Video system including a camera controlled by a control apparatus through communication means

• US 6,380,972 B1
• Filed: 11/26/1996
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Iijima, Katsumi, Mitsutake, Hideaki, Sekine, Masayoshi, Muramoto, Tomotaka, Suga, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US08/757,084
• Time in Patent Office: 1,981 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.5225, 348/207, 348/211, 348/212, 348/345, 348/13, 348/15, 348/17, 348/36, 348/39, 348/143, 348/169, 348/373, 348/375, 348/330, 348/331, 348/333.01, 348/333.05, 348/333.12, 348/159, 348/333.02, 348/333.03
• US Class Current: 348/211.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q

Abstract

In a video system of the invention, a controller is provided for a terminal input apparatus which is connected by a communication network to a camera on the partner side and which has an image display apparatus with a multi-window display function for selecting and displaying the camera setting. An image pickup operation which is required to operate the camera on the partner side, for example, the image pickup direction, focal distance, panning, exposure amount, white balance, automatic focusing, and the like of the designated camera are input by using an image display and a window display of the image display apparatus. The operation of the camera on the partner side and the operations of a tripod, a movable arm, and the like to hold the camera are controlled through a communicating device. A photographed image is displayed by the display apparatus.

Claims

1. A camera control system comprising:

(A) a plurality of cameras for respectively picking up an image of an object;

(B) display means for simultaneously displaying a plurality of images picked up by said plurality of cameras on a screen as multi-windows;

(C) designating means for designating a desired range in one of the plurality of images displayed by said display means; and

(D) control means for changing an exposure of one of the plurality of cameras corresponding to the image in which said range was designated by said designating means.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control means changes an image pickup direction of said camera.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control means changes an image pickup field angle of said camera.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control means changes a focal distance of said camera.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said control means changes a focal position of said camera.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said display means displays an image picked up by said camera.

7. A camera control system comprising:

(A) a plurality of cameras each for picking up an image of an object;

(B) display means for simultaneously displaying a plurality of images picked up by said plurality of cameras with corresponding title bars on a screen as multi-windows;

(C) a pointing device for clicking a predetermined position of one of the images simultaneously displayed by said display means; and

(D) control means for controlling said display means to change the state of the corresponding title bar of the image which is clicked by said pointing device.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said control means further changes an image pickup direction of said camera corresponding to the image which is clicked.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said control means further adjusts a white balance of said camera corresponding to the image which is clicked.

10. A system according to claim 7, wherein said control means further changes an image pickup field angle of said camera corresponding to the image which is clicked.

11. A system according to claim 7, wherein said control means further changes an image pickup field of said camera corresponding to the image which is clicked.

12. A system according to claim 7, wherein said control means further changes an exposure of said camera corresponding to the image which is clicked.

13. A camera controlled by an external apparatus which includes display means for simultaneously displaying an image picked up by said camera and a camera control common bar on a screen, wherein said camera control common bar includes a first mark and a second mark fixed at both ends of said camera control common bar and a third mark movable between said first and said second marks, a pointing device for clicking or dragging a predetermined position on the screen of said display means, and external control means for controlling a condition of said camera by clicking said first or second mark, or dragging said third mark between said first and second marks by said pointing device and for transmitting a predetermined command to the camera, said camera comprising:

(A) image pickup means for picking up an image of an object; and

(B) control means for controlling said image pickup means in accordance with a command from an external apparatus.

14. A camera according to claim 13, wherein said first and second marks included in said bar are arrows.

15. A camera according to claim 13, wherein said first and second marks included in said bar are triangles.

16. A camera according to claim 13, wherein said third mark included in said bar is a quadrilateral.

17. A camera according to claim 13, wherein said first and second marks included in said bar are characters.

18. A camera according to claim 13, wherein said control means changes an image pickup direction of said image pickup means.

19. A camera according to claim 13, wherein said control means changes an image pickup field angle of said image pickup means.

20. A camera according to claim 13, wherein said control means changes a focal length of said image pickup means.

21. A camera according to claim 13, wherein said display means displays a plurality of images as multi-windows, and each of said screens includes the bar.

22. A camera according to claim 13, wherein said display means displays an image picked up by said image pickup means.

23. A camera according to claim 13, wherein said control means controls a zooming operation of said image pickup means.

24. A camera according to claim 13, wherein said control means controls a panning operation of said image pickup means.

25. A camera according to claim 13, wherein said control means controls a tilting operation of said image pickup means.

26. A camera according to claim 13, said external control means further controlling a relationship between control amounts of the camera and moving amounts of the predetermined mark in accordance with a characteristic of the camera.

27. A camera according to claim 26, wherein said control means changes an image pickup direction of said image pickup means.

28. A camera according to claim 26, wherein said control means changes a focal length of said image pickup means.

29. A camera according to claim 26, wherein said control means changes a focal length of said image pickup means.

30. A camera according to claim 26, wherein said control means changes an exposure of said image pickup means.

31. A camera according to claim 26, wherein said control means adjusts a white balance of said image pickup means.

32. A camera according to claim 26, wherein said control means changes a focal position of said image pickup means.

33. A camera according to claim 26, wherein an aspect ratio of the screen which is displayed by said display means changes in accordance with said image pickup means.

34. A camera controlled by an external apparatus which includes display means for simultaneously displaying a plurality of images picked up by different cameras with corresponding title bars on a screen as multi-windows, a pointing device for clicking a predetermined position of one of the images displayed by said display means, and external control means for controlling said display means to change the state of the corresponding title bar of the image which is clicked by said pointing device and for transmitting a predetermined command to a camera corresponding to the image clicked by said pointing device, said camera, said camera comprising:

(A) image pickup means for picking up an image of an object; and

(B) control means for controlling said image pickup means in accordance with said predetermined command transmitted from said external apparatus.

35. A camera according to claim 34, wherein said control means changes an image pickup direction of said camera corresponding to the image which is clicked.

36. A camera according to claim 34, wherein said control means changes an image pickup field angle of said camera corresponding to the image which is clicked.

37. A camera according to claim 34, wherein said control means changes a focal length of said camera corresponding to the image which is clicked.

38. A camera according to claim 34, wherein said control means changes an exposure of said camera corresponding to the image which is clicked.

39. A camera according to claim 34, wherein said control means adjusts a white balance of said camera corresponding to the image which is clicked.

40. A camera according to claim 34, wherein said display means displays an image picked up by said camera.

41. A camera control system comprising:

(A) a camera for picking up an image of an object;

(B) display means for simultaneously displaying said image and a camera control common bar on a screen, wherein said camera control common bar includes a first mark and a second mark fixed at both ends of said camera control common bar and a third mark movable between said first and said second marks;

(C) a pointing device for clicking or dragging a predetermined position on the screen of said display means; and

(D) control means for controlling a condition of said camera by clicking said first or second mark, or dragging said third mark between said first and second marks by said pointing device.

42. A system according to claim 41, wherein said first and second marks included in said bar are arrows.

43. A system according to claim 41, wherein said first and second marks included in said bar are triangles.

44. A system according to claim 41, wherein said third mark included in said bar is a quadrilateral.

45. A system according to claim 41, wherein said first and second marks included in said bar are characters.

46. A system according to claim 41, wherein said control means changes an image pickup direction of said camera.

47. A system according to claim 41, wherein said control means changes an angle of view of said camera.

48. A system according to claim 41, wherein said control means changes a focal length of said camera.

49. A system according to claim 41, wherein said control means controls a zooming operation of said camera.

50. A system according to claim 41, wherein said control means controls a panning operation of said camera.

51. A system according to claim 41, wherein said control means controls a tilting operation of said camera.

52. A camera control system according to claim 41, said control means further controlling a relationship between control amounts of the camera and moving amounts of the predetermined mark in accordance with a characteristic of the camera.

53. A camera according to claim 52, wherein said control means changes an image pickup direction of said image pickup means.

54. A camera according to claim 52, wherein said control means changes an image pickup field angle of said image pickup means.

55. A camera according to claim 52, wherein said control means changes a focal length of said image pickup means.

56. A camera to claim 52, wherein said control means changes an exposure of said image pickup means.

57. A camera to claim 52, wherein said control means adjusts a white balance of said image pickup means.

58. A camera according to claim 52, wherein said control means changes a focal position of said image pickup means.

59. A camera according to claim 52, wherein an aspect ratio of the screen which is displayed by said display means changes in accordance with said image pickup means.

60. A camera control apparatus comprising:

(A) display means for simultaneously displaying a plurality of images picked up by a plurality of cameras with corresponding title bars on a screen as multi-windows;

(B) a pointing device for clicking a predetermined position of one of the plurality of images simultaneously displayed by said display means; and

(C) control means for controlling said display means to change the state of the corresponding title bar of the image which is clicked by said pointing device.

61. A camera control apparatus according to claim 60, wherein said control mean changes an image pickup direction of said camera.

62. A camera control apparatus according to claim 60, wherein said control means changes an image pickup field angle of said camera.

63. A camera control apparatus according to claim 60, wherein said control means changes a focal length of angle of said camera.

64. A camera control apparatus according to claim 60, wherein said control means changes an exposure of said camera.

65. A camera control apparatus according to claim 60, wherein said control means adjusts a white balance of said camera.

66. A camera control apparatus comprising:

(A) display means for simultaneously displaying an image picked up by a camera and a camera control common bar on a screen, wherein said camera control common bar includes a first mark and a second mark fixed at both ends of said camera control common bar and a third mark movable between said first and second marks;

(B) a pointing device for clicking or dragging a predetermined position on the screen of said display means; and

(C) control means for controlling a condition of said camera by clicking said first or second mark, or dragging said third mark between said first and second marks by said pointing device.

67. A system according to claim 66, wherein said control means changes an image pickup direction of said camera.

68. A system according to claim 66, wherein said control means changes an image pickup field angle of said camera.

69. A system according to claim 66, wherein said control means changes a focal length of said camera.

70. A system according to claim 66, wherein said control means changes a focal position of said camera.

71. A system according to claim 66, wherein an aspect ratio of the screen which is displayed by said display means changes in accordance with said camera.

72. An apparatus according to claim 66, wherein said control means controls a zooming operation of said camera.

73. An apparatus according to claim 66, wherein said control means controls a panning operation of said camera.

74. An apparatus according to claim 66, wherein said control means controls a tilting operation of said camera.

75. A camera control apparatus according to claim 66, said control means further controlling a relationship between control amounts of the camera and moving amounts of the predetermined mark in accordance with a characteristic of the camera.

76. A camera according to claim 75, wherein said control means changes an image pickup direction of said image pickup means.

77. A camera according to claim 75, wherein said control means changes an image pickup field angle of sail image pickup means.

78. A camera according to claim 75, wherein said control means changes a focal length of said image pickup means.

79. A camera according to claim 75, wherein said control means adjusts a white balance of said image pickup means.

80. A camera according to claim 75, wherein said control means adjusts a white balance of said image pickup means.

81. A camera according to claim 75, wherein said control means changes a focal position of said image pickup means.

82. A camera according to claim 75, wherein an aspect ratio of the screen which is displayed by said display means changes in accordance with said image pickup means.

83. A camera control system comprising:

(A) a camera for picking up an image of an object;

(B) display means for simultaneously displaying an image picked up by said camera and a camera control bar on a screen;

(C) a pointing device for clicking or dragging the bar; and

(D) control means for controlling said display means to change a display state of the bar in accordance with a characteristic of the camera.

84. A system according to claim 83, wherein said control means changes an image pickup direction of said camera.

85. A system according to claim 83, wherein said control means changes an image pickup field angle of said camera.

86. A system according to claim 83, wherein said control means changes a focal length of said camera.

87. A system according to claim 83, wherein said control means changes an exposure of said camera.

88. A system according to claim 83, wherein said control means adjusts a white balance of said camera.

89. A camera controlled by an external apparatus which includes display means for simultaneously displaying an image picked up by said camera and a camera control bar on a screen, a pointing device for clicking or dragging the bar, and external control means for controlling said display means to change a display state of the bar in accordance with the characteristics of the camera and for transmitting a predetermined command to the camera, said camera comprising:

(A) image pickup means for picking up an image of an object; and

(B) control means for controlling said image pickup means in accordance with said predetermined command transmitted from said external apparatus.

90. A camera according to claim 89, wherein said control means changes an image pickup direction of said camera.

91. A camera according to claim 89, wherein said control means changes an image pickup field angle of said camera.

92. A camera according to claim 89, wherein said control means changes a focal length of said camera.

93. A camera according to claim 89, wherein said control means changes an exposure of said camera.

94. A camera according to claim 89, wherein said control means adjusts a white balance of said camera.

95. A camera control apparatus comprising:

(A) display means for simultaneously displaying an image picked up by a camera and a camera control bar on a screen;

(B) a pointing device for clicking or dragging the bar; and

(C) control means for controlling said display means to change a display state of the bar in accordance with the characteristics of the camera.

96. A camera control apparatus according to claim 95, wherein said control means changes an image pickup direction of said camera.

97. A camera control apparatus according to claim 95, wherein said control means changes an image pickup field angle of said camera.

98. A camera control apparatus according to claim 95, wherein said control means changes a focal length of said camera.

99. A camera control apparatus according to claim 95, wherein said control means changes an exposure of said camera.

100. A camera control apparatus according to claim 95, wherein said control means adjusts a white balance of said camera.

101. A camera controlled by an external apparatus which includes display means for simultaneously displaying an image picked up by said camera and first and second camera control common bars on a screen, wherein each of said camera control common bars includes a first mark and a second mark fixed at both ends of each of said camera control common bars and a third mark movable between said first and said second marks, a pointing device for clicking or dragging a predetermined position on the screen of said display means, and external control means for controlling panning and tilting operations of said camera by clicking said first or second marks, or dragging said third mark between said first and second marks by said pointing device and for transmitting a predetermined command to the camera, said camera comprising:

(A) image pickup means for picking up an image of an object; and

(B) control means for controlling said image pickup means in accordance with a command from an external apparatus.

102. A camera according to claim 101, wherein said control means changes an image pickup direction of said image pickup means.

103. A camera according to claim 101, wherein said control means changes an angle of view of said image pickup means.

104. A camera according to claim 101, wherein said control means changes a focal length of said image pickup means.

105. A camera according to claim 101, wherein said control means controls a zooming operation of said image pickup means.

106. A camera according to claim 101, wherein said display means further displays a third common bar for zooming control, said third common bar including said first, second, and third marks.

107. A camera control system comprising:

(A) a camera for picking up an image of an object;

(B) display means for simultaneously displaying said image and first and second camera control common bars on a screen, wherein each of said first and second camera control common bars includes a first mark and a second mark fixed at both ends of said camera control common bar and a third mark movable between said first and said second marks;

(C) a pointing device for clicking or dragging a predetermined position on the screen of said display means; and

(D) control means for controlling panning and tilting operations of said camera by clicking said first or said second marks, or dragging said third marks between said first and second marks in the first and second camera control common bars by said pointing device.

108. A system according to claim 107, wherein said control means changes an image pickup direction of said camera.

109. A system according to claim 107, wherein said control means changes an angle of view of said camera.

110. A system according to claim 107, wherein said control means changes a focal length of said camera.

111. A system according to claim 107, wherein said control means controls a zooming operation of said camera.

112. A system according to claim 107, wherein said display means further displays a third common bar for zoom control, said third common bar including said first, second, and third marks.

113. A camera control apparatus comprising:

(A) display means for simultaneously displaying an image picked up by a camera and first and second camera control common bars on a screen, wherein each of said first and second camera control common bars includes a first mark and a second mark fixed at both ends of each of said camera control common bars and a third mark movable between said first and said second marks;

(B) a pointing device for clicking or dragging a predetermined position on the screen of said display means; and

(C) control means for controlling panning and tilting operations of said camera by clicking said first or second mark or dragging said third mark between said first and second marks in the first and second camera control common bars by said pointing device.

114. An apparatus according to claim 113, wherein said control means changes an image pickup direction of said camera.

115. An apparatus according to claim 113, wherein said control means changes an angle of view of said camera.

116. An apparatus according to claim 113, wherein said control means changes a focal length of said camera.

117. An apparatus according to claim 113, wherein said control means controls a zooming operation of said camera.

118. An apparatus according to claim 113, wherein said display means further displays a third common bar for zoom control, said third common bar including said first, second, and third marks.