JP2005301850A - Monitor camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a monitor camera system allowing relatively easy setting of mutual correspondence relation on installation sites of a monitoring device and a monitor camera. <P>SOLUTION: The monitor camera 20 broadcast-transmits a request command to a network in response to setting operation by a user. The monitoring device 10 receives the request command via the network, and transmits a response command to the monitor camera 20 when recognizing that the request command is a request to the monitoring device 10 itself, so that the correspondence relation between the monitoring device 10 and the monitor camera 20 is set to them. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a monitoring camera system in which a monitoring device that detects an abnormality and a monitoring camera that captures an image are connected via a network.

  Conventionally, monitoring devices with sensors are installed at multiple points for the purpose of factory production management, building security management, road traffic management, or nursing care in hospitals and homes, etc. There is a surveillance camera system that can capture an image of an occurrence point (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such a monitoring camera system, a central management device such as a computer is installed to centrally monitor a plurality of points, and the central management device, the monitoring device, and the monitoring camera are connected to each other via a network. . When the central management device monitors the status of each point, polling is sequentially sent from the central management device to each monitoring device via the network, and whether there is an abnormality at each point is determined by a response from each monitoring device. In general, when there is an abnormal response from a certain monitoring device, the central control device controls the monitoring camera associated with the monitoring device to start shooting the location where the abnormality occurred, and records the video. I was going.

  However, in this case, if the number of monitoring points increases to several hundred to several thousand, the period of polling from the centralized management device to one monitoring device becomes longer, and even if the monitoring device detects an abnormality, countermeasures for it (Video shooting and video recording, etc.) could be delayed, causing problems. Further, in such a system configuration, the processing load of the centralized management apparatus is remarkably increased, and there is a limit to managing a large number of points with one centralized management apparatus.

  Therefore, in recent years, when SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), which is one of the protocols used for remote monitoring of a network, is used, when the monitoring device detects an abnormality, the monitoring device abnormally detects the TRAP packet. A method of notifying a signal is being adopted.

  In such a monitoring camera system using SNMP, abnormality notifications from a large number of monitoring apparatuses can be efficiently received on the central management apparatus side, but in order to confirm the situation of the location where the abnormality has occurred, from the central management apparatus Therefore, it is necessary to remotely control the corresponding surveillance camera, and the recorded video may still be considerably delayed from the occurrence of the abnormality.

JP 2001-229479 A

  In view of the background art as described above, when the monitoring device detects an abnormality, the monitoring device itself is configured to perform shooting control of the monitoring camera, thereby reducing the processing burden of the centralized management device and from the occurrence of the abnormality. It will be possible to acquire video with almost no delay.

  However, when adopting such a configuration, it is necessary to set in advance a correspondence relationship between which monitoring device controls which monitoring camera to which monitoring device and the monitoring camera. If this is individually set for the monitoring apparatus and the monitoring camera from the central management apparatus, the load on the central management apparatus cannot be reduced.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a monitoring camera system capable of setting a corresponding relationship with each other relatively easily at the installation site of the monitoring device and the monitoring camera. It is an object of the present invention to provide a surveillance camera system in which the surveillance device can directly control the photography of the surveillance camera when the camera is detected.

  A monitoring camera system according to the present invention has a configuration in which a monitoring device that detects an abnormality and a monitoring camera that captures an image are connected via a network, and the monitoring camera responds to a setting operation by a user. When a request command is broadcasted to the network, and the monitoring device receives the request command via the network and recognizes that the request command is a request addressed to itself, a response command addressed to the monitoring camera Is transmitted, the correspondence relationship between the monitoring device and the monitoring camera is set for each.

  Thereby, it becomes possible to set each other's correspondence between the monitoring device and the monitoring camera without intervening other devices.

  In the monitoring camera system, the monitoring camera preferably includes a setting switch operated by a user, and is configured to send the request command in response to the operation of the setting switch. Correspondingly, when the monitoring device receives a command broadcast to the network, the monitoring device includes a setting switch that activates an automatic response function for transmitting a response command to the command, and the setting switch is operated. Preferably, the request command received during the operation period of the automatic response function is recognized as a request addressed to itself.

  By adopting such a configuration, if the setting switch provided in each is operated at the installation site of the monitoring device and the monitoring camera, the correspondence relationship between the monitoring device and the monitoring camera is automatically set. Correspondence setting work at the installation site is simplified.

  In the monitoring camera system, the monitoring camera includes a setting switch operated by a user, and in response to the operation of the setting switch, the image is captured and image recognition is performed. It is preferable that the identification information included in the image is acquired and broadcasted including the identification information in the request command, and the monitoring device is provided with unique identification information on an outer surface thereof. The storage means for storing the unique identification information, and when the request command is received via the network, the identification information included in the request command is stored in the storage means. It is configured to determine whether or not it matches the identification information, and to recognize that the request command is a request addressed to itself if it matches. Preferred.

  By adopting such a configuration, if the monitoring device is photographed using the monitoring camera at the installation site, then the correspondence between the monitoring device and the monitoring camera is automatically set, so it is relatively easy. The correspondence between the monitoring device and the monitoring camera can be set.

  Furthermore, in the above monitoring camera system, when the monitoring device detects an abnormality, the monitoring camera system is configured to transmit a signal instructing a shooting operation via the network to the monitoring camera associated with the monitoring camera system. It is preferred that

  As a result, when the monitoring device detects an abnormality, the monitoring device can directly control the imaging of the monitoring camera.

  According to the present invention, in a monitoring camera system in which a monitoring device that detects an abnormality and a monitoring camera that captures an image are connected via a network, the monitoring device and the monitoring camera are installed at the installation site of the monitoring device and the monitoring camera. It becomes possible to set the mutual correspondence of each other relatively easily.

  When the monitoring device detects an abnormality, the monitoring device detects the abnormality by being configured to transmit a signal instructing a photographing operation via a network to a monitoring camera associated with the monitoring device in advance. In this case, the monitoring device can directly control the photographing of the monitoring camera.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a surveillance camera system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The surveillance camera system 1 has a configuration in which a surveillance device 10, a surveillance camera 20, and a centralized management device 30 are connected to each other via a network. For example, the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 are connected to the LAN 2, and the central management device 30 is connected to the LAN 6. Then, the LAN 2 is connected to the wide area communication network 4 such as the Internet via the router 3, and the LAN 6 is connected to the wide area communication network 4 via the router 5, so that the monitoring device 10, the monitoring camera 20 and the centralized management device 30 are Data communication is possible via a network. 1 illustrates a case where one monitoring device 10 and one monitoring camera 20 are installed on the network, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of these devices are installed on the network. It may be a thing. Further, the central management device 30 may be connected to the same LAN 2 as the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20. Further, the transmission path of the network is not limited to being wired, and may be wireless.

  The monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 have a relationship associated with each other in advance, and are configured to perform monitoring operations in cooperation with each other. Specifically, the monitoring device 10 includes a plurality of sensors 11a, 11b, and 11c for detecting an abnormality at a monitoring point. When at least one sensor detects an abnormality, the central management device 30 Is transmitted to the monitoring camera 20, and the monitoring camera 20 captures a video near the location where the abnormality has occurred and transmits the video signal to the centralized management device 30. .

  In addition, the monitoring device 10 includes a setting switch 12 that can be operated by the user, and the monitoring camera 20 also includes a setting switch 22 that can be operated by the user. These setting switches 12 and 22 are operation members for automatically setting a correspondence relationship between the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 described later, and may be push-button buttons, slide switches or dial switches. Other switches such as may be used.

  The detailed configuration of each device will be described below. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal hardware configuration of the monitoring apparatus 10. The monitoring apparatus 10 includes an interface 13, a CPU 14, a program storage unit 15, a LAN interface 16, and a RAM 17 as its internal configuration, and these are connected via an internal bus 19 so that data can be exchanged with each other. The plurality of sensors 11a, 11b, and 11c are arbitrary sensors such as door opening / closing detection sensors, smoke and gas detection sensors, brightness detection sensors, abnormal sound detection sensors, abnormal temperature detection sensors, and photoelectric switches, respectively. It is installed at an arbitrary abnormality detection location and connected to the interface 13 via a cable or the like. The setting switch 12 is also connected to the interface 13.

  The CPU 14 reads out and executes the program stored in the program storage unit 15 to recognize an abnormality detected by each sensor 11a, 11b, 11c, or grasps the setting state (operation state) of the setting switch 12. And it is comprised so that the process according to the detection condition of each sensor and the setting state of the setting switch 12 may be performed.

  The program storage unit 15 is configured by a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk device, or the like, and stores a processing program executed by the CPU 14 in advance. The RAM 17 is a memory configured by a semiconductor memory, and is a storage unit that stores temporary data when the CPU 14 performs processing in accordance with a program, and stores a later-described MIB (Management Information Base). . The LAN interface 16 is an interface for connecting the monitoring device 10 to the LAN 2.

  The CPU 14 makes an inquiry to the sensors 11a, 11b, 11c and the setting switch 12 connected via the interface 13 at a constant cycle, and updates the contents of the MIB stored in the RAM 17 based on the inquiry result. To do. When the contents of the MIB change, the CPU 14 is configured to perform an operation based on the MIB.

  Next, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal hardware configuration of the monitoring camera 20. In the monitoring camera 10, the video signal processing circuit 23, the LAN interface 24, the CPU 25, the program storage unit 26, the RAM 27, and the interfaces 28 and 240 are connected to each other via an internal bus 29 so that they can exchange data with each other. It is configured. The setting switch 22 is connected to the interface 28 and the LAN 2 is connected to the LAN interface 24. Further, the video signal processing circuit 23 is connected so that a video signal acquired by the imaging unit 21 is input, and the imaging control unit 220 for controlling the imaging unit 21 is connected to the interface 240.

  The imaging unit 21 has a function of photographing a subject as a moving image or a still image, and photoelectrically converts light incident through the photographing lens 211 by an imaging element 212 such as a CMOS sensor or a CCD area sensor to generate a video signal. The video signal is output to the video signal processing circuit 23. Note that the shooting operation of the image sensor 212 is controlled by the timing generator 213.

  The imaging unit 21 is configured to change its shooting direction, and the shooting lens 211 includes a zoom lens, and is configured to change the shooting magnification of the subject.

