Image-taking apparatus capable of distributing taken images over network
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An image-taking apparatus which is operated through a network from a terminal apparatus and which distributes taken images over the network, comprising:
- an image-taking optical system;
an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image formed by the image-taking optical system; and
a controller which performs, by using the image-pickup device, image-taking in a first mode and image-taking in a second mode in which image-taking is carried out with more pixels or at a lower frame rate than in the first mode;
wherein the controller determines whether a condition relating to image-taking matches a predetermined restriction condition, and performs a restriction operation which restricts image-taking in the second mode or distribution of an image taken in the second mode when the restriction condition is met;
wherein a focal length of the image-taking optical system is variable;
wherein the controller determines whether the focal length is equal to or longer than a predetermined focal length, and performs the restriction operation when the focal length is equal to or longer than the predetermined focal length; and
wherein the controller further determines whether an object distance is equal to or shorter than a predetermined object distance, and performs the restriction operation when the focal length is equal to or longer than the predetermined focal length and the object distance is equal to or shorter than the predetermined object distance.
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Abstract
An image-taking apparatus and an image-taking system are disclosed which can protect the privacy of a person whose image is taken, and which can avoid the distribution of images of unnecessarily large data volumes. The image-taking apparatus includes an image-taking optical system, an image-pickup device, a controller which performs, by using the image-pickup device, image-taking in a first mode and in a second mode in which image-taking is carried out with more pixels or at a lower frame rate than in the first mode. The controller determines whether a condition relating to image-taking matches a predetermined restriction condition, and restricts image-taking in the second mode or distribution of an image taken in the second mode when that restriction condition is met.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An image-taking apparatus which is operated through a network from a terminal apparatus and which distributes taken images over the network, comprising:
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an image-taking optical system; an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image formed by the image-taking optical system; and a controller which performs, by using the image-pickup device, image-taking in a first mode and image-taking in a second mode in which image-taking is carried out with more pixels or at a lower frame rate than in the first mode; wherein the controller determines whether a condition relating to image-taking matches a predetermined restriction condition, and performs a restriction operation which restricts image-taking in the second mode or distribution of an image taken in the second mode when the restriction condition is met; wherein a focal length of the image-taking optical system is variable; wherein the controller determines whether the focal length is equal to or longer than a predetermined focal length, and performs the restriction operation when the focal length is equal to or longer than the predetermined focal length; and wherein the controller further determines whether an object distance is equal to or shorter than a predetermined object distance, and performs the restriction operation when the focal length is equal to or longer than the predetermined focal length and the object distance is equal to or shorter than the predetermined object distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An image-taking apparatus which is operated through a network from a terminal apparatus and which distributes taken images over the network, comprising:
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an image-taking optical system; an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image formed by the image-taking optical system; and a controller which performs, by using the image-pickup device, image-taking in a first mode and image-taking in a second mode in which image-taking is carried out with more pixels or at a lower frame rate than in the first mode; wherein the controller determines whether a condition relating to image-taking matches a predetermined restriction condition, and performs a restriction operation which restricts image-taking in the second mode or distribution of an image taken in the second mode when the restriction condition is met; and wherein the controller has a function of recognizing an object in an image-taking field, identifies whether the recognized object is a specific object, and performs the restriction operation when the object is the specific object. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
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Original AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
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InventorsIshino, Toshiki, Someya, Hiromi
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Primary Examiner(s)Ye; Lin
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Assistant Examiner(s)Henn; Timothy J
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Application NumberUS10/756,848Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,372 DaysField of Search348/143, 348151-153, 348/159, 348/211.99, 3482111-2114, 348/211.8, 34821111-21113, 348/156, 348/211.9US Class Current348/211.9CPC Class CodesH04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [...
