JP4165825B2 - Remote image distribution system, remote image distribution method, and computer program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology of a remote image distribution system capable of remotely operating a security camera using a portable videophone.

In recent years, crimes such as the intrusion or theft of offices and residences, theft of cars, and vandalism are increasing. Along with this, security needs such as installing a security camera in ordinary homes are increasing.
On the other hand, mobile phones with camera functions have been standardized among remarkably popular mobile phones. In addition, mobile phones with a videophone function that enable videophones (hereinafter referred to as portable videophones) have become widespread. As a technology of this portable videophone, during the videophone call, it is possible to access the Internet, browse a homepage, and send / receive mail (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-118649 A

  The technique described in Patent Document 1 includes a data demultiplexing device that multiplexes response data from the Internet network into multiplexed data, a telecommunications carrier network, and an Internet network, in addition to a relay station that relays portable videophones. And an Internet gateway for connecting the Internet. Use of this technology is convenient because data communication can be performed even during a videophone call. Therefore, it is technically possible to monitor from a remote place with a portable videophone and record an object that appears on a monitor such as a suspicious person.

However, existing portable videophones do not have a function for recording data displayed on the videophone. This is caused by problems in privacy protection and copyright and portrait rights protection. In other words, the legislation regarding video recording by videophone is not sufficiently established, and even carriers of mobile phone manufacturers have voluntarily regulated that video displayed on the connected videophone cannot be recorded.
One of the major factors of self-regulation is prevention of crimes caused by mischievous telephone calls. This means that if the video of the connection destination can be recorded using a portable videophone, the video of the other party who made the prank call can be recorded without permission from the other party. In such a case, the possibility of misuse of the recorded data is increased, and there is a concern that privacy infringement or crime may occur using the recording function of the portable videophone.

In order to achieve the technology described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to redevelop infrastructure such as a communication carrier network. For this reason, the above system could not be easily introduced.
On the other hand, as mentioned at the beginning, although there are the above-mentioned problems, from the viewpoint of security, there is a high demand for recording data displayed by a portable videophone from a remote place.

In particular, there was a need to record evidence images because it is considered difficult to be cleared in cases of car theft or vandalism. However, unlike corporate systems, which can always record image data taken at a disaster prevention center equipped with a security system, the image data taken for individual users who have significant functional and cost limitations. The recording means was a problem.
This is nothing more than if a suspicious person is aware that the suspicious person was filmed at the time of the crime, the suspicious person may destroy or take away the data to destroy the evidence. In addition, crimes are likely to occur at night and in dimly lit places, and in such places, it is necessary to use a light source such as a flash for shooting, and the probability that it will be recognized that this light source has been taken increases. End up.
In any case, it is difficult to leave image data inside the camera in order to protect and utilize the image data. Therefore, there has been a demand for a technology that can solve the above-described problems without changing the current infrastructure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of recording data at a remote location and protecting the data without changing the configuration of the communication infrastructure.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system capable of recording data at a remote location and protecting the data without changing the configuration of the communication infrastructure. To do.
An object of the present invention is to provide a process invention capable of recording remote data and protecting the data without changing the configuration of the communication infrastructure.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer program capable of recording remote data and protecting the data without changing the configuration of the communication infrastructure. And

(Claim 1)
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote image distribution system capable of acquiring image data of a security camera having a communication function by remote operation using a portable videophone and a mail server of the portable videophone. To do.
An image data recording means for recording predetermined image data captured by the security camera in response to an operation command from the portable videophone in an image data recording unit; and a storage transmission command transmitted from the portable videophone. A transmission data creation means for extracting image data for storage transmission from the image data recorded in the image data recording means, and a videophone session with the portable videophone after receiving the storage transmission command. Video phone session disconnecting means, the video phone session disconnecting means disconnecting the video phone session and connecting to the mail server via the Internet, and the IP session establishing means normally connecting to the mail server If you can And a remote image distribution system including image data transmission means for transmitting image data for storage and transmission extracted by the transmission data creation means to a server.

(Glossary)
The “security camera” is generally a camera that minimizes blind spots in the security space, such as a digital camera using a wide-angle lens and a compound eye camera in which a plurality of digital camera units are embedded. Note that the data captured and acquired by the security camera is generally still image data, but may include moving image data. The term “imaging data” means that still image data and moving image data are included. On the other hand, “image data” may be imaging data itself, but also includes imaging data that has been subjected to processing such as compression for the convenience of storage and transmission.
A “videophone session” is a communication link for using a videophone and is connected to each other via a telephone line relay station.

An “IP session” is a state in which a communication link with the Internet is established, and a communication protocol such as TCP / IP is used for this. For example, there is a dial-up IP connection such as PPP (Point to Point Protocol). As a result, communication data can be transmitted and received. In the case of a portable videophone, data transmission / reception is performed by packet communication.
A “mail server” is a device that can send and receive image data to and from a portable videophone. Usually, the mail server is an ISP (Internet Service Provider) mail server used by the portable videophone, but other mail servers may be used. For example, an outsource server having a mail server function.
The “image data recording unit” is a storage medium such as an internal memory. The capacity of the image data recording unit can be arbitrarily set according to the application. In order to effectively use the limited storage capacity, the oldest data stored over time is overwritten and the latest data is always kept.

(Function)
A call command from a portable videophone is received and a videophone session is established with the portable videophone. The image data recording means records the predetermined image data captured by the security camera according to the operation command from the portable videophone in the image data recording section. The saved transmission command receiving means receives the saved transmission command transmitted from the portable videophone. Receive. The transmission data creation means cuts out saved transmission image data from the image data recorded in the image data recording means.
The videophone session disconnecting unit disconnects the videophone session connected to the portable videophone. When the videophone session is disconnected, the IP session establishing means connects to the mail server via the Internet and establishes the IP session. When it is confirmed that the mail server can be normally connected, the image data transmission means transmits the saved transmission image data extracted by the transmission data creation means to the mail server. That is, the image data recorded by the image data recording means is sent to the mail server. Therefore, the image data is saved to the outside, and data protection can be achieved.
Further, an ISP mail server that uses the Internet function of a portable videophone can be used as the mail server.
As described above, the operation of image data transmission by videophone session disconnection and IP session establishment enables data protection in the existing communication infrastructure under restrictions based on the self-regulation of privacy protection.

(Claim 2)
The second aspect of the present invention relates to a remote image distribution system that uses a portable videophone and a security server to transmit image data of a security camera having a communication function to the security server by remote operation of the portable videophone. Unlike Claim 1, instead of a mail server, image data (or image data obtained by processing image data) is transmitted to a security server.
An image data recording means for recording predetermined image data captured by the security camera in response to an operation command from the portable videophone in an image data recording unit; and a storage transmission command transmitted from the portable videophone. A transmission data creation means for extracting image data for storage transmission from the image data recorded in the image data recording means, and a videophone session with the portable videophone after receiving the storage transmission command. Video telephone session disconnecting means, IP video establishing means for disconnecting the video telephone session by the video telephone session disconnecting means and connecting to the security server via the Internet, and the IP session establishing means normally connecting to the security server If you can The remote image distribution system further comprises image data transmission means for transmitting the image data for storage transmission extracted by the transmission data creation means to the security server.

(Glossary)
The “security server” is a server that is provided separately from the mail server of the portable videophone and receives and stores image data (or image data). It is physically separated from the security camera.

(Function)
Regardless of whether or not image data is received by the security camera, the image data is transmitted to the security server by a portable videophone that performs operations such as photographing. The transmitted image data is stored in the security server. The image data stored in the security server is not likely to be destroyed by an intruder or the like who notices the shooting.

(variation)
The invention described in this claim does not disturb a system including both a security server and a mail server. When both a security server and a mail server are provided, it may be possible to improve communication efficiency and security by adopting a protocol suitable for the security server.

(Claim 3)
Invention of Claim 3 limited the remote image delivery system in any one of Claim 1 or Claim 2,
The image data recording unit and the image data transmission unit relate to a remote image distribution system provided with a physical distance secured.
Here, “preparing with a physical distance secured” means being away from the image data transmitting means including an antenna that must protrude from the outer surface of the security camera. The antenna (image data transmission means) is likely to be subject to destruction by criminals, but if it is away from the image data transmission means, the image data recording means that can be reduced in size are excluded from the object of destruction and stored. This is because it is possible to increase the probability that the processed data can be taken out later.

(Claim 4)
Invention of Claim 4 limited the remote image delivery system in any one of Claims 1-3,
A remote recording medium physically separated from the security camera is provided, and the image data transmission means transmits the image data for storage transmission created by the transmission data creation means to the remote recording medium. To do.

(Glossary)
The “remote recording medium” may be located physically away from the security camera. For example, a hard disk in a data storage server installed in the vicinity of the security camera, a back side of the ceiling when the security camera is installed on the ceiling, a wall when installed on the wall, a portable videophone used in the system Recording media (flash memory, etc.).

(Function)
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the image data transmitting means transmits the stored transmission image data created by the transmission data creating means to the remote recording medium.
That is, the image data for storage transmission is transmitted to the mail server via the Internet, and is transmitted from the mail server to the portable videophone. Therefore, safety is ensured in a case where the image data recording unit of the security camera is destroyed. Further, the remote recording medium may be other recording media instead of the recording medium provided in the portable videophone.

(Claim 5)
Invention of Claim 5 limited the remote location image delivery system in any one of Claim 1, Claim 3 or Claim 4,
Image data always recording means for always recording image data at the time of establishment of the videophone session in an image data recording section, and previous image data recorded before the image data recorded at the reception timing of the recording command receiving means; The image data recording unit includes a before / after image data extracting unit for extracting the later recorded image data from the image data recording unit, and a before / after image data transmitting unit for transmitting the before / after image data to a mail server.
Even though “image data constant recording means”, there is a limit to the data recording capacity, so when data is overwritten in a predetermined cycle or when remote control commands are not accepted via a portable videophone, It is common to devise measures such as reducing the number of pixels.

(Function)
According to the invention described in claim 5, the image data constant recording means always records the image data at the time of establishing the videophone session in the image data recording unit. The front and rear image data extraction means extracts the front and rear image data from the image data recording unit. In this case, the recording command receiving means records the image data, and extracts the previous image data recorded before the image data and the subsequent image data recorded after the image data. The front and rear image data extracted by the front and rear image data transmission means is transmitted to the mail server.
Usually, a time lag occurs in image data shown on a videophone. Although this time lag depends on the communication environment, a delay of about 1 second often occurs. For this reason, the image data shown on the user's screen is data about one second ago. Even if a recording command is issued at that time, only data after one second can be recorded.
On the other hand, the image data recording unit always records image data in the image data recording unit. For this reason, even if a time lag occurs, image data before and after the recording command can be extracted by the preceding and following image data extraction means, and the problem caused by the time lag can be solved. As a result, a series of operations including before and after the recording command is received can be recorded as image data, and the evidence ability is improved.

(Claim 6)
Invention of Claim 6 limited the remote image delivery system in any one of Claim 1, Claim 3 or Claim 4,
The image data for storage and transmission recorded in the mail server has an image resolution that is not larger than the image resolution captured by the security camera.

“The image data for storage and transmission is not larger than the image resolution captured by the security camera” means that the resolution is the same or lower. The purpose is as follows. That is, the image data for storage / transmission does not exceed the image resolution captured by the security camera. On the other hand, a higher image resolution (higher evidence capacity) is desirable, but a smaller amount of data is desirable when transmitting to another location. That is, it has the following relationship.
Captured image resolution ≧ image data for stored transmission ≧ data for transmission to portable videophone The user may set it uniquely or automatically determine the optimum value so as to satisfy the above relationship. .
Here, VGA (640 × 480 pixels), SVGA (800 × 600 pixels), XGA (1024 × 768 pixels), and the like are used as the image resolution used in the security camera. If it is, it can be recognized sufficiently. For reference, the image resolution of a portable videophone is thinned out to about QCIF (176 × 144 pixels).

(Function)
According to the invention described in claim 6, the image data for storage transmission is stored without reducing the resolution of the image captured by the security camera. Therefore, if image data for storage and transmission captured at the image resolution of the security camera is recorded in the mail server, it can be stored in a clear state. For this reason, the accuracy of the evidence ability in crime and the like is greatly increased.
On the other hand, the image data for storage / transmission recorded on the remote recording medium is reduced to an image resolution within the standard in order to correspond to the standard of the portable videophone. For this reason, the burden in transmission is reduced.

(Claim 7)
The invention described in claim 7 limits the remote image distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and the imaging unit and the strobe unit of the security camera are formed separately. It is characterized by that.
In other words, in the security camera according to the present invention, the imaging unit for imaging the subject and the strobe unit for imaging the subject clearly are formed as separate physically separated bodies. Here, the imaging unit is a camera having functions necessary for a camera other than the flash unit. In other words, the camera does not have a strobe function.

(Function)
According to the invention described in claim 7, by separately forming the imaging unit and the strobe unit, it is possible to earn time until image data captured by the security camera is transmitted to the mail server. In other words, for example, it is assumed that the user records the intrusion site of a suspicious person at night or in a room without a window using a portable videophone. Naturally, use the strobe function to be at night.
Here, it is assumed that the camera is found by a suspicious person and destroyed. However, what is actually destroyed is not the camera body (imaging unit) but the strobe unit. Image data captured during this time is transmitted to the mail server and distributed from the mail server to the user. Therefore, it is possible to earn sufficient time for data transmission.

(Claim 8)
The invention described in claim 8 is a limited version of the remote image distribution system described in claim 7, and is provided with a continuous photographing dummy mechanism that operates as if image data is always recorded. And
A flash or the like may be provided to make the shooting look more realistic.

(Function)
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the constituent elements for continuous photographing specified in the fifth aspect are not provided, a power source can be secured with a battery, and a large-capacity recording medium is not required, so that it is inexpensive System. On the other hand, it contributes to threats against criminals and prevention of crimes.

(Claim 9)
The invention according to claim 9 provides a remote image distribution method capable of remotely acquiring image data of a security camera having a communication function using a portable videophone and a mail server of the portable videophone. To do.
That is, an image data recording procedure for recording predetermined image data captured by the security camera in response to an operation command from the portable videophone in an image data recording unit, and a storage transmission command transmitted from the portable videophone A transmission data creation procedure for extracting image data for storage transmission from the image data recorded in the image data recording procedure, and a videophone session with the portable videophone after receiving the storage transmission command. Video phone session disconnection procedure, the video phone session disconnection procedure disconnects the video phone session, and the IP session establishment procedure for connecting to the mail server via the Internet, and the IP session establishment procedure is normally connected to the mail server. If you can And a remote image distribution method comprising: an image data transmission procedure for transmitting the stored transmission image data extracted by the transmission data creation procedure to a server.

(First variation of claim 9)
It is also possible to provide the following process invention as an invention that limits the remote image delivery method according to claim 9.
That is, in the case where a remote recording medium physically separated from the security camera is provided, the image data transmission procedure transmits the image data for storage and transmission created by the transmission data creation procedure to the remote recording medium. It is characterized by that.

(Second variation of claim 9)
It is also possible to provide the following process invention as an invention that limits the remote image delivery method according to claim 9.
That is, an image data constant recording procedure for constantly recording image data at the time of establishment of the videophone session in an image data recording unit, and a previous image recorded before the image data recorded at the reception timing of the recording command reception procedure And a before-and-after image data extraction procedure for extracting data and later-recorded after-image data from the image data recording unit, and a before-and-after image data transmission procedure for transmitting the before-and-after image data to a mail server. .

(Claim 10)
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote location image capable of remotely acquiring image data of a security camera having a communication function using a portable videophone and a mail server of the portable videophone for a computer. A program for causing a computer to execute a distribution method is provided.
The program includes an image data recording procedure for recording predetermined image data captured by the security camera in response to an operation command from the portable videophone in an image data recording unit, and a save transmission command transmitted from the portable videophone. A transmission data creation procedure for extracting the saved transmission image data from the image data recorded in the image data recording procedure, and a videophone session with the portable videophone after receiving the saved transmission command. The videophone session disconnecting procedure to be disconnected, the videophone session disconnecting procedure disconnecting the videophone session, the IP session establishing procedure for connecting to the mail server via the Internet, and the IP session establishing procedure being normal with the mail server If you can connect to The present invention relates to a computer program including an image data transmission procedure for transmitting image data for storage transmission extracted by the transmission data creation procedure to a mail server.

The above computer program can be provided by being stored in a recording medium. Here, the “recording medium” is a medium that can carry a program that cannot occupy space by itself, such as a flexible disk, a hard disk, a CD-R, an MO (magneto-optical disk), a DVD- R and the like.
It is also possible to transmit from a computer storing a program according to these inventions to another computer through a communication line.
Moreover, it is also possible to form the server device of the system according to claim 1 by preinstalling or downloading a program to a general-purpose terminal device.

(Claim 11)
The invention described in claim 11 limits the computer program described in claim 10,
In the case where a remote recording medium physically separated from the security camera is provided, the image data transmission procedure includes transmitting the storage / transmission image data created by the transmission data creation procedure to the remote recording medium. Features.

(Claim 12)
The invention described in claim 12 limits the computer program described in claim 11,
Image data always recording procedure for always recording image data at the time of establishment of the videophone session in an image data recording unit, and previous image data recorded before the image data recorded at the reception timing of the recording command receiving procedure; The image data recording unit includes a before-and-after image data extraction procedure for extracting after-image data recorded later from an image data recording unit, and a before-and-after image data transmission procedure for transmitting the before-and-after image data to a mail server.

(Claim 13)
According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote location image distribution method capable of transmitting imaging data of a security camera having a communication function to a security server by using a portable videophone and a security server by remote operation of the portable videophone. Relates to a program for executing the above on a computer.
The program includes an image data recording procedure for recording predetermined image data captured by the security camera in response to an operation command from the portable videophone in an image data recording unit, and a save transmission command transmitted from the portable videophone. A transmission data creation procedure for extracting image data for storage transmission from the image data recorded in the image data recording procedure by receiving, and a videophone session with a portable videophone after receiving the storage transmission command A videophone session disconnection procedure for disconnecting a videophone session, a videophone session disconnection by the videophone session disconnection procedure, an IP session establishment procedure for connecting to the security server via the Internet, and a security by the IP session establishment procedure Successfully with the server An image data transmission procedure for transmitting image data for storage / transmission cut out by the transmission data creation procedure to a security server when connection is established.

(variation)
It is also possible to provide an invention relating to a remote image distribution method capable of transmitting imaging data of a security camera having a communication function to a security server by using a portable videophone and a security server by remote operation of the portable videophone. it can.
That is, an image data recording procedure for recording predetermined image data captured by the security camera in response to an operation command from the portable videophone in an image data recording unit, and a storage transmission command transmitted from the portable videophone A transmission data creation procedure for extracting image data for storage transmission from the image data recorded in the image data recording procedure, and a videophone session with the portable videophone after receiving the storage transmission command. A video phone session disconnecting procedure, an IP session establishing procedure for disconnecting the video phone session by the video phone session disconnecting procedure and connecting to the security server via the Internet, and a security server by the IP session establishing procedure. Can connect normally In this case, the remote image distribution method includes: an image data transmission procedure for transmitting the stored transmission image data cut out in the transmission data creation procedure to the security server.

According to the first to eighth aspects of the invention, it is possible to provide a system capable of recording remote data and protecting the data without changing the configuration of the communication infrastructure. did it.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a process capable of recording remote data and protecting the data without changing the configuration of the communication infrastructure.
According to the invention described in claims 10 to 13, it is possible to provide a program capable of recording remote data and protecting the data without changing the configuration of the communication infrastructure. did it.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on the embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings. The drawings used here are FIGS. 1 to 7. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a security camera, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a portable videophone. FIG. 6 is an external view of a camera function part used in this embodiment. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment different from FIG.

