JP2000134580A - Device for transmitting moving picture - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To grasp the outline of moving picture file even in the case of a situation that the transmission of the animation file is interrupted halfway by deciding the reading order of unit image data of the moving picture file which is stored in a recording medium, outputting it from an interface and changing a transmission interval by means of a changing means. SOLUTION: A CPU: 11 of a video camera controls respective configurations in the video camera and also controls the reading of the MPEG image file which is recorded in an MO disk 12. Besides, the storing and reading of the MPEG image file in the memory 13 are also controlled. When the MPEG image file is read from the memory 13, reading is executed by GOP unit which constitutes the MPEG image file and the demodulation of the image file by a codec 14 is controlled. Moreover, the transmission of the MPEG image file by a communication interface 15 is controlled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a moving image transmitting apparatus for transmitting moving images via a communication line, a data bus or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art First, MPEG, which is a general format of moving images used in this type of moving image transmission apparatus, is used.
(Motion Picture Experts G
The structure of an image file in the (loop) format will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6, one MPEG format image file has a configuration in which unit image data called a plurality of GOPs (group of pictures) are arranged in the order of image reproduction. One GOP is composed of one IOP as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a picture, a plurality of P pictures, and a plurality of B pictures. An I picture is an image obtained by compressing one frame of a moving image by DCT or the like, and the I picture alone has image information for one frame. A P picture is data compressed using inter-frame correlation, and one P picture
One frame cannot be reproduced by a picture alone.
The P picture reproduces a corresponding frame image from the information of the P picture itself and the information of the immediately preceding I picture or P picture. B pictures are also data compressed using inter-frame correlation, and one B picture alone cannot reproduce one frame. The B picture reproduces a corresponding frame image from the information of the B picture itself and the information of the immediately preceding or succeeding I picture or P picture. MPEG shown in FIG.
Taking an image file as an example, P6, which is a P picture, reproduces a corresponding frame image based on information held by P6 itself and information held by I3, which is an I picture. Also, B7, which is a B picture, reproduces a corresponding frame image based on information held by B7 itself and information held by P6.

Conventionally, in a moving image transmission apparatus using the MPEG format, GOPs are arranged in an order along a time sequence at the time of image reproduction. Was transmitting.

[0004]

As described above, in the conventional moving image transmitting apparatus, GOPs are transmitted in the order of reproduction when transmitting the image file. Therefore, the entire image file is transmitted until the transmission of the last GOP is completed. There was a problem of not knowing. In a conventional image transmission device,
If the transmission of an image file is interrupted due to a line failure or the like during the transmission of the image file, the GOP after the interruption is lost, and there is a problem that the image file can be transmitted only halfway.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a moving image transmitting apparatus comprising: a moving image file comprising a plurality of unit image data arranged in an image reproducing order; Recording medium, an interface for outputting a moving image file to the outside, and transmission control for determining the reading order of unit image data of the moving image file stored in the recording medium based on a predetermined transmission interval and outputting from the interface Means for changing the transmission interval.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the moving image transmitting apparatus according to the first aspect, the transmission interval is set to an initial value based on the total number of unit image data included in the moving image file. And The invention of claim 3 is:
3. The moving image transmission apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transmission control means controls to preferentially read out the unit image data having the first reproduction order and the last unit image data having the reproduction order in the moving image file. I do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the moving picture transmission apparatus according to the first aspect, the changing means changes the transmission interval so that the transmission interval after the change is smaller than the transmission interval before the change. It is characterized by. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the moving image transmitting apparatus according to the first aspect, the moving image transmitting apparatus further includes a storage unit configured to store whether the unit image data stored in the recording medium has been read out, If the unit image data to be read has already been read based on the information in the storage means, the reading is not performed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the moving image transmitting apparatus according to the first aspect, the moving image file is an MPEG file.
(Motion Picture Experts G
group) is recorded in the GOP (group) format in the MPEG format.
p of picture).

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. FIG. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a system configuration of a moving image transmission device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the video camera according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the moving image recording / reproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of MPEG image file transmission in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the transmission order of MPEG image files in GOP units according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the system of the moving image transmission apparatus according to the first embodiment includes a video camera 10 on the transmission side.
And the moving image recording / reproducing device 20 on the receiving side, the communication line 30
It is a configuration connected by.

The video camera 10 is a portable video camera that converts a photographed moving image signal into an image file in the MPEG format and records it on a recording medium such as a magneto-optical disk (MO disk). As shown in FIG. 1, a video camera 10 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which a recording unit main body 10a and an imaging unit main body 10b are divided. The recording unit main body 10a has a slot 12a for the MO disk 12, which will be described later, and a communication interface 15 for outputting an MPEG image file to the outside. Further, the recording unit main body 10b has an imaging optical system 16. The video camera 10 forms an image of a subject (not shown) on an image pickup means such as a CCD (not shown) by the image pickup optical system 16 to take an image.
The video camera 10 has a communication line 30 at the communication interface 15 for transmitting the MPEG image file.
Is connected to The internal configuration of the video camera 10 will be described later.

The moving image recording / reproducing apparatus 20 is for recording and reproducing an MPEG image file transmitted via the communication line 30. The moving image recording / reproducing apparatus 20 reproduces the recorded MPEG image file on the display 26. The moving image recording / reproducing device 20 is connected to a communication line 30 at a communication interface 25 for receiving an MPEG image file. The internal configuration of the moving image recording / reproducing device 20 will be described later.

The communication line 30 is a line for transmitting an MPEG image file. The communication line 30 may be a single cable that directly connects the video camera 10 and the moving image recording / reproducing device 20, or an unspecified relay means intervenes between the video camera 10 and the moving image recording / reproducing device 20. A line such as a telephone line may be used. Next, the configuration of the video camera 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording unit and a transmission unit of the video camera according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, a camera unit and a reproduction display unit of the video camera 10 which are not directly related to the present invention are omitted.

The recording unit and the transmission unit of the video camera 10 according to the first embodiment include a CPU 11, an MO disk 12,
Memory 13, codec 14, communication interface 1
5 is comprised. The CPU 11 controls each component in the video camera 10. CPU 11 is MO disk 12
Of the MPEG image file recorded in the. Further, the CPU 11 controls storage and reading of the MPEG image file in the memory 13. CPU11
Reads an MPEG image file from the memory 13 in GOP units constituting the MPEG image file. Further, the CPU 11 controls the modulation of the MPEG image file by the codec 14. Also, CP
U11 controls the transmission of the MPEG image file by the communication interface 15. Further, the CPU 11 has a memory unit 11a, and stores transmitted flag information on the GOP read from the memory 13.

The MO disk 12 has a random access function for recording, as an image file, a moving image signal which has been captured by a camera unit including an imaging optical system 16 and imaging means (not shown) shown in FIG. It is a possible recording medium. In addition, the MO disk 12
The MPEG image file recorded on the disk 12 is read out to the memory 13. The reading of the MPEG image file recorded on the MO disk 12 by the CPU 11 is controlled.

The memory 13 stores the MPEG image file read from the MO disk 12. The memory 13 outputs the stored MPEG image file to the codec 14 in GOP units. The accumulation and output in the memory 13 are controlled by the CPU 11. The codec 14 modulates the GOP of the MPEG image file output from the memory 13 from a recording format to a communication format. The codec 14 outputs the GOP of the modulated MPEG image file to the communication interface 15. The codec 14 includes the CPU 11
Controls the modulation.

The communication interface 15 is an interface for transmitting an MPEG image file to the outside of the video camera 10. Communication interface 15
Is connected to one end of the communication line 30 shown in FIG.
The transmission of the communication interface 15 is controlled by the CPU 11. Next, the configuration of the moving image recording / reproducing apparatus 20 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the recording unit and the receiving unit of the moving image recording and reproducing device 20 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 3,
The reproduction display unit of the moving image recording / reproduction device 20 not directly related to the present invention is omitted.

Moving picture recording / reproducing apparatus 2 in the first embodiment
0, the recording unit and the receiving unit are the CPU 21 and the MO disk 2
2, a memory 23, a codec 24, and a communication interface 25. The CPU 21 controls each component in the moving image recording / reproducing device 20. CPU 21 is memory 2
MO disk 2 of MPEG image files stored in 3
2 is controlled. In addition, the CPU 11
, The accumulation of the GOP of the MPEG image file, the reconstruction of the accumulated GOP into the MPEG file, and the reading to the MO disk 22 are controlled. Also, the CPU 21
Controls the modulation of the MPEG image file by the codec 24. Further, the CPU 21 controls the reception of the MPEG image file by the communication interface 25.
In addition, the CPU 21 has a memory unit 21a, and stores received flag information on the GOP recorded in the memory 23.

The MO disk 22 records the MPEG image file output from the memory 23. The MO disk 22 is controlled by the CPU 21 to record an MPEG image file. The memory 23 stores the GOP of the MPEG image file output from the codec 24. The memory 23 reconfigures the MPEG image file before transmission by rearranging the stored GOPs in the reproduction order of the MPEG image file. The memory 23 outputs the reconstructed MPEG image file to the MO disk 22. The accumulation of GOPs in the memory 23, the reconstruction of MPEG image files, and the output of MPEG image files
It is controlled by the PU 21.

The codec 24 converts the GOP of the MPEG image file output from the communication interface 25 into
Modulates from a communication format to a recording format. The codec 24 outputs the GOP of the modulated MPEG image file to the memory 23. The modulation of the codec 24 is controlled by the CPU 21. The communication interface 25 is an interface for receiving an MPEG image file sent from outside the moving image recording / reproducing device 20. The communication interface 25
It is connected to one end of the communication line 30 shown in FIG. The reception of the communication interface 25 is controlled by the CPU 21.

Next, a control procedure for transmitting an MPEG image file in the video camera 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows C in the first embodiment.
It is a flowchart figure which shows the control procedure of PU11. As shown in FIG. 4, first, in step S 1, an MPEG image file to be transmitted is read from the MO disk 12 and stored in the memory 13. Upon completion of the process in the step S1, the process proceeds to a step S2.

Next, in step S2, initialization is performed. In the initial setting, the flag n for the GOP to be transmitted is set to 1, and the pitch p for GOP transmission is set to a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the total number m of GOPs in the MPEG image file to be transmitted. In addition, all the transmission flag information of the GOP in the memory unit 11a is set to a non-transmission state. Step S
When the process of Step 2 is completed, the process proceeds to Step S3.

Next, in step S3, the memory unit 1
Check the content of the transmitted flag information recorded in 1a,
It is determined whether the GOP recorded the second time has not been transmitted. As a result of the confirmation, if the transmitted flag information on the n-th GOP is in an untransmitted state, it is determined that the n-th GOP is not transmitted, and the process proceeds to step S4. If the transmitted flag information on the nth GOP has been transmitted, the nth GOP
It is determined that the OP has been transmitted, and the process proceeds to step S6.

If it is determined in step S3 that the nth GOP has not been transmitted, the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, the n-th GOP is read from the memory 13 and output from the communication interface 15 via the codec 14. Upon completion of the process in the step S4, the process proceeds to a step S5. Next, in step S5, the transmitted flag information on the nth GOP is stored as transmitted in the memory 11a. Upon completion of the process in the step S5, the process proceeds to a step S6.

If it is determined in step S3 that the n-th GOP has already been transmitted,
When the process of Step 5 is completed, the process proceeds to Step S6. A step S6 decides whether or not the value of the flag n is equal to or larger than the total number of GOPs m. If the value of the flag n is equal to or greater than the total number of GOPs m, it is determined that the end of the MPEG image file to be transmitted has been reached, and the process proceeds to step S8. If the value of the flag n is smaller than the total number of GOPs m, the transmission target MPE
Determines that the end of the G image file has not been reached,
Proceed to step S7.

At step S6, the MPEG to be transmitted
If it is determined that the end of the image file has not been reached, the process proceeds to step S7. Step S7 is for the next transmission target GO.
The value of n + p, which is the sum of the current GOP number and the transmission pitch, is substituted for the P number flag n. Step S
When the process of Step 7 is completed, the process proceeds to Step S3. Step S
If it is determined in step 6 that the end of the MPEG image file to be transmitted has been reached, the process proceeds to step 8. Step S8
Changes the value of the transmission pitch p by substituting p / 2 as the value of the transmission pitch p. Upon completion of the process in the step S8, the process proceeds to a step S9.

Next, in step S9, step S
It is determined whether or not there is a decimal part smaller than 1 in the value of the transmission pitch p that is １ ／ times as large as 8. If there is a decimal part in the value of the transmission pitch p, the process proceeds to step S10. If there is no decimal part in the value of the transmission pitch p,
Proceed to step S11. If there is a decimal part in the transmission pitch p in step S9, the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, the value of the transmission pitch p is converted to an integer by truncating the decimal part of the transmission pitch p. Upon completion of the process in the step S10, the process proceeds to a step S11.

If the value of the transmission pitch p does not include a decimal part in step S9, or if the process of step S10 is completed, the process proceeds to step S11. A step S11 decides whether or not the value of the transmission pitch p is smaller than 1. When the value of the transmission pitch p is smaller than 1, it is impossible to further reduce the transmission pitch p and perform the transmission process. Therefore, it is determined that a series of transmission processes is completed, and the process proceeds to the end. Is completed. Also,
When the value of the transmission pitch p is 1 or more, it is possible to perform the transmission process by making the transmission pitch p fine, so that it is determined that a series of transmission processes has not been completed yet, and step S1 is performed.
Proceed to 2.

If it is determined in step S11 that a series of transmission processing has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S12. A step S12 substitutes a value of 1 + p as a number flag n of the next transmission target GOP. Upon completion of the process in the step S12, the process proceeds to a step S3. This will be described with reference to FIG. 5 according to the control procedure described above. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the transmission order of MPEG image files, in which GOPs to be transmitted are colored.

As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the MPEG image file in this example is composed of 21
OP. When the file transmission process starts, as shown in FIG.
The number flag n of P is set to 1, and the transmission pitch p is GO
It is set to 20, which is obtained by subtracting 1 from the total number of Ps. As a result, first, the first GOP and the 21st GOP are transmitted. Then, when the 21st GOP is transmitted, it reaches the end of the MPEG image file to be transmitted.

Therefore, the transmission pitch p is halved as shown in FIG. As a result, the transmission pitch p becomes p = 20 /
2 = 10 is set. Then, the transmission target GOP is n =
Since 1 + 10 = 11 is set, the eleventh GOP is transmitted. Then, for the next transmission target GOP, the transmission pitch 10 is added to the eleventh GOP that has performed transmission, and the 21st GOP is set. However, the 21st G
Since the OP has already been transmitted, the process proceeds to the next without being transmitted.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5D, the transmission pitch is further multiplied by 、, and transmission is performed at the transmission pitch p = 5. In this case, the GOPs to be transmitted are the sixth, eleventh,
16th and 21st GOPs, 11th and 2nd GOP
Since the first GOP has been transmitted, it is not transmitted. Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 5 (e) and 5 (f), the same processing is repeated while sequentially reducing the transmission pitch p by １ ／, so that all the GOPs of the MPEG image file to be transmitted are obtained. Transmitted.

In the present embodiment, the MO disk 12 is used as the recording medium for the MPEG image file, but any recording medium that can be accessed randomly may be used. Examples of recording media that can be accessed randomly include:
Examples include a magnetic recording medium such as a hard disk, and a solid-state memory such as a compact flash or a flash memory.

Further, in the present embodiment, the transmission pitch of the GOP is changed by a factor of 1/2 each time the transmission reaches the end of the MPEG image file to be transmitted. However, GO
Since the transmission pitch of P may be changed from a coarse pitch at the initial stage to a fine pitch, the magnification at which the transmission pitch of the GOP is changed may be smaller than 1;
However, the present invention is not limited to this.

Note that the CPU 11 in this embodiment corresponds to the transmission control means and the change means described in the claims of the present invention. Further, the memory unit 11a in the present embodiment corresponds to the storage unit described in the claims of the present invention. Further, the MO disk 12 in the present embodiment corresponds to the recording medium described in the claims of the present invention.

The communication interface 15 in this embodiment corresponds to the interface described in the claims of the present invention.

[0038]

As described above, the effects of the present invention according to the first to third aspects are as follows.
A transmission control unit that determines the reading order of the unit image data of the moving image file stored in the recording medium based on a predetermined transmission interval and outputs the determined result from the interface; and a changing unit that changes the transmission interval. An initial value is set based on the total number of unit image data included in the moving image file, and the reproduction order of the moving image file is controlled such that the first unit image data and the last reproduction unit image data are read with priority. Therefore, even if the transmission of the moving image file is interrupted on the way, the outline of the moving image file can be grasped.

The effect of the invention described in claim 4 is that the changing means changes the transmission interval so that the transmission interval after the change is smaller than the transmission interval before the change, so that the transmission is performed according to the transmission interval before the change. The unit image data is transmitted so as to interpolate the unit image data existing between the set unit image data. Therefore, when the transmission of the moving image file is interrupted on the way, it is easier to grasp the outline of the moving image file.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus, further comprising storage means for storing whether or not the unit image data stored in the recording medium has been read, and wherein the transmission control means stores the information in the storage means. Based on this, if the unit image data to be read has been read, control is performed so that reading is not performed. As a result, it is possible to prevent useless operation such as transmitting a certain unit image data a plurality of times. Therefore, transmission of the unit image data can be performed efficiently.

The effect of the invention described in claim 6 is that the moving image file is MPEG (Motion Picture).
e Since the unit image data is recorded in the Experts Group format and the unit image data is a GOP (group of pictures) in the MPEG format, the recording format can be changed in order to transmit a moving image file, or a new file can be created. It is possible to perform transmission processing without performing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a system configuration of a moving image transmission device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a video camera according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a moving image recording and reproducing device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of MPEG image file transmission in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a transmission order of an MPEG image file in GOP units according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of an MPEG image file according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of a GOP of an MPEG image file according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Video camera 11: CPU 11a: Memory unit 12: MO disk 13: Memory 14: Codec 15: Communication interface 16: Imaging optical system 20: Moving image recording / reproducing device 21: CPU 21a: Memory unit 22: MO disk 23: Memory 24: Codec 25: Communication interface 26: Display 30: Communication line

Continued on front page F-term (reference) 5C053 FA25 GB05 GB08 GB21 GB37 HA32 HA40 JA30 KA01 KA05 KA08 KA24 LA01 LA06 LA14 LA20 5C056 AA07 BA10 CA01 CA06 CA08 DA06 FA02 HA01 HA04 5C059 LB11 MA00 PP04 RA01 RC26 RE07 SS06 SS38 UA05

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium for recording a moving image file composed of a plurality of unit image data arranged in the reproduction order of images, an interface for outputting the moving image file to the outside, and a recording medium stored in the recording medium. A moving image, comprising: a transmission control unit that determines a reading order of the unit image data of the moving image file based on a predetermined transmission interval and outputs the determined result from the interface; and a changing unit that changes the transmission interval. Image transmission device. 2. The moving image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an initial value of the transmission interval is set based on a total number of the unit image data included in the moving image file. 3. The transmission control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls to preferentially read out the unit image data having the first reproduction order and the last unit image data having the last reproduction order in the moving image file. 3. The moving image transmission device according to 2. 4. The moving picture transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the changing unit changes the transmission interval so that the transmission interval after the change is smaller than the transmission interval before the change. 5. A storage unit for storing whether the unit image data stored in the recording medium has been read out, wherein the transmission control unit reads the unit image data to be read out based on information in the storage unit. 2. The moving image transmission device according to claim 1, wherein when the unit image data has been read, control is performed so that reading is not performed. 6. The moving image file is an MPEG (Mot) file.
ion Picture Experts Grou
p) format, and the unit image data is a GOP (gross) in the MPEG format.
2. The moving picture transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is an up of picture.