Integrated internet/intranet camera

• US 7,350,224 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Axis AB (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pentax of America Incorporated (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Koch, Mark, Knapp, Walter, Creamer, Rob, Helton, Richard, Araki, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Villecco; John M.
• Application Number:
  US10/865,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20050055727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211.3, 348/207.1, 348/552, 348/211.1, 348/211.8, 348/158, 348/211.12, 348/231.2, 348/231.6, 348 1401- 1416, 348/36, 348/211.6, 348/154, 348/155, 348/403, 704/203, 725/105
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00214 details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00217 only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00838 Preventing unauthorised reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00854 Recognising an unauthorised user or user-associated action
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/164 Feedback from the receiver or from the transmission channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/172 the region being a picture, frame or field
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• 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

An integrated Internet camera includes, as embedded components contained within the camera body and controlled by a microcontroller, at least a network interface device for connecting to the Internet, a transport control device for packetizing according to Internet protocols, a file transfer device for communicating with a destination user directory on the Internet, and a transmission initiating device for initiating the connection and transfer operations of the file transfer device and transport control device. The network interface device may be a modem, network adapter, or adapter for connection to the Internet. Upon capturing the digital image, the camera initiates a connection to the Internet, connects to the destination user directory, and uploads the digital images. Thereafter, the digital images are available to authorized (or any) user having access to the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an integrated, network-capable camera, comprising:

forming an image on an image pickup device of an optical system;

capturing digital images, from the image pickup device via an image capturing circuit, as digital image files;

scheduling a transfer of the digital image files to a destination computer at a selected network address on a computer network, according to a first scheduling device including at least one timer;

packetizing the digital image files and addressing the digital image files to the selected network address according to a transport control device;

self-initiating a connection with the computer network according to a transmission initiating device, the connection being established via the transport control device and via a network interface device connectible to the computer network;

communicating with the destination computer at the selected network address on the computer network;

transferring the digital image files via a file transfer device to the destination computer by transmitting the digital image files across the computer network according to a predetermined file transfer protocol; and

controlling operations and communications of each of the optical system, the image capturing circuit, the network interface device, the file transfer device, the transport control device, the transmission initiating device, and the first scheduling device by a same microcontroller, wherein the image pickup device, the optical system, the image capturing circuit, the network interface device, the file transfer device, the transport control device, the transmission initiating device, the first scheduling device, and the microcontroller are housed within a camera body of the integrated, network-capable camera.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

capturing digital image files according to a second scheduling device including at least one timer.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

self-initiating a retrieval of configuration information from a remote device, and setting operational parameters of the integrated, network-capable camera, according to the retrieved configuration information.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said scheduling includes specifying a time or specifying a date and time.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

capturing digital image files in response to a signal received from a trigger device.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising:

the signal from the trigger device being sent upon activation of a motion sensor or a trip switch.

7. A method for controlling an integrated, network-capable camera, comprising:

capturing digital image files via an image capturing circuit;

scheduling a transfer of the digital image files to a selected network destination on a computer network according to a scheduling device, said scheduling includes specifying a time or specifying a date and time;

packetizing the digital image files and addressing the digital image files to the selected network destination according to a transport control device;

self-initiating a connection with the computer network according to a transmission initiating device, the connection being made via the transport control device and via a network interface device connectible to the computer network;

communicating with the selected network destination over the computer network;

transferring the digital image files via a file transfer device to the selected network destination by transmitting the digital image files across the computer network according to a predetermined file transfer protocol; and

controlling operations and communications of each of the image capturing circuit, the network interface device, the transmission initiating device, the transport control device and the scheduling device, using a system microcontroller, wherein the image capturing circuit, the network interface device, the file transfer device, the transport control device, the transmission initiating device, the scheduling device, and the system microcontroller are housed within a camera body of the integrated, network-capable camera.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said transferring has an image streaming mode and a non-streaming single image mode, and wherein in said image streaming mode, said packetizing uses a smaller packet header than a packet header used in non-streaming single image mode, thereby increasing a rate of image transfer.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein said transferring has an image streaming mode and a non-streaming single image mode, the method further comprising:

switching to a streaming mode protocol that does not retransmit erroneous data, the streaming mode protocol employing a packet header with less data than a header of a non-streaming single image mode protocol that retransmits data, thereby increasing a rate of image transfer.

10. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

detecting changes in a connection quality of the computer network and modifying at least one operating parameter in response to the connection quality of the computer network crossing a selected threshold.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

said modifying includes changing an operational parameter that determines a compression level of the digital image file.

12. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

self-initiating a retrieval of configuration information from a remote device, and setting the operational parameters of the integrated, network-capable camera, according to the retrieved configuration information.

13. A method for controlling an integrated, network-capable camera comprising:

capturing digital image files from an image pickup device via an image capturing circuit;

monitoring for a scheduled upload signal from a first scheduling device, the first scheduling device sending the scheduled upload signal upon expiration of a timer;

monitoring for an immediate upload signal from an alarm-type trigger device, the alarm-type trigger device sending the immediate upload signal upon activation of a trigger;

assembling at least one E-mail message including at least one captured digital image file via an E-mail assembler;

self-initiating a connection with a network according to a transmission initiating device upon receipt of either of the scheduled-upload signal or the immediate-upload signal;

communicating with an E-mail server via an E-mail interface protocol;

sending the at least one assembled E-mail message including the at least one captured digital image file to a selected network address on the network;

controlling operations and communications, of each of the image capturing circuit, the first scheduling device, the alarm-type trigger device, the E-mail assembler, and the transmission initiating device using a system microcontroller, wherein the image capturing circuit, the first scheduling device, the E-mail assembler, the transmission initiating device, and the system microcontroller are housed within a camera body of an integrated, network-capable camera.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

representing a status of the camera within the at least one assembled E-mail message.

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

retrieving configuration information to set operational parameters of at least one of the image capturing circuit and the first scheduling device.

16. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

disconnecting from the computer network upon completion of a successful transfer of the at least one E-mail message including the at least one captured digital image file to the selected network address and initiating a subsequent connection with the network according to a schedule provided by the first scheduling device.

17. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

self-initiating said sending of the at least one assembled E-message including at least one digital image file to the selected network address on the network without receiving commands from an external device.

18. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

the activation of the trigger includes detecting a signal from a motion sensor or a signal from a trip switch.

19. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

the expiration of the timer occurs according to a specified time or a specified date and time.

20. A method according to claim 13, wherein:

disconnecting from the network upon completion of a successful transfer of the at least one assembled E-mail message including the at least one captured digital image file to the selected network address and initiating a subsequent connection with the network according to a detection of the immediate-upload signal from the alarm-type trigger.