JP2008278378A - Imaging apparatus, network device, and information processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To process video data optimal for an environment for use or requested quality. <P>SOLUTION: An imaging apparatus capable of transmitting video data comprises: a generation unit for generating capability information indicating throughput of the imaging apparatus in response to a request from a network device; a transmission unit for transmitting to the network device the capability information generated by the generation unit; a setting unit which receives format information for processing video data determined by the network device on the basis of the capability information and performs setting corresponding to the format information upon a processing unit for performing imaging; a video data generation unit for generating video data corresponding to the format information on the basis of setting by the setting unit; and a video data transmission unit for transmitting to the network device the video data generated by the video data generation unit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging technique and a technique for processing captured video data.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many devices that transmit video data captured by a camera or the like to an information processing device or a display via a network to display or store the video data have been proposed. As a method for determining attributes such as resolution of video data to be transmitted, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique related to a system capable of converting the resolution of video data to be transmitted according to the processing capability of a transmission destination. .
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 discloses a technique for determining a video stream candidate that can be provided in response to a video data transmission request using an evaluation function based on a predetermined policy and notifying the video data transmission request source. .
JP 2005-39515 A JP 2005-318415 A

  The camera and the receiving apparatus have various functions related to video transmission such as an image size / frame rate conversion function, an encoding function, and a connection line system. When video data is transmitted via a network, it is necessary to select the optimal transmission format including the performance of the network through which the video data is transmitted and the purpose of use of the video data and transmit the video.

  However, in the conventional system, since the transmission format is determined on the transmission side, it is not possible to select an optimal transmission format including the performance of the network through which the transmission is made and the purpose of use of the video data.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to enable processing of video data optimal for the use environment and required quality.

An imaging apparatus according to the present invention is an imaging apparatus capable of transmitting video data,
Generating means for generating capability information indicating the processing capability of the imaging apparatus in response to a request from the network device;
Transmitting means for transmitting the capability information generated by the generating means to the network device;
Setting means for receiving format information for processing video data determined by the network device based on the capability information, and performing setting corresponding to the format information in a processing unit for performing imaging;
Video data generating means for generating video data corresponding to the format information based on the setting of the setting means;
Video data transmission means for transmitting the video data generated by the video data generation means to the network device;
It is characterized by providing.

Alternatively, the network device according to the present invention is a network device capable of receiving video data transmitted from the imaging apparatus,
Receiving means for receiving capability information indicating the processing capability of the imaging device;
Determining means for determining format information for processing the video data based on the received capability information and the processing capability of the network device;
Notification means for notifying the imaging apparatus of the format information determined by the determination means;
Video data receiving means for receiving video data corresponding to the format information transmitted from the imaging device;
It is characterized by providing.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to process video data optimal for the use environment and required quality.

  Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the constituent elements described in this embodiment are merely examples, and the technical scope of the present invention is determined by the scope of claims, and is limited by the following individual embodiments. is not.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a video data processing system to which the present invention can be applied. An imaging apparatus (camera) 100 includes a communication unit 107 capable of communication conforming to standards such as TCP / IP and UDP / IP, and a transmission communication control unit 108 that performs transmission control of video data. Can be sent. The communication unit 107 of the camera 100 is connected to a network 150 such as a LAN or the Internet via a network wiring 120. The transmission communication control unit 108 can be configured by a dedicated control circuit or CPU and peripheral circuits.

  The camera 100 includes a lens 101, an image sensor 102 such as a CCD, an image signal processing unit 103, and a resolution conversion processing unit 104 as components. The camera 100 also includes an encoding processing unit 105 that performs an encoding process in a format such as JPEG, MPEG4, and H264, and a transmission memory 106 that temporarily stores the encoded video data.

  The display device (display) 130 can receive and display video data transmitted from the camera 100 via the network 150 as a network device. The display 130 includes a communication unit 131 connected to the network 150 via the network wiring 140 and a reception communication control unit 132 that performs reception control of video data. The reception communication control unit 132 can also be configured by a dedicated control circuit or a CPU and peripheral circuits. The display 130 also includes a reception memory 133 that temporarily stores received video data, a decoding processing unit 134 that performs decoding in a format such as JPEG, MPEG4, and H264, a display processing unit 135, and a display unit 136 such as a liquid crystal display.

(Operation of camera 100)
First, a subject image captured by the lens 101 of the camera 100 is photoelectrically converted by the image sensor 102. The imaging signal processing unit 103 generates a standard image based on the result of photoelectric conversion by the imaging element 102. The resolution conversion processing unit 104 can convert a standard image into images of various sizes.

  For example, when the effective pixel number of the image sensor 102 is 1920 × 1080, the standard image generated by the image signal processing unit 103 has the same resolution. The resolution conversion processing unit 104 can reduce or partially cut out the standard image, and convert the resolution to a normally used image size such as 1280x960, 640x480, 320x240, 160x120, or an arbitrary size. The encoding processing unit 105 can convert the image of each size converted by the resolution conversion processing unit 104 into video data in accordance with a standard encoding method such as JPEG, MPEG4, or H264. This video data is temporarily stored in the transmission memory 106. The transmission communication control unit 108 controls the communication unit 107 to transmit the video data stored in the transmission memory 106 to the network 150 via the network wiring 120.

(Operation of display 130)
Data transmitted from the camera 100 to the network 150 is input to the communication unit 131 via the network wiring 120. The communication unit 131 can perform communication conforming to standards such as TCP / IP and UDP / IP, and executes video data reception processing under reception control of the reception communication control unit 132. The video data received by the communication unit 131 is temporarily stored in the reception memory 133.

  The decoding processing unit 134 decodes the video data stored in the reception memory 133 by the same method as that used at the time of encoding, and generates a received video. The display processing unit 135 converts the received video into a signal suitable for the display unit 136 and displays it on the display unit 136.

  Through the above operation, an image captured by the camera 100 is displayed on the display unit 136 of the display 130 via the network 150.

  In FIG. 1, only a combination of one camera 100 and one display 130 is shown for simplification of explanation. In an actual configuration, a video data processing system can be configured with a plurality of cameras and a plurality of displays. In that case, video data can be transmitted from one camera to a plurality of displays, and one display can receive and display video data from a plurality of cameras.

(Operation example of the transmission communication control unit 108 and the reception communication control unit 132)
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for exemplarily explaining the processing flow of the transmission communication control unit 108 and the reception communication control unit 132. In the figure, the solid line represents the flow of operation, and the broken line represents the flow of data and commands via communication.

(Operation of transmission communication control unit 108)
First, the operation of the transmission communication control unit 108 is started in S201. In step S <b> 202, the transmission communication control unit 108 receives a connection request to the camera 100 transmitted from the display 130 under the control of the reception communication control unit 132.

  In step S203, the transmission communication control unit 108 determines whether the connection request source is a connectable partner. The transmission communication control unit 108 transmits a connection permission to the connection request source if the connection request source is a connectable partner and the camera 100 is in an operable state. The following transmission operation is performed to the connection request source.

  Next, in S204, the transmission communication control unit 108 receives a request for capability information (capability information request) transmitted from the display 130 under the control of the reception communication control unit 132 that is the connection request source. Here, capability information refers to information indicating the transmission capability of video data in the camera 100.

  Upon receiving the capability information request, the transmission communication control unit 108 of the camera 100 generates capability information based on the function and performance of each unit in the camera 100, the parameter setting range, the current operation status, and the like in S205. . Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In step S206, the transmission communication control unit 108 of the camera 100 transmits the capability information generated in the previous step S205 to the reception communication control unit 132 that is the request source.

  In step S <b> 207, the transmission communication control unit 108 of the camera 100 receives format information (format) for displaying video data transmitted from the display 130 under the control of the reception communication control unit 132.

  Upon receiving the format, the transmission communication control unit 108 of the camera 100 generates setting information necessary for generating video data corresponding to the format in S208.

  In step S209, the transmission communication control unit 108 sets the setting information in the processing units (the imaging signal processing unit 103, the resolution conversion processing unit 104, and the encoding processing unit 105) for capturing video data corresponding to the format information. ON (Camera operation setting). For example, if the image size in the format is 640 × 480, the transmission communication control unit 108 calculates a reduction magnification for obtaining this size from the number of pixels of the image sensor 102 and sets the magnification in the resolution conversion processing unit. When the encoding method is MPEG4, the transmission communication control unit 108 sets the method to the encoding processing unit 105. The imaging signal processing unit 103, the resolution conversion processing unit 104, and the encoding processing unit 105 function as video data generation means, and can generate video data corresponding to the format based on this setting.

  In step S <b> 210, the transmission communication control unit 108 of the camera 100 starts receiving a command transmitted from the reception communication control unit 132 of the display 130. When the command is received, the transmission communication control unit 108 determines the command type in S211.

  If it is determined in S211 that the command is a video transmission request, in S212, the transmission communication control unit 108 functions as a video data transmission unit, and uses video data temporarily stored in the transmission memory 106 as a command transmission source. Send.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S211 that the command is a disconnection request, the transmission communication control unit 108 ends the operation in S213. Thereafter, the process returns to S201, and the transmission communication control unit 108 repeats the same process.

(Operation of the reception communication control unit 132)
The operation of the reception communication control unit 132 is started in S220. In step S <b> 221, the reception communication control unit 132 transmits a connection request to the camera 100. The following transmission operation is performed on the camera 100.

  In S222, the reception communication control unit 132 receives the connection permission transmitted from the camera 100 under the control of the transmission communication control unit 108.

  When the connection permission is received, in S223, the reception communication control unit 132 transmits a capability information request (capability information request).

  In S224, the reception communication control unit 132 receives the capability information transmitted from the camera 100 under the control of the transmission communication control unit 108.

  In S225, the reception communication control unit 132 selects the capability information and the processing capability of the display 130 (the function and performance of the decoding processing unit 134 and the display processing unit 135) or a selection according to the display purpose input from the user. Determine the format of the video data. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In S226, the reception communication control unit 132 transmits the format determined in the previous step S225 to the camera 100 (format notification).

  In S227, the reception communication control unit 132 transmits a video transmission request to the camera 100 as a command.

  In step S <b> 228, the reception communication control unit 132 controls the communication unit 131 to receive video data transmitted from the camera 100 under the control of the transmission communication control unit 108. Details of this processing will be described later with reference to FIG.

  In S229, the reception communication control unit 132 displays the received video data on the display unit 136.

  In S230, the reception communication control unit 132 determines whether the display of the video data is completed according to a predetermined condition. As a display completion determination condition, for example, the reception communication control unit 132 starts a time measurement unit (timer) (not shown) from the start of video data display to start time measurement, and determines that display is complete after a predetermined time has elapsed. It is possible. Alternatively, the reception communication control unit 132 can determine that the display is complete on the condition of the user's operation input.

  If the display of the video data is not completed in the determination of S230 (S230-No), the process returns to step S227, and the reception communication control unit 132 repeats the same process.

  On the other hand, when the display of the video data is completed in the determination of S230 (S230-Yes), in S231, the reception communication control unit 132 transmits a disconnection request to the camera 100 as a command, and ends the processing (S232). .

  In the description of FIG. 2, for simplification of description, the operation when one camera 100 and one display 130 are used has been described. The gist of the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, a system configuration corresponding to a plurality of cameras and a plurality of displays by operating the operation of FIG. 2 in parallel corresponding to a plurality of displays and cameras. Is also possible. For example, the transmission communication control unit 108 and the reception communication control unit 132 include a plurality of control circuits and a plurality of registers for storing operation states, and the control circuits can execute parallel operations by switching the registers in a time division manner. Become.

