JP3143365B2 - Surveillance image recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a monitoring image recording apparatus for inputting and recording an image signal from a camera for imaging a monitoring target area.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A photographed image signal from a camera installed at a monitoring target location is input, the input signal is recorded on a recording medium, and the photographed image is displayed as necessary, so as to be used in a store, office,
2. Description of the Related Art There is a monitoring image recording / reproducing apparatus that monitors various places such as a house to ensure safety. Such a monitoring image recording / reproducing apparatus is used for monitoring the inside of a store at a financial institution or a convenience store, for monitoring a cash dispenser, for monitoring a passenger at a railway institution, and for monitoring at a toll payment point on an expressway. It is used for various purposes in modern society, such as for monitoring of visitors and suspicious persons at the entrance of an apartment house.

In this type of monitoring image recording / reproducing apparatus, a system using a hard disk is being used instead of a conventional time-lapse VCR. A system using this hard disk has less image degradation in recording due to frequent access compared to a time-lapse VCR,
It is excellent in that the head is not worn out when used for a long time, and the operation is simple due to a GUI (graphical user interface).

In a surveillance image recording apparatus, a plurality of cameras are installed in order to further enhance monitoring and improve security, and input image signals from the plurality of cameras are switched and recorded. What has been developed. Also,
In some cases, a recording program is set so that recording of an input image signal from the camera is started in accordance with the timing of alarm input from a sensor installed near each camera. In addition, as an automatic method of inputting alarms from various sensors, a human body sensor is installed near the installation location of the camera and an alarm is input from the human body sensor when a human approaches, and an open / close sensor is installed on the door. In addition, a method of inputting an alarm from an open / close sensor when the door is opened, a method of inputting an alarm at a timing when a user starts access to a cash dispenser, and the like are used.
Of course, a method of inputting an alarm by human operation is also possible.

[0005]

By the way, in such a monitoring image recording / reproducing apparatus, an image signal of a monitoring target location obtained by one or a plurality of cameras is automatically taken into a hard disk and recorded. Later, the observer reproduces the recorded image signal and observes the monitored image. However, since the image signals are recorded one after another, if the recorded image signals become enormous, the organizing work becomes troublesome, and the observer can select a desired image signal from a large number of image signals. It is difficult to find out.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and even if the number of recorded image signals becomes large, the image signals can be organized, and a supervisor It is an object of the present invention to provide a monitoring image recording apparatus which can easily search for a desired image signal.

[0007]

A surveillance image recording apparatus according to the present invention is a surveillance image recording apparatus for recording image signals from one or a plurality of cameras for imaging a monitoring target area. Means for creating a label indicating the imaging conditions for each image signal of the unit, means for storing the created labels, and, when the number of labels exceeds a predetermined number, the labels are copied according to the imaging conditions. Means for grouping.

In the monitoring image recording apparatus according to the present invention, a predetermined unit of image signal obtained from one or a plurality of cameras is used as one recording unit, and an image pickup condition (camera) when the image signal is obtained for each recording unit. Of the image, the image quality of the camera, the date and time of imaging, etc.), and the label is managed. Then, when the total number of labels to be used exceeds a predetermined number, all recorded image signals are grouped by labels according to the imaging conditions, and management in group units is also possible. In this way, even if the number of recorded image signals becomes enormous, it is easy to organize them and search for a desired image signal is also easy.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration using a monitoring image recording apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1a,
Reference numerals 1b and 1c denote three cameras installed at the monitoring target location. Each of the cameras 1a, 1b, and 1c automatically captures an image and outputs the obtained image signal to the recording / reproducing device 2. Each of the cameras 1a, 1b, and 1c can switch the image quality at the time of imaging, and specifically, can switch between three levels of high image quality, medium image quality, and low image quality.
The recording / reproducing apparatus 2 records the input image signal on a built-in hard disk, and reproduces the image signal as necessary, and outputs it to the monitor 3. The monitor 3 displays an image according to the image signal. The processing operation in the recording / reproducing device 2 is controlled by the operation of the mouse 4 by the user. In addition, a sensor that generates an alarm at a timing such as when the above-mentioned person approaches, when the door is opened, when the user accesses the cash dispenser, etc., in the vicinity of each camera 1a, 1b, 1c. 5a, 5b, 5c are installed, and each sensor 5a,
5b and 5c output the generated alarm to the recording / reproducing apparatus 2.

FIG. 2 shows the recording / reproducing apparatus 2 shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the device. Recording / reproducing device 2
Is a camera selector for switching the input analog image signal from each of the cameras 1a, 1b, 1c and converting it into a digital image signal.
An A / D conversion unit 21, a V-RAM 22 for temporarily storing a digital image signal, a compression / decompression unit 23 for compressing an image signal or expanding a compressed image signal, and a unit of one imaging condition A file generation unit 24 that generates an image signal file by filing the image signal, a magnetic disk 25 that records the image signal in units of the image signal file,
For each image signal file, a labeling unit 26 that creates imaging condition data from which the image signal is obtained and uses it as a label, a counter 26a built in the labeling unit 26 and counting the total number of labels, A first memory 27 for storing labels created for each image signal file, and a counter 26a
A block data generating unit 28 that divides the label in the first memory 27 into a plurality of blocks according to shooting conditions and generates block data when the count value in
A second memory 29 for storing the generated block data, and a control unit 30 for controlling the operations of the camera selection / A / D conversion unit 21, compression / decompression unit 23, labeling unit 26 and the like in response to an instruction input from the mouse 4. A timer 31 for providing clock information as a reference clock to the control unit 30; a D / A conversion unit for converting a digital image signal into an analog image signal and outputting the analog image signal to the monitor 3
32.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the operation at the time of recording will be described. In the case of this recording, the image signal input mode from the camera to the V-RAM 22 and the image signal compression mode in the compression / decompression unit 23 are fixed.

A camera selection / A / D converter 21 selects a camera to be recorded from the three cameras 1a, 1b, 1c, and converts an analog image signal from the selected camera into a digital image signal. Is done. This digital image signal is
After being temporarily stored in the V-RAM 22, compression processing is performed in a compression / decompression unit 23, and a compressed image signal is input to a file generation unit 24. In the file generating unit 24, the compressed image signal is filed for each unit of one imaging condition, and the image signal is recorded on the magnetic disk 25 using the file as one unit. Switching of the image signals from the three cameras 1a, 1b, 1c that defines the recording order is controlled by the control unit 30 according to a recording program set in advance.

Next, the operation of organizing the image signals recorded as described above, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described. When a notification of completion of filing of each compressed image signal is input from the file generation unit 24 to the labeling unit 26, the labeling unit 26 performs, for each file of each compressed image signal, imaging conditions (camera type, A label indicating data of camera image quality, image capturing date and time, type of recording program, etc.) is given.

FIG. 3 shows several examples of labels. The type of camera indicates one camera number selected from three cameras, and the image quality of the camera indicates one of high image quality, medium image quality, and low image quality. In addition, the imaging date and time indicates a specific date and time at the time of imaging. The type of the recording program indicates the type of the set recording method. The types of recording methods will be briefly described below. Recording methods include alarm recording and continuous recording. The alarm recording is a method in which a sensor for detecting a specific situation change is provided at a monitoring target location, and an image signal is recorded for a predetermined time after the sensor detects the situation change and issues an alarm. On the other hand, the continuous recording is a method of recording an image signal periodically at fixed time intervals. For example, when a person appears at a specific place, such as when a sensor detects that a user has started an operation at a cash dispenser of a financial institution and starts recording an image signal from the alarm generation timing. The alarm recording is set when only recording is performed, and the continuous recording is set when recording continuously in the store of the financial institution without any incident.
In the example shown in FIG. 3, “Alarm” represents the above-described alarm record, and “1s”, “2s”, and “3s” are the above-described continuation records, which continue at intervals of 1 second, 2 seconds, and 4 seconds, respectively. The recording method.

Incidentally, the way of giving the label is shown in FIG.
o. As shown in Nos. 1 to 5, the data may be added to all items of the camera type, camera image quality, image capturing date and time, and recording program type, or No. 1 in FIG. As shown in Nos. 6 to 12, the data may be added to one item among the camera type, the image quality of the camera, the imaging date and time, and the type of the recording program.

The label assigned to each compressed image signal file is stored in the first memory 27. Also, each time a new label is added, the value of the counter 26a is incremented by one, and the counted value is output to the block data generator 28. When the compressed image signal file recorded on the magnetic disk 25 is deleted, the label corresponding to the deleted compressed image signal file is also deleted from the first memory 27, and the value of the counter 26a is decremented by one. You.

As described above, the number of labels stored in the first memory 27 increases with the recording processing of the image signal. When the count value of the counter 26a input to the block data generation unit 28 exceeds a predetermined number, the labels stored in the first memory 27 are grouped by the block data generation unit 28 according to the imaging conditions. Is done. FIG.
Shows an example of grouped block data.
FIG. 4 shows an example of grouping according to the type of camera in the imaging conditions. The generated block data is stored in the second memory 29.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing an example of the above-described operation processing. FIG. 5A shows a reference clock from the timer 31. Sensor approaching camera 1a at timing T1
An alarm is issued from 5a, the recording of the image signal from the camera 1a is started by the occurrence of the alarm, and the timing T2
Then, the recording process ends (see FIG. 5B). Then, the total number of labels at the timing T2 is checked, but since it does not exceed the predetermined number, no block data is generated (see FIG. 5C). Thereafter, the continuous recording by the camera 1b starts at the timing T3, and the recording process ends at the timing T4 (see FIG. 5B). Then, the total number of labels at the timing T4 is checked,
This time, since the number exceeds the predetermined number, the labels are grouped and block data is generated (see FIG. 5C). After that, when the block development instruction is input, the group once returned to the original state (see FIG. 5D).

Next, the operation at the time of reproduction will be described. At the time of this reproduction, the monitor issues a reproduction instruction with the mouse 4 to the control unit.
Enter 30. In this case, the mode is fixed to the mode of prohibiting the input of the image signal from the camera and the output of the image signal from the V-RAM 22, and the compression / decompression unit 23 is fixed to the image signal decompression mode. Then, a compressed image signal in file units is reproduced from the magnetic disk 25, and the reproduced compressed image signal is compressed /
The extension unit 23 performs an extension process. The restored image signal is temporarily stored in the V-RAM 22, then converted into an analog image signal by the D / A converter 32, and output to the monitor 3,
An image corresponding to the image signal is displayed.

At the time of the above-mentioned reproduction processing, the control unit 30 controls the first and second memories based on an instruction input from the mouse 4.
By performing the accesses 27 and 29, it is possible to easily and quickly find a desired image signal that the observer wants to see from the magnetic disk 25.

In the above-described example, the number of cameras installed is three, but this is merely an example, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to any number of cameras.

[0023]

As described above, in the monitoring image recording apparatus of the present invention, a label indicating the imaging condition when the image signal is obtained is given for each predetermined unit of the image signal, and the number of the labels is a predetermined number. When the number of recorded image signals exceeds the limit, the labels are divided into groups according to the imaging conditions, and the blocks are divided, so that even if the number of recorded image signals increases, they can be easily arranged, and The present invention has excellent effects such that a desired image signal can be easily and quickly searched.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration using a monitoring image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of the recording / reproduction device in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing examples of several types of labels according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of block data according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing the operation processing of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a, 1b, 1c Camera 2 Recording / playback device 3 Monitor 4 Mouse 5a, 5b, 5c Sensor 21 Camera selection / A / D converter 22 V-RAM 23 Compression / decompression unit 24 File generation unit 25 Magnetic disk 26 Labeling unit 26a Counter 27 First memory 28 Block data generator 29 Second memory 30 Controller 31 Timer 32 D / A converter

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A monitoring image recording apparatus for recording image signals from one or a plurality of cameras for imaging a monitoring target area, wherein a label indicating an imaging condition is created for each predetermined unit of image signal from the camera. Means for storing created labels, and means for grouping the labels according to imaging conditions when the number of labels exceeds a predetermined number. Recording device.