Monitoring camera and monitoring camera control method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9437089-B2
Application number	US-201615018604-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 8, 2016
Priority date	Feb 14, 2007
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

An image signal processing DSP subjects an image captured by an imaging element having a zoom lens to image processing for identifying a tracking target. In accordance with zoom information generated by the image signal processing DSP, the main CPU controls the zoom lens and controls a turn table that moves the imaging element in panning and tilting directions in accordance with pan and tilt information, to track the tracking target. During tracking of the tracking target, a determination is made, from information about movements of the tracking target generated by the image signal processing DSP, as to whether or not the target to be tracked has intruded the inside of the area from the outside. In a case where the target has intruded the inside of a preset area from the outside, an alarm command is produced when the target continually remains in the area for; e.g., one second.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A monitoring camera comprising:
an imager having a lens;
an image processor which identifies a tracking target in an image captured by the imager and generates tracking information;
a main processor which tracks the tracking target in accordance with the tracking information generated by the image processor; and
the main processor which determines, based on the tracking information generated by the image processor, whether or not the tracking target intrudes inside of a preset area from outside, and outputs an alarm only if the tracking target intrudes the inside of the preset area from the outside,
wherein, if tracking of the tracking target starts from the inside of the preset area and the tracking target remains in the preset area, the main processor does not output the alarm, and
wherein, if tracking of the tracking target starts from the inside of the preset area and the tracking target moves to the outside of the preset area, the main processor does not output the alarm.

2. A monitoring camera system comprising at least two monitoring cameras according to claim 1 , wherein the tracking target is tracked in an associated manner by supporting an alarm signal from one camera directly to the other camera.

3. A monitoring camera according to claim 1 , wherein the main processor tracks the tracking target so that the tracking target is positioned at a center of the image captured by the imager.

4. A monitoring camera control method comprising:
identifying a tracking target in an image captured by an imager having a lens and generates tracking information;
tracking the tracking target in accordance with the tracking information generated; and
determining, based on the tracking information generated, whether or not the tracking target intrudes inside of a preset area from outside, and outputting an alarm only if the tracking target has intruded the inside of the preset area from the outside,
wherein, if tracking of the tracking target starts from the inside of the preset area and the tracking target remains in the preset area, the alarm is not outputted, and
wherein, if tracking of the tracking target starts from the inside of the preset area and the tracking target moves to the outside of the preset area, the alarm is not outputted.

5. A monitoring camera comprising:
an imager having a lens;
an image processor which identifies a tracking target in an image captured by the imager and generates tracking information;
a main processor which tracks the tracking target in accordance with the tracking information generated by the image processor; and
the main processor which determines, based on the tracking information generated by the image processor, whether or not the tracking target intrudes inside of a preset area from outside, and outputs an alarm if the tracking target intrudes the inside of the preset area from the outside,
wherein, if tracking of the tracking target starts from the inside of the preset area and the tracking target remains in the preset area, the main processor does not output the alarm,
wherein, if tracking of the tracking target starts from the outside of the preset area and the tracking target remains the outside of the preset area, the main processor does not output the alarm, and
wherein, if tracking of the tracking target starts from the inside of the preset area and the tracking target moves to the outside of the preset area, the main processor does not output the alarm.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Mori Yuichiro
• Nakamura Yasuji
• Higuchi Kazutaka
• Ooyabu Satoru

Classifications

• H04N23/69

  Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming · CPC title

• H04N23/66

  Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices · CPC title

• H04N23/62

  Control of parameters via user interfaces · CPC title

• G08B13/19613 Primary

  Recognition of a predetermined image pattern or behaviour pattern indicating theft or intrusion · CPC title

• G08B13/19652

  Systems using zones in a single scene defined for different treatment, e.g. outer zone gives pre-alarm, inner zone gives alarm · CPC title