JP4991351B2 - Image display apparatus, authentication method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device including a projector and a display device, an authentication method, and a program to be executed by a control unit of the image display device.

  In recent years, projectors have been increased in brightness and size, and are increasingly used not only at schools and companies but also at home. However, with the progress of miniaturization, there is an increased risk of being stolen.

  In order to prevent resale after theft, an increasing number of models are equipped with a security lock function so that only a specific user can use the projectors of each manufacturer (see Patent Document 1).

  In a projector having a security lock function that can be used only by a specific user, a password input method is often used. The password input method will be briefly described. When a password is registered in the projector in advance and the projector is started, if the same password as that registered is input to the projector, the projector releases the security lock and projects the input video. If the entered password is different from the registered password, the input image is not projected, and an image unrelated to the input image, such as a blue screen on the whole, is projected. Thus, the projector cannot be used unless the correct password is input.

  A password registration method using a conventional password input method will be described. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a password registration method.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, a password input window is displayed on the projected image 801. The user operates a control button on the remote controller or the projector body, and inputs a password in the window as shown in a projected image 802 in FIG. Next, in order to confirm whether the password entered in FIG. 10B is correct, the projector requests the same password again as shown in the projected image 803 in FIG. Next, a projected image 804 for confirming whether the entered password is registered and the security lock function is valid is displayed (FIG. 10D). When the user selects and confirms the “Yes” button, the projector enables the security lock function.

  Next, the operation of a conventional password input type security lock will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the security lock.

  When the user activates the projector, the projector does not yet display the PC screen 901 on the left side of FIG. 11A, and as shown in the right side of FIG. To display. When the user inputs a password by operating a control button on the remote control or the projector body, the projector displays all input characters as “*” as shown in a projected image 903 in FIG. If the password input by the user is incorrect, a message notifying that the password is incorrect is displayed as shown in the projection screen 904 in FIG. At this time, the projector does not project the PC screen 901.

  Next, the security lock release of the conventional password input method will be described. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining a security lock releasing method.

When the user activates the projector, the projector does not yet display the PC screen 1901 on the left side of FIG. 12A, and as shown in the right side of FIG. indicate. When the user inputs a password by operating a control button on the remote controller or the projector body, the projector displays all input characters as “*” as shown in a projected image 903 in FIG. If the password entered by the user matches the password registered in advance, the projector displays the PC screen 901 shown in FIG. 12A as a projected image 1004 as shown in FIG.
JP 2006-285072 A

  The conventional security lock function often uses a password input method. However, in the password input method, it is necessary to notify the password to the person who is allowed to use the projector in advance and to have each person remember the password. is there. Passwords are usually desirable and cannot be easily predicted and tend to be difficult to remember. Therefore, even if the use of the projector is permitted, there is a problem that when the projector is used, the password cannot be remembered sometimes and the projector cannot be used.

  Further, when inputting a password to release the security lock, a password input screen must be projected on the screen. When a password input screen is projected on a large screen in front of many people, the password characters themselves are not displayed in the projected image, but many people can see the password input operation. There is a possibility that the password will be known to the person who is present due to the arrangement of the numeric buttons and the input operation on the operation unit of the projector. Therefore, there is a problem that there is a risk of password leakage. This is a problem common to not only projectors but also those requiring password input operations.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and reduces the burden on the user and suppresses the risk of password leakage compared to the password input method. An object of the present invention is to provide an authentication method and a program for causing a control unit of an image display device to execute the program.

In order to achieve the above object, an image display device of the present invention comprises:
An image processing unit for displaying an input image from the outside;
An authentication image that is a criterion for determining whether or not to display the input image, and a storage unit that stores frame position information indicating a range for determining whether or not the input image is the authentication image;
When the input image is recognized and an authentication request instruction is input, it is determined whether or not the image in the frame based on the position information in the input image matches the authentication image, and if these images match A control unit for displaying the input image on the image processing unit;
It is the structure which has.

