Method for supporting automatic adjustment of projection area and system thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a system for supporting automatic adjustment of a projection area. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method and system that allows a management server to automatically adjust a projection device based on a projection area scanned by a camera when an administrator (user) wishes to adjust the projection area of the projection device within a cinema.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to methods and systems for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area. Specifically, this invention relates to a method and system that allows a management server to automatically adjust the projection equipment based on the projection area scanned by a camera when an administrator (user) wishes to adjust the projection area of ​​a projection device within a cinema. Background Technology

[0002] A cinema is basically equipped with a projection surface on which a screen is projected and projection equipment for that screen. If the projection area displayed on the projection surface is not aligned, the person managing the cinema (the administrator) will usually directly adjust the installation position and orientation of the projection equipment, or control the projection equipment to adjust various parameters to correctly align the projection area.

[0003] However, in recent cinemas, the use of multiple projection devices to enhance immersion has become increasingly common, making it difficult to adjust multiple projection devices continuously. Furthermore, in modern cinemas, vibrations caused by loud sound effects during film playback often lead to misalignment of the projection devices, making manual adjustment of the projection area challenging.

[0004] In view of these problems, the present invention has been proposed, the purpose of which is to significantly improve the management efficiency of a cinema by enabling the automatic adjustment of one or more projection devices within the cinema, and also to improve the quality of services provided in the cinema. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Technical issues

[0006] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to help users easily adjust the projection area, which is the output area projected by the projection device.

[0007] In particular, another objective of the present invention is to improve the management efficiency of a cinema by enabling the automatic adjustment of the projection area of ​​each of the multiple projection devices provided in the cinema.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to allow users with limited cinema management experience to easily adjust the projection area through an intuitive interface.

[0009] Furthermore, the objectives of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and other objectives not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art based on the following description.

[0010] Technical solution

[0011] To address the aforementioned problems, embodiments of the present invention provide a method for supporting automatic adjustment of a projection area, comprising: (a) a camera setting step, which provides a camera setting interface for setting a camera designed to capture a projection environment including any projection surface, and receiving camera setting input from a user; (b) a display setting step, which provides a display setting interface for setting a projection device to output an image onto a projection surface and receiving display setting input from a user; (c) a projection environment scanning step, which provides a scanning interface to allow the projection surface containing the image to be scanned by the camera when the image is output onto the projection surface, and receiving scan start input from a user; and (d) a projection area adjustment step, which adjusts parameters of the projection device by utilizing the scanned image obtained through scanning and generates reference data.

[0012] In addition, the method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area may also include: after step (d), (e) receiving automatic projection area adjustment start input; (f) determining whether previously stored reference data exists; and (g) if the reference data is determined to exist, using the reference data to adjust the parameters of the projection device.

[0013] Furthermore, depending on the method used to support automatic adjustment of the projection area, the projection environment can be an environment in which multiple projection devices project video across multiple projection surfaces.

[0014] Additionally, depending on the method used to support automatic adjustment of the projection area, the camera settings input may include the number of cameras and the shooting direction of each camera.

[0015] Additionally, depending on the method used to support automatic adjustment of the projection area, the display settings input may include the projection device identifier and the projection device resolution.

[0016] Furthermore, according to the method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area, the projection area for displaying the image can be included within a projectable area that can be displayed by a projection device.

[0017] Furthermore, the method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area may also include: providing a manual adjustment interface for manually adjusting the projection area after scanning, after step (c) and before step (d); and receiving manual adjustment input from the user, wherein step (d) can adjust the parameters of the projection device by utilizing reference data stored after the manual adjustment input.

[0018] Additionally, the method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area may also include: receiving a request input from a user to check the operating status of the camera after step (a) and before step (b); and outputting the video captured by the camera.

[0019] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a management server including a central processing unit and a memory, wherein the central processing unit can execute instructions stored in the memory for performing a method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area, wherein the method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area may include: (a) a camera setting step, which provides a camera setting interface for setting a camera designed to capture a projection environment including any projection surface, and receives camera setting input from a user; (b) a display setting step, which provides a display setting interface for setting a projection device to output an image onto a projection surface, and receives display setting input from a user; (c) a projection environment scanning step, which provides a scanning interface to allow the projection surface containing the image to be scanned by the camera when the image is output onto the projection surface, and receives scan start input from a user; and (d) a projection area adjustment step, which adjusts the parameters of the projection device by utilizing the scanned image obtained by scanning, and generates reference data.

[0020] Furthermore, according to the management server, the method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area may also include: after step (d), (e) receiving automatic projection area adjustment start input; (f) determining whether previously stored reference data exists; and (g) if the reference data is determined to exist, using the reference data to adjust the parameters of the projection device.

[0021] Beneficial effects

[0022] According to the present invention, even if there are fluctuations in the direction of the projection device that cause the projection area to deviate from the normal area, the user can easily adjust the projection area through an intuitive interface.

[0023] Furthermore, according to the present invention, if the projection area has been initially adjusted at least once, the projection area can be automatically adjusted based on reference data.

[0024] Furthermore, according to the present invention, even in an environment where multiple projection devices output multiple projection areas within a cinema, all projection devices can be adjusted very quickly.

[0025] Furthermore, the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand other technical effects not mentioned below based on the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a system for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area according to the present invention.

[0027] Figure 2 The steps for performing initial adjustments in a method for supporting automatic adjustment of a projection area according to the present invention are shown.

[0028] Figure 3 The steps for performing automatic adjustments upon completion of the initial adjustments are shown.

[0029] Figure 4 An example of a camera settings interface for receiving camera settings input is shown.

[0030] Figure 5 This demonstrates how to display the video captured by each camera to the user when checking the camera's operational status.

[0031] Figure 6 An example of a display settings interface for receiving display settings input is shown.

[0032] Figure 7 This demonstrates how to display an identifier that matches each projection area on the projection surface when display settings input is received from the user.

[0033] Figure 8 An example of a manual adjustment interface that allows users to manually adjust the projection area is shown.

[0034] Figure 9 An example of displaying the vertices of the projection area on any projection surface is shown.

[0035] Figure 10 An example of the interface provided to the user when attempting to automatically adjust the projection area is shown.

[0036] Figure 11 The diagram illustrates situations where adjusting the projection area is possible and situations where adjusting the projection area is not possible. Detailed Implementation

[0037] Details regarding the objects and technical features of the invention, as well as the resulting effects, will become clearer from the following detailed description based on the accompanying drawings. Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0038] The embodiments disclosed in this specification should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the descriptions in this specification (including the embodiments) have various applications. Therefore, any embodiments described in the detailed description of the invention are illustrative to better illustrate the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these embodiments.

[0039] The functional blocks shown in the accompanying drawings and described below are merely examples of possible implementations. In other implementations, different functional blocks may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the detailed description. Furthermore, although one or more functional blocks of the invention are shown as separate blocks, one or more functional blocks of the invention may be a combination of various hardware and software components performing the same function.

[0040] Furthermore, the term “includes” certain components (which is an “open” term) refers only to the presence of the corresponding component and should not be construed as excluding the presence of additional components.

[0041] Additionally, if a particular component is referred to as "connected" or "linked" to another component, it should be understood that it can be directly connected or linked to another component, but there may be other components between them.

[0042] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the entire system required for automatic adjustment of the projection area according to the present invention. (Reference) Figure 1 Assuming the system according to the invention is set up in a cinema equipped with at least one projection surface (preferably, a plurality of projection surfaces 20, 22 and 24 as shown in the figure), and the system includes at least a management server 100, one or more projection devices 200 and one or more cameras 300.

[0043] Before providing a detailed description of each component, refer to Figure 1 A representative embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0044] Cinema management involves many tasks, among which adjusting the projection area to ensure the correct projection area is displayed on the projection surface is crucial. The projection device 200 is typically securely mounted in a specific location facing the projection surface (such as a screen, wall, etc.). However, even when securely mounted, the initial installation position of the projection device can become misaligned for various reasons. As a result, the projection area may be affected, leading to screen tilt or gaps between adjacent projection areas, making it difficult for viewers to properly enjoy the film.

[0045] This invention aims to correct misalignment of the projection area caused by orientation changes of the projection device by using a camera 300 to perform a projection environment scanning process. The figure shows the camera 300, which is positioned, in effect, on the left projection surface 22, with its shooting angle pointing towards the left projection surface. The camera 300 is used to scan the projection area output from the projection device 200. The scanned image obtained in this way, and the parameter values ​​of the projection area that can be obtained by analyzing the scanned image, can be used to control the projection device 200 to ensure that the projection area is correctly output to the normal area. For reference, Figure 1The process of adjusting the projection area 12a before adjusting the normal projection area 12b within the left projection surface 22 is shown.

[0046] Furthermore, as will be described again later, the method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area according to the present invention can utilize automatic adjustment of the projection area only after the initial adjustment step and the generation of reference data. Since the accuracy and reliability of the reference data used in the automatic adjustment must be very high for subsequent automatic adjustments to be performed accurately, the user's input and operations in the initial adjustment step are crucial. The interface used in the initial adjustment step will be described in detail later.

[0047] refer to Figure 1 The system for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area according to the present invention may include a management server 100, a projection device 200 and a camera 300 as main components, which will now be described in detail.

[0048] The management server 100 is a computing device that can be operated by a person responsible for managing or operating the cinema. It is connected to the main electronic equipment in the cinema via a network, thereby allowing control of each electronic device. According to the invention, the management server 100 can preferably be connected to the projection equipment 200 and the camera 300 via a network, thereby allowing remote control of the projection equipment 200 and the camera 300 when control commands are input via the management server 100. Furthermore, the management server 100 can provide an interface for supporting automatic adjustments to the cinema administrator (i.e., the user). In this case, the management server 100 can provide these interfaces to the user via an output device (such as a monitor directly connected to the management server 100) or via a portable terminal (such as a smartphone connected to the management server 100 via a network). Additionally, in some cases, the management server 100 can have the function and authority to output film content to a projection surface within the cinema, and in this case, the user can pre-execute automatic projection area adjustment functions each time film content is shown, ensuring that the audience enjoys a high-quality visual experience each time the video is projected.

[0049] For reference, assume that the management server 100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) and memory. In this case, the CPU may also be referred to as a controller, microcontroller, microprocessor, microcomputer, etc. Furthermore, the CPU can be implemented in hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof. When implemented in hardware, it can take the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a digital signal processing device (DSPD), a programmable logic device (PLD), or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). When implemented in firmware or software, the firmware or software can be configured to include modules, processes, or functions that perform the aforementioned functions or operations. Additionally, the memory can be implemented using memory such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, static RAM (SRAM), hard disk drive (HDD), or solid-state drive (SSD). There are no restrictions on the type of hardware required to implement the management server 100. For example, server computers, portable terminals (laptops, smartphones, etc.), desktop computers, etc., are representative examples of computing devices. Furthermore, in some cases, the management server 100 may be available in the form of a cloud server.

[0050] Next, projection device 200 refers to a device used for projecting video, also known as a projector. Multiple projection devices 200 can be installed in a cinema, with each device positioned to project video onto an opposing projection surface. The types of projection devices 200 include, but are not limited to, those implemented using CRT, LCD, and DLP technologies. In the case of multiple projection devices 200, at least some of the projection devices may be obtained from different manufacturers based on different principles, and each of the projection devices 200 can be independently connected to management server 100 via a network. If needed, management server 100 can cluster several projection devices 200 to control them as a single group; however, each projection device 200 is fundamentally connected to management server 100 independently. Furthermore, parameters related to content output can be adjusted within the projection device 200. For example, brightness (light source intensity of the projection device), contrast (difference between light and dark), color temperature, focus, zoom, or keystone correction can be adjusted.

