JPH08149443A - Video conference device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a video conference device which can easily perform the remote control for the photographing direction of a camera within a proper range. CONSTITUTION: The photographing direction range of a camera device of its own video conference device is inputted to a control range input part 9 through a keyboard 17. This input direction range is notified to the video conference device of the opposite party side via a system control part 2. Then a motor- driven tripod of the camera device of its own device is controlled within its photographing direction range based on the tripod drive control information received from the device of the opposite party side. Thus the photographing direction is moved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video conferencing apparatus which includes a video camera device for taking a moving image and inputting a voice and sending an image signal and a voice signal to a partner, and which mutually communicates an image and a voice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional video conferencing apparatus has video cameras whose terminals are connected to each other by a communication line, transmits and receives images and voices to and from each other, and reproduces the images and voices of the other party to make a conference effective. It is becoming popular as a device that is convenient to implement.

[0003]

However, the provided video camera is fixedly provided at a predetermined position, or mounted on a platform to move the photographing direction by a manual operation according to the request of this side or the other side. It is composed. There is also an example in which the platform is electrically operated to make it easier to change the shooting direction of the local video camera. In either case, since the person in charge of the local site moves the shooting direction of the local video camera, it is possible to avoid the direction in which he / she does not want to shoot and set it in an appropriate direction.

However, both of the selection of the shooting direction of the video camera and the operation of moving the shooting direction are troublesome, and there is a problem that it is difficult to carry out a video conference more efficiently.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a video conference apparatus capable of efficiently carrying out a video conference by moving the photographing direction of a camera within an appropriate range easily. It is intended to be provided.

[0006]

To this end, the video conference apparatus according to the present invention comprises a camera device for shooting a moving image to be sent to the video conference device of the other party, and a system control means for controlling the camera device. A video conferencing apparatus for mutual communication of images and sounds, wherein the camera device includes an electric pan head for moving a shooting direction by remote control, and the system control means controls a pan head drive control means for controlling a shooting direction of the camera device. And a communication means for receiving drive control information of the camera platform, the camera platform drive control means sets the image capturing direction range of the camera device included in the camera platform, and the video conference device of the other party within the image capturing direction range. According to the drive control information of the camera platform received from the camera, the camera platform of the camera device is controlled to move the shooting direction. It is intended to achieve the target.

Further, the video conference apparatus according to the present invention comprises a camera apparatus for taking a moving image to be sent to the video conference apparatus of the other party and a system control means for controlling the camera apparatus, and mutually communicates images and voices. A video conferencing device, wherein the camera device includes an electric camera platform for moving a shooting direction by remote control, and the system control means controls a camera platform driving direction for controlling the shooting direction of the camera device, and drive control of the camera platform. And a communication means for transmitting and receiving information, wherein the camera platform drive control means sets a shooting direction range of a camera device included in the device itself, and the set shooting direction range information is transmitted to and received by the video conference apparatus of the other party. The video conferencing apparatus on the transmitting side transmits the received drive control information of the platform within the photographing direction range to the video conferencing apparatus on the transmitting side, and the camera apparatus of the transmitting side is provided. The configuration, characterized in that to move the imaging direction by driving the Dokumodai, is intended to achieve the object.

[0008]

With the above construction, by setting the photographing direction range of the camera device in advance by the platform driving control means, the photographing direction of the other camera device can be freely moved by remote control. Moreover, since the movement is within the set appropriate shooting direction range, useless operation and time waste can be prevented.

[0009]

1 is a block diagram of a video conference apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a main unit of the video conference apparatus. Reference numeral 2 denotes a system control unit that controls processing of each processing unit in the main device and controls input / output of information between each processing unit, and 3 inputs an image signal output from the video camera 12 with an electric pan head. The image input unit 4, a platform driving unit for moving the electric platform portion of the video camera 12 with an electrical platform, and 5 a video monitor device 13
An image output unit for outputting an image signal to the input device 6, an audio input unit for inputting an audio signal from the microphone 14, an audio output unit 7 for outputting an audio signal to the speaker 15, and 8 for designating a driving position of the platform. The control instruction input unit for inputting the signal from the tablet 16 and the control instruction information, the reference range input unit 9 for inputting the pan head control range information input from the keyboard 17, and the reference number 10 for the communication public network 11. It is a communication control unit that controls data communication performed as a result.

The system control unit 2 outputs the received pan head control instruction information to the pan head drive unit 4 to move the pan head of the video camera 12. The pan control of the pan head is 0 at the left end of the drivable range.
The angle to the right is designated as the position information, and the tilt control designates the angle to the upper direction as the position information with the lower end of the drive range as 0.

Characteristic system control operations of the first and second embodiments having the above-mentioned configurations will be described with reference to the flowcharts.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the system control operation of the first embodiment having the configuration of the video conference apparatus shown in FIG.

When this process is activated, a process for inputting a left pan limit value from the keyboard 17 is performed in step S1. Similarly, in steps S2, S3, and S4, the processing for inputting the pan head drive limit values for the right pan, the upper tilt, and the lower tilt is performed.

Next, after checking the current camera platform position in step S5, the current camera platform position is compared with the values input in steps S1, S2, S3 and S4 in step S6.
If the current position is within the range of each limit value, the process ends,
If it is out of the range, the platform driving control is executed in step S7 so that the platform is within the range of the limit value, and the process ends.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the processing when the system control unit 2 of the video conference apparatus shown in FIG. 1 receives the control instruction information of the camera platform.

This process is started when the information received from the video conference apparatus of the other party is the platform position specifying information.

This process uses the platform control range information (upper, lower, left, and right drive limit values) input in the process shown in FIG.

First, in step S21, the received pan movement destination value is compared with the right pan limit value. If the value is a value to the right of the limit value, the right pan limit value is set as the pan movement destination in step S22 and then step S25. Go to. If not exceeded, the process proceeds to step S23.

In step S23, the received pan movement destination value is compared with the left pan limit value. If the value is a value to the left of the limit value, the left pan limit value is set as the pan movement destination in step S24, and the flow advances to step S25. . If not exceeded in step S23, the process proceeds to step S25.

In step S25, the received tilt movement destination value is compared with the upper tilt limit value. If the value is higher than the limit value, the upper tilt limit value is set as the tilt movement destination in step S26, and the process proceeds to step S29. . If not exceeded in step S25, the process proceeds to step S27.

In step S27, the received tilt movement destination value is compared with the lower tilt limit value. If the value is lower than the limit value, the lower tilt limit value is set as the tilt movement destination in step S28, and the process proceeds to step S29. . If not exceeded in step S27, the process proceeds to step S29.

In step S29, the pan head driving process for the pan and tilt movement destination corrected within the control range is executed, and the process is terminated.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the video camera electric pan head connected to the video conference apparatus is controlled from the other side, the pan head control to a portion which is not desired to be photographed is prohibited. it can.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the system control operation of the second embodiment having the configuration of the video conference apparatus shown in FIG.

When this process is activated, a left pan limit value is input from the keyboard 17 in step S31.
Similarly, in steps S32, S33, and S34, the process of inputting the right pan, upper tilt, and lower tilt limit values is performed.

Next, after checking the current camera platform position in step S35, the current camera platform position is compared with the values input in steps S31, S32, S33 and S34 in step S36. If the current position is within the range of each limit value, the process proceeds to step S38, and if the current position is out of the range, the platform drive control is executed so that the platform is within the range of the limit value in step S37.

In step S38, a process of transmitting the input drive limit values for up, down, left and right as control range information to the video conference device on the other side is executed, and the process is terminated.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the processing when the system control unit 2 shown in FIG. 1 receives the platform control range information.

This process is started when the received information is the pan head control range information, and first, in step S41, the left pan limit value is stored. Similarly, the following steps S42, S4
At S3 and S44, the right pan, upper tilt, and lower tilt limit values are stored, respectively, and the process ends.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a process when the system control unit 2 of the video conference apparatus shown in FIG. 1 transmits the pan head control instruction information.

This process is started when the platform designation information is input from the tablet 16 and the control instruction input unit 8 requests the system control unit 2 to transmit the information to the partner video conference device.

Further, in this processing, the control range information (driving limit values for up, down, left and right) of the pan head stored in the processing shown in FIG. 5 is read and used.

First, in step S51, the received pan movement destination value is compared with the right pan limiting value. If the value is a value to the right of the limit value, the right pan limiting value is set as the pan moving destination in step S52, and then step S55. Go to. If not exceeded in S51, the process proceeds to step S53.

In step S53, the received pan movement destination value is compared with the left pan limit value. If the value is a value to the left of the limit value, the left pan limit value is set as the pan movement destination in step S54, and the flow advances to step S55. . If not exceeded in S53, the process proceeds to step S55.

In step S55, the received tilt movement destination value is compared with the upper tilt limit value. If the value is higher than the limit value, the upper tilt limit value is set as the tilt movement destination in step S56, and the process proceeds to step S59. . If not exceeded in S55, the process proceeds to step S57.

In step S57, the received tilt movement destination value is compared with the lower tilt limit value. If the value is lower than the limit value, the lower tilt limit value is set as the tilt movement destination in step S58, and the process proceeds to step S59. . If not exceeded in S57, the process proceeds to step S59.

In step S59, the camera platform control instruction information is transmitted to the video conference apparatus of the other party, and the process ends.

In the video conference apparatus that has received the platform control instruction information, the system control unit 2 passes the information to the platform driving unit 4 to drive the platform of the video camera 12 to a designated position.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the video camera electric pan head connected to the video conference unit is controlled from the other side, the pan head control to the portion which is not desired to be photographed is prohibited. it can.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, the photographing direction range of the camera device can be freely set by remote control by setting the photographing direction range of the camera device in advance. In addition, since it is possible to move within the appropriate shooting direction range that has been set, useless operation and time waste can be prevented, and the video shooting direction of the camera can be easily moved within the appropriate shooting range to hold a video conference. Can be implemented efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a video conference apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a system control operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process when the system control unit of the first embodiment receives control instruction information of a camera platform.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of a control range input unit of the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process when the system control unit of the second embodiment receives pan head control range information.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process when the system control unit of the second embodiment transmits the camera platform control instruction information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 main device 2 system control unit 3 image input unit 4 pan head drive unit 5 image output unit 6 audio input unit 7 audio output unit 8 control instruction input unit 9 control range input unit 10 communication control unit 11 communication public network 12 video camera 13 Video monitor device 14 Microphone 15 Speaker 16 Tablet 17 Keyboard

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A video conferencing apparatus for mutual communication of images and voices, comprising: a camera apparatus for taking a moving image to be sent to a video conferencing apparatus on the other side; and a system control means for controlling the camera apparatus. The apparatus includes an electric pan head for moving the shooting direction by remote control, and the system control means includes pan head drive control means for controlling the shooting direction of the camera device, and communication means for receiving drive control information of the pan head. The camera head of the camera is set by the camera platform drive control means in accordance with the camera platform drive control information received from the video conference device of the other party within the image capturing direction range. A video conferencing device characterized in that the shooting direction is moved by controlling an electric pan head of the device. 2. A video conferencing apparatus for mutual communication of images and voices, comprising: a camera apparatus for taking a moving image to be sent to a video conferencing apparatus on the other side; and a system control means for controlling the camera apparatus. The apparatus includes an electric pan head for moving the shooting direction by remote control, and the system control means includes pan head drive control means for controlling the shooting direction of the camera device, and communication means for transmitting / receiving the pan head drive control information. The camera head drive control means sets a shooting direction range of the camera device included in the device itself, transmits the set shooting direction range information to the other party's video conference device, and the receiving side video conference device receives the information. The drive control information of the platform within the shooting direction range is transmitted to the video conferencing device on the transmitting side to drive the electric platform of the camera device provided on the transmitting side to move the shooting direction. A video conferencing device characterized by being able to