US6525761B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for controlling a camera connected to a network
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1997-07-22
•
Granted: 2003-02-25
•
Expires: 2017-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A camera control apparatus provides an end user with environment to easily remote-control a video camera via a general network such as the Internet. When the camera control apparatus 1001 receives a file-transfer request described in the format of the network from an external device 1002 connected to the apparatus, it handles a characters in a character string of a file name of the request as camera-control characters. As a result, if the character string includes description corresponding to the format for camera control, the camera control apparatus 1001 controls the camera in accordance with the description to perform image sensing, and transfers the obtained video image as the content of an image file requested by the external device as the file-transfer request originator.
Inventors
- 👤 Mamoru Sato
- 👤 Tadashi Yamakawa
- 👤 Yoshiyuki Akiba
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:11
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/14; H04N7/141; H04N7/142; H04N21/00; H04N21/20; H04N21/23; H04N21/234; H04N21/2343; H04N21/238; H04N21/25; H04N21/266; H04N21/2662; H04N21/60; H04N21/63; H04N21/643; H04N21/65; H04N21/658; H04N21/6587; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/66; H04N23/661; H04N23/695
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 63
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A camera control apparatus, connected to a network, capable of controlling a camera, comprising: reception means for receiving a character string described in a format of a predetermined transfer request, including a URL, used on the network; discrimination means for discriminating a predetermined control character relating to camera control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received by said reception means; and control means for controlling the camera based on the result of discrimination by said discrimination means, and transferring video image data obtained by the camera to a transfer request originator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A camera control apparatus, connected to a network, capable of controlling a camera, comprising: reception means for receiving a character string described in a format of a predetermined transfer request, including a URL, used on the network; discrimination means for discriminating a predetermined control character relating to camera control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received by said reception means; and control means for controlling the camera based on the result of discrimination by said discrimination means, and transferring video image data obtained by the camera to a transfer request originator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
The camera control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said discrimination means includes image-sensing angle discrimination means for discriminating image-sensing angle characters related to panning, tilting, and zooming of the camera control, and numerical value characters indicating control amounts accompanying the image-sensing angle characters, and wherein said control means controls the camera based on the result of discrimination by said image-sensing angle discrimination means, and transfers the video image data obtained by the camera to the transfer request originator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The camera control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said discrimination means can discriminate a plurality of sets of character string, each character string comprising the image-sensing angle characters and the numerical value characters accompanying the image-sensing angle characters.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The camera control apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said discrimination means discriminates a character string designating an image format, and wherein said control means transfers video image data in the image format discriminated by said discrimination means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The camera control apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein if the discriminated character string designates a moving image, the video image data is compressed in data in a corresponding moving-image format and transferred to the file-transfer request originator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
201 words
The camera control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said discrimination means includes: image-sensing time discrimination means for discriminating an image-sensing time request character and a character string designating image-sensing date and time, accompanying the image-sensing time request character; and video-image discrimination means for discriminating a video-image read request character, requesting to read the video image, and a character string designating the video image to be read, said camera control apparatus further comprises: registration means for registering the image-sensing date and time obtained by said image-sensing time discrimination means; returning means for returning information specifying the contents registered by said registration means to the file-transfer request originator; memory means for storing the video image obtained by the camera; determination means for determining whether or not the image-sensing time registered by said registration means has come; and storage means for storing the video image data obtained by the camera into said memory means if said determination means determines that the image-sensing time has come, wherein said control means transfers the video image data from said memory means to the file-transfer request originator, in accordance with the character string designating the video image to be read, discriminated by said video-image discrimination means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
The camera control apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said discrimination means includes image-sensing angle discrimination means for discriminating image-sensing angle characters relating to panning, tilting and zooming of the camera control, and numerical value characters indicating control amounts accompanying the image-sensing angle characters, and wherein said registration means registers the information on an image-sensing angle of the camera, further wherein said storage means stores the video image obtained based on the information on the image-sensing angle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
The camera control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said discrimination means includes file-name discrimination means for discriminating a character string of a file name describing the image-sensing condition, and wherein said control means reads content of the file name discriminated by said file-name discrimination means, controls the camera to perform image sensing in accordance with the image-sensing condition corresponding to the read content, and transfers the video image obtained by the image sensing to the file-transfer request originator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
The camera control apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said discrimination means includes a storage-address discrimination means for discriminating a storage address of the file, and wherein said control means reads a file of the discriminated file name and the discriminated storage address, controls the camera to perform image sensing in accordance with the image-sensing condition corresponding to the content of the file, and transfers the video image obtained by the image sensing to the file-transfer request originator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The camera control apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the storage address is a character string designating an Internet server.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for a camera control apparatus, connected to a network, capable of controlling a camera, comprising: a reception step of receiving a character string described in a format of a predetermined transfer request, including a URL, used on the network; a discrimination step of discriminating a predetermined control character relating to camera control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received at said reception step; and a control step of controlling the camera based on the result of discrimination at said discrimination step, and transferring video image data obtained by the camera to a transfer request originator.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for a camera control apparatus, connected to a network, capable of controlling a camera, comprising: a reception step of receiving a character string described in a format of a predetermined transfer request, including a URL, used on the network; a discrimination step of discriminating a predetermined control character relating to camera control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received at said reception step; and a control step of controlling the camera based on the result of discrimination at said discrimination step, and transferring video image data obtained by the camera to a transfer request originator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein said discrimination step includes an image-sensing angle discrimination step of discriminating image-sensing angle characters relating to panning, tilting and zooming of the camera control, and numerical value characters indicating control amounts accompanying the image-sensing angle characters, and wherein at said control step, the camera is controlled based on the result of discrimination at said image-sensing angle discrimination step, and transfers the video image data obtained by the camera to the transfer request originator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein at said discrimination step, a plurality of sets of character string, each character string comprising the image-sensing angle characters and the numerical value characters accompanying the image-sensing angle characters, can be discriminated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method according to claim 13 , wherein at said discrimination step, a character string designating an image format is discriminated, and wherein at said control step, video image data is transferred in the image format discriminated at said discrimination step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 14 , wherein if the discriminated character string designates a moving image, the video image data is compressed in data in a corresponding moving-image format and transferred to the file-transfer request originator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
209 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein said discrimination step includes: an image-sensing time discrimination step of discriminating an image-sensing time request character and a character string designating image-sensing date and time, accompanying the image-sensing time request character; and a video-image discrimination step of discriminating a video-image read request character, requesting to read the video image, and a character string designating the video image to be read, said method further comprises: a registration step of registering the image-sensing date and time obtained at said image-sensing time discrimination step; a returning step of returning information specifying the contents registered at said registration step to the file-transfer request originator; a memory step of storing the video image obtained by the camera; a determination step of determining whether or not the image-sensing time registered at said registration step has come; and a storage step of storing the video image data obtained by the camera into said memory means if it is determined at said determination step that the image-sensing time has come, wherein at said control step, the video image data is transferred from said memory step to the file-transfer request originator, in accordance with the character string designating the video image to be read, discriminated by said video-image discrimination means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method according to claim 16 , wherein said discrimination step includes an image-sensing angle discrimination step of discriminating image-sensing angle characters relating to panning, tilting and zooming of the camera control, and numerical value characters indicating control amounts accompanying the image-sensing angle characters, and wherein at said registration step, the information on an image-sensing angle of the camera is registered, further wherein at said storage step, the video image obtained based on the information on the image-sensing angle is stored.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein said discrimination step includes a file-name discrimination step of discriminating a character string of a file name describing the image-sensing condition, and wherein at said control step, content of the file name, discriminated by said file-name discrimination means, is controlled, the camera is controlled to perform image sensing in accordance with the image-sensing condition corresponding to the read content, and the video image obtained by the image sensing is transferred to the file-transfer request originator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method according to claim 18 , wherein said discrimination step includes a storage-address discrimination step of discriminating a storage address of the file, and wherein at said control step, a file of the discriminated file name and the discriminated storage address are read, the camera is controlled to perform image sensing in accordance with the image-sensing condition corresponding to the content of the file, and the video image obtained by the image sensing is transferred to the file-transfer request originator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 19 , wherein the storage address is a character string designating an Internet server.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
114 words
A storage medium containing program codes to be read and executed by a computer connected to a camera, comprising: reception-process program codes of executing processing for receiving a character string described in a format of a predetermined transfer request, including a URL, used on a predetermined network; discrimination-process program codes of executing processing for discriminating a predetermined control character relating to camera control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received at said reception process; and control-process program codes of executing processing for controlling the camera based on the result of discrimination at said discrimination process, and transferring video image data obtained by the camera to a transfer request originator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
114 words
A storage medium containing program codes to be read and executed by a computer connected to a camera, comprising: reception-process program codes of executing processing for receiving a character string described in a format of a predetermined transfer request, including a URL, used on a predetermined network; discrimination-process program codes of executing processing for discriminating a predetermined control character relating to camera control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received at said reception process; and control-process program codes of executing processing for controlling the camera based on the result of discrimination at said discrimination process, and transferring video image data obtained by the camera to a transfer request originator.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
68 words
A client apparatus connected to a network, comprising: input means for inputting camera control information for controlling a camera of a server connected to the network; description means for describing the camera control information inputted by said input means, at a particular position of URL; and request means for requesting the server to control the camera by transferring character string including the URL described by said description means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
68 words
A client apparatus connected to a network, comprising: input means for inputting camera control information for controlling a camera of a server connected to the network; description means for describing the camera control information inputted by said input means, at a particular position of URL; and request means for requesting the server to control the camera by transferring character string including the URL described by said description means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the control information of the camera includes at least one of panning, tilting and zooming of the camera.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the control information of the camera includes reservation information related to the image-sensing by the camera.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
60 words
A method for a client apparatus connected to a network, comprising: inputting camera control information for controlling a camera of a server connected to the network; describing the inputted camera control information at a particular position of a URL; and requesting the server to control the camera by transferring a character string including the URL described in said description step.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
60 words
A method for a client apparatus connected to a network, comprising: inputting camera control information for controlling a camera of a server connected to the network; describing the inputted camera control information at a particular position of a URL; and requesting the server to control the camera by transferring a character string including the URL described in said description step.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 25 , wherein the control information of the camera includes at least one of panning, tilting and zooming of the camera.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 25 , wherein the control information of the camera includes reservation information related to the image-sensing by the camera.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
96 words
A storage medium containing program codes to be read and executed by a computer connected to a client apparatus, comprising: input-process program codes of executing processing for inputting camera control information for controlling a camera of a server connected to the network; description-processing program codes of executing processing for describing the inputted camera control information at a particular position of a URL by said input-process program codes; and request-process program codes of executing processing for requesting the server to control the camera by transferring a character string including the URL described by said description-process program codes.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
96 words
A storage medium containing program codes to be read and executed by a computer connected to a client apparatus, comprising: input-process program codes of executing processing for inputting camera control information for controlling a camera of a server connected to the network; description-processing program codes of executing processing for describing the inputted camera control information at a particular position of a URL by said input-process program codes; and request-process program codes of executing processing for requesting the server to control the camera by transferring a character string including the URL described by said description-process program codes.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The storage medium according to claim 28 , wherein the control information of the camera includes at least one of panning, tilting and zooming of the camera.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The storage medium according to claim 28 , wherein the control information of the camera includes reservation information related to the image-sensing by the camera.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
81 words
A camera control apparatus, connected to a network, for controlling a camera, comprising: a reception device arranged to receive a character string described in a predetermined format, including URL, used on the network; a discrimination device arranged to discriminate a control character relating to camera control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received by said reception device; and a control device arranged to control the camera based on the result of discrimination by said discrimination device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
81 words
A camera control apparatus, connected to a network, for controlling a camera, comprising: a reception device arranged to receive a character string described in a predetermined format, including URL, used on the network; a discrimination device arranged to discriminate a control character relating to camera control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received by said reception device; and a control device arranged to control the camera based on the result of discrimination by said discrimination device.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 31 , wherein the control character includes a control amount of the camera control.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 31 , wherein the control character includes at least one of panning, tilting, and zooming command for controlling the camera.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 31 , wherein said discrimination device discriminates a character string to designate an image format, and wherein said control device transfers video image data in the designated image format to a transmitting character string originator.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus, according to claim 31 , wherein the camera control information includes at least one of panning, tilting, and zooming command of controlling the camera.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for controlling a camera, comprising: a reception step of receiving a character string described in a predetermined format, including URL, used on the network; a discrimination step of discriminating a control character relating to camera control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received by said reception step; and a control step of controlling the camera based on the result of discrimination by said discrimination step.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for controlling a camera, comprising: a reception step of receiving a character string described in a predetermined format, including URL, used on the network; a discrimination step of discriminating a control character relating to camera control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received by said reception step; and a control step of controlling the camera based on the result of discrimination by said discrimination step.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
61 words
A client apparatus connected to a network, comprising: a description device arranged to describe a camera control information for controlling a camera input by an input device, at a particular position of URL; and a requesting device arranged to request a camera control apparatus to control the camera by transferring the character string including the URL described by said description device.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
61 words
A client apparatus connected to a network, comprising: a description device arranged to describe a camera control information for controlling a camera input by an input device, at a particular position of URL; and a requesting device arranged to request a camera control apparatus to control the camera by transferring the character string including the URL described by said description device.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 37 , wherein the camera control information includes a control amount of the camera control.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
58 words
A method for operating a camera, comprising: a description step of describing a camera control information for controlling a camera input by an input device, at a particular position of URL; and a requesting step of requesting a camera control apparatus to control the camera by transferring the character string including the URL described by said description step.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
58 words
A method for operating a camera, comprising: a description step of describing a camera control information for controlling a camera input by an input device, at a particular position of URL; and a requesting step of requesting a camera control apparatus to control the camera by transferring the character string including the URL described by said description step.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
84 words
A control apparatus, connected to a network, for controlling an electronic device mechanically, comprising: a reception device arranged to receive a character string described in a predetermined format, including URL, used on the network; a discrimination device arranged to discriminate a control character relating to device control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received by said reception device; and a control device arranged to control the electronic device mechanically based on the result of discrimination by sold discrimination device.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
84 words
A control apparatus, connected to a network, for controlling an electronic device mechanically, comprising: a reception device arranged to receive a character string described in a predetermined format, including URL, used on the network; a discrimination device arranged to discriminate a control character relating to device control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received by said reception device; and a control device arranged to control the electronic device mechanically based on the result of discrimination by sold discrimination device.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 40 , wherein the control character includes a control amount of the electronic device.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for controlling an electronic device mechanically, comprising: a reception step of receiving a character string described in a predetermined format, including URL, used on the network; a discrimination step of discriminating a control character relating to device control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received by said reception step; and a control step of controlling the electronic device mechanically based on the result of discrimination by said discrimination step.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for controlling an electronic device mechanically, comprising: a reception step of receiving a character string described in a predetermined format, including URL, used on the network; a discrimination step of discriminating a control character relating to device control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received by said reception step; and a control step of controlling the electronic device mechanically based on the result of discrimination by said discrimination step.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
94 words
A storage medium containing program codes to be read and executed by a computer connected to a control apparatus, comprising: reception-process program codes of executing processing for receiving a character string described in a predetermined format, including URL, used on the network; discrimination-process program codes of executing processing for discriminating a control character relating to device control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received at said reception-process; and control-process program codes of executing processing for controlling the electronic device mechanically based on the result of discrimination by said discrimination-process.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
94 words
A storage medium containing program codes to be read and executed by a computer connected to a control apparatus, comprising: reception-process program codes of executing processing for receiving a character string described in a predetermined format, including URL, used on the network; discrimination-process program codes of executing processing for discriminating a control character relating to device control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received at said reception-process; and control-process program codes of executing processing for controlling the electronic device mechanically based on the result of discrimination by said discrimination-process.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
69 words
A client apparatus, connected to a network for operating an electronic device comprising: a description device arranged to describe a device control information for controlling an electronic device mechanically input by an input device, at a particular position of URL; and a requesting device arranged to request a control apparatus to control the electronic device mechanically by transferring the character string including the URL described by said description device.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
69 words
A client apparatus, connected to a network for operating an electronic device comprising: a description device arranged to describe a device control information for controlling an electronic device mechanically input by an input device, at a particular position of URL; and a requesting device arranged to request a control apparatus to control the electronic device mechanically by transferring the character string including the URL described by said description device.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 44 , wherein the device control information includes a control amount of the electronic device.
Claim 60
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for operating an electronic device, comprising: a description step of describing a device control information for controlling an electronic device mechanically input by an input device, at a particular position of URL; and a requesting step of requesting a control apparatus to control the electronic device mechanically by transferring the character string including the URL described by said description step.
Claim 61
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for operating an electronic device, comprising: a description step of describing a device control information for controlling an electronic device mechanically input by an input device, at a particular position of URL; and a requesting step of requesting a control apparatus to control the electronic device mechanically by transferring the character string including the URL described by said description step.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
76 words
A storage medium containing program codes to be read and executed by a computer connected to a client apparatus, comprising: description-process program codes of executing processing for describing a device control information for controlling an electronic device mechanically input by an input device, at a particular position of URL; and requesting-process program codes of executing processing for requesting a control apparatus to control the electronic device mechanically by transferring the described character string including the URL.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
76 words
A storage medium containing program codes to be read and executed by a computer connected to a client apparatus, comprising: description-process program codes of executing processing for describing a device control information for controlling an electronic device mechanically input by an input device, at a particular position of URL; and requesting-process program codes of executing processing for requesting a control apparatus to control the electronic device mechanically by transferring the described character string including the URL.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS63164782A
Cited
US4769811A
Cited
JPH02209043A
Cited
US5063440A
Cited
US5193151A
Cited
US5517652A
Cited
US5115429A
Cited
JPH04320183A
Cited
JPH05268296A
Cited
US5592302A
Cited
US5379297A
Cited
US5375068A
Cited
US5742329A
Cited
US5459520A
Cited
JPH06205122A
Cited
JPH06233298A
Cited
US5444482A
Cited
JPH0775092A
Cited
JPH0795200A
Cited
WO1995011566A1
Cited
JPH07121789A
Cited
US5859979A
Cited
JPH07152668A
Cited
JPH07203053A
Cited
US5822537A
Cited
US5579301A
Cited
JPH07250322A
Cited
US5640202A
Cited
US5839905A
Cited
WO1996002106A1
Cited
US5758085A
Cited
EP0715453A2
Cited
US5729471A
Cited
US6122005A
Cited
US5674003A
Cited
US5742762A
Cited
US5706434A
Cited
US5878219A
Cited
US5778187A
Cited
US5956482A
Cited
US5982362A
Cited
US5870093A
Cited
US6067571A
Cited
US5790792A
Cited
US5848415A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-02-24 | 2006-08-26 | 2007-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-24 | 2010-08-26 | 2011-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-24 | 2014-08-26 | 2015-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |