Information control system using camera

• US 6,977,672 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2000
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Okuno, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Villecco, John M.
• Application Number:
  US09/527,760
• Time in Patent Office: 2,104 Days
• Field of Search: 348/153, 348/154, 348/155, 348/158, 348/159, 348/207.99, 348/207.1, 348/207.2, 348/211.99, 348/211.2, 348/211.3, 348/211.6, 348/211.8, 348/211.9, 348/211.11, 348/211.12, 348/211.14, 348/552, 348/160, 348/333.02, 348/239, 715/740, 700/83
• US Class Current: 348/207.11
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19689 Remote control of cameras, e.g. remote orientation or image zooming control for a PTZ camera
• 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 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 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

It is an object to provide an information control system capable of executing a desired action in accordance with the angle position of a camera. This system includes an action storage unit for storing the image sensing range of the camera and the contents of actions corresponding to the image sensing range, a comparing unit for comparing the current image sensing range of the camera with the contents stored in the action storage unit, and an action activating unit for activating an action corresponding to the image sensing range of the camera on the basis of the comparison result obtained by the comparing unit.

Claims

1. An information control apparatus for controlling an image sensing range of a camera by a remote user connected via a communication network, comprising:

a storage device adapted to store a program for operating a predetermined action associated with the image sensing range of the camera;

an acquisition device adapted to acquire information about a current image sensing range of the camera; and

a control device adapted to automatically activate the program stored in said storage device when the current image sensing range of the camera acquired by said acquisition device matches with the image sensing range of the camera associated with the predetermined action,

wherein the predetermined action is configured to enable the user to actively control an object within the current image sensing range of the camera.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises detection means for detecting whether a user has a control right to the camera, and said control means activates the program stored in said storage means when said detection means detects that the user has the control right to the camera.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises detection means for detecting whether the user has a control right to the camera, said storage means stores programs for operating a plurality of different actions, and said control means activates an action upon determining whether the action is an action to be activated while the user has the control right to the camera or an action to be activated even if the user does not have the control right to the camera.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage device stores programs for operating a plurality of different actions, and said control device performs control upon determining termination/continuation of operation of a program under activation in accordance with a type of action under activation when said acquisition device detects a change in the image sensing range of the camera in the presence of the program under activation.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage device stores a program for operating an action for display control of character information corresponding to a predetermined image sensing range of the camera.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage device stores a program for operating an action for setting or operating a printer.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage device stores a program for operating an action for transmitting electronic mail.

8. An information control apparatus having display means for displaying an image sensed by a camera on a display device of a remote user connected via a communication network comprising:

a storage device adapted to store a program for displaying a separate window from the window for the sensed image in said display means, wherein the program is associated with an image sensing range of the camera;

an acquisition device adapted to acquire information about a current image sensing range of the camera; and

a control device adapted to automatically activate the program stored in said storage device when the current image sensing range of the camera acquired by said acquisition device matches with the image sensing range of the camera associated with the program, thereby executing display control of the separate window,

wherein the separate window is configured to enable the user to actively control an object within the current image sensing range of the camera.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said storage device stores programs for operating a plurality of different actions, and said control device performs control upon determining termination/continuation of display of a window in accordance with a type of action under activation when said acquisition device detects a change in the image sensing range of the camera in the presence of a program for which display control is being performed.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said storage device stores a program for operating an action for display control of a window for displacing character information corresponding to a predetermined image sensing range of the camera.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said storage device stores a program for operating an action for display control of a window for setting or operating a printer.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said storage device stores a program for operating an action for display control of a window for transmitting electronic mail.

13. An information control method having a control step of controlling an image sensing range of a camera by a remote user connected via a communication network, comprising:

storing a program for operating a predetermined action associated with the image sensing range of the camera;

acquiring information about a current image sensing range of the camera; and

automatically activating the program stored in the storing when the current image sensing range of the camera acquired in the acquiring matches with the image sensing range of the camera associated with the predetermined action,

wherein the predetermined action is configured to enable the user to actively control an object within the current image sensing range of the camera.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method further comprises the detection step of detecting whether a user has a control right to the camera, and the control step comprises activating the program stored in the storage step when it is detected in the detection step that the user has the control right to the camera.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method further comprises the detection step of detecting whether the user has a control right to the camera, the storage step comprises storing programs for operating a plurality of different actions, and the control step comprises activating an action upon determining whether the action is an action to be activated while the user has the control right to the camera or an action to be activated even if the user does not have the control right to the camera.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the storage further comprises storing programs for operating a plurality of different actions, and the controlling further comprises performing control upon determining termination/continuation of operation of a program under activation in accordance with a type of action under activation when a change in the image sensing range of the camera is detected in the acquiring in the presence of the program under activation.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the storing further comprises storing a program for operating an action for display control of character information corresponding to a predetermined image sensing range of the camera.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the storing further comprises storing a program for operating an action for setting or operating a printer.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the storing further comprises storing a program for operating an action for transmitting electronic mail.

20. An information control method having a display step of displaying an image sensed by a camera on a display device of a remote user connected via a communication network, comprising:

storing a program for displaying a separate window from the window for the sensed image in the display step, wherein the program is associated with an image sensing range of the camera;

acquiring information about a current image sensing range of the camera; and

automatically activating the program stored in the storing when the current image sensing range of the camera acquired in the acquiring matches with the image sensing range of the camera associated with the program, thereby executing display control of the seprate window,

wherein the separate window is configured to enable the user to actively control an object within the current image sensing range of the camera.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the storing further comprises storing programs for operating a plurality of different actions, and the controlling further comprises performing control upon determining termination/continuation of display of a window in accordance with a type of action under activation when a change is the image sensing range of the camera is detected in the acquiring in the presence of a program for which display control is being performed.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the storage further comprises storing a program for operating an action for display control of a window for displaying character information corresponding to a predetermined image sensing range of the camera.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the storage further comprises storing a program for operating an action for display control of a window for setting or operating a printer.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the storage further comprises storing a program for operating an action for display control of a window for transmitting electronic mail.

25. A computer-readable medium used for an information control method having a control step of controlling an image sensing range of a camera by a remote user connected via a communication network, comprising program codes of:

storing a program for operating a predetermined action associated with the image sensing range of the camera;

acquiring information about a current image sensing range of the camera; and

automatically activating the program stored in the storing when the current image sensing range of the camera acquired in the acquiring matches with the image sensing range of the camera associated with the predetermined action,

wherein the predetermined action is configured to enable the user to actively control an object within the current image sensing range of the camera.

26. The medium according to claim 25, wherein the program further comprises a program code of the detection step of detecting whether a user has a control right to the camera, and the control step comprises activating the program stored in the storage step when it is detected in the detection step that the user has the control right to the camera.

27. The medium according to claim 25, wherein the program further comprises a program code of the detection step of detecting whether the user has a control right to the camera, the storage step comprises storing programs for operating a plurality of different actions, and the control step comprises activating an action upon determining whether the action is an action to be activated while the user has the control right to the camera or an action to be activated even if the user does not have the control right to the camera.

28. The medium according to claim 25, wherein the storing further comprises storing programs for operating a plurality of different actions, and the controlling further comprises performing control upon determining termination/continuation of operation of a program under activation in accordance with a type of action under activation when a change in the image sensing range of the camera is detected in the acquiring in the presence of the program under activation.

29. The medium according to claim 25, wherein the storing further comprises storing a program for operating an action for display control of character information corresponding to a predetermined image sensing range of the camera.

30. The medium according to claim 25, wherein the storing further comprises storing a program for operating an action 25 for setting or operating a printer.

31. The medium according to claim 25, wherein the storing further comprises storing a program for operating an action for transmitting electronic mail.

32. A computer-readable medium used for an information control method having a display step of displaying an image sensed by a camera on a display device of a remote user connnected via a communication network, comprising program codes of:

storing a program for displaying a separate window from the window for the sensed image in the display step, wherein the program is associated with an image sensing range of the camera;

acquiring information about a current image sensing range of the camera; and

automatically activating the program stored in the storing when the current image sensing range of the camera acquired in the acquiring matches with the image sensing range of the camera associated with the program, thereby executing display control of the separate window,

wherein the separate window is configured to enable the user to actively control an object within the current image sensing range of the camera.

33. The medium according to claim 32, wherein the storing further comprises storing programs for operating a plurality of different actions, and the controlling further comprises performing control upon determining terminiation/continuation of display of a window in accordance with a type of action under activation when a change in the image sensing range of the camera is detected in the acquiring in the presence of a program for which display control is being performed.

34. The medium according to claim 32, wherein the storing further comprises storing a program for operating an action for display control of a window for displaying character information corresponding to a predetermined image sensing range of the camera.

35. The medium according to claim 32, wherein the storing further comprises storing a program for operating an action for display control of a window for setting or operating a printer.

36. The medium according to claim 32, wherein the storing further comprises storing a program for operating an action for display control of a window for transmitting electronic mail.

