JP2005151421A - Video image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video camera which is capable of recording video images photoed by a plurality of video cameras on a single recording medium simultaneously. <P>SOLUTION: The imaging control unit 2a of a DVC 1a outputs control signals, which indicate to a communication control unit 3a to start receiving video data, to the communication control unit 3a, outputs control signals, which indicate to an imaging camera unit 4a to start imaging or to stop imaging, to the imaging camera unit 4a, and outputs control signals, which notify a record control unit 5 about a recording mode and indicate to the record control unit 5 to start recording or to stop recording, to the record control unit 5. The communication control unit 3a establishes a communication between DVC 1a and DVC 1b to receive video data sent from DVC 1b. The imaging camera unit 4a fetches in video data and outputs them in a prescribed data format, the record control unit 5 records the video data fetched in by the imaging camera 4a and the video data sent from a slave unit on the recording medium 7, and an encoder unit 6 encodes the video data fetched in by the imaging camera unit 4a and the video data sent from the slave unit again in the prescribed data format. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a video recording apparatus capable of simultaneously recording videos taken by a plurality of video recording apparatuses on one recording medium.

  With a general home digital video camera (hereinafter referred to as DVC) which is a form of a conventional video recording apparatus, it is very difficult for a photographer to photograph himself while following a subject. For example, it is common that only children were photographed at an athletic meet, and the parents who were the photographers were not captured at all.

  In order to solve this, another DVC may be prepared and the other person may shoot the photographer. However, as a matter of course, the number of images to be photographed is two, and two recording media are recorded. One is required. As a result, only two independent contents were possible.

  If there are a plurality of DVCs, not only will there be a problem in terms of price, but there will be a need for editing after shooting.

By the way, there is a monitoring system as a system that collects videos taken by a plurality of cameras into one. A camera used in a conventional monitoring system having a simultaneous recording function has a function that can be connected to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The video was transferred to a centralized monitoring device. For this reason, the centralized monitoring device and the camera itself are very expensive and cannot be used in a general household (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
JP-A-11-284987 JP-A-11-205781

  An object of the present invention is to provide a video recording apparatus capable of simultaneously recording videos taken by a plurality of video recording apparatuses on one recording medium.

  In order to achieve the above object, a video recording apparatus according to claim 1 is a video recording system including a plurality of video recording apparatuses connected to each other by wire or wirelessly. A video recording apparatus operable as a master unit for receiving and recording video data of a video to be captured, wherein the video recording apparatus records only one video data on a recording medium, or simultaneously records a plurality of the video data. An image pickup control means capable of setting any one of the recording modes to be recorded on the medium and generating a start / stop control signal for one or more other video recording apparatuses; Communication with the other video recording apparatus, the control signal for starting or stopping the photographing is transmitted to the one or more other video recording apparatuses, and the one or more other video recording apparatuses are recorded. Communication control means for receiving the video data transmitted from a device, imaging means for capturing video and outputting video data of the video in a predetermined data format, video data output from the imaging means, and Re-encoding means capable of re-encoding the video data transmitted from another video recording apparatus in another data format, and the video output from the imaging means according to the recording mode set by the imaging control means Recording control means for recording data and one or more of the video data transmitted from the other video recording apparatus or the video data re-encoded by the re-encoding means on one recording medium It is characterized by providing.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video recording apparatus comprising: a plurality of video recording apparatuses connected to each other by wire or wirelessly; A video recording apparatus operable as a slave unit that transmits the video data to another video recording apparatus that records on a recording medium, establishing communication with the other video recording apparatus, and A communication control means for receiving the control signal for starting or stopping the shooting from the recording device and transmitting the video data to the other video recording device; and taking the video in accordance with the input operation or the control signal; Imaging means for outputting the video data in a format.

  According to the present invention, since a plurality of video data shot by a plurality of video cameras are recorded on one recording medium, the necessity for editing work after shooting is reduced, and the convenience of the recording medium itself is improved. To do.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the present embodiment, a digital video camera 1a (master unit) (hereinafter referred to as DVC) as a video recording apparatus includes an imaging control unit 2a, a communication control unit 3a, an imaging camera unit 4a, a recording unit, as shown in FIG. A control unit 5, an encoder unit 6, and a recording medium 7 are provided. The DVC 1b (child device) includes an imaging control unit 2b, a communication control unit 3b, and an imaging camera unit 4b.

