Camera connectible to CCTV network

• US 20050146610A1
• Filed: 01/25/2005
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axis AB (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pentax USA Incorporated (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Koch, Mark, Knapp, Walter, Creamer, Rob, Helton, Richard, Araki, Yoshiyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,567 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00214 details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00217 only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00838 Preventing unauthorised reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00854 Recognising an unauthorised user or user-associated action
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/164 Feedback from the receiver or from the transmission channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/172 the region being a picture, frame or field
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• 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

Abstract

A camera, connectible to a CCTV network, includes a camera lens and image sensor as well as an analog video input connector that receives analog image signals corresponding to views from outside the camera. An image processing circuit outputs image signal data of the image sensor, and a video conversion circuit outputs image signal data of the analog image signals. The image signal data is stored on a storage device. A microcontroller controls the circuits, and a network adapter connects to an internet-protocol address corresponding to a network device capable of serving files. The microcontroller selectively transmits image signal data of the image sensor or transmits image signal data of the analog video input connector from the storage device to the network device using the network adapter and the internet-protocol address.

Claims

1. A camera connectible to a CCTV network, comprising:

a camera lens and image sensor that together receive images;

an image processing circuit connected to the image sensor that outputs image signal data corresponding to the images received;

an analog video input connector which receives analog video signals;

a video conversion circuit connected to the analog video input connector which outputs image signal data corresponding to the analog video signals received;

a camera microcontroller that controls circuits, including the image sensing circuit and the video conversion circuit;

a storage device that stores the image signal data;

a network adapter that connects to an internet-protocol address corresponding to a network device capable of serving files;

wherein the microcontroller selectively transmits image signal data corresponding to the images received by the image sensor or transmits image signal data corresponding to the analog video signals received by the analog video input connector from the storage device of the digital camera to the network device capable of serving files via the network adapter and the internet-protocol address.

2. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a trigger circuit operatively connected to said microcontroller, wherein said microcontroller initiates an image capture and transfer of the image signal data to the network device, in response to triggering of said trigger circuit.

3. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one timer; and

a timer-based image capture routine, executable by said microcontroller, for capturing images according to said timer;

said microcontroller transmitting image signal data including image signal data captured at the time of said triggering of said trigger circuit and image signal data taken according to said timer, and the E-mail transmission routine transmitting the E-mail messages to an E-mail address.

4. The camera according to claim 3, wherein said trigger circuit is connected to an external triggering device via a trigger input connector.

5. The camera according to claim 3, wherein said trigger circuit is associated with one of a motion sensor or trip switch.

6. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said network adapter connects to an internet-protocol network, and further comprising:

a configuration routine executable by said microcontroller which retrieves configuration information from the internet-protocol address via the internet protocol network; and

a configuration setting routine executable by said microcontroller which sets operational parameters of the camera according to the retrieved configuration information.

7. The camera according to claim 6, wherein the configuration information is recoverable via a password key.

8. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a network authentication routine executable by said microcontroller for providing network login authentication to the network device at the internet-protocol address.

9. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising an address obtaining routine executable by the microcontroller, that operates via said network adapter to obtain an internet-protocol address for the camera itself from a device capable of assigning such an internet-protocol address.

10. The camera according to claim 9, wherein the device capable of assigning such an internet-protocol address includes a DNS device.

11. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a password enabling routine executable by the microcontroller, that configures said camera to register on a local network via said network adapter, in a first mode providing a password in order to register on a local network and in a second mode registering on a local network without providing a password.

12. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the network adapter is selected from one of a modem for public telephone networks;

an Ethernet adapter for connecting to an Ethernet LAN;

an ISDN modem;

an xDSL adapter;

a cable modem;

an ATM adapter;

a T carrier terminal adapter;

an adapter for satellite connection;

an adapter for microwave connection;

an adapter for wireless connection;

an adapter for serial transmission over a high speed external serial bus;

or an adapter for data transmission over public power lines.

13. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a protocol switching routine executable by the microcontroller, that selectively switches transfer via said network adapter between a connection-oriented protocol and a connectionless protocol, wherein the microcontroller transfers the image signal data from the storage device of the imaging device to the network device at the internet-protocol address via the network adapter, selectively employing one of the connection-oriented protocol and the connectionless protocol.

14. The camera according to claim 13, wherein the connection-oriented protocol is TCP, and the connectionless protocol is UDP.

15. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising a slot interface, wherein the network adapter is a network interface device detachably installed in the slot interface.

16. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising:

a scheduling routine, executable by said microcontroller, for scheduling transmission of image signal data from the storage device of the camera to the network device capable of serving files via the network adapter and the internet-protocol address.

17. The camera according to claim 1, wherein said image signal data includes information representing a status of at least one timer.

18. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising:

a serial interface adapted to connect to a setup device, said serial interface receiving commands for controlling said camera from said connected setup device.

19. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising:

an E-mail message assembling routine executable by the microcontroller that assembles E-mail messages including the image signal data; and

an E-mail transmission routine executable by the microcontroller which transmits said E-mail messages including the image signal data to an E-mail address.

20. The camera according to claim 19, further comprising:

a trigger input operatively connected to said microcontroller, wherein said microcontroller initiates an image capture and transfer of the image signal data to the network device via said E-mail assembling routine and said E-mail transmission routine, in response to triggering of said trigger input.

21. The camera according to claim 1, further comprising:

a video output for sending a standard video signal, wherein the image signal data is transmitted as video images to the video output.

22. A camera connectible to a CCTV network, comprising:

a camera lens and image sensor that together form camera image signals corresponding to the image sensor'"'"'s view;

an analog input connector which collects input image signals corresponding to views from outside the camera;

a network adapter for connecting to an internet-protocol address corresponding to a network device capable of serving files;

an analog output connector that transmits an output video signal outside the camera;

a compression circuit that outputs digital image signal data; and

a microcontroller operatively connected to the image sensor, the analog input connector, the network adapter, the analog output connector, and the compression circuit,

wherein the microcontroller selectively transmits digital image signal data corresponding to one or both of the camera image signals and the input image signals to the network device via the network adapter and the internet-protocol address, transmits an output video signal corresponding to at least one of the camera image signals or the input image signals outside the camera via the analog output connector.

23. The camera according to claim 22, wherein microcontroller outputs analog video corresponding to the image sensor'"'"'s view to a local CCTV network via the analog video output connector.

24. The camera according to claim 22, wherein microcontroller outputs analog video, corresponding to the camera image signals and the input image signals to a local CCTV network via the analog video output connector.

25. The camera according to claim 22, further comprising a trigger circuit operatively connected to said microcontroller, wherein said microcontroller initiates an image capture and transfer of the image signal data to the network device in response to triggering of said trigger circuit.

26. The camera according to claim 22, further comprising:

at least one timer; and

a timer-based image capture routine, executable by said microcontroller, for capturing images according to said timer;

said microcontroller transmitting image signal data including image signal data captured at the time of said triggering of said trigger circuit and image signal data captured according to said timer.

27. The camera according to claim 26, wherein said trigger circuit is connected to an external triggering device via a trigger input connector.

28. The camera according to claim 26, wherein said trigger circuit is associated with one of a motion sensor or trip switch.

29. The camera according to claim 22, wherein said network adapter connects to an internet-protocol network, and the camera further comprising:

a configuration routine executable by said microcontroller that retrieves configuration information from the internet-protocol address via the internet protocol network; and

a configuration setting routine executable by said microcontroller which sets operational parameters of the camera according to the retrieved configuration information.

30. The camera according to claim 29, wherein the configuration information is recoverable via a password key.

31. The camera according to claim 22, further comprising a network authentication routine executable by said microcontroller for providing network login authentication to the network device at the internet-protocol address.

32. The camera according to claim 22, further comprising an address obtaining routine executable by the microcontroller, that operates via said network adapter to obtain an internet-protocol address for the camera itself from a device capable of assigning such an internet-protocol address.

33. The camera according to claim 32, wherein the device capable of assigning such addresses includes a DNS device.

34. The camera according to claim 22, further comprising a password enabling routine executable by the microcontroller, that configures said camera to register on a local network via said network adapter, in a first mode providing a password in order to register on a local network and in a second mode registering on a local network without providing a password.

35. The camera according to claim 34, wherein the network adapter is selected from one of a modem for public telephone networks;

an Ethernet adapter for connecting to an Ethernet LAN;

an ISDN modem;

an xDSL adapter;

a cable modem;

an ATM adapter;

a T carrier terminal adapter;

an adapter for satellite connection;

an adapter for microwave connection;

an adapter for wireless connection;

an adapter for serial transmission over a high speed external serial bus;

or an adapter for data transmission over public power lines.

36. The camera according to claim 22, further comprising a protocol switching routine executable by the microcontroller, that selectively switches transmission via said network adapter between a connection-oriented protocol and a connectionless protocol, wherein the microcontroller transfers the digital image signal data from the storage device of the imaging device to the network device at the internet-protocol address via the network adapter, selectively employing one of the connection-oriented protocol and the connectionless protocol.

37. The camera according to claim 36, wherein the connection-oriented protocol is TCP, and the connectionless protocol is UDP.

38. The camera according to claim 22, further comprising a slot interface, wherein the network adapter is a network interface device detachably installed in the slot interface.

39. The camera according to claim 22, further comprising:

a scheduling routine, executable by said microcontroller, for scheduling transmission of digital image signal data from the camera to the network device via the network adapter and the internet-protocol address.

40. The camera according to claim 22, wherein said image signal data includes information representing a status of at least one timer.

41. The camera according to claim 22, further comprising:

a serial interface adapted to connect to a setup device, said serial interface receiving commands for controlling said camera from said connected setup device.

42. The camera according to claim 22, further comprising:

an E-mail message assembling routine executable by the microcontroller that assembles E-mail messages including the image signal data; and

an E-mail transmission routine executable by the microcontroller that transmits said E-mail messages including the image signal data to an E-mail address.

43. The camera according to claim 42, further comprising:

a trigger input operatively connected to said microcontroller, wherein said microcontroller initiates an image capture and transmission of the image signal data to the network device via the E-mail assembling routine and the E-mail transmission routine, in response to triggering of said trigger input.

44. A camera connectible to a CCTV network, comprising:

a camera lens and image sensor which together receive images;

an image processing circuit connected to the image sensor which outputs image signal data corresponding to the images received;

a storage device that stores image signal data;

a memory that stores a plurality of different pan/tilt setting combinations, each pan/tilt setting combination including one or both of a pan and tilt setting;

a network adapter which connects to an internet-protocol address corresponding to a network device capable of serving files; and

a microcontroller operatively connected to at least the image sensor, the image processing circuit, the storage device, the memory, and the network adapter;

wherein the microcontroller prepares one or more items of image signal data to correspond to each of a plurality of pan/tilt setting combinations, and transmits the image signal data from the storage device of the camera to the network device capable of serving files via the network adapter and the internet-protocol address, such that the microcontroller stores and sends image signal data corresponding to each of a plurality of distinct pan/tilt setting combinations.

45. The camera according to claim 44, wherein the camera controls a pan/tilt mount including a motor controller and controls the pan/tilt mount to orient the camera according to the pan/tilt setting combinations.

46. The camera according to claim 45, wherein the camera lens includes a zoom lens and zoom drive, the memory stores a plurality of different zoom settings together with the pan/tilt combinations, and the microcontroller controls the zoom drive together with the pan/tilt mount to orient the camera according to the pan/tilt setting and zoom setting combinations.

47. The camera according to claim 44, further comprising a serial interface adapted to connect to a setup device, wherein the pan/tilt settings may be changed locally via said serial interface.

48. The camera according to claim 44, wherein said network adapter connects to an internet-protocol network, and further comprising:

a configuration routine executable by said microcontroller and which retrieves pan/tilt settings from the internet-protocol address via the internet protocol network; and

a configuration setting routine executable by said microcontroller which sets the pan/tilt setting combinations according to the retrieved pan/tilt settings.

49. The camera according to claim 44, further comprising at least one input trigger port connectible to a triggered device.

50. The camera according to claim 44, further comprising at least one output trigger port connectible to a triggered device.

51. The camera according to claim 50, wherein the triggered device includes one of an alarm or local lighting.

52. The camera according to claim 44, further comprising at least one analog video input connector which receives analog video signals, said at least one analog video input connector being connectible to a CCTV network.

53. The camera according to claim 44, further comprising a trigger circuit operatively connected to said microcontroller, wherein said microcontroller initiates an image capture and transfer of the image signal data to the network device, in response to triggering of said trigger circuit.

54. The camera according to claim 53, further comprising:

at least one timer; and

a timer-based image capture routine, executable by said microcontroller, for capturing images according to said timer;

said microcontroller transmitting image signal data including image signal data captured at the time of said triggering of said trigger circuit and image signal data captured according to said timer.

55. The camera according to claim 44, wherein said trigger circuit is associated with a motion sensor.

56. The camera according to claim 44, further comprising a network authentication routine executable by said microcontroller for providing network login authentication to the network device at the internet-protocol address.

57. The camera according to claim 44, further comprising an address obtaining routine executable by the microcontroller, which operates via said network adapter to obtain an internet-protocol address for the camera itself from a device capable of assigning such internet-protocol addresses.

58. The camera according to claim 45, wherein the device capable of assigning such addresses includes a DNS device.

59. The camera according to claim 44, further comprising a password enabling routine executable by the microcontroller, that configures said camera to register on a local network via said network adapter, in a first mode providing a password in order to register on a local network and in a second mode registering on a local network without providing a password.

60. The camera according to claim 44, wherein the network adapter is selected from one of a modem for public telephone networks;

an Ethernet adapter for connecting to an Ethernet LAN;

an ISDN modem;

an xDSL adapter;

a cable modem;

an ATM adapter;

a T carrier terminal adapter;

an adapter for satellite connection;

an adapter for microwave connection;

an adapter for wireless connection;

an adapter for serial transmission over a high speed external serial bus;

or an adapter for data transmission over public power lines.

61. The camera according to claim 45, further comprising a protocol switching routine executable by the microcontroller, that selectively switches transfer via said network adapter between a connection-oriented protocol and a connectionless protocol, wherein the microcontroller transfers the image signal data from the storage device of the imaging device to the network device at the internet-protocol address via the network adapter selectively employing one of the connection-oriented protocol and the connectionless protocol.

62. The camera according to claim 60, wherein the connection-oriented protocol is TCP, and the connectionless protocol is UDP.

63. The camera according to claim 44, wherein the network adapter is a network interface device that is installed in a slot interface and is not built-in to the imaging device circuitry.

64. The camera according to claim 44, further comprising:

a scheduling routine, executable by said microcontroller, for scheduling transmission of image signal data from the storage device of the digital camera to the network device via the network adapter and the internet-protocol address.

65. The camera according to claim 44, wherein said image signal data includes information representing a status of at least one timer.

66. The camera according to claim 44, further comprising:

a serial interface adapted to connect to a setup device, said serial interface receiving commands for controlling said camera from said connected setup device.

67. The camera according to claim 44, further comprising:

an E-mail message assembling routine executable by the microcontroller that assembles E-mail messages including the image signal data; and

an E-mail transmission routine executable by the microcontroller which transmits said E-mail messages including the image signal data to a predetermined E-mail address.

68. The camera according to claim 44, further comprising:

a trigger input operatively connected to said microcontroller, wherein said microcontroller initiates an image capture and transfer of the image signal data to the network device via E-mail assembling routine and said E-mail transmission routine, in response to triggering of said trigger input.

69. The camera according to claim 44, further comprising:

a video output for sending a standard video signal, wherein the image signal data is transmitted as video images to the video output.

70. A camera connectible to a CCTV network, comprising:

a camera lens and image sensor which together form camera image signals corresponding to the image sensor'"'"'s view;

an image processing circuit connected to the image sensor which outputs digital image signal data corresponding to the images received;

a video conversion circuit which outputs an analog image signal corresponding to the camera image signals;

a microcontroller which controls circuits including the image sensing circuit and video conversion circuit;

a storage device which stores the image signal data;

an analog output connector which transmits an output video signal outside the camera; and

a network adapter which connects to an internet-protocol address corresponding to a network device capable of serving files;

wherein the microcontroller continually transmits an output video signal including the analog image signal corresponding to the camera image signals and selectively transmits the digital image signal data corresponding to the camera image signals from the storage device to the network device via the network adapter and the internet-protocol address.

71. The camera according to claim 70, further comprising a trigger circuit operatively connected to said microcontroller, wherein said microcontroller initiates an image capture and transfer of the digital image signal data to the network device, in response to triggering of said trigger circuit.

72. The camera according to claim 71, wherein said trigger circuit is connected to an external triggering device via a trigger input connector.

73. The camera according to claim 71, wherein said trigger circuit is associated with at least one of a motion sensor or trip switch.

74. The camera according to claim 70, further comprising:

at least one timer; and

a timer-based image capture routine, executable by said microcontroller, for capturing images according to said timer, said microcontroller transmitting digital image signal data including digital image signal data captured at the time of said triggering of said trigger circuit and digital image signal data captured according to said timer.

75. The camera according to claim 70, wherein said network adapter connects to an internet-protocol network, and the camera further comprising:

a configuration routine executable by said microcontroller which retrieves configuration information from the internet-protocol address via the internet protocol network; and

a configuration setting routine executable by said microcontroller which sets operational parameters of the camera according to the retrieved configuration information.

76. The camera according to claim 75, wherein the configuration information is recoverable via a password key.

77. The camera according to claim 70, further comprising a network authentication routine executable by said microcontroller for providing network login authentication to the network device at the internet-protocol address.

78. The camera according to claim 70, further comprising an address obtaining routine executable by the microcontroller, that operates via said network adapter to obtain an internet-protocol address for the camera itself from a device capable of assigning such an internet-protocol address.

79. The camera according to claim 78, wherein the device capable of assigning such an internet-protocol address includes a DNS device.

80. The camera according to claim 70, further comprising a password enabling routine executable by the microcontroller, which configures said camera to register on a local network via said network adapter, in a first mode providing a password in order to register on a local network and in a second mode registering on a local network without providing a password.

81. The camera according to claim 70, wherein the network adapter is selected from one of a modem for public telephone networks;

an Ethernet adapter which connects to an Ethernet LAN;

an ISDN modem;

an XDSL adapter;

a cable modem;

an ATM adapter;

a T carrier terminal adapter;

an adapter for satellite connection;

an adapter for microwave connection;

an adapter for wireless connection;

an adapter for serial transmission over a high speed external serial bus;

or an adapter for data transmission over public power lines.

82. The camera according to claim 70, further comprising a protocol switching routine executable by the microcontroller, which selectively switches transmission via said network adapter between a connection-oriented protocol and a connectionless protocol, wherein the microcontroller transmits the digital image signal data from the storage device to the network device at the internet-protocol address via the network adapter, selectively employing one of the connection-oriented protocol or the connectionless protocol.

83. The camera according to claim 82, wherein the connection-oriented protocol is TCP, and the connectionless protocol is UDP.

84. The camera according to claim 70, further comprising a slot interface, wherein the network adapter is a network interface device detachably installed in the slot interface.

85. The camera according to claim 70, further comprising:

a scheduling routine, executable by said microcontroller, for scheduling transmission of digital image signal data from the storage device of the camera to the network device via the network adapter and the internet-protocol address.

86. The camera according to claim 70, wherein said digital image signal data includes information representing a status of at least one timer.

87. The camera according to claim 70, further comprising:

a serial interface adapted to connect to a setup device, said serial interface receiving commands for controlling said camera from said connected setup device.

88. The camera according to claim 70, further comprising:

an E-mail message assembling routine executable by the microcontroller, which assembles E-mail messages including the digital image signal data; and

an E-mail transmission routine executable by the microcontroller, which transmits said E-mail messages including the digital image signal data to an E-mail address.

89. The camera according to claim 88, further comprising:

a trigger input operatively connected to said microcontroller, wherein said microcontroller initiates an image capture and transfer of the digital image signal data to the network device via said E-mail assembling routine and said E-mail transmission routine, in response to triggering of said trigger input.

90. The camera according to claim 70, wherein the microcontroller outputs analog video corresponding to the image sensor'"'"'s view to a local CCTV network via the analog output connector.

91. The camera according to claim 70, further comprising at least one analog video input connector which receives analog video signals, said at least one analog video input connector being connectible to a CCTV network.

92. The camera according to claim 70, wherein the camera controls a pan/tilt mount including a motor controller and controls the pan/tilt mount to orient the camera according to the pan/tilt setting combinations.