37. An information control apparatus having control means for controlling an image sensing range of a camera by a remote user connected via a communication network, comprising:

a storage device adapted to store a program for operating a predetermined action;

an acquisition device adapted to acquire information about a current image sensing range of the camera; and

a control device adapted to activate the program stored in said storage device in accordance with the information acquired by said acquisition device,

wherein said storage device stores programs for operating a plurality of different actions, and said control device performs control upon determining termination/continuation of operation of a program under activation in accordance with a type of action under activation when said acquisition device detects a change in the image sensing range of the camera in the presence of the program under activation, and

wherein the program under activation is configured to enable the user to actively control an object within the image sensing range of the camera.

38. An information control apparatus having display means for displaying an image sensed by a camera on a display device of a remote user connected via a communication network, comprising:

a storage device adapted to store a program for displaying a window from the window for the sensed image in said display means, wherein the program is associated with an image sensing range of the camera;

an acquisition device adapted to acquire information about a current image sensing range of the camera; and

a control device adapted to automatically activate the program stored in said storage device when the current image sensing range of the camera acquired by said acquisition device matches with the image sensing range of the camera associated with the program, thereby executing display control of the separate window,

wherein said storage device stores programs for operating a plurality of different actions, and said control device performs control upon determining termination/continuation of display of a window in accordance with a type of action under activation when said acquisition device detects a change in the image sensing range of the camera in the presence of a program for which display control is being performed, and

wherein the program for which display control is being performed is configured to enable the user to actively control an object within the image sensing range of the camera.

39. An information control method having a control step of controlling an image sensing range of a camera by a remote user connected via a communication network, comprising:

storing a program for operating a predetermined action associated with the image sensing range of the camera;

acquiring information about a current image sensing range of the camera; and

automatically activating the program stored in the storing when the current image sensing range of the camera acquired in the acquiring matches with the image sensing range of the camera associated with the predetermined action,

wherein the storing further comprises storing programs for operating a plurality of different actions, and the controlling further comprises performing control upon determining termination/continuation of operation of a program under activation in accordance with a type of action under activation when a change in the image sensing range the camera is detected in the acquiring in the presence of the program under activation,

wherein the program under activation is configured to enable the user to actively control an object within the image sensing range on the camera.

40. An information control method having a display step of displaying an image sensed by a camera on a display device of a remote user connected via a communication network, comprising:

storing a program for displaying a separate window from the window for the sensed image in the display step, wherein the program is associated with an image sensing range of the camera;

acquiring information about a current image sensing range of the camera; and

automatically activating the program stored in the storing when the current image sensing range of the camera acquired in the acquiring matches with the image sensing range of the camera associated with the program, thereby executing display control of the seprate window,

wherein the storing further comprises storing programs for operating a plurality of different actions, and the controlling further comprises performing control upon determining termination/continuation of display of a window in accordance with a type of action under activation when a change in the image sensing range of the camera is detected in the acquiring in the presence of a program for which display control is being performed, and

wherein the program for which display control is being performed is configured to enable the user to actively control an object within the image sensing range of the camera.

41. A computer-readable medium used for an information control method having a control step of controlling an image sensing range of a camera by remote user connected via a communication network, comprising program codes of:

storing a program for operating a predetermined action associated with the image sensing range of the camera;

acquiring information about a current image sensing range of the camera; and

automatically activating the program stored in the storing when the current image sensing range of the camera acquired in the acquiring matches with the image sensing range of the camera associated with the predetermined action,

wherein the storing further comprises storing programs for operating a plurality of different actions, and the controlling further comprises performing control upon determining termination/continuation of operation of a program under activation in accordance with a type of action under activation when a change in the image sensing range of the camera is detected in the acquiring in the presence of the program under activation,

wherein the program under activation is configured to enable the user to actively control an object within the image sensing range of the camera.

42. A computer-readable medium used for an information control method having a display step of displaying an image sensed by a camera on a display device of a remote user connected via a communication network, comprising program codes of:

storing a program for displaying a separate window from the window for the sensed image in the display step, wherein the program is associated with an image sensing range of the camera;

acquiring information about a current image sensing range of the camera; and

automatically activating the program stored in the storing when the current image sensing range of the camera acquired in the acquiring matches with the image sensing range of the camera associated with the program, thereby executing display control of the separate window,

wherein the storing further comprises storing programs for operating a plurality of different actions, and the controlling further comprises performing control upon determining termination/continuation of display of a window in accordance with a type of action under activation when a change in the image sensing range of the camera is detected in the acquiring in the presence of a program for which display control is being performed,

wherein the program for which display control is being performed is configured to enable the user to actively control an object within the image sensing range of the camera.