GB2323739A - Video recorder substitution in a video security/surveillance system - Google Patents

Abstract

A video cassette recorder (VCR) substitution system is embodied in a control computer 40 and a selector 42 of a video security system 10. The video security system 10 includes a number of video cameras whose video signal outputs are respectively directed to a number of video cassette recorders (VCRS) 26. Also provided is a number of standby VCRs 28. The video recorder substitution system is able to detect when one of the VCRs 26 is unable to record a video signal and automatically directs the input to that VCR to one of the standby VCRs 28. This ensures that the video signals from all video cameras are always being recorded.

Description

TITLE VIDEO RECORDER SUBSTITUTION OR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a video recorder substitution or management system for a video security system particularly, although not exclusively, envisaged for use in the monitoring of a plurality of locations, such as, in a building, for example, a casino.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter the term "VCR" will be used to denote any form of video signal recording and/or playback device (referred to as a "VRD") and may include a video cassette recorder, or any optical or digital recording media suitable for recording video signals.

A problem of prior art video security systems is that during certain times eg changing of VRD cassettes or down time of cameras/recorders no recording can occur. Hence, the video security system can not record all events which its cameras see. For example, in a video security system having 125 VCRs there would be a minimum recording time loss of 2 hours per day due only to the time taken to change over tapes (assuming the operation takes 30 seconds and each tape records for 8 hours). There is further loss of recording when an operator deliberately takes a VCR off-line in order to review one of the tapes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention to provide a video camera substitution or management system for ensuring that video images are always available to be reviewed and/or recorded even in the event of the failure of a VRD.

An object of the present invention to provide a video recorder substitution or management system for ensuring that video images are always recorded even in the event of the failure of a video recorder including failure to record due to change-over of recording media and taking the video recorder out of service.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a video recorder substitution system for a video security system comprising: a first VRD for recording a video signal corresponding to a target area; a second VRD also capable of recording the video signal corresponding to said target area; a record failure detection means for detecting failure of the first VRD to record said video signal, including failure due to change-over of recording media and due to taking the video recorder out of record its mode of operation; and, a control means in operative association with the record failure detection means, with the first VRD and with the second VRD, the control means being capable of controlling the second VRD to set the second VRD to record said video signal in the event that the record failure detection means detects failure of the first VRD so that the video signal corresponding to the target area is recorded substantially continuously.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a video recorder management system for use in a video surveillance system which includes at least one video camera each producing a video signal and a separate video signal recorder for recording the video signal from each video camera, each recorder having an alarm output which is activated when that recorder is not recording said video signal, said video recorder management system comprising: at least one additional video signal recorder; and, control means operatively interconnected with said video cameras, video signal recorders and additional video signal recorders, for sensing the activation of the alarm output of one of said video signal recorders and for switching the video signal previously input.to that video signal recorder whose alarm output is activated to one of said additional video signal recorders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1.1 is a block diagram of a video security system in which embodiments of the present invention may be used; Figure 1.2 is a set of waveforms showing the nature of insertion of a signal corresponding to text into the video signal; Figure 2 is a block diagram of an automatic VCR management system, in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a block diagram of a text insertion system incorporated in the video security system in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4a is a block diagram of a prior art transmission cable equalisation system; Figure 4b is a block diagram of a transmission cable equalisation system incorporated in the video security system; Figure 5 is a block diagram of a video camera management/substitution system incorporated in the video security system; and, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a Pm camera incorporated in the video security system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In order to provide the context of the preferred embodiment a complete video security system incorporating the preferred embodiment will be described.

Video Security System In Figure 1 there is shown a Video Security System (VSS) 10 comprising an Automatic VCR Management System (AVCRMS) 12, a Text Insertion System CflS) 14, a Transmission Cable Equalisation System (TCES) 16 and a Video Camera Substitution System (VCSS) 18.

The VSS 10 also comprises a plurality of fixed position cameras 20, a plurality of pantilt cameras 22, a plurality of video monitors 24, a plurality of VCRs 26, one or more standby VCRs 28 and a printer 30.

Typically, the VSS 10 is embodied in a computer system programmed to effect various routines equivalent to the systems 12, 14, 16 and 18 described herein.

Automatic VCR Management System As shown in figure 2 the AVCRMS 12 comprises a controller 40 and a selector 42.

Typically the controller 40 is in the form of a computer programmed to effect certain control functions as described herein. The controller 40 is connected to a remote control input 44 of each of the plurality of VCRs 26 and 28 and to an alarm output 46 of each of the VCRs 26 and 28. The controller 40 being capable of operating each of the VCRs 26 and 28 via the remote control inputs 44 and also being capable of sensing an alarm conditibn in each of the VCRs 26 and 28 via the alarm outputs 46. The controller 40 disabling any one of the VCRs 26 and 28 upon the occurrence of an alarm signal at the alarm output 46 of that VCR 26 or 28. The alarm condition becomes active when the VCR 26 or 28 is no longer in a record mode of operation. This can happen due to failure of the VCR 26 or 28, the VCR 26 or 28 being taken out of service such as to change a recording tape or to review a recorded tape or for repairs or the like.

The selector 42 is typically in the form of a matrix video switch in which any of its inputs 48 can be connected to any of its outputs 50, 52 and 54. The output 50 is connected to one of the monitors 24, and the outputs 52 and 54 are connected to record input 56 of two standby VCRs 28. Each of the VCRs 26 and 28 has a play output 58 which is connected to one of the video inputs of the selector 42 so that any video signal on any of the VCRs 26 or 28 can be displayed on the monitor 24. The selector 42 is also connected via itq inputs 48 to a plurality a video camera outputs 60.

To assist in alerting an operator of a recording failure of one of the VCRs 26/28 the controller 40 may activate an audible tone to be generated and cause an alarm message to be displayed on the monitor 24. The message identifies which one of the VCRs 26 and 28 requires attention The.controller 40 simultaneously selects the next available one of the standby VCRs 28 and sets it to a record mode of operation via the remote control input 44 and controls the selector 42 to direct the video signal from the relevant video camera output 60 to that VCR 28 for recordal. The controller 40 also displays the identity of the video camera and the VCR 28 onto which the video signal is now being recorded. Simultaneously, this information, along with the time and date and any other special messages, are printed out on the printer 30.

Text Insertion System As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the text inserter 14 is connected between the camera outputs 60 and the inputs 56 of the VCRs 26. The text inserter 14 is controlled by the controller 40 for the generation of text to be inserted into the video signal being recorded onto the VCR 26. The controller 40 controls the insertion of the text into the video signal at a location which is not ordinarily part of the visible part of the video screen once displayed.

Typically, the text data is inserted into the horizontal line interval portion of the video signal (known as the "back porch" of the video signal).

The text inserter 14, particularly as shown in Figure 3, inserts the text generated by the controller 40 into the video signal and is recorded onto the VCR 26 during recording Due to the positioning of the text into the video signal the tcxt docs not ovcrly the normal viewable portion of the video signal. During playback of the video signal from the VCR 26 the text inscrter extracts the text from the horizontal line interval of the video signal and reinscrts it into the visible portion of the video signal so that the text can be secn on the monitor 24.

In the event that the text masks important parts of the video image on the monitor 24 the text inserter 14 can be controlled by the controller 40 to remove the text signal from the visible part of the video signal. Hence1 the text recorded with the video image from the video cameras can be removed from the video image seen on the monitor in the event that it masks important parts of the video image.

It is important to note that the text is a data stream and not a video stream.

The recorded information can include time, date, source, equalisation, operator identification number, VCR identification number (since each VCR has its own effective "fingerprint") and the like. This information is important in the scheme of irrefutably proving that the images recorded by the VCRs are the events which actually took place.

Transmission Cable Equalisation System As shown in Figures 1, 4a and 4b the transmission cable equaliser 16 is connected between the video camera output 60 and the text inserter 14 and is controlled by the controller 40.

The controller 40 has a conditioning signal (such as data) which characterises the nature of the connection between each of a plurality of video cameras 70 and the selector 42. This conditioning signal takes into account any losses in the connection between the camera 70 and the selector 42 due to the nature of a connecting cable including its transmission characteristics and its length The conditioning signal is applied to the equaliser 16 so as to alter the gain of the equaliser 16 to allow for the losses inherent in the cable of each of the cameras 70.

Hence, only one equaliser 16 is required per monitor 24 rather than one equaliser 16 per camera 70. In the event that a new camera 70 is added to the video security system 10 the equalising requirements for that camera 70 are input into the controller 40 for controlling the equaliser 16 when video signals from that camera 70 are being viewed on the monitor 24.

Video Camera Substitution System The cameras 70 in the video security system 10 include fixed position cameras 70a and pan/tilt cameras 70b (herein referred to as PTZ cameras 70b). Typically, a plurality of the fixed position cameras 70a are directed at fixed targets in an area and a lesscr number of the PTZ cameras 70b are spread out amongst the fixed position cameras 70a so that the PTZ cameras 70b can substantially view the same ficld as the plurality of fixed position cameras 70a and to be used to view moving targets.

The video camera substitution system 18 is a part of the controller 40 and has information concerning the relative positions of the PTZ cameras 70b and the fixed position cameras 70a. The information includes which of the PTZ cameras 70b are capable of covering the viewing areas of each of the fixed position cameras 70a. The controller 40 is connected to the PTZ cameras 70b via a communication control module 74 so that in the event that a particular one of the fixed position cameras 70a ceases to operate the controller can automatically determine which one of the Pm cameras 70b can be used in its place and then control the PTZ camera 70b via its controller 76 to pan, tilt, zoom and focus to view the target viewed by the camera 70a which failed.

The VCSS 18 also has a keyboard 78 connected to the controller 40 for allowing manual operation of the PTZ cameras 70b to view targets at the will of an operator of the keyboard 78. For this purpose the keyboard 78 conveniently includes a joy stick 80.

Multiple Rotation Video Camera The PTZ cameras 70b comprise a conventional camera 100 set on a transport mechanism 102 which is capable of rotating greater than 360" such as about 1000 .

The camera 100 has a lens 110 which has a zoom facility and whose iris can be adjusted for changes in lighting levels.

The transport mechanism 102 has a housing 120, a frame 122, a vertical axis drive unit 124, a horizontal axis drive unit 126 and control unit 128.

The housing 120 comprises a ceiling mount 140, a camera mask 142 and a transparent cover 144.

The ceiling mount 140 is typically fixed into a ceiling of a building (although it could be fixed to a wall or the like) so that the camera mask 142 and the transparent cover 144 are disposed below the ceiling for allowing the camera 100 viewing within a room under the ceiling. The ceiling mount 140 is typically made from anodised aluminium and is typically cylindrical in cross-section.

The camera mask 142 is attached to the frame 122 and hence is able to rotate with respect to the ceiling mount 140. The camera mask 142 has a slot 150 which is dimensioned to allow the lens 110 to have a clear uninterrupted view through it. The slot 150 extends substantially from a horizontal position with respect to the lens 110 to a vertically downward position with respect to the lens 110. Hence, the lens can be moved from 2 horizontal viewing position to a vertically downward viewing position in the slot 150. Th" camera mask 142 has a plurality of lugs 152 for use in relcasably attaching the camera mask 142 to dips 154 oftwo mask mounts 156 (one of which is shown) ofthe frame 122.

Typically, the camera mask 142 is coloured black so as to avoid reflecting light from it.

The purpose of the camera mask 142 is to rotate with the camera 100 to mask observation of the viewing position of the camera 100. We have discovered that due to the darkness of the camera mask 142 the viewing position of the camera 100 is substantially unobservable.

The transparent cover 144 is attached to the ceiling mount 140 and located outside of the camera mask 142. The purpose of the transparent cover 144 is to shield the camera 100 and the interior of the transport mechanism 102 from the elements. In this manner the cover 144 can be hermetically sealed to the ceiling mount 140 and the PTZ camera 70b can be located out doors.

The frame 122 comprises a top plate 160, two brackets 162 and 164 and a moveable platform 166. The top plate 160 is disposed horizontally and is able to rotate inside the housing 120. The brackets 162 and 164 are fixed to the top plate 160 and disposed vertically downwardly therefrom. The platform 166 is conveniently substantially U-shaped and pivotably attached to lower ends of the brackets 162 and 164. The pivotable attachment is via a pivot bolt 170 located through the bracket 162 and a pivot axle 172 located through the bracket 164 The platform 166 has a plurality of fixing slots 176 for mounting the camera 100 onto it. The fixing slots 176 are typically disposed parallel to the brackets 162 and 164.

The vertical axis drive unit 124 comprises a drive motor 180 with a drive cog 182, a toothed cog 184 and a toothed belt 186. The toothed cog 184 is releasably secured to the ceiling plate 140, such as by holes (not shown) in a top 188 of the toothed cog 184. The drive motor 180 is attached to the top plate 160 of the frame 122. The drive motor 180 is driven by electrical signals from the control unit 128 for producing rotation of the drive cog 182. Since the toothed cog 184 is stationary with respect to the ceiling mount 140 rotation of the drive cog 182 causes the frame 122 to rotate within the housing 120. The speed of rotation of the fiame -122 is dependent upon the speed of the drive cog 182 and the angle of rotation is dependent upon the time for which the drive motor 180 receives signals from the control unit 128.

The horizontal axis drive unit 126 comprises a drive motor 200 with a drive cog 202, a toothed cog 204 and a toothed belt 206. The toothed cog 204 is fixed to the platform 166 so that rotation of the toothed cog 204 produces pivoting of the platform 166. The drive motor 200 is mounted onto the bracket 164 and the drive cog 202 drives the toothed belt 206 for driving the toothed cog 204. The toothed cog 204 has a stop 210 located in it for limiting the pivotable travel of the platform 166 so as to protect the camera 100 from damage which may otherwise occur. The drive motor 200 is controlled by signals from the control unit 128 for pivoting the lens 110 of the camera 100 in the slot 150 of the camera mask 142 as indicated by arrow 212. Typically, the horizontal drive unit 126 allows pivoting ofthe platform 166 from substantially horizontal to substantially vertical.

The control unit 128 has a horizontal control unit and a vertical control unit. Each of the horizontal and vertical control units has a position sensor device for determining the position of the toothed cogs 204 and 184 respectively. Typically, the position sensor device is a hole located in the toothed cog 184, 204 and the control unit are able to count up and down from the position of the holes for determining the movement of the cogs 184, 204.

We have discovered that in order to quickly move the camera 100 from one viewing position to another, and to keep accurate count of the actual position of the camera 100 there are some physical constraints which must be allowed for. Principally this involves controlling the drive motors 180 and 200 so as not to exceed maximum rates of acceleration and deceleration and not to exceed a maximum speed. Also, and most importantly, we have discovered that the drive motors 180 and 200 need to be controlled so as to have a period of substantially zero acceleration between periods of acceleration and deceIeration This is required because otherwise there is a very large change in the momentum of the transport mechanism 102 required in switching from acceleration to deceleration. The result of such abrupt changes in the acceleration of the transport mechanism is the control unit 128 looses count ofthe position ofthe toothed cogs 184 and 204 and thus inaccuracies in the location ofthe camera 100 are experienced.

Hence, the control unit 128 is programmed to limit the maximum rate of acceleration and deceleration of the drive motors 180 and 200 and to provide a minimum period of substantially zero acceleration between periods of acceleration and deceleration. The control unit 128 then uses these limits to drive the transport mechanism 102 between viewing locations whilst accurately reaching those viewing locations.

The PTZ camera 70b is, in one embodiment, connected to the remainder of the video security system 10 by a plurality of cables. The cables carry video signals, control signals and electrical power. In order to allow the transport mechanism 102 to rotate through greater than 360" the cables are arranged in a loop so that they can be twisted three or four times without damage. This allows the vertical axis drive unit 124 to rotate the platform 166 through a total angle of about 1000 .

The control unit 128 has a counter to count up and down depending upon the position and motion of the drive motor 180. Typically, the counter increments the count by 4000 for each 360" of rotation. By such counting the control unit 128 can be aware of how far the transport mechanism 102 is away from its ultimate end of travel The control unit 128 Is programmed such that when the camera 100 is not engaged in tracking a moving event it unwinds to proximate the middle of its 10000 of angular travel. In this way the chances of the transport mechanism 102 reaching its ultimate angular travel is greatly reduced.

In another embodiment slip rings are used for each cable, which then allows the vertical axis drive unit 124 to rotate the platform 166 through an infinite angle of rotation.

Hence, the PTZ camera 70b can be used to follow a target even where the target travels through an angle of greater than 360" and hence the chances of the PTZ camera 70b being run up against its limits of rotation are greatly reduced and the ability to follow a target as it moves through an area is greatly enhanced.

SWITCHING BETWEEN VIEWING LOCATIONS The controller 40 controls the PTZ cameras 70b to move back and forth between 2 plurality of viewing locations so that the camera can monitor a plurality of fixed locations The PTZ camera 70b comprises a video lens 110 and camera 100, a zoom control, a focus control, a pan control, a tilt control and a camera position controller (included in the controller unit 128 - Figure 6).

The video lens and camera is settable to view a target. For example, the target could be a person at a gaming table in a casino. The video lens has a machine readable signal corresponding to its zoom and focus setting. The zoom and focus controls allow adjustment ofthe zoom and focus of the video lens and camera.

The pan and tilt controls control the pan and tilt of the video lens and camera about substantially vertical and horizontal axes for viewing targets typically in a region of 360e about the PTZ camera. The pan and tilt controls each have a machine readable signal corresponding to their settings.

The camera position controller is coupled to respond to the machine readable signals from the video lens and camera, the zoom and focus controls and the pan and tilt controls. The camera position controller controls the settings of the video lens, the zoom and focus controls and the pan and tilt controls for viewing the targets within the viewing region automatically under the instruction of an operator.

The camera position controller has a first memory register (such as located in a computer) to store the values of the machine readable signals corresponding to the settings of the video lens and camera, the zoom and focus controls and the pan and tilt controls The first memory register stores the values of the settings corresponding to a first location of temporary interest, such as the location of a handbag. The camera position controller also has a second memory register for storing the values corresponding to a second location o' temporary interest, sudi as the location of a suspected felon who is believed to be about to steal the handbag.

The camera position controller has a toggle button which is operable to cause the values of the settings of the video lens and camera corresponding to the' second location to be recalled from the second memory register and loaded into the video lens and camera whilst the values corresponding to the first location are removed from the video lens and camera and stored into the first memory register. The toggle button is also operable to cause the values of the settings to be updated in the event that one of the targets moves or the operator chooses a new target of temporary interest. The toggle button also allows for switching viewing between the two locations of temporary interest. By so doing the camera position controller can control the video lens and camera to view between two (or more) desired locations without continual manual re-adjustment of the video lens, the zoom and focus controls or the pan and tilt controls.

In use, an operator can set a desired location of temporary interest to be monitored by the video lens and camera. The video lens 110 and camera 100 can then be manually moved to view another location of temporary interest and the video lens 110 and camera 100 can then by toggled between the two viewing locations by the operation of the toggle button To achieve this the operator first manually pans and tilts the video lens 110 and camera 100 to view a first target at a first location of temporary interest. Then the operator manually adjust the zoom and focus of the video lens 110 and camera 100 for the target.

The operator then presses the toggle button to store the values of the settings of the zoom and focus controls and the pan and tilt controls into the first memory register. The operator can then manually control the zoom and focus controls and the pan and tilt controls for setting the video lens 110 and camera 100 to view a second target at a second location of temporary interest. When the operator again presses the toggle button the values of the settings corresponding to the second location are stored into the second memory register and the values of the settings corresponding to the first viewing location are recalled from the first memory register and used to control the video lens 110 and camera 100. Once the values are exchanged the camera position controller controls the zoom and focus controls and the pan and tilt controls to reposition the viewing location of the video lens 110 and camera 100.

The location of the targets can be updated by manually adjusting the zoom and focus controls and the pan and tilt controls for the video lens 110 and camera 100 and prcssing the toggle button again to update the values stored in the relevant memory register. That is, when no manual adjustments are made to the settings of the video lens 110 and camera 100 the toggle button causes toggling between the two locations of temporary interest, bu' when manual adjustments are made to the settings of the video lens 110 and camera 100 the toggle button causes updating of the values of the settings.

Thus a PTZ camera can be used to monitor two fixed locations within a viewing area, as well as to operate under fully manual control., Hence, the PTZ camera of the present invention is the equivalent of two fixed position cameras which can be set to view locations of temporary interest and which can be set to new locations of temporary interest as desired by an operator. That is, the PTZ camera function as the equivalent of two dynamically positioned fixed cameras. Also, the change time in changing between the two viewing locations is about the same as the time involved in changing viewing between two fixed cameras (that is, less than 1 second).

Typically, the camera position controller is configured to set the last viewing position as being any position at which the operator stopped for greater than, say, 1 second.

This facility could be configured into a logical data stack so that the last, say 10, viewing positions could be stored in memory are recalled sequentially (this feature is herein referred to as "back up").

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skill addressee are considered within the scope of the present invention, For example, the camera position controller could have a single switch to control toggling between two camera locations. Also, the iris setting of the video lens and camera could also be controlled.

Claims (9)

1. A video recorder substitution system for a video security system comprising: a first VRD for recording a video signal corresponding to a target area; a second VRD also capable of recording the video signal corresponding to said target area; a record failure detection means for detecting failure of the first VRD to record said video signal, including failure due to change-over of recording media and due to taking the video recorder out of record its mode of operation; and, a control means in operative association with the record failure detection means, with the first VRD and with the second VRD, the control means being capable of controlling the second VRD to set the second VRD to record said video signal in the event that the record failure detection means detects failure of the first VRD so that the video signal corresponding to the target area is recorded substantially continuously.

2. A video recorder substitution system according to claim 1, in which there are a plurality of first VRDs and a plurality of second VRDs so as to facilitate management of recording from a plurality of video cameras.

3. A video recorder substitution system according to claim 1, also including a log generating means for producing a log of data corresponding to which VRD the video signal from each video camera was recorded onto so as to enable the video signal recorded onto a plurality of recording media on a plurality of VRDs to be retrieved and reviewed.

4. A video recorder management system for use in a video surveillance system which includes at least one video camera each producing a video signal and a separate video signal recorder for recording the video signal from each video camera, each recorder having an alarm output which is activated when that recorder is not recording said video signal, said video recorder management system comprising: at least one additional video signal recorder; and, control means operatively interconnected with said video cameras, video signal recorders and additional video signal recorders, for sensing the activation of the alarm output of one of said video signal recorders and for switching the video signal previously input to that video signal recorder whose alarm output is activated to one of said additional video signal recorders.

5. A video signal recorder management system according to claim 4 wherein said control means further operates to switch back the video signal previously switched to said additional recorder to its original video signal recorder upon detecting that the original video signal recorder is again able to record that video signal.

6. A video signal recorder management system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said control means is further adapted to produce a log detailing by which video signal recorders the video signal from each video camera was recorded.

7. A video recorder substitution system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

8. A video signal recorder management system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.