Crime prevention system for elevator, crime prevention device, server, and crime prevention method for elevator

Abstract

A crime prevention system for an elevator according to the present invention comprises: a crime prevention device that comprises a monitoring camera that is provided inside the car of an elevator or at a landing for the elevator and a recording device that records static image data captured at prescribed intervals by the monitoring camera; and a server that receives static image data for at least one designated capture date and time from the crime prevention device over an elevator monitoring circuit and transmits the received static image data to a user terminal at a remote location over a communication network. The server receives an image display request that includes at least one designated capture date and time from the user terminal and transmits a download command for static image data for at least one capture date and time to the crime prevention device in accordance with the image display request. The crime prevention device receives the download command, reads static image data for the at least one designated capture data and time from the storage device on the basis of the received download command, and transmits the static image data to the server.

Description

Elevator security system, security device, server, and elevator security method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technology for remotely monitoring elevators using a surveillance camera.

[0002] Patent Literature 1 discloses a technology related to a surveillance system using a camera. The surveillance system of this technology includes an image analysis storage device, a communication device, and a server. The image analysis storage device stores image data of video captured by the camera. When an alarm signal indicating an abnormality is received, the communication device receives recorded image data, which is image data of video for a set time before and after the time the abnormality occurred, from the image analysis storage device. The server saves the received recorded image data and transmits the recorded image data in response to a request from a mobile terminal.

[0003] Japanese Patent No. 6266184

[0004] In the monitoring system of Patent Document 1, the image data stored in the image analysis and storage device is video, so the image volume is large. When transmitting such video image data from the image analysis and storage device to a server, a dedicated line such as a high-speed Internet line is required to shorten communication time. However, maintaining a dedicated line such as a high-speed Internet line is costly, which limits the cost-effectiveness and limits the number of users.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a technology that allows recorded images from a surveillance camera to be viewed remotely without using a dedicated line.

[0006] The security system disclosed herein comprises a security device having a surveillance camera installed inside an elevator car or at the elevator landing, and a recording device that records still image data captured by the surveillance camera at specified intervals, and a server that receives still image data for one or more specified capture dates and times from the security device via an elevator monitoring line, and transmits the received still image data to a user terminal in a remote location via a communication network.

[0007] In addition, the security device disclosed herein includes a surveillance camera installed inside an elevator car or at a landing, a recording device that records still image data captured by the surveillance camera at specified intervals, and a monitoring device that receives a download command including one or more specified image capture dates and times from a server via an elevator monitoring line, reads out the still image data for the one or more specified image capture dates and times from the recording device, and transmits the still image data to the server.

[0008] The server of the present disclosure also includes an image display request receiving unit that receives an image display request including one or more specified image capture dates and times from a remote user terminal; a download command sending unit that sends a download command for still image data of one or more specified image capture dates and times generated in accordance with the image display request to a security device that includes a surveillance camera installed inside the elevator car or at the elevator landing and a recording device that records still image data captured by the surveillance camera at specified intervals; and a still image data sending and receiving unit that receives the still image data of the one or more specified image capture dates and times via the elevator monitoring line and sends it to the user terminal.

[0009] Furthermore, the elevator security method disclosed herein includes the steps of recording still image data captured at specified intervals by a surveillance camera installed inside the elevator car or at the elevator hall in a recording device, accepting an image display request including one or more specified image capture dates and times from a remote user terminal, and reading out still image data of the one or more specified image capture dates and times from the recording device in accordance with the image display request and transmitting the data to the user terminal.

[0010] According to the technology of the present disclosure, it is possible to check images recorded by a surveillance camera from a remote location without using a dedicated line.

[0011] It is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a security system according to an embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram for explaining an outline of the operation of the security system according to an embodiment. It is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing executed in the security system according to an embodiment. It is a diagram showing an example of hardware resources of a monitoring device. It is a diagram showing another example of hardware resources of a monitoring device.

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that elements common to the various drawings are given the same reference numerals and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0013] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a security system according to this embodiment. The security system 100 is a system for remotely checking images from a surveillance camera that monitors an elevator. The security system 100 includes a security device 10, a server 20, and a user terminal 30.

