Patent EP0715453A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0715453A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Camera controller
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1995-11-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A camera control system for displaying a video image inputted from a plurality of cameras, wherein in order to easily control each camera, a map showing positions of cameras is prepared. Along with the map, icons indicating the positions of cameras are displayed on the map so that the directions of the cameras can be identified on the map. An operator is able to select a camera referring to the map and see the video image of the selected camera. When each of the cameras is to be operated, an operator uses a pointing device to operate an icon for a camera on the map. In this camera control system, a camera corresponding to each icon can be controlled for zooming, panning, tilting and focusing by operating the icon for each camera. An operator may delete, add or move the icon for a camera according to an actual structure of the camera system.
Inventors
- 👤 Tomoaki c/o Canon K.K. Kawai
- 👤 Kazuko c/o Canon K.K. Tsujimura
- 👤 Takashi c/o Canon K.K. Oya
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:50
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/18; H04N7/181; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/695; H04N23/63; H04N23/631; H04N23/66; H04N23/661
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A controller for controlling an image input operation, characterized by comprising: image input means including at least one externally controllable input unit (10); selection means (32) for selecting one of the input units, and receiving an image input from the selected input unit; image display means (28, 44, 271, 344, 84) for displaying the image input from the input unit selected by said selection means; map display means (28, 40, 340, 80) for displaying a map indicating a target image input region of said image input means, and displaying, on the map, each of the input units as a predetermined symbol in correspondence with a position of the input unit; operation means (30, 4503, 278, 86) for operating the symbol on a display screen; and control means (22, 12) for controlling the input unit corresponding to the operated symbol in accordance with an operation result of the symbol by said operation means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
25 words
The controller according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls a pan angle, tilt angle, zoom ratio, and focal length of the input unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The controller according to claim 1, wherein said map display means displays the symbol of the selected input unit to be identifiable from the symbol of the non-selected input unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The controller according to claim 2, wherein when said operation means changes a direction of the symbol, the pan angle of the input unit is controlled by said control means in correspondence with the direction of the symbol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The controller according to claim 4, wherein said operation means comprises coordinate indication means for indicating a desired coordinate position on the display screen of said map display means and determines a direction connecting the symbol corresponding to the selected input unit and a desired point indicated by said coordinate indication means as a changed direction of the symbol, and said map display means displays the changed direction using a straight line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The controller according to claim 2, wherein when said operation means changes the tilt angle of the input unit corresponding to the symbol, the tilt angle of the input unit is controlled by said control means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The controller according to claim 6, wherein said operation means comprises coordinate indication means for indicating a desired coordinate position on the display screen of said map display means and determines the changed tilt angle of the input unit corresponding to the symbol in correspondence with the position of a point indicated by said coordinate indication means with respect to a position of the symbol corresponding to the selected input unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The controller according to claim 2, wherein when said operation means changes the zoom ratio of the input unit corresponding to the symbol, the zoom ratio of the input unit is controlled by said control means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
The controller according to claim 8, wherein said operation means comprises coordinate indication means for indicating a desired coordinate position on the display screen of said map display means, said coordinate indication means designates an angle defined between two half lines having the symbol corresponding to the selected input unit as a central line, and the changed zoom ratio of the input unit corresponding to the symbol is determined in correspondence with the designated angle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The controller according to claim 2, wherein when said operation means changes the focal length of the input unit corresponding to the symbol, the focal length of the input unit is controlled by said control means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The controller according to claim 10, wherein said operation means comprises coordinate indication means for indicating a desired coordinate position on the display screen of said map display means and determines a distance from the symbol corresponding to the selected input unit to a point indicated by said coordinate indication means as the changed focal length.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The controller according to claim 2, wherein said operation means switches an operation mode among a mode for changing the focal length of the input unit, a mode for changing the tilt angle of the input unit, and a mode for changing the zoom ratio of the input unit, and allows a desired operation in the selected mode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The controller according to claim 1, wherein said selection means selects an input unit corresponding to the symbol closest to a point designated on the map.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The controller according to claim 2, further comprising state display means for displaying a state of the input unit selected by said selection means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The controller according to claim 14, wherein said state display means displays the position, pan angle, tilt angle, and zoom ratio of the selected input unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The controller according to claim 2, wherein said map display means displays a state of each of the input units.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The controller according to claim 16, wherein said map display means displays a maximum field angle and a maximum pan angle of each of the input units using a predetermined pattern having the symbol corresponding to the input unit as a center.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The controller according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined pattern is a fan shape having the symbol as the center.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The controller according to claim 1, further comprising arrangement operation means for changing the map display by said map display means in correspondence with a state of an arrangement of the controller.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The controller according to claim 19, wherein said arrangement operation means performs addition, deletion, and a change of position of the symbols corresponding to the input units in correspondence with the input units included in said image input means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The controller according to claim 1, further comprising connection means (36) for interconnecting said controllers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
118 words
A control system for controlling an image input device (210, 241) connected to a network, characterized by comprising: a client apparatus (243) which is connected to the network, requests use of a desired image input device, and controls the image input device to receive an image when said client apparatus is connected to the image input device; and a management apparatus (245) for managing a connection state between said client apparatus and the image input device, wherein upon receiving a request from said client apparatus, said management apparatus checks if a predetermined condition is satisfied, and if it is determined that the condition is satisfied, said management apparatus permits said client apparatus to use the image input device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
104 words
The system according to claim 22, wherein said management apparatus comprises storage means (250, 251) for storing a use state of the image input device, and a permission state which determines the client apparatus that can use the image input device, and when said management apparatus determines on the basis of the use state and the permission state stored in said storage means that the image input device requested by said client apparatus is not being used, and the permission state allows said client apparatus to use the image input device, said management apparatus permits said client apparatus to use the image input device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system according to claim 23, wherein said client apparatus comprises change request means for generating a change request for changing the permission state to said management apparatus, and said management apparatus changes the permission state in correspondence with the change request.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system according to claim 23, wherein said client apparatus further comprises display means for displaying the permission state, and operation means for operating the permission state displayed by said display means, and said management apparatus changes the permission state stored in said storage means in correspondence with an operation state of said operation means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system according to claim 22, wherein said image input device comprises a camera, and said client apparatus comprises control means for controlling a zoom ratio of the camera connected to said client apparatus.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 26, wherein said client apparatus further comprises means for controlling pan and tilt angles of the camera connected to said client apparatus.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
63 words
The system according to claim 23, wherein when said management apparatus sets the use state of the image input device connected in correspondence with the request from said client apparatus to be in use, and receives a request indicating end of use of the image input device from said client apparatus, said management apparatus sets the use state to be not in use.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
129 words
A camera controller characterized by comprising: at least one externally controllable camera (10); selection means (32) for selecting one of the cameras and receiving an image input from the selected camera; image display means (28, 44, 271, 344, 84) for displaying the image input from the camera selected by said selection means; map display means (28, 40, 340, 80) for displaying a map of a region where the cameras are disposed, and displaying, on the map, each of the cameras as a predetermined symbol in correspondence with a position of the camera; operation means (30, 4503, 278, 86) for operating the symbol on a display screen; and control means (22, 12) for controlling the camera corresponding to the operated symbol in accordance with an operation result of the symbol.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The controller according to claim 29, wherein said control means controls a pan angle, tilt angle, zoom ratio, and focal length of the camera.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
The controller according to claim 29, wherein said map display means displays, on the map, a maximum field angle and a maximum pan angle of each of the cameras using a fan shape having the symbol corresponding to the camera as a center.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
The controller according to claim 29, further comprising means for maintaining the symbol corresponding to the camera on the map displayed by said map display means in correspondence with a state of an arrangement of said controller.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
82 words
