JP2002142191A - Image server and system thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image server wherein data is controlled easily, continuous image data is transmitted comfortably, and a change in a subject can be immediately grasped by a user. SOLUTION: In the image server, when the image data is stored, a control means 8 stores time information in a image storage part 6 in such a way that the time information corresponds to the image data. When a reproduction request command is received from an image receiving terminal 2, the control means 8 selects the image data stored in the image storage part 6 by the time information. The image data after the time information is transferred to the terminal 2 continuously at a transmission interval based on the time information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image server capable of continuously transmitting image data captured by an imaging unit via a network, an image server, an image receiving terminal for displaying the image, and an image server system having a network. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a system in which an image pickup unit such as a camera is remotely controlled from an image receiving terminal, a subject in a remote place is photographed, and this image is displayed. However, this conventional system often uses a dedicated line, and even if remote control is performed using a network, the imaging unit side and the control device side adopt their own protocols and control forms, respectively.
It lacked versatility.

However, recent innovations in information technology have been remarkable, and the Internet has been rapidly spreading. If the Internet can be used easily by anyone, the remote control of the imaging unit can be constructed as an extremely versatile system, and it can be expected to expand greatly.

As such a conventional system, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-69328 has been proposed. This prior art relates to an asynchronous communication system, in which a message composed of at least one of audio and video is stored in a storage device, and the stored message is reproduced, thereby making the time between a plurality of users different. It realizes communication. The asynchronous communication system includes a message input unit for receiving a message to be stored, a clock unit for measuring a time at which the message is received by the message input unit, and a message storage for storing the received time in a storage device in association with the message. And a message reproducing means for reproducing the messages stored in the storage device in the order of reception time.

[0005] The message input means receives the message, the time measuring means measures the reception time, the message storage means stores the received time in the storage device in association with the message, and the message reproduction means reproduces the message in the order of the reception time. Is what you do. Since the messages can be played back in the order in which they were received, the user can appropriately grasp the flow of the messages in the communication.

However, in this conventional technique, messages at different times are stored between a plurality of users, and the message is reproduced by the message reproducing means in the order in which the messages are received to enable communication. Each message has a small transmission / reception amount. In other words, like an image server that sends continuously shot images one after another, images shot continuously in seconds or less are continuously transmitted to the client in seconds or less, and are continuously displayed. It is not a system that has to deal with a huge amount of data. And, only enabling extraordinary communication via the Internet etc., it is irrelevant that browsers display a large number of continuous images comfortably and continuously,
Traffic fluctuation during transmission was not a problem. That is, according to this conventional technique, it is not possible to comfortably continuously display a large number of captured images while visually observing changes in the images.

[0007]

As described above,
Transmission of a large number of continuously shot images via a general-purpose network such as the Internet requires transmission of enormous amounts of data, and it takes a very long transfer time to continuously display the data. Then, if the browser requests each image taken one by one from the image receiving terminal, the time and the burden on the user become extremely large. The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-69328 also basically reads out messages arranged in chronological order as they are, and is an unrelated method that allows a browser to view continuous images comfortably. It was.

Further, when the image server transfers a large number of images and the browser continuously displays the images in real time,
The problem of the delay in the transfer time on b. Similarly, if a uniform image transfer is always performed when an uncertain element that causes a delay is included, a continuous image cannot be viewed comfortably.

Furthermore, the image server and the image receiving terminal must continuously transmit and receive a large number of continuous images in a time series according to a protocol of a general-purpose network such as the Internet. However, it is difficult to effectively perform this data management. Have difficulty. And the image server and browser
There is a great difference in data management and in display comfort and operability depending on how data is managed and a large number of continuously shot image data are handled.

Therefore, the present invention provides a method for easily managing data,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image server capable of transmitting continuous image data comfortably and allowing a user to immediately grasp a change in a subject.

Further, the present invention provides an image server which is resistant to traffic fluctuations, easy to manage data, has good operability, comfortably transmits continuous image data, and allows a user to immediately grasp a change in a subject. The purpose is to provide a system.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the image server of the present invention, when storing image data, the control means stores time information in the image storage unit in association with the image data. However, when receiving the reproduction request command from the image receiving terminal, the control means selects the image data stored in the image storage unit based on the time information, and continuously selects the image data after the time at a transmission interval based on the time information. It is characterized in that it is transferred to an image receiving terminal.

[0013] Thus, data management is easy, continuous image data can be transmitted comfortably, and the user can immediately grasp the change of the subject.

Further, the image server system of the present invention comprises:
The image server, a receiving terminal that can transmit a reproduction request command from a command input interface while the browser generates an image by receiving the image data, and a reproduction request command and the image data between the image server and the reception terminal. A transmission network is provided.

[0015] This makes it possible to easily transmit continuous image data and to immediately recognize the change in the subject by easily transmitting continuous image data.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the first aspect of the present invention, an image pickup section for photographing a subject and converting the image signal into an image signal, an image compression section for compressing the image signal as image data, and an image compression section are provided. An image storage unit capable of storing image data, a time-measuring unit for measuring the time for the image-capturing unit to photograph the subject, and controlling the image-capturing unit each time the time-measuring unit measures a predetermined time to photograph the subject An image server including control means for storing captured image data in an image storage unit and a communication unit for connecting to a network, wherein the control means stores time information in the image data when storing the image data. When the playback request command is received from the image receiving terminal, the control unit selects the image data stored in the image storage unit based on the time information, and Since the image server is characterized in that the descending image data is successively transferred to the image receiving terminal at a transmission interval based on the time information, the time management is file-managed in association with the image data, so that data management is easy. When the reproduction request command is received, the stored continuous image data can be transmitted comfortably for transmission at the transmission interval based on the time information, and the user can immediately recognize the change in the subject.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when a specified interval reproduction request command is received from the image receiving terminal as a reproduction request command, the transmission interval is changed and transferred to the image receiving terminal. Because of the image server of, if the interval of the shooting time for shooting the subject is extended, provided that the specified time interval is specified,
When traffic fluctuates in general-purpose networks,
The invention according to claim 3, wherein the image can be completely reproduced one by one by changing the reproduction speed and transmitting the image slowly or conversely by fast-forwarding the image. 2. The image server according to claim 1, wherein when a continuous snap playback command is received from the terminal, the transmission interval is transferred at a time interval at which continuous snap display is possible. Since transmission is performed at time intervals that allow continuous snap display, comfortable transmission can be performed.

The invention described in claim 4 is the first invention.
3, an image receiving terminal capable of receiving image data and reproducing an image and transmitting a reproduction request command from a command input interface, and a reproduction request command between the image server and the image receiving terminal. Since the image server system is provided with a network for transmitting image data, time management is performed by associating the time information with the image data, thereby facilitating data management. Since the data is transmitted at predetermined time intervals, the data can be transmitted comfortably against traffic fluctuations and the like, and the user can immediately recognize the change in the subject.

The invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that the command input interface performs input by a graphical user interface.
Since the image server system is described, it is possible to easily operate the imaging angle of the imaging unit by operating an icon on the browser display screen of the image receiving terminal or a superimposed window.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the command input interface includes a play button, a designated interval play button, and a continuous snap play button displayed on the display screen of the browser. Since it is an image server system, it sends various playback request commands by clicking the play button, specified interval play button and continuous snap play button on the browser display screen of the image receiving terminal, and plays according to the shooting time interval and traffic Speed can be changed easily.

[0021] In the invention described in claim 7, the network is the Internet.
Since the image server system according to any one of the above items 6 is used, it is possible to make the system most versatile by using the HTTP protocol.

(Embodiment) An image server and an image server system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image server and an image server system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an image server for photographing a subject and transferring image data, and 2 denotes a user receiving and displaying an image transferred from the image server 1 and controlling the image server 1 by a control command. An image receiving terminal 3 such as a client PC or the like can transfer images and transmit control commands over a general-purpose network such as the Internet. The image server system according to the present embodiment includes such an image server 1, an image receiving terminal 2, and a general-purpose network 3.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an image pickup unit which is provided in the image server 1 and uses a photoelectric conversion device such as a CCD camera for photographing a subject, converting it into an image signal, and outputting the image signal. Imaging unit 4
Converts an image signal output from a CCD camera or the like by an image processing circuit into luminance (Y) and color difference signals (Cb, Cr) as image data. Reference numeral 5 denotes an image compression unit that compresses image data output from the imaging unit 4.
In the present embodiment, the data is converted into JPEG format data. GIF format may be used. Reference numeral 6 denotes an image storage unit that stores the image data compressed by the image compression unit 5, and reference numeral 7 denotes a clock unit that repeatedly counts the time at which the imaging unit 4 captures an object at predetermined time intervals. Reference numeral 8 denotes a control unit that controls the imaging unit 4 to photograph a subject each time the timing unit 7 measures the photographing time, and stores the captured image data in the image storage unit 6, respectively. A memory unit such as a non-volatile memory for storing various control setting values required when the control unit 8 performs control, and 8b is a RAM.
Reference numeral 9 denotes a program storage unit in which the control unit 8 stores a program for controlling each unit of the image server 1 and the entire system. 10 is a general-purpose network 3 and an image server 1
This is a communication unit that performs communication control between.

A browser 11 of the image receiving terminal 2 receives image data from the communication unit 10 of the image server 1 and displays the image data. Also, the browser 11 displays the information on the screen for other servers on the general-purpose network 3 according to the URL indicating the storage location of the target data. Reference numeral 12 denotes an image expansion unit that expands the image data compressed by the image compression unit 5, and reference numeral 13 denotes a communication unit between the general-purpose network 3 and the image receiving terminal 2.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a reproduction button which is displayed on the display screen of the browser 11, transmits a reproduction request command when one click is performed, and transfers the image data stored in the image storage unit 6. Reference numeral 15 denotes a condition in which a designated time interval is designated, when the photographing time interval is lengthened, or when there is a traffic fluctuation, the transmission speed is changed to cause the image to be transmitted slowly or conversely to be fast forwarded. This is a designated interval playback button that can be played completely one by one. Specified interval play button 15
When the user clicks, the image receiving terminal 2 can send a designated interval reproduction request command. How to specify the specified time interval will be described later. Reference numeral 16 denotes a continuous snap playback button, and when the interval between shooting times is considerably long,
A continuous snap playback request command is transmitted, and image data is transferred at time intervals at which continuous snap display is possible. Reference numeral 17 denotes a stop button for stopping. Reference numeral 18 denotes a transmission start / end designated time window for capturing time information into each playback request command and designating the time information. The transmission start time and the transmission end time can be entered from the transmission start / end designated time window 18, and when the designated interval playback button 15 is selected, the designated time interval is entered.

Reference numeral 19 denotes an image displayed by the browser 11, and reference numeral 20 denotes a command input interface. In this embodiment, a play button 14, a designated interval play button 15, a continuous snap play button 16, and a stop button 1
Since the input is made by a graphical user interface using an operation on the screen, such as 7, the operability is extremely good. It is also possible to input using icons of other forms or superimposed windows. Reference numeral 21 denotes a control command generation unit that generates a control command, such as a reproduction request command or a stop command, to be transmitted to the image server 1 based on an input from the command input interface 20. The control command generating means 21 creates a control command in the HTTP format, and sends the control command to the image server 1 from the communication unit 13.

Next, how the image data management of this embodiment is performed will be described. FIG. 2 is a data structure diagram of the image storage unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 22 denotes time data in which the photographing time of the object measured by the time measuring means 7 is stored in the image storage unit 6, and reference numeral 23 denotes image data photographed at the photographing time and compressed by the image compression unit 5. The time data 22 is a photographing time. The time data 22 is obtained by giving time information to at least a part of the file name, and is associated with the image data 23. For example, 10:10:30 on September 17, 2000
0 second, R200000917101030. jpg. As described above, since the image data 23 is associated with the time data 22, the reproduction request command
If a request is made to transmit image data after 10:10:30 on September 17, 2000, and before 10:10:30 on September 18, 2000, for example, R20
000917101030; 200009181010
30. jpg, and the image data 2 stored during this time
3 is read out by the control means 8 and sent out from the communication section 10.
When relating the time data 22 to the image data 23, it is also possible to assign a file name to each of them, manage them with a separate management table, and use them by sorting them based on the time data 22 if necessary. It is.

As described above, since the time data 22 is included in the file name and the data is managed by the time, the time information is file-managed in association with the image data, the data management is easy, and the data management is easy. Easy to control,
Even a large number of image data 23 can be transmitted comfortably.

Next, a procedure for displaying an image taken by the image pickup unit 4 from the image server 1 on the browser 11 using the image server system of the present embodiment will be described. First, a procedure in which the image server 1 shoots a subject and stores the subject in the image storage unit 6 will be described.

When the timer 7 has counted the predetermined photographing time, the controller 8 instructs the image pickup section 4 to photograph the subject in accordance with the clock. Data of the imaging angle such as pan and tilt is transmitted from the image receiving terminal 2 and stored in the nonvolatile memory unit 8a, and the imaging unit 4 controls the imaging angle in accordance with the data. One captured image is processed by an image processing circuit inside the imaging unit 4 and sent to the image compression unit 5. When receiving the image data, the image compressing section 5 converts the image data into control means 8.
Notify. Upon receiving this, the control means 8 stores this time in the RAM 8b as time data 22 representing the photographing time.

Next, the control means 8 instructs the image compression section 5 to compress the image data. The image compression unit 5 converts the image data into a data format (JPE) suitable for transmitting a still image.
(G format, GIF format, etc.). In the present embodiment, image data is compressed into JPEG format image data. When the compression is completed, the image compression unit 5 notifies the control unit 8 of the completion. Upon receiving this, the control means 8 once reads out the compressed image data 23 into the RAM 8b, takes in time information as a file name from the already stored time data 22, associates it, and creates one file. The extension follows the compression format, and if it is JPEG, it will be jpg.
The data file thus created is stored in the image storage unit 6 by the control means 8 as shown in FIG.
In such a process, imaging of the subject at a certain time using the imaging unit 4 ends. This is repeated many times, and the image data 23 associated with the time data 22 is stored in the large number of image storage units 6.

Next, a procedure when a user reproduces an image from the image receiving terminal 2 will be described. FIG. 3 is an image reproduction flowchart of the image server system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Each play button is displayed by the browser 11 (Step 1), and when the user clicks the play button on the screen displayed by the browser 11, the image receiving terminal 2 is displayed.
, The control command generation means 21 creates a reproduction request command and transmits it to the image server 1 from the communication section 10. At this time, the reproduction request command is different depending on which of the reproduction button 14, the specified interval reproduction button 15, and the continuous snap reproduction button 16 is clicked. Therefore,
In Step 2, the type of the play button is determined. In the case of the play button 14, a play request command is generated (St
ep3). In the case of the designated interval playback button 15, it is determined whether or not there is an input of a designated time interval in Step 4, and if there is an input, a designated interval playback command is generated (Step 4).
p5). Then, if the continuous snap playback button 16 is used, a continuous snap playback command is generated (Step 6).

The playback request command is a command for a mode in which the time interval of the time data 22 is transmitted as it is. The designated interval playback command is a command for realizing a mode in which the playback speed is changed and the transmission is performed slowly. The playback command is a command for realizing a mode for snap-displaying the shooting time every few seconds when the shooting time interval is very long.

By the way, the reproduction request command created by the control command generation means 21 directly incorporates the transmission time information input from the transmission start / end designated time window 18 into the content of the command. When the designated interval playback button 15 is selected, it is necessary to input a designated time interval from the transmission start / end designated time window 18.
However, there is also a simple designation method in which time designation is not performed, such as requesting all images after the previous reception.

The image server 1 receives each reproduction request command from the image receiving terminal 2 through the communication unit 10 and notifies the control unit 8 of the command. In response to this, the control means 8 determines which mode of each reproduction request command indicates which mode and when the transmission start time and end time are (Step 7), and stores the image data 23 from the image storage unit 6 together with the time data 22. One file corresponding to the transmission start time is read. Next, the control unit 8 sends the two data to the communication unit 10 and transmits the two data to the image receiving terminal 2 via a general-purpose network such as the Internet according to the mode.

Subsequently, the control means 8 reads the next time data 22 and compares it with the already sent time data 22 to calculate a time interval until the next image is taken. At this time, a transmission interval for transmitting an image is selected according to the mode determination of the reproduction command in Step 7. In the case of the reproduction command mode, after the calculated time interval has elapsed, the next time data 21 and image data 23 are directly transmitted from the communication unit 10. This operation is repeated until the file corresponding to the end time is read and transmitted, and when the time information of the time data 22 finally becomes greater than the specified end time, the transmission of the stored image is stopped (Step 8).

In the case of the designated interval reproduction mode, the transmission interval is set to the designated time interval, and the next time data 22
And the image data 23 are transmitted to the end (Step 9).
Further, in the case of the continuous snap playback mode, the transmission time interval is set to a continuous snappable time interval (several seconds to several tens of seconds), and the next time data 22 and image data
3 is transmitted to the end (Step 10). The process ends after transmission (Step 11).

