JP2002009868A - Information transmission system, information managing device and setting information distribution method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technology for facilitating setting of an information transmitting device and a technology for effectively using set information. SOLUTION: Terminal equipment 30 for setting input transmits basic set information inputted by an operator to an information managing device 20. The information managing device 20 receives basic set information transmitted from terminal equipment 30 for setting input and generates set information on a picture sound transmitting device 10 (remote picture monitoring device 10A) based on received basic set information. Thus, a setting of the picture sound transmitting device 10 is performed. The information managing device 20 stores at least a part of received basic set information and uses it as maintenance information or marketing information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technology for distributing setting information of various terminal devices in an information transmission system for transmitting predetermined information such as an image and / or a sound via a communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is an image / audio transmission system for transmitting predetermined information such as image and / or audio via a communication line. As such an image and sound transmission system,
For example, there is a remote image monitoring system for transmitting image information of a remote place captured by a monitoring camera.

In such a system, the setting of a video / audio transmitting device (for example, a remote image monitoring device (surveillance camera)) which is a remote terminal connected via a communication line (network) is performed by a setting input connected to the communication line. This is performed by the terminal device. In this setting work, it is necessary to perform various settings (setting of an IP address, other initial settings, and the like) relating to the image and sound transmission device, and also to perform settings of the setting input terminal device (operation terminal device) itself. There is. Such work is performed by a user or an administrator for each device.

[0004]

However, as described above, it is necessary for the user or the administrator to perform the setting operation relating to the image and sound transmitting device for each device, but these setting operations are very troublesome. There's a problem.

[0005] The information from the terminal device for setting input is:
There is also a problem that the information is not easily utilized because the information is registered with the image / voice transmission device.

Further, these problems are not limited to the setting work relating to the image and voice transmitting apparatus, but generally exist in the setting work of various terminal devices in an information transmission system for transmitting predetermined information via a communication line. It is.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a technique capable of facilitating the setting work of various terminal devices in an information transmission system for transmitting predetermined information via a communication line. A second object is to provide a technique capable of effectively utilizing obtained setting information.

[0008]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information transmission system for transmitting predetermined information via a communication line, wherein the information is set by a predetermined setting operation. An information transmitting device that operates in accordance with the setting information and transmits predetermined information, an information management device that manages the setting information, and a setting input terminal device that inputs setting basic information on which the setting information is created. , Provided as a connection element of the communication line, the setting input terminal device receives an input related to the setting basic information, and transmits the received setting basic information to the information management device via the communication line. Then, the information management device receives the setting basic information transmitted from the setting input terminal device via the communication line, and based on the received setting basic information. By generating the serial setting information, and performs the pre-setting operation with respect to the information transmission apparatus via the communication line.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information transmission system according to the first aspect, the setting information is generated as information to which information not included in the setting basic information is added. I do.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information transmission system according to the first aspect, the setting input terminal device displays a setting input screen based on data transmitted from the information management device. The basic setting information is input using the setting input screen.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information transmission system according to any one of the first to third aspects, the setting input terminal device also serves as an operation terminal device for the information transmitting device. , The operation terminal device,
The predetermined information is received from the information transmitting device via the communication line according to the setting information set by a previous setting operation, and the setting basic information is a basis for creating the setting information regarding the operation terminal device. Information, the information management device performs the preset setting operation on the operation terminal device via the communication line by generating the setting information on the operation terminal device based on the setting basic information. It is characterized by the following.

[0012] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the information transmission system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the information management device is provided for a separate server connected to the communication line. The apparatus is characterized in that setting information on the information transmitting device is transmitted via the communication line.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the information transmission system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the information management device includes at least one item of the received setting basic information. It has a storage unit for storing related information.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the information transmission system according to the sixth aspect, the information management device is configured to control the information transmitting device or the setting input device based on information stored in the storage unit. The setting operation for the terminal device is performed again via the communication line.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the information transmission system according to the sixth aspect, the information management device is configured to control the information transmitting device or the setting input device based on information stored in the storage unit. Software upgrade processing in the terminal device is performed via the communication line.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the information transmission system according to the sixth aspect, the information stored in the storage unit is analyzed according to a predetermined analysis procedure.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the information transmission system according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the information transmission device captures an image of a remote place and transmits the image. It is characterized by being.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information management device in an information transmission system in which a plurality of terminal devices are connected to each other via a communication line to transmit predetermined information. The setting basic information input in the second terminal device among the plurality of terminal devices as information on which the setting information used for the pre-setting operation relating to the first terminal device is created, An information receiving unit that receives the information via the first terminal device based on the setting basic information received by the information receiving unit; and the first terminal based on the setting information. A setting operation unit that performs the preset setting operation on the device via the communication line.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the information management apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, a storage unit for storing information relating to at least one item of the received setting basic information is further provided. It is characterized by.

Further, according to the invention, a plurality of terminal devices are connected to each other via a communication line, and are used for a preset setting operation for at least one terminal device in an information transmission system for transmitting predetermined information. A setting information distribution method for distributing setting information, wherein (a) the plurality of terminal devices as the base information for creating setting information used in a pre-setting operation for a first terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices, Transmitting the basic setting information input in the second terminal device among the terminal devices to the information management device via the communication line; and (b) transmitting the information management device via the communication line. Generating the setting information on the first terminal device based on the setting basic information received by the first terminal device. The operation is the information management apparatus characterized by comprising the steps of: performing via the communication line.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the setting information distribution method according to the thirteenth aspect, the setting information is generated as information to which information not included in the setting basic information is added. And

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the setting information distribution method according to the thirteenth or fourteenth aspect, the setting basic information is based on data transmitted from the information management device. The information is input using a setting input screen displayed on the terminal device.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the setting information distribution method according to any one of the thirteenth to fifteenth aspects, the setting basic information is used for a preset setting operation for the second terminal device. The setting information distribution method further includes (c) the second setting information based on the setting basic information received by the information management device via the communication line. Generating the setting information related to the terminal device, and performing the setting operation for the second terminal device in advance by the information management device via the communication line.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in the setting information distribution method according to any one of the thirteenth to sixteenth aspects, (d) the information management device is a separate server connected to the communication line. And distributing setting information relating to the first terminal device.

[0025]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS <A. Configuration> In the following, an image and / or
Alternatively, a case will be described as an example of the image / audio transmission system 1 that transmits audio via a communication line.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the video / audio transmission system 1.

The video / audio transmission system 1 includes a video / audio transmission device 10 for transmitting video and / or voice, an information management device 20 for managing basic setting information (described later) related to the video / audio transmission device 10, A setting input terminal device 30 for inputting basic information. "Image"
May be either a still image or a moving image.

[0028] Video / audio transmission device 10, information management device 2
0 and the setting input terminal device 30 are connection elements of a communication line network (also simply called a communication line) N, and these devices are connected to each other via the communication line network N.
Each of these devices 10, 20, 30 is a plurality of terminal devices connected to a communication network N, and communication of electronic information can be performed between these devices via the communication network N. it can. This communication line network (network) N
Is a communication network capable of transmitting and receiving bidirectional information represented by the Internet, and includes various networks such as a LAN, a WAN, and a cable television. In addition, the connection form of each of the terminal devices 10, 20, 30 to the network is not limited to whether it is a permanent connection or a temporary connection, and it does not matter whether it is a wireless connection or a wired connection.

In the following, the image / voice transmitting apparatus 10 will be described.
A case will be described in which a remote image monitoring device 10A that captures an image of a remote place and transmits it to an operation terminal device or the like is used. The remote image monitoring device 10A is a device that captures an image for monitoring the state of a remote place. Some of these remote image monitoring devices include operations such as panning, tilting, and zooming related to a monitoring camera through a communication line. Some can be performed by remote control via N. Here, the setting input terminal device 30 is connected to the remote image monitoring device 10.
It also has a function as an operation terminal device that sends a remote operation command to the remote image monitoring device 10A while receiving the image from A. That is, it is assumed that the setting input terminal device 30 also serves as an operation terminal device and an information receiving terminal device for the remote monitoring device 10A.

The remote image monitoring apparatus 10A has a monitoring camera 11 and a main body 12, and the main body 12 has a function of connecting to a communication line N and transmitting / receiving data via the communication line N. Accordingly, it is possible to transmit a captured image captured by the monitoring camera 11 to the operation terminal device (here, the setting input terminal device 30) via the communication line N. This remote image monitoring device 10A
Operates according to the setting information set by a preset setting operation (including an initial setting operation or a second initial setting operation). As will be described later, according to the remote image monitoring device 10A of this embodiment, the setting operation can be facilitated.

The information management device 20 is constituted by a computer system (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a "computer"), and uses the setting basic information input by the setting input terminal device 30 to the remote image monitoring device 10A and the like. It has a function of performing a setting operation via the communication line N and a function of managing various setting information related to the remote image monitoring device 10A, and may be referred to as an “information server” that manages various information. it can. Here, “setting basic information” is information on which the setting information for the remote image monitoring device 10A is created. The information management device 20 generates setting information for the remote image monitoring device 10A based on the basic setting information, thereby performing a setting operation for the remote image monitoring device 10A in advance via a communication line.

As shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 2, the information management device 20 includes an information receiving unit 22 for receiving the setting basic information transmitted from the setting input terminal device 30 via the communication line N, The setting operation for the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A is performed based on the received basic setting information by the communication line N.
And a setting operation unit 23 that is performed via the. In addition, the information management device 20 further includes a storage unit 21 that stores information (at least a part of information) related to at least one item of the received setting basic information. As will be described later, the setting operation of the remote image monitoring device 10 </ b> A is performed by the information management device 20.
Is automatically performed based on the basic setting information input in.

The setting input terminal device 30 has a function of receiving an input relating to basic setting information relating to the remote image monitoring device 10A and transmitting the basic setting information to the information management device 20 via the communication line N. Here, it is assumed that the setting input terminal device 30 is constituted by a computer similarly to the information management device 20, but as will be described later, the setting input terminal device 30 is not necessarily an advanced information such as a computer. A mobile phone or the like that does not need to have a processing function and can be connected to the communication line N may be used.

Further, a separate public Web server 40 is connected to the communication network N. The server 40 is configured by a computer and has a function as a WWW (World Wide Web) server on the Internet. As will be described later, this public W
When an image (video) distribution service is performed using the eb server 40, the setting operation can be made more efficient. The server 40 is also one of the terminal devices connected to the communication network N.

<B. Operation><BasicOperation> Next, a setting operation for the remote image monitoring device 10A or the like in the image / audio transmission system 1, more specifically, is generated based on the setting basic information input in the setting input terminal device 30. The operation of distributing setting information will be described.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation. Hereinafter, the operation of the video / audio transmission system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, in step SP11 of FIG.
The setting input terminal device 30 accesses the information management device 20, and the setting input terminal device 30 displays the setting input screen G1 (FIG. 4).

Specifically, an address indicating a predetermined homepage of the information management device (information server) 20 is registered in advance in the setting input terminal device 30, and the information management device 20 is used by using the registered address. You can call a predetermined homepage in the homepage. Further, this home page includes link information to a setting input screen (registration screen) G1 for setting the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A, and this setting input is performed by a predetermined operation (for example, a selection operation using a mouse). The data of the screen G1 can be requested (arrow AR1 in FIG. 1). Information management device 2
0 transmits data for the setting input screen G1 to the setting input terminal device 30 in response to this request. And
The setting input terminal device 30 can display the setting input screen G1 based on the data (arrow AR2 in FIG. 1) transmitted from the information management device 20. For example, in response to a request from the setting input terminal device 30, the information management device 20 transmits data described in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) to the setting input terminal device 30, The device 30 has a predetermined HTM
By using the L data display software (Web browser), a setting input screen G1 based on the received data described in HTML can be displayed on the display unit (display).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the setting input screen G1. The setting input screen G1 includes "connection setting", "device serial number", "user name", "password", "contact", "image quality", "viewing setting", "connection time limit", and Each input item of "image destination" is shown.

The “connection setting” is information on a method of setting a connection between the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A and the communication network N (whether the IP address is automatically set or manually set). The “device serial number” is the serial number of the remote image monitoring device 10A. The “user name” is the name of the operator, the “contact” is the telephone number of the contact of the operator, and the “password (password)”
Is a symbol (such as alphanumeric characters) for authenticating the operator. When the remote image monitoring device 10A can be accessed from an unspecified number of setting input terminal devices 30, it is possible to perform authentication using a user name and a password. Further, “image quality” is information indicating the quality of an image transmitted and transmitted from the remote image monitoring device 10A,
The “viewing setting” is information on a method of viewing the image, the “connection expiration” is information on a connectable period, and the “image posting destination” is information on an address of a server in which these images are stored. .

In the next step SP12, basic setting information is input according to a plurality of input items displayed on the setting input screen G1 of the setting input terminal device 30, and the input basic setting information is transmitted to the communication line N. Is transmitted from the terminal device 30 for setting input to the information management device 20 via the. Then, in the information management device 20, the transmitted setting basic information is received.

More specifically, after information about each item displayed on the setting input screen G1 (FIG. 4) of the setting input terminal device 30 is input by the operator, the "transmission" displayed at the bottom is displayed. Button BN is pressed (more specifically, the mouse button is clicked while the mouse pointer is on the "send" button BN).
Setting basic information including information on these items is transmitted from the setting input terminal device 30 to the information management device 20 via the communication network N (arrow AR3 in FIG. 1).

The setting basic information includes a plurality of items, and the plurality of items can be classified into the following four types (A, B, C, and D) (however, some items are not included). It may be classified into multiple types.) First, the first type A item is the remote image monitoring device 1.
This item is used when generating 0A setting information,
For example, items related to “connection setting” and “image quality” are included. Next, the second type B item is the information management device 20.
The items related to the setting information stored in, for example, include items related to “equipment serial number”, “user name”, “contact information”, “browsing setting”, and “connection time limit”. The third type C item is an item used when generating setting information of the setting input terminal device 30, and includes, for example, items related to “browsing setting” and “connection time limit”. Furthermore, the item of the fourth type D is an item related to the server 40, for example, an item relating to “image posting destination” which is an address of a server (that is, server 40) that posts a captured image in the remote image monitoring device 10A. including.

After step SP13, the setting information is transmitted to the devices 10, 20, 30, and 40 based on the setting basic information including the items of the types A, B, C, and D.

First, in step SP13, setting information generated based on the first type A item including information relating to "connection setting" and "image quality" is transmitted to the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A ( Arrow AR4 in FIG. 1),
The setting operation for the remote image monitoring device 10A is performed on the communication line N
Done through.

Specifically, the setting operation is performed in the following procedure. However, here, the remote image monitoring device 10A
Is described as having not been connected to the communication network N yet. It is also assumed that an address indicating a predetermined homepage of the information management device (information server) 20 is registered in the remote image monitoring device 10A in advance.

When the remote image monitoring device 10A accesses the information management device 20 which also functions as a connection server in order to start a connection to the communication network N, the information management device 20 transmits the "device" of the remote image monitoring device 10A. After identifying the "serial number", an IP address (Internet Protocol Address) is requested in response to a request from the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A.
Automatically assigns the remote image monitoring device 10
Make settings related to A's network. For example, the information management device 20 selects one IP address (199. □□□ .456.
Xxxx) can be assigned to the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A. That is, the information management device 20 is connected to the client (here, the remote image monitoring device 10).
A) DHC that automatically assigns an IP address to
It also functions as a P (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server.

The IP address assigned to the remote image monitoring device 10A is setting information used for the setting operation of the remote image monitoring device 10A. As described above, the setting information relating to the remote image monitoring device 10A is transmitted to the setting input terminal device 3.
Information not included in the basic setting information transmitted from 0 may be generated as information to which information is added.

Further, the information management apparatus 20 not only automatically assigns an IP address to the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A, but also transmits the information relating to the “connection setting” and “image quality” to the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A. Send to. That is, the setting operation of the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A is performed using these pieces of information as the setting information. The information management device 20 also sets basic information (for example, information indicating that “image quality” is high image quality) related to the remote image monitoring device 10A.
May be transmitted as it is to the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A as setting information, or may be transmitted with modification. For example, when the “image quality” is high image quality, the information management device 20 determines in advance each value according to the “high image quality” setting for the image compression ratio and the image size (size) at the time of transmission. In advance, each value corresponding to the setting of high image quality may be set in the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A. In this case, the “image compression ratio”, “image size”, and the like are transmitted as “setting information”.

In the above, the information management device 20 as an information server also functions as a DHCP server (connection server) when connecting the remote image monitoring device 10A as a client to the communication network N. As described above, the DH provided separately from the information management device 20
Even in the case of connecting to the communication network N using the CP server, the remote image monitoring device 10
A setting operation can be performed. Specifically, when the remote image monitoring device 10A accesses the information management device 20 via the DHCP server,
The server assigns an IP address to the remote image monitoring device 10A, and transmits information including the assigned IP address and device serial number to the information management device 20. And the information management device 2 that has received it
0 indicates the device to be set using the device serial number, and then sets the remote image monitoring device 10 through the DHCP server.
Setting information such as image quality related to the remote image monitoring device 10A
To be sent to Thus, the information management device 20
After recognizing the remote image monitoring device 10A, it is possible to establish a connection between them and perform the setting operation of the remote image monitoring device 10A.

In step SP14, the setting information generated based on the third type C item including the information on the “viewing setting” and the “connection time limit” is transmitted to the setting input terminal device 30 ( Reply) (arrow AR5 in FIG. 1). As described above, the setting input terminal device 30
Also serves as an operation terminal device for the remote image monitoring device 10A, and receives information such as images from the remote image monitoring device 10A via the communication line N according to the setting information set by the setting operation in advance.

Here, the higher order basic information includes:
Information on which setting information relating to the operation terminal device (setting input terminal device 30) is created is included. That is, the information is related to “browsing settings” and “connection time limit”.

The information management device 20 performs setting operation for the operation terminal device via a communication line by generating setting information relating to the operation terminal device based on the setting basic information including the above information. Thereby, it is possible to easily perform the setting operation for the operation terminal device in advance.

Here, a case is shown in which information input for each item of type C is transmitted as setting information as it is, but additional information or modification information to the information input for each item is generated as setting information. May be.

As described above, the setting operation of the remote image monitoring device 10A and the setting input terminal device 30 based on the setting basic information input in the setting input terminal device 30 is completed by the information management device 20.

Thereafter, by a predetermined operation of the setting input terminal device 30 which also functions as an operation terminal device, a captured image or the like taken by the remote image monitoring device 10A is input to the setting input terminal device (operation terminal device). 30 is transmitted via a communication line (see arrow AR8 in FIG. 1). However, the present invention is not limited to this.
The captured image or the like may be transmitted to an operation terminal device provided separately from the setting input terminal device 30.

Here, the operator (user) of the setting input terminal device 30 selects the remote image monitoring device 10A to be set, and sets the settings relating to the remote image monitoring device 10A in the Q & A setup menu ( By simply pressing the "send" button after answering the question displayed on the setting input screen G1), the setting operation for the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A can be completed. That is, after the “send” button is pressed, the input basic information is transmitted to the information management device 20, and the information management device 20 transmits an IP related to the remote image monitoring device 10 A.
The automatic setting operation of the address and the setting operation relating to the image quality, display setting method, and the like can be completed. This makes it possible to use each device.

In other words, the basic setting information input in the setting input terminal device 30 is stored in the remote image monitoring device 10.
A is transmitted from A to the information management apparatus 20 via the communication line N, and the information management apparatus 20 generates setting information relating to the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A based on the received basic setting information, so that the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A Is performed through the communication line N, the operator only needs to input the basic setting information in the setting input terminal device 30,
There is no need to manually perform complicated setting operations relating to the remote image monitoring device 10A. Therefore, the remote image monitoring device 10
It is possible to facilitate the setting operation for A and the like.

The specific setting operation of the remote image monitoring device 10A is performed by the information management device 20, and the setting input terminal device 30 itself does not perform the setting operation of the remote image monitoring device 10A. Device 3
0 may be an inexpensive terminal device as long as basic setting information can be input. That is, although the case where a computer is used as the setting input terminal device 30 is exemplified here, the present invention is not limited to this, and has a function as a network terminal capable of inputting predetermined setting basic information. For example, a mobile phone may be used. Therefore, since various devices can be used as the terminal device for setting input, the TPO (Time-P
lace-Occasion) can be selected. More specifically, when a setting input operation is performed at home or office, a computer or the like is used as a setting input terminal device, and when a setting input operation is performed on the go, a mobile phone connected to a network is used. And the like can be used as a terminal device for inputting settings.

Further, since the setting input terminal device 30 displays the setting input screen based on the data transmitted from the information management device 20, the setting input terminal device 30 previously holds the information on the setting input screen. You don't have to. Further, even when there are a plurality of setting input terminal devices, it is possible to easily upgrade the setting input screen G1 only by updating the data in the information management device.

The information management device 20 generates setting information on the setting input terminal device 30 based on the setting basic information, and transmits the setting information to the setting input terminal device 30 via the communication line N. The setting operation of not only the image monitoring device 10A but also the setting input terminal device 30 can be performed. Therefore, the operator inputs the setting input terminal device 3
By simply inputting the basic setting information at 0, the setting operation of not only the remote image monitoring device 10A but also the terminal device for setting input can be performed as a series of operations, so that the setting operation is very easy.

<Extended Operation 1—Storage of Setting Information in Information Management Apparatus, etc.> Further, in step SP15,
"Equipment serial number", "user name", "contact",
Information input to each item of the second type B including information related to “browsing setting” and “connection expiration date” is stored in the storage unit 21 of the information management device 20 as setting information (arrow AR6 in FIG. 1). ). The storage unit 21 stores, as setting information, the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A in the setting operation described above, in addition to the setting basic information of each item belonging to the type B.
It is preferable that an IP address or the like automatically assigned to is also stored.

Here, the setting information related to each item (type B) stored in the information management device 20 can be more effectively utilized.

More specifically, user information such as “equipment serial number”, “user name”, and “contact information” is stored in the storage unit 21 of the information management device 20, and these user information are used. It can be used for technical support. In particular, in addition to the user information, other information managed by the information management device 20 (for example, the usage status and usage record (log) related to the remote image monitoring device 10A)
, It is also possible to perform more advanced maintenance and technical support for the remote image monitoring device 10A.

When a trouble such as a poor connection to the communication network N occurs in the remote image monitoring device 10A, the remote image monitoring device 10A is used by using the above various information stored in the information management device 20. It is also possible to automatically return to the normal state by reinitializing this state and performing a reconnection operation (operation including automatic assignment of an IP address) via the communication line N.

More specifically, when the information management device 20 detects a connection failure state of the remote image monitoring device 10A, it temporarily cancels the assignment of the IP address. On the other hand, the remote image monitoring device 1
When 0A also detects the connection failure state, it waits for a predetermined time and then tries to connect to the communication network N again. This reconnection operation is the same as the connection operation of the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A to the communication network N from the unconnected state described above. That is, it is possible to perform the setting operation again by using the setting information (for example, information related to “IP address” and “image quality”) stored in the storage unit 21 of the information management device 20. By this connection operation again, the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A can be normally connected to the communication line network N, so that a recovery operation at the time of occurrence of a trouble or the like can be easily performed.

Further, in particular, a plurality of remote image monitoring apparatuses 1
When performing the same setting operation as above with respect to 0A,
The setting information regarding the plurality of remote image monitoring devices 10A is collected in the information management device 20. Various applications are possible by utilizing these setting information stored in the storage unit 21.

Specifically, the storage unit 2 of the information management device 20
By analyzing and totalizing the user information included in the setting information stored in 1 according to a predetermined analysis procedure, it can be used for marketing data. For example, by totalizing the setting information related to the image quality at the time of image transmission, a market request regarding the image quality can be obtained. Specifically, if the image quality is set to “high image quality” in many cases, it can be understood that high-quality image transmission is required. It is also possible to effectively advertise to individual users. For example, when a new product with high image quality is developed, it is possible to send an advertisement for the new product to the user of the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A whose “image quality” is set to “high image quality”. Thereby, more efficient advertising activities can be performed.

As described above, by analyzing the information stored in the storage unit 21 in accordance with the predetermined analysis means, the analysis result can be utilized for various purposes. For example, by analyzing using a predetermined marketing method, the analysis result can be used as marketing information. In this case, there is no need to construct a database by separate input when collecting marketing information, and marketing information can be obtained more easily.

<Extended Operation 2—Setting Operation Related to Image Distribution Service> Next, a case will be described in which the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A provides an image (video) distribution service for distributing a captured image. For example, a person who receives the provision of a service in such an image distribution service (that is, a consumer) is a public Web server 4 for providing a distribution service.
It is possible to access the homepage No. 0 and receive image distribution based on the information linked in the homepage. Here, the “image destination” included in the basic setting information is the address of the server 40 (www.
△△△. co. jp) will be described.

For this reason, in step SP 16, the information management device 20 sends the “image posting destination” to the server 40.
The setting information transmission operation is performed based on the fourth type D item such as the item (arrow AR7 in FIG. 1). This step S
The operation in P16 is an operation performed subsequently to the setting operation in steps SP12 to SP15. In other words, the operator inputs “send” on the setting input terminal device 30.
This is an operation automatically performed as a series of operations after the button is pressed.

In this case, the information management device 20 sends the address of the “image posting destination” (here, www. @. C
o. jp), an IP address (for example, IP address = 199. □□) which is setting information relating to the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A automatically determined in the above setting operation.
□ .456.XXX ×), the IP of the remote image monitoring device 10A is
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) including an address can be automatically described as link information.

Then, the user (user) of the image distribution service accessing the home page of the server 40 can obtain the transmission information from the remote image monitoring device 10A based on the link information.

In the above description, the information management device 20
A case has been described in which the address of the remote image monitoring device 10A is described as link information in the public Web server 40 other than the above, but the present invention is not limited to this. May be described as In this case, the information management device 20 also functions as a public server that provides an image distribution service.

As described above, even when the image (video) distribution service is performed using the public Web server 40 or the like, the information such as the URL of the site to which the video distribution is linked is automatically managed under the centralized management by the information management device 20. Since the setting can be performed, the efficiency of the setting operation of the server 40 such as the link information can be improved.

In particular, the user selects the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A to be set, and answers the setting related to the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A in the Q & A setup menu (setting input screen G1). By simply pressing the “send” button later, the remote image monitoring device 10A
In addition to the setting operation such as the above, it is possible to complete the setting operation relating to the URL of the home page on which the image is posted.

<Expansion Operation 3—Update Setting Operation of Driver and the Like> The information management device 20 also includes a remote image monitoring device 10A.
And setting information relating to the setting input terminal device 30. Based on the setting information, various software (software drivers, plug-in software, etc.) for the remote image monitoring device 10A and the setting input terminal device 30 are provided. It is also possible to automatically perform the version upgrade work.

For example, when the software driver related to the remote image monitoring device 10A is upgraded, the transmission destination is specified by the IP address (of the remote image monitoring device 10A) stored in the storage unit 21 of the information management device 20. By automatically transmitting the software driver to be updated in the remote image monitoring device 10A from the information management device 20 via the communication line N, the version upgrade operation of the driver can be automatically performed. is there. The same operation can be performed on the setting input terminal device 30.

Therefore, by using the basic setting information input when making the settings relating to the remote image monitoring apparatus 10A,
Remote image monitoring device 10A or setting input terminal device 30
Software update operations such as software drivers and plug-in software are automatically performed.
These updating operations can be performed very easily.

<C. Others> In the above embodiment,
Although the remote image monitoring device has been exemplified as the image and sound transmission device, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a remote sound collecting device that collects sound from a remote place and transmits the sound via a communication line, or a device that transmits both sound and image, such as a TV telephone, may be used. Good. Alternatively, the image and sound transmission device may be a device that transmits an image captured by an astronomical telescope.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an image / audio transmission system having an image / audio transmission device for transmitting an image and / or an audio via a communication line is exemplified as the information transmission system. Has been described, but the application target of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it has various terminal devices (information transmission devices) such as a robot arm (remote operator), a weather monitoring device, an ATM (cash teller machine), a vending machine, various vehicles, and home appliances as connection elements of a communication line. The present invention is also applicable to the setting operation regarding the information transmission system. In such a system, not only an image and / or a sound but also various information including other information (driving instruction information, sales information, etc.) is transmitted from a terminal device as an information transmitting device arranged at a remote place or the like. Although the predetermined information is transmitted, the present invention can be applied to the setting operation of the terminal device as such an information transmitting device.

In the above embodiment, the setting input screen G1 is displayed on the setting input terminal device 30 based on the data transmitted from the information management device 20, but the present invention is not limited to this. , Setting input screen G1
May be prepared in the setting input terminal device 30 in advance. For example, the setting basic information can be input via the setting input screen G1 by executing a setting software program in the setting input terminal device 30.

Further, in the above embodiment, the image quality and the IP address of the remote image monitoring device 10A are exemplified as the setting information relating to the remote image monitoring device 10A. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The information may be setting information or setting information relating to a remote operation command of the monitoring camera (for example, a moving pitch). In general, various setting information exists according to the type of the device applied as the remote terminal device, and the present invention can be applied to the setting operation related to the various setting information. is there.

[0084]

As described above, claims 1 to 1 are described.
According to the information transmission system described in No. 0, the setting basic information input in the setting input terminal device is transmitted to the information management device via the communication line, and the information management device is transmitted from the setting input terminal device. Since the setting basic information is received via the communication line and the setting operation for the information transmitting device is performed through the communication line by generating the setting information regarding the information transmitting device based on the received setting basic information, The operator only needs to input the basic setting information on the setting input terminal device, and does not need to manually perform complicated setting operations for the information transmitting device. Therefore, it is possible to facilitate the setting work for the information transmitting device and the like. According to the information management device described in claims 11 and 12, and the setting information distribution method described in claims 13 to 17, similar effects can be obtained.

According to the information transmission system of the present invention, the setting information is generated as information to which information not included in the setting basic information is added, so that an easy setting operation can be performed. Become. For example, if the setting information is generated as information to which information such as an IP address that is not included in the setting basic information is added, a setting operation including a network connection operation is easily performed. The same effect can be obtained by the setting information distribution method according to claim 14.

Further, the setting input terminal device according to the third aspect displays the setting input screen transmitted from the information management device, and the basic setting information is input using the setting input screen. It is not necessary for the input terminal device to hold information on the setting input screen in advance. Further, even when there are a plurality of setting input terminal devices, it is possible to easily upgrade the setting input screen by simply updating the data in the information management device. The same effect can be obtained by the setting information distribution method according to claim 15.

According to the information transmission system of the present invention, the information management device generates not only the information transmitting device but also the setting information on the setting input terminal device based on the setting basic information. It is also possible to perform a setting operation for a setting input terminal device as an operation terminal device. A similar effect can be obtained by the setting information distribution method according to claim 16.

Further, according to the information transmission system of the present invention, the information management device transmits setting information relating to the information transmitting device to a separate server connected to the communication line. The server can use the setting information on the information transmission device. Claim 17
The same effect can be obtained by the setting information distribution method described in (1).

According to the information transmission system of the present invention, the information management device stores information related to at least one item of the received basic setting information in the storage unit. Various operations can be realized using information. That is, the setting information can be effectively used. A similar effect can be obtained by the setting information distribution method according to the twelfth aspect.

Further, according to the information transmission system of the present invention, the information management device performs the setting operation for the information transmitting device or the setting input terminal device again based on the information stored in the storage unit. Therefore, it is possible to easily perform a recovery operation at the time of occurrence of a failure or the like.

According to the information transmission system of the present invention, the information management device performs a software version upgrade process in the information transmission device or the setting input terminal device based on the information stored in the storage unit. So do
This version upgrade process can be easily performed.

Further, according to the information transmission system of the ninth aspect, the information stored in the storage unit is analyzed according to the predetermined analysis means, so that the analysis result can be utilized for various purposes. For example, by analyzing using a predetermined marketing method, the analysis result can be used as marketing information. In this case, there is no need to construct a database by separate input when collecting marketing information, and marketing information can be obtained more easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of an image / audio transmission system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the information management device 20.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of an operation.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a setting input screen G1.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 image / audio transmission system 10, 10A information transmission device (remote image monitoring device) 11 monitoring camera 12 main body 20 information management device (information server) 30 setting input terminal device 40 (public Web) server G1 setting input screen N communication Network (communication line)

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04N 7/18 H04Q 9/00 301E 5K048 H04Q 9/00 301 311P 5K101 311 H04L 13/00 305C F term (reference) 5B089 GA11 GA21 JB03 JB04 JB05 JB14 KA01 KB06 KB09 LB14 5C025 AA30 BA27 DA05 5C054 AA02 CA04 CC05 CG01 DA09 EA03 HA18 5C064 AA06 AC07 AC08 AC11 AD08 AD14 5K034 AA19 CC02 CC05 EE11 HH63 5K08 AA01BA02 DC08A01BA02 HA13 HA21 5K101 KK11 LL01 LL03 LL05 MM07 NN03 NN18 NN21 NN34 PP04 SS07 TT06 UU16

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. An information transmission system for transmitting predetermined information via a communication line, comprising: an information transmitting device that operates according to setting information set by a predetermined setting operation and transmits predetermined information; An information management device that manages information, and a setting input terminal device that inputs setting basic information on which the setting information is created are provided as connection elements of the communication line, and the setting input terminal device is An input relating to setting basic information is received, the received setting basic information is transmitted to the information management device via the communication line, and the information management device transmits the setting basic information transmitted from the setting input terminal device. By receiving the setting basic information via the communication line and generating the setting information based on the received setting basic information, the Information transmission system and performing a serial advance of the setting operation through the communication line. 2. The information transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the setting information is generated as information to which information not included in the setting basic information is added. 3. The information transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the setting input terminal device displays a setting input screen based on data transmitted from the information management device, wherein the setting basic information includes: An information transmission system characterized by being input using the setting input screen. 4. The information transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device for inputting settings also serves as an operation terminal device for the information transmission device, The predetermined information is received from the information transmitting device via the communication line according to the setting information set by a previous setting operation, and the setting basic information is a basis for creating the setting information regarding the operation terminal device. The information management device performs the pre-setting operation on the operation terminal device via the communication line by generating the setting information on the operation terminal device based on the setting basic information. An information transmission system, characterized in that: 5. The information transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the information management device sends setting information on the information transmission device to a separate server connected to the communication line. Is transmitted through the communication line. 6. The information transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the information management device stores information related to at least one item of the received setting basic information. An information transmission system comprising a unit. 7. The information transmission system according to claim 6, wherein the information management device performs a setting operation on the information transmitting device or the setting input terminal device again based on the information stored in the storage unit. Information transmission system via the communication line. 8. The information transmission system according to claim 6, wherein the information management device is a software version in the information transmission device or the setting input terminal device based on the information stored in the storage unit. An information transmission system, wherein an up process is performed via the communication line. 9. The information transmission system according to claim 6, wherein the information stored in the storage unit is analyzed according to a predetermined analysis procedure. 10. The information transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the information transmission device is a remote image monitoring device that captures and transmits an image of a remote place. Information transmission system. 11. An information management device in an information transmission system in which a plurality of terminal devices are connected to each other via a communication line to transmit predetermined information, the information management device comprising: a first terminal device among a plurality of terminal devices; An information receiving unit that receives, via the communication line, setting basic information input in the second terminal device among the plurality of terminal devices as information on which to generate setting information used for the setting operation; By generating setting information on the first terminal device based on the setting basic information received by the information receiving unit, the pre-setting operation for the first terminal device is performed based on the setting information. An information management device, comprising: a setting operation unit that performs the setting operation via a communication line. 12. The information management device according to claim 11, further comprising: a storage unit that stores information related to at least one item of the received setting basic information. . 13. Setting information distribution for distributing setting information used for a preset setting operation for at least one terminal device in an information transmission system in which a plurality of terminal devices are connected to each other via a communication line and transmits predetermined information. A method, wherein: (a) a second terminal of the plurality of terminal devices as information from which setting information used for a preset setting operation regarding a first terminal device of the plurality of terminal devices is created; Transmitting the setting basic information input in the terminal device to the information management device via the communication line; (b) the setting basic information received by the information management device via the communication line; The information management device generates the setting information on the first terminal device based on the information management device, Setting information distribution method characterized by comprising the steps of: performing via the signal line. 14. The setting information distribution method according to claim 13, wherein the setting information is generated as information to which information not included in the basic setting information is added. 15. The setting information distribution method according to claim 13, wherein the setting basic information is displayed on the second terminal device based on data transmitted from the information management device. A setting information distribution method characterized by being input using an input screen. 16. The setting information distribution method according to claim 13, wherein the setting basic information is a base for creating setting information used for a previous setting operation for the second terminal device. The setting information distribution method further includes: (c) the setting information related to the second terminal device based on the setting basic information received by the information management device via the communication line. A step of performing the setting operation for the second terminal device by the information management device via the communication line. 17. The setting information distribution method according to claim 13, wherein: (d) the information management device sends the first information to a separate server connected to the communication line. Distributing setting information relating to the terminal device of (1).