IMAGE TRANSMISSION APPARATUS, IMAGE TRANSMISSION METHOD, PROGRAM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Abstract

At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image transmission apparatus connected to an image pickup apparatus and configured to transmit an image picked up by the image pickup apparatus to a plurality of client terminals via a network. The image transmission apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set a transmission processing mode for transmitting a still image picked up by the image pickup apparatus and a real-time image picked up by the image pickup apparatus and having a resolution lower than that of the still image according to an instruction issued from one of the plurality of client terminals, and a control unit configured to control an instruction to the image pickup apparatus and a transmission processing for the still image and the real-time image according to the transmission processing mode set by the setting unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features and aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of a cradle apparatus and a configuration of a digital camera according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a connection state of a cradle apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating example processing for shooting a still image performed by the cradle apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating example processing for transmitting a still image performed by the cradle apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example sequence of a system according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating example processing for shooting a still image performed by a cradle apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example sequence of a system according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating example processing for shooting a still image performed by a cradle apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example sequence of a system according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating an example mode selection processing performed by a cradle apparatus according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating an example mode selection processing performed by a cradle apparatus according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating an example mode selection processing performed by a cradle apparatus according to a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating an example mode selection processing performed by a cradle apparatus according to a seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example configuration of a digital camera and a configuration of a camera server according to an eighth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example connection state of the camera server according to the eighth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An image transmission apparatus configured to be in communication with an image pickup apparatus and configured to transmit an image picked up by the image pickup apparatus to a plurality of client terminals via a network, the image transmission apparatus comprising: a setting unit configured to set a transmission processing mode for transmitting a still image picked up by the image pickup apparatus and a real-time image picked up by the image pickup apparatus and having a resolution lower than that of the still image according to an instruction issued from one of the plurality of client terminals; anda control unit configured to control an instruction to the image pickup apparatus and a transmission processing for the still image and the real-time image according to the transmission processing mode set by the setting unit.

2. The image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission processing mode includes a first transmission processing mode in which when shooting of a still image is instructed from one of the plurality of client terminals while the image transmission apparatus is transmitting the real-time image, the control unit suspends transmission of the real-time image, instructs the image pickup apparatus to transmit a thumbnail image corresponding to the still image, and resumes transmission of the real-time image after the thumbnail image is transmitted to the client terminal that has instructed shooting of the still image.

3. The image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission processing mode includes a second transmission processing mode in which when shooting of a still image is instructed from one of the plurality of client terminals while the image transmission apparatus is transmitting the real-time image, the control unit suspends transmission of the real-time image, instructs the image pickup apparatus to transmit the still image, instructs the image pickup apparatus to produce and transmit a thumbnail image corresponding to the still image, and resumes transmission of the real-time image after the thumbnail image is transmitted to the client terminal that has instructed shooting of the still image.

4. The image transmission apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission processing mode includes a third transmission processing mode in which when shooting of a still image is instructed from one of the plurality of client terminals while the image transmission apparatus is transmitting the real-time image, the control unit issues an instruction for time-serially transmitting the real-time image and divided data of the still image, instructs the image pickup apparatus to transmit the real-time image, and instructs the image pickup apparatus to time-serially transmit divided data of the still image to the client terminal that has instructed shooting of the still image.

5. The image transmission apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when it is determined that an effective speed of the network is equal to or lower than a predetermined effective value and that the image pickup apparatus complies with a standard for performing a lower speed transmission of at least two standards for a transmission path, the setting unit sets the first transmission processing mode.

6. The image transmission apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when it is determined that an effective speed of the network is equal to or lower than a predetermined effective value and that the image pickup apparatus complies with a standard for performing a higher speed transmission of at least two standards for a transmission path, the setting unit sets the second transmission processing mode.

7. The image transmission apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when it is determined that an effective speed of the network is equal to or higher than a predetermined effective value, the setting unit sets the third sending processing mode.

8. An image transmission method for an image transmission apparatus connected to an image pickup apparatus and configured to transmit an image picked up by the image pickup apparatus to a plurality of client terminals via a network, the image transmission method comprising: setting a transmission processing mode for transmitting a still image picked up by the image pickup apparatus and a real-time image picked up by the image pickup apparatus and having a resolution lower than that of the still image according to an instruction issued from one of the plurality of client terminals; andcontrolling an instruction to the image pickup apparatus and a transmission processing for the still image and the real-time image according to the set transmission processing mode.

9. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for performing an image transmission with an image transmission apparatus connected to an image pickup apparatus and configured to transmit an image picked up by the image pickup apparatus to a plurality of client terminals via a network, the computer readable medium comprising: computer-executable instructions for setting a transmission processing mode for transmitting a still image picked up by the image pickup apparatus and a real-time image picked up by the image pickup apparatus and having a resolution lower than that of the still image according to an instruction issued from one of the plurality of client terminals; andcomputer-executable instructions for controlling an instruction to the image pickup apparatus and a transmission processing for the still image and the real-time image according to the set transmission processing mode.