JPH10178633A - Extension unit of image transmitting device and image transmission system using it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the extension of a camera, a sensor and an operating device and also to minimize a distribution amount at that time by directly connecting a monitoring camera, an abnormality detecting security sensor and an alarm/release operating device to an extension unit and also directly connecting them to an image transmitting device through a communication line. SOLUTION: Extension units 201 and 202 are connected to an image transmitting device 10 through a communication line 40. Naturally, more extension units can be connected to the device 10. Each prescribed number of cameras, sensors and operating devices can be connected to each extension unit 201 and 202 . The device 10, and the units 201 and 202 are separately assigned an address to, and similarly, a camera, a sensor and an operating device which are connected to each unit 201 and 202 are also assigned an address to. Then, a camera, a sensor and an operating device can be distributed to their nearest extension unit 20 and can be distributed to the device 10 through only one distribution line that is the line 40.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an extension unit used for adding a surveillance camera, a security sensor, and an operation device to an image transmission device, and an image transmission system using the extension unit and the image transmission device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of a conventional image transmission apparatus. In the figure, 1 ₁ and 1 ₂ are surveillance cameras (hereinafter simply referred to as cameras), 2 ₁ and 2 ₂ are security sensors (hereinafter simply referred to as sensors), 3 is a switching circuit, 4 is an A / D converter, Reference numeral 5 denotes a field memory, 6 denotes a compressor, 7 denotes a memory device, 8 denotes a modem, 9 denotes a control device, 10 denotes an image transmission device, 11 denotes an operation device, and L denotes a telephone line.

[0003] A surveillance camera 1 is located at a predetermined position in a surveillance area to be guarded, such as a tenant building or an office building.
_1, 1 ₂ is installed. The sensor 2 ₁ at a predetermined position of the monitored area that is the security of the subject, 2 ₂ are installed, the output of these sensors 2 _1, 2 ₂ are input to the control unit 9. These sensors 2 _1, as 2 _2,
Various sensors such as a hot-wire sensor for detecting a moving object and a magnet switch for detecting that a window or a door has been opened can be used, but in the following, it is assumed that all sensors are hot-wire sensors.

[0004] Then, the camera ₁ 1, 1 ₂ and the sensor 2 _1,
2 ₂ associated to the. Which camera corresponds to which sensor is registered in the control device 9 in advance. This camera and the correspondence between the sensor can be determined arbitrarily, where easy to the camera 1 ₁ and the sensor 2 ₁ associated with understanding is camera 1 ₂ and the sensor 2 ₂ is associated with Suppose you have

In general, two or more cameras and sensors are provided. Here, a case in which two cameras and two sensors are provided will be described. Naturally, the same applies to the case where more than one device is provided.

[0006] is operating the camera 1 _1, 1 ₂ at all times, video signals from the camera 1 _1, 1 ₂ are respectively inputted to the switching unit 3. The switching device 3 is one which is a switch circuit, by a control signal from the control unit 9, the camera 1 _1, 1 to the subsequent stage switching cyclically video signal every predetermined time from ₂ The output has been made.

[0007] Now, assuming that the video signal captured by the camera 1 ₁ switcher 3 is selected, the video signal is made and the digital image data by the A / D converter 4, one field in the extraction Then, the data is temporarily written to the field memory 5. Thereafter, the image data is read from the field memory 5, compressed by the compressor 6, and written to the memory device 7.

[0008] or more, the process is completed switching device 3 is switched to select the video signal from the camera 1 _2, the process facilities described above for the video signal from the camera 1 ₂ output from the switching unit 3 Is done.

By repeating the above processing,
Data of a still image captured is written into the memory device 7 alternately camera 1 _1, 1 _2.

The writing and reading operations of the field memory 5 and the compression operation of the compressor 6 are controlled by a control signal from a control device 9. What kind of method is used as a data compression method in the compressor 6 is arbitrary, but generally, JPEG (Joint Photog) is used.
The method is often used.
Although the field memory 5 is used in FIG. 4, it is apparent that a frame memory may be used instead of the field memory 5. The memory device 7
Is full, the old image data is sequentially updated with new image data.

The modem 8 bidirectionally exchanges various data with an image center device (not shown in FIG. 4) installed at a security center of a security company.

The control device 9 controls the overall operation of the image transmission device 10 and is composed of a processing unit using a CPU or MPU.

The operating device 11 is used to set the operation mode of the control device 9, and here, it is assumed that two modes of alerting and canceling can be set. The operation device 11 corresponds to a device usually called a remote controller or the like. Although the operation device 11 is shown as being separate from the image transmission device 10 in FIG. 4, the operation device 11 may be integrated with the image transmission device 10.
Although only one operating device 11 is shown in FIG. 4, this is a convenient measure to avoid complicating the figure and to facilitate understanding. Are usually provided in plurals, specifically, for example, for each tenant, or for each security area.

Next, the image transmission apparatus 10 having the configuration shown in FIG.
The operation of will be described briefly. Now, it is assumed that the warning release mode is set by the operation device 11. Sensor 2
_1, 2 ₂ indicates the detection of the moving object and detects the movement of a person since the operating firm signal (hereinafter, this signal is referred to as alarm signals) is output to the control device 9 is released mode If the setting is made, the alarm signal is ignored. In this case, the control device 9 only controls the switch 3 to switch at predetermined intervals. Thus the video signal from the camera 1 _1, 1 ₂ is switched cyclically by the switching device 3, is digitized by A / D converter 4, the still image data is written in the field memory 5 are read out therefrom The operation of being compressed by the compressor 6 and being written to the memory device 7 is repeatedly performed.

Next, the operation when the alert mode is set by the operation device 11 will be schematically described.

In the alert mode, when the control device 9 receives an alarm signal from a certain sensor, it controls the switch 3 to select a camera corresponding to the sensor that has output the alarm signal. As a result, the still image captured by the camera is subjected to the above-described processing and written into the memory device 7.

When the writing of the still image from the camera to the memory device 7 is completed, the control device 9
Disables writing to the memory device 7 by a control signal. At this time, the memory device 7 has two still images of the still image captured by the camera, the still image captured before the sensor outputs the alarm signal and the still image captured after the alarm signal is output. This means that the still image data has been written.

Then, the control device 9 reads out these two still image data from the memory device 7,
To transmit the still image data and data indicating the occurrence of an abnormality. As a result, the modem 8 modulates the data indicating the occurrence of the abnormality and the still image data and transmits the modulated data to the image center device via the telephone line L. The still image data and the data indicating the occurrence of the abnormality are received by the image center device, demodulated, further expanded and displayed on the monitor, so that the operator of the image center device can grasp the situation before and after the occurrence of the abnormality. can do.

The control unit 9, the transmission of these abnormal data and still image data indicating the ends, as well as the write-protect of the memory device 7, the video signal from the camera 1 _1, 1 ₂ by switching device 3 Switch cyclically.

In the alert mode, the control device 9 repeats the above-described operation every time the sensor outputs an alarm signal.

Further, since the image transmission apparatus 10 exchanges data with the image center apparatus, the operator of the image center apparatus can transmit an image when observing the current situation in the monitored area. It is possible to instruct the device 10 to transmit the currently captured image. This instruction is received by the modem 8, demodulated and passed to the control device 9 as received data. In accordance with the instruction, the control device 9 reads out the still image data written in the memory device 7 and instructs the modem 8 to transmit the image data. This allows the modem 8
Modulates the still image data and transmits it to the image center device via the telephone line L. This image data is received by the image center device, demodulated, further expanded and displayed on the monitor, so that the operator of the image center device can grasp the current situation of the monitoring area.

[0022]

By the way, it is sometimes necessary to add the camera 1, the sensor 2, and the operation device 11 to the image transmission device 10. In this case, it is conceivable to connect all of the additional camera 1, sensor 2, and operation device 11 to the image transmission device 10. For this purpose, the image transmission device 10 is connected to a large number of camera connection terminals and sensors in advance. A terminal and a connection terminal for an operation device must be provided, which causes a problem that not only the image transmission device 10 becomes large, but also the cost increases.

The camera 1, the sensor 2, the operating device 11
If no additional components are required, these connection terminals are completely useless.

Furthermore, since each of the additional cameras, sensors, and operating devices must be wired to the image transmission device 10, there is a problem that the amount of wiring becomes enormous.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and provides an additional unit of an image transmission device that can easily add cameras, sensors, and operation devices, and an image transmission system using the same. The purpose is to do so.

[0026]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an additional unit of the image transmission apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a surveillance camera, a security sensor for detecting an abnormality, and a warning / release operation. Is connectable to an image transmission device via a communication line.

Here, the additional unit of the image transmission apparatus is
A compression unit that compresses image data captured by the surveillance camera;
A memory unit that stores image data compressed by the compression unit, and when a signal indicating an abnormality is output from the security sensor when the alert mode is set by the operation device, at least the security sensor indicates an abnormality. And a control unit that freezes and stores the image data before and after the signal is output in the memory unit.

Further, the image transmission system according to the present invention comprises:
Surveillance cameras, security sensors to detect abnormalities, vigilance /
An image transmitting device connected to the image center device by a telephone line, a surveillance camera, a security sensor for detecting an abnormality, and a warning / cancellation operation. And an extension unit connected to the image transmission device by a communication line.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an image transmission system using an extension unit of an image transmission device according to the present invention. In the drawing, reference numeral 10 denotes an image transmission device, 20 denotes an extension unit, and 40 denotes a communication line.

In FIG. 1, two extension units 20 ₁ , 20
₂ is connected to the image transmission device 10 by a communication line 40. Of course, it is possible to connect more extension units 20 to the image transmission device 10. Each extension unit 20 _1, 20 _2, each of the predetermined number camera,
Sensors and operating devices can be connected. The image transmission apparatus 10 and the extension units 20 ₁ and 20 ₂ are respectively assigned addresses, and similarly, each of the extension units 20 ₁ and 20 _2
1, 20 ₂ connected to the camera by the sensor, one by one to address also the operating device are defined.

According to this configuration, the additional camera, sensor, and operating device may be wired to the nearest additional unit 20, and only one communication line 40 may be connected to the image transmission device 10. It is the minimum required.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of the image transmission apparatus 10.
In FIG. 2, two cameras 11 ₁ and 1 1 are connected to the image transmission apparatus 10.
_2, the two sensors 2 _1, 2 ₂ and one operating device 11 shows a case where connected. The conventional image transmission apparatus shown in FIG.
It is different in that it is connected to 0.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the extension unit 20.
In FIG. 3, reference numerals 21 ₁ and 21 ₂ denote cameras, 22 ₁ and 22
₂ is a sensor, 23 is a switching circuit, 24 is an A / D converter, 25 is a field memory, 26 is a compressor, 27 is a memory device, 28 is an I / O port, 29 is a control device, 31
Denotes an operation device, and 40 denotes a communication line.

The cameras 21 ₁ and 21 ₂ and the sensor 22 shown in FIG.
₁ , 22 ₂ , switch 23, A / D converter 24, field memory 25, compressor 26, memory device 27, I /
O port 28, the control device 29, operating device 31, respectively, camera ₁ first image transmission apparatus 10 of FIG. 2, 1 _2, sensor 2 _1, 2 _2, switching circuit 3, A / D converter 4, the field memory 5, a compressor 6, a memory device 7, an I / O port 12, a control device 9, and an operation device 11. That is, the extension unit 20 does not have a modem for communicating with the image center device, but has the same function as the image transmission device 10. Although FIG. 3 shows a case where both the camera 21 and the sensor 22 are connected, it goes without saying that a larger number may be connected.

The operation will be described below. First, the operation of the extension unit 20 will be described. Extension unit 2
When the security mode is switched by the operation device 31, the control device 29 of 0 notifies the image transmission device 10 to the image transmission device 10 via the communication line 40 via the I / O port 28. That is, when the warning mode is set to the release mode by the operation device 31, the control device 29 generates data indicating that the release mode is set and outputs the data to the I / O port 2.
8 to the image transmission device 10 via the communication line 40. Similarly, when the operation device 31 sets the alert mode from the release mode to the alert mode, the control device 29 generates data indicating that the alert mode has been set, and outputs the data from the I / O port 28 via the communication line 40 to the image transmission device. Notify 10.

When the release mode is set by the operating device 31, even if the alarm signals are output from the sensors 22 ₁ and 22 ₂ , the control device 29 ignores them. Accordingly, in this case, the control device 29 only controls the switch 23 to switch at predetermined intervals.
Video signals from the camera 21 _1, 21 ₂ by this is switched cyclically by the switching unit 23, is digitized by A / D converter 24, the still image data is written in the field memory 25, read out therefrom And compressed by the compressor 26 to the memory device 27
Are repeatedly performed.

The operation when the alert mode is set by the operation device 31 is as follows.

In the alert mode, when the controller 29 receives an alarm signal from a certain sensor, the controller 29 controls the switch 23 to select a camera corresponding to the sensor that has output the alarm signal. As a result, the still image captured by the camera is subjected to the above-described processing and written into the memory device 27.

When the writing of the still image from the camera to the memory device 27 is completed, the control device 29 disables the writing of the memory device 27 by the control signal. At this point, the memory device 27 has two still images of the still image captured by the camera, the still image captured before the sensor outputs the alarm signal and the still image captured after the alarm signal is output. This means that the still image data has been written.

The control device 29 reads out these two still image data from the memory device 27,
The transmission of the still image data and the data indicating the occurrence of the abnormality are given to the O port 28. As a result, the I / O port 28 transmits the data indicating the occurrence of the abnormality and the still image data to the image transmission device 10 via the communication line 40.

When the transmission of the data indicating the occurrence of the abnormality and the transmission of the still image data are completed, the control device 29 releases the write-protection of the memory device 27 and sets the switching device 2
3 by to switch the video signal from the camera 21 _1, 21 ₂ cyclically.

In the alert mode, the control device 29 repeats the above-described operation each time the sensor outputs an alarm signal.

When the image transmission apparatus 10 designates the address of the camera and instructs the transmission of the currently captured image, the control device 29 writes the still image captured by the camera into the memory device 27. The data is read and transferred to the image transmission device 10 via the communication line 40 by the I / O port 28.

The operation of the extension unit 20 has been described above. Next, the operation of the image transmission device 10 will be described. The image transmission device 10 performs the following operation in addition to the operation of the above-described conventional image transmission device.

When any data is notified from the extension unit 20, the data is transmitted to the modem 8 and transmitted to the image center apparatus via the telephone line L. That is, I / O from the extension unit 20 via the communication line 40
When receiving the data indicating that the release mode has been set or the data indicating that the alert mode has been set by the port 12, the control device 9 gives the data to the modem 8 and sends the data to the image center device. Direct transmission to. As a result, the modem 8 modulates these data and transmits the data to the image center apparatus via the telephone line L.

Similarly, when the data indicating the occurrence of an abnormality and the still image data, or the still image data currently captured by the camera designated in response to the image transmission request from the image center device, are notified from the extension unit 20, Also, the control device 9 gives the notified data to the modem 8,
Instructs transmission to the image center device. As a result, the modem 8 modulates these data and transmits the data to the image center apparatus via the telephone line L.

When an image transmission request is made from the image center apparatus by designating the address of the extension unit and the address of the camera, the controller 9 sends the image transmission request to the designated extension unit. The I / O port 12 notifies the fact that it has occurred via the communication line 40. At this time, it is natural that the designated camera address is notified. This notification is sent to the I / O
It is received by port 28 and passed to controller 29. In accordance with the notification, the control device 29 reads out the still image data captured by the camera at the designated address from the memory device 27 and transfers the still image data to the image transmission device 10 via the communication line 40 through the I / O port 28. Become.

As described above, it is apparent that the use of the additional unit 20 makes it possible to easily add cameras, sensors, and operating devices, and that the amount of wiring required at that time can be minimized. Will.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and it is apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image transmission system using an extension unit of an image transmission device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image transmission device 10 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an extension unit of the image transmission device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional image transmission device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ₁ , 1 ₂ ... surveillance camera, 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ ... security sensor, 3
... Switching circuit, 4 ... A / D converter, 5 ... Field memory, 6 ... Compressor, 7 ... Memory device, 8 ... Modem, 9 ...
Control device, 10 image transmission device, 11 operation device, 12
... I / O port, 20 _1, 20 ₂ ... expansion unit, 21
₁ , 21 ₂ ... camera, 22 ₁ , 22 ₂ ... sensor, 23 ...
Switching circuit, 24 ... A / D converter, 25 ... Field memory, 26 ... Compressor, 27 ... Memory device, 28 ... I /
O port, 29 control device, 31 operating device, 40 communication line, L telephone line.

Claims (3)

[Claims] A surveillance camera, a security sensor for detecting an abnormality, and an operation device for performing a warning / release operation can be connected to the image transmission device via a communication line. An additional unit for an image transmission device, characterized in that: 2. An expansion unit of an image transmission device according to claim 1, wherein: a compression unit for compressing image data captured by the surveillance camera; a memory unit for storing the image data compressed by the compression unit; If a signal indicating an abnormality is output from the security sensor when the alert mode is set, at least the image data before and after the security sensor outputs the signal indicating the abnormality is frozen and stored in the memory unit. An additional unit for an image transmission device, comprising: 3. An image transmission device comprising a surveillance camera, a security sensor for detecting an abnormality, an operation device for performing a warning / release operation, and connected to an image center device by a telephone line, and a surveillance camera. , Security sensors for detecting abnormalities, vigilance /
An image transmission system, comprising: an operation device for performing a release operation; and an extension unit connected to the image transmission device via a communication line.