Information processing apparatus, information processing method, information processing system and program thereof

• US 20040131282A1
• Filed: 09/04/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yoshida, Kazushi, Hasegawa, Yutaka, Kaneko, Jun, Kanai, Shinichi, Noma, Tsunetake, Narahara, Tsunenobu
• Granted Patent: US 7,280,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

Notification of upload of a fixed point observation image to a server. A response program captures a fixed point observation image upon controlling a camera through a camera control program. An image analysis program analyzes the captured image and sends the result of analysis to the response program that, then, makes the camera control program control and make the camera capture image based on setup data and under timing set in response to the result of analysis; the captured image is then uploaded to an image management server. A response program of the image management server acquires the uploaded image and stores the image in an image database (image DB) while reading out a transmission destination from a setup DB, then controls a mailing program so as to transmit notification of upload of the fixed point observation image to the PC. The present invention may be applied to an image management system.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

imaging means for capturing image;

storage means for storing image captured by said imaging means as a fixed point observation image;

transmission means for transmitting said fixed point observation image to a server;

transmission commanding means for commanding transmission of said fixed point observation image to said server by means of said transmission means;

setting means for setting a distribution condition for distributing information related to said transmission of said fixed point observation image to said server; and

controlling means for performing control based on a command from said transmission commanding means so as to transmit, along with said fixed point observation image, commanding information for distributing said information related to transmission of said fixed point observation image to said server if said distribution condition is fulfilled, when said transmission means transmits said fixed point observation image to said server.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information related to transmission of said fixed point observation image to said server by said transmission means includes one of information indicating that said fixed point observation image has been transmitted to said server, information forecasting that said fixed point observation image will be transmitted to said server, information on a URL of said server to which said fixed point observation image is transmitted, and information on time on which said fixed point observation image will be transmitted to said server.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said distribution condition includes one of transmission of said fixed point observation image captured at an occurrence of a predetermined event to said server, and starting of a fixed point observation.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined event includes one of a lapse of a period of time, movement of a fixed point observation image, change in brightness of a fixed point observation image, a red object entering a field of view within a fixed point observation image, and a subject of a fixed point observation image moving leftwards.

5. An information processing method comprising the steps of:

image capturing;

storing image captured through said image capturing step as a fixed point observation image;

transmitting said fixed point observation image to a server;

commanding transmission of said fixed point observation image to said server by means of said transmitting step;

setting a distribution condition for distributing information related to said transmission of said fixed point observation image to said server; and

performing control based on a command from said commanding step so as to transmit along with said fixed point observation image, commanding information for distributing said information related to transmission of said fixed point observation image to said server if said distribution condition is fulfilled, when said transmitting step transmits said fixed point observation image to said server.

6. A program for causing a computer to execute the steps of

commanding transmission of a fixed point observation image to a server;

setting a distribution condition for distributing information related to said transmission of said fixed point observation image to said server; and

performing control based on a command from said commanding step so as to transmit, along with said fixed point observation image, commanding information for distributing said information related to transmission of said fixed point observation image to said server if said distribution condition is fulfilled, when said transmitting step transmits said fixed point observation image to said server.

7. An information processing system including an information processing apparatus for transmitting a fixed point observation image and a server for receiving said fixed point observation image, wherein:

said information processing apparatus comprises;

imaging means for image capturing;

storage means for storing image captured by said imaging means as a fixed point observation image;

transmission means for transmitting said fixed point observation image to a server;

transmission commanding means for commanding transmission of said fixed point observation image to said server by means of said transmission means;

setting means for setting a distribution condition for distributing information related to transmission of said fixed point observation image to said server; and

controlling means for performing control based on a command from said transmission commanding means so as to transmit, along with said fixed point observation image, commanding information for distributing said information related to transmission of said fixed point observation image to said server if said distribution condition is fulfilled, when said transmission means transmits said fixed point observation image to said server; and

said server comprises;

receiving means for receiving a distribution condition at event of distribution of said information related to transmission of said fixed point observation image; and

distribution means for distributing said information related to transmission of said fixed point observation image based on said distribution condition.

8. An information processing apparatus comprising:

connecting means for establishing connection with another information processing apparatus by means of instant messaging;

imaging means for image capturing;

storage means for storing image captured by said imaging means as a fixed point observation image;

transmission means for transmitting said fixed point observation image to a server; and

transmission commanding means for commanding transmission of said fixed point observation image to another information processing apparatus by means of said transmission means.

9. An information processing method comprising the steps of:

connecting with another information processing apparatus by means of instant messaging;

image capturing;

storing image captured through said image capturing step as a fixed point observation image;

transmitting said fixed point observation image to a server; and

commanding transmission of said fixed point observation image to another information processing apparatus by means of said transmitting step.

10. A program for causing a computer to execute the steps of:

connecting with another information processing apparatus by means of instant messaging;

image capturing;

storing image captured through said image capturing step as a fixed point observation image;

transmitting said fixed point observation image to a server; and

commanding transmission of said fixed point observation image to another information processing apparatus by means of said transmitting step.