JP2000261646A - Background image editor and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To show only the image intended by user to an opposite party by transmitting only a specific image from among image pickup by a camera and not transmitting background image other than the specific images. SOLUTION: An image picked up by a camera 105 is displayed on a monitor 108 and a key operation section 101 is used to arbitrarily designate the range of a specific image in the displayed pickup image. An image edit section 106 converts a background image other than the designated specific image into an image different from the image as is picked up and a transmission section 110 transmits the converted background image and the specific image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of blurring a background other than an arbitrary portion such as a human face in an image captured by a camera with a specific pattern and transmitting the processed image.
The present invention relates to a background image editing apparatus and method suitable for being applied to information terminals such as portable and stationary video telephones, personal computers and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) for preventing the background from being transmitted as it is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a videophone device, in order to easily communicate the intention of the user to the other party, this state is imaged by a camera, and the captured image is transmitted and displayed on a monitor of the other party's apparatus. Was.

[0003]

However, in the conventional apparatus, when the captured image is transmitted while being restricted, the user only has to select ON / OFF of the camera. There is a problem that all the images are transmitted to the other party's device as they are, and an image that the user does not want to show the background or the like is disclosed to the other party.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is intended to transmit only a specific image among images captured by a camera as if it were captured, and to prevent a background image other than the specific image from being transmitted as captured. It is an object of the present invention to provide a background image editing apparatus and method capable of displaying only the image intended by the user to the other party.

[0005]

According to the present invention, an image picked up by an image pickup means is displayed on a display means, and a range of the displayed picked-up image to be a specific image is arbitrarily designated by operating an operation means. The editing means converts a background image other than the specified specific image into an image different from the image at the time of imaging, and transmits the converted background image and the specific image by the transmitting means, so that the specific image Since only the image is transmitted as it is, only the image intended by the user can be shown to the other party.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first aspect of the present invention relates to an image pickup means, an image editing means for converting a background image other than a specific image among images picked up by the image pickup means into an image different from the image at the time of image pickup, and And a transmitting means for transmitting the specified background image and the specific image.

According to this configuration, only the specific image among the captured images is transmitted as it is, so that only the image intended by the user can be shown to the other party.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, an operation means and an image display means are provided, and a range of a captured image displayed on the display means as a specific image is set as the operation means. And the image editing means sets the specified range as the specific image.

According to this configuration, the user can arbitrarily set a specific image among the captured images, so that an image to be shown to the other party as it is can be an image intended by the user.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, storage means for storing a plurality of types of outer ring shapes of the specific image is provided, and the image editing means stores the outer ring shape selected by operating the operating means. A configuration is adopted in which the image is read from the storage means and set as the outer ring shape of the specific image.

According to this configuration, an optimum situation can be set according to the habit of the user and the purpose of use.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect or the third aspect, the image editing means is provided with an operation / enlargement / operation means.
A configuration for performing processing for enlarging / reducing a specific image in response to a reduction instruction operation is employed.

According to this configuration, an optimum situation can be set according to the habit of the user and the purpose of use.

A fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the second to fourth aspects, employs a configuration in which the image editing means performs a process of moving a specific image in response to a movement instruction operation of the operation means. .

According to this configuration, an optimal situation can be set according to the habit of the user and the purpose of use.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the second to fifth aspects, a plurality of types of graphic patterns are stored in the storage means, and the image editing means is selected by operating the operation means. The graphic pattern is read from the storage means, and a process of blurring a background image with the read graphic pattern is performed.

According to this configuration, since only the specific image among the captured images is transmitted as it is, only the image intended by the user can be shown to the other party.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the second to sixth aspects, a plurality of types of color data are stored in the storage means, and the image editing means is selected by operating the operation means. A configuration is adopted in which the color data is read from the storage unit, and a process of painting a background image with the read color data is performed.

According to this configuration, only the specific image among the captured images is transmitted as it is, so that only the image intended by the user can be shown to the other party.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the second to seventh aspects, a plurality of types of images are stored in the storage means, and the image editing means is selected by the operation of the operation means. A configuration is adopted in which a stored image is read from the storage means and a process of replacing the background image with the read image is performed.

According to this configuration, it is possible to freely produce the atmosphere of the own image displayed to the other party.

A ninth aspect of the present invention employs a configuration in which a videophone device includes the background image editing device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.

According to this configuration, the same function and effect as any one of the first to eighth aspects can be obtained in the videophone device.

A tenth aspect of the present invention employs a configuration in which a portable video-phone apparatus includes the background image editing apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.

According to this configuration, the same function and effect as any one of the first to eighth aspects can be obtained in the portable videophone device.

An eleventh aspect of the present invention employs a configuration in which an information terminal device includes the background image editing device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects.

According to this configuration, the same operation and effect as any one of the first to eighth aspects can be obtained in the information terminal device.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a captured image is displayed, a range of the displayed captured image to be a specific image is arbitrarily specified, and a background image other than the specified specific image is captured. , And the converted background image and the specific image are transmitted.

According to this method, only the specific image arbitrarily designated among the captured images is transmitted as it is, so that only the image intended by the user can be shown to the other party.

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

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a background image editing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The background image editing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 performs processing such as blurring a background other than a specific portion such as a human face in a captured image of a camera with a specific pattern, and transmits the processed image. The key operation unit 101, the control unit 102,
Control pattern memory unit 103 and image memory unit 104
, A camera 105, an image editing unit 106, a monitor control unit 107, a monitor 108, an encoder 109, and a transmission unit 110. And information terminals such as PDAs.

The key operation unit 101 is used to specify a specific image such as a human face among images captured by the camera 105, adjust the size and display position of the specific image, specify the shape of the outer ring surrounding the specific image, and perform operations other than the specific image. Blur the background image of
This is an instruction to paint a specific color or replace the image with an arbitrary image.

The control pattern memory unit 103 stores the outer ring shape of the specific image, a graphic pattern such as a Gaussian and a mosaic for blurring the background image other than the area surrounded by the outer ring shape, and a color for filling the specific color. This is for storing data. As the outer ring shape of the specific image, various various shapes such as a polygon, such as a circle, a triangle, and a square, a star, and an outer ring shape of an object such as an animal or a daily item are prepared.

The image memory unit 104 stores a CG image of a flower garden, a sea, a mountain, a plateau, a street, a character, and the like as a background image.

The camera 105 captures an arbitrary subject.

The control unit 102 controls the image editing unit 106 to edit the specific image and the background image captured by the camera 105 in response to the operation instruction from the key operation unit 101.

The image editing unit 106 edits the specific image and the background image captured by the camera 105 in accordance with the editing control of the control unit 102.

The monitor control unit 107 includes an image editing unit 106
Is to control the display of the image edited on the monitor 108.

The monitor 108 displays an image under the control of the monitor control unit 107.

The encoder 109 encodes the image signal edited by the image editing unit 106.

The transmitting section 110 transmits the image data obtained by encoding by the encoder 109 to the partner apparatus.

The background image editing apparatus 100 having such a configuration
In this example, it is assumed that, for example, a person in the room is imaged by the camera 105, and only the face of the person is transmitted to the partner device as imaged.

In this case, first, the user operates the key operation unit 10.
The user instructs the captured image to be displayed on the monitor 108 by the operation 1. The monitor controller 1 responds to the display instruction.
07 performs control to display the captured image of the camera 105 output to the image editing unit 106 on the monitor 108, whereby the image is displayed on the monitor 108.

Next, an operation for designating a human face as a specific image in the displayed captured image is performed. By this operation, the control unit 102 performs control such that the human face is surrounded by a circle having a certain diameter, for example, with the center being the approximate center of the human face, and the enclosed area is used as a specific image. The editing process is performed by the image editing unit 106. By the editing process of the image editing unit 106, the human face displayed on the monitor 108 is in a state of being surrounded by a circle.

