JP2012209810A - Monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique where an image displaying/storing device can be connected in a network with a network camera which belongs to a local network different from the one the image displaying/storing device belongs to.SOLUTION: The monitoring system comprises: a network camera 1 which belongs to a first local network 100; a network camera management server 12 which belongs to the first local network 100 and collects network camera information 501; a network monitoring information collection server 30 which acquires the network camera information 501 from the network camera management server 12 through Internet 300 to store it therein; and image displaying/storing devices 21, 22 which belong to a second local network 200. The image displaying/storing devices 21, 22 make settings for connecting with the network camera 1 through the Internet based on first network camera information 501 acquired through the network monitoring information collection server 30.

Description

  The present invention relates to a monitoring system for monitoring video captured by a network camera.

  Conventionally, monitoring using a monitoring system has been performed to prevent theft or mischief of goods at convenience stores and supermarkets. In such a monitoring system, a combination of a plurality of monitoring cameras installed in the store entrance and the product shelf, an image display device that displays the video captured by the monitoring camera, and an image recording device that records the video is combined. There is a surveillance system.

  In this monitoring system, with the spread of network environments in recent years, a network camera that is a monitoring camera that distributes captured video over a network, an image display device that receives and displays the distributed video, and the distributed A combination with an image recording apparatus that receives and records video has been proposed. However, in order to operate the network camera, the image display device, the image recording device, etc., it is necessary to correctly set the network connection at the time of introducing the monitoring system, and the setting work is complicated. It was.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a method for solving this problem. Specifically, by further including a network camera management server for managing the network camera, the network camera acquires and sets the parameters described in the IP address and the parameter setting file from the network camera management server when connected to the network. A method for automatically setting a network camera is disclosed.

JP 2006-80596 A

  In the monitoring system as described above, in order for the image display device to display the video of the network camera or the image recording device to record the video, these devices may be connected to the network camera via a network. is necessary. In order for the image display apparatus and the image recording apparatus to perform network connection with the network camera, it is necessary to acquire network information such as the IP address of the network camera and set the network information in itself.

  However, in the method of Patent Document 1, the network connection setting with the network camera is simplified by providing the network camera monitoring server, but the setting is automatically performed by the image display device and the image recording device. Absent. Therefore, in the image display apparatus and the image recording apparatus, since a complicated setting work for connecting to the network camera remains, the user has to perform the setting work, which is troublesome.

  Also, if the network camera, the network management server, the image display device, and the image recording device are in the same local network, the image display device and the image recording device acquire the network information of the network camera from the network management server and set it. If you do, it is considered that you can automatically connect to the network.

  However, monitoring on a plurality of different local networks connected by the broadband Internet (hereinafter referred to as the “Internet”), that is, multipoint (global) monitoring is increasingly performed. In particular, when using a network in a small-scale monitoring system such as a convenience store or a supermarket, it is often considered that a relatively inexpensive broadband router is used to connect to the Internet using ADSL or FTTH. . In the Internet connection using such a broadband router, a network connection from a device in the local network to the Internet side is permitted for network security, but a connection from the Internet side to a device in the local network is rejected. Therefore, the image display device and the image recording device use the Internet connection to acquire network information for connecting to the network camera from the network management server belonging to a local network different from the image display device and display / record the video. It is difficult to achieve.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and a technique that enables an image display / recording apparatus to automatically connect to a network camera belonging to a local network different from itself. The purpose is to provide.

  A monitoring system according to the present invention is a monitoring system for monitoring a video, and belongs to a first local network, the network camera that captures the video, and the first local network, and an external device is connected to the network. A network camera management server that collects first network information for connecting to the camera via the Internet. The monitoring system is connectable to the network camera management server via the Internet, and obtains and stores the first network information collected by the network camera management server via the Internet, and a second local network And an image display / recording device that is capable of connecting to the network server via the Internet and displaying and / or recording the video taken by the network camera. The image display / recording apparatus acquires the first network information stored in the network server via the Internet, and performs settings for connecting itself to the network camera based on the first network information. .

  According to the present invention, the network server capable of recording the first network information is connected to the network camera management server belonging to the first local network and the image display / recording device belonging to the second local network via the Internet. Therefore, the image display / recording apparatus can automatically acquire the first network information of the network camera from the network camera management server belonging to a local network different from itself. Therefore, the image display / recording apparatus can automatically connect to a network camera belonging to a local network different from itself. As a result, the user does not have to perform the setting using a PC or the like, and the setting work in the image display / recording apparatus is reduced.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a monitoring system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the monitoring system according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows a network camera information element. It is a figure which shows network camera information. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the monitoring system according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows network display information. It is a figure which shows network recording information. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the monitoring system which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the monitoring system according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows a network camera information element. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a monitoring system according to a third embodiment. It is a figure which shows a network camera information storage area.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a monitoring system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, this monitoring system includes network cameras 1a to 1c, a broadband router 10, a network camera management server 12, a hub 15, a broadband router 20, an image display device 21, and an image. A recording device 22, a hub 25, and a network monitoring information collection server 30 (network server) are provided.

  The broadband router 10, the network cameras 1a to 1c, the network camera management server 12, and the hub 15 belong to the first local network 100, and the broadband router 20, the image display device 21, the image recording device 22, and the hub 25 include It belongs to the second local network 200.

