JP2004180157A - Image monitoring device using movement detection - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image monitoring device capable of displaying a tracking image (detailed image) about an object optionally designated by a monitoring person. <P>SOLUTION: This image monitoring device comprises a wide angle camera A, a camera B which can change the direction of a visual field and is provided with panning, tilting and zooming functions, a target designating means for allowing the monitoring person to designate a photographing object (hereafter described as target) of the camera B on an image of the camera A, a motion detection unit for tracking the movement of the object designated by the target designating means and controlling the camera B provided with the panning, tilting and zooming functions, and a monitor for displaying an image photographed by the camera B. The image monitoring device tracks the object designated on the basis of an image of the camera A by the monitoring person to perform image monitoring and image recording. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image monitoring device using a monitoring camera that configures a security system.
[0002]
[Prior Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
In image monitoring by a surveillance camera, a wide-angle camera and a pan-tilt camera are used, a moving object is detected based on an image acquired from the wide-angle camera, and a photographing direction of the pan-tilt camera is controlled in accordance with the movement of the moving object, thereby A technique has been developed for shooting while tracking (for example, unpublished patent application 1).
[0003]
[Unpublished patent application 1]
Japanese Patent Application 2001-84262
[0004]
However, in the image monitoring apparatus according to the related art, if there is a moving object in an image acquired from the wide-angle camera, the moving object is automatically detected as a target, and the pan-tilt camera is controlled by following the movement of the automatically detected object. Since the tracking image of the moving object is acquired, there is a problem that the image cannot be acquired even if there is another object to be monitored.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an image monitoring apparatus for overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, which is a wide-angle camera A capable of photographing a wide area to be monitored and a pan-tilt-zoom function capable of changing the direction of a visual field. And a target specifying unit for specifying an object to be photographed by the camera B (hereinafter, referred to as a target) based on an image of the camera A, and following a movement of an object specified by the target specifying unit. And a motion detection unit that controls a camera B having a pan / tilt / zoom function, and a monitor that displays an image from the camera B. To monitor the image and record the image.
[0006]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image monitoring apparatus using motion detection according to the present invention.
[0007]
The camera A <b> 1 is a wide-angle camera capable of capturing a wide area, and sends out the captured image of the entire monitoring area to the motion detection unit 3.
The camera B2 has a pan / tilt / zoom function, performs a pan / tilt / zoom operation according to a control signal from the motion detection unit 3 in accordance with the motion of the object detected by the motion detection unit 3, and performs a wide-angle camera A1. Is transmitted to the monitor B and displayed on the monitor 5.
[0008]
When detecting the moving object in the image of the camera A1, the motion detecting unit 3 detects the position of the moving object, controls the pan / tilt / zoom operation of the camera B based on the detected position information, and outputs the detection signal. The data is transmitted to the image recording unit 6 and the communication unit 7.
Further, when the designation signal is input from the target designation means 4, the motion detection unit 3 according to the present invention detects the position of the object designated by the observer based on the designation signal, and the camera B based on the detected position information. , The pan / tilt / zoom operation of the image recording unit 6 and the communication unit 7 are transmitted.
[0009]
The target designating means 4 inputs a designation signal to the motion detection unit 3 when the observer designates an object in the image based on the image (whole view image) taken by the camera A1. The designation signal is position information in the whole scene image of the object designated by the observer.
When the designation signal is input to the motion detection unit 3, the motion detection unit 3 detects an object specified by the monitor by the target specifying unit 4.
That is, when the surveillant designates an object (target) in the image based on the image of the camera A1 displayed on the monitor by the target designation unit 4, the designation signal is input to the motion detection unit 3, and the motion detection unit In step 3, the position of the object designated by the observer is detected, and the pan, tilt, and zoom operations of the camera B2 are controlled based on the detected position information.
[0010]
For example, when an image monitoring apparatus using motion detection according to the present invention is introduced into a security system (imaging monitoring system), a sense area is set in a monitoring area (full-view image) captured by the camera A1, and a When there is a moving object, the motion detection unit 3 preferentially detects the position of the moving object in the sense area, controls the pan / tilt / zoom operation of the camera B2 in accordance with the movement of the moving object, and , A detailed image of the moving object is displayed. If no moving object is detected in the sense area and a designation signal is input from the target designating unit 4, the motion detection unit 3 determines whether or not the monitor is based on the designation signal input from the target designating unit 4. The position of the specified object is detected, the pan / tilt / zoom operation of the camera B is controlled based on the detected position information, and the monitor 5 displays a detailed image of the object specified by the observer.
On the other hand, when it is desired to display the detailed image of the object designated by the observer with priority on the monitor 5, the motion detection unit 3 gives priority to the position detection of the designated object based on the designation signal input from the target designation means 4, The pan / tilt / zoom operation of the camera B may be controlled based on the detected position information.
[0011]
When an object designation signal is input by the target designation means 4, the motion detection unit 3 continues to detect the position of the designated object and controls the pan, tilt, and zoom operations of the camera B2 in accordance with the movement of the designated object. Then, a tracking image of the specified object is acquired.
(1) Until the designated object is out of the shooting range of the camera A, or (2) Until a new object is designated by the target designation means 4 (when a new designation signal is input). Or (3) Until the designation signal of the target designation means 4 is released, or (4) If the acquisition time of the tracking image of the specified object is set by the timer, until the end of the set time (tracking time) by the timer. Or (5) When priority is given to the motion detection in the sense area, the pan / tilt of the camera B2 is adjusted in accordance with the motion of the object detected by the input designation signal until the motion is detected in the sense area. Control the zoom operation and acquire a tracking image of the specified object.
[0012]
The motion detection unit 3 transmits a detection signal to the recording unit and the communication unit when detecting an object.
[0013]
The image recording unit 6 records an image of the camera B2, inputs a signal during detection from the motion detection unit 3, and starts / stops image recording.
The date and time of the start of recording is recorded at the same time as the operation of the image recording unit 6 starts.
[0014]
The communication unit 7 can control and monitor the operation of the image recording unit, send the recorded image to the monitoring source 9 via the communication line 8, and report the detection start date and time and information such as the image.
[0015]
In the target specifying means 4, the observer specifies an object (target object) based on the image of the camera A1.
For example, the position of the target object in the whole scene image is detected by displaying the whole scene image captured by the camera A1 on the monitor and touching (designating) the image of the target object displayed on the monitor screen on the screen. A monitor 41 with a touch panel that can be provided is provided. When the observer specifies an object of interest on the monitor image based on the image (full-view image) of the monitor 41 with a touch panel, a designation signal is transmitted to the motion detection unit 3.
For example, the position of the object of interest in the whole scene image is displayed by displaying the whole scene image captured by the camera A1 on the monitor, and positioning (designating) the cursor display on the image of the object of interest displayed on the monitor screen. When a cursor key 42 that can be detected is provided, and the observer operates the cursor key 42 based on the whole view image and designates an object of interest on the monitor image, the designated signal is transmitted to the motion detection unit 3.
[0016]
The motion detection unit 3 receives the image from the camera A1, detects a moving object in the image or an object specified by the target specifying unit, and outputs a pan / tilt / zoom control signal to the camera B2 so as to capture the image. The detection signal is sent to the image recording unit 7 and the communication unit 8 from the detection of the moving object to the frame out of the screen by continuing the control of the camera B2 in accordance with the movement of the object.
[0017]
Further, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the communication unit 7 can transmit the image of the camera A and the image of the camera B to the monitoring source 9 via the communication line 8, and the image captured by the camera B is transmitted to the monitoring source. A monitor 91 for displaying a (tracking image) is provided, and a target specifying means 92 for specifying an object based on the image of the camera A (full-view image) is provided.
[0018]
The target specifying means 92 provided at the monitoring source is, similarly to the target specifying means 4 described above, a monitor for displaying a panoramic image captured by the camera A, and a monitor based on the panoramic image displayed on the monitor. Are means for designating an object (for example, a cursor key or a touch panel).
When the observer looks at the monitor displaying the panoramic image captured by the camera A and specifies an arbitrary object from the panoramic image, a specifying signal is transmitted from the target specifying unit 92 to the communication unit 7 via the communication line. This designation signal is input to the motion detection unit 3.
[0019]
Note that a computer (hereinafter, referred to as a PC) or the like can be used as the target designation unit 92 installed at the monitoring source.
For example, a panoramic image captured by the camera A1 received via the communication line 8 is displayed on the monitor of the PC, and the observer looks at the panoramic image displayed on the monitor of the PC, and if there is an object to be designated, the PC An object is designated on the monitor screen (in the whole scene image) by using the mouse connected to, and the designated signal is transmitted to the motion detection unit 3 via the communication line 8.
That is, at the monitoring source, the cursor displayed on the monitor of the PC is moved using the mouse, the cursor is moved on the image (position) of the object to be designated, and then the object (target) is clicked with the mouse. Is specified. Then, the position (designation signal) of the object in the whole scene image is transmitted to the motion detection unit 3 via the communication line 8.
[0020]
Then, the motion detection unit 3 detects an object based on the designated signal, and controls the pan / tilt / zoom function of the camera B according to the motion of the object. The image captured by the camera B2 is displayed on the monitor 5 and sent to the image recording unit 6 and the communication unit 7. The communication unit 7 sends the image to the monitor 92 via the communication circuit 8.
That is, on the monitor 92 of the monitoring source, a tracking image (detailed image) of the object arbitrarily specified by the monitor by the target specifying unit 91 is displayed. Thereby, even in a remote place, a tracking image (detailed image) of an arbitrary object designated by the observer can be monitored.
[0021]
Reference numerals 5 and 92 in the figure are monitors for displaying an image (tracking image) captured by the camera B, and reference numerals 41 and 91 in the figure represent images captured by the camera A (full-view image). , A monitor provided with target specifying means that allows a monitor (a monitor) to specify an object in an image.
[0022]
The monitor uses a monitor (split screen monitor) having a display area for displaying a panoramic image captured by camera A and a display area for displaying a panoramic image captured by camera B. The whole scene image and the tracking image may be displayed on the monitor.
In this case, there is provided a target specifying means 4 which allows the observer to specify an object based on the panoramic image displayed on one of the divided screens of the monitor. The tracking image of the object is displayed on the other split screen.
[0023]
Further, the whole view image captured by the camera A and the tracking image captured by the camera B may be alternately displayed on one monitor.
In this case, an image selector for controlling the image (full-view image) input from the camera A and the image (tracking image) input from the camera B is provided, and the image displayed on the monitor is switched by this selector.
At this time, when the motion detection unit 3 detects an object based on the panoramic image from the camera A, the image on the monitor is automatically switched based on the detection signal from the motion detection unit 3 and the image from the camera B (the tracking image) ) Is preferably controlled.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the image monitoring apparatus using motion detection according to the present invention, since a moving object is photographed by the camera B using motion detection, a clear image is obtained, and the image is obtained based on the signal being detected. Since recording is performed, running costs can be suppressed. In addition, the observer can arbitrarily specify an image desired to be captured by the camera B based on the image of the camera A capturing the entire monitoring area.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image monitoring apparatus using motion detection according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Camera A
2 Camera B
3 Motion detection unit 4 Target specifying means 5 Monitor 6 Image recording unit 7 Communication unit 8 Communication line 9 Monitoring source

Claims (4)

A wide-angle camera A capable of photographing a wide range, a camera B having a pan / tilt / zoom function capable of changing the direction of the visual field,
Target specifying means for the monitor to specify an object to be photographed by the camera B (hereinafter referred to as a target) based on the image of the camera A;
A motion detection unit that controls the camera B having a pan / tilt / zoom function by following the motion of the object specified by the target specifying unit;
A monitor for displaying an image from camera B;
An image monitoring apparatus using motion detection, characterized in that the image monitoring apparatus is configured to track an object specified by a monitor based on an image of the camera A and perform image monitoring and image recording. The target designating means includes a monitor with a touch panel that allows the observer to designate an object in the image based on the image of the camera A,
When an observer designates an object by the monitor with the touch panel, the designation signal is transmitted to the motion detection unit,
The motion detection unit detects the position of the object designated by the observer based on the designated signal, and follows the movement of the object to control the camera B having a pan / tilt / zoom function. An image monitoring apparatus using the motion detection according to claim 1. The target specifying means includes a cursor key for the monitor to specify an object in the image based on the image of the camera A,
When the observer designates an object by the cursor keys, the designation signal is transmitted to the motion detection unit,
The motion detection unit detects the position of the object designated by the observer based on the designated signal, and follows the movement of the object to control the camera B having a pan / tilt / zoom function. An image monitoring apparatus using the motion detection according to claim 1. The management source connected via the communication line is provided with target specifying means for the monitor to specify an object based on the image of the camera A,
When the monitor specifies an object by the target specifying means, the specification signal is transmitted to the motion detection unit via a communication line,
The motion detection unit detects the position of the object designated by the observer based on the designated signal, and follows the movement of the object to control the camera B having a pan / tilt / zoom function. An image monitoring apparatus using the motion detection according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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