Patent ID: 6954224
Filing Date: 2005-10-11
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A camera control apparatus comprising: an image data receiving section for receiving from an image transmitter image data captured by one of a plurality of cameras; an image data playback section for displaying the received images on a screen; a camera control area display section for displaying camera symbols which correspond to information representing the locations of the cameras and the directions in which the cameras are oriented as a control region for controlling the plurality of cameras connected to the image transmitter; a command load section for loading the coordinates of a location in the control region designated by an operator; a camera-to-be-operated determination section for determining a camera optimal for shooting the designated location from the plurality of cameras; a control command conversion section for converting information about the coordinates loaded by the command load section into a control command signal capable of being used for controlling the plurality of cameras; and a control command transmission section for transmitting the converted control command signal to the image transmitter, wherein said camera-to-be-operated determination section determines which one of said plurality of cameras is to be panned on the basis of an angle between an imaginary line connecting the center of the camera symbol with the designated location and an imaginary line connecting the center of the camera symbol with the direction in which the camera is currently oriented.