression and decoding according to the MPEG2 standard, and restores the image data D8 corresponding to the original image data D4.

Further, the digital watermark extracting circuit 23 outputs the image data D which has been decrypted and subjected to the image decompression and decoding process.
The digital watermark information embedded in the projector unit 27 is extracted together with the image data D8 as necessary.
Has been made to be able to be displayed.

The data processing section 22 sequentially transmits the image data D8, which has been decrypted and subjected to the image decompression and decoding processing, to the image data storage device 26.

The image data storage device 26 stores the image data D8 sequentially supplied from the data processing unit 22 in a built-in hard disk (not shown).
At this time, the image data D8 in the HD format is stored by storing the image data D8 in the packet unit in a plurality of units.
And D3 corresponding to video signals D10 and D11, respectively.

Then, the image data storage device 26 converts the video signals D10 and D11 according to the read command from the projector unit 27 as a display means, as shown in FIG. 2, as a video signal D10 (A1, A
, A3, A4...) And a video signal D11 (B1, B
2, B3, B4...) Are alternately read out with a shift of 1/48 second to output the video signal D10 to the upper first liquid crystal projector 27A in the projector section 27 and to output the video signal D11 to the lower second liquid crystal projector 27A. Output is made to the liquid crystal projector 27B.

In the projector section 27, the upper first liquid crystal projector 27A converts an image based on the video signal D10 into one.
The second liquid crystal projector 27B at the lower stage sets an image based on the video signal D11 1/48 seconds after the image based on the video signal D10 from the first projector 27A. It is set so as to sequentially project on the screen 28 at 1/24 second intervals.

That is, the first liquid crystal projectors 27A and 27B sequentially and alternately display images based on the video signals D10 and D11 one by one at intervals of 1/24 second.
8, the image can be displayed on the screen 28 at an interval of 1/48 second, which is twice the conventional value.
The motion of the subject in the image can be displayed smoothly and flicker can be reduced.

At this time, the first liquid crystal projector 27A and the second liquid crystal projector 27B only alternately project the images of the video signals D10 and D11 on the screen 28 one by one at regular 1/24 second intervals. D1
Only 0 and D11 are projected at a normal projection speed and method, and no circuit change or the like is required.

Accordingly, the content receiving side 3 does not need to newly provide a high-resolution projector or a signal processing circuit, and can use the existing first liquid crystal projector 27A and second liquid crystal projector 27B in the projector section 27. Therefore, flicker can be easily reduced without complicating and enlarging the apparatus configuration.

In the above configuration, the content distribution side 2 of the digital cinema system 1 has a speed of 35 frames / sec.
[mm] A frame image of the movie film 12 is captured as a video signal D1 by the CCD camera unit 11A capable of capturing images at 48 fields / second, which is twice the normal value, and the video signal D1 is captured at 24 fields / second in a normal HD format. Video signal D2 (A1, A2, A3, A4 ...) and video signal D
3 (B1, B2, B3, B4...) Respectively, so that the data recorder 14, the data processing unit 15, and the server device 19 at the subsequent stage can use the normal format for the video signals D2 and D3 of 24 fields / second in the HD format. Data processing is completed, and the resulting content data D6 is transmitted to the content receiving side 3 via the Internet 4.

The content receiving side 3 restores the content data D6 received from the content distribution side 2 as image data D8 corresponding to the original image data D4 by the existing server device 21 and the data processing section 22, and converts this into image data. The data is sequentially stored as video signals D10 and D11 in HD format units by the data storage device 26.

The image data storage device 26 reads out the video signals D10 and D11, outputs the video signal D10 to the first liquid crystal projector 27A in the upper stage of the projector section 27, and outputs the video signal D11 to the second liquid crystal projector in the lower stage. 27B.

The upper first liquid crystal projector 27A sequentially projects images based on the video signal D10 onto the screen 28 at 1/24 second intervals, and the lower second liquid crystal projector 27B transmits the image based on the video signal D10 from the first liquid crystal projector 27A. The image based on the video signal D11 is displayed on the screen 28 at a timing delayed by 1/48 second from the image based on
/ 24 seconds, the video signal D1
Images based on 0 and D11 can be sequentially and alternately projected onto the screen 28 at 1/48 second intervals.

As described above, the content receiving side 3 is connected to the upper first liquid crystal projector 27 in the projector section 27.
A via the A and the lower second liquid crystal projector 27B.
A signal processing circuit that performs high-speed data processing to project a new image at 1/48 second intervals by sequentially and alternately projecting images based on the video signals D10 and D11 one by one at 48-second intervals. There is no need to prepare a new projector, and the existing first liquid crystal projector 27A and second liquid crystal projector 27B having a projection speed of 1/24 second can be used.

According to the above-described configuration, the digital cinema system 1 captures a frame image of the 35 [mm] movie film 12 of 24 frames / sec on the content distribution side 2 as a video signal D1 of 48 fields / sec, which is twice as large. CCD camera section 11B as an imaging means capable of
1 for 24 fields /
A new dividing circuit 13 is newly provided as dividing means for dividing the video signal D2 (A1, A2, A3, A4...) And the video signal D3 (B1, B2, B3, B4. On the side 3, the first liquid crystal projector 27 </ b> A and the second liquid crystal projector 27 </ b> B having a projection speed of 1/24 second corresponding to the normal HD format have a
By sequentially and alternately projecting the images based on the video signals D10 and D11 one by one on the screen 28 at 48-second intervals, the screen 28 can be changed with a minimum device change and addition.
Can reduce the flicker of the image displayed on the screen and improve the image quality.

In the above-described embodiment, the video signal D1 captured at 48 fields / second by the CCD camera 11A as the image capturing means is converted into the video signal D2 of 24 fields / second (A1, A2, A3, A4...). , And the video signal D3 (B1, B2, B3, B4...) Has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a video signal captured at 72 fields / sec. Video signal D21 (A1, A2, A
, A4 ...), video signal D22 (B1, B2, B3,
B4 ...) and the video signal D23 (C1, C2, C3, C
4...).

In this case, in the projector section 27 as the display means, in addition to the first liquid crystal projector 27A and the second liquid crystal projector 27B, the third liquid crystal projector 27
C (not shown) and the video signal D at 1/72 second intervals
By projecting the images based on the screens 21, D22 and D23 onto the screen 28 alternately and sequentially,
The image quality can be improved by further reducing the flicker of the image displayed on the screen.

In the above-described embodiment, the video signal D1 picked up by one CCD camera 11A at 48 fields / second is converted to the video signal D of 24 fields / second.
2 (A1, A2, A3, A4 ...) and the video signal D3
(B1, B2, B3, B4...), And the corresponding images are divided into 1 /
Although the case where the images are alternately projected onto the screen 28 at 48-second intervals has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the left side CC of 24 fields / second is used as shown in FIG.
The subject 50 is simultaneously imaged by the D camera and the right CCD camera, respectively, and the resulting video signal D3
The images corresponding to 1 and D32 may be displayed as a stereoscopic image by alternately projecting the images one by one on the screen 28 at 1/48 second intervals. In this case, the dividing circuit 13 becomes unnecessary.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case has been described in which the CCD camera unit 11A as the image pickup means picks up an image in units of fields / second in correspondence with the HD format. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to support various other formats, such as taking an image in units of frames / second by other various imaging means.

Further, in the above embodiment, the telecine device 11 is provided with the CCD camera unit 11A or 33 of the present invention.
A has been described in a case where A is detachably attached and the dividing circuit 13 or the 4-dividing circuit 33 is provided in the preceding stage of the data recorder 14, but the present invention is not limited to this.
An integrated telecine device to which the D camera unit 11A or 33A, the division circuit 13 or the four division circuit 33 is attached in advance may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the digital cinema system 1 as a content distribution system divided into the content distribution side 2 and the content reception side 3 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. In a case where the content distribution side 2 and the content reception side 3 are located at the same place and need not be transmitted via a network, the content is transmitted through the telecine device 11 and then divided by the division circuit 13 and then divided. Divided video signal D
2 and D3 are directly projected onto the screen 28 by the projector unit 27.
May be projected.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the display is performed on the screen 28 using the projector section 27 including the first liquid crystal projector 27A and the second liquid crystal projector 27B as the display means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be directly displayed by other various display means such as a liquid crystal display.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the content distribution system of the present invention is applied to digital cinema system 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention may be applied to a video-on-demand system for delivering to a terminal, a system for delivering to a small portable terminal such as a mobile phone, or the like.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when a video signal having a still image number that is an integral multiple of the reference still image number per unit time is captured, the reference still image number per unit time The video signal is divided into a plurality of types of video signals corresponding to each other, and the still images in the video signal are alternately projected one by one at predetermined time intervals at a projection speed corresponding to the number of reference still images per unit time via a plurality of projection means. By doing so, a new signal processing unit for processing at a processing speed corresponding to an integral multiple of the number of still images with respect to the reference number of still images per unit time and a new projecting unit for high-speed projection are prepared. It is not necessary, and it is possible to improve the image quality by displaying a video image of a video signal whose number of still images is an integral multiple of the reference number of still images per unit time without largely changing the configuration. Thus it is possible to realize an image processing apparatus and image processing method capable of reducing the no easily image quality greatly changing the device configuration.

Further, according to the present invention, even when the content distribution side captures a video signal whose number of still images is an integral multiple of the reference number of still images per unit time,
By dividing the video signal into a plurality of types of video signals corresponding to the reference number of still images per unit time, modulating the video signal, and transmitting it as content data to the content receiving side via the network, the content receiving side demodulates the content data. To restore the video signal
Using a plurality of projection units each configured to project at a projection speed corresponding to the reference number of still images per unit time, a single still image in a video signal is sequentially applied to a predetermined projection target at predetermined time intervals. New signal processing means for processing at a processing speed corresponding to an integral multiple of the number of still images with respect to the number of reference still images per unit time and new projection means for high-speed projection by alternately projecting It is not necessary to prepare a video signal image having an integral multiple of the number of still images with respect to the reference number of still images per unit time without greatly changing the configuration, and it is possible to improve the image quality, Thus, it is possible to realize a content distribution system that can easily achieve high image quality without greatly changing the device configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital cinema system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for describing a process of dividing a video signal captured at 48 fields / second.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a process of dividing a video signal captured at 72 fields / second according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for generating a video signal according to another embodiment.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... Digital cinema system, 2 ... Content distribution side, 3 ... Content reception side, 4 ... Internet, 11 ... Telecine apparatus, 12 ... Movie film, 1
3 divided circuit, 14 data recorder, 15, 22
...... Data processing unit, 19, 21 Server device, 26
... image data storage device, 27 ... projector unit, 28
……screen.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image capturing means for generating a video signal having an integral multiple of the number of still images per unit time in a predetermined format by capturing an image of an imaging target, and an integral multiple of the number of still images Dividing means for dividing the video signal into a plurality of types of video signals corresponding to the reference number of still images per unit time, and projecting the video signals at a projection speed corresponding to the reference number of still images per unit time, respectively. The plurality of projection means are adapted to project still images of the video signal one by one alternately at a predetermined time difference interval on a predetermined projection target, so that the video of the video signal is projected on the projection target. An image processing apparatus comprising: a display unit for displaying the image on the display unit. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup means picks up a frame image of a movie film as said image pickup target. 3. An image capturing step of generating a video signal having an integral multiple of the number of still images per unit time in a predetermined format by capturing an image of an image capturing target; Dividing the video signal into a plurality of types of video signals corresponding to the reference number of still images per unit time, and projecting the video signals at a projection speed corresponding to the reference number of still images per unit time, respectively. The plurality of projection means are adapted to project still images of the video signal one by one alternately at a predetermined time difference interval on a predetermined projection target, so that the video of the video signal is projected on the projection target. And a display step of displaying the image on the image processing apparatus. 4. The image processing method according to claim 3, wherein said image capturing step captures a frame image of a movie film as said image capturing target. 5. A content distribution system in which a content distribution side and a content reception side are connected via a network, and wherein the content reception side receives and displays content data transmitted from the content distribution side. The imaging unit generates an image signal having an integer multiple of the number of still images with respect to the reference number of still images per unit time in a predetermined format by imaging the imaging target; A dividing unit that divides the video signal into a plurality of types of video signals corresponding to the reference number of still images per unit time; and the content receiving side via the network, the content data generated by modulating the video signal. Transmission means for transmitting the content to the content receiving side, Receiving means for receiving and demodulating the content data to restore the video signal, and a plurality of projections each configured to project the video signal at a projection speed corresponding to the reference number of still images per unit time. Display means for displaying a video of the video signal on the projection target by alternately projecting still images in the video signal one by one at predetermined time intervals on a predetermined projection target using the means. A content distribution system, characterized in that: 6. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said image pickup means picks up a frame image of a movie film as said image pickup target.