JP2001309352A - Monitoring camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve monitoring efficiency by selectively switching camera images useful to monitoring. SOLUTION: This monitoring camera system is provided with a plurality of monitoring cameras 11 for imaging a monitored object, a switching means 13 connected to the cameras 11 through a transmission lines and for selectively switching and outputting optional video data with respect to video data inputted by the respective cameras 11, a displaying means 14 for displaying the video data outputted from the means 13, an image processing means 17 connected to the plurality of the cameras 11 and for performing image processing of the video data by the respective cameras 11, and a switch controlling means 18 for controlling the means 13 so as to switch the video data outputted from the means 13 on the basis of processing results of the means 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a surveillance camera system, and more particularly to output control of video data acquired by a surveillance camera to a monitor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a surveillance camera system, a plurality of surveillance locations are centrally monitored at a center. Therefore, in many cases, a smaller number of monitors than cameras are installed due to the location of the monitors and costs. A plurality of monitoring locations are monitored by providing a video switch in front of the input of the monitor and switching camera images displayed on the monitor. The conventional surveillance camera system was configured as shown in FIG. N surveillance cameras 811 to 8
1N (camera 1 to camera N in the figure) was controlled by a camera control unit 86 such as turning and zooming according to an instruction from an operation unit 85 installed at the center. Also,
The N surveillance cameras 811 to 81N have video output terminals connected to a video switch 83 (VSW), and display video data of the surveillance camera 81 selected by the video switch 83 on a monitor 84. Was. The timer 82 counts a certain time, and the time information of the certain time is input to the video switch 83, and the time information is used as a trigger to switch the video switch 83. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a switching operation of a monitor image in the conventional monitoring camera system. That is, it is detected that time information indicating that a predetermined time has elapsed is inputted from the timer 82 (step 91), and when the time information is inputted, the video switch 8 is inputted.
3 is switched to display another camera image on the monitor 84 (step 92). As described above, in the conventional surveillance camera system, the video switch 83 is sequentially switched in the order of the cameras 811 → 812 →... . The operator of the center carries out monitoring work by watching camera images automatically switched at regular time intervals.

[0003]

However, in the conventional surveillance camera system, all camera images are always switched at predetermined time intervals, so that the traffic amount is large and an abnormal situation such as an accident occurs. Camera images at monitoring locations with a high probability of occurrence and camera images at monitoring locations with a low probability of an accident such as an accident occurring due to a small amount of traffic are switched at the same time interval, allowing the detection of abnormal situations such as an accident. There was a problem that was delayed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a surveillance camera system that solves the above-mentioned problems of the related art and that enhances surveillance efficiency by selectively switching camera images useful for surveillance and displaying them on a display unit.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a surveillance camera system according to the present invention, wherein a plurality of surveillance cameras for capturing an image of a surveillance object are connected to the surveillance cameras via a transmission line, and each surveillance camera is provided with a plurality of surveillance cameras. A surveillance camera system comprising: switching means for selectively switching and outputting arbitrary video data in response to input of video data by a camera; and display means for displaying video data output from the switching means,
An image processing unit connected to the plurality of monitoring cameras and performing image processing on video data from the monitoring cameras; and a switching unit configured to switch video data output from the switching unit based on a processing result of the image processing unit. Switching control means for controlling the According to this surveillance camera system, video data to be displayed on the display means is switched based on the result of image processing of video data by each surveillance camera. Therefore, it is possible to increase the monitoring efficiency by selectively switching camera images useful for monitoring based on image processing and displaying the images on the display unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a surveillance camera system according to the present invention, wherein a plurality of surveillance cameras for capturing an image of a road to be monitored are connected to the surveillance cameras via a transmission path, and video data from each of the surveillance cameras is provided. A surveillance camera system comprising: a switching unit for selectively switching and outputting arbitrary video data with respect to an input of; and a display unit for displaying video data output from the switching unit. An image processing unit that is connected to the surveillance camera and performs image processing on the video data from each surveillance camera to obtain a traffic amount; and switches the image data output from the switching unit based on the traffic amount obtained by the image processing unit. Switching control means for controlling the switching means. According to this surveillance camera system, the video data to be displayed on the display unit is switched based on the traffic amount obtained by performing image processing on the video data from each surveillance camera. Therefore, it is possible to increase the monitoring efficiency by selectively switching the camera image useful for monitoring based on the traffic volume obtained by the image processing and displaying the camera image on the display means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a surveillance camera system according to the present invention, wherein a plurality of surveillance cameras for capturing an image of a road to be monitored are connected to the surveillance cameras via a transmission path, and video data from each of the surveillance cameras is provided. A surveillance camera system comprising: a switching unit for selectively switching and outputting arbitrary video data with respect to an input of; and a display unit for displaying video data output from the switching unit. An image processing means connected to the surveillance camera for image processing of video data from each surveillance camera to obtain a traffic amount, and a video data output from the switching means for a time interval corresponding to the traffic amount obtained by the image processing means. Switching control means for controlling the switching means so as to switch over.
According to this surveillance camera system, the video data to be displayed on the display means is switched at time intervals according to the traffic volume obtained by performing image processing on the video data from the respective surveillance cameras. Therefore, it is possible to increase the monitoring efficiency by selectively switching camera images useful for monitoring and displaying them on the display means at a rate corresponding to the traffic volume obtained by image processing.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a surveillance camera system according to the present invention, wherein a plurality of surveillance cameras for capturing an image of a facility to be monitored are connected to the surveillance cameras via a transmission line, and video data from each of the surveillance cameras is provided. A surveillance camera system comprising: a switching unit for selectively switching and outputting arbitrary video data with respect to an input of; and a display unit for displaying video data output from the switching unit. An image processing unit connected to the surveillance camera and performing image processing on video data from each surveillance camera to obtain a traffic amount of a person or a vehicle; and an image output from the switching unit based on the traffic amount obtained by the image processing unit. Switching control means for controlling the switching means to switch data. According to this surveillance camera system, the video data to be displayed on the display unit is switched based on the traffic amount obtained by performing image processing on the video data of each surveillance camera. Therefore, it is possible to increase the monitoring efficiency by selectively switching the camera image useful for monitoring based on the traffic amount obtained by the image processing and displaying the camera image on the display means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote camera system according to the present invention, wherein a plurality of monitoring cameras for capturing an image of a monitoring target are connected to the monitoring cameras via a transmission path, and input of video data by each monitoring camera. A surveillance camera system comprising: switching means for selectively switching arbitrary video data to and outputting the video data; and display means for displaying video data output from the switching means. Provided in pairs, observation means for acquiring telemetry information of the observation target, based on the processing results of the observation means,
Switching control means for controlling the switching means so as to switch the video data to be output from the switching means to the video data of the surveillance camera forming a pair. According to this surveillance camera system, video data to be displayed on the display means is switched based on telemeter information from observation means forming a pair with each surveillance camera. Therefore, it is possible to increase the monitoring efficiency by selectively switching camera images useful for monitoring based on the telemeter information and displaying them on the display means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote camera system according to the present invention, wherein a plurality of surveillance cameras for capturing an image of an object to be monitored are connected to the surveillance cameras via a transmission line, and video data is input by each of the surveillance cameras. A surveillance camera system comprising: switching means for selectively switching arbitrary video data to and outputting the video data; and display means for displaying video data output from the switching means. Observing means provided in a pair, for acquiring telemetry information of an observation target, and switching the video data to be output from the switching means to video data of the monitoring camera to be paired according to the observation interval of the observing means. Switching control means for controlling the switching means. According to this surveillance camera system, video data to be displayed on the display means is switched based on the observation interval of the observation means forming a pair with each surveillance camera. Therefore, it is possible to increase the monitoring efficiency by selectively switching the camera image useful for monitoring based on the observation interval of the observation means and displaying it on the display means.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a surveillance camera system according to the present invention will be described below. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a surveillance camera system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. N surveillance cameras 1
11 to 11N (camera 1 to camera N in FIG. 1) are installed at a monitoring location such as a road, and the monitoring location is controlled by the camera control unit 16 according to an instruction from an operation unit 15 installed at a remote center. Camera control such as turning and zooming is performed. In addition, these N surveillance cameras 111 to 11N
The video output terminal is a video switch 13 as switching means.
(VSW) and this video switch 1
The video data of the surveillance camera 11 selected in 3 is displayed on the monitor 14 as display means. The video output terminals of the N surveillance cameras 111 to 11N are also connected to an image processing unit 17 as image processing means.
The traffic volume such as the number of vehicles passing through a road is obtained by a predetermined image processing algorithm for N video data captured by each of the monitoring cameras (111 to 11N). The video switch control unit 18 as a switching control unit determines the monitoring camera 11 at the monitoring location with the highest traffic volume from the traffic volume for each of the N pieces of video data obtained by the image processing unit 17, and determines this monitoring camera. The video switch 13 is switched so that the video data of No. 11 is output.

