Adapter device for image capturing device

• US 7,587,738 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Issued: 09/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axis AB (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hoya Corporation
• Inventors: Nakayama, Toshihiro, Nakamura, Shintaro
• Primary Examiner(s): AN, SHAWN S
• Application Number:
  US10/385,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20030177500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,372 Days
• Field of Search: 725/105, 725/117, 725/147, 725/110, 725/118, 725/148, 725/151, 709/217, 709/203, 709/219, 348/14.02, 348/14.01, 348/14.05
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A network camera system is configured such that an adapter device is connected with a digital camera, and the adapter device is connected with a network to which a client is also connected. A video signal representing a real-time image and a digital image signal representing a high-resolution still image are transmitted from the camera to the adapter. The adapter has a function of a file server and allows the client to download image data corresponding to the high-resolution still image. The adapter device further has a function of a streaming server and transmits streaming data representing the real-time image. The client can transmits an operation command to the adapter through the network, and the adapter transfer the command to the camera to perform the operation required by the client.

Claims

1. An adapter device capable of being connected with an image capturing device, the image capturing device being capable of capturing a moving image and generating an analog video signal representing the moving image and of capturing a still image in response to a capturing command and generating digital image data representing the captured still image, the image capturing device being capable of outputting the analog video signal and the still image data to a network, said adapter device comprising:

a first interface configured to receive the analog video signal from the image capturing device;

a second interface, distinct from said first interface and configured to transmit the capturing command to the image capturing device and to receive the digital image data from the image capturing device;

a digital video-data generating system configured to generate digital video data based on the analog video signal received through said first interface;

a network interface configured to exchange data with a terminal through the network, the digital video data and the digital image data being transmitted to the terminal through said network interface; and

a command receiver configured to receive the recording command and the capturing command from the terminal through said network interface,

wherein, in response to receipt of the recording command by said command receiver, said first interface receives the analog video signal from the image capturing device for transmission to the terminal through said network interface, and

wherein, in response to receipt of the capturing command by said command receiver, said second interface transmits the capturing command to the image capturing device and receives the digital image data from the image capturing device for transmission to the terminal through said network interface.

2. The adapter device according to claim 1, wherein said adaptor device is configured for use with a network camera system including at least one client and the image capturing device the adapter device configured for connecting with the client through the network, the client including a browsing system that downloads an image file from a file server system and displays an image represented by the image file, the browsing system being capable of processing streaming data and displaying a moving image represented by the streaming data, the client further including a command transmitting system that allows an operator to input an operation command indicative of an operation to be executed by the image capturing device and that transmits the operation command to said adapter device through the network, the image capturing device comprising a camera, said adapter device further comprising:

a file server system that receives the digital image data from the camera through said second interface and stores the image file representing the still image captured by the camera, said file server system allowing the at least one client to download the image file through said network interface;

a streaming server system that receives the analog video signal from the camera through said first interface and creates streaming data corresponding to the received video signal, the streaming data being transmitted to the client through said network interface;

a command receiving system that includes the command receiver and that receives an operation command from the client through said network interface; and

a command transmitting system that transmits a control command corresponding to the operation command to the camera through said second interface.

3. The adapter device according to claim 1, wherein the network includes the Internet.

4. The adapter device according to claim 1, wherein said adapter device transmits data to the terminal in accordance with the HTTP.

5. The adapter device according to claim 1, further comprising a casing,

wherein said first interface and said second interface are provided on said casing,

wherein said adapter device is configured such that, by securing said casing onto the image capturing device, an analog signal output terminal of the image capturing device is connected to said first interface and a digital signal output terminal of the image capturing device is connected to said second interface.

6. The adapter device according to claim 5, further comprising a fixation mechanism that securely fixes said adapter device to the image capturing device.

7. The adapter device according to claim 6, wherein said fixation mechanism includes locking claws which are configured to engage with engageable portions provided on the image capturing device.

8. The adapter device according to claim 7, wherein said fixation mechanism further includes a release mechanism which is operated to release engagement of said locking claws with the engageable portions.

9. An adapter device capable of being connected with an image capturing device which is capable of capturing a moving image and generating an analog video signal representing the moving image and which is capable of capturing a still image in response to a capturing command input thereto and generating digital image data representing the captured still image, the image capturing device being capable of outputting the analog video signal and the still image data, said adapter device comprising:

a first interface configured to receive the analog video signal output by the image capturing device;

a second interface, distinct from said first interface and configured to receive digital data from the image capturing device, said second interface being configured for transmitting the capturing command to the image capturing device;

a digital video-data generating system configured to generate digital video data based on the analog signal received through said first interface;

a network interface configured to exchange data with a terminal through the network, the digital video data and the digital image data being transmitted to the terminal through said network interface;

a casing, wherein said first interface and said second interface are provided on said casing, wherein said adapter device is configured such that, by securing said casing onto the image capturing device, an analog signal output terminal of the image capturing device is connected to said first interface and a digital signal output terminal of the image capturing device is connected to said second interface; and

a fixation mechanism that securely fixes said adapter device to the image capturing device,

wherein, in response to receipt of a predetermined operation command from the terminal through said network interface, said second interface transmits the capturing command to the image capturing device and receives the digital image data output by the image capturing device, and

wherein said fixation mechanism includes a positioning member configured to define a positional relationship of said adapter device with respect to the image capturing device when said adapter is fixed to the image capturing device.

10. The adapter device according to claim 9, wherein said positioning member includes at least two guide pins which are configured to be inserted in corresponding holes provided on the image capturing device.