JP2021013161A - Camera and camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a camera and a camera system, not requiring much labor to install and having no restrictions on the installation location.SOLUTION: A monitoring camera system includes one monitoring camera 7a and another monitoring cameras 7b. Each of other monitoring cameras includes a camera module and a wireless LAN communication part that wirelessly sends an image generated by the camera module to the one monitoring camera. The one monitoring camera includes a camera module, a WAN communication part that sends an image generated by the camera module, and a wireless LAN communication part that receives an image from each of other monitoring cameras. The WAN communication part includes a SIM card that stores communication information granted from a communication company, and connects to a mobile phone communication network based on the communication information read out from the SIM card, and sends the generated image and the received image via the mobile phone communication network.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to cameras and camera systems.

A monitoring system that monitors stores and warehouses for the purpose of crime prevention is known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a surveillance system in which a plurality of surveillance cameras and a surveillance server are communicably connected. The plurality of surveillance cameras transmit the video information captured and generated to the surveillance server, and the surveillance server stores the received video information in the storage device. This monitoring server also has a display, and displays the video information on the display while reading the video information from the storage device.

In the surveillance system of the above patent document, each surveillance camera and surveillance server has a SIM card. Each SIM card stores a key and an encryption algorithm for encrypting the video information to be transmitted and decrypting the received video information. As a result, the monitoring system improves the security of the video information transmitted and received. In addition, the security method can be changed by replacing the SIM card in which a new key or encryption algorithm is stored. As described above, the monitoring system of the patent document realizes the encryption method by simple maintenance such as replacement of the SIM card while improving the security of the transmitted and received video information.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-287858

The above monitoring system includes one router and another router connected to the network, multiple surveillance cameras are connected to one router, and a monitoring server is connected to the other router. ing. Therefore, the video information transmitted from each surveillance camera is relayed between one router and another router and sent to the surveillance server.

The patent document does not specify whether the communication method between one router and each surveillance camera is a wired system or a wireless system, but in the case of the wired system, a LAN cable is wired between the router and each surveillance camera. Depending on the time and effort and the wiring mode of the LAN cable, the installation position of the surveillance camera may be limited. On the other hand, in the case of the wireless system, it is necessary to install each surveillance camera in the wireless communication area centered on one router, and there is a possibility that the installation location of each surveillance camera may be limited depending on the installation location of one router. There is.

An object of the present invention is to provide a camera and a camera system that do not require time and effort for installation and that do not limit the installation location.

In order to achieve the above object, the camera of the present invention includes a camera module and a WAN communication unit for transmitting an image generated by the camera module, and the WAN communication unit is provided with communication information provided by a communication company. It is characterized in that it has a SIM for storing the above, connects to a mobile phone communication network based on the communication information read from the SIM, and transmits the image via the mobile phone communication network.

Further, the camera of the present invention includes a housing for accommodating the WAN communication unit, and the SIM is a card type and is inserted into the housing through an opening / closing opening provided in the housing so as to be openable / closable. It is characterized by that.

Further, the camera of the present invention is characterized by including a storage for storing an image generated by the camera module.

Further, the camera of the present invention is generated at the time of the connection failure or the communication failure when the connection failure with the mobile phone communication network or the communication failure of the mobile phone communication network itself occurs, and is stored in the storage. It is characterized in that the image is transmitted after recovery from a connection failure or a communication failure.

Further, the camera of the present invention is characterized in that the storage is a memory card, and the memory card is inserted into the housing through the opening / closing port.

Furthermore, the camera of the present invention is characterized by including a notification unit that notifies the malfunction when a malfunction is detected.

The camera system of the present invention includes one camera and another camera, and the other camera includes a camera module and a wireless LAN communication unit that wirelessly transmits an image generated by the camera module to the one camera. The one camera includes a camera module, a WAN communication unit that transmits an image generated by the camera module, and a wireless LAN communication unit that receives an image from the other camera. , Has a SIM that stores the communication information given by the communication company, connects to the communication network for mobile phones based on the communication information read from the SIM, and connects the image and the above via the communication network for mobile phones. It is characterized in that the received image is transmitted.

Further, the camera system of the present invention is characterized in that the WAN communication unit and the wireless LAN communication unit of the one camera are realized by a router module.

According to the camera and the camera system of the present invention, the installation is not troublesome and the installation location is not limited.

System configuration diagram of the surveillance camera system according to the embodiment of the present invention External view of the surveillance camera provided in the above surveillance camera system Hardware configuration diagram of the above surveillance camera Functional block diagram of the above surveillance camera

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking a surveillance camera system as an example.

As shown in FIG. 1, the surveillance camera system 1 for monitoring a store, a warehouse, or the like is a client-server type in which a personal computer 3 as a client terminal is provided so as to be able to communicate with a surveillance server 5 via the Internet N. It is a system. The user of the surveillance camera system 1 uses the personal computer 3 to access the surveillance server 5 and log in to download the video of the surveillance location from the surveillance server 5 and reproduce the video. The video provided from the surveillance server 5 in this way is generated based on the images captured by the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b of the surveillance camera system 1.

In this embodiment, in order to monitor a plurality of locations, surveillance cameras 7a and 7b are installed at each location. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, these plurality of surveillance cameras 7a and 7b include a camera board on which camera modules 9a and 9b are mounted, a main board on which CPUs 11a and 11b and memories 31a and 31b are mounted, and a wireless LAN router. It includes a network board on which a module 13 and a wireless LAN module 15 are mounted, a housing 17 on which a power supply board on which a power supply circuit is mounted, and a mounting component 19 for attaching the housing 17 to a building.

The camera module 9a includes an image sensor 21 represented by a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor, and an image processing processor 23 electrically connected to the image sensor 21. The image sensor 21 is a device that converts the light formed on the light receiving surface into an electric signal according to its intensity, and the light that has passed through the optical component (lens 25) arranged in front of the housing 17 is emitted. It is provided so as to form an image on the light receiving surface. The image sensor 21 outputs an electric signal converted at a predetermined frame rate to the image processing processor 23. The image processing processor 23 generates an image in a predetermined format from the electric signal input from the image sensor 21, and inputs the generated image to the CPU 11a. The camera module 9b has the same configuration as the camera module 9a, and the image generated by the camera module 9b is input to the CPU 11b.

The CPU 11a of the surveillance camera 7a loads the program stored in the first storage 27a into the main memory 29a and executes it. The program is a program that causes the CPU 11a to execute an acquisition process for acquiring an image from the camera module 9a and a storage process for temporarily storing the acquired image in the main memory 29a. Therefore, as shown in the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 11a that executes the program functions as an acquisition unit 33a for acquiring an image of a monitoring location and a storage processing unit 35a for storing the acquired image in a memory. The memory 29a functions as a first storage unit 37a for storing an image. The CPU 11b of the surveillance camera 7b is configured in the same manner as the CPU 11a of the surveillance camera 7a, and the CPU 11b functions as an acquisition unit 33b and a storage processing unit 35b. Further, the main memory 29b of the surveillance camera 7b functions as a first storage unit 37b.

The CPUs 11a and 11b that execute the above program execute the storage process and then perform the transmission process of transmitting the acquired image to the monitoring server 5. Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, one surveillance camera 7a (hereinafter, referred to as a master camera 7a) connected to the Internet N is compared with another surveillance camera 7b (hereinafter, a slave camera). 7b) is wirelessly connected so as to be communicable, and the slave camera 7b is connected to the Internet N via the master camera 7a. That is, the master camera 7a transmits the image generated by itself to the monitoring server 5, functions as an access point, and transmits the image received from each slave camera 7b to the monitoring server 5.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the master camera 7a includes a wireless LAN router module 13. The wireless LAN router module 13 wirelessly connects to a mobile phone communication network M used for data communication of a mobile phone represented by a smartphone in order to communicate with the monitoring server 5 via the Internet N. Here, a SIM card 39 is attached to the wireless LAN router module 13 in order to connect to the mobile phone communication network M. The SIM card 39 is a profile (contractor's profile) that is communication information given when a usage contract is made with a communication company Mc (MNO, MVNO, MVNE, etc.) that provides a communication network M for mobile phones. It is a card-type storage medium that stores identification numbers, APN setting information, etc.). After being activated, such a wireless LAN router module 13 receives a radio wave from the nearest wireless base station Mc and starts communication. When starting communication, the profile is read from the SIM card 39 and connected to the radio base station Mc. When the profile is authenticated by the communication company Mc via the radio base station Mc, the master camera 7a is connected to the Internet N, and communication with the monitoring server 5 can be started. As described above, the wireless LAN router module 13 of the master camera 7a functions as a WAN communication unit 41 that communicates with the monitoring server 5 via the Internet N as shown in FIG.

