JP2005340934A - Monitor camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a monitor camera system requiring no coaxial cable among a plurality of camera devices 20 and an image receiver 30, and simplifying the constitution of the image receiver 30. <P>SOLUTION: The monitor camera system is composed of a plurality of the camera devices 20 transmitting and receiving signals related to image data through a radio LAN 40 and the image receiver 30. The image receiver 30 has a camera selector 34 selecting the specified camera device 20 from a plurality of the camera devices 20 and generating a transmission indicating signal indicating an image transmission, and a radio LAN communication section 31 transmitting the transmission indicating signal to the selected specified camera device 20 and receiving the image data from the specified camera device 20. The monitor camera system further has an image processor 33 generating a specified image from the received image data and outputting it to a monitor. Each of a plurality of the camera devices 20 has the radio LAN communication section 22 receiving the transmission indicating signal specifying its own, and transmitting the image data obtained by a camera 21 to the image receiver 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

According to the present invention, a moving image of a plurality of surveillance cameras is transferred to a wireless LAN (Wireless LAN).
The present invention relates to a surveillance camera system that transmits via a Local Area Network.

  A system shown in FIG. 7 is generally known as a system for monitoring a predetermined area using moving images of a plurality of monitoring cameras. As shown in this figure, this monitoring system includes n cameras 10 (1 to n), n video distribution devices 11 (1 to n), a screen dividing device 12, a video switching device 13, and a monitor device 14. And an image receiving apparatus 100 having. The cameras 1 to n are connected to the video distribution devices 1 to n by coaxial cables 110, respectively. The video distribution devices 1 to n are connected to the screen division device 12 and the video switching device 13 by the coaxial cable 111. Each video signal from the video distribution devices 1 to n is distributed and supplied to the screen division device 12 and the video switching device 13.

  The screen dividing device 12 displays images from a plurality of cameras as a multi-screen image on the display screen of the monitor device 14. That is, from the video signals acquired from the n cameras 1 to n, the screen is divided and supplied to the video switching device 13 so that, for example, four screens and nine screens can be displayed on one screen. The video switching device 13 arbitrarily selects a video signal from the screen dividing device 12 or a video signal acquired from the n cameras 1 to n and outputs the video signal to the monitor device 14. In addition, when the multi-screen display is not performed on the monitor device 14, the screen dividing device 12 may not be provided. Prior art in this field includes, for example, Patent Document 1.

JP-A-10-210342

  Since the conventional surveillance camera system is configured as described above, it is necessary to lay the coaxial cable 110 between the cameras 1 to n and the image receiving apparatus 100. In addition, since it is necessary to include the video distribution devices 1 to n, the video switching device 13, and the coaxial cable 111 that connects these devices, the configuration of the image receiving device 100 is complicated and the cost is high. It was.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and does not require a coaxial cable between a plurality of cameras and an image receiving device, and also simplifies the configuration of the image receiving device. The purpose is to obtain a camera system.

  The surveillance camera system according to the present invention includes a plurality of image transmission devices and an image reception device that transmit and receive a signal related to image data via a wireless LAN. The image reception device is a predetermined one of the plurality of image transmission devices. An image selection unit that selects an image transmission device and generates a transmission instruction signal for instructing image transmission, and transmits the transmission instruction signal to the selected predetermined image transmission device, and receives image data from the predetermined image transmission device. A first wireless LAN communication means for receiving; and an image processing means for generating a predetermined image from the received image data and outputting the image to a monitor, wherein each of the plurality of image transmission devices specifies the transmission instruction signal for specifying itself And a second wireless LAN communication means for transmitting the image data acquired by the monitoring camera to the image receiving device.

  According to the present invention, the image receiving device includes a plurality of image transmitting devices and an image receiving device that transmit and receive signals relating to image data via a wireless LAN. The image receiving device is a predetermined image transmitting device among the plurality of image transmitting devices. An image selecting means for generating a transmission instruction signal for instructing image transmission and transmitting the transmission instruction signal to the selected predetermined image transmitting apparatus and receiving image data from the predetermined image transmitting apparatus; One wireless LAN communication means and an image processing means for generating a predetermined image from the received image data and outputting it to a monitor, and each of the plurality of image transmission devices receives the transmission instruction signal designating itself. Since the second wireless LAN communication means for transmitting the image data acquired by the monitoring camera to the image receiving device is provided, a plurality of cameras, the image receiving device, Coaxial cable between is not necessary, and it is possible to obtain a surveillance camera system with a simplified configuration of an image receiving apparatus.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a surveillance camera system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the surveillance camera system includes n camera devices (image transmission devices) 20 and an image reception device 30. Each camera device 20 includes a camera 21 (1 to n) and a wireless LAN communication unit (second wireless LAN communication means) 22 (1 to n). The image receiving device 30 includes a wireless LAN communication unit (first wireless LAN communication unit) 31, a communication control unit 32, an image processing unit (image processing unit) 33, and a camera selection unit (image selection unit) 34.

The wireless LAN communication unit 22 of each camera device 20 and the wireless LAN communication unit 31 of the image receiving device 30 perform transmission / reception of signals relating to image data via the wireless LAN 40. The wireless LAN 40 standard includes IEEE 802.11a (Institude of Electronic and Electronics Engineers 802.11a) or IEEE 802.11g (Institude) that performs time division transmission.
of Electronic and Electronics Engineers 802.11g) or their development.

  The camera selection unit 34 selects the cameras 1 to n that the user wants to monitor, and outputs a camera selection signal corresponding to the camera number as a transmission instruction signal. The communication control unit 32 controls wireless communication by the wireless LAN communication unit 31 according to the transmission instruction signal. The image processing unit 33 generates a moving image from the image data received by the wireless LAN communication unit 31 and outputs it to the monitor device 35.

Next, the operation will be described.
The cameras 1 to n capture image data of each monitoring area. The user selects a camera to be monitored and inputs the camera number from the camera selection unit 34. The camera selection unit 34 supplies a camera selection signal corresponding to the input camera number to the communication control unit 32 as a transmission instruction signal. The communication control unit 32 controls wireless communication by the wireless LAN communication unit 31 according to the transmission instruction signal. That is, the wireless LAN communication unit 31 is controlled so as to notify an image data transmission instruction signal to a selected camera among the cameras 1 to n. The wireless LAN communication unit 31 secures a communication path with the selected camera and notifies the camera of a transmission instruction signal. Upon receiving the transmission instruction signal, the camera device 20 transmits the image data acquired by the camera 21 from the wireless LAN communication unit 22 to the image reception device 30. The image receiving device 30 acquires image data by the wireless LAN communication unit 31 and supplies the image data to the image processing unit 33. The image processing unit 33 generates a moving image from the acquired image data and outputs it to the monitor device 35.

  Subsequently, when the user switches the camera to be monitored from the camera selection unit 34, the corresponding transmission instruction signal is switched and supplied to the communication control unit 32. The communication control unit 32 instructs the wireless LAN communication unit 31 to switch the communication path in response to the transmission instruction signal. In response to the instruction, the wireless LAN communication unit 31 switches the communication path so as to communicate with the selected camera device 20, acquires image data from the camera, and supplies the image data to the image processing unit 33. The image processing unit 33 generates a moving image from the acquired image data and outputs it to the monitor device 35.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a transmission method in the wireless LAN 40 of the surveillance camera system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Assume that the camera number is selected by the user in the order of “1”, “2”, and “n”. As shown in the figure, when the wireless LAN communication unit 31 receives the camera number “1”, the wireless LAN communication unit 31 establishes communication with the wireless LAN communication unit 1 among the plurality of camera devices 20, and acquires image data by securing a communication path. To do. Subsequently, when the camera selection unit 34 receives the camera number “2”, it switches to communication with the wireless LAN communication unit 2 to secure a communication path and acquire image data. Further, when the camera number “n” is received, the communication is similarly switched to the communication with the wireless LAN communication unit n to secure the communication path and acquire the image data. As described above, since image transmission can be performed by switching to communication with a desired camera device on the wireless LAN 40, functions similar to those of the video distribution device and the video switching device in the conventional surveillance camera system can be obtained.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, each camera device 20 holds the wireless LAN communication units 1 to n, and the image receiving device 30 receives image data from each camera 1 to n via the wireless LAN 40. Since the camera which acquires and switches the camera which acquires image data by the camera selection part 34 is switched, a coaxial cable is unnecessary and the video which switches the camera to monitor by the monitoring camera system which simplified the structure of the image receiver The effect that an image can be monitored is obtained.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a surveillance camera system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the surveillance camera system according to the second embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) unit 36 instead of the camera selection unit 34 of the surveillance camera system of FIG.

  The CPU unit 36 has a function of generating a transmission instruction signal instructing to sequentially select the camera devices 20 at regular time intervals. That is, a transmission instruction signal is generated as a camera selection signal corresponding to the camera number so as to acquire image data sequentially from the cameras 1 to n, and is supplied to the communication control unit 32 at regular time intervals. The communication control unit 32 controls wireless communication by the wireless LAN communication unit 31 according to the transmission instruction signal. That is, control is performed so that moving image transmission is performed in the order of the cameras 1 to n. The wireless LAN communication unit 31 secures communication paths in the order of the cameras 1 to n, acquires image data from the cameras, generates a moving image, and outputs it to the monitor device 35.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the CPU unit 36 that generates the transmission instruction signal instructing to sequentially select the camera devices 20 at regular time intervals is provided, the cameras 1 to n are sequentially installed. An effect is obtained in which moving image is generated by acquiring image data, and can be displayed on the monitor device 35 by switching at regular time intervals.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a surveillance camera system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, in the surveillance camera system according to the third embodiment, each camera device 20 shown in FIG. 1 includes a scaling unit 23 (1 to n). The scaling unit 23 reduces the image size from the image data acquired by the camera 21, outputs it as a scaled image for each field, and causes the wireless LAN communication unit 22 to perform time-division transmission. For example, when ¼ scaling is performed, moving images from a maximum of four cameras can be arranged on the same screen and output to the monitor device 35. Similarly, when 1/9 scaling is performed, moving images from a maximum of nine cameras can be arranged on the same screen and output to the monitor device 35.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a transmission method in the wireless LAN 40 according to the third embodiment. Here, a case is shown where image data of a scaled image for each field is transmitted by performing 1/4 scaling on the moving images captured by the four cameras 1 to 4. The wireless LAN 40 first transmits the scaled images acquired from the four cameras 1 to 4 during the odd field period, and then transmits the scaled images acquired from the four monitoring cameras 1 to 4 during the even field period. In this way, image data for every odd and even field is transmitted alternately.

  When the wireless LAN communication unit 31 acquires the scaled image from the wireless LAN 40, the wireless LAN communication unit 31 supplies the scaled image to the image processing unit 33. The image processing unit 33 generates a multi-screen image based on the acquired scaling image. That is, for example, the image from the camera 1 is the upper left screen of the monitor device 35, the image from the camera 2 is the upper right screen, the image from the camera 3 is the lower left screen, the image from the camera 4 is the lower right screen, and so on. An image is arranged for each display area designated and output to the monitor device 35. By doing in this way, the function similar to the function of the conventional screen splitting device is obtained.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, each of the cameras 1 to n includes the scaling units 1 to n, and the image data of the cameras is reduced and transmitted to the image receiving apparatus 30 via the wireless LAN 40 in a time division manner. As a result, a coaxial cable is unnecessary, and an effect that a multi-screen image can be displayed on the monitor device 35 can be obtained by the monitoring camera system in which the configuration of the image receiving device is simplified.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a surveillance camera system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the surveillance camera system according to the fourth embodiment is obtained by adding a recording medium 37 to the image receiving device 30 of the surveillance camera system shown in FIG.

  The wireless LAN communication unit 31 obtains image data from the selected camera via the wireless LAN 40 and supplies it to the image processing unit 33 in the same manner as the operation described in the first embodiment. The image processing unit 33 generates a moving image from the acquired image data, supplies the moving image to the monitor device 35, and records it on the recording medium 37. The user can read the moving image recorded on the recording medium 37 and browse the monitoring area.

  When a moving image is recorded on the recording medium 37, enormous resources are required. Therefore, resources may be saved by recording one frame image at regular time intervals. This fixed time interval can be arbitrarily set.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the image receiving device 30 holds the recording medium 37 and the moving image acquired by the wireless LAN communication unit 31 is written to the recording medium 37. The effect that the monitoring image of time can be browsed is acquired.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the surveillance camera system by Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure explaining the transmission system of the wireless LAN area by the surveillance camera system by Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the surveillance camera system by the same Embodiment 2. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the surveillance camera system by the same Embodiment 3. It is a figure explaining the transmission system of the wireless LAN area by the surveillance camera system by the same Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the surveillance camera system by the same Embodiment 4. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the conventional surveillance camera system.

Explanation of symbols

  10, 21 Camera, 11 Video distribution device, 12 Image division device, 13 Video switching device, 14, 35 Monitor device, 22, 31 Wireless LAN communication unit, 23 Scaling unit, 30, 100 Image reception device, 32 Communication control unit, 34 Camera selection unit, 36 CPU unit, 37 recording medium, 40 wireless LAN, 110, 111 coaxial cable.

Claims (5)

Consists of a plurality of image transmission devices and image reception devices that transmit and receive signals relating to image data via a wireless LAN,
The image receiving device includes:
Image selecting means for selecting a predetermined image transmitting device from the plurality of image transmitting devices and generating a transmission instruction signal for instructing image transmission;
First wireless LAN communication means for transmitting the transmission instruction signal to a selected predetermined image transmitting apparatus and receiving image data from the predetermined image transmitting apparatus;
Image processing means for generating a predetermined image from the received image data and outputting it to a monitor;
Each of the plurality of image transmission devices includes:
A surveillance camera system comprising: a second wireless LAN communication unit that receives the transmission instruction signal that designates itself and transmits image data acquired by the surveillance camera to the image reception device.   2. The surveillance camera system according to claim 1, wherein the image selection means generates a transmission instruction signal so as to instruct to sequentially select the image transmission devices at a constant time interval. The wireless LAN time-division-transmits image data of a plurality of image transmission devices that have received the instruction signal,
2. The surveillance camera system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing means of the image receiving device generates a multi-screen image composed of image data of a plurality of image transmitting devices.   The surveillance camera system according to claim 1, wherein the image receiving apparatus includes a recording medium for recording the received image data. Each of the plurality of image transmitting apparatuses has a scaling unit that reduces the image size from the image data acquired by the monitoring camera and transmits the image data of the scaled image for each field in a time-division manner via the second wireless LAN communication unit of its own. Prepared,
4. The surveillance camera system according to claim 3, wherein the image processing means of the image receiving device generates a multi-screen image based on the received image data for each odd and even field of each image transmitting device.

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