JP2791411B2 - Monitoring device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a monitoring device for monitoring a monitoring position far from a monitoring position where monitoring is actually performed by using a monitoring camera.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, by using a surveillance camera,
A monitoring device that separates a monitoring position where monitoring is actually performed from a monitoring position where monitoring is performed is known, and is used for various purposes from the viewpoint of protection of a monitoring person. For example, it is used in a wide range of fields, both industrial and commercial, such as process monitoring in a dangerous environment where many robots are working in a narrow space, and security monitoring for monitoring unexpected outsiders.

Further, in recent years, a monitor is divided into a plurality of screens (for example, divided into four parts) and installed at a plurality of locations in response to a request for further improvement of a working environment and a function improvement of an image processing device. The video from the surveillance camera is displayed at the same time, and the function is enhanced so that multiple locations can be easily monitored from a single monitoring location. Further, according to this type of sophisticated monitoring device, by operating an operation unit including an input device such as a keyboard, a monitoring area to be displayed on a monitor can be selected, and a monitor display mode by a plurality of divisions can be selected. Consideration has been given to enabling monitoring in a desired mode, such as switching the desired monitoring screen to the conventional full screen display.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional monitoring device having a high function has the following problems, and a sufficient monitoring work environment has not yet been provided.

[0005] Although the monitoring device has been advanced in function for the purpose of improving the efficiency of the monitoring operation, the operation content of the operation unit becomes complicated in proportion to the enhancement of the functioning, and until the desired monitoring operation can be performed freely. Has required considerable skill.
In particular, the work of the abnormality handling process required when some kind of abnormality occurs in the monitoring area is rarely occurring even in actual monitoring work, and even a monitor who continues to use the monitoring device. It is not easy to learn.

[0006] Even a skilled person who has acquired a desired monitoring operation needs to shift his / her viewpoint to the operation unit and hit a predetermined key in order to perform an operation such as changing a monitoring position. For this reason, the more sophisticated the monitoring device that the operation frequency of the operation unit increases, the more times the user takes his / her eyes away from the monitor from which the monitoring video is being transferred, and the monitoring work is intermittent.

[0007] The monitoring device of the present invention is intended to be able to easily perform advanced monitoring work even by an unskilled person, and to continue the monitoring work without keeping an eye on the monitor. Was adopted.

[0008]

Monitoring apparatus of the present invention SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An image and a monitor capable of displaying a plurality of monitoring cameras for each image a plurality of monitoring areas, a 1 from the plurality of monitoring cameras
A predetermined number of images and the setting of the surveillance camera corresponding to the images.
A display control means for displaying a diagram showing the installation area and selection buttons of various commands including operation control of the monitoring camera at least at a specific timing on the monitor, and a display control means for displaying the button on the monitor. selection means for selecting the selection button of a given command, the control in response to a predetermined command corresponding to the selected button is the selection, to achieve a predetermined operation including the switching of the image display state of at least said surveillance camera And the means.

Note that the various commands are not limited to those specially displayed as a command menu on the monitor, and the video itself from the surveillance camera displayed on the monitor may be a part of the various commands. It is also preferable that when at least a part of the video from the surveillance camera is selected, an operation corresponding to the video is realized.

[0010] In addition, an image from the surveillance camera , a predetermined
Based on either a signal from the
When an abnormality that occurs in the monitoring area is detected,
Executes a series of pre-defined error recording processes regardless of the cause
It is good. Of these factors, surveillance cameras
Based on the video of the user or the signal from the sensor
For items, the error recording process can be terminated manually.
It is also preferable to be capable. In addition, these factors
That is, for those based on a signal from a predetermined sensor,
If a sensor signal or other abnormal cause
If not entered, the error recording process ends.
It can also be.

[0011] In addition, the camera monitoring the installation diagram of the surveillance camera
And displays on a monitor along with a symbol indicating the current mode
The surveillance camera symbol that displays the video on
It may be displayed so as to be distinguishable from others. In addition, the imaging range of the surveillance camera is visually displayed on the installation drawing, and a monitoring area setting command for setting the monitoring area of the monitoring camera is arranged on the installation drawing for displaying the monitoring camera or the area to be the monitoring area. May be. In addition, many monitoring
When installing cameras, divide the surveillance cameras into multiple groups.
An image processing device may be provided for each group. This picture
The image processing device processes images from a group of surveillance cameras (plural).
Enter the video or images of one of the group of surveillance cameras
Output one of the divided images
Is desirable. The video from this image information processing device
Can be used to switch the image display. What
In addition, this image processing device is a video output to the monitoring device
It is also preferable that an independent image can be output to the outside.

[0012]

In the monitoring device of the present invention [act] constructed as described above, one to a predetermined number of images from a plurality of monitoring cameras, this
A diagram showing the installation area of the monitoring camera corresponding to the video and a command for performing advanced monitoring work are both displayed on the monitor at least at a predetermined timing, and by selecting a predetermined command on this monitor , Surveillance camera
A predetermined operation including switching of the state of image display from is performed.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to further clarify the configuration and operation of the present invention described above, a preferred embodiment of the monitoring apparatus of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a monitoring device constructed for security monitoring of a building from the first basement floor to the sixth floor above ground.

As shown in the figure, the monitoring device of the present embodiment comprises a main control device MC installed on the first basement floor (floor B),
Local controllers LC1, LC2, and LC3 installed on each odd-numbered floor (1F, 3F, and 5F), and floors with a possibility of external intrusion (1F, 5F, and 6F are assumed in this embodiment).
Three infrared sensors Sl (l = 1, 2, 2,
3) and four monitoring cameras C1n to C4n (n is a numerical value from 1 to 6 indicating the floor) installed on each ground floor.

The local control device LCm (m = 1, 2, 2)
3) is a device for controlling a total of eight surveillance cameras C1n to 4n and an infrared sensor S1 installed on an odd floor where it is installed and on adjacent even floors (2F, 4F, 6F). Thereby, a distributed management system for every two floors is constructed.

As is apparent from the figure, the main controller MC and the local controller LCm are constructed by appropriately combining a plurality of common interface circuits I1 to I6. Each of these interface circuits I1 to I
Although the specific circuit configuration of No. 6 will be described later, each interface circuit receives a control signal, performs an operation according to the control signal, and outputs the control signal again to another interface circuit. It has a through-out function.

[0017] The main control device MC is an EIA standard RS.
A personal computer PC equipped with a -232C serial interface port as standard equipment is configured as a main control device, and all image information captured by the monitoring cameras C1n to C4n and detection information of the infrared sensor Sl are collected here. And from here each local controller L
Control information for Cm is transmitted. In addition, as is well known,
The RS-232C serial interface has a maximum communication distance MD = 15 m, a connection mode of 1: 1, and a transmission method of a voltage unbalanced type.

As a transmission path of various kinds of information centering on such a personal computer PC, the devices of this embodiment are interconnected by the following two types of communication lines.
First, a control signal necessary for realizing an advanced monitoring operation is transmitted and received via a communication line (hereinafter referred to as a control bus) SB drawn from an interface circuit I1 connected to an RS-232C port of the personal computer PC. Is performed. This control bus SB is shown by a dotted line in FIG. Further, a detection signal of the infrared sensor S1 is transmitted and received using the control bus SB.

Image information captured by the surveillance cameras C1n to C4n is transmitted from the surveillance cameras C1n to C4n to the respective local control devices LCm via communication lines (hereinafter, referred to as image buses) GB indicated by solid lines. It is transmitted from the local controller LCm to the main controller MC. That is, the eight image buses GB from the eight surveillance cameras C1n to C4n are connected to the local controller LC that manages them.
m. Then, each local control device L
Only three image buses GB from Cm are wired to the main controller MC on the floor B. Specifically, a 3C2V or 5C2V coaxial cable is used as the image bus GB of the present embodiment.

Naturally, the operation of each of the above-described control devices requires electric power, and the power-on timing has an important meaning for normal operation of peripheral devices connected to the personal computer PC. Therefore, in this embodiment, a special interface circuit I is used for power supply.
6 (described later) are prepared.

Next, the configurations of the main controller MC of the monitoring device and the local controllers LCm will be described with reference to FIGS.

A main control unit MC constituted by a personal computer PC as a main processing unit is a one-chip microprocessor (MPU) M for executing a logical operation.
C11, a read-only memory (ROM) MC12 for storing various control programs in a nonvolatile manner, a random access memory (RAM) MC1 for temporarily storing information
3. It has an input / output interface (I / O) MC14 that enables the exchange of information with peripheral circuits. The input / output interface MC14 is connected to a CRT controller MC16 for controlling the monitor MC15 and a mouse controller MC18 for controlling a mouse MC17 which is a pointing device for designating an arbitrary point on the monitor MC15. Since the mouse MC17 can be used, an operation command can be input to the personal computer PC reliably and accurately while checking the image displayed on the monitor MC15.

Further, the input / output interface MC14 is
It has two expansion ports MC14a and MC14b,
The expansion port MC14a has a capture board MC2
Is connected. The capture board MC2 is used to transfer image information input from the image bus GB to the CRT controller MC.
16 has a function of converting it into image information that can be handled. This makes the one-chip microprocessor MC
Reference numeral 11 allows the image information input from the capture board MC2 to be freely edited, processed and displayed in the same manner as an image based on computer graphics (hereinafter referred to as CG), and is displayed on the monitor MC15 via the CRT controller MC16. By controlling the deflection coil and the electron gun, the display position of the image based on the image information can be changed, and the image can be enlarged or reduced.

In this embodiment, the capture board MC
As No. 2, Super CVI manufactured by Canopus Electronics Co., Ltd. is adopted. An apparatus for providing image information to the capture board MC2 via the image bus GB is an AV selector MC4.
It is. The AV selector MC4 always inputs image information from each local control device LCm as shown in the figure.
The image information selected by the control switch from the image information is output. As this type of device, an AV selector ES-8200 manufactured by Elmo can be used.

The other expansion port MC14b of the input / output interface MC14 is a communication port conforming to the RS-232C standard, to which the interface circuit I1 is connected as described above to exchange information with the control bus SB. Done. The interface circuit I1 is an interface for bidirectionally converting a communication protocol of the RS-232C standard into a current change signal suitable for long-distance communication, as described later. A great degree of freedom is assured in the communication distance with the network.

In addition, a hard disk (HD) MC as an external storage device is connected to the input / output interface MC14.
18a, a flexible disk drive (FDD) MC18b for reading and writing a flexible disk, a keyboard MC18c as an input device, and the like are connected, and a general peripheral circuit as a personal computer is provided.

The control bus SB via the interface circuit I1 is connected to the video tape recorder VR and the still picture transmission device MC8 via another interface circuit I3. Here, the interface circuit I3 is an interface for demodulating a current change signal input from the control bus SB into a voltage change signal conforming to the RS-232C standard.

The video tape recorder VR has an image bus G
B, which is connected to a television (hereinafter referred to as a television) TV, and records image information on the image bus GB based on a control signal of the RS-232C standard input from the interface circuit I3, The recorded image information is reproduced on the television TV via the image bus GB.

The still picture transmission device MC8 is connected to the picture bus GB as well as to the video tape recorder VR, and is also connected to the telephone line TL. Still picture transmission device M
C8 is RS- input from the interface circuit I3.
It operates according to a control signal conforming to H.232C, captures image information on the image bus GB at the time when the still image capture command is input as a still image, and captures the image information when the still image transmission command is input. The still image is modulated and output to the telephone line TL. This is to make it possible to view the monitoring image in a remote place, for example, to enable distribution of the monitoring image to a security company or a specific private home.

The interface circuit I3 is further connected to the interface circuits I2 and I6 via its through-out ports. The interface circuit I2 is an interface for turning on / off a contact according to a control signal from the control bus SB, and is used for operating a control switch of the AV selector MC4.
Therefore, the personal computer PC drives this interface circuit I2 by outputting an appropriate control signal from the extension port MC14b, and can select image information from each local control device LCm output from the AV selector MC4. .

The interface circuit I6 includes a control bus SB
The interface circuit I6 provided in the main control device MC is an interface for supplying power while taking appropriate timing to the slaves connected to the lower slaves while taking appropriate timing out. Is supplied to the local control device LC1 to be controlled.

Next, the local control device LCm will be described. Local controller LC installed on floor 1F
Reference numeral 1 denotes a serially connected interface circuit I4, an interface circuit I5, an interface circuit I6, and other remote control relays RC1 and an image information processing device RC2 which are operated by receiving power supply from an interface circuit I6 of the main control device MC. And an infrared sensor S1.

The remote control relay RC1 is a TTL control input device controlled by an open collector output type interface circuit I4 (detailed electric circuit will be described later).
For example, an Elmo relay unit HR-8100 or the like is used, and the power supply and the supply timing of the image information processing device RC2, the interface circuit I6, and the infrared sensor S1 connected thereto can be controlled.

The image information processing device RC2 is controlled by an interface circuit I4 like the remote control relay RC1, and receives images from a total of eight monitoring cameras C11 to C41 and C12 to C42 installed on the floors 1F and 2F. In addition to controlling information and switching and outputting eight screens, it has functions such as generating two quadrants. As the image information processing device RC2, a surveillance system controller SSC-8C manufactured by Elmo can be used.

As described above, the infrared sensor S1 is located on the floor (1F, 5F, 6
F), and the detection performance peak is set at an infrared wavelength specific to the human body temperature. This type of sensor automatically detects an abnormal situation that cannot be visually recognized by the monitor MC15, that is, in this embodiment, a situation in which infrared rays specific to body temperature are detected in an environment that is assumed to be unpopular. It is prepared as a device for performing. The detection output of the infrared sensor S1 is input to an interface circuit I5 (a detailed electric circuit will be described later) for converting contact type information such as sensor output into a current change signal suitable for long-distance communication, and the control bus SB Is output to the main control device MC via

As is clear from FIG. 1, the configuration of the other local controllers LC2 and LC3 is very similar to that of the local controller LC1. Therefore, in order to avoid repetition of the description, the local controller LC1 will be described below.
The configuration will be described focusing on the differences between the local control devices LC2 and LC3.

