Camera management device and camera management system

Abstract

To provide a technology that enables an installer to perform initial settings intended by the installer for a network-connected camera.SOLUTION: A camera management device 1 includes an acquisition unit and a transmission unit. The acquisition unit acquires unique information preset for a camera 4 connected to the network, and arbitrary information including an arbitrary IP address to be assigned to the camera 4 (S12). When the camera 4 is connected to the network, the transmission unit communicates with the camera 4 and transmits the IP address of the camera to the camera on the basis of the unique information of the camera 4 acquired by the acquisition unit (S15 to S17).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a camera management device and a camera management system. [Background technology]

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a monitoring system that uses a network camera as a monitoring camera. This monitoring system includes a network camera that can be connected to a network and a network camera management server. When the network camera is connected to the network, the network camera requests an IP address from the network camera management server, and the network camera management server assigns the IP address to the network camera. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-080596 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In such surveillance systems, if IP addresses that are not intended by the camera installer are automatically assigned to each camera, the installer cannot identify which camera it is from the IP address, and so must reset the IP addresses to make it easier to manage the cameras after they are assigned.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that enables an installer to perform initial settings intended by the installer on a network-connected camera. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The camera management device according to the present invention includes an acquisition unit and a transmission unit. The acquisition unit acquires unique information preset in a camera connected to a network and arbitrary information including an arbitrary IP (Internet Protocol) address to be assigned to the camera. When the camera is connected to the network, the transmission unit communicates with the camera and transmits the IP address of the camera to the camera based on the unique information of the camera acquired by the acquisition unit.

[0007] Also, a camera management system according to the present invention includes a mobile information terminal, a camera connected to a network, and a camera management device. The mobile information terminal includes a reading unit that reads unique information preset in the camera in response to a user operation and transmits the unique information to the camera management device. The camera management device includes an acquisition unit and a transmission unit. The acquisition unit acquires the unique information transmitted from the mobile information terminal and arbitrary information including an arbitrary IP address to be assigned to the camera. The transmission unit communicates with the camera when the camera is connected to the network, and transmits the IP address of the camera to the camera based on the unique information of the camera acquired by the acquisition unit. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the above configuration, an installer can perform initial settings intended by the user on a network-connected camera. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a camera management system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a mobile terminal. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the initialization information. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the server. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an NVR. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the camera. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an operational flow diagram showing the initialization process of the camera in this embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the installation information in the modification (2). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters and description thereof will not be repeated.

[0011] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a camera management system 100 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG 1, the camera management system 100 includes an NVR (Network Video Recorder) 1, a mobile terminal 2, a server 3, and a plurality of cameras 4.

[0012] The NVR 1 and the multiple cameras 4 are connected to a network Nb, and the mobile terminal 2 and the server 3 are connected to a network Na. In this example, the mobile terminal 2 is, for example, a smartphone or a tablet computer. The network Nb is a wired or wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and the network Na is the Internet. A switching hub (not shown) having a PoE (Power over Ethernet (registered trademark)) function may be connected to the network Nb. The camera 4 may be connected to the NVR 1 via such a switching hub.

[0013] In this embodiment, the multiple cameras 4 are surveillance cameras for monitoring the surroundings where each camera 4 is installed. Each camera 4 is installed at a surveillance location, either indoors or outdoors. An installer of the cameras 4 uses a mobile terminal 2 to generate initialization information to be set in the cameras 4, and registers it in the server 3. When each camera 4 is first connected to the NVR 1, the NVR 1 sets in each camera 4 the initialization information set by the installer. Each component will be specifically described below.

[0014] (Mobile device 2) Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the mobile terminal 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the mobile terminal 2 includes a control unit 20, an operation unit 21, a display 22, a scanning unit 23, a communication unit 24, and a storage unit 25.

[0015] The operation unit 21 includes operation keys for alphabets, numbers, etc., and receives operations from an operator and outputs to the control unit 20 information indicating the operation key that has been operated.

[0016] The display 22 is an example of a display unit. The display 22 displays an image under the control of the control unit 20.

[0017] Scan unit 23 is an example of a reading unit. Scan unit 23 includes an imaging element, and outputs information indicating a captured image to control unit 20 under the control of control unit 20. In this embodiment, the image captured by scan unit 23 includes images of two-dimensional codes indicating the MAC addresses of camera 4 and NVR 1 that are affixed in advance to each of them.

