IN-TRAIN MONITOR SYSTEM

• US 20110069170A1
• Filed: 03/18/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Yamasaki, Tatsuo, Emoto, Norishige
• Granted Patent: US 8,605,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19647 Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4425 Monitoring of client processing errors or hardware failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6379 directed to encoder , e.g. for requesting a lower encoding rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Included are: an information management system that manages monitoring-target condition information output from condition-monitoring target devices; cameras that are incorporated in respective train cars and take images of the condition-monitoring target devices; a transmission device that is connected to an in-train transmission channel and transmits imaging data from the camera; a camera-control central device that is connected to the information management system and the transmission device, monitors the monitoring-target condition information sent from the information management system, determines whether the condition-monitoring target devices are in a normal condition, and generates a frame-rate control signal for adjusting a frame rate of imaging data; and a camera-control terminal device that is connected to the transmission device and the camera and adjusts the frame rate of imaging data sent from the camera based on the frame-rate control signal.

Claims

1. An in-train monitor system comprising:

an information management system that manages monitoring-target condition information output from various devices incorporated in a train;

cameras that are incorporated in respective train cars and take images of the devices incorporated in the train; and

a transmission device that is connected to an in-train transmission channel of each train car and relays imaging data from the camera to each train car, wherein the in-train monitor system further comprises;

a camera-control central device that is connected to the information management system and the transmission device, monitors the monitoring-target condition information sent from the information management system, determines whether the devices incorporated in the train are in a normal condition, and generates a frame-rate control signal for adjusting a frame rate of imaging data from the camera; and

a camera-control terminal device that is connected to the transmission device and the camera and adjusts a frame rate of imaging data from the camera based on the frame-rate control signal.

2. The in-train monitor system according to claim 1, wherein

when any of the devices incorporated in the train indicates an abnormal condition, the camera-control central device generates the frame-rate control signal for each of the devices incorporated in the train or for each of the cameras, and

the camera-control terminal device adjusts a frame rate of imaging data from the camera for each of the devices incorporated in the train or for each of the cameras based on the frame-rate control signal.

3. The in-train monitor system according to claim 1, wherein

when any of the devices incorporated in the train indicates an abnormal condition, the camera-control central device generates an imaging-direction control signal for adjusting an imaging direction for each of the cameras, and

the camera-control terminal device sends the imaging-direction control signal to the camera.

4. The in-train monitor system according to claim 3, wherein

each of the cameras comprises:

a frame-rate adjusting unit that adjusts a frame rate of imaging data from the camera based on the frame-rate control signal; and

an imaging direction controller that adjusts an imaging direction based on the imaging-direction control signal.

5. The in-train monitor system according to claim 2, wherein

when any of the devices incorporated in the train indicates an abnormal condition, the camera-control central device generates an imaging-direction control signal for adjusting an imaging direction for each of the cameras, and

the camera-control terminal device sends the imaging-direction control signal to the camera.

6. An in-train monitor method for a train having an information management system that manages monitoring-target condition information output from various devices incorporated in a train, cameras that are incorporated in respective train cars and take images of the devices incorporated in the train, and a transmission device that is connected to an in-train transmission channel of each train car and relays imaging data from the camera to each train car, the method being used for monitoring the devices incorporated in the train or for monitoring passengers and the method comprising:

monitoring the monitoring-target condition information sent from the information management system to determine whether the devices incorporated in the train are in a normal condition;

generating a frame-rate control signal for adjusting a frame rate of imaging data from the camera; and

adjusting a frame rate of imaging data from the camera based on the frame-rate control signal.

7. The in-train monitor method according to claim 6, wherein

when any of the devices incorporated in the train indicates an abnormal condition, the generating generates the frame-rate control signal for each of the devices incorporated in the train or for each of the cameras, and

the adjusting adjusts a frame rate of imaging data from the camera for each of the devices incorporated in the train or for each of the cameras based on the frame-rate control signal.

8. The in-train monitor method according to claim 6, wherein

when any of the devices incorporated in the train indicates an abnormal condition, the generating generates an imaging-direction control signal for adjusting an imaging direction for each of the cameras, and

the adjusting sends the imaging-direction control signal to the camera.

9. The in-train monitor method according to claim 7, wherein

when any of the devices incorporated in the train indicates an abnormal condition, the generating generates an imaging-direction control signal for adjusting an imaging direction for each of the cameras, and

the adjusting sends the imaging-direction control signal to the camera.

10. The in-train monitor method according to claim 8, wherein

each of the cameras performs:

adjusting a frame rate of imaging data based on the frame-rate control signal; and

adjusting an imaging direction based on the imaging-direction control signal.