JP2006013983A - Video camera - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve problems of a conventional multi-angle video camera comprising a plurality of video cameras compatible with a network that is complicated and requires a very high cost and that takes complicated configuration in the case of using one camera compatible with a network to realize multi-angles. <P>SOLUTION: A network compatible video camera 1 disclosed herein includes a web server function that selects either or both of a first photographing image signal obtained by photographing an object in a desired first photographing direction and an externally received photographing image signal received at an external input terminal, transmits the selected signal(s) to a network 5, receives an image output request from a PC 8 received via the network 5, and selects the outputted image signal(s) in response to the image output request. A video camera 2 supplies a second photographing image signal obtained by photographing the object in a desired second photographing direction to the external input terminal of the video camera 1 and can transmit the second image signal to the network 5 via the video camera 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a video camera, and more particularly to a video camera capable of a multi-angle configuration in which video signals obtained by shooting a subject in different shooting directions by a plurality of video cameras are sent to a network.

  A network-compatible camera that distributes image data to a client via a network such as the Internet is conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). That is, the conventional video camera described in Patent Document 1 converts real-time moving image data obtained by shooting with the camera into data that can be compressed and transmitted by the moving image data distribution unit, and the converted data is transmitted from the mobile terminal to the base. In this configuration, the data is transmitted to a server via a station, and further distributed from the server to a plurality of clients via a network.

JP 2002-027452 A

  However, in the case of realizing a multi-angle video camera that sends a video signal obtained by shooting subjects in different shooting directions to the network using the conventional network-compatible video camera described above, a plurality of network-compatible video cameras are connected to a network. In the case of the configuration, the system configuration becomes complicated and the cost becomes extremely high.

  Also, when trying to achieve multi-angle with a single network camera, it is necessary to use a fish-eye lens capable of projecting 360 degrees, or to provide a tilt pan function with a pan head or the like. A plurality of subject images in a plurality of shooting directions cannot be simultaneously transmitted to the network.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and is a video camera capable of a multi-angle configuration capable of transmitting a plurality of subject images in a plurality of shooting directions to a network with a simple and relatively low-cost configuration. The purpose is to provide.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-angle video camera capable of simultaneously transmitting a plurality of subject images in a plurality of shooting directions to a network.

  In order to achieve the above object, the video camera of the present invention can be connected to a network and has a first input for transmission by shooting a subject or reproducing from a recording medium in a video camera having an external input terminal. Selecting one or both of the image signal generating means for generating the image signal, the second image signal input to the external input terminal, and the first image signal generated by the image signal generating means A selection unit; a transmission unit that transmits a captured image signal selected by the selection unit to a network; and an image output request from a client that is input via the network is received, and the selection unit is controlled according to the image output request. And a reception control means.

  In the present invention, either a first image signal created by photographing a subject or reproducing from a recording medium and a second image signal from another video camera input to the external input terminal is selected. Since one or both can be selected and transmitted to the network, another video camera that outputs an image signal to the external input terminal may not have a configuration corresponding to the network.

  According to the present invention, a first image signal created by photographing a subject or reproducing from a recording medium, and a second image signal from another video camera input to an external input terminal, By selecting one or both and sending them to the network, another video camera that outputs an image signal to the external input terminal eliminates the need for a network compatible configuration, so two video cameras can capture two images. The captured image signal of the direction can be switched based on a request from the client or simultaneously transmitted to the network.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, a multi-angle video camera can be configured at a lower cost than a configuration using two network-compatible video cameras for switching or simultaneously transmitting captured image signals in two shooting directions to a network. In addition, a video camera can be configured with a simpler configuration than a configuration in which a fisheye lens is used for one network-compatible video camera or a tilt pan function is provided with a pan head or the like.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of an example when an embodiment of a video camera according to the present invention is applied to an image transmission system using a network. In the same figure, an embodiment of the video camera of the present invention is a network compatible video camera having a web (Web) server function connectable to a network and an external input terminal for photographing a subject in a desired first photographing direction. 1 and a video camera 2 whose external output terminal is connected to an external input terminal of the network-compatible video camera 1 and outputs a captured image signal obtained by photographing a subject in a desired second photographing direction to the external output terminal. And a router 3 and a modem 4 connected between an external output terminal of the network compatible video camera 1 and a network 5 such as the Internet.

  The video camera 2 is a general analog video camera that does not have a web server function. The router 3 selects a route between the network compatible video camera 1 and the network 5, and the modem 4 is a normal one that performs modulation / demodulation operations. The modem 4 is bidirectionally connected to a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as a PC) 8 as a client via a network 5, a modem 6 and a router 7.

  Here, the network compatible video camera 1, video camera 2, router 3 and modem 4 are arranged in an arbitrary place such as in the home, for example, and the modem 6, router 7 and PC 8 are installed in an arbitrary place outside the home. ing.

