Mobile object monitoring system

• US 20040150520A1
• Filed: 02/04/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert P. Barrie
• Original Assignee: Robert P. Barrie
• Inventors: Barrie, Robert P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,019,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19608 Tracking movement of a target, e.g. by detecting an object predefined as a target, using target direction and or velocity to predict its new position
• 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 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0202 Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child

Abstract

A security monitoring system providing security for mobile objects in any location, including children in a dining and child entertainment facility. The location of each object or child in the facility is tracked using a transmitter attached to the object or child when it/they enter the facility, and a video image of each child is mapped to and displayed on a video display at a table to which the child'"'"'s family or group is assigned. Any unauthorized attempt at removing a child from the facility, or at a child attempting to leave the facility without authorization, or unauthorized removal of a transmitter, or a transmitter ceasing to operate, causes notification to be given to appropriate personnel and entrance/exits are locked until the child is located. Ordering of food and drinks is done using touch screen technology on the video display at each table. The transmitters can also be used to control access to video games or specific play areas as specified by a parent or guardian. When playing video games or using play facilities for which there is an extra charge, the transmitters are used for authorizing access and for billing purposes. To map physical positions within the facility to positions on a video display, a transmitter is placed in various locations about the facility and the touch screen video display is used to map the physical positions with positions on the video display for different video cameras.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the location of mobile objects and providing security for the mobile objects in a facility having entrances at which ingress to and egress from said facility is controlled, said monitoring system comprising:

a plurality of first transmitters, one of said first transmitters being assigned and attached to each mobile object to be monitored and tracked within said facility, each of said first transmitters periodically transmitting a unique identification signal;

a plurality of receivers placed around said facility for receiving said unique identification signals transmitted by ones of said first transmitters;

means associated with said plurality of receivers for processing said identification signals received by multiple ones of said receivers to locate and store the physical location of said mobile objects in said facility;

a plurality of video cameras placed around inside said facility, each video camera providing a video output signal showing a portion of the interior of said facility in its view;

a video display; and

said processing means determining which video camera has each mobile object in its view in order to provide a video image of any specific mobile object on said video display when requested.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a plurality of communication stations with a video display placed around said facility, and upon a request being placed from one of said communication stations to display a selected one of said mobile objects on its video display, said processing means causes the video output signal from the one of said video cameras with said selected mobile objects in its view to be forwarded to and displayed on the video display of said one of said communication stations.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein each of said first transmitters transmits a unique trouble signal if it is removed in an unauthorized manner from its assigned mobile object.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein said processing means processes said unique trouble signals and causes an alarm to be sounded when a first transmitter is removed in an unauthorized manner from its assigned mobile object, and causes the video output signal from the one of said video cameras showing an object with a first transmitter that generated a unique trouble signal to be forwarded to and displayed on the video display of specific ones of said communication stations.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein a communication station is provided in proximity to each of said entrances where said mobile objects will enter and exit said facility to enter data to said processing means regarding said last mentioned mobile objects and said first transmitters that are attached thereto.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein said facility has a plurality of rooms therein, ones of said rooms has a gate for controlling ingress thereto, information is input to said processing means via said communications stations indicating which of said plurality of rooms with gates each mobile object may be in, and further comprising:

a second receiver adjacent to each of said gates for receiving said unique identification signal from a first transmitter on a mobile object that is positioned before a second receiver, said second receivers sending said last mentioned unique identification signals to said processing means to determine if the mobile object to which the first transmitter is attached and before a gate is authorized to be in a room.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 4 further comprising control means at each of said entrances at which ingress to and egress from said facility is controlled, all said control means being responsive to said processing means to lock their associated entrances when a first transmitter is removed in an unauthorized manner from its assigned mobile object.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said first transmitters transmits a unique trouble signal if it is removed in an unauthorized manner from its assigned mobile object.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 8 wherein said processing means processes said unique trouble signals and causes an alarm to be sounded when a first transmitter is removed in an unauthorized manner from its assigned mobile object, and causes the video output signal from the one of said video cameras showing an object with a first transmitter that generated a unique trouble signal to be forwarded to and displayed on the video display of specific ones of said communication stations.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 8 further comprising control means at each of said entrances at which ingress to and egress from said facility is controlled, all said control means being responsive to said processing means to lock their associated entrances when a first transmitter is removed in an unauthorized manner from its assigned mobile object.

11. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said facility has a plurality of rooms, ones of said rooms has a gate for controlling ingress thereto, information is input to said processing means via said communications stations indicating which of said plurality of rooms with gates each mobile object may be in, and further comprising:

a second receiver adjacent to each of said gates for receiving said unique identification signal from a first transmitter on a mobile object that is positioned before a second receiver, said second receivers sending said last mentioned unique identification signals to said processing means to determine if the mobile object to which the first transmitter is attached and before a gate is authorized to be in a room.

12. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein a communication station is provided in proximity to each of said entrances where said mobile objects will enter and exit said facility to enter data to said processing means regarding said last mentioned mobile objects and said first transmitters that are attached thereto.

13. The invention in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

a second receiver associated with each of said first transmitters;

a second transmitter, said second transmitter for transmitting signals to ones of said second receivers.

14. The invention in accordance with claim 13 further comprising a plurality of communication stations distributed about said facility, wherein said second transmitter can be enabled from ones of said communication stations to send a signal to selected ones of said second receivers.

15. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said processing equipment generates an alarm signal if said first transmitter attached to one of said mobile objects ceases periodically transmitting its unique identification signal.

16. A system for monitoring the location of, and providing security for, children in a play facility having entrances at which ingress to and egress from said facility is controlled by facility personnel, said monitoring system comprising:

a first transmitter assigned and attached to each child to be monitored and tracked within said facility, each of said first transmitters periodically transmitting a unique identification signal;

a plurality of receivers placed around said facility for receiving said unique identification signals transmitted by said first transmitters;

means associated with said plurality of receivers for processing said unique identification signals received by said receivers to locate the physical position of each child in said facility to which a first transmitter is attached;

a plurality of video cameras placed inside said facility, each video camera providing a video output signal showing a portion of the interior of said facility;

a plurality of video displays; and

said processing means storing the physical location of each child and determining which video camera has each child in its view in order to provide a video image of each child on specific ones of said video displays.

17. The invention in accordance with claim 16 further comprising a communication station located with each said video display, and upon a request being placed from a communication station to display the video image of a selected one of said children playing in said facility on its associated video display, said processing equipment causes the video output signal from a one of said video cameras with said last mentioned child in its view to be forwarded to and displayed on said last mentioned video display.

18. The invention in accordance with claim 17 wherein each of said first transmitters transmits a unique trouble signal if it is removed in an unauthorized manner from the child to which it is attached.

19. The invention in accordance with claim 18 wherein said processing means processes said unique trouble signals and causes an alarm to be sounded when a first transmitter is removed in an unauthorized manner from a child, and causes the video output signal from the one of said video cameras showing the child with said last mentioned first transmitter to be forwarded to and displayed on the video display associated with specific ones of said communication stations.

20. The invention in accordance with claim 19 wherein one of said communication stations are provided in proximity to each of said entrances where a child will enter said facility to enter data to said processing means regarding said last mentioned child and one of said first transmitters that is attached to them.

21. The invention in accordance with claim 20 wherein said facility has a plurality of rooms therein, ones of said rooms has a gate for controlling entrance thereto, information is input to said processing means via said communications stations indicating which of said plurality of rooms with gates each child may enter, and further comprising:

a second receiver adjacent to each of said gates for receiving said unique identification signal from a first transmitter that is positioned before a second receiver, said second receivers sending said last mentioned unique identification signals to said processing means to determine if the child to which a first transmitter is attached and before a second receiver is authorized to enter a room.

22. The invention in accordance with claim 18 further comprising control means at each of said entrances at which ingress to and egress from said facility is controlled, all said control means being responsive to said processing means to lock their associated entrances when a first transmitter is removed in an unauthorized manner from a child.

23. The invention in accordance with claim 16 wherein each of said first transmitters transmits a unique trouble signal if it is removed in an unauthorized manner from the child to which it is attached.

24. The invention in accordance with claim 23 wherein said processing means processes said unique trouble signals and causes an alarm to be sounded when a first transmitter is removed in an unauthorized manner from a child, and causes the video output signal from the one of said video cameras showing the child with said last mentioned first transmitter to be forwarded to and displayed on the video display associated with specific ones of said communication stations.

25. The invention in accordance with claim 23 further comprising control means at each of said entrances at which ingress to and egress from said facility is controlled, all said control means being responsive to said processing means to lock their associated entrances when a first transmitter id removed in an unauthorized manner from a child.

