JP2002084530A - Monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely grasp a specified event generated in a place to be monitored, without the need for the operation of a monitor. SOLUTION: In a central control unit 3, a sound-processing part 32 detects the specified event from sound signals sent from a plurality of sound concentrating microphone devices (1a to 1n), specifies the generated position of the specified event and gives an instruction to a CCTV controller 33. The CCTV controller 33 controls turning and zooming (magnification adjustment) of the monitoring camera devices 4a to 4m, in accordance with this instruction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to at least one or more image pickup apparatuses having a turning function for arbitrarily changing a viewing direction and a zoom function for arbitrarily changing a viewing angle, and for picking up an image of a scene of a monitored place. The present invention relates to a monitoring system having a display device that receives an image signal of a scene captured by each imaging device and displays the scene, and in particular, a specific event that occurs in the monitored location without requiring an operation of a monitor. The present invention relates to a monitoring system capable of reliably detecting traffic accidents, failure of equipment, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of monitoring system is applied to, for example, monitoring of road traffic, monitoring of a power plant, or monitoring of a pump room of a water purification plant.

In such a surveillance system, the surveillance camera device is operated by the observer to obtain a desired image while checking the image on a display device (monitor) installed in the system monitoring and control station. .

That is, for example, when monitoring a traffic accident or the like, if the accident site is not shown on the monitor, the observer operates the surveillance camera device to project the image of the accident site on the monitor and check it. Was.

[0005]

As described above, in the conventional surveillance system, for example, when a traffic accident or the like is monitored, if the accident site is not reflected on the monitor, the observer can monitor the surveillance camera device. , The video of the accident site was displayed on the monitor to check the situation, and the situation at the accident site was delayed, and there was a problem that prompt and accurate situation determination and treatment after the occurrence of the accident could not be performed.

Further, for example, when a traffic accident occurs when the observer leaves his / her seat, or when a traffic accident occurs in a direction different from the current camera turning direction, the traffic accident may be overlooked. Was.

[0007] In addition, the monitoring person must always monitor while watching the image displayed on the monitor, which places a heavy burden on the monitoring person.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring system which solves the above-mentioned inconveniences and which can reliably capture a specific event occurring in the monitored place without requiring an operation of a monitor. I do.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional monitoring system, it is necessary to continue recording on a video deck for long-time recording endlessly in order to prepare for an accident which is not known when it will occur.

However, even if recording is continued to the end of the video tape, an accident does not always occur and the efficiency is very low.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a surveillance system which can solve the above-mentioned inconveniences and can efficiently and surely record a video at the time of occurrence of an event without always recording a monitor video.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, an object of the present invention is to provide a turning function for arbitrarily changing a viewing direction and a zooming function for arbitrarily changing a viewing angle, and a scene of a monitored place. In a surveillance system having at least one or more image capturing devices for capturing images, and a display device for receiving an image signal of a scene captured by each of these image capturing devices and displaying the scene, the image is generated in the monitored location. At least one or more sound / electric conversion means for converting a change in sound pressure of an audible sound including a sound into an electric signal, and occurrence of a specific event from a sound pressure level and a frequency of a signal output from each sound / electric conversion means Detection means for detecting the occurrence of a specific event, and when the occurrence of the specific event is detected by the detection means, the occurrence position of the specific event is specified from the sound pressure level difference of the signal output from each sound / electric conversion means. Monitoring system position and the specific means, characterized by a control means for controlling so as to pivot the predetermined imaging device to a particular position direction by the position specifying unit that.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the control means turns a predetermined imaging device in the position direction specified by the position specifying means,
The zoom of the imaging device is also controlled.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, information indicating a specific sound pressure level value and a specific frequency component is stored in advance as information for detecting occurrence of a specific event. Storage means, wherein the detection means detects that the sound pressure level of the signal output from each sound / electric conversion device exceeds a specific sound pressure level value stored in the storage means, and When it is determined that the specific frequency component stored in the storage means is included in the frequency components, the occurrence of a specific event is detected.

The invention of claim 4 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, when the occurrence of a specific event is detected by the detection means, a notifying means for notifying the occurrence of the specific event is further provided. And

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, the notifying means reproduces and outputs an audible sound from the signal output from each sound / electric conversion means, or It is characterized by comprising at least one of a sounding means for sounding a preset alarm sound and a display means for displaying preset fixed-form character information on the display device.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus for recording an image signal transmitted from each of the imaging devices, and wherein a specific event is detected by the detecting means. Recording start control means for controlling the start of recording by the recording device so as to record an image signal sent from a predetermined imaging device which is controlled to turn by the control means.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a monitoring system according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a monitoring system 100 according to the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing one configuration example. A monitoring system 100 is, for example, a CCT applied to monitoring of road traffic, monitoring of a power plant, monitoring of a pump room of a water purification plant, and the like.
V (Closed Circit Television: optical video distribution system) system.

As shown in FIG. 1, this monitoring system 10
0, at least one or more sound collecting microphone devices (sound / electric conversion means) 1a to 1n (n: n) for converting a change in sound pressure of an audible sound including a sound generated in the monitored location A into an electric signal.
An audio transmission unit 2a to 2n (n: an arbitrary integer) for transmitting an audio signal collected and converted by each of the sound collection microphone devices 1a to 1n to a central control device 3 described below;
Based on the audio signals sent from each of the audio transmitting units 2a to 2n, the occurrence of a specific event in the monitored location A is detected, and the location of the specific event is identified. A monitoring camera device (imaging device) 4a to be described later
Central controller 3 having a function of turning 4 m (m: an arbitrary integer), a turning function of arbitrarily changing the viewing direction, and a zoom function of arbitrarily changing the viewing angle, and capturing the scene of the monitored place A. And at least one or more monitoring camera devices (imaging devices) 4a to 4m.

Further, the central control unit 3 receives and amplifies the audio signal transmitted from the audio transmission units 2a to 2n, and outputs the amplified audio signal to the subsequent stage. The audio processing unit 32 identifies the position where the specific event has occurred from each audio signal output from the audio processing unit, and outputs the position information to the subsequent stage, and is preset from the position information output from the audio processing unit 32. C for turning and zooming control of monitoring camera devices 4a to 4n to preset positions
A CTV control device 33 is provided.

In the above embodiment, non-directional microphones 1a to 1n are used.

The specific events referred to herein include traffic accidents in road traffic monitoring, failures of equipment in monitoring in a power plant, and monitoring in a pump room of a water purification plant. While detecting the occurrence of a specific event from the abnormal sound that occurs when it occurs,
The occurrence position of the specific event is specified.

Next, details of each component of the central control device 3 will be described.

FIG. 2 shows the central processing unit 3 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a voice receiving unit 32 provided in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the audio processing section 32, each audio signal amplified and output by the above-described audio receiving section 31 is passed through a filter that passes only a predetermined frequency component, and a necessary frequency component is And a sound extraction unit 321 for outputting to a position calculation unit 322 and a sound comparison unit 323 to be described later, and information for detecting in advance the occurrence of a specific event, that is, the sound pressure of the sound signal. An event detection information storage unit 322 for setting and storing threshold information of a level (dB) and information of a specific frequency component, and the event detection information storage unit 324 from among the audio signals output from the audio extraction unit 321. Satisfies the stored information, that is, the stored sound pressure level (dB)
An audio signal exceeding a threshold value and including the stored specific frequency component is detected, and information of two input sources (for example, sound collecting microphone devices) having the highest sound pressure levels among the detected audio signals is stored in the above-described position. Voice comparison unit 323 to output to calculation unit 322
And the sound pressure level difference between the sound signals from the two input sources selected based on the information on the two input sources with the highest sound pressure levels output from the sound comparing unit 323, and from the sound pressure level difference, The information of the preset position closest to the position where the event is considered to have occurred, which is set in advance in the monitored location, is calculated and output to the subsequent CCTV control device 33 as a position data signal. At the same time, a position calculation unit 324 that also outputs a signal indicating the microphone number is provided.

The preset position information referred to here is position information set in advance at a plurality of three-dimensionally variable locations within the monitored location. Based on the preset position information, each monitoring camera device 4a 4 m perform predetermined turning and zooming (magnification adjustment).

In the above embodiment, the audio processing unit 3
2 is arranged in the central control unit 3, but since the audio signals transmitted from the audio transmission units 2a to 2n are transmitted via parallel lines, the monitoring target ( It may be installed near the site.

Further, the threshold information of the sound pressure level (dB) and the information indicating the specific frequency component stored in the event detection information storage unit 322 are stored in the research data of a predetermined sound research institute or in the monitored location (site A desired value is set from the raw sound data actually recorded at the time of occurrence of the specific event in the step ()).

FIG. 3 shows the central processing unit 3 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a CCTV control device 33 provided in the system.

As shown in FIG. 3, the CCTV control device 33 selects a surveillance camera device from the position information (position data signal, microphone number signal) sent from the audio processing unit 32 and outputs the position data. A CCTV control unit 331 for instructing selection of a surveillance camera device (4a to 4m) for transferring signals and outputting a video switching instruction signal from the microphone number signal to a video switching unit 334 described later;
In accordance with an instruction from the CCTV control unit 331, a turning / zoom control signal for turning or zooming the surveillance camera device in a preset position direction set in advance is output (specifically, a desired position is imaged based on the received position data signal). A preset control unit 332 that outputs a signal for controlling the preset zoom lens (ZP) and the preset turning device (MHP), and a monitoring camera device (4a to 4m)
Receiving section 333 for receiving the video signal sent from
And selectively switches each video signal output from the video receiving unit 333 and outputs the video signal to a display unit (monitor) 335 described later. The video switching unit 334 switches and outputs a signal, and switches to output a video signal from a desired surveillance camera device based on a video selection signal from the CCTV control unit 331 when a specific event occurs as described in the present application. And a display unit 335 that receives the video signal output by the video switching unit 334 and displays the video signal on a display screen.

According to this configuration, the occurrence of the specific event is detected from the audio signal collected by the sound collecting microphone device installed at the monitored location, the direction of the occurrence position of the specific event is specified, and the specified event is detected. Since the surveillance camera device is configured to automatically turn to the position direction, even if the surveillant operates the surveillance camera device and does not find the occurrence of the specific event, the monitor screen automatically detects the occurrence of the specific event (Monitor), the monitor can instantly grasp the abnormal situation and the situation. In addition, this allows the subsequent processing to be performed quickly.

According to this configuration, as in the prior art,
Since it is not necessary to monitor at a wide angle, it is possible to display an image sufficient for monitoring.

FIG. 4 shows the sound processing unit 32 shown in FIG.
7 is a graph showing characteristics of sound pressure level (dB) and frequency (Hz) of an extracted audio signal compared by an audio comparison unit 323 and a region determined as event detection. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, this graph shows an example of an arbitrary audio signal among the extracted audio signals output from the audio extraction unit 321 shown in FIG. The frequency components of the audio signal are shown, and the vertical axis shows the sound pressure level (dB) of each frequency component.

The sound pressure level threshold, the frequency band threshold A, and the frequency band threshold B shown in the graph are the information for detecting an event stored in the event detection information storage unit 322 shown in FIG. The hatched portion indicates an area where an event occurrence is detected. The filter threshold value shown in the graph is the same as that of the voice extraction unit 32 shown in FIG.
1 shows a threshold value of a filter.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an image of preset points arbitrarily variably set in the above-mentioned monitored place A. In this example, preset points (for example, preset points) in the image pickup area of the monitoring camera device 4a are shown. P1, P2, P
3, P4).

Then, in correspondence with the position information of the preset points (P1, P2, P3, P4) set in this way, the turning control amounts in the preset turning devices of the monitoring camera devices 4a to 4m and the zoom in the preset zoom lens. Set the control amount. Thereby, the preset control unit 332 shown in FIG. 3 is replaced by the CCTV control unit 33 shown in FIG.
1 based on the position data signal (ie, the signal indicating the preset point) from the predetermined monitoring camera device (4a to 4a).
m), and outputs a turning / zoom control signal.

In general, the preset point can be set arbitrarily in the order of several hundreds in the monitored location A.

Next, recording control of an image signal transmitted from a predetermined monitoring camera device (4a to 4m) controlled by the above-described turning / zoom control will be described.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a first modification of the voice processing unit 32 and the CCTV control unit 33 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this example, the configuration of the voice comparison unit 323a and the CCTV The difference is that a recording device 336 is newly added to the configuration of the control device 33.

More specifically, the audio comparison unit 323a, when detecting an event by the processing operation described with reference to FIG.
The recording start signal is output to the recording device 336 of the CCTV control device 33.

As a result, the recording device 336
And recording of the image signal sent from the predetermined surveillance camera device (4a to 4m) controlled by the turning / zoom control described in FIG. 3 is started.

The other components have the same functions as those shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, and the description is omitted here.

The recording device 336 is usually a video device (time-lapse video) for long-time recording,
Although frame-by-frame recording is performed (for example, recording is performed every few minutes), an ordinary recording device may be used instead.

According to this configuration, only when a specific event occurs, the image signal transmitted from the predetermined surveillance camera (4a to 4m) controlled to rotate by the above-described automatic rotation and zoom (magnification adjustment) control. Since it is configured to record, it is not necessary to continuously record video signals on the video deck for long time recording, as usual,
Since recording can be performed only when a specific event that requires recording has occurred, efficient recording can be performed, thereby greatly reducing the amount of video tape used and becoming more economical.

Next, according to the above-described event occurrence detection method,
Notification control for notifying a monitoring person of the detection of a specific event will be described.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a second modified example of the voice processing unit 32 and the CCTV control unit 33 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this example, the configuration of the voice comparison unit 323b and the CCTV The difference is that a speaker 337, an alarm 338, and an event occurrence notification information creating unit 339 are newly added to the configuration of the control device 33.

More specifically, the voice comparison unit 323b, upon detecting an event by the processing operation described with reference to FIG.
It has a configuration for outputting an event occurrence detection signal to the CCTV control device 33 side.

Accordingly, the CCTV control device 33
When the event occurrence notification information creating section 339 (display means) receives the above event occurrence detection signal, preset fixed character information (for example, “a traffic accident has occurred.”)
Is displayed on the display unit 335. When the alarm 338 (sounding means) receives the event occurrence detection signal, the alarm 338 sounds a pre-registered alarm sound.

The speaker 337 (sound reproducing means)
The audio signal input to the audio processing unit 32 shown in FIG. 2 is received, and an audible sound is reproduced and output from the audio signal.

The other components have the same functions as those shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, and therefore description thereof is omitted here.

In the above embodiment, when the occurrence of a specific event is detected, an alarm is sounded, character information is displayed on a display screen, and a sound generated when the specific event occurs is reported simultaneously. Although the present invention is configured, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is sufficient that the present invention is configured to include at least one or more of the above-described notification means.

According to this configuration, when the occurrence of a specific event is detected in the monitored location, a configuration is provided to automatically notify the monitoring person of the occurrence of the specific event. As a result, it is not necessary for the observer to constantly monitor, and even if a specific event occurs when the observer leaves the seat or a specific event occurs in another direction while turning the camera, A situation in which a specific event is overlooked can be prevented.

[0055]

As described above, according to the surveillance system of the present invention, at least one or more sounds / conversions that convert a change in sound pressure of an audible sound including a sound generated in a monitored location into an electric signal. Electric conversion means, detection means for detecting the occurrence of a specific event from the sound pressure level and frequency of the signal output from each of these sound / electric conversion means, and when the occurrence of the specific event is detected by this detection means, Position specifying means for specifying the position of occurrence of the specific event from the sound pressure level difference of the signal output from each sound / electric conversion means, and a predetermined imaging device is turned in the position direction specified by the position specifying means. Since it is configured to have a control means for controlling, it is possible to reliably capture a specific event that occurs in the monitored location without requiring the operation of a monitor, Rapid and accurate situation assessment and treatment after the constant event occurrence becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration example of a monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a voice receiving unit provided in the central processing unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a CCT included in the central processing unit shown in FIG. 1;
The figure which shows the whole structure of a V control device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a sound pressure level (dB) and a frequency (H) of an extracted sound signal compared by a sound comparing unit of the sound processing unit illustrated in FIG. 2;
The graph figure which shows the characteristic determined by z), and the area | region judged as event detection.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an image diagram of preset points arbitrarily variably set in a monitored location in advance.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a first modification of the voice processing unit and the CCTV control device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a second modification of the voice processing unit and the CCTV control device shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

[Description of Signs] 1a to 1n Sound collecting microphone devices 2a to 2n Audio transmitting unit 3 Central control device 31 Audio receiving unit 32 Audio processing unit 321 Audio extracting unit 322 Event detection information storage units 323, 323a, 323b Audio comparing unit 324 Position Calculation unit 33 CCTV control unit 331 CCTV control unit 332 Preset control unit 333 Video reception unit 334 Video switching unit 335 Display unit (monitor unit) 336 Recording device (video device) 337 Speaker 338 Alarm 339 Character information creation unit 4 a to 4 m Monitoring Camera device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Ryoichi Kurata, 3-1, 1-1 Asahigaoka, Hino-shi, Tokyo Inside the Toshiba Hino Plant Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuyuki Kasai 1-3-1, Asahigaoka, Hino-shi, Tokyo F-term in Toshiba Hino Plant (reference) 5C054 CA04 CA08 CC03 CE12 CF05 CG07 DA01 DA06 FA00 FE16 FE28 GA00 GB06 HA18 HA30 5H180 AA01 CC04 CC11 EE15 5H223 AA02 EE06 FF03 FF04

Claims (6)

[Claims] At least one or more imaging devices having a turning function that can arbitrarily change the viewing direction and a zoom function that can arbitrarily change the viewing angle to image a scene of a monitored location, and images taken by each of these imaging devices A display device for receiving an image signal of the scene and displaying the scene, wherein at least one of converting a change in sound pressure of an audible sound including a sound generated in the monitored location into an electric signal. The above sound / electric conversion means, detection means for detecting the occurrence of a specific event from the sound pressure level and frequency of the signal output from each sound / electric conversion means, and occurrence of the specific event detected by the detection means If
Position specifying means for specifying a position where the specific event has occurred from a sound pressure level difference of a signal output from each of the sound / electric conversion means; and a predetermined imaging device is turned in a position direction specified by the position specifying means. And a control means for performing control as described above. 2. The surveillance system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the zoom of the imaging device when the predetermined imaging device is turned in the position direction specified by the position specification device. . 3. A storage unit for storing information indicating a value of a specific sound pressure level and a specific frequency component as information for detecting occurrence of a specific event in advance. / The sound pressure level of the signal output from the electric conversion device exceeds the value of the specific sound pressure level stored in the storage means, and the specific frequency component of the output signal is stored in the storage means. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that a frequency component is included, occurrence of a specific event is detected. 4. The monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit that notifies the occurrence of the specific event when the occurrence of the specific event is detected by the detection unit. 5. The sound reproducing means for reproducing and outputting an audible sound from a signal output from each sound / electric conversion means, a sounding means for sounding a preset alarm sound, or At least one of display means for displaying preset fixed character information on the display device
5. The monitoring system according to claim 4, wherein the monitoring system comprises at least one. 6. A recording device for recording an image signal transmitted from each of the imaging devices, and when the occurrence of a specific event is detected by the detection unit,
2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a recording start control unit configured to control a recording start of the recording device so as to record an image signal sent from a predetermined imaging device that is controlled to rotate by the control unit. Monitoring system.