Method of and apparatus for setting up electronic device

• US 5,999,213 A
• Filed: 06/06/1996
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Miyamoto, Kazuyoshi, Kihara, Taku, Chiba, Yoshio, Tsushima, Katsuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn, Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Srivastava, Vivek
• Application Number:
  US08/659,686
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 348/180, 348/181, 348/187, 348/223, 348/254, 348/722, 348/723, 348/211, 348/212, 348/213, 348/214
• US Class Current: 348/180
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/00 Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/002 for television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/617 Upgrading or updating of programs or applications for camera control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure

Abstract

An apparatus for setting up an electronic device has a memory for storing parameter setting image data for establishing one or more parameters with respect to a controlled device, the parameter setting image including parameter changing switch image data and setting state display image data, a display unit for displaying a parameter setting image based on the parameter setting image data read from the memory, an input unit for entering input information indicating changes in display states of a parameter changing switch image data and a setting state display image which are displayed by the display unit and a parameter to be established, and a controller for changing the display states of the parameter changing switch image data an the setting state display image which are displayed by the display unit and the parameter to be established, based on the input information entered by the input unit, and transmitting changed parameter data or a change in the parameter to the controlled device.

Claims

1. A method of setting up an electronic device by transmitting parameters indicated by a controller to said electronic device positioned separate from said controller and not utilized to set said parameters to set up said electronic device, comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying on a display associated with said controller a parameter setting image depicting a plurality of parameters that can be established with respect to said electronic device;

(b) deciding whether input information has been entered into said controller while the parameter setting image is being displayed on said display associated with said controller;

(c) changing a portion of the parameter setting image displayed on said display associated with said controller which corresponds to input information if such input information is entered;

(d) establishing parameter data according to the input information; and

(e) transmitting the established parameter data or a change in the parameter data to said electronic device positioned separate from said controller and not utilized to set said parameter data to change a parameter in said electronic device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said parameter setting image includes a parameter changing switch image or a setting state display image which moves or changes in the parameter setting image depending on the input information, and wherein said step (c) comprises the step of changing the display state of said parameter changing switch image depending on the input information, and/or the step of changing the setting state display image depending on the input information.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said step (d) comprises the step of saving the established parameter data as a file, and said step (e) comprises the step of transmitting all the parameter data saved as the file to the controlled device to change the parameter in the controlled device.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein said step (e) comprises the step of adding at least control device identification data indicative of the controlled device, control data indicative of a change in the parameter data, and parameter identification data indicative of the parameter, to the parameter data transmitted to the controlled device.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

receiving the data transmitted from said controller in the controlled device;

converting a communication protocol of the received data in the controlled device;

recognizing the parameter to be changed with the parameter identification data in the data whose communication protocol has been converted, in the controlled device; and

changing the parameter in the controlled device based on the recognized parameter and the parameter data.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein a data converter for converting a transmission format is disposed between the controller and the controlled device, further comprising the steps of:

receiving the data transmitted from the controller in the data converter;

converting a communication protocol of the received data in the data converter; and

transmitting the data whose communication protocol has been converted, from the data converter to the controlled device.

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein the controlled device comprises a video camera having signal processing capabilities or a camera system comprising a camera device and a control unit.

8. A method of setting up an electronic device by transmitting parameters indicated by a controller to said electronic device positioned separate from said controller and not used to set parameters to set up said electronic device, comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying on a display associated with said controller a parameter setting image depicting a plurality of parameters that can be established with respect to said electronic device, said parameter setting image including a parameter changing switch image and/or a setting state display image whose display state changes depending on input information;

(b) deciding whether input information has been entered into said controller while the parameter setting image is being displayed on said display associated with said controller;

(c) changing the display state of said parameter changing switch image and/or said setting state display image displayed on said display associated with said controller which corresponds to input information if such input information is entered;

(d) establishing parameter data according to the input information;

(e) transmitting the established parameter data or a change in the parameter data from said controller to said electronic device positioned separate from said controller and not utilized to set said parameter data to change a parameter in said electronic device; and

(f) changing the parameter in said electronic device positioned separate from said controller based on the parameter data or the change in the parameter data transmitted from said controller.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said step (d) comprises the step of saving the established parameter data as a file, and said step (e) comprises the step of transmitting all the parameter data saved as the file to the controlled device to change the parameter in the controlled device.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein said step (e) comprises the step of adding at least control device identification data indicative of the controlled device, control data indicative of a change in the parameter data, and parameter identification data indicative of the parameter, to the parameter data transmitted to the controlled device.

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

receiving the data transmitted from said controller in the controlled device;

converting a communication protocol of the received data in the controlled device;

recognizing the parameter to be changed with the parameter identification data in the data whose communication protocol has been converted, in the controlled device; and

changing the parameter in the controlled device based on the recognized parameter and the parameter data.

12. A method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of:

(g) converting a transmission format between the controller and the controlled device;

and wherein said step (g) comprises the steps of;

receiving the data transmitted from the controller;

converting a communication protocol of the received data; and

transmitting the data whose communication protocol has been converted, to the controlled device.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein the controlled device comprises a video camera having signal processing capabilities or a camera system comprising a camera device and a control unit.

14. An apparatus for setting up an electronic device, comprising:

storage means for storing parameter setting image data for establishing one or more parameters with respect to said electronic device not utilized to establish said one or more parameters, said parameter setting image including parameter changing switch image data and setting state display image data;

display means for displaying a parameter setting image based on and depicting the parameter setting image data read from said storage means;

input means for entering input information indicating changes in display states of a parameter changing switch image data and a setting state display image which are displayed by said display means and a parameter to be established; and

control means positioned separate from said electronic device for changing the display states of the parameter changing switch image data and the setting state display image which are displayed by said display means and the parameter to be established, based on the input information entered by said input means, and transmitting changed parameter data or a change in the parameter to said electronic device positioned separate from said control means and not utilized to establish said parameter data.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said control means comprises:

position recognizing means for recognizing the position of a pointer in the parameter setting image displayed by said display means, based on the input information entered by said input means; and

parameter generating means for generating parameter data based on the input information entered by said input means.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said control means comprises:

means for saving the established parameter or parameters as a file, and transmitting all the parameter data saved as the file to the controlled device.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said control means comprises:

means for adding at least control device identification data indicative of the controlled device, control data indicative of a change in the parameter data, and parameter identification data indicative of the parameter, to the parameter data transmitted to the controlled device.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said controlled device comprises:

means for receiving the data transmitted from said control means, converting a communication protocol of the received data, recognizing the parameter to be changed with the parameter identification data in the data whose communication protocol has been converted, and changing the parameter based on the recognized parameter and the parameter data.

19. An apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a data converter disposed between the controller and the controlled device, for converting a communication protocol of the parameter data transmitted from said control means, and transmitting the data whose communication protocol has been converted, to the controlled device.

20. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said controlled device comprises a video camera having signal processing capabilities or a camera system comprising a camera device and a control unit.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said control means comprises display means for displaying a video signal supplied from said a video camera or said camera device or said control unit.

22. An apparatus for setting up an electronic device, comprising:

storage means for storing parameter setting image data for establishing one or more parameters with respect to a controlled device, said parameter setting image including parameter changing switch image data and setting state display image data;

display means for displaying a parameter setting image based on and depicting the parameter setting image data read from said storage means;

input means for entering input information indicating chances in display states of a parameter changing switch image data and a setting state display image which are displayed by said display means and a parameter to be established; and

control means positioned separate from said controlled device for changing the display states of the parameter changing switch image data and the setting state display image which are displayed by said display means and the parameter to be established, based on the input information entered by said input means, and transmitting changed parameter data or a change in the parameter to the controlled device positioned separate from said control means;

said display means displaying a plurality of components, including at least a plurality of available input devices, or controlled devices, a plurality of associated camera control units, a camera network unit controller, a video camera selector, and interconnections therebetween; and

said input means is also adapted for designating one of said displayed plurality of available input devices, or controlled devices,

wherein designation of said one input device or controlled device electrically connects said designated input device or controlled device to said network in accordance with said interconnections, thereby allowing said changed parameter data to be transmitted to said designated input device or controlled device.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said interconnections indicate potential data transfer paths between various of the displayed components.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least one of said plurality of input devices is a video recorder.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said designated input device is indicated on said display means.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising parameter setting means for setting various parameters in accordance with said designated input device.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising control means for transmitting said various parameter settings or changes to said various parameter settings to said designated device.