(Example of processing capacity list)
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a list of processing capability information (processing capability list) determined by the function and performance of the camera 100 among the capability information generated in S205 of FIG. In this example, the processing capability information is expressed in a tree shape, but the actual file format can be expressed in, for example, an XML format or a text format with an index. As illustrated in FIG. 3, it is possible to select a necessary format in the display by classifying and transmitting the internal functions and performance of the camera 100 corresponding to the operation mode (for example, JPEG, MPEG4). I can do it.

(Details of capability information generation process)
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the detailed information processing flow of S205 (capability information generation step) in FIG. The process of FIG. 4 is executed under the overall control of the transmission communication control unit 108.

  In step S <b> 401, the transmission communication control unit 108 obtains a remaining resolution conversion capacity (a margin for resolution conversion capacity) from the maximum processing capacity of the resolution conversion processing unit 104 and the ratio of the current resolution conversion load. The processing capability of the resolution conversion processing unit 104 is related to the image size, the frame rate, and the reduction rate. For example, assuming that the resolution is 120 frames · M pixels / second in terms of 1/2 reduction, if a video of 2M pixels is reduced by half at 30fps, processing of 60 frames · M pixels / second is being performed. 50% remaining capacity.

  In step S <b> 402, the transmission communication control unit 108 obtains the remaining encoding processing capacity (encoding processing capacity margin) from the maximum processing capacity of the encoding processing unit 105 and the ratio of the current encoding processing load. The processing capability of the encoding processing unit 105 is related to the image size, frame rate, and encoding method. For example, compared to the JPEG system, MPEG4 requires processing power of 2 to 4 times for unidirectional prediction and 8 to 15 times for bidirectional prediction. Based on these states, the transmission communication control unit 108 obtains the current processing capacity and obtains the remaining capacity.

  In step S <b> 403, the transmission communication control unit 108 obtains the remaining communication unit capacity (communication processing capacity margin) from the maximum communication capability of the communication unit 107 and the ratio of the current communication amount. For example, when communicating using a 100BASE-TX interface, the theoretical maximum communication capacity is 100 Mbps, but in reality, the communication capacity of video data is 80 to 90% by adding a header or footer to the data. It will be about. Further, the maximum communication capability is determined by the access time to the transmission memory 106, the processing time in the communication unit 107, and the like. On the other hand, the current communication state is greatly increased in the quantization value (Q value) of the quantization process performed at the time of encoding in addition to the image size, frame rate and encoding method of the currently transmitted video data. Dependent. The transmission communication control unit 108 can obtain the remaining communication unit capacity by obtaining the correspondence table between the Q value and the data amount or by obtaining the current communication data amount per time.

  In S404, the transmission communication control unit 108 obtains capability information based on the processing capability list (FIG. 3), resolution conversion remaining capability (S401), encoding processing remaining capability (S402), communication unit remaining capability (S403), and an increase rate calculation parameter. Generate.

  Here, the increase rate calculation parameter is a parameter for calculating the increase rate of the load in the processing of the resolution conversion processing unit 104, the encoding processing unit 105, and the communication unit 107 when video data is transmitted in a certain format. .

(Details of format determination process)
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a detailed information processing flow of S225 (format determination step) in FIG. The process of FIG. 5 is executed under the overall control of the reception communication control unit 132.

  In step S501, the reception communication control unit 132 functions as a list generation unit, and extracts a processing capability list from the capability information received from the camera 100 in step S224.

  In S502, the reception communication control unit 132 generates a list of combinations of selectable formats based on the processing capability list extracted in S501 and the capabilities of the decoding processing unit 134 and the display processing unit 135. For example, when the decoding processing unit 134 supports only JPEG and the display size is 640 × 480 15 fps or less, 320 × 240 30 fps or less, the reception communication control unit 132 displays a list having the following options (1) and (2): Generate.

