JP2001229487A - Traffic monitor device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a traffic monitor device which can obtain images of different visual angles by a single camera and its production cost can be lowered. SOLUTION: This signal system 1 with a camera is equipped with a signal main body 11 and a monitor unit 12, and the unit 12 is equipped with the camera 13 provided to a signal display part 11b installed at a high place of the signal main body 11. The system is also provided with a monitoring process unit 15. The camera is equipped with a zoom mechanism 13a which optically varies the image pickup power. Images of the camera 13 are used for traffic volume measurement, traffic regulations violation detection, accident detection, road driver checking, etc., and information obtained as a result is transmitted to a proper base station through a communication line. The camera 13 has its image pickup power automatically switched to high image pickup power in case of traffic regulations violation or accident occurrence, etc., and the field is enlarged and picked up in detail; and the license number of a traffic regulations violating vehicle, etc., is read out of the enlarged image and sent to the base station together with the image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a traffic monitoring device for monitoring a monitoring target based on an image of a camera provided on a road.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional traffic monitoring device is disclosed in
No. 269362. In this traffic monitoring device, a first camera having a wide-angle view and a second camera having a telephoto view are provided.
, And a traffic flow such as the number of passing vehicles is measured based on images of a plurality of viewing angles obtained by the first and second cameras.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional traffic monitoring device, images of a plurality of viewing angles are obtained by using a plurality of cameras having different viewing angles. It needs to be installed, and there is a problem that the cost is high.

In view of the above problems, the present invention makes it possible to obtain images at a plurality of viewing angles with a single camera.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a traffic monitoring device capable of reducing costs.

[0005]

A technical means for achieving the above object is a traffic monitoring apparatus for monitoring a monitoring target based on an image of a camera provided on a road, wherein Is characterized by having a zoom mechanism for optically changing the imaging magnification.

Preferably, when a predetermined event occurs in the object to be monitored, the traffic monitoring device includes an event detecting means for detecting the event, and a response to the event detecting means detecting the event. The apparatus may further include a magnification control unit that controls the magnification mechanism of the camera to increase the imaging magnification.

Preferably, the traffic monitoring device comprises:
It is preferable that the vehicle further includes a traffic amount measuring unit that measures a traffic amount of a moving body that travels on the road based on the image of the camera.

Preferably, the event detecting means detects a predetermined traffic violation of a moving object passing through the road as the event based on the image of the camera.

Preferably, the event detection means recognizes a moving object from the image of the camera and detects a predetermined accident as the event based on a moving state of the moving object.

[0010] Further, preferably, the event detecting means further has a function of specifying the moving object which has committed the traffic violation detected as the event, and the traffic monitoring device is configured to detect the moving object based on the image of the camera. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a number reading means for reading a number attached to a license plate of the moving object specified by the event detecting means.

Preferably, the event detecting means further includes a function of identifying the moving object having the accident detected as the event, and the traffic monitoring device is configured to perform the following based on the image of the camera: The mobile terminal may further include a number reading unit that reads a number assigned to a license plate of the moving object specified by the event detection unit.

Further, preferably, the number reading means reads the number based on the image of the camera magnified by the zoom mechanism when the event occurs.

Preferably, the traffic monitoring device comprises:
A first function of transmitting acquired information obtained by the traffic monitoring device including the image of the camera to the outside via a transmission path, and controlling the imaging magnification input from outside via the transmission path; And a communication unit having at least one of the second functions of receiving the control information and giving the control information to the zoom mechanism.

Further, preferably, when the traffic monitoring device receives characteristic information indicating characteristics of a moving object to be discovered transmitted from the outside via a transmission path, the traffic monitoring device sets the image based on the image of the camera. Recognizing the moving object inside, sequentially reading the characteristics of the moving object, and if the read characteristics match the characteristics indicated by the characteristic information, a discovery indicating that the moving object to be checked is found It is preferable that the apparatus further includes a mobile object detecting unit that outputs a notification signal to the outside via the transmission path.

Preferably, the characteristic indicated by the characteristic information and the characteristic read by the moving object detecting means based on the image are numbers assigned to a license plate of the moving object. It is good to do.

[0016] More preferably, the camera is provided on a signal display section of a traffic light or a pole supporting the signal display section.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a traffic monitoring system to which a traffic light system with a camera (traffic monitoring device) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the camera-equipped traffic light system 1, and FIG. 3 is an external view of the camera-equipped traffic light system 1.

The traffic monitoring system, as shown in FIG.
It is configured to include a plurality of camera-equipped traffic signal systems 1 and a base station 3, and each of the traffic signal systems 1 and the base station 3
They are connected to each other via a communication line (transmission line) 5.

Each traffic light system 1 includes at least one traffic light main body 11 and a monitoring unit 12 as shown in FIG. The monitoring unit 12 includes at least one camera 13 and a monitoring processing unit 15. Here, the camera 13 is provided for each signal body 11 provided in the signal system 1. Further, one monitoring processing unit 15 may be provided for each signal body 11, or one monitoring processing unit 15 may be provided for each of a plurality of (for example, a plurality of signal bodies 11 provided at one intersection 23 (see FIG. 4)). You may make it provide each.

The camera 13 changes the viewing angle from a wide-angle viewing angle α with a low imaging magnification (see FIG. 4) to a telephoto viewing angle β with a high imaging magnification.
A zoom mechanism (magnification changing mechanism) that changes optically continuously (or at least two steps) up to (see FIG. 4).
13a, and as shown in FIG.
Signal display unit 11 installed at the tip of one pole 11a
b.

Here, the camera 13 has at least two imaging modes, a low imaging magnification mode and a high imaging magnification mode. Imaging area 21 in low imaging magnification mode
Is set to include almost the entire intersection 23 where the traffic light system 1 is installed, as shown in FIG. 4, and the imaging area 25 in the high imaging magnification mode is, as shown in FIG. Road 2 for which system 1 gives a signal indication
7 is set so as to magnify an image of a connection portion (a portion where the stop line 29 is provided) between the intruding lane (left lane) and the intersection 23 of the intersection 23. Here, in FIG.
Reference numeral 31 denotes the center line of the road 27. The setting example of the imaging regions 21 and 25 of the camera 13 shown in FIG. 4 is merely an example, and the imaging region and the imaging magnification of the camera 13 need to be set according to the characteristics of the monitoring target. .

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the signal body 11 includes a pole 11a, a signal display unit 11b provided at the tip of the pole 11a, a control device 11c for controlling the signal display unit 11b, and an external device. Communication device 11 for communicating with
d. Control device 11c and communication device 11
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, d is provided together with the monitoring processing unit 15 in a box 33 installed on the pole 11a (or the periphery of the pole 11a).

The signal display section 11b is provided with a light emitting section 11e which emits light in blue, red, yellow and the like. Control device 11c
Performs a predetermined signal display by controlling the light emitting state of the light emitting unit 11e of the signal display unit 11b based on control information given from the communication device 11d and the monitoring processing unit 15. The communication device 11d is connected to the communication line 5 described above.
And transmits and receives various information to and from the other traffic signal system 1 and the base station 2 via the communication line 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the monitoring processing unit 15 includes an image memory 41, a CPU 43, and interfaces 45, 47, and 49. The interface 45 controls transmission and reception of signals between the monitoring processing unit 15 and the camera 13.
7, 49 are the monitoring processing unit 15 and the traffic light main body 1
It controls transmission and reception of signals between the first control device 11c and the communication device 11d. The image memory 41 stores the camera 1
The image captured in step 3 is used as a buffer memory when sending the image to the CPU 43, and is also used as a memory for temporarily storing the image.

The CPU 43 is constituted by an arithmetic processing unit operated by a program, and includes, as functional elements, a traffic volume measuring unit 43a, a violation detecting unit 43b, a number reading unit 43c, an accident detecting unit 43d, a control unit 43e,
A communication unit 43f and a switching unit 43g are provided. The CPU 43 switches and selectively executes a plurality of programs for executing processing operations corresponding to these functional elements, and the functional elements are selectively executed. It corresponds to each program.
Among these functional elements, the traffic volume measuring unit 43a, the violation detecting unit 43b, the number reading unit 43c, and the accident detecting unit 43d
Constitute an image processing unit 43h that performs image processing.

Among these functional elements, the control unit 43e corresponds to the magnification control unit according to the present invention, and the traffic volume measurement unit 43a corresponds to the traffic detection unit.
The violation detecting unit 43b and the accident detecting unit 43d correspond to the event detecting unit, the number reading unit 43c corresponds to the number reading unit, and the communication unit 4 corresponds to the communication unit.
3f is supported, and the communication unit 43f
And the number reading unit 43c.

The traffic volume measuring section 43b is based on the image captured by the camera 13, and the traffic volume (traffic volume) of the vehicle (or the vehicle and the motorcycle) passing through the intersection 23 (or the lane entering the intersection 23 of the road 27). Is detected. Here, the traffic measurement is performed based on the image in the low imaging magnification mode.

The violation detecting unit 43b detects the intersection 23 (or the intersection 2 of the road 27) based on the image captured by the camera 13.
A traffic violation of a vehicle (or a vehicle and a motorcycle) passing through an intruding lane 3 is detected as one of the events. Here, the traffic violation detection is performed based on the image in the low imaging magnification mode. When a traffic violation is detected, the violation detection unit 43b specifies the vehicle or the like that has committed the traffic violation, causes the control unit 43e to switch the camera 13 to the high imaging magnification mode, and causes the number reading unit 43 to specify the vehicle. And the like, while outputting a number reading command indicating that a number should be read, and instructs the communication unit 43f to perform traffic violation notification processing. Further, when a traffic violation is detected, the violation detection unit 43b stores the image in the high imaging magnification mode at the time of occurrence of the traffic violation in the image memory 41, and based on the image, the intersection of the vehicle or the like who committed the traffic violation. Direction at 23 (Which road you went)
Is detected. It should be noted that the detection of the traveling direction may also detect from which road the offending vehicle or the like has entered the intersection 23. After saving the image of the scene of the violation in the high imaging magnification mode and completing the number reading process by the number reading unit 43, the imaging mode of the camera 13 is switched from the high imaging magnification mode to the low imaging magnification mode by the control unit 43e.

The traffic violation detection targets are signal ignoring,
Any violation that can be detected based on the image of the camera 13, such as a suspension violation, a right / left prohibition violation, and a speed violation, can be detected. The detection of signal neglect is performed, for example, by the control device 11c of the
In a state in which the signal information input via 7 indicates that the signal is a red light, the detection is performed by detecting the crossing of the stop line 29 of the vehicle or the like based on the image of the camera 13. The detection of the suspension violation, the right / left turn prohibition violation, and the speed violation is performed based on the image of the camera 11 based on the image of the camera 11 by preliminarily registering that the stop is required, the right / left turn is prohibited, and the speed limit. This can be easily performed by recognizing the moving state of the object.

The number reading section 43c includes a violation detecting section 43
b and the number detection command from the accident detection unit 43d, the number of the vehicle or the like identified by the violation detection unit 43b and the accident detection unit 43d based on the image of the camera 13 (here, the image in the high imaging magnification mode). The number attached to the plate is read and given to the communication unit 43f. Further, when a number reading command is given from the communication unit 43f, the number reading unit 43c, based on the image of the camera 13 (here, the image in the high imaging magnification mode), obtains a license plate of a vehicle or the like passing through the image. Are sequentially read and given to the communication unit 43f.

The number reading unit 43c detects the traveling direction (which road the vehicle has traveled) at the intersection 23 of a vehicle or the like to be found based on the image of the camera 13 in the check mode described later. It should be noted that the detection of the traveling direction may also detect from which road the vehicle or the like to be found has entered the intersection 23.

The accident detecting unit 43d detects the intersection 23 (or the intersection 2 of the road 27) based on the image captured by the camera 13.
An accident of a vehicle (or a vehicle and a motorcycle) passing through the intruding lane 3 is detected as one of the events. Here, the accident detection is performed based on the image in the low imaging magnification mode. When an accident is detected, the accident detection unit 43d specifies the vehicle or the like in which the accident has occurred and controls the control unit 4d.
3e switches the camera 13 to the high imaging magnification mode, outputs a number reading command to the number reading unit 43, and instructs the communication unit 43f to perform an accident occurrence notification process. Furthermore, if an accident is detected,
The accident detection unit 43d stores the images in the low imaging magnification mode and the high imaging magnification mode at the time of occurrence of the accident in the image memory 41, and based on the images, the traveling direction (in which On the road). The detection of the traveling direction may also detect from which road the accident vehicle or the like has entered the intersection 23. After saving the image of the accident site in the high imaging magnification mode and completing the number reading process by the number reading unit 43, the control unit 43e switches the imaging mode of the camera 13 from the high imaging magnification mode to the low imaging magnification mode.

Here, an object to be detected for an accident may be an accident with another object (vehicle, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian, etc.) of the vehicle (or motorcycle). When an accident (collision accident or the like) with another object such as a vehicle occurs, some characteristic appears in the moving condition (moving locus, moving speed, moving acceleration, etc.) of the vehicle or the like. The accident is detected by detecting based on the image of the camera 11.

For example, in the case of a collision accident between vehicles,
There should be an approaching state of the trajectory of the vehicle, and an accident can be detected by detecting this approaching state based on the image. Furthermore, in the case of a collision accident, there is often a stop state of both vehicles for a certain period of time after the collision, so it is necessary to consider the presence or absence of this stop state to determine whether or not an accident has occurred, thereby improving detection accuracy. Can be.
Alternatively, when a vehicle or the like collides with or contacts another object, a shocking acceleration change should occur in the vehicle at the time of the collision or contacting, and the shocking acceleration change should be detected based on an image. May be used to detect an accident.

The control section 43e controls the camera 13 (in particular, its zoom mechanism 13a) via the interface 45, and outputs control information to the signal body 11 via the interface 47. A specific example of the signal control will be described later.

The communication section 43f has a function of transmitting and receiving various information to and from the other traffic signal system 1 and the base station 3 via the interface 49 and the communication device 11d of the traffic signal main body 11, a check function, and the like. I have.

More specifically, in a normal state with no traffic violation or the like, at a predetermined timing (or in response to a traffic information transmission command being transmitted from the base station 3 via the communication line 5). The traffic information indicating the traffic measured by the traffic measuring unit 43b is transmitted to the base station 3 via the communication line 5.

The communication unit 43f receives a traffic violation notification command or an accident occurrence notification command from the violation detection unit 43b or the accident detection unit 43d when a traffic violation or an accident occurs within the imaging range of the traffic light system 1. And traffic violation notification information or accident occurrence notification information for reporting the occurrence of a traffic violation or accident
To the base station 3 via. At the same time, the communication unit 4
Reference numeral 3f indicates, in advance, check information for tracking and checking an offending vehicle or the like or an accident vehicle or the like, which is registered in advance at another intersection 23 around (here adjacent to) the intersection 23 where the traffic light system 1 is installed. Traffic light system 1
Via the communication line 5.

Here, the traffic violation notification information includes the identification information of the traffic signal system 1 that has detected the traffic violation, the number information indicating the number of the vehicle that has committed the traffic violation read by the number reading unit 43c, and the violation detection unit. 43b includes the route information indicating the traveling direction of the vehicle or the like that has committed the traffic violation detected at the intersection 23b, and the image information in the low-magnification magnification mode for capturing the traffic violation occurrence site stored in the image memory 41. It is. The accident occurrence notification information includes identification information of the traffic signal system 1 that detected the accident, number information indicating the number of the vehicle or the like that caused the accident read by the number reading unit 43c, and the accident detected by the accident detection unit 43d. The information includes the path information indicating the traveling direction of the raised vehicle or the like at the intersection 23 and the image information in the low imaging magnification mode and the high imaging magnification mode, which are stored in the image memory 41 and capture the image of the accident site. Furthermore, the check information includes at least number information (feature information) indicating the number (feature) of the vehicle or the like that has committed a traffic violation (or caused an accident).

The communication unit 43f performs the following check processing when the check information including the number information is transmitted from the base station 3 or another traffic signal system 1 via the communication line 5. During the processing period of the check processing, the operation mode of the monitoring processing unit 1 is changed to a switching processing unit 43 described later.
The mode is switched from the normal mode to the check mode by g.

In this check processing, the check information is transmitted to the communication line 5.
Is transmitted through the communication unit 43f to the control unit 4
An instruction to switch the imaging mode of the camera 13 to the high imaging magnification mode is given to 3e, and the imaging magnification of the camera 13 is switched to the high imaging magnification, while a number reading command is given from the communication unit 43f to the number reading unit 43c. Based on the image of the camera 13 in the high imaging magnification mode,
The number of a vehicle or the like passing through the image is sequentially read by the number reading unit 43c, and is provided to the communication unit 43f.

In response to this, the communication section 43f checks the number read by the number reading section 43c with the number indicated by the number information included in the check information. When the read number and the number of the check information match, the intersection 23 of the vehicle or the like with the matching number is used.
Is transmitted from the communication unit 43f to the number reading unit 43c, and after the detection of the traveling direction at the intersection 23 by the number reading unit 43c such as the vehicle to be discovered, the vehicle to be discovered is detected. The discovery notification information, such as for notifying the discovery of the discovery, etc., is transmitted from the communication unit 43f to the base station 3 via the communication line 5, and the number information for tracking and interrogating the vehicle or the like to be discovered is transmitted. The included check information is transmitted from the communication unit 43f via the communication line 5 to a pre-registered traffic signal installed at another intersection 23 around (here adjacent to) the intersection 23 where the traffic signal system 1 is installed. It is transmitted to the system 1. Here, the discovery notification information includes the number information of the discovered vehicle and the like, and the traffic signal system 1 that has discovered the vehicle and the like to be discovered.
And the route information indicating the traveling direction at the intersection 23 where the traffic light system 1 is installed.

The return from the check mode to the normal mode is performed in accordance with the transmission of the check mode release command from the base station 3 or the like via the communication line 1 or the signal system of the vehicle to be discovered. This is performed in conjunction with the discovery at step 1.

The communication section 43f also receives control information transmitted from the base station 3 via the communication line 5 to control the setting change and the like of the monitoring unit 12. As an example of the control information, magnification setting information for externally changing the setting of the imaging magnification of the camera 13 can be considered.
In this case, upon receiving the magnification setting information, the communication unit 43f transmits the content to the control unit 43e, and causes the control unit 43e to change the imaging magnification of the camera 13 to the imaging magnification indicated by the magnification setting information.

The switching processing unit 43g includes a traffic volume measuring unit 43
a, control of operation timing for selectively operating the violation detection unit 43b, the number reading unit 43c, the accident detection unit 43d, the control unit 43e, and the communication unit 43f.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the overall processing operation of the monitoring processing unit 15. In step S1, initialization processing after power-on is performed. In step S2, the monitoring processing unit 1 is switched by the switching processing unit 43g.
It is determined whether or not the operation mode 5 is the check mode. If the check mode is the check mode, the process proceeds to step S20; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S3. Step S3
Then, the switching processing unit 43g determines whether or not the operation mode of the monitoring processing unit 15 is the accident mode.
When the mode is the accident mode, the process proceeds to step S17, and when the mode is not the accident mode, the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the image of the camera 13 (here, the image in the low imaging magnification mode) is taken into the image processing unit 43h via the image memory 41 at the instruction timing of the switching processing unit 43g. In the following step S5, at the instruction timing of the switching processing unit 43g, the step S5 is executed.
Based on the image in the low imaging magnification mode captured in step 4,
The traffic volume measurement process is performed by the traffic volume measurement unit 43a described above. In the following step S6, at the instruction timing of the switching processing unit 43g, the traffic violation detection processing by the above-described violation detection unit 43b is performed based on the image in the low imaging magnification mode captured in step S4.

In the following step S7, it is determined whether or not a new traffic violation has been detected by the detection processing in step S6.
The process proceeds to step S14 when a new traffic violation is detected, as determined by the switching processing unit 43g, and proceeds to step S8 when a new traffic violation is not detected.

In step S14, the control unit 43e switches the camera 13 from the low-magnification mode to the high-magnification mode at the instruction timing of the switching unit 43g. In the subsequent step S15, the number of the vehicle or the like specified by the violation detection unit 43b is read by the number reading unit 43c based on the image in the high imaging magnification mode at the instruction timing of the switching processing unit 43g, and the scene of the traffic violation is imaged. The image in the high imaging magnification mode is stored in the image memory 41 by the violation detection unit 43b. In the following step S16, the request flag of the traffic violation notification information is turned on by the switching processing unit 43g, and the flow proceeds to step S16.
Proceed to 12. After the completion of the number reading process and the image saving process in step S15, the control unit 43e switches the camera 13 from the high imaging magnification mode to the low imaging magnification mode.

In step S8, the accident detection processing by the above-described accident detection unit 43d is performed at the instruction timing of the switching processing unit 43g, based on the image in the low imaging magnification mode captured in step S4.

In the following step S9, the switching processing unit 43g determines whether or not a new accident has been detected from the detection processing in step S8. If a new accident has been detected, the process proceeds to step S10, If no new traffic violation is detected, the process proceeds to step S12.

That is, when a new accident is detected, the operation mode of the monitoring processing unit 15 is switched from the normal mode to the accident mode by the switching processing unit 43g in step S10 in accordance with the instruction timing of the switching processing unit 43g. Then, in the following step S11, an image in the low imaging magnification mode, which has taken an image of the accident occurrence site, is stored in the image memory 41 by the accident detection unit 43d, and is executed in step S
After step 12 and step S13, the process returns to step S2, and proceeds to step S17 via steps S2 and S3.

Then, at an instruction timing of the switching processing unit 43g, in step S17, the camera 1 is controlled by the control unit 43e.
The switching from the low imaging magnification mode to the high imaging magnification mode of No. 3 is performed, and in the subsequent step S18, the accident detection unit 43d
Is read by the number reading unit 43c based on the image in the high imaging magnification mode, and the image in the high imaging magnification mode obtained by imaging the scene of the traffic violation is stored in the image memory 41 by the accident detection unit 43d. Then, in step S19, the request flag of the accident occurrence notification information is turned on by the switching processing unit 43g, and the process proceeds to step S12. After the completion of the number reading process and the image storing process in step S18, the control unit 43e switches the camera 13 from the high imaging magnification mode to the low imaging magnification mode.

If it is determined in step S2 that the operation mode is the check mode, the process proceeds to step S20, and the control unit 4 receives the instruction timing of the switching processing unit 43g.
Switching from the low imaging magnification mode of the camera 13 to the high imaging magnification mode by 3e is performed, and the process proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, mainly the communication section 43
The various processes described above by d are performed. In step S12, a number reading process based on the captured image by the number reading unit 43c in the check mode is also performed. The main processes performed in step S12 are listed below.

Transmission processing of the traffic information measured by the traffic measuring section 43a to the base station 3 in step S5 to the base station 3 by the communication section 43f. Traffic violation notification information and check information when a new traffic violation is detected in step S6. Of the base station 3 and the registered other traffic signal system 1 by the communication unit 43f of the base station 3 and the registered base station 3 by the communication unit 43f of the accident occurrence notification information and the check information when a new accident is detected in step S8. Transmission processing of other traffic signal system 1 Reception of check information transmitted via communication line 5 by communication unit 43f Switching of operation mode to check mode by switching processing unit 43g when communication unit 43f receives check information Checking process performed by comparing data between the communication unit 43f and the number reading unit 43c. Switching the operation mode to the normal mode by the switching processing unit 43g after the transmission of the report and the check information from the check mode of the operation mode by the switch processing unit 43g when the communication unit 43f receives the check mode release command in step S12. And the accompanying switching of the camera 13 from the high-magnification mode to the low-magnification mode by the control unit 43e. The details of the main processing are as described above.

In the following step S13, the switching processing section 43
At the instruction timing of g, the control of the signal display of the signal body 11 by the control unit 43e is performed, and the process returns to step S2.
In the signal control by the control unit 43e, for example, when the operation mode of the monitoring processing unit 15 is the check mode, the vehicle or the like to be discovered by the check process in step S12 is the intersection 23 where the traffic light system 1 is installed.
Is detected, the signal display of the signal display unit 11b of the traffic light system 1 for displaying a signal in an intruding lane where the vehicle or the like enters the intersection 23 in order to prevent the vehicle or the like from escaping is switched to a red signal. At the same time, the signal display of the signal display unit 11b of the traffic light system 1 that performs signal display on a road orthogonal to the intruding lane is switched to a green signal.

Then, the processing for traffic monitoring is performed by repeating the processing of steps S2 to S20 at a high speed.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 6, how the traffic surveillance system according to the present embodiment performs an inquiry (or tracks an escaped vehicle or the like) will be described. In addition,
Here, a case in which the vehicle 61 that has caused an accident is tracked will be described.

Intersection 2 where signal system 1a is installed
When an accident (for example, a collision accident between vehicles) occurs in 3a and the traffic signal system 1a detects the accident,
The above-described accident occurrence notification information is transmitted from the traffic signal system 1a to the base station 3, and the pre-registered traffic signal system 1 (here, 23b, 23c, etc.) installed at the intersection 23 adjacent to the intersection 23a (here, 23b, 23c, etc.). 1b, 1c
, Etc.), the above-described check information is proactively transmitted from the traffic signal system 1a. In response, the traffic signal system 1
b, 1c, etc. are in the check mode, and check in ambush.

When the vehicle 61 reaches the intersection 23c, the vehicle 61 is found by the traffic signal system 1c installed at the intersection 23c, and the above-mentioned discovery notification information is transmitted from the traffic signal system 1c to the base station 3, and
In order to further track the vehicle 61, the intersection 23 adjacent to the intersection 23c (here, 23a, 23d, 23e, etc.)
The above-described check information is proactively transmitted from the traffic signal system 1c to the traffic signal system 1 (here, 1a, 1d, 1e, etc.) registered in advance, and in response to this, the traffic signal systems 1a, 1d, 1e Etc. are in the check mode.

Further, when the vehicle 61 reaches the intersection 23e, the vehicle 61 is found by the traffic light system 1e installed at the intersection 23e, and the above-mentioned discovery notification information is transmitted from the traffic light system 1e to the base station 3, and
The intersection 23 adjacent to the intersection 23e (here 23f,
23c), the above-mentioned check information is proactively transmitted from the traffic signal system 1e to the traffic signal system 1 (here, 1f, 1c, etc.) registered in advance, and in response thereto, the traffic signal systems 1f, 1c, etc. Is in the check mode, the vehicle 61 is automatically tracked.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a camera provided with the zoom mechanism 13a is used as the traffic monitoring camera 13, and images with a plurality of viewing angles can be obtained by the single camera 13. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of cameras having different viewing angles in order to obtain images having a plurality of viewing angles unlike the related art, and cost can be reduced.

Further, traffic violations and accidents are automatically detected based on the image of the camera 13.
Since the imaging magnification of the camera 13 is automatically switched to an appropriate imaging magnification upon detection of a traffic violation or an accident, switching of the operation mode to the check mode, etc., the site of a traffic violation, an accident, etc. Can be taken in detail without missing, and this image can be effectively used for arrest of traffic violations, post-processing of accidents, and the like.

Further, since the traffic volume of a moving body such as a vehicle is automatically measured based on the image of the camera 13, it is not necessary for a human to measure the traffic volume, which is convenient. .

When a traffic violation is detected, an image of the scene of the violation is captured in detail at a high imaging magnification and transmitted to the base station 3, so that the image can be effectively used for arresting traffic violations and the like. Can help.

Further, when an accident is detected, an image of the accident site taken in a wide-angle view with a low imaging magnification and an image of the accident site taken in detail with a high imaging magnification are transmitted to the base station 3. Therefore, those images can be effectively used for post-processing of the accident.

When a traffic violation is detected and an accident is detected, the numbers of the vehicle that has committed the traffic violation and the vehicle that has caused the accident are automatically read based on the image of the camera 13 and transmitted to the base station 3. Therefore, it is easy to identify the vehicle, etc. that committed a traffic violation based on the number,
Arrest, etc. can be performed.

Further, since the number reading by the number reading section 43c is performed based on the image picked up in the high imaging magnification mode, the number can be read reliably and accurately.

Since the communication unit 43f is provided with a check function, by providing the traffic signal system 1 with the number information indicating the number of the vehicle to be discovered, etc. via the transmission line, the vehicle to be discovered can be obtained. When the camera 13 of the traffic light system 1 captures an image of the vehicle or the like, the detection function of the communication unit 43f of the traffic light system 1 automatically detects a vehicle or the like to be discovered based on the image. Since the discovery notification information shown is transmitted to the base station 3 via the transmission line, the vehicle to be discovered can be checked unattended, which is convenient.

Further, as described above with reference to FIG. 6, the checking functions of the respective traffic signal systems 1 are linked to each other, and when a vehicle or the like to be discovered is found by one traffic signal system 1, the traffic signal system is activated. Inspection information for specifying the vehicle or the like to be discovered is automatically transmitted from 1 to another traffic signal system 1 registered in advance so that the traffic signal system 1 in the vicinity automatically performs the check. Therefore, the traffic signal system 1 irrelevant to the escape route of the tracked vehicle or the like can perform the normal traffic monitoring process and efficiently and reliably track the tracked vehicle or the like. it can.

If a traffic violation or an accident is detected and the vehicle that has committed the traffic violation or the vehicle that has caused the accident escapes, the traffic signal system 1 that has detected the traffic violation or the accident detects the surrounding traffic beforehand. Inspection information for specifying the escaped vehicle or the like is transmitted to another registered traffic signal system 1 and the inspection is automatically started, so that the arrest of the offending vehicle and the like can be reliably performed.

Further, in order to image the traffic situation by the camera 13, it is preferable to image the road from a high viewpoint. According to the present embodiment, the traffic signal body 11 installed at a high place facing the road is preferred. Is provided in the signal display section 11b, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to provide a dedicated pole for camera installation or the like.

Further, since the monitoring unit 12 (especially, the monitoring processing unit 13) is attached to the traffic light main body 11, signals can be easily transmitted between the monitoring unit 12 and the traffic light main body 11.

Hereinafter, modified examples of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, the camera 13 is provided on the signal display portion 11b of the signal body 11, but the camera 13 is provided on any part of the signal body 11 located at a high place such as the pole 11a of the signal body 11. It may be. Alternatively, any object having a predetermined height facing the road, such as a pole for a road sign installed facing the road such as the intersection 23, a dedicated pole for installing a camera, a pedestrian bridge, a building, or the like, may be used. The camera 13 may be attached to the object.

Further, in the present embodiment, the number of the vehicle or the like is used as a feature for finding the vehicle or the like to be found in the check mode, but any feature that can be extracted based on the image of the camera 13 is used. Can be used for finding a vehicle to be discovered. Features in this case include, for example, the type of vehicle (the difference between a large car and a regular car,
For example, the difference between a truck and a passenger car) and the appearance color of a vehicle or the like can be considered.

Further, as another modified example, when an emergency vehicle (a police car, an ambulance, a fire engine, etc.) passes through the intersection 23 where the traffic light system 1 is installed, the arrival of the emergency vehicle based on the image of the camera 13 Signal so that the emergency vehicle can pass through the intersection smoothly.
The signal display of the signal display unit 11b may be controlled. As a method of distinguishing the emergency vehicle from other vehicles in this case, for example, the number of the emergency vehicle is registered in advance, the license plate of the vehicle is read from the image of the camera 13, and the read number and the registered number are registered in advance. If the emergency vehicle number matches the emergency vehicle number, the vehicle may be recognized as an emergency vehicle. Further, as a signal control method when the emergency vehicle passes through the intersection 23, for example, only the signal display of the intruding lane of the emergency vehicle at the intersection 23 is set to a green signal, and all other intruding lanes to the intersection 23 are used. A method of making the signal display of a red light signal can be considered. In this case, it is preferable that the communication unit 43f perform the signal control according to this modification.

[0079]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a camera provided with a zoom mechanism for optically changing an imaging magnification is used as a traffic monitoring camera. Since an image with a viewing angle can be obtained, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of cameras having different viewing angles in order to obtain images with a plurality of viewing angles unlike the related art, and cost can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the magnification change mechanism of the camera is automatically controlled in accordance with the occurrence of a predetermined event in the monitoring target, so that the imaging magnification is increased. In addition, it is possible to take a detailed image without missing an event that has occurred in the monitoring target.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the traffic amount of the moving object is automatically measured by the traffic amount detection means based on the image of the camera, so that the human being may not bother to measure the traffic volume. It is convenient because there is no need to measure.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a predetermined traffic violation of the moving object is automatically detected by the event detecting means based on the image of the camera, and the imaging magnification of the camera accompanying the occurrence of the traffic violation. Is increased, the image of the site at the time of the occurrence of the traffic violation can be captured in detail with a large imaging magnification, and this captured image can be effectively used for arresting traffic violations and the like.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a predetermined accident of the moving object is automatically detected by the event detecting means based on the moving condition of the moving object in the image of the camera, and the event is caused by the occurrence of the accident. The imaging magnification of the camera is set to be large, so that an image of the site at the time of the accident can be captured in detail with a large imaging magnification, and this captured image can be used effectively for post-processing of the accident. Can be.

According to the invention described in claim 6, the number attached to the license plate of the moving body that committed the traffic offense is automatically read by the number reading means based on the image of the camera. Therefore, it is possible to easily identify a moving body that has committed a traffic violation based on the number and perform arrest and the like.

According to the invention described in claim 7, the number attached to the license plate of the moving body in which the accident has occurred can be automatically read by the number reading means based on the image of the camera. Therefore, it is possible to easily identify the moving body in which the accident has occurred based on the number, and quickly perform post-processing of the accident.

According to the invention described in claim 8, the number reading means reads the number based on the image of the camera magnified by the magnification changing mechanism.
The number can be read reliably and accurately.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when the communication means has the first function, the information acquired by the traffic monitoring device, including the image of the camera, is transmitted to the outside via the transmission path. (A base station, etc.), and based on information acquired and transmitted by a traffic monitoring device installed at a remote location, the traffic condition from the position where the traffic monitoring device is actually installed is determined based on the acquired information. Monitoring can be performed.

Further, when the communication means has the second function, the imaging magnification of the camera can be remotely controlled, which is convenient.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, by providing the traffic monitoring device with feature information indicating the characteristics of the moving object to be discovered via the transmission path, the moving object to be discovered can be changed to the traffic monitoring device. When the moving object is detected by the camera, the moving object to be discovered is automatically detected by the moving object detecting means of the traffic monitoring device based on the image, and a discovery notification signal indicating that the moving object is detected is transmitted through the transmission path. Since it is transmitted through, it is possible to check the mobile object to be discovered unmanned,
It is convenient.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, whether or not a moving object is a target to be discovered is determined based on the number of a license plate. Can be.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable to image a road from a high viewpoint in order to image a traffic situation with a camera. Since it is provided on a signal display unit of a traffic light installed in a place or a pole supporting the signal display unit, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to provide a dedicated pole for camera installation or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a traffic monitoring system to which a camera-equipped traffic signal system (traffic monitoring device) according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a traffic light system with a camera.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a traffic light system with a camera.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state in which an intersection is imaged by a traffic light system with a camera.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an overall processing operation of the monitoring processing unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how a traffic monitoring system tracks a vehicle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 signal system with camera 3 base station 5 communication line 11 signal body 11b signal display unit 11c control device 11d communication device 12 monitoring unit 13 camera 13a zoom mechanism 15 monitoring processing unit 41 image memory 43 CPU 43a traffic volume measurement unit 43b violation detection unit 43c Number reading unit 43d Accident detection unit 43e Control unit 43f Communication unit 43g Switching processing unit 45, 47, 49 Interface

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G08G 1/017 H04N 7/18 F H04N 7/18 G06F 15/62 380

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A traffic monitoring device that monitors a monitoring target based on an image of a camera provided on a road, wherein the camera includes a zoom mechanism that optically changes an imaging magnification. A traffic monitoring device characterized by the following. 2. The traffic monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein, when a predetermined event occurs in the monitoring target, an event detection unit for detecting the event, and the camera in response to the event detection unit detecting the event. The traffic monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a magnification control unit configured to control the zooming mechanism to increase the imaging magnification. 3. The traffic monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising: a traffic amount measuring unit that measures a traffic amount of a moving object passing through the road based on the image of the camera. The traffic monitoring device as described. 4. The traffic monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the event detecting means detects a predetermined traffic violation of a moving object passing through the road as the event based on the image of the camera. apparatus. 5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the event detecting means recognizes a moving object from the image of the camera, and detects a predetermined accident as the event based on a moving state of the moving object. A traffic monitoring device according to item 1. 6. The event detecting means further includes a function of identifying the moving object that has committed the traffic violation detected as the event, and the traffic monitoring device is configured to execute the event based on the image of the camera. The traffic monitoring device according to claim 4, further comprising a number reading unit that reads a number attached to a license plate of the moving body specified by the detection unit. 7. The traffic detection device according to claim 7, wherein the event detection unit further includes a function of identifying the moving object having the accident detected as the event, wherein the traffic monitoring device detects the event based on the image of the camera. 6. The traffic monitoring device according to claim 5, further comprising a number reading unit that reads a number attached to a license plate of the moving body specified by the unit. 8. The traffic according to claim 6, wherein the number reading unit reads the number based on the image of the camera magnified by the zooming mechanism when the event occurs. Monitoring device. 9. The traffic monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising: a first function of transmitting information obtained by the traffic monitoring device, including the image of the camera, to the outside via a transmission path; And a communication unit having at least one of a second function for receiving control information for controlling the imaging magnification input from the controller and providing the control information to the zoom mechanism.
9. The traffic monitoring device according to any one of claims 8 to 8. 10. The traffic monitoring device, upon receiving characteristic information indicating a characteristic of a moving object to be discovered transmitted from the outside via a transmission path, moves in the image based on the image of the camera. Recognizing the body and sequentially reading the features of the moving body, and if the read features match the features indicated by the feature information, a discovery notification signal indicating that the moving body to be checked has been found is output. The traffic monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: a moving object detection unit that outputs the moving object to the outside via the transmission path. 11. The feature indicated by the feature information and the feature read by the moving body finding means based on the image are numbers attached to a license plate of the moving body. Item 11. The traffic monitoring device according to item 10. 12. The traffic monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the camera is provided on a signal display unit of a traffic light or a pole supporting the signal display unit.