Monitoring system and monitoring method

• US 20040113770A1
• Filed: 07/09/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hosoda, Takashi, Falk, Dietrich, Weston, Boyd, Chu, Chu Hui
• Granted Patent: US 6,977,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1968 Interfaces for setting up or customising the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19693 using multiple video sources viewed on a single or compound screen
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/188 Data fusion; cooperative systems, e.g. voting among different detectors

Abstract

To provide a monitoring system and method that allows customization of a monitoring system and method according to a user'"'"'s instruction, thereby achieving a higher flexibility in configuring the monitoring scheme. The monitoring system comprises a user system and a security server. The user system includes a capture unit, an input unit, a sensor, an imaging unit and a home server. The home server accepts the user'"'"'s instructions and configure monitoring program realized by the home server. The user may specify logical connections between imaging unit and sensor, notification rule when the alarm is occurred.

Claims

1. A monitoring method for a system including a plurality of sensors, a plurality of imaging units and a storage unit, the monitoring method comprising:

receiving outputs from the plurality of sensors and the plurality of imaging units; and

transmitting a notification signal to a preset destination if one of the received outputs corresponds to an alarm status;

wherein

the notification signal includes image data outputted from at least one among the plurality of imaging units associated with the sensor corresponding to the alarm status; and

the association among the plurality of sensors and the plurality of imaging units is determined and stored in the storage unit in accordance with a user'"'"'s input.

5. The monitoring method according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the previously defined alarm criterion includes at least one of classification of the alarm status, a procedure to be taken against the alarm, priority of the alarm over others and degree of relevance thereof.

38. A computer program realizing one of the methods according to any of claims 1-9.

39. A storage medium storing a computer program to realize one of the methods according to any of claims 1-9.

2. A monitoring method for a system including a plurality of sensors and a storage unit, the monitoring method comprising:

receiving outputs from the plurality of sensors;

transmitting a notification signal to a preset destination if one of the received outputs corresponds to an alarm status requiring notification, based on a previously defined alarm criterion;

wherein

the notification signal includes contact instruction information that defines whether another notification signal corresponding to the notification signal is transmitted to another destination from the preset destination receiving the notification signal; and

the contact instruction information is generated based on a notification rule that is determined in accordance with a user'"'"'s input and stored in the storage unit.

3. The monitoring method according to claim 2, wherein:

the other destination to which the other notification signal is transmitted is selected in accordance with a user'"'"'s input and stored in the storage unit.

4. A monitoring method for a system including a plurality of sensors, a plurality of imaging units and a storage unit, the monitoring method comprising:

receiving output from the plurality of sensors and the plurality of imaging units; and

transmitting a notification signal to a preset destination if one of the received output signals corresponds to alarm status;

wherein

the notification signal includes image data from at least one among the plurality of imaging units associated with the sensor corresponding to the alarm status and a contact instruction information that defines whether another notification signal corresponding to the notification signal is further transmitted to another destination from the preset destination receiving the notification signal; and

the association among the plurality of sensors and the plurality of imaging units, the contact instruction information and the other destination are generated based on notification rule that is determined in accordance with a user'"'"'s input and stored in the storage unit.

6. A monitoring method for monitoring activity in a preset location by using a plurality of sensors and transmitting a notification signal if one of the plurality of sensors captures a signal corresponding to an alarm status, the monitoring method comprising:

a monitoring step and a setting step for setting the monitoring step;

(1) the setting step including;

registering a plurality of sensors and a plurality of imaging units to be used in the monitoring step;

setting a logical connection between an imaging unit among the plurality of imaging units to a sensor among the plurality of sensors; and

storing the logical connection in a storage unit;

,

(2) the monitoring step including;

receiving outputs from the plurality of sensors and the plurality of imaging units; and

transmitting the notification signal to a preset destination if one of the received output signals corresponds to the alarm status, the notification signal including image data from an imaging unit and a sensor corresponding to the logical connection corresponding to the alarm status;

wherein

(3) the monitoring method further comprising;

receiving a user'"'"'s input for changing the logical connection stored in the storage unit.

7. The monitoring method according to claim 6, further comprising:

setting notification rule for determining another destination other than the preset destination and content of the notification signal;

storing the notification rule in the storage unit; and

receiving a user'"'"'s input for changing the notification rule stored in the storage unit.

8. The monitoring method according claim 6 wherein the previously defined alarm criterion includes at least one of classification of the alarm status, a procedure to be taken against the alarm, priority of the alarm over others and degree of relevance thereof.

9. A method of assisting monitoring activity performed in a designated location using a plurality of sensors, and transmitting a notification signal if one among the plurality of sensors senses an alarm status, the method being performed by a server disposed in a separate location from the designated location, the method comprising:

receiving the notification signal including contact instruction information transmitted from the designated location;

generating another notification information corresponding to the received notification signal;

determining another destination of the other notification signal based on the received contact instruction information; and

transmitting the other notification signal to the determined other destination.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the other destination includes at least one of a user, a monitoring station designated by the user and another destination designated by the user.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein:

the other destination includes either one among the monitoring stations, the monitoring stations including at least two monitoring stations that are operated by different security service business operators from each other.

12. A monitoring system including a plurality of sensors, a plurality of imaging units, a control unit for determining if a notification signal should be transmitted and a transmission unit transmitting the notification signal to a preset destination, the monitoring system comprising:

a storage unit storing logical connections among the plurality of sensors and the plurality of imaging units; and

a setup unit receiving a user'"'"'s input and setting the logical connections in accordance with the received user'"'"'s input;

wherein

the control unit generates the notification signal if one of the plurality of sensors is in alarm status, and determines if the notification signal includes image data outputted from the imaging unit that is logically connected to the sensor in the alarm status, and

the transmission unit transmits the notification signal as determined by the control unit.

13. The monitoring method according claim 12 wherein the previously defined alarm criterion includes at least one of classification of the alarm status, a procedure to be taken against the alarm, priority of the alarm over others and degree of relevance thereof.

14. A monitoring system including a plurality of sensors, a plurality of imaging units, a control unit for determining if a notification signal should be transmitted and a transmission unit transmitting the notification signal to a preset destination, the monitoring system comprising:

a storage unit storing notification rule that is used to generate contact instruction information defining if another notification signal corresponding to the notification signal is further transmitted to another destination from the preset destination; and

a setup unit receiving a user'"'"'s input and setting the notification rule in accordance with the received user'"'"'s input;

wherein

the control unit generates the notification signal if one among the plurality of sensors corresponds to alarm status, and generates the contact instruction information for the generated notification signal; and

the transmission unit transmits the notification signal including the contact instruction information to the preset destination.

15. The monitoring system according to claim 14, wherein:

the other destination to which the another notification signal is transmitted is pre-selected in accordance with a user'"'"'s input and stored in the storage unit.

16. The monitoring method according to any of claims 14 and 15 wherein the previously defined destination and the other destination to which the another notification signal is transmitted is determined according to at least one of classification of the alarm status, a procedure to be taken against the alarm, priority of the alarm over others and degree of relevance thereof.

19. The monitoring system according to claim 14, wherein:

the other destination to which the other notification signal is transmitted is pre-selected in accordance with a user'"'"'s input and stored in the storage unit.

17. A monitoring system including a plurality of sensors, a plurality of imaging units, a first server for determining if a notification signal should be transmitted and transmitting the notification signal to a preset destination, the monitoring system comprising:

an input unit accepting user'"'"'s input; and

a capture unit receiving outputs from the plurality of sensors and the plurality of imaging units and transmitting the received outputs to the first server;

wherein

the first server comprises;

a storage unit storing logical connections among the plurality of sensors and the plurality of imaging units;

a setup unit receiving a user'"'"'s input from the input unit and setting the logical connections in accordance with the received user'"'"'s input;

a control unit generates the notification signal if one of the plurality of sensors is of alarm status; and

a transmission unit transmitting the notification signal to a preset destination;

wherein

the control unit determines if the notification signal includes image data outputted from the imaging unit that is logically connected to the sensor of the alarm status; and

the transmission unit transmits the notification signal as determined by the control unit.

18. The monitoring system according to claim 17, wherein:

the storage unit further stores notification rule that is used to generate contact instruction information defining if another notification signal corresponding to the notification signal is further transmitted to another destination from the preset destination; and

the setup unit further sets the notification rule in accordance with the received user'"'"'s input;

the control unit further generates the contact instruction information for the generated notification signal; and

the transmission unit transmits the notification signal including the contact instruction information to the preset destination.

