JP2003289532A - Monitoring camera system and control program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a monitoring camera system that can photograph an abnormal position from a plurality of directions when detecting abnormality. <P>SOLUTION: The monitoring camera system 2 has a plurality of cameras 4A to 4D and a control section 6 for controlling the visual field of the cameras. For example, when a camera detects abnormality in a monitoring area E4, or a sensor S4 in the monitoring area E4 detects abnormality, the control section 6 controls the visual field in the cameras 4A to 4D so that all the cameras 4A to 4D monitor the monitoring area E4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a surveillance camera system including a plurality of surveillance cameras. The present invention also provides
The present invention relates to a control program for a surveillance camera system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A surveillance camera system installed in a store or the like generally comprises a plurality of surveillance cameras, and each surveillance camera has an area in charge.

[0003]

However, when an abnormality such as an intruder is found, for example, since there is usually only one surveillance camera for photographing the area, even if one wants to photograph the face, the person is behind in one direction. There was a possibility that I could not shoot because I was facing.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a surveillance camera system capable of photographing an abnormal position from a plurality of directions when an abnormality is detected.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a control program for a surveillance camera system capable of photographing an abnormal position from a plurality of directions when an abnormality is detected.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, a surveillance camera system according to the present invention comprises a first surveillance camera for photographing a first surveillance area and a first surveillance camera for photographing a second surveillance area. Second surveillance camera, first abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality relating to the first monitoring area, and second
Second abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the second monitoring area, and when the second abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality in the second monitoring area, the first monitoring camera detects the second monitoring area. When an abnormality is detected in the first surveillance area by the first surveillance camera control means for controlling the field of view of the first surveillance camera so as to capture an image, and the second surveillance camera performs the first Second surveillance camera control means for controlling the field of view of the second surveillance camera so as to photograph the surveillance area.

The abnormality detecting means may detect the abnormality on the basis of the image of the surveillance camera which photographs the surveillance area.

The first monitoring camera control means, when an abnormality is detected in the second monitoring area, the first monitoring camera controls the first monitoring camera while photographing the area located in the line-of-sight direction of the second monitoring camera. Control the field of view of the surveillance camera of the
It is also possible to let the surveillance camera capture the abnormality of the second surveillance area in the visual field. In this case, even if the control programming of the first surveillance camera control means is not set so that the first surveillance camera can photograph the second surveillance area, the first surveillance camera control means does not The field of view of the first surveillance camera can be controlled so that the first surveillance camera detects an abnormality in the second surveillance area.

The abnormality detecting means may be a sensor provided in the monitoring area.

After the first and second surveillance cameras catch a common abnormal object, both may be tracked.

A control program according to the present invention detects a fault relating to the first surveillance area, a first surveillance camera for photographing the first surveillance area, a second surveillance camera for photographing the second surveillance area. First abnormality detecting means for
In the control program of the surveillance camera system including the second abnormality detecting means for detecting the abnormality relating to the second monitoring area, when the second abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality in the second monitoring area, Second with the first surveillance camera
The field of view of the first surveillance camera is controlled so as to photograph the surveillance area, and when the first abnormality detection means detects an abnormality in the first surveillance area, the second surveillance camera opens the first surveillance area. It is characterized in that the field of view of the second surveillance camera is controlled so as to photograph.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the surveillance camera system according to the present invention, when an abnormality is detected in any of the plurality of surveillance areas, the visual fields of the plurality of cameras are controlled so that the same surveillance area is monitored by the plurality of cameras from multiple directions. It is for. Figure 1
It is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of a surveillance camera system concerning the present invention for realizing such surveillance. Figure 2
It is a control block diagram of the surveillance camera system of FIG.

More specifically, the surveillance camera system 2 generally includes a plurality (four in the illustrated example) of surveillance camera devices 4 (four in the illustrated example) for monitoring a plurality (four in the illustrated example) of the monitoring areas E1 to E4. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D) (hereinafter, simply referred to as cameras), a control unit (computer) 6 having a program for performing processing such as monitoring and tracking by a plurality of cameras 4, and monitoring areas E1 to E4. Sensors S1 to S4 respectively provided therein, a display 8 capable of simultaneously displaying monitoring images of four cameras 4, and an input device (for example, a keyboard) for a user to input an appropriate instruction to the control unit 6. , Mouse) 9. As will be described later, each camera 4 performs a normal monitoring operation of patrol the monitoring areas E1 to E4 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 6, and a centralized monitoring for centrally monitoring an abnormality in a specific monitoring area. Either a monitoring operation or a tracking operation for tracking an object is performed.

The control unit 6 manages the field of view control of each camera 4, the image processing unit 12 that processes the image transmitted from the camera 4, and various information related to each camera 4. Multiple camera status management unit 14 and sensor S1
To S4 corresponding to the monitoring areas E1 to E4 (for example, the information that the sensor S3 is in the monitoring area E3) stores the sensor / monitoring area information storage unit 16
And a set time storage unit 18 for storing various times set by the user via the input device 9, such as a traveling time, a tracking execution time, and a scanning time (these will be described later). Camera 4
When the image data is sent from the image processing unit 12 to the image processing unit 12, the image data is stored in the image storage unit 19. Image data is transmitted from the image processing unit 12 to the display 8 based on the data in the image storage unit 19.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the display 8 has a selection menu so that the user can select either a monitoring mode for allowing the system 2 to monitor or a setting mode for performing various settings when the system is started. The screen is displayed. As a setting mode, as shown in FIG. 3B, a user selects an arbitrary area as a monitoring area, and a “monitoring area setting” menu for setting the field of view of the camera so that the angle of view captures the monitoring area. , "Circulation order" menu for setting the order in which each camera travels, "Course time setting" menu for setting the patrol time in each surveillance area, and detection of abnormalities in the surveillance area A “detection color setting” menu is provided for setting the detection color when color detection is used for this purpose. The setting mode will be described in detail later.

In the monitoring mode, the switching of the images displayed in the four divided blocks on the display 8 by the circulation may be performed by fixing the display blocks assigned to the respective cameras as shown in FIG. 4A. (For example, the image captured by the camera 4A is always displayed in the upper left block.) Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4B, the display block assigned to each monitoring area may be fixed (for example, the monitoring area). The image of E1 is always displayed in the upper left block.) In addition, the patrol method shown in FIG.
This is a case where each camera circulates synchronously so as not to monitor the same surveillance area, but each camera may circulate the surveillance area independently.

The input device 9 is used for instructing the centralized monitoring area to the instruction unit 10 based on the image displayed on the display 8. At this time, as will be described later, the instruction unit 10 controls the field of view of the camera so that a plurality of cameras centrally monitor the monitoring area displayed on the specific camera. The input device 9 is also used for various settings in the setting mode or for forcibly stopping the monitoring and tracking operations in the monitoring mode.

As shown in FIG. 5, the information managed by the multi-camera status management unit 14 includes, for each camera 4, the coordinates of the installation position of the camera 4 in the system and the monitoring areas Ei (i.
= 1 to 4), the current field of view of the camera 4, the user selection information indicating the selection information when the user gives an instruction to select the camera 4 via the input device 9, and the like. The information of the monitoring area Ei includes the field of view information of the camera 4 for capturing the area Ei at the angle of view and the monitoring area Ei.
A method for monitoring i, a number “n” (n = 1 to 4) indicating the patrol order of the monitoring area Ei (for example, the camera 4A is
The monitoring area E3 per round is monitored "2". ) Is included. The visual field information of each camera 4 for capturing the surveillance area Ei at the angle of view is set in the setting mode as described later. As the monitoring method, motion detection is selected unless the user sets a detection color in the "color detection setting" menu.

Each camera 4 is a pan / tilt camera having a tracking function and a zoom function, and as shown in FIG.
The actuator 20 that controls the field of view (that is, the pan / tilt angle (posture) and the photographing magnification) according to the instruction from the instruction unit 10, the image abnormality detection unit 22 that detects an abnormality on the image captured by the camera 4, and the camera A camera state management unit 24 for managing various related information. Each camera 4 has a sensor S1 to S4 in a certain monitoring area E1 to E4.
An input terminal (not shown) is provided for receiving a signal from No. 4. The detection signal of the sensor is transmitted to the camera state management unit 24 via the input terminal of the camera. The detection signal of the sensor may be directly transmitted to the instruction unit 10. In the example of FIG. 1, the sensor S1
The signals from S4 to S4 are transmitted to the cameras 4A to 4D, respectively.

The image abnormality detecting unit 22 detects the moving object on the image based on the difference between the image frames.
6, a color detection unit 28 that detects the color set in the setting mode on the image, and a lens cover detection unit 30 that detects that the lens of the camera 4 is covered by something.

The information managed by the camera status management unit 24 of each camera 4 includes "image abnormality detection information" indicating whether or not the image abnormality detection unit 22 detects an abnormality, and a detection signal is transmitted to the camera 4. "Sensor abnormality detection information" indicating whether or not the sensor S has detected an abnormality, "tracking execution information" indicating whether or not the camera 4 is tracking, and the like are included. These pieces of information are appropriately referred to by the instruction unit 10 as described later.

The sensor may be installed in a place other than the monitoring area. In other words, the sensor is used even in an area which is not imaged in the normal traveling of the camera 4 (in the example of the figure, S5 in the areas E5 and E6,
2) of S6) (hereinafter referred to as a sensor outside the monitoring area) is provided, and when the sensor detects an abnormality, the camera 4 intensively captures the area where the abnormality is detected.
Corresponding to the sensor outside the monitoring area, the control unit 6 is provided with a sensor state management unit 32 that manages “outside area sensor abnormality detection information” indicating whether or not an abnormality is detected by the sensor.

7 to 12 are flowcharts showing an example of processing for monitoring by the monitoring camera system according to this embodiment. Referring also to FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6,
First, in step S1, the system is activated to display the selection menu on the display 8. The monitoring mode is selected from the selection menu displayed on the display 8 in step S2, and the monitoring video is displayed on the display 8.

The instructing unit 10 selects the camera N (= 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D) for which the visual field control is performed in step S3, and in step S4, each of the cameras N managed by the plural camera state management unit 14 is controlled. "Cycling number" of the monitoring area
And "camera field-of-view information", the actuator 20 of the camera N is controlled in accordance with these information, so that the field of view of the camera N includes the surveillance area to be visited first. In step S5, the instruction unit 10 causes the “monitoring method (moving object detection or color detection) information” of each monitoring area information managed by the plural camera state management unit 14 for the camera N.
, And instructs the camera N on the monitoring method according to this information. Steps S3 to S5 are repeated until the instruction of the field of view / monitoring method of the cameras other than the camera N is completed (step S6). When the instructions of the field of view / monitoring method of all the cameras are completed (that is, each camera first starts photographing the surveillance area to be visited), the flow proceeds to step S7.

When the user issues a monitoring stop command via the input device 9 before the patrol time at the current patrol position is finished in step S7 (step S8), the display 8 displays a selection menu which is an initial screen. Yes (Step S
9).

When the patrol time at the current patrol position is completed in step S7, the process returns to step S3 and the field of view of each camera is controlled so as to monitor the surveillance area to be patrold next (steps S3 to S6).

If the instruction unit 10 has not received a monitoring stop command from the user before the patrol time at the current patrol position ends in step S7, the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, each camera 4 is in the process of patrol at the current patrol position.
The "image / sensor abnormality detection information" of the camera state management unit 24 is checked.

More specifically, referring to the subroutine of FIG. 8, first, in step S801, the instruction unit 10 sequentially refers to the "image abnormality detection information" of the camera state management unit 24 of each camera 4. If it is confirmed in step S802 that the camera 4 has detected an abnormality, the flow is step S8.
Go to 03. Regarding step S802, the monitoring flow of each camera will be described later with reference to FIG. Step S803
Then, the area where the camera in which the abnormality is detected is currently monitoring is set as the "centralized monitoring area", and this camera is set as the "reference camera", and the flow for confirming the abnormality detection information ends.

If no abnormality is detected in step S802, the flow proceeds to step S804. Step S80
In step 4, the instruction unit 10 sequentially refers to “(in-area) sensor abnormality detection information” of the camera state management unit 24 in each camera 4, and refers to “out-of-area sensor abnormality detection information” of the sensor state management unit 32. refer.

When an abnormality is detected in step S805,
The flow proceeds to step S806. Step S806
Then, the instruction unit 10 uses the sensor / monitoring area information storage unit 16
The monitoring area in which the detected sensor is arranged is set as the "centralized monitoring area" by referring to the information on the monitoring area stored in the above, and the flow of the confirmation of the abnormality detection information is ended.

If no abnormality is detected in step S805, the flow proceeds to step S807. Step S80
In step 7, the instruction unit 10 refers to the “user selection information” of each camera 4 managed by the multiple camera state management unit 14.

In step S808, the camera 4 operated by the user
If the selection is detected, the flow proceeds to step S809. In step S809, the instruction unit 10 sets the area currently monitored by the camera selected by the user as the “centralized monitoring area”, sets this camera as the “reference camera”, and confirms the abnormality detection information. To finish.

In step S808, the camera 4 operated by the user
When the selection of No. is not detected, the flow for confirming the abnormality detection information ends.

FIG. 9 shows a monitoring flow of each camera. First, in step S901, each camera 4 receives a command for a monitoring method and a visual field control to the monitoring area from the instruction unit 10,
The actuator 20 directs the camera field of view to the surveillance area,
The image abnormality detection unit 22 starts monitoring. Step S90
If the image abnormality detection unit 22 of a certain camera 4 detects an abnormality on the image in step 2, the process proceeds to step S903, and it is determined that there is an abnormality in the “image abnormality detection information” of the camera state management unit 24 of the camera 4. Record and end the monitoring flow.
As described above, the “image abnormality detection information” of each camera 4 is for the instruction unit 10 to appropriately refer to for the purpose of finding an abnormality on the image. If the image abnormality detection unit 22 does not detect an abnormality on the image in step S902, the flow proceeds to step S904. In step S904, when each camera 4 receives a signal from the sensor in the corresponding monitoring area (for example, when the camera 4B receives a signal from the sensor S2 in the monitoring area E2), the process proceeds to step S903, and the camera 4 The presence of an abnormality is recorded in the “sensor abnormality detection information” of the camera state management unit 24, and the monitoring flow is ended. As described above, the “sensor abnormality detection information” of each camera 4 is referred to by the instruction unit 10 as appropriate for the purpose of finding an abnormality by the sensor. In addition, in step S904, when each camera 4 does not receive a signal from the sensor of the corresponding monitoring area, step S902
Then, the image abnormality detection unit 22 detects an abnormality on the image.

Returning to FIG. 7, in step S11, when the centralized monitoring area is not set in step S10, the process returns to step S3 and the field of view of each camera is controlled to monitor the monitoring area to be visited next (step S3). ~ S
6).

In step S11, when the centralized monitoring area is set in step S10, the process proceeds to step S12 to start the centralized monitoring control flow.

The centralized monitoring control flow will be described with reference to the subroutine of FIG. In the following description, the monitoring area E
It is assumed that 4 is set as the "centralized monitoring area".

First, in step S1001, the camera N which controls the visual field to the set centralized monitoring area E4 is selected. When the “reference camera” is set in the abnormality detection information confirmation flow of FIG. 8 (that is, when an abnormality on the image obtained by the camera 4 is detected, or when the user looks at the display 8 and concentrates) It is one of the three cameras excluding the reference camera, when the "reference camera" is not set (that is, when the sensor detects an abnormality), and is one of the four cameras (when the monitoring area is designated). However, if any camera is monitoring the monitoring area where the sensor detects anomaly, this camera is excluded.)

In step S1002, the instruction unit 10 refers to the information managed by the plural camera state management unit 14, and controls the visual field to the centralized monitoring area according to the visual field information that directs the camera N to the centralized monitoring area E4. The actuator 20 of the camera N is instructed. Steps S1001 and S1
002 is performed for the remaining cameras, and all cameras 4
Control the centralized monitoring area E4 (step S100
3) (All the images displayed on the display 8 are switched to the monitoring area E4 as shown in FIG. 13), and the centralized monitoring control flow is ended.

Returning to FIG. 7, after the centralized monitoring control flow ends, the tracking flow by the plurality of cameras 4 is started (step S13).

The tracking flow will be described with reference to the subroutine of FIG. If the setting of the centralized monitoring area E4 is based on the color detection of the image obtained by the reference camera in step S1101, the process proceeds to step S1102, and the target detection method at the time of tracking is set to color detection (that is, abnormality detection of the remaining cameras). Set the method to color detection.). Step S1101
Then, when the setting of the centralized monitoring area E4 is based on other than the color detection of the image obtained by the reference camera (that is, when the moving object detection of the image obtained by the reference camera is performed, or when the abnormality of the sensor S4 of the monitoring area E4 is detected , And the user has designated the centralized monitoring area), the process proceeds to step S1103,
The object detection method during tracking is set to moving body detection (that is, the abnormality detection method for all cameras is set to moving body detection).

In step S1104, the instruction unit 10 instructs each camera 4 to start tracking by the tracking method set in step S1102 or S1103. Step S11
Unless the user instructs the tracking stop via the input device 9 in 05, the instruction unit 10 refers to the “tracking execution information” of the camera state management unit 24 of each camera, and each camera is currently tracking. Check if you are doing. If at least one camera is being tracked in step S1107, the tracking is continued, and if all the cameras stop tracking, the tracking flow is ended. After that, the process returns to step S3 as shown in FIG. 7, and the system restarts the patrol monitoring by a plurality of cameras. Even when the user gives an instruction to end the tracking in step S1105, the system ends the tracking operation and restarts the patrol monitoring by the plurality of cameras.

FIG. 12 shows a tracking flow of each camera 4. In step S1201, each camera 4 has the instruction unit 10
A tracking method command is received from and tracking is started. Step S
At 1202, the tracking start is recorded in the “tracking execution information” of the camera information management unit 24 of each camera 4. Step S120
In 3, the tracking is performed until the tracking target is lost (that is, when the tracking target moves out of the angle of view) or until the tracking execution time stored in the set time storage unit 18 has passed. Tracking is stopped in step S1204, and "tracking execution information" of the camera information management unit 24 of each camera 4 in step S1205.
The tracking stop is recorded in, and the tracking flow in each camera ends.

Another example of the centralized monitoring control flow will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. In this example, unlike the flow shown in FIG. 10, when the field of view of the camera facing the centralized monitoring area is not set in advance (for example, the cameras 4B and 4C).
Does not monitor the monitoring area E4 during patrol. ), A method of controlling the camera so that the camera faces the centralized surveillance area is adopted. In the following description, it is assumed that the camera 4A is set as the "reference camera" and the area E4 is set as the "centralized monitoring area". Note that, in FIG. 15, the other components such as the camera 4D are omitted.

First, in step S1401, the camera N which controls the visual field to the set centralized monitoring area E4 is selected. In step S1402, the instruction unit 10 refers to the information managed by the multiple camera state management unit 14
It is confirmed whether or not the visual field information for directing to the centralized monitoring area E4 is set. If the field of view information is set,
In step S1403, the actuator 20 of the camera N is instructed to control the visual field to the centralized monitoring area according to the above information, and the flow proceeds to step S1408.

If the visual field information for directing the camera N to the centralized monitoring area E4 is not set in step S1402, the flow proceeds to step S1404. Step S1
At 404, the instruction unit 10 sets the abnormality detection method (moving object detection or color detection) of the camera N to be the same as the abnormality detection method of the reference camera 4A. In step S1405, the instruction unit 10
Is the “installation position information” of the camera N, the “installation position information” of the reference camera 4A, and the “visual field information of the reference camera 4A”.
Based on the above, the camera N is instructed to scan in the line-of-sight direction of the reference camera 4A (that is, the optical axis direction of the lens system of the camera). Specifically, the instruction unit 10 controls the camera N to be the reference camera 4.
Move it away from the position near A. When the abnormal object is not found even when the object reaches a position a certain distance away from the reference camera 4A, the camera N is set to move toward the reference camera 4A again, and the camera N is once or in line of sight of the reference camera A. You may reciprocate above. In step S1406, when the camera N detects an abnormal target while scanning the line of sight of the reference camera A, the flow proceeds to step S1407. In step S1407, the field of view of the camera N at the abnormality detection position is stored as the field of view information of the centralized monitoring area E4 as "information of the monitoring area E4" of the camera N information of the multiple camera state management unit 14, and step S1
Proceed to 408. When the camera N scans the line of sight of the reference camera A for a certain period of time and cannot detect an abnormal object (steps S1406 and S1409), the flow is step S1.
Proceed to 408.

If it is determined in step S1408 that the visual field control of the centralized monitoring area E4 of all the cameras is not completed, the process returns to step S1401 and the visual field control of the remaining cameras is performed. In step S1408, when the visual field control to the centralized monitoring area E4 of all the cameras is completed, all the cameras 4 are made to monitor the centralized monitoring area E4, and the centralized monitoring control flow ends.

As described above, in step S1409, if an abnormal object cannot be found even after a lapse of a certain time from the start of scanning by the camera N, the process proceeds to step S1408. In step S1408, if the fixed time has not elapsed from the start of the centralized monitoring control, the process returns to step S1401 and the view control of other cameras is performed. However, when the field of view control of another camera is completed, the field of view control of the camera in which the abnormal target could not be found is performed again. In step S1408, if an abnormal target cannot be found even after repeating the visual field control of the camera even after a lapse of a certain time from the start of the centralized monitoring command, the abnormal target is not detected by the camera and the centralized monitoring control flow is ended. , Perform the tracking operation with the remaining cameras.

The flow of FIG. 14 shows that when a specific camera is set as the "reference camera" (that is, when an abnormality on the image obtained by the camera 4 is detected, or when the user looks at the display 8 and the central monitoring area is displayed). (If instructed),
By scanning the other camera along the line-of-sight direction of the reference camera, the other camera also detects an abnormality. On the other hand, when the sensor detects an abnormality, the "reference camera" is not set, but the camera that patrols the surveillance area in which the sensor that has detected the abnormality is located is directed to the surveillance area, and then does not patrol this surveillance area. Another camera is scanned along the line-of-sight direction of the camera that detected the abnormality.

16 to 19 are flowcharts showing an example of processing for making various settings. Referring also to FIG. 3, when the setting mode is selected on the menu screen at system startup, the monitoring area, the order of patrol, the time of patrol, and the detection color can be set. The setting of the detection color is described in detail in “Surveillance camera system and control program for surveillance camera system” filed on the same date as the present application by the present applicant, and will not be described in the present application.

A method of setting the monitoring area will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As described above, “setting a surveillance area” means selecting an arbitrary area as the surveillance area and setting the field of view of the camera so that the angle of view captures the surveillance area. First, step S1601
Use to select "Monitor area setting" from the setting menu. In step S1602, the camera N (= 4A to 4D) for setting the monitoring area is selected. Step S160
The user sets the field of view of the camera N via the input unit 10 (that is, manually) so that the target surveillance area of the camera N is captured in 3 by the angle of view. In step S1604, the current field of view of the camera N is stored as “information of the monitoring area Ei” of the camera N of the multiple camera state management unit 14. At the same time, the monitoring method for moving object detection or color detection is also set. Further, the correspondence between the monitoring area Ei and the sensors in the area is stored in the sensor / monitoring area information storage unit 16.

If the field of view of another camera for pointing the surveillance area Ei is set in step S1605, step S1
Proceeding to 1606, another camera M for which the monitoring area Ei is set is selected. In step S1607, the field of view is set so that the camera M faces the target monitoring area Ei.

Specifically, referring to the subroutine of FIG. 17, the field of view of the second and subsequent cameras can be set manually or automatically. When the manual mode is selected in step S1701 to set the camera visual field, the process proceeds to step S1702, and the user sets the visual field of the camera M via the input unit 10 so that the camera M captures the target monitoring area Ei at the angle of view. I do.

If the automatic mode is selected for setting the camera field of view in step S1701, then step S17
In step 03, the instruction unit 10 sets “installation position information” of the selected camera M, “installation position information” of the camera N that first sets the field of view, and “posture (pan / tilt angle) information of the camera N”. Based on this, the field of view of the camera M is controlled so as to scan the line-of-sight direction of the camera N. The user gives an instruction to stop scanning when the camera M captures the monitoring area Ei (step S).
1704, S1705). If necessary, manually operate the camera M
The field of view may be finely adjusted.

Returning to FIG. 16, in step S1608,
The current field of view of the camera M is stored as “information of the monitoring area Ei” of the camera M of the multiple camera state management unit 14. At the same time, the monitoring method for moving object detection or color detection is also set. The flow returns to step S1605.

In step S1605, the monitoring area Ei
If the field of view of another camera for pointing to is not set any more, the flow proceeds to step S1609. Step S1
If the “monitoring area setting” is not ended in 609, the process returns to step S1602, and the field of view of the camera is set for another monitoring area.

A method of setting the traveling order will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, step S1801
Use to select “Circuit order setting” from the setting menu. In step S1802, the camera N (=
4A-4D). In step S1803, the patrol order of each monitoring area that has been set in the "monitoring area setting" is stored as "monitoring area information" of the camera N of the multiple camera state management unit 14. In step S1804,
When the “setting of the traveling order” is not completed, step S180
Returning to step 2, the patrol order is set for the other cameras.

A method of setting the traveling time will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, step S1901.
Use to select “Set tour time” from the setting menu.
In step S1902, the set time storage unit 18 stores the patrol time indicating the time for monitoring at each patrol position. If it is determined in step S1903 that the "payment time setting" is not to be completed, the process returns to step S1902 to change the patrol time.
The patrol time may be set differently depending on the camera and / or the surveillance area.

The specific embodiments according to the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the cameras are configured to circulate in a plurality of surveillance areas, but the surveillance areas monitored by each camera are fixed and all the cameras perform centralized surveillance only when an abnormality is detected. The area may be monitored.

In the above embodiment, the sensors (S1 to S6) are arranged in all the areas (E1 to E6), but the sensors are not necessarily provided in the areas (E1 to E4) monitored by the surveillance camera. May be.

Further, the image abnormality detecting section 20 and the camera state managing section 24 mounted in the camera 4 are connected to the computer 6
It may be provided on the side. In other words, the computer 6 may be caused to read a program for performing processing such as image abnormality detection.

[0063]

According to the present invention, when an abnormality is detected, the abnormal position can be photographed from a plurality of directions.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a surveillance camera system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the surveillance camera system of FIG.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a display screen when the system is activated.
(B) The figure which shows a setting menu screen.

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a display screen when a display block assigned to each camera is fixed and switched. (B)
The figure which shows the display screen at the time of switching, fixing the display block allocated to each monitoring area.

5 is a diagram showing information managed by a multi-camera state management unit in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of each camera.

7 is a flowchart showing the entire monitoring / tracking process using the monitoring camera system of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for confirming abnormality detection information in step S10 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the monitoring operation of each camera.

10 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of centralized monitoring control in step S12 of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a tracking operation subroutine of step S13 of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a tracking operation of each camera.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing how the display screens are switched in the centralized monitoring control flow.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing another subroutine of centralized monitoring control.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a system showing a state of centralized monitoring control using the flowchart shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a monitoring area setting process.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step S1607 of FIG.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a patrol order setting process.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a patrol time setting process.

[Explanation of symbols]

2: surveillance camera system, 4A to 4D: camera, E1 to
E4: monitoring area, S1 to S4: sensors.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 5/225 H04N 5/225 CF Term (reference) 5C022 AA05 AB61 AB62 AB65 AC69 CA00 5C054 CC05 CF06 CG05 CH02 DA06 EA01 EA05 FE09 FF02 HA18 5C087 AA02 AA03 AA09 AA24 BB02 BB65 BB74 DD05 DD20 EE05 EE06 EE08 GG02 GG11 GG19 GG65

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A first surveillance camera for photographing a first surveillance area, a second surveillance camera for photographing a second surveillance area, and a first surveillance camera for detecting an abnormality relating to the first surveillance area. When the abnormality is detected in the second monitoring area by the abnormality detecting means, the second abnormality detecting means for detecting the abnormality related to the second monitoring area, and the second abnormality detecting means, the first monitoring camera When an abnormality is detected in the first surveillance area by the first surveillance camera control means for controlling the field of view of the first surveillance camera so as to capture an image of the second surveillance area at A second monitoring camera control means for controlling the field of view of the second monitoring camera so that the second monitoring camera captures the first monitoring area. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality based on a video image of a surveillance camera which photographs the surveillance area. 3. The first surveillance camera control means comprises a second surveillance camera control means.
When an abnormality is detected in the surveillance area of the first surveillance camera, the first surveillance camera controls the field of view of the first surveillance camera while photographing the area located in the line-of-sight direction of the second surveillance camera. The system according to claim 2, wherein the surveillance camera captures an abnormality in the second surveillance area in a visual field. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality detecting means is a sensor provided in a monitoring area. 5. A first surveillance camera for photographing the first surveillance area, a second surveillance camera for photographing the second surveillance area, and a first surveillance camera for detecting an abnormality relating to the first surveillance area. In a control program for a surveillance camera system including an abnormality detecting unit and a second abnormality detecting unit for detecting an abnormality relating to the second monitoring area, the second abnormality detecting unit detects an abnormality in the second monitoring area. When detected, the first surveillance camera controls the field of view of the first surveillance camera so as to photograph the second surveillance area, and the first abnormality detection means detects an abnormality in the first surveillance area. , A control program for controlling the field of view of the second surveillance camera so that the second surveillance camera captures the first surveillance area.