Server apparatus and method of transmitting video data

• US 10,582,242 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2016
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kamei, Yoichi, Matsumoto, Shinichi, Kohno, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Mundur, Padma
• Application Number:
  US15/289,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20170026679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234 Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6334 for authorisation, e.g. by transmitting a key wireless communications network key management H04W12/04; wireless communications network access security H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

When a camera server receives an instruction involving invalidation of viewing limitation (masking processing) of video from a privileged client, the camera server limits viewing of video data with respect to a general client and a recording client. The camera server stores the video data of a limited period in a secondary storage device. When the camera server receives an instruction involving validation of the viewing limitation from the privileged client, the camera server transmits the stored video data of the limiting period to the recording client.

Claims

1. A network camera comprising:

a processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor for storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform operations comprising;

receiving an image captured by an image capturing unit;

superimposing a privacy mask onto the captured image, the privacy mask masking a part of the captured image;

transmitting the captured image with the privacy mask to a non-privileged client apparatus;

in response to receiving a request from a privileged client apparatus to change a size or a position of the privacy mask onto the captured image by the privileged client apparatus,

suspending the transmission of the captured image with the privacy mask to the non-privileged client apparatus;

transmitting the captured image without superimposing the privacy mask onto the captured image to the privileged client apparatus in which the transmitted captured image without the privacy mask is displayed while the transmission of the captured image with the privacy mask to the non-privileged client apparatus is suspended; and

setting a new size or position of the privacy mask based on setting data sent from the privileged client apparatus.

2. The network camera according to claim 1, wherein a request for setting an operation limitation of panning and tilting of the image capturing unit is received as another request for transmitting the captured image without superimposing the privacy mask onto the captured image.

3. A method for transmission comprising:

receiving an image captured by an image capturing unit;

processing a limitation of viewing of the captured image;

superimposing a privacy mask onto the captured image with the limitation to a non-privileged client apparatus, the privacy mask masking a part of the captured image;

in response to receiving a request from a privileged client apparatus to change a size or a position of the privacy mask onto the captured image by the privileged client apparatus,

suspending the transmission of the captured image with the privacy mask;

transmitting the captured image without superimposing the privacy mask onto the captured image to the privileged client apparatus in which the transmitted captured image without the privacy mask is displayed while the transmission of the captured image with the privacy mask to the non-privileged client apparatus is suspended; and

setting a new size or position of the privacy mask based on setting data sent from the privileged client.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein a request for setting an operation limitation of panning and tilting of the image capturing unit is received as another request for transmitting the captured image without superimposing the privacy mask onto the captured image.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform a method for transmission comprising:

receiving an image captured by an image capturing unit;

superimposing a privacy mask onto the captured image, the privacy mask masking a part of the captured image;

transmitting the captured image with the privacy mask to a non-privileged client apparatus;

in response to receiving a request from a privileged client apparatus to change a size or a position of the privacy mask onto the captured image by the privileged client apparatus,

suspending the transmission of the captured image with the privacy mask to the non-privileged client apparatus;

transmitting the captured image without superimposing the privacy mask onto the captured image to the privileged client apparatus in which the transmitted captured image without the privacy mask is displayed while the transmission of the captured image with the privacy mask to the non-privileged client apparatus is suspended; and

setting a new size or position of the privacy mask based on setting data sent from the privileged client apparatus.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein a request for setting an operation limitation of panning and tilting of the image capturing unit is received as another request for transmitting the captured image without superimposing the privacy mask onto the captured image.