KR101842045B1 - Method of tracing object using network camera and network camera therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of recognizing an object using a network camera equipped with a motion detection sensor and a network camera, and more particularly to a network camera in which a photographing unit captures an image, and a sensor unit including at least one motion detection sensor detects an operation Determines the position area of the object, and controls the displacement of the photographing unit according to the determined position area. Accordingly, the object can be tracked by panning the lens of the network camera according to the point and position area of the tracking object sensed by the motion detection sensor.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a network camera and a tracking method using the same,

The present invention relates to a network camera and an object tracking method using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a network camera and a method for tracking an object detected by a motion sensor in a PTZ camera equipped with at least one motion detection sensor and capable of performing pan and tilt operations. And a method for tracking an object by controlling a displacement of the camera according to an area.

In recent years, video surveillance cameras such as CCTV cameras have also changed, and the emergence of network cameras is one of the changes. Network cameras are also called web cameras. The network camera digitizes and compresses images based on a high-performance embedded system incorporating a CCD camera, and transmits the data through a network so that the image can be restored and viewed in real time from anywhere on the Internet .

There is also a network camera, which is connected to a network, and which allows a user to access the network through the network and control the movement of the camera. The network camera has a unique IP address and a server program installed therein. The remote user logs in to the server through the IP address and receives the image from the camera.

On the other hand, in the case of a network camera, there is a fixed type camera in which a body including a camera lens is fixed, or an operation type camera in which a body can perform a pan-tilt operation.

When the object is tracked using the network camera as shown in FIG. 1, the lens 5 mounted on the network camera can photograph only a predetermined range of view. The field-of-viewable range may depend on the angle of view of the lens 5. At this time, when the tracking target 40 moves out of the photographing range (a) or the field of view of the network camera to the zone (b), it can not be tracked by photographing the tracking object.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a network camera equipped with a motion detection sensor to track an object that is out of the shooting range.

According to the present invention, it is possible to photograph a moving object by determining a moving position of an object and by panning a lens of a network camera according to the position.

A network camera equipped with a motion detection sensor according to the present invention includes: a photographing unit for recognizing an image; A sensor unit including at least one motion detection sensor and detecting motion in a predetermined viewing angle range; And a control unit for processing the signal received from the sensor unit, determining a position area of the object based on the processed signal, and controlling the displacement of the photographing unit according to the position area.

A method of tracking an object using a network camera equipped with a motion detection sensor according to the present invention includes the steps of capturing an image of a photographing unit; Sensing a motion of the sensor unit including at least one motion detection sensor in a predetermined viewing angle range; Processing a signal received from the sensor unit to determine a position area of the object; And controlling the displacement of the photographing unit according to the position area.
The network camera control method according to the present invention is a network camera control method for tracking an object using a network camera having an operation detection sensor and a photographing unit, the operation sensor including a first sensor, Sensing an object moving within a predetermined range of the first sensor without overlapping the sensing range of the sensing unit; Transmitting a sensing signal for the moving object to the control unit; Determining a position area of the moving object based on the sensing signal; Comparing the position range of the moving object with the photographing range of the photographing unit; And rotating the photographing direction of the photographing unit in the circumferential direction of the network camera so that the control unit may photograph the moving object if the position range of the moving object is not included in the photographing range of the photographing unit .
A network camera according to the present invention is a network camera comprising: a photographing unit photographing a first viewing angle; A first motor that rotates the photographing direction of the photographing unit left / right in the circumferential direction of the network camera; A first motion detection sensor having a detection range of a second viewing angle and outputting a detection signal when a moving object is sensed; And a control unit for receiving the detection signal output from the first motion detection sensor, determining a position area of the moving object based on the detection signal, comparing the position area of the moving object with the first viewing angle, And the control unit controls the first motor to photograph the second viewing angle when the position area of the moving object is not included in the second viewing angle range, wherein the sensing range of the second viewing angle may not overlap the shooting range of the first viewing angle .

According to the present invention, a motion sensor can be mounted on a network camera to track an object that is out of the shooting range.

