JPH07200971A - Abnormality detecting and transmitting method in remote monitor system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transmit an abnormal image by automatically calling a center side without using an alarm switch by storing image information image-picked up with a video camera in image memory periodically, and detecting an abnormal state based on the change of the data of the image information. CONSTITUTION:An image photographed by the video camera 3 is transmitted as analog signal, and is converted into a digital signal by an analog/digital conversion controller 10, and is compressed, and stored by moving and circulating to each block of memory 12 sequentially. When no change occurs in the outside, the data quantity of those signals can be kept at almost constant values. However. when the change occurs in an external state due to the intrusion of a criminal or the occurrence of fire, etc., the change occurs also in the quantity of compressed data, and such data is stored in the next block. A microprocessor 9 compares the data with each other in both blocks, and starts up an NCU 13 when the change appears, and transmits image data to a center by automatically calling the center side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote monitoring system in which image information taken by a video camera is compressed and transmitted via a digital line or an analog line so that an abnormal condition at a remote place can be monitored on the center side. The present invention relates to an abnormality detection transmission method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the state of a remote place is known via a communication network.
In the case of monitoring on the center side, as a method of detecting an abnormality on the transmitting side, there is a method of detecting an abnormality by turning on an alarm switch provided on a door, a window or the like. In this way,
The transmitting side, which has detected the abnormality, automatically calls the center side, connects to the center side via the communication network, transmits the image information, and monitors the abnormal state on the center side.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a conventional remote monitoring system. Reference numeral 1 is a transmitting side (side remotely monitored), and 2 is a receiving side (center side). Video camera 3 on sender 1
, M alarm switches 8 and the image information transmitter 4 are installed. The video camera 3 and the alarm switch 8 are connected to the image information transmitter 4. An image information receiver 6 and a monitor device 7 with a display are installed on the receiving side 2. The transmission side 1 and the reception side 2 are connected by a communication network of a digital line 5.

Next, the flow of operation of the system shown in FIG. 5 will be described. When an abnormality occurs on the transmitting side 1 (when a criminal invades, a fire occurs, etc.), the alarm switch 8 is turned on, and the image information transmitter 4 automatically calls the network. It waits for a response from the image information receiver 6 on the receiving side 2. When the image information receiver 6 responds, the image information transmitter 4 digitizes the image information of the video camera 3, sends it to the image information receiver 6 through the digital line 5, and displays the abnormal state on the monitor device 7.

[0005]

However, the conventional system in which the abnormality is detected by using the alarm switch and the image information is monitored on the center side as described above has the following problems.

First, since the alarm switch is a mechanical switch, there is a problem that a contact failure is likely to occur due to rust or dust, and the alarm switch may not operate at the time of abnormality.

Further, when a criminal invades from a place where the alarm switch is not installed, no input from the alarm switch is generated, so that the center side cannot monitor the abnormal state. In addition, in order to solve this problem, it is necessary to install a large number of alarm switches in many places, and there is a problem that a large installation cost is required.

The present invention solves such a conventional problem, and in a remote monitoring system, an image information transmitter recognizes an abnormality that has occurred through a video camera without requiring an alarm switch. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an abnormality detection transmission method for automatically calling and outputting to a monitor device on the center side.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention captures a remote condition with a video camera, and when an abnormality occurs, an automatic call is made through a communication network interface so that the center side A method for detecting and transmitting an abnormality on a remote side that monitors an abnormal state, storing the image information in an image memory, determining that an abnormal state has occurred due to a change in the data in the image memory, and automatically calling the center side. Then, the abnormal image information is transmitted.

[0010]

In the abnormality detecting and transmitting method in the remote monitoring system according to the present invention, the image information taken by the video camera is periodically stored in the image memory and the abnormal state is detected based on the change of the data.

When the external state is constant and does not change,
The amount of data captured by a video camera and digitized shows a constant value, but if there is an intruder and the external state changes, for example, the image captured by the video camera also changes. This image change changes the digitized data value. Therefore, by observing this data value, it is recognized that an abnormality has occurred at a remote place.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a system configuration to which an abnormal transmission method in a remote monitoring system of the present invention is applied. 1 is a transmitting side, which is a video camera 3 and an image information transmitter 4
Is installed. 2 is a receiving side, which is an image information receiver 6,
A monitor device 7 is installed. The transmission side 1 and the reception side 2 are connected by a digital line 5. Compared with the conventional remote monitoring system shown in FIG. 5, this system does not require an alarm switch.

FIG. 2 shows an internal block diagram of the image information transmitter 4 on the transmitting side 1 shown in FIG. A video camera 3 and a digital line 5 are connected to the image information transmitter 4, and a microprocessor (MPU) manages the overall operation.
9 does.

The video camera 3 converts an image taken through a lens into an analog signal. The analog signal is input to the analog / digital conversion controller 10 (A / D) of the image information transmitter 4 through a cable, and the analog signal is converted into a digital signal.

Since the converted digital signal has a large data amount, this digital signal is compressed by the digital information compression controller 11 (COD) to reduce the data amount.
As a digital information compression method, for example, still image compression equalization method JP, which is being standardized jointly by CCITT (International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
There is an EG method and the like, and compression is possible up to about 1/40.

This compressed data is stored in the memory 12 (M
EM). When an external abnormality occurs, the microprocessor (MPU) 9 controls the digital line 13
After calling (NCU) to the communication network, the center side is called, and after the center side responds, the information stored in the memory 12 at the time when the abnormality occurs is sent to the center side via the digital line 5. To do.

In the image information receiver 6 shown in FIG.
The compressed data is decoded, converted into a digital signal of the image, converted into an analog signal, and the image is displayed on the monitor device 7. In FIG. 2, a microprocessor (MPU) 9 that controls the image information transmitter 4 periodically compares the amount of data stored in the memory 12 to determine whether there is an external abnormality.

FIG. 3 shows the structure of the memory unit, and FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the process for judging an external abnormality. When the image memory has five blocks (image memories A to E in FIG. 3), as shown in FIG. 4, after the video camera 3 starts shooting (step S1), the video camera 3 continuously transmits analog signals. (Step S2), the image is analog
Digitally converted by the digital conversion controller 10 (step S3), the digital information compression controller 1
The data is compressed by 1 (step S4), and the compressed data is moved periodically (for example, every 1 second) in sequence as image memory A → B → C → D → E → A → B ... and stored. (Steps S5 to S9).

If there is no change to the outside, these data amounts are almost constant. However, if the external state changes due to a criminal's intrusion or a fire after being stored in the image memory B, the amount of compressed data also changes, and the data is stored in the image memory C. To be done.

If the microprocessor 9 compares the amounts of data stored in the image memory B and the image memory C and determines that there is a change (step S8), FIG.
The NCU 13 shown in is activated to automatically call the center side (step S10). The center receives the call and responds (step S11), transmits the data in the image memory (step S12), and monitors the center (step S13).

Whether the image information after the abnormality is stored in the image memories D and E, and from which image memory after the connection with the center side, the image information transmitter 4 is instructed to the maintenance person. Can be set at the time of installation, or can be set from the center side via a communication network.

For example, if it is set that the image two seconds before and after the change point is to be viewed, the image memory A is connected after the connection with the center side.
The image can be monitored for 5 seconds before and after the occurrence of the abnormality on the center side.

The above description is only one example of the transmission method according to the present invention, and a more detailed monitor on the center side can be realized by increasing the amount of memory and setting the storage cycle time optimally.

According to the transmission method of the present invention, it is possible to store an image of a place to be monitored at the time of occurrence of an abnormality, and the center side receives the information to monitor the information at the time of occurrence of the abnormality. Therefore, it is possible to reliably monitor the criminal's face, clothes, etc. without missing the image.

Further, by providing several image memories, the external image information that changes before and after an abnormality occurs and before the center side is connected by automatically calling from a remote place is displayed. It becomes possible to monitor without missing on the side.

[0027]

As described above, in the abnormal transmission method in the remote monitoring system according to the present invention, the image information photographed by the video camera is digitized, compressed, and periodically stored in the image memory. By comparing the stored data value with the previous data value and checking it, an external abnormality is detected.Therefore, the conventional alarm switch that detects an external abnormality is not used. It is possible to eliminate all the drawbacks of the conventional technology such as the failure detection of abnormality occurrence and the intrusion detection of a criminal from a place other than the alarm switch installation place.

Further, since the semiconductor memory is used as the storage means for the image information, the trouble due to the defective video deck mechanism at the time of using the endless video tape as in the prior art is eliminated, and the highly reliable monitoring system can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system example to which an abnormal transmission method in a remote monitoring system of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an internal block diagram of an image information transmitter 4 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a memory 12 shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an external abnormality determination processing operation.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a conventional remote monitoring system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 transmitting side (remotely monitored side) 2 receiving side (center side) 3 video camera 4 image information transmitter 5 digital line 6 image information receiver 7 monitoring device

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A video camera for photographing a remote condition,
An abnormality detection transmission method of a remote side in which an abnormality is transmitted automatically through a communication network interface when an abnormality occurs and the center side monitors the abnormality state, and the image information is stored in an image memory and the image memory is stored. The abnormality detection transmission method in the remote monitoring system, characterized in that it is judged that an abnormal state has occurred due to the change in the data, and the center side is automatically called to transmit the abnormal image information.