U.S. patent application number 12/946408 was filed with the patent office on 2011-05-19 for method and apparatus for providing image in camera or remote-controller for camera.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Woo-yong CHANG, Min-jeong MOON, Se-jun PARK, Sang-ho SHIN, Seung-dong YU.
Application Number | 20110115932 12/946408 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43498615 |
Filed Date | 2011-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110115932 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SHIN; Sang-ho ; et
al. |
May 19, 2011 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING IMAGE IN CAMERA OR
REMOTE-CONTROLLER FOR CAMERA
Abstract
A method of providing an image, the method including receiving
an image capture start signal from a remote controller of the
camera, successively capturing images after the image capture start
signal is received, receiving an image capture end signal from the
remote controller, and selecting an image captured at a time which
is a predetermined period of time prior to a time at which the
image capture end signal is received.
Inventors: |
SHIN; Sang-ho; (Seoul,
KR) ; YU; Seung-dong; (Osan-si, KR) ; CHANG;
Woo-yong; (Yongin-si, KR) ; PARK; Se-jun;
(Yongin-si, KR) ; MOON; Min-jeong; (Seongnam-si,
KR) |
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
43498615 |
Appl. No.: |
12/946408 |
Filed: |
November 15, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/211.4 ;
348/E5.042 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/23293 20130101;
H04N 5/23245 20130101; H04N 5/232 20130101; H04N 5/23203 20130101;
H04N 5/23206 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/211.4 ;
348/E05.042 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/232 20060101
H04N005/232 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 13, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0109545 |
Nov 9, 2010 |
KR |
10-2010-0110959 |
Claims
1. A method of providing an image, the method comprising:
transmitting an image capture start signal to a camera;
transmitting an image capture end signal to the camera; and
receiving an image captured at a time which is a predetermined
period of time prior to a time at which the image capture end
signal is received.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the image capture start signal is
a successive image capture start signal, and the image capture end
signal is a successive image capture end signal.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined period of time
is a difference between a time corresponding to an image displayed
on the camera and an image displayed on the remote controller of
the camera, which transmits the successive image capture start
signal to the camera.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein a time lag between images
displayed on the camera and the remote controller is based on a sum
of a time delay due to transmission of a signal from the remote
controller to the camera, a time delay due to the encoding
operation in the camera, a time delay due to transmission of an
image from the camera to the remote controller, and a time delay
due to the decoding operation in the remote controller.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein transmitting the successive image
capture start signal comprises transmitting the successive image
capture start signal to the camera when a push signal, which is
generated as a predetermined image capture button of the remote
controller is pushed, is received, and wherein transmitting a
successive image capture end signal comprises transmitting the
successive image capture end signal to the camera when reception of
the push signal is completed.
6. The method of claim 3, wherein receiving the captured image from
the camera comprises receiving at least one image captured within a
predetermined period of time from a time, which is calculated by
subtracting a sum of time delays from a time at which the camera
has received the successive image capture end signal.
7. A method of providing an image, the method comprising: receiving
an image capture start signal from a remote controller of the
camera; successively capturing images after the image capture start
signal is received; receiving an image capture end signal from the
remote controller; and selecting an image captured at a time which
is a predetermined period of time prior to a time at which the
image capture end signal is received.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the image capture start signal is
a successive image capture start signal, and the image capture end
signal is a successive image capture end signal.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined period of time
is a difference between a time corresponding to an image displayed
on the camera and an image displayed on the remote controller of
the camera, which transmits the successive image capture start
signal to the camera.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein a time lag between images
displayed on the camera and the remote controller is based on a sum
of a time delay due to transmission of a signal from the remote
controller to the camera, a time delay due to the encoding
operation in the camera, a time delay due to transmission of an
image from the camera to the remote controller, and a time delay
due to the decoding operation in the remote controller.
11. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting the
selected image to the remote controller.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein selecting an image comprises
selecting at least one image captured within a predetermined period
of time from a time, which is calculated by subtracting a sum of
time delays from a time at which the camera has received the
successive image capture end signal.
13. The method of claim 7, further comprising encoding an image to
be streamed in real time to an image of a lower resolution and
transmitting the encoded image to the remote controller.
14. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting the
selected image via e-mail based on information in a stored address
book.
15. The method of claim 7, further comprising: requesting a
predetermined address book to the remote controller; and
transmitting the selected image via e-mail based on information in
the stored address book received from the remote controller.
16. The method of claim 7, further comprising storing the selected
image in a predetermined storage unit.
17. A method of providing an image, the method comprising:
transmitting first image capture signal to a camera; transmitting
second image capture signal to the camera; and receiving a JPEG
image captured at a time which is a predetermined period of time
prior to a time at which the successive image capture end signal is
received.
18. A method of transmitting an image, the method comprising:
receiving first image capture signal from a remote controller of a
camera; encoding an image displayed on the camera by using a motion
JPEG encoding method and transmitting the encoded image to the
remote controller; receiving second image capture signal from the
remote controller; and selecting a JPEG image captured at a time
which is a predetermined period of time prior to a time at which
the second image capture signal is received.
