JP2007166181A - Data acquisition apparatus and data recording system, and data recording method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data acquisition apparatus capable of suppressing partial missing of data and simplifying the configuration of a whole system. <P>SOLUTION: In the data recording system 100 including a plurality of network cameras 10 and a management server 30, each network camera 10 informs the management server 30 about residual memory capacity information of its own, requests the management server 30 to designate a proxy recording device when there is any trouble in recording of data, and transmits internal data to the proxy recording device on the basis of proxy recording device information about the designated proxy recording device, and the management server 30 designates a network camera 10 with free areas as the proxy recording device on the basis of the proxy designation request and the residual memory capacity information and transmits the proxy recording apparatus information to the network camera 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data acquisition device, a data recording system, and a data recording method that can be used in a monitoring system and the like.

  For example, when monitoring various places such as the vicinity of a place where a financial institution or ATM (automated teller machine) is installed, an imaging device such as a TV camera is often used. In addition, it is desirable to store and store video captured by a television camera or the like as time-series data in order to be useful when a problem such as a crime actually occurs. In practice, it is often necessary to monitor at a plurality of points at the same time. Therefore, in an actual monitoring system, it is assumed that the system is configured to connect a plurality of imaging devices to a server for storing data via a communication network.

As a conventional network camera that can be used in such a monitoring system, for example, a technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. In Patent Document 1, a network camera and a recording device (server) are connected via a network to form an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client / server system, and the network camera is obtained by photographing. It is assumed that image data is transferred to a recording device via a network and the image data is stored in the recording device. In Patent Document 1, control is performed to save image data in the internal memory of the network camera when a network failure occurs and image data cannot be recorded in the recording device.
JP 2005-026866 A

  However, in the prior art as described above, it is indispensable to connect a recording apparatus (recording server) having a relatively complicated configuration to a network, and thus the configuration of the system is inevitably complicated. It was difficult to reduce the cost of the entire system. In addition, a failure may occur on the communication network or traffic may increase. In such a case, data to be temporarily stored is lost.

  If the technique of Patent Document 1 is adopted, it is possible to suppress the loss of data when a failure occurs on the network, but it is inevitable that the configuration of the system and the control contents will be further complicated. There is. Further, when a large number of network cameras are connected, it is inevitable that traffic on the network increases.

  In addition to the monitoring system using a network camera, there are similar circumstances in a system that collects data by measuring and monitoring using various measuring devices and various sensors, for example.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a data acquisition device, a data recording system, and a data recording method that can suppress partial data loss and can simplify the configuration of the entire system.

  To achieve the above object, a data acquisition device of the present invention is a data acquisition device connected to a communication line to which an external device for generating and recording data is connected, and a data generation unit for generating internal data A data receiving unit that receives external data generated by the external device and remaining memory capacity information including a free area that can be recorded in the external device from the external device via the communication line; and the data generation A data recording unit that records at least one of the internal data generated by the unit and the external data, and when the data recording unit has trouble recording the internal data, based on the remaining memory capacity information, Proxy recording device designating unit for designating at least one external device having a free area for recording internal data as a proxy recording device Has a configuration and a data transmission unit that transmits the internal data to the specified proxy recording apparatus by the proxy recording apparatus specifying section.

  In the data acquisition device of the present invention, it is assumed that a system in which a plurality of data acquisition devices are connected to each other via a communication network is assumed. Basically, each data acquisition device stores the generated data by itself. Assumes that As a specific data acquisition device, for example, a network camera is assumed.

  For example, assuming that the first data acquisition device and the second data acquisition device are connected to a communication network, data communication is performed between the first data acquisition device and the second data acquisition device. Can do. Further, the remaining memory capacity in each data acquisition device can be grasped by referring to the information transmitted from each data acquisition device to the communication network.

  Since each data acquisition device has a limited amount of data (memory capacity) that can be recorded by itself, the data acquisition device that has generated a large amount of data has insufficient remaining memory capacity and cannot record further. It may be possible. However, in other data acquisition devices connected to the same communication network, there is a possibility that the remaining memory capacity is still sufficient. About this remaining memory capacity, it can grasp | ascertain based on the information which each data acquisition apparatus sends out to a communication network.

  Therefore, when there is a problem in data writing to the data recording unit of the own station, the data acquisition device communicates at least one external device (another data acquisition device) having a sufficient remaining memory capacity as a substitute recording device with the communication. A search is performed on the network, and based on the search result, data generated by the data generation unit of the local station is transmitted to the proxy recording device. Further, the data acquisition device receives data generated inside the external device from the external device via the communication network, and stores it in a free area on the data recording unit of the local station.

  For example, when the first data acquisition device and the second data acquisition device are connected to a communication network, the remaining memory capacity decreases on the first data acquisition device, and the remaining memory on the second data acquisition device When the capacity is sufficient, the second data acquisition device is used as the proxy recording device, and the data generated on the first data acquisition device is transferred to the second data acquisition device via the communication network. And stored in the memory on the second data acquisition device. Since the data recorded on behalf of the second data acquisition device can be acquired via the communication network as necessary, all the data generated on the first data acquisition device should be stored without loss. Can do. Further, since the image data is recorded in the data acquisition device itself, the amount of data transmitted on the communication network is reduced, and communication traffic on the network can be reduced.

  For example, when configuring a monitoring system that monitors a plurality of monitoring points using a plurality of network cameras, only a specific network camera that detects the occurrence of an abnormality (for example, detects a motion) is temporarily generated. The amount of data can increase. In such a case, the remaining memory capacity is insufficient only for a specific network camera, and the remaining network cameras are in a state where there is room in the remaining memory capacity. Therefore, the data generated by a specific network camera can be temporarily recorded by the remaining network cameras, thereby preventing data loss. Therefore, it is not necessary to connect a special recording server for recording large-capacity data or long-time data to the network, and the system configuration can be simplified.

  The data acquisition device of the present invention is connected to a communication line to which an external device for generating and recording data and a management server having remaining memory capacity information including a free area that can be recorded in the external device are connected. A data generation unit for generating internal data, a data reception unit for receiving external data generated by the external device via the communication line, and an internal unit generated by the data generation unit A data recording unit that records at least one of data and external data, and a proxy recording device that performs the recording of the internal data to the management server when there is a problem in recording the internal data by the data recording unit A proxy specification request unit for transmitting a proxy specification request for requesting specification, and the management server based on the remaining memory capacity information Accordingly, the proxy recording device information receiving unit that receives the proxy recording device information including the address information of the specified proxy recording device from the management server, and the proxy recording device information received by the proxy recording device receiving unit, the proxy recording device information And a data transmission unit that transmits internal data to the recording apparatus.

  In the data acquisition device of the present invention, when there is a problem in data recording, such as when the remaining memory of the local station is not sufficient for data recording, data is transmitted from the external device (other data acquisition device) to the management server. It is possible to request to specify a proxy recording device that performs the recording of the data, and to record the data that could not be recorded by the local station by the proxy recording device specified by the management server in response to this request. Data loss can be prevented.

    In the data acquisition device of the present invention, the data generation unit includes an imaging unit that captures an image and generates image data.

  In the data acquisition apparatus of the present invention, a data acquisition apparatus having a function like a network camera can be configured. Therefore, the data acquisition apparatus can be used when configuring various monitoring systems.

  The recording system of the present invention is a data recording system having a plurality of data acquisition devices for acquiring data and a management server for managing the plurality of data acquisition devices, wherein the data acquisition device stores internal data. A data generation unit to generate, a data reception unit to receive other data generated by another data acquisition device, and a data recording unit to record at least one of the internal data generated by the data generation unit and the other data And a remaining memory capacity notifying unit for notifying the management server of remaining memory capacity information relating to the free area of the data recording unit, and when there is a problem in recording the internal data by the data recording unit, to the management server A proxy specification requesting unit for transmitting a proxy specification request for requesting specification of a proxy recording device that performs the recording of the internal data; On the basis of the proxy recording device information received from the management server, the proxy recording device information including address information of the proxy recording device designated by the management server, and the proxy recording device information received by the proxy recording device receiver A data transmission unit that transmits internal data to the proxy recording device, and the management server records a remaining memory capacity information notified by the remaining memory capacity notification unit; Based on the proxy designation request requested by the proxy designation request unit and the remaining memory capacity information recorded by the capacity information recording unit, a data acquisition device having a free area for recording the internal data is used as the proxy recording device. A proxy recording device designating unit for designating, and a proxy recording device information transmitting unit for transmitting the proxy recording device information to the data acquisition device It is configured to have.

  In the data recording system of the present invention, it is assumed that a system in which a plurality of data acquisition devices are connected to each other via a communication network is assumed. Basically, each data acquisition device stores the generated data by itself. Assumes that As a specific data acquisition device, for example, a network camera is assumed. In addition, a management server is connected to the same communication network in order to manage the state of each data acquisition device.

  The management server can grasp the remaining memory capacity in each data acquisition device by referring to the information sent from the remaining memory capacity notification means of each data acquisition device to the communication network.

  Since each data acquisition device has a limited amount of data (memory capacity) that can be recorded by itself, the data acquisition device that has generated a large amount of data has insufficient remaining memory capacity and cannot record further. It may be possible. However, in other data acquisition devices connected to the same communication network, there is a possibility that the remaining memory capacity is still sufficient. Since this remaining memory capacity is managed by the management server, a data acquisition device that has a shortage of remaining memory capacity uses the management information of the management server for another data acquisition device that has a sufficient remaining memory capacity. Can be grasped.

  Therefore, the data acquisition device searches for at least one external device (other data acquisition device) having a sufficient remaining memory capacity as a substitute recording device when there is a problem in data writing to the data recording unit of the local station. Based on the search result, the data generated by the data generation unit of the own station is transmitted to the proxy recording device. Further, the data acquisition device receives data generated inside the external device from the external device via the communication network, and stores it in a free area on the data recording unit of the local station.

  For example, when the first data acquisition device and the second data acquisition device are connected to a communication network, the remaining memory capacity decreases on the first data acquisition device, and the remaining memory on the second data acquisition device When the capacity is sufficient, the second data acquisition device is used as the proxy recording device, and the data generated on the first data acquisition device is transferred to the second data acquisition device via the communication network. And stored in the memory on the second data acquisition device. Since the data recorded on behalf of the second data acquisition device can be acquired via the communication network as necessary, all the data generated on the first data acquisition device should be stored without loss. Can do.

  The data recording system of the present invention is a data recording system having a plurality of data acquisition devices for acquiring data, and the data acquisition device is generated by a data generation unit for generating internal data and another data acquisition device. A data receiving unit for receiving other data, a data recording unit for recording at least one of the internal data generated by the data generating unit and the other data, and remaining memory capacity information regarding a free area of the data recording unit. Remaining memory capacity notifying unit for notifying to other data acquisition device, other station remaining memory capacity information related to remaining memory capacity of data recording unit in other data acquisition device notified from other data acquisition device, and An other station information recording unit for recording other station apparatus information including address information of another data acquisition apparatus; In the case where there is a problem in the recording of internal data by the unit, based on the remaining station remaining memory capacity information recorded by the other station information recording unit, a data acquisition device having a free area for recording the internal data is recorded instead A proxy recording device designating unit that is designated as a device, and a data transmission unit that transmits the internal data to the proxy recording device designated by the proxy recording device designating unit.

  In the data recording system of the present invention, it is assumed that a system in which a plurality of data acquisition devices are connected to each other via a communication network is assumed. Basically, each data acquisition device stores the generated data by itself. Assumes that As a specific data acquisition device, for example, a network camera is assumed. Each data acquisition device manages the status of other data acquisition devices connected to the same communication network.

  Since each data acquisition device has a limited amount of data (memory capacity) that can be recorded by itself, the data acquisition device that has generated a large amount of data has insufficient remaining memory capacity and cannot record further. It may be possible. However, in other data acquisition devices connected to the same communication network, there is a possibility that the remaining memory capacity is still sufficient.

  Since the remaining memory capacity in other data acquisition apparatuses can be grasped by managing the information notified by the remaining memory capacity notifying means of the corresponding data acquisition apparatus, the data acquisition apparatus having insufficient remaining memory capacity It is possible to identify another data acquisition device having a sufficient capacity.

  Therefore, the data recording destination changing means on the data acquisition device can provide at least one external device (other devices with a sufficient remaining memory capacity as a substitute recording device when there is a problem in data writing to the data recording unit of the local station. The data acquisition device) is searched, and based on the search result, the data generated by the data generation unit of the local station is transmitted to the proxy recording device. Further, the proxy recording means on the data acquisition device receives data generated inside the external device from the external device via the communication network, and stores it in a free area on the data recording unit of the local station.

  For example, when the first data acquisition device and the second data acquisition device are connected to a communication network, the remaining memory capacity decreases on the first data acquisition device, and the remaining memory on the second data acquisition device When the capacity is sufficient, the second data acquisition device is used as the proxy recording device, and the data generated on the first data acquisition device is transferred to the second data acquisition device via the communication network. And stored in the memory on the second data acquisition device. Since the data recorded on behalf of the second data acquisition device can be acquired via the communication network as necessary, all the data generated on the first data acquisition device should be stored without loss. Can do.

  In the data recording system of the present invention, the data generation unit of the data acquisition device includes an imaging unit that captures an image and generates image data.

  In the data recording system of the present invention, a data acquisition device having a function like a network camera can be configured. Therefore, the data recording system can be used when configuring various monitoring systems.

The data recording method of the present invention is a data recording method for controlling a data recording system having a plurality of data acquisition devices that acquire data and a management server that manages the plurality of data acquisition devices, the data acquisition device A data generation step in which internal data is generated in the data acquisition device, a step in which other data generated in another data acquisition device is received, an internal data generated in the data generation step, and the other data A data recording step in which at least one of them is recorded, a remaining memory capacity notifying step for notifying the management server of remaining memory capacity information relating to a free area of a data recording unit in which the data recording step is performed, and the data If there is a problem in recording the internal data in the recording step, A surrogate recording apparatus including a surrogate designation requesting step for transmitting a surrogate designation request for requesting designation of a surrogate recording apparatus acting as a surrogate for recording the internal data to the management server, and address information of the surrogate recording apparatus designated by the management server A proxy recording device information receiving step in which information is received from the management server, and a step in which internal data is transmitted to the proxy recording device based on the proxy recording device information received in the proxy recording device receiving step; And the management server includes:
A capacity information recording step in which the remaining memory capacity information notified in the remaining memory capacity notifying step is recorded; a proxy specifying request required in the proxy specifying request step; and a remaining memory capacity information recorded in the capacity information recording step A proxy recording device designation step in which a data acquisition device having a free area for recording the internal data is designated as the proxy recording device; and a step in which the proxy recording device information is transmitted to the data acquisition device; The method has

  By performing the data recording method of the present invention, the same operation as that of the first data recording system of the present invention can be realized.

  The data recording method of the present invention is a data recording method for controlling a data recording system having a plurality of data acquisition devices for acquiring data, and the data acquisition device generates data when a predetermined condition is satisfied. Data generation step, the step of receiving other data generated in another data acquisition device, and the data in which at least one of the internal data generated in the data generation step and the other data is recorded A recording step, a remaining memory capacity notifying step for notifying other data acquisition devices of remaining memory capacity information relating to a free area of the data recording unit in which the data recording step is performed, and a notification from the other data acquisition device The other station remaining memory related to the remaining memory capacity of the data recording unit in the other data acquisition device The other station information recording step in which the other station device information including the recapacity information and the address information of the other data acquisition device is recorded, and when the internal data recording in the data recording step is hindered, the other station information A substitute recording device designation step in which a data acquisition device having a free area for recording the internal data is designated as a substitute recording device based on the remaining station remaining memory capacity information recorded in the recording step, and the substitute recording device designation And the step of transmitting the internal data to the proxy recording device designated by the step.

  By performing the data recording method of the present invention, the same operation as that of the second data recording system of the present invention can be realized.

  According to the present invention, when a system is configured by connecting a plurality of data acquisition devices to a network, a special data recording server for recording large-capacity data or long-time data is connected to the network. Therefore, it is possible to prevent data from being lost, so that the system configuration can be simplified. In other words, if there is a shortage of remaining memory capacity on a specific data acquisition device, the remaining data acquisition device with sufficient remaining memory capacity will record data on behalf of the device, allowing distributed recording of data. Data loss can be prevented without connecting a data recording server. In addition, traffic on the communication network can be reduced, and even when traffic on the communication network increases due to communication performed by an external device, data can be efficiently recorded without being significantly affected.

(First embodiment)
A specific embodiment of the data acquisition apparatus, data recording system, and data recording method of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a data recording system 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration example of the network camera 10 and the management server 30 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the data recording system 100 shown in FIG.

  A data recording system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is configured to capture various subjects at an arbitrary point and store image data obtained. For example, as a surveillance system for crime prevention in a financial institution or the like. It is assumed to be used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the data recording system 100 includes a plurality (n) of network cameras 10 (1) to 10 (n), a browsing terminal 20, a management server 30, and a communication network 40. Has been. Each network camera 10 is connected to the communication network 40 via a predetermined communication cable (for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) cable). Similarly, the browsing terminal 20 and the management server 30 are also connected to the communication network 40.

  In the data recording system 100 shown in FIG. 1, there is no special recording server for storing the acquired data. Therefore, image data obtained by each network camera 10 is controlled so as to be held by the network camera 10 itself. The management server 30 performs communication control and information management for the entire system.

  The browsing terminal 20 is connected to the communication network 40 in preparation for browsing images captured by each network camera 10 and stored in the data recording system 100 as necessary. As the browsing terminal 20, for example, it is conceivable to use a personal computer having a communication function. The browsing terminal 20 is normally operated by a predetermined administrator.

  By the way, since the capacity of the memory mounted on each network camera 10 is relatively small, when a large amount of image data is generated, the remaining available memory capacity is insufficient. In order to prevent the loss of data to be accumulated in such a case, each network camera 10 and data recording system 100 shown in FIG. 1 performs special control as will be described later. That is, in the data recording system 100, control is performed so that a plurality of network cameras 10 share memory with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each network camera 10 includes an imaging unit 11, a recording unit 12, a memory free space determination unit 13, an image transmission unit 14, an image reception unit 15, and a communication unit 16. Is equipped.

  The imaging unit 11 incorporates an imaging element such as a two-dimensional CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor, captures a subject when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and outputs image data. As a condition for photographing and a condition for outputting data, it is assumed that the occurrence of an abnormality is detected or a specific timing that occurs periodically is reached. As a method for detecting the occurrence of an abnormality, for example, various sensors such as an infrared sensor or an acoustic sensor may be used, or a change in an image captured by the imaging unit 11 itself may be detected. In addition, in the case where shooting is periodically performed, it is also assumed that the shooting interval is changed according to whether or not an abnormality has occurred.

  The recording unit 12 is a memory device for storing image data. Actually, it is assumed that the recording unit 12 is mounted with a recording unit capable of writing and reading, such as a semiconductor memory or a small hard disk. The recording unit 12 stores image data output from the imaging unit 11 and image data input from the outside. Further, the recording unit 12 always keeps track of the capacity of an unused storage area in which data has not yet been written, that is, the memory free capacity, on its own recording unit.

  When the predetermined condition is satisfied, for example, when a photographing operation of the imaging unit 11 is performed, the memory free space determination unit 13 acquires information on the memory free space from the recording unit 12 and checks whether there is a shortage of the memory free space. Check out. Further, the memory free space determination unit 13 notifies the management server 30 of the information on the free memory space acquired from the recording unit 12 via the communication network 40. Furthermore, the memory free space determination unit 13 exchanges data with the communication unit 16 in order to communicate with the management server 30 when the local station (network camera 10) detects a shortage of memory free space.

  The image transmission unit 14 outputs image data output from the imaging unit 11 in accordance with an instruction from the memory free space determination unit 13 when the memory free space determination unit 13 detects a shortage of memory free space on its own station. And sent to the communication network 40 addressed to the designated other station (other network camera 10).

  The image receiving unit 15 receives the image data transmitted from the other station (other network camera 10) addressed to the own station via the communication network 40, and controls to write the image data in the free area of the recording unit 12. To do.

  The communication unit 16 is an interface for performing data communication between the own station and the communication network 40. As a protocol for data communication using the communication network 40, for example, FTP is used.

  On the other hand, on the management server 30 connected to the communication network 40, a camera free space database 31 and an alternative recording management database 32 are provided as shown in FIG.

  The camera free space database 31 on the management server 30 receives the memory free space information notified by the memory free space determination unit 13 in each network camera 10 connected to the communication network 40, and stores the information for each network camera 10. Manage separately. The network cameras 10 (1) to 10 (n) can be distinguished by, for example, differences in IP (Internet Protocol) addresses of data transmission sources.

  For example, if the recording unit 12 in the network camera 10 (1) has insufficient memory capacity, image data generated by the imaging unit 11 after that cannot be stored by the own station. In such a case, if the memory capacity of the recording unit 12 in the network camera 10 (2) is sufficient, the image data generated in the network camera 10 (1) is transferred via the communication network 40. It can also be transferred to the network camera 10 (2) and stored on the network camera 10 (2). That is, instead of the network camera 10 (1) having insufficient memory capacity, the network camera 10 (2) performs alternative recording (substitute recording) of the image data. By performing such control, loss of image data can be prevented.

  The alternative record management database 32 on the management server 30 stores management information related to alternative records when each network camera 10 performs alternative recording of image data. More specifically, the substitute recording management database 32 records the transmission source (network camera 10) IP address, transmission destination (network camera 10) IP address, sequence number, and the like relating to the image data to be substitute recorded as management information.

  Here, the network camera 10 is an example of a data acquisition device. The imaging unit 11 is an example of a data generation unit and an imaging unit. The recording unit 12 is an example of a data recording unit. The memory free space determination unit 13 is an example of a remaining memory capacity notification unit. The image transmission unit 14 is an example of a data transmission unit. The image receiving unit 15 is an example of a data receiving unit. The management server 30 is an example of a management server. The camera free capacity database 31 is an example of a capacity information recording unit. The communication network 40 is an example of a communication line.

  Next, a specific example of the operation sequence of the data recording system 100 shown in FIG. 1 will be described below with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, it is assumed that three network cameras 10 (1), 10 (2), and 10 (3) are connected to the communication network 40.

  For example, as a process that is periodically executed, the memory free capacity determination unit 13 in the network camera 10 (1) sends information on the current memory free capacity (memory remaining capacity) in the network camera 10 (1) to the communication network 40. Send it out. This information is input to the management server 30 (step S1).

  As in step S1, information on the memory free capacity in the network camera 10 (2) is input to the management server 30 via the communication network 40 (step S2), and information on the memory free capacity in the network camera 10 (3) is communicated. The data is input to the management server 30 via the network 40 (step S3).

  Therefore, the management server 30 can always grasp the latest available memory capacity for each of the network cameras 10 (1), 10 (2), and 10 (3). Information on the memory free space is held in the camera free space database 31 together with the IP address of the network camera 10 as the transmission source.

  Normally, the image data generated by each network camera 10 is stored in the recording unit 12 inside the local station (network camera 10). However, if a large amount of image data is recorded, the memory free space on the recording unit 12 is reduced, and further image data cannot be recorded.

  In FIG. 3, it is assumed that the network camera 10 (1) detects a shortage of free memory capacity in its own station (step S4). Therefore, an inquiry about another network camera 10 capable of alternative recording is made (step S5). That is, the management server 30 is inquired regarding the network camera 10 of another station that still has a sufficient memory capacity.

  In response to this inquiry, the management server 30 specifies each of the network cameras 10 of other stations having a memory free capacity equal to or larger than a predetermined value or the memory with the largest memory free capacity based on information held in the camera free capacity database 31. IP address information related to the network camera 10 is notified to the inquiring network camera 10 (1) (step S6).

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the memory capacity of the network camera 10 (3) has the most margin. Accordingly, in step S6, the network camera 10 (1) is notified of the IP address that identifies the network camera 10 (3).

  Therefore, the network camera 10 (1) is image data generated by itself, but the IP of the network camera 10 (3) that performs alternative recording of new image data that cannot be recorded by itself due to a lack of memory. Transmit to the address (step S7). At the same time as the image data, the IP address of the network camera 10 (1) as the transmission source and information on the generation date and time of the image data are notified as the image file name.

  Upon receiving the information transferred from the network camera 10 (1), the network camera 10 (3) writes the image data received under the control of the image receiving unit 15 and information associated therewith to the recording unit 12 of its own station.

  The network camera 10 (1) notifies the management server 30 of information necessary for managing the image data recorded as a substitute (step S8). Specifically, the IP address representing the network camera 10 (1) that is the transmission source of the image data that has been recorded as a substitute, the information on the generation date and time of the image data, and the IP address representing the network camera 10 (3) that is the transmission destination of the image data Etc.

  The management server 30 stores information notified from the network camera 10 (1) on the alternative record management database 32, and manages information related to the alternative record.

  On the other hand, when the administrator or the like wants to browse the contents of the image data recorded in the data recording system 100, the processes after step S11 are performed. It is assumed that a browsing request for image data captured by the network camera 10 (1) is generated by an input operation by an administrator or the like on the browsing terminal 20. This request is sent from the browsing terminal 20 and input to the management server 30 (step S11).

  The management server 30 uses the network camera for the image data requested from the browsing terminal 20, that is, the image data for which management information does not exist in the alternative recording management database 32 among the image data photographed by the network camera 10 (1). 10 (1) is requested for transmission (step S12).

  In response to this request, on the network camera 10 (1), the corresponding image data is read from the recording unit 12 of the local station and sent to the communication network 40 addressed to the management server 30 (step S13).

  The management server 30 sends the image data received from the network camera 10 (1) to the browsing terminal 20 (step S14).

  However, in the example shown in FIG. 3, due to the occurrence of memory shortage in the network camera 10 (1), part of the image data captured by the network camera 10 (1) does not exist on the network camera 10 (1). The image data transferred from the management server 30 to the browsing terminal 20 is partially missing.

  Therefore, the management server 30 refers to the management information existing in the alternative record management database 32 to search for the management information of the image data photographed by the network camera 10 (1) in the alternative recorded image data. Based on this management information, the network camera 10 (3), which is the transmission destination (alternative recording destination) of the corresponding image data, is requested to send image data (step S15).

  In response to this request, on the network camera 10 (3), the image data stored in the recording unit 12 of the local station is searched for, read, and managed from the alternative recorded network camera 10 (1). The data is sent to the communication network 40 addressed to the server 30 (step S16).

  The management server 30 sends the image data for the alternative recording received from the network camera 10 (3) to the browsing terminal 20 (step S17).

  Therefore, the administrator who operates the browsing terminal 20 can acquire and browse all the image data captured by the network camera 10 (1).

According to the data recording system 100 in the first embodiment of the present invention, the data recording system 100 includes the plurality of network cameras 10 that acquire data and the management server 30 that manages the plurality of network cameras 10. The network camera 10 includes an imaging unit 10 that generates data when a predetermined condition is satisfied, an image receiving unit 15 that receives other data generated by another network camera 10, and the imaging unit 10. The recording unit 12 that records at least one of the generated internal data and other data, the memory free space determination unit 13 that notifies the management server 30 of the remaining memory capacity information regarding the free space of the recording unit 12, and the recording unit 12 If there is a problem in recording internal data by the A proxy designation request unit for requesting designation of a proxy recording device that acts as a proxy for data recording, and proxy recording device information including the address information of the proxy recording device designated by the management server 30 from the management server A proxy recording device information receiving unit, and an image transmitting unit 14 that transmits internal data to the proxy recording device based on the proxy recording device information received by the proxy recording device receiving unit. The camera free space database 31 for recording the remaining memory space information notified by the memory free space determination unit 13, the proxy designation request requested by the substitution designation request unit, and the remaining memory capacity information recorded by the camera free space database 31 As a substitute recording device, the network camera 10 having a free area for recording internal data A special recording device for recording large-capacity data or long-time data by having a proxy recording device designating unit for setting and a proxy recording device information transmitting unit for transmitting proxy recording device information to the network camera 10 It is not necessary to connect the server to the network, and the system configuration can be simplified.
(Second Embodiment)

  Another embodiment of the data acquisition apparatus, data recording system, and data recording method of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of the network camera 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the data recording system 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  This embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. 4 and 5, elements corresponding to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In this embodiment, similarly to the data recording system 100 shown in FIG. 1, a system is configured by connecting n network cameras 10 (1) to 10 (n) to each other via a communication network 40. However, the data recording system of this embodiment does not have the management server 30 shown in FIG. Instead, each network camera 10 has a function corresponding to the management server 30 as described above.

  In the data recording system of the present embodiment, a network camera 10B having a configuration as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the network camera 10B includes an imaging unit 11, a recording unit 12, a memory free space determination unit 13, an image transmission unit 14, an image reception unit 15, a communication unit 16, and other cameras. It has a free space database 17 and an alternative record management database 18.

  That is, the point that the other camera free space database 17 and the alternative recording management database 18 are added is greatly different from the network camera 10 of FIG. Further, the contents of control inside the network camera 10B are also slightly changed. The other camera free space database 17 and the alternative recording management database 18 correspond to the functions of the camera free space database 31 and the alternative recording management database 32 of the management server 30 shown in FIG.

  Here, the other camera free space database 17 and the alternative record management database 18 are examples of other station information recording units.

  Next, a specific example of an operation sequence in the data recording system of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, it is assumed that three network cameras 10B (1), 10B (2), and 10B (3) are connected to the communication network 40.

  For example, as processing that is periodically executed, the memory free space determination unit 13 in the network camera 10B (1) sends information on the current memory free space (memory remaining space) in the network camera 10B (1) to the communication network 40. Send it out. This information is input to each of the other network camera 10B (2) and network camera 10B (3) (steps S21 and S22).

  As in steps S21 and S22, information on the free memory capacity in the network camera 10 (2) is input to the other network camera 10B (1) and the network camera 10B (3) via the communication network 40 (step S23). , Step S24), information on the free memory capacity in the network camera 10B (3) is input to each of the other network cameras 10B (1) and 10B (2) via the communication network 40 (Step S25, Step S24). S26).

  Therefore, each network camera 10B can always grasp the latest available memory capacity for each of the other network cameras 10B connected to the same communication network 40. The information on the available memory capacity is held in the other camera available capacity database 17 together with the IP address of the transmission source network camera 10B.

  Normally, the image data generated by each network camera 10B is stored in the recording unit 12 inside the local station (network camera 10B). However, if a large amount of image data is recorded, the memory free space on the recording unit 12 is reduced, and further image data cannot be recorded.

  In FIG. 5, it is assumed that the network camera 10B (1) detects a lack of free memory capacity in its own station (step S27). Therefore, first, another network camera 10B capable of alternative recording is checked with reference to the information held in the other camera free space database 17 in the own station. In other words, the network camera 10B of another station that still has a sufficient free memory capacity is searched in the other camera free capacity database 17.

  Actually, each of the network cameras 10B (1) is based on the information stored in the other camera free space database 17 of its own station, and each of the network cameras 10B of other stations whose memory free space is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount, or the memory free space The IP address information related to the specific network camera 10B having the largest number is acquired.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, it is assumed that the memory capacity of the network camera 10 </ b> B (3) has the most margin. Therefore, the IP address that identifies the network camera 10B (3) is acquired from the other camera free space database 17.

  The network camera 10B (1) is image data generated by the local station, but the IP address of the network camera 10B (3) that performs alternative recording of new image data that cannot be recorded by the local station due to insufficient memory. (Step S28). Simultaneously with the image data, the IP address of the transmission source network camera 10B (1) and information relating to the generation date and time of the image data are notified as the image file name.

  The network camera 10B (3) that has received the information transferred from the network camera 10B (1) writes the image data received under the control of the image receiving unit 15 and information associated therewith to the recording unit 12 of its own station.

  When the alternative recording is executed, the network camera 10B (1) records information necessary for managing the alternative recorded image data as management information in the alternative recording management database 18 in the local station. Specifically, it represents the IP address representing the network camera 10B (1) that is the transmission source of the image data that has been recorded as a substitute, information about the generation date and time of the image data, and the network camera 10B (3) that is the transmission destination of the image data. The IP address is recorded in the alternative record management database 18 (step S28).

  On the other hand, when the administrator or the like wants to browse the contents of the image data recorded in the data recording system, the processes after step S31 are performed. It is assumed that a browsing request for image data captured by the network camera 10B (1) is generated by an input operation by an administrator or the like on the browsing terminal 20. This request is sent from the browsing terminal 20 and input to the network camera 10B (1) via the communication network 40 (step S31).

  The network camera 10B (1) that has received the request from the browsing terminal 20 reads the image data captured by the network camera 10B (1) itself from the recording unit 12 of its own station, and sends it to the requesting browsing terminal 20 (Step S32).

  However, in the example shown in FIG. 5, a part of image data captured by the network camera 10B (1) does not exist on the network camera 10B (1) because of a memory shortage in the network camera 10B (1). The image data transferred from the network camera 10B (1) to the browsing terminal 20 is partially missing.

  Therefore, next, the network camera 10B (1) refers to the management information held in the alternative record management database 18 in its own station, and among other image data captured by the network camera 10B (1), The location of the image data that has been recorded by the camera 10B is confirmed. Then, the image data is requested to the network camera 10B (3) which is the transmission destination (alternative recording destination) of the corresponding image data (step S33).

  In response to this request, the network camera 10B (3) searches and reads the image data of the network camera 10B (1) that has been recorded as a substitute from the image data stored in the recording unit 12 of the local station, The data is sent to the communication network 40 addressed to the camera 10B (1) (step S34).

  The network camera 10B (1) receives the image data recorded by substitution from the network camera 10B (3), and then sends the image data to the browsing terminal 20 (step S35).

  Therefore, the administrator who operates the browsing terminal 20 can acquire and browse all the image data captured by the network camera 10B (1).

  According to such a second data recording system of the present invention, the data recording system has a plurality of network cameras 10B for acquiring data, and the network camera 10B stores data when a predetermined condition is satisfied. An imaging unit 11 to be generated, an image receiving unit 15 that receives other data generated by another network camera 10, and a recording unit 12 that records at least one of internal data and other data generated by the imaging unit 11. The remaining memory capacity information related to the free area of the recording unit 12 is notified to the other data acquisition devices, and the recording unit 12 of the other network camera 10B notified from the other network camera 10B. Other station remaining memory capacity information on remaining memory capacity and other networks The other camera free capacity database 17 for recording the other station apparatus information including the address information of the camera 10B and the alternative recording management database 18 and the other camera free capacity database 17 in the case where the recording unit 12 has trouble recording internal data. Based on the recorded other station remaining memory capacity information, a proxy recording device designating unit that designates the network camera 10B having a free area for recording internal data as a proxy recording device, and a proxy designated by the proxy recording device designating unit A management server for managing the network camera 10B and a special recording server for recording large-capacity data or long-time data by having an image transmission unit 14 that transmits internal data to the recording device Need not be connected to the network, and the system configuration can be simplified.

  As described above, by implementing the present invention, it is possible to configure a practical data recording system or the like that is unlikely to cause data loss without providing a special recording server for storing data. Therefore, an inexpensive monitoring system can be configured. Further, since the image data is recorded on the camera itself, the amount of data transmitted on the network is reduced, and communication traffic on the network can be reduced. Conversely, even when communication traffic on the network increases due to communication with an external device, image data or the like can be recorded in a stable state without being affected by the traffic. Further, since each camera shares a memory, the degree of freedom in designing the allocation of memory capacity mounted on each camera is increased, and the system design is facilitated.

  The data acquisition apparatus, the data recording system, and the data recording method of the present invention are not only a monitoring system using a network camera, but also a recording that records data detected by various measuring devices or various sensors on the network. It can also be applied to systems.

It is a block diagram which shows the specific structure of the data recording system in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration example of a network camera and a management server illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example of the data recording system shown by FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the example of an internal structure of the network camera in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram which shows the operation example of the data recording system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Data recording system 10, 10B Network camera 11 Imaging part 12 Recording part 13 Memory free capacity determination part 14 Image transmission part 15 Image receiving part 16 Communication part 17 Other camera free capacity database 18 Alternative recording management database 20 Browse terminal 30 Management server 31 Camera free space database 32 Alternative record management database 40 Communication network

Claims (8)

A data acquisition device connected to a communication line to which an external device for generating and recording data is connected,
A data generator for generating internal data;
A data receiving unit that receives external data generated by the external device and remaining memory capacity information including a free space that can be recorded in the external device from the external device via the communication line;
A data recording unit for recording at least one of internal data and external data generated by the data generation unit;
A proxy that designates at least one external device having a free area for recording the internal data as a proxy recording device based on the remaining memory capacity information when there is a problem in recording the internal data by the data recording unit A recording device designating unit;
A data acquisition device comprising: a data transmission unit that transmits the internal data to the substitution recording device designated by the substitution recording device designation unit. A data acquisition device connected to a communication line connected to an external device for generating and recording data and a management server having remaining memory capacity information including free space that can be recorded in the external device,
A data generator for generating internal data;
A data receiving unit for receiving external data generated by the external device via the communication line;
A data recording unit for recording at least one of internal data and external data generated by the data generation unit;
A proxy specification requesting unit for transmitting a proxy specification request for requesting the management server to specify a proxy recording device that performs the recording of the internal data when there is a problem in recording the internal data by the data recording unit;
A proxy recording device information receiving unit for receiving, from the management server, proxy recording device information including address information of the proxy recording device designated by the management server based on the remaining memory capacity information;
A data acquisition device comprising: a data transmission unit configured to transmit internal data to the substitution recording device based on the substitution recording device information received by the substitution recording device reception unit. The data acquisition device according to claim 1 or 2,
The data generator is
A data acquisition apparatus including an imaging unit that captures an image and generates image data. A data recording system having a plurality of data acquisition devices for acquiring data and a management server for managing the plurality of data acquisition devices,
The data acquisition device includes:
A data generator for generating internal data;
A data receiving unit that receives other data generated by another data acquisition device;
A data recording unit for recording at least one of the internal data generated by the data generation unit and the other data;
A remaining memory capacity notifying unit for notifying the management server of remaining memory capacity information relating to an empty area of the data recording unit;
A proxy specification requesting unit for transmitting a proxy specification request for requesting the management server to specify a proxy recording device that performs the recording of the internal data when there is a problem in recording the internal data by the data recording unit;
A proxy recording device information receiving unit for receiving, from the management server, proxy recording device information including address information of the proxy recording device designated by the management server;
A data transmission unit that transmits internal data to the proxy recording device based on the proxy recording device information received by the proxy recording device receiving unit;
The management server is
A capacity information recording unit for recording the remaining memory capacity information notified by the remaining memory capacity notifying unit;
Based on the proxy designation request requested by the proxy designation request unit and the remaining memory capacity information recorded by the capacity information recording unit, a data acquisition device having a free area for recording the internal data is used as the proxy recording device. An alternate recording device designating unit to be designated;
A data recording system comprising: a proxy recording device information transmitting unit configured to transmit the proxy recording device information to the data acquisition device. A data recording system having a plurality of data acquisition devices for acquiring data,
The data acquisition device includes:
A data generator for generating internal data;
A data receiving unit that receives other data generated by another data acquisition device;
A data recording unit for recording at least one of the internal data generated by the data generation unit and the other data;
A remaining memory capacity notifying unit for notifying other data acquisition device of remaining memory capacity information regarding the free space of the data recording unit;
The other station device information including the other station remaining memory capacity information related to the remaining memory capacity of the data recording unit in the other data obtaining device notified from the other data obtaining device and the address information of the other data obtaining device is recorded. Other station information recording section,
A data acquisition device having a free area for recording the internal data based on the other station remaining memory capacity information recorded by the other station information recording unit when there is a problem in recording the internal data by the data recording unit A proxy recording device designating unit for designating the device as a proxy recording device;
A data recording system comprising: a data transmission unit configured to transmit the internal data to a substitution recording device designated by the substitution recording device designation unit. The data recording system according to claim 4 or 5,
The data generation unit of the data acquisition device includes:
A data recording system including an imaging unit that captures an image and generates image data. A data recording method for controlling a data recording system having a plurality of data acquisition devices for acquiring data and a management server for managing the plurality of data acquisition devices,
The data acquisition device includes:
A data generation step in which internal data is generated in the data acquisition device;
Receiving other data generated in another data acquisition device;
A data recording step in which at least one of the internal data generated in the data generation step and the other data is recorded;
A remaining memory capacity notification step for notifying the management server of remaining memory capacity information regarding the free space of the data recording unit in which the data recording step is performed;
A proxy specification request step in which a proxy specification request for requesting the management server to specify a proxy recording device that performs the recording of the internal data is transmitted to the management server when there is an obstacle to the recording of the internal data by the data recording step;
A proxy recording device information receiving step in which proxy recording device information including address information of the proxy recording device designated by the management server is received from the management server;
A step of transmitting internal data to the proxy recording device based on the proxy recording device information received by the proxy recording device receiving step;
The management server is
A capacity information recording step in which the remaining memory capacity information notified in the remaining memory capacity notifying step is recorded;
Based on the proxy designation request requested in the proxy designation request step and the remaining memory capacity information recorded in the capacity information recording step, a data acquisition device having a free area for recording the internal data is used as the proxy recording device. A designated proxy recording device specifying step; and
Transmitting the proxy recording device information to the data acquisition device. A data recording method for controlling a data recording system having a plurality of data acquisition devices for acquiring data,
The data acquisition device includes:
A data generation step in which internal data is generated;
Receiving other data generated in another data acquisition device; and
A data recording step in which at least one of the internal data generated in the data generation step and the other data is recorded;
A remaining memory capacity notification step in which the remaining memory capacity information regarding the free space of the data recording unit in which the data recording step is performed is notified to another data acquisition device;
Other station device information including the other station remaining memory capacity information related to the remaining memory capacity of the data recording unit in the other data obtaining device notified from the other data obtaining device and the address information of the other data obtaining device is recorded. Other station information recording step,
A data acquisition device having a free area for recording the internal data based on the remaining-station remaining memory capacity information recorded in the other-station information recording step when there is a problem in recording the internal data in the data-recording step A proxy recording device designation step in which is designated as a proxy recording device;
And a step of transmitting the internal data to the proxy recording device designated by the proxy recording device designation step.

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