JP2001057675A - Remote monitor system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote monitor system that can easily reproduce image information before and after the occurrence of an alarm so as to enhance the reliability of monitor. SOLUTION: A dynamic image CODEC 201 at a monitoring point side allows a coded image audio storage section 309 to store image data and audio data. The stored image data can be sent/reproduced together with real time image data in response to a request using a controller 226 of a monitor room when the monitor point and the monitor room are communicated with each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a network (IS)
It relates to a system for remotely monitoring stores, roads, and factories using DN lines, analog telephone lines, Ethernet networks, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-307876, when a detector of a moving image codec at a monitoring point detects an intruder or an intruder, an automatic call is made to a monitoring room to transmit an image. A remote monitoring system is disclosed.

[0003]

However, even if an alarm is detected at a monitoring point and an automatic call is made and a video transmitted on the monitoring room side is viewed, a line connection time occurs, and the image being monitored is already time-consuming. It has passed, and on the monitoring room side,
There is a problem that the situation before and after the alarm is detected at the monitoring point cannot be seen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a remote monitoring system capable of easily reproducing image information before and after an alarm occurrence and improving the reliability of monitoring to solve the above problems.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote monitoring system, comprising: a video codec; an imaging unit for capturing image information of a predetermined monitoring area; a unit for encoding and recording the image information; A means for detecting the presence or absence of an abnormality in the monitoring area, a means for automatically transmitting when the abnormality is detected, transmitting and monitoring an image from an image before alarm detection, and connecting an external device to transmit serial data and the like. And a control unit for performing remote control of an external device using the control unit. The system setting data in the video codec can be changed from the control unit to function as a monitoring point side or monitoring room side device. It is characterized by the following.

With this configuration, image information before and after the occurrence of an abnormality can be easily reproduced, and the reliability of monitoring can be improved. Further, it is possible to observe an image in the monitoring area as an image before the occurrence of the abnormality.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the video codec is provided with a line I / F, and the video codec is
2. A remote monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein a DN line can be connected.

[0008] With this configuration, the system can be easily constructed, and stable line connectivity and monitoring reliability can be enhanced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the video codec is provided with a line I / F unit so that an analog telephone line can be connected to the video codec. It is a monitoring system.

[0010] With this configuration, the system can be easily constructed, and stable line connectivity and monitoring reliability can be enhanced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the remote monitoring system according to the first aspect, the video codec is provided with a line I / F unit so that an Ethernet can be connected to the video codec. It is a system.

According to this configuration, the system can be easily constructed, and stable line connectivity and monitoring reliability can be enhanced.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the moving image codec is provided with a line I / F, and an external terminal adapter can be connected to the moving image codec. This is a remote monitoring system.

With this configuration, the system can be easily constructed, and stable line connectivity and monitoring reliability can be enhanced.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the means for encoding and recording the image information, the image of the first frame is compression-encoded only from the image data of the first frame, and the second and subsequent images are differentially encoded from the previous image. The remote monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein compressed image data obtained by compression encoding as data is always repeatedly recorded for a predetermined period of time in the video codec. is there.

With this configuration, it is possible to always record compressed image data with a small capacity.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the moving image codec, compressed image data compressed and coded only from the image in the same manner as the image data of the first frame is periodically added to the difference data. 7. A remote monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein the remote monitoring system records the information in the remote monitoring system.

According to this configuration, a normal moving image can be reproduced by retrieving image data from the regularly added first frame in the already recorded image data.

According to the present invention, the size of the recorded compressed image data is calculated at regular time intervals, and an image whose image size increases rapidly is searched for as a first frame.
The remote monitoring system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the image data is decompressed and decoded from the compression-coded image data of the first frame.

According to this configuration, the first frame image can be easily searched, and a normal moving image can be reproduced.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the control section automatically stops the recording and simultaneously connects to the monitoring room registered in advance. The remote monitoring system described in the above.

[0022] With this configuration, when the observer at the monitoring point connects to the monitoring room, it is possible to improve the reliability of monitoring so that the occurrence situation can be immediately transmitted.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the control unit includes:
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the recording is stopped, and at the same time, a connection is automatically made to a monitoring room registered in advance, and image data recorded at a monitoring point is automatically transferred to the video codec in the monitoring room. A remote monitoring system according to any one of claims 8 to 10.

According to this configuration, the monitoring person at the monitoring point can connect to the monitoring room and automatically transfer the image, thereby increasing the reliability of monitoring so that the situation can be immediately transmitted.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote surveillance system comprising: a surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point; and a video codec for encoding / compressing a captured image and sound of the surveillance camera and transmitting the encoded / compressed image to a surveillance room. In the system, a signal is transmitted from the monitoring room to the monitoring point, image recording on the monitoring point is stopped simultaneously with connection completion, and image transfer is automatically started from the monitoring point.

With this configuration, by automatically transferring the image after the connection, it is possible to save labor and erroneous operation of the observer in the monitoring room.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote monitoring system comprising: a monitoring camera that captures an image of a monitoring point; In the system, when an alarm occurs on the monitoring point side, an image obtained by encoding and recording video / audio before and after the alarm generation at a time designated in advance by a manager is transmitted to a video codec on the monitoring room side in real time video / audio. It is configured to be transmitted together with audio and reproduced together with real-time video on a monitor connected to the video codec in the monitoring room.

With this configuration, even while the recorded image data is being transferred, the monitoring room can view a real-time image of the monitoring point.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote surveillance system comprising: a surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point; and a video codec for encoding / compressing a captured image and sound of the surveillance camera and transmitting the encoded / compressed image to a surveillance room. In the system, when an alarm is generated on the monitoring point side, when a video / audio before and after the alarm generation is encoded and recorded at a time designated by a manager in advance and transferred to the video codec on the monitoring room side, A configuration in which transmission of real-time video / audio is stopped, a recorded image is transferred to the video codec in the monitoring room using the entire available transmission band, and the recorded image is reproduced by the video codec in the monitoring room; I do.

According to this configuration, on the monitoring room side, the image in the monitoring area can be observed as the image before the abnormality is detected.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote surveillance system comprising: a surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point; and a video codec for encoding / compressing a captured image and sound of the surveillance camera and transmitting the encoded / compressed image to a surveillance room. In the system, when an alarm is generated on the monitoring point side, when a video / audio before and after the alarm generation is encoded and recorded at a time designated by a manager in advance and transferred to the video codec on the monitoring room side, The transmission of the real-time video is stopped, the video is transmitted together with the real-time audio, and the recorded image is reproduced by the video codec in the monitoring room.

With this configuration, even while the recorded image data is being transferred, the monitoring room can listen to the real-time sound of the monitoring point.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, at the time of transfer, the real-time image is frozen and displayed on a monitor screen, and the recorded image is transferred to the moving image codec in the monitoring room. A remote monitoring system according to any one of claims 14 to 14.

According to this configuration, during transmission of recorded image data, real-time video and audio are not transmitted,
It becomes possible to transfer image data at high speed.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, the recorded image is reproduced by the moving image codec in the monitoring room simultaneously with the transfer. It is a monitoring system.

According to this configuration, the monitored point side can view the image while transferring the recorded image data.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote surveillance system comprising: a surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point; In the system, the monitor video displayed on the video codec on the monitoring point side after the connection is completed is any camera video connected to the video codec, and is displayed on the video codec on the monitoring room side. The monitor video is configured to display the video transmitted from the monitoring point side on the monitor.

With this configuration, it is possible to always record the video transmitted from the video codec on the monitoring point side in the external device.

The invention according to claim 18 is a remote surveillance comprising a surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point, and a moving image codec for encoding and compressing the image and sound of the surveillance camera and transmitting the encoded and compressed image to the surveillance room. In the system, when an alarm occurs on the monitoring point side, a means for transmitting from the monitoring point side where the alarm has occurred, and a time and a day of the week can be set in a plurality of patterns when determining the transmission candidate point. A configuration is made in which a plurality of destinations can be set for each pattern.

According to this configuration, when an abnormality occurs, it is possible to automatically transmit and monitor when an abnormality occurs on a day of the week or time when a person is present in the monitoring room.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote surveillance system comprising: a surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point; In the system, when a call is received from the place other than the two points to the monitoring room while communication is being performed between the monitoring point side and the monitoring room side, a display of the other party's telephone number and the receiving time relating to the incoming call during communication is displayed. And a means for storing the information and displaying it as a history, and transmitting the information to the point where the one-push call was made from the history.

With this configuration, the transmission and connection to the latest abnormality occurrence point can be performed by one-push operation.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote surveillance system comprising: a surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point; and a video codec for encoding / compressing a captured image and sound of the surveillance camera and transmitting the encoded / compressed image to a surveillance room. In the system, when an external device is connected and controlled, the baud rate of the serial data port of the video codec on the monitoring point side and the monitoring room side is automatically matched with the baud rate of the serial data port of the external device.

With this configuration, it is not necessary to set the baud rate of the serial data port for the external device and the moving picture codec, and the system can be easily constructed.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, when communication parameters (stop bits, parity, etc.) of a serial data port of a moving image codec on the monitoring point side and on the monitoring room side are different, parameter conversion is performed to match them. 21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:
This is the remote monitoring system described.

According to this configuration, it is not necessary to set communication parameters of the serial data port for the external device and the moving image codec, so that the system can be easily constructed and stable operation can be performed.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote surveillance system comprising: a surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point; In the system, parallel data is transmitted bidirectionally in real time between the video codec on the monitoring point side and the video codec on the monitoring room side.

According to this configuration, the status of each device can be known without using special commands between the external devices via the video codec, and the system can be easily constructed.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, the video codec can correct the clock of the video codec by an external pulse signal. This is a remote monitoring system.

With this configuration, the time of the moving image codec can be easily changed.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote surveillance system comprising: a surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point; and a moving image codec for encoding and compressing a captured image and a sound of the surveillance camera and transmitting the encoded and compressed image to a surveillance room. In the system, switching between images of at least one surveillance camera and a plurality of second surveillance cameras that can arbitrarily set a surveillance area connected to the video codec on the surveillance point side during communication is performed by the surveillance. It is configured to be controllable from a controller connected to the video codec on the room side.

With this configuration, it is possible for the observer to switch and view a plurality of camera images.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, at least one surveillance camera and a plurality of second surveillance cameras capable of arbitrarily setting a surveillance area connected to the video codec on the surveillance point side during communication. 25. The camera according to claim 24, wherein the setting data of the camera is arbitrarily selected from the list, and the setting data of the camera is displayed on a monitor connected to the video codec on the monitoring room side, so that the setting data can be changed. This is a remote monitoring system.

According to this configuration, since the setting data can be changed from a remote place, the monitoring system in the wide area monitoring can be reduced in manpower.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, the time of the video codec on the monitoring point side can be corrected from the video codec on the monitoring room side during communication. A remote monitoring system according to any one of claims 25 to 25.

According to this configuration, since the time can be corrected remotely, it becomes possible to obtain accurate time information on the detection of an abnormality occurring at the monitoring point side on the monitoring room side. At the same time, labor saving in maintenance in wide area monitoring becomes possible.

According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote surveillance system comprising: a surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point; In the system, it is possible to register telephone directory data in which a plurality of destination names and destination telephone numbers can be registered in the video codec, and to select and designate a registration number from data in which the destination names are already stored. To enable copying.

With this configuration, the system can be easily installed, and the setting time can be shortened.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote surveillance system comprising: a surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point; and a video codec for encoding / compressing a captured image and sound of the surveillance camera and transmitting the encoded / compressed image to a surveillance room. In the system, a video codec is provided in the monitoring room, and is connected to the video codec in the monitoring room by a specific command from an external device (such as a PC) connected to the video codec in the monitoring room. The controller cannot control the moving image codec in the monitoring room by a command from the external device.

According to this configuration, since the moving image codec cannot be controlled from the controller, the external device can be centrally controlled and managed without changing the settings.

According to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, when the video codec is in a mode controlled by a command from an external device (such as a PC), an external device is operated by an operation of a controller connected to the video codec. (PC, etc.)
29. A control mode from the controller is released to enable control from the controller.
This is the remote monitoring system described.

With this configuration, the operation and control from the controller can be easily performed.

According to a thirtieth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote monitoring system comprising: a surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point; and a video codec for encoding / compressing a captured image and sound of the surveillance camera and transmitting the encoded / compressed image to a surveillance room. In the system, a video codec is provided in the monitoring room, and management of data that can be set in the video codec of the monitoring room by an administrator is divided into a plurality of pieces and managed.

With this configuration, only necessary data can be output to or input from an external device, and the external device can edit, change, or delete the data.

According to a thirty-first aspect of the present invention, an external device (PC
), The system setting data and the telephone directory data in the video codec are output individually or collectively to an external device (such as a PC).
And the like. The remote monitoring system according to claim 28 or claim 30, wherein the remote monitoring system according to claim 28 or claim 30 can be inputted.

With this configuration, it is possible for the external device to individually obtain the data to be obtained, individually edit the obtained data, and set and register the data in the video codec.

According to a thirty-second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote monitoring system comprising: a surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point; and a video codec for encoding / compressing a captured image and sound of the surveillance camera and transmitting the encoded / compressed image to a surveillance room. In the system, for each camera connected to the video codec on the monitoring point side, several stages of cable compensation levels are set and operated according to the cable length.

With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the image from being attenuated regardless of the length of the cable.

[0069]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a monitoring system to which a remote monitoring system using an ISDN line is applied in an embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, a remote monitoring system will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the overall configuration of the monitoring system, a remote monitoring system is connected using a network 104. The network 104 includes an ISDN line, an analog telephone line, an Ethernet network, and the like. For this reason,
A plurality of cameras 101A to 101E and an alarm device 103 are connected to the moving image codec 102, and a plurality of cameras 101Na to 101Nn and an alarm device 103n are connected to the moving image codec 102a. Then, the images and data of each camera are reproduced by the moving image codec 106, and the monitor 105 is connected and monitored.

In this surveillance system, the video of the surveillance camera is encoded and recorded in the video codec 102, an alarm from the alarm device 103 is detected, and connected to the video codec 106 in the monitoring room by automatic calling. The images recorded before and after the alarm is detected are transmitted to the monitoring room via the network 104 in response to a request from the monitoring room.

Next, the operation of the monitoring system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed structure of a moving image codec which is an important function of the monitoring system. The video codec 201 on the monitoring point side includes a camera 203
To 207, the alarm device 202, and the network 217. The monitor 219, the controller 226, and the network 217 are connected to the video codec 218 on the monitoring room side.

Signals from a plurality of cameras 203 to 207 connected to the monitoring point side moving image codec 201 are input to an image input unit 212.
At the same time, the audio signal from the audio device 227 is amplified by the audio input unit 228, and the image / audio encoding unit 213 compresses the image / audio as a digital signal. The monitoring point side moving image codec 201 records the image and sound data in the encoded image and sound storage unit 209.

The coded video / audio storage unit 209 in the monitoring point side video codec 201 can record compressed video data repeatedly for a certain period of time due to the structure of the ring buffer.

When the control unit 215 in the monitoring point side video codec 201 periodically instructs the video and audio encoding unit 213 to request a first frame, the coded video and audio storage unit 209 transmits the first frame request. Image data is recorded, and the subsequent image frames are recorded as difference data from the previous image.

The control unit 215 can search the first frame image by calculating the image data size recorded in the coded video / audio storage unit 209 at regular intervals, and can search the first frame image. The video is transmitted to the monitoring room side video codec 218.

With this configuration, the monitoring room can observe the image in the monitoring area as the image before the abnormality is detected.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 shows the image data recorded at the time of occurrence of the alarm and the image data in the direction from the monitoring point to the monitoring room.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a transmission method when transmitting using a DN line. In the monitoring point side video codec 201, the image data recorded on the B1 channel of the information channel of the ISDN line is
The real-time video is transmitted on the B2 channel.

In order to transfer the recorded image data, while communication is being performed between the monitoring point and the monitoring room, the coded image and sound storage unit 209 records the image data simultaneously with the real-time image data in response to a request from the monitoring room. By transferring the current image to the moving image codec 218 and performing the decoding process at the image / audio decoding unit 222 at the same time, the real-time image data and the recorded image data can be viewed on the monitor 219.

On the other hand, according to the setting contents registered in the environment setting management sections 216 and 225, transmission of real-time video or audio or both video and audio during communication is stopped and the video and audio are transmitted to the video codec 218. It becomes possible.

With this configuration, even while the recorded image / audio data is being transferred, the monitoring room can watch the real-time video and listen to the audio at the monitoring point.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an operation when an abnormality is detected from another point 408 while the moving image codec 402 in the monitoring room is monitoring a certain monitoring point 401. When the video codec 402 on the monitoring room side monitors the monitoring point 401 having a certain point, when detecting an abnormality from another point 408, the line connection control unit 403 transmits the detected information to the control unit 404, and the control unit 404 Stores the information in the memory unit 405 and simultaneously displays the information of the point where the abnormality has occurred on the monitor 406. Based on the information stored in the memory unit 405, the monitor sends a one-push operation from the controller 407 to the abnormality occurrence point, and shifts to a connection operation.

