Communication apparatus and method, and storage medium

• US 7,262,791 B2
• Filed: 07/23/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kohno, Akihiro, Tanaka, Koichiro, Nakamura, Yasuo, Yonezawa, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): PHILIPPE, GIMS S
• Application Number:
  US09/358,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20030048356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,958 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/153, 348/159, 348/14.07, 348/14.08, 348/14.09, 348/14.12, 348/220.1, 348/154, 348/155, 348/333.01, 345762-763, 345/778, 345/784, 345/788, 345/803, 345/810, 345/1.1, 345/2.1, 345/2.3, 345 4- 5, 345/977, 386/117
• US Class Current: 348/153
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

There is the possibility that the operator misunderstands as if an abnormality has occurred in an apparatus, depending on the state of reception of an image changing in accordance with situation. This problem is solved by providing a reception unit for receiving images generated from a plurality of communication terminals, an output unit for outputting the images received by the reception unit in order to dipslay the images on a display unit as multiple images, and a notification unit for grasping and notifying a state of reception of the images by the reception unit.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a reception unit for receiving frame images generated from a plurality of cameras via a network in a summary mode in which frame images generated from a plurality of cameras are displayed automatically and independently of users'"'"' control operation;

an output unit for outputting the frame images received by said reception unit in order to display the frame images for each respective communication terminal on a display unit as multiple image displays corresponding respectively to each of the plurality of cameras;

a detection unit for automatically detecting whether or not, for each respective camera, a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image being received by the reception unit without users'"'"' control operation in the summary mode; and

a notification unit for causing the display unit to display, for each respective one of the multiple image displays, an icon indicating an update state of the received frame images for the respective image display, wherein the icon is displayed on a predetermined area of the display unit at a time when the corresponding frame image is displayed,

wherein said notification unit causes a flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to an updating state when the detection unit detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image, and causes a non-flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to a non-updating state when the detection unit detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit is not updated by a next frame image,

wherein, in the summary mode, receiving one frame image from the camera corresponds to displaying the flashing icon one time and display of the non-flashing icon corresponds to a period of time between receiving the one frame image from the camera and receiving a subsequent frame image from the camera, and

wherein said notification unit does not perform notification when a frame rate of the received frame images is high, and performs notification when the frame rate is reduced.

2. A communication method comprising the steps of:

receiving frame images generated from a plurality of cameras via a network in a summary mode in which frame images generated from a plurality of cameras are displayed automatically and independently of users'"'"' control operation;

outputting the received frame images in order to display the frame images for each respective camera on a display unit as multiple image displays corresponding respectively to each of the plurality of cameras;

automatically detecting whether or not, for each respective camera, a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image being received without users'"'"' control operation in the summary mode; and

causing the display unit to display, for each respective on of the multiple image displays, an icon indicating an update state of the received frame images for the respective image display, wherein the icon is displayed on a predetermined area of the display unit at a time when the corresponding frame image is displayed,

wherein said causing the display unit to display an icon causes a flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to an updating state when the detecting detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image, and causes a non-flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to a non-updating state when the detecting detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit is not updated by a next frame image,

wherein, in the summary mode, receiving one frame image from the camera corresponds to displaying the flashing icon one time and display of the non-flashing icon corresponds to a period of time between receiving the one frame image from the camera and receiving a subsequent frame image from the camera, and

wherein said causing the display unit to display an icon does not perform notification when a frame rate of the received frame images is high, and performs notification when the frame rate is reduced.

