TRANSMISSION APPARATUS AND TRANSMISSION METHOD

• US 20110317011A1
• Filed: 04/20/2011
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kono, Akihiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,124,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A first control unit of a transmission apparatus controls pan, tilt, and rotation mechanisms according to a movement direction indicated by a movement instruction for changing an imaging direction of an imaging unit. A second control unit of the transmission apparatus performs control so as to prevent transmission of captured image data captured during the control of the pan, tilt, and rotation mechanisms, during the control performed by the first control unit.

Claims

1. A transmission apparatus configured to transmit captured image data captured by an imaging unit, comprising:

a direction change mechanism for changing an imaging direction of the imaging unit;

a rotation mechanism for rotating the imaging unit;

a first control unit configured to control the direction change mechanism and the rotation mechanism according to a movement direction indicated by an instruction to move the imaging direction of the imaging unit; and

a second control unit configured to perform control so as to prevent a transmission destination from displaying an image based on the captured image data captured by the imaging unit during the control by the first control unit according to the movement direction.

2. The transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second control unit performs the control so that the imaging unit does not capture an image during the control by the first control unit according to the movement direction.

3. The transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second control unit performs the control so as to prevent transmission of the captured image data captured by the imaging unit during the control performed by the first control unit according to the movement direction.

4. The transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the direction change mechanism comprises a first direction change mechanism and a second direction change mechanism, and

wherein the first control unit controls the first direction change mechanism but does not control the second direction change mechanism and the rotation mechanism according to the movement direction indicated by the movement instruction, and

wherein, if the first control unit controls the first direction change mechanism but does not control the second direction change mechanism and the rotation mechanism according to the movement direction, the second control unit performs the control so as to transmit the captured image data captured by the imaging unit during the control by the first control unit, and if the first control unit controls the first and second direction change mechanisms and the rotation mechanism according to the movement instruction, the second control unit performs the control so as to prevent transmission of the captured image data captured by the imaging unit during the control by the first control unit.

5. The transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second control unit transmits, to the transmission destination of the captured image data, a control-in-progress notification indicating that the first control unit is performing the control according to the movement direction.

6. The transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a storage control unit configured to store, in a memory, the captured image data captured before the control by the first control unit; and

a receiving unit configured to receive a request for the captured image data,

wherein the second control unit transmits the captured image data captured before the control and stored in the memory, when the receiving unit receives the request for the captured image data while the first control unit is performing the control according to the movement direction.

7. The transmission apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive the movement instruction to change the imaging direction of the imaging unit from the transmission destination of the captured image data; and

a processing unit configured to, if the first control unit controls the direction change mechanism and the rotation mechanism according to the movement direction indicated by the received movement instruction, process the captured image data captured before the control according to the movement instruction to cause the transmission destination to perform display as if the imaging direction is being moved to the movement direction according to the movement instruction,

wherein the second control unit transmits the processed image data processed by the processing unit.

8. A transmission apparatus configured to transmit captured image data captured by an imaging unit, comprising:

first and second direction change mechanisms configured to change an imaging direction of the imaging unit;

a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the imaging unit;

a determination unit configured to determine a display control mode of the imaging unit; and

a control unit configured to control an image to be displayed on a transmission destination according to a movement direction indicated by an instruction to move the imaging unit and the determined display control mode.

9. The transmission apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control unit includes

a first control unit configured to control the first and second direction change mechanisms and the rotation mechanism, according to the movement direction indicated by the instruction to move the imaging unit and the determined display control mode, and

a second control unit configured to perform control so as to prevent the transmission destination from displaying the image based on the captured image data captured by the imaging unit during the control by the first control unit according to the movement direction and the display control mode.

10. The transmission apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first direction change mechanism is a mechanism for changing the imaging direction to a first movement direction without causing a rotation of the imaging unit, and

wherein the second direction change mechanism is a mechanism for changing the imaging direction to a second movement direction while causing a rotation of the imaging unit, and

wherein the rotation mechanism is a mechanism for rotating the imaging unit without causing a change in the imaging direction of the imaging unit, and

wherein, if the movement direction according to the instruction to move the imaging unit coincides with the first movement direction, the first control unit changes the imaging direction to the movement direction according to the movement instruction without causing a rotation of the imaging unit by controlling the first direction change mechanism, and

if the movement direction according to the instruction to move the imaging direction does not coincide with the first movement direction, and the determination unit determines that the display control mode is a first mode, the first control unit controls the first and second direction change mechanisms so that the imaging direction of the imaging unit is changed to the movement direction according to the movement instruction, and controls the rotation mechanism so that no rotation occurs between the images displayed based on the captured image data before and after the control of the first and second direction change mechanisms, and

if the movement direction according to the instruction to control the imaging direction does not coincide with the first movement direction, and the determination unit determines that the display control mode is a second mode, the first control unit controls the first and second direction change mechanisms so as to change the imaging direction of the imaging unit to the movement direction according to the movement instruction while keeping an angle of the imaging unit made by the rotation mechanism, and

wherein, if the movement direction according to the instruction to move the imaging direction does not coincide with the first movement direction, and the display control mode is the first mode, the second control unit performs the control so as to prevent the transmission destination from displaying the image based on the captured image data captured by the imaging unit during the control of the first and second direction change mechanisms and the rotation mechanism according to the movement instruction, and

if the movement direction according to the instruction to move the imaging direction does not coincide with the first movement direction, and the display control mode is the second mode, the second control unit performs the control so that the transmission destination displays the image based on the captured image data captured by the imaging unit during the control of the first and second direction change mechanisms according to the movement instruction.

11. A display control apparatus configured to display an image based on captured image data received from a transmission apparatus configured to transmit the captured image data captured by an imaging unit, the transmission apparatus including first and second direction change mechanisms configured to change an imaging direction of the imaging unit, a rotation mechanism for rotating the imaging unit, and a first control unit configured to control the first and second direction change mechanisms and the rotation mechanism according to a movement direction indicated by an instruction to move the imaging direction, the display control apparatus comprising:

a transmission unit configured to transmit the movement instruction for changing the imaging direction of the imaging unit;

a receiving unit configured to receive the captured image data from the transmission apparatus, and receive a completion notification indicating that the control according the movement instruction is completed; and

a display control unit to prevent a display of the image based on the captured image data captured by the imaging unit since the transmission of the movement instruction for changing the imaging direction to the movement direction to control the first and second direction change mechanisms and the rotation mechanism, until the reception of the completion notification of the movement according to the movement instruction.

12. The display control apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a transmission control unit configured to prevent the transmission unit from transmitting a request for the captured image data to the transmission apparatus since the transmission of the movement instruction to the transmission apparatus until the reception of the completion notification of the movement according to the movement instruction.

13. The display control apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a storage control unit configured to store the captured image data before the control according to the movement instruction in a memory,

wherein the display control unit displays the image based on the captured image data stored in the memory since the transmission of the movement instruction until the reception of the completion notification of the movement according to the movement instruction, regardless of a reception of the captured image data from the transmission apparatus.

14. The display control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the receiving unit receives a control-in-progress notification indicating that the first control unit is performing the control according to the movement direction, and

wherein the display control unit displays, on a display screen, an indication that the control is in progress according to the control-in-progress notification.

15. The display control apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a switch unit configured to switch a display between the image based on the captured image data before the control by the first control unit, and the image based on the captured image data after the control by the first control unit.

16. A transmission method performed by a transmission apparatus including an imaging unit, first and second direction change mechanisms configured to change an imaging direction of the imaging unit, a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the imaging unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit captured image data captured by the imaging unit, the transmission method comprising:

a first control step for controlling the first and second direction change mechanisms and the rotation mechanism according to a movement direction indicated by an instruction to move the imaging direction of the imaging unit; and

a second control step for performing control so as to prevent a transmission destination from displaying an image based on the captured image data captured by the imaging unit during the control by the first control step according to the movement direction.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing computer-executable instructions for controlling a computer including an imaging unit, first and second direction change mechanisms configured to change an imaging direction of the imaging unit, a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the imaging unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit captured image data captured by the imaging unit, the medium comprising:

computer-executable instructions for a first control step for controlling the first and second direction change mechanisms and the rotation mechanism according to a movement direction indicated by an instruction to move the imaging direction of the imaging unit; and

containing computer-executable instructions for a second control step for performing control so as to prevent a transmission destination from displaying an image based on the captured image data captured by the imaging unit during the control by the first control step according to the movement direction.

18. A transmission method performed by a transmission apparatus including an imaging unit, first and second direction change mechanisms configured to change an imaging direction of the imaging unit, a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the imaging unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit captured image data captured by the imaging unit, the transmission method comprising:

determining a display control mode of the imaging unit; and

controlling an image displayed on a transmission destination according to a movement direction indicated by an instruction to move the imaging unit, and the determined display control mode.

19. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing computer-executable instructions for controlling a computer including an imaging unit, first and second direction change mechanisms for changing an imaging direction of the imaging unit, a rotation mechanism for rotating the imaging unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit captured image data that is captured by the imaging unit, the medium comprising:

computer-executable instructions for determining a display control mode of the imaging unit; and

computer-executable instructions for controlling an image displayed on a transmission destination according to a movement direction indicated by an instruction to move the imaging unit, and the determined display control mode.

20. A display control method performed by a display control apparatus capable of displaying an image based on captured image data received from a transmission apparatus configured to transmit the captured image data captured by an imaging unit, the transmission apparatus including first and second direction change mechanisms configured to change an imaging direction of the imaging unit, a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the imaging unit, and a first control step for controlling the first and second direction change mechanisms and the rotation mechanism according to a movement direction indicated by an instruction to move the imaging direction, the display control method comprising:

transmitting the movement instruction for changing the imaging direction of the imaging unit;

receiving the captured image data from the transmission apparatus, and receiving a completion notification indicating that the control according to the movement instruction is completed; and

preventing a display of the image based on the captured image data captured by the imaging unit since the transmission of the movement instruction for changing the imaging direction to the movement direction to control the first and second direction change mechanisms and the rotation mechanism, until the reception of the completion notification of the movement according to the movement instruction.

21. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium containing computer-executable instructions for controlling a computer capable of displaying an image based on captured image data received from a transmission apparatus configured to transmit the captured image data captured by an imaging unit, the transmission apparatus including first and second direction change mechanisms configured to change an imaging direction of the imaging unit, a rotation mechanism configured to rotate the imaging unit, and a first control unit configured to control the first and second direction change mechanisms and the rotation mechanism according to a movement direction indicated by an instruction to move the imaging direction, the medium comprising:

computer-executable instructions for transmitting the movement instruction for changing the imaging direction of the imaging unit;

computer-executable instructions for receiving the captured image data from the transmission apparatus, and receiving a completion notification indicating that the control according to the movement instruction is completed; and

computer-executable instructions for preventing a display of the image based on the captured image data that is captured by the imaging unit since the transmission of the movement instruction for changing the imaging direction to the movement direction to control the first and second direction change mechanisms and the rotation mechanism, until the reception of the completion notification of the movement according to the movement instruction.