JP6522296B2 - Image recording module and communication method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording module mounted on a lighting device and recording image data.

  As an image recording apparatus which is mounted on a lighting apparatus installed outdoors and which records image data, one described in JP-A-2013-153304 (Patent Document 1) is known. The image recording apparatus disclosed in this document comprises a monitoring camera attached to a lighting device such as a telephone pole or a street lamp, a control unit for controlling the monitoring camera, and the like. The monitoring camera included in the image recording device is arranged at a place away from the image recording device, and is configured by a video recording device, a monitor, a control unit, etc. It always transmits to the recording control unit via a wireless communication line such as a wireless LAN. The recording control unit records the received image data. Thus, the user can analyze the image data recorded in the recording control unit.

JP, 2013-153304, A

The device described in Patent Document 1 records images of an unspecified number of people. The publication of such images without the consent of these people must be prevented from the viewpoint of portrait rights and protection of personal information. However, the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 adopts a configuration in which the monitoring camera constantly transmits image data to the recording control unit via the wireless communication line, and thus, via the wireless communication line in this way There is a risk that image data transmitted constantly, even if encrypted, will be decrypted and released sooner or later.
Thus, various embodiments of the present invention provide an image recording module with improved security.

An image recording module according to an aspect of the present invention is an image recording module that can be mounted on a lighting device, and a recording unit that records image data generated based on an image captured by an imaging unit; Communication means capable of transmitting the image data via a wireless communication line, the communication means operating according to a control signal received via a second wireless communication line different from the first wireless communication line And.
A communication method according to an aspect of the present invention is a communication method using an image recording module that can be mounted on a lighting device, which includes the steps of recording image data associated with an image captured by an imaging unit; Controlling transmission of image data through a wireless communication line according to a control signal received through a second wireless communication line different from the first wireless communication line.

  According to various embodiments of the present invention, an image recording module with improved security can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of an image recording system 100 using an image recording module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig.2 (a) and FIG.2 (b) are the side view and bottom view which respectively show an example of a structure of the illuminating device which mounts the image recording module which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image recording module according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a specific example of an image recording system using an image recording module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the same referential mark is attached | subjected to the component which is common in each drawing.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of an image recording system 100 using an image recording module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The image recording system 100 mainly includes an illumination device 200 mounted on a telephone pole, a street 40, etc. and equipped with an image recording module for recording image data, a mobile router 300 for receiving image data from the illumination device 200, and a mobile router A terminal device 400 for receiving image data from 300 and an IR (infrared) remote control key 500 for controlling communication of image data by the lighting device 110 are included.

  The lighting device 200 transmits image data to the mobile router 300 via the first wireless communication line 10. The first wireless communication line 10 is various wireless communication lines including a wireless LAN, an infrared communication line, a mobile communication line and the like, but here, as an example, a wireless LAN.

The mobile router 300 as an aspect of the relay device transmits the image data received from the lighting device 200 via the first wireless communication line 10 to the terminal device 400 via the third wireless communication line 20. The third wireless communication line 20 is also various wireless communication lines including a wireless LAN, an infrared communication line, a mobile communication line and the like, but here is a wireless LAN as an example.

The IR remote control key 500 as one aspect of the remote control device turns on / off wireless communication by the lighting device 200 via the first wireless communication line 10 via the second wireless communication line 30. The second wireless communication line 30 is various wireless communication lines including a wireless LAN, an infrared communication line, a mobile communication line, and the like, but here is an infrared communication line as an example.

The terminal device 400 is an arbitrary device including a personal computer, a mobile phone, a tablet, a smartphone, a portable information terminal and the like, and is a device capable of communicating with the mobile router 300 via the third wireless communication line 20.

  Although the names “first” to “third” are conveniently used to distinguish three wireless communication lines, these names are not intended to limit the present invention, and any of these names is not limitative. The wireless communication lines may be distinguished using any name.

  Next, the configuration of the lighting device 200 will be further described with reference to FIG. Fig.2 (a) and FIG.2 (b) are the side view and bottom view which respectively show an example of a structure of the illuminating device which mounts the image recording module which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the lighting device 200 has a box-shaped casing 210 having an opening at the bottom and a transparent or translucent cover 220 covering the opening of the casing 210. , A support frame 230 for coupling the case 210 to a telephone pole, a street 40, etc., an image recording module 240 housed in the case 210, and the cover 200 (and the case 210) exposed from the cover 220. And an imaging unit (camera) 250 provided as a part of the image recording module 240 or separately from the image recording module 240, and a light emitting element (not shown) housed in the housing 210.

