JP3565445B2 - Video display device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a video display device for displaying digital video data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the case where digital video data is reproduced as a moving image by a computer, in a conventional example, a digital video data file is sequentially read, and if compressed, it is decompressed and displayed on a monitor screen. Therefore, normally, only the video at a certain point on the video data file can be viewed. Conventionally, it has not been possible to continuously reproduce and display temporally continuous video data in separate files.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a situation where the current image of a video camera connected to a computer on the network is transmitted to another computer via the network and recorded on a video server on the network as a file divided at regular intervals. In order to browse video data stored in the video server in the past, it is necessary to repeat the work of reading one file and reading the next file.
[0004]
Also, if you want to know how the video has changed after a certain amount of time while watching the playback video, if the video is in a different file, the viewer can read that file The user had to perform the operation of reproducing and displaying, and even if the files were on the same file, the viewer had to manually specify the time.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to provide a video display device capable of reproducing and displaying a desired portion of digital video data with simpler operation without such trouble.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The video display device according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a video, a designation unit that designates an arbitrary timing of a video to be read out of the videos stored in the storage unit, and a designation unit that is designated by the designation unit. Reading means for reading the video at the timing and the video at a timing about a predetermined time before or after the designated timing, and displaying the video at different timings read by the reading means side by side on a common display It is characterized by having display means and setting means for setting the predetermined time before and after the timing designated by the designation means .
The video display device according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a video, a designation unit that designates an arbitrary timing of a video to be read out of the videos stored in the storage unit, and a designation unit that is designated by the designation unit. Reading means for reading the video at the timing and the video at a timing about a predetermined time before or after the designated timing, and displaying the video at different timings read by the reading means side by side on a common display Display means, wherein the storage means stores the video as an independent file divided at regular intervals and stores the video at a time during which video data could not be acquired due to the division processing. When the timing to be read by the means is reached, the closest time before the timing is selected.
[0008]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0009]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. A video server 12 and a plurality of computers 14, 14, 14 are connected to the network 10, and a video camera 16 as a video input unit is connected to each computer 14. The inside of each computer 14 has basically the same configuration, and includes a CPU 20 for controlling the whole, a memory 22 as a main memory of the CPU 20, a hard disk device 24 as an auxiliary storage device, a bitmap display 26, a pointing device, A mouse 28 as a device, a camera control circuit 30 for controlling pan, tilt, zoom, focus, etc. of the video camera 14 to be connected, and a video camera for capturing an output image of the video camera 14 to be connected to the computer 14. A capture circuit 32 is provided.
[0010]
In the present embodiment, a mode (current mode) for reproducing and displaying an output image of the video camera 14 directly connected or the video camera 14 connected to another computer in real time, and video data stored in the video server 12 A mode for reproducing and displaying a file (past mode) is provided.
[0011]
First, the current mode will be described. FIG. 2 shows a state of file access in the current mode, and FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart in the current mode.
[0012]
2, a file 1, a file 2,... Are a series of files formed by dividing digital video data from the same video camera 14 at regular time intervals T0. Has been. Tb indicates the time during which video data could not be acquired due to file division processing. Of course, Tb is desirably as small as possible, and can be substantially reduced to zero by securing a sufficient buffer capacity. t is the current time, tp is the time of the past video (frame) displayed together with the current video (frame), and Ts is the display interval of the current and past video displayed simultaneously. tp = t−Ts. Also assume that T0 + Tb <Ts. That is, the past images displayed at the same time are images contained in the previous or two or more previous files, depending on the ratio of Ts to T0.
[0013]
When the current mode is started, first, Ts is set (S1), and the current time is set to a variable tp indicating the time of the past video (S2). The video browser starts displaying the video of the designated video camera 14 on the main window of the bitmap display 26, and thereafter displays the video on the main window in real time until a termination instruction is given. Continue (S3, S7).
[0014]
When the time specified by Ts elapses (S4), the frame at the time tp earlier than the current time t by Ts is displayed in the sub window (S5), the variable tp is updated (S2), and the time elapses again by Ts. Wait for It is guaranteed that the frame at the time tp is always recorded as a file from the condition of T0 + Tb <Ts, and the frame may be read from the file. However, in exceptional cases, the time tp may just fall within the range of Tb. In this case, the frame at the closest time in the file in which the video is recorded before the time tp may be selected.
[0015]
If it is necessary to change Ts on the way (S6), the process returns to S1 at that point and restarts.
[0016]
In this way, as shown in FIG. 3, by displaying the past video for the time determined by Ts at the same time as the current video, the viewer can easily confirm the time change, and the current video is displayed. When there is a notable phenomenon, you can check it in the past video. Such a function is very useful in various surveillance camera systems.
[0017]
Next, the past mode will be described. In the past mode, the main playback video is displayed in the main window, and the past and future video having a time difference of 2Ts between the main playback video are displayed as still images in separate sub-windows. The past and future still images are each updated at an appropriate timing to images after a lapse of 2Ts. FIG. 4 shows a state of access in the past mode, and FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the past mode.
[0018]
In FIG. 4, t 'is the time (or frame pointer) of the frame displayed in the main window, and the time (or frame pointer) indicating the temporal center of the past and future images displayed in the subwindow. . tp is a time (or a frame pointer) Ts before tc, and tf is a time (or a frame pointer) Ts after tc. That is, tc = tp + Ts = tf-Ts. The time tc is also a time at which reproduction is desired to be started, and is determined by the viewer.
[0019]
When displaying an image in the past mode, first, the viewer sets the time tc of the frame to be reproduced and the Ts that defines how much of the image before and after the time tc is displayed in the subwindow ( S11). tc is set to t '(S12). tp and tf are calculated from tc and Ts (S13), and frames at time tp and time tf are read out from a series of video files and displayed on the subwindow (S14).
[0020]
Next, a frame at time t '(initial value is tc) is similarly obtained from a series of video files and displayed on the main window (S15). Until the end command is input (S18), each frame is sequentially reproduced and displayed while the time t 'is advanced by the inter-frame time dt (S19).
[0021]
Meanwhile, when the time t ′ reaches tf (S16), tc is increased by 2Ts (S17), tp and tf are recalculated for the new tc (S13), and the image to be displayed in the sub window is updated. (S14).
[0022]
Although omitted in FIG. 5, if Ts is changed during reproduction, the process may return to step S11 and restart.
[0023]
In this way, with the arbitrarily set tc and Ts, the past moving image between tp and tf can be displayed on the main window, and the frames at time tp and time tf can be displayed on the subwindow. Since a still image instead of a moving image is displayed in the sub-window, a circuit for reproducing the moving image can be provided by one for the main window, and the circuit can be provided at a low cost. Since the still image displayed in the sub-window is updated every 2Ts, it can be considered as a so-called dropped video, so that a cost-effective system can be provided.
[0024]
6 and 7 show examples of operation and display screens on the bitmap display 26. FIG. FIG. 6 shows a screen when the current mode is selected, and FIG. 7 shows a screen when the past mode is selected. In both cases, the physical arrangement of objects such as buttons is the same.
[0025]
6 and 7, reference numeral 40 denotes a main window for displaying an image, 42 denotes a dialog for setting tc when displaying an image in the past mode on the main window 40, and 44 denotes a dialog for setting Ts. It is. 46 is a subwindow for displaying the frame at time tp, and 48 is a subwindow for displaying the frame at time tp.
[0026]
Reference numeral 50 denotes a time slider bar for designating and displaying the time position of a frame to be displayed in the main window 40 between tp and tf, and is available only in the past mode. 52 is a time gauge from tp to tf.
[0027]
Reference numerals 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, and 64 denote playback control buttons for controlling a video (moving image) displayed in the main window 40 between tp and tf. The button 54 is a processing for returning the value of tc by 2Ts. Reference numeral 56 denotes rewind, button 58 denotes reproduction, button 60 denotes pause, button 62 denotes fast-forward, and button 64 denotes a process of sending the value of tc by 2Ts, respectively.
[0028]
66 is a current mode button for setting a current mode, and 68 is a past mode button for setting a past mode.
[0029]
70 is a continuous reproduction mode button, and 72 is a section reproduction mode button. The continuous playback mode button 70 enables continuous playback. In the present embodiment, basically, moving image playback is limited to a section from tp to tf defined by tc and Ts. However, when continuous playback is enabled, tc is automatically updated when a frame of tf is played. Then, reproduction is continued in a new section. As a result, in the continuous playback mode, continuous playback is performed without any restriction of tp to tf. With the section playback mode button 72, continuous playback can be invalidated.
[0030]
74 to 86 are camera operation buttons, and 88 is a camera operation panel. The button 74 is for inputting a pan to the left side of the camera, the button 76 is for panning to the right side, the button 78 is for tilting up, the button 80 is for tilting down, and the button 82 is for inputting an operation for pointing the camera at the center. Used for The button 84 is used to input an instruction to increase the lens magnification (movement to the telephoto side), and the button 86 is used to input an instruction to decrease the lens magnification (movement to the wide angle side). On the operation panel 88, the direction and magnification of the camera can be operated by the position and size of the square in the frame, and the current state is also displayed.
[0031]
The tc setting dialog 42, the time to rider bar 50, the time gauge 52, the buttons 54 to 64, the current mode button 66, the continuous reproduction mode button 70, and the section reproduction mode button 72 are valid only in the past mode. The past mode button 68, the camera operation buttons 74 to 86, and the camera operation panel 88 are effective only in the current mode. Objects that are not valid are grayed out (or hidden).
[0032]
In the current mode, pan, tilt, zoom, and the like of the designated camera can be operated by the camera operation buttons 74 to 86 and the camera operation panel 88. In the window display system, when the mouse button is clicked at an arbitrary position in the window, the coordinates of the point can be captured. If this function is used, when an arbitrary point is clicked on the screen of the main window 40, the camera is panned and tilted so that the clicked point is located at the center, and furthermore, an appropriate range is set as an object to be photographed. You can also zoom up or down. For example, when an object or person to be watched is clicked, the camera can be controlled to point in that direction.
[0033]
In the current mode, the frame at time tp is displayed in the left sub-window 46. This makes it easier to understand intuitively. In the sub window 48 on the right side, a message or a mark indicating that the apparatus is currently operating in the mode is displayed.
[0034]
In the past mode, playback can be controlled by the playback control buttons 54 to 64 in the same operation as that of the video tape recorder. The buttons 54 and 64 have a meaning unique to the present embodiment, and are used to change the section indicated by the time gauge 52 back and forth in time. In the example shown in FIG. 7, Ts = 5 (minutes), tc = 15: 30, tp = 15: 25, and tf = 15: 35, but when the button 54 is clicked, tc = 15: 20 And tp = 15: 15 and tf = 15: 25 inevitably. When the button 64 is clicked, tc = 15: 40. In other words, by clicking the buttons 54 and 64 many times, it becomes possible to use the three screens of the sub-window 46, the main window 40 and the sub-window 48 to quickly watch the movie film.
[0035]
Further, the time interval of the frames displayed in the main window 40 and the sub-windows 46 and 48 can be changed by the dialog 44, so that the viewer can watch the movie at an arbitrary time interval. This is very effective when used as a security camera system or a surveillance camera system, for example. Assuming that there is a camera that constantly shoots something, when searching for the point of change of the video, when recording on a video tape, all the recorded video on the video tape must be played back and displayed quickly However, if the present embodiment is applied, access can be made discontinuously in time, and the time required to find a necessary part can be greatly reduced.
[0036]
Also, since the images at three times can be viewed simultaneously, the change is easy to understand. For example, it is effective for a person who arrives late in a video conference system to know the flow of the entire conference in a short time. The continuous playback mode button 70 enables continuous playback. The video display is basically limited to the section from tp to tf. However, if continuous playback is enabled, tc is automatically updated when a frame of tf is played, and playback is continued in a new section. . As a result, in the continuous reproduction mode, reproduction is continuously performed without limitation of tp to tf. With the section playback mode button 72, continuous playback can be invalidated.
[0037]
By adopting the graphical user interface as in the present embodiment, a series of videos can be effectively browsed, and the operation becomes extremely easy.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, a series of video files divided at a certain time can be handled continuously, so that a viewer can view a long file without being aware of each file. You can access time video files. This makes it possible to easily extract a really necessary place from a huge amount of video data.
[0039]
In addition, since the past image or the past and future images are simultaneously displayed with respect to the image at the current or attention time, the change of the image can be compared on the screen. It becomes easier to understand the change in the image, and it is easier to find a desired location. Since the past image and the future image are displayed as still images, the display circuit can be simplified, and a cost-effective image display system can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state of file access in a current mode.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of image display in a current mode.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state of file access in a past mode.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of image display in a past mode.
FIG. 6 is a graphical user interface in a current mode.
FIG. 7 is a graphical user interface in a past mode.
[Explanation of symbols]
10: Network 12: Video Server 14: Computer 16: Video Camera 20: CPU
22: Memory 24: Hard Disk Device 26: Bitmap Display 28: Mouse 30: Camera Control Circuit 32: Video Capture Circuit 40: Main Window 42: tc Dialog 44: Ts Setting Dialog 46, 48: Sub Window 50 : Time slider bar 52: Time gauge 54: 2Ts return button,
56: rewind button 58: play button 60: pause button 62: fast forward button 64: 2Ts forward button 66: current mode button 68: past mode button 70: continuous playback mode button 72: section playback mode button 74 86: Camera operation button 88: Camera operation panel

Claims (3)

Storage means for storing a video,
Designating means for designating an arbitrary timing of a video to be read among the videos stored in the storage means;
Reading means for reading an image at a timing designated by the designation means and an image at a timing about a predetermined time before or after the designated timing,
Display means for displaying images at different timings read by the reading means, side by side on a common display ,
Setting means for setting the predetermined time before or after the timing specified by the specifying means . 2. The video display device according to claim 1, wherein the video at a timing about a predetermined time before or after the specified timing is a moving image with dropped frames. Storage means for storing a video,
Designating means for designating an arbitrary timing of a video to be read among the videos stored in the storage means;
Reading means for reading an image at a timing designated by the designation means and an image at a timing about a predetermined time before or after the designated timing,
Display means for displaying images at different timings read by the reading means side by side on a common display
And having
The storage unit stores the video as an independent file divided at regular intervals, and the video at the time when the video data could not be acquired due to the division processing is the timing to be read by the reading unit. in this case, the image display device you and selects the closest time of the timing earlier.

Images