Video surveillance system for selectively selecting processing and displaying the outputs of a plurality of TV cameras

• US 4,943,854 A
• Filed: 11/17/1985
• Issued: 07/24/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chuo Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Chuo Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Shiota, Tsuneo, Takeuchi, Soji
• Primary Examiner(s): Psitos, Aristotelis M.
• Application Number:
  US07/273,119
• Time in Patent Office: 1,710 Days
• Field of Search: 358/342, 358/108, 360/33.1
• US Class Current: 348/159
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19693 using multiple video sources viewed on a single or compound screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9205 the additional signal being at least another television signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

The multi-video recorder incorporates a multiplexing means permitting selection of the video signal from each of plurality of TV cameras according to a predetermined importance or priority and a priority changed due to occurrence of a new event and transmission of the video image thus selected over a single line and recording it by a single video tape recorder by time shared multiplexing the video signal at every frame, field or unit of time. It also can reproduce or demultiplex the video signal recorded as multiplexed, with each designated TV camera or by sequentially selecting the video signal from each TV camera. The system also has a means for inserting in said time shared multiplexed video signal a control signal such as select information, event information, time information or the like, so it can selectively demultiplex the video signals recorded as multiplexed, as desired.

Claims

1. A multi-video surveillance system for the surveillance of a plurality of positions, comprising:

a plurality of TV cameras for producing a plurality of first video signals corresponding to scenes of said positions;

control means for sequentially selecting the outputs of said TV cameras to produce a single video output signal, said control means comprising means for controlling the relative information content of each of said first video signals presents in said second video output signal;

sensing means for producing output signals in response to the determination of the occurrence of non-occurence of a predetermined physical event at least one of said positions;

data processing means responsive to said input signals of said sensing means to provide output signals for controlling said means for controlling the relative information content to change the relative information content of said first video signals present in said second video output signal;

said means for controlling said relative information content being responsive to said output signals of said data processing means for sequentially selecting relative numbers of field, frame or multiple frame video signal outputs of each of said TV cameras in a first predetermined proportion, means for producing first time-division multiplex signals therefrom in which the relative information content from each of said TV cameras is a function of said first predetermined proportion, and means responsive to the output of said sensing means for changing the relative numbers of field, frame or multiple frame video signal outputs;

said means for producing first time-division multiplex signals further comprising means for adding control signals to said first time-division multiplex signals to produce second time-division multiplex signals, said control signals comprising signals associated with the fields for identifying the respective TV cameras, relative information content of the first video signals and information corresponding to the output signals of said sensing means, whereby said second time-division multiplex signals are comprised of sequential field, frame or integral number of frame signals each derived from the respective TV cameras in a proportion controlled by said means for controlling said relative information content;

video recording means for recording said second time-division multiplex signals;

selection means for producing second selection signals corresponding to desired surveillance information;

means for reproducing signals corresponding to still scenes or series of continuous still scenes, said reproducing means comprising means for comparing said second selection signals with control signals on said second time-division multiplex signals for selecting desired scene signals from said second time-division multiplex signals; and

display means for displaying scenes corresponding to the signals reproduced by the reproducing means;

said reproducing means comprising an input selection circuit, said input selection circuit comprising means for selectively applying the output of said means for adding control signals or the output of said video recording means to said reproducing means, whereby the display means can selectively display current scenes or scenes recorded by said video recording means.

2. A multi-video surveillance system for the surveillance of a plurality of positions, comprising:

a plurality of TV cameras for producing first video signals corresponding to scenes of said positions;

multiplexing means for combing said first video signals to produce time-division multiplexed second video signal;

sensing means for producing output signals in response to the determination of the occurrence or non-occurrence of a predetermined physical event at least one of said positions;

data processing means comprising means for controlling said multiplexing means to sequentially select relative numbers of field, frame or multiple frame video signal outputs of each of said TV cameras to control the relative information content thereof in said second video signal, said data processing means further caomprising means for controlling said multiplexing means to change the relative information content from each of said TV cameras in said second video signals in response to the output signals of said sensing means;

means for adding control signals to said time-division multiplexed second video signal to produce third time-division multiples video signals, said control signals comprising signals associated with the fields for identifying the respective TV camera, the relative information content in said second video signals derived from said first video signals, and information corresponding to the output signals of said sensing means, whereby said third time-division multiplex video signals are comprised of sequential field, frame or integral numbers of frame signals each derived from the respective TV cameras;

video recording means for recording said third time-division multiplex signals;

selection means for producing selection signals corresponding to desired surveillance information;

means for reproducing signals corresponding to still scenes or series of continuous still scenes, said reproducing means comprising means for comparing said selection signals with control signals on said third time-division multiplex signals for selecting desired scene signals from said third time-division multiplex signals; and

display means for displaying scenes corresponding to the signals reproduced by the reproducing means;

said reproducing means comprising an input selection circuit, said input selection circuit comprising means for selectively applying the output of said means for adding control signals or the output of said video recording means to said reproducing means, whereby the display means can selectively display current scenes or scenes recorded by said video recording means.

3. A multi-video surveillance system for the surveillance of a plurality of positions, comprising:

a plurality of TV cameras for producing first video signals corresponding to scenes of said positions;

multiplexing means for combining said first video signals to produce time-division multiplexed second video signal;

sensing means for producing output signals in response to the determination of the occurrence or non-occurrence of a predetermined physical event at at least one of said positions;

operator input means for producing first control signals;

data processing means comprising means for controlling said multiplexing means to sequentially select relative numbers of field, frame or multiple frame video signal outputs of each of said TV cameras to control the relative information content thereof in said second video signal in response to said first control signals, said data processing means further comprising means for controlling said multiplexing means to change the relative information content from each of said TV cameras in said second video signals in response to the output signals of said sensing means;

means for adding second control signals to said time-division multiplexed second video signal to produce third time-division multiplex video signals, said second control signals produced by the data processing means comprising signals associated with the fields for identifying the respective TV camera, the relative information content in said second video signals derived from said first video signals, and information corresponding to the output signals of said sensing means, whereby said third time-division multiplex video signals are comprised of sequential field, frame or integral numbers of frame signals each derived from the respective TV cameras;

video recording means for recording said third time division multiplex signals;

selection means for producing selection signals corresponding to desired surveillance information;

means for reproducing signals corresponding to still scenes or series of continuous still scenes, said reproducing means comprising means for comparing said selection signals with second control signals on said third time-division multiplex signals for selecting desired scene signals from said third time-division multiplex signals; and

display means for displaying scenes corresponding to the signals reproduced by the reproducing means;

said reproducing means comprising an input selection circuit, said input selection circuit comprising means for selectively applying the output of said means for adding control signals or the output of said video recording means to said reproducing means, whereby the display means can selectively display current scenes or scenes recorded by said video recording means.

4. A multi-video surveillance system for the surveillance of a plurality of positions, comprising:

a plurality of TV cameras for producing first video signals correspond to scenes of said positions;

a source of first control signals;

multiplexing means for combining said firt video signals to produce time-division multiplexed second video signal;

data processing means comprising scene selecting means for controlling said multiplexing means to sequentially select relative numbers of field, frame or multiple frame video signal outputs of each of said TV cameras to control the relative numbers of field, frame or multiple frame video signal outputs in said second video signal, said data processing means further comprising means for controlling said multiplexing means to change the relative numbers of field, frame or multiple frame video signal outputs of each of said TV cameras in said second video signals in response to said first control signals;

means for adding second control signals to said time-division multiplexed second video signal to produce third time-divisionl multiplex video signals, said second control signals comprising signals associated with the fields for identifying the respective TV camera, whereby said third-division multiplex video signals are comprised of sequential field, frame or integral numbers of frame signals each derived from the respective TV cameras;

video recording means for recording said third time-division multiplex signals;

selection means for producing selection signals corresponding to desired surveillance information;

means for reproducing signals corresponding to still scenes or series of continuous still scenes, said reproducing means comprising means for comparing said selection signals with said second control signals on said third time-division multiplex signals for selecting desired scene signals from said third time-division multiplex signals; and

display means for displaying scenes corresponding to the signals reproducing by the reproducing means.

5. The multi-video surveillance system of claim 4 wherein said source of said first control signals comprises sensing means for producing output signals in response to the determination of the occurence or non-occurrence of a predetermined physical event at at least one of said positions.

6. The multi-video surveillance system of claim 4 wherein said source of said first control signals comprises keyboard selection means coupled to said data processing means.

7. A multi-video surveillance system for the surveillance of a plurality of positions, comprising:

a plurality of TV cameras for producing a plurality of first video signals corresponding to scenes of said positions;

control means for sequentially selecting the outputs of said TV cameras to produces a single second video output signal, said control means comprising means for controlling the relative information content of each of said first video signals present in said second video output signal;

sensing means for producing output signals in response to the determination of the occurrence or non-occurrence of a predetermined physical event at at least one of said positions;

data processing means responsive to said output signals of said sensing means to provide output signals for controlling said means for controlling the relative information content to change the relative information content of said first video signals prevent in said second video output signal;

said means for controlling said relative information content being responsive to said output signals of said data processing means for sequentially selecting relative numbers of field, frame or multiple frame video signal outputs of each of said TV cameras in a first predetermined proportion, means for producing first time-division multiplex signals therefrom in which the relative information content from each of said TV cameras is a function of said first predetermined proportions, and means responsive to the output of said sensing means for changing the relative numbers of field frame or multiple frame video signal outputs while still sequentially selecting a positive number of field, frame or multiple frame video signal outputs from a pluralityof said TV cameras;

said means for producing first time-division multiplex signals further comprising means for adding control signals to said first time-division multiplex signals to produce second time-division multiplex signals, said control signals comprising signals associated with the fields for identifying the respective TV camera, relative information content of the first video signals and information corresponding to the output signals of said sensing means, whereby said second time-division multiplex signals are comprised of sequential field, frame or integral number of frame signals each derived from the respective TV cameras in a proportion controlled by said means for controlling said relative information content;

video recording means for recording said second time division multiplex signals;

selection means for producing second selection signals correspond to desired surveillance information;

means for reproducing signals corresponding to still scenes or series of continuous still scenes, said reproducing means comprising means for comparing said second selection signals with control signals on said second time-division multiplex signals for selecting desired scene signals from said second time-division multiplex signals; and

display means for displayng scenes corresponding to the signals reproduced by the reproducing means;

said reproducing means comprising an input selection circuit, said input selection circuit comprising means for selectively applying the output of said means for adding control signals or the output of said video recording means to said reproducing means, whereby the display means can selectively display current scenes or scene recorded by said video recording means.