[0051] Finally, camera 300 is a device for capturing the projection environment, which refers to the space or environment including the projection surface when the projection device outputs any still image or video on the projection surface. More specifically, since any area that camera 300 can capture is not precisely aligned with the projection surface, the projection environment is defined as including the captured space, including the projection surface. Therefore, in addition to the projection surface, the surrounding space in the projection environment may also include facilities, equipment, or other objects. For example, audience seats located around the projection surface, speakers mounted on the projection surface, projection devices that output video on other projection surfaces, and cameras mounted to scan (capture) other projection surfaces can all be included in the projection environment. Simultaneously, multiple cameras 300 can be installed in the cinema, and each camera 300 can be positioned to capture images in a predetermined direction. A single camera 300 can be installed to capture a projection environment including multiple projection surfaces. Alternatively, a single camera 300 can be configured to capture a state where multiple projection areas are displayed on a single projection surface, or a single camera can be installed to capture a projection environment including a single specific projection surface. In this detailed description, it is assumed that camera 300 is mounted to be mapped onto a specific projection surface to capture images; however, it should be understood that this is not necessarily limiting.

[0052] Meanwhile, camera 300 is typically used to scan or capture the projection area using its focus, such as when capturing the projection environment where the projection area is normally projected onto the projection surface, or when the projection area is being projected abnormally. However, if needed, management server 100 can refer to at least one of the shape and position of the surrounding installations and equipment within the projection environment captured by camera 300 to adjust the projection area later. For example, assuming the projection environment is captured by any camera and the installation state of a specific projection device is also included in the captured projection environment, management server 100 can adjust the output state or projection area of ​​the projection device by comparing the captured installation state of the specific projection device with the installation state of the specific projection device previously captured within the projection environment. On the other hand, management server 100 can also use the projection environment captured by camera 300 to determine whether automatic adjustment of the projection area of ​​a specific projection device is required within the cinema. For example, if a specific projection device is captured by any camera at time intervals, and the installation position of the projection device is analyzed to be different from the previously captured installation position, management server 100 can initiate automatic adjustment of the projection area based on this information, and this can be executed automatically without user input.

[0053] As mentioned above, reference has been made. Figure 1 The system and associated equipment required to support automatic adjustment of the projection area according to the present invention are discussed.

[0054] Figure 2The following steps are shown in the method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area according to the present invention, for performing the initial adjustment step. Figure 3 The steps for performing automatic adjustments sequentially are shown. For reference, Figure 2 and Figure 3 The diagram illustrates a scenario where the management server 100 receives input from a user and performs adjustments based on that input. Each step of the method will be described in detail below.

[0055] Reference Figure 2 The method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area can begin in step (S100), where the management server 100 receives a request from the user to perform initial adjustment of the projection area. This step can be performed by the user executing a program for automatically adjusting the projection area and then clicking a button to initiate the projection area adjustment, or by entering a projection area adjustment request.

[0056] After step S100, the camera setup step (S101) can be performed. In this step, a camera setup interface is provided to the user, allowing the user to input multiple camera settings through the camera setup interface.

[0057] Figure 4An example of a camera settings interface is shown. Referring to the accompanying drawings, at least the number of cameras, camera orientation, and camera resolution can be entered through the camera settings interface, and additionally, the IP address of each camera can also be entered. The camera settings interface is intuitively configured to allow users to easily enter camera settings. It may include an area 101 for entering the number of cameras, and an area 104 for entering the camera number, resolution, orientation, and address. Additionally, it may include a simulation area 102 that visually represents the projection relationship between the projection surface and the camera orientation. The simulation area 102 is primarily used to display the appearance of the projection surface in the cinema, the appearance of the cameras provided in the cinema, and the directional orientation indicating which projection surface a particular camera should aim at for capture (scanning). Furthermore, according to another embodiment, the simulation area 102 allows users to freely change the position of the camera 103. Additionally, after clicking on the camera 103, the user can click on a specific projection surface to establish a mapping between the camera and the projection surface, i.e., directional orientation. Specifically, the user can click on the camera 103 and drag it to directly determine the installation position of the camera 103 in the cinema. Furthermore, the user can directly adjust the orientation of the camera 103 to specify which projection surface it should aim at, thereby achieving intuitive camera settings. Compared to simply entering the necessary values ​​or text in areas 101 and 104, the use of analog area 102 provides users with a more intuitive way to set up the camera. In particular, when similar types of equipment (projection devices, projection surfaces, cameras) are installed in different orientations and positions, the need for analog area 102 to output cinema state graphics, as well as the position adjustment of camera 103 and the mapping between camera 103 and the projection surface, is very high in order to establish complex relationships between these devices. These features help prevent confusion during user input.

[0058] Simultaneously, the camera setup step (S101) may also include a step (S1011) for checking the operational status of each camera. The operational status can be determined by displaying live footage from each camera to the user. The management server 100 can display a message to the user after the settings for each camera are entered, such as "Do you want to check the operational status of camera #0?" for each camera, based on its number. If the user enters a confirmation request, the corresponding camera can display the video it is capturing on the screen in real time, i.e., the projection environment. Meanwhile, refer to... Figure 5 The management server 100 allows users to visually check the operating status of each camera by displaying the operating status of each camera as shown in the figure. Figure 5Multiple projection surfaces provided in a cinema are shown, with real-time video output from cameras corresponding to the left projection surface 22 and the right projection surface 24, respectively. The management server 100 not only allows users to check the operational status of the cameras by displaying them on the actual structure of the cinema, but also enables users to visually confirm the overall projection environment captured by the cameras, especially the status of the projection area to be adjusted. Furthermore, by presenting the actual cinema environment, the possibility of confusion throughout the workflow can be reduced. For reference, in Figure 5 No content is displayed on the main projection surface 20; however, if needed, the management server 100 can also output video content or still images for testing on the main projection surface 20, thereby simulating the actual projection environment in a cinema.

[0059] refer to Figure 2 After step S101, the display setting step (S103) can be performed. In this step, a display setting interface can be provided to the user, allowing the user to input display settings.

[0060] Figure 6 An example of a display settings interface is shown. Referring to the accompanying drawings, the display settings interface may include an area 201 for entering the number of projection devices and the manufacturers of the projection devices, an area 202 for entering server information of any additional servers required to control the projection devices, an area 203 for displaying a list of added projection devices and allowing the user to modify the information of each projection device based on user input, and a power input area 204 for controlling the on / off state of all projection devices.

[0061] For reference, each projection device 200 can be assigned an identifier, which may include the name of the projection device, a number assigned to the projection device, or an image or symbol specified for the projection device. This identifier can also be used as a means of distinguishing projection areas when outputting the projection area onto a projection surface within the cinema. In other words, by using the identifier contained in the screen output by a particular projection device 200, it becomes easy to identify which projection device 200 is displaying video on the projection surface. Figure 7 The image shows a scene inside an actual cinema, where five projection devices are displaying five different projection areas on a projection surface (the wall of the projection room). It can be seen that each projection area includes a corresponding identifier for the projection device (numbered 1 to 5, L1 to L5, etc.).

[0062] refer to Figure 2Following step S103, the step of scanning the projection environment (S105) can be performed. This step aims to control the cameras, whose settings and operating status have been previously checked, to capture the projection surface corresponding to each camera, and more precisely, capture the projection environment including the projection surface. The management server 100 can display a message to the user, such as "Do you want to scan the projection surface?" Once the user enters a request to continue, the management server 100 can control each camera to initiate a scan of the projection environment. At this time, the management server 100 can operate the cameras with time delays between them, or activate multiple cameras simultaneously to scan the projection surface. After the projection surface scan is completed, the video or images captured by each camera can be created as a scanned image, which can then be transmitted and shared with the management server 100.

[0063] Following step S105, a projection area adjustment step (S107) can be performed. In this step, the management server 100 can adjust the projection area by referring to a previously shared scanned image, and more precisely, adjust parameters that can be controlled from the projection device 200. In this step, the adjustment may preferably involve changing the shape or position of the projection area, such as tilting, translating, or keystone correction.

[0064] Meanwhile, the management server 100 can control each projection device 200 to independently adjust its projection area, allowing the projection area adjustment process to be executed completely automatically without user intervention. However, a manual adjustment interface can also be provided to allow users to make manual adjustments when necessary. For example, this manual adjustment interface can be provided to the user after the projection environment has been scanned by the camera or after the projection area has been adjusted. In the manual adjustment interface, the user can directly specify the projection area by clicking or touching the input.

[0065] Figure 8 An example of a manual adjustment interface is shown. As illustrated, the manual adjustment interface can virtually display the projection surface of a cinema and display a scanned image obtained through a projection environment scanning step on a specific projection surface, allowing the user to directly adjust the projection area. The figure assumes the scanned image of the projection environment is displayed on a left projection surface 22 located to the left of the main projection surface 20. On the left projection surface 22, the projection area 12a before adjustment can be displayed along with the vertices 12p before adjustment. With this screen displayed, the user can drag at least one vertex from vertices 12p to change its position before adjustment, and then set the moved vertex as vertex 14p after adjustment. Once all vertices have been moved to the user's desired position, the line segments connecting the vertices will form a single projection area, which will be referred to as projection area 14a after adjustment. Figure 8An example of a manual adjustment interface provided to the user after the projection environment scanning step is shown. This manual adjustment interface can be provided to the user even after the projection area adjustment is completed. After the projection area adjustment, the projection area derived from the adjustment by the management server 100 can be displayed on the projection surface of the manual adjustment interface. Assuming this is referred to as the first adjusted projection area, the user can drag and move the vertices of the first adjusted projection area to determine the second adjusted projection area.

[0066] Simultaneously, after the projection area adjustment is completed in step S107, so-called reference data can be generated and stored. Reference data refers to information used as the basis for adjustment when the management server 100 performs automatic adjustment of the projection area in the future. This data may include information about when the projection area is properly displayed on the projection surface after the initial adjustment is completed. Reference data can include all information stored during the projection area adjustment process. For example, it can include information about the cinema, information about the projection equipment, clustering information, information about the image area (projection area), and information related to fine-tuning. In this way, reference data and corresponding information about the projection equipment can be stored for each projection area, or they can be integrated to store information about all projection areas across all projection surfaces and all corresponding projection equipment.

[0067] For reference, the information included in the reference data may also include the position of each projection region and / or their overlap state when multiple projection regions are displayed on the projection surface. Such information may preferably be included in the form of coordinates corresponding to the vertices 16 of each projection region. Figure 9 It is a virtual representation of the projection regions R1 to R6 output on any projection surface, and the reference data can include the coordinates of the four vertices of R1 or the four vertices of R6. Furthermore, these coordinates can be distinguished to include the coordinates of some vertices of the projection region with overlapping areas and the coordinates of some vertices of the projection region without overlapping areas. Figure 9 As can be seen, the projection regions R3 and R4 overlap each other, and the vertices surrounding the overlapping region between R3 and R4 are represented in white. Figure 9 The diagram is visualized to aid in understanding the invention, and the actual reference data may include the coordinates of each vertex as numbers, letters, or a combination of numbers and letters. Furthermore, vertices surrounding overlapping regions and vertices in non-overlapping projected regions can be distinguished and included as coordinates in the reference data.

[0068] As mentioned above, reference has been made. Figures 2 to 9 The initial adjustment steps in the method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area according to the present invention are discussed.

[0069] Figure 3An automatic adjustment method is shown, wherein when a user requests automatic adjustment of the projection area after the initial adjustment is completed, the management server 100 adjusts the projection area with reference to pre-stored reference data.

[0070] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the automatic adjustment method according to the present invention may first include step (S201), wherein the management server 100 receives an automatic adjustment request for the projection area. This step can also be understood as the user directly inputting the automatic adjustment request through the management server 100. For example, the system may display to the user... Figure 10 The automatic adjustment request interface shown may include a start button 301 that can be clicked to initiate an automatic adjustment request, and an information display area 302 for the user to refer to during automatic adjustment. The information the user can refer to may include the date the last setup of the projection device 200 was completed (display setup date), the date the last setup of the camera 300 was completed (IP camera setup date), and / or the date the last initial adjustment was performed (adjustment initialization date). Additionally, it may include dates of other functions performed by the management server 100 (such as the date of the most recent boundary minimization, the date of the most recent readjustment, etc.).

[0071] Meanwhile, step S201 may not necessarily involve user input. As mentioned earlier, camera 300 can be implemented to periodically capture the projection environment. Management server 100 can receive images of the projection environment captured in real time or periodically from one or more cameras 300, analyze these images to determine if there are changes in the projection area, and if it is determined that the projection area needs to be adjusted, it immediately initiates automatic adjustment of the projection area. In a modified embodiment, the step of management server 100 determining that the projection area needs to be adjusted can directly replace the step of requesting automatic adjustment of the projection area (S201). This modified embodiment utilizes camera 300 as a means of monitoring the projection area, allowing automatic adjustment of the projection area to be initiated when necessary.

[0072] After step S201, it can be checked whether the pre-stored reference data exists (S203). Automatic adjustment of the projection area can only be performed if reference data is generated upon completion of the initial adjustment; therefore, the existence of reference data should be checked in this step. If it is determined that no reference data exists in this step, the management server 100 can again provide the user with the necessary user interface for the initial adjustment step, prompting the user to create reference data based on the initial adjustment.

[0073] After step S203, the management server 100 can automatically adjust the projection area (S205). This step can be understood as the management server 100 automatically performing calculations and adjustments; however, specifically, it can also be understood as a process of automatically performing a series of steps, including checking the camera settings, checking the projection device settings, scanning the projection environment or verifying the scanned image, and adjusting the projection area with reference data.

[0074] As mentioned above, reference has been made. Figure 3 and Figure 10 The automatic adjustment steps performed when the initial adjustment is completed in the method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area according to the present invention are discussed.

[0075] For reference, the method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area according to the present invention aims to allow the projection device 200 to project video onto a normal area, even if the orientation of the projection device 200 is misaligned. However, if the change in the orientation of the projection device 200 is too drastic, there may be situations where adjustment is impossible regardless of how the parameters of the projection device 200 are controlled. According to the present invention, when a user requests initial adjustment or automatic adjustment, a step may be included to first determine the possibility of adjusting the projection area before performing the actual steps. Thus, initial adjustment or automatic adjustment will only be performed if adjustment is possible; otherwise, a message indicating that adjustment is impossible may be displayed. Reference Figure 11 Case (a) indicates that adjusting the projection area is possible. When the area that the projection device 200 can project onto any projection surface is called the available projection area, if the orientation of the projection device 200 changes and both the projection area and the available projection area are tilted, but the normal projection area is still contained within the available projection area, then the management server 100 can determine that adjusting the projection area is possible. Case (b) indicates that adjusting the projection area is impossible. If the orientation of the projection device 200 changes and the normal projection area is even slightly deviated from the available projection area, then the management server 100 can determine that adjusting the projection area is impossible. The possibility of adjusting the projection area can be determined after the camera 300 captures the projection environment. For example, this determination can occur when the management server 100 analyzes the scanned image obtained in step S105, or when it analyzes the scanned image of the projection environment obtained during the automatic adjustment of the projection area in step S205. On the other hand, when the camera 300 is used as a means of monitoring the projection area, the management server 100 can also be prompted to make such a determination. For example, camera 300 can be configured to capture (monitor) the projection environment at predetermined intervals (e.g., immediately after each movie screening) and then share the captured video or images with management server 100. This allows management server 100 to periodically determine the possibility of adjusting the projection area.

