JP2003158521A - Monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a monitoring system where a plurality of cameras and a plurality of monitoring devices are connected via a network and the monitoring devices can access the cameras to acquire a camera video image and display the video image even when the IP address of the camera is a dynamic IP address. SOLUTION: A network 7 is provided with a center device 3 that registers an ID unique to a first camera 1 or the like and a dynamic IP address. The first camera 1 or the like accesses the center device 3 to inform the center device 3 about its own camera ID and IP address and to register them to the center device 3. When the first monitoring device 4 or the like accesses, for example, the first camera 1, the first monitoring device 4 or the like acquires the corresponding ID from the center device 3 and accesses the camera 1 by using the acquired IP.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a surveillance system, and more particularly, a plurality of camera photographing devices and a plurality of surveillance devices are connected via a network, and the surveillance device accesses the camera photographing device. The present invention relates to a surveillance system that acquires a camera image and displays the same image, even if the IP address on the camera photographing device side is a dynamic IP address, which enables the access.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Connected to a network such as a LAN,
A plurality of network cameras (referred to as "camera photographing devices") that transmit camera images and various information to the surveillance monitor side via the network as digital data and the surveillance device on the surveillance monitor side are connected to each other on the network. In order to allow any of the monitoring devices to access any of the camera image capturing devices when the monitoring device accesses the camera image capturing device to acquire the camera image and constructs a monitoring system that displays the image. Requires that the IP address of the camera photographing device is a fixed IP address. When this address is a dynamic IP address, the IP address assigned by the provider is different each time it is accessed, and the IP address cannot be transmitted from the camera photographing device side to the monitoring device side. Will not be able to access the camera imager. Therefore, the IP address needs to be fixed. Note that the above-mentioned IP address is different each time it is accessed because the connection state with the camera photographing device is temporarily cut off due to management reasons on the provider side. After the interruption, a new IP address is assigned when the reconnection state is established. However, in order to use a fixed IP address, it is necessary to acquire the addresses for the number of camera photographing devices, which requires a cost for acquisition.
There is a problem that running cost for system operation becomes high.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a surveillance system which enables a surveillance device to access a camera photographing device even with a dynamic IP address.

[0004]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of camera photographing devices for photographing with a camera, and a plurality of cameras for monitoring camera images transmitted from designated ones of the plurality of camera photographing devices. In the surveillance system in which the surveillance device of the camera is connected via a network, the camera is connected to the network, and an ID (Identifier) and an IP (Internet Protocol) unique to the camera on the camera photographing device side.
col) address is provided in the center device, and the camera photographing device accesses the center device through the router and the network to obtain its own camera ID.
And an IP address, and when the monitoring device accesses any of the camera photographing devices, the monitoring device acquires a corresponding IP from the center device and accesses the camera photographing device by the acquired IP. It is provided.

The IP address of the monitoring device from the center device is obtained based on the camera ID.

Further, the center device pre-registers the names and passwords of the respective monitoring devices, and when accessed by any of the monitoring devices, the name and password of the monitoring device are registered. Authentication is performed, and when the authentication is performed, the IP address is returned to the monitoring device.

Further, the camera photographing device periodically notifies the center device of its own camera ID and IP address, and when the registered IP address is changed, the center device uses the changed IP address. I will update it.

Further, the camera photographing device has a photographing camera, a signal processing unit for performing a predetermined signal processing on an image from the camera, a memory unit for storing an ID unique to the camera, the center device or the center device. The communication device includes a communication unit that communicates with the monitoring device via a router and a network, and a control unit that controls the communication unit and the memory unit.

Further, the center device has a first registration unit for registering a camera-specific ID of each camera photographing device and an IP address in association with each other, and a second registration unit for preliminarily registering the name and password of each monitoring device. Whether the name and password of the monitoring unit are registered in the second registration unit when access is made by specifying the camera-specific ID from one of the registration unit and the monitoring device to inquire the IP address. Controlling the authentication unit, the communication unit that communicates with the camera photographing device or the monitoring device via the router and the network, the first registration unit, the second registration unit, the authentication unit, and the communication unit. When the authentication unit authenticates the registration, the first registration unit reads out the IP address corresponding to the camera-specific ID, and the communication unit transmits the IP address. That.

Further, the monitoring device receives from the center device or the camera photographing device, an input unit for inputting a camera ID, a self-name, a password, etc., a memory unit for storing an IP address obtained from the center device. A signal processing unit that performs a predetermined process on the signal, a display unit that displays the signal from the signal processing unit, a communication unit that communicates with the center device or the camera photographing device via a router and a network, the input unit, A control unit that controls the memory unit, the signal processing unit, and the communication unit is provided.

The IP address is a non-fixed dynamic IP address.

When the access to the corresponding camera photographing device fails, the monitoring device again acquires the relevant IP from the center device, and accesses the corresponding camera photographing device again by the acquired IP. To do so.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings based on examples. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a surveillance system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of essential parts showing one embodiment of the camera photographing devices 1 and 2 of FIG.
1 is a block diagram of essential parts showing one embodiment of the center device 3 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of essential parts showing one embodiment of the monitoring devices 4 and 5 of FIG. First, the system configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, 1 and 2 are a first camera imaging device and an Nth camera imaging device, 3 is a center device, 4 and 5 are first monitoring devices and Nth monitoring devices, 6 is a provider, and 7 is a network. , 1a, 2a, 3a,
4a and 5a are routers. Each of the first camera photographing device 1 to the Nth camera photographing device 2 is composed of the above-mentioned network camera, and sends camera images and various information as digital data via the router 1a or the router 2a or the like and the network 7. Further, each of the first camera imaging apparatus 1 to the Nth camera imaging apparatus 2 has an IP (Internet Protocol) address assigned by the provider 6 and a unique camera ID (Identifier) for each of the router 1a or the router 2a and the network. Notification is made by accessing the center device 3 via 7.

The center device 3 includes a network 7 and a router.
The registered IP address and camera ID are associated and registered via 3a. The above IP address is a dynamic IP address and has the property of changing as described above. Therefore, the notification from each camera photographing device 1 or the like to the center device 3 is periodically performed to update the registration data of the center device 3. As a result, the latest IP address is always registered. Further, the name and password of each of the first monitoring device 4 to the Nth monitoring device 5 is registered in the center device 3 in advance, and the name and password of each of the first monitoring device 4 to the Nth monitoring device 5 are registered. When there is an access, the name and password of the monitoring device are collated with the registered data to authenticate.

When any of the first to Nth monitoring devices 4 to 5 acquires a camera image from one of the camera photographing devices 1 or the like, first, the IP address of the camera monitoring device 1 or the like to which the connection is requested. From the center device 3. Therefore, each monitoring device 4 or the like transmits the camera ID of the camera photographing device 1 or the like, which is the connection request destination, its own name and password, to the center device 3, and inquires about the IP address. The accessed center apparatus 3 performs the above-mentioned authentication as to whether the first monitoring apparatus 4 or the like is registered. If the same authentication is performed, the IP address corresponding to the camera ID is read from the registration data, and the first Answer to the monitoring device 4 etc. As a result, the first monitoring device 4 or the like acquires the IP address of the camera photographing device 1 or the like of the connection request destination. The first monitoring device 4 or the like uses the acquired IP address to access the camera photographing device 1 or the like of the connection request destination. As a result, the camera image is transmitted from the camera photographing device 1 or the like of the connection request destination and is displayed on the monitor. The above is the description of FIG. 1.

Next, the structure of the camera photographing device will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows the first camera photographing device 1 of FIG.
11 is a camera, 12 is a signal processing unit, 13 is a communication unit, 14 is a memory unit, and 15 is a control unit. The router 1a holds the IP address of the first camera photographing device 1. Therefore, when the first camera photographing device 1 notifies the center device 3 of this IP address, the control unit 15 reads out its own camera ID stored in the memory unit 14, and the communication unit 13
And access the center device via the router 1a. By this access, the IP address and the camera ID as well as the router
The center device 3 is notified via 1a and the network 7. As described above, the IP address changes because it is a dynamic IP address. Therefore, the control unit 15 periodically makes the notification. When any one of the monitoring devices (for example, the first monitoring device 4) accesses the first camera image capturing device 1 for a camera image transmission request by the IP address, the control unit 15 captures an image with the camera 11 and outputs the signal. Processing unit
The video data that has been subjected to the required processing at 12 is output from the communication unit 13 and transmitted to the requesting first monitoring device 4 via the router 1a and the network 7.

Next, the configuration of the center device 3 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, 31 is a first registration unit, 32 is a second registration unit, 33 is an authentication unit, 34 is a communication unit, and 35 is a control unit. Under the control of the control unit 35, the first registration unit 31
The camera ID and the IP address of each of the camera photographing device 1 to the Nth camera photographing device 2 are registered in association with each other. At the time of registration, as described in FIG. 2 above, the first
When there is an access from the camera photographing device 1 or the like, the control unit 35 reads and registers the assigned IP address and camera ID from the data obtained by the access via the communication unit 34. As described with reference to FIG. 2, the IP address and the like are periodically notified from the first camera photographing device 1 and the like. When the IP address is changed from the original registration data in the notification, the control unit 35 updates the data in the first registration unit 31 to the changed IP address.

The names and passwords of the first to Nth monitoring devices 4 to 5 are registered in advance in the second registration unit 32. When an IP address inquiry access is made from any of the monitoring devices (for example, the first monitoring device 4), the first access source of the same read from the data obtained by the access via the router 3a and the communication unit 34. The name and password of the monitoring device 4 is the second registration unit.
The authentication unit 33 performs authentication as to whether or not it is registered in the unit 31, under the control of the control unit 35. When authenticated by the authentication unit 33, the control unit 35 sets the IP address corresponding to the camera ID read from the data obtained by the access to the first registration unit.
It is read from 31 and the same IP address is output from the communication unit 34 and transmitted to the first monitoring device 4 which is the request source via the router 3a and the network 7.

Next, the structure of the monitoring device will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows the first monitoring device 4 of FIG. 1. 41 is a communication unit, 42 is a signal processing unit, 43 is a display unit, 44 is an input unit, 45 is a memory unit, and 46 is a control unit. . When the first monitoring device 4 inquires of the center device 3 about the IP address of the camera photographing device (for example, the first camera photographing device 1) to access, the input unit 44 inputs its own name, password and first camera photographing. Enter the camera ID of device 1. The control unit 46 outputs the data of the input name, password and camera ID from the communication unit 41 and transmits the data to the center device 3 via the router 4a and the network 7. In response to the transmission, the center device 3 transmits the IP address of the first camera photographing device 1 as described with reference to FIG. The communication unit 41 receives the transmitted IP address,
While storing in the memory unit 45 via the control unit 46, the signal processing unit
It is displayed on the display unit 43 via 42.

The first monitoring device 4 uses the acquired IP address to access the first camera photographing device 1,
Send camera image data. The transmitted video data of the camera is received by the communication unit 41, subjected to required processing by the signal processing unit 42, and displayed on the display unit 43. If the access to the first camera photographing device 1 fails, the control unit 46
Obtains the corresponding IP address from the center device again, and accesses the first camera photographing device 1 again with the obtained IP address. This allows the IP
Even if the address is changed, it can be accessed.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, a fixed IP address is required in a surveillance system in which a surveillance device accesses any one of a plurality of camera photographing devices and acquires a camera image. Access is possible without a dynamic IP address. As a result, the IP address acquisition cost required when a fixed IP address is used becomes unnecessary, and the running cost for operating the monitoring system can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a principal block diagram showing an embodiment of the camera photographing apparatus of FIG.

3 is a block diagram of essential parts showing an embodiment of the center device of FIG. 1. FIG.

4 is a principal block diagram showing an embodiment of the monitoring device of FIG. 1. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols] 1, 2 camera shooting device 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a routers 3 Center device 4, 5 monitoring device 6 providers 7 network 11 camera 12 Signal processor 13 Communications department 14 Memory section 15 Control unit 31, 32 Registration department 33 Authentication Department 34 Communications department 35 Control unit 41 Communications department 42 Signal processor 43 Display 44 Input section 45 Memory section 46 Control unit

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A surveillance system in which a plurality of camera photography devices for photographing with cameras and a plurality of surveillance devices for monitoring camera images transmitted from designated ones of the plurality of camera photography devices are connected via a network. In the system, an ID (Identifier) and an IP (Inte
A center device for registering an rnet protocol) address is provided, and the camera photographing device notifies the center device via a router and the network to notify its own camera ID and IP address. When accessing the camera photographing device, the corresponding IP is acquired from the center device, and the acquired IP is acquired.
A monitoring system characterized by being performed by. 2. The I from the center device of the monitoring device
The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the P address is acquired based on the camera ID. 3. The center device preliminarily registers the name and password of each of the monitoring devices, and when any one of the monitoring devices accesses, the center device determines whether the name and password of the monitoring device are registered. The monitoring system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein authentication is performed, and when the authentication is made, an IP address is returned to the monitoring device. 4. The camera photographing device periodically notifies the center device of its own camera ID and IP address, and when the registered center IP address is changed, the center device uses the changed IP address. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring system is updated. 5. The camera photographing device, a photographing camera, a signal processing unit for performing a predetermined signal processing on an image from the camera, a memory unit for storing an ID unique to the camera, the center device or The monitoring system according to claim 1 or 4, further comprising: a communication unit that communicates with the monitoring device via a router and a network; and a control unit that controls the communication unit and the memory unit. 6. The first registration unit in which the center device registers the camera-specific ID and IP address of each camera photographing device in association with each other, and the second registration unit pre-registers the name and password of each monitoring device. Whether the name and password of the monitoring unit are registered in the second registration unit when access is made by specifying the camera-specific ID from one of the registration unit and the monitoring device to inquire the IP address. Controlling the authentication unit, the communication unit that communicates with the camera photographing device or the monitoring device via the router and the network, the first registration unit, the second registration unit, the authentication unit, and the communication unit. And a control unit for reading the IP address corresponding to the camera-specific ID from the first registration unit and transmitting the IP address from the communication unit when the registration unit authenticates the registration. The monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: 7. The monitoring device, an input unit for inputting a camera ID, a self-name and a password, a memory unit for storing an IP address obtained from the center device, and a reception unit from the center device or the camera photographing device. A signal processing unit that performs a predetermined process on the signal, a display unit that displays the signal from the signal processing unit, a communication unit that communicates with the center device or the camera photographing device via a router and a network, the input unit, The monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit that controls the memory unit, the signal processing unit, and the communication unit. 8. The non-fixed dynamic IP is used as the IP address.
The monitoring system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an address is used. 9. The monitoring device, when the access to the corresponding camera photographing device fails, acquires the relevant IP from the center device again, and accesses the relevant camera photographing device again by the acquired IP. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein: