JP2009296394A - Monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a monitoring system for alleviating a load of monitoring and also improving manipulation flexibility. <P>SOLUTION: A monitor 3 is provided to display a manipulation window waiting for any manipulation required for a monitoring process and an image captured with a camera. A touch-panel input 23 accepts a manipulation to the manipulation window on the display screen of the monitor 3 via the touch-panel overlaid on the display screen of the monitor 3. A push-button input 11 accepts a manipulation for selecting the display screen of the monitor 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a monitoring system that performs monitoring using an image captured by a camera.

2. Description of the Related Art Surveillance systems that can install a plurality of cameras in a site or building to be monitored and can monitor the images of the cameras are widely used. In such a system, an operation panel that receives an operation for selecting a camera, a rotation operation of the camera, and the like, and a monitor that displays an image of the selected camera are used. The monitor performs the monitoring work while alternately checking the monitor image and the operation panel.
JP 2004-222137 A

  However, in the conventional system, since the operation panel and the monitor are separated from each other, it is necessary for the monitor to constantly move the line of sight between the operation panel and the monitor, which is a burden of work. In addition, it is difficult to determine the camera to be selected next only by displaying on the operation panel. In particular, the operation becomes difficult when the number of cameras increases.

  The objective of this invention is providing the monitoring system which can improve the operativity while reducing the burden of monitoring.

The monitoring system of the present invention is a monitoring system that performs monitoring using an image captured by a camera. An operation screen that waits for an operation for monitoring and a display unit that displays an image captured by the camera on a display screen; and An operation accepting unit that accepts an operation on the operation screen via a touch panel superimposed on the display screen, and a screen selection accepting unit that accepts an operation for selecting a display screen by the display unit are provided.
According to this monitoring system, an image captured by the camera is displayed on the display means, and an operation on the operation screen is accepted via the touch panel superimposed on the display screen of the display means. Can be improved.

  The screen selection accepting unit may accept an operation for selecting one of the operation screen and the photographing screen as a display screen by the display unit.

  The display means may display a graphic display screen to be monitored as the operation screen.

  The operation accepting unit may accept selection of a camera that captures the captured image displayed by the display unit.

  The operation accepting unit may accept an operation on the camera.

  An analog system and a WEB system may be mixed as the camera.

  You may provide the camera rotation operation reception part which receives the rotation operation of the said camera by manual operation.

  The camera rotation operation accepting unit may accept an operation for monitoring in conjunction with the operation screen displayed by the display unit.

  According to the monitoring system of the present invention, the photographed image by the camera is displayed on the display means, and the operation on the operation screen is accepted through the touch panel superimposed on the display screen of the display means. Operability can be improved.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a monitoring system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the monitoring system of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the appearance of an operation panel provided in the multi-camera operating device.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the monitoring system of the present embodiment includes a multi-camera operating device 1 that accepts an operation by a supervisor, monitoring camera systems 4, 4,... Using the WEB system, and a monitoring camera 5 using the analog NTCS system. , 5,..., Intrusion detection sensors 6, 6,..., And an external monitor 8 for monitoring a monitoring image. A hub 43 is provided between the monitoring camera systems 4, 4,... And the multi-camera operating unit 1, and a multiplexing control unit 51 is provided between the monitoring cameras 5, 5,. Are provided respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-camera operating unit 1 includes a push button input unit 11 (see FIG. 2A) serving as a screen selection receiving unit that receives an operation for screen selection, and a push button input unit 11. A screen display selection unit 12 that selects a screen display according to an operation, a communication unit 14 that performs communication with the monitoring camera systems 4, 4,... Via the hub 43, and monitoring cameras 5, 5,. The image conversion unit 15 that converts the NTCS video signal from the digital image signal, the camera control unit 16 that controls the surveillance cameras 5, 5,..., And the intrusion detection sensors 6, 6,. The sensor control unit 17, the intrusion history storage unit 18 that stores the intrusion history captured by the intrusion detection sensors 6, 6,..., The operation screen for monitoring and the captured image by the camera are displayed on the screen. Superimposed on To the monitor 3 (see FIG. 2A) as a display means having a touch panel (not shown), the graphic display unit 20 for displaying a graphic screen (described later) on the monitor 3, and the touch panel of the monitor 3 As an operation accepting means for detecting the operation and the coordinates of the operation position, and as a camera rotation operation accepting part for operating the cameras 41, 41,... And the monitoring cameras 5, 5,. Joystick 21 (see FIG. 2A), a joystick controller 22 that detects an operation state of the joystick 21, an alarm sound generator 25 that outputs an alarm sound via a speaker 24, and a digital image signal as NTCS video An image conversion unit 26 that converts the signal into an external monitor 8 and gives it to the external monitor 8, a screen display selection unit 12, a communication unit 14, and an image conversion unit 5, a camera control unit 16, a sensor control unit 17, an intrusion history storage unit 18, a monitor 3, a graphic display unit 20, a touch panel input unit 23, a joystick controller 22, an alarm sound generation unit 25, and an image conversion unit 26 And a control unit 28.

  A multiplex control unit 51 provided between the camera 5 and the multi-camera operation unit 1 is a device corresponding to the camera 5 adopting the video multiplex control signal system, and includes an NTSC video signal and a control signal from the camera 5. Has a function of overlapping or separating the two. In the present embodiment, the NTSC system is exemplified, but it is also possible to correspond to the PAL system and the SECAM system adopted in other countries.

  In the surveillance camera system 4, an NTSC video signal from a camera 41 using an image sensor such as a CCD or CMOS is converted to a WEB screen by a WEB camera encoder 42, and a network such as a hub 43 and Ethernet (registered trademark) is used. To the communication unit 14. This WEB screen is displayed on the monitor 3. A control signal necessary for the operation of the camera is given from the communication unit 14 to the camera 41 via the hub 43, the network, and the WEB camera encoder 42.

  When the intrusion detection sensor 6 detects an intrusion, the main controller 28 generates an alarm sound via the alarm generator 25 in response to a detection signal from the sensor controller 17. In addition, the display of the intrusion detection sensor 6 that detects the occurrence of intrusion is blinked on a graphic display screen to be described later to notify the observer of the intrusion position. By pre-registering the camera and shooting direction corresponding to the intrusion detection sensor 6, the camera may be automatically rotated to the intrusion occurrence position so that the behavior of the suspicious person can be monitored. In this case, a speaker or the like may be installed at the intrusion site to automatically generate an alarm sound or to be in a state where a warning can be given by voice. After confirming the occurrence of the intrusion, the observer can track the suspicious person by operating the camera.

  The date and time of the intrusion, the intrusion detection sensor 6 that detected the intrusion, and the video at the time of the intrusion are stored as files in the intrusion history storage unit 18 and can be searched.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the monitoring system of this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure for selecting a screen to be displayed on the monitor 3. This procedure is controlled by the main control unit 28.

  In step S <b> 1 of FIG. 3, a graphic display screen is selected as the initial screen when the power is turned on, and is displayed on the monitor 3. FIG. 2A illustrates a graphic display screen. The graphic display screen displays the site to be monitored, the site map showing the building, the interior of the building, etc. as a graphic, and the position of the installed camera, the position of the intrusion detection sensors 6, 6,. Is a screen described on a graphic. Data necessary for the graphic display screen is created and stored in advance using the graphic display unit 20, and according to the stored data, as shown in FIG. The arrangement state of the is graphically displayed. The detection result by the intrusion detection sensor 6 may be displayed on the graphic display screen in real time.

  Next, in step S2, it is determined whether or not an operation for selecting a graphic display screen has been performed. This operation is performed on the push button input unit 11. In step S2, a determination is made based on a signal from the screen display selection unit 12. If the determination in step S2 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step S3, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S4.

  In step S3, a graphic display screen is selected and displayed on the monitor 3 as in step S1.

  On the other hand, in step S4, based on a signal from the touch panel input unit 23 or the screen display selection unit 12, it is determined whether or not an operation for selecting a monitoring operation screen of the WEB system camera is performed. When the graphic display screen (FIG. 2A) is displayed on the monitor 3, the monitor can select the operation screen of the camera 41 by touching the camera 41 on the graphic display screen. In this case, when the monitor touches the graphic display screen, the touch panel input unit 23 detects the operation coordinates and specifies the camera 41 selected by the main control unit 28. Further, the operation screen of the camera 41 may be selected by operating the push button input unit 11. In this case, when the supervisor operates the push button input unit 11, the main control unit 28 specifies the selected camera 41 based on the signal from the screen display selection unit 12.

  If the determination in step S4 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step S5, and if the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S6.

  In step S <b> 5, the hub 43 is switched by communication via the communication unit 14, and the video from the selected camera 41 is displayed on the monitor 3. Thereafter, the process returns to step S2.

  FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an operation monitoring screen. In this example, the current captured video of the selected camera 41 is displayed in the area 31 and the camera 41 is operated in the area 32. A group of buttons is displayed.

  As a method for realizing the above processing procedure, a browser screen is automatically activated in response to a signal from the touch panel input unit 23 or the screen display selection unit 12, and an operation monitoring screen is registered in advance with a URL. The WEB screen may be automatically activated simultaneously with the camera selection operation.

  When the monitor operates the button in the area 32 on the screen, the touch panel input unit 23 detects the operation coordinates, and the main control unit 28 interprets operation contents such as a pan operation, a tilt operation, and a zoom operation. The operation content is given to the camera 41 via the communication unit 14, the hub 43, and the WEB encoder 42, and the camera 41 is operated in real time.

  The operation of the camera 41 can also be performed using the joystick 21. The operation content of the joystick 21 is given to the main control unit 28 as a signal from the joystick controller 22 and interpreted. The operation content is given to the camera 41 via the communication unit 14, the hub 43, and the WEB encoder 42, and the camera 41 is operated in real time. By using the joystick 21, the operability of the turning operation of the camera 41 such as up / down, left / right and zoom operations can be improved.

  On the other hand, in step S6, based on a signal from the touch panel input unit 23 or the screen display selection unit 12, it is determined whether or not an operation for selecting the monitoring operation screen of the analog camera is being performed.

  When the graphic display screen (FIG. 2A) is displayed on the monitor 3, the monitor can select the operation screen of the camera 5 by touching the camera 5 on the graphic display screen. In this case, when the monitor touches the graphic display screen, the touch panel input unit 23 detects the operation coordinates and specifies the camera 5 selected by the main control unit 28.

  In addition, the monitor can display the analog camera selection operation screen shown in FIG. 4A on the monitor 3 by operating the push button input unit 11. The selection operation screen may be a browser screen that is automatically activated. As shown in FIG. 4A, the selection operation screen is provided with an area 34 in which buttons for selecting a camera are arranged and an area 35 for operating the selected camera. When the monitor operates the button in the area 34, the main control unit 28 specifies the selected camera 5 based on the operation coordinates obtained from the touch panel input unit 23.

  If the determination in step S6 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S7, and if the determination is negative, the process returns to step S2.

  In step S <b> 7, the connection of the multiplexing control unit 51 is switched by communication via the camera control unit 16, and the video from the selected camera 5 is transferred to the main control unit 28 via the multiplexing control unit 51 and the image conversion unit 15. It is transmitted and displayed on the external monitor 8. Thereafter, the process returns to step S2. FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a monitoring screen of the external monitor.

  When the monitor operates the button in the area 35 of the selection operation screen (FIG. 4A), the touch panel input unit 23 detects the operation coordinates, and the main control unit 28 performs operation contents such as pan operation, tilt operation, zoom operation, and the like. Is interpreted. The operation content is given to the camera 5 through the camera control unit 16 and the multiplexing control unit 51, and the camera 5 is operated in real time.

  The operation of the camera 5 can also be performed using the joystick 21. The operation content of the joystick 21 is given to the main control unit 28 as a signal from the joystick controller 22 and interpreted. The contents of the operation are given to the camera 5 via the camera control unit 16 and the multiplexing control unit 51, and the camera 5 is operated in real time. By using the joystick 21, it is possible to improve the operability of the turning operation of the camera 5 such as up / down, left / right and zoom operations.

  When the joystick 21 is used, the joystick 21 is applied to the turning operation (up / down, left / right, zoom operation, etc.) of the camera, and the touch panel of the monitor 3 is used for other operations (camera switching, function switching, various setting operations, etc.). You may make it use. The operation efficiency can be improved by appropriately assigning the operation target according to the operation content. FIG. 4C shows an example of the selection operation screen of the monitor 3 when the operation buttons are collected on the touch panel and the rotation operation of the camera is entrusted to the joystick 21. In this operation screen example, an area 36 for selecting a camera and an area 37 for adjusting the focus, brightness, and the like of the selected camera are provided.

  In the above embodiment, the selection operation screen (FIGS. 4A and 4C) is used when an analog camera is selected, but the same applies when a WEB camera is selected. The selection operation screen can also be used. In this case, as in the case where an analog camera is selected, if the camera image is displayed on the external monitor 8, the camera can be operated while viewing the image.

  As described above, according to the monitoring system of the present embodiment, the screen necessary for the operation for monitoring and the captured image by the camera are displayed on the same monitor 3, and the touch panel is provided on the monitor 3. The movement of the line of sight can be suppressed and the burden on the observer can be reduced, and the apparatus can be miniaturized.

  In addition, since the multi-camera operation device 1 can be applied to both an analog camera and a WEB camera, a flexible system can be constructed while avoiding an increase in the size of the apparatus. For example, analog cameras have clear images, can withstand nighttime monitoring, can be used with a dedicated keyboard and touch panel, and have good operability. There is a demerit that it is difficult to transmit video. On the other hand, the WEB camera has advantages such as ease of system construction, low cost, and the ability to transmit video to remote locations, as well as video signal compression, reduced video resolution and clarity due to WEB conversion, and network load. There are disadvantages such as a decrease in the image update speed due to transmission delay due to. In the monitoring system of this embodiment, since both types of cameras can be used in one system, only the merit of both types can be effectively used while improving operability.

  In the monitoring system of this embodiment, since a camera selection operation or the like can be performed from the graphic display screen, the camera to be selected can be instantaneously determined, and the operation efficiency can be improved.

  Furthermore, in the monitoring system according to the present embodiment, since the camera can be operated with the joystick, the turning operation and the like are facilitated, and the touch panel and the joystick can be used properly according to the operation content. Further, the joystick may be used for operations other than the turning operation of the camera. For example, by interlocking with the screen of the monitor 3, operations such as menu selection from the menu selection screen, camera selection from the camera selection screen, or selection of the intrusion detection sensor 6 from the sensor selection image can be accepted by the joystick. . Note that a device such as a trackball or a touchpad may be used as the camera rotation operation accepting unit instead of the joystick. In addition, a method for operating the camera in a non-contact manner, such as providing a sensor for rotating the camera, recognizing the direction in which the observer moved the body, and rotating the camera according to the movement of the body, is applied. May be.

  As described above, according to the monitoring system of the present invention, since the operation on the operation screen is received via the touch panel superimposed on the display screen of the display means, the monitoring burden is reduced and the operability is improved. be able to.

  The scope of application of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The present invention can be widely applied to a monitoring system that performs monitoring using an image captured by a camera.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the monitoring system of one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the screen of a multi camera operation device and a monitor, (a) is a figure which shows the external appearance of an operation panel, (b) is a figure which illustrates an operation monitoring screen. The flowchart which shows the procedure of screen selection. It is a figure which shows a display screen, (a) is a figure which shows a selection operation screen, (b) is a figure which illustrates the monitoring screen of an external monitor, (c) is a figure which shows a selection operation screen.

Explanation of symbols

3 Monitor (display means)
11 Push button input part (screen selection acceptance means)
23 Touch panel input unit (operation receiving means)

Claims (8)

In a monitoring system that monitors using images taken by a camera,
An operation screen for waiting for an operation for monitoring, and a display means for displaying an image captured by the camera on a display screen;
Operation accepting means for accepting an operation on the operation screen via a touch panel superimposed on the display screen of the display means;
Screen selection accepting means for accepting an operation of selecting a display screen by the display means;
A monitoring system comprising: The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the screen selection receiving unit receives an operation of selecting one of the operation screen and the shooting screen as a display screen by the display unit. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays a graphic display screen to be monitored as the operation screen. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the operation accepting unit accepts selection of a camera that captures the captured image displayed by the display unit. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the operation receiving unit receives an operation on the camera. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein an analog system and a WEB system are mixed as the camera. The monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising a camera rotation operation receiving unit that receives a manual rotation operation of the camera. The monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein the camera rotation operation reception unit receives an operation for monitoring in conjunction with the operation screen displayed by the display unit.

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