[0018] The communication unit 24 includes a communication interface for connecting to the network Na (see FIG. 1). Under the control of the control unit 20, the communication unit 24 connects to the network Na via a mobile phone base station (not shown) or WiFi, and communicates with the server 3.

[0019] The storage unit 25 includes a storage device such as a flash memory, etc. Under the control of the control unit 20, the storage unit 25 stores various image data, application programs, initialization information for the camera 4, and other data.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the initialization information. As shown in FIG. 3, the initialization information associates the unique information and arbitrary information of each camera 4 to be installed with the NVR_MAC address. The NVR_MAC address is the MAC address of the NVR 1. The unique information is the MAC address of the camera 4. The arbitrary information is information arbitrarily set by the installer, and includes the IP address, installation position, camera name, etc. The IP address is an IP address assigned to each camera 4 in the network Nb. The installation position is an example of the installation information, and indicates the location where each camera 4 is installed. The camera name is a name of the camera 4 that can be identified by the installer.

[0021] The control unit 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memory (RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory). The control unit 20 controls each unit connected to the control unit 20 by the CPU executing a control program stored in the ROM.

[0022] Specifically, in this embodiment, the NVR_MAC address of the initialization information and the unique information (MAC address) of the camera 4 are attached in advance to the NVR1 and the camera 4 as, for example, a two-dimensional code. The control unit 20 captures the two-dimensional code with the scanning unit 23 in response to the operation of the installer. The control unit 20 then binarizes and decodes the image of the two-dimensional code to obtain the MAC addresses of the camera 4 and the NVR1. The control unit 20 generates arbitrary information of the camera 4 in response to the operation of the operation unit 21 by the installer, and stores the acquired MAC address and arbitrary information of the camera 4 and the MAC address of the NVR1 in the storage unit 25 as initialization information. Furthermore, the control unit 20 transmits the initialization information in the storage unit 25 to the server 3 via the network Na by the communication unit 24 in response to the operation of the installer.

[0023] (Server 3) 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the server 3. As shown in FIG.

[0024] The storage unit 31 includes a storage device such as a hard disk, etc. Under the control of the control unit 30, the storage unit 25 stores various data such as initialization information (FIG. 3).

[0025] The communication unit 32 includes a communication interface for connecting to the network Na (see FIG. 1). Under the control of the control unit 30, the communication unit 32 communicates with the mobile terminal 2 and the NVR 1 via the network Na.

[0026] The control unit 30 includes a CPU and memories (RAM and ROM). The control unit 30 controls each unit connected to the control unit 30 by the CPU executing a control program stored in the ROM. Specifically, the control unit 30 receives initialization information transmitted from the mobile terminal 2 via the network Na at the communication unit 32, and stores the received initialization information in the storage unit 31. The control unit 30 also outputs the initialization information stored in the storage unit 31 to the NVR 1 via the communication unit 32.

[0027] (NVR1) 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the NVR 1. As shown in FIG. 5, the NVR 1 includes a control unit 10, an operation unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a communication unit 13.

[0028] The operation unit 11 includes operation switches and the like for accepting operations by an installer. The operation switches include, for example, a power switch, and an initial setting switch for performing initial settings of the camera 4 network-connected to the NVR 1. The operation unit 11 outputs information indicating the operated operation switch to the control unit 10.

[0029] The storage unit 12 includes a storage device such as a hard disk, etc. Under the control of the control unit 10, the storage unit 12 stores the video data transmitted from the camera 4 and the initialization information (FIG. 3) acquired from the server 3.

[0030] The communication unit 13 includes a communication interface for connecting to each of the network Na and the network Nb. Under the control of the control unit 10, the communication unit 13 connects to the network Na to communicate with the server 3, and connects to the network Nb to communicate with the camera 4.

[0031] The control unit 10 includes a CPU and memories (RAM and ROM). The control unit 10 controls each unit connected to the control unit 10 by the CPU executing a control program stored in the ROM.

[0032] Specifically, the control unit 10 accepts an initial setting operation from an installer via the operation unit 11, connects to the network Na via the communication unit 13, acquires initialization information from the server 3, and stores it in the storage unit 12. In addition, the control unit 10 connects to the network Na via the communication unit 13, and when the camera 4 is connected to the network Nb, communicates with the camera 4 and initializes the camera 4 based on the initialization information.

