Method for selecting cameras and image distribution system capable of appropriately selecting cameras
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- obtaining, using sensors included in a first number of cameras capturing images of a same scene, positions and image capture angles of the cameras;
selecting, for display, a second number of the cameras capturing the images by using a processor based on the positions and the image capture angles of the cameras;
determining whether to switch at least one of the second number of the cameras to another camera in a frame after the selecting; and
selecting, when the determining determines that the at least one of the second number of the cameras is to be switched, a new camera for the at least one of the second number of the cameras based on the positions and the image capture angles of the N cameras,wherein the first number is a natural number at least equal to 2,the second number is a natural number less than the first number, andin the determining;
when a time elapsed since a previous switching operation is shorter than a first time, the at least one of the second number of the cameras is determined not to be switched to another camera;
when the time elapsed since the previous switching operation is equal to or longer than the first time but shorter than a second time longer than the first time, whether to switch the at least one of the second number of the cameras to another camera is determined in accordance with a first criterion; and
when the time elapsed since the previous switching operation is equal to or longer than the second time, whether to switch the at least one of the second number of the cameras to another camera is determined in accordance with a second criterion, the at least one of the second number of the cameras being more likely to be switched to the another camera according to the second criterion than the first criterion.
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Abstract
In a method, M (M is a natural number smaller than N) cameras capturing images to be displayed are selected from N (N is a natural number equal to or larger than 2) cameras capturing images of a same scene. The method includes obtaining positions and image capture angles of the N cameras and selecting M cameras from the N cameras on the basis of the obtained positions and image capture angles of the N cameras.
6 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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obtaining, using sensors included in a first number of cameras capturing images of a same scene, positions and image capture angles of the cameras; selecting, for display, a second number of the cameras capturing the images by using a processor based on the positions and the image capture angles of the cameras; determining whether to switch at least one of the second number of the cameras to another camera in a frame after the selecting; and selecting, when the determining determines that the at least one of the second number of the cameras is to be switched, a new camera for the at least one of the second number of the cameras based on the positions and the image capture angles of the N cameras, wherein the first number is a natural number at least equal to 2, the second number is a natural number less than the first number, and in the determining; when a time elapsed since a previous switching operation is shorter than a first time, the at least one of the second number of the cameras is determined not to be switched to another camera; when the time elapsed since the previous switching operation is equal to or longer than the first time but shorter than a second time longer than the first time, whether to switch the at least one of the second number of the cameras to another camera is determined in accordance with a first criterion; and when the time elapsed since the previous switching operation is equal to or longer than the second time, whether to switch the at least one of the second number of the cameras to another camera is determined in accordance with a second criterion, the at least one of the second number of the cameras being more likely to be switched to the another camera according to the second criterion than the first criterion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An image distribution system, comprising:
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a processor; and a memory including a program, the program causing the processor to execute operations including; obtaining, using sensors included in a first number of cameras capturing images of a same scene, positions and image capture angles of the cameras; selecting, for display, a second number of the cameras capturing the images based on the positions and the image capture angles of the cameras; determining whether to switch at least one of the second number of the cameras to another camera in a frame after the selecting; and selecting, when the determining determines that the at least one of the second number of the cameras is to be switched, a new camera for the at least one of the second number of the cameras based on the positions and the image capture angles of the cameras, wherein the first number is a natural number at least equal to 2, the second number is a natural number less than the first number, and in the determining; when a time elapsed since a previous switching operation is shorter than a first time, the at least one of the second number of the cameras is determined not to be switched to another camera; when the time elapsed since the previous switching operation is equal to or longer than the first time but shorter than a second time longer than the first time, whether to switch the at least one of the second number of the cameras to another camera is determined in accordance with a first criterion; and when the time elapsed since the previous switching operation is equal to or longer than the second time, whether to switch the at least one of the second number of the cameras to another camera is determined in accordance with a second criterion, the at least one of the second number of the cameras being more likely to be switched to the another camera according to the second criterion than the first criterion.
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12. A method, comprising:
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obtaining positions and image capture angles of a first number of cameras capturing images of a same scene; selecting, for display, a second number of the cameras capturing the images based on the positions and the image capture angles of the N cameras; determining whether to switch at least one of the second number of the cameras to another camera in a frame after the selecting; and selecting, when the determining determines that the at least one of the second number of the cameras is to be switched, a new camera for the at least one of the second number of the cameras based on the positions and the image capture angles of the N cameras, wherein the first number is a natural number at least equal to 2, the second number is a natural number less than the first number, and in the determining; when a time elapsed since a previous switching operation is shorter than a first time, the at least one of the second number of the cameras is determined not to be switched to another camera; when the time elapsed since the previous switching operation is equal to or longer than the first time but shorter than a second time longer than the first time, whether to switch the at least one of the second number of the cameras to another camera is determined in accordance with a first criterion; and when the time elapsed since the previous switching operation is equal to or longer than the second time, whether to switch the at least one of the second number of the cameras to another camera is determined in accordance with a second criterion, the at least one of the second number of the cameras being more likely to be switched to the another camera according to the second criterion than the first criterion.
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13. A method, comprising:
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obtaining, using sensors included in a first number of cameras capturing images of a same scene, positions and image capture angles of the cameras; selecting, for display, a second number of the cameras capturing the images by using a processor based on the positions and the image capture angles of the cameras, wherein the first number is a natural number at least equal to 2, the second number is a natural number less than the first number, and the selecting includes; calculating first evaluation values of the cameras based on the images captured by the cameras; calculating second evaluation values of camera groups, which are combinations of the second number of the cameras, based on the positions and the image capture angles of the cameras; calculating a third evaluation value of each camera group based on the first evaluation values of the second number of the cameras included in each camera group and the second evaluation value of each camera group; and selecting the second number of the cameras from a camera group having a highest third evaluation value.
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14. An image distribution system, comprising:
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a processor; and a memory including a program, the program causing the processor to execute operations including; obtaining, using sensors included in a first number of cameras capturing images of a same scene, positions and image capture angles of the cameras; selecting, for display, a second number of the cameras capturing the images based on the positions and the image capture angles of the cameras; wherein the first number is a natural number at least equal to 2, the second number is a natural number less than the first number, and the selecting includes; calculating first evaluation values of the cameras based on the images captured by the cameras; calculating second evaluation values of camera groups, which are combinations of the second number of the cameras, based on the positions and the image capture angles of the cameras; calculating a third evaluation value of each camera group based on the first evaluation values of the second number of the cameras included in each camera group and the second evaluation value of each camera group; and selecting the second number of the cameras from a camera group having a highest third evaluation value.
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15. A method, comprising:
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obtaining positions and image capture angles of a first number of cameras capturing images of a same scene; and selecting, for display, a second number of the cameras capturing the images based on the positions and the image capture angles of the N cameras, wherein the first number is a natural number at least equal to 2, the second number is a natural number less than the first number, and the selecting includes; calculating first evaluation values of the cameras based on the images captured by the cameras; calculating second evaluation values of camera groups, which are combinations of the second number of the cameras, based on the positions and the image capture angles of the cameras; calculating a third evaluation value of each camera group based on the first evaluation values of the second number of the cameras included in each camera group and the second evaluation value of each camera group; and selecting the second number of the cameras from a camera group having a highest third evaluation value.
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Specification