JPH0946638A - Image recording device for monitor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a supervisor to easily search a desired image signal among many recorded image signals even when the amount of the recorded image signals is much increased in the monitoring image recording device recording an image signal at a monitoring object place. SOLUTION: A labeling section 26 provides a label representing an image pickup condition (type of camera, image quality of camera, image pickup date and time and recording program or the like) when an image signal is obtained to the image signal in the prescribed unit obtained from any of cameras 1a, 1b, 1c and the label is stored in a 1st memory 27, in which the label is managed. When a total number of labels in use exceeds a prescribed number, the labels are grouped depending on the image pickup condition and block data are stored in a 2nd memory 29, in which the labels are managed in the unit of groups.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a monitoring image recording apparatus for inputting and recording an image signal from a camera which images a monitoring target area.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A photographed image signal from a camera installed at a place to be monitored is input, the input signal is recorded on a recording medium, and the photographed image is displayed as needed to store,
There is a monitoring image recording / reproducing apparatus that monitors various places such as a house to ensure its safety. Such monitoring image recording / reproducing devices are used for monitoring in-stores at financial institutions and convenience stores, for monitoring automated teller machines, for monitoring passengers at railway institutions, and monitoring at toll gates on expressways. It is used for various purposes in modern society, such as for use in offices and for monitoring visitors and suspicious people at the entrance of apartments.

In this type of surveillance image recording / reproducing apparatus, a system using a hard disk is being adopted in place of the conventional time-lapse VCR. The system using this hard disk has less image deterioration of recording due to frequent access, as compared with the time-lapse VCR,
It is excellent in that there is no wear of the head when it is used for a long time, and the operation is easy with a GUI (graphical user interface).

In the surveillance image recording apparatus, in order to further strengthen surveillance and improve security, a plurality of cameras are installed, and input image signals from these cameras are switched and recorded. What has been done is being developed. Also,
In some cases, a recording program is set so as to start recording an input image signal from the camera at the timing of an alarm input from a sensor installed near each camera. In addition, as an automatic method of alarm input from various sensors, a human body sensor is installed near the installation location of the camera and an alarm is input from the human body sensor when a human approaches, and an opening / closing sensor is installed on the door. A method of inputting an alarm from an opening / closing sensor when the door is opened, a method of inputting an alarm when a user starts accessing the automatic teller machine, and the like are used.
Of course, a method of inputting an alarm by human operation is also possible.

[0005]

By the way, in such a surveillance image recording / reproducing apparatus, the image signal of the surveillance target location obtained by one or a plurality of cameras is automatically taken into the hard disk and recorded. Afterwards, the observer reproduces the recorded image signal to observe the monitor image. However, since the image signals are recorded one after another, when the recorded image signals become a huge amount, the arrangement work is troublesome, and the observer selects a desired image signal from among a large number of image signals. Is hard to find.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to arrange the image signals even if the recorded image signals are large in quantity, and to monitor the image signals from those image signals. It is an object of the present invention to provide a monitoring image recording device capable of easily searching for a desired image signal.

[0007]

A surveillance image recording apparatus according to the present invention is a surveillance image recording apparatus for recording an image signal from one or a plurality of cameras for picking up a surveillance target area. A means for creating a label indicating the imaging condition for each unit image signal, a means for storing the created label, and when the number of the labels exceeds a predetermined number, those labels are displayed according to the imaging condition. And a means for grouping.

In the surveillance image recording apparatus of the present invention, an image signal of a predetermined unit obtained from one or a plurality of cameras is set as one recording unit, and an image pickup condition (camera) when the image signal is obtained for each recording unit Type, the image quality of the camera, the date and time of image pickup, etc.) are added and the label is managed. When the total number of labels to be used exceeds a predetermined number, all the recorded image signals are divided into groups according to the image pickup condition, and management in group units is also possible. In this way, even if the amount of recorded image signals becomes enormous, it is easy to organize them, and it is easy to search for a desired image signal.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration using the surveillance image recording apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1a,
Reference numerals 1b and 1c are three cameras installed at the locations to be monitored. Each camera 1a, 1b, 1c automatically picks up an image and outputs the obtained image signal to the recording / reproducing apparatus 2. Each of the cameras 1a, 1b, 1c can switch the image quality at the time of image capturing, and specifically, can switch between three levels of high image quality, medium image quality, and low image quality.
The recording / reproducing apparatus 2 records the input image signal in a built-in hard disk, reproduces the image signal as necessary, and outputs it to the monitor 3. The monitor 3 displays an image according to the image signal. The processing operation in the recording / reproducing apparatus 2 is controlled by the operation of the mouse 4 by the user. In addition, near each of the cameras 1a, 1b, 1c, a sensor that generates an alarm at the timing when a person approaches as described above, when a door is opened, when a user accesses an automated teller machine, etc. 5a, 5b, 5c are installed and each sensor 5a,
5b and 5c output the generated alarm to the recording / reproducing apparatus 2.

FIG. 2 shows the recording / reproducing apparatus 2 in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the device. Recording / playback device 2
Is a camera selection / switching input analog image signal from each camera 1a, 1b, 1c and converting it to a digital image signal.
An A / D converter 21, a V-RAM 22 that temporarily stores a digital image signal, a compression / expansion unit 23 that compresses an image signal or expands a compressed image signal, and one imaging condition as a unit A file generation unit 24 that generates an image signal file by filing the image signal, a magnetic disk 25 that records the image signal in units of the image signal file,
For each image signal file, the image pickup condition data for which the image signal is obtained is created, and the labeling unit 26 that labels it, the counter 26a that is built in the labeling unit 26 and counts the total number of labels, and A first memory 27 that stores a label created for each image signal file, and a counter 26a
A block data generation unit 28 that generates a block data by grouping the labels in the first memory 27 into a plurality of blocks according to the shooting conditions when the count value in the number exceeds a predetermined number;
A second memory 29 that stores the generated block data, and a control unit 30 that receives an instruction input from the mouse 4 and controls the operations of the camera selection / A / D conversion unit 21, the compression / expansion unit 23, the labeling unit 26, and the like. And a timer 31 for giving clock information as a reference clock to the control unit 30, and a D / A conversion unit for converting a digital image signal into an analog image signal and outputting it to the monitor 3.
32.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the operation during recording will be described. During this recording, the image signal input mode from the camera to the V-RAM 22 and the image signal compression mode in the compression / expansion unit 23 are fixed.

The camera selection / A / D converter 21 selects a recording target camera from the three cameras 1a, 1b, 1c, and converts the analog image signal from the selected camera into a digital image signal. To be done. This digital image signal is
After being temporarily stored in the V-RAM 22, the compression / decompression unit 23 performs compression processing, and the compressed image signal is input to the file generation unit 24. In the file generation unit 24, the compressed image signal is filed in units of one image pickup condition, and the image signal is recorded in the magnetic disk 25 in units of the file. The switching of image signals from the three cameras 1a, 1b, 1c that defines the recording order is controlled by the control unit 30 according to a preset recording program.

Next, the operation of organizing the image signals recorded as described above, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, will be described. When the filing end notification of each compressed image signal is input from the file generation unit 24 to the labeling unit 26, the labeling unit 26 causes the image capturing condition (camera type, A label indicating data such as image quality of the camera, image pickup date and time, type of recording program, etc. is added.

FIG. 3 shows some examples of labels. The camera type represents one camera number selected from the three cameras, and the image quality of the camera represents one of high image quality, medium image quality, and low image quality. As for the image pickup date and time, a specific date and time at the time of image pickup is represented. The type of recording program indicates the type of recording method that has been set. The types of recording methods will be briefly described below. Recording methods include alarm recording and continuous recording. Alarm recording is a method in which a sensor for detecting a specific situation change is provided at a place to be monitored, and the image signal is recorded for a predetermined time after the sensor detects the situation change and issues an alarm. On the other hand, continuous recording is a method of recording an image signal at regular intervals. When a person appears at a specific place, for example, when a sensor detects that a user has started an operation at an automated teller machine of a financial institution and starts recording an image signal from the timing when the alarm occurs. Set alarm recording when recording only, and set continuous recording when continuously recording inside the store of a financial institution even if nothing happens.
In the example shown in FIG. 3, “Alarm” represents the alarm recording described above, and “1s”, “2s”, and “3s” are the above-described continuous recordings, which continue at intervals of 1 second, 2 seconds, and 4 seconds, respectively. Represents the method of recording.

The method of labeling is as shown in N of FIG.
o. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the data may be added to all the items of the type of camera, the image quality of the camera, the image pickup date and time, and the type of recording program, or No. 1 in FIG. As shown in 6 to 12, the data may be attached to one item among the type of camera, the image quality of the camera, the image pickup date and time, and the type of recording program.

The label given to each compressed image signal file is stored in the first memory 27. Also, each time a new label is given, the value of the counter 26a is incremented by 1, and the count value is output to the block data generator 28. When the compressed image signal file recorded on the magnetic disk 25 is erased, the label corresponding to the erased compressed image signal file is also erased from the first memory 27, and the value of the counter 26a is decremented by 1. It

As described above, the number of labels stored in the first memory 27 increases with the recording processing of the image signal. When the count value in the counter 26a input to the block data generation unit 28 exceeds a predetermined number, the labels stored in the first memory 27 are grouped by the block data generation unit 28 according to the imaging conditions. To be done. FIG.
Shows an example of block data divided into groups.
FIG. 4 shows an example of grouping according to the type of camera in the imaging conditions. The generated block data is stored in the second memory 29.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing an example of the above-mentioned operation processing. FIG. 5A shows the reference clock from the timer 31. Sensor close to camera 1a at timing T1
An alarm is issued from 5a, the recording of the image signal from the camera 1a is started by the occurrence of the alarm, and the timing T2
Then, the recording process ends (see FIG. 5B). Then, the total number of labels at the timing T2 is checked, but since the predetermined number is not exceeded, block data is not generated (see FIG. 5C). After that, continuous recording by the camera 1b is started at timing T3, and the recording process is ended at timing T4 (see FIG. 5B). Then, the total number of labels at the timing T4 is checked,
Since the predetermined number is exceeded this time, the labels are divided into groups and block data is generated (see FIG. 5C). After that, when a block expansion instruction is input, the blocks once grouped are returned to the original state (see FIG. 5D).

Next, the operation at the time of reproduction will be described. At the time of this reproduction, the monitor issues a reproduction instruction with the mouse 4 to the control unit
Enter 30. In this case, the image signal input from the camera is prohibited and the image signal output mode from the V-RAM 22 is fixed, and the compression / expansion unit 23 is fixed to the image signal expansion mode. Then, the compressed image signal in file units is reproduced from the magnetic disk 25, and the reproduced compressed image signal is compressed / compressed.
The expansion unit 23 performs expansion processing. The restored image signal is once stored in the V-RAM 22 and then converted into an analog image signal by the D / A converter 32 and output to the monitor 3.
An image corresponding to the image signal is displayed.

During the above-mentioned reproduction process, the control unit 30 controls the first and second memories based on the instruction input from the mouse 4.
By accessing 27 and 29, it is possible to easily and quickly find a desired image signal that the monitor wants to see from the magnetic disk 25.

In the above example, the number of installed cameras is three, but this is an example, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to any number of cameras.

[0023]

As described above, in the surveillance image recording apparatus of the present invention, a label indicating the image pickup condition when the image signal is obtained is provided for each predetermined unit of the image signal, and the number of labels is a predetermined number. If the number of recorded image signals exceeds a certain number, the labels are grouped into blocks according to the imaging conditions, so that even if the number of recorded image signals increases, they can be easily arranged. The present invention has excellent effects such that a desired image signal can be searched easily and quickly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration using a surveillance image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of the recording / reproducing apparatus in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing examples of several kinds of labels according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of block data in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a timing diagram showing an operation process of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a, 1b, 1c Camera 2 Recording / reproducing device 3 Monitor 4 Mouse 5a, 5b, 5c Sensor 21 Camera selection / A / D converter 22 V-RAM 23 Compression / decompression unit 24 File generation unit 25 Magnetic disk 26 Labeling unit 26a Counter 27 First memory 28 Block data generator 29 Second memory 30 Controller 31 Timer 32 D / A converter

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A monitoring image recording apparatus for recording an image signal from one or a plurality of cameras for capturing an image of a monitored area, wherein a label indicating an imaging condition is created for each image signal of a predetermined unit from the camera. A monitoring image, which is provided with a means, a means for storing the created label, and a means for grouping the labels according to imaging conditions when the number of the labels exceeds a predetermined number. Recording device.