JP3673772B2 - Camera information display device and display method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera information display device and display method in a camera control system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Camera control systems that can remotely control one or more cameras from a remote location are used in surveillance systems, video conferencing or video conferencing systems. Cameras are usually capable of external control of pan, tilt and zoom, and cameras incorporating such functions are already on the market.
[0003]
When remotely controlling a plurality of cameras, it is necessary to indicate to the operator where and in what direction each camera is arranged. Therefore, for example, in a system in which a plurality of cameras are installed in an office and each camera is remotely operated by a single control device (effectively a computer), the installation position of each camera is superimposed on a map of the arrangement location. The applicant has already filed a patent application for a display method for displaying a figure indicating a camera, that is, a camera icon. FIG. 13 shows the display screen proposed there.
[0004]
In FIG. 13, reference numeral 110 denotes a map window showing the installation location of one or more cameras to be operated, and the arrangement of one or more cameras arranged in the office on a map such as an office seating chart. Camera icons 112-1 to 112-6 indicating locations are displayed. The camera icons 112-1 to 112-6 are displayed in substantially the same direction as the corresponding camera. A video window 114 for displaying video from one arbitrarily designated camera is displayed next to the map window 110, and an operation panel for operating pan, tilt and zoom of the designated camera is displayed below the video window 114. 116 is displayed. Note that one of the cameras represented by the designated camera icons 112-1 to 112-6 can be operated on the operation panel 116 by designating any of the camera icons 112-1 to 112-6 with the mouse. In addition, the output video of the camera is displayed on the video window 114.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By adopting such a display system, it will be possible to visually understand where the camera to be operated is located. However, for example, considering all controls of pan, tilt and zoom of all cameras, it is sufficient. I cannot say.
[0006]
It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera information display device that further improves the previous proposal and makes it easy to understand the characteristics of one or more cameras to be controlled.
[0007]
It is another object of the present invention to provide a camera information display device that can easily control each camera in a situation where one or more cameras having various control characteristics are remotely controlled.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The camera information display device according to the present invention includes a display means for displaying an output video of a camera, a map in which symbols representing the camera according to characteristics thereof are arranged, and information on presence / absence of rotation functions of a plurality of cameras. Storage means for storing a camera information file including maximum pan angle information and maximum viewing angle information, and the display means displays symbols of a first camera that can be rotated and a second camera that cannot be rotated. If you, on the basis of the storage means the stored camera information file, as the first camera symbol, displays a graphic showing the maximum panning angle possible rotation of the first camera, as the symbol of the second camera, A graphic showing the maximum viewing angle of the second camera is displayed .
[0009]
A camera information display method according to the present invention is a camera information display method for displaying an output video of a camera and a map in which symbols representing the cameras according to their characteristics are arranged on a display. A camera information file including information on the presence / absence of the rotation function of the camera, maximum pan angle information, and maximum viewing angle information is stored in the storage means, and symbols of the first camera capable of rotation control and the second camera not capable of rotation control are stored. When displaying, based on the camera information file stored in the storage means, a graphic showing the maximum pan angle of the first camera that can be rotated is displayed as the symbol of the first camera, and as the symbol of the second camera A graphic showing the maximum viewing angle of the second camera is displayed.
[0012]
[Action]
By the above means, the camera direction, the current video field of view, the maximum pan range, the maximum video input range, etc. are displayed in a visually easy-to-understand manner. Thereby, it becomes possible to grasp the performance and current state of the camera more intuitively. An intuitive and easy-to-understand user interface can be provided.
[0013]
【Example】
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. 10 (10-1, 10-2, 10-3,...) Is a video camera, and 12 (12-1, 12-2, 12-3,...) Is a video camera 10 (10− 1, 10-2, 10-3,...)), Pan, tilt, zoom, focus adjustment, aperture, and the like are directly controlled according to an external control signal. As the control signal line, for example, RS-232C is available, but it is obvious that the control signal line is not limited to this.
[0015]
Reference numeral 20 denotes a camera operating device comprising a computer system for controlling each video camera 10 by sending a control command to the camera control circuit 12, 22 a CPU for controlling the whole, 24 a main memory, and 26 a secondary memory. A device (for example, a hard disk device), 28 is a bitmap display, and 30 is a mouse as a pointing device.
[0016]
Reference numeral 32 denotes a camera input selection device that selects one of the plurality of video cameras 10 to be controlled, and is placed under the control of the device 20. Reference numeral 34 denotes an output video signal of the video camera 10 selected by the camera input selection device 32. Is a network interface that connects the apparatus 20 to a computer network or a communication network, and 38 is a system bus that interconnects the devices of the CPU 22 to the network interface. With the network interface 36, the camera 10 can be controlled by sending a camera control signal to the camera operating device 20 via the network.
[0017]
The camera input selection device 32 selects one of a control signal line and a video output connected to the plurality of camera control circuits 12, supplies the selected video output to the video capture device 34, and selects the selected control. The signal line is logically connected to the bus 38. As a format of the video signal, for example, there is a luminance / color difference separation type NTSC signal. The video capture device 34 captures the video output selected by the camera input selection device 32. The captured video signal is displayed as a moving image in a predetermined window of the bitmap display 28.
[0018]
Further, the secondary storage device 26 includes map data indicating the layout of the camera 10, a camera information file containing the position information and visual field information of the camera 10, a camera state table containing the current camera state information, and each Icon (camera icon) data representing the camera 10 is stored. Details of the camera information file and the camera state table will be described later.
[0019]
In this embodiment, the camera to be operated is a camera that can externally control pan, tilt, and zoom, a camera that can externally control only zoom, and a camera that cannot externally control any of pan, tilt, and zoom. These are referred to as a rotatable / zoomable camera, a zoomable camera, and an uncontrollable camera. Accordingly, at least the camera control characteristics stored in the secondary storage device 26 are distinguished from rotation / zoomable, zoomable, and uncontrollable. Alternatively, a controllable range may be stored for individual elements (rotation and zoom). If control is impossible, the upper limit value and lower limit value of the controllable range may be matched. Each camera control circuit 12 accepts both a rotation command and a zoom command if the connected camera 10 can be rotated / zoomed, but accepts only a zoom command if the connected camera 10 can zoom. If the connected camera 10 cannot be controlled, neither a rotation command nor a zoom command is accepted. Each camera control circuit 12 returns an error signal to the device 20 when an unacceptable command is input.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is an example of a display screen of the bitmap display 28. It is assumed that a window display system capable of simultaneously displaying a plurality of windows is operating on the bitmap display 28. In the map window 40, a map showing the seat arrangement of the office is displayed, and on the map, camera icons 42-1 to 42-7 indicating the arrangement locations of the plurality of cameras 10 arranged in the office are displayed. Has been. Although details will be described later, the camera icons 42-1 to 42-7 are displayed in substantially the same direction as the direction of the corresponding camera 10, and the panable range and the current viewing angle are also displayed at the same time.
[0021]
In the video window 44, an output video of one camera 10 selected by the camera input selection device 32 is displayed. On the map window 40, the camera icon corresponding to the selected camera is displayed in a different color from the camera icon corresponding to the unselected camera so that the selected camera 10 can be identified. .
[0022]
An operation panel 46 is displayed below the video window 44. The operation panel 46 displays a rotation operation button for panning and tilting and a slide type button for zooming operation. By operating these buttons, any specified camera can be rotated and zoomed. When the selected camera can be zoomed (that is, cannot be rotated), the rotation operation button is displayed in an inoperable display mode. When the selected camera is not controllable, both the rotation operation button and the zoom operation button are operated. The display mode becomes impossible.
[0023]
FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the camera icons 42-1 to 42-7. The camera icon of the present embodiment includes a camera body graphic 50 indicating the current direction of the camera, a fan-shaped maximum pan angle graphic 52 indicating the maximum range of panning, and a fan-shaped current viewing angle indicating the current shooting range. It consists of a figure 54. For non-rotatable cameras, the maximum pan angle graphic 52 is a fan shape with a 0 degree angle, that is, a straight line, but whether or not this is displayed depends on the user's preference, so display / non-display is selected. Preferably it is possible. These expression colors and patterns should be set so that the maximum pan angle graphic 52 and the current viewing angle graphic 54 can be sufficiently distinguished from each other. The current viewing angle is determined by the focal length of the taking lens.
[0024]
FIG. 4 shows the structure and data example of a camera information file. As shown in FIG. 4, the camera information file has a camera number, a camera installation position (X, Y), and a camera installation direction (a center of the camera when the pan angle is set to 0 degree). Direction), control characteristics (0: rotation / zoomable, 1: zoomable, 2: uncontrollable), maximum viewing angle (viewing angle when zoom magnification is 1.0), maximum pan angle and maximum zoom magnification. .
[0025]
FIG. 5 shows a structure and data example of the camera state table. As shown in FIG. 5, the camera state table includes a camera number, a current camera direction, and a current zoom magnification. This is because the camera number in the camera state table is linked to the camera information file shown in FIG. 4, and the current camera direction and the current zoom magnification correspond to the selected camera every time the mouse is operated on the operation panel 46. The part is updated. Needless to say, the current camera direction is effective only for a camera having a rotation capability, and the current zoom magnification is effective only for a camera having a zoom capability.
[0026]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present embodiment. First, the map data stored in the secondary storage device 26 is read and displayed on the map window 40 (S1). Next, a camera information file containing the position information and field-of-view information of the arranged camera and a camera state table containing the current camera state information are read (S2), and based on these information, shown in FIG. As described above, the camera icons 42-1 to 42-7 are drawn at the corresponding locations on the map window 40 (S3). Then, the user waits for a mouse operation (S4).
[0027]
If any of the camera icons 42-1 to 42-7 on the map window 40 is selected by mouse click (S5), the selected one of the camera icons 42-1 to 42-7 is selected. The color is changed to the indicated color (here, red), and the camera number indicated by the camera icon is obtained from the camera information file (S6). Here, it is assumed that the camera 10-n is selected. The CPU 22 sends a camera switching command to the camera input selection device 32 to switch the control signal line and the camera output to the camera 10-n (S7). The output of the camera 10-n is supplied to the display 28 via the camera input selection device 32, the video capture device 34 and the bus 38, and is displayed on the video window 44.
[0028]
If the operation panel 46 attached to the video window 44 is operated (S8), a camera control command corresponding to the operation content is transmitted to the camera control circuit 12-n via the camera input selection device 32 (S9). . Of course, the user can input only an operation suitable for the control characteristics (rotation / zoomable, zoomable or uncontrollable) of the currently selected camera 10-n. The camera control circuit 12-n controls the camera 10-n according to the received camera control command. At the same time, the CPU 22 updates the display of the selected camera icon to match the new state.
[0029]
With reference to FIG. 7, the operation of displaying the camera icon (S3) and updating it (S10) will be described. First, processing differs according to the control characteristics (S21). If the camera is not controllable (S21), the current viewing angle graphic 54 is displayed (S22). The current viewing angle figure 54 to be drawn is a fan having a constant radius with the camera installation position as the center and extending from the camera installation direction to both sides by a half of the maximum viewing angle. Next, the camera body graphic 50 is displayed so as to be superimposed on the current viewing angle graphic 54 with the center at the camera installation position coordinate and facing the camera installation direction (S23). For example, the camera icon for camera number 3 in FIG. 4 is displayed as shown in FIG.
[0030]
When the camera is zoomable (S21), the current viewing angle graphic 54 is displayed (S24). The current viewing angle figure 54 to be drawn is a fan having a constant radius with the camera installation position as the center and extending from the camera installation direction to both sides by 1/2 of the current viewing angle. Next, the camera body graphic 50 is displayed so as to be superimposed on the current viewing angle graphic 54 with the center at the camera installation position coordinates and facing the camera installation direction (S25). For example, the camera icon for camera number 4 in FIG. 4 is displayed as shown in FIG. 9 in the current state shown in FIG.
[0031]
If the camera can rotate and zoom (S21), first, the maximum pan angle graphic 52 is displayed (S26). The maximum pan angle graphic 52 drawn here is a fan having a constant radius with the camera installation position as the center and extending from the camera installation direction to both sides by a half of the maximum pan angle. Next, the current viewing angle graphic 54 is displayed on the maximum pan angle graphic 52 (S27). The current viewing angle graphic 54 to be drawn is a fan having a constant radius that extends from the current camera direction to both sides by a half of the current viewing angle with the camera installation position as the center. Finally, the camera main body graphic 50 is displayed so as to be superimposed on the maximum pan angle graphic 52 and the current viewing angle graphic 54 with the center at the camera installation position and facing the camera direction (S28). For example, the camera icon for camera number 5 in FIG. 4 is displayed as shown in FIG. 10 in the current state shown in FIG.
[0032]
The camera control signal that the CPU 22 supplies to the camera control circuit 12 via the camera input selection device 32 in response to the operation of the operation panel 46 may be the same as a control command system for a normal camera that can be externally controlled. In this embodiment, for example, when the right arrow button on the operation panel 46 is pressed, the CPU 22 selects the right pan control command as an operation command via the camera input selection device 32 and the camera currently selected. To 10 camera control circuits 12. At the same time, the CPU 22 updates the current camera direction and the current zoom magnification in the camera state table.
[0033]
The viewing angle θc of the current camera is obtained from the maximum viewing angle θmax and the current zoom magnification K according to the following formula. That is,
θc = arctan (tan θmax / K)
In this embodiment, all the externally controllable cameras have the current camera direction set to the same value as the camera installation direction as the initial value of the camera state table at startup, and the current zoom magnification is 1. Set to .0.
[0034]
The above embodiment can be easily extended to support a network. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of camera operating devices 60-1, 60-2,..., 60-M having the same configuration as shown in FIG. The network 62 is a local area network LAN or wide area network having sufficient bandwidth to transmit the digital video and camera control signals captured by the video capture device 34 into each device 60-1 to 60-M. Although a network WAN is assumed, it is obvious that the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto.
[0035]
Each camera operating device 60-1 to 60-M can packetize the video data captured by the video capture device 34 via the network interface 36 and output the packetized data to the network 62. Data can be received from the network 62. The bitmap display 28 displays the video data captured by the video capture device 34 and the video data from the network 62 in a video window. The camera operation commands and camera switching commands can also be transmitted to the network 62 and received from the network 62 via the network interface 36. The camera operation command and camera switching command received from the network 62 are handled in the same manner as the camera operation command and camera switching command generated internally. Such techniques are well known.
[0036]
However, in order to be compatible with the network, as shown in FIG. 12, information of an apparatus address item and a map name (ie, office name) item is added to each camera. When selecting a camera, it is necessary to select a device address and / or map name from a menu or the like as necessary, and to switch the camera operating device and / or map. Note that the map name item is not limited to network support, and is also effective when the camera is in a remote location and cannot be expressed on a single map. That is, it is necessary to switch a plurality of maps so that they can be displayed on the map window 40. When selecting a camera, a map and / or a camera operating device to which the target camera is connected is selected from a menu or the like as necessary.
[0037]
When a camera to be controlled is selected and its camera number is known, a device address is obtained from the camera number with reference to the table shown in FIG. When the selected camera cannot be directly controlled, that is, when it is necessary to control the selected camera via the network, a camera operation command and a camera switching command are issued via the network. In addition, regarding camera image display, assuming that a camera operating device that displays a map and inputs a camera operation is A and a camera operating device to which the selected camera is connected is B, when the camera is selected, The device A requests the device B to transmit the camera video, and causes the device A to transmit the video data captured by the device B via the network.
[0038]
In this way, by expanding to be compatible with the network, more cameras can be controlled even when the number of inputs of the camera input selection device is limited. In addition, when it is desired to control one or a plurality of cameras at remote locations, it becomes possible to easily deal with each other in both directions.
[0039]
The pan range is displayed as an angle using the maximum pan angle graphic, but instead of or in addition to this, the video input possible range may be displayed as a graphic from the maximum pan angle information and the maximum viewing angle information. Good. For example, a fan with a fixed radius that is widened by an angle corresponding to the sum of 1/2 of the maximum pan angle and 1/2 of the maximum viewing angle from the camera installation direction to both sides from the camera installation direction may be drawn. . The central angle of the fan-shaped figure indicates the maximum range that can be actually captured.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As can be easily understood from the above description, according to the present invention, information such as the video input possible range and the maximum pan angle of each camera is visually displayed, so the camera performance and current situation can be grasped more intuitively. become able to. That is, an intuitive and easy-to-understand user interface 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 screen example of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a basic configuration of a camera icon.
FIG. 4 is a structure and data example of a camera information file.
FIG. 5 shows a structure and data example of a camera state table.
FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of camera icon display processing according to camera control characteristics;
FIG. 8 is a display example 1 of a camera icon.
FIG. 9 is a display example 2 of a camera icon.
FIG. 10 is a display example 3 of a camera icon.
FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a network configuration.
FIG. 12 is additional information for network support.
FIG. 13 is a screen example in a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 (10-1, 10-2, 10-3,...): Video camera 12 (12-1, 12-2, 12-3,...): Camera control circuit 20: Camera operation device 22 : CPU
24: Main memory 26: Secondary storage device 28: Bit map display 30: Mouse 32: Camera input selection device 34: Video capture device 36: Network interface 38: System bus 40: Map windows 42-1 to 42 -7: Camera icon 44: Video window 46: Operation panel 50: Camera body graphic 52: Maximum pan angle graphic 54: Current viewing angle graphic 60-1, 60-2, ..., 60-M: Camera operation device 62: Network 110: Map windows 112-1 to 112-6: Camera icon 114: Video window 116: Operation panel

Claims (6)

Display means for displaying an output video of the camera and a map in which symbols representing the camera according to its characteristics are arranged ;
Storage means for storing a camera information file including rotation function presence / absence information of a plurality of cameras, maximum pan angle information, and maximum viewing angle information ;
The display means displays the first camera symbol as the first camera symbol based on the camera information file stored in the storage means when displaying the symbol of the first camera capable of rotation control and the second camera not capable of rotation control . An apparatus for displaying camera information , wherein a graphic showing a maximum panning angle of one camera is displayed , and a graphic showing a maximum viewing angle of the second camera is displayed as a symbol of the second camera . The display means, as a symbol of the first camera, display of camera information according to claim 1, characterized in that the displayed superimposed and figure indicating the maximum panning angle a figure indicating the current imaging view angle apparatus. The display means displays the color of the first camera symbol indicating the maximum pan angle and the color of the first camera symbol indicating the maximum viewing angle using different colors. The camera information display device according to claim 1, wherein: A camera information display method for displaying on a display an output video of a camera and a map in which symbols representing the camera according to its characteristics are arranged ,
A camera information file including rotation function presence / absence information of a plurality of cameras, maximum pan angle information, and maximum viewing angle information is stored in a storage unit ,
When displaying the symbols of the first camera that can be rotated and the second camera that cannot be rotated, the first camera can be rotated as a symbol of the first camera based on the camera information file stored in the storage means. A method for displaying camera information , comprising: displaying a graphic showing a maximum pan angle and displaying a graphic showing a maximum viewing angle of the second camera as a symbol of the second camera . 5. The camera information display method according to claim 4 , wherein a graphic indicating the current imaging viewing angle and a graphic indicating the maximum panning angle are superimposed and displayed as the symbol of the first camera . The color of the graphic of the symbol of the first camera showing the maximum pan angle and the color of the graphic of the symbol of the first camera showing the maximum viewing angle are displayed using different colors. The method for displaying camera information according to claim 4.

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