Television – Special applications – Observation of or from a specific location
Reexamination Certificate
1997-04-21
2001-03-27
Peng, John K. (Department: 2614)
Television
Special applications
Observation of or from a specific location
C348S143000, C348S159000, C348S211130, C348S705000, C348S564000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208376
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication system and method, and a storage medium storing programs in communication system.
2. Related Background Art
A remote monitor system using a plurality of video cameras and a synthesizer for synthesizing in an analog manner images taken with the cameras has been used in a building of a relatively small scale or the like and such as system is called a local monitor system. In contrast to such a local monitor system, a remote monitor system has been proposed in which a plurality of cameras are connected by a digital network such as LAN (local area network) and public digital line ISDN so that the more cameras at remoter sites can be controlled more flexibly.
Of remote monitor systems, some systems control the image display and system operations through graphical user interface (GUI) by using personal computers or work stations as monitor terminals. Use of GUI at a monitor terminal enables a computer device to operate the system easily. The operability of the system can be improved by displaying a camera control panel together with an image taken with the camera.
However, conventional methods of displaying images with such a system include various methods such as a glance display of images taken with a plurality of cameras. A conventional display operation and discrimination between system operations are not always good heretofore. Personal computers and work stations are directly, or via a synthesizer for image synthesis and a switcher for switching between cameras, connected to the network. The image synthesizer can select one of cameras connected thereto to display its image, or can display a plurality of images side by side at the same time. By using the switcher, any desired camera can be selected to be controlled.
However, the operability of the system which inputs images via the switcher/synthesizer is not so much satisfactory and there is still a room to be improved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and provide a communication system and method and a storage medium storing communication system programs, capable of providing flexible operations.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a communication system and method having user interface (UI) capable of being flexibly operated upon and provide a communication system and method and a storage medium storing communication system programs, capable of switching, when necessary, between a glance display mode of displaying images supplied from a plurality of communication terminals and a fine display mode of displaying a single image taken with each camera.
According to one aspect of the present invention achieving the above objects, a communication system comprises reception means for receiving images generated by image generating units of a plurality of communication terminals, output means for outputting a multi-image of images received by the reception means to a display unit, designation means for designating an arbitrary image from the images constituting the multi-image, and processing means for controlling the output form of an image to be output to the display unit, the image being designated by the designation means, if a designation operation by the designation means is a first designation operation, and for setting the communication terminal as a control object, the communication terminal generating an image designated by the designation means, if a designation operation by the designation means is a second designation operation.
It is another object of the present invention to improve the operability of the system when images are supplied via a switcher or synthesizer.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a communication system and method and a storage medium storing communication system programs, having novel functions.
The other objects and aspects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
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Sasaki Akitomo
Tanaka Koichiro
Yonezawa Hiroki
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Desir Jean W.
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
Peng John K.
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