JP2002094970A - Camera image pickup management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera image pickup management system that can quickly visualize a required pickup-up image even when an installed place of site side storage means is apart from an installed location of management side video means. SOLUTION: The camera image pickup management system provided with site side video means 2, 6 that visualize picked-up images by monitor cameras C1-C7, the site side storage means 1, 5 that store image pickup information, and the management side video means 10 that visualizes the picked-up images by the monitor cameras, is provided with a management side control means 9 that stores signals from the monitor cameras C1-C7 as digital information and indexes required video information from the stored digital information, and a management side command means 11, 12 that command the video information to be indexed. The management side control means 9 indexes required video information from the site side storage means 2, 6 via a communication means NET on the basis of a command from the management side command means 11, 12 and allows the management side video means 10 to visualize the video information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a surveillance camera,
On-site video means for imaging an image captured by the monitoring camera, on-site storage means for storing imaging information of the monitoring camera, and the monitoring camera based on the imaging information stored by the on-site storage means The present invention relates to a camera imaging management system comprising:

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Such a camera imaging management system includes:
For example, in a convenience store chain store or the like, a surveillance camera is installed in the store, images taken by the surveillance camera are imaged in real time to monitor the inside of the store, and the imaging information is stored in the local storage means. It is used, if necessary, to make an image displayed on a management side video unit that manages a convenience store based on the imaging information stored by the local storage unit. A video camera was used as the camera, and a video tape was used as the local storage means.

[0003]

Therefore, conventionally, when it is attempted to image a necessary image on the management side image means based on the image pickup information stored by the video tape serving as the on-site storage means, the stored video data is not stored. The tape must be brought to the location where the management-side video means is installed, and this is extremely inconvenient, especially when the location between the local storage means and the management-side video means is far apart. There was room for improvement.

The present invention focuses on such a conventional problem. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for storing a local storage device even if a local storage device and a management video device are located far apart from each other. It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera imaging management system which can promptly image necessary imaging on a management-side video means based on imaging information stored by the means.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problem [Structure] The characteristic structure of the invention according to claim 1 is as shown in FIG.
1 to C7, on-site video means 2 and 6 for capturing images taken by the monitoring cameras C1 to C7, and the monitoring camera C
On-site storage means 1, 5 for storing imaging information 1 to C7
A camera-side image management system comprising: a management-side image unit configured to image an image captured by the monitoring cameras based on the imaging information stored by the local-side storage units. On-site storage means 1 and 5 store signals from the monitoring cameras C1 to C7 as digital information, and retrieve necessary video information from the digital information stored by the on-site storage means 1 and 5. Side control means 9 and management side instruction means 11 and 12 for instructing the management side control means 9 of video information to be searched out.
On the basis of the commands from the storage units 1 and 12, necessary video information is retrieved from the local storage units 1 and 5 via the communication unit NET and is displayed on the management video unit 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the on-site storage means 1, 5 stores the digital information of the monitoring cameras C1 to C7 in correspondence with the date and time when the image was captured. It is in the place to remember.

As a feature of the invention according to a third aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the management-side control means 9 has a calendar function for displaying the date and time on the management-side video means 10; The control means 9 controls the management-side video means 10
The management-side command means 11 on the calendar displayed in
Based on the command by the command 12, video information corresponding to the commanded date and time is to be found.

A feature of the invention according to claim 4 is that, as exemplified in FIGS. 1 and 2, a management-side imaging instruction means for instructing the management-side control means 9 on imaging conditions of the monitoring cameras C1 to C7. The management-side control means 9 instructs the monitoring cameras C1 to C7 via the communication means NET based on a command from the management-side imaging command means 11 and 12 with respect to imaging conditions. There.

Note that, as described above, reference numerals are provided for convenience of comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the on-site storage means stores a signal from the surveillance camera as digital information, and obtains necessary video information from the stored digital information. Management side control means for searching for, and management side instruction means for instructing the management side control means of video information to be searched out, the management side control means,
Based on the command from the management command means, the necessary video information is retrieved from the on-site storage means via the communication means and is video-recorded on the management video means. It is not necessary to bring the video tape to the place where the management-side video means is installed, so that the management-side video means can promptly display necessary video information as needed at any time. And the effect is
This is remarkable when the location of the on-site storage means and the management-side video means is far apart, or when the on-site storage means is installed at a plurality of locations.

According to the characteristic configuration of the second aspect of the present invention, the on-site storage means stores the digital information of the monitoring camera in correspondence with the date and time when the image was captured, so that the imaging information of the required date and time is stored. Can be quickly retrieved and imaged on the management-side image means.

According to the characteristic configuration of the third aspect of the present invention, the management-side control means has a calendar function for displaying the date and time on the management-side video means, and the management-side control means is displayed on the management-side video means. Since the video information corresponding to the instructed date and time is searched based on the instruction by the management instructing means on the calendar, it is necessary to perform the operation with a relatively simple operation and with a low possibility of erroneous operation. It is possible to quickly find the imaging information at the date and time when the image is taken.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a management-side imaging instruction means for instructing the management-side control means of imaging conditions of the monitoring camera, wherein the management-side control means includes a management-side imaging instruction means. Based on the command from, the imaging conditions are instructed to the monitoring camera via the communication means, for example,
It is possible to change the shooting direction of the monitoring camera or to change the angle of view by zooming as necessary, while imaging the image by the monitoring camera on the management-side video unit in real time.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a camera imaging management system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking an example in which this system is applied to a chain of convenience stores. For example, in a convenience store having two chain stores, a store A and a store B, as shown in FIG. 1, the store A has a zoom lens as a surveillance camera so that the entire store can be imaged. Four digital cameras C1 to C4 are provided at store B, and a total of three digital cameras C5 to C7 each having a zoom lens are also provided.
Are installed near the ceiling in the store so that the shooting direction can be freely changed, and each digital camera C
The inside of the store is imaged by 1 to C7.

In the office AO of the store A, a personal computer 1 connected to four digital cameras C1 to C4 via an interface IF is installed. The personal computer 1 has a display 2, a keyboard 3, and , Mouse 4 and the like are connected and installed in the office AO. Similarly, the office BO of store B also has three digital cameras C5.
A personal computer main body 5 connected to an interface C7 through an interface IF is installed, and a display 6, a keyboard 7, a mouse 8, and the like are connected.

The personal computer body 1 of the store A and the personal computer body 5 of the store B function as local storage means for storing signals from the digital cameras C1 to C7 as digital information. A storage means such as a flexible disk or an optical disk is provided. The storage of the imaging information by the personal computer bodies 1 and 5 is performed, for example, by creating an imaging file every one minute for a folder every day as a compressed image in the MPEG format, and capturing each folder and the corresponding file. It is configured to store it in correspondence with the date and time of the hour.

The display 2 of the store A and the display 6 of the store B function as local image means. Usually, the display 2 of the store A has four digital cameras C1 in a state where the screen is divided into four. To C4 are simultaneously imaged, and the display 6 of the store B is configured to simultaneously image images by the three digital cameras C5 to C7 with the screen divided into three. If necessary, the display 2 of the store A displays the personal computer 1
Based on the digital information stored by the personal computer 5, the digital cameras C5 to C4 are also displayed on the display 6 of the store B so that images can be captured by the digital cameras C1 to C4 based on the digital information stored by the personal computer 5. C
7 can be imaged.

The management office CO which manages the stores A and B is provided with a management personal computer 9 which functions as a control device on the management side. The management personal computer 9 is also provided with a hard disk, a flexible disk, or an optical disk. The management personal computer 9 has a management display 10 functioning as management video means, a keyboard 11 and a mouse 12 functioning as management command means and management imaging command means. Connected, the management-side display 10 and the keyboard 1
1 and the mouse 12 are also installed in the management office CO. Then, the management-side personal computer body 9 installed in the management office CO communicates with the personal computer body 1 of the store A via a communication line NET such as a dedicated line using CATV or satellite communication, a LAN, or the Internet. It is connected to the personal computer 5 of the shop.

Next, the operation of the camera imaging management system will be described. Since the operations at the store A and the store B are the same, only the store A will be described. At store A,
The inside of the store is imaged by a total of four digital cameras C1 to C4, and the imaging information is stored in the personal computer body 1 and, at the same time, the four digital cameras C1 to C4 are displayed on the display 2 with the screen divided into four. The image captured by C4 is imaged in real time. Therefore, the person in charge of the store A looks at the display 2 in the office AO,
It is possible to monitor fraudulent acts such as shoplifting, and to monitor changes in customer lines and changes in the number of customers. If necessary, operate the keyboard 3 and mouse 4 to operate each digital camera C1. C4 to C4 can be changed, the angle of view of the image can be changed by zooming, and only the images captured by the specific digital cameras C1 to C4 can be displayed on the entire screen of the display 2.

Further, since the digital information stored in the personal computer body 1 is stored in correspondence with the date and time when the image was taken, the user operates the keyboard 3 and the mouse 4 to retrieve the stored digital information as needed. By outputting the image and displaying it on the display 2, it can be used as various information sources. For example, it is possible to grasp changes in customer lines and changes in the number of customers due to the day of the week, as well as changes in hot-selling products, and refer to subsequent purchases of products or to select product display locations, Similarly, it is possible to grasp changes in the number of customers and the number of customers due to the time zone, and changes in the best-selling products, and refer to the changes thereafter. Then, even while the past imaging information is being displayed on the display 2, the imaging information from each of the digital cameras C1 to C4 is stored in the personal computer 1 without interruption.

The management-side personal computer body 9 of the management office CO
When the power is turned on, the software starts up. When the user operates the keyboard 11 and the mouse 12 to select “real-time video”, the digital cameras C1 to C
4 and the imaging information of the digital cameras C5 to C7 of the store B are transmitted in real time via the communication means NET, and are displayed on the management-side display 10 as shown in FIG.
In a state where the screen is divided into seven, images captured by all the digital cameras C1 to C7 at the stores A and B are imaged. Therefore, the manager of the convenience store needs the management office CO
By looking at the management-side display 10 within the store, while comparing the store A and the store B, a change in the customer line, a change in the number of customers,
It is possible to monitor an employee's response to a customer.

If necessary, the keyboard 11
When the user operates the mouse 12 or selects and clicks a specific camera from among the cameras “1 to 7” on the screen, only the images captured by the selected digital cameras C1 to C7 are displayed on the screen of the display 10. It is imaged throughout. Furthermore,
Since the management side has a higher priority, after selecting a specific one of the cameras “1 to 7” on the screen and operating “zoom”, the lens of the selected digital camera C1 to C7 is changed. It is possible to change the imaging angle of view by zooming, and to change the imaging direction of the selected digital cameras C1 to C7 by operating "Swing".

When "past video" is selected, a screen as shown in FIG. 3, for example, is displayed on the management-side display 10 based on the calendar function built in the management-side personal computer 9. Operating the keyboard 11 and the mouse 12, select a store and a camera, click "Month and Day" on the displayed calendar, and enter and specify a "time zone" to specify the video information to be searched. Is issued, the management-side personal computer body 9 causes the commanded imaging from the digital information of the digital cameras C1 to C7 stored in the personal computer body 1 of the store A and the personal computer body 5 of the store B via the communication means NET. The information is retrieved, and the retrieved imaging information is imaged on the management-side display 10 and, if necessary, stored in the management-side personal computer 9.

For example, when all of the digital cameras C1 to C7 are selected, all the digital cameras C1 to C7 in the A store and the B store in a state where the screen is divided into seven in the same manner as described in the "real-time image" described above. When an image is captured and a specific camera is selected by operating the keyboard 11 or the mouse 12, only the image captured by the selected digital camera C1 to C7 is imaged on the entire screen of the display 10. Further, specific digital cameras C1 to C
For example, images of the past digital images are compared and imaged by the specific digital cameras C5 to C7 at the stores 4 and B on the screen. Can be used as a source.

[Another Embodiment] (1) In the above embodiment, the camera imaging management system
An example of application to a convenience store with two chain stores was shown, but in addition to convenience stores, various stores and restaurants with multiple stores, as well as hotels and hospitals, as well as leisure centers and amusement parks The present invention can be applied to various facilities such as ground, and can be implemented in one facility. For example, in a hotel, a monitoring digital camera can be installed in a lobby, a store, or a corridor on each floor, and in a hospital, it can be installed in a reception or a waiting room.

Further, if the equipment is closed or turned off at night, the surveillance digital camera may be provided with an infrared photographing function, and when the light is turned off, an image may be taken under infrared light. In addition, even in a 24-hour facility, a monitoring digital camera may be provided with an infrared imaging function so as to be able to switch between imaging under normal illumination and imaging under infrared light. Separate the power supply for the camera and infrared light from the power supply for lighting inside the facility,
When the illumination in the equipment is turned off, the operation can be automatically switched to imaging under infrared rays.

(2) In the above embodiment, an example of the display screen by the management-side display 10 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, but these display screens are merely examples, and various kinds of display screens may be used in actual implementation. Changes are possible. For example, FIG. 2 shows an example in which images taken by all digital cameras are simultaneously displayed on the same screen. However, images taken by each digital camera can be sequentially displayed at regular time intervals. In FIG. 3, In the above example, the calendar is displayed, and "Month / Date" is clicked on the calendar. However, various modifications can be made, such as entering "Month / Date" without displaying the calendar. It is.

(3) Further, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which digital cameras C1 to C7 were used as surveillance cameras, but analog cameras were used as surveillance cameras.
The personal computer bodies 1 and 5 as local storage means may be configured to digitize and store signals from the analog camera.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a camera imaging management system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display screen of a management-side display.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display screen of a management-side display.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,5 On-site storage means 2,6 On-site video means 9 Management-side control means 10 Management-side video means 11,12 Management-side command means and management-side imaging command means C1 to C7 Monitoring camera NET Communication means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 5/915 H04N 5/91 K 5/92 5/92 HF Term (Reference) 5B049 BB00 CC02 DD01 EE01 EE07 FF03 FF04 GG04 GG07 5C022 AA05 AA15 AB61 AB62 AB65 AB66 AC13 AC27 AC31 AC69 AC74 AC79 5C053 FA06 FA23 GB37 JA22 JA30 LA01 LA06 LA11 LA14 5C054 CA05 CC05 CD00 CE16 CF05 DA01 DA07 DA08 EG06 EG10 FA01 FE17 GA19

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A surveillance camera, a local-side video unit that images an image captured by the surveillance camera, a local-side storage unit that stores imaging information of the surveillance camera, and a local-side storage unit. A camera imaging management system comprising: a management-side video unit configured to image an image captured by the monitoring camera based on imaging information, wherein the local storage unit stores a signal from the monitoring camera as digital information. Management-side control means for searching for necessary video information from the digital information stored by the on-site storage means; and management-side command means for instructing the management-side control means of video information to be searched for. The management-side control means, based on a command from the management-side command means, retrieves necessary video information from the local storage means via communication means, and Camera imaging management system image sense side image means. 2. The camera imaging management system according to claim 1, wherein the on-site storage unit stores the digital information of the monitoring camera in correspondence with the date and time when the image was captured. 3. The management-side control means has a calendar function of displaying a date and time on the management-side video means, and the management-side control means controls the management side on the calendar displayed on the management-side video means. 3. The camera imaging management system according to claim 2, wherein video information corresponding to the instructed date and time is retrieved based on an instruction from the instructing means. 4. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image pickup instruction section for instructing the image pickup condition of the monitoring camera to the control section, wherein the control section based on the instruction from the image pickup section. The camera imaging management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein imaging conditions are commanded to the monitoring camera via the communication unit.