Video distribution method and video distribution system

• US 7,451,473 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2004
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Incorporated (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Incorporated (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ueda, Hirotada, Yaegashi, Kazuhito, Kawabe, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Lonsberry; Hunter B
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANCE, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US10/820,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20040205825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: 348/142, 348143-160, 396/427, 340/540, 340/541, 340/506, 340/538.15, 340/539.11, 340/539.14, 340/539.22, 725/105
• US Class Current: 725/108
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A video distribution method and a video distribution system connected to a transmission path such as the Internet. The system has a video signal input unit, an encoder for converting the video signal into a digitally compressed image data, an image accumulation and distribution unit for accumulating and distributing the digitally compressed image data, a notification unit for reading the accumulated images and detecting an image change, an image browsing data converter for reducing the accumulated image, and an information terminal for accessing the images of the image accumulation and distribution unit and the image browsing data converter. The notification unit, upon detection of an image change, records the image change occurrence time. The information terminal acquires the image from the image accumulation and distribution unit or the video browsing data converter based on the change occurrence time information stored in the notification unit.

Claims

1. A video distribution system connected to a communication network for distributing an image in response to a request, comprising:

at least one image pickup unit for picking up an image of a predetermined monitor area and converting said image into a video signal;

at least one encoder connected to receive the video signal from said image pickup unit, each encoder encoding the video signal from an associated image pickup unit and sending said encoded video signal to said network;

an image accumulation and distribution unit connected to said network for accumulating the encoded video signal from a designated encoder, said image accumulation and distribution unit attaching unique information to each image frame;

a data converter for image browsing, connected to said network, for reading the accumulated image from said image accumulation and distribution unit and converting said image into a reduced image in response to a request;

at least one information terminal with or without a browsing program installed therein, connected by wire or radio to said network for acquiring and displaying an image by accessing said image accumulation and distribution unit or said data converter for imaging browsing; and

a notification unit connected to said network for reading the accumulated image from said image accumulation and distribution unit, detecting an image change indicating an abnormality in said predetermined area, accumulating the unique information on the image change and displaying alarm information containing the change occurrence time on an associated information terminal,

wherein said information terminal accesses said image accumulation and distribution unit or said data converter for image browsing in response to an operation of said associated information terminal by a user and acquires the image in a predetermined time range related to said change occurrence time from said image accumulation and distribution unit or said data converter, and

wherein, for an information terminal having the browser program interlocked with an email function, said notification unit sends unique information on an image change to the information terminal via email, and in response, said data converter for image browsing sends a reduced image corresponding to said unique information received from said information terminal to said information terminal and, for an information terminal having no browser program interlocked with the email function, said notification unit, in response to connection from said information terminal, sends unique information accumulated in the notification unit to said information terminal so as to connect the data converter to said information terminal in response to selection of the unique information by the information terminal, wherein said data converter distributes an image in a form displayable on said information terminal to said information terminal.

2. A video distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said information terminal displays in a display section thereof said alarm information including at least said image change occurrence time, the image as of said change occurrence time and a symbol allowing an information terminal user to select whether the image in said predetermined time range continues to be reproduced or not.

3. A video distribution system according to claim 2, wherein said information terminal displays in the display section thereof the image in said predetermined time range together with a symbol indicating the present reproduction condition in response to said selection of the continued reproduction.

4. A video distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said information terminal acquires the image in said predetermined time range from said data converter and displays said image in dynamic image mode in the display section of said information terminal.

5. A video distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said information terminal acquires the image in said predetermined time range from said data converter and displays said image, frame by frame, in the display section of said information terminal in response to the request of said user of said information terminal.

6. A video distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one information terminal includes at least one portable terminal and at least one client PC (personal computer).

7. A video distribution system according to claim 2, wherein said display section of said information terminal includes a field in which said user is caused to input at least the information for specifying said user of said information terminal and the address of said notification unit in response to said selection of the continued reproduction.

8. A video distribution system according to claim 7, wherein said notification unit stores said unique information in a list in association with the serial number of a corresponding image frame each time of detection of said image change, and

wherein said list is displayed in said display section of said information terminal in such a way as to permit selection of arbitrary unique information, in response to the input of said user specifying information and the address of said notification unit.

