Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling an image pickup apparatus in an image delivery system delivering an image acquired from the image pickup apparatus to at least one of multiple external devices, the image pickup apparatus being remotely controllable by the multiple external devices. In the method, the image pickup apparatus is controlled at a preset time based on preset control data, and remote control of the image pickup apparatus by predetermined external devices is inhibited during the control.

Abstract: This invention provides an image processing method, image processing apparatus, storage medium, and program, which can remove the boundary between real and virtual worlds. To this end, an apparatus has a image input device (101), the image input parameters of which are controllable, a position/posture sensor (102) for acquiring the image input parameters, a CG data management unit (108) for managing CG (computer graphics) data, a CG geometric information calculation unit (110) for calculating CG geometric information upon virtually laying out the CG data in the real world, a CG image generator (109) for generating a CG image from the viewpoint of the image input device (101), a image composition device (113) for compositing a real image and CG image, and a data processing device (107) for changing the image input parameters using the image input parameters and the CG geometric information.

Abstract: A camera control system for selecting one camera from among a plurality of controllable cameras connected in a network and for making it possible to display video from the camera and to control the camera is adapted to display a map. One or more camera symbols representing cameras are displayed on the map and the user designates a desired camera symbol to control the camera corresponding to the symbol designated. It is also possible for the user to change the display magnification of the map displayed.

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 stereoscopic-image display apparatus displays a stereoscopic image by inputting a character string of a portion common to two image-file names corresponding to an arbitrary pair of stereoscopic images when selecting the pair of stereoscopic images from a plurality of image files, each corresponding to a pair of images for the left eye and the right eye, adding an identifier for a left eye or a right eye to the input character string, reading two image files having the identifier as a pair of stereoscopic images for the left eye and the right eye, and displaying the pair of stereoscopic images.

Abstract: A display authorization area corresponding a user is selected from maps stored in a device, only the selected zone is displayed, and a camera which is not authorized for the user to perform information communication is inhibited from being displayed. With this arrangement, a camera control system having so excellent security that any user cannot see a place irrelevant to the user and cannot recognize the position of an installed camera is constructed.

Abstract: A conversion apparatus is connected to a camera server delivering image information obtained by image sensing to a display operation terminal. When image information is received from the camera server, the conversion apparatus converts the received image information to a format for a portable display terminal, and delivers it to the portable display terminal.

Abstract: An image distribution method for distributing an image acquired by a camera on a network includes the steps of receiving control information for the camera from an image reception apparatus via a packet-switched network; and sending an image acquired by the camera to the image reception apparatus via a circuit-switched network.

Abstract: In order to freely select, locate and display an image from a remote place on a monitor to facilitate observer's use, disclosed are apparatus and methods arranged to perform operation of drag and drop of a symbol to a specific position on a map showing the symbol indicating information of the position where an image generator is set, thereby establishing logical network connection with a video transmission terminal to which the image generator is connected, to display a video in an arbitrary display area, to perform the drag and drop operation of the video displayed in the video display area to another video display area, thereby changing a video display position, and to perform the drag and drop operation thereof to a display stop symbol, thereby disconnecting the logical network connection to stop the video display of the video camera.

Abstract: A display authorization area corresponding a user is selected from maps stored in a device, only the selected zone is displayed, and a camera which is not authorized for the user to perform information communication is inhibited from being displayed. With this arrangement, a camera control system having so excellent security that any user cannot see a place irrelevant to the user and cannot recognize the position of an installed camera is constructed.