  The support frame 230 is formed to have a generally U-shaped extending shape while maintaining a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional shape. The support frame 230 supports the housing 210 by its one end 232 being attached to the utility pole or the street 40 and the other end 234 being connected to the top surface of the housing 210.

  The housing 210 accommodates therein one or more light emitting elements (not shown), an image recording module 240, and an imaging unit 250. The side surface of the housing 210 is provided with a through hole (not shown). A power cord 260 is inserted into the housing 210 through the through hole. Power is supplied to the light emitting element, the image recording module 240 and the imaging unit 250 through the power cord 260.

Next, the configuration of the image recording module 240 will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the image recording module 240 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 3, the image recording module 240 includes the imaging unit 250 described above, an image compression recording unit 242, a first communication unit 244, a second communication unit 246, and a power supply unit 248.

  The imaging unit 250 includes an arbitrary imaging element including a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), a charge coupled device (CCD), and the like, generates image data, and outputs the image data to the image compression recording unit 242. In one embodiment, the imaging unit 250 always outputs image data to the image compression recording unit 242 by being configured to operate constantly.

  The image compression recording unit 242 compresses the image data received from the imaging unit 250, and the MPEG-2 method, Motion-JPEG method, JPEG method, JPEG 2000 method, MPEG-4 method, H.261 method, H.264 method. , And generate image data compressed according to any moving picture compression method including the H. 265 method and the like. The image compression recording unit 242 can store compressed image data in an arbitrary storage area such as a RAM, a hard disk, a flash memory, or an SD card. The image compression recording unit 242 can operate by receiving power supply from the power supply unit 248. In one embodiment, the image compression recording unit 242 supplies power to the imaging unit 250, but in another embodiment, the imaging unit 250 can also receive power supply directly from the power supply unit 248. is there. Further, in one embodiment, the image compression recording unit 242 is configured to always operate, whereby the image data sent from the imaging unit 250 is always compressed and recorded. Can be sent to

The first communication unit 244 can transmit the image data received from the image compression recording unit 242 to the mobile router 300 via the first wireless communication line 10. Specifically, the first communication unit 244 receives supply of power from the second communication unit (switching unit) 246, and is controlled by the second communication unit 246, whereby the first communication unit 244 is connected via the first wireless communication line 10. Execute or stop transmission of the image data.
In one embodiment, when the second communication unit 246 permits transmission of image data, the first communication unit 244 transmits the image data constantly transmitted from the image compression recording unit 242 to the mobile router 300 one by one. be able to. In another embodiment, when transmission of image data is permitted by the second communication unit 246, the first communication unit 244 can transmit image data corresponding to the time zone designated by the terminal device 400 via the mobile router 300. Can be retrieved from the image compression recording unit 242 and transmitted to the mobile router 300. In this case, the second communication unit 246 corresponds to the image data corresponding to the time zone designated by the terminal device 400 from among the time stamps included in the image data recorded by the image compression recording unit 242. By specifying a time stamp, it is possible to obtain image data corresponding to an arbitrary time zone.

The second communication unit 246 receives supply of power from the power supply unit 248, and performs wireless communication with the IR remote control key 500 via the second wireless communication line 30. Specifically, the second communication unit (switching unit) 246 transmits a control signal from the IR remote control key 500 (a control signal indicating that the first communication unit 244 should be turned on or a control that the first communication unit 244 should be turned off). Signal). When the second communication unit 246 receives a control signal indicating that the first communication unit 244 should be turned on from the IR remote control key 500, the second communication unit 246 permits transmission of image data by the first communication unit 244, and conversely, When the control signal indicating that the first communication unit 244 should be turned off is received, the transmission of the image data by the first communication unit 244 is stopped.

  The second communication unit 246 is operable to execute or stop the transmission of the image data by the first communication unit 244 in accordance with the control signal received from the IR remote control key 500. The signal does not affect the compression and recording of the image data by the image compression recording unit 242. That is, the image compression recording unit 242 can continue to compress and record the image data received from the imaging unit 250 regardless of the control signal received from the IR remote control key 500 by the second communication unit 246.

In one embodiment, the second communication unit 246 includes a storage unit (not shown) that stores the specific authentication code set in the image recording module 240, and received with the control signal from the IR remote control key 500, or The first communication unit 244 is controlled as described above only when the authentication code received in association with the control signal matches the specific authentication code stored in the storage unit.
In one embodiment, the storage unit for storing the specific authentication code may be included in the second communication unit 246 or may be included in the image recording module 240.
In one embodiment, the specific authentication code stored in the storage unit is updatable.

  The functional block diagram shown in FIG. 3 is merely an example, and should not be construed as limiting. For example, although the first communication unit 244 and the second communication unit 246 are represented by separate blocks, respectively, it is possible to regard both as the same block as long as the same purpose is achieved. Further, whether each functional block receives power supply directly or indirectly from the power supply unit 248 is not important as long as the same purpose is achieved.

Next, the operation of the image recording system 100 using the image recording module according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
First, the imaging unit 250 and the image compression recording unit 242 of the image recording module 240 mounted on the illumination device 200 are always operating. Thereby, the image compression recording unit 242 always keeps recording the image data in the storage area. Further, the second communication unit 246 is also always in operation, and is in a state capable of receiving a control signal transmitted via the second wireless communication line 30. On the other hand, the first communication unit 244 is normally in the OFF state.

A legitimate user owns an IR remote control key 500 corresponding to the image recording module 240. When the user presses a button (for example, an ON button) provided on the IR remote control key 500 in a range where the second wireless communication line 30 can be used, the IR remote control key 500 performs second wireless communication. A control signal to the effect that the first communication unit 244 should be turned ON is transmitted to the second communication unit 246 via the line 30. The second communication unit 246 having received the control signal turns on the first communication unit 244 to shift to a state in which communication via the first wireless communication line 10 is possible.
Note that, in one embodiment, the first communication in the OFF state only when the second communication unit 246 receives, from the IR remote control key 500, the same authentication code as the specific authentication code assigned to the image recording module 240. The unit 244 can be shifted to the ON state. Since this user is a valid user, the IR remote control key 500 corresponding to the image recording module 240 (that is, an IR remote control key for transmitting the same authentication code as the specific authentication code set in the image recording module 240 Owns 500). Therefore, the legitimate user can naturally shift the first communication unit 244 in the OFF state to the ON state using the IR remote control key 500.

Next, the user operates the mobile router 300 and the terminal device 400 to connect the terminal device 400 to the mobile router 300 via the third wireless communication line 20. As a result, the terminal device 400 becomes connectable to the first communication unit 244 via the third wireless communication line 20 and the first wireless communication line 10.

A dedicated application for operating the image recording module 240 is installed in the terminal device 400. The user can operate the image recording module 240 by activating a dedicated application and performing a specific operation on this application. For example, when the user designates image data in a desired range among image data already recorded in a predetermined storage area by the image compression recording unit 242 in a dedicated application, the terminal device 400 responds to this. The appropriate information is transmitted to the first communication unit 244. In response to this, the first communication unit 244 accesses (the storage area of) the image compression recording unit 242 to acquire the corresponding image data, and the acquired image data is transmitted to the first wireless communication line 10 and the mobile router. It transmits to the terminal device 400 via 300. The terminal device 400 can present (display) the received image data to the user via the dedicated application.
In one embodiment, the terminal device 400 can also receive image data from the first communication unit 244 in real time via the dedicated application. That is, the terminal device 400 generates the first communication unit 244 and the mobile router only by causing the image data generated by the imaging unit 250 and compressed and recorded by the image compression recording unit 242 without delay or with a slight time difference. It can be received via 300 and presented (displayed) to the user.

After that, when the user who has finished acquiring the image data presses a button (for example, the OFF button) provided on the IR remote control key 500, the IR remote control key 500 transmits the first communication data to the second communication unit 246. A control signal indicating that the communication unit 244 should be turned off is transmitted. The second communication unit 246 that has received the control signal turns the first communication unit 244 into the OFF state, and shifts the state to the state where communication via the first wireless communication line 10 is not possible.
In one embodiment, the second communication unit 246 determines that a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes) has elapsed from the time when the first communication unit 244 stops communication (for example, transmission of image data) with the mobile router 300. In such a case, the first communication unit 244 may be forced to shift to the OFF state. As a result, even when the user forgets to turn off the first communication unit 244, the first communication unit 244 automatically shifts to the OFF state when a predetermined time has elapsed, thus ensuring safety. can do.

  In the embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the case where the first communication unit 244 transmits image data to the terminal device 400 via the mobile router 300 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. For example, the first communication unit 244 directly transmits image data to the terminal device 400 via the first wireless communication line 10. Also includes the aspect of sending As an example of this mode, a configuration in which the first communication unit 244 and the terminal device 400 execute ad hoc communication can be mentioned. In one embodiment, the first communication unit 244 and the terminal device 400 can be set at the time of factory shipment so that ad hoc communication can be performed between them. In this case, each of the first communication unit 244 and the terminal device 400 has unique identification information (for example, a MAC address represented by a 16-digit hexadecimal number), and the first communication unit 244 is a terminal device. The first communication unit is received only when the unique MAC address for the terminal device 400 is received from 400 and the terminal device 400 receives the unique MAC address for the first communication unit 244 from the first communication unit 244. In 244, the image data may be transmitted to the terminal device 400. As a result, the first communication unit 244 transmits the image data only to the terminal device set at the time of factory shipment, so the security of the image recording module 240 can be enhanced.

Next, a specific application example of the above-described image recording system 100 will be further described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a specific example of an image recording system using an image recording module according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, for example, a region 610, a region 620, and a region 630 are shown as a plurality of mutually different regions. Here, the term, for example, includes (without limitation) at least one of city, town, village, district, county, city, way, prefecture, prefecture, state, country, and a combination thereof. It is Here, the area 610 to the area 630 will be described as being the town 610 to the town 630, respectively.

  In each of the towns 610 to 630, a large number of telephone poles, town halls and the like 40 are arranged. The image recording module 240 described above is mounted on each of the telephone pole and the street 40 or the like. In FIG. 4, for the sake of simplicity, the utility pole, street lamp, etc. 40 are not shown, but instead only the presence of the image recording module 240 mounted on each of these is shown.

  Each image recording module 240 installed in the town 610 stores a specific authentication code (herein referred to as “specific authentication code A”) assigned to the town 610 as a specific authentication code. In addition, each image recording module 240 installed in the town 620 stores a specific authentication code (herein referred to as “specific authentication code B”) assigned to the town 620 as a specific authentication code. Similarly, each image recording module 240 installed in the town 630 stores a specific authentication code (herein referred to as “specific authentication code C”) assigned to the town 630 as a specific authentication code.

  The IR remote control key 500A capable of transmitting the specific authentication code A assigned to the town 610 is owned and controlled by the person in charge of the town 610 (for example, the autonomous chairman). The IR remote control key 500 B capable of transmitting the specific authentication code B assigned to the town 620 is owned and controlled by the person in charge of the town 620 (for example, the self-government chairman). Similarly, the IR remote control key 500C capable of transmitting the specific authentication code C assigned to the town 630 is owned and managed by a person in charge of the town 630 (for example, an autonomous chairman).

  Thus, for example, the image data can be received from the image recording module 240 installed in the town 610 because the IR remote control key 500A is lent by the self-government chairman of the town 610 that owns the IR remote control key 500A Only police officers, for example. Similarly, the image data can be received from the image recording module 240 installed in the town 620 (town 630) by the autonomous chairman of the town 620 (town 630) owning the IR remote control key 500B (500C) or Only the person (for example, a police officer) lent the IR remote control key 500B (500C) from the autonomous chairman.

  This is illustrated in FIG. That is, a person who owns the IR remote control key 500A can turn ON / OFF the first communication unit 244 of the image recording module 240 installed in the town 610, but is installed in the town 620 or the town 630. It is impossible to control ON / OFF of the first communication unit 244 of the image recording module 240.

For example, while the image recording module 240 installed in each of the towns 610 to 630 is managed by the autonomous chairman of the corresponding town, the IR remote control key 500 assigned to each of the towns 610 to 630 corresponds It is kept by the self-government chairman of the town. The mobile router 300 capable of communicating with the image recording module 240 installed in each of the towns 610 to 630 via the first wireless communication line 10 is stored by the police.
A police officer who needs to investigate image data recorded by the image recording module 240 installed in the town 610 due to the occurrence of an incident, etc. receives a loan of the IR remote control key 500A from the self-government chairman of the town 610. Thereby, the police officer can receive and investigate image data from all the image recording modules 240 installed in the town 610. Similarly, if it is necessary to investigate the image recording module 240 installed in the town 620 or the town 630, the police officer receives a loan of the IR remote control key 500B or 500C from the autonomous chairman of the town 620 or the town 630. Thus, image data can be received and surveyed from the image recording module 240 installed in the town 620 or the town 630.

  In one embodiment, where image data for a plurality of towns, for example, town 610 and town 620, is required, a police officer with the permission of each of the town 610 and town 620 autonomous chairmans may be used as town 610 and town 620. A common identification code (for example, a particular identification code Z) is set for all image recording modules 240 installed at the same time, and IR remote control key 500 loaned from the self-government chairman of town 610 or town 620 is identified. By setting this IR remote control key 500 to transmit the code Z, the police officer uses this IR remote control key 500 to image from all the image recording modules 240 installed in both the town 610 and the town 620. Data can be received and surveyed.

  As described above, according to various embodiments of the present invention, the user may use the remote control device (e.g., IR remote control key) only when necessary to select the first communication unit 244 of the image recording module 240. To obtain image data from the first communication unit 244. Therefore, as compared with the case where the first communication unit 244 constantly transmits the image data, the time for which the image data is transmitted via the wireless communication line can be shortened. It is possible to suppress the possibility that image data transmitted via the Internet may be hacked by another person.

  In addition, since the image recording module according to various embodiments of the present invention has a simple configuration, it can be easily attached (constructed) to a lighting device provided in a telephone pole, a street lamp or the like. Furthermore, no expensive equipment is required, and there are no separate parts needed to maintain. Therefore, it is also possible to reduce the price, the initial cost and the running cost.

  Also, install a control box that stores image data generated by the surveillance camera at a height that the user can reach in a telephone pole, a street, etc., open the control box using a physical key, and use a dedicated cable. When adopting a configuration that downloads image data, it is very difficult to obtain permission from Tokyo Electric Power (registered trademark) to install the control box, and the problem of increasing labor required to install the control box There is a problem that the work of attaching the control box is not simple and there is a risk that the physical key for opening the control box may be copied or lent to another person. However, according to the image recording module according to various embodiments of the present invention, all such problems can be solved.

  Therefore, according to various embodiments of the present invention, an image recording module with improved security can be provided.

10 first wireless communication line 20 third wireless communication line 30 second wireless communication line 40 telephone pole, street 100, etc. 100 image recording system 200 illumination device 240 image recording module 242 image compression recording unit 244 first communication unit 246 second communication unit Communication unit (switching unit)
248 power supply unit 250 imaging unit 300 relay device (mobile router)
400 Terminal device 500 Remote control device (IR remote control key)

Claims (4)

An image recording module that can be mounted on a lighting device,
Recording means for recording image data generated based on the image taken by the imaging unit;
A first communication unit capable of transmitting the image data to the terminal device via a first wireless communication line;
A storage unit configured to store a specific authentication code , which is set in advance, and receiving an authentication code and a control signal transmitted from a remote control key via a second wireless communication line different from the first wireless communication line; The first communication unit is controlled according to the control signal only when the authentication code matches the specific authentication code stored in the storage unit, and the image to the terminal device by the first communication unit A second communication unit that permits data transmission by causing the first communication unit to transition to the ON state, and stops the first communication unit by transitioning to the OFF state ;
Equipped with
The recording means records the image data regardless of the control signal;
An image recording module characterized in that the recording unit, the first communication unit, and the second communication unit are supplied with power from the lighting device and operate. It said storage means is a said specific authentication code the image recording module is assigned to a specific region arranged, the specific authentication shared by a plurality of other image recording modules arranged in the specific region stores code image recording module of claim 1. The image recording module according to claim 2 , wherein the specific area is at least one of a city, a town, a village, a district, a county, a city, a road, a prefecture, a prefecture, a state, a country, and a combination thereof. A lighting device comprising the image recording module according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .

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