JPH10304239A - Camera control system, device therefor, control method therefor, and storage medium storing program for executing the process - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To re-acquire a video camera control right, it is possible to control the camera to the control state of the video camera when the control right was previously held. SOLUTION: A camera parameter (an imaging state of a video camera such as a pan, tilt angle or a zoom magnification) at a time when the control right is lost is transmitted to a camera client device which has lost the control right. When the camera client device obtains the camera parameters, it stores the camera parameters in the main memory, and when the control right of the camera is obtained again, sends a control command to the camera server to control the imaging state of the camera based on the stored camera parameters. Send.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera control system suitable for use in, for example, a TV conference system or a surveillance camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a system capable of remotely viewing an image of a video camera (for example, a TV conference system, a surveillance camera, etc.), it is not necessary to simply view the camera image, but to set a pan / tilt angle and a zoom magnification of the camera. Some are made remotely controllable. For example, on the Internet
Connect a computer controllable camera to the WWW server,
A system has been developed by the present applicant that not only distributes and displays real-time video captured by a camera to an accessor but also allows the accessor to control the camera as desired.

In such a camera control system,
In the case where there are multiple accessers, in order to avoid confusion, the camera control right is necessarily given to only one person, and only the user who has obtained the control right performs camera control such as pan / tilt for a predetermined time. I can do it. When a plurality of persons desire control of one camera, in a conventional camera control system, a predetermined time is given to an accessor who desires control, and camera control authority is sequentially given.

[0004]

In such a situation where a large number of people can access a single camera and control the camera from a remote place via a network, once the camera control right is acquired and the camera Even if the camera is operated in the desired direction or angle, the control right is transferred to the user waiting for the next control right after the predetermined time, so that the camera may be pointed in a completely different direction than before. .

[0005] Therefore, in order to acquire the camera control right again and to look at the same place, the user has to operate the camera in the original direction, which is time-consuming and troublesome. In addition, if the user has been waiting for the control right for a long time, it may be difficult to immediately know when the control right has been turned to himself.

The present invention provides a camera control system for automatically controlling a camera in an imaging direction in which the camera was previously controlled when the control right of the camera is reacquired in order to solve the above-mentioned problem. The purpose is to do. Also,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera control system for notifying acquired information by sound when the control right is acquired.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a video camera control command is supplied from a plurality of camera clients to a camera server. In the camera control system capable of controlling the video camera, the camera client includes an issuing unit that issues a request to acquire the control right of the video camera, and the camera server receives the request from the plurality of camera clients issued by the issuing unit. Management means for managing a request to acquire control of the video camera, and information on an imaging state of the video camera when the control of the video camera is lost is transmitted to a camera client that has lost control of the video camera. Storage means for storing the video camera in accordance with When given, corresponding to the camera client control is granted, characterized in that it comprises a setting means for setting the imaging condition of the video camera stored by said storage means.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in a camera server capable of controlling a video camera in response to a received control command, a management for managing a received request to acquire a control right of the video camera is received. Means, storage means for storing information on the imaging state of the video camera when the control right of the video camera is lost, and in response to each of the acquisition requests for the control right of the video camera, the management means When control of the video camera is granted,
Setting means for setting an imaging state of the video camera stored by the storage means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the second aspect, the image capturing state of the video camera is not stored in the storage means in response to the received video camera acquisition request. In this case, the setting unit is configured to control an imaging state of the video camera to a predetermined setting.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a camera control system capable of controlling a video camera by supplying a video camera control command from a plurality of camera clients to the camera server, the camera server comprises: Management means for managing a request to acquire control of the video camera transmitted from the plurality of camera clients; and information on an imaging state of the video camera when the control of the video camera is lost. Output means for outputting to the camera client that has lost control of the video camera, and when the control right of the video camera has been given by the management means, the output when the control of the video camera has been lost from the camera client Based on the information on the shooting state of the video camera, the shooting state of the video camera is Setting means for setting, wherein the camera client obtains the control right of the video camera from the storage means for storing the information of the shooting state of the video camera output by the output means, and the camera server. Issuing means for issuing a control command for controlling the image capturing state of the video camera stored by the storage means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the camera client, to which the control means has been given the control right of the video camera, sets the image capturing state of the video camera. The video camera further includes a selection unit configured to select a setting of the imaging state of the video camera set by the setting unit and a predetermined setting of the imaging state of the video camera.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the fourth or fifth aspect, the camera client in which the information on the imaging state of the video camera is not stored in the storage means is provided to the camera client. When the right is granted by the management unit, the setting unit sets the imaging state of the video camera to a predetermined setting.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, the camera control client, when the control right of the video camera is obtained, Voice output means for outputting a voice to notify acquisition of the control right of the camera.

