Patent US5598209A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5598209A
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Method for automatically adjusting a video conferencing system camera
Assignee: Videoconferencing Systems Inc
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Filing: 1995-01-17
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Granted: 1997-01-28
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Expires: 2015-01-17
Abstract
Abstract A method for automatically adjusting the pan and tilt of a camera, such as used in a videoconferencing system. A pointer and a picture of the camera's field of view are provided on a display device, such as a television set or a monitor. The pointer is moved on the display device in response to user commands from a user control device, such as a mouse or a joystick. When the user determines that the pointer is in the correct position the user uses the user control device to send a designation command. Then, in response to the designation command, the pan and/or tilt of the camera are adjusted to center the desired object in the picture. The method also provides: for ignoring the designation command if the amount of panning and/or tilting does not exceed a predetermined value; for zooming out prior to panning and/or tilting and then zooming in after panning and/or tilting if the amount of panning and/or tilting exceeds a predetermined value; and for adjusting the rates of panning and/or tilting so as to complete panning and tilting at approximately the same time.
Inventors
- 👤 Leo M. Cortjens
- 👤 Richard C. Mays
- 👤 Curtis M. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:34
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/15; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/66
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for adjusting a camera, said camera having a pan mechanism, said pan mechanism having, a resolution error, comprising the steps of: providing a picture: providing a pointer at a first location within said picture; monitoring an output of a control device for an indication by a user to move said pointer; moving said pointer to a second location in response to said indication; monitoring said output of said control device for an indication by said user that said pointer is designating a desired object; determining an amount of pan required to position said desired object in said center of said picture; determining whether said amount of pan exceeds said resolution error; and if said amount of pan exceeds said resolution error then panning said camera to position said desired object in the center of said picture.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for adjusting a camera, said camera having a pan mechanism, said pan mechanism having, a resolution error, comprising the steps of: providing a picture: providing a pointer at a first location within said picture; monitoring an output of a control device for an indication by a user to move said pointer; moving said pointer to a second location in response to said indication; monitoring said output of said control device for an indication by said user that said pointer is designating a desired object; determining an amount of pan required to position said desired object in said center of said picture; determining whether said amount of pan exceeds said resolution error; and if said amount of pan exceeds said resolution error then panning said camera to position said desired object in the center of said picture.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for adjusting a camera comprising the steps of: providing a picture; providing a pointer at a first location within said picture; monitoring an output of a control device for an indication by a user to move said pointer; moving said pointer to a second location in response to said indication; monitoring said output of said control device for an indication by said user that said pointer is designating a desired object; determining an amount of pan required to position said desired object in said center of said picture; panning said camera to position said desired object in the center of said picture; determining whether said amount of pan exceeds a predetermined value; and if said amount of pan exceeds said predetermined value then zooming out said camera as said step of panning said camera is being started.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for adjusting a camera comprising the steps of: providing a picture; providing a pointer at a first location within said picture; monitoring an output of a control device for an indication by a user to move said pointer; moving said pointer to a second location in response to said indication; monitoring said output of said control device for an indication by said user that said pointer is designating a desired object; determining an amount of pan required to position said desired object in said center of said picture; panning said camera to position said desired object in the center of said picture; determining whether said amount of pan exceeds a predetermined value; and if said amount of pan exceeds said predetermined value then zooming out said camera as said step of panning said camera is being started.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 and further comprising zooming in said camera as said step of panning said camera is being completed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising tilting said camera to position said desired object in said center of said picture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 4 wherein: said step of panning comprises determining an amount of pan required to position said desired object in said center of said picture, and panning said camera by said amount of pan; and said step of tilting comprises determining an amount of tilt required to position said desired object in said center of said picture, and tilting said camera by said amount of tilt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 5 and, prior to said step of panning said camera by said to pan and said step of tilting said camera by said amount of flit, further comprising: adjusting at least one of a rate of pan and a rate of tilt so that said step of panning said camera and said step of tilting said camera are completed at approximately a single point in time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
115 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said step of adjusting at least one comprises: determining an amount of time required to perform said step of panning at a maximum rate of pan; determining an amount of time required to perform said step of tilting at a maximum rate of tilt; if said amount of time required to perform said step of panning is greater than said amount of time required to perform said step of tilting then decreasing said rate of flit; and if said amount of time required to perform said step of panning is less than said amount of time required to perform said step of tilting then decreasing said rate of pan.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for adjusting a camera, said camera having a tilt mechanism, said tilt mechanism having a resolution error, comprising the steps of: providing a picture: providing a pointer at a first location within said picture: monitoring an output of a control device for an indication by a user to move said pointer; moving said pointer to a second location in response to said indication; monitoring said output of said control device for an indication by said user that said pointer is designating a desired object; determining an amount of tilt required to position said desired object in said center of said picture; determining whether said amount of tilt exceeds said resolution error; and it said amount of tilt exceeds said resolution error then tilting said camera to position said desired object in the center of said picture.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for adjusting a camera, said camera having a tilt mechanism, said tilt mechanism having a resolution error, comprising the steps of: providing a picture: providing a pointer at a first location within said picture: monitoring an output of a control device for an indication by a user to move said pointer; moving said pointer to a second location in response to said indication; monitoring said output of said control device for an indication by said user that said pointer is designating a desired object; determining an amount of tilt required to position said desired object in said center of said picture; determining whether said amount of tilt exceeds said resolution error; and it said amount of tilt exceeds said resolution error then tilting said camera to position said desired object in the center of said picture.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for adjusting a camera, comprising the steps of: providing a picture; providing a pointer at a first location within said picture; monitoring an output of a control device for an indication by a user to move said pointer; moving said pointer to a second location in response to said indication; monitoring said output of said control device for an indication by said user that said pointer is designating a desired object; determining an amount of tilt required to position said desired object in said center of said picture; panning said camera to position said desired object in the center of said picture; determining whether said amount of tilt exceeds a predetermined value; and if said amount of tilt exceeds said predetermined value then zooming out said camera as said step of tilting said camera is being started.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for adjusting a camera, comprising the steps of: providing a picture; providing a pointer at a first location within said picture; monitoring an output of a control device for an indication by a user to move said pointer; moving said pointer to a second location in response to said indication; monitoring said output of said control device for an indication by said user that said pointer is designating a desired object; determining an amount of tilt required to position said desired object in said center of said picture; panning said camera to position said desired object in the center of said picture; determining whether said amount of tilt exceeds a predetermined value; and if said amount of tilt exceeds said predetermined value then zooming out said camera as said step of tilting said camera is being started.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9 and further comprising zooming in said camera as said step of tilting said camera is being completed.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for adjusting a camera, said camera having a pan mechanism, said pan mechanism having a resolution error, comprising the steps of: determining an amount of pan required to move a camera from a first position to a second position; determining whether said amount of pan exceeds said resolution error; and if said amount of pan exceeds said resolution error then performing said step of panning.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for adjusting a camera, said camera having a pan mechanism, said pan mechanism having a resolution error, comprising the steps of: determining an amount of pan required to move a camera from a first position to a second position; determining whether said amount of pan exceeds said resolution error; and if said amount of pan exceeds said resolution error then performing said step of panning.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 11 and, after said step of determining said amount of pan, further comprising: determining whether said amount of pan exceeds a second predetermined value; and if said amount of pan exceeds said second predetermined value then zooming out said camera as said step of panning said camera is being started.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 12 and further comprising zooming in said camera as said step of panning said camera is being completed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 and further comprising tilting said camera to center said desired object in said picture.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 14 wherein: said step of panning comprises determining an amount of pan required to center said desired object in said picture, and panning said camera by said amount of pan; and said step of tilting comprises determining an amount of tilt required to center said desired object in said picture, and tilting said camera by said amount of tilt.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 15 and, prior to said step of panning said camera and said step of tilting said camera, further comprising: adjusting at least one of a rate of pan and a rate of tilt so that said step of panning said camera and said step of tilting said camera are completed at approximately a single point in time.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
115 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said step of adjusting at least one comprises: determining an amount of time required to perform said step of panning at a maximum rate of pan; determining an amount of time required to perform said step of tilting at a maximum rate of flit; if said amount of time required to perform said step of panning is greater than said amount of time required to perform said step of tilting then decreasing said rate of flit; and if said amount of time required to perform said step of panning is less than said amount of time required to perform said step of tilting then decreasing said rate of pan.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for adjusting a camera, said camera having a tilt mechanism, said tilt mechanism having a resolution error, comprising the steps of: determining an amount of tilt required to move a camera from a first position to a second position; determining whether said amount of tilt exceeds said resolution error; and if said amount of tilt exceeds said resolution error then performing said step of tilting.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for adjusting a camera, said camera having a tilt mechanism, said tilt mechanism having a resolution error, comprising the steps of: determining an amount of tilt required to move a camera from a first position to a second position; determining whether said amount of tilt exceeds said resolution error; and if said amount of tilt exceeds said resolution error then performing said step of tilting.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 18 and, after said step of determining said amount of tilt, further comprising: determining whether said amount of tilt exceeds a predetermined value; and if said amount of tilt exceeds said predetermined value then zooming out said camera as said step of tilting said camera is being started.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 19 and further comprising zooming in said camera as said step of tilting said camera is being completed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18 and further comprising panning said camera to center said desired object in said picture.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 21 wherein: said step of panning comprises determining an amount of pan required to center said desired object in said picture, and panning said camera by said amount of pan; and said step of tilting comprises determining an amount of tilt required to center said desired object in said picture, and tilting said camera by said amount of tilt.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 22 and, prior to said step of panning said camera and said step of tilting said camera, further comprising: adjusting at least one of a rate of pan and a rate of tilt so that said step of panning said camera and said step of tilting said camera are completed at approximately a single point in time.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
115 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said step of adjusting at least one comprises: determining an amount of time required to perform said step of panning at a maximum rate of pan; determining an amount of time required to perform said step of tilting at a maximum rate of tilt; if said amount of time required to perform said step of panning is greater than said amount of time required to perform said step of tilting then decreasing said rate of tilt; and if said amount of time required to perform said step of panning is less than said amount of time required to perform said step of tilting then decreasing said rate of pan.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-28 | 2000-07-29 | 2001-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-28 | 2004-07-29 | 2005-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-28 | 2008-07-29 | 2009-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |