surveillance system

Abstract

To provide a monitoring system with which it is possible to further improve the convenience of a legitimate user when conducting face authentication.SOLUTION: A monitoring system 1 for monitoring an intrusion into a monitored area comprises: a plurality of sensors 20 that are arranged at a plurality of positions in a monitored area 50, for detecting an intrusion; storage means 12 that preliminarily stores the registered face images of registrants; acquisition means 161 that acquires an input face image in which the face of a user is imaged; and authentication means 162 that verifies the input face image against the registered face images and authenticates the user on the basis of a prescribed authentication criterion. The authentication means 162 alters the authentication criterion in accordance with the detection state of the sensor 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a surveillance system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, monitoring systems have been used that use various sensors to detect intruders or the like that have entered a preset monitoring area and report the occurrence of an abnormal intrusion to a monitoring center, etc. In particular, in recent years, monitoring systems have been developed that authenticate users by comparing an input facial image obtained by capturing an image of the user's face with a registered facial image.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a security system that detects a suspicious object that has entered a monitoring area around a building and issues an alarm. When this security system detects that a moving object has moved between multiple partial areas that are divided into a monitoring area, it determines whether the moving object is a suspicious object or not based on a transition type that is a combination of the partial area from which the moving object moved and the partial area to which the moving object moved. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-159041 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When using face recognition in a surveillance system, there is a demand for improving convenience for authorized users.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a surveillance system that can further improve convenience for authorized users when performing face authentication. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention for solving such problems, there is provided a surveillance system that monitors intrusions into a surveillance area, the surveillance system comprising: a plurality of sensors that are arranged at a plurality of positions within the surveillance area and detect intrusions; a storage means that stores in advance registered facial images of registered individuals; an acquisition means that acquires an input facial image that captures the user's face; and an authentication means that authenticates the user by comparing the registered facial image with the input facial image based on predetermined authentication criteria, wherein the authentication means changes the authentication criteria depending on the detection status of the sensors.

[0008] It is preferable that this surveillance system further has a reception means for receiving a cancellation operation by a user to cancel the alert mode that monitors intrusions into the surveillance area, and that the authentication means change the authentication criteria depending on the detection status of the multiple sensors until the reception means receives the cancellation operation.

[0009] In this monitoring system, it is preferable that the authentication means change the authentication criteria depending on the time required from when a specific sensor among the plurality of sensors detects a person until when the acceptance means accepts a cancellation operation.

[0010] In this monitoring system, it is preferable that the authentication means changes the authentication criteria so that the user is more likely to be authenticated if the required time satisfies the criteria.

[0011] In this monitoring system, it is preferable that at least one of the multiple sensors is placed on the entrance route to the monitored area up to the location where the deactivation operation is performed, and that the authentication means, when the sensor placed on the entrance route detects a person, changes the authentication criteria so that the person can be more easily authenticated as a user.

[0012] In this monitoring system, at least one of the multiple sensors is placed on the entrance route to the monitored area up to the location where the deactivation operation is performed, and the system has a determination means for determining whether the user's movement route identified based on the detection results of the sensor placed on the entrance route is appropriate, and it is preferable that the authentication means changes the authentication criteria so that the user is more likely to be authenticated as a user when the user's movement route is appropriate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The surveillance system according to the present invention can further improve convenience for authorized users when performing face authentication. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a monitoring system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1A is an example of the data structure of face image information 121, and FIG. 1B is an example of the data structure of authentication reference information 122. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is an example of a plan view of a monitoring area 50. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a detection process performed by the security device 10. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of face matching processing by the security device 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] A monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, although it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the drawings or the embodiments described below.

[0016] 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of a surveillance system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The surveillance system 1 monitors the intrusion of a person into a surveillance area that includes an independent building such as a house, a site on which the building exists, or a room in an apartment building (a type of building). As shown in Fig. 1, the monitoring system 1 includes a security device 10, multiple sensors 20a, 20b, and 20c, and a security center device 30. In the following, an example will be described in which the sensor 20a is a gate sensor, the sensor 20b is a door sensor, and the sensor 20c is a window sensor. Hereinafter, the sensors 20a, 20b, 20c, etc. may be simply referred to as sensors 20. The security device 10 is an information processing device that monitors and guards a monitoring area, and is communicatively connected to a plurality of sensors 20. The security device 10 is also communicatively connected to a security center device 30 via a communication network 40 such as the Internet. The security center device 30 may be communicatively connected to a plurality of security devices 10 via the communication network 40. When the security device 10 receives a detection signal from the sensor 20 that includes a sensor ID, which is an identification number assigned to the sensor that detected a person, the security device 10 includes information identifying the monitoring area of ​​the security device 10 in the detection signal and transmits it to the security center device 30.

[0017] The security device 10 includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, an operation unit 13, an imaging unit 14, a display unit 15, a control unit 16, and an interface unit 17.

[0018] The communication unit 11 has a communication interface circuit conforming to wired / wireless communication standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark) and IEEE802.11, and is connected to the security center device 30 via a communication network 40 to transmit and receive various information.

[0019] The storage unit 12 includes semiconductor memory, magnetic storage media, and / or optical storage media, etc. The storage unit 12 stores various data and computer program code executed by the control unit 16 to control the operation of the security device 10. The computer program can be installed in the storage unit 12 by a known method via a computer-readable storage medium such as a DVD-ROM, a communication line, etc. The storage unit 12 is an example of a storage means. The storage unit 12 stores face image information 121, authentication standard information 122, a reference time, and a specific sensor ID. Details of the face image information 121 and the authentication standard information 122 will be described later. The reference time is a time to be compared with the time from when a specific sensor detects a person to when the control unit 16 accepts a setting operation by the operation unit 13, and has a value greater than 0. The specific sensor ID is a sensor ID assigned to the specific sensor described above.

[0020] The memory unit 12 further stores the security modes of the security device 10. The security modes include an alert mode in which intrusion into the monitored area is monitored, and a deactivated mode in which intrusion into the monitored area is not monitored. The alert mode may include an alert mode and an at-home mode. The alert mode is a mode that is set mainly when a user is not present in the monitored area, and all of the sensors 20 monitor for intrusions into the monitored area. The at-home mode is a mode that is set mainly when a user is present in the monitored area, and only some of the sensors 20, such as the door sensor 20b and the window sensor 20c, monitor for intrusions into the monitored area. The security mode may include a perimeter security mode and a partial security mode. The perimeter security mode is a mode in which sensors arranged on the perimeter of the building, such as the door sensor 20b and the window sensor 20c, are used to monitor for intrusions from the perimeter of the building into the interior of the building within the monitoring area. The partial security mode is a mode in which sensors (not shown) arranged inside the building are used to monitor for intrusions only in some sections of the building.

[0021] The operation unit 13 is an operation interface that enables the user of the security device 10 to operate the security device 10. The operation unit 13 is composed of input devices such as a touch panel display, a keyboard, and a numeric keypad, and receives various operations from the user, such as changing the security mode, and outputs signals corresponding to these operations to the control unit 16. The imaging unit 14 has a two-dimensional detector configured with photoelectric conversion elements such as a CCD or a CMOS, and an imaging optical system that forms an image of the imaging range on the two-dimensional detector. The imaging unit 14 generates an input face image by capturing an image of the face of the user operating the operation unit 13, and outputs the input face image to the control unit 16. The display unit 15 is configured with a display device such as a liquid crystal display or a touch panel display, and displays whether or not an abnormality has occurred, various information received from the control unit 16, and the like.

[0022] The control unit 16 has a processor such as a CPU or a multiprocessor and its peripheral circuits. The control unit 16 controls the operation of the security device 10 by executing a computer program stored in the memory unit 12. The control unit 16 may be implemented by a DSP, an LSI, an ASIC, an FPGA, or the like. The control unit 16 has an acquisition unit 161, an authentication unit 162, and a reception unit 163 as functional modules of a program that runs on the processor.

[0023] The interface unit 17 has an interface circuit conforming to a serial bus standard such as USB, and is communicatively connected to the sensor 20 to transmit and receive various signals. Note that the interface unit 17 may have an interface circuit conforming to a wired / wireless communication standard such as Ethernet (registered trademark), IEEE802.11, Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc., instead of the interface circuit conforming to the serial bus standard. The sensor 20 is connected to the interface unit 17.

[0024] The sensors 20 are sensors that output detection signals when they detect a person, and are arranged at multiple positions within the monitored area. The sensors 20 are, for example, magnetic sensors attached to opening / closing sections of windows, doors, etc., that detect a person operating the opening / closing section by detecting the opening / closing state of the opening / closing section, or infrared sensors that detect a person within a detection range based on changes in the amount of infrared light received. Alternatively, the sensors 20 may be image sensors that detect a person within an imaging range based on a differential signal between an imaged image and a pre-stored normal image. The sensors 20 detect an intrusion into the monitored area by detecting a person.

[0025] The security center device 30 is an information processing device that processes the detection signal, and upon receiving the detection signal from the security device 10, notifies a security officer that an intrusion into the building being monitored by the security device 10 has occurred.

[0026] 2(A) is an example of the data structure of the facial image information 121. The facial image information 121 stores, in association with each other, the registrant ID, registered facial image, etc. of each registrant who has been registered in advance in the monitoring system 1 as a user of a building included in the monitoring area. The registrant ID is an identification number assigned to each registrant. The registered facial image is an image of the face of each registrant. 2(B) is an example of the data structure of the authentication standard information 122. The authentication standard information 122 stores, for each sensor 20 placed in the monitoring area, the sensor ID of each sensor 20 and the authentication standard used for authentication, in association with each other. The authentication standard is used to authenticate a user who operates the operation unit 13, and includes, for example, a similarity threshold, a count threshold, a time threshold, etc. The authentication standard stored in the authentication standard information 122 is an example of a predetermined authentication standard.

[0027] The similarity threshold is a threshold for comparison with the similarity, which is the degree of similarity between a registered face image and an input face image, and is set to the lower limit of the similarity when the registered face image and the input face image show the face of the same person. The number threshold is a threshold for comparison with the number of times the registered face image and the input face image have been matched, and is set to the upper limit of the number of times the registered face image and the input face image can be matched. The time threshold is a threshold for comparison with the matching time between the registered face image and the input face image, and is set to the upper limit of the time required to match the registered face image and the input face image. Each authentication criterion is set so that when a person is detected by a corresponding sensor 20, the higher the probability that the person is a building user, the more likely the person is to be authenticated as a user. For example, a building user is likely to enter the building through a door, which is the normal entrance route, while an intruder is likely to enter the building through a window. That is, a person detected by door sensor 20b located on the entrance route is more likely to be a building user than a person detected by window sensor 20c located outside the entrance route. Therefore, authentication criterion corresponding to a sensor located on the entrance route is set so that the person is more likely to be authenticated as a user than authentication criterion corresponding to a sensor located outside the entrance route.

[0028] For example, the similarity threshold corresponding to door sensor 20b is set to a lower value than the similarity threshold corresponding to window sensor 20c. Also, the number threshold corresponding to door sensor 20b is set to a higher value than the number threshold corresponding to window sensor 20c. Also, the time threshold corresponding to door sensor 20b is set to a higher value than the time threshold corresponding to window sensor 20c. This allows the security device 10 to further improve the authentication accuracy when authenticating a user. Furthermore, each authentication criterion may be stored not only in association with one sensor ID, but also in association with a combination of multiple sensor IDs and / or their sequence (route). For example, an authentication criterion corresponding to the combination of the gate sensor 20a and the door sensor 20b is set so that a user is more likely to be authenticated than an authentication criterion corresponding to the combination of the gate sensor 20a and the window sensor 20c. Furthermore, an authentication criterion corresponding to the order of the gate sensor 20a and the door sensor 20b is set so that a user is more likely to be authenticated than an authentication criterion corresponding to the order of the gate sensor 20a and the window sensor 20c. This allows the security device 10 to further improve the authentication accuracy when authenticating users.

[0029] The facial image information 121 is set by the user using the operation unit 13 and the imaging unit 14. The authentication standard information 122 is set in advance in the security device 10. The authentication standard information 122 may be changed by the user using the operation unit 13. In this case, authentication standard information 122 corresponding to each registrant may be set for each registrant. In this case, the authentication standard information 122 of each registrant is stored in association with the registrant ID of each registrant.

