JP2006325036A - Image recording system and image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording system and an image recording apparatus by which the recording of a faulty apparatus is immediately handed over to record images without omission without providing any extra auxiliary apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: A disk recorder 101a transmits a packet for inquiring about whether a fault occurs or not, to other disk recorders 101b and 101c and discriminates the disk recorder 101c which does not respond to it within a prescribed time, and requests a network camera 102c of which the images are set so as to be recorded by the disk recorder, to distribute the images to the disk recorder 101a and takes over and records images distributed from the network camera 102c. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a video recording system and a video recording device in which a plurality of imaging devices and a plurality of video recording devices are connected via a network.

In a building such as a convenience store, a commercial store such as a supermarket, or a bank, monitoring is performed using a plurality of surveillance network cameras. An image taken with a network camera is displayed on a monitor, visually monitored, recorded in a video recording device such as a disk recorder, and stored for use for a certain period of time (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below). . In large-scale monitoring such as building monitoring, since many network cameras are used, a video disk recorder (VDR) that records images is also frequently used.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-79621 (Abstract)

  By the way, since VDR (hereinafter referred to as a disk recorder) is also a kind of machine, it cannot be said that it does not fail at all. Therefore, if it is inevitable that the recording will be interrupted due to a failure, the disk recorder will be duplicated and always operated in parallel and recorded at the same time. The method of switching to was taken. However, such a method requires the same number of spare units as the disk recorders used, resulting in a problem that the cost is doubled, and installation and maintenance management are also doubled.

  The present invention provides a video recording system and a video recording apparatus capable of immediately taking over the recording of a faulty machine and recording without omission, in view of the problems of the conventional example described above. With the goal.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
A plurality of imaging devices (102) and a plurality of video recording devices (101) are connected via a network (100), and each video data captured by each imaging device (102) is stored in each imaging device (102). A video recording system recorded in any of the plurality of video recording devices (101) associated with
Each of the video recording devices (101)
Monitoring means (S702-1, S703, S702-2) for performing mutual communication for life and death monitoring among the plurality of video recording devices;
When the monitoring means of one video recording device (101) detects a video recording device (101) that does not respond within a predetermined time by the mutual communication among the plurality of video recording devices (101), this no-response On the network (100) with respect to each of the imaging device (102) corresponding to the video recording device (101) and the imaging device (102) corresponding to the one video recording device (101). Transmission rate change request means (S708) for delivering a transmission rate change request for changing the transmission rate of
Each of the imaging devices (102)
When the transmission rate change request is received, video data obtained by encoding the captured video at a bit rate corresponding to the transmission rate change request is distributed to the video recording apparatus that is the distribution source of the transmission rate change request (S709). It is characterized by comprising.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
A plurality of imaging devices (102) and a plurality of video recording devices (101) are connected to each other via a network (100), and each video data captured by each imaging device (102) is stored in each imaging device (102). The video recording device (101) in the video recording system recorded in any of the plurality of video recording devices (101) associated with
Monitoring means (S702-1, S703, S702-2) for performing mutual communication for life and death monitoring among the plurality of video recording devices;
When the monitoring unit of one video recording device (101) detects a video recording device (101) that does not respond within a predetermined time by the mutual communication among the plurality of video recording devices (101), this no response On the network (100) for each of the imaging device (102) corresponding to the video recording device (101) and the imaging device (102) corresponding to the one video recording device (101). Transmission rate change requesting means (S708) for distributing a transmission rate change request for changing the transmission rate of the transmission rate.

  According to the present invention, when a video recording device that has stopped operation is monitored by monitoring the operation of the video recording device on the network, the video distributed from the imaging device that is set to be recorded by the video recording device is displayed. Since the recording is carried over, it is not necessary to provide an extra spare machine, and recording without leakage can be performed.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a video recording system and a video recording apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a disk recorder of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation unit of FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording list of the memory of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a standard table of the memory of FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining recording processing of the disk recorder of FIG. 7 is a flowchart and sequence chart for explaining the recording takeover process of the disk recorder of FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the recording setting change process after the takeover of the disk recorder of FIG.

