Abstract: The network camera of the present invention is connected to a terminal apparatus, and includes a camera and a memory. The camera photographs an image and is movable within a predetermined photographing range. The memory stores predetermined positional information indicating a position of the predetermined object. It is prohibited to display the image of the predetermined object on the terminal apparatus. The network camera has a controller that controls the camera to move within the photographable range to acquire a series of images from the camera at predetermined time periods. The controller, when acquiring the image including the predetermined object based on the predetermined positional information, performs a masking process operation with respect to a predetermined image area that includes both the image of the predetermined object acquired at a present time period and the image of the predetermined object acquired at one time period previous to the present time period.

Abstract: An image server and an image communication system capable of displaying images of plural image servers differing in IP address on a browser window by using a versatile browser, and a methods for controlling them. Plural image servers communicate with a client computer displaying image information presented from image servers through a network. Of the plural image servers, the controller of a certain image server receives a request from the client computer, and displays the image data of the image server and image data of other plural image servers simultaneously on the browser window of the client computer. Accordingly, the controller of the designated image server creates display information, and supplies the information to the client computer.

Abstract: An apparatus capable of reproducing voice information that is received from a communication terminal through a network and transmitting image information to the network, includes a voice reception buffer that stores the voice information, a level determining unit that determines the voice information stored in the voice reception buffer as a no-data or a no-sound when the stored voice information is lower than a first value, and a buffer control unit that discards the voice information determined as the no-data or the no-sound and compacts the remaining voice information.

Abstract: An IP device (for example, network cameras 3a, 3b, and 3c) connectable to a router (for example, a router 2) makes a request to the router for assignment of a port number when a predetermined operation is performed, and notifies a management server 6 connected to a wide area network of address data containing an assigned port number when the port number is assigned from the router, wherein address data containing the port number can be registered in the management server 6 on the wide area network, so that, even when access is made from the terminal 4 on the wide area network side with a port number that is locally updated, access is made possible by transmitting address data of the IP device to the terminal 4.

Abstract: The invention aims at providing server apparatus capable of outputting image data and sound data thereby deactivating sound transmission at a low cost and with ease. That is, a sound input device (microphone) for converting sound to a sound signal is made detachable. A connection detector for detecting whether this sound input device (microphone) is connected is provided. In case the sound input device is connected to a sound input section, the sound transmission function is automatically controlled into the operating state. In case the sound input device is not connected, the sound transmission function is automatically controlled into the non-operating state. Thus, only a simple procedure of removing the sound input device from the sound input section is needed to deactivate sound transmission. This allows switching between activation and deactivation of sound transmission at a low cost.

Abstract: The invention allows the user to operate the camera of an image server via a network and acquire via voice the information associated with the imaging position of the camera.

Abstract: The present invention provides a network camera system in which, when images are window-displayed, the images and audios can be outputted in association without requiring any special operation. The network camera system comprises one or more network cameras (2, 2a, 2b, 2c), each of which includes an applet/plugin transmission unit which transmits an applet for reproducing an image displaying window and a audio in association in a network terminal (1). The network terminal (1) window-displays an image accompanying the audio, contained in a received Web page, and it downloads the applet or the like from the camera. The applet or the like performs a control so as to emit the audio of the network camera corresponding to the window which a user has designated in the network terminal (1) by, for example, moving a cursor to this window and clicking it.

Abstract: An image server and an image communication system capable of displaying images of plural image servers differing in IP address on a browser window by using a versatile browser, and a methods for controlling them. Plural image servers communicate with a client computer displaying image information presented from image servers through a network. Of the plural image servers, the controller of a certain image server receives a request from the client computer, and displays the image data of the image server and image data of other plural image servers simultaneously on the browser window of the client computer. Accordingly, the controller of the designated image server creates display information, and supplies the information to the client computer.