Camera control apparatus and camera control method

• US 9,538,121 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2013
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Saijo, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sath V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Young, Patricia I
• Application Number:
  US13/772,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20130162832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 348/159, 348/213, 375/240
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• 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 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• 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 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/00 Details of television systems scanning details or combination thereof with generation of supply voltages H04N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A camera control apparatus includes: an input section to which a plurality of cameras controlled by the apparatus are connected, each of the cameras including a first preset information storage section capable of storing up to n preset information on the state of the camera setting; a second preset information storage section capable of storing (n+1)-th to m-th preset information (n<m) in each camera; an operation input unit to which an operation of selecting a specific one of the cameras and an operation of instructing registration or read out of the preset information on the selected camera are inputted; and a control section registering the preset information when the operation of instructing registration of the preset information is inputted, whereas reading and incorporating the preset information into the state of the selected camera when the operation of instructing readout of the registered preset information is inputted.

Claims

1. A camera control apparatus comprising:

a network interface configured to be connected to a camera;

a selection section configured to select preset ID information;

a control section configured to control the camera based on preset information corresponding to the selected preset ID information, the camera including a first preset information storage section capable of storing first preset information along with the preset ID information; and

a second preset information storage section capable of storing second preset information and model information of the camera along with preset ID information, the second preset information storage section being in the camera control apparatus that is different from the camera including the first preset information storage section;

wherein the control section sends a command to the camera and causes the camera to use the first preset information stored in the camera, when the selected preset ID information corresponds to the first preset information is stored in the camera;

wherein the control section sends the second preset information to the camera and causes the camera to use the second preset information, when the selected preset ID information corresponds to the second preset information is stored in the second preset information storage section, and

wherein the preset information used to control the camera is selected from the first preset information stored in the camera and the second preset information stored in the second preset information storage section.

2. The camera control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the preset information used to control the camera includes at least one of pan information, tilt information, zoom information, and iris information.

3. The camera control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the control section checks if the model information of the camera stored with the second preset information coincides with the model information of cameras connected to the camera control apparatus before the second preset information to be transmitted to the camera is read from the second preset information storage section.

4. The camera control apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the second preset information is not transmitted to the camera when the model information stored with the second preset information does not coincide with the model information of the camera connected to the camera control apparatus.

5. A camera system comprising:

a camera;

a camera control apparatus;

wherein the camera control apparatus comprises;

a network interface configured to be connected to a camera;

a selection section configured to select preset ID information;

a control section configured to control the camera based on preset information corresponding to the selected preset ID information, the camera including a first preset information storage section capable of storing first preset information along with the preset ID information; and

a second preset information storage section capable of storing second preset information and model information of the camera along with preset ID information, the second preset information storage section being in the camera control apparatus that is different from the camera including the first preset information storage section;

wherein the control section sends a command to the camera and causes the camera to use the first preset information stored in the camera, when the selected preset ID information corresponds to the first preset information is stored in the camera;

wherein the control section sends the second preset information to the camera and causes the camera to use the second preset information, when the selected preset ID information corresponds to the second preset information is stored in the second preset information storage section, and

wherein the preset information used to control the camera is selected from the first preset information stored in the camera and the second preset information stored in the second preset information storage section.

6. A camera control method, executed by a processor, comprising the steps of:

connecting a network interface to a camera;

selecting preset ID information;

controlling the camera based on preset information corresponding to the selected preset ID information,

storing first preset information along with the preset ID information utilizing a first preset information storage section in the camera; and

storing, in a second preset information storage section in a camera control apparatus that is different from the camera including the first preset information storage section, second preset information and model information of the camera along with the preset ID information;

wherein the control step sends a command to the camera and causes the camera to use the first preset information stored in the camera, when the selected preset ID information corresponds to the first preset information stored in the camera;

wherein the control step sends the second preset information to the camera and causes the camera to use the second preset information, when the selected preset ID information corresponds to the second preset information is stored in the second preset information storage section, and

wherein the preset information used to control the camera is selected from the first preset information stored in the camera and the second preset information stored in the second preset information storage section.

7. The camera control method according to claim 6,

wherein the preset information used to control the camera includes at least one of pan information, tilt information, zoom information, and iris information.

8. The camera control method according to claim 6,

wherein the control step checks if the model information of the camera stored with the second preset information coincides with the model information of cameras connected to the camera control apparatus before the second preset information to be transmitted to the camera is read from the second preset information storage section.

9. The camera control method according to claim 8,

wherein the second preset information is not transmitted to the camera when the model information stored with the second preset information does not coincide with the model information of the camera connected to the camera control apparatus.

10. A camera control apparatus comprising:

a network connecting means for connecting to a camera;

a selection means for selecting preset ID information;

a control means for controlling the camera based on preset information corresponding to the selected preset ID information, the camera including a first preset information storage means for storing first preset information along with the preset ID information; and

a second preset information storage means for storing second preset information and model information of the camera along with the preset ID information, the second preset information storage means being in the camera control apparatus that is different from the camera including the first preset information storage means;

wherein the control means sends a command to the camera and causes the camera to use the first preset information stored in the camera, when the selected preset ID information indicates corresponds to the first preset information is stored in the camera;

wherein the control means sends the second preset information to the camera and causes the camera to use the second preset information, when the selected preset ID information corresponds to the second preset information is stored in the second preset information storage means, and

wherein the preset information used to control the camera is selected from the first preset information stored in the camera and the second preset information stored in the second preset information storage section.