  In FIG. 1, a disc recorder 101a which is an embodiment of a video recording apparatus according to the present invention receives and records an image of a network camera 102a via a network 100. Similarly, the disk recorder 101b receives and records the image of the network camera 102b, and the disk recorder 101c receives and records the image of the network camera 102c. Monitors 103a, 103b, and 103c are connected to the disk recorders 101a, 101b, and 101c, respectively, and the received images of the network cameras 102a, 102b, and 102c can be viewed and monitored. The network cameras 102a, 102b, and 102c are installed in a monitoring area where video is monitored, and video is captured in the monitoring area, the video signal is compressed by a method such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group), and the image is transferred to the network 100. To deliver.

  2, the disk recorder 101 (101a, 101b, 101c) includes an IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) interface 201, a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) interface 202, and an image processing unit (VGA (registered trademark)) 204. The network interface (NIC) 205, the memory 206, the CPU 207, and the operation unit 208 can communicate with each other via the bus line 209. A hard disk drive (HDD) 203 is connected to the IDE interface 201. When the disk recorder 101 is activated, the CPU 207 executes an OS (Operating System) and application software on the memory 206 to perform processing. The image processing unit 204 is used when displaying an operation screen, an image sent from the network camera 102 (102a, 102b, 102c) or a video recorded in the HDD 203 on the monitor 103 (103a, 103b, 103c). As shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit 208 includes a setting button 501, an up / down button 502, a right button 503, a jog dial 504, and the like that are used when the user performs menu settings of the disk recorder 101. In addition, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like may be included.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the memory 206 stores in advance a recording list showing the recording status and a standard table as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the record list includes the IP addresses of the disk recorders 101a, 101b, and 101c that are recorded by this monitoring system, and the network cameras 102a, 102b, All the IP addresses of 102c are described. In the standard table shown in FIG. 5, the screen size, frame rate, and compression rate for each target bit rate (kbps) are stored in advance.

  The user makes settings before starting recording. First, the IP addresses of the network cameras 102a, 102b, and 102c to be recorded for setting the recording list shown in FIG. 4 are set. A setting button 501 is pressed to display a menu screen on the monitor 103. Then, the cursor is moved to “camera IP address” using the up / down button 502 or the jog dial 504. Then, the right button 503 is pressed to enter the input mode, and the IP address is input again using the up / down button 502, the jog dial 504, or the like. In the present embodiment, for example, 192.168.253.101 to 103 are used. When the input is completed, the setting button 501 is pressed again to exit the input mode, the cursor is moved to “end setting” using the up / down button 502 or the jog dial 504, and the setting button 501 is pressed. This completes the setting of the IP addresses of the network cameras 102a, 102b, and 102c. Note that the IP of the network cameras 102a, 102b, and 102c that read and record the line of their own IP address from the recording list stored in the memory 206 of the disk recorder 101a, 101b, and 101c without performing this setting manually. An address may be acquired.

  Next, the user sets the retention period. First, the setting button 501 is pressed to display a menu screen on the monitor 103. Then, the up / down button 502, the jog dial 504, or the like is used to move the cursor to “save period”. Then, the right button 503 is pressed to enter the input mode, and the storage period D is input again using the up / down button 502, the jog dial 504, or the like. In this embodiment, for example, 30 days are set. The inputted storage period D is stored in the memory 206. When the input is completed, the setting button 501 is pressed again to exit the input mode, the cursor is moved to “end setting” using the up / down button 502 or the jog dial 504, and the setting button 501 is pressed. This completes the setting of the retention period. Needless to say, the setting method described above is an example, and various methods may be used.

When the input of the storage period ends, the user starts recording. Hereinafter, a description will be given based on the flowchart of FIG. Here, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing in detail step S700 of FIG. First, the CPU 207 of the disk recorder 101 obtains the capacity P0 of the HDD 203 (step S601). This P0 is stored in the memory 206. Assume that the capacity is 200 GB. Next, the CPU 207 calculates a recording data rate R (step S602). When the storage period D is 30 (days), the hard disk capacity P0 is 200 (GB), and the number of network cameras 102 to record is N = 1, the data rate R is R = P0 / D / N = 200 (GB ) / 30 (day) / 1 (unit)
= 647269 (bps)
≈ 647 (kbps)
It becomes.

After obtaining the data rate R, the recording is set (step S603). The memory 206 has a standard table as shown in FIG. 5, and settings are made from the standard table in FIG. 5 based on the R value obtained in step S602. Since R = 647 (kbps) now, from FIG. 5, screen size: 320 × 240
Frame rate: 7 frames / second Compression rate: Medium. When the setting is completed in this way, the CPU 207 requests the network camera 205a to deliver the image with the “screen size = 320 × 240, frame rate = 7 frames / second, compression rate = medium” from the network interface 205. A packet to be transmitted is transmitted (step S604). When an image is sent from the network camera 102a, recording is performed on the HDD 203 (step S605).

  The disk recorders 101 that have started recording mutually monitor the disk recorders 101 on the network 100. The operation will be described below with reference to the flowchart and sequence chart of FIG. The CPU 207 of the disk recorder 101a reads the recording list from the memory 206 (step S701), and periodically sends a life / death monitoring packet from the network interface 205 to the other disk recorder 101 described therein, for example, once every 10 seconds. Transmit (step S702-1). For example, a life / death monitoring packet is now transmitted from the disk recorder 101a to the disk recorder 101b. On the other hand, the disk recorder 101b that has received the alive monitoring packet by the network interface 205 returns the alive packet to the transmitting disk recorder 101a (step S703).

  Then, since the disk recorder 101a has confirmed that the disk recorder 101b is operating normally, in step S702-2, the alive monitoring packet is transmitted again to the next disk recorder 101c. Now, assuming that the disk recorder 101c has stopped for some reason, no reply is returned to the disk recorder 101a even if a packet for alive monitoring is sent. The disk recorder 101a continues to wait for a packet alive for a predetermined time, but when the predetermined time has elapsed (step S704), it is determined that the disk recorder 101c has stopped operating, and the process proceeds to the next step S705.

  First, the disk recorder 101a checks whether or not another disk recorder has already entered the takeover operation, so that it has not received a takeover packet (step S705). If the takeover packet has not been received, the takeover packet is transmitted to all the disk recorders 101b and 101c as the one to be taken over (step S706). Next, the disk recorder 101a changes the recording setting (step S707). Then, since two images of the network camera 102a and the network camera 101c have to be recorded, the bit rate must be lowered than before.

The detailed operation of step S707 will be described below based on the flowchart of FIG. The CPU 207 of the disk recorder 101a reads the storage period D and the hard disk capacity P0 from the memory 206 (step S801). Next, the CPU 207 calculates a recording data rate (step S802). When the storage period D is 30 (days), the hard disk capacity P0 is 200 (GB), and the number of network cameras 102 to record is N = 2, the data rate R is R = P0 / D / N = 200 (GB ) / 30 (day) / 2 (unit)
= 323635 (bps)
≈ 324 (kbps)
It becomes.

After obtaining the data rate R, the recording setting is determined (step S803). For example, a standard table as shown in FIG. 5 is provided, and the setting is determined from the standard table in FIG. 5 based on the value of the data rate R obtained in step S802. Since R = 324 (kbps) now, from FIG. 5, screen size: 320 × 240
Frame rate: 4 frames / second Compression rate: High.

