Camera control system and method

• US 6,697,105 B1
• Filed: 04/22/1997
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kato, Eiji, Kawai, Tomoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LUONG TRUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/837,802
• Time in Patent Office: 2,499 Days
• Field of Search: 348/153, 348/154, 348/159, 348/15, 348/211, 348/213, 348/13, 348/211.99, 348/211--21, 348/211-1-2, 348/14.05, 348/14.08, 348/14.09, 348/143
• US Class Current: 348/211.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/80 Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A camera control system for selecting one camera from among a plurality of controllable cameras connected in a network and for making it possible to display video from the camera and to control the camera is adapted to display a map. One or more camera symbols representing cameras are displayed on the map and the user designates a desired camera symbol to control the camera corresponding to the symbol designated. It is also possible for the user to change the display magnification of the map displayed.

Claims

1. A camera operating system for making it possible to operate a camera having an operational function, comprising:

display device arranged to display a map in area of a screen and to display a control part for controlling the camera in the area; and

operating device arranged to operate the operational function of the camera by designating the control part;

wherein said operating device limits the operation of the operational function of the camera in accordance with changing magnification of the displayed map with respect to the same size of the area.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the camera has a plurality of operational functions, and when the display magnification of the displayed map is less than a predetermined magnification, said operating device prohibits the operation of the operational functions of the camera.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined magnification is made 25%.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein when a display magnification of the displayed map exceeds the predetermined magnification, said operating device permits operating at least one of a panning operation and zooming operation of the camera.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined magnification is made 25%.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein a display magnification of the displayed map is capable of being set in variable fashion.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said display device changes a size of the displayed control part in accordance with the magnification of the displayed map.

7. A camera operating method for controlling a camera having an operational function, comprising:

a display step of displaying a map, on which the camera is present, in an area of a screen and a control part for controlling the camera in the area; and

an operating step of operating the operational function of the camera by designating the control part;

wherein said operating step limits the operation of the operational function of the camera in accordance with changing magnification of the displayed map with respect to the same size of the area.

16. The system according to claim 7, wherein said display step changes a size of the displayed control part in accordance with the magnification of the displayed map.

8. A storage medium storing program codes for operating a camera having an operational function, by being read in and executed by a computer, comprising:

a program code of a display step of displaying a map, on which the camera is present, in an area of a screen and a control part for controlling the camera in the area; and

a program code of an operating step of operating the operational function of the camera by designated the control part;

wherein said operating step limits the operation of the operational function of the camera in accordance with changing magnification of the displayed map with respect to the same size of the area.

17. The storage medium according to claim 8, wherein said display step changes a size of the displayed control part in accordance with the magnification of the displayed map.

9. A operating system to operate an electronic apparatus having an operational function, comprising:

display device arranged to display a map and a control part for controlling the apparatus in a size of an area of a screen; and

operating device arranged to operate the operational function of the apparatus in response to designating the control part;

wherein said operating device restricts the operation of the operational function of the apparatus in accordance with changing the magnification of the displayed map with respect to the same size of the area.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus has a plurality of operational functions, and when the display magnification of the displayed map is less than a predetermined magnification, said operating device limits the operation of at least one of the plurality of operational functions of the apparatus.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined magnification is 25%.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein a display magnification of the displayed map is capable of being set in variable fashion.

18. The system according to claim 9, wherein said display device changes a size of the displayed control part in accordance with the magnification of the displayed map.

13. A method for operating an electronic apparatus having an operational function, comprising:

a display step of displaying a map and a control part for controlling the apparatus, in an area of a screen; and

an operating step of operating the operational function of the apparatus by designating the control part;

wherein said operating step limits operation of the operational function of the apparatus in accordance with changing magnification of the displayed map with respect to the same size of the area.

19. The system according to claim 13, wherein said display step changes a size of the displayed control part in accordance with the magnification of the displayed map.

14. A storage medium storing program codes for operating an electronic apparatus having an operational function, comprising:

a program code of a display step of displaying a map and a control part for controlling the apparatus in an area of a screen; and

a program code of an operating step of operating the operational function of the apparatus by designating the control part;

wherein said operating step limits the operation of the operational function of the apparatus in accordance with changing magnification of displayed map with respect to the same size of the area.

20. The system according to claim 14, wherein said display step changes a size of the displayed control part in accordance with the magnification of the displayed map.