Communication apparatus, its control method, and storage medium

• US 6,983,419 B1
• Filed: 07/20/2000
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Koichiro, Yonezawa, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chuong, Truc T
• Application Number:
  US09/619,876
• Time in Patent Office: 1,993 Days
• Field of Search: 345/629, 345/154, 345/423, 345/418, 345/419, 345/636, 345/643, 345/649, 345/650, 345/660, 345/661, 345/667, 345/671, 345/677, 345/700, 345/723, 345/764, 345/765, 345/777, 345/800, 345/801, 345/815, 345/835, 345/837, 348/154, 348/39, 348/588, 348/584, 348/156, 715/719, 715/720, 715/718, 715/763, 715/764, 715/835, 715/846, 715/722, 715/778
• US Class Current: 715/722
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A communication apparatus which receives image data taken by an imaging apparatus connected through a network, comprises a storage for storing control information to control the imaging apparatus, and an output for outputting to a display unit a synthetic image which is obtained by synthesizing a symbol representing a state of the imaging apparatus to image information indicating a setting location of the imaging apparatus in accordance with the control information stored in storage. Accordingly, a stored state of the imaging apparatus can be easily grasped.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus which receives image data taken by an imaging apparatus connected through a network, comprising:

a storage unit for storing preset parameter information to control at least one operation of panning, tilting, zooming and irising of said imaging apparatus;

a first output unit for outputting to a display unit a first synthetic map image which is obtained by synthesizing a camera symbol indicating a setting location of said imaging apparatus on a map image;

a selection unit for selecting an imaging apparatus to be controlled in accordance with designating the camera symbol corresponding to the imaging apparatus on the first synthetic map image;

a second output unit for outputting to a display unit a second synthetic map image which is obtained by synthesizing a first symbol corresponding to the preset parameter information of the selected imaging apparatus stored in said storage unit on the first synthetic map image, and a second symbol corresponding to the preset parameter information of the selected imaging apparatus stored in said storage unit which has same identifying information of preset parameter as an identifying information of preset parameter of the first symbol on a different area from the map after an imaging apparatus is selected by said selection unit;

an instruction unit for permitting said user to instruct selectively the first symbol on the map and the second symbol on the different area which have same identifying information of preset parameter, displayed by said display unit;

a transmit unit for transmitting the preset parameter information to control at least one operation of panning, tilting, zooming, and irising of said imaging apparatus stored by said storage unit to the imaging apparatus in response to an instruction of at least one of the first symbol and the second symbol on the map by said instruction unit.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there are the plural reset parameter information stored by said storage unit, and the plural first symbols corresponding to the plural control information are synthesized on the first synthetic map image.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data changed by controlling said imaging apparatus is displayed on said display unit, and said storage unit stores as the control information the operation state of said imaging apparatus when an instruction was given by said instruction device.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein there are said plural imaging apparatuses, and the control information can be instructed to each of said imaging apparatuses.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage unit stores a title corresponding to the control information.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said output unit also outputs the title to said display unit.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the tide is output according as an instruction image of an instruction device is moved onto the first symbol.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control information is deleted according to a deletion instruction from an instruction device.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a synthesizing position can be arbitrarily designated when the first symbol is synthesized to the first synthetic map image.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage unit stores a synthesizing position corresponding to the control information.

11. A control method of a communication apparatus which receives image data taken by an imaging apparatus connected through a network, comprising the steps of:

storing control information to control at least one operation of panning, tilting, zooming, and irising of the imaging apparatus;

outputting to a display unit a first synthetic map image which is obtained by synthesizing a camera symbol indicating a setting location of said imaging apparatus on a map image;

selecting an imaging apparatus to be controlled in accordance with designating the camera symbol corresponding to the imaging apparatus on the first synthetic map image;

outputting to a display unit a second synthetic map image which is obtained by synthesizing a first symbol corresponding to the preset parameter information of the selected imaging apparatus stored in said storage step on the first synthetic map image, and a second symbol corresponding to the preset parameter information of the selected imaging apparatus stored in said storage step which has same identifying information of preset parameter as an identifying information of preset parameter of the first symbol on a different area from the map after an imaging apparatus is selected by said selecting step;

utilizing an instruction unit for permitting said user to instruct selectively the first symbol on the map and the second symbol on the different area which have same identifying information of preset parameter, displayed by said display unit; and

transmitting the preset parameter information to control at least one operation of panning, tilting, zooming, and irising of said imaging apparatus stored in said storage step to the imaging apparatus in response to an instruction of at least one of the first symbol and the second symbol on the map by said unit.

12. A storage medium which stores a program to be executed by a computer for controlling an imaging apparatus in a communication apparatus which receives image data taken by the imaging apparatus connected through a network, said program comprising:

a code of storing control information to control at least one operation of panning, tilting, zooming, and irising of the imaging apparatus;

a code of outputting to a display unit a first synthetic map image which is obtained by synthesizing a camera symbol indicating a setting location of said imaging apparatus on a map image;

a code of selecting an imaging apparatus to be controlled in accordance with designating the camera symbol corresponding to the imaging apparatus on the first synthetic map image;

a code of outputting to a display unit a second synthetic map image which is obtained by synthesizing a first symbol corresponding to the preset parameter information of the selected imaging apparatus stored in said storage step on the first synthetic map image, and a second symbol corresponding to the preset parameter information of the selected imaging apparatus stored in said storage step which has same identifying information of preset parameter as an identifying information of preset parameter of the first symbol on a different area from the map after an imaging apparatus is selected by said selecting step;

a code of utilizing an instruction unit for permitting said user to instruct selectively the first symbol on the map and the second symbol on the different area which have same identifying information of preset parameter, displayed by said display unit; and

a code of transmitting the preset parameter information to control at least one operation of panning, tilting, zooming, and irising of said imaging apparatus stored by said storage code to the imaging apparatus in response to an instruction of at least one of the first symbol and the second symbol on the map by said instruction unit.