Train Monitoring System

Abstract

To provide a train monitoring system which can reduce the influence due to the failure of a camera.SOLUTION: A camera 11A and a camera 21A which are attached toward the same direction and a monitor 13 which displays an image of the camera 11A and an image of the camera 21A are provided on a vehicle body side surface of each vehicle of a train. The camera 11A arranged on the upstream side in the imaging direction with respect to the camera 21A has a function which generates and outputs a complementary image obtained by cutting out a range corresponding to the image of the camera 21A from a camera image in the higher quality format separately from a function which outputs a camera image in a standard format. The monitor 13 displays the complementary image generated by the camera 11A instead of the image of the camera 21A when the camera 21A goes wrong and the image cannot be acquired (namely, cannot be displayed).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a train monitoring system that monitors trains using camera images. [Background technology]

[0002] Ensuring the safety of passengers boarding and disembarking trains on station platforms is an important issue for train operations. As part of these safety measures, a train monitoring system has been developed that uses cameras attached to the exterior sides of each train car to capture images of the area around the doors and displays the camera footage on a monitor in the driver's cab. This system is used to support one-man operation. In addition, in the event of an emergency, footage recorded on a non-destructive video recorder (NDR) is used to understand and analyze the situation.

[0003] Prior art in the technical field of the present invention includes the following: For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a train monitoring system in which the display area of ​​a monitor is divided into multiple areas, and multiple camera images captured by cameras on each vehicle are assigned to each area and displayed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-113602 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a train monitoring system, the cameras on each vehicle are configured to operate using the PoE power supply function of the PoE switching hub (hereinafter referred to as the "PoE switch") installed on that vehicle. If a malfunction occurs in the camera or PoE power supply function on any of the vehicles, the camera on that vehicle will no longer be able to capture images, and the distribution of camera footage will be interrupted. As a result, since the camera footage cannot be viewed in real time on the monitor, train crew members will have to visually check the situation near the doors, which will take time to confirm safety and may result in train delays. In addition, since the camera footage cannot be recorded on a recording device, it may be difficult to understand and analyze the situation.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and has an object to provide a train monitoring system that can reduce the impact of camera failure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, a train monitoring system according to one aspect of the present invention is configured as follows: That is, the train monitoring system according to the present invention is characterized by comprising a first camera attached to the side of a train car body facing in the direction of train travel or the opposite direction, a second camera attached to the side of the train car body facing in the same direction as the first camera but upstream of the first camera, and an image complementing device that, when an image from the first camera cannot be acquired, cuts out a range from the image from the second camera that corresponds to the image from the first camera and generates an image that complements the image from the first camera.

[0008] Here, the train monitoring system of the present invention is provided with a monitor that displays images from a first camera and images from a second camera, and the monitor can be configured to display a complemented image generated by an image complement device instead of the image from the first camera when the image from the first camera cannot be displayed.

[0009] In addition, in the train monitoring system according to the present invention, the monitor can be configured to have a function of accepting designation of a range to be cut out from the image of the second camera for the complementary image.

[0010] In addition, the train monitoring system of the present invention may be provided with a recording device that records images from a first camera and images from a second camera, and the recording device may be configured to record the complemented image generated by the image complement device instead of the image from the first camera when the image from the first camera cannot be recorded.

[0011] In addition, in the train monitoring system of the present invention, the second camera can be configured to have a function of outputting complemented video generated by the video complement device, in addition to the function of outputting video from the second camera.

[0012] In addition, in the train monitoring system of the present invention, the IP address of the first camera is registered in the monitor or recording device as a source IP address indicating the source of the video from the first camera, and the monitor or recording device can be configured to change the source IP address to the IP address of the second camera when it is unable to acquire video from the first camera corresponding to the source IP address, and to display or record the video from the first camera based on the video acquired from the second camera corresponding to the changed source IP address.

[0013] In addition, the train monitoring system of the present invention may be provided with a recording device that records images from a first camera and images from a second camera, and the recording device may be configured to provide complemented images generated by the image complement device instead of the images from the first camera when the images from the first camera are requested in a situation where the images from the first camera could not be recorded. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a train monitoring system that can reduce the impact of camera failure, thereby improving the reliability of the train monitoring system. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a train monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a camera image in a normal state. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating complementation of a camera image when a failure occurs according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing sequence according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing sequence according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing sequence according to a third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing sequence according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating complementation of a camera image when a failure occurs according to a fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a train monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 shows a three-car train consisting of three cars, car 10 (car No. 1), car 20 (car No. 2), and car 30 (car No. 3). Here, an example will be described in which the train is traveling with car 10 at the front (i.e., the train is traveling to the left in the drawing).

[0017] Cameras 11A-11D are attached to the exterior sides of vehicle 10, facing the doors, to capture images of passengers getting on and off the train. Similarly, cameras 21A-21D are attached to vehicle 20, and cameras 31A-31D are attached to vehicle 30. These cameras are, for example, IP cameras. Here, symbol "A" indicates a camera installed on the front left side of the vehicle facing backward, based on the direction of train travel; symbol "B" indicates a camera installed on the rear left side of the vehicle facing forward; symbol "C" indicates a camera installed on the rear right side of the vehicle facing forward; and symbol "D" indicates a camera installed on the front right side of the vehicle facing backward, based on the direction of train travel.

[0018] The leading car 10 is provided with a monitoring monitor 13. Similarly, the last car 30 is provided with a monitoring monitor 33. Each of the monitors 13 and 33 may be configured with multiple units. Monitor 13 is used when the train travels to the left in the drawing, and monitor 33 is used when the train travels in the opposite direction. The following explanation will focus on monitor 13, taking as an example a case where the train travels to the left in the drawing.

[0019] The monitor 13 displays camera images of the side of each car on which the door opens at the station platform. For example, the monitor 13 divides the display area into multiple areas and displays multiple camera images taken by the cameras on each car by allocating each area to each area. Note that the monitor 13 may also display multiple camera images by other methods, such as by switching between the multiple camera images taken by the cameras on each car in sequence.

[0020] The lead car 10 is also equipped with a control device 14 that performs various controls related to the train monitoring system of this example, and a recording device 15 that records camera footage. The recording device 15 constantly records (records) the camera footage received from the cameras on each car, associating it with the identification information of the camera on each car and the time of shooting. The control device 14 and recording device 15 may also be installed in another device (for example, the last car 30) for multiplexing.

[0021] PoE switches (referred to as "HUB" in the drawings) 12, 22, and 32 are respectively disposed in vehicles 10, 20, and 30. The PoE switch 12 is connected to the devices of vehicle 10, namely, cameras 11A to 11D, monitor 13, control device 14, and recording device 15. The PoE switch 22 is connected to the devices of vehicle 20, namely, cameras 21A to 21D. The PoE switch 32 is connected to the devices of vehicle 30, namely, cameras 31A to 31D and monitor 33. The PoE switches 12, 22, and 32 are further connected to each other in cascade by network cables, thereby constructing an in-train network.

[0022] The camera on each vehicle captures images within a predetermined field of view at a predetermined frame rate, compresses the captured images (live images) into a format such as H.264 / MPEG4 / JPEG, and transmits them to devices such as the monitor 13 and the recording device 15. The camera on each vehicle may automatically transmit the camera images to these devices, or may transmit the camera images in response to a request from these devices.

[0023] One of the features of the video surveillance system of this example is that if one of the cameras fails, the video from that camera can be supplemented with video from another camera. Of the other cameras facing in the same direction as the failed camera, a camera located upstream of the failed camera captures video that includes the failed camera's field of view. Therefore, by cutting out a portion of the video from that camera, a supplemental video for the failed camera can be generated. Here, "upstream" of the failed camera means upstream of the failed camera's shooting direction, that is, on the opposite side (nearby) from the shooting direction. Below, the features of the video surveillance system of this example will be explained with reference to several examples.

[0024] <First Example> Here, we will explain an example in which camera 21A, one of cameras 11A, 21A, and 31A installed on the front left side of each vehicle facing backward, fails, and the same applies to other embodiments. In the first embodiment, camera 11A on the upstream side, which captures the same direction as failed camera 21A, generates a complementary image from its own image and displays it on monitor 13 as the image from camera 21A.

[0025] In addition to the function (main codec) of outputting camera video in a standard format (e.g., VGA), cameras 11A, 21A, and 31A according to the first embodiment have the function (sub-codec) of extracting a preset range from camera video in a higher-quality format (e.g., FullHD, 4K, or 8K) and outputting complementary video in a format similar to the standard format.

[0026] The monitor 13 does not normally display the camera image as is, but rather cuts out a portion of the camera image and displays it, and has a function for accepting settings of the display range (i.e., cut-out range) from the user. Using this function, not only the cut-out range for normal use but also the cut-out range for a complementary image can be set in advance. The cut-out range setting information accepted by the monitor 13 is transmitted to each camera in advance and is used when cutting out the range for each codec to output video.

[0027] When cameras 11A, 21A, and 31A are all normal, for example, as shown in Fig. 2, VGA camera images are output from each of cameras 11A, 21A, and 31A and displayed on monitor 13. On the other hand, when camera 21A fails, for example, as shown in Fig. 3, camera 11A, which is located upstream of camera 21A, not only outputs VGA camera images but also outputs VGA complementary images cut out from the Hull HD camera images (images cut out from the range corresponding to the image of camera 21A) and displays them on monitor 13. The replacement of camera images is controlled by control device 14, which has a fault monitoring function.

[0028] An example of a processing sequence according to Example 1 is shown in Fig. 4. To simplify the explanation, the operation of camera 31A is omitted from Fig. 4, and the same is true for Figs. Cameras 11A and 21A normally transmit standard format camera images of their respective field of view to monitor 13 (steps S11 and S12), and monitor 13 displays the received camera images (step S13). If camera 21A malfunctions, control device 14 detects the malfunction of camera 21A (step S14).

[0029] A malfunction of camera 21A can be detected in various ways. As one example, control device 14 periodically communicates with camera 21A, and determines that camera 21A has malfunctioned if communication is interrupted. As another example, control device 14 periodically communicates with camera 21A, and determines that camera 21A has malfunctioned if a malfunction signal indicating that a malfunction has occurred is received.

[0030] When control device 14 detects a failure of camera 21A, it transmits a video switching instruction to monitor 13 to switch the video from camera 21A to complementary video (step S15). In response to receiving the video switching instruction from control device 14, monitor 13 switches the source of the video from camera 21A to camera 11A, which is upstream of camera 21A, and transmits a complementary video request to camera 11A to request complementary video from camera 21A (step S16). In this example, monitor 13 is configured to register the IP address of camera 21A as the source IP address indicating the source of the video from camera 21A, and to change the source IP address to the IP address of camera 11A when camera 21A fails, and to transmit a complementary video request to camera 11A.

[0031] When camera 11A receives the complementary video request from monitor 13, it then generates a complementary video of camera 21A by cutting out a range corresponding to the video of camera 21A from the video in a format with a higher image quality than the standard format (step S17) and transmits the complementary video of camera 21A separately from the camera video in the standard format to monitor 13 (step S18). Monitor 13 displays the complementary video of camera 21A received from camera 11A in place of the video of camera 21A (step S19).

[0032] As described above, in the first embodiment, each car of the train is equipped with cameras 11A and 21A mounted on the side of the car body facing in the same direction, and monitor 13 that displays the images from camera 11A and camera 21A. Camera 11A, which is located upstream of camera 21A in the shooting direction, has a function of generating and outputting a complementary image by cutting out a range corresponding to the image of camera 21A from the camera image in a higher image quality format (i.e., the function of the image complementing device according to the present invention), in addition to a function of outputting the camera image in the standard format. When camera 21A fails and is unable to acquire (i.e., unable to display) an image, monitor 13 displays the complementary image generated by camera 11A instead of the image from camera 21A.

[0033] Therefore, if camera 21A fails, the complementary image generated by camera 11A located upstream of camera 21A is displayed on monitor 13, allowing the train crew to continue monitoring the area captured by camera 21A. Furthermore, since the complementary image is generated from the image from camera 11A located in the same direction as the failed camera 21A, rather than from the image from camera 21B located in the opposite direction to the failed camera 21A, monitoring can be continued using the complementary image that is close to the image from the failed camera 21A, thereby reducing the sense of discomfort felt by the crew regarding the complementary image.

[0034] <Second Example> In the second embodiment, the monitor 13 that displays the video from the camera 11A and the video from the camera 21A generates a complementary video from the video from the upstream camera 11A that captures the same direction as the failed camera 21A, and displays it as the video from the camera 21A. To realize this operation, the monitor 13 is preset with not only a normal cropping range but also a cropping range for the complementary image.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows an example of a processing sequence according to the second embodiment. Cameras 11A and 21A normally transmit camera images capturing their respective field of view ranges to monitor 13 (steps S21 and S22). Monitor 13 displays an image cut out from the received camera image in accordance with the normal cut-out range setting (step S23). If camera 21A malfunctions, control device 14 detects the malfunction of camera 21A (step S24) and transmits an image switching instruction to monitor 13 to switch the image from camera 21A to a complementary image (step S25).

[0036] In response to receiving a video switching instruction from control device 14, monitor 13 switches the source of the video of camera 21A to camera 11A, which is located upstream of camera 21A. In this example, monitor 13 has registered the IP address of camera 21A as the source IP address indicating the source of the video of camera 21A, and if camera 21A breaks down, monitor 13 changes the source IP address to the IP address of camera 11A and acquires the video of camera 11A as the video of camera 21A. At this time, monitor 13 does not cut out the video from camera 11A according to the setting of the cutout range for normal use, but cuts out the video according to the setting of the cutout range for the complementary image, and displays the obtained complementary video instead of the video of camera 21A (steps S26 and S27).

[0037] Here, when monitor 13 generates the complementary video as in this example, it is preferable that the image quality of the video (original video) from which the complementary video is cut out is higher (for example, FullHD, 4K, or 8K) than the standard format (for example, VGA). However, since there is a concern that a communication load will increase if each camera is configured to transmit high-quality camera video even under normal circumstances, in the event of a camera failure, it is also possible to request only the upstream camera that transmits the original video of the complementary video to transmit high-quality camera video.

[0038] Thus, in the second embodiment, each car of the train is equipped with cameras 11A and 21A attached to the side of the car body facing in the same direction, and monitor 13 that displays the images from cameras 11A and 21A. Monitor 13 has a function to generate a complementary image by cutting out a range corresponding to the image of camera 21A from camera 11A, which is placed upstream of camera 21A in the shooting direction (i.e., the function of the image complementing device according to the present invention), and when the image of camera 21A cannot be acquired (i.e., cannot be displayed), the generated complementary image is displayed in place of the image of camera 21A.

[0039] Therefore, if camera 21A fails, the complementary image generated by camera 11A located upstream of camera 21A is displayed on monitor 13, allowing the train crew to continue monitoring the area captured by camera 21A. Furthermore, since the complementary image is generated from the image from camera 11A located in the same direction as the failed camera 21A, rather than from the image from camera 21B located in the opposite direction to the failed camera 21A, monitoring can be continued using the complementary image that is close to the image from the failed camera 21A, thereby reducing the sense of discomfort felt by the crew regarding the complementary image.

[0040] <Third Example> In the third embodiment, upstream camera 11A, which captures the same direction as failed camera 21A, generates a complementary image from its own image and causes recording device 15 to record it as the image of camera 21A. That is, the basic operation is the same as in the first embodiment, except that recording device 15, not monitor 13, handles the complementary image.

[0041] FIG. 6 shows an example of a processing sequence according to the third embodiment. Cameras 11A and 21A normally transmit camera images in a standard format capturing their respective field of view to recording device 15 (steps S31 and S32), and recording device 15 records the received camera images (step S33). If camera 21A malfunctions, control device 14 detects the malfunction of camera 21A (step S34) and transmits an image switching instruction to recording device 15 to switch the image from camera 21A to a complementary image (step S35).

[0042] In response to receiving the video switching instruction from control device 14, recording device 15 switches the source of video from camera 21A to camera 11A, which is upstream of camera 21A, and transmits a complementary video request to camera 11A requesting complementary video from camera 21A (step S16). In this example, recording device 15 is configured to register the IP address of camera 21A as the source IP address indicating the source of video from camera 21A, and to change the source IP address to the IP address of camera 11A and transmit a complementary video request to camera 11A if camera 21A breaks down.

[0043] When camera 11A receives the complementary video request from recording device 15, it then cuts out a range corresponding to the video of camera 21A from the video in a format with a higher image quality than the standard format to generate a complementary video of camera 21A (step S37) and transmits it to recording device 15 separately from the camera video in the standard format (step S38). Recording device 15 records the complementary video of camera 21A received from camera 11A in place of the video of camera 21A (step S39).

[0044] Thus, in the third embodiment, each train car is equipped with cameras 11A and 21A mounted on the side of the car body facing in the same direction, and with recording device 15 that records the images from camera 11A and camera 21A. Camera 11A, which is located upstream of camera 21A in the shooting direction, has the function of generating and outputting a complementary image by cutting out a range corresponding to the image from camera 21A from the camera image in a higher image quality format (i.e., the function of the image complementing device according to the present invention), in addition to the function of outputting the camera image in the standard format. When camera 21A malfunctions and is unable to acquire an image (i.e., unable to record), recording device 15 records the complementary image generated by camera 11A instead of the image from camera 21A.

[0045] Therefore, if camera 21A fails, the complementary video generated by camera 11A located upstream of it is recorded in recording device 15, allowing the situation in the event of an emergency to be grasped and analyzed after the fact without any problems. Also, since the complementary video is generated from the video of camera 11A located in the same direction as the failed camera 21A, rather than the video of camera 21B located in the opposite direction from the failed camera 21A, recording can be continued using the complementary video that is close to the video of the failed camera 21A, and the video of camera 21A can be recorded as continuous video data.

[0046] <Fourth Example> In the fourth embodiment, recording device 15, which records the video from camera 11A and the video from camera 21A, generates a complementary video from the video from upstream camera 11A, which captures the same direction as failed camera 21A, and records it as the video from camera 21A. In other words, the basic operation is the same as in the second embodiment, except that recording device 15, not monitor 13, handles the complementary video.

[0047] FIG. 6 shows an example of a processing sequence according to the fourth embodiment. Cameras 11A and 21A normally transmit camera images capturing their respective field of view ranges to recording device 15 (steps S41 and S42). Recording device 15 records an image cut out from the received camera image in accordance with the normal cut-out range setting (or the received camera image itself) (step S43). If camera 21A malfunctions, control device 14 detects the malfunction of camera 21A (step S44) and transmits an image switching instruction to recording device 15 to switch the image from camera 21A to a complementary image (step S45).

[0048] In response to receiving the video switching instruction from control device 14, recording device 15 switches the source of the video of camera 21A to camera 11A, which is located upstream of camera 21A. In this example, the IP address of camera 21A is registered in recording device 15 as the source IP address indicating the source of the video of camera 21A, and if camera 21A breaks down, the source IP address is changed to the IP address of camera 11A and the video of camera 11A is acquired as the video of camera 21A. At this time, recording device 15 cuts out the video of camera 11A in accordance with the setting of the cut-out range for the complementary image, and records the obtained complementary video in place of the video of camera 21A (steps S46 and S47).

[0049] Thus, in the fourth embodiment, each car of the train is equipped with cameras 11A and 21A mounted on the side of the car body facing in the same direction, and with recording device 15 that records the images from cameras 11A and 21A. Recording device 15 has a function to generate a complementary image by cutting out a range corresponding to the image of camera 21A from camera 11A, which is placed upstream of camera 21A in the shooting direction (i.e., the function of the image complementing device according to the present invention), and when the image of camera 21A cannot be acquired (i.e., cannot be recorded), the generated complementary image is recorded in place of the image of camera 21A.

[0050] Therefore, if camera 21A fails, the complementary video generated by camera 11A located upstream of it is recorded in recording device 15, allowing the situation in the event of an emergency to be grasped and analyzed after the fact without any problems. Also, since the complementary video is generated from the video of camera 11A located in the same direction as the failed camera 21A, rather than the video of camera 21B located in the opposite direction from the failed camera 21A, recording can be continued using the complementary video that is close to the video of the failed camera 21A, and the video of camera 21A can be recorded as continuous video data.

[0051] <Fifth Example> In the fifth embodiment, when a recording device 15 that records the images from camera 11A and camera 21A is requested to provide the image from the broken camera 21A, it generates a complementary image from the image from the upstream camera 11A that is shooting in the same direction as camera 21A, and provides it as the image from camera 21A.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 8, the complementation of camera images in the event of a failure according to the fifth embodiment will be described. Cameras 11A and 21A normally transmit camera images capturing their respective field of view to recording device 15, and recording device 15 records the received camera images. If camera 21A breaks down, recording device 15 will no longer record the images from camera 21A.

[0053] If there is a period during which recording device 15 was unable to record video from camera 21A and monitor 13 or another device requests playback or download of video from camera 21, recording device 15 uses camera 11A, which is upstream of camera 21A, as the video from camera 21A during that period. At this time, recording device 15 cuts out the video from camera 11A in accordance with the setting of the cut-out range for the complementary image, and provides the obtained complementary video to the requesting device as the video from camera 21A.

[0054] Thus, in the fifth embodiment, each car of the train is equipped with cameras 11A and 21A mounted on the side of the car body facing in the same direction, and with recording device 15 that records the images from cameras 11A and 21A. Recording device 15 has a function to generate a complementary image by cutting out a range corresponding to the image of camera 21A from camera 11A, which is located upstream of camera 21A in the shooting direction (i.e., the function of the image complementing device according to the present invention), and when the image of camera 21A is requested in a situation where the image of camera 21A could not be recorded, the generated complementary image is provided in place of the image of camera 21A.

[0055] Therefore, even if the video from the failed camera 21A cannot be recorded on the recording device 15, the supplemental video generated by the upstream camera 11A can be provided to the requestor, so that the situation in the event of an emergency can be grasped and analyzed after the fact without any problems. Also, since the supplemental video is generated from the video from the camera 11A in the same direction as the failed camera 21A, rather than the video from the camera 21B in the opposite direction from the failed camera 21A, recording can be continued using the supplemental video that is close to the video from the failed camera 21A, so that the video from the camera 21A and the supplemental video can be recorded as continuous data.

[0056] In the first to fifth embodiments described above, the relationship between camera 11A and camera 21A has been described as an example, but the same applies to the relationship between camera 21A and camera 31A. If camera 31A fails, the complementary video may be generated by camera 11A, which is located further upstream, rather than by camera 21A. However, generating the complementary video by a camera closer to the failed camera is preferable because it allows for a complementary video of higher image quality to be obtained.

[0057] Furthermore, in the train monitoring system of this example, cameras that are complementary to each other (for example, camera 11A and camera 21A) are placed on different cars, but if they are placed on the same car, it is possible to generate complementary images using a similar method. Furthermore, the number of cars in a train and the number and positions of cameras attached to each car are arbitrary and are not limited to the configuration shown in Figure 1. For example, a configuration in which cameras and PoE switches are thinned out by one car may be used, making it possible to build a train monitoring system on a small budget.

[0058] The video complement device according to the present invention may also be installed in another device, as long as it can generate a complemented video of the failed camera based on the video of a camera located upstream of the failed camera. The video complement device according to the present invention is realized, for example, by a computer equipped with hardware resources such as a processor and memory, which executes a program for realizing each function of the present invention on the processor.

[0059] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are merely illustrative and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. The present invention can take on various other embodiments, and various modifications such as omissions and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and spirit of the invention described in this specification, etc., and are included in the invention described in the claims and their equivalents.

[0060] Furthermore, the present invention can be provided not only as devices such as those described above or as systems composed of these devices, but also as methods executed by these devices, programs for realizing the functions of these devices using a processor, and storage media for storing such programs in a computer-readable manner. [Industrial Applicability]

[0061] The present invention can be used in a train monitoring system that monitors trains using camera images. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 10, 20, 30: Vehicle, 11A to 11D, 21A to 21D, 31A to 31D: Camera, 12, 22, 32: PoE switching hub (HUB), 13, 33: Monitor, 14: Control device, 15: Recording device

Claims

1. a first camera attached to a side of a train car body facing in the train travel direction or the opposite direction; a second camera attached to the side of the train car body facing in the same direction as the first camera, and positioned closer to the first camera in the shooting direction of the first camera so as to capture an image including the field of view of the first camera; A train monitoring system characterized by comprising an image complementing device that, when it is not possible to obtain image data from the first camera, requests image data of higher image quality than normal from the second camera, extracts a range from the image data of the second camera that corresponds to the image data of the first camera, and generates a complementing image data that complements the image data of the first camera.

2. 2. The train monitoring system according to claim 1, a monitor that displays an image from the first camera and an image from the second camera; A train monitoring system characterized in that when the monitor cannot display the image from the first camera, it displays the complemented image generated by the image complement device instead of the image from the first camera.

3. 3. The train monitoring system according to claim 2, A train monitoring system characterized in that the monitor has a function of accepting designation of a range to be cut out from the image of the second camera for the complementary image.

4. 2. The train monitoring system according to claim 1, a recording device that records the video of the first camera and the video of the second camera; A train monitoring system characterized in that, when the recording device is unable to record the image from the first camera, it records the complemented image generated by the image complement device instead of the image from the first camera.

5. 5. The train monitoring system according to claim 1, A train monitoring system characterized in that the second camera has a function of outputting the complemented image generated by the image complement device, in addition to a function of outputting the image from the second camera.

6. 3. The train monitoring system according to claim 2, an IP address of the first camera is registered in the monitor as an acquisition source IP address indicating an acquisition source of the video of the first camera; A train monitoring system characterized in that, when the monitor is unable to obtain video from the first camera corresponding to the source IP address, it changes the source IP address to the IP address of the second camera, and displays the video from the first camera based on the video obtained from the second camera corresponding to the changed source IP address.

7. In the train monitoring system according to claim 4, an IP address of the first camera is registered in the recording device as an acquisition source IP address indicating an acquisition source of the video of the first camera; A train monitoring system characterized in that, when the recording device is unable to obtain video from the first camera corresponding to the source IP address, it changes the source IP address to the IP address of the second camera, and records the video from the first camera based on the video obtained from the second camera corresponding to the changed source IP address.

8. 2. The train monitoring system according to claim 1, a recording device that records the video of the first camera and the video of the second camera; A train monitoring system characterized in that, when the video from the first camera is requested in a situation where the recording device is unable to record the video from the first camera, it provides the complemented video generated by the video complement device instead of the video from the first camera.

Images