JP2012044587A - Image pickup apparatus and image pickup system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image pickup apparatus that solves the problem of complicated communication processing occurs during the transmission of images picked-up by the image pickup apparatus to a personal computer side that an additional transfer of all of the audio signal presses a communication band and raises the need for performing a sequence for audio-signal transfer.SOLUTION: An image pickup device of the present invention detects the maximum value of an audio signal level during a predetermined period prior to the reception of an image request instruction and transmit the maximum value as information on the audio signal level.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device or an imaging system, and more particularly to an imaging device or an imaging system that can transmit a captured image to an external device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an imaging apparatus has a function of connecting an external device such as a personal computer and transmitting an image captured by the imaging device to a personal computer in response to a shutter instruction from the personal computer side. In these imaging devices,
When shifting to the shooting mode, the image output from the imaging unit is transmitted to the personal computer side at a constant cycle (for example, Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, in recent years, a function of recording a sound obtained by a microphone by incorporating a microphone in an imaging apparatus has been installed. In these imaging apparatuses, the gain given to the audio signal obtained by the microphone is automatically adjusted according to the audio level so that the recorded audio level is not too low or too high (for example, patents). Reference 2). In addition, there has been an apparatus that adjusts a gain given to an audio signal according to a user instruction.

JP 2006-345095 A JP 2003-259479 A

  However, when taking a picture while operating the personal computer side as in Patent Document 1, when adjusting the gain to be given to the audio signal according to the user's instruction, the level of the audio signal obtained by the microphone of the imaging device is on the personal computer side. It is necessary to confirm. For that purpose, it is necessary to transmit all the audio signals obtained by the microphone of the imaging apparatus to the personal computer side. However, when an image captured by the imaging device is transmitted to the personal computer side, the communication band for transmitting the image is compressed depending on the transfer rate and the amount of audio signal transfer information. In addition, a sequence in which an instruction for transferring an audio signal is separately transmitted from the personal computer side must be executed, which complicates communication processing.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an imaging apparatus or an imaging system that allows a user to display a sound collection level with a microphone of an imaging apparatus while preventing complication of communication processing.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an imaging system including an imaging device and an image display device, wherein the imaging device acquires an image acquisition unit that acquires image data and an audio acquisition that acquires an audio signal. Means, a detection means for detecting the level of the audio signal, a first communication means for communicating with the image display device, and a control means for controlling the detection means, wherein the image display device is the imaging device. Second communication means that communicates with the imaging apparatus, instruction means for outputting an image request instruction for requesting still image data to the imaging apparatus via the first communication means, and still image data transmitted from the imaging apparatus Display means for displaying the image, and the control means transmits the still image data to the image display device via the first communication means in response to receiving the image request instruction. Information about the level of the audio signal detected by the detection means is transmitted to the image display device, and the control means receives the image request instruction and then receives the audio signal between The detection means is controlled so as to detect the maximum value of the sound level and is transmitted to the image display device as information relating to the level of the audio signal.

  According to the present invention, for example, when shooting is performed by connecting an imaging device having a built-in microphone and an external device such as a personal computer, it is possible to avoid the compression of the communication band for transmitting images and The level can be transmitted to the external device and displayed.

1 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of a camera 100 and a personal computer 200 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the imaging system according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the screen of a camera control program. It is a figure which shows the audio | voice level input into the audio | voice acquisition part.

  Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. The embodiments of the present invention show preferred modes of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention.

  In this embodiment, an imaging system that uses a camera (imaging device) and a personal computer (image display device) connected to each other via a communication unit will be described as an example. In the present embodiment, the camera 100 can convert the image captured by the imaging unit into image data, and can transmit the image data to the personal computer 200 each time an image request is received from the personal computer 200. Then, the personal computer 200 can reproduce the received image data and display it on the display device.