The local controller LC2 is connected to the floor 3F,
Surveillance cameras C13-C43, C14- installed on 4F
This is a device for distributing and managing C44, and no infrared sensor S1 is arranged on the floors 3F and 4F. Therefore, in the local controller LC2, an interface circuit I5 for converting contact type information such as sensor output into a current change signal suitable for long-distance communication is omitted as compared with the local controller LC1. In addition, the local control device LC
2 is configured such that simple monitoring work can be performed even on the floor 3F, and a television TV and a video tape recorder VR are connected to other output ports of the image information processing device RC2 for this purpose.

The local controller LC3 is connected to the floor 5F,
Surveillance cameras C15-C45, C16- installed on 6F
This is a device that is disposed at a position farthest from the main control device MC for distributing and managing C46. Therefore, the local control device LC3 does not require the interface circuit I6 for supplying power to the lower level as compared with the local control device LC1, and is omitted.

Next, a detailed electric circuit of each of the interface circuits I1 to I6 constituting each control device as described above will be described.

The interface circuit I1 is an interface circuit for assisting information communication. The interface circuit I1 is connected between the expansion port MC14b, which is an RS-232C communication port of the personal computer PC, and the control bus SB. Is converted into a signal having a changing current value and output to the control bus SB, and a communication signal input from the other interface circuits I2 to I6 is converted into a signal having a changing voltage value and expanded. Port MC1
4b.

FIG. 3 shows an electric circuit block diagram of the interface circuit I1. As shown in the figure, the interface circuit I1 is connected to the RS-23 of the personal computer PC.
Dsub male connector 4 for connection with 2C interface
It is easily connected to the monitoring device by a Dsub female connector 40B for connection to the control bus 0A and the control bus SB.

Here, communication with the expansion port MC14b via the male connector 40A is performed by a protocol according to the RS-232C standard, that is, a communication method using a change in voltage value as a signal. Therefore, the male connector 40A of the interface circuit I1 is connected to a 232C driver 40C that conforms to the RS-232C standard, and modulates / demodulates a signal according to the RS-232C communication system. That is, the control signal input from the extension port MC14b is demodulated by the 232C driver 40C, and the communication signal output to the extension port MC14b is 232
Modulated by the C driver 40C.

The control signal demodulated by the 232C driver 40C is input to the constant current driver 40E via the transmission photocoupler 40D, and sent out from the female connector 40B to the control bus SB as a signal whose current value changes. Note that the transmission photocoupler 40D is used for perfecting electrical insulation between the personal computer PC and the interface circuits I2 to I6, and photoelectrically converts a control signal input from the 232C driver 40C. .
In this way, the control signal as a change in the current value output from the female connector 40B is transmitted accurately even when the control bus SB is at a distance of several hundred meters. That is, RS-232
Communication in which the maximum communication distance of 15 m according to the C standard is greatly improved becomes possible.

On the other hand, a communication signal as a change in current input from the female connector 40B passes through a receiving photocoupler 40F for perfecting electrical insulation and a switching circuit 40G for performing current / voltage conversion. 40C. With these electric circuits, a communication signal as a change in current value can be converted into a change in voltage value, and communication with a personal computer PC conforming to the RS-232C standard becomes possible.

The interface circuit I1 has a built-in power supply circuit 40H that receives AC power from a commercial power supply and converts the AC power into DC power of a predetermined voltage. The DC power generated by the power supply circuit 40H is used as power for each of the above-described electric circuits, and is output to the control bus SB via the female connector 40B to output the interface circuit I2.
To I6.

Further, a reset instruction circuit 40I is built in the interface circuit I1. The reset instruction circuit 40I is provided for outputting a reset signal for returning each of the interface circuits I2 to I6 to an initial state. For example, when the system power is turned on, the female connector 40B is A reset signal is output to the interface circuits I2 to I6 via the interface circuits, and the interface circuits I2 to I6 are reset to the initial state.

Next, the configuration of the interface circuits I2 to I6 will be described.
As described in the above description, .about.I6 can be easily connected to each other by the Dsub connector. Each of the interface circuits I1 to I6 has 2
It is housed in a box-shaped housing having four Dsub connectors, and its handling is extremely easy. FIG. 4 shows a plan view, a front view, and left and right side views of the interface circuit I2 in an orthographic projection method as an example. As illustrated, on the left side of the housing 50A, a Dsub female connector (hereinafter, referred to as an IN connector) 50B as an input port of the control bus SB and a Dsub female connector (hereinafter, referred to as an OUT connector) as an output port of the control bus SB.
50C is arranged. Further, on the right side thereof, a connection device (in the case of the interface circuit I2, the AV selector M
A Dsub female connector (hereinafter, referred to as a connection connector) 50D is provided as a connection port with C4).
The interface circuit I2 is provided by the IN connector 50B.
The control bus SB connected to the power supply circuit includes a DC power supply line formed by the power supply circuit 40H of the interface circuit I1 described above. Therefore, the interface circuit I2 can use the DC power supplied from the control bus SB, and a power line and other troublesome connections are omitted. In addition, expansion is easy.

The following describes each of the interface circuits I2 to I6.
Will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is an electric circuit block diagram of the interface circuit I2. As shown, the interface circuit I2 is a relay output type interface circuit, and 16 normally open contacts SW1 to SW16 are connected to a connection connector 50D thereof. IN connector 50B and OUT connector 50 connected to control bus SB
C is connected to the power supply circuit 50E of the interface circuit I2, from which power of each electric circuit in the interface circuit I2 is supplied.

The IN connector 50B is connected to the input converter 5
It is also connected to the CPU 50G via OF. The input converter 50F converts a control signal as a change in the current value input from the IN connector 50B into a signal of a voltage value change and outputs the signal to the CPU 50G. The CPU 50G also connects to the OUT connector 50 via the output converter 50H.
C is also connected. Here, the output converter 50H is
A conversion circuit that is the reverse of the input converter 50F,
The voltage change signal input from the PU 50G is converted into a current change signal and output from the OUT connector 50C.

The IN connector 50B and the OUT connector 50C are connected to a reset circuit 50I.
When a reset signal is input via the control bus SB, the reset circuit 50I operates to return the CPU 50G and PIOs 50L and CTC 50M described later to the initial state.

In addition, the interface circuit I2 includes C
R storing the decryption program to be executed by PU50G
OM50J, RAM 50K, which is a storage element capable of randomly accessing information, and a parallel input / output interface (hereinafter referred to as PI) capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from a plurality of input / output circuits.
O) 50L, a timer controller (hereinafter referred to as CTC) 50 having three types of interval timers.
M, a transceiver 50N for reading the set state of the ID switch 50O for setting the identification code, and two chip selectors 50P and 50Q for selectively activating these many circuit elements are provided, enabling advanced information processing. Has become.

The PIO 50L has three-channel ports, two of which are connected to two relay drivers 50R and 50S, and the other one is an LED driver 50T and a dip switch for performing various settings. (Hereinafter referred to as a DIP switch) 50U. The relay drivers 50R and 50S are:
A circuit for exciting eight relays Ry1-8 and Ry9-16 in response to signals from the PIO 50L, respectively.
The open / close state of the normally open contacts SW1 to SW16 connected to the connector 50D is determined by the excitation of these relays. The LED driver 50T is a circuit that controls lighting of the four LEDs 1 to 4 according to a signal from the PIO 50L, and displays the current internal state of the interface circuit I2 and the like. The DIP switch 50U sets the communication protocol selection (for example, A for confirming reception of a control signal).
The setting state is appropriately read by the PIO 50L and transmitted to the CPU 50G.

