Camera system, signal delay amount adjusting method and program

• US 9,032,459 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2011
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Hiroaki, Munakata, Tamotsu, Murayama, Hideaki, Tsubaki, Satoshi, Itakura, Eisaburo
• Primary Examiner(s): LAM, HUNG H
• Application Number:
  US13/321,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20120062755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211.3, 348/211.4, 348/211.5, 348/211.11, 348/211.14, 725/105
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2625 for delaying content or additional data distribution, e.g. because of an extended sport event
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

A system and method for adjusting one or more signal delays. The signal delays are adjusted by obtaining delay amounts of video signals associated with respective camera units and respective camera control units, the camera units being coupled to respective ones of the camera control units via an asynchronous network, and adjusting one or more of the delay amounts.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting one or more signal delays, comprising:

obtaining delay amounts of video signals associated with respective camera units and respective camera control units, the camera units being coupled to respective ones of the camera control units via an asynchronous network;

adjusting one or more of the delay amounts,

wherein one of the delay amounts is selected as a reference delay amount and the other delay amounts are adjusted according to the reference delay amount, and wherein the other delay amounts are adjusted to be the same as the reference delay amount, or to be the same as the reference delay amount plus n frame periods, n being a positive integer that is greater than or equal to one; and

for each other delay amount,

determining whether or not the delay amount is greater than the reference delay amount;

when the delay amount is less than the reference delay amount, adjusting the delay amount to be the same as the reference delay amount; and

when the delay amount is greater than the reference delay amount adjusting the delay amount to be the same as the reference delay amount plus n frame periods, n being a positive integer that is greater than or equal to one.

2. A camera system, comprising:

a plurality of camera units; and

a plurality of camera control units coupled to respective ones of the camera units via an asynchronous network,

the system being operable to obtain delay amounts of video signals associated with respective camera units and respective camera control units, and to adjust one or more of the delay amounts,

wherein one of the delay amounts is selected as a reference delay amount and the other delay amounts are adjusted according to the reference delay amount,

wherein the other delay amounts are adjusted to be the same as the reference delay amount, or to be the same as the reference delay amount plus n frame periods, n being a positive integer that is greater than or equal to one, and

wherein for each other delay amount it is determined whether or not the delay amount is greater than the reference delay amount, and when the delay amount is less than the reference delay amount, the delay amount is adjusted to be the same as the reference delay amount, and when the delay amount is greater than the reference delay amount the delay amount is adjusted to be the same as the reference delay amount plus n frame periods, n being a positive integer that is greater than or equal to one.

3. A camera control unit coupled to a camera unit via an asynchronous network and being operable to obtain a delay amount of a video signal associated with the camera control unit and the camera unit, and to adjust the delay amount according to a reference delay amount,

wherein the delay amount is adjusted to be the same as the reference delay amount, or to be the same as the reference delay amount plus n frame periods, n being a positive integer that is greater than or equal to one, and

wherein a determination is made as to whether or not the delay amount is greater than the reference delay amount, and when the delay amount is less than the reference delay amount, the delay amount is adjusted to be the same as the reference delay amount, and when the delay amount is greater than the reference delay amount the delay amount is adjusted to be the same as the reference delay amount plus n frame periods, n being a positive integer that is greater than or equal to one.