Recording system, video camera device and video image recording method

• US 7,298,964 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Collabo Innovations, Inc. (Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Kenji, Sayama, Takuya, Ohtani, Akihiko, Mitsumori, Toshimasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Than, Thai Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOPGYAL, GELEK W
• Application Number:
  US10/079,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20020118958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211.3, 348/211.11, 348/218.1, 348/153, 348/159, 348/14.01, 386/117
• US Class Current: 386/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/073 for mutually locking plural sources of synchronising signals, e.g. studios or relay stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure

Abstract

Video data recording using a plurality of video camera devices can be performed more conveniently than in the conventional technique. A video camera device working as a parent device has a signal sending/receiving function and a control function for the whole system, and a video camera device working as a child device has a signal sending/receiving function. The parent device sends synchronization data for time synchronization, and each child device performs a shooting operation in time synchronization with the parent device in accordance with the received synchronization data.

Claims

1. A recording system comprising a plurality of video camera devices, wherein said plurality of video camera devices include:

a parent device having a signal sending/receiving function and a control function for said recording system; and

at least one child device having a signal sending/receiving function,

said parent device sends synchronization data for time synchronization which includes a synchronization pattern for establishing frame synchronization, and

said child device receives said synchronization data sent from said parent device and performs a shooting operation in time synchronization with said parent device in accordance with said synchronization data,

wherein said parent device sends, as control information, an operation parameter for defining operation specification of said child device, and

said child device receives said operation parameter sent from said parent device and performs the shooting operation with said operation specification thereof set in accordance with said operation parameter,

wherein when said operation specification of said child device is to be changed, said child device sends a change demand signal corresponding to a content of change as said control information, and

said parent device receives said change demand signal sent from said child device, determines whether or not the content of change corresponding to said change demand signal is permitted, and when the change is permitted, sends a change permission signal and an operation parameter for defining operation specification to be employed by said child device after the change.

2. A recording system comprising a plurality of video camera devices,

wherein said plurality of video camera devices include:

a parent device having a signal sending/receiving function and a control function for said recording system; and

at least one child device having a signal sending/receiving function,

said parent device sends, as control information, an operation parameter for defining operation specification of said child device, and

said child device receives said operation parameter sent from said parent device and performs a shooting operation with said operation specification thereof set in accordance with said operation parameter,

wherein when said operation specification of said child device is to be changed, said child device sends a change demand signal corresponding to a content of change as said control information, and

said parent device receives said change demand signal sent from said child device, determines whether or not the content of change corresponding to said change demand signal is permitted, and when the change is permitted, sends a change permission signal and an operation parameter for defining operation specification to be employed by said child device after the change.