Remote-controlled camera-picture broadcast system

• US 6,556,241 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1998
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Ohno, Hideo, Yoshimura, Naoto, Okano, Hisashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rosendale, Matthew L
• Application Number:
  US09/124,909
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14.08, 348/14.05, 348/211, 348/212, 348/213, 348/552, 348/143, 348/15
• US Class Current: 348/211.99
• 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

Abstract

A remote-controlled camera-picture broadcast system is provided, which decreases the cost of hardware and network for the use of a lot of unspecified users. This system is comprised of a camera apparatus, a camera controller, a camera server connected to the camera controller through a first network, and clients connected to the camera server through a second network. Each of the clients transmits an operation demand for the camera apparatus to the camera server through the second network according to an input of a user. The camera server receives the operation demand from the client into which the input of the user is applied, and transmits an operation command corresponding to the operation demand to the camera controller through the first network. The camera controller controls the camera apparatus according to the operation command from the camera server so that the camera apparatus acquires a picture and produces a video signal of the picture. The camera controller receives the video signal of the picture produced by the camera apparatus, converts the video signal to a picture data, and transmits the picture data to the camera server through the first network. The camera server transmits the picture data through the second network to the client from which the operation demand has been transmitted, thereby displaying the picture of the picture data on a screen.

Claims

1. A remote-controlled camera-picture broadcast system comprising:

a camera apparatus for acquiring a picture and producing a video signal of said picture;

a camera controller for controlling said camera apparatus;

a camera server connected to said camera controller through a first network, said first network being capable of inter-terminal communication or inter-terminal data transmission;

clients connected to said camera server through a second network;

wherein a said client may transmit an operation demand for said camera apparatus to said camera server through said second network according to an input of a user;

said camera server receiving said operation demand transmitted from said client corresponding to the input of the user and transmitting an operation command corresponding to said operation demand, received from said client to said camera controller through said first network;

said camera controller controlling said camera apparatus according to said operation command transmitted from said camera server so that said camera apparatus acquires a picture and produces a video signal of said picture;

said camera controller receiving said video signal corresponding to said picture produced by said camera apparatus, converting said video signal to a picture data, and transmitting said picture data to said camera server through said first network; and

said camera server transmitting, through said second network, said picture data to said client from which said operation demand has been transmitted, thereby displaying said picture corresponding to said picture data on a screen.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second networks is a computer network.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first network is a computer network and said second network is the Internet.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first network comprises a cable.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, further including

a further camera apparatus controlled by said camera controller.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said camera controller and said camera server are located at different locations.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first network comprises a cable.