JP2005269342A - Recording reproduer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording reproducer which shows a plurality of image data composed of real situation image data during photographing at present and reproduced record image data read out of a recorderat the same time on a display and makes both the real situation image data and the record image data easily discriminable by a monitoring person. <P>SOLUTION: The reproducer comprises a plurality of photographing units for outputting image information one after another, a recorder, a display, and a switching controller for cyclically outputting real situation image data with photographing unit identification information (ID) added to image information in a specified order to the recorder. The recorder records inputted real situation image data one after another, reproduces the recorded record image data one after another during recording to obtain them to the switching controller. The switching controller is capable of showing inputted image data on the display and showing real situation image data with any selected ID added thereto and record image data with any selected ID added thereto on the display. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention can record image information captured by a plurality of imaging devices in a recording device, and can simultaneously display image information currently being captured and image information read out and reproduced from the recording device. The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing apparatus.

In recent years, using surveillance devices with multiple surveillance cameras, it is possible to monitor multiple locations at the same time in stores or homes for crime prevention, etc. It is useful for discovery. The monitor can monitor a plurality of locations simultaneously by causing the monitor to divide and output the images sent from the respective monitoring cameras.
However, it is not realistic for the supervisor to monitor while watching the monitor for 24 hours. Therefore, the images taken by multiple surveillance cameras are recorded on the recording device, and the recorded images are reproduced and displayed on the monitor in a divided manner, thereby confirming the monitoring results when the supervisor is absent. Yes.
Here, the circular recording (endless recording) of the image will be described with reference to four examples from the camera A to the camera D (see FIG. 1). The unit of the image output by the camera may be either a frame (frame) unit or a field unit. Here, a frame (frame) will be described as an image output unit.
An output image of one frame of camera A is A1a, an image of one frame output from camera A next to A1a is A1b, an image of one frame output from camera A next to A1b is A1c, and camera A is next to A1c. One frame image to be output is A1d, one frame image output from camera A next to A1d is A2a, one frame image output from camera A next to A2a is A2b, and so on. Cameras B to D are the same as camera A.
Each camera starts outputting an image of one frame every 1/30 seconds or every 1/60 seconds, for example. When the output of that frame ends, the output of the next frame is started immediately. The repetition period, that is, the period of the synchronization signal SYNC is every 1/30 seconds or every 1/60 seconds. Here, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the timing of the synchronization signal of each video signal (image information) from each camera is the same or almost the same. Of course, the timing of the synchronizing signal of each video signal from each camera may vary. In that case, in a general monitoring device, each video signal input from each camera is buffered by a so-called switcher (switching control device), and the timings of the synchronization signals are made coincident and outputted to the subsequent stage.

When the recording device circulates and records the images output by the four cameras, they are recorded in the following order. That is, the order is A1, B1, C1, D1, A2, B2, C2, D2, A3, B3, C3, D3, A4,.
As shown in FIG. 1, while the recording device 20 is recording B1, the camera A is outputting an image A1b, the camera C is outputting C1b, and the camera D is outputting an image D1b. However, the recording device 20 records only the image B1 from the camera B. Similarly, while the recording apparatus 20 is recording C1, the camera A is outputting an image of A1c, the camera B is outputting B1c, and the camera D is outputting an image of D1c. However, the recording device 20 records only the image C1 from the camera C. The same applies to the recording after D1.
When normally reproducing images from a plurality of sources (multiple channels, a plurality of photographing devices) thus circularly recorded, A1, B1, C1, D1, A2, B2, C2, D2, A3 are recorded in the order of recording. , B3, C3, D3, A4... Since the image data of each frame includes an ID (imaging device identification information) that identifies from which source (imaging means), A1, A2, A3,... Displayed on a window (such as a small screen obtained by dividing one screen into quarters). Similarly, B1, B2, B3,... Are displayed on a window or the like for displaying an image of the camera B (a small screen obtained by dividing one screen into 1/4). The same applies to images from cameras C and D.

In the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a recorded program obtained by recording a television program is played back, a user mistakes a past news program, a weather forecast program, or an inserted breaking news telop with the current program. There has been proposed a recording / playback apparatus that prevents the recording from being performed.
Moreover, in the conventional technique shown in Patent Document 2, a monitoring system and a control device that highlight an image with the largest image change when displaying an image recorded using a plurality of cameras on a divided screen have been proposed. .
JP 2003-274344 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-9142

When using a monitoring device that can monitor multiple locations at the same time, a supervisor can monitor live image data currently captured by multiple cameras on a split screen of the monitor (multiple locations) at the same time, Recorded image data from a plurality of cameras recorded in a recording device is reproduced and displayed on a divided screen of a monitor (a plurality of locations) are simultaneously monitored (from Patent Document 2).
Here, if it is possible to simultaneously display live image data currently captured by a plurality of cameras and recorded image data recorded by a plurality of cameras on the recording device on the divided screen of the monitor, it is more efficient. You can expect to monitor. However, if the live image data and the recorded image data are mixed in the divided screen, the monitor may be confused as to which image data is the live image data and which image data is the recorded image data. There is.
In the recording / playback apparatus proposed in Patent Document 1, it is automatically determined that the program has immediate information such as a news program or a weather forecast program, or an urgent news bulletin or the like is automatically detected. The date and time information of the information is displayed on the display screen at the time of reproduction, or masking is applied to the news breaking news telop. Patent Document 1 does not describe a specific method for determining whether the program has immediate information, or for determining breaking news. However, the determination and the size and position of masking are determined. It is estimated that a very complicated process is required. If complicated determination processing or the like is performed for each image data of a plurality of divided screens, there is a possibility that the display time is delayed and the image data cannot be displayed smoothly.
Further, in the monitoring system and control device proposed in Patent Document 2, only the live image data (image data currently being photographed) is divided and displayed on the divided screen in the monitoring mode and the recording mode, and the divided screen is displayed on the reproduction mode. Only the recorded image data (image data read out from the recording device and reproduced) is divided and displayed, and the live image data and the recorded image data cannot be displayed simultaneously on the divided screen.
The present invention was devised in view of the above points, and can display a plurality of image data of live image data currently being shot and recorded image data read out from a recording device and reproduced on a display device at the same time. It is another object of the present invention to provide a recording / reproducing apparatus in which a monitor can easily distinguish live image data from recorded image data.

As means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the first invention of the present invention is a recording / reproducing apparatus as described in claim 1.
In the recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, a plurality of photographing apparatuses that output image information one after another, a recording apparatus that can record and reproduce image data, a display apparatus that can display image data, and a photographing apparatus are predetermined. The shooting device identification information is assigned in the order of the above, and shooting device identification information corresponding to the image information is added to the image information input from the plurality of shooting devices to obtain live image data, and the live image data is set in the predetermined order. And a switching control device that cyclically outputs to the recording device. The recording device can sequentially record the live image data input from the switching control device, and can sequentially reproduce the recorded image data that has been recorded and output it to the switching control device. The device can display the input image data on the display device, and the live image data to which the arbitrarily selected photographing device identification information is assigned and the arbitrarily selected photographing device identification information is given. The recorded image data that has been recorded can be displayed on the display device.

A second aspect of the present invention is a recording / reproducing apparatus as set forth in the second aspect.
The recording / reproducing device according to claim 2 is the recording / reproducing device according to claim 1, wherein the switching control device further includes live image data to which arbitrarily selected photographing device identification information is assigned, Recorded image data to which arbitrarily selected photographing device identification information is assigned can be displayed on the display device at the same time, and the live image data and the recorded image data are displayed in an identifiable manner.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording / reproducing apparatus according to the third aspect.
The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 3 is the recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switching control device displays each of the divided screens divided into a plurality of parts when displaying the image data on the display device. In addition, the live image data to which the arbitrarily selected shooting device identification information is assigned and the recorded image data to which the arbitrarily selected shooting device identification information is given can be displayed, and the live image data and Recorded image data is displayed in an identifiable manner.

If the recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 is used, for example, a plurality of windows are displayed on the display screen of the display device, and the live image data and the recorded image data of each photographing device are displayed in each window. Image data and arbitrary recorded image data can be displayed on the display device.
Thus, a plurality of image data can be displayed on the display device at the same time.

According to the recording / reproducing apparatus of claim 2, when the image data is displayed on the display device, the image data is displayed in each window, and the display position of the live image data is different from the display position of the recorded image data. To make it identifiable.
As a result, a recording / reproducing apparatus that can simultaneously display a plurality of image data on the display device and can easily distinguish between live image data and recorded image data can be realized relatively easily. .

According to the recording / reproducing apparatus of claim 3, the live image data and the recorded image data are displayed on each of the divided screens obtained by dividing the display screen of the display device, for example, the recorded image data is displayed. On the divided screen, information indicating “recording” is displayed so that it can be identified.
As a result, a recording / reproducing apparatus that can simultaneously display a plurality of image data on the display device and can easily distinguish between live image data and recorded image data can be realized relatively easily. .

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of a recording / reproducing apparatus 1 of the present invention.
● [Overall structure (Fig. 1)]
The recording / reproducing apparatus 1 includes a plurality of photographing apparatuses A to D, a switching control apparatus 10, a recording apparatus 20, and a display apparatus 30. However, the number of imaging devices is not limited to four, and this embodiment describes an example in which there are four imaging devices.
The photographing apparatuses A to D (CCD camera or the like) output one frame of image information one after another at a cycle of 1/60 seconds, for example.

The switching control device 10 includes ID assigning units 12A to 12D, a switching unit 14, a setting unit 16, and a selection combining unit 18.
The ID assigning means 12A to 12D assigns ID (photographing apparatus identification information corresponding to the photographing apparatus) to the image information input from the photographing apparatuses A to D and outputs image data (hereinafter, output from the ID assigning means). The image data at the time is described as live image data), and the live image data is output to the switching unit 14 and the selection and synthesis unit 18.
The switching unit 14 selects one live image data every 1/60 seconds, for example, and outputs it to the recording device 20. In this case, the live image data output to the recording device 20 is cyclically output in a predetermined order. In the case of the example in FIG. 1, the signals are cyclically output in the order of A1 (A1a), B1 (B1b), C1 (C1c), D1 (D1d), A2 (A2a),.
The selection / combination means 18 receives the live image data output from the ID assigning means and the recorded image data read out from the recording device 20 and reproduced (image data output from the decompression means 24). Based on the instructed setting, the selected image data is selected from the plurality of live image data and the plurality of recorded image data, and display data based on the selected image data is generated and output to the display device 30. (For example, output every 1/60 seconds).
The setting means 16 selects a signal based on an instruction from a supervisor or the like (an input instruction or the like for displaying live image data of the photographing devices A to D and recorded image data of the photographing devices A to D on the display device 30). The data is output to the combining unit 18 and the writing / reading unit 26. The setting means 16 is a keyboard, a mouse, a setting button, etc., for example.

The recording device 20 includes a compression unit 22, an expansion unit 24, a writing / reading unit 26, and a storage unit 28.
The compression unit 22 compresses the image data input from the switching unit 14 and outputs the compressed image data to the writing / reading unit 26.
The expansion unit 24 generates (records) image data by expanding (restoring) the image data read from the storage unit 28 by the writing / reading unit 26, and outputs the recorded image data to the selection combining unit 18 of the switching control device 10.
The writing / reading means 26 writes the image data input from the compression means 22 in the storage means 28 and records it. Further, the writing / reading means 26 reads the instructed image data from the storage means 28 based on the signal instructed from the setting means 16 and outputs it to the decompressing means 24.
The storage means 28 is, for example, a Hard Disk Drive (hereinafter referred to as HDD).

● [Example of display on the display device (Figs. 2 and 3)]
Next, with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, an example of display in which the live image data and the recorded image data are displayed at the same time and the displayed image data can be easily discriminated whether the displayed image data is live or recorded. explain.
FIG. 2 shows an example in which live image data and recorded image data are displayed in different areas so that it can be easily identified whether the displayed image data is live or recorded.
For example, the display screen of the display device 30 is divided into three areas: a menu area 31m, a live image area 31a, and a recorded image area 31b. Here, for example, when the monitor desires to add the display of the live image data from the photographing apparatus C, the “display addition” (32a) in the menu area 31m is instructed (selected), and the “live” is instructed from the menu 32b. (Select) and instruct (select) “C” from the menu 32c. Then, a window for displaying live image data from the photographing apparatus C is added to the live image area 31a.
In this manner, live image data to which an arbitrarily selected ID (photographing device identification information) is assigned can be displayed in the live image area 31a.

Further, for example, when the supervisor desires to add the display of the recorded image data of the photographing apparatus C recorded in the recording apparatus 20, the “recording” is instructed (selected) from the menu 32b in the above procedure, and the menu 32c is selected. “C” may be designated (selected).
Thus, recorded image data to which an arbitrarily selected ID (imaging device identification information) is assigned can be displayed in the recorded image area 31b.
Furthermore, the supervisor or the like can select the image data displayed in the window and move the selected image data to either the live image area 31a or the recorded image area 31b. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the image data of the window B (the window displaying the live image data of the photographing apparatus B) displayed in the live image area 31a is selected (clicked with the mouse, etc.), the menu 32d When “Record” is designated (selected) from the menu 32d, the window B is deleted from the live image area 31a, and the window B is added to the recorded image area 31b. The image data displayed in the window B added to the recorded image area 31b is recorded image data of the photographing apparatus B.

  The selection / combination means 18 can easily determine that the image data input from the ID assigning means 12 is live image data, and the image data input from the recording device 20 is recorded image data. Can be easily determined. Further, the selection / combination means 18 can easily determine which imaging device each image data is captured by determining the ID (imaging device identification information) given to the image data. Judgment can be made. Accordingly, since no particularly complicated processing is required, it is possible to prevent the display time from being delayed and the image data from being displayed smoothly.

3A and 3B divide the display screen of the display device 30 into a plurality of pieces, and display arbitrary image data (actual image data or recorded image data of the photographing devices A to D) on each of the divided screens. In this example, it is possible to easily identify whether the displayed image data is live or recorded.
For example, the monitoring unit can instruct the number of divisions of the display screen using the setting unit 16. 3A and 3B are examples in the case where an instruction to divide the display screen into nine is given.
As shown in FIG. 3A, for example, when a monitor or the like desires to display live image data of the photographing apparatus D on a divided screen of B rows and a columns, the divided screen of B rows and a columns is selected (mouse The menu 32m is displayed (by clicking or the like). When “actual condition” is designated (selected) from the menu 32m, the menu 32n is displayed. Further, when “D” is instructed from the menu 32n, the live image data of the photographing apparatus D is displayed on the divided screen of B row and a column.
In this way, live image data to which an arbitrarily selected ID (imaging device identification information) is assigned can be displayed on an arbitrary divided screen.

Also, for example, when the monitor or the like desires to display the recorded image data of the photographing apparatus C on the C row and b column divided screen, the menu 32p is selected (by clicking with the mouse) by selecting the C row and b column divided screen. Is displayed. When “recording” is instructed (selected) from the menu 32p, a menu 32q is displayed. Further, when “C” is instructed from the menu 32q, the recorded image data of the photographing apparatus C is displayed on the divided screen of C rows and b columns.
Thus, recorded image data to which an arbitrarily selected ID (photographing device identification information) is assigned can be displayed on an arbitrary divided screen.
As described above, the selection / combination means 18 can easily determine whether each image data is live image data or recorded image data, and can easily determine which imaging device the image data is. Is possible.
In addition, when “speed” is instructed (selected) from the menu 32q, the recorded image data can be displayed at a fast-forward speed such as double speed or quadruple speed (not shown). Not only fast-forwarding but also slow playback, pause, etc. can be made possible.

  In the example of FIG. 3 (A), in the image identification information 32h at the upper left of each divided screen, “actual status or recording” is expressed as “actual status” or “recording”, and “which imaging device is the image data” Are represented by “A to D”. For example, “Actual A” on the divided screen of A row and a column represents the actual image data from the photographing device A, and “Recording B” on the divided screen of the C row and c column represents the recorded image data from the photographing device B. Represents. It should be noted that only one of “actual condition” and “recording” in the image identification information 32h may be displayed, or both may be displayed (since at least one is displayed, identification is possible. I do not care).

Further, in the example of FIG. 3B, the display of “actual status” is omitted from the image identification information 32h in the example of FIG. 3A, and the display of information on the current date is added to the current date display area 31z. The display of recording date / time information 32t indicating information on the date / time when the recorded image data was recorded (captured) is added to the divided screen displaying the recorded image data.
For example, the monitor or the like can monitor the display screen shown in FIG. 3B and can recognize from the current date and time display area 31z that the current time is 14:30 on March 9, 2004, The live image data from the photographing device A is displayed in the A row and the a column, the live image data from the photographing device B is displayed in the A row and the b column, and the live image data from the photographing device C is displayed in the A row and the c column. It is possible to easily recognize that the live image data from the imaging device D is displayed in the B row a column. Further, the monitor or the like displays the recorded image data in the B row b column, the B row c column, the C row b column, and the C row c column, and each of the divided screens has an imaging device A and an imaging device B, respectively. The recorded image data captured by the photographing device C and the photographing device D are displayed, and it is easily recognized that the recorded image data captured at 2:10:00 on March 9, 2004 is displayed. can do.
The recording date / time information 32t may be added when the writing / reading means 26 writes to the storage means 28, or may be added by the switching means 14 or the ID assigning means 12 or the like.

As described above, by using the recording / reproducing apparatus 1 described in the present embodiment, a monitor or the like displays a plurality of image data including live image data currently being photographed and recorded image data read out from the recording apparatus and reproduced. It can be displayed on the device at the same time, and efficient monitoring can be performed. For example, even if the supervisor is present for 12 hours and is absent for 12 hours, the recorded image data for 12 hours that are absent while monitoring the live image data for 12 hours in the 12 hours that are present. Can be confirmed.
In addition, by displaying the live image data and the recorded image data displayed at the same time so as to be easily identifiable, the monitor can determine whether the live image data (current situation) or the recorded video data (past situation). It can prevent confusion.
In addition to the above description, the method of displaying the live image data and the recorded image data in an identifiable manner may change the color of the image data (for example, change the recorded image data to sepia). The outer frame portion of the display portion of each image data may be changed (for example, the outer frame portion of the live image data is changed to blue and the outer frame portion of the recorded image data is changed to red), and various methods are conceivable.

The recording / playback apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the configuration, operation, display, and the like described in the present embodiment, and various changes, additions, and deletions can be made without changing the gist of the present invention.
The display content of the display screen of the display device 30 is not limited to the present embodiment.
The numerical values and the like used in the description of the present embodiment are examples, and are not limited to these numerical values and the like.

1 is a schematic block diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of a recording / reproducing apparatus 1 of the present invention. It is a figure explaining the example of a display which displays live image data and recorded image data simultaneously, and can identify easily whether the displayed image data is live or recorded. It is a figure explaining the example of a display which displays live image data and recorded image data simultaneously, and can identify easily whether the displayed image data is live or recorded.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording / reproducing apparatus 10 Switching control apparatus 12A-12D ID provision means 14 Switching means 16 Setting means 18 Selection synthetic | combination means 20 Recording apparatus 22 Compression means 24 Expansion means 26 Write-out reading means 28 Storage means 30 Display apparatus AD Photographic apparatus

Claims (3)

A plurality of imaging devices that output image information one after another,
A recording device capable of recording and reproducing image data;
A display device capable of displaying image data;
The shooting device identification information is assigned to the shooting device in a predetermined order, and the shooting device identification information corresponding to the image information is assigned to the image information input from the plurality of shooting devices to obtain the live image data. A switching control device that cyclically outputs to the recording device in the predetermined order,
The recording device can sequentially record the live image data input from the switching control device, and can sequentially reproduce the recorded video image data that has been recorded and output it to the switching control device.
The switching control device
It is possible to display the input image data on the display device,
Live image data with arbitrarily selected photographing device identification information,
It is possible to display on the display device the recorded image data to which the arbitrarily selected photographing device identification information is given.
And a recording / reproducing apparatus. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1,
The switching control device further includes:
Live image data with arbitrarily selected photographing device identification information,
It is possible to simultaneously display on the display device the recorded image data to which the arbitrarily selected photographing device identification information is assigned, and to display the live image data and the recorded image data in an identifiable manner.
And a recording / reproducing apparatus. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The switching control device
When displaying image data on a display device, each divided screen is divided into
Live image data with arbitrarily selected photographing device identification information,
It is possible to display the recorded image data to which the arbitrarily selected photographing device identification information is given, and to display the live image data and the recorded image data in an identifiable manner.
And a recording / reproducing apparatus.

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