  First, components belonging to the first local network 100 will be described.

  The broadband router 10 is connected to the network cameras 1 a to 1 c and the network camera management server 12 via the hub 15 in the first local network 100. The broadband router 10 is connected to the broadband router 20 and the network monitoring information collection server 30 via the Internet 300 outside the first local network 100. In the following description, when a certain apparatus is connected to another apparatus via the Internet 300, this network connection may be referred to as “Internet connection”. The broadband router 10 enables the network cameras 1a to 1c and the network camera management server 12 to connect to devices outside the first local network 100 via the Internet by using ADSL, FTTH, or the like.

  The network cameras 1a to 1c are installed in each monitoring place and have a function as a monitoring camera that captures surrounding images. Each of the network cameras 1a to 1c also has a function as a network device that distributes a photographed video to a device connected to the network. In the following description, each of the network cameras 1a to 1c may be referred to as “network camera 1”.

  The network camera management server 12 collects and stores network camera information 501 (first network information) for devices outside the first local network 100 to connect to the network cameras 1a to 1c via the Internet. The network camera management server 2 includes a storage area for storing network camera information 501. The network camera information 501 includes IP addresses distributed by the network cameras 1a to 1c when connected to the network.

  The hub 15 connects the network cameras 1a to 1c, the network camera management server 12, and the broadband router 10 to each other via a network. Here, the network cameras 1 a to 1 c and the network camera management server 12 are network-connected to each port of the hub 15, and the broadband router 10 is connected to the network connection end of the hub 15. The network cameras 1a to 1c and the network camera management server 12 can be connected to devices outside the first local network 100 via the hub 15 and the broadband router 10 via the Internet.

  The broadband router 10 described above has a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server function, which is a protocol that dynamically assigns an IP address on the first local network 100 to a device on the first local network 100. On the other hand, each of the network cameras 1a to 1c and the network camera management server 2 has a DHCP client function.

  The broadband router 10 also has a NAPT (Network Address Port Translation) function that can convert a port number in addition to the conversion of a private IP address and a global IP address. The broadband router 10 has a NAPT information table that can be rewritten from the outside (in this case, the network camera management server 12) in which a private IP address, a global IP address, and a port number are associated with each other.

  Next, components belonging to the second local network 200 will be described.

  The broadband router 20 is connected to the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 via the hub 25 in the second local network 200 via a network. In addition, the broadband router 20 is connected to the broadband router 10 and the network monitoring information collection server 30 outside the second local network 200 via the Internet. The broadband router 20 makes it possible for the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 to connect to devices external to the second local network 200 by using ADSL, FTTH, or the like.

  The image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 constitute an image display / recording device that displays and / or records video captured by the network camera 1.

  When the image display device 21 obtains the video distributed from the network camera 1 when the network camera 1 is connected to the Internet, the image display device 21 displays it. For example, an image display device such as a computer is applied as the image display device 21.

  When the image recording device 22 obtains the video distributed from the network camera 1 when it is connected to the network camera 1 via the Internet, the image recording device 22 records it. For example, a recording medium such as an HDD is applied as the image recording device 22.

  The hub 25 connects the image display device 21, the image recording device 22, and the broadband router 20 to each other via a network. Here, the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 are connected to each port of the hub 25 via a network, and the broadband router 20 is connected to the network connection end of the hub 25. The image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 can be connected to the Internet with a device outside the second local network 200 via the hub 25 and the broadband router 20.

  The broadband router 20 described above has a DHCP server function that dynamically assigns an IP address on the second local network 200 to a device on the second local network 200. On the other hand, the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 each have a DHCP client function.

  The broadband router 20 also has a NAPT function. Further, the broadband router 20 has a NAPT information table that can be rewritten from the outside, in which a private IP address, a global IP address, and a port number are associated with each other.

  Next, the network monitoring information collection server 30 will be described.

  The network monitoring information collection server 30 is given a global IP address for a certain device to connect to the network monitoring information collection server 30 via the Internet. In the present embodiment, the network camera management server 12 stores the global IP address of the network monitoring information collection server 30 and can be connected to the network monitoring information collection server 30 via the broadband router 10 or the like. Yes. That is, the network monitoring information collection server 30 can be connected to the network camera management server 12 via the Internet. In the present embodiment, each of the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 stores the global IP address of the network monitoring information collection server 30, and the network monitoring information collection server via the broadband router 20 or the like. 30 can be connected to the Internet.

  The network monitoring information collection server 30 can store the above-described network camera information 501, network display information 510 (second network information), and network recording information 520 (second network information). Here, the network display information 510 is network information for a device external to the second local network 200 to connect to the image display device 21 via the Internet, and the network recording information 520 is an image recording device that is external to the second local network 200. This is network information for connecting to the device 22 over the Internet. Hereinafter, the network display information 510 and the network record information 520 may be abbreviated as “network information 510, 520”.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation in which the monitoring system according to the present embodiment performs setting of Internet connection on the first local network 100 side. Hereinafter, the operation of the monitoring system will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S1, the network cameras 1a to 1c set a local IP address or the like in the network connection and distribute network camera information elements that are elements of the network camera information 501 described above. In step S1, the network camera management server 12 sets a local IP address or the like to itself when connected to the network.

  Specifically, each of the network cameras 1a to 1c first acquires a local IP address and a local port number from the broadband router 10 having a DHCP server function and sets them to itself when connected to the network. Similarly, the network camera management server 12 acquires a local IP address and a local port number from the broadband router 10 having a DHCP server function and sets them to itself when connected to the network. Here, the local IP address is an IP address on the first local network 100, and the local port number is a port number on the first local network 100.

  After setting (assigning) the IP address and the like, the network cameras 1a to 1c distribute the above-described network camera information element on the first local network 100 in the same step S1. FIG. 3 shows an example of the network camera information element. The network camera information element 500 shown in FIG. 3 includes a network camera manufacturer M, a network camera model T, a local IP address IPLC, and a local port number PTLC for each of the network cameras 1a to 1c.

  When distributing the network camera information element 500, the network cameras 1a to 1c store the local IP address and local port number set by themselves in the local IP address IPLC and local port number PTLC of the network camera information element 500, The stored network camera information element 500 is distributed.

  In step S2, the network camera management server 12 collects network camera information 501 by exchanging information such as the network camera information element 500 with the network cameras 1a to 1c, and transmits it to the network monitoring information collection server 30. To do.

  Specifically, first, the network camera management server 12 exchanges information with each of the network cameras 1a to 1c. For information exchange between the network cameras 1a to 1c and the network camera management server 12, a network protocol specification defined by the UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) forum can be used.

  By performing this information exchange, the network camera management server 12 receives the network camera information element 500 distributed by the network cameras 1a to 1c. Then, the network camera management server 12 collects the network camera information 501 by collecting (storing) the received network camera information element 500 and the like. In the present embodiment, the network camera management server 12 includes the above-described storage area that stores the network camera information 501 and stores the collected network camera information 501 in the storage area.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the network camera information 501. The network camera information 501 shown in FIG. 4 includes, in addition to the network camera information element 500 shown in FIG. 3, a unique name NC for identifying the network cameras 1a to 1c for each of the network cameras 1a to 1c, The global IP address IPGC and the global port number PTGC are included, and the network camera management server 12 includes the unique name NS, the local IP address IPLS, the local port number PTLS, the global IP address IPGS, and the global port number PTGS. Yes. Here, the global IP address is an IP address on the Internet 300, and the global number is a port number on the Internet 300.

  The network camera management server 12 collects the network camera information 501, and the network camera manufacturer M, the network camera model T, the local IP address IPLC, and the local port number included in the network camera information element 500 acquired from the network cameras 1a to 1c, respectively. The PTLC is stored / stored in the corresponding part of the network camera information 501. Further, the network camera management server 12 stores and stores the local IP address IPLC and the local port number PTLC in the global IP address IPGC and the global port number PTGC of the network camera information 501, respectively, and the cameras 1a, 1b, A character string of the camera 1c or the like is stored / stored in the unique name NC.

  Further, the network camera management server 12 collects the network camera information 501 by using the local IP address and local port number included in the network information of itself (network camera management server 12), the local IP address IPLS of the network camera information 501, and Store / store in local port number PTLS. The network camera management server 12 stores and stores its own local IP address IPLS and local port number PTLS in the global IP address IPGS and global port number PTGS of the network camera information 501, respectively. Store / store the column in the unique name NS.

  As described above, the network camera management server 12 stores the global IP address of the network monitoring information collection server 30 and can be connected to the network monitoring information collection server 30 via the Internet. In this embodiment, in step S2, the network camera management server 12 is connected to the network monitoring information collection server 30 via the Internet, and the network camera information 501 collected above is used as the hub 15, the broadband router 10, and the Internet 300. To the network monitoring information collection server 30 via

  In step S3, the network monitoring information collection server 30 receives (acquires) the network camera information 501 collected by the network camera management server 12 via the Internet 300, and stores it in its own storage area.

  Note that the network monitoring information collection server 30 includes not only the storage area but also a flag FC. This flag FC is set to “0” before the network camera information 501 is received from the network camera management server 12. The network monitoring information collection server 30 receives the network camera information 501 from the network camera management server 12 and changes the flag FC to “1” when the network camera information 501 is stored in the storage area.

  The network monitoring information collection server 30 acquires and stores the global IP address 10IPG of the transmission source broadband router 10. In general, network connection information transmission is performed by adding a destination IP address (here, network monitoring information collection server 30) and a source IP address (here, broadband router 10) to the head of information to be transmitted. It is easy for the network monitoring information collecting server 30 to acquire and store the global IP address 10IPG of the broadband router 10 that is the transmission source.

  In step S3, first, when the network monitoring information collection server 30 stores the network camera information 501 from the network camera management server 12 in itself, it changes the flag FC to “1”. Then, the network monitoring information collection server 30 uses the global IP addresses IPGC and IPGS of the network cameras 1a to 1c and the network camera management server 12 included in the network camera information 501 as global IP addresses 10IPG of the broadband router 10, respectively. Change to Then, the network monitoring information collection server 30 changes the global port numbers PTGC and PTCS of the network cameras 1a to 1c and the network camera management server 12 included in the network camera information 501 stored therein to unique numbers that do not overlap each other. To do.

  In step S3, the network monitoring information collection server 30 stores the changed network camera information 501 in its own storage area. The network monitoring information collection server 30 changes the flag FC from “1” to “2” when the change of the global IP addresses IPGC and IPGS and the global port numbers PTGC and PTGS is completed.

  In step S4, the network camera management server 12 receives (acquires) the network camera information 501 from the network monitoring information collection server 30, and stores it in itself.

  Specifically, the network camera management server 12 sends an inquiry to the network monitoring information collection server 30 after transmitting the network camera information 501 to the network monitoring information collection server 30 (after step S2). The network camera management server 12 repeats this inquiry until the flag FC is changed to “2”. When the flag FC is changed (set) to “2”, the network camera management server 12 transmits the network camera information 501 to the network monitoring information collection server 30 from the network monitoring information collection server 30 to itself. Request. When the network monitoring information collection server 30 receives the request from the network camera management server 12, the network monitoring information collection server 30 receives the network camera information 501 changed in step S 3 via the Internet 300, the broadband router 10, and the hub 15. 12 to send.

  Thereby, the network camera management server 12 receives (acquires) the network camera information 501 changed in step S3, that is, the network camera information 501 stored in the network monitoring information collection server 30 via the Internet 300. The network camera information 501 here includes the global IP address 10IPG of the broadband router 10 and the global port numbers PTGC and PTGS that are unique to the network cameras 1a to 1c and the network camera management server 12, respectively. . The network camera management server 12 changes (rewrites) the network camera information 501 stored therein to such network camera information 501.

  In step S5, the network camera management server 12 rewrites the NAPT information table of the broadband router 10 based on the changed network camera information 501. That is, the network camera management server 12 sends the broadband router 10 to the local IP addresses IPLC and IPLS, local port numbers PTLC and PTLS, global IP addresses IPGS and IPGS, and global port numbers PTGC and PTGS of the network camera information 501. The corresponding part of the NAPT information table is rewritten. Note that UPnP can be used to rewrite the NPAT information table of the broadband router 10.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation in which the monitoring system according to the present embodiment performs setting of Internet connection on the second local network 200 side. Hereinafter, the operation of the monitoring system will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S11, the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 set a local IP address or the like to the network display information 510 and the network recording information 520, respectively, when connected to the network.

  Specifically, each of the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 first acquires a local IP address and a local port number from the broadband router 20 having a DHCP server function when connected to the network, and sets them to itself. Set. Hereinafter, the operation after this in step S11 will be described separately for each of the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22.

  After setting (assigning) an IP address and the like, the image display device 21 generates network display information 510. Note that the network display information 510 is network information for a device outside the second local network 200 to connect to the image display device 21 via the Internet as described above.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the network display information 510. The network display information 510 shown in FIG. 6 includes the device type DT, local IP address IPLD, local port number PTLD, global IP address IPGD, and global port number PTGD of the image display device 21. Here, the local IP address is the IP address of the image display device 21 on the second local network 200, and the local port number is the port number of the image display device 21 on the second local network 200.

  As the generation of the network display information 510, the image display device 21 stores the local IP address and local port number set by itself in the local IP address IPLD and local port number PTLD of the network display information 510. Further, the image display device 21 stores a character string such as “Display” indicating that the device type is an image display device in the device type DT of the network display information 510. The image display device 21 includes a storage area for storing the network camera information 501 and the network display information 510, and stores the network display information 510 generated here in the storage area.

  Next, the operation of the image recording device 22 will be described. After setting (assigning) an IP address or the like, the image recording device 22 generates network recording information 520. Note that the network recording information 520 is network information for a device external to the second local network 200 to connect to the image recording apparatus 22 via the Internet as described above.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of the network record information 520. The network recording information 520 shown in FIG. 7 includes the device type DT, local IP address IPLR, local port number PTLR, global IP address IPGR, and global port number PTGR of the image recording device 22. Here, the local IP address is the IP address of the image recording device 22 on the second local network 200, and the local port number is the port number of the image recording device 22 on the second local network 200.

  As the generation of the network recording information 520, the image recording apparatus 22 stores the local IP address and local port number set by itself in the local IP address IPLR and local port number PTLR of the network recording information 520. Further, the image recording device 22 stores a character string such as “Record” indicating that the device type is an image recording device in the device type DT of the network recording information 520. The image recording apparatus 22 includes a storage area for storing the network camera information 501 and the network recording information 520, and stores the network recording information 520 generated here in the storage area.

  In step S12, the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 connect to the network monitoring information collection server 30 via the Internet, and the network information 510 and 520 generated in step S11 is monitored via the broadband router 20 or the like. It transmits to the information collection server 30.

  As described above, the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 store the global IP address of the network monitoring information collection server 30 and can be connected to the network monitoring information collection server 30 via the Internet. In the present embodiment, in step S12, the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 are connected to the network monitoring information collection server 30 via the Internet, and the network information 510 and 520 described above are transferred to the hub 25 and the broadband router 10. And it transmits to the network monitoring information collection server 30 via the Internet 300.

  In step S13, the network monitoring information collection server 30 receives (acquires) the network information 510 and 520 generated by the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 via the Internet 300, and stores them in its storage area. To do.

  Note that the network monitoring information collection server 30 includes not only the storage area but also a flag FD and a flag FR. The flag FD is set to “0” before the network display information 510 is received from the image display device 21, and the flag FR is “0” before the network recording information 520 is received from the image recording device 22. Is set to The network monitoring information collection server 30 receives the network display information 510 from the image display device 21 and changes the flag FD to “1” when the network display information 510 is stored in the storage area. Similarly, the network monitoring information collection server 30 receives the network recording information 520 from the image recording device 22 and changes the flag FR to “1” when the network recording information 520 is stored in the storage area.

  Further, the network monitoring information collection server 30 is assumed to acquire and store the global IP address 20IPG of the transmission source broadband router 20 in the same manner as the global IP address 10IPG described above.

  In step S13, the network monitoring information collection server 30 first stores the network display information 510 from the image display device 21 in itself and changes the flag FD to “1”. Then, the network monitoring information collection server 30 changes the global IP address IPGD of the image display device 21 included in the network display information 510 to the global IP address 20 IPG of the transmission source broadband router 20.

  Similarly, when the network monitoring information collection server 30 stores the network recording information 520 from the image recording device 22 in itself, it changes the flag FR to “1”. Then, the network monitoring information collection server 30 changes the global IP address IPGR of the image recording device 22 included in the network recording information 520 to the global IP address 20 IPG of the transmission source broadband router 20.

  Then, the network monitoring information collection server 30 sets the global port numbers PTGD and PTGR of the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 included in the network information 510 and 520 stored therein to unique numbers that do not overlap each other. change.

  Then, in step S13, the network monitoring information collection server 30 stores the changed network information 510 and 520 in its own storage area. The network monitoring information collection server 30 changes the flag FD from “1” to “2” when the change of the global IP address IPGD and the global port number PTGD is completed. Similarly, the network monitoring information collection server 30 changes the flag FR from “1” to “2” when the change of the global IP address IPGR and the global port number PTGR is completed.

  In step S14, the image display device 21 receives the network camera information 501 and the network display information 510 from the network monitoring information collection server 30, and stores them in itself. Similarly, the image recording device 22 receives the network camera information 501 and the network recording information 520 from the network monitoring information collection server 30, and stores them in itself.

  Note that in steps S14 and S15, the operation of the image display device 21 and the operation of the image recording device 22 are substantially the same, and therefore only the operation of the image display device 21 will be described below for steps S14 and S15. To do.

  The step S14 will be described in detail. The image display device 21 sends the network display information 510 to the network monitoring information collection server 30 (after step S12), and then makes an inquiry to the network monitoring information collection server 30. The image display device 21 repeatedly performs this inquiry until the flag FD is changed to “2”. When the flag FD is changed (set) to “2”, the image display device 21 transmits the network camera information 501 and the network display information 510 from the network monitoring information collection server 30 to itself. Request to 30. When the network monitoring information collection server 30 receives the request from the image display device 21, the network monitoring information 501 changed in step S3 and the network display information 510 changed in step S13 are transferred to the Internet 300, the broadband router 20, and The image is transmitted to the image display device 21 via the hub 25.

  Thereby, the image display device 21 stores the network camera information 501 changed in step S3 and the network display information 510 changed in step S13, that is, the network camera information 501 and the network display information 510 stored in the network monitoring information collection server 30. It will be received (acquired) via the Internet. Then, the image display device 21 changes the network camera information 501 and the network display information 510 stored therein to the network camera information 501 and the network display information 510 received (acquired) from the network monitoring information collection server 30 ( rewrite).

  In step S <b> 15, the image display device 21 performs settings for connecting itself to the network cameras 1 a to 1 c based on the changed network camera information 501.

  The changed network camera information 501 referred to here is the network camera information 501 received by the image display device 21 from the network monitoring information collection server 30 in step S14. Therefore, in other words, in other words, the image display device 21 itself is based on the network camera information 501 received (acquired) from the network monitoring information collection server 30 via the Internet 300. Make settings for connecting to the Internet with 1c.

  Specifically, the image display device 21 acquires the global IP address IPGC and the global port number PTGC included in the network camera information 501 received from the network monitoring information collection server 30, and the network cameras 1a to 1c specified by them. Set up to connect to the Internet.

  More specifically, the image display device 21 identifies the broadband router 10 designated by the global IP address IPGC of the network camera information 501 from the Internet 300. Then, the image display device 21 causes the broadband router 10 to acquire the local IP address IPLC and the local port number PTLC corresponding to the global port number PTGC of the network camera information 501 from the NAPT information table that the broadband router 10 has. . Then, the image display device 21 causes the broadband router 10 to connect the image display device 21 with the network cameras 1a to 1c specified by the local IP address IPLC and the local port number PTLC.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the image display device 21 receives (acquires) the network camera information 501 stored in the network monitoring information collection server 30 from the server via the Internet 300, and the network camera Based on the information 501, the user performs settings for connecting to the network cameras 1a to 1d via the Internet. Thereby, the image display apparatus 21 can acquire a video from the designated network cameras 1a to 1c and display the video.

  Similar to the image display device 21, the image recording device 22 performs the above-described steps S <b> 14 and S <b> 15. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the image recording device 22 receives (acquires) the network camera information 501 stored in the network monitoring information collection server 30 from the server via the Internet 300, and stores the network camera information 501 in the network camera information 501. Based on this, the setting is made for the Internet connection with the network cameras 1a to 1c. As a result, the image recording device 22 can acquire videos from the designated network cameras 1a to 1c and store the videos.

  According to the monitoring system according to the present embodiment as described above, the network monitoring information collection server 30 capable of recording the network camera information 501 includes the network camera management server 12 belonging to the first local network 100 and the second local network. An image display device 21 and an image recording device 22 belonging to 200 are connected to the Internet. Therefore, the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 can automatically acquire the network camera information 501 of the network camera 1 from the network camera management server 12 belonging to a local network different from itself. Therefore, the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 can automatically connect to the network camera 1 belonging to a local network different from itself. As a result, the user does not have to perform the setting using a PC or the like, and setting work in the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 is reduced.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the monitoring system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the following description, in the monitoring system according to the present embodiment, components similar to those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and different points from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the present embodiment is greatly different from the first embodiment in that a network camera 1d can be added.

  Further, the present embodiment is largely different from the first embodiment in that the network camera management server 12 is further provided with a storage area for storing the network display information 510 and the network recording information 520. In other words, in the present embodiment, the network camera management server 12 includes storage means for storing the network display information 510 and the network recording information 520.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation in which the monitoring system according to the present embodiment performs setting of Internet connection on the first local network 100 side. In the monitoring system according to the present embodiment, even if there is an addition / change in the network camera 1 connected to the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 via the Internet, the setting associated therewith can be automatically performed. It has become. Hereinafter, the operation of the monitoring system will be described with reference to FIG.

  It is assumed that the operations shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 have already been performed before the operation shown in FIG. 9 is performed. In step S15, the image display device 21 rewrites the NAPT information table of the broadband router 20 based on the network display information 510 changed in step S14. Similarly, in step S15, the image recording device 22 rewrites the NAPT information table of the broadband router 20 based on the network recording information 520 changed in step S14. It should be noted that UPnP can be used for rewriting the NAPT information table of the broadband router 20 here.

  When the network camera 1d is additionally connected to the hub 15 in step S21, the network camera management server 12 receives the network information 510 and 520 from the network monitoring information collection server 30, and stores them in its storage area. Remember.

  Specifically, the network camera management server 12 makes an inquiry to the network monitoring information collection server 30 after rewriting the NPAT information table of the broadband router 10 (after step S5). The network camera management server 12 repeatedly performs this inquiry until the flags FD and FR are changed to “2”. When the flags FD and FR are changed (set) to “2”, the network camera management server 12 transmits the network information 510 and 520 from the network monitoring information collection server 30 to itself. To request. When the network monitoring information collection server 30 receives the request from the network camera management server 12, the network monitoring information collection server 30 manages the network information 510 and 520 changed in step S13 via the Internet 300, the broadband router 10, and the hub 15 as network camera management. Send to server 12.

  Accordingly, the network camera management server 12 receives (acquires) the network information 510 and 520 changed in step S13, that is, the network information 510 and 520 stored in the network monitoring information collection server 30 via the Internet 300. Become. Then, the network camera management server 12 changes (rewrites) the network information 510 and 520 stored therein to the network information 510 and 520 received (obtained) from the network monitoring information collection server 30.

  In step S22, the network camera 1d described above sets the local IP address to itself and distributes the network camera information element 500.

  Specifically, when connected to the hub 15, the network camera 1d acquires a local IP address and a local port number from the broadband router 10 having a DHCP server function, and sets them to itself. After setting (assigning) an IP address and the like, the network camera 1d distributes the above-described network camera information element 500 on the first local network 100 in step S1.

  In step S23, the network camera management server 12 collects network camera information 501 by exchanging information such as the network camera information element 500 with the network camera 1d, and transmits it to the network monitoring information collection server 30.

  Specifically, first, the network camera management server 12 exchanges information with the network camera 1d. Note that UPnP can be used for information exchange between the network camera 1d and the network camera management server 12.

  By performing this information exchange, the network camera management server 12 receives the network camera information element 500 distributed by the network camera 1d. Then, the network camera management server 12 collects the network camera information 501 by collecting (storing) the received network camera information element 500 and the like.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of the network camera information 501 according to the present embodiment. The network camera information 501 according to the present embodiment is different from the network camera information 501 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4 in that a network camera 1d is added.

  The network camera management server 12 collects the network camera information 501 by collecting the network camera manufacturer M, the network camera type T, the local IP address IPLC, and the local port number PTLC included in the network camera information element 500 acquired from the network camera 1d. Store / store in the corresponding part of the network camera information 501. Further, the network camera management server 12 stores and stores the local IP address IPLC and the local port number PTLC in the global IP address IPGC and the global port number PTGC of the network camera information 501, respectively, and character strings such as the camera 1d. Is stored and stored in the proper name NC.

  In step S23, the network camera management server 12 is connected to the network monitoring information collection server 30 via the Internet, and the network monitoring information 501 collected as described above is sent to the network monitoring information via the hub 15, the broadband router 10 and the Internet 300. Transmit to the collection server 30.

  In step S24, the network monitoring information collection server 30 receives (acquires) the network camera information 501 collected by the network camera management server 12 via the Internet 300, and stores it in its own storage area.

  In step S24, first, when the network monitoring information collection server 30 stores the network camera information 501 from the network camera management server 12 in itself, the network monitoring information collection server 30 changes the flag FC to “1”. Then, the network monitoring information collection server 30 changes the global IP address IPGC of the network camera 1d included in the network camera information 501 to the transmission source global IP address 10IPG. Then, the network monitoring information collection server 30 changes the global port number PTGC of the network camera 1d included in the network camera information 501 stored therein to a unique number that does not overlap with other devices and apparatuses.

  In step S24, the network monitoring information collection server 30 stores the changed network camera information 501 in its own storage area. The network monitoring information collection server 30 changes the flag FC from “1” to “2” when the change of the global IP address IPGC and the global port number PTGC is completed.

  In step S25, the network camera management server 12 receives the network camera information 501 from the network monitoring information collection server 30, and stores it in itself.

  Specifically, first, the network camera management server 12 sends the network camera information 501 to the network monitoring information collection server 30 (after step S23), and then makes an inquiry to the network monitoring information collection server 30. The network camera management server 12 repeats this inquiry until the flag FC is changed to “2”. When the flag FC is changed (set) to “2”, the network camera management server 12 transmits the network camera information 501 to the network monitoring information collection server 30 from the network monitoring information collection server 30 to itself. Request. When the network monitoring information collection server 30 receives the request from the network camera management server 12, the network monitoring information collection server 30 receives the network camera information 501 changed in step S 24 via the Internet 300, the broadband router 10, and the hub 10. 12 to send.

  Thereby, the network camera management server 12 receives (acquires) the network camera information 501 changed in step S24, that is, the network camera information 501 stored in the network monitoring information collection server 30 via the Internet 300. The network camera information 501 here includes the global IP address 10IPG of the broadband router 10 and the global port numbers PTGC and PTGS that are unique to the network cameras 1a to 1d and the network camera management server 12, respectively. . The network camera management server 12 changes (rewrites) the network camera information 501 stored therein to such network camera information 501.

  In step S26, the network camera management server 12 rewrites the NAPT information table of the broadband router 10 based on the changed network camera information 501. That is, the network camera management server 12 sends the broadband router 10 to the local IP addresses IPLC and IPLS, local port numbers PTLC and PTLS, global IP addresses IPGS and IPGS, and global port numbers PTGC and PTGS of the network camera information 501. The corresponding part of the NAPT information table is rewritten.

  Then, in step S27, the network camera management server 12 is connected to the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 on the basis of the network information 510 and 520 stored therein, and the network camera 1 is added / changed. To the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22.

  In steps S27 and S28, the operation relating to the image display device 21 and the operation relating to the image recording device 22 are substantially the same, and therefore only the operation relating to the image display device 21 will be described below for steps S27 and S28. To do.

  The step S27 will be specifically described. The network camera management server 12 acquires the global IP address IPGD and the global port number PTGD included in the network display information 510 stored in the network camera management server 12 and displays the image specified by them. The device 21 is connected to the Internet.

  More specifically, the network camera management server 12 specifies the broadband router 20 specified by the global IP address IPGD of the network display information 510 from the Internet 300. Then, the network camera management server 12 acquires the local IP address IPLD and local port number PTLD corresponding to the global port number PTGD of the network display information 510 from the NAPT information table that the network router management server 12 has. Let Then, the network camera management server 12 sends to the broadband router 20 an image display device 21 designated by the local IP address IPLD and the local port number PTLD and itself (the network camera management server 12). Connect.

  After the network camera management server 12 is connected to the image display device 21 via the Internet, the network camera management server 12 notifies the image display device 21 of addition / change of the network camera 1 via the broadband routers 10, 20 and the Internet 300. Here, the network camera management server 12 notifies the image display device 21 of the addition of the network camera 1d.

  As described above, in this embodiment, in step S27, the network camera management server 12 adds / changes the network camera 1 connected to the image display device 21 (image recording device 22) via the Internet. Then, based on the network display information 510 (network recording information 520), the image display device 21 (image recording device 22) is connected to the Internet, and the image display device 21 (image recording device 22) is notified of the change.

  Next, in step S <b> 28, the image display device 21 adds / changes the network camera connected to the Internet in accordance with the notification from the network camera management server 12.

  Specifically, when receiving the above notification from the network camera management server 12, the image display device 21 makes an inquiry to the network monitoring information collection server 30. The image display device 21 repeatedly performs this inquiry until the flag FC is set to “2”. When the flag FC is changed (set) to “2”, the image display device 21 requests the network monitoring information collection server 30 to transmit the network camera information 501 from the network monitoring information collection server 30 to itself. To do. When the network monitoring information collection server 30 receives the request from the image display device 21, the network camera information 501 changed in step S24 is transferred to the image display device 21 via the Internet 300, the broadband router 20, and the hub 25. Send.

  Thereafter, the image display device 21 receives (acquires) the network camera information 501 stored in the network monitoring information collection server 30 via the Internet 300, and stores it in itself. Here, the image display device 21 changes the network display information 510 stored therein to the network display information 510 received (acquired) from the network monitoring information collection server 30. After that, the image display device 21 performs the same operation as in step S15, and performs settings for connecting itself to the network cameras 1a to 1d based on the changed network camera information 501. Thereby, the image display device 21 is additionally connected to the network camera 1.

  As described above, in this embodiment, in step S28, the image display device 21 (image recording device 22) adds to the network camera 1 connected to the Internet in accordance with the notification from the network camera management server 12. / Make changes.

  According to the monitoring system according to the present embodiment as described above, the network camera management server 12 stores the network information 510 and 520 of the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22. Therefore, when the network camera 1 is added / changed, the settings of the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 are automatically performed accordingly. Therefore, the user does not need to perform the setting using a PC or the like, and the setting work accompanying the change of the network camera 1 is reduced. Further, since the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 update the network camera information 501, the video of the network camera 1d can be acquired, and the video can be displayed and stored, respectively.

<Embodiment 3>
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a monitoring system according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the following description, in the monitoring system according to the present embodiment, components similar to those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and different points from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 11, the present embodiment is greatly different from the first embodiment in that a plurality of (N in this case) pairs of first and second local networks 100 and 200 are provided. Hereinafter, the network camera 1 and the network camera management server 12 belonging to a certain first local network 100 _n (n = 1, 2,..., N) will be referred to as a network camera 1 _n and a network camera management server 12 _n .

In the present embodiment, the network camera management server 12 _n includes a unique information ID _n that can be identified from other network camera management servers 12. When the network camera management server 12 _n transmits the network camera information 501 _n to the network monitoring information collection server 30, the network camera management server 12 _n adds the unique information ID _n and transmits it. The same applies to the image display device 21 _n and the image recording device 22 _n .

Network monitoring information collection server 30, as shown in FIG. 12, the network camera information storage area 502 for storing a plurality of network camera information 501 ₁ ~501 _N corresponding to the plurality of first local network 100 ₁ to 100 _N ( Storage means).

Further, when the network monitoring information collection server 30 receives the network camera information 501 _n and the unique information ID _n from the network camera management server 12 _n , the network monitoring information collection server 30 sets the storage area corresponding to the unique information ID _n as the network camera information storage area. It is specified from 502. Then, the network monitoring information collection server 30, the network camera information 501 _n received from the network camera management server 12 _n, and stores the identified storage area.

When the image display device 21 _n , the image recording device 22 _n, and the network camera management server 12 _n request the network monitoring information collection server 30 to transmit the network camera information 501 _n from the network monitoring information collection server 30 to itself. Request with the unique information ID _n added.

Network Camera Network monitoring information collection server 30, the image display device 21 _n when receiving a transmission request of the network camera information 501 _n, which obtains the unique information ID _n appended thereto, corresponding to the unique information ID _n Information 501 _n is read from the network camera information storage area 502.

Then, the network monitoring information collection server 30 transmits the read network camera information 501 _n, the unique information image display device corresponding to the ID _n 21 _n, that is, the image display device 21 _n which requested the network camera information 501 _n . Although the case where the network camera information 501 _n is transmitted to the image display device 21 _n has been described here, the same applies to the case where the network camera information 501 _n is transmitted to the image recording device 22 _n and the network camera management server 12 _n. is there.

Thus, in this embodiment, the network monitoring information collection server 30, optionally by a network camera information storage area 502 for storing a plurality of network camera information 501 ₁ ~501 _N, specifies the unique information ID _n The network camera information 501 _n is stored and read out. That is, the network monitoring information collection server 30 manages the network camera information 501 _n for each of the plurality of pairs described above. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated network monitoring information collection server 30 for each first local network 100 _n . Therefore, the operation and management costs of the network monitoring information collection server 30 can be reduced.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, the example in which the network cameras 1a to 1c or 1a to 1d are provided has been described. However, the number of network cameras 1 is not limited to these. Further, although the image display device 21 and the image recording device 22 are described separately, they may be integrated into a single computer or the like. Similarly, the network camera management server 12 and the image recording device 22 may be integrated into a single computer or the like.

  1, 1a to 1d Network camera, 12 Network camera management server, 21 Image display device, 22 Image recording device, 30 Network monitoring information collection server, 100 First local network, 200 Second local network, 300 Internet, 501 Network camera information 510 network display information, 520 network record information.

Claims (3)

A monitoring system for monitoring images,
A network camera belonging to the first local network and capturing the video;
A network camera management server that belongs to the first local network and collects first network information for an external device to connect to the network camera via the Internet;
A network server that is connectable to the network camera management server via the Internet, and that acquires and stores the first network information collected by the network camera management server via the Internet;
An image display / recording device belonging to a second local network, connectable to the network server and connected to the Internet, and displaying and / or recording the video taken by the network camera;
The image display / recording device comprises:
The monitoring system which acquires the 1st network information memorized by the network server via the Internet, and performs a setup for itself to connect to the network camera based on the 1st network information. The monitoring system according to claim 1,
The network camera management server
An external device has storage means for storing second network information for connecting to the image display / recording device via the Internet, and the network camera connected to the image display / recording device via the Internet has been added / changed In this case, the image display / recording apparatus is connected to the Internet based on the second network information, and the image display / recording apparatus is notified of the addition / change,
The image display / recording device comprises:
A monitoring system for performing addition / change on the network camera connected to the Internet in accordance with the notification. The monitoring system according to claim 1,
A plurality of pairs of the first and second local networks are provided,
The network server is
A monitoring system that manages the first network information for each of the plurality of pairs.

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