(1) Mode = JPEG size = 640x480 Frame rate = 15 fps or less Q value = 0 to 100
(2) Mode = JPEG size = 320 × 240 Frame rate = 30 fps or less Q value = 0-100.

  If there are other options available, a list with as many options as possible can be obtained.

  In S503, the reception communication control unit 132 extracts the resolution conversion remaining capacity, the remaining coding process capacity, the communication section remaining capacity, and the increase rate calculation parameter based on the capacity information received from the camera 100 in S224.

  In S504, the reception communication control unit 132 functions as a capability calculation unit, and increases the resolution conversion remaining capability, the remaining encoding processing capability, and the communication unit remaining capability when the respective formats generated in S502 are selected. Calculate based on percentage calculation parameters. The reception communication control unit 132 can calculate the required resolution conversion remaining capacity, encoding process remaining capacity, and communication section remaining capacity of the required format for each selectable format using the increase rate calculation parameter. . For a certain format, the frame rate and Q value vary. Therefore, for example, the reception communication control unit 132 sets the frame rate to the maximum, 1/2 of the maximum, 1/4 of the maximum, and calculates the Q value using some recommended values (for example, 40, 50, 60). Is possible.

  In S505, the reception communication control unit 132 sets, as selection candidates, combinations of those having a remaining capacity that are positive (plus) based on the calculation result calculated in S504. If each remaining capacity is positive, even if the camera 100 transmits the video data, there is no adverse effect on the transmission of the video data to the other display currently being performed, and the transmission according to the format can be performed to the own display. Is possible.

  On the other hand, if there is an ability to become negative (minus), there is a possibility that an adverse effect may occur on the transmission of video data to another display currently being performed. In this case, for example, there is a possibility that the image cannot be transmitted to the display itself and the video is interrupted.

  In step S506, the reception communication control unit 132 selects a combination having the highest image quality as a recommended setting from among the selection candidates obtained in step S505. At the time of selection, the reception communication control unit 132 obtains an image quality evaluation value using a predetermined function using the screen size, frame rate, and Q value as variables, and selects the one having the highest image quality evaluation value. As a user setting, selection criteria such as whether to prioritize the frame rate, the screen size, or the Q value are input in advance, and the reception communication control unit 132 determines the image quality evaluation value according to the selection criteria input. Can be selected, and the image with the highest image quality evaluation value can be selected.

  In step S507, the reception communication control unit 132 adds the selection candidates set in step S505, the remaining capacities calculated in step S504, and the recommended settings selected in step S506 to the list generated in step S502, and displays them in a selectable manner. Also, at this time, the reception communication control unit 132 can prevent the occurrence of adverse effects on transmission to other displays by displaying grayed out other than the selection candidates set in S505 so that they cannot be selected. It is.

  In addition, the reception communication control unit 132 can support the user's selection through display control such as displaying in the order of image quality using the image quality evaluation value obtained in S506.

  By the processing in S507, for example, a dialog or the like is displayed on the display unit 136, and the user can select any one format using a remote controller, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like (not shown).

  In S508, the reception communication control unit 132 determines the transmission format of the video data according to the user's selection.

(Details of video data reception process)
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a detailed information processing flow in S228 (video data receiving step) in FIG. The process of FIG. 6 is executed under the overall control of the reception communication control unit 132.

  In S601, the reception communication control unit 132 activates a timer (not shown) and records the reception start time of the video data (first timing step).

  In step S602, the reception communication control unit 132 starts receiving video data.

  In step S603, the reception communication control unit 132 determines whether reception of one block is completed as a video data break. If reception of one block of video data has not been completed, the reception communication control unit 132 returns the process to S602. “One block” is a segment of video data, and differs depending on the encoding method and transmission format. For example, for JPEG, one screen or for MPEG4, one GOP (Group of Picture) is one block. It can be.

  On the other hand, when the reception of the video data of one block is completed (S603-Yes), the reception communication control unit 132 records the one-block reception end time with reference to the time measured by the timer in S604 (second time measurement). Process).

  In step S605, the reception communication control unit 132 functions as a data size calculation unit and calculates the data size of one block of video data.

  In S606, the reception communication control unit 132 calculates the actual communication rate from the size of the video data of one block calculated in S605, the reception start time recorded in S601, and the reception end time recorded in S604.

  In S <b> 607, the reception communication control unit 132 functions as a communication rate calculation unit, and calculates a necessary communication rate from the current setting format.

  In S608, the reception communication control unit 132 compares the actual communication rate calculated in S606 with the required communication rate calculated in S607. If the actual rate is lower than the required rate in the comparison in S608 (S608-No), the process proceeds to S609.

  In step S <b> 609, the reception communication control unit 132 controls the display processing unit 135 to display a communication rate shortage warning below the frame rate (communication rate) at which the actual rate is required on the display unit 136. Thereby, the user can know that the video data stays in the camera 100 or can be transmitted only at a frame rate lower than the set frame rate. The user can prevent the operation as intended from being performed by taking measures such as changing the setting according to this.

  On the other hand, if the reception communication control unit 132 determines that the actual rate exceeds the necessary rate in the comparison in S608 (S608-Yes), there is no possibility of occurrence of a problem, so the next step (S229 in FIG. 2). Go to).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to display video data based on a format optimal for the usage environment and required quality of the camera 100 and the display 130.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a video data processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 7, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components (camera 100, display 130) or corresponding parts as those in the first embodiment.

  As a network device, the storage device 700 can receive video data from the network 150 and store it in the disk device 706, and can transmit the video reproduced from the disk device 706 to the network.

  The storage device 700 includes a communication unit 701 connected to the network 150 via the network wiring 710 and a storage communication control unit 702 that performs control for receiving or transmitting video data. The accumulated communication control unit 702 can be configured by a dedicated control circuit or a CPU and peripheral circuits.

  The storage device 700 includes a transmission / reception memory 703 that temporarily stores received video data or video data to be transmitted, and a file management unit 704 that manages the video data as a file. The storage device 700 further includes a disk device 706 such as a hard disk drive, an optical disk drive, or a flash memory disk, and a disk control unit 705 that controls the disk device 706 and functions as storage processing means.

  The storage device 700 can execute a recording operation and a reproduction operation. In the recording operation, data transmitted from the camera 100 to the network 150 is input to the communication unit 701 via the network wiring 710. The video data input to the communication unit 701 is subjected to reception processing under the control of the accumulation communication control unit 702 and temporarily stored (accumulated) in the transmission / reception memory 703. The received data is filed by the file management unit 704. This file is converted into a signal suitable for the disk device 706 by the disk control unit 705 and stored (accumulated) in the disk device 706.

  In the reproduction operation, the file stored (accumulated) in the disk device 706 is read by the disk control unit 705, and the file management unit 704 extracts video data from the read file. Then, the file management unit 704 temporarily stores (accumulates) the extracted video data in the transmission / reception memory 703.

  The communication unit 701 transmits the video data temporarily stored (accumulated) in the transmission / reception memory 703 to the network 150 via the network wiring 710 under the control of the accumulation communication control unit 702. The video data transmitted here is displayed on the display 130, but the processing in the display 130 is the same as that described in the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

(Operation example of transmission communication control unit 108 and storage communication control unit 702)
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing flow of the transmission communication control unit 108 by the accumulated communication control unit 702. The same processes as those in FIG. 2 described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The operation of the accumulated communication control unit 702 is the same from the start to the reception of the capability information, from the operations S220 to S224 of the reception communication control unit 132 in FIG. Here, it is assumed that the operation corresponding to S220 to S224 is executed mainly by the stored communication control unit 702.

