Abstract: A surveillance camera apparatus includes a first storage unit for storing a size of pixels configuring a image-sensor, a computation unit for performing a computation using first information, second information, third information, and fourth information to calculate angle information on a plurality of vertex-points, the information stored in the first storage unit being defined as the first information, a focal length of an optical lens being defined as the second information, angle information on an optical axis that passes through a rotation center of the surveillance camera apparatus as the third information, and pixel information corresponding to a plurality of vertex-points that form a region to be masked whose image has been picked up by the image-sensor being defined as the fourth information, and a second storage unit for storing the computation result by the computation unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the capture of an image of an object, includes: a lens capable to capture a scene within a wide field of vision of the lens; an image collection array communicatively coupled to the lens and capable to store data of the scene within the wide field of vision; a memory communicatively coupled to the image collection array and capable to store digitized data of the scene within the wide field of vision; and a processing stage communicatively coupled to the memory and capable to select a plurality of subsets of the digitized data of the scene in order to generate an image of the captured scene.

Abstract: Method and system for enabling an image capture system to respond to at least one command transmitted by a foreign remote control that is associated with a first device. The image capture system is first trained to respond to at least one command that is received from the foreign remote control. A user can then use the foreign remote control to access at least one function of the trained image capture system. For example, the foreign remote control can be used to access a first predefined function of the image capture system by transmitting a first instruction to the image capture system. The image capture system, responsive to the first instruction, performs the first predefined function.

Abstract: A video display control method comprises generating camera operation information concerning an operation of a camera operated by remote control, transmitting data of video captured by the camera and the camera operation information to a control apparatus via a network; and processing the data of the video based on the camera operation information to display an image of the video at the control apparatus.

Abstract: In order to allow the user to access an arbitrary camera from an arbitrary camera client via a network, and to cause a plurality of cameras to perform a linked movement, a camera linkage server includes a communication path to each camera client, a client control module for controlling a camera used by the camera client, a communication path to each camera server, a camera server control module for controlling the camera used by the camera server, a camera server for controlling each of a plurality of cameras, a camera control module for controlling a camera client having an operation right for the camera and a state of the camera, and a linkage control module, having linked-movement defining information for defining a linked movement between each camera and other cameras, for recognizing a request for connection from an arbitrary camera client to an arbitrary camera via a corresponding client control module, and providing the other camera to perform a linked movement in accordance with the request for the co

Abstract: A zoom rate demand is provided with characteristic switches for switching its output characteristics. Each of the characteristic switches is assigned to a corresponding output characteristic, and contents of the characteristic to be assigned to the characteristic switches can be changed by an operator by means of a personal computer.

Abstract: A video processing system tracks a moving person or other object of interest using a combined audio-video tracking system. The audio-video tracking system comprises an audio locator, a video locator, and a set of rules for determining the manner in which settings of a camera are adjusted based on outputs of the audio locator and video locator. The set of rules may be configured such that only the audio locator output is used to adjust the camera settings if the audio locator and video locator outputs are not sufficiently close and a confidence indicator generated by the audio locator is above a specified threshold. For example, in such a situation, the audio locator output alone may be used to direct the camera to a new speaker in a video conference. If the audio locator and video locator outputs are sufficiently close, the system determines if a confidence indicator generated by the video locator is above a specified level, and if so, the video locator output may be used to adjust the camera settings.

Abstract: A tracking camera system which permits tracking an object with a plurality of cameras by changing the use of them from one camera over to another and is arranged to be capable of adequately capturing the object of tracking, without missing the object, even after one camera is changed over to another. The tracking object is decided within a display image plane. The attitude of camera in use for tracking is controlled in such a way as to have the tracking object always placed at the center of the display image plane. The tracking camera in use is changed over to another camera when the tracking object on display comes outside of the center part of the image plane, so that the object can be continuously tracked.

