Imaging apparatus, imaging system and method thereof

• US 20050018049A1
• Filed: 07/20/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Falk, Dietrich
• Granted Patent: US 8,144,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.990
• 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

To provide a system, apparatus and method of changing frame rate of cameras according to the detector that has sent an alarm signal, in order to optimize utilization of hardware resources. An apparatus for setting a frame rate under which images are captured by a camera in an image capturing system having a plurality of cameras and a plurality of detectors, the apparatus including: detector interface for receiving a first signal from at least one of the sensors; association unit for associating the first signal with information related to the camera; calculation unit for calculating a frame rate of each of the plurality of cameras based on the association between the first signal and the information related to the cameras; setting unit for setting the frame rate of the camera calculation by the calculation unit; and second reception unit (capture card) for receiving image data from the camera at a frame rate set by the setting unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for setting a frame rate under which images are captured by an imaging device in an image capturing system including a plurality of imaging devices and a plurality of sensors, the apparatus comprising:

first reception unit for receiving a first signal from at least one of said sensors;

association unit for associating said first signal with information related to said imaging device;

calculation unit for calculating a frame rate of each of said plurality of imaging devices based on said association between said first signal and said information related to said imaging device;

setting unit for setting said frame rate of said imaging device according to a result of calculation by said calculation unit; and

second reception unit for receiving image data from said imaging device at a frame rate set by said setting unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

storage unit for storing configuration and setup data related to said association between said first signal and said information related to said imaging device and said frame rate settings; and

controller for controlling said imaging device according to said setup data.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information related to said imaging device includes information used for calculation of frame rate of said imaging device when said first signal is received from said sensor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said storage unit stores association information between each sensor of said plurality of sensors and each imaging device of said plurality of imaging devices in form of a matrix containing information used for calculation of frame rate of each imaging device when said first signal is received from said sensor.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said matrix includes values of minimum frame rate required for each imaging device when a signal from said sensor is received.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said storage unit stores a plurality of matrices containing information used for calculation of frame rate of each imaging device when said first signal is received from said sensor and each matrix designates a mode of operation.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting unit sets a variation of frame rate of said imaging device according to time.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said setting unit sets a variation of frame rate of said imaging device according to time based on frame rate function data stored in said storage unit.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said calculation unit calculates said frame rate of each of said plurality of imaging devices after lapse of a predetermined period of time.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting unit sets frame rate of each of said plurality of imaging devices based on a maximum available frame rate.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

converter for converting said image data to digital signal if said image data includes an analog signal;

recording unit for recording said image data in digital form; and

output unit for outputting said image data.

12. A frame rate changing method for changing frame rate of an imaging device in a surveillance system including a plurality of imaging devices and a plurality of sensors, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first signal from one of said plurality of sensors;

associating said first signal with information related to at least one of said plurality of imaging devices;

calculating a frame rate of each of said plurality of imaging devices based on said association between said first signal and said information related to said imaging device;

setting said frame rate of said imaging device according to a result of said calculation at said calculating step; and

receiving image data from each of said plurality of imaging devices at a frame rate set at said setting step.