JPH08227450A - Image storage system using temporary image storage means and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To eliminate the need to write image data, generated at a high frequency, directly in an external image storage device and to prolong the life by using the temporary image storage means. CONSTITUTION: The temporary image storage device 2 is installed between a camera and a final external image storage device 4. Plural frame memories are incorporated in the temporary image storage device 2 and one scene of an image can be stored in one memory. An image which is inputted from the camera at a high frequency is written cyclically in plural memories in the temporary image storage device 2. Another device decides whether or not each image scene needs to be stored in parallel, so the result is inputted and a mark is written in a memory management table 15, when an inputted image is written cyclically in a frame memory, this mark is checked to prevent the image from being written in a memory wherein an image which should be stored is present. When the number of images stored in the frame memories exceeds a certain value, they are transferred together to the external image storage device 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention takes only a small amount of a specific image by image judgment or other methods from a large number of picked-up images after picking up an image of an object passing continuously in front of a camera at high speed for 24 hours. This is effective when leaving the image and discarding other images. At this time, it is necessary to temporarily buffer all the generated images because the evaluation process for image discarding has a time delay with respect to the image capturing time. For example, at an automatic tollgate on an expressway, all passing vehicles are imaged and temporarily recorded together with a scene ID (image collection time, etc.), and a vehicle type determination mechanism, a vehicle number reading result of captured images and a specific vehicle number are recorded. A fraudulent vehicle is determined by comparing it with a registration list (negative list). According to the determination result, the image of the normal vehicle is discarded, and only the image of the illegal vehicle is rewritten in the image recording device for long-term storage, so that the fee is added later, which is used. In addition, in the production line, the image of the manufacturing process is automatically taken on the belt conveyor, etc., and then the image of the manufacturing process that is determined to be non-defective in the inspection process etc. is all the image of the manufacturing process that is determined to be defective. A wide range of applications are conceivable, such as storing only one until the cause of the defect has been investigated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A VTR tape recording device is known as a device for continuously recording a large amount of image data as a moving image. However, there is no simple function that leaves necessary images and discards unnecessary images, and recording moving images over a long period has the drawback of enormous media, and it is not easy to search for necessary scenes. It is not suitable for the fields intended for patents. An optical disc device and a frame memory still image recording device are known as devices capable of recording and managing a still image in scene units together with a scene ID. However, the frame memory has a storage capacity of about 120 per device at most, and is not suitable for a field in which a large amount of images need to be stored. As an optical disk device, a device capable of reading and writing 70,000 or more images in scene units is commercially available, but it is said that the life of the device is about half a year under the use condition of operating for 24 hours, and it is the object of this patent. Not suitable for use. The authors previously invented a method of physically storing a recorded image in two storage devices (a primary frame memory and a secondary frame memory), but there is a drawback that the device becomes expensive.

[0003]

In an automatic toll booth on a highway, two cameras capture an image containing a driver's seat, a vehicle number, and an image containing only the vehicle number by a signal from a vehicle detector. The two images are linked with the same scene ID.
The vehicle number recognition means (image processing device) can perform high-speed processing, and the reading of the vehicle number of the previous image is completed before the next image is captured. An illegally passing vehicle is detected from a blacklist or the like using the vehicle number read from the image as a key. Further, the roadside communication device detects a communication failure, the vehicle length, the vehicle height, the vehicle width, the vehicle type determination by measuring the vehicle weight, and the manual toll collection device detects an illegally passing vehicle. It is necessary to temporarily record all the captured images because there is a timing shift so that the information of these illegally passing vehicles is completely prepared, and when the judgment of the illegally passing vehicles is made, the images must be transferred to another recording file and stored. There is. An image of a vehicle that has not been notified of an illegally passing vehicle after a certain period of time must be automatically passed as a normal passing vehicle. It is self-evident that the use of a known VTR tape recorder for such a purpose cannot be applied because it cannot handle images in scene units. An optical disk device capable of recording and rewriting on a scene-by-scene basis can be used for such a purpose, but has the following problems. The first problem is 24
In case of hour operation, it has a life of about half a year, and optical disc should not be operated continuously. The second problem is that
Rewriting requires a medium (disk) erasing operation, which takes time, and cannot be used in such a manner that overwriting is repeatedly performed in a short time.

Further, the frame memory convenient for repeated rewriting has a problem that the recording capacity per unit is small and it can be applied only to recording for a short time.

As described above, all of the known image recording devices are "short in length and long in length" and therefore cannot be used for this purpose. In order to solve the above problems, the authors solved the above problems by writing captured images in two frame memories. However, this method has a drawback that an image recording device physically incorporating two frame memories is required and the equipment is expensive.

[0006]

A temporary image storage device is installed between a camera for capturing an original image and a final external image storage device. The temporary image storage device has a plurality of frame memories built-in, and one image can be stored in one memory. Images frequently captured by the camera are cyclically written on a plurality of frame memories in the temporary image storage device. Whether or not it is necessary to save each image one scene is performed in parallel in a separate device. Therefore, the result is taken in and a mark is written on the memory management table. When the captured image is cyclically written on the frame memory, the mark is checked so that the memory in which the image for saving is stored is not overwritten. When the number of stored images on the frame memory exceeds a certain number, the images are collectively transferred to the external image storage device.

[0007]

When the vehicle detector detects a passing vehicle, two cameras are activated and two images are captured. The first camera is
It is for inputting an image including both the driver's seat and the vehicle number. The second camera is for inputting an image in which a vehicle number portion for reading the vehicle number is enlarged. 1
The second camera image is written in the frame memory in the temporary image storage device in the order in which it was taken in, and when writing to the final memory is completed, writing is performed again from the beginning. At this time, if there is a mark on the saved image, writing is performed at the next address. Therefore, the image to be saved is not erased by overwriting. The second camera image is input to the image processing device to read the vehicle number. This image is discarded when the vehicle number reading is completed. The result of reading the vehicle number and the image of the first camera are linked and managed by a common scene ID (composed of the image capture date and time). Based on the result of reading the vehicle number, the list of specific vehicles (negative list), unsuccessful roadside communication, etc. are checked for illegally passing vehicles.
Furthermore, the roadside vehicle type detection device measures the characteristics of the passing vehicle,
Check to see if a proper transit charge has been set. When an illegally passing vehicle is detected in this way, the corresponding scene ID is searched for on the memory management table and a mark as a saved image is added. When the camera image is written cyclically, it is not written in the place with this mark, so it is not erased by overwriting. Since the registered saved images are registered in the saved image table in the order of occurrence, when the number exceeds a certain number, the images are sent to the external image recording device and the mark of the saved image on the memory management table is deleted. ,
It never interferes with cyclic writing.
The external image storage device needs to be a device having a large capacity and capable of managing still images one by one. It is also possible to perform image compression before recording to save space. In any case, a large-capacity storage device is required to store the image, and normally, the structure includes a rotating unit such as a disk device, and the durability life becomes a problem. Particularly in 24-hour continuous operation such as at a tollgate, it is essential to reduce the operating time to extend the life. In the device of the present invention, the transmission interval of images to the external image storage device can be set arbitrarily, so that the external storage device can be operated only when necessary, and the durable life can be extended to the level of ordinary control equipment. It is possible.

[0008]

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

FIG. 1 is an example applied to an illegally passing vehicle image storage device at an automatic tollgate on a highway. At the automatic toll gate, a roadside communication device 34 is installed when a non-stop automatic toll collection function is provided, and a manual toll collection device 35 is installed when mixed with manual. 32
Is an antenna for roadside communication, and 33 is an observer's hut for manual fee collection. Although not shown in the figure, there may be provided equipment for measuring the vehicle weight, vehicle height, vehicle width, vehicle length, and number of axles for determining the vehicle type of the passing vehicle 9. Vehicle detector 8, first, which is particularly relevant to the present invention
The image pickup means 5 and the second image pickup means 6 are installed at the entrance and exit of the toll gate so that when the vehicle detector 8 detects a passing vehicle 9, two types of images of the entire front surface of the vehicle and only the vehicle number portion are captured. It has been set up. First imaging means 5 and second
The number of imaging means 6 is two here, but one imaging means may be shared. The control calculation means 1 includes a timer 63, a memory management table 15, a saved image table 19, a specific vehicle number list (negative list) 18, a camera input start processing means 13, a camera image input means 14, an image processing interface 12, and an image. Save determination means 16, frame memory management means 17, frame memory interface 20,
Disc input means 21, optical disc address table 2
2, an optical disk interface 24, a disk output means 23, a search acceptance means 25 and the like. Of these, the memory management table 15 and the camera image input means 1
4, frame memory management means 17, saved image table 1
9 may be built in the temporary image storage means 2, and is included in the control calculation means 1 here for convenience.
Which method should be used should be decided at a time convenient for manufacturing and selling. The temporary image storage means 2 temporarily stores all the images from the first image pickup means 5 until the storage permission / inhibition decision, and after the determination, the images not to be stored are automatically discarded. The image to be saved is not sent to the external image storage means 4 immediately after the saving decision but is accumulated for a certain period of time. For example, once every 30 minutes or once per hour, when requested. It is designed to be sent immediately. By adopting this method, the external image storage means 4 does not need to be constantly operated, and its service life can be greatly improved as compared with continuous operation for 24 hours. The temporary image storage means 2 includes an image input unit, an AD converter 26, a selector 27, an output unit, a selector 30, an interface 31, an image storage unit, and a frame memory 29 for storing a still image. There is. A plurality of frame memories are installed, and one image can be stored in one frame memory. The interface 31 on the output side has a DA converter, a function of transmitting and receiving digital signals, and the like according to the specifications of the external image storage means 4 of the other party. External image storage means 4
Here, although the optical disk 38 is adopted as the storage portion here, any medium can be used as long as it can store a large amount of images. The disk body 38 has a structure in which the power can be turned on and off freely on the system side by using a power ON command 41 and a power OFF command 42 in order to avoid 24-hour operation. Reference numerals 39 and 40 are image data input and output commands. The image data stored in the external image storage means 4 is retrieved from the image search means 10 at any time and displayed,
The image can be transmitted to the central management station or the like via the image transmission means 11. Furthermore, it is also possible to call the saved image of the temporary image storage means 2 by the image search means 10.

Next, details of the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. When the vehicle 9 passes just before the vehicle detection means 8, a detection signal is transmitted to the camera input start processing means 13 via the cable 44. Camera input start processing means 13
The process is shown in the flowchart of FIG. Upon receiving the signal 44, the camera input start processing means 13 takes in the date and time from the timer 63 and creates a scene ID (box 130-A). The scene ID is attached and the camera image input unit 14 is requested to input an image from the first image pickup unit 5 (box 130-B). Next, the vehicle number recognition device 7 is requested to read the vehicle number by inputting the image from the second image pickup means 6 (box 130-C). The details of the processing performed by the camera image input means 14 are shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, import the scene ID (box 140-
A): The previous write pointer of the frame memory is obtained from the value of ADDR1 in table 15 (box 140-
B). 1 is added to the value of ADDR1 to calculate the next write pointer point candidate. (Box 140-
C). Here, check whether the storage registration code indicated by the address point is "*" or "blank". If it is blank, poin
Determine t as the next write pointer, and store the image from the camera in the frame memory indicated by point (Box 1
40-F). Specifically, this processing is requested to the temporary image storage means 2 via the signal line 55. next,
This is an update of the memory management table. Poin on table 15
The captured scene ID is stored in the scene ID section indicated by t, and the save registration code section is set to “blank” (Box 1
40-G). The value of point is set in ADDR1 of table 15 (box 140-H). In the next write pointer decision process, if the save registration code is "*",
Add 1 to the contents of int (box 140-J). po
When the value of int exceeds the maximum value n of the frame memory, point is set to 0 (box 140-L). Then, return to the box 140-D.

FIG. 14 shows the processing contents of the image storage determining means 14.
It will be explained in. This process is activated by three signals. Since the process differs depending on the activated signal, the process branches depending on the activation factor (box 160-A). When it is activated by the signal 49 from the vehicle number recognition means 7, the scene ID and the read vehicle number are transmitted from the vehicle number recognition means 7, so the vehicle number is written in the corresponding scene ID of the table 15. (Box 160-E). Further, it is checked whether the specific vehicle number list 18 (negative list) includes the vehicle number (box 160-F). If a matching vehicle number is found in the list, the frame memory management means 17 is activated to request the stored image registration processing,
If there is auxiliary information from the vehicle number recognizing means, it is received and is transcribed in the relation table if necessary (box 160-D). When the activation factor is the signal 62 which means that the communication of the roadside communication 34 is unsuccessful, the scene ID of the defective vehicle in the roadside communication is received (box 16-
C), and shifts to the save registration process (box 160-D). At this time, the user registration I
It is assumed that the auxiliary information such as D is received at the same time and is written in the relation table and managed in association with the scene ID. It seems that there is a negative list for the registration ID of the user, but the checking process is performed by the roadside communication device 3
In the same way as the communication failure, the image saving is requested through the signal line 62 only when the vehicle is regarded as an illegal vehicle and the communication is unsuccessful. When activated by the image saving request signal 63 from the manual fee collection device, the scene ID of the illegal vehicle in the manual fee collection device is received (box 160-H), and the saved image registration process (box 160-
Move to D). Here, although the scene IDs from the roadside communication device 34 and the manual fee collection device 35 are not explicitly shown in the text, it is assumed that they are matched in some way with those created inside the control calculation means 1.

The details of the frame memory management means 17 are shown in FIG.
It will be explained in. This process is started by the signal 51 from the image storage determining unit 16 and performs a storage image registration process. When activated, the scene ID is also attached, and this is received (box 170-A), and it is checked whether or not there is a match in the memory management table 15 (box 170-B). If it does not exist, it is already deleted or the scene ID was not originally registered for some reason, and an abnormal process such as outputting an alarm is performed if necessary (box 170-E). In table 15,
If a scene ID match is found, "*" is written in the save registration code portion of the table 15 where the corresponding scene ID is recorded (box 17).
0-D). Further, the following processing is performed to register the registered image in the saved image table 19. Related data (address part, scene ID part, attached information, etc.) is written at the next write address ADDR2 of the saved image table 19, and if the table write start time is 0, the current time is written (box 170). -F). Next, the write address is updated (box 170-G). If the address does not exceed the specified value, the elapsed time from the start of table writing is calculated (box 170-
J), when the value is equal to or less than the predetermined value, this process is terminated. When the time exceeds a certain time, the stored image is sent from the frame memory 2 to the external image storage means 4 or the image transmission means 11 (box 170-L). ADD in box 170-H
Even when R2 exceeds a certain value, the stored image is sent from the frame memory 2 to the external image storage means 4 or the image transmission means 11 (box 170-L). Box 170-L
Will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Transfer destination of the image data, the external image storage means 4 and the image transmitting means 11 there is in this case, it is assumed to be selected whether to transfer where the image beforehand. Branch to the determined transfer destination (Box 17
0-L-10). When transferring only to the image transmitting means 11, the related image, scene ID, and attached information are transmitted to the image transmitting means 11 (box 170-L-4).
0). In the case of transmitting only to the external image storage means 4, the image, the scene ID, and the attached information are transferred to the external image storage means 4 via the interface 31 (box 17).
0-L-50). If you need to transfer to both,
First, the image is transmitted to the image transmitting unit 11 (box 17).
0-L-30), and then sends it to the external image storage means 4 (box 170-L-50). When the transfer is completed, "blank" is written in the save registration code at the relevant scene ID in the table 15. Further, upon completion of transfer of all data, the table 19 is initialized (box 170-
L-70). Details of the disk input means 21 will be described with reference to FIG. This processing is started by a signal 54 from the frame memory management means 17 and is for performing an image transfer processing to the external image storage means 4. First, the power of the optical disk device 38 is checked (boxes 210-A, B), if it is off, it is turned on (box 210-C), and if it is in the ready state (box 210-D), the image is received, Store on optical disc (box 210-E). Further scene I
D and the attached information are received and registered in the database (box 210-F, G). FIG. 8 shows an example of the memory management table, which is composed of an address part, a scene ID part, a storage registration code part, and other attached data parts. Normally, "blank" is stored in the storage registration code portion, but a special character such as "*" is written in the image for which the storage request is received. The content of the address part is
The number corresponding to the address of the frame memory is stored. FIG. 9 shows an example of the saved image table 19. The contents of the corresponding image are written in this table when the image registration occurs. This table is initialized when the image transfer to the external image storage device is completed. FIG. 10 is an example of the specific vehicle number list 18, and shows specific contents by code with the vehicle number as a key. Various types of this table can be considered depending on the actual purpose of use, but only one example is shown here. 11 and 12 show an example of the present invention to which image compression is applied. FIG. 11 shows a system in which the image compression unit 65 is installed at the entrance to the external image storage unit, and FIG. 12 shows a system in which the image compression unit is installed at the front stage of the image transmission unit.

Next, the number of frame memories built in the temporary image storage means 2 of the present invention will be described. Writing to the frame memory 29 is performed cyclically,
Initially, the entire memory is used for writing, but as the number of saved images increases, the number of memories that can be written cyclically decreases gradually. in this way,
Determining the number of frame memories 29 is important in order for the device of the present invention to exhibit its full performance. The time required to complete one write of this address table will be referred to as a cycle time hereinafter. This cycle time actually changes because the number of memories varies, but the minimum value of the cycle time is represented by TCmin. It is assumed that the number of frame memories is determined so that the relationship between the cycle time TCmin and the maximum value TFmax of the detection processing required time for an illegally passing vehicle is as follows.

TCmin.gtoreq.TFmax The detection processing time TFmax of an illegally passing vehicle is a value determined by the performance of related equipment, but there is no problem even if an estimated value for safety is used. Car number reading by image processing device,
It takes about 0.5 seconds, and TFm
ax is expected to be 2 seconds or less. Therefore, TCmin is set as TCmin = 5 seconds for safety. The minimum number Nmem1 of image memories used cyclically can be expressed by the following equation using the cycle time TCmin (seconds) and the maximum vehicle passing frequency H (vehicles / minute).

Nmem1 ≧ H · TCmin / 60 Assuming that the maximum vehicle passing frequency H is 180 vehicles / minute, TCmi
When n is 5 seconds, Nmem1 ≧ 180 × 5/60 = 15 sheets.

Next, let us consider the number of memories Nmem2 for temporary storage of stored data.

Nmem2 is the generation ratio of the stored data ξ
(%) And the transfer interval Tx (minutes) to the external image storage means can be expressed by the following equation.

Nmem2 ≧ Tx · H · ξ / 100 When TX is 30 minutes, H is 180 units / minute, and ξ is 1%, Nmem2 ≧ 30 × 180 × 1/100 = 54 sheets. The number Nmem of frame memories built in the temporary image storage means 2 must be larger than the total value of Nmem1 and Nmem2.

Nmem ≧ Nmem1 + Nmem2 = 15 + 54 = 69 sheets It is sufficient that the frame memory has 69 or more sheets.

In the present invention, the number of frame memories is set on the assumption of the required maximum time TFmax for determining an illegal vehicle. However, human beings are involved in manual fee collection, and it takes time for one vehicle unnaturally. It's possible that some people may be worried that the data will be overwritten during this time, but this is not a concern at all. If a delay occurs in the manual toll collection, the same gate is used, so the following vehicles are also delayed and the image data is also delayed.As a result, the image data on the frame memory is overwritten during this period. It does not disappear.

[0021]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be expected.

(1) By using the temporary image recording means of the present invention, it is not necessary to directly write the image data that frequently occurs in an external image recording device, and there is a problem in the service life even in a system operating continuously for 24 hours. It is only necessary to operate a disk image recording device with a 30-minute interval or an hourly interval, and it is possible to make the service life similar to that of general control equipment, and to store a camera image of an illegally passing vehicle at a toll gate for a long period of time. Got

(2) By cyclically overwriting frequently generated image data in the frame memory, unnecessary images can be automatically discarded, and the memory of the apparatus can be minimized. There is an economic effect such as being possible.

(3) Saving When a necessary image is generated, a mark which is a saved image is written in the memory management table, and when the image data is cyclically written in the frame memory, the mark is checked to save the image that needs to be saved. By not overwriting the recorded memory, the images that need to be saved are temporarily saved in the frame memory and transferred to an external image storage device when the number of saved images exceeds a certain number. As a result, only one temporary image storage device having an intermediate frame memory can serve the purpose, and the economical effect is great.

(4) A temporary storage period (rewriting cycle time) on the frame memory of the original image data, which frequently occurs by appropriately setting the number of frame memories built in the temporary image storage means, is set as a system request. In addition, it is possible to provide any practical and economical image storage device that can be arbitrarily set.

(5) By appropriately setting the number of memories of the temporary image storage means, the image transfer interval to the disk image recording means having a problem in service life can be arbitrarily set because of the rotating part, according to the system requirement. Next, the economic effect including operating costs is great.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an image storage device using a temporary image storage means.

FIG. 2 is a flow of camera image input start processing.

FIG. 3 is a processing flow of a camera image input unit.

FIG. 4 is a flow of image storage determination processing.

FIG. 5 is a processing flow of a frame memory management unit.

FIG. 6 is a partial detailed flow of frame memory management means.

FIG. 7 is a processing flow of a disk input unit.

FIG. 8 is a memory management table.

FIG. 9 is a saved image table.

FIG. 10 is a specific vehicle number list.

FIG. 11 shows an example in which image compression means is also used.

FIG. 12 is another example in which an image compression means is also used.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control calculation means, 2 ... Temporary image storage means, 4 ... External image storage means, 5 ... 1st imaging device, 6 ... 2nd imaging device,
7 ... Vehicle number recognition means, 8 ... Vehicle detector, 9 ... Passing vehicle, 1
0 ... Image retrieval means, 11 ... Image transmission means, 13 ... Camera input start processing means, 14 ... Camera image input means, 15 ...
Memory management table, 16 ... Image storage determination means, 17 ...
Frame memory management means, 18 ... Specific vehicle number list, 19
... Saved image table, 21 ... Disk input means, 25 ...
Search receiving means, 26 ... AD converter, 29 ... Frame memory, 38 ... Optical disk image recording device.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical display location G06F 15/64 450D 15/66 B (72) Inventor Takayuki Iino 5-2 Omikacho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture No. 1 Stock company Hitachi Ltd. Omika factory

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A first image pickup means, a temporary image storage means,
It is composed of a memory management table, a saved image table, an image save determination means for accepting and processing the need to save an image from the outside, and a frame memory management means. The temporary image storage means captures a still image from the image capturing means, and an internal image memory. Cyclic overwriting is repeated cyclically.At this time, the memory with the image storage mark in the memory management table is skipped without writing again and the next image memory is written. The frame memory management means operates every time an image storage occurs, and operates as a mark for image storage at a corresponding location in the memory management table. And then add the saved image to the saved image table, and when the saved image reaches a certain amount, all of the saved images or Part outputs to the outside, to erase the mark image storage memory management table, such as but initializes the stored image table apparatus. 2. A first image pickup means, a temporary image storage means,
It is composed of a memory management table, a saved image table, an image save determination means for accepting and processing the need to save an image from the outside, and a frame memory management means. The temporary image storage means captures a still image from the image capturing means, and an internal image memory. Cyclic overwriting is repeated cyclically.At this time, the memory with the image storage mark in the memory management table is skipped without writing again and the next image memory is written. The frame memory management means operates every time an image storage occurs, and operates as a mark for image storage at a corresponding location in the memory management table. And then add the saved image to the saved image table, and when the saved image reaches a certain amount, all of the saved images or Part outputs to the outside, to erase the mark image storage memory management table, such as but initializes the stored image table method. 3. A first image pickup means, a temporary image storage means,
It is composed of a memory management table, a stored image table, an external image storage means, and an image storage determination means for receiving and processing the necessity of storing an image from the outside. The temporary image storage means captures a still image from the image capturing means and stores it in the internal image memory. Cyclic overwriting is repeated cyclically.At this time, the memory with the image saving mark is not written and the next image memory is skipped. Accept the request, write the image storage mark in the cyclic write image memory management table, and
In a device such as adding a saved image to the saved image table and outputting all or part of the saved image to the outside when the saved image reaches a certain amount, the number of image memories in the temporary image storage means is as follows. Image storage device. The number of image memories ≧ Tf * H / 60 + To * H * ζ / 100 However, the maximum time required for the save determination process Tf (seconds) Maximum image capture frequency H (times / minute) It is determined that the image is saved in the captured image. Image ratio ζ (%) Saved image external transmission interval To (min) 4. A first image pickup means, a temporary image storage means,
It is composed of a memory management table, a stored image table, an external image storage means, and an image storage determination means for receiving and processing the necessity of storing an image from the outside. The temporary image storage means captures a still image from the image capturing means and stores it in the internal image memory. Cyclic overwriting is repeated cyclically, and at this time, the memory with the mark for image saving is not written, but skips and writes to the next image memory. Accept, write the image saving mark in the cyclic write image memory management table, add the saved image to the saved image table, and output all or part of the saved image to the outside when the saved image reaches a certain amount In such an apparatus, an image storage system in which the number of image memories in the temporary image storage means is as follows. The number of image memories ≧ Tf * H / 60 + To * H * ζ / 100 However, the maximum time required for the save determination process Tf (seconds) Maximum image capture frequency H (times / minute) It is determined that the image is saved in the captured image. Image ratio ζ (%) Saved image external transmission interval To (min) 5. In an automatic toll collection device for a highway, a first image pickup means, a temporary image storage means, a memory management table, a saved image table, an external image storage means, a second image pickup means, and a vehicle number recognition means. , Vehicle detection means, camera input start means, camera image input means, image storage determination means, and frame memory management means. The vehicle detection signal from the vehicle detection device is taken into the camera input start processing means to start camera input. The processing means determines the scene ID from the date and time, etc., and uses it for the subsequent image data management, requests the vehicle number recognition means to recognize the vehicle number, and further requests the camera image input means. Request the first camera to capture an image, and when the vehicle number recognition means requests, the second image capturing means captures the image and recognizes the vehicle number in the image by image analysis. And it sends the result to the image storage determination means, image storage judging means receives the vehicle number recognition result,
The vehicle image and the scene ID are associated with each other, and when the camera image input means receives the request, the camera image input means requests the temporary image storage device to capture the image from the first image pickup means to the address of the designated internal image memory, and the memory Storage of images in the management table is made to be cyclically written to the internal image memory in the order in which they are captured. At this time, if there is a mark for image storage registration, it is not written but is written to the next address. Then, the image storage means receives an image storage request from the outside, and when the image storage occurs, requests the frame memory management means to store the image. Write the image save mark in the corresponding scene ID above,
When registered in the saved image table and the number of registered images exceeds a certain number, all of the registered saved images are sent to the external image storage device, and the external image recording device sends the saved image at regular intervals. , Automatic fee collection device such as registered in the database and used for additional charge decision processing. 6. An automatic toll collection device for a highway, wherein a first image pickup means, a temporary image storage means, a memory management table, a saved image table, an external image storage means, a second image pickup means, and a vehicle number recognition means. , Vehicle detection means, camera input start means, camera image input means, image storage determination means, and frame memory management means. The vehicle detection signal from the vehicle detection device is taken into the camera input start processing means to start camera input. The processing means determines the scene ID from the date and time, etc., and uses it for the subsequent image data management, requests the vehicle number recognition means to recognize the vehicle number, and further requests the camera image input means. Request the first camera to capture an image, and when the vehicle number recognition means requests, the second image capturing means captures the image and recognizes the vehicle number in the image by image analysis. And it sends the result to the image storage determination means, image storage judging means receives the vehicle number recognition result,
The vehicle image and the scene ID are associated with each other, and when the camera image input means receives the request, the camera image input means requests the temporary image storage device to capture the image from the first image pickup means to the address of the designated internal image memory, and the memory Storage of images in the management table is made to be cyclically written to the internal image memory in the order in which they are captured. At this time, if there is a mark for image storage registration, it is not written but is written to the next address. Then, the image storage means receives an image storage request from the outside, and when the image storage occurs, requests the frame memory management means to store the image, and the frame memory management means receives the request, and then the memory management table. A mark for image saving is written in the applicable scene ID above and registered in the saved image table. When the number of registrations exceeds a certain number, it is registered. All of the saved images are sent to the external image storage device, and the external image recording device sends the saved images at about regular intervals, registers them in the database, and uses them for the additional charge decision processing of charges. .