The command input interface 20
The transmission is also stopped when the user clicks the stop button 17 and sends a stop command.

As described above, the image server and the image server system according to the present embodiment can easily manage data, have good operability, comfortably transmit continuous image data, and allow the user to immediately grasp the change of the subject. Can do.

[0043]

As described above, the image server of the present invention manages files by associating time information with image data, thereby facilitating data management. Since the transmission is performed at the transmission interval based on the time information, the transmission can be performed comfortably, and the change of the subject can be immediately grasped by the user.

Also, the image server of the present invention can be used when the interval of the shooting time for shooting a subject is increased, or when there is a traffic fluctuation in a general-purpose network or the like, on condition that the specified time interval is specified. The image server of the present invention, which can completely reproduce each image one by one by changing the reproduction speed and slowly transmitting or conversely fast-forwarding the image,
Even when the shooting time interval is considerably long, the image is transferred at a time interval that allows continuous snap display, so that comfortable transmission can be performed.

The image server system of the present invention
Data management is easy because file management is performed by associating time information with image data, and since continuous image data that has been stored is transmitted at predetermined time intervals when a playback request command is received, it is resistant to traffic fluctuations and can be transmitted comfortably. Thus, the user can immediately know the change of the subject.

Further, the image server system of the present invention comprises:
By manipulating the icons on the browser display screen of the image receiving terminal or the superimposed window, the imaging angle of the imaging unit can be easily operated.

Further, the image server system of the present invention
By clicking the play button, specified interval play button, and continuous snap play button on the browser display screen of the receiving terminal, various playback request commands are sent out, and the playback speed can be easily changed according to the shooting time interval and traffic. it can.

The image server system of the present invention can use the Internet and can be made the most versatile system by using the HTTP protocol.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image server and an image server system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a data structure diagram of an image storage unit according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an image reproduction flowchart of the image server system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image server 2 image receiving terminal 3 general-purpose network 4 imaging unit 5 image compression unit 6 image storage unit 7 clocking unit 8 control unit 8a memory unit 8b RAM 9 program storage unit 10, 13 communication unit 11 browser 12 image decompression unit 14 playback button 15 Specified interval playback button 16 Continuous snap playback button 17 Stop button 18 Transmission start / end specified time window 19 Image 20 Command input interface 21 Control command generation means 22 Time data 23 Image data

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 5C053 FA07 GA11 GB06 GB36 HA29 JA22 LA01 LA15 5C062 AA06 AA13 AA35 AB17 AB38 AB42 AC02 AC22 AC25 AC36 AC43 AF06

Claims (7)

[Claims] An image capturing unit that captures a subject and converts the image signal into an image signal; an image compressing unit that compresses the image signal as image data; an image storage unit that can store image data compressed by the image compressing unit; A timer means for measuring the time for the imaging unit to capture an image of the subject, and each time the timing means measures a predetermined time, the imaging unit controls the imaging unit to capture an image of the subject, and captures the captured image data. An image server comprising: a control unit configured to store the image data in the image storage unit; and a communication unit configured to connect to a network. When the image data is stored, the control unit corresponds to the time information to the image data. When the reproduction request command is received from the image receiving terminal, the control means adds the image data stored in the image storage unit to the time information. An image server that selects the image data based on the information and transfers the image data after the time to the image receiving terminal continuously at a transmission interval based on the time information. 2. The image server according to claim 1, wherein, when a specified interval reproduction request command is received from the image receiving terminal as the reproduction request command, the transmission interval is changed and the image data is transferred to the image receiving terminal. 3. When the continuous snap playback command is received from the image receiving terminal as a playback request command when the shooting time interval is long, the transmission interval is transferred at a time interval at which continuous snap display is possible. Item 1. The image server according to Item 1. 4. An image server according to claim 1, wherein the image server receives the image data and reproduces an image, and transmits a reproduction request command from a command input interface. An image server system comprising a network for transmitting a reproduction request command and the image data to and from an image receiving terminal. 5. The image server system according to claim 4, wherein said command input interface performs input by a graphical user interface. 6. The image server system according to claim 5, wherein said command input interface is a play button, a specified interval play button, and a continuous snap play button displayed on a display screen of said browser. 7. The image server system according to claim 4, wherein said network is the Internet.