Image processing apparatus, system, method, and medium

• US 9,743,012 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2017
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nakata, Takamichi
• Primary Examiner(s): OSINSKI, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US15/433,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20170163865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 188 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/741 by increasing the dynamic range of the image compared to the dynamic range of the electronic image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/743 Bracketing, i.e. taking a series of images with varying exposure conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/265 Mixing

Abstract

An image processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external apparatus via a network includes, a combining unit configured to combine a plurality of images captured under different exposure conditions, an exposure setting unit configured to acquire an image under a set exposure condition, a reception unit configured to receive a command for specifying an operation of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit from the external apparatus, and a first control unit configured to control a timing of the operation of the exposure setting unit, specified by the command received by the reception unit, based on an operation state of at least one of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus communicating with an external apparatus via a network, the image processing apparatus comprising:

a combining unit configured to combine a plurality of images captured under different exposure conditions;

an exposure setting unit configured to acquire an image under a set exposure condition;

a reception unit configured to receive a command for specifying an operation of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit from the external apparatus;

a transmission unit configured to transmit a composite image obtained by the combining unit to the network;

a delaying unit configured to cause a transmission operation of the transmission unit to be delayed; and

a control unit configured to control a delay amount by the delaying unit based on an operation state of at least one of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit.

2. An image processing system comprising an image processing apparatus communicating with an external apparatus via a network,

the image processing apparatus comprising:

a combining unit configured to combine a plurality of images captured under different exposure conditions;

an exposure setting unit configured to acquire an image under a set exposure condition; and

a control unit configured to control an operation of the exposure setting unit, and

the external apparatus comprising a transmission unit configured to transmit a command for specifying an operation of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit from the external apparatus,

wherein the control unit controls a timing of the operation of the exposure setting unit, specified by the command transmitted by the transmission unit, based on an operation state of at least one of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit.

3. A method for controlling an image processing system including an image processing apparatus communicating with an external apparatus via a network and including a combining unit configured to combine a plurality of images captured under different exposure conditions and an exposure setting unit configured to acquire an image under a set exposure condition, the method comprising:

controlling an operation of the exposure setting unit in the image processing apparatus; and

transmitting a command for specifying an operation of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit from the external apparatus,

wherein a timing of the operation of the exposure setting unit, specified by the transmitted command, is controlled based on an operation state of at least one of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causing a computer to execute a method for controlling an image processing system including an image processing apparatus communicating with an external apparatus via a network and including a combining unit configured to combine a plurality of images captured under different exposure conditions and an exposure setting unit configured to acquire an image under a set exposure condition, the method comprising:

controlling an operation of the exposure setting unit in the image processing apparatus; and

transmitting a command for specifying an operation of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit from the external apparatus,

wherein a timing of the operation of the exposure setting unit, specified by the transmitted command, is controlled based on an operation state of at least one of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit.