JP2008172623A - Network photography system, and management device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network photography system, a management device and a management method which allow occupancy time of a control right imparted to an operation terminal to be dynamically changed thereby allowing control right occupancy time to be minutely managed. <P>SOLUTION: The network photography system is constituted by connecting, via a network, the operation terminal 13 for operating a photography device 11 and a network camera server 12 which sequentially imparts the control right to the operation terminal 13 which requests the control right for operating the photography device 11 and the network photography system allows only one operation terminal to which the control right is imparted to operate the photography device 11, wherein a detection means 12-5 detects the number of operation terminals requesting the control rights. An occupancy time determination means 12-6 determines the occupancy time of the control right according to a detection result of the detection means 12-5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network imaging system, a management apparatus and method, and a computer program that can operate an imaging apparatus on a network from an operation terminal, and more particularly to a technique for managing a control right related to the remote operation.

  In recent years, with the spread of the Internet, network camera systems that enable viewing of images taken from remote locations via the Internet via the Internet have begun to spread. It is possible to see.

  This type of network camera system is used as a surveillance camera system, for example.

  In some network camera systems, the camera photographing conditions and postures such as pan (horizontal) rotation, tilt (vertical) rotation, and zoom (telephoto) can be remotely controlled. In this case, the control right for remotely operating the camera is given to only one client at the same time.

  Techniques relating to such control rights are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3. Patent Document 1 discloses that when the number of clients requesting a control right exceeds a predetermined number, the control right request is not accepted.

  In Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, a control right is given to a client who desires acquisition of the control right only for a time preset by the administrator of the network camera system. Then, the other clients trying to acquire the control right at the same time form a queue in the order in which acquisition is desired and wait for the control right to be granted.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-164559 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-317374 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-042278

  However, the above patent document does not have a function of dynamically changing the occupation time of the control right to be given to the display operation terminal. That is, control rights are sequentially given to the respective display operation terminals in accordance with a predetermined control right occupation time preset by the administrator. Thus, when the control right occupation time is constant, the control right occupation time corresponding to the congestion situation cannot be provided to the user. That is, the control right occupation time does not change (increase / decrease) due to the state of the network camera server and other related factors, and it has not been possible to perform precise management.

  For example, even when many clients are queued to obtain control, the control is given to the clients in the queue for a predetermined amount of time in order, so crowded time zones and popular Some cameras have more queues. This makes it difficult to bulk up the queue. In addition, when many clients request control rights, the waiting time from when a control right request of a client requesting control rights is output to when control rights are acquired becomes longer. Even when the number of clients requesting the control right is small, the control right can be occupied only for a certain period of time, so that the control right must be requested sequentially. In other words, the control right can be held only for a predetermined time, and when it is desired to control for a long time, it is necessary to retake it many times, which requires troublesome work.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to manage the occupied time of the control right smoothly by dynamically changing the occupied time of the control right given to the operation terminal.

In the network imaging system of the present invention, an operation terminal capable of operating the imaging apparatus and a management apparatus that sequentially assigns the control authority to the operation terminal requesting the control authority for operating the imaging apparatus via the network A network photographing system that is connected and is capable of operating the photographing apparatus only by one operating terminal to which a control right is given, and a detecting means for detecting the number of operating terminals requesting the control right; And occupancy time determining means for determining the occupancy time of the control right according to the detection result of the detection means.
Also, the management device of the present invention is a management device that sequentially assigns control rights to operation terminals that request control rights for operating the photographing apparatus, and the number of operation terminals that request control rights is determined. It is characterized by comprising detection means for detecting, and occupancy time determining means for determining the occupancy time of the control right according to the detection result of the detection means.
The management method of the present invention is a management method for sequentially granting control rights to operation terminals that request control rights for operating the photographing apparatus, and the number of operation terminals that request control rights is determined. It has a detection procedure to detect, and an occupation time determination procedure to determine the occupation time of the control right according to the detection result in the detection procedure.
Further, the computer program of the present invention is a computer program for performing management for sequentially assigning control rights to an operation terminal requesting control rights for operating the photographing apparatus, and requesting control rights. The computer is caused to execute a detection process for detecting the number of times and an occupation time determination process for determining an occupation time of the control right according to a detection result in the detection process.

  According to the present invention, since the occupation time of the control right is determined according to the number of operation terminals requesting the control right, the occupation time of the control right given to the operation terminal can be dynamically changed. It is possible to manage the occupation time of the control right smoothly. Thereby, for example, when there are many operation terminals requesting the control right, it is possible to turn the order to many operation terminals earlier. In addition, when the number is small, it is possible to improve the convenience of the user by giving a longer control right.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a network that detects the number of display operation terminals requesting control rights (the number of control right requests) and sequentially assigns the control right occupation time to each display operation terminal according to the number of control right requests. A method for realizing a camera system (network shooting system) will be described.