A camera control method for controlling a remote camera, characterized by comprising: the display step (S1 - S3) of displaying a map, and displaying symbols of cameras on the map; the selection step (S6) of selecting a desired symbol from the symbols; the step (S7) of displaying an image input from the camera corresponding to the symbol selected in the selection step; and the change step of changing a state including a pan angle of the camera selected in the selection step.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 33, further comprising, before the change step, the step (S10) of setting an operation mode, and wherein the change step includes the step of changing one of a focal length, a zoom ratio, and a tilt angle in correspondence with the operation mode.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 33, wherein the change step includes the step of changing a state of the camera in correspondence with an operation of the symbol of the camera by coordinate input means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 33, wherein the symbol selected in the selection step is displayed together with an auxiliary line used for operating a state of the camera corresponding to the symbol, and the state is changed by operating the auxiliary line by coordinate input means.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 36, wherein the auxiliary line includes zoom lines representing a field angle and a tilt line indicating a tilt angle.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 33, wherein a focal length and the pan angle are set upon selection of the symbol in the selection step.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 33, wherein the display step includes the step of displaying the symbol of each of the cameras in correspondence with control characteristics of the camera corresponding to the symbol.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method according to claim 39, wherein the display step includes the step of displaying the symbol of each of the cameras together with a maximum pan angle and a current field angle of the camera corresponding to the symbol if the control characteristics of the camera allow rotation and zoom operations, and displaying the symbol of each of the cameras together with the current field angle if the control characteristics of the camera do not allow rotation and zoom operations.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
91 words
A camera control method for controlling a remote camera, characterized by comprising: the step of reading an initial setting state; the display step (S5102) of displaying a map and displaying symbols of cameras on the map on the basis of the initial setting state; the operation step (S5104 - S5121) of performing operations including addition, deletion, change of position, and change of direction of the symbol by operating the symbol using coordinate indication means; and the step of storing the symbol operated in the operation step as the initial setting state.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 41, wherein the addition of the symbol in the operation step is attained by a dragging operation from a predetermined position as a start point on a screen displayed in the display step using the coordinate indication means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 41, wherein the deletion of the symbol in the operation step is attained by dragging the symbol on a screen displayed in the display step to a predetermined position by the coordinate indication means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 41, wherein the change of position of the symbol in the operation step is attained by dragging the symbol on a screen displayed in the display step to a desired position by the coordinate indication means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method according to claim 41, wherein the change of direction of the symbol in the operation step is attained by displaying, as a line, the direction of the symbol on a screen displayed in the display step, and dragging the displayed line of the direction to a desired direction by the coordinate indication means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 41, further comprising the registration step (S37) of registering a new map.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 46, further comprising the step (S40) of displaying the new map added in the registration step.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 41, further comprising the step (S44) of deleting the map.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
173 words
A camera management method for managing an access to a remote camera, characterized by comprising: the step (S261) of identifying a request destination apparatus on the basis of an access request to the camera; the first discrimination step (S263) of discriminating if an access source of the access request is permitted to access the camera of an access destination; the second discrimination step (S264) of discriminating if the camera corresponding to the access request is in use when it is determined in the first discrimination step that the access source is permitted to access the camera; the step (S265, S266) of making an access to the camera when the camera is not in use; the request step of issuing a change request of a condition for permitting an access in the first discrimination step; and the step of changing a table, which is looked up in the first discrimination step, and registers permission or non-permission of access requests of access request source apparatuses in units of cameras, in correspondence with the change request.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
130 words
A camera management method for managing an access to a remote camera, characterized by comprising: the step (S261) of identifying a request destination apparatus on the basis of an access request to the camera; the discrimination step (S263) of discriminating, with reference to a table, which registers permission or non-permission of access requests of access request source apparatuses in units of cameras, if an access source of the access request is permitted to access the camera of an access destination; the step (S281) of receiving a change request of the table, and identifying a request source of the change request; and the step (S282) of changing permission or non-permission of the access in the table corresponding to the request source of the change request in correspondence with the change request.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
46 words
A camera control system comprising a display for displaying the locations and operative conditions of a plurality of cameras, means for selecting an individual camera so the scene viewed by the camera is also displayed by the display means, and means for controlling each selected camera.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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