Next, an operation of designating the outer ring shape of the specific image is performed. With this operation, the control unit 102 reads the outer ring shape from the control pattern memory unit 103 and
For example, since the control for displaying the outer ring 8 at the corner is performed, the user selects the outer ring shape by key operation while confirming the outer ring shape on the monitor 108.

In response to this selection operation, the control unit 102 performs control to determine the outer ring shape, and the image editing unit 106 performs editing processing according to this control. For example, if a square shape is selected, the circle surrounding the human face is replaced by the square. However, the outer ring shape selection operation is optional, and if not performed, the outer ring shape determined at the time of the specific image designating operation is adopted.

Next, the size or display position of the specific image is adjusted by key operation. By this operation, the control unit 1
02 enlarges the size of the specific image to the size as instructed /
By reducing or moving the center point of the specific image, control for arranging the specific image at the position as instructed is performed, and the image editing unit 106 performs editing processing according to this control. However, this adjustment operation is optional, and if not performed, the size and display position determined at the time of the specific image designation operation are adopted.

Next, an instruction is given to blur a background image other than the specific image with a specific pattern or to paint the background image with a specific color. With this operation, the control unit 102 performs control to read a graphic pattern or a specific color from the control pattern memory unit 103 and display the graphic pattern or the specific color on, for example, a corner of the monitor 108, so that the user checks the graphic pattern or the specific color on the monitor 108. While selecting by key operation.

In response to this selection operation, the control unit 102 performs control to determine a graphic pattern or a specific color, and the image editing unit 106 performs editing processing according to this control. For example, if a mosaic is selected, the background image is blurred by the mosaic. If green is selected, the background image is painted green.

In addition, instead of replacing the background image with a specific pattern or a specific color, an operation of replacing the background image with an arbitrary image may be performed. When this operation is performed, the control unit 102
However, the CG image is read from the image memory unit 104 and is controlled to be displayed at, for example, a corner of the monitor 108, so that the user selects the CG image by key operation while checking the CG image on the monitor 108.

In response to the selection operation, the control unit 102
Control for determining an image is performed, and the image editing unit 106 performs editing processing according to the control. For example, if a CG image of the sea is selected, the background image is replaced with a seascape.

However, the blurring of the graphic pattern and the replacement with the specific color or the CG image are performed when the specific image is determined at the time of the specific image designating operation. Color or specific color or CG
You may make it replace with an image.

As described above, of the images captured by the camera 105, for example, the face of a person surrounded by a rectangle is taken as an image as it is, and the image editing unit 106 edits the image so that the surrounding background is replaced with, for example, the sea. After the processing is set to be performed, by performing an image transmission operation from the key operation unit 101, the image signal edited in the above state is encoded by the encoder 109, and the image obtained by this encoding is encoded. The data is transmitted from the transmission unit 110 to the partner device.

As described above, according to the background image editing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment, the captured image of the camera 105 is displayed on the monitor 108, and the range of the displayed captured image to be a specific image is defined by the key operation unit. The user can arbitrarily specify the background image by the operation of 101, convert the background image other than the specified specific image into an image different from the captured image at the image editing unit 106, and transmit the converted background image and the specific image at the transmission unit 110. It was configured to be.

As a result, it is possible to prevent only the specific image of the image captured by the camera 105 from being transmitted as if it was captured, and to prevent the background image other than the specific image from being transmitted as captured. Therefore, since only the image intended by the user can be shown to the other party, privacy can be protected.

The image editing unit 1 includes a control pattern memory unit 103 for storing a plurality of types of outer ring shapes of a specific image.
06 reads the outer ring shape selected by the operation of the key operation unit 101 from the control pattern memory unit 103 and sets it as the outer ring shape of the specific image. You can set the situation.

Further, the image editing unit 106 operates the key operation unit 1
Since the processing for enlarging / reducing the specific image is performed according to the enlargement / reduction instruction operation of 01, an optimal situation can be set according to the habit of the user or the purpose of use.

