METHOD FOR SENDING IMAGE DATA FROM CAMERA TO CCTV NETWORK

• US 20100023981A1
• Filed: 10/05/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axis AB (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pentax of America Incorporated (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: HELTON, Richard, CREAMER, Rob, ARAKI, Yoshiyuki, KOCH, Mark, KNAPP, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 7,962,945 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/105
• 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

An integrated Internet camera includes, as embedded components contained within the camera body and controlled by a microcontroller, at least a network interface device for connecting to the Internet, a transport control device for packetizing according to Internet protocols, a file transfer device for communicating with a destination user directory on the Internet, and a transmission initiating device for initiating the connection and transfer operations of the file transfer device and transport control device. The network interface device may be a modem, network adapter, or adapter for connection to the Internet. Upon capturing the digital image, the camera initiates a connection to the Internet, connects to the destination user directory, and uploads the digital images. Thereafter, the digital images are available to authorized (or any) user having access to the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for sending image signal data from a camera to a CCTV network, comprising:

receiving images via a camera lens and image sensor;

outputting image signal data corresponding to the images received;

receiving analog video signals corresponding to views from outside the camera via an analog video input connector;

outputting image signal data corresponding to the analog video signals received via the analog video input connector;

storing the image signal data in a storage device of the camera;

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

selectively transmitting image signal data corresponding to the images received by the image sensor, or image signal data corresponding to the analog video signals received by the analog video input connector, from the storage device of the camera to the network device via the network adapter and the internet-protocol address.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

initiating an image capture and transfer of the image signal data to the network device, in response to triggering of a trigger circuit.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

executing a timer-based image capture routine for capturing images according to a timer; and

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.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising connecting the trigger circuit to an external device via a trigger input connector.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising associating the trigger circuit with at least one of a motion sensor or trip switch.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

executing a configuration routine which retrieves configuration information from the internet-protocol address via an internet protocol network; and

executing a configuration setting routine which sets operational parameters of the camera according to the retrieved configuration information.

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

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising executing a network authentication routine for providing network login authentication to the network device at the internet-protocol address.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising executing an address obtaining routine which 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 method according to claim 9, further comprising assigning such an internet-protocol address via a DNS device.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising executing a password enabling routine 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.

12. The method 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 method according to claim 1, further comprising:

executing a protocol switching routine which selectively switches transmission via said network adapter between a connection-oriented protocol and a connectionless protocol; and

transmitting 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 or the connectionless protocol.

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

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

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

executing a scheduling routine for scheduling transmission of image signal data from the storage device of the camera to the network device via the network adapter and the internet-protocol address.

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

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

connecting to a setup device via a serial interface; and

receiving commands for controlling said camera from said connected setup device.

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

executing an E-mail message assembling routine which assembles E-mail messages including the image signal data; and

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

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

initiating 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 a trigger input.

21. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending a standard video signal, wherein the image signal data is transmitted as video images to the video output.

22. A method for sending image signal data from a camera to a CCTV network, comprising:

forming camera image signals corresponding to an image sensor'"'"'s view through a camera lens;

collecting, via an analog input connector, input image signals corresponding to views from outside the camera;

outputting digital image signal data, corresponding to the camera image signals and/or the input image signals, from a compression circuit;

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

selectively transferring the digital image signal data, corresponding to the camera image signals and/or the input image signals, to the network device via the network adapter and the internet-protocol address; and

transmitting an output video signal corresponding to at least one of the camera image signals or the input image signals outside the camera via an analog output connector.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

outputting analog video corresponding to the image sensor'"'"'s view to a local CCTV network via the analog output connector.

24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

outputting analog video, corresponding to the camera image signals and the input image signals, to a local CCTV network via the analog output connector.

25. The method according to claim 22, said camera further comprising a trigger circuit, and further comprising:

initiating an image capture and transfer of the image signal data to the network device, in response to triggering of the trigger circuit.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

executing a timer-based image capture routine for capturing images according to a timer; and

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 method according to claim 25, further comprising:

connecting the trigger circuit to an external triggering device via a trigger input connector.

28. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:

associating the trigger circuit with at least one of a motion sensor or a trip switch.

29. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

executing a configuration routine which retrieves configuration information from the internet-protocol address via the internet protocol network; and

executing a configuration setting routine which sets operational parameters of the camera according to the retrieved configuration information.

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

31. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

executing a network authentication routine for providing network login authentication to the network device at the internet-protocol address.

32. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

executing an address obtaining routine which 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 method according to claim 22, further comprising assigning such an internet-protocol address via a DNS device.

34. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

executing a password enabling routine 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.

35. The method 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 method according to claim 22, further comprising:

executing a protocol switching routine which selectively switches transmission via said network adapter between a connection-oriented protocol and a connectionless protocol; and

transmitting 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 or the connectionless protocol.

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

38. The method according to claim 22, wherein said camera comprises a slot interface, and the network adapter is a network interface device detachably installed in the slot interface.

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

executing a scheduling routine 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 method according to claim 22, wherein said image signal data includes information representing a status of at least one timer.

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

connecting to a setup device via a serial interface; and

receiving commands for controlling said camera from said connected setup device.

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

executing an E-mail message assembling routine which assembles E-mail messages including the image signal data; and

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

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

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

44. A method for sending image signal data from a camera to a CCTV network, comprising:

receiving images via a camera lens and image sensor;

outputting image signal data corresponding to the images received;

storing image signal data in a storage device of the camera;

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

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

preparing one or more items of image signal data to correspond to each of a plurality of pan/tilt setting combinations; and

transmitting 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 image signal data is stored and sent corresponding to each of a plurality of distinct pan/tilt setting combinations.

45. The method according to claim 44, the camera comprising at least one input trigger port, and further comprising connecting the at least one input trigger port to a triggering device.

46. The method according to claim 44, the camera comprising at least one output trigger port, and further comprising connecting the at least one output trigger port to a triggered device.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein the triggered device includes at least on of an alarm or local lighting.

48. The method according to claim 44, further comprising:

receiving analog video signals via at least one analog video input connector connectable to a CCTV network.

49. A method for sending image signal data from a camera to a CCTV network, comprising:

forming camera image signals corresponding to an image sensor'"'"'s view;

outputting digital image signal data corresponding to the images received;

outputting an analog image signal corresponding to the camera image signals;

storing the image signal data;

continually transmitting an output video signal including the analog image signal corresponding to the camera image signals outside the camera via an analog output connector;

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

selectively transmitting the digital image signal data corresponding to the camera image signals from the storage device to the network device via the internet-protocol address.

50. The method according to claim 49, the camera comprising a trigger circuit, and further comprising:

initiating an image capture and transfer of the digital image signal data to the network device, in response to triggering of said trigger circuit.

51. The method according to claim 50, further comprising:

connecting the trigger circuit to an external triggering device via a trigger input connector.

52. The method according to claim 50, further comprising:

associating the trigger circuit with at least one of a motion sensor or trip switch.

53. The method according to claim 49, further comprising:

executing a timer-based image capture routine for capturing images according to a timer, said 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.

54. The method according to claim 49, wherein said connecting includes connecting to an internet-protocol network, and further comprising:

executing a configuration routine which retrieves configuration information from the internet-protocol address via the internet protocol network; and

executing a configuration setting routine which sets operational parameters of the camera according to the retrieved configuration information.

55. The method according to claim 54, wherein the configuration information is recoverable via a password key.

56. The method according to claim 49, further comprising:

executing a network authentication routine for providing network login authentication to the network device at the internet-protocol address.

57. The method according to claim 49, wherein said connecting includes connecting to an internet-protocol network, and further comprising:

executing an address obtaining routine that operates via said internet-protocol network to obtain an internet-protocol address for the camera itself from a device capable of assigning such an internet-protocol address.

58. The method according to claim 57, wherein the device capable of assigning such an internet-protocol address includes a DNS device.

59. The method according to claim 49, further comprising:

executing a password enabling routine which configures said camera to register on a local network, 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 method according to claim 49, wherein said connecting is performed via a network adapter 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.

61. The method according to claim 49, further comprising:

executing a protocol switching routine which selectively switches said transmitting between a connection-oriented protocol and a connectionless protocol; and

transmitting the digital image signal data from the storage device to the network device at the internet-protocol address selectively employing one of the connection-oriented protocol or the connectionless protocol.

62. The method according to claim 61, wherein the connection-oriented protocol is TCP, and the connectionless protocol is UDP.

63. The method according to claim 49, the camera comprising a slot interface, wherein said connecting is performed via a network adapter detachably installed in the slot interface.

64. The method according to claim 49, further comprising:

executing a scheduling routine for scheduling transmission of digital image signal data from the storage device of the camera to the network device via the internet-protocol address.

65. The method according to claim 49, wherein said digital image signal data includes information representing a status of at least one timer.

66. The method according to claim 49, further comprising:

connecting to a setup device via a serial interface receiving commands for controlling said camera from said connected setup device.

67. The method according to claim 49, further comprising:

executing an E-mail message assembling routine which assembles E-mail messages including the image signal data; and

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

68. The method according to claim 67, further comprising:

initiating 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 a trigger input.

69. The method according to claim 49, further comprising:

outputting analog video corresponding to the image sensor'"'"'s view to a local CCTV network via the analog output connector.

70. The method according to claim 49, further comprising:

receiving analog video signals via at least one analog video input connector, said at least one analog video input connector being connectable to a CCTV network.

71. The method according to claim 49, further comprising:

controlling a pan/tilt mount including a motor controller to orient the camera according to the pan/tilt setting combinations.