Image input system, image server apparatus and control method thereof

• US 6,067,624 A
• Filed: 07/21/1997
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kuno, Tomoko
• Primary Examiner(s): HUA, LY
• Application Number:
  US08/897,885
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 713/200, 713/201, 713/202, 340/825.06, 399/8
• US Class Current: 726/17
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• 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 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A plurality of client apparatuses, which issue a request to obtain a control privilege, are registered in a camera control queue provided to obtain the control privilege of controlling an image sensing apparatus. When it is detected that one of the plurality of client apparatuses registered in the queue has issued a control request to control the image sensing apparatus, it is determined whether or not the client apparatus who has issued the control request possesses the control privilege. If the client apparatus does not possess the control privilege, it is determined whether or not shifting of the control privilege should be executed based on a control-privilege possessing time of a client apparatus which currently has the privilege. When it is determined that shifting of the control privilege should be executed, contents of the queue is updated, whereby shifting the camera control privilege. Accordingly, the control privilege of the image sensing apparatus is appropriately managed in response to a plurality of requests to control the image sensing apparatus, and more particularly, the period of control-privilege possessing time is controlled appropriately in correspondence with a volume of traffic of control requests issued by clients.

Claims

1. An image input system comprising:

detecting means for detecting issuance of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus from a client;

registering means for registering the client who is an issuer of the control request detected by said detecting means, in a waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of an image sensing apparatus;

determining means for determining whether or not shifting of the control privilege should be executed on the basis of a control-privilege possessing time of a client who currently has the control privilege; and

updating means for updating contents of the waiting queue when said determining means determines to execute shifting of the control privilege.

2. The image input system according to claim 1, further comprising executing means for, when the client who is the issuer of the control request reaches the top of the waiting queue as a result of updating the waiting queue by said updating means, executing control of the image sensing apparatus based on the control request.

3. The image input system according to claim 1, further comprising notifying means for, in a case where the client who is the issuer of the control request does not reach the top of the waiting queue as a result of updating the waiting queue by said updating means, notifying the client who is the issuer of the control request that the control request has been turned down.

4. The image input system according to claim 1, further comprising:

calculating means for, in a case where the client who is the issuer of the control request does not reach the top of the waiting queue as a result of updating the waiting queue by said updating means, calculating an approximately waiting time for which the client who is the issuer of the control request must wait to obtain the control privilege, on the basis of a registration state of the waiting queue; and

notifying means for notifying of the waiting time calculated by said calculating means to the client who is the issuer of the control request.

5. The image input system according to claim 1, further comprising:

calculating means for, in a case where said determining means determines that shifting of said control privilege is unnecessary, calculating an approximately waiting time for which the client who is the issuer of the control request must wait to obtain the control privilege, on the basis of a remaining time of the control-privilege possessing time of the client who currently has the control privilege and a registration state of the waiting queue; and

notifying means for notifying of the waiting time calculating by said calculating means to the client who is the issuer of the control request.

6. The image input system according to claim 1, wherein said determining means determines whether or not shifting of the control privilege should be executed on the basis of the control-privilege possessing time of the client who currently has the control privilege and a time which has passed since the client last issued a control request.

7. The image input system according to claim 1, wherein said determining means comprises:

first determining means for determining whether or not the control-privilege possessing time of the client who currently has the control privilege exceeds a predetermined time; and

second determining means for determining whether or not the time which has passed since the client last issued a control request exceeds a predetermined time,

wherein in a case where the client, who is an issuer of the control request detected by said detecting means, does not possess the control privilege, said first determining means and said determining means make their determination, and if one of determining conditions is satisfied, said determining means determines to execute shifting of the control privilege.

8. The image input system according to claim 1, wherein in a case where said determining means determines to execute shifting of the control privilege, said updating means updates the contents of the waiting queue on the basis of a priority level of registered clients.

9. The image input system according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing means for storing priority information in which priority levels of the plurality of clients are registered;

comparing means for, upon obtaining a priority level of a client who is the top of the waiting queue updated by said updating means, and a priority level of the client who is the issuer of the control request, comparing both of the priority levels; and

providing means for, if the priority level of the client who is the issuer of the control request is higher than the priority level of the client who is the top of the waiting queue as a result of comparison by said comparing means, providing the client who is the issuer of the control request with the control privilege by inserting the client who is the issuer of the control request to the top of the waiting queue.

10. The image input system according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing means for storing control-time information in which each control-allowed time of the plurality of clients is registered,

wherein in a case where the client, who is an issuer of the control request detected by said detecting means, does not possess the control privilege, said determining means obtains a control-allowed time of the client who currently has the control privilege from said storing means, and determines to execute shifting of the control privilege if the control-privilege possessing time of said client exceeds the obtained control-allowed time.

11. The image input system according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing means for storing password information in which specific data for specifying a client and a password set for each client are stored in an established correspondence; and

receiving means for receiving a registering request from a client which requests registration in the waiting queue, said registering request including specific data and a password to specify the client,

wherein said registering means registers the client in the waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of the image sensing apparatus, if the specific data and the password included in the registering request coincide with password data stored in said storing means.

12. The image input system according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing means for storing priority levels of the plurality of clients;

increasing means for increasing an evaluation value of the plurality of clients, who have been registered by said registering means, by a predetermined value at an interval of a predetermined time period;

adding means for, each time the waiting queue is updated by said updating means, adding each priority level to an evaluation value of each client which is registered in the waiting queue;

comparing means for, updating the waiting queue, comparing an evaluation value of the client who is the top of the waiting queue with an evaluation value of the client who is the issuer of the control request; and

providing means for, if the evaluation value of the client who is the issuer of the control request is higher than the evaluation value of the client who is the top of the waiting queue as a result of comparison by said comparing means, providing the client who is the issuer of the control request with the control privilege by inserting the client who is the issuer of the control request to the top of the waiting queue.

13. The image input system according to claim 1, further comprising notifying means for notifying client who is the top of the waiting queue that the client can perform control.

14. The image input system according to claim 13, wherein said notifying means sends a notification no earlier than completion of updating contents of the waiting queue executed by said updating means.

15. The image input system according to claim 13, wherein said notifying means sends the notification at an interval of a predetermined time period.

16. An image input system comprising:

detecting means for detecting issuance of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus from a client;

registering means for registering a client who is an issuer of the control request detected by said detecting means, in a waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of an image sensing apparatus;

storing means for storing priority levels of the plurality of clients;

comparing means for comparing a priority level of a client who is the top of the waiting queue with a priority level of the client who is the issuer of the control request upon obtaining both of the priority levels;

providing means for, if the priority level of the client who is the issuer of the control request is higher than the priority level of the client who is the top of the waiting queue as a result of comparison by said comparing means, providing the client who is the issuer of the control request with the control privilege by inserting the client who is the issuer of the control request to the top of the waiting queue.

17. An image input system comprising:

storing means for storing password information in which specific data for specifying a client and a password set for each client are stored in an established correspondence;

receiving means for receiving a registering request from a client which requests registration in the waiting queue, said registering request including specific data and a password to specify the client;

registering means for, if the specific data and the password included in the registering request coincide with password data stored in said storing means, registering the client in the waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of an image sensing apparatus;

detecting means for detecting issuance of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus from one of a plurality of clients who have been registered by said registering means; and

updating means for, when said detecting means detects issuance of the control request, updating contents of the waiting queue on the basis of a registration state of the waiting queue.

18. An image input system comprising:

detecting means for detecting issuance of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus from a client;

registering means for registering a client who is an issuer of the control request detected by said detecting means, in a waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of an image sensing apparatus;

storing means for storing priority levels of the plurality of clients;

increasing means for increasing an evaluation value of the plurality of clients, who have been registered by said registering means, by a predetermined value at an interval of a predetermined time period;

updating means for, when said detecting means detects issuance of the control request, updating contents of the waiting queue on the basis of a registration state of the waiting queue;

adding means for, each time the waiting queue is updated by said updating means, adding each priority level to an evaluation value of each client which is registered in the waiting queue;

comparing means for comparing an evaluation value of the client who is the top of the waiting queue with an evaluation value of the client who is the issuer of the control request; and

providing means for, if the evaluation value of the client who is the issuer of the control request is higher than the evaluation value of the client who is the top of the waiting queue as a result of comparison by said comparing means, providing the client who is the issuer of the control request with the control privilege by inserting the client who is the issuer of the control request to the top of the waiting queue.

19. An image server apparatus connectable with a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, comprising:

detecting means for detecting issuance of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus from a client;

registering means for registering a client who is an issuer of the control request detected by said detecting means in a waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of an image sensing apparatus;

determining means for determining whether or not shifting of the control privilege should be executed on the basis of a control-privilege possessing time of a client who currently has the control privilege; and

updating means for updating contents of the waiting queue when said determining means determines to execute shifting of the control privilege.

20. An image server apparatus connectable with a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, comprising:

detecting means for detecting issuance of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus from a client;

registering means for registering a client who is an issuer of the control request detected by said detecting means, in a waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of an image sensing apparatus;

storing means for storing priority levels of the plurality of clients;

comparing means for comparing a priority level of a client who is the top of the waiting queue with a priority level of the client who is the issuer of the control request upon obtaining both of the priority levels;

providing means for, if the priority level of the client who is the issuer of the control request is higher than the priority level of the client who is the top of the waiting queue as a result of comparison by said comparing means, providing the client who is the issuer of the control request with the control privilege by inserting the client who is the issuer of the control request to the top of the waiting queue.

21. An image server apparatus connectable with a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, comprising:

storing means for storing password information in which specific data for specifying a client and a password set for each client are stored in an established correspondence;

receiving means for receiving a registering request from a client which requests registration in the waiting queue, said registering request including specific data and a password to specify the client;

registering means for, if the specific data and the password included in the registering request coincide with password data stored in said storing means, registering the client in the waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of an image sensing apparatus;

detecting means for detecting issuance of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus from one of a plurality of clients who have been registered by said registering means; and

updating means for, when said detecting means detects issuance of the control request, updating contents of the waiting queue on the basis of a registration state of the waiting queue.

22. An image server apparatus connectable with a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, comprising:

detecting means for detecting issuance of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus from a client;

registering means for registering a client who is an issuer of the control request detected by said detecting means, in a waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of an image sensing apparatus;

storing means for storing priority levels of the plurality of clients;

increasing means for increasing an evaluation value of the plurality of clients, who have been registered by said registering means, by a predetermined value at an interval of a predetermined time period;

updating means for, when said detecting means detects issuance of the control request, updating contents of the waiting queue on the basis of a registration state of the waiting queue;

adding means for, each time the waiting queue is updated by said updating means, adding each priority level to an evaluation value of each client which is registered in the waiting queue;

comparing means for comparing an evaluation value of the client who is the top of the waiting queue with an evaluation value of the client who is the issuer of the control request; and

providing means for, if the evaluation value of the client who is the issuer of the control request is higher than the evaluation value of the client who is the top of the waiting queue as a result of comparison by said comparing means, providing the client who is the issuer of the control request with the control privilege by inserting the client who is the issuer of the control request to the top of the waiting queue.

23. A control method of controlling an image server apparatus connectable with a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, comprising the steps of:

a detecting issuance of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus from a client;

registering a client who is an issuer of the control request detected in the detecting step, in a waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of an image sensing apparatus;

determining whether or not shifting of the control privilege should be executed on the basis of a control-privilege possessing time of a client who currently has the control privilege; and

updating contents of the waiting queue when determination is made in said determining step to execute shifting of the control privilege.

24. A control method of controlling an image server apparatus connectable with a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, comprising the steps of:

storing priority levels of the plurality of clients in a memory;

detecting issuance of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus from a client;

registering a client who is an issuer of the control request detected in the detecting step, in a waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of an image sensing apparatus;

obtaining from the memory a priority level of a client who is the top of the waiting queue, and a priority level of the client who is the issuer of the control request, and comparing both of the priority levels;

if the priority level of the client who is the issuer of the control request is higher than the priority level of the client who is the top of the waiting queue as a result of comparison in said comparing step, providing the client who is the issuer of the control request with the control privilege by inserting the client who is the issuer of the control request to the top of the waiting queue.

25. A control method of controlling an image server apparatus connectable with a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, comprising the steps of:

storing, in a memory, password information in which specific data for specifying a client and a password set for each client are stored in an established correspondence;

receiving a registering request from a client which requests registration in the waiting queue, said registering request including specific data and a password to specify the client;

if the specific data and the password included in the registering request coincide with password data stored in the memory, registering the client in the waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of an image sensing apparatus;

detecting receipt of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus via the network from one of a plurality of clients who have been registered in said registering step; and

when the control request is detected in said detecting step, updating contents of the waiting queue on the basis of a registration state of the waiting queue.

26. A control method of controlling an image server apparatus connectable with a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, comprising the steps of:

storing priority levels of the plurality of clients in a memory;

detecting issuance of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus from a client;

registering a client who is an issuer of the controller request detected in the detecting step, in a waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of an image sensing apparatus;

increasing an evaluation value of the plurality of clients, who have been registered in said registering step, by a predetermined value at an interval of a predetermined time period;

when the control request is detected in said detecting step, updating contents of the waiting queue on the basis of a registration state of the waiting queue;

each time the waiting queue is updated in said updating step, adding each priority level which is stored in the memory to an evaluation value of each client which is registered in the waiting queue;

comparing an evaluation value of the client who is the top of the waiting queue with an evaluation value of the client who is the issuer of the control request; and

if the evaluation value of the client who is the issuer of the control request is higher than the evaluation value of the client who is the top of the waiting queue as a result of comparison in said comparing step, providing the client who is the issuer of the control request with the control privilege by inserting the client who is the issuer of the control request to the top of the waiting queue.

27. A computer readable memory having control program codes for controlling an image input control apparatus, which is connectable to a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, comprising:

detecting process procedure codes for detecting issuance of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus from a client;

registering process procedure codes for registering a client who is an issuer of the control request detected in said detecting process procedure, in a waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of an image sensing apparatus;

determining process procedure codes for determining whether or not shifting of the control privilege should be executed on the basis of a control-privilege possessing time of a client who currently has the control privilege; and

updating process procedure codes for updating contents of the waiting queue when determination is made in said determining step to execute shifting of the control privilege.

28. A computer readable memory having control program codes for controlling an image input control apparatus, which is connectable to a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, comprising:

storing process procedure codes for storing priority levels of the plurality of clients in a memory;

detecting process procedure for detecting issuance of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus from a client;

registering process procedure codes for registering a client who is an issuer of the control request detected in said detecting process procedure, in a waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of an image sensing apparatus;

comparing process procedure codes for obtaining from the memory a priority level of a client who is the top of the waiting queue, and a priority level of the client who is the issuer of the control request, and comparing both of the priority levels;

providing process procedure codes for, if the priority level of the client who is the issuer of the control request is higher than the priority level of the client who is the top of the waiting queue as a result of comparison in said comparing step, providing the client who is the issuer of the control request with the control privilege by inserting the client who is the issuer of the control request to the top of the waiting queue.

29. A computer readable memory having control program codes for controlling an image input control apparatus, which is connectable to a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, comprising:

storing process procedure codes for storing, in a memory, password information in which specific data for specifying a client and a password set for each client are stored in an established correspondence;

receiving process procedure codes for receiving a registering request from a client which requests registration in the waiting queue, said registering request including specific data and a password to specify the client;

registering process procedure codes for, if the specific data and the password included in the registering request coincide with password data stored in the memory, registering the client in the waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of an image sensing apparatus;

detecting process procedure codes for detecting receipt of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus via the network from one of a plurality of clients who have been registered in said registering step; and

updating process procedure codes for, when the control request is detected in said detecting step, updating contents of the waiting queue on the basis of a registration state of the waiting queue.

30. A computer readable memory having control program codes for controlling an image input control apparatus, which is connectable to a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, comprising:

storing process procedure codes for storing priority levels of the plurality of clients in a memory;

detecting process procedure codes for detecting issuance of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus from a client;

registering process procedure codes for registering a client who is an issuer of the control request detected in said detecting process procedure, in a waiting queue for obtaining the control privilege of an image sensing apparatus;

increasing process procedure codes for increasing an evaluation value of the plurality of clients, who have been registered in said registering step, by a predetermined value at an interval of a predetermined time period;

detecting process procedure codes for detecting issuance of a control request of controlling the image sensing apparatus from one of the plurality of clients who have been registered in said registering step;

updating process procedure codes for, when the control request is detected in said detecting step, updating contents of the waiting queue on the basis of a registration state of the waiting queue;

adding process procedure codes for, each time the waiting queue is updated in said updating step, adding each priority level which is stored in the memory to an evaluation value of each client which is registered in the waiting queue;

comparing process procedure codes for comparing an evaluation value of the client who is the top of the waiting queue with an evaluation value of the client who is the issuer of the control request; and

providing process procedure codes for, if the evaluation value of the client who is the issuer of the control request is higher than the evaluation value of the client who is the top of the waiting queue as a result of comparison in said comparing step, providing the client who is the issuer of the control request with the control privilege by inserting the client who is the issuer of the control request to the top of the waiting queue.

31. An image imput system comprising:

detecting means for detecting issuance of a request of control privilege of an image sensing apparatus from a client;

registering means for registering a client who is an issuer of the control request detected by said detecting means;

receiving means for receiving a control privilege abandon notification message from a client registered by said registering means;

updating means for updating contents of the waiting queue when said receiving means receives the control privilege abandon notification message.

32. A controlling method of an image input system comprising the steps of:

detecting issuance of a request of control privilege of an image sensing aparatus from a client;

registering a client who is an issuer of the control request detected in the detecting step;

receiving a control privilege abandon notification message from a client registered in the registering step;

updating contents of the waiting queue when the control privilege abandon notification message is received in the receiving step.

33. A computer readable memory having control program codes for controlling an image input system, comprising:

detecting process procedure codes for detecting issuance of a request of control privilege of an image sensing apparatus from a client;

registering process procedure codes for registering a client who is an issuer of the control request detected in said detecting process procedure;

receiving process procedure codes for receiving a control privilege abandon notification message from a client registered in said registering process procedure;

updating process procedure for updating contents of the waiting queue when the control privilege abandon notification message is received in said receiving process procedure.