JP2000278633A - Digital video recorder, digital video recording and reproducing system and digital video recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve monitor efficiency by recording image data photographed by a plurality of cameras and compressed and retrieving the data at a high speed. SOLUTION: The system consists of a plurality of monitor cameras 1-1-1-14, servers S1-S5 installed in a monitor room, and a network N1 interconnecting the cameras 1-1-1-14 and the servers S1-S5, video information photographed by the cameras 1-1-1-14 is converted into digital data and the data are compressed into video data, which are recorded/reproduced by HDDs 6-1-6-5, transferred and recorded by DVD-RAM libraries 9-1-9-5. The video data stored in the DVD-RAM libraries 9-1-9-5 are retrieved by a retrieval personal computer MPC or the like connected via a network N2 and the retrieval result is displayed on a monitor M2 at a high speed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital video recording apparatus, a recording / reproducing apparatus, and a recording method, and more particularly to, for example, a DVD-RAM library or the like which automatically and continuously displays images from a plurality of monitoring cameras. The present invention relates to a digital video recording apparatus, a recording / reproducing apparatus, and a recording method thereof, which enable continuous recording on a portable disk recording medium and can efficiently detect recorded video data at a plurality of locations.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a configuration in which video data obtained by compressing video information captured by a plurality of monitoring cameras or the like is stored in a recording device of a server connected via a network. (JP-A-10-16439
4) However, since this apparatus uses a magnetic tape as a recording medium, the recording time is limited, and it takes time to search for desired video data, so that efficient search / display cannot be performed. Therefore, there has been a demand for recording video data on a recording medium such as a DVD-RAM, which can search and reproduce the recorded video data at high speed.

[0003]

However, for example, when video data compressed by MJPEG (Motion JPEG) is set to 200 Kbytes on average, it is possible to record on a DVD-RAM disk having a capacity of 2.3 Gbytes. The time is about 38 minutes (= 2.3 GB / 20
0 Kbytes x 5 (number of images per second) x 60). By the way, the time required to record 38 minutes of video data (2.3 Gbytes of video data) on one DVD-RAM disc is 100.5 minutes.
Since the VD-RAM disk is a low-speed recording medium requiring a recording time longer than the recording capacity (time), the DVD-RA
When a recording medium such as an M disk is used as an auxiliary storage device, data is temporarily recorded in a main storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) capable of storing video data in real time, and then the data is transferred from the HDD to a DVD-RAM disk. It is necessary to transfer video data over a long period of time in a recording device composed of one main storage device (HDD) and one auxiliary storage device (DVD-RAM). There is a problem that it is impossible to write the data.

The present invention has been made in view of this point. A plurality of image capturing means for compressing image information of an image captured by a monitoring camera or the like and outputting video data, A plurality of servers each including a first storage unit capable of recording and reproducing data and a second storage unit for recording image information transferred from the first storage unit are connected via a network, and are used for monitoring. The video data captured by the camera or the like is transferred to a server via a network, the plurality of first storage units are sequentially driven to record the transferred video data, and the image reproduced from the first storage unit is recorded. It is an object of the present invention to record information in a second storage unit, and to search and reproduce video data stored in the second storage unit at high speed, thereby improving the efficiency of monitoring work and the like. .

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, a digital video recording apparatus according to the present invention converts a video signal output from an imaging means for imaging a subject into a digital signal and compresses the image. Image capturing means for transmitting video data as video data in a predetermined block unit to a network, first storage means for recording the video data in real time, and the video data read from the first storage means And a server unit connected to the image capturing unit via the network, wherein the network includes n
(N is an integer of 1 or more) units of the image capturing means and m
(M is an integer of 3 or more) server means are connected,
When the recording of the p-th (p is an integer of 1 or more) first storage means is completed to record the video data output from the n image capturing means, The (p + 1) -th first storage unit is sequentially driven so as to start recording, and the video data recorded in the p-th first storage unit is transferred and recorded to the p-th second storage unit. When the recording of the m-th first storage unit is completed, the first storage unit is cyclically driven to record the video data in the first first storage unit again. The digital video recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention converts a video signal output from an imaging unit for capturing an image of a subject into a digital signal, and converts the image-compressed video data into video data of a predetermined block unit over a network. An image capturing means for sending a first storage means for recording the image data in real time, the first
And at least a second storage means for recording the video data read from the storage means, and a server means connected to the image capturing means via the network. n is an integer of 1 or more) image capturing means and m (m is an integer of 3 or more) server means are connected, and the m server means are the n image capturing means. When the recording in the p-th (p is an integer of 1 or more) first storage unit is completed to record the video data output from the storage unit, the (p + 1) -th first storage unit starts recording. Sequentially driving, transferring and recording the video data recorded in the p-th first storage means to the p-th second storage means,
When the recording of the n-th first storage means is completed,
Driving the first storage means cyclically to record the video data in the second first storage means;
And a search means for searching for and reproducing and displaying the video data recorded in the storage means. The digital video recording method according to the present invention further comprises: , And sends the compressed image data as image data in a predetermined block unit to the network from the image capturing unit, and has at least a first storage unit and a second storage unit. In recording the video data in the server unit connected to the image capturing unit, the video data is recorded in the first storage unit, and the data read from the first storage unit is stored in a second storage unit. Recorded in the storage means, n
(N is an integer of 1 or more) units of the image capturing means and m
(M is an integer of 3 or more) server units are connected to the network, and the m server units are configured to record the video data output from the n image capturing units by p ( (p is an integer of 1 or more) When the recording of the (first) first storage unit is completed, the plurality of first storage units are sequentially driven so that the (p + 1) th first storage unit starts recording, and Circulating through the first storage means and the second storage means in order to transfer and record the video data recorded in the p-th first storage means to the p-th second storage means In the digital video recording method according to the present invention, a video signal output from an imaging unit for capturing an image of a subject is converted into a digital signal, and the compressed video data is converted into video data in a predetermined block unit. Intake means The server means connected to the network has at least a first storage means and a second storage means for recording in real time, and stores the video data in the first storage means. , The first
The video data recorded and reproduced by the storage unit is recorded in a second storage unit, a plurality of the image capturing units and a plurality of the server units are connected to the network, and the plurality of the server units are connected to the first storage unit. The recording operation of the storage means is controlled so as to continue cyclically, and the video data recorded in the first storage means is sequentially transferred to the second storage means for recording.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a digital video information recording apparatus, a recording / reproducing apparatus and a recording method according to the present invention will be described below. This embodiment includes a plurality of monitoring cameras and the like installed in different places in a building or the like, a server installed in a monitor room or the like, and a network connecting the servers and the monitoring cameras and the like, Video information captured by a surveillance camera or the like is digitally converted and image-compressed as video data, output, and stored in a DVD-RAM library for recording video data in a server.
The video data stored in the RAM library is retrieved by a retrieval personal computer or the like, and the retrieval result can be displayed on a monitor at a high speed.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1-1, 1-2-1-13, and 1-14 are connected to monitoring cameras, and PC1, PC2-PC13, and PC14 are connected to cameras 1-1, 1-2-1-13, and 1-14. Computer for image capture, 2-1, 2-2 to 2-13, 2-
Numeral 14 converts the video signals input from the cameras 1-1 to 1-14 into digital signals and converts them into MJPEG (Motion JPE).
PC1 for image capture to compress the image in G)
~ MJPEG board (MJPE) provided in PC14
G) 3-1 and 3-2 to 3-13 and 3-14 are MJPE
A hard disk drive (HDD) for temporarily storing video data output from the G boards 2-1 to 2-14;
1, 4-2 to 4-13 and 4-14 are HDDs 3-1 to 3-
This is an interface circuit for transmitting the video data stored in 14 in blocks of a predetermined unit via a network N1 (network for transmitting video data) such as 100 BASET. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the image capturing personal computers PC1 to PC14 are a CPU, RA
M, an image capture control unit including a control HDD and the like, and operates based on instructions from the control unit.

[0008] T. LVTR 5-1 to 5-5 are camera 1
A time-lapse VTR for intermittently recording analog video signals output from 1 to 1-14. A time-lapse VTR for recording a backup video signal when a video signal cannot be digitally recorded due to a trouble in a server described later. VTR.

The capture of video data will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image capturing personal computer. Camera 1-1 to 1-14
When the image data has a cycle of capturing an image (step 100, YES), the image capturing personal computers PC1 to PC1.
MJPEG boards 2-1 to 2- implemented in
After the digital conversion in step 14, the image is captured (step 101), and further, by MJPEG, for example, one frame, horizontal (H) 320 pixels, vertical (V) 240
Pixels are image-compressed at a compression ratio of 1/15 and 5 frames / second (step 102) and are stored in HDDs 3-1 to 3-14 provided in PC1 to PC14 (step 1).
03). Although not shown in FIG.
3-14 is, for example, at least two HDDs
When video data is written to one HDD, recorded video data is read from the other HDD, and the read video information is sent to the server S1 via the network N1. To S5. HDD
Each of the HDDs 3-1 to 3-14 has, for example, a storage capacity capable of storing video data for 5 minutes.
It has a storage capacity of 0 minutes (= 5 minutes × 2 units). Also,
The data transfer rate of the network N1 is 100 MB / sec, and when the network usage rate is about 30%, the time required to transfer the data as a 5-minute video data block unit is 20 seconds. That is, the cameras 1-1 to 1
Since it takes 4.7 minutes (= 20 seconds × 14 units) to transfer the video data of 5 minutes each captured at −14, the video data of every 5 minutes is stored in the HDDs 3-1 to 3-1.
If the data is alternately read from the two HDDs in No. 4, the video data captured by the cameras 1-1 to 1-14 is continuously transferred to the servers S1 to S5 via the network N1. Further, here, as a unit for transmitting the video data stored in the HDDs 3-1 to 3-14 to the network N1, a predetermined unit in which a plurality of still image frames are put together, for example, a 5-minute video data is defined as a block unit. Although the case of transmission has been described as an example, it is also possible to transmit video data in other predetermined transmission units.

Next, the server and the search personal computer will be described with reference to FIG. S1 to S5 are servers, 6-1
6 to 5 are HDDs for recording video data, and 7-1 to 7-5.
Is an interface circuit for connecting to the network N1, 8-1 to 8-2 are interface circuits for connecting to the network N2, and 9-1 to 9-5 are DVD-
A RAM library device is provided with a DVD-RAM changer for storing 600 DVD-RAM disks and three DVD-RAM drives.
The monitor connected to 1. Also, the server S1
Although S5 to S5 are not shown in FIG. 1, the CPU, RAM, and server control HD for controlling the operation of each server are provided.
D and the like, and each server control unit operates by confirming the mutual operation state via the network N1.

MPC is a search personal computer, 10 is a search personal computer body, 11 is an interface circuit for connecting to the network N2, and M2 is a search personal computer body 1.
Monitor connected to 0.

The servers S1 to S5 are connected to image capturing personal computers PC1 to PC14 via interface cards 7-1 to 7-5 and a network N1, and are connected to interface cards 8-1 to 8-5 and a network. It is connected to a search personal computer (MPC) via N2. The search personal computer MPC includes a search personal computer 10 connected to a network N2 via an interface circuit 11, and a search personal computer MPC.
The PC is connected to the monitor M2 which displays the search results.

Next, filing (recording) of video data image-compressed and transmitted by each of the cameras 1-1 to 1-14 and image capturing personal computers PC1 to PC14 will be described with reference to FIGS. Will be explained. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server.

Video data captured and image-compressed by the cameras 1-1 to 1-14 are transmitted to image capturing personal computers PC1 to PC1.
After being stored in the HDDs 3-1 to 3-14 for recording video data, the video data is transmitted to the servers S1 to S5 through the network N1 (video data transmission system).

The servers S1 to S5 confirm whether the HDD for recording their own video data is in the order in which the video data transmitted from the network N1 is to be written.
If the first HDD 6-1 for recording video data is in the writing order (step 200 YES), writing of video data to the HDD 6-1 is started (step 201), and the server S
The index (identification) information such as the date, time, and camera number of the video data to be written into the video database 1 is updated and recorded (step 202), and the HDD 6 of the server S1 is updated.
-1 is transferred and recorded to the DVD-RAM library 9-1 at a predetermined timing described later (step 203).

The above-mentioned video database is built in the HDD of the server control unit or a partial area of the HDD for recording video data, and is used when searching for video data stored in the DVD-RAM library. Is done.
The search will be described later.

Steps 201 and 203 described above will be further described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a writing task of a DVD-RAM library. FIG. 5 shows an HDD and DVD-R for recording video data.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the AM library. FIG.
As shown in (1), the servers S1 to S5 have a collection manager and a DVD manager configured by software. A collection manager and a DVD manager run in each server.

The collection manager converts the video data transmitted via the network N1 into its own H for recording video data.
The information is exchanged with the collection manager of another server to determine whether or not to record the data on the DD.
At the timing (order) of recording on the DD, the writing of the video data to the HDD is started, and the apparatus operates in cooperation with a DVD manager described later. The DVD manager detects that recording on its own HDD for recording video data has started, and manages the transfer recording of the video data recorded on the HDD for recording video data to the DVD-RAM library. At the same time, the DVD-RAM disk is exchanged at the end of writing of a predetermined DVD-RAM drive, or in preparation for writing to the next DVD-RAM disk, or a DVD-RAM disk required for searching. Is output to a DVD-RAM library to control the operation of the DVD-RAM drive, such as loading the DVD-RAM into a predetermined DVD-RAM drive.

Next, the operation of the servers S1 to S5 will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, the solid line indicates HDD6-
1 to 6-5, and dashed lines indicate recording in the DVD-RAM libraries 9-1 to 9-5.

After the recording of the video data transmitted to the HDD 6-1 of the server S1 via the network N1 is started (this point in time is hereinafter referred to as "server recording start"), FIG.
As shown in the figure, the DVD-RAM
Recording to the library 9-1 is started. This is realized by the cooperative operation of the collection manager and the DVD manager in the server S1 as described above. DVD-RAM
Under the control of the DVD manager of the server S1, the library 9-1 starts storing the HDD 6-5 minutes after the start of the server recording.
The image data reproduced from step 1 is written on a DVD-RAM disk. Since this writing requires 100.5 minutes, 105.5 minutes (= 5 + 100.5) from the start of recording on the HDD 6-1 of the server S1 (at the start of server recording).
(Minutes)).

When 38 minutes of video data have been written to the HDD 6-1, the collection manager of the server S1 sets the HDD 6-
1 is completed, and when the recording in the HDD 6-1 is completed, the collection manager of the server S1 outputs information indicating the end of writing. This information is identified by the collection manager of the server S2 and the recording of the server S2 into the HDD 6-2 is started. After 38 minutes have passed since the start of server recording, the server S2
Then, writing of the video data transferred via the network N1 to the HDD 6-2 is started, and after 5 minutes, that is, 43 minutes after the start of the server recording, the HDD 6-2 is started.
Video data recorded on the DVD-R from the HDD 6-2
Transfer recording to the AM library 9-2 is started, and the DVD-
Writing to the RAM disk is started. This is shown in FIG.
Is realized by the cooperative operation between the collection manager and the DVD manager in the server S2 shown in FIG. Writing to the DVD-RAM library 9-2 requires 100.5 minutes, and 143.5 minutes (= 38 + 5 +) from the start of server recording.
100.5 (minutes)).

When 38 minutes of video data are written to the HDD 6-2, the collection manager of the server S2 sends the data to the HDD 6-2.
2 is completed, and when the recording in the HDD 6-2 is completed, the collection manager of the server S2 outputs information of the end of writing. This information is identified by the collection manager of the server S3, and recording of the information in the HDD 6-3 of the server S3 is started. After a lapse of 76 minutes from the start of the server recording, the server S3 sets the H of the video data transferred via the network N1.
Writing to DD6-3 is started, and after 5 minutes, that is,
The video data recorded on the HDD 6-3 after 81 minutes from the start of server recording is transferred from the HDD 6-3 to the DVD-RAM.
Transfer recording to the library 9-3 is started, and the DVD-RA
Writing to the M disk is started. This is realized by the cooperative operation of the collection manager and the DVD manager in the server S3 shown in FIG. Writing to the DVD-RAM library 9-3 requires 100.5 minutes, and 181.5 minutes (= 38 + 38 + 5 +) from the start of server recording.
100.5 (minutes)).

Similarly, the server S4, the server S5, and again the server S1, the server S2, the server S3,... The HDD and the DVD-RAM library for recording video data of each server operate in cooperation with each other under the control of the collection manager and the DVD manager as described above, so that a continuous video is obtained. Data is stored in DVD-R of DVD-RAM library.
It is possible to record and save 100% on an AM disk.

DVD-RAM libraries 9-1 to 9-5
Each contains 600 DVD-RAM discs, and the recording time per disc is 38.
1 minute per DVD-RAM library
5.8 days of video data can be recorded.
The VD-RAM library 9-1 to 9-5 has a total of 300
Since 0 DVD-RAM disks are stored,
The entire five DVD-RAM libraries 9-1 to 9-5 can record about 79 days of video data. From the 80th day, the previous recording and the recording on the first day are erased and recorded, so that new video data is additionally recorded while the recorded video data for the past 78 days is always retained. .

Further, after 79 days, the recorded DVD-RAM disc in the changer can be exchanged to continuously record the video data, and further, the DV-RAM can be continuously recorded.
By connecting a backup tape streamer or the like to the D-RAM libraries 9-1 to 9-5 and sequentially transferring the old video data recorded on the DVD-RAM disc to the streamer and then erasing and using it, The 79 days are always recorded in the DVD-RAM library, and those older than that can be stored on a tape streamer disk.

Next, the search and display of the recorded video signal will be described with reference to FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the search. The video data recorded in the DVD-RAM libraries 9-1 to 9-5 are stored in a network.
The search can be performed by a search personal computer MPC connected to the network N2 (search network system). As a search result, video data recorded on a monitor connected to the MPC is reproduced and displayed. For example, the search result is displayed as GU
I, thumbnail display, and the like. Search conditions, for example, shooting date and time, camera number, etc. are input to the search personal computer MPC (step 30).
0). The search software without the search personal computer MPC searches the video database of the servers S1 to S5 for index information that matches the search condition, and a server on which a DVD-RAM disc on which video data that matches the search condition is recorded. Index information relating to the name, disc number, and recording position within the disc is retrieved (step 30).
1), D specified by the searched index information
The start of the recording start position of the video data recorded on the DVD-RAM disc in the VD-RAM library is searched (step 302), the recorded video data is reproduced, and the video data is displayed on the monitor M2 (step 302). 30
3). The program for retrieving video data operates not only on the personal computer MPC for retrieval but also on the servers S1 to S5, and the retrieval result is displayed on the monitor M1.

Next, the reliability of the system will be described.
Regarding servers, five servers S1 to S5 or 5
Of DVD-RAM libraries 9-1 to 9-5
Even if an operation failure occurs in one of the three units, the system can be used for recording with the remaining three units.

However, in consideration of the margin, even if an operation failure occurs in one of the five servers S1 to S5 or the five DVD-RAM libraries 9-1 to 9-5. ,
It is also possible to configure so that recording operation can be performed with the remaining four units.

In the case of the image capturing personal computer MPC, if the image capturing personal computers PC1 to PC14 malfunction and the video data of the cameras 1-1 to 1-14 cannot be recorded, the camera 3 is used. Since one time-lapse VTR is arranged for each camera,
The video signal captured in 1-14 can be backed up and recorded as an analog video signal. In addition, the fact that the DVD-RAM libraries 9-1 to 9-5 or the HDDs 6-1 to 6-5 for recording video data of the servers S1 to S5 have become inoperable is determined by the server.
It can be confirmed on the monitor M1 connected to the terminals S1 to S5 or the search personal computer MPC. Further, each server S
1 to S5 confirm each other's operation status by communication between the adjacent servers S1 to S5, so that the inoperable DVD-RAM library and the HD for video data recording are disabled.
D is excluded from the operation of the system, and is operated so as to be re-integrated into the operation of the system when it becomes operable.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the network N1 for transmitting the video data and the search network N2 are configured by different networks has been described.
There is no problem even if the same network is used for N and N2. However, if video data from the camera needs to be transmitted at high speed, it is effective to separately configure the networks N1 and N2 as in the above-described embodiment. .

[0030]

As described in detail above, the digital video recording apparatus, the recording / reproducing apparatus and the recording method according to the present invention circulate high quality video data such as a plurality of monitoring cameras through the first storage device. The first storage device and the second storage device are operated in conjunction with each other to record, search and reproduce at high speed, and to improve the efficiency of monitoring work. It has the advantage of being able to.

[0031]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the image capturing personal computer.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the server.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a writing task of a DVD-RAM library.

FIG. 5 is an HDD and DVD for recording video data.
FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the RAM library.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a search operation;

[Explanation of symbols]

1-1, 1-2 ... 1-13, 1-14 ... Camera 2-1, 2-2 ... 2-13, 2-14 ... MJPEG board 3-1; 3-2 ... 3-13, 3-14 ... Hard disk drive (HDD) 4-1 4-2 4-1-4 Interface circuit 5-1 5-2 5-4 5-5 Time-lapse VTR
(T. LVTR) PC1, PC2 to PC14, PC15: PC for image capture S1 to S5: Server N1, N2: Network MPC: PC for search 6-1 to 6-5: Hard disk drive (HDD) 7-1 7-5, 8-1 to 8-5: Interface circuit, 9-1 to 9-5: DVD-RAM library 10: Search personal computer body 11: Interface circuit M1, M2: Monitor

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shin Fukasawa 3-12-12 Moriyacho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Japan F-term (reference) 5C053 FA12 FA21 FA23 FA25 GA11 GB06 GB07 GB21 GB36 HA29 JA21 JA22 JA30 KA24 KA25 LA01 LA06 LA11 LA14 5C054 CC00 CH08 DA06 EB05 EG06 EG10 EH07 GA01 GA02 GD09 HA18 5D044 AB07 BC01 BC06 CC04 DE94 DE96 GK05 GK07 HL11

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image capturing unit that converts a video signal output from an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject into a digital signal, and sends the compressed video data to a network as video data in a predetermined block unit; First storage means for recording data in real time;
A second storage unit for recording the video data read from the first storage unit; and a server unit connected to the image capturing unit via the network. Is connected to n (n is an integer of 1 or more) image capturing means and m (m is an integer of 3 or more) server means, and the m server means are the n image capturing means When the recording of the p-th (p is an integer of 1 or more) first storage unit is completed to record the video data output from the unit, the (p + 1) -th first storage unit starts recording. And the video data recorded in the p-th first storage means is transferred and recorded in the p-th second storage means, and the recording of the m-th first storage means is performed. When finished, the first said again 1 digital video recording apparatus which is configured to cyclically drive the first memory means to record the image data in the storage means. 2. The first storage means is a storage means capable of recording the video data in real time and capable of reproducing the video data in parallel with the recording, and wherein the second storage means is the first storage means. 2. The digital video recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording speed is lower and a portable recording medium is used. 3. An image capturing means for converting a video signal output from an image capturing means for capturing an image of a subject into a digital signal, and transmitting the compressed video data to a network as video data in a predetermined block unit; First storage means for recording data in real time;
A second storage unit for recording the video data read from the first storage unit; and a server unit connected to the image capturing unit via the network. Is connected to n (n is an integer of 1 or more) image capturing units and m (m is an integer of 3 or more) server units, and the m server units are connected to the n image units. P (p is 1) for recording the video data output from the capturing means.
When the recording of the (integer) -th first storage means is completed, the (p + 1) -th first storage means is sequentially driven so as to start recording, and is recorded in the p-th first storage means. The recorded video data is transferred and recorded in the p-th second storage means, and when the recording in the n-th first storage means is completed, the video data is recorded again in the first first storage means. A digital video recording / reproducing apparatus comprising: a first driving means for driving the first storage means cyclically; and a search means for searching for the video data recorded in the second storage means, and reproducing and displaying the video data. 4. A video signal output from an image capturing means for capturing an image of a subject is converted into a digital signal, and the video data obtained by compressing the image is transmitted to the network from the image capturing means as video data in a predetermined block unit. Having at least a storage unit and a second storage unit,
In recording the video data in the server means connected to the image capturing means via the network, the video data is recorded in the first storage means,
The data read from the storage means is recorded in the second storage means, and n (n is an integer of 1 or more) image capture means and m
(M is an integer of 3 or more) server units are connected to the network, and the m server units are configured to record the video data output from the n image capturing units by p ( (p is an integer of 1 or more) When the recording of the (first) first storage unit is completed, the plurality of first storage units are sequentially driven so that the (p + 1) th first storage unit starts recording, and Circulating through the first storage means and the second storage means in order to transfer and record the video data recorded in the p-th first storage means to the p-th second storage means Driven digital video recording method. 5. A video signal output from an image capturing means for capturing an image of a subject is converted into a digital signal, and the video data obtained by compressing the image is transmitted as video data of a predetermined block unit from an image capturing means to a network. Server means connected at least has a first storage means and a second storage means for recording in real time, and records the video data in the first storage means,
The video data recorded and reproduced by the first storage unit is recorded in a second storage unit, a plurality of the image capturing units and a plurality of the server units are connected to the network, and the plurality of the server units are A digital video recording method for controlling the recording operation of the first storage means to continue cyclically, and sequentially transferring and recording the video data recorded in the first storage means to the second storage means .