KR20020078008A - remote control observation network system using telephone line - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a remote control monitoring network apparatus capable of monitoring a state of a subject located at a remote location, the apparatus comprising: at least one image input unit configured to receive image information of a subject located in a predetermined area and convert the image information into a digital or analog signal and output the converted digital or analog signal; An image processor connected adjacent to an output terminal of the at least one image input unit and converting the digital or analog signal into an MPEG signal and transmitting the converted signal through a pair of telephone lines; A server for receiving an MPEG signal transmitted through the pair of telephone lines and transmitting the MPEG signal through an internet network, or decoding the MPEG signal, and then converting the decoded video signal into an NTSC or PAL signal; And an image display device for receiving an MPEG signal output from the server or an NTSC or PAL signal and displaying an image.

Description

Remote control observation network system using telephone line

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control monitoring network device capable of monitoring a state of a subject at a remote location, and more particularly to a remote control monitoring network device for transmitting a state of a subject photographed at an arbitrary place to a remote monitor via a telephone line. .

In general, a remote control monitoring network apparatus is used, comprising: an image input unit for inputting information including an image or audio of a subject, an image signal processor connected to an output terminal of the image input unit and converting image information into an analog signal of NTSC or PAL method; And a microprocessor for controlling the operation of the image input unit and the image signal processor, and an image signal output unit connected to an output terminal of the image signal processor to transmit the analog signal to a monitor, which is a display device installed remotely through a coaxial cable.

However, as the distance between the point where the subject is photographed and the point where the information of the subject is monitored increases, the installation cost of the coaxial cable increases considerably, thereby increasing the installation cost of the remote control monitoring network device. In addition, installation of coaxial cables with increased length is not easy. In particular, the installation and operation of coaxial cables having a length of more than 2 km is not economically or technically easy. On the other hand, when installing a surveillance camera that photographs a subject in an area such as an underground parking lot or a sewage treatment plant, it is inconvenient to install a power supply cable from a remote power supply to a surveillance camera in order to supply driving power to the surveillance camera. have.

Therefore, the present invention is to provide a remote control monitoring network device that can be easily installed at a low cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a remote control monitoring network apparatus that can transmit a video signal by using a telephone line wired to an existing building or by wiring a separate telephone line.

Another technical problem to be achieved by the present invention is to provide a remote control monitoring apparatus that does not need to install a separate power supply line in a remote camera.

1 is a schematic diagram of a remote control monitoring network apparatus according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an analog image processing unit used in a remote control monitoring network device according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the digital image processing unit used in the remote control monitoring network apparatus according to the present invention.

4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a server used in the remote control monitoring network device according to the present invention.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote control monitoring network apparatus for receiving video information of a subject located in a predetermined region and converting the image information into a digital or analog signal and outputting the digital or analog signal, and the output terminal of the one or more video input units. A video processing unit which is connected adjacent to and converts the digital or analog signal into an MPEG signal and transmits the signal through a pair of telephone lines, and receives an MPEG signal transmitted through the pair of telephone lines through the Internet network. After transmitting an MPEG signal or decoding the MPEG signal, a remote server converts the decoded video signal into an NTSC or PAL signal, and receives an MPEG signal or an NTSC or PAL signal output from the server. And an image display device for displaying an image.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram of a remote monitoring network device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the remote monitoring network apparatus of the present invention includes one or more image input units 10a, 10b, 20a, and 20b, one or more image processing units 100a, 100b, 200a, and 200b, a telephone line 50, and a server. 300, and image display devices 410, 420, and 450.

The image input units 10a, 10b, 20a, and 20b are devices for receiving image information of a subject and transmitting the same as an electrical signal. General analog cameras 10a, 10b for receiving image information and outputting an NTSC or PAL analog signal are provided. ) May be used as the image input unit, and digital cameras 20a and 20b including a lens for receiving image information and a sensor for receiving image information from the lens and outputting the image information may be used as the image input unit. The digital or analog image signal output from the image input units 10a, 10b, 20a, and 20b is transmitted through the internal conductor 40, circuitry, or in the form of an adapter, respectively. ) Is input to the image processing units 100a, 100b, 200a, and 200b which are adjacently connected.

The image processing unit 100a, 100b, 200a, and 200b converts an input image signal into an MPEG signal, compresses the image signal, and transmits the compressed image signal to a remote server 300 through a pair of telephone lines 50 for transmission and reception. The apparatus includes an analog image processing unit (100a, 100b) for processing an analog signal according to the input signal and a digital image processing unit (200a, 200b) for processing a digital signal. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the analog image processing unit 100a and 100b. As shown in FIG. 2, the analog image processing unit 100a and 100b includes a TV signal decoder 110, an MPEG encoder 120, a microcomputer. The processor 140 includes a main memory 150, an HDLC connector (high level data connection controller 160), and a digital subscriber line (xDSL) transceiver 170. In addition, a power supply unit 180 for supplying power for driving the analog image processing units 100a and 100b may be connected to a telephone line 50 that transmits an output of the xDSL transceiver 170.

The TV signal decoder 110 receives an NTSC or PAL analog video signal transmitted from the general cameras 10a and 10b through the conductive wire 40, decodes it, and converts it into a digital signal. The MPEG encoder 120 is a function of receiving a digital signal output from the TV signal decoder 110, compressing a moving image by a moving picture international compression standard (MPEG), and outputting it as an MPEG signal. The MPEG encoder 120 is connected with a memory 130 for temporarily storing data when compressing image information.

The microprocessor 140 controls the HDLC controller (high level data connection controller) 160 and stores an MPEG signal, which is a video compressed digital signal output from the MPEG encoder 120, in the main memory 150. And transmits the MPEG signal stored in the main memory 150 according to the state of the HDLC controller 160.

The HDLC controller 160 transmits the MPEG signal in units of frames and inserts information for controlling the flow of data and correcting errors in the data frame in order to verify whether the frame transmitted through the network has arrived successfully. Put to send. The output signal of the HDLC controller 160 is transmitted to the xDSL transceiver 170 for network transmission through the telephone line, and the xDSL transceiver 170 modulates the MPEG signal into the xDSL signal and transmits the signal through the telephone line 50. do.

3 is a block diagram of a digital image processing unit 200a and 200b for processing a digital signal. The digital image processing units 200a and 200b shown in FIG. 3 are connected to the analog image processing units 100a and 100b shown in FIG. An MPEG encoder 220, a memory 230, a microprocessor 240, a main memory 250, an HDLC controller 260, and an xDSL transceiver 270 having the same function are formed. The digital camera 20a, Since the digital signal is directly input from 29b), it is made of the same device as the analog image processing units 100a and 100b except that the TV signal decoder 110 for converting the analog signal into the digital signal is not used.

As described above, the present invention converts the camera information (10a, 10b, 20a, 20b) receiving the image information and the image information into an MPEG signal, and an image processing unit for performing a signal conversion to transmit the converted MPEG signal through a telephone line Since (100a, 100b, 200a, 200b) are adjacently connected, as a result, a signal output from the camera unit can be directly transmitted through the telephone line 50, and power for driving the camera unit is supplied through the telephone line 50. Since it is possible to receive, it is not necessary to provide a separate camera power supply line and a device unlike when using a coaxial cable.

The signal output from the xDSL transceivers 170 and 270 is transmitted to the server 300 via the telephone line 50. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of such a server 300. As shown in FIG. 4, the server 300 used in the remote control monitoring network apparatus of the present invention includes one or more xDSL transceivers 305, 315, 325, 335, HDLC controllers 310, 320, 330, 340, microprocessor 350, main memory 360, Ethernet controller 365, LAN interface 370, MPEG decoder 375, TV encoder 380 And memory 390.

The server 300 calculates and processes a signal input from the image processing units 100a, 100b, 200a, and 200b so as to be a signal suitable for the type of the display devices 410, 420, and 450 as the final destinations. For example, if the remote video output unit is a closed circuit television receiver 450, the compressed digital video signal is decompressed, code-converted, and converted into the original readable signal form, followed by NTSC or PAL scanning analog signal. The conversion is supplied to the TV receiver 450. As another example, when the remote video display device is a computer monitor (410, 420), it is not necessary to decompress the moving image and restore the signal that the television receiver can understand, that is, an analog signal of NTSC or PAL scanning method. The MPEG signal is decoded and supplied to the monitors 410 and 420.

The xDSL transceivers 305, 315, 325, and 335 re-demodulate the modulated MPEG signals transmitted from the image processing units 100a, 100b, 200a, and 200b through the telephone line 50, and the xDSL transceivers ( 305, 315, 325, and 335 are connected to HDLC controllers 310, 320, 330, and 340 corresponding to each of them, and the HDLC controllers 310, 320, 330, and 340 are connected in parallel through a system bus. . The HDLC controllers 310, 320, 330, and 340 are connected to the main memory 360 and the microprocessor 350 through a system bus. In addition, depending on the type of the video display device of the remote location, the output signal of the HDLC controllers 310, 320, 330, and 340 is selectively connected to the Ethernet controller 365 or the MPEG decoder 375. The Ethernet controller 365 converts data into an Ethernet frame for signal transmission through the Internet network, and monitors a remote computer monitor through the LAN interface 370, the telephone lines 60 and 70, and the Internet network 400. 410, 420, see FIG. 1). Meanwhile, the MPEG decoder 375 is connected to a memory 390 connected to a system bus and to a TV signal encoder 380. The output of the TV signal encoder 380 is connected to a remote television receiver (350 in FIG. 1) via a coaxial cable 80.

In FIG. 4, the main memory 360 is for storing the output of the HDLC controllers 310, 320, 330, and 340, and the stored or converted digital signal is controlled by the microprocessor 350. Or to the MPEG decoder 375. The output of the Ethernet controller 365 is connected to each computer via the LAN interface 370 through Ethernet and the Internet network 400. The final image information transmitted to the computer is displayed on the computer monitors 410 and 420. Therefore, the image of the subject can be monitored even at a distance of 2 km or more from where the subject is located.

In addition, when a television receiver is used instead of a computer monitor as an image output unit, a digital signal transmitted through a telephone line must be restored to a signal suitable for a television receiver, that is, an NTSC or PAL analog signal. It is necessary to recover the compressed signal. Therefore, under the control of the microprocessor 350, the output signal of the HDLC controller is input to the MPEG decoder 375 to decompress the moving picture compression signal, which is then input to the TV encoder 380, which is read by the television receiver. The signal can be converted into an analog signal of NTSC / PAL.

The xDSL transceivers 305, 315, 325, and 335 of the server 300 receive power from a remote power supply circuit 395 and the image processing units 100a, 100b, 200a, and 200b through a telephone line 50. Power is supplied to drive the cameras 10a, 10b, 20a, and 20b.

In summary, in the present invention, in order to efficiently perform data transmission between the video information input unit of the subject and the video display device of a remote location without using a coaxial cable, the video signal of the subject is suitably suited to a transmission method through a telephone line. The signal is coded and transmitted as a relay device through a telephone line to a server that processes the signal. The camera server then processes the signal to match the type of video display device.

According to the present invention, since the telephone line is used as the signal transmission path, the remote control monitoring network apparatus according to the present invention can be configured by using the telephone line already installed, and there is no need to install a separate coaxial cable. In addition, it is possible to eliminate the difficulty of installing the coaxial cable, which may occur when the video signal of the subject is transmitted by installing the coaxial cable, and can alleviate the economic burden.

In addition, the present invention is connected to the camera receiving the image information, and the image processing unit converts the image information to the MPEG signal, and the signal processing to perform the signal conversion so as to transmit the converted MPEG signal through the telephone line, consequently the camera There is an advantage that the signal output from the unit can be directly transmitted through a telephone line, and since the power for driving the camera unit can be supplied through the telephone line, a separate camera power supply line and a device are provided unlike a case of using a coaxial cable. There are additional advantages that do not have to be Therefore, the remote control monitoring network device of the present invention can be easily installed even in areas where power lines are not easily installed, such as underground parking lots, sewage treatment plants, and the like.

Claims (7)

At least one image input unit which receives image information of a subject located in a predetermined region and converts the image information into a digital or analog signal and outputs the converted image; An image processor connected adjacent to an output terminal of the at least one image input unit and converting the digital or analog signal into an MPEG signal and transmitting the converted signal through a pair of telephone lines; Remote server that receives the MPEG signal transmitted through the pair of telephone lines and transmits the MPEG signal through the Internet network, or decode the MPEG signal, and then converts the decoded video signal into NTSC or PAL signal ; And And a video display device for displaying an image by receiving an MPEG signal or an NTSC or PAL signal outputted from the server. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the video input unit is an analog camera that receives video information and outputs an NTSC or PAL analog signal. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the image processing unit comprises: a TV signal decoder which receives the analog video signal, decodes it, and converts the analog video signal into a digital signal; An MPEG encoder which receives a digital signal output from the TV signal decoder and compresses a video using a moving picture international compression standard (MPEG) to output an MPEG signal; An HDLC controller for transmitting the MPEG signal in units of frames; And And a xDSL transceiver configured to modulate the MPEG signal of the frame unit into an xDSL signal and transmit the xDSL transceiver through a telephone line. The digital camera of claim 1, wherein the image input unit is a digital camera that receives image information and outputs the image information as a digital signal. The image processor includes: an MPEG encoder which receives the digital signal and outputs the MPEG signal; An HDLC controller for transmitting the MPEG signal in units of frames; And And a xDSL transceiver configured to modulate the MPEG signal of the frame unit into an xDSL signal and transmit the xDSL transceiver through a telephone line. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server comprises: at least one xDSL transceiver for demodulating a modulated MPEG signal transmitted from an image processor through the telephone line; An HDLC controller for transmitting the MPEG signal in units of frames; An Ethernet controller for converting a video compressed signal output from the HDLC controller into an Ethernet frame so as to be transmitted through an internet network; And And a LAN interface for transmitting a signal output from the Ethernet controller to an internet network. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the server comprises: at least one xDSL transceiver for demodulating a modulated MPEG signal transmitted from an image processor through the telephone line; An HDLC controller for transmitting the MPEG signal in units of frames; An MPEG decoder which decompresses and decodes the compressed video compressed signal output from the HDLC controller; And And a TV encoder for converting the signal output from the MPEG decoder into an NTSC or PAL analog signal and outputting the converted signal. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image input unit and the image processor receive driving power through a telephone line connected to the server.