Security camera system

• US 20030202099A1
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Nakamura, Taku, Inata, Keisuke
• Application Number:
  US10/420,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20030202099A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/153
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A security camera system capable of continuing controls and records even in an emergency wherein individual devices are broken.

A camera terminal transmits packets containing security graphic data to a security controller 100, and receives an acknowledge packet from the security controller 100. The camera terminal records a security image in a record medium packaged in the camera terminal, if it cannot receive the acknowledge packet, while assuming that the security controller has been broken or troubled.

Claims

1. A security camera system comprising:

a camera terminal having a camera unit for photographing an image and outputting video signals, a first transceiver unit for outputting the video signals outputted by said camera unit, wirelessly to a security controller, and a first record medium capable of recording the video signals outputted by said camera unit; and

a security controller having a second transceiver unit for receiving the video signals outputted by said first transceiver unit, a second record medium for recording the video signals received by said second transceiver unit, and a system controller for controlling the record setting of said camera terminal and the write in said second record medium,

wherein said camera terminal does not write in said first record medium at an ordinary state but records the photographed video signals in said first record medium when it is detected that said security controller cannot be used.

2. A security camera system according to claim 1,

wherein said first record medium packaged in said camera terminal records the image photographed by said camera unit, even at the ordinary time, and overwrites and record the oldest image in said first record medium when it is recorded to the trailing end, and

wherein the image recorded in said first record medium is not overwritten when it is detected that said security controller cannot be used.

3. A security camera system according to claim 1,

wherein said camera terminal records a suspicious object in said first record medium when said suspicious object is photographed after it is detected that said security controller could not be used.

4. A security camera system according to claim 1,

wherein said security controller has a network controller for making a line control and calling a security services firm located outside of the security camera system, when said camera terminal detects a suspicious object, and

wherein said camera terminal retrieves another security camera system located in the neighborhood, when it is detected that said security controller cannot be used, to call the security services firm by making use of said security controller for controlling another security camera system.

5. A security camera system according to claim 1,

wherein said camera terminal is provided in plurality, and

wherein said camera terminals form a loop network, in which said camera terminal transmits, when it is detected that said security controller cannot be used, the suspicious object detection information of the camera and the camera information on the connection order of said camera terminals in a predetermined order to another camera terminal, and reconstructs the network by changing the connection order, when said camera information cannot be received, while assuming that said camera terminal is broken or troubled.

6. A security camera system comprising:

a security controller;

a plurality of camera terminals each having a camera unit for photographing an image and outputting video signals, a first transceiver unit for outputting the video signals outputted by said camera unit, wirelessly to a security controller, a record medium capable of recording the video signals outputted by said camera unit, and a system controller for making controls to set the individual records of said camera terminals when the control turn comes in a security camera network; and

a network terminal having a second transceiver unit for receiving the abnormality information having detecting a suspicious object, from said camera terminal controlling said security camera system, and a network controller for calling a security services firm located outside of the security camera system,

wherein one of a predetermined order of said camera terminals controls the security camera system when it is detected that said camera terminal for controlling the security camera system cannot be used.

7. A security camera system comprising:

a first camera terminal having a first camera unit for photographing an image and outputting video signals; and

a second camera terminal having a second camera unit for photographing an image and outputting video signals,

said first camera terminal having a first record medium capable of recording the video signals outputted by said first camera unit, a first transceiver unit capable of outputting the video signals outputted by said first camera unit and said second camera unit, wirelessly to a security controller, and a first system controller capable of controlling the records of the video signals in said first camera terminal and said second camera terminal,

said second camera terminal having a second record medium capable of recording the video signals outputted by said second camera unit, a second transceiver unit capable of outputting the video signals outputted by said first camera unit and said second camera unit, wirelessly to said security controller, and a second system controller capable of controlling the records of the video signals in said first camera terminal and said second camera terminal,

further comprising;

switching means for switching either of said first transceiver unit and said second transceiver unit to output the video signals outputted by said first camera unit and said second camera unit, wirelessly to said security controller,

wherein when said first transceiver unit is switched to output the video signals to said security controller, said second transceiver unit is switched to output the video signals if it is detected that an abnormality occurs in said first camera terminal.

8. A recording method for recording a security image in a security system having a camera terminal and a security controller,

wherein said camera terminal transmits packets containing security graphic data to said security controller, and records, if it cannot receive an acknowledge packet from said security controller, said security graphic data in a record medium packaged in said camera terminal.