JPH10234023A - Image pickup system, image pickup method and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To start a computer application through only the operation by the image pickup device by integrally configuring a computer that is connected to the image pickup device having an operation means and starts a prescribed application in response to the operation of an operation means and a display device that displays a dialog menu of the application program. SOLUTION: When a shutter button 11 of an image pickup device 101 is depressed, a camera control section 12 detects it, sends an application start signal to an extension board 23 and selects a still image for a video signal sent from an image pickup section 13 simultaneously. The extension board 23 receives the application start signal and informs it to a mother board 21 to start an application via an extension slot 22. Upon the receipt of the notice, the mother board 21 starts the application stored in a hard disk 24 and a video image from the image pickup section 13 in the image pickup device 101 and a dialog menu of the application program working on a computer 201 are displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imaging system, an imaging method, and a storage medium suitable for a video conference, a video phone, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an imaging system composed of an imaging device such as a CCD camera, a computer and a monitor,
Applications such as video conferencing or video calls
The application was started by double-clicking the application icon on the computer or inputting a command using the keyboard on the command line.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when a video conference or videophone call is performed by activating an application, an icon is searched for and activated using a mouse, or a command is input from a keyboard. Since it is necessary to always operate the computer, there has been a problem that both operations, such as turning on the power of the imaging apparatus and starting an application on the computer, must be performed.

[0004] The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an imaging system, an imaging method, and a storage medium that can start a required application in a computer only by operating the imaging device. It is.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, an imaging system includes the following (1) to (3),
As in (6) to (9), the imaging method is configured as in (4) below, and the storage medium is configured as in (5) below.

(1) An imaging device having operation means, a computer connected to the imaging device and having control means for starting a predetermined application in response to an operation of the operation means, and a computer connected to the computer and And a display device for displaying a video and a dialog of the application.

(2) The imaging system according to (1), wherein the operation means is a shutter button.

(3) The imaging system according to (1), wherein the operation means is one or more buttons and switches other than the shutter button.

(4) An imaging method in an imaging system including an imaging device, a computer that processes an image of the imaging device, and a display device that displays an image from the computer, wherein an operation element of the imaging device is operated. A first step, a second step of automatically starting a predetermined application in the computer according to the first step, and a third step of displaying a video and a dialog of the application from the computer on the display device. An imaging method comprising:

(5) A storage medium storing a program for realizing the imaging method according to (4).

(6) An image pickup unit having an image pickup unit for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a video signal, a shutter button for switching the image from the image pickup unit from a moving image to a still image, and a camera control unit for controlling the image pickup unit. A computer having a motherboard having a processing function, an expansion board for connecting the imaging device, and a storage unit for storing an application automatically started by the shutter button, and displaying a video and a dialog of the application from the computer. An imaging system comprising: a display device.

(7) An image pickup section for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a video signal, a shutter button for switching the image from the image pickup section from a moving image to a still image, a camera control section for controlling the image pickup section, and a camera control section for controlling the image pickup section. An imaging device having a multiplexing unit for multiplexing a control signal and a video signal from the imaging unit, and an imaging device having a motherboard having an arithmetic processing function and a separating unit for separating a signal multiplexed by the imaging device And a storage device for storing an application automatically activated by the shutter button, and a display device for displaying an image and a dialog of the application from the computer. system.

(8) An image pickup apparatus having an image pickup unit for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a video signal, a shutter button for switching a video from the image pickup unit from a moving image to a still image, and a camera control unit for controlling the image pickup unit; A motherboard having an arithmetic processing function having a data communication interface for exchanging signals with a camera control unit and a video input terminal for inputting a video signal from the imaging unit; and a storage unit for storing an application automatically activated by the shutter button. Computer and from this computer,
An imaging device system comprising: a display device that displays a video and a dialog of the application.

(9) An image pickup unit for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a video signal, a shutter button for switching a video from the image pickup unit from a moving image to a still image, a camera control unit for controlling the image pickup unit, and a camera control unit. An imaging device having a high-speed communication interface for performing large-capacity communication with a codec that encodes a signal and a video signal from an imaging unit, a motherboard having an arithmetic processing function, and a storage for storing an application that is automatically activated by the shutter switch. Means and a computer having a high-speed communication interface for performing large-capacity communication with the imaging device, a computer having a codec for decoding a signal from the high-speed communication interface, and a display device for displaying a video and a dialog of the application from the computer When,
An imaging system comprising:

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to examples of an "imaging system". Note that the present invention is not limited to the imaging system, and can be implemented in the form of an imaging method and in the form of a storage medium storing a program for implementing the imaging method.

[0016]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an "imaging system" which is Embodiment 1.

As shown, the system includes an imaging device 10.
1, a computer (control device) 201, and a display device 3
0. More specifically, the imaging device 101
Is an imaging unit 13 that images a subject and sends a video signal, and a camera control unit 1 that controls the entire imaging device 101.
2. A shutter button 11 for switching a video signal transmitted from the imaging unit 13 from a moving image to a still image. The computer 201 includes a motherboard 21, which is a main arithmetic processing unit, an expansion slot 22, an expansion board 23 for connecting the imaging device 101, an OS and applications,
The hard disk 24 stores data and the like.
The display device 30 displays a video captured by the imaging device 101 and a dialog of an application running on the computer 201.

Next, the operation will be described. Imaging device 10
When one shutter button 11 is pressed, the camera control unit 12 detects this. Upon detecting that the shutter button 11 has been pressed, the camera control unit 12
3 and a video signal transmitted from the imaging unit 13 to a still image. Upon receiving the application start signal, the expansion board 23 notifies the motherboard 21 via the expansion slot 22 to start the application when the application of the computer 201 is not running. When the motherboard 21 receives the notification, the motherboard 21
4 is started. When the application is started, the video transmitted from the imaging unit 13 in the imaging device 101 and the dialog of the application running on the computer 201 are displayed on the display device 30.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
2. Description of the Related Art In an imaging system in which an imaging device is operated by an application on a computer, when an application is not activated on the computer, the user can press a shutter button of the imaging device without operating the computer to perform, for example, a TV conference or image editing. Applications can be started.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of Embodiment 2.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a signal multiplexing unit 14 is added to the imaging apparatus 102 and a signal separating unit 25 is added to the expansion board 23 in the computer 202.

Next, the operation will be described. The difference from the first embodiment is that the signal multiplexing unit 14 multiplexes the application start signal sent from the control unit 12 of the imaging device 102 to the extension board 23 and the video signal sent from the imaging unit 13 to the extension board 23. , To the extension board 23. The extension board 23 separates the signal multiplexed by the newly added signal separation unit 25 into an application start signal and a video signal. Each of the separated signals is an extension board 2
3 The video signal is displayed at a predetermined position on the display device 30 via the expansion slot 22 and the motherboard 21. The application start signal is sent to the motherboard 21 via the expansion slot 22. When detecting the application start signal, the motherboard 21 starts an application such as a TV conference and image editing from the hard disk 24 when the application is not started,
An application dialog is displayed on the display device 30.

As described above, according to the present embodiment,
In order to multiplex the signal from the camera control unit in the imaging device and the video signal from the imaging unit and separate the multiplexed signal in the separation unit on the computer side, when the application is not running on the computer, the computer The application can be started by simply pressing the shutter button of the imaging device without operating the side without increasing the number of signal lines of the cable connecting the imaging device and the computer.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of Embodiment 3.

The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the expansion slot 22 is not inserted into the expansion board 23 and the data communication I / O is connected to the motherboard 21 of the computer 203.
F26 and the video input terminal 27 are mounted. The data communication I / F 26 is connected to the camera control unit 1 of the imaging device 103.
2 is an interface through which the motherboard 21 which is an arithmetic processing unit of the computer 203 performs data communication. The video input terminal 27 is an interface for capturing a video signal transmitted from the imaging device 103 into the motherboard 21 which is an arithmetic processing unit of the computer 203.

Next, the operation will be described. When the camera control unit 12 detects that the shutter button 11 has been pressed, an application start signal is sent to the data communication I / F 26. The application start signal is sent to the motherboard 21 via the data communication I / F 26 as it is. When detecting the application start signal, the motherboard 21 starts an application such as a TV conference or image editing stored in the hard disk 24. When the application is activated, the imaging device 10
3 and the application dialogue are displayed on the display device 30.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
Since the motherboard has a data communication interface and a video input terminal, the imaging device and the computer can be connected without inserting an expansion board into the computer. When the application is not running on the computer, the application can be started only by pressing the shutter button of the imaging device without operating the computer.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of Embodiment 4.

The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a codec 15 is provided in the imaging device 104, a codec 24 is provided in the computer 204, and the high-speed communication interface 1 is provided in each of the imaging device 104 and the computer 204.
6 and 29 are provided.

Next, the operation will be described. When the control unit 12 of the camera 104 detects that the shutter button 11 has been pressed, the application start signal sent from the camera control unit 12 and the video signal from the imaging unit 13 are encoded by the codec 15, and the high-speed communication interface 16 To the high-speed communication interface 29 of the computer 204 via. The signal from the high-speed communication interface 29 on the computer 204 side is
Decode at 8. The decoded application start signal and video signal are input to the motherboard 21.
When detecting the application start signal, the motherboard 21 starts the application stored in the hard disk 24. When the application is started, a video signal decoded by the codec 28 and a dialog of the application are displayed on the display device 13.

[0031] The standardized USB or P1394
When a high-speed serial interface such as is used, the display device 30 itself is provided with a function of using a USB or a P1394 interface and an application, so that the imaging device 104 and the display device 30 can be directly connected without using the computer 204. The same effect can be obtained by connecting.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
The imaging device and the computer can be connected with a single cable using a high-speed communication interface. When the application is not running on the computer, the application can be started just by pressing the shutter button of the imaging device without operating the computer Can be done. (Deformation) a. In each of the above embodiments, the medium for storing the application is the hard disk 24.
It can be a ROM. In each of the above-described embodiments, the application is stored on the hard disk 24 and the hard disk 24 is accessed as needed when the motherboard 21 starts the application. In this modification, the application is stored on a CD-ROM, the CD-ROM is accessed from the motherboard, and the application is started.

Also, the application can be transferred to other media,
For example, the program may be stored in a floppy disk, Zip, CD-R, or the like, and each device may be accessed from the motherboard to start an application.

B. In addition to the shutter button for executing a still image, the power switch of the imaging device 101 or the first stroke, one push AF, one push white balance of the shutter button having a plurality of strokes,
If buttons and switches for other functions, such as a zoom button, are added, an application start-up function can be added based on an OR condition of one or more of the buttons or switches.

C. For example, in the first embodiment, when the camera control unit 12 detects that the shutter button 11 has been pressed, it sends an application start signal to the extension board 23 and changes the video signal sent from the imaging unit 13 from a moving image to a still image. I was switching to a picture. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When the application is not running on the computer 201, the video signal transmitted from the imaging unit 13 is not switched to a still image, and a moving image is transmitted.
2 sends an application start signal to the expansion board 23 to notify the motherboard 21 via the expansion slot 22 to start the application, and the display device 30
Above, a video of a moving image from the imaging unit 13 in the imaging device 101 and a dialog of an application started on the computer 20 may be displayed.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Video conferencing software, image editing software, videophone software,
You can start required applications such as OCR software,
Applications such as videoconferencing and videophone can be started comfortably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a third embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Shutter Button 21 Motherboard 24 Hard Disk 30 Display

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An imaging device having an operation unit, a computer connected to the imaging device and having a control unit for starting a predetermined application in response to an operation of the operation unit, and a computer connected to the computer and And a display device for displaying a video and a dialog of the application. 2. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the operation means is a shutter button. 3. The imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the operation means is one or more buttons and switches other than a shutter button. 4. An imaging method in an imaging system, comprising: an imaging device; a computer that processes an image of the imaging device; and a display device that displays an image from the computer, wherein a method of operating an operation element of the imaging device is provided. A first step, a second step of automatically starting a predetermined application in the computer according to the first step, and a third step of displaying a video and a dialog of the application from the computer on the display device.
An imaging method comprising the steps of: 5. A storage medium storing a program for realizing the imaging method according to claim 4. 6. An image pickup apparatus having an image pickup unit for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a video signal, a shutter button for switching a video from the image pickup unit from a moving image to a still image, and a camera control unit for controlling the image pickup unit; A computer having a functioning motherboard, an expansion board for connecting the imaging device, and storage means for storing an application automatically started by the shutter button, and a display from the computer for displaying a video and a dialog of the application An imaging system comprising: a device. 7. An imaging unit for imaging a subject and outputting a video signal, a shutter button for switching a video from the imaging unit from a moving image to a still image, a camera control unit for controlling the imaging unit, and control from the camera control unit. An imaging device having a signal and a multiplexing unit that multiplexes a video signal from the imaging unit,
An expansion board for connecting the motherboard having an arithmetic processing function and the imaging device having a separation unit for separating a signal multiplexed by the imaging device, and storage means for storing an application automatically started by the shutter button. An imaging system, comprising: a computer, and a display device for displaying a video and a dialog of the application from the computer. 8. An image pickup apparatus, comprising: an image pickup unit for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a video signal; a shutter button for switching a video from the image pickup unit from a moving image to a still image; and a camera control unit for controlling the image pickup unit; A computer having a data communication interface for exchanging signals with a control unit, a motherboard having an arithmetic processing function having a video input terminal for inputting a video signal from the imaging unit, and a storage unit for storing an application automatically activated by the shutter button And a display device for displaying an image and a dialog of the application from the computer. 9. An imaging unit for imaging a subject and outputting a video signal, a shutter button for switching a video from the imaging unit from a moving image to a still image, a camera control unit for controlling the imaging unit, a signal exchanged with the camera control unit, and An imaging device having a high-speed communication interface for performing large-capacity communication with a codec that encodes a video signal from the imaging unit,
A motherboard having an arithmetic processing function, storage means for storing an application automatically started by the shutter switch, a high-speed communication interface for performing large-capacity communication with the imaging device, and a codec for decoding a signal from the high-speed communication interface. An imaging system comprising: a computer having the computer; and a display device for displaying a video and a dialog of the application from the computer.