KR100433395B1 - System and Method for watching cars at parking lot - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle surveillance system and method for monitoring a vehicle in a parking lot is disclosed. The vehicle monitoring system of the parking lot includes an approval camera for picking up the image of the vehicle and outputting image data so as to include a license plate of the entering and exiting vehicle, a control unit for detecting the vehicle number from the image data and determining whether the detected vehicle number corresponds to the registered vehicle number And a dome camera that moves the focus to a position of the vehicle sensed by the position sensor and photographs the position of the vehicle when the parking management system determines that the vehicle is an unregistered vehicle. It is possible to selectively monitor an unregistered vehicle among the incoming vehicles by comparing the image data of the image of the vehicle entering the entrance with the registered vehicle number to determine whether the surveillance system is operated through the dome camera.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING VEHICLE IN CAR PARK

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a vehicle surveillance system and method for a parking lot, and more particularly, to a vehicle surveillance system and method for monitoring a vehicle through a camera that photographs a motion of a vehicle in a parking lot.

Generally, vehicle monitoring of a parking lot uses a closed circuit picture system that monitors a vehicle through a television image to a certain extent. The car surveillance system of such a parking lot is set to continuously store video data photographed using a closed circuit camera. The movement of the vehicle can be confirmed through the stored moving picture data.

Such a conventional parking lot car monitoring system needs to use a stationary camera because it captures all of the vehicles entering the parking lot. In order to cover the whole area of the parking lot with such a fixed camera, a plurality of cameras are installed so as to cover the respective areas. This is a disadvantage of requiring a plurality of cameras as the area of the parking lot is wider, and accordingly, there is a problem that a large cost is required in constructing a surveillance system.

In addition, in order to store moving picture data photographed by each camera, there is a problem in that a large-capacity storage medium proportional to the photographing time is required.

In order to confirm the arrival and departure status of the vehicle in the parking lot, it is troublesome to confirm the photographed moving image data or check the user while walking around the parking lot.

In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to reduce the capacity of a storage medium required for storing moving picture data by using a small number of cameras, To provide a parking surveillance system.

1 is a block diagram showing a vehicle monitoring system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of a parking lot to which the vehicle monitoring system of FIG. 1 is applied,

3 is a flowchart showing a vehicle monitoring method according to an embodiment of the present invention,

4 is a flowchart showing in more detail the step of determining whether or not the vehicle monitoring operation is performed in Fig. 3, and Fig.

5 is a flow chart showing the vehicle monitoring operation step of FIG. 3 in more detail.

Description of the Related Art [0002]

100: Parking management system 100: Main control unit

120: vehicle number detection unit 130: vehicle number comparison unit

140: alarm unit 150: display unit

160: vehicle information storage unit 170: moving picture data storage unit

310: first authentication camera 330: entrance sensor

350: second approval camera 370: exit sensor

400: a dome camera 410: a dome control unit

420: driving unit 430: photographing unit

500: passage sensor 600: parking sensor

700: Position sensor

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle surveillance system including an approval camera for capturing a vehicle and outputting image data including a number plate of an entering and exiting vehicle, a vehicle number detection unit for detecting a vehicle number from the image data, A position sensor that detects the position of the vehicle in the parking lot, and a focus sensor that moves the focus to the position of the vehicle detected by the position sensor when the parking management system determines that the vehicle is an unregistered vehicle And a dome camera for taking a picture.

The entrance of the parking lot is preferably provided with an entrance sensor for detecting entry of the vehicle from the outside and an exit sensor for detecting the vehicle leaving the exit. The approval camera corresponds to the first approval camera in which the direction and focusing are set so as to pick up the vehicle when the entrance sensor senses the entry of the vehicle and a first approval camera in which the direction sensor and the focusing are set so that the exit sensor senses the departure of the vehicle And a second approved camera set. As a result, the first approval camera images the entry vehicle when the entrance sensor enters the vehicle, and the second approval camera images the exit vehicle when the exit sensor detects the vehicle leaving the exit.

The position sensor includes a passage sensor that is located in a passage through which the vehicle passes through the entrance and that senses the movement of the vehicle in the passage, and a parking sensor that detects whether or not the vehicle is present in each parking area in the parking lot.

The parking management system includes a vehicle number detection unit for detecting the number of the vehicle from the image data picked up by the first approval camera, a vehicle number comparison unit for comparing the detected vehicle number with the previously registered vehicle number data, And a main control unit for outputting the input image data to the vehicle number detecting unit and sending a monitoring operation signal for monitoring the vehicle to the dome camera when it is determined that the vehicle is not registered according to the determination result.

The dome camera outputs a dome camera operation signal for controlling the operation of the dome camera when a monitoring operation signal output from the main control unit is input and outputs a dome camera operation signal to the corresponding position sensor A driving unit for driving the dome camera by the dome camera operation signal and setting the photographing direction and focus of the dome camera in a direction corresponding to the sensor information, and a photographing area according to the setting, And a photographing unit for outputting photographed moving image data to the dome control unit.

Preferably, the parking management system further includes an alarm unit for outputting an alarm signal when the vehicle number comparison unit determines that the vehicle is an unregistered vehicle. Such an alarm unit is characterized in that the vehicle is informed to the user through sound and / or color that the vehicle is an unregistered vehicle.

The parking management system further includes a display unit for displaying a registration selection menu for allowing the user to select whether or not to register the vehicle with respect to the vehicle when the alarm signal is inputted from the alarm unit. The parking management system may further include a vehicle number storage unit for storing vehicle information registered by a user, the vehicle information including information on a registered vehicle number, an arrival state of the registered vehicle, . Preferably, the parking management system further includes a motion picture data formatter for storing motion picture data output from the dome camera.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of monitoring a parking lot access vehicle performed by the vehicle monitoring system.

According to the present invention, an image of a vehicle entering an entrance is picked up, and the captured image data is compared with the registered vehicle number to judge whether the surveillance system is operated through the dome camera. By operating the surveillance system only for the unregistered vehicle, The operation of the system can be controlled.

Hereinafter, a vehicle monitoring system and method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing a vehicle monitoring system according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the vehicle monitoring system includes approval cameras 310 and 350 for picking up a vehicle so as to include license plates (not shown) of an entering and exiting vehicle (not shown) and outputting image data, (100) for judging whether the detected vehicle number corresponds to a previously registered vehicle number, a position sensor (700) for detecting the position of the vehicle in the parking lot, and a parking sensor And a dome camera 400 which moves the focus to the position of the vehicle sensed by the position sensor 700 and photographs it.

On the other hand, as shown in the figure, the vehicle monitoring system of this embodiment includes an entrance sensor 330 for detecting entry of the vehicle from the outside and an exit sensor 370 for detecting the vehicle leaving the parking lot. Accordingly, in the vehicle monitoring system of the present embodiment, when the entrance sensor 330 detects the entrance of the vehicle, the first approval camera 310 and the exit sensor 370, which pick up the vehicle, And a second approval camera 350. The first approval camera 310 is set to be oriented and focused so that the entrance sensor 330 senses the entrance of the vehicle. Further, the second approval camera 350 is set to be oriented and focused so as to pick up the vehicle when the exit sensor 370 detects the departure of the vehicle.

The position sensor 700 includes a passage sensor 500 installed in a passage of a parking lot and a parking sensor 600 installed in a parking area of the parking lot. The passage sensor 500 senses the vehicle entering the inside of the parking lot and the vehicle leaving the inside from outside while moving in the passage. The parking sensor 600 detects whether or not a vehicle exists in each parking area provided for parking the vehicle in the parking lot.

The parking management system 100 of the present embodiment includes a main control unit 110 for controlling the flow of data to the approved cameras 310 and 350 and the dome camera 400, A vehicle information detection unit 120 for detecting the number of the vehicle, a vehicle information storage unit 160 for storing the number of the registered vehicle, a vehicle information storage unit 160 for determining whether the vehicle number detected by the vehicle information storage unit 160 is registered, An alarm unit 140 for generating an alarm in accordance with the determination of the vehicle number comparison unit 130, a display unit 150 for displaying the necessary information to the user for confirmation, and a dome camera 400, And a moving image data storage unit 170 for storing moving image data photographed by the camera.

The main control unit 110 outputs the image data output from the approval cameras 310 and 350 to the vehicle number detection unit 120. [ The main control unit 110 outputs a monitoring operation signal for monitoring the vehicle to the dome camera 400 when it is determined that the vehicle is not registered according to the determination result of the vehicle number comparison unit 130. [ On the other hand, the dome camera 400 outputs moving image data photographed in accordance with the monitoring operation signal to the main control unit 110.

The vehicle number detection unit 120 is provided with a first approval camera 310 for picking up a vehicle from outside and a second approval camera 350 for picking up a vehicle outside from the inside of the parking lot, 110). The vehicle number detection unit 120 detects the number of the vehicle from the input image data. At this time, the number detection of the vehicle detects the number of the vehicle by performing frequency filtering on the remaining colors except for the color of the number recorded from the image data, and characterizing the number written on the license plate.

The alarm unit 140 generates an alarm according to the determination of the vehicle number comparison unit 130, and informs the user through sound and / or color according to whether the vehicle is registered. On the other hand, according to the determination of the vehicle number comparison unit 130, it is preferable that the sound and color are distinguished from the registered vehicle and the unregistered vehicle so that the user can recognize the sound and the color. In the present embodiment, a green light (unregistered) and a red light (unregistered) are provided at the entrance of the parking lot, and green lights are lighted in the case of registered vehicles and red lights are lighted in the case of unregistered vehicles. On the other hand, the alarm according to the registration may be outputted in the sound and color in the parking management system 100 itself.

The display unit 150 displays on the screen a registration selection menu that allows the user to select whether or not to register an unregistered vehicle when an alarm signal is input to the unregistered vehicle from the alarm unit 140. [

The vehicle information storage unit 160 stores the registered vehicle information when the user selects to register the unregistered vehicle in the registration selection menu displayed on the display unit 150. [ At this time, the vehicle information includes the number of the registered vehicle, and it is preferable that the vehicle information includes information on the receipt status and the shipment status of the registered vehicle.

The moving image data storage unit 170 stores moving image data inputted when the moving image data of the movement of the unregistered vehicle in the parking lot outputted from the dome camera 400 is input through the main control unit 110. [ This can be used to check the movement of the vehicle in the parking lot as well as the arrival and departure of the vehicle in the parking lot later.

The dome camera 400 includes a dome control unit 410 for interfacing with the main control unit 110, a driving unit 420 for driving the dome camera 400 according to a control signal of the dome control unit 410, And a photographing unit 430 photographing the corresponding area according to the photographing signal.

The dome control unit 410 outputs a dome camera operation signal for controlling the operation of the dome camera 400 when the monitoring operation signal output from the main control unit 110 is input, And outputs sensor information provided at a corresponding position of the position sensor 700 that outputs the sensor signal.

The driving unit 420 drives the dome camera 400 by the dome camera operation signal output from the main control unit 410 and sets the shooting direction and focus of the dome camera in the direction corresponding to the sensor information.

The photographing unit 430 photographs the vehicle positioned in the area set by the driving unit 420 and outputs the photographed moving image data to the dome control unit 410. At this time, the dome control unit 410 outputs the inputted moving picture data to the main control unit 110 of the parking management system 100. The motion picture data is stored in the motion picture data storage unit 170.

2 is a view showing an example of a parking lot to which the vehicle monitoring system of FIG. 1 is applied. In the drawing, an entrance sensor 330 and a first approval camera 310 are installed on the entrance side of the vehicle 20, and an exit sensor 370 and a second approval camera 350 are installed on the exit side of the vehicle have. The dome camera 400 is installed on the ceiling at a position where it is easy to photograph the inside of the parking lot. In addition, a first passage sensor 510 and a second passage sensor 530 are provided in the moving passage of the vehicle from the entrance to the parking area. On the other hand, parking sensors 610, 620, 630, 640 and 650 are installed in each parking area where the vehicle is parked. A parking management system 100 is installed in the management room 10 for managing access to the vehicle.

In this embodiment, when the vehicle 20 enters the entrance, the entrance sensor 330 senses the vehicle 20 to be received and outputs a signal to the first approval camera 310. [ The first approval camera 310 images the vehicle 20 according to the direction and the focus set so as to pick up the vehicle to be received and outputs the image data to the parking management system 100 of the management room 10. The parking management system 100 detects the number attached to the license plate 30 of the vehicle 20 through the vehicle number detection unit 120 and searches the vehicle information storage unit 160 for the stored vehicle number do. At this time, an alarm corresponding to the judgment is generated through the alarm unit 140. And outputs a monitoring operation signal for monitoring the vehicle 20 to the dome camera 400 when the vehicle 20 arriving at the entrance is an unregistered vehicle.

The dome camera 400 receiving the monitoring operation signal receives the sensor signal of the vehicle sensed by the position sensor 700 and starts shooting. A description will be given of a route in which the vehicle 20 to be parked is parked in a parking area where the third parking sensor 630 is located. First, the vehicle 20 passing through the entrance is sensed by the first passage sensor 510 located at the front of the passage. At this time, the dome camera 400 receives the sensor signal output from the first passage sensor 510 and takes a picture of the vehicle 20 passing through the first passage sensor 510. The vehicle 20 passing through the first passage sensor 510 is detected by the second passage sensor 520 and the dome camera 400 switches the photographing direction to the position where the second passage sensor 520 is located, 20). While the vehicle 20 is parked in the parking area where the third parking sensor 630 is located through the second passage sensor 520, the dome camera 400 detects the vehicle 20 ). The moving image data of the movement of the unregistered vehicle 20 photographed by the dome camera 400 is stored in the moving image data storage unit 170 provided in the parking management system 100. On the other hand, when the unregistered vehicle 20 is registered by the user, the parking management system 100 transmits a shooting stop signal to the dome camera 400. Thereby, the dome camera 400 stops shooting of the unregistered vehicle 20. In addition, the parking management system 100 stores that the vehicle 20 is in stock.

On the other hand, when the registered vehicle 20 being parked is delivered to the outside of the parking lot, the dome camera 400 does not operate. At this time, when the vehicle is detected by the exit sensor 370 located at the exit side, the second approval camera 350 images the vehicle 20 to be outputted and outputs the image data of the vehicle 20 to the parking management system 100 do. The parking management system 100 detects the number of the vehicle 20 from the image data and stores the vehicle 20 corresponding to the detected number.

3 is a flowchart showing a vehicle monitoring method in a parking lot according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, the vehicle 20 is picked up, and the number of the vehicle 20 is detected through the captured image data to determine whether the dome camera 400 is operated or not (S100). When the vehicle 20 is an unregistered vehicle in step S100, the dome camera 400 prepares to receive a sensor signal sensed by the position sensor 700 (S300). At this time, the dome camera 400 determines whether there is an input sensor signal (S400). If there is an input sensor signal, the direction of the dome camera 400 is moved in the direction of the sensor of the position sensor 700 that outputs the sensor signal to photograph the moving vehicle 20, (100).

4 is a flowchart showing the step S100 of FIG. 3 in more detail. First, the first approval camera 310 disposed at the entrance determines whether there is a vehicle monitoring signal from the entrance sensor 330 (S110). If there is a detected signal, the first approval camera 310 captures the number of the license plate 30 to be included in the incoming vehicle (S120). The image data thus picked up is sent to the parking management system 100. The vehicle number detection unit 120 of the parking management system 100 detects the number of the vehicle from the image data (S130). The vehicle number comparison unit 130 determines whether the number of the detected vehicle is a registered vehicle number in the vehicle information storage unit 160 (S140). If it is the registered vehicle number, a registration alarm signal is output so that the user can recognize the registered alarm signal (S150). At this time, the registration alarm signal is a signal for lighting the green lamp provided at the entrance of the parking lot.

If it is determined in step S140 that it is not registered, the non-registered alarm signal and the operation signal of the dome camera 400 are output (S160). At this time, the non-registered alarm signal is a signal for turning on the red light of the parking lot entrance and displayed on the screen so that the user can recognize the signal. Also, it is possible to distinguish between registered and unregistered through sound, so that the user can discriminate and recognize.

For the unregistered vehicle, the registration selection menu is displayed on the screen so that the user can determine whether or not to register the vehicle (S170). If it is selected to register an unregistered vehicle, the vehicle information including the number of the vehicle is newly registered and stored in the vehicle information storage unit 160 (S180). At this time, as the vehicle is registered, the registration alarm signal may be recognized by the user using sound and color, and the main control unit 110 of the parking management system 100 may generate an operation stop signal And outputs it to the dome camera 400 (S190). Accordingly, the dome camera 400 stops moving in the direction and shooting according to the sensor signal output from the position sensor 700.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating step S500 of FIG. 3 in more detail. This illustrates the operation of the dome camera 400 as the unregistered vehicle moves from the entrance to the parking area through the passageway in the parking lot.

First, the dome camera 400 determines whether there is a sensor signal detected from the passage sensor 500. If there is an input sensor signal, the direction of the dome camera 400 is moved in the direction of the passage sensor outputting the sensor signal from the passage sensor 500, and the unregistered vehicle moving in the area is photographed (S520). When a signal is inputted from the passage sensor 500, the vehicle is photographed while rotating in the direction of the passage sensor. Meanwhile, the dome camera 400 determines whether there is a sensor signal input from the parking sensor 600 in addition to the passage sensor 500 (S540). If there is no sensor signal from the parking sensor 600, step S520 is repeated. If there is a sensor signal input from the parking sensor 600, the direction of the dome camera 400 is shifted in the direction of the corresponding parking sensor that outputs the sensor signal from the parking sensor 600, and the moving vehicle is photographed in the area (S550). At this time, the dome camera 400 outputs the photographed moving image data to the parking management system 100.

On the other hand, in a state where the unregistered vehicle is parked, it is determined whether there is another sensor signal detected in the position sensor 700 (S570). When the sensor signal is inputted again to the dome camera 400, steps S510 to S550 are repeated. If there is no signal detected from the position sensor other than the parking sensor of the parking area where the unregistered vehicle is parked in the dome camera 400, the direction of the dome camera 400 is set in a set arbitrary direction, Stop.

In the embodiment of the present invention, an example in which the vehicle monitoring system is applied to the parking lot has been described. However, the present invention is equally applicable to any space provided that the entrance and exit of the vehicle are provided and the dome camera can cover the photographing of the space . In the present embodiment, the unregistered vehicle is monitored through the number of the vehicle to be entered. However, even in the case of objects and persons who can characterize, the shape of the object and the face of the person are registered, It is possible to apply the same to the case of monitoring objects and people by comparing them with the image data.

As described above, according to the present invention, an image of a vehicle entering an entrance is picked up, the captured image data is compared with the registered vehicle number, and the operation of the surveillance system through the dome camera is judged to determine whether or not the surveillance system is operated. And controls the operation of the camera and the surveillance system. Thus, the storage capacity of moving picture data photographed by the dome camera can be saved. In addition, the parking management system generates an alarm signal for the unregistered vehicle, so that it is easy for the user to confirm whether or not the unregistered vehicle is wearing. On the other hand, when the vehicle enters and exits the parking lot, it is easy to check the presence of the vehicle in the parking lot by capturing the vehicle and storing the goods receipt and departure status of the vehicle corresponding to the detected vehicle number.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. Of course, such modifications are within the scope of the claims.

Claims (20)

An approval camera for picking up the vehicle so as to include a license plate of an entering and leaving vehicle and outputting image data; The control unit detects the vehicle number from the image data and determines whether the detected vehicle number corresponds to the pre-registered vehicle number. If it is determined that the vehicle number is a pre-registered vehicle number, A parking management system that does not store the vehicle; A position sensor for detecting the position of the vehicle in the parking lot; And And a dome camera which moves the focus to the position of the vehicle sensed by the position sensor when the parking management system determines that the vehicle is an unregistered vehicle and photographs the moving image and transmits the photographed moving image data to the parking system Vehicle monitoring system. The method according to claim 1, Further comprising at least one inlet sensor for sensing a vehicle entry from the outside, Wherein the acceptance camera images the vehicle when the entrance sensor detects the entry of the vehicle. 3. The method of claim 2, Further comprising at least one exit sensor for detecting a vehicle leaving the parking lot. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the position sensor comprises: At least one passage sensor located in a passage through which the vehicle passed through the entrance moves and which senses the movement of the vehicle in the passage; And And at least one parking sensor for sensing whether the vehicle is present in each parking area in the parking lot. The method of claim 3, The approval camera comprises: A first approval camera in which, when the entrance sensor detects entry of the vehicle, direction and focusing are set so as to capture the vehicle; And And a second approval camera configured to set the direction and focusing to image the vehicle when the exit sensor detects the departure of the vehicle. 6. The method of claim 5, Wherein the parking management system comprises: A vehicle number detecting unit that detects the number of the vehicle from the image data captured by the first approval camera; A vehicle number comparison unit for comparing the detected vehicle number with the pre-registered vehicle number data to determine whether the vehicle is a registered vehicle; And And a main control unit for outputting the input image data to the vehicle number detecting unit and sending the monitoring operation signal for monitoring the vehicle to the dome camera when it is determined that the vehicle is not registered according to the determination result A vehicle monitoring system characterized by. The method according to claim 6, The dome camera includes: A dome camera operation signal for controlling the operation of the dome camera is output when the monitoring operation signal outputted from the main control unit is inputted and when the sensor signal outputted from the passage sensor and the parking sensor is input, A dome controller for outputting sensor information including a position of the sensor; A driving unit for driving the dome camera by the dome camera operation signal and setting a photographing direction and a focus of the dome camera in a direction corresponding to the sensor information; And And a photographing unit photographing the photographing area according to the setting and outputting the photographed moving image data to the dome control unit. 8. The method of claim 7, Wherein the parking management system further comprises an alarm unit for outputting an alarm signal when the vehicle number comparison unit determines that the vehicle is an unregistered vehicle. 9. The method of claim 8, Wherein the alarm unit notifies the user that the vehicle is an unregistered vehicle through sound and / or color. 9. The method of claim 8, Wherein the parking management system further comprises a display unit for displaying a registration selection menu for allowing a user to select whether to register the vehicle with the vehicle when the alarm signal is input from the alarm unit. 10. The method of claim 9, Wherein the parking management system further comprises: a vehicle number storage unit for storing vehicle information registered by a user. 12. The method of claim 11, Wherein the vehicle information includes information on the registered vehicle number, the registered goods receipt status of the vehicle, and the registered goods status of the registered vehicle. 13. The method of claim 12, Wherein the parking management terminal further comprises a motion picture data storage unit for storing the motion picture data output from the dome camera. A first step of picking up the vehicle so as to include a number plate of an entering and leaving vehicle; A second step of detecting the vehicle number from the captured image data and determining whether the detected vehicle number corresponds to a previously registered vehicle number; And And a third step of photographing the unregistered vehicle after focusing on the position of the unregistered vehicle detected by the position sensor provided in the parking lot when it is determined that the vehicle is an unregistered vehicle and storing the captured moving image. Vehicle monitoring method. 15. The method of claim 14, Wherein the third step further comprises the step of outputting an alarm signal when it is determined that the vehicle is an unregistered vehicle according to the determination result of the second step. 16. The method of claim 15, Wherein the alarm signal comprises sound and / or color. 16. The method of claim 15, And displaying a registration selection menu for allowing the user to select whether or not to register the vehicle in accordance with the alarm signal. 18. The method of claim 17, And storing the registered vehicle information in the vehicle number storage unit according to the selection of the user. 19. The method of claim 18, Wherein the vehicle information includes information on the registered vehicle number, the registered goods receipt status of the vehicle, and the registered goods status of the registered vehicle. 15. The method of claim 14, And the moving picture data photographed according to the third step is stored in the moving picture data formatting unit.