  Next, the configuration of the network compatible video camera 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a video camera according to the present invention, which corresponds to the network compatible video camera 1 of FIG. The video camera 1 includes a camera unit 11 that captures an image pickup signal by shooting an arbitrary subject in a desired shooting direction, and a camera / video processing unit that converts the image pickup signal into image data that is a digital video signal in a predetermined signal form. 12 and an internal memory 13 for bidirectionally exchanging image data between the camera / video processing unit 12 and a predetermined video signal processing for the image data from the camera / video processing unit 12 for external input Two-way communication is performed between the video processing unit 14 that performs digital video signal processing suitable for transmission on the network and the network 5 for the image signal output to the terminal 16 and input to the external input terminal 16. And a communication unit 15 having a function of selecting an image signal to be transmitted to the network 5.

  The communication unit 15 switches between the photographed image data signal-processed by the camera / video processing unit 12 and the external input image data from the external input terminal 16 signal-processed by the video processing unit 14, and is capable of network transmission. A video stream format of a second bit rate that can be converted to a video stream format of 1 bit rate and then transmitted to the network 5 or both the above-mentioned photographed image data and external input image data can be transmitted over the network in parallel It is configured that both data can be transmitted to the network 5 at the same time.

  Note that the switching between the photographed image data and the externally input image data by the communication unit 15 is performed by selectively switching either one according to an instruction signal from the client input from the client via the network 5 or by photographing. The image data and the externally input image data are alternately switched to perform time division output.

  The second bit rate is set to such a bit rate that two image data can be simultaneously delivered to the client via the network 5. On the other hand, the first bit rate is set to a bit rate that can be delivered to the client with the highest possible quality via the network 5. As described above, the network compatible video camera 1 is a video camera having a web (Web) server function that can be connected to the network 5.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the network compatible video camera 1 is connected to the network 5 such as the Internet via the router 3 and the modem 4, and the output terminal of the video camera 2 is connected to the external input terminal 16 of the network compatible video camera 1. Connecting.

  Although the video camera 2 may be a network-compatible one having a Web server function, it is not directly connected to the network, so the Web server function is unnecessary. Therefore, as described above, the video camera 2 is a network. An existing video camera that does not have a Web server function and is less expensive than the compatible video camera 1 is used.

  Subsequently, the network-compatible video camera 1 and the video camera 2 are installed independently of each other in an arbitrary shooting direction. The network compatible video camera 1 and the video camera 2 are disposed in a home (home), for example. In this state, the PC 8 that is the client shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the network 5 via the router 7 and the modem 6, and further, the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and the user name of the network compatible video camera 1 that is the Web server. By inputting the password, the network compatible video camera 1 is connected via the network 5.

  As a result, the Web page stored in the network compatible video camera 1 is transmitted to the PC 8 via the router 3, the modem 4, the network 5, the modem 6, and the router 7, and an image as shown in FIG. Is displayed. As shown in FIG. 3, the web page displayed on the screen 31 includes a display unit 32 for a streaming image transmitted from the network compatible video camera 1, a display unit 33 for indicating the type of display image, and an input of the network compatible video camera 1. Are composed of a button display unit 34 for instructing camera input, a button display unit 35 for instructing external input, an image size display unit 36, a display image transfer bit rate display unit 37, and the like.

  FIG. 3 shows that a camera image is being displayed on the streaming image display unit 32 as displayed on the display unit 38. At this time, a captured image signal obtained by imaging an arbitrary subject by the camera unit 11 shown in FIG. 2 is a digital video signal in a predetermined signal format using the camera / video processing unit 12 and the internal memory 13. After being converted into certain streaming image data, it is transmitted from the communication unit 15 to the network 5, received by the PC 8, and displayed on the streaming image display unit 32.

  In this state, when an external input is designated by a method such as placing a cursor on the button 35 in the screen 31 of the PC 8 and clicking, an external input request command which is an image output request from the client via the network 5 from the PC 8. Is transmitted to the network compatible video camera 1. When the network compatible video camera 1 receives the above external input request command to the communication unit 15 shown in FIG. 2, the video camera 2 supplies an arbitrary subject to the video processing unit 14 from the external input terminal 16 for signal processing. External input image data obtained by imaging is selected and transmitted to the network 5.

  External input image data from the video camera 2 is supplied to the PC 8 via the network 5, the modem 6 and the router 7. Thereby, the image displayed on the streaming image display unit 32 of the screen 31 of the PC 8 is changed from the moving image shot by the network compatible video camera 1 to the moving image shot by the video camera 2. In addition to switching, the display on the display unit 38 is also switched to “displaying external input image”.

  In this state, when the camera is designated by a method such as placing the cursor on the button 34 in the screen 31 of the PC 8 and clicking, the network compatible video camera 1 is now operated in the same manner as when switching to the external input described above. Then, the photographic input image data processed by the camera / video processing unit 12 through the camera unit 11 is selected by the communication unit 15 and transmitted to the network 5.

  As a result, the image displayed on the streaming image display unit 32 of the screen 31 of the PC 8 is switched from the moving image captured by the video camera 2 so far to the moving image captured by the network compatible video camera 1. At the same time, the display on the display unit 38 is switched to “camera image display” as shown in FIG.

  Therefore, when the network compatible video camera 1 and the video camera 2 are arranged in the home so that the shooting directions are opposite to each other as shown in FIG. 4, the shooting directions of the cameras are 90 as shown in FIG. When arranged in the house so as to be different, the subject images in the respective photographing directions can be switched and displayed on the screen 31 of the PC 8 at an arbitrary timing to monitor the subjects in the respective photographing directions.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, when the network compatible video camera 1 is arranged so as to photograph the monitoring target in the house and the video camera 2 is arranged so as to photograph the direction of the network compatible video camera 1 (or vice versa). In this case, the home is monitored on the screen 31 of the PC 8 with the image taken by the network compatible video camera 1 (or video camera 2), and the other video is detected by the image taken by the video camera 2 (or network compatible video camera 1). It is also possible to monitor the camera status without pan-tilt.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the output terminal of another video camera capable of external output is connected to the external input terminal of one network compatible video camera 1, and the network compatible video camera 1 itself is connected. Since the image data captured in step 1 and the input image data input from the external input terminal are switched and transmitted to the network, the captured images of the two video cameras 1 and 2 are switched and distributed in response to a request from the client. This is a cheaper configuration than using two network-compatible video cameras, and simpler than a configuration that uses a fisheye lens for a single network-compatible video camera or a tilt pan function with a pan head or the like. A multi-angle video camera can be realized with the configuration.

  In the above embodiment, the network compatible video camera 1 has been described as a configuration in which only one of the two photographed image data is selected and transmitted to the network 5, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, two pieces of photographed image data can be transmitted to the client via the network in time division or simultaneously.

  In this case, for example, the client PC screen is as shown at 41 in FIG. 7, and the streaming image display unit 42 that displays only the captured image of the network compatible video camera 1 and the captured image of the video camera 2 are displayed. And the streaming image display unit 44 to be provided at the same time in one screen.

  In addition, the screen 41 is provided with a display unit 43 that is displaying a camera image on the upper part of the streaming image display unit 42, and further includes a display unit 46 that indicates the type of display image, a display unit 47 that displays the image size, and a display image. A transfer bit rate display 48 is also provided. As a result, multi-angle shot images having two shooting directions are displayed separately and simultaneously on the streaming image display units 42 and 44.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and for example, a mobile phone terminal or a PDA (simple portable information terminal) may be used instead of the PC 8, the modem 6 and the router 7. Of course, an external input / output terminal can be used instead of the external input terminal or the external output terminal.

  Furthermore, the network compatible video camera 1 may have a function of recording a captured image signal on a recording medium, reproducing the image signal from the recording medium, and sending the image signal to the network. In this case, one of the reproduced image signal from the recording medium and the image signal from the external input terminal 16 is selected and transmitted to the network 5. The video camera 2 may be a video integrated VTR.

1 is a system configuration diagram of an example when an embodiment of a video camera of the present invention is applied to an image transmission system using a network. It is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a video camera of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the client operation display screen during camera image display. It is a figure when two video cameras are arrange | positioned in a house so that the imaging | photography direction may become a mutually opposite direction. It is a figure when two video cameras are arrange | positioned in a house so that the imaging | photography direction may mutually differ 90 degrees. It is a figure when two video cameras are arrange | positioned in a house so that one imaging | photography direction may turn into the other video camera direction. It is a figure which shows an example of the client operation display screen in the case of the captured image simultaneous display of two video cameras.

Explanation of symbols

1 Network-compatible video camera 2 Video camera 3, 7 Router 4, 6 Modem 5 Network 8 Personal computer (PC)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Camera part 12 Camera / video processing part 13 Internal memory 14 Video processing part 15 Communication part 16 External input terminal 31 PC screen 32 Streaming image display part

Claims (1)

In a video camera that can be connected to a network and has an external input terminal,
Image signal creating means for photographing a subject or reproducing from a recording medium to create a first image signal for transmission;
A selection unit that selects one or both of the second image signal input to the external input terminal and the first image signal generated by the image signal generation unit;
Sending means for sending the captured image signal selected by the selection means to the network;
A video camera comprising: a reception control unit that receives an image output request from a client input via the network and controls the selection unit in response to the image output request.

Images