Image surveillance system processing user's voice request to provide access authority level of each client in the system

• US 7,277,122 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sakai, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Le Hien
• Application Number:
  US11/381,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20060195574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/152, 348/156, 340/539.14, 340/635, 340/506, 340/505, 709/225
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25808 Management of client data terminal profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/303
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25866 Management of end-user data customer care in data networks H04L41/5077
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42684 Client identification by a unique number or address, e.g. serial number, MAC address, socket ID network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• 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 23/661 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

Information identifying an operator remotely controlling a camera can be obtained. By using voice as means for reporting the information, it is possible to achieve reporting that is ideal for a user interface. Specifically, a client (116) is connected to a camera server (101) via a network and is receiving a video service obtained from a camera unit (102). When an individual on the side of the camera server (101) issues a request for the purpose of identifying the client, e.g., an inquiry as to who is controlling the camera, by voice, the voice is recognized. In response, information (the user name) identifying a connected client or the client controlling the camera is obtained by voice from a speaker (112).

Claims

1. A server for controlling a plurality of clients, said server comprising:

a control device, adapted to (a) select at least one client which has a privilege for controlling an image sensing device remotely, (b) prohibit unselected clients from controlling the image sensing device while the selected client is controlling the image sensing device, and (c) enable the unselected clients to receive video information captured by the image sensing device;

a voice input unit, adapted to input a voice of a user which is not one of the clients but an object being captured by the image sensing device;

a recognition unit, adapted to recognize the voice input by said voice input unit; and

a notification device, adapted to notify the user as the captured object, as to which client is selected for controlling the image sensing device and which clients receive the video information captured by the image sensing device, when said recognition unit recognizes a voice pattern which represents a request for information about the clients from the voice input by said voice input unit.

2. A server according to claim 1, wherein the image sensing device is a camera having a two-dimensional image sensing device.

3. A server according to claim 1, wherein control of the image sensing device includes optical control and orientation control.

4. A server according to claim 1, wherein information notified by said notification device includes user names of the clients.

5. A server according to claim 4, wherein said notification device notifies by voice.

6. A server according to claim 1, wherein said notification device notifies by voice.

7. A method of controlling a plurality of clients, said method comprising:

a control step, of selecting at least one client which has a privilege for controlling an image sensing device remotely, prohibiting unselected clients from controlling the image sensing device while the selected client is controlling the image sensing device, and enabling the unselected clients to receive video information captured by the image sensing device;

a voice input step, of inputting a voice of a user which is not one of the clients but an object being captured by the image sensing device;

a recognition step, of recognizing the voice input in said voice input step; and

a notification step, of notifying the user as the captured object, as to which client is selected for controlling the image sensing device and which clients receive the video information captured by the image sensing device, when said recognition step recognizes a voice pattern which represents a request for information about the clients from the voice input in said voice input step.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the image sensing device is a camera having a two-dimensional image sensing device.

9. A storage medium storing program code executing a method of controlling a plurality of clients via the communication medium, said program code comprising:

code for a control step, of selecting at least one client which has a privilege for controlling an image sensing device remotely, prohibiting unselected clients from controlling the image sensing device while the selected client is controlling the image sensing device, and enabling the unselected clients to receive video information captured by the image sensing device;

code for a voice input step, of inputting a voice of a user which is not one of the clients but an object being captured by the image sensing device;

code for a recognition step, of recognizing the voice input in said voice input step; and

code for a notification step, of notifying the user as the captured object as to which client is selected for controlling the image sensing device and which clients receive the video information captured by the image sensing device, when said recognition step recognizes a voice pattern which represents a request for information about the clients from the voice input in said voice input step.

10. A storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the image sensing device is a camera having a two-dimensional image sensing device.

11. A system comprising at least one client, and a server for controlling the at least one client, said server comprising:

a control device, adapted to (a) give the at least one client a privilege for controlling an image sensing device remotely, (b) prohibit unprivileged clients from controlling the image sensing device while the privileged client is controlling the image sensing device, and (c) enable the unprivileged clients to receive video information captured by the image sensing device;

a voice input unit, adapted to input a voice of a user which is not one of the clients but an object being captured by the image sensing device;

a recognition unit, adapted to recognize the voice input by said voice input unit; and

a notification device, adapted to notify the user as the captured object, as to which client is selected for controlling the image sensing device and which clients receive the video information captured by the image sensing device, when said recognition unit recognizes a voice pattern which represents a request for information about the clients from the voice input by said voice input unit.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the image sensing device is a camera having a two-dimensional image sensing device.