Image input system

• US 6,768,563 B1
• Filed: 02/21/1996
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Oya, Takashi, Murata, Makoto, Kawai, Tomoaki, Tsujimura, Kazuko
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, II, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US08/603,611
• Time in Patent Office: 3,079 Days
• Field of Search: 358/474, 358/479, 358/482, 358/483, 358/486, 358/488, 358/491, 358/493, 358/494, 358/496, 358/497, 382/312, 382/317, 382/318, 382/319
• US Class Current: 358/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• 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 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

This invention provides an image input system capable of setting an arbitrary imaging inhibited area. This system displays a map showing the positions of cameras arranged in an office and the directions in which these cameras can be aimed, or displays the view angles of the cameras. An operator designates an imaging inhibited area on the map. In accordance with the designated imaging inhibited area, a limiting direction is calculated for each camera, and each camera is so controlled as not to point in that direction. Even when cameras are fixed, the system controls display so that an imaging inhibited area is not displayed.

Claims

1. A camera control system for controlling a camera comprising:

a display device arranged to display a map on which the installed position of said camera is located; and

a setting device arranged to set an imaging inhibited area, where imaging by said camera is inhibited, on the map.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

control device arranged to control the image pickup direction of said camera so as not to pickup an image in the imaging inhibited area set by said setting device.

3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a designating device arranged to designate a direction of said camera;

wherein when said camera, pointing the direction designated by said designating device picks up an image in the imaging inhibited area set by said setting device, an error state is indicated.

4. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a designating device arranged to designate a direction of said camera, wherein when said camera, pointing the direction designated by said designating device, picks up an image in the imaging inhibited area set by said setting device, said control device controls panning operation of said camera by correcting the designated direction so that the camera does not pickup the imaging inhibited area.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the correction of the designated direction of said camera is performed by moving the direction of said camera on a line connecting a center of an area in which said camera is allowed to point by said control device and a point indicating the designated direction.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the correction of the direction of said camera is performed such that said camera does not pick-up an image in the imaging inhibited area and a correction amount is minimized.

7. The system according to claim 2, wherein when said setting device sets an imaging inhibited area, said camera is inhibited from changing its direction.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said setting device partitions the map into a mesh and sets an imaging inhibited area in units of frames of the mesh.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said setting device previously sets desired areas as candidates of an imaging inhibited area on the map displayed and sets a desired area of the candidates as an imaging inhibited area.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising connecting device arranged to connect said system.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said setting device sets an imaging inhibited area for image pick-up means of a local system without using said connecting device.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein said setting device sets an imaging inhibited area for image pick-up means of a system connected by said connecting device.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein said setting device sets an imaging inhibited area for a camera connected by said connecting device.

14. A camera control method of controlling a camera, comprising:

a map display step of displaying a map on which the installed position of said camera is located; and

a setting step of setting an imaging inhibited area, where imaging by said camera is inhibited, on the map.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein when the setting step sets an imaging inhibited area, said camera is inhibited from changing its picking-up direction.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the map displayed in said map display step is partitioned into a mesh and an imaging inhibited area is set in units of frames of the mesh in said setting step.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the setting step previously sets desired areas as candidates of an imaging inhibited area on the map displayed by the map display step and sets a desired area of the candidates as an imaging inhibited area.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein a camera for which an imaging inhibited area is set by the setting step is predetermined independently of an imaging inhibited area.

19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising a connecting step of connecting a system including a camera, wherein the setting step sets an imaging inhibited area for local cameras without using the connecting step.

20. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

a control step of controlling the direction of said camera so as not to pickup an image in the imaging inhibited area set in said setting step.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising a designating step of designating a direction of picking-up said camera,

wherein when said camera, pointing the direction designated by the designating step, picks up an image in the imaging inhibiting area set by the setting step, an error state is indicated.

22. The method according to claim 20, further comprising a designating step of designating a direction of picking-up of said camera,

wherein when the direction designated by the designating step is within the imaging inhibited area set by the setting step;

the control step controls said camera by correcting the direction of picking-up of said camera so that said camera does not pick up the imaging inhibited area.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the direction of said camera is designated by designation of a point in a view from said camera, the correction of the direction of said camera is performed by moving the direction of said camera on a line connecting a center of an area which said camera is allowed to pick-up and a point indicating the direction designated by the designating step.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the correction of the direction of said camera is performed such that said camera does not pick-up an image in the imaging inhibited area and a correction amount is minimized.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein when an area is set as the imaging inhibited area in said setting step, if said camera is already picking up an image of the area, said control step controls direction of said camera so as to pick-up an image outside the area set as the imaging inhibited area.

26. An image input system for displaying an image picked-up by a camera, comprising:

a display device arranged to display a map on which the installed position of said camera is located; and

a setting device arranged to set an inhibited area, in which an image picked-up by said camera is inhibited from displaying, on said map displayed by said display device.

27. The system according to claim 26, further comprising:

a control device arranged to control the image pickup direction of said camera so as not to display the image in the inhibited area.

28. The system according to claim 26, wherein said setting device partitions the map into a mesh and sets an imaging inhibited area in units of frames of the mesh.

29. The system according to claim 26, wherein said setting means previously sets desired areas as candidates of an imaging inhibited area on the map and sets a desired area of the candidates as an imaging inhibited area.

30. An image input method for displaying an image picked-up by a camera, comprising:

a map displaying step of displaying a map on which the installed position of said camera is located; and

a setting step of setting an inhibited area, in which an image picked-up by said camera is inhibited from displaying, on said map.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:

a controlling step of controlling the image pickup direction of said camera so as not to display the image in the inhibited area.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the map is partitioned into a mesh and an imaging inhibited area is set in units of frames of the mesh.

33. The method according to claim 30, herein desired areas as candidates of an imaging inhibited area on the map are set and a desired area of the candidates as an imaging inhibited area is set.

34. A computer readable memory storing a program of displaying an image taken by a camera, comprising:

codes of a process of displaying a map showing an arrangement of said camera; and

codes of a process of setting an inhibited area, in which an image picked-up by said camera is inhibited from displaying, on said map.

35. The computer readable memory storing a program according to claim 34, further comprising:

codes of a process of controlling the image pickup direction of said camera so as not to display the image in the inhibited area.

36. The computer readable memory storing a program according to claim 34, wherein the map is partitioned into a mesh and an imaging inhibited area is set in units of frames of the mesh.

37. The computer readable memory storing a program according to claim 34, wherein desired areas as candidates of an imaging inhibited area on the map are set and a desired area of the candidates as an imaging inhibited area is set.

38. A computer readable memory storing a program of controlling a camera, comprising:

codes of a process of displaying a map on which the installed position of said camera is located; and

codes of a process of setting an imaging inhibited area, in which imaging by said camera is inhibited, on the map.

39. A computer readable memory storing a program according to claim 38, further comprising:

codes of a process for controlling the direction of said camera so as not to pick up an image in the imaging inhibited area set by the setting process.