JPH11339166A - Image monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image monitoring device enabling an operator in a monitoring center device to surely observe an image to be monitored when it is necessary for security and capable of inhibiting the observation of an image when it is unnecessary. SOLUTION: In the image monitoring system consisting of the image monitoring device and the monitoring center device, the monitoring center device is constituted of a display means for displaying an image of a monitoring area, a sending means for sending an image request signal and an obstructing means for obstructing the sending of the image request signal when a previously set condition is satisfied. Conditions for inhibiting the sending of images obtained by photographing a monitoring area to the outside are previously set up in the obstructing means as shown in Fig. 10. When a set condition is satisfied, i.e., a guard area is normal or a guard mode is released, the obstructing means obstructs the sending of an image to an image transmitting means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image monitoring system in which a monitoring area is captured by a monitoring camera and the captured image is monitored by a monitoring center device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various image monitoring systems have been put to practical use. Hereinafter, an example in which the image monitoring system is applied to a security system will be described. There is a security system that centrally monitors a plurality of security areas at a remote security center. In this security system, a controller is installed for each security area and connected to a security center device via a telephone line. The controller includes various sensors such as an intruder detection sensor and a fire detection sensor placed in the security area,
A monitoring camera that captures an image of the monitoring area is connected. The security center device receives image information from each controller via a telephone line and monitors a security area.

[0003] The security center controls the controller to transmit an image (current image) taken by the surveillance camera to each controller when there is an abnormality notification from the controller.
The observer looks at the received current image and checks the state of the monitoring area. In the related art, an observer can send an image of a surveillance camera from the controller at any time, even when an abnormality is not reported, and can see an image of a monitoring area.

[0004]

However, it is not preferable for the user that the images captured by the surveillance camera can be viewed from the outside at any time, from the viewpoint of privacy issues and business confidentiality. Absent. Also, it is not necessary for the guard at the security center to look at the image of the guard area when the guard area is in the guard release mode or when the guard area is in a normal state even during the guard set mode.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an image monitoring system in which a monitoring center device can reliably view an image to be monitored when it is necessary for security, but cannot see it when unnecessary. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to achieve the above object. An image monitoring system according to the present invention includes an image monitoring device having an image capturing unit that captures an image of a monitoring area, and a monitoring center device that monitors an image captured by the image capturing unit. Display means for displaying an image request signal; sending means for sending an image request signal to the image pickup means; and a condition in which a condition is set in advance and which prevents the sending means from sending the image request signal when the set condition is satisfied. Means, the image monitoring device further includes, in addition to the imaging unit, a transmission unit that transmits an image captured by the imaging unit to the monitoring center device via a communication line, and an image from the monitoring center device. Control means for transmitting an image by the transmission means upon receipt of the request signal.

The conditions set in advance in the blocking means include, for example, a case where the guard area is in a normal state, a case where the guard mode is the guard release mode, and the like. The blocking unit prevents the sending unit from sending the image request signal when the set condition is satisfied, that is, when the guard area is normal or when the guard mode is the guard release mode. I do.

The security center operates the security center device and sends an image request signal to the image monitoring device when the security area is in the security set mode and there is an abnormality notification. In this case, since the blocking means does not prevent the sending means from sending the image request signal, the image request signal is sent,
The requested image is sent from the image monitoring device. The security center device checks the situation by looking at the image of the monitoring area.

On the other hand, when the security area is in the alert release mode, or when the alert area is in the normal state even in the alert set mode, the inhibiting means prevents the image request signal from being sent from the sending means. . Therefore, even if an image request operation is performed in the security center device, an image request signal is not transmitted, and no image is displayed in the security center device. Therefore, the user does not see unnecessary images outside.

The image monitoring apparatus sends the current state to the monitoring center apparatus every time the state of the security area changes in addition to the image. The monitoring center device is provided with storage means for storing the received current state. The blocking unit prevents the sending unit from sending the image request signal when the storage unit stores the normal state. Note that, even when the security area is in a normal state, it is optional to permit image transmission for an image under a specific condition.