  First, in FIG. 1, a network camera system 10 is configured by connecting a photographing apparatus 11 such as a digital camera, a camera server apparatus 12, and a plurality of display operation terminals 13-1 to 13-N via a network 14. Is done. Here, the imaging device 11 and the camera server device 12 may be configured integrally or may be configured separately.

  The photographing device 11 can control photographing conditions and photographing postures, and is controlled in response to a command from the camera server device 12. The display operation terminals 13-1 to 13 -N can display images captured by the image capturing device 11, and can remotely control the image capturing conditions and image capturing posture of the image capturing device 11 via the camera server device 12.

  When there is a control right request for the photographing apparatus 11 from a plurality of display operation terminals among the display operation terminals 13-1 to 13-N (N units), the control right management unit 12-2 in the camera server apparatus 12 Management is always performed so that only one display operation terminal can control the photographing apparatus 11. In other words, a control right that is a right to operate one photographing apparatus 11 is given to only one display operation terminal at the same time, and the others are exclusively controlled.

  In addition to the control right management unit 12-2, the camera server device 12 includes a network interface 12-1, a control right occupation time measurement unit 12-3, a photographing device control unit 12-4, a control right request count detection unit (detection means). ) 12-5 and a control right occupation time calculation unit (occupation time determination means) 12-6. The functions of these means will be described later. This camera server device 12 functions as a management device in the present invention. In the present embodiment, the camera server device 12 has both the control function of the photographing device 11 and the control right management function. However, these functions may be provided in different devices.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of the imaging device 11 and the camera server device 12 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU that performs various controls in the camera server device 12. A ROM 302 stores various control programs executed by the CPU 301. A RAM 303 provides a work area necessary for the CPU 301 to execute various controls.

  Reference numeral 321 denotes an imaging unit that constitutes the imaging apparatus 11 and outputs a video signal obtained by imaging. The video signal output from the imaging unit 321 is transferred to the RAM 303 via the camera video interface 304. Reference numeral 322 denotes a mechanism control unit that constitutes the photographing apparatus 11, and controls pan, tilt, zoom, and the like according to a control command transmitted from the display operation terminal via the camera drive interface 305.

  A network interface 306 corresponds to the network interface 12-1 in FIG. 1 and realizes communication with the display operation terminals 13-1 to 13 -N on the network 14. A timer 310 corresponds to the control right occupation time measuring unit 12-3 in FIG. The timer 310 measures the elapsed time from the acquisition of the control right of a certain display operation terminal, detects that a preset timer expiration time has elapsed, and notifies the CPU 301 of it. Reference numeral 311 denotes a bus, which connects the above-described components.

  Each function of the camera server device 12 shown in FIG. 1 is realized by the CPU 301 executing a control program stored in the ROM 302 or a control program loaded in the RAM 303.

  Next, a main flow of operation of the network camera system 10 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S301, when the display operation terminal outputs a control right request for the photographing apparatus 11, the control right management unit 12-2 receives the control right request via the network interface 12-1.

  Thereafter, in step S302, the control right request number detection unit 12-5 detects the number of display operation terminals (control right request number) outputting the control right request of the photographing apparatus 11.

  Next, in step S303, the control right occupation time calculation unit 12-6 determines the control right occupation time according to the number of control right requests detected in step S302. For example, by using a control right occupation time calculation formula prepared in advance with the number of control right requests as an input value, a control right occupation time that is a time during which the display operation terminal that has acquired the control right can control the photographing apparatus 11 is calculated. .

  Next, in step S304, the control right management unit 12-2 gives a control right to one of the display operation terminals, and when the control right occupation time calculated in step S303 has elapsed, the control right management unit 12-2 obtains the control right from the display operation terminal. Deprive. At this time, the control right occupation time measuring unit 12-3 measures the control right occupation time. A control command from the display operation terminal to which the control right is given is received by the imaging device control unit 12-4 via the network interface 12-1, and controls the imaging device 11.

<Detecting the number of requests for control rights>
Here, an example in which the control right request number detection unit 12-5 detects the control right request number will be described. That is, a specific operation in step S302 is described. In this example, the control right request count is stored in the database, the control right request count is incremented by “+1” every time a control right request is received from the display operation terminal, and the control right request is issued every time the control right is given to the display operation terminal. The number of control right requests is updated by the number “−1”. Then, the current number of control right requests is detected by referring to the number of control right requests in the database. The database is realized by using the ROM 302 or the RAM 303, for example.

<Timing for calculating control occupancy time>
Next, the timing for calculating the control right occupation time will be described. In the network camera system 10 of this embodiment that dynamically calculates the control right occupation time according to the number of control right requests, the control right occupation time given to the display operation terminal varies depending on the timing of calculating the control right occupation time. . Examples of the timing for calculating the control right occupation time include the following two types.
(1) When a control right request is received from the display operation terminal to the camera server device 12 (2) When a control right is granted to the display operation terminal

  First, an example in which the control right occupation time is calculated at the time of the above (1), that is, when the control right request is received from the display operation terminal to the camera server device 12 will be described below. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of operation mainly in the camera server device 12 for calculating the control right occupation time when the control right request from the display operation terminal to the camera server device 12 is received. Based on this flowchart, an example in which the control right occupation time is calculated when the control right request is received from the display operation terminal to the camera server device 12 will be described.

  First, in step S401, the control right management unit 12-2 receives a control right request for the display operation terminal via the network interface 12-1.

  After the control right management unit 12-2 receives the control right request for the display operation terminal, in step S402, the control right request number detection unit 12-5 detects the control right request number.

  Next, in step S403, the control right occupation time calculation unit 12-6 calculates the control right occupation time using a control right occupation time calculation formula described later. Furthermore, the ID of the display operation terminal and the calculated control right occupation time are associated with each other and added to the “display operation terminal ID-control right occupation time table” in a database (not shown). FIG. 5 shows an example of “display operation terminal-control right occupation time table”.

  Thereafter, in step S404, the display operation terminal waits for the control right to be granted, and in step S405, the control right management unit 12-2 grants the control right according to the control right occupation time stored in the database. Execute the process. It should be noted that the existing technology may be used for the control right granting / operation / deprivation processing, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, an example of calculating the control right occupation time at the timing (2), that is, when the control right is given to the display operation terminal will be described below. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the operation mainly in the camera server device 12 for calculating the control right occupation time when the control right is given to the display operation terminal. Based on this flowchart, an example of calculating the control right occupation time when the control right is given to the display operation terminal will be described.

  First, in step S601, the control right management unit 12-2 receives a control right request for the display operation terminal via the network interface 12-1.

  In step S602, the display operation terminal waits for the control right to be granted, and when the order in which the control right is given changes (that is, when the control right is given to the display operation terminal), in step S603, the control right is given. The request count detection unit 12-5 detects the control right request count.

  Next, in step S604, as in step S403, the control right occupation time calculation unit 12-6 calculates a control right occupation time using a control right occupation time calculation formula described later based on the result of step S603.

  Thereafter, in step S605, the control right management unit 12-2 executes control right grant / operation / deprivation processing according to the calculated control right occupation time.

<Control right occupation time calculation formula>
Here, an example of a control right occupation time calculation formula, which is a calculation formula for calculating the control right occupation time by the control right occupation time calculation unit 12-6 in the above-described step S403 and step S604, is shown.

As a first example, the control right occupation time is calculated so that the waiting time from when the control right of the display operation terminal requesting the control right is requested to the camera server device 12 until the control right is obtained is constant. An example will be described. In this case, it is expressed by the following formula.
Control right occupation time = waiting time / number of control right requests

  In this case, for example, when the waiting time is 5 minutes and the number of control right requests is 5, the control right occupation time at that time is 5/5 = 1 minute. The occupation time is 5/21 = 14 seconds.

As a second example, an example will be described in which calculation is performed so that the control right occupation time is reduced in proportion to the number of control right requests to the camera server device 12. In this case, it is expressed by the following formula.
Control right occupation time = a × number of control right requests + b (a <0)

  In this case, for example, when the formula “control right occupation time = −3 × number of control right requests + 75” is established, if the number of control right requests is 5, the control right occupation time is 60 seconds, and the number of control right requests is 20 Then, the control right occupation time is 15 seconds.

  The calculation formula as described above may be held in the ROM 302 or the like inside the camera server device 12.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, first, a control right request is received (steps S401 and S601), and the number of display operation terminals that request the control right at a predetermined timing (the number of control right requests) is detected. (Steps S402 and S603). Then, the control right occupation time corresponding to the number of control right requests is calculated (steps S403 and S604), and the control right grant / operation / deprivation processing is executed according to the calculated control right occupation time (steps S405 and S605).

  In the present embodiment, an occupation time determination unit is configured by the control authority occupation time calculation unit 12-6 that calculates the control authority occupation time and the ROM 302 that holds the calculation formula. In this embodiment, the calculation formula is used to determine the control right occupation time. However, as will be described in a second embodiment to be described later, the number of control right requests and the corresponding control right occupation time. The control right occupation time may be determined using an occupation time table, which is information determined as follows.

(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, the network camera system can be operated by providing an external file with the control right occupation time calculation formula held in the first embodiment or information for determining the control right occupation time. An example of further expanding the sex will be shown.

  The configuration and operation flow of the network system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7 which is a configuration diagram of the network camera system according to the second embodiment and FIG. 8 which is an operation flowchart. . Note that in the network camera system 70 according to the second embodiment, common parts with the network camera system 10 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  The difference between the network camera system 70 according to the present embodiment and the network camera system 10 according to the first embodiment is that a database (external file information) 72-for storing external file information by the camera server device 72. 7 in that it has. Hereinafter, the flow of operation will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S801, the administrator sets an external file before the network camera system 70 is operated. Details of the external file will be described later.

  In step S802, the external file set in step S801 is loaded via the network interface 12-1.

  In step S803, the control right management unit 12-2 receives a control right request for the display operation terminal via the network interface 12-1.

  Next, in step S804, the control right request count detection unit 12-5 detects the control right request count.

  Next, in step S805, the control right occupation time calculation unit 12-6 calculates the control right occupation time based on the number of control right requests detected in step S804 and the external file stored in the database 72-7. Store it in the database.

  Next, in step S806, the display operation terminal waits for the control right to be granted, and in step S807, the control right management unit 12-2 assigns the control right according to the control right occupation time stored in the database. Perform stripping process.

<External file>
Here, an example of an external file used when the control right occupation time calculation unit 12-6 performs the control right occupation time calculation is shown below.

  First, (1) a case of having a “control right occupation time table (occupation time table)” having a list of control right occupation times with respect to the number of control right requests will be described.

  When the control right occupation time calculation unit 12-6 calculates the control right occupation time, the “control right occupation time” stored in the database 72-7 based on the control right request number detected by the control right request number detection unit 12-5. The control right occupation time is determined by referring to the table. FIG. 9 shows an example of the control right occupation time table.

  Next, (2) the case of having a control right occupation time calculation formula will be described.

  In step S802, the control right occupation time calculation formula is loaded into the database 72-7. An example of the control right occupation time calculation formula is the same as that described in the first embodiment. At this time, in the control right occupation time calculation formula, the number of control right requests is x, the control right occupation time is y, and other variables are not included. Also, the left side of the control right occupation time calculation formula is always written as y in the external file.

  Then, when the control right occupation time calculation unit 12-6 calculates the control right occupation time (step S805), the control right request count as a result of step S804 is substituted into x of the control right occupation time calculation formula. The right occupation time y is calculated.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, first, the external file used when calculating the control right occupation time set by the administrator is loaded into the database 72-7 (step S802). Next, a control right request is accepted (step S803), and the number of display operation terminals (the number of control right requests) requesting the control right at a predetermined timing is detected (step S804). Then, based on the external file information stored in the database 72-7, a control right occupation time corresponding to the detected number of control right requests is calculated (step S805), and control right granting / operation is performed according to the calculated control right occupation time. Stripping is performed (step S807).

  By calculating the control right occupation time according to the external file in this way, even when the calculation method of the control right occupation time is changed, it is possible to cope with it by simply replacing the external file. Therefore, the trouble of changing the logic inside the camera server device 72 and recompilation can be saved, and the possibility of operating the network imaging system is expanded.

  In this embodiment, the example in which the control right occupation time is calculated when the control right request is received from the display operation terminal to the camera server device 72 has been described. However, the display operation terminal described in the first embodiment The control right occupation time may be calculated at the timing when the control right is granted.

(Third embodiment)
In the third embodiment, in the first embodiment, the control right occupation time to be given to the display operation terminal to which the control right is currently assigned is calculated every time a control right request is received from another display operation terminal. It is dynamically applied to the control right occupation time of the display operation terminal that currently occupies the control right. This shows an example of expanding the range of operation.

  Since the configuration of the network camera system of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted. The operational flow will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, in step S1001, the control right management unit 12-2 receives a control right request for the display operation terminal via the network interface 12-1.

  Next, in step S1002, the display operation terminal waits for the control right to be granted, and when the order in which the control right is given changes (that is, when the control right is given to the display operation terminal), in step S1003. The control right request count detection unit 12-5 detects the control right request count.

  Next, in step S1004, the control right occupation time calculation unit 12-6 calculates the control right occupation time based on the result of step S1003 and stores it in the database.

  Next, the control right management unit 12-2 grants a control right according to the calculated control right occupation time, and causes the timer 310 for measuring the control right occupation time to start counting up in step S1006.

  In step S1007, the control right occupation time stored in the database is compared with the timer time. If the timer value is equal to or less than the control right occupation time stored in the database, the process proceeds to step S1008, and it is determined whether there is a control right request from another display operation terminal.

  Next, when there is a control right request from another display operation terminal in step S1008, the number of control right requests is detected again in step S1009. In step S1010, the control right occupation time corresponding to the result is calculated, and the control right occupation time of the database is updated.

  When the value of the timer exceeds the control occupation time stored in the database, the process proceeds to step S1011 and the control right is deprived.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, the control right occupation time given to the display operation terminal to which the control right is currently assigned is recalculated every time a control right request is received from another operation display terminal. By dynamically applying it to the control right occupation time of the display operation terminal that occupies the control right, the congestion degree of the network camera system can be reflected in the control right occupancy time in real time. The nature is further improved.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the fourth embodiment, as in the third embodiment, a network camera in which the control right occupation time given to the display operation terminal is recalculated every time a control right request is received from another operation display terminal. The system will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of a network camera system according to the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 110 denotes a network camera server having an image pickup function, which functions as a management apparatus in the present invention. Reference numeral 120 denotes a network, such as a LAN, a WAN, or the Internet. Reference numerals 130a and 130b denote camera control clients (hereinafter simply referred to as clients) that issue camera control commands from a remote location, and function as operation terminals in the present invention.

  Note that the network camera server 110 and the clients 130a and 130b correspond to the imaging device 11, the camera server device 12, and the display operation terminals 13-1 to 13-N of the first embodiment, respectively. Moreover, although the camera part 110a is comprised integrally with the network camera server 110, it is good also as a different body similarly to 1st Embodiment. In the figure, there are only two clients 130a and 130b. However, it is assumed that a plurality of clients 130a and 130b are connected.

  In the network camera server 110, reference numeral 110a denotes a camera unit capable of controlling an imaging viewpoint such as panning, tilting, and zooming, and shoots an image of the controlled imaging viewpoint. A camera control unit 110b controls the camera unit 110a in response to a request from a remote place. A control right management unit 110c manages the control right of the camera unit 110a in response to requests from a plurality of clients. A message acquisition unit 110d acquires messages issued from the clients 130a and 130b and the like.

  FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of the network camera server 110 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 12, reference numeral 1201 denotes a CPU that performs various controls in the network camera server 110. A ROM 1202 stores various control programs executed by the CPU 1201. A RAM 1203 provides a work area necessary for the CPU 1201 to execute various controls.

  Reference numeral 1221 denotes an image pickup unit constituting the camera unit 110a, which outputs a video signal obtained by shooting. The video signal output from the imaging unit 1221 is transferred to the RAM 1203 via the camera video interface 1204. 1222 is a mechanism control unit that constitutes the camera unit 110a, and controls pan, tilt, zoom, and the like by a control command transmitted via the camera drive interface 1205.

  Reference numeral 1206 denotes a network interface, which realizes communication with the clients 130a and 130b on the network 120. Reference numeral 1210 denotes a timer that measures the elapsed time since the acquisition of the control right, detects that a preset timer expiration time has elapsed, and notifies the CPU 1201 of it. Reference numeral 1211 denotes a bus, which connects the above-described components.

  The timer 1210 operates based on the timer expiration time. However, the timer expiration time can be changed dynamically even after the start of timing, and when it is changed, a notification operation to the CPU 1201 is performed according to the changed value. . At this time, if the value after the change is less than the elapsed time, the expiration is detected immediately after the setting and notified to the CPU 1201.

  Each function of the camera control unit 110b, the control right management unit 110c, and the message acquisition unit 110d illustrated in FIG. 11 is realized by the CPU 1201 executing a control program stored in the ROM 1202 or a control program loaded in the RAM 1203. .

  In the network camera system of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the network camera server 110 manages control right requests for the camera unit 110a from a plurality of clients, and controls the granting of control rights to each client. . Hereinafter, the operation of the network camera system according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The control right management unit 110c has a camera control queue for managing the granting of the camera control right to each client. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the structure of the camera control queue in the present embodiment.

  This camera control queue is stored in the RAM 1203, and the ID of the client that has requested camera control is registered. C21 is the head element of the queue, and the client with ID = 112 currently has the camera control right. In C22, the ID of the client having the camera control right is registered after C21, and in C23, the ID of the client having the camera control right is registered after C22.

  There are three types of messages issued from remote clients 130a, 130b, etc .: camera control right acquisition request, camera control request, and camera control right acquisition abandonment request.

  FIG. 14 is a view for explaining the structure of a message sent from the client to the network camera server 110. 14A shows the structure of the camera control right acquisition request message, FIG. 14B shows the structure of the camera control request message, and FIG. 14C shows the structure of the camera control right acquisition abandon request message. Each is shown. Each message has a message ID that indicates the type of the message and a client ID that indicates the client that issued the message. Hereinafter, the structure of each message will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 14A, the camera control right acquisition request message 1401 has “1” indicating a camera control right acquisition request in the message ID 1411 and “201” in the client ID 1412. That is, the message consists of a message ID 1411 and a client ID 1412. “201” is an identification number of the client.

  As shown in FIG. 14B, the camera control request message 1402 has “2” indicating the camera control request in the message ID 1414 and “201” in the client ID 1415. In addition to this, the message has camera control parameter values such as a pan angle 1416, a tilt angle 1417, and a zoom 1418.

  As shown in FIG. 14C, the camera control right acquisition waiver request message 1403 has “3” indicating a camera control right acquisition waiver request in the message ID 1419 and “201” in the client ID 1420. That is, the message consists of a message ID 1419 and a client ID 1420.

  When the client wants to control the camera 110a, the client issues a camera control right acquisition request to the network camera server 110 via the network 120. Thereafter, a camera control request including values such as pan, tilt, and zoom is issued. When giving up obtaining the camera control right, or when abandoning the already obtained camera control right, a camera control right acquisition waiver request is issued.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a camera controllable time table for determining a camera controllable time to be given when the network camera server 110 gives a control right to the camera control client, that is, a control right occupation time.

  In FIG. 15, reference numeral 1501 denotes the number of client IDs that are issued in the camera control right acquisition request and registered in the camera control queue. Reference numeral 1502 denotes a camera controllable time to be given. When determining the camera controllable time to be assigned, the camera controllable time table is referred to. For example, if the number of client IDs registered in the camera control queue is 10 or less, the camera controllable time is 30 seconds, 11 to 50 If it is below, it is determined as 20 seconds.

  16 to 18 are flowcharts showing the processing procedure of the network camera server 110 in the present embodiment. The flowchart in FIG. 16 shows processing performed by the network camera server 110 when a message is sent to the network camera server 110. Further, the flowchart of FIG. 18 shows processing performed by the network camera server 110 when the timer 1210 detects the expiration of the set time. Both processes are performed by the CPU 1201 using the RAM 1203 as a work area based on a control program stored in the ROM 1202.

  First, a process performed by the network camera server 110 when a message is sent to the network camera server 110 will be described with reference to FIGS. In step S1601 of FIG. 16, when the message acquisition unit 110d receives the message, it passes it to the control right management unit 110c.

  Next, in step S1602, the control right management unit 110c determines the type of the received message based on the message ID included in the message.

  If the determination result in step S1602 is a camera control right acquisition request (message ID is “1”), the process advances to step S1605 to check whether or not the client ID exists in the camera control queue. If not, the process proceeds to step S1606, and the client ID is added to the camera control queue.

  Thereafter, in step S1607, it is checked how many client IDs are registered in the camera control queue.

  If there is only one client ID registered in step S1607, that is, only the client ID added in step S1606, the client immediately acquires the camera control right. In this case, first, in step S1611, the camera controllable time is acquired from the camera controllable time table based on the number of waiting client IDs in the current camera control queue. In step S1612, the acquired camera controllable time is set as the timer expiration time in the timer 1210, and the timing start control is performed.

  On the other hand, if there are a plurality (two or more) of client IDs registered in step S1607, that is, if there is another client that is currently acquiring the camera control right, the client immediately acquires the camera control right. Can't do it and waits in turn. At this time, first, in step S1608, it is checked whether or not the camera controllable time has changed due to the addition of the client ID.

  When the camera controllable time has changed in step S1608, for example, nine client IDs are registered in the camera control queue until the client ID is added, and the number becomes 10 by adding the client ID. This is the case. That is, according to the camera controllable time table, the camera controllable time is 30 seconds before, but changes to 20 seconds. The time when there is no change in the camera controllable time in step S1608 is, for example, the case where there are now four that have been three. In this case, since the camera controllable time determined from the camera controllable time table remains 30 seconds and does not change, this case does not correspond to a change in the camera controllable time.

  If the camera controllable time has changed in step S1608, the remaining camera controllable time of the client ID registered at the head of the camera control queue that currently owns the camera control right is re-determined in step S1609.

Furthermore, the new camera controllable time Tn re-determined in the timer 1210 in step S1610 is set. Such a resetting operation is determined by the following equation, for example.
Tn = Tr × (Tc ÷ Tp)
Here, in the above equation, Tr is the remaining time of the current camera controllable time acquired from the timer 1210, Tp is the camera controllable time before change acquired from the camera controllable time table, and Tc is after change This is the camera controllable time.

  The resetting operation is realized by resetting the new camera controllable time Tn to the timer 1210 by the above formula.

For example, when the remaining time Tr of the current camera controllable time is 15 seconds, the camera controllable time Tp before the change is 30 seconds, and the camera controllable time Tc after the change is 20 seconds, the following is performed.
Tn = 15 × (20 ÷ 30) = 10

  That is, 10 seconds is the new camera controllable time. At this time, if the new camera controllable time is not divisible, the resolution up to the resolution of the timer 1210 (for example, ms (milliseconds)) is set as the effective time, and after that, the new camera controllable time is determined by rounding up or down.

  If the determination result in step S1602 is a camera control request (message ID is “2”), the process advances to step S1603 to check whether the requesting client is the head element of the camera control queue.

  Since the client can be controlled by any client at the head element of the camera control queue, a camera control command to be sent to the mechanism control unit 1222 of the camera unit 110a based on the camera control parameter given to the camera control request message, and Generate parameters. In step S1604, these camera control commands and parameters are sent to the mechanism control unit 1222 via the camera drive interface 1205. When the mechanism control unit 1222 receives the instruction, the mechanism control unit 1222 executes tilt, pan, zoom, and the like in accordance with the instruction, and changes the imaging viewpoint.

  If it is determined in step S1603 that the current element is not the head element of the current camera control queue (current camera controllable client), this process ends. That is, the camera control request message received in step S1601 is discarded.

  If the determination result in step S1602 is a camera control right acquisition waiver request (message ID is “3”), the process proceeds to step S1613, and the subroutine SubA is executed. However, here, the subroutine is executed by passing the message transmission client ID to the argument id.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in the subroutine SubA. First, in step S1711, it is checked whether or not the argument id is the first element. If it is the first element, the process proceeds to step S1712. If it is not the first element, the process proceeds to step S1714.

  In step S1712, the camera controllable time of the next controllable client is determined from the camera controllable time table based on the number of client IDs registered in the current camera control queue.

  Next, in step S1713, the value determined in step S1712 is set in the timer 1210 as the timer expiration time.

  In step S1714, the element designated by id is deleted from the camera queue. Here, the head element (C21 in FIG. 13) is deleted from the camera control queue.

  To summarize the processing of the above subroutine SubA, if the argument id is the first element, the camera controllable time of the next controllable client is set (steps S1712 and S1713). Then, the client ID of the element is deleted from the camera control queue (step S1714). If the client ID indicated by the argument id is not the first element, the client ID is simply deleted from the camera control queue (step S1714). As described above, the corresponding client ID is deleted from the camera control queue by the camera control right acquisition abandon request message.

  Next, a process performed by the network camera server 110 when the timer 1210 detects the expiration of the timer expiration time will be described with reference to FIG. This processing operation is started by notifying the CPU 1201 of the expiration of the timer set in the timer 1210 in step S1801.

  In step S1801, when the timer 1210 has expired and a notification is sent to the CPU 1201, the subroutine SubA in FIG. 17 is executed in step S1802. Since the expiration of the expiration time of the timer 1210 indicates that the camera controllable time of the current camera control right holding client has expired, the subroutine is executed by passing the client ID of the first element of the current control queue to the argument id here. To do. By executing the subroutine in step S1802, the previous camera control right holding client ID is deleted from the camera control queue.

  Here, the user interface on the camera control client side will be described. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a display example on the camera control client in the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 19, reference numeral 1901 denotes a video display window, which displays based on video data captured by the camera 110a. Reference numeral 1902 denotes a tilt instruction scroll bar. When the scroll bar 1902 is moved up and down by operating the mouse cursor 1905, a camera control request message for instructing a tilt operation for the camera unit 110a is issued. Reference numeral 1903 denotes a pan instruction scroll bar. When the scroll bar 1902 is moved left and right by operating the mouse cursor 1905, a camera control request message for instructing a pan operation to the camera unit 110a is issued. Further, reference numeral 1904 denotes a scroll bar for instructing the zoom operation of the camera 110a. When the scroll bar 1904 is moved left and right by operating the mouse cursor 1905, the camera 110a moves to the telephoto side (zoom in) and wide angle side (zoom out). Controlled. Reference numeral 1906 denotes a message display window.

  Although not shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 16, 17, and 18, for example, when the control request message is rejected due to the determination in step S <b> 1603, it is configured to notify the issuer client of the message to that effect. May be. In this case, the message display window 1906 displays that the message has been rejected. For example, when the scroll bar 1903 is operated, a camera control request message corresponding to the operation is issued, and when the message is rejected by the network camera server 110, a message to that effect is displayed in the message display window 1906. .

  Further, when the camera control client becomes a controllable client, a message display window 1906 can display whether or not the camera is currently controllable if it is configured to notify the client to that effect.

  In this embodiment, a camera control right acquisition request message is issued when the camera control client accesses the network camera server 110 to display the video display window 1901. Therefore, at this point, the network camera server 110 executes steps S1605, S1606, and S1607 and registers them in the camera control queue. Accordingly, in step S1601, the network camera server 110 does not receive a camera control request message or a camera control right acquisition abandon request message from a client that is not registered in the camera control queue.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the camera controllable time (control right occupation time) is determined based on the state of the network camera server 110 (for example, the number of waiting persons in the camera control right acquisition queue, etc.) By changing (increasing / decreasing) dynamically depending on the factors, more precise management becomes possible. In particular, when many clients have queued up trying to acquire camera control rights, by dynamically changing the control right occupation time of the user who is currently acquiring camera control rights depending on the number of queued persons, The queue can be processed efficiently. Further, when the number of queues is small, the satisfaction of the user can be improved by dynamically increasing the control right occupation time.

(Fifth embodiment)
The fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The factor that dynamically changes the camera controllable time (control right occupation time) in the fifth embodiment is the evaluation of the camera control by the user viewing the video of the network camera. The evaluation is performed by a user who is not acquiring the camera control right, and is realized by voting for and against the camera control of the user who is currently acquiring the camera control right. The viewing user votes for approval if the current camera control is the control he desires, and otherwise for the opposite over the network. For example, when the number of votes for approval exceeds a certain number by the vote, the occupation time of camera control is extended so that control can be performed for a longer time. Conversely, if the opposite number of votes exceeds a certain number, the camera control occupation time is shortened and the camera control time is stripped earlier. Reflecting the voting time of the camera control right in the occupancy time may be determined to be extended or shortened in proportion to the difference between the number of votes for and against. This embodiment is realized by voting by a client that can only view, particularly in a network camera system in which a client that can acquire the camera control right and a client that does not have acquisition qualification and can only view are mixed. It is desirable to be applied to. The function of receiving the evaluation of the present embodiment can be realized using a CPU, ROM, and RAM. In this case, the evaluation may be received via the network, stored in the RAM, and the CPU may determine the evaluation based on the evaluation stored in the ROM, for example.

  Note that the present invention may use a storage medium that records a program code of software that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments. In this case, the object of the present invention is achieved by supplying the storage medium to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Needless to say, the OS (basic system or operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code.

  Furthermore, the program code read from the storage medium may be written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. In this case, based on the instruction of the written program code, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit may perform part or all of the actual processing.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the network camera system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the camera server apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the camera server apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the camera server apparatus corresponding to an example of the timing of calculation of the control authority occupation time in the camera server apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the table which shows a response | compatibility with ID of the display operation terminal which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and the control right occupation time corresponding to it. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the camera server apparatus corresponding to an example of the timing of calculation of the control authority occupation time in the camera server apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the network camera system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the camera server apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the table which shows a response | compatibility with the number of the display operation terminals which concern on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and the control right occupation time corresponding to it. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the camera server apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the network camera system which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the system configuration | structure of the network camera server which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control queue of the network camera server which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the message sent to the network camera server from the camera control client which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the table which shows a response | compatibility with the number of camera control clients which concern on the 4th Embodiment of this invention, and the control right occupation time corresponding to it. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the network camera server which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the network camera server which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the network camera server which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display in the camera control client which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Network camera system 11 Image pick-up device 12 Camera server apparatus 12-1 Network interface 12-2 Control right management part 12-3 Control right occupation time measurement part 12-4 Image pick-up apparatus control part 12-5 Control right request number detection part 12- 6 Control Right Occupancy Time Calculation Units 13-1 to 13-N Display Operation Terminal 14 Network 70 Network Camera System 72 Camera Server Device 72-7 Database (External File Information)
110 Network camera server 110a Camera unit 110b Camera control unit 110c Control right management unit 110d Message acquisition unit 120 Network 130a, 130b Camera control client 301 CPU
302 ROM
303 RAM
304 Camera image interface 305 Camera drive interface 306 Network interface 310 Timer 321 Imaging unit 322 Mechanism control unit 1201 CPU
1202 ROM
1203 RAM
1204 Camera image interface 1205 Camera drive interface 1206 Network interface 1210 Timer 1221 Imaging unit 1222 Mechanism control unit

Claims (11)

An operation terminal capable of operating the imaging device and a management device that sequentially grants the control right to the operation terminal requesting the control right for operating the imaging device are connected via a network, and the control right is A network photographing system in which only one given operation terminal can operate the photographing device,
Detection means for detecting the number of operation terminals requesting the control right;
A network photographing system comprising: an occupation time determining unit that determines an occupation time of the control right according to a detection result of the detection unit. A management device that sequentially assigns control rights to operation terminals that request control rights to operate the imaging device,
Detection means for detecting the number of operation terminals requesting the control right;
A management apparatus comprising: an occupation time determining unit that determines an occupation time of the control right in accordance with a detection result of the detection unit.   When the control right request is received from the operation terminal, the detection means detects the number of operation terminals requesting the control right, and the occupation time determination means occupies the control right according to the detection result of the detection means. The management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein time is determined.   When the control right is granted to the operation terminal, the detection means detects the number of operation terminals requesting the control right, and the occupation time determination means determines the occupation time of the control right according to the detection result of the detection means. The management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:   After giving the control right to any one of the operation terminals, the detection means detects increase / decrease of the operation terminal requesting the control right, and the occupation time determining means determines the current control right according to the detection result of the detection means. The management apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein an occupation time of the control right of the operation terminal to which is assigned is changed. A receiving means for receiving an evaluation from the network;
6. The management apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the occupation time determination unit changes the occupation time of the control right of the operation terminal to which the control right is currently assigned according to the evaluation. .   7. The occupation time determination unit calculates the occupation time of the control right by using a calculation formula using the number of operation terminals requesting the control right as an input value. The management device according to claim 1.   The occupation time determining means determines the occupation time of the control right by referring to an occupation time table in which the number of operation terminals requesting the control right and the occupation time of the control right are associated with each other. The management apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6.   The management apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an interface unit that obtains the calculation formula or the occupation time table from the outside. A management method for sequentially granting a control right to an operation terminal requesting a control right for operating a photographing apparatus,
A detection procedure for detecting the number of operation terminals requesting the control right;
And an occupation time determination procedure for determining an occupation time of the control right in accordance with a detection result in the detection procedure. A computer program for performing management to sequentially grant control right to an operation terminal requesting control right to operate the photographing apparatus,
Detection processing for detecting the number of operation terminals requesting the control right;
A computer program for causing a computer to execute an occupation time determination process for determining an occupation time of a control right according to a detection result in the detection process.

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