Image capturing apparatus and image distributing system

• US 20060093224A1
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings Incorporated (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Uchino, Hiroshi
• Application Number:
  US11/258,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20060093224A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/232
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19608 Tracking movement of a target, e.g. by detecting an object predefined as a target, using target direction and or velocity to predict its new position
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19667 Details realated to data compression, encryption or encoding, e.g. resolution modes for reducing data volume to lower transmission bandwidth or memory requirements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19691 Signalling events for better perception by user, e.g. indicating alarms by making display brighter, adding text, creating a sound
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/17 the unit being an image region, e.g. an object
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/30 using hierarchical techniques, e.g. scalability H04N19/63 takes precedence

Abstract

A network camera (image capturing apparatus) extracts an image of a monitoring area and an image of a watch area from a captured image that is output from an image capturing device, and changes the size of each of the images by a scaler, thereby generating a whole image and a watch image each having a predetermined image size. JPEG data obtained by encoding an integrated image obtained by integrating the whole image and the watch image in accordance with the JPEG method is distributed to a network. A terminal which acquires the JPEG data via the network decodes the JPEG data and displays the whole image and the watch image on a display. As a result, convenience in distribution of a captured image can be improved.

Claims

1. An image capturing apparatus capable of transmitting image data to an image receiving apparatus, comprising:

(a) an image sensor for capturing an image of a subject;

(b) a setter for setting a plurality of areas of different image sizes with respect to a captured image obtained by said image sensor;

(c) an extractor for extracting a plurality of images corresponding to said plurality of areas set by said setter from said captured image;

(d) a scaler for changing a size of each of said plurality of images extracted by said extractor, thereby generating a plurality of transmission images, each of which having a predetermined image size; and

(e) a transmitter for transmitting transmission data obtained by compressing said plurality of transmission images to said image receiving apparatus.

2. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said transmission data is data of a motion picture stream.

3. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said transmitter includes:

(e-1) a compressor for performing a compressing process in a time axis direction, thereby generating said transmission data.

4. An image capturing apparatus capable of transmitting image data to an image receiving apparatus, comprising:

(a) an image sensor for capturing an image of a subject;

(b) a setter for setting a plurality of areas of different image sizes with respect to a captured image obtained by said image sensor;

(c) an extractor for extracting a plurality of images corresponding to said plurality of areas set by said setter from said captured image;

(d) an image integrator for performing a predetermined integrating process on a plurality of images extracted by said extractor, thereby generating a single integrated image, said predetermined integrating process being a process of integrating a plurality of transmission images generated by changing a size of one or more images in said plurality of images; and

(e) a transmitter for transmitting transmission data obtained by compressing said single integrated image to said image receiving apparatus.

5. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

said transmission data is data of a motion picture stream.

6. The image capturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said transmitter includes:

(e-1) a compressor for performing a compressing process in a time axis direction, thereby generating said transmission data.

7. An image distributing system comprising:

(a) an image capturing apparatus capable of transmitting image data, said image capturing apparatus including;

(a-1) an image sensor for capturing an image of a subject;

(a-2) a setter for setting a plurality of areas of different image sizes with respect to a captured image obtained by said image sensor;

(a-3) an extractor for extracting a plurality of images corresponding to said plurality of areas set by said setter from said captured image;

(a-4) a scaler for changing a size of each of said plurality images extracted by said extractor, thereby generating a plurality of transmission images, each of which having a predetermined image size; and

(a-5) a transmitter for transmitting transmission data obtained by compressing said plurality of transmission images to said image receiving apparatus; and

(b) an image receiving apparatus including;

(b-1) a display capable of displaying an image;

(b-2) a receiver for receiving said transmission data; and

(b-3) a display controller for decompressing said transmission data received by said receiver and making said plurality of transmission images displayed on said display.

8. The image distributing system according to claim 7, wherein

said transmission data is data of a motion picture stream.

9. The image distributing system according to claim 8, wherein said transmitter includes:

a compressor for performing a compressing process in a time axis direction, thereby generating said transmission data.

10. The image distributing system according to claim 7, wherein

said display controller makes said plurality of transmission images displayed in parallel.

11. The image distributing system according to claim 7, wherein

said display controller makes said plurality of transmission images displayed on different windows.

12. The image distributing system according to claim 7, wherein

at the time of displaying said plurality of transmission images on said display, said display controller makes a frame indicative of an inclusion relation of said plurality of transmission images superimposed on a transmission image.

13. The image distributing system according to claim 7, wherein the image capturing apparatus further includes:

(a-6) a detector for detecting a human, and

said plurality of images have a human image in which said human detected by said detector appears.

14. The image distributing system according to claim 13, wherein said detector includes:

a determinator for determining a size of said human, and

said human is shown in a predetermined size based on said size of said human determined by said determinator part in said human image.

15. The image distributing system according to claim 13, wherein

said transmission data is data of a motion picture stream, and

said human image is an image obtained by tracking said human detected by said detector.

16. An image distributing system comprising:

(a) an image capturing apparatus capable of transmitting image data, said image capturing apparatus including;

(a-1) an image sensor for capturing an image of a subject;

(a-2) a setter for setting a plurality of areas of different image sizes with respect to a captured image obtained by said image sensor;

(a-3) an extractor for extracting a plurality of images corresponding to said plurality of areas set by said setter from said captured image;

(a-4) an image integrator for performing a predetermined integrating process on a plurality of images extracted by said extractor, thereby generating a single integrated image, said predetermined integrating process being a process of integrating a plurality of transmission images generated by changing a size of one or more images in said plurality of images; and

(a-5) a transmitter for transmitting transmission data obtained by compressing said single integrated image to said image receiving apparatus; and

(b) an image receiving apparatus including;

(b-1) a display capable of displaying an image;

(b-2) a receiver for receiving said transmission data; and

(b-3) a display controller for decompressing said transmission data received by said receiver and making said plurality of images displayed on the display.

17. The image distributing system according to claim 16, wherein

said transmission data is data of a motion picture stream.

18. The image distributing system according to claim 17, wherein said transmitter includes:

a compressor for performing a compressing process in a time axis direction, thereby generating said transmission data.

19. The image distributing system according to claim 16, wherein

said display controller makes said plurality of images displayed in parallel.

20. The image distributing system according to claim 16, wherein

said display controller makes said plurality of images displayed in parallel.