Method and apparatus for providing subimages to remote sites

• US 20040201677A1
• Filed: 04/25/2001
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bronson, Barry
• Granted Patent: US 7,148,914 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19689 Remote control of cameras, e.g. remote orientation or image zooming control for a PTZ camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Subimages are provided to remote sites by an image access system having an image sensor for sensing an image, and an image processing system for generating subimages from the sensed image. Users at a plurality of remotes sites can access the image access system, and can select a portion of the sensed image that they wish to view. The image sensor can be a sensor array for viewing a field of interest, and the users at the remote sites can pan and zoom electronically through the sensed image to select the subimage that they wish to view.

Claims

1. A method of providing images to a remote site, the method comprising:

sensing an image of a scene;

establishing a connection with a remote site;

transmitting the sensed image to the remote site;

receiving a selection of a subimage of the sensed image from the remote site;

generating the subimage from the sensed image; and

transmitting the subimage to the remote site.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining whether the remote site is authorized to receive images.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining at least one of a priority level and an exclusivity level of the remote site.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining whether a channel is available for transmitting the subimage to the remote site.

5. The method of claim 4, comprising:

transmitting a message to the remote site asking whether the remote site is to receive subimages transmitted on a channel assigned to another remote site.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the subimage comprises:

generating a series of frames of the subimage.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of transmitting the subimage comprises:

transmitting the series of frames of the subimage to the remote site.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of transmitting the subimage comprises:

transmitting subimage data on one of a plurality of channels.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the subimage comprises:

selecting subimage data from the sensed image; and

formatting the subimage data.

10. A method of providing images to a plurality of remote sites, the method comprising:

sensing an image of a scene;

establishing connections with the remote sites;

transmitting the sensed image to the remote sites;

receiving a selection of a subimage from each of the remote sites;

assigning each of the remotes sites to a channel;

generating the subimage selected at each remote site; and

transmitting the subimages to their respective remote sites.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising:

determining whether channels are available to transmit the subimages to the remote sites.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting the subimages comprises transmitting a series of frames of the subimages.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of selecting a subimage comprises:

panning through the sensed image; and

indicating a portion of the sensed image to be displayed.

13. A method of displaying images at a remote site, the method comprising:

establishing a connection with an image access system;

receiving a sensed image of a scene to be observed;

displaying the sensed image;

selecting a subimage of the sensed image;

transmitting the selection of the subimage to the image access system;

receiving the subimage from the image access system; and

displaying the subimage.

15. An image access system comprising:

an image sensor for sensing an image; and

an image processing system operably coupled to the image sensor, wherein the image processing system receives image data from the image sensor, generates subimages of the sensed image, and transmits subimages to remote sites upon request by the remote sites.

16. The image access system of claim 15, wherein the image processing system comprises:

a sensor control operably coupled to the image sensor, wherein the sensor control receives the image data from the image sensor.

17. The image access system of claim 16, wherein the image processing system comprises:

an access control operably coupled to the sensor control and in communication with the remote sites, wherein the access control controls access of the remote sites to the image access system, the generation of subimages, and the transmission of subimages to the remote sites.

18. The image access system of claim 17, wherein the image processing system comprises:

a processor operably coupled to the access control to receive instructions from the access control, wherein the processor receives image data from the sensor control and formats image data for transmission to the remote sites.

19. The image access system of claim 18, wherein the image processing system comprises:

a frame buffer operably coupled to the sensor control and to the processor, wherein the frame buffer receives image data from the sensor and provides image data to the processor.

20. The image access system of claim 15, wherein the image sensor includes a sensor array.