JP2002369063A - Material providing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a material providing device capable of reducing a memory capacity, and improving a transfer rate. SOLUTION: In a digital presenter 20, the depression of a still picture button 22 or any of picture memory buttons 1, 2 and 3 is detected by a compression button depression judging part 26, and a picture photographed by a camera is fetched by a picture data fetching part 29, and a still picture is generated by a still picture generating part 27, and the picture data are compressed and filing-processed by JPEG by a compressing and storing part 28. Then, those files are transmitted to an external personal computer 31 so as to be easily opened by a general operation in response to a request from the external personal computer 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document providing apparatus used for a conference, a lecture, and the like, and more particularly, to a reduction in memory capacity and transmission of image data to the outside.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conference, a lecture or the like, a material providing device is often used. One type of the material providing device is a digital presenter shown in FIG. In the digital presenter 1, a material 3 to be presented at a conference, a lecture, or the like is placed on a stage 2 on a flat plate. Then, the material 3 is imaged by the camera head 5 connected to the tip of the camera arm 4, output to a projector or the like (not shown), and displayed on a screen.

The stage 2 has a power switch 6,
Side lights 7a and 7b, an operation panel 8, an unlock button 9, and the like are provided. The camera head 5 includes a remote control light receiving unit 10, a slide film holder 11, a close-up lens 12, and the like.

[0004] Further, the transmission panel 8 is provided with a still image button. When this still image is pressed, the moving image captured by the camera head 5 is held, and is generally used when replacing materials.

Further, the operation panel 8 is provided with an image save button, and the image taken by pressing the image save button is saved and played back during presentation as needed.

On the other hand, some digital presenters have a USB terminal. When transmitting image data stored in a personal computer using the USB terminal, the file is stored in an original format file.

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned conventional digital presenter has the following problems.
Since the raw data is held as it is, there is a problem that a large amount of memory is consumed and processing for other button functions is affected.

Further, a USB (Universal Se)
In the case of transmission to an external personal computer using a real BUS, since the raw data captured by the camera is transmitted as it is, there is a problem that the transfer speed is reduced.

[0009] USB has a much higher transmission capacity than RS232C, but image data requires a considerable amount of even a single sheet of paper. In the case where the data is stored on a personal computer, the more materials, the more materials per theme.

When such material is registered in the personal computer in advance, if the image data of the camera is sent, the amount of image data increases, resulting in a slow transfer speed to the personal computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a data providing apparatus capable of reducing a memory capacity and improving a transfer speed.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a document providing apparatus for photographing a material on a stage by an image pickup means supported by a camera arm connected to the stage, and obtaining a still image, Get the video and send it out, or
In a material providing device that stores and reproduces the stored image data based on an instruction of the operation panel, the operation panel includes a plurality of buttons for obtaining the still image, and any one of these buttons is pressed. Accordingly, a still image is generated from the moving image of the material, and the still image is compressed to generate a file classified according to the type of the button.

Means for determining whether or not a plurality of types of buttons for obtaining the still image are pressed; means for taking in image data at the time of pressing the moving image from the moving image with the pressing of the button; Means for holding image data and sending it out as a still image, and means for compressing the image data, storing the compressed image with a compression format extension and storing it in a general-purpose file format. Make a summary.

A communication controller with a bus connection capable of high-speed transmission with the outside is provided. When an inquiry is made from the outside, means for recognizing the device as a removable disk using the communication controller is provided. Means for transmitting the compressed file to the outside by the communication controller and transmitting the compressed file to a personal computer.

At the time of the inquiry, the gist is that the class designation is transmitted with a mass storage and a subcode for recognizing it as a removable disk.

The gist of the present invention is that the format of the removable disk is the FAT format.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <First Embodiment> First Embodiment
The digital presenter creates a compressed image of the image taken by the camera by pressing one of the still image button or the image memory buttons 1, 2, and 3, file the compressed image, and upon request from an external personal computer, These files are sent to an external personal computer in a format that can be easily opened by general operations.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the digital presenter according to the first embodiment. This digital presenter 20
Is provided with at least a moving image button 21, a still image button 22, and image memory buttons 1, 2, and 3.

The moving image button 21 is used to output a moving image when explaining the material 3 to the projector. The still image button 22 is used, for example, when replacing the material 3.

The image memories 1, 2, and 3 are used to store materials corresponding to a theme in advance at a conference or the like.
For example, the image memory 1 is used for storing the image of the material of the theme 1, and the image memory 2 is used for storing the image of the material of the theme 2.

Then, this digital presenter 20
As shown in FIG. 1, a DSP 20c for image processing of a photographing signal from the camera of the camera head 5, and pressing of a still image button 22 and image memory buttons 1, 2, and 3 (hereinafter, collectively referred to as compression buttons). A compression button press determination unit 26 that determines whether the video is held by pressing the compression button,
Still image generation unit 27 that generates a still image and outputs it to an output terminal
And the moving image is held in accordance with the pressing of the compression button, and the held image is compressed by JPEG and filing (F1, F2,
F3, F4), and a still image generation unit 27 and a compression / storage unit 28 (including decompression processing, which decompresses the compressed data during reproduction, including the image data generated by the DSP 25 when the compression button is pressed). And an image data capturing unit 29 for outputting the image data.

When an inquiry is made from the outside, the device is recognized as a removable disk and the file F
USB for transmitting 1, F2, F3, F4 using USB
And a controller 30. The above compressed image is
The data is stored in the format of a general-purpose memory.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 8 includes a moving image button 21, a still image button 22, image memory buttons 1, 2, and 3, a focus (automatic, near, far),
It has function buttons for brightness (automatic, dark, bright), size (reduction, enlargement) and the like.

Next, the hardware configuration of the digital presenter 20 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the digital presenter 20 includes a lens of the camera head 5 and C
Lens / CCD control unit 20a for controlling CD, etc., SC
A control unit 20b, a DSP control unit 20c that digitally processes an image obtained by the camera to generate image data, a camera microcomputer 20d that decodes an instruction from the operation panel 8 and controls each unit, and an RS232 control unit 20f. I have.

The above-mentioned camera microcomputer 20d includes at least a compression button press determination unit 26, a still image generation unit 27, an image data capture unit 29, and a compression / decompression storage command unit (not shown) shown in FIG. With a button for compression (still,
When the image memory 1, 2, 3) is pressed, a moving image is output as a still image and compressed and stored.

In this embodiment, the USB controller 30, the USB microcomputer 32, the compression / storage unit 28
(Including decompression), a memory unit 34, and a memory card 35.

The compression is performed by JPEG, and each time the compression is completed, a file with the extension of JPEG is stored in the memory 34.
Alternatively, it is stored in the memory card 35.

The operation of the digital presenter 20 configured as described above will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

For example, it is assumed that the presenter places the material 3 on the stage and presses the moving image button 21 to display a moving image (S1). That is, the video signal from the camera is DS
Image data that is output to the P control unit 20c and encoded is generated.

In such a state, the still image button 2
2. The compression button press determination unit 26 of the camera microcomputer 20d determines whether the image memories 1, 2, and 3 (compression buttons) have been pressed (S2).

If it is determined in step S2 that the compression button has been pressed, the image capture unit 29, the still image generation unit 27, and the compression / storage unit 28 are started immediately.

That is, the image data fetching unit 29 includes the DSP
The image data (the first frame of the moving image when the button is pressed) is fetched from the control unit 20c, and is sent to the still image generation unit 27 and the compression / storage unit 28 simultaneously.

The still image generating section 27 holds the image data sent from the image capturing section 29 (S3) and sends it as a still image from an output terminal (projector) (S4).

On the other hand, the compression / storage unit 28 is a DSP control unit 2
Image data from 0c is fetched (S5) and compressed in JPEG format (S6).

Then, every time the compression is completed, the compression / storage unit 28 creates a file with JPEG as an extension (S7) and stores it in the memory 34 or the memory card 35 (S8).

In this storage, when the still image button is pressed, the file is stored in the file F1, when the image memory button 1 is pressed, the file F2 is stored, when the image memory button 2 is pressed, the file F3 is stored, and when the image memory button 3 is pressed. Sometimes it is stored in file F3.

Therefore, since the image of the material photographed by the camera is compressed and stored, the memory capacity can be reduced and more memory can be stored. If the compressed image stored in this memory is sent to an external computer, the compressed image data will be transmitted to the computer even if the power is turned off. Etc. become possible.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 5 is a system diagram for connecting the digital presenter and an external personal computer 31 to transmit and receive compressed image data.

In the second embodiment, the digital presenter 20
USB (Universal)
(Serial BUS), the digital presenter 20 recognizes the digital presenter 20 from the personal computer 31 as equivalent to a general external drive by using the built-in memory as a format (for example, FAT) similar to that of a general-purpose drive. (Implemented with a USB microcomputer).

As shown in FIG. 5, the USB controller 30 of the digital presenter 20 performs communication control for giving a specific gravity of the communication control load to the host by one-to-one communication between the host and the target. A controller that transfers data by combining (transaction) a talk-in packet, a data packet, and a handshake packet.

In particular, when the host transmits information of the host using the target control endpoint, the class designation is performed as mass storage and subclass 8070i in the device splitter.

On the other hand, the personal computer 31 includes at least a USB controller 36 for communicating with the digital presenter 20 and a recognition unit 37 for Windows. The recognition unit 37 determines that the class designation is mass storage and the subclass is 8070i, and the digital presenter 2
When received from 0, it is recognized as a removable disk, and the result is passed to the explorer 38.

The system configured as described above will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG.

In the present embodiment, the digital presenter 2
0 of the compressed files F1, F2, F
3. It is assumed that F4 is stored (d1).

In such a state, the personal computer 31
Digital presenter 2 for inquiry on USB face
0 (d2).

This inquiry is sent to the digital presenter 2
0, the USB controller 30 responds using the mass storage class as the USB connection file transfer method. That is, the device splitter transmits the class designation as mass storage and the subclass as 8070i (d3).

The class designation is received by the personal computer 31 and analyzed by the USB controller 36, and the mass storage 8070i is passed to the recognition unit (windows).

Recognition unit 37 is mass storage, 8070i
Is transmitted, the other party recognizes it as a removable disk and immediately requests file information (d5).

When a request for file information is made from the personal computer 31, the digital presenter 20 uses the USB controller 30 to format the device format information (FA).
T) is transmitted (d6).

The FAT information includes a file size, the number of files, a type name, and the like.

Next, upon receiving the FAT information, the personal computer 31 immediately makes a read request (adds a file name) using the USB controller 36 (d7).

Upon receiving a read request from the USB controller 30, the digital presenter 20 immediately stores the corresponding file in the memory 34 or the memory card 35 into the USB.
The data is sent to the personal computer using the controller 30 (d8,
d9, d10, d11).

On the other hand, the personal computer 31 receives the files F1, F2, F3 and F4 using the USB controller 36, stores them in the memory 39, and displays each file name under the removable disk using the explorer. (D12). Therefore, even if the power of the digital presenter 20 is turned off after the conference, since the materials at the time of the conference announcement are stored on the personal computer side, it can be delivered to the participants by e-mail at a later date.

When displaying each file on the screen, these files are decompressed and displayed.

That is, in this embodiment, since the image of the material acquired by the camera head of the digital presenter is transmitted by making the USB connection, the data is transferred to the personal computer at a very high speed.

Also, according to the mass storage class transmission / reception method as a USB connection file transfer method, the digital presenter is recognized as a removable disk when viewed from a personal computer, and can be treated as a file (JPEG file) like an external drive. Like that.

In the above-described embodiment, the compressed image is stored using the image memory buttons 1, 2, 3, and the still image button. However, the compressed image is stored using another button, a combination thereof, or a menu button. You may. The use of such a button is effective as a hidden function when handwriting is performed on a material at the time of presentation and the material is not desired to be distributed by e-mail or the like at a later date.

Although not shown in the present embodiment, a printer connector is provided on the back panel, and when the printer is connected, the compressed and stored image is reproduced and sent directly to the printer for printing. Is also good.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, a still image is generated from a moving image of a material when one of a plurality of buttons for obtaining a still image on the operation panel is pressed. In addition, since the still image is compressed to generate a file classified according to the type of button, the memory capacity can be reduced even if the number of materials to be stored is very large, and the type can be classified according to the type of button. Since the image is compressed and stored, an image according to the theme can be reproduced and output at the time of retrieval at a later date.

Further, since the image data is compressed and the compressed image is stored in a general-purpose file format with an extension in a compressed form, it is possible to easily retrieve the compressed image from the outside.

Further, the material providing device is external (PC)
Since the compressed file is transmitted at the request of the presenter, the image data of the material of the material providing device can be transmitted to the personal computer at a high speed. be able to.

For this reason, even if it is written in the material at the time of presentation,
There is an effect that the electronic mail of the written content can be immediately delivered.

Further, since the personal computer recognizes the disk as a removable disk, the file stored in the information providing device can be read from the personal computer at any time by simply providing a USB controller on the personal computer. Have been.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a digital presenter according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation panel of the digital presenter.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a digital presenter.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the digital presenter.

[FIG. 5] The present digital presenter and an external personal computer 31
FIG. 2 is a system diagram for transmitting and receiving compressed image data by connecting to.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an external view of a conventional digital presenter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Stage 3 Document 4 Camera arm 5 Camera head 6 Power switch 20 Digital presenter 22 Still image button 26 Compression button press determination unit 27 Still image generation unit 28 Compression / storage unit 29 Image data acquisition unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/107 H04N 5/91 L 5/765 F-term (Reference) 5B075 ND06 ND12 NK02 NK21 NR03 NR12 NR16 PP10 PQ05 5C022 CA07 5C053 FA08 GB36 LA02 LA11 LA14 5C072 AA01 BA03 LA02 LA12 XA10

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image capturing means supported by a camera arm connected to a stage captures a material on the stage and obtains a still image and a moving image based on an instruction from an operation panel and sends the image to the outside, or In a material providing apparatus for storing and reproducing the stored image data based on an instruction from a panel, the operation panel includes a plurality of types of buttons for obtaining the still image, and when any of these buttons is pressed, And a material providing apparatus for generating a still image from the moving image of the material, and compressing the still image to generate a file classified according to the type of the button. 2. A means for judging whether or not a plurality of types of buttons for obtaining the still image are pressed, and a means for taking in image data at the time of the pressing from the moving image with the pressing of the button. A means for holding the image data and sending it as a still image to the outside; and a means for compressing the image data, storing the compressed image with a compression format extension, and storing the compressed image in a general-purpose file format. The document providing device according to claim 1, wherein: A communication controller having a bus connection capable of high-speed transmission with the outside, means for recognizing the device as a removable disk using the communication controller when inquiring from the outside, 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting the compressed file to the outside by the communication controller and transmitting the compressed file to a personal computer. 4. The material providing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, at the time of the inquiry, the class designation is added with a mass storage and a subcode for recognizing the class as a removable disk. 5. The material providing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the format of the removable disk is a FAT format.