Remote video recognition system

• US 20040189876A1
• Filed: 12/15/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: USC, LLC
• Original Assignee: USC, LLC
• Inventors: Shirato, Norimitu
• Application Number:
  US10/480,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20040189876A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/700
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19628 of wide angled cameras and camera groups, e.g. omni-directional cameras, fish eye, single units having multiple cameras achieving a wide angle view
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A remote video recognition system is provided which realizes a new, one-source-multiscreen image reception system. The system comprises an imaging means such as a CCD device (4), a transmission means (5) for transmitting a video shot by the imaging means, and a display means (8) installed in a remote place (6) to receive video information transmitted from the transmission means and display the video information. The imaging means has a fish-eye lens (1) that can capture a curved image with a wide viewing angle. The transmission means can transmit the video shot by the imaging means to a desired location via the Internet (9). The imaging means, the transmission means or the display means (8) is provided with an input device that can select and specify an arbitrary range or area of the image. The selected arbitrary range or area of the image is automatically tracked.

Claims

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15. A remote video recognition system comprising:

an imaging means with a wide viewing angle installed at an arbitrary position;

a transmission means for transmitting a video shot by the imaging means;

an output means installed at a position remote from where the imaging means is installed, the output means being adapted to receive video information transmitted from the transmission means and display an image according to the video information;

wherein the output means is provided with an input device and an arbitrary range or area of the displayed image can be selected through the input means and enlarged or reduced for display; and

after the arbitrary range or area of the image information obtained is selected through the input means, a portion of the image that is within the selected range is manually or automatically tracked down by a means such as a mouse or cursor and displayed.

16. A remote video recognition system according to claim 15, wherein the imaging means has an imaging device capable of capturing a curved image with a wide viewing angle.

17. A remote video recognition system according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the transmission means can transmit the image information taken in by the imaging means to the output means through a wired or wireless network.

18. A remote video recognition system according to claim 15 to or claim 16, wherein at least one of the imaging means, the transmission means and the output means has a transformation means for transforming the image information into a plane image, and the transformation means calculates sampling points on the curved image according to a projection characteristic of the imaging device and transforms the curved image into the plane image.

19. A remote video recognition system according to claim 18, wherein the transformation means builds a spherical polygon model according to the projection characteristic of the imaging device, matches the sampling points on the curved image to vertices of a plurality of triangles making up the polygon model, transforms the sampling points into a camera viewing system by a geometry transformation, and performs various projection conversions and rasterization to transform the curved image produced by the imaging device into the plane image.

20. A remote video recognition system according to claim 19, wherein, rather than being provided in at least one of the imaging means, the transmission means and the output means, the transformation means is provided in a server on the wired or wireless network, the image information taken in by the imaging means can be stored in the server and transformed into a plane image, and the output means connects to the wired or wireless network including the Internet to receive the image and output it to a monitor or the like.

21. A remote video recognition system according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the projection characteristic of the imaging device includes parameters associated with a radius of curvature of the imaging device.

22. A remote video recognition system according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the imaging device is a hemispherical reflection mirror or a projection lens.

23. A remote video recognition system according to claim 22, wherein the projection lens is a fish-eye lens.

24. A remote video recognition system according to claim 22, wherein the hemispherical mirror is a convex mirror or a concave mirror.

25. A remote video recognition system according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the output means is a computer.

26. A remote video recognition system according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the output means is a cell phone.

27. A remote video recognition system according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the output means is a television receiver.