BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field

The present disclosure relates to a control technique of controlling an image-capturing apparatus.

Description of the Related Art

In recent years, attention has focused on a technique, in which a plurality of image-capturing apparatuses is installed at different positions, the image-capturing apparatuses perform synchronous image-capturing of a subject, and images from a plurality of viewpoints acquired by the image-capturing are used to generate not only images captured from the installation positions of the image-capturing apparatuses but also an image from a freely-selected viewpoint as a virtual viewpoint image. The generation and viewing of the virtual viewpoint image based on the images from the viewpoints can be achieved as follows, for example. First, the image-capturing apparatuses are installed so as to surround the subject, and the images captured by the image-capturing apparatuses are aggregated in an image-generating apparatus, such as a server. The image-generating apparatus then executes processing, such as rendering, based on a virtual viewpoint using the images captured by the image-capturing apparatuses to generate the virtual viewpoint image, and transmits the virtual viewpoint image to a user's viewing terminal. Accordingly, the user's viewing terminal can display the virtual viewpoint image. This technique of generating the virtual viewpoint image enables creation of visually impactful contents from a viewpoint by generating the virtual viewpoint image depending on a viewpoint designated by an image content creator from images captured in, for example, a succor game and a basketball game. The technique also enables the user viewing the contents to move a viewpoint by himself/herself using a controller, a tablet device, or the like mounted on the viewing terminal, and enables the image-generating apparatus to generate the virtual viewpoint image corresponding to the viewpoint. In such a case, the user can watch the game from his/her viewpoint. Service using such a virtual viewpoint image can add realism as if the user were at the scene, as compared to a conventional captured image with which a viewpoint cannot be changed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-215828 discusses a technique, in which a plurality of image-capturing apparatuses is installed so as to surround a gaze point, and a virtual viewpoint image from a virtual viewpoint designated by the user is generated using images captured by the image-capturing apparatuses.

In a case where images captured by the image-capturing apparatuses are used to generate the virtual viewpoint image corresponding to a scene that occurs in the vicinity of the gaze point, the image-capturing apparatuses are to have undergone focus adjustment so as to focus on the vicinity of the gaze point. As a method of the focus adjustment, a conceivable method is to execute the focus adjustment of the image-capturing apparatuses using an installed marker such that the image-capturing apparatuses focus on the marker.

However, sufficient time to the focus adjustment may not be allocated due to, for example, constraints of time available to install the marker depending on a subject on which the marker is installed. Thus, there is a demand for executing the focus adjustment of each of the image-capturing apparatuses in a short period of time.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to an aspect of the embodiments, a control apparatus configured to control an image-capturing apparatus, the control apparatus includes an identification unit configured to identify an area to be focused by the image-capturing apparatus in an image-capturing target area for which the image-capturing apparatus performs image-capturing, a detection unit configured to detect a specific marker pattern from an image acquired by the image-capturing of the image-capturing apparatus, and an execution unit configured to execute focus adjustment of the image-capturing apparatus in response to the detection of the specific marker pattern from an image of the area that is to be focused by the image-capturing apparatus and has been identified in the acquired image.

Further features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