Further, the wireless LAN router module 13 of the master camera 7a forms a wireless LAN in a predetermined area centered on the installation position of the master camera 7a. As shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of slave camera cameras 7b installed in the communication area of the wireless LAN include the wireless LAN module 15. The wireless LAN module 15 is electrically connected to the CPU 11b so as to be able to communicate with the wireless LAN router module 13 of the master camera 7a so as to be able to communicate wirelessly. As described above, the wireless LAN router module 13 of the master camera 7a and the wireless LAN module 15 of the slave camera 7b function as wireless LAN communication units 43a and 43b as shown in FIG.

Further, in the master camera 7a, as shown in FIG. 3, a LAN module 57 is interposed between the wireless LAN router module 13 and the CPU 11a. The LAN module 57 is electrically connected to the wireless LAN router module 13 and the CPU 11a so as to be able to communicate with each other, receives an image extracted from the main memory 29a by the CPU 11a, and transmits the image via the wireless LAN router module 13. It sends to the monitoring server 5. As described above, the LAN module 57 functions as the wired LAN communication unit 59 as shown in FIG.

Here, a global IP address is assigned to the wireless LAN router module 13 of the master camera 7a, and communication with the monitoring server 5 is established using the global IP address. Further, a private IP address and a port for communicating with the monitoring server 5 are preset in the master camera 7a and each slave camera 7b, and the wireless LAN router module 13 uses the port forwarding function to monitor the server. Communication with the master unit camera 7a and the slave unit camera 7b is performed.

The monitoring server 5 has a CPU and a memory (not shown), and the CPU of the monitoring server 5 receives images captured by the master camera 7a and the slave camera 7b, and responds to a request from the personal computer 3. The received image is transmitted to the personal computer 3.

As described above, the master camera 7a of the present embodiment includes the wireless LAN router module 13 (WAN communication unit 41) in which the SIM card 39 is mounted, and the wireless LAN router module 13 provides the wireless base station Mc. It is possible to communicate with. Therefore, the master camera 7a can be installed anywhere within the communication area of the radio base station Mc. Further, the slave camera 7b is installed in the wireless LAN communication area of the master camera 7a, and the slave camera 7b uses the wireless LAN module 15 (wireless LAN communication unit 43b) to transfer an image to the master camera 7a. And send. Therefore, the slave camera 7b can be installed anywhere within the wireless LAN communication area of the master camera 7a. Further, since the master camera 7a and the slave camera 7b of the present embodiment do not require wiring work, they can be easily relocated.

Although the surveillance camera system according to the present invention has been described above based on the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be implemented in the following embodiment, for example. ..

<Modification example>

(1) As shown in FIG. 3, each of the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b of the present embodiment may include second storages 45a and 45b electrically connected to the CPUs 11a and 11b. The second storages 45a and 45b have a larger storage area than the main memories 29a and 29b and the first storages 27a and 27b, and each time the CPUs 11a and 11b acquire images from the camera modules 9a and 9b. The image is also stored in the second storages 45a and 45b. In this way, the CPUs 11a and 11b of the master camera 7a and the slave camera 7b function as storage processing units 35a and 35b for storing the images acquired from the camera modules 9a and 9b in the second storages 45a and 45b, and the second storage. The 45a and 45b may function as second storage units 47a and 47b for storing images. Further, in the second storages 45a and 45b, in addition to the images acquired from the camera modules 9a and 9b, the date and time when the images were acquired may be stored in association with each other.

The images and acquisition dates and times stored in the second storages 45a and 45b as described above are transmitted to the monitoring server 5 in response to a request from the monitoring server 5. For example, the radio waves of the wireless LAN and the communication network M for mobile phones become unstable, which causes a failure in the connection with the communication network M for mobile phones, and the transmission and reception of images from the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b to the surveillance server 5 are normal. If this is not possible, image loss will occur in the monitoring server 5. When such an image loss occurs, the CPU (not shown) of the monitoring server 5 requests the target surveillance cameras 7a and 7b to transmit the missing image after the connection failure is recovered, and also, Send the date and time information when the loss occurred. The CPUs 11a and 11b of the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b that have received the request extract the images corresponding to the received date and time information from the second storages 45a and 45b and transmit them to the surveillance server 5. As a result, the monitoring server 5 can supplement the missing image. The transmission of such a missing image is similarly processed even when a communication failure of the mobile phone communication network M itself occurs.

Further, the personal computer 3 may transmit an image transmission request to the surveillance server 5, and the surveillance server 5 may transmit an image transmission request to the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b based on the transmission request. In this embodiment, for example, images for about one week are stored in the second storages 45a and 45b, and the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b transmit the images for about one week based on the request from the surveillance server 5. The process of transmitting the images stored in the second storages 45a and 45b to the monitoring server 5 is preferably executed at night. By executing the transmission process at night, the usage fee of the mobile phone communication network M can be reduced.

(2) The second storages 45a and 45b may be memory cards. The memory card is electrically connected to the CPUs 11a and 11b by being inserted into a connector mounted on the main board. Here, since the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b can be installed outdoors, it is preferable that the memory card is housed in the housing 17 of the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b. Further, an opening / closing opening 55 that can be opened / closed by a lid 53 is provided on the lower surface of the housing 17 of the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b so that the memory card can be attached / detached after the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b are installed, and the lid 53 is opened. In some cases, the main board is preferably arranged in the housing 17 so that the connector is exposed. The opening / closing port is not limited to the lower surface of the housing 17, and may be formed on the side surface of the housing 17.

(3) Further, the CPUs 11a and 11b of the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b function as a notification unit for notifying the surveillance server 5 of the malfunction that has occurred in the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b, and the CPU of the surveillance server 5 is the surveillance camera 7a, It may function as a transfer unit that transfers the notification received from 7b to the personal computer 3. The malfunction that occurs in the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b is typically a write error (memory processing error) for the second storages 45a and 45b, and the CPUs 11a and 11b write the second storages 45a and 45b. When executed, a part or all of the image group to be written cannot be written due to a malfunction (malfunction, etc.) of the second storages 45a and 45b. The CPU 11a and CPU 11b that have detected such a malfunction transmit an error code corresponding to the symptom of the malfunction to the monitoring server 5. At this time, the CPU 11a and the CPU 11b may transmit an error code in association with the individual number assigned to each of the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b. Further, the malfunction may be a failure of the camera module 9 or a communication failure between the master camera 7a and the master camera 7b.

When the surveillance server 5 receives a notification (error code) from the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b, the surveillance server 5 identifies the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b corresponding to the received notification. The surveillance cameras 7a and 7b are identified by the MAC address and private IP address assigned to the LAN module 57 and the wireless LAN module 15 of the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b, and the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b associated with the above individual numbers. Extract the individual information (installation location, installation time, product number of the surveillance camera) from the memory of the surveillance server. Further, the CPU of the monitoring server 5 transmits the individual information and the notification (error code) of the specified monitoring cameras 7a and 7b to the personal computer 3.

In this way, the malfunction of the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b is transmitted to the personal computer 3 via the surveillance server 5, so that the user can remotely grasp the malfunction of the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b. It will be possible. Therefore, conventionally, it is possible to save the trouble of checking each operating state while patrolling the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b.

In the above modification (3), the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b notify the surveillance server 5 when a malfunction is detected, but the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b are notified in response to a request from the surveillance server 5. It may be a notification of the operating state (presence or absence of malfunction) of.

(4) Like the memory card, the SIM card 39 is preferably housed in the housing 17 of the surveillance camera 7a. Further, the communication board is inside the housing 17 so that the connector of the SIM card 39 is exposed when the lid 53 provided on the lower surface of the surveillance camera 7 is opened so that the SIM card 39 can be attached and detached after the surveillance camera 7a is installed. It is preferably arranged in.

(5) The surveillance cameras 7a and 7b of the present embodiment may be provided with a light source 49 (FIG. 2). The light source 49 is arranged in the vicinity of an optical component such as a lens provided in the housing 17, and irradiates light in the imaging direction of the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b. Such a light source 49 is electrically connected in a controllable manner by the CPUs 11a and 11b of the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b. The CPUs 11a and 11b control the light source 49 to emit light when requesting an image from the camera modules 9a and 9b. As a result, a clear image is generated even in the dark.

(6) The surveillance camera 7 of the present embodiment may include a sensor 51 (hereinafter, referred to as a brightness sensor 51) that detects the brightness of the monitoring target (FIG. 2). The brightness sensor 51 is an element such as a phototransistor that receives natural light and converts the amount of the natural light into an electric signal, and is attached at a position that does not interfere with the light of the light source described above. The output of the brightness sensor 51 is converted into a digital signal by an analog-digital converter and input to the CPUs 11a and 11b. The CPUs 11a and 11b specify the brightness of the surroundings based on the digital signal, determine that the surroundings are dark when the brightness falls below a predetermined threshold value, and control the light source 49 described above. As a result, it is possible to control light emission such that the light source 49 emits light only at night. Although the brightness sensor 51 functions as a brightness detection unit that detects the ambient brightness, it is not limited to the phototransistor, and the ambient brightness is based on the brightness of the image generated by the camera module 9. May be specified.

(7) In the above embodiment, the camera modules 9a and 9b have been described as constantly performing image capture to generate an image, but the camera modules 9a and 9b capture images based on a predetermined shooting schedule. You can do it.

