JP2011061601A - Monitoring video control system and server for content information distribution - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a monitoring video control system and a server for content information distribution, for improving convenience for a user by utilizing a terrestrial wave joint viewing system. <P>SOLUTION: The monitoring video control system includes: monitoring cameras 21a, 21b and 21c for monitoring an object to be monitored; a user terminal 7 for displaying the video images of the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b and 21c sent utilizing a digital terrestrial broadcasting frequency band; and the server 4 for the content information distribution, provided with a camera control content generation part for generating camera control contents and a data broadcasting content generation part for generating data broadcasting contents. Then, the data broadcasting contents are transmitted from the content transmission part 33 of the server 4 for the content information distribution, and are sent to the user terminal 7 together with video images by utilizing a broadcasting frequency. Also, the camera control contents are transmitted to the user terminal 7 by using a communication part 34, and operation information from the user terminal 7 is transmitted to the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b and 21c. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a surveillance video control system and a content information distribution server that use a digital hearing aid system.

  In recent years, terrestrial television broadcasting has been digitized, and user terminals (television receivers) compatible with terrestrial digital broadcasting have become widespread with the end of analog broadcasting on July 24, 2011.

  Since terrestrial digital broadcasting is compatible with data broadcasting and IP (Internet Protocol), it is possible to distribute content information described in BML (Broadcast Markup Language). Also, a simple program can be distributed from the distribution device side to the user terminal, and the program can be executed on the user terminal side.

  A technique has been developed in which the above function is applied to a monitoring camera control system, operation information transmitted from the user terminal side is determined, and information regarding the video of the monitoring camera and the video of the monitoring camera is transmitted to the user terminal (for example, And Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-227940 A

  However, with the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is possible to receive information about the video of the surveillance camera together with the video of the surveillance camera on the user terminal side, but it has not been possible to control the operation of the surveillance camera. Also, when sending content to control the operation of the surveillance camera, if the content is distributed in the same way as the video stream used for terrestrial digital broadcasting, the video transmission of the original terrestrial digital broadcasting may be hindered. There is.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a monitoring video control system and a content information distribution server for realizing operation control of a monitoring camera from a user terminal without imposing a load on a video stream used for terrestrial digital broadcasting The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a surveillance video control system according to the present invention includes a surveillance camera that supervises a subject to be monitored and a user that displays a video of the surveillance camera transmitted using a terrestrial digital broadcast frequency band. Content information distribution having a terminal, a camera control content generation unit for generating camera control content and a data broadcast content generation unit for generating data broadcast content, and transmitting the camera control content and the data broadcast content to the user terminal A first server that connects the server, the user terminal, and the content information distribution server, and transmits the video of the monitoring camera and the data broadcast content to the user terminal using the terrestrial digital broadcast frequency band; A communication means is connected to the user terminal and the content information distribution server. And, characterized by comprising a second communication means for transmitting the operation information from the camera control content or the user terminal.

The content information distribution server according to the present invention is provided between a monitoring camera that monitors a monitored object and a user terminal that displays an image of the monitoring camera transmitted using a terrestrial digital broadcast frequency band. A content information distribution server that controls video control of the surveillance camera, and a camera control content generation unit that generates camera control content;
A data broadcast content generation unit that generates data broadcast content; and a first communication unit that transmits the data broadcast content generated by the data broadcast content generation unit to the user terminal using the terrestrial digital broadcast frequency band; A second communication unit that transmits the camera control content generated by the camera control content generation unit to the user terminal, receives operation information from the user terminal, and transmits the operation information to the monitoring camera. It is characterized by.

  According to the present invention, by incorporating the camera control unit into the content information distribution server, the operation of the surveillance camera can be controlled by the operation information transmitted from the user terminal side. Control information can be communicated with each other without using the video stream frequency band (terrestrial digital broadcast frequency band) used for terrestrial digital broadcasting, and a stable surveillance video control system can be constructed. Become.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a surveillance video distribution system according to the present invention. The block diagram which shows the specific example of the server for content information delivery shown in FIG. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the monitoring video delivery system which concerns on embodiment. The flowchart which shows operation | movement of the server for content information delivery which concerns on embodiment. The figure which shows the example of a screen for operating the surveillance camera which concerns on embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a monitoring video distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, this surveillance video distribution system includes a communication network 1, surveillance cameras 21a, 21b, 21c,... And encoders 22a, 22b, 22c,. .., The MPEG2TS converters 3 and 3 connected to the communication network 1, the information distribution server 4 connected to the communication network 1, and the MPEG2TS converters 3 and 3 And the multiplexer 5 connected to the content information distribution server 4, and the information transmitted from the multiplexer 5 connected to the multiplexer 5 is received toward the monitoring video devices 2a, 2b,. Broadcast frequency converter 6, user terminal 7 connected to communication network 1 and broadcast frequency converter 6, and user terminal 7 and consists of capable of wireless communication remote controller 8. Here, only one user terminal 7 is shown, but a plurality of user terminals 7 are installed.

  Further, the content information distribution server 4 includes a camera device control unit 37 and a camera control content generation unit 38 as shown in FIG. The camera device control unit 37 is not necessarily provided in the content information distribution server 4 and may be connected to the communication network 1. The communication network 1 is composed of lines that can communicate with each other. For example, it refers to a network such as a LAN or an intranet, and other communication networks may be used.

  The surveillance video devices 2a, 2b, 2c... Are composed of surveillance cameras 21a, 21b, 21c... And corresponding encoders 22a, 22b, 22c. As the surveillance cameras 21a, 21b, 21c,..., Any of analog and digital systems may be used. The encoders 22a, 22b, 22c,... Encode the analog video information from the surveillance cameras 21a, 21b, 21c,... By sampling and quantization, and then convert them into a predetermined video format MPEG2 PS (program stream). Has function.

  Therefore, if the digital surveillance cameras 21a, 21b, 21c... Having an encoder function are used, the above-described encoders 22a, 22b, 22c. However, since the digital surveillance cameras 21a, 21b, 21c,... Need to be compatible with terrestrial digital broadcasting, they have a function of converting to MPEG2 PS (program stream) as necessary. Make it.

  MPEG2TS converters 3 and 3 are provided for each channel, and MPEG2 PS (video stream) transmitted from surveillance video devices 2a, 2b, 2c,... It is converted into MPEG2TS (Transport Stream) and sent to the multiplexer 5.

  The reason why the MPEG2TS conversion device 3 converts to MPEG2TS is that the user terminal 7 of terrestrial digital broadcasting supports a video format called MPEG2TS, and a general surveillance camera system uses a video format compatible with terrestrial digital. This is because many video signals are transmitted in different video formats, eg, MPEG2 PS. Accordingly, when the surveillance camera system side already has a video format compatible with terrestrial digital, the MPEG2TS conversion devices 3 and 3 may not need to convert the video format.

  The content information distribution server 4 has a function of controlling the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c,... And generating content information for controlling the cameras. The content information distribution server 4 sends the content information to the multiplexing device 5 in correspondence with the MPEG2TS conversion devices 3 and 3, and sends the content information to the user terminal 7 via the communication network 1. It can also be sent out.

  The multiplexing device 5 multiplexes and synthesizes the MPEG2TS video stream converted by the MPEG2TS conversion devices 3 and 3 and the BML content information sent from the content information distribution server 4 in a frequency division or time division manner, for example. A video stream is generated and sent to the broadcast frequency converter 6 using one channel.

  The broadcast frequency conversion device 6 converts the video stream multiplexed by the multiplexing device 5 into a broadcast frequency suitable for the frequency band of the coaxial cable functioning as a television receiving antenna and distributes it to the user terminal 7. Accordingly, a list message including content information that can be appropriately selected by the user is displayed on the monitoring video displayed on the plurality of display units of the user terminal 7.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the content information distribution server 4. The content information distribution server 4 includes a data broadcast content generation unit 31, a system management unit 32, a content transmission unit 33, a communication unit 34, an operation information reception unit 35, a video conversion device control unit 36, a camera device control unit 37, and camera control. A content generation unit 38 and the like are provided.

  The data broadcast content generation unit 31 previously generates and stores BML content including camera information (for example, camera video names, camera installation locations, etc.) of the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c. Here, the BML content can specify the content layout on the screen, the association of a plurality of content, etc. in addition to the description of the content of the digital broadcast, using a markup language based on XML (extensible Markup Language). The BML content can include a simple control program. As a result, the control program can be uploaded to each user terminal 7 from the content information distribution server 4. This is because when the user operates the remote controller 8 toward the user terminal 7, the user terminal 7 executes the control program, and various types of programs defined in the program that is the remote operation result based on the program command. Operation information can be transmitted to the communication network 1.

  The system management unit 32 includes a storage device 32a. The storage device 32a is provided with at least a monitoring address list management table 32aa, a user management control storage unit 32ab, a storage unit 32ac, and a camera control information storage unit 32ad.

  The monitoring side address list management table 32aa stores the channel correspondence list of the channel-MPEG2TS converters 3 and 3 in addition to the IP address list of each of the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c... And the encoders 22a, 22b, 22c. The

  Similar to the operation described in Patent Document 1, the user management control storage unit 32ab stores the relationship between the current channel and the camera image being distributed, the channel currently being received at each user terminal 7, and user reception priority data. Is done. The other storage unit 32ac stores various types of data being processed. The camera control information storage unit 32ad stores camera control information being controlled by the user. The control means control via the camera device control unit 37.

  Under the instruction of the system management unit 32, the video conversion device control unit 36 transmits, for example, a command related to a channel switching command to the MPEG2TS conversion devices 3 and 3 via the communication network 1 to prompt a desired channel switching, The information of any one of the MPEG2TS converters 3 and 3 that distribute the video of the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c,... Is received and transferred to the system management unit 32.

  Therefore, the system management unit 32 extracts the BML content information of the data broadcast content generation unit 31 based on the distribution video of each MPEG2TS conversion device 3 and 3 captured via the video conversion device control unit 36, and the content transmission unit 33. The function to output from. Further, it has a function of executing a desired process according to the operation information received by the operation information receiving unit 35.

  The camera device control unit 37 determines permission or non-permission of control of the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c,... Based on control information sent from the user and control information with other users. Further, when the control of the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c,... Is permitted, control information from the user is transmitted to the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c,.

  The camera control content generation unit 38 describes the contents of the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c, etc., the layout of the contents for controlling the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c,. Etc. can be defined. Further, the content information generated by the camera control content generation unit 38 can include a control program. As a result, the control program can be uploaded to each user terminal 7 from the content information distribution server 4. This means that when the user operates the remote controller 8 toward the user terminal 7, the user terminal 7 executes the control program, and various types of programs defined in the program that is the remote operation result based on the program command. Operation information can be transmitted to the communication network 1.

  Next, the operation of the surveillance camera control system as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. The following numbers correspond to the numbers shown in FIGS. FIG. 5 shows an example of a screen for operating the surveillance camera displayed on the user terminal 7.

(1) The images of the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c... Are sent to the corresponding encoders 22a, 22b, 22c. Here, if the video information of the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c,... Is an analog video, the encoders 22a, 22b, 22c,. The data is converted and transmitted to the MPEG2TS converter 3 via the communication network 1.

(2) The MPEG2TS conversion devices 3 and 3 are controlled by the video conversion device control unit 36 in the content information distribution server 4 to receive video from the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c. It is converted into a certain MPEG2 TS and sent to the multiplexing device 5.

(3) The data broadcast content created by the data broadcast content generation unit 31 in the content information distribution server 4 is input to the multiplexing device 5 by the content transmission unit 33. The MPEG2TS converted by the MPEG2TS conversion devices 3 and 3 and the data broadcast content created by the data broadcast content generation unit 31 are multiplexed by the multiplexing device 5.

(4) The multiplexed information output from the multiplexer 5 is converted into a broadcast frequency by the broadcast frequency converter 6 and is sent to the user terminal 7 together with the video of the surveillance camera converted by the MPEG2TS converters 3 and 3. Supplied. The user terminal 7 displays the received video of the surveillance camera and data broadcast content.

(5) Next, the remote controller 8 of the user terminal 7 is operated to select a camera operation start list message in the displayed data broadcast content. As a result, an operation start request for controlling the monitoring camera whose video is currently displayed on the user terminal 7 is transmitted to the content information distribution server 4 via the communication network 1.

(6) The operation start request is notified from the communication network 1 to the operation information receiving unit 35 of the content information distribution server 4 via the communication unit 34.

(7) When the operation of the content information distribution server 4 starts, the operation information receiving unit 35 notifies the system management unit 32 of the operation start request.

(8) The system management unit 32 refers to the camera control information stored in the camera control information storage unit 32ad, and notifies the camera device control unit 37 of the camera control information related to the operation start request together with the operation start request. To do.

(9) The camera device control unit 37 refers to the camera control information supplied from the system management unit 32 as to whether or not the corresponding monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c... Are being controlled by other users. To judge. Then, based on a preset rule, it is determined whether or not to allow the user to control the corresponding monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c.

(10) Also, the camera device control unit 37 notifies the camera control content generation unit 38 of camera control permission or disapproval based on the determination in (9) above.

(11) The camera control content generation unit 38 communicates the operation screen content 50 (see FIG. 5) for controlling the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c... When the camera control is permitted from the camera device control unit 37. Distribution to the user terminal 7 via the network 1. Therefore, in the distribution of the operation screen content 50, the operation screen content 50 is distributed through the route from the communication network 1 without going through the multiplexing device 5 and the broadcast frequency conversion device 6.

(12) When the operation screen content 50 is transmitted from the content information distribution server 4, the user terminal 7 displays the screen of FIG. As a result, the user of the user terminal 7 can control the monitoring camera from the operation screen content 50 displayed on the user terminal 7 using the remote controller 8. For example, when the up-turn button 52 displayed on the operation screen content 50 is operated by the remote controller 8, the operation information is transmitted from the user terminal 7 to the content information distribution server 4 via the communication network 1.

(13) The content information distribution server 4 receives the operation information received from the user terminal 7 via the communication network 1 and the communication unit 34 by the operation information receiving unit 35. Further, the operation information is notified from the operation information receiving unit 35 to the system management unit 32.

(14) The system management unit 32 notifies the camera device control unit 37 of the operation information together with the camera control information stored in the camera control information storage unit 32ad. (15) Furthermore, the camera device control unit 37 stores information on camera control by the user terminal 7 in the camera control information storage unit 32ad.

(16) The camera device control unit 37 transmits a command of operation information generated by referring to the camera control information from the communication unit 34 to the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c. As a result, the operation according to the input of the operation information from the user terminal 7 is executed by the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c.

  As shown in FIG. 5, on the user terminal 7, the operation screen content 50 and the video 51 of the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c. Then, the operation screen content 50 can operate the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b, 21c... Using the remote controller 8. For example, the blue, red, yellow and green buttons of the remote controller 8 are used as frequently used camera operation buttons (upper turn button 52, left turn button 53, right turn button 54, lower turn button 55, etc.). By assigning, user operability can be improved. Further, by providing a preset thumbnail button 58 as a button for turning the surveillance camera at a pre-stored (preset) angle of view, focal length, or the like, the user operability can be further improved. For the preset thumbnail button 58, for example, a thumbnail obtained by reducing the video of the surveillance camera after turning is used as a button, so that the convenience can be further improved. In addition, the screen can be changed to a specified screen (e.g., the previous screen) with the return button 59.

(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, when the user operates the camera image displayed on the user terminal 7 using the remote controller 8, the operation information is transmitted to the content information distribution server 4 to distribute the content information. The system management unit 32 of the server 4 transmits a user request from the camera device control unit 37 to the monitoring camera to perform camera image control. In the system management unit 32, user priority order data, the channel most received from the operation information of the user terminal 7, the user terminal watching the monitoring video, and the like are stored in the camera control information storage unit 32ad. Therefore, the system management unit 32 distributes content information including information that gives an operation authority for controlling the monitoring video of the monitoring cameras 21a, 21b,... From these information stored in the camera control information storage unit 32ad. You may do it. As a result, it is possible to cause a specific user to preferentially view the monitoring video using the most received channel.

  Further, since the system management unit 32 can acquire the receiving channel information from the operation information sent from the plurality of user terminals 7, it is possible to determine which channel is currently empty. Accordingly, the system management unit 32 includes the empty channel information not used by the user terminal 7 in the content information and provides it to each user terminal 7 (displays a message), so that the user terminal 7 can freely change the empty channel information. It is also possible to switch to make it possible to view a desired camera image.

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication network 2a, 2b, ... Surveillance video apparatus 3 ... MPEG2TS converter 4 ... Content information delivery server 5 ... Multiplexer 6 ... Broadcast frequency converter 7 ... User terminal (television receiver)
8 ... Remote control device (remote control)
21a, 21b, 21c ... surveillance cameras 22a, 22b, 22b ... encoder 31 ... data broadcast content generation unit 32 ... system management unit 32a ... storage device 32aa ... monitoring address list management table 32ab ... user management control unit 32ac ... other storage unit 32ad ... Camera control information storage unit 33 ... Content transmission unit 34 ... Communication unit 35 ... Operation information reception unit 36 ... Video conversion device control unit 37 ... Camera device control unit 38 ... Camera control content generation unit 50 ... Camera operation screen 51 ... Surveillance camera image 52 ... Up-turn button (red)
53 ... Left turn button (blue)
54… Turn right button (yellow)
55 ... Down-turn button (green)
56 ... Zoom in button 57 ... Zoom out button 58 ... Preset thumbnail button 59 ... Back button

Claims (5)

A surveillance camera for monitoring the monitored object;
A content information distribution server having a camera control content generation unit for generating camera control content and a data broadcast content generation unit for generating data broadcast content;
A multiplexing device for multiplexing the video of the monitoring camera and the data broadcast content;
A user terminal that displays the camera video and the data broadcast content multiplexed by the multiplexing device sent using a terrestrial digital broadcast frequency band;
The monitoring camera and the content information distribution server are connected to the multiplexing device, the multiplexing device and the user terminal are connected using a terrestrial digital broadcasting frequency band, and the video of the monitoring camera and the data broadcasting First communication means for transmitting content to the user terminal;
A second communication means for connecting the user terminal and the content information distribution server via a communication network, and transmitting operation information from the camera control content or the user terminal;
A surveillance video control system comprising: The content information distribution server further comprises camera control means,
The camera control means receives channel information being currently received from the user terminal via the second communication means, and stores which channel the user terminal is using. Item 2. The surveillance video system according to Item 1.   The surveillance video control system according to claim 2, wherein the camera control means mediates an authority to control the video of the surveillance camera based on the channel information of a plurality of user terminals.   4. The surveillance video control system according to claim 3, wherein the camera control means provides each user terminal with current empty channel information based on the channel information of a plurality of user terminals. Content information distribution for controlling video of the surveillance camera between the surveillance camera that monitors the monitored object and the user terminal that displays the video of the surveillance camera transmitted using the terrestrial digital broadcast frequency band Server,
A camera control content generation unit for generating camera control content;
A data broadcast content generation unit for generating data broadcast content;
A first communication unit that transmits the data broadcast content generated by the data broadcast content generation unit to the user terminal using the terrestrial digital broadcast frequency band;
A second communication unit that transmits the camera control content generated by the camera control content generation unit to the user terminal, receives operation information from the user terminal, and transmits the operation information to the monitoring camera;
Content information distribution server characterized by comprising:

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