JPH08172621A - Image supervisory security system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an image supervisory security system in which a fault is detected by plural terminal equipments simultaneously, center equipments of a few numbers inform the occurrence of the fault to a supervisor in a supervisory center surely in a small waiting time, a cause to the fault sensed from image data received at first is judged even when a time elapses after the sensing of the sensor, a site image representing a current status is sent for confirmation with required image quality as required. CONSTITUTION: The system is provided with plural terminal equipments 1A-1N which convert supervisory information into a 1st form of image information and a 2nd form of image information whose compression rate differs from each other and send the information selectively to a remote location via a telephone line and with a supervisory center having 1st and 2nd center equipments 3A, 3B expanding and displaying the 1st and 2nd forms of the image information from the terminal equipments. While the 1st center equipment 3A makes communication with one of the plural terminal equipments, when the other of the plural terminal equipments detect a fault, the other terminal equipment sends the 2nd form of image information to the 2nd center equipment 3B.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image surveillance security system, and more particularly to transmitting a still image captured from a camera of a terminal installed in a store or the like to a surveillance center at a remote place via a telephone line. The present invention relates to an image surveillance security system for centralized surveillance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a conventional image monitoring security system. In the figure, 1a to 1n are terminals installed in stores in various places, 2 is a telephone line, 3a,
3b is a center machine installed in the monitoring center,
Two to three center machines and ten to 100 terminal machines are provided per monitoring center, and these center machines and terminals are mutually connected via a telephone line 2.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a concrete configuration of the terminals 1a to 1n shown in FIG. In the figure, 4 is a camera for imaging the inside of a store, 5 is an image conversion circuit for converting an image from the camera 4 into a still image, 6 is a sensor for detecting an intruder at a surveillance place, and 7 is a sensor 6 A sensor input circuit for taking in a detection signal, 8 is a control unit for instructing the image conversion circuit 5 to take in an image from the camera 4 in response to an output signal from the sensor input circuit 7, and for controlling a communication control unit described later, Reference numeral 9 is an image memory for storing a still image from the image conversion circuit 5 as image data, 10 is an image compression circuit for compressing and editing the image data from the image memory 9 according to transmission, and 11 is under the control of the control unit 8. , A communication control unit for transmitting the image data compressed and edited by the image compression circuit 10 to the center machines 3a and 3b of the monitoring center via the telephone line 2.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an example of a concrete configuration of the center machines 3a and 3b shown in FIG. In the figure, 1
2 is a communication control unit for receiving the image data transmitted from the terminals 1a to 1n, 13 is an image expansion circuit for expanding the image data received by the communication control unit 12, and 14 is an expansion unit for expanding the image data. A display control circuit for converting the image data into a display signal, a monitor television 15 for displaying the display signal from the display control circuit 14 as an image, a control unit 16 such as a communication control unit 12 and an image expansion circuit 13 for the center unit. The control unit 17 is an alarm device that notifies the reception of an image (the occurrence of an abnormality) according to an instruction from the control unit 16.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the operation when the sensor 6 of the terminal 1a, for example, of the plurality of terminals 1a to 1n, detects an abnormality will be described. Now, for example, when the sensor 6 of the terminal device 1a installed in a monitoring place of a certain store detects an intruder, the detection signal is supplied to the control unit 8 via the sensor input circuit 7 to notify the fact that the intrusion has occurred. To be done. Then, the control unit 8 instructs the image conversion circuit 5 to capture an image from the camera 4. The camera 4 is installed so that the entire surveillance place can be imaged, an intruder is imaged on a part of the screen, and the image captured by the camera 4 is converted into a still image by the image transformation circuit 5, and is converted into image data. It is once stored in the image memory 9.

Further, the control unit 8 instructs the communication control unit 11 to make a call to the monitoring center in parallel with the image capturing. In the memory (not shown) of the control unit 8, the telephone numbers and priorities of the lines to which the center machines 3a and 3b of the monitoring center are connected via the telephone line 2 are registered and stored in advance. Dial according to. Here, it is assumed that the center machine 3a has priority. The dial signal of the communication control unit 11 is transmitted to the communication control unit 12 of the center unit 3a by the action of the exchange (not shown) of the telephone line 2, and if normal, the line is connected. When the line connection is notified from the communication control unit 11, the control unit 8 instructs the image compression circuit 10 to compress and edit the image data stored in the image memory 9. The image data compressed and edited by the image compression circuit 10 is sent to the communication control unit 11, and is sent to the monitoring center via the telephone line 2 in accordance with the transmission speed of the line.

On the other hand, when the line is connected, the communication control unit 12 of the center unit 3a notifies the control unit 16 of an incoming call from the terminal unit 1a. The control unit 16 sounds the alarm device 17 to notify an observer of the occurrence of an abnormality, and instructs the image expansion circuit 13 to take in the image data transmitted from the terminal 1a through the telephone line 2 and the communication control unit 12. The image expansion circuit 13 expands the captured image data, stores it in a display memory (not shown) inside the display control circuit 14, generates a display signal, and outputs it to the monitor television 15. The monitor television 15 displays it as an image. Normally, the terminal device 1a displays the image of the camera 4 at a predetermined resolution of several tens.
It is captured at a second interval, compressed, and transmitted. The center machine 3a decompresses the transmitted image data and updates and displays it at intervals of several tens of seconds.

Next, referring to FIG. 10, a plurality of terminals 1a
The operation when the sensors simultaneously detect an abnormality in 1 to 1n will be described. In the following description, the terminal 1a
The reference numerals of the respective components in 1 to 1n will be described with the same English subscripts as the corresponding terminals. The operation when the sensor 6a of the first terminal device, for example, the terminal device 1a detects an abnormality is as described above. continue,
When the sensor 6b of the second terminal device, for example, the terminal device 1b detects an intruder, the control unit 8b instructs the communication control unit 11b in the same manner as the operation of the terminal device 1a described above, and the center device 3a of the first priority order. However, the center machine 3a is already communicating with the terminal machine 1a and responds to the busy message by the action of the exchange (not shown). Subsequently, the control unit 8b instructs the communication control unit 11b to transmit to the center machine 3b having the next priority. The center machine 3b is in a standby state and normally responds to the dial to connect the line. Similarly to the above, the monitoring staff of the monitoring center confirms the images sent from the terminal 1b at intervals of several tens of seconds by the center machine 3b and performs predetermined monitoring work.

While the terminals 1a and 1b are communicating with the center terminals 3a and 3b, the sensor 6c of the third terminal, for example 1c
When the terminal 3c detects an abnormality, the terminal 3c first dials the center 1a, but since it is communicating with the terminal 1a, a busy response is given. Then, the center device 3b is dialed, but since this is also in communication with the terminal device 1b, a busy response is given. Therefore, the terminal device 1c cannot connect to the center device and the center devices 3a and 3
Waiting for the end of communication between the center machines 3a and 3b while redialing alternately. Further, in this state, when the sensor 6d of the fourth terminal device, for example, the terminal device 1d detects an abnormality, the center devices 3a and 3b are communicating with each other and are alternately busy because they are in communication with each other like the above-mentioned third terminal device 1c. Wait for the end of communication while redialing. After a while, when the communication between the terminal device 1a and the center device 3a is completed, the terminal device 1c, which is on standby while redialing, is connected to the center device 3a and starts image communication communication. Similarly, for a new abnormality detection, a connection standby state is entered, and each time one communication is completed, the terminal on standby is connected and communication is started.

[0010]

Since the conventional image monitoring security system is configured as described above, when the sensors of a plurality of terminals simultaneously detect an abnormality, only the first two terminals are connected and communicated with the center apparatus. However, there was a problem in that the observer could not know that the third and subsequent terminals were detecting an abnormality, and could not respond promptly to the security work. It is also possible to increase the number of units that can communicate at the same time by increasing the number of center machines to 3 or 4, but the system price becomes high, and the number of supervisors to stand by is 3 or 4 even in the normal state. There was a problem such as the necessity. Furthermore, if the time when the communication is started has passed a considerable amount of time since the sensor was detected, there is also a problem that the situation that causes the sensor to detect an abnormality cannot be identified even if an image of the site is transmitted.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and even if an abnormality is simultaneously detected by a plurality of terminals, a small number of center machines can reliably operate the monitoring center with a short waiting time. In addition to notifying the surveillance staff, it is possible to determine the cause of the detected abnormality from the image data received first even if the time has elapsed since the sensor was detected, and if necessary, send the current on-site image with the required image quality for confirmation. An object is to provide an image surveillance security system.

[0012]

An image surveillance security system according to the present invention converts surveillance information into image information of a first form and second image information having mutually different compression rates,
It has a plurality of terminals selectively transmitting to a remote place via a telephone line, and first and second center machines for decompressing and displaying the image information of the first and second forms from the terminals. A monitoring center, and when the first center machine communicates with one of the plurality of terminals and the other of the plurality of terminals detects an abnormality, the second form of image information from the other of the terminals is detected. The data is transmitted to the second center machine.

Also, the terminal device detects the abnormality, the image recording means for recording the input image from the camera in response to the output signal of the detecting means, and the image information from the image recording means. A first image compression / editing means for compressing and editing the image information of the first form, and a second image for compressing and editing the image information from the image recording means into image information of the second form having a compression rate higher than that of the first image information. Image compression / editing means, image switching means for selectively switching the outputs of the first and second image compression / editing means, and transmission means for transmitting the output of the image switching means to a remote place via a telephone line. It is equipped with.

Further, the first center machine receives first at least image information of the first form from the terminal, and a first receiving means for storing the image information from the first receiving means. Storing means, first image expanding means for expanding the image information of the first form from the first storing means, and the first image expanding means.
First display means for displaying the output of the image decompression means, and the second center machine receives the at least second form of image information from the terminal, and the second reception means.
Second storing means for storing the image information from the receiving means, second image expanding means for expanding the second form image information from the second storing means, and the second image expanding means. Second display means for displaying the output of

Further, the first image compression means comprises at least a first image compression circuit and a second image compression circuit, the second image compression means comprises at least a third image compression circuit, and the first image compression circuit comprises a first image compression circuit and a second image compression circuit. The image expansion means comprises at least a first image expansion circuit and a second image expansion circuit, the second image expansion means comprises at least a third image expansion circuit, and the first center machine further includes at least the first image processor. An image switching unit for selecting and switching the output of the image expansion circuit and the second image expansion circuit is provided, and the image information of the first form is at least one of a fine image and a medium definition image, and the image information of the second form is provided. The image information is a rough image. Furthermore, a plurality of first center machines are configured.

[0016]

According to the present invention, the line is connected to the first center unit when only one terminal detects an abnormality, and first, the rough images obtained by compressing the camera images before and after the sensor detection are collectively transmitted.・ Split screen is displayed so that the cause of abnormality detection can be determined. Furthermore, if the surveillance staff wants to see the current situation at the site, he or she repeatedly transmits medium-definition images at intervals of a few seconds, or if he wants to see the detailed images before and after sensor detection, he or she can specify the image number and set a predetermined image in tens of seconds. To enable the observer to understand the detailed situation.

If one of the plurality of terminals (first terminal) is communicating with the first center machine and the other terminal (second terminal) detects an abnormality, first, The first center machine is dialed, but since it is a busy response, the second center machine is immediately redialed to establish a line connection. When the line is connected, the second terminal, like the first terminal, collectively transmits the rough images obtained by compressing the camera images before and after the sensor detection, and the split screen is displayed on the screen of the display means of the second center device. Along with the display, an alarm notifies you of the occurrence of an abnormality. When the second center machine completes the reception of the rough image, it automatically disconnects the line.

Further, when the plurality of other terminals (third and fourth terminals) detect an abnormality while the first and second terminals are communicating with the first and second center terminals, respectively, First of all, the first center machine is dialed first, and then the second center machine is dialed. However, both are in a busy state, and redialing is repeated alternately. After several tens of seconds, the communication between the second terminal and the second center terminal ends, so the third terminal is connected to the second center terminal, and after several tens of seconds, the third terminal Communication is completed, the fourth terminal is connected to the second center, and the rough image transmission and the screen display of the abnormality occurrence are completed. That is, the second center machine is a reception-only machine that receives and records the information and rough screens before and after the abnormality occurs when an abnormality occurs while the monitor is investigating the detailed situation of the site at the first center machine. As a result, even if a plurality of terminals detect an abnormality at the same time, the reception and display can be performed in a short waiting time, and the monitor can easily grasp the situation.

[0019]

【Example】

Example 1. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image monitoring security system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 7 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the figure, 1A to 1N are terminals installed in stores in various places, 3A and 3B are first and second center machines installed in a monitoring center, and in this case also, one center machine per monitoring center 2 to 3
About 10 to 100 units and terminals are provided, and these center units and terminals are mutually connected via a telephone line 2.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a concrete configuration of the terminals 1A to 1N shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 8 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the figure, 8A instructs the image conversion circuit 5 to capture an image from the camera 4 in response to an output signal from the sensor input circuit 7, and at the same time, the communication control unit 1
1 and a control unit for controlling a compressed image switching circuit described later, 2
Reference numeral 0 is an image memory that stores a still image from the image conversion circuit 5 as image data, and 21 is a first image compression circuit that compresses and edits the image data read from the image memory 20 with the number of pixels and the compression ratio in the fine mode. , 22 is a second image compression circuit for compressing and editing the image data read from the image memory 20 with the number of pixels and the compression ratio in the medium definition mode, and 23 is the rough image mode for the image data read from the image memory 20. A third image compression circuit for performing compression editing with the number of pixels and compression ratio of
A compressed image switching circuit 24 selects the output of each image compression circuit according to the operation mode. Here, the sensor 6 and the sensor input circuit 7 constitute a detection means, and the image conversion circuit 5 and the image memory 20 constitute an image recording means.
The second image compression circuits 21 and 22 constitute a first image compression means, the third image compression circuit 23 constitutes a second image compression means, and the compressed image switching circuit 24 and the control unit 8 are provided.
A constitutes an image switching means, and the communication control section 11 constitutes a transmission means.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a concrete configuration of the center machine 3A shown in FIG. Note that, in FIG. 3, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the figure, 16A is a communication control unit 1.
2, a control unit for controlling each part of the center machine such as an alarm device 17 and a decompressed image switching circuit which will be described later, and 25 is a fine image data and a medium fine image transmitted from the terminal through the telephone line 2 and the communication control unit 12. An image memory for storing data and rough image data, and 26 is a first for expanding the image data read from the image memory 25 by the number of pixels and image quality in the fine mode.
Image decompression circuit 27, a second image decompression circuit 27 for decompressing the image data read from the image memory 25 with the number of pixels and image quality in the medium definition mode, and 28 a rough image data read from the image memory 25. A third image expansion circuit for expanding the number of pixels in the image mode and the image quality, and 29 is an expanded image switching circuit for selecting the output of each image expansion circuit and supplying it to the display control circuit 14. Here, the communication control unit 12 constitutes a first receiving means, the image memory 25 constitutes a first storing means,
The first and second image expansion circuits form first image expansion means, and the display control circuit 14 and the monitor television 15 form first display means.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a concrete configuration of the center machine 3B shown in FIG. Note that, in FIG. 4, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In the figure, 16B is a communication control unit 12.
And a control unit for controlling each part of the center machine such as the alarm device 17,
An image memory 30 stores rough image data sent from the terminal via the telephone line 2 and the communication control unit 12. Here, the communication control unit 12 constitutes the second receiving means, the image memory 30 constitutes the second storing means, the third image expanding circuit constitutes the second image expanding means, and the display control circuit. The monitor 14 and the monitor TV 15 form a second display means.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the image processing modes of the terminal unit and the center unit in this embodiment. In the figure, in the fine mode, the input image data is transferred to the terminal 1A.
It is used for confirming the details of the recorded image before and after the sensor detection, which is compressed and edited by the first image compression circuit 21 of 1N and expanded by the first image expansion circuit 26 of the center machine 3A. In this case, the number of pixels is 640 × 480,
The transmission time is about 25 seconds. In the medium-definition mode, the input image data is compressed and edited by the second image compression circuit 22 of the terminals 1A to 1N, and expanded by the second image expansion circuit 27 of the center machine 3A. The number of pixels in this case is 320 × 240 and the transmission time is about 1 as an example.
2 seconds.

In the rough image mode, the input image data is compressed and edited by the third image compression circuit 23 of the terminals 1A to 1N, expanded by the third image expansion circuit 28 of the center machine 3B, and detected by the sensor. The recorded images before and after are collectively transmitted, and are collectively displayed on the monitor TV 15, for example, in 4 to 9 divisions, and are used for roughly checking the situation before and after the occurrence of the abnormality and determining the correspondence. In this case, for example, Has 160 pixels
× 120, transmission time is about 6 seconds.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the operation when a sensor 6 of the terminal 1A, for example, of the plurality of terminals 1A to 1N representatively detects an abnormality will be described. Now, for example, when the sensor 6 of the terminal 1A installed at a monitoring place of a store detects an intruder, the detection signal is supplied to the control unit 8A via the sensor input circuit 7 to notify the fact that the intrusion has occurred. To be done. Then, the control unit 8A causes the image conversion circuit 5 to
Is instructed to capture an image from the camera 4. The camera 4 is installed so that the entire surveillance place can be imaged, an intruder is imaged on a part of the screen, and the image captured by the camera 4 is converted into a still image by the image transformation circuit 5, and is converted into image data. It is temporarily stored in the image memory 20.

Further, the control unit 8A instructs the communication control unit 11 to make a call to the monitoring center in parallel with image capturing. In the memory (not shown) of the control unit 8A, the telephone numbers and priorities of the lines to which the center machines 3A and 3B of the monitoring center are connected via the telephone line 2 are registered and stored in advance. Dial according to. Here, it is assumed that the center machine 3A has priority. Communication control unit 11
Dial signal is transmitted to the communication control unit 12 of the center unit 3A by the action of the exchange (not shown) of the telephone line 2, and the line is connected if normal. When the line connection is notified from the communication control unit 11, the control unit 8A instructs the image compression circuits 21 to 23 to perform the compression editing of the image data stored in the image memory 20 in each operation mode.

The first image compression circuit 21 compresses and edits the image data read from the image memory 20 with the number of pixels and the compression ratio in the fine mode, and the second image compression circuit 22
The image data read from the image memory 20 is compressed and edited with the number of pixels and the compression rate in the medium definition mode, and the third image compression circuit 23 converts the image data read from the image memory 20 into pixels in the rough image mode. Compress and edit by number and compression ratio.
The compressed image switching circuit 24 selects the output of each image compression circuit according to the operation mode and sends it to the communication control unit 11 under the control of the control unit 8A, and the communication control unit 11 monitors according to the transmission rate of the line. It is sent to the center via the telephone line 2.

On the other hand, when the line is connected, the communication control unit 12 of the center unit 3A controls the incoming call from the terminal unit 1A by the control unit 16A.
To notify. The control unit 16A sounds the alarm device 17 to notify an observer of the occurrence of an abnormality, and instructs the communication control unit 12 to store the image data transmitted from the terminal 1A through the telephone line 2 in the image memory 25. The first image expansion circuit 26 expands the image data read from the image memory 25 with the number of pixels and the image quality in the fine mode, and the second image expansion circuit 27 extracts the image data read from the image memory 25. Is expanded with the number of pixels and image quality in the medium definition mode, and the third image expansion circuit 28 expands the image data read from the image memory 25 with the number of pixels and image quality in the rough image mode.
The expanded image switching circuit 29 selects the output of each image expansion circuit and supplies it to the display control circuit 14. Display control circuit 14
Is stored in an internal display memory (not shown), generates a display signal, and outputs it to the monitor television 15. The monitor television 15 displays this as an image.

Next, referring to FIG. 6, a plurality of terminals 1A ...
The operation when the sensors simultaneously detect an abnormality in 1N will be described. In the following description, the terminals 1A to
The reference numbers of the respective components in 1N will be described with the same English letters as the corresponding terminals. When the sensor 6A detects an intruder, the first terminal device, for example, the terminal device 1A operates as described above, and after the sensor detection, the center device 3A is operated.
Dial, connect the line, communicate for a certain period of time, and then terminate the communication.

The second terminal, for example, the terminal 1B,
When the sensor 6B detects an intruder, it operates in the same manner as the above-mentioned terminal 1A and dials the center machine 3A after detecting the sensor, but as shown in FIG. 6, the center machine 3A is still communicating with the terminal 1A. In the busy state, the center machine 3B is dialed to connect the line, and the third image compression circuit 23B is connected.
The rough image from the center device 3B is transmitted in a short time, the line is disconnected after the operation such as storing it in a predetermined area of the image memory 30B of the center device 3B is completed, and after the communication between the terminal device 1A and the center device 3A is completed, the center device is restarted. Communicate with machine 3A. Then, if necessary, a fine image from the first image compression circuit 21B of the terminal device 1B and a medium-definition image from the second image compression circuit 22B are respectively loaded into the image memory 25A of the center device 3A and newly added. Take action such as checking in detail.

The third terminal, for example, the terminal 1C,
When the sensor 6C detects an intruder, it operates in the same manner as the above-described terminal 1A, and after detecting the sensor, dials the center machine 3A and then the center machine 3B, but since both are communicating with the terminals 1A and 1B, The center machine 3B waits while redialing repeatedly, and when the communication of the center machine 3B is completed, the line is connected, the rough image from the third image compression circuit 23C is transmitted in a short time, and the image memory of the center machine 3B is transmitted. After the operation such as storing in a predetermined area of 30B is completed, the line is disconnected to prepare for the next reception. Furthermore, a fourth terminal such as terminal 1
When the sensor 6D detects an intruder, D operates in the same manner as the terminal 1A described above, and dials the center machine 3A and then the center machine 3B after detecting the sensor.
Since 1B and 1C are being communicated with each other, the center machine 3B is kept on standby while repeating redialing, and when the communication of the center machine 3B is completed, the line is connected to the third image compression circuit 23.
After completing the operation of transmitting the rough image from C in a short time and storing it in the predetermined area of the image memory 30B of the center machine 3B, the line is disconnected and the next reception is prepared.

Thus, the center device 3A first communicates with the terminal device 1A, then successively with the terminal device 1B and then with the terminal device 1C, in order to check the detailed information of each terminal device.
Communication times are relatively long. Center machine 3B
Is for receiving only when the center device 3A is busy, and first communicates with the terminal device 1B, then with the terminal device 1C, then with the terminal device 1D, and receives only rough images in a short time.
Immediately after completion, disconnect the line and prepare for the next reception.

As described above, in this embodiment, when only one terminal device detects an abnormality, the line is connected to the center device 3A, and first, several screens before and after the sensor detection are collectively transmitted and displayed as rough images. In addition, an alarm is sounded to notify the surveillance staff so that the surveillance staff can immediately determine what to do, and if necessary, request the detailed image recorded on the terminal or the current scene image. You can also check in detail.

Further, even when a plurality of terminals simultaneously detect an abnormality, the second and subsequent terminals can be connected to the center machine 3B sequentially with a short waiting time, and the rough images before and after the sensor detection are collectively transmitted. Since the alarm is displayed and an alarm is sounded to notify the observer, the observer can easily know that an abnormality has occurred other than the terminal for which detailed confirmation is currently being made.

Further, as soon as the confirmation of the communication with the first terminal device such as the terminal device 1A is completed, the center device 3A is used to connect the second terminal device such as the terminal device 1B through a line to transmit the recorded fine image. In addition, since the current on-site image can be transmitted or communicated at intervals of a few seconds, even if the number of terminals increases, it is possible to handle with two center machines, so the system price can be suppressed and a small number of supervisors can handle.

Further, even if the time when the supervisor starts communicating with each terminal using the center machine 3A has passed a considerable time from the sensor detection, rough images before and after the sensor are displayed on the center machine 3A. Since the detailed images before and after the sensor are recorded and stored in the monitor, the surveillance staff can request and check the desired image, so it is easy to understand the situation that causes the sensor to detect regardless of the passage of time. it can.

Example 2. In the first embodiment, the first
I explained the case where there is only one center machine.
The present invention can be similarly applied to a case where a plurality of units are provided, and the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, in the present embodiment, a plurality of observers can be arranged to correspond to a plurality of units at the same time. It is possible to reduce the waiting time until the observer responds when an abnormality is reported from the terminal, and take prompt action.

Example 3. In the first embodiment, the image compression circuit of the terminal device and the image decompression circuit of the first center device are three.
Although the case of being configured by types has been described, it can be similarly applied to the case of being configured by two types or four or more types, and the same effect as that of the above-described first embodiment can be obtained.
Further, in the present embodiment, when the image compression circuit of the terminal device and the image decompression circuit of the first center device are of two types, an inexpensive system can be configured without impairing the basic function, and the image of the terminal device can be constructed. When the compression circuit and the image expansion circuit of the first center machine are four or more types, when the surveillance staff examines the detailed situation, he or she can select an image of any pixel / compression ratio according to the situation and take more appropriate action. Can be taken.

Embodiment 4 FIG. In addition, in the first embodiment, the second
The case where the image decompression circuit of the center machine of No. 1 is configured by one type has been described, but this may be configured by the same number as that of the first center machine. The present invention can be similarly applied to the case of being configured as one center machine without dividing the center machines, and the same effects as those of the above-described first embodiment can be obtained, and further, in this embodiment, the center machines can be shared. it can.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, the monitoring information is converted into the first type image information and the second type image information having mutually different compression ratios, and the remote information is transmitted via the telephone line. And a monitoring center having first and second center units for decompressing and displaying the image information of the first and second forms from the terminal, When one center machine communicates with one of the plurality of terminals and the other of the plurality of terminals detects an abnormality, the second form of image information from the other of the terminals is transmitted to the second center machine. Therefore, even if an abnormality is detected by multiple terminals at the same time, a small number of center machines can notify the monitoring staff of the monitoring center with a short waiting time, and at the Detected from the image information received first, Can determine the cause of the abnormality, and if necessary to send a field image of current at the required quality has the effect of being able to confirm.

Also, the terminal compresses and edits the image information from the image image recording means for recording the input image from the camera into the image information of the first form in response to the output signal of the detecting means for detecting the abnormality. A first image compression / editing means, a second image compression / editing means for compressing and editing the image information from the image recording means into image information of a second form having a compression rate higher than that of the first image information; and And the image switching means for selecting and switching the output of the second image compression / editing means, and the transmitting means for transmitting the output of this image switching means to a remote place via a telephone line. A first image decompression means for decompressing the first form image information from the first storage means for storing at least the first form image information from the terminal; and an output of the first image decompression means. A first display means for displaying, The second center machine includes a second image expansion means for expanding the second form image information from the second storage means for storing at least the second form image information from the terminal, and the second image expansion means. Second for displaying the output of the image expanding means
Display means, the first image compression means includes a first image compression circuit and a second image compression circuit, the second image compression means includes a third image compression circuit, and the first image compression circuit includes a first image compression circuit and a second image compression circuit. The image expanding means comprises at least a first image expanding circuit and a second image expanding circuit, the second image expanding means comprises a third image expanding circuit, and the first center unit further expands the first image expanding circuit. Image switching means for selecting and switching the output of the circuit and the second image expansion circuit, wherein the image information of the first form consists of a fine image and a medium definition image, and the image information of the second form is rough. Since it consists of images, when only one terminal detects an abnormality, the observer can immediately determine what to do, request the detailed image recorded on the terminal if necessary, You can request a site image for detailed confirmation. Even if multiple terminals detect an abnormality at the same time, the observer can easily know that an abnormality has occurred other than the terminal for which details are being confirmed and the number of terminals is increasing. However, since it can be handled by two center machines, the system price can be suppressed and a small number of supervisors can deal with it. Furthermore, the time when the supervisor starts communicating with each terminal using the center machine is a considerable time from the sensor detection. Rough images before and after the sensor are recorded and saved in the center machine and fine images before and after the sensor are recorded and saved in each terminal even if the time has passed, so that the supervisor can request and confirm the desired image. The advantage is that it is possible to easily grasp the situation that causes the detection by the sensor regardless of the passage of time. When the image compression circuit of the terminal device and the image expansion circuit of the first center device are two types, an inexpensive system can be configured without impairing the basic function, and the image compression circuit of the terminal device and the first If there are four or more types of image expansion circuits in the center machine, when the surveillance staff examines the detailed situation
There is an effect that an image having a compression rate can be selected and more appropriate correspondence can be taken.

