JP2014013980A - Television conference controller having imaging region automatic control function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a television conference controller which inexpensively automates angle/zoom control of a video camera during a television conference, and has simple operability.SOLUTION: A television conference controller having an imaging region automatic control function stores imaged data of a video camera 2 as zoom-out setting data, in a case where predetermined first specific operation is performed when the video camera 2 is in a zoom-out state; stores imaged data of the video camera 2 as zoom-in setting data, in a case where the first specific operation is performed when the video camera 2 is in a zoom-in state; automatically controls the video camera 2 using the zoom-out setting data, in a case where predetermined second specific operation is performed when the video camera 2 is in the zoom-in state or transmission voice to be transmitted to a communication destination has not been detected for predetermined time or more; and automatically controls the video camera 2 using the zoom-in setting data, in a case where the second specific operation is performed when the video camera 2 is in the zoom-out state.

Description

  The present invention relates to a video conference control apparatus capable of electrically controlling the angle / zoom of a video camera for photographing a conference attendee.

  In a video conference, a video conference device that recognizes a speaker's voice with a microphone, directs the camera in the direction of the speaker, and automatically zooms in to capture a small area around the speaker is known (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

  The technology described in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of highly directional microphones, and automatically controls the camera angle / zoom so as to capture the direction of the microphone when sound is recognized from one microphone. When zooming in and recognizing sound from multiple microphones at the same time, zooming out is performed so that the entire image is captured.

  However, since the technique described in Patent Document 1 uses a large number of highly directional microphones and requires advanced signal processing, the cost required for system construction becomes expensive. Further, since the correlation between the plurality of microphone positions and the camera angle / zoom setting is obtained, the processing as the system becomes complicated. Furthermore, it is necessary for the user to make settings related to the correlation between a plurality of microphone positions and the camera angle / zoom settings, and the setting work is complicated when the microphone layout is changed. There may be an inappropriate angle / zoom due to noise, sneezing, coughing, etc.

JP-A-3-76385

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a video conference control apparatus having simple operability while economically automating the control of the angle / zoom of a video camera during a video conference.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a video conference control device having a function of electrically controlling an angle and / or zoom of a video camera for photographing a conference attendee, wherein the angle and / or zoom of the video camera is provided. A shooting area manual control means for manually controlling the video conference controller by the operator, data storage means for storing data relating to the angle and / or zoom of the video camera, and the angle and / or zoom of the video camera. A shooting area data control means for controlling according to data stored in the data storage means, wherein the data storage means is in a zoom-out state in which the video camera is shooting a shooting area wider than a predetermined area When the first specific operation determined in advance is performed, the video camera when the specific operation is performed is displayed. When data relating to the angle and / or zoom is stored as zoom-out setting data, and the first specific operation is performed in a zoom-in state in which the video camera is shooting a shooting area narrower than the predetermined area In addition, data relating to the angle and / or zoom of the video camera at the time when the specific operation is performed is stored as zoom-in setting data, and the imaging area data control means is configured to store a second predetermined value in the zoom-in state. The angle and / or zoom corresponding to the zoom-out setting data stored in the data storage means when a specific operation is performed or when the transmitted voice to be transmitted to the communication destination is not detected for a predetermined time or longer. Automatically control the angle and / or zoom of the video camera and move forward in the zoom out state When the second specific operation is performed, the angle and / or zoom of the video camera is automatically controlled so that the angle or zoom corresponds to the zoom-in setting data stored in the data storage unit. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, high-level signal processing is unnecessary, control of the camera angle / zoom during a video conference can be economically automated, and zoom-in and zoom-out are automatically identified, so that operability is simple. There is an advantage that there is little risk of erroneous operation.

Block diagram of internal configuration of video conference control device according to the present invention External view of operation unit 5 according to the present invention Operational flow chart of the video conference control device according to the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall view including an internal block configuration of a video conference control apparatus (hereinafter abbreviated as this apparatus) having an imaging area automatic control function according to the present invention.

  First, the overall configuration of the system including the apparatus 1 will be described. The apparatus 1 is connected to the network 7 and executes communication related to the video conference with the counterpart apparatus 8 having the video conference function via the network 7, and the video camera 2, speaker 3, microphone connected to the apparatus 1. 4. Control related to the interface with the operation unit 5 and the video display device 6 is executed.

  The video camera 2 is a video camera connected to the apparatus 1, and converts the conference attendee's video into a video signal and transmits the video signal to the apparatus 1. Further, the angle / zoom is electrically controlled in accordance with a control signal from the apparatus 1.

  The speaker 3 is a speaker connected to the apparatus 1, and outputs a voice signal received from the counterpart apparatus 8. The microphone 4 is a microphone connected to the apparatus 1, and outputs an audio signal of a voice uttered by a meeting attendee on the apparatus 1 side to the apparatus 1.

  The operation unit 5 is a means operated by a person who controls the apparatus 1, and outputs operation data related to angle / zoom of the video camera 2 and operation data such as volume adjustment and mute of conference audio to the apparatus 1. To do. The operation unit 5 may be built in the apparatus 1. The video display device 6 displays the conference video on the partner device 8 side received from the partner device 8 and the monitor video on the device 1 side taken by the video camera 2.

  Hereinafter, the internal block configuration of the apparatus 1 will be described in detail. The apparatus 1 includes a video conference system control unit 11, a communication control unit 12, a video signal input / output unit 13, an angle / zoom data storage unit 14, an angle / zoom control unit 15, and an audio signal input / output unit 16.

  The video conference system control unit 11 controls the entire apparatus 1 according to the operation content from the operation unit 5, and controls the communication control unit 12, the video signal input / output unit 13, the angle / zoom control unit 15, and the angle / zoom data storage. The unit 14 and the audio signal input / output unit 16 input / output data.

  The communication control unit 12 executes communication and communication control related to the entire video conference with the partner apparatus 8 via the network 7.

  The video signal input / output unit 13 encodes a video signal obtained by capturing the conference attendant input from the video camera 2 and transmits the encoded video signal to the partner device 8 via the communication control unit 12 and the network 7. It is also output to the video display device 6 so that the video transmitted by the device 1 can be monitored.

  The video signal input / output unit 13 receives a video signal transmitted from the counterpart device 8 via the network 7 and the communication control unit 12, decodes the encoded video signal, and outputs the decoded video signal to the video display device 6. .

  The angle / zoom data storage unit 14 is means for storing angle / zoom data that is control data related to the angle / zoom of the video camera 2. In response to an instruction from the video conference system control unit 11, the input angle / zoom data is stored. Also, designated angle / zoom data is output in accordance with an instruction from the TV conference system control unit 11.

  The angle / zoom data stored in the angle / zoom data storage unit 14 includes zoom-out setting data corresponding to a zoom-out state in which the video camera 2 captures a shooting area wider than the predetermined area, and a predetermined area. There are at least two pieces of zoom-in setting data corresponding to the zoom-in state in which the video camera 2 is photographing a narrow photographing region. Note that whether or not the area currently captured by the video camera 2 is wider than a predetermined area is determined by, for example, assuming that the zoom adjustment of the video camera 2 has 10 levels. The determination may be made based on whether the level is greater than level 5, which is an intermediate value between the minimum value and the maximum value.

  The angle / zoom control unit 15 is means for controlling the angle / zoom of the video camera 2 in accordance with the angle / zoom data input from the TV conference system control unit 11.

  The audio signal input / output unit 16 executes control related to input / output of audio signals between the speaker 3, the microphone 4, and the communication control unit 12 in accordance with the control from the TV conference system control unit 11. The audio signal input / output unit 16 detects the level of the audio signal input from the microphone 4 and outputs information related to the detected audio level to the TV conference system control unit 11.

  FIG. 2 is an external view of the operation unit 5. The operation unit 5 includes an upper button 51, a lower button 52, a left button 53, a right button 54, a zoom-out button 55, a zoom-in button 56, a home position button 57, and a mute button 58. The operator of the apparatus 1 operates these buttons according to the video conference situation. For example, if the speaker is an attendee on the apparatus 1 side, an image zoomed in with an angle of the attendee is transmitted to the counterpart apparatus 8 side, and if the speaker is an attendee on the counterpart apparatus 8 side, The zoomed-out video is transmitted to the counterpart device 8 so that the entire attendee on the device 1 side who is listening to the statement is shown.

  The upper button 51, the lower button 52, the left button 53, and the right button 54 are buttons for manually adjusting the angle that is the shooting direction of the video camera 2. The upper button 51, the lower button 52, the left button 53, and the right button 54 may be so-called direction keys that are integrally formed.

  The zoom-out button 55 and the zoom-in button 56 are buttons for manually adjusting the zoom-out / zoom-in of the video camera 2. When the zoom-out button 55 is continuously pressed, the shooting area is expanded and a large number of conference attendees are selected. The video camera 2 operates in the zoom-out direction for shooting. If the zoom-in button 56 is continuously pressed, the video camera 2 operates in a zoom-in direction in which a specific conference attendee such as a speaker is enlarged (shooting area is reduced) and shot.

  The fixed position button 57 is a button related to storage and reading of the angle / zoom data stored in the angle / zoom data storage unit 14. Within a certain time after the operator manually controls the angle and / or zoom of the video camera 2 by operating the up button 51, down button 52, left button 53, right button 54, zoom out button 55, zoom in button 56. When the home position button 57 is pressed (for example, 10 seconds), the video conference system control unit 11 writes the angle / zoom data of the video camera 2 at that time into the angle / zoom data storage unit 14.

  Here, if the zoom state of the video camera 2 at that time is a zoom-out state in which a photographing area wider than a predetermined area is photographed, the angle / zoom data is written as zoom-out setting data, If it is in a zoomed-in state where a photographing area smaller than the area is photographed, it is written as zoom-in setting data. Thus, the operator does not need to identify and register the angle / zoom data corresponding to the fixed position corresponding to the zoom-out or zoom-in state, and the operation is simple and there is little risk of erroneous operation.

  When the home position button 57 is pressed without any operation of the up button 51, the down button 52, the left button 53, the right button 54, the zoom out button 55, and the zoom in button 56, the TV conference system control unit 11 Then, the zoom-out setting data or the zoom-in setting data is read from the angle / zoom data storage unit 14, and the video camera 2 is set to the angle / zoom of the read angle / zoom data via the angle / zoom control unit 15. Control.

  Here, if the zoom state of the video camera 2 at that time is a zoom-out state wider than a predetermined area, the TV conference system control unit 11 reads the zoom-in setting data from the angle / zoom data storage unit 14, If the zoom-in state is narrower than the predetermined area, the TV conference system control unit 11 reads the zoom-out setting data from the angle / zoom data storage unit 14. This eliminates the need for the operator to identify and read out the angle / zoom data corresponding to the fixed position corresponding to the zoom-out or zoom-in state, and the operation is simple and there is little risk of erroneous operation.

  The mute button 58 is a button for stopping an audio signal transmitted from the device 1 side to the partner device 8. For example, when a conference attendee on the partner device 8 speaks, noise suppression on the device 1 side is suppressed. The mute button 58 is pressed to prevent feedback and howling. The apparatus 1 controls the zoom-in / zoom-out of the video camera 2 in conjunction with the pressing of the mute button 58 (described later).

  FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the apparatus 1. Hereinafter, the operation flow of the apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. This flow starts from a state in which the power of the apparatus 1 is turned on (S300).

  After the start of this flow, in the standby state, whether or not there is an operation related to the imaging region for operating the upper button 51, the lower button 52, the left button 53, the right button 54, the zoom out button 55, and the zoom in button 56 of the operation unit 5 (S310). ), The presence / absence of pressing of the home position button 57 (S320), and the detection (S321) of the state where the transmitted voice to be transmitted to the partner apparatus 8 is not detected for a predetermined time or more are repeated.

  In S310, when the shooting area is operated (S310, YES), the video conference system control unit 11 outputs the operation data input from the operation unit 5 to the angle / zoom control unit 15 as angle / zoom data. Then, the angle / zoom control unit 15 controls the angle / zoom of the video camera 2 in accordance with the angle / zoom data, activates the operation timer or restarts the operation timer in operation (S311), and proceeds to S320. Thereby, the operator of this apparatus 1 can control the angle / zoom of the video camera 2 manually. In S311, the operation timer is started / restarted each time in order to measure the passage of time after a series of operations are stopped. In S310, if there is no operation in the shooting area (S310, NO), S311 is skipped and the process proceeds to S320.

  If the home position button 57 is pressed in S320 (S320, YES), the process proceeds to S330. If the home position button 57 is not pressed (S320, NO), the process proceeds to S321.

  In S330, if the operation timer has expired (for example, 10 seconds) (S330, YES), the operation of the shooting area has ended and a predetermined time or more has passed. It is determined that the operation is a depression of 57, that is, an operation of switching the angle / zoom of the video camera 2, and the process proceeds to S350. If the operation timer has not expired (S330, NO), this is an operation for registering the current angle / zoom of the video camera 2 as a fixed position, that is, pressing the fixed position button 57 just after the operation of the photographing area. And proceed to S340.

  In S340, if the current zoom state of the video camera 2 is in the zoom-out state (S340, YES), the video conference system control unit 11 uses the current video camera 2 angle / zoom as zoom-out setting data. The data is stored in the data storage unit 14 (S341). Thereby, this zoom-out state is registered as a fixed position in zoom-out.

  In S340, if the current zoom state of the video camera 2 is a zoom-in state (S340, NO), the video conference system control unit 11 stores the current angle / zoom of the video camera 2 as the zoom-in setting data and stores the angle / zoom data. It memorize | stores in the part 14 (S342). Thereby, this zoom-in state is registered as a fixed position in zoom-in.

  In S350, if the current zoom state of the video camera 2 is a zoom-out state (S350, YES), the video conference system control unit 11 reads the zoom-in setting data from the angle / zoom data storage unit 14 and performs angle / zoom control. The angle / zoom of the video camera 2 is controlled so as to match the registered zoom-in setting data (S351), and the process returns to S310. In S350, if the current zoom state of the video camera 2 is not the zoom-out state (S350, NO), the video conference system control unit 11 reads the zoom-out setting data from the angle / zoom data storage unit 14 and the angle / zoom. It outputs to the control part 15, controls the angle / zoom of the video camera 2 so as to coincide with the registered zoom-out setting data (S352), and returns to S310. As a result, the operator can switch between zoom in / zoom out simply by pressing the home position button 57 without being aware of the current zoom state.

  By the way, when the home position button 57 is not pressed (S320, NO), and the voice signal input / output unit 16 does not detect the transmitted voice to the partner device 8 for a certain time (for example, 5 minutes) or longer (S321, NO). The TV conference system control unit 11 controls the angle / zoom of the video camera 2 to match the registered zoom-out setting data (S352). As a result, the speech of the attendee on the device 1 side is finished, and in the situation where the attendee on the counterpart device 8 side speaks, the user forgets to press the home position button 57 and the video camera 2 enters the zoom-in state. It is possible to prevent the remaining state. In S321, the presence / absence of the transmission voice to the partner apparatus 8 may be determined by whether the microphone 4 is switched off (not shown) or the mute button 58 is pressed. The determination may be made based on the signal level of the transmitted voice to the partner apparatus 8 in the voice signal input / output unit 16.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. According to the present invention, high-level signal processing is unnecessary, control of the camera angle / zoom during a video conference can be economically automated, and zoom-in and zoom-out are automatically identified, so that operability is simple. There is an advantage that there is little risk of erroneous operation.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the imaging area of the video camera has been described as being controlled by angle / zoom. However, the angle may be fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Video conference control apparatus 2 which has an imaging region automatic control function 2 ... Video camera 3 ... Speaker 4 ... Microphone 5 ... Operation part 6 ... Video display apparatus 7 ... Network 8 ... counterpart device 11 ... TV conference system control unit 12 ... communication control unit 13 ... video signal input / output unit 14 ... angle / zoom data storage unit 15 ... angle / zoom control unit 16 ... Audio signal input / output unit 51 ... Up button 52 ... Down button 53 ... Left button 54 ... Right button 55 ... Zoom out button 56 ... Zoom in button 57 ... Set Position button 58 ... Mute button

Claims (2)

A video conference control device having a function of electrically controlling the angle and / or zoom of a video camera for photographing a conference attendant,
Shooting area manual control means for manually controlling the angle and / or zoom of the video camera by an operator of the video conference control device, data storage means for storing data relating to the angle and / or zoom of the video camera, and the video Photographing area data control means for controlling the angle and / or zoom of the camera according to the data stored in the data storage means,
The data storage means performs the specific operation when a predetermined first specific operation is performed in a zoom-out state in which the video camera is shooting a shooting area wider than a predetermined area. Data relating to the angle and / or zoom of the video camera at that time is stored as zoom-out setting data, and the first identification is performed in a zoomed-in state where the video camera is shooting a shooting area narrower than the predetermined area When an operation is performed, data related to the angle and / or zoom of the video camera when the specific operation is performed is stored as zoom-in setting data,
The imaging area data control means stores data in the data storage means when a predetermined second specific operation is performed in the zoom-in state or when a transmission voice to be transmitted to a communication destination is not detected for a predetermined time or longer. The angle and / or zoom of the video camera is automatically controlled so as to obtain an angle and / or zoom corresponding to the stored zoom-out setting data, and the second specific operation is performed in the zoom-out state. An image area automatic control, wherein the angle and / or zoom of the video camera is automatically controlled so that the angle or zoom corresponds to the zoom-in setting data stored in the data storage means A video conference control device having a function. The video conference device according to claim 1,
The first specific operation is a predetermined operation performed before a predetermined time elapses after the operator of the video conference control device manually controls an operation related to the angle and / or zoom of the video camera. The second specific operation is the predetermined operation performed without an operation related to the angle and / or zoom of the video camera, and the video conference control having an imaging area automatic control function is provided. apparatus.

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