Video generation device, authentication device, transmission method, and program

Abstract

To provide a video generation device that can suppress the increase in the load of authentication processing. [Solution] The video generation device according to this disclosure includes: an acquisition unit that acquires first video data captured by a first imaging device and second video data captured by a second imaging device; a generation unit that generates integrated video data including the first video data and the second video data; and a communication unit that transmits the integrated video data to an authentication device that identifies a person included in the integrated video data.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a video generation device, an authentication device, a transmission method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, various services using biometric authentication have been proposed. For example, there is a service for grasping the attendance status of students in a class by performing face authentication using the faces of students captured by cameras installed in classrooms such as universities.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses recording video content by associating a time stamp representing the date and time captured by a plurality of cameras installed in a classroom with classroom information representing the classroom that is the shooting location. Thereby, based on the video content, it becomes possible to specify the date and time when the video was captured and the classroom where the video was captured.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, there is a problem that the load on the authentication device increases as the amount of video data transmitted to the authentication device that performs biometric authentication such as face authentication increases. For example, as the number of cameras that generate video data increases, there is a problem that the load on the authentication device that performs face authentication of the people included in the video data increases.

[0006] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a video generation device, an authentication device, a transmission method, and a program that can suppress an increase in the load of authentication processing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The video generation device according to this disclosure includes: an acquisition unit that acquires first video data captured by a first imaging device and second video data captured by a second imaging device; a generation unit that generates integrated video data including the first video data and the second video data; and a communication unit that transmits the integrated video data to an authentication device that identifies a person included in the integrated video data.

[0008] The authentication device relating to this disclosure includes a communication unit that receives integrated video data including first video data captured by a first imaging device and second video data captured by a second imaging device, and an identification unit that identifies a person included in the integrated video data.

[0009] The transmission method relating to this disclosure acquires first video data captured by a first imaging device and second video data captured by a second imaging device, generates integrated video data including the first video data and the second video data, and transmits the integrated video data to an authentication device that identifies a person included in the integrated video data.

[0010] The identification method relating to this disclosure involves receiving integrated video data that includes first video data captured by a first imaging device and second video data captured by a second imaging device, and identifying a person included in the integrated video data.

[0011] The program relating to this disclosure is a program that causes a computer to acquire first video data captured by a first imaging device and second video data captured by a second imaging device, generate integrated video data including the first video data and the second video data, and transmit the integrated video data to an authentication device that identifies a person included in the integrated video data. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a video generation device, an authentication device, a transmission method, and a program that can suppress an increase in the load of authentication processing.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a video generation device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows the flow of communication processing executed in the video generation device. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of an authentication device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows the flow of authentication processing executed in the authentication device. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of an authentication system. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows video data captured by a camera. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows an example of integrated video data including blank data. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows the flow of generation processing of integrated video data executed in a virtual camera device. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 shows the flow of person identification processing executed in the authentication device. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 shows integrated video data. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 shows integrated video data. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 shows video data captured by a camera installed in a classroom. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing configuration examples of a video generation device, an authentication device, a virtual camera device, and an authentication device.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of the video generation device 10. The video generation device 10 may be a computer device that operates by a processor executing a program stored in a memory. The video generation device 10 may be, for example, a server device.

[0015] The video generation device 10 includes an acquisition unit 11, a generation unit 12, and a communication unit 13. The acquisition unit 11, the generation unit 12, and the communication unit 13 may be software or modules whose processing is executed by a processor executing a program stored in a memory. Or, the acquisition unit 11, the generation unit 12, and the communication unit 13 may be hardware such as a circuit or a chip.

[0016] The acquisition unit 11 may be used as means for acquiring data. The generation unit 12 may be used as means for generating data. The communication unit 13 may be used as means for transmitting or receiving data.

[0017] The acquisition unit 11 acquires the first video data captured by the first imaging device and the second video data captured by the second imaging device. The first imaging device and the second imaging device may be cameras that generate video data. The first imaging device and the second imaging device may be devices that capture the same closed space, or may be devices that capture different closed spaces. Specifically, the first imaging device and the second imaging device may capture the same classroom or different classrooms. The first imaging device and the second imaging device may be installed, for example, at a predetermined location in the classroom.

[0018] The generation unit 12 generates integrated video data including first video data and second video data. Specifically, the generation unit 12 may generate integrated video data by combining the first video data and the second video data. In other words, the generation unit 12 may generate a single video data by combining the first video data and the second video data. A single video data may be referred to as, for example, a single video file. Alternatively, a single video data may be video data that is considered to have been generated by a single camera. For example, if the first video data includes information identifying a first imaging device and the second video data includes information identifying a second imaging device, the integrated video data may include information identifying the generation unit 12 or the video generation device 10.

[0019] Alternatively, the generation unit 12 may generate integrated video data that includes a portion of the first video data and a portion of the second video data. The portion of the video data may be video data for a portion of the acquired video data period, or it may be video data for a portion of the region. The video data for a portion of the period may be, for example, a portion of the video frames among a plurality of video frames that constitute the video data.

[0020] The first and second video data included in the integrated video data may be, for example, still image data or video data.

[0021] The integrated video data may be configured such that, for example, the first video data is displayed first, followed by the second video data.

[0022] The acquisition unit 11 may, for example, receive first video data and second video data from the first imaging device and the second imaging device via a network. The acquisition unit 11 may store the received first video data and second video data in the memory of the video generation device 10. Storing can be rephrased as recording, remembering, or saving. Furthermore, the generation unit 12 may extract the first video data and second video data stored in the memory and generate integrated video data according to predetermined criteria. These predetermined criteria may be referred to as predetermined policies.

[0023] The predetermined criteria may include the duration of each video data to be included in the integrated video data, the order in which each video data is combined, the image quality of each video data, the file format of each video data, the compression method of each video data, etc. Alternatively, the predetermined criteria may include the frame rate of each video data.

[0024] The communication unit 13 transmits the integrated video data to the authentication device 20, which identifies the person included in the integrated video data. Identifying the person included in the integrated video data may also mean authenticating the person. Authenticating a person may also mean determining whether the person matches a person previously registered in the authentication device or the like. Identifying a person may also mean identifying the person's name.

[0025] Figure 2 shows the flow of communication processing performed in the video generation device 10. First, the acquisition unit 11 acquires the first video data captured by the first imaging device and the second video data captured by the second imaging device (S11). Next, the generation unit 12 generates integrated video data including the first video data and the second video data (S12). Next, the communication unit 13 transmits the integrated video data to the authentication device 20 which identifies the person included in the integrated video data (S13).

[0026] Figure 3 shows an example configuration of the authentication device 20. The authentication device 20 may be a computer device that operates by having a processor execute a program stored in memory. The authentication device 20 may also be, for example, a server device.

[0027] The authentication device 20 has a communication unit 21 and a specification unit 22. The communication unit 21 and the specification unit 22 may be software or modules whose processing is performed by a processor executing a program stored in memory. Alternatively, the communication unit 21 and the specification unit 22 may be hardware such as a circuit or chip.

[0028] The communication unit 21 may be used as a means for transmitting or receiving data. The identification unit 22 may be used as a means for identifying information.

[0029] The communication unit 21 receives integrated video data, which includes first video data captured by the first imaging device and second video data captured by the second imaging device. The communication unit 21 may also receive integrated video data from the video generation device 10 via a network, for example.

[0030] The identification unit 22 identifies a person included in the integrated video data. The identification unit 22 may, for example, perform facial recognition of a person included in the integrated video data. The identification unit 22 may extract facial features included in the integrated video data. Furthermore, the identification unit 22 may identify a person's face included in the integrated video data by comparing predetermined facial features with the extracted facial features. The predetermined facial features of a person may be recorded in the memory of the authentication device 20, along with the person's information. Alternatively, the predetermined facial features of a person may be recorded in an information processing device different from the authentication device 20, along with the person's information. Alternatively, the predetermined facial features of a person may be recorded in a cloud system, along with the person's information.

[0031] The information about a person may include personal information such as their name, and may also include information about the department or other academic field to which the person belongs.

[0032] Figure 4 shows the flow of the authentication process performed in the authentication device 20. First, the communication unit 21 receives integrated video data including first video data captured by the first imaging device and second video data captured by the second imaging device (S21). Next, the identification unit 22 identifies the person included in the integrated video data (S22).

