Abstract:
The present invention relates to a connection problem determination method and a connection problem determination apparatus for an image input device, and the connection problem determination apparatus, for an image input device, which includes: a network connection sensing unit which senses the network connection between a network video record system and a network-connectable image input device which provides a specific image; a timer which generates signals at regular time intervals in accordance with a clock pulse; a time delay measuring unit which measures a time delay on the basis of the signals from the timer if no network connection is sensed; and a connection problem determination unit which determines that there is a connection problem if the time delay is a predetermined threshold value or greater.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation of pending International Patent Application PCT/KR2012/003208 filed on Apr. 26, 2012, which designates the United States and claims priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0078240 filed on Aug. 5, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for determining the connection failure of an image input device and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for determining the connection failure of an image input device, which are capable of determining the connection failure of an individual image input device that is connected over a network. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Network Video Record (NVR) systems are being widely used for the purposes of crime prevention, traffic control, information collection, etc. Such an NVR system is connected to a plurality of image input devices over a network, and is operated at all times. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, although it is essential that a NVR system should be stably operated over a long time and should be normally operated without requiring additional manpower, a failure may occur in a network connection with an image input device because of the disconnection of a cable or the overload of a network. 
         [0005]    Conventional technology has a problem determining a network connection failure between a server and an image input device in that the connection failure should be determined by manual operation or irregular determination, such as the determination of logs that have not been stored. 
         [0006]    That is, the conventional technology NVR systems are problematic in that they cannot easily determine a connection failure that occurs when an image is received from an individual image input device, such that it takes a long time to determine a connection failure attributable to the disconnection of a cable or the overload of a network and it is ineffective to perform irregular human monitoring. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for determining the connection failure of an image input device, which are capable of easily determining the network connection failure of an individual image input device in an NVR system. 
         [0008]    Objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-described object, and other objects that have not been described above will be apparent from the following description. 
         [0009]    In order to accomplish the above object, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for determining the connection failure of an image input device, including a network connection detection unit configured to detect a network connection between at least one image input device for providing predetermined images and enabling a network connection, and a network video record (NVR) system; a timer configured to generate signals at regular time intervals in response to clock pulses; a time delay measurement unit configured to measure a time delay based on the signals of the timer if the network connection is not detected; and a connection failure determination unit configured to determine that a connection failure has occurred if the time delay is equal to or longer than a preset threshold value. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of determining a connection failure of an image input device, including detecting a network connection between at least one image input device for providing predetermined images and enabling a network connection, and an NVR system; measuring a time delay if the network connection is not detected; and determining that a connection failure has occurred if the time delay is equal to or longer than a preset threshold value. 
         [0011]    In accordance with the present invention, there are provided the apparatus and method for determining the connection failure of an image input device, which are capable of easily determining the network connection failure of an individual image input device in an NVR system. 
         [0012]    Furthermore, there are provided the apparatus and method for determining the connection failure of an image input device, which are capable of determining the network connection failure of an individual image input device using information about the video transmission method of the image input device (for example, an NTSC method, a PAL method, a SECAM method, or the like) and socket information about an Internet communication protocol (TCP/IP) that can be received based on the network connection of the image input device and a connection with video output. 
         [0013]    Furthermore, In accordance with the present invention, if time delays are generated from a plurality of network connections at the same time, connection failures having similar time delay characteristics can be effectively determined. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for determining the connection failure of an image input device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method of determining the connection failure of an image input device according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a method of determining the connection failure of an image input device according to still another embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a conceptual diagram illustrating an NVR system to which an apparatus for determining the connection failure of an image input device according to an embodiment of the present invention has been applied. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Advantages, features and implementation methods of the present invention will be apparent from embodiments that will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to embodiments that will be disclosed below, and but may be implemented in various different forms. These embodiments are merely provided to make the disclosure of the present invention complete and to make those having ordinary knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains completely understand the scope of the present invention. The present invention is defined only by descriptions of the claims. Meanwhile, the terms used herein are intended to illustrate embodiments, but are not intended to limit the present invention. In the present specification, terms in singular form include the plural. Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0019]    An apparatus for determining the connection failure of an image input device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the apparatus for determining the connection failure of an image input device according to this embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the apparatus  10  for determining the connection failure of an image input device according to this embodiment of the present invention includes a network connection detection unit  110 , a video output detection unit  120 , a timer  200 , a time delay measurement unit  300 , a connection failure determination unit  400 , and a display unit  500 . 