Abstract: An image distribution apparatus divides image data of a single frame into a plurality of blocks, orthogonally transforms the blocks and calculates transformation coefficients, quantizes the calculated transformation coefficients, codes the quantized transformation coefficients, and distributes the coded image data. The image distribution apparatus acquires the quantized transformation coefficients, stores the acquired transformation coefficients in a storage unit, calculates differences between the transformation coefficients of a first frame and the transformation coefficients of a second frame stored in the storage unit in a unit of block, counts blocks whose difference values calculated above are equal to or greater than a predetermined value as changing blocks of the first frame, and determines that the first frame has changed when the counted number of blocks is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: In order to freely select, locate and display an image from a remote place on a monitor to facilitate observer's use, disclosed are apparatus and methods arranged to perform operation of drag and drop of a symbol to a specific position on a map showing the symbol indicating information of the position where an image generator is set, thereby establishing logical network connection with a video transmission terminal to which the image generator is connected, to display a video in an arbitrary display area, to perform the drag and drop operation of the video displayed in the video display area to another video display area, thereby changing a video display position, and to perform the drag and drop operation thereof to a display stop symbol, thereby disconnecting the logical network connection to stop the video display of the video camera.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus connected to a network to which plural information processing units are connected, in order to enable variation of the image frame rate in a specified information processing apparatus, thereby displaying a watched image in a smoother manner or decreasing the frame rate of unwatched images to increase the frame rate of another image. The information processing apparatus comprises a configuration for recognizing an instruction for varying the amount of image data released from an arbitrary one among the plural information processing apparatus and controlling the amount of image data released from the arbitrary information processing apparatus according to the recognition.

Abstract: In a system in which a plurality of cameras and microphones, the image pickup directions and audio input directions of which can be remote-controlled, are arranged on a network, when an image pickup inhibited region is set, and when a network client remote-controls a certain camera to pickup a range including the image pickup inhibited region, a portion corresponding to the image pickup inhibited region is not displayed, and sound corresponding to the region is not output.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to provide a high-quality composite image of a real image and virtual image to a viewer or the like. To achieve this object, the position/posture of photographing means for photographing a performer or the like is measured, the position/posture of an HMD, which the performer or the like wears, and which allows the viewer to see through the external world, is measured, a CG at the viewpoint of the photographing means and image data photographed by the photographing means are aligned and composited on the basis of the measurement result of the position/posture of the photographing means, CG at the viewpoint of the HMD and image data photographed by a camera built in the HMD are aligned and composited on the basis of the measurement result of the position/posture of the HMD, and image data is displayed on the HMD.

Abstract: A motion image display apparatus for remotely controlling a camera includes a camera for inputting a motion image, a component for changing the direction of the camera, a component for synthesizing one still image in a wide area on the basis of motion images in various directions previously taken by changing the imaging direction of the camera, and a display unit for displaying the still image synthesized by the synthesizing component in a still image area and a motion image currently being taken by the camera in a motion image area superposed on a position corresponding to a current imaging direction in the still image area; the displayed motion image area may be moved by a mouse device thereby changing the direction of the camera on the basis of the changed position of the motion image area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus, and system for performing image sensing operations in an efficient manner in response to video data transmission requests or video camera control requests issued by a plurality of clients. The invention also provides a storage medium on which a program implementing the method is stored. A managing apparatus manages a plurality of camera servers each including a video camera and a controller. When the apparatus receives a video signal transmission request or a video camera control permission request from a client via a network, an available camera server is selected and connected to the client so that the client can control the camera server and display the video signal transmitted from that camera server. Each client can perform a desired camera control operation, receive a desired video signal, and display it on its screen without having to know which camera server is transmitting the video signal to the client.

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: There is disclosed a system in which, in order to vary the audio input/output characteristics in linkage with the camera operation and to thereby improve the realistic feeling, the camera control server of the CPU transfers the camera control command, received through the network, to the camera control device to control the camera. In more details, the camera control server also sends control commands to the audio input control device, the audio output device and the video display control device according to the camera control thereby controlling the input characteristics (spreading, direction and sensitivity) of the microphone and the output characteristics (spreading, direction and depth) of the speaker and varying the image displayed on the monitor. There is also disclosed technology for displaying, on the monitor, the information on the operator of the camera and on the receiver of the image, and for varying the direction of the monitor according to the panning or tilting operation of the camera.

Abstract: There is provided a stereo image display apparatus in which a CPU 201 of a PC 101 carries out control in accordance with a stereo image display program such that a suitable viewing position verification image appears different when a glasses-free type display 102 is viewed from a suitable viewing position to when the glasses-free type display 102 is viewed from elsewhere is displayed on the glasses-free type display 102 in accordance with a user's instructions.