Camera control apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A camera control apparatus comprising:
- an image data receiving section for receiving from an image transmitter image data captured by one of a plurality of cameras;
an image data playback section for displaying the received images on a screen;
a camera control area display section for displaying camera symbols which correspond to information representing the locations of the cameras and the directions in which the cameras are oriented as a control region for controlling the plurality of cameras connected to the image transmitter;
a command load section for loading the coordinates of a location in the control region designated by an operator;
a camera-to-be-operated determination section for determining a camera optimal for shooting the designated location from the plurality of cameras;
a control command conversion section for converting information about the coordinates loaded by the command load section into a control command signal capable of being used for controlling the plurality of cameras; and
a control command transmission section for transmitting the converted control command signal to the image transmitter, whereinsaid camera-to-be-operated determination section determines which one of said plurality of cameras is to be panned on the basis of an angle between an imaginary line connecting the center of the camera symbol with the designated location and an imaginary line connecting the center of the camera symbol with the direction in which the camera is currently oriented.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A camera control apparatus and method, in that angles required for cameras to train on a position designated by an operator, are calculated from the designated position and directions in which the cameras are currently oriented. On the basis of the thus-calculated angles, a camera requiring the minimum angle from among the plurality of cameras is determined as the camera capable of being trained on the designated position most quickly.
58 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A camera control apparatus comprising:
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an image data receiving section for receiving from an image transmitter image data captured by one of a plurality of cameras; an image data playback section for displaying the received images on a screen; a camera control area display section for displaying camera symbols which correspond to information representing the locations of the cameras and the directions in which the cameras are oriented as a control region for controlling the plurality of cameras connected to the image transmitter; a command load section for loading the coordinates of a location in the control region designated by an operator; a camera-to-be-operated determination section for determining a camera optimal for shooting the designated location from the plurality of cameras; a control command conversion section for converting information about the coordinates loaded by the command load section into a control command signal capable of being used for controlling the plurality of cameras; and a control command transmission section for transmitting the converted control command signal to the image transmitter, wherein said camera-to-be-operated determination section determines which one of said plurality of cameras is to be panned on the basis of an angle between an imaginary line connecting the center of the camera symbol with the designated location and an imaginary line connecting the center of the camera symbol with the direction in which the camera is currently oriented. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 9, 10)
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4. A camera control apparatus comprising:
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an image data receiving section for receiving image data captured by cameras from an image transmitter; an image data playback section for displaying the received images on a screen; a camera control area display section for displaying camera symbols which correspond to information representing the locations of the cameras and the directions in which the cameras are oriented as a control region for controlling the cameras connected to the image transmitter; a command load section for loading the coordinates of a location in the control region designated by an operator; a camera-to-be-operated determination section for determining a camera optimal for shooting the designated location; a control command conversion section for converting information about the coordinates loaded by the command load section into a control command signal capable of being used for controlling the cameras; a control command transmission section for transmitting the converted control command signal to the image transmitter; an angular-shift-time calculation section for calculating the time required for the camera to pan toward the designated location; a focus storage section for grasping the focus of a plurality of cameras; and a focus-shift-time calculation section for calculating the time required for the camera to attain a focus on the designated location, wherein the camera-to-be-operated determination section determines a camera which can shoot the designated location in the minimum time as a camera to be operated, on the basis of the time required for the camera to pan toward the designated location, as well as the time required for the camera to attain a focus on the designated location. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. A camera control apparatus comprising:
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an image data receiving section for receiving image data captured by cameras from an image transmitter; an image data playback section for displaying the received images on a screen; a camera control area display section for displaying camera symbols which correspond to information representing the locations of the cameras and the directions in which the cameras are oriented as a control region for controlling the cameras connected to the image transmitter; a command load section for loading the coordinates of a location in the control region designated by an operator; a camera-to-be-operated determination section for determining a camera optimal for shooting the designated location; a control command conversion section for converting information about the coordinates loaded by the command load section into a control command signal capable of being used for controlling the cameras; a control command transmission section for transmitting the converted control command signal to the image transmitter; a view-point direction survey section for storing the direction in which the operator desires to shoot the designated location, wherein the camera-to-be-operated determination section determines a camera to be operated, from information as to whether or not an image can be shot in the direction designated by the view-point survey section, as well as from the angle between the current shooting direction of the camera and the direction of an imaginary line connecting the designated location with the center of the camera symbol. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A camera control apparatus comprising:
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an image data receiving section for receiving image data captured by cameras from an image transmitter; an image data playback section for displaying the received images on a screen; a camera control area display section for displaying camera symbols which correspond to information representing the locations of the cameras and the directions in which the cameras are oriented as a control region for controlling the cameras connected to the image transmitter; a command load section for loading the coordinates of a location in the control region designated by an operator; a camera-to-be-operated determination section for determining a camera optimal for shooting the designated location; a control command conversion section for converting information about the coordinates loaded by the command load section into a control command signal capable of being used for controlling the cameras; a control command transmission section for transmitting the converted control command signal to the image transmitter; an angular-shift-time calculation section for calculating the time required for the camera to pan toward the designated location; a zoom storage section for grasping the degree of zoom of a plurality of cameras; a zoom-shift time calculation section for calculating the time required for a camera to zoom in order to display an image of the designated range; and a zoom range display section for displaying, in the camera control region, a range to be zoomed, wherein the camera-to-be-operated determination section determines a camera to be operated, from the time required for the camera to pan toward the designated location after the operator has designated a desired range in the control region and the time required for the camera to zoom in or out for attaining focus on the designated range.
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11. A camera control method comprising steps of:
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displaying images captured by a plurality of cameras, a map relating to a location whose image is captured by the plurality of cameras, camera symbols representing the locations of the cameras in the map, and directions in which the cameras are oriented; selecting a camera optimal for shooting a location designated by an operator; and controlling the selected camera such that the camera is panned toward the designated location, wherein, from among the plurality of cameras, there is selected a camera involving a minimum angle between the direction in which the camera is currently oriented and an imaginary line connecting the center of the camera symbol with the designated location. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 16, 17)
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14. A camera control method comprising the steps of:
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displaying images captured by a plurality of cameras, a map relating to a location whose image is captured by the plurality of cameras, camera symbols representing the locations, of the cameras in the map, and directions in which the cameras are oriented; selecting a camera optimal for shooting a location designated by an operator; and controlling the selected camera such that the camera is panned toward the designated location, wherein, from among the plurality of cameras, a camera which can shoot the designated location within the minimum period of time is selected on the basis of the time required for the camera to pan toward the designated location from the direction in which the camera is currently oriented and the time required for the camera to zoom into the designated location, and the selected camera is panned toward the designated location and attains focus on the designated location. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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18. A camera control method comprising the steps of:
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displaying images captured by a plurality of cameras, a map relating to a location whose image is captured by the plurality of cameras, camera symbols representing the locations of the cameras in the map, and directions in which the cameras are oriented; selecting a camera optimal for shooting a location designated by an operator; and controlling the selected camera such that the camera is panned toward the designated location, wherein, from among the plurality of cameras, there is selected a camera which can shoot the designated range within the minimum period of time, on the basis of the time required for the camera to pan toward a designated range from the direction in which the camera is currently oriented after the camera has received an instruction for designating a desired range from the operator, and the time required for the camera to attain focus on the designated range from the range on which the camera is currently focused, and the selected camera is panned toward the designated location, to thereby attain focus on the designated range.
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Specification