According to the present invention, a moved object can be photographed by determining the position where the object moved and by panning the lens of the network camera according to the position.

1 is a system configuration diagram of an operation of a conventional network camera.
2 shows an operation of a network camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a PAN operation of a network camera according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a block diagram of a network camera according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of tracking a target according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The suffix "module" and " part "for components used in the following description are given merely for ease of description, and the" module "and" part "

Meanwhile, the network camera described in the present specification is an intelligent device that adds a computer support function to a network transmission / reception function, for example, and an internet function is added to the network camera to provide a more convenient interface such as a handwriting input device, a touch screen, . Also, it can be connected to the Internet and a computer by the support of a wired or wireless Internet function, and can perform functions such as e-mail, web browsing, banking or game. A standardized general-purpose OS can be used for these various functions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.

As used herein, terms used in the present invention are selected from general terms that are widely used in the present invention while taking into account the functions of the present invention, but these may vary depending on the intention or custom of a person skilled in the art or the emergence of new technologies. Also, in certain cases, there may be a term chosen arbitrarily by the applicant, in which case the meaning thereof will be described in the description of the corresponding invention. Therefore, it is intended that the terminology used herein should be interpreted based on the meaning of the term rather than on the name of the term, and on the entire contents of the specification.

2 shows an operation of a network camera according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the object 40 which can be detected by the motion sensor 111 is in the zone a and then moves to the zone b. When the photographing unit 12 including the image sensor mounted on the network camera 100 photographs the object 40 and the object 40 moves to the zone b, the photographing unit 12 can not photograph any more. However, the motion sensor 111 located at the opposite side of the photographing unit 12 in the network camera 100 can sense the object 40 moved to the zone b. The motion detection sensor 111 may transmit an operation detection signal to the control unit of the network camera 100 and the control unit may rotate the imaging unit 12 to recognize the image of the zone b. Therefore, the blind spot of the network camera can be compensated, and the intrusion can be detected. The motion detection sensor 11 mounted on the network camera illustrated in the present invention may include a light-permeable thin film surrounding the sensor 20 and the sensor. The thin film may be composed of a transparent plastic or fresnel lens. The motion detection sensor may include a plurality of sensors and may be a passive infrared sensor (PIR).

The PIR sensor is a type of passive sensor that can detect a human body by detecting infrared rays emitted from a human body when a human body having a temperature different from that of an ambient object such as a wall passes within a predetermined field of view. The motion detection sensor may have a predetermined viewing angle. One network camera is equipped with a plurality of motion detection sensors, which can extend the motion detection range that the network camera itself can detect as a sum of viewing angles that a single motion detection sensor can detect.

Hereinafter, a rotation operation of the network camera according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

3A to 3C are views illustrating a detailed operation of a network camera according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The network camera in FIG. 3A exemplifies the PTZ dome type camera 100 having a pan and tilt function. The network camera 100 may include a photographing unit 12 including an image sensor and a motion detection sensor 111. [ 3A, in addition to the motion detection sensor 111, two motion detection sensors may be further included.

FIG. 3B is a plan view showing the operation of the network camera in a ceiling according to an embodiment of the present invention. The motion sensors 111, 112, and 123 mounted on the network camera may have a predetermined viewing angle. For example, the motion detection sensor 111 can detect the p1 region, the sensor 112 can detect the p2 region, and the sensor 113 can detect the p3 region. The tracked object 40 is currently located in the P2 region, so that the motion detection sensor 112 can detect it. That is, the position area of the tracking target 40 can be changed according to the viewable range or the viewable range of the motion detection sensor according to the detectable range.

Since the photographable range of the photographing unit 12 has a predetermined viewing angle &thetas;, the photographing unit 12 can not detect the image to be tracked. The network camera can receive the detection signal from the motion detection sensor 112 and determine the position area p2 of the tracking object. Thereafter, the network camera compares the photographing area of the photographing part 12 with the position area p2 of the tracked object 40, and rotates the photographing part 12 when it is determined that they are different from each other. At this time, the network camera may drive the motor to rotate the photographing unit 12. [ The motor can rotate the photographing unit 12 by rotating a connecting member, such as a slip ring, connected to the photographing unit 12 and rotatable about the rotation axis. 3C shows an example in which the photographing range is changed as the photographing section 12 rotates. The photographing unit 12 can photograph the position p2 of the tracking target 40 by rotating the photographing unit in the clockwise direction.

3B and 3C, the viewing angle of the area in which the motion detection sensor can be detected and the viewing angle &thetas; detectable by the photographing unit may be different from each other. In FIG. 3B, the photographing unit 12 can recognize an image of a hatched region existing over the p1 region and the p3 region, and the photographing unit 12 is rotated toward the region p2 in which the tracked object 40 is detected. However, the rotation direction of the photographing unit 12 may be counterclockwise.

For example, the position of the tracking target 40 is determined on the basis of the visual center vector v and the viewing angle? Of the photographing unit 12, 40) is not present, the photographing unit 12 can be rotated. The rotation angle may be an angle subtracted by? 1/2 from? 2, which is the angle to the point where the tracking target is located at least counterclockwise with respect to the center vector v.

Further, the rotational angle? May be an angle obtained by subtracting? 1/2 from? 3, which is an angle from the center vector v to the point where the tracking target is located clockwise. Or by a smaller value of both (see Equation 1).

? = min |? 2 -? 1/2,? 3 -? 1/2 | - (1)

In addition, as a maximum value of the rotation angle, tracking is performed counterclockwise on the basis of the angle? 2 or the center vector (v), which is an angle from the center vector (v) to the point where the tracking object is located counterclockwise 3 that is the angle to the point where the object is located (see Equation 2).

? = min | (? 2 -? 1/2),? 3 -? 1/2 |??? min |? 2,

- (2)

4 is a block diagram of a network camera according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 4, the network camera 100 includes a sensor unit 11, a photographing unit 12, a network interface unit 13, a control unit 14, an image processing unit 15, a storage unit 16, a user input unit 17 And a driving unit 18, as shown in FIG.

The sensor unit 11 may include at least one motion detection sensor for sensing motion. At least one or more motion detection sensors may each have a viewable viewing angle. The sensor unit configured by at least one or more motion detection sensors can detect motion in a predetermined viewing angle range. The predetermined viewing angle at which the sensor unit can be sensed may depend on the sum of the viewing angles that can be sensed by a single motion sensor and their arrangement angles. For example, referring to FIG. 3B, when a plurality of motion sensors are arranged at a predetermined angle of 120 degrees, and a single motion sensor has a viewing angle of 120 degrees or more, a predetermined viewing angle that the entire sensor unit 11 can detect is 360 degrees have.

The photographing unit 12 may be an image sensor (CCD / CMOS) for recognizing an image. The photographing unit 12 may include an optical filter to remove infrared rays to display an accurate color image before reaching the image sensor. The image sensor may convert the light energy into an electrical signal and transmit it to the control unit 14 for electrical digitization.

In addition, the photographing unit 12 may include an infrared filter for infrared imaging the image when the human body is sensed on the network camera.

The driving unit 18 is connected to the body of the photographing unit 12 and can pivot the photographing unit. The driving unit 18 can tilt the photographing unit. The driving unit 18 may include a slip ring connected to the photographing unit to rotate the photographing unit around the rotation axis.

The network interface unit 13 can be connected to a control device such as a computer. In addition, the network interface unit 13 can connect to at least one or more network cameras to receive images. The network interface unit 13 can transmit a plurality of processed images to the control device 50. [ The network interface unit 13 is a hardware module for communicating with the computer 50 or the sub camera through CP / IP, UDP, HTTP, HTTPS, SMTP, NTP, DHCP, FTP, DDNS, RTP, . ≪ / RTI >

The network interface unit 13 according to the present invention can transmit alarms and / or related images through the network when it is determined that an object exists in the area under the control of the control unit 14.

