Train monitoring system and cameras

Abstract

To provide a train monitoring system that reduces workload related to setting of IP addresses for cameras in the train monitoring system.SOLUTION: A network switch 12 has a plurality of ports having IP addresses individually associated therewith, the IP addresses including information representing mounting positions of cameras 11 in the train monitoring system, and assigns an IP address corresponding to the port to the camera 11 connected to the port. The camera 11 performs setting according to the mounting position of the camera indicated by the assigned IP address when the IP address is assigned in accordance with the connection to the network switch 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a train monitoring system having a plurality of cameras connected to a network switch.

Background Art

[0002] Ensuring the safety of passengers boarding and alighting trains on the platform of a station is an important issue for train operation. As part of such safety measures, a train monitoring system has been developed that uses cameras attached to the outer sides of each vehicle of the train to photograph the area near the doors and displays the camera images on a video display device in the driver's cab. Also, in case of an emergency, the images recorded by the video recording device are used for situation grasping and analysis.

[0003] Examples of the prior art in the technical field related to the present invention include the following. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a train monitoring system that divides the screen area of a video display device into a plurality of areas and assigns and displays a plurality of camera images captured by the cameras of each vehicle to each area.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In a conventional train monitoring system, it is necessary to perform various settings such as IP addresses for a plurality of cameras attached to each vehicle of the train according to their attachment positions. This setting work is carried out not only at the time of constructing the train monitoring system but also at the time of replacement due to a camera failure or the like thereafter. However, since the setting work for a large number of cameras is complicated, improvement has been awaited.

[0006] This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and aims to reduce the workload involved in setting IP addresses and other parameters for each camera in a train monitoring system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, a train monitoring system according to one aspect of the present invention is configured as follows: In a train monitoring system having a plurality of cameras connected to a network switch, the network switch has a plurality of ports, each individually associated with an IP address containing information representing the mounting position of each camera in the train monitoring system, and assigns an IP address corresponding to the port to each camera connected to that port. When a camera is assigned an IP address upon connection to the network switch, it performs settings according to its mounting position represented by the assigned IP address.

[0008] Here, settings based on the camera's mounting position may include whether or not image inversion is required for the camera's image.

[0009] Furthermore, settings based on the camera's mounting position may include setting the camera name.

[0010] Furthermore, settings tailored to the camera's mounting position may include settings related to the distribution of camera footage.

[0011] A camera according to another aspect of the present invention is configured as follows: In a camera used in a train monitoring system, when an IP address corresponding to a port is assigned to a network switch having multiple ports, each of which is individually associated with an IP address containing information representing the mounting position of each camera in the train monitoring system, the camera performs settings according to its own mounting position represented by the assigned IP address. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, the workload associated with setting IP addresses and other parameters for each camera in a train monitoring system can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example configuration of a train monitoring system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of the camera configuration included in the train monitoring system shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of an equipment ID table in the train monitoring system shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of the data distribution type in the train monitoring system shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of a source ID table in the train monitoring system shown in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of a train monitoring system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The train in Figure 1 is composed of four cars, namely, car 10-1, car 20-2, car 30-3, and car 40-4. When the train is moving to the right in the drawing, car 10-1 is the leading car and car 40-4 is the trailing car. When the train is moving to the left in the drawing, car 40-4 is the leading car and car 10-1 is the trailing car. The number of cars in a train is arbitrary, and the train may be composed of more or fewer cars.

[0015] On the exterior side of car 101, multiple cameras 11 are mounted facing the doors of the car in order to capture images of passengers boarding and alighting from the train. In the example shown in Figure 1, based on the train's movement to the right in the diagram, cameras 11(A) are installed on the front right side of the car body, cameras 11(B) are installed on the front left side of the car body, cameras 11(C) are installed on the rear right side of the car body, and cameras 11(D) are installed on the rear left side of the car body. Cameras 11(A) and 11(B) are positioned to photograph from the front to the rear. On the other hand, cameras 11(B) and 11(C) are positioned to photograph from the rear to the front. In addition, cars 10-2 to 10-4 of the 2nd car are also equipped with cameras 11(A) to 11(D) in the same arrangement as car 10-1. In this example, four cameras are provided per car, but more or fewer cameras may be provided.

[0016] Car 10-1, located at one end of the train, has a driver's cab where a monitoring video display device 13 is installed. Car 40-4, located at the opposite end of the train, also has a driver's cab where a monitoring video display device is installed. The video display device 13 in Car 10-1 is used when the train is moving to the right in the diagram, and the video display device 13 in Car 40-4 is used when the train is moving to the left in the diagram. In this example, two video display devices 13(A) and 13(B) are installed as a set in the driver's cab, but more or fewer video display devices may be installed as a set in the driver's cab.

[0017] Car 10-1, located at one end of the train, is further equipped with a video recording device 14 that records video streamed from cameras 11 in each car, and a control device 15 that controls the ON / OFF status of the video display device 13 based on information obtained from higher-level devices and contact inputs. Car 40-4, located at the opposite end of the train, is also equipped with a video recording device 14 and a control device 15.

[0018] In this example, one of the video recording devices 14 of the first vehicle 10-1 and the fourth vehicle 10-4 operates as the main system, and the other operates as the standby system. However, both may operate in parallel or cooperatively. Also, in this example, one of the control devices 15 of the first vehicle 10-1 and the fourth vehicle 10-4 operates as the main system, and the other operates as the standby system. However, both may operate in parallel or cooperatively.

[0019] In addition, a network switch 12 is provided as a relay device in each vehicle. In the relay device 12 of the first vehicle 10-1, devices within that vehicle, namely, cameras 11(A) to 11(D), video display devices 13(A), 13(B), video recording device 14, and control device 15 are connected. In the relay device 12 of the second vehicle 10-2, devices within that vehicle, namely, cameras 11(A) to 11(D) are connected. In the relay device 12 of the third vehicle 10-3, devices within that vehicle, namely, cameras 11(A) to 11(D) are connected. In the relay device 12 of the fourth vehicle 10-4, devices within that vehicle, namely, cameras 11(A) to 11(D), video display devices 13(A), 13(B), video recording device 14, and control device 15 are connected. The relay device 12 of each vehicle is further cascade-connected to the relay device 12 of the adjacent vehicle, thereby constructing an IP network within the train.

[0020] Next, the automation of the setting operation for each camera, which is one of the features of the present invention, will be described. The network switch of this system assigns an IP address to the connected cameras using the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) function. Here, it is assumed that the IP addresses assigned to each camera of this system are predetermined according to the mounting positions of the respective cameras. Also, it is assumed that each port of the network switch used for the cable connection to the camera is predetermined according to the mounting position of the camera. For this reason, when connecting the camera to the network switch, by connecting to the port corresponding to the mounting position of the camera, the IP address corresponding to the mounting position of the camera will be assigned to the camera. Therefore, the camera identifies its own mounting position from the assigned IP address and completes the automatic setting by writing the settings adapted to the mounting position into the setting file for its own operation.

[0021] Since executing the IP address assignment by DHCP every time the normal operation of the train starts will affect the startup time of the entire system, such as causing a delay, it is assumed that it is executed only at the first installation of the camera. Usually, since the position of the camera is not changed after installation, execution only at the first installation of the camera is sufficient. When the system starts up (when the train is running) after the camera is installed, the train monitoring system operates with the fixed IP address. Also, the IP address assignment by DHCP is executed when the camera is replaced due to a failure, etc., but the same IP address as the camera before replacement is assigned.

[0022] Hereinafter, taking the train monitoring system of FIG. 1 as an example, the automation of the setting operation for each camera will be specifically described. The network switch 12 in this example has a plurality of ports used for connection to the camera 11, and an IP address to be assigned to the camera 11 connected to each port is pre-assigned to each port. The network switch 12 assigns the assigned IP address of each port to the camera 11 connected to each port.

[0023] In this example, when the camera 11 is assigned an IP address upon connecting to the network switch 12, it automatically performs processing to apply the settings corresponding to that IP address to its own operation. As shown in the configuration example in Figure 2, the camera 11 comprises an imaging unit 21, a processing / control unit 22, a configuration file 23, a communication unit 24, and an automatic configuration unit 25.

[0024] The imaging unit 21 outputs video data obtained by imaging a predetermined field of view (for example, near a door). The processing / control unit 22 performs processing and control based on the video data output from the imaging unit 21, according to a setting file 23 that holds various settings related to the camera 11. In this example, the processing / control unit 22 includes an image processing unit that performs predetermined image processing such as image inversion (flip), and a distribution processing unit that provides a distribution stream to the image display device 13 and the video recording device 14. The communication unit 24 communicates with other devices in the system (such as the image display device 13 and the video recording device 14) via the network switch 12. The automatic setting unit 25 writes settings corresponding to its mounting location to the setting file 23 based on the IP address assigned by the network switch 12.

[0025] When a camera 11 configured in this way is installed at a designated location on each vehicle and connected to the corresponding port on the network switch 12, an IP address corresponding to the installation location of the camera 11 is assigned. When the network switch 12 assigns an IP address to the camera 11, the camera's automatic configuration unit 25 writes the settings corresponding to the installation location represented by that IP address to the configuration file 23. As a result, the camera 11 operates with the settings corresponding to its installation location. The camera 11 will be automatically restarted if a restart is required to apply the updated configuration file 23. Alternatively, it may be restarted manually if necessary.

[0026] Next, we will explain the IP addresses assigned to each camera in the train monitoring system. The IP address includes vehicle information (ID) to identify the train cars, such as train formation information and car number information, and equipment information (ID) which is identification information for the camera's mounting position on the train car. Therefore, camera 11 can be configured according to its mounting position based on the IP address assigned when it is connected via cable to the appropriate port of the network switch 12. Below, we will explain some examples of settings according to the camera's mounting position.

[0027] (1) Setting whether or not to flip the image. Figure 3 shows an example of an equipment ID table. In this figure, with the train moving to the right in the diagram as the reference point, "position 1" represents the front right side of the car body, "position 2" represents the front left side of the car body, "position 3" represents the rear right side of the car body, and "position 4" represents the rear left side of the car body. That is, camera 11(A) in Figure 1 is camera position 1, camera 11(B) is camera position 2, camera 11(C) is camera position 3, and camera 11(D) is camera position 4.

[0028] Here, if a camera is installed at position 1 or position 4 of each vehicle, the camera image will be upside down due to the camera's structure. In this case, the camera images captured by the cameras at these positions (i.e., camera 11(A) or camera 11(D)) will require image inversion processing. For example, a camera assigned IP address = 172.xx.x.1 will be identified as being installed at position 1 of car 1 with train set ID = 1, and will write to its configuration file 23 that image inversion processing is required for the camera image. Similarly, a camera assigned IP address = 172.xx.x.2 will be identified as being installed at position 2 of car 1 with train set ID = 1, and will write to its configuration file 23 that image inversion processing is not required for the camera image. In this way, each camera can automatically set whether or not image inversion is required for its camera image based on the IP address representing its installation position.

[0029] (2) Setting the camera name The specification is to assign a name (camera name) to each camera by combining the car number and equipment ID with "Cam". The camera name is displayed so that the user can recognize the source of the camera video when the camera video is displayed on the image display device 13, for example. For example, a camera assigned IP address = 172.xx.x.1 is identified as being installed in car 1, position 1, and train set ID = 1, and "Cam11" is written as the camera name to its configuration file 23. Similarly, a camera assigned IP address = 172.xx.x.2 is identified as being installed in car 1, position 2, and train set ID = 1, and "Cam12" is written as the camera name to its configuration file 23. In this way, each camera can automatically set its camera name based on the IP address that represents its installation location.

[0030] (3) Settings related to the distribution of camera footage Next, we will explain the IP address to which the camera footage is distributed. The IP address to which the camera footage is distributed includes information that represents the data format of the distributed video, information to identify the train car, and the source device ID, which is the identification information of the camera from which the video is distributed.

[0031] Figure 4 shows an example of the data distribution type. In this figure, data distribution type = 0 represents the "JPEG" format, and data distribution type = 1 represents the "H.264" format. Figure 5 also shows an example of the source ID table. In this figure, with the train moving to the right in the diagram as the reference point, "1st position" represents the front right side of the train, "2nd position" represents the front left side of the train, "3rd position" represents the rear right side of the train, and "4th position" represents the rear left side of the train. That is, camera 11(A) in Figure 1 is the 1st position camera, camera 11(B) is the 2nd position camera, camera 11(C) is the 3rd position camera, and camera 11(D) is the 4th position camera.

[0032] As mentioned above, the multicast distribution IP address and codec are automatically configured when the network switch 12 assigns an IP address, by writing the settings corresponding to the assigned IP address to the configuration file 23.

[0033] As described above, in the train monitoring system of this example, the network switch 12 has multiple ports, each individually associated with an IP address containing information representing the mounting location of each camera 11 within the train monitoring system. The network switch 12 assigns an IP address corresponding to the port to each camera 11 connected to that port, and when a camera 11 is assigned an IP address upon connecting to the network switch 12, it performs settings according to its mounting location represented by the assigned IP address.

[0034] With this configuration, simply connecting the camera to the appropriate port on the network switch allows the camera itself to identify its mounting location from its assigned IP address and automatically configure settings accordingly. Therefore, the workload associated with configuring IP addresses and other settings for each camera within the train monitoring system is reduced. Furthermore, when replacing a camera due to malfunction, simply reconnecting it to the same port as the original camera will automatically configure it with the same IP address and other settings. This not only prevents configuration errors but also shortens configuration time, improving efficiency and reliability.

[0035] Although 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 many other embodiments, and various modifications such as omissions and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention as described herein, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as described in the claims.

[0036] Furthermore, the present invention can be provided not only as the devices described above or as systems composed of such devices, but also as methods executed by these devices, programs for a processor to realize the functions of these devices, and storage media for storing such programs in a computer-readable manner. [Industrial applicability]

[0037] The present invention can be used in a train monitoring system having multiple cameras connected to a network switch. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 10-1, 10-2, 10-3, 10-4: Vehicle, 11(A)~11(D): Camera, 12: Relay device, 13(A), 13(B): Video display device, 14: Video recording device, 15: Control device, 21: Imaging unit, 22: Processing / control unit, 23: Configuration file, 24: Communication unit, 25: Automatic setting unit

Claims

1. In a train monitoring system having multiple cameras connected to multiple ports of a network switch, Depending on the mounting position of the camera on the train car, the necessity of image inversion for the camera image differs. The IP address assigned to each camera and the port on the network switch to which each camera should be connected are predetermined according to the mounting position of each camera on the vehicle. The network switch assigns an IP address corresponding to the port to the camera connected to the port of the network switch. The train monitoring system is characterized in that, when the camera is assigned an IP address upon connection to the port of the network switch, it sets whether or not to perform image inversion on the camera image according to its mounting position determined from the assigned IP address.

2. In the train monitoring system described in claim 1, The train monitoring system is characterized in that, when the camera is assigned an IP address upon connection to the network switch, it further sets a camera name according to its mounting location determined from the assigned IP address.

3. In the train monitoring system described in claim 1, The train monitoring system is characterized in that, when the camera is assigned an IP address upon connection to the network switch, it further configures settings related to the distribution of camera images according to its mounting location determined from the assigned IP address.

Images