Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium

• US 6,973,200 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2000
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Tanaka, Koichiro, Yonezawa, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, KANJIBHAI B
• Application Number:
  US09/626,815
• Time in Patent Office: 1,958 Days
• Field of Search: 382/103, 382/113, 382/276, 382/189, 382/291, 382/312, 345/756, 345/805, 348/159, 348/169, 348/211.3, 348/211.9, 348/240.99, 348/333.01, 348/333.02, 348/208.14
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the 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 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Information such as a camera layout for representation on a map could not be entered while an image of a camera is confirmed on a display. In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides generating means for generating a map having a symbol indicating an installed position of a camera, receiving means for receiving image data corresponding to an image photographed by the camera associated, when information regarding the camera including the position of camera is associated with the map, and output means for outputting the received image data onto the display.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a generating device that generates a map having a symbol indicating an installed position of a camera;

a control device that controls a first mode that image of the camera corresponding to the symbol is monitored, and a second mode that the information regarding the camera, including the position of camera, is associated with the map;

a receiving device that receives the image data corresponding to an image picked up by the camera in the first mode and the second mode; and

an output device that outputs the received image data onto a first area of a display in the first mode, and outputs the received image data onto a second area of the display in the second mode.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said information regarding the camera includes the information of the direction of camera.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position of the symbol corresponding to the camera on the map is determined in accordance with said information regarding the camera.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the direction of the symbol corresponding to the camera on the map is determined in accordance with the information regarding the camera.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control device that controls a camera corresponding to the symbol in response to an operation on the symbol.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data input for association is performed by a manual instruction of the operator.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a display device that displays the image data, the data input being performed on the display device.

8. An image processing method, comprising the steps of:

generating a map having a symbol indicating an installed position of a camera;

controlling a first mode that image of the camera corresponding to the symbol is monitored, and a second mode that the information regarding the camera, including the position of the camera, is associated with the map;

receiving image data corresponding to an image picked up by the camera in the first mode and the second mode; and

outputting the received image data onto a first area of a display in the first mode, and outputting the received image data onto a second area of the display in the second mode.

9. A storage medium readable by a computer, wherein the storage medium stores:

a code for generating a map having a symbol indicating an installed position of a camera;

a code for controlling a first mode that image of the camera corresponding to the symbol is monitored, and second mode that the information regarding the camera, including the position of the camera, is associated with the map;

a code for receiving the image data corresponding to an image picked up by the camera in the first mode and the second mode; and

a code for outputting the received image data onto a first area of a display in the first mode, and outputs the received image data onto a second area of the display in the second mode.

10. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

an input device that inputs connection information in accordance with a user'"'"'s input;

a receiving device that receives normal image data in accordance with a symbol of a camera on a display and tentative image data from the camera in accordance with the connection information; and

an output device that outputs the connection information onto a display, wherein said output device outputs the received image data onto a first area of the display when the camera is connected by user'"'"'s selecting the symbol of the camera and outputs the received tentative image data on a second area of the display when the camera is connected not by the user'"'"'s selecting the symbol of the camera but connected by user'"'"'s inputting the connection information.

11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the connection information of the camera includes an Internet protocol address of the camera.

12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said receiving device performs the tentative reception automatically after the input device accepts the input.

13. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the output to the display is not ended without confirming instruction of an operator.

14. The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein at least one instruction of the pan, tile and zoom conditions is automatically output to a camera in accordance with the connection information, in performing the automatic reception, to receive an image of the camera in stated conditions.

15. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the pan, tile and zoom of the camera is changeable in accordance with an instruction on the display, in performing the tentative reception of the image data, the image data received tentatively being variable.

16. An image processing method, comprising the steps of:

inputting connection information in accordance with a user'"'"'s input;

receiving normal image data in accordance with a symbol of a camera on a display and tentative image data from the camera in accordance with the connection information; and

outputting the connection information onto a display, wherein said output step includes a step of outputting the received image data onto a first area of the display when the camera is connected by user'"'"'s selecting the symbol of the camera, and outputting the received tentative image data on a second area of the display when the camera is connected not by user'"'"'s selecting the symbol of the camera but by user'"'"'s inputting the connection information.

17. A computer readable storage medium that stores:

a code for inputting connection information in accordance with a user'"'"'s input;

a code for receiving normal image data in accordance with a symbol of the a camera on a display and tentative image data from the camera in accordance with the connection information; and

a code for outputting the connection information onto a display, wherein said code for outputting includes a code for outputting the received image data onto a first area of the display when the camera is connected by user'"'"'s selecting the symbol of the camera, and outputting the received tentative image data on a second area of the display when the camera is connected not by user'"'"'s selecting the symbol of the camera but connected by user'"'"'s inputting the connection information.

18. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a generating device that generates a map having a symbol indicating an installed position of a camera;

a receiving device that receives the image data corresponding to an image picked up by the camera; and

an output device that outputs the received image data onto a first area of a display when the camera is connected by user'"'"'s selecting the symbol of the camera, and outputs the received image data on a second area of the display when the camera is connected not by user'"'"'s selecting the symbol of the camera but connected by user'"'"'s inputting the connection information.

19. The image processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the other area is one dialog panel.

20. The image processing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the user'"'"'s setting operation is an operation to add a new symbol to the map.

21. The image processing apparatus according to claim 18, further comprises designating devise that designates start and stop of outputting the received image data onto the other area.

22. An image processing method, comprising the steps of:

generating a map having a symbol indicating an installed position of a camera;

receiving the image data corresponding to an image picked up by the camera; and

outputting the received image data onto a first area of a display and area of the when the camera is connected by user'"'"'s selecting the symbol of the camera, and outputting the received image data on a second area of the display when the camera is connected not by user'"'"'s selecting the symbol of the camera but connected by user'"'"'s inputting the connection information.

23. A storage medium readable by a computer, wherein the storage medium stores:

a code for generating a map having a symbol indicating an installed position of a camera;

a code for receiving the image data corresponding to an image picked up by the camera; and

a code for outputting the received image data onto a first area of a display when the camera is connected by user'"'"'s selecting the symbol of the camera, and outputting the received image data on a second area of the display when the camera is connected not by user'"'"'s selecting the symbol of the camera but connected by user'"'"'s inputting the connection information.