Camera monitoring system

• US 7,116,357 B1
• Filed: 03/14/1996
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Oya, Takashi, Kawai, Tomoaki
• Primary Examiner(s): HENDERSON, ADAM
• Application Number:
  US08/615,876
• Time in Patent Office: 3,855 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/142, 348/139, 348/705, 348/159, 348/156, 348/211.99, 348/207.11, 348/15, 348/211
• US Class Current: 348/211.8
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1968 Interfaces for setting up or customising the system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A camera control system having a plurality of cameras connected to a network, enabling users to be informed of such as status of use of each camera and each user'"'"'s access right in a real-time manner. The system, where one of cameras controllable via the network is selected and video-display of output from the selected camera and operation of the camera are controlled, has camera-status display device for real-time displaying the statuses of at least two cameras.

Claims

1. A monitoring terminal for monitoring an image picked up by a camera connected to a network, comprising:

obtaining device arranged to obtain information concerning parameters of said camera including unchanging parameters and parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation in accordance with starting up said monitoring terminal and obtaining information concerning said parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation except for said unchanging parameters of the initial parameters of said camera after the initial start up; and

display device arranged to display camera-status on the basis of the parameters of said camera which is obtained by the obtaining device, wherein said display device displays a pan angle by a direction of a camera symbol.

2. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein if a predetermined camera is used by another user, said display device displays a symbol of said predetermined camera in a color different from that of other cameras.

3. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein if registration of a new camera is informed on the system, said display device displays a camera symbol of the new camera on a layout, while if a camera is disconnected, said display device deletes the camera symbol of the camera on the layout.

4. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein said display device displays, if a predetermined camera is unavailable, a symbol of said predetermined camera so as to indicate responseless status.

5. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein said display device displays a layout and camera symbol representing a predetermined camera over the layout on the basis of the parameters, said predetermined camera with the camera symbol.

6. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein said display device displays a status of connection of the camera apparatus and the network.

7. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein said display device displays the image picked up by a predetermined camera on the same screen simultaneously as the screen on which the status of said predetermined camera is displayed.

8. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein said display device further displays starting and ending of operation of a predetermined camera.

9. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein said obtaining device periodically obtains information concerning parameters of a predetermined camera whose condition changes subsequent to the initial start up.

30. The terminal as in claim 2, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

31. The terminal as in claim 4, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

32. The terminal as in claim 6, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

33. The terminal as in claim 7, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

34. The terminal as in claim 8, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

35. The terminal as in claim 9, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

10. A method for monitoring an image picked up by a camera connected to a network, comprising the steps of:

obtaining information concerning parameters of said camera including unchanging parameters and parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation in accordance with starting up a monitoring terminal and obtaining information concerning said parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation except for said unchanging parameters of the initial parameters of said camera after the initial startup;

displaying on a screen, the camera-status on the basis of the parameters of said camera which are obtained by the obtaining step; and

displaying a pan angle by a direction of a camera symbol.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, if a predetermined camera is used by another user, said method further comprises the step of displaying the symbol of said predetermined camera in a color different from that of other cameras.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein if a new camera is registered, said method further comprises the step of displaying a camera symbol of the new camera and if a camera is disconnected, said method deletes the camera symbol of the disconnected camera.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein said method further comprises the step of displaying, if a predetermined camera is unavailable, a symbol of said predetermined camera so as to indicate responseless status.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

displaying camera symbols representing a predetermined camera over a layout; and

displaying the camera-status of said predetermined camera with the camera symbol.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said step of obtaining comprises periodically obtaining information concerning parameters of a predetermined camera whose condition changes subsequent to the initial startup.

16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of:

displaying the image picked up by a predetermined camera on the same screen simultaneously as the screen on which the status of said predetermined camera is displayed.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein said method further comprises the step of displaying a status of connection of a predetermined camera and the network.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein said method further comprises the step of displaying starting and ending of operation of a predetermined camera connected to the network.

19. The method according to claim 10, wherein said step of obtaining further comprises periodically obtaining information concerning parameters of a predetermined camera whose condition changes after said predetermined camera is started up.

36. The terminal as in claim 11, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

37. The terminal as in claim 13, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

38. The terminal as in claim 14, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

39. The terminal as in claim 15, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

40. The terminal as in claim 16, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

41. The terminal as in claim 17, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

42. The terminal as in claim 18, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

43. The terminal as in claim 19, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

20. A computer readable medium of monitoring terminals for monitoring an image picked up by a camera having computer usable program said program comprising the steps of:

obtaining information concerning parameters of said camera including unchanging parameters and parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation connected to a network in accordance with starting up said monitoring terminal and obtaining information concerning said parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation except for said unchanging parameters of the initial parameters of said camera after the initial startup;

displaying on a screen, the camera status on the basis of the parameters of said camera; and

displaying a pan angle by a direction of a camera symbol.

21. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, wherein said program comprises the step of displaying the symbol of a predetermined camera in a color different from that of other cameras if said predetermined camera is used by another user.

22. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, wherein said program further comprises the step of displaying, if a new camera is registered, a camera symbol of the new camera and if a camera is disconnected, a camera symbol of the disconnected camera.

23. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, wherein said program further comprises the step of displaying a symbol of an unavailable camera so as to indicate responseless status.

24. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, wherein said program further comprises the steps of:

displaying camera symbols representing a predetermined camera over a layout displayed on a screen; and

displaying the camera-status of said predetermined camera with the camera symbols.

25. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, wherein said step of obtaining comprises periodically obtaining information concerning parameters of a predetermined camera whose condition changes subsequent to the initial startup.

26. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, wherein said program comprises the step of:

displaying the image picked up by a predetermined camera on the same screen simultaneously as the screen on which the status of said predetermined camera is displayed.

27. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, wherein said program further comprises the step of displaying display statuses of connection of said predetermined camera and the network.

28. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, wherein said program further comprises the step of displaying starting and ending of operation of the camera apparatuses connected to the network.

29. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, wherein said step of obtaining further comprises periodically obtaining information concerning a status of cameras whose conditions changes subsequent to the initial startup.

44. The terminal as in claim 21, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

45. The terminal as in claim 24, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

46. The terminal as in claim 25, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

47. The terminal as in claim 26, wherein said predetermined camera is said camera.

48. A method for monitoring an image picked up by a camera connected to a network, comprising the steps of:

obtaining information concerning parameters of said camera including unchanging parameters and parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation in accordance with starting up a setting operation of said camera and obtaining information concerning said parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation except for said unchanging parameters of the initial parameters of said camera after the starting up;

displaying on screen, the camera-status on the basis of the parameters of said camera which is obtained in said obtaining step; and

displaying a pan angle by a direction of a camera symbol.

49. The method according to claim 48, wherein if a predetermined camera is used by another user, said method further comprises the stop of displaying the symbol of said predetermined camera in a color different from that of other cameras.

50. The method according to claim 48, wherein if a new camera is registered, said method further comprises the step of displaying a camera symbol of the new camera and if a camera is disconnected, said method deletes the camera symbol of the disconnected camera.

51. The method according to claim 48, wherein said method further comprises the step of displaying, if a predetermined camera is unavailable, a symbol of said predetermined camera so as to indicate responseless status.

52. The method according to claim 48, further comprising the steps of:

displaying camera symbols representing a predetermined camera over a layout; and

displaying the camera-status of said predetermined camera with the camera symbol.

53. The method according to claim 48, wherein said step of obtaining comprises periodically obtaining information concerning parameters of a predetermined camera whose condition changes subsequent to the starting up.

54. The method according to claim 48, further comprising the step of:

displaying the image picked up by a predetermined camera on the same screen simultaneously as the screen on which the status of said predetermined camera is displayed.

55. The method according to claim 48, wherein said method further comprises the step of displaying a status of connection of a predetermined camera and the network.

56. The method according to claim 48, wherein said method further comprises the step of displaying starting and ending of operation of a predetermined camera connected to the network.

57. The method according to claim 48, wherein the setting operation of said camera is started up in response to a user'"'"'s designation.

58. A monitoring terminal for monitoring an image picked up by a camera connected to a network, comprising:

obtaining device arranged do obtain information concerning parameters of said camera including unchanging parameters and parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation in accordance with starting up a setting operation of said camera and obtaining information concerning said parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation except for said unchanging parameters of the initial parameters of said camera after the initial start up; and

display device arranged to display camera-status on the basis of the parameters of said camera which is obtained by the obtaining device, wherein said display device displays a pan angle by a direction of a camera symbol.

59. A computer readable medium of monitoring terminals for monitoring an image picked up by a camera having computer usable program said program comprising the steps of:

obtaining information concerning parameters of said camera including unchanging parameters and parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation in accordance with starting up a setting operation of said camera and obtaining information concerning said parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation except fur said unchanging parameters of the initial parameters of said camera after the starting up;

displaying on screen, the camera status on the basis of the parameters of said camera which is obtained in said obtaining step; and

displaying a pan angle by a direction of a camera symbol.

60. A method for monitoring an image pieced rip by a camera connected to a network, comprising the steps of:

obtaining information concerning parameters of said camera including unchanging parameters and parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation in accordance with a map displaying operation of said camera and obtaining information concerning said parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation except for said unchanging parameters of the initial parameters of said camera after the map displaying operation;

displaying on screen the camera-status on the basis of the parameters of said camera which is obtained in the obtaining stop, and

displaying a pan angle by a direction of a camera symbol on the map.

61. The method according to claim 60, wherein if a predetermined camera is used by another user, said method further comprises the step of displaying the symbol of a predetermined camera in a color different from that of other cameras.

62. The method according to claim 60, wherein the map displaying operation of said camera is executed in response to an user'"'"'s designation.

63. A monitoring terminal for monitoring an image picked up by a camera connected to a network, comprising:

obtaining device arranged to obtain information concerning parameters of said camera including unchanging parameters and parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation in accordance with a map displaying operation of said camera and obtaining information concerning said parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation except for said unchanging parameters of the initial parameters of said camera after the map displaying operation; and

display device arranged to display camera-status on the basis of the parameters of said camera which is obtained by the obtaining device, wherein said display device displays a pan angle by a direction of a camera symbol on the map.

64. A computer readable medium of monitoring terminals for monitoring an image picked up by a camera having computer usable program said program comprising the steps of:

obtaining information concerning parameters of said camera including unchanging parameters and parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation in accordance with a map displaying operation of said camera and obtaining Information concerning said parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation except for said unchanging parameters of the initial parameters of said camera after the map displaying operation;

displaying on screen the camera-status on the basis of the parameters of said camera which is obtained in the obtaining step, and

displaying a pan angle by a direction of a camera symbol on the map.

65. A method for monitoring an image picked up by a camera connected to a network, comprising the steps of:

obtaining information concerning parameters of said camera, including unchanging parameters and parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation in accordance with a camera symbol displaying operation and obtaining information concerning said parameters, whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation except far said unchanging parameters of the initial parameters of said camera after the camera symbol displaying operation;

displaying camera-status on the basis of the parameters of said camera which is obtained in the obtaining step, and

displaying a pan angle by a direction of a camera symbol.

66. The method according to claim 65, wherein if a predetermined camera is used by another user, said method further comprises the step of displaying the symbol of a predetermined camera in a color different from that of other cameras.

67. The method according to claim 65, wherein the camera symbol displaying operation is executed in response to an user'"'"'s designation.

68. A monitoring terminal for monitoring an image picked up by a camera connected to a network, comprising:

obtaining device arranged to obtain information concerning parameters of said camera including unchanging parameters and parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation in accordance with a camera symbol displaying operation and obtaining information concerning said parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation except for said unchanging parameters of the initial parameters of said camera after the camera symbol displaying operation; and

display device arranged to display camera-status on the basis of the parameters of said camera which is obtained by the obtaining device, wherein said display device displays a pan angle by a direction of a camera symbol on the map.

69. A computer readable medium of monitoring terminals for monitoring an image picked up by a camera having computer usable program said program comprising the steps of obtaining information concerning parameters of said camera including unchanging parameters and parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation in accordance with a camera symbol displaying operation and obtaining Information concerning said parameters whose conditions are changed by user'"'"'s operation except for said unchanging parameters of the initial parameters of said camera after the camera symbol displaying operation;

displaying camera-status on the basis of the parameters of said camera which is obtained in the obtaining step; and

displaying a pan angle by a direction of a camera symbol.