[0033] In this embodiment, the initialization is performed on the camera 4 that is defined in the initialization information and that is connected to the network Nb for the first time. Also, in this embodiment, the initialization performed by the NVR 1 on the camera 4 includes at least a process of outputting the IP address defined in the initialization information to the camera 4. That is, in this embodiment, the control unit 10 and the communication unit 13 are an example of an acquisition unit and an example of a transmission unit.

[0034] (Camera 4) 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the camera 4 in the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the camera 4 includes a control unit 40, an imaging unit 41, a storage unit 42, and a communication unit 43.

[0035] The photographing unit 41 includes an image sensor. Under the control of the control unit 40, the photographing unit 41 photographs the surroundings where the camera 4 is installed, and outputs the photographed video data.

[0036] The storage unit 42 includes a storage device such as a flash memory, etc. Under the control of the control unit 40, the storage unit 42 stores any information including the IP address transmitted from the NVR 1.

[0037] The communication unit 43 includes a communication interface for connecting to the network Nb (FIG. 1). The communication unit 43, under the control of the control unit 40, connects to the network Nb and communicates with the NVR 1.

[0038] The control unit 40 includes a CPU and memory (RAM and ROM). The control unit 40 controls each unit connected to the control unit 40 by the CPU executing a control program stored in the ROM. Specifically, when the installer connects the camera 4 to the network Nb, the control unit 40 connects to the network Nb via the communication unit 43, communicates with the NVR 1, and outputs a MAC address that is preset in the camera 4 to the NVR 1. The control unit 40 also acquires arbitrary information such as an IP address from the NVR 1 via the communication unit 43, and stores the acquired arbitrary information in a predetermined area of ​​the storage unit 42.

[0039] (operation) 7 is an operational flow diagram showing the initialization process of the camera 4 in this embodiment. Hereinafter, the operation of the initialization process will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0040] Although not shown here, the initialization information (FIG. 3) for the camera 4, which has been generated in advance by the installer using the mobile terminal 2, is transmitted to the server 3, and the server 3 has the initialization information stored therein in advance.

[0041] When the installer connects the camera 4 to the network Nb, he operates the initialization switch of the NVR 1 to instruct initialization processing. If the installer instructs initialization processing (step S11: YES), the NVR 1 acquires initialization information (FIG. 3) corresponding to the NVR 1 from the server 3 (step S12). Note that in step S11, the NVR 1 waits until it receives an instruction to initialize the NVR 1 (step S11: NO).

[0042] That is, when the control unit 10 receives an operation to press the initialization switch via the operation unit 11, the control unit 10 connects to the server 3 via the network Na using the communication unit 13, and transmits the MAC address previously set in the own device to the server 3. Then, the control unit 10 downloads the initialization information corresponding to the MAC address of the own device from the server 3, and stores it in the storage unit 12.

[0043] When the installer connects the camera 4 to the network Nb (step S21), the control unit 40 of the camera 4 transmits its own MAC address to the NVR 1 via the network Nb by the communication unit 43 (step S22). In step S21, the camera 4 waits until it is connected to the network Nb (step S21: NO).

[0044] When the camera 4 is connected to the network Nb (step S13: YES) and the NVR 1 acquires a MAC address from the connected camera 4 (step S14: YES), the NVR 1 checks the acquired MAC address against the initialization information stored in the storage unit 12 (step S15). That is, the control unit 10 acquires the MAC address of the camera 4 by the communication unit 13, and judges whether the acquired MAC address is included in the unique information (MAC address) of the initialization information (FIG. 3).

[0045] In this embodiment, the state in which the camera 4 is connected to the network Nb may be a state in which at least the camera 4 and the NVR 1 can communicate with each other, and the camera 4 may not be installed in a predetermined location. In other words, the camera 4 may be installed in a predetermined location after the initialization process or during the initialization process.

[0046] In step S13, the NVR 1 waits until the camera 4 is connected to the network Nb (step S13: NO). In addition, in step S14, the NVR 1 waits until the MAC address of the connected camera is acquired (step S14: NO).

[0047] If the acquired MAC address matches the MAC address in the unique information in the initialization information (FIG. 3) (step S16: YES), NVR1 transmits the arbitrary information corresponding to the MAC address in the initialization information (FIG. 3) to the network Nb via the communication unit 13 (step S17). That is, the control unit 10 transmits the arbitrary information corresponding to the acquired MAC address in the initialization information (FIG. 3) from the communication unit 13 to the network Nb, with the MAC address as the destination.

[0048] More specifically, for example, assume that NVR1 acquires a MAC address that is the same as the unique information (MAC address) "10-20-30-40-50-60" in the initialization information (FIG. 3). In this case, NVR1 sends arbitrary information including the IP address "192.168.0.123" in the initialization information (FIG. 3) to the network Nb, with the MAC address as the destination.

[0049] In step S16, if the acquired MAC address does not match the MAC address in the unique information in the initialization information (FIG. 3) (step S16: NO), the NVR 1 repeats the process from step S13 onward. In other words, for example, if another camera 4 is newly connected, the NVR 1 performs the process from step S13 onward with the camera 4.

[0050] When the camera 4 receives the arbitrary information for itself (step S23: YES), it sets the received arbitrary information in itself (step S24). That is, the control unit 40 receives the arbitrary information such as an IP address with the MAC address of the own device as the destination through the communication unit 43, and stores the arbitrary information in a predetermined area of ​​the storage unit 42. As a result, the arbitrary information such as an IP address arbitrarily determined by the installer is set in the camera 4.

[0051] In step S23, camera 4 waits until it receives any information intended for itself (step S23: NO).

[0052] After the process of step S17, the NVR1 repeats the processes from step S13 onwards until the installer performs an operation to end the initialization (step S18: NO). When the installer issues an instruction to end the initialization (step S18: YES), the NVR1 ends the initialization process. The instruction to end the initialization is, for example, an operation by the installer to turn off the initialization switch of the NVR1.

[0053] When or after installing the camera 4, the installer may use the mobile terminal 2 to check whether the installation location of the camera 4 is appropriate. Specifically, the control unit 20 of the mobile terminal 2 reads the two-dimensional code of the camera 4 by the scanning unit 23 in response to the operation of the installer, and acquires the MAC address of the camera 4. Then, in response to the operation of the installer, the control unit 20 connects to the server 3 by the communication unit 24 to download the initialization information (FIG. 3), and displays on the display 22 the installation position and the camera name corresponding to the MAC address acquired from the initialization information. This allows the installer to check whether the camera 4 that he actually placed is placed in the correct position.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the installer can set an arbitrary IP address for the camera 4 connected to the network Nb by registering the initialization information (FIG. 3) in advance in the server 3 using the mobile terminal 2 and performing an initialization operation in the NVR 1. This eliminates the need for the installer to set an IP address for each camera 4 connected to the network Nb.

[0055] In the embodiment, the installation position and the camera name of the camera 4 are preset as optional information of the initialization information. When installing the camera 4 or after the installation, the installer can check whether the camera 4 is installed appropriately by displaying the installation position of the camera 4 on the mobile terminal 2.

[0056] The above describes the embodiments of the camera management device and the camera management system with reference to the drawings. However, the camera management device and the camera management system are not limited to the above embodiments, and can be implemented in various aspects without departing from the gist of the invention. In addition, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in the above embodiments. For example, some components may be deleted from all components shown in the embodiments. The drawings are shown mainly in a schematic manner for ease of understanding, and the number of each component shown may differ from the actual number due to the convenience of drawing. In addition, each component shown in the above embodiments is an example, and is not particularly limited, and various modifications are possible within a range that does not substantially deviate from the effect of this configuration.

[0057] (1) The arbitrary information of the initialization information described above may include imaging information indicating parameters related to image quality such as the bit rate, frame rate, and resolution of the camera 4. In this case, for the camera 4 connected to the network Nb, the NVR 1 may transmit an IP address and imaging information to the camera 4, and the IP address and imaging information may be set in the camera 4. This configuration saves the installer the trouble of setting imaging information for each camera 4.

[0058] (2) The arbitrary information of the initialization information may include installation information showing an installation diagram of each camera 4. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of installation information in the modified example (2). The installation information 90 in FIG. 8 shows a schematic plan view (an example of an installation diagram) of a building in which the camera 4 is installed. P1 to P8 in the installation information 90 show the installation positions of the camera 4. Each of the installation positions P1 to P8 is associated with a MAC address of the camera 4 to be installed at that position (not shown). When installing or after installing the camera 4, the installer may download the installation information 90 from the server 3 using the mobile terminal 2, display it on the display 22, and confirm the position of the camera 4 using the installation information 90. Specifically, the installer may read the two-dimensional code of the camera 4 using the mobile terminal 2 at the installation location of the camera 4, and compare the MAC address shown in the read two-dimensional code with the MAC address corresponding to P1 to P8 in the displayed installation information 90. This allows the installer to confirm whether the camera 4 is appropriately installed at each position in the installation information 90.

[0059] (3) In the installation information 90 in (2) above, GPS (Global Positioning System) information may be associated with each of the installation positions P1 to P8. In this case, the mobile terminal 2 has a GPS function. When generating the initialization information, the installer acquires the GPS information of the mobile terminal 2 at the installation positions P1 to P8 and associates it with the installation positions P1 to P8.

[0060] Furthermore, when the network Nb is configured using WiFi, the installer may obtain WiFi location information for the installation positions of the cameras 4 using the mobile terminal 2, and associate the WiFi location information with the installation positions P1 to P8 of the cameras 4.

[0061] (4) In the embodiment, the initialization information may be generated in a device different from the mobile terminal 2, and the initialization information may be transmitted from that device to the NVR1. For example, a personal computer may be connected to the network Nb, and the initialization information may be generated by the personal computer. The initialization information stored in the personal computer may then be acquired by the NVR1. The installation position of the camera 4 in the initialization information, or the installation information 90 in the above modification (2), may be displayed on the display of the personal computer. With this configuration, the initialization information can be acquired without using the server 3 and the mobile terminal 2, and without the NVR1 being connected to an external network such as the Internet.

[0062] (5) In the embodiment, instead of the NVR 1, a personal computer connected to the network Nb may initialize the camera 4. That is, the installer obtains initialization information using the personal computer, and performs the same initialization process as in the embodiment between the personal computer and the camera 4 based on the obtained initialization information. Also, the installer may display the installation information in the initialization information on the display of the personal computer and check the installation position of each camera 4. That is, in this modification, the personal computer is an example of a camera management device.

[0063] (6) In the embodiment, when the installer installs the camera 4, the installer may take a picture of the installation state of the camera 4 with the mobile terminal 2 and store the taken photo data in the server 3 as initialization information in association with the MAC address of the camera 4. By configuring in this way, when a problem occurs with the camera 4, the installer can analyze the cause of the problem from the installation state of the camera 4 at the time of installation. [Industrial Applicability]

[0064] The present invention can be used when installing surveillance cameras and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1 NVR 2. Mobile devices 3 Server 4. Camera 10, 20, 30, 40 Control section 11,21 Operation unit 12,25,31,42 Storage section 13, 24, 32, 43 Communications Department 22 Display 23 Scanning section 41 Photography Department 90 Installation information 100 Camera Management System

Claims

1. an acquisition unit that acquires unique information that is preset in a camera connected to a network and arbitrary information including an arbitrary IP (Internet Protocol) address to be assigned to the camera; a transmission unit that communicates with the camera when the camera is connected to the network and transmits the IP address of the camera to the camera based on the unique information of the camera acquired by the acquisition unit; A camera management device comprising:

2. Further comprising a display unit, the arbitrary information includes installation information indicating an installation location of the camera, The camera management device according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit displays the installation information of the camera connected to the network.

3. The unique information includes a MAC (Media Access Control) address of the camera, The camera management device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the IP address acquired by the acquiring unit to the camera connected to the network when the MAC address of the camera connected to the network matches the MAC address acquired by the acquiring unit.

4. The camera management device according to claim 2 , wherein the installation information includes an installation diagram showing an installation location of the camera.

5. the arbitrary information includes imaging information defining parameters representing image quality of the camera, The camera management device according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission unit further transmits the imaging information of the camera to the camera.

6. The system includes a portable information terminal, a camera connected to a network, and a camera management device, the portable information terminal includes a reading unit that reads unique information preset in the camera in response to a user operation and transmits the unique information to the camera management device; The camera management device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires the unique information transmitted from the portable information terminal and arbitrary information including an arbitrary IP address to be assigned to the camera; a transmitting unit that communicates with the camera when the camera is connected to the network and transmits the IP address of the camera to the camera based on the unique information of the camera acquired by the acquiring unit.

Images