JP2000358218A - Storage device, method and computer-readable storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically obtain index pictures of photographed and recorded pictures by a camcorder as still pictures summarizing a plurality of reduced pictures that result from dividing the photographed and recorded pictures at a prescribed interval independently of the length of each scene. SOLUTION: When starting photographing, a moving picture from a camera is recorded on a tape 105. A memory control circuit 102 captures an image signal from a camera signal processing circuit 103 every second and stores the image signal to memories 101-0 to 101-8 as still pictures sequentially one image pattern each. When the photographing time exceeds 8 seconds, the captured interval is doubled and the picture is captured and overwritten on the memories having stored preceding pictures every 2-second. Furthermore, when the photographing time exceeds 16 seconds, the captured interval is further doubled every 4-second similarly to above. After the end of photographing, the captured pictures are respectively reduced and rearranged and appended on the tape 105 as index still pictures realizing multi-image pattern consisting of three reduced pictures longitudinally and laterally on one screen.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is suitable for use in a camera-integrated video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as VTR) or the like, which records a moving image photographed by a camera on a magnetic tape and obtains an index image of the photographed moving image. The present invention relates to a storage device, a method, and a computer-readable storage medium used in the storage device and method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a moving image is recorded on a VTR, in order to know what kind of scene the recorded image was, it is necessary to reproduce the entire scene. In order to get an overview of the contents of the scene in some way from the captured moving image, the moving image is captured as a still image in multiple memories at an appropriate timing, and it is reduced and rearranged on the screen, and the captured moving image By recording after, you do not need to replay everything to get an overview of the scene later,
By selecting and reproducing only the index still image, the contents of the rough scene can be known.

There are several methods for generating the index still image. For example, (1) a method of loading data into a memory at regular intervals. (2) A method of selectively loading a characteristic screen into a memory by using a certain image recognition device from a moving image. (3) A method in which the photographer performs some kind of operation at the timing deemed necessary at the time of photographing and takes in the selected image into the memory can be considered.

[0004]

However, the above 3)
One method is that in (1), since the amount of memory is limited, if the data is stored in the memory at regular intervals, the recording time for each scene is not constant. A situation may occur in which an index image cannot be generated. If the capture interval is set long to avoid this, conversely, a necessary number of index images cannot be generated in a short scene.

In the case of (2), the image recognition device itself becomes large, and the device becomes very difficult to handle.
Further, in the case of (3), there arises a problem that the photographer cannot concentrate on photographing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and has as its object to enable an index still picture to be automatically obtained.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, in a storage device according to the present invention, an input means for inputting an image signal for one screen and an input means for inputting the image signal for one screen are provided. There are provided storage means for storing, and control means for sequentially taking in the input image signals for one screen at a predetermined timing and storing the image signals in the storage means.

In the storage method according to the present invention,
An input procedure for inputting an image signal for one screen, and a control procedure for sequentially taking in the input image signal for one screen at a predetermined timing and storing it in a storage means for one screen are provided.

In the storage medium according to the present invention,
A program for executing a process of inputting an image signal for one screen and a process of sequentially capturing the input image signal for one screen at a predetermined timing and storing the image signal in a storage unit for one screen are stored. are doing.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a partial configuration of a camera-integrated VTR according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 101-0 to 101-8 denote memories each capable of capturing and storing image data for one screen.
02 is a memory control circuit for reading, writing and reconfiguring the memory 101, 103 is a camera signal processing circuit for processing a video signal from a camera unit (not shown), and 104 is a signal processing for the recorder unit. Recorder signal processing circuit, 105 is a video tape for recording moving images and still images, 106 is a mechanical deck for running the video tape 105, 107 is a tape drive circuit for driving the mechanical deck 106, and 108 controls all of them This is a control circuit for performing

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 1, when photographing is started (S
1), a timer is set (S2), and the moving image from the camera section is processed by the camera signal processing circuit 103 and supplied to the recorder signal processing circuit 104. Tape drive circuit 10
Reference numeral 7 operates the mechanical deck 106 to cause the tape 105 to run, and records a signal from the recorder signal processing circuit 104 on the tape 105 as a moving image. The memory control circuit 102 sequentially stores the image signals from the camera signal processing circuit 103 in the memories 101-0 to 101-8 as still images one by one in accordance with the control signal from the control circuit 108. Operate (S3-S
7).

