KR20240154959A - Method and apparatus for controlling PTZ camera by dividing area - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of the present specification relate to a technique for controlling a PTZ camera. According to one embodiment of the present specification, a method for controlling a PTZ camera of a user terminal for achieving the above-described object may include: a step of displaying a first image acquired from the PTZ camera on a screen according to a first setting value; a step of obtaining a user input for setting an area corresponding to a second setting value on the screen; a step of obtaining a second image from the PTZ camera according to the second setting value; a step of dividing the second image into a plurality of grids based on the performance of the PTZ camera; a step of displaying the second image and the plurality of grids on a screen; and a step of obtaining a user input for selecting at least one grid from the plurality of grids on the screen.

Description

Method and apparatus for controlling PTZ camera by dividing area

Embodiments of the present specification relate to techniques for controlling a PTZ camera.

A pan-tilt-zoom camera (PTZ camera) is a camera whose direction and zoom can be remotely controlled. In the case of PTZ cameras, images are acquired according to the PAN, TILT, and ZOOM settings due to their characteristics, and there is a delay in the time until the image is captured during this process.

The background technology described above is technical information that the inventor possessed for deriving the present invention or acquired in the process of deriving the present invention, and cannot necessarily be considered as publicly known technology disclosed to the general public prior to the application for the present invention.

The embodiments of the present specification have been proposed to solve the above-described problems and can control the PTZ camera more effectively.

According to one embodiment of the present specification for achieving the above-described task, a method for controlling a PTZ camera of a user terminal may include: a step of displaying a first image acquired from the PTZ camera on a screen according to a first setting value; a step of obtaining a user input for setting an area corresponding to a second setting value on the screen; a step of obtaining a second image from the PTZ camera according to the second setting value; a step of dividing the second image into a plurality of grids based on the performance of the PTZ camera; a step of displaying the second image and the plurality of grids on the screen; and a step of obtaining a user input for selecting at least one grid from the plurality of grids on the screen.

A method for controlling a PTZ camera of a user terminal may further include a step of controlling the PTZ camera according to a third setting value corresponding to the first grid among the at least one selected grid; and a step of obtaining a focus setting value corresponding to the first grid from the PTZ camera.

A method for controlling a PTZ camera of a user terminal may further include a step of generating a fourth setting value corresponding to the first grid based on the focus setting value; and a step of controlling the PTZ camera according to the fourth setting value corresponding to the first grid.

The step of dividing into the plurality of grids may include the step of dividing into the plurality of grids based on the zoom performance of the PTZ camera and the zoom magnification of the second image.

The user input for selecting at least one of the above grids may be at least one of a touch, a tap, a drag, and a click.

According to one embodiment of the present specification for achieving the above-described task, a user terminal includes a control unit, wherein the control unit can display a first image acquired from the PTZ camera on a screen according to a first setting value, obtain a user input for setting an area corresponding to a second setting value on the screen, obtain a second image from the PTZ camera according to the second setting value, divide the second image into a plurality of grids based on the performance of the PTZ camera, display the second image and the plurality of grids on the screen, and obtain a user input for selecting at least one grid from the plurality of grids on the screen.

The control unit controls the PTZ camera according to a third setting value corresponding to the first grid among the at least one selected grid, and can obtain a focus setting value corresponding to the first grid from the PTZ camera.

The above control unit can generate a fourth setting value corresponding to the first grid based on the focus setting value, and control the PTZ camera according to the fourth setting value corresponding to the first grid.

The above control unit can divide into the plurality of grids based on the zoom performance of the PTZ camera and the zoom magnification of the second image.

The above user input may be at least one of touch, tap, drag, and click.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, accessories of an imaging device can be displayed more effectively.

The effects of the embodiments are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an imaging system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a user terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is an example of a screen on which a first image is displayed on a user terminal.
Figure 4 is an example of a screen in which a second image and multiple grids are displayed on a user terminal.
Figure 5 is an example of a screen displaying at least one grid selected on a user terminal.
Figure 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a user terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention can be modified in various ways and has various embodiments, and specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. The effects and features of the present invention and the methods for achieving them will become clear with reference to the embodiments described in detail below together with the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, and can be implemented in various forms.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. When describing with reference to the drawings, identical or corresponding components are given the same drawing reference numerals and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.

In the following examples, the terms first, second, etc. are not used in a limiting sense but are used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. In the following examples, the singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In the following examples, the terms include or have mean that a feature or component described in the specification is present, and do not exclude in advance the possibility that one or more other features or components may be added. In the drawings, the sizes of the components may be exaggerated or reduced for convenience of explanation. For example, the size and shape of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for convenience of explanation, and therefore the present invention is not necessarily limited to what is shown.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an imaging system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The video system according to one embodiment of the present invention can control the PTZ camera based on the region setting for the image. For example, the video system according to one embodiment of the present invention can cause the PTZ camera to obtain an image according to a second PTZ setting value corresponding to the set region based on a user's region setting input for a first image (an image obtained by the PTZ camera according to the first PTZ setting value).

In this way, the present invention can control a PTZ camera based on a user's input that intuitively selects a region of interest of the user within an image.

An image system according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a user terminal (100), an image storage device (20), a PTZ camera (30), and a communication network (40) as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The user terminal (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention may refer to various types of computing devices for displaying an image acquired by a PTZ camera (30), acquiring a user's input for the image, and generating a control signal for controlling the PTZ camera. The user terminal (100) is not limited thereto, and may correspond to any device for controlling the PTZ camera (30). For example, such a user terminal (100) may refer to a portable terminal (101, 102, 103) as illustrated in FIG. 1, or may refer to a computer (104). Alternatively, the user terminal (100) may be a PTZ remote control device. However, the user terminal (100) illustrated in FIG. 1 is exemplary, and the spirit of the present invention is not limited thereto. The configuration of the user terminal (100) will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

The image storage device (20) according to one embodiment of the present invention may refer to a device that receives and stores an image acquired by the PTZ camera (30) from the PTZ camera (30) and provides the stored image to another device (e.g., the user terminal (100)). For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, the image storage device (20) may provide an image acquired by the PTZ camera (30) to the user terminal (100), and may receive a control command of the PTZ camera (30) from the user terminal (100) and provide the control command to the PTZ camera (30). However, this is exemplary and the idea of the present invention is not limited thereto.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the video storage device (20) may be one of a Video Management System (VMS), a Central Management System (CMS), a Network Video Recorder (NVR), and a Digital Video Recorder (DVR), or may be a device included in one of them.

A PTZ camera (30) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be a device that acquires an image according to a set PTZ value. At this time, the PTZ value may be a value including at least one of a Pan value, a Tilt value, and a Zoom value.

In an optional embodiment of the present invention, the PTZ value may not include any one of the Pan value, the Tilt value, and the Zoom value. For example, the PTZ value may include only the Pan value and the Tilt value, or may include only the Tilt value and the Zoom value. However, this is exemplary and the invention is not limited thereto.

The communication network (40) according to one embodiment of the present invention can serve as a passage for transmitting and receiving data between components of the system. For example, the communication network (40) can serve as a passage for providing an image acquired by a PTZ camera (30) to a user terminal (100). In addition, the communication network (40) can serve as a passage for providing a PTZ control command generated by a user terminal (100) to a PTZ camera (30).

At this time, the communication network (40) may include wired networks such as LANs (Local Area Networks), WANs (Wide Area Networks), MANs (Metropolitan Area Networks), and ISDNs (Integrated Service Digital Networks), or wireless networks such as wireless LANs, CDMA, Bluetooth, and satellite communications, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of a user terminal (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a user terminal (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a communication unit (110), a control unit (120), a memory (130), a display unit (140), and an input acquisition unit (150).

A communication unit (110) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be a device including hardware and software necessary to transmit and receive signals such as control signals or data signals through wired or wireless connections with other network devices.

The control unit (120) according to one embodiment of the present invention can generate a control command of the PTZ camera based on the area setting for the displayed image. At this time, the control unit (120) can include all types of devices capable of processing data, such as a processor. Here, the 'processor' can mean a data processing device built into hardware, which has a physically structured circuit to perform a function expressed by a code or command included in a program, for example. As an example of the data processing device built into hardware, a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), a processor core, a multiprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. may be included, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Such a control unit (120) may be composed of a single processor, or may be composed of a plurality of processors that are divided into units of functions performed by the control unit.

The memory (130) according to one embodiment of the present invention performs a function of temporarily or permanently storing data, instructions, programs, program codes, or a combination thereof processed by the control unit (120). Such memory (130) may include a magnetic storage media or a flash storage media, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. The memory (130) according to one embodiment of the present invention may store setting values of a PTZ camera (30) to have a field of view of a specific area. For example, the memory (130) may store at least one of pan, tilt, zoom, and focus setting values.