[0076] As described above, methods and systems for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area have been discussed. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments and applications described above, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed in the claims. These modifications should not be construed as departing from the technical spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for supporting automatic adjustment of a projection area, the method comprising: (a) Camera setup steps, which provide a camera setup interface for setting up a camera designed to capture a projection environment including any projection surface and to receive camera setup input from a user; (b) Display setting step, wherein the display setting step provides a display setting interface for setting the projection device to output an image onto the projection surface, and receives display setting input from the user; (c) Projection environment scanning step, wherein the projection environment scanning step provides a scanning interface to allow the projection surface containing the image to be scanned by the camera while the image is being output on the projection surface, and receives scan start input from the user; as well as (d) Projection area adjustment step, wherein the projection area adjustment step adjusts the parameters of the projection device by using the scanned image obtained by the scan and generates reference data.

2. The method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area according to claim 1, the method further comprising: After step (d) (e) Steps for receiving automatic projection area adjustment start input; (f) The step of determining whether previously stored reference data exists; as well as (g) If reference data is determined to exist, the step of adjusting the parameters of the projection device using the reference data.

3. The method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area according to claim 1, wherein, The projection environment is an environment in which multiple projection devices project videos across multiple projection surfaces.

4. The method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area according to claim 1, wherein, The camera settings input includes the number of cameras and the shooting direction of each camera.

5. The method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area according to claim 1, wherein, The display settings input includes the projection device identifier and the projection device resolution.

6. The method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area according to claim 1, wherein, The projection area for displaying the image is included within a projectable area that can be displayed by the projection device.

7. The method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area according to claim 1, the method further comprising: After step (c) and before step (d), Following the scan, a manual adjustment interface is provided for manually adjusting the projected area, and manual adjustment input is received from the user. Step (d) involves adjusting the parameters of the projection device using the reference data stored after the manual adjustment input.

8. The method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area according to claim 1, the method further comprising: After step (a) and before step (b), The step of receiving a request from the user to check the operating status of the camera; as well as The step of outputting the video captured by the camera.

9. A management server for supporting automatic adjustment of a projection area, the management server comprising a central processing unit and a memory, wherein, The central processing unit executes instructions stored in the memory for performing methods to support automatic adjustment of the projection area. The method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area includes: (a) a camera setup step, which provides a camera setup interface for setting up a camera designed to capture the projection environment including any projection surface and to receive camera setup input from a user; (b) Display setting step, wherein the display setting step provides a display setting interface for setting the projection device to output an image onto the projection surface, and receives display setting input from the user; (c) A projection environment scanning step, wherein the projection environment scanning step provides a scanning interface to allow the projection surface containing the image to be scanned by the camera while the image is being output on the projection surface, and receives scan start input from the user; and (d) Projection area adjustment step, wherein the projection area adjustment step adjusts the parameters of the projection device by using the scanned image obtained by the scan and generates reference data.

10. The management server according to claim 9, wherein, The method for supporting automatic adjustment of the projection area further includes: after step (d), (e) Steps for receiving automatic projection area adjustment start input; (f) The step of determining whether previously stored reference data exists; and (g) If reference data is determined to exist, the step of adjusting the parameters of the projection device using the reference data.

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