         [0022]    The network connection detection unit  110  detects a network connection between an individual image input device configured to provide predetermined images and to enable a network connection, and a network video record (NVR) system. 
         [0023]    In this case, the image input device may be a closed circuit television, a camera, a camcorder or the like, and should be interpreted as being based on a concept including an image storage medium (for example, memory) that stores images input from the image input device. 
         [0024]    The network connection detection unit  110  may be directly connected to the image input device and a network or a network between the NVR system and the image input device, and may detect the network connection of the image input device. 
         [0025]    Furthermore, the network connection detection unit  110  may detect the network connection based on whether socket information about an Internet communication protocol (TCP/IP) that is received in the case of a network connection is received. 
         [0026]    In this case, the socket information may include address information that is used to perform the unique data communication of the image input device. 
         [0027]    The network connection detection unit  110  may detect the network connection based on whether information about the video transmission method of the image input device is received. 
         [0028]    In this case, the video transmission method may be at least one of an NTSC method, a PAL method and a SECAM method. 
         [0029]    Meanwhile, the network connection detection unit  110  may detect the network connection based on whether at least one of the socket information about the communication protocol and the information about the video transmission method is received in the case where both the socket information about the communication protocol and the information about the video transmission method can be received. 
         [0030]    When the image input device outputs an analog image signal, the video output detection unit  120  determines a video transmission method supported by the connected image input device, and detects a connection with video output. 
         [0031]    The timer  200  generates signals at regular time intervals in response to clock pulses. 
         [0032]    When at least one of the network connection of the image input device and the connection with video output is not detected, the time delay measurement unit  300  measures a time delay based on the signals of the timer. 
         [0033]    The connection failure determination unit  400  determines that a connection failure has occurred if the time delay is equal to or longer than a preset threshold value. 
         [0034]    In this case, the threshold value is a reference that is used to determine whether a connection failure has occurred, and may be set (for example, to 1 second, or 1 hour) in accordance with the characteristics of one of various connection failures, such as the breakdown of the image input device, a connection failure attributable the failure of the performance of communication based on a network connection, or the like. 
         [0035]    Meanwhile, the connection failure determination unit  400  determines that a connection failure has occurred if the time delay is equal to or longer than a preset threshold value. 
         [0036]    Meanwhile, the connection failure determination unit  400  may cluster a plurality of network connections and video outputs for which the time delay is equal to or longer than a preset threshold value based on at least one characteristic of time delays and network connections (for example, measured time delays, the number of time delays, or IP addresses), and may determine whether a connection failure has occurred based on the results of the clustering. 
         [0037]    In this case, a K-means clustering technique may be applied to the clustering. 
         [0038]    Accordingly, when a time delay occurs based on a plurality of network connections at the same time, the connection failure determination unit  400  may effectively determine connection failures having similar characteristics. 
         [0039]    The display unit  500  displays the connection failure using a screen or voice. 
         [0040]    A method of determining the connection failure of an image input device according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating the method of determining the connection failure of an image input device according to this embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , first, at least one of information about the video transmission method of an individual image input device (for example, an NTSC method, a PAL method, a SECAM method or the like) and socket information about an Internet communication protocol (TCP/IP) that can be received based on the network connection of the image input device and a connection with video output is received at step S 110 . 
         [0042]    Thereafter, the network connection of the image input device capable of network connection is detected at step S 120 . 
         [0043]    In this case, the network connection may be detected depending on whether socket information about an Internet communication protocol (TCP/IP) that is received based on a network connection is received at step S 120 . 
         [0044]    Alternatively, the network connection may be detected depending on whether information about the video transmission method of the image input device has been received at step S 120 . 
         [0045]    In this case, the video transmission method is at least one of an NTSC method, a PAL method and a SECAM method. 
         [0046]    Thereafter, if at least one of the network connection of the image input device and a connection with video output is not detected, a time delay is measured based on the signals of the timer at step S 130 . 
         [0047]    Thereafter, it is determined whether the time delay is equal to or longer than a preset threshold value at step S 140 , and, if the time delay is equal to or longer than the threshold value, it is determined that a connection failure has occurred at step S 150 . 
         [0048]    Meanwhile, a plurality of network connections and video outputs for which the time delay is equal to or longer than a preset threshold value may be clustered based on at least one characteristic of time delays and network connections (for example, measured time delays, the number of time delays, or IP addresses) and a group of network connections or video outputs may be determined to have a connection failure at step S 150 . 
         [0049]    Meanwhile, if a network connection is detected or the time delay is shorter than the threshold value, it is determined that the connection of the image input device is normal at step S 160 . 
         [0050]    A method of determining the connection failure of an image input device according to still another embodiment of the present invention, which may be applied to the case where asynchronous TCP/IP socket information is received from an individual image input device, will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating the method of determining the connection failure of an image input device according to this embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the method of determining the connection failure of an image input device according to this embodiment of the present invention is configured to connect with a real time encoder (RTEN) server connected to analog video output or the output of an individual digital image input device adapted to be able to be directly connected to a network, such as a LAN, to receive asynchronous TCP/IP socket information, and to determine the connection failure of the image input device. 
         [0052]    More specifically, analog video output based on a NTSC/PAL method or the like is detected at step S 211 . Thereafter, a signal failure is determined whether an NTSC/PAL electrical signal is received at step S 213 . 
         [0053]    The RTEN server encodes analog video output into a digital signal, connects with a predetermined network in accordance with an Internet communication protocol, and outputs the digital signal to a network at step S 215 . 
         [0054]    Furthermore, the digital image input device, such as a digital IP camera, directly connects with a network and outputs the digital signal to the network at step S 217 . 
         [0055]    Thereafter, the apparatus  10  for determining the connection failure of an image input device receives asynchronous TCP/IP socket information from an individual image input device at step S 220 , and determines whether a connection failure has occurred whether there is input socket information. 
         [0056]    That is, at step S 230 , time is measured to determine that a connection failure has occurred if there is no input socket information, and it is determined that an input signal failure has occurred over time for each piece of socket information if the measured delay time is equal to or longer than a preset threshold value. 
         [0057]    Thereafter, message processing regarding the connection failure is performed and the results thereof are output using a screen or voice, thereby reporting it to an administrator at step S 240 . 
         [0058]    An NVR system to which the apparatus  10  for determining the connection failure of an image input device according to an embodiment of the present invention has been applied will be described below with reference to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a conceptual diagram illustrating the NVR system according to this embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0059]    The NVR system according to this embodiment of the present invention includes the apparatus  10  for determining a connection failure, an integrated control server  20 , and image input devices  30 . 
         [0060]    Since the apparatus  10  for determining a connection failure is the apparatus  10  for determining the connection failure of an image input device according to the embodiment of the present invention, which has been described with reference to  FIG. 1 , a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
         [0061]    The image input devices  30 , such as a camera and a camcorder, are connected to the integrated control server  20  over a network, and the integrated control server  20  manages images provided by the image input devices  30  by storing, deleting and maintaining the images. 
         [0062]    Meanwhile, the apparatus  10  for determining a connection failure connects with the network separately from the integrated control server  30 , and may determine a network connection failure between the integrated control server  20  and each of the image input devices  30 . 
         [0063]    Furthermore, as still another embodiment, the apparatus  10  for determining a connection failure may be included in the integrated control server  30  as part thereof, and may determine a network connection failure between the integrated control server  20  and each of the image input devices  30 . 
         [0064]    It will be appreciated by those having ordinary knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains that the present invention may be practiced in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit and essential features of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative but not restrictive in all aspects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of the attached claims, rather than the detailed description. It should be appreciated that all variations and modifications derived from the scope of the claims and the equivalent concepts thereof are included in the scope of the present invention. 
         [0065]    The present invention relates to the apparatus and method for determining the connection failure of an image input device, and, more particularly, may be utilized in the field of the apparatus and method for determining the connection failure of an image input device, which are capable of determining the connection failure of an individual image input device that is connected over a network.