3. A communication apparatus comprising:

a reception unit for receiving a part or all of frame images generated from image generation units of a plurality of corresponding cameras via a network in a summary mode, in which frame images generated from a plurality of cameras are displayed automatically and independently of users'"'"' control operation, by switching the frame images;

an output unit for outputting the frame images received by said reception unit in order to display the frame images for each respective camera on a display unit as multiple image displays corresponding respectively to each of the plurality of cameras;

an assigning unit for assigning an arbitrary image display from among the multiple image displays;

a control unit for controlling a state of outputting of the image display assigned by said assigning unit;

a detection unit for automatically detecting whether or not, for each respective camera, a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image being received by the reception unit without users'"'"' control operation in the summary mode; and

a notification unit for causing the display unit to display, for each respective one of the multiple image displays, an icon indicating an update state of the received frame images for the respective image display, wherein the icon is displayed on a predetermined area of the display unit at a time when the corresponding frame image is displayed,

wherein said notification unit causes a flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to an updating state when the detection unit detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image, and causes a non-flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to a non-updating state when the detection unit detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit is not updated by a next frame image,

wherein, in the summary mode, receiving one frame image from the camera corresponds to displaying the flashing icon one time and display of the non-flashing icon corresponds to a period of time between receiving the one frame image from the camera and receiving a subsequent frame image from the camera, and

wherein said notification unit does not perform notification when a frame rate of the received frame images is high, and performs notification when the frame rate is reduced.

4. A communication method comprising the steps of:

receiving a part or all of frame images generated from image generation units of a plurality of corresponding cameras via a network in a summary mode, in which frame images generated from a plurality of cameras are displayed automatically and independently of users'"'"' control operation, by switching the frame images;

outputting the received frame images in order to display the frame images for each respective camera on a display unit as multiple image displays corresponding respectively to each of the plurality of cameras;

assigning an arbitrary image display from among the multiple image displays;

controlling a state of outputting of the assigned image display;

automatically detecting whether or not, for each respective camera, a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image being received without user'"'"' control operation in the summary mode; and

causing the display unit to display, for each respective one of the multiple image displays, an icon indicating an update state of the received frame images for the respective image display, wherein the icon is displayed on a predetermined area of the display unit at a time when the corresponding frame image is displayed,

wherein said causing the display unit to display an icon causes a flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to an updating state when the detecting detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image, and causes a non-flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to a non-updating state when the detecting detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit is not updated by a next frame image,

wherein, in the summary mode, receiving one frame image from the camera corresponds to displaying the flashing icon one time and display of the non-flashing icon corresponds to a period of time between receiving the one frame image from the camera and receiving a subsequent frame image from the camera, and

wherein said causing the display unit to display an icon does not perform notification when a frame rate of the received frame images is high, and performs notification when the frame rate is reduced.

5. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program, said program comprising:

reception process code executable to receive frame images generated from a plurality of cameras via a network in a summary mode in which frame images generated from a plurality of cameras are displayed automatically and independently of users control operation;

output process code executable to output the received frame images in order to display the frame images for each respective camera on a display unit as multiple image displays corresponding respectively to each of the plurality of cameras;

detection process code executable to automatically detect whether or not, for each respective camera, a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image being received without users'"'"' control operation in the summary mode; and

notification process code executable to cause the display unit to display, for each respective one of the multiple image displays, an icon indicating an update state of the received frame images for the respective image display, wherein the icon is displayed on a predetermined area of the display unit at a time when the corresponding frame image is displayed,

wherein said notification process code causes a flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to an updating state when the detection process code detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image, and causes a non-flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to a non-updating state when the detection process code detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit is not updated by a next frame image,

wherein, in the summary mode, receiving one frame image from the camera corresponds to displaying the flashing icon one time and display of the non-flashing icon corresponds to a period of time between receiving the one frame image from the camera and receiving a subsequent frame image from the camera, and

wherein said notification process code does not perform notification when a frame rate of the received frame images is high, and performs notification when the frame rate is reduced.

6. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program, said program comprising:

reception process code executable to receive a part or all of frame images generated from image generation units of a plurality of corresponding cameras via a network in a summary mode, in which frame images generated from a plurality of cameras are displayed automatically and independently of users control operation, by switching the frame images;

output process code executable to output the received frame images in order to display the frame images for each respective camera on a display unit as multiple image displays corresponding respectively to each of the plurality of cameras;

assigning process code executable to assign an arbitrary image display from among the multiple image displays;

control process code executable to control a state for outputting of the assigned image display;

detection process code executable to automatically detect whether or not, for each respective camera, a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image being received without users'"'"' control operation in the summary mode; and

notification process code executable to cause the display unit to display, for each respective one of the multiple image displays, an icon indicating an update state of the received frame images for the respective image display, wherein the icon is displayed on a predetermined area of the display unit at a time when the received frame image is displayed on the corresponding image display,

wherein said notification process code causes a flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to an updating state when the detection process code detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit on the corresponding image display is updated by a next frame image, and causes a non-flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to a non-updating state when the detection process code detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit on the corresponding image display is not updated by a next frame image,

wherein, in the summary mode, receiving one frame image from the camera corresponds to displaying the flashing icon one time and display of the non-flashing icon corresponds to a period of time between receiving the one frame image from the camera and receiving a subsequent frame image from the camera, and

wherein said notification process code does not perform notification when a frame rate of the received frame images is high, and performs notification when the frame rate is reduced.

7. A communication apparatus comprising:

a reception unit for receiving frame images generated from a camera via a network in a summary mode in which frame images generated from the camera are displayed automatically and independently of users'"'"' control operation;

an output unit for outputting the frame images received by said reception unit in order to display the frame images on a display unit;

a detection unit for automatically detecting whether or not a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image being received by the reception unit without users'"'"' control operation in the summary mode; and

a notification unit for causing the display unit to display a symbol an icon indicating an update state of the received frame images, wherein the symbol icon is displayed on a predetermined area of the display unit at a time when the corresponding frame image is displayed,

wherein said notification unit causes a flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to an updating state when the detection unit detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image, and causes a non-flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to a non-updating state when the detection unit detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit is not updated by a next frame image,

wherein, in the summary mode, receiving one frame image from the camera corresponds to displaying the flashing icon one time and display of the non-flashing icon corresponds to a period of time between receiving the one frame image from the camera and receiving a subsequent frame image from the camera, and

wherein said notification unit does not perform notification when a frame rate of the received frame images is high, and performs notification when the frame rate is reduced.

8. A communication method comprising the steps of:

receiving frame images generated from a camera via a network in a summary mode in which frame images generated from the camera are displayed automatically and independently of users'"'"' control operation;

outputting the frame images received in said receiving step in order to display the frame images on a display unit;

automatically detecting whether or not a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image being received without users'"'"' control operation in the summary mode; and

causing the display unit to display an icon indicating an update state of the received frame images, wherein the icon is displayed on a predetermined area of the display unit at a time when the frame image is displayed,

wherein said causing the display unit to display an icon causes a flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to an updating state when the detecting detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image, and causes a non-flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to a non-updating state when the detecting detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit is not updated by a next frame image,

wherein, in the summary mode, receiving one frame image from the camera corresponds to displaying the flashing icon one time and display of the non-flashing icon corresponds to a period of time between receiving the one frame image from the camera and receiving a subsequent frame image from the camera, and

wherein said causing the display unit to display an icon does not perform notification when a fram rate of the received frame images is high, and performs notification when the frame rate is reduced.

9. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable program, said program comprising:

reception code executable to receive frame images generated from a camera via a network in a summary mode in which frame images generated from the camera are displayed automatically and independently of users'"'"' control operation;

output code executable to output the frame images received by said reception code in order to display the frame images on a display unit;

detection process code executable to automatically detect whether or not a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image being received without users'"'"' control operation in the summary mode; and

notification code executable to cause the display unit to display an icon indicating an update state of the received frame images, wherein the icon is displayed on a predetermined area of the display unit at a time when the received frame image is displayed,

wherein said notification code causes a flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to an updating state when the detection process code detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit is updated by a next frame image, and causes a non-flashing icon to be displayed corresponding to a non-updating state when the detection process code detects that a current frame image displayed by the display unit is not updated by a next frame image,

wherein, in the summary mode, receiving one frame image from the camera corresponds to displaying the flashing icon one time and display of the non-flashing icon corresponds to a period of time between receiving the one frame image from the camera and receiving a subsequent frame image from the camera, and

wherein said notification code does not perform notification when a fram rate of the received frame images is high, and performs notification when the frame rate is reduced.