Camera control system, camera server, client, control method, and recording medium

• US 20050078180A1
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Minoru
• Granted Patent: US 7,210,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

It is an object of the invention to provide a camera control system in which operations intended by clients can be carried out by a camera server by appropriately managing and controlling every client that wishes to control a camera so that operation commands are issued to the camera server from only one client at any given time.

In a camera control system composed of: a camera server 1 that controls a camera whose angle can be freely controlled; and a plurality of clients 3a, 3b, and 3c that control the camera and display images transmitted from the camera server 1 on a display screen, the camera server 1 includes notifying means operable when the camera server 1 has received a control authorization acquisition request for camera control that has been issued by one client to notify the client of time information including a waiting time before the camera control is possible and a permitted control time during which the camera control is permitted for a fixed period after the waiting time has elapsed.

Claims

1. A camera control system comprising:

a camera server that controls a camera whose angle can be freely controlled; and

a plurality of clients that control the camera and display images transmitted from the camera server on a display screen,

wherein the camera server includes notifying means operable, when the camera server has received a control authorization acquisition request for camera control that has been issued by one client, to notify the one client of time information including a waiting time before the camera control is possible and a permitted control time during which the camera control is permitted for a fixed period after the waiting time has elapsed.

2. A camera control system according to claim 1, wherein when the camera server has received a control authorization acquisition request from another client following the one client, a waiting time of the other client is calculated based on a remaining waiting time and the permitted control time of the one client or on a remaining part of the permitted control time if the one client has commenced the camera control after the waiting time has elapsed, and the other client is notified of the calculated waiting time and the permitted control time.

3. A camera control system according to claim 1, wherein the camera server includes:

searching means for receiving identification information that identifies a client that has issued the control authorization acquisition request, storing the identification information in a storage means provided in the camera server, and searching a management table, for managing identification information and the waiting times and the permitted control times of clients corresponding to the identification information, to confirm whether the received identification information is included in the management table; and

registering means operable when the searching means finds that the received identification information is not included in the management table to associate the received identification information with the notified waiting time and the permitted control time and to register the identification information, the waiting time, and the permitted control time in the management table.

4. A camera control system according to claim 3, wherein when the searching means finds that the received identification information is included in the management table, the camera server does not accept a control authorization acquisition request from a client corresponding to the received identification information and notifies the client of the waiting time and the permitted control time of the client that are present in the management table.

5. A camera control system according to claim 3, wherein the camera server deletes the identification information and the time information corresponding to a client whose permitted control time in the management table has reached zero from the management table.

6. A camera control system according to claim 1, wherein when the client permitted to control the camera is switched, the camera server stops operations of the camera for a predetermined time.

7. A camera control system according to claim 1, wherein when the client permitted to control the camera is switched, the camera server does not accept a camera control request from the client permitted to control the camera for a predetermined time.

8. A camera control system according to claim 1, wherein, in the camera server, the permitted control time for which a client is permitted to control the camera can be freely set.

9. A camera control system according to claim 1, wherein, in the camera server, a maximum value can be set for a number of clients waiting to acquire control authorization.

10. A camera control system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of clients respectively comprise:

issuing means for issuing the control authorization acquisition request and identification information;

receiving means for receiving the waiting time and permitted control time notified from the camera server; and

informing means operable after the waiting time has elapsed from a point at which the waiting time was received to for inform a user that the camera control is permitted.

11. A camera server that includes a camera whose angle can be freely controlled and transmits images photographed with the camera in accordance with instructions from clients in remote locations to the clients,

the camera server comprising notifying means operable, when the camera server has received a control authorization acquisition request for camera control that has been issued by one client, to notify the one client of time information including a waiting time before the camera control is possible and a permitted control time during which the camera control is permitted for a fixed period after the waiting time has elapsed.

12. A camera server according to claim 11, wherein when the camera server has received a control authorization acquisition request from another client following the one client, a waiting time of the other client is calculated based on a remaining waiting time and the permitted control time of the one client or on a remaining part of the permitted control time if the one client has commenced camera control after the waiting time has elapsed, and the other client is notified of the calculated waiting time and the permitted control time.

13. A camera server according to claim 11, wherein the camera server includes:

searching means for receiving identification information that identifies a client that has issued the control authorization acquisition request, storing the identification information in a storage means provided in the camera server, and searching a management table for managing identification information and the waiting times and permitted control times of clients corresponding to the identification information to confirm whether the received identification information is included in the management table; and

registering means operable when the searching means finds that the received identification information is not included in the management table to associate the received identification information with the notified waiting time and the permitted control time and to register the identification information, the waiting time, and the permitted control time in the management table.

14. A camera server according to claim 13, wherein when the searching means finds that the received identification information is included in the management table, the camera server does not accept a control authorization acquisition request from a client corresponding to the received identification information and notifies the client of the waiting time and the permitted control time of the client that are present in the management table.

15. A camera server according to claim 13, wherein the camera server deletes the identification information and the time information corresponding to a client whose permitted control time in the management table has reached zero from the management table.

16. A camera server according to claim 11, wherein when the client permitted to control the camera is switched, the camera server stops operations of the camera for a predetermined time.

17. A camera server according to claim 11, wherein when the client permitted to control the camera is switched, the camera server does not accept a camera control request from the client permitted to control the camera for a predetermined time.

18. A camera server according to claim 11, wherein the permitted control time for which a client is permitted to control the camera can be freely set.

19. A camera control system according to claim 11, wherein a maximum value can be set for a number of clients waiting to acquire control authorization.

20. A client that is connected to a camera server that transmits images photographed by a camera whose angle can be freely controlled,

the client comprising:

issuing means for issuing a control authorization acquisition request for camera control and identification information for the client to the camera server;

receiving means for receiving a waiting time before the camera control is possible and a permitted control time during which the camera control is permitted for a fixed period after the waiting time has elapsed that are sent in reply from the camera server that has received the control authorization acquisition request and the identification information; and

informing means operable after the waiting time has elapsed from a point at which the waiting time was received to inform a user that the camera control is permitted.

21. A client according to claim 20, wherein a remaining part of the received waiting time that changes as the received waiting time elapses is displayed on a display screen.

22. A client according to claim 20, wherein the user is informed that the camera control is possible by displaying a camera control operation section on a display screen to indicate that the waiting time has elapsed.

23. A client according to claim 20, further comprising a speaker, wherein the user is informed that the camera control is possible via a sound or voice emitted via the speaker to indicate that the waiting time has elapsed.

24. A client according to claim 20, wherein the user is informed that the time during which the camera control is possible has ended when the permitted control time has elapsed.

25. A client according to claim 20, wherein a remaining part of the permitted control time that changes as time passes is displayed on a display screen.

26. A client according to claim 20, wherein a user is informed that the time during which the camera control is possible has ended by stopping a display of a camera control operation section displayed on a display screen to indicate that the permitted control time has elapsed.

27. A control method for a camera server that includes a camera whose angle can be freely controlled and transmits images photographed with the camera in accordance with instructions from clients in remote locations to the clients,

the control method comprising:

a step of notifying, when the camera server has received a control authorization acquisition request for camera control that has been issued by one client, the one client of time information including a waiting time before the camera control is possible and a permitted control time during which the camera control is permitted for a fixed period after the waiting time has elapsed.

28. A control method for a camera server according to claim 27, wherein when the camera server has received a control authorization acquisition request from another client following the one client, a waiting time of the other client is calculated based on a remaining waiting time and the permitted control time of the one client or on a remaining part of the permitted control time if the one client has commenced camera control after the waiting time has elapsed, and the other client is notified of the calculated waiting time and the permitted control time.

29. A control method for a camera server according to claim 27, further comprising a step of receiving identification information that identifies a client that has issued the control authorization acquisition request, storing the identification information in a storage means provided in the camera server, and searching a management table for managing identification information and the waiting times and permitted control times of clients corresponding to the identification information to confirm whether the received identification information is included in the management table;

and a step of associating, when the received identification information is not included in the management table, the received identification information with the notified waiting time and the permitted control time and registering the identification information, the waiting time, and the permitted control time in the management table.

30. A control method for a camera server according to claim 29, wherein when the received identification information is included in the management table, a control authorization acquisition request from a client corresponding to the received identification information is not accepted and the client is notified of the waiting time and the permitted control time of the client that are present in the management table.

31. A control method for a camera server according to claim 29, wherein the identification information and the time information corresponding to a client whose permitted control time in the management table has reached zero are deleted from the management table.

32. A control method for a camera server according to claim 27, wherein when the client permitted to control the camera is switched, operations of the camera are stopped for a predetermined time.

33. A control method for a camera server according to claim 27, wherein when the client permitted to control the camera is switched, a camera control request is not accepted from the client permitted to control the camera for a predetermined time.

34. A control method for a client that is connected to a camera server that transmits images photographed by a camera whose angle can be freely controlled,

the control method comprising:

a step of issuing the control authorization acquisition request for camera control and identification information for the client to the camera server;

a step of receiving a waiting time before the camera control is possible and a permitted control time during which the camera control is permitted for a fixed period after the waiting time has elapsed that are sent in reply from the camera server that has received the control authorization acquisition request and the identification information; and

a step of informing, after the waiting time has elapsed

from a point at which the waiting time was received, a user that the camera control is permitted.

35. A computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a program for causing an apparatus to function as a camera server, which includes a camera whose angle can be freely controlled and transmits images photographed with the camera in accordance with instructions from clients in remote locations to the clients,

the program causing the apparatus to function as a notifying means operable, when the camera server has received a control authorization acquisition request for camera control that has been issued by one client, to notify the one client of time information including a waiting time before the camera control is possible and a permitted control time during which the camera control is permitted for a fixed period after the waiting time has elapsed.

36. A computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a program for causing an apparatus to function as a client that is connected to a camera server that transmits images photographed by a camera whose angle can be freely controlled,

the program causing the apparatus to function as:

an issuing means for issuing the control authorization acquisition request for camera control and identification information for the client to the camera server;

receiving means for receiving a waiting time before the camera control is possible and a permitted control time during which the camera control is permitted for a fixed period after the waiting time has elapsed that are sent in reply from the camera server that has received the control authorization acquisition request and the identification information; and

informing means operable after the waiting time has elapsed from a point at which the waiting time was received to inform a user that the camera control is permitted.

37. A camera control system comprising:

a camera server for controlling a pan/tilt camera; and

a client that remotely indicates a pan/tilt of the pan/tilt camera,

wherein the client sends a control authorization acquisition request for camera control, and

when the control authorization acquisition request is received from the client, the camera server transmits time information including a waiting time and a permitted control time to the client.

38. A camera control system according to claim 37, wherein the waiting time transmitted to the client is calculated based on a remaining waiting time and the permitted control time of a previous client that previously issued a control acquisition request to the camera server or on a remaining part of the permitted control time if the previous client has commenced camera control after the waiting time has elapsed.

39. A camera control system according to claim 37, wherein the client transmits identification information that identifies the client together with the control authorization acquisition request and the camera server additionally receives the identification information and registers the identification information and the waiting time and permitted control time of the client corresponding to the identification information in a management table.

40. A camera control system according to claim 39, wherein on receiving the control authorization acquisition request from the client, the camera server deletes the control authorization acquisition request if the client is already registered in the management table.