Dashcam, image quality preservation control method

Abstract

To enable the preservation of high quality video images taken at specified times and locations.SOLUTION: A photography unit 20 takes pictures of the surroundings of a moving object and generates video data. A position information acquisition unit 231 acquires position information of the current position. A timekeeping unit 232 acquires date / time information of the current date / time. A conversion unit 233 converts the video data and reduces the resolution of the video represented by the converted video data to a set resolution. A reception unit 234 receives designation information that specifies a region and a period of time. A conversion control unit 235 controls the conversion unit 233 when the set resolution is lower than the predetermined resolution and instructs the transformation of the specified image data so that the resolution after conversion for the video represented by the designated video data generated by a shooting unit 20 within the region and the period of time specified by the designation information becomes a resolution higher than the predetermined resolution. A storage section 25 stores the video data after conversion by the conversion unit 233 and the position information and the date / time information in correspondence.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to image quality preservation control of video data recorded by a drive recorder mounted on a moving object such as a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] There is a known technique in which a vehicle equipped with a drive recorder periodically transmits position information to a traffic information distribution center, and in response to a request from the center, the vehicle traveling in a traffic jam section transmits an image taken of the traffic jam section to the center, and the center that has received the image distributes the image to other vehicles so that passengers in other vehicles can check the traffic jam situation (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Some drive recorders down-convert video data after a certain period of time has elapsed since recording the video data to reduce the image quality (resolution) of the video and record it, or allow the user to set the image quality of the video represented by the video data to be recorded. The video represented by the video data transmitted from such a drive recorder to the center may be of low quality.

[0005] In one aspect, an object of the present invention is to enable high-quality preservation of video taken at a specified time and position.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure of a drive recorder comprises a shooting unit, a location information acquisition unit, a timing unit, a conversion unit, a reception unit, a conversion control unit, and a storage unit. The shooting unit is mounted on a moving object and generates video data by shooting the area around the moving object. The location information acquisition unit acquires location information indicating the current location. The timing unit acquires date and time information indicating the current date and time. The conversion unit converts the video data to reduce the resolution of the video represented by the converted video data to a set resolution. The reception unit receives specification information that specifies an area and a period. If the set resolution is lower than a predetermined resolution, the conversion control unit controls the conversion unit to convert the specified video data so that the resolution of the video represented by the specified video data shot and generated by the shooting unit within the area and period specified by the specification information is equal to or greater than the predetermined resolution. The storage unit stores the converted video data by the conversion unit in association with the location information and date and time information.

[0007] Another aspect of the present disclosure is an image quality preservation control method in which a computer performs a process to convert video data generated by a camera mounted on a mobile body that photographs the area around the mobile body, reducing the resolution of the video represented by the converted video data to a set resolution, storing the converted video data in association with location information indicating the current location and date and time information indicating the current date and time in a storage unit, receiving specification information specifying an area and period from an external device, and if the set resolution is lower than a predetermined resolution, controlling the conversion by converting the video data generated by the camera within the area and period specified by the specification information so that the resolution of the video represented by the converted video data becomes a resolution equal to or greater than the predetermined resolution. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In one respect, the present invention has the effect of enabling the provision of images suitable for a particular application. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This diagram shows an example configuration of drive recorder 1. [Figure 2] This diagram shows an example of a data structure for stored data. [Figure 3] This is a diagram showing an example of a computer hardware configuration. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows an example of the processing steps involved in recording. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows an example of the processing steps for specified video data. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0011] Figure 1 shows an example configuration of drive recorder 1.

[0012] Drive recorder 1 is mounted on a vehicle (not shown), which is an example of a moving object, and repeatedly transmits the vehicle's current location to a traffic information distribution center (not shown). Drive recorder 1 also receives designated information from the center, which includes area information indicating the range of a physical location on Earth and period information indicating the range of time from a start date to an end date. This designated information is, for example, information about the location and date and time of traffic congestion recognized by the center.

