JPH09284754A - Monitoring camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display pseudo images in real time to the pan of a monitoring camera by storing entire monitoring area images as initial images. SOLUTION: Setting instructions such as a photographing center position, a zooming value and a focus value, etc., for the photographing of the monitoring camera are inputted from an operation part 1. A selection part 6 receives and discriminates the instructions and thus, the images of a corresponding range are read from a first storage part 5 storing the inertial images of different viewing angles for respective positrons inside the monitoring area of the camera. Then, an expansion processing is performed in an expansion part 3 through an image memory part 2 storing compressed images and expanded display images and the initial images (pseudo images) of the corresponding range are displayed at a display part 4 in real time. Thus, since the corresponding initial images are displayed in real time corresponding to the pan, zooming and focus adjustment of the monitoring camera, using is intuitively and easily performed along with the facilitation of instruction setting.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a surveillance camera system in which a surveillance device is provided with initial images of all surveillance targets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is an image diagram of a surveillance camera system. The surveillance camera system will be described with reference to this figure. Reference numeral 51 is a surveillance camera for photographing the surveillance target and outputting a video signal. Reference numeral 52 denotes a drive unit for changing the angle of view of the surveillance camera 51, zooming, adjusting focus, and the like. 53 is a transmission line for transmitting the video signal. Reference numeral 54 is a receiver for displaying an image of a monitoring target. Reference numeral 55 is an operation unit that supplies the drive unit 52 with setting instructions for photographing such as turning and zooming for changing the angle of view via the transmission path.

In the surveillance camera system shown in FIG. 6, the surveillance camera 51 photographs a subject to be monitored and transmits its video signal on the transmission line 5 based on a setting instruction such as an angle of view set in the drive unit 52.
The image is transmitted to the image receiving device 54 via the image receiving device 3 and the image to be monitored can be confirmed by the image receiving device 54. Further, the angle of view of the surveillance camera 51 can be changed by inputting a desired instruction from the operation unit 55, and one camera can monitor any location (target) in the line-of-sight range.

By the way, when a monitor room in which a receiver is installed is provided in a remote place, in addition to the method of using an expensive dedicated line, a transmission line is a telephone line, ISDN (Integr
Cost reduction is often achieved by using a public line such as atedServices Digital Network) and constructing a system using commercially available connection devices.

However, in a system using a public line, the transmission speed is at most 64 kbps (1B) to 128 kbps (2B) even when using the ISDN basic interface.
Even in image transmission using image compression such as JPEG, it often takes about several seconds until the transmission of one screen image is completed. Such systems include systems using dedicated lines and LANs (Local Area Network).
rk), etc., compared with a transmission line configured, for example, about 1
Since the transmission speed is about 100/100 and the waiting time during which one image is sent is long, there is a problem that the usability is extremely poor.

In particular, in a system in which images are transmitted at high speed, when the camera is turned in a desired direction, the image during turning can be displayed in almost real time, so that the monitoring can be performed at a remote place. An easy-to-use product is provided that can be monitored with the same feeling as monitoring in the field. On the other hand, an inexpensive system using a public line takes a long time to transmit an image, so as described above, it is intuitive to change the shooting angle of view and display the image of that angle of view in real time while selecting the desired monitoring target. Operation was difficult.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a surveillance camera in which a pseudo image (initial image) of an object to be monitored when panning the surveillance camera is displayed in real time. The purpose is to provide a system.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an operation unit for inputting a setting instruction for photographing of a surveillance camera, an image memory unit for storing an image, and an original image for decompressing a compressed image. A decompressing unit for generating an image, a display unit for displaying an image read out from the image memory unit, a first storage unit for storing an initial image, and an instruction image input by the operation unit to select a corresponding initial image. And a communication unit that receives the transmitted compressed image or transmits a setting instruction for shooting the surveillance camera, and configures the surveillance device, and the camera unit that captures the target and the drive that drives the camera unit. Section, a memory section for storing an image, a compression section for compressing an image, a second storage section for storing a setting instruction for photographing the camera section, and transmitting a compressed image and a setting instruction for the camera section. Or sent monitoring In a surveillance camera system that configures a camera device with a communication unit that receives a setting instruction of a camera, a corresponding initial image is read from the first storage unit and displayed based on the input of the setting instruction of the surveillance camera from the operation unit. I decided to do it.

[0009]

With the above configuration, the selection unit performs the first storage based on the setting instruction of the surveillance camera by inputting the setting instruction for photographing the surveillance camera from the operation unit. The image in the corresponding range is read out from the initial images stored in advance in the display unit, and the expansion unit performs expansion processing via the image memory unit, and the initial image (pseudo image) in the corresponding range is displayed on the display unit in real time. To do.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A surveillance camera system according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a surveillance camera system according to the present invention.
Reference numeral 1 denotes an operation unit using, for example, a remote controller for intuitively inputting a setting instruction for image capturing of a surveillance camera, for example, a center position for capturing a surveillance target, a zooming value, a focus, and the like. An image memory unit 2 stores images, and stores a compressed image and an expanded display image. A decompression unit 3 decompresses a compressed image to generate an original image. For example, JPEG (Joint Photographic coding)
Experts Group), MPEG (Movin Picture coding E)
xperts Group) etc. decompression processing by the method based on the standard. A display unit 4 displays the image read from the image memory unit 2. 5 is, for example, to store an initial image having a different angle of view for each position in the monitoring area of the camera, or to store a plurality of initial images of different resolutions for each position in the monitoring area. A first storage unit for storing images, wherein the initial image is a natural image taken by a surveillance camera, and the first storage unit is configured, for example, a hard disk (HD) having a capacity of about several Gbytes,
It is stored in a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) or the like.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a selection unit that discriminates a setting instruction input through the operation unit 1 and selects and reads an initial image having a corresponding angle of view. 7 receives the transmitted compressed image or transmits a setting instruction for surveillance camera shooting, for example, I
A communication unit configured to comply with the SDN basic interface standard or the telephone line standard. Reference numeral 9 is a control unit that controls each unit. The monitoring device is configured as described above.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a camera section for photographing an object,
Reference numeral 2 drives each operation with required accuracy such as panning (vertical and horizontal) of the camera body of the camera unit 11 to adjust (zoom) the telephoto and wide angle of the zoom lens or to adjust the focus. It is a drive unit that uses a stepping motor as a drive source so that it can be performed. Reference numeral 13 denotes a memory unit that stores the image captured by the camera unit 11 and the compressed image. Reference numeral 14 denotes a compression unit that compresses an image captured by the camera unit 11 by a method that conforms to standards such as JPEG and MPEG.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a second storage unit for storing the setting instruction transmitted by the monitoring device to the camera unit 11. 1
A communication unit 6 transmits a compressed image and a setting instruction for the camera unit, or receives the transmitted setting instruction for the monitoring camera. Reference numeral 18 is a sensor unit for detecting an abnormality. 19
Is a control unit that controls each unit. The camera device is configured as described above. Reference numeral 21 denotes a transmission line connected between the communication unit 7 of the monitoring device and the communication unit 16 of the camera device, for example,
The ISDN or telephone line.

An image monitoring operation of the monitoring camera system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a selection display operation of an initial image by panning and zooming in the surveillance camera system according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an image in which an image is stored for each lattice point of the surveillance camera system according to the present invention.
Further, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of main keys of the operation unit of the surveillance camera system according to the present invention. The operation unit 1 is, for example,
It is a remote controller equipped with keys as shown in FIG. 4, and can intuitively and easily carry out setting instructions for photographing by the surveillance camera. The specific instruction method is to set the monitor mode to “up”, “down”, “left”, corresponding to the screen of the display unit 4 in FIG.
Press any of the "right" arrow keys. For example, "left"
By pressing the direction arrow key 31, as shown in FIG. 3, the image B centered on the center O of the screen (central monitoring standard image) is sequentially moved in the “left” direction along the X axis. The image that pans to the left is displayed as in B, ..., E. At this time, the selection unit 6 determines the instruction of the pan operation in the “left” direction, and sequentially reads the corresponding images from the initial images stored in the HDD of the first storage unit 5 in advance and displays them on the display unit 4. The instruction for the pan operation in the “left” direction is encoded and transmitted from the communication unit 7.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, when the surveillance area of the camera is set to 25, it starts from a state in which the central surveillance image 26 is displayed, and continues for the required time "left" direction, then "up". When panning in the direction, the image 28 at the upper left position is displayed. Subsequently, when the zoom key 32 is pressed to obtain a wide angle of view, for example, a wide range (wide angle) image 27 in which the angle of view is expanded from the standard angle of view is obtained. Also, if you want to monitor a distant object in the image, the required focus key 3
By pressing 4, the focus instruction is given. The required surveillance image is obtained. Next, when the end key 33 is pressed, the code of the end key is transmitted from the communication section 7 via the telephone line (21).

On the other hand, on the camera device side, the communication unit 16 receives the transmitted setting instruction for photographing, and stores the setting instruction in the second storage unit 15 via the control unit 19. Further, the setting instruction is supplied to the drive unit 12. Drive unit 12
Performs a driving operation based on the setting instruction, the camera unit 11 shoots the object according to the setting instruction, and the image is stored in the memory unit 13.
, And the compression unit 14 uses, for example, JPEG, M
The image is compressed by a method conforming to a standard such as PEG, and the compressed image is temporarily stored in the memory unit 13. The control unit 19 transmits the compressed image to the monitoring device side via the communication unit 16 and the transmission path 21.

On the monitoring device side, the initial image based on the setting instruction has already been displayed on the display unit 4, but the received compressed image is temporarily stored in the image memory unit 2 and the decompression unit 3 decompresses the image accordingly. Processing is performed to restore the original image, and the initial image currently displayed on the display unit 4 is rewritten via the image memory unit 2.

The initial image is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a standard image, a wide-angle image, a narrow-angle (enlarged) image, etc. for each required grid point of the XY coordinates in the camera unit 11 in advance. The zooming image of is captured and stored in the first storage unit 5. By doing so, as described above, the required image can be read out and displayed at high speed from the first storage unit 5 based on the setting instruction.

Further, the sensor unit 18 is installed on the camera device side, and when a sensor such as a temperature sensor, a smoke sensor, or a gas sensor detects an abnormality, the sensor is installed in the second storage unit 15 in advance. If an appropriate shooting setting is stored in a certain position, the driving unit 12 drives the camera unit 11 to a desired angle of view or the like to shoot the monitoring target based on the shooting setting, and the setting instruction is coded. The image is transmitted to the monitoring device side, and based on this shooting setting, the monitoring device can display the fact that it is an initial image and can immediately display it together with a message such as "danger".

The initial image is not limited to the natural image taken by the camera as described above. For example, as in the embodiment of the initial image by CG of the surveillance camera system according to the present invention in FIG. 5, a picture or a CG (Computer Graphic)
You may superimpose the comment (word) of the explanation in the same image, or display it like a subtitle in s). Further, the input operation of the setting instruction from the operation unit 1 may be made by pressing the end key 33 to instruct the end, so that the end can be determined by the completion of the input of the zooming value, for example. Is also good. In addition, a method of storing all the monitoring areas of the camera in the first storage unit 5 by associating the coordinates with the captured images so that an image with a suitable angle of view is calculated based on the setting instruction. It may be configured.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, the surveillance camera stores the image of the entire surveillance area as the initial image so that a pseudo image can be displayed in real time on the pan of the surveillance camera. Provide the system. Therefore, when using a public line as a transmission line,
Even in a surveillance camera system that is inexpensive but takes a long time to send images, a corresponding initial image is displayed in real time according to the pan, zooming, and focus adjustments of the surveillance camera, making it easy to set instructions and intuitive to use. There is a merit that an easy surveillance camera system can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a surveillance camera system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a selection display operation of initial images by panning and zooming in the surveillance camera system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an image in which an image is stored for each lattice point of the surveillance camera system according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of main keys of an operation unit of the surveillance camera system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an initial image by a CG or the like of the surveillance camera system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an image diagram of a surveillance camera system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Operation Section 2 Image Memory Section 3 Expansion Section 4 Display Section 5 First Storage Section 6 Selection Section 7 Communication Section 9 Control Section 11 Camera Section 12 Drive Section 13 Memory Section 14 Compression Section 15 Second Storage Section 16 Communication Section 18 Sensor Section 19 Control unit 25 Camera monitoring area 26 Central monitoring image 27 Wide range (wide-angle) image 28 Upper left position image 31 Arrow key 32 Zoom key 33 End key 34 Focus key 51 Surveillance camera 52 Drive unit 53 Transmission line 54 Receiver 55 Operation unit

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An operation unit for inputting a setting instruction for shooting of a surveillance camera, an image memory unit for storing an image, a decompression unit for decompressing a compressed image to generate an original image, and an image memory unit from the image memory unit. A display unit that displays the read-out image, a first storage unit that stores the initial image, a selection unit that discriminates the instruction content input by the operation unit and selects a corresponding initial image, and receives the transmitted compressed image. Alternatively, a surveillance device is configured with a communication unit that transmits a setting instruction for shooting with a surveillance camera, and a camera unit that captures an object, a drive unit that drives the camera unit, a memory unit that stores an image, and an image And a second storage unit for storing a setting instruction for photographing the camera unit, and transmitting or receiving the compressed image and the setting instruction of the camera unit. Communication part with camera In the surveillance camera system that constitutes a storage device, a corresponding initial image is read from the first storage unit and displayed based on the input of the setting instruction of the surveillance camera from the operation unit. . 2. The surveillance camera system according to claim 1, wherein an initial image is stored in the first storage unit for each position in the surveillance area. 3. The position is defined as a grid point having a required step width on the XY coordinates, with the center of the entire monitoring area as a reference point.
The surveillance camera system described. 4. The surveillance camera system according to claim 1, wherein an initial image of a plurality of zooming images is stored in the first storage unit for each position in the surveillance region. 5. The operation unit is "up" on a screen of a display unit,
2. The surveillance camera system according to claim 1, wherein the surveillance camera system comprises keys for indicating "down", "left", and "right" directions, a zooming key for the camera lens, a focus key, and an input end key for setting instructions. 6. The surveillance camera system according to claim 1, wherein the setting instruction is given by a remote controller. 7. The first storage unit stores images of all monitoring areas, and a corresponding image is obtained by calculation based on the center position and zooming value of the setting instruction, and the same portion is read out. Surveillance camera system. 8. The surveillance camera system according to claim 1, wherein the camera device is provided with a sensor section for detecting an abnormality. 9. The surveillance camera system according to claim 1, wherein a stepping motor is used as a drive source of the drive section. 10. The surveillance camera system according to claim 1, wherein the initial image is an image photographed by the surveillance camera. 11. The surveillance camera system according to claim 1, wherein a desired symbol or character is superimposed or displayed in a caption on the initial image. 12. The surveillance camera system according to claim 1, wherein the initial image is composed of a picture or a CG. 13. The surveillance camera system according to claim 1, wherein the initial image is compressed and stored in a first storage unit.