JP2005311563A - Monitoring method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a monitoring method capable of continuously recording the image of an object to be monitored without stopping an entire network system, when expanding PC terminals and changing the recording information of the network system in a monitoring system utilizing the network for continuously recording the image of the object to be monitored. <P>SOLUTION: When image information obtained from a plurality of surveillance cameras is successively, continuously fetched into the storage of a plurality of terminals via a network, a recording file recorded to the previous terminal in the plurality of terminals is read, and the terminal is operated before the memory capacity of the previous terminal is insufficient, thus continuously recording the image of the object to be monitored. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a monitoring method for continuously recording and monitoring images from a monitoring camera on a PC terminal via a network.

    Browsing images on the Internet with a camera connected to a network to capture images of the city and scenery, or displaying images obtained by capturing objects to be monitored in a building on a local area network (Local Area Network) Browsing above has recently become popular. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an example in which an image of a monitoring camera is monitored by a host computer via a network.

    Each camera connected to this network (hereinafter abbreviated as “camera”) has a unique IP address (Internet Protocol Address: delivery address of TCP / IP network layer protocol), such as a PC (Personal Computer). A network terminal (hereinafter abbreviated as “terminal”) designates a camera-specific IP address and requests image browsing.

    Then, the camera transmits an image to the requested terminal, and receives and browses the image transmitted from the terminal. In this way, the camera image can be viewed on the network.

 The image received and browsed by the terminal is recorded on a recording medium capable of storing data such as a hard disk installed in the terminal for repeated browsing. Then, erase it after browsing.

  When a long recording period is required on a hard disk, connect multiple terminals to the network in advance, and secure enough capacity to record images, so that there will be no time when images cannot be recorded. Consider as follows.

  For example, an image is recorded on the first terminal from the start of recording to the fourth day, and recorded on the second terminal from the fifth day to the seventh day. Thereafter, a terminal may be added as necessary.

  However, it is difficult to add an unlimited number of terminals. For saving, the recorded image of the terminal is deleted and used again. For example, recording is first performed at the first terminal, and after the recording at the first terminal is completed, the next recording is performed at the second terminal. Then, when the next recording is started at the second terminal, the necessity of saving the image recorded on the first terminal is investigated. When finished, the recording starts again at the first terminal.

  In this way, a network system is constructed in consideration of the optimum number of installed terminals so that a period during which images cannot be recorded does not occur.

 FIG. 10 shows an example of a network system using three surveillance cameras and two PC terminals. This network system includes a surveillance camera 1, a surveillance camera 2, a surveillance camera 3, a local area LAN 4, a router (router: a device that relays data flowing on the network) 5, the Internet 6, a PC terminal 7, and a PC terminal 8. Composed.

  The monitoring cameras 1, 2 and 3 are connected directly to the Internet 6 via the local LAN 4 and the router 5, and the PC terminals 7 and 8 are directly connected to the Internet 6, respectively. First, the IP addresses of the monitoring cameras 1, 2, 3 are specified in order from the PC terminal 7, and the images captured by the respective monitoring cameras are browsed and recorded on the hard disk built in the PC terminal 7.

  When the storage capacity of the hard disk for recording images on the PC terminal 7 runs out, the PC terminal 7 switches to the PC terminal 8, and this time, the IP addresses of the monitoring cameras 1, 2, and 3 are specified in turn from the PC terminal 8. Then, the images captured by the respective monitoring cameras are browsed and recorded on the hard disk built in the PC terminal 8.

  The images taken by the monitoring cameras 1, 2, and 3 recorded on the PC terminal 7 are examined, and if there is an abnormality, they are copied and stored in another recording medium (for example, a magneto-optical disk). Next, after the survey is completed, the image recorded on the hard disk is deleted.

 Then, when the storage capacity of the hard disk for recording images on the PC terminal 8 runs out, the image recorded on the hard disk is recorded again on the erased PC terminal 7. By repeating this, images of the monitoring object are continuously recorded.

 Next, an example of the operation will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of the conventional network system in FIG. First, an image data request is issued from the PC terminal 7 of the network terminal to the monitoring camera 1 of the network camera (step S1). Then, the image data is transmitted from the PC terminal 1 to the PC terminal 7 (step S2), and the PC terminal 7 records this image (step S3).

 When the recording at the PC terminal 7 is completed, an image data request is issued from the PC terminal 8 to the monitoring camera 1 (step S4). Then, image data is transmitted from the PC terminal 1 to the PC terminal 8 (step S5), and the PC terminal 8 records this image (step S6).

 When the recording at the PC terminal 8 is completed, an image data request is issued again from the PC terminal 7 to the monitoring camera 1 (step S7). Then, the image data is transmitted from the PC terminal 1 to the PC terminal 8 (step S8).

 At this time, in order to add a new PC terminal 9 to the network system, the operation of the PC terminals 7 and 8 is stopped and the network system is stopped (step S9).

 Next, the PC terminal 9 is added to the network system (step S50). Then, the setting information of the PC terminal 7, PC terminal 8, and PC terminal 9 is updated for a new network system (step S51). After the setting information is updated, the new network system is activated (step S52).

The new network system first issues an image data request from the PC terminal 7 to the monitoring camera 1 (step S53), and the image data is transmitted from the monitoring camera 1 to the PC terminal 7 (step S54). Data is recorded (step S55). Similarly, the image data of the monitoring camera 1 is recorded repeatedly in the order of the PC terminal 7, the PC terminal 8, and the PC terminal 9.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-136346

  In this conventional monitoring method using a network, every time an additional PC terminal is added or the record information of the network system is changed, the entire network system must be stopped to update the setting information. There is a problem that images cannot be recorded continuously.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems and provides a monitoring method capable of continuously recording an image of an object to be monitored when adding PC terminals or changing the recording information of a network system. The purpose is to do.

 In order to achieve the above object, the monitoring method of the first aspect of the present invention sequentially stores image information obtained from a plurality of monitoring cameras via a network in storage units (PC terminals 7, 8, 9) In the monitoring method of continuously capturing the image information to the HDD 22) and monitoring the image information, a recording file recorded in the previous terminal among the plurality of terminals is read, and the previous terminal's The monitoring method is characterized in that the next terminal is operated before the storage capacity is insufficient.

  According to the monitoring method for continuously recording an image of a monitoring object from a network camera according to the present invention on a network terminal, even when adding a network terminal or changing recorded information of a network terminal connected to a network system. There is an effect that it is possible to record continuously without interrupting the recording of the image of the monitoring object from the network camera.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings by way of preferred embodiments.

 FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a network system according to a monitoring method according to the present invention. In this monitoring method, a monitoring image from a monitoring camera is connected to the Internet via a local LAN or a router, and the monitoring images are continuously recorded by a plurality of PC terminals connected to the Internet. The monitoring image can be continuously recorded even when a new PC terminal is added.

 In this monitoring method, the network system uses a monitoring camera 1, a monitoring camera 2, and a monitoring camera 3 as network cameras, and a local LAN 4 and a router 5 for transmitting images of the network camera to the Internet 6.

 Then, the PC terminal 7 and the PC terminal 8 are connected as network terminals for recording images of the network camera via the Internet 6. The PC terminal 9 shows an additional part.

 First, an IP address is set for each of the network camera and the network terminal. For example, the surveillance camera 1 as a network camera has an IP1 address (111.222.333.1), the surveillance camera 2 has an IP2 address (111.222.33.33.2), and the surveillance camera 3 has an IP3. Address (111.222.333.3) is set.

 For example, an address (222.3333.444.7) as IP7 is set in the PC terminal 7 as a network terminal, and an address (222.333.444.8) as IP8 is set in the PC terminal 8.

 Next, FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a PC terminal as an example of a network terminal. This PC terminal comprises a network interface 21 for connecting to an external network, an HDD 22 (hard disk), a memory 23 (semiconductor memory), a CPU 24, and a data bus 25 for transmitting each data in both directions.

 An OS, a recording program, a recording file, and the like are recorded in the HDD 22, and the OS 24, the recording program, a recording file, and the like are read out by the CPU 24 and executed on the Memory 23.

 In the recording file recorded in the HDD 22, the IP address of the network camera, the recording start time, the recording end time, and the recording cycle of the image data from the network camera are recorded for each network terminal.

For example, in the recording file of the PC terminal 7 as the network terminal in FIG. 1, the IP address of the network camera and the image control data are filed as follows.
IP address IP1: 111.222.333.1
File 1 (image data recording start time): 0 days 0:00: 00: 00 seconds File 2 (image data recording end time): 4 days 0:00: 00: 00 seconds File 3 (recording cycle): 7 Day

Similarly, the network camera IP address and image control data are filed in the recording file of the PC terminal 8 as the network terminal in FIG.
IP address IP2: 111.222.333.1
File 1 (image data recording start time): 4 days 0:00: 00: 00 seconds File 2 (image data recording end time): 7 days 0:00: 00: 00 seconds File 3 (recording cycle): 7 Day

  In this way, the recording file of each network terminal is recorded as a network system and sequentially operated. First, by designating the IP address of the network camera from the PC terminal 7, the image data of the monitoring camera 1 is recorded in the HDD 22 of the PC terminal 7 from 0:00 on the start time 0 to 0:00 on the end time 4. Then, the data is recorded in the HDD 22 of the PC terminal 8 from 0 o'clock on the 4th until 0 o'clock on the 7th.

 Since the recording cycle is 7 days, when 0:00 on the 7th is 00: 00: 00, it returns to 0: 00: 00: 00 on the 0th and returns to the PC terminal 7 for monitoring again. The image data of the camera 1 is recorded. Thereafter, image data can be recorded continuously by repeating the same operation.

 The start time includes the displayed time and the end time does not include the displayed time, thereby preventing time overlap. For example, the start time of 0: 00: 00: 00 is included, but the end time of 0: 00: 00: 00 is not included.

 Next, FIG. 3A shows an operation example when each network terminal is set and the network system is operated. This operation example is an example programmed to operate according to the recording files of the PC terminal 7 and the PC terminal 8 of the network terminal shown in FIG.

 An example of adding a new network terminal to the conventional network system will be described. First, the expansion PC terminal 9 is connected while the PC terminal 7 and the PC terminal 8 of the network terminal remain in operation.

Next, the network camera IP address and image control data are filed in the recording file of the PC terminal 9 as follows, for example.
IP address IP2: 111.222.333.1
File 1 (image data recording start time): 7 days 0:00: 00: 00 seconds File 2 (image data recording end time): 14 days 0:00: 00: 00 seconds File 3 (recording cycle): 14 Day

 An example of the operation before and at the time of adding network terminals will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of the network system in FIG.

 First, an IP address (111.222.333.1) of a network camera is designated from the PC terminal 7 of the network terminal and an image data request is made to the monitoring camera 1 (step S1).

 Then, the surveillance camera 1 transmits image data to the PC terminal 7 (step S2). The PC terminal 7 receiving the image data records the received image data on the hard disk HDD 22 of the PC terminal 7 (step S3).

 Next, the IP address (111.222.333.1) of the network camera is designated from the PC terminal 8 of the network terminal, and an image data request is made to the monitoring camera 1 (step S4).

 Then, the surveillance camera 1 transmits image data to the PC terminal 8 (step S5). The PC terminal 8 that has received the image data records the received image data in the hard disk HDD 22 of the PC terminal 8 (step S6). Then, usually, the process returns to step S1 to continuously record image data.

 As described above, the PC terminal 9 is added as a network terminal to the network system in which the PC terminal 7 and the PC terminal 8 are circulated and operated (step S60).

 Then, the added PC terminal 9 transmits a setting information request packet to the PC terminals 7 and 8 used in the network system (steps S61 and S62).

 The PC terminal 7 and the PC terminal 8 that have received the setting information request packet send to the PC terminal 9 that is the transmission source of the setting information request packet the respective file 1, file 2, file 3 is returned (step S63, step S64).

 The PC terminal 9 receives the data of the respective recording files from the PC terminal 7 and the PC terminal 8, analyzes the current recording rule based on this data (step S65), and creates a new recording rule (step S65). Step 66).

 As a new recording rule, for example, when the current recording rule circulates in a certain cycle, a record by the PC terminal 9 added at the end of the cycle is added.

 FIG. 5A illustrates an operation example when the PC terminal 9 is added to the network system of FIG. This is an example programmed to operate according to the recording files of the PC terminal 7, PC terminal 8, and PC terminal 9 of the network terminal shown in FIG.

 For example, the setting data changed from the recording file of FIG. 3 to the recording file shown in FIG. 5 is transmitted to each network terminal (steps S67 and S68). Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed when a new recording file is set in each network terminal, an update command is transmitted (step S69, step S70), and the recording information is updated with the new recording file (step S71).

The updated recording file of each PC terminal is set as follows. (Fig. 5 (B))
PC terminal 7
IP address IP2: 111.222.333.1
File 1 (image data recording start time): 0 day 0:00: 00: 00 second File 2 (image data recording end time): 4 day 0:00: 00: 00 second File 3 (recording cycle): 14 Day

PC terminal 8
IP address IP2: 111.222.333.1
File 1 (image data recording start time): 4 days 0:00: 00: 00 seconds File 2 (image data recording end time): 7 days 0:00: 00: 00 seconds File 3 (recording cycle): 14 Day

PC terminal 9 (additional part)
IP address IP2: 111.222.333.1
File 1 (image data recording start time): 7 days 0:00: 00: 00 seconds File 2 (image data recording end time): 14 days 0:00: 00: 00 seconds File 3 (recording cycle): 14 Day

 That is, in accordance with the longest period of the recording cycle in each PC terminal, the image data recording start time and image data recording end time of each PC terminal are programmed, and image data can be recorded continuously without any gap in recording time. Set it to be possible.

 After the setting is completed, the network system is operated according to the new recording rule (step S7, step S8, step S9,...).

 If the record file information for each network terminal operating in this way is first collected and then generated and distributed to each of the record files including newly added network terminals, even in a circulating network system Thus, it is possible to continuously record images to be monitored without stopping the operation of the network system as in the prior art.

  Next, FIG. 6 shows an operation example of a non-circular network system by the monitoring method according to the present invention. FIG. 6A shows a case where image recording by a network camera is performed for a long time using two network terminals. If the recording end time elapses by removing the designation of the recording cycle in the recording file, Recording ends.

  In this network system, a recording file is created by matching the recording start time of the second network terminal with the recording start time of the first unit. That is, when the second recording is started from the recording end time of the first unit, if it takes time to confirm the IP address of the network camera, the continuity is lost when the second unit starts recording. Therefore, the recording start time of the second unit is established in correspondence with the recording start time of the first unit.

 FIG. 6B shows a case where a third network terminal is added and used. In this case, the recording start time as the second network terminal is established at the first recording start time. Every time a third unit is added, the recording start time for the second to third units is established.

 In the case of adding a non-recirculating network system, for example, when adding a PC terminal 9 that performs the operations shown in FIGS. 6A to 6B, first, as shown in FIG. A setting information request packet is transmitted from the network terminal to the network terminal of the currently operating network system (steps S61 and S62).

 When data having no recording cycle as shown in FIG. 6A is received from the network terminal of the currently operating network system (step S63, step S64), the recording end time of the network terminal at which recording is last performed. Accordingly, the recording start time of the network terminal to be added is established (step S65, step S66).

 In this way, it is possible to continuously perform image recording of the network camera in the currently operating network system (step S7, step S8, step S9).

 Therefore, if recording file information for each operating network terminal is first collected and then a newly added recording file for the network terminal is generated, the operation of the network system is monitored without stopping as in the past. Images can be recorded continuously. When adding a non-circular network system, there is no need to change the recording cycle in the recording file, so the recording information of the network terminal that is currently in operation remains unchanged, and the recording information of the additional network terminal is updated. Just do it.

  Next, an example of changing the information of a recording file in a network system that is actually operating in a circulating manner by the monitoring method according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 8A shows a recording file before the change, and FIG. 8B shows an example of the recording file after the change. This is an example in which the recording interval of each PC terminal before the change is made uniform after the change.

  That is, as shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. 9, a rule based on the new setting information is created on the PC terminal that is not currently operating (step S60), and the setting to the recording file for each PC terminal created based on this rule is made. Data is transmitted from the PC terminal 9 (steps S61 and S62).

  After the transmission of the setting data, an update command is sent (steps S63 and S64), the recording information of each PC terminal is rewritten to update the setting information (step S65), and the network system is operated with the new setting information.

  In this way, by updating the recording information to the recording file of the network system operating in the circulation type while operating the network system, it is possible to obtain images to be recorded continuously.

  Until now, only the monitoring camera 1 has been described for the sake of simplification, but a network camera having an IP address connected to the network can be easily used in this network system. Of course.

 As described above, when the monitoring method according to the present invention is used, the recording file recorded in the operating terminal among the plurality of terminals connected to the network is read and this operation is performed. Images can be recorded continuously by operating the next terminal before the storage capacity of the terminal is insufficient.

It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the network system by the monitoring method which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the block of the PC terminal which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the operation state of the network terminal which concerns on this invention, and a recording file example. It is a figure which shows the sequence of the network system of the monitoring method which concerns on this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation state after adding a network terminal and an example of a recording file according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the operation state of the acyclic network terminal which concerns on this invention, and an example of a recording file. It is a figure which shows the sequence of the acyclic network system which concerns on this invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation state of a network terminal in which information of a recording file according to the present invention is rewritten and a recording file example. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sequence of a network system in which information of a recording file according to the present invention is rewritten. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the network system by the conventional monitoring method. It is a figure which shows the sequence of the network system by the conventional monitoring method.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2, 3 Surveillance cameras 4 Local LAN
5 Router 6 Internet 7, 8, 9 PC terminal (terminal)
21 Network Interface
22 HDD (storage unit)
23 Memory
24 CPU
25 Data Bus

Claims (1)

In a monitoring method for monitoring image information by sequentially capturing image information obtained from a plurality of monitoring cameras via a network, sequentially capturing the image information into a storage unit of a plurality of terminals,
A monitoring method comprising: reading a recording file recorded in the previous terminal out of the plurality of terminals and operating the next terminal before the storage capacity of the previous terminal is insufficient.

Images