JP2002268962A - Monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently and properly distribute an image via a network. SOLUTION: This monitoring system is provided with a storage means 12 in which network configuration information to indicate connection configuration of the network 1 including image distribution camera controllers 2-1 to 2-4, clients A to G and an image repeating server 3, communication band information to indicate a communication band of a route among the devices, band state information to indicate use information of the route and state information on the distribution side to indicate states of the image distribution camera controllers 2-1 to 2-4 and the image repeating server 3 are stored, a distributing origin selecting means 14 to select a distributing origin of monitoring data based on the information in the storage means 12 when the monitoring data is requested from the client, a route selecting means 15 to select one route for the selected distributing origin and the route among the clients based on the information in the storage means 12 and a distribution instructing means 16 to instruct the selected distributing origin to transmit the monitoring data by using the selected route.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a monitoring system which distributes monitoring data by a client / server system via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional system of this type, a system described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-40185 is known. In this system, control of a camera and distribution of an image are performed by one server.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11, seven clients (devices) X1 to X1 connected to a network 1
The image distribution camera control device 2 serving as one server distributes the monitoring image data obtained by the monitoring cameras Y1 to Y3 to X7. The image distribution camera control device 2 also performs a turning control and a zoom control of the cameras Y1 to Y3 upon receiving a request from the clients X1 to X7.

In the above system, the load on the image distribution camera control device 2 as a server increases in proportion to the increase in the number of clients, and in some cases, there is a problem that image data cannot be distributed quickly and appropriately.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, the image relay server Z is connected to the network 1 in the system shown in FIG.
A system has been proposed in which image data obtained from is transmitted to the relay server Z.

According to the system shown in FIG. 12, the load on the image distribution camera control device 2 is reduced, and the system shown in FIG.
As compared with the first system, it is possible to quickly and appropriately distribute image data.

[0007] However, in recent years, networking has been further advanced, and the configuration of the monitoring system has become complicated, and if an image relay server is introduced, it is no longer possible to carry out appropriate distribution.

[0008] For example, a system as shown in FIG. 13 will be described as an example. The clients A to G are connected to the network 1 and the image distribution camera control devices 2-1 to 2-4 transmit the image data to be monitored obtained by the cameras a to g which obtain the image data to be monitored to the clients A to G. To deliver.

The network 1 includes cameras a to g
Relays the monitoring target image data obtained by the client A
To the image relay server 3 to which the image is to be distributed. In FIG. 13, N1 to N8 indicate nodes, and the thick lines of the network 1 and its connection lines indicate communication bands. For example, the bandwidth between the node N5 and the node N7 and the bandwidth between the node N2 and the image distribution camera control device 2-1 are narrow, and the node N2
It indicates that the band between the node and the node N8 is wide.

[0010]

In the system described above, the images of all the cameras a to g are distributed to the image relay server 3, and the clients A to G access the image relay server 3 to reduce the load on the network. It is hard to say that it will be reduced. For example, the client G is relatively the image relay server 3
, There may be an advantage to access the image relay server 3, but the clients D, E
When accessing the cameras d and e, it is better to directly access the image distribution camera control devices 2-2 and 2-3 instead of obtaining images via the image relay server 3 and to reduce the load on the network. In some cases, the total decreases and images can be distributed efficiently.

In a network of the remote monitoring system, various communication media such as a LAN, a WAN, a wireless LAN, and a telephone public network can be considered as a medium for connecting each device and exchanging images. Since the communication band differs depending on these media, it can be said that it is necessary to change the access route and location depending on the width of the communication band of the network 1.

For example, although it seems possible to directly access the cameras f and g from the clients C and F, the communication band between the image distribution camera control device 2-4 of the cameras f and g and the network 1 is limited. When there are many accesses to the cameras f and g due to the small size, it may be more efficient to distribute the images of the cameras f and g to the image relay server 3 and to access the image relay server 3.

As described above, in the remote monitoring system,
In order to efficiently operate the entire system, it has been desired to realize an image distribution method and a device that controls a route through which a client accesses a device that distributes an image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional monitoring system and has been made in response to the demand. The object of the present invention is to efficiently and appropriately perform image distribution via a network. To provide a possible monitoring system.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a monitoring system, comprising: a monitoring device for obtaining monitoring data to be monitored; a client device for receiving monitoring data obtained by the monitoring device; In a monitoring system in which a relay device that relays monitoring data sent from the client device to a network is connected to a network, network configuration information indicating a connection configuration of the network including the monitoring device, the client device, and the relay device; Storage means for storing communication band information indicating a communication band of a path between devices and band status information indicating use information thereof, and distribution status information indicating the status of the monitoring device and the relay device that distribute monitoring data. Distribution of monitoring data based on the information in the storage means when there is a request for monitoring data from the client device. And distribution source selection means for selecting a route selection means for selecting one path based on the information of the storage means for the path between the between the selected talker client, with respect to the selected talker And a distribution instructing unit for instructing transmission of monitoring data using the selected route. Accordingly, network configuration information indicating a connection configuration of a network including a client device and a relay device, communication band information indicating a communication band of a path between the devices and band status information indicating use information thereof, and a monitoring device that distributes monitoring data The distribution source and route of the monitoring data are selected in consideration of the distribution side status information indicating the status of the relay device.

In the monitoring system according to a second aspect of the present invention, the distribution source selection means selects the best monitoring data distribution source based on information in the storage means when a request for monitoring data is received from a client device. The route selection unit selects one route for the selected best distribution source and the route between the client based on the information of the storage unit.

In the monitoring system according to a third aspect of the present invention, the distribution source selecting means, upon receiving a request for monitoring data from a client device, performs all distributions capable of distributing the monitoring data based on information in the storage means. Source, and the route selection means finds a route between all the selected delivery sources and the client, and selects one delivery source and a route based on information in the storage means.

[0018] In the monitoring system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the distribution source selecting means selects the corresponding monitoring device and all the relay devices.

The monitoring system according to claim 5 of the present invention is characterized in that update means for updating information in the storage means is provided.

[0020] In a monitoring system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a control server including the storage means, the distribution source selecting means and the route selecting means is connected to the network.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this system,
For the seven clients (devices) A to G connected to the network 1, the image distribution camera control devices 2-1 to 2-4 transmit the monitoring image data (monitoring data) obtained by the monitoring cameras a to g. To deliver. Further, the image distribution camera control devices 2-1 to 2-4 also perform turning control and zoom control of the cameras a to g in response to requests from the clients A to G and the like.

In the network 1, cameras a to g
Relays the monitoring target image data obtained by the client A
To the image relay server 3 to which the image is to be distributed. In FIG. 1, N1 to N9 indicate nodes, and the thick lines of the network 1 and its connection lines indicate communication bands.

Further, a control server 10 for controlling the distribution of image data is connected to the network 1.
The control server 10 is configured by a computer, is connected to the network 1 by the communication unit 13, and the control unit 11 performs control related to distribution of image data using information stored in the storage unit 12. .

In the above, the image distribution camera control device 2
Reference numerals -1 to 2-4 denote monitoring devices that obtain monitoring data of a monitoring target, clients A to G are client devices that receive monitoring data obtained by the monitoring device, and the image relay server 3 transmits the monitoring data from the monitoring device. The relay device relays monitoring data to be sent to the client device.

The storage means 12 stores network configuration information, communication band information, band status information indicating its use information, and distribution side status information. The network configuration information is information indicating a connection configuration of a network including the monitoring device, the client device, and the relay device. The communication band information is information indicating a communication band of a path between the monitoring device, the client device, and the relay device. The distribution status information is information indicating the status of the monitoring device and the relay device that distribute the monitoring data.

The network configuration information, the communication band information and the band status information indicating the usage information and the distribution side status information are stored in the storage means 12 in the form of a table as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example. I have. The table of FIG. 2 is associated with the identification information of the connected node for each device, and is network configuration information. Further, in the table of FIG. 2, the band capacity with respect to the node connected to each device is stored, this is communication band information, and "situation (remaining capacity)" is stored correspondingly. This is band status information indicating usage information. The “status (residual capacity)” of the image relay server 3 and the cameras a to g (image distribution camera control devices 2-1 to 2-4) is as follows.
This is distribution side status information indicating the statuses of the monitoring device and the relay device. Further, the image relay server 3 stores information (distribution-side status information) indicating that there is an item of an image under distribution and which camera (not limited to one) is distributing an image.

For example, the image relay server 3 is connected to the node N8, the bandwidth capacity with this node is "5", and the situation (remaining capacity) is "2". That is, it is known that "3" of the bandwidth capability "5" is used, that is, the distribution side status information. Here, the numerical value such as the bandwidth capability indicates, for example, the accessible number.

In the table of FIG. 3, the identification information of the adjacent node is stored for each node, which is the network configuration information. In this example, the adjacent node is 2
However, when the configuration of the network is different, one node stores identification information of one or more networks. Then, the band capacity is stored in correspondence with the identification information of the node adjacent to each node, and this is communication band information, and correspondingly, “status (remaining capacity)”
Is stored, and this is the band status information indicating the usage information. Furthermore, the distance between nodes is stored in the storage means 12, and the distance between the distribution source and the distribution destination can be detected. Further, the number of nodes of the distribution source and the distribution destination can be detected from the tables of FIGS. As described above, the information of FIGS. 2 and 3 can grasp all the states of the network system of FIG.

The control unit 11 is provided with a distribution source selection unit 14, a route selection unit 15, a distribution instruction unit 16, and an information update unit 17. The distribution source selecting unit 14 stores the storage unit 12 when the client device requests a monitoring data.
Of the monitoring data is selected based on this information. The route selection unit 15 selects one route based on the information in the storage unit 12 with respect to the route between the distribution source selected above and the client.

The distribution instruction means 16 transmits monitoring data to the distribution source selected above by using the selected route. The information updating unit 17 updates information in the storage unit 12 by analyzing whether there is a change in the network configuration or the like, for example, by analyzing a broadcast call and a response corresponding thereto.

Distribution source selecting means 14, route selecting means 15
The operation by the distribution instruction means 16 is realized by either the operation based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5 or the operation based on the flowchart of FIG. That is, the operation is performed according to whether the control server 10 has a program corresponding to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5, has a program corresponding to the flowchart of FIG. 6, or has both of them and is appropriately selected.

First, the operation based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5 will be described. The distribution source selecting unit 14 is a communication unit 13
It monitors the arrival of a distribution request via (S
1) When the distribution request arrives, the situation at the data collection source is detected (S2). For example, in the case of a request to obtain image data from the camera a (image distribution camera control device 2-1), distribution is performed from the camera a (image distribution camera control device 2-1) from the table in FIG. With respect to the current remaining capacity “−2”, it can be detected that “−3” when the request is further handled.

Next, a situation in the image relay server (in this example, only the image relay server 3 but generally all image relay servers) is detected (S3). Referring to the table of FIG. 2, it can be detected that the current remaining capacity "2" becomes "1" when the request is further responded to.

Therefore, it is detected which is more advantageous when the distribution is received from the camera a (image distribution camera control device 2-1) as the data collection source and the image relay server 3 as the relay device. . Here, since the relay device is advantageous, the relay device having the most margin when responding to the request is selected from the plurality of relay devices (S5), and the selected relay device is determined as the distribution source (S6).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that the data collection source is advantageous, the data collection source (camera a (image distribution camera control device 2-1) in the above example) is distributed. It is determined as a source (S7).

Next, the route selection means 15 detects the route from the source to the destination (client) in response to the determination of the source from the tables of FIGS. 2 and 3 (S1).
1). Then, it is detected whether or not there is one route (S
12) If it is detected that there is only one, this one route is selected (S13), and the distribution instruction means 16 distributes to the selected data distribution source using the selected route. (S14).

In step 14, for example, the image data of the camera a is distributed to the camera a ((image distribution camera control device 2-1)) or the image relay server 3 which has already distributed the image data of the camera a. To instruct. Further, when instructing the image relay server 3 that distributes the image data of the camera a to distribute the image data of the camera b, the image data of the camera b ((the image distribution camera control device 2-
2)) is instructed to distribute the image data to the image relay server 3.

On the other hand, if it is detected in step S12 that there are a plurality of routes, it is detected how the remaining capacity changes when each route is used (S15).
Select a route that has a large remaining capacity when used (S
16) Send an instruction to perform distribution using the selected route (S14).

Next, the operation based on the flowchart of FIG. 6 will be described. The distribution source selection unit 14 monitors the arrival of a distribution request via the communication unit 13 (S21), and when the distribution request arrives, detects the situation at the data collection source (S22). For example, in the case of a request to obtain image data from the camera a (image distribution camera control device 2-1), distribution is performed from the camera a (image distribution camera control device 2-1) from the table in FIG. And "-3" when the current remaining capacity "-2" is further requested.
Can be detected.

Next, the route from the data collection source to the distribution destination (client) is detected from the tables in FIGS. 2 and 3, and how the remaining capacity changes when each route is used is detected. (S23), the best route for distribution from the data collection source (there is more residual capacity when used) is selected (S24).

Further, the status of the image relay server (in this example, only the image relay server 3 but generally all image relay servers) is detected (S25). Referring to the table of FIG. 2, it can be detected that the current remaining capacity "2" becomes "1" when the request is further responded to.

Next, a route from each image relay server to a distribution destination (client) is detected from the tables of FIGS. 2 and 3, and how the remaining capacity changes when each route is used is detected. (S26), it is determined from which image relay server to use which route to perform the distribution (the remaining capacity is large when used), and the image relay server and the route are detected (step S26). S27).

Furthermore, the image relay server and the route detected in step S27, and the data collection source and the superiority or inferiority of the route detected in step S24 are detected because which one has more residual capacity when used (S
28), determine the best distribution source and route (S2)
9). Then, an instruction is sent to the selected data distribution source to perform distribution using the selected route (S30). The operation in step S30 is the same as the operation in step S14.

In the above two methods, the selection is made on the basis of the remaining capacity. However, in case that the remaining capacity is relatively large regardless of the route and the distribution source used,
The distance between nodes is stored in the storage unit 12, and selection is performed based on the distance between nodes. Alternatively, when the distances are almost the same, the selection is made based on the number of passing nodes.

An operation according to an actual example in the case of controlling the distribution of image data by the above operation will be described. For example, when the client A obtains an image from the camera a, FIG.
As shown in (1), a route R1 for direct distribution from the image distribution camera control device 2-1 to the client A, and a route R2 + R3 for distribution from the image distribution camera control device 2-1 to the client A via the image relay server 3 There is.

Here, it is assumed that there is sufficient margin in the remaining capacity regardless of which route is used for distribution. Then, the control server 10 obtains the distance between the route R1 and the route R2 + R3 using the distance between the nodes stored in the storage unit 12, and since the distance of the route R1 is short, the image distribution camera control device 2-1. Determines that distribution is performed directly to the client A, and instructs the image distribution camera control device 2-1 to perform distribution.

If the client B has obtained an image from the camera a from the state shown in FIG. 7 and the client C has also issued a request to obtain an image from the camera a, as shown in FIG. When the control device 2-1 distributes to the clients A to C, the image distribution camera control device 2
-1 and the remaining capacity of the network are small, and as shown in FIG. 9, the remaining capacity is larger when the image is delivered from the image delivery camera control device 2-1 to the clients A to C via the image relay server 3.

In such a case, the control server 10 instructs the image distribution camera control device 2-1 to perform distribution to the image relay server 3, and instructs the image relay server 3 to distribute to the clients A to C. Give instructions. As a result, the image data obtained by the camera a via the route shown in FIG. 9 is distributed.

In the state shown in FIG. 9, when the client D issues a request to obtain an image from the camera a, the client D is directly sent from the image distribution camera control device 2-1.
Route R4 for distribution to camera and image distribution camera control device 2
10 through the image relay server 3 to the client D in the clockwise direction in FIG. 10 and the route R2 + R6 from the image distribution camera control device 2-1 to the client D in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. Route R to deliver to
2 + R7.

In this case, the route R2 + R7 is not selected because the communication band between the nodes N7 to N5 is narrow and the remaining capacity is the smallest. The route R2 + R6 distributes image data to the clients A to C, transmits image data from the image distribution camera control device 2-1 to the image relay server 3, and additionally distributes the image data to the client D. Is performed, the remaining capacity is determined to be small at the time of route selection. On the other hand, in the route R4, the residual capacity between the image distribution camera control device 2-1 and the nodes N2 to N4 decreases, but the residual capability becomes larger than that of the route R2 + R6. The route R4 for distribution to the client D is selected, and the control server 10 gives an instruction to the image distribution camera control device 2-1.

Thus, optimal image data distribution is performed in consideration of distribution efficiency such as the load state of the network and the distribution-side device and the distribution distance.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, network configuration information indicating a connection configuration of a network including a client device and a relay device, communication band information indicating a communication band of a path between the devices, and use information thereof are provided. The distribution source and route of the monitoring data are selected in consideration of the bandwidth status information indicating the monitoring status and the distribution side status information indicating the status of the monitoring device and the relay device that distribute the monitoring data, and the image is distributed efficiently and appropriately through the network. Can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of storage contents of a storage means provided in a control server of the monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of the contents stored in a storage means of the control server of the monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control server of the monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control server of the monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control server of the monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an operation of determining an image distribution route by the control server of the monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an operation of determining an image distribution route by the control server of the monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an operation of determining an image distribution route by the control server of the monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view for explaining an operation of determining an image distribution route by the control server of the monitoring system according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a conventional monitoring system.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a conventional monitoring system.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a conventional monitoring system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 network 2-1 to 2-4 image distribution camera control device 3 image relay server 10 control server 11 control unit 12 storage unit 13 communication unit 14 distribution source selection unit 15 route selection unit 16 distribution instruction unit 17 information update unit A to G Client ag camera

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yukari Murata 1 Toshiba-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo Toshiba Corporation Fuchu Plant (72) Inventor Hidefumi Maruo 3-1-1 Asahigaoka, Hino-shi, Tokyo Toshiba Corporation Inside the Hino Plant (72) Inventor Naoko Sato 3-1-1 Asahigaoka, Hino-shi, Tokyo F-term in the Toshiba Hino Plant (reference) 5B089 GA21 GB02 HA06 JB03 KA07 5C054 AA01 CA04 CC03 DA01 DA08 HA19 5K030 HA08 HB02 HC14 JA11 JT04 LB07

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A network, comprising: a monitoring device that obtains monitoring data to be monitored, a client device that receives monitoring data obtained by the monitoring device, and a relay device that relays monitoring data sent from the monitoring device to the client device. In the monitoring system, network configuration information indicating a connection configuration of the network including the monitoring device, the client device, and the relay device, communication band information indicating a communication band of a path between the devices, and usage information thereof Storage means for storing bandwidth status information indicating the status of the monitoring device and the distribution device status information indicating the statuses of the monitoring device and the relay device for distributing monitoring data; and Distribution source selection means for selecting a distribution source of monitoring data based on information; and the selected distribution source Route selecting means for selecting one path based on the information in the storage means for the path between the clients; and instructing the selected distribution source to transmit monitoring data using the selected path. A monitoring system comprising: a distribution instruction unit. 2. The distribution source selection unit selects the best monitoring data distribution source based on information in the storage unit when there is a request for monitoring data from a client device, and the route selection unit selects the best monitoring data distribution source. 2. A route is selected for a route between the distribution source and the client based on information in the storage unit.
A monitoring system according to claim 1. 3. The distribution source selection unit selects all distribution sources capable of distributing the monitoring data based on information in the storage unit when a request for monitoring data is received from a client device. 2. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein a route between all selected distribution sources and the client is obtained, and one distribution source and a route are selected based on information in the storage unit. 4. The monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein said distribution source selecting means selects a corresponding monitoring device and all the relay devices. 5. The monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising updating means for updating information in said storage means. 6. A control server comprising the storage unit, the distribution source selection unit, and the route selection unit, wherein the control server is connected to the network.
The monitoring system according to any one of the preceding claims.