JP2007067457A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording apparatus with which an image desired is found in a short time and displayed on a display means. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus is provided with an image storage section 43 for storing data of images to be photographed with a monitoring camera 22, and a server means to be attained by executing software of a web server in a program storage section 45 of a control means 42. The server means executes processing of transmitting information for displaying a reproduction screen on which the image data of the image storage section 43 is reproduced on a display device 35, to a monitoring unit 3; processing of storing designation information in an image database storage section 44 when an arbitrary image is designated as a target image in the reproduction screen; processing of transmitting information for displaying a screen on which the image data selected based on the designation information is displayed in a list as thumbnail images, to the motoring unit 3; and processing of transmitting information for displaying a reproduction screen on which the image data corresponding to a thumbnail image selected with an input device 34 is reproduced first to the monitoring unit 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that records an image taken by a surveillance camera connected to a network.

Conventionally, a plurality of camera units each having a monitoring camera that captures a monitored location and a monitoring unit having a display device for displaying an image captured by the monitoring camera are connected via a network such as a packet communication network. There is a monitored system. Further, in such a monitoring system, a network digital recorder is connected to the network as an image recording device, an image photographed by the monitoring camera is recorded (stored) in the recorder, and the recorded image is displayed on the display unit of the monitoring unit. It is configured so that it can be played.
JP 2003-9136 A

  In the conventional monitoring system described above, when a recorded image is reproduced on the display device of the monitoring unit, the image to be reproduced is searched from a vast number of recorded images recorded on the network digital recorder, for example, according to the date and time when the image was taken. In addition, a function for displaying the search result as a thumbnail image is provided. However, every time you try to play, you must search by specifying the date and time, and you must find the image you want to play from among the many thumbnail images that have been searched, and it takes a long time to find and display the image you want to play. It will take time.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and can record an image to be reproduced from a large number of recorded images in a short time and display the image on display means (display device). The object is to provide a device.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes first storage means for sequentially storing image data corresponding to images of a predetermined size taken by a surveillance camera, display means, and operation means. Server means for transmitting / receiving information to / from the browser device and second storage means are provided, and the server means stores in the first storage means in response to a first request from the browser device. Processing for displaying information for displaying on the display means of the browser device a playback screen on which the image data being played is reproduced as an image of a predetermined size, and the display displayed on the display means of the browser device An arbitrary image to be reproduced on the reproduction screen is designated as an attention image by the operation unit of the browser device, and designation information indicating that is transmitted from the browser device. Of the image data stored in the first storage unit in response to a process of storing the designation information in the second storage unit and a second request from the browser device. Displaying a notice image list screen on which the image data selected based on all the designation information stored in the second storage means is displayed as a thumbnail image having a size smaller than the predetermined size. A process for transmitting information to be displayed on the browser device to the browser device, and any one of the thumbnail images displayed in the list on the target image list screen displayed on the display device of the browser device Is selected by the operating means of the browser device, the image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail image is first replayed. Wherein the process of transmitting the reproduction screen information for displaying on the display means of the browser device to said browser apparatus is configured to perform to be.

  According to this configuration, the operator of the browser device displays an attention image list screen on the display unit, finds an image to be reproduced from thumbnail images displayed on the attention image list screen, and selects it. Can play back images of a predetermined size. Therefore, by specifying an image of particular interest, an image to be disclosed as information, etc. once as a noticed image and displaying it as a noticed image list screen the next time you want to reproduce it, you can shorten the image you want to reproduce. It will be possible to find and play in time.

  The designation information stored in the second storage means may be configured to be a marker indicating that the arbitrary image is designated as the attention image.

  Further, in this case, the server means displays a comment entry field in which character information can be entered by the operation means of the browser device on the reproduction screen displayed by the display means of the browser device. When an image is designated as the attention image and character information is entered in the comment entry field, and the entered character information is transmitted from the browser device, the character information is associated with the marker of the designation information. Displaying the attention image list screen on which the character information is stored in the second storage unit and the character information is displayed together with the thumbnail images in response to the second request from the browser device. Information to be displayed on the means may be transmitted to the browser device.

  With this configuration, the thumbnail image is displayed with the character information added thereto on the attention image list screen, so that the image to be reproduced can be easily identified.

  Further, the server means displays a comment entry field in which character information can be entered by the operation means of the browser device on the playback screen displayed by the display means of the browser device, and a character is entered in the comment entry field by the operation means. When information is entered, an image being reproduced on the reproduction screen is designated as the attention image, and the character information entered in the comment entry column is transmitted from the browser device as the designation information The browser device displays the noticed image list screen in which the character information is stored in the second storage unit, and the character information is displayed in a list together with the thumbnail images in response to the second request from the browser device. Information for display on the display means may be transmitted to the browser device.

  With this configuration, the thumbnail image is displayed with the character information added thereto on the attention image list screen, so that the image to be reproduced can be easily identified.

  Further, the server unit further inputs a keyword for performing a keyword search on the character information stored in the second storage unit in response to a third request from the browser device. A keyword is input by the operation means on the search screen displayed by the display means of the browser device, and a process of transmitting information for displaying information on the display means of the browser device to the browser device. The image data selected based on the character information including the keyword among the image data stored in the first storage unit when transmitted from the browser device has a size smaller than the predetermined size. A search result display screen displayed as a list of thumbnail images is displayed on the display means of the browser device. And a process of transmitting the information to the browser device, and any one of the thumbnail images displayed in a list on the search result display screen displayed on the display unit of the browser device is the browser device. When selected by the operation means, information for displaying the reproduction screen on which the image data corresponding to the selected thumbnail image is first reproduced on the display means of the browser device is transmitted to the browser device. The process may be configured to execute.

  With this configuration, the operator of the browser device displays a search screen on the display means, performs a keyword search for the character information, and finds an image to be reproduced from the thumbnail images displayed on the search result display screen. By selecting it, it is also possible to play back an image of a predetermined size. Therefore, as a result of the keyword search, it is only necessary to search for an image to be reproduced from among the smaller thumbnail images displayed, so that it is possible to find out in a shorter time.

  In this case, the character information including the keyword may be displayed together with the thumbnail image on the search result display screen.

  With this configuration, the thumbnail information is displayed with the character information added on the search result display screen, so that it is easy to specify the image to be reproduced.

  Further, in the reproduction screen displayed on the display means of the browser device, a function of sequentially reproducing new image data from the first image data reproduced on the reproduction screen, and a function of sequentially reproducing old image data Each of a plurality of functions including can be configured to be selectively enabled by the operation means of the browser device.

  With this configuration, it is possible to perform continuous automatic reproduction, continuous reverse reproduction, and the like starting from the first reproduced image.

  The present invention has the configuration described above, and can provide an image recording apparatus capable of finding out an image to be reproduced from a large number of recorded images in a short time and displaying the image on the display means. Play.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a monitoring system according to an embodiment of this invention. In this monitoring system, a plurality of camera units 2 installed at respective monitored locations, a monitoring unit 3 as a browser device installed in a monitoring room, for example, and an image recording device installed at a predetermined location A network digital recorder (hereinafter simply referred to as a recorder) 4 is connected to the network 1. An IP address is assigned to each of the plurality of camera units 2, the monitoring unit 3, and the recorder 4. Also, there are cases where a plurality of monitoring units 3 and recorders 4 are provided, respectively, but in the present embodiment, a case where one monitoring unit 3 and one recorder 4 are provided will be described for simplification of description.

  Here, the network 1 uses an Ethernet type LAN, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration using a packet communication network such as a WAN or the Internet in addition to the LAN.

  The plurality of camera units 2 have the same configuration, and each camera unit 2 includes a communication processing unit 21 configured by a transmitter and a monitoring camera 22 that captures an image. The communication processing unit 21 is connected to the network 1, for example, converts an image signal input from the monitoring camera 22 into a packet and transmits the packet to the network 1.

  The monitoring unit 3 includes a communication processing unit 31 for performing communication (transmission and reception of signals, data, and the like) with the camera unit 2 and the recorder 4 via the network 1, a control unit 32 including a CPU and the like, a ROM And a storage unit 33 that includes an OS (operating system) and web browser software, an input device 34 (operation means) such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a display that is a monitor display such as an LCD And a device 35 (display means). The operation of the entire monitoring unit 3 is controlled by the control unit 32. Further, the control unit 32 executes the web browser software stored in the storage unit 33, whereby the monitoring unit 3 functions as a web browser (browser device).

  The recorder 4 includes a communication processing unit 41 for performing communication (transmission / reception of signals, data, and the like) with the camera unit 2 and the monitoring unit 3 via the network 1, and a control unit 42 including a CPU and the like. An image storage unit 43 composed of a hard disk, an image database storage unit 44 also composed of a hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, etc., and an OS, web server software, and a plurality of web page programs in HTML format Etc., and a program storage unit 45 in which are stored. The operation of the entire recorder 4 is controlled by the control unit 42. Further, when the control unit 42 executes the web server software stored in the program storage unit 45, the recorder 4 functions as a web server (server means).

  Next, the operation of this monitoring system will be described.

  In the monitoring unit 3, an image photographed by the monitoring camera 22 of each camera unit 2 can be displayed on the screen of the display device 35. In this case, the image data transmitted from the camera unit 2 is displayed as a communication processing unit. 31, and is displayed on the screen of the display device 35 under the control of the control unit 32.

  In each camera unit 2, an image signal output from the surveillance camera 22 is encoded (A / D converted and compressed) in, for example, the JPEG format in the communication processing unit 21, and an image of a still image of a predetermined size. Data (including shooting date / time data) is generated and transmitted to the recorder 4 via the network 1. As a result, image data of still images that are successively captured by the monitoring camera 22 are transmitted to the recorder 4. As described above, when displaying on the display device 35 of the monitoring unit 3, the communication processing unit 21 transmits the generated image data to the monitoring unit 3 via the network 1.

  In the recorder 4, the image processing unit 41 receives the image data transmitted from each camera unit 2, stores the image data in the image storage unit 43, and creates a database of image data for each camera unit 2. And stored in the image database storage unit 44.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a database of image data of any one surveillance camera stored in the image database storage unit 44. When the image data is stored in the image storage unit 43, the file number of the image data is added, and the date (year, month, day) and time (hour, minute, second) as the shooting date and time are stored in the image database storage unit. 44. A database 44a as shown in FIG. 2 is created for each surveillance camera. However, at this time, no marker is attached (in FIG. 2, an example in which the value when no marker is attached is 0), and no comment is created.

  Next, the operation when the monitoring unit 3 accesses the recorder 4 and reproduces the image recorded in the recorder 4 on the display device 35 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation and operation procedure of the monitoring unit 3 in this case. 4 to 10 are diagrams showing display examples of the screen of the display device 35. FIG.

  First, in the monitoring unit 3, when the operator operates the input device 34, the control unit 32 starts up a web browser stored in advance in the storage unit 33, connects to the network 1 via the communication processing unit 31, The recorder 4 is accessed to request a web page program for the login screen. In response to the above request, the recorder 4 transmits the login screen web page program stored in advance in the program storage unit 45 to the monitoring unit 3 via the communication processing unit 41.

  In the monitoring unit 3, the web page program for the login screen is received by the communication processing unit 31 via the network 1 and stored (downloaded) in the storage unit 33. Then, based on the login screen web page program stored in the storage unit 33, the login screen showing the login setting area 52 is displayed on the screen 51 of the display device 35 as shown in FIG. Step S1) in FIG. The operator operates the input device 34 to input a user name and password at a predetermined location in the login setting area 52 and clicks a “login” button. Here, the control unit 32 transmits the input user name and password to the recorder 4 via the communication processing unit 31.

  In the recorder 4, the control unit 42 collates the transmitted user name and password with the user name and password stored in the program storage unit 45 in advance. Here, for example, if the matching results match, the home screen web page program stored in advance in the program storage unit 45 is transmitted to the monitoring unit 3 via the communication processing unit 41, and the image storage unit The latest image data of each monitoring camera 22 stored in 43 is sequentially transmitted to the monitoring unit 3.

  In the monitoring unit 3, the web page program for the home screen and the latest image data of each monitoring camera 22 are received by the communication processing unit 31 via the network 1 and stored (downloaded) in the storage unit 33. Then, based on the home page web page program stored in the storage unit 33 and the latest image data of each monitoring camera 22, the home screen as shown in FIG. Is displayed (step S2 in FIG. 3). In this home screen, the latest images captured by each surveillance camera 22 are sequentially displayed in each image display area 54 (the display image is not shown in the image display area 54 in FIG. 5 and is left blank). ing). Here, a case where three camera units 2 are provided in the monitoring system is illustrated, and the cameras A, B, and C are set as the monitoring cameras 22 of the three camera units 2, and the cameras A, B, and C are used. The images photographed in the above are displayed in the respective image display areas 54.

  As shown in FIG. 5, an operation menu 53 is displayed on the left side of the home screen. When the operator operates the input device 34 and clicks the “image search / playback” button in the operation menu 53, the control unit 32 sends the search screen web from the communication processing unit 31 to the recorder 4 via the network 1. Send a program request for the page.

  In response to the above request, the recorder 4 transmits the search screen web page program stored in advance in the program storage unit 45 to the monitoring unit 3 via the communication processing unit 41.

  In the monitoring unit 3, the web page program for the search screen is received by the communication processing unit 31 via the network 1 and stored (downloaded) in the storage unit 33. Based on the web page program for the search screen stored in the storage unit 33, a search screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the screen 51 of the display device 35 (step S3 in FIG. 3). In this search screen, a search condition designation area 55 is displayed for each camera A, B, and C. In this example, the date and time of shooting (year, month, day, hour, minute, second) can be specified as a search condition. For example, “ALL” can be designated as a wild card (in this case, an arbitrary number). A date and time as a search condition is designated in the search condition designation area 55 for the camera to be searched, and the “execute search” button is clicked (step S4 in FIG. 3). As a result, the control unit 32 transmits the designated search condition (date and time) and a web page program request for the search result display screen to the recorder 4 from the communication processing unit 31 via the network 1.

  In the recorder 4, the control unit 42 compares the transmitted search condition with the data stored in the image database storage unit 44, and all the image files (image data and shooting date / time of the image data that meet the search condition). (Including data) is read from the image storage unit 43, transmitted to the monitoring unit 3 via the communication processing unit 41, and preliminarily stored in the program storage unit 45 in response to a web page program request for the search result display screen. The stored web page program for the search result display screen is transmitted to the monitoring unit 3 via the communication processing unit 41.

  In the monitoring unit 3, the communication processing unit 31 receives the image file (including image data and shooting date / time data) and the web page program for the search result display screen via the network 1 and stores them in the storage unit 33. Yes (download). Then, based on the image file stored in the storage unit 33 and the web page program for the search result display screen, a thumbnail image 56 (shown in FIG. 7) is displayed on the screen 51 of the display device 35 as shown in FIG. The search result display screen is pasted with the shooting date and time 57 pasted (the display image is not shown and left blank) (step S5 in FIG. 3). Here, in the display device 35, thumbnail image data of a reduced size is created from image data of a still image of a predetermined size stored in the storage unit 33, and a thumbnail image 56 is displayed. FIG. 7 shows an example of the search result when the search is performed for the camera A in the search screen of FIG. 6 by specifying the search condition as 2005 (month, day, hour, minute, and second use wildcards) and the search is executed. It is.

  The operator operates the input device 34 to select an image to be reproduced by clicking any one of the thumbnail images displayed on the search result display screen in FIG. 7 (step S6 in FIG. 3). ).

  When one of the thumbnail images is clicked and selected as described above, a reproduction screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the screen 51 of the display device 35 (step S7 in FIG. 3). More specifically, when one of the thumbnail images is clicked in step S6, the control unit 32 transmits a web page program request for a playback screen from the communication processing unit 31 to the recorder 4 via the network 1.

  In response to the above request, the recorder 4 transmits the program of the web page for the playback screen stored in advance in the program storage unit 45 to the monitoring unit 3 via the communication processing unit 41.

  In the monitoring unit 3, the web page program for the playback screen is received by the communication processing unit 31 via the network 1 and stored (downloaded) in the storage unit 33. Based on the program of the web page for the playback screen stored in the storage unit 33 and the image file corresponding to the clicked thumbnail image stored in the storage unit 33, the playback screen as shown in FIG. Is displayed. In the reproduction area 59, a still image of a predetermined size corresponding to the selected thumbnail image is displayed (in FIG. 8, the display image is omitted and left blank).

  In the playback screen of FIG. 8, by clicking the button of each function displayed in the playback control function display area 60, the still images are played back in the order of the shooting date and time from the still image displayed in the playback area 59. Continuous automatic playback, reverse playback for continuous playback of still images in order of shooting date and time, stop playback, frame rewind playback for playback of the previous frame, playback of still images for the next frame It is possible to perform functions such as frame advance playback. Also, the set time for adjusting the playback speed (0.5 seconds in the display example of FIG. 8) is the playback time interval of still images during automatic playback and reverse playback, and this set time can also be adjusted. Note that playback by automatic playback, reverse playback, frame reverse playback, and frame advance playback is performed by the same monitoring camera as the monitoring camera 22 that captured the still image that was first played when the playback screen was displayed. This is a photographed image. When image data other than the above search results is necessary when performing automatic reproduction, reverse reproduction, frame reverse reproduction, and frame advance reproduction, the control unit 32 requests the recorder 4 for a necessary image file, The recorder 4 reads out the requested image file from the image storage unit 43 and transmits it to the monitoring unit 3 via the communication processing unit 41. In the monitoring unit 3, the communication processing unit 31 receives the image file via the network 1, stores it in the storage unit 33, and outputs it to the display device 35. For example, when an “automatic reproduction” button or a “reverse reproduction” button is clicked, image data to be reproduced is sequentially output from the storage unit 33 to the display device 35 and sequentially displayed in the reproduction area 59. Here, when the “stop” button is clicked, the state in which the still image displayed immediately before the “stop” button is clicked is displayed in the reproduction area 59 is maintained. When the “back frame” button is clicked, the still image one frame before the still image displayed immediately before the click is displayed in the reproduction area 59 and the state is maintained. When the “frame advance” button is clicked, a still image one frame after the still image displayed immediately before the click is displayed in the reproduction area 59, and the state is maintained.

  Next, the “image selection” button 62 will be described. When the state in which the still image in the playback area 59 is displayed is maintained, for example, the initial state in which the playback screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed by clicking one of the thumbnail images shown in FIG. In the state after the “Auto Play” button or the “Reverse Play” button is clicked and then the “Stop” button is clicked, after the “Rewind” button or the “Frame Forward” button is clicked When the “select image” button 62 is clicked in the state or the like, a comment (character information) can be created and saved for the still image displayed in the reproduction area 59 when the button is clicked. Specifically, when the “image selection” button 62 is clicked (step S8 in FIG. 3), the comment creation field 63 is displayed on the left side of the camera image playback operation field 58 below the operation menu 53 as shown in FIG. Is displayed. The operator operates the input device 34 to enter a comment in the comment entry area 64 and clicks an “OK” button 65 (step S9 in FIG. 3). When this “OK” button 65 is clicked, the comment creation field 63 disappears and the playback screen shown in FIG. 8 is restored.

  The operation from step S8 to step S9 will be described in detail.

  When the “select image” button 62 in FIG. 8 is clicked, the control unit 32 displays a marker (a flag indicating that an image has been selected) in the marker column of the database of the image file corresponding to the still image displayed in the reproduction area 59. ) Is transmitted to the recorder 4 via the communication processing unit 31.

  When the recorder 4 receives information that the marker is attached, the controller 42 attaches a marker to the marker column of the corresponding image file in the database stored in the image database storage unit 44 (rewrites the value to 1). .

  When the “select image” button 62 is clicked, a comment creation field 63 is displayed as shown in FIG. When a comment is entered in the comment entry area 64 and the “OK” button 65 is clicked, the control unit 32 transmits the entered comment to the recorder 4 via the communication processing unit 31.

  In the recorder 4, the control unit 42 stores the transmitted comment in the comment field of the corresponding image file in the database stored in the image database storage unit 44. The example of the file number 51 in FIG. 2 shows a case where “This is normal” is entered in the comment entry area 64 in FIG. 9. If the “OK” button 65 is clicked without entering a comment in the comment entry area 64, the marker is only attached to the marker column by clicking the “select image” button 62 described above. If the “Cancel” button 66 is clicked, the comment creation field 63 disappears and the state immediately before the “Select image” button 62 is clicked is restored. Therefore, the marker attached to the marker column of the database based on the click operation of the “image selection” button 62 is deleted (the value is rewritten to 0).

  In the above description, when the “select image” button 62 in FIG. 8 is clicked, the monitoring unit 3 does not transmit to the recorder 4 that the marker is attached to the marker field in the database, and “OK” in the comment creation field 63 in FIG. When the “” button 65 is clicked, the fact that a marker is attached to the marker column of the database may be transmitted to the recorder 4 together with the entered comment.

  Next, step S10 in FIG. 3 will be described. When the “selected image list” button in the operation menu 53 is clicked on the display screens shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8, a selected image list screen (attention image list screen) as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed. Is displayed. When the “selected image list” button in the operation menu 53 is clicked, the control unit 32 transmits the selected image transmission request and the web page program request for the selected image list screen to the recorder 4 via the communication processing unit 31. To do.

  In the recorder 4, the control unit 42 selects and selects an image file with a marker from the data stored in the image database storage unit 44 in response to a transmission request for the selected image from the monitoring unit 3. The selected image file is read from the image storage unit 43 and transmitted to the monitoring unit 3 via the communication processing unit 41, and the web page program for the selected image list screen is read. In response to the request, the web page program for the selected image list screen is read from the program storage unit 45 and transmitted to the monitoring unit 3 via the communication processing unit 41.

  In the monitoring unit 3, the communication processing unit 31 receives the comment, the image file, and the web page program for the selected image list screen via the network 1 and stores (downloads) them in the storage unit 33. 10 is displayed on the screen 51 of the display device 35 based on the program of the web page for the comment, the image file, and the selected image list screen stored in the storage unit 33. Is displayed (step S10 in FIG. 3). On this selected image list screen, a comment 67 as text information and a thumbnail image 68 as image information (a display image is omitted in FIG. 10 and left blank) are displayed in a list. In the example of FIG. 10, the date on which the above-described image selection processing (steps S8 and S9) is performed is set as a posting date, and the monitoring place by each camera A, B, and C is set as a poster. For convenience, No (image selection number), posting date, contributor, comment 67, and thumbnail image 68 are displayed as a set (hereinafter referred to as “image selection set”). Here, the display device 35 creates thumbnail image data of a reduced size from image data of a still image of a predetermined size stored in the storage unit 33 and displays a thumbnail image 68. Note that when the user clicks the “OK” button 65 without entering a comment in the comment entry area 64 of FIG. 9, the comment field of the selected image list screen of FIG.

  When a certain thumbnail image 68 is clicked on the selected image list screen of FIG. 10, the playback screen of FIG. 8 is displayed as in the case where a certain thumbnail image 56 is clicked on the search result display screen of FIG. In the reproduction area 59, a still image of a predetermined size corresponding to the selected thumbnail image is displayed. As described above, automatic playback, reverse playback, frame reverse playback, frame advance playback, and the like can be performed using this still image as a starting point. In the selected image list screen, the image selection set is not limited to only the thumbnail image 68, but by clicking in the frame of No (image selection number), posting date, contributor, or comment, FIG. The playback screen may be displayed. Or, by clicking in the comment frame, you can update (correct and delete) the comments (including those that have not been entered) in the frame, and directly in the frame (or as shown in Fig. 9) A comment creation field 63 may be displayed in the comment entry area 64), and the input device 34 may be operated to add or correct a comment. Further, in the selected image list screen of FIG. 10, the selected image set is displayed in order from the oldest posting date, but may be displayed in the newest order from the posting date. Further, it may be possible to switch between the oldest order and the newest order on the posting date. Further, the shooting date included in the data of the image file may be displayed instead of the posting date or together with the posting date. In addition, a list of selected image sets may be displayed for each surveillance camera. When the posting date is displayed, when the “OK” button 65 in the comment creation field 63 in FIG. 9 is clicked and the comment is stored in the recorder 4, the date (posting date) at that time is displayed together with the comment. What is necessary is just to make it memorize | store in the image database memory | storage part 44. FIG. Although not shown in FIG. 2, for example, a post date column may be provided next to the comment column and stored.

  In addition, a “delete” button 69 is displayed for each selected image set, and by clicking this “delete” button 69, the corresponding selected image set can be deleted. That is, when the “delete” button 69 is clicked, the display device 35 deletes the display of the corresponding selected image set under the control of the control unit 32, and No (image selection number) is rearranged in the arrangement order. Further, the control unit 32 transmits to the recorder 4 via the communication processing unit 31 that the comment and marker of the selected image set are to be deleted. In response to this, in the recorder 4, the control unit 42 deletes the comment in the comment column of the database stored in the image database storage unit 44 corresponding to the selected image set to be deleted, and deletes the marker in the marker column. (Rewrite the value to 0).

  In addition, when the “Home” button of the operation menu 53 is clicked on the display screens shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 10, the home screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. When the “image search / playback” button in the operation menu 53 is clicked on the display screens shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 10, the search screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed.

  In the playback screen of FIG. 8, a “send mail” button 61 is displayed for sending the still image displayed in the playback area 59 to an e-mail and sending it to a mobile phone or personal computer. Such a mail transmission function is a well-known technique and will not be described in detail.

  In addition, the programs of the web pages for the home screen, the search screen, the search result display screen, the playback screen, and the selected image list screen stored in the program storage unit 45 of the recorder 4 are stored once after login. After being downloaded to the storage unit 33 of the monitoring unit 3, it is not downloaded. For example, when the search screen of FIG. 6 is displayed for the first time after login, that is, when the click operation of the “image search / playback” button of the operation menu 53 is the first (first time), the monitoring unit 3 moves to the recorder 4. The search screen web page program request is transmitted and the search screen web page program is downloaded from the recorder 4, but when the search screen of FIG. When the “image search / playback” button on the menu 53 is clicked for the second time or later, the monitoring unit 3 does not send a search screen web page program request to the recorder 4 and is already downloaded and stored in the storage unit 33. The search screen is displayed based on the web page program for the search screen stored in.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the program for displaying the comment creation field 63 in FIG. 9 is incorporated in the web page program for the playback screen in FIG.

  In this embodiment, by attaching a marker to an image that needs to be reproduced later, such as an image of particular interest or an image to be disclosed as information, the selected image list screen is called up as a selected image set. It is possible to display the image, and it is possible to find and reproduce the image to be reproduced in a short time. For example, after logging in, clicking the “Selected Image List” button in the operation menu 53 of the home screen in FIG. 5 displays the selected image list screen in FIG. It can be displayed on the playback screen of FIG. In addition, it is necessary to reproduce the image once in order to attach the marker. After the marker is attached, it is possible to find the image to be reproduced in a short time by calling the selected image list screen as described above. become. For example, it is very efficient as compared with a case where a search is performed according to the date and time when the image is taken and an image to be reproduced is found out of a large number of thumbnail images displayed as a search result.

  In the present embodiment, the playback screen of FIG. 8 and the comment creation field 63 of FIG. 9 may be displayed by opening separate windows. In this case, for example, the camera image playback operation field 58 on the playback screen of FIG. 8 is displayed as a camera image playback operation window 58A as shown in FIG. 11A, and the comment creation field 63 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11B, the comment creation window 63A may be displayed.

  In the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, both the marker and the comment are stored in the database, but only one of them may be stored. In the case where only the marker is stored without storing the comment (that is, the comment field is not provided in the database), when the “select image” button 62 is clicked on the reproduction screen of FIG. A message to the effect is transmitted to the recorder 4 via the communication processing unit 31. The recorder 4 attaches a marker to the marker column of the corresponding image file in the database stored in the image database storage unit 44 (rewrites the value to 1). In this case, when the “selected image list” button in the operation menu 53 is clicked, the control unit 42 in the recorder 4 causes the image database storage unit 44 to respond to the transmission request for the selected image transmitted from the monitoring unit 3. The image file to which the marker is attached is selected from the data stored in, and the selected image file is read from the image storage unit 43 and transmitted to the monitoring unit 3. Further, when the “selected image list” button is clicked, the program storage unit 45 selects the selected image list screen for the web page program request for the selected image list screen transmitted from the monitoring unit 3. The web page program is read and transmitted to the monitoring unit 3. In the monitoring unit 3, the selected image list screen is displayed on the screen 51 of the display device 35 based on the transmitted image file and web page program for the selected image list screen. In the selected image list screen in this case, for example, the comment field is deleted from the display screen of FIG.

  Further, in the case where only the comment is stored without storing the marker (that is, the marker column is not provided in the database), when the “select image” button 62 is clicked on the reproduction screen of FIG. 8, as shown in FIG. A comment creation field 63 is displayed. When the operator operates the input device 34 to enter a comment in the comment entry area 64 and clicks an “OK” button 65, the control unit 32 sends the entered comment to the recorder 4 via the communication processing unit 31. Send to. The recorder 4 stores the transmitted comment in the comment field of the corresponding image file in the database stored in the image database storage unit 44. In this case, in response to the transmission request for the selected image transmitted from the monitoring unit 3, the control unit 42 in the recorder 4 stores a comment in the comment column from the data stored in the image database storage unit 44. Select an image file. Here, for example, it is possible to select only an image file in which a comment is stored by performing a keyword search using only a wild card as a keyword in the comment field. Then, the comment of the selected image file is read out, and the selected image file is read out from the image storage unit 43 and transmitted to the monitoring unit 3. Further, in response to the request for the web page program for the selected image list screen transmitted from the monitoring unit 3, the web page program for the selected image list screen is read from the program storage unit 45 and transmitted to the monitoring unit 3. To do. In the monitoring unit 3, the selected image list screen is displayed on the screen 51 of the display device 35 based on the transmitted comment, image file, and web page program for the selected image list screen. The selected image list screen in this case is the same as the display screen of FIG. 10, for example.

  When at least a comment is stored among the marker and the comment, a keyword search may be performed on the comment column of the database when performing the search in steps S3 and S4. In this case, for example, in the search screen of FIG. 6, a keyword entry field is provided in the search condition designation area 55 of each camera so that the search condition can be designated by date and time, or both the date and keyword. That's fine. For example, if “suspicious person” is input as a keyword and search is executed, an image file in which “suspicious person” is written in the comment field is searched. If only a wild card (arbitrary character) is input as a keyword and search is executed, an image file in which some comment is described in the comment column is searched. When a search is performed using keywords as described above, the search result display screen may display a list of thumbnail images as shown in FIG. 7, or, similar to the selected image list screen of FIG. At least comments and thumbnail images may be displayed in a list corresponding to each other.

  Further, when at least the marker is stored among the marker and the comment, the search may be performed on the marker column of the database when performing the search in steps S3 and S4. For example, in the search screen of FIG. 6, a “marker search” button is provided in the search condition designation area 55 of each camera, and a marker is added to the marker column of the database by clicking the “marker search” button. What is necessary is just to make it search for an image file. In this case, the search result display screen may display a list of thumbnail images as shown in FIG. 7, or, in the case where comments are also stored, is similar to the selected image list screen of FIG. Alternatively, at least comments and thumbnail images may be displayed in a corresponding list. In addition, in the search result display screen by marker search, both the marker and the comment are stored, and the image file in which only the marker is attached without entering the comment (the comment field in the database is blank). 8 is displayed, the playback screen of FIG. 8 is displayed, and the “select image” button 62 is clicked to display the comment creation field 63 as shown in FIG. And click the “OK” button 65 to add a comment to the image file with only the marker. The comment may be updated (corrected, deleted, etc.) for the image file in which the comment is already stored by the same procedure.

  In this embodiment, the marker and the comment are added and stored in the database created when the image data from each camera unit 2 is stored in the image storage unit 43, but a separate table is created. May be stored.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been given using the monitoring system in which a plurality of camera units 2 each having the monitoring camera 22 are provided. However, the recorder 4 of the present embodiment has 1 camera unit 2 (the monitoring camera 22). Of course, it can also be applied to a single monitoring system. As in the present embodiment, when a plurality of camera units 2 are provided, the amount of image data stored in the image storage unit 43 is larger than when only one camera unit 2 is provided. Storing the marker and / or comment and displaying the selected image list screen as in the present embodiment is more effective for finding the image to be reproduced in a short time.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the image data transmitted from each camera unit 2 to the recorder 4 is image data of a still image encoded in, for example, the JPEG format. However, in the communication processing unit 21 of the camera unit 2, The image signal output from the monitoring camera 22 may be encoded in, for example, the MPEG4 format to generate moving image image data (including shooting date / time data) and transmit it to the recorder 4. In this case, in the recorder 4, an image file of a moving image is stored in the image storage unit 43. When the image data stored in the recorder 4 is reproduced on the display device 35 of the monitoring unit 3, for example, a moving image is displayed in the reproduction area 59 in FIG.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful as an image recording apparatus that reproduces and displays recorded images on a browser screen connected via a network.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the monitoring system of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the database memorize | stored in the network digital recorder of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation in the monitoring unit of embodiment of this invention, and an operation | movement procedure. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the screen of the display apparatus of the monitoring unit of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the screen of the display apparatus of the monitoring unit of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the screen of the display apparatus of the monitoring unit of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the screen of the display apparatus of the monitoring unit of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the screen of the display apparatus of the monitoring unit of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the screen of the display apparatus of the monitoring unit of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the screen of the display apparatus of the monitoring unit of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the other example of a display of the screen of the display apparatus of the monitoring unit of embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Network 2 Camera Unit 3 Monitoring Unit 4 Network Digital Recorder 21 Communication Processing Unit 22 Monitoring Camera 31 Communication Processing Unit 32 Control Unit 33 Storage Unit 34 Input Device 35 Display Device 41 Communication Processing Unit 42 Control Unit 43 Image Storage Unit 44 Image Database Storage 45 Program storage

Claims (7)

A first storage unit that sequentially stores image data corresponding to images of a predetermined size captured by the monitoring camera, a server unit that transmits and receives information between the browser unit having the display unit and the operation unit, and a second unit Storage means,
The server means includes
Information for displaying on the display means of the browser device a reproduction screen in which the image data stored in the first storage means is reproduced as an image of a predetermined size in response to a first request from the browser device. Processing to send to the browser device;
When an arbitrary image to be reproduced on the reproduction screen displayed on the display unit of the browser device is designated as an attention image by the operation unit of the browser device, and designation information indicating that is transmitted from the browser device And storing the designation information in the second storage means;
In response to a second request from the browser device, the image data stored in the first storage unit is selected based on all the designation information stored in the second storage unit. Processing for transmitting to the browser device information for displaying on the display means of the browser device a noticed image list screen in which the image data is displayed as a list of thumbnail images each having a size smaller than the predetermined size;
Selected when any one of the thumbnail images displayed as a list on the attention image list screen displayed by the display unit of the browser device is selected by the operation unit of the browser device. An image configured to execute processing for transmitting, to the browser device, information for displaying the reproduction screen on which the image data corresponding to the thumbnail image is first reproduced on the display unit of the browser device. Recording device.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the designation information stored in the second storage unit is a marker indicating that the arbitrary image is designated as the attention image. The server means includes
In the reproduction screen displayed by the display unit of the browser device, a comment entry field in which character information can be entered by the operation unit of the browser device is displayed, the arbitrary image is designated as the attention image by the operation unit, and When the character information is entered in the comment entry field and the entered character information is transmitted from the browser device, the character information is stored in the second storage means in correspondence with the marker of the designation information. Remember,
In response to the second request from the browser device, information for displaying the notice image list screen on which the character information is displayed together with the thumbnail images on the display unit of the browser device is transmitted to the browser device. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, which is configured to do so. The server means includes
When a comment entry field in which character information can be entered by the operation means of the browser device is displayed on the playback screen displayed by the display means of the browser device, and when character information is entered in the comment entry field by the operation means When the image being reproduced on the reproduction screen is designated as the attention image, and the character information entered in the comment entry field is transmitted from the browser device as the designation information, the character information is converted into the first information. 2 storage means,
In response to the second request from the browser device, information for displaying the notice image list screen on which the character information is displayed together with the thumbnail images on the display unit of the browser device is transmitted to the browser device. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, which is configured to do so. The server means further includes:
In response to a third request from the browser device, a search screen for inputting a keyword for performing a keyword search on the character information stored in the second storage device is displayed on the display device of the browser device. Processing for transmitting information to the browser device;
Image data stored in the first storage means when a keyword is input by the operation means on the search screen displayed on the display means of the browser apparatus and the keyword is transmitted from the browser apparatus. In order to display a search result display screen in which the image data selected based on the character information including the keyword is displayed as a list of thumbnail images each having a size smaller than the predetermined size on the display unit of the browser device A process for transmitting the information to the browser device;
Selected when any one of the thumbnail images displayed as a list on the search result display screen displayed on the display unit of the browser device is selected by the operation unit of the browser device. And a process of transmitting information for displaying on the display means of the browser device to display the playback screen on which the image data corresponding to the thumbnail image is first played back. Item 5. The image recording apparatus according to Item 3 or 4.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the character information including the keyword is displayed as a list together with the thumbnail images on the search result display screen.   The playback screen displayed on the display unit of the browser device includes a function of sequentially playing back new image data and a function of playing back old image data sequentially from the image data played back first on the playback screen. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of a plurality of functions can be selectively validated by operating means of the browser apparatus.

Images