JPH09288684A - Data gathering system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data gathering system capable of automatically gathering data and automatically updating preserved data. SOLUTION: When automatic call termination by an image gathering server 3 is present, image gathering terminals 1a-1d automatically transfer the image data of video images at the present point of time through a public line 2 to the image gathering server 3. When the prescribed time comes, the image gathering server 3 calls the image gathering terminals 1a-1d and successively stores the transferred image data and time stamps in a work memory. Then, for the respective image data, a source change script is executed, an HTML(hyper text mark up language) file inside a WWW(world wide web) server 4 is changed, and further, the received image data are subscribed by the file name of the corresponding image data of the WWW server 4. As a result, the image data linked to the HTML file on the WWW server 4 are automatically updated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data collection system for collecting data such as image data of a video image taken at a remote place and automatically updating the data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, WWW on the Internet
The (World Wide Web) has come to be widely used as a simple and inexpensive standard system that provides image data, audio data, and the like as multimedia information in addition to text information. On the Internet, HTML (Hypertext Mark) is one of the servers that provide information.
There is a WWW server which is described by a page description language called upLanguage) and provides, in addition to text information, a data group (data file of image, voice, etc.) linked to the text information by a file name.

The WWW server possesses an HTML file described in the HTML format and other HTML files and data (image data, moving image data, audio data, etc.) linked to the HTML file. When linked data is designated by the accessing user (WWW browser), the data is transferred to the user.

[0004]

By the way, in the above-mentioned Internet, when updating the data linked to the HTML file, the HTML file itself in the WWW server is replaced with a new file corresponding to the file name of the new data. Alternatively, you can replace the linked data with new data with the same filename.

However, in the past, since the above-mentioned updating was done manually, if it is necessary to update frequently, or if it is necessary to update a large amount of data, it takes a lot of time and labor until the updating is performed. Takes a long time,
There were problems such as making mistakes and causing problems.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a data collection system which can automatically collect data and can automatically update stored data.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a data collecting system according to the invention of claim 1 is provided with a storage means for storing data, a data storage system installed at a predetermined place, and capturing data at a predetermined time. Means and an updating means for collecting the data taken in by the fetching means at a predetermined time and updating the data stored in the storing means with the collected data, the fetching means and the updating means Is connected via a public line, and the calling means and the updating means are automatically connected by calling from either one of them.

Further, the capturing means automatically receives an incoming call from the outside as described in claim 2,
When the calling party is the updating means, the captured image data may be automatically transmitted.

Further, for example, the capturing means may call the updating means at a predetermined time and automatically transmit the captured image data as described in claim 3.

The storage means may be a server on the Internet, for example, and the data may be stored so that it can be browsed from an external terminal connected to the Internet. .

In order to achieve the above object, the data collecting system according to the invention of claim 5 is installed in a predetermined place, and an image collecting terminal for taking a photographed video as image data at a predetermined time, and the image collecting terminal. The image data captured by the terminal is collected at a predetermined time, and the collected image data is overwritten with the file name of the existing image data stored in the server on the Internet. And

[0012] Further, as a preferred mode, the server on the Internet may be a WWW server that provides at least an HTML file linked with image data as described in claim 6, for example.

In a preferred aspect, the updating means, when updating the image data on the WWW server with the collected image data as described in claim 7, for example, on the HTML file related to the image data. The character string of may be updated.

In a preferred embodiment, the HTML
The character string on the file is, for example, as described in claim 8.
The update means converts the time stamp indicating the date and time when the collected image data is captured by the image collection terminal into a character string, and the HTML indicates the converted character string. You may make it replace the character string on a file.

In a preferred embodiment, the image collection terminal is provided with image data storage means for storing the captured image data, for example, as described in claim 9, and at the preset time, the captured image is taken. Image data stored in the image data storage means may be sequentially stored in the image data storage means, and when connected by the update means, the image data stored in the image data storage means may be sequentially transmitted. At this time, when the image collecting terminal is connected by the updating means, for example, as described in claim 10, the image data stored in the image data storing means or the image data currently fetched by the image collecting terminal. May be transmitted.

