Abstract: Most camera systems only record an image from a limited viewing angle. A new panoramic camera apparatus is disclosed that instantaneously captures a 360 degree panoramic image. In the camera device, virtually all of the light that converges on a point in space is captured. Specifically, in the camera of the present invention, light striking this point in space is captured if it comes from any direction, 360 degrees around the point and from angles 50 degrees or more above and below the horizon. The panoramic image is recorded as a two dimensional annular image. Furthermore, various different systems for displaying the panoramic images and distributing the panoramic images. Specifically, methods and apparatus for digitally performing a geometric transformation of the two dimensional annular image into rectangular projections such that the panoramic image can be displayed using conventional methods such as printed images and televised images.

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 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: A system for bi-directional digital serial communication and control of remote units including video cameras and input/output devices in machine vision systems. The communication system includes a main processor, communication hubs and remote units. The system is capable of monitoring and controlling the remote units in real-time while receiving video data images from the remote video cameras. Digital signals are transmitted in two different protocols; one for data communications, and one for control communications.

Abstract: A data terminal includes a digital camera for capturing an image and data processing/storage/encoding means for processing the image information, together with an internal server for creating a web site at the terminal displaying the image. As a result high resolution image information is immediately accessible to authorized users and instantly recorded.

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: Image pickup processes of a plurality of image pickup apparatuses are synchronized by using one kind of communication medium (for example, IEEE1394-1995 standard or its extended standard). A control device selects a master camera from the plurality of image pickup apparatuses. The master camera generates a time stamp for synchronizing frame synchronization signals of all of the image pickup apparatuses (including the master camera). All of the image pickup apparatuses (including the master camera) generate the frame synchronization signals on the basis of the time stamp generated by the master camera and generate image data on the basis of the generated frame synchronization signals.