  In the present invention, the information for authentication is not stored as a password by the user, but is registered in the projector main body as image information. Then, by checking whether or not there is an image that matches the authentication image at a predetermined position of the input image, it is determined whether or not it is regular use.

  According to the present invention, since the image information for authentication is registered instead of the user remembering the password for authentication, it is not necessary for the user to remember the password. Further, since the password input operation is not required, the risk of password leakage is suppressed.

  The image display apparatus of the present invention authenticates a user by determining whether or not a specific image for authentication is registered in advance and the specific image is included in an image input at the start of use. It is characterized by that. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in the case where the image display device is a projector.

  The configuration of the projector according to this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a projector according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the projector 1 includes a projection lens 11, a focus adjustment unit 12, an image processing unit 100, a control unit 10, and an operation unit 15. Examples of devices that input images to the projector 1 include information processing apparatuses such as a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC), a television, and a DVD player. In the present embodiment, a PC (not shown) is used as the projector 1. It is assumed that image data that is connected and displayed on the display unit of the PC is input to the image processing unit 100.

  Although not shown in the figure, the projector 1 is based on a light source, a display device typified by a liquid crystal device that partially reflects or transmits a light beam from the light source, and image data from the image processing unit 100. Thus, a configuration for realizing a function as a projector, such as a drive unit for driving a display device, is provided. Since these structures are the same as those of the prior art, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The projection lens 11 has a plurality of lenses for projecting an image formed by the light valve onto the screen 2. The focal position on the screen 2 can be adjusted by moving at least some of the lenses back and forth along the optical axis. As a mechanism capable of adjusting the focal position, various mechanisms such as a mechanism that moves the entire projection lens 11 and a mechanism that moves a part of the projection lens 11 can be applied. A widely used mechanism that can move the position of the focus lens of the projection lens is used.

  The focus adjustment unit 12 has a lens motor for moving the lens in the projection lens 11, and drives the lens motor in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 10.

  The operation unit 15 is provided with a plurality of control buttons and switches for operating the projector 1. A remote controller for transmitting a user instruction to the projector main body by infrared communication is also included.

  The image processing unit 100 performs image processing (A / D conversion, synchronization signal separation, and writing and reading of image data with respect to a frame memory, etc.) on a video signal input from an external PC. Hereinafter, the configuration of the image processing unit 100 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the image processing unit and the control unit.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing unit 100 includes an AD converter (ADC) 101 that converts an analog RGB signal into a digital signal, a DVI receiver 102 that converts a DVI digital signal (TMDS signal) into a digital RGB signal, A selector 103 that selects whether to display an image based on an RGB signal or a DVI digital signal, and a scaling that performs resolution conversion to display the digital RGB signal selected by the selector 103 on a liquid crystal panel (LCD Panel) 106 Unit 104 and a liquid crystal driver (LCD Driver) 105 that performs level conversion for displaying an image on the liquid crystal panel 106 based on the RGB signals output from the scaling unit 104.

  The scaling unit 104 is provided with a video random access memory (VRAM) 104a. The scaling unit 104 converts the resolution of the image data received from the selector 103 into an image size that can be displayed on the liquid crystal panel 106, and writes the converted image data in the VRAM 104a.

  The selector 103 selects one of the digital RGB signals of the analog RGB signal and the DVI digital signal according to a selection instruction from the outside, and sends the selected signal to the scaling unit 104. If only one of the digital RGB signals of the analog RGB signal and the DVI digital signal is input, the input digital RGB signal may be sent to the scaling unit 104.

  The scaling unit 104 and the liquid crystal driver 105 are connected to the local BUS 110. Further, the control unit 10 is connected to the local BUS 110.

  Here, the configuration of the control unit 10 will be described. In the present embodiment, a configuration for image processing related to the present invention will be mainly described. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 107 that controls each unit such as the scaling unit 104 and the liquid crystal driver 105, and a storage unit 22. The storage unit 22 includes a ROM 108 that stores a program to be executed by the CPU 107 and an authentication image ROM 109 that stores an authentication image for releasing the security lock. The CPU 107 is connected to the ROM 108 and the authentication image ROM 109 via the local BUS 110.

