Apparatus and methods for adjusting zoom of a ptz camera

An apparatus that is configured to communicate with an image capture device comprising:

• at least one memory storing instructions;
• and
• at least one processor that, upon execution of the stored instructions, is configured to execute the following operations:
• identifying an imaging target in an image being captured by an image capture device;
• determining, based on a current imaging condition, an amount of zoom needed to be applied by the image capture device such that the imaging target is substantially centered in an image frame;
• modifying the determined zoom amount in response to a determination that that the determined zoom amount would cause the image capture device to exceed a directional movement limit;
• and
• providing a control command to the image capture device that controls the image capture device to obtain an image of the imaging target using one of the determined amount of zoom or the modified zoom amount;
• controlling the image capture device to capture an image of the imaging target at the zoom level included in the control command.

A system comprising:

• an image capture device configured to capture video and still image data and which can pan, tilt and zoom based on control commands;
• a control apparatus in communication with the image capture device, the control apparatus configured to generate and provide control commands to the image capture device, wherein the control apparatus includes
• at least one memory storing instructions;
• and
• at least one processor that, upon execution of the stored instructions, is configured to execute the following operations:
• identifying an imaging target in an image being captured by an image capture device;
• determining, based on a current imaging condition, an amount of zoom needed to be applied by the image capture device such that the imaging target is substantially centered in an image frame;
• modifying the determined zoom amount in response to a determination that that the determined zoom amount would cause the image capture device to exceed a directional movement limit;
• and
• providing a control command to the image capture device that controls the image capture device to obtain an image of the imaging target using one of the determined amount of zoom or the modified zoom amount;
• controlling the image capture device to capture an image of the imaging target at the zoom level included in the control command.