Method for automatically adjusting a video conferencing system camera

• US 5,598,209 A
• Filed: 01/17/1995
• Issued: 01/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Libre Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Videoconferencing Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Cortjens, Leo M., Mays, Richard C., Smith, Curtis M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, David E.
• Application Number:
  US08/373,655
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211, 348/212, 348/213, 348/214, 348/12, 348/13, 348/14, 348/15, 348/16
• US Class Current: 348/211.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A method for automatically adjusting the pan and tilt of a camera, such as used in a videoconferencing system. A pointer and a picture of the camera'"'"'s field of view are provided on a display device, such as a television set or a monitor. The pointer is moved on the display device in response to user commands from a user control device, such as a mouse or a joystick. When the user determines that the pointer is in the correct position the user uses the user control device to send a designation command. Then, in response to the designation command, the pan and/or tilt of the camera are adjusted to center the desired object in the picture. The method also provides: for ignoring the designation command if the amount of panning and/or tilting does not exceed a predetermined value; for zooming out prior to panning and/or tilting and then zooming in after panning and/or tilting if the amount of panning and/or tilting exceeds a predetermined value; and for adjusting the rates of panning and/or tilting so as to complete panning and tilting at approximately the same time.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a camera, said camera having a pan mechanism, said pan mechanism having, a resolution error, comprising the steps of:

providing a picture;

providing a pointer at a first location within said picture;

monitoring an output of a control device for an indication by a user to move said pointer;

moving said pointer to a second location in response to said indication;

monitoring said output of said control device for an indication by said user that said pointer is designating a desired object;

determining an amount of pan required to position said desired object in said center of said picture;

determining whether said amount of pan exceeds said resolution error; and

if said amount of pan exceeds said resolution error then panning said camera to position said desired object in the center of said picture.

4. The method of claim 1 and further comprising tilting said camera to position said desired object in said center of said picture.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

said step of panning comprises determining an amount of pan required to position said desired object in said center of said picture, and panning said camera by said amount of pan; and

said step of tilting comprises determining an amount of tilt required to position said desired object in said center of said picture, and tilting said camera by said amount of tilt.

6. The method of claim 5 and, prior to said step of panning said camera by said to pan and said step of tilting said camera by said amount of flit, further comprising:

adjusting at least one of a rate of pan and a rate of tilt so that said step of panning said camera and said step of tilting said camera are completed at approximately a single point in time.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of adjusting at least one comprises:

determining an amount of time required to perform said step of panning at a maximum rate of pan;

determining an amount of time required to perform said step of tilting at a maximum rate of tilt;

if said amount of time required to perform said step of panning is greater than said amount of time required to perform said step of tilting then decreasing said rate of flit; and

if said amount of time required to perform said step of panning is less than said amount of time required to perform said step of tilting then decreasing said rate of pan.

2. A method for adjusting a camera comprising the steps of:

providing a picture;

providing a pointer at a first location within said picture;

monitoring an output of a control device for an indication by a user to move said pointer;

moving said pointer to a second location in response to said indication;

monitoring said output of said control device for an indication by said user that said pointer is designating a desired object;

determining an amount of pan required to position said desired object in said center of said picture;

panning said camera to position said desired object in the center of said picture;

determining whether said amount of pan exceeds a predetermined value; and

if said amount of pan exceeds said predetermined value then zooming out said camera as said step of panning said camera is being started.

3. The method of claim 2 and further comprising zooming in said camera as said step of panning said camera is being completed.

8. A method for adjusting a camera, said camera having a tilt mechanism, said tilt mechanism having a resolution error, comprising the steps of:

providing a picture;

providing a pointer at a first location within said picture;

monitoring an output of a control device for an indication by a user to move said pointer;

moving said pointer to a second location in response to said indication;

monitoring said output of said control device for an indication by said user that said pointer is designating a desired object;

determining an amount of tilt required to position said desired object in said center of said picture;

determining whether said amount of tilt exceeds said resolution error; and

it said amount of tilt exceeds said resolution error then tilting said camera to position said desired object in the center of said picture.

9. A method for adjusting a camera, comprising the steps of:

providing a picture;

providing a pointer at a first location within said picture;

monitoring an output of a control device for an indication by a user to move said pointer;

moving said pointer to a second location in response to said indication;

monitoring said output of said control device for an indication by said user that said pointer is designating a desired object;

determining an amount of tilt required to position said desired object in said center of said picture;

panning said camera to position said desired object in the center of said picture;

determining whether said amount of tilt exceeds a predetermined value; and

if said amount of tilt exceeds said predetermined value then zooming out said camera as said step of tilting said camera is being started.

10. The method of claim 9 and further comprising zooming in said camera as said step of tilting said camera is being completed.

11. A method for adjusting a camera, said camera having a pan mechanism, said pan mechanism having a resolution error, comprising the steps of:

determining an amount of pan required to move a camera from a first position to a second position;

determining whether said amount of pan exceeds said resolution error; and

if said amount of pan exceeds said resolution error then performing said step of panning.

12. The method of claim 11 and, after said step of determining said amount of pan, further comprising:

determining whether said amount of pan exceeds a second predetermined value; and

if said amount of pan exceeds said second predetermined value then zooming out said camera as said step of panning said camera is being started.

13. The method of claim 12 and further comprising zooming in said camera as said step of panning said camera is being completed.

14. The method of claim 11 and further comprising tilting said camera to center said desired object in said picture.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein:

said step of panning comprises determining an amount of pan required to center said desired object in said picture, and panning said camera by said amount of pan; and

said step of tilting comprises determining an amount of tilt required to center said desired object in said picture, and tilting said camera by said amount of tilt.

16. The method of claim 15 and, prior to said step of panning said camera and said step of tilting said camera, further comprising:

adjusting at least one of a rate of pan and a rate of tilt so that said step of panning said camera and said step of tilting said camera are completed at approximately a single point in time.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of adjusting at least one comprises:

determining an amount of time required to perform said step of panning at a maximum rate of pan;

determining an amount of time required to perform said step of tilting at a maximum rate of flit;

if said amount of time required to perform said step of panning is greater than said amount of time required to perform said step of tilting then decreasing said rate of flit; and

if said amount of time required to perform said step of panning is less than said amount of time required to perform said step of tilting then decreasing said rate of pan.

18. A method for adjusting a camera, said camera having a tilt mechanism, said tilt mechanism having a resolution error, comprising the steps of:

determining an amount of tilt required to move a camera from a first position to a second position;

determining whether said amount of tilt exceeds said resolution error; and

if said amount of tilt exceeds said resolution error then performing said step of tilting.

19. The method of claim 18 and, after said step of determining said amount of tilt, further comprising:

determining whether said amount of tilt exceeds a predetermined value; and

if said amount of tilt exceeds said predetermined value then zooming out said camera as said step of tilting said camera is being started.

20. The method of claim 19 and further comprising zooming in said camera as said step of tilting said camera is being completed.

21. The method of claim 18 and further comprising panning said camera to center said desired object in said picture.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein:

said step of panning comprises determining an amount of pan required to center said desired object in said picture, and panning said camera by said amount of pan; and

said step of tilting comprises determining an amount of tilt required to center said desired object in said picture, and tilting said camera by said amount of tilt.

23. The method of claim 22 and, prior to said step of panning said camera and said step of tilting said camera, further comprising:

adjusting at least one of a rate of pan and a rate of tilt so that said step of panning said camera and said step of tilting said camera are completed at approximately a single point in time.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of adjusting at least one comprises:

determining an amount of time required to perform said step of panning at a maximum rate of pan;

determining an amount of time required to perform said step of tilting at a maximum rate of tilt;

if said amount of time required to perform said step of panning is greater than said amount of time required to perform said step of tilting then decreasing said rate of tilt; and

if said amount of time required to perform said step of panning is less than said amount of time required to perform said step of tilting then decreasing said rate of pan.