According to the present invention, in a camera server capable of controlling a video camera in response to a control command from a camera client, a control right of control of the video camera issued by the plurality of camera clients is provided. Management means for managing an acquisition request and information on an imaging state of the video camera; and information on an imaging state of the video camera when the control right of the video camera is lost, a camera client having lost the control right of the video camera. Output means for outputting to the video camera, when the control right of the video camera is given by the management means, based on the information of the shooting state of the video camera obtained together with the request for the control right of the video camera, It is characterized by comprising setting means for setting the imaging state of the video camera.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in a control method of a camera control system for enabling a video camera to be controlled by supplying a video camera control command from a plurality of camera clients to a camera server,
The camera client includes an issuance step of issuing a request to acquire control of the video camera, and the camera server is configured to issue a request to acquire control of the video camera from the plurality of camera clients issued in the issuance step. A storage step of storing information on an imaging state of the video camera when control of the video camera is lost for a camera client that has lost control of the video camera; and A setting step of, when the control right of the video camera is given by the step, setting the video camera's imaging state stored in the storage step corresponding to each of the plurality of camera clients. And

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in a camera server control method for controlling a video camera in response to a received control command, a request to acquire a control right of the video camera is received. Management process to manage,
A storage step of storing information on an imaging state of the video camera when the control right of the video camera is lost, and the management step corresponding to each of the acquisition requests of the control right of the video camera. And a setting step of setting the video camera's imaging state stored by the storage means when the control right is given.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in a control method of a camera control system capable of controlling a video camera by supplying a video camera control command from a plurality of camera clients to a camera server,
The camera server, a management step of managing the acquisition request of the control right of the video camera from the plurality of camera clients, and information on the imaging state of the video camera when the control right of the video camera is lost, An output step of outputting to the camera client that has lost the control right of the video camera, and, when the control right of the video camera is given by the management unit, a shooting state of the video camera issued from the camera client. A setting step of setting an imaging state of the video camera based on the information, wherein the camera client has a storage step of storing information of an imaging state of the video camera output by the output step; and On the other hand, there is a control for controlling the video camera to the imaging state stored in the storage step. Characterized in that it comprises a issuing step of issuing instructions.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in a camera server control method for controlling a video camera in response to a control command from a camera client, the video camera issued by the plurality of camera clients is provided. A management step of managing a request for acquisition of control right and information of an imaging state of the video camera; and information of an imaging state of the video camera when the control right of the video camera is lost. Output step to output to the camera client, and when the control right of the video camera is given by the management step,
A setting step of setting an imaging state of the video camera based on information on an imaging state of the video camera obtained from a camera client to which the control right is given.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a program for causing a camera server to perform a process of controlling a video camera in response to a received control command, and A request to acquire control of the video camera is managed, and information on the imaging state of the video camera when the control of the video camera is lost is stored together with information on the lost camera client, and the control of the video camera is controlled. Is provided, a function of setting the video camera to the image capturing state stored corresponding to the camera client to which the control right of the video camera has been granted is functioned.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage medium storing a program for causing a camera server to perform processing of a video camera in accordance with a control command of a camera client. A request for acquisition of the control right of the video camera issued by a camera client and information on the imaging state of the video camera are managed, and information on the imaging state of the video camera when the control right of the video camera is lost, The video camera is output to a camera client that has lost control of the video camera, and when the control right of the video camera is given, shooting of the video camera obtained from the camera client to which the control right of the video camera is given Causing a process of setting an imaging state of the video camera based on state information to function. And butterflies.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in a camera control system capable of controlling a video camera by supplying a video camera control command from a plurality of camera clients to a camera server, the camera server comprises: Management means for managing a request to acquire control of the video camera from the camera client of the first aspect of the invention, and a control right for the camera client that has lost the control of the video camera when the control of the video camera is lost. Output means for outputting a loss notification; and when the control right of the video camera is given by the management means, information on the shooting state of the video camera when the control right of the video camera is lost from the camera client. Setting means for setting an imaging state of the video camera based on the A client for generating a control instruction for the video camera, and a storage for storing a shooting state of the video camera controlled based on the control instruction for the video camera generated by the generator. A storage unit for storing, when the control right loss notification is output from the camera server, a storage of the latest shooting state of the video camera stored by the storage unit; and the video camera. Issuing means for issuing a control command for controlling the video camera to be in a shooting state held by the holding means when the control right is acquired.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a camera control system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In this embodiment, the name of the user who has lost the camera control right and the camera control information at the time of the loss of the camera control right are stored in a secondary storage device on the camera client side, and the user has the control right of the camera. This is an embodiment in which the image capturing direction of the camera is controlled based on the information stored in the secondary storage device when is acquired again. In the present embodiment, when the user has acquired the camera control right, the user is notified by sound.

