JP2002218439A - Image monitor system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately judge the present situation following the movements of persons, vehicles, etc., at a photographing place by grasping information on the photographing place of a surveillance camera, e.g. detailed characteristics, a neighboring situation or the like on the monitor of a receiving side device. SOLUTION: In this image monitor system comprising a transmitting side device 10 for transmitting photographic image data photographed by the surveillance camera 11 via a transmission line and the receiving side device 20 for restoring a photographed image on the basis of the transmitted image data and displaying the photographed image on the monitor 27, the receiving side device 20 is provided with a reference image memory 21 for storing preliminarily images for grasping information about the photographing place of the camera 11 as reference image data, and simultaneously displays the transmitted image data and the reference image data stored in the memory 21 on the monitor 27.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transmitting apparatus for transmitting image data captured by a surveillance camera via a transmission line, and a receiving apparatus for restoring a captured image based on the transmitted image data and displaying the image on a monitor. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image monitoring system capable of grasping information on a shooting location of a monitoring camera on a monitor of a receiving device and appropriately determining a current situation of the shooting location.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of image monitoring system,
Images captured by the surveillance camera installed in the monitoring area
(Local Area Network) or a transmission system via a transmission line such as a telephone line or the like, and a display on a monitoring monitor connected to a receiving device installed at a remote place is known. Generally, a surveillance camera shoots a surveillance area at a fixed angle and a fixed magnification and constantly transmits captured images, and when a person or car is moving within the shooting range of the surveillance camera, a part of the captured images is a moving image. become. However, it is not possible to capture detailed features in a captured image obtained by capturing the monitoring area at a fixed magnification. If a more detailed image is required, the photographing magnification of the monitoring camera may be increased (zoom up) or the number of pixels may be increased. High-definition color images, etc., which are frequently transmitted. In addition, in a captured image captured at a fixed angle and a fixed magnification of the monitoring area, what kind of place the monitoring camera is installed to capture, that is, it is not possible to grasp the surrounding situation,
When it is desired to know the surrounding situation, the photographing angle of the surveillance camera is changed (pan, tilt) or the photographing magnification of the surveillance camera is reduced (zoom down). Also, LA
N or a transmission line such as a telephone line has a small transmission capacity and is limited in transmission speed when transmitting a captured image of a surveillance camera. Therefore, for example, a method of transmitting a coarse image having a small number of pixels or a time The transmission rate is limited by a method of transmitting a high-definition color image or the like having a large number of pixels. In addition, when monitoring a captured image at all times, particularly in the case of dusk or night, or in a dark captured image such as in a dark room, detailed features cannot be captured. Was like that.
In addition, when it is desired to check the situation in a range that is blocked by a person or a car moving in the shooting range due to stopping for a particularly long time, it is preferable to switch to a shooting image from a monitoring camera that shoots a monitoring area from another angle. I was

[0003]

However, in the conventional image monitoring system, the photographing magnification of the surveillance camera is increased.
When reducing (zoom up / zoom down) or changing the shooting angle (pan / tilt), monitor the status of other parts of the monitoring area that are no longer shown in the shot image by the operation. There was a problem that can not be. Further, when transmitting a coarse image having a small number of pixels, there is a problem that detailed characteristics cannot be captured on the monitor. Further, when transmitting a high-definition color image or the like having a large number of pixels, a frame image of a moving image realizes at most about 1 to 2 frames per second. There is a problem that it is not possible to capture a real-time movement following the movement of a person or a car. Further, when illuminating the monitoring area, there is a problem that the illumination must always be lit. In addition, when switching to another monitoring camera, there is a problem that it is necessary to know which monitoring camera corresponds.

Therefore, in the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, information on the shooting location of the monitoring camera, that is, detailed characteristics, surrounding conditions, and the like are grasped on the monitor of the receiving device, and the location of the shooting location is determined. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image monitoring system capable of appropriately determining a current situation following a movement of a person, a car, or the like.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a transmitting apparatus for transmitting photographed image data photographed by a surveillance camera via a transmission line, and a photographed image based on the transmitted image data. In an image monitoring system comprising a receiving device for restoring and displaying the image on a monitor, the receiving device includes a reference image memory for storing an image for grasping information about a shooting location of the monitoring camera in advance as reference image data, The receiving device simultaneously displays the transmitted image data and the reference image data stored in the reference image memory on the monitor.