9. A video distribution system connected to a communication network for distributing an image in response to a request, comprising:

at least one image pickup unit for picking up an image of a predetermined area and converting said image into a video signal;

at least one encoder connected to receive the video signal from said image pickup unit, each encoder encoding the video signal from associated image pickup unit and sending said encoded video signal to said network;

an image accumulation and distribution unit connected to said network for accumulating the encoded video signal from a designated encoder, said image accumulation and distribution unit attaching unique information to each image frame;

a data converter for image browsing, connected to said network, for reading the accumulated image from said image accumulation and distribution unit and converting said image into a reduced image in response to a request;

at least one information terminal with or without a browsing program installed therein, connected by wire or radio to said network, for acquiring and displaying an image by accessing said image accumulation and distribution unit or said data converter for image browsing;

a sensor arranged in said predetermined area for detecting an abnormality in said predetermined area; and

a notification unit connected to said network for reading the accumulated image from said image accumulation and distribution unit, receiving the output of said sensor indicating an abnormality in said monitor area, accumulating the unique information on the image change and displaying the alarm information containing the change occurrence time on associated information terminal;

wherein said information terminal accesses said image accumulation and distribution unit or said data converter for image browsing in response to user operation of said associated information terminal and acquires the image in a predetermined time range related to said change occurrence time from said image accumulation and distribution unit or said data converter, and

wherein, for an information terminal having the browser program interlocked with an email function, said notification unit sends unique information on an image change to the information terminal via email, and in response, said data converter for image browsing sends a reduced image corresponding to said unique information received from said information terminal to said information terminal and, for an information terminal having no browser program interlocked with the email function, said notification unit, in response to connection from said information terminal, sends unique information accumulated in the notification unit to said information terminal so as to connect said data converter to said information terminal in response to selection of the unique information by the information terminal, wherein said data converter distributes an image in a form displayable on said information terminal to said information terminal.

10. A video distribution system according to claim 9, wherein said information terminal displays in a display section thereof said alarm information including at least said image change occurrence time, the image as of said change occurrence time and a symbol allowing said user of said information terminal to select whether the image in said predetermined time range continues to be reproduced or not.

11. A video distribution system according to claim 10, wherein said information terminal displays in a display section thereof the image in said predetermined time range, together with a symbol indicating the present reproduction condition, in response to said selection of the continued reproduction.

12. A video distribution system according to claim 9, wherein said information terminal acquires the image in said predetermined time range from said data converter and displays said image in dynamic image mode in the display section of said information terminal.

13. A video distribution system according to claim 9, wherein said information terminal acquires the image in said predetermined time range from said data converter and displays said image, frame by frame, in the display section of said information terminal in response to the request of said user of said information terminal.

14. A video distribution system according to claim 9, wherein said at least one information terminal includes at least one portable terminal and at least one client PC (personal computer).

15. A video distribution system according to claim 10, wherein said display section of said information terminal includes a field in which said user is caused to input at least the information for specifying said user of said information terminal and the address of said notification unit is displayed in response to said selection of the continued reproduction.

16. A video distribution system according to claim 15, wherein said notification unit stores said unique information and the serial number of a corresponding image frame in a list each time of detection of said image change, and

wherein said list is displayed in said display section of said information terminal in such a way to permit selection of an arbitrary detection time or an arbitrary channel number in response to the input of said user specifying information and the address of said notification unit.

17. A video distribution method for a video distribution system connected to a communication network for distributing an image in response to a request, comprising the steps of:

accumulating a video signal in at least one monitor area in an image accumulation and distribution unit through said network,

wherein said video signal has attached thereto information unique to each image frame;

reading an image for each channel from said image accumulation and distribution unit through said network;

detecting an image change indicating an abnormality in associated monitor area from said image read out, producing alarm information containing the change occurrence time and a still image of said change occurrence time, and transmitting said alarm information to associated information terminal through said network;

displaying said alarm information on said associated information terminal;

acquiring the image in a predetermined time range related to said change occurrence time from said image accumulation and distribution unit or a data converter for image browsing in response to the selection of the image reproduction by a user of said associated information terminal; and

displaying said image in said predetermined time range in a display unit of said associated information terminal,

wherein, for an information terminal having a browser program interlocked with an email function, said notification unit sends unique information on an image change to the information terminal via email, and in response, said data converter for image browsing sends a reduced image corresponding to said unique information received from said information terminal to said information terminal and, for an information terminal having no browser program interlocked with the email function, said notification unit, in response to connection from said information terminal, sends unique information accumulated in the notification unit to said information terminal so as to connect said data converter to said information terminal in response to selection of the unique information by the information terminal, wherein said data converter distributes an image in a form displayable on said information terminal to said information terminal.