Apparatus and Method for Controlling a Camera Connected to a Network

A method for a camera control apparatus, connected to a network, capable of controlling image-sensing condition of a camera, comprising:

• a reception step of receiving a character string descried in a format of file-transfer request used on the network;
• a discrimination step of discriminating a predetermined control character relating to camera control, and a character indicating a control amount accompanying the control character, from a character string at a particular position of the character string received at said reception step;
• and
• a control step of controlling the camera based on the result of discrimination at said discrimination step, and transferring video image data obtained by the camera to a file-transfer request originator.

A storage medium containing program codes to be read and executed by a computer connected to a camera, comprising:

• reception-process program codes of executing processing for receiving a character string described in a format of file-transfer request used on a predetermined network;
• discrimination-process program codes of executing processing for discriminating a predetermined control character relating to camera control, and a character indicating a control amount accompanying the control character, from a character string at a particular position of the character string received at said reception process;
• and
• control-process program codes of executing processing for controlling the camera based on the result of discrimination at said discrimination process, and transferring video image data obtained by the camera to a file-transfer request originator.

A camera control apparatus, connected to a network, capable of controlling image-sensing condition of a camera, comprising:

• reception means for receiving reservation information, including image-sensing time and image-sensing condition, via the network from an external device;
• determination means for determining whether or not reservation can be accepted, based on the image-sensing time received by said reception means and already-registered image-sensing time;
• notification means for, if said determination means determines that the reservation cannot be accepted, notifying-,the external device of the result of determination by said determination means;
• registration means for, if said determination means determines that the reservation can be accepted, registering the reservation information received by said reception means in correspondence with identification information, and notifying the external device of the identification information;
• control means for controlling the camera based on the reservation information registered by said registration means, and holding video image information obtained by the camera in correspondence with the identification information corresponding to the reservation information;
• and
• output means for, when a video-image read request is issued with the identification information from the external apparatus, outputting video image information corresponding to the identification information, among video image information held by said control means.

A camera control apparatus, connected to a network, capable of controlling image-sensing condition of a camera, comprising:

• reception means for receiving reservation information, including image-sensing time and image-sensing condition, via the network from an external device;
• registration means for registering the reservation information received by said reception means in correspondence with identification information, and notifying the external device of the identification information, the identification information including an access address and specific information to be added to the access address when the access address is accessed;
• control means for controlling the camera based on the reservation information registered by said registration means, and holding video image information obtained by the camera in correspondence with the identification information corresponding to the reservation information;
• and
• output means for, when video-image read request is issued with the identification information from the external apparatus, outputting video image information corresponding to the identification information, among video image information held by said control means.

A method for a camera control apparatus, connected to a network, capable of controlling image-sensing condition of a camera, comprising:

• a reception step of receiving reservation information, including image-sensing time and image-sensing condition, via the network from an external device;
• a determination step of determining whether or not reservation can be accepted, based on the image-sensing time received at said reception step and already-registered image-sensing time;
• a notification step of, if it is determined at said determination step that the reservation cannot be accepted;
• notifying the external device of the result of determination at said determination step;
• a registration step of, if it is determined at said determination step that the reservation can be accepted, registering the reservation information received at said reception step in correspondence with identification information, and notifying the external device of the identification information;
• a control step of controlling the camera based on the reservation information registered at said registration step, and holding video image information obtained by the camera in correspondence with the identification information corresponding to the reservation information;
• and
• an output step of, when a video-image read request is issued with the identification information from the external apparatus, outputting video image information corresponding to the identification information, among video image information held at said control means.

A method for a camera control apparatus, connected to a network, capable of controlling image-sensing condition of a camera, comprising:

• a reception step of receiving reservation information, including image-sensing time and imagesensing condition, via the network from an external device;
• a registration step of registering the reservation information received at said reception step in correspondence with identification information, and notifying the external device of the identification information, the identification information including an access address and specific information to be added to the access address when the access address is accessed;
• a control step of controlling the camera based on the reservation information registered at said registration step, and holding video image information obtained by the camera in correspondence with the identification information corresponding to the reservation information;
• and
• an output step of, when video-image read request is issued with the identification information from the external apparatus, outputting video image information corresponding to the identification information, among video image information held at said control step.

A computer-readable memory containing control program codes for a computer, connected to a network, capable of controlling image-sensing condition of a camera, said control program causes said computer to function as:

• reception means for receiving reservation information, including image-sensing time and imagesensing condition, via the network from an external device;
• determination means for determining whether or not reservation can be accepted, based on the image-sensing time received by said reception means and alreadyregistered image-sensing time;
• notification means for, if said determination means determines that the reservation cannot be accepted, notifying the external device of the result of determination by said determination means;
• registration means for, if said determination means determines that the reservation can be accepted, registering the reservation information received by said reception means in correspondence with identification information, and notifying the external device of the identification information;
• control means for controlling the camera based on the reservation information registered by said registration means, and holding video image information obtained by the camera in correspondence with the identification information corresponding to the reservation information;
• and
• output means for, when video-image read request is issued with the identification information from the external apparatus, outputting video image information corresponding to the identification information, among video image information held by said control means.

A computer-readable memory containing control program codes for a computer, connected to a network, capable of controlling image-sensing condition of a camera, said control program causes said computer to function as:

• reception means for receiving reservation information, including image-sensing time and image-sensing condition, via the network from an external device;
• registration means for registering the reservation information received by said reception means in correspondence with identification information, and notifying the external device of the identification information, the identification information including access address and specific information to be added to the access address when the access address is accessed;
• control means for controlling the camera based on the reservation information registered by said registration means, and holding video image information obtained by the camera in correspondence with the identification information corresponding to the reservation information;
• and output means for, when video-image read request is issued with the identification information from the external apparatus, outputting video image information corresponding to the identification information, among video image information held by said control means.