FIG. 1 shows a network 1 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of a camera control system via a line 0.

Reference numeral 1-1 denotes a camera server device.
, 1-3, ... are camera client devices. That is, in the step 1-1, the video from the video camera is taken in, the data is output to the client, and the camera is controlled in response to a camera control command from the camera client.

The number of camera client devices is not particularly limited. In 1-2 to 1-n, the video data is received from the camera server device 1-1 and the video is displayed. Furthermore, 1-
In 2 to 1-n, the camera can be controlled by outputting a camera control right acquisition request to the camera server device 1-1 and acquiring the camera control right. Here, it is assumed that the camera control is exclusively controlled so that a plurality of camera client devices cannot simultaneously control the camera.

Next, the configuration of the camera server device 1-1 will be described.

The camera server device 1-1 includes a video camera 1-11, a camera control circuit 1-12 for controlling the pan, tilt, and zoom magnification of the video camera 1-11, and a video for capturing an image from the video camera 1-11. Capture 1-13, transfer captured video data to network 1-0
A network interface 1-14 to be delivered to the server, a CPU 1-16 functioning as a management unit for controlling the module, and a main storage device 1-15 (the data configuration of the main storage device 1-15 will be described later), and It comprises a secondary storage device 1-17 such as a hard disk for storing a control program for controlling the camera server device 1-1.

The secondary storage device 1-17 can further store the name of the user who has lost the camera control right and the camera control information when the camera control right is lost.

The CPU 1-16 receives a camera control command through the network interface 1-14 and sends a camera pan / tilt / camera to the camera control circuit 1-12.
Execute zoom control.

The video capture 1-13 captures a video signal such as NTSC from the video camera 1-11, performs A / D conversion, compresses the data, and accesses the camera server 1-1 from the network interface 1-14. Output to the camera client device. As a video compression method in the video capture 1-13, Motion
There are JPEGs, etc., but this is not a particular concern.

Reference numeral 1-19 denotes a timer which measures time based on an instruction from the CPU 1-16. When a time-out occurs, an event is generated for the CPU 1-16. Control authority to the camera client device. Reference numeral 1-18 denotes a system bus for connecting the above-described units.

Next, the camera client devices 1-2 to 1-
n, the configuration and operation processing of the camera client devices 1-2 to 1-n are the same in the present embodiment, and the configuration of the camera client device 1-2 will be described here.

The compressed video data output from the camera server device 1-1 to the network 1-0 is transmitted to the network I
/ F1-24, decompressed by the CPU 1-22, and the captured image is displayed on the bitmap display 1-21.

The bitmap display 1-21
At the top, for example, a user interface screen as shown in FIG. 2 is displayed. Here, the captured image is displayed on the video window 2-1. On the camera client device 1-2, the CPU 1-22 executes a program stored in a secondary storage device 1-26 such as a hard disk to activate a window system forming a screen as shown in FIG. ing.

Main memory 1 composed of a RAM or the like
23 is for expanding a program called from the secondary storage device 1-26, and the CPU 1-22 calls a program from the main storage 1-23 as needed.

The mouse 1-25 is a pointing device, and allows the user to control the video camera 1-11 by moving a cursor 2-29 in FIG. 2 and performing a drag operation or the like. . Also,
The speaker 1-28 that functions as an audio output unit generates a sound in accordance with the generation of the control right of the camera client device.

FIG. 3 is a software configuration diagram of the present embodiment. In the camera client device 1-2, a camera display process 3-21 and a camera control process 3-32 are operating. Similarly, the camera client devices 1-3 to
Also in 1-n, as shown in FIG. 2, the camera display processes 3-31 to 3-n1 and the camera control process 3-n2 are operating, respectively.

On the other hand, a video transmission server 3-11 that outputs image data and a camera control server 3-12 that performs processing for controlling a camera in accordance with a command from a camera client device operate on the camera server device 1-1. I have.

