Image pickup control apparatus, image pickup control method, image pickup control system, and storage medium

• US 20050185056A1
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hirasawa, Masahide
• Granted Patent: US 7,336,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40117 Interconnection of audio or video/imaging devices home automation networks H04L12/2803; bitstream network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00249 with a photographic apparatus, e.g. a photographic printer or a projector photographic apparatus per se G03B, G03D
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00278 with a printing apparatus, e.g. a laser beam printer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00427 using a menu list H04N1/00421, H04N1/00424, H04N1/00429 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00466 displaying finishing information, e.g. position of punch holes or staple or orientation references
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00469 with enlargement of a selected area of the displayed information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00482 outputting a plurality of job set-up options, e.g. number of copies, paper size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3242 of processing required or performed, e.g. for reproduction or before recording H04N2201/3256 and subgroups take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

In an image pickup control apparatus capable of remotely and reliably controlling an image pickup apparatus from another apparatus, control data for controlling the image pickup apparatus is stored in advance and is transmitted to the image pickup apparatus when the image pickup apparatus is connected via data communications interface units.

Claims

1-83. -83. (canceled)

84. An image pickup control apparatus for controlling an image pickup apparatus via a data communications interface unit, comprising:

a guide unit which guides the selection of a desired photographing condition stored in a storage unit;

a transmission control unit which transmits control data corresponding to the desired photographing condition the selection of which is guided by said guide unit to the image pickup apparatus; and

an instruction unit which instructs the image pickup apparatus to send a photographed image corresponding to the control data.

85. An image pickup control apparatus according to claim 84, further comprising a display unit which displays the photographed image sent from the image pickup apparatus in response to an instruction by said instruction unit.

86. An image pickup control apparatus according to claim 84, further comprising a change unit which changes the control data corresponding to the desired photographing condition the selection of which is guided by said guide unit, wherein said transmission control unit transmits the control data changed by said change unit to the image pickup apparatus.

87. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 86, wherein said instruction unit instructs the image pickup apparatus to send the photographed image corresponding to the changed control data.

88. An image pickup control apparatus for controlling an image pickup apparatus comprising:

a guide unit which guides the selection of a desired photographing condition stored in a storage unit;

a setting unit which sets control data corresponding to the desired photographing condition the selection of which is guided by said guide unit; and

an instruction unit which instructs the image pickup apparatus to send a photographing image corresponding to the control data.

89. An image pickup control method for controlling an image pickup apparatus via a data communications interface unit, comprising:

a guide step of guiding the selection of a desired photographing condition stored in a storage unit;

a transmission control step of transmitting control data corresponding to the desired photographing condition the selection of which is guided at said guide step to the image pickup apparatus; and

an instruction step of instructing the image pickup apparatus to send a photographed image corresponding to the control data.

90. An image pickup control method according to claim 89, further comprising a display step of displaying the photographed image sent from the image pickup apparatus in response to an instruction at said instruction step.

91. An image pickup control method according to claim 89, further comprising a change step of changing the control data corresponding to the desired photographing condition the selection of which is guided at said guide step, wherein said transmission step transmits the control data changed at said change step to the image pickup apparatus.

92. An image pickup method according to claim 91, wherein said instruction step instructs the image pickup apparatus to send the photographed image corresponding to the changed control data.

93. An image pickup control method for controlling an image pickup apparatus comprising:

a guide step of guiding the selection of a desired photographing condition stored in a storage unit;

a setting step of setting control data corresponding to the desired photographing condition the selection of which is guided at said guide step; and

an instruction step of instructing the image pickup apparatus to send a photographing image corresponding to the control data.

94. A storage medium storing a control program for controlling an image pickup apparatus via a data communications interface unit, the program comprising:

a guide routine of guiding the selection of a desired photographing condition stored in a storage unit;

a transmission control routine of transmitting control data corresponding to the desired photographing condition the selection of which is guided at said guide routine to the image pickup apparatus; and

an instruction routine of instructing the image pickup apparatus to send a photographed image corresponding to the control data.

95. A storage medium according to claim 94, further comprising a display routine of displaying the photographed image sent from the image pickup apparatus in response to an instruction at said instruction routine.

96. A storage medium according to claim 94, further comprising a change routine of changing the control data corresponding to the desired photographing condition the selection of which is guided at said guide routine, wherein said transmission routine transmits the control data changed at said change routine to the image pickup apparatus.

97. A storage medium according to claim 96, wherein said instruction routine instructs the image pickup apparatus to send the photographed image corresponding to the changed control data.

98. A storage medium storing a control program for controlling an image pickup apparatus comprising:

a guide routine of guiding the selection of a desired photographing condition stored in a storage unit;

a setting routine of setting control data corresponding to the desired photographing condition the selection of which is guided at said guide routine; and

an instruction routine of instructing the image pickup apparatus to send a photographing image corresponding to the control data.