JP2010170423A - Information processor and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor for automatically selecting an appropriate camera device for inputting images when a display for outputting images is set, and to provide a program. <P>SOLUTION: When a user sets a display for outputting images, a CPU 201 reads switching information stored in an HDD 205. In the switching information, the display for displaying images and the camera device for taking photographs thereof are associated with each other beforehand. The CPU 201 selects the camera device associated with the display for outputting images as a camera device for photographing on the basis of the switching information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus setting method using an information processing apparatus, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus that selects an imaging apparatus based on a display state of a display apparatus that outputs an image, and a program executed in the information processing apparatus. .

In recent years, an information processing apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer) has been provided with a PC with a built-in camera device that can capture still images and videos, and users can use it to perform video chats with other users. It has become possible to do. In addition, a gesture remote control function has been put into practical use in which a user operates a PC from a remote location without using a remote control based on the movement of the user's hand captured by the camera device (going toward the PC). .

A built-in LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is installed as the main PC display device. As an external display interface of a PC, there are many external display outputs such as an external monitor output by analog RGB and a TV output by an S terminal or HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface). On the other hand, in addition to the built-in camera device, high-quality, high-performance external camera devices that support USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection are widely used. It can also be installed at the position. The PC can use the same video chat and gesture remote control as those of the built-in display device and camera device by using these external display device and external camera device.

During a video chat or gesture remote control operation, the user is usually facing the display device. This is because the user needs to use the PC while checking the operation of the chat partner and the result of the remote control operation. If there is no camera device that is shooting in the display direction of the display device, it is difficult for the user to operate. Therefore, it is preferable to switch the camera device for photographing in accordance with the switching of the display device being displayed.

For example, a PC that can easily switch display devices by providing a display device switching button has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). At this time, there is no disclosure of switching the camera device in accordance with the switching of the display device, and it is necessary for the user himself to sequentially switch the camera device used for photographing using a shortcut key or the like.

JP 2004-171131 A

As described above, the selection of the photographing device used for photographing requires the user to perform a setting operation for each setting of the display device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an information processing apparatus for selecting an appropriate photographing apparatus that automatically inputs an image when a display apparatus is set, and a program executed in the information processing apparatus The purpose is to do.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an output unit capable of outputting a display image to a plurality of display devices, a plurality of input units capable of acquiring a photographed image from the photographing device, the display device, and the photographing device. According to the storage device for storing the correspondence relationship and the display device connected to the output means for displaying the display image, the photographing from one of the input means to which the photographing device indicated by the correspondence relationship is connected And setting means for setting the input means so as to acquire an image.

  The program according to the present invention includes an output unit capable of outputting display images to a plurality of display devices, an input unit capable of inputting captured images from the plurality of photographing devices, a storage unit, and a processing unit. A program executed in the apparatus, wherein the storage unit stores a correspondence relationship with the display device and the imaging device, and the display device connected to the output unit is displayed. Accordingly, the processing unit is configured to set the input unit so as to acquire the captured image from one of the input units to which the imaging device indicated by the correspondence relationship is connected.

  The present invention is an information processing apparatus that automatically selects a photographing apparatus to be used for photographing based on a display state of the display apparatus by setting an output destination display apparatus that displays an image, and is executed in the information processing apparatus Program can be realized.

The figure which shows an example of the display imaging | photography system in this embodiment The figure which shows an example of the internal structure of the display imaging | photography system in this embodiment, and PC The figure which shows an example of the positional relationship of the display imaging | photography system and user in this embodiment The figure which shows an example of the display pattern of the image information with respect to the display device in this embodiment The figure which shows an example of the switching information in this embodiment Flow chart showing an example of the camera device selection process flow when setting / changing the setting of the output destination display device

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a display photographing system 10 in the present embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a display photographing system 10, a PC 11, a main body camera 12, an external monitor 13, and an external camera 14.

The PC 11 is, for example, a personal computer, and is an information processing apparatus capable of various information processing. As an example of information processing, the PC 11 has a video chat function and a gesture remote control function.

The main camera 12 is provided on the display housing side of the PC 11, and the PC 11 has a function of taking an image of the front surface of the display side housing. In the present embodiment, the main camera 12 is illustrated as being installed on the LCD of the PC 11, but the present invention is not limited to this.

The external monitor 13 is an image display device such as an LCD, and has a function of displaying image information input from the outside. The external monitor 13 is connected to the PC 11 through an interface capable of transmitting image information such as HDMI, S terminal, analog RGB, and the like. In the present embodiment, the external monitor 13 is exemplified as an LCD, but is not limited to this, and other display devices such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitor, a TV, and the like are conceivable.

The external camera 14 is a camera device that can capture an image in front of the lens, and is connected to the PC 11 through an interface capable of transmitting image information.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the display photographing system 10 and the PC 11 in the present embodiment. 2 shows the display photographing system 10, PC 11, CPU 201, chip set 202, ROM 203, RAM 204, HDD 205, ODD 206, input device 207, input control unit 208, display control unit 209, VRAM 210, LCD 211, external camera I / F 212, external A monitor 13, a main camera 12, and an external camera 14 are shown.

  The CPU 201 is a central processing unit and controls the entire PC 11. It also has a function of executing a program and executing a predetermined process corresponding to the program.

  The chip set 202 is an integrated circuit including a memory controller, a bus bridge, an IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) controller, various I / O controllers, and the like, and has a function of enabling communication between various connected modules. The chipset 202 is connected to the external camera I / F 212 and the main camera 12, and includes a selector that switches the image input destination camera device.

The ROM 203 is composed of a semiconductor memory and stores a program executed by the CPU 201.

The RAM 204 is composed of a semiconductor memory and is used as a program and data development area when the CPU 201 processes the program.

The HDD 205 is a magnetic disk device, for example, and is used as a non-volatile area for storing data of the PC 11. Further, the HDD 205 has switching information in which an output destination display device is associated with a camera device that performs shooting. Hereinafter, the LCD 211 and the external monitor 13 are collectively referred to as a display device, and the main body camera 12 and the external camera 14 are collectively referred to as a camera device.

The ODD 206 is, for example, an optical disk drive, and stores programs, data, and the like used by the PC 11 as a removable medium. In this embodiment, the ODD 206 is exemplified as a removable medium of the PC 11, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various other forms such as a flash memory are conceivable.

The input device 207 is an information input device to the PC 11 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and has a function of transmitting user operation information to the input control unit 208.

The input control unit 208 is a control unit that controls input information from the input device 207. It has a function of inputting user operation information transmitted from the input device 207 to the PC 11 as an electrical signal.

The display control unit 209 has a function of controlling image output to the display device, generates an image to be output in accordance with a drawing instruction of the CPU 201, and outputs image information to the connected display device. It includes a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) that is a chip, a selector that switches a display device as an image output destination, a converter that converts a digital signal into an analog output, and the like.

The VRAM 210 includes a semiconductor memory and has a function of holding image information displayed on the display device.

The LCD 211 is a liquid crystal display, for example, and is provided on the surface of the PC 11 and has a function of displaying image information output from the PC 11 to the user.

The external camera I / F 212 is an interface for connecting the external camera 14 and the PC 11, and has a function of inputting image information transmitted from the external camera 14 to the PC 11.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the positional relationship between the display photographing system 10 and the user in the present embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a PC 11, a main body camera 12, an external monitor 13, an external camera 14, and a user.

When using functions such as video chat and gesture remote control in the PC 11, an image is usually displayed on the LCD 211 and the user's image is captured by the main body camera 12. In this embodiment, the external monitor 13, the external camera 14 and the PC 11 are captured. Are connected, and an image can be displayed on the external monitor 13 and captured by the external camera 14. When using these functions (video chat, gesture remote control, etc.), the user is positioned in front of the camera device that performs shooting, and faces the camera device. For example, when the display device of the output destination is switched from the LCD 211 to the external monitor 13 while using these functions, if the camera 12 is used for shooting without switching the camera device, the user should face the viewing direction. The direction will be different. For this reason, when the output destination display device is switched, it is necessary to switch the camera device for photographing. Further, in the present embodiment (in FIG. 3), the same range exists in the capture space of the main camera 12 and the external camera 14, but the capture space may be completely different depending on the arrangement of each. When using these functions (video chat, gesture remote control, etc.), it is preferable that the display direction of the display device and the shooting direction of the camera device are the same.

In the conventional PC, when the display device of the output destination is switched, it is necessary for the user to switch the camera device for photographing by himself / herself with a shortcut key or the like. Based on the above, it has a function of automatically selecting a camera device to be photographed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display pattern of image information on the display device in the present embodiment. FIG. 4 shows the display state of the screen in each of the patterns A to E of the LCD 211 and the external monitor 13.

Examples of the image output mode from the PC 11 for the display device include “single display”, “simultaneous display”, and “multi-monitor”. “Single display” is an image output mode in which an image is output only to either the LCD 211 or the external monitor 13. “Simultaneous display” is an image output mode in which the same image information is output to both the LCD 211 and the external monitor 13. “Multi-monitor” is an image output mode in which different image information is output to the LCD 211 and the external monitor 13, respectively. In the present embodiment, the two pieces of image information output in the “multi-monitor” are called a primary screen and a secondary screen, respectively. In FIG. 5, the primary screen is shown as “1” and the secondary screen is shown as “2”. A screen displayed in the single display and the simultaneous display is also called a primary screen.

The display pattern of image information in this embodiment illustrates five patterns A to E. Pattern A is “single display” and is a display pattern in which image information is displayed only on LCD 211. Pattern B is also “single display”, and pattern B is a display pattern in which image information is displayed only on external monitor 13. Pattern C is “simultaneous display”, which is a display pattern for displaying the same image information on the LCD 211 and the external monitor 13. Pattern D is “multi-monitor”, which is a display mode in which a primary screen is displayed on the LCD 211 and a secondary screen is displayed on the external monitor 13. Pattern E is also a “multi-monitor”, which is a display mode in which a secondary screen is displayed on the LCD 211 and a primary screen is displayed on the external monitor 13. In the present embodiment, five display patterns are exemplified. However, the number of patterns varies depending on the number of connected display devices and the content of the image information. Therefore, the display patterns are not limited to these five patterns.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the switching information 50 in the present embodiment. FIG. 5 shows switching information 50, a counter item 51, an image output mode item 52, a primary screen display device item 53, a secondary screen display device item 54, and a used camera device item 55.

The switching information 50 is a table stored in the HDD 205 and describing a correspondence relationship between an output destination display device and a camera device that performs shooting. The PC 11 selects a camera device that performs shooting based on the switching information 50. The switching information 50 has items of a counter item 51, an image output mode item 52, a primary screen display device item 53, a secondary screen display device item 54, and a used camera device item 55.

The counter item 51 shows identifiers of serial numbers from 1 set for each display pattern of image information, and in this embodiment, Nos. 1 to 5 correspond to patterns A to E, respectively.

The image output mode item 52 describes the image output mode in each of the above display patterns.

In the primary screen display device item 53, information on a display device for displaying a primary image in each of the above patterns is described.

In the secondary screen display device item 54, information on a display device that displays the secondary image in each of the above patterns is described.

In the used camera device item 55, information of the camera device to be used is written in each of the above patterns.

The PC 11 acquires information on the display state of the display device when using functions such as video chat and gesture remote control, and selects a camera device to be used based on the switching information 50. For example, when the PC 11 outputs an image only to the external monitor 13, the counter is No. 2 and the camera device to be used is the external camera 14.

The contents of the switching information 50 can be arbitrarily set by the user, and the user can change the setting to a desired setting depending on the method of use. When the user inputs change information to the PC 11, the CPU 201 changes the contents of the switching information 50 stored in the HDD 205. For example, in the display pattern C (when simultaneous display is performed on the LCD 211 and the external monitor 13), the camera device used is the main camera 12 as a default in this embodiment, but the user uses the external camera 14 in the pattern C. When desired, the user can change the setting of the camera device item 55 (counter No. 3) in the pattern C of the switching information 50 from the main camera 12 to the external camera 14, and the camera device setting used is changed by the user. It is possible to set according to the method.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a process flow for selecting a camera device when setting / changing the setting of a display device as an output destination in the present embodiment.

In this embodiment, when the PC 11 uses functions such as video chat and gesture remote control, it is necessary to first set a display device for displaying. When the display device is not designated by the user, a single display is performed on the LCD 211. Also, the display method setting can be changed while these functions are used, and when the display device setting / setting change is performed, the following camera device determination processing flow is entered.

First, the CPU 201 determines whether a display device as an image output destination has been set (S601). When the setting is not performed (No), the process returns to S601 again. When the setting is made (Yes), the CPU 201 acquires the switching information 50 from the HDD 205. As described above, the switching information 50 is associated with an output destination display device and a camera device to be used. Next, the CPU 201 sets the loop counter to 1 (S603). The loop here is a loop for searching for the display pattern of the display state set in S601 from the switching information 50. The CPU 201 determines whether or not the display state of the display screen set in S601 matches the display device information of the counter set in S603 of the switching information 50 (S604). If they are different (No), the CPU 201 adds 1 to the loop counter (S605), and returns to S604. If the display state of the display screen set in S604 matches the display device information of the counter set in S603 of the switching information 50 (Yes), the CPU 201 uses the camera device in the counter with the matching switching information 50 Is read (S606). If the camera device used in the used camera device information read in S606 is the main camera 12 (S607, Yes), the chipset 202 sets the input camera device to the main camera 12 according to the instruction of the CPU 201. The use of the external camera 14 is invalidated (S608). If the camera device used in the used camera device information read in S606 is the external camera 14 (No in S607), the chipset 202 sets the input camera device to the external camera 14 according to the instruction of the CPU 201. Then, the use of the main body camera 12 is invalidated (S609). When S608 and S609 are completed, the camera device setting process flow in this embodiment is completed.

In the multi-monitor display, in addition to switching by operating the shortcut key, when displaying as the same screen connected to two display devices, one of the application windows used on the desktop is switched. A method of recognizing display device switching such as switching between a primary screen and a secondary screen by moving from a display device to the other display device and switching the camera device is also conceivable. Thereby, even when the display device switching operation by the shortcut key is not performed, it is possible to suitably select the camera device without the user being aware of it.

In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which one external monitor and one external camera are connected, but the present invention is not limited to this, and even when a plurality of external monitors and external cameras are connected, they are compatible with a plurality of devices. It is possible to cope with this by setting the switching setting. In this way, even when connected to multiple displays and camera devices, the user can select the camera device without being aware of it, so the user can eliminate the trouble of selecting the camera device. is there.

In this embodiment, video chat and gesture remote control are exemplified as usage applications, but the present invention is not limited to this. The camera device is selected by setting the display device, and the user faces the camera device. The present embodiment can be applied to a PC having an application or the like to be operated.

In the present embodiment, when a display device for display is set, the information processing device selects an imaging device that automatically performs shooting based on the display state of the display device without a user performing a setting operation. .

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of components disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, constituent elements over different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

10: Display shooting system 11: PC
12: Main camera 13: External monitor 14: External camera 201: CPU
202: Chipset 203: ROM
204: RAM
205: HDD
206: ODD
207: Input device 208: Input control unit 209: Display control unit 210: VRAM
211: LCD
212: External camera I / F
50: Switching information 51: Counter item 52: Image output mode item 53: Primary screen display device item 54: Secondary screen display device item 55: Camera device item used

Claims (7)

Output means capable of outputting display images to a plurality of display devices;
A plurality of input means capable of acquiring a photographed image from the photographing device;
Storage means for storing a correspondence relationship with the display device and the photographing device;
In response to a display device connected to the output means on which the display image is displayed, the input means is configured to acquire the captured image from one of the input means connected to the imaging device indicated by the correspondence relationship. An information processing apparatus comprising: setting means for setting The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising changing means for changing a correspondence relationship between the display device and the photographing apparatus stored in the storage means. The output means can output the display image to a main body display device provided in the information processing device and an external display device installed outside the information processing device,
The input means can acquire the captured image from a main body imaging device provided in the information processing device and an external imaging device installed outside the information processing device,
The storage means stores the external display device and the external photographing device in association with each other,
The setting means sets the input means so as to acquire the photographed image from the external photographing device when the display device connected to the output means on which the display image is displayed is set to the external display device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. The output means can output the display image to a main body display device provided in the information processing device and an external display device installed outside the information processing device,
The input means is capable of acquiring the captured image from a main body photographing device provided in the information processing device and an external photographing device installed outside the information processing device,
The storage means stores the main body display device and the main body photographing device in association with each other,
The setting means sets the input means to acquire the captured image from the main body photographing device when the display device connected to the output means on which the display image is displayed is set to the main body display device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is an information processing apparatus. The output means can output the display image to a main body display device provided in the information processing device and an external display device installed outside the information processing device,
The input means is capable of acquiring the captured image from a main body photographing device provided in the information processing device and an external photographing device installed outside the information processing device,
In the case where the display device connected to the output unit on which the display image is displayed is the main body display device and the external display device, the setting unit is configured according to the association stored in the storage unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit is set so as to acquire the captured image from one. Output means capable of outputting display images to a plurality of display devices;
Input means capable of inputting photographed images from a plurality of photographing devices;
Storage means;
A program executed in an information processing apparatus having processing means,
The storage means stores the correspondence between the display device and the photographing device,
In accordance with a display device on which the display image connected to the output means is displayed, the processing is performed so that the photographed image is acquired from one of the input means connected to the photographing device indicated by the correspondence relationship. A program for causing a means to set the input means. 7. The program according to claim 6, wherein the processing unit is caused to change the correspondence relationship between the display device and the photographing device stored in the storage unit so as to be changeable.

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