[0030] FIG. 3 is an example of a plan view of a monitoring area 50. As shown in FIG. 3, the monitoring area 50 includes a site 51 and a building 52. A gate 53 is provided at the boundary between the outside and the inside of the site 51, and a door 54 and a window 55 are provided at the boundary between the outside and the inside of the building 52. The operation unit 13 and the imaging unit 14 are disposed inside the building 52. When a user of the building 52 returns home, the user normally moves from the outside of the site 51 to the inside of the building 52 through the gate 53 and the door 54, and operates the operation unit 13 to change the security mode from the alert mode to the release mode. A gate sensor 20a is placed near the gate 53, a door sensor 20b is placed near the door 54, and a window sensor 20c is placed near the window 55. The door sensor 20b is an example of a specific sensor, and is placed on an entrance route 56 to the building 52 within the monitoring area 50. That is, the memory unit 12 stores the sensor ID of the door sensor 20b as the specific sensor ID. The door sensor 20b is also an example of a sensor arranged on the entrance route 56 of the monitored area 50 up to the location of the operating unit 13 for performing the release operation. At least one sensor can be arranged on the entrance route of the monitored area 50 up to the location where the release operation is performed.

[0031] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of detection processing by the security device 10. This operational flow is executed mainly by the control unit 16 of the security device 10 in cooperation with each element of the security device 10, based on a program stored in advance in the memory unit 12 of the security device 10.

[0032] First, the authentication means 162 determines whether any of the sensors 20 has detected a person (step S11). When the authentication means 162 receives a detection signal from a sensor 20 via the interface unit 17, it determines that the sensor 20 that transmitted the detection signal has detected a person.

[0033] If the sensor 20 detects a person (step S11-Y), the authentication means 162 identifies the sensor ID from the received detection signal and stores it in the storage unit 12 (step S12). The stored sensor ID indicates the detection status of the multiple sensors 20. Next, the authentication means 162 determines whether the sensor that detected the person is the door sensor 20b (step S13). If the sensor ID of the door sensor 20b, which is stored in advance in the storage unit 12 as a specific sensor ID, matches the sensor ID identified in the process of step S12, the authentication means 162 determines that the sensor that detected the person is the specific sensor. If the sensor that detected the person is a specific sensor (step S13-Y), the authentication means 162 starts measuring time using a timer (step S14).

[0034] If the sensor 20 does not detect a person (step S11-N), or if the sensor that detected the intrusion is not a specific sensor (step S13-N), the authentication means 162 advances the process to step S15.

[0035] Next, the accepting unit 163 determines whether or not an operation to change the security mode by the user has been accepted from the operation unit 13 (step S15). The accepting unit 163 accepts an operation to set the security mode or the release mode by the user. Accepting an operation to set the release mode includes accepting an operation to release the security mode. If the operation to change the security mode has not been received (step S15-N), the receiving means 163 does not execute any particular process and returns the process to step S11. On the other hand, if an operation to change the security mode is received (step S15-Y), the receiving means 163 determines whether the received operation is an operation to change from the release mode to the security mode, or an operation to change from the security mode to the release mode (step S16).

[0036] If the received change operation is a change operation from the release mode to the alert mode (step S16-Y), the receiving means 163 sets the authentication standard used in the face matching process described later to a predetermined initial value, and proceeds to step S21. If the received change operation is an operation for changing from the alert mode to the deactivation mode (step S16-N), the authentication means 162 changes the authentication criterion used in the face matching process from the initial value to a value according to the sensor ID stored in the process of step S12 (step S18). That is, the authentication means 162 changes the authentication criterion according to the detection status of the sensor 20. The authentication means 162 refers to the authentication criterion information 122 and identifies the authentication criterion stored in association with the sensor ID stored in the process of step S12. The authentication means 162 changes the authentication criterion used in the face matching process to the identified authentication criterion.

[0037] As described above, the authentication criteria corresponding to the sensors located on the entrance route are set so that the user is more likely to be authenticated than the authentication criteria corresponding to the sensors located outside the entrance route. That is, when a person is detected by a sensor located on the entrance route, the authentication means 162 changes the authentication criteria so that the person is more likely to be authenticated as a user. This allows the security device 10 to further improve the authentication accuracy when authenticating users.

[0038] Next, the authentication means 162 determines whether the time from when the door sensor 20b detects a person to when the reception means 163 receives the operation to change the security mode, i.e., the elapsed time from when the time measurement started in step S14, is within the reference time (step S19). Hereinafter, the time from when the reception means 163 receives the operation to change the security mode may be referred to as the operation reception time. The time required from when a specific sensor detects a person to when the reception means 163 receives the cancellation operation is an example of the operation reception time. The reference time is an example of a time to be compared with the time from when a specific sensor detects a person to when the reception means 163 receives the operation to change the security mode. The reference time is preset to a time obtained by subtracting a margin from the time from when a person is detected by the sensor 20 arranged in the monitoring area to when the security mode setting operation is performed using the operation unit 13.

[0039] The authentication means 162 may accept a reference time setting. For example, the authentication means 162 accepts a reference time setting by the user from the operation unit 13. The authentication means 162 may store the operation acceptance times of successful authentications in the past, and set the reference time to a statistical value, such as the maximum value, average value, or median value of the stored operation acceptance times, plus a margin. If the user is an elderly person or a child, it may take time to move from the position of the sensor 20 to the position of the operation unit 13, or it may take time to operate the operation unit 13. By accepting the setting of the reference time, the authentication means 162 can set an appropriate reference time for each user, thereby improving user convenience.

[0040] Furthermore, the authentication means 162 may change the reference time for each time period (daytime or nighttime). For example, the user who performs the setting operation may differ depending on the time period, such as a grandfather returning home from a walk performing the setting operation in the daytime, and a mother returning home from work performing the setting operation in the evening. By changing the reference time for each time period, the authentication means 162 can set a reference time that is more suitable for the user, thereby further improving user convenience.

[0041] If the operation reception time is within the reference time (step S19-Y), the authentication means 162 corrects the authentication criteria set in the processing of step S18 (step S20). The authentication means 162 changes each authentication criterion so that the user is more likely to be authenticated. For example, the authentication means 162 corrects the similarity threshold to be lower, the number of times threshold to be higher, and the time threshold to be higher. The processing of step S20 is an example of processing in which the authentication means 162 changes the authentication criteria so that the user is more likely to be authenticated when the required time meets the reference time. Because building users know the location of operation unit 13, they can change the security mode by operating operation unit 13 immediately after entering the building. On the other hand, because intruders do not know the location of operation unit 13, it is likely that it will take them some time to reach operation unit 13 after entering the building. By correcting the authentication criteria based on the operation reception time, security device 10 can further improve the authentication accuracy when authenticating users.

[0042] If the operation reception time is outside the reference time (step S19-N), the authentication means 162 does not execute the process of step S20, and proceeds to step S21. Note that the authentication means 162 may correct the authentication criteria when the operation reception time is outside the reference time, rather than correcting the authentication criteria when the operation reception time is within the reference time. In this case, the authentication means 162 sets each authentication criteria so that it becomes more difficult to authenticate the user. For example, the authentication means 162 corrects the similarity threshold to be higher, the number threshold to be lower, and the time threshold to be lower.

[0043] In this way, the authentication means 162 changes the authentication criteria depending on the time from when a specific sensor among the multiple sensors 20 detects a person to when the reception means 163 receives the setting operation. This allows the security device 10 to further improve the authentication accuracy when authenticating a user.

[0044] Next, the authentication means 162 starts the face matching process (step S21), and returns the process to step S11.

[0045] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of face matching processing by the security device 10. This operational flow is executed mainly by the control unit 16 of the security device 10 in cooperation with each element of the security device 10, based on a program previously stored in the memory unit 12 of the security device 10. This operational flow is initiated when the authentication means 162 of the security device 10 performs processing in step S21.

[0046] First, the acquisition means 161 acquires an input face image obtained by capturing an image of the user's face from the imaging unit 14 (step S31). Next, the authentication means 162 compares the registered face image with the input face image (step S32). The authentication means 162 extracts a face region, which is a region in which a person's face is captured, from the input face image. The authentication means 162 extracts edge pixels from the input face image using a Sobel filter or the like so that the gradient direction of brightness change can be determined. From the extracted edge pixels, the authentication means 162 detects an elliptical edge distribution of a predetermined size that approximates the outline shape of the head, and extracts the region surrounded by the edge distribution as the face region.

[0047] The authentication means 162 calculates the feature amounts of the face region of each registered face image stored in the face image information 121 and the feature amounts of the face region extracted from the input face image from the storage unit 12. The authentication means 162 calculates the similarity between each registered face image and the input face image from the two calculated feature amounts for each registered face image stored in the face image information 121. The authentication means 162 calculates, as the similarity, for example, the L2 norm or normalized cross-correlation value between the feature amounts of each registered face image and the feature amounts of the input face image.

[0048] If the maximum value of the similarities calculated for all registered face images is equal to or greater than the similarity threshold set in the detection process, the authentication means 162 determines that the person appearing in the input face image is the user corresponding to the registered face image with the maximum similarity. In this case, the authentication means 162 determines that authentication is successful and authenticates the person operating the operation unit 13 as the user. On the other hand, if the maximum value of the similarities calculated for all registered face images is less than the similarity threshold set in the detection process, the authentication means 162 determines that the person appearing in the input face image is not the user and does not determine that authentication is successful. In this way, the authentication means 162 compares the similarities between each registered face image and the input face image with the similarity threshold, thereby matching each registered face image with the input face image and authenticating the user.

[0049] Next, the authentication means 162 determines whether the authentication is successful (step S33). If the authentication is successful (step S33-Y), the authentication means 162 changes the security mode of the security device 10 to the security mode corresponding to the change operation accepted by the acceptance means 163 in step S15 of the detection process (step S34). The authentication means 162 cancels the timer started in the process of step S14 (step S35), and ends the series of processes.

[0050] On the other hand, if the authentication is not successful (step S33-N), the authentication means 162 determines whether the number of times face matching has been performed in the face matching process is less than the number threshold (step S36). The authentication means 162 determines whether the number of times the process of step S32 has been performed is less than the number threshold set in the detection process.

[0051] If the number of times face matching has been performed is less than the predetermined number of times (step S36-Y), the authentication means 162 determines whether the processing time of the face matching process is less than the time threshold (step S37). The authentication means 162 determines whether the time that has elapsed since the start of the face matching process is less than the time threshold set in the detection process. If the processing time of the face matching process is less than the time threshold (step S37-Y), the authentication means 162 returns the process to step S31. If the number of times face matching has been performed is greater than or equal to the count threshold (step S36-N), or if the processing time for face matching processing is greater than or equal to the time threshold (step S37-N), the authentication means 162 does not change the security mode of the security device 10 (step S38) and terminates the series of processes.

[0052] If the security mode is not set to the cancellation mode until a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of time measurement in step S14 of the detection process, the authentication means 162 outputs a detection signal to the security center device 30. As a result, if the intruder is not authenticated as a user, a security officer is notified that an intrusion into the building has occurred.

[0053] In this way, the authentication means 162 authenticates a user by comparing a registered face image with an input face image based on authentication criteria, and changes the authentication criteria according to the detection status of the multiple sensors 20. Typically, the entry route of a building user and the entry route of an intruder are different. The monitoring system 1 identifies a person's entry route (path of movement) based on the position where the person is detected, and changes (relaxes) the authentication criteria for authenticating the user when the expected entry route of the user is the same as the actual entry route, i.e., when the user's path of movement is appropriate, thereby further improving the authentication accuracy when authenticating a user.

[0054] In particular, the authentication means 162 changes the authentication criteria used in the face matching process according to the detection status of the multiple sensors 20 until the reception means 163 receives the operation to set the deactivation mode. This prevents the surveillance system 1 from taking too long to perform face matching when the user deactivates the alert mode, and from mistakenly notifying the surveillance staff that an intrusion into the building has occurred.

[0055] Generally, facial matching can take time depending on the environment in which the imaging unit 14 is located, lighting conditions, etc. When a person to be matched enters a building via a regular entrance route, the surveillance system 1 changes the authentication criteria so that facial matching of that person is more likely to be successful. This allows the surveillance system 1 to reduce the possibility of user authentication failure while maintaining security, thereby improving user convenience.

[0056] Furthermore, in face authentication, the target (face) is imaged at a distance from the imaging unit, so it is more susceptible to the influence of the environment of the imaging space and may not be able to correctly authenticate the user, compared to fingerprint authentication, vein authentication, etc., which image the target in contact with the imaging unit. In this embodiment, if face authentication is unsuccessful, a new input face image is used to compare the registered face image with the input face image, and it is determined whether authentication was successful, so that the user can be correctly authenticated in face authentication, which is easily influenced by the environment.

[0057] Furthermore, the sensor arranged on the entrance path does not have to be limited to the door sensor 20b, and may be at least one or more. For example, the sensor arranged on the entrance path may include a sensor that detects a person outside the building 52, such as the gate sensor 20a, or a sensor that detects a person between the door 54 and the operating unit 13.

[0058] Furthermore, instead of executing the processes from step S16 onwards when an operation to change the security mode by the user is accepted in step S15, the authentication means 162 and the acceptance means 163 may execute the processes from step S16 onwards when any operation is performed using the operation unit 13. Furthermore, the processes from step S19 to S20 may be omitted.

[0059] Furthermore, when the alert mode is set and a sensor placed outside the entrance route, such as the window sensor 20c, detects a person, the authentication means 162 immediately outputs a detection signal to the security center device 30 without waiting for a predetermined time to pass. Note that even when a sensor placed outside the entrance route detects a person, the authentication means 162 may wait for a predetermined time to pass before outputting a detection signal to the security center device 30, just as when a sensor placed on the entrance route detects a person. In this case, even if a sensor placed outside the entrance route detects a person in step S13 of the detection process, the authentication means 162 starts measuring time using a timer in step S14. In this case, in step S16, the reception means 163 determines whether or not an operation to cancel the timer by the user has been received from the operation unit 13. If the operation to cancel the timer has been received, in step S18, the authentication means 162 changes the authentication criteria according to the detection status of the multiple sensors 20. If the sensor most recently detected is a sensor installed inside the building, authentication means 162 determines that the person to be authenticated is likely to be a user who is present in the building and changes the authentication criteria to make it easier to authenticate the person as a user. On the other hand, if the sensor most recently detected is a sensor installed outside the building, authentication means 162 determines that the person to be authenticated is likely to be an intruder and changes the authentication criteria to make it harder to authenticate the person as a user. In this way, security device 10 can maintain security while preventing a monitor from being erroneously notified that a building intrusion has occurred, even if a user who is present in the building accidentally opens a window when perimeter security mode is set, for example.

[0060] Furthermore, by storing the sensor IDs in chronological order in the process of step S12, the authentication means 162 can use the stored sensor IDs, i.e., the detection status (detection results) of the sensor 20, to indicate the user's movement route. Therefore, in the process of step S18, the authentication means 162 can determine whether the user's movement route identified based on the detection results of the sensor 20 is appropriate, and change the authentication criteria depending on the determination result. For example, the authentication means 162 may determine that the movement route is appropriate if the values ​​and storage order of the sensor IDs stored in the process of step S12 all match the values ​​and storage order of the sensor IDs previously stored in the storage unit 12, and otherwise determine that the movement route is inappropriate. This determination may be made by a determination means instead of the authentication means 162.

[0061] As described above, various modifications can be made to the embodiments within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 1 monitoring system, 12 memory unit (memory means), 20 sensor, 161 acquisition means, 162 authentication means, 163 acceptance means

Claims

1. A surveillance system for monitoring intrusions into a surveillance area, a plurality of sensors disposed at a plurality of positions within the monitoring area to detect the intrusion; a storage means for storing in advance a registered face image of a registrant; an acquisition means for acquiring an input face image obtained by capturing an image of a user's face; and an authentication means for authenticating a user by comparing the registered face image with the input face image based on a predetermined authentication standard, the authentication means changes the authentication criteria depending on which of the plurality of sensors detects a person. A monitoring system characterized by:

2. The device further includes a receiving means for receiving a cancellation operation by a user to cancel the alert mode for monitoring intrusion into the monitored area, 2. The surveillance system according to claim 1, wherein the authentication means changes the authentication standard depending on which of the plurality of sensors detects a person before the acceptance means accepts the cancellation operation.

3. 3. The monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the authentication unit changes the authentication criteria depending on the time required from when a specific sensor among the plurality of sensors detects a person to when the acceptance unit accepts the cancellation operation.

4. 4. The monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein the authentication means changes the authentication criteria so that the user is more likely to be authenticated if the required time satisfies a reference time.

5. At least one sensor among the plurality of sensors is arranged on an entrance route to the monitoring area up to the location where the release operation is performed, The monitoring system of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the authentication means changes the authentication criteria so that a person is more likely to be authenticated as a user when a sensor arranged on the entry route detects the person.

6. At least one sensor among the plurality of sensors is arranged on an entrance route to the monitoring area up to the location where the release operation is performed, a determination means for determining whether the movement route of the user identified based on the detection result of the sensor arranged on the entrance route is appropriate; 5. The monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the authentication means changes the authentication criteria so that the user is more likely to be authenticated as a user when the user's travel route is appropriate.

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