Patent ID: 8144199

Claim:
A moving object automatic tracking apparatus comprising: an image input portion supported by an adjustable platform, wherein the image input portion captures a moving object in an image; a movement detector which detects movement of the moving object in the image obtained from the image input portion that controls a photography direction; a tracker which tracks the moving object by controlling the photography direction of the image input portion in a direction of movement of the moving object based on a detection result of the movement detector; an area manager that: manages a plurality of previously-registered preset positions that each correspond to a different photography direction of the image input portion to be repeatedly established before the movement of the moving object is detected to monitor the plurality of preset positions, and also adaptively registers and manages an adaptive preset position corresponding to another photography direction, different than the each of the different photography directions, that is to be repeatedly established in addition to the previously-registered preset positions for monitoring the adaptive preset position in response to detection of the moving object; and a patrol monitor for patrolling and monitoring the preset position.