FR2878061A1 - Video surveillance system for resident of e.g. one family dwelling, has terminals to warn residents in response to transmission of anomaly detection signal, for drawing their attention on telemonitoring images transmitted to displays - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a telemonitoring station (24) to transmit an anomaly detection signal on a local area network, and surveillance terminals (52) connected to the network. The terminals are adapted to warn the residents in response to the transmission of the signal, for drawing their attention on telemonitoring images, filmed at the residents by cameras (38, 40), transmitted towards displays (50) placed in each dwelling. An independent claim is also included for a method for video surveillance of residents of a one-family dwelling or multi-storey dwelling.

Description

2878061 1

  The present invention relates to a video surveillance system and method, a central station and a terminal adapted for this system.

  The known video surveillance systems contain: - at least one surveillance camera for filming remote surveillance images, - at least one display screen placed in the or each dwelling to present the remote surveillance images filmed to the residents, - a central monitoring station connected to each display screen, this control unit being able to transmit to each of the display screens the video surveillance images filmed, and a first local information transmission network 15, this network serving the or each dwelling, Here, by anomaly is any abnormal situation that deserves the attention of residents. For example, abnormal situations include the detection of a burglary or an intrusion, the depressing of an alarm button, the detection of smoke or the detection of an excessively high temperature in a given room of the room. dwelling.

  Such systems are designed so that residents, by viewing the remote monitoring images transmitted in real time, can detect an anomaly and act immediately accordingly since they are on site. These systems can therefore react faster than remote video surveillance systems in which the remote monitoring images are sent for viewing and analysis at a remote site via a Wide Area Network (WAN).

  In these known systems which do not only involve a remote site for monitoring the images, the central monitoring station constantly broadcasts the remote monitoring images to each of the display screens. Residents are expected to constantly look at this or these display screens to be sure that no anomalies go unnoticed. This is tedious for residents.

  The invention therefore aims to remedy this disadvantage by proposing a video surveillance system that requires less attention from residents.

  The subject of the invention is therefore a video surveillance system in which: the monitoring station is capable of transmitting an anomaly detection signal on the first local network, and the system comprises at least one monitoring terminal connected to the first one; local network, this monitoring terminal being able, in response to the transmission of the anomaly detection signal, to warn residents to draw their attention to the remote monitoring images transmitted to each display screen.

  In the above system, since the residents are warned when it becomes interesting to watch the remote surveillance images, it is no longer necessary for them to constantly look at these images on the display screens in order not to miss a situation. abnormal.

  The embodiments of this system may comprise one or more of the following features: each display screen is connected to the first local network for receiving and displaying the remote monitoring images transmitted, and the central monitoring station is able to transmit the images of remote monitoring on the same local network, - the first local area network is a local audiovisual signal broadcasting network, 2878061 3 - the system comprises a second information transmission network, this second network serving the or each dwelling, the central monitoring station is capable of transmitting the remote monitoring images only on this second local network, and the or each display screen is connected to the second local network for receiving and displaying the remote monitoring images, - the first local network is chosen from a group consisting of a local electricity distribution network, a local telephone network and a t of a local computer network, - the or each local network is a pre-existing network to the installation of the video surveillance system, - the system comprises at least one anomaly detector and the central monitoring station is able to transmit the signal of detection of anomalies in response to the detection of an anomaly by this detector, the system comprises several video cameras and at least one anomaly detector associated with each of the video cameras, and a module for creating an image composed of remote surveillance to be transmitted by the central monitoring station, this composite image containing only the remote surveillance images filmed by the cameras associated with detectors having detected an anomaly.

  The invention also relates to a monitoring unit specially adapted to be implemented in the video surveillance system above.

  The embodiments of this central monitoring unit may comprise one or more of the following characteristics: it is capable of transmitting an anomaly detection signal on the first local network, it is capable of transmitting the remote surveillance images recorded on a carrier reserved for the images in a VHF-UHF (Very High Frequency-Ultra High Frequency) channel of a local broadcasting network of audio-visual signals and to transmit the signal of detection of anomalies by using a carrier reserved for the sounds in the same VHF-UHF channel, it is capable of transmitting the remote surveillance images filmed on a carrier reserved for the images in a VHF-UHF (Very High Frequency-Ultra High Frequency) channel of a local broadcasting network of audiovisual signals and to transmit the anomaly detection signal by coding it as teletext information on the same carrier reserved for the images, - it is able to transmit the remote monitoring images by using a VHF-UHF (Very High Frequency-Ultra High Frequency) channel of a local audiovisual signal broadcasting network and transmit the anomaly detection signal by using a second VHF-UHF channel in the same local network, - it is able to transmit images of. remote monitoring only when an anomaly detection signal is transmitted.

  The invention also relates to a monitoring terminal specially adapted to be implemented in the CCTV system above.

  The embodiments of this monitoring terminal may comprise one or more of the following characteristics: the terminal is able to acquire the anomaly detection signal transmitted on a VHF-UHF channel of the first local network; it comprises a module for extraction capable of extracting the anomaly detection signal present on a carrier reserved for the sounds in the VHF-UHF channel or on a carrier reserved for the images when the anomaly detection signal is coded as teletext information , it comprises an automatic search module of the VHF-UHF channel used by the central monitoring station to transmit the anomaly detection signal, based on a synchronization signal generated by the central monitoring unit, the monitoring terminal is able to control an automatic switchover of the television set on a television channel corresponding to the remote monitoring images, in response to the transmission of the anomaly detection signal.

  The invention also relates to a video surveillance method implemented in the video surveillance system above.

  The embodiments of the video surveillance system, the central surveillance unit or the monitoring terminal furthermore have the following advantages: the use of the same local network for the transmission of both the remote surveillance images and the monitoring signal; anomaly detection facilitates the installation of the video surveillance system; the use of two separate local area networks, one for the transmission of the remote surveillance images and the other for the transmission of the anomaly detection signal, makes it possible to transmit additional information to the monitoring terminals or the screens of display; the use of a single VHF-UHF channel to transmit both the remote surveillance images and the anomaly detection signal saves the bandwidth of the local TV broadcast network; the transmission of the anomaly detection signal as teletext information on the same carrier as that used to transmit the remote monitoring images makes it possible to transmit additional information by using the carrier reserved for the sound of the same channel; the use of two VHF-UHF channels separate from the local audiovisual signal broadcasting network makes it possible to increase the bandwidth available for transmitting information from the central surveillance station to the monitoring terminal or terminals; - the transmission of remote monitoring images only when an anomaly detection signal is present makes it possible to respect the privacy of the residents; - the use of a pre-existing local network simplifies the installation of the video surveillance system; the use of a composite image makes it possible to display in a single image all the remote monitoring images for which an anomaly detection signal has been generated, which allows a faster consultation of the remote monitoring images; and the use of an automatic search module facilitates the installation of the video surveillance system.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of the system Figure 2 is a flowchart of a video surveillance method implemented in the system of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of the architecture of another embodiment of the video surveillance system. a video surveillance system.

  Figure 1 shows a video surveillance system 2 for residents of a building. The building comprises several apartments, a technical room 6, and a pre-existing local network 8 broadcasting standardized audio-visual signals modulated on VHF-UHF bands, such as television programs.

  To simplify the illustration, only two apartments 10 and 12 are shown.

  The local network 8 contains a head station 14 equipped with an antenna 16 for connecting this local area network to a public broadcasting network 18 broadcasting audiovisual signals.

  The network 8 contains a network of coaxial cables connecting TV sockets to the head station 14. The sockets 20 are located in each of the apartments.

  The signal network VHF Frequency) head 14, and another input is connected to a central 24 monitoring. The mixer 22 also has an output connected via the coaxial and splitter cables (not shown) to each of the jacks 20. This mixer is also known by the English term Splitter and makes it possible to broadcast on the network 8 as well. information received by the head station 14 that information transmitted by the central 24.

  8 also has a mixer 22 of (Very High Frequency) -UHF (Ultra High an input is connected to the station 2878061 8 The network 8 is called local network since it does not have routers connecting several subnets with each other. to others.

  Here, the network 8 extends mainly inside the technical ducts of the building.

  The central unit 24 contains: a module 26 for acquiring remote surveillance images filmed by remote surveillance cameras; a module 28 for acquiring anomaly detection signals generated by anomaly detectors; archiving in a memory 32 remote surveillance images acquired, - a module 34 for creating an image composed of remote surveillance capable of being broadcast on the network 8, and - a VHF-UHF modulator 36 connected to the input of the mixer 22.

  To simplify the illustration, only two remote surveillance cameras 38 and 40 were represented. Each camera of the system 2 is associated with at least one anomaly detector capable of signaling an anomaly in the images filmed by the camera with which it is associated. Here, only two detectors 42, 44 associated respectively with the cameras 38 and 40 have been represented.

  For example, the detector 42 is an intruder detector in a room whose inside is filmed by the camera 38. The detector 42 generates an anomaly detection signal when an intrusion is detected.

  The detector 44 is, for example, an excessive temperature detector placed near a boiler of the building. This detector 44 is capable of generating an anomaly detection signal when the detected temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold. The camera 40 films the interior of the room in which the boiler is located.

  The modulator 36 is capable of modulating the video surveillance images filmed as well as the anomaly detection signal or signals acquired by the module 28 to enable their diffusion on the network 8. For this purpose, the modulator 36 uses in this mode a VHF-UHF channel, called a remote monitoring channel, which is not used for the broadcasting of the audio-visual signals received via the head station 14. More specifically, the modulator 36 is able to broadcast the remote surveillance images filmed on a remote station. carrier for images in the monitoring channel and to broadcast the anomaly detection signals using a carrier reserved for the sounds in the same VHF-UHF channel. The remote monitoring images are encoded on the image carrier using standard coding that allows any standard television set to display these images. Conversely, the anomaly detection signals are encoded using proprietary coding.

  The control unit 24 is able, via the modulator 36, to continuously broadcast a synchronization signal coded on the carrier used for the diffusion of the anomaly detection signals. For example, the synchronization signal corresponds to a sound, such as a beep, transmitted at regular intervals.

  The various elements of the central monitoring unit are either assembled in a single housing or consist of several independent boxes connected to each other.

  The central 24 as well as the head station and the mixer 22 are housed in the technical room 6.

  Each apartment is equipped with at least one screen common to the display of remote monitoring images and audiovisual signals received via the network 2878061 10 18. These screens are here television sets 50 each connected to the socket 20.

  Each apartment is also equipped with a terminal 52 remote monitoring. These terminals are, for example, all identical.

  The terminal 52 has an input 54 connected to the socket 20 and an output 56 connected to the television set 50. The output 56 is used to transmit to the station 50 the audiovisual signals and the remote monitoring images to be displayed. Output 56 is, for example, an ordinary television outlet.

  The terminal 52 includes an adjustable tuner 58, also known as a tuner, associated with a demodulator 60. The tuner 58 modifies the frequency of an audiovisual signal received via the input 54 and transmits it to the demodulator 60. demodulates the signal to obtain a baseband signal. A baseband output of the demodulator 60 is connected to an abnormality detection signal extraction module 66 in the demodulated signal.

  The terminal 52 also comprises a module 64 for automatic search of the remote monitoring channel. For this purpose, the module 64 is able to control the scanning by the synthesizer 58 of all the VHF-UHF channels used and to detect the one on which the synchronization signal generated by the central 24 is present. Once this channel has been detected, the module 64 acts on the synthesizer 58 to receive the channel and in particular the carrier reserved for sounds used to transmit the anomaly detection signals.

  The module 66 is able to extract one or more anomaly detection signals present in the baseband signal generated by the demodulator 60. This module 66 is also able to activate, in response to the reception of a signal 2878061. anomaly detection means, warning means 68 to draw the attention of residents on remote monitoring images received. These means 68 are sufficiently discreet to warn only the residents of the apartment without disturbing the neighborhood. By way of example, these warning means here comprise a device 70 for generating an audible alarm as well as indicator lights 72.

  The operation of the system 2 will now be described with reference to the method of FIG.

  During the operation of the system 2, during a step 100, each camera of the system 2 permanently films remote monitoring images.

  In parallel, during a step 102, the detectors 42, 44 constantly check the presence of an anomaly.

  When an anomaly is detected by a detector, this detector generates, during a step 104, an anomaly detection signal which is transmitted to the central unit 24.

  The module 28 acquires, during a step 106, the generated anomaly detection signal and, in parallel, during a step 108, the module 26 selects and acquires the remote surveillance images filmed by the camera associated with the detector having generated an anomaly signal.

  For the rest of this description, it will be assumed that it is the sensor 42 that generates an abnormality detection signal and that, consequently, the remote surveillance images acquired are those of the camera 38.

  Then, during a step 110, the modulator 36 broadcasts on the network 8 the images filmed by the camera selected by the module 26 and the anomaly detection signal generated by the detector 42. More specifically, during this step 110 , the filmed images are broadcast using the carrier of the remote monitoring channel reserved for the images and the anomaly detection signal 2878061 12 is broadcast using the carrier reserved for the sounds in the same channel.

  In parallel with the steps 106 and 108, the module 30 archives, during a step 112, the images filmed by the camera selected by the module 26.

  The remote monitoring images are broadcast on the network 8 only when one of the detectors has generated an anomaly detection signal.

  On the side of the monitoring terminals, the modules 58 and 60 respectively modify the frequency and demodulate, during a step 116, the remote monitoring channel. The other channels used to broadcast audiovisual signals are retransmitted to station 50 without modification.

  If the module 66 extracts an abnormality detection signal in the baseband signal generated by the demodulator 60, then, in a step 118, it activates the warning means 68. When these warning means are activated , the device 68 generates, during a step 120, a sound signal audible by the resident of the apartment and the indicator lights 72 are lit.

  The resident of the apartment can then, for example, turn on his television and switch to the channel corresponding to the remote monitoring channel. Under these conditions, during a step 124, the remote surveillance images filmed by the camera 38 are displayed on the station 50, which allows the resident to check the existence of the detected anomaly and act accordingly.

  If several detectors simultaneously generate anomaly detection signals, then the module 26 selects the remote surveillance images filmed by the cameras associated with each of these detectors. Then, the module 34 creates, during a step 130, an image composed from the selected remote monitoring images.

  2878061 13 The composite remote surveillance image combines the different remote surveillance images filmed by the selected cameras into a single image. For example, the composite image has several screens embedded in it, each screen containing the images filmed by a single camera selected. In this case, during step 110, it is the composite image that is broadcast on the network 8.

  Many other embodiments of the system 2 are possible.

  For example, the detector 42 may be an alarm button triggering the generation of an abnormality detection signal when it is depressed or a motion detector. Typically, the motion detector will be implemented in the central unit 24 and will detect motion from the analysis of the video surveillance images. The motion detector can replace external anomaly detectors or add to these external anomaly detectors such as detectors 42 and 44.

  As a variant, only the carrier of the remote monitoring channel reserved for the image is used to transmit both the remote monitoring images and the anomaly detection signal. In this variant, the anomaly detection signal is coded as teletext information on the carrier reserved for the image in the remote monitoring channel. In this variant, the extraction module of each monitoring terminal is adapted to extract an anomaly detection signal from the teletext information present in the baseband signal.

  It is also possible to use two separate remote monitoring channels: one channel being used solely for the transmission of the remote monitoring images and the other channel being used only for the transmission of the anomaly detection signals.

  System 2 has been described in the particular case of a building comprising several apartments each equipped with one or more television sets. However, the system 2 also applies to individual houses whose television sets are connected to each other via a local audiovisual signal broadcasting network. System 2 also applies to office buildings equipped with a local computer network. In this case, the local computer network is used to perform the same functions as the local network 8 and the display screens are formed by computer screens. In this variant, the protocol used to transmit the remote monitoring images and the anomaly detection signals is a standard protocol such as the TCP / IP protocol.

  The system 2 has been described in the particular case where the same local area network is used to transmit both the remote surveillance images and the anomaly detection signals. However, alternatively the network 8 is used to transmit only the remote monitoring images while a second local area network is used to transmit the anomaly detection signals. For example, in Figure 3, the second network is a network 130 of electricity distribution. In FIG. 3, the elements described with reference to FIG. 1 bear the same numerical references.

  In this variant, the central unit 24 furthermore comprises a power line carrier modulator 132 (LC) capable of diffusing on the local network 130 the anomaly detection signals using a carrier current modulation.

  The network 130 is connected to the electrical outlets 134, 136 located respectively in the apartments 10 and 12, and monitoring terminals 140, 142 are connected to these electrical outlets. The terminals 140 and 142 are similar to the terminals 52 except that they are adapted to receive the anomaly detection signals via the network 130. For this purpose, it comprises a carrier current demodulator.

  The network 130 may also be replaced by a local telephone network or a local computer network as indicated above.

  These variants have the advantage of reducing the amount of network bandwidth used by the video surveillance system.

  The system 2 has been described in the particular case where the remote monitoring channel corresponds to a channel not used for broadcasting audiovisual signals. As a variant, the anomaly detection signals can be transmitted on the network 8 by using a band of frequencies which can not be used for the broadcasting of the audiovisual signals such as, for example, the so-called return path frequency band between 5 and 46. MHZ.

  Here, the central unit 24 broadcasts simultaneously with all the monitoring terminals and display screens the remote surveillance images as well as the anomaly detection signals. In a variant, the central unit 24 is adapted to transmit only certain selected monitoring terminals the anomaly signals and only to certain display screens the remote surveillance images filmed. The selection of these monitoring terminals and the display screens to which the information is transmitted depends, for example, on the nature of the anomaly detected or the detector having generated the anomaly detection signal.

  Alternatively, the module 34 is replaced by a module adapted to transmit the remote monitoring images 2878061 16 selected in time sequence one after the other.

  Preferably, the change of television channels is automatic when an anomaly detection signal is generated. For this purpose, the terminals 52 or 140 comprise a learning module of the control signal of the television set so that the latter in response to this control signal switches to the television channel corresponding to the remote monitoring channel. In this embodiment, the terminals 52 and 140 also comprise a repetition module of the learned control signal, and the extraction module 66 is able, in response to the extraction of an anomaly detection signal, to activate additionally the repetition module. Thus, when an anomaly detection signal is generated, the repetition module is activated and generates the control signal which automatically switches the television set on the remote station. For example, the control signal corresponds to an infrared signal generated by a remote control of the television when it has to be switched on the channel corresponding to the remote monitoring channel.

Claims (18)

  1. CCTV system for residents of at least one individual or collective dwelling, 5 comprising: - at least one surveillance camera (38, 40) for filming remote monitoring images, - at least one screen (50) for display placed in the or each dwelling to present the surveillance images filmed to the residents, - a central control unit (24) connected to each display screen, this control unit being able to transmit to each of the display screens the images of remote surveillance filmed, and - a first local network (8; 130) transmission of information, the network serving the or each dwelling, characterized in: - in that the monitoring station is able to transmit a detection signal of anomalies on the first local network, and - in that the system comprises at least one monitoring terminal (52) connected to the first local network, this monitoring terminal being able, in response e to the transmission of the anomaly detection signal, to warn the residents to draw their attention to the remote surveillance images transmitted to each display screen.   2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that each display screen (50) is connected to the first local network for receiving and displaying the remote monitoring images transmitted, and in that the central monitoring station (24) is able to transmit the remote monitoring images on the same local network.   System according to Claim 2, characterized in that the first local network (8) is a local audiovisual signal broadcasting network.   4. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a second local information transmission network (8), this second network serving the or each dwelling, in that the central monitoring station is able to transmit the remote monitoring images only on this second local network, and - in that the or each display screen is connected to the second local network for receiving and displaying the remote monitoring images.   7. System according to claim 4, characterized in that the first local network (130) is chosen from a group consisting of a local electrical energy distribution network, a local telephone network and a local computer network. .   8. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the or each local network (8; 130) is a pre-existing network installation of the CCTV system.   9. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one detector (42, 44) of anomalies and in that the monitoring center is able to transmit the anomaly detection signal. in response to the detection of an anomaly by this detector.   10. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises: - several video cameras (38, 40) and at least one detector (42, 44) anomalies associated with each of the video cameras, and 2878061 19 - a module for creating an image composed of remote surveillance to be transmitted by the central monitoring, this composite image containing only the remote surveillance images filmed by the cameras associated with detectors having detected an anomaly.   9. Central monitoring adapted to be implemented in a system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is capable of transmitting an anomaly detection signal on the first local network.   10. Central monitoring station according to claim 9, characterized in that it is able to transmit the remote surveillance images filmed on a carrier reserved for images in a VHF-UHF (Very High Frequency-Ultra High Frequency) channel of a network. local broadcast audio signals and transmit the anomaly detection signal using a carrier reserved for sounds in the same channel VHF-UHF.   11. Central monitoring according to claim 9, characterized in that it is capable of transmitting the remote surveillance images filmed on a carrier reserved for the images in a VHF-UHF channel (Very High Frequency-Ultra High Frequency) of a network. local broadcasting audiovisual signals and to transmit the anomaly detection signal by coding it as teletext information on the same carrier reserved for the images.   12. Central monitoring according to claim 9, characterized in that it is capable of transmitting the remote monitoring images by using a VHF-UHF (Very High Frequency-Ultra High Frequency) of a local broadcasting network audiovisual signals and transmitting the anomaly detection signal using a second VHF-UHF channel in the same local area network.   13. Central monitoring according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that it is able to transmit the remote monitoring images only when an anomaly detection signal is transmitted.   14. Monitoring terminal adapted for use in a video surveillance system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the monitoring terminal is adapted to be connected to the first local network (8) and suitable, in responding to the broadcast of the anomaly detection signal, informing residents to draw their attention to the remote monitoring images transmitted to each display screen.   Terminal according to claim 14, specially adapted to receive the anomaly detection signal transmitted by a central monitoring unit according to claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the terminal is able to acquire the transmitted anomaly detection signal. on a VHF-UHF channel of the first local network (8).   Terminal according to claim 14, specially adapted for acquiring the anomaly detection signal transmitted by a central monitoring unit according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that it comprises an extraction module (66) adapted to extracting the anomaly detection signal present on a sound-only carrier in the VHF-UHF channel or on an image-only carrier when the anomaly detection signal is encoded as teletext information.   17. Monitoring terminal according to any one of   Claims 14 to 16, characterized in that   it comprises a module (64) for automatic search of the VHF-UHF channel used by the central monitoring station to transmit the anomaly detection signal, from a synchronization signal generated by the central monitoring unit.   18. Surveillance terminal according to any one of claims 14 to 17, for a video surveillance system in which the display screens are television sets, characterized in that the monitoring terminal is able to control an automatic switchover of the television. television set on a television channel corresponding to the remote monitoring images, in response to the transmission of the anomaly detection signal.   19. Video surveillance method for residents of at least one individual or collective dwelling equipped with a video surveillance system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises: a step (110) transmitting an anomaly detection signal on the first local area network, and - a resident warning step (120), in response to generating the anomaly detection signal, to draw the attention of the residents on remote monitoring images transmitted to each display screen.