Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to
monitoring systems, and more particularly to a monitoring
system which monitors information relating to buildings
from guarded data to administration data transmitted via a
public line, such as a telephone line, an integrated
services digital network (ISDN), and so on.
A conventional guarding system comprises a
plurality of sensors located in a monitored building, a
display in a control center of a guarding security company,
and a leased line which connects the monitored building
with the control center. According to the guarding system,
as shown in FIG.l, when an invader invades the monitored
building (in step 1), one of the sensors senses him/her (in
step 2) and alarms the control center (in step 3). In
response to the alarm, the display in the control center
displays the guarding charge area with a sensor, as
enclosed by circles in FIG.2A. Incidentally, by pushing a
desired function key, the display selectively displays one
of a guarding building sensor arrangement shown in FIG.2B
which shows in plan a layout of the building and an
arrangement of the sensors, a guarding building short cut
map shown in FIG.2C, or a guarding building registered data
shown in FIG.2D. The control center calls a beat car based
on the data from the display (in step 4), and directs it to
the scene by radio (in step 5). When the beat car arrives
at the building (in step 6) and a guard finds the invader
(in step 7), the guard calls "110" (in step 8) and goes on
monitoring the invader (in step 9). After the patrol car
arrives there, the guard cooperates with the police to
arrest the invader (in step 10).
On the other hand, the information network system
(INS) which has a plurality of sensors and camera means is
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1 known. According to the INS, since the camera means
transmits motion picture data of the monitored object to
the control center in response to the sensing of a sensor,
the monitored object can be identified.
However, the former conventional guarding system
has the following disadvantages:
1. A conventional sensor senses an animal or a
garbage bin crossing in front thereof, even if it is not an
invader. Therefore, even if the sensor senses something,
the control center cannot identify whether or not it is an
invader, so that the guard often rushes unnecessarily to
the scene.
2. Since it takes relatively long time to call
"110" after the sensor alarms the control center, a quick
calling of "110" cannot be achieved.
3. A leased line provided between the control
center and the monitored building is expensive.
On the other hand, the latter conventional
guarding system has also a disadvantage in that the leased
line is very expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the
present invention to provide a novel and useful monitoring
system in which the above disadvantages are eliminated.
Another object of the present invention is to
provide a relatively inexpensive monitoring system which
can quickly and definitely identify a monitored object.
The more specific object of the present invention
is to provide a monitoring system which comprises a sensor
which outputs a predetermined output signal when the sensor
senses a monitored object, camera means, coupled to the
sensor, for videoing the monitored object, sensed by the
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1 sensor, as a motion picture, data compressing means,
coupled to the camera means and a public line, for
converting first data representing the motion picture
picked by the camera means into second data which can be be
transmitted via the public line by means of compressing the
first data, processing means, coupled to the public line,
for converting the second data into the first data, and
display means, coupled to the processing means, for
displaying the second data converted by the processing
means as the motion picture, the monitored object being
monitored via the display means.
According to the present invention, since the
display means displays a motion picture of the monitored
object, the monitored object can be identified quickly and
definitely. In addition, since the public line is used, a
monitoring system less expensive than the monitoring system
using a leased line can be proposed.
Other objects and further features of the present
invention will become apparent from the detailed
description when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG.1 shows a flowchart for explaining an
operation of the conventional guarding system;
FIG.2 shows views for explaining functions of a
display used for the guarding system shown in FIG.1;
FIG.3 shows a principle block diagram of a
monitoring system according to the present invention;
FIG.4 shows a principle block diagram of a
monitoring system of the first embodiment according to the
present invention;
FIG.5 shows a principle block diagram of a
20~88~8
1 monitoring system of the second embodiment according to the
present invention;
FIG.6 shows a block diagram according to the
present invention which is used for the guarding system; and
FIG.7 shows a flowchart for explaining an
operation of the guarding system shown in FIG.6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The monitoring system according to the present
invention comprises, as shown in FIG.3, a sensor 11, camera
means 12, a MODEM 13, processing means 15, display means
16, a controlled equipment 17 and remote control means 18.
Incidentally, whether or not the controlled equipment 17
and remote control means 18 are provided is a matter of
choice. The sensor 11, the camera means 12, the MODEM 13
and the controlled equipment 17 are respectively provided
for the monitoring building. The processing means 15, the
display means 16 and the remote control means 18 are
respectively provided for the control center. The sensor
11 is connected to the camera means 12 and the MODEM 13,
respectively. The camera means 12 is connected to the
MODEM 13 and the controlled equipment 17, respectively.
The MODEM 13 is connected to the processing means 15 and
the remote control means 18 via the public line 14. The
processing means is connected to the display means 16.
The sensor 11 outputs an output signal to the
camera means 12 and the MODEM 13 when it senses a monitored
object.
The camera means 12 videos an motion picture of
the monitored object and generates an motion picture signal
in response to the output signal from the sensor 11.
The MODEM 13 compresses the motion picture signal
generated from the camera means 12 so that the motion
-
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1 picture signal can be transmitted via the public line 14.
The MODEM 13 compresses the signal by means of omitting the
duplicate transmission of same images, for example. The
MODEM 13 also compresses the output signal from the sensor
11 so that the signal can be transmitted via the public
line 14.
The public line 14 comprises a telephone line or
the ISDN. The public line 14 may be comprised of a metal
cable or an optical cable.
The processing means 15 restores the original
motion picture signal from the compressed motion picture
signal transmitted via the public line 14.
The display means 16 displays one of the function
screens shown in FIGs.2A to 2D based on the output signal
from the sensor 11 and displays a motion picture based on
the original motion picture signal. Incidentally, the
monitoring system may start after the output signal from
the sensor 11 is supplied to the display means 16.
The controlled equipment 17, provided in the
vicinity of the sensor 11 and the camera means 12,
comprises a door lock mechanism, speakers and lighting
mechanism of the monitored building.
The remote control means 18 remote-controls the
controlled equipment 17 in response to the sensing of the
sensor 11. For example, the remote control means 18 locks
all the doors in the monitored building by controlling the
door lock mechanism, threaten an invader with a voice
message by controlling the speakers, and turns on/off
predetermined lights by controlling the lighting mechanism.
Next, a description will now be given of the
operation of the monitoring system according to the present
invention. First, the sensor 11 senses the monitored
object and outputs the output signal to the camera means 12
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1 and the MODEM 13. The camera means 12 videos the motion
picture of the monitored object in response to the output
signal. After the motion picture is videoed, the camera
means 12 outputs the motion picture signal to the MODEM
13. The MODEM 13 transmits output signal from the sensor
11 and the motion picture signal from the camera means 12
to the processing means 15 via the public line 14 by means
of compressing these signals. The processing means 15
restores the compressed signal to the original signal and
outputs it to the display means 16. The display means 16
displays one of the function screens shown in FIGs.2A to
2D, and displays the motion picture of the monitored object
based on the motion picture signal. Thus, the operator of
the display means 16 can properly monitor the monitored
object in real time and, if necessary, remote-control the
controlled equipment 17 via the remote control means 18.
The monitoring system of the first embodiment
according to the present invention comprises, as shown in
FIG.4, a sensor 21, a video camera 22, a high speed MODEM
23, a branch exchange 25, the processing means 15 and the
display means 16. Incidentally, those elements which are
the same as corresponding elements in FIG.3 are designated
by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof
will be omitted. The sensor 21 corresponds to the sensor
11, the video camera 22 corresponds to the camera means 12,
and the high speed MODEM 23 corresponds to the MODEM 13,
respectively. The sensor 21 is connected to the video
camera 22 and the high speed MODEM 23, respectively. The
video camera 22 is connected to the high speed MODEM 23.
The sensor 21, the video camera 22 and the high speed MODEM
23 are respectively provided in the monitored building.
The branch exchange 25, processing means 15 and the display
means 16 are respectively provided in the control center.
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1 The high speed MODEM 23 and the branch exchange 25 are
connected with each other via the public line 24. The
branch exchange 25 is connected to the processing means 15,
and the processing means is connected to the display means
16.
The sensor 21 may be comprised of a heat sensor,
a magnetic sensor, an infrared sensor, and an ultrasonic
sensor which respectively sense a monitored object. The
sensor 21 outputs the output signal to the high speed MODEM
23 via a transmitter (not shown) when it senses the
monitored object. A plurality of sensors 21 are usually
provided for the monitored building.
The video camera 22 videos the monitored object
in response to the output signal from the sensor 21, and
outputs a video signal to the high speed MODEM 23. A
plurality of video cameras 22 may be provided so as to
correspond to the plurality of sensors 21, or one video
camera may be commonly used for the plurality of sensors
21. Usually, among the plurality of video cameras 22, the
video camera 22, which corresponds to the sensor 21 which
senses the monitored object last among the plurality of
sensors, outputs the video signal. However, video signals
may be output in response to output signals simultaneously
output from more than two sensors 21. In this case, the
video signals corresponding to the respective sensors are
output in parallel. Incidentally, the video camera 22 may
be a visible light television camera or an infrared camera.
The high speed MODEM 23 is based on the V.42 bis
specified by Comité Consultatif International Télégraphique
et Téléphonique (CCITT). The V.32 bis concerning a double
MODEMs with 9600 bps for performing a data transmission
connected to a public line in a voice band is known. The
42 bis which has an error correcting function during a data
- . - - . -
9 2048898
1 transmission so that an error in transmitted data caused bynoises generated at the public line is automatically
corrected. The V.42 bis is designed to speed up the data
transmission. The transmitted data includes an error
correcting function and a data compression function. The
data transmission speed of 38400 bps can be obtained on
through the public line by means of the data compression.
The high speed MODEM 23 converts the video signal from the
video camera 22 and the output signal from the sensor 21
into the digital data and transmits it to the branch
exchange 25 via the public line 24. The high speed MODEM
23 is commonly used for a plurality of sensors 21 and video
cameras 22. Therefore, the digital data corresponding to
the number of the video cameras 22 is sequentially and
time-divisionally output from the high speed MODEM 23.
In this embodiment, metal cables are used for the
public line 24. Incidentally, the public line 24 may
comprises a telephone line or an ISDN line. The public
line 24 has a basic charge of 2700 yen or 5400 yen while a
leased line has a basic charge of 79000 yen to several
million yen.
The processing means 15 comprises a high speed
MODEM 26, personal computers 26 and 29, Ethernet processor
boards 28 and 32, a key board 30, and a cathode-ray tube
(CRT) 31. The high speed MODEM 26 is connected to the
branch exchange 25 and the personal computer 27. The
personal computer 27 is connected to the Ethernet processor
board 28. The personal computer 29 is connected to the key
board 30, the CRT 31, the Ethernet processor board 32 and
the display means 16.
The branch exchange 25 connects one of subscriber
lines respectively connected to monitored buildings to the
control center.
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1 The high speed MODEM 26, based on the V.42
specified by the CCITT, converts the compressed digital
data into the original data, which may be based on a V.21
specified by the CCITT.
The personal computer 27 has an interface which
converts the digital data into a data in accordance with a
protocol determined by the Ethernet.
The Ethernet processor board 28 time-divisionally
processes the digital data transmitted from the personal
computer 27 via one of bus-like transmission paths. The
Ethernet processor board 28, used for Local Area Network
(LAN), is a communication board having Ethernet firmware
therein. The Ethernet processor board outputs the digital
data to the personal computer 29 via, for example, an IEEE
802.3 standard coaxial cable.
The personal computer 29 has a hard disk therein
and the key board 30. Characters input from the key board
is displayed on the CRT 31. The CRT 31 outputs one of the
function screens shown in FIGs.2A to 2D in response to the
output signal from the sensor 21. Incidentally, the CRT
may be included in the display means 16. The personal
computer 29 has an interface which converts the digital
data of X.21 specified by the CCITT into the data having a
protocol determined by the Ethernet.
The display means 16 comprises a high speed MODEM
33 and a monitor 34. The high speed MODEM 33 is connected
to the personal computer 29 of the processing means 15 and
the monitor 34. The high speed MODEM 33 is based on the
V.42 bis specified by the CCITT, and converts the digital
data into the analog data by means of the digital-to-analog
conversion, so that the high speed MODEM 33 outputs the
video data to the monitor 34. The monitor 34 displays an
motion picture corresponding to the video signal output
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l from the high speed MODEM 33.
Incidentally, as shown in FIG.5, an optical
network 34 may be used for the public line 14. The
monitoring system of the second embodiment according to the
present invention comprises, as shown in FIG.5, optical
adapters 37 and 38. The video signal from video camera 22
and the output signal from the sensor 21 are respectively
supplied to the high speed MODEM 23 to be converted into
the digital data, and output to the optical adapter 37.
The optical adapter 37 converts the digital data into an
optical data corresponding to an I interface given by the
CCITT, and outputs to the optical adapter 39 via the
optical net 38. The optical net 38 may comprise an INS
network 64 including two data channels (B-channels) having
64 kbps and one signal channel (D-channel) having 16 kbps.
The optical adapter 39 converts the optical data
corresponding to the I interface into the data of X.21
given by the CCITT, and outputs the high speed MODEM 26
shown in FIG.4.
Incidentally, both metal cables and optical net
may be used for the public line 14. Since both metal
cables and optical net achieve a bi-directional
transmission, the operator of the display means 16 can
perform remote controlling by transmitting data to the
monitored building.
The monitoring system according to the present
invention can be applied to the building administration,
such as water administration, EV checking, automatic
detection system, and in/out administration. In addition,
the present invention can be applied to the guarding system
shown in FIG.6. Incidentally, those elements in FIG.6
which are the same as corresponding elements in FIG.4 are
designated by the same reference numerals, and a
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1 description thereof will be omitted. Numeral 41 denotes a
monitored building in which a plurality of sensors 21 and
corresponding video cameras 22 are provided for
predetermined rooms. Numeral 42 denotes a key box in/from
which an ID card is inserted/ejected. Each of output
terminals of the sensors 21, the video cameras 22 and the
key box 42 is connected to the high speed MODEM 23 via a
corresponding bus 43. On the other hand, numeral 44
denotes a guarding security company having a control center
which is similar to that shown in FIG.4 but however further
comprises a personal computer 45, CRT 46, video projector
47 and VTR 4~.
Next, a description will now be given of the
operation of the guarding system with reference to FIGs.6
and 7. First, after the last person which leaves from the
building 41 inserts his/her ID card into the key box 42,
information of the ID card is read out by the key box 42
and is transmitted to the personal computer 29 in the guard
security company 44. If the ID card has been registered,
the guarding system is set by the instruction of the
personal computer 29. Consequently, an output signal from
a sensor 21 is output to the high speed modem 23 and the
video camera 22 via the transmitter (not shown).
If an invader 49 invades the building 41 (in step
61) and one of the sensors 21 senses the invader 49 (in
step 62), the output signal as an alarm is supplied from
the sensor 21 to the personal computer 45 via the
corresponding bus 43, high speed MODEM 23, public line 24
and branch exchange 25. As a result, the guarding system
starts (in step 63). That is, in response to the output
signal from the sensor 21, the video camera 22 videos the
invader 49 and the tracking system starts (in step 64).
The video signal from the video camera 22 is supplied to
-
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1 the personal computer 29 via the high speed MODEM 26 and
personal computer 27, Ethernet processor board 28. Thus,
the operator in the control center can monitor the motion
picture of the invader 49 (in step 65).
Based on the output signal from the sensor 21,
the operator turns on lights (not shown) in the vicinity of
the invader 49 via the personal computer 45, public line
24, high speed MODEM 23, etc, and manipulates the
corresponding video camera 22. In addition, the operator
records the activity of the invader 49 as a perpetuation of
evidence in the VTR. The operator manipulates the personal
computer 45 to selectively indicate a desired function
screen, as shown in FIGs.2A to 2D. The operator
manipulates the corresponding video camera 22 in accordance
with the movements of the invader 49 based on a flashing
point representing the sensor 21 on the guarding building
sensor arrangement shown in FIG.2B (in step 66). Since the
motion picture of the invader 49 videoed by the video
camera 22 is indicated on the video projector 47, the
operator can easily find the presence of the invader 49.
Thus, the operator calls "110" to the police station 51
while he/she is monitoring the scene (in steps 67 to 69).
When the operator calls "100", a patrol car 52 rushes to
the scene. On the other hand, the control center calls a
beat car 50, as is the same in the conventional art, and
directs the beat car 50 to rush the scene by radio (in
steps 70 and 71).
Since the movement of the invader 49 is displayed
in real time, the operator in the control center can
precisely grasp him/her. Therefore, if necessary, the
operator may lock all the doors in the building (in step
72), and menace the invader 49 by voice (in step 73) by
remote control. Lastly, the beat car 50 and the patrol car
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1 52 respectively arrive at the scene (in steps 74 and 75) to
arrest the invader 49 (in step 76).
In this embodiment, since the personal computer
29 serves as a processing means and the remote control
means 18, the setting on/off of each sensor 21 may be
performed by remote control. Therefore, a guard does not
have to go to a building even when, for example, someone
goes to th building during the night or goods are shipped
and/or received during the night. In this case, only if a
person who goes to the building inserts a correct ID card
into the key box 42, will the operator release the locking
of doors and setting of the sensors 21 by remote control.
Incidentally, the reason why the setting of the sensors 21
is released is that it is not necessary to guard the
building 41 when people are there and, in addition, it is
necessary to prevent the sensors 21 from unnecessarily and
frequently sensing people.
As mentioned above, according to the present
invention, since the invader 49 can be definitely
identified in an motion picture, a vague report never
occurs. In addition, a quick call "110" can be achieved
and a highly reliable guarding system can be presented.
Moreover, a running cost can be decreased almost 1/10 to
1/15 in comparison with a case where a leased line is
used. Furthermore, a guard does not have to wastefully
rush to the scene because of the remote control.
Further, the present invention is not limited to
these preferred embodiments, but various variations and
modifications may be made without departing from the scope
of the present invention.