When the condition set in the blocking means is the security release mode, the transmission means of the image monitoring apparatus sends the security mode of the monitoring area to the monitoring center apparatus in addition to the image. The monitoring center device is provided with storage means for storing the received security mode. The blocking unit prevents the sending unit from sending the image request signal when the alert release mode is stored in the storage unit. Also in this case, it is optional to permit image transmission for an image under specific conditions.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the transmission of an image request signal for an image captured by a specific image capturing means among the image capturing means for capturing the monitoring area. As a result, the image captured by the specified imaging unit is not transmitted to the outside even if an abnormality occurs during the alert set mode. In this case, the monitoring center device
Storage means for storing the imaging means is provided. The blocking means prevents the image request signal for the imaging means stored in the storage means from being sent from the sending means. In addition,
Also in this case, it is possible to permit the transmission of the image request signal when a certain condition is satisfied even if the image is captured by a specific imaging unit.

According to the present invention, in the security center device, the image to be monitored can be viewed when it is necessary for security, but cannot be viewed when it is unnecessary. Thereby, protection of privacy and the like are maintained.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example in which the image monitoring apparatus of the present invention is applied to a security system will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG.
Shows the overall configuration of the security system. A controller 1 is installed in a building (security area) to be monitored, and an image sensor 2, an emergency button 3, an intrusion sensor 4, and a mode setting device 5 are connected to the controller 1. Controller 1
Is connected to a remote security center 7 via a telephone line 6 as a communication line.

A plurality of image sensors 2 are installed in a building,
An image of a monitoring area including a monitoring target such as a window or a door is taken. Further, the image sensor 2 has a function of determining the presence or absence of an abnormality such as intrusion from the obtained image. When the emergency button 3 is pressed or the intrusion sensor 4 detects an intrusion abnormality, the controller 1 sends an abnormality signal to the security center device 7 via the telephone line 6. In the security center device 7, upon receiving the abnormal signal, the supervisor sends an image request signal to the controller 1 to request the controller 1 to send the current image captured by the image sensor 2, as necessary. Upon receiving the image request signal, the controller 1 sends the current image taken by the image sensor 2 to the security center device 7.

When the image sensor 2 detects an intrusion abnormality, the controller 1 sends an abnormality signal to the security center device 7.
To send to. At the same time, an abnormal image is given to the image sensor 2,
It requests transmission of the current image and the like, and transmits the transmitted image to the security center device 7. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the controller 1. MPU, ROM, RA
A control unit 101 including a peripheral circuit such as M and a power supply circuit 102 are provided. Each part in the controller 1 is controlled by the control unit 101 and receives power from a power supply circuit 102. The power supply circuit 102 has an external A
It has a conversion circuit for converting the C voltage to a DC voltage and a battery. Also, a mode setting device 5 is connected.

The controller 1 is further provided with the following parts. The sensor monitoring circuit 103 includes the emergency button 3,
This is an interface with the intrusion sensor 4. Modem 10
4 is provided between the telephone line 6. The image sensor communication control unit 105 is connected to the image sensor 2. The video input / output control unit 106 is connected to the image sensor 2. The video input / output control unit 106 distributes the video signal sent from the image sensor 2 to the modem 104 and the monitor 8 connected to the outside.

The display unit 107 normally displays the monitoring state of the monitoring area on the screen, and when an abnormality is detected, sounds a buzzer and displays the type of abnormality, the location where the abnormality occurred, and the like on the screen. . The display unit 107 is also used when setting the image sensor 2. The operation unit 108 is used at the time of initial setting or setting change of the image sensor 2. The device state detection unit 109 detects whether there is a device abnormality in the controller 1.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the image sensor 2. The image sensor 2 includes a control unit 201 including a CPU, a peripheral circuit such as a ROM and a RAM, and a power supply 202. Each unit in the image sensor 2 is controlled by the control unit 201 and receives power from a power supply 202. Power supply 2
Reference numeral 02 includes a converter for converting an AC voltage supplied from the outside into a DC voltage. Note that instead of providing the power supply 202 in the image sensor 2, power may be supplied from the controller 1.

The control means 201 has a storage means 220
Is connected. The storage means 220 has a program, a parameter, and a program for causing the image sensor 2 to execute a predetermined operation.
An area for storing whether the monitoring area is abnormal or normal, an area for storing whether the monitoring area is in the alert set mode or the alert release mode, and a predetermined number of images including the current image and the abnormal image captured by the imaging unit 203. A storage area is provided.

The imaging means 203 for photographing the monitoring area is
It is composed of a CD camera and has sensitivity from the visible region to the infrared region. An infrared light projecting unit 204 is provided, and emits infrared light to the monitoring area when it becomes dark such as at night. The image processing unit 205 determines whether an abnormality has occurred in the monitoring area based on the image stored in the storage unit 220. Since this method is known and has no direct relation to the present invention, a detailed description is omitted. The display unit 206 is configured by an LED, and is turned on when an abnormality is detected, turned off when no abnormality is detected, and displays the presence or absence of the abnormality detection outside the image sensor 2.

The communication means 207 is an interface for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the controller 1, and is connected to the image sensor communication control section 105 of the controller 1. The image output unit 208 is an interface for outputting an image stored in the storage unit 220, and is connected to the video input / output control unit 106 of the controller 1. Address setting unit 21
0 is configured by a dip switch, and an address for the controller 1 to specify the image sensor 2 is set. The operation unit 211 is a unit for turning on and off the power.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the security center device 7.
Here, only the part relating to the image monitoring system is shown. The security center device 7 includes an MPU, a ROM, and a RAM.
A control unit 701 including a peripheral circuit such as the above is provided, and each unit in the security center device 7 is controlled by the control unit 701.

A communication interface 702 for communicating with the controller 1 through the telephone line 6 is provided. The video signal transmitted from the controller 1 and its related signal are stored in the storage unit 703. Upon receiving the abnormality signal, the control unit 701 displays, on the monitor 704, the occurrence of the abnormality, the name of the property where the abnormality has occurred, the location of the abnormality, and the like, and displays an image when the abnormality has occurred. The monitor 704 is connected to the control unit 701 via the image output unit 706. The controller operates the operation unit 705 to perform various operations such as image display.

FIG. 5 shows a storage unit 703 of the security center device 7.
Is shown. The storage unit 703 includes a parameter area 711 in which parameters are stored, an image sensor address area 712 in which an address of an image sensor for which monitoring by the monitoring center device 7 is prohibited, a state of the monitoring area,
Distinguishing whether an abnormality has occurred or is normal, and
Type of error (device error (error of controller 1 itself),
Status area 713 for storing intrusion abnormalities, emergency abnormalities), a mode area 714 for storing whether the monitoring area is in the alert set mode or the alert release mode, and permission / reception of image transmission.
A table area 715 for determining non-permission is provided. The contents of the table area 715 will be described later.

Next, the operation of the controller 1 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a state confirmation process for each image sensor 2 in the controller 1. The controller 1 sequentially performs a state confirmation process on each image sensor 2 (polling). The controller 1 always receives signals from sensors other than the image sensor 2, that is, the emergency button 3 and the intrusion sensor 4 by the sensor monitoring circuit 103.

In step S11, a state calling signal is transmitted to one image sensor 2. On the other hand, the image sensor 2 sends out a status signal. In step S12, the status signal sent from the image sensor 2 is received. In step S13, it is determined whether the received status signal is an abnormal signal. If no abnormal signal has been received, step S11
Return to If an abnormal signal has been received, step S14
Then, the address of the image sensor 2 and the fact that the image sensor 2 is in an abnormal state are stored, and the process returns to step S11. The above steps are sequentially executed for each image sensor 2.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a process in the controller 1 when an abnormality is detected in the security area. When an abnormality occurs in the security area and an abnormality detection signal is transmitted from the image sensor 2, the emergency button 3, or the intrusion sensor 4, the controller 1 receives this in step S21. In step S22, the fact that the security area is in an abnormal state is stored in the state area 114. Step S23
Then, the controller 1 performs dialing and performs connection processing with the security center device 7. In step S24, it is determined whether or not the received abnormal signal is from the image sensor 2.

Here, if the received abnormal signal is received from the sensors 3 and 4 other than the image sensor, the abnormal signal is transmitted to the security center device 7 in step S25. The abnormality signal includes necessary information such as a region where the abnormality has occurred and a type of the abnormality. After sending the abnormal signal,
In step S30, a disconnection process with the security center device 7 is performed.

When the security center device 7 receives the abnormal signal, the supervisor takes necessary measures based on the information displayed on the monitor 703. If necessary, the controller 1 sends a signal to the controller 1 requesting transmission of an image of the area where the abnormality has occurred. The operation when the controller 1 receives the image request signal will be described later. Step S24
If it is determined that an abnormal signal has been received from the image sensor 2, a signal requesting transmission of an abnormal image is sent to the image sensor 2 in step S26. When an abnormal image is received from the image sensor 2 in step S27, an abnormal signal and an abnormal image are sent to the security center device 7 in step S28. The abnormality signal includes necessary information such as a region where the abnormality has occurred and a type of the abnormality.

When the transmission of the abnormal signal and the abnormal image is completed, in step S29, the image sensor 2 detecting the abnormality
To send an abnormal image erasure signal. Upon receiving this signal, the image sensor 2 deletes the stored abnormal image, fetches a new current image captured by the imaging unit 203, and continuously detects whether an abnormality has occurred. In step S30, a process of disconnecting the telephone line 6 from the security center device 7 is performed, and in step S31, a message indicating that an abnormality has occurred is displayed on the display unit 107.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the processing at the time of the security mode shifting operation in the controller 1. When a mode shift operation is performed by the mode setting unit 5, the controller 1 receives a shift signal in step S41. In step S42, it is determined whether or not the alert set has been operated. When the alert set is operated, step S43 is performed.
Then, an alert set mode signal is sent to all the image sensors 2, and in step S44, an alert set mode signal is sent to the security center device. In step S45, the alert set mode is stored in its own mode area. On the other hand, step S
If the alert set operation has not been performed at 42, an alert release mode signal is sent to all the image sensors 2 at step S46, and an alert release mode signal is sent to the security center device 7 at step S47. At S48, the alert release mode is stored in its own mode area.

Each of the image sensor 2 and the security center device 7 stores the received state in the storage unit 703. FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing a process performed by the monitoring center device 7 when an image is requested. Step S25 in FIG. 7 described above.
When an abnormal signal is sent from the controller 1 to the security center device 7, the supervisor takes necessary measures based on the information displayed on the monitor 704. Also, if necessary,
The controller 1 requests the controller 1 to transmit an image of the area where the abnormality has occurred.

When the observer performs an image request operation on the operation unit 705 (step S51), in step S52, referring to the image sensor address area 712 of the storage unit 703,
It is checked whether or not an image request has been made to the monitor-impossible image sensor. If the image sensor is a monitor-impossible image sensor, "image request NG" is displayed on the monitor 704 in step S53, and the process ends. Therefore, since the image request signal is not sent to the controller 1 and the image is not sent, the observer cannot see the image.

If it is determined in step S52 that the image sensor is not a monitor-impossible image sensor, in step S54, the storage unit 703 is determined.
With reference to the table area 715, it is checked whether transmission of an image is permitted. FIG. 10 shows the contents of the table stored in the table area 715. In the example shown here, the set conditions are the security mode and the state of the security area. Therefore, in step S54, the state area 713 and the mode area 714 of the storage unit 703
Go to see what is stored in.

In the alert set mode, if there is an abnormal state (intrusion abnormality, equipment abnormality, emergency abnormality), image transmission is permitted as indicated by numbers 1 to 3 in the image table. If the security area is in the normal state, image transmission is not permitted as shown in numbers 4 and 7 regardless of whether the security area is in the security set mode. In the alert release mode, image transmission is not permitted as shown in numbers 5 and 7 regardless of whether the security area is in a normal state or an abnormal state.

However, as shown by the numeral 6, even in the alert release mode, if the emergency button is pressed due to intrusion such as robbery (emergency abnormality), image transmission is permitted.
It should be noted that the table does not show a case of intrusion abnormality in the security release mode, because the sensors 2 and 4 are set so as not to detect an intrusion abnormality in the security release mode. .

The criterion shown in FIG. 10 is one example,
Various modifications are possible. On the security center side, at least for intrusion abnormalities and emergency abnormalities of numbers 1, 3, and 6,
I have to receive the image. For other cases, settings are made according to the situation. The security mode includes a patrol mode and a maintenance mode in addition to the security set mode and the security solution mode, and a table may be created according to each mode.

Further, a table is provided in which the location of the emergency button 3 or the intrusion sensor 4 and the image sensor 2 are associated with each other.
For example, an image request signal to the image sensor 2 corresponding to the intrusion sensor 4 that has detected an abnormality may be transmitted, and transmission of an image request signal to another image sensor 2 may be prevented. Thus, for example, the security area is divided into a plurality of rooms and the like, and if the intrusion sensor 4 and the image sensor 2 installed in the same room are associated with each other on the table, the security center device 7 will Although the image of the image sensor 2 in the room where the error occurs can be seen, the image of the image sensor 2 in the room where no abnormality has occurred cannot be seen, so that the privacy of the security area can be protected.

Returning to FIG. 9, if it is determined in step S54 that the image transmission is not permitted, the process proceeds to step S53, and an image request NG is displayed on the monitor 704. If it is determined that the image transmission is permitted, an image request signal is transmitted from the communication interface 702 to the controller 1 in step S55, and the process ends.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a process in the case where the controller 1 receives an image request signal from the security center device 7. Upon receiving the image request signal in step S61, the controller 1 executes the following processing. In step S62, an image request signal is sent to the image sensor 2 designated by the image request signal.

The image sensor 2 sends out the photographed image in accordance with the image request signal, and in step S63, the controller 1
Transfers the current image to the security center device 7. The security center device 7 checks the state by viewing the image indicating the current state of the monitoring area on the monitor 704. When it becomes unnecessary to receive an image, an image stop signal is sent to the controller 1. Upon receiving the image stop signal in step S64, the controller 1 sends an image stop signal to the image sensor 2 in step S65, and ends the process. The image sensor 2 stops sending the image.

In the above description, the table for determining permission / non-permission of image transmission is provided in common for all images. On the other hand, a different table can be provided for each image sensor 2 to perform more detailed control. In the above description, the monitoring center device 7
In the above, the conditions are set, and when the set conditions are satisfied, the transmission of the image request signal is blocked. In addition to this, the controller 1 may be provided with a blocking means for blocking the transmission of the image. it can. In this case, an image sensor address area and a table storage area are provided in the storage unit 110 of the controller 1, and conditions for setting an image sensor for preventing transmission or a permission / non-permission of transmission of an image request signal are set in this area. As a result, even if the image request signal is received from the monitoring center device 7, the transmission of a specific image can be rejected on the controller 1 side (user side).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a security system to which an image monitoring system of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a controller in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image sensor in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a security center device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a storage unit in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart (part 1) showing the operation of the controller of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating the operation of the controller in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (part 3) illustrating the operation of the controller in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the monitoring center device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a view showing the contents of a table used in the flow of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart (part 4) illustrating the operation of the controller in FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Controller 101 ... Control part 102 ... Power supply circuit 103 ... Sensor monitoring circuit 104 ... Modem 105 ... Image sensor communication control part 106 ... Video input / output control part 107 ... Display part 108 ... Operation means 109 ... Device state detection part 110 ... Storage Unit 2 ... Image sensor 201 ... Control unit 202 ... Power supply 203 ... Imaging unit 204 ... Infrared light emitting unit 205 ... Image processing unit 206 ... Display unit 207 ... Communication unit 208 ... Image output unit 210 ... Address setting unit 211 ... Operation unit 220 ... storage means 3 ... emergency button 4 ... intrusion sensor 5 ... mode setting device 6 ... telephone line 7 ... security center device 701 ... control unit 702 ... communication interface 703 ... image information storage unit 704 ... monitor 705 ... operation unit 706 ... image output Part 711: parameter area 712: image sensor address area 13 ... status area 714 ... mode region 715 ... table area 8 ... monitor device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image monitoring system comprising: an image monitoring device having an image capturing device for capturing an image of a monitoring area; and a monitoring center device for monitoring an image captured by the image capturing device. Display means for displaying an image; transmitting means for transmitting an image request signal to the image monitoring device; and conditions set in advance, and when the set conditions are satisfied, preventing the transmitting means from transmitting the image request signal. The image monitoring device, in addition to the imaging unit, a transmission unit that transmits an image captured by the imaging unit to the monitoring center device via a communication line; and Control means for transmitting an image by the transmission means when the image request signal is received. 2. The transmission means sends the current state of the monitoring area to the monitoring center device in addition to the image, and the monitoring center device further has a storage means for storing the received current state. 2. The image monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blocking unit prevents the sending unit from sending an image request signal when a normal state is stored in the storage unit. 3. The transmission means sends a security mode of the monitoring area to the monitoring center device in addition to the image, and the monitoring center device further has a storage means for storing the received security mode. 2. The image monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blocking unit blocks the transmission of the image request signal by the transmission unit when the alert release mode is stored in the storage unit. 4. The monitoring center device further includes a storage unit that stores a specific imaging unit of the imaging unit that captures the monitoring area, and the blocking unit includes an imaging unit that is stored in the storage unit. 2. The image monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image request signal to the image monitoring device is prevented from being sent from the sending means.