JP4305316B2 - Remote monitoring system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote monitoring system using the Internet.

  Conventionally, after performing an Internet connection from a mobile phone to a remote control terminal triggered by a communication incoming call to a mobile phone prepared for an operation target such as a robot, an instruction for remote control from the remote control terminal to the control target via the Internet As compared with the always-on network, a system is known in which communication cost for remote operation is reduced and security in communication is improved (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In addition, in order to confirm the safety of elderly people living alone at a low cost, a sensor (for example, a door opening / closing sensor of a toilet) is provided to detect the number of times an object is used in daily life. The safety confirmation center is called as a trigger, and the safety confirmation center discriminates a plurality of safety confirmation target persons from the telephone numbers displayed on the telephone with the number display function without making a call, and determines the safety from the time series recording of the sensor reaction. There is known a safety confirmation system for guessing (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2003-298755 A JP 2001-357475 A

  However, in the system as shown in Patent Document 1 described above, a mobile phone dedicated to the operation target is used, and the mobile phone is connected to the Internet while the user operates the operation target. However, communication costs are not always sufficiently reduced. In addition, since the IP address is acquired every time the Internet is connected and the remote control terminal is notified of the IP address and password, this system is not necessarily suitable when the communication cost and security are comprehensively viewed. hard.

  Moreover, in the system as shown in Patent Document 2 described above, there is a possibility that a method for estimating safety at low cost without making a call using a telephone is not legal for telephone use. Moreover, since the image is not used, the safety confirmation becomes inaccurate.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote monitoring system that can reduce communication costs and secure communication security.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to an in-home apparatus that transmits an image of an in-home image taken using a camera via the Internet and a telephone line capable of dial-up connection, and an Internet and telephone connected to the Internet. A server that transmits a control command including camera shooting and other operations to the in-home device via a line, receives an image from the in-home device, and transmits the image to a user terminal with a browser function via the Internet In the remote monitoring system, the server device receives command from the user via the user terminal, receives the command transmitted from the user terminal, and temporarily receives the command. A command queue for storing in series, and the command input means When the user logs in to the dedicated home page on the server device by operating the user terminal, a menu for selecting a command for controlling the home device is transmitted to the user terminal, and the user selects and decides by selecting the menu. The command is received and stored in the command queue, and the user is prompted to auto-dial to the telephone number of the telephone line of the in-home device embedded in the home page, and the in-home device performs auto-dial on the in-home device made by the user. Is disconnected without reaching a call by a user's operation after a predetermined number of calls, the dial-up connectable line is dialed up to the ISP using the call as a trigger to communicate with the server device, If a command can be obtained from the command queue, The user's judgment to disconnect the dial-up connection, execute the command, dial-up to the ISP again, send the execution result of the command to the server device, and suppress the dial-up connection operation from the server device When the suppression command based on the command is received, the dial-up connection operation triggered by the call is suppressed for a predetermined time, and the server device acquires the command when there is no command in the command queue. For this reason, when an unusual event that communicates with the server device by dial-up connection to the ISP occurs at a predetermined frequency, the fact is transmitted to the user terminal and the dial-up connection operation by the home device is suppressed. For receiving the suppression command from the user terminal and transmitting it to the in-home device. is there.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a home device that transmits a home image captured using a camera via a telephone line that can be connected to the Internet and a dial-up connection, and is connected to the Internet via the Internet and a telephone line. In a remote monitoring system comprising a server device that transmits a command for control including a camera photographing operation and other operations, receives an image from the in-home device, and transmits the image to a user terminal via the Internet, The server device includes a command queue that temporarily stores commands. When a user transmits a command for controlling a home device to the server device using a user terminal, the command is received and stored in the command queue. The home device dials up to the ISP when there are no commands in the queue. If an abnormal event that connects and communicates with the server device occurs at a predetermined frequency, the fact is transmitted to the user terminal, and the in-home device makes a predetermined telephone line call to the in-home device made by the user. If the call is disconnected without reaching the call after the number of calls less than the number of times, the dial-up connectable line is dialed up to the ISP to acquire a command from the command queue triggered by the call of the telephone line Then, it communicates with the server device.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the remote monitoring system according to the second aspect, the server device receives a suppression command for suppressing a dial-up connection operation by the in-home device from the user terminal with respect to the non-normal event. The suppression command is transmitted to the in-home device.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the server device includes command input means and a command queue, receives commands for controlling the home device from the user terminal via the command input means, stores them in the command queue, and Since the user is prompted to automatically dial the telephone number of the telephone line, the user can control the in-home device with only command selection and auto-dial execution operation, and the operation is simple, and therefore the communication cost of the user terminal can be reduced. . Further, by providing the command input means with a password function, it is possible to ensure security for login to the dedicated home page, and hence security during communication.

  In addition, the in-home device makes a dial-up connection to an ISP (Internet service provider) using the telephone call of a predetermined number of times or less to connect to the server device to the Internet, so that the phone used by the in-home device is shared with, for example, a telephone for calling The cost of communication equipment can be reduced. In addition, the premises device disconnects the dial-up connection except when acquiring a command from the command queue of the server device and when transmitting the command execution result to the server device. Communication costs can be greatly reduced.

  Also, if an unusual event occurs at a predetermined frequency, the server device receives a suppression command from the user terminal and transmits it to the home device, and when the home device receives the suppression command, the dial-up triggered by a call Since the connection operation is suppressed for a predetermined period of time set in advance, it is possible to avoid a dial-up connection operation triggered by a malicious call from a user terminal other than the user terminal or an error, thereby suppressing an originally unnecessary increase in communication cost.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the server device receives the command for controlling the in-home device from the user terminal and stores it in the command queue, and the in-home device is dial-up connected to the ISP with a predetermined number of telephone calls as a trigger. Since the command is acquired from the command queue of the server device by connecting to the server device, the telephone used by the in-home device can be shared with, for example, a telephone for calling, and the cost of communication facilities can be reduced. Further, when an unusual event occurs at a predetermined frequency, the server device transmits a message to that effect to the user terminal, so that the user can recognize the abnormal situation and take appropriate measures.

  According to the invention of claim 3, when the server device receives the suppression command from the user terminal, the server device transmits the suppression command to the in-home device. Therefore, the in-home device is triggered by a malicious or erroneous call from other than the user terminal. By avoiding the dial-up connection operation, it is possible to suppress an increase in communication cost that is originally unnecessary.

  Hereinafter, a remote monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a remote monitoring system 1 (hereinafter, this system 1), and FIG. 2 shows the concept of a command queue. The present system 1 is a system for confirming an in-house image from outside the house and watching the situation inside the user's house from outside the house. The user can perform processing such as home shooting and alarm utterance from a remote place by using the home device 2 installed in the user home.

  The system 1 includes a large number of in-home devices 2 of a large number of users in actual operation, and each user can obtain an image from each in-home device 2 belonging to each. FIG. 1 shows home devices for three users, of which the home devices 2 for two users are always connected to the Internet 7, and the home device 2 for one user is a telephone line 5 that can be dial-up connected to the Internet 7. Connected through. The present invention particularly relates to the case of connecting to the Internet 7 via the latter dial-up connectable telephone line 5.

  The system 1 includes an in-home device 2 that transmits an in-home image captured by the camera 21 via the Internet 7 and a telephone line 5 that can be dialed up, and is connected to the Internet 7 via the Internet 7 and the telephone line 5. A server that transmits a control command including a camera photographing operation and other operations to the in-home device 2, receives an image from the in-home device 2, and transmits the image to the user terminal 3 with a browser function via the Internet 7. And a device 4. The in-home device 2, the user terminal 3, and the server device 4 are each connected to the Internet 7 via an ISP (Internet Service Provider) 6. A plurality of in-home devices 2 for each user can be installed via the router RT.

  The server device 4 manages and controls information regarding each home device 2 and each user terminal 3 belonging to the device 2 for each home. For this reason, the server device 4 includes a database DB in which the telephone number of the user terminal 3 and the telephone number used by the modem built in the user-specific home device 2 are recorded. The server device 4 also includes an FTP server for file transfer, an application server that converts files into WEB contents, a mail server that distributes mail to user terminals, and the like (not shown).

  The server device 4 further sequentially processes a command input means 41 for receiving a command from the user via the user terminal 3 and a command 43 for controlling the in-home device 2 in the order of priority and reception time as shown in FIG. Therefore, a command queue 42 that receives the command 43 transmitted from the user terminal 3 and temporarily stores the command 43 in time series is provided. The server device 4 receives the command execution result from the in-home device 2 and converts it into WEB content, and notifies the user terminal 3 of the command execution completion.

  When the user operates the user terminal 3 to log in to the dedicated home page on the server device 4, the command input means 41 transmits a menu for selecting a command for controlling the home device to the user terminal 3, and the user selects the menu. Thus, the command selected and determined is received and stored in the command queue 42, and the user is prompted to auto-dial to the telephone number of the telephone line of the home device 2 embedded in the home page.

  In addition to the camera 21, the in-home device 2 includes an alarm utterance device 22, a sensor (not shown), and the like, and in the same manner as a general home appliance, a user places an appropriate location in the home, for example, a room where children, elderly people, pets, and the like are present. It is installed, receives a control command including a camera photographing operation, an alarm utterance operation and other operations from the server device 4 and executes the command. As described above, the in-home device 2 of interest in the present invention is connected to the server device 4 via the telephone line 5 capable of dial-up connection as described above. Can be shared.

  The in-home device 2 is triggered by a call (instruction from the user) when the auto-dial for the in-home device 2 made by the user is disconnected without reaching the call by the user's operation after a predetermined number of calls. The telephone line 5 capable of dial-up connection is dial-up connected to the ISP to communicate with the server device 4.

  The in-home device 2 communicates with the server device 4 connected by dial-up, and transmits a command execution result to the server device 4 when the command can be acquired from the command queue 42 of the server device 4. That is, the instruction from the user to the home device 2 is a command acquisition and execution instruction, thereby realizing remote operation of the home device 2 by the user.

  When the in-home device 2 receives the suppression command based on the user's judgment for suppressing the dial-up connection operation from the server device 4, the in-home device 2 suppresses the dial-up connection operation triggered by the call for a predetermined predetermined time.

  When there is an unusual event that the in-home device 2 dials up to the ISP to obtain a command and communicates with the server device 4 at a predetermined frequency when there is no command in the command queue 42, the server device 4 3 sends a message to that effect, receives a suppression command for suppressing the dial-up connection operation by the in-home device 2 from the user terminal 3, and transmits it to the in-home device 2.

  The user terminal 3 only needs to have a function of logging in to a dedicated home page on the server device 4 and a browser function for browsing images from a remote location via the Internet 7, such as a mobile phone or a mobile terminal (PDA). In addition, a personal computer 31 or the like is also used. The portability of the user terminal 3 is not required when watching a single relative living in a remote place from the home. In addition, the remote location indicates not only whether the distance is far but also the difficulty in approaching.

  Next, a processing flow until the user of the system 1 browses image data will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the user uses the user terminal 3 to send a control command for the home device to the server device via the Internet (A). Subsequently, the user terminal 3 is used to call the telephone line of the home device 2. This call is disconnected by a short call (for example, one call) by the user without reaching a call (B).

  The in-home device 2 makes a dial-up connection to an Internet service provider (ISP) and communicates with the server device 4 when there is a short call on its own dial-up connectable telephone line (C) and requests its own authentication The identification number ID is transmitted to the server device 4 (D). The in-home device 2 acquires the command stored in the command queue 42 of the server device 4 after authentication by the server device 4 (E).

  The in-home device 2 executes the acquired command, for example, an in-home image capturing command, and transmits the captured image data to the server device 4 to disconnect the line (F). The server device 4 transmits the image data transmitted from the in-home device 2 to the user device 3 in response to a request from the user terminal 3 (G). In this way, the user can browse the home image displayed on the user terminal 3. It should be noted that after step E in which the command is acquired, the dial-up line may be disconnected, and when the captured image data or the like is transmitted to the server device 4, a dial-up connection may be made again. For example, it is desirable to disconnect the line once when image shooting is performed a plurality of times at regular time intervals or when shooting is performed with changing shooting conditions such as an angle.

  As described above, the dial-up connection performed by the in-home device 2 is performed after the command is executed by temporarily disconnecting the line after the in-home device 2 obtains the command in addition to the case where the command is received by the instruction from the user. There is.

  Next, the operation flow of the system 1 based on the dial-up connection of the in-home device 2 will be described from the viewpoint of the user operating the user terminal 3 with reference to FIGS. 5, 6A, and 6B. Here, FIG. 5 shows a system operation flow, and FIG. 6 shows an operation screen of the user terminal 3. First, the user operates the user terminal 3 to access a dedicated home page on the server device 4 and displays the home page on the user terminal 3. Then, an input screen for inputting a unique identification number ID and password for each user is displayed on the user terminal, and when logging in by entering the ID / password 3b in accordance with the ID / password input instruction 3a, the database of the server device 4 is displayed. User authentication is performed based on the data stored in the DB, and a command selection instruction 3c and a command list 3d are displayed as shown in FIG. When necessary commands are selected and determined from the command list 3d, these commands are transmitted to the server device 4 (S11), and the commands are accumulated in the command queue of the server device 4 (S12).

  When the transmission and storage of the above-described commands are completed, an auto dial menu 3e in which a telephone number is embedded is displayed on the user terminal 3 as shown in FIG. In the auto dial menu 3e, the telephone number of the telephone line 5 that can be connected to the dial-up connection of the in-home device 2 dedicated to the user is embedded. When the user selects the auto-dial menu 3e, auto-dial is executed and the in-home device 2 is called. Begins. Therefore, the user disconnects communication after a predetermined number of calls, for example, after one call. In this way, the user can make a short call (call) that triggers a dial-up connection instruction by auto-dial to the modem built in the user-specific home device 2 without performing a dial operation. Yes (S13).

  When the in-home device 2 recognizes a short call (call) as a trigger, the home device 2 dials up the telephone line to the ISP and further connects to the server device 4. The server apparatus 4 authenticates the in-home apparatus 2 that has been dial-up connected, and the in-home apparatus 2 acquires all the in-home apparatus control commands stored in the command queue 42 (S14).

  The in-home device 2 executes each acquired command (S15). Thereafter, the in-home device 2 performs a predetermined process and then enters a standby mode or a steady mode.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7, an unusual event in the system 1 will be described. The processing in steps S11 to S16 described above corresponds to processing in the case of a normal event in which no problem occurs in the operation flow of the system 1. In the present system 1, when the in-home device 2 recognizes a short call (call), it performs a dial-up connection using this as a trigger. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, even though the user terminal 3 is not performing any command request operation or auto-dial operation, the third party 33 makes a short call ( When making a call (X), the in-home device 2 recognizes this as a normal trigger.

  Under such circumstances, the in-home device 2 performs a dial-up connection based on a short call (X) from the third party 33, communicates with the server device 4 (C), and authenticates itself. Is transmitted to the server apparatus 4 for the identification number ID (D). Thereafter, the in-home device 2 tries to acquire a command from the command queue 42 of the server device 4 (E), but the command is not accumulated in the command queue 42, and the command acquisition ends in an idle manner.

  If the above-mentioned trigger is frequently generated by a third party, that is, a non-user, there may be a problem that the communication cost of the line for dial-up connection increases and the function as the original remote monitoring system is impaired. . Therefore, in order to deal with such an unusual event, the system 1 includes a suppression command for suppressing dial-up connection as described below.

  With reference to the operation flow of FIG. 8, dial-up suppression in an unusual event will be described. When a non-user makes a short telephone call and a line disconnection to the in-home device 2 (S21), the in-home device 2 makes a dial-up connection to the ISP using this telephone call as a trigger. However, the control command is not accumulated in the command queue 42 of the server device 4, and the command acquisition fails (S22). The server device 4 records the number of such command acquisition failures by the in-home device 2 and statistically processes it (S23).

  If the server apparatus 4 determines that the command acquisition failure by the in-home apparatus 2 has occurred at a predetermined frequency or has occurred continuously a predetermined number of times as a result of the statistical processing (Yes in S24), the server apparatus 4 sends the user terminal 3 An occurrence of an unusual event is transmitted to (S25). Then, the user determines the content to suppress the dial-up connection according to the content of the unusual event, transmits the suppression command to the server device 4, and the server device 4 receives the suppression command and accumulates it in the command queue ( S26).

  In a state where the above-described suppression command is prepared in the command queue 42, when the in-home device 2 has made a dial-up connection (S27), the server device 4 transmits the suppression command to the built-in device 2 (S28). The in-home device 2 suppresses the dial-up connection for a predetermined period after obtaining the suppression command (S29). After a predetermined period of time has passed, the in-home device 2 is in a standby state or a steady state after a predetermined process such as taking the latest image, dial-up connection, and transmitting the image to the server device 4. (S30). If it is determined in step 24 that the event is not an unusual event (No in S24), the state of step S30 is similarly entered. When a trigger for dial-up connection is generated in the state of step S30, the process returns to step S21 and the above steps are repeated.

  As described above, the communication cost can be reduced by connecting the in-home device 2 to the Internet 7 via a dial-up line. That is, it is not necessary to always secure a communication network while the in-home device 2 waits for a remote operation command from the user terminal 3, and communication costs can be reduced. In addition, by responding to a malicious call or the like by a non-user on the server device 4 side, the occurrence of unintentional dial-up connection can be suppressed and the communication cost in the in-home device 2 can be avoided. The present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration, and various modifications can be made.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a remote monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The conceptual diagram of the command queue in the server apparatus of a system same as the above. The operation | movement flowchart based on the dialup connection in a system same as the above. The system operation | movement conceptual diagram in the case of the normal event in a system same as the above. The processing flow figure of the normal event in a system same as the above. (A) and (b) are operation explanatory diagrams of a user terminal for a home device in the case of dial-up connection in the system. The system operation | movement conceptual diagram in the case of the unusual event in a system same as the above. The processing flow figure of the unusual event in a system same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

1 Remote monitoring system 2 Home device 3 User terminal 4 Server device 6 Internet service provider (ISP)
7 Internet 21 Camera 41 Command input means 42 Command queue

Claims (3)

In-home device that transmits in-home images taken using a camera via the Internet and a telephone line capable of dial-up connection, and camera operation and other operations connected to the Internet via the Internet and telephone line In a remote monitoring system comprising a server device that transmits a control command, receives an image from the in-home device, and transmits the image to a user terminal with a browser function via the Internet,
The server device includes command input means for receiving a command from a user via the user terminal, and a command queue for receiving a command transmitted from the user terminal and temporarily storing the command in time series,
When the user operates the user terminal and logs in to the dedicated home page on the server device, the command input means transmits a menu for selecting a command for controlling the home device to the user terminal, and the user selects the menu. To receive the command selected and determined and store it in the command queue, and prompt the user to auto-dial to the telephone number of the telephone line of the home device embedded in the homepage;
When the automatic dialing for the in-home device made by the user is disconnected without reaching a call by a user operation after a call of a predetermined number of times or less, the in-home device uses the dial-up connectable line triggered by the call. If the dial-up connection to the ISP communicates with the server device and the command can be acquired from the command queue, the dial-up connection is disconnected, and after executing the command, the dial-up connection to the ISP is performed again. The execution result of the command is transmitted to the server, and when a suppression command based on a user's judgment for suppressing the dial-up connection operation is received from the server device, a dial-up connection operation triggered by the call is set in advance. Suppress for a certain fixed time,
When there is an abnormal event with a predetermined frequency in which the in-home device communicates with the server device by dial-up connection to the ISP for command acquisition when there is no command in the command queue, the server device A remote monitoring system characterized by transmitting a message to the terminal, receiving the suppression command for suppressing the dial-up connection operation by the in-home device from the user terminal, and transmitting it to the in-home device. A home device that transmits a home image captured using a camera via the Internet and a telephone line that can be dial-up connected, and a camera photographing operation and other operations that are connected to the Internet via the Internet and a telephone line. In a remote monitoring system comprising: a server device that transmits a control command including, receives an image from the in-home device, and transmits the image to a user terminal via the Internet,
The server device includes a command queue that temporarily stores commands. When a user transmits a command for controlling a home device to the server device using a user terminal, the command is received and stored in the command queue. When there is a non-normal event in which the in-home device communicates with the server device by dial-up connection to the ISP when there is no command in the queue, the fact is transmitted to the user terminal,
When the telephone line call to the home apparatus made by the user is disconnected without reaching the telephone call by the user's operation after the number of calls less than a predetermined number of times, the in-home apparatus is triggered by the telephone line call as a trigger. In order to obtain a command from the remote control system, a dial-up connection can be made to an ISP to communicate with the server device. The server device transmits the suppression command to the in-home device when receiving a suppression command for suppressing the dial-up connection operation by the in-home device from the user terminal regarding the abnormal event. The remote monitoring system according to 2.

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