JP2007324723A - Image transmission apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To assure a frame rate which is requested from a user. <P>SOLUTION: The image transmission apparatus comprises an electronic camera, and a cradle wherein the cradle comprises a mounting means for connection with the electronic camera, a means for controlling the electronic camera, a means for storing image data from the electronic camera, a communication section with a communication function for connection with a network, and a means for determining the number of users who can be connected with the image transmission apparatus depending on the information about the electronic camera. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a video communication apparatus.

  Conventionally, in a monitoring system using video, a video signal output from a camera is transmitted as an analog signal using a coaxial cable dedicated to the video signal and displayed on a display monitor.

  However, the cost increased due to the addition of coaxial cable wiring for system changes such as the addition of cameras.

  For these reasons, in recent years, video signals have been digitized and compressed, and images are transmitted using a network, so that an increase in cost associated with a system change can be suppressed and a flexible response can be made.

  However, since the degree of congestion of the network line increases with the expansion of the system, there has been a problem that it takes time to acquire the video from the desired camera. With respect to this problem, the technique of Patent Document 1 solves the problem by lowering the frame rate of the camera device.

  In recent years, surveillance cameras have been installed in private homes and network cameras have been installed for light surveillance purposes, such as observing the state of pets by connecting from outside and observing the state of homes away from home. Is increasing.

  In this case, when a plurality of users access a single camera, the camera frame rate of the video signal is automatically adjusted according to the number of connected users. It was.

JP-A-11-33118

  However, the conventional method has a problem in that the frame rate desired by the user cannot be secured because the video signal from the camera is sent to the user by adjusting the frame rate.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to ensure a frame rate desired by a user.

  Accordingly, in order to solve the above problem, the present invention is a video communication apparatus having an electronic camera and a cradle, wherein the electronic camera includes a photographing unit for photographing a still image and a moving image, and photographed image data. The image data processing means for processing the image data, the image data storage means for saving the image data, and the image data output means for outputting the image data to the outside, the cradle is mounted for connecting to the electronic camera Means, control means for controlling the electronic camera, image data storage means for storing image data from the electronic camera, a communication unit having a communication function and connected to a network, and information relating to the electronic camera And determining means for determining the number of users that can be connected to the video communication apparatus.

  With this configuration, the number of users that can be connected to the cradle is automatically adjusted, so that the frame rate desired by the user can be ensured.

  According to the present invention, a frame rate desired by a user can be ensured.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
The video communication apparatus includes a digital camera that is an imaging unit and a cradle that is a communication unit. The digital camera, which is an image pickup unit, fulfills the use as a normal digital camera by itself. It captures still images and movies, and stores the image data in a memory card such as an internal CF card or SD card. To do.

  The number of effective pixels of digital cameras is increasing year by year, and is now wide ranging from 3 million pixels, 5 million pixels, or 8 million pixels.

  The cradle, which is a communication unit of the video communication apparatus, mainly has a charging function, a storage function, a communication function, and a pan head function. The charging function is a general cradle function that charges the digital camera when the digital camera and the cradle are connected. The storage function is a function of sucking data from the digital camera when it is connected to the digital camera and storing it in the storage unit of the cradle. The communication function is a function that uses a network interface to communicate with a PC, a network-compatible TV, or a set-top box on a network using an HTTP server function, an FTP server function, or an RTP / RTCP protocol. Here, the network interface may be a wired connection or a wireless connection. The pan head function is a function for causing a digital camera mounted on the cradle to function as a simple monitoring camera.

  FIG. 1-1 is a schematic diagram (part 1) of the video communication apparatus. A digital camera A (101) is placed on and connected to the cradle 100. A network cable 102 is connected from the cradle. FIG. 1-2 is a schematic diagram (part 2) of the video communication apparatus. The video communication apparatus can also use a digital camera B (103) of a different type from the digital camera A as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram of the video communication apparatus. Reference numeral 200 denotes a cradle, and 210 denotes a digital camera. Inside the cradle 200 is a CPU 205 that controls the cradle 200. In addition, the cradle 200 includes an SD-RAM 202 as a work memory and a flash 203 for storing programs and initial settings. The CPU 205 communicates with the digital camera 210 through the USB interface 201 to transmit / receive image data and control the digital camera 210.

  The cradle 200 has a storage unit 204 inside, and stores image data received from the digital camera 210. Further, the cradle 200 has a pan head unit 206, and the direction of the digital camera 210 mounted on the cradle 200 can be freely moved.

  The cradle 200 has a network interface 207 that connects the cradle 200 and an external network, and enables image data distribution and remote operation from the outside.