  In step S801, the storage communication control unit 702 selects the video according to the capability information received in step S224, the function and performance of the file management unit 704 and the disk control unit 705 in the storage device, and the display purpose input from the user. Determine the format of the data.

  The operations from the format notification step (S226) for notifying the camera 100 of the format to the video data reception step (S228) are the same as the operations of the reception communication control unit 132 in FIG. Here, it is assumed that the operation corresponding to S226 to S228 is executed mainly by the accumulated communication control unit 702.

  In step S <b> 802, the accumulation communication control unit 702 controls the communication unit 701 to receive video data transmitted from the camera 100 under the control of the transmission communication control unit 108.

  In step S <b> 803, the storage communication control unit 702 controls the file management unit 704 to convert the received video data into a file, and stores (accumulates) the file in the disk device 706 under the control of the disk control unit 705.

  In step S804, the accumulation communication control unit 702 determines whether the accumulation of the video data (file) is completed according to a predetermined condition.

  As a determination condition for the completion of storage, the storage communication control unit 702 can determine the completion of storage of video data (file) upon receiving a notification from the disk control unit 705.

  If the accumulation of video data (file) is not completed in the determination in S804 (S804-No), the process returns to step S227, and the accumulation communication control unit 702 repeats the same process.

  On the other hand, when the accumulation of video data (file) is completed in the determination in S804 (S804-Yes), in S231, the accumulation communication control unit 702 transmits a disconnection request to the camera 100 as a command, and ends the process. (S232).

  The storage device 700 receives the video data transmitted from the camera 100 via the network 150 and stores it in the disk device 706. Further, the storage device 700 can transmit the video reproduced from the disk device 706 to the display 130 via the network 150.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, video data can be stored and played back based on a format that is optimal for the usage environment and required quality of the camera 100 and the storage device 700.

<Third Embodiment>
Needless to say, the object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying a system or apparatus with a computer-readable storage medium storing the program code of the computer program that implements the functions of the above-described embodiments. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reading and executing 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 storage medium storing the program code constitutes 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 nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by executing the program code read by the computer. In addition, an OS (operating system) running on a computer performs part or all of actual processing based on an instruction of a program code, and the above-described embodiment is realized by the processing. Needless to say.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a video data processing system according to a first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustratively explaining the flow of processing of a transmission communication control unit and a reception communication control unit 132. It is a figure which illustrates the list | wrist of processing capability information. It is a figure explaining the flow of the detailed process of S205 (capability information generation process) of FIG. It is a figure explaining the flow of a detailed process of S225 (format determination process) of FIG. It is a figure explaining the flow of a detailed process of S228 (video data reception process) of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the example of whole structure of the video data processing system concerning 2nd Embodiment. 5 is a flowchart for exemplarily explaining a processing flow of a transmission communication control unit.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Camera 102 Image pick-up element 107 Communication part 108 Transmission communication control part 150 Network 130 Display 131 Communication part 132 Reception communication control part 136 Display part 700 Accumulation apparatus 701 Communication part 702 Accumulation communication control part 706 Disk apparatus

Claims (16)

An imaging device capable of transmitting video data,
Generating means for generating capability information indicating the processing capability of the imaging apparatus in response to a request from the network device;
Transmitting means for transmitting the capability information generated by the generating means to the network device;
Setting means for receiving format information for processing video data determined by the network device based on the capability information, and performing setting corresponding to the format information in a processing unit for performing imaging;
Video data generating means for generating video data corresponding to the format information based on the setting of the setting means;
Video data transmission means for transmitting the video data generated by the video data generation means to the network device;
An imaging apparatus comprising:   The generation unit generates the capability information by obtaining a margin of the processing unit based on a maximum processing capability of the processing unit for performing the imaging and a current load of the processing unit. The imaging device according to claim 1. A network device capable of receiving video data transmitted from an imaging device,
Receiving means for receiving capability information indicating the processing capability of the imaging device;
Determining means for determining format information for processing the video data based on the received capability information and the processing capability of the network device;
Notification means for notifying the imaging apparatus of the format information determined by the determination means;
Video data receiving means for receiving video data corresponding to the format information transmitted from the imaging device;
A network device comprising:   4. The network device according to claim 3, further comprising display processing means for performing processing for displaying the video data received by the video data receiving means on a display means.   The network device according to claim 3, further comprising storage processing means for performing processing for storing the video data received by the video data receiving means in the storage means. The determining means includes
List generating means for generating a selectable combination list of format information based on the received capability information and the processing capability of the network device;
Capability calculation means for calculating the required capability of the imaging device for each of the selectable format information,
Based on the calculation result of the capability of the imaging device, an addition unit that adds a recommended setting that displays the video data with the highest image quality to the list, and displays it on the display unit;
The network device according to claim 3, further comprising: The video data receiving means includes
Timing means capable of measuring the reception start time of the video data and the reception end time of the video data;
Data size calculating means for calculating the data size of one block of video data as a delimiter of the video data;
Communication rate calculation means for calculating an actual communication rate based on the reception start time, the reception end time of the video data of the one block, and the data size;
The actual communication rate is compared with the required communication rate, and when the actual communication rate is lower than the required communication rate, a warning about insufficient communication rate is displayed on the display means. A comparison means;
The network device according to claim 3, further comprising: An information processing method in an imaging apparatus capable of transmitting video data,
A generating step for generating capability information indicating the processing capability of the imaging apparatus in response to a request from the network device;
A transmission step of transmitting the capability information generated by the generation step to the network device;
A setting step of receiving format information for processing the video data determined by the network device based on the capability information, and a setting unit performing setting corresponding to the format information in a processing unit for performing imaging;
A video data generating step for generating video data corresponding to the format information based on the setting in the setting step;
A video data transmitting means for transmitting the video data generated by the video data generating step to the network device;
An information processing method comprising:   In the generating step, the capability information is generated by obtaining a margin of the processing unit based on a maximum processing capability of the processing unit for performing the imaging and a current load of the processing unit. The information processing method according to claim 8. An information processing method in a network device capable of receiving video data transmitted from an imaging apparatus,
A receiving step in which receiving means receives capability information indicating the processing capability of the imaging apparatus;
A determining step for determining format information for processing the video data based on the received capability information and the processing capability of the network device;
A notification step of notifying the imaging apparatus of the format information determined by the determination step;
A video data receiving step for receiving video data corresponding to the format information transmitted from the imaging device;
An information processing method comprising:   The information processing method according to claim 10, further comprising a display processing step in which the display processing unit performs processing for displaying the video data received in the video data receiving step on the display unit.   11. The information processing method according to claim 10, further comprising a storage processing step in which the storage processing unit performs processing for storing the video data received in the video data receiving step in the storage unit. The determination step includes
A list generation step of generating a list of selectable format information combinations based on the received capability information and the processing capability of the network device;
A capability calculating step for calculating a required capability of the imaging apparatus for each of the selectable format information;
An adding step of adding a recommended setting that displays the video data with the highest image quality to the list based on the calculation result of the capability of the imaging apparatus, and displaying the list on the display unit;
The information processing method according to claim 10, further comprising: The video data receiving step includes
A first time measuring step in which the time measuring means measures the reception start time of the video data;
A data size calculating step for calculating a data size of one block of video data as a delimiter of the video data;
A second time measuring step in which the time measuring means measures the reception end time of the video data of the one block;
A communication rate calculating means for calculating an actual communication rate based on the reception start time, the reception end time of the video data of the one block, and the data size;
The comparison means compares the actual communication rate with the required communication rate, and if the actual communication rate is lower than the required communication rate, a warning about insufficient communication rate is displayed. A comparison process displayed on the means;
The information processing method according to claim 10, further comprising:   15. A computer program that causes a computer to execute the information processing method according to claim 8.   A computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program according to claim 15.

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