[0013] When the vehicle is located within the area indicated by the specified information, the drive recorder 1 sends video data of the area around the vehicle, which was captured and generated within the period indicated by the specified information, to the center. The center distributes the video data received from the drive recorder 1 to other vehicles so that the passengers of those vehicles can view the surrounding footage, such as footage showing traffic congestion.

[0014] The drive recorder 1 in FIG. 1 is provided for the above-described uses, for example. However, the drive recorder 1 ensures a resolution of a predetermined level or higher for the video represented by the video data to be sent to the center, so as to provide a clear video of the surroundings.

[0015] This drive recorder 1 includes a photographing unit 20, a communication unit 21, a position detection unit 22, a control unit 23, an input / output unit 24, and a storage unit 25.

[0016] The photographing unit 20 includes a camera, and generates video data representing the video obtained by photographing the surroundings of the vehicle on which the drive recorder 1 is mounted using the camera. The photographing unit 20 can set the horizontal viewing angle, and can acquire video with a maximum viewing angle of 360 degrees according to the setting. In the following description, the vehicle on which the drive recorder 1 is mounted will simply be referred to as the "vehicle".

[0017] The communication unit 21 exchanges various data with the communication device of the traffic information distribution center via a wireless communication network (not shown), for example. The communication device of the distribution center is an example of an external device. In the following description, the distribution center will simply be referred to as the "center".

[0018] The position detection unit 22 is, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) device, and detects the current position of the vehicle on the earth as longitude and latitude information.

[0019] The control unit 23 provides the functions of a position information acquisition unit 231, a timekeeping unit 232, a conversion unit 233, a reception unit 234, a conversion control unit 235, and a recording unit 236, respectively.

[0020] The position information acquisition unit 231 acquires position information indicating the current position of the vehicle detected by the position detection unit 22.

[0021] The timekeeping unit 232 acquires time information indicating the current date and time.

[0022] The conversion unit 233 is a downconverter that converts the video data generated by the imaging unit 20 and reduces the resolution of the video represented by the converted video data to a set resolution. Therefore, a resolution lower than the resolution of the video represented by the video data before conversion can be set in the conversion unit 233. When the same resolution as the resolution of the video represented by the video data before conversion is set, the conversion unit 233 may output the video data before conversion as it is as a conversion result.

[0023] The reception unit 234 receives designation information for designating an area and a period. This designation information is, for example, designation information regarding the location and date / time of occurrence of traffic congestion, which is transmitted from the center and received by the communication unit 21.

[0024] The conversion control unit 235 controls the conversion unit 233. For example, when the resolution setting for the conversion unit 233 is lower than a predetermined resolution, the conversion control unit 235 controls the conversion unit 233 to perform conversion of the video data so that the video represented by the converted video data has a resolution equal to or higher than the predetermined resolution. This control is performed by the conversion control unit 235 when the conversion unit 233 performs conversion on the video data captured and generated by the imaging unit 20 within the range of the area and period designated by the designation information received by the reception unit 234. The predetermined resolution may be, for example, the highest resolution among the resolutions after conversion that can be set in the conversion unit 233.

[0025] In the following description, the video data captured and generated by the imaging unit 20 within the range of the area and period designated by the designation information received by the reception unit 234 will be referred to as "designated video data", and the video represented by the designated video data will be referred to as "designated video".

[0026] The recording unit 236 stores and saves various types of information in the storage unit 25.

[0027] The input / output unit 24 includes a display unit 241 and an operation unit 242.

[0028] The display unit 241 is a display device that provides passengers of the vehicle with images captured by the camera unit 20 and various other information.

[0029] The control unit 242 consists of switches operated by the vehicle's occupants, and receives various instructions from the occupants that are associated with those operations.

[0030] The memory unit 25 stores and saves various types of data, such as recording setting information 251, specification information 252, and recording data 253. The details of this stored data will now be explained. Figure 2 shows an example of the data structure of the stored data.

[0031] The recording setting information 251 is input by the vehicle's occupant via the input / output unit 24. The recording setting information 251 is setting information for the video recording operation by the drive recorder 1 and includes information on "resolution" and "field of view". "Resolution" is information that sets the resolution of the video recorded by the video recording operation of the drive recorder 1. The "field of view" information is information that sets the horizontal field of view of the video of the area around the vehicle that is recorded by the said video recording operation.

[0032] The designated information 252 is information sent from the center. The designated information 252 includes information on the "designated area," "designated period," and "designated field of view." The "designated area" is information that specifies the range of physical locations on Earth, and the "designated period" is information that specifies the range of time that continues from the start date and time to the end date and time. The video data that the shooting unit 20 captures and generates within the range of the area and period specified by these "designated area" and "designated period" becomes the designated video data. In addition, the "designated field of view" is information that specifies the horizontal field of view for the designated video, and by setting the field of view to the shooting unit 20 according to this information, the designated video of the area around the vehicle is captured at the specified field of view.

[0033] The recorded data 253 is data that associates the "video data" converted by the conversion unit 233 with "location information" and "date and time information". The "location information" is information indicating the location where the video represented by the "video data" was filmed, and is information indicating the location of the vehicle detected by the location detection unit 22 and acquired by the location information acquisition unit 231 at the time the video was filmed. The "date and time information" is information indicating the date and time when the video represented by the "video data" was filmed, and is information acquired by the timing unit 232 at the time the video was filmed.

[0034] The drive recorder 1 in Figure 1 has the above components.

[0035] The center's communication device may send a request for the transmission of specified video data. When the communication unit 21 receives this transmission request, the receiving unit 234 accepts the request, reads the specified video data stored in the storage unit 25 as recorded data 253, and passes it to the communication unit 21. At this time, the communication unit 21 functions as a transmitting unit and transmits the specified video data to the center.

[0036] On the other hand, if the communication unit 21 does not receive a request to send the specified video data after a predetermined period has elapsed, the conversion control unit 235 performs new control on the conversion unit 233. In this control, the conversion resolution setting for the conversion unit 233 is changed back from the predetermined resolution mentioned above to the original resolution before the setting change, and then the conversion unit 233 is made to perform the conversion of the specified video data so that the video represented by the converted specified video data is at the original resolution. The recording unit 236 replaces the specified video data that was stored in the storage unit 25 as recorded data 253 with the converted specified video data by the conversion unit 233 and stores it in the storage unit 25.

[0037] Furthermore, some elements of the drive recorder 1 may be configured using a computer combined with software.

[0038] Figure 3 shows an example of the hardware configuration of computer 30.

[0039] The computer 30 includes, for example, a processor 31, memory 32, storage device 33, reader 34, communication interface 36, and input / output interface 37 as its components. These components are connected via a data bus 38, allowing them to exchange data with each other.

[0040] The processor 31 may be a single processor, a multi-processor, or a multi-core processor. The processor 31 uses the memory 32 to execute a program that describes the procedures for each of the recording processes, which will be described later, thereby providing the functions of the control unit 23.

[0041] Memory 32 is, for example, a semiconductor memory and includes a RAM area and a ROM area. RAM stands for Random Access Memory, and ROM stands for Read Only Memory.

[0042] The storage device 33 is, for example, a semiconductor memory such as flash memory, or an external storage device. When the drive recorder 1 is configured using the computer 30, the storage device 33 provides the function of the storage unit 25.

[0043] The reader 34 accesses the removable storage medium 35 according to instructions from the processor 31. The removable storage medium 35 can be implemented as, for example, a semiconductor device (such as a USB memory stick), a medium in which information is input / output by magnetic action (such as a magnetic disk), or a medium in which information is input / output by optical action (such as a CD-ROM or DVD). Note that USB is an abbreviation for Universal Serial Bus. CD is an abbreviation for Compact Disc. DVD is an abbreviation for Digital Versatile Disk.

[0044] The communication interface 36 transmits and receives data via various communication lines, for example, in accordance with instructions from the processor 31. When the drive recorder 1 is configured using the computer 30, the communication interface 36 provides the functions of the communication unit 21.

[0045] The input / output interface 37 provides an interface between the imaging unit 20, the position detection unit 22, and the input / output unit 24, and the processor 31 which functions as the control unit 23.

[0046] The program executed by the processor 31 of this computer 30 is provided, for example, in the following form.

[0047] (1) It is pre-installed on the storage device 33. (2) Provided by a removable storage medium 35. (3) Provided from the program server or the like to the communication interface 36 via a communication network or the like.

[0048] The hardware configuration of computer 30 is illustrative, and the embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, some or all of the functions of the above-mentioned functional units may be implemented as hardware such as FPGAs and SoCs. FPGA stands for Field Programmable Gate Array, and SoC stands for System-on-a-chip.

[0049] Next, we will explain the various processes performed by the control unit 23 of the drive recorder 1.

[0050] Furthermore, when combining software with the computer 30 in Figure 3 to constitute some elements of the drive recorder 1, it is sufficient to have the processor 31 execute an information processing program that describes the processes described below.

[0051] First, let's explain Figure 4. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing steps involved in recording.

[0052] This recording process is initiated when a vehicle occupant operates the operation unit 242 of the input / output unit 24 to input recording setting information 251, thereby giving instructions for recording settings and also giving instructions to start recording through a predetermined operation.

[0053] When the process shown in Figure 4 begins, first, in S101, the field of view specified by the recording setting information 251 input by the vehicle occupant is set on the shooting unit 20.

[0054] Next, in S102, the resolution instructed by the recording setting information 251 input by the vehicle occupant is set in the conversion unit 233 as the video resolution for the video data after conversion by the conversion unit 233.

[0055] The processes from S103 to S110 are executed repeatedly until the result of the judgment process in S110 is YES.

[0056] First, in S103, probe information, including information indicating the vehicle's current position, is sent to the communication unit 21 for transmission to the center. Since the information indicating the vehicle's current position is detected by the position detection unit 22, the control unit 23, acting as the position information acquisition unit 231, acquires this information and transmits it to the communication unit 21. By repeating the execution of this S103 process, the vehicle's current position information is repeatedly sent to the center.

[0057] Following the processing in S103, in S104, the camera unit 20 is controlled to capture images of the area around the moving object and generate video data for those images. In this process, the camera unit 20 captures images of the field of view specified by the recording setting information 251, which was set in the processing of S101.

[0058] Next, in S105, a conversion unit 233 performs processing to convert the video data generated by the processing in S104 so that the resolution of the video represented by the converted video data becomes the set resolution. In this process, the control unit 23 converts the video data generated by the processing in S104 into video data for the resolution indicated by the recording setting information 251 set by the processing in S102.

[0059] Next, in S106, the converted video data from the processing in S105 is associated with location information indicating the vehicle's current position and date and time information indicating the current date and time, and stored in the storage unit 25 as recorded video data 253. In this process, the control unit 23, as a location information acquisition unit 231, acquires location information from the location detection unit 22, and as a timing unit 232, acquires date and time information. Then, the control unit 23, as a recording unit 236, associates the converted video data from the processing in S105 with the acquired location information and date and time information, and stores it in the storage unit 25 as recorded video data 253.

[0060] By repeatedly executing the processes from S104 to S106 described above, the drive recorder 1 is provided with its original function of sequentially saving video data of the surroundings of a moving object.

[0061] Following the processing in S106, in S107, the receiving unit 234 determines whether or not the designated information 252 transmitted from the center's communication device and received by the communication unit 21 has been received. In this determination process, if it is determined that the designated information 252 has been received (the determination result is YES), the process proceeds to S108; if it is determined that the designated information 252 has not been received (the determination result is NO), the process proceeds to S110.

[0062] In S108, information on the designated area and designated period is obtained from the designated information 252 which was determined to have been received in the processing of S107, and a process is performed to determine whether the vehicle's current position is within the designated area and whether the current date and time are within the designated period. In this process, the control unit 23, as the position information acquisition unit 231, acquires position information from the position detection unit 22, and as the timing unit 232, acquires date and time information, and performs the above-mentioned determination process using the acquired position information and position information.

[0063] In the determination process of S108, if it is determined that the vehicle's current position is within the specified area and the current date and time is within the specified period (determination result is YES), the specified video data processing in S109 is performed, and then the process proceeds to S110. On the other hand, in the determination process of S108, if it is determined that the vehicle's current position is not within the specified area or the current date and time is not within the specified period (determination result is NO), the process of S109 is skipped and the process proceeds to S110. Details of the specified video data processing will be described later.

[0064] In S110, a process is performed to determine whether or not a recording termination instruction has been received. The recording termination instruction is given when a vehicle occupant performs a predetermined operation on the operation unit 242 of the input / output unit 24. In this determination process, if it is determined that a recording termination instruction has been received (the determination result is YES), the recording process shown in Figure 4 is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in this determination process that a recording termination instruction has not been received (the determination result is NO), the process returns to S103, and the process from S103 onwards is repeated.

[0065] The process described above constitutes the recording process.

[0066] Next, we will explain the details of the specified video data processing in S109 of Figure 4. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing content of the specified video data processing.

[0067] When the process shown in Figure 5 begins, in step S201, the field of view setting for the imaging unit 20 is changed to the specified field of view included in the specified information 252 that was determined to have been received in the determination process in step S107 of Figure 4.

[0068] Next, in S202, the conversion unit 233 is configured to determine whether the resolution of the converted video data, i.e., the resolution set in the conversion unit 233 by the process in S102 of Figure 4, is lower than a predetermined resolution. As mentioned above, the predetermined resolution may be, for example, the highest resolution among the converted resolutions that can be set in the conversion unit 233.

[0069] In the determination process of S202, if it is determined that the resolution set in the conversion unit 233 is lower than a predetermined resolution (when the determination result is YES), the process proceeds to S203. On the other hand, in the determination process of S202, if it is determined that the resolution set in the conversion unit 233 is equal to or greater than a predetermined resolution (when the determination result is NO), the process of S203 is skipped and the process proceeds to S204.

[0070] In step S203, the conversion unit 233 performs a process to change the resolution setting of the converted video data to a predetermined resolution or a resolution higher than the predetermined resolution.

[0071] In S204, the timer timing process is initiated. This process may, for example, involve storing the current date and time obtained by the timing unit 232 in a predetermined storage area.

[0072] The processes from S205 to S211 are executed repeatedly until the result of the judgment process in S209 or S211 is YES.

[0073] First, in S205, probe information, including information indicating the vehicle's current position, is sent to the center via the communication unit 21. Since the information indicating the vehicle's current position is detected by the position detection unit 22, the control unit 23, acting as the position information acquisition unit 231, acquires this information and sends it to the communication unit 21. In addition, the probe information may also include information on the vehicle's speed and the field of view set in the imaging unit 20 at the time of this process. By repeating the execution of this S205 process, the vehicle's current position information is repeatedly sent to the center.

[0074] Next, in S206, the camera unit 20 is controlled to capture images of the area around the moving object and generate video data for those images.

[0075] The process in Figure 5 is executed when the result of the judgment process in S108 in Figure 4 is YES. Therefore, the video captured by the shooting unit 20 in process S206 is the specified video, and the video data generated by the shooting unit 20 is the specified video data. Also, since the field of view setting has been changed to the specified field of view by the process in S201 mentioned above, the shooting unit 20 captures the specified video at the specified field of view and generates the specified video data in process S206.

[0076] Next, in S207, the conversion unit 233 performs processing to convert the specified video data generated by the processing in S206 so that the resolution of the video represented by the converted specified video data becomes the set resolution.

[0077] As a result of the processing in S202 and S203 described above, the conversion unit 233 is set to a resolution greater than or equal to the predetermined resolution described above. Therefore, the resolution of the video represented by the specified video data after conversion by the processing in S207 will be greater than or equal to the predetermined resolution.

[0078] Next, in S208, the specified video data converted by the processing in S207 is associated with location information indicating the vehicle's current position and date and time information indicating the current date and time, and temporarily stored in the storage unit 25. In this process, the control unit 23, as the location information acquisition unit 231, acquires location information from the location detection unit 22, and as the timing unit 232, acquires date and time information. Then, the control unit 23, as the recording unit 236, associates the specified video data converted by the processing in S207 with the acquired location information and date and time information, and temporarily stores them in the storage unit 25.

[0079] The process described in steps S206 to S208 is repeated to capture the specified video, generate the specified video data, and temporarily save it.

[0080] Next, in S209, the receiving unit 234 determines whether or not it has received the request to send the specified video data transmitted from the center's communication device and received by the communication unit 21. In this determination process, if it is determined that the request to send the specified video data has been received (determination result is YES), the process proceeds to S210; if it is determined that the specified information 252 has not been received (determination result is NO), the process proceeds to S211.

[0081] In S210, the specified video data, which has been temporarily stored by repeating the process in S208, is read and sent to the center via the communication unit 21. This communication unit 21 is an example of a transmission unit that transmits the specified video data. After completing the process in S210, the process proceeds to S212.

[0082] In S211, a process is performed to determine whether a predetermined period has elapsed since the timer started due to the process in S204 described above. This process may, for example, determine whether the elapsed time from the date and time stored in the predetermined storage area by the process in S204 to the current date and time obtained by the timer unit 232 exceeds the predetermined period. If the determination process in S211 determines that the predetermined period has elapsed (the determination result is YES), the process proceeds to S212. On the other hand, if the determination process in S211 determines that the predetermined period has not yet elapsed (the determination result is NO), the process returns to S205, and the process from S205 onwards is repeated.

[0083] The processing from S212 to S215 involves converting the specified video data so that the resolution of the converted video data is the same as the resolution of the video data represented by the normal video data other than the specified video data, and then storing it in the storage unit 25. This processing is executed after the specified video data has been sent to the center by the processing in S210, or when the determination processing in S209 and S211 determines that there has been no request to send the specified video data within a predetermined period. By executing the processing from S212 to S215, the specified video data and the normal video data are stored in the storage unit 25 without any particular distinction.

[0084] First, in S212, the resolution setting for the converted video data is returned to the setting made in S102 in Figure 4, which is the setting made before the processing in S203, that is, the resolution instructed by the recording setting information 251, for the conversion unit 233.

[0085] Next, in S213, the process of reading the specified video data temporarily stored in the memory unit 25 is performed by repeating the process in S208.

[0086] In S214, the specified video data read out by the processing in S213 is converted, and the conversion unit 233 performs processing so that the resolution of the video represented by the converted specified video data becomes the original resolution before the setting change, which was set in the processing of S212.

[0087] In S215, the process of replacing the specified video data, which is temporarily stored in association with location information and date / time information, with the converted specified video data from the process in S214, by repeating the process in S208, is performed and stored in the storage unit 25 as recorded data 253.

[0088] In S216, the field of view setting for the shooting unit 20 is returned to the setting made in S101 in Figure 4, which is the setting made before the processing in S201, i.e., the field of view specified by the recording setting information 251. After that, the specified video data processing in Figure 5 is completed, and the process returns to S110 in Figure 4.

[0089] The above processing constitutes the processing of the specified video data.

[0090] The control unit 23 performs the recording process described above, making it possible to preserve high-quality video footage captured at a specified time and location.

[0091] Although embodiments of the disclosure and their advantages have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications, additions, and omissions without departing from the scope of the invention as clearly stated in the claims. For example, in the embodiment described above, the resolution of the video represented by the specified video data sent to the center was set to a predetermined resolution or higher. Instead of predetermining this predetermined resolution, for example, the predetermined resolution could be specified by the center, or it could be specified by the vehicle's occupants.

[0092] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the probe information sent from the drive recorder 1 to the center may include, for example, information indicating the vehicle's position, as well as information on the vehicle's speed and information on the field of view set in the shooting unit 20. In this case, the center may select a vehicle based on the probe information received from each of the multiple vehicles each equipped with a drive recorder 1, and send the specified information 252 for acquiring specified video data to the selected vehicle. In this selection, for example, the center may prioritize selecting a vehicle with a wide field of view, or a vehicle with a low speed. This selection is based on the assumption that a wider field of view image yields more information, and that a clearer image can be obtained from a vehicle with a low speed. More specifically, for example, the field of view may be scored according to its width, and the vehicle's speed may be scored according to its low speed, and the vehicle that originated the probe information with the best sum of these scores may be selected as the recipient of the specified information 252.

[0093] In the above embodiment, if the communication unit 21 does not receive a request to send the specified video data after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the conversion control unit 235 performs new control on the conversion unit 233. However, if the communication unit 21 does not receive a request to send the specified video data before the vehicle stops moving and the ignition is turned off, the conversion control unit 235 may cause the conversion unit 233 to convert the video data to a predetermined low resolution. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0094] 1. Dashcam 20 Photography Department 21 Communications Department 22 Position detection unit 23 Control Unit 24 Input / output section 25 Memory section 30 Computers 31 processors 32 memory 33 Storage device 34. Reader 35 Removable storage media 36 Communication Interfaces 37 Input / Output Interfaces 231 Location information acquisition unit 232 Timing section 233 Conversion section 234 Reception Department 235 Conversion Control Unit 236 Records Section 241 Display section 242 Operation section 251 Recording Settings Information 252 Specification information 253 Recorded data

Claims

1. A shooting unit mounted on a mobile body, which captures images of the area around the mobile body and generates video data, A location information acquisition unit that acquires location information indicating the current location, A timekeeping unit that acquires date and time information indicating the current date and time, A conversion unit that converts the aforementioned video data and reduces the resolution of the video represented by the converted video data to a set resolution, A receiving unit that receives specified information that specifies the area and period, A conversion control unit controls the conversion unit when the set resolution is lower than a predetermined resolution, causing the conversion control unit to convert the specified video data so that the converted resolution of the video represented by the specified video data captured and generated by the shooting unit within the range of the area and period specified by the specified information is equal to or greater than the predetermined resolution. The system includes a storage unit that stores the converted video data from the conversion unit in association with the location information and the date and time information, The reception unit receives the specified information from an external device. The system further includes a transmission unit that transmits the specified video data stored in the storage unit in response to a request from the external device. A dashcam characterized by the following features.

2. If the aforementioned request is not made within a predetermined period, the conversion control unit controls the conversion unit to convert the specified video data so that the video represented by the converted specified video data has the set resolution, as described in claim 1.

3. The aforementioned specified information includes information specifying the field of view, The drive recorder according to claim 1, characterized in that the shooting unit shoots around the moving object with the field of view specified by the specified information at the area and date and time specified by the specified information and generates video data.

4. The camera mounted on the mobile body captures images of the area around the mobile body and converts the generated video data to reduce the resolution of the video represented by the converted video data to a set resolution. The converted video data is stored in the memory unit in association with location information indicating the current location and date and time information indicating the current date and time. The system receives specification information from an external device that specifies the area and period. If the set resolution is lower than a predetermined resolution, the conversion is controlled so that the resolution of the video represented by the converted video data becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined resolution, by the conversion of the video data captured and generated by the shooting unit within the range of the area and period specified by the specified information. Image quality preservation control method characterized by processing being performed by a computer.

Images