Monitoring system with monitoring camera

Abstract

The present invention provides an imaging apparatus capable of monitoring a plurality of monitored sites in a switching manner by a single surveillance camera and an imaging system. Provided are: an imager for imaging an object scene image so as to produce imaging data; a cutout processor for cutting out one portion of the imaging data so as to create a plurality of cutout image data; and an outputter for sequentially outputting the plurality of cutout image data to the external apparatus at a predetermined output interval.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A monitoring system with a monitoring camera, comprising:
 an imager which repeatedly outputs image data representing a scene captured on an imaging surface;   a storage element which stores a size and a position of each of a plurality of different cutout areas of the imaging surface; and   an outputter which outputs a plurality of sets of display images, each set of the plurality of sets of display images representing a scene corresponding to a single cutout area stored in the storage element;   wherein, the outputter outputs to a monitor device the sets of display images, corresponding to the cutout areas, in continual repetitive sequential order at a predetermined time interval.   
     
     
         12 . A monitoring apparatus with a monitoring camera according to  claim 11 , further comprising a designator which designates one of the plurality of cutout areas stored in the storage element,
 wherein the outputter outputs to the monitor device a first set of display images, corresponding to a first cutout area designated by the designator.   
     
     
         13 . A monitoring system with a monitoring camera according to  claim 12 , further comprising a creator which creates display image data representing a scene belonging to each of the plurality of the cutout areas designated by the designator, based on the image data outputted from the imager,
 wherein a resolution of the image data outputted from the imager is higher than the resolution of the monitor device, and a resolution of the display image data created by the creator is substantially equivalent to the resolution of the monitor device.   
     
     
         14 . A monitoring system with a monitoring camera according to  claim 12 , further comprising an activator which activates the designator after a predetermined updating period has elapsed,
 wherein, when the designator is activated a second cutout area is designated by the designator and the outputter outputs to the monitor device a second set of display images.   
     
     
         15 . A monitoring system with a monitoring camera according to  claim 12 , further comprising a creator which creates display image data representing a scene belonging to each of the plurality of the cutout areas designated by the designator, based on the image data outputted from the imager,
 wherein a zoom magnification for each of the plurality of cutout areas is stored in the storage element, and the creator includes a zoom processor which performs a zoom process for each of the set of the plurality of sets of display images in accordance with the zoom magnification stored in the storage.   
     
     
         16 . A monitoring system with a monitoring camera according to  claim 15 , wherein each of the zoom magnifications for each of the plurality of cutout areas is determined in accordance with input received from a user. 
     
     
         17 . A monitoring system with a monitoring camera according to  claim 11 , further comprising an area designator which designates each of the plurality of the cutout areas in accordance with input received from a user. 
     
     
         18 . A monitoring system with a monitoring camera according to  claim 11 , wherein the monitoring camera comprises the imager, the storage element and the outputter. 
     
     
         19 . A monitoring system with a monitoring camera according to  claim 11 , further comprising an image processing apparatus having the storage element and the outputter,
 wherein the image processing apparatus receives the image data transmitted from the monitoring camera having the imager.   
     
     
         20 . A monitoring system with a monitoring camera according to  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of cutout areas is assigned an unique identification number; and
 wherein the outputter outputs to a monitor device the sets of display images, corresponding to the cutout areas, in continual repetitive sequential order of the identification numbers assigned to the cutout areas at a predetermined time interval.   
     
     
         21 . A monitoring system with a monitoring camera according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the outputter outputs the sets of display images at a predetermined time interval by using a timer.   
     
     
         22 . A monitoring system with a monitoring camera according to  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined time interval is preset in accordance with input received from a user. 
     
     
         23 . A monitoring method with a monitoring camera, comprising:
 outputting repeatedly image data representing a scene captured on an imaging surface;   storing, in a storage element, size and position data of each of a plurality of different cutout areas on the imaging surface; and   outputting a plurality of sets of display images, each set of the plurality of sets of display images representing a scene corresponding to the single cutout area stored in the storage;   wherein the sets of display images, corresponding to the cutout areas, are outputted on a monitor device in continual repetitive sequential order at a predetermined time interval.   
     
     
         24 . A monitoring method with a monitoring camera according to  claim 23 , wherein each of the plurality of cutout areas is assigned an unique identification number; and
 the sets of display images, corresponding to the cutout areas, are output on the monitor device in continual repetitive sequential order of the identification numbers assigned to the cutout areas at a predetermined time interval.   
     
     
         25 . A monitoring method with a monitoring camera according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 setting the predetermined time interval in accordance with a user input.   
     
     
         26 . A monitoring method with a monitoring camera according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 switching monitoring mode from a first mode in which the image data is output on the monitor device to a second mode in which the sets of display images is output on the monitor device in accordance with input received from a user.   
     
     
         27 . A monitoring method with a monitoring camera according to  claim 23 , wherein the image data is taken by the single monitoring camera having the imaging surface. 
     
     
         28 . A monitoring system, comprising:
 a camera capturing video of an area;   a processor which separates the area of the captured video into a plurality of cutout areas in accordance with input received from a user, each of the cutout areas having a different positon in the area of the captured video and being smaller than the area of the captured video; and   an outputter which outputs a cutout video on a monitor device, the cutout video corresponding to one of the plurality of cutout areas;   wherein the cutout area, outputted on the monitor device as the cutout video, is repetitively switched at a predetermined time interval among the plurality of cutout areas.   
     
     
         29 . A monitoring system according to  claim 28 , the outputter switches monitoring mode from a first mode in which the original video is output on the monitor device to a second mode in which the cutout video is output on the monitor device in accordance with input received from a user. 
     
     
         30 . A monitoring system according to  claim 29 , wherein each of the plurality of cutout areas is selected in accordance with input received from a user.