[0033] As described above, the video generation device 10 generates integrated video data that includes the data captured by each of the multiple imaging devices. Furthermore, the authentication device 20 receives the integrated video data and identifies the person included in the integrated video data. As a result, the authentication device 20 can suppress the increase in processing load that would occur with an increase in the number of imaging devices by authenticating only the integrated video data received from the video generation device 10, without having to authenticate multiple video data generated by multiple imaging devices.

[0034] Embodiment 2 Figure 5 shows an example of the configuration of an authentication system. The authentication system in Figure 5 includes cameras 31-34, a virtual camera device 40, an authentication device 50, and a database 60. Cameras 31-34 correspond to imaging devices. The virtual camera device 40 corresponds to the video generation device 10 in Figure 1. The authentication device 50 corresponds to the authentication device 20 in Figure 3. The database 60 may be included in the authentication device 50, or it may be included in a recording device different from the authentication device 50.

[0035] Cameras 31-34, virtual camera device 40, authentication device 50, and database 60 may be connected via a network. The network may be, for example, an IP (Internet Protocol) network or the so-called Internet. Cameras 31-34, virtual camera device 40, authentication device 50, and database 60 may be connected to the network via a wired line or via a wireless line. The network to which cameras 31-34 and virtual camera device 40 are connected may be different from the network to which virtual camera device 40, authentication device 50, and database 60 are connected.

[0036] Cameras 31-34 are installed in the classroom to photograph students present within the classroom. Figure 6 shows video data captured by one of the cameras 31-34. Cameras 31-34 may be installed in different classrooms or in the same classroom. Cameras 31-34 transmit the generated video data, resulting from their photography of the classroom, to the virtual camera device 40.

[0037] Cameras 31-34 may, for example, start recording when a class begins in the classroom where each camera is installed. Specifically, the teacher in charge of the class may perform an operation to start recording on the camera, or another person may perform an operation to start recording. Alternatively, cameras 31-34 may autonomously start recording at the time when a class begins, according to schedule information that indicates the time when classes are held in each classroom. Schedule information may be managed, for example, in a system that manages student attendance information, or in a database 60. Cameras 31-34 may obtain schedule information from the student attendance information management system or database 60 via the network, or they may receive information instructing them to record at the time when a class begins.

[0038] The virtual camera device 40 has the same configuration as the video generation device 10. Therefore, the processing or operation in the virtual camera device 40 will be explained using the acquisition unit 11, generation unit 12, and communication unit 13 that constitute the video generation device 10.

[0039] The acquisition unit 11 acquires video data from cameras 31 to 34. The video data may be video data or still image data. The acquisition unit 11 identifies which camera transmitted the acquired video data according to information identifying the source of the video data. The information identifying the source of the video data may be, for example, an IP address or a MAC (Media Access Control) address.

[0040] The generation unit 12 combines the video data acquired from cameras 31 to 34 to generate integrated video data. The integrated video data may be configured as a stream transmitted from the virtual camera device 40 to the authentication device 50, as if it were a single virtual camera.

[0041] Specifically, the generation unit 12 arranges the video data acquired from cameras 31 to 34 to generate integrated video data. Arranging the video data may also mean generating the integrated video data so that, when the integrated video data is played back, the video data from camera 31, camera 32, camera 33, and camera 34 are played back in that order, for example.

[0042] Furthermore, the generation unit 12 may extract video data for a predetermined period, such as 200 milliseconds (ms) or 1 second (s), from each of the video data acquired from cameras 31 to 34, and combine the extracted video data. Alternatively, if the acquisition unit 11 acquires video data from each camera for a predetermined period in a predetermined order, the generation unit 12 may arrange the video data in the order it was acquired to generate integrated video data.

[0043] Furthermore, the generation unit 12 may set blank data before and after the video data, either simultaneously with or after arranging each video data. The blank data may also be called blank video data. The blank data is video data for a predetermined period and may be video footage of a specific location or video data with nothing in it. In addition, to distinguish the blank data from the video data generated by the camera, a different compression method, image quality, etc., may be used for the blank data. The blank data may be recognized in advance between the virtual camera device 40 and the authentication device 50. In other words, the virtual camera device 40 and the authentication device 50 are assumed to have prior knowledge of the video data to be used for the blank data.

