JP2007060124A - Remote camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a state of wanted angle of field when remotely operating a camera. <P>SOLUTION: A remote camera system 11 includes a camera device which can be remotely operated and a viewer device that can operate the camera device for displaying an image from it. The camera device has a function for transmitting an image to the viewer device 12 and transmitting a set information of an imaging setting device at the same time. The viewer device has a function to transmit the set information that is received along with the image displayed on a display device to the camera device, together with an operation finish command when an operation is completed. The camera device can regenerate the state of imaging setting device on completion of operation from the viewer device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remotely operable camera device and a viewer device capable of controlling the camera and displaying an image from the camera device.

In recent years, with the advancement of networks and communication technologies, a remote camera system capable of transmitting an image of a camera in a remote place and simultaneously operating the direction and state of the camera remotely has been created. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
When operating the camera while looking at the viewer for displaying images taken by a remote camera, the image sent from the camera and displayed on the viewer passes through a network, etc., causing a slight propagation delay. However, there will be a deviation from the operation of a breath.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-224772

  For example, the remote camera can change the shooting direction in the horizontal direction, and when the operator performs an operation to change the shooting direction, the operator displays a camera image in a desired direction as the displayed camera image. Continue the change operation in the horizontal direction until the desired camera image is displayed, but stop the change operation, but the camera image displayed on the viewer side is the direction even after the operator stops the change operation due to propagation delay There is a problem in that the camera image that has been changed continues to be displayed, and finally a camera image in a direction that moves too much than the direction desired by the operator is displayed.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a remote camera system that can display a camera image on the viewer side when the operator finishes the change operation even if propagation delay occurs due to a communication path.

The display unit of the present invention for achieving the above object relates to a remote camera system comprising a camera device that can be remotely operated and a viewer device that can operate the camera device and display an image from the camera device. And the camera device includes an imaging unit that captures an image;
An imaging setting unit configured to set an imaging condition of the imaging unit; and a communication unit configured to simultaneously transmit an image captured by the imaging unit and setting information of the imaging unit to the viewer and receive an operation command from the viewer. And
The viewer device includes display means for displaying an image from the camera device, input means for instructing operation start and operation end of the camera device, means for receiving an image from the camera device, and the camera A means for transmitting an operation start command for the apparatus; and the setting information sent together with the image displayed on the display means at that time in response to an operator's end instruction together with the operation end command for the camera The means for transmitting to the apparatus and the camera apparatus are capable of reproducing the state of the imaging setting unit at the end of the operation from the viewer apparatus.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the camera information is transmitted from the remote camera together with the image to the viewer, and the viewer transmits the camera information accompanying the captured image displayed at the end of the operation to the remote camera side. By doing so, it is possible to prevent excessive operation caused by propagation delay and provide a comfortable operating environment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a remote camera system in the present embodiment.

  A remote camera 11 that can be remotely operated and a viewer 12 that can display an image sent from the remote camera 11 via the network 13 are configured.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the remote camera system in the present embodiment.

  The remote camera 11 includes an imaging setting unit 21, an imaging unit 22, a control unit 23, and a communication unit 24. The viewer 12 includes a control unit 25, a communication unit 26, an input unit 27, and a display unit 28.

  The imaging unit 22 is a device that includes a lens and an imaging element such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor, and captures an image in accordance with instructions from the imaging setting unit 21 and the control unit 23.

  The imaging setting unit 21 can make various settings for the imaging unit 22 and not only set shooting parameters such as exposure, sensitivity, and shutter speed, but also pan (horizontal rotation), tilt (vertical rotation), zoom (telephoto). It is possible to set and change the shooting direction and shooting position of the imaging unit 22.

  The control unit 23 performs setting in the imaging setting unit 21 and acquires an image captured by the imaging unit 21 and transmits the image captured by the imaging unit 22 and setting information of the imaging setting unit 21 to the communication unit 24. .

  The control unit 23 also receives a remote operation instruction sent from the viewer 12 from the communication unit 24 and controls the imaging setting unit 21 and the imaging unit 22.

  When the communication unit 24 communicates with the communication unit 26 of the viewer 12 via the network 13 and transmits the image of the imaging unit 22 and the setting information of the imaging setting unit 21 passed from the control unit 23 to the communication unit 26. At the same time, the remote operation instruction sent from the communication unit 26 is passed to the control unit 23.

  The communication unit 26 of the viewer 12 receives the image of the imaging unit 22 and the setting information of the imaging setting unit 21 transmitted from the communication unit 24 of the remote camera 11 via the network 13 and passes them to the control unit 25 at the same time. The remote operation instruction passed from the unit 25 is transmitted to the communication unit 24 of the remote camera 11.

  The control unit 25 displays the image transmitted from the remote camera received by the communication unit 26 on the display unit 28 and at the same time receives the remote operation instruction input from the operator using the input unit 27 from the input unit 27 and performs communication. A command is transmitted to the remote camera 11 via the unit 26.

