Video conference system and control method for the same

• US 5,917,543 A
• Filed: 05/01/1996
• Issued: 06/29/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Uehara, Tsukasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHRISTENSEN, ANDREW BRUCE
• Application Number:
  US08/641,340
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 348/13, 348/14, 348/15, 348/16, 348/19, 348/142, 348/143, 348/159, 348/211, 348/214, 348/213, 318/640
• US Class Current: 348/211.9
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A video conference system includes a detecting circuit for detecting an amount corresponding to a movement delay, if the movement delay occurs in a terminal device prepared at a second point when the terminal device is made to perform the movement, in accordance with an instruction sent from the first point, and a memory circuit for storing the amount corresponding to the movement delay detected by the detecting circuit. The device is made to move in a direction opposite to the direction in which the device has been made to move, on the basis of the amount stored in the memory circuit.

Claims

1. A device controlling method for controlling a device at a second point by an operating device at a first point, comprising the steps of:

causing the device prepared at the second point to perform a predetermined movement by a first amount of driving, in response to an instruction of a motion provided from the operating device by an operator at the first point to the device at the second point; and

if the instruction is provided from the operating device by the operator at the first point to the device at the second point again within a predetermined time after a predetermined manual operation is finished, causing the device to move by a second amount of driving smaller than the first amount of driving, and if the instruction is provided from the operating device by the operator at the first point to the device at the second point again beyond the predetermined time after the predetermined manual operation is finished, causing the device to move by the first amount of driving.

2. A device controlling method according to claim 1, wherein the device is a camera and the movement is a travel of the camera.

3. A device controlling method according to claim 2, wherein each of the first and second amounts of driving is a speed of movement of the camera.

4. A device controlling method according to claim 2, wherein each of the first and second amounts of driving is an amount of movement of the camera.

5. A device controlling method according to claim 1, wherein, in said step of causing the device to move by the second amount of driving, information indicative of a state in which the device is moved by the second amount of driving is displayed on a monitor.

6. A device controlling method according to claim 1, wherein a setting of the second amount of driving can be varied.

7. A device controlling method according to claim 1, wherein a value of the second amount of driving is automatically selected based upon a location of said second point and the device is controlled in accordance with the value.

8. A system for controlling a terminal device at a second point by an operating device at a first point comprising:

(a) the terminal device prepared at the second point;

(b) the operating device prepared at the first point for instructing said terminal device to perform a movement; and

(c) controlling means for causing said terminal device to move by a second amount of driving smaller than a first amount of driving if the instruction is provided from the operating device by an operator at the first point again within a predetermined time after a predetermined manual operation is finished and said controlling means for causing said terminal device to move by the first amount of driving if the instruction is provided from the operating device by the operator at the first point again beyond the predetermined time after said predetermined manual operation is finished.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said terminal device is a camera and the movement is a travel of the camera.

10. A system according to claim 8, wherein when said controlling means causes said terminal device to move by the second amount of driving, said controlling means causes a monitor to display information indicative of a state in which said terminal device is moved by the second amount of driving.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein said controlling means automatically selects a value of the second amount of driving, based upon a location of the second point, and controls said terminal device in accordance with the value.

12. A system according to claim 8, further comprising setting means for varying a setting of the second amount of driving.