[0044] Figure 7 shows an example of integrated video data including blank data. For example, the generation unit 12 may arrange the blank data 70 with the video data from each camera, such as 100ms of blank data 70, video data from camera 31, 100ms of blank data 70, video data from camera 32, 100ms of blank data 70, video data from camera 33, 100ms of blank data 70, and video data from camera 34. The generation unit 12 may also generate the integrated video data such that the playback period of the integrated video data is a predetermined period. In addition, the video data from each camera may be for the same period.

[0045] The generation unit 12 then arranges the video data from camera 31 after that of camera 34. When the generation unit 12 arranges the video data from camera 31 after that of camera 34, it arranges the blank data 70 and the video data from camera 31 together. For example, the integrated video data may be arranged as follows: video data from camera 34, 100ms of blank data 70, 100ms of blank data 70, and then the video data from camera 31. By arranging the two blank data 70s in this way, the position of the first video data can be indicated. In other words, the video data following the blank data 70 with a longer duration than the other blank data 70s is identified as the video data from the first camera.

[0046] The communication unit 13 transmits the integrated video data generated in the generation unit 12 to the authentication device 50.

[0047] Next, an example configuration of the authentication device 50 will be described. The authentication device 50 has the same configuration as the authentication device 20. Therefore, the processing or operation in the authentication device 20 will be explained using the communication unit 21 and the identification unit 22 that constitute the authentication device 20.

[0048] The communication unit 21 receives integrated video data from the virtual camera device 40. The communication unit 21 may receive integrated video data from the virtual camera device 40 periodically, or it may receive integrated video data from the virtual camera device 40 at any time. The communication unit 21 outputs the integrated video data to the identification unit 22.

[0049] The identification unit 22 extracts video data captured by cameras 31 to 34 from the integrated video data. Specifically, the identification unit 22 recognizes the video data following a point in the integrated video data where two blank data points appear consecutively as the beginning of the video data for cameras 31 to 34. The point where two blank data points appear consecutively may be identified as a point where the blank data period is longer than that of other blank data points. The generation unit 12 and the identification unit 22 in the virtual camera device 40 are assumed to have prior knowledge of the order of the video data included in the integrated video data. That is, the generation unit 12 and the identification unit 22 are assumed to know that the integrated video data is arranged in the order of video data from camera 31, video data from camera 32, video data from camera 33, and video data from camera 34 from the beginning. Therefore, by recognizing the beginning, the identification unit 22 can identify the video data from camera 31, camera 32, camera 33, and camera 34. As a result, the specific unit 22 extracts the video data captured by cameras 31-34 from the integrated video data.

[0050] Specifically, the identification unit 22 recognizes the video data from the blank data it recognizes as the beginning to the next blank data as video data from camera 31. Furthermore, the identification unit 22 recognizes the video data from the next blank data after the video data from camera 31 to the next blank data as video data from camera 32. Similarly, the identification unit 22 recognizes the video data from camera 33 and camera 34.

[0051] The identification unit 22 extracts a face image for each extracted video data. Furthermore, the identification unit 22 generates feature quantities from the face images. The identification unit 22 performs face recognition using the generated feature quantities. Here, it is assumed that the database 60 has already recorded each student's profile information, face image, and feature quantities generated from the face image in association with each other. The profile information may include, for example, name, department, class, etc. The identification unit 22 identifies the person in the extracted face image by comparing the generated feature quantities with the feature quantities recorded in the database 60. Identifying a person may, for example, mean identifying the name of the person in the face image. The identification unit 22 may also extract profile information from the database 60 that is associated with features that match or have a high similarity to the generated feature quantities.

[0052] The identification unit 22 identifies the person in the facial image contained in the video data, thereby determining that the person was present in the classroom being filmed by the camera that generated the video data. In other words, the identification unit 22 determines that the identified person was attending a class being held in the classroom being filmed by the camera. The identification unit 22 identifies the attendees in each classroom by identifying the person who was present in each classroom. The identification unit 22 assumes prior knowledge of the classrooms in which each camera is installed. For example, the database 60 may store information that associates the cameras with the classrooms in which they are installed. The identification unit 22 may also recognize the classrooms in which each camera is installed by extracting information stored in the database 60.

[0053] Alternatively, the identification unit 22 may transmit information indicating the identified person and the classroom where the person was present to a management device that manages attendees. The management device that receives the information may then manage the attendees for each classroom.

[0054] The identification unit 22 may repeatedly identify a person included in the video data from the same camera. Alternatively, the identification unit 22 may reduce the number of times it identifies a person included in the video data from the same camera.

[0055] After identifying a person in the video data from camera 31, the identification unit 22 identifies people in the video data from cameras 32-34 in the same way as the camera 31 video data. Furthermore, after identifying a person in the video data from camera 34, the identification unit 22 extracts the video data from camera 31 again. If the identification unit 22 extracts the video data from camera 31 again and extracts face images from the video data, it may determine whether the number of extracted face images matches the number of people previously identified in the video data from camera 31. If the number of extracted face images matches the number of people previously identified in the video data from camera 31, the identification unit 22 may consider that there are no changes in the people present in the classroom and skip the process of identifying people using each face image. If the number of extracted face images does not match the number of people previously identified in the video data from camera 31, the identification unit 22 may consider that there are changes in the people present in the classroom and execute the process of identifying people using each face image.

[0056] Figure 8 shows the flow of the integrated video data generation process performed in the virtual camera device 40. First, the acquisition unit 11 acquires video data captured by each camera from cameras 31 to 34 (S31). Next, the generation unit 12 combines the video data for a predetermined period from each camera (S32). Alternatively, if the acquisition unit 11 has acquired video data for a predetermined period from each camera, the generation unit 12 combines the video data acquired from each camera. Combining data may also mean structuring the data so that it is played back in order during playback.

[0057] Next, the generation unit 12 sets blank data 70 between the video data. The generation unit 12 sets blank data 70 between video data. Furthermore, the generation unit 12 also sets blank data 70 at the beginning of the first video data and at the end of the last video data among the cameras 31 to 34. As a result, the first video data is preceded by the blank data 70 set after the last video data and the blank data 70 set before the first video data. The video data with the blank data 70 set is transmitted to the authentication device 50 as integrated video data.

[0058] Alternatively, the generation unit 12 may, in step S32, concatenate video data with blank data 70 set.

[0059] Figure 9 shows the flow of the person identification process performed in the authentication device 50. First, the communication unit 21 receives integrated video data from the virtual camera device 40 (S41).

[0060] Next, the identification unit 22 identifies the first video data included in the integrated video data (S42). Specifically, the identification unit 22 identifies the first video data based on the number or length of blank data. For example, the identification unit 22 identifies the video data following the point where the number or length of blank data differs from other blank data as the first video data.

[0061] Next, the identification unit 22 identifies the video data to be included in the integrated video data based on a predetermined video generation policy (S43). The video generation policy may be a policy applied when the virtual camera device 40 generates integrated video data. For example, suppose the virtual camera device 40 generates integrated video data based on a video generation policy that combines the video data in the order of video data from camera 31, video data from camera 32, video data from camera 33, and video data from camera 34. The identification unit 22 is aware of the video generation policy applied to the virtual camera device 40. The video generation policy may be entered into the authentication device 50 by the administrator of the authentication device 50. Alternatively, the authentication device 50 may receive a message containing the video generation policy from the virtual camera device 40. Alternatively, the video generation policy may be stored in the database 60.

[0062] Since the identification unit 22 is aware of the video generation policy, it identifies that the first video data is from camera 31, followed by video data from camera 32, camera 33, and camera 34.

[0063] Next, the identification unit 22 identifies the person included in each video data (S44). Specifically, the identification unit 22 performs face recognition processing using the facial feature quantities of the person that have been pre-registered in the database 60. This allows the identification unit 22 to identify the name of the person included in the video data captured by each camera.

[0064] As described above, the virtual camera device 40 generates integrated video data by applying a video generation policy to video data acquired from multiple cameras. Furthermore, the authentication device 50 identifies the person included in the video data from each camera that makes up the integrated video data.

[0065] This allows the authentication device 50 to identify attendees of classes being held in each classroom where a camera is installed. Attendee identification may be performed in cooperation with management software or a management system that manages attendees. Cooperation may involve the authentication device 50 transmitting information indicating the person contained in the video data from each camera to the management system.

