Image processing system, image supply apparatus, image receiving apparatus, lighting apparatus and controlling method therefor

• US 20060098099A1
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Koide, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,995,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44227 Monitoring of local network, e.g. connection or bandwidth variations; Detecting new devices in the local network configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; monitoring connectivity in data switched networks H04L43/0811
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera

Abstract

There is provided an image processing system including an image supply unit arranged to transmit image data by wireless communication, an image receiving unit arranged to receive the image data supplied from the image supply unit, a first lighting unit arranged to illuminate an area in which the wireless communication with the image supply unit is possible, a detecting unit arranged to detect whether the image supply unit is in the area, and a controller arranged to control image communication between the image supply unit and the image receiving unit in accordance with an output of the detecting unit.

Claims

1. An image processing system comprising:

an image supply unit arranged to transmit image data by wireless communication;

an image receiving unit arranged to receive the image data supplied from the image supply unit;

a first lighting unit arranged to illuminate an area in which the wireless communication by the image supply unit is possible;

a detecting unit arranged to detect whether the image supply unit is in the area; and

a controller arranged to control an image communication between the image supply unit and the image receiving unit in accordance with an output of the detecting unit.

2. An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first lighting unit includes a wireless communication unit arranged to wirelessly communicate with the image supply unit and the image receiving unit, and to direct starting of the wireless communication between the image supply unit and the image receiving unit.

3. An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first lighting unit changes a value of a lighting parameter according to a state of the image communication between the image supply unit and the image receiving unit.

4. An image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising a second lighting unit, wherein the first lighting unit is turned on according to a lighting operation of the second lighting unit.

5. An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first lighting unit is turned on according to whether a power supply of the image receiving unit is on.

6. An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the controller permits transmission of the image data from the image supply unit to the image receiving unit in cases in which the detecting unit detects that the image supply unit is in the area.

7. An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first lighting unit includes a plurality of lighting parameters, and the detecting unit is arranged to detect whether the image supply unit is in the area based on at least one of the lighting parameters, and at least one of the image supply unit and the image receiving unit changes an image processing method of the image data in accordance with an output of the detecting unit.

8. An image processing system according to 7, wherein the lighting parameter indicates a lighting color and the detecting unit detects the lighting color.

9. An image processing system according to claim 7, wherein the lighting parameter indicates a shape of the area, and the detecting unit detects the shape.

10. An image processing system according to claim 7, wherein the lighting parameter indicates a lighting cycle and the detecting unit detects the lighting cycle.

11. An image processing system according to claim 7, wherein the first lighting unit includes a plurality of lighting devices and a value of at least one of the lighting parameters is different in each of the plurality of the lighting devices.

12. An image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first lighting unit changes a value of a lighting parameter in accordance with an output of the detecting unit.

13. A controlling method of an image processing system which includes an image supply unit arranged to transmit image data by wireless communication, an image receiving unit arranged to receive the image data and a first lighting unit, the controlling method comprising steps of:

an illuminating step of illuminating an area in which the wireless communication by the image supply unit is possible using the first lighting unit;

a detecting step of detecting whether the image supply unit is in the area; and

a controlling step of controlling an image communication between the image supply unit and the image receiving unit in accordance with a result of the detecting step.

14. A controlling method according to claim 13, further comprising:

a changing step of changing a value of a lighting parameter in accordance with a state of the image communication between the image supply unit and the image receiving unit.

15. A controlling method according to claim 13, wherein the image processing system includes a second lighting unit,

and further comprising a lighting step of turning on the first lighting unit according to a lighting operation of the second lighting unit.

16. A controlling method according to claim 13, further comprising a lighting step of turning on the first lighting unit according to whether a power supply of the image receiving unit is on.

17. A controlling method according to claim 13,

wherein the controlling step permits transmission of the image data from the image supply unit to the image receiving unit in cases where, in the detecting step, it is detected that the image supply unit is in the area.

18. A controlling method according to claim 13,

wherein the first lighting unit has a plurality of lighting parameters, and the detecting step detects whether the image supply unit is in the area based on at least one of the lighting parameters, and further comprising;

a changing step of changing an image processing method of at least one of the image supply unit and the image receiving unit in accordance with a result of the detecting step.

19. A controlling method according to claim 18, wherein the lighting parameter indicates a lighting color and the detecting step detects the lighting color.

20. A controlling method according to claim 18, wherein the lighting parameter indicates a shape of the area, and the detecting step detects the shape.

21. A controlling method according to claim 18, wherein the lighting parameter indicates a lighting cycle and the detecting step detects the lighting cycle.

22. A controlling method according to claim 13, further comprising a changing step of changing a lighting parameter of the first lighting unit in accordance with a result of the detecting step.

23. A computer program for performing the controlling method according to claim 13.

24. A storage medium for storing program code for the controlling method according to claim 13.

25. An image receiving apparatus comprising:

a communication unit arranged to communicate with an image supply unit which transmit image data by wireless communication;

a lighting control unit arranged to control a lighting unit which illuminates an area in which wireless communication by the image supply unit is possible; and

a receiving unit arranged to receive the image data from the image supply unit which is in the area.

26. An image receiving apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising:

a detecting unit arranged to detect whether the image supply unit is in the area; and

a request unit arranged to request, in accordance with an output of the detecting unit, transmission of the image data from the image supply unit.

27. An image receiving apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the lighting unit has a plurality of different lighting devices and illuminates a plurality of areas in which wireless communication is possible, and further comprising:

a discrimination unit arranged to discriminate the area where the image supply unit exists; and

a controlling unit arranged to control at least one of an image supply procedure, image data to supply and a processing method of the image data of the image processing apparatus in accordance with an output of the discrimination unit.

28. An image receiving apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a display unit arranged to display the image data received by the receiving unit.

29. A controlling method of an image receiving apparatus comprising steps of:

a communicating step of communicating with an image supply unit which transmits image data by wireless communication;

a lighting control step of controlling a lighting unit which illuminates an area in which wireless communication by the image supply unit is possible; and

a receiving step of receiving the image data from the image supply unit which is in the area.

30. A controlling method according to claim 29, further comprising:

a detecting step of detecting whether the image supply unit is in the area; and

a requesting step of requesting, in accordance with a result of the detecting step, transmission of the image data from the image supply unit.

31. A controlling method according to claim 29, wherein the lighting unit has a plurality of different lighting devices which illuminate a plurality of areas in which wireless communication is possible, and further comprising:

a discriminating step of discriminating the area where the image supply unit exists; and

a controlling step of controlling at least one of an image supply procedure, image data to supply and a processing method of the image data of the image receiving apparatus in accordance with a result of the discriminating step.

32. A computer program for performing the controlling method according to claim 29.

33. A storage medium for storing program code for the controlling method according to claim 29.

34. An image supply apparatus comprising:

a communication unit arranged to communicate with an image receiving unit which receives image data by wireless communication; and

a detecting unit arranged to detect whether the image supply apparatus is in an area in which the wireless communication with the image receiving unit is possible,

wherein the area is illuminated by a lighting unit and the communication unit transmits the image data to the image receiving unit in accordance with an output of the detecting unit.

35. An image supply apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the lighting unit illuminates a plurality of areas, and the detecting unit discriminates the area where the image supply apparatus exists, and further comprising a controlling unit arranged to control at least one of an image supply procedure, a selection process of the image data to supply and a processing method of the image data of the image receiving unit in accordance with an output of the detecting unit.

36. A controlling method of an image supply apparatus comprising steps of:

a communicating step of communicating with an image receiving unit which receives image data by wireless communication; and

a detecting step of detecting whether the image supply apparatus is in an area in which the wireless communication with the image receiving unit is possible, wherein the area is illuminated by a lighting unit; and

a transmitting step of transmitting the image data to the image receiving unit when it is detected that the image supply unit is in the area.

37. A computer program for performing the controlling method according to claim 36.

38. A storage medium for storing program code for the controlling method according to claim 36.

39. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a communication unit arranged to communicate with an image supply unit which transmits image data to an image receiving unit by wireless communication;

a lighting unit arranged to illuminate an area in which the wireless communication is possible; and

a transmitting unit arranged to transmit information to the receiving unit which indicates whether the image supply unit is in the area.

40. A controlling method of a lighting apparatus comprising steps of:

a communicating step of communicating with an image supply unit which transmits image data to an image receiving unit by wireless communication;

an illuminating step of illuminating an area in which the wireless communication is possible; and

a tansmitting step of transmitting information to the receiving unit which indicates whether the image supply unit is in the area.

41. A computer program for performing the controlling method according to claim 40.

42. A storage medium for storing program code for the controlling method according to claim 40.