JPH11308570A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide an excellent image recording apparatus capable of optimal recording according to the importance of an alarm. SOLUTION: A compressed data temporary storage means, a data transfer means for transferring image data from the compressed data temporary storage means to a disk recording apparatus, a disk recording apparatus, and a control for controlling a recording operation are provided in the image recording apparatus. Means 17 and a recording trigger input unit 18 for giving recording timing to the control means. The control means changes the number of frames of the still image to be recorded according to the importance of the alarm in order to change the timing of recording in response to each recording trigger in response to a plurality of recording trigger inputs, so that the limited disk capacity can be obtained. , Can record many events.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus used for a surveillance system and the like, and more particularly to an image recording apparatus using a disk recording medium as an external recording medium and connected to a surveillance camera installed in a store or the like. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there have been many cases where a monitoring system is introduced for security in stores, financial institutions, and the like. An image recording device is connected to this monitoring system, and records images for a long time. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional image recording apparatus used by being connected to such a monitoring system. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 denotes a VTR (video tape recorder), 2 denotes an alarm input unit that generates a recording trigger when an emergency occurs, and 3 denotes a camera that performs imaging. The operation of the image recording apparatus configured as described above will be described below. First, the VTR has a normal recording motor (recording rate)
Recording with. If there is an alarm input, the recording is switched to the recording rate and recording length for the alarm. As described above, in the conventional image recording apparatus of the VTR system, when an alarm is input, recording can be performed by changing recording conditions.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional image recording apparatus, only one system is provided for alarm input and only one type of setting is provided. There was a problem that only recording was possible.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an excellent image recording apparatus capable of optimal recording in accordance with the importance of an alarm.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a compressed data temporary storage means for temporarily storing image data in an image recording apparatus for storing image data by performing a compression process or the like. Data transfer means for reading image data from the compressed data temporary storage means and transferring the image data to a disk recording apparatus, a disk recording apparatus for recording and reproducing image data, control means for controlling image recording and reproduction operations, and control means A recording trigger input section for giving recording timing to the recording means, wherein the control means changes the content of the data to be recorded according to the setting contents, and receives a plurality of recording trigger inputs to make the recording timing correspond to each recording trigger. The gist of the invention is that it is changed.

According to the present invention, the number of still images to be recorded (the number of frames) or the recording time is changed depending on the importance of an alarm, that is, the importance of monitoring, and the disk capacity is limited. Among them, many events (the occurrence of a recording trigger) can be recorded. In addition, depending on the alarm, the camera can be switched to change the place to be viewed.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the first aspect of the present invention, an image input device for inputting an image signal to an image recording apparatus, and an A / A converter for converting the input image signal from an analog signal to a digital signal. D conversion means, data compression means for compressing the digitized image data, compressed data temporary storage means for temporarily storing the compressed image data, and disk for reading the image data from the compressed data temporary storage means. Data transfer means for transferring to a recording device, a disk recording device for recording and reproducing image data received from the data transfer means, control means for controlling the operation of each of the functional units, and recording for giving a timing of recording to the control means And a trigger input unit, wherein the control means changes the content of the data to be recorded according to the set content, and controls a plurality of recording triggers. The timing of recording by receiving an input varying in correspondence with each recording trigger, has the effect of changing the number of still image frames by recording trigger.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the first aspect, recording is performed before a recording trigger occurs, and a method of selecting a video input is changed before and after the recording trigger occurs. This has the effect of changing the number of still image frames by a recording trigger.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the first aspect, there is provided means for presetting the number of still images to be recorded, and the number of recorded images is changed according to the type of recording trigger. This has the effect of recording many events, that is, the occurrence of a recording trigger, within a limited disk capacity.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the first aspect, there is provided means for presetting a time for recording a moving image, and the recording time is changed according to a type of a recording trigger. This has the effect of recording many moving image events, that is, the occurrence of recording triggers, within a limited disk capacity.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the first aspect, a data management area of a disk medium for recording image data is arranged at the center of the disk. This has the effect of shortening the moving time of the recording head in such operations.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the disk management area arranged in the center of the disk is logically defined from the outside by the logical area of the data recording area of the disk. It is provided with a means for converting the data management information so that it is arranged at the start position, and has the effect that the user can search the data management information without being conscious of the location of the disk management area.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the fifth or sixth aspect, a multi-valued bitmap for managing a use state of a disk medium is used as disk use area management information. It is provided on a disk, and has the effect that the usage status of the disk recording medium can be easily determined.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the seventh aspect, different values are assigned to adjacent blocks used for different files in a multivalued bitmap. This has the effect that the usage status of the disk recording medium can be easily determined, and the required continuous empty blocks can be easily created by operations such as file deletion or movement.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the seventh or eighth aspect, one of the multivalued values of the bitmap is assigned to a defective block. It is possible to easily create a required continuous empty block by an operation such as deletion or movement of a file.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a monitoring system in which an image recording apparatus according to the present invention is incorporated. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a video input / output means for receiving a video and outputting a reproduced image;
Reference numeral 2 denotes audio input / output means for inputting audio and output of reproduced audio. 13 denotes compression processing of video data input to the video input / output means 11 and expansion processing for reproduced image data. Video data compression / expansion means for applying 14
Is a compressed data temporary storage unit for temporarily storing compressed image data and audio data (hereinafter referred to as image / audio data), and 15 is a disk recording unit for storing the image / audio data read from the compressed data temporary storage unit 14 Data transfer means for transferring the data to the apparatus; 16 a disk recording device for recording and reproducing the image and sound data received from the data transfer means 15; 17 control means for controlling the operation of each functional unit; This is a recording trigger input unit for giving a recording timing.

The image input / output means 11 has an A / D conversion function for converting an input image signal from an analog signal to a digital signal, and a D / A conversion function for converting reproduced image data from a digital signal to an analog signal. doing. Also,
The audio input / output means 11 has an A / D conversion function of converting an input audio signal from an analog signal to a digital signal, and a D / A conversion function of converting a reproduced audio signal from a digital signal to an analog signal. ing.

The data transfer means has a disk interface function. As the disk recording device 16, a recording device that drives a large-capacity storage medium such as a DVD-RAM drive is used. The control means 17 controls the operation of the entire apparatus by receiving signals from the respective functional units and issuing commands to these functional units in accordance with the respective operations and operations. The control means 17 is a CPU
An operation control function unit for performing various control operations such as system control, drive control, and LSI control is stored in the compressed data temporary storage unit 14 and the disk recording device 16. And a memory control function unit for controlling the data writing and reading operations of the compressed data temporary storage unit 14.

A data transfer means 15 having an interface function is connected to the memory controller 32.
A control signal for data transfer is transmitted / received to / from the data transfer means 15, and data is copied and moved between the disk recording device 16 and the compressed data temporary storage means 14 via the disk interface. . An operation control function unit of the control unit 17 controls an imaging operation and the like in the video input / output unit 11. The disk recording device 16 has a large-capacity storage medium D as an external storage medium.
A VD-RAM (rewritable DVD (digital video disk)) or HDD (hard disk driver) is set, and data is recorded and reproduced.

Next, the monitoring operation and the data recording operation on the disk recording medium in the monitoring system of the above embodiment will be described. In a normal monitoring operation, images captured by a plurality of imaging cameras installed at important points such as a store are input. Therefore, a plurality of image signals such as 1 channel, 2 channels,..., N channels, or A channel, B channel are input to the video input / output unit 11. On the other hand, the recording trigger input unit 1
8, one channel corresponding to the image signal of each of the above channels;
A plurality of recording triggers are input, such as two channels,..., N channels, or A channel, B channel. Here, for simplicity of description, it is assumed that the number of imaging cameras is two and the number of channels is A channel and B channel. It is assumed that the imaging camera corresponding to the channel A monitors the entrance and exit of a person at the entrance of the store, while the imaging camera corresponding to the channel B monitors the response and movement of the person at the cashier counter of the store.

FIG. 2 shows a recording pattern in a normal monitoring operation in a monitoring system having such a configuration. In this case, according to the control operation of the control means 17, one A-channel image (one frame), the next B-channel image is one frame, and then the A-channel image is one frame, and so on. The image signals captured by the respective imaging cameras are captured at predetermined time intervals while alternately switching the channels as described above. This image signal is compressed by the image data compression / expansion means 13 and stored in the compressed data temporary storage means 14 together with the audio signal taken in at the same time. Then, the image / audio data stored in the compressed data temporary storage means 14 is transferred to the disk recording device via the data transfer means 15 by the control operation of the control means 17, and is recorded on the disk recording medium.

Next, an alarm operation (emergency operation) in the monitoring system of the present embodiment will be described. The alarm is issued when an emergency occurs due to sensors attached to various parts of the store, and a recording trigger of channel B is input to the control means 17 by the alarm 1;
Further, a recording trigger of channel A is input to the control means 17 by the alarm 2. FIG. 3 shows a recording pattern at the time of the alarm operation. In FIG. 3, FIG. 3A shows a recording pattern set for alarm 1 and FIG. 3B shows a recording pattern set for alarm 2.

Referring to the case of FIG. 3A, in this case, as a continuation from the normal state, the control unit 17 controls the operation so that the A-channel image is one frame, and then the B-channel image is one frame. .., And the image of the A channel is one frame,... In this state, assuming that a change in some situation occurs and the alarm 1 is issued, the recording trigger 21 of the channel B is input from the recording trigger input unit 18 to the control unit 17.
As a result, the control means 17 sets the A channel up to that time,
After switching from the B channel alternate image signal capturing operation to the B channel only capturing operation, an image signal of only the B channel is input from the video input / output means 11 thereafter. The captured B-channel image signal is subjected to compression processing by the image data compression / decompression means 13, and is simultaneously stored in the compressed data temporary storage means 14 together with the captured audio signal. Then, the image / audio data stored in the compressed data temporary storage means 14 is transferred to the disk recording device via the data transfer means 15 by the control operation of the control means 17, and is recorded on the disk recording medium.

Referring to the case of FIG. 3B, in this case, the first part is continued from the normal state as in the case of FIG.
An imaging and recording operation is performed in which a channel image is one frame, a B channel image is one frame, and then a channel A image is one frame, and so on. In this state, assuming that a change in a situation other than the above occurs and the alarm 2 is generated, the recording trigger 22 of the channel A is transmitted from the recording trigger input unit 18 to the control unit 17.
Is input to As a result, the control means 17 switches from the operation of alternately capturing the image signals of the A channel and the B channel to the operation of capturing only the A channel. Thereafter, the image signal of only the A channel is input from the video input / output means 11. . The fetched A-channel image signal is subjected to compression processing by the image data compression / decompression means 13, and simultaneously with the fetched audio signal, the compressed data temporary storage means 14
Is stored in

The compressed data temporary storage means 14
Are transferred to the disk recording device via the data transfer unit 15 by the control operation of the control unit 17 and recorded on the disk recording medium. Above B
The time interval for recording a still image varies between the capture of only the channel and the capture of only the A channel, depending on the importance of the alarm, that is, the importance of monitoring. For example, when it is recognized that the alarm 1 is more important than the alarm 2, the recording interval at the time of capturing the channel B caused by the alarm 1 is longer than the recording interval at the time of capturing the channel A caused by the alarm 2. It is set to be short and to record the movement of a person in detail by frequently taking an image. Further, in this case,
The recording time (total time) when capturing channel B is set to be longer than the recording time when capturing channel A, and a setting is made to record the whole and complete movement of the person in detail by imaging for a long time. Can also.

From another viewpoint, the number of frames of still images to be recorded is changed depending on the importance of the alarm, that is, the importance of monitoring, between the capture of only the A channel and the capture of only the B channel. There are ways. For example, when it is recognized that the alarm 1 is more important than the alarm 2, the number of frames of the still image at the time of capturing the channel B caused by the alarm 1 is reduced by the number of frames at the time of capturing the channel A caused by the alarm 2. Set to be larger than the number of frames in the image. FIG. 4 shows recording at alarm 1 (B channel) and recording at alarm 2 (A
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example in which the setting of the number of recording frames is different between the recording frame number and the recording channel number. As shown in this figure,
Assuming that the set number of recording frames is 20 frames,
In the B channel recording, 15 frames from the fourth frame to the 18th frame are imaged, whereas in the A channel recording, only 3 frames from the 5th frame to the 7th frame are imaged. It has been set, and the imaging mode is changed according to the importance of monitoring or the importance of events.

From another viewpoint, the recording mode for each recording trigger can be changed. For example, depending on the alarm, the camera can be switched to change the place to be viewed.

Next, data management of a recording medium for recording image / audio data will be described. Image and audio data
By the control operation of the control means 17, the data is transferred from the compressed data temporary storage means 14 to the disk recording device via the data transfer means 15 and recorded on the disk recording medium. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a data recording state of such a disk recording medium. In this figure, reference numeral 31 is a disk recording medium, 32 is a data writing position in the disk recording medium, 33 is a data management area in which data management information is written, 34 is the outermost peripheral edge of the disk recording medium 31 where data is recorded, 35 Is the innermost edge where data on the disk recording medium 31 is recorded. Reference numeral 36 denotes a moving distance of the recording head during a seek operation, and reference numeral 37 denotes a data recording area used for storing a file or the like.

As is apparent from FIG. 6, the data management area 33 of the disk for recording image / audio data has an outermost peripheral edge 34 of the disk recording medium 31 where data is recorded and an innermost peripheral edge 35 where data is recorded. And an intermediate position between them. Preferably, this data management area 33 is
It is preferable to be disposed at a position substantially at the center of the disk between the outermost peripheral edge 34 and the innermost peripheral edge 35. As described above, since the data management area 33 is arranged at a substantially central position of the disk, the recording head is used to search for data management information on the image / audio data written at the data writing position 32 in FIG. In the case of seeking, the moving distance 36 from the data writing position 32 to the data management area 33 is reduced, and the moving time is averaged when the data management area 33 is arranged at the innermost circumference or the outermost circumference of the disk ( On average, it is only half that of the case of a normal disk medium).

The disk recording device has means for converting the data management area 33 arranged at the center of the disk from the outside as if it were arranged at address 0.
The operator does not recognize that the data management area 33 exists in the center of the disk medium 31, that is, does not recognize the mechanical center position (address) even when the recording capacity of the disk increases. It has the feature that it can easily respond to system changes and expansions.

Further, in the disk medium 31, a multi-valued bitmap for managing the use state (empty area) of the disk medium 31 is provided on the disk. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a bitmap for managing the use status of the disk medium 31 used in the present invention.
In this bit map 38, information that was conventionally 1 bit is changed to a plurality of bits, the same value is assigned to blocks used for the same file division, and blocks used for different files are multi-valued. Different values are assigned in the bitmap. This ensures that adjacent blocks are used in the same file,
Or you can tell if it is used for a different file.

In FIG. 6, the left end of the bit map 38
(Composed of a plurality of bits) 38a indicates the first block of the data recording area, and the bit 38b on the right thereof indicates the second block of the data recording area, and so on. As information of each bit, 0: unused 1: used for file 1: 2: used for file 2: 3: defective area (use prohibited), the leftmost bit 38a
Indicates that the corresponding first block is unused. Also, since "3" is written in the second bit 38b, it indicates that the corresponding second block is a defective area.

Since the management information as described above is written in the bit map 38 for managing the usage status of the disk medium 31 in this manner, it is possible to determine which block in the data recording area is used for which file. It is possible to easily recognize whether adjacent blocks are used in the same file or different files. Thus, necessary continuous empty blocks can be easily created by an operation such as file deletion or movement.

Further, in the prior art, the reliability of the defective block replaced by the replacement process provided by the recording apparatus is ensured. However, the temporal continuity of the data is deteriorated because the seek operation frequently occurs. , There was a case that collapsed. However, according to the method of the present invention, the user can easily know the defective block, and by arranging continuous file data immediately after the defective block, it is possible to minimize the disruption in temporal continuity. Becomes

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An image recording device that stores image data by performing compression processing or the like,
Compressed data temporary storage means for temporarily storing image data, data transfer means for reading image data from the compressed data temporary storage means and transferring the image data to a disk recording apparatus, a disk recording apparatus for recording and reproducing image data, Control means for controlling the recording and playback operations of the recording device, and a recording trigger input unit for giving a timing of recording to the control means. In response to this, the recording timing is changed in accordance with each recording trigger. It is possible to record many events, i.e. the occurrence of a recording trigger, within the available disk space. Kill. In addition, depending on the alarm, the camera can be switched to change the place to be viewed.

In the disk recording device, since the data management area of the disk medium for recording image data is located at the center of the disk, data management information on the image / audio data written at the data writing position is searched. Therefore, when the recording head seeks, the moving distance from the data writing position to the data management area is reduced, the moving time can be reduced, and high-speed processing can be realized.

Further, a multi-valued bitmap for managing the use state of the disk medium is provided on the disk, and adjacent blocks used for different files are assigned different values in the multi-valued bitmap. Since one of the multivalued values of the bitmap is assigned to the defective block, it is possible to recognize which block in the data recording area is used for which file, and furthermore, Whether adjacent blocks are used in the same file or different files can be easily recognized. As a result, the usage status of the disk recording medium can be easily determined, and necessary continuous empty blocks can be easily created by operations such as deleting or moving a file. Also, since the user can easily know the defective block from the bitmap,
By arranging continuous file data immediately after a defective block, it is possible to obtain an effect that temporal continuity can be minimized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a monitoring system in which an image recording apparatus according to the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a recording pattern in a normal monitoring operation in the monitoring system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a recording pattern set for an alarm 1 in an alarm operation of the monitoring system in the embodiment. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a recording pattern for an alarm 2 in an alarm operation of the monitoring system in the embodiment. Diagram showing the set recording pattern

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an example in which the setting of the number of recording frames is different between the recording with alarm 1 and the recording with alarm 2 in the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a data recording state of a disk recording medium in the monitoring system of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a bitmap for managing the usage status of a disk medium used in the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of an image recording apparatus used by being connected to a conventional monitoring system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 11 video input / output power means 12 audio input / output power means 13 video data compression / expansion means 14 compressed data temporary storage means 15 data transfer means 16 disk recording device 17 control means 18 recording trigger input section 21, 22 recording trigger 31 data recording area Outermost edge 35 Data recording area Innermost edge 36 Moving distance of recording head 37 Data recording area 38 Bitmap

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An image input means for inputting an image signal, an A / D conversion means for converting the input image signal from an analog signal to a digital signal, and a data compression means for compressing digitized image data. A compressed data temporary storage unit for temporarily recording the compressed image data, a data transfer unit for reading out the image data from the compressed data temporary storage unit and transferring the read image data to the disk recording device, and an image data received from the data transfer unit. A disk recording device for recording and reproducing, control means for controlling the operation of each of the functional units, and a recording trigger input unit for giving a timing of recording to the control means, wherein the control means comprises: To change the recording timing in response to each recording trigger The image recording apparatus according to claim and. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording is executed before the occurrence of the recording trigger, and a method of selecting a video input is changed before and after the occurrence of the recording trigger. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for presetting the number of still images to be recorded, wherein the number of recorded images is changed according to the type of recording trigger. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for presetting a time for recording a moving image, wherein the recording time is changed according to a type of a recording trigger. 5. A disk medium for recording image data,
2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data management area is arranged at a center of the disk. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for converting the disk management area arranged in the center of the disk from outside to a logical start position of a data recording area of the disk. Item 6. The image recording device according to Item 5. 7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a multi-valued bitmap for managing the use state of the disk medium is provided on the disk as disk use area management information. 8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein adjacent blocks used for different files are assigned different values in a multi-valued bitmap. 9. The image recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein one of the multivalued values of the bitmap is assigned to a defective block (use prohibited area).