[0066] Embodiment 3 Figure 10 shows the integrated video data. The integrated video data in Figure 10 shows that the video data from camera 31 includes an additional data area and a video data area. The additional data area is associated with the video data area. In addition, blank data 70 is set on both sides of the video data from camera 31. The video data from cameras 32-34 also has blank data 70 set on both sides, and is assumed to constitute the integrated video data.

[0067] The additional data area may include, for example, information indicating the time when the camera 31 generated the video data. The information indicating the time may be called, for example, a timestamp. The timestamp included in the additional data area may indicate, for example, the time when the camera 31 started shooting, or it may indicate the time when shooting started and the time when shooting ended.

[0068] Database 60 is said to store class schedule information. The schedule information may specify, for example, that first-year mathematics classes are held from 9:00 to 11:00, and second-year Japanese language classes are held from 11:00 to 13:00.

[0069] The identification unit 22 of the authentication device 50 identifies which class the video data associated with the additional data area belongs to by comparing the timestamp contained in the additional data area with the schedule information stored in the database 60. For example, if the timestamp contained in the additional data area indicates a time between 9:00 and 11:00, the identification unit 22 identifies the video data associated with the additional data area as video data for a first-year mathematics class.

[0070] Furthermore, the identification unit 22 can determine which classes a person attended by identifying the person contained in the video data.

[0071] As described above, the authentication device 50 identifies which class the video data belongs to by using the timestamp contained in the additional data area associated with the video data of each camera and the schedule information stored in the database 60. This allows the identification unit 22 to identify the people attending each class.

[0072] Furthermore, if classes are being held in different classrooms at the same time, the identification unit 22 may perform a process that combines the camera identification process described in Embodiment 2 and the class identification process described in Embodiment 3.

[0073] For example, the identification unit 22 uses blank data 70 to identify the beginning of the video data included in the integrated video data. Furthermore, according to the video generation policy, the identification unit 22 identifies that the order of the video data is video data from camera 31, video data from camera 32, video data from camera 33, and video data from camera 34. This allows the identification unit 22 to identify which classroom each video data belongs to. The identification unit 22 assumes prior knowledge of which classroom each camera is installed in.

[0074] Here, for example, the identification unit 22 may have identified that the timestamps contained in the respective supplemental data areas associated with different video data indicate the same time period. The same time period could be, for example, the first period from 9:00 to 11:00, or the second period from 11:00 to 13:00. Furthermore, the identification unit 22 identifies which classroom each video data was installed in. In addition, the schedule information may be associated with each class and the classroom in which each class is held. In such a case, even if the video data is from the same time period, the identification unit 22 can identify the classroom in which each video data was filmed and the class that was being held in that classroom.

[0075] Embodiment 4 Figure 11 shows the integrated video data. The integrated video data in Figure 11 shows that the video data area is included as video data from camera 31. In addition, blank data 70 is set on both sides of the video data from camera 31. The video data from cameras 32 to 34 also has blank data 70 set on both sides, and is assumed to constitute the integrated video data.

[0076] Here, each video data set includes information indicating the location where the camera is installed, along with the students taking the lesson, as shown in Figure 12. Figure 12 shows video data captured by a camera installed in classroom A. The information indicating the location of classroom A may be, for example, information written on a predetermined wall or other part of each classroom.

[0077] The identification unit 22 may perform image recognition processing on each video data and identify classroom A as the location where the camera is installed. In this way, if the identification unit 22 identifies people included in the video data, it can also identify the location of the classroom where those people are located.

[0078] Furthermore, the information in the video data indicating the location where the camera is installed may be replaced with, for example, a two-dimensional code, instead of the information indicating the classroom name shown in Figure 12. The two-dimensional code may be associated with, for example, the location of the classroom. The identification unit 22 can identify the location where the camera is installed by reading the two-dimensional code contained in the video data.

[0079] As explained above, the identification unit 22 can identify the location where the camera was installed by performing image analysis processing using the video data. As a result, the identification unit 22 can identify the people who were attending the classes being held in each classroom by identifying the people included in the video data.

[0080] Figure 13 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a video generation device 10, an authentication device 20, a virtual camera device 40, and an authentication device 50 (hereinafter referred to as "video generation device 10, etc."). Referring to Figure 13, the video generation device 10, etc. includes a network interface 1201, a processor 1202, and memory 1203. The network interface 1201 may be used to communicate with a network node. The network interface 1201 may include, for example, a network interface card (NIC) compliant with the IEEE 802.3 series. IEEE stands for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

[0081] The processor 1202 reads and executes software (computer programs) from the memory 1203 to perform processing for the video generation device 10, etc., as described using a flowchart. The processor 1202 may be, for example, an MPU (Micro Processor Unit) or a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 1202 may include multiple processors.

[0082] Memory 1203 is composed of a combination of volatile and non-volatile memory. Memory 1203 may also include storage located away from the processor 1202. In this case, the processor 1202 may access memory 1203 via an I / O (Input / Output) interface, which is not shown.

[0083] In the example shown in Figure 13, memory 1203 is used to store a group of software modules. The processor 1202 can perform processing on the video generation device 10, etc., by reading and executing these software modules from memory 1203.

[0084] As explained using Figure 13, each processor in the video generation device 10, etc., executes one or more programs that include a set of instructions for causing the computer to perform the algorithm described in the diagram.

[0085] In the examples described above, the program includes a set of instructions (or software code) that, when loaded into a computer, cause the computer to perform one or more of the functions described in the embodiments. The program may be stored on a non-temporary computer-readable medium or a physical storage medium. Examples, but not limited to, include RAM (random-access memory), ROM (read-only memory), flash memory, SSD (solid-state drive), or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, DVD (digital versatile disc), Blu-ray® disc, or other optical disc storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, or other magnetic storage devices. The program may be transmitted over a temporary computer-readable medium or a communication medium. Examples, but not limited to, include, a temporary computer-readable medium or a communication medium that includes an electrical, optical, acoustic, or other form of propagating signal.

[0086] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications to the structure and details of the present disclosure can be made as can be understood by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, each embodiment can be combined with other embodiments as appropriate.

[0087] Each drawing is merely illustrative to illustrate one or more embodiments. Each drawing may be associated with one or more other embodiments rather than with only one specific embodiment. As those skilled in the art will understand, various features or steps described with reference to any one drawing can be combined with features or steps shown in one or more other drawings, for example, to create embodiments not explicitly shown or described. Not all features or steps shown in any one drawing to illustrate an exemplary embodiment are necessarily required, and some features or steps may be omitted. The order of steps shown in any of the drawings may be changed as appropriate.

[0088] Some or all of the above embodiments may also be described as follows, but are not limited to the following: (Note 1) An acquisition unit that acquires first video data captured by a first imaging device and second video data captured by a second imaging device, A generation unit that generates integrated video data including the first video data and the second video data, A video generation device comprising a communication unit that transmits the integrated video data to an authentication device that identifies a person included in the integrated video data. (Note 2) The generating unit is The video generation device described in Appendix 1, which generates integrated video data including the first video data and the second video data based on predetermined criteria. (Note 3) The generating unit is The video generation device according to Appendix 1 or 2, which sets blank video data between the first video data and the second video data, before the first video data and after the second video data. (Note 4) The generating unit is The video generation device according to Appendix 1 or 2, which generates the integrated video data including a first timestamp indicating the timing when the first video data was captured and a second timestamp indicating the timing when the second video data was captured. (Note 5) The acquisition unit is, The video generating device according to Appendix 1 or 2, which acquires first video data in which first location information indicating the location where the first imaging device is installed together with the person is captured, and second video data in which second location information indicating the location where the second imaging device is installed together with the person is captured. (Note 6) A communication unit that receives integrated video data including first video data captured by a first imaging device and second video data captured by a second imaging device, An authentication device comprising: an identification unit that identifies a person included in the integrated video data. (Note 7) The specified part is, The authentication device described in Appendix 6, which identifies the person included in the integrated video data by processing the integrated video data as data captured by a single virtual imaging device. (Note 8) The integrated video data includes blank video data set between the first video data and the second video data, before the first video data and after the second video data. The specified part is, An authentication device according to Appendix 6 or 7, which identifies the first video data that is the beginning of the integrated video data based on the blank video data, and identifies that the first video data was captured by the first imaging device, that the second video data was captured by the second imaging device, and the location where the person included in the first video data and the second video data exists, based on sequence information indicating the order of the first video data and the second video data included in the integrated video data which is predetermined. (Note 9) The integrated video data includes a first timestamp indicating the timing when the first video data was captured and a second timestamp indicating the timing when the second video data was captured. The identification unit is an authentication device according to Appendix 6 or 7, which identifies the location where the person contained in the first video data and the second video data exists, based on schedule information that manages the time and place in which the class is held, and the first timestamp and the second timestamp. (Note 10) First video data captured by the first imaging device and second video data captured by the second imaging device are acquired. Integrated video data including the first video data and the second video data is generated. A transmission method for transmitting the integrated video data to an authentication device that identifies a person included in the integrated video data. (Note 11) Integrated video data is received, which includes first video data captured by the first imaging device and second video data captured by the second imaging device. A method for identifying individuals included in the aforementioned integrated video data. (Note 12) First video data captured by the first imaging device and second video data captured by the second imaging device are acquired. Integrated video data including the first video data and the second video data is generated. A program that causes a computer to transmit the integrated video data to an authentication device that identifies the person contained in the integrated video data. (Note 13) Integrated video data is received, which includes first video data captured by the first imaging device and second video data captured by the second imaging device. A program that causes a computer to identify individuals included in the aforementioned integrated video data. Some or all of the elements (e.g., configuration and function) described in Appendices 2 to 5 that are dependent on Appendice 1 may also be dependent on Appendices 10 and 12 in the same way as those described in Appendices 2 to 5. Some or all of the elements (e.g., configuration and function) described in Appendices 7 to 9 that are dependent on Appendice 6 may also be dependent on Appendices 11 and 13 in the same way as those described in Appendices 7 to 9. Some or all of the elements described in any appendice may be applied to various hardware, software, recording means, systems, and methods for recording software. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0089] 10. Video generation device 11 Acquisition Department 12 Generation part 13 Communications Department 20 Authentication device 21 Communications Department 22 Specific section 31 Camera 32 cameras 33 Cameras 34 Cameras 40 Virtual Camera Device 50 Authentication devices 60 databases

Claims

1. An acquisition unit that acquires first video data captured by a first imaging device and second video data captured by a second imaging device, A generation unit that generates integrated video data including the first video data and the second video data, A video generation device comprising a communication unit that transmits the integrated video data to an authentication device that identifies a person included in the integrated video data.

2. The generating unit is The video generation apparatus according to claim 1, which generates integrated video data including the first video data and the second video data based on predetermined criteria.

3. The generating unit is The video generation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein blank video data is set between the first video data and the second video data, before the first video data and after the second video data.

4. The generating unit is The video generation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, which generates integrated video data including a first timestamp indicating the timing at which the first video data was captured and a second timestamp indicating the timing at which the second video data was captured.

5. The acquisition unit is, The video generation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, which acquires first video data in which first location information indicating the location where the first imaging device is installed together with the person is captured, and second video data in which second location information indicating the location where the second imaging device is installed together with the person is captured.

6. A communication unit that receives integrated video data including first video data captured by a first imaging device and second video data captured by a second imaging device, An authentication device comprising: an identification unit that identifies a person included in the integrated video data.

7. The specified part is, The authentication device according to claim 6, which identifies the person included in the integrated video data by processing the integrated video data as data captured by a single virtual imaging device.

8. The integrated video data includes blank video data set between the first video data and the second video data, before the first video data and after the second video data. The specified part is, The authentication device according to claim 6 or 7, which identifies the first video data that is the beginning of the integrated video data based on the blank video data, and identifies that the first video data was captured by the first imaging device, that the second video data was captured by the second imaging device, and the location where the person included in the first video data and the second video data exists, based on sequence information indicating the order of the first video data and the second video data included in the integrated video data which is predetermined.

9. The system acquires first video data captured by the first imaging device and second video data captured by the second imaging device. Integrated video data including the first video data and the second video data is generated. A transmission method for transmitting the integrated video data to an authentication device that identifies a person included in the integrated video data.

10. The system acquires first video data captured by the first imaging device and second video data captured by the second imaging device. Integrated video data including the first video data and the second video data is generated. A program that causes a computer to transmit the integrated video data to an authentication device that identifies the person contained in the integrated video data.

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