JPH08251575A - Image selective display system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an image selective display system which can display picked-up images of plural cameras installed at many points on a PC/WS used for office work easily at desired time without increasing the communication traffic on a communication line. CONSTITUTION: In subgroups of a computer network, PC/WSs 7-1-7-5 as camera servers are set and the transmission and reception of images from the cameras 1-1-1-13 are performed among the PC/WSs 7-1-7-5; and a PC/WS 9 sends a request to send to nearby PC/WSs 7-1-7-5 to obtain images from the cameras 1-1-1-13. Consequently, the state wherein the communication traffic on the computer network increases to impede ordinary communications can be evaded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image selection and display system, and more particularly to an image selection and display system capable of selecting and displaying images from a plurality of cameras installed at remote locations.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, CCTV called a surveillance system
In (closed circuit television), etc., a system that stretches a dedicated cable such as a coaxial cable or an optical fiber to select, combine, and switch between images from multiple cameras is used in a large building like in the past. Not only as a large-scale monitoring system for banks, but also as a small-scale system used at convenience stores, condominiums, etc., its development has been promoted and its spread has been promoted.

On the other hand, O of personal computers and the like
LAN (local) as a communication medium that connects devices A
The spread of the area network) is remarkable, and in order to cope with the increase of communication traffic and the future multimedia such as video information and audio information, the movement toward large-capacity and high-speed communication is rapidly being made. In particular, regarding the speedup of the backbone LAN, an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) -LAN that enables transmission of 100 Mb / s to 155 Mb / s
And FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) -L
Standardization and introduction of AN and others are being pursued. 1 for branch lines
Standardization of a twisted pair LAN and the like that realizes 00 Mb / s is underway. Similarly in the public network system, B-
Recommendations for ISDN (broadband ISDN), experiments of ATM communication on CATV, etc. have begun to be carried out actively, and high-speed network environment preparation for multimedia correspondence of the entire communication infrastructure is about to be started gradually.

Further, instead of a surveillance camera targeting CCTV, a future personal computer / workstation (P
DTV (Desk Top Video Confe) centered on C / WS
recing) Various cameras aiming at PC / WS connection targeting the market are being offered at low prices.

On the other hand, the media information actually transmitted, such as video information and audio information as multimedia information, is simply digitized while maintaining the quality as it is. An information amount of 100 Mb / s or more is required to digitize video information such as NTSC / PAL while maintaining the image quality as it is. Similarly, as for voice information, even if the voice band is limited to about 3.4 MHz, the amount of information of 64 Kb / s is required only by PCM conversion. It is not practical to directly transmit or store such a huge amount of information even in a situation where the speed of the line is high and the storage medium has a large capacity.

Therefore, various digital compression techniques are being researched and developed and are being put into practical use. Regarding video information,
In accordance with each application, the still image compression system uses the JPEG encoding system, and the moving image compression system uses MPEG1 for storage, for example.
(1.5 Mb / s or less) encoding system, in the communication system, H.264 for narrow band ISDN (64 Kb / s to 2 Mb / s). Two
MPEG2 (several Mb / s to several tens of M / b) compatible with 61 encoding system, high-definition or more compatible with current television image quality for storage & ATM communication line compatibility
Various compression coding methods such as the MPEG-4 coding method are being standardized, targeting the coding method and the transmission rate (9.6 Kb / s to 28.8 Kb / s) guaranteed by analog telephone lines. Similarly, with regard to audio information, various compression encoding methods have been standardized according to the application,
G. guarantees up to 7 kHz band. ADPCM (3 that compresses 722 and 3.4 KHz audio bands to lower bit rates
Coding methods such as 2 Kb / s or less) and LD-CELP (16 Kb / s) have been standardized.

[0007] These movements are presently individual approaches before the development into the multimedia market including future video information and audio information, and the speed of practical application of each trend is not necessarily linked. Since it does not exist, it involves various problems in constructing an actual system. In particular, the spread and maintenance of computer network environments centered on PC / WS are remarkable, and the speedup of the backbone LAN is steadily increasing with the rapid increase in traffic on the LAN, but it is actually used. It is not possible to transmit data that will cause a huge amount of information even if compression coding such as moving image information is performed on a LAN as a computer network, which has a great influence on other transmissions. It is possible.