26. The invention in accordance with claim 20 wherein said facility has a plurality of rooms therein, ones of said rooms has a gate for controlling entrance thereto, information is input to said processing means via said communications stations indicating which of said plurality of rooms with gates each child may enter, and further comprising:

a second receiver adjacent to each of said gates for receiving said unique identification signal from a first transmitter that is positioned before a second receiver, said second receivers sending said last mentioned unique identification signals to said processing means to determine if the child to which a first transmitter is attached and before a second receiver is authorized to enter a room.

27. The invention in accordance with claim 16 wherein one of said communication stations are provided in proximity to each of said entrances where a child will enter said facility to enter data to said processing means regarding said last mentioned child and one of said first transmitters that is attached to them.

28. The invention in accordance with claim 16 further comprising:

a second receiver associated with each of said first transmitters;

a second transmitter, said second transmitter for transmitting signals to ones of said second receivers.

29. The invention in accordance with claim 28 further comprising a plurality of communication stations distributed about said facility, wherein said second transmitter can be enabled from ones of said communication stations to send a signal to selected ones of said second receivers.

30. The invention in accordance with claim 16 wherein said processing equipment generates an alarm signal if said first transmitter attached to one of said mobile objects ceases periodically transmitting its unique identification signal.

31. A method for monitoring and tracking the location of, and providing security for, children in a play facility having entrances at which ingress to and egress from the facility is controlled at first gates that are selectively controlled by restaurant personnel, and said facility has a plurality of tables to which groups including children are assigned, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching a transceiver to each child who is to be monitored and tracked within said facility, each transceiver periodically transmitting a unique identification signal, each said transceiver transmitting a unique trouble signal if it is removed in an unauthorized manner from the child to whom it is attached;

receiving the unique identification signal transmitted by each transceiver;

locating the position of each child in the facility using the unique identification signal transmitted by each transceiver; and

blocking egress from said facility when said unique trouble signal is received from any transceiver, or when any transceiver stops transmitting its unique identification signal, until said child wearing the transceiver that sent the last mentioned trouble signal or from which the unique identification signal is no longer transmitting can be located.

32. The method in accordance with claim 31 wherein said facility has playrooms for the children to play in, and each group table in said facility has a communications terminal with video display, and further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the activity of children in the facility using one or more video cameras;

determining which video camera in said facility has each child in its viewing area using the located position of each child;

displaying the video output from a video camera on the video display of a communications terminal from which a request has been generated to show a picture of a child in the group assigned to the table on which is located the last mentioned communications terminal.

33. The method in accordance with claim 32 further comprising the step of blocking egress from said facility when it is sensed that the transceiver attached to a child has been removed in an unauthorized manner.

34. The method in accordance with claim 33 wherein ones of said playrooms have a gate for controlling ingress to the playroom, and further comprising the steps of:

determining if a child approaching a gate to a playroom is authorized to enter the playroom; and

opening the gate to the last mentioned playroom if a child is authorized to enter the playroom.

35. The method in accordance with claim 34 wherein at least one of said playrooms has video games therein, and further comprising the steps of:

assigning game play credits to a child to play said video games;

determining if a child approaching a video game has sufficient game play credits to play said last mentioned video game; and

enabling said last mentioned video game to be played if the last mentioned child has sufficient game play credits to play the game.

36. The method in accordance with claim 33 further comprising the steps of:

sensing when no unique identification signal is being received from a transceiver attached to a child; and

blocking egress from said facility when it is sensed that no unique identification signal is being received from a transceiver attached to a child until the child can be located.

37. In a computer controlled system for monitoring the location of mobile objects in a facility having video displays, and video cameras located throughout the facility that provide video signals to the video displays, and the mobile objects each have a transmitter attached to them and each transmitter transmits a unique identification signal that is tracked by location monitoring equipment, a method for correlating the position of mobile objects as determined by the location monitoring equipment with images seen on the video displays so that as mobile objects are selected to be viewed they may be shown on the video monitors, said method comprising the steps of:

sequentially positioning one of said transmitters in different physical positions in the viewing area of each of said video cameras;

indicating to said computer controlled system where said one of said transmitters is shown on a video display for each of said different physical positions; and

storing the information of transmitter position and corresponding video display location for each of said video cameras, said stored information being used by said computer controlled system to determine which of said plurality of video cameras has each mobile object with transmitter in its view, and when there is a request to display a particular mobile object on a selected video display the video signal output from the proper video camera is displayed thereon.

38. The method in accordance with claim 37 further comprising the step of determining which video camera has a better view of a mobile object with transmitter when said last mentioned mobile object is in view of more than one video camera, and sending the video signal from the video camera having the better view of said particular mobile object to be displayed on the selected video display.