JP2002010245A - Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus, image processing method and storage medium by which camera network connection can be set easily and without fail. SOLUTION: This image processing apparatus has an input means which inputs identification name of a camera to be connected via network and connection information, a receiving means which receives image data experimentally based on the connection information from the camera conforming to the connection information, and an output means which outputs the camera identification name and the connection information to a displaying part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A monitoring apparatus as an example of an apparatus using an image display device and a camera control device selects several video cameras, a synthesizing machine for synthesizing the images of the video cameras and an image (video camera). It is composed of a device called a switcher that can do this. These are mainly used in relatively small buildings and are called local monitoring systems. For local monitoring systems, video transmission paths are not analog cables, but are LAN or ISDN
Remote monitoring systems that use digital networks such as these and that can significantly extend the transmission path have also appeared on the market.

[0003] Furthermore, some recent monitoring systems that use a personal computer (PC) or the like as a monitoring terminal and realize video display and system control using a Graphical User Interface (GUI) have been announced. I have. The use of a computer GUI for the monitoring device has an advantage that even a person who is not familiar with the device can easily handle the monitoring device.

[0004]

However, in this type of conventional system, there is room for improvement in that the network connection of the camera can be easily and reliably set.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which can confirm that a network connection of a camera is correctly set by connecting to the camera and confirming an image by a simple operation.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an input unit for inputting an identification name of a camera connected to a network and connection information, and a camera corresponding to the connection information based on the connection information. Receiving means for trially receiving image data from the camera, and output means for outputting the identification name of the camera and the connection information to a display unit.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a remote monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a camera capable of controlling pan / tilt / zoom, and 2 denotes a network adapter which digitizes an image input from the camera 1, compresses the image into a Motion-JPEG format, and transmits it to a network.
Conversely, the network camera adapter 2 controls the camera 1 by serial communication based on a control command received from the network. 3 is Ethernet (registered trademark) etc.
A network that passes the Internet Protocol.

Camera 1 and network camera adapter 2
(Called a camera station) are connected to the network 3 in plural sets. Different types of cameras 1 and network adapters 2 may be mixed. Also,
Network Adapter 2 is Universal Plu
It is desirable to support a network device automatic detection protocol such as g and Play (UPnP).

Reference numeral 4 denotes a monitoring station using a personal computer. The monitoring station 4 receives, decodes, and displays the video from the network camera adapter 2 via the network 3. Further, the monitoring station 4 transmits camera control commands such as pan, tilt, and zoom to the network camera adapter 2 in response to operations of a mouse, a joystick, a keyboard, and the like. A plurality of monitoring stations 4 are also connected to the network 3.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a management station using a personal computer, and reference numeral 6 denotes a server using a personal computer. The management station 5 manages information such as the name, network address, and type of each camera station connected to the network 3 and stores management data in the server 6 in XML format. Further, the management station 5 designs a monitoring screen to be displayed on the monitoring station 4, and saves screen style data in the XSL format and data such as video layout and camera layout diagram (camera map) data in the server 6 in the XML format. I do.

The server 6 may be a Web server or a file server. Also, a monitoring station 4, a management station 5, and a server 6
Any combination or all of them may be configured by using a single personal computer.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a screen (monitoring screen) of the monitoring station 4. Reference numeral 21 denotes a video viewer for displaying an image of a camera, 22 denotes a map viewer for displaying a camera map, and 23, 24, and 25 denote scroll bars for panning, tilting, and zooming the camera, respectively.
26 is a camera icon indicating a camera on the camera map,
Reference numeral 27 denotes a scope icon indicating a shooting direction and a shooting range of the camera. By clicking the camera icon 26, the image of the camera can be switched. The camera can also be panned, tilted, and zoomed by operating the scope icon 27 with a mouse.
In addition to these operation buttons, an operation unit such as backlight correction, preset selection, snapshot, and panorama display may be provided.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a personal computer used for the monitoring station, management station and server described above. 31 is a CPU that controls the whole system, 32 is a main storage unit (RAM), 33 is a removable external storage device such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk and CD-ROM, and 34 is a software process described below under the control of the CPU 31. Storage device such as a hard disk storing a program for performing
5 is a mouse that functions as a pointing device, 3
6 is a keyboard, 37 is a network interface,
38 is a video board, and 39 is a monitor.

FIG. 4 shows the CP of the monitoring station 4.
It is a block diagram of software and data which perform a process under U31. Reference numeral 41 denotes a Web that can display a style sheet file described in the style specification language XSL by applying the style sheet file to a data file described in the data description language XML.
Browser. The Web browser 41 also uses Java.
And ActiveX-style plug-in programs and ECM
A script program in the form of an Ascript (a scripting language for the Internet based on Java Script) can be executed. Reference numeral 42 denotes a main style sheet file that describes the display style and operation response of the entire monitoring screen. Reference numeral 43 denotes the display style and operation response of the map viewer 22 in XSL format and ECMASC.
This is a map viewer style sheet file described in a RIP format. Reference numeral 44 denotes a video viewer style sheet file that describes the display style and operation response of the video viewer 21. Several style sheet files are prepared for each monitoring purpose and usage business mode.

Reference numeral 45 denotes a main data file in which display option data of the entire monitoring screen is described.
Reference numeral 46 denotes a map data file in which camera arrangement data for the map viewer 22 is described. A video viewer data file 47 describes display option data of the video viewer. Reference numeral 48 denotes a camera list data file describing management data of all camera stations. 4
9 is ActiveX format or Java applet
This is a video display program component of the t format. Reference numeral 410 denotes a bitmap image data file drawn on the camera map. In the main data file 45, the style of the main style sheet file 42 is specified by a link. In addition, a link specification for using the map data file 46 as map data and a link specification for using the camera list data file 48 as camera list data are described.

In the map data file 46, the map viewer style sheet file 43 is specified as a style by a link. Also, the main data file 4
Reference designation for referring to the data of the camera list data file 48 designated by the link 5 is described. In the camera list data file 48, a link specification of a video viewer style sheet file to be used for each camera is described. The video viewer style sheet file 44 describes the link designation of the video display program component 49 to be used.

FIG. 5 shows a Web browser 41 in the monitoring station 4 under the control of the CPU 31.
Is a flowchart showing software processing for generating a monitoring screen. The Web browser 41 first acquires and reads the main data file 45 from the server 6 (station 51). Next, the main style sheet file 42 whose style is specified by the link is acquired from the server 6 and read (step 52). Next, the main style sheet file 42 is analyzed, the main data file 43 is analyzed in accordance with the conversion specification described in the XSL format, and generation of a monitoring screen is started (step 54). In this process, first, the link-designated camera list data file 48 is obtained and read from the server 6 (step 55).

Next, in order to display the map data file 46 specified by the link as a camera map, the map data file 46 is obtained and read from the server 65 (step 56). Next, the map viewer style sheet file 43 specified by the link in the map data file 46 is acquired and read from the server 6 (step 57). Next, the map viewer style sheet file 43 is analyzed, the map data file 46 is analyzed in accordance with the conversion specification described in the XST format, and the generation of the map viewer screen is started (step 5).
8).

In this process, first, the map data file 4
Based on the link designation of the background bitmap file described in 6 and the designation of the display position of the camera icon, the bitmap file 410 is acquired and read from the server 6 as necessary, and the basic drawing of the map is performed (step S1). 59). Next, a camera name or the like corresponding to the camera ID described in the map data file 46 is searched from the data of the camera list data file 48 specified and referred to, and displayed on the map (step 510).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a software process in which the Web browser 41 in the monitoring station 4 generates a video viewer. When the operator of the monitoring station 4 operates the pointing device 35
When the camera icon on the map viewer is clicked on with the mouse, the script function described in the map viewer style sheet file 43 is executed (step 61). In this process, the script function described in the main style sheet file 42 is further executed (step 62).

In this process, first, a link specification of the video viewer style sheet file 44 suitable for the camera corresponding to the camera ID of the clicked camera icon is searched from the data of the camera list data file 48, and the video viewer style sheet file is searched. 44 is acquired and read from the server 6 (step 63). Next, the video viewer data file 47 is obtained and read from the server 6 (step 64). Next, the video viewer style sheet file 44 is analyzed, the video viewer data file 47 is analyzed in accordance with the conversion specification described in the XST format, and the generation of the video viewer screen is started (step 6).
5).

In this process, first, according to the link specification described in the video viewer style sheet file 44, the video display program component 49 is acquired from the server 6 and read (step 66). Next, the camera I of the camera to be displayed
D is the camera list data file 4
A search is made from the data of No. 8 (step 67). Next, the execution of the video display program component is started by designating the retrieved connection information (step 68). In this process, the image display program component establishes a TCP / IP connection with the camera station to acquire and display the image of the camera (step 6).
9).

As described above, in this embodiment, under the control of the CPU 31, by performing the above-described software processing, the Web processing is performed based on various style sheet files and data files stored on the server 6. The browser 41 generates and displays a monitoring screen at the time of startup or dynamically according to an operation. Therefore, the display style of the monitoring screen can be changed only by exchanging the style sheet file, for example. Or,
By simply changing the data file, a monitoring screen having the same display style can be generated for different camera arrangements and configurations.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of software and data of the management station 5. The following processing is executed under the control of the CPU of the management station. Reference numeral 71 denotes a camera management tool that manages an information list of camera stations connected to the network 3, such as names, network addresses, and types. The camera management tool 71 writes the information to the camera list data file 48 and stores it in the server 6. Reference numeral 72 denotes a map editor for editing a camera map. The map editor 72 edits the position of the camera icon on the map and the background bitmap, writes the information to the map data file 46, and stores the information in the server 6. A monitoring wizard 73 automatically presents a question in a wizard manner and automatically configures a monitoring screen. Monitoring Wizard 7
3 writes the configuration result to the main data file 43 and the video viewer data file 47 and saves it in the server 6.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen of the camera management tool 71 displayed on the management station 5. Reference numeral 81 denotes a list display unit for displaying a list of registered camera stations, 82 denotes a new button for newly registering camera station information, 83 denotes a name change button for changing the name of a camera station, and 84 denotes a camera station. Delete button to delete registration, 85 is Universal
This is an automatic detection button for automatically detecting a camera station connected to the network by a network device automatic detection protocol such as sal Plug and Play (UPnP).

When the camera station is automatically detected by pressing the automatic detection button 85, the camera management tool 71 acquires a device information file in XML format from the camera station. Then, the link information to the video viewer style sheet file 44 to be used for the camera station described in the device information file is transcribed to the camera list data file 48. Reference numeral 88 denotes a property dialog for inputting information of the camera station, 86 denotes an address field for inputting a network address of the camera station, and 87 denotes a type combo box for specifying the type of the camera station.

Reference numeral 89 denotes a test button for test-displaying the registered camera stations. 810 is a test display window. When the add button 82 is pressed, a property dialog 88 opens, prompting the user to input a network address (Internet protocol address) of the camera station, which is connection information. Here, if there is an error in the input of the address, an error occurs when the monitoring screen created based on this information is executed. When the test button 89 is pressed, a test display window 810 opens, and an attempt is made to connect to the camera station based on the input address. If there is no error in the address, connection with the camera station is made and the image of the camera station is displayed. Since the property dialog 88 and the test display are displayed on the same monitor, it is possible to surely confirm that the image of the camera station corresponds to the registered camera station name, and to confirm on the spot that the input is correct. be able to. At this time, by operating 811, 812, and 813, pan, tilt, and zoom can be instructed to the camera station, and images of various camera states can be confirmed as test images. The test display window 810 is We
An external program such as a b browser may be used.

For inputting the network address, a dedicated wizard-type window may be used instead of the property dialog 88. At this time, the test display may be automatically performed after the input of the address. As a result, it is possible to prevent forgetting the above-mentioned confirmation. Further, the test display is continuously displayed until the confirmation instruction of the operator, that is, the 90 OK instruction by the pointing device is performed, so that the confirmation does not end inappropriately.
During the display of the test image which is automatically performed, pan, tilt, and zoom are sequentially instructed to the connected camera stations automatically, so that various test images can be automatically obtained and confirmed.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a question screen of the monitoring wizard. 91 goes to the next question "Next"
Button. Reference numeral 92 denotes a "return" button for returning to the immediately preceding question. Reference numeral 93 denotes a cancel button for canceling the monitoring wizard. An option button 94 is used to select one answer to the question from the options.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a question flow of the monitoring wizard. In the first screen, a question is asked as to whether to create a new monitoring screen or edit an existing screen (step 101). In the case of new creation, a question is asked about the basic style of the monitoring screen (step 102).
Next, a question is asked as to which camera to use from among the cameras registered in the camera management tool (step 10).
3). Next, when the basic style is a type using a camera map, the display style of the camera map is asked (step 104). This dialog also has a button to launch the map editor and edit the camera map.
Next, when the basic style is the fixed display type or the table of contents screen type, the display position of the camera is asked (step 105). Finally, the user is asked about the setting of the image quality and frame rate of the display image (step 106).

After answering the above questions and pressing the complete button,
Monitoring Wizard 73 is the main data file 4
3. Generate a video viewer data file 47 and, if necessary, a map data file 46, and save them in the server 6. At this time, a link to the main style sheet file 42 corresponding to the basic style selected in step 102 is written in the main data file 43 as a style designation.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing options of the basic style of the monitoring screen used in the monitoring station 4. 111 is a floor type camera map + video type style, 112 is a wide area camera map + video type style, 113 is a camera list + video type style, and 114 is a floor map + 4 video fixed display type also shown in FIG. Style, 115 is a style of fixed display type of 4 images, 1
Reference numeral 16 denotes a 6-image fixed display type style, 117 denotes a 1-image full screen style, and 118 denotes a table of contents screen + video type style.

(Another Embodiment of the Present Invention) A program for operating the configuration of the above-described embodiment so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiment is stored in a storage medium, and the program stored in the storage medium is coded. A processing method that is read as a computer and executed by a computer is also included in the scope of the above-described embodiment, and a storage medium that stores the above-described program is also included in the above-described embodiment.

As such a storage medium, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, and ROM can be used.

The present invention is not limited to the one which executes the processing by the program stored in the storage medium alone, and operates on the OS in cooperation with the functions of the other software and the expansion board to execute the processing of the above-described embodiment. The one that performs the operation is also included in the category of the above-described embodiment.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, an input means for inputting an identification name and connection information of a camera to be connected to a network, and, based on the connection information, image data from a camera corresponding to the connection information is tested. Since it has a receiving means for receiving, and an output means for outputting the identification name of the camera and the connection information to a display unit, it is possible to confirm the video of the camera and the identification name of the camera, and to confirm that the network is correctly connected. Becomes

Further, the receiving means automatically performs the trial reception after the input is received by the input means, so that it is possible to recommend a step to automatically perform the above-described confirmation work. Further, since the output to the display unit does not end without the confirmation instruction of the operator, it is possible to prevent the confirmation from being inappropriately terminated without the instruction of the operator.

When the automatic reception is performed, at least one of pan, tilt, and zoom states is automatically output to the camera corresponding to the connection information, and a command is output when the camera is in the state. Panning the camera while receiving image data and receiving the test image data.
Either tilt or zoom can be changed according to the instruction on the display unit, and the image data being received as a test changes, so that various test images that can be obtained from the camera are confirmed. It becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a remote monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of a screen (monitoring screen) of the monitoring station 4;

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a personal computer.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of software and data of the monitoring station 4.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which the Web browser 41 generates a monitoring screen.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process in which the Web browser 41 generates a video viewer.

7 is a configuration diagram of software and data of the management station 5. FIG.

8 is a diagram showing a screen of a camera management tool 71. FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a question screen of the monitoring wizard.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a question flow of the monitoring wizard.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing options of a basic style on a monitoring screen.

Claims (8)

[Claims] An input unit for inputting an identification name and connection information of a camera connected to a network, a receiving unit for experimentally receiving image data from a camera corresponding to the connection information based on the connection information, An output unit configured to output the identification name and the connection information to a display unit. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection information of the camera includes an Internet protocol address of the camera. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit automatically performs the test reception after an input is received by the input unit. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output to the display unit does not end without an operator's confirmation instruction. 5. When the automatic reception is performed, an instruction of at least one of pan, tilt, and zoom states is automatically output to a camera corresponding to the connection information, and the camera is in the state. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image is received. 6. When the image data is being received on a trial basis, any of pan, tilt, and zoom of the camera can be changed in accordance with an instruction on the display unit. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is changed. 7. An identification name and connection information of a camera connected to a network are input, and image data is experimentally received from a camera corresponding to the connection information based on the connection information, and the identification name of the camera and the An image processing method characterized by outputting connection information to a display unit. 8. A code for inputting an identification name and connection information of a camera connected to a network, a code for experimentally receiving image data from a camera corresponding to the connection information based on the connection information, A storage medium storing a code for outputting a camera identification name and the connection information to a display unit.