Image processing apparatus based on open platform and protocol conversion method used for the same

• US 10,116,770 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2014
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanwha Vision Company Limited (Hanwha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hanwha Techwin Co., Ltd. (Hanwha Corporation)
• Inventors: Cho, Sung-Bong, Lee, Sung-Hoon
• Primary Examiner(s): Motsinger, Sean
• Application Number:
  US14/450,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20150131001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0117 involving conversion of the spatial resolution of the incoming video signal for graphics images G09G2340/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0127 by changing the field or frame frequency of the incoming video signal, e.g. frame rate converter

Abstract

Provided is an image processing apparatus and method that may employ a new program or protocol without having to additionally develop a new program or a protocol for image processing. The image processing apparatus may include: an open platform-compatible unit configured to determine a protocol that is used by a video analysis application installed in or connected to the image processing apparatus, and receive at least one of channel information about an original image, channel information about an encoded image, channel information about a decoded image, resolution information about the decoded image and frame rate information that is required to receive the decoded image, in accordance with the determined protocol; and a protocol conversion unit configured to process an input image to comply with the determined protocol, based on the at least one information that is received at the open platform-compatible unit.

Claims

1. An image processing system comprising:

a network camera configured to capture an original image of an object;

a detector configured to detect a speed of movement of the object;

an image processing apparatus comprising at least one processor to implement;

an open platform-compatible unit configured to determine a protocol that is used by a video analysis application installed in or connected to the image processing apparatus, select channel information from among channel information about the original image, channel information about an encoded image of the original image, and channel information about a decoded image of the encoded image, according to the determined protocol, and receive the selected channel information; and

a protocol conversion unit configured to process an input image to comply with the determined protocol, based on the channel information that is received at the open platform-compatible unit,

wherein the open platform-compatible unit selects and receives the channel information about the original image based on the speed detected by the detector being over a predetermined threshold, and the open platform-compatible unit selects and receives the channel information about at least one from among the encoded image and the decoded image based on the speed detected by the detector being under the predetermined threshold.

2. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the protocol conversion unit comprises:

a reception unit, implemented by the at least one processor, configured to receive the input image based on the received channel information;

a decoding unit, implemented by the at least one processor, configured to decode the input image; and

at least one of a resizing unit, implemented by the at least one processor, configured to change a resolution of the decoded input image according to the determined protocol and a resampling unit, implemented by the at least one processor, configured to change a frame rate of the decoded input image according to the determined protocol.

3. The image processing system of claim 2, wherein the protocol conversion unit further comprises:

a storing unit, implemented by the at least one processor, configured to store a part or whole of the decoded input image; and

a transmission unit, implemented by the at least one processor, configured to transmit an image output from the at least one of the resizing unit and the resampling unit.

4. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the input image is received from a channel selected by the open platform-compatible unit from among a plurality of channels based on the determined protocol.

5. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein in response to the channel information about the decoded image being received, the open platform-compatible unit further receives resolution information about the decoded image and frame rate information.

6. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein in response to the determined protocol supporting video analysis of the object moving at a predetermined location or time, the open platform-compatible unit selects and receives the channel information about the original image from among the channel information about the original image, the channel information about the encoded image, and the channel information about the decoded image.

7. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein in response to the determined protocol supporting video analysis of the object moving at a predetermined location or time, the open platform-compatible unit selects and receives the channel information about the encoded image from among the channel information about the original image, the channel information about the at least one from among the encoded image and the decoded image, and the channel information about the decoded image.

17. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the open platform-compatible unit, when executed by the at least one processor, supports an open platform module to perform a function of installing a program that is developed based on an open platform.

8. An image processing system comprising:

a network camera configured to capture an original image of an object;

a detector configured to detect a speed of movement of the object;

an image processing apparatus comprising at least one processor to implement;

an open platform-compatible unit configured to determine a protocol that is used by a video analysis application installed in or connected to the image processing apparatus, select a channel from among a channel through which the original image is to be received, a channel through which an encoded image of the original image is to be received, and a channel through which a decoded image of the encoded image is to be received, according to the determined protocol, and receive the original image, the encoded image or the decoded image through the selected channel; and

a protocol conversion unit configured to process the received image received at the open platform-compatible unit according to the determined protocol,

wherein the open platform-compatible unit selects the channel through which the original image is to be received based on the speed detected by the detector being over a predetermined threshold, and the open platform-compatible unit selects the channel through which at least one from among the encoded image and the decoded image is to be received based on the speed detected by the detector being under the predetermined threshold.

9. The image processing system of claim 8, wherein the open platform-compatible unit is further configured to determine a frame rate at which the decoded image is to be received, in response to receiving the decoded image through the selected channel.

10. The image processing system of claim 8, wherein the protocol conversion unit comprises at least one of a resizing unit, implemented by the at least one processor, configured to change a resolution of the received image according to the protocol and a resampling unit, implemented by the at least one processor, configured to change a frame rate of the received image according to the determined protocol.

11. An image processing method comprising:

receiving an input image of an object from a network camera;

detecting, by a detector, a speed of movement of the object;

determining a protocol that is used by a video analysis application installed in or connected to an image processing apparatus;

selecting channel information from among channel information about an original image of the object, channel information about an encoded image of the original image, and channel information about a decoded image of the encoded image, according to the determined protocol, and receiving the selected channel information; and

processing the input image to comply with the determined protocol based on the channel information that is received at an open platform-compatible unit,

wherein the selecting the channel information comprises selecting the channel information about the original image based on the speed detected by the detector being over a predetermined threshold, and selecting the channel information about at least one from among the encoded image and the decoded image based on the speed detected by the detector being under the predetermined threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the processing comprises:

receiving the input image based on the received channel information;

decoding the received input image; and

changing, according to the determined protocol, at least one of a resolution of the decoded input image and a frame rate of the decoded input image.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the processing further comprises:

storing a part or whole of the decoded input image; and

transmitting an image output from the changing.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising requesting the input image from a channel selected from among a plurality of channels based on the determined protocol.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the selecting the channel information further comprises selecting the channel information about the original image from among the channel information about the original image, the channel information about the encoded image, and the channel information about the decoded image, in response to the determined protocol supporting video analysis of the object moving at a predetermined location or time.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the selecting the channel information further comprises selecting the channel information about the at least one from among the encoded image and the decoded image from among the channel information about the original image, the channel information about the encoded image, and the channel information about the decoded image, in response to the determined protocol supporting video analysis of the object moving at a predetermined location or time.