Therefore, when a plurality of cameras are installed to construct a surveillance system that needs to obtain the plurality of pieces of video information, a coaxial cable or optical fiber cable for video transmission is separately provided. It is common to do. Also, for the purpose of monitoring, each video is finally concentrated in the monitoring room, and in the monitoring room, it is possible to constantly monitor video at more points by using multiple monitors and image synthesis processing means. Or, it is switched and displayed by a switcher for monitoring.

A conventional monitoring system using a dedicated cable such as CCTV will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional monitoring system using a dedicated cable.

In FIG. 8, 11-1 to 11-n are various monitoring cameras, 12 is a video switcher for switching and combining and outputting a plurality of video inputs, 13 is for selecting a video output display, and individual monitoring cameras 11-. Various controllers for instructing control to 1 to 11-n, 14 is a monitor group for displaying images output from the video switcher 12 after being selected / synthesized from the collected images, and 15 is an image collected for monitoring. Video recording device such as time-lapse VTR for recording, 1
Reference numeral 6 is a cable group dedicated to surveillance system video such as coaxial cable or optical fiber cable for video input & power supply of CCTV and the like, and 17 is a power supply controller for supplying power to the surveillance cameras 11-1 to 11-n. As shown in FIG. 8, each surveillance camera 11-1 to 11-n is directly connected to one port of the video switcher 12 in the surveillance room in a one-to-one correspondence. The captured images are always concentrated in the surveillance room.

[0011]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional system, the cameras 11-1 to 11-n are used.
It is necessary to concentrate the captured images from one camera in one place, and in order to achieve the surveillance purpose, each camera 11-1 to
The captured image from 11-n needs to reach the monitoring room, and it is practically impossible to use the LAN for OA and the like, and the image cable needs to be routed exclusively. Therefore, it has not been possible to construct a system in which a PC / WS or the like on the desk of each person can easily acquire an image at any time whenever he / she wants.

On the other hand, a LAN of a computer network of an existing PC / WS is not a monitoring system which constantly displays and monitors video information of multiple points for the purpose of monitoring.
On a computer that is normally used in an office that uses communication lines such as, for example, when you want to see the outside weather in an office environment without windows, or when you want to see how busy the cafeteria is, It is desirable to build a low-cost system for a new application so that anyone at a desk can easily obtain images of remote locations temporarily on their personal computers on their desks. ing.

As a video transmission means of the remote monitoring system, some means using a communication line is about to be adopted. In this case as well, it is a video concentration system for monitoring and is processed by a dedicated device in the monitoring room. The display is only displayed, and the communication line is to be prepared exclusively for the monitoring system as a form of use, and it has to be prepared separately from the OA network.

Further, the cameras 11-1 to 11-n at remote locations are also provided.
In the conventional surveillance system, a large number of display monitors 14 are prepared, screens are synthesized, sequential switching is performed, and there is a full-time supervisor who constantly monitors which image is to be displayed. Is a method of displaying a desired image by a direct instruction of a full-time person, and always displaying and recording the image. This method was made possible or necessary by arranging a dedicated cable and making a dedicated monitoring person resident or recording at all times.
The system configuration was not suitable for a system for casually temporarily acquiring and displaying in C / WS.

Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to use the images picked up by a plurality of cameras installed at multiple points for work in an office without increasing communication traffic on a communication line. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image selection display system that can be easily displayed at any time.

A second object of the present invention is to obtain an image picked up from a desired camera by each PC / WS,
An object of the present invention is to provide a low-priced image selection display system through a communication line such as a LAN of a computer network already connected without adding a new H / W.

A third object of the present invention is to provide an image selection display system capable of reducing an increase in traffic on a computer network and promptly acquiring and displaying an image picked up by a desired camera. It is to be.

[0018]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 comprises a plurality of information devices adapted to capture and store images obtained from one or more image pickup devices, The information device includes a control unit that controls the transmission of an image between the information devices via a communication line, and a display unit that displays the image captured by the information device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the information device captures an image from the image pickup device based on a designated video acquisition interval, and the control means is based on the designated video selection interval. It controls the transmission of images between the information devices.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the information device includes a synthesizing means for synthesizing and transmitting the images from the image pickup devices.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the control information for requesting the transmission of the image information to the information device is transmitted through the communication line, and the information device transmits the control information through the communication line based on the control information. And a terminal device for capturing and displaying the image information transmitted.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the information device receives a request for transmitting image information from the terminal device, the information device has an elapsed time from the time when the image information is stored and a predetermined prescribed value. If it is determined that the elapsed time is greater than or equal to a predetermined specified value, new image information is captured and transmitted to the terminal device, and the elapsed time is not greater than or equal to the specified value. If it is determined that the stored image information is transmitted to the terminal device.

[0023]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the image captured from the image pickup device is transmitted and stored in advance between the information devices, so that the image pickup images from the image pickup devices installed at multiple points are obtained. In this case, it suffices to access the information device instead of accessing the imaging device, and it is possible to reduce an increase in communication traffic on the communication line.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the communication on the communication line is performed by independently designating the video acquisition interval for capturing the image from the image pickup device and the video selection interval for transmitting the image between the information devices. It is possible to provide at low cost an image selection display system capable of acquiring captured images of image pickup devices installed at multiple points without increasing traffic.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when images picked up from the image pickup devices installed at multiple points are acquired by synthesizing and transmitting images from a plurality of image pickup devices, the communication line is used. It is possible to reduce the increase in the communication traffic of.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, by providing the terminal device for fetching and displaying the image information transmitted through the communication line, the image from the desired image pickup device is acquired by each own terminal device. In this case, it is possible to provide an inexpensive image selection display system that can utilize a communication line such as a LAN of a computer network already installed without installing a new communication line for transmitting an image. it can.

According to the invention of claim 5, the stored image is updated according to the elapsed time from the time when the image information is stored, thereby preventing the transmission of the image which is too old and is not needed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce an increase in traffic on the computer network and quickly acquire and display a desired captured image from the image capturing apparatus.

[0028]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image selection display system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image selection display system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1-1 to 1-13 are cameras as an image pickup device, 2 is a backbone LAN of a computer network communication line, and ATM-LAN FDDI
-A high-speed LAN such as LAN, 3-1 to 3-4 are branch line LANs, ordinary Ethernet, LAN such as token ring, 4-1 to 4-3 are backbone LAN 2 and branch line LAN 3
Routers / Brutas, 5-1 that connect -1 to 3-3
5-2 is a backbone LAN2, a branch line LAN3-4 and a communication line 6
Is a gateway / router for connecting to and, 6 is a public line network other than LAN such as B-ISDN or a communication line such as an optical fiber dedicated line, and 7-1 to 7-5 are a plurality of cameras 1-1 to 1-1.
PC / WS or the like for connecting and controlling 1-13, 8 is a video switcher for switching inputs from a plurality of cameras 1-7 to 1-10, and synthesizing and outputting, and 9 is on their desktop. It is a terminal device such as a PC / WS.

Next, the configuration of the PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5 of the image selection display system according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows PC / WS 7-1 to 7 of the image selection display system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a portion for acquiring and displaying a picked-up image of No. -5, and FIG. 3 is on a screen of PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5 of the image selection display system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an acquired video display of FIG.

In FIG. 2, 101 is a LAN communication line 3
A communication control unit for communicating with the LAN communication line 3, and a control interface for communicating with the LAN communication line 102, a video encoding / decoding unit 102 for encoding digital image data to be transmitted and decoding the received encoded data, 103 Are images captured from the cameras 1-1 to 1-13 and the communication control unit 10
The images received from 1 can be combined, PC / WS7-1
7-5 is an image composition processing unit for overlay display on the graphic screen, and 104 is a VR for storing image data
AM and 105 are monitor display units, such as the monitor display unit 201 of FIG.
And other applications, for example, windows 203 and 204 for word processors and spreadsheet applications. Reference numeral 106 controls access to the memory 107 when the digitized image data is stored in the memory 107 or when the digital image data stored in the memory 107 is read and transferred to the video encoding / decoding unit 102. It is a memory access control unit.

Reference numeral 107 denotes camera units 110-1 to 110-3.
A memory for sequentially storing the image data output from the A / D conversion unit 108 while digitizing the image data, an A / D conversion unit 108 for digitizing the analog image data output from the camera units 110-1 to 110-3, Reference numeral 109 denotes a video switcher for selecting and inputting by switching inputs from a plurality of camera units 110-1 to 110-3, and 110.
-1 to 110-3 are cameras as image pickup devices. 1
Reference numeral 11 is a storage unit such as an HD or memory, and 112 is a system control unit including a CPU or the like of the PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5 main body for controlling the whole. The video encoding / decoding unit 10
2 and the image composition processing unit 103 can also be realized by software.

Next, the operation of the image selection display system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 shows a PC / WS 7-1 to 7- according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a diagram showing an example of operations and display screens such as 5, and FIG.
3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image selection display system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

First, in step S101, the PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5 shown in FIG.
The time of the image capture timing from the directly connected cameras 1-1 to 1-13 is determined. If the image capture timing is reached, the process proceeds to step S102, and the corresponding cameras 1-1 to 1-13 An image is captured according to the designated method and stored in the memory of the storage unit 111 in FIG.

When the image capturing conditions are designated as shown in the camera / server image capturing setting screen of FIG. 5A,
For example, PC / WS7- in FIG. 1 as a camera server
1 captures images from cameras 1-1 and 1-2 at 5-second intervals.

Next, in step S103, PC /
It is checked whether it is the video transmission request timing between WS7-1 to 7-5. If it is the video transmission request transmission timing, in step S104, the corresponding PC / WS
A video transmission request is sent to 7-1 to 7-5.

Next, in step S105, another P
It is monitored whether or not an image is received from the C / WS 7-1 to 7-5. And when video reception is detected,
In step S106, the video information received from the communication control unit 101 of FIG. 2 is sequentially stored in the storage unit 111 while being decoded by the decoding unit of the video encoding / decoding unit 102.

Next, in step S107, it is determined whether or not the reception of one frame is completed, and when the reception of one frame is completed, the process proceeds to step S108, and the normal HD format in the storage section 111 for the corresponding received video is confirmed. Rewrite the storage area. Then, the video information and the reception time of the corresponding cameras 1-1 to 1-13 in FIG. 1 in the camera latest image file information in FIG. 5B are updated.

Next, in step S109, it is determined whether the decoded received image information is the image currently displayed on the display screen. If it is the image currently displayed, the process proceeds to step S110 to receive the received image. 2 is read from the recording unit 111 in FIG. 2, the graphic composition processing unit 103 overlays the graphic information to be displayed on the display unit 105, writes it in the VRAM 104, and displays it in the received image display window 202 in FIG.

In the above-described embodiment, when the video is received from the other PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5 via the LAN communication line 3, the receiving PC / WS 7-1 to 7-.
5 explained the method of sending a transmission request at any time,
A method of automatically transmitting an image based on the management of the image transmitting side may be used. Further, the case has been described in which the still image video for one frame is transmitted and received and stored in the storage unit 111, but the present invention can be applied to, for example, a short-time moving image other than the still image video.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the LAN3-that has already been set up for OA.
A plurality of cameras 1-1 to 1-13 according to the present invention are connected to a computer network including communication lines 1 to 3-4.
PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5 for selectively displaying images from the camera are connected, and the image acquisition interval from the cameras 1-1 to 1-13 in one PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5 and the LAN 3 -1
To another PC / WS 7-1 to 7-7 connected via 3-4
By separately specifying the video acquisition interval transmitted from -5, a plurality of cameras 1-1 to 1-1 can be prevented while preventing an increase in traffic on the LANs 3-1 to 3-4.
It is possible to inexpensively construct an image selection and display system capable of selectively displaying the images from 3.

Next, the operation of the image selection display system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 shows the PC / WS 7-1 of FIG. 1 as a camera server.
7 to 7-5 are screen examples when requesting image composition from a plurality of points. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the image selection display system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

First, in step S201, the process waits until a video transmission instruction is received. When the video transmission instruction is received, the process proceeds to step S202, and the transmission condition is analyzed.

Next, in step S203, it is determined whether the latest video information needs to be reacquired. As a criterion for re-acquisition at this time, the latest video acquisition instruction is clearly indicated in the video transmission instruction, or the latest video information stored in the storage unit 111 of FIG. 2 is acquired. It is determined by judging whether or not the time of a predetermined specified value has elapsed from the time. If a certain amount of time has passed,
Alternatively, if the instruction to acquire the image is clearly shown, the process proceeds to step S204, and the cameras 1-1 to 1-13 in FIG.
It is determined whether it is connected to WS 7-1 to 7-5 or PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5 of another system. When it is determined that the corresponding cameras 1-1 to 1-13 are connected to the PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5 of the own system, the process proceeds to step S205.

Next, in step S205, the corresponding camera 110 is operated by the video switcher 109 of FIG. 2 which is provided in the PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5 of FIG. 1 as necessary.
-1 to 110-3 are selected, and the selected camera 110-
The analog image data from 1 to 110-3 are digitized by the A / D converter 108, and the memory access control unit 106
The image data for one frame is stored in the memory 107 under the control of. Further, the latest image and the acquisition time of the corresponding camera image storage unit in the storage unit 111 are updated, and step S2
Proceed to 06.

Next, in step S206, it is determined whether or not a process of combining a plurality of video information is requested. If there is no request, the process proceeds to step S208, and if there is a request, the process proceeds to step S207. Step S207
Then, a plurality of corresponding latest video information is read from the storage unit 111, and the image composition processing unit 103 performs composition processing.
Create a frame of video.

For example, from PC / WS9 to PC / W in FIG.
When a transmission request for the composite image of all the camera images under the control is sent to S7-4, as shown in FIG.
In -4, PC / WS9 that made a request by creating an image in which four images from cameras 1-7 to 1-10 were combined into one frame
Return to. The PC / WS 9 side displays the received still image video in the received video window 202 of FIG. 3 on its own display screen. For example, a screen 202-1 requested and displayed at PM 4:00 and a screen 20 requested and displayed at PM 5:30
By sequentially displaying 2-2 in the received video window 202, it is possible to see that it is getting dark outside, that the dining room is crowded, that people are gathering in the hall, etc.
It can be confirmed all at once from the screen of S9.

Further, from PC / WS9 in FIG. 1 to PC / WS
7-2, when a request to send the composite video of all the camera images under the jurisdiction is made, the camera 1-3 under the jurisdiction of the PC / WS 7-2,
Since there are only two units 1-4, for example, when a reply of a composite image as shown in FIG. 4B is made and a request to transmit the image of only the camera 1-1 is made, as shown in FIG. The video from the single camera 1-1 is returned. These transmission requests are sent to the PC / WS 7-1 even if the PC / WS 9 does not know the entire network configuration of FIG.
7-5, as described above, the images of the cameras 1-1 to 1-13 of each other are regularly transmitted and received as described above, so that the PC / PC in the own sub-network group connected to the branch LAN is connected. Simply by sending a video transmission request to WS7-2, 7-3, you can quickly obtain the video from the desired cameras 1-1 to 1-13, and prevent the increase of extra traffic on the company-wide network. You can In addition,
Individually directly from PC / WS9 P of another sub-network
It is also possible to make a transmission request to the C / WS 7-1, 7-4, 7-5.

Next, in step S208, the video frame is transmitted to the communication line 3 via the communication control unit 101 while being encoded by the video encoding / decoding unit 102 in FIG. 2, and in step S209, the one frame is transmitted. Wait until the video transmission of is completed.

On the other hand, in step S204, the corresponding cameras 1-1 to 1-13 in FIG.
/ WS7-1 to 7-5, if it is determined that the connected camera 1-1, the process proceeds to step S211, the corresponding camera 1-1 to
The acquisition request of the latest video of the corresponding camera video is transmitted to the PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5 including 1-13.

Next, in step S212, the process waits until the corresponding video information is received. If received, the process proceeds to step S213, and the communication control unit 10 of FIG.
1 is received while being decoded by the video encoding / decoding unit 102 as needed, and the video information received from step 1 is received.
4, the steps S212 to S214 are repeated until the reception of the video for one frame is completed.
When it is determined that the video for one frame is received, the process proceeds to step S215, the latest video information is stored in the storage area of the storage unit 111 of the corresponding video, and the acquisition time information is updated.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the case of a still picture image has been described, but the same method can be applied to a moving picture image within the traffic allowable range on the communication line.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the PC / WS 9 or the like as a terminal device connected to the upper computer network in the office can make a desired request at any time. Cameras 1-1 to 1-13
It is possible to acquire and display the captured image from. Moreover, PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5 are LANs 3-1 to 3-4
The PC / WS 9 is connected to the other PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5 by separately acquiring images from the cameras 1-1 to 1-13 at regular intervals. Simply send a request to the nearest PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5, P
Since C / WS7-1 to 7-5 can immediately respond to the video transmission request from PC / WS9,
PC while preventing increasing traffic on
/ WS9 users can get images from the desired cameras 1-1 to 1-13 faster, for example, PC / desktop
Even while working at WS9, it becomes possible to easily and quickly observe from a desk the latest image of a remote place that cannot be seen in the field of view.

Further, the images from the plurality of cameras 1-1 to 1-13 acquired by one PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5 are combined and transmitted to the other PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5. This makes it possible to construct an image selection display system while preventing an increase in traffic on the backbone LAN 2.

Further, in response to the response to the PC / WS 7-1 to 7-5, it is prevented that the video information that is too old that does not satisfy a certain condition is easily returned, and the PC / W
The user in S8 can acquire the latest desired video without being aware of it at all.

[0056]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the image captured from the image pickup device is transmitted and stored in advance between the information devices, so that the image pickup device installed at multiple points can be imaged. When capturing an imaged image from the device, it is sufficient to access the information device instead of accessing the image capturing device, and it is possible to reduce an increase in communication traffic on the communication line.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the communication on the communication line is performed by independently designating the video acquisition interval for capturing the image from the image pickup device and the video selection interval for transmitting the image between the information devices. It is possible to provide at low cost an image selection display system capable of acquiring captured images of image pickup devices installed at multiple points without increasing traffic.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when images picked up from the image pickup devices installed at multiple points are acquired by synthesizing and transmitting images from a plurality of image pickup devices, the communication line is used. It is possible to reduce the increase in the communication traffic of.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, by providing the terminal device for fetching and displaying the image information transmitted through the communication line, the image from the desired image pickup device is obtained by each own terminal device. In this case, it is possible to provide an inexpensive image selection display system that can utilize a communication line such as a LAN of a computer network already installed without installing a new communication line for transmitting an image. it can.

According to the invention of claim 5, the stored image is updated according to the elapsed time from the time when the image information is stored, so that the transmission of the image which is too old and unnecessary is prevented. Therefore, it is possible to reduce an increase in traffic on the computer network and quickly acquire and display a desired captured image from the image capturing apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image selection display system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of video display on a PC / WS screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an image display example on a PC / WS screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing image capture settings and latest video file information of a camera server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the image selection display system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image selection display system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram of a monitoring system using a conventional dedicated cable such as CCTV.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-1 to 1-13 Camera 2 High-speed backbone LAN 3, 3-1 to 3-4 Branch line LAN 4-1 to 4-3 Router / Bruta 5-1 and 5-2 Gateway 6 Public / dedicated communication line 7-1 7-5, 9 PC / WS 8 Video switcher 101 Communication control unit 102 Video encoding / decoding unit 103 Image combination processing unit 104 VRAM 105 Monitor display unit 106 Memory access control unit 107 Memory 108 A / D conversion unit 109 Video Switcher 110-1 to 110-3 Camera unit 111 Storage unit 112 System control unit 201 Monitor display unit 202 Received video display window 203, 204 Other windows

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of information devices adapted to capture and store images obtained from one or more imaging devices, and control for transmitting images between the information devices via a communication line. An image selection display system comprising: a control unit; and a display unit for displaying an image captured by the information device. 2. The information device captures an image from an imaging device based on a designated video acquisition interval, and the control means, based on a designated video selection interval,
The image selection display system according to claim 1, wherein control is performed to transfer an image between the information devices. 3. The image selection display system according to claim 1, wherein the information device includes a synthesizing unit that synthesizes and transmits images from the respective image pickup devices. 4. The control information for requesting transmission of image information to the information device is transmitted through the communication line, and
The image selection display according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a terminal device that captures and displays image information transmitted from the information device via a communication line based on the control information. system. 5. The information device comprises a comparison means for comparing the elapsed time from the time when the image information is stored with a predetermined prescribed value when receiving a request for transmitting the image information from the terminal device. If the elapsed time is determined to be greater than or equal to a predetermined specified value, new image information is captured and transmitted to the terminal device, and if it is determined that the elapsed time is not greater than or equal to the predetermined specified value, then already stored The image selection display system according to claim 1, wherein the displayed image information is transmitted to the terminal device.