KR100708884B1 - Apparatus and method for providing an image photographed by network cameras according to the information of photographing routes - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for sequentially providing network camera photographed images to a user terminal according to photographing path information. More particularly, the present invention relates to generating photographic path information associated with photographing sequences of a plurality of network cameras according to a user input. The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for sequentially transmitting image data of a network camera to a user terminal based on the photographing path information. According to the present invention, the user can easily set the captured image data of the desired network camera by setting and storing the photographing path information based on the network camera selection, the subject movement path information, and the subject position information using GPS in a predetermined network camera management server. Can be received efficiently.

Network Camera, Shooting Path, Image Data, User Terminal, Communication Network

Description

Apparatus and method for sequentially providing network camera photographing images to a user terminal according to photographing path information {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHED BY NETWORK CAMERAS ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION OF PHOTOGRAPHING ROUTES}

1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of a network camera photographed image providing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a network camera management server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating various embodiments of generating photographing path information of a network camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a diagram illustrating an example of receiving a network camera photographed image using a mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a diagram illustrating an example of sequentially outputting images photographed from a plurality of network cameras to a user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a network camera captured image according to photographing path information according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

201: image data receiving unit

202: shooting path information generation unit

203: video data transmission unit

204: shooting path selector

205: shooting path information storage unit

206: user authentication unit

207: transmission history storage unit

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for sequentially providing network camera photographed images to a user terminal according to photographing path information. More particularly, the present invention relates to generating photographic path information associated with photographing sequences of a plurality of network cameras according to a user input. The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for sequentially transmitting image data of a network camera to a user terminal based on the photographing path information.

Recently, various crimes are rampant, and the number of crime prevention and security systems have been increasing in individuals as well as in corporations. In particular, a security system using a surveillance camera that can easily track or monitor a desired place or object is the most widely used and further developed.

With the recent development of digital video technology, such surveillance cameras have been able to achieve high performance, high image quality, and miniaturization, so that internal surveillance devices such as banks, factories, and supermarkets, public buildings, traffic control, large apartments, etc. It is widely used as an external monitoring device in the same place.

However, in the method of transmitting images captured from a plurality of surveillance cameras to a user terminal, conventionally, when a plurality of images photographed from a plurality of surveillance cameras are received and transmitted to the user terminal, the user selects a desired captured image. We had to check the surveillance site. However, as the number of surveillance cameras installed increases, it becomes difficult to conveniently and efficiently transfer the captured image of the target object or the desired place by the conventional captured image transmission method.

For example, in the related art, when a user wants to track and monitor a specific moving object, a user directly controls a plurality of surveillance cameras or directly selects a corresponding surveillance camera photographed image according to the movement of the object. Therefore, it is inconvenient for the user to track and monitor a specific object, and a lot of cases are missed.

Accordingly, a method of controlling a camera automatically according to the movement of the object when a moving object is detected by embedding a sensor capable of detecting a movement in the surveillance camera has been proposed. However, the camera control method using such a sensor may malfunction when a plurality of moving objects are detected, and there is a problem in that a high performance system is required due to a complicated internal process.

Therefore, if a user can more easily and efficiently provide images captured from a plurality of network cameras (surveillance cameras), it will be a very meaningful solution in an increasingly diverse and complicated network camera environment.

Accordingly, the present invention solves the problem of a method of receiving a captured image from a conventional surveillance camera, generates photographing path information associated with a photographing order of a plurality of network cameras according to a user input, and generates a network based on the photographing path information. A new apparatus and method for sequentially transmitting image data of a camera to a user terminal are proposed.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, by storing the shooting path information associated with the shooting order of the plurality of network cameras in a predetermined network camera management server according to the user's setting, An object of the present invention is to enable a simple and efficient transmission of captured image data received from a camera.

Another object of the present invention is to increase the user's convenience by enabling a variety of methods such as selecting a desired network camera, input of moving path information of a subject, or location information of a subject using GPS in a method of setting a shooting path of a network camera. For that purpose.

Still another object of the present invention is to track and photograph the subject by controlling a plurality of network cameras based on the positional information according to the movement of the subject designated by the user.

Still another object of the present invention is to prevent a network camera photographed image from being used for an impure purpose by adding a user authentication process or storing image data transmission history in a predetermined network camera management server.

