JPH08228340A - Image selection display system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To display the photographed videos of plural cameras installed in multiple points with a PC/WS used in a job in an office, etc., easily and at need. CONSTITUTION: The plural cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4 are connected to a communication channel, and control information to select the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4 is sent to designated cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4 via the communication channel based on selection schedule information from the PC/WSs 8-1, 8-2 and 8-3. The cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 and 1-4 receiving selection control information transmits photographed video information to the PC/WSs 8-1, 8-2 and 8-3 via the communication channel. Consequently, it is possible to display the photographed videos from plural image pickup devices without requiring to install large scale facility by using an existing computer network, etc.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image selection and display system, and more particularly to an image selection and display system capable of selecting and displaying images from a plurality of cameras installed at remote locations.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, CCTV called a surveillance system
In (closed circuit television) etc., a system for selecting / compositing / switching display of images from a plurality of cameras by arranging a dedicated cable such as a coaxial cable or an optical fiber is used in a large building or a bank like a conventional one. Not only as a large-scale monitoring system, but also as a small-scale system used in convenience stores, condominiums, etc., it is being spread and promoted.

On the other hand, O of personal computers and the like
LAN (local) as a communication medium that connects devices A
The spread of the area network) is remarkable, and in order to cope with the increase of communication traffic and the future multimedia such as video information and audio information, the movement toward large-capacity and high-speed communication is rapidly being made. In particular, regarding the speedup of the backbone LAN, an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) -LAN that enables transmission of 100 Mb / s to 155 Mb / s
/ FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) -L
Standardization and introduction of AN and others are being pursued. 1 for branch lines
Standardization of a twisted pair LAN and the like that realizes 00 Mb / s is underway. Similarly in the public network system, B-
Recommendations for ISDN (broadband ISDN), experiments of ATM communication on CATV, etc. have begun to be carried out actively, and high-speed network environment preparation for multimedia correspondence of the entire communication infrastructure is about to be started gradually.

Further, instead of a surveillance camera targeting CCTV, a future personal computer / workstation (P
DTV (Desk Top Video Confe) centered on C / WS
rencing) Various cameras aiming at PC / WS connection targeting the market are being offered at low prices.

On the other hand, the media information actually transmitted, such as video information and audio information as multimedia information, is simply digitized while maintaining the quality as it is. An information amount of 100 Mb / s or more is required to digitize video information such as NTSC / PAL while maintaining the image quality as it is. Similarly, as for voice information, even if the voice band is limited to about 3.4 MHz, the amount of information of 64 Kb / s is required only by PCM conversion. It is not practical to directly transmit or store such a huge amount of information even in a situation where the speed of the line is high and the storage medium has a large capacity.

Therefore, various digital compression techniques are being researched and developed and are being put into practical use. Regarding video information,
In accordance with each application, the still image compression system uses the JPEG encoding system, and the moving image compression system uses MPEG1 for storage, for example.
(1.5 Mb / s or less) encoding system, in the communication system, H.264 for narrow band ISDN (64 Kb / s to 2 Mb / s). Two
MPEG2 (several Mb / s to several tens of M / s) that is compatible with the 61-encoding system, high-definition, or guarantees an image quality equivalent to that of the current television.
b) Encoding schemes, various compression encoding schemes such as MPEG-4 encoding schemes are being standardized for transmission rates (9.6 Kb / s to 28.8 Kb / s) guaranteed by analog telephone lines. There is. Similarly, with respect to audio information, various compression encoding methods have been standardized according to the application, and G.264 guarantees up to 7 kHz band. 722 and 3.4KH
z ADPCM for compressing voice band to lower bit rate
(32 Kb / s or less), LD-CELP (16 Kb / s
Coding methods such as s) are standardized.

[0007] These movements are presently individual approaches before the development into the multimedia market including future video information and audio information, and the speed of practical application of each trend is not necessarily linked. Since it does not exist, it involves various problems in constructing an actual system. In particular, the spread and maintenance of computer network environments centered on PC / WS is remarkable, and the speedup of the backbone LAN has been steadily achieved with the rapid increase in traffic on the LAN, but it is actually used. It is impossible to transmit data that will generate an enormous amount of information even if compression coding such as moving image information is performed on a LAN, which is a computer network, because it has a great influence on other transmissions. Is.

Therefore, when a plurality of cameras are installed to construct a surveillance system that needs to acquire the plurality of pieces of video information, a coaxial cable or optical fiber cable for video transmission is separately provided. It is common to do.
Also, for the purpose of monitoring, each video is finally concentrated in the monitoring room, and in the monitoring room, it is possible to constantly monitor video at more points by using multiple monitors and image synthesis processing means. Or, it is switched and displayed by a switcher for monitoring.

A conventional monitoring system using a dedicated cable such as CCTV will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional monitoring system using a dedicated cable.

In FIG. 9, 11-1, 11-2, 11
-3, ..., 11-n are various monitoring cameras, 12 is a video switcher for switching and synthesizing a plurality of video inputs, and 1
3 selects the video output display or individual surveillance camera 1
Various controllers for instructing control to 1-1 to 11-n, 14 is a monitor group which displays images output from the video switcher 12 after being selected / combined from the collected images, and 15 is collected for monitoring A video recording device such as a time-lapse VTR for recording a video, 16 is a cable group for exclusive use of a surveillance system video such as a coaxial cable or an optical fiber cable for video input & power supply of CCTV, etc. 17 is a surveillance camera 11-1 to 11- n is a power supply controller that supplies power to n. As shown in FIG. 9, each surveillance camera 1
1-1 to 11-n are video switchers 12 in the monitoring room
1 is directly connected to one port of the above, and the imaged images from the monitoring cameras 11-1 to 11-n are always concentrated in the monitoring room.

[0011]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional system, the cameras 11-1 to 11-n are used.
It is necessary to concentrate the captured images from one camera in one place, and in order to achieve the surveillance purpose, each camera 11-1 to
The captured image from 11-n needs to reach the monitoring room, and it is practically impossible to use the LAN for OA and the like, and the image cable needs to be routed exclusively. Therefore, it has not been possible to construct a system in which a PC / WS or the like on the desk of each person can easily acquire an image at any time whenever he / she wants.

On the other hand, a LAN of a computer network of an existing PC / WS is not a monitoring system which constantly displays and monitors video information of multiple points for the purpose of monitoring.
On a computer normally used in an office that uses communication lines such as, for example, to see the outside weather in an office environment without windows, or to see how busy the cafeteria is, It is possible to build a low-cost system aiming at a new application that allows anyone to easily obtain a video of a remote location temporarily on their own personal computer on their desks during work or at other times. Is desired.

Further, although some means using a communication line is about to be adopted as the video transmission means of the remote monitoring system, in this case as well, it is a video centralized system for monitoring and is a dedicated device in the monitoring room. Only the processing and display are performed, and the communication line is prepared only for the monitoring system as a form of use, and it has to be prepared separately from the OA network.

Further, the cameras 11-1 to 11-n at remote locations are also provided.
In the conventional surveillance system, a large number of display monitors 14 are prepared, screens are synthesized, sequential switching is performed, and there is a full-time supervisor who constantly monitors which image is to be displayed. Is a method in which a desired image is displayed by a direct instruction of a full-time person, and the image is always displayed and always recorded. This method was made possible or necessary by arranging a dedicated cable and keeping a dedicated monitoring person resident or recording at all times. It is not for monitoring purposes but for PC / WS on the desk. The system configuration was not suitable for a system that casually acquired and displayed temporarily.

Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to easily display images picked up by a plurality of cameras installed at multiple points from a PC / WS used for work in an office at any time. It is to provide an image selection display system capable of performing

The second object of the present invention is not to acquire or display a picked-up image from a desired camera only when an active instruction is given from each PC / WS.
By creating and registering a selection schedule in advance, the captured image from the desired camera at the desired time can be displayed on the PC /
An object is to provide an image selection display system that can be automatically acquired and displayed in WS.

A third object of the present invention is to use a computer network for OA which can connect a plurality of cameras without newly drawing a dedicated cable and which does not affect other devices. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image selection display system capable of automatically acquiring and displaying a captured image from a camera in a PC / WS.

[0018]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 provides a plurality of image pickup devices, a selection means for selecting images output from the plurality of image pickup devices, and the above selection. Storage means that stores in advance the image to be selected by the means together with the time of selection; control means that controls the selection means based on information from the storage means; and display means that displays the selected image. I have it.

The invention according to claim 2 is based on the information from the communication means for transmitting control information and video information between the plurality of image pickup devices and the control means, and the information from the storage means. Control information transmitting means for transmitting control information for controlling the image information to a designated image pickup device via the communication means, and image information transmission for transmitting image information to the control means via the communication means based on the control information. And means.

Further, the invention of claim 3 is provided with attribute information transmitting means for transmitting the control information including the attribute information of the video information to be transmitted.

[0021]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a desired picked-up image is automatically acquired and displayed on the display means by pre-storing an image to be selected from a plurality of image pickup devices together with the time of selection. Is possible.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the control information and the video information are transmitted via the communication means provided between the image pickup device and the display means, so that a new dedicated cable can be routed around. It is possible to use existing computer networks such as LAN, without having to install large-scale equipment, and to easily observe the captured images from multiple image-capturing devices installed at multiple points. it can.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the attribute information of the video information is included in the control information and transmitted, so that the image pickup apparatus can be appropriately controlled according to the image pickup situation.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image display selection system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image display selection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, remote monitoring is carried out by selecting / switching and displaying images picked up by the plurality of cameras 1-1 to 1-4 of FIG. 1 installed in a remote place. Without installing a dedicated cable for transmitting the video signals of the cameras 1-1 to 1-4 installed in a remote place,
The cameras 1-1 to 1-4 can be used by using a communication line which is usually provided as a computer network, such as a LAN line or a public line, which has a short transmission band for transmitting original image information. It is possible to acquire and display a required image of a remote place by efficiently controlling the transmission of the image information.

That is, in FIG. 1, 1-1, 1-
Reference numerals 2, 1-3, 1-4 denote cameras as image capturing devices directly connected to a LAN line which is a computer network communication line, and 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 denote cameras connected to the computer. is there. 3 is a backbone LAN for computer network communication lines, and ATM-LA
A high-speed LAN such as N.FDDI-LAN, 4-
1, 4-2, 4-3, and 4-4 are branch line LANs, and LANs such as ordinary Ethernet and token ring 5-1 and
5-2 and 5-3 are routers / brouters for connecting the backbone LAN and the branch LAN. 6 is B-ISDN other than LAN
Is a communication line such as a public line network or an optical fiber dedicated line, and 7-1 and 7-2 are gateways / routers for connecting the LAN communication lines 3 and 4-4 and the communication line 6.
8-1, 8-2, 8-3 are PCs / PCs on their desks.
For example, WS.

Next, the configuration of the PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 side of the image display selection system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a PC / WS of an image display selection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the part which acquires the imaging | video of 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 side, and displays it.

In FIG. 2, 101 is a LAN communication line 4
A communication control unit that controls communication with the LAN communication line 4 via a connection interface with, a video decoding unit 102 that decodes the received encoded video image, and a PC / WS 8-1, 8-2. , 8-3 is an image composition processing unit for displaying the received image on the graphic screen as an overlay, 104 is a VRAM for storing the image, 105 is a monitor display unit for displaying the received image and the like, and 106 is for displaying image information and the like. A storage unit such as an HD or a memory for storing 10
Reference numeral 7 denotes a system control unit which includes a CPU of the PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 main body and the like and controls the entire apparatus.
A part of the communication control unit 101, the video decoding unit 102,
The image processing unit 103 can also be realized by software.

Further, PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3
FIG. 4 shows a display example on the above screen. In FIG. 4, 2
Reference numeral 01 is a monitor display unit of the PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3, 202 is a window for displaying the received video, 203 and 204 are other applications, for example, windows for word processors and spreadsheet applications. Is.

Next, the structure of the camera 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 side of the image display selection system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image pick-up part by the side of camera 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 of the image display selection system by one Example of this invention.

In FIG. 3, 110 is the LAN communication line 4
A communication control unit for controlling communication with the LAN communication line 4 via a connection interface with the camera 111.
A video encoding unit that encodes and compresses the video images captured by -1, 1-2, 1-3, and 1-4, and 112 stores the digitized video images in the memory 113 or the memory 113. A memory 113 for reading out the digital video image thus obtained and transferring it to the video encoding unit 111.
A memory access control unit for controlling access to the memory 113
Is a memory that stores a digitalized imaged image from the camera unit 116, 114 is an A / D conversion unit that performs analog-to-digital conversion on an input image from the camera unit 116, and 115 is a camera 1-1, 1-2, 1 -3, 1-4 is a system control unit that controls, and 116 is a camera unit that actually captures an image.

Next, the PC / W according to the first embodiment of the present invention
The operation on the S8-1, 8-2, 8-3 side will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 shows a PC / PC according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure which shows the operation and display screen examples of WS8-1, 8-2, 8-3 etc., and FIG. 6 shows P by 1st Example of this invention.
It is a flow chart which shows operation on the side of C / WS8-1, 8-2, and 8-3.

First, as shown in step S101, P
Cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-for acquiring and displaying images by C / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3
In order to select 4, the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3,
Instruct to display the screen that specifies 1-4.

Next, as shown in step S102, for example, selectable cameras 1-1 and 1 as shown in FIG.
-2, 1-3, and 1-4 are displayed on the monitor display unit 201 of FIG.

Next, as shown in step S103, referring to the overall view of FIG. 5A displayed on the monitor display unit 201, the camera 1 to be selected in the overall view of FIG. Click the area where 1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 are arranged with the mouse.

Next, as shown in step S104, it is judged where the area selected in step S103 is, and the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1 of that area as shown in FIG. The detailed layout screens at positions -3 and 1-4 are displayed on the monitor display unit 201 in FIG. For example, when the main building 2F: dining room area in FIG. 5A is designated, the process proceeds to step S105, and the main building 2F in FIG. 5B.
The detailed layout screen of the positions of the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, and 1-4 in the inside is displayed. When it is determined in step S104 that the other areas are selected, the process proceeds to step S106, and the detailed layout of the positions of the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, and 1-4 in the corresponding areas. The screen is displayed.

Next, as shown in step S107, the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1 of each area as shown in FIG.
-3, 1-4 while referring to the detailed layout screen of the positions of the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4
Choose whether to get the video from. For example, in FIG.
The desired cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 are selected by a means such as clicking one of the four camera positions C2-1 to C2-4 in (b) with a mouse. select.

Next, as shown in step S108, it is determined whether or not the transmission conditions from the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 are set. If the transmission condition is not set, the process proceeds to step S110 to set a default condition, for example, a condition for transmitting only one frame.
If it is desired to set some condition other than the default, the process proceeds to step S109 to set the transmission condition. For example,
5 frames at 2 frames / minute, 1 frame image size is 3
20 × 240, condition setting such as transmission by a sequential JPEG encoding method is performed.

Next, as shown in step S111, a video transmission request command to which the above conditions are added is sent to the selected cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 as shown in FIG.
Communication control unit 1 based on an instruction from the system control unit 107 of
01 to be transmitted via the LAN communication line 4

Next, as shown in step S112, in the PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, and 8-3 of FIG. 1, the selected camera 1-1 responds to the video transmission request command transmitted from step 111. It waits until the picked-up image transmitted by 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 is received. When the reception of the video is detected, the video information sequentially received by the communication control unit 101 of FIG. 2 is received by the video decoding unit 102 while being decoded by the video decoding unit 102 while being written in the memory of the storage unit 106. .

Next, as shown in step S114, the decoded received video is displayed on the PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8--.
3 is displayed on the display unit 105, the image combining unit 103
Then, it is overlaid on the graphic display image video of the PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3, written in the VRAM 104, and displayed on the monitor display unit 105. FIG. 4 shows an example of a display screen at this time. In the window 202, captured images transmitted by the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 are displayed in overlay. At this time, the operation of step S113 and the operation of step S114 are performed in parallel.

Next, the camera 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The operation on the -1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 side will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation on the side of the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, as shown in step S201, the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 of FIG.
The process waits until the WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 instructs to transmit the image. When the instruction to transmit the video is received, the process proceeds to step S202 to analyze the transmission condition.

Next, as shown in step S203, captured images from the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 are captured. That is, the analog video from the camera unit 116 in FIG. 3 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D conversion unit 114, and one frame of image data is written in the memory 113 under the control of the memory access control unit 112.

Next, as shown in step S204, the digital image data for one frame held in the memory 113 is transferred to the video encoding unit 11 if necessary according to the transmission conditions.
The PC / PC that issued the instruction via the LAN communication line 4 under the control of the communication control unit 110 while performing the encoding in 1.
It transmits to WS8-1, 8-2, 8-3.

Next, as shown in step S205, 1
It is monitored whether the transmission of the image data for the frame is completed. When the transmission of the image data for one frame is completed, the process proceeds to step S206 and step S20.
If it is necessary to continue the transmission, it is judged whether or not the transmission conditions analyzed in 2 have been terminated, and step S is performed.
In step 207, it is determined whether the following transmission conditions are met. If the transmission conditions do not match, the process waits until they match. If it is determined that the transmission conditions are met, the process returns to step S203.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S206 that the transmission conditions have ended, the process returns to step S201 and waits until the transmission instruction is received again. Note that the above-mentioned flow is described only in the case where the procedure of sequentially capturing and transmitting one frame proceeds, but in some cases, the same can be applied to the case of transmission conditions that require parallel operation.

In the above description, the video transmission from the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 to the LAN communication line is performed by the PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-. It was started by the instruction from 3, but the camera 1-1,
You may make it set the active transmission mode from 1-2, 1-3, 1-4. Furthermore, the camera 2 of FIG.
PC / WS8-1, 8-, like 1, 2-2, 2-3
Also in the case of a camera connected via 2, 8-3, the above-mentioned cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3,
The control of parts other than the camera unit 116 of FIG. 3 in 1-4 can be performed in exactly the same manner only by controlling the PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3. Further, the communication line need not be the LAN 4 in particular, and other communication lines can be processed in almost the same manner although there is a difference in communication procedure.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1 are connected to the computer network composed of communication lines such as LAN4 already set up for OA. -3, 1-4 by connecting the desired camera 1-1 from the PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 etc. connected on the computer network in the office at any time 1-2, 1
-3 and 1-4, it is possible to acquire the captured images and display them on the monitor display unit 201 of FIG.

Next, the PC / W according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The operation on the S8-1, 8-2, 8-3 side will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 shows a PC according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart showing an operation on the / WS8-1, 8-2, 8-3 side.

First, as shown in step S301, for example, in order to set the schedule registration of the imaged video to be displayed on one's own PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3, as shown in FIG. The image pickup camera selection schedule setting screen as shown in is displayed. Here, FIG.
1 from the screen 201 of FIG. 4 on the PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 of FIG.
3, 1-4 is selected, or the time is designated, and at that time, a plurality of cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-is automatically set.
It is a figure which shows the schedule table creation registration screen which selects and displays a video from 3, 1-4.

Next, as shown in step S302, with reference to this schedule setting screen, the picked-up image is acquired from which camera 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 at which time. Whether to display and the attribute of the acquired image at that time,
For example, the number of frames, image size, coding method, etc. are set. If there is no particular need to set, default attributes, such as acquisition of only one still image frame, are automatically set.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5C, 9: 0
In 0, the state of the main building reception shown in Fig. 5 (a) is displayed for 5 minutes, 1
One-shot video display of the 3rd floor smoking room at 0:00, 1
At 2:00, three frames are continuously displayed at default intervals set in advance by the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 at the entrance of the cafeteria to see how busy the cafeteria is, 15:
One-shot display of the state of the annex 2F warehouse at 00
At home time of 7:30, it takes 1 minute to know the weather / road congestion outside the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 capturing the scenery outside the 2F cafeteria. Set and register the display continuously. These are stored in the HD, the memory or the like of the storage unit 106 in FIG.

Next, as shown in step S303, the constant monitoring process is activated when the schedule is registered.

Next, as shown in step S304, the schedule is checked and the camera 1-
It always monitors whether or not it becomes time to request transmission to 1, 1-2, 1-3, and 1-4. And
When it is the transmission time of the transmission request, the process proceeds to step S305, and the corresponding cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4
The video transmission request is transmitted via the LAN communication line 4 under the control of the system control unit 107 and the control of the communication control unit 101 in FIG.

Next, as shown in step S306, it is constantly monitored whether or not the image is received by the communication control unit 101 and the system control unit 107 via the LAN communication line 4, and the image reception is started. If detected, the process proceeds to step S307.

Next, as shown in step S307, the video information received from the communication control section 101 is received from the video decoding section 102 while being decoded and stored in the memory or the like of the storage section 106 as necessary. At the same time, in step S308, if the received video display window 202 of FIG. 4 is not active, it is displayed in front as active.

Next, as shown in step S309, the image composition processing unit 1 of FIG.
03 is combined with the graphic display screens of the PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3, the received image is overwritten in the received image display window 202 of FIG. 4 and written in the VRAM 104 of FIG. It is displayed on the display unit 105. For example, as shown in FIG. 5D, when the word processing document creation application happens to be active at that time and the work is being performed, at 12:00, the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 of the cafeteria are opened. The latest video imaged at 1-4 is displayed on the window by automatic control of the PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3. This allows
The user of the PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 can know when it is time to eat and also know whether or not the dining room is still crowded.

Further, for example, as shown in reception image display windows 202-2, 202-3, and 202-4 in FIG. 4, the cafeteria congestion status, the outside weather information, and the reception hall congestion status at each designated time. It is possible to automatically obtain and display such as at the required time.

In the above description, when the time designated by the schedule comes, the PC / WS 8-1, 8-2,
Although only the means for sending the transmission request from the 8-3 side has been described, the transmission request is sent from the PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 side in advance, and the cameras 1-1, 1- 2,
On the side of 1-3, 1-4, PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8 designated when the time designated by the schedule comes
It is also possible to provide a means for transmitting designated video information to -3 when the loads on the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 are small.

Further, in the above description, PC /
Although only the embodiments between the WSs 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 and the cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 connected to the LAN communication line 4 have been described, a PC is used. / LA like cameras 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 connected to / WS8-3
Even in a local environment not via the N communication line 4,
It is also possible to realize a display system that automatically selects and switches camera images by registering a selection schedule as in the above-described embodiment. In this case, the cameras 2-1, 2-2, 2-
Since the images from 3 are always collected in the PC / WS 8-3, transmission of control information such as a video transmission request is unnecessary.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1- is used.
4 to the communication line, PC / WS8-1, 8-2, 8
-3 based on the selection schedule information from
-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 control information for selecting the specified camera 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, through the communication line.
Camera 1--4 that has transmitted the selection control information
1, 1-2, 1-3, and 1-4 display the captured video information via the communication line on the PC / WS8- based on the instruction of the control information.
It becomes possible to transmit to 1, 8-2 and 8-3.

That is, which camera 1 at which time in advance
-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, by storing whether or not to capture and display the captured image as a selection schedule, the desired captured image is automatically captured at time. It becomes possible to display, PC / WS8-1, 8
-2, 8-3 users are cameras 1-1, 1-2, 1-
With the video information from 3, 1-4, for example, it is possible to observe a state other than one's desk which matches at that time during work. Moreover, since it is possible to provide such a new application without newly installing large-scale equipment, the device can be provided at a low price.

Further, PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3
Since it is possible to instruct by including the attribute information of the video information to be transmitted in the selection control information from the above, the present invention is applied to a computer network including a communication line such as LAN already provided for OA. Example camera 1-
By connecting 1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, any PC / WS 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 connected on the computer network in the office can be used at any time. It is sometimes possible to acquire and display a desired captured image.

[0065]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, a desired picked-up image is automatically obtained by pre-storing an image to be selected from a plurality of image pickup devices together with the time of selection. Then, it is possible to display it on the display means.

According to the invention of claim 2, the control information and the video information are transmitted through the communication means provided between the image pickup device and the display means, so that a new dedicated cable can be routed around. It is possible to use existing computer networks such as LAN, without having to install large-scale equipment, and to easily observe the captured images from multiple image-capturing devices installed at multiple points. it can.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the attribute information of the video information is included in the control information and transmitted, so that the image pickup apparatus can be appropriately controlled according to the shooting situation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image display selection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a portion for acquiring and displaying a captured image of a PC / WS according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video image pickup unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of an acquired image on a PC / WS screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an operation and display screen of a PC / WS or the like according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation on the PC / WS side according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation on the camera side according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation on the PC / WS side according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional monitoring system using a dedicated cable.

[Explanation of Codes] 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 LAN connection camera 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 normal camera 3 high-speed backbone LAN 4-1, 4-2, 4- 3, 4-4 Branch line LAN 5-1, 5-2, 5-3 Router / Bruta 6 Public / dedicated communication line 7-1, 7-2 Gateway / router 8-1, 8-2, 8-3 PC / WS 101 communication control unit 102 video decoding unit 103 image synthesis processing unit 104 VRAM 105 monitor display unit 106 storage unit 107 system control unit 110 communication control unit 111 video encoding unit 112 memory access control unit 113 memory 114 A / D conversion unit 115 system control unit 116 camera unit 201 monitor display unit 202 received video display window 203, 204 other windows

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of image pickup devices, a selection unit for selecting an image output from the plurality of image pickup devices, a storage unit that stores in advance the time when the image selected by the selection unit is selected, An image selection and display system comprising: a control means for controlling the selection means based on information from a storage means; and a display means for displaying the selected image. 2. Communication means for transmitting control information and video information between the plurality of imaging devices and the control means, and control information for controlling the imaging device based on the information from the storage means. Control information transmitting means for transmitting to the designated image pickup device via the communication means, and video information transmitting means for transmitting video information to the control means via the communication means based on the control information. The image selection display system according to claim 1. 3. The image selection display system according to claim 2, further comprising attribute information transmitting means for transmitting the control information including attribute information of video information to be transmitted.