Internet camera system

• US 7,562,380 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2001
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Axis AB (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Inventors: Negishi, Kiyoshi, Ishikawa, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): CZEKAJ, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US09/983,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20020053087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,819 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.1, 348/207.99
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

An Internet camera system is provided with a file server connected to the Internet, an Internet camera provided with a modem, and a terminal device. The Internet camera is capable of capturing an image and converting the same into an image file. Further, the Internet camera is capable of transmitting the image file, through the modem, to the file server via the Internet. The terminal device is connectable to the Internet, and is capable of browsing images the file server stores. The terminal device further includes a transmitting system that transmits predetermined data to the file server. The file server includes a calling system that makes a call to the modem of the Internet camera when the predetermined data is transmitted from the terminal device. The Internet camera is configured to capture an image and transmit an image file of the captured image when the modem receives a call.

Claims

1. An Internet camera system, comprising:

a file server connected to the Internet;

an Internet camera provided with a modem, said Internet camera being capable of capturing an image and converting the same into an image file, said Internet camera being capable of transmitting said image file through said modem to said file server via a public telephone network and the Internet according to a predetermined schedule; and

a terminal device connectable to the Internet, said terminal device being capable of browsing images stored in said file server,

said terminal device including a transmitting system that transmits predetermined data to said file server,

said file server including a calling system that determines whether said Internet camera is transmitting an image file to said file server and makes a call, via the public telephone network, to said modem if it determines that said Internet camera is not transmitting an image file to said file server, said calling system interrupting the call without establishing a connection to the modem,

when said modem receives the call, said Internet camera ignoring the call received by the modem, waiting until the connection with the public telephone network is interrupted, and capturing an image and transmitting an image file of the captured image, said modem failing to establish a connection with respect to the call.

2. The Internet camera system according to claim 1, wherein said file server transmits data to said terminal device, said data being indicative of completion of file transmission from said Internet camera to said file server, said file transmission being performed when said modem receives said call.

3. The Internet camera system according to claim 1,

wherein said terminal device includes an input system through which operation commands can be input, and

wherein said transmitting system transmits said predetermined data in response to a predetermined operation of said input system.

4. The Internet camera system according to claim 3,

wherein said terminal device includes a monitor that is capable of displaying images stored in said file server,

wherein said input system includes a pointing device which is manually operable to move a pointer displayed on said monitor, said pointing device being provided with a button member, and

wherein said transmitting system transmits said predetermined data when said pointer is located on a predetermined image on said monitor by moving said pointing device, and then, said button member is depressed.

5. The Internet camera system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of Internet cameras each of which is capable of transmitting said image file to said file server.

6. The Internet camera system according to claim 5,

wherein said terminal device includes an input system through which operation commands can be input, and

wherein said transmitting system transmits said predetermined data to said file server in accordance with predetermined operations of said input system, and

wherein said calling system makes said call to a modem of at least one of said plurality of Internet cameras in response to said predetermined data.

7. The Internet camera system according to claim 6,

wherein said terminal device includes a monitor that is capable of displaying images, which are captured by said plurality of Internet cameras, transmitted therefrom and stored in said file server,

wherein said input system includes a pointing device which is manually operable to move a pointer displayed on said monitor, said pointing device being provided with a button member,

wherein, when said pointer is located on one of predetermined images on said monitor by moving said pointing device, and then, said button member is depressed, said transmitting system transmits said predetermined data to file server in accordance with the image on which the pointer is located and said button member is depressed, and

wherein said calling system makes said call to said modem of one of said plurality of Internet cameras in response to said predetermined data.

8. The Internet camera system according to claim 6,

wherein said terminal device includes a monitor that is capable of displaying images, which are captured by said plurality of Internet cameras, transmitted therefrom and stored in said file server,

wherein said input system includes a pointing device which is manually operable to move a pointer displayed on said monitor, said pointing device being provided with a button member,

wherein, when said pointer is located on a predetermined image on said monitor by moving said pointing device, and then, said button member is depressed, said transmitting system transmits said predetermined data to file server, and

wherein said calling system calls all the modems of said plurality of Internet cameras.

9. The Internet camera system according to claim 1, wherein said Internet camera transmits an image file only when said call is made by said calling system of said file server.

10. The Internet camera system according to claim 1, wherein said modem is capable of identifying a caller who is currently calling, and wherein said Internet camera transmits an image file only when the caller is a predetermined caller.

11. The Internet camera system according to claim 10, wherein said modem identifies the caller based on a telephone number transmitted through the telephone network.

12. The Internet camera system of claim 1, wherein said Internet camera stores said predetermined schedule, and updates the schedule based upon an e-mail received from said file server.

13. An Internet camera system, comprising:

an Internet camera configured to connect to a packet-switched network and a circuit-switched network, to record an image as an image file, and to transmit the image file via the packet-switched network and the circuit-switched network to a file server according to a predetermined schedule, the Internet camera including a transceiver connected to the circuit-switched network, the transceiver configured to receive a connection request signal including connection information via the circuit-switched network, wherein said file server is connected to the packet-switched network and to the circuit-switched telecommunication network, the file server configured to determine whether said Internet camera is transmitting an image file to said file server, send the connection request signal to the Internet camera, via the circuit-switched network, if it is determined that said Internet camera is not transmitting an image file to said file server, and to store at least one image file, said file server interrupting the connection request signal without establishing a connection to the transceiver; and

a terminal device connectable to the packet-switched network, said terminal device being capable of browsing images stored in said file server, wherein when the transceiver receives the connection request signal the Internet camera ignores the connection request signal received by the transceiver, waits until the connection request signal is interrupted, and transmits the image file via the packet-switched network according to the connection information when the transceiver receives the connection request signal, wherein the transceiver fails to establish a connection with respect to the connection request signal.

14. The Internet camera system according to claim 13, wherein the Internet camera answers the connection request signal on the circuit-switched network.

15. The Internet camera system according to claim 13, wherein the Internet camera transmits the image file to the file server when the connection information corresponds to the file server.

16. The Internet camera system according to claim 13, wherein the circuit-switched network includes a public telephone network, and the packet-switched network includes an Internet protocol network.

17. The internet camera system according to claim 16, wherein an Internet protocol data packet of the packet-switched network is transmitted from the Internet camera to the file server via the circuit-switched network.

18. An Internet camera system, comprising:

a file server connected to a first telecommunication network and to a second telecommunication network;

an Internet camera including a transceiver connected to the second telecommunication network, the Internet camera configured to record an image, to convert the image to an image file, and to transmit the image file to the file server via the first telecommunication network and the second, different, telecommunication network according to a predetermined schedule; and

a terminal device configured to browse images stored in said file server via the first telecommunication network, and to transmit data to the file server,

the file server further configured to determine whether said Internet camera is transmitting an image file to said file server and send a calling signal to said transceiver, via the second telecommunication network, if it is determined that said Internet camera is not transmitting an image file to said file server, the file server further configured to interrupt the calling signal without establishing a connection to the transceiver, and

the Internet camera further configured to, when the transceiver receives the calling signal, ignore the calling signal received by the transceiver, wait until the connection with the second telecommunication network is interrupted, and record an image and transmit an image file of the recorded image, the transceiver configured to fail to establish a connection with respect to the calling signal.

19. The Internet camera system according to claim 18, wherein the first telecommunication network includes the Internet, and the second telecommunication network includes a public telephone network.

20. The Internet camera system according to claim 19, wherein an Internet protocol data packet of the first telecommunication network is transmitted via the second telecommunication network from the Internet camera to the file server.

21. The Internet camera system according to claim 18, wherein the transceiver answers the calling signal.

22. An Internet camera system, comprising:

a file server configured to receive and store at least one image file;

an Internet camera including a modem connected to a public telephone network, the Internet camera configured to record an image, to convert the image to an image file, and to transmit the image file to the file server via a packet-switched network and the public telephone network, according to a predetermined schedule; and

a terminal device configured to browse images stored in said file server via the packet-switched network, and to transmit data to the file server,

the file server further configured to determine whether said Internet camera is transmitting an image file to said file server and send a calling signal to said modem, via the public telephone network, if it is determined that said Internet camera is not transmitting an image file to said file server, said file server further configured to interrupt the calling signal without establishing a connection to the modem and

the Internet camera further configured to, when the modem receives the calling signal, ignore the calling signal received by the modem, wait until the connection with the public telephone network is interrupted, and record an image and transmit an image file of the recorded image, the modem configured to fail to establish a connection with respect to the calling signal.

23. The Internet camera system according to claim 22, wherein the packet-switched network is in accordance with a data protocol among the group consisting of FTP, TFTP, SMTP, POP or HTTP.