  On the other hand, the digital camera 210 includes a CPU 215 that performs processing inside the digital camera 210, a key operation unit 216 that detects button operations attached to the digital camera and notifies the CPU 215, and an image sensor unit 211 that captures still images and moving images. Have.

  The digital camera 210 also includes a DRAM 212 that is a work memory for captured data, an image processing unit 217 that performs color processing and compression of the captured data, and an audio processing unit 220 that performs audio processing.

  The digital camera 210 also has a VRAM 218 for displaying an image on the camera monitor 219 and a USB interface 214 for communicating with the outside.

  The video communication apparatus has a configuration in which a digital camera and a cradle are connected by a USB interface 221. The cradle is configured to be connected to an external network (network cable) 208 via a network interface.

  The video communication apparatus has a function as a monitoring camera that distributes a moving image from a digital camera using a communication function of a cradle.

  In general, a monitoring camera has a network bandwidth and a frame rate that can be transmitted from the monitoring camera for external connections. Therefore, when the number of connected users of the monitoring camera is small, such as one person, the rate up to the sending capability of the monitoring camera can be secured at a stable frame rate.

  On the other hand, when the number of connected users increases, the frame rate for one user decreases as the number of connected users increases, resulting in poor usability.

  Here, the digital camera which is the imaging unit of the video communication apparatus can use a plurality of types having different resolutions. Therefore, the frame rate that can be transmitted as a video communication device differs depending on the type of digital camera. For example, consider a case where a digital camera B with 3 million pixels is connected to a cradle and a case where a digital camera A with 8 million pixels is connected to a cradle. Then, since the image data handled by the cradle is smaller when the digital camera B is used, the data can be distributed to more users.

  Therefore, the video communication apparatus (or cradle) of the present embodiment determines the number of connected users according to the type of digital camera, as will be described below.

  Each process when the digital camera and the cradle are connected will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating an example of the connected user number determination process.

  When the cradle and the digital camera are connected via the USB interface, or when the cradle and the digital camera are both connected with the USB cable and turned on, the USB connection between the cradle and the digital camera is not possible. Establishment is performed (300).

  When the USB connection is established and both parties recognize the communication partner, the cradle first transmits a command to the digital camera so as to shift to the cradle mode (301).

  Here, the cradle mode is a mode for the digital camera to operate as the video communication apparatus of the present embodiment without executing a normal processing program. Upon receiving the command, the digital camera shifts to the cradle mode (302). Next, the cradle requests camera information from the digital camera in order to acquire the function of the connected digital camera (303).

  In response to the request from the cradle, the digital camera transmits information such as the number of pixels of the digital camera, the still image shooting capability, the moving image shooting capability, and the zoom function to the cradle (304). When the cradle receives camera information from the digital camera, it refers to the number of pixels in the camera information and determines the number of user connections to the cradle as follows. When the number of pixels of the digital camera is 5 million pixels or more (305), since the amount of data sent from the digital camera is large, the number of connected users is reduced to ensure data distribution quality to the users.

  In this embodiment, when the cradle is connected to a digital camera having the number of pixels of 5 million pixels or more, the number of users connectable to the cradle is set to 1 (306).

  If the number of effective pixels of the digital camera is less than 5 million pixels and 3 million pixels or more (307), the cradle sets the number of users connectable to the cradle to 2 (308).

  If the number of effective pixels to the digital camera is less than 3 million pixels, the cradle sets the number of users connectable to the cradle to 3 (309). After setting the number of connectable users, the cradle initializes the number of currently connected users to 0 (310). When a connection request is received from the user, the number of connectable users and the number of currently connected users are calculated. By comparing, permission / denial of connection is determined.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image data transmission processing when a connection request is received from a user.

  When the user (user 1) requests connection to the video distribution apparatus (400), the cradle receives the request. The cradle compares the current number of connected users with the number of connectable users (401).

  If the current number of connected users is the same as the number of connectable users, the cradle rejects the connection to the user. If the current number of connected users is smaller than the number of connectable users, the current number of connected users is incremented by one (402), and a connection with the user is established (403).

  At the same time as establishing a connection with the user, the cradle requests image data from the digital camera (404). In response to the request from the cradle, the digital camera transmits image data to the cradle (405). Then, the cradle transmits the image data from the digital camera to the user (406).

  Next, FIG. 5 shows a flow when the user requests disconnection of image data distribution. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing for stopping image data being transmitted.

  The digital camera is transmitting image data to the cradle (500), and the cradle transmits image data received from the digital camera to the user (501).

  When a disconnection request (502) for image data transmission is transmitted from the user to the cradle, a disconnection process (503) is performed between the cradle and the user. At the same time, the cradle decrements the current number of connections by -1 (504).

  At this time, the digital camera is in a state of continuing to transmit image data to the cradle. Next, the cradle confirms the current number of connections, and if the current number of connections is 0, the image data is not transmitted to the outside, so that an image data stop request (507) is made to the digital camera.

  If the current number of connections is not 0, the cradle continues to transmit data to other users (506).

  As described above, since the video communication apparatus according to the present embodiment automatically adjusts the number of users even when the digital camera is replaced, the connected user can use it without being aware of the difference between the digital cameras. .

(Second embodiment)
In the first embodiment described above, the cradle determines the number of connected users from the number of pixels of the digital camera that is the imaging unit. However, the cradle may determine the number of connected users from the frame rate that can be transmitted by the digital camera.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating an example of the connected user number determination process.
When the cradle and the digital camera are connected via the USB interface, or when the cradle and the digital camera are both connected with the USB cable and turned on, the USB connection between the cradle and the digital camera is not possible. Establishment is performed (600).

  When the USB connection is established and both parties recognize the communication partner, the cradle first transmits a command to the digital camera so as to shift to the cradle mode (601). Here, the cradle mode is a mode for the digital camera to operate as the video communication apparatus of the present embodiment without executing a normal processing program.

  The digital camera shifts to the cradle mode upon receiving the command (602). Next, the cradle requests camera information from the digital camera in order to acquire the function of the connected digital camera (603).

  In response to the request from the cradle, the digital camera transmits information such as the number of pixels of the digital camera, the still image shooting capability, the moving image shooting capability, and the zoom function to the cradle (604). When the cradle receives camera information from the digital camera, it refers to the moving image frame rate in the camera information and determines the number of user connections to the cradle as follows.

  In other words, the cradle has a large amount of data sent from the digital camera when the video output frame rate of the digital camera is 10 fps or more (605), so the number of connected users is reduced and the data distribution quality to the users is ensured. .

  In the present embodiment, when connected to a digital camera having a moving image output frame rate of 10 fps or more, the cradle sets the number of users connectable to the cradle to 1 (606). If the moving image output frame rate of the digital camera is less than 10 fps and 5 fps or more (607), the cradle sets the number of users connectable to the cradle to 2 (608).

  When the moving image output frame rate of the digital camera is less than 5 fps, the cradle sets the number of users connectable to the cradle to 3 (609).

  After setting the number of connectable users, the cradle initializes the number of currently connected users to 0 (610), and when there is a connection request from the user, the cradle compares the number of connectable users with the number of currently connected users. The connection is permitted or denied.

  The processing in this embodiment when a connection request is made by the user is the same as that in FIG.

  It should be noted that the timing at which the cradle determines the number of connected users may be the case where the moving image size output from the digital camera is changed and the transmission frame rate capability is changed. Also in this case, the cradle determines the number of connected users according to the frame rate that can be transmitted by the digital camera.

(Third embodiment)
In the second embodiment described above, the cradle determines the number of connected users from the frame rate that can be transmitted by the digital camera that is the imaging unit. However, the cradle may determine the number of users connected to the video communication apparatus from the transfer rate of data that can be transferred by the digital camera.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart (part 3) illustrating an example of the connected user number determination process.
When the cradle and the digital camera are connected via the USB interface, or when the cradle and the digital camera are connected with the USB cable and both are turned on, the USB connection is not established between the cradle and the digital camera. An establishment is made (700).

  When the USB connection is established and both parties recognize the communication partner, first, the cradle transmits a command to the digital camera so as to shift to the cradle mode (701). Here, the cradle mode is a mode for the digital camera to operate as the video communication apparatus of the present embodiment without executing a normal processing program.

  The digital camera shifts to the cradle mode upon receiving the command (702). Next, the cradle requests camera information from the digital camera in order to acquire the function of the connected digital camera (703).

  In response to the request from the cradle, the digital camera transmits information such as the number of pixels of the digital camera, the still image shooting capability, the moving image shooting capability, and the zoom function to the cradle (704). When the cradle receives camera information from the digital camera, it refers to the moving image transfer speed in the camera information and determines the number of user connections to the cradle as follows.

  That is, the cradle reduces the number of connected users and secures data distribution quality to the user because the amount of data sent from the digital camera is large when the moving image transfer speed of the digital camera is 500 kbps or more (705).

  In the present embodiment, when connected to a digital camera having a moving image transfer speed of 500 kbps or higher, the cradle sets the number of users connectable to the cradle to 1 (706).

  If the moving speed of the digital camera is less than 500 kbps and 300 kbps or more (707), the cradle sets the number of users connectable to the cradle to 2 (708).

  If the moving image transfer rate of the digital camera is less than 300 kbps, the cradle sets the number of users connectable to the cradle to 3 (709). After setting the number of connectable users, the cradle initializes the current number of connected users to 0 (710), and when there is a connection request from the user, compares the number of connectable users with the number of currently connected users. The connection is permitted or denied.

  The processing in this embodiment when a connection request is made by the user is the same as that in FIG.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the second embodiment described above, the cradle determines the number of users connected to the video communication apparatus from the transfer rate of data that can be transferred by the digital camera. However, the cradle may determine the number of users connected to the video communication device from the compression method of the moving image data sent from the digital camera.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (part 4) illustrating an example of the connected user number determination process.
When the cradle and the digital camera are connected via the USB interface, or when the cradle and the digital camera are both connected with the USB cable and turned on, the USB connection between the cradle and the digital camera is not possible. Establishment is performed (800).

  When the USB connection is established and both parties recognize the communication partner, the cradle first transmits a command to the digital camera so as to shift to the cradle mode (801). Here, the cradle mode is a mode for the digital camera to operate as the video communication apparatus of the present embodiment without executing a normal processing program.

  Upon receiving the command, the digital camera shifts to the cradle mode (802). Next, the cradle requests camera information from the digital camera in order to acquire the function of the connected digital camera (803).

  In response to the request from the cradle, the digital camera transmits information such as the number of pixels of the digital camera, the still image shooting capability, the moving image shooting capability, and the zoom function to the cradle (804). When the cradle receives camera information from the digital camera, it refers to the moving image data format in the camera information and determines the number of user connections to the cradle as follows.

  In other words, if the video data format of the digital camera is MPEG (805), the cradle has a smaller amount of data compared to other compression formats such as JPEG, so the connected user Increase the number.

  In this embodiment, when the moving image data format is MPEG, the cradle sets the number of users connectable to the cradle to 10 (806).

  When the moving image data format is JPEG, the cradle sets the number of users connectable to the cradle to 2 (807).

  After setting the number of connectable users, the cradle initializes the number of currently connected users to 0 (808), and when there is a connection request from the user, the number of connectable users and the number of currently connected users are calculated. By comparing, permission / denial of connection is determined.

  The processing in this embodiment when a connection request is made by the user is the same as that in FIG.

  As mentioned above, according to each embodiment mentioned above, the frame rate which a user desires can be secured.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.・ Change is possible.

FIG. 3 is an overview (part 1) of the video communication apparatus. It is a general-view figure (the 2) of a video communication apparatus. It is an internal block diagram of a video communication apparatus. It is a flowchart (the 1) which shows an example of a connection user number determination process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of an image data transmission process when there exists a connection request from a user. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which stops the image data in transmission. It is a flowchart (the 2) which shows an example of a connection user number determination process. It is a flowchart (the 3) which shows an example of a connection user number determination process. It is a flowchart (the 4) which shows an example of a connection user number determination process.

Explanation of symbols

100 Cradle 101 Digital Camera A
102 Network cable 103 Digital camera B
200 Cradle 201 USB interface 202 SD-RAM
203 Flash (flash memory)
204 Storage unit 205 CPU
206 Head unit 207 Network interface 208 Network cable 210 Digital camera 211 Image sensor unit 212 DRAM
213 Memory card unit 214 USB interface 215 CPU
216 Key operation unit 217 Image processing unit 218 VRAM
219 Monitor 220 Audio processing unit

Claims (5)

An image communication apparatus having an electronic camera and a cradle,
The electronic camera is
Photographing means for photographing still images and moving images;
Image data processing means for processing photographed image data;
Image data storage means for storing image data;
Image data output means for outputting image data to the outside;
Have
The cradle is
Mounting means for connecting to the electronic camera;
Control means for controlling the electronic camera;
Image data storage means for storing image data from the electronic camera;
A communication unit having a communication function and connected to the network;
Determining means for determining the number of users that can be connected to the video communication device according to the information relating to the electronic camera;
A video communication apparatus comprising:   The video communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit determines the number of connectable users according to the number of pixels related to the electronic camera.   The video communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the number of users that can be connected according to a frame rate that the electronic camera can output.   The video communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the number of connectable users according to a transfer rate of image data that can be output by the electronic camera.   The video communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines the number of connectable users according to a compression method of image data output from the electronic camera.

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