[0006] The reference image data is detailed image data obtained by photographing detailed information on a photographing place of the surveillance camera.

The detailed image data is higher-definition image data than the transmitted image data.

Alternatively, the detailed image data is clear image data captured in a state where the monitoring range of the monitoring camera is bright.

The reference image data is peripheral image data obtained by photographing a wide area including a photographing range of the transmitted image data.

[0010] Alternatively, a plurality of surveillance cameras are installed, and the reference image data includes a shooting range of the transmitted image data, and captures a wide area including the surveillance cameras installed in at least one other place. This is peripheral image data.

Further, the transmitted image data and the reference image data are displayed side by side on the monitor.

Alternatively, the peripheral image data and the transmitted image data are displayed side by side on the monitor, and a rectangle indicating the range of the transmitted image data is displayed in the peripheral image data.

Alternatively, the transmitted image data is superimposed on the peripheral image data and superimposed and displayed on the monitor.

Further, the transmitted image data is blinked and displayed on the monitor.

Alternatively, the transmitted image data is displayed on the monitor with the color inverted.

Alternatively, the transmitted image data is displayed on the monitor in a rectangular shape.

Further, the transmitted image data is black and white image data obtained by converting image data taken by the surveillance camera into black and white data.

Alternatively, the transmitted image data is contour image data obtained by extracting a contour from photographed image data photographed by the surveillance camera.

Alternatively, the transmitted image data is binary image data obtained by converting image data captured by the surveillance camera into binary data.

Alternatively, the transmitted image data is color-reduced image data obtained by reducing the color of photographed image data photographed by the surveillance camera.

Alternatively, the transmitted image data is infrared image data captured by an infrared camera.

Further, by requesting the transmitting apparatus to transmit a high-definition image of the transmitted image data,
The image data captured by the surveillance camera is transmitted as high-resolution image data of a still image.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a main block diagram showing an embodiment of an image monitoring system according to the present invention. Reference numeral 10 denotes a transmitting device that sends out image data captured by the surveillance camera 11 via a transmission path such as a LAN or a telephone line, and 20 denotes a monitor 2 that restores a captured image based on the transmitted image data.
The transmission-side device 10 and the reception-side device 20 perform bidirectional communication via a transmission path. An A / D converter 12 that converts an image signal captured by the monitoring camera 11 into digital image data;
The captured image data converted by the A / D converter 12 is converted into coarse image data having a small number of pixels, black and white image data, contour image data, binary image data, or color-reduced image data. The first image processing unit 13 and the photographed image data processed by the first image processing unit 13 are, for example, JPEG (Joint Photograph).
ic coding Experts Group. )
System, JBIG (Joint Bi-level Im)
age expertsGroup. A) an encoding unit 14 for compressing the image data by a method, etc .;
And a control unit 16 that controls the first image processing unit 13, the encoding unit 14, and the output I / F 15 in accordance with an instruction from the receiving device 20. Reference image memory 21 for storing an image for ascertaining the image data as reference image data, and an input I / F for receiving the image data transmitted from the transmission side device 10.
22, a decoding unit 23 for restoring a captured image based on image data received by the input I / F 22, and a reference image memory 21
A second image processing unit 24 that switches between the reference image data stored in the storage unit and the transmitted image data restored by the decoding unit 23 and outputs the image data for display, an input I / F 22, the decoding unit 23, and the second image processing A control unit 25 for controlling the unit 24 and instructing the transmission-side apparatus 10 how to transmit image data; and a D / A conversion unit 26 for converting display image data into an analog image signal and outputting it to a monitor 27. I have. It is general that a plurality of monitoring cameras 11 and transmission-side devices 10 are provided. However, in order to avoid complicating the drawing, only one monitoring camera 11 and transmission-side devices 10 are connected to a transmission path. .

In the above configuration, the operation of the image monitoring system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 to 6. FIGS. 2 to 6 are conceptual diagrams showing examples of screen display on the monitor. FIG. 2 shows coarse image data (b) with a small number of pixels transmitted as reference image data as high-definition image data (a). Example of displaying side by side,
FIG. 3 shows the transmitted image data as contour image data (c).
FIG. 4 shows an example in which reference image data is displayed side by side with reference image data (a). FIG. 4 shows an example in which reference image data is displayed as clear image data (d), side by side with image data (e) transmitted at dusk. FIG. 6 shows an example in which the transmitted image data (g) is displayed in a color-inverted manner and superimposed on the reference image data as peripheral image data (f). FIG. (H) shows an example in which the image data (i) is displayed side by side with the transmitted image data (i) blocked by a person or a car.

