JP4631842B2 - Image transfer device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image transfer apparatus that captures an image captured by an image capturing apparatus installed inside or outside a house and transfers a data file of the image to a terminal apparatus having an image reproduction function through a general-purpose network. Is.

Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, an image of a visitor captured by a camera-equipped doorphone slave unit (imaging device) is captured, and a data file of the image is stored in a mobile phone or the like having an image reproduction function. There is provided an interphone master unit (image transfer device) that transfers data to a terminal device through a general-purpose network (for example, the Internet). That is, when a visitor who is away is photographed with a doorphone with a camera, an image (still image or moving image) of the visitor is transferred to the cellular phone carried by the householder via the Internet, and the liquid crystal of the cellular phone By displaying the transferred image on the display, it is possible to remotely confirm a visitor who has been away.
JP 2004-135197 A

  By the way, the transfer speed of a general-purpose network (for example, the Internet) used for image transfer by the image transfer apparatus is the type of transmission medium (phone line, optical fiber, CATV) used to connect to the Internet in each dwelling unit. Depending on the degree of congestion of the transmission path from the image transfer device to the terminal device on the Internet or the like. Therefore, when the network transfer rate is slow, the transfer time becomes longer, which hinders the reproduction of images and sounds on the mobile phone, and gives the user anxiety that the image transfer device may have failed. If a new visitor arrives before the transfer of the image data of the previous visitor is completed, and the image is captured by the door phone with a camera, the image of the previous visitor is transferred. There is a possibility that an image obtained by imaging a subsequent visitor is not transferred until completion, and it takes a long time before the image can be reproduced by the mobile phone. In addition, when a new visitor visits before the transfer of the image data that captured the previous visitor is completed and is imaged by the door phone with the camera, instead of transferring the image captured by the subsequent visitor, If you notify the mobile phone only that a new visitor has visited, there is no risk of taking a long time to transfer the image. However, if you just notified that the visitor visited in this way, Since it cannot be confirmed, it cannot be a practical solution.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image transfer apparatus that can prevent the time until an image can be reproduced by a terminal device even when the transfer speed is low. There is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention captures an image captured by an imaging device installed inside or outside the house, and stores the data file of the image for a terminal device having an image reproduction function. An image transfer device for transferring through a general-purpose network, the image data generating means for compressing a video signal output from the image pickup device to generate one or more moving image data files, and data transmission through the network Data transmission means to perform, and control means for transferring the image data file generated by the image data generation means from the video signal per time output from the imaging device to the terminal device by the data transmission means, the image data generation means Reduce the number of reference image frames that can be expanded independently and the number of compensation image frames that compensate for differences from the reference image frame. It generates image data file also includes the control means, the reference image frame in preference to compensated image frame when transferring image data file is transferred by the data transmission means, further, with the transfer start of the first reference image frame When the counting of the predetermined time is started and the transfer of the image data file is not completed when the counting of the predetermined time is completed, and a video signal is newly output from the imaging device during the counting of the predetermined time, interrupt the transfer of the image data file being transferred, it characterized that you transfer image data file generated from the newly output video signal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the storage unit stores a plurality of image data files, and the control unit stores the new image data file in the storage unit after the transfer of the new image data file is completed or completed. The transferred image data file is transferred to the terminal device by the data transmission means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image data generating means generates an image data file including at least a reference image frame that can be independently expanded and a compensation image frame that compensates for a difference from the reference image frame, and the control means. However, since the reference image frame is transferred by the data transmission means in preference to the compensation image frame when transferring the image data file, the terminal device is incomplete due to the reference image frame transferred earlier. An image can be reproduced, and as a result, it is possible to prevent an increase in the time until the image can be reproduced by the terminal device even when the transfer speed is low. Further, the control means starts counting the predetermined time when the transfer of the first reference image frame is started, and when the counting of the predetermined time is completed, the transfer of the image data file is not completed and the predetermined time is counted. When a video signal is newly output from the imaging device during the transfer, the transfer of the image data file being transferred is interrupted, and the image data file generated from the newly output video signal is transferred. Each data file always has a transferable time for a predetermined time, and the transfer time difference of the compensation image frame depending on the transfer order can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the control means transfers the untransferred image data file stored in the storage means to the terminal device by the data transmission means after the transfer of the new image data file is completed or is completed halfway. Therefore, omission of transfer of the image data file can be prevented.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the technical idea of the present invention is applied to a recording / transferring apparatus used in an intercom system for a detached house will be described.

  First, the basic configuration of the intercom system will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, this intercom system is a door phone with a camera that is installed outside a dwelling unit (for example, an outside entrance) and transmits a video (video signal) and a voice (audio signal) that image a visitor via a signal line Ls. Interphone master unit (hereinafter referred to as “door phone slave unit”) 2 and the intercom master unit (hereinafter referred to as “door phone slave unit”) 2 that is installed in the dwelling unit and exchanges video signals and audio signals via the signal line Ls. 1) and one or more (one unit in the illustrated example) camera slave unit 3 that transmits a video image of the monitoring area to the master unit 1 via the signal line Ls. The That is, in the present embodiment, the door phone slave unit 2 and the camera slave unit 3 correspond to an imaging device.

  The intercom unit 2 includes a microphone 20a and a speaker 20b, an audio processing unit 21 that processes an audio signal for a loud call with the main unit 1, a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD or CMOS, and an optical system such as a lens. A camera unit 22, a modulation unit 23 that frequency-modulates a video signal output from the camera unit 22, and a two-wire / four-wire conversion circuit, and an audio signal output from the microphone 20 a and processed by the audio processing unit 21 The video signal frequency-modulated by the unit 23 (hereinafter referred to as “FM video signal”) is frequency-multiplexed and transmitted to the parent device 1 via the signal line Ls, and at the same time, the parent device 1 via the signal line Ls. Demultiplexing unit 24 that separates the audio signal transmitted from the terminal, operation input receiving unit 25 that receives an operation input of a call button (not shown) by a visitor, and operation of the call button by the operation input receiving unit 25 And a call signal transmission unit 26 for transmitting a call signal to the main unit 1 via the signal line Ls when the reception power. In addition, the operation power supply of each part of the door phone sub unit 2 is supplied from the main unit 1 through the signal line Ls, and the call signal transmission unit 26 changes the line voltage of the signal line Ls. The ringing signal is being transmitted.

  The camera sub unit 3 includes a human body detection unit 30 that detects the presence of a person in the monitoring area, a camera unit 31 that includes a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD or CMOS, and an optical system such as a lens, and a video signal that is output from the camera unit 31. And a control unit 33 for controlling the operation of the modulation unit 32 according to the detection result of the human body detection unit 30. The human body detection unit 30 detects the presence of a person in the monitoring region by detecting a heat ray emitted from the human body with a pyroelectric element, and outputs a human body detection signal when the presence of the person is detected. The control unit 33 includes a microcomputer as a main component, and activates the camera unit 31 and the modulation unit 32 when a human body detection signal is output from the human body detection unit 30, and modulates the video of the monitoring area captured by the camera unit 31. The frequency is modulated at 32 and transmitted to the base unit 1 through the signal line Ls. Moreover, the operating power supply of each part of the camera subunit 3 is created from a commercial power supply by a power supply circuit (not shown).

  Base unit 1 includes a voice processing unit 11 that processes a voice signal for loudspeaking communication between microphone 10a and speaker 10b, and door phone slave unit 2, and a two-wire / four-wire conversion circuit. The audio signal processed by the processing unit 11 is transmitted to the intercom unit 2 through the signal line Ls, and the audio signal and the FM video signal that are frequency-multiplexed and transmitted from the intercom unit 2 through the signal line Ls are separated. In addition, a demultiplexing unit 12 that separates the FM video signal transmitted from the camera unit 3, a monitor unit 13 having a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and the FM video signal separated by the demultiplexing unit 12 are demodulated. A video processing unit 14 that processes the demodulated video signal and displays it on the monitor unit 13, and a call signal transmitted from the intercom unit 2 via the signal line Ls A call signal receiving unit 15 that receives the control signal, a control unit 16 that controls the operation of each unit using a microcomputer as a main component, and a control signal transmitting / receiving unit 17 that transmits and receives control signals to and from the recording / transferring device 4 as will be described later. It has.

  By the way, in this embodiment, since the door phone slave unit 2 and the camera slave unit 3 are commonly connected to the demultiplexing unit 12 of the master unit 1, in order to avoid collision of video signals transmitted from the respective slave units, The division multiplexing transmission system is adopted. That is, each handset (door phone handset 2 and camera handset 3) is individually assigned to a plurality of time slots defined by a synchronization signal transmitted from the base unit 1 via the signal line Ls, and each handset is assigned to itself. The video signal is transmitted in the time slot assigned to the device, the original video is reconstructed from the video signal received and demodulated in each time slot in the video processing unit 14 of the base unit 1 and displayed on the monitor unit 13. Yes. The video processing unit 14 also performs a process of reducing the reconstructed video and simultaneously displaying a plurality of videos in a divided manner. However, the details of the time division multiplex transmission are well known in the art and will not be described.

  Next, the basic operation of the intercom system will be described.

  When a visitor presses the call button of the door phone cordless handset 2, the operation input receiving unit 25 receives an operation input, and the call signal transmitting unit 26 transmits a call signal to the parent device 1 via the signal line Ls. In the base unit 1, when the call signal is received by the call signal receiving unit 15, the control unit 16 is necessary for operating the audio processing unit 21, the camera unit 22, and the modulation unit 23 to the door phone slave unit 2 through the signal line Ls. An operating power is supplied and the voice processing unit 11 is controlled to ring a ringing tone from the speaker 10b. The door phone sub unit 2 receives power from the main unit 1 and activates the camera unit 22 and the modulation unit 23 to store the visitor's video (FM video signal) in the time slot assigned to the unit. Send to base unit 1.

  In the base unit 1, the FM video signal transmitted from the door phone slave unit 2 is received and demodulated by the video processing unit 14, and the video of the door phone slave unit 2 is reconstructed and displayed on the monitor unit 13. When a householder who hears the ringing tone operates a response button (not shown), the control unit 16 that has received the operation input activates the voice processing unit 11 and can communicate with the intercom sub unit 2. And

  Here, the main unit 1 has a function (recording / recording function) for recording video and audio transmitted from the doorphone sub unit 2 and video transmitted from the camera sub unit 3, and an operation switch (not shown). An operation switch (recording switch) (not shown) when the (answering machine setting switch) is operated and set to the answering machine mode, or when video or video and audio are received from the doorphone slave unit 2 or the camera slave unit 3 ) Is recorded, the video and audio data received by the control unit 16 is recorded in a non-volatile memory (not shown). When an operation switch (reproduction switch) (not shown) is operated, the control unit 16 reads out the video (still image or moving image) recorded in the memory and displays the video on the monitor unit 13 by the video processing unit 14. Is read out and is sounded from the speaker 10b by the sound processing unit 11.

  On the other hand, the video recording and transferring apparatus 4 of the present embodiment separates the audio signal and the FM video signal that are frequency-multiplexed and transmitted from the intercom unit 2 through the communication line Lx branched from the signal line Ls in the base unit 1 and the camera. A signal separation unit 40 that separates the FM video signal transmitted from the slave unit 3, and an audio signal processing unit 41 that converts the audio signal separated by the signal separation unit 40 into a digital signal and compresses it to generate an audio data file. The video signal processing unit 42 that demodulates the FM video signal separated by the signal separation unit 40, converts it into a digital signal, compresses it, and generates a video data file, and controls the parent device 1 via the communication line Lx A control signal for transmitting / receiving a control signal to / from the signal transmitting / receiving unit 17 is connected to the transmitting / receiving unit 43, a control unit 44 having a microcomputer as a main component, and an Internet connection via a communication line Ln. And a LAN interface unit 45 for interfacing the data transfer performed with the location 5 and the control unit 44. The audio signal processing unit 41 generates an audio data file by compressing an audio signal converted into a digital signal by a predetermined compression method, for example, an ADPCM (Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation) method. The video signal processing unit 42 compresses the video signal converted into the digital signal by a predetermined compression method, for example, a compression method such as JPEG or GIF for still images and MPEG for moving images. Generate.

  The control signal transmission / reception unit 43 communicates with the control signal transmission / reception unit 17 of the base unit 1 via the communication line Lx in a frequency shift keying (FSK) method using a carrier wave having a frequency different from that of either the audio signal or the FM video signal. The control signal is transmitted and received. The LAN interface unit 45 conforms to a standard LAN standard such as 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX, and is connected to the control unit 44 via the communication line Ln formed of a twisted pair cable (LAN cable). Data communication with the device 5 is interfaced.

  The Internet connection device 5 is, for example, an ADSL modem, an ONU, or a cable modem, and a communication device (such as a recording / transfer device 4 or a personal computer) connected to the communication line Ln is connected to a telephone line or optical line. It is connected to the Internet 100 through a subscriber communication network using a fiber or a CATV coaxial line as a communication medium. However, since this type of Internet connection device 5 is well known in the art, detailed illustration and description thereof will be omitted.

  Here, the control unit 44 of the recording / transferring device 4 has a function of transferring a video data file and an audio data file to the center device 6 connected to the Internet 100 via the Internet connection device 5. The center device 6 corresponds to a so-called file server, stores the video data file and the audio data file transferred from the recording / transferring device 4, and associates the video data file and the audio data file with the recording / transferring device 4 in advance. A service for transferring to a registered mobile terminal (for example, a mobile phone having an Internet connection function) 7 is provided. That is, if the base unit 1 is set to the absence recording mode when going out, the video and audio of a visitor who has visited while absent is transferred from the recording / transferring device 4 to the center device 6, and further from the center device 6 Since it is transferred to the mobile phone 7 carried by the householder of the dwelling unit, it is possible to check the video and audio of the visitor who is visiting while using the mobile phone 7.

  The transfer operation of the recording / transfer apparatus 4 will be described in more detail. As described above, when the base unit 1 is set to the answering machine mode, when a call signal is received by the call signal receiving unit 15 of the base unit 1 by a visitor operating the call button of the intercom handset 2. The control unit 16 of the base unit 1 executes the answering processing described above, and the control signal transmission / reception unit 17 calls the recording / transfer apparatus 4 from the doorphone sub unit 2 via the communication line Lx. Notify (call event occurrence). When the control signal transmission / reception unit 43 receives the call event occurrence notification based on the control signal, the control unit 44 of the recording / transferring device 4 notifies the center device 6 of the occurrence of the call event through the Internet from the LAN interface unit 45 and the voice. The signal processing unit 41 and the video signal processing unit 42 are caused to generate an audio data file and a video data file. Here, in the intercom system according to the present embodiment, the FM video signal and the audio signal are continuously transmitted from the doorphone slave unit 2 for a certain time after the call button is operated. A plurality (for example, three) of still image data files (hereinafter referred to as still image files) and one moving image data file (hereinafter referred to as moving images) from FM video signals and audio signals received within a certain period of time. And the audio signal processing unit 41 generates one audio data file (hereinafter referred to as an audio file). Then, the control unit 44 transfers a data file group including three still image files, one audio file, and one moving image file from the LAN interface unit 45 to the center device 6 through the Internet 100.

  At this time, the time (transfer time) required to complete the transfer of a set of data files from the recording / transfer apparatus 4 to the center apparatus 6 depends on the upstream transmission speed in the Internet connection apparatus 5, and the center apparatus When access to 6 is concentrated, the transfer time becomes long. Accordingly, since the transfer time from the recording / transferring device 4 to the center device 6 becomes long, it takes a long time until an image (particularly, a moving image) can be reproduced by the mobile phone 7, and the recording / transferring is required for the user. There is a fear that the device 4 may be insecure.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the control unit 44 of the recording / transferring apparatus 4 transfers the reference image frame in preference to the compensation image frame when transferring the moving image file. That is, in the compression method (for example, MPEG4) performed by the video signal processing unit 42, a reference picture frame (I picture) that can be decompressed independently, a P picture that is encoded by predicting a difference between the reference picture frames, and a reference picture. A moving image file is composed of compensated image frames made up of B pictures that compensate for the difference in motion between image frames, and if there is at least a reference image frame (I picture), such as incomplete frames such as frame advance Although it is a moving image, it can also be reproduced on the mobile phone 7. Therefore, when the control unit 44 transfers a moving image file as described above, if a plurality of reference image frames (I pictures) are transferred in order before the compensation image frames (P picture and B picture), the terminal device In the (mobile phone 7), an image can be reproduced with the reference image frame transferred earlier, and as a result, the time until the image can be reproduced on the terminal device becomes long even when the transfer speed is low. Can be prevented.

  In addition, when a new data file group to be transferred is generated at least after the transfer of the first reference image frame and the transfer of the moving image file is completed (for example, a new visitor visits the door phone When the call button of the device 2 is operated), if the control unit 44 of the recording / transferring device 4 interrupts the transfer of the moving image file being transferred and transfers the new data file group, a new data file group is created. The delay time until transfer to the terminal device (mobile phone 7) can be reduced.

  Alternatively, the counting of the predetermined time is started at the start of the transfer of the first reference image frame, and when the counting of the predetermined time is completed, the transfer of the moving image file is not completed and the transfer is newly performed during the counting of the predetermined time. If a data file group to be generated is generated, if the control unit 44 interrupts transfer of the moving image file being transferred and transfers the new data file, it can be transferred to a plurality of moving image files for a predetermined time. Time is secured, and the difference in transfer time of compensation image frames depending on the transfer order can be reduced.

  Further, storage means (memory) for storing the moving image file generated (compressed) by the video signal processing unit 42 is provided in the control unit 44, and for the moving image file whose transfer is interrupted, the new data file is stored. If the untransferred moving image file is read from the storage means and transferred after the group transfer is completed or completed, omission of transfer of the moving image file can be prevented.

  In the above-described embodiment, the video signal transmitted from the doorphone slave unit 2 to the master unit 1 and the recording / transfer device 4 is an FM video signal that is frequency-modulated. A signal may be transmitted. Further, instead of frequency multiplexing the video signal, the audio signal, and the control signal, time division multiplexing transmission may be performed. Furthermore, the video recording / transferring device 4 may be built in the master unit 1.

It is a block diagram which shows embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Intercom master unit 2 Door phone slave unit with camera (imaging device)
3 Camera subunit (imaging device)
4 Record transfer device 5 Internet connection device 6 Center device 7 Mobile phone (terminal device)
41 Audio signal processing unit (audio data generating means)
42 Video signal processing unit (image data generating means)
44 Control unit (control means)
45 LAN interface (data transmission means)

Claims (2)

An image transfer device that captures an image captured by an image capturing device installed inside or outside a home and transfers a data file of the image to a terminal device having an image playback function through a general-purpose network,
Image data generating means for compressing a video signal output from the imaging apparatus to generate a data file of one or more moving images, data transmission means for transmitting data through the network, and each time output by the imaging apparatus Control means for transferring the image data file generated by the image data generation means from the video signal to the terminal device by the data transmission means,
The image data generation means generates an image data file including at least a reference image frame that can be expanded independently and a compensation image frame that compensates for a difference from the reference image frame,
The control means, when transferring the image data file, causes the reference image frame to be transferred by the data transmission means in preference to the compensation image frame, and further starts counting for a predetermined time when the transfer of the first reference image frame is started. When the transfer of the image data file is not completed when the predetermined time count is completed and a new video signal is output from the imaging device during the predetermined time count, the transfer of the image data file being transferred is performed. interrupted by an image transfer device which is characterized that you transfer image data file generated from the newly output video signal. A storage means for storing a plurality of image data files;
The control means causes the data transmission means to transfer the untransferred image data file stored in the storage means to the terminal device after the transfer of the new image data file is completed or is completed halfway. The image transfer apparatus described .

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