Apparatus and method for controlling a camera connected to a network

• US 6,525,761 B2
• Filed: 07/22/1997
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Akiba, Yoshiyuki, Yamakawa, Tadashi, Sato, Mamoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): White, Mitchell
• Application Number:
  US08/898,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20010043272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,044 Days
• Field of Search: 348/13, 348/15, 348/20, 348/143, 348/152, 348/153, 348/156, 348/157, 348/158, 348/159, 348/211, 348/213, 348/552, 348/212, 348/214, 348/14-1-, 348/14.04, 348/14.05, 348/14.08, 348/14.09, 709/208, 709/245, 340/825.06, 340/825.07, 340/825.08
• US Class Current: 348/14.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/238 Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. adapting the transmission rate of a video stream to network bandwidth; Processing of multiplex streams hybrid fiber coaxial [HFC] networks for downstream channel allocation for video distribution H04L12/2801; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; real-time communication protocols in data switching networks H04L65/00; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/643 Communication protocols network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP], H04L65/65
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• 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 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A camera control apparatus provides an end user with environment to easily remote-control a video camera via a general network such as the Internet. When the camera control apparatus 1001 receives a file-transfer request described in the format of the network from an external device 1002 connected to the apparatus, it handles a characters in a character string of a file name of the request as camera-control characters. As a result, if the character string includes description corresponding to the format for camera control, the camera control apparatus 1001 controls the camera in accordance with the description to perform image sensing, and transfers the obtained video image as the content of an image file requested by the external device as the file-transfer request originator.

Claims

1. A camera control apparatus, connected to a network, capable of controlling a camera, comprising:

reception means for receiving a character string described in a format of a predetermined transfer request, including a URL, used on the network;

discrimination means for discriminating a predetermined control character relating to camera control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received by said reception means; and

control means for controlling the camera based on the result of discrimination by said discrimination means, and transferring video image data obtained by the camera to a transfer request originator.

2. The camera control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discrimination means includes image-sensing angle discrimination means for discriminating image-sensing angle characters related to panning, tilting, and zooming of the camera control, and numerical value characters indicating control amounts accompanying the image-sensing angle characters, and

wherein said control means controls the camera based on the result of discrimination by said image-sensing angle discrimination means, and transfers the video image data obtained by the camera to the transfer request originator.

3. The camera control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said discrimination means can discriminate a plurality of sets of character string, each character string comprising the image-sensing angle characters and the numerical value characters accompanying the image-sensing angle characters.

4. The camera control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said discrimination means discriminates a character string designating an image format,

and wherein said control means transfers video image data in the image format discriminated by said discrimination means.

5. The camera control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein if the discriminated character string designates a moving image, the video image data is compressed in data in a corresponding moving-image format and transferred to the file-transfer request originator.

6. The camera control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discrimination means includes:

image-sensing time discrimination means for discriminating an image-sensing time request character and a character string designating image-sensing date and time, accompanying the image-sensing time request character; and

video-image discrimination means for discriminating a video-image read request character, requesting to read the video image, and a character string designating the video image to be read,

said camera control apparatus further comprises;

registration means for registering the image-sensing date and time obtained by said image-sensing time discrimination means;

returning means for returning information specifying the contents registered by said registration means to the file-transfer request originator;

memory means for storing the video image obtained by the camera;

determination means for determining whether or not the image-sensing time registered by said registration means has come; and

storage means for storing the video image data obtained by the camera into said memory means if said determination means determines that the image-sensing time has come,

wherein said control means transfers the video image data from said memory means to the file-transfer request originator, in accordance with the character string designating the video image to be read, discriminated by said video-image discrimination means.

7. The camera control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said discrimination means includes image-sensing angle discrimination means for discriminating image-sensing angle characters relating to panning, tilting and zooming of the camera control, and numerical value characters indicating control amounts accompanying the image-sensing angle characters,

and wherein said registration means registers the information on an image-sensing angle of the camera,

further wherein said storage means stores the video image obtained based on the information on the image-sensing angle.

8. The camera control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discrimination means includes file-name discrimination means for discriminating a character string of a file name describing the image-sensing condition,

and wherein said control means reads content of the file name discriminated by said file-name discrimination means, controls the camera to perform image sensing in accordance with the image-sensing condition corresponding to the read content, and transfers the video image obtained by the image sensing to the file-transfer request originator.

9. The camera control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said discrimination means includes a storage-address discrimination means for discriminating a storage address of the file,

and wherein said control means reads a file of the discriminated file name and the discriminated storage address, controls the camera to perform image sensing in accordance with the image-sensing condition corresponding to the content of the file, and transfers the video image obtained by the image sensing to the file-transfer request originator.

10. The camera control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the storage address is a character string designating an Internet server.

11. A method for a camera control apparatus, connected to a network, capable of controlling a camera, comprising:

a reception step of receiving a character string described in a format of a predetermined transfer request, including a URL, used on the network;

a discrimination step of discriminating a predetermined control character relating to camera control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received at said reception step; and

a control step of controlling the camera based on the result of discrimination at said discrimination step, and transferring video image data obtained by the camera to a transfer request originator.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said discrimination step includes an image-sensing angle discrimination step of discriminating image-sensing angle characters relating to panning, tilting and zooming of the camera control, and numerical value characters indicating control amounts accompanying the image-sensing angle characters, and

wherein at said control step, the camera is controlled based on the result of discrimination at said image-sensing angle discrimination step, and transfers the video image data obtained by the camera to the transfer request originator.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein at said discrimination step, a plurality of sets of character string, each character string comprising the image-sensing angle characters and the numerical value characters accompanying the image-sensing angle characters, can be discriminated.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein at said discrimination step, a character string designating an image format is discriminated,

and wherein at said control step, video image data is transferred in the image format discriminated at said discrimination step.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein if the discriminated character string designates a moving image, the video image data is compressed in data in a corresponding moving-image format and transferred to the file-transfer request originator.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein said discrimination step includes:

an image-sensing time discrimination step of discriminating an image-sensing time request character and a character string designating image-sensing date and time, accompanying the image-sensing time request character; and

a video-image discrimination step of discriminating a video-image read request character, requesting to read the video image, and a character string designating the video image to be read,

said method further comprises;

a registration step of registering the image-sensing date and time obtained at said image-sensing time discrimination step;

a returning step of returning information specifying the contents registered at said registration step to the file-transfer request originator;

a memory step of storing the video image obtained by the camera;

a determination step of determining whether or not the image-sensing time registered at said registration step has come; and

a storage step of storing the video image data obtained by the camera into said memory means if it is determined at said determination step that the image-sensing time has come,

wherein at said control step, the video image data is transferred from said memory step to the file-transfer request originator, in accordance with the character string designating the video image to be read, discriminated by said video-image discrimination means.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said discrimination step includes an image-sensing angle discrimination step of discriminating image-sensing angle characters relating to panning, tilting and zooming of the camera control, and numerical value characters indicating control amounts accompanying the image-sensing angle characters,

and wherein at said registration step, the information on an image-sensing angle of the camera is registered,

further wherein at said storage step, the video image obtained based on the information on the image-sensing angle is stored.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein said discrimination step includes a file-name discrimination step of discriminating a character string of a file name describing the image-sensing condition,

and wherein at said control step, content of the file name, discriminated by said file-name discrimination means, is controlled, the camera is controlled to perform image sensing in accordance with the image-sensing condition corresponding to the read content, and the video image obtained by the image sensing is transferred to the file-transfer request originator.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said discrimination step includes a storage-address discrimination step of discriminating a storage address of the file,

and wherein at said control step, a file of the discriminated file name and the discriminated storage address are read, the camera is controlled to perform image sensing in accordance with the image-sensing condition corresponding to the content of the file, and the video image obtained by the image sensing is transferred to the file-transfer request originator.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the storage address is a character string designating an Internet server.

21. A storage medium containing program codes to be read and executed by a computer connected to a camera, comprising:

reception-process program codes of executing processing for receiving a character string described in a format of a predetermined transfer request, including a URL, used on a predetermined network;

discrimination-process program codes of executing processing for discriminating a predetermined control character relating to camera control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received at said reception process; and

control-process program codes of executing processing for controlling the camera based on the result of discrimination at said discrimination process, and transferring video image data obtained by the camera to a transfer request originator.

22. A client apparatus connected to a network, comprising:

input means for inputting camera control information for controlling a camera of a server connected to the network;

description means for describing the camera control information inputted by said input means, at a particular position of URL; and

request means for requesting the server to control the camera by transferring character string including the URL described by said description means.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control information of the camera includes at least one of panning, tilting and zooming of the camera.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control information of the camera includes reservation information related to the image-sensing by the camera.

25. A method for a client apparatus connected to a network, comprising:

inputting camera control information for controlling a camera of a server connected to the network;

describing the inputted camera control information at a particular position of a URL; and

requesting the server to control the camera by transferring a character string including the URL described in said description step.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the control information of the camera includes at least one of panning, tilting and zooming of the camera.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the control information of the camera includes reservation information related to the image-sensing by the camera.

28. A storage medium containing program codes to be read and executed by a computer connected to a client apparatus, comprising:

input-process program codes of executing processing for inputting camera control information for controlling a camera of a server connected to the network;

description-processing program codes of executing processing for describing the inputted camera control information at a particular position of a URL by said input-process program codes; and

request-process program codes of executing processing for requesting the server to control the camera by transferring a character string including the URL described by said description-process program codes.

29. The storage medium according to claim 28, wherein the control information of the camera includes at least one of panning, tilting and zooming of the camera.

30. The storage medium according to claim 28, wherein the control information of the camera includes reservation information related to the image-sensing by the camera.

31. A camera control apparatus, connected to a network, for controlling a camera, comprising:

a reception device arranged to receive a character string described in a predetermined format, including URL, used on the network;

a discrimination device arranged to discriminate a control character relating to camera control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received by said reception device; and

a control device arranged to control the camera based on the result of discrimination by said discrimination device.

32. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the control character includes a control amount of the camera control.

33. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the control character includes at least one of panning, tilting, and zooming command for controlling the camera.

34. An apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said discrimination device discriminates a character string to designate an image format,

and wherein said control device transfers video image data in the designated image format to a transmitting character string originator.

35. An apparatus, according to claim 31, wherein the camera control information includes at least one of panning, tilting, and zooming command of controlling the camera.

36. A method for controlling a camera, comprising:

a reception step of receiving a character string described in a predetermined format, including URL, used on the network;

a discrimination step of discriminating a control character relating to camera control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received by said reception step; and

a control step of controlling the camera based on the result of discrimination by said discrimination step.

37. A client apparatus connected to a network, comprising:

a description device arranged to describe a camera control information for controlling a camera input by an input device, at a particular position of URL; and

a requesting device arranged to request a camera control apparatus to control the camera by transferring the character string including the URL described by said description device.

38. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the camera control information includes a control amount of the camera control.

39. A method for operating a camera, comprising:

a description step of describing a camera control information for controlling a camera input by an input device, at a particular position of URL; and

a requesting step of requesting a camera control apparatus to control the camera by transferring the character string including the URL described by said description step.

40. A control apparatus, connected to a network, for controlling an electronic device mechanically, comprising:

a reception device arranged to receive a character string described in a predetermined format, including URL, used on the network;

a discrimination device arranged to discriminate a control character relating to device control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received by said reception device; and

a control device arranged to control the electronic device mechanically based on the result of discrimination by sold discrimination device.

41. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the control character includes a control amount of the electronic device.

42. A method for controlling an electronic device mechanically, comprising:

a reception step of receiving a character string described in a predetermined format, including URL, used on the network;

a discrimination step of discriminating a control character relating to device control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received by said reception step; and

a control step of controlling the electronic device mechanically based on the result of discrimination by said discrimination step.

43. A storage medium containing program codes to be read and executed by a computer connected to a control apparatus, comprising:

reception-process program codes of executing processing for receiving a character string described in a predetermined format, including URL, used on the network;

discrimination-process program codes of executing processing for discriminating a control character relating to device control from the character string at a particular position of the URL received at said reception-process; and

control-process program codes of executing processing for controlling the electronic device mechanically based on the result of discrimination by said discrimination-process.

44. A client apparatus, connected to a network for operating an electronic device comprising:

a description device arranged to describe a device control information for controlling an electronic device mechanically input by an input device, at a particular position of URL; and

a requesting device arranged to request a control apparatus to control the electronic device mechanically by transferring the character string including the URL described by said description device.

45. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the device control information includes a control amount of the electronic device.

46. A method for operating an electronic device, comprising:

a description step of describing a device control information for controlling an electronic device mechanically input by an input device, at a particular position of URL; and

a requesting step of requesting a control apparatus to control the electronic device mechanically by transferring the character string including the URL described by said description step.

47. A storage medium containing program codes to be read and executed by a computer connected to a client apparatus, comprising:

description-process program codes of executing processing for describing a device control information for controlling an electronic device mechanically input by an input device, at a particular position of URL; and

requesting-process program codes of executing processing for requesting a control apparatus to control the electronic device mechanically by transferring the described character string including the URL.