Method and devicefor recording video data

• US 20060256202A1
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TELCAST Media Group GmbH
• Original Assignee: TELCAST Media Group GmbH
• Inventors: Hohenacker, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US10/547,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20060256202A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.990
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• 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

The invention relates to a method for the recording of video data by means of at least one camera fixedly installed at a taking position and controllable to make different settings, wherein an image of the environment of the camera is presented at a display device disposed spatially remote from the taking location; at least one camera tracking is fixed by selection of at least a plurality of picture elements in the environmental image presented; a control command sequence for the camera is generated from the selected picture elements; and the camera is controlled to carry out the camera tracking in accordance with the control command sequence.

Claims

1. method of recording of video data by means of at least one camera (13) fixedly installed at a taking position (11) and controllable to make different settings, comprising:

presenting an image (17) of an environment of the camera (13) at a display device (15) disposed spatially remote from the taking position (11);

fixing at least one camera tracking movement by selection of at least a plurality of picture elements (19) in the environmental image (17);

generating a control command sequence for the camera (13) from the selected picture elements (19); and

controlling the camera (13) in accordance with the,control command sequence for the carrying out camera tracking.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the environmental image (17) is taken by the camera (13) itself.

3. A method in accordance with, claim 1, characterized in that a camera tracking movement is carried out for the taking of the environmental image (17) which was fixed with reference to an environmental image taken earlier.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the environmental image (17) is compiled from a plurality of individual images (23) taken by the camera (13) itself.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the environmental image (17) is a panorama view which preferably covers a horizontal angular range of up to 360°

.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the generation of the control command sequence takes place from the picture elements (19) selected while using a known association between the camera setting and the picture section (21) seen by the camera (13).

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the selection of the picture elements (19) takes place at a later point in time than the taking of the environmental image (17) in which the picture elements (19) are selected.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the control of the camera (13) takes place in accordance with the control command sequence at a later point in time than the generation of the control command sequence from the selected picture elements (19).

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a camera tracking is selected from a camera tracking archive including a plurality of different, previously generated control command sequences for the control of the camera (13).

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that different camera settings are achieved by movement of the camera (13), in particular panning/tilting about a vertical and/or horizontal axis, by changing the focal length of the camera, by changing the camera aperture and/or by changing the focus of the camera.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that properties of the picture elements (19) and/or of the camera pans/tilts to be carried out between the picture elements (19) are additionally set;

and/or in that the triggering of at least one camera function, in particular of a white balance, is set.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that the properties include a speed profile and/or acceleration profile of changes of at least one camera setting, in particular of the camera alignment, the focal length of the camera, the camera aperture and/or of the focus of the camera.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that, within the framework of a recording plan, a plurality of cameras (13) are each controlled in accordance with a previously fixed camera tracking prescribed by the recording plan and the video data recorded by the individual cameras (13) in an order pre-set by the recording plan and in particular taking account of the camera tracking movements are compiled to form a program.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, characterized in that the control of the cameras and the compilation of the program are carried out automatically in accordance with the previously prepared recording plan.

15. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that an apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims is used.

26. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, characterized in that it is operated or used in accordance with a method in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 14.

16. An apparatus for the recording of video data comprising

at least one camera (13) fixedly installed at a taking position (11) and controllable to make different settings;

a display device (15) disposed spatially remote from the taking position (11) at which an image (17) of the environment of the camera (13) can be presented;

a selection device (25) by means of which at least a plurality of picture elements (19) can be selected in the presented environmental image (17);

p1 a control device (27) by means of which a control command sequence for the camera (13) can be generated from the selected picture elements (19); and

a data transmission sequence (29) via which the control command sequence can be transmitted to the camera (13) for the carrying out of the camera tracking.

17. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, characterized in that the display device (15) and the control device (27) are components of a central station (31) with which a plurality of taking positions (11) with at least one respective camera (13) is associated.

18. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, characterized in that a plurality of cameras (13) are provided which can be controlled within the framework of a recording plan by a central station (31) in each case in accordance with a previously determined camera tracking prescribed by the recording plan, with the central station (31) being made such that the video data recorded by the individual cameras (13) can be complied in an order pre-set by the recording plan and in particular while taking account of the camera tracking movements to form a program.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, characterized in that the control of the cameras and the compilation of the program can be carried out automatically in accordance with the previously prepared recording plan.

20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, characterized in that the display device (15) includes a screen or a monitor.

21. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, characterized in that the control device (27) includes a computer, in particular a PC.

22. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, characterized in that the selection device (25) includes at least one computer peripheral device, in particular a keyboard and/or a mouse.

23. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, characterized in that the data transmission path is provided in the form of a telecommunication link which in particular includes an existing mobile telephone network and/or a landline telephone network (39).

24. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, characterized in that the camera (13) is pivotably supported about a vertical axis a and/or a horizontal axis b.

25. An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, characterized in that the camera (13) includes at least one detection device (33) with which a reference value serving as a reference point for a changeable camera setting can be detected.