Video signal generating apparatus, video signal receiving apparatus, and video signal generating and receiving system

• US 9,153,284 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2007
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shibata, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): HASAN, SYED Y
• Application Number:
  US11/834,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20080170834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,983 Days
• Field of Search: 386/241, 386/228, 386/244, 386/248, 386/269, 386/E5.002, 386/E5.025, 386/E5.043, 386/E5.069, 386/208, 386/326, 386/E5.009, 386/E5.034, 348/14.1, 348/569, 348/734, 348/E5.102, 348/223.1, 348/333.02, 348/345, 360/4, 360/72.2, 707/E17.028, 707/E17.013, 707/E17.111, 707/999.01, 707/E17.009, 707/E17.121, 715/719, 715/716, 715/720, 715/721, 715/723, 715/733, 375/E7.008, 375/E7.024, 375/E7.202, 396/158, 725/37, 382/128, 705/2, 345/473, 345/474, 352/38, 358/450, 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 710/62
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/06 with illuminating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10068 Endoscopic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums

Abstract

A video signal generating apparatus is disclosed which includes: a camera configured to generate a video signal; an operating device configured to operate at least either the camera or an apparatus configured to receive the video signal; a text data generating device configured to generate text data including a meaningful term in response to the operation performed on the operating device; and a text data inserting device configured to insert the text data generated by the text data generating device into the video signal in a corresponding manner.

Claims

1. A video signal generating apparatus comprising:

a camera configured to generate a video signal; and

circuitry configured to

operate said camera, the circuitry having a plurality of options, each option corresponding to a different operation to be performed on a video signal receiving apparatus;

generate text data in response selection of an option from the plurality of options on said circuitry; and

insert said text data generated by said circuitry into said video signal, wherein said text data inserted into said video signal is representative of the operation corresponding to the selected option, the video signal receiving apparatus configured to receive said video signal, extract the inserted text from said video signal, interpret said inserted text data extracted from the video signal as the selected operation to be performed on said video signal by the video signal receiving apparatus, and automatically perform the selected operation on the video signal, wherein

said video signal receiving apparatus is external to said video signal generating apparatus, and

the video signal receiving apparatus performs the selected operation at a point in time in the video signal from which the inserted text corresponding to the selected operation was extracted.

2. The video signal generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said camera generates a serial digital video signal in HD-SDI format,

said circuitry further configured to generate, as said text data, a term value which is a type of metadata, and

said circuitry further configured to insert said term value as ancillary data into a vertical blanking interval of said serial digital video signal in said HD-SDI format.

3. The video signal generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said circuitry includes a recording start executor and a recording end executor configured to start and end video recording, respectively, on said video signal receiving apparatus configured to receive said video signal with said inserted text data, and

said circuitry further configured to generate text data designating a video recording start point and a video recording end point in response to execution of said recording start executor and said recording end executor respectively.

4. The video signal generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said circuitry includes a video frame of interest executor configured to be operated regarding a video frame of interest so that the frame is communicated as a point of interest to said video signal receiving apparatus configured to receive said video signal with said inserted text data, and

said circuitry further configured to generate text data designating said point of interest in response to the selected option.

5. The video signal generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a microphone, wherein

the circuitry is further configured to recognize a voice input to said microphone, and

said circuitry is further configured to generate said text data also in response to a result of the recognition.

6. The video signal generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the video signal generating apparatus is incapable of performing the operation instruction.

7. A video signal receiving apparatus comprising:

circuitry configured to

receive, from a video signal generating apparatus, a video signal having text data inserted within, the video signal generating apparatus external to said video signal receiving apparatus;

extract said text data from said received video signal, the extracted text data representative of an operation corresponding to a selected option on the video signal generating apparatus from a plurality of options, each option corresponding to a different operation to be performed on the video signal receiving apparatus; and

interpret, as the selected operation to be performed on said video signal by the video signal receiving apparatus, said text data extracted from the video signal;

wherein said video signal receiving apparatus automatically performs the selected operation corresponding to the selected option represented in said text data, and

the video signal receiving apparatus performs the selected operation at a point in time in the video signal from which the inserted text corresponding to the selected operation was extracted.

8. The video signal receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said circuitry receives a serial digital video signal in HD-SDI format, and

said circuitry is further configured to extract a term value which is a type of metadata, as said text data from an ancillary data area in a vertical blanking interval of said serial digital video signal in said HD-SDI format.

9. The video signal receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the circuitry is further configured to

record said received video signal,

said interpret text data designating a video recording start point and a video recording end point as a video signal recording start instruction and a video signal recording end instruction respectively, and

start and end recording of said video signal in response to said text data designating said video recording start point and said video recording end point, respectively.