  The shooting control unit 220 controls the shooting operation in the image sensor 212 by sending a shooting command to the timing generator 213. In addition, the shooting control unit 220 controls to change the shooting direction of the imaging unit 21 and the shooting magnification of the shooting lens 211. Specifically, the shooting control unit 220 sends a control signal to the zoom drive circuit 221, and the zoom drive circuit 221 drives the zoom motor 222, thereby moving the zoom lens of the shooting lens 211 to set the shooting magnification. Change. Further, the imaging control unit 220 sends a control signal to the tilt driving circuit 223, and the tilt driving circuit 223 drives the tilt motor 224, whereby the imaging unit 21 performs a tilting operation, and the imaging direction of the imaging unit 21 is changed. It changes in the direction of elevation. Further, the imaging control unit 220 sends a control signal to the pan driving circuit 225, and the pan driving circuit 225 drives the pan motor 226, whereby the imaging unit 21 performs a pan operation, and the imaging direction of the imaging unit 21 is the horizontal direction. To change.

  The video signal processing circuit 23 performs predetermined signal processing on the video signal input from the imaging unit 21. For example, after performing A / D conversion, the video signal processing circuit 23 performs predetermined color difference matrix calculation and is expressed in YCrCb or the like. Outputs a color video signal. When moving image shooting is performed in the imaging unit 21, the video signal processing circuit 23 continuously performs the signal processing on video signals sequentially input from the imaging unit 21. The video signal output from the video signal processing circuit 23 is temporarily stored in the RAM 27.

  The CPU 25 reads out and executes a program stored in the program storage unit 26 to perform data communication with the monitoring device 10 and the centralized management device 30 via the network, and performs comprehensive shooting control and video signals in the monitoring camera 20. Is sent out. The CPU 25 is configured to grasp the setting state (operation state) of the setting switch 22 and performs processing according to the setting state of the setting switch 22.

  The program storage unit 26 is configured by a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk device, or the like, and stores a processing program executed by the CPU 25 in advance. The RAM 27 is a memory constituted by a semiconductor memory. The RAM 27 stores temporary data when the CPU 25 performs processing according to a program, and stores a video signal input from the video signal processing circuit 23. The RAM 27 also functions as a storage unit that stores the MIB. The LAN interface 24 is an interface for connecting the monitoring camera 20 to the LAN 2.

  The CPU 25 grasps the setting state of the setting switch 22 by making an inquiry to the setting switch 22 at a constant cycle via the interface 28. Then, the contents of the MIB stored in the RAM 27 are updated based on the inquiry result. When the contents of the MIB change, the CPU 14 is configured to perform an operation based on the MIB.

  The CPU 25 is configured to send the video signal stored in the RAM 27 to the centralized management apparatus 30 via the network. When sending the video signal, the packet data is sequentially sent for each appropriate data length. It is generated and sent to the LAN 2 (network) via the LAN interface 24.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal hardware configuration of the centralized management apparatus 30. The central management device 30 is configured such that an interface 32, a RAM 33, a video card 34, a LAN interface 36, a CPU 37, and a program storage unit 38 are connected to each other via an internal bus 39, and these can exchange data with each other. Yes. The interface 32 is connected to a mouse 31a and a keyboard 31b, and the video card 34 is connected to a display 35 such as a liquid crystal display or a CRT. That is, the centralized management apparatus 30 has the same configuration as a general computer (PC), and the CPU 37 reads and executes the program stored in the program storage unit 38, thereby monitoring connected to the network. The centralized management function of the surveillance camera system 1 is realized by comprehensively managing the apparatus 10 and the surveillance camera 20.

  The CPU 37 reads out and executes a program stored in advance in a program storage unit 38 formed by a magnetic disk device or the like, thereby performing data communication with the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 via the network and also monitoring the camera 20. By giving the video signal input from the video card 34 to the video card 34, the video captured by the surveillance camera 20 is displayed on the display 35. Further, the CPU 37 is configured to perform video recording by storing a video signal input from the surveillance camera 20 in an empty area of the program storage unit 38. Furthermore, the CPU 37 is configured to input information from the mouse 31a and the keyboard 31b via the interface 32 and perform processing according to the input information.

  The monitoring camera system 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above uses SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), which is one of the protocols used for remote monitoring of the network, and the monitoring device 10, the monitoring camera 20, and the centralized system. The management devices 30 are configured to communicate with each other. For example, the program storage unit 15 of the monitoring device 10 stores an SNMP agent program for the monitoring device 10 to function as an SNMP agent, and the CPU 14 is configured to execute the SNMP agent program. The program storage unit 26 of the monitoring camera 20 stores an SNMP manager program for the monitoring camera 20 to function as an SNMP manager, and the CPU 25 is configured to execute the SNMP manager program. Further, the program storage unit 38 of the central management device 30 stores an SNMP manager program for the central management device 38 to function as an SNMP manager, and the CPU 37 is configured to execute the SNMP manager program.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the monitoring camera 20 and the centralized management device 30 function as an SNMP manager, and the monitoring device 10 functions as an SNMP agent. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the setting relationship between the agent and the manager may be different.

  Each of the monitoring device 10, the monitoring camera 20, and the centralized management device 30 is configured to store an MIB managed by SNMP as described above. MIB (Management Information Base) is a kind of database that stores the internal state (status) of its own device and the state (status) of other devices connected via a network. The MIB held in the centralized management device 30 defines a private MIB indicating the detection state (status) of each sensor 11a, 11b, 11c, and the monitoring camera 20 and the centralized management device 30 grasp the state of each sensor. It is configured to be able to.

  In such a monitoring camera system 1, in order to realize a monitoring function for centrally monitoring a plurality of points by performing an operation in which the monitoring device 10, the monitoring camera 20, and the central management device 30 cooperate, The monitoring device 10, the centralized management device 30 and the monitoring camera 20, and the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 need to be associated with each other in advance. That is, the monitoring device 10 needs to know in advance the address of the centralized management device 30 that transmits an abnormal signal when an abnormality is detected, and the address of the monitoring camera 20 that transmits the abnormal signal in advance. It is also necessary to know. Further, the monitoring camera 20 needs to know in advance the address of the centralized management device 30 that is the transmission destination of the video signal, and also knows in advance the monitoring device 10 associated with itself (monitoring camera). It is also necessary to keep it. In particular, in the present embodiment, when the monitoring device 10 detects an abnormality, the monitoring camera 20 is configured to take a video near the abnormality occurrence location in response to a signal received from the monitoring device 10. The photographing operation of the monitoring camera 20 is controlled by the monitoring device 10, and it is an important factor to associate the monitoring camera 20 and the monitoring device 10 with each other in advance.

  Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, a method for setting the correspondence between the devices will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing internal functions of the monitoring device 10, the monitoring camera 20, and the centralized management device 30 in the present embodiment, and is realized mainly by the CPU when the CPU executes the above program in each device. It is a figure which shows the function and operation | movement performed.

  In the present embodiment, first, processing for associating the monitoring device 10 with the centralized management device 30 is performed, and then processing for associating the monitoring device 10 with the monitoring camera 20 is performed.

  First, processing for associating the monitoring device 10 with the centralized management device 30 will be described. In order to associate the monitoring device 10 with the centralized management device 30, in this embodiment, for example, a method of setting and registering the correspondence relationship according to the SNMP protocol is employed. At this time, it is assumed that the user of the centralized management device 30 recognizes the IP address of the monitoring device 10 in advance.

  After the monitoring device 10 is connected to the network at the installation site of the monitoring device 10, the user of the centralized management device 30 uses the input device such as the mouse 31a or the keyboard 31b to send a request command to the IP address of the monitoring device 10 An instruction to send (request command) is given. Thereby, in the centralized management apparatus 30, the command transmission unit 301 functions to transmit a request command to the monitoring apparatus 10 via the network.

  When the command receiving unit 101 of the monitoring device 10 receives a request command from the centralized management device 30, the command analysis unit 102 functions in the monitoring device 10, and the IP address and group of the centralized management device 30 included in the received request command. The name is analyzed and registered in the MIB 104 in the monitoring apparatus 10.

  The group name is a name set for each monitoring group, and is a name for facilitating management for each monitoring group by the centralized management apparatus 30. For example, one monitoring group is set for one monitoring device, or one monitoring group is set for a certain monitoring area. Therefore, the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 that are associated with each other belong to the same group.

  When the registration process to the MIB 104 in the monitoring apparatus 10 is completed, the packet transmission unit 103 functions to generate a TRAP packet indicating completion of setting and transmit it to the centralized management apparatus 30. At this time, the information indicating the completion of setting includes identification information unique to the monitoring device 10 (for example, a MAC address).

  When the packet receiving unit 302 of the centralized management device 30 receives the TRAP packet with the setting completed from the monitoring device 10, the packet receiving unit 302 recognizes that the setting of the monitoring device 10 is completed and registers the identification information of the monitoring device 10 in the MIB 303. When the central management device 30 subsequently receives a packet from the monitoring device 10, it uses the identification information registered in the MIB 303 for authentication confirmation.

  Thus, the association between the monitoring device 10 and the centralized management device 30 ends, and the centralized management device 30 that should transmit a TRAP packet as an abnormal signal to the MIB 104 of the monitoring device 10 when an abnormality is detected. Is registered. If there is another monitoring device managed by the centralized management device 30 on the network, the above procedure is repeated.

  Next, processing for associating the monitoring device 10 with the monitoring camera 20 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in this embodiment, setting switches 12 and 22 are provided in the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20, respectively. By being operated by an installation worker), the association between the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 is automatically executed.

  After the monitoring camera 20 is connected to the network at the installation site, the user first operates the setting switch 12 of the monitoring device 20 to switch it to the on state. When the setting switch 12 is switched to the on state, the CPU 14 of the monitoring device 10 updates the status of the setting switch 12 recorded in the MIB 104 to the on state.

  Subsequently, the user operates the setting switch 22 of the monitoring camera 20 to switch it to the on state. When the setting switch 22 transitions to the ON state in the monitoring camera 20, the command transmission unit 201 functions and broadcasts a request command (request command) to all devices on the network via the LAN interface 24. This request command is a command for requesting establishment of a correspondence from the monitoring camera 20 to the monitoring device, and is a command including the IP address of the monitoring camera 20 that is the transmission source.

  In the monitoring apparatus 10, when the command receiving unit 101 receives a request command from the monitoring camera 20, the command analyzing unit 102 refers to the MIB 104 and determines whether or not its own setting switch 12 is in an on state. If the setting switch 12 of the own device is in the ON state, it recognizes that the request command transmitted by broadcast is a request addressed to itself, causes the packet transmission unit 103 to function, and sets a response command to the request command as a TRAP packet. Send. On the other hand, if the setting switch 12 is not turned on, the request command transmitted by broadcast is not recognized as a request addressed to itself, and the response command transmission processing for the request command is not performed.

  That is, the setting switch 12 of the monitoring device 10 is an operation member for activating an automatic response function for transmitting a response command to a request command when a request command broadcast to the network is received, When the setting switch 12 is operated and turned on, the automatic response function operates in the monitoring device 10. The monitoring device 10 is configured to recognize that the request command received during the operation period of the automatic response function is a request addressed to itself, and automatically transmit the response command to the request command as a TRAP packet.

  Further, when the monitoring device 10 receives a request command from the monitoring camera 20, if the setting switch 12 of the monitoring device 10 is in an ON state, the monitoring device 10 registers information included in the request command in the MIB 104. As a result, an IP address or the like for specifying the monitoring camera 20 as the other party is registered in the monitoring device 10.

  When the monitoring device 10 transmits a response command, the IP address of the monitoring device 10, the group name set with the central management device 30 described above, the IP address of the central management device 30, etc. in the TRAP packet Information is sent to the IP address that is the source of the request command.

  As a result, the packet receiving unit 202 of the monitoring camera 20 receives the TRAP packet from the monitoring device 10 and registers information included in the received TRAP packet in the MIB 203. In other words, the MIB 203 of the monitoring camera 20 specifies the IP address of the monitoring apparatus 10, the group name, and the centralized management apparatus 30 that is the transmission destination of the video signal.

  Thereafter, the setting switches 12 and 22 of the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 are respectively switched to the OFF state by the user, so that the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 are associated with each other, and the monitoring camera system 1 is Transition to normal monitoring operation. Thereafter, even if the monitoring device 10 receives a request command from another monitoring camera 20, it does not transmit a response command to the request command, and enters a state of monitoring abnormality detection by the sensors 11a, 11b, and 11c. Even if the monitoring camera 20 receives a TRAP packet addressed to its own IP address, the monitoring camera 20 does not start a shooting operation unless the IP address and group name of the monitoring apparatus 10 registered in the MIB 203 match.

  Thus, the association between the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 is completed, and the monitoring camera 10 that should transmit a TRAP packet as an abnormality signal is registered in the MIB 104 of the monitoring device 10 when an abnormality is detected. Accordingly, the monitoring apparatus 10 as the other party is registered in the MIB 203 of the monitoring camera 20. In addition, when the association between the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 ends, the association between the monitoring camera 20 and the centralized monitoring device 30 also ends, and the MIB 203 of the monitoring camera 20 stores the video signal. The centralized management apparatus 30 as a transmission destination is registered. In addition, in order to register the information of the monitoring camera 20 in the centralized management apparatus 30 as well, the monitoring apparatus 10 or the monitoring camera 20 transmits the information of the monitoring camera 20 to the centralized management apparatus 30 after the above procedure is completed. You may do it.

  When another combination of the monitoring device and the monitoring camera exists on the network, the above procedure is repeated. That is, in the present embodiment, if the setting switch 22 of the monitoring camera 20 is turned on during the period in which the setting switch 12 of the monitoring device 10 is on, the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 are automatically turned on. Since the sequence for establishing the correspondence relationship is executed, when there are a plurality of combinations of the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20, the setting switches 12 of the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 of each group, By shifting the operation timing of the operation 22, the correspondence relationship between the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 can be set effectively for all combinations.

  In the above description, the case where a user operation is required each time to switch between the ON state and the OFF state of the setting switches 12 and 22 is illustrated. However, for example, the user performs a switch operation (such as a push operation) once. If this is done, a setting switch may be used in which the contact of the switch is turned on for a certain period of time and automatically returns to the off state after a certain period of time. In this case, since the number of times the user operates the setting switches 12 and 22 is reduced, the work efficiency at the installation site is improved.

  Next, details of the monitoring operation performed by the monitoring camera system 1 after the correspondence relationship between the monitoring device 10, the monitoring camera 20, and the centralized management device 30 is set as described above will be described.

  The MIB 104 of the monitoring device 10 stores the status of each sensor 11a, 11b, 11c (information regarding the presence / absence of abnormality detection), and the CPU 14 of the monitoring device 10 indicates the detection status of the sensors 11a, 11b, 11c at regular intervals. Ascertain and when an abnormality is detected, the MIB 104 is rewritten. When the MIB 104 is rewritten and the status of one of the sensors changes to a value at which an abnormality is detected, the packet transmission unit 103 functions in the monitoring device 10 and transmits a TRAP packet indicating the abnormality to the centralized management device 30. The packet transmission unit 103 of the monitoring device 10 also transmits a TRAP packet indicating an abnormality to the monitoring camera 10. The transmission destination of the TRAP packet to be transmitted at this time is a device (centralized management device 30 and monitoring camera 10) registered in advance in the above-described correspondence setting procedure, and the sensor that detected the abnormality is specified in the TRAP packet. Information to be included.

  The MIB 303 of the central management device 30 also stores the status (information regarding presence / absence of abnormality detection) of each sensor 11a, 11b, 11c of the monitoring device 10. When the packet receiving unit 302 of the centralized management device 30 receives a TRAP packet indicating abnormality detection from the monitoring device 10, the monitoring device 10 that detected the abnormality is specified and the MIB 303 is rewritten. The MIB analysis unit 304 of the centralized management device 30 analyzes the change in the state of the MIB 303 and, if an abnormality is detected, causes the video display processing unit 305 to function and causes the display 35 to display a screen indicating the abnormality detection. Thereby, the user of the centralized management device 30 can quickly grasp that the monitoring device 10 has detected an abnormality.

  On the other hand, the packet receiving unit 202 of the monitoring camera 20 rewrites the MIB 203 in the monitoring camera 20 when receiving a TRAP packet indicating abnormality detection from the monitoring device 10 associated in advance. The MIB analysis unit 204 of the monitoring camera 20 analyzes a change in the state of the MIB 203, specifies a sensor that has detected an abnormality, and causes the camera control code generation unit 205 to function. The camera control code generation unit 205 generates a camera control code for controlling the imaging control unit 220 by referring to the conversion table 206 based on the sensor that detects the abnormality.

  The conversion table 206 is table data stored in advance in the RAM 27 or the like of the monitoring camera 20, and the shooting direction and the shooting magnification by the imaging unit 21 are determined by the monitoring points of the monitoring device 10 (that is, the sensors 11 a, 11 b, and 11 c are This is data in which a control code is associated with each sensor so as to be suitable for shooting at a place where an abnormality is detected. Therefore, the camera control code generation unit 205 refers to the conversion table 206 based on the sensor that has detected the abnormality, so that the imaging unit 21 is suitable for photographing the vicinity of the abnormality occurrence position, zoom driving, tilt driving, and panning. A control code for driving can be acquired.

  The control code transmission unit 207 functions in the monitoring camera 20, and the control code is transmitted from the CPU 25 to the imaging control unit 220. Based on this control code, the shooting control unit 220 drives the zoom drive circuit 221, the tilt drive circuit 223, and the pan drive circuit 225 so that the shooting direction and shooting magnification of the image pickup unit 21 are suitable for shooting near the place where the abnormality occurred. Change to state. In addition, the shooting control unit 220 sends a shooting command to the timing generator 213 to start a shooting operation by the image sensor 212. Video signals output from the image sensor 212 are sequentially processed by the video signal processing circuit 23 and stored in the RAM 27. The CPU 25 functions as a video transmission unit 209, and sequentially transmits video signals to the centralized management device 30 via the network.

  As a result, the centralized management apparatus 30 can obtain a video signal in the vicinity of the place where the abnormality has occurred without performing shooting control of the monitoring camera 20, and a relatively long delay after the monitoring apparatus 10 detects the abnormality. It becomes possible to acquire a video with little.

  As described above, in the monitoring camera system 1 of the present embodiment, when the monitoring device 10 detects an abnormality, a signal indicating abnormality detection is directly transmitted to the monitoring camera 20 associated with the monitoring device 10 itself. Thus, the monitoring device 10 is configured to directly control the photographing operation of the monitoring camera 20. In other words, a TRAP packet indicating an abnormality transmitted from the monitoring apparatus 10 to the monitoring camera 20 is a signal that instructs the monitoring apparatus 20 to perform a photographing operation. For this reason, the monitoring camera 20 can quickly start a shooting operation without imposing a load on the central management apparatus 30, and the central management apparatus 30 can acquire a video with little delay from the occurrence of an abnormality. It can be displayed or recorded.

  As described above, the monitoring camera system 1 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the monitoring device 10 that detects an abnormality and the monitoring camera 20 that captures an image are connected via a network. The monitoring camera 20 is configured to broadcast a request command to the network in response to a setting operation by the user when setting the correspondence with the request command received by the monitoring apparatus 10 via the network. Is recognized to be a request addressed to itself, a response command is transmitted to the monitoring camera 20. In particular, in this embodiment, when the setting switch 12 is operated in the monitoring apparatus 10 and a request command is received from the monitoring camera 20 during the period when the automatic response function is operating, the request command is a request addressed to itself. It has come to recognize that.

  Therefore, in the monitoring camera system 1 of the present embodiment, the correspondence relationship of which monitoring device 10 controls which monitoring camera 20 is set individually from the central management device 30 to the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20. There is no need to go, and the load on the central management apparatus 30 is significantly reduced. Then, it becomes possible to set the corresponding relationship relatively easily at the installation site of the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20.

  Moreover, in the monitoring camera system 1 of this embodiment, when the monitoring device 10 detects an abnormality, a signal instructing a photographing operation is transmitted to the monitoring camera 20 associated with the monitoring device 10 via the network. Therefore, the burden on the centralized management device 30 when the monitoring device 10 detects an abnormality is remarkably reduced, and the centralized management device 30 can acquire an image with almost no delay from the occurrence of the abnormality.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a monitoring camera system 1a according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the same components as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

  As in the first embodiment, the monitoring camera system 1a of this embodiment has a configuration in which the monitoring device 10, the monitoring camera 20, and the centralized management device 30 are connected to each other via a network. The apparatus 10 includes a plurality of sensors 11a, 11b, and 11c for detecting an abnormality at a monitoring point, and transmits an abnormality signal to the central management apparatus 30 when at least one sensor detects an abnormality. At the same time, an abnormal signal is transmitted to the monitoring camera 20, and the monitoring camera 20 is configured to capture a video near the location where the abnormality has occurred and transmit the video signal to the centralized management device 30.

  Note that the hardware internal configurations of the monitoring device 10, the monitoring camera 20, and the centralized management device 30 are the same as those in FIGS. 2 to 4 described in the first embodiment, respectively. To do.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, identification information 9 unique to the monitoring device 10 is attached to the outer surface of the monitoring device 10 so as to be visible from the outside. FIG. 6 illustrates a case where the identification information 9 is attached as a barcode. Further, in the present embodiment, information matching the identification information 9 is stored in the RAM 17 (see FIG. 2) of the monitoring device 10. For example, identification information 9 obtained by bar-coding the MAC address of the monitoring device 10 is pasted on the monitoring device 10, and the MAC address is stored in the RAM 17 of the monitoring device 10.

  Moreover, the monitoring camera 10 of this embodiment is provided with the setting switch 8 which a user operates. The setting switch 8 is an operation member for automatically setting the correspondence relationship between the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20. For example, when the setting switch 8 is operated by the user, the monitoring camera 20 performs still image shooting. After performing the image analysis of the image obtained by the above, the request command is broadcasted to the network.

  Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, a method for setting the correspondence relationship between the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 will be specifically described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing internal functions of the monitoring device 10, the monitoring camera 20, and the centralized management device 30 in the present embodiment, and is realized mainly by the CPU when the CPU executes a program in each device. It is a figure showing a function and operation. In FIG. 7, the same reference numerals are given to the same functions as those shown in FIG.

  Also in the present embodiment, first, processing for associating the monitoring device 10 with the centralized management device 30 is performed, and then processing for associating the monitoring device 10 with the monitoring camera 20 is performed. However, since the processing for associating the monitoring device 10 with the centralized management device 30 is the same as that in the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted, and the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 are associated with each other below. The process for this is demonstrated.

  After the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 are connected to the network, the monitoring camera 20 is placed in a state where the identification information 9 attached to the outer surface of the monitoring device 10 can be photographed, and the user sets the setting switch 8 of the monitoring camera 20. To operate.

  Thereby, in the monitoring camera 20, the CPU 25 gives a shooting command to the shooting control unit 220, and the shooting control unit 220 controls the imaging unit 21 to capture an image (for example, a still image) obtained by shooting the identification information 9 of the monitoring device 10. Obtain (see FIGS. 3 and 7). After this image is stored in the RAM 27, the CPU 25 of the monitoring camera 20 functions as the image analysis unit 208, acquires the image stored in the RAM 27, and performs image analysis. This image analysis is a process of recognizing the identification information 9 from the barcode image included in the image obtained by photographing. Therefore, when the identification information 9 is a bar code of the MAC address of the monitoring device 10, the image analysis unit 208 reads the MAC address. When the reading of the identification information 9 is successfully completed, the monitoring camera 20 stores the identification information (MAC address) in the RAM 27.

  The command transmission unit 201 functions in the monitoring camera 20 and broadcasts a request command (request command) to all devices on the network via the LAN interface 24. This request command is a command for requesting establishment of a correspondence from the monitoring camera 20 to the monitoring apparatus, and is specified by the IP address of the monitoring camera 20 that is the transmission source and the image analysis unit 208. This command includes identification information.

  In the monitoring apparatus 10, when the command receiving unit 101 receives a request command from the monitoring camera 20, the command analysis unit 102 refers to the identification information 109 stored in the RAM 17, and stores the identification information included in the request command and the RAM 17. It is determined whether or not the identified identification information 109 matches. If the received identification information and the identification information 109 in the RAM 17 match, the request command transmitted by broadcast is recognized as a request addressed to itself, the packet transmission unit 103 is made to function, and the response command to the request command is set to TRAP. Send as a packet. On the other hand, if the received identification information and the identification information 109 in the RAM 17 do not match, the request command transmitted by broadcast is not recognized as a request addressed to itself, and the response command transmission processing for the request command is not performed. .

  That is, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the MAC address included in the request command received by the monitoring device 10 matches the MAC address of the monitoring device 10 itself. Will be recognized.

  Further, when the monitoring apparatus 10 recognizes the request command from the monitoring camera 20 as a request command addressed to itself, the monitoring apparatus 10 registers information included in the request command in the MIB 104. As a result, an IP address or the like for specifying the monitoring camera 20 as the other party is registered in the monitoring device 10.

  When the monitoring device 10 transmits a response command, the TRAP packet includes an IP address of the monitoring device 10, a group name set with the central management device 30, and an IP address of the central management device 30. Information is sent to the IP address that is the source of the request command.

  As a result, the packet receiving unit 202 of the monitoring camera 20 receives the TRAP packet from the monitoring device 10 and registers information included in the received TRAP packet in the MIB 203. That is, the MIB 203 of the monitoring camera 20 is set with the IP address of the monitoring device 10, the group name, and the centralized management device 30 that is the transmission destination of the video signal.

  Thus, the association between the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 is completed, and the monitoring camera 10 that should transmit a TRAP packet as an abnormality signal is registered in the MIB 104 of the monitoring device 10 when an abnormality is detected. Accordingly, the monitoring apparatus 10 as the other party is registered in the MIB 203 of the monitoring camera 20. In addition, when the association between the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 ends, the association between the monitoring camera 20 and the centralized monitoring device 30 also ends, and the MIB 203 of the monitoring camera 20 stores the video signal. The centralized management apparatus 30 as a transmission destination is registered.

  In the above description, when the setting switch 8 of the monitoring camera 20 is operated, the monitoring camera 20 is connected to the network. However, for example, the installation position of the monitoring device 10 and the installation of the monitoring camera 20 are illustrated. When the position is relatively distant, it is assumed that it is difficult to properly photograph the identification information 9 attached to the outer surface of the monitoring apparatus 10 with the monitoring camera 20 connected to the network. In such a case, the monitoring camera 20 is temporarily disconnected from the network, and the monitoring camera 20 is installed at a position where the identification information 9 attached to the monitoring device 10 can be photographed. In response to the operation, the image capturing control unit 220 and the image analysis unit 208 function to perform image capturing processing and analysis processing in advance. Thereafter, when the surveillance camera 20 is fixed at the planned installation location and connected to the network, the command transmission unit 201 responds to the network connection or in response to the operation of the setting switch 8 again. The request command including the identification information may be broadcasted via the network.

  After the correspondence between the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 is set as described above, the monitoring camera system 1a shifts to a normal monitoring operation. Since this monitoring operation is the same as that described in the first embodiment, a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  As described above, in the monitoring camera system 1a of the present embodiment, the monitoring device 10 that detects an abnormality and the monitoring camera 20 that captures an image are connected via a network, as in the first embodiment. When the correspondence relationship between the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 is set, the monitoring camera 20 is configured to broadcast the request command to the network, and the monitoring device 10 is connected via the network. When it is recognized that the received request command is a request addressed to itself, a response command is transmitted to the monitoring camera 20. In particular, in this embodiment, the monitoring camera 20 includes a setting switch 8 that is operated by a user. In response to the operation of the setting switch 8, the monitoring camera 20 captures an image and recognizes the image. The identification information included in the request is acquired, and the request command includes the identification information for broadcast transmission. The monitoring device 10 has unique identification information 9 attached to its outer surface and stores the unique identification information in the RAM 17. When a request command is received via the network, the monitoring device 10 is included in the request command. It is configured to determine whether or not the identification information matches the identification information unique to the monitoring device stored in the RAM 17, and if the identification information matches, the received request command is recognized as a request addressed to itself.

  Therefore, also in the monitoring camera system 1a of the present embodiment, the correspondence relationship of which monitoring device 10 controls which monitoring camera 20 is individually set from the centralized management device 30 to the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20. Therefore, the load on the central management apparatus 30 is remarkably reduced. Then, it becomes possible to set the corresponding relationship relatively easily at the installation site of the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20.

  Also in the present embodiment, when the monitoring device 10 detects an abnormality after the monitoring camera system 1 a shifts to a normal monitoring operation, the monitoring device 10 detects the monitoring camera 20 associated with the monitoring device 10. Then, a signal for instructing a photographing operation is transmitted via the network. Therefore, the burden on the central management device 30 when the monitoring device 10 detects an abnormality is remarkably reduced, and the central management device 30 can acquire an image with almost no delay from the occurrence of the abnormality.

<Modification>
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to what was mentioned above.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the monitoring camera systems 1 and 1a are exemplified as a relatively large-scale system, and a configuration example in which the monitoring state by the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 is centrally managed by the central management device 30 Explained. However, the method for setting the correspondence relationship between the monitoring device 10 and the monitoring camera 20 in each of the above embodiments is not only applicable to a large-scale system having the centralized management device 30, but also a small-scale system not having the centralized management device 30. It can also be applied to. Therefore, the network configuration in the present invention is not limited to those illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6.

  In the monitoring camera systems 1 and 1a in the above embodiment, the case where the monitoring function is realized by using SNMP, which is one of the protocols used for remote monitoring of the network, is applied. However, the communication protocol is not limited to this.

  Further, in the second embodiment, the case where the identification information 9 pasted on the monitoring device 10 is a bar code of the MAC address unique to the monitoring device 10 is exemplified. Absent. That is, the identification information 9 may be identification information other than the MAC address, or may be displayed in a display mode other than the barcode.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the surveillance camera system in 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware internal structure of a monitoring apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware internal structure of a surveillance camera. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware internal structure of a centralized management apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the internal function of each apparatus in the surveillance camera system. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the surveillance camera system in 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal function of each apparatus in the surveillance camera system.

Explanation of symbols

1,1a surveillance camera system 2,6 LAN (network)
4 Wide area communication network
9 Identification information 10 Monitoring device 11a, 11b, 11c Sensor (detection means)
12, 22, 8 Setting switch 20 Surveillance camera 21 Imaging unit 30 Centralized management device

Claims (4)

A monitoring camera system in which a monitoring device that detects an abnormality and a monitoring camera that captures an image are connected via a network,
The surveillance camera broadcasts a request command to the network in response to a setting operation by a user,
When the monitoring device receives the request command via the network and recognizes that the request command is a request addressed to itself, by sending a response command to the monitoring camera,
A monitoring camera system, wherein a correspondence relationship between the monitoring device and the monitoring camera is set for each. The surveillance camera system according to claim 1,
The surveillance camera includes a setting switch operated by a user, and is configured to send the request command in response to the operation of the setting switch.
When the monitoring device receives a command broadcast to the network, the monitoring device includes a setting switch that activates an automatic response function that transmits a response command to the command. A surveillance camera system that recognizes the request command received during an operation period of a response function as a request addressed to itself. The surveillance camera system according to claim 1,
The monitoring camera includes a setting switch operated by a user, and in response to the operation of the setting switch, obtains identification information included in the image by capturing an image and performing image recognition; The request command is configured to be broadcast by including the identification information,
The monitoring device is provided with unique identification information on the outer surface thereof, and has storage means for storing the unique identification information, and when the request command is received via the network, the request command Determining whether or not the identification information included in the information matches the unique identification information stored in the storage means, and if the identification information matches, the request command is recognized as a request addressed to itself. Surveillance camera system. The surveillance camera system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
When the monitoring device detects an abnormality, the monitoring device transmits a signal instructing a photographing operation to the monitoring camera associated with the monitoring device via the network.

Images