Apparatus and method for displaying control information of cameras connected to a network

• US 6,002,995 A
• Filed: 12/16/1996
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Kazuko, Kawai, Tomoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): ASSOUAD, PATRICK J
• Application Number:
  US08/766,107
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 364/550, 364/146, 345/112, 345/113, 345/115, 345/326, 345/327, 345/329, 345/334, 345/339, 345/348, 345/379, 348/61, 348/13-15, 348/143, 348/211, 348/239, 348/552, 455/67.1, 455/67.2, 455/66, 395/200.34, 702/188
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• 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 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Apparatus and method for displaying control information of a plurality of cameras connected to a network includes structure and steps for: displaying a map showing locations at which the plurality of cameras are disposed; and displaying symbols representing the cameras in accordance with the locations at which the cameras are disposed so that the symbols overlap with the displayed map, while displaying symbols in different forms in accordance with different conditions of the cameras.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a plurality of cameras connected to a network, and for displaying images from said plurality of cameras, said system including:

map display means for displaying locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed;

symbol display means for displaying symbols representing said plurality of cameras in accordance with the locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed so that said symbols overlap the map displayed by said map display means;

image display means for displaying each of the images from the plurality of cameras on the screen on which said map is displayed;

camera selecting means for selecting a camera to control at least one of panning, tilting, and zooming by designating a desired image from the images displayed by said image display means; and

control means for controlling a display of, in distinguishable forms, (i) a symbol corresponding to the camera to be controlled and selected by said camera selecting means and (ii) another symbol corresponding to another camera, and for controlling a display of, in distinguishable forms, (iii) an image from the camera to be controlled and selected by said camera selecting means and (iv) an image from the another camera.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls said symbol display means to display said symbols in different forms in accordance with whether or not said plurality of cameras are connected to a video transmission terminal which transmits the images selectively from said plurality of images.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls said symbol display means to display said symbols in different forms in accordance with whether or not said plurality of cameras are connected to a video transmission terminal which includes a camera input composing means which composes images from a plurality of cameras.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls said symbol display means to display said symbols in different forms in accordance with whether or not said cameras are externally controllable.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls said symbol display means to display (i) first symbols representing cameras from which images are displayed and (ii) second symbols representing cameras from which images are not displayed, said first and second symbols having different forms.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control means changes colors of said symbols so that said symbols are displayed in said different forms.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control means changes brightness of said symbols so that said symbols are displayed in said different forms.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control means changes the shapes of said symbols so that said symbols are displayed in said different forms.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control means controls said symbol display means to display said symbols in different forms in accordance with whether one or a plurality of cameras are connected to a video transmission terminal.

9. A method for controlling a plurality of cameras connected to a network, comprising the steps of:

displaying a map showing locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed;

displaying said symbols representing said plurality of cameras in accordance with the locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed so that said symbols overlap the map displayed by the map displaying step, and displaying said symbols in different forms in accordance with different conditions of said plurality of cameras;

displaying each of the images from the plurality of cameras on the screen on which said map is displayed;

selecting a camera to control at least one of panning, tilting and zooming by designating a desired image from the images displayed; and

controlling a display of, in distinguishable forms, (i) a symbol corresponding to the camera to be controlled and selected by said camera selecting means and (ii) another symbol corresponding to another camera, and for controlling a display of, in distinguishable forms, (iii) an image from the camera to be controlled and selected by said selecting step and (iv) an image from the another camera.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said symbols displaying step displays the symbols in different forms in accordance with whether or not said plurality of cameras are connected to a video transmission terminal which transmits the images selectively from the plurality of images.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein said symbols displaying step displays the symbols in different forms in accordance with whether or not the plurality of cameras are connected to a video transmission terminal which includes a camera input composing means which composes images from a plurality of cameras.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein said symbols displaying step displays the symbols in different forms in accordance with whether or not said cameras are externally controllable.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein said symbols displaying step displays (i) first symbols representing cameras from which images are displayed and (ii) second symbols from which images are not displayed are displayed, said first and second symbols having different forms.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the symbol displaying step displays symbols of different colors so that said symbols are displayed in said different forms.

15. A method according to claim 9, wherein the symbol displaying step displays symbols of different brightness so that said symbols are displayed in said different forms.

16. A method according to claim 9, wherein the symbol displaying step displays symbols of different shape so that said symbols are displayed in said different forms.

19. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of displaying said symbols in different forms in accordance with whether one or a plurality of cameras are connected to a video transmission terminal.

17. A computer-readable medium for storing programs to control a plurality of cameras connected to a network, said programs causing a computer to generate a display map showing (i) locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed and (ii) symbols representing said plurality of cameras in accordance with the locations in which said plurality of cameras are disposed so that said symbols overlap the display map, said programs causing the computer to generate the display map to display said symbols in different forms in accordance with different conditions of said cameras, said programs causing the computer to perform the functions of:

displaying each of the images from the plurality of cameras on the screen on which said map is displayed;

selecting a camera to control at least one of panning, tilting, and zooming by designating a desired image from the images displayed by the image display step; and

controlling a display of, in distinguishable forms, (i) a symbol corresponding to the camera to be controlled and selected by the camera selecting step and (ii) another symbol corresponding to another camera, and for controlling a display of, in distinguishable forms, (iii) an image from the camera to be controlled and selected by said selecting step and (iv) an image from the another camera.

20. A system for controlling a plurality of cameras connected to a network, and for displaying images from said plurality of cameras, said system including:

map display means for displaying locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed;

symbol display means for displaying symbols representing said plurality of cameras in accordance with the locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed so that said symbols overlap the map displayed by said map display means; and

control means for controlling said symbol display means to display a first camera symbol in a first form when a corresponding first one of the plurality of cameras is coupled to a first host, and to display a second camera symbol in a second, different form when a corresponding second one of the plurality of cameras is not coupled to the first host.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein said control means controls said symbol display means to display said symbols in different forms in accordance with whether or not a camera input composing means is connected to a video transmission terminal to which said cameras are connected.

22. A system according to claim 20, wherein said control means changes colors of said symbols so that said symbols are displayed in said different forms.

23. A system according to claim 20, wherein said control means changes brightness of said symbols so that said symbols are displayed in said different forms.

25. A method according to claim 20, wherein said control step controls said symbol display step to display said symbols in different forms in accordance with whether or not a camera input composing means is connected to a video transmission terminal to which said cameras are connected.

26. A method according to claim 20, wherein said control step changes colors of said symbols so that said symbols are displayed in said different forms.

27. A method according to claim 20, wherein said control step changes brightness of said symbols so that said symbols are displayed in said different forms.

28. A method according to claim 20, wherein said control step changes the shapes of said symbols so that said symbols are displayed in said different forms.

24. A method for controlling a plurality of cameras connected to a network, and for displaying images from said plurality of cameras, including the steps of:

a map display step for displaying locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed;

a symbol display step for displaying symbols representing said plurality of cameras in accordance with the locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed so that said symbols overlap the map displayed by said map display step; and

a control step for controlling said symbol display step to display a first camera symbol in a first form when a corresponding first one of the plurality of cameras is coupled to a first host, and to display a second camera symbol in a second, different form when a corresponding second one of the plurality of cameras is not coupled to the first host.

29. A computer readable medium storing a program which controls a plurality of cameras connected to a network, and causes images from said plurality of cameras to be displayed, said program causing the following functions to be performed:

a map display function for displaying locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed;

a symbol display function for displaying symbols representing said plurality of cameras in accordance with the locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed so that said symbols overlap the map displayed by said map display means; and

a control function for controlling said symbol display means to display a first camera symbol in a first form when a corresponding first one of said plurality of cameras is coupled to a first host, and to display a second camera symbol in a second, different form when a corresponding second one of the plurality of cameras is not coupled to the first host.

30. A system for controlling plurality of cameras connected to a network, and for displaying images from said plurality of cameras, said system including:

map display means for displaying on a map locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed;

symbol display means for displaying symbols representing said plurality of cameras in accordance with the locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed so that said symbols overlap the map displayed by said map display means;

image display means for displaying each of the images from the plurality of cameras on the screen on which said map is displayed;

camera selecting means for selecting a camera to control at least one of panning, tilting, and zooming by designating a symbol on the map;

control means for displaying, in distinguishable forms, (i) an image from the camera to be controlled and selected by said camera selecting means and (ii) an image from another camera, and for displaying, in distinguishable forms, (iii) a symbol corresponding to the camera to be controlled and selected by said camera selecting means, and (iv) another symbol corresponding to the another camera.

31. A system for controlling plurality of cameras connected to a network, and for displaying images from said plurality of cameras, said system including:

a map display step for displaying on a map locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed;

a symbol display step for displaying symbols representing said plurality of cameras in accordance with the locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed so that said symbols overlap the map displayed by said map display step;

an image display step for displaying each of the images from the plurality of cameras on the screen on which said map is displayed;

a camera selecting step for selecting a camera to control at least one of panning, tilting, and zooming by designating a symbol on the map;

a control step for displaying, in distinguishable forms, (i) an image from the camera to be controlled and selected by said camera selecting step and (ii) an image from another camera, and for displaying, in distinguishable forms, (iii) a symbol corresponding to the camera to be controlled and selected by said camera selecting step, and (iv) another symbol corresponding to the another camera.

32. A computer-readable medium for storing programs to control a plurality of cameras connected to a network, said programs causing at least one computer to perform the steps of:

a map display, step for displaying on a map locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed;

a symbol display step for displaying symbols representing said plurality of cameras in accordance with the locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed so that said symbols overlap the map displayed by said map display step;

an image display step for displaying each of the images from the plurality of cameras on the screen on which said map is displayed;

a camera selecting step for selecting a camera to control at least one of panning, tilting, and zooming by designating a symbol on the map;

a control step for displaying, in distinguishable forms, (i) an image from the camera to be controlled and selected by said camera selecting step and (ii) an image from another camera, and for displaying, in distinguishable forms, (iii) a symbol corresponding to the camera to be controlled and selected by said camera selecting step and (iv) another symbol corresponding to the another camera.

33. A system for controlling a plurality of cameras connected to a network, and for displaying images from said cameras, said system including:

map display means for displaying locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed;

symbol display means for displaying symbols representing said plurality of cameras in accordance with the locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed so that said symbols overlap the map displayed by said map display means;

image display means for displaying each of the images from the plurality of cameras on the screen on which said map is displayed;

camera selecting means for selecting a camera to control at least one of panning, tilting, and zooming; and

control means for controlling a display of, in distinguishable forms, (i) a symbol corresponding to the camera to be controlled and selected by said camera selecting means and (ii) another symbol corresponding to another camera, and for controlling a display of, in distinguishable forms, (iii) an image from the camera to be controlled and selected by said camera selecting means and (iv) an image from the another camera.

34. A method for controlling a plurality of cameras connected to a network, comprising the steps of:

displaying a map showing locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed;

displaying said symbols representing said plurality of cameras in accordance with the locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed so that said symbols overlap the map displayed by the map displaying step, and displaying said symbols in different forms in accordance with different conditions of said cameras;

displaying each of the images from the plurality of cameras on the screen on which said map is displayed;

selecting a camera to control at least one of panning, tilting and zooming; and

control means for controlling a display of, in distinguishable forms, (i) a symbol corresponding to the camera to be controlled and selected by said camera selecting means and (ii) another symbol corresponding to another camera, and for controlling a display of, in distinguishable forms, (iii) an image from the camera to be controlled and selected by said camera selecting step and (iv) an image from the another camera.

35. A computer-readable medium for storing programs to control a plurality of cameras connected to a network, said programs causing a computer to generate a display map showing (i) locations at which said plurality of cameras are disposed and (ii) symbols representing said plurality of cameras in accordance with the locations in which said plurality of cameras are disposed so that said symbols overlap the display map, said programs causing the computer to generate the display map to display said symbols in different forms in accordance with different conditions of said plurality of cameras, said programs causing the computer to perform the functions of:

displaying each of the images from the plurality of cameras on the screen on which said map is displayed;

selecting a camera to control at least one of panning, tilting, and zooming; and

controlling a display of, in distinguishable forms, (i) a symbol corresponding to the camera to be controlled and selected by the camera selecting step and (ii) another symbol corresponding to another camera, and controlling a display of, in distinguishable forms, (iii) an image from the camera to be controlled and selected by said camera selecting step and (iv) an image from the another camera.