  The authentication image ROM 109 indicates the position information indicating the position coordinates on the PC screen of the authentication image setting frame for specifying the range of the authentication image and the size in the authentication image setting frame, together with the image data of the authentication image. Size information is registered.

  When the authentication image setting frame is a rectangle, the position information is coordinate information of the intersection of one of the four vertices of the rectangle or two diagonal lines. In this case, the size information is information on the length of each side of the quadrangle. If the quadrangle is a square, the size information may be information on the length of one side, and if the quadrangle is a rectangle, the size information may be the length of each side of the pair of two opposing sides. Any information may be used. Further, the image setting frame is not limited to a rectangle, but may be another polygon.

  If the position information indicates the coordinates of all the vertices of the authentication image setting frame, the size information need not be registered. In this case, the line connecting the vertices corresponds to the authentication image setting frame. Further, the coordinates of the vertices and sides of the authentication image setting frame may be used as position information. In this case, it is not necessary to register size information. In the following, a case will be described where both position information and size information are used for authentication.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the flow until the input image data is guided to the liquid crystal panel when the projector 1 projects an image input from the PC will be briefly described.

  First, when an analog RGB signal is input from the outside, it is converted into a digital RGB signal by the AD converter 101 and input to the selector 103. When a DVI digital signal is input, it is converted into a digital RGB signal by the DVI receiver 102 and input to the selector 103. One of the digital RGB signals of the analog RGB signal and the DVI digital signal is selected by the selector 103, and the selected digital RGB signal is input to the scaling unit 104.

  The scaling unit 104 scales the digital RGB signal received from the selector 103 according to the liquid crystal panel size, and writes the scaled digital RGB signal to the VRAM 104a. Then, the digital RGB signal stored in the VRAM 104 a is sent to the liquid crystal driver 105. The digital RGB signal is level-converted by the liquid crystal driver 105, added with a liquid crystal drive signal, and input to the liquid crystal panel 106.

  In this embodiment, when an instruction for registering an authentication image is input while the PC screen is displayed on the screen 2, the CPU 107 writes an authentication image setting frame in the VRAM 104a and receives a signal indicating that the determination has been made. Then, a message to confirm whether or not to register the image in the frame is written in the VRAM 104a. Subsequently, when a confirmation signal is input, the authentication image, position information, and size information specified in the authentication image setting frame are stored in the authentication image ROM 109.

  When an authentication request instruction is input, the CPU 107 is registered in the authentication image ROM 109 and the image in the range specified by the position information and size information registered in the authentication image ROM 109 in the input image. It is determined whether or not the authentication image matches. If these images do not match, the scaling unit 104 is not allowed to send the signal stored in the VRAM 104a to the liquid crystal driver 105. On the other hand, if these images match, the scaling unit 104 causes the image data in the VRAM 104a to be sent to the liquid crystal driver 105.

  In this way, when the security lock is activated, the image on the PC screen cannot reach the liquid crystal panel 106 and the PC screen is not projected on the screen 2. On the other hand, when the security lock is released, the image on the PC screen is guided to the liquid crystal panel 106 and the PC screen is projected on the screen 2. The above-described processing contents executed by the CPU 107 are described in advance in a program stored in the ROM 108.

  Next, an image recognition type security lock method in which a specific image pattern is stored in the projector 1 according to the present embodiment to perform security lock will be described.

  First, an authentication image registration method will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method for registering an authentication image, and FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method for registering an authentication image. A PC screen 401 is shown on the left side of FIG. 4A, and a projection image 402 by the projector 1 is shown on the right side of FIG. 4B and 4C show projection images by the projector.

  A user connects a PC to the projector 1 and operates the operation unit 15 to cause the projector 1 to project the PC screen 401. An authentication image 405 to be registered is displayed on the PC screen 401 and the projection image 402 in FIG. Subsequently, when the user operates the operation unit 15 to input that the authentication image registration is requested, the projector 1 shifts to the authentication image registration state and projects the authentication image setting frame 406 shown in FIG. (Step 301).

  4B, the user operates the operation unit 15 to move the authentication image setting frame 406 to a position surrounding the authentication image 405, and then instructs to determine the image. input. When the image is determined in step 302, the projector 1 registers the determined image as an authentication image and confirms whether the security lock function may be enabled, as shown in FIG. A projected image 404 for confirming image registration is displayed. When the user operates the operation unit 15 in step 303 and selects the “Yes” button of the projection image 404, the projector 1 registers the authentication image 405 in the authentication image setting frame 406 (step 304) and enables the security lock function. To.

  At this time, based on the image data in the VRAM 104a, the authentication image 405 in the authentication image setting frame and the position information and size information of the authentication image setting frame 406 are stored in the authentication image ROM 109.

  Next, the operation of the security lock will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the security lock, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the security lock.

  The left side of FIG. 6A shows the PC screen 601, and the right side of FIG. 6A shows the registered authentication image 405. When the user connects the PC to the projector 1 and operates the operation unit 15 to activate the projector 1, the projector 1 writes the image of the PC screen 601 shown in FIG. 6A in the VRAM 104a. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7A, the projector 1 does not project the VRAM image 603 by the security lock function and captures the projected image 605 of the blue screen screen even if the PC screen 601 is captured as the VRAM image 603. indicate.

  When the user inputs a request for authentication by operating the operation unit 15, the projector 1 displays the authentication image 405 stored in the authentication image ROM 109 and the position information of the authentication image setting frame stored in the authentication image ROM 109. And read size information. Then, as shown in FIG. 7B, a frame 608 based on the read position information and size information is applied to the VRAM image 604 (step 501), and it is determined whether the image in the frame matches the authentication image 405. (Step 502). During the determination, the projected image 606 of the projector 1 remains a blue screen screen.

  If the projector 1 determines that the authentication image 405 stored in the authentication image ROM 109 and the image in the frame 608 of the VRAM image 604 do not match, the process returns to step 501 and waits for an authentication request instruction. Then, as shown in FIG. 7C, the projector 1 displays a blue screen screen as a projected image 607 without projecting the PC screen 601.

  Next, the operation for releasing the security lock will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 and 9 are diagrams for explaining a security lock releasing method. It is assumed that the authentication image 405 shown in FIG. 6B is registered in the projector 1 in advance.

  When the user connects the PC to the projector 1, image data on the PC screen 601 shown in FIG. 8 is input to the projector 1. Subsequently, when the user operates the operation unit 15 to activate the projector 1, the projector 1 writes the image of the PC screen 701 shown in FIG. 8 into the VRAM 104a. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9A, the projector 1 does not project the VRAM image 703 by the security lock function and captures the projected image 705 on the blue screen screen even if the PC screen 701 is captured as the VRAM image 703. indicate.

  When the user inputs a request for authentication by operating the operation unit 15, the projector 1 displays the authentication image 405 stored in the authentication image ROM 109 and the position information of the authentication image setting frame stored in the authentication image ROM 109. And read size information. Then, as shown in FIG. 9B, a frame 608 based on the read position information and size information is applied to the VRAM image 704 (step 501), and it is determined whether the image in the frame matches the authentication image 405. (Step 502). During the determination, the projected image 706 of the projector 1 remains a blue screen screen.

  Here, since the image of the frame 608 of the VRAM image 704 and the authentication image 405 are the same, the projector 1 determines that the authentication image 405 stored in the authentication image ROM 109 matches the image of the frame 608 of the VRAM image 704. To do. Then, the PC screen 701 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed as a projection image 707.

  In the present invention, instead of the password for authentication being remembered by the user, a specific image is registered in advance as an authentication image, and at the start of use, it is determined whether there is an authentication image at a predetermined position of the input image To determine whether to display it. Therefore, if the user selects and registers an authentication image from images stored in the information processing apparatus connected to the projector, the user need not remember the password.

  Further, since the security lock release determination is made by determining whether there is an image that matches the authentication image at a predetermined position of the input image, it is not necessary to input a password. There is no need to display a password input screen on the screen when using the projector, and there is no risk of leakage of the security unlock method compared to the password input method. Even when the image display device is not a projector, the password input operation is not performed, so that the risk of password leakage is suppressed.

  In addition, if a part of the “wallpaper” image used as the background of the PC desktop screen is set as the authentication image, the authentication image can be displayed at the same position each time just by starting the PC. Is possible. If the user of the projector sets a wallpaper including an authentication image on his or her PC, the projector can project the screen of his or her PC. Also, when changing the authentication image, if you want to change to a wallpaper image that has been registered in advance on the PCs of all authorized users, just notify them of which wallpaper you changed. Good. In this case, the burden on the user is reduced as compared with the case of memorizing a new password by the password input method. If the wallpaper on which the new authentication image is set is not registered in the PC in advance, the person who changes the authentication image distributes the recording medium that copied the image data of the wallpaper to the target person or attaches it to the e-mail Send to each PC. Even with this method, the user does not have to remember the password.

  When using the above wallpaper for registration of an authentication image, even if a person who is not authorized to use the projector connects his or her PC to the projector and uses the projector, the same wallpaper as the wallpaper that includes the authentication image is used. Unless it is set to, since there is no authentication image at the registered position, the projector cannot be used.

  Fields in which the present invention can be used include small stationary projectors and mobile projectors. Further, the image display device is not limited to a projector that projects an input image, but can be applied to a thin and light liquid crystal monitor and a plasma display that display an input image.

It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the projector of this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of an image process part and a control part. It is a flowchart which shows the registration method of an authentication image. It is a figure for demonstrating the registration method of an authentication image. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of a security lock. It is a figure which shows an example of the input PC screen and an authentication image. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement of a security lock. It is a figure which shows an example of the input PC screen. It is a figure for demonstrating the release method of a security lock. It is a figure for demonstrating the password registration method in the conventional password input system. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement of the security lock in the conventional password input system. It is a figure for demonstrating the release method of the security lock in the conventional password input system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Projector 10 Control part 22 Memory | storage part 100 Image processing part

Claims (6)

An image processing unit for displaying an input image from the outside;
An authentication image that is a criterion for determining whether or not to display the input image, and a storage unit that stores frame position information indicating a range for determining whether or not the input image is the authentication image;
When the input image is recognized and an authentication request instruction is input, it is determined whether or not the image in the frame based on the position information in the input image matches the authentication image, and if these images match A control unit for displaying the input image on the image processing unit;
An image display apparatus. The input image is an image displayed on a display unit of a computer;
The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the authentication image is a part of an image used as a background of a desktop screen of the computer. An authentication method by an image display device including a storage unit, an image processing unit, and a control unit,
An authentication image that is a criterion for determining whether or not to display an input image from the outside, and frame position information indicating a range for determining whether or not the input image is the authentication image are stored in the storage unit,
When the input image is recognized and an authentication request instruction is input, it is determined whether or not the image in the frame based on the position information in the input image matches the authentication image, and if these images match An authentication method for causing the image processing unit to display the input image. The input image is an image displayed on a display unit of a computer;
The authentication method according to claim 3, wherein the authentication image is a part of an image used as a background of a desktop screen of the computer. A program for causing a control unit of an image display device including a storage unit, an image processing unit, and a control unit to execute the program,
An authentication image that is a criterion for determining whether or not to display an input image from the outside, and frame position information indicating a range for determining whether or not the input image is the authentication image are stored in the storage unit,
When the input image is recognized and an authentication request instruction is input, it is determined whether or not the image in the frame based on the position information in the input image matches the authentication image, and if these images match A program for causing the control unit to execute a process of displaying the input image on the image processing unit. The input image is an image displayed on a display unit of a computer;
The program according to claim 5, wherein the authentication image is a part of an image used as a background of a desktop screen of the computer.

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