1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication system and method, and a storage medium storing programs in communication system.
2. Related Background Art
A remote monitor system using a plurality of video cameras and a synthesizer for synthesizing in an analog manner images taken with the cameras has been used in a building of a relatively small scale or the like and such as system is called a local monitor system. In contrast to such a local monitor system, a remote monitor system has been proposed in which a plurality of cameras are connected by a digital network such as LAN (local area network) and public digital line ISDN so that the more cameras at remoter sites can be controlled more flexibly.
Of remote monitor systems, some systems control the image display and system operations through graphical user interface (GUI) by using personal computers or work stations as monitor terminals. Use of GUI at a monitor terminal enables a computer device to operate the system easily. The operability of the system can be improved by displaying a camera control panel together with an image taken with the camera.
However, conventional methods of displaying images with such a system include various methods such as a glance display of images taken with a plurality of cameras. A conventional display operation and discrimination between system operations are not always good heretofore. Personal computers and work stations are directly, or via a synthesizer for image synthesis and a switcher for switching between cameras, connected to the network. The image synthesizer can select one of cameras connected thereto to display its image, or can display a plurality of images side by side at the same time. By using the switcher, any desired camera can be selected to be controlled.
However, the operability of the system which inputs images via the switcher/synthesizer is not so much satisfactory and there is still a room to be improved.