In order to achieve the above object and to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, a network camera management server for providing an image photographed from a plurality of network cameras according to the present invention to a user terminal through a predetermined communication network may include the plurality of network cameras. An image data receiver configured to receive image data photographed from the apparatus, a photographing path information generator generating photographing path information associated with a photographing order of the plurality of network cameras, and an image of the plurality of network cameras based on the photographing path information And an image data transmitter for sequentially transmitting data to the user terminal.

In addition, the method for providing images captured by a plurality of network cameras to a user terminal through a predetermined communication network according to the present invention comprises the steps of receiving image data shot from the plurality of network cameras, the photographing sequence of the plurality of network cameras Generating photographing path information associated with the photographing path; and sequentially transmitting image data of the plurality of network cameras to the user terminal based on the photographing path information.

For reference, the term "user terminal" herein refers to a PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) phone, a PCS (Personal Communication Service) phone, a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) phone, a CDMA-2000 (1X, 3X) phone, WCDMA (Wideband) CDMA phone, Dual Band / Dual Mode phone, Global Standard for Mobile (GSM) phone, Mobile Broadband System (MBS) phone, Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) phone, Smart phone, Mobile phone Handheld devices that may include communication functions such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld PCs such as hand-held PCs, WiBro terminals, and extended roaming services with international roaming services. A portable electric and electronic device, which means all kinds of handheld-based wireless communication devices, including an IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunication-2000) terminal that provides a service, and includes a Code Division Multiplexing Access (CDMA) module and a Bluetooth device. A) module, infrared It can be equipped with a predetermined communication module such as a wireless communication device equipped with a GPS chip to enable location tracking through a new module (Infrared Data Association), a wired / wireless LAN card, and a global positioning system (GPS). It is interpreted as a concept of collectively a terminal capable of performing a certain arithmetic operation by mounting a microprocessor.

In addition, a "user terminal" may receive an image through a wired communication network such as a TCP / IP-based communication network, an optical communication network, or a cable communication network such as a network terminal such as a notebook computer or a PC, and output the received image to the user. It can be broadly interpreted as including all other wired and electronic devices with built-in display means.

Hereinafter, an apparatus and method for setting a photographing path of a network camera will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating a network configuration of a network camera photographed image providing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a network for providing a network camera captured image includes a network camera 101, a network camera management server 102, and a user terminal 103.

The network camera 101 includes a digital video recorder (DVR), a closed circuit television (CCTV), a web cap, or the like, and includes a wired or wireless communication module. One or more network cameras 101 may be installed at a place such as an alley, a road, a parking lot, or a building, and may also be used in various ways depending on the purpose, such as when monitoring an elderly person or a child or monitoring valuables. It can be installed in plural places.

The plurality of network cameras 101 installed at a specific place provides a shooting screen in various directions at various points, so that the user can monitor the specific place more accurately and efficiently.

The network camera management server 102 is connected to one or more network cameras 101 through a predetermined communication network, and transmits image data captured by the network camera 101 to one or more user terminals 103 using a predetermined communication network. send. The communication network may be a wired communication network such as an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), a TCP / IP-based communication network, or an optical communication network, or alternatively, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) or Wireless (WLAN) Wireless communication networks such as LAN, High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), and Wireless Broadband Internet (WiBro). In addition, short-range wireless communication networks such as Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Bluetooth (Bluetooth), Ultra Wide Band (UWB), and Zigbee may be used.

The user terminal 103 includes a communication module for wired / wireless communication or short-range communication, and can receive and output image data, a personal computer, a DTV equipped with a set-top box, or a portable multimedia player (PMP). Etc. can be used.

According to the present invention, image data can be transmitted from the network camera 101 to the user terminal 103 via the network camera management server 102. In this case, the network camera management server 102 performs user authentication. In addition, the recording path information and the image data transmission and reception history can be stored and managed.

2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the network camera management server 102 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the network camera management server 102 stores the image data receiving unit 201, the image capturing path information generating unit 202, the image data transmitting unit 203, the image capturing path selecting unit 204, and the image capturing path information. A unit 205, a user authentication unit 206, and the transmission history storage unit 207.

The image data receiver 201 receives image data photographed from a plurality of network cameras. The image data of the specific network camera is transmitted to the user terminal according to the user's request among the plurality of received image data.

The photographing path information generator 202 generates photographing path information associated with photographing orders of the plurality of network cameras. As an embodiment of generating the photographing path information, the photographing path information generation unit 202 may receive the identification numbers of the plurality of network cameras from the user and generate the photographing path information according to the identification numbers of the network cameras. have. Alternatively, the photographing path information generation unit 202 may receive the moving path information of the subject from the user terminal 103 and generate the photographing path information in response to the moving path information.

In addition, when the photographing target designated by the user has a terminal having a built-in GPS receiver, the photographing path information generation unit 202 receives the location information based on the GPS signal from the terminal of the subject, and photographs the path information according to the location information. It may be possible to generate a, and based on the position information according to the movement of the subject, it is also possible to control the network camera to track the subject.

As such, various embodiments of generating photographing path information of the network camera according to the present invention will be described later with reference to FIG. 3.

For reference, in the present specification, as an example of the 'subject', a person such as a child, an elderly person, or a woman is exemplified, but includes all other objects that the user wants to monitor such as pets, cars, or valuables. It can be interpreted as. In addition, the 'subject' is interpreted as a concept including both a moving object moving along a predetermined movement path that the user wants to track and monitor, and a stationary specific object and a specific place where the user wants to understand the current situation. do.

The image data transmitter 203 sequentially transmits image data of the plurality of network cameras to the user terminal 103 based on the photographing path information. That is, the image data transmission unit 203 sequentially transmits the image data of the corresponding network camera to the user terminal 103 according to the photographing path information generated by the photographing path information generation unit 202, and sets the user. The image data according to the photographing path may be automatically output to the user terminal 103.

The photographing path selector 204 provides the plurality of network camera location information to a user terminal, and receives a camera photographing path according to the location information from the user. The photographing path information generator 203 generates photographing path information according to a camera photographing path selected by the user. In addition, the network camera location information includes a camera location map in which the installation locations of the plurality of network cameras are displayed.

Since the camera location map shows where the network camera available to the user is located on the general map, the user can easily check the network camera around the place or object to be monitored and efficiently check the camera shooting path. You can choose.

The photographing path information storage unit 205 stores at least one photographing path information in association with the user terminal. That is, the photographing path information storage unit 205 stores the photographing path information generated by the photographing path information generating unit 202 according to a user's selection, and allows the user to use the photographed path information. This saves you the trouble of having to set the shooting path. Therefore, the user can store a plurality of photographing paths which are frequently used in the photographing path information storage unit 205 in advance, so that the photographing path can be appropriately reset whenever the user desires.

The user authentication unit 206 receives user identification information from the user terminal 103 and performs user authentication based on the user identification information and a predetermined user database. According to the present invention, by adding a user authentication process in the user authentication unit 206 before the user requests the photographed image of the network camera, it is possible to limit the authorized user to a part of the network camera to some, especially where security is required. In an embodiment, it is possible to prevent an outsider from accessing a network camera and arbitrarily receiving image data.

The transmission history storage unit 207 stores the history of transmission of the captured image of the network camera in association with the user terminal 103. That is, in preparation for a privacy infringement or security incident that may occur while a plurality of users jointly use the network camera, in the present invention, the transmission history storage unit 207 stores the image data transmission history using the network camera, Be prepared for future security incidents.

3 is a diagram illustrating various embodiments of generating photographing path information of a network camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 310 is an embodiment in which the network camera management server receives an identification number of a network camera located at a place to be monitored by a user and generates photographing path information according to the identification number of the network camera.

As shown in the figure, the network camera management server first generates a predetermined camera location map, in which a location and identification numbers of a plurality of network cameras available to a user are displayed on a general map according to a user's request for using a network camera. Provided to a user terminal such as a PC. Thereafter, the network camera management server receives the identification number of the network camera to be used from the user, and generates photographing path information of the plurality of network cameras.

For example, assuming that the identification numbers of the network cameras 301, 302, and 303 shown in the figures are 1, 2, and 3, respectively, the user may use '1-2-3' using an input means such as a keyboard. Or enter the identification number of the network camera you want to use, such as '3-2-1'. Alternatively, the user can easily input by directly clicking the network camera to be used on the camera location map using an input means such as a mouse. After the user inputs the network camera identification number, photographing path information is generated according to the identification numbers of the plurality of network cameras input by the user, and image data of the corresponding network camera is sequentially transmitted to the user terminal.

Reference numeral 320 is an embodiment in which the network camera management server receives information about a moving path 304 of a subject to be monitored from a user and generates photographing path information based on the moving path 304 information. That is, as shown in the figure, when a user inputs a moving path of a subject to be monitored or a path 304 of an area to be monitored, the network camera management server sequentially processes adjacent neighboring network cameras according to the moving path 304. Using the identification information, the photographing path information can be automatically generated.

Reference numeral 330 denotes an embodiment in which a network camera management server receives location information based on a GPS signal from a terminal of a subject 305 designated by a user, and generates photographing path information according to the location information. That is, when the subject 305 has a terminal with a built-in GPS receiver, the network camera management server receives from the user a mobile phone identification number (MIN) or a terminal unique number (ESN: Electronic) of the terminal of the subject 305. Only unique terminal identification information such as a serial number is simply input, and location information is received from a terminal of a corresponding subject 305 based on the identification information. The network camera management server sequentially receives image data from adjacent network cameras and transmits the image data to the user terminal according to the received location information.

In addition, according to the present invention, based on the positional information according to the movement of the subject 305, it is possible to control the network camera to track the subject 305. For example, when the network camera has a built-in driving motor, the driving motor is controlled to track and capture the subject 305 according to the positional information according to the movement of the subject 305 to automatically detect the subject 305 to be tracked. You can shoot with.

As described above, when the subject is tracked and photographed using the GPS, the user may easily receive the subject photographed image sequentially by inputting only the identification number of the terminal possessed by the subject.

4 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a user is provided with a network camera photographing image using a user terminal (in this embodiment, using a mobile phone) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown by reference numeral 401, the user executes a predetermined network camera monitoring program installed in the cellular phone, enters user information or enters an ID and password to access the network camera management server. Thereafter, as shown at 402, a desired input method is selected from various methods for inputting a photographing path, and a photographing path of the network camera is input.

Reference numeral 403 denotes an example in which the user selects from photographing path information previously stored in the network camera management server. For example, 'front alley' is shooting path information that a user presets and stores a shooting path of one or more network cameras located in the front alley.

Reference numeral 404 is an example of a screen in which the captured image of the corresponding network camera is output on the LCD window of the cellular phone according to the photographing path information selected by the user. In addition, according to the shooting path information, the screen output to the LCD window is sequentially transferred to the next shooting screen.

5 is a diagram illustrating an example of sequentially outputting images photographed from a plurality of network cameras to a user terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to the present invention, when the plurality of network camera shot images transmitted according to the shooting path information are sequentially output to the user terminal, the time at which each individual shot image is output, that is, the time point at which the next network camera shot image is transferred is determined by the user. Can be adjusted according to the setting.

For example, when the user to be monitored is a moving person, it is possible to appropriately set the time for outputting the captured image of each individual network camera in consideration of the walking speed of the person, and to monitor the plurality of places sequentially. In this case, the time for outputting each shot image can be appropriately set in consideration of the time required for confirmation of each place.

Alternatively, each time the user presses a predetermined 'next' key on his terminal, a method of sequentially outputting captured images of the next network camera according to preset shooting path information may be used.

Reference numeral 501 is an example of a screen on which an automatic control or a manual control method is selected by a user. By selecting the automatic control method, the user can automatically output the captured image according to the output time of each individual network camera captured image that is preset, and by selecting the manual control method, the user can selectively use the keypad for convenience. You can check the captured video.

Reference numeral 502, reference numeral 503, and reference numeral 504 are examples of screens in which photographed images of corresponding network cameras among a plurality of network cameras are sequentially output to the user terminal according to photographing path information. In addition, the example shown to the code | symbol 502, the code | symbol 503, and the code | symbol 504 is an example of the image | photographed by the camera 301, the camera 302, and the camera 303 of FIG. to be.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a network camera captured image according to photographing path information according to the present invention.

In step S601, image data captured by a plurality of network cameras is received. The image data of the specific network camera is transmitted to the user terminal according to the user's request among the plurality of received image data.

In step S602, user identification information is received from a user terminal, and user authentication is performed based on the user identification information. According to the present invention, before the user requests the captured image of the network camera, by adding the user authentication process of this step, it is possible to limit the authorized user according to the network camera to a part, especially where the outsiders need to maintain security. It is possible to prevent the reception of image data arbitrarily by connecting to.

In operation S603, shooting path information associated with a shooting order of the plurality of network cameras is generated. As an embodiment of generating the photographing path information in this step, the identification number of the plurality of network cameras is input from the user, and the photographing path information may be generated according to the identification numbers of the network cameras. Alternatively, in this step, the movement path information of the subject may be received from the user terminal, and the photographing path information may be generated in response to the movement path information.

In addition, when the photographing target specified by the user has a terminal having a built-in GPS receiver, location information based on a GPS signal may be received from the terminal of the subject, and photographing path information may be generated according to the location information. It is also possible to track and photograph the subject by controlling a network camera based on the positional information according to the movement.

In addition, according to the present invention, the predetermined network camera management server stores at least one or more shooting path information associated with the user terminal. That is, by storing the shooting path information generated in step S603 and allowing the user to use the stored shooting path information, it is possible to reduce the user's trouble in setting the shooting path each time.

In step S604, image data of the plurality of network cameras is sequentially transmitted to the user terminal based on the photographing path information generated in step S603. That is, in this step, according to the shooting path information generated in step S603, image data of the corresponding network camera is sequentially transmitted to the user terminal, so that the image data according to the shooting path set by the user is automatically transmitted to the user terminal. To be printed.

In step S605, the image data transmission history in step S604 is stored in association with the user terminal. In case of multiple users using network cameras jointly, in order to prevent any privacy infringement or security incidents, this step saves the transmission of image data taken from the network cameras so that they can be prepared for future security incidents. do.

So far, the method for providing a network camera photographing image according to the photographing path information according to the present invention has been described, and the above-mentioned details of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 5 can be applied to the present embodiment as it is. Will be omitted.

The network camera photographed image providing method according to the photographing path information according to the present invention may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed by various computer means and recorded in a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination. Program instructions recorded on the media may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kind well-known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape, optical media such as CD-ROMs, DVDs, and magnetic disks, such as floppy disks. Magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. The medium may be a transmission medium such as an optical or metal wire, a waveguide, or the like including a carrier wave for transmitting a signal specifying a program command, a data structure, or the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine code generated by a compiler, but also high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The hardware device described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the present invention, and vice versa.

In the present invention as described above has been described by the specific embodiments, such as specific components and limited embodiments and drawings, but this is provided to help a more general understanding of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and variations are possible from such description.

Therefore, the spirit of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, and all the things that are equivalent to or equivalent to the claims as well as the following claims will belong to the scope of the present invention. .

According to the present invention, by storing the shooting path information associated with the shooting order of the plurality of network cameras in a predetermined network camera management server according to the user's setting, it is possible to easily and efficiently transfer the captured image data of the network camera.

In addition, according to the present invention, in the method of setting the shooting path of the network camera, by providing a variety of methods, such as selecting the desired network camera, input of the moving path information of the subject, or inputting the position information of the subject using GPS, the user convenience is further enhanced. Can be.

Further, according to the present invention, the user can easily track and monitor a specific subject by controlling a plurality of network cameras to track and photograph the subject based on the positional information according to the movement of the subject designated by the user.

In addition, according to the present invention, by adding a user authentication process in the predetermined network camera management server or storing the image data transmission history, it is possible to prevent the network camera captured image is used for impure purposes.

Claims (12)

A network camera management server for providing images captured by a plurality of network cameras to a user terminal through a predetermined communication network, An image data receiver configured to receive image data photographed from the plurality of network cameras; A photographing path information generation unit generating photographing path information associated with photographing orders of the plurality of network cameras; And An image data transmitter for sequentially transmitting image data of the plurality of network cameras to the user terminal based on the photographing path information. Network camera management server comprising a. The method of claim 1, A photographing path selector which provides the plurality of network camera location information to the user terminal and receives a camera photographing path according to the location information from a user; Network camera management server further comprises. The method of claim 2, The network camera location information network camera management server, characterized in that it comprises a camera location map showing the installation location of the plurality of network cameras. The method of claim 1, The photographing path information generation unit receives the movement path information of the subject from the user terminal, and generates the photographing path information in response to the movement path information. The method of claim 1, The photographing path information generation unit receives location information based on a GPS signal from a terminal of a subject, and generates the photographing path information according to the location information. The method of claim 5, And controlling the network camera to track and photograph the subject based on the positional information according to the movement of the subject. The method of claim 1, A photographing path information storage unit storing at least one photographing path information in association with the user terminal; Network camera management server further comprises. The method of claim 1, The communication network includes at least one of a wired communication network, a wireless communication network, and a local area wireless communication network network management server, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, A user authentication unit which receives user identification information from the user terminal and performs user authentication based on the user identification information Network camera management server further comprises. The method of claim 1, Transmission history storage unit for storing the video data transmission history in relation to the user terminal Network camera management server further comprises. In the method for providing images captured by a plurality of network cameras to a user terminal through a predetermined communication network, Receiving image data photographed from the plurality of network cameras; Generating photographing path information associated with photographing sequences of the plurality of network cameras; And Sequentially transmitting image data of the plurality of network cameras to the user terminal based on the photographing path information. Network camera photographing image providing method according to the photographing path information comprising a. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the method of claim 11.

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