20. The monitoring method according to any of claim 18 wherein the previously defined destination and the other destination to which the another notification signal is transmitted is determined according to at least one of classification of the alarm status, a procedure to be taken against the alarm, priority of the alarm over others and degree of relevance thereof

21. The monitoring system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a second server, which is the preset destination, receiving the notification signal, generating another notification signal based on the received notification signal, and transmitting the generated other notification signal to the other destination in accordance with the contact instruction information received with the notification signal.

22. The monitoring system according to claim 21, wherein:

the second server transmits the other notification signal with the image data that is received with the notification signal to the other destination.

23. The monitoring system according to claim 17, wherein:

the other destination to which the other notification signal is transmitted includes at least one of a user, a monitoring station selected by the user and another destination designated by the user.

24. The monitoring system according to claim 23, wherein:

the other destination includes one of the monitoring stations, the monitoring stations including at least two monitoring stations that are operated by different security service business operators from each other.

25. A capture unit connected to a plurality of sensors, a plurality of imaging units and an apparatus having a computer, the capture unit including:

a receiving section receiving parallel data from the plurality of sensors and the plurality of imaging units;

a buffer storing at least a part of image data outputted from the plurality of imaging units; and

a transmitting section for transmitting serial data to the apparatus, the serial data corresponding to the received parallel data.

26. A server for receiving a notification signal from a plurality of user'"'"'s monitoring apparatuses, the server comprising:

a receiving unit receiving notification signals from the plurality of user'"'"'s apparatuses, each of the notification signals including contact instruction information that defines if another notification signal corresponding to the received notification signal is transmitted to another destination;

a processor generating the other notification if the notification signal is received, analyzing the contact instruction information included in the received notification signal, and determining the other destination to which the generated other notification signal is transmitted in accordance with the analysis result; and

a transmission unit transmitting the other notification signal to the determined other destination.

27. The server according to claim 26, wherein the other notification signal includes image data included in the received notification signal.

28. The server according to claim 26, further comprising:

a web server unit for generating a web page in a network so as to allow an authorized person'"'"'s viewing of image data included in the received notification signal.

29. The server according to claim 28, further comprising:

a storage unit for storing date and time in which the receiving unit receives the notification signal.

30. The server according to any of claims 26-29, wherein the destination to which said generated other notification signal and the other destination to which the another notification signal is transmitted is determined according to at least one of classification of the alarm status, a procedure to be taken against the alarm, priority of the alarm over others and degree of relevance thereof.

31. The server according to claim 29, wherein:

the storage unit further stores charging data for each of the user'"'"'s monitoring apparatus for use of service provided by the present server, and

the processor updates the charging data in accordance with communications to the user'"'"'s monitoring apparatus.

32. The server according to claim 31, wherein:

the charging data includes charging amount calculated based on a number of times the receiving unit receives the notification signal.

33. The server according to claim 31, wherein:

the charging data includes charging amount calculated based on period of time spent by the receiving unit to receive the notification signal.

34. The server according to claim 31, wherein:

the charging data includes charging amount calculated based on a number of times the transmission unit transmits the other notification signal.

35. The server according to claim 31, wherein:

the charging data includes charging amount calculated based on period of time spent by the transmission unit to transmit the other notification signal.

36. The server according to claim 31, wherein:

the charging data includes charging amount calculated based on data volume of at least one of the received notification signal and the transmitted other notification signal.

37. A monitoring system including a plurality of sensors, a plurality of imaging units, a control unit for determining if a notification signal should be transmitted and a transmission unit transmitting the notification signal to a preset destination, the monitoring system comprising:

a capture unit, which is connected to the plurality of sensors and the plurality of imaging units, for receiving parallel data from the plurality of sensors and the plurality of imaging units and transmitting serial data that corresponds to the received parallel data to the control unit;

a storage unit storing. notification rule that is used to generate contact instruction information defining if another notification signal corresponding to the notification signal is further transmitted to another destination from the preset destination; and

a setup unit receiving a user'"'"'s input and setting the notification rule in accordance with the received user'"'"'s input;

wherein

the control unit generates the notification signal if one of the plurality of sensors is in alarm status, and generates the contact instruction information for the generated notification signal; and

the transmission unit transmits the notification signal including the contact instruction information to the preset destination.