  Based on the switch operation, the imaging control unit 2a provides a control signal for instructing the communication control unit 3a to start receiving video data, and a control signal for instructing the imaging camera unit 4a to start and stop imaging. Control for instructing the recording control unit 5 to start and stop photographing with respect to the DVC 1b as a slave unit, with a recording mode notification and a control signal for instructing recording start, stop, return, fast forward, search (cue), etc. It has a function to generate and output signals.

  There are two types of recording modes, “single recording” and “multiple simultaneous recording”. “Single recording” is a mode in which only one video data is recorded on the recording medium 7. Is a mode in which a plurality of video data is simultaneously recorded on the recording medium 7. In the “multiple simultaneous recording” mode, the DVC1a and DVC1b videos are combined into one so that they can be displayed on each half of the screen. Alternatively, two video data may be recorded simultaneously in parallel.

  The communication control unit 3a has a function of establishing communication between the DVC 1a and the DVC 1b and receiving video data (including audio data) transmitted from the DVC 1b when the DVC 1b is connected. Further, the communication control unit 3a has a function of transmitting to the DVC 1b a control signal instructing to start and stop photographing with respect to the DVC 1b output from the imaging control unit 2a.

  The imaging camera unit 4a has a function of capturing video data based on an instruction from the imaging control unit 2a and outputting the video data in a predetermined data format. This data format includes, for example, MPEG2 (Moving Picture Experts Group phase 2), MPEG4 (MPEG phase 4), DV (Digital Video), etc., but is not limited to these.

  The recording control unit 5 records the video data captured by the imaging camera unit 4a and the video data transmitted from the DVC 1b on the recording medium 7 based on a control signal instructing recording start and stop from the imaging control unit 2a. And a function for controlling the recording position on the recording medium 7 based on a control signal for instructing reverse, fast forward and search (cue). Further, the recording control unit 5 has a function of instructing the encoder unit 6 to perform re-encoding in accordance with the recording mode.

  The encoder unit 6 has a function of re-encoding the video data captured by the imaging camera unit 4a and the video data transmitted from the DVC 1b in another predetermined data format based on an instruction from the recording control unit 5. .

  On the other hand, in the DVC 1b (slave unit), the imaging control unit 2b sends a control signal for instructing the communication control unit 3b to start transmitting video data to the imaging camera unit 4b based on the switch operation. It has a function of outputting control signals for instructing to start and stop shooting.

  The communication control unit 3b has a function of establishing communication between the DVC 1a and the DVC 1b and transmitting video data (including audio data) to the DVC 1a when connected to the DVC 1a of the parent device. The communication control unit 3b has a function of outputting a control signal for instructing the imaging camera unit 4b to start and stop shooting from the DVC 1a.

  The imaging camera unit 4b has a function of taking video data and outputting it in a predetermined data format based on an instruction from the DVC 1a or the imaging control unit 2b.

  Note that the recording medium 7 in this embodiment is a silicon disk such as a flash memory, an optical disk (a magneto-optical disk) such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) or a CD (Compact Disc), a D-VHS (Data VHS), a DV, or the like. Magnetic tape, magnetic disk such as microdrive and hard disk.

  In the present embodiment, the DVC 1 b does not include the recording control unit 5, the encoder unit 6, and the recording medium 7, but when two DVCs 1 are connected to record video data on one recording medium 7. May be realized by not operating the recording control unit 5, the encoder unit 6 and the recording medium 7 of the DVC 1a but operating one of them as a slave unit.

  Further, the communication between the DVC 1a and the DVC 1b is not limited to a communication protocol regardless of a wired method or a wireless method.

  Next, transmission / reception of video data between DVC 1a and DVC 1b will be described based on the sequence diagram of FIG. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that video data from the DVC 1b is recorded in parallel with the DVC 1a while shooting with the DVC 1a. Communication between DVC 1a and DVC 1b is performed by a wired system, and DVC 1b stores an IP address of DVC 1a in advance.

  First, when the user of the DVC 1a operates the operation panel to perform a predetermined input for starting shooting (step S01), the imaging control unit 2a records a control signal for instructing the imaging camera unit 4a to start shooting. A control signal for instructing the control unit 5 to start recording in a predetermined data format is output. At this time, since the video data is not transmitted from the DVC 1b, the recording mode of the DVC 1a may be “single recording” or “multiple simultaneous recording”. First, the DVC 1a is recorded in the recording mode of “single recording”. Let's start.

  The imaging camera unit 4a captures video data based on a shooting start control signal from the imaging control unit 2a, outputs the video data in a predetermined data format, and the recording control unit 5 controls recording start from the imaging control unit 2a. Based on the signal, the video data captured by the imaging camera unit 4a is recorded on the recording medium 7 (step S02). Here, it is assumed that the video data is captured in the MPEG2 data format and recorded on the recording medium 7 in the data format as it is.

  When the user selects another data format by operating the operation panel, for example, when changing from MPEG2 to DV, the encoder unit 6 re-encodes the data to another data format and stores it in the recording medium 7. To be recorded.

  Next, a communication cable is connected to the DVC 1b, and when the communication control unit 3b detects that the communication cable is connected between the DVC 1a and the DVC 1b, it transmits a connection request to the DVC 1a with the IP address of the DVC 1a as a transmission destination. (Step S03).

  When receiving the connection request from the DVC 1b, the communication control unit 3a of the DVC 1a newly issues an IP address for the DVC 1b and returns the IP address as a response (step S04). When receiving the IP address from the DVC 1a, the communication control unit 3b of the DVC 1b stores the IP address and establishes a connection between the DVC 1a and the DVC 1b (step S05).

  Next, when the user of the DVC 1b operates the operation panel to perform a predetermined input for starting shooting (step S06), the imaging control unit 2b sends a control signal for instructing the imaging camera unit 4b to start shooting. A control signal for instructing the communication control unit 3b to start transmission of video data in a predetermined data format is output.

  The imaging camera unit 4b captures video data based on a shooting start control signal from the imaging control unit 2b and outputs it in a predetermined data format. The communication control unit 3b controls transmission start from the imaging control unit 2b. Based on the signal, the video data captured by the imaging camera unit 4b is transmitted to the DVC 1a (step S07). Here, it is assumed that video data is captured in the DV format and transmitted to the DVC 1a.

  Further, when the communication control unit 3a issues an IP address to the DVC 1b, the imaging control unit 2a of the DVC 1a acquires its own operating state (step S08), and resets the recording mode as necessary (step S09). ). In step S02, since the DVC 1a starts recording in the recording mode of “single recording”, the imaging control unit 2a acquires “recording in single recording”, but the imaging control unit 2a In order to record the video data from the DVC 1 b that has made the connection request, the recording mode is set to “multiple simultaneous recording”, and the recording control unit 5 is notified.

  When the communication control unit 3a of the DVC 1a starts receiving video data from the DVC 1b, the imaging control unit 2a outputs a control signal that instructs the recording control unit 5 to start recording video data received by the communication control unit 3a. To do.

  The recording control unit 5 records the video data received by the communication control unit 3a on the recording medium 7 based on the recording start control signal from the imaging control unit 2a (step S10). At this time, if the data format at the start of recording in step S02 is the same as the data format of the video data received by the communication control unit 3a and the DVC 1a is in a predetermined data format, the recording control unit 5 The data is recorded on the recording medium 7 without being re-encoded by the unit 6, but the data format when the recording is started in step S02 is MPEG2, and the data format of the video data received by the communication control unit 3a is DV. If they are different, the encoder unit 6 re-encodes the data formats of both video data to the same one and records them on the recording medium 7.

  Next, when the user of the DVC 1b operates the operation panel and performs a predetermined input for stopping shooting (step S11), the imaging control unit 2b sends a control signal for instructing the imaging camera unit 4b to stop shooting. A control signal that instructs the communication control unit 3b to stop transmission of video data in a predetermined data format is output, and the imaging camera unit 4b receives video data based on the control signal for stopping shooting from the imaging control unit 2b. The communication control unit 3b transmits a stop signal for stopping recording to the recording medium 7 to the DVC 1a based on the transmission stop control signal from the imaging control unit 2b (step S12).

  When the communication control unit 3a of the DVC 1a receives a stop signal from the DVC 1b, the recording control unit 5 stops recording the video data from the DVC 1b (step S13), but the video data from the imaging camera unit 4a continues as it is. Record. When the user of the DVC 1a operates the operation panel and performs a predetermined input for stopping shooting (step S14), the imaging control unit 2a sends a control signal for instructing the imaging camera unit 4a to stop shooting, as a recording control unit. 5 outputs a control signal instructing to stop recording video data. The imaging camera unit 4a stops capturing the video data based on the shooting stop control signal from the imaging control unit 2a, and the recording control unit 5 based on the recording stop control signal from the imaging control unit 2a. Recording of video data from the imaging camera unit 4a is stopped (step S15).

  In this way, video data from the DVC 1b (slave unit) is recorded on the recording medium 7 of the DVC 1a (master unit).

  The process of establishing a connection from step S03 to step S05 is necessary by dynamically exchanging information when the DVC 1b is connected to the DVC 1a according to a communication standard such as UPnP (Universal Plug and Play). The setting may be automatically performed. If the UPnP function is provided, when the DVC 1b is powered on, the DVC 1b is under the control of the DVC 1a and becomes operable from the DVC 1a.

  In steps S06 to S07, the user directly operates the DVC 1b to start shooting. However, after the connection between the DVC 1a and DVC 1b is established, the DVC 1a instructs the DVC 1b to start and stop shooting. Since a signal can be transmitted, the user may operate the DVC 1a to start shooting with the DVC 1b.

  In this embodiment, the DVC 1a (master unit) and the DVC 1b (slave unit) are connected in a one-to-one relationship. However, a plurality of DVCs 1b (slave units) may be provided. However, since the amount of data increases in the case of a plurality of units, a plurality of video data is re-encoded and recorded within a range not exceeding the bit rate at the time of recording.

It is a figure which shows the function structure of DVCa (parent machine) and DVCb (slave machine). It is a sequence diagram which shows operation | movement of DVCa (parent | mobile_unit) and DVCb (slave_device) at the time of transmission / reception of video data.

Explanation of symbols

1a Digital video camera (main unit)
1b Digital video camera (slave unit)
2a, b Imaging control unit 3a, b Communication control unit 4a, b Imaging camera unit 5 Recording control unit 6 Encoder unit 7 Recording medium

Claims (2)

Video capable of operating as a master unit for receiving and recording video data of video captured by a plurality of video recording devices in a video recording system constituted by a plurality of video recording devices connected to each other wired or wirelessly A recording device,
One or more other video recording apparatuses in which one of the recording mode for recording only one video data on a recording medium or the recording mode for recording a plurality of the video data on the recording medium at the same time is set. An imaging control means capable of generating a control signal for starting or stopping imaging,
Establishing communication with the one or more other video recording devices, transmitting the imaging start or stop control signal to the one or more other video recording devices, and the one or more other video recording devices. Communication control means for receiving the video data transmitted from the recording device;
Imaging means for capturing video and outputting video data of the video in a predetermined data format;
Re-encoding means capable of re-encoding the video data output from the imaging means and the video data transmitted from the other video recording device in another data format;
According to the recording mode set by the imaging control unit, the video data output from the imaging unit and the video data transmitted from the other video recording device, or re-encoded by the re-encoding unit Recording control means for recording one or a plurality of the video data on one recording medium;
A video recording apparatus comprising: In a video recording system constituted by a plurality of video recording apparatuses connected to each other by wire or wirelessly, one video data or other video recording apparatuses that simultaneously record a plurality of the video data on one recording medium A video recording apparatus operable as a slave unit for transmitting the video data,
Communication control means for establishing communication with the other video recording device, receiving the imaging start or stop control signal from the other video recording device, and transmitting the video data to the other video recording device When,
In accordance with an input operation or the control signal, image capturing means for capturing a video and outputting the video data in a predetermined data format;
A video recording apparatus comprising:

Images