EP1762994B1 - Intelligent surveillance camera - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves partially evaluating digital recorded video data with respect to an event that is to be detected using a digital monitoring camera (SC). The partial evaluation of the video data takes place through a processing unit in the camera. An information date relating to the detected event is added by the camera with a positive evaluation result of the video data. The video data is transmitted together with the date to a network unit (ANVE) through an analog data network. An independent claim is also included for a device in a digital monitoring camera to inform an event that is to be detected through an analog data network to a connected network unit.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device for notifying a network unit connected to an area monitoring camera via an analog data network in an event to be detected by the surveillance camera.

Video surveillance systems (CCTV) usually consist of surveillance cameras connected to storage units for storing the captured video data and / or monitors for displaying the captured video data over a data network. In this case, an analog or a digital data network such as, for example, a packet-switching communications network can be used as the data network. Via digital or analogue data networks, the surveillance cameras can also be connected to a processing unit, such as a computer, a server, etc., which can process the video data recorded by the surveillance camera. By means of suitable algorithms such processing units can detect movements (motion detection), observe objects such as persons, vehicles, doors, windows, parking spaces etc. (tracking) etc. In conventional video surveillance systems (CCTV systems), video images or video data usually become analog transferred to then be displayed on video walls with multiple monitors and / or stored analog or digital. It is often left to the viewer to evaluate and interpret the video images. Since images coming from multiple cameras can not all be displayed simultaneously on a video wall, but are displayed sequentially (also in groups), it can easily happen that events can not be displayed or can not be perceived.

An intelligent surveillance camera according to the preamble of claim 1, for example, from Panasonic: "Color CCTV Camera WV-NP472 Operating Instructions", 2002, or AXIS Communications AB; "AXIS 221 Network Camera User's Manual Rev.1.0", 2005. Movement is detectable in a predeterminable image area of acquired digital video data. The detected movement activates an alarm output of the surveillance camera. The image data captured by the surveillance camera as well as the alarm can be transmitted via a digital communication network to a correspondingly configured network node, for example to a so-called event server or PC, where image data and alarm information can be displayed in corresponding browser windows.

Out EP 1 081 953 A Furthermore, a device with a digital video camera, an image memory and a digital signal processor (DSP) is known. An image captured by the video camera is superimposed by the DSP on a text in the image and stored in the image memory and passed on in digital form.

The object of the present invention is to provide a possible simple and efficient way to notify a network unit in an event detected by a surveillance camera event.

The object is achieved in each case by the subject matters of the independent claims. Further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

A core of the invention is to be seen in that the video data recorded by a digital surveillance camera are at least partially evaluated with regard to events to be detected in the surveillance camera. In the case of a positive evaluation result, that is to say when an event to be detected is detected, at least one reference date is added to the video data and transmitted to a network unit via an analogue data network. An event to be detected may be, for example, a movement in the monitored area, a fire, a smoke, stationary vehicles, moving vehicles (slow-moving, wrong-moving (in the opposite direction, ghost driver) etc.), monitoring of niches (tunnel niches ), a manipulation on the surveillance camera, such as covering the camera, opening the housing, twisting (changing the visible or monitored area) of the camera, an object to be monitored, such as a car, a door, a window , an entrance lock, a parking lot, a building, a staircase etc., a person to be monitored, etc. act. Even so-called continuous events such as the continuous coloring of a surface or the event-dependent coloring of such a line, surface etc. in a video image are considered as events. A reference date can be an alphanumeric message that is superimposed during playback of the video data, that is overlaid with the video data. Of course, an audible and / or graphical reference date are conceivable. For example, a line, an area etc. in a specific color could be displayed as a graphical reference for the video data. Also diagrams and the fading in of a certain geometry in the evaluated video data are conceivable according to the invention. Optionally for transmitting the video data via the analogue data network, the video data can also be transmitted via a packet-switched communications network such as, for example, an IP communications network, a mobile communications network, etc. This can be done parallel to the analog transmission of the video data including the at least one reference date. The at least partial evaluation of the video data is carried out according to the invention by a processing unit such as a processor unit (DSP), a host processor etc. in the surveillance camera. After the evaluation, the digital video data with the at least one reference date is converted into analog signals and transmitted to the network unit via an analogue data network. It is also conceivable that the evaluated video data are encoded and / or buffered in a memory unit of the surveillance camera. Before the digital / analog conversion, the stored encoded video data is then decoded again by means of a decoding unit. As a network unit, an image output device, a monitor, a television, a video projector, a mobile image output device, a video data processing device (computer, server, etc.), a network storage device, etc. may be used. The evaluation of the digitally recorded video data can be performed automatically by the camera depending on events, lighting conditions, environmental influences, etc. In this case, a false color display for highlighting certain features, a superimposition of stored video data, an increase in contrast of the video data, etc., can be carried out for the evaluation. Of course, it is also conceivable that the evaluation of the digitally recorded video data is triggered due to manually entered commands or additional information. Such commands or additional information can be transmitted from a computer, a server, a database, etc. via, for example, a packet-switched communication network to the surveillance camera.

A significant advantage of the invention is that a digital surveillance camera, which has a possibility for at least partially evaluating digitally recorded video data, can be integrated into existing analog monitoring systems. Thus, analog monitoring systems can be easily, efficiently and cost-effectively adapted to changing security requirements.

Figur 1

eine Architektur einer erfindungsgemässen Überwa-chungskamera,

Figur 2

ein Schema und mögliche Integration der erfindungs-gemässen Überwachungskamera in bestehende Überwa-chungssysteme,

Figur 3

ein Beispiel für mit Hinweisdaten überlagerte Vi-deodaten,

Figur 4

eine erfindungsgemässe Überwachungskamera, die über ein analoges Datennetz mit einem Monitor verbunden ist,

Figur 5

ein Beispiel für ein erfindungsgemässes Videoüber-wachungssystem.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in a figure. Show

FIG. 1

an architecture of a surveillance camera according to the invention,

FIG. 2

a diagram and possible integration of the surveillance camera according to the invention into existing monitoring systems,

FIG. 3

an example of video data superimposed with reference data,

FIG. 4

a surveillance camera according to the invention, which is connected to a monitor via an analogue data network,

FIG. 5

an example of a video surveillance system according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the architecture of a surveillance camera SC according to the invention. The surveillance camera SC according to the invention consists of a combination of a digital surveillance camera SC, an image processing / video evaluation unit or processing unit VE and with digital as well as analog / composite video output. Digitally recorded video data are at least partially evaluated by the processing unit VE with regard to an event to be detected. In the case of a positive evaluation result, ie the detection of an event, at least one reference date is added to the video data. The video data and the at least one reference data are converted by a digital / analog converter D / A into analog signals and transmitted via an analog data network by means of a transmitting unit to a network unit ANVE, M such as a monitor M. Optionally, the evaluated video data can be forwarded via a packet-switching communications network to a network unit NVE, NSPE, M of the packet-switching communications network. Such network entity may be computer NVE, server NVE, storage device NSPE or other network processing units NVE. Here, for example, the video data could be evaluated more forcefully or by other means. By using a processing unit VE, it is now possible to evaluate digitally recorded video data and to represent events in analog image output devices M by means of the insertion of alphanumeric text or acoustic signals. Existing analog surveillance systems (CCTV) can be adapted to the increasing security requirements by using the surveillance camera SC according to the invention. In this case, only those surveillance cameras SC must be exchanged selectively, in which a corresponding image processing / video evaluation is desired. Apart from the surveillance camera SC and possibly the connected Network unit M, no further intervention in the existing monitoring system is necessary.
The processing unit VE of the surveillance camera SC according to the invention can execute various image processing algorithms or evaluation methodologies. Of course, it is also conceivable that the algorithms required for the evaluation can be downloaded via, for example, the packet-switching communication network. This simplifies the maintenance and the updating of the surveillance camera according to the invention. For example, sabotage detection or manipulation detection can detect that the surveillance camera SC has been twisted, covered, darkened, etc. A corresponding warning message or a note date can then be superimposed on the image superimposed on the recorded image (see FIG. 3 ). The analog video data is transmitted and displayed via the existing monitoring system by means of a transmission unit SE. By displaying the notice date, a viewer can take appropriate action. It is also conceivable for surveillance camera SC according to the invention to process the recorded video data as a function of events to be detected, light conditions or other environmental influences (eg by highlighting false colors to highlight certain features, overlaying stored images, increasing contrast, etc.). This video data processing can be done without additional external control. However, it is also conceivable that additional information or commands are transmitted to the camera via one of the connections, eg Ethernet (packet-switching communication network).

FIG. 2 shows the integration of the inventive surveillance camera SC in existing monitoring systems. The surveillance camera SC with a known from the prior art CCD module (image pickup unit) for recording digital Video data features as in FIG. 1 already shown via a processing unit VE for at least partially evaluating the digitally recorded video data. The surveillance camera according to the invention can now transmit the at least partially evaluated video data and possibly the at least one reference date either via a digital communication network such as a packet-switched communication network to network units of the packet-switched communication network or via an analog data network to a network unit of an analog data network. Network units NVE (computers, servers, etc.), network storage units NSPE, image output devices M, etc. can be used as network units of a packet-switching communications network. As network units of an analog data network, analog network processing units ANVE, image output devices M, etc. can be used. Optionally, the evaluated video data can be encoded as required in an encoding unit EE and / or buffered in a memory unit SPE and / or decoded in a decoding unit before being transmitted.

FIG. 3 shows an example of hint data superimposed video data. You can see an image output device M with a superimposed image or superimposed video data. The image is superimposed with the message "alarm" as a reference date, so that an observing person can take appropriate measures or verify any critical situation. The note date can be any alphanumeric message. Of course, it is also conceivable that the reference date is an acoustic message or a combination of alphanumeric and acoustic message. An acoustic message may be an announcement, a warning tone, an acoustic tone sequence or the like. So could In the above example, a warning sound or an announcement "alarm" are also issued.

FIG. 4 shows a surveillance camera according to the invention SC as shown in FIG. 1 is described, which is connected via an analog or digital data network with a monitor M.

FIG. 5 shows a video surveillance system according to the invention with several inventive surveillance cameras SC, which are connected via an analog data network to an analog network processing unit ANVE. The analog network processing unit ANVE may, for example, store, process, evaluate, etc. the received video data. Image output devices M, such as monitors, are connected to the analog network processing unit ANVE, for example an analog switching unit, so that video data is displayed can.

Claims (17)

1. Method for notifying a network unit connected via a data network to a digital surveillance camera (SC) monitoring an area about an event to be detected by said surveillance camera (SC), with the video data recorded by the at least one surveillance camera (SC) being evaluated at least partly in respect of an event to be detected,
   characterised in that
   the data network connecting the digital surveillance camera (SC) and the network unit (ANVE, M) is an analogue data network,
   for a positive outcome of the evaluation at least one notification data item relating to the detectable event is inserted by the surveillance camera (SC) into the digital video data and
   the digital video data overlaid with at least one item of notification data is converted in the surveillance camera (SC) into analogue signals and transmitted over the analogue data network to the network unit (ANVE, M).
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that,
   the at least partly evaluated video data is also transmitted over a packet-switched communication network in parallel to its transmission over an analogue data network.
3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that,
   an IP communication network and/or a mobile communication network are used as the packet-switching telecommunication network.
4. Method according to one of the previous claims,
   characterised in that,
   a movement in the monitored area, an ongoing event, a fire, the generation of smoke, tampering with the surveillance camera, stationary motor vehicles, moving motor vehicles, an object to be monitored and/or a person to be monitored are viewed as an event to be detected.
5. Method according to one of the previous claims,
   characterised in that,
   the at least part evaluation of video data is undertaken by a processing unit (VE) in the surveillance camera (SC).
6. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that,
   a digital signal processor (DSP) and/or a host processor are used as the processing unit (VE).
7. Method according to claim 5, characterised in that,
   the at least part evaluation occurs before the conversion of the digitally recorded video signals into analogue video signals.
8. Method according to one of the previous claims,
   characterised in that
   an alphanumeric, a graphical and/or an acoustic message are used as the notification data item.
9. Method according to claim 8,
   characterised in that
   the at least one item of notification data is overlaid onto the video signals during reproduction of the video signals.
10. Method according to one of the previous claims,
    characterised in that
    the at least partly evaluated video data is buffered in a memory unit (SPE) of the surveillance camera (SC).
11. Method according to claim 10,
    characterised in that
    the video data is encoded prior to buffering.
12. Method according to one of the previous claims,
    characterised in that
    an image display unit (M), a monitor (M), a television set, a mobile image display unit, a video projector, a video data processing unit (NVE, ANVE) and/or a network storage unit (NSPE, ANVE) is used as the network unit (ANVE, M, NSPE, NVE).
13. Method according to one of the previous claims,
    characterised in that
    the at least part evaluation of the video data is undertaken as a result of events to be detected, light conditions and/or environmental influences.
14. Method according to one of the previous claims,
    characterised in that
    a display in false colours, an overlaying of the stored video data and/or a contrast increase of the video data is undertaken for the evaluation.
15. A facility in a digital surveillance camera (SC) monitoring an area for notifying an event to be detected to a network unit (ANVE, M) connected via an analogue data network,

    - with a charge-coupled device (CCD) for recording digital video data,

    - with a digital signal processor (DSP) for at least partly evaluating the digital video data in respect of an event to be detected and, if the outcome of the evaluation is positive, for inserting at least one item of notification data into the video data relating to the detectable event,

    - with a digital/analogue converter (D/A) for converting digital video data into analogue signals, and

    - with a transmitter unit (SE) for transmission to the network unit (ANVE, M) over the analogue data network of the video data converted into analogue signals together with the at least one item of notification data.
16. Device according to claim 15,
    characterised in that
    a memory unit (SPE) is provided for buffering the at least partly evaluated video data.
17. Device according to claim 15 and 16,
    characterised in that
    an image display unit (M), a monitor (M), a television set, a mobile image display unit, a video data processing unit (NVE, ANVE), a video projector and/or a network storage unit (NSPE, ANVE) are provided as the network unit.

Images