JP4675501B2 - Meter monitoring system and meter monitoring method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a meter monitoring system for monitoring a meter installed in a building or an industrial facility.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a building or the like, in order to constantly monitor the state of use of electric power, water, fuel, various gases, etc., the meters on which people are installed have been visually observed. In recent years, so-called intelligentization of buildings and the like has progressed, and a system for monitoring electric signals emitted from various facilities has become possible.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Newly constructed buildings can be designed and constructed on the premise of making them intelligent from the beginning, but making internal facilities such as existing buildings intelligent is both cost effective and building design. Have difficulty.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a meter monitoring system that can easily monitor resources and the like without changing the internal facilities of a building currently in use. For the purpose.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides an image acquisition unit that acquires an image of a captured meter, a storage unit that stores the image, and a previous image that is a previously acquired image. from reading, performs division processing for the current image is the front image and the latest image is subjected to contrast enhancement processing on the images of the division result, based on the images of the contrast enhancement processing is applied, the front image The gist of the present invention is a meter monitoring system comprising an image analysis unit that determines whether or not the meter has changed between the current image and the current image.
[0006]
In the meter monitoring system of the present invention, the image analysis unit, based on the images of the contrast enhancement processing is performed, performs addition of the pixel values for at least vertically or horizontally either direction, this It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not there is a change in the state of the meter based on the distribution of the value of the addition result.
[0007]
In the present invention, when the image analysis unit determines that there is a change in the state of the meter, the image analysis unit performs a process of obtaining a value of the captured meter based on the current image. And
[0008]
In addition, the meter monitoring system of the present invention includes a monitoring center computer that receives and manages the determination result of the image analysis unit via a communication network.
[0009]
In addition, the meter monitoring method of the present invention includes an image acquisition process for acquiring a current image that is a latest image obtained by photographing a meter, the current image, and a previous image that is an image of the meter acquired previously. a division process of performing division processing with the the resulting division result image of the division process, a contrast enhancement process for performing contrast enhancement processing, wherein the divide result image in which the contrast enhancement processing is performed, at least the longitudinal direction Or an addition process for performing pixel value addition processing in any one of the horizontal directions, and a determination process for determining whether or not the state of the meter has changed based on the distribution of the addition result values obtained as a result of the addition process. It is characterized by this.
[0010]
In the meter monitoring method of the present invention , in the contrast enhancement process, the division result image obtained as a result of the division process is subjected to a gamma correction process in addition to the contrast enhancement process, and in the addition process, the contrast enhancement process is performed. The addition process is performed on the division result image subjected to the process and the gamma correction process.
[0011]
Further, the meter monitoring method of the present invention is a process of determining whether there is a change in the state of the meter by analyzing each image obtained by imaging a plurality of meters installed in a building ,
Wherein an image analysis process of resulting judgment result was collected using a communications network management to that process and the meters monitoring method comprising, in the course of the determination, before a image previously acquired image And the current image, which is the latest image, and a contrast enhancement process is performed on the image of the division result. Based on the image subjected to the contrast enhancement process, between the previous image and the current image It is determined whether there is a change in the state of the meter.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the meter monitoring system according to the embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a plurality of meters that are installed in a building and are monitored by this system, 2 is a camera that continuously shoots the meter 1, and 5 is an image taken by the camera 2. This is an image processing personal computer that takes in (video) as an electrical signal and processes it. Reference numeral 6 denotes a monitoring center computer, and the processing results of the respective image processing personal computers 5 are sent to the monitoring center computer 6 via the communication network 10. Reference numeral 7 denotes a situation reference personal computer. The situation reference personal computer 7 can be used to refer to monitoring result data collected by the monitoring center computer 6.
[0013]
With the configuration shown in FIG. 1, each meter 1 installed in a building is captured as an image by the camera 2, processed by the image processing personal computer 5, and the processing result is centrally managed by the monitoring center computer 6. It becomes possible to do.
The meter 1 is, for example, a voltage meter that indicates a power supply voltage, a power meter that indicates power consumption, a flow meter that indicates the flow rate of water supply or various gases, and the like.
The communication network 10 may be either a LAN (local area network) or a WAN (wide area network).
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the image processing personal computer 5. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 51 denotes an image acquisition unit that captures an image captured by the camera 2 into the image processing personal computer 5, and 52 denotes a storage unit that stores image data acquired by the image acquisition unit 51. Is an image analysis unit that reads out image data from the storage unit 52 and performs analysis processing, and 54 is a communication unit that transmits the results of analysis by the image analysis unit 53 to the outside. Specifically, a video capture board for a personal computer is used as the image acquisition unit 51. As the storage unit 52, for example, a magnetic hard disk device is used. The processing procedure by the image analysis unit 53 is recorded in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a computer program. The central processing unit reads out and executes this computer program, so that the function of the image analysis unit 53 is improved. Realized.
Here, the computer-readable recording medium refers to a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a semiconductor memory, and the like. Alternatively, the computer program may be distributed to the computer via a communication line, and the computer that has received the distribution may execute the program.