Abstract: A preset operation is effected to a video camera which takes an image around it, generates a video signal from the image, processing and outputting the video signal. The video camera includes electrical control unit for controlling the video camera to process the video signal in accordance with preset video signal control data in the preset setting operation in addition to the preset operation by a mechanical control unit of the video camera in accordance with preset position data. A non-volatile memory stores the preset data including the position data and video signal control data in response to a preset data storing command. Time data includes the preset time data and month data or four-seasons data to distinguish between nighttime and daytime. The preset video signal control data immediately provides a clear video image on the monitor display irrespective of nighttime and daytime.

Abstract: A system for managing files stored on a digital camera includes detection of the digital camera, automatic reception of thumbnail image files stored in the camera, and storage of the received thumbnail image files in a memory.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a camera captures an image. The image is transmitted to a server for image recognition processing. The camera receives information from the server, including an indication of information to suggest to a user for meta-tagging the image. The suggested information may be based, for example, on a comparison of the image with meta-information stored by the server and/or a database of stored images. The camera asks the user if the user would like to meta-tag the image with the information. Optionally, the camera receives an indication from the user that the user would like to meta-tag the image with the suggested information, and the camera meta-tags the image with the information.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for creating interactive virtual tours. In one embodiment, panoramic imaging systems characterized by a 360-degree lateral field of view and a vertical field of view that is usually less than 180 degrees are utilized and polynomial-based interpolation algorithms are used to correct distortions in the input panoramic images, video or rendered scenes, permitting the use of an arbitrary panoramic imaging system characterized by the ability to generate a seamless 360-degree panoramic view of the imaged scene in each single image frame.

Abstract: An automatic voice tracking camera system (12) is provided. System (12) includes a camera (18) operable to receive control signals for controlling a view of the camera (18). A microphone array (14) comprises a plurality of microphones. The microphone array (14) is operable to receive a voice of a speaker and to provide an audio signal representing the voice. A beamformer (30) coupled to the microphone array (14). The beamformer (30) is operable to receive the audio signal, to generate from the audio signal speaker position data representing a position of the speaker, and to provide the speaker position data. A camera controller (36) is coupled to the beamformer (30) and to the camera (18).

Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus, which attains focus adjustment by extracting, as a focal point voltage, a predetermined frequency component of a video signal obtained from an image sensor upon sensing an image of an object, and moving a focus adjustment member in an optical axis direction using a moving unit to maximize the focal point voltage, has a detector that detects a half-stroke state of a shutter button, and a full-stroke state which is set via the half-stroke state, and a controller that executes focus adjustment control for the half-stroke state upon detection of the half-stroke state, and selectively enables or disables the focus adjustment control for the half-stroke state in accordance with a time elapsed from detection of the half-stroke state until detection of the full-stroke state, upon detection of the full-stroke state.

Abstract: This patent describes a multi effect system to provide enhanced image effects. The effects are provided by interconnecting a series of camera manipulation units, each of the camera manipulation units applying an image manipulation to an inputted image so as to produce a manipulated output image. The manipulation instructions can be provided by inputting instructions to each manipulation unit by means of detachable cards. The interconnections can include branches and loops wherein required.

Abstract: A camera control system for displaying a video image inputted from a plurality of cameras, wherein in order to easily control each camera, a map showing positions of cameras is prepared. Along with the map, icons indicating the positions of cameras are displayed on the map so that the directions of the cameras can be identified on the map. An operator is able to select a camera referring to the map and see the video image of the selected camera. When each of the cameras is to be operated, an operator uses a pointing device to operate an icon for a camera on the map. In this camera control system, a camera corresponding to each icon can be controlled for zooming, panning, tilting and focusing by operating the icon for each camera. An operator may delete, add or move the icon for a camera according to an actual structure of the camera system.

Abstract: A camera system includes cameras (201, 202, 203) and a camera controller (100) which controls them. The camera (202) is a nonstandard camera having a large number of pixels, whereas the cameras (201, 203) are standard cameras having a small number of pixels. The camera controller (100) supplies a common sync signal to the cameras (201, 202, 203) and causes them to execute image sensing.