Other interface circuits I3 to I6
Has almost the same configuration as the interface circuit I2, and is composed of an intelligent circuit equipped with an information processing function centered on a CPU which is a logical operation element.
The electric circuit blocks of the interface circuits I3 to I6 are shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, respectively. In FIGS. 6 to 9, the interface circuit I2
For the same components as those shown in FIG.
The same English character code as used in is used.

As shown in FIG. 6, the interface circuit I3
Is an RS-232C input / output type interface circuit. Therefore, the PIO5 of the interface circuit I2
It has a serial input / output interface circuit (hereinafter referred to as SIO) 60 V in addition to 0 L, and is configured to be able to input and output serial data. This SIO60V is 2
It supports channel input and output, and each channel is connected to a 232C driver 60W, 60X. Therefore, the connector 60 of the interface circuit I3
D is divided into two Dsub connectors 60DA and 60DB according to the RS-232C standard. Also, a DIP switch 60Y unique to this interface circuit I3
Is for setting communication conditions (for example, baud rate, etc.) necessary for performing communication conforming to the RS-232C standard, and the setting information is input to the CPU 60G via the PIO 60L.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the interface circuit I4 is a photocoupler output type interface circuit, and a relay driver 50 of the interface circuit I2.
Photocoupler driver 70V, 7 instead of R, 50S
0W is provided, and the photocouplers 70X and 70Y are driven by the drivers 70V and 70W.

FIG. 8 is an electric circuit block diagram of the interface circuit I5. This interface circuit I5 is an interface circuit for converting contact type information such as a limit switch and a sensor output into a current change signal suitable for long-distance communication, and its hardware is composed of a photocoupler output type interface circuit I4. , PIO80L to the connector 80D are the same. That is, each port of the PIO 80L of the interface circuit I5 is set as an input port, and the output of the photocoupler 80Y is connected to the input port via the receiver 80W.

When the contact connected to the connector 80D is opened and closed, the output of the photocoupler 80Y is turned on and off, and the CPU 80G is connected via the receiver 80W and the PIO 80L.
Can read this. The photocoupler 8
The reason why 0Y is used is to provide insulation from an external circuit.

FIG. 9 is an electric circuit block diagram of the interface circuit I6. This interface circuit I6 is
This is to supply power to an interface circuit connected below the interface circuit I6. Therefore, inside the interface circuit I6,
As shown in the figure, only a power supply circuit 90H for generating necessary power from a commercial power supply and a reset instruction circuit 90I are provided, and control signals sent from a higher-level interface circuit are connected to the connectors 90A and 90B. It is configured to pass through the space.

As described above, the monitoring apparatus of the present embodiment provides the interface circuits I1 to I6 of various configurations.
Connected equipment required to build a desired monitoring system,
For example, a still image transmission device MC8, an image information processing device RC
2. By selecting appropriate interface circuits I1 to I6 based on the specifications of the infrared sensor S1 and the like, and combining these, various monitoring systems can be easily constructed. Even if a complicated monitoring system using a plurality of interface circuits I1 to I6 is constructed, IDs prepared for each of the interface circuits I2 to I6 are used.
By setting the identification codes so as not to be duplicated by setting the switches 50O to 90O, it is possible to reliably select the interface circuits I2 to I6 that control the desired connected equipment and transmit the control signal. The identification code is
The upper three bits indicate the type (I2 to I6) of the interface circuit, and the lower five bits indicate the number of the circuit in the same interface circuit. Therefore, in the system according to the embodiment, the same interface circuit can be connected by being distinguished up to a maximum of 32.

Further, the personal computer P of the main control device MC of the monitoring device of the present embodiment constructed as described above.
C and each interface circuit I of each local control device
Each of 2 to I6 has a signal generation function and a decoding function described below, and is used by being read out from a monitoring program described later in the form of a subroutine. Hereinafter, the signal generation function and the decoding function will be described prior to the description of the monitoring program.

The signal generation function of the personal computer PC of the main control device MC means that a desired control signal is generated by utilizing a control signal table stored in a predetermined area of the random access memory MC13 by a registration operation performed in advance. It is a function to generate. The registration work is performed using the mouse MC17 and keyboard MC of the personal computer PC.
An input device such as 18c is operated to register an identification code for specifying a specific interface circuit I2 to I6 constructing a monitoring system, and a port for specifying an output port of the interface circuit I2 to I6 specified by the identification code. Data registration and control signal data registration determined in a one-to-one correspondence with the operation of the connected device connected to the output port are set as a set, and the set of data is stored in a random access memory in a table format as shown in the figure. This is the operation of storing the data in the MC 13. After such registration work is completed, the signal generation function becomes operable. When the operation command X is input to the personal computer PC by operating the mouse MC17 while visually checking the monitor MC15, a set of control signals corresponding to the operation command X The data is determined, and a final control signal is generated and output.

For example, as shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 10, each interface is read from the control signal table stored in a predetermined storage area of the random access memory MC13 in a one-to-one correspondence with the operation command X of the mouse MC17. The identification code, port data and control signal data assigned to the face circuits I2 to I6 are read. Then, these data are serially transferred to the extension port MC14b in the order of the identification code, the port data, and the control signal data, and the control code “CR” is added as a final code indicating the end thereof. When information is continuously transmitted to the connected devices connected to the interface circuits I2 to I6 specified by the identification code, as shown in FIG. Are created in a plurality of blocks ("2 blocks" in the figure).

By the signal generation function of the personal computer PC, a control signal corresponding to a mouse operation is transmitted to the control bus SB. Then, each of the interface circuits I2 to I6 that inputs the control signal executes the operation of the connected device according to the control signal by a decoding function described below.

FIG. 11 shows each of the interface circuits I2 to I
Interface circuit I among the decoding functions played by
3 is illustrated. In this decoding function, output data corresponding to a set of port data and control signal data and output data corresponding to 1: 1 are stored in a predetermined storage area of the RAM 60K of the interface circuit I3 by a procedure similar to the registration function. Have been. Here, the output data is data that is actually output to the connected device connected to the interface circuit I3, in this embodiment, the video tape recorder VR and the still image transmission device MC8.

When a control signal is sent to the interface circuit I3 via the control bus SB, the CPU 60G inputs the control signal via the input converter 60F and immediately outputs the control signal to the output converter 60H. This is because the control signal may not designate itself, and the control signal is transmitted to the lower-level interface circuits I2 to I6 at high speed. On the other hand, when the identification code of the input control signal and the set value of its own ID switch 60O are read and these data match,
By referring to the decoding table stored in the RAM 60K by the above-described registration work, output data corresponding to the control signal data is output from the connection connector corresponding to the port data included in the control signal. For example, in FIG. 11, the identification code that is the first 2 bytes of the control signal is “ID3-
1 ", the corresponding interface circuit I
3 activates the decoding function, reads a combination of the port data “A” and the control signal data “100”, and reads output data from a decoding table stored in the RAM 60K in advance in a 1: 1 correspondence with these data, The data is sequentially output from the corresponding port of the connector 60D.

In the example shown in FIG. 11, the video tape recorder VR is turned on, and all the images recorded by the automatic abnormality detection (this function will be described later) are output by a total of 4 bytes of port data and control signal data. After the reproduction, output data for executing a series of processing of "turning off the power of the video tape recorder VR" is read out and sequentially output from the 232C driver 60W. That is, a total of 7 including the identification code and the final code
The byte control signal is transmitted from the personal computer P
By the signal processing between C and the interface circuit I3, the data is output to the connected device as output data of an amount of information of tens or hundreds of bytes, and the connected device can execute a complicated operation. Naturally, part or all of these complicated operations are performed by the personal computer PC on the main control device MC side, and each of the interface circuits I2 to I6 has only a transmission function to a simple connected device. It is also possible to use

Next, a description will be given of an advanced monitoring function of the monitoring apparatus of the present embodiment configured as described above. FIGS. 12 to 15 are flowcharts of the monitoring program executed by the personal computer PC of the main control device MC. This monitoring program is provided in the read only memory MC12 or the hard disk MC1.
8a, the personal computer PC processes this monitoring program under the control of a known operating system, so that, for example, an operation command of the mouse MC17 is fetched in parallel with this monitoring program. Needless to say, a complicated process such as moving the mouse pointer on the monitor MC15 or activating the signal generation function described above is executed.

The monitoring program is a program that is repeatedly processed and executed by the one-chip microprocessor MC11 over a period from when the power of the personal computer PC is turned on to when an operation termination process described later is selected. When the processing of this program is started, the one-chip microprocessor MC11 firstly causes each of the local control devices L through the interface circuit I1.
A power ON command for turning on the power of each connected device connected to Cm (specifically, interface circuit I4 constituting each local control device LCm) in accordance with a predetermined sequence is output (step 100).

The power-on sequence is as follows. First, the interface circuit I6 of the main control device MC
Rises, and the interface circuits I4 and I5 of the local control device LC1 become operable. After a predetermined time, the personal computer PC outputs a signal for turning on the remote control relay RC1 of the local control device LC1 via the interface circuit I4. As a result, the power of the image information processing device RC2 of the local control device LC1, the infrared sensor S1, and the interface circuit I6 is turned on by the remote control relay RC1.

As a result, the interface circuit I4 of the local control device LC2 is now in an operable state. After a predetermined time has elapsed, the remote control relay R of the local control device LC2 is transmitted from the interface circuit I4 via the control bus SB.
A power-on command signal is output to C1. Thus, power is supplied to each device of the local control device LC2 because:
This is the same as the local control device LC1. The power is also turned on for the next local control device LC3 in a similar sequence. Thus, the main controller M
Local control devices LC1, LC2, L upstairs sequentially from C
After C3 and a predetermined time, the power is turned on. When the power is turned off, the power is sequentially turned off by following the above sequence in reverse.

Immediately after the power is turned on, an automatic mode for automatically creating a control signal according to a predetermined procedure (step 200 processing) is selected (step 202), and the monitoring camera C is automatically selected according to the procedure (step 204). ), And displays the image information from the selected monitoring camera C on the monitor MC15 (step 206). Next, C indicating the current state
A G image is created, which is also displayed on the monitor M at the same time as the image information.
It is displayed on C15 (step 208). Automatic mode is
This is a mode in which images from the surveillance cameras C1n to C4n on each floor are sequentially and automatically displayed. In the initial setting, images from the four surveillance cameras on each floor are displayed on a 4-split screen (display mode “four screens”). ), And the display switching time is 4 seconds.

FIG. 16 shows a display example of the monitor MC15 at this time. As shown in the figure, an image information display section MC15a is set in a large area on the upper left of the monitor MC15.
The display unit displays image information from the currently active surveillance cameras, for example, the surveillance cameras C14 to C44 on the fourth floor. Message display section MC15b set immediately below
Is an area in which, when an automatic or manual emergency processing mode to be described later is executed, an emergency processing procedure recorded in advance in the personal computer PC is displayed in an easily understandable form.

On the upper right side of the monitor MC15, there is set a layout map display section MC15c for displaying the layout of the monitoring cameras of the floor currently displayed on the image information display section MC15a, and the monitoring cameras C14 to C44 are set. The monitoring area is also indicated by a dotted line in FIG. Layout display MC15
Below c, various display units for displaying the current monitoring state generated by the CG are provided. In automatic mode,
Switching time display section MC15e, display method display section MC15
f, a mode display section MC15g is arranged. These display units are used to highlight the currently selectable monitoring state, and for example, in the switching time display unit MC15e, the achievable switching time “4 seconds”
“8 seconds” is displayed, and the current setting “4 seconds” is highlighted.

The mode display section MC15g is an area for displaying whether the current monitoring operation is in the automatic mode or the manual mode. In the figure, the current mode "automatic" is highlighted. The contents selectively displayed on the switching time display section MC15e and the display mode display section MC15f will be described in further detail as necessary.

The emergency processing display section MC15h arranged in a relatively large area at the lower right of the monitor MC15 is displayed in a distinctive color that is significantly different from the display colors of the other display sections, and is used when an abnormality occurs during the monitoring operation. By selecting this area with the mouse MC17, an emergency process described later is executed. The end command display part MC15i arranged at the lower right end of the monitor MC15 is an area for instructing the end of the monitoring program using the mouse MC17.

When the display of the image shown in FIG. 16 is completed at step 208 in FIG. 12, it is determined whether or not a change command of the switching time interval has been issued (step 210).
When the command is issued, the monitoring cameras C14 to C44 displayed on the image information display unit MC15a are changed to the next floor 5F.
Surveillance cameras C15 to C45, surveillance cameras C16 to C46 on floor 6F, and surveillance cameras C on floor 1F
The time for automatically switching from 11 to C41 is set to 4 seconds / 8 seconds according to the command (step 21).
2). Here, the change command of the switching time interval is simply obtained by selecting one of the display characters “4 seconds” and “8 seconds” (see FIG. 16) displayed on the switching time display section MC15e with the mouse MC17. Is entered. Then, either the currently selected switching time “4 seconds” or “8 seconds” is highlighted. When the display switching of the surveillance cameras C1n to C4n is executed according to the switching time interval, the display contents of the layout view display section MC15c of the monitor MC15 are automatically changed according to the monitoring state at that time.

Subsequent to step 210 or step 212, it is determined whether or not a command to change the video display system has been issued (step 214). The image displayed on the image information display section MC15a is displayed on one screen or
The display is changed to the split screen display (step 216).

The instruction to change the video display system is made by the characters "1", "4" displayed on the display system display MC15f.
The selection is made by selecting one of the “sides” with the mouse MC17. FIG. 17 is a display example when an instruction to change to the single screen display is input from the display state of FIG. As shown in this display example, at this time, a currently active monitoring camera, for example, an image captured by the camera C14 is displayed over the entire surface of the image information display unit MC15a, and the currently active monitoring camera C14 is displayed on the layout display unit MC15c. And only its monitoring area is highlighted, and “1” in the display mode display section MC15f is displayed.
Face "is highlighted.

Note that, even in the case of this one-screen display, the screen is automatically switched every predetermined time. The switching time is a time (4 seconds in FIG. 17) instructed by the switching time display unit MC15e. According to this setting, first, the surveillance cameras C14 to C24, C34, C
In the order of 44, to the surveillance camera C15 on the next floor,
It is automatically switched. Further, in accordance with this switching, the display contents of the layout drawing display section MC15c and the emphasis of the display of the monitoring camera are also changed. In the automatic mode, the current display floor is displayed in the layout drawing display section MC15c.

Such a change of the video display system (step 2
Subsequent to (14, step 216), it is determined whether or not an instruction to change the operation mode of the monitoring work is issued (step 2).
18) If the change of the operation mode is instructed, the mode is shifted to the manual mode (step 300 units), otherwise, the automatic mode processing of step 220 and subsequent steps is continued. Here, the change of the operation mode is almost the same as the change of the switching time interval, and the mode display section MC1 of the monitor MC15.
"Auto" and "Manual" characters displayed on 5g
It is easily executed by appropriately selecting with the pointer 17 and any of the characters corresponding to the current operation mode is highlighted. The operation in the manual mode will be described later in detail.

Step 220 is a step for judging whether or not the emergency processing display section MC15h of the monitor MC15 is selected by the mouse MC17. To the manual emergency processing mode.

The following step 222 is a process in which the infrared sensor Sl
This is a process for determining whether or not an abnormal signal has been input from the CPU. When any of the infrared sensors S1 detects infrared rays based on body temperature, the process shifts to an emergency processing mode (step 500) to be described later. Step 22 if any
Step 4 is executed, and it is further determined whether or not abnormality is recognized by the automatic abnormality detection.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of the automatic abnormality detection processing executed here. The image information (FIG. 18A) input from the monitoring cameras C1n to C4n is temporarily stored in a predetermined storage area of the personal computer PC. Then, the stored image information is processed, and a part of the image information having a large difference from the surroundings is extracted (FIG. 18B). That is, by extracting image information having a large difference from the surroundings,
It becomes possible to make the contour information as shown in the figure appear. Then, such processing is performed by the same monitoring camera C1.
The image information after a short period of time input from n to C4n is executed again, and a difference between a plurality of pieces of outline information obtained in this way is calculated to obtain a “moving image” included in the image information (FIG. 18 (C)) can be extracted. Then, when this "moving image" is extracted in a pattern that is not assumed in advance, the process shifts to the emergency processing mode of step 500 as in the abnormality determination based on the detection result of the infrared sensor S1 in step 222.

In the automatic abnormality detection in step 224, operation / non-operation can be selected.
Is selected, for example, only at night, and the process of step 224 is executed. At other times, when "non-operation" is selected, the process is skipped and the execution of the program proceeds.

When it is determined that there is no abnormality in the determination processing in steps 222 and 224, the monitor MC1
It is determined whether or not the message in the message display section MC15b of No. 5 is to be deleted (step 226). The message indicates that some abnormality has been detected in the automatic mode,
When the emergency processing mode (500 steps) is executed, this is displayed to notify the fact that an abnormality has occurred. When the administrator recognizes this message and clicks the mouse to display "delete record" added in the emergency processing mode, the message in message display section MC15b is deleted (step 228). Messages displayed in the emergency processing mode will be described later in detail.

In the following step 230, it is determined whether or not the operation end has been selected. The selection of the operation end in step 230 is performed by changing the mouse MC to the end command display MC15i (see FIG. 16) arranged at the lower right end of the monitor MC15.
17 to determine whether or not an operation for instructing the end of the monitoring program has been performed. If the instruction operation has not been performed, the process returns to step 204. When this instruction operation is executed, a control signal output process for instructing the power OFF of the connected device shown in step 600 is executed, and a control signal to that effect is transmitted to each interface circuit I4 constituting the local control device LCm. And the connected devices are sequentially turned off in the sequence described above.

Next, the manual mode of step 300 will be described. When the operation to the manual mode is performed in step 218, the manual mode (step 3
The process shifts to 02), and first, a screen display in the manual mode is performed. The screen display at this time is shown in FIG. In the manual mode, unlike the automatic mode, the switching time display section MC15e and the display method display section MC15f are not provided, and the floor display section MC15d is displayed instead. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not a process of manually selecting a monitoring camera has been performed (step 304). Here, the manual selection of the surveillance camera is performed by operating the floor display unit MC15d to select a floor, and further selecting a surveillance camera on the floor.

There are the following three methods for selecting a monitoring camera on the selected floor. One is to click any one of the images of the image information display unit MC15a initially displayed on the quadrant screen with the mouse MC17, and the second is to display the surveillance cameras C1n to C1n to be displayed on the layout drawing display unit MC15c.
This is performed by clicking any one of C4n with the mouse MC17 and finally clicking any monitoring area in the layout drawing display section MC15c with the mouse MC17. When any of these manual selection operations is performed, the personal computer PC selects any of the manually selected surveillance cameras C1n to C4n (step 306), and the selected surveillance cameras C1n to C4.
n from the monitor MC15.
Is displayed on the image information display section MC15a (step 30).
8), according to the display contents, the layout drawing display section MC15c,
The corresponding CG image such as the floor display section MC15d is changed (step 310).

After completion of such manual selection processing of the monitoring cameras C1n to C4n (steps 306 to 310), or at step 304, the monitoring cameras C1n to C4n are selected.
When it is determined that the manual selection process of C4n has not been performed, the same processes as those of Steps 218 to 222 and Steps 226 to 230 described in the automatic mode, that is, the change of the operation mode (Step 31)
2) Selection of emergency processing mode (step 314), detection signal processing of infrared sensor S1 (step 316), determination of message deletion (step 318), message deletion processing (step 320), and selection of operation end (step 322) Is performed, and if the determination is negative in any of the determination processes, the process returns to step 302 again.

That is, in the manual mode, all operations are entrusted to the observer except for the occurrence of an abnormal signal from the external sensor S1, and the image information display unit MC15a is operated until some command is input. The same video is continuously displayed, and when there is any command input, the video of the surveillance camera corresponding to the command input is displayed on the image information display unit MC15a in a mode corresponding to the command input.

Next, the manual emergency processing mode of step 400 will be described. FIG.
Alternatively, the monitor MC
It is a flowchart of the manual emergency processing mode processed when the 15 emergency processing display part MC15h is selected by the mouse MC17. The manual emergency processing mode is to record an image on the video tape recorder VR when an observer is monitoring in the automatic mode or the manual mode, and when any abnormality is found in the images of the surveillance cameras C1n to C4n. It is activated for the purpose of automatically performing a predetermined procedure, or for a monitor to track an abnormality.

When entering the manual emergency processing mode, the personal computer PC fixes the image and layout of the surveillance camera selected at that time, that is, when entering the manual emergency processing mode from the automatic mode, The switching is stopped, and the abnormal information such as the monitoring place and the date and time currently displayed on the image information display section MC15a is displayed on the message display section MC15.
b (step 404). FIG. 20 shows a display example of such an emergency monitor MC15. At this time, a return display section MC15m for returning to the original monitoring mode (automatic mode or manual mode) is displayed in the lower right area of the screen, and by operating this area with the mouse MC17, selection of manual return to be described later is made. Is executed.

After step 404, recording of the video tape recorder VR is started (step 406), and still image capture and transmission are executed using the still image transmission device MC8 (step 408). And the following step 41
0 to 416 are processed, and the floor display unit MC15
d installed on the floor by clicking the mouse
Of surveillance cameras and 4 of images from surveillance cameras
Split display or floor surveillance cameras C1n to C4n
Processing such as manual selection is performed. That is, in the manual emergency processing mode, the surveillance camera selection right is left to the observer for the purpose of abnormal tracking.

Subsequently, it is determined whether an abnormal signal has been input from the infrared sensor S1 (step 418). If an abnormal signal has been input, the process shifts to an emergency mode described later. On the other hand, if no abnormal signal is input from the infrared sensor S1, it is determined whether or not a "return" command has been input (step 420). If no return command has been issued, the process returns to step 410 again. When a return command is issued, the video tape recorder VR
And the still image transmission device MC8 is stopped (step 422),
Further, the display screen of the monitor MC15 is changed to the above-described normal mode, and the mode is returned to the automatic mode or the manual mode which has been performed up to that time.

FIG. 15 shows step 22 in the automatic mode.
2, 224, an emergency processing mode executed by the determination processing of step 316 in the manual mode and step 418 in the manual emergency processing mode. This mode is executed when a possibility of some abnormality is automatically detected by analyzing the detection result of the sensor S1 or the image.

When the operation mode is entered, the surveillance cameras C1n to C4n in which an abnormality has been detected are specified (step 50).
4) The video from the monitoring camera is displayed on the monitor MC15 (step 506). Subsequently, the CG image is displayed in an emergency display mode as shown in FIG.
8) The abnormality information is displayed on the message display section MC15b (step 510). In addition, as an example of the message at this time, in addition to displaying the floor of the occurrence of the abnormality, the number of the surveillance camera involved, the time of the occurrence of the abnormality, and the like, call "200 number" to the security company or police. A method of specifically reproducing a so-called emergency manual, such as providing a number, is also preferable.

Then, a series of processes necessary for an emergency such as an alarm issuance (step 512), operation of the video tape recorder VR (step 514), operation of the still picture transmission device MC8 (step 516), etc. are automatically executed. Further, in such an emergency state, when the observer is absent, it is normal to return to monitoring in the normal automatic mode when the abnormal state is resolved. Then, unless an abnormal state is subsequently detected, an automatic return timer is started to automatically return to the original mode (step 51).
8) The contents of the timer are displayed on the monitor MC15 (step 520). In the embodiment, the setting of this timer is 3 minutes, and the time until the return is displayed together with other messages on the message display unit MC15b.

Next, it is determined whether or not an instruction operation has been performed by the mouse MC17. If any operation has been performed, the process branches to step 540 and subsequent steps. On the other hand, mouse MC17
If no operation has been performed, it is determined whether or not an abnormality has been detected from the infrared sensor S1 (step 524). If an abnormality has been detected, the process returns to step 502 again.

If no abnormality is detected from the infrared sensor S1, whether the automatic return timer has counted three minutes (step 526) or the return processing display section MC15m (see FIG. 21) is operated and a manual return command is issued. It is determined whether the input has been made (step 528), and if none of them is found, the process returns to step 522. On the other hand, if any one of the determinations is affirmative, the video tape recorder VR or the like is stopped (step 530), the display content of the monitor MC15 is returned to the normal mode, and further, the displayed message is instructed to be deleted. Is additionally displayed (step 532), and the mode returns to the automatic mode or the manual mode.

The recording / erasing section MC15 additionally displayed here
j continues to be displayed together with the content of the abnormality displayed on the message display section MC15b even after returning to the automatic mode or the manual mode. As for the abnormality that has occurred while the monitor is absent, as shown in FIG.
5B, the monitor can surely recognize the occurrence of the abnormality while absent. The observer can specifically confirm the content of the abnormality by reproducing the video tape recorder VR or the like. After that, the message about the content of the abnormality becomes unnecessary, and
When the user clicks on mouse 15j with the mouse, the message display section MC1 is displayed by steps 226, 228 or steps 318, 320 of the monitoring program (FIG. 13) already described.
The display of 5b and the display of the recording / erasing section MC15j are erased.

Returning to the description of FIG. 15, when the mouse operation is detected in step 522, it can be determined that there is a monitor, and the personal computer PC entrusts all the monitoring processing to the monitor, and sets the automatic return timer. Is stopped, and the display is deleted from the monitor MC15 (step 54).
0). Then, the following steps 542 to 548 are processed, and the manual selection of the monitoring cameras C1n to C4n, which is a specific processing in the above-described manual mode (steps 304 to 304)
As in step 310), the right to select a surveillance camera is left to the observer.

Next, it is determined whether or not a new abnormal signal has been input from the infrared sensor S1 (step 550). If an abnormal signal has been input, the process returns to step 502,
Otherwise, the processes of steps 542 to 550 are repeatedly executed until a manual return command is input (step 552). Further, when a return command by manual operation is input, the aforementioned steps 530, 5
After executing the process of No. 32, the process returns to the automatic mode or the manual mode.

As described above, according to the monitoring apparatus of the present embodiment, not only the video from the monitoring camera is displayed on the monitor MC15, but also the desired portion of the CG displayed simultaneously on the monitor MC15 is displayed. By performing a selection instruction with the mouse MC17, an advanced monitoring operation can be easily performed. In other words, there is no need to learn complicated key operations or the like over a long time, and it is possible to perform advanced monitoring work regardless of the skill level of the monitor.

Further, when performing the monitoring operation, all input operations accompanying the monitoring operation can be executed by the mouse MC17. Therefore, it is not necessary to keep an eye on the monitor MC15 even during the input operation, and the monitoring operation can be continued at all times.

The monitoring device capable of such advanced information processing is constituted by appropriately combining common interface circuits I1 to I6, and various types of monitoring devices are provided simply by preparing the basic interface circuits I1 to I6. Various monitoring systems can be easily constructed. In addition, the interface circuits I2 to I6 have a function of decoding a control signal having a small amount of information to execute control of a complicated connected device, so that a small and inexpensive personal computer PC can be used as the main control device MC. It can be used.

Further, since the data communication method between the interface circuit I1 and the interface circuits I2 to I6 employs a method of expressing information as a change in current value,
Despite employing the RS-232C standard personal computer PC, communication with a maximum communication distance of several hundred meters is possible. Also, the interface circuit I1
DC power generated by the power supply circuit 40H of the control bus SB
To the respective interface circuits I2 to I6 via the interface circuit, power supply lines and other troublesome connections are omitted when installing the interface circuits.

The display contents of the monitor MC 15 are not limited to the image display from the surveillance camera, but are simultaneously displayed on the surveillance camera layout, the surveillance area of the surveillance camera displayed in the layout view, and the projected image. Confirmation of the monitoring state, such as highlighting of the monitoring camera that captured the image, can be instantly understood by the graphical display. In addition, since this display functions as it is as an input of a command such as selection of a monitoring camera, its usability is extremely good. In particular, instead of selecting the surveillance camera itself, the configuration in which an image from the surveillance camera is displayed by selecting its field of view is only required to select an area that the user wants to see,
It is extremely excellent, as it allows intuitive operation.

On the other hand, when an emergency condition occurs, the monitoring device of the present invention automatically executes a predetermined message and the operation of each connected device in preparation for the emergency condition. Therefore, the observer can take an appropriate abnormal response instantaneously. In addition, since automatic abnormality detection by contour extraction is adopted, malfunction does not occur even if the brightness of the monitoring area changes due to light, lightning, neon sign, etc. of the car, and highly accurate abnormality detection can be performed. It is possible.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above.
The present invention is not limited to such embodiments at all, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist thereof. For example, a personal computer P
As C, a dedicated circuit may be employed instead of a general-purpose personal computer, and a dedicated circuit configuration may be employed for each local control device LCm. Further, instead of the mouse MC17, another input device such as a touch panel capable of performing an input operation while confirming an image on the monitor MC15 may be used.

[0110]

Monitoring apparatus of the present invention as described in the foregoing is one or a predetermined number of images from a plurality of monitoring cameras, this
The picture in the command for performing figures and advanced monitoring work showing the placement area of the surveillance camera at least certain of the corresponding timing together appear on the monitor, by selecting a predetermined command on the monitor, Surveillance camera
A predetermined operation including the switching of the image display state is performed . Therefore, there is no need to memorize complicated command systems, and anyone can switch the state of image display from the surveillance camera.
Advanced monitoring work including replacement can be easily performed. In addition, the monitoring operation can be continued using only the monitor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration block diagram of a monitoring device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an electric circuit block diagram of a main control device MC of the monitoring device.

FIG. 3 is an electric circuit block diagram of the interface circuit I1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view, a front view, and left and right side views of the interface circuit I2.

FIG. 5 is an electric circuit block diagram of the interface circuit I2.

FIG. 6 is an electric circuit block diagram of the interface circuit I3.

FIG. 7 is an electric circuit block diagram of the interface circuit I4.

FIG. 8 is an electric circuit block diagram of the interface circuit I5.

FIG. 9 is an electric circuit block diagram of the interface circuit I6.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a signal generation function performed by the main control device MC.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a decoding function performed by the interface circuit.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a part of an automatic mode and a manual mode in a monitoring program processed by the main control device MC.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the rest.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a manual emergency processing mode in the monitoring program.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of an emergency processing mode in the monitoring program.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of display contents of the monitor MC15 in the automatic mode.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of display contents of the monitor MC15 according to a change in a display method.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of a signal processing process of automatic abnormality detection by contour extraction.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of display contents of the monitor MC15 in the manual processing mode.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram of a display on a monitor MC15 when recording is performed by an emergency process.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram of display contents of the monitor MC15 when an abnormality is automatically detected and an abnormality processing mode is entered.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of display contents of the monitor MC15 after returning from the emergency processing mode to the automatic mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 40A ... Dsub male connector 40B ... Dsub female connector 50A ... Housing 50B ... IN connector 50C ... OUT connector 50D ... Connection connector C1n-4n ... Monitoring camera I1 ... Interface circuit I2 ... Interface circuit I3 ... Interface circuit I4 ... Interface Face circuit I5 ... Interface circuit I6 ... Interface circuit LC1 ... Local control device LC2 ... Local control device LC3 ... Local control device LCm ... Local control device MC ... Main control device MC11 ... One-chip microprocessor MC12 ... Read-only memory MC13 ... Random access memory MC14 ... I / O interface MC14a ... Expansion port MC14b ... Expansion port MC15 ... Monitor MC15a ... Image information display section MC15b ... Message table MC15c: Layout display MC15d: Floor display MC15e: Switching time display MC15f: Display method display MC15g: Mode display MC15h: Emergency processing display MC15i: End command display MC15j: Record erasure MC15m: Return processing Display part MC17… Mouse MC18… Mouse controller MC18a… Hard disk MC18c… Keyboard MC2… Capture board MC8… Still image transmission device PC… Personal computer RC1… Remote control relay RC2… Image information processing device Ry1-8… Relay SB… Control bus Sl… Infrared sensor TL: Telephone line TV: Television VR: Video tape recorder

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-3-65795 (JP, A) JP-A-4-68893 (JP, A) JP-A-1-138872 (JP, A) JP-A-58-179080 (JP) JP-A-4-317288 (JP, A) JP-A-6-20175 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G08B 23/00 510 G08B 13/196 G08B 25/00 510 H04N 7/18

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A picture and monitor capable of displaying a plurality of monitoring cameras for each image a plurality of monitoring areas, one to a predetermined number of images from the plurality of monitoring cameras,該映
Display control means for displaying a diagram showing the installation area of the surveillance camera corresponding to the image and selecting buttons for various commands including operation control of the surveillance camera, at least at a specific timing on the monitor, Selecting means for selecting a selection button of a predetermined command displayed by the display control means on the monitor; and at least an image display from the surveillance camera according to a predetermined command corresponding to the selected selection button . A control unit for performing a predetermined operation including a state change. 2. The pointing device according to claim 1, wherein said selecting means indicates a desired position on said monitor.
And a plurality of images from the plurality of surveillance cameras are divided and displayed.
While the pointer is
When the pointing device indicates the
Selection command issuing means for issuing a selection command , wherein the control means selects an image by the selection command issuing means.
The monitoring device according to claim 1 , wherein upon receiving the command, the indicated video is enlarged and displayed . 3. The monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein an image from the monitoring camera , a signal from a predetermined sensor, and the like.
Others based on any factors manual configuration, upon detection of the abnormality occurring in said monitored area, in advance without depending on the factors
A monitoring device including a recording start unit that executes a series of determined abnormality recording processes . 4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said factor is a value obtained from
Based on video or based on signals from the sensor
As for those, by manual operation, the recording
The monitoring device according to claim 3 , wherein the operation can be terminated . 5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said predetermined sensor comprises:
For those based on the signal of
When no sensor signal or other abnormal factor is input
4. The monitoring device according to claim 3 , wherein the operation of the recording activation unit is terminated . 6. The display control means displays an installation diagram of the surveillance camera with a symbol indicating the surveillance camera.
Monitoring camera display means for displaying on the monitor together with the monitoring camera, and a symbol of the monitoring camera displayed on the monitoring camera display means.
The supervisor currently displaying the video on the monitor
The monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: means for displaying a symbol of the visual camera in a distinguishable manner . 7. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein one of the selection buttons is selected by the storage unit storing a plurality of installation diagrams of the monitoring camera and the selection unit.
When displayed on the monitor by the display control means
Is stored in the storage means.
One of the installation drawings,
The setting to switch the specified surveillance camera to the installation drawing to which it belongs
A monitoring device provided with a layout switching means. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein
Monitoring device, The plurality of surveillance cameras are organized into a plurality of groups, and for each group
Video from a group of surveillance cameras is input, and
Based on these commands, one of the group of surveillance cameras
Either a single video or a video that is split display of multiple videos
An image information processing device that outputs The control means uses a video from the image information processing apparatus.
Monitoring device as a means for switching the image display by
Place. 9. The image information processing apparatus outputs the image
A video signal independent of video can be output to the outside.
The monitoring device according to claim 8.