JP2003339042A - Crime-prevention camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a crime-prevention camera system for improving the image quality and the maintenance and preventing stored image data from being lost even when a camera main body is destroyed. <P>SOLUTION: The crime-prevention camera system is provided with: a human body sensor 1; a CCD camera 2 without an internal memory; and a computer 3 installed at a designated place, and transfers image data imaged by the CCD camera 2 activated by the sensing of the human body sensor 1 through a communication channel 4 such as a wireless LAN to the computer 3, which stores the data to its storage medium (hard disk). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a security camera system based on a digital camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Currently, surveillance cameras (security cameras) installed in financial institutions, buildings, condominiums, etc., convenience stores, precious metals, jewelry stores, etc. are based on film cameras and video cameras. . These surveillance cameras constantly monitor the movement of people in and out and their activities, and record the images on films, videotapes and the like.

[0003]

However, in a conventional security camera based on a film camera or a video camera, there is a problem that the image is rough and it is difficult to judge a person. Since the data is stored in the camera body, there is a serious defect that the image does not remain (is lost) when the camera itself is destroyed. Further, for the purpose of crime prevention, as the number of shots or the shooting time is increased, the frequency of exchanging films, video tapes, etc. is increased, which requires much labor.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems in the above-described conventional security camera system, and aims to improve the image quality and maintenance, and to lose the stored image data even when the camera body is destroyed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a security camera system that does not operate.

[0005]

A security camera system according to the present invention comprises a motion sensor, a CCD camera having no internal memory, and a computer installed at a designated location. The operating C
The image data captured by the CD camera is transferred and stored in the storage medium of the computer.

In the security camera system of the present invention, when the motion sensor detects a human being or a small animal or more,
The CCD camera operates and starts capturing an image. The captured image data is transmitted from the CCD camera each time the image is captured, and is stored in a storage medium (hard disk) of a computer installed at a remote place. In other words, this security camera system is a system that transfers captured image data without storing it in the camera body at all, and directly stores it in a storage medium (hard disk) of a computer installed at a place some distance away. is there. Therefore, the image quality characteristics,
It has the same handling and maintenance characteristics as a normal digital camera, but unlike the digital camera itself, it does not store image data in the camera itself, but rather in the storage medium of a computer installed at a designated location. Therefore, even if the camera itself is destroyed, the image data will not be lost and the image can be surely reproduced.

Further, in the security camera system of the present invention, the CCD camera and the computer are connected by a communication line such as a wireless LAN. Of course, the CCD camera and the computer may be connected by a dedicated line, or may be communicable with a mobile phone or the like.

The CCD camera preferably has 1.3 million pixels or more. The number of pixels of the CCD camera is a balance between the image quality, the data transmission time, and the amount of stored data. In many cases, 1.3 million pixels poses no problem.

Further, in the security camera system of the present invention,
Although the image data is temporarily stored in the storage medium of the computer, when it is necessary to store a huge amount of data, there is a great risk of exceeding the capacity of the hard disk. In such a case, the image data stored in the storage medium of the computer is transferred from the storage medium to a tape library under index management and stored. Since the tape library has a much larger storage capacity than a hard disk, it is suitable for storing a huge amount of data. By moving the data from the hard disk to the tape library and saving it, free space on the hard disk is secured. be able to. Also, since the tape library is index-managed, it is easy to search.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a security camera system of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a motion sensor, 2 is a CCD camera, and 3 is a computer installed at a designated place. The CCD camera 2 and the computer 3 are connected by a communication line 4 such as a wireless LAN. The CCD camera 2 does not have an internal (or built-in) memory such as a memory card in the camera body, and is different from a normal digital camera in this respect. Therefore, the CCD camera 2 is equipped with a communication means 7 such as a LAN card. In addition, inside the CCD camera 2, a CC, which is a two-dimensional image sensor that converts light into an electric signal, is provided.
The D image sensor 5, the A / D converter 6 for converting the electric signal (analog signal) from the CCD image sensor 5 into a digital signal, the driving of the CCD image sensor 5 and the communication means 7, and if necessary, A control means 8 for controlling the rotation operation of the camera is provided. Also,
It is sufficient for the CCD camera 2 to have 1.3 million pixels or more. Further, it may be either a monochrome image or a color image and can be appropriately selected according to the purpose of use. In addition to the built-in battery, a flash lamp is also attached to the CCD camera 2.

As the human sensor 1, an infrared sensor which operates in response to heat generated by the human body is generally used, but the human sensor 1 is not limited to this. In addition, the human sensor 1 is usually installed one per CCD camera 2. Further, the human sensor 1 includes a sensor capable of arbitrarily measuring the distance to a person, a sensor used within a certain set distance range, and the like, which may be properly used on a case-by-case basis.

The computer 3 installed at a place apart from the CCD camera 2 to some extent is a hard disk or RA.
A storage medium (not shown) including M, MO, floppy (registered trademark) disks and the like is provided, and image data sequentially transferred from the CCD camera 2 is stored in the storage means. Usually, it is stored in a hard disk with a large storage capacity. In addition, image processing (image quality adjustment,
Software for enlarging, reducing, compressing, playing, etc.) is installed. Further, since the amount of image data is enormous, it is necessary to take out the image data from the hard disk as needed. Therefore, the data is moved to the tape library 12 as shown in FIG. 2 for storage and management.

In FIG. 2, the image data transferred from the CCD camera 2 is compressed in a format such as JPEG, MPEG, etc., and the compressed image file is given a time-series index 11. It is made into a database and stored in the hard disk 10 of the computer 3. Further, the image data is packed into a plurality of image files, and the shooting date / time, place, camera number. Data is moved to the tape library 12 and stored and managed under index management by the above. Since the tape library 12 has a very large storage capacity, it is suitable for storing a huge amount of data.
The free space is secured, the tape library 12 can be stored for a long period of time, and the retrieval becomes easy.

The operation of the present system configured as described above will be described. At least one human motion sensor 1 and CCD camera 2 are installed at a place to be monitored, usually several to ten or more. The CCD camera 2 is of a fixed type in many cases, but may be of a rotary type with a turntable. It is also possible to have a flash function. When a person enters the monitoring area of the motion sensor 1 at a place where such a CCD camera 2 for monitoring is installed, the motion sensor 1 detects an intruder. The detection signal of the human sensor 1 is sent to the control device 8, and the control device 8 turns on the CCD image sensor 5. As a result, the CCD camera 2 starts to capture images, and captures still images of the intruder at predetermined time intervals. Image data captured by the CCD image sensor 5 is converted from an analog signal to a digital signal by an A / D converter 6, and a communication line such as a wireless LAN is provided to a computer 3 installed at a distant designated place by a communication unit 7. 4, and is stored in the storage medium (for example, hard disk) of the computer 3.

Thus, until the intruder leaves, C
The CD camera 2 continues image pickup, transfers image data directly to the computer 3 installed at a designated location at a fixed time interval, and stores the image data in the storage medium of the computer 3. Therefore, since no image data is stored in the camera body, even if the CCD camera 2 is destroyed, the image data will surely remain and will not be lost. Also, the CCD camera 2 is based on a digital camera, and its function is not inferior to that of the digital camera. Therefore, the image is much clearer than a conventional security camera based on a film camera or the like. Becomes Further, not only the entire expansion but also the partial expansion is possible. Furthermore, image editing is also possible. Moreover, there is no need to replace the film or the video tape, which is excellent in handling and maintenance.

[0016]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The image is clearer and the image quality is improved as compared with the conventional security camera. (2) Maintenance is improved because there is no need to replace the film or video tape. (3) Even if the CCD camera is destroyed, the image data is stored in a storage medium in a place different from the camera body, so that the image data can be reproduced without loss. (4) A large amount of data can be stored and managed as a tape library.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a security camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a tape library.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 sensor 2 CCD camera 3 computers 4 communication lines 5 CCD image sensor 6 A / D converter 7 Communication means 8 control device 10 hard disk 11 Time series index 12 tape library

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A motion sensor, a CCD camera having no internal memory, and a computer installed at a designated location, and transfers image data captured by the CCD camera operated by the motion of the motion sensor. A security camera system, which is stored in a storage medium of the computer. 2. The security camera system according to claim 1, wherein the CCD camera and the computer are connected by a communication line such as a wireless LAN. 3. The security camera system according to claim 1, wherein the CCD camera has 1.3 million pixels or more. 4. The image data stored in the storage medium of the computer is transferred from the storage medium to a tape library under index management and stored therein. Security camera system.