  Hereafter, returning to FIG. When the setting is determined in this way, the CPU 207 of the disk recorder 101a sends the above-mentioned “screen size = 320 × 240, frame rate = 4 frames / second, compression rate = high” from the network interface 205 to the network cameras 102a and 102c. An image distribution is requested (step S708). When images are sent from the network cameras 102a and 102c (step S709), recording is performed on the HDD 203 (step S710).

  Next, in a state in which the recording of another disk recorder is taken over in this way, life / death monitoring is performed only for the taken over disk recorder 101c. As in step S702, periodically, a life / death monitoring packet is transmitted only to the disk recorder 101c (step S711-1). If there is no response, nothing is done. If the disk recorder 101c has been repaired and is operating normally, a reply is sent from the disk recorder 101c to the alive monitoring packet in step S711-2 (step S712). The disk recorder 101a that has received the reply from the disk recorder 101c reviews the recording settings again (step S713).

The recording setting operation is the same as that in the flowchart of FIG. 8 described above, and details are omitted.
Frame rate: 7 frames / second Compression rate: Calculated as medium. Therefore, the network camera 102a is requested to deliver an image with this setting (step S714). When an image is sent from the network camera 102a (step S715), recording is performed on the HDD 203 (step S716).

  As described above, the video recording apparatus of the present invention mutually monitors the life and death of other disk recorders 101 on the network 100, and when the disk recorder 101 that has stopped operating is discovered, the other disk recorder 101 first takes over the intention to take over. After transmitting a packet indicating the intention to take over, the setting of image recording is changed, and the recording of the disk recorder 101 whose operation has been stopped is taken over. It is not necessary to provide a spare machine, and the recording of the failed disk recorder 101 can be immediately taken over and recorded without leakage.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a video recording system and a video recording apparatus according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the disc recorder of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation part of FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a recording list of a memory in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a standard table of the memory of FIG. 2. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a recording process of the disk recorder in FIG. 1. 2 is a flowchart and sequence chart for explaining a recording takeover process of the disk recorder of FIG. 1. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a setting change process after the disk recorder of FIG. 1 takes over.

Explanation of symbols

100 Network 101, 101a, 101b, 101c Disk recorder 102, 102a, 102b, 102c Network camera 103, 103a, 103b, 103c Monitor 201 IDE interface 202 SCSI interface 203 Hard disk drive (HDD)
204 Image processing unit (VGA)
205 Network interface (NIC)
206 Memory 207 CPU
208 Operation unit 209 Bus line 501 Setting button 502 Up / down button 503 Right button 504 Jog dial

Claims (2)

Any of the plurality of video recording devices in which a plurality of imaging devices and a plurality of video recording devices are respectively connected via a network, and each video data captured by each imaging device is associated with each imaging device. A video recording system for recording
Each of the video recording devices
Monitoring means for performing mutual communication for life and death monitoring among the plurality of video recording devices;
Among the plurality of video recording devices, when the monitoring unit of one video recording device detects a video recording device that does not respond within a predetermined time by the mutual communication, it is made to correspond to this non-response video recording device Transmission rate change requesting means for delivering a transmission rate change request for changing the transmission rate on the network to each of the imaging device and the imaging device corresponding to the one video recording device; ,
Each of the imaging devices is
When receiving the transmission rate change request, the video data obtained by encoding the captured video at a bit rate according to the transmission rate change request is distributed to the video recording device that is the distribution source of the transmission rate change request. Video recording system. Any of the plurality of video recording devices in which a plurality of imaging devices and a plurality of video recording devices are connected via a network, and each video data captured by each imaging device is associated with each imaging device. A video recording apparatus in a video recording system for recording
Monitoring means for performing mutual communication for life and death monitoring among the plurality of video recording devices;
Among the plurality of video recording devices, when the monitoring unit of one video recording device detects a video recording device that does not respond within a predetermined time by the mutual communication, it is made to correspond to this non-response video recording device Transmission rate change request means for delivering a transmission rate change request for changing the transmission rate on the network to each of the imaging device and the imaging device corresponding to the one video recording device Video recording device.

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