JPH0846943A - Video camera drive system and picture communication system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically track the subject of a speaker without using the special sensor of an infrared ray camera and to freely designate a part desired to be viewed from a remote place. CONSTITUTION:A picture signal outputted from the video camera 110 at a place A is supplied to the opposite party picture display monitor 220 at a place B through the picture signal transmission part 120 at the place A, a communication network 300 and the picture signal reception part 210 at the place B. Thus, the photographed picture at the place A is displayed on the monitor 220 at the place B. When a desired area is designated on the display picture of the monitor 220 by using a pointing device provided or a desired area designation part 230 in such a state, a signal showing the desired area is supplied to an area peculiar motion vector arithmetic part 140 at the place A through the communication network 300. Thus, the motion vector of the desired area designated by the signal is detected, and the angle of the video camera 110 is controlled based on the motion vector.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video camera driving system for driving a video camera in accordance with the movement of a subject so that the subject is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen. The present invention also relates to an image communication system in which a predetermined subject at each of two points is photographed and the photographed image is mutually communicated between the two points.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, research and development of video conference systems have been actively conducted. This video conference system is a system for holding a conference between two geographically separated points via a communication network.

In order to construct this video conference system, an image communication system in which a speaker at each of a plurality of points is photographed and the photographed image is mutually communicated between the plurality of points is required. Becomes Further, when constructing this image communication system, it is convenient to have a video camera drive system that can always display the speaker in the center of the screen even if the speaker moves.

As such a video camera driving system, a system as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-103285 has been conventionally known. This video camera driving system uses a thermo camera in which an infrared camera and a video camera are integrated so that the speaker is always displayed at a predetermined position on the screen.

That is, this video camera driving system photographs the heat generated by the speaker with an infrared camera, and uses this photographing pattern and a standard pattern (for example, a photographing pattern when the speaker is located at the center of the screen). Are compared by a predetermined method, and the horizontal and vertical angles of the infrared camera are controlled so that the former overlaps the latter.

With such a configuration, the horizontal and vertical angles of the infrared camera are controlled in accordance with the movement of the speaker, so that the horizontal and vertical angles of the video camera can be controlled by the speaker. It is controlled according to the movement.
As a result, even if the speaker moves,
It can be displayed almost in the center of the screen.

[0007]

However, in the above-mentioned structure, since the infrared camera for sensing the heat of the subject is required in addition to the video camera, the system becomes large-scale and expensive. was there.

Further, in the above-mentioned configuration, for example,
By changing the standard pattern, it is possible to specify the part to be viewed to some extent with respect to the captured image of the own point, but it is not possible to specify with respect to the captured image of another point at all.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is, in a video camera drive system, means for transmitting an image signal output from a video camera, and transmission of this means. Means for receiving a signal and displaying an image picked up by the video camera based on the received signal; and means for designating a predetermined area on the display image of the means and transmitting a signal indicating the designated area. , Receiving the transmission signal of this means, detecting the motion vector of the area designated by this reception signal, based on this motion vector, so that the designated area is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen,
And means for driving the video camera.

The invention according to claim 3 provides an image communication system capable of driving a video camera by combining a pair of the video camera driving systems according to claim 1 in opposite directions between two image communication points. It is the one that was built.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the image signal output from the video camera is sent to a remote place via a communication network or the like. The image signal sent to the remote place is supplied to the monitor provided in this remote place. This allows
The image taken by the video camera is displayed on a monitor at a remote place.

In this state, when a person at a remote place designates a predetermined area on the image displayed on the monitor, this area designation signal is sent to the transmission source of the image signal via the communication network. The transmission source of the image signal detects the motion vector of the area designated by the area designation signal, and drives the video camera based on the detection output. As a result, the video camera is driven so that the area designated at the remote place is always displayed at the predetermined position on the screen.

Therefore, if an image communication system is constructed by using this video camera driving system and a video conference system is constructed by using this image communication system, an infrared camera is used. The speaker can always be displayed in the center of the screen without any need. In addition, at your location, at another location (destination of the meeting)
You can freely specify the part you want to see in the captured image.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the case where the present invention is applied to a video conference system will be described as a representative.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a video conference system including a video camera driving system and an image communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The illustrated video conference system is composed of a video conference device 100 provided at a point A, a video conference device 200 provided at a point B, and a communication network 300 connecting them.

In the video conference apparatus 100 at the point A,
Reference numeral 110 is a video camera for photographing the conference attendees at the point A.

Reference numeral 120 denotes an image signal output from the video camera 110 via the communication network 300.
It is an image signal transmitting unit for transmitting to the video conference apparatus 200 at the point B. The image signal transmission unit 120 is composed of a portion for performing transmission processing such as encoding on the image signal and a portion for transmitting the image signal subjected to the transmission processing to the communication network 300. For convenience, only the transmission processing part is shown. The specific configuration of the image signal transmitting unit 120 will be described in detail later.

Reference numeral 130 indicates that each conference attendee has a video camera 1
This is a camera movement request switch for directing 10 toward the user's seat. The switch 130 is placed at a predetermined position on the table of each conferees, and when operated by the conferees, outputs the camera movement request signal S1 of the video camera 110. The camera movement request signal S1 includes the identification information of the own switch 130.

Reference numeral 140 denotes an area peculiar motion vector calculation section which receives an area specifying signal S8 described later and calculates a motion vector of the attention area specified by the signal S8. Although not shown in detail, the calculation unit 140 calculates a motion vector of a region for receiving the region designation signal S8 and a region of interest indicated by the received signal, and outputs a signal S9 indicating this motion vector. With a part.

Reference numeral 150 denotes the video camera 11 based on the camera movement request signal S1 or the motion vector signal S9.
It is a camera drive unit that controls the horizontal angle or the vertical angle of 0. The specific configuration of the camera driving section 150 will be described later in detail.

In the video conference apparatus 200 at the point B,
An image signal receiving unit 210 receives an image signal sent via the communication network 300. The image signal receiving unit 210 includes a portion that receives an image signal sent via the communication network 300 and a portion that performs a receiving process such as decoding on the received signal. For convenience of explanation, only the reception processing portion is shown. In addition,
The specific configuration of the image signal receiving section 210 will be described later in detail.

Reference numeral 220 denotes the video camera 1 at the point A based on the image signal received by the image signal receiving section 210.
10 is a partner image display monitor that displays the image captured in 10.

Reference numeral 230 denotes an attention area designating section for designating an area to be noticed on the image displayed on the partner image display monitor 220. Although not shown in detail, the attention area designating unit 230 shows a pointing device such as a mouse for designating the attention area on the display image of the monitor 220, and the attention area designated by using this device. And a portion for transmitting the signal S8 to the communication network 300.

The above is the overall configuration of one embodiment.
Next, the image signal transmitting unit 120 and the camera driving unit 150
Then, an example of a specific configuration of the image signal receiving unit 210 will be described. First, an example of a specific configuration of the image signal transmitting unit 120 will be described.

In FIG. 1, as described above, the image signal transmitting section 1
Only the transmission processing part of 20 is shown. That is, in the figure, reference numeral 121 is an analog / digital conversion unit (hereinafter referred to as “A / D conversion unit”) that digitizes the image signal output from the video camera 110. 122
Is a current frame buffer that stores the image data for one frame at present output from the A / D converter 121 (hereinafter referred to as “current screen data S7”).

Reference numeral 123 denotes a block (hereinafter, referred to as a block) which includes L pixels (L is a positive integer of 1 or more) in the horizontal direction and M pixels (M is a positive integer of 1 or more) in the vertical direction on the screen. "Macro block"), and for each macro block, the current screen data S3 stored in the current frame buffer 122 and the image data of the previous frame stored in the previous frame buffer 127 described later. (Hereinafter, referred to as "previous screen reproduction data".) A motion vector calculation unit that calculates a motion vector based on S4 and outputs a signal S5 indicating this motion vector.

Reference numeral 124 is based on the motion vector signal S5, the current screen data S3, and the previous screen reproduction data S4.
A DCT / quantization unit that obtains image data S6 that has been quantized by discrete cosine transform (DCT).

An entropy code 125 encodes the image data S6 output from the DCT / quantization unit 124 using, for example, Huffman encoding that compresses information using the statistical properties of the signal. It is a chemical department. The image data S7 obtained by this encoding is sent to the video conference apparatus 200 at the point B via the communication network 300.

Reference numeral 126 denotes the DCT / quantization unit 1 for the image data S6 output from the DCT / quantization unit 124.
An inverse quantization / IDCT unit that performs a process reverse to that of 24.
Reference numeral 127 is a previous frame buffer that stores the image data output from the dequantization / IDT unit 125 for one screen.

The above is an example of a specific configuration of the image signal transmitting section 120. Next, an example of a specific configuration of the camera driving section 150 will be described.

In the camera driving section 150, 151 is
Based on the identification information included in the camera movement request signal S1, the switch 130 to which the signal S1 is output is determined, and a camera movement request for calculating an angle vector for directing the video camera 110 toward this switch 130 It is a control angle calculation unit. Here, the angle vector is a vector including a component indicating a horizontal angle and a component indicating a vertical angle.

Note that the arithmetic unit 132 actually calculates the angle vector for each switch 130 in advance and registers it in the table, and outputs the signal S1 to the switch 1
When 30 is found, the angle vector of the switch 130 is read from the table.

Reference numeral 152 denotes a region-specific motion vector calculation unit 1
Based on the motion vector signal S9 output from 40,
The control angle calculation unit calculates an angle vector for displaying the attention area at a predetermined position on the screen.

Reference numeral 153 denotes a signal S2 indicating the angle vector calculated by the camera movement request control angle calculation unit 151,
Alternatively, based on the signal S10 indicating the angle vector calculated by the control angle calculation unit 152, the video camera 11
Reference numeral 0 is a camera fixing base drive unit that drives a fixed camera fixing base (not shown).

The above is an example of a specific configuration of the camera driving section 150. Next, an example of a specific configuration of the image signal receiving unit 210 will be described.

In FIG. 1, as described above, the image signal receiving section 21
Of 0, only the reception processing part is shown. That is, in the figure, reference numeral 211 is a decoding unit that decodes the coded image data S7 coded by the entropy coding unit 125 and sent via the communication network 300. Two
Reference numeral 12 denotes a digital / analog converting unit (hereinafter,
It is called "D / A converter". ).

The above is the configuration of the video conference system shown in FIG. However, the above-described configuration is for the conference attendee at the point B to specify the attention area on the captured image of the point A. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the conference attendee at the point A is also provided with a configuration for designating the attention area on the captured image at the point B. However, this configuration is the same as the above-mentioned configuration except that the orientation is opposite, and therefore will be omitted.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. When a conference attendee at a point A presses the camera movement request switch 130 provided on the table, the camera movement request signal S1 is supplied from the switch 130 to the camera movement request control angle calculation unit 151.

Upon receiving the camera movement request signal S1, the arithmetic unit 151 first determines the camera movement request switch 130 that has output the signal S1 based on the identification information included in the signal S1. Then, when the switch 130 is identified, the angle vector of the switch 130 is read from the table, and the signal S2 indicating this angle vector is given to the camera fixed base drive unit 153.

Upon receiving the angle vector signal S2, the camera fixing base drive section 153 controls the horizontal angle and the vertical angle of the camera fixing base based on this signal S2. This causes the video camera 110 to switch to the switch 13
The seat is pushed to 0. As a result, the conference attendee who pressed the switch 130, for example, the speaker, is photographed.

The image signal showing the image captured by the video camera 110 is sent to the video conference apparatus 200 at the point B via the communication network 300 after being subjected to a predetermined transmission process by the image signal transmitting section 120. The operation of the image signal transmitting unit 120 will be described in detail later.

The image signal sent to the video conference apparatus 200 undergoes a predetermined receiving process in the image signal receiving section 210 and is then supplied to the partner image display monitor 220. As a result, the image captured by the video camera 110 at the point A is displayed on the monitor 220 at the point B. The operation of the image signal receiving section 210 will be described later in detail.

In this state, when the conference attendee at the point B uses the pointing device provided in the attention area designation section 230 to designate the attention area on the display image of the monitor 220, the attention area is designated. The signal S8 indicated is transmitted via the communication network 300 to the video conference apparatus 1 at the point A.
Sent to 00.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a method of designating the attention area. In the figure, R is an attention area, and P is a pointer for designating the attention area R. The figure shows the case where a part of the face of the speaker is designated as the attention area. In the region designation signal S8, if the region of interest R is represented by a rectangle as shown in FIG. 2, for example, the horizontal and vertical coordinates of one vertex of this rectangle and the length of the side in the horizontal direction. And the length of the side in the vertical direction.

The area specifying signal S8 sent to the video conference apparatus 100 at the point A is the area peculiar motion vector calculation unit 14
0 is supplied. When receiving the area designation signal S8, the calculation section 140 uses the motion vector signal S9 output from the motion vector calculation section 123 to calculate the motion vector of the attention area R specified by the signal S8. The operation of the arithmetic unit 140 will be described in detail later.

A signal S9 indicating the motion vector of the attention area R
Is supplied to the control angle calculator 152. This calculation unit 15
2 receives the signal S9, the attention area R for each screen
An angle vector for displaying at a predetermined position on the screen is calculated. This calculation is performed as follows, for example.

That is, Φ is a rotation angle when the camera fixing base is swung in the horizontal direction so that the object reflected in the center of the screen moves by one pixel in the horizontal direction on the screen. At this time, if the horizontal component of the motion vector is m, the horizontal component of the angle vector is obtained as mΦ. Although detailed description is omitted, the vertical component of the angle vector can be obtained in the same manner.

The signal S10 indicating this angle vector is supplied to the camera fixed base drive section 153. Camera fixed stand 1
Upon receiving this signal S10, the reference numeral 53 rotates the camera fixing base in the horizontal direction by the horizontal component of the angle vector indicated by the signal S10 and also in the vertical direction by the vertical component. As a result, the video camera 110 is driven so that the attention area R is always displayed at a predetermined position on the screen (for example, the center of the screen).

In this state, when another or the same camera movement request switch 130 is newly pressed, the camera fixed base drive section 153 gives priority to the angle vector signal S2 over the angle vector signal S10, and based on this signal S2. Drive the camera fixing base. This allows the video camera 11
0 is directed towards the seat where the newly pushed switch 130 is provided.

After that, the camera fixed base drive unit 153
The angle vector signal S10 is ignored until the attention area R is newly designated, and when the attention area R is newly designated, based on the angle vector signal S10 obtained from the motion vector of the attention area R, , Drive the camera mount. As a result, the video camera 110 is driven so that the newly designated attention area R is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen.

The above is the overall operation of the embodiment.
Next, the image signal transmitting unit 120 and the image signal receiving unit 210
The operation of the area-specific motion vector calculation unit 140 will be described in detail. First, the operation of the image signal transmitting unit 120 will be described.

The image signal transmitting section 120 is adapted to perform a predetermined information compression process on the image signal output from the video camera 110 and encode it. The encoding method in this case is CCITT Recommendation H.264. It is equivalent to the encoding method etc. defined in H.261.

That is, the analog image data output from the video camera 110 is first converted into the A / D conversion unit 12
1 converts the image data into digital image data. This converted output is temporarily stored in the current frame buffer 122, and is then stored as the current screen data S3 in the motion vector calculation unit 1
23 and the DCT / quantization unit 124.

The motion vector calculation unit 9 detects a motion vector for each macroblock using the current screen data S3 and the previous screen reproduction data S4 in order to perform motion compensation prediction which is an image compression technique. This detection is performed as follows, for example.

That is, the motion vector calculation unit 123
First, as shown in FIG. 3, for each macroblock MB1 of the current frame screen, the macroblock M at the same position as this macroblock MB1 in the previous frame screen
A search area SA surrounding B2 is set. Next, a macroblock MB3 having the same size of L × M pixels as the macroblock MB2 is cut out from the set search area SA. Next, the degree of similarity between the image data of the cut macroblock MB3 and the image data of the macroblock MB1 is calculated.

Hereinafter, similarly, the motion vector calculation unit 123
Calculates the similarity for all macroblocks MB3 that can be cut out from the search area SA. When this process ends, all the calculated similarities are compared, and the macroblock MB3 having the highest similarity is detected. Next, the difference between the position of the macro block MB3 and the position of the macro block MB2 having the highest similarity is obtained. As a result, the motion vector v of the macroblock MB1 is obtained.

However, the motion vector v is the macroblock MB2 having the highest similarity from the macroblock MB2.
It is suitable for 3. Therefore, this motion vector v
The direction of is opposite to the actual moving direction of the subject. As for the component of the motion vector v, “1” is the pixel 1
It is defined to represent the distance for each item.

When the motion vector calculation unit 123 detects the motion vector v of one macroblock MB1, it detects the motion vector v of the next macrobook MB1. Hereinafter, similarly, for all macroblocks MB1,
The motion vector v is detected.

Motion vector v of each macroblock MB1
Is supplied to the DCT / quantization unit 124 and the region-specific motion vector calculation unit 140.

When the DCT / quantization unit 124 receives the motion vector signal S5, first, based on this signal S5,
For each macroblock MB1 of the current frame screen, the macroblock MB3 of the previous frame playback screen having the highest similarity to this block MB1 is moved in the direction opposite to the motion vector v. Next, the difference value of the densities of the image data in the macro block MB3 and the image data in the macro block MB1 is obtained. Next, according to the magnitude of the calculated difference value,
The difference value itself or the macroblock MB1 itself is subjected to discrete cosine transform and then quantized.

The discrete cosine transform is a kind of orthogonal transform, and the quantization is to obtain a quotient divided by an integer called a quantization step, both of which are commonly used as a basic technique of code compression. ing. The macro block output as the above-mentioned density difference value is called an inter macro block, and the macro block output as the current screen itself is called an intra macro block.

The image data S6 which has been discrete cosine transformed and quantized by the DCT / quantization unit 124 is supplied to the entropy coding unit 125 and the dequantization / IDCT unit 126. Upon receiving this image data S6, the entropy coding unit 125 performs Huffman coding processing and the like on this. The encoded image data S7 thus obtained is supplied to the video conference device 200 at the point B via the communication network 300.

The image data S10 supplied to the inverse quantization / IDCT unit 126 is subjected to processing such as inverse quantization and inverse DCT, and is then subjected to predetermined processing according to the difference between the inter macroblock and the intra macroblock. receive. This processed output is accumulated in the previous frame buffer 127.

The above is the operation of the image signal transmitting section 120. Next, the operation of the image signal receiving section 210 will be described.

The encoded image data S11 transmitted from the image signal transmitting unit 120 at the point A via the communication network 300 is decoded by the decoding unit 211. This decoded output is converted from a digital signal to an analog signal by the D / A converter 212. This converted output is supplied to the partner image display monitor 220.

The above is the operation of the image signal receiving section 210. Next, the operation of the area peculiar motion vector calculation unit 133 will be described.

As mentioned above, CCITT H.264. 261
In the encoding method defined in 1), it is necessary to calculate the motion vector v for each macroblock MB1. Region-specific motion vector calculation unit 14 of this embodiment
0, paying attention to this point, each macro block M calculated by the motion vector calculation unit 123 in the image signal transmission unit 120.
A motion vector V peculiar to the attention area R is calculated by using the motion vector v of B1. The arithmetic expression in this case is as follows.

V =-(Σmi · vi) / (Σmi) where i: a number assigned to the macroblock MB1 having pixels included in the attention area R. When there are N (N is a positive integer of 1 or more) such macroblocks, the addition range of Σ is i = 1 to N.

V: motion vector of the attention area R vi: motion vector of macroblock MB1 (i) having pixels included in the attention area R mi: macroblock MB (having pixels included in the attention area R i) The number of pixels included in the attention area R among the pixels of i) Here, the numerator term on the right side of the equation is a macroblock belonging to the attention area (a macroblock having pixels included in the attention area R) MB1 (i) Of the motion vector vi of the macro block MB1 (i) and the number of pixels mi of the pixels included in the attention area R among the pixels of the macro block MB1 (i) are all macro blocks MB1 (1) to MB1 (N) belonging to the attention area R. ) And summed up.

Further, the denominator on the right side of the expression is that among the pixels of the macroblock MB1 (i) belonging to the attention area R, the number mi of pixels included in the attention area R is defined as all macroblocks belonging to the attention area R. MB1 (1) to MB1 (N) are added. Therefore, the right side of the expression is
Macroblocks MB1 (1) to MB belonging to attention area R
It will represent the average motion vector v of (N).

The negative sign on the right side of the equation reverses the direction of the motion vector. This negative sign
The motion vector V obtained based on the above equation is a vector indicating the actual motion of the attention area R.

According to this embodiment described in detail above, the following effects can be obtained. (1) First, according to this embodiment, the attention area specifying unit 2
30 and a region-specific motion vector calculation unit 140,
On the image captured by the video camera 110, an area to be noticed is designated, a motion vector V of the designated area R is calculated, and the attention area R is always displayed at a predetermined position on the screen based on the motion vector V. As described above, since the video camera is driven, the subject can be automatically displayed at a predetermined position on the screen without using a special sensor such as an infrared camera (the subject can be automatically tracked). . As a result, the size and cost of the device can be reduced as compared with the case where a special sensor such as an infrared camera is used.

(2) According to this embodiment, the attention area designating section 230 is provided with the area designating signal S8 transmitting function, and the area peculiar motion vector computing section 140 is provided with the area designating signal S8 receiving function. Therefore, the attention area R can be designated from a remote location. As a result, it is possible to freely specify a desired portion in the captured image of the other party of the conference from a remote location.

(3) According to this embodiment, when detecting the motion vector V of the attention area R, the screen is divided into a plurality of blocks, the motion vector is detected for each block, and the motion vector is detected. Since the detection method is adopted by utilizing the above, when the method of using the motion vector v of the macroblock MB1 is adopted as the encoding method of the image signal as in this embodiment, this method is used. The motion vector v of the attention area R can be detected as the motion vector v of the macroblock MB1. This allows
In this case, the amount of hardware added to detect the motion vector V of the attention area R can be reduced.

(4) Further, according to this embodiment, when the motion vector V of the attention area R is obtained from the motion vector v of the macro block MB1, the motion vectors v of the plurality of macro blocks MB1 belonging to this attention area R are selected. Since the motion vector V of the attention area R is obtained by performing a predetermined averaging process, a highly accurate motion vector can be obtained as this motion vector V.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

(1) For example, in the above embodiment, the motion vector V of the attention area R is calculated by performing a predetermined averaging process on the motion vectors v of the plurality of macroblocks MB1 belonging to the attention area R. The case of detecting has been described.
However, according to the present invention, for example, the motion vector v of the macroblock MB1 located at the center of the attention area R is detected as the motion vector V of the attention area R, or the motion vector v of all macroblocks MB1 belonging to the attention area R is detected. Of these, the motion vector v having the largest number may be detected as the motion vector V of the attention area R.

(2) In the above embodiment, the case where the angle vector signal S10 is obtained based on the motion vector signal S9 of the attention area R and the case where it is obtained for each screen have been described. However, in the present invention, this may be obtained for each of a plurality of screens. For example, the sum of the angle vectors for 30 screens may be obtained, and once every 30 screens, a signal indicating the vector sum may be output as the angle vector signal S10.

(3) In the above embodiment, the method of driving the video camera 110 is as follows.
The case of controlling the horizontal and vertical angles of has been described. However, the present invention may additionally or independently control the position of the video camera 110 in the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions.

(4) Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the video conference system for performing the video conference at two points has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a video conference system that conducts a video conference at three or more points. This is because a video conference system that conducts a video conference at three or more points can also be constructed in principle by a combination of video conference systems that perform a video conference at two points.

(5) In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the video conference system has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to, for example, a one-to-one videophone system. In this case, in the system of FIG. 1, the camera movement request switch 13
0, the camera movement request control angle calculation unit 151 becomes unnecessary.

(6) In addition to this, it goes without saying that the present invention can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0084]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
A function to specify a predetermined area on a captured image of a video camera, a function to detect a motion vector of the specified area,
Based on this detection output, a function to drive the video camera is provided so that the designated area is always displayed at a predetermined position on the screen, so that the subject can be detected without using a special sensor such as an infrared camera. It can be displayed at a predetermined position on the screen. As a result, the size and cost of the device can be reduced as compared with the case where a special sensor such as an infrared camera is used.

Further, according to the present invention, since the transmission / reception function of the image signal output from the video camera and the transmission / reception function of the area designating signal are provided, the attention area can be specified from a remote place. As a result, a desired portion of the captured image can be freely designated from a remote location.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a method of designating a region of interest in one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of detecting a motion vector of a region of interest in one embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100, 200 ... Video conferencing apparatus 300 ... Communication network 110 ... Video camera 120 ... Image signal transmission unit 130 ... Region-specific motion vector calculation unit 140 ... Camera movement request switch 150 ... Camera drive unit 121 ... A / D conversion unit 122 ... Current frame buffer 123 ... Motion vector calculation unit 124 ... DCT / quantization unit 125 ... Entropy coding unit 126 ... Inverse quantization / IDCT unit 127 ... Previous frame buffer 151 ... Camera movement request control angle calculation unit 152 ... Control angle Calculation unit 153 ... Camera fixed base driving unit 210 ... Image signal receiving unit 220 ... Partner image display monitor 230 ... Attention area designating unit 211 ... Decoding unit 212 ... D / A conversion unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A video camera drive system for driving a video camera in accordance with the movement of the subject so that the subject is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen, and an image signal indicating an image captured by the video camera. An image signal transmitting means for transmitting the image signal, an image signal receiving means for receiving the image signal transmitted by the image signal transmitting means, and an image pickup by the video camera based on the image signal received by the image signal receiving means. Image display means for displaying an image, area designation means for designating a predetermined area on the image displayed by the image display means, and transmitting a signal indicating the designated area, and area designation means for transmitting the signal. A motion vector detecting means for receiving a region specifying signal, and detecting a motion vector of a region specified by the received signal; And a camera driving means for driving the video camera so that the designated area is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen based on the motion vector detected by the motion vector detecting means. Camera drive system. 2. The motion vector detecting means divides the screen into predetermined blocks and detects a motion vector for each block, and the first motion vector detecting means detects the motion vector. Second motion vector detecting means for detecting the motion vector of the specified area by performing a predetermined averaging process on the motion vectors of a plurality of blocks belonging to the specified area among the motion vectors. The video camera drive system according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A predetermined subject at each of the two points is photographed, and the photographed image is photographed between the two points.
In an image communication system for mutual communication, a video camera provided at each of the two points for photographing a predetermined subject at the own point, and a video camera provided at each of the two points for the video camera at the own point An image signal transmitting unit for transmitting an image signal to be output; an image signal receiving unit provided at each of the two points for receiving an image signal transmitted by the image signal transmitting unit at another point; Provided at each of the two points, based on the image signal received by the image signal receiving means of its own point,
An image display unit for displaying a captured image of the video camera at another point, and a predetermined area on the image displayed by the image display unit at its own point, which is provided at each of the two points,
Area designation means for transmitting a signal indicating this designated area to another point, and area designation signals provided at each of the two points and transmitted by the area designation means of the other points, and received A motion vector detecting means for detecting a motion vector of an area designated by a signal; and a motion vector detecting means provided at each of the two points, based on the motion vector detected by the motion vector detecting means at its own point, An image communication system comprising: a camera driving unit that drives the video camera at its own point so that it is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen.