Monitoring system

• US 20040196369A1
• Filed: 03/03/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Oya, Takashi, Fukasawa, Toshihiko
• Application Number:
  US10/792,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20040196369A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/155
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

In a terminal device of a monitoring system, a display unit displays a frame indicating an area to be monitored for an occurrence of motion in a panoramic image window and also displays an identifier identifying the frame. Furthermore, the display unit displays, in a time zone window, the identifier identifying the frame and a field in which a band is displayed to indicate a period of time during which to monitor an occurrence of motion in the area indicated by the frame. If it is detected that a location on the time zone window is specified, the display unit displays a time zone corresponding to the detected location and also displays an area corresponding to the detected location as a motion detection area.

Claims

1. A terminal device for monitoring an image output from an imaging device, comprising:

a display unit for displaying, on a screen, a panoramic image window and a time zone window in which a band is displayed to indicate a time zone during which to monitor an occurrence of motion in the image output by the imaging device;

a detection unit for detecting a specified location on the screen; and

a setting unit for performing setting associated with a motion detection process in accordance with a display status of the time zone window,

wherein if the detection unit detects that a location on the panoramic image window is specified, the display unit displays a frame indicating an area to be monitored for motion in an area including the detected location on the panoramic image window, displays an identifier identifying the frame, and displays, in the time zone window, the identifier identifying the frame and a field in which a band is displayed to indicate a period of time during which to monitor an occurrence of motion in the area indicated by the frame, and

wherein if the detection unit detects that a location on the time zone window is specified, the display unit displays a time zone corresponding to the detected location and displays an area corresponding to the detected location as a motion detection area.

2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit determines whether a plurality of areas are assigned as motion detection areas to the same time zone depending on relative locations of the plurality of areas.

3. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the panoramic image window and the time zone window are subwindows in a single window.

4. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein when the detection unit detects that the specified location on the screen is a frame on the panoramic image window, the display unit displays a list window including a list of times at which image motion was detected in the past in an area corresponding to the specified frame.

5. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays a list window including a list of times at which image motion was detected in the past, and, if the detection unit detects that the specified location on the screen is a location on the list window, the display unit displays, on the panoramic image window, an area in which motion was detected at a time corresponding to the specified location.

6. A method of monitoring an image output from an imaging device, comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying, on a screen, a panoramic image window and a time zone window in which a band is displayed to indicate a time zone during which to monitor an occurrence of motion in the image taken by the imaging device;

(b) performing setting associated with a motion detection process in accordance with a display status of the time zone window;

(c) if a location on the panoramic image window is specified;

(i) displaying a frame indicating an area to be monitored for motion together with an identifier identifying the frame in an area including the specified location on the panoramic image window; and

(ii) displaying in the time zone window the identifier identifying the frame and a field in which a band is displayed to indicate a period of time during which to monitor an occurrence of motion in the area indicated by the frame; and

(d) if a location on the time zone window is specified;

(i) displaying a time zone corresponding to the specified location; and

(ii) displaying an area corresponding to the specified location as a motion detection area.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein step (b) comprises making a determination of whether to assign a plurality of areas as motion detection areas to the same time zone depending on relative locations of the plurality of areas.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the panoramic image window and the time zone window are subwindows in a single window.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein step (a) further comprises displaying a list window including a list of times at which image motion was detected in the past in an area corresponding to the frame in the area including the specified location on the panoramic image window.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein step (a) further comprises displaying a list window including a list of times at which image motion was detected in the past, and, further comprising:

(e) if a location on the list window is specified, displaying an area in which motion was detected at a time corresponding to the specified location on the panoramic image window.

11. A storage medium including, stored therein, program code for implementing a method of monitoring an image output from an imaging device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying, on a screen, a panoramic image window and a time zone window in which a band is displayed to indicate a time zone during which to monitor an occurrence of motion in the image taken by the imaging device;

(b) performing setting associated with a motion detection process in accordance with a display status of the time zone window;

(c) if a location on the panoramic image window is specified;

(i) displaying a frame indicating an area to be monitored in terms of motion together with an identifier identifying the frame in an area including the specified location on the panoramic image window; and

(ii) displaying in the time zone window the identifier identifying the frame and a field in which a band is displayed to indicate a period of time during which to monitor an occurrence of motion in the area indicated by the frame; and

(d) if a location on the time zone window is specified;

(i) displaying a time zone corresponding to the specified location; and

(ii) displaying an area corresponding to the specified location as a motion detection area.

12. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein in step (b), a determination of whether a plurality of areas are assigned as motion detection areas to the same time zone is made depending on relative locations of the plurality of areas.

13. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein the panoramic image window and the time zone window are subwindows in a single window.

14. The storage medium according to claim 11, wherein step (a) further comprises displaying a list window including a list of times at which image motion was detected in the past in an area corresponding to the frame in the area including the specified location on the panoramic image window.

15. The storage medium according to claim 11 wherein step (a) further comprises displaying a list window including a list of times at which image motion was detected in the past, and, further comprising:

(e) if a location on the list window is specified, displaying an area in which motion was detected at a time corresponding to the specified location on the panoramic image window.

16. A terminal device for monitoring an image output from an imaging device, comprising:

a setting unit for changing a set area of image data to be extracted for motion detecting process corresponding to changing set of an image sensing area of