Abstract: A camera apparatus having a communicating device for transmitting a video signal photographed and processed by a camera or a video signal temporarily recorded in a record medium to a remote location is disclosed, that comprises a connecting means for connecting a plurality of different communication lines, a setting and inputting means for designating one of the plurality of different communication lines and setting a transmission condition, a controlling means for determining whether or not the video signal is transmissible to the remote location with the transmission rate of the designated communication line corresponding to an output signal of the setting and inputting means and generating control information when the video signal is transmissible, and a signal processing means for processing a transmission signal for the designated communication line corresponding to the control information supplied from the controlling means.

Abstract: Dual still image and video mode features are provided for a digital camera whereby the digital camera and an associated computer system support the concurrent capture of still images and video streaming operations. Capture and retrieval of a still image during video streaming operations of a digital camera tethered to a computer system includes pausing video streaming operations, capturing a still image by the digital camera, transferring the still image from the digital camera to the computer system, and resuming video streaming operations. Transfer of the captured still image is performed by camera device driver and bus interface software executing on the computer system. In one embodiment the digital camera is tethered to the computer system by a Universal Serial Bus (USB) and the camera device driver and bus interface software control access and usage of the USB.

Abstract: To enable low cost distribution of pictures from a mobile entity that incorporates digital camera functionality, the mobile entity (20) generates both a high resolution picture image (81) and a low resolution thumbnail (80). This thumbnail (80) is distributed via a mobile radio infrastructure to a service system (40) that then transfers the thumbnail to specified recipients (60). After viewing the thumbnail (80), each recipient (60) indicates to the service system (40) whether they wish to receive the high resolution image (81) and, if so, whether it is to be transferred immediately or at the next. The service system (40) effects transfer of the high resolution image (81) accordingly. In other embodiments, distribution of the high resolution image is effected independently of the service system.

Abstract: There is disclosed a command-answer type serial communication device between TV lens and TV camera, or between TV lens and accessory. In the command-answer type serial communication, answer data is transferred in response to a command in ordinary communication, but data to be processed at high speed on the side of a device having transferred the command is transmitted to a camera from a lens even if no command is transmitted, so that high-speed communication can be performed.

Abstract: A method and digital camera for capturing images for requesting and confirming an image order to be provided by a service provider. The camera includes a capture device for capturing digital images and an interface for storing the captured digital images on a removable digital storage media in a first directory, and for reading digital images from both the first directory and from a second directory on the removable digital storage media. A user interface is provided for selecting the first directory or the second directory. The camera also has a display for displaying information and image stored in the selected directory. The second directory can be used for placing an image order and/or reviewing confirmation provided by a service provider of an image order.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically forwarding digital images to a service provider. The apparatus includes a reading device for reading said digital images from a removable digital storage medium and a communication device for automatically forwarding said digital image data over a network to said service provider when a predetermined criteria is met. The service provider may send transmission to the communication device so as to activate the apparatus for transmitting digital images. The apparatus has a unique ID known by the service provider which can be used to identify the apparatus.

Abstract: Settings (sample settings) are obtained from each CCD camera. A PC calculates an average of the settings sent from all CCD cameras via a distributor. The calculated average is used as new settings for setting up all the CCD cameras again. And the obtained average is sent to each CCD camera through the distributor to set up each CCD camera again.

Abstract: A system and a method for optically communicating information between a display and a camera that is observing the display. In general, the transmission of information is unidirectional in a direction from the display to the camera. The display transmits information to the camera that is observing the display by displaying a series of symbols and images (such as an alphabet) on the display. Information (such as a network address of the display or camera) may be transmitted to the camera without any prior shared knowledge between the two. The present invention also is capable of determining a spatial location (or pose) of the display (relative to a camera observing the display) by observing a pattern presented on the display and using well-known correlation techniques.

Abstract: An image processing method is performed by an image supply device storing image data and an image output device performing image processing with respect to the image data, which are connected via a communication path through which the image data is communicated. A control information item including a script for image processing, which is described by a markup language, is communicated between the image supply device and the image output device. The image data is transmitted to the image output device, based on the script.