  Next, FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of the remote camera system according to the present invention. It is assumed that the remote camera and the viewer are already connected to the network and start communication.

  The remote camera transmits data S301 including images taken sequentially and camera information to the viewer.

  Here, for example, it is assumed that the zoom operation of the camera is performed with a viewer.

  A button for zooming is pressed on the viewer, and command data S302 including a zoom command starts to be transmitted to the remote camera.

  Data S303 including the image and camera information transmitted from the remote camera is later than S302 in time series, but before S302 is received on the remote camera side, so S303 is before zooming. When the viewer receives S303 on the viewer side, the image to be displayed does not reflect the zoom command even though the button for executing zooming is pressed. Become.

  The remote camera that has received the zoom command S302 executes zooming and transmits data S304 including an image obtained by zooming and camera information at the time of zooming to the viewer.

  However, when the remote camera starts to transmit the data S304, the operator continues to press the button for executing zoom because the image displayed on the viewer is the data S303 that is not the desired zoom image, and the zoom command Is continuously transmitted to the remote camera side.

  When data S304 is displayed on the viewer and the operator determines that a desired zoom image has been obtained, the operation is stopped when the button for executing zooming is stopped and the zoom command is completed, and is included in the data when the button is stopped. The command data S306 including the camera information that has been stored is transmitted to the remote camera.

  After the remote camera transmits the zoom image corresponding to the command data S305 and the data S307 including the camera information, the remote camera receives the command data S306 from the viewer, and at the same time detects that the zoom command is finished, it is included in the data S306. The camera information at the time when the zoom command is completed is used to change various states of the camera, and data S308 including the image and camera information obtained as a result is transmitted.

  Since the viewer side receives the data S307 before transmitting the zoom command after transmitting the command data S306, the image that has been zoomed too much is displayed once on the viewer, but the data sent from the remote camera after a while. The image at the time of receiving S308 and transmitting the command data S306 is displayed on the viewer.

  As a result, an image at the end of the operation can be obtained on the viewer side, and the inconvenience that an operation command is sent to the remote camera and an image that has passed a desired state can be obtained can be eliminated. .

(Second embodiment)
The second embodiment to which the first embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described in detail below.

  The configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of the remote camera and viewer, and it is assumed that the remote camera and viewer are already connected to the network and communicating.

  The remote camera transmits data S401 including images taken sequentially and camera information to the viewer.

  The operator operates the viewer to transmit command data S402 and starts operating the remote camera. The operator continues to transmit command data S403 to the remote camera until a desired operation image is obtained.

  The remote camera transmits data S404 including an image obtained by instruction in the operation command data and camera information at that time.

  Since the operator can obtain the data S404 which is a desired image, the operator operates the viewer to finish the operation, and the viewer includes the completion of the operation command and the camera information included in the data S404. The command data S405 is transmitted to the remote camera.

  At the same time as transmitting the command data S405, the viewer executes the still image S406 of the screen, and ignores the data S407 including the image before receiving the operation end command from the remote camera.

  When the viewer receives data S408 including the image and camera information taken after the remote camera receives the operation end command, the viewer ends the screen still S406 and displays the image of data S408 on the screen.

  As a result, it is possible not only to obtain an image at the end of the operation on the viewer side, but also to eliminate the fact that an image that has passed a desired state due to an operation command being sent too much to the remote camera is displayed on the viewer. it can.

(Third embodiment)
The third embodiment to which the first embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described in detail below.

  FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the remote camera and viewer of the present invention.

  The remote camera 510 includes an imaging setting unit 511, an imaging unit 512, a control unit 513, and a communication unit 515. The viewer 520 includes a control unit 521, a communication unit 523, an input unit 524, and a display unit 525.

  The imaging unit 512 is a device that includes a lens and an imaging element such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor, and captures an image in accordance with instructions from the imaging setting unit 511 and the control unit 513.

  The imaging setting unit 511 can perform various settings for the imaging unit 512 and not only set shooting parameters such as exposure, sensitivity, and shutter speed, but also pan (horizontal rotation), tilt (vertical rotation), zoom (telephoto). It is possible to set and change the shooting direction and shooting position of the imaging unit 512.

  The control unit 513 performs setting in the imaging setting unit 511 and acquires an image captured by the imaging unit 512 and transmits the image captured by the imaging unit 512 and setting information of the imaging setting unit 511 to the communication unit 515. .

  Further, the control unit 513 receives the remote operation instruction sent from the viewer 520 from the communication unit 515, temporarily puts it in the buffer 514 included in the control unit 513, and then sets the imaging setting unit 511 and the imaging in accordance with the order in which the buffer 514 is put. The unit 512 is controlled.

