Video camera control apparatus

An apparatus for controlling a plurality of video cameras, said apparatus comprising:

• a camera control unit for each of said plurality of video cameras;
• a plurality of remote control panels each connected to an associated one of the camera control units by a respective bus so that technical operational control of each of said video cameras can be effected at the associated remote control panel;
• a plurality of interface units each connected in the respective bus between one of the remote control panels and the associated camera control unit;
• and
• a master control unit connected to all of said interface units and capable of communicating with any one of the camera control units by way of the associated interface unit to enable technical operational control of any selected one of the cameras at said master control unit and control of at least some technical operating parameters of the selected one of the cameras at one of said master control unit and the respective remote control panel.

An apparatus for controlling a plurality of video cameras, said apparatus comprising:

• a camera control unit for each of said plurality of video cameras;
• a plurality of remote control panels each connected to an associated one of the camera control units by a respective bus so that technical operational control of each of said video cameras can be effected at the associated remote control panel;
• a plurality of interface units each connected in the respective bus between one of the remote control panels and the associated camera control unit;
• a preview selector for generating a preview select signal;
• and
• a master control unit connected to all of said interface units and responsive to said preview select signal for automatically establishing communication with the camera control unit associated with the camera whose video signal is selected for previewing by way of the associated interface unit to enable technical operational control of the respective camera at said master control unit.

An apparatus for controlling a plurality of video cameras, said apparatus comprising:

• a camera control unit for each of said plurality of video cameras;
• a plurality of remote control panels each connected to an associated one of the camera control units by a respective bus so that technical operational control of each of said video cameras can be effected at the respective remote control panel and in which each of said remote control panels is capable of monitoring performance data supplied by the respective camera;
• a plurality of interface units each connected in the respective bus between one of the remote control panels and the associated camera control unit;
• and
• a master control unit connected to all of said interface units and capable of communicating with any one of the camera control units by way of the associated interface unit to enable technical operational control of any selected one of the cameras at said master control unit;
• each of said interface units being operative to pass said performance data received from the respective camera to the respective remote control panel regardless of whether said master control unit is communicating with the respective camera.