Device for sending image data from camera to CCTV network

• US 9,143,672 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Axis AB (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Axis AB (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Creamer, Rob, Knapp, Walter, Koch, Mark, Araki, Yoshiyuki, Helton, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): VILLECCO, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US13/616,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20130002883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211.3, 348/207.1, 348/32, 348/33, 348/34, 348/154, 348/155, 348/158, 348/211.99, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 348/211.6, 348/211.8, 348/211.12, 348/231.2, 348/231.6, 725/105
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00214 details of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00217 only involving computer data transmission protocols, e.g. SMTP, WAP or HTTP communication protocol aspects and techniques in packet data networks H04L69/00; network-specific arrangements or communication protocols supporting networked applications H04L67/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00244 with a server, e.g. an internet server fax-servers or the like for store and forward H04N1/324
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00838 Preventing unauthorised reproduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00854 Recognising an unauthorised user or user-associated action
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/164 Feedback from the receiver or from the transmission channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/172 the region being a picture, frame or field
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• 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

Abstract

An integrated Internet camera includes, an infrared sensor, an optical system for forming an image on the infrared sensor and lenses formed from infrared transmitting material, an image capturing circuit, for capturing digital images from the infrared sensor; a network interface device connectible to a computer network for transmission of the digital images, as digital image files, across the computer network. A file transfer device of the camera communicates, via the network interface device, with a destination computer at a selected network address on the computer network, and transfers the digital image files to the destination computer according to a predetermined file transfer protocol. A transport control device of the camera controls addressing of the digital image files to the selected network address. The camera self-initiates a connection with the computer network and a connection with the destination computer at the selected network address.

Claims

1. A network-capable self-controlled camera, comprising:

an infrared sensor;

an optical system for forming an image on the infrared sensor and including lenses formed from infrared transmitting material;

an image capturing circuit, for capturing digital images from the infrared sensor;

a compression engine for changing a compression ratio of the digital images depending on an upload data transmission rate;

a network interface device connectible to a computer network for transmission of the digital images, as digital image files, across the computer network;

a file transfer device for communicating, via the network interface device, with a destination computer at a selected network address on the computer network, and for transferring the digital image files to the destination computer according to a predetermined file transfer protocol;

a transport control device for packetizing data of the digital image files to the selected network address using a combination of a transport control protocol with error correction and a transport control protocol that does not retransmit erroneous data, thereby increasing a rate of image transfer by the file transfer device, wherein single image data files use the transport control protocol with error correction and streaming of image data files use the transport control protocol that does not retransmit erroneous data; and

a self-initiating transmission initiating device for self-initiating a connection with the computer network and for self-initiating a connection with the destination computer at the selected network address via the transport control device and the network interface device.

2. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 1, wherein the self-initiating transfer initiating device further self-initiates transfer of the digital image files to the destination computer after the self-initiating transmission initiating device self-initiates the connection with the destination computer, such that the self-controlled camera connects and transfers the digital image files to the destination computer without receiving commands from an external device.

3. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 2, further comprising an image processing circuit including color translation routines to differentiate infrared frequency gradients into hotter and cooler color areas.

4. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 1, wherein the transport control protocol that does not retransmit erroneous data is UDP/IP.

5. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 1, further comprising a microcontroller arranged to direct the camera in a direction specified in a pan-parameter.

6. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 5, wherein the pan-parameter is set remotely.

7. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 6, wherein the pan parameter is retrieved by the camera in connection with the camera uploading an image to the destination computer.

8. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 5, further comprising a microcontroller arranged to direct the camera in a direction specified in a tilt-parameter.

9. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 8, wherein the tilt-parameter is set remotely.

10. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 9, wherein the tilt-parameter is retrieved by the camera in connection with the camera uploading an image to the destination computer.

11. A network-capable self-controlled camera, comprising:

an infrared sensor;

an optical system for forming an image on the infrared sensor and including lenses formed from infrared transmitting material;

an image capturing circuit, for capturing digital images from the infrared sensor;

an image compression circuit for changing a compression ratio of the digital images depending on an upload data transmission rate;

a network interface device connectible to a computer network for transmission of the digital images, as digital image files, across the computer network;

a file transfer device for communicating, via the network interface device, with a destination computer at a selected network address on the computer network, and for transferring the digital image files to the destination computer according to a predetermined file transfer protocol;

a transport control device for packetizing data of the digital image files to the selected network address using a transport control protocol with error correction and a transport control protocol that does not retransmit erroneous data, thereby increasing a rate of image transfer by the file transfer device, wherein single image data files use the transport control protocol with error correction and streaming of image data files use the transport control protocol that does not retransmit erroneous data; and

a self-initiating transmission initiating device for self-initiating a connection with the computer network and for self-initiating a connection with the destination computer at the selected network address via the transport control device and the network interface device.

12. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 11, wherein the self-initiating transfer initiating device further self-initiates transfer of the digital image files to the destination computer after the self-initiating transmission initiating device self-initiates the connection with the destination computer, such that the self-controlled camera connects and transfers the digital image files to the destination computer without receiving commands from an external device.

13. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 12, further comprising an image processing circuit including color translation routines to differentiate infrared frequency gradients into hotter and cooler color areas.

14. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 11, wherein the transport control protocol that does not retransmit erroneous data is UDP/IP.

15. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 11, further comprising a microcontroller arranged to direct the camera in a direction specified in a pan-parameter.

16. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 15, wherein the pan-parameter is set remotely.

17. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 16, wherein the pan parameter is retrieved by the camera in connection with the camera uploading an image to the destination computer.

18. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 15, further comprising a microcontroller arranged to direct the camera in a direction specified in a tilt-parameter.

19. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 18, wherein the tilt-parameter is set remotely.

20. The network-capable self-controlled camera according to claim 19, wherein the tilt-parameter is retrieved by the camera in connection with the camera uploading an image to the destination computer.