(8) In the above embodiment, the master camera is provided with the SIM card 39, but the SIM card 39 is not limited to the SIM card 39, and a UIM card or a USIM card may be used. Further, the SIM is not limited to the card type, and may be an e-SIM mounted on a network board in advance. That is, it may function as a communication information storage unit that stores communication information given when a contract is made with a communication company Mc.

(9) In the above embodiment, an infrastructure network in which a plurality of other surveillance cameras 7b are connected in parallel to one surveillance camera 7a is configured, but the radios of the plurality of other surveillance cameras 7b are configured. The LAN modules may be wirelessly connected to each other by a mesh wifi, an image may be transmitted between the other surveillance cameras 7b, and finally the image may be transmitted through one surveillance camera 7a.

(10) In the above embodiment, the present invention has been described by taking the surveillance camera system 1 as an example, but the present invention is not limited to the surveillance camera system 1, and is remotely controlled by using the Internet N such as a security camera system or a network camera system. It can be used for a system that can see the image of the ground.

(11) In the above embodiment, the LAN module 57 and the wireless LAN router module 13 are separately provided in one surveillance camera 7a, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the LAN module and the wireless LAN router module are single. It may be provided as a communication module of.

(12) The monitoring system of the above embodiment may include a time server. The time server is communicably connected to the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b via the Internet N, and transmits time information to the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b. Each time the CPUs 11a and 11b of the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b receive the time information from the time server, the images are stored in the second storages 45a and 45b in association with the time information. By providing the time server in this way and storing the image in association with the time information received from the time server, it is possible to provide accurate video information corresponding to the time.

(13) In the above-described embodiment and modification, the images generated by the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b are transmitted to the personal computer 3 via the surveillance server 5, but the transmission mode is not limited to this. By connecting the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b to the personal computer 3 in a peer-to-peer manner, images may be transmitted from the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b to the personal computer 3 without going through the surveillance server 5.

(14) The surveillance cameras 7a and 7b may further include a third storage for storing the images generated by the camera modules 9a and 9b. In such an embodiment, the CPUs 11a and 11b of the surveillance cameras 7a and 7b store the images acquired from the camera modules 9a and 9b in the second storages 45a and 45b and the third storage. In this embodiment, since the same image is stored in the second storages 45a and 45b and the third storage, the image is stored in the other storage even if one of the storages fails. As the second storages 45a and 45b and the third storage, a removable storage medium represented by an SD card is preferable.

The present invention can also be carried out in a mode in which various improvements, modifications, or modifications are made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Further, within the range in which the same action or effect is produced, any of the invention-specific matters may be replaced with another technique.

1 ... Surveillance camera system 7 ... Camera 7a ... One camera 7b ... Other camera 9 ... Camera module 39 ... SIM card 41 ... WAN communication unit 43 ... Wireless LAN communication unit M ... Mobile phone communication network Mc ... Communication company

Claims (8)

With the camera module
A WAN communication unit that transmits the image generated by the camera module,
With
The WAN communication unit has a SIM that stores communication information given by a communication company, connects to a mobile phone communication network based on the communication information read from the SIM, and via the mobile phone communication network. A camera, characterized in that the image is transmitted. A housing for accommodating the WAN communication unit is provided.
The camera according to claim 1, wherein the SIM is a card type and is inserted into the housing through an opening / closing opening provided in the housing so as to be openable / closable. The camera according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a storage for storing an image generated by the camera module. When a connection failure with the mobile phone communication network or a communication failure of the mobile phone communication network itself occurs, the image generated at the time of the connection failure or the communication failure and stored in the storage is transferred to the connection failure or The camera according to claim 3, wherein the camera is transmitted after recovery from a communication failure. The camera according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the storage is a memory card, and the memory card is inserted into the housing through the opening / closing port. The camera according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a notification unit for notifying the malfunction when a malfunction is detected. A camera system with one camera and another
The other camera includes a camera module and a wireless LAN communication unit that wirelessly transmits an image generated by the camera module to the one camera.
The one camera includes a camera module, a WAN communication unit that transmits an image generated by the camera module, and a wireless LAN communication unit that receives an image from the other camera. The WAN communication unit communicates. It has a SIM that stores the communication information given by the company, connects to the communication network for mobile phones based on the communication information read from the SIM, and receives the image and the reception via the communication network for mobile phones. A camera system characterized by transmitting images. The camera system according to claim 7, wherein the WAN communication unit and the wireless LAN communication unit of the one camera are realized by a router module.