The control unit 14 can process the image recognized by the photographing unit 12 and the image received from the at least one network camera. The control unit 14 can transmit the received image to the image processing unit 15. The control unit may be a system on chip processor.

The control unit 14 according to the present invention can process a signal received from the sensor unit 11 and determine whether an object exists based on the processed signal. The control unit 14 may determine a location area or a location point of the object that is determined to have an object, transmit an alarm, or photograph the area to transmit the image together. The control unit 14 can distinguish the position area or the position point where each of the plurality of motion detection sensors can be sensed.

The control unit 14 processes the signal received from the sensor unit 11, determines the position area of the object based on the processed signal, and controls the displacement of the photographing unit 12 according to the position area. At this time, the control unit may transmit a control signal for driving the driving unit 18 that rotates or tilts the photographing unit 12.

When the control section 14 compares the photographing section of the photographing section 12 with the position area of the object to be traced and judges that the area is different or does not include the position area of the object to be traced in the photographing area, It is possible to send a drive signal for rotating the photographing section to photograph.

The image processing unit 15 can process the image under the control of the control unit 14. The image processing unit 15 can compress the images by distinguishing them in the mpeg, jpeg, and h.262 formats. The image processing unit 15 can transmit the compressed image to an external server or a computer (not shown). The transmission of the video can be performed via the network interface unit 13. [

The storage unit 16 may store images taken by the photographing unit 12 or images processed by the image processing unit 15 such as compression. The storage unit 16 may distinguish a plurality of network cameras connected through a network, and may store identification information or storage information of each camera, information on locations where the cameras capture images, and the like.

The storage unit 16 may be a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (for example, an SD or XD memory Etc.), RAM, ROM (EEPROM, etc.), and the like.

The storage unit 16 may store the sensible zones separately from the plurality of motion sensors.

The user input unit 17 transmits a signal input by the user to the control unit 14 or a signal from the control unit 14 to the user. For example, the user input unit 17 can be turned on / off from a remote control device (not shown), such as a remote controller, or a channel selection button, depending on various communication methods such as a radio frequency (RF) communication method and an infrared , A screen setting, or the like, or to transmit a control signal from the control unit 114 to the remote control apparatus.

In addition, the user input unit 17 can receive setting information such as an operation state of the network camera 100, for example, power on / off, communication mode setting, and connection of another network camera.

The user input unit 17 according to the present invention can receive the operation of the sensor unit 11. [ For example, the user can operate the sensor unit 11 within a predetermined time range during which the illumination of the monitoring area is turned off, thereby monitoring the monitoring area by the motion detection sensor.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of tracking a target according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In step s11, the image is photographed.

In step s12, the motion sensor included in the sensor unit is operated. The motion detection sensor may be plural. The motion detection sensor may have a predetermined viewing angle that each of the motion detection sensors can detect, and may be arranged at a predetermined angle according to the viewing angle.

In step s13, it is determined whether an operation is detected from the motion detection sensor. When there are a plurality of motion detection sensors, the corresponding sensors whose motion is detected transmit a signal indicating that the motion is detected to the control unit.

In step s14, the signal received from the motion detection sensor is analyzed to determine the location area and the point of the object to be tracked.

In step s15, the displacement of the photographing unit is controlled according to the position area of the tracking object. Specifically, when it is determined that the position area of the tracking target does not fall within the imaging range, the imaging unit can be rotated toward the position area of the target subject. When it is determined that the position area of the tracking object falls within the photographing range of the photographing section, the displacement of the photographing boom can be maintained.

Also, the photographing unit may be rotated so that the tracking target can be observed at the center of the photographing range even if the photographing unit is within the photographing range of the photographing unit.

Hereinabove, the object tracking method and the network camera for the network camera according to the embodiment of the present invention have been described.

The object tracking method and the network camera according to the present invention are not limited to the configuration and method of the embodiments described above but the embodiments can be applied to all or some of the embodiments so that various modifications can be made. Or may be selectively combined.