10. The video signal receiving apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the circuitry is further configured to

generate onscreen data;

and

superimpose said generated onscreen data onto said received video signal,

the video signal having the superimposed generated onscreen data is output for monitor display purposes, and

said circuitry is further configured to keep generating onscreen data indicating that the recording is underway from a time said circuitry starts recording said video signal until said circuitry ends the recording.

11. The video signal receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the circuitry is configured to capture as a still image said received video signal,

said circuitry is further configured to interpret text data designating a point of interest as an instruction to capture said video signal as said still image, and

said circuitry captures said still image in response to said text data designating said point of interest.

12. The video signal receiving apparatus according to claim 11, wherein

the circuitry is further configured to generate a multi-screen video signal causing said received video signal and said captured still image to be displayed on a single screen;

wherein the generated multi-screen video signal is output for monitor display purposes.

13. The video signal receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the circuitry is further configured to

generate onscreen data;

and

superimpose said generated onscreen data onto said received video signal,

the circuitry is further configured to interpret the extracted text data as an instruction to superimpose said text data onto an image, and

the circuitry is further configured to generate, as said onscreen data, the extracted text data.

14. The video signal receiving apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the video signal generating apparatus that transmitted the video signal having the text data inserted within is incapable of performing the operation corresponding to said text data.

15. A video signal generating and receiving system comprising:

a video signal generating apparatus; and

a video signal receiving apparatus external to said video signal generating apparatus;

wherein said video signal generating apparatus includes

a camera configured to generate a video signal, and

circuitry configured to

operate at least either said camera or said video signal receiving apparatus configured to receive said video signal, the circuitry having a plurality of options, each option corresponding to a different operation to be performed on the video signal receiving apparatus,

generate text data in response to selection of an option from the plurality of options on said circuitry, and

insert said generated text data into said video signal, said text data inserted into said video signal is representative of a selected operation corresponding to the selected option, said video signal receiving apparatus configured to receive said video signal with said inserted text data,

wherein said video signal receiving apparatus includes circuitry configured to

receive said video signal into which said text data was inserted,

extract said text data from said received video signal, and

interpret, as the selected operation to be performed on said video signal receiving apparatus, said extracted text data, and

said video signal receiving apparatus automatically performs the selected operation corresponding to the selected option represented in said text data, and

wherein the video signal receiving apparatus performs the selected operation at a point in time in the video signal from which the inserted text corresponding to the selected operation was extracted.

16. The video signal generating and receiving system according to claim 15, wherein said camera of said video signal generating apparatus generates a serial digital video signal in HD-SDI format,

said circuitry of said video signal generating apparatus further configured to generate as said text data a term value which is a type of metadata stipulated by SMPTE,

said circuitry of said video signal generating apparatus further configured to insert said term value as ancillary data into a vertical blanking interval of said serial digital video signal in said HD-SDI format,

said circuitry of said video signal receiving apparatus further configured to receive said serial digital video signal in said HD-SDI format, and

said circuitry of said video signal receiving apparatus further configured to extract said term value as said text data from an ancillary data area in said vertical blanking interval of said serial digital video signal in said HD-SDI format.

17. The video signal generating and receiving system according to claim 15, wherein the video signal generating apparatus is incapable of performing the operation corresponding to said text data.

18. A method performed by a video signal generating apparatus for inserting text data into a video signal in a manner triggering an operation, said method comprising:

causing a camera to generate a video signal;

causing said camera to generate text data in response to selection of an option from a plurality of options, each option corresponding to a different operation to be performed on a video signal receiving apparatus; and

inserting, by a processor, the generated text data into a corresponding frame of said video signal, said text data inserted in said video signal representative of a selected operation corresponding to the selected option, the video signal receiving apparatus configured to receive said text data inserted in said video signal from said video signal, extract the inserted text from said video signal, interpret said inserted text data extracted from the video signal as the selected operation to be performed on said video signal by the video signal receiving apparatus, and automatically perform the selected operation on the video signal, wherein

said video signal receiving apparatus is external to said video signal generating apparatus, and

the video signal receiving apparatus performs the selected operation at a point in time in the video signal from which the inserted text corresponding to the selected operation was extracted.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the video signal generating apparatus is incapable of performing the operation corresponding to said text data.

20. A method for causing a video signal receiving apparatus to operate in a manner corresponding to text data, said method comprising:

receiving, from a video signal generating apparatus, a video signal having text data inserted within, the video signal generating apparatus external to said video signal receiving apparatus;

extracting said text data from the received video signal, the extracted data representative of an operation corresponding to a selected option on the video signal generating apparatus from a plurality of options, each option corresponding to a different operation to be performed on the video signal receiving apparatus;

interpreting, by a processor, the text data extracted from the video signal as the selected operation to be performed on said video signal by the video signal receiving apparatus; and

causing said video signal receiving apparatus to automatically operate in a manner corresponding to the selected option represented in said text data, wherein

the video signal receiving apparatus performs the selected operation at a point in time in the video signal from which the inserted text corresponding to the selected operation was extracted.