Monitoring system and setting method for the same

• US 20050213793A1
• Filed: 03/21/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Oya, Takashi, Kawai, Tomoaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,423,669 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/40 in video content extracting overlay text G06V20/62; video retrieval G06F16/70; processing of video elementary streams in video servers H04N21/234; processing of video elementary streams in video clients H04N21/44

Abstract

In order to facilitate a setting of multiple parameters of a tracking function of a camera, in a setting window, an image display window is displayed in which a picked-up image sent from a camera server and an indicator indicating a change detection maximum area as a detection result of an image change detection process by the camera server are superimposingly on the picked-up image. In addition, in the setting window, a window is displayed in which a setting window is displayed which is used to make a setting of a tracking method by referring to an image displayed in the image display window.

Claims

1. A monitoring system comprising:

a camera server that has a camera whose image pickup direction is controllable; and

a setting client at which a tracking method of the camera server is set through a network,

wherein the camera server includes;

detection means for detecting a moving object in a picked-up image obtained from the camera, based on preset setting information of the tracking method;

tracking control means for controlling the camera to perform tracking based on a result of the detection by the detection means; and

transmission means for sending the result of the detection by the detection means and the picked-up image to the setting client, and

the setting client includes;

reception means for receiving the result of the detection by the detection means and the picked-up image from the camera server;

window display means for displaying an image display window, in which the received picked-up image obtained from the camera and an indicator to indicate a change detection maximum area as the result of the detection by the detection means are superimposingly displayed, and a setting window to make a setting of a tracking method by referring to an image displayed in the image display window; and

transmission means for, when detected that setting information concerning a setting of the tracking control means has been changed through the setting window, sending the changed setting information to the camera server.

2. A monitoring system according to claim 1,

wherein the window display means displays a tracking method selection window to make a selection of a tracking method to be executed by the tracking control means of the camera server from among tracking by inter-frame differences, tracking by color detection, tracking by template, and tracking by face detection.

3. A monitoring system according to claim 2,

wherein when brightness of the picked-up image received by the reception means is equal to or less than a predetermined level, the window display means displays a message to recommend the tracking by template in the tracking method selection window.

4. A monitoring system according to claim 2,

wherein when one of the tracking by template and the tracking by face detection has been selected through the tracking method selection window and brightness of the picked-up image received by the reception means is equal to or less than a predetermined level, the window display means changes an initial setting of corresponding one of a window for making a setting of the tracking by template and a window for making a setting of a face area.

5. A tracking setting method for a monitoring system where a setting of a tracking method of the camera server is set at a setting client through a network, a camera server that having a camera whose image pickup direction is controllable,

the tracking setting method comprising:

detecting, at the camera server, a moving object in a picked-up image obtained from the camera based on preset setting information of the tracking method;

controlling, at the camera server, the camera to perform tracking based on a result of the detection;

sending the result of the detection and the picked-up image from the camera server to the setting client;

receiving, at the setting client, the result of the detection and the picked-up image from the camera server;

displaying, at the setting client, an image display window, in which the received picked-up image obtained from the camera and an indicator to indicate a change detection maximum area as the result of the detection are superimposingly displayed, and a setting window to make a setting of a tracking method by referring to an image displayed in the image display window; and

sending, when detected that setting information concerning the tracking has been changed through the setting window, the changed setting information from the setting client to the camera server.

6. A tracking setting method according to claim 5,

wherein the window display includes displaying a tracking method selection window to make a selection of a tracking method to be executed in the tracking control of the camera server from among tracking by inter-frame differences, tracking by color detection, tracking by template, and tracking by face detection.

7. A tracking setting method according to claim 6,

wherein when brightness of the picked-up image received is equal to or less than a predetermined level, the window display further includes displaying a message to recommend the tracking by template in the tracking method selection window.

8. A tracking setting method according to claim 6,

wherein when one of the tracking by template and the tracking by face detection has been selected through the tracking method selection window and brightness of the picked-up image received is equal to or less than a predetermined level, the window display includes changing an initial setting of corresponding one of a window for making a setting of the tracking by template and a window for making a setting of a face area.

9. A program that causes a setting client, at which a setting of a tracking method of the camera server is set through a network, the camera server having a camera whose image pickup direction is controllable, to perform a process comprising:

receiving, from the camera server, a result of detection of a moving object and a picked-up image;

displaying an image display window, in which the received picked-up image and an indicator to indicate a change detection maximum area as the result of the detection are superimposingly displayed, and a setting window to make a setting of a tracking method by referring to an image displayed in the image display window; and

sending, when detected that setting information concerning tracking performed by the camera has been changed through the setting window, the changed setting information to the camera server.