JP4929191B2 - Remote monitoring device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote video monitoring apparatus.

  The need for a centralized monitoring system using a large number of cameras is increasing due to the decline in camera unit prices and the evolution of network technology. However, transmission of images from a large number of cameras consumes a large amount of bandwidth, and a system in which cameras are simply connected to a network has a low limit on the number of cameras. Therefore, by controlling the transmission according to the content of the image captured by the camera, it is possible to raise the limit of the number of cameras that can be connected by selecting the image that should be transmitted immediately and the one that is not so. . At that time, images that are determined not to be transmitted immediately should not be discarded, but accumulated in a temporary storage device built in or near the camera and transmitted according to the situation, but there will be a time difference. Accumulation is possible.

  With regard to such a system, for example, there is a conventional example of [Patent Document 1], and it is detected on the camera side that a subject to be photographed is not in a normal state, and the information is used for transmission control and data compression. Further, in the conventional example of [Patent Document 2], images are deleted, recompressed, and transmitted according to the free capacity of the storage device for temporary storage and the elapsed storage time.

JP 2007-174273 A JP 2002-540652A

  In the construction of a remote monitoring system using a large number of cameras, it is necessary to select and temporarily store an image to be transmitted in order to achieve both promptness and total storage. However, the storage device for temporary storage has a capacity limit, and it is necessary to transmit, delete, and recompress the image before the capacity is exceeded. When the transmission network is congested and the temporarily stored image cannot be transmitted, means for securing the free capacity of the storage device by executing deletion and recompression as time passes is common.

  However, in this case, images stored temporarily are disregarded while ignoring the intentions of remote supervisors, and there is a risk that necessary images may be lost or deteriorated.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a remote monitoring device that enables efficient use of a storage device by organizing temporarily stored images and avoids loss or deterioration of important images. It is to provide.

  A remote monitoring system using a large number of cameras can efficiently utilize a transmission network by including a storage device for temporary storage. However, in order to prevent a necessary image from being lost or deteriorated, a means for organizing temporarily stored images is required in accordance with the intention of a monitor in a remote place. In order to realize this, it is necessary for a monitor at a remote location to transmit the image immediately after transmitting the intention of referring to the image not yet transmitted to the storage device through the transmission network.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a remote monitoring device using a camera, a means for capturing an image by the camera, a means for performing event detection on the captured image by image processing, and an event detection result. Means for controlling transmission based on the above, means for temporarily storing an image in which no event has been detected in a storage device before sending it to the transmission network, means for referring to the temporarily stored image from a remote location, and reference Means for erasing the recorded image from the storage device, and re-compressing or erasing the stored image after a certain period of time.

  According to the present invention, in the remote monitoring device, means for displaying images transmitted to a remote place in time series, means for instructing reference to an image not transmitted, and storing temporary storage on the camera side according to the instructions Means for transmitting from the apparatus, and the transmitted image is combined with the already transmitted image and continuously reproduced.

  Further, the present invention provides a remote monitoring device, wherein when the reproduction of the stored image that has been transmitted in the remote place has been reproduced to the end, means for continuing to transmit the subsequent temporarily stored image in time series, and the transmitted The image is deleted from the storage device.

  Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a remote monitoring device using a camera, a means for capturing an image by the camera, a means for detecting an event by image processing on the captured image, and an event Means for performing transmission control based on the detection result, means for temporarily storing an image in which no event has been detected in a storage device before sending it to the transmission network, and means for referring to the temporarily stored image from a remote location Means for erasing the referenced image from the storage device, means for displaying the transmitted image, means for instructing reference to the image of the part that has not been transmitted, and means for transmitting from the storage device on the camera side according to the instruction And transmitting the transmitted image in combination with the already transmitted image.

  Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a remote monitoring device using a camera, a means for capturing an image by the camera, a means for detecting an event by image processing on the captured image, and an event Means for performing transmission control based on the detection result, means for temporarily storing an image in which no event has been detected in a storage device before sending it to the transmission network, and means for referring to the temporarily stored image from a remote location A means for erasing the referenced image from the storage device, a means for displaying the transmitted image in time series, a means for instructing reference to an image that has not been transmitted, and a transmission from the storage device according to the instruction Means and the transmitted image is combined with the already transmitted image and reproduced continuously.

  By organizing temporarily stored images according to the reference intention of a remote supervisor, it is possible to efficiently use a storage device and to avoid loss or deterioration of important images. Thereby, the capacity of the storage device for temporary storage can be reduced from the viewpoint of system hardware. Further, in monitoring work, it is possible to avoid unintended loss of information with the passage of time, and it is possible to control a storage device for temporary storage without being conscious by control combined with a display system.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a remote monitoring system in which a large number of cameras are arranged. The monitoring camera 101 captures an image, and the image processing apparatus 102 detects an event. This event detection includes face detection and motion detection. When an event is detected, the image is immediately sent to the network 103 and sent to the monitoring center 104 installed at a remote place. Images for which no event has been detected are stored in the temporary storage cache 105. The stored image is subjected to transmission control according to the status of the network.

  In the monitoring center, the transmitted image is accumulated in the storage 106 and displayed or searched. In the monitoring center, when a monitor needs to refer to an image stored in the storage and to refer to an untransmitted image, the cache is controlled through the network and the corresponding image is transmitted to the monitoring center. At that time, the corresponding image in the cache is deleted.

  FIG. 2 shows a processing flow in the remote monitoring system. First, an image is taken by a camera (step 201), and then event detection is performed by image processing (step 202). The event detection result is determined (step 203). If an event has occurred, the transmission network is examined to determine whether transmission is possible (step 204), and if possible, transmission is performed immediately (step 205). After the transmission, the transmitted image is deleted from the cache (step 211). If no event is detected and transmission is not possible, the event is cached for temporary storage (step 206). When there is an image reference request from the monitoring center (step 207), the network is examined to determine whether transmission is possible (step 208), and the image is transmitted immediately. If there is no reference request or transmission is impossible, the storage elapsed time in the cache is checked (step 209), and if the fixed period has passed, the corresponding image is recompressed or deleted to The inside is arranged (step 210).

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the display on the monitor in the monitoring center. Images in which events are detected by image processing are displayed in the image display areas 301, 302, and 303 arranged in the upper part on the monitor. In the image display areas 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315 arranged in the lower part, no event is detected, or even if it is detected, the probability is low. Display an image. The upper and lower images are switched according to the event detection result of the image processing, so that the event to be monitored can be recognized if the upper image is watched.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a display on the monitor when referring to images stored in the monitoring center. Normally, an image taken by a camera is continuously displayed by a display system as shown in FIG. 3, but if an image is designated at a certain point, the display state transitions to the state of FIG. The upper image display area 401 displays the images that have been transmitted corresponding to the camera that captured the designated image in time series. When the scroll bar 402 is moved, the display moves in the time axis direction. The image display areas 403, 404, and 405 display the transmitted images in an overlapping manner, and the time zone in which nothing exists indicates that no image is transmitted to the monitoring center. When the monitor designates a time zone in which nothing exists, the monitor communicates with the cache through the transmission network from the monitoring center and requests transmission of the corresponding image. Thereby, transmission reflecting the reference intention of the supervisor is performed, and after the transmission is completed, the corresponding image is deleted from the cache.

  FIG. 5 shows a processing flow for transmitting an image from a temporary storage cache when an image stored in the monitoring center is being reproduced. First, at the monitoring center, the monitor continuously reproduces the images stored in time series (step 501), and determines whether the currently displayed image is the last stored image (step 502). If it is the last, a transmission instruction is given through the transmission network (step 503), and the transmitted image is continuously reproduced (step 504). By deleting the temporarily stored image while reproducing (step 505), the free space of the storage device is secured. As a result, the supervisor's intention to reproduce the image and transmission control operate in cooperation, and the images in the cache can be organized without being conscious of it.

A remote monitoring system for realizing the present invention. The whole processing flow of this invention. An example of a normal display on a monitor in a monitoring center. An example of the display of the stored image reference on the monitor in a monitoring center. Processing flow for cooperation between playback of stored images and transmission control.

Explanation of symbols

101 monitoring camera 102 image processing apparatus 103 network 104 monitoring center 105 temporary storage cache 106 image storage

Claims (6)

In a remote monitoring device using a camera,
Means for taking an image by the camera;
Means for performing event detection on the captured image by image processing;
Means for performing transmission control based on the event detection result;
Means for temporarily storing an image in which no event is detected in a storage device before sending the image to the transmission network;
Means for remotely referring to temporarily stored images;
Means for erasing the referenced image from the storage device;
A remote monitoring device characterized by recompressing or erasing a stored image after a certain period of time. The remote monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein
Means for displaying images transmitted to remote locations in time series;
Means for instructing reference to an image of a portion not transmitted;
Means for transmitting from the temporary storage device on the camera side according to the instructions;
A remote monitoring apparatus, wherein a transmitted image is combined with an already transmitted image and continuously reproduced. The remote monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein
Means for continuing to transmit the image that is temporarily stored in the time series when playback of the stored image that has been transmitted at the remote location is completed.
A monitoring device, wherein the transmitted image is deleted from the storage device. In a remote monitoring device using a camera,
Means for taking an image by the camera;
Means for performing event detection on the captured image by image processing;
Means for performing transmission control based on the event detection result;
Means for temporarily storing an image in which no event is detected in a storage device before sending the image to the transmission network;
Means for remotely referring to temporarily stored images;
Means for erasing the referenced image from the storage device;
Means for displaying the transmitted image;
Means for instructing reference to an image of a portion not transmitted;
Means for transmitting from the storage device on the camera side according to an instruction,
A remote monitoring apparatus for reproducing a transmitted image in combination with an already transmitted image. The remote monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein
Means for displaying images transmitted to remote locations in time series;
A remote monitoring device comprising: means for displaying an image transmitted from the storage device on the camera side. In a remote monitoring device using a camera,
Means for taking an image by the camera;
Means for performing event detection on the captured image by image processing;
Means for performing transmission control based on the event detection result;
Means for temporarily storing an image in which no event is detected in a storage device before sending the image to the transmission network;
Means for remotely referring to temporarily stored images;
Means for erasing the referenced image from the storage device;
Means for displaying transmitted images in chronological order;
Means for instructing reference to an image of a portion not transmitted;
Means for transmitting from the storage device by instructions;
A remote monitoring apparatus, wherein a transmitted image is combined with an already transmitted image and continuously reproduced.

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