JP2004213709A - Video recording device and surveillance camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

A video recording apparatus and a monitoring camera system for predicting a failure of an image data storage unit such as a recording medium are provided.
An image recording apparatus includes: an image data storage unit configured to store image data from a camera for capturing an image of a target to be captured on a recording medium as digital image data; and a digital image data stored in the recording medium as a video. A control unit 8 for displaying on the monitor 4, an error storage unit 10 for storing an error in writing digital image data to the recording medium, and an image data storage unit 9 when the number of write errors is equal to or greater than a preset number. And a notifying unit 14 for notifying as a sign of failure.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video recording apparatus and a surveillance camera system for recording video captured by a camera and reproducing the video.
[0002]
2. Description of the Related Art Cameras are arranged at various places such as convenience stores and parking lots, and monitoring is performed by using images captured by the cameras. The video captured by the camera is stored (recorded) on a recording medium such as a video tape or a magnetic disk, and the video is reproduced from the recording medium in response to an accident or an incident. Here, when the storage capacity of the recording medium becomes full, it becomes impossible to record a video, and therefore, for example, an alarm is generated to prompt the exchange of the recording medium.
[0003]
If the exchange of the recording medium requires urgency due to the occurrence of an alarm or the like, the recording medium for the exchange is often not prepared, and the interruption period of the recording of the video imaged by the camera tends to be long. Therefore, there has been proposed a system in which the time for replacing the recording medium is notified in advance (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
Patent Document 1 discloses a vending machine system 50. As shown in FIG. 4, a surveillance camera 51 photographs a user who uses the vending machine, and the captured video is recorded in a video recording device 52. Is recorded on a tape. Then, the time when the recorded tape is to be replaced is detected by a timer built in the host computer 53, and the control device 55 controls the remote panel 54 to notify that fact.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-7-320130 (page 3, FIG. 1)
[0006]
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-163, a timer is notified of the time for exchanging a recording medium, and it is possible to cope with the exchange of a recording medium in advance. However, Patent Literature 1 does not mention failure or failure of a recording medium. That is, a video writing error or the like may occur in the recording medium, and in the worst case, a failure or failure of the recording medium occurs. In this case, there is a problem that the video captured by the camera cannot be recorded. Therefore, it is required to recognize the failure or failure of the recording medium in advance, and the interruption of recording of the video can be suppressed by replacing the recording medium.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a video recording device and a monitoring camera system for predicting a failure of an image data storage unit such as a recording medium.
[0008]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video recording apparatus comprising a recording medium for storing digital image data, wherein image data from a camera for imaging an object to be imaged is recorded as digital image data. An image data storage unit for storing the digital image data stored in the recording medium as a video on a monitor; an error storage unit for storing an error in writing the digital image data to the recording medium; And a notifying unit for notifying a failure of the image data storage unit when the number of errors is equal to or greater than a preset number.
[0009]
In the present invention and the following invention, each configuration is as follows unless otherwise specified.
[0010]
The recording medium only needs to store image data from the camera, and a video tape, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and the like are allowed.
[0011]
The number of write errors may be the number of errors in a fixed period, the number of errors from the beginning after the exchange of the recording medium, or the number of consecutive errors.
[0012]
The notification by the notification unit may be any of a display on a display screen indicating a sign of a failure, a blinking or turning on / off of a display lamp or a display lamp, an alarm by sound, or the like.
[0013]
The “write error” means that the digital image data is not normally stored in the recording medium. For example, in addition to the fact that the digital image data is not stored in the memory unit of the recording medium, the writing or reading time of the specified data is Slowing down, and interruption or stoppage of writing.
[0014]
The image data storage unit reads the image data written on the recording medium and the written image data, compares the read image data, and determines whether the two are the same. Then, when they are the same, it is determined that the image data has been normally stored in the recording medium, and when they are not the same, it is determined that the image data is not normally stored in the memory unit of the recording medium, and a writing error is generated. The same determination can be made, for example, by inserting image check data in a blank period of image data and using this image check data.
[0015]
According to the present invention, when the number of errors in writing image data from a camera to a recording medium is equal to or greater than a preset number, the image data is notified as a sign of a failure in the image data storage unit. Thus, a defect in the image data storage unit can be repaired in advance.
[0016]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a surveillance camera system according to the first aspect, a camera for outputting image data of an imaging target stored in an image data storage unit of the video recording apparatus, and a recording medium. And a monitor for displaying the stored digital image data as video.
[0017]
According to the present invention, there is provided a surveillance camera system for notifying a precursor of a failure of an image data storage unit of a video recording device.
[0018]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0019]
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a configuration of a surveillance camera system, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an operation of a video recording apparatus.
[0020]
In FIG. 1, a monitoring camera system 1 includes a camera 2, a video recording device 3, and a monitor 4.
[0021]
The camera 2 is configured to capture an image of an imaging target and output image data to the video recording device 3. This image data is analog image data. Note that the camera 2 may be a plurality of cameras, each of which outputs image data to the video recording device 3.
[0022]
The video recording device 3 includes an image data input unit 5, an analog / digital (A / D) conversion unit 6, an image data compression unit 7, a control unit 8, an image data storage unit 9, an error recording unit 10, and an image data decompression unit 11. , A digital / analog (D / A) conversion unit 12, an image data output unit 13, and a notification unit 14.
[0023]
The image data input unit 5 receives the analog image data output from the camera 2 and sends the analog image data to the A / D conversion unit 6. The A / D conversion unit 6 converts the analog image data into digital image data. And the image data is sent to the image data compression unit 7. The image data compression unit 7 is configured to compress the digital image data according to a preset compression method and a predetermined compression ratio, and send the compressed data to the control unit 8.
[0024]
The control unit 8 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, is connected to each of the units 5 to 14 of the video recording device 3, and controls each of the units 5 to 14 according to an operation input or the like.
[0025]
The image data storage unit 9 includes a storage medium (not shown) for storing digital image data, and is configured to store (record) the image data compressed by the image data compression unit 7 in the storage medium. When writing the image data to the recording medium, the image check data is inserted into the blank period of the image data, the image data written to the recording medium is read, and the image check data before writing and the image check data of the read image data are read. Are determined as to whether or not the image data is normally stored in the recording medium.
[0026]
If the memory section (sector) of the recording medium has a flaw or the like, the image data is not correctly written, and the image check data of the image data before writing to the recording medium is different from the image check data of the read image data. become. If the image check data is different, it is determined that the image data is not normally stored in the memory unit (sector) of the recording medium, and a write error occurs. Then, the image data is written (rewritten) to another memory section (sector) of the recording medium.
[0027]
The error storage unit 10 is configured to store an error in writing the image data compressed by the image data compression unit 7 to the storage medium by the operation of the control unit 8. Here, the write error is not only a write error in the memory section (sector) of the recording medium, but also an abnormal operation of the head and the motor of the image data storage section 9 and a disturbance of image data and a write or read time. For example, the digital image data is not normally stored in the recording medium, such as a delay of the digital image data.
[0028]
The image data expansion unit 11 is configured to read image data stored in the image data storage unit 9 via the control unit 8, expand the image data, and send the image data to the D / A conversion unit 12. The D / A converter 12 is configured to convert the decompressed digital image data into analog image data and send it to the image data output unit 13. The image data output unit 13 is configured to display the analog image data as a video image on at least one screen 4a of the monitor 4.
[0029]
As described above, the control unit 8 reads the digital image data stored in the recording medium of the image data storage unit 9, decompresses the image data by the image data decompression unit 12, and outputs the analog image data by the D / A conversion unit 12. It is controlled so as to be converted into data and displayed on the monitor 4 as an image.
[0030]
When the number of errors in writing digital image data stored in the error storage unit 10 to the recording medium is equal to or greater than a preset error number, the control unit 8 notifies the notification unit 15 as a sign of a failure of the recording medium. Sends an abnormal signal. Then, when the abnormality signal is input, the notification unit 15 displays on the screen 4a of the monitor 4 that the recording medium is a sign of a failure, for example, "There is a possibility that the recording medium is abnormal. Replace it." To be notified.
[0031]
The monitor 4 is formed so as to display an image corresponding to the image data input through the image data output unit 13 of the image recording device 3, and is a precursor of the failure of the recording medium input through the notification unit 14. Is configured to be displayed.
[0032]
Next, the operation of the video recording device 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0033]
The image data output from the camera 2 is stored at regular intervals, for example, in a FIFO memory. That is, image data is stored in the FIFO memory (step S1).
[0034]
Then, the image data storage unit 9 determines whether or not the recording medium of the image data storage unit 9 has failed (step S2). If the recording medium is faulty, an abnormal signal indicating that the recording medium is faulty is sent to the notification unit 14. In response to the abnormal signal, the notification unit 14 causes the screen 4a of the monitor 4 to display a message indicating that the recording medium is faulty, for example, "The recording medium is faulty. Please replace." That is, notification of the exchange of the recording medium is performed (step S9).
[0035]
On the other hand, if the recording medium has not failed, the image data storage unit 9 writes and stores the image data from the camera 2 on the recording medium (step S3). At the time of writing the image data to the recording medium, it is determined whether or not an error has occurred in writing to the storage medium (step S4). If no write error has occurred in the storage medium, the flow returns to step S1, where the image data from the camera 2 is input (stored), and the image data is stored in the storage medium.
[0036]
On the other hand, when a writing error to the storage medium occurs, the control unit 8 stores the writing error in the error storage unit 10 (Step S5). Then, it is determined whether or not rewriting has been performed (step S6). If the rewriting has not been performed, the image data is rewritten on the recording medium (step S7). This rewriting may be performed a plurality of times.
[0037]
When the image data is written (re-written) to the recording medium or when the image data cannot be re-written, the number of write errors to the storage medium stored in the error storage unit 10 is set in advance. It is determined whether the number is a predetermined number, for example, 30 or more (step S8). If the number of write errors is less than the predetermined number, the process returns to step S1, where image data from the camera 2 is input (stored), and the image data is stored in a recording medium.
[0038]
On the other hand, if the number of write errors to the storage medium is equal to or greater than the predetermined number, the control unit 8 sends an abnormal signal as a precursor to a failure of the storage medium to the notification unit 14. In response to the abnormality signal, the notification unit 14 displays on the screen 4a of the monitor 4 that the recording medium is a sign of failure, for example, "There is a possibility that the recording medium is abnormal. Replace it." Let Thereby, the notification of the exchange of the recording medium is performed (step S9).
[0039]
Then, it is determined whether or not the recording medium has been replaced (step S10). Until the recording medium is replaced, a display indicating that the recording medium is a sign of failure is displayed on the monitor 4. Here, when the recording medium is replaced, for example, by operating a reset switch, it is determined that the recording medium has been replaced. Then, when the recording medium is exchanged, the process returns to step S2, and the above is repeated.
[0040]
As described above, when the image data from the camera 2 is written as digital image data on the recording medium of the image data storage unit 9 and stored, the number of write errors on the recording medium is detected. When the number of times is equal to or greater than a preset number (predetermined number), the notification unit 14 and the monitor 4 notify the user of the failure of the recording medium. Therefore, the surveillance camera system 1 can replace the recording medium before the recording medium of the image data storage unit 9 fails.
[0041]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0042]
FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of a surveillance camera system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0043]
In the video system 16 shown in FIG. 3, in the monitoring camera system 1 shown in FIG. Then, the digital image data is transmitted to the image data compression unit 7 via the image data input unit 5 of the video recording device 18. Hereinafter, it is the same as the surveillance camera system 1 shown in FIG. 1, and the same operation and effect can be obtained.
[0044]
In the first and second embodiments, the control unit 8 and the notification unit 14 separately notify the monitor 4 that the recording medium is faulty or that it is a precursor of the recording medium failure. An alert may be provided by providing a device. The monitor 4 may be a device to which digital image data is input. In this case, the D / A converter 12 is omitted.
[0045]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the number of errors in writing image data from a camera to a recording medium is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, the image data is notified as a sign of failure of the image data storage unit. Therefore, the malfunction of the image data storage unit can be repaired before the image data storage unit breaks down.
[0046]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the image recording apparatus according to the first aspect is provided, it is possible to provide a surveillance camera system for notifying a precursor of a failure of the image data storage unit.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a surveillance camera system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the video recording apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of a surveillance camera system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a configuration block diagram of a vending machine system of Patent Document 1.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 16 surveillance camera system, 2, 17 camera, 3, 18 video recording device, 4 monitor, 8 control unit, 9 image data storage unit, 10 error storage unit, 14 notification unit

Claims (2)

An image data storage unit that includes a recording medium that stores digital image data and stores image data from a camera that captures an image of an imaging target in the recording medium as digital image data;
A control unit for displaying the digital image data stored in the recording medium on a monitor as an image;
An error storage unit that stores an error in writing the digital image data to a recording medium;
A notifying unit for notifying as a sign of a failure of the image data storage unit when the number of write errors is equal to or greater than a preset number;
A video recording device comprising: A video recording device according to claim 1;
A camera that outputs image data of an imaging target stored in an image data storage unit of the video recording device;
A monitor for displaying the digital image data stored in the recording medium as a video image.

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