Method and apparatus for a computer controlled digital camera

• US 20060044394A1
• Filed: 08/24/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Read, Christopher Jensen
• Application Number:
  US10/925,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20060044394A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.100
• 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 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8047 using transform coding

Abstract

In one embodiment a method and apparatus is provided for a digital camera controlled by a remote computer. The remote computer commands the digital camera as to when to take pictures, how long to pause before taking subsequent pictures, and when to stop taking pictures. The digital camera senses current photographic conditions, which are later requested by the remote computer. Based upon the digital camera'"'"'s current photographic conditions, the remote computer calculates the appropriate exposure parameters for the digital camera and commands the digital camera to set its exposure parameters accordingly. After a picture is taken, the picture is stored as image data in volatile memory in the digital camera. The image data is then transferred to the remote computer for compression and storage in the remote computer'"'"'s non-volatile memory. The remote computer subsequently encodes the stored image data into a time-lapse video file.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

coupling a digital camera to a controlling device;

receiving a command to take a picture at the digital camera; and

taking the picture with the digital camera in response receiving the command to take the picture.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

storing the picture as image data on a volatile memory device in the digital camera; and

transmitting the image data from the volatile memory device on the digital camera to a non-volatile memory device on the controlling device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

transmitting the current photographic environment of the digital camera to the controlling device; and

receiving a command from the controlling device at the digital camera that sets exposure parameters on the digital camera.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of providing the controlling device with a requested set of exposure parameters.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

storing the picture as image data on a volatile memory device in the digital camera;

transmitting the image data from the volatile memory device on the digital camera to a non-volatile memory device on the controlling device;

transmitting the current photographic environment of the digital camera to the controlling device; and

receiving a command from the controlling device at the digital camera that sets exposure parameters on the digital camera.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of providing the controlling device with a requested set of exposure parameters.

7. A method comprising:

coupling a digital camera to a controlling device;

taking a picture with the digital camera;

storing the picture as image data on a volatile memory device in the digital camera; and

transmitting the image data from the volatile memory device on the digital camera to a non-volatile memory device on the controlling device.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:

transmitting the current photographic environment of the digital camera to the controlling device; and

receiving a command from the controlling device at the digital camera that sets exposure parameters on the digital camera.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of providing the controlling device with a requested set of exposure parameters.

10. A method comprising:

coupling a digital camera to a controlling device;

transmitting the current photographic environment of the digital camera to the controlling device; and

receiving a command from the controlling device at the digital camera that sets exposure parameters on the digital camera.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of providing the controlling device with a requested set of exposure parameters.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a controlling device comprising memory;

a digital camera coupled to the controlling device comprising non-volatile memory, wherein the digital camera takes pictures comprising image data at specified intervals; and

wherein the image data is stored in the memory of the controlling device without first being stored in the non-volatile memory of the digital camera.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controlling device further comprises software that encodes the image data stored in the memory of the controlling device into a time-lapse video.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controlling device further comprises software that controls exposure parameters of the digital camera.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controlling device further comprises software that encodes the image data stored in the memory of the controlling device into a time-lapse video;

and wherein the software controls exposure parameters of the digital camera.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controlling device further comprises software that controls when the digital camera takes the pictures and the intervals between taking the pictures.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controlling device further comprises software that encodes the image data stored in the memory of the controlling device into a time-lapse video;

and wherein the software controls when the digital camera takes the pictures and the intervals between taking the pictures.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controlling device further comprises software that controls exposure parameters of the digital camera;

and wherein the software controls when the digital camera takes the pictures and the intervals between taking the pictures.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the controlling device further comprises software that encodes the image data stored in the memory of the controlling device into a time-lapse video;

wherein the software controls exposure parameters of the digital camera; and

wherein the software controls when the digital camera takes pictures and the intervals between taking the pictures.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the digital camera takes pictures with resolutions at least as great as 2 megapixels.