In a preferred mode, the capturing means automatically receives an incoming call from the outside as claimed in claim 11, and when the calling party is the updating means, the captured image is received. A first transmission mode for automatically transmitting data and a second transmission mode for automatically transmitting the captured image data by calling the updating means at a predetermined time Good.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings as an embodiment in which an image data automatic updating system for updating image data on a WWW server on the Internet is applied.

A. Configuration of Example A-1. Configuration of Image Data Automatic Update System FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image data automatic update system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1a-
1d is an image collection terminal equipped with a calling function, an automatic call receiving function, and a transmitting function for transmitting image data of images captured by a TV camera, and is used in homes, shops, convenience stores, parking lots, factories, etc. It is installed and unattended to monitor intruders and any abnormalities. In this embodiment, the image collecting terminals 1a are installed at different points, the image collecting terminal 1a is located at the point A, the image collecting terminal 1b is located at the point B, the image collecting terminal 1c is located at the point C, and the image collecting terminal 1d is located at the point D. ing. The image collecting terminals 1a to 1d sequentially store images taken at a predetermined time interval (capture time) in a built-in memory as image data of a predetermined format, and receive an incoming call from an image collecting server 3 described later or from itself. By calling, according to an instruction from the image collecting server, the image data of the image at the time of the incoming call and the past image data stored in the memory are transmitted via the public line 2. The image data is compressed by a predetermined method and stored in the memory. The public line 2 is a general analog or digital telephone line.

The image collecting server 3 makes a call to a predetermined image collecting terminal 1i (i = a to d) at a predetermined time or receives an image from the image collecting terminal, and the image collecting server 3 fetches the image. The image data is received and sequentially stored in the built-in memory. For each image data, the HTML file in the WWW server 4 described later is changed according to a predetermined script, and the image data linked to the HTML file is received. The updated image data is updated.

The WWW server 4 is a well-known one and is an HTM.
It is a server on the Internet that stores an L file and various data (image data, moving image data, audio data, etc.) linked to the HTML file. The WWW server 4 sends an HTML file and various data (image data, moving image data, audio data, etc.) linked to the HTML file to a public line according to an instruction from a user (terminal 7) who has accessed via the Internet 5. Send via 6.

The terminal 7 is a WWW browser (application / application) that converts an HTML file into display format data.
Software) is running. In the illustrated example, the terminal 7
Is connected to the Internet 5 via the public line 6, but is not limited to this, and may be connected to the Internet 5 via a dedicated line, LAN, or the like. In the terminal 7, the received HTML file is converted into display format data and displayed on the monitor, and on the display screen, an instruction such as a jump to a link destination or an instruction to download predetermined data is issued on the public line. WWW on the Internet 5 via 6
It is sent to the server 4.

A-2. Image Collection Terminal Next, the configuration of the above-mentioned image collection terminals 1a to 1d will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image collecting terminal. In the figure, a camera 10 is composed of a solid-state image sensor such as a CCD, and supplies a captured video signal to an A / D converter 11. The A / D converter 11 converts the video signal into a digital signal and supplies it to the CPU 13 via a data bus. Further, the clock 12 measures the current time based on the system clock and supplies it to the CPU 13 via the data bus. The current time is used as a time stamp when capturing image data.

The CPU 13 controls each part of the apparatus, receives image data of a video image captured by the camera 10 through the A / D converter 11 at a predetermined time according to the information in the operation setting memory 14, and compresses the image data. After compression by the method, the operation of sequentially storing in the image memory 16 is performed. Further, when the CPU 13 receives an incoming call through the modem 15, that is, when an automatic incoming call is received in response to a call from the image collecting server 3, the CPU 10 takes an image according to a command (command) of the image collecting server 3. The image data at the present time (compressed) and the past image data (compressed) stored in the image memory 16 described later are transferred to the image collection server 3 via the modem 15.

The operation setting memory 16 is a time at which the image data is automatically taken in regardless of an instruction from the image collecting server, and an image memory 16 of the taken image data.
The designated memory number indicating the storage location in the is stored, and is information transferred from the image collection server 3. Under the control of the CPU 13, the modem 15 performs an outgoing call to the image collecting server 3 and an automatic incoming call according to the calling of the image collecting server 3, and also demodulates the received data and modulates the data to be transmitted. The data to be received is a command (command) from the image collection server 3, and the data to be transmitted is the image data to the image collection server 3,
For example, a time stamp. Further, the received data is demodulated and supplied to the CPU 13. The image memory 16 is
Image data (compressed) of video taken by the camera 10 at a predetermined time is sequentially stored together with a time stamp. In this embodiment, the designated memory number is M1.
~ M4 are provided.

A-3. Image Collection Server Next, the configuration of the image collection server 3 described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image collection server. In the figure, under the control of the CPU 23, the modem 20 automatically makes an incoming call to the image collecting terminals 1a to 1d and an outgoing call from the image collecting terminals 1a to 1d, and demodulates and transmits the received data. Modulates data. The data to be received is the image collection terminal 1a.
Image data from 1d to 1d, a time stamp, and the like, and the data to be transmitted is a command (command) supplied from the CPU 23 to the image collecting terminals 1a to 1d. Further, the clock 21 measures the current time based on the system clock and supplies it to the CPU 23 via the data bus.

When the connection time with any of the image collecting terminals 1a to 1d is reached, the CPU 23 issues a message to the predetermined image collecting terminal 1i (i = a to d) by the modem 20 according to the information of the connection management table 24 described later. When a call is made or an automatic call is received by the modem 20, the image collection terminal 1i
The image data (compressed) and the time stamp transmitted from are received and temporarily stored in the working memory 22. Further, the CPU 23 uses the connection management table 2 described later.
4. According to the information in the captured image-file name correspondence table 26, by changing the HTML file in the WWW server 4, converting the size of the image data, and overwriting the image data of the same name on the WWW server 4, the WWW
The HTML file and image data on the server 4 are updated. Next, the script memory 27 stores a script (in this embodiment, the scripts S1 and S2 are used) for changing the HTML file. The script is executed by the CPU 23 and updates the HTML file and linked image data.

A-4. Connection Management Table Next, FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the connection management table described above. In the figure, the connection management table 24 includes a connection type 24a, a terminal telephone number 24b, a connection time capture (information) 24c, a memory capture (information) 24d, a source change script 24e, and a connection time 24f. The connection type 24a captures image data at the time of calling from the image collecting server 3 for each of the image collecting terminals 1a to 1d, or sends image data by calling from the image collecting terminals 1a to 1d to the image collecting server 3. This is data indicating whether to capture, “server call” indicates that the image collection server 3 makes a call and receives image data, and “terminal call” indicates that the image collection terminal 1i makes a call. Indicates that data will be transferred.

The terminal telephone number 24b is the image collection terminal 1a.
~ 1d phone number. Therefore, the image collection terminal 1
It is not stored in the case of "calling from a terminal" when calling from i. In addition, whether the connection-time acquisition (information) 24c acquires the image data for the current video at the time of connection,
Data indicating whether or not the past image data stored in the image memory 16 of the image collecting terminal 1i is fetched,
In the case of "1", it indicates that the image data for the current video is taken in at the time of connection.

The memory acquisition (information) 24d is data indicating which image data of the designated memory numbers M1 to M4 is to be acquired when the past image data stored in the image memory 16 is acquired. In the case of the terminal 1b, it indicates that the image data in the memories M1 and M2 is loaded.

The source change script 24e is HTML
This is data indicating a script used when changing a file. In this embodiment, the script S1 and the script S are used.
2 and are prepared.

The script S1 rewrites the time stamp described next to the inline image tag using the terminal number for identifying the image collection terminal and the stored image number as arguments. The stamp is taken out, and the text described after the tags "<" to ">" corresponding to the image file name correspondence list is replaced with the time stamp character string from the HTML file (top.html) of the top page. The details will be described later.

Also, the script S2 uses the terminal number and the stored image number as arguments, links the old image data into another HTML file (olddata.html), and sets the time stamp described next to the inline image tag. It is a process to rewrite, save with an alias of old image data,
HT of the top page after adding a predetermined line to link the old image data to the HTML file (olddata.html)
The text described after the tags "<" to ">" corresponding to the image file name correspondence list of the ML file (top.html) is replaced with the time stamp character string.

The process of saving with a different name of the old image data and adding a predetermined line to the HTML file (olddata.html) linked with the old image data is performed by the HTML file (top.ht).
ml)), find the file with the corresponding image data file name, change the file name of the file to a time stamp, and add a line to link the old image data to the HTML file (olddata.html). Done in. Also, the HTML file of the top page (top.htm
The process of rewriting l) is similar to the script S1 for the new image data imported from the image collection terminal,
This is done by rewriting the HTML file (top.html). The details will be described later.

Next, at the connection time 24f, the image collection terminal 1
It is data indicating the time when a call is made to i, and naturally,
There is no data in the case of "call from terminal".

A-5. Terminal Automatic Import Management Table Next, FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the terminal automatic import management table described above. In the figure, the terminal automatic capture management table 25 defines the capture time of image data in each image collection terminal 1i, and the capture time of image data is set for each of the image collection terminals 1a to 1d. When the image data is captured regardless of the access of the image collection server 3, the capture time is set for each memory that stores the captured image data,
When capturing image data in response to a request from the image collection server 3, in other words, capturing image data at the time when the request occurs, the capture time is not set. In the illustrated example, only the image collecting terminal 1b is twice a day (AM3: 0) regardless of the access of the image collecting server 3.
0 and PM 3:00), each image data is stored in the memory M.
1 and memory M2. The terminal automatic capture management table 25 is transferred to each image collection terminal 1i and copied to the operation setting memory 14 when the image collection server 3 is activated.

A-6. Captured Image-File Name Correspondence Table Next, FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the captured image-file name correspondence table described above. In the figure, the captured image-file name correspondence table 26 defines the HTML file name to which the image data captured by each image collection terminal 1i is linked, the image data file name, and its size. In the image collection server 3,
After the change of the HTML file by the scripts S1 and S2 described above is completed, the image data on the WWW server 4 is overwritten with the file name shown in the figure. For example, in the image collection terminal 1a, the image data D1 is "top.
In the HTML file with the file name "html", add "Mt.g
It indicates that it will be overwritten with the file name "if". Also, the image data “Mt.gif” is 110 ×
The size is 110.

A-7. HTML File Next, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the HTML file (top.html) on the above-mentioned WWW server. The HTML file is created by using a symbol (a tag sandwiched between “<” and “>”) for a layout that determines how to display titles, images (photographs, illustrations, etc.) and characters. . HTML file shown (top.htm
l) is the WWW browser (terminal) that has accessed the Internet 5 and describes the top page that is displayed first. Particularly, the part according to the present invention is underlined in the figure, "<IMG SRC = "photo / Mt.gif" ALT = "photo / Mt.gif"
> 1996 3/25 PM 2:00 '', `` <IMG SRC = "photo / beachnig
ht.gif "ALT =" photo / beachnight.gif "> 1996 3/24 AM
3:00 ","<IMG SRC = "photo / beach.gif" ALT = "photo / be
ach.gif "> 1996 3/24 PM 3:00", "<IMG SRC =" photo /
road.gif "ALT =" photo / road.gif "> 1996 3/25 PM 1: 3
8 ”,“ <IMG SRC = "photo / city.gif" ALT = "photo / city.g
if "> 1996 3/21 AM 10:00", and "<A HREF =" oldda
This is the line ta.html ">".

For example, “<IMG SRC =” in each line is
It is specified that image data is displayed here, and the character string with the extension ".gif" such as "Mt.gif" or "beachnight.gif" that is described next is the file name. Is. By the way, “photo /” indicates a directory in which image data is stored. Therefore, in the second "<IMG SRC =" photo / beachnight.gif "", "beach
Display the image data of the file name "night.gif",
In the third "<IMG SRC =" photo / beach.gif "", "beac
The image data with the file name "h.gif" is displayed, and the fourth "<IMG SRC =" photo / road.gif "" displays "road.gi.
The image data of the file name "f" is added to the fifth "<IMG
SRC = "photo / city.gif""stipulates that image data with the file name" city.gif "be displayed.

The date and time when the image data on the back side of the tag is taken in, "1996 3/25 PM 2:00", "1996
`` 3/24 AM 3:00 '', `` 1996 3/24 PM 3:00 '', `` 1996
"3/25 PM 1:38" and "1996 3/21 AM 10:00" are character strings generated from the time stamp received together with the image data, and when the HTML file (top.html) is changed by the script S1. Is replaced by

Next, "<A HREF="olddata.html">" is
First, "A" is a tag for linking to another HTML file, and the next "HREF =" specifies the link destination. In the illustrated example, the HTML file (olddata.html) is specified as the link destination. Also, following
The character string "past data at point D" functions as a switch for jumping to the link destination on the screen, and
When the character string is specified (clicked with the mouse) on the WW browser, the display screen shows the HTML file (oldd
ata.html) will be the content described. Linked HTM
The L file (olddata.html) will be described later.

In this embodiment, as described above, the script S1 replaces the character string described in the HTML file with the character string generated from the time stamp received together with the image data.
After updating the file, the HTML file is transferred to the WWW server 4, and the captured image data is stored in the HTML file (top.html) with the file name described in the image data on the WWW server 4. The image data linked to the HTML file is automatically updated by overwriting.

Next, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the HTML file (olddata.html) on the WWW server described above. The HTML file (olddata.html) is also the above-mentioned H
It is described in the same way as the TML file (top.html).
In this embodiment, the HTML file (olddata.html)
Is for displaying past data at the point D. Illustrated "<A HREF="D96320.gif"> 1996 3/20 A
"M 10:00 </A><BR>","<AHREF="D96318.gif"> 1996 3/1
8 AM 10:00 </A><BR>'', `` <A HREF="D96316.gif"> 1996
3/16 AM 10:00 </A><BR>'', `` <A HREF="D96314.gif"> 19
96 3/16 AM 10:00 </A><BR>'' and `` <A HREF = "D9631
2.gif "> 1996 3/16 AM 10:00 </A><BR>" is the original image data with the file name "city.gif". It is a line added by changing the file name with a stamp. Of course,
The file name of the corresponding image data is also changed to the corresponding time stamp. In addition, the above date and time are respectively WW
Image file on the W server 4 (D96320.gif, D96318.gif
Etc.), the linked image data is displayed when the WWW browser indicates the date and time (clicks with the mouse).

A-8. Display Screen on WWW Terminal Next, a display screen when the above-mentioned HTML files (top.html and olddata.html) are displayed on the WWW browser of the terminal 7 will be described. FIG. 9 is a display screen when the HTML file (top.html) is displayed.
0 is a display screen when the HTML file (olddata.html) is displayed. As shown in FIG. 9, the WWW browser interprets the HTML file described above and
Characters and images are displayed according to the layout described in. In addition, the character string "past data at point D" in the bottom line is a tag for linking to another HTML file, so if you specify (click with the mouse) the character string on the WWW browser, it will be displayed. The screen is the content described in the linked HTML file (olddata.html), that is, the display screen shown in FIG. Next, the HTML file (olddata.ht shown in FIG.
In (ml), the time stamp (date and time) for past data such as "1996 3/20 AM 10:00" is displayed. And
When the date and time is designated (clicked with the mouse), linked image data is displayed.

B. Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of the image acquisition system according to the above-described embodiment will be described. Here, FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the entire operation, FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image collecting terminals 1a to 1d, and FIGS. 13 and 14 are flowcharts showing the operation of the image collecting server 3.

B-1. Overall Operation First, in step S10, a prototype HTML file (top.html, olddata.html) is created, the WWW server 4 is operated, and the HTML file (top.html) is stored in a predetermined directory of the WWW server 4. , olddata.htm
l) transfer. As a result, it becomes possible to browse by the WWW browser of the terminal 7. Next, step S1
2, the connection management table 24, the terminal automatic capture management table 25, the scripts S1 and S2, and the captured image-file name correspondence table 26 are stored in the image collection server 3
Create inside and set each. Then, step S1
At 4, the image collection server 3 is activated.

B-2. Operation of Image Collection Terminal In the image collection terminal 1i, first, in step S20, the contents of the operation setting memory 14 are referred to. The contents of the operation setting memory 14 are the contents of the terminal automatic capture management table 25 of the image collection server 3 transferred. Therefore, the operation setting memory 14 is set with the time at which the image data is captured.

Next, in step S22, the time when the image data is taken in is compared with the current time from the clock 12 to determine whether it is the time when the image data is taken in,
If it is not the import time, the process proceeds to step S26, it is determined whether there is an incoming call from the image collection server 3, and if there is no incoming call, the process returns to step S22. Hereinafter, the above operation is repeated until the fetch time comes or an automatic incoming call arrives.

In the above repeating operation, when the automatic storage time is set as in the image collection terminal 1b, when the automatic storage time (for example, 3:00 AM) comes, the determination result in step S22 is "YES"
Then, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24,
The image data of the current image captured by the camera 10 is compressed by a predetermined method and stored in the designated memory number (in this case, the memory M1). Similarly, when PM becomes 3:00, the image data of the current video image captured by the camera 10 is compressed by a predetermined method and stored in the designated memory number (in this case, the memory M2).

In addition, whether the automatic storage time is set or not, when an automatic call is received by a call from the image collection server 3, the determination result in step S26 is "YES". , Proceeds to step S28, and according to the instruction from the image collection server 3,
When the image data of the current image or the automatic storage time is set, the past image data stored in the image memory 16 is transferred to the image collection server 3 via the public line 2 by the modem 15. Then, again, step S2
Return to 2.

As described above, when the automatic storage time is set, the image collecting terminal 1i sets the image data at that time to a predetermined designated memory number of the image memory 16 each time the automatic storage time is reached. When the image collection server 3 receives an automatic call, the image data of the current image and the past image data stored in the image memory 16 are stored in the image collection server 3 via the public line 2 by the modem 15. The image data is automatically transferred or the image collection server 3 is called by itself to transfer the image data.

B-3. Operation of Image Collection Server In the image collection server 3, first, in step S30, a call is made to the corresponding terminal according to the terminal automatic capture management table 25, and the terminal automatic capture management table 2
The automatic storage is set by transferring the automatic storage time, which is the contents of 5. Next, in step S32, it is determined whether or not there is an incoming call due to a call from the image collection terminal 1i. As described above, this is a process when image data is transferred by a call from the terminal side like the image collection terminal 1c.

If there is no automatic incoming call, step S
The determination result in 32 is "NO", and step S3
Then, the process proceeds to step 4, and according to the contents of the connection management table 24, it is determined whether or not it is the connection time in any of the image collection terminals 1i. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the image collecting terminals 1a, 1
b and 1d correspond to this. If it is not the connection time, the determination result in step S34 is "NO", and the process returns to step S32. Hereinafter, steps S32 and S34 are repeatedly executed until an automatic call arrives or the connection time comes.

On the other hand, when the connection time with any of the image collecting terminals 1i comes, the determination result in step S34 becomes "YES", and the process proceeds to step S36. Step S
In step 36, according to the contents of the connection management table 24, the corresponding image collection terminal 1i is called by the terminal telephone number 24b, and in step S38, the terminal number. After confirming
Proceed to step S40.

In step S40, the connection management table 2
4 corresponding image acquisition terminal 1i connection information 2 at the time of connection
4c, a command to transfer the image data at the time of connection and / or the image data stored in the image memory 16 of the image collecting terminal 1i is sent in order, and the transferred image data is sequentially transferred to the working memory 22. To store. At this time, a time stamp indicating the time when the image data is captured at the image collection terminal is also received and stored in the work memory 22 in association with the image data.

Next, in step S42, the source change script is executed for each image data according to the source change script information 24e of the connection management table 24 to change the HTML file and the like in the WWW server 4. The original HTML file is changed and then transferred to the WWW server 4 to overwrite the old HTML file, or the HTML file in the WWW server 4 is transferred to the work memory in advance and the work memory 2 is used.
It is also possible to transfer again to the WWW server 4 after the change on the Internet 2.

For example, in the case of the image collecting terminal 1a, as shown in FIG. 15, the image collecting server 3 sets the PM once a day.
The call is made at 2:00, the image data of the video image captured by the camera 10 at the time of connection (PM 2:00) and the time stamp are received, and the script S1 uses the time stamp to display "" in the HTML file (top.html) Mt.gif "
Replace the string (1996 3/25 PM 2:00) that follows.

Similarly, in the case of the image collecting terminal 1b, as shown in FIG.
Image data of the video shot by the camera 10 at 3:00 AM and the time stamp,
The script S receives the image data and the time stamp of the image captured by the camera 10 at 3:00 PM.
1, the HTML file (to
(p.html) followed by the string (19
96 3/24 PM 3:00) and the string following "beach.gif" (1996 3/24 PM 3:00).

Further, in the case of the image collecting terminal 1c, FIG.
As shown in 5, call the image collection server 3 from itself,
The image data of the video image captured by the camera 10 at the time of connection and the time stamp are received, and the HTML file (top.ht.
character string (1996 3 / 25PM
1:38).

In the case of the image collecting terminal 1d, as shown in FIG. 15, the image collecting server 3 sets the AM once a day.
The call is made at 10:00, and the image data and the time stamp of the video image taken by the camera 10 at the time of connection (AM 10:00) are received, and the script S2 first sets the file name "city.gif" on the WWW server 4. After changing the image data of "" to the file name of the above time stamp, in the HTML file (olddata.html), after the "<H1> Past data at point D </ H1><P>", the character string "< A HREF
Add the line "=" $ change file name $ "> $ timestamp of change file $ </A><BR>". A corresponding character string is inserted in the part sandwiched by "$". Furthermore, as with the other terminals described above, the "ci" of the HTML file (top.html) is
string following "ty.gif" (1996 3/21 AM 10:00)
Replace with a timestamp.

Next, in step S44 shown in FIG. 14, the size of the image data is converted according to the captured image-file name correspondence table 26, and in step S46.
The image data is overwritten on the same name file of the WWW server 4 with the corresponding file name. For example, the image collection terminal 1a
In the case of, the file name is converted to 110 × 110 and then overwritten with the file name “Mt.gif”. In the case of the image collecting terminal 1b, the image data in the memory M1 is converted to 80 × 60 and then overwritten with the file name “beachnight.gif”, and the image data in the memory M2 with the file name “beach.gif”. Overwrite. Similarly, in the case of the image collection terminal 1c, 120
After converting to x110, it is overwritten with the file name "road.gif". In the case of the image collection terminal 1d, after being converted to 80x60, it is overwritten with the file name "city.gif". As a result, in the WWW browser of the terminal 7, as shown in FIG. 15, the image data captured by each of the image collecting terminals 1a to 1d is automatically updated on the display screen.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, only the automatic collection of the image data linked to the HTML file on the WWW server 4 of the Internet 5 and the automatic update of the character string of the HTML file and the linked image data have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to, for example, a system for updating or adding data on a database (image data, text data, etc.).

Further, in the above-described embodiment, only the change and update of the HTML file in the WWW server 4 have been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an FTP server that provides text information and image data in a directory format and a text information It may be a news server that provides the following news. Further, the data to be automatically collected may be not only image data (still image) but also moving image, voice data, text data and the like. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the image collection terminal 1i and the image collection server 4 exchange data with each other via the public line 2 by the modems 15 and 20, but not limited to this, a LAN (Local Area Network), I.
It may be SDN, a packet network, PHS, or the like.

[0063]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The following effects can be obtained. (1) The capturing means installed at a predetermined location captures data at a predetermined time, the updating means collects the above data at a predetermined time, and the collected data stores the data stored in the storage means. Since it is updated, the data can be automatically collected and the stored data can be automatically updated. (2) Therefore, even if it is necessary to update frequently or to update a large amount of data, data can be collected and updated automatically, so that work can be completed in a short time, and , It is possible to prevent the occurrence of mistakes. (3) Since the capturing means and the updating means are connected via the public line, the capturing means can be installed at a remote place and at an arbitrary place. (4) By the capturing means installed at a predetermined place, the image data is captured at a predetermined time, and by the updating means,
Since the image data is automatically collected at a predetermined time and the collected image data is overwritten with the file name of the existing image data stored in the server on the Internet, it is stored in the server on the Internet. Existing image data can be updated automatically. (5) When the image data on the WWW server is updated with the collected image data, the character string in the HTML file related to the image data is updated. Therefore, for example, the information attached to the image data is also updated. Can be updated. (6) Equipped with image data storage means for storing the image data captured in the image collection terminal, the captured image data is sequentially stored at a preset time regardless of the updating means, and the updating means is connected. At that time, the image data stored in the image data storage means is sequentially transmitted, so that the load on the updating means can be reduced. Further, since the image data stored in the image data storage means or the image data currently fetched can be selected, the number of types of image data that can be collected has increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image acquisition system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image collection terminal.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image collection server.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a connection management table.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of a terminal automatic capture management table.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a captured image-file name correspondence table.

[Figure 7] HTML file (top.htm) on WWW server
It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of l).

FIG. 8: HTML file on the WWW server (olddata.
(html) is a conceptual diagram showing an example.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a display screen when an HTML file (top.html) is displayed.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a display screen when an HTML file (olddata.html) is displayed.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the overall operation.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image collection terminal.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image collection server.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image collection server.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram for explaining updating of an HTML file.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a to 1d Image collection terminal (capturing means) 2 Public line 3,6 Image collection server (update means) 4 WWW server (storing means) 5 Internet 7 Terminal 10 Camera 11 A / D converter 12 Clock 13 CPU 14 Operation setting memory 15 modem 16 image memory (image data storage means) 20 modem 21 clock 22 working memory 23 CPU 24 connection management table 25 terminal automatic capture management table 26 capture image-file name correspondence table 27 script memory

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] May 16, 1996

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A storage means for storing data, a capturing means installed at a predetermined location for capturing data at a predetermined time, and data collected by the capturing means is collected at a predetermined time and collected. Update means for updating the data stored in the storage means with data, wherein the fetching means and the update means are connected via a communication line, and by calling from either one, The data collection system according to claim 1, wherein the fetching means and the updating means are automatically connected. 2. The capturing means automatically receives an incoming call from the outside, and when the calling party is the updating means, automatically transmits the captured image data. The data collection system according to item 1. 3. The data collection system according to claim 1, wherein the capturing means calls the updating means at a predetermined time and automatically transmits the captured image data. 4. The data collection system according to claim 1, wherein the storage means is a server on the Internet, and the data is stored so as to be viewable from an external terminal connected to the Internet. . 5. An image collecting terminal which is installed at a predetermined place and captures captured images as image data at a predetermined time, and image data captured by the image collecting terminal is collected at a predetermined time and collected. A data collection system comprising: an updating unit that overwrites image data with a file name of existing image data stored in a server on the Internet. 6. The server on the Internet is at least a WWW server that provides an HTML file linked with image data.
Data collection system described. 7. The updating means updates the character string in the HTML file related to the image data when updating the image data on the WWW server with the collected image data. 6. The data collection system described in 6. 8. The character string on the HTML file is data indicating a date and time when the image data is taken in, and the updating means adds a time stamp indicating a date and time when the collected image data is taken in at the image collecting terminal. 8. The data collection system according to claim 7, wherein the character string on the HTML file is converted into a character string and the converted character string replaces the character string on the HTML file. 9. The image collecting terminal comprises image data storage means for storing the captured image data, and when a preset time comes, the captured video is captured as image data and sequentially stored in the image data storage means. The data collection system according to claim 5, wherein the image data stored in the image data storage unit is sequentially transmitted when connected by the updating unit. 10. The image collecting terminal, when connected by the updating means, transmits the image data stored in the image data storing means or the image data currently captured by the image collecting terminal. The data collection system according to claim 9. 11. The first transmission mode in which the capturing means automatically receives an incoming call from the outside and automatically transmits the captured image data when the calling party is the updating means. 6. The data collection system according to claim 5, further comprising a second transmission mode in which the update means is called at a predetermined time and the captured image data is automatically transmitted.