With this configuration, the video currently being monitored and the video at the latest abnormality occurrence point can be selected by the observer, and connection to the latest abnormality occurrence point can be made with one push. Either connection is possible.

(Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method for determining a point to be transmitted when an alarm abnormality occurs from the monitoring point side video codec.

As shown in the day and time setting screen 501 of the environment setting unit of the monitoring point side moving image codec,
The day and time are set for each of the three. Similarly, as shown in each of the transmission candidate setting screens 502, 503, and 504 of the environment setting unit, the alarm 1 is set for each of the tables 1 to 3.
A point to be transmitted when # 8 occurs is set with priorities # 1 to # 3.

With this configuration, when an abnormality occurs, it is possible to transmit a video in which an abnormality has occurred on a day of the week and a time period when a person is present in the monitoring room as much as possible. At the same time, it is possible to select a point to be transmitted for each type of alarm.

(Fifth Embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for determining a baud rate when connecting an external device and performing serial control.

First, when an external device is connected to the monitoring point-side moving image codec 201, information on the baud rate is exchanged with the external device and the monitoring point-side moving image codec 201 is exchanged.
Matches the baud rate of the external device. Next, the monitoring point side moving image codec 201 and the monitoring room side moving image codec 218 exchange baud rate information, and the monitoring room side moving image codec.
201 is set to the baud rate of the video codec 218 on the monitoring point side. When an external device is connected to the monitoring point side moving image codec 201, information on the baud rate is exchanged with the external device. If the same baud rate is used, the automatic adjustment ends. If the baud rate is different, serial control is disabled.

In FIG. 2, the communication parameter information of the serial data port is exchanged between the control unit 215 in the video codec 201 on the monitoring point side and the control unit 224 in the video codec 218 on the monitoring room side during communication. If different, it is possible to set the serial data ports 229 and 232, convert the data received from the other party, and send it to the external device.

With this configuration, control of the external device can be realized without the video codec setting the baud rate of the video codec again in accordance with the serial baud rate of the external device. Similarly, even if the communication parameters between the external devices do not match, serial data communication can be realized by conversion within the moving image codec.

(Sixth Embodiment) Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 shows an example of memory management inside the environment setting management units 216 and 225 of FIG. First memory
701 stores system setting data. Second memory 7
02 stores telephone directory data registered by the user.

In order to easily change and edit a large amount of system setting data and telephone directory data in an external device, the external device (P
C) can output the data stored in the individual memory individually or collectively to an external device, and can input the data from the external device.

By displaying the telephone directory data registered in the environment setting management units 216 and 225 on the monitor 219 via the image output unit 223, the already registered destination name data is copied and the data is transferred. It can be stored in the environment setting management unit 225.

With this configuration, the degree of freedom in handling system setting data and telephone directory data is increased, and editing, changing, and erasing can be easily realized. In the above embodiment, two examples of memory management have been described. However, it goes without saying that the system setting data storage unit may be managed by a plurality of divided memories.

(Seventh Embodiment) Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Clocks 233 and 2 in video codecs 201 and 218
34 can perform time correction by an external pulse input.

Although the video codec 201 is provided in the monitoring area, it is insufficient for one video codec 201 to have one camera. Therefore, a plurality of cameras 203 to 207 can be connected to the moving image codec 201. The plurality of cameras can be connected to the camera switching control unit 211, and can perform switching control from the monitoring room.

It takes time and effort to change the settings such as the iris and focus of a camera at a remote location one by one at that location. Therefore, during communication, the control unit 215 instructs the setting data of the cameras 203 to 207 connected to the monitoring point side to any camera from the monitoring room side via the camera switching control unit 211 during communication. The setting data can be displayed on the monitor 219 in the monitoring room to change the setting.

The time information is sent from the video codec 218 in the monitoring room to the date and time set in the clock 233 of the video codecs 201 that exist at the monitoring point in the remote place. 233 can be set.

With this configuration, it is possible to easily perform maintenance of the moving image codecs on a plurality of monitoring points installed in a wide area and the camera connected thereto, thereby improving the system performance. Can be planned.

(Eighth Embodiment) Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration in which a controller 802 capable of controlling a moving image codec 801 and an external device (such as a PC) 803 are connected. All control can be performed from an external device (PC or the like) 803 for the purpose of preventing the controller 802 from changing settings due to erroneous operation and negligence, and for centralizing management.

Further, when all controls are performed from the external device (PC or the like) 803 as described above, the external device 803 becomes uncontrollable, and it is necessary to immediately monitor the situation on the monitoring point side. In this case, the control mode from the external device 803 can be released by operating the controller 802, and the controller 802 can make a call or change the system setting.

With this configuration, the external device (PC or the like) 803 can change the setting of the environment setting unit 804 in the moving image codec 801.

(Ninth Embodiment) Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

Although a plurality of cameras can be connected to the moving image codecs 102 to 102n shown in FIG. 1, the cable between the moving image codecs becomes longer depending on the location of the cameras, and the moving image codec is not received. Attenuated video signals occur. To prevent this phenomenon, a cable compensation level for each camera can be set in the video codec.

With such a configuration, the system performance can be expanded and the video quality can be ensured.

Although not shown, a monitor connected to the video codec of the monitoring room may be connected to the video codec of the monitoring point. As the monitor image displayed on the video codec at the monitoring point after the connection with the monitoring room is completed, an arbitrary camera image connected to the video codec at the monitoring point can be displayed on the monitor.

[0116]

As described above, according to the remote monitoring system of the present invention, it is possible to capture, encode, record, and transmit image information on a remote monitoring location. Also, by detecting the presence or absence of an abnormality in the monitoring area, an automatic call is made, and the image information can be monitored even in a minus time, so that the image information before and after the occurrence of the abnormality is reliably secured, Can be easily reproduced. Also, image transfer,
Even during playback, the observer can always monitor the real-time video of the monitoring point side, and the monitoring reliability can be improved.

Furthermore, if another abnormality occurs while the monitoring room is connected to a certain monitoring point, it is possible to select whether or not to connect to the above-mentioned point. It has the effect that it can be performed. Further, the monitoring point side can set a point to notify the abnormality when an abnormality occurs, for each day of the week and for each time, and can select a point where a monitor is present as much as possible. Further, the management of the system settings and the settings with the devices to be connected and controlled by serial can be easily managed and controlled without the monitoring person being conscious of the current settings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an entire monitoring system to which a remote monitoring system using an ISDN line is applied in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a moving image codec for realizing remote monitoring;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of transmitting recorded image data and real-time video when using an ISDN line;

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an operation when an abnormality is detected from another point while monitoring a certain point;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method of determining a transmission point when an abnormality occurs,

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flowchart for determining a baud rate when performing external control serially;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of memory management inside the environment setting management units 216 and 225;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a connection configuration between a controller capable of controlling a moving image codec and an external device.

[Explanation of symbols]

101A, 101B, 101C, 101D, 101E Camera 101Fa, 101Fb, 101Fn Camera 101Na, 101Nb, 101Nn Camera 203, 204, 205, 206, 207 Camera 102, 102a, 102n, 106, 201, 218 Video Codec 103, 103a, 103n, 202 Alarm device 104, 217 Network (ISDN line / Analog telephone line / Ethernet network) 105, 219, 406 Monitor 107, 226, 407, 802 Controller 208 Alarm receiver 209 Coded image storage 210, 220, 403 lines Connection control unit 211 Camera switching control unit 212 Image input unit 213 Image / audio coding unit 214 Image transmission unit 215, 224, 404 Control unit 216, 225 Environment setting management unit 221 Image reception unit 222 Image / audio decoding unit 223 Image output unit 227 Audio device 228 Audio input section 229, 232 Serial data port 230, 231 Parallel port 233, 234 Clock 405 Memory section 501 Day / time setting screen 502, 503, 504 Outgoing candidate setting screen 701, 702 Memory in environment setting section 803 External Your device (PC, etc.)

Claims (32)

[Claims] 1. A remote monitoring system comprising: a surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point; and a video codec for encoding / compressing a captured image and sound of the surveillance camera and transmitting the encoded / compressed image to a surveillance room. The codec includes an imaging unit that captures image information of a predetermined monitoring area, a unit that encodes and records the image information, a unit that detects whether an abnormality has occurred in the monitoring area, and that abnormality is detected. Means for automatically transmitting an image and transmitting and monitoring an image from an image before alarm detection, and a control unit for connecting an external device and performing remote control of the external device using serial data or the like, the video codec A remote monitoring system characterized by being able to function as a monitoring point side or monitoring room side device only by changing system setting data in the control unit from the control unit. . 2. The remote monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the video codec is provided with a line I / F unit so that an ISDN line can be connected to the video codec. 3. The remote monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the video codec is provided with a line I / F, so that an analog telephone line can be connected to the video codec. 4. The video codec is provided with a line I / F unit so that Ethernet can be connected to the video codec so that packetized data can be output. 2. The remote monitoring system according to 1. 5. The video codec is provided with a line I / F section, and has a port capable of balanced transmission and a port capable of unbalanced transmission for connecting an external terminal adapter to the video codec. The remote monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein 6. A means for encoding and recording the image information, wherein the image of the first frame is compression-encoded only from the image data of the first frame, and the second and subsequent images are compression-encoded as difference data from the previous image. The remote monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the obtained compressed image data is repeatedly recorded for a predetermined period of time in the video codec. 7. A method for periodically adding compressed image data obtained by compressing and encoding only the image to the difference data in the same manner as the image data of the first frame and recording the difference data in the video codec. 7. The remote monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein: 8. The size of the recorded compressed image data is calculated at regular time intervals, an image whose image size sharply increases is searched for as a first frame, and decompression is performed from the compression-encoded image data of the first frame. 8. The remote monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein decoding is performed. 9. The remote monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit automatically stops the recording and automatically connects to a monitoring room registered in advance. system. 10. The control unit stops recording and automatically connects to a pre-registered monitoring room side at the same time, and automatically transmits image data recorded at a monitoring point side to the moving image codec on the monitoring room side. 9. The remote monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the remote monitoring is performed. 11. A surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point,
In a remote monitoring system including a video codec that encodes and compresses a captured image and a sound of the monitoring camera and transmits the video to a monitoring room, transmission is performed from the monitoring room side to the monitoring point side, and at the same time when connection is completed. A remote monitoring system, wherein image recording on the monitoring point side is stopped, and image transfer is automatically started from the monitoring point side. 12. A surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point,
In a remote monitoring system including a video codec that encodes and compresses a captured image and a voice of the monitoring camera and transmits the video to a monitoring room, when an alarm occurs on the monitoring point side, an administrator specifies in advance. The video and audio before and after the occurrence of the alarm are encoded in time and the recorded image is transferred to the video codec on the monitoring room side together with the real-time video / audio, and is transmitted together with the real-time video on the monitor connected to the video codec on the monitoring room side. A remote monitoring system having means for reproducing. 13. A surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point,
In a remote monitoring system including a video codec that encodes and compresses a captured image and a voice of the monitoring camera and transmits the video to a monitoring room, when an alarm occurs on the monitoring point side, an administrator specifies in advance. When the video / audio before and after the occurrence of the alarm is encoded in time and the recorded image is transferred to the video codec on the monitoring room side, the transmission of the real-time video / audio is stopped and the recorded image is used using the entire available transmission band. A remote monitoring system comprising means for transferring to a video codec in the monitoring room and reproducing a recorded image by the video codec in the monitoring room. 14. A surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point,
In a remote monitoring system including a video codec that encodes and compresses a captured image and a voice of the monitoring camera and transmits the video to a monitoring room, when an alarm occurs on the monitoring point side, an administrator specifies in advance. When the video / audio before and after the occurrence of the alarm is encoded in time and the recorded image is transferred to the video codec in the monitoring room, the transmission of the real-time video is stopped and transferred together with the real-time audio, and the video codec in the monitoring room is transmitted. A means for reproducing a recorded image in the remote monitoring system. 15. The system according to claim 12, further comprising means for freezing a real-time image upon transfer, displaying the image on a monitor screen, and transferring a recorded image to a video codec in the monitor room. 15. The remote monitoring system according to any one of 14). 16. The remote monitoring system according to claim 12, further comprising means for reproducing a recorded image by the moving image codec in the monitoring room at the same time as the transfer. 17. A surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point,
In a remote monitoring system including a video codec that encodes and compresses a captured image and a sound of the monitoring camera and transmits the video to a monitoring room, a monitor image displayed on the video codec at a monitoring point after connection is completed is The monitor video displayed on the video codec on the monitoring room side is an arbitrary camera video connected to the video codec, and the video transmitted from the monitoring point side is displayed on a monitor. And remote monitoring system. 18. A surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point,
In a remote monitoring system including a video codec for encoding and compressing a captured image and audio of the monitoring camera and transmitting the encoded and compressed video to a monitoring room, when an alarm is generated on the monitoring point side, the monitoring that generated the alarm Means for transmitting from the point side, and means for setting a plurality of patterns of time and day of the week when determining the transmission candidate point, and for setting a plurality of candidates for the destination for each pattern. Characterized remote monitoring system. 19. A surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point;
In a remote monitoring system including a video codec that encodes and compresses a captured image and a voice of the monitoring camera and transmits the video to a monitoring room, communication is performed between the monitoring point side and the monitoring room side. A means for displaying the other party number and incoming call time relating to the incoming call during communication when receiving an incoming call from the other than the two points to the monitoring room side, and transmitting the information to a manager; a means for storing the information and displaying it as a history, A remote monitoring system comprising means for transmitting a point from the history to a point where a one-push call was made. 20. A surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point,
In a remote monitoring system including a video codec for encoding and compressing a captured image and a voice of the monitoring camera and transmitting the video to a monitoring room, when connecting and controlling an external device, the monitoring point side and the monitoring room A means for automatically adjusting the baud rate of the serial data port of the moving image codec on the side to the baud rate of the serial data port of the external device. 21. A means for converting parameters when the communication parameters (stop bits, parity, etc.) of the serial data ports of the video codec on the monitoring point side and on the monitoring room side are different from each other and matching them. The remote monitoring system according to claim 20, wherein: 22. A surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point,
In a remote monitoring system including a video codec that encodes and compresses a captured image and a sound of the monitoring camera and transmits the video to a monitoring room, the video codec on the monitoring point side and the video codec on the monitoring room side A remote monitoring system for transmitting parallel data in real-time and bi-directionally between them. 23. The video codec according to claim 1, wherein the video codec can correct a clock of the video codec by an external pulse signal.
A remote monitoring system according to any one of the above. 24. A surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point,
In a remote monitoring system including a video codec that encodes and compresses a captured image and a voice of the monitoring camera and transmits the video to a monitoring room, a monitor connected to the video codec on the monitoring point side during communication. Remote monitoring wherein switching of images of at least one surveillance camera and a plurality of second surveillance cameras capable of arbitrarily setting an area can be controlled from a controller connected to a video codec in the surveillance room. system. 25. Any of at least one surveillance camera and a plurality of second surveillance cameras capable of arbitrarily setting a surveillance area connected to the video codec on the surveillance point side during communication. 25. The remote monitoring system according to claim 24, wherein the setting data of the camera can be changed by displaying the setting data on a monitor connected to the video codec in the monitoring room. 26. The system according to claim 23, wherein the time of the moving image codec on the monitoring point side can be corrected from the moving image codec on the monitoring room side during communication. Remote monitoring system. 27. A surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point,
In a remote monitoring system including a video codec that encodes and compresses a captured image and a voice of the monitoring camera and transmits the video to a monitoring room, a plurality of other party names and other party telephone numbers can be registered in the video codec. A remote monitoring system capable of registering telephone directory data and copying the other party's name by selecting and specifying a registration number from already stored data. 28. A surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point,
In a remote monitoring system including a video codec that encodes and compresses a captured image and a sound of the monitoring camera and transmits the video to a monitoring room, a video codec is provided in the monitoring room, and a video codec in the monitoring room is provided. A specific command from a connected external device (such as a PC) disables control from a controller connected to the video codec of the monitoring room, and a command from the external device causes the controller to connect to the video codec of the monitoring room. A remote monitoring system for controlling a video codec. 29. The moving image codec is connected to an external device (P
C), the control mode from an external device (such as a PC) is released by the operation of the controller connected to the video codec, and the control from the controller is possible. 29. The remote monitoring system according to claim 28, wherein: 30. A surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point,
In a remote monitoring system including a video codec for encoding and compressing a captured image and a sound of the monitoring camera and transmitting the video to a monitoring room, a video codec is provided in the monitoring room. A remote monitoring system comprising means for dividing and managing data settable in an image codec into a plurality of pieces. 31. When in a control mode from an external device (such as a PC), system setting data and telephone directory data in the video codec are individually or collectively stored in an external device (P
31. The remote monitoring system according to claim 28, wherein the remote monitoring system is configured to be able to output to an external device (such as a PC) and input from an external device (such as a PC). 32. A surveillance camera for photographing a surveillance point,
In a remote monitoring system including a video codec that encodes and compresses the captured image and audio of the monitoring camera and transmits the video to a monitoring room, for each camera connected to the video codec on the monitoring point side, A remote monitoring system characterized in that several stages of cable compensation levels are set and operated according to the cable length.