Remote control system and access control method for information input apparatus

Abstract

When an access request (a request for transfer of video and audio information or a request for a camera operation) to a camera apparatus connected to a network via a terminal is issued via the network, a camera management server processes the access request on the basis of an access right set by a user (or a manager) using the terminal to which the camera apparatus is connected. That is, the camera management server refers to an access right set file and grants or denies permission to access for the user whose has issued the access request. The user to whom the access permission is granted requests a camera control server to permit a camera operation via a camera control client and thereby can receive an image taken by the camera apparatus and voices collected by the camera apparatus and can perform panning, tilting, and zooming of the camera apparatus. Accordingly, to protect the privacy of a user using a terminal to which a camera apparatus is connected, it is possible to realize fine setting meeting the demand of the user at all times. Also, in a location where a camera apparatus connected to a network is installed, it is possible to prevent a leak of confidential information through the camera apparatus.

1 . A camera control method, comprising the steps of: 
 displaying first and second operation buttons, and a positioning button for generating commands to control a camera direction, wherein a first command generated by the first operation button is to change the camera direction to a first direction, a second command generated by the second operation button is to change the camera direction to a second direction, and a positioning command generated by the positioning button is to change the camera direction to a home direction relating to the first and second directions; and    operating the camera in accordance with at least one of the buttons operated by a user,    wherein the positioning button is arranged between the first and second operation buttons.    
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the camera direction is panned to the left in response to the first command, and is panned to the right in response to the second command.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the home direction corresponds to the center of a pivotal angle in the pan direction.  
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the camera direction is tilted upward in response to the first command, and is tilted downward in response to the second command.  
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the home direction corresponds to the center of a pivotal angle in the tilt direction.  
   
   
       6 . A camera control method, comprising the steps of: 
 displaying first to fourth operation buttons, and a positioning button for generating commands to controls a camera direction, wherein a first command generated by the first operation button is to change the camera direction to a first direction, a second command generated by the second operation button is to change the camera direction to a second direction, a third command generated by the third operation button is to change the camera direction to a third direction, a fourth command generated by the fourth operation button is to change the camera direction to a fourth direction, and a positioning command generated by the positioning button is to change the camera direction to a home direction relating to the first to fourth directions; and    operating the camera in accordance with at least one of the buttons operated by a user,    wherein the positioning button is arranged between the first and second operation buttons, and is arranged between the third and fourth operation buttons.    
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the camera direction is panned to the left in response to the first command, is panned to the right in response to the second command, is tilted upward in response to the third command, and is tilted downward in response to the fourth command.  
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the home direction corresponds to the center of pivotal angles in the pan and tilt directions.  
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the positioning button is arranged the central space surrounded by the first to fourth operation buttons.  
   
   
       10 . A camera control method, comprising the steps of: 
 displaying a positioning button, a first operation button arranged a left side of the positioning button, and a second operation button arranged a right side of the positioning button, for generating commands to control a camera direction, wherein a positioning command generated by the positioning button is to change the camera direction to a home direction relating to a pan direction of a camera, a first command generated by the first operation button is to pan the camera direction to the left, and a second command generated by the second operation button is to pan the camera direction to the right; and    operating the camera in accordance with at least one of buttons operated by a user.    
   
   
       11 . A camera control method, comprising the steps of: 
 displaying a positioning button, a first operation button arranged above the positioning button, and a second operation button arranged below the positioning button, for generating commands to control a camera direction, wherein a positioning command generated by the positioning button is to change the camera direction to a home direction relating to a tilt direction of a camera, a first command generated by the first operation button is to tilt the camera direction upward, and a second command generated by the second operation button is to tilt the camera direction downward; and    operating the camera in accordance with at least one of the buttons operated by a user.    
   
   
       12 . A camera control method, comprising the steps of: 
 displaying a positioning button, a first operation button arranged a left side of the positioning button, a second operation button arranged a right side of the positioning button, a third button arranged above the positioning button, and a fourth button arranged below the positioning button, for generating commands to control a camera direction, wherein a positioning command generated by the positioning button is to change the camera direction to a home direction related to pan and tilt directions of a camera, a first command generated by the first operation button is to pan the camera direction to the left, a second command generated by the second operation button is to control the camera direction to the right, a third command generated by the third operation button to tilt the camera direction upward, and a fourth command generated by the fourth operation button is to tilt the camera direction downward; and    operating the camera in accordance with at least one of the buttons operated by a user.    
   
   
       13 . A camera control apparatus, comprising: 
 a first operation button for generating a first command to change a camera direction to a first direction;    a second operation button for generating a second command to change the camera direction to a second direction; and    a positioning button for generating a positioning command to change the camera direction to a home direction relating to the first and second directions,    wherein said positioning button is arranged between said first and second operation buttons.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the camera direction is panned to the left in response to the first command, and is panned to the right in response to the second command.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the home direction corresponds to the center of a pivotal angle in the pan direction.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the camera direction is tilted upward in response to the first command, and is tilted downward in response to the second command.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the home direction corresponds to the center of a pivotal angle in the tilt direction.  
   
   
       18 . A camera control apparatus, comprising: 
 a first operation button for generating a first command to change a camera direction to a first direction;    a second operation button for generating a second command to change the camera direction to a second direction;    a third operation button for generating a third command to change the camera direction to a third direction;    a fourth operation button for generating a fourth command to change the camera direction to a fourth direction; and    a positioning button for generating a positioning command to change the camera direction to a home direction relating to the first to fourth directions,    wherein said positioning button is arranged between said first and second operation buttons, and is arranged between said third and fourth operation buttons.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the camera direction is panned to the left in response to the first command, is panned to the right in response to the second command, is tilted upward in response to the third command, and is tilted downward in response to the fourth command.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the home direction corresponds to the center of pivotal angles in the pan and tilt directions.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the positioning button is arranged the central space surrounded by the first to fourth operation buttons.  
   
   
       22 . A camera control apparatus, comprising: 
 a positioning button for generating a positioning command which is to change a camera direction to a home direction relating to a pan direction of a camera;    a first operation button arranged a left side of said positioning button for generating a first command which is to pan the camera direction to the left; and    a second operation button arranged a right side of said positioning button for generating a second command which is to pan the camera direction to the right.    
   
   
       23 . A camera control apparatus, comprising: 
 a positioning button for generating a positioning command which is to change the camera direction to a home direction relating to a tilt direction of a camera;    a first operation button arranged above the positioning button for generating a first command which is to tilt the camera direction upward; and    a second operation button arranged below the positioning button for generating a second command which is to tilt the camera direction downward.    
   
   
       24 . A camera control apparatus, comprising: 
 a positioning button for generating a positioning command which is to change a camera direction to a home direction relating to pan and tilt directions of a camera;    a first operation button arranged a left side of the positioning button for generating a first command which is to pan the camera direction to the left;    a second operation button arranged a right side of the positioning button for generating a second command which is to pan the camera direction to the right;    a third operation button arranged above the positioning button for generating a third command which is to tilt the camera direction upward; and    a fourth operation button arranged below the positioning button for generating a fourth command which is to tilt the camera direction downward.