JP2919189B2 - Remote camera control system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote camera control system, and more particularly, a local station and a remote station having the same function.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote camera conference system for controlling a shooting point of a TV camera of a remote station in a remote video conference system capable of transmitting an analog image signal bidirectionally via a line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a remote video conference system of this type, a remote camera control is performed by multiplexing a camera control panel for controlling a camera with a camera control signal from a camera control panel to a video signal of a local station and outputting the multiplexed signal to a line. It also includes a video / data multiplex transmission device that receives a transmission signal from the partner station via a line and separates it into a video signal and a camera control signal from the partner station, a head, a television camera, and a monitor. I was

In order to control the telephoto camera of the partner station, the user operates a camera control panel while watching a received image on a monitor, and information including a focus and a photographing position is transmitted as a camera control signal by a video / data multiplex transmission apparatus. Are multiplexed and output to the line.

At the other station, the received signal from the line is transmitted to the
In the data multiplex transmission device, the video signal and the camera control signal are separated, and the camera control signal is used to adjust the shooting point and focus of the camera.

[0005]

In the conventional method of controlling a remote camera, the camera control panel is operated while watching the video of the remote station on the monitor of the local station. Due to the delay caused by the processing, even if the operation was stopped at the desired photographing point or focus, it continued to move for the transmission delay time, and it was difficult to adjust to the position desired by the user. Particularly when zooming or adjusting the focus, there is a problem that a considerably advanced adjustment technique is required.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems,
Regardless of the line delay and processing delay, provide the other party's camera control system that can adjust the shooting point of the other party's TV realistically while observing the influence of the own station monitor, and can easily perform zoom shooting and focus adjustment Is to do.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A remote camera control system according to the present invention is a remote video conference system in which a local station having the same function and a remote station can transmit a bidirectional analog image signal via a line. A partner camera control system for controlling a shooting point of a television camera of a station, a screen number multiplexing section for assigning a screen number to a video signal photographed by the television camera of the own station, and a screen number generating section for generating the screen number A camera head for controlling the shooting position of the television camera of the own station and outputting shooting position information, a position memory unit for storing the shooting position information output from the camera head as the screen number as an address, An operation unit for controlling the television camera of the partner station, and a camera system capable of controlling the television cameras of the own station and the partner station based on the information of the operation unit and the position memory. A camera control unit for transmitting a signal, a video / data multiplex transmission device for multiplexing a video signal from the screen number multiplexing unit and a camera control signal from the camera control unit, and transmitting the multiplexed video signal to a partner station; A screen number detecting unit for detecting the screen number of the partner station from the multiplexed video signal of the partner station obtained from the transmission device, and a monitor for monitoring the received video, the local station included in the multiplexed signal transmitted to the partner station Is multiplexed on a vertical blanking line of a video signal captured by a television camera of the own station.

In another aspect of the present invention, a data multiplexing unit multiplexes a screen number from the screen number generating unit and a camera control signal from the camera control unit to form a multiplexed data signal. Encodes and compresses a video signal from a television camera, multiplexes this with a multiplexed data signal from the data multiplexing unit, transmits the multiplexed data signal to a partner station, and demultiplexes and decodes a signal received from the partner station. An image encoding / decoding device, and a data separation unit for separating the multiplexed data of the partner station obtained from the image encoding / decoding device into the screen number and the camera control signal. After the signal is encoded, the screen number is digitally multiplexed under the control of the camera control unit.

[0009]

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.
A and a partner station 101B. However, the relationship between the own station and the partner station is relative.

The local station 101A has an operation section 1a for operating a television camera and a camera control section 2a for controlling the local station's television camera and controlling the remote station's television camera.
A position memory 3a for storing shooting position information of the TV camera, a TV camera 4a, a camera platform 5a having a position information output function, and a screen number multiplexing unit for assigning a screen number to a video signal output from the TV camera 4a. 6a, a drawing number generator 7a for generating a screen number, and a video / data multiplexing transmission device 8 for multiplexing a signal to be transmitted to the partner station 101B and for demultiplexing and receiving the multiplexed signal transmitted by the partner station 101B.
a, a screen number detector 9a for detecting a drawing number from a received drawing-separated drawing number multiplexed video signal, and a monitor 10a, and the partner station 101B has the same configuration as the own station 101A. However, as described above, the own station 101A and the partner 10A
The designations of 1B are interchangeable with each other.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

A video signal (E) captured by the television camera 4b of the partner station 101B is displayed on the monitor 10a of the local station 101A.

First, when the photographing position (photographing point) of the television camera 4b of the partner station 101B is to be changed from the operation section 1a of the own station 101A, a control signal from the operation section 1a of the own station 101A is transmitted to the camera control section. 2a, is supplied as a camera control signal B to the video / data multiplex transmission device 8,
It is transmitted via a line to the video / data multiplex transmission device 8b of the partner station 101B.

In the other station 101B, the camera control signal B output from the video / data multiplex transmission device 8b is transmitted to the telephoto camera 4b by moving the camera platform 5b via the camera control section 2b.
Change the shooting position of b. The video signal (E) captured by the television camera 4b is input to the screen number multiplexing unit 6b.

The screen number multiplexing section 6b converts the screen number signal (G) from the screen number generating section 7b into a vertical signal of the video signal (E) photographed by the television camera 4b by the method shown in FIGS. Multiplexed to the ranking line,
A screen number multiplexed video signal (A) is transmitted to the data multiplex transmission device 8b.
Output as

The screen number generator 7b includes a camera controller 2
b outputs a position control signal to determine whether or not the head 5b is moving. When the head 5b starts moving, the counter counts up in the image frame cycle, and when the head 5b stops, the counter is reset. Circuit.

As described above, in the method of multiplexing the screen number signal (G) on the vertical blanking line of the video signal (E), the screen number signal (G) generated by the screen number generator 7b is used.
Needs to be synchronized with the video signal output from the television camera 4b, the synchronization signal is input from the television camera 4b.

The screen number signal (G) is multiplexed with the video signal (E), and at the same time, the pan head 5 is stored in the position memory 3b using the screen number signal (G) from the screen number generator 7b as an address.
The photographing position information from b is stored.

The screen number multiplexed video signal (A) obtained by multiplexing the screen number signal (G) is transmitted to the video / data multiplex transmission device 8b.
Is transmitted to the video / data multiplexing transmission device 8 of the own station 101A via the multiplexing unit, and the multiplexed and demultiplexed screen number multiplexed video signal (A) is input to the screen number detection unit 9a and the monitor 10a.

The screen number detecting section 9a detects the screen number signal (G) from the received screen number multiplexed video signal (A) by the method shown in FIGS. Is output to the camera control section 2a, when the screen number signal (G) is detected.

In the camera control section 2a, a screen number detecting section 9
a to determine whether or not the screen number signal (G) from the terminal a has been detected, and whether or not the operation unit 1a of the own station 101A is continuously operating to change the shooting position of the camera 4b of the partner station 101B. I do.

When it is determined that the operation of changing the photographing position is continuously performed, the camera control signal B by the operation unit 1 of the own station 101A is continuously output.

When it is determined that the operation of changing the photographing position has been completed, the screen number signal (G) from the screen number detecting section 9a at that time is transmitted from the video / data multiplex transmission apparatus 8a of the own station 101A. The transmission is performed by the video / data multiplex transmission device 8b of the partner station 101B.

The partner station 101B outputs a screen number signal to the position memory 3b in response to the camera control signal B output from the video / data multiplex transmission device 8b, and obtains shooting position information from the address of the position memory 3b corresponding to the screen number. The read head 5b is read as data and is controlled.

In this way, it is possible to adjust to a desired photographing position without shifting.

FIG. 3 shows a screen number multiplexing unit 6a in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram, and FIG. 4 is a timing chart thereof.

The video signal E output from the television camera 4a is converted from 75 ohm to 0 ohm impedance by the buffer amplifier 20 and output to the high-speed video switch 24.

A game signal F indicating an image frame position at which a screen number is to be inserted and a screen number signal G representing a screen number by a digital code are input to the AND gate 21. The image frame position where the screen number is inserted is set as an arbitrary line of the vertical blanking of the video signal E.

When the gate signal F is "H", the AND gate 21 outputs the screen number signal G, and the variable resistor 2
2 and the fixed resistor 23 divide the voltage. The adjustment of the variable resistor 22 is set so as to be the maximum amplitude value of the luminance signal.

The gate signal F is also input to the high-speed video switch 24. When the gate signal F is "L", the video signal E from the buffer amplifier 20 is controlled to pass.

As described above, the screen number signal G divided and adjusted by the variable resistor 22 and the fixed resistor 23 and the video signal E passing through the buffer amplifier 20 are combined with the high-speed video switch 2.
4 is switched and multiplexed and the screen number multiplexed video signal H
Then, after passing through the buffer amplifier 25, the screen number multiplexed video signal A is output with an impedance of 75 ohms.

FIG. 5 shows the screen number detecting section 9a in FIG.
FIG. 6 shows a timing chart of the above.

The screen number multiplexed video signal (A) output from the video / data transmission device 8a and transmitted by the partner station is converted from 75 ohm to 0 ohm impedance by the buffer amplifier 30 and output to the high-speed video switch 31. .

The gate signal (F) indicating the image frame position for detecting the screen number is once supplied to the inverter 3
5 and is input to the high-speed video switch 31.

When the gate signal (F) is "H", the screen number signal is output, and when the gate signal (F) is "L", the ground level (± 0 V) is output. The high-speed video switch 31 is switched.

The gate signal (F) indicating the image frame position for detecting the screen number is set as an arbitrary line of the vertical blanking determined by the screen number multiplexing unit 6b.

The screen number signal passed through the high-speed video switch 31 is input to the comparator 32.

The comparator 32 determines whether the screen number signal is high or low with reference to the comparison voltage P divided by the variable resistor 34 and the fixed resistor 33. When the signal is high, the TTL level “H” is set. When it is low, it outputs TTL level "L". Then, a screen number signal (G) representing the screen number by a digital code is output.

In order to output a judgment signal I for judging whether or not the screen number signal (G) has been detected, the flip-flop circuit 36 uses the screen number signal (G) and the reset signal H.
Control.

The reset signal H is reset to "L" at least one line before the screen number multiplexed line.

When the screen number signal (G) cannot be detected, the judgment signal I remains at "L". However, when the screen number signal (G) can be detected, the judgment signal I changes from "L" to "H". Is output to the camera control unit 2a.

The above-described method can be applied when the video / data multiplex transmission device 8a and the video / data multiplex transmission device 8b can transmit a video signal in all frames. May not be supported because the video signal is not transmitted in all frames.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 shows an example of a partner camera control system for supporting a band compression type video encoding / decoding device.

The second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 comprises an own station 101C and an opposite station 101D having the same function and oppositely connected via a line.

The own station 101C and the counterpart station 101D have the same operation units 1a and 1b, camera control units 2a and 2b, position memories 3a and 3b, television cameras 4a and 4b, and pan head as in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5a, 5b, drawing number generator 7a,
7b and monitors 10a and 10b, as well as data multiplexing units 11a and 11b, data separation units 12a and 12b, and image encoding / decoding devices 13a and 13b.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described.

The other station 1 is displayed on the monitor 10a of the own station 101C.
A video signal (C) captured by the 01D camera 4b is displayed.

From the operation unit 1a of the own station 101C, the other party 101
When the photographing position of the camera 4b of D is to be changed, a control signal for controlling the photographing position of the camera from the operation unit 1a of the own station 101C is transmitted to the multiplexed data via the camera control unit 2a and the data multiplexing unit 11a. The signal D is input to the image encoding / decoding device 13a.

In the image encoding / decoding device 13a, the video signal C from the television camera 4a is encoded into a digital signal, and the multiplexed data signal D from the data multiplexing unit 11a is digitally multiplexed. 10
The data is transmitted to the 1D image encoding / decoding device 13b.

In the partner station 101D, the received multiplexed signal is converted into an analog video signal C by the image encoding / decoding device 13b.
Demultiplexed into a multiplexed data signal D and decoded.

The multiplexed data signal D is further supplied to the data separation unit 1
2b, the camera control signal and the screen number signal are separated, and the camera control signal is signal-converted by the camera control unit 2b.
The image is output to the screen number generator 7b and the camera platform 5b, and the camera platform 5b is moved to change the shooting position of the camera 4b.

The screen number generator 7b detects that the camera platform 5b has been moved, and generates a screen number signal for each image frame. The generated screen number signal is output to the position memory 3b and the data multiplexing unit 11b.

The video signal (C) photographed by the camera 4b of the partner station 101D whose photographing position has been changed is input to the image encoding / decoding device 13b, and at the same time, photographing position information is transmitted from the camera platform 5b to the position memory 3b. Is output to

In the position memory 3b, a screen number generator 7b
The shooting position information is stored from the camera platform 5b using the screen number signal from the camera as an address.

In the data multiplexing unit 11b, the camera control unit 2
b) and the screen number signal from the screen number generator 7b, and multiplexes the image control signal from the image encoding / decoding device 13b.
Output to

The image encoding / decoding device 13b encodes and compresses the video signal (C) photographed by the television camera 4b into a digital signal, and multiplexes the multiplexed data signal (D) from the data multiplexing unit 11b. The data is transmitted to the image encoding / decoding device 13a of the own station 101C via the line.

In the local station 101C, the received signal is decoded by the image coding / decoding device 13a, and is separated and output into an analog video signal (C) and a multiplexed data signal (D).

The analog video signal (C) is supplied to the monitor 10
a and is displayed on the screen as an image.

At the same time, the data separation unit 12a
The multiplexed data signal (D) is separated into a camera control signal and a screen number signal. Then, the operation unit 1a is operated by the camera control unit 2a.
It is determined whether or not the user continuously operates the change of the shooting position of the television camera 4b of the partner station 101D.

When it is determined that the operation of changing the shooting position is continuously performed, the camera control signal from the operation unit 1a of the own station 101C is continuously output.

When it is determined that the operation of changing the shooting position has been completed, the screen number signal separated at that time is output to the data multiplexing unit 11a as a data signal.
After multiplexing with the camera control signal, the signal is transmitted to the image encoding / decoding device 13b of the partner station 101D via the image encoding / decoding device 13a.

In the partner station 101D, the image coding / decoding device 13b uses the analog video signal C and the multiplexed data signal D
And the multiplexed data signal D is further separated into a camera control signal and a screen number signal by the data separation unit 12b.

Next, the screen number signal is output to the position memory 3b, and information on the photographing position corresponding to the screen number signal is read out from the memory as data. Then, the signal is converted again by the camera control unit 2b and then output to the camera platform 5b.

In the camera platform 5b, the photographing point is adjusted to the photographing position read from the position memory 3b, so that the photographing position desired by the user can be adjusted without shifting.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the screen number of the video signal corresponds to the shooting position of the camera,
Regardless of the time from the operation of the camera operation panel to the control of the other camera and the time until the image of the other station is displayed on the monitor of the own station, the camera can be viewed realistically while watching the image on the own station monitor. There is an effect that the photographing points can be adjusted, and zoom photography and focus, which are difficult to adjust, can be easily adjusted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a screen number multiplexing unit 6a of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a timing chart of main signals of a screen number multiplexing unit 6a of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a screen number detection unit 9a in FIG. 1;

6 is a timing chart of main signals of a screen number detection unit 9a in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a, 1b Operation unit 2a, 2b Camera control unit 3a, 3b Position memory 4a, 4b Television camera 5a, 5b Pan head 6a, 6b Screen number multiplexing unit 7a, 7b Screen number generating unit 8a, 8b Video / data multiplex transmission device 9a , 9b Screen number detection unit 10a, 10b Monitor 11a, 11b Data multiplexing unit 12a, 12b Data separation unit 13a, 13b Image encoding / decoding device 101a Own station 101b Other station

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-263885 (JP, A) JP-A-4-1833084 (JP, A) JP-A-3-58586 (JP, A) JP-A-4-86085 (JP, A) , A) JP-A-63-114485 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N ^7/ 14-7/15 640

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An opponent camera control for controlling a photographing point of a television camera of an opponent station in a remote video conference system in which the own station and the opponent station having the same function can transmit a bidirectional analog image signal via a line. A system, comprising: a screen number multiplexing unit for assigning a screen number to a video signal photographed by a television camera of the own station; a screen number generating unit for generating the screen number; and a photographing position of the television camera of the own station. A head for outputting shooting position information, a position memory unit for storing the shooting position information output from the head as the screen number as an address, an operation unit for controlling the television cameras of the own station and the partner station; A camera control unit for transmitting a camera control signal capable of controlling a television camera of a station and a partner station based on the information of the operation unit and the position memory; A video / data multiplex transmission device for multiplexing the video signal and the camera control signal from the camera control unit and transmitting the multiplexed video signal to a partner station, and a screen number multiplex video signal of the partner station obtained from the video / data multiplex transmission device A screen number detector that detects the screen number of the other station from the monitor, and a monitor that monitors the received image. The video captured by the own TV camera containing the screen number of the own station included in the multiplexed signal sent to the other station A mate camera control system characterized by multiplexing signals into vertical blanking lines. 2. A data multiplexing unit that multiplexes a screen number from the screen number generating unit and a camera control signal from the camera control unit to generate a multiplexed data signal, and encodes and compresses a video signal from a television camera. An image encoding / decoding apparatus for multiplexing the multiplexed data signal from the data multiplexing section and transmitting the multiplexed data signal to a partner station, and demultiplexing and decoding a signal received from the partner station; A data separation unit for separating the multiplexed data of the partner station obtained from the decoding / decoding device into the screen number and the camera control signal, and the camera control unit after encoding a video signal captured by a television camera. 2. The other party camera control system according to claim 1, wherein the screen number is digitally multiplexed under the control of (1).