(Remote image distribution system)
The remote image distribution system is a system capable of remotely acquiring image data of a security camera having a communication function using a portable videophone and a mail server of the portable videophone. The image data recording means for recording the predetermined image data captured by the security camera in response to the operation command in the image data recording section, and the image data recording means by receiving the save transmission command transmitted from the portable videophone Transmission data creating means for cutting out the saved transmission image data from the image data.

  Also, a videophone session disconnecting means for disconnecting the videophone session with the portable videophone after receiving the save transmission command, and the videophone session disconnecting means disconnects the videophone session and connects to the mail server via the Internet. An IP session establishing means for transmitting, and when the IP session establishing means can be normally connected to the mail server, an image data transmitting means for transmitting the image data for storage transmission extracted by the transmission data creating means to the mail server; It is configured with.

An outline of the operation will be described with reference to FIG.
First, a call command from a portable videophone is received to establish a videophone session. The security camera projects the monitored location and records the imaged data of the monitored location in the image data recording unit. When the storage transmission command transmitted from the portable videophone is received, the image data for storage transmission is cut out from the image data recorded in the image data recording means.
Disconnect a videophone session connected to a portable videophone. After disconnection, the IP session is established by connecting to the mail server via the Internet, and the saved image data for saving transmission is transmitted to the mail server. The mail server transmits the image data for storage and transmission as an attached file of an e-mail to the portable videophone.
By the operation of image data transmission by videophone session disconnection and IP session establishment, data can be protected in the existing communication infrastructure under restrictions based on the self-regulation of privacy protection.

(Security camera)
Hereinafter, each function for realizing the above system will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the security camera has a camera function, a videophone function, a data communication function, and image data by a compound eye camera configured such that a plurality of digital cameras have a wide field of view by ensuring their respective angles of view. A recording unit is provided. The camera function is set to monitor a monitored place arbitrarily set by a user who uses the system.

  The appearance of the security camera of this embodiment is shown in FIG. By forming the appearance as shown in FIG. 6, the blind spots in the security space are reduced as much as possible. In other words, it is a compound eye camera in which a plurality of digital camera units are embedded in the outer shape of a hemisphere, an inverted truncated cone, etc., and multi-directional viewpoint switching is possible by a portable videophone. Further, as indicated by an imaginary line, a card terminal provided with an antenna and an image data recording unit are provided at a location away from the card terminal. The image data recording unit is provided at a location away from the card terminal. The card terminal with the antenna is likely to be destroyed, but if it is away from it, it is recovered without being destroyed. This is because the possibility increases.

  The videophone function is realized by a card terminal. This card terminal has a function of transmitting / receiving audio data and video data to / from a portable videophone, and a function of connecting to the Internet to perform data communication. The videophone function establishes a videophone session with the portable videophone. This “videophone session” is to establish a communication link for using a videophone and to be connected to each other via a telephone line relay station. In addition, this videophone function is provided with an automatic incoming call function, and a communication link is established by automatically responding to a transmission signal (call command) from a portable videophone.

  The data communication function is also realized by a card terminal. The data communication function is capable of transmitting and receiving data by packet communication by connecting to the Internet. In order to realize the data communication function, an IP session is established. An “IP session” is a method of connecting using a communication protocol such as TCP / IP. In the present embodiment, dial-up IP connection based on PPP (Point to Point Protocol) is adopted.

The image data recording unit is a storage medium for recording data reflected by the security camera. When the image data recording unit receives the storage transmission command from the portable videophone, the image data recording unit starts recording the image data for storage transmission in the image data recording unit. The image data recording unit in this embodiment is configured to be able to record for about 3 seconds.
By the way, usually, a time lag occurs in image data shown on a videophone. Although this time lag depends on the communication environment, it has been found that a delay of about 1 second occurs in the current technology. For this reason, the image data shown on the user's screen is data about one second ago. Even if a recording command is issued at that time, only data after one second can be recorded.
For example, it is assumed that a suspicious person has found a criminal offense and transmits a save transmission command. Assuming that the image data is 3 frames / 1 second, about 12 frames of image data are recorded if the recording capacity is 3 seconds. If image data for 12 frames can be secured, it is considered sufficient as evidence ability at the time of the crime.

  Of the image data for storage and transmission stored in the image data recording unit, the image data for storage and transmission recorded in the mail server in the present embodiment is recorded as the same image resolution as the image resolution captured by the security camera. . This is because the image data for storage and transmission recorded on the mail server and the image data for storage and transmission recorded on the remote recording medium are different. That is, the image data for storage transmission captured by the security camera is sent to the mail server. This image data for storage transmission is recorded in the state of the image resolution when captured by the security camera. On the other hand, the image data for storage and transmission recorded on the remote recording medium needs to correspond to the standard of the portable videophone, and therefore the image resolution is reduced to within the standard. Therefore, if image data for storage and transmission captured at the image resolution of the security camera is recorded in the mail server, it can be stored in a clear state. For this reason, the accuracy of the evidence ability in crime and the like is greatly increased.

  The image resolution used by the security camera is VGA (640 × 480 pixels), SVGA (800 × 600 pixels), XGA (1024 × 768 pixels), etc. If so, it is sufficiently recognizable. In addition, the image resolution of the portable videophone in this embodiment is a standard of QCIF (176 × 144 pixels). For this reason, the attached file from the mail server is transmitted after being thinned out in correspondence with QCIF.

The image data recording unit is formed so as to repeat overwriting of image data due to the storage capacity. In this way, an image data recording unit corresponding to the size restriction can be configured. The image data recorded here is transmitted to the mail server using the data communication function.
Note that the storage capacity of the image data recording unit in the present embodiment is not limited to the above. However, the optimum value is calculated from the data amount at the time of image data transmission and the cost of the image data recording unit itself.

In addition, if conditions are available such that the power supply can be secured and there is no problem with the installation space and running cost of the security camera, the data reflected by the security camera may be recorded at all times. . In this way, since the image data is constantly recorded, it becomes easy to record the image data before and after the image data for which the save transmission command is received.
In this case, the image data always recording means for always recording the image data at the time of establishing the videophone session in the image data recording section, and the previous image data recorded before the image data recorded at the reception timing of the recording command receiving means And before and after image data extracting means for extracting the later recorded image data from the image data recording section, and before and after image data transmitting means for transmitting the before and after image data to the mail server.

  If the image data constant recording means always records the image data in the image data recording section, the preceding and following image data extracting means extracts the image data before and after the save transmission command even if a time lag occurs as described above. Can do. In other words, in terms of security, even if the image data is overwritten in a certain cycle, it is possible to prevent the possibility of missing evidence images due to crime timing and remote control time lag with a considerable probability. Can do. As a result, a series of operations including before and after the recording command is received can be recorded as image data, and the evidence ability is improved.

  The image data for storage and transmission can be compressed by image data compression means. As a compression method of image data, it is desirable to adopt a compression method such as JPEG. That is, by compressing the image data, the time efficiency of data transmission / reception from the security camera to the mail server and from the mail server to the portable videophone is excellent. This is particularly effective when transmitting / receiving a plurality of pieces of image data.

The remote image data distribution system in this embodiment includes a remote recording medium physically separated from the security camera. For this remote recording medium, the image data transmission means transmits the stored transmission image data created by the transmission data creation means to the remote recording medium. The “remote recording medium” is a recording medium provided in the above-described portable videophone, but may be located at a location physically separated from the security camera, and is limited to the portable videophone. Is not to be done.
In any case, the image data for storage transmission is transmitted to a mail server via the Internet, and is transmitted from the mail server to a portable videophone or other remote recording medium. Therefore, safety is ensured in a case where the image data recording unit of the security camera is destroyed.

(Mail server)
The mail server is a device that can transmit and receive image data to and from a portable videophone. Usually, a mail server is an ISP (Internet Service Provider) mail server used by a portable videophone, but other mail servers may be used. For example, an outsource server having a mail server function.

(mobile phone)
A portable videophone is configured to have a videophone function, a data communication function, and other various functions necessary for a mobile phone. Here, a remote operation method of the security camera using a portable videophone will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 shows the operation unit (ON, OFF, 0-9, *, #) of the portable videophone. First, a videophone session is established to access a security camera card terminal. This can be directly dialed to the phone number of the card terminal (for example, 090-1234-xxx), but for convenience, a speed dial is used. Here, it is set that the card terminal can be accessed by pressing [1 + ON].

  When the card terminal is accessed and a videophone session is established, the monitored location is displayed on the display unit (not shown) of the portable videophone. Since the security camera employs a compound eye camera, the camera viewpoint can be switched by operating each button. For example, in the case of a compound eye camera capable of monitoring nine locations, the buttons [1 to 9] correspond to each other, and the viewpoint is switched by pressing these buttons. If [5] is the default viewpoint, the front is [2], the rear is [8], the left is [4], the right is [6], the left diagonal front is [1].

Next, in order to record the monitored location, for example, a recording command is transmitted by pressing [0]. Also, a plurality of buttons such as [0 + #] may be combined to prevent erroneous operation. When this recording command is transmitted normally, the videophone session is disconnected. Then, the image data recorded from the card terminal to the mail server is transmitted, and the image data is transmitted from the mail server to the portable videophone. This image data is an attached file of an e-mail in a format that can be received by a portable videophone.
The above embodiment is an example, and the correspondence between each button of the operation unit and the viewpoint switching and recording command of the security camera can be arbitrarily set.

Next, the processing procedure of this system will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. The calling command transmission means of the portable videophone transmits a calling command (S01). The call command receiving means receives a call command from a portable videophone (S02). Here, a videophone session is established.
The image data recording means records predetermined image data captured by the security camera in response to an operation command from the portable videophone in the image data recording unit (S03). The save transmission command transmission means executes a save transmission command for the image data displayed on the screen of the portable videophone (S04). The stored transmission command receiving means receives the stored transmission command transmitted from the portable videophone (S05). The transmission data creation means cuts out saved transmission image data from the image data recorded in the image data recording means (S06).

The videophone session disconnecting unit disconnects the videophone session connected to the portable videophone (S07). When the videophone session is disconnected, the IP session establishing means connects to the mail server via the Internet and establishes the IP session. (S08). It is determined whether an IP session with the mail server has been normally established (S09). When it is confirmed that the mail server has been successfully connected, the image data transmission means sends data for transmission to the mail server and the remote storage medium. The image data for saving transmission cut out by the creating means is transmitted (S10). If an IP session is not established with the mail server for some reason, an attempt is made to establish an IP session again.
The image data receiving means receives the image data for storage transmission (S11). The portable data transmission means transmits the image data to the portable videophone so that it can be received as an attached file of an electronic mail (S12). The portable data receiving means receives it as an attached file (S13).

  FIG. 5 shows the processing procedure of the subroutine of the image data recording means and the image data compression means. The image data constant recording means always records the image data when the videophone session is established in the image data recording unit (S31). The front and rear image data extraction unit extracts the front and rear image data from the image data recording unit (S32). In this case, the recording command receiving means records the image data, and extracts the previous image data recorded before the image data and the subsequent image data recorded after the image data. The image data compression means compresses the preceding and following image data (S33).

Here, in addition to the preceding and following image data, the image data is also compressed. The front and rear image data extracted by the front and rear image data transmitting means is transmitted to the mail server (S34). The front and rear image data receiving means receives the front and rear image data (S35).
That is, the recorded image data is sent to the mail server. Therefore, the image data is saved to the outside, and data protection can be achieved.
Further, since the mail server is used for transmitting the image data, the data can be protected by the existing communication infrastructure.

(Second embodiment)
The second embodiment of the present invention is exactly the same as the first embodiment described above except that an imaging unit and a strobe unit of the security camera are separately formed. That is, a security camera is employed in which an imaging unit for the security camera to capture a subject and a strobe unit for capturing a subject clearly are formed. Here, the imaging unit is a camera having functions necessary for a camera other than the flash unit. In other words, the camera does not have a strobe function.

The remote image distribution system according to the second embodiment is intended to earn time until image data captured by a security camera is transmitted to a mail server. For example, it is assumed that a user records an intrusion site of a suspicious person at night. Naturally, use the strobe function to be at night. However, since a suspicious person can specify the position of the camera by flash emission, there is a concern about destruction of the camera.
Suppose that a strobe is detected by a suspicious person and the strobe is destroyed. However, what is actually destroyed is not the camera body (imaging unit) that stores the captured image but the strobe unit. Even if the camera body (imaging unit) is discovered and destroyed, it may be after the strobe unit in order. Therefore, it is possible to earn sufficient time for data transmission. That is, if the captured image data is transmitted to the mail server and distributed from the mail server to the user during the time of the destruction of the strobe unit that will be discovered first, the evidence preservation of the captured image data is achieved. It can be done.

  Regarding the installation mode, if the imaging unit is installed on the ceiling, it is desirable to install the strobe unit on a wall surface, floor surface, desk, or the like. This is because it is easier to earn time if the positional relationship is not easily grasped. Moreover, when performing further time earning, you may install a flash part in multiple places.

  It is also desirable as a security camera equipped with a continuous photographing dummy mechanism that operates as if image data is always recorded. In this way, even an inexpensive system that does not include the imaging unit and strobe unit as described above can be threatened against criminals only by the presence of the security system, and crime prevention is prevented. To help.

(Fig. 7)
FIG. 7 will be described in comparison with FIG.
In this embodiment, in addition to the mail server, a “security company mail server” operated by a security company, not a telephone company, is provided. The image data recorded and recorded in the image data recording unit is not only confirmed by itself, but also transmitted to a security company.
Although not shown, a “security company mail server” operated by a security company may be provided without providing a mail server. This is because the photographed portable videophone cannot confirm the photographed image data, but can perform the functions of crime prevention and crime proof preservation.

It is the schematic which shows the whole structure of 1st embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the structure of a security camera. It is a flow which shows the process sequence of this system. It is the schematic which shows the operation part of a portable videophone. It is a flow which shows the process sequence of this system. It is an external view of the camera function part used for embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the whole structure of 3rd embodiment.

Claims (13)

A remote image distribution system capable of acquiring image data of a security camera having a communication function by remote operation using a portable video phone and a mail server of the portable video phone,
Image data recording means for recording predetermined image data captured by the security camera in response to an operation command from the portable videophone in an image data recording unit;
Transmission data creating means for cutting out image data for storage transmission from the image data recorded in the image data recording means by receiving a storage transmission command transmitted from the portable videophone;
A videophone session disconnecting means for disconnecting a videophone session with the portable videophone after receiving the stored transmission command;
IP video session establishing means for disconnecting the video telephone session and connecting to the mail server via the Internet;
When the IP session establishment means can be normally connected to the mail server, the image data transmission means is provided for transmitting the image data for storage transmission extracted by the transmission data creation means to the mail server. Remote image distribution system. A remote image distribution system capable of transmitting imaging data of a security camera having a communication function to a security server by using a portable videophone and a security server by remote control of the portable videophone,
Image data recording means for recording predetermined image data captured by the security camera in response to an operation command from the portable videophone in an image data recording unit;
Transmission data creating means for cutting out image data for storage transmission from the image data recorded in the image data recording means by receiving a storage transmission command transmitted from the portable videophone;
A videophone session disconnecting means for disconnecting a videophone session with the portable videophone after receiving the stored transmission command;
IP video session establishing means for disconnecting the video telephone session and connecting to the security server via the Internet;
When the IP session establishment means can be normally connected to the security server, the image data transmission means for transmitting the saved transmission image data extracted by the transmission data creation means to the security server is provided. Remote image distribution system.   3. The remote location image distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the image data recording unit and the image data transmission unit are provided with a physical distance secured.   A remote recording medium physically separated from the security camera is provided, and the image data transmission unit transmits the image data for storage and transmission created by the transmission data creation unit to the remote recording medium. The remote image delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Image data always recording means for constantly recording image data at the time of establishment of the videophone session in an image data recording unit;
Before and after image data extracting means for extracting the previous image data recorded before the image data recorded at the reception timing of the recording command receiving means and the later recorded image data from the image data recording unit;
5. The remote image distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising front and rear image data transmission means for transmitting the front and rear image data to a mail server.   5. The image data for storage transmission recorded in the mail server has an image resolution that is not larger than an image resolution captured by the security camera. Remote image distribution system.   The remote location image distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an imaging unit and a strobe unit of the security camera are formed separately.   The remote image distribution system according to claim 7, further comprising a continuous photographing dummy mechanism that operates as if image data is constantly recorded. A remote image delivery method capable of remotely acquiring image data of a security camera having a communication function using a portable videophone and a mail server of the portable videophone,
An image data recording procedure for recording predetermined image data captured by a security camera in response to an operation command from the portable videophone in an image data recording unit;
A transmission data creation procedure for cutting out image data for storage transmission from the image data recorded in the image data recording procedure by receiving a storage transmission command transmitted from the portable videophone;
A videophone session disconnection procedure for disconnecting the videophone session with the portable videophone after receiving the stored transmission command;
An IP session establishment procedure in which the videophone session disconnection procedure disconnects the videophone session and connects to the mail server via the Internet;
An image data transmission procedure for transmitting the stored transmission image data extracted by the transmission data creation procedure to the mail server when the IP session establishment procedure is successfully connected to the mail server. Remote location image delivery method. A method for causing a computer to execute a remote image distribution method capable of remotely acquiring image data of a security camera having a communication function using a portable videophone and a mail server of the portable videophone. A program,
The program includes an image data recording procedure for recording predetermined image data captured by a security camera in response to an operation command from the portable videophone in an image data recording unit;
A transmission data creation procedure for cutting out image data for storage transmission from the image data recorded in the image data recording procedure by receiving a storage transmission command transmitted from the portable videophone;
A videophone session disconnection procedure for disconnecting the videophone session with the portable videophone after receiving the stored transmission command;
An IP session establishment procedure in which the videophone session disconnection procedure disconnects the videophone session and connects to the mail server via the Internet;
An image data transmission procedure for transmitting the stored transmission image data extracted by the transmission data creation procedure to the mail server when the IP session establishment procedure is successfully connected to the mail server. A computer program. The security camera includes a remote recording medium physically separated from the security camera,
The computer program according to claim 10, wherein in the image data transmission procedure, the storage and transmission image data created by the transmission data creation procedure is transmitted to the remote recording medium. Image data always recording procedure for constantly recording image data at the time of establishing the videophone session in an image data recording unit;
Before and after image data extraction procedure for extracting the previous image data recorded before the image data recorded at the reception timing of the recording command reception procedure and the subsequent image data recorded after the image data recording unit;
The computer program according to claim 11, further comprising a before-and-after image data transmission procedure for transmitting the before-and-after image data to a mail server. A program for executing on a computer a remote location image distribution method capable of transmitting imaging data of a security camera having a communication function to a security server by using a portable videophone and a security server by remote operation of the portable videophone Because
The program includes an image data recording procedure for recording predetermined image data captured by a security camera in response to an operation command from the portable videophone in an image data recording unit;
A transmission data creation procedure for cutting out image data for storage transmission from the image data recorded in the image data recording procedure by receiving a storage transmission command transmitted from the portable videophone;
A videophone session disconnection procedure for disconnecting the videophone session with the portable videophone after receiving the stored transmission command;
An IP session establishment procedure for disconnecting a videophone session in the videophone session disconnection procedure and connecting to the security server via the Internet;
An image data transmission procedure for transmitting the image data for storage / transmission extracted in the transmission data creation procedure to the security server when the IP server establishes a normal connection with the security server. A computer program characterized by the above.

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