Abstract: In a video conferencing system, camera position means are used to point the camera to a speaking person. To find the correct direction for the camera, a system is required that determines the position from which the sound is transmitted. This can be done by using at least two microphones receiving the speech signal. By measuring the transmission delay between the signals received by the microphones, the position of the speaker can be determined. According to the present invention, the delay is determined by first determining the impulse responses (h1) and (h2) and subsequently calculating a cross correlation function between the impulse responses (h1) and (h2). From the main peak in the cross correlation function, the delay value is determined.

Abstract: Componentry is added to a conventional universal remote device to enable it to cooperate with a set to beacon to position a cursor or arrow on a television or other display screen and to allow the remote control to perform the functions of a conventional personal computer “mouse” in connection with the cursor, such as, for example, “clicking” on icons on the screen. A wide angle sensor and a stepped beacon pulse are used to increase range of the device, and the beacon pulse sent to the infrared sensor is automatically disabled upon detection of activity on the universal remote section.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transmitting device which is capable of transmitting data even if a communication line is disconnected while the data is being transmitted, wherein the device is provided with a plurality of communication interfaces 109 to 112 connectable to a plurality of respective communication lines and transmits data through the communication interfaces. If a communication line is disconnected while data is being transmitted, the transmitting device selects an appropriate communication line based on predetermined criteria for communication line connection, drives a communication interface corresponding to the communication line to connect to the communication line, and transmits the data.

Abstract: A system utilizes the camera control server of the CPU to transfer the camera control command, received through the network, to the camera control device to control the camera in order to vary the audio input/output characteristics in linkage with the camera operation and to thereby improve the realistic feeling. 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. The system also includes 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 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: The present invention provides a synchronization system comprising a base unit and at least one video camera. The base unit includes a master time-base adapted to set a time period that samples a frame of video data, a memory, and a base unit communications transceiver. The base unit communications transceiver is adapted to transmit a frame synchronization signal to a video camera communications transceiver. The video camera includes an image sensor adapted to store the video data, an exposure control adapted to control an exposure level of the image sensor, and a camera time-base adapted to receive the frame synchronization signal from the video camera communications transceiver. The camera time-base is further adapted to receive the frame synchronization signal, reset its time and initiates its internal timing sequence, transmit signals to the exposure control to control a length of the exposure, and transmit timing signals to the image sensor to read the video data.

Abstract: This invention provides a video system including an image pickup device for converting an optical image into a video signal, an image pickup direction changing device for changing the image pickup direction of the image pickup device, an image display device for displaying the video signal output from the image pickup device, and a function display device for displaying function information of the image pickup device.

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: This invention stores previously sensed image information, so that information with an angle desired by the user can be searched for and displayed. For this purpose, image data sensed by a camera device (100) is captured by an image information capture unit (101). On the other hand, the angle information of image data captured by the image information capture unit (101) is acquired by an image view point information acquisition unit (102), and a header is generated by a header generation unit (103) based on the angle information. A recording information generation unit (104) generates recording information based on the generated header and the captured image data, and stores the generated information in an external storage device (6). Upon reception of an external search instruction, a search unit (105) searches for information matching angle information included in the search condition, and an output unit (106) outputs the found image data.

Abstract: A communication device for interconnecting a digital camera to a communication network for downloading data to a remote computer. The device has a network communication port for establishing communication with a network via a pre-defined protocol and communication mode, and has a camera communication port such as a serial, parallel, SCSI, USB or Irda-port that imitates the back end application of a PC, for connection to a digital camera for sending and receiving data to and from the camera. The camera communication port is also used for input of programming and setup data to the communication device from a PC. The device can be programmed to operate on the data directly, such as in the case of data for storage or operational direction, and/or direct the data to the camera. The device may also have a Smart card socket into which a user can insert a card to input data, such as user and camera I.D., user authorization, image marking, camera operational parameter, remote computer/destination address, etc.

Abstract: A camera control apparatus provides an end user with environment to easily remote-control a video camera via a general network such as the Internet. When the camera control apparatus 1001 receives a file-transfer request described in the format of the network from an external device 1002 connected to the apparatus, it handles a characters in a character string of a file name of the request as camera-control characters. As a result, if the character string includes description corresponding to the format for camera control, the camera control apparatus 1001 controls the camera in accordance with the description to perform image sensing, and transfers the obtained video image as the content of an image file requested by the external device as the file-transfer request originator.

Abstract: Image data obtained through image capturing are held on an internal memory 23. The image data are compressed by a CPU 22, recorded on a memory card 45, and sent by a communications interface 46, a Bluetooth™ transmission module 50, a portable telephone function unit 52 or the like. The CPU 22 is capable of compressing the image data at different compression ratios which are different between recording and sending. In this case, the image data held on the internal memory 23 are compressed at the different compression ratios and recorded in mutually different recording regions of the memory card.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying an image captured by a video camera displays a window of the captured image, buttons displayed about the window for scrolling the image, and a sizing button displayed adjacent the window for enlarging/reducing the size of the window. If an operator wishes to pan, tilt or zoom the video camera, the operator manipulates the scroll buttons and sizing button for scrolling the image horizontally or vertically and sizing the window. The apparatus causes the camera to tilt or pan in accordance with the scrolling of the window by the scrolling operation and causes the camera to zoom in or out in accordance with the sizing operation. The apparatus is adapted to display an icon which is a miniature image of the image captured by the video camera. When this icon is selected, the application using the video camera is started. The icon is not displayed if the video camera is operating abnormally.

Abstract: A digital swift video controller system that can be used in a wide spreading area. The present system is activated by transmitting digital video camera image to the arena telecom server and then stored in the high capacity image-storing device, such as magnetic disk and CD-Rom. Specialist is then monitoring all these image data in the central control unit and then they are able to transmit the requested image data to user. These image data are transmitted through Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) offered by the central telecom company in Taiwan upon users personal authorized estate and pin code. By way of transmitting image data, user will be able to view the request images instantly either live or historically on an personal computer providing there is an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) connection. This system will enable user to monitoring any image data upon their personal authorized estate and pin code more conveniently and effectively.

Abstract: Disclosed is a communication method in a communication system in which a communication device is connected to a camera through a control bus based on RS-485, a first coaxial conversion device, a video signal transmission cable, and a second coaxial conversion device, the first coaxial conversion device comprising the function of superimposing communication data from the communication device to the camera on a vertical blanking period of a video signal on the video signal transmission cable and the function of extracting communication data from the camera to the communication device which is superimposed on the video signal on the video signal transmission cable to transmit the extracted communication data to the control bus based on RS-485, and the second coaxial conversion device comprising the function of superimposing communication data from the camera to the communication device on a vertical blanking period of a video signal on the video signal transmission cable and the function of extracting communicat

Abstract: A content information manager communicates content information to a digital image capture device. One embodiment comprises a means for storing the content information in a memory, a means for communicating the content information to a digital image capture device, and a means for receiving a request such that the content information is communicated to the digital image capture device when the request is received. Another embodiment comprises a means for communicating a request signal such that the content information manager provides the content information upon receiving the request signal, a means for receiving the content information from the content information manager, and a means for displaying the content information on a display residing on the digital image capture device.

Abstract: A control cable extension unit for a pan/tilt camera is used between the pan/tilt camera and a pan/tilt camera controller and is connected via a coaxial multiplex communication cable to the pan/tilt camera and is further connected via a control cable to the pan/tilt camera controller. The extension unit includes a signal input section to which the pan/tilt camera controller supplies a control signal, a signal processing section for processing the control signal supplied to the signal input section, delivering various commands for operating the pan/tilt camera a signal output section for transmitting the commands delivered by the signal processing section on the basis of a synchronizing signal to the pan/tilt camera during a blanking period in which no video signal is generated by the pan/tilt camera.

Abstract: A method of specifying the delivery of a digital photograph from a digital camera via a digital communications network provided with delivery means, the digital camera having a processor communicatively connectable to the digital communications network, the method comprising: supplying the processor with a digital photograph; supplying the processor with input to enable delivery coordinates for the digital photograph to be determined; supplying the processor with input specifying a delivery format in which the digital photograph is to be delivered.