Further, the image editing unit 106 operates the key operation unit 1
Since the processing for moving the specific image is performed in response to the movement instruction operation 01, an optimal situation can be set according to the habit of the user or the purpose of use.

Further, a plurality of types of graphic patterns are stored in the control pattern memory unit 103, and the image editing unit 106 reads a graphic pattern selected by operating the key operation unit 101 from the control pattern memory unit 103, and reads the read graphic pattern. Since the background image is blurred with the drawn graphic pattern, only the specific image of the image captured by the camera 105 is transmitted as it is, so that only the image intended by the user can be shown to the other party.

A plurality of types of color data are stored in the control pattern memory unit 103, and the image editing unit 106 reads the color data selected by operating the key operation unit 101 from the control pattern memory unit 103, and reads the color data. The background image is now filled with the color data.
Since only the specific image among the images captured by the camera 105 is transmitted as it is, only the image intended by the user can be shown to the other party.

A plurality of types of images are stored in the image memory unit 104, and the image editing unit 106 reads the stored image selected by the operation of the key operation unit 101 from the image memory unit 104, and stores the read image in the image memory unit 104. Since the process of replacing the background image is performed, the atmosphere of the own image displayed to the other party can be freely produced.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Only the specific image of the image captured by the camera is transmitted as captured, and the background image other than the specific image is not transmitted as captured, so that only the image intended by the user can be transmitted to the other party. I can show you.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a background image editing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 background image editing device 101 key operation unit 103 control pattern memory unit 104 image memory unit 105 camera 106 image editing unit 108 monitor 110 transmission unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C023 AA06 AA07 AA16 AA37 AA38 CA01 CA05 5C076 AA13 AA14 AA21 AA22 AA26 AA32 CA02

Claims (12)

[Claims] An image editing unit configured to convert a background image other than a specific image among images picked up by the image capturing unit into an image different from an image at the time of image capturing; and transmitting the converted background image and the specific image. A background image editing apparatus, comprising: a transmission unit. 2. An image processing apparatus comprising: an operation unit; and an image display unit.
The method according to claim 1, further comprising: arbitrarily specifying a range to be a specific image among the captured images displayed on the display unit by operating the operation unit, and setting the specified range as the specific image by an image editing unit. Item 2. The background image editing device according to Item 1. 3. A storage means for storing a plurality of types of outer ring shapes of a specific image, wherein an image editing means reads the outer ring shape selected by an operation of an operation means from the storage means and sets it as an outer ring shape of the specific image. The background image editing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein 4. The background image editing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image editing means performs a process of enlarging / reducing the specific image in response to an enlargement / reduction instruction operation of the operation means. 5. The background image editing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image editing unit performs a process of moving the specific image in accordance with a movement instruction operation of the operation unit. 6. A plurality of graphic patterns are stored in a storage means, and an image editing means reads the graphic pattern selected by an operation of an operation means from the storage means, and a background image is read with the read graphic patterns. The background image editing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a blurring process is performed. 7. A plurality of types of color data are stored in a storage unit, and an image editing unit reads the color data selected by an operation of an operation unit from the storage unit, and generates a background image using the read color data. The background image editing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the background image editing apparatus performs a filling process. 8. A process in which a plurality of types of images are stored in a storage unit, an image editing unit reads the storage image selected by an operation of an operation unit from the storage unit, and replaces a background image with the read image. The background image editing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the background image editing apparatus performs the following. 9. A videophone device comprising the background image editing device according to claim 1. Description: 10. A portable videophone device comprising the background image editing device according to claim 1. Description: 11. An information terminal device comprising the background image editing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 12. A captured image is displayed, a range of the displayed captured image to be a specific image is arbitrarily specified, and a background image other than the specified specific image is converted into an image different from that at the time of imaging. A background image editing method, wherein the converted background image and the specific image are transmitted.