Imaging control system, control apparatus and method for imaging apparatus, and storage medium

• US 8,743,225 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2011
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Horii, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins, Twyler
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garces-Rivera, Angel L
• Application Number:
  US13/179,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20120007999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/211.8
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An imaging control system for controlling a direction of an optical axis of an imaging unit is provided. The imaging control system includes a pan change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis to a pan direction, a tilt change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis to a tilt direction, and a display control unit configured to display the change direction to which the direction of the optical axis is changed by the pan change unit, corresponding to the change by the tilt change unit, together with an image captured by the imaging unit.

Claims

1. An imaging control system for controlling a direction of an optical axis of an imaging unit, the imaging control system comprising:

a pan change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis to a pan direction;

a tilt change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis to a tilt direction; and

a display control unit configured to display a panning direction guide together with an image captured by the imaging unit on a display, the panning direction guide indicating the pan direction, wherein the display control unit is further configured to change a display of the panning direction guide in curvature corresponding to the direction of the optical axis changed by the tilt change unit.

2. The imaging control system according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit indicates the change direction to which the direction of the optical axis is changed by the pan change unit, by using an arrow in a linear shape or an arc shape.

3. The imaging control system according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit controls to display the panning direction guide by using an arrow in a linear shape or an arc shape and to display an operation button to operate the pan change unit.

4. The imaging control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an imaging apparatus; and

a control apparatus, wherein

the imaging apparatus includes the pan change unit and the tilt change unit and is configured to output information indicating the direction of optical axis changed by the tilt change unit via a network; and

the control apparatus includes the display control unit further configured to receive the information and change the display of the panning direction guide in curvature corresponding to the direction of the optical axis based on the received information.

5. An imaging control system for controlling a direction of an optical axis of an imaging unit that rotates about the optical axis, the imaging control system comprising:

a change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis along a pan direction or a tilt direction; and

a display control unit configured to display at least one direction guide together with an image captured by the imaging unit on a display, wherein an orientation of the direction guide changes with an amount corresponding to an amount of change of a rotation angle of the imaging unit about the optical axis.

6. The imaging control system according to claim 5, wherein the display control unit displays the direction guide on the side of the captured image or by overlapping the direction guide with the captured image.

7. The imaging control system according to claim 5, wherein the display control unit indicates the pan direction and the tilt direction by using an arrow or a bar respectively.

8. The imaging control system according to claim 5, wherein the display control unit controls to display a marker indicating a current rotation angle of the imaging unit.

9. The imaging control system according to claim 5, further comprising:

an imaging apparatus; and

a control apparatus, wherein

the imaging apparatus includes the change unit and outputs information indicating the rotation angle of the imaging unit via a network; and

the control apparatus is configured to receive the information and change the orientation of the direction guide with an amount corresponding to an amount of change of a rotation angle of the imaging unit about the optical axis based on the received information.

10. The imaging control system according to claim 5, wherein

the display control unit displays on the display, the direction guide indicating a direction along which the direction of the optical axis is changed by the change unit, and

the direction indicated by the direction guide on the display changes corresponding to an angle of rotation of the imaging unit.

11. An imaging control system for controlling a direction of an optical axis of an imaging unit that rotates about the optical axis, the imaging control system comprising:

a pan change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis along a pan direction; and

a display control unit configured to display a range guide together with an image captured by the imaging unit on a display, the range guide indicating a range the imaging unit can rotate, wherein the range indicated by the range guide changes corresponding to the optical axis changed by the pan change unit.

12. The imaging control system according to claim 11 further comprising:

an imaging apparatus; and

a control apparatus, wherein

the imaging apparatus includes the pan change unit and outputs information indicating the direction of the optical axis changed by the pan change unit via a network; and

the control apparatus is configured to receive the information and change the range indicated by the range guide corresponding to the direction of the optical axis based on the received information.

13. A control apparatus for an imaging apparatus including a pan change unit configured to change a direction of an optical axis along a pan direction, and a tilt change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis along a tilt direction, the control apparatus comprising:

a display control unit configured to display a panning direction guide together with an image captured by the imaging unit on a display, wherein the display control unit is further configured to change a display of the panning direction guide in curvature corresponding to the direction of the optical axis changed by the tilt change unit.

14. The control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the display control unit controls to display the panning direction guide by using an arrow in a linear shape or an arc shape and to display an operation button to operate the pan change unit.

15. The control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the display control unit controls to display a marker indicating a current rotation angle of the imaging unit.

16. The control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to output information indicating the direction of optical axis via a network after the tilt change unit changes the direction of the optical axis, and wherein the control apparatus is configured to receive the information via the network and the display control unit is further configured to change the display of the panning direction guide in curvature corresponding to the direction of the optical axis based on the received information.

17. A control apparatus for an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit that rotates about an optical axis, and a change unit configured to change a direction of the optical axis along a pan direction or a tilt direction, the control apparatus comprising:

a display control unit configured to display at least one direction guide together with an image captured by the imaging unit on a display, wherein an orientation of the direction guide changes with an amount corresponding to an amount of change of angle rotation of the imaging unit about the optical axis.

18. The control apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to output information indicating the direction of the optical axis via a network after rotation of the imaging unit is performed, and wherein the control apparatus is configured to receive the information via the network, and the at least one direction guide is configured to change the orientation with an amount corresponding to an amount of change of rotation angle of the imaging unit about the optical axis based on the received information.

19. The imaging control apparatus according to claim 17, wherein

the display control unit displays on the display, the direction guide indicating a direction along which the direction of the optical axis is changed by the change unit, and

wherein the direction indicated by the direction guide on the display changes corresponding to an angle of rotation of the imaging unit.

20. A control apparatus for an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit that rotates about an optical axis, and a pan change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis along a pan direction, the control apparatus comprising:

a display control unit configured to display a range guide together with an image captured by the imaging unit on a display, the range guide indicating a range the imaging unit can rotate, wherein the range indicated by the range guide changes corresponding to the optical axis direction changed by the pan change unit.

21. The control apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the display control unit controls to display a marker indicating a current rotation angle of the imaging unit.

22. The control apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the imaging apparatus is further configured to output information indicating the direction of the optical axis via a network after the pan change unit changes the direction of the optical axis, and wherein the control apparatus is configured to receive the information via the network, and the range indicated by the range guide on the display changes corresponding to the optical axis direction changed by the pan change unit based on the received information.

23. A control method for an imaging apparatus including a pan change unit configured to change a direction of an optical axis along a pan direction, and a tilt change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis along a tilt direction, the control method comprising:

displaying a panning direction guide together with an image captured by the imaging unit on a display, the panning direction guide indicating the pan direction, and changing a display of the panning direction in curvature corresponding to the direction of the optical axis changed by the tilt change unit.

24. The control method according to claim 23, further comprising:

outputting from the imaging apparatus information indicating the direction of the optical axis changed by the tilt change unit via a network;

receiving the information; and

changing the display of the panning direction guide in curvature corresponding to the direction of the optical axis based on the received information.

25. A control method for an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit that rotates about an optical axis, and a change unit configured to change a direction of the optical axis along a pan direction or a tilt direction, the control method comprising:

displaying at least one direction guide together with an image captured by the imaging unit on a display, wherein an orientation of the direction guide changes with an amount corresponding to an amount of change of rotation angle of the imaging unit about the optical axis.

26. The control method according to claim 25, further comprising:

outputting from the imaging apparatus information indicating the direction of the optical axis via a network after rotation of the imaging unit is performed;

receiving the information; and

changing the orientation with the amount corresponding to the amount of change of the rotation angle about the optical axis based on the received information.

27. The control method according to claim 25, wherein

displaying on the display, the direction guide indicating a direction along which the direction of the optical axis is changed by the change unit, and

the direction indicated by the direction guide on the display changes corresponding to an angle of rotation of the imaging unit.

28. A control method for an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit that rotates about an optical axis, and a pan change unit configured to change a direction of the optical axis along a pan direction, the control method comprising:

displaying a range guide together with an image captured by the imaging unit on a display, the range guide indicating a range the imaging unit can rotate, and changing the range indicated by the range guide corresponding to the optical axis direction changed by the pan direction guide.

29. The control method according to claim 28, further comprising:

receiving from the imaging apparatus information indicating the direction of the optical axis via a network after the pan change unit changes the direction of the optical axis;

receiving the information; and

changing the range indicated by the range guide corresponding to the direction of the optical axis based on the received information.

30. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for instructing an imaging apparatus including a pan change unit configured to change a direction of an optical axis along a pan direction, and a tilt change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis along a tilt direction, to execute a display control procedure for displaying a panning direction guide together with an image captured by the imaging unit on a display, the panning direction guide indicating the pan direction, wherein the display control procedure changes a display of the panning direction guide in curvature corresponding to the direction of the optical axis changed by the tilt change unit.

31. The non-transitory medium according to claim 30, wherein the medium stores a program for instructing the imaging apparatus to display the panning direction guide, by using an arrow in a linear shape or an arc shape and to display an operation button to operate the pan change unit.

32. The non-transitory medium according to claim 30, wherein the medium stores a program for instructing the imaging apparatus to display a marker indicating a current rotation angle of the imaging unit.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 30, wherein the program further instructs to:

outputting from the imaging apparatus information indicating the direction of the optical axis changed by the tilt change unit via a network;

receiving the information; and

changing the display of the panning direction guide in curvature corresponding to the direction of the optical axis based on the received information.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for instructing an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit that rotates about an optical axis, and a change unit configured to change a direction of the optical axis along a pan direction or a tilt direction, to execute a display control procedure for displaying at least one direction guide together with an image captured by the imaging unit on a display, wherein an orientation of the direction guide changes with an amount corresponding to an amount of change of rotation angle of the imaging unit about the optical axis.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 34, wherein the program further instructs to:

outputting from the imaging apparatus information indicating the direction of the optical axis via a network after rotation of the imaging unit is performed;

receiving the information; and

changing the orientation with the amount corresponding to the amount of change of the rotation angle about the optical axis based on the received information.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 34, wherein the program further instructing to

display on the display, the direction guide indicating a direction along which the direction of the optical axis is changed by the change unit, and

the direction indicated by the direction guide on the display changes corresponding to an angle of rotation of the imaging unit.

37. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for instructing an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit that rotates about an optical axis, and a pan change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis along a pan direction, to execute a display control procedure for displaying a range guide together with an image captured by the imaging unit on a display, the range indicated by the range guide changes corresponding to the optical axis direction changed by the pan change unit.

38. The non-transitory medium according to claim 37, wherein the medium stores a program for instructing the imaging apparatus to display a marker indicating a current rotation angle of the imaging unit.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 37, wherein the program further instructs to:

outputting from the imaging apparatus information indicating the direction of the optical axis via a network after the pan change unit changes the direction of the optical axis;

receiving the information; and

changing the range indicated by the range guide corresponding to the direction of the optical axis based on the received information.

40. An imaging control system for controlling a direction of an optical axis of an imaging unit, the imaging control system comprising:

a pan change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis along a pan direction;

a tilt change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis along a tilt direction; and

a display control unit configured to display a panning direction guide together with an image captured by the imaging unit on a display, wherein the display control unit is further configured to change a display of the panning direction guide corresponding to the direction of the optical axis changed by the tilt change unit.

41. The imaging control system of claim 40, wherein the display control unit is further configured to change a display of the panning direction guide to indicate a change of a captured image area when the direction of the optical axis is changed along the pan direction by the pan change unit corresponding to the direction of the optical axis changed by the tilt change unit.

42. A camera having an imaging unit and communicating with a control apparatus, the control apparatus controlling a direction of an optical axis of the imaging unit, and the camera comprising:

a pan change unit configured to change a direction of an optical axis of the camera along a pan direction;

a tilt change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis along a tilt direction; and

a communication unit configured to output information indicating the direction of the optical axis changed by the tilt change unit via a network;

wherein the communication unit is further configured to output the information so that the control apparatus receives the information and changes the display of the panning direction guide in curvature corresponding to the direction of the optical axis based on the received information.

43. A camera having an imaging unit and communicating with a control apparatus, the control apparatus controlling a direction of an optical axis of the imaging unit, and the camera comprising:

a change unit configured to change the direction of an optical axis of the camera along a pan direction or a tilt direction; and

a communication unit configured to output information indicating a rotation angle of the imaging unit via a network;

wherein the communication unit is further configured to output the information so that the control apparatus receives the information and change a orientation of a pan or tilt direction guide with an amount corresponding to an amount of change of a rotation angle of the imaging unit about the optical axis based on the received information.

44. A camera having an imaging unit and communicating with a control apparatus, the control apparatus controlling a direction of an optical axis of the imaging unit, and the camera comprising:

a pan change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis of the camera along a pan direction; and

a communication unit configured to output information indicating the direction of the optical axis changed by the pan change unit via a network;

wherein the communication unit is configured to output the information so that the control apparatus receives the information and changes a range indicated by a range guide corresponding to the direction of the optical axis changed by the pan change unit based on the received information.

45. A camera having an imaging unit and communicating with a control apparatus, the control apparatus controlling a direction of an optical axis of the imaging unit, and the camera comprising:

a pan change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis along a pan direction;

a tilt change unit configured to change the direction of the optical axis along a tilt direction; and

a communication unit configured to output information indicating the direction of the optical axis changed by the tilt change unit via a network;

wherein the communication unit is further configure to output the information so that the control apparatus receives the information and changes a display of the panning direction guide corresponding to the direction of the optical axis based on the received information.