The display unit (140) according to one embodiment of the present invention may mean a display device that displays a shape, a character, or a combination thereof according to an electric signal generated by the control unit (120). For example, the display unit (140) may be composed of any one of a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), an LCD (Liqu-id Crystal Display), a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), and an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), but the spirit of the present invention is not limited thereto.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the input acquisition unit (150) can acquire a user's area setting input for an image displayed on the display unit (140). At this time, the input acquisition unit (150) can include devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a touch panel, for example. However, this is exemplary and the idea of the present invention is not limited thereto.

Below, the process of generating a control command for controlling the PTZ camera (30) by the control unit (120) is described.

A control unit (120) according to one embodiment of the present invention may display a first image acquired from a PTZ camera (30) on a screen of a display unit (140) according to a first setting value, acquire a user input for setting an area corresponding to a second setting value on the screen of the display unit (140) from an input acquisition unit (150), acquire a second image from the PTZ camera (30) according to the second setting value, divide the second image into a plurality of grids based on the performance of the PTZ camera (30), display the second image and the plurality of grids on the screen of the display unit (140), and acquire a user input for selecting at least one grid among the plurality of grids on the screen from the input acquisition unit (150). At this time, the user input may be acquired by at least one of a touch, a tap, a drag, and a click.

A control unit (120) according to one embodiment of the present invention controls a PTZ camera (30) according to a third setting value corresponding to a first grid among at least one selected grid, and can obtain a focus setting value corresponding to the first grid from the PTZ camera (30).

A control unit (120) according to one embodiment of the present invention generates a fourth setting value corresponding to the first grid based on a focus setting value, and can control a PTZ camera (30) according to the fourth setting value corresponding to the first grid.

The control unit (120) according to one embodiment of the present invention can divide into a plurality of grids based on the zoom performance of the PTZ camera and the zoom magnification of the second image.

Figure 3 is an example of a screen (300) on which a first image is displayed on a user terminal.

Referring to FIG. 3, the screen (300) may include an image display area (310). The image display area (310) may display an image acquired by a PTZ camera (30), such as a first image. This first image may be an image of the PTZ camera (30) in a maximum zoom-out state.

A user terminal (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention can display a first image in an image display area (310).

The user terminal (100) can obtain a user input for setting an area (311) on the screen (300) of the displayed first image. This area (311) may be an area corresponding to the second PTZ setting value. The PTZ camera (30) can obtain an image of an angle corresponding to the area at the corresponding PTZ setting value.

For example, a user terminal (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention can obtain a user's area setting input in the form of a square with a predetermined aspect ratio on a screen where a first image is displayed, and control a PTZ camera (30) to have a field of view of the corresponding area to obtain a second image.

A user terminal (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention can transmit a control command for controlling the PTZ camera (30) according to the second PTZ setting value to the PTZ camera (30). The PTZ camera (30) can capture a second image according to the second setting value. These setting values may include not only pan (rotation), tilt (tilt), and zoom (magnification) setting values, but also a focus setting value.

The PTZ camera (30) can control the angle of view of the corresponding area through pan, tilt, and zoom during the process of shooting an image according to the setting value, and can acquire the image. If the setting value includes a focus setting value, the PTZ camera (30) can set the focus by referring to the focus setting value. In addition, if the setting value does not include a focus setting value, the PTZ camera (30) can automatically set the focus and save the focus setting value or transmit it to the user terminal (100).

Fig. 4 is an example of a screen (400) on which a second image and multiple grids (420) are displayed on a user terminal. As described above, the PTZ camera (30) can capture the second image according to the second setting value.

Referring to FIG. 4, the screen (400) may include an image display area (410). The image display area (410) may display an image captured by a PTZ camera (30) such as a second image and a plurality of grids (420). This second image may be an image corresponding to a second setting value.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a user terminal (100) can obtain a second image captured by a PTZ camera (30) and divide the second image into a plurality of grids based on the performance of the PTZ camera. Specifically, the user terminal (100) can divide the second image into a plurality of grids in various ways based on the zoom performance of the PTZ camera and the zoom magnification of the second image. An area indicated by a grid according to one embodiment may be an area corresponding to the maximum angle of view that the PTZ camera (30) can obtain through zoom. When the maximum zoom performance magnification of the PTZ camera (30) is 120 times and the zoom magnification of the second image is 10 times, the second image can be divided into 12 grids.

The user terminal (100) can obtain a user input for selecting at least one grid among a plurality of grids (420). For example, the user terminal (100) can obtain a user input for selecting at least one grid among a plurality of grids (420) by at least one of a touch, a tap, a drag, and a click.

FIG. 5 is an example of a screen in which at least one grid (421) selected on a user terminal is displayed.

Referring to FIG. 5, the user terminal (100) can obtain a user input for selecting at least one grid among a plurality of grids (420) and display the selected at least one grid (421). At this time, the selected at least one grid (421) can be distinguished from the plurality of grids (420) by shading, color, hatching, etc.

The user terminal (100) can control the PTZ camera according to the third setting value corresponding to the first grid among at least one selected grid (421).

The user terminal (100) can control the PTZ camera (30) to have a field of view of an area corresponding to the first grid. The user terminal (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention can transmit a control command for controlling the PTZ camera (30) according to the third PTZ setting value to the PTZ camera (30). The setting value may include not only the pan (rotation), tilt (tilt), and zoom (magnification) setting values, but also the focus setting value.

The PTZ camera (30) can control the angle of view of the corresponding area through pan, tilt, and zoom during the process of shooting an image according to the setting value, and shoot the image. If the setting value includes a focus setting value, the PTZ camera (30) can set the focus by referring to the focus setting value. In addition, if the setting value does not include a focus setting value, the PTZ camera (30) can automatically set the focus and save the focus setting value or transmit it to the user terminal (100).

The user terminal (100) can control the PTZ camera (30) to have an angle of view of an area corresponding to the first grid, receive a focus setting value, and generate a fourth setting value corresponding to the first grid. For example, the fourth setting value can include pan, tilt, zoom, and focus setting values of the PTZ camera (30) to have an angle of view of an area corresponding to the first grid. The user terminal (100) can store this fourth setting value.

Thereafter, the user terminal (100) can control the PTZ camera (30) according to the fourth setting value when controlling the PTZ camera (30) to have a field of view of an area corresponding to the first grid. The PTZ camera (30) can set the focus based on the focus setting value included in the fourth setting value.

Through a series of processes as described above, when the PTZ camera (30) is controlled to have an angle of view of an area of at least one selected grid, the focus can be set relatively quickly.

Figure 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a user terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the user terminal (100) can display a first image acquired from the PTZ camera on the screen according to the first setting value at step S610. This first image may be an image of the PTZ camera (30) in a maximum zoom-out state. This setting value may include not only pan (rotation), tilt (tilt), and zoom (magnification) setting values, but also a focus setting value.

In one embodiment, the user terminal (100) can obtain a user input for setting an area corresponding to a second setting value on the screen at step S620. The user terminal (100) can obtain the user's area setting input in the form of a rectangle having a predetermined aspect ratio on the screen where the first image is displayed.

According to one embodiment, the user terminal (100) transmits a control command for controlling the PTZ camera (30) according to the second setting value at step S630 to the PTZ camera (30), and the PTZ camera (30) can capture a second image according to the second setting value and transmit the second image to the user terminal (100). The user terminal (100) can obtain the second image from the PTZ camera (30) according to the second setting value.

According to one embodiment, the user terminal (100) can divide the second image into a plurality of grids based on the performance of the PTZ camera at step S640. Specifically, the user terminal (100) can divide the second image into a plurality of grids in various ways based on the zoom performance of the PTZ camera and the zoom magnification of the second image. The area indicated by the grid according to one embodiment can be an area corresponding to the maximum angle of view that the PTZ camera (30) can acquire through zoom.

According to one embodiment, the user terminal (100) can display a second image and a plurality of grids on the screen at step S650.

In one embodiment, the user terminal (100) may, at step S660, obtain a user input for selecting at least one grid among a plurality of grids on the screen, and display the selected at least one grid. At this time, the selected at least one grid may be distinguished from the plurality of grids by shading, color, hatching, etc.

In one embodiment, the user terminal (100) can control the PTZ camera (30) according to a setting value for each of at least one grid at step S670. For example, the user terminal (100) can transmit a control command to control the PTZ camera (30) according to a third setting value corresponding to the first grid among the selected at least one grid. The PTZ camera (30) can control the PTZ camera (30) according to the third setting value and automatically set the focus. The PTZ camera (30) can store the focus setting value or transmit it to the user terminal (100).

In one embodiment, the user terminal (100) may, at step S680, obtain a focus setting value corresponding to the first grid from the PTZ camera (30) and generate a fourth setting value corresponding to the first grid. For example, the fourth setting value may include pan, tilt, zoom, and focus setting values of the PTZ camera (30) to have a field of view of an area corresponding to the first grid. The user terminal (100) may store this fourth setting value.

Thereafter, the user terminal (100) can control the PTZ camera (30) according to the fourth setting value when controlling the PTZ camera (30) to have a field of view of an area corresponding to the first grid. The PTZ camera (30) can set the focus based on the focus setting value included in the fourth setting value.

According to the above embodiment, the user terminal (100) can store the setting values in grid units selected by the user and use them when controlling the PTZ camera (30), thereby providing an image acquired more effectively during the control process of the PTZ camera (30).

The embodiments of the present invention described above may be implemented in the form of a computer program that can be executed through various components on a computer, and such a computer program may be recorded on a computer-readable medium. At this time, the medium may include a magnetic medium such as a hard disk, a floppy disk, and a magnetic tape, an optical recording medium such as a CD-ROM and a DVD, a magneto-optical medium such as a floptical disk, and a hardware device specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as a ROM, a RAM, a flash memory, and the like. Furthermore, the medium may include an intangible medium implemented in a form that can be transmitted over a network, and may be, for example, a medium implemented in the form of software or an application that can be transmitted and distributed over a network.

Meanwhile, the computer program may be one that is specifically designed and constructed for the present invention or one that is known and available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of computer programs may include not only machine language codes created by a compiler, but also high-level language codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter, etc.

The specific implementations described in the present invention are only exemplary embodiments and do not limit the scope of the present invention in any way. For the sake of brevity of the specification, descriptions of conventional electronic components, control systems, software, and other functional aspects of the systems may be omitted. In addition, the connections or lack of connections of lines between components illustrated in the drawings are merely exemplary of functional connections and/or physical or circuit connections, and may be replaced or represented as various additional functional connections, physical connections, or circuit connections in an actual device. In addition, if there is no specific mention such as “essential,” “important,” etc., the component may not be absolutely necessary for the application of the present invention.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments mentioned above, it is possible to make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the appended claims will include such modifications and variations as long as they fall within the spirit of the present invention.

100: User terminal
110: Communications Department
120: Control Unit
130: Memory
140: Display section
150: Input acquisition section
20: Video storage device
30: PTZ Camera
300: Screen
310: Video display area
40: Communication network
400: Screen
410: Video display area
420: Multiple grids
421: At least one grid selected

Claims (10)

In a method for controlling a PTZ camera of a user terminal,
A step of displaying a first image acquired from the PTZ camera on a screen according to a first setting value;
A step of obtaining user input for setting an area corresponding to a second setting value on the above screen;
A step of acquiring a second image from the PTZ camera according to the second setting value;
A step of dividing the second image into a plurality of grids based on the performance of the PTZ camera;
A step of displaying the second image and the plurality of grids on a screen; and
A method comprising the step of obtaining a user input for selecting at least one grid among the plurality of grids on the screen. In the first paragraph,
For a first grid among at least one of the selected grids,
A step of controlling the PTZ camera according to a third setting value corresponding to the first grid; and
A method further comprising the step of obtaining a focus setting value corresponding to the first grid from the PTZ camera. In the second paragraph,
A step of generating a fourth setting value corresponding to the first grid based on the above focus setting value;
A method further comprising the step of controlling the PTZ camera according to a fourth setting value corresponding to the first grid. In the first paragraph,
The step of dividing into the above multiple grids is:
A method comprising the step of dividing into the plurality of grids based on the zoom performance of the PTZ camera and the zoom magnification of the second image. In the first paragraph,
User input for selecting at least one grid above,
A method of at least one of touch, tap, drag, and click. In a user terminal that controls a PTZ camera and includes a control unit,
The above control unit,
A user terminal which displays a first image acquired from the PTZ camera on a screen according to a first setting value, obtains a user input for setting an area corresponding to a second setting value on the screen, obtains a second image from the PTZ camera according to the second setting value, divides the second image into a plurality of grids based on the performance of the PTZ camera, displays the second image and the plurality of grids on the screen, and obtains a user input for selecting at least one grid from the plurality of grids on the screen. In Article 6,
The above control unit,
A user terminal that controls the PTZ camera according to a third setting value corresponding to the first grid among the at least one selected grid, and obtains a focus setting value corresponding to the first grid from the PTZ camera. In Article 7,
The above control unit,
A user terminal that generates a fourth setting value corresponding to the first grid based on the above focus setting value and controls the PTZ camera according to the fourth setting value corresponding to the first grid. In Article 6,
The above control unit,
A user terminal that divides into the plurality of grids based on the zoom performance of the PTZ camera and the zoom magnification of the second image. In Article 6,
The above user input is a user terminal including at least one of touch, tap, drag, and click.

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