[0015]
The meter 1 may be illuminated so that the camera 2 can shoot under good conditions. At that time, when the meter 1 is covered with a cover made of glass or plastic, for example, by illuminating from an oblique direction of 45 degrees, or by providing a polarizing filter on the lens of the camera 2, The influence of interference of reflected light on the cover can be reduced.
[0016]
Next, a processing procedure in the image processing personal computer will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of image analysis in the image processing personal computer. The process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is repeatedly performed at predetermined time intervals.
[0017]
In the following, referring to FIG. 3, in the image processing personal computer, first in step S1, the image acquisition unit (51) acquires the current image from the camera, and temporarily stores the image data in the storage unit (52). Remember. Next, in step S2, a division process is performed between the image acquired during the previous process execution and the image acquired in step S1 this time. Then, in step S4, vertical and horizontal addition processing is performed on the image resulting from the division processing, and pixel concentration locations are detected based on the distribution of the value of the addition result, whereby the previous image and the current image are detected. Determine whether there has been a change in the meter state between the images. Note that the vertical and horizontal addition processing in step S4 and the detection of the pixel concentration location based on the addition processing will be described in detail later.
[0018]
Next, in step S5, based on the result of step S4, it is determined whether or not there is a pixel concentration place in the division result image. If there is no pixel concentration place, it is determined that there is no movement in the meter to be monitored, and the process ends. If it is determined in step S5 that there is a pixel concentration place, the processing in steps S6 to S8 is continued.
[0019]
In step S6, image processing relating to the scale of the meter being photographed for the current image data acquired in step S1 is performed. In step S7, image processing relating to the needle of the meter is performed on the data of the image. In step S8, based on the results of the image processing in steps S6 and S7, processing for reading the value pointed to by the meter needle photographed in the current image is performed. Then, information indicating that the meter has moved and the current meter value are output, and the process ends.
[0020]
Next, details of the processing contents in the above steps S2 to S4 will be described with reference to examples of images. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the previous image (a) and the current image (b) to be divided in step S2. In the example shown in FIG. 4, since there was a movement of the meter needle between the previous process and the current process, that is, there was a change in the state of the meter between the two, the previous image (a) and the current image (b) The needle position is different. Here, these images are white to black gray scale images, and pixels are arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions orthogonal to each other, and the state of each pixel included is represented by luminance. To do. That is, the larger the pixel value, the higher the brightness and the closer to white, and the smaller the pixel value, the lower the brightness and the closer to black.
[0021]
FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram showing an image obtained as a result of performing division processing between the previous image of FIG. 4A and the current image of FIG. 4B. In the division result shown in FIG. 5A, the area where the needle of the meter has moved (reference numeral 100) is black, and the other areas are white.
[0022]
In step S4 described above, the following processing is performed on the image shown in FIG.
First, in the vertical addition process, a process of adding all pixel values of pixels belonging to each column for each column of pixels in the vertical direction in all the horizontal sections of the image (that is, the section M shown in FIG. 5A). I do. FIG. 5B corresponds to the image of FIG. 5A and is a graph showing the distribution of addition result values for the vertical addition process. As shown in FIG. 5B, the value of the addition result is smaller in the section to which the region 100 appearing as a result of the movement of the meter needle, that is, in the section P, than in the other sections in the section M. As described above, as a result of the vertical addition process, it can be determined that the pixels are concentrated in a section that is smaller than the predetermined threshold Th.
[0023]
The horizontal addition processing is the same as the vertical addition processing except that the addition direction is different, and for each row of pixels in the horizontal direction in the entire vertical section of the image (that is, the section N shown in FIG. 5A). Then, a process of adding all the pixel values of the pixels belonging to each row is performed. As a result, in the section to which the region 100 belongs, that is, the section Q, the value of the addition result is smaller than the other sections in the section N, and it can be determined that the pixels are concentrated in this section.
Then, based on the results of both the vertical addition process and the horizontal addition process, it is determined whether there is a place where pixels are concentrated in the division result image.
[0024]
As described above, the processing result in the image processing personal computer is sent to the monitoring center computer and centrally managed. As a result, even in an existing building where it is impossible or difficult to make intelligent, it is possible to easily perform remote monitoring of the meter without human being sticking at all times.
[0025]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the meter monitoring system according to the embodiment. In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the image is directly taken into the image processing personal computer 5 from the camera 2, whereas in the configuration shown in FIG. 6, the monitoring target meter 1 is recorded by the video recording device 3. The video (image) is recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape or an optical disk. Then, the image recorded on this recording medium is reproduced by the video reproducing device 4 and taken into the image processing personal computer 5, and the same analysis processing as described above is performed.
If there is no need for real-time monitoring and post-monitoring is acceptable, or if it is sufficient to analyze only the state of a specific meter instead of monitoring all meters at all times, the configuration shown in FIG. By doing so, the number of image processing personal computers can be reduced, and the cost of the system can be suppressed.
[0026]
Furthermore, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a part of the procedure of image analysis processing according to the embodiment. The feature of the procedure shown in FIG. 7 is that the result of the division process in step S2 is subjected to the contrast enhancement process and the gamma correction process in step S3, and then the vertical addition process and the horizontal addition process in step S4. It is. By performing the contrast enhancement process and the gamma correction process, the movement of the meter needle can be detected more reliably even when the result of the division process is unclear due to poor imaging conditions or the like.
In the processing procedure shown in FIG. 7, both the contrast enhancement processing and the gamma correction processing are performed in step S3, but only one of them may be performed.
[0027]
As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and includes a design and the like within a scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, in the embodiment, for the purpose of reducing the amount of image data and shortening the processing time, the image to be captured by the image processing personal computer is a black and white grayscale image. Instead, a color image is captured and processed. Anyway.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the image of the meter is captured and acquired, and by dividing the current image representing the latest meter state and the previous image representing the previous meter state, It is not necessary to make the internal equipment of the building intelligent even when it is necessary to monitor the meter installed in the existing building to judge whether the state of the meter has changed based on the image of the division result. The old equipment can be used as it is, and there is no need for people to stick to monitor the meter. Therefore, constant monitoring of the meter can be realized at low cost.
[0029]
Further, according to the present invention, since the pixel value is added in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction based on the result image of the division process, the state of the meter changes based on the distribution of the value of the addition result. It will be possible to automatically determine whether there has been.
[0030]
Further, according to the present invention, when it is determined that there is a change in the state of the meter, the value of the meter is converted into numerical data in order to perform processing for obtaining the value of the meter that has been photographed based on the current image. Can be recorded. In addition, since the process of obtaining the meter value only needs to be performed when the meter state changes, the processing load can be reduced.
[0031]
In addition, according to the present invention, since the addition processing is performed after the contrast enhancement process is performed on the division result image obtained as a result of the division process, the meter can be surely used even when the photographing condition of the meter image is not necessarily good. It is possible to detect a change in state.
[0032]
In addition, according to the present invention, since the monitoring center computer that receives and manages the determination result of the image analysis unit via the communication network is provided, it becomes possible to remotely monitor a large number of meters installed over a wide area. Management costs can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a meter monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the image processing personal computer according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of image analysis processing in the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a previous image (a) and a current image (b) that are taken into an image processing personal computer and are subject to division according to the embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram (a) showing an image obtained as a result of division processing between a previous image and a current image according to the embodiment, and a graph (b) of addition results when vertical addition processing is performed based on the image. It is.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a meter monitoring system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a main procedure of image analysis processing according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Meter 2 Camera 3 Video recording device 4 Video playback device 5 Image processing personal computer 6 Monitoring center computer 7 Situation reference personal computer 10 Communication network 51 Image acquisition part 52 Storage part 53 Image analysis part 54 Communication part

Claims (7)

An image acquisition unit for acquiring an image of the captured meter;
A storage unit for storing the image;
Reading an image before a previously acquired image from the storage unit, performs division processing for the current image is the front image and the latest image is subjected to contrast enhancement processing on the images of the division result, the contrast enhancement based processing the images subjected, meter monitoring system characterized in that it comprises an image analysis unit for determining whether there has been a change in the state of the meter between the current image and the previous image. The image analysis unit, based on the images of the contrast enhancement processing is performed, performs addition of the pixel values for at least vertically or horizontally either direction, of the meter based on the distribution of the value of this sum The meter monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the state has changed.   The said image analysis part performs the process which calculates | requires the value of the image | photographed said meter based on the said current image, when it judges that the state of the said meter has changed. Meter monitoring system.   The meter monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising a monitoring center computer that receives and manages the determination result of the image analysis unit via a communication network. An image acquisition process for acquiring the current image, which is the latest image obtained by photographing the meter,
A division process for performing a division process between the current image and a previous image that is the previously acquired image of the meter;
A contrast enhancement process for performing a contrast enhancement process on the division result image obtained as a result of the division process;
For the contrast enhancement processing is the divide result image subjected, an adding process of performing addition processing of the pixel values for at least vertically or horizontally either direction,
A meter monitoring method comprising: a determination step of determining whether or not the meter has changed based on a distribution of addition result values obtained as a result of the addition processing. In the contrast enhancement process, the division result image obtained as a result of the division process is subjected to a gamma correction process in addition to the contrast enhancement process,
In the addition process,
The meter monitoring method according to claim 5, wherein the addition process is performed on the division result image that has been subjected to the contrast enhancement process and the gamma correction process. A process of determining whether or not there has been a change in the state of the meter by analyzing each image obtained by imaging a plurality of meters installed in the building ,
A process that collects manage using the results communications network judgment results obtained in said image analysis process
A the meters monitoring method comprising,
In the determination process, a division process is performed between the previous image, which is the previously acquired image, and the current image, which is the latest image, the contrast enhancement process is performed on the division result image, and the contrast enhancement process is performed. A meter monitoring method, comprising: determining whether or not the state of the meter has changed between the previous image and the current image based on an image.

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