IMAGING SYSTEM, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGING SYSTEM CONTROL METHOD, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM

• US 20170302860A1
• Filed: 04/14/2017
• Published: 10/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yokomizo, Tsuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 10,848,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/74 involving reference images or patches
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19643 wherein the cameras play different roles, e.g. different resolution, different camera type, master-slave camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

The present invention provides an imaging system which allows an imaging direction to be changed to a position intended by the user. An imaging system according to the present invention includes an image acquiring unit adapted to acquire an image captured by the first imaging apparatus; a position determining unit adapted to determine one of a plurality of pieces of position information in an object space of the image as an imaging position in priority order; and a controlling unit adapted to change a viewing point of a second imaging apparatus based on the imaging position.

Claims

1. An imaging system comprising:

an image acquiring unit adapted to acquire an image captured by a first imaging apparatus;

a position determining unit adapted to determine one of a plurality of pieces of position information in an object space of the image as an imaging position in priority order; and

a controlling unit adapted to change a viewing point of a second imaging apparatus based on the imaging position.

2. The imaging system according to claim 1, further comprising a designation unit used to specify a region in the image, wherein

when a preset position set in advance is included in the region, the position determining unit determines first position information including the preset position as the imaging position.

3. The imaging system according to claim 2, further comprising a measuring unit adapted to measure a distance to an object in an object space, wherein

when the first position information cannot be acquired, the position determining unit determines the imaging position using second position information which defines a three-dimensional position based on a distance of a region specified via the designation unit, the distance being measured by the measuring unit.

4. The imaging system according to claim 3, wherein the measuring unit calculates an average of distances acquired from respective pixels belonging to the imaging device of the first imaging apparatus.

5. The imaging system according to claim 4, wherein the measuring unit weights the distance to the object located at central part of the region.

6. The imaging system according to claim 3, wherein:

a tilt position of the second imaging apparatus is specified via the designation unit; and

when the second position information cannot be acquired, the position determining unit determines the imaging position using a region specified via the designation unit and third position information which defines a three-dimensional position based on a tilt position determined in advance for the region.

7. The imaging system according to claim 6, wherein when the third position information cannot be acquired, the position determining unit determines fourth position information including the region and a current tilt position of the second imaging apparatus, as the imaging position.

8. An image processing apparatus configured to be able to communicate with a first imaging apparatus and a second imaging apparatus, of which a viewing point is able to be changed, the image processing apparatus comprising:

an image acquiring unit adapted to acquire an image captured by the first imaging apparatus; and

a position determining unit adapted to determine one of a plurality of pieces of position information in an object space of the image as an imaging position of the second imaging apparatus in priority order.

9. A control method for an imaging system, the method comprising:

acquiring an image captured by a first imaging apparatus;

determining one of a plurality of pieces of position information in an object space of the image as an imaging position in priority order; and

changing a viewing point of a second imaging apparatus based on the imaging position.

10. A control method for an image processing apparatus configured to be able to communicate with a first imaging apparatus and a second imaging apparatus, of which a viewing point is able to be changed, the method comprising:

acquiring an image captured by the first imaging apparatus; and

determining one of a plurality of pieces of position information in an object space of the image as an imaging position of the second imaging apparatus in priority order.

11. A program for operating a computer which can communicate with a first imaging apparatus and a second imaging apparatus, of which a viewing point is able to be changed, as:

an image acquiring unit adapted to acquire an image captured by the first imaging apparatus; and

a position determining unit adapted to determine one of a plurality of pieces of position information in an object space of the image as an imaging position of the second imaging apparatus in priority order.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a readable program for operating a computer which can communicate with a first imaging apparatus and a second imaging apparatus, of which a viewing point is able to be changed, as:

an image acquiring unit adapted to acquire an image captured by the first imaging apparatus; and

a position determining unit adapted to determine one of a plurality of pieces of position information in an object space of the image as an imaging position of the second imaging apparatus in priority order.