The video transmission server 3-11 operates on the camera server 1-1, and captures, compresses,
Controlling delivery. The video display process 3-21 captures and decompresses the compressed video delivered from the video transmission server 3-11 from the network, and executes the video display in the window 2-1.

The camera control server 3-12 receives a camera control command issued from the camera control process 3-22 of the camera client device currently acquiring the camera control right, and actually controls the camera control circuit 1-12. The camera is controlled by operating it.

The camera control process 3-22 displays the camera control window 2-2 on the display 1-21,
Provides a user interface for various camera operations from the user.

Here, the camera control window 2-2 on the display screen 2-3 of FIG. 2 displayed by the camera control process 3-22 will be described.

In FIG. 2, 2-28a, 2-28b,
2-28c and 2-28d are respectively the video camera 1-
Reference numeral 11 denotes a button for issuing an imaging direction control command in the up, down, left, and right directions.
Index 2 displayed on the scroll bar of 1, 2-22
It is also possible to move the cursor to 212 or 2-221 and execute a drag operation. The scroll bars 2-21 and 2-22 can issue control commands for the imaging directions in the tilt direction and the pan direction, respectively.

The scroll bar 2-23 is a scroll bar for changing the zoom magnification.
By performing a drag operation using -25, a camera control command is generated. Thus, the above-described scroll bar or button functions as generating means.

These issued commands are output to the camera server device 1-1 via the network 1-0.

The pan / tilt angle of the video camera 1-11 is given by the angle between a specific initial position and the center axis of the lens. It is assumed that the specific initial position is set, for example, in a direction exactly in the middle of a physical pan / tilt range.

When the user wants to control the video camera 1-11, the user clicks the control ON button 2-24 to issue a camera control right acquisition request and output it to the camera control server.

When the control right can be obtained, the CPU 1-22 emits a sound from the speaker 1-28 to notify the user of the control right. At this time, various buttons on the camera control window 2-2 can be operated. It should be noted that the display message 2-26 indicates “Control not possible” when the video camera 1-11 cannot be controlled because another camera client device is controlling or the video camera is out of order. Light.

If the control right cannot be obtained, the operation of various buttons other than the control ON button cannot be performed, and the control waits. When the camera control OFF button 2-25 is clicked, a camera control right release command is issued, the camera control operation is disabled, and the camera control right is transferred to another camera client device waiting for the control right.

When the user acquires the camera control right again, if the user clicks the button 2-27, the image capturing state of the last video camera 1-11 at the time when the user previously acquired the camera control right and performed the operation is performed. The video camera 1-11 can be returned to an imaging direction, a zoom magnification, and the like. If the button 2-27 is not clicked, the video camera 1-11 is controlled to the specific initial position described above.

Hereinafter, the operation of the camera control server 3-12 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control program for executing this control is stored in the secondary storage device 1-1.
7 is loaded into the main memory 1-15 at the time of execution, and is executed by the CPU 1-16.

First, in s410, the video camera 1-11
Then, an initialization process for setting an angle such as pan and tilt and a zoom magnification to a specific initial position is performed, and the process proceeds to s420. If any event occurs, the process proceeds to s430. If it is a camera control request from the client, s4
The process proceeds to 31 to determine whether the camera in-use flag is turned on, that is, whether the camera 1-11 to be controlled is controlled.

If the video camera 1-11 is not controlled by another client device, the flow advances to s432, and the control flag indicating that the video camera 1-11 is being controlled is turned on.

Then, the flow advances to s433, where the timer 1-19 is selected.
Is reset, and in s434, the identifier of the client device that accepted the control (included in the received control request)
Is stored in the identifier buffer 1-131. And s4
At 35, the client device is notified that the control right has been acquired.

On the other hand, in s431, the video camera 1-11
If is controlled by another client device, the process proceeds to step s436, and the identifier of the client device is added to the waiting buffer list 1-132 and registered.

In this way, the processes in s431 to s436 are executed, and the client device that has acquired the control right of the video camera 1-11 is in the camera control window 2-2.
Can be used, but if the operation right cannot be obtained, the operation of various buttons except the control ON button is invalidated on the client device side.

Now, in the event waiting state of s420, s4
Proceeding to 60, if the event is a release command of the control right of the camera operation, proceeding to s461, the identifier buffer 1-131
Notifying that the control right has been deprived to the client device having the identifier stored in the camera, the camera parameters immediately before the loss of the camera control right (camera imaging such as the pan, tilt angle or zoom magnification of the video camera 1-11) The information about the state is notified as an output unit. The camera parameter information can be obtained from the camera control circuit 1-12 (FIG. 1). Then, in s462, the camera in-use flag is turned off, and the shooting state of the video camera 1-11 is returned to a specific initial position.

