Video camera system having remote commander

• US 6,828,994 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sumii, Tetsu, Yasui, Shigeya, Oka, Hiroki, Sakurai, Osamu, Hisatsune, Toshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao (Kevin)
• Assistant Examiner(s): DETWILER, BRIAN J
• Application Number:
  US09/957,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20020012050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 345/764, 345/765, 345/769, 345/784, 345/786, 345/788, 345/856-858, 345/863
• US Class Current: 715/858
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/53 of electronic viewfinders, e.g. rotatable or detachable
• 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

Abstract

An image pickup system that is small in scale, handy to maneuver, easy to operate and advanced in editing capabilities is disclosed. A commander device is used both as a remote commander and as a microphone in operating a video camera for image pickup. Wearing a headset on the head, a user looks at images appearing on a headset display to monitor and verify recorded images without recourse to a view finder of the video camera. Functions of the components making up the system are changed by operation of a mode switch attached to the video camera.

Claims

1. A controller using a graphic user interface, comprising:

pointer displaying means for displaying a pointer on a screen;

movement command receiving means for receiving a movement command for moving said pointer, said movement command including first and second movement designating information, said first movement designating information designating a movement in a first direction, said second movement designating information designating a movement in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction;

operation area displaying means for displaying a first and a second operation area, said first operation area being positioned close to one edge of said screen, said second operation area being located elsewhere on said screen and arranged to transfer control between a first and a second state regarding said first operation area;

enter command receiving means for receiving an enter command;

enter controlling means for providing controls corresponding to the position in which said pointer is displayed when said enter command is received by said enter command receiving means; and

pointer movement controlling means for moving said pointer in said first state on the basis of said first and said second movement designating information, said pointer movement controlling means further moving said pointer in said second state on the basis of only one of said first or said second movement designating information.

2. A controller according to claim 1, wherein said movement command receiving means receives said movement command transmitted over a wireless transmission line.

3. A controller according to claim 1, further comprising intra-area controlling means for providing different controls in a plurality of sub-areas inside said first operation area when said pointer is moved in said first area in said second state.

4. A method of operating a graphic user interface, comprising the steps of:

displaying a pointer on a screen

receiving a movement command for moving said pointer, said movement command including first and second movement designating information, said first movement designating information designating a movement in a first direction, said second movement designating information designating a movement in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction;

displaying a first and a second operation area, said first operation area being positioned close to one edge of said screen, said second operation area being located elsewhere on said screen and arranged to transfer control between a first and a second state regarding said first operation area;

receiving an enter command;

providing controls corresponding to the position in which said pointer is displayed when said enter command is received by said enter command receiving means; and

moving said pointer in said first state on the basis of said first and said second movement designating information and moving said pointer in said second state on the basis of only one of said first or said second movement designating information.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the movement command is received over a wireless transmission line.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of providing different controls in a plurality of sub-areas inside said first operation area when said pointer is moved in said first area in said second state.