First, reference image data is stored in a reference image memory 21 provided in the receiving device 20 shown in FIG. For example, after installing the monitoring camera 11 in the monitoring area, or when starting the shooting of the monitoring area, the image data captured by the monitoring camera 11 is transmitted via the transmission path,
The captured image may be restored based on the transmitted image data and stored in the reference image memory 21. Or
In order to reduce the capacity of the reference image memory 21, image data before restoration may be stored.

In order to store the high-definition image data (a) shown in FIG. 2 as reference image data, image data taken by the surveillance camera 11 is transmitted as a high-definition image having a large number of pixels. It is stored in the memory 21. Then, when monitoring the monitoring area, the transmitting apparatus 10 converts the pixels of the captured image data captured by the monitoring camera 11 to coarse image data by reducing the number of pixels by the first image processing unit 13 to reduce the number of pixels, and transmits the image data. The receiving-side apparatus 20 that has received the transmitted image data monitors the image data (b) transmitted by the second image processing unit 24 and the high-definition image data (a) stored in the reference image memory 21. The output is switched to be displayed side by side, and is displayed on the monitor 27 as shown in FIG. By doing so, the transmission image (b), which is a coarse image with a small number of pixels due to the limitation of the transmission speed, that is, the image captured by the monitoring camera 11 is monitored by the monitor 27, the height displayed side by side is monitored. By comparing with the detailed image (a), the real-time operation following the movement of a person or a car in the shooting range is captured, and the surveillance camera 1
It is possible to grasp the information on the shooting location, that is, detailed characteristics, and appropriately determine the current situation of the shooting location. For example, in the display example shown in FIG. 2, in the transmitted coarse image (b) having a small number of pixels, it is not possible to determine whether or not the front image b1 is a bag, but it can be confirmed that there is, and high definition can be confirmed. In the image (a), the object a1
(Same as b1) can be confirmed as a bag. Also, comparing these two images, it can be confirmed that the image a2 in front is not a coarse image (b), and it can be confirmed that a high definition image (a) has a CD-ROM or the like. If a different part of the two images requires a detailed image of a changed part of the image captured by the monitoring camera 11, the control unit 25 provided in the receiving side device 20 sends the image to the transmitting side device 10. What is necessary is just to instruct the monitoring camera 11 to transmit the captured image as high-resolution image data of a still image, for example.

When transmitting the photographed image data photographed by the surveillance camera 11 by the transmitting apparatus 10, the photographed image data may be converted into black and white data by the first image processing unit 13 to be converted into black and white image data. Also, as shown in FIG.
The outline may be extracted from the captured image data by the image processing unit 13 and used as the outline image data (c). Further, the first image processing unit 13 may convert the photographed image data into binary data to obtain binary image data. Alternatively, the first image processing unit 13 may reduce the color of the captured image data to obtain reduced color image data. Alternatively, infrared image data captured by the monitoring camera 11 as an infrared camera may be transmitted. In other words, the high-definition image data stored in the reference image memory 21 may be image data having a sufficient number of pixels and colors as the monitoring image, and the image data to be transmitted may be converted to an image having a small number of pixels or colors as described above. Inferior image data may be used.

Also, clear image data (d) shown in FIG.
Is stored as reference image data, the monitoring area is photographed by the surveillance camera 11 in a bright state, for example, with illumination, and the photographed image data is transmitted and stored in the reference image memory 21. Then, when monitoring the monitoring area, the transmission-side device 10 transmits the captured image data captured by the monitoring camera 11, and the reception-side device 20 that has received the transmitted image data is transmitted by the second second image processing unit 24. The transmitted image data (e) and the reference image memory 21
And outputs the clear image data (d) stored in the monitor 27 so as to be displayed side by side on the monitor 27, and displays it on the monitor 27 as shown in FIG. In this way, when the transmission image (e) such as at dusk or night or in a dark room is constantly monitoring a captured image in which the transmission image (e) is dark,
By comparing with the clear image (d) displayed side by side, it is not necessary to always make the monitoring area bright by illumination, and information on the shooting location of the monitoring camera 11, that is, detailed characteristics can be grasped. The current situation of the shooting location can be appropriately determined. For example, in the display example shown in FIG. 4, in the image (e) transmitted at dusk, the dark shadows e1 to e4 look like human shadows, but in the clear image data (d), the central table d1 It can be confirmed that the trees on the other side are trees d2 and d3.
4 and d5, the dark shadows e1 and e4 can be determined to be human shadows when compared with the image (e) at sunset.

Further, in order to store the peripheral image data (f) shown in FIG. 5 as reference image data, a wide range of photographed image data photographed by reducing (zooming down) the photographing magnification of the monitoring camera 11 is transmitted. It is stored in the reference image memory 21. When monitoring the monitoring area, the monitoring camera 1
1 is enlarged (zoomed up) and the transmitting device 1 is enlarged.
0 is the receiving side device 20 that transmits the image data captured by the surveillance camera 11 and receives the transmitted image data.
The image data (g) transmitted by the second image processing unit 24 is combined with the peripheral image data (f) stored in the reference image memory 21 and switched so as to be superimposed on the monitor 27 and output. It is displayed on the monitor 27 as shown in FIG. At this time, the second image processing unit 24 performs image processing such that the image corresponding to the transmission image in the image superimposed and displayed on the monitor 27 is displayed with its color inverted. Further, the second image processing unit 24 may perform image processing such that an image of a portion corresponding to a transmission image among images superimposed and displayed on the monitor 27 is blinked and displayed. Also, the second
The image processing unit 24 may perform image processing such that a portion corresponding to a transmission image among images superimposed and displayed on the monitor 27 is displayed by being surrounded by a rectangle. Alternatively, image processing may be performed such that the images are displayed side by side as shown in FIG. 6 and a rectangle indicating the range of the transmission image is displayed in the peripheral image. In this way, when monitoring the captured image (g) by capturing a small area with the monitoring camera 11, the monitoring image of the monitoring camera 11 is referred to by referring to the peripheral image (f) superimposed or displayed side by side. Information on the location, that is, the surrounding situation such as what kind of place the surveillance camera is set to shoot can be grasped, and the current situation of the shooting place can be appropriately determined. For example, in the display example shown in FIG. 5, in the color-reversed image (g) in which the range corresponding to the transmitted image data is color-reversed, the table g1 and the cup g2 placed thereon are shaded (because the color is reversed). (Shaded in white) extends to the right of the diagram,
Referring to the superimposed peripheral image (f), the window f
1 can be confirmed, and it can be determined that the shade of the table g1 and the cup g2 placed thereon is due to external light from the window f1.

Further, a plurality of monitoring cameras 11, 11a, 1
When 1b, 11c, and 11d are installed to include the monitoring cameras 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d installed in at least one other location as the peripheral image (h) as shown in FIG. By referring to the peripheral images (h) displayed side by side, a range that is obstructed by a moving person, a car, or the like in a shooting range (i) indicated by a rectangle, which is stopped for a particularly long time, is shot from another angle. Surveillance camera that can grasp which surveillance camera to perform, and photograph the obstructed area from another angle, for example, surveillance camera 1
By switching to the photographed image from 1a, the current situation of the photographing place can be appropriately determined. For example, in the display example shown in FIG. 6, in the transmitted image (i), a part of the blocked building i1 cannot be confirmed because the car i2 is stopped before the building i1, but the other monitoring camera 11a , 11b, 11c, and 11d, it can be understood that the surveillance camera 11a is installed so as to photograph the entrance of the building h1 (the same building as i1) blocked by the car i2. It is possible to switch to the captured image from the monitoring camera 11a without hesitation.

[0031]

According to the above-described image monitoring system, the information on the shooting location of the monitoring camera, that is, the image for grasping the detailed features, the surrounding conditions, etc., is previously stored in the receiving side device as the reference image data. A reference image memory that stores the information as a reference image, and compares the transmitted image displayed on the monitor with the reference image, or refers to the reference image to appropriately determine the situation of the shooting location.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main block diagram showing an embodiment of an image monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a screen display of a monitoring monitor;
An example is shown in which reference image data is displayed as high-definition image data (a) along with transmitted coarse image data (b) with a small number of pixels.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a screen display example of a monitoring monitor;
The transmitted image data is defined as contour image data (c).
The example which displayed side by side with the reference image data (a) is shown.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a screen display of a monitoring monitor;
An example is shown in which reference image data is displayed as clear image data (d) along with image data (e) transmitted at dusk.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a monitor monitor screen display;
An example is shown in which the transmitted image data (g) is displayed in a color-inverted and superimposed manner with the reference image data as the peripheral image data (f).

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a screen display example of a monitoring monitor;
An example is shown in which reference image data is displayed as peripheral image data (h) including another monitoring camera, along with transmitted image data (i) in a state of being blocked by a person or a car.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Sending side apparatus 11 Surveillance camera 12 A / D conversion part 13 First image processing part 14 Encoding part 15 Output I / F 16 Control part 20 Receiving side equipment 21 Reference image memory 22 Input I / F 23 Composite part 24 Second image Processing unit 25 Control unit 26 D / A conversion unit 27 Monitor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tsutomu Uno 1116 Suenaga, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki City Inside Fujitsu General Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Seiya Honda 1116, Suenaga, Takatsu-ku Kawasaki City Inside Fujitsu General Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ichiro Yamamoto 1116 Suenaga, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki City Inside Fujitsu General Inc. EG01 EH07 FA09 FC12 FE11 FE17 GD05 HA18 5C084 AA01 AA06 BB04 BB31 DD11 GG17 GG18 GG51 GG54 GG78 5C087 AA02 AA03 AA09 AA24 AA25 BB11 EE05 EE08 EE14 GG02 GG06 GG19

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. An image comprising: a transmitting device for transmitting captured image data captured by a surveillance camera via a transmission path; and a receiving device for restoring a captured image based on the transmitted image data and displaying the restored image on a monitor. In the surveillance system, the receiving device includes a reference image memory that stores an image for grasping information on a shooting location of the monitoring camera in advance as reference image data, and the receiving device transmits the transmitted image data and the reference data. An image monitoring system, wherein reference image data stored in an image memory is simultaneously displayed on the monitor. 2. The image surveillance system according to claim 1, wherein the reference image data is detailed image data obtained by photographing detailed information on a photographing place of the surveillance camera. 3. The image monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the detailed image data is higher-definition image data than the transmitted image data. 4. The image monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the detailed image data is clear image data captured in a state where the monitoring camera is in a bright shooting range. 5. The image monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the reference image data is peripheral image data obtained by shooting a wide range including a shooting range of the transmitted image data. 6. A plurality of surveillance cameras are installed, and the reference image data includes a shooting range of the transmitted image data, and images a wide area including a surveillance camera installed in at least one other location. 2. The image monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the image monitoring data is peripheral image data. 7. The image monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the transmitted image data and the reference image data are displayed side by side on the monitor. 8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said peripheral image data and said transmitted image data are displayed side by side on said monitor, and a rectangle indicating a range of said transmitted image data is displayed in said peripheral image data. The image monitoring system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein 9. The image monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein the transmitted image data is superimposed on the peripheral image data and superimposed on the monitor for display. 10. The image monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein said transmitted image data is blinked and displayed on said monitor. 11. The image monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein the transmitted image data is displayed on the monitor after being inverted in color. 12. The image monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein the transmitted image data is displayed on the monitor in a rectangular shape. 13. The image monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein the transmitted image data is monochrome image data obtained by converting image data captured by the monitoring camera into black and white data. . 14. The image monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein the transmitted image data is contour image data obtained by extracting a contour from image data captured by the monitoring camera. 15. The image according to claim 7, wherein the transmitted image data is binary image data obtained by converting image data captured by the surveillance camera into binary data. Monitoring system. 16. The transmitted image data is color-reduced image data obtained by reducing the color of photographed image data photographed by the surveillance camera.
The image monitoring system as described. 17. The image monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein the transmitted image data is infrared image data captured by an infrared camera. 18. Requesting transmission of a high-definition image of the transmitted image data to the transmission-side device, thereby transmitting captured image data captured by the surveillance camera as high-resolution still image data. 17. The image monitoring system according to claim 13, wherein: