JP2003032673A - Monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a monitoring system which can be used at a low cost without requiring any dedicated monitoring terminal equipment to it and any dedicated application to it and without receiving the restriction on the place of its utilization. SOLUTION: The monitoring system has a monitoring server portion 4 comprising a check-notice-set information portion 5 preset in each room which at least stores an mail address of electronic-mail transmitting destinations; a WWW server 8; a record requesting portion 6 for sensing a call from an interphone 1 so as to start an image photographing by a camera; a record control portion 7 for reserving as an image file the photographed image in the WWW server 8; and a mail transmitting portion 9 for transmitting to the mail address set in each check-notice-set information portion 5 electronic mails including the URLs of the image file. Then, a user accesses the WWW server 8 from a general-purpose browser software present in an arbitrary terminal 13 so as to confirm the images of visitors which are recorded during the absence of the user.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used in an apartment house or the like, and monitors a visitor's image taken by a camera in response to a call from an intercom at an arbitrary terminal connected to a network such as a monitoring center. Monitoring system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional monitoring system in a house having a plurality of rooms with different users, for example, a video or audio of a visitor is displayed in a dedicated monitoring terminal device installed in each dwelling unit on the user side. There are things to check.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned monitoring system, the user needs to check the video and audio of the visitor on the dedicated monitoring terminal device, and is restricted by the place of use. It was

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and it can be used at a low cost without requiring a dedicated monitoring terminal device and a dedicated application, and without being restricted by a place of use. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a monitoring system that can be used.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a surveillance system including an intercom 1 and a camera 2 for a visitor to a house having a plurality of rooms having different users to call each room. And the intercom 1
In the surveillance system for taking a video of a visitor with the camera 2 in response to a call from the user, a surveillance notification setting information section 5 for storing at least the e-mail address of the e-mail destination set in advance for each room, and the Internet. A WWW server 8 accessible by general-purpose browser software from an arbitrary terminal 13 connected to the open network 12 such as the above, and a caller from the intercom 1 are detected to capture a video of a visitor with the camera 2. A recording request unit 6 to start, a recording control unit 7 which is connected to the WWW server 8 and captures the video of the visitor as a video file and saves the video file in the WWW server 8.
A monitor including a mail sending unit 9 for sending an electronic mail including a URL that is a storage location of the video file in the WWW server 8 to a mail address destination previously stored in the monitoring notification setting information unit 5. Server unit 4
And the user is an open network 1
The WWW server 8 can be accessed from general-purpose browser software on any terminal 13 connected to No. 2 to check the video of the visitor recorded when he / she is absent.

The monitoring system according to claim 2 is
The invention according to claim 1, wherein a microphone 3 for detecting the voice of the visitor is provided, and the recording requesting unit 6 causes the microphone 2 to move the visitor from the microphone 3 so as to interlock with the image capturing of the visitor by the camera 2. Of the visitor's voice is captured by the recording control unit 7 as an audio file, and the audio file is stored in the WWW server 8 together with the video file. It is characterized in that the WWW server 8 can be accessed from the general-purpose browser software on the terminal 13 to check the video and audio of the visitor recorded when the user is absent.

The monitoring system according to claim 3 is
The invention according to claim 2, wherein the e-mail is sent to the e-mail by the ID corresponding to the audio file.
In addition to adding a function of transmitting voice data, a telephone response unit 11 for outputting a voice file corresponding to the ID requested by the user to the monitoring server unit 4, and reproducing voice data from the voice file. The audio reproducing unit 10 is provided.

The program according to claim 4 causes a computer to execute a function of the monitoring server unit 4 according to any one of claims 1 to 3. It is a thing.

A recording medium according to a fifth aspect of the present invention stores a program for causing a computer to execute a function of the monitoring server section 4 according to any one of the first to third aspects. It is characterized in that it can be read by a computer that records it.

Here, the image stored in the above-mentioned image file may be a still image or a moving image. Also,
The intercom 1 includes a lobby intercom that allows a visitor and a user (resident) in each room to make a call through a monitor with a call function in response to a call from the visitor, and a visitor to each room. Various other things that can make calls to it are included.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention are shown in FIGS.
It will be described based on. FIG. 1 is a main part configuration diagram of a monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing setting data used in the monitoring system. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing flow at the time of visitor using the monitoring system, and FIG. 4 is a terminal 13 using the monitoring system.
It is explanatory drawing which shows the processing flow from the side.

In this embodiment, the monitoring system is
For example, an intercom 1 installed in a lobby or the like at the entrance of a condominium such as an apartment (not shown), a camera 2 for capturing an image of a visitor (not shown), and a microphone 3 for detecting a voice of the visitor. And a monitoring server unit 4 described later.

In the present embodiment, a lobby intercom is used as the intercom 1, and the camera 2, the microphone 3, and the intercom 1 are integrally formed.
The configuration may be such that each is provided individually.

Here, the monitoring server unit 4 detects a call request from the intercom 1 and a room for which a call request is made from the intercom 1 and a monitor notification setting information unit 5 having a function of storing a monitor notification setting described later. A WWW (World Wide W) that can be accessed by general-purpose browser software from a recording request unit 6 having a function of acquiring a number and a terminal 13 connected to an open network 12 such as the Internet.
eb) The server 8, the recording control unit 7 connected to the WWW server 8 and having the functions described later, and the URL (U of the file stored in the public folder (not shown) of the WWW server 8
information resource locator) and a mail sending unit 9 having a function of sending an e-mail in which an ID number is described as an ID of a sound file to a notification mail address destination, and a function of playing a desired sound file. The audio reproduction unit 10 and the telephone response unit 11 that is connected to the public line 15 and has a function of connecting and answering from the external public line 15 are configured.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the monitoring notification setting, for example, information set in advance by a user (resident) (not shown) who is a resident of each room is used as the monitoring notification setting information section 5.
Remembered in.

The contents of the monitoring notification setting include, for example, the room number of a condominium, the presence / absence setting for setting whether or not the user is in the room, the notification mail address of the e-mail notification destination, and the image. Also, there is a browser setting indicating a notification setting as to whether or not to notify by e-mail at the time of voice recording and a format for requesting recording.

The contents of each monitoring notification setting may be set as a memory switch (not shown), or a dedicated setting means (not shown) may be provided and set by setting this. .

Here, the recording control unit 7 receives the room number acquired by the recording request unit 6, confirms the contents of the monitoring notification setting corresponding to the room number, and converts the video data and the audio data from analog data to digital data. Convert it to data,
HTML (Hypertext Markup Lan)
guage), CHTML (Compact HTM)
L), MML (Mobile Markup Lang)
), HDML (Handheld Device)
e Markup Language) and the like are converted into a plurality of desired formats and stored in the WWW server 8.

The respective units constituting the monitoring server unit 4 may be arranged on the same machine as shown in FIG. 1, or the respective units may be arranged on different machines (not shown). Good.

As the terminal 13, an environment in which general-purpose browser software operates is used. For example, the remote terminal 13a or the portable terminal 1 that can be carried by the user is used.
3b, for example, mobile terminals, mobile phones, PHS (Pe
rsonal Handyphone System
m), PDA (Personal Digital A)
, etc. can be used. Terminal 1
In addition to the above, 3 may be configured by a computer or the like installed in the user's home, a work place, or the like, and any one is included.

The operation at the time of visitor using the monitoring system of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
First, the visitor makes a call request to the intercom 1 for a specific room number. Next, when the recording request unit 6 detects a call request from the intercom 1, the room number of the call request is acquired (step S1), and the recording control unit 7 confirms the presence / absence setting of the room number. (Step S2).

When the presence / absence setting is "absence", the recording controller 7 converts the video data and audio data of the visitor from, for example, analog data into digital data and fetches them (step S3).

When the recording request section 6 detects a disconnection request from the intercom 1 by the visitor, the capturing of the video data and the audio data is completed (step S4).

Next, the recording control unit 7 confirms the browser format of the monitoring notification setting, and the video file, the audio file, the HTML file for displaying these video file and the audio file in the format corresponding to the browser format, or Create an MML file and save the video file, audio file, HTML file or MML file as WWW
It is saved in the public folder of the server 8 (step S5).

For example, the video file is converted into, for example, the JPEG format or the MPEG format, and the audio file is converted into, for example, the WAVE format, in accordance with the browser format.

After saving the video file and the audio file in the public folder, the recording control unit 7 confirms the notification setting of the monitoring notification setting in the monitoring notification setting information unit 5 (step S
6) If the notification setting is “TRUE”, the notification mail address is confirmed, and the mail transmission unit 9 causes the WWW server 8
The e-mail describing the URL of the file and the ID number of the audio file stored in the public folder is sent to the notification mail address (step S7).

The content of this e-mail is, for example,
"There was a visitor on xx month, xx day, xx hour. Please refer to the following URL for details. Http: //xxx.xx
x / xxx. html, ID = △△. Is like that. "

On the terminal 13 side, when the electronic mail is received from the mail transmitting unit 9 (step S9), the user can save the file stored in the general-purpose browser software by the URL described in the electronic mail. Against W
By accessing through the WW server 8, an image can be displayed on the general-purpose browser software and the contents can be confirmed (step S10). Here, depending on whether or not the general-purpose browser software has a voice reproducing function (step S11), when using the browser software having a voice reproducing function, the voice file can be reproduced on the browser to check the voice (step S12). .

When using a general-purpose browser software having no voice reproduction function, when a call is made to the telephone response unit 11 (step S13), the telephone response unit 11 displays the ID number of the voice file described in the electronic mail. Request.
The user inputs this ID number from, for example, a push button (not shown) of the public line 15 (step S1).
4). When the ID number of the voice file is input, the voice reproducing unit 10 reproduces the voice file corresponding to the ID number, the reproduced voice is output to the public line 15 by the telephone response unit 11, and the voice confirmation by the public line 15 is performed. It can be performed (step S15).

Also, the recording control unit 7 confirms the notification setting of the monitoring notification setting (step S6), and the notification setting is "FA".
In the case of “LSE”, the e-mail is not sent from the mail sending unit 9 (step S8), but the user saves the HTML saved in the public folder of the WWW server 8 at any time.
You can access the file or MML file to check the video and audio. In consideration of security, it is preferable to browse the contents of the public folder by performing personal authentication at the time of access using a personal identification number or the like given in advance for each user.

The recording controller 7 controls whether the room number is
If the absence setting is confirmed (step S2) and the presence / absence setting is "present", the visitor is
From the lobby intercom as the intercom 1, since a user in the room can make a call via a monitor (not shown) having a call function, the recording control unit 7 does not perform the control operation as described above and proceeds to step S8. Transition.

In such a monitoring system, the monitoring server unit 4 saves the video and audio files of the visitor who came when the user was absent in the public folder of the WWW server 8. From the general-purpose browser software of any terminal 13 connected to the open network 12, it is possible to confirm the video and audio of the visitor recorded when he / she is absent.

Since the monitoring system of the present invention uses the terminal 13 on which the general-purpose browser software operates and the general-purpose browser software, a dedicated monitoring terminal device (not shown) and a dedicated application are used. It is low cost because it does not require.

Further, the presence of a video file or an audio file recorded when the user is absent is notified from the mail transmission section 9
URL that is the storage location of the public folder of the WWW server 8
Since an e-mail containing "is sent" to the user, the user can easily know that there was a visitor when he was absent by receiving the e-mail, and at the same time, from the arbitrary terminal 13 to the URL. By accessing, it is possible to easily confirm the video and audio of the visitor recorded when the user is absent.

Further, by providing the telephone answering unit 11 and the voice reproducing unit 10 in the monitoring server unit 4, even if the user uses general-purpose browser software having no voice reproducing function, You can check the voice of the visitor recorded in the absence of.

Next, a program for executing the monitoring system of the present invention will be described. The program of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to realize the functions as described in the above-described embodiments by the computer.

Such a program can be recorded in an arbitrary recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark), a CD, a hard disk, or the like, and can be used.
A program is installed from a recording medium by a medium access unit (not shown) provided in the monitoring server unit 4.

Further, the program of the present invention having the above-described functions is stored in an arbitrary server (not shown) on the open network 12 such as the Internet, and the monitoring server unit 4 is used as necessary. However, the program of the present invention may be delivered or installed from this arbitrary server.

[0039]

As described above, in the surveillance system according to the first aspect, the surveillance server section creates a video file of a visitor who came when the user who is a resident of each room is absent. Since it is saved in the public folder of the server, the effect that the user can check the video of the visitor recorded when he / she is absent from the general-purpose browser software of any terminal connected to the open network Play. Also, with a terminal that runs general-purpose browser software,
Since I am trying to use general-purpose browser software,
It has been possible to provide a monitoring system that does not require a dedicated monitoring terminal device and a dedicated application, can be used at low cost, and can be used without being restricted by the place of use. In addition, the presence of the video file and audio file of the visitor recorded when the user is absent is confirmed from the mail transmission unit constituting the monitoring server unit as a UR that is a storage location in the WWW server.
Since an e-mail containing L is sent to the user, the user can easily recognize that there was a visitor when he was absent by receiving the e-mail, and at the URL from any terminal. By accessing, it is possible to easily confirm the video and audio of the visitor recorded when the user is absent.

Further, in the monitoring system described in claim 2, in the invention described in claim 1, the monitoring server unit causes a WWW to be an audio file together with a video file of a visitor who came when the user was absent. Since it is saved in the public folder of the server, the user can check the audio along with the video of the visitor recorded when he / she is absent from the general-purpose browser software of any terminal. This has the effect of being able to confirm the message that is going on.

Further, in the monitoring system described in claim 3, in the invention described in claim 2, the mail sending part constituting the monitoring server part is used for an electronic mail sent to a user. The ID corresponding to the voice file of the visitor recorded when the person is absent is included, and the monitoring server unit is provided with a telephone response unit and a voice reproduction unit so that the voice file indicated by the ID can be read. By doing so, it is possible for the user to confirm the visitor's voice recorded when the user is absent, even when using general-purpose browser software having no voice reproduction function.

The program according to a fourth aspect is for causing a computer to execute the function of the monitoring server section according to any one of the first to third aspects. There is an effect that the function of the server unit can be easily executed.

Further, in the recording medium according to the fifth aspect, a program for causing a computer to execute the function provided in the monitoring server section according to any of the first to third aspects. It is readable by a computer in which is recorded, and the function of the monitoring server unit can be easily executed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing setting data used in the monitoring system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing flow at the time of a visitor using the monitoring system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing flow from the terminal side using the monitoring system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 intercom 2 camera 3 microphone 4 Monitoring server section 5 Monitoring notification setting information section 6 Recording request section 7 Recording controller 8 WWW server 9 Mail sending part 10 Audio playback unit 11 Telephone answering unit 12 Open network 13 terminals 14 public line 15 telephones

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yoshihiko Tokunaga             1048, Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.             Inside the company (72) Inventor Junji Senoo             1048, Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Works Co., Ltd.             Inside the company F term (reference) 5C054 AA01 CC05 CD04 CD06 CH05                       EA07 GB02 GB18 HA19                 5C084 AA02 AA07 AA19 BB25 BB33                       CC02 DD02 DD12 EE01 EE03                       EE04 FF04 FF08 FF23 FF27                       GG12 GG20 GG78                 5K038 AA05 CC08 DD15 DD22 FF01                 5K101 KK02 LL04 NN06 NN18

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An intercom for allowing a visitor to a house having a plurality of rooms having different users to make a call to each room, and a camera, wherein the intercom makes a call according to the call from the intercom. In a surveillance system that captures a video of a visitor with a camera, a surveillance notification setting information section that stores at least the e-mail address of the e-mail destination set in advance for each room, and an optional connection to an open network such as the Internet A WWW server accessible by general-purpose browser software from a terminal, a recording request unit that detects a call from the intercom and starts shooting a video of a visitor with the camera, and connects with the WWW server, A recording system for capturing a video of a visitor as a video file and storing the video file in the WWW server And a mail sending unit that sends an e-mail including a URL that is a storage location of the video file in the WWW server to a mail address destination stored in advance in the monitoring notification setting information unit. A user server unit, so that the user can access the WWW server from general-purpose browser software on any terminal connected to the open network and check the video of the visitor recorded when he / she is absent. Monitoring system. 2. A microphone for detecting the voice of the visitor is provided, and the recording request unit starts capturing the voice of the visitor from the microphone so as to be interlocked with the video shooting of the visitor by the camera, The recording control unit captures the visitor's voice as an audio file and saves the audio file together with the video file in the WWW server. The user uses the general-purpose browser software on the arbitrary terminal to access the WWW. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein a video and audio of the visitor recorded when the user is absent are accessed by accessing the server. 3. The mail sending unit is provided with a function of sending the electronic mail including an ID corresponding to the voice file, and the monitoring server unit is provided with the I-requested by the user.
The monitoring system according to claim 2, further comprising a telephone answering unit that outputs a voice file corresponding to D and a voice reproducing unit that reproduces voice data from the voice file. 4. A program for causing a computer to execute the function of the monitoring server unit according to claim 1. 5. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a computer to execute the functions of the monitoring server unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is recorded.