Camera selection and positioning system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A video camera system, comprising:
- a plurality of video cameras, each of said plurality of video cameras monitoring portions of a physical area;
at least one monitor for displaying images from said plurality of video cameras;
video switching means coupled between said plurality of video cameras and said monitor for switching selected ones of said video cameras to said monitor;
computer means coupled to said video switching means for controlling said video switching means for generating from said computer a graphical icon simulation of at least a portion of said physical area and displaying said simulation on a display screen; and
means located in said computer means for producing signals to effect a display of at least one of said plurality of video cameras on said monitor in response to a designation of said graphical icon simulation.
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Abstract
An apparatus for a closed circuit television network having a plurality of video cameras producing video signals, a plurality of video display monitors and a video switcher apparatus coupled therebetween, comprising control apparatus coupled to the video switcher apparatus for controlling which video signals are displayed on each of the plurality of video display monitors. Also provided are graphics user interface apparatus coupled to the control apparatus for permitting a user to operate the control apparatus, thereby permitting the user to control which video signals are displayed on the plurality of video display monitors.
365 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A video camera system, comprising:
- a plurality of video cameras, each of said plurality of video cameras monitoring portions of a physical area;
at least one monitor for displaying images from said plurality of video cameras; video switching means coupled between said plurality of video cameras and said monitor for switching selected ones of said video cameras to said monitor; computer means coupled to said video switching means for controlling said video switching means for generating from said computer a graphical icon simulation of at least a portion of said physical area and displaying said simulation on a display screen; and
means located in said computer means for producing signals to effect a display of at least one of said plurality of video cameras on said monitor in response to a designation of said graphical icon simulation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- a plurality of video cameras, each of said plurality of video cameras monitoring portions of a physical area;
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9. An apparatus for controlling a closed circuit television network having a plurality of monitors and a plurality of remote video cameras, comprising:
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video switcher means coupled between said plurality of monitors and said plurality of remote video cameras for connecting specified ones of said plurality of remote video cameras to specified ones of said plurality of monitors; processor means for controlling connections between said plurality of remote cameras and said plurality of said monitors by video switcher means based on input information to said processor means; and graphical user interface means, coupled to said processor means for displaying a graphical icon representation, generated by said processor means, of a portion of a physical area including icons representing specific ones of said remote video cameras in said physical area and for inputting information to said processor means by generating control signal to said processor means in response to a designation of said graphical icon representation. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for a closed circuit television network having a plurality of video display monitors for displaying output signals from a plurality of remote video cameras, comprising the steps of:
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generating image signals and position information signals from at least one of said plurality of remote video cameras, said position information signals including field of view for said remote camera; generating on a graphics user interface screen a graphical icon representation of a physical area and said remote video cameras located in said physical area; and displaying on at least one of said video display monitors said image signals from at least one of said remote video cameras located in said physical area and displaying a corresponding field of view on said graphical icon representation of said remote video camera having image signals displayed on said monitor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification