Camera control system

• US 7,515,176 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sasaki, Akitomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LUONG TRUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/007,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20050099496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.11, 3482111-2114, 348/211.5, 348/14.05, 348/211.9, 34821111-21114
• US Class Current: 348/211.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

A camera control system capable of controlling a plurality of cameras determines whether or not the camera to be controlled is controllable. The display state of an interface is used for performing a camera operation is changed in accordance with a result of this determination.

Claims

1. A control method for controlling a camera apparatus by a control apparatus via a network, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving status information of the camera apparatus;

holding the status information in the control apparatus; and

controlling whether or not to cause the control apparatus to send a control request to the camera apparatus, in accordance with the held status information, when the control apparatus controls the camera apparatus;

wherein the camera apparatus controls an action in accordance with the control request, when the control request is received.

2. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of sending the status information of the camera apparatus to the control apparatus.

3. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of forming the status information of the camera apparatus.

4. A control method for controlling a camera apparatus by a control apparatus via a network, said method comprising the steps of:

executing a first program to receive status information of the camera apparatus and to hold the status information; and

executing a second program to control whether or not to cause the control apparatus to send a control request to the camera apparatus, in accordance with the held status information, when the control apparatus controls the camera apparatus;

wherein the camera apparatus controls an action in accordance with the control request, when the control request is received.

5. The control method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of loading a program stored in a storage device to the control apparatus.

6. The control method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of sending the status information of the camera apparatus to the control apparatus.

7. The control method according to claim 4, wherein the status information of the camera apparatus is formed in the camera apparatus.

8. The control method according to claim 4, wherein the received status information of the camera apparatus is held in a program area.

9. A control method for controlling a camera apparatus by a control apparatus via a network, said method comprising the steps of:

loading a program stored in a storage device to the control apparatus;

executing the loaded program to receive status information of the camera apparatus and to hold the status information in a program area; and

executing the loaded program to control whether or not to cause the control apparatus to send a control request to the camera apparatus, in accordance with the held status information, when the control apparatus controls the camera apparatus;

wherein the status information of the camera apparatus is formed in the camera apparatus;

wherein the camera apparatus controls an action in accordance with the control request, when the control request is received.

10. A control system for controlling a camera apparatus by a control apparatus via a network, said control system comprising:

a reception device for receiving status information of the camera apparatus;

a holding device for holding the status information in the control apparatus; and

a control device for controlling whether or not to cause the control apparatus to send a control request to the camera apparatus, in accordance with the held status information, when the control apparatus controls the camera apparatus;

wherein the camera apparatus controls an action in accordance with the control request, when the control request is received.

11. A control system for controlling a camera apparatus by a control apparatus via a network, said control system comprising:

a first control device for executing a first program to receive status information of the camera apparatus and to hold the status information; and

a second control device for executing a second program to control whether or not to cause the control apparatus to send a control request to the camera apparatus, in accordance with the held status information, when the control apparatus controls the camera apparatus;

wherein the camera apparatus controls an action in accordance with the control request, when the control request is received.

12. A control system for controlling a camera apparatus by a control apparatus via a network, said control system comprising:

a loading device for loading a program stored in a storage device to the control apparatus;

a first control device for executing the loaded program to receive status information of the camera apparatus and to hold the status information in a program area; and

a second control device for executing the loaded program to control whether or not to cause the control apparatus to send a control request to the camera apparatus, in accordance with the held status information, when the control apparatus controls the camera apparatus;

wherein the status information of the camera apparatus is formed in the camera apparatus;

wherein the camera apparatus controls an action in accordance with the control request, when the control request is received.