Next, the switching operation of the monitor image in the surveillance camera system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, video data obtained by capturing an image of a monitoring place by each of the monitoring cameras 111 to 11N is input to the image processing unit 17 and the video switch 13 (step 21). Then, the image processing unit 17 obtains a traffic volume such as the number of vehicles passing through the road for each of the N pieces of video data (step 2).
2). The video switch control unit 18 includes the image processing unit 17
The surveillance camera 11 installed in the surveillance place where the traffic volume is the largest is determined by comparing the traffic volumes obtained in (2).
3). The video switch 13 switches the video transmission path so as to output the video data of the monitoring camera 11 determined by the video switch control unit 18 (step 2).
4). By repeatedly performing the steps 21 to 24, the video data of the monitoring place where the traffic volume is large is always displayed on the monitor 14. Therefore, according to the surveillance camera system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the video data to be displayed on the monitor 14 is switched based on the result of image processing of the video data by each surveillance camera 11, so that the image processing The monitoring efficiency can be increased by selectively switching the camera image useful for monitoring based on the information and displaying the selected image on the monitor 14.

(Second Embodiment) Hereinafter, a surveillance camera system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The system configuration is the same as that of FIG. 1, but the switching operation of the monitor image by the video switch 13 is different. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, video data obtained by capturing an image of a monitoring place by each of the monitoring cameras 111 to 11N is input to the image processing unit 17 and the video switch 13 (step 31). Then, the image processing unit 17 obtains a traffic volume such as the number of vehicles passing through the road for each of the N pieces of video data (step 3).
2). The video switch control unit 18 includes the image processing unit 17
Then, the monitoring times of the N surveillance cameras are determined at a ratio corresponding to the traffic amount (step 33). For example, as shown in FIG.
The number of vehicles passing on the road (traffic volume) obtained by image processing from the video data of 2,.
..., 20 cameras, 111, 11
,..., And 20 seconds are displayed on the monitor 14, respectively. This monitoring time is a time interval at which the video switch 13 is switched, and the video switch 1 is switched at this time interval.
The automatic switching is performed according to 3 (step 34). Step 3
When monitoring is performed at the monitoring time determined in step 3 (branch to N in step 35), the processing is repeated from step 34. If the monitoring time is to be changed as needed (branch to Y in step 35), the processing is repeated from step 31.

Therefore, according to the surveillance camera system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, each surveillance camera 1
Since the video data to be displayed on the monitor 14 is switched at a time interval corresponding to the traffic volume obtained by performing image processing on the video data obtained by the first image processing, a camera useful for monitoring is provided at a rate corresponding to the traffic volume obtained by performing image processing. By selectively switching the video and displaying it on the monitor 14, it is possible to increase the monitoring efficiency.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows a surveillance camera system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The N surveillance cameras 511 to 51N (cameras 1 to N in FIG. 5) are installed at a monitoring place such as a road, and the monitoring place is designated by an instruction from an operation unit 55 installed at a remote center. Camera control such as turning and zooming is performed by the camera control unit 56. Also, these N surveillance cameras 511 to 511
The video output terminal 51N has a video output terminal connected to a video switch 53 (VSW) as switching means.
The video data of the surveillance camera 51 selected by the switch 53 is displayed on a monitor 54 as display means. On the other hand, telemeter devices 521 to 52N (telemeters 1 to N in FIG. 5) as observation means are monitoring cameras 51.
It is installed in pairs with 1 to 51N and acquires telemeter information such as rainfall and wind speed. The telemeter devices 521 to 521
In 52N, a telemeter control such as setting of an observation interval is performed by a telemeter control unit 59 in accordance with an instruction from an operation unit 55 installed at a remote center. The telemeter information output terminals of the N telemeter devices 521 to 52N are connected to a telemeter information collecting unit 57, and the telemeter information collecting unit 57 collects the telemeter information obtained by each of the telemeter devices (521 to 52N).

