Camera control apparatus and camera control method

Abstract

A camera control apparatus includes: an input section to which a plurality of cameras controlled by the apparatus are connected, each of the cameras including a first preset information storage section capable of storing up to n preset information on the state of the camera setting; a second preset information storage section capable of storing (n+1)-th to m-th preset information (n<m) in each camera; an operation input unit to which an operation of selecting a specific one of the cameras and an operation of instructing registration or read out of the preset information on the selected camera are inputted; and a control section registering the preset information in the information storage section when the operation of instructing registration of the preset information is inputted, whereas reading and incorporating the preset information into the state of the selected camera when the operation of instructing readout of the registered preset information is inputted.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A camera control apparatus comprising:
 a network interface configured to be connected to a camera which includes a first control information storage section capable of storing first control information;   a selection section configured to select unique information;   a control section configured to generate command information corresponding to the selected unique information; and   a second control information storage section in the camera control apparatus and different from the first control information storage section, the second control information storage section capable of storing second control information identified by unique information;   wherein when the selected unique information corresponds to the first control information stored in the camera, the control section sends to the camera command information relating to the first control information and causes the camera to be controlled based on the first control information;   wherein when the selected unique information is identified by the second control information stored in the second information storage section, the control section sends to the camera command information relating to the second control information and causes the camera to be controlled based on the second control information;   wherein camera control based on command information relating to the first information includes at least one of pan control, tilt control and zoom control; and   wherein camera control based on command information relating to the second information includes at least one of pan control, tilt control and zoom control.   
     
     
         9 . The camera control apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the second control information storage section is capable of storing the second control information along with model information representing the model of the camera. 
     
     
         10 . The camera control apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the control section checks if the model information of the camera stored with the second control information coincides with model information of cameras connected to the camera control apparatus before command information relating to the second control information is sent to the camera. 
     
     
         11 . The camera control apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein command information relating to the second control information is not sent to the camera when the model information stored with the second control information does not coincide with the model information of the camera connected to the camera control apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . A camera system comprising;
 a camera;   a camera control apparatus, the camera control apparatus comprising:
 a network interface configured to be connected to a camera which includes a first control information storage section capable of storing first control information; 
 a selection section configured to select unique information; 
 a control section configured to generate command information corresponding to the selected unique information; and 
 a second control information storage section in the camera control apparatus and different from the first control information storage section, the second control information storage section capable of storing second control information identified by unique information; 
 wherein when the selected unique information corresponds to the first control information stored in the camera, the control section sends to the camera command information relating to the first control information and causes the camera to be controlled based on the first control information; 
 wherein when the selected unique information is identified by the second control information stored in the second information storage section, the control section sends to the camera command information relating to the second control information and causes the camera to be controlled based on the second control information; 
   wherein camera control based on command information relating to the first information includes at least one of pan control, tilt control and zoom control; and   wherein camera control based on command information relating to the second information includes at least one of pan control, tilt control and zoom control.   
     
     
         13 . A camera control method, comprising the steps of:
 selecting unique information;   generating command information corresponding to the selected unique information; and   sending command information from a camera control apparatus to a camera;   wherein when the selected unique information corresponds to first control information stored in the camera, command information relating to the first control information is sent to the camera and the camera is controlled based on the first control information;   wherein when the selected unique information corresponds to second control information stored in the camera control apparatus, command information relating to the second control information is sent to the camera and the camera is controlled based on the second control information;   wherein camera control based on command information relating to the first information includes at least one of pan control, tilt control and zoom control; and   wherein camera control based on command information relating to the second information includes at least one of pan control, tilt control and zoom control.   
     
     
         14 . The camera control method according to  claim 13 , wherein the second control information is stored in the camera control apparatus along with model information representing the model of the camera. 
     
     
         15 . The camera control method according to  claim 14 , further comprising checking if the model information of the camera stored with the second control information coincides with model information of cameras connected to the camera control apparatus before command information relating to the second control information is sent to the camera. 
     
     
         16 . The camera control apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein command information relating to the second control information is not sent to the camera when the model information stored with the second control information does not coincide with the model information of the camera connected to the camera control apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . A camera control apparatus comprising:
 network interface means connected to a camera and including first control information storage means for storing first control information;   selection means for selecting unique information;   control means for generating command information corresponding to the selected unique information; and   second control information storage means in the camera control apparatus, different from the first control information storage means, for storing second control information identified by unique information;   wherein when the selected unique information corresponds to the first control information stored in the camera, the control means sends to the camera command information relating to the first control information and causes the camera to be controlled based on the first control information;   wherein when the selected unique information is identified by the second control information stored in the second information storage means, the control means sends to the camera command information relating to the second control information and causes the camera to be controlled based on the second control information;   wherein camera control based on command information relating to the first information includes at least one of pan control, tilt control and zoom control; and   wherein camera control based on command information relating to the second information includes at least one of pan control, tilt control and zoom control.