System for camera positioning and methods thereof

• US 7,701,488 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2006
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Central University
• Original Assignee: National Central University
• Inventors: Lai, Bing-Cyuan, Chen, Chi-Farn, Chang, Li-Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Whipkey; Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOGUE, DENNIS A
• Application Number:
  US11/503,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20070296823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/211.9
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

A system is used to remotely control camera positioning. A transformation model is used. By in putting image coordinates of the monitored position form camera, the object coordinates is obtained and displayed on a digital map. By inputting object coordinates on a digital map, image coordinates for the camera is obtained. After transferring parameters for camera positioning, the camera is moved to a desired position for monitoring an area and taking a photo.

Claims

1. A method for positioning on a digital map, comprising steps of:

(a) transferring an image signal to an I/O module by a camera device, comprising a remote-control camera having parameters of panning, tilting and zooming, to be transformed into image data;

(b) storing said image data in an image data base module and transferring said image data to be displayed by a display unit;

(c) setting a monitored position in said image data, and transferring image coordinates of said monitored position to a transformation module;

(d) transforming said image coordinates of said monitored position into object coordinates through said transformation module; and

(e) inputting said object coordinates into a digital map module and displaying said monitored position and a digital map on said display unit,

wherein said transformation module in step (d) processes transformations between said image coordinates of said monitored position of said remote-control camera and said object coordinates of said digital map of said digital map module according to a transformation function between said image coordinates and said object coordinates,

wherein said transformation function is obtained through steps of;

(k) obtaining a parameter model of panning, tilting and zooming of said remote-control camera through a bundle adjustment;

(l) obtaining a plurality of control points of said remote-control camera separately corresponding to a plurality of control points of said digital map to obtain orientation parameters of said remote-control camera and calibration parameters of panning, tilting and zooming of said remote-control camera through a bundle adjustment;

(m) substituting said orientation parameters of said remote-control camera and said calibration parameters of panning, tilting and zooming of said remote-control camera obtained in step (l) into said parameter model obtained in step (k) to obtain said transformation function between said image coordinates of said monitored position of said remote-control camera and said object coordinates of said digital map of said digital map module.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said orientation parameters comprises object coordinates of said remote-control camera and rotation angles to X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis of said remote-control camera;

and a focal length and a principle point coordinates on imaging.