19. A method of providing an image, the method comprising:
transmitting a motion picture capture start signal to a camera;
receiving a real time stream of a motion picture captured by the
camera; transmitting a still image capture signal to the camera;
and receiving an image file generated by converting a frame
corresponding to a time which is a predetermined period of time
prior to a time, at which the still image capture signal is
received, extracted from the captured motion picture.
20. A method of transmitting an image, the method comprising:
receiving a motion picture capture start signal from a remote
controller; capturing a motion picture; streaming the captured
motion picture to the remote controller in real time; receiving a
still image capture signal from the remote controller; and
extracting a frame corresponding to a time which is a predetermined
period of time prior to a time, at which the still image capture
signal is received, from the captured motion picture and converting
the frame to an image file.
21. A remote controller of a camera comprising: a transmitting
unit, which transmits an image capture start signal to a camera,
and then transmits an image capture end signal to the camera; and a
receiving unit, which receives an image captured at a time which is
a predetermined period of time prior to a time at which the image
capture end signal is received.
22. The remote controller of claim 21, wherein the image capture
start signal is a successive image capture start signal, and the
image capture end signal is a successive image capture end
signal.
23. The remote controller of claim 22, wherein the predetermined
period of time is a difference between a time corresponding to an
image displayed on the camera and an image displayed on the remote
controller of the camera, which transmits the successive image
capture start signal to the camera.
24. The remote controller of claim 23, wherein a time lag between
images displayed on the camera and the remote controller is based
on a sum of a time delay due to transmission of a signal from the
remote controller to the camera, a time delay due to the encoding
operation in the camera, a time delay due to transmission of an
image from the camera to the remote controller, and a time delay
due to the decoding operation in the remote controller.
25. The remote controller of claim 23, further comprising a button
unit, which generates the successive image capture start signal and
the successive image capture end signal according to a
predetermined push signal, wherein the transmitting unit transmits
the successive image capture start signal to the camera when a push
signal, which is generated as a predetermined image capture button
of the remote controller is pushed, is received, and the
transmitting unit transmits the successive image capture end signal
to the camera when reception of the push signal is completed.
26. The remote controller of claim 23, wherein the receiving unit
receives at least one image captured within a predetermined period
of time from a time, which is calculated by subtracting a sum of
time delays from a time at which the camera has received the
successive image capture end signal.
27. A camera comprising: a receiving unit, which receives an image
capture start signal and an image capture end signal from a remote
controller of the camera; an image capturing unit, which
successively captures images after the image capture start signal
is received until the image capture end signal is received; and a
control unit, which selects an image captured at a time which is a
predetermined period of time prior to a time at which the image
capture end signal is received.
28. The camera of claim 27, wherein the image capture start signal
is a successive image capture start signal, and the image capture
end signal is a successive image capture end signal.
29. The camera of claim 28, wherein the predetermined period of
time is a difference between a time corresponding to an image
displayed on the camera and an image displayed on the remote
controller of the camera, which transmits a successive image
capture start signal to the camera.
30. The camera of claim 29, wherein a time lag between images
displayed on the camera and the remote controller is based on a sum
of a time delay due to transmission of a signal from the remote
controller to the camera, a time delay due to the encoding
operation in the camera, a time delay due to transmission of an
image from the camera to the remote controller, and a time delay
due to the decoding operation in the remote controller.
31. The camera of claim 28, wherein the transmitting unit transmits
the selected image to the remote controller.
32. The camera of claim 31, wherein the control unit selects at
least one image captured within a predetermined period of time from
a time, which is calculated by subtracting a sum of time delays
from a time at which the camera has received the successive image
capture end signal.
33. The camera of claim 27, wherein the control unit encodes an
image to be streamed in real time to an image of a lower
resolution, and the transmitting unit transmits the encoded image
to the remote controller.
34. The camera of claim 27, wherein the transmitting unit transmits
the selected image via e-mail based on information in a stored
address book.
35. The camera of claim 27, wherein the camera requests a
predetermined address book to the remote controller, and the camera
transmits the selected image via the transmitting unit via e-mail
based on information in the stored address book received from the
remote controller.
36. The camera of claim 27, further comprising a storage unit for
storing the selected image in a predetermined storage unit.
37. A remote controller of a camera, the remote controller
comprising: a transmitting unit, which transmits a first image
capture signal to the camera and transmits a second image capture
signal to the camera; receiving a JPEG image captured at a time
which is a predetermined period of time prior to a time at which
the second image capture signal is received.
38. A camera comprising: a receiving unit, which receives a first
image capture signal and a second image capture signal from a
remote controller of a camera; and a control unit, which encodes an
image displayed on the camera by using a motion JPEG encoding
method and transmitting the encoded image to the remote controller
and, when a second image capture signal is received from the remote
controller, selects a JPEG image captured at a time which is a
predetermined period of time prior to a time at which the second
image capture signal is received.
39. A remote controller of a camera, the remote controller
comprising: a transmitting unit, which transmits a motion picture
capture start signal to a camera; and a receiving unit, which
receives a real time stream of a motion picture captured by the
camera and receives an image file generated by converting a frame
corresponding to a time which is a predetermined period of time
prior to a time, at which the still image capture signal is
received, extracted from the captured motion picture.
40. A camera comprising: a receiving unit, which receives a motion
picture capture start signal and a still image capture signal from
a remote controller of the camera; an image capturing unit, which
captures a motion picture when the motion picture capture start
signal is received from the remote controller; a control unit,
which, when the still image capture signal is received, extracts a
frame corresponding to a time which is a predetermined period of
time prior to a time, at which the still image capture signal is
received, from the captured motion picture and converts the frame
to an image file.
41. A computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a
computer program for implementing the method of providing an image,
the method comprising: transmitting an image capture start signal
to a camera; transmitting an image capture end signal to the
camera; and receiving an image captured at a time which is a
predetermined period of time prior to a time at which the image
capture end signal is received.
42. A computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a
computer program for implementing the method of providing an image,
the method comprising: receiving an image capture start signal from
a remote controller of the camera; successively capturing images
after the image capture start signal is received; receiving an
image capture end signal from the remote controller; and selecting
an image captured at a time which is a predetermined period of time
prior to a time at which the image capture end signal is received.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2009-0109545, which was filed in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, on Nov. 13, 2009, and Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2010-0110959, which was filed in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, on Nov. 9, 2010, the disclosures of
which are incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention generally relates to remotely
controlling a camera, and more particularly to a method and an
apparatus for providing an image in a camera or a remote controller
of a camera.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A digital camera is a device for converting a still image or
a moving image to digital signals and storing the digital signals
in a storage medium, such as a memory card. An image of an object
captured via a lens is converted to electric signals by a
Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal-Oxide
Semiconductor (CMOS). The electric signals are converted to digital
signals by an Analog-to-Digital (ND) converter, and the digital
signals are stored in a memory after correction and compression.
The stored digital signals are transmitted to a Personal Computer
(PC) or a recording medium via any of various interfaces.
Accordingly, a digital image is formed.
[0006] An object is photographed by using a digital camera by
directing a lens of the digital camera toward the object, focusing
the digital camera to capture an optimal image, and triggering a
shutter. The series of operations is applicable when a person
operating a digital camera and a person to be photographed are
different people. When a person operating a digital camera and
another person shall be photographed together, a timer function of
a digital camera is generally used. However, it is difficult to
obtain a desired angle and focus by using a timer function, and
thus it is difficult to obtain a clear image. Therefore, a remote
controller for remotely controlling a digital camera is used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, the present invention provides a method and an
apparatus for providing an image in a camera or a remote controller
of a camera to acquire a captured image with no time delay.
[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, a method of
providing an image includes transmitting an image capture start
signal to a camera; transmitting an image capture end signal to the
camera; and receiving an image captured at a time which is a
predetermined period of time prior to a time at which the image
capture end signal is received.
[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
method of providing an image includes receiving an image capture
start signal from a remote controller of the camera; successively
capturing images after the image capture start signal is
received;
[0010] receiving an image capture end signal from the remote
controller; and selecting an image captured at a time which is a
predetermined period of time prior to a time at which the image
capture end signal is received.
[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
method of providing an image includes transmitting first image
capture signal to a camera; transmitting second image capture
signal to the camera; and receiving a JPEG image captured at a time
which is a predetermined period of time prior to a time at which
the successive image capture end signal is received.
[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
method of transmitting an image includes receiving first image
capture signal from a remote controller of a camera; encoding an
image displayed on the camera by using a motion JPEG encoding
method and transmitting the encoded image to the remote controller;
receiving second image capture signal from the remote controller;
and selecting a JPEG image captured at a time which is a
predetermined period of time prior to a time at which the second
image capture signal is received.
[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
method of providing an image includes transmitting a motion picture
capture start signal to a camera; receiving a real time stream of a
motion picture captured by the camera; transmitting a still image
capture signal to the camera; and receiving an image file generated
by converting a frame corresponding to a time which is a
predetermined period of time prior to a time, at which the still
image capture signal is received, extracted from the captured
motion picture.
[0014] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
method of transmitting an image includes receiving a motion picture
capture start signal from a remote controller; capturing a motion
picture; streaming the captured motion picture to the remote
controller in real time; receiving a still image capture signal
from the remote controller; and extracting a frame corresponding to
a time which is a predetermined period of time prior to a time, at
which the still image capture signal is received, from the captured
motion picture and converting the frame to an image file.
[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
remote controller of a camera includes a transmitting unit, which
transmits an image capture start signal to a camera, and then
transmits an image capture end signal to the camera; and a
receiving unit, which receives an image captured at a time a
predetermined period of time prior to a time at which the image
capture end signal is received.
[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
camera includes a receiving unit, which receives an image capture
start signal and an image capture end signal from a remote
controller of the camera; an image capturing unit, which
successively captures images after the image capture start signal
is received until the image capture end signal is received; and a
control unit, which selects an image captured at a time which is a
predetermined period of time prior to a time at which the image
capture end signal is received.
[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
remote controller of a camera, the remote controller includes a
transmitting unit, which transmits a first image capture signal to
the camera and transmits a second image capture signal to the
camera; receiving a JPEG image captured at a time which is a
predetermined period of time prior to a time at which the second
image capture signal is received.
[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
camera includes a receiving unit, which receives a first image
capture signal and a second image capture signal from a remote
controller of a camera; and a control unit, which encodes an image
displayed on the camera by using a motion JPEG encoding method and
transmitting the encoded image to the remote controller and, when a
second image capture signal is received from the remote controller,
selects a JPEG image captured at a time which is a predetermined
period of time prior to a time at which the second image capture
signal is received.
