Internet camera system

• US 20020053087A1
• Filed: 10/25/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axis AB (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Negishi, Kiyoshi, Ishikawa, Masao
• Granted Patent: US 7,562,380 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

An Internet camera system is provided with a file server connected to the Internet, an Internet camera provided with a modem, and a terminal device. The Internet camera is capable of capturing an image and converting the same into an image file. Further, the Internet camera is capable of transmitting the image file, through the modem, to the file server via the Internet. The terminal device is connectable to the Internet, and is capable of browsing images the file server stores. The terminal device further includes a transmitting system that transmits predetermined data to the file server. The file server includes a calling system that makes a call to the modem of the Internet camera when the predetermined data is transmitted from the terminal device. The Internet camera is configured to capture an image and transmit an image file of the captured image when the modem receives a call.

Claims

1. An Internet camera system, comprising:

a file server connected to the Internet;

an Internet camera provided with a modem, said Internet camera being capable of capturing an image and converting the same into an image file, said Internet camera being capable of transmitting said image file through said modem to said file server via the Internet;

a terminal device connectable to the Internet, said terminal device being capable of browsing images stored in said file server,

said terminal device including a transmitting system that transmits predetermined data to said file server,

said file server including a calling system that makes a call to said modem,

said Internet camera capturing an image and transmitting an image file of the captured image when said modem receives a call.

2. The Internet camera system according to claim 1, wherein said file server transmits data to said terminal device, said data being indicative of completion of file transmission from said Internet camera to said file server, said file transmission being performed when said modem receives said call.

3. The Internet camera system according to claim 1, wherein said modem does not establish a connection with respect to said call.

4. The Internet camera system according to claim 1,

wherein said terminal device includes an input system through which operation commands can be input, and

wherein said transmitting system transmits said predetermined data in response to a predetermined operation of said input system.

5. The Internet camera system according to claim 4,

wherein said terminal device includes a monitor that is capable of displaying images stored in said file server,

wherein said input system includes a pointing device which is manually operable to move a pointer displayed on said monitor, said pointing device being provided with a button member, and

wherein said transmitting system transmits said predetermined data when said pointer is located on a predetermined image on said monitor by moving said pointing device, and then, said button member is depressed.

6. The Internet camera system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of Internet cameras each of which is capable of transmitting said image file to said file server.

7. The Internet camera system according to claim 6,

wherein said terminal device includes an input system through which operation commands can be input, and

wherein said transmitting system transmits said predetermined data to said file server in accordance with predetermined operations of said input system, and

wherein said calling system makes said call to a modem of at least one of said plurality of Internet cameras in response to said predetermined data.

8. The Internet camera system according to claim 7,

wherein said terminal device includes a monitor that is capable of displaying images, which are captured by said plurality of Internet cameras, transmitted therefrom and stored in said file server,

wherein said input system includes a pointing device which is manually operable to move a pointer displayed on said monitor, said pointing device being provided with a button member,

wherein, when said pointer is located on one of predetermined images on said monitor by moving said pointing device, and then, said button member is depressed, said transmitting system transmits said predetermined data to file server in accordance with the image on which the pointer is located and said button member is depressed, and

wherein said calling system makes said call to said modem of one of said plurality of Internet cameras in response to said predetermined data.

9. The Internet camera system according to claim 7,

wherein said terminal device includes a monitor that is capable of displaying images, which are captured by said plurality of Internet cameras, transmitted therefrom and stored in said file server,

wherein said input system includes a pointing device which is manually operable to move a pointer displayed on said monitor, said pointing device being provided with a button member,

wherein, when said pointer is located on a predetermined image on said monitor by moving said pointing device, and then, said button member is depressed, said transmitting system transmits said predetermined data to file server, and

wherein said calling system calls all the modems of said plurality of Internet cameras.

10. The Internet camera system according to claim 1, wherein said Internet camera transmits an image file only when said call is made by said calling system of said file server.

11. The Internet camera system according to claim 1, wherein said modem is capable of identifying a caller who is currently calling, and wherein said Internet camera transmits an image file only when the caller is a predetermined caller.

12. The Internet camera system according to claim 11, wherein said modem identifies the caller based on a telephone number transmitted through a telephone line.

13. The Internet camera system according to claim 1, wherein said Internet camera is programmed to capture an image and transmit at least one image file corresponding to said image in accordance with a predetermined schedule.