A video switch control section 58 as switching control means determines telemeter information which is considered to be the most dangerous and needs to be monitored from the N pieces of telemeter information compiled by the telemeter information collecting section 57. The video switch 53 is switched so that the video data of the monitoring camera 51 paired with the telemeter device 52 that has acquired the telemeter information is output. Next, a switching operation of a monitor image in the surveillance camera system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. First, telemeter information such as rainfall and wind speed is obtained by each of the telemeter devices 521 to 52N, and is input to the telemeter information collection unit 57 (step 61). Then, in the telemeter information collecting unit 57, the N pieces of telemeter information are totaled, and it is determined whether the rainfall, the wind speed, or the like does not exceed the warning value, or the amount of change from the telemetry information acquired in the past (for example). Step 62). The video switch control unit 58 is determined to be alarming telemeter information by the counting process of the telemeter information collecting unit 57, and determines the monitoring camera 51 that is paired with the telemeter device 52 that has acquired the telemeter information (step 63).

The video switch 53 switches the video transmission path so as to output the video data of the monitoring camera 51 determined by the video switch control section 58 (step 64). By repeating steps 61 to 64,
The video data of the monitoring place to be watched is displayed on the monitor 64. Therefore, according to the surveillance camera system according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the video data to be displayed on the monitor 54 is switched based on the telemeter information by the telemeter device 52 that is a pair of each surveillance camera 51. By selectively switching camera images useful for monitoring based on the telemeter information and displaying them on the monitor 54, the monitoring efficiency can be increased.

(Fourth Embodiment) Hereinafter, a surveillance camera system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The system configuration is the same as that of FIG. 5, but the switching operation of the monitor image by the video switch 53 is different. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, telemeter information such as rainfall and wind speed is obtained by each of the telemeter devices 521 to 52N, and is input to the telemeter information collection unit 57 (step 71). Then, in the telemeter information collecting unit 57, the N pieces of telemeter information are totaled, and it is determined whether the rainfall, the wind speed, or the like does not exceed the warning value, or the amount of change from the telemetry information acquired in the past (for example). Step 72). When the amount of rainfall, wind speed, etc., exceeds a warning value or when there is a sudden change in telemeter information, it is necessary to shorten the observation interval by the telemeter device 52 to acquire more detailed telemeter information. Conversely, in normal times, it is better not to make the observation interval very small. Therefore, as a result of the aggregation processing in step 72, when it is necessary to change the observation interval among the N telemeter devices 521 to 52N (branch to Y in step 73), the monitoring camera to be paired accordingly The monitoring time is changed by 51 (step 74). This monitoring time is a time interval for switching the video switch 53, and the video switch 53 performs automatic switching at the changed time interval under the control of the video switch control unit 58 (step 75). When monitoring is performed with the monitoring time changed in step 74 (branch to N in step 76).
The process is repeated from step 74. If the monitoring time is to be changed as needed (branch to Y in step 76).
The process is repeated from step 71. Step 7
In 3, if it is not necessary to change the observation interval for any of the N telemeter devices 521 to 52N (branch to N in step 73), the processing is repeated from step 71.

Therefore, according to the surveillance camera system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, each surveillance camera 5
Since the video data to be displayed on the monitor 54 is switched based on the observation interval of the telemeter device 52 that is a pair, a camera image useful for monitoring based on the observation interval of the telemeter device 52 is selectively switched and displayed on the monitor 54. By doing so, it is possible to increase the monitoring efficiency.
The first to fourth embodiments of the surveillance camera system of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in the first embodiment, the image processing unit 17 switches the video switch 13 based on the traffic volume on the road. However, in monitoring a facility such as a plant, the image processing unit 17 controls a person or a vehicle. Incoming / outgoing may be detected, and the video switch 13 may be switched based on the detection result.

[0019]

As described above in detail, according to the surveillance camera system of the present invention, the surveillance efficiency can be increased by selectively switching camera images useful for surveillance and displaying them on the display means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a monitoring camera system according to first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a VSW video switching method according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is another video switching method of the VSW according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a relationship between traffic volume and monitoring time according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a monitoring camera system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a VSW video switching method according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows another video switching method of the VSW according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a conventional surveillance camera system.

FIG. 9 shows a VSW video switching method in a conventional surveillance camera system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 (111-11N) Surveillance camera (1-N) 13 Video switch 14 Monitor 15 Operation unit 16 Camera control unit 17 Image processing unit 18 Video switch control unit 57 Telemeter information collection unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of surveillance cameras for capturing an image of a surveillance object, connected to the surveillance cameras via a transmission line, and selectively switching arbitrary video data in response to video data input by each surveillance camera. A surveillance camera system comprising: a switching unit for outputting the video data and a display unit for displaying the video data output from the switching unit. A surveillance camera system comprising: an image processing unit for processing; and a switching control unit for controlling the switching unit to switch video data output from the switching unit based on a processing result of the image processing unit. . 2. A plurality of surveillance cameras for capturing an image of a road to be monitored, connected to the surveillance cameras via a transmission line, and selectively selecting arbitrary video data in response to input of video data by each surveillance camera. A surveillance camera system comprising: a switching unit for switching and outputting the video data; and a display unit for displaying video data output from the switching unit. Image processing means for image processing to obtain a traffic volume, and switching control means for controlling the switching means to switch video data output from the switching means based on the traffic volume obtained by the image processing means. A surveillance camera system characterized in that: 3. A plurality of surveillance cameras for imaging a road to be monitored, connected to the surveillance cameras via a transmission path, and selectively inputting arbitrary video data in response to input of video data by each of the surveillance cameras. A surveillance camera system comprising: a switching unit for switching and outputting the video data; and a display unit for displaying video data output from the switching unit. Image processing means for obtaining a traffic volume by image processing of the image processing means; and switching control means for controlling the switching means so as to switch video data output from the switching means at time intervals corresponding to the traffic volume obtained by the image processing means. A surveillance camera system comprising: 4. A plurality of surveillance cameras for imaging a facility to be monitored, connected to the surveillance cameras via a transmission line, and selectively inputting arbitrary video data in response to video data input by each of the surveillance cameras. A surveillance camera system comprising: a switching unit for switching and outputting the video data; and a display unit for displaying video data output from the switching unit. Image processing means for performing image processing to obtain a traffic amount of a person or a vehicle, and switching control for controlling the switching means to switch video data output from the switching means based on the traffic amount obtained by the image processing means. A surveillance camera system comprising: 5. A plurality of surveillance cameras for capturing an image of a surveillance object, connected to the surveillance cameras via a transmission line, and selectively switching arbitrary video data in response to video data input by each surveillance camera. A surveillance camera system, comprising: a switching unit for outputting telemetry data; and a display unit for displaying video data output from the switching unit. The surveillance camera system is provided in pairs with the plurality of surveillance cameras, and acquires telemeter information of an observation target. And switching control means for controlling the switching means to switch the video data output from the switching means to the video data of the monitoring camera to be paired based on the processing result of the observation means. A surveillance camera system characterized in that: 6. A plurality of surveillance cameras for capturing an image of a surveillance object, connected to the surveillance cameras via a transmission line, and selectively switching arbitrary video data in response to video data input by each surveillance camera. A surveillance camera system, comprising: a switching unit for outputting telemetry data; and a display unit for displaying video data output from the switching unit. The surveillance camera system is provided in pairs with the plurality of surveillance cameras, and acquires telemeter information of an observation target. And switching control means for controlling the switching means to switch the video data to be output from the switching means to the video data of the monitoring camera to be paired in accordance with the observation interval of the observation means. A surveillance camera system characterized in that: