JP2006148252A - Crime prevention camera system, crime prevention camera image storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To store an image photographed by a crime prevention camera while taking account of privacy. <P>SOLUTION: A face image of a person supposed to pass through a monitor area is registered in a face image database 24. A regular visitor judging server 26 judges whether a face included in a video image photographed by a crime prevention camera 22 coincides with a face image registered in the face image database 24. If it is not included in the registered face images, that image is stored as a storage video image 28. The camera system may be arranged such that the face image of a visitor 116 is registered temporarily in the face image database 24 under approval of residents 56, or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for storing an image obtained by a security camera, and more particularly to a technique for protecting the privacy of a passerby.

  In the system for accumulating the video of the security camera, in addition to the mode of accumulating the video as it is, the mode of accumulating only the vicinity of the trigger obtained by human sensor or image motion detection for the purpose of extending the recording time, A mode in which the stored image quality is variable is employed.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique for recording the images of all the persons entering and leaving the room. Patent Document 2 below discloses a technique for performing encryption processing on a face area of an image to be stored.

JP 2002-304651 A JP 2002-165209 A

  In recent years, it has been pointed out that privacy protection is necessary for image storage of security cameras.

  An object of the present invention is to realize privacy protection by an aspect different from the technique of Patent Document 2.

  Another object of the present invention is to establish a technique that does not store an image taken by a specific person among images taken by a security camera.

  The security camera system of the present invention includes a face image database in which a person's face image is registered, a security camera that is provided in a monitoring area and captures an image including a passer's face, and a face in the captured image in the face image database. A determination unit that determines whether the image is a registered face image; and a storage unit that accumulates and stores the image when the determination unit determines that the registered face image is not included.

  The security camera captures a surveillance area. The security camera is provided near, for example, an entrance of a condominium or an office, and photographs a passerby or the like walking along a passage. The captured image is typically a moving image (video), but may be a still image. The face image database is a database in which face images of persons and the like who are assumed to pass normally in the monitoring area are registered.

  The determination unit compares the face area in the photographed image with the face image registered in the face image database to determine whether or not they are the same. The determination can be performed by applying an image recognition technique. The storage unit accumulates and stores images including face regions that are not registered. If it is determined that it has been registered, as a rule, it is immediately deleted. However, depending on the setting, it can be stored separately and deleted after a predetermined time (for example, one day later). This is a solution for achieving both privacy protection and storage of captured images.

  With this security camera system, privacy protection is realized in accumulation of images taken by the security camera. In particular, in this system, since only images that do not need to be protected are stored and stored, the effect of privacy protection is very large.

  Preferably, the security camera system of the present invention includes temporary registration means for receiving a face image and temporarily registering it in a face image database based on a request from a user. “Temporary” refers to limiting the period or limiting the number of times of passage (for example, limiting the number of times the determination unit performs processing to only two times necessary for entering and exiting). This is effective in protecting the privacy of a person who has a known identity, such as a visitor.

  Preferably, in the security camera system of the present invention, the temporary registration means includes security means for preventing registration based on a request from a user other than an authorized user. Preferably, in the security camera system of the present invention, the security means issues a one-time password in response to a request from an authorized user, and a face image temporarily when the face image is received together with the one-time password. Means for registering in the database. Alternatively, in the security camera system of the present invention, the security means may be constructed based on a public key cryptosystem with an authorized user.

  Preferably, in the security camera system of the present invention, the storage unit accumulates and stores the image when the determination unit determines that a registered face and an unregistered face exist in one image. And means for performing any one of the processes of deleting the image and deleting only the area including the registered person in the image. The system only needs to have a configuration that realizes at least one of the three modes. If two or three modes are provided, the system installer or registered person can be selected. can do.

  Desirably, in the security camera system of the present invention, the determination unit includes means for retroactively determining a face included in the accumulated image based on the face image registered in the face image database, and storing it. The unit includes means for retroactively deleting an image determined to include the face registered by the determination unit. This is a technique that aims to protect a person who has a known identity, such as a visitor, afterwards.

  The security camera image storage device according to the present invention includes a face image database in which a person's face image is registered, an acquisition means for acquiring an image including a passer's face obtained by photographing with a security camera, and a face in the acquired image. A determination unit that determines whether or not the face image is registered in the face image database, and a storage unit that accumulates and stores the image when the determination unit determines that the image is not registered. Prepare. This security camera image storage device can be created using a computer device such as a personal computer.

  In the following, as a typical embodiment of the present invention, a privacy protection technique related to a security camera attached in the vicinity of the entrance of an apartment will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining an apparatus configuration example according to the present embodiment. In the figure, configurations relating to the apartment 10, the Internet 100, and the visitor's house 110 are shown.

  The apartment 10 is provided with a security camera system 20. The security camera system 20 includes a security camera 22, a face image database 24, a regular visitor determination server 26, and an accumulated video 28. The security camera 22 shoots a passerby 30 who passes through the monitoring area near the entrance, and transmits the obtained video to the regular visitor determination server 26. The face image database 24 is a database in which face images of persons who should protect privacy are stored, and face images of legitimate passers-by such as residents of apartments are registered. The regular visitor determination server 26 analyzes the video imaged by the security camera 22 and determines whether or not the video image includes a face image registered in the face image database 24. As a configuration for this, the regular visitor determination server 26 is provided with a face recognition engine in which an image recognition technique is implemented. When the registered face image is not included, the video is instructed to be stored as the accumulated video 28. The accumulated image 28 is an image accumulated in this manner, and is an object to be investigated when a security problem occurs. The regular visitor determination server 26 also controls the security camera system 20 such as registration processing for the face image database 24.

  Registration in the face image database is typically performed from the resident's house 50 of the apartment 10. A PC 54 equipped with a PC (personal computer) camera 52 is installed in the resident's house 50 and connected to the Internet 100. The resident 56 photographs his / her face with the PC camera 52, and transmits the obtained image to the regular visitor determination server 26 via the Internet 100. The regular visitor determination server 26 confirms that the sender is a person permitted to register, and registers it in the face image database 24. In the confirmation, password authentication, authentication by a public key cryptosystem using an authentication infrastructure (PKI), or the like can be introduced.

  In the resident's house 50 (but not limited to), the face image taken by the camera of the mobile phone 60 is transmitted using the communication function of the mobile phone 60 and registered in the regular visitor determination server 26 via the Internet 100. It is also possible to offer. Also in this case, authentication is performed, for example, by comparing the telephone number or mail address of the transmission source with a predetermined list.

  When the authorized person approves the authorized visitor determination server 26, an external third party can register the face image. Therefore, in the figure, a visitor's house 110 visiting the resident's house 50 is shown. The visitor's home 110 shows a PC camera 112, a PC 114, a visitor 116 who operates the same, a mobile phone 120, and a visitor 122 who operates the same.

  Next, the operation of the security camera system 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process of accumulating images in a situation where face images are already registered. In this case, the regular visitor determination server 26 analyzes the video from the security camera 22 and detects, for example, a change in time or the like to detect a person. Then, an image near the face of this person is extracted from this video (S10).

  Next, the regular visitor determination server 26 determines whether the image near the face is a face image included in the face image database 24 by comparison (S12). The comparison is performed using a face recognition engine. The algorithm is not particularly limited, and various commonly used image recognition techniques can be applied.

  As a result, the video determined not to contain the registered face image is stored as the accumulated video 28 (S14). On the other hand, the video determined to contain the registered face image is deleted (S16).

  In order to perform the comparison in step S12 with high accuracy, it is particularly desirable that the face image included in the face image database 24 and the face portion taken by the security camera are taken from the same angle. In view of this, images from a plurality of angles are registered in the face image database 24. For example, in the comparison, the images are simply compared with the images at a plurality of angles, or the images at a plurality of angles are comprehensively compared. Processing such as estimating and comparing face patterns at the same angle as the target can be performed. Further, it is particularly desirable that the regular visitor determination server 26 includes a means for finding out and cutting out from the video a portion where the face from a preferable angle is clearly seen. Furthermore, it is preferable to set the attachment angle of the security camera 22 so that a desired face angle can be obtained. For example, when only the face image photographed from the front is registered in the face image database 24, the security camera 22 is provided. However, it is desirable to install at a position where passers-by can be caught from near the front.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of temporarily registering a face image from the visitor's house 110. Here, registration is performed in the face image database 24 so that visitors who visit the residence 50 are not left in the stored video 28.

  First, in the resident's house 50 that is the visited place, the resident 56 accesses the regular visitor determination server 26 through the PC 54, etc., makes a request for temporarily registering the visitors 116 and 122, and the scheduled date and time of the visit. Is notified (S20). The authorized visitor determination server 26 issues a one-time password for temporary registration after authenticating that the inhabitant 56 is a permitted user (S22). The one-time password is transmitted to the visitor's house 110 directly to the regular visitor determination server 26 or via the resident 56. Thus, the visitors 116 and 122 obtain a one-time password (S24).

  Next, the visitors 116 and 122 photograph their own face images using the PC camera 112 or the mobile phone 120 and transmit them to the regular visitor determination server 26. In this case, authentication is performed using a one-time password, and registration in the face image database 24 is performed (S26).

  As a result, the visitors 116 and 122 who visit the resident's house 50 at the scheduled date and time do not need to store the video shot by the security camera 22 in the stored video 28 by the processing shown in FIG. However, the registration of the face images of the visitors 116 and 122 is temporary, and when the time set by the resident 56 has passed (S28), the face images are deleted from the face image database and the registration is deleted ( S30).

  Here, the visitors 116 and 122 are authenticated by the one-time password, but various authentication methods can be set. For example, it is also effective to submit a public key in the public key cryptosystem of the visitors 116 and 122 when the residents 56 apply for a visit schedule. It is particularly desirable to submit a certificate issued by a trusted certificate authority. Thereby, the authorized visitor determination server 26 can perform communication after confirming that the person is a person who holds the corresponding secret key. That is, when there is an access from the visitors 116 and 122, it is possible to easily and reliably authenticate that the person has applied for the application from the residents 56.

  Further, here, a method of registering the visitors 116 and 122 in advance has been described, but registration may be performed afterwards. That is, the visitors 116 and 122 in the resident's house 50 temporarily register the face images, and perform a determination process on the stored video 28 retroactively to the set past time, whereby the corresponding video is stored in the stored video 28. Can be erased from.

  Various modes can be adopted for handling when two or more face portions are shown in one image. That is, an aspect of accumulating and storing the image with emphasis on the crime prevention surface may be taken, or an aspect of deleting the image with emphasis on the privacy surface may be taken. As a compromise, it is also possible to delete only the area including the registered person in the image.

It is a figure which shows the outline of the structure which concerns on a security camera system. It is a flowchart explaining the process concerning the accumulation | storage of an image | video. It is a flowchart explaining the process concerning the temporary registration of a face image.

Explanation of symbols

  10 condominiums, 20 security camera systems, 22 security cameras, 24 face image databases, 26 regular visitor determination servers, 28 stored images, 30 passers-by, 50 residents' homes, 52, 112 PC cameras, 54, 114 PC, 56, 62 residents, 60,120 mobile phones, 100 Internet, 110 visitor homes, 116,122 visitors.

Claims (8)

A face image database in which human face images are registered;
A security camera that is provided in the surveillance area and shoots an image including the face of a passerby;
A determination unit that determines whether or not the face in the captured image is a face image registered in the face image database;
A storage unit that accumulates and stores this image when the determination unit determines that the registered face is not included,
A security camera system characterized by comprising: The security camera system according to claim 1,
A security camera system comprising temporary registration means for receiving a face image and temporarily registering it in a face image database based on a request from a user. The security camera system according to claim 2,
The security camera system, wherein the temporary registration means includes security means for preventing registration based on a request from a user other than an authorized user. The security camera system according to claim 3,
Security measures
A means of issuing a one-time password in response to a request from an authorized user;
Means for temporarily registering a face image in the face image database when the face image is received together with a one-time password;
A security camera system characterized by comprising: The security camera system according to claim 3,
A security camera system, wherein the security means is constructed based on a public key cryptosystem with an authorized user. The security camera system according to claim 1,
When the determination unit determines that there is a registered face and a non-registered face in one image by the determination unit,
Accumulate and save the image,
Erase the image,
Delete only the area containing the registered person in the image,
A security camera system comprising means for performing any one of the processes. The security camera system according to claim 1,
The determination unit includes means for retroactively determining the face included in the accumulated image based on the face image registered in the face image database,
A security camera system, wherein the storage unit includes means for retroactively deleting an image determined to include a face registered by the determination unit. A face image database in which human face images are registered;
An acquisition means for acquiring an image including the face of a passerby obtained by photographing with a security camera;
A determination unit that determines whether a face in the acquired image is a face image registered in the face image database;
A storage unit for accumulating and storing this image when it is determined that the image is not registered by the determination unit;
A security camera image storage device characterized by comprising:

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