Camera Control System Automatic Subject Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

In camera control systems, when tracking a moving subject, the main camera may lose the subject from the monitor screen, requiring manual re-setting and potential loss of image tracking.

Innovation Solution

A camera control system that automatically determines the main camera using image recognition and positional information from multiple cameras, ensuring continuous tracking without manual intervention by displaying the main camera's image on a main monitor and adjusting sub-camera directions based on relative positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual setting on menu screen is used to switch main camera, then camera can be controlled, but subject may be lost from monitor screen when tracking moving subject

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous tracking reliabilityVSAvoidmanual re-setting requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic main camera determination without requiring manual intervention. The camera control apparatus automatically analyzes images from multiple cameras, determines which camera should be the main camera based on subject detection and positional information, and switches the main camera accordingly, making the system self-managing for maintaining continuous subject tracking

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors images from all cameras, detects subject presence and position, and uses this feedback to automatically determine and switch the main camera. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the subject remains visible on the main monitor without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Extent of automation

If automatic main camera determination is implemented, then continuous tracking is maintained, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic main camera determinationVSAvoidimage recognition and information processing system
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The camera control apparatus performs multiple functions: it controls multiple cameras, detects subjects in images, analyzes positional information, determines which camera should be main, and switches the main camera automatically. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single control apparatus, the system achieves high automation without proportionally increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system combines image recognition functionality, positional information processing, and camera control switching into a single integrated camera control apparatus. This merging of functions allows automatic main camera determination while avoiding the complexity that would arise from separate independent systems for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2046019B1Camera control device and camera control system
Publication Date: 2011.09.07 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP
  • EP2046019B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2046019B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2046019B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An object of the invention is to provide a camera control apparatus and a camera control system which can, in the case of automatically tracking a moving subject to be imaged, automatically track the subject without being lost from a monitor screen. A camera control apparatus (109) simultaneously transmits main camera direction information to all cameras (101). Then, the camera (101) determined so as to act as a main camera (101m) in accordance with an address contained in the main camera direction information controls the direction thereof in accordance with the main camera direction information. The camera (101) determined so as to act as a sub camera (101s) converts the main camera direction information into sub camera direction information based on a relative positional relation with the main camera (101m) and controls the direction thereof in accordance with the sub camera direction information. Thus, a subject to be imaged can be always caught and displayed on the monitor screen without causing a control delay. That is, a subject to be imaged can be automatically tracked without being lost from the monitor screen.