Network-connected camera and image display method

• US 20040246339A1
• Filed: 03/22/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ambiru, Yasuhito, Yoshimura, Hiroshi, Ooshima, Isao
• Application Number:
  US10/805,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20040246339A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• 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 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A network-connected camera comprising a retrieval message sending unit configured to send a retrieval message that contains the position information of the camera itself over a network at regular intervals, a return message sending unit configured to, upon detecting a retrieval message sent over the network, send a return message containing the position information of the camera itself over the network, and a position information recording unit configured to, upon detecting a retrieval message and a return message sent over the network, record the position information contained in the retrieval message and the return message.

Claims

1. A network-connected camera comprising:

a retrieval message sending unit configured to send a retrieval message that contains the position information of the camera itself over a network at regular intervals;

a return message sending unit configured to, upon detecting a retrieval message sent over the network, send a return message containing the position information of the camera itself over the network; and

a position information recording unit configured to, upon detecting a retrieval message and a return message sent over the network, record the position information contained in the retrieval message and the return message.

2. A network-connected camera according to claim 1, wherein the position information recording unit changes the recorded contents on the basis of a detected return message sent over the network in response to the retrieval message sent over the network at regular intervals by the retrieval message sending unit.

3. A network-connected camera according to claim 1, wherein the position information recording unit, upon detecting a new return message sent over the network in response to the retrieval message sent over the network at regular intervals by the retrieval message sending unit, adds position information contained in the new return message to its recorded contents.

4. A network-connected camera according to claim 1, wherein, when a return message for the retrieval message sent over the network at regular intervals by the retrieval message sending unit is not detected over a predetermined number of times, the position information recording unit erases the position information contained in that return information and recorded when it was once detected.

5. A network-connected camera according to claim 1, further comprising an information sending unit configured to, upon receiving a request for multi-image display over the network, send over the network information that allows the multi-image display on the basis of the recorded contents of the position information recording unit.

6. A network-connected camera according to claim 5, wherein the information sending unit sends over the network first information that specifies a layout for the multi-image display and second information that specifies assignment of images captured by cameras connected to the network to divided display areas on a display screen indicated by the layout specified by the first information.

7. A network-connected camera according to claim 6, wherein, upon detecting information that selects cameras which provide images to be displayed on the divided display areas indicated by the layout and is sent over the network, the information sending unit sends over the network information that specifies cameras selected on the basis of that select information.

8. An image display method comprising:

obtaining over a network first information that specifies a layout for multi-image display and second information that specifies a number of cameras which provides images which are to be displayed on divided display areas indicated by the layout specified by the first information;

dividing a display screen into a number of display areas on the basis of the layout specified by the first information;

obtaining image signals from the cameras specified by the second information over the network; and

displaying the image signals obtained from the cameras over the network on the divided display areas, respectively, of the display screen.