FIG. 2 shows the operation of the memory control circuit 102. In FIG. 2, a) shows the operation for the first 8 seconds from the start of shooting, and the memory control circuit 102 first stores the memory 101 immediately after the start of shooting.
At −0, the image signal from the camera signal processing circuit 103 is captured, and then at 10 seconds, the image signals are similarly captured at 101-1 to 101-8. When shooting is completed at this stage, the captured images are reduced in size to create a multi-screen in which three images are arranged vertically and horizontally.

When the photographing time exceeds 8 seconds, the capture interval is set to an interval of 2 seconds which is twice as long as that time, and 101-1, 101-3, 101-5, 101-
As shown in FIG. 7, the data is fetched so as to overwrite the previously stored memory. If the shooting time is further extended and exceeds 16 seconds, the capture interval is further set to 4 seconds,
101-2, 101-6, 101-1, 10 every 4 seconds
As in 1-5, every other image signal for one screen stored in the memory is deleted. That is, capture is performed while overwriting the image signal for one screen every other memory (FIGS. 2b) to e)]. If the recording is stopped during the capture interval, the image at that time is captured as the last image.

When the photographing is completed, the plurality of taken-in images are reduced and rearranged so that the photographing times become older (S8), and each screen is formed into a multi-screen of three vertically and three horizontally. As shown in FIG. 3, the multi-screen thus obtained is additionally recorded on the tape 105 for one period after recording the moving image as shown in FIG. 3 (S9), and the recording is completed (S10).

It is needless to say that the number of memories in FIG. 1 does not need to be nine, and the number of memories may be increased or decreased according to the layout of the screen. Further, the interval of taking in the memory immediately after the start of the photographing is not limited to the one-second interval, but may be shorter or longer. Furthermore, the destination for recording the index still image by the multi-screen at the end is also the video tape 10 for recording the moving image.
5, it is also possible to record on a separately provided recording medium, for example, a memory card or a hard disk.

According to the present embodiment, images are sequentially fetched into the memory at fixed intervals from the moving image being shot, and after the shooting of the moving image is completed, the plurality of images fetched into the memory are reduced. When recording on a tape as an index still image, all the memory is used, and then overwriting to the memory is performed again according to a certain rule. The indexing time, which is always a set of reduced screens divided at almost constant intervals, regardless of the length of the shooting time of one scene The screen can be obtained automatically. This makes it easy to confirm the content of the captured image during reproduction.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the present invention. 5, when recording is started (S11), the control circuit 108 in FIG.
Controls the memory control circuit 102 so as to store the image at the start for each shooting of one scene (S12 to S15). After the end of tape shooting for one volume (S1
6) The captured image is reduced by reducing each of the plurality of captured images to form a multi-screen of three images vertically and horizontally.
An index image showing a rough scene on the tape of the winding is obtained (S17, S18).

At this time, if the number of scenes to be photographed is less than or equal to nine, the obtained image is used as it is (S13, S16). From the previously captured images, an image of a scene captured in the shortest time taken continuously is selected, and an image of a new scene is captured by overwriting the image (S13, S14), and the image is rearranged. / An index image showing a rough scene on one volume of tape that has been reconstructed and photographed.

Next, a storage medium according to the present invention will be described. Although each of the above-described embodiments according to FIG. 1 can be configured by hardware, when configured by a computer system having a CPU and a memory, the memory configures a storage medium according to the present invention. The storage medium stores a program for executing the operations and processes according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5 described in each embodiment.

Further, as the storage medium, ROM, R
Semiconductor memory such as AM, optical disk, magneto-optical disk,
A magnetic storage medium or the like may be used, and these may be a CD-ROM,
The present invention may be applied to an FD, a magnetic card, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, or the like.

Therefore, by using this storage medium in a system or apparatus other than the system shown in FIG. 1, the system or the computer reads out and executes the program code stored in the storage medium.
The same functions as those of the above embodiments can be realized, the same effects can be obtained, and the object of the present invention can be achieved.

An OS running on the computer
When performing part or all of the processing, or after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in an extended function board or an extended function unit connected to the computer, Even when the CPU or the like provided in the above-mentioned extended function board or extended function unit performs part or all of the processing based on the instruction of the program code, the same functions as those in the above embodiments can be realized and the same Effect can be obtained,
The object of the present invention can be achieved.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An input image signal is sequentially taken into the memory at a predetermined timing, and at the time when recording is completed, a plurality of images in the memory are reduced and reconstructed into one screen, thereby forming an index that combines the divided reduced screens. A still screen can be obtained automatically. This makes it easy to confirm the content of the captured image during reproduction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a camera-integrated VTR according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a partial configuration of the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an operation of the memory control circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a state of recording on a tape.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101-0 to 101-8 Memory 102 Memory Control Circuit 103 Camera Signal Processing Circuit 104 Recorder Signal Processing Circuit 105 Video Tape 106 Mega Deck 107 Tape Drive Circuit 108 Control Circuit

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Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. An input means for inputting an image signal for one screen, a storage means for storing the input image signal for one screen, and the input image signal for one screen at a predetermined timing. Control means for sequentially taking in and storing the data in the storage means. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a reduction unit configured to reduce the plurality of stored images and rearrange the reduced images on one screen after the storage in the storage unit is completed. A storage device as described. 3. The storage device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit stores the rearranged images of one screen in the storage unit. 4. The storage device according to claim 2, wherein said control means stores the rearranged images of one screen in another storage means. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined timing is a timing for every predetermined time, and the control unit, when the capacity of the storage unit is insufficient to store the image signal for one screen, a one-screen input thereafter. 3. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the image signals are sequentially taken at intervals of time longer than the predetermined time and overwritten and stored in the storage unit. 6. The storage device according to claim 5, wherein the time longer than the predetermined time is twice as long as the predetermined time. 7. When the control means overwrites the storage means with a new image signal for one screen, the control means deletes the image signals stored in the storage means every other screen in the order of storage. 6. The storage device according to claim 5, wherein the new image signal can be overwritten. 8. The predetermined timing is a timing for each scene of the image signal, and after the capacity of the storage means is completely used, when a scene of a subsequently input image signal is longer than a predetermined time. 3. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the data is sequentially overwritten and stored in the storage means. 9. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein said input means is an imaging means for photographing a subject and obtaining said image signal. 10. An input procedure for inputting an image signal for one screen, and a control procedure for sequentially taking in the input image signal for one screen at a predetermined timing and storing the image signal in a storage means for one screen. A storage method characterized by being provided. 11. A reduction procedure for reducing the stored plurality of images and rearranging the reduced images on one screen after completion of storage in the storage means. The storage method described. 12. The storage method according to claim 11, wherein in the control procedure, the rearranged images of one screen are stored in the storage unit. 13. The storage method according to claim 11, wherein in the control procedure, the rearranged images of one screen are stored in another storage unit. 14. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined timing is a timing for every predetermined time, and the control procedure is performed when the capacity of the storage means is insufficient to store the image signal for one screen.
10. The image signal for one screen inputted thereafter is sequentially taken in at intervals longer than the predetermined time, and overwritten and stored in the storage means.
1. The storage method according to 1. 15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the time longer than the predetermined time is twice as long as the predetermined time.
The storage method described. 16. The control procedure according to claim 1, wherein, when overwriting the storage means with a new image signal for one screen, the image signals stored in the storage means are erased every other screen in the order of storage. 15. The storage method according to claim 14, wherein the new image signal can be overwritten. 17. The predetermined timing is a timing for each scene of the image signal, and after the capacity of the storage means is completely used, when a scene of a subsequently input image signal is longer than a predetermined time. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the data is sequentially overwritten and stored in the storage means.
1. The storage method according to 1. 18. The storage method according to claim 10, wherein the image signal for one screen is input from an imaging unit that captures a subject and obtains the image signal. 19. A process for inputting an image signal for one screen and a process for sequentially taking in the input image signal for one screen at a predetermined timing and storing the image signal in a storage means for one screen. Computer-readable storage medium storing a program for performing the program.