Abstract: An image-taking lens system includes an image-taking lens, a lens driving control part for driving and controlling the image-taking lens, a reading part for reading information from a storage medium in which a plurality of pieces of lens control information according to conditions of shooting are stored, and a setting part for setting control parameters of the lens driving control part on the basis of the information read by the reading part. The arrangement enables the operator of the system to quickly change control characteristics for zooming and focusing as desired according to shooting conditions.

Abstract: An information processing method and apparatus of this invention are a method and apparatus for multiplexing data indicating information other than video information on a video signal and transmitting the multiplexed data. Modulated data is formed by inputting the data and modulating the input data. The video signal and the modulated data are input, and the modulated data is multiplexed on the input video signal. When the multiplexed data is output, the modulation mode or the multiplexing interval of the modulated data is controlled in correspondence with the type of input data, thus realizing a function of multiplexing data on a video signal and transmitting the multiplexed data in correspondence with the data type with a simple, small-scale circuit arrangement.

Abstract: A video surveillance system is described for providing on-site monitoring with off-site access to video images received during the on-site monitoring. The video surveillance system comprises a video camera operatively connected to a service hub. The service hub comprises a video server for converting the video images received by the video camera into wirelessly transmittable digital data and a means for transmitting the digital data across a wireless network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a system having a plurality of video cameras. The cameras are linked to a control unit which has a motion detection apparatus for monitoring the images received from the cameras and detecting motion therein. The cameras are adapted to operate in at least two modes: a low resolution mode and a high resolution mode. Under normal circumstances, cameras will be operating in low resolution mode to minimise use of system resources. If activity is detected within the field of view of one of the cameras, that camera is switched to high resolution, the other cameras remaining in the low resolution mode.

Abstract: An electronic pickup camera which can simply perform the transmission of picked-up image data to an external storage device is disclosed. In an electronic pickup camera including a pickup unit having an electronic pickup element that picks up an object image and an image converter that converts the picked-up image signal to image data of a predetermined format, a storage unit that stores the image data converted by the image converter and a wireless transmission unit that enables wireless transmission of the image data to an external storage device, a control unit that controls at least the pickup unit, the storage unit and the wireless transmission unit such that when the pickup unit is in a non-pickup state, the control unit is adapted to control the camera so that the image data stored in the storage unit are read and transmitted wirelessly by the wireless transmission unit to an external storage device for storing the image data.

Abstract: A stereo camera system including: a stereo imaging system such as two or more cameras or a camera and a set of angled mirrors, for outputting at least one stereo image; a recognition system for locating an object of interest in the field of view of the stereo imaging system and at least one of a distance of the object of interest from the stereo imaging system and the size of the object of interest; and an adjustor for automatically changing at least one system parameter which affects the spatial resolution of the object of interest based on at least one of the located distance of the object of interest from the stereo imaging system and the size of the object of interest.

Abstract: In a video monitoring method, each of a series of frame outputs generated by a video camera is defined with a number of image regions. Each of the image regions contains a predetermined segment of a predetermined set of horizontal scan lines of the corresponding frame output. A reference brightness value is obtained for each of the image regions of a reference one of the frame outputs. A current brightness value is then obtained for each of the image regions of a current one of the frame outputs. Each of the current brightness values is compared with a respective one of the reference brightness values to detect movement of an object into one of the image regions of the current one of the frame outputs.

Abstract: A warp corrector 201, which corrects warp in which the perspective is exaggerated when an image is captured with the user's face at close range, is included in a cellular phone 1 having an imaging portion 2. The warp corrector 201 performs processing to enlarge the peripheral areas of the image relative to the center, and generates corrected image data 232. As a result, a natural image of the user's face can be displayed on the display 11 of the cellular phone or sent.