Methods and systems for networked camera control

• US 20020018124A1
• Filed: 07/25/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smiths Detection (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Detection (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mottur, Peter A., Zimmer, Ethan Z.
• Granted Patent: US 7,199,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/21 Server components or server architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23 Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• 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 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing fluid real-time camera control of at least one camera to at least one network user via a network including the internet. A control pad or area can be provided to camera users via an application or applet that can be calibrated to provide fluid camera control. Compressed or uncompressed analog, digital, or streaming video and audio data can also be provided to the users to allow real-time low latency continuous audio/visual feedback. Multiple camera users can obtain control of a camera using a dynamic queuing technique that can allow single user camera control for certain time intervals. An administrator can establish user camera control parameters including camera control intervals for subscriber users versus non-subscriber users, camera usurping by an administrator, elimination of camera control privileges for a user, and denial of camera control requests by a user.

Claims

1. A method for providing control of at least one camera to at least one network user, comprising,

providing at least one network link between the at least one camera and the at least one network user,

providing at least one interface to the at least one network user,

generating camera control commands based on data from the at least one interface,

providing the camera control commands to the at least one camera, and,

utilizing the at least one network link to provide the at least one network user with data based on the at least one camera.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing at least one network link between the at least one camera and the at least one network user includes providing at least one network link based on supporting at least one of fiber optic, infrared, satellite, Radio Frequency (RF), microwave, cable, or Internet Protocol (IP) communications.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing at least one interface to the at least one user includes providing at least one applet to the at least one network user.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing at least one interface to the at least one user includes providing at least one application to the at least one network user.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing at least one interface to the at least one user includes providing at least one of a graphical user interface, a database interface, a scripting interface, a menu driven interface, or a text-based interface.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing at least one interface to the at least one user includes providing a control area having a cursor that the at least one user can activate and thereafter control the at least one camera.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein generating camera control commands based on data from the at least one interface includes,

determining a cursor position, and

translating the cursor position to camera control commands.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein generating camera control commands based on data from the at least one interface includes determining whether a cursor is active or inactive.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein generating camera control commands based on data from the at least one interface includes computing at least one of pan, tilt, focus, zoom, and camera preset commands based on the interface data.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein providing the camera control commands to the at least one camera includes transmitting the camera control commands using the at least one network link.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein utilizing the at least one network link to provide the at least one network user with data based on the at least one camera, includes providing the at least one network user with at least one of compressed or uncompressed analog, digital, and streaming audio and visual data based on the at least one camera.

12. A method according to claim 1, further including selecting one of the at least one network users from which to provide control of the at least one camera.

13. A method according to claim 1, further including implementing a queue for providing distributed control of the at least one camera amongst the at least one network users.

15. A GUI according to claim 14, further including an origin designation within the control area.

16. A GUI according to claim 14, further including at least one focus button for increasing and decreasing camera focus.

17. A GUI according to claim 14, further including at least one zoom button for increasing and decreasing camera zoom.

18. A GUI according to claim 14, further including controls for camera presets.

19. A GUI according to claim 14, further including at least one location preset designation for directing the camera to a fixed location.

20. A GUI according to claim 14, wherein the cursor further includes an active mode and an inactive mode.

21. A GUI according to claim 14, wherein the control area further includes a coordinate system for mapping cursor position to camera control commands.

22. A GUI according to claim 14, wherein the control area further includes a coordinate system for mapping cursor position to pan and tilt camera control commands.

24. A method according to claim 23, further including determining whether the request is from a subscriber user or a non-subscriber user.

25. A method according to claim 23, further including associating a camera control time interval with the request.

26. A method according to claim 23, further including assigning priority to the request based on the at least one network user providing the request.

27. A method according to claim 23, further including providing camera control to the next user in the queue.

28. A method according to claim 23, wherein conditionally placing the at least one network user in the at least one queue associated with the request further includes determining that the at least one network user is authorized to request control of the at least one camera.

29. A method according to claim 23, wherein conditionally placing the at least one network user in the at least one queue associated with the request further includes determining whether the at least one network user is a subscriber.

30. A method according to claim 23, further including usurping control of the camera from the at least one network camera.

31. A method according to claim 23, further including providing an indication to assume camera control to the at least one network user.

32. A method according to claim 31, wherein providing an indication includes sending a message via a network for display to at least one network user.

33. A method according to claim 31, wherein providing an indication includes causing an audio sound to be provided to at least one network user.

35. A system according to claim 34, wherein the at least one initiating device further includes at least one processor.

36. A system according to claim 34, wherein the at least one camera further includes at least one processor.

37. A system according to claim 34, further including at least one queue associated with the at least one camera.

38. A system according to claim 34, further including instruction for determining from which of the at least one network users to receive camera control data.

39. A system according to claim 34, wherein the interface includes at least one of a graphical user interface (GUI), a database interface, a scripting interface, a menu driven interface, or a text-based interface.

14. A graphical user interface (GUI) for providing control of at least one camera by at least one network user, the at least one network user and the at least one camera being connected by at least one communicative network link, the GUI comprising,

a control area,

a cursor confined within the control area, and,

a calibration module for generating camera control commands based on the cursor position with the control area.

23. A method for administering control of at least one camera to at least one network user, comprising,

providing at least one queue for association with the at least one camera,

receiving a request from one of the at least one network users for control of the at least one camera,

associating the request with one of the at least one cameras, and

conditionally placing the at least one network user in the at least one queue associated with the request.

34. A system for providing remote control of at least one camera by at least one network user, comprising:

at least one initiating device for providing access to the at least one network user over a network, the initiating device having a display for displaying, an interface for providing camera control data, and, video data from the at least one camera,

at least one server to receive the camera control data from the at least one initiating device, to provide the camera control data to the at least one camera, to receive at least one of audio and video data from the at least one camera, and to provide at least one of the audio and video data to the at least one network user, and

instructions for translating the data from the at least one initiating device, to instructions for moving the at least one camera.

40. A computer product for providing control of at least one camera to at least one network user, the computer product disposed on a computer readable medium and having instructions for causing a processor to,

provide at least one network link between the at least one camera and the at least one network user,

provide at least one interface to the at least one network user,

generate camera control commands based on data from the at least one interface,

provide the camera control commands to the at least one camera, and,

utilize the at least one network link to provide the at least one network user with data based on the at least one camera.

41. A computer product according to claim 40, wherein instructions to provide at least one network link between the at least one camera and the at least one network user include instructions to provide at least one network link based on supporting at least one of fiber optic, infrared, satellite, Radio Frequency (RF), microwave, cable, or Internet Protocol (IP) communications.

42. A computer product according to claim 40, wherein instructions to provide at least one interface to the at least one user include instructions to provide at least one applet to the at least one network user.

43. A computer product according to claim 40, wherein instructions to provide at least one interface to the at least one user include instructions to provide at least one application to the at least one network user.

44. A computer product according to claim 40, wherein instructions to provide at least one interface to the at least one user include instructions to provide at least one of a graphical user interface, a database interface, a scripting interface, a menu driven interface, or a text-based interface.

45. A computer product according to claim 40, wherein instructions to provide at least one interface to the at least one user include instructions to provide a control area having a cursor that the at least one user can activate and thereafter control the at least one camera.

46. A computer product according to claim 40, wherein instructions to generate camera control commands based on data from the at least one interface include instructions to,

determine a cursor position, and

translate the cursor position to camera control commands.

47. A computer product according to claim 40, wherein instructions to generate camera control commands based on data from the at least one interface include instructions to determine whether a cursor is active or inactive.

48. A computer product according to claim 40, wherein instructions to generate camera control commands based on data from the at least one interface include instructions to compute at least one of pan, tilt, focus, zoom, and camera preset commands based on the interface data.

49. A computer product according to claim 40, wherein instructions to provide the camera control commands to the at least one camera include instructions to transmit the camera control commands using the at least one network link.

50. A computer product according to claim 40, wherein instructions to utilize the at least one network link to provide the at least one network user with data based on the at least one camera, include instructions to provide the at least one network user with at least one of compressed or uncompressed analog, digital, and streaming audio and visual data based on the at least one camera.

51. A computer product according to claim 40, further including instructions to select one of the at least one network users from which to provide control of the at least one camera.

52. A computer product according to claim 40, further including instructions to implement a queue for providing distributed control of the at least one camera amongst the at least one network users.

53. A computer for administering control of at least one camera to at least one network user, the computer product disposed on a computer readable medium and having instructions for causing a processor to,

provide at least one queue for association with the at least one camera,

receive a request from one of the at least one network users for control of the at least one camera,

associate the request with one of the at least one cameras, and,

conditionally place the at least one network user in the at least one queue associated with the request.

54. A computer product according to claim 53, further including instructions to determine whether the request is from a subscriber user or a non-subscriber user.

55. A computer product according to claim 53, further including instructions to associate a camera control time interval with the request.

56. A computer product according to claim 53, further including instructions to assign priority to the request based on the at least one network user providing the request.

57. A computer product according to claim 53, further including instructions to provide camera control to the next user in the queue.

58. A computer product according to claim 53, wherein instructions to conditionally place the at least one network user in the at least one queue associated with the request further include instructions to determine that the at least one network user is authorized to request control of the at least one camera.

59. A computer product according to claim 53, wherein instructions to conditionally place the at least one network user in the at least one queue associated with the request further include instructions to determine whether the at least one network user is a subscriber.

60. A computer product according to claim 53, further including instructions to usurp control of the camera from the at least one network camera.

61. A computer product according to claim 53, further including instructions to provide an indication to assume camera control to the at least one network user.

62. A computer product according to claim 61, wherein instructions to provide an indication include instructions to send a message via a network for display to at least one network user.

63. A computer product according to claim 61, wherein instructions to provide an indication include instructions to cause an audio sound to be provided to at least one network user.

64. A system for providing remote control of at least one camera by at least one network user, comprising:

means for providing access for at least one network user to a network, the means for providing access having a display for displaying,

an interface for providing camera control data, and,

video data from the at least one camera,

processor means to receive the camera control data from the at least one initiating device, to provide the camera control data to the at least one camera, to receive at least one of audio and video data from the at least one camera, and to provide at least one of the audio and video data to the at least one network user, and

instructions for translating the data from the at least one initiating device, to instructions for moving the at least one camera.

65. A system according to claim 64, wherein the means for providing access includes at least one processor.