  In this imaging system, when a recording instruction (or an imaging instruction) is given from the personal computer 200 to the camera 100, the camera 100 is provided in the camera 100 as an image obtained by the imaging unit as moving image data or still image data. Recorded on a recording medium. In other words, it is possible to perform shooting using the personal computer 200 with the camera 100 disposed in a remote place.

  Furthermore, the camera 100 of this embodiment has a built-in or external microphone that collects surrounding sounds and generates sound data, and the volume (or sound pressure, sound) of sound data obtained during a specific period. The peak value of the signal level can be detected. When the image request from the personal computer 200 is received, information about the volume (or sound pressure, sound signal level) of the detected audio data obtained during a specific period is transmitted to the personal computer 200 together with the image data. I have to. Here, the information about the volume (or sound pressure, audio signal level) includes the peak value (maximum value) of the volume (sound pressure, audio signal level) of the audio data obtained during a specific period, The volume value of audio data when an image request is received from 200 may be included. Of course, the value of the sound pressure of the sound data and the value of the sound signal level may be included. In the present embodiment, the specific period is a period from when the “image request” is received from the personal computer 200 to when the next “image request” is received from the personal computer 200. Further, it may be a period longer than that.

  The personal computer 200 reproduces the received image data and displays it on the display device, and causes the display device to display the peak value of the volume (or sound pressure, audio signal level) of the audio data obtained during the received specific period. be able to. In addition to the peak value, the personal computer 200 can also display the volume (sound pressure, audio signal level) of the audio data when the image request is transmitted on the display device.

  In the present embodiment, the peak value (hereinafter referred to as the peak value of the specific period) of the volume (sound pressure, audio signal level) of the audio data obtained during a specific period is transmitted in a state stored in the header of the image data. Will be described. However, in response to receiving the “image request” instruction, it is sufficient to transmit still image data and information indicating the peak value of the volume. For example, the peak value for a specific period may be transmitted separately from still image data, or may be transmitted in a state of being superimposed as an image on the image indicated by the image data so that the user can determine the level of the peak value for the specific period. . Further, when superimposing the peak value level for the specific period on the image, if there is a “start of photographing” request from the personal computer 200, the superimposition of the peak value for the specific period is stopped. Further, it may be switched so that it is stored in the header of the image data and transmitted, or may be switched so as to be transmitted separately from the image data. Further, a computer program installed in the personal computer 200 may cause the computer to execute part or all of the processing on the personal computer 200 described below.

Hereinafter, the main configuration of the imaging system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 1 shows an imaging system including a camera 100 and a personal computer 200. The camera 100 and the personal computer 200 are connected by wire or wireless via respective communication units. The personal computer 200 can transmit an instruction for requesting an image to the camera 100, and the camera 100 can transmit image data captured by the imaging unit to the personal computer 200 in accordance with the instruction. In addition, the personal computer 200 can transmit an instruction of “shooting start” to the camera 100 by the user's operation. Upon receiving the instruction of “shooting start”, the camera 100 performs still image shooting or moving image shooting, It can be recorded on a recording medium. At this time, surrounding sound may be collected by a microphone, and the obtained sound data may be recorded on a recording medium in association with still image data or moving image data. In this embodiment, the instruction for “shooting start” is used, but an instruction for “recording start” may be used.

  Upon receiving an instruction to “image request”, the camera 100 according to the present embodiment uses a peak value (maximum value) of the audio signal level acquired during a specific period as information indicating the sound volume and the image data captured by the imaging unit together with the personal computer. 200.

  In FIG. 1, a control unit 111 controls each functional block of the camera 100, and includes a CPU, a memory, a microcomputer, a microcomputer chip, and the like. The operation unit 112 receives a user instruction and transmits an instruction signal to the control unit 111. For example, the operation unit 112 may be any one of various devices such as a button switch, a dial switch, and a touch panel. The bus 115 is used to send image data and audio data, information about the image data and audio data, control signals, and other various data to each block of the camera 100.

  Further, the imaging unit 121 converts an optical image of a subject captured by the photographing lens into an image signal by an imaging element such as a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor, converts the obtained analog image signal into a digital image signal, The image is transmitted to the image processing unit 122. The imaging device may be any device as long as it can convert an optical image into an electrical signal. The image processing unit 122 performs image quality adjustment processing for adjusting white balance, color, brightness, and the like on the input digital image signal based on the set value. The image processing unit 122 can generate still image data and moving image data from the digital image obtained by the imaging unit 121. The generated still image data is transmitted to the personal computer 200 through the communication unit 161 described below under the control of the control unit 111.

  The audio acquisition unit 131 acquires an audio signal indicating audio around the camera 100 obtained by a built-in microphone unit or an external microphone unit connected via an audio input terminal. Then, the acquired analog audio signal is converted into a digital audio signal and transmitted to the audio processing unit 132. Here, the external microphone unit may input a digital signal to the audio acquisition unit 131, and in this case, the audio acquisition unit 131 transmits the acquired digital audio signal to the audio processing unit 132. Here, the microphone unit may be a single microphone or a plurality of microphones. Further, it may be a directional microphone or an omnidirectional microphone. The sound processing unit 132 performs sound-related processing such as processing for optimizing the level of the input digital sound signal and processing for reducing a specific frequency. In addition, the sound volume (or sound pressure, level) indicated by the digital sound signal transmitted from the sound acquisition unit 131 can be detected, and information indicating the sound volume (or sound pressure, level) can be output.

  Also, the image data (still image data, moving image data) obtained by the image processing unit 122 and the audio data obtained by the audio processing unit 132 are temporarily stored in a recording buffer on the RAM of the control unit 111, and are stored in a predetermined manner. Are sequentially transmitted to the recording / reproducing unit 141. The recording / playback unit 141 sequentially records the received image data and audio data on the recording medium 142. In the case of compressing image data, the compression processing is executed by the control unit 111, but this operation may be executed by another compression processing chip. Also, only audio data can be recorded on the recording medium 142. Here, the recording medium 142 may be any type of recording medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, and the like as long as it can record image data, audio data, and the like. Also good. The recording / playback unit 141 can also read audio data and image data from the recording medium 142.

  The display unit 151 is a liquid crystal display or the like attached to the exterior of the camera 100, and displays an operation screen, a warning screen, or the like by the display control unit 152. The display unit 151 may be anything as long as it can display an image. For example, it may be a CRT display, an organic EL display, or an LED display.

  The communication unit 161 receives a control signal from an external device such as the personal computer 200, and transmits image data, sound data, information about an image, information about sound, and other information. For example, any communication such as wireless wired LAN, USB, Bluetooth (registered trademark) is possible. Alternatively, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) (registered trademark) terminal that transmits image data from the camera 100 to the personal computer 200 may be used. In this case, the personal computer 200 is connected to the HDMI terminal on the image receiving side via the HDMI cable. In this case, the personal computer 200 and the camera 100 can communicate with each other using CEC communication. it can.

  In the present embodiment, the communication unit 161 of the camera 100 communicates with the communication unit 221 of the personal computer 200.

  In FIG. 1, a control unit 211 of the personal computer 200 controls each functional block of the personal computer 200, and is configured by a CPU, a memory, a microcomputer, a microcomputer chip, and the like. The operation unit 212 receives a user instruction and transmits an instruction signal to the control unit 211, and may be any one of various devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel. The bus 215 is used to send image data, audio data, image information, audio information, control signals, other signals, and information to each block of the personal computer 200.

  The communication unit 221 transmits a control signal to an external device such as the camera 100, and receives image data, audio data, information about an image, information about audio, and the like, for example. For example, any communication such as wireless wired LAN, USB, Bluetooth (registered trademark) is possible. Alternatively, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) (registered trademark) terminal that receives image data transmitted from the camera 100 to the personal computer 200 may be used. In this case, the image data transmission side of the camera 100 is connected to the HDMI terminal via the HDMI cable. In this case, the personal computer 200 and the camera 100 communicate with each other using CEC communication. Can do.

  The display unit 231 is a display device such as a display built in or connected to the personal computer 200, and displays a graphic user interface necessary for the operation of the personal computer 200. The display control unit 232 causes the display unit 231 to display a graphic user interface necessary for the operation of the personal computer 200 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 211. The display unit 231 may be anything as long as it can display an image. For example, it may be a CRT display, an organic EL display, or an LED display.

  The recording / reproducing unit 241 reproduces a program for causing the personal computer 200 recorded on the recording medium 242 to execute processing described in this embodiment. Also, image data, audio data, etc. can be recorded and reproduced. Here, the recording medium 242 may be any type of recording medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, or may be a plurality of recording media.

  Here, the operation of the imaging system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation flow of the imaging system of the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, the operation of the camera 100 is controlled by the control unit 111, and the operation of the personal computer 200 is controlled by the control unit 211.

  First, when the power button of the operation unit 212 of the personal computer 200 is operated, power is supplied to each block of the personal computer 200 from a power unit (not shown) (S201). Next, when the power button of the operation unit 112 of the camera 100 is operated, power is supplied to each block of the camera 100 from a power supply unit (not shown) (S251).

  Then, when the user connects the communication unit 161 of the camera 100 and the communication unit 221 of the personal computer 200 with a USB cable or the like, the camera 100 and the personal computer 200 can communicate with each other. At this time, in order to start communication, the control unit 111 and the control unit 211 exchange information on the model name and capability of each other via the communication unit 161 and the communication unit 221, or communicate with each other by a predetermined communication protocol. Or not is confirmed (S202, S252). Since this operation is not related to the feature of the present invention, in this embodiment, a description is omitted assuming that a known method is used. In addition, although communication using wired USB has been described, wireless communication other than this, such as wireless wired LAN, Bluetooth (registered trademark), HDMI, or wired communication may be used. Usually, the personal computer 200 is often connected to be a host and the camera 100 is a client. However, in this embodiment, whichever is the host and which is the client. A connection without the concept of host-client may also be used.

  The control unit 211 of the personal computer 200 identifies that the camera 100 is connected via the communication unit 221. Then, the recording / playback unit 241 is controlled to read the camera control program installed in the recording medium 242 of the personal computer 211, and the read camera control program (remote live view program) is developed on the RAM (S253).

  At this time, the control unit 211 causes the display control unit 232 to display a graphical user interface (GUI) screen as shown in FIG. This screen includes an area 410 for displaying an image of still image data transmitted from the camera 100, an area 420 for displaying a histogram or the like as information about still image data, a setting area 430 for operating camera settings, and the like. It is prepared. An area 440 for displaying information related to audio data obtained by the microphone of the camera 100 is also prepared. In the present embodiment, information indicating the sound volume (or sound pressure, sound signal level) detected by the sound processing unit 132 of the camera 100 is transmitted to the personal computer 200 side. On the personal computer 200 side, information indicating the received volume (or sound pressure, audio signal level) is displayed on the display unit 231.

  The user operates the manual volume adjustment area in the area 430 where the GUI is displayed while viewing the screen displayed in the area 440 using the operation unit 212, so that the voice acquisition unit of the camera 100 is operated. The sound acquisition level 131 can be adjusted. In this level adjustment, first, the control unit 211 of the personal computer 200 confirms the state of the manual sound adjustment area, and the communication unit 211 causes the camera 100 to reduce, for example, several dB (decibel) from the normal sound acquisition level. The instruction is output so that Upon receiving this instruction, the control unit 111 of the camera 100 performs control so that the level of the audio signal is reduced by several dB. This process is realized.

  Next, the control unit 211 of the personal computer 200 notifies the camera 100 via the communication unit 221 that the activation of the camera control program has been completed. When the control unit 111 of the camera 100 receives a notification that the activation of the camera control program has been completed via the communication unit 161, the control unit 111 causes the imaging unit 121 to start image acquisition preparation and the image processing unit 122 to start image data generation preparation. . Further, the voice acquisition unit 131 starts a voice acquisition operation, and the voice processing unit 132 starts a detection operation of the volume (or sound pressure, level) of the acquired voice signal (S203).

  Next, the user operates the operation unit 212 of the personal computer 200 and inputs an instruction to start photographing adjustment using the graphical user interface (GUI) of FIG. Then, the control unit 211 transmits an instruction of “image request” to the camera 100 through the communication unit 221 (S254). The shooting adjustment means that the user adjusts the camera setting using the area 430 in FIG. 4 or the like before starting shooting. For this purpose, the image needs to be confirmed, so that the still image data is changed. In order to receive from the camera 100, an “image request” instruction is output.

  In response to an “image request” instruction received via the communication unit 161, the control unit 111 of the camera 100 acquires still image data indicating an image captured by the imaging unit 121 from the image processing unit 122. 161 is transmitted to the personal computer 200 through 161. At this time, the control unit 111 of the camera 100 detects the sound volume (or sound pressure, level) detected by the sound processing unit 132 together with the still image data in response to receiving the “image request” instruction from the communication unit 161. ) Is acquired and transmitted to the personal computer 200 through the communication unit 161 (S204). In the present embodiment, it is assumed that information indicating the sound volume when the sound volume is the maximum from when the sound volume is detected in S203 to when the “image request” is received is output together with still image data. In the present embodiment, the control unit 111 of the camera 100 stores information indicating the volume in the header area of the still image data, and transmits the still image data to the personal computer 200 via the communication unit 161.

  Next, the control unit 211 of the personal computer 200 monitors whether or not the reception of the still image data and the volume information being received through the communication unit 221 is completed (S255). Is transmitted to the camera 100 through the communication unit 221 (S256). At this time, the control unit 211 of the personal computer 200 controls the display control unit 232 to display an image in the area 410 of FIG. 3 based on the received still image data. Further, the display control unit 232 is controlled so as to extract information about the volume stored in the header area of the received still image data and to display a level meter, a graph, a numerical value, and the like indicating the volume in the area 440 of FIG.

  In response to an “image request” instruction received via the communication unit 161, the control unit 111 of the camera 100 acquires still image data indicating an image captured by the imaging unit 121 from the image processing unit 122. 161 is transmitted to the personal computer 200 through 161. At this time, the control unit 111 of the camera 100 detects the sound volume (or sound pressure, level) detected by the sound processing unit 132 together with the still image data in response to receiving the “image request” instruction from the communication unit 161. ) Is acquired and transmitted to the personal computer 200 through the communication unit 161 (S205). In the present embodiment, the information indicating the sound volume when the sound volume is the maximum from when the “image request” in S254 is received to the time when the “image request” in S256 is received is output together with the still image data. Shall. In other words, the control unit 111 transmits the information indicating the sound volume when the sound volume is the maximum from when the information indicating the sound volume is transmitted together with the still image data until the next “image request” is received, to the sound processing unit 132. To detect.

  In order for the voice processing unit 132 to detect the maximum value of the volume in such a specific section, first, the volume is detected and stored in the memory, and then the detected volume is larger than the volume stored in the memory. Whether or not is detected. If the volume is large, the newly detected volume is stored in the memory. Otherwise, the newly detected volume is not stored in the memory. When the control unit 111 requests the information indicating the sound volume by receiving the “image request” instruction, the sound processing unit 132 passes the sound volume stored in the memory to the control unit 111, and the sound volume in the memory is stored. Reset the data about. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated. By doing so, it is possible to detect the maximum volume from when the “image request” is received to when the next “image request” is received.

  In the present embodiment, the control unit 111 of the camera 100 stores information indicating the volume in the header area of the still image data, and transmits the still image data to the personal computer 200 via the communication unit 161.

  At this time, the control unit 211 of the personal computer 200 controls the display control unit 232 to display an image in the area 410 of FIG. 3 based on the still image data received from the camera 100. Further, the display control unit 232 is controlled so as to extract information about the volume stored in the header area of the received still image data and to display a level meter, a graph, a numerical value, and the like indicating the volume in the area 440 of FIG.

  Next, the control unit 211 of the personal computer 200 monitors whether an instruction to start imaging is input by the user operating the operation unit 212 (S257). If an instruction to start imaging is not input (No in S257), the process returns to S255, and reception completion is monitored. If an instruction to start imaging is input (Yes in S257), the control unit 211 transmits an instruction to “start imaging” to the camera 100 through the communication unit 221 (S258). Here, in the present embodiment, an example of monitoring an instruction to start imaging in S257 has been described. However, monitoring may be performed at any timing after the start of the camera control program (S253).

  Upon receiving the “start imaging” instruction output from the personal computer 200 in S <b> 258, the control unit 111 of the camera 100 controls the image processing unit 122 to generate moving image data from the digital image obtained by the imaging unit 121. Further, the control unit 111 sends the moving image data obtained by the image processing unit 122 to the recording / reproducing unit 141, and controls the recording / reproducing unit 141 to sequentially record the data on the recording medium 142 (S206).

  The control unit 111 of the camera 100 controls the imaging unit 121, the image processing unit 122, and the recording / reproducing unit 141 so as to continue the imaging operation until an instruction “end imaging” is received.

  Then, when the user operates the operation unit 212 to input an imaging end instruction, the control unit 211 of the personal computer 200 transmits an “imaging end” instruction to the camera 100 via the communication unit 221 (S259). . Upon receiving the “imaging end” instruction output from the personal computer 200, the control unit 111 of the camera 100 controls the image processing unit 122 to stop the operation of generating moving image data from the digital image obtained by the imaging unit 121. To do. Further, the control unit 111 controls the recording / reproducing unit 141 to stop the recording operation after the moving image data obtained by the image processing unit 122 is recorded on the recording medium 142 (S207).

  If there is no instruction to end the camera control program after outputting the “imaging end” instruction, the control unit 211 of the personal computer 200 returns to S254 (not shown) and repeats the processes from S254 to S259. When the user controls the operation unit 212 of the personal computer 200 and gives an instruction to end the camera control program, the control unit 211 transmits an “end notification” to the camera 100 via the communication unit 221 (S260).

  When receiving the “end notification”, the control unit 111 of the camera 100 controls the image processing unit 122 and the imaging unit 121 to end the imaging, and further, the audio processing unit 132 and the audio acquisition unit 131 to end the sound collection. Is controlled (S208).

Thereafter, when the USB cable is disconnected from either one, the connection is physically and logically disconnected, but the connection itself may be logically disconnected. Further, logical disconnection may not be performed.
As described above, the imaging system of the present embodiment can record moving image data by controlling the camera 100 using the personal computer 200 to perform an imaging operation.

  As described above, when the S254 or S256 “image request” instruction in this embodiment is transmitted from the control unit 211 of the personal computer 200 to the camera 100 via the communication unit 221, the control unit 111 of the camera 100 , Information about the sound volume is transmitted together with the still image data. At this time, as described above, in step S204, the control unit 111 of the camera 100 displays information indicating the volume when the volume is the highest from when the volume starts to be detected in step S203 until the “image request” is received. Output with still image data. Further, in S205, information indicating the volume when the volume is the maximum from when the “image request” in S254 is received until the “image request” in S256 is received is output together with still image data.

  Here, in this embodiment, the reason for transmitting the information indicating the maximum value of the volume during the period from the reception of “image request” to the reception of “image request” next will be described.

FIG. 4 is a diagram in which the audio level input to the audio acquisition unit 131 of the camera is shown on the vertical axis and the elapsed time is shown on the horizontal axis. In FIG. 4, the level is shown every about 0.1 seconds for explanation.
In FIG. 4, marks 510 to 517 indicate the timing at which the “image request” instruction is transmitted from the control unit 211 of the personal computer 200 to the camera 100.

  For example, in the case of S205, information indicating the maximum value of the volume during the reception of “image request” is transmitted as information indicating the volume. That is, when the “image request” corresponding to the mark 512 is received, the volume during the period from the reception of the “image request” corresponding to the mark 511 to the reception of the “image request” corresponding to the mark 512. The information indicating the maximum value is transmitted as information indicating the volume. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the maximum value of the volume between the mark 510 and the mark 511 is the level 520.

Similarly, the maximum value of the volume between the mark 511 and the mark 512 is the level 521.
That is, the information indicating the sound volume in the present embodiment is a period from when an “image request” is received until the next “image request” is received. In this embodiment, when an “image request” is received, information indicating the volume is transmitted together with still image data captured at that time. As in the present embodiment, since the maximum value of the volume during the period from the reception of “image request” to the next reception of “image request” is transmitted as information indicating the volume, the personal computer 200 manually adjusts the volume. When doing so, the user can easily understand the adjustment guidelines.

  For example, the instantaneous volume 550 corresponding to the “image request” instruction corresponding to the mark 514 is considerably lower than the maximum value between the mark 513 and the mark 514. If the user manually adjusts the volume using the sampled volume as a guide, the gain will be greatly increased. In this case, for example, the sound of the maximum volume during this period is further amplified, and sound that is difficult to hear may be recorded. On the other hand, in the present invention, the maximum value in the period from receiving such an “image request” until receiving the next “image request” is transmitted as information indicating the sound volume. As a result, without adjusting to the volume sampled at a certain moment, the volume adjustment is ignored without ignoring the loud sound, and the adjustment standard is easy to understand.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, when the “image request” instruction is input, the information indicating the sound volume is transmitted at the same time, so that the personal computer 200 does not need to issue the “volume request” instruction and avoids complication of communication. be able to.

  Also, as the information indicating the volume, since the information indicating the maximum value of the volume in the period from receiving the “image request” to the next “image request” is transmitted, rather than transmitting all the audio data Less traffic is required.

  In addition, as a method for transmitting information indicating the volume together with still image data in S204 or S205 of the present embodiment, for example, information indicating the volume may be transmitted following the still image data. Further, based on the information indicating the volume, a level meter display, a numerical value indicating the volume, or the like may be superimposed on the still image indicated by the still image data to be transmitted. When superimposing a level meter display or a numerical value indicating the volume on the still image indicated by the still image data to be transmitted based on the information indicating the volume, the control unit 111 indicates the volume acquired from the audio processing unit 132. An image such as a level meter based on the information is transmitted to the image processing unit 122. Then, the control unit 111 superimposes the transmitted image such as a level meter on the image processing unit 122 and the still image, and then transmits the image to the personal computer 200 from the communication unit 161. Then, the control unit 211 of the personal computer 200 controls the display control unit 232 so that the received still image data is displayed on the display unit 231 as it is. At this time, when an instruction of “start imaging” is input, the superimposing process of the level meter image on the image may be stopped.

  Further, in the present embodiment, information indicating the maximum value of the volume during the period from the receipt of “image request” to the next reception of “image request” is transmitted. However, information indicating the maximum value of the volume in a period longer than the period from the reception of “image request” to the next reception of “image request” may be transmitted. Also by doing in this way, it is possible to prevent a value indicating a large volume from being displayed to the user.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the control unit 211 of the personal computer 200 displays information indicating the volume of the audio data for the past 10 seconds as shown in the area 440 in FIG. The value is displayed on the display unit 231 so as to be identifiable. With such a display, the user can confirm whether or not a sudden maximum volume is generated, and it is easier to adjust the volume.

[Other Examples]
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (12)

An imaging system comprising an imaging device and an image display device,
The imaging device
Image acquisition means for acquiring image data;
An audio acquisition means for acquiring an audio signal;
Detecting means for detecting a level of the audio signal;
First communication means for communicating with the image display device;
The control means for controlling the detection means,
The image display device includes:
Second communication means for communicating with the imaging device;
Instruction means for outputting an image request instruction for requesting still image data to the imaging device via the first communication means;
Comprising display means for displaying still image data transmitted from the imaging device,
In response to receiving the image request instruction, the control means transmits the still image data to the image display device via the first communication means, and the sound detected by the detection means. Sending information about the signal level to the image display device;
The control means controls the detection means to detect the maximum value of the level of the audio signal from when the image request instruction is received until it is received next, and as the information regarding the level of the audio signal, the control means An imaging system that transmits to an image display device.   The control means stores information related to the level of the audio signal in a header area of the still image data in response to receiving the image request instruction, and transmits the information to the image display device. Item 2. The imaging system according to Item 1. Image acquisition means for acquiring still image data;
An audio acquisition means for acquiring an audio signal;
Detecting means for detecting a level of the audio signal;
Control means for controlling the detection means, wherein the control means receives the image request instruction for requesting the still image data and uses the still image data as a source of the image request instruction. And transmitting information related to the level of the audio signal detected by the detection means to the transmission source of the image request instruction,
The control means controls the detection means to detect the maximum value of the level of the audio signal from when the image request instruction is received until it is received next, and as the information regarding the level of the audio signal, the control means An image pickup apparatus that transmits an image request instruction to a transmission source.   In response to receiving the image request instruction, the control means stores information relating to the level of the audio signal in a header area of the still image data and transmits the information to the transmission source of the image request instruction. The imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: An imaging system comprising an imaging device and an image display device,
The imaging device
Image acquisition means for acquiring image data;
An audio acquisition means for acquiring an audio signal;
Detecting means for detecting a level of the audio signal;
First communication means for communicating with the image display device;
The control means for controlling the detection means,
The image display device includes:
Second communication means for communicating with the imaging device;
Instruction means for outputting an image request instruction for requesting image data to the imaging device via the first communication means;
Comprising display means for displaying the image data transmitted from the imaging device,
In response to receiving the image request instruction, the control means transmits the image data to the image display device via the first communication means, and before receiving the image request instruction. An imaging system, wherein information including a maximum value of the level of the audio signal detected by the detection means is transmitted to the image display device during a predetermined period.   6. The imaging system according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined period is a period equal to or longer than a period from reception of the image request instruction to reception of the next.   The imaging system according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined period is a period from reception of the image request instruction to reception of the next.   The control means stores information related to the level of the audio signal in a header area of the still image data in response to receiving the image request instruction, and transmits the information to the image display device. Item 8. The imaging system according to any one of Items 5 to 7. Image acquisition means for acquiring image data;
An audio acquisition means for acquiring an audio signal;
Detecting means for detecting a level of the audio signal;
Control means for controlling the detection means, wherein the control means transmits the image data to the transmission source of the image request instruction in response to receiving an image request instruction for requesting the image data. In addition, in a predetermined period before receiving the image request instruction, information including a maximum value of the level of the audio signal detected by the detection unit is transmitted to the transmission source of the image request instruction. Imaging device.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined period is a period equal to or longer than a period from reception of the image request instruction to reception of the next.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined period is a period from reception of the image request instruction to reception of the next.   In response to receiving the image request instruction, the control means stores information relating to the level of the audio signal in a header area of the still image data and transmits the information to the transmission source of the image request instruction. The imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the imaging apparatus is characterized in that: