Image transmission apparatus, image transmission method, program, and storage medium

• US 10,038,843 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2014
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kitagawa, Eiichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Rubin, Blake J
• Application Number:
  US14/460,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20140354840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33323 transmission mode only, e.g. speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0039 Connection via a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0058 Docking-station, cradle or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33342 of transmission mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image transmission apparatus connected to an image pickup apparatus and configured to transmit an image picked up by the image pickup apparatus to a plurality of client terminals via a network. The image transmission apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set a transmission processing mode for transmitting a still image picked up by the image pickup apparatus and a real-time image picked up by the image pickup apparatus and having a resolution lower than that of the still image according to an instruction issued from one of the plurality of client terminals, and a control unit configured to control an instruction to the image pickup apparatus and a transmission processing for the still image and the real-time image according to the transmission processing mode set by the setting unit.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an image capturer configured to capture image data;

a transmitter configured to transmit image data to a display apparatus;

a receiver configured to receive, from the display apparatus, a plurality of types of instruction including a still image capturing instruction and a still image acquiring instruction;

a processor configured to generate a low resolution still image from a high resolution still image obtained by the image capturer; and

an apparatus controller configured to perform control to cause the image capturer to capture image data and the transmitter to transmit image data,

wherein, in response to receiving a still image capturing instruction from the display apparatus while the transmitter is transmitting, to the display apparatus, live image data having a first resolution, the apparatus controller, during a predetermined processing period, performs control (i) to cause the transmitter to suspend transmitting the live image data having the first resolution to the display apparatus, (ii) to cause the image capturer to capture the high resolution still image having a second resolution that is higher than the first resolution, (iii) not to transmit the captured high resolution still image to the display apparatus, (iv) to transmit the low resolution still image, having a size that is smaller than a size of the high resolution still image, to the display apparatus, wherein the low resolution still image is generated by the processor from the high resolution still image, and (v) to cause the transmitter to resume transmitting the live image data to the display apparatus, and

wherein, in response to receiving, after receiving the still image capturing instruction, a still image acquiring instruction from the display apparatus, the apparatus controller performs control to cause the transmitter to transmit the captured high resolution still image to the display apparatus.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the receiver receives the still image acquiring instruction while the transmitter is transmitting, to the display apparatus, the live image data having the first resolution, the apparatus controller performs control to cause the transmitter to suspend transmitting the live image data having the first resolution to the display apparatus during a second predetermined processing period and to cause the transmitter to transmit the captured high resolution still image to the display apparatus during the second predetermined processing period, after which the apparatus controller performs control to cause the transmitter to resume transmitting the live image data to the display apparatus.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the image processing apparatus and the display apparatus are connected via a communication network, and

wherein the transmitter transmits the image data to the display apparatus via the communication network and the receiver receives the plurality of types of instruction from the display apparatus via the communication network.

10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus includes:

a cradle apparatus having the transmitter, the receiver, and a cradle system controller as part of the apparatus controller, and

a camera in communication with the cradle apparatus and having the image capturer, a camera system controller as part of the apparatus controller, and a camera memory,

wherein the high resolution still image captured by the image capturer in response to the still image capturing instruction is stored in the camera memory and the camera transmits a notification of completion to the cradle apparatus when the still image shooting is completed.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the still image acquiring instruction is received, from the display apparatus, after receiving the still image capturing instruction and in response to transmitting the low resolution still image having the size that is smaller than the size of the high resolution still image.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in response to receiving the still image capturing instruction from the display apparatus while the transmitter is transmitting, to the display apparatus, live image data having the first resolution, the apparatus controller performs control in the following order:

(v) to cause the transmitter to resume transmitting the live image data to the display apparatus, and then (iv) to transmit the low resolution still image, having the size that is smaller than the size of the high resolution still image, to the display apparatus.

3. A display apparatus comprising:

a receiver configured to receive image data from an image processing apparatus, wherein the image processing apparatus includes an image capturer configured to capture image data;

a display configured to display the received image data;

a transmitter configured to transmit, to the image processing apparatus, a plurality of types of instruction including a still image capturing instruction and a still image acquiring instruction; and

an apparatus controller configured to perform control to cause the transmitter to transmit an instruction,

wherein, while the receiver is receiving, from the image processing apparatus, live image data having a first resolution, the apparatus controller performs control to cause the transmitter to transmit, to the image processing apparatus, a still image capturing instruction,

wherein, in response to transmitting the still image capturing instruction and during a predetermined processing period of the image processing apparatus, the display apparatus stops receiving the live image data having the first resolution from the image processing apparatus, the image capturer is caused to capture a high resolution still image having a second resolution that is higher than the first resolution, and the receiver does not receive the captured high resolution still image from the image processing apparatus and receives a low resolution still image, having a size that is smaller than a size of the high resolution still image, from the image processing apparatus, wherein the low resolution still image is generated from the high resolution still image by the image processing apparatus, and the receiver resumes receiving the live image data from the image processing apparatus, and

wherein, in response to transmitting, after transmitting the still image capturing instruction, a still image acquiring instruction to the image processing apparatus, the receiver receives the captured high resolution still image from the image processing apparatus.

4. A method for an image processing apparatus having a camera for capturing image data, a transmitter for transmitting image data, and a receiver for receiving a plurality of types of instruction including a still image capturing instruction and a still image acquiring instruction, the method comprising:

performing control,

wherein, in response to receiving a still image capturing instruction from a display apparatus while the transmitter is transmitting, to the display apparatus, live image data having a first resolution, performing control includes performing control, during a predetermined processing period, (i) to cause the transmitter to suspend transmitting the live image data having the first resolution to the display apparatus, (ii) to cause the camera to capture a high resolution still image having a second resolution that is higher than the first resolution, (iii) not to transmit the captured high resolution still image to the display apparatus, (iv) to transmit a low resolution still image, having a size that is smaller than a size of the high resolution still image, to the display apparatus, wherein the low resolution still image is generated from the high resolution still image, and (v) to cause the transmitter to resume transmitting the live image data to the display apparatus, and

wherein, in response to receiving, after receiving the still image capturing instruction, a still image acquiring instruction from the display apparatus, performing control includes performing control to cause the transmitter to transmit the captured high resolution still image to the display apparatus.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform a method for an image processing apparatus having a camera for capturing image data, a transmitter for transmitting image data, and a receiver for receiving a plurality of types of instruction including a still image capturing instruction and a still image acquiring instruction, the method comprising:

performing control,

wherein, in response to receiving a still image capturing instruction from a display apparatus while the transmitter is transmitting, to the display apparatus, live image data having a first resolution, performing control includes performing control, during a predetermined processing period, (i) to cause the transmitter to suspend transmitting the live image data having the first resolution to the display apparatus, (ii) to cause the camera to capture a high resolution still image having a second resolution that is higher than the first resolution, (iii) not to transmit the captured high resolution still image to the display apparatus, (iv) to transmit a low resolution still image, having a size that is smaller than a size of the high resolution still image, to the display apparatus, wherein the low resolution still image is generated from the high resolution still image, and (v) to cause the transmitter to resume transmitting the live image data to the display apparatus, and

wherein, in response to receiving, after receiving the still image capturing instruction, a still image acquiring instruction from the display apparatus, performing control includes performing control to cause the transmitter to transmit the captured high resolution still image to the display apparatus.

6. A method for a display apparatus having a receiver configured to receive image data from an image processing apparatus, a display configured to display the received image data, and a transmitter configured to transmit, to the image processing apparatus, a plurality of types of instruction including a still image capturing instruction and a still image acquiring instruction, the method comprising:

performing control,

wherein, while receiving, from the image processing apparatus, live image data having a first resolution, performing control includes performing control to cause the transmitter to transmit, to the image processing apparatus, a still image capturing instruction,

wherein, in response to transmitting the still image capturing instruction and during a predetermined processing period of the image processing apparatus, the display apparatus stops receiving the live image data having the first resolution from the image processing apparatus, the image capturer is caused to capture a high resolution still image having a second resolution that is higher than the first resolution, and the receiver does not receive the captured high resolution still image from the image processing apparatus and receives a low resolution still image, having a size that is smaller than a size of the high resolution still image, from the image processing apparatus, wherein the low resolution still image is generated from the high resolution still image by the image processing apparatus, and the receiver resumes receiving the live image data from the image processing apparatus, and

wherein, in response to transmitting, after transmitting the still image capturing instruction, a still image acquiring instruction to the image processing apparatus, the receiver receives the captured high resolution still image from the image processing apparatus.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to perform a method for a display apparatus having a receiver configured to receive image data from an image processing apparatus, a display configured to display the received image data, and a transmitter configured to transmit, to the image processing apparatus, a plurality of types of instruction including a still image capturing instruction and a still image acquiring instruction, the method comprising:

performing control,

wherein, while receiving, from the image processing apparatus, live image data having a first resolution, performing control includes performing control to cause the transmitter to transmit, to the image processing apparatus, a still image capturing instruction,

wherein, in response to transmitting the still image capturing instruction and during a predetermined processing period of the image processing apparatus, the display apparatus stops receiving the live image data having the first resolution from the image processing apparatus, the image capturer is caused to capture a high resolution still image having a second resolution that is higher than the first resolution, and the receiver does not receive the captured high resolution still image from the image processing apparatus and receives a low resolution still image, having a size that is smaller than a size of the high resolution still image, from the image processing apparatus, wherein the low resolution still image is generated from the high resolution still image by the image processing apparatus, and the receiver resumes receiving the live image data from the image processing apparatus, and

wherein, in response to transmitting, after transmitting the still image capturing instruction, a still image acquiring instruction to the image processing apparatus, the receiver receives the captured high resolution still image from the image processing apparatus.

9. A system comprising:

an image processing apparatus having;

an image capturer configured to capture image data,

a transmitter configured to transmit image data to a display apparatus,

a receiver configured to receive, from the display apparatus, a plurality of types of instruction including a still image capturing instruction and a still image acquiring instruction,

a processor configured to generate a low resolution still image from a high resolution still image obtained by the image capturer, and

an apparatus controller configured to perform control to cause the image capturer to capture image data and the transmitter to transmit image data,

wherein, in response to receiving a still image capturing instruction from the display apparatus while the transmitter is transmitting, to the display apparatus, live image data having a first resolution, the apparatus controller, during a predetermined processing period, performs control (i) to cause the transmitter to suspend transmitting the live image data having the first resolution to the display apparatus, (ii) to cause the image capturer to capture the high resolution still image having a second resolution that is higher than the first resolution, (iii) not to transmit the captured high resolution still image to the display apparatus, (iv) to transmit the low resolution still image, having a size that is smaller than a size of the high resolution still image, to the display apparatus, wherein the low resolution still image is generated by the processor from the high resolution still image, and (v) to cause the transmitter to resume transmitting the live image data to the display apparatus, and

wherein, in response to receiving, after receiving the still image capturing instruction, a still image acquiring instruction from the display apparatus, the apparatus controller performs control to cause the transmitter to transmit the captured high resolution still image to the display apparatus; and

the display apparatus, wherein the display apparatus includes;

a client receiver configured to receive image data from the image processing apparatus,

a client display configured to display the received image data,

a client transmitter configured to transmit, to the image processing apparatus, a type of instruction, and

an apparatus controller configured to perform control to cause the client transmitter to transmit an instruction,

wherein, while the client receiver is receiving, from the image processing apparatus, the live image data having a first resolution, the apparatus controller performs control to cause the client transmitter to transmit, to the image processing apparatus, the still image capturing instruction,

wherein, in response to transmitting the still image capturing instruction and during the predetermined processing period of the image processing apparatus, the client display apparatus stops receiving the live image data having the first resolution from the image processing apparatus, the image capturer is caused to capture the high resolution still image having the second resolution that is higher than the first resolution, and the client receiver does not receive the captured high resolution still image from the image processing apparatus and receives the low resolution still image from the image processing apparatus, wherein the low resolution still image is generated from the high resolution still image by the image processing apparatus, and the client receiver resumes receiving the live image data from the image processing apparatus, and

wherein, in response to transmitting, after transmitting the still image capturing instruction, the still image acquiring instruction to the image processing apparatus, the client receiver receives the captured high resolution still image from the image processing apparatus.