Further, since the plurality of first center devices are configured, a plurality of monitoring staffs are arranged to correspond to each other, so that when an abnormal message is simultaneously issued from a plurality of terminal machines, the waiting for the monitoring staffs to respond. This has the effect of reducing time and enabling quick response.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an image monitoring security system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part (terminal) of an embodiment of the image monitoring security system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part (first center machine) of an embodiment of the image monitoring security system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main part (second center device) of an embodiment of the image monitoring security system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an image processing mode of an embodiment of the image monitoring security system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing operation timing of an embodiment of the image monitoring security system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional image monitoring security system.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a terminal of a conventional image monitoring security system.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a center machine of a conventional image monitoring security system.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation timing of a conventional image monitoring security system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1A, 1B, 1C Terminal 2 Telephone line 3A First center machine 3B Second center machine 4 Camera 5 Image conversion circuit 6 Sensor 7 Sensor input circuit 8A Control section 11 Communication control section 12 Communication control section 14 Display control circuit 15 Monitor TV 16A, 16B Control unit 17 Alarm device 20, 25, 30 Image memory 21 First image compression circuit 22 Second image compression circuit 23 Third image compression circuit 24 Compressed image switching circuit 26 First image expansion circuit 27 Second image expansion circuit 28 Third image expansion circuit 29 Expanded image switching circuit

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of terminals for converting monitoring information into image information of a first form and second image information having mutually different compression rates, and selectively transmitting the information to a remote place through a telephone line. A monitoring center having first and second center units for expanding and displaying the image information of the first and second forms from the terminal unit, the first center unit being the plurality of terminal units. When the other of the plurality of terminals detects an abnormality while communicating with one of the terminals, the second type of image information from the other of the terminals is transmitted to the second center. A featured image surveillance security system. 2. The terminal device includes a detection means for detecting an abnormality, an image recording means for recording an input image from a camera in response to an output signal of the detection means, and image information from the image recording means. First image compression / editing means for compressing and editing the image information of the first form, and image information from the image recording means is compressed and edited into image information of the second form having a compression rate higher than that of the first image information. Second image compression / editing means, image switching means for selecting and switching the outputs of the first and second image compression / editing means, and the output of the image switching means is transmitted to a remote place via a telephone line. The image monitoring security system according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitting unit. 3. The first center machine receives first at least image information of the first form from the terminal, and first image receiving means stores the image information from the first receiving means. No. 1 storage means, first image expansion means for expanding the image information of the first form from the first storage means, and first display means for displaying the output of the first image expansion means. The second center machine includes a second receiving means for receiving at least the second form of image information from the terminal, and a second receiving means for storing the image information from the second receiving means. A storage means; a second image expansion means for expanding the image information of the second form from the second storage means; and a first display means for displaying the output of the second image expansion means. The image monitoring security system according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The first image compression means comprises at least a first image compression circuit and a second image compression circuit, and the second image compression means comprises at least a third image compression circuit. 2. The image monitoring security system described in 2. 5. The first image expansion means comprises at least a first image expansion circuit and a second image expansion circuit, and the second image expansion means comprises at least a third image expansion circuit. 4. The image monitoring security system according to claim 3, wherein the first center machine further comprises image switching means for selecting and switching the outputs of at least the first image expansion circuit and the second image expansion circuit. 6. The image information according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the image information of the first form comprises at least one of a fine image and a medium definition image, and the image information of the second form comprises a rough image. Image surveillance security system described. 7. The image monitoring security system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the first center machines are configured.