EXTERNAL DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, IMAGING DEVICE CONTROL METHOD, IMAGING SYSTEM CONTROL METHOD, EXTERNAL DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE, AND IMAGING SYSTEM

• US 20160150193A1
• Filed: 06/23/2014
• Published: 05/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Niida, Mitsuo
• Granted Patent: US 10,382,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/02 with scanning movement of lens or cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1963 Arrangements allowing camera rotation to change view, e.g. pivoting camera, pan-tilt and zoom [PTZ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• 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 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• 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 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A determination as to whether or not a random operation is able to be performed for a preset tour of a surveillance camera may be easily made, and user'"'"'s operability may be improved. A client device transmits a command for making an inquiry about the capability of the surveillance camera for a random operation regarding a preset tour. The surveillance camera receives the command, and transmits capability information of the random operation to the client device. The client device analyzes the received information, and changes the GUI display of the client device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an external device that is capable of communicating, via a network, with an imaging device configured to include an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an object, the method comprising:

a transmitting step of transmitting to the imaging device an instruction to make an inquiry about capability regarding a random operation when causing the imaging unit to perform a tour operation of a plurality of imaging positions;

a receiving step of receiving capability information indicating the capability regarding the random operation; and

a changing step of changing contents to be displayed on a display unit, in accordance with the capability information received in the receiving step.

2. The method for controlling the external device according to claim 1, wherein the capability regarding the random operation includes information of whether or not the imaging unit is able to be caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions in a random order.

3. The method for controlling the external device according to claim 1, wherein the capability regarding the random operation includes information of whether or not the imaging unit is able to be caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions in a random direction.

4. The method for controlling the external device according to claim 1, wherein the capability regarding the random operation includes information of whether or not the imaging unit is able to be caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions at a random speed.

5. The method for controlling the external device according to claim 1, wherein the capability regarding the random operation includes information of whether or not the imaging unit is able to be caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions with a random track.

6. The method for controlling the external device according to claim 1, wherein the capability regarding the random operation includes information of whether or not times at which the imaging unit is caused to stop at the plurality of imaging positions when the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions are able to be set in a random manner.

7. The method for controlling the external device according to claim 1, wherein the capability regarding the random operation includes information of whether or not a time from a time at which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions to a time at which the imaging unit is caused to perform a new tour operation of a plurality of imaging positions is able to be set in a random manner.

8. A method for controlling an imaging device configured to include an imaging unit configured to be capable of communicating with an external device via a network and to capture an image of an object, the method comprising:

a receiving step of receiving, from the external device via the network, an instruction for making an inquiry about capability regarding a random operation when causing the imaging unit to automatically perform a tour operation of a plurality of imaging positions; and

a transmitting step of transmitting capability information indicating the capability regarding the random operation to the external device via the network, in accordance with a result of the reception in the receiving step.

9. A method for controlling an imaging system configured to include an external device and an imaging device configured to include an imaging unit configured to be capable of communicating with the external device via a network and to capture an image of an object, the method comprising:

an instruction transmitting step of transmitting, with the external device, to the imaging device an instruction for making an inquiry about capability regarding a random operation when causing the imaging unit to perform a tour operation of a plurality of imaging positions; and

a capability transmitting step of transmitting, with the imaging device, the capability regarding the random operation, in accordance with the instruction transmitted in the instruction transmitting step.

10. An imaging device configured to be capable of communicating with an external device via a network, the device comprising:

an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an object;

a tour unit configured to cause the imaging unit to perform a tour operation of a plurality of imaging positions;

a transmitting unit configured to transmit designatable tour direction information indicating a direction that is able to be designated as a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions, to the external device via the network;

a receiving unit configured to receive tour direction information for designating a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions, from the external device via the network; and

a control unit configured to control the tour unit, in accordance with a result of the reception by the receiving unit, wherein the designatable tour direction information indicates any one of a forward direction, a backward direction, and a random direction.

11. The imaging device according to claim 10, wherein the receiving unit receives an automatic tour instruction for causing the imaging unit to automatically perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions, along with the tour direction information.

12. The imaging device according to claim 10, further comprising:

a determining unit configured to determine whether or not the direction designated by the designatable tour direction information includes the direction designated by the tour direction information,

wherein the control unit controls the transmitting unit to transmit an error response to the external device via the network when the determining unit determines that the direction designated by the designatable tour direction information does not include the direction designated by the tour direction information.

13. An external device configured to be capable of communicating, via a network, with an imaging device configured to include an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an object, the device comprising:

an acquiring unit configured to acquire designatable tour direction information indicating a direction that is able to be designated as a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform a tour operation of a plurality of imaging positions, from the imaging device via the network; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit tour direction information for designating a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions, to the imaging device via the network,

wherein the designatable tour direction information indicates any one of a forward direction, a backward direction, and a random direction.

15. The external device according to claim 13, further comprising:

a display control unit configured to cause a display unit to display a selection screen for allowing a user to select a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions, in accordance with the designatable tour direction information acquired by the acquiring unit,

wherein when the designatable tour direction information acquired by the acquiring unit indicates the random direction, the display control unit causes the display unit to display a selection screen which allows the user to select an item corresponding to the random direction, and when the designatable tour direction information does not indicate the random direction, the display control unit causes the display unit to display a selection screen which does not allow the user to select the item.

14. An external device configured to be capable of communicating, via a network, with an imaging device configured to include an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an object, the device comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive tour capability information indicating whether or not the imaging unit is able to be caused to automatically perform a tour operation of a plurality of imaging positions, from the imaging device via the network;

an acquiring unit configured to acquire, from the imaging device via the network, designatable tour direction information indicating a direction that is able to be designated as a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions, in accordance with a result of the reception by the receiving unit; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit tour direction information for designating a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions, to the imaging device via the network,

wherein the designatable tour direction information indicates any one of a forward direction, a backward direction, and a random direction, and

wherein when the receiving unit receives tour capability information indicating that a tour is able to be performed, the acquiring unit acquires the designatable tour direction information.

16. An imaging system comprising:

an imaging device; and

an external device configured to be capable of communicating with the imaging device via a network,

wherein the imaging device includes

an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an object;

a tour unit configured to cause the imaging unit to perform a tour operation of a plurality of imaging positions;

a receiving unit configured to receive information from the external device via the network; and

a control unit configured to control the tour unit in accordance with a result of the reception by the receiving unit,

wherein the external device includes

an acquiring unit configured to acquire designatable tour direction information indicating a direction that is able to be designated as a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions, from the imaging device via the network, and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit tour direction information for designating a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions, to the imaging device via the network, and

wherein the designatable tour direction information indicates any one of a forward direction, a backward direction, and a random direction.

17. A method for controlling an imaging device configured to be capable of communicating with an external device via a network and to include an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an object and a tour unit configured to cause the imaging unit to perform a tour operation of a plurality of imaging positions, the method comprising:

a transmitting step of transmitting designatable tour direction information indicating a direction that is able to be designated as a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions, to the external device via the network;

a receiving step of receiving tour direction information for designating a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions, from the external device via the network; and

a control step of controlling the tour unit, in accordance with a result of the reception in the receiving step,

wherein the designatable tour direction information indicates any one of a forward direction, a backward direction, and a random direction.

18. A method for controlling an external device configured to be capable of communicating, via a network, with an imaging device configured to include an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an object, the method comprising:

an acquiring step of acquiring designatable tour direction information indicating a direction that is able to be designated as a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions, from the imaging device via the network; and

a transmitting step of transmitting tour direction information for designating a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality imaging positions, to the imaging device via the network,

wherein the designatable tour direction information indicates any one of a forward direction, a backward direction, and a random direction.

19. A method for controlling an external device configured to be capable of communicating, via a network, with an imaging device configured to include an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an object, the method comprising:

a receiving step of receiving tour capability information indicating whether or not the imaging unit is able to be caused to automatically perform a tour operation of a plurality of imaging positions, from the imaging device via the network;

an acquiring step of acquiring designatable tour direction information indicating a direction that is able to be designated as a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions, in accordance with a result of the reception in the receiving step, from the imaging device via the network; and

a transmitting step of transmitting tour direction information for designating a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions, to the imaging device via the network,

wherein the designatable tour direction information indicates any one of a forward direction, a backward direction, and a random direction, and

wherein when tour capability information indicating that a tour is able to be performed is received in the receiving step, the acquiring step acquires the designatable tour direction information.

20. A method for controlling an imaging system configured to include an imaging device configured to include an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an object and a tour unit configured to cause the imaging unit to perform a tour operation of a plurality of imaging positions, and an external device configured to be capable of communicating with the imaging device via a network, the method comprising:

a receiving step of receiving, with the imaging device, information from the external device via the network;

a control step of controlling, with the imaging device, the tour unit, in accordance with a result of the reception in the receiving step;

an acquiring step of acquiring, with the external device, designatable tour direction information indicating a direction that is able to be designated as a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions, from the imaging device via the network; and

a transmitting step of transmitting, with the external device, tour direction information for designating a direction in which the imaging unit is caused to perform the tour operation of the plurality of imaging positions, to the imaging device via the network,

wherein the designatable tour direction information indicates any one of a forward direction, a backward direction, and a random direction.