Image monitoring system and image monitoring program

• US 8,860,808 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2012
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ishii, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Donaghue, Larry
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCLEOD, MARSHALL M
• Application Number:
  US13/494,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20120249788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 348/159, 348/143
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0806 the signals being two or more video signals H04N7/0803, H04N7/081 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/87 Regeneration of colour television signals H04N9/80 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an image monitoring system including: a camera connected to a network; display means for displaying an image captured by the camera; and display control means for controlling display such that, in displaying images by the display means, an image is displayed in a window having a predetermined layout; wherein the display control means presets an allocation database containing a correlation between the window having a predetermined layout and a camera identification code and, when the camera is connected to the network, automatically sets a correlation between the camera identification code in the allocation database and the camera, thereby controlling image display into the window on the basis of the allocation database.

Claims

1. An image monitoring system comprising:

a camera connected to a network;

display means for displaying an image captured by said camera; and

display control means for controlling display such that, in displaying images by said display means, an image is displayed in a window having a predetermined layout;

wherein said display control means presets an allocation database containing a correlation between a position in the predetermined layout of said window and a camera identification code and, when said camera is connected to said network, automatically sets a correlation between said camera identification code in said allocation database and said camera, therein automatically controlling position of an image output by said camera into said window on the basis of said allocation database.

2. The image monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, if said predetermined layout is provided in plural, then said display control means sets all layouts including said camera identification code for setting the correlation with said camera displayable on said display means.

3. The image monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, if said predetermined layout is provided in plural, then said display control means, upon receiving a command for displaying an image captured by a predetermined camera, sets all layouts selectable including said camera identification code related with said predetermined camera.

16. The image monitoring system according to the claim 1, wherein

the camera is connected to a network and has an IP address.

17. The image monitoring system according to the claim 1, wherein

the layout can be customized.

4. An image monitoring program embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium to be executed on an image monitoring system of the type comprising:

a camera connected to a network;

display displaying an image captured by said camera; and

display controller controlling display such that, in displaying images by said display, an image is displayed in a window having a predetermined layout;

wherein when said program is executed comprising the steps of;

presetting an allocation database containing a correlation between a position in the predetermined layout of said window and a camera identification code; and

when said camera is connected to said network, automatically setting a correlation between said camera identification code in said allocation database and said camera, therein automatically controlling position of an image output by said camera into said window on the basis of said allocation database.

5. The image monitoring program according to claim 4, wherein, if said predetermined layout is provided in plural, then said display controller sets all layouts including said camera identification code for setting the correlation with said camera displayable on said display.

6. The image monitoring program according to claim 4, wherein, if said predetermined layout is provided in plural, then said display controller, upon receiving a command for displaying an image captured by a predetermined camera, sets all layouts selectable including said camera identification code related with said predetermined camera.

7. A display control apparatus for a surveillance system including plural cameras comprising:

storing section configured to storing correlation information between an image position in a layout and a camera identification code; and

display control section configured to control a display device to display images captured by cameras based on a first layout and the correlation information;

wherein the first layout is determined among plural layouts, and said display control section controls the display device to display images captured by cameras or unique information of cameras based on the first layout;

wherein said storing section stores the correlation information for plural layouts;

wherein when a layout is changed from the first layout to a second layout, the display control section controls the display device to display the images or the unique information of cameras based on the second layout and the correlation information.

9. The display control apparatus according to the claim 7, wherein the camera is connected to a network and has an IP address.

10. The display control apparatus according to the claim 7, wherein the layout can be customized, and the first layout or the second layout is the customized layout.

8. A display control method for a surveillance system including plural cameras comprising the steps of:

storing correlation information between an image position in a layout and a camera identification code; and

controlling a display device to display images captured by cameras based on a first layout and the correlation information;

wherein the first layout is determined among plural layouts, and the display device is controlled to display images captured by cameras or unique information of cameras based on the first layout;

wherein said storing step stores the correlation information for plural layouts;

wherein when a layout is changed from the first layout to a second layout, controlling the display device to display the images or the unique information of cameras based on the second layout and the correlation information.

11. The display control method according to the claim 8, wherein the camera is connected to a network and has an IP address.

12. The display control method according to the claim 8, wherein the layout can be customized, and the first layout or the second layout is the customized layout.

13. A surveillance system comprising:

plural cameras;

a display configured to display images captured by the cameras; and

a display control apparatus configured to control the display;

wherein the display control apparatus includes

storing section configured to storing correlation information between an image position in a layout and a camera identification code, and

display control section configured to control a display device to display images captured by cameras based on a first layout and the correlation information,

wherein the first layout is determined among plural layouts, and said display control section controls the display device to display images captured by one of cameras and unique information of cameras based on the first layout,

wherein said storing section stores the correlation information for plural layouts,

wherein when a layout is changed from the first layout to a second layout, the display control section controls the display device to display one of the images and the unique information of cameras based on the second layout and the correlation information.

14. The surveillance system according to the claim 13, wherein

the camera is connected to a network and an IP address.

15. The display control apparatus according to the claim 13, wherein

the layout can be customized, and the first layout or the second layout is the customized layout.

18. A display control apparatus for a surveillance system including plural cameras comprising:

a receiving means for receiving data from a camera connected to a network; and

display control means for controlling display such that, in displaying images by said display means, an image is displayed in a window having a predetermined layout;

wherein said display control means presets an allocation database containing a correlation between a position in the predetermined layout of said window and a camera identification code, and when said camera is connected to said network, automatically sets a correlation between said camera identification code in said allocation database and said camera, therein automatically controlling position of an image output by said camera into said window on the basis of said allocation database.

19. The display control apparatus according to the claim 18, wherein

the camera is connected to a network and has an IP address.

20. The display control apparatus according to the claim 18, wherein

the layout can be customized.

21. A method of display control for a surveillance system including plural cameras comprising the steps of:

receiving data from a camera connected to a network; and

controlling display such that, in displaying images, an image is displayed in a window having a predetermined layout;

wherein an allocation database containing a correlation between a position in the predetermined layout of said window and a camera identification code is preset and, when said camera is connected to said network, a correlation between said camera identification code in said allocation database and said camera is automatically set, therein automatically controlling position of an image output by said camera into said window on the basis of said allocation database.