[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
remote controller of a camera, the remote controller includes a
transmitting unit, which transmits a motion picture capture start
signal to a camera; and a receiving unit, which receives a real
time stream of a motion picture captured by the camera and receives
an image file generated by converting a frame corresponding to a
time which is a predetermined period of time prior to a time, at
which the still image capture signal is received, extracted from
the captured motion picture.
[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, a
camera includes a receiving unit, which receives a motion picture
capture start signal and a still image capture signal from a remote
controller of the camera; an image capturing unit, which captures a
motion picture when the motion picture capture start signal is
received from the remote controller; a control unit, which, when
the still image capture signal is received, extracts a frame
corresponding to a time which is a predetermined period of time
prior to a time, at which the still image capture signal is
received, from the captured motion picture and converts the frame
to an image file.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The above and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent, by describing in detail
embodiments thereof, with reference to the attached drawings in
which:
[0022] FIGS. 1A through 1E are diagrams showing examples of methods
of remotely controlling a camera, according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a method of remotely controlling
a camera, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of screen images
displayed on the camera and the remote controller.
[0025] FIGS. 4A through 4D are diagrams showing examples of methods
of remotely controlling a camera, according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method of remotely controlling
a camera, according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a method of remotely controlling
a camera, according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a camera 720 and a remote
controller 710 of the camera, according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0029] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the
following description, the same elements will be designated by the
same reference numerals although they are shown in different
drawings. Further, in the following description of the present
invention, a detailed description of known functions and
configurations incorporated herein will be omitted for the sake of
clarity and conciseness.
[0030] FIGS. 1A through 1E are diagrams showing methods of remotely
controlling a camera, according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 1A, a camera 110 and a mobile device 120,
which is a remote controller of the camera 110, are connected to
each other via a predetermined wired or wireless communication
network, such as Wi-Fi. Referring to FIG. 1B, an image 111, which
is formed of electric signals converted from a light input via a
lens of the camera 110, is displayed on a display unit of the
camera 110. Referring to FIG. 1C, when the mobile device 120
executes an application for remotely controlling the camera 110, a
screen image displayed on the camera 110 is streamed to and is
displayed on a display unit of the mobile device 120 in real time.
However, due to a hardware difference, such as a difference between
a resolution of the display unit of the camera 110 and a resolution
of the display unit of the mobile device 120, screen images
displayed on each of the display units may not be identical to each
other. In FIG. 1C, a screen image 121 displayed on the display unit
of the mobile device 120 is smaller than a screen image 111
displayed on the display unit of the camera 110. In other words,
the screen image 121 displayed on the display unit of the mobile
device 120 is partially cut as compared to the screen image 111
displayed on the display unit of the camera 110. Referring to FIG.
1D, the layout of the screen image 122 may be corrected by a zoom
function with respect to a screen image 122 displayed on the
display unit of the mobile device 120. The size of the screen image
122 may be adjusted by using the zoom function. In FIG. 1D, the
screen image 122 displayed on the display unit of the mobile device
120 becomes identical to the screen image 111 displayed on the
display unit of the camera 110 by using the zoom function. Here, a
user may remote-photograph an object by using a predetermined
button of the mobile device 120. An image captured by the camera
110 is received by the mobile device 120, and the image is
displayed. A user of the mobile device 120 may either store or
delete the received image. Referring to FIG. 1E, when a received
image is displayed on the mobile device 120, if a user pushes a
predetermined button for sharing the image, an address book stored
in the mobile device 120 is displayed on a display screen 123 of
the mobile device 120. Names and e-mail addresses of people is
included in the address book. Next, when the user selects addresses
of people to send the image, the mobile device 120 transmits the
received image to the selected addresses.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a method of remotely controlling
a camera, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] In step 210, the camera displays an image of an object on a
display unit via a live-view feature. The live-view feature refers
to a function of displaying an image input via a lens on a display
unit, e.g., an LCD window. The camera encodes the screen image
displayed on the display unit by using a predetermined encoding
method, and then streams the encoded screen image to a remote
controller in real time. The remote controller decodes the screen
image, which is streamed in real time, by using a predetermined
decoding method, and then displays the decoded screen image on a
display unit. In this case, a time delay occurs, due to the
encoding operation in the camera, transmission from the camera to
the remote controller, and the decoding operation in the remote
controller. Therefore, a screen image displayed on the camera and a
screen image displayed on the remote controller are not exactly the
same. In other words, a screen image displayed on the remote
controller becomes a past screen image with respect to a screen
image displayed on the camera, due to a sum of the time delays
stated above. For example, if a user captures an image based on a
screen image displayed on the remote controller, the captured image
corresponds to a screen image a time displayed a time delay after
the screen image viewed by the user. In this case, a user may not
be able to acquire an image of a desired screen image. Detailed
description thereof will be given below with reference to FIG.
3.
[0034] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of screen images
displayed on the camera and the remote controller.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 3, in step 210, an image of a current
object 310 input via a lens of a camera 320 is displayed. The
camera 320 streams a displayed screen image 321 to a remote
controller, e.g., a mobile device 330, in real time. In this case,
the camera 320 encodes the displayed screen image 321 by using a
predetermined encoding method and transmits the encoded screen
image 321, whereas the mobile device 330 decodes received stream
signals by using a predetermined decoding method and displays the
decoded stream signals. Here, a time delay occurs, due to the
encoding operation, the transmission, and the decoding operation.
Therefore, a screen image 331 displayed on the mobile device 330
becomes a past screen image with respect to the screen image 321
displayed on the camera 320.
[0036] In step 220, if a user pushes an image capture button of the
remote controller while the user is viewing a screen image
displayed on the remote controller, the remote controller transmits
a successive image capture start signal to the camera.
[0037] In step 230, when the camera receives the successive image
capture start signal from the remote controller, the camera
successively captures images at a predetermined interval. The
successive image capture is a function of successively capturing
images when a shutter button is pushed. A speed of successively
capturing images may vary according to performance of the camera.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a time
interval for successively capturing images may be smaller than a
sum of time delays. Successively captured images respectively
include information regarding time points at which the images are
captured. The camera stores at least one of successively captured
image in a predetermined storage unit of the camera.
[0038] In step 240, the remote controller transmits a successive
image capture end signal to the camera. According to an embodiment
of the present invention, when a user pushes a shutter button of
the remote controller, the remote controller generates a successive
image capture start signal. When a user holds and releases the
shutter button of the remote controller, the remote controller
generates a successive image capture end signal and transmits the
successive image capture end signal to the camera.
[0039] In step 250, the camera, which has received the successive
image capture end signal, terminates the operation of successively
capturing images and selects a predetermined image to be stored
from among successively captured images. The camera selects an
image captured at a time, which is calculated by subtracting a sum
of time delays from a time at which the camera has received the
successive image capture end signal. In this case, an image
identical to a screen image desired by a user may be acquired. If
no image is captured at a desired time, which is calculated by
subtracting a sum of time delays from a time at which the camera
has received the successive image capture end signal, an image
captured at a nearest time is selected as an image to be stored.
Furthermore, the camera may select a plurality of images captured
within a predetermined time interval from the desired time as
images to be stored. The camera may store all of successively
captured images, so that a user may select images to store. A sum
of time delays corresponds to a sum of a period of time elapsed for
encoding operation in the camera, a period of time elapsed for
streaming a screen image from the camera to the remote controller,
a period of time elapsed for decoding operation in the remote
controller, and a period of time elapsed for transmitting a signal
from the remote controller to the camera.
[0040] In step 260, the camera transmits a selected image to the
remote controller. The camera may transmit a selected image via
e-mail based on information in an address book stored in the
camera. Furthermore, since the camera includes a face
detection/recognition module, if a captured image is a portrait
picture, information of a person photographed in the captured image
may be detected. In this case, the camera may transmit a selected
image to a person corresponding to the information detected in the
image via e-mail based on information in the address book. If no
address is stored in the camera, the camera may request address
information to the remote controller (e.g., a mobile device),
receive the address information, and transmit the selected image
via e-mail based on the address information.
[0041] Furthermore, if the remote controller receives a selected
image, the remote controller may also transmit the received image
via e-mail based on an address in an address book stored in the
remote controller. If the remote controller includes a face
detection/recognition module, the remote controller may transmit
the received image to a person corresponding to the information
detected in the image as described above via e-mail based on the
address information in the address book.
[0042] The above method will be described below with reference to
FIGS. 4A through 4D. FIGS. 4A through 4D are diagrams showing
examples of methods of remotely controlling a camera, according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] In FIG. 4A, an image 411 of an object is displayed on the
camera 410. Furthermore, the camera 410 streams the image 411 to a
remote controller, e.g., a mobile device 420, in real time. The
image 421 streamed in real time is displayed on the remote
controller 420. However, the image 421 displayed on the mobile
device 420 is not identical to the image 411 displayed on the
camera 410. Here, as compared to the image 411 displayed on the
camera 410, the image 421 is an image delayed by a sum of a period
of time elapsed for the camera 410 to encode the image 411, a
period of time elapsed for the camera to transmit encoded stream
signals to the mobile device 420, and a period of time elapsed for
the mobile device 420 to decode the encoded stream signals. The
image 421 displayed on the mobile device 420 shown in FIG. 4A is a
blank image due to time delay. In the same regard, as shown in FIG.
4B, an image 412 displayed on the camera 410 and an image 422
displayed on the mobile device 420 are different from each other by
a sum of time delays. Compared to FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C shows an image
after a sum of time delays. In FIG. 4C, since a desired scene is
found in an image 423 displayed on the mobile device 420, a user
transmits a successive image capture end signal 413 to the camera
410. The camera 410, which has received the successive image
capture end signal, selects an image captured prior to the time
delays and transmits the selected image to the mobile device 420.
In this case, the camera 410 transmits a captured image
corresponding to a scene image prior to the time delays, that is,
an image 430 as shown in FIG. 4D to the mobile device 420.
[0044] Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, when a successive image capture start signal is
received, an image currently displayed on a display unit of a
camera may be encoded to an image of a lower resolution and the
encoded image may be transmitted to a remote controller. In this
case, the time delay, due to encoding operation in the camera,
transmission, and a decoding operation in the remote controller,
may be reduced.
[0045] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method of remotely controlling
a camera, according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0046] In step 510, an image displayed on the camera via live-view
function is streamed in real time.
[0047] In step 520, if a user pushes an image capture button of the
remote controller while the user is viewing a screen image
displayed on the remote controller, the remote controller transmits
a first image capture signal to the camera.
[0048] In step 530, when the camera receives the first image
capture signal from the remote controller, a method of encoding an
image displayed on a display unit of the camera via live-view
function is switched to a Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) encoding method. The
M-JPEG encoding method encodes each of frames to JPEG, and is an
image compression technique developed from the JPEG compression
method, which is a compression method for a still image. During
M-JPEG compression, each of frames constituting an image is encoded
to JPEG and is successively arranged to form a motion picture. A
JPEG image is stored in a temporary memory.
[0049] In step 540, the remote controller transmits a second image
capture signal to the camera.
[0050] In step 550, the camera, which has received the second image
capture signal, selects a predetermined JPEG image from among
stored JPEG images. The camera selects a JPEG image captured at a
time, which is calculated by subtracting a sum of time delays from
a time at which the camera has received the second image capture
signal. A sum of time delays corresponds to a sum of a period of
time elapsed for M-JPEG encoding operation in the camera, a period
of time elapsed for streaming the encoded M-JPEG from the camera to
the remote controller, a period of time elapsed for M-JPEG decoding
operation in the remote controller, and a period of time elapsed
for transmitting the second image capture signal from the remote
controller to the camera.
[0051] In step 560, the camera transmits the selected JPEG image to
the remote controller. JPEG images selected by the camera or the
remote controller are transmitted via e-mail as described above in
FIG. 2.
[0052] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a method of remotely controlling
a camera, according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0053] In step 610, a remote controller transmits a motion picture
capture start signal to the camera.
[0054] In step 620, after the motion picture capture start signal
is received, the camera starts capturing a motion picture. In step
630, the camera transmits captured motion picture signals to the
remote controller.
[0055] In step 640, while the camera is capturing a motion picture,
the remote controller transmits a still image capture signal.
[0056] In step 650, the camera extracts a frame corresponding to a
time which is a predetermined period of time prior to a time, at
which the still image capture signal is received, from the captured
motion picture, that is, a captured image sequence. In other words,
a frame corresponding to a time, which is calculated by subtracting
a sum of time delays from the time at which the still image capture
signal is received, is extracted. Next, the camera converts the
extracted frame to an image file of a predetermined format. If
there is no frame corresponding to a time, which is calculated by
subtracting a sum of time delays from a time at which the camera
has received the still image capture signal, a frame captured at a
nearest time is extracted. A sum of time delays corresponds to a
sum of a period of time elapsed for motion picture encoding
operation in the camera, a period of time elapsed for transmitting
the encoded motion picture from the camera to the remote
controller, a period of time elapsed for motion picture decoding
operation in the remote controller, and a period of time elapsed
for transmitting a still image capture signal from the remote
controller to the camera.
[0057] In step 660, the camera transmits the converted image file
to the remote controller. Image files converted by the camera or
the remote controller are transmitted via e-mail as described above
in FIG. 2. The present embodiment may also employ M-JPEG format for
capturing motion picture, and, when of transmitting a motion
picture from the camera to the remote controller, the motion
picture may be encoded to a motion picture of a lower resolution
and the encoded motion picture may be transmitted to the remote
controller.
[0058] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a camera 720 and a remote
controller 710 of the camera, according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 7, the remote controller 710 includes a
receiving unit 711, a display unit 712, a button unit 713, a
transmitting unit 714, and a storage unit 715. The camera 720
includes a display unit 721, a transmitting unit 722, a receiving
unit 723, an image capturing unit 724, a control unit 725, and a
storage unit 726.
[0060] The receiving unit 711 of the remote controller 710 receives
image signals, which are generated by encoding a screen image
displayed on the display unit 721 of the camera 720 and are
streamed to the remote controller 710 in real time.
[0061] The remote controller 710 decodes the image signals streamed
from the camera 720 in real time at a decoding unit (not shown) and
displays the decoded image signals on the display unit 712 of the
remote controller 710. In this case, a time delay occurs, due to
the encoding operation in the camera 720, transmission from the
camera 720 to the remote controller 710, and the decoding operation
in the remote controller 710. Therefore, a screen image displayed
on the display unit 721 of the camera 720 and a screen image
displayed on the display unit 712 of the remote controller 710 are
not exactly the same. In other words, a screen image displayed on
the display unit 712 of the remote controller 710 becomes a past
screen image with respect to a screen image displayed on the
display unit 721 of the camera 720, due to a sum of the time delays
stated above. For example, if a user captures an image based on a
screen image displayed on the display unit 712 of the remote
controller 710, the captured image corresponds to a screen image a
time displayed a time delay after the screen image viewed by the
user. In this case, a user may not be able to acquire an image of a
desired screen image.
[0062] The button unit 713 generates a successive image capture
start signal and a successive image capture end signal for the
camera 720. According to an embodiment of the present invention,
the button unit 713 may generate a successive image capture start
signal when the button unit 713 is pushed, whereas the button unit
713 may generate a successive image capture end signal when the
button unit 713 is held and released.
[0063] The transmitting unit 714 of the remote controller 710
transmits a successive image capture start signal and a successive
image capture end signal to the camera 720.
[0064] Furthermore, the receiving unit 711 of the remote controller
710 receives an image captured at a time, which is calculated by
subtracting a sum of time delays from a time at which the camera
720 has received the successive image capture end signal. A sum of
time delays corresponds to a sum of a period of time elapsed for
transmitting a successive image capture start signal and a
successive image capture end signal from the remote controller 710
to the camera 720, a period of time elapsed for encoding operation
in the camera, a period of time elapsed for streaming a screen
image from the camera to the remote controller, and a period of
time elapsed for decoding operation in the remote controller.
[0065] The storage unit 715 of the remote controller 710 stores the
received image. Furthermore, the storage unit 715 may store an
address book as described below.
[0066] The display unit 721 of the camera 720 displays an image
generated by converting light input via a lens (not shown) of the
camera 720 to electric signals.
[0067] An encoding unit (not shown) of the camera 720 encodes the
image displayed on the display unit 721 of the camera 720 by using
a predetermined encoding method. Next, the transmitting unit 722 of
the camera 720 streams encoded image signals to the remote
controller 710 in real time. Furthermore, according to another
embodiment of the present invention, if a successive image capture
start signal is received, the encoding unit (not shown) of the
camera 720 may encode an image to be streamed in real time to a
resolution lower than that of a resolution of the image to be
streamed in real time and transmit the encoded image to the remote
controller 710. In this case, the time delay due to encoding
operation in the camera, transmission, and decoding operation in
the remote controller may be reduced, due to stream signals of a
low resolution.
[0068] The camera 720 receives a successive image capture start
signal or a successive image capture end signal from the remote
controller 710.
[0069] The image capturing unit 724 starts to successive capture
images when the successive image capture start signal is received
and terminates to successively capture images when the successive
image capture end signal is received. The successive image capture
is a function of successively capturing images when a shutter
button is pushed. A speed of successively capturing images may vary
according to performance of the camera. According to an embodiment
of the present invention, a time interval for successively
capturing images may be smaller than a sum of time delays.
Successively captured images respectively include information
regarding time points at which the images are captured.
[0070] When a successive image capture end signal is received via
the receiving unit 723 of the camera 720, the control unit 725
terminates the operation of successively capturing images and
selects a predetermined image to be stored from among successively
captured images. The control unit 725 selects an image captured at
a time, which is calculated by subtracting a sum of the time delays
from a time at which the camera has received the successive image
capture end signal. In this case, an image identical to a screen
image desired by a user may be acquired. If no image is captured at
a desired time, which is calculated by subtracting a sum of the
time delays from a time at which the camera has received the
successive image capture end signal, the control unit 725 selects
an image captured at a nearest time as an image to be stored.
Furthermore, the control unit 725 may select a plurality of images
captured within a predetermined time interval from the desired time
as images to be stored. The camera may select all of successively
captured images, so that a user may select images to store. The sum
of time delays corresponds to a sum of a period of time elapsed for
encoding operation in the camera 720, a period of time elapsed for
streaming a screen image from the camera 720 to the remote
controller 710, a period of time elapsed for decoding operation in
the remote controller 710, and a period of time elapsed for
transmitting a signal from the remote controller 710 to the camera
720. The storage unit 726 of the camera 720 stores captured images.
The transmitting unit 722 of the camera 720 transmits the selected
image to the remote controller 710. The control unit 725 of the
camera 720 may transmit the selected image via the transmitting
unit 722 of the camera 720 via e-mail based on information in an
address book stored in the storage unit 726 of the camera 720.
[0071] Furthermore, because the camera 720 includes a face
detection/recognition module, if a captured image is a portrait
picture, the control unit 725 of the camera 720 may detect
information of a person photographed in the captured image. In this
case, the control unit 725 of the camera 720 may transmit a
selected image to a person corresponding to the information
detected in the image via the transmitting unit 722 of the camera
720 via e-mail based on the address information in the address
book. If no address is stored in the storage unit 726 of the camera
720, the control unit 725 of the camera 720 may request address
information to the remote controller 710, receive the address
information, and transmit the selected image via e-mail based on
the address information.
[0072] Furthermore, if the remote controller 710 receives a
selected image, the remote controller 710 may also transmit the
received image via e-mail based on information in an address book
stored in the storage unit 715 of the remote controller 710. If the
remote controller 710 includes a face detection/recognition module,
the remote controller 710 may transmit the received image to a
person corresponding to the information detected in the image as
described above via e-mail based on information in the address
book.
[0073] A camera and a remote controller of the camera according to
another embodiment of the present invention will be described
below.
[0074] The receiving unit 711 of the remote controller 710 receives
an image, which is generated by encoding a screen image displayed
on the display unit 721 of the camera 720 and is streamed in real
time.
[0075] The remote controller 710 decodes the image streamed in real
time by using a decoding unit (not shown) and displays the decoded
image on the display unit 712 of the remote controller 710.
[0076] The button unit 713 generates a first image capture signal
and a second image capture signal by using a predetermined
button.
[0077] The transmitting unit 714 of the remote controller 710
transmits a first image capture signal and a second image capture
signal to the camera 720.
[0078] Furthermore, the receiving unit 711 of the remote controller
710 receives a selected JPEG image from the camera 720.
[0079] The display unit 721 of the camera 720 displays an image
generated by converting light input via a lens (not shown) of the
camera 720 to electric signals.
[0080] An encoding unit (not shown) of the camera 720 encodes the
image displayed on the display unit 721 of the camera 720 by using
a predetermined encoding method. Next, the transmitting unit 722 of
the camera 720 streams the encoded image to the remote controller
710 in real time. If the camera 720 receives the first image
capture signal from the remote controller 710, the encoding unit
(not shown) of the camera 720 switches a current method of encoding
an image to a M-JPEG encoding method. The M-JPEG encoding method
encodes each of frames to JPEG, and is an image compression
technique developed from the JPEG compression method, which is a
compression method for a still image. During M-JPEG compression,
each of frames constituting an image is encoded to JPEG and is
successively arranged to form a motion picture. A JPEG image is
stored in a temporary memory (not shown).
[0081] The receiving unit 723 of the camera 720 receives a first
image capture signal and a second image capture signal from the
remote controller 710.
[0082] If the second image capture signal is received, the control
unit 725 selects a predetermined JPEG image from among temporarily
stored JPEG image, the predetermined JPEG image captured at a time,
which is calculated by subtracting a sum of the time delays from a
time at which the camera has received the second image capture
signal. If JPEG no image is captured at a desired time, which is
calculated by subtracting a sum of the time delays from a time at
which the camera has received the second image capture signal, the
control unit 725 selects a JPEG image captured at a nearest time
point. The sum of time delays corresponds to a sum of a period of
time elapsed for M-JPEG encoding operation in the camera 720, a
period of time elapsed for streaming a screen image from the camera
720 to the remote controller 710, a period of time elapsed for
M-JPEG decoding operation in the remote controller 710, and a
period of time elapsed for transmitting the second image capture
signal from the remote controller 710 to the camera 720.
[0083] The transmitting unit 722 of the camera 720 transmits the
selected JPEG image to the remote controller 710. A JPEG image
selected by the camera 720 or the remote controller 710 is
transmitted via e-mail as described above.
[0084] A camera and a remote controller of the camera according to
another embodiment of the present invention will be described
below.
[0085] The button unit 713 generates a motion picture capture start
signal and a still image capture signal by using a predetermined
button.
[0086] The transmitting unit 714 of the remote controller 710
transmits the motion picture capture start signal and the still
image capture signal to the camera 720. The receiving unit 711 of
the remote controller 710 receives a real time stream of a captured
motion picture from the camera 720.
[0087] The remote controller 710 decodes the motion picture
streamed in real time by using a decoding unit (not shown) and
displays the decoded motion picture on the display unit 712 of the
remote controller 710.
[0088] Furthermore, the receiving unit 711 receives an image file,
which is generated by converting a frame corresponding to a time
which is a predetermined period of time prior to a time in a
captured image sequence, from the camera 720.
[0089] If a motion picture capture start signal is received via the
receiving unit 723 of the camera 720, the image capturing unit 724
of the camera 720 displays an image, which is generated by
converting light input via a lens (not shown) of the camera 720 to
electric signals, on the display unit 721 of the camera 720.
[0090] An encoding unit (not shown) of the camera 720 encodes the
image displayed on the display unit 721 of the camera 720 by using
a predetermined encoding method. Next, the transmitting unit 722 of
the camera 720 streams the encoded image to the remote controller
710 in real time.
[0091] If the still image capture signal is received via the
receiving unit 723 of the camera 720, the control unit 725 extracts
a frame corresponding to a time which is a predetermined period of
time prior to a time, at which the still image capture signal is
received, from the captured motion picture, that is, a captured
image sequence. In other words, the control unit 725 extracts a
frame corresponding to a time, which is calculated by subtracting a
sum of time delays from the time at which the still image capture
signal is received, and converts the extracted frame to a
predetermined image file. If there is no frame corresponding to a
time, which is calculated by subtracting a sum of time delays from
a time at which the camera has received the still image capture
signal, a frame captured at a nearest time is extracted. A sum of
time delays corresponds to a sum of a period of time elapsed for
motion picture encoding operation in the camera 720, a period of
time elapsed for transmitting the encoded motion picture from the
camera 720 to the remote controller 710, a period of time elapsed
for motion picture decoding operation in the remote controller 710,
and a period of time elapsed for transmitting a still image capture
signal from the remote controller 710 to the camera 720.
[0092] The transmitting unit 722 of the camera 720 transmits the
converted image file to the remote controller 710. An image file
converted by the camera 720 or the remote controller 710 is
transmitted via e-mail as described above.
[0093] The invention can also be embodied as computer readable
codes on a computer readable recording medium. The computer
readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store
data which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of
the computer readable recording medium include Read-Only Memory
(ROM), Random-Access Memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy
disks, optical data storage devices, etc. The computer readable
recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled
computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and
executed in a distributed fashion. Also, functional programs,
codes, and code segments for accomplishing the present invention
can be easily construed by programmers skilled in the art to which
the present invention pertains.
[0094] Although the present invention has been particularly shown
and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it
will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes
in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims. The preferred embodiments should be considered in
descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the
detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims,
and all differences within the scope will be construed as being
included in the present invention.
* * * * *