JP2005123991A - Imaging system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging system capable of segmenting video images before and after the generation time of a trigger signal and obtaining natural video images which a user is not conscious of. <P>SOLUTION: An image filing control server 13 which acquires ID data through ID readers 50<SB>1</SB>, ... as the trigger signal when the user contacts character images 5<SB>1</SB>, ... in imaging areas of Web cameras 1<SB>1</SB>, ... stores the ID data by associating it with a time stamp indicating its generation time. On the other hand, a streaming video server 3 stores streaming video data obtained from the Web cameras 1<SB>1</SB>, ... along a time axis and when there is a streaming video data request from an image filing server 14, segments the streaming video data for a predetermined time before and after the time stamp associated with the ID data based on the time stamp. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging system for imaging the appearance of a visitor.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a photographing system that is installed in a recreation facility or the like and takes a commemorative photo of a visitor has been provided (Patent Document 1).

In this system, a user carries transmission means for transmitting a shutter signal to a camera connected to a network. When the user operates the transmission means when coming in front of the camera, ID data is transmitted simultaneously with the shutter signal. Shooting is performed using a shutter signal as a trigger, an ID is assigned to the image data, and the image data is sent to the server. The image data sent to the server is sorted by ID and displayed on the display means for each ID, so that the user can select an image desired to be printed from the displayed images.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-258688 (paragraph numbers 0010 to 0012)

  In the above-described conventional example, when the user operates the transmission means, the camera releases the shutter. Therefore, in order to obtain a plurality of photographs at the same place, it is necessary to operate the transmission means many times. It is difficult to get a more natural picture because the user who is the photographer is conscious every time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to be able to cut out images before and after the trigger signal generation time, and to obtain natural images unconscious by the user. An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging system that can be used.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging means, a means for generating a trigger signal when a person contacts or approaches an object in an imaging area of the imaging means, An image filing control server that stores the image in association with the time of occurrence, a video storage server that stores continuous video data obtained from the imaging unit along the time axis, and a video storage server that stores the video data. Cut-out means for cutting out video data at a time determined from the trigger signal based on the generation time of the trigger signal from the video data.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the video data continuously captured by the imaging means and the information including the trigger signal generation time are managed separately, and the time set corresponding to the trigger signal generation time It is possible to obtain images taken before and after the trigger signal generation time, to obtain images of natural users who are not conscious of taking pictures, and to visit facilities such as amusement parks It can be widely used for providing commemorative photos of visitors and managing visitors to the building.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the video data is streaming video data.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the video data captured by the imaging means can be acquired in real time by the video storage server.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the means for generating the trigger signal comprises an ID input means, and transmits the input ID data to the image filing control server, and the generation time thereof And stored as the trigger signal.

  According to invention of Claim 3, ID and generation | occurrence | production time can be managed separately from video data as a trigger signal of extraction of video data.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the timing control is performed in which the video storage server and the image filing control server are linked on a network to perform timing control on a time axis. It is provided with a server.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the video data stored and recorded by the video storage server and the trigger signal generation time can be synchronized on the time axis.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the video storage server according to any one of the first to fourth aspects is provided on the network and based on the ID data acquired by the image filing control server and the time of occurrence thereof. A function for requesting to cut out video data for a predetermined time from the stored video data, and an image filing server that stores the video data cut out from the video storage server and the ID data as one data. It is characterized by.

  According to the invention of claim 5, by an independent image filing server, it is possible to make a video data cut-out request through the network and receive and manage the cut-out video data and ID data through the network.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, the ID input means is provided on a first transmitter / receiver of a human body communication system worn by a person and an object in an imaging area of the imaging means. ID data from the first transmitter / receiver to the second transmitter / receiver through the human body when a person wearing the first transmitter / receiver contacts the object. And the second transmitter / receiver transfers the received ID data to the image filing control server.

  According to invention of Claim 6, ID data can be acquired using a human body communication system.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, the ID input means includes a non-contact IC card or a non-contact tag of a non-contact IC card system or a non-contact tag system, and an image of the image pickup means. A non-contact IC card or non-contact tag reader provided on an object in the area, and when a person with the non-contact IC card or non-contact tag approaches the object, the non-contact IC card or non-contact IC card ID data is transmitted from the contact tag to the reader device, and the reader device transfers the received ID data to the image filing control server.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to acquire ID data in a non-contact manner and provide it as a trigger signal to the image filing control server.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: an external device having a function of receiving the clipped video data; and a terminal accessible to the external device. According to the invention of claim 8, it is possible to output video data cut out to a terminal through an external device. The video data corresponding to the ID input at the terminal is output to the terminal.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth aspect of the present invention, the external device further comprises a charge management means for managing a charge for a video data providing service for the terminal.

  According to the invention of claim 9, video data can be paid for through the terminal. It is characterized by that.

  The present invention separately manages video data continuously captured by the imaging means and information including a trigger signal generation time, and extracts video data at a time set in accordance with the trigger signal generation time. This makes it possible to obtain images captured before and after the trigger signal generation time, and can be widely used for providing commemorative photos of facility visitors such as amusement parks and managing visitors to the building. .

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows a system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. This system includes a web camera 1 ₁ ..., A raw trimming video server 3, a timing control server 4, an ID, and a local network 2 such as an intranet in an amusement park. The reader 50 ₁ ..., The image filing control server 13, and the image filing server 14 are connected, and the Web server 15, which is an external device, is connected to be constructed as a system in an amusement park, for example. ing. Note that the local network 2 shown separately in FIG. 1 actually constitutes one network.

Here, the Web camera 1 ₁ ... As an imaging camera is installed at a location where a plurality of locations in the amusement park where the background or the like is suitable for imaging, for example, a character image 5 ₁ . That has as visitors character image 5 1 _... are imaged with 5 1 _... the character image corresponding the Web camera 1 1 _.... Video captured by each Web camera 1 ₁ ... Is continuously sent as streaming video data to the streaming video server 3 via the local network 2, and the streaming video server 3 tracks the time axis under the control of the timing control server 4. Streaming video data is recorded and stored in a controlled manner.

On the other hand, each character image 5 ₁ ... Is incorporated with an ID reader 50 ₁ ... Using a human body communication system, which will be described later, and a part or all of the character image 5 ₁ . .

  Since the human body communication system to be used is a well-known technique, only an outline will be described along the usage pattern in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the human body communication system is provided with a wristwatch-type first transmitter / receiver 6 which is lent at the time of admission according to the desire of the user M of the amusement park and attached to the human body of the user M, and the device, that is, the ID. The second transmitter / receiver 7 incorporated in the reader 50 has a basic configuration, and the ID reader 50 is driven and controlled based on data transmitted from the transmitter / receiver 6.

The transmitter / receiver 6 has a wristwatch-type signal electrode 11 and a ground electrode 12, and is held by the transmitter / receiver 6 so as to be in contact with the body of the user M. When the user M wearing the transmitter / receiver 6 contacts the touch electrode 8 of the transmitter / receiver 7 formed on a part or all of the character image 5 ₁ ... As described above, the signal electrode 11 and the body of the user M Some signal paths are established: touch electrode 8, internal circuit of transmitter / receiver 7, circuit ground 9 of transmitter / receiver 7, ground G, another part of user M's body, ground electrode 12, internal circuit of transmitter / receiver 6. The ID data registered in advance in a memory (not shown) in the transmitter / receiver 6 is transmitted to the transmitter / receiver 7 of the ID reader 50 via this communication path. Here, the ID data is constituted by an identification symbol in which numbers and symbols for specifying the user M in contact with the touch electrode 8 are arranged as described above.

  The transmitter / receiver 7 transfers the received ID data to the image filing control server 13 through the local area network 2. The ground G and the circuit ground 9 are connected by a ground line 10, and the signal path through the human body is indicated by a dotted line.

  The image filing control server 13 acquires ID data as a trigger signal, and the timing control server 4 performs tracking control of the same time axis as the recording of the streaming video data described above, and the time stamp is sent from the timing control server 4 as time data. Is also acquired at the same time as ID data acquisition, stored in a database (not shown) as one data, and has a function of transmitting data for each ID through the local network 2 in response to a request from the image filing server 14. .

The means for manpowering the ID is not limited to those using a human body communication system, and any means can be used as long as it can input unique ID data such as a non-contact IC card, a non-contact tag, a wireless tag, or the like. Absent. For example, when a non-contact IC card system or a non-contact tag system is used as the ID input means, the non-contact IC card (not shown) or the non-contact tag (not shown) and the imaging area of the Web camera 1 ₁ . A non-contact IC card or a non-contact tag reader device (not shown) provided on an object (character image 5 ₁ ...), And a person having the non-contact IC card or non-contact tag ₁ ..., ID data is transmitted from the non-contact IC card or non-contact tag to the reader device, and the received ID data is transferred from the reader device to the image filing control server 13.

  When the image filing server 14 receives the data including the time stamp and the ID data from the image filing control server 13, the image filing server 14 stores the data in a database (not shown), and the streaming video server 3 performs streaming corresponding to each ID. A function of requesting video data through the local network 2, and a function of storing the catch-up image data cut out and transmitted from the streaming video server 3 in response to the request in a database in association with the corresponding ID. And a function of transmitting catch-up image data for each ID in response to a request from the Web server 15 to the Web server 15 that is an external device via the network 2.

  Here, the streaming video server 3 cuts out the streaming video data within a predetermined time before and after the timing (occurrence time) indicated by the time stamp corresponding to the ID in response to the streaming video data request from the image filing server 14 as a catch-up image. It has a function as a cutout means for transmitting to the image filing server 14.

  The Web server 15 constructs a site that publishes a captured image (video) through the Internet 16 for a fee.

  In other words, at the exit of the amusement park, when the transmitter / receiver 6 is collected from the user M, the URL of a site that publishes an image showing the user M to the desired user M and a predetermined browsing page A login ID 19 for logging in is issued in exchange for the price. The issue information of the login ID 19 is registered in the database in the Web server 15 in association with the login ID 19 corresponding to the image to be disclosed.

  In addition, the public site provides a service capable of downloading, for a fee, image data selected from images viewed by the user M, and has a function of performing billing management processing by using a credit card or the like corresponding to this service. Of course, when a bank account or the like is registered in advance, it also has a function of performing an account withdrawal process.

  If the user M wishes to create an album 20 of the selected image, the album 18 is created by a digital printer (not shown) based on the image data of the image, and an album necessary for cash on delivery is created. It also has functions for performing billing management processing such as issuance of bills and automatic processing such as shipping slip creation.

  Next, the operation processing of the entire system of this embodiment will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

First, in the streaming video server 3 acquires the streaming video data from the Web camera 1 1 _..., record accumulated in the Web camera 1 1 _... every form taking tracking control of the time axis under the control of the timing control server 4 (Sa1).

On the other hand, the image filing control server 13 collects ID data from the ID readers 50 ₁ ... Provided in the character images 5 ₁ ... (Sb1), and sets a time stamp corresponding to the acquisition time (occurrence time) of each ID data. Obtained from the timing control server 4 (Sb2), the ID data and the time stamp are stored as one data in a database (not shown) in the image filing control server 13 (Sb3).

  The image filing server 14 makes an ID data request to the image filing control server 13 (Sc1). In response to this request, the image filing control server 13 converts the data composed of the ID data and the time stamp into an image for each ID. It transmits to the filing server 14 (Sb4).

  Here, the image filing server 14 stores the transferred ID data and time stamp data in a database (not shown) of the image filing server 14 (Sc2) and determines the reception state (Sc3). If the reception state is determined to be normal in this determination, the next ID data request is made. If it is determined to be abnormal, the previous ID data request is retried (Sc4). This retry is repeated until data including ID data and a type stamp is normally received.

  Now, after storing normally received ID data and time stamp data in the database, the image filing server 14 makes a streaming video data request corresponding to the ID to the streaming video server 3 (Sc5).

  In response to this request, the streaming video server 3 uses the data corresponding to the ID as a trigger signal, cuts out video data for a preset time before and after the occurrence time indicated by the time stamp in the data, and uses it as catch-up image data. Transfer to the image filing server 14.

  The image filing server 14 stores the transferred catch-up image data in a database (not shown) in association with the ID (Sc6) and determines the reception state (Sc7).

  If it is determined in this determination that the reception state is normal, a request to delete the stored streaming video data is sent to the streaming video server 3 (Sc8). When there is a deletion request, the streaming video server 3 performs a process of deleting the recorded streaming video data (Sa2). On the other hand, if the determination is abnormal, the image filing server 14 retries the above-mentioned streaming video data request (Sc9). This retry is repeated until normal catch-up image data is received.

  In this way, each of the servers 3, 13, and 14 continuously performs the above-described operation.

  On the other hand, when there is a request for transmission of catch-up image data from the Web server 15 (Sd1), the image filing server 14 rearranges the catch-up image data for each ID (Sc10), and transmits the catch-up image data for each ID. (Sc11).

  The Web server 15 has constructed a site provided with a browsing page for an image for each ID, and when a URL is accessed through an Internet terminal 17 such as a personal computer, the top page data for logging in is transmitted to the Internet. The request is sent to the terminal 17 and the user M is requested to input the login ID 19 that has been issued in advance through the browsing screen of the page.

  If the login ID 19 is input through the Internet terminal 17, an authentication process is performed to determine whether the login ID 19 is an authorized ID. If the login ID 19 is an authorized ID, an image associated with the login ID 19 is displayed. The ID is determined and login to the image browsing page of the ID is permitted, and data of the browsing page is transmitted to the Internet terminal 17. Thereafter, the user M can browse the image on which he / she is shown through the browsing page. If the user M wants the image data, the user M can download the image data for a fee by performing a download procedure on the browsing page. Can be downloaded. If an album 18 with images as photographs is desired, the album 18 can be obtained at a later date by performing an album ordering procedure on the browsing page.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a photograph (image) of a user who is a visitor of an amusement park is taken and can be browsed on the site published by the Web server 15, and an image data download service and an album creation service are provided. An imaging system that can be provided is configured.

  The above embodiment is a system provided with a plurality of Web cameras as imaging means, but may be a system provided with a single Web camera.

  Further, the imaging system of the present invention can be used for an imaging system for management of persons entering and leaving a building or the like, and is not limited to the imaging system of an amusement park.

It is a system configuration figure of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a general | schematic explanatory drawing of the human body communication system used for the same as the above. It is a flowchart for operation | movement description same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

1 ₁ ... Web camera 2 Local network 3 Streaming video server 4 Timing control server 5 ₁ ... Character image 50 ₁ ... ID reader 14 Image filing server 15 Web server 16 Internet 17 Network terminal 18 Album 19 Login ID

Claims (9)

Imaging means, means for generating a trigger signal when a person contacts or approaches an object in the imaging area of the imaging means, an image filing control server for storing the trigger signal in association with the generation time, Generation of the trigger signal by the trigger signal from the video storage server that stores the continuous video data obtained from the imaging means along the time axis, and the video data stored in the video storage server An image pickup system comprising: a cutout unit that cuts out video data of a time determined based on time. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the video data is streaming video data. The means for generating the trigger signal comprises ID input means, and transmits the input ID data to the image filing control server and stores it as the trigger signal in association with the generation time. Item 3. The imaging system according to Item 1 or 2. 4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a timing control server that performs timing control on a time axis by linking the video storage server and the image filing control server on a network. Imaging system. A function that is provided on the network and requests to cut out video data for a predetermined time from video data stored in the video storage server based on ID data acquired by the image filing control server and its generation time And an image filing server that stores the video data cut out from the video storage server and the ID data as a single data. . The ID input means includes a first transmitter / receiver of a human body communication system worn by a person and a second transmitter / receiver of a human body communication system provided on an object in an imaging region of the imaging means. When a person wearing the transmitter / receiver contacts the object, the first transmitter / receiver transmits ID data to the second transmitter / receiver through the human body, and the second transmitter / receiver transmits the received ID data to the image filing control. The imaging system according to claim 3, wherein the imaging system is transferred to a server. The ID input means includes a non-contact IC card or a non-contact tag of a non-contact IC card system or a non-contact tag system, and a non-contact IC card or a non-contact tag reader provided on an object in an imaging area of the imaging means; When the person with the non-contact IC card or non-contact tag approaches the object, ID data is transmitted from the non-contact IC card or non-contact tag to the reader device, and the reader device receives the ID data. The imaging system according to claim 3, wherein the imaging system is transferred to the image filing control server. An external device having a function of receiving the cut-out video data; and a terminal accessible to the external device, wherein the external device stores the cut-out video data corresponding to an ID input by the terminal. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the imaging system outputs the image to 9. The imaging system according to claim 8, further comprising a charge management means for managing a charge for a video data providing service for the terminal in the external device.

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