Meanwhile, the network camera and the object tracking method of the present invention can be implemented as a code that can be read by a processor on a recording medium readable by the processor. The processor-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording apparatuses in which data that can be read by the processor is stored. Examples of the recording medium that can be read by the processor include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage device, and the like, and may also be implemented in the form of a carrier wave such as transmission over the Internet . In addition, the processor-readable recording medium may be distributed over network-connected computer systems so that code readable by the processor in a distributed fashion can be stored and executed.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

40: Tracked
100: Network Camera

Claims (9)

A network camera control method for tracking an object using a network camera having a motion detection sensor and a photographing unit,
Wherein the motion detection sensor includes a first sensor disposed on the opposite side of the photographing unit to detect a direction opposite to the photographing direction of the photographing unit, and a second and third sensor detecting a sensing range overlapping the photographing range of the photographing unit,
Wherein all the sensing ranges of the first sensor do not overlap with all of the sensing range,
Sensing an object moving in a predetermined range by the first sensor;
Transmitting a sensing signal for the moving object to the control unit;
Determining a position area of the moving object based on the sensing signal;
Comparing the position range of the moving object with the photographing range of the photographing unit; And
And rotating the photographing direction of the photographing unit in the circumferential direction of the network camera so that the control unit captures the moving object if the position range of the moving object is not included in the photographing range of the photographing unit,
Wherein each of the first to third sensors is arranged at an interval of 120 degrees so as to detect a range of 360 degrees around the network camera. The method according to claim 1,
In the step of rotating the photographing direction of the photographing unit to the left / right to photograph the moving object,
Wherein the control unit rotates the photographing direction of the photographing unit such that the sensed object is located at the center of the photographing range. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rotating step comprises rotating the photographing unit such that the angle of rotation of the photographing unit with respect to the center vector of the photographing unit in a counterclockwise direction is smaller than a viewing angle / 2 of the photographing unit And a second angle obtained by subtracting a viewing angle / 2 of the photographing unit from an angle between an angle and a center vector of the photographing unit in a clockwise direction to a point at which the object is located, And when the angle of rotation of the photographing unit is the second angle, it rotates in a clockwise direction. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the first to third sensors are arranged at intervals of 120 degrees around the network camera. A network camera comprising:
A photographing unit photographing a first viewing angle;
A first motor that rotates the photographing direction of the photographing unit left / right in the circumferential direction of the network camera;
A first motion detection sensor disposed in a direction opposite to a photographing direction of the photographing unit to detect a direction opposite to a photographing direction of the photographing unit and having a sensing range of a second viewing angle and outputting a sensing signal when a moving object is sensed;
At least one second motion detection sensor for detecting a third viewing angle overlapping the first viewing angle and outputting a sensing signal when a moving object is sensed; And
And a control unit for receiving the detection signal output from the first motion detection sensor, determining a position area of the moving object based on the detection signal, comparing the position area of the moving object with the first viewing angle, And controls the first motor to photograph the second viewing angle if the position area of the moving object is not included,
All of the sensing range of the second viewing angle does not overlap with the entire imaging range of the first viewing angle,
Wherein the second viewing angle and the third viewing angle cover a range of 360 degrees around the network camera. 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein a rotation angle of the photographing unit is a first angle obtained by subtracting the first viewing angle / 2 from an angle from a center vector of the photographing unit to a point where the object is located in a counterclockwise direction, And a second angle obtained by subtracting the first viewing angle / 2 from an angle to the point at which the object is located, wherein the photographing section rotates counterclockwise when the photographing section is at the first angle, And the second rotation angle is rotated clockwise when the rotation angle of the second rotation angle is the second angle. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the first motor rotates the photographing direction of the photographing unit to the left / right about the rotation axis of the network camera. 8. The method of claim 7,
And a second motor which tilts the photographing direction of the photographing section up / down of the network camera. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second motion detection sensor is two motion detection sensors,
Wherein the first and the second motion detection sensors are arranged at intervals of 120 degrees around the network camera.

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