[0014] The security device 10 is installed in a building facility that has an elevator to be monitored. The security device 10 includes a surveillance camera 12, a recording device 14, and a monitoring device 16. The surveillance camera 12 is installed in a position that includes the inside of the elevator car or the landing in its imaging range. Typically, the surveillance camera 12 is installed on the ceiling inside the elevator car. Image data captured by the surveillance camera 12 is transmitted to the recording device 14.

[0015] The recording device 14 records image data input from the surveillance camera 12 in still image format. The still image format may be, for example, JPEG. The recording device 14 may be, for example, a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, or a magnetic disk. The recording device 14 records image data as still image data every predetermined time. Typically, the predetermined time is, for example, one second. The recording device 14 uses the date and time when the image was recorded, for example, to create a file name for each still image data file in the format 20YY / MM / DD hh:mm:ss, so that each recorded still image data file can be distinguished.

[0016] The monitoring device 16 is communicatively connected to the recording device 14 and to the server 20 via an elevator monitoring line 40. The monitoring device 16 includes, as its functions, a download command receiving unit 17 and a still image data transmitting unit 18. The download command receiving unit 17 receives a command to download still image data from the server 20. The download command includes information on one or more capture dates and times of the still image data to be downloaded. The still image data transmitting unit 18 downloads the still image data from the recording device 14 in accordance with the received download command and transmits it to the server 20 via the elevator monitoring line 40. Note that the elevator monitoring line 40 is not a dedicated line for transmitting still image data, but is a line widely used for transmitting and receiving various monitoring data received by the monitoring device 16. Typically, the elevator monitoring line 40 is a telephone line.

[0017] The server 20 includes, as its functions, an image display request receiving unit 22, a download command transmitting unit 24, and a still image data transmitting / receiving unit 26. The image display request receiving unit 22 receives an image display request transmitted from a user terminal 30. The image display request includes information on the specified period of still image data requested by the user to be downloaded and building information for identifying the target elevator. The download command transmitting unit 24 ties an elevator monitoring line 40 to establish communication with the security device 10 of the target elevator and transmits a download command to the security device 10. The still image data transmitting / receiving unit 26 receives still image data for the specified period from the security device 10 and transmits it to the user terminal 30 via a communication network 50. The communication network 50 can be a telephone line, an IP (Internet Protocol), or the like.

[0018] The user terminal 30 is a terminal operated by a user who is the manager of the target elevator. The user terminal 30 has, as its functions, an input acceptance unit 32 and a display unit 34. The input acceptance unit 32 accepts input of a designated image capture date and time from the user by displaying a screen for inputting a designated image capture date and time. The display unit 34 also receives still image data from the server 20 and displays it on a web screen.

[0019] 2. Operation of the Security System Fig. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an overview of the operation of the security system according to the embodiment. Fig. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of processing executed in the security system according to the embodiment. Below, the operation of the security system 100 will be explained in accordance with the flowchart shown in Fig. 3, while referring to the conceptual diagram shown in Fig. 2. Note that this flowchart also represents a part of the security method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] In step S100, a screen for inputting a designated image capture date and time is displayed on the user terminal 30. The user refers to the displayed screen and inputs one or more designated image capture dates and times for the still image data they wish to display. The one or more designated image capture dates and times input here may be a specific image capture date and time only, or may specify a period including multiple designated image capture dates and times. The input accepting unit 32 of the user terminal 30 accepts the input of one or more designated image capture dates and times by the user. The accepted one or more designated image capture dates and times are transmitted to the server 20 via the communication network 50 as an image display request together with building information including information about the target elevator.

[0021] In step S102, the image display request receiving unit 22 of the server 20 receives the image display request transmitted from the user terminal 30. In the next step S104, the download command transmitting unit 24 of the server 20 associates the elevator monitoring line 40 with the security device 10 of the target elevator based on the building information to establish communication with the security device 10. Then, in step S106, the download command transmitting unit 24 generates a download command based on the image display request and transmits the download command to the monitoring device 16 using the established elevator monitoring line 40.

[0022] In step S108, the download command receiving unit 17 of the monitoring device 16 receives the download command. The recording device 14 records still image data captured at specified time intervals by the monitoring camera 12. In step S110, the still image data transmitting unit 18 of the monitoring device 16 reads out from the recording device 14 the still image data for one or more specified capture dates and times included in the download command, and transmits the still image data to the server 20 via the elevator monitoring line 40.

[0023] In step S112, the still image data transmission / reception unit 26 of the server 20 receives the still image data. Then, in step S114, the still image data transmission / reception unit 26 of the server 20 transmits the still image data to the user terminal 30.

[0024] In step S116, the user terminal 30 receives the still image data. Then, in step S118, the display unit 34 of the user terminal 30 displays the still image data on the web screen of the user terminal 30.

[0025] According to the operation of the security system 100 described above, the following actions and effects can be obtained.

[0026] Still image data has a smaller data capacity than moving image data. Therefore, the security system 100 that transmits still image data can remotely check the images from the surveillance camera 12 using the existing elevator monitoring line 40 without preparing a separate dedicated line.

[0027] 3. Modifications of the Embodiment The security system 100 of the present embodiment may be modified as follows.

[0028] 4 is a diagram showing an example of hardware resources of the monitoring device 16. The monitoring device 16 includes, as hardware resources, a processing circuit 166 including a processor 162 and a memory 164. The processing circuit 166 may include multiple processors 162. The processing circuit 166 may also include multiple memories 164.

[0029] In this embodiment, the functions of the monitoring device 16 can be realized by software written as a program, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The program is stored in the memory 164. The monitoring device 16 realizes each function by executing the program stored in the memory 164 using the processor 162 (computer).

[0030] The processor 162 is also called a CPU (Central Processing Unit), central processing unit, processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or DSP. The memory 164 may be a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a minidisk, or a DVD. Usable semiconductor memory includes RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM, and the like.

[0031] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing another example of hardware resources of the monitoring device 16. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the monitoring device 16 includes a processor 162, a memory 164, and a processing circuit 166 including dedicated hardware 168. Fig. 5 shows an example in which some of the functions of the monitoring device 16 are implemented by the dedicated hardware 168. All of the functions of the monitoring device 16 may also be implemented by the dedicated hardware 168. The dedicated hardware 168 may be a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, or a combination thereof.

[0032] The hardware resources of the server 20 also include a processing circuit including a processor and memory similar to those described above. The server 20 realizes each function by executing a program stored in the memory using the processor (computer).

[0033] 3-2 Server 20 There are no limitations on the location of the server 20. In other words, the server 20 may be installed in a remote location different from the security device 10.

[0034] 3-3 User Terminal 30 The user terminal 30 is not limited in its configuration as long as it includes at least an input receiving unit 32 that receives input of user operations and a display unit 34 that displays images.

[0035] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Entrance monitoring camera, 10 Security device, 12 Monitoring camera, 14 Recording device, 16 Monitoring device, 17 Download command receiving unit, 18 Still image data transmitting unit, 20 Server, 22 Image display request receiving unit, 24 Download command transmitting unit, 26 Still image data transmitting and receiving unit, 30 User terminal, 32 Input receiving unit, 34 Display unit, 40 Elevator monitoring line, 50 Communication network, 100 Security system, 162 Processor, 164 Memory, 166 Processing circuit, 168 Dedicated hardware

Claims

1. A security device comprising a surveillance camera installed in an elevator car or a landing, and a recording device for recording still image data at regular intervals captured by the surveillance camera; A server that receives still image data of one or more specified imaging dates and times from the security device via an elevator monitoring line, and transmits the received still image data to a user terminal at a remote location via a communication network; Comprising; The server, An image display request receiving unit that receives an image display request including the one or more specified imaging dates and times from the user terminal; A download command transmission unit that transmits a download command for still image data of the one or more imaging dates and times to the security device according to the image display request; Including; The security device, A download command receiving unit that receives the download command; A still image data transmission unit that reads out still image data of the one or more specified imaging dates and times from the recording device based on the download command and transmits it to the server; An elevator security system including a monitoring device comprising.

2. The elevator security system according to claim 1, wherein the still image data is in JPEG format.

3. An image display request receiving unit that receives an image display request including one or more specified imaging dates and times from a user terminal at a remote location; A download command transmission unit that transmits a download command for still image data of the one or more specified imaging dates and times generated according to the image display request to a security device comprising a surveillance camera installed in an elevator car or a landing, and a recording device for recording still image data at regular intervals captured by the surveillance camera; A still image data transmission and reception unit that receives still image data of the one or more specified imaging dates and times via an elevator monitoring line and transmits it to the user terminal; A server comprising.