Then, the flow advances to step s463 to check whether there is a client currently waiting for control right registered in the waiting buffer list 1-132. If there is a client currently waiting for control right, the flow advances to step s443. . The operation after s443 will be described later.

Here, for the identifier of the camera client device, for example, the network address of the camera client device is used so that all the client devices connected to the network can be identified. While the in-use flag is set, a camera control command having an identifier different from the identifier stored in the identifier buffer 1-131 is not accepted.

In the camera server device 1-1, s45
When the camera control command is received at 0, the process proceeds to step s451, and it is determined whether the identifier of the client that transmitted the control command matches the identifier registered in the identifier buffer 1-131. If they match, the process advances to s452, and executes camera control according to the control command.

The camera control right of such a camera client device is managed based on the time measured by the timer 1-19, and one camera client device acquires the control right of the video camera 1-11 for a certain period of time. It is possible to

After a lapse of a predetermined time, an event is generated by the timer 1-19 and the process advances from s440 to s441.
The camera server device 1-1 forcibly removes the control right from the camera client device that currently holds the camera control right. Here, the camera client device is notified that the control right of the camera client device with the identifier stored in the identifier buffer 1-131 has been deprived, and the camera parameters (video camera 1-1) immediately before losing the camera control right are lost. 11 is notified as output means. The camera parameter information can be obtained from the camera control circuit 1-12 (FIG. 1).

Then, it is checked whether or not there is a camera client device registered in the waiting buffer list 1-132 that is currently waiting for the acquisition of a control right.
To turn off the camera control flag. Then, control is performed to return the shooting state of the video camera 1-11 to a specific initial position.

On the other hand, if there is a client device waiting to acquire control right, the flow advances to s443, and the camera client device corresponding to the identifier held at the head of the waiting buffer list 1-132 is given control right next. The camera client device is registered in the identifier buffer 1-131.

At s444, the timer 1-19 for monitoring the control time of the camera client device that has newly acquired the control right is initialized and time measurement is started. And s4
Proceeding to 45, a voice generation command notifying the camera client device of the identifier that the control right has been acquired is sent.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The operation of the video transmission server 3-12 of the camera server device 1-1 according to the present embodiment will be described. The control program for performing this control is stored in the secondary storage device 1-17, as in the case of the above-described flowchart, and is loaded into the main storage 1-15 and executed at the time of execution.

In s530 to s560, the timer 1-19
Video camera 1-11 at regular intervals measured by
And delivers it to the network 1-0.

In this case, the transmission destination of the video signal is the camera client device having the identifier registered in the transmission destination table 1-133. Here, the video display process in the new camera client device is started, and when a request for adding a delivery destination is received from the video display process of the camera client device, the process proceeds to step s532, and the camera client in which the video display process is running The device identifier is additionally registered in the transmission destination table 1-133.

In step s533, when the camera client device displaying the camera image notifies the user that the image delivery is to be stopped, a request to delete the distribution destination is sent from the image display process of the camera client device to the image transmission server 3-11. Sent out. Accordingly, the process of the video transmission server 3-11 proceeds to s534, and the identifier of the client device is deleted from the transmission destination table 1-133.

Each camera client device can receive and display an image from the video camera 1-11 regardless of the control right of the video camera 1-11.

The operation of the camera control process 3-22 of the camera client device 1-2 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control program for executing this control is stored in the secondary storage device 1-26, as in the case of the above-described flowchart.
It is assumed that the program is loaded into the main memory 1-23 functioning as a storage unit at the time of execution and executed.

First, in s610, initialization processing of various parameters, flags, and the like is performed, and then the flow proceeds to s620. If any event occurs here, the process proceeds to s630,
Check if it is an event entered by the mouse.

If the event is a mouse input, the flow advances to s631. Therefore, when a button or a scroll bar for controlling the video camera 1-11 is operated, it is determined whether or not the control right acquisition flag is ON, that is, whether or not the camera control right is currently acquired. I do. If the flag is ON, the process advances to s633, and transmits a camera control command to the camera control server 3-12.

At s640, the mouse event is controlled.
If the ON button 2-24 has been operated, a camera control right acquisition command is transmitted to the camera control server 3-12. If the mouse event in step s650 is that the control OFF button 2-25 has been operated, the process proceeds to step s650, and if the control right acquisition flag is ON, a camera control right release command is transmitted to the camera control server. If the control right acquisition flag is OFF, the camera control release command is not transmitted.

If it is determined in step s660 that the mouse event has operated the "previous" button 2-27 functioning as the selection unit and the issuing unit, the process advances to step s661.
If the control right acquisition flag is ON, s66
In 2, if the camera parameters such as the pan / tilt angle and the zoom magnification at the time when the camera control process lost control right last time are stored in the main memory 1-23, the process further proceeds to s663, and A camera control command is transmitted to the camera control server to control the camera.

On the other hand, when the control right acquisition flag is OFF at s661 or at s662, the main memory 1
If the camera parameter at the time of losing the control right last time is not stored in −23, the camera control command is not transmitted.

At s670, the camera control server 3-
When the camera control process obtains a camera control right acquisition notification indicating that the camera client device has been able to obtain the control right from step 12, the process advances to s 671, turns on the control right flag, and further informs that the camera control right has been obtained in s 672. The notification sound is generated from the speaker 1-28.

When the camera control process receives the camera control right loss notification from the camera control server 3-12 in s680, the camera right turns off the control right flag in s681. Further, in s682, the camera parameter at the time when the control right transmitted together with the control right loss notification is lost is stored in the main memory 1-15.

As described above, in a camera control system capable of remotely controlling a video camera via a network, when the control right of the video camera is sequentially given to a plurality of client devices, when the control right is lost, Is transmitted to the camera client device that has lost control of the camera parameters (the image capturing state of the video camera such as the pan, tilt angle or zoom magnification). On the camera client device side, when the camera parameters are acquired, the camera parameters are stored in the main memory. Therefore, when the control right of the camera is reacquired, the imaging state of the camera is controlled based on the stored camera parameters. Control command to the camera server. According to the camera control command, the camera server
The video camera can be immediately controlled to the imaging state operated last time.

In the present embodiment, in the camera client device having the right to control the video camera, the main memory 1-1 which functions as a storage means for the latest data of the control command of the video camera for each camera parameter.
5, each camera parameter stored in the main memory 1-15 at the time when the camera client device control right loss notification is obtained is stored in the main memory 1-15, and based on each camera parameter, Next, a control command may be transmitted when the “last time” button 2-27 is operated at the time when the control right is acquired. In this way, the amount of data transmission can be reduced.

In FIG. 1, only one camera server device 1-1 is installed for the sake of simplicity. However, even if a plurality of camera server devices are connected to a network, the effects of the present embodiment can be obtained. It is possible to get. At this time, the identifier of the video camera that is the target of the control command may be stored in the main memory 1-23 together with the camera parameter at the time of loss of control right. In this way, it is possible to easily control the video camera at the position previously controlled corresponding to the plurality of video cameras.

In the above-described embodiment, the camera parameters at the time when the control right is lost are stored in the camera client device that has lost the control right.
The camera parameters may be stored on the camera server 1-1 side.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of such a camera control system.

In the main memory 1-15 of the camera server 1-1, an area 1-134 for storing the camera parameters together with the identifier of the camera client device that has lost the control right.
Are formed, and function as storage means.

When the “control ON” button 2-24 on the camera client device functioning as an issuing unit is operated and a request to acquire camera control authority is issued, the camera server 1
-1 CPU 1-16 determines which camera client device has obtained the control right acquisition request,
Camera status information having the same identifier as that of the camera client device added with the control right acquisition request is read from the camera parameters 1-134, and the video camera 1-11 may be controlled based on the information. . If the main memory 1-15 does not hold the identifier of the camera client device that has received the control right acquisition request, the CPU 1-16 functioning as a setting unit controls the camera client device to a specific initial position.

The other configuration is the same as that of the main memory 1-23 except that the area for storing the camera parameters is eliminated, and the description thereof is omitted. With this configuration, it is not necessary to transmit the camera parameters to the camera client device together with the loss of the control right, so that the data amount can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the camera parameters are stored in the main memory 1-15 or the main memory 1-2.
3, but may be stored in the secondary storage device 1-17 and the secondary storage device 1-26. In this case, the camera server device 1-1 or the camera client device 1-
The camera parameters are saved even when the power of the second is turned off.

According to the present invention, a recording medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MP) of the system or the apparatus is supplied.
U) can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM,
DR, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM
Etc. can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) Performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, The CPU provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flowcharts. Essential modules will be stored on the storage medium.

According to the present invention, at least a "storage module" for storing camera parameters at the time of losing the camera control right, and for storing the camera parameters stored for controlling to the imaging state of the previously controlled camera parameters. The storage medium may store the program codes of a “setting module” that issues a call and a setting command, and a “voice module” that notifies by voice when the control right is acquired.

[0096]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the camera control right is acquired again, the user can immediately turn the camera in the direction in which the user has operated the camera last time.

As a result, the user can control the camera and immediately see what he / she has watched, thereby improving the usability of the user using the camera client device.

Also, since a sound is generated when the control right is acquired, the camera control right is immediately acquired even if the user is working while opening another window on the terminal and not looking at the video display window. You will be able to understand what you have done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a camera control system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface screen.

FIG. 3 is a software configuration diagram.

FIG. 4 is an operation processing flowchart of the camera control server.

FIG. 5 is an operation processing flowchart of the video transmission server.

FIG. 6 is an operation processing flowchart of a camera control process.

FIG. 7 is a configuration block diagram of a camera control system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-1 Camera server device 1-2 Camera client device 1-11 Video camera 1-12 Camera control circuit 1-13 Video capture 1-14 Network I / F 1-15 Main storage 1-16 CPU 1-17 Secondary storage Device 1-18 System bus 1-19 Timer 1-21 Bitmap display 1-22 CPU 1-23 Main memory 1-24 Network I / F 1-25 Mouse 1-26 Secondary storage 1-27 System bus 1-2 28 Speaker 2-1 Video window 2-2 Camera control window 2-3 Display screen 2-21 Scroll bar 2-22 Scroll bar 2-23 Scroll bar 2-24 Control ON button 2-25 Control OFF button 2-27 Previous button 2-28a Button for controlling the imaging direction of the video camera upward 2-28b Button for controlling the imaging direction of the video camera in the downward direction 2-28c Button for controlling the imaging direction of the video camera to the left 2-28d Button for controlling the imaging direction of the video camera to the right 2-29 Cursor 3 -11 Video transmission server 3-12 Camera control server 3-21 Video display process 3-22 Camera control process

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A camera control system capable of controlling a video camera by supplying a video camera control command from a plurality of camera clients to a camera server, wherein the camera client issues a request to obtain control of the video camera. Issuing means for issuing, the camera server comprising: managing means for managing a request to acquire control of the video camera from the plurality of camera clients issued by the issuing means; and loss of control of the video camera. Storage means for storing the information of the imaging state of the video camera at the time of the corresponding to the camera client that has lost the control right of the video camera; and when the control right of the video camera is given by the management means. The storage means corresponding to the camera client to which the control right has been assigned. Setting means for setting the video camera to the imaging state stored by the video camera. 2. A camera server capable of controlling a video camera in response to a received control command, wherein: a management unit that manages a received request for obtaining a control right of the video camera; A storage unit for storing information on an imaging state of the video camera when the video camera is lost, and a control right of the video camera is given by the management unit in response to each of the video camera control right acquisition requests. Setting means for setting the video camera's imaging state stored by the storage means. 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of: setting a predetermined setting when the imaging state of the video camera is not stored in the storage unit in response to the received acquisition request of the video camera. A camera server configured to control an imaging state of the video camera. 4. A camera control system capable of controlling a video camera by supplying a video camera control command from a plurality of camera clients to a camera server, wherein the camera server comprises: Management means for managing a control right acquisition request of the video camera; and outputting information on an imaging state of the video camera when the control right of the video camera is lost to a camera client having lost the control right of the video camera. Output means for performing, when the control right of the video camera is given by the management means, based on information of a shooting state of the video camera when the control right of the video camera transmitted from the camera client is lost. Setting means for setting an imaging state of the video camera, A camera client configured to store information on a shooting state of the video camera output by the output unit; and when the control right of the video camera is acquired for the camera server, the storage unit Issuing means for issuing a control command for controlling the stored imaging state of the video camera. 5. The camera client according to claim 4, wherein the control right of the video camera is given by the management unit, and the setting of the imaging state of the video camera is performed by the camera client.
A camera control system comprising: a setting unit configured to select a setting of an imaging state of the video camera set by the setting unit and a predetermined setting of an imaging state of the video camera. 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the control right of the video camera is given by the management unit to a camera client in which information on an imaging state of the video camera is not stored in the storage unit. A camera control system, wherein the setting unit sets an imaging state of the video camera to a predetermined setting. 7. The camera control client according to claim 4, wherein when the control right of the video camera is acquired, the camera control client notifies the acquisition of the control right of the video camera. And a sound output means for outputting a sound to the camera control system. 8. A camera server capable of controlling a video camera in response to a control command from a camera client, the camera server comprising: a request to acquire control of the video camera issued by the plurality of camera clients; Management means for managing information; output means for outputting information on an imaging state of the video camera when control of the video camera is lost to a camera client that has lost control of the video camera; Setting means for setting an imaging state of the video camera based on information on an imaging state of the video camera obtained together with a request for control of the video camera when a control right of the video camera is given by management means; A camera server comprising: 9. A control method of a camera control system that enables a video camera to be controlled by supplying a video camera control command from a plurality of camera clients to a camera server, wherein the camera client has a control right of the video camera. An issuing step of issuing an acquisition request, wherein the camera server manages an acquisition request for the control right of the video camera from the plurality of camera clients issued by the issuing step, and controls the video camera. A storage step of storing information on an imaging state of the video camera when the right is lost for a camera client that has lost the control right of the video camera; and the control right of the video camera is given by the management step. When each camera client has control rights A setting step of setting the video camera's imaging state stored in the storage step. 10. A camera server control method for controlling a video camera in response to a received control command, comprising: a management step of managing a received acquisition request for control of the video camera; A storage step of storing information on an imaging state of the video camera when the control right is lost, and a control right of the video camera being controlled by the management step in response to each of the video camera control right acquisition requests. And a setting step of setting the video camera's imaging state stored by the storage means when given. 11. A control method for a camera control system which enables a video camera to be controlled by supplying a video camera control command from a plurality of camera clients to a camera server, wherein the camera server comprises: A management step of managing a request to acquire the control right of the video camera; and information on an imaging state of the video camera when the control right of the video camera is lost, to a camera client that has lost the control right of the video camera. An output step of outputting the video camera, based on information of the video camera shooting state issued by the camera client, when the control right of the video camera is given by the management unit. A setting step of setting, wherein the camera client outputs the A storage step of storing the information on the shooting state of the video camera output by the step; and a issuance step of issuing a control command to the camera server to control the shooting state of the video camera stored in the storage step. And a control method of the camera control system. 12. A camera server control method for controlling a video camera in response to a control command from a camera client, the control method comprising: acquiring a control right of the video camera issued by the plurality of camera clients; A management step of managing information on an imaging state; and an output for outputting information on an imaging state of the video camera when control of the video camera is lost to a camera client having lost control of the video camera. And when the control right of the video camera is given by the management step, based on the information of the shooting state of the video camera obtained from the camera client to which the control right has been given, the imaging state of the video camera. A control method for a camera server, comprising a setting step of setting. 13. A storage medium storing a program for causing a camera server to process a video camera in response to a received control command, the program storing a program for causing a camera server to execute the processing request. When the control right of the video camera is lost, the information of the imaging state of the video camera when the control right of the video camera is lost is stored together with the information of the lost camera client. A storage medium storing a program for causing a process of setting the video camera to an imaging state stored corresponding to the camera client to which the control right is assigned. 14. A storage medium storing a program for causing a camera server to perform processing of a video camera in accordance with a control command of a camera client, the program being executed by the plurality of camera clients. A camera that has lost the control right of the video camera, based on the request for the control right and the information on the imaging state of the video camera, and the information on the imaging state of the video camera when the control right of the video camera is lost. Output to a client, when the control right of the video camera is given, the video camera based on information on the shooting state of the video camera obtained from the camera client to which the control right of the video camera is given A storage medium storing a program for causing a process for setting an imaging state to be set. 15. A camera control system capable of controlling a video camera by supplying a control command of a video camera from a plurality of camera clients to a camera server, wherein the camera server is configured to control the video from the plurality of camera clients. Management means for managing a request to acquire control of the camera; and output means for, when the control of the video camera is lost, outputting a notice of loss of control to a camera client having lost control of the video camera. And when the control right of the video camera is given by the management unit, based on information on the shooting state of the video camera when the control right of the video camera is lost from the camera client, Setting means for setting an imaging state, wherein the camera client comprises: Generating means for generating a control command for the video camera, and storage means for storing a shooting state of the video camera controlled based on the control command for the video camera generated by the generating means; Means, when the control right loss notification is output from the camera server, holding means for holding storage of the latest shooting state of the video camera stored by the storage means; and Issuing means for issuing a control command for controlling the video camera to be in a shooting state held by the holding means when acquired.