  When the communication unit 515 communicates with the communication unit 523 of the viewer 520 via the network 530 and transmits the image of the imaging unit 512 and the setting information of the imaging setting unit 511 passed from the control unit 513 to the communication unit 523. At the same time, a remote operation instruction sent from the communication unit 523 is passed to the control unit 513.

  The communication unit 523 of the viewer 520 receives the image of the imaging unit 512 and the setting information of the imaging setting unit 511 transmitted from the communication unit 515 of the remote camera 510 via the network 530 and passes them to the control unit 521 at the same time. The remote operation instruction passed from the unit 521 is transmitted to the communication unit 515 of the remote camera 510.

  The control unit 521 temporarily stores the data including the image and camera information transmitted from the remote camera received by the communication unit 523 in the buffer 522, and the images included in the data in the order temporarily stored in the buffer 522. Simultaneously with the display on the display unit 525, a remote operation instruction input from the operator using the input unit 524 is received from the input unit 524 and a command is transmitted to the remote camera 510 via the communication unit 523.

  Next, FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of the remote camera system according to the present invention. It is assumed that the remote camera and the viewer are already connected to the network and are communicating.

  The remote camera transmits data S601 including images taken sequentially and camera information to the viewer.

  The operator operates the viewer to transmit the command data S602 and starts the operation of the remote camera. The operator continues to transmit the command data S603 to the remote camera until the desired operation image is obtained.

  The remote camera transmits data S604 including the image obtained by the operation command data and the camera information at that time.

  Since the operator can obtain the data S604 which is a desired image, the operator ends the operation, and the viewer receives the command data S605 including the completion of the operation command and the camera information included in the data S604. Send to remote camera.

  When the remote camera receives the command data S605 including the operation end command, the remote camera checks the buffer 514 held in the control unit 513, and if the captured image and camera information waiting for transmission are stored in the buffer 514. If the included data is stored, all the data in the buffer 514 is discarded, and immediately the data S607 including the captured image and the camera information according to the command data S605 is generated and transmitted to the viewer.

  On the other hand, the viewer checks the buffer 522 in the control unit 521, and when undisplayed data remains in the buffer 522 when the data S607 transmitted from the remote camera is received, the contents in the buffer 522 are discarded and the data S607 is stored. The captured image is displayed.

  As a result, it is possible not only to quickly obtain the image at the end of the operation on the viewer side, but also to eliminate the need for sending data including useless captured images and camera information from the remote camera side to the viewer side. As a result, the response of the remote camera to the viewer can be accelerated, and comfortable operability can be provided.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be applied without departing from the present invention.

  For example, a combination of the second embodiment and the third embodiment of the present invention is of course within the scope of the present invention.

  Further, for example, in the second embodiment of the present invention, an operation end command is transmitted, and a still image is displayed on the viewer side until an image corresponding to the command is transmitted from the remote camera side. It goes without saying that it is within the scope of the present invention that the operator can set in advance whether or not to freeze the screen from the end of the operation until the image after the end of the operation is actually sent.

It is the schematic showing the structure of the remote camera system in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing the structure in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing the sequence of the remote camera system in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing the sequence of the remote camera system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing the block diagram in the 3rd Example of this invention. It is a figure showing the sequence diagram of the remote camera system in the 3rd Example of this invention.

Claims (5)

A remotely operable camera device;
A viewer device capable of operating the camera device and displaying an image from the camera device;
The camera device is
Imaging means for taking an image;
Receiving means for receiving setting of photographing conditions from the viewer device;
Imaging setting means for setting the imaging conditions received from the receiving means to the imaging means;
A transmission unit that simultaneously transmits the image captured by the imaging unit and the setting information of the imaging unit to the viewer in association with each other;
The viewer device is
Display means for displaying an image from the camera device;
Input means for instructing operation start and operation end of the camera device;
Means for receiving an image and setting information from the camera device;
Means for transmitting shooting settings to the camera device in response to an operation by an operator;
Means for transmitting to the camera device the setting information sent together with the image displayed on the display means at that time in response to an operation end instruction of the operator;
A remote camera system comprising: Until the viewer device transmits an image that reproduces the setting information of the imaging setting means at the end of the operation of the camera device,
Means to continue displaying the image at the end of the operation;
The remote camera system according to claim 1. Means for transmitting the setting information and the operation end command sent together with the image displayed on the display means at that time in response to an operation end instruction of the operator to the camera device;
When the camera device receives an operation end command from the viewer device,
Means for canceling the work being processed and preferentially processing the operation end command;
The remote camera system according to claim 1. When the viewer device receives an image at the end of operation from the camera device after transmitting an operator's operation end instruction to the camera device,
Means for preferentially processing the image at the end of the operation by stopping the display work being processed;
The remote camera system according to claim 1. When the viewer device receives an image at the end of operation from the camera device after transmitting an operator's operation end instruction to the camera device,
Means for preferentially processing the image at the end of the operation by stopping the display work being processed;
The remote camera system according to claim 3.

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