JP2005260648A - Recording and reproducing device, and its control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the control of a camera function without mounting a device for camera control when there is a control request for the camera function of a recording and reproducing device from a host computer in connection using a communication protocol established between the recording and reproducing device and the host computer. <P>SOLUTION: A camera control command converter, a command communication line changeover switch and a command communication line changeover switch control part are mounted on the recording and reproducing device. A camera control command is converted into an AV/C command defined as an IEEE 1394 standard to thereby be able to notify a main controller that the AV/C command is a camera control instruction, which can control the camera function from the host computer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to internal processing in a recording / reproducing apparatus that has received a camera control command issued from a host computer with respect to a recording / reproducing apparatus having a connection function with a host computer via some communication protocol.

  In recent years, a function for connecting with a host computer is installed, and various motion-JPEG images are recorded on the host computer via the communication protocol established between the recording / reproduction device and the host computer. A function for converting video data into various video formats, transferring the video data, and performing video and audio communication is implemented. Furthermore, a function is implemented that enables control of functions such as reproduction and recording on the recording medium of the recording / reproducing apparatus by control commands issued from the host computer. For the camera control by the host computer, there is no communication channel similar to the recording medium, and a camera control device is separately installed.

  A conventional recording / reproducing apparatus will be described below.

  The configuration of a conventional recording / reproducing apparatus equipped with a video and audio communication function and a function for controlling a recording medium is as shown in FIG. 4, where 1 is the entire recording / reproducing apparatus and 2 is a recording / reproducing apparatus. Command receiving unit from the host computer, 3 is a recording medium unit of the recording / reproducing apparatus, 4 is a main controller unit for controlling the operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus, 5 is a camera unit relating to image acquisition such as a lens of the recording / reproducing apparatus, and 6 is A host computer 7 is a communication path connecting the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and the host computer 6. 7 is not intended to limit wired or wireless communication in the sense that a communication protocol with the host computer 6 has been established.

In the operation of the conventional recording / reproducing apparatus 1, the command receiving unit 2 receives a control command issued from the host computer 6 to the recording / reproducing apparatus with the established communication path 7, and analyzes the command. The analyzed instruction content is interpreted in detail by the main controller 4 and operation control such as reproduction of video recorded on the recording medium 3 is performed. The camera unit 5 is for the main controller 4 to detect and control the operation of the main body of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1.
JP 2003-110994 A

  However, in the conventional configuration as described above, when the control command for controlling the camera function is issued from the host computer, the analysis content in the receiver 2 cannot be analyzed in the main controller unit 4. That is, in the conventional configuration, the camera function of the recording / reproducing apparatus cannot be controlled from the host computer unless a camera control apparatus is mounted. Therefore, there is a problem that the operability of the host computer 6 with respect to the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is not good.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is possible to control the camera function from a host computer by mounting a command converter, a command communication path switch, and its switch control unit in the recording / reproducing apparatus. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve this object, a video signal recording / reproducing apparatus in which various operations are controlled by a host computer, an imaging means for performing an imaging operation, and a control capable of operating a control signal from the host computer within the apparatus. Conversion means for converting into a signal and control means for controlling the operation of the imaging means based on the control signal converted by the conversion means are provided.

  As a result, the camera function can be controlled from the host computer.

  As described above, the present invention establishes a communication protocol between the recording / reproducing apparatus and the host computer and establishes the camera control apparatus even when the control command for the camera function of the recording / reproducing apparatus is received from the host computer. The problem that control of the camera function was impossible unless it was implemented was solved by newly installing a camera control command converter, a command communication path conversion switch, and a command communication path changeover switch controller, and the host Control of the camera function of the recording / reproducing apparatus from a computer can be easily realized. Thereby, the operativity can be improved.

  In addition, since the control signal from the host computer can be realized simply by adding a configuration for converting the control signal into a control that can be operated and processed in the recording / reproducing apparatus, the control signal can be realized without significant cost increase.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video signal recording / reproducing apparatus in which various operations are controlled by a host computer, an imaging means for performing an imaging operation, and a control signal from the host computer within the apparatus. A conversion means for converting into an operable control signal and a control means for controlling the operation of the imaging means based on the control signal converted by the conversion means are provided. .

  The invention according to claim 2 is a video signal recording / reproducing apparatus in which various operations are controlled by a host computer, an imaging unit that performs an imaging operation, a recording unit that records a signal captured by the imaging unit, Receiving means for receiving a control signal from the host computer; conversion means for converting the control signal received by the receiving means into a control signal operable in the apparatus; and the control signal received by the receiving means is a recording means Switch control means for discriminating between a control signal for controlling the operation of the camera and a control signal for controlling the operation of the imaging means, and selecting either the output of the receiving means or the output of the converting means by the control from the switch control means And a control means for controlling the operation of the imaging means based on the control signal selected by the selection means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control system comprising a host computer capable of executing various operation instructions and a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of communicating with the host computer, wherein the recording / reproducing apparatus performs an imaging operation. Means, conversion means for converting a control signal from the host computer into a control signal operable in the apparatus, and control means for controlling the operation of the imaging means based on the control signal converted by the conversion means. It is a thing.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording / reproducing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes the entire recording / reproducing apparatus. In the present embodiment, a video camera is assumed. However, a recording medium is provided with an imaging means such as a digital still camera to shoot a subject image. Anything can be used as long as it is recorded. This apparatus includes the following configuration excluding the host computer 6.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes a host computer such as a personal computer that can communicate with at least the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 using a predetermined protocol. For example, personal computers that have become widespread in recent years are compatible with USB (Universal Serial Bus), which is one of digital communication means, and can communicate using such a USB protocol. The communication means is not limited to USB.

  7 is a communication protocol communication path established between the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and the host computer 6. For example, when the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and the host computer 6 communicate using a USB protocol, it corresponds to a USB cable. To do. A specific example regarding USB connection will be described later. The communication path 7 may be wired connection using various cables or wireless connection. The configuration of FIG. 1 shows a configuration by wired connection, and FIG. 2 shows a configuration by wireless connection.

  A command receiving unit 2 is a receiving unit that receives a command from the host computer 6 of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 through the communication path 7, and includes a unit that can connect the communication path 7. For example, when performing communication by USB, a terminal to which a USB cable can be connected is provided.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes a recording medium that is a part of the recording means of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1, and the recording medium may be a magnetic tape, an optical disk, a memory card, or the like, but any recording medium may be used in the present invention. . In this embodiment, the description is based on the assumption that a video camera is used. Therefore, a magnetic tape is used as a recording medium. Although not particularly illustrated, the recording medium 3 includes means capable of controlling the operation of the mounted recording medium. For example, when a magnetic tape is used as a recording medium, a mechanism for driving the magnetic tape, a magnetic head for recording and reproducing signals on the magnetic tape, and the like are also included.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a main controller unit that is a control unit that controls the operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1. In this embodiment, the operation control of the recording medium 3 and the camera unit 5 is performed based on a command input from the switch unit 8. Is going.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a camera unit that is an imaging unit that is provided in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 and that captures a subject image or the like. It is configured to output to the controller 4.

  Reference numeral 8 denotes a switch unit which is a selection unit which is a switching unit for switching one of the command receiver 2 and the camera control command converter 9 and is switched by switching control from the switch control unit 10 which will be described later. .

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a command communication path changeover switch control unit which is a switch control unit which receives a notification from the command receiving unit 2 and controls the switching of the switch unit 8.

  Reference numeral 9 denotes conversion means for converting a command for controlling the camera function from the host computer 6 into a control signal (for example, an AV / C command defined in the IEEE 1394 standard) that can be processed in the apparatus. It is a camera command converter.

  The operation of the recording / reproducing apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

  When the host computer 6 and the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 communicate with each other, it is necessary to connect the host computer 6 and the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 via a communication path 7 that conforms to a protocol that allows communication. For example, when performing communication by USB, one end of the USB cable is connected to the USB terminal of the host computer 6 and the other end is connected to the USB terminal of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1. Then, after the host computer 6 and the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 can communicate with each other via the communication path 7, the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 can be controlled in a predetermined manner by operating the host computer 6.

  As an operation to be performed on the host computer 6 side, a predetermined operation control software preinstalled in the host computer 6 is started and an input unit such as a keyboard or a mouse is operated while viewing a display unit such as a monitor. A desired operation can be performed. For example, the user can operate the recording medium 3 on the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 side (reproduction, FF / REW, etc.) by operating the host computer 6.

  Hereinafter, the communication control will be specifically described.

  The command receiving unit 2 receives a control command issued from the host computer 6 with respect to the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 conforming to the communication protocol established in the communication path 7, and analyzes the command. The result of the analysis (whether the command from the command receiving unit 2 is a “recording media control command” or “camera control command”) is output to the switch control unit 10.

  The switch control unit 10 receives a notification from the command receiving unit 2 as to whether the command is a “recording media control command” or a “camera control command”, and performs switching control of the switch unit 8. As a result, the camera control command content analyzed by the command receiving unit 2 is stored in the main controller 4 and interpreted in detail, and operation control such as reproduction of video data stored in the recording medium 3 and the operation of the camera unit 5 are performed. Control is performed.

  When a control command for the camera function of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 is issued from the host computer 6, the command is transferred from the command receiver 2 to the camera control command converter 9 and converted into an AV / C command. On the other hand, the analysis result in the command receiver 2 is input to the switch control unit 10, and the switch control unit 10 receives the notification from the command reception unit 2, and switches the switch unit 8 to the b side (output from the camera control command converter 9. The camera control command to the main controller 4 can be transferred. The main controller 4 controls the operation of the camera unit 5 based on the input command.

  On the other hand, when the command received by the command receiver 2 is a recording media control command, the switch control unit 10 controls the switch unit 8 to be connected to the a side, and the command from the command receiver 2 is the main command. Input to the controller 4. The main controller 4 can perform operation control (reproduction operation, FF / REW, etc.) of the recording medium 3 based on the input command.

  Next, control of the camera function will be described with a specific example.

  As an example, the communication path 7 is USB, communication of video stream data such as Motion-JPEG and DV defined as a standard called a USB subclass, communication control of the stream data, playback of the recording medium 3, and camera The operation when the recording / playback apparatus 1 compliant with USB Video Class (hereinafter referred to as UVC), which is a USB communication protocol that can issue function control commands, receives a zoom control command from the host computer 6 will be described. I do.

  The USB receiver 2 receives a USB standard zoom control command, and the camera control command converter 9 converts the USB standard zoom control into an AV / C command protocol. Further, the switch control unit 10 having received the notification “camera control” from the USB receiving unit 2 changes the zoom control command converted by the camera control command converter 9 to the b side of the switch unit 8. As a result, a zoom control command can be input to the main controller 4. The main controller 4 instructs the camera unit 5 to perform a zoom operation, and the camera unit 5 operates a zoom lens (not shown) to perform the zoom operation.

  As a second example, when the communication path 17 is wireless, the operation when the recording / reproducing apparatus 11 conforming to the wireless communication protocol receives an iris control command from the host computer 16 will be described with reference to FIG. Do. Each configuration in FIG. 2 is almost the same as the configuration in FIG. 1 described above, but the host computer 16 and the wireless command receiver 12 are different. A device capable of wireless communication is mounted on or connected to the host computer 16. The radio command receiver 12 can receive and analyze a radio signal from the host computer 16.

  The radio command receiver 12 receives the iris control command, and the converter 9 converts the iris control into the AV / C command protocol. Further, the switch control unit 20 having received the notification “camera control” from the wireless command receiving unit 12 changes the contact point of the switch unit 18 to the b side by changing the iris control command converted by the converter 19. The main controller 14 is notified that the iris control command has been received. The main controller 14 instructs the camera unit 15 to perform iris setting, and the camera unit 15 performs iris setting. Although the above description has been made on the recording / reproducing apparatus, the present invention is not limited to other apparatuses having a camera function.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the camera control command conversion unit 9 is provided so as to receive a camera control command from the host computer 6 and perform camera control according to the received camera control command. In addition to the operation control of the recording medium 3 of the recording / reproducing apparatus 1, various camera controls such as a zoom operation and an iris control in the camera unit 5 can be performed. Thereby, the operativity can be improved.

  Further, since the control signal from the host computer 6 can be realized only by adding the converter 9 that converts the control signal into a control that can be operated and processed in the recording / reproducing apparatus 1, the control signal can be realized without significant cost increase.

  The present invention is useful when applied to an apparatus capable of communicating between a recording / reproducing apparatus including an imaging unit such as a camera and a recording unit and a host computer such as a personal computer. Examples of the recording / reproducing apparatus include a digital still camera and a digital video camera.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a recording / reproducing apparatus in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control example of a recording / reproducing apparatus from a host computer using a wireless protocol in the embodiment Block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional recording / reproducing apparatus

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording / reproducing apparatus 2 Command receiver 3 Recording media part 4 Main controller 5 Camera part 6 Host computer 7 Communication path with host computer 8 Command communication path change switch 9 Camera control command converter 10 Command communication path change switch control part

Claims (3)

A video signal recording / reproducing apparatus in which various operations are controlled by a host computer, an imaging unit that performs an imaging operation, a conversion unit that converts a control signal from the host computer into a control signal operable in the apparatus, And a control means for controlling the operation of the imaging means based on the control signal converted by the conversion means. A video signal recording / reproducing apparatus in which various operations are controlled by a host computer, an imaging means for performing an imaging operation, a recording means for recording a signal imaged by the imaging means, and a control signal from the host computer A receiving means; a converting means for converting a control signal received by the receiving means into a control signal operable in the apparatus; and a control signal received by the receiving means for controlling the operation of the recording means or an imaging means A switch control means for determining whether the control signal is for controlling the operation of the control means, a selection means for selecting one of the output of the receiving means or the output of the conversion means by the control from the switch control means, and the selection by the selection means And a control means for controlling the operation of the image pickup means based on the control signal. A control system comprising a host computer capable of various operation instructions and a recording / reproducing apparatus capable of communicating with the host computer,
The recording / reproducing apparatus performs imaging based on an imaging unit that performs an imaging operation, a conversion unit that converts a control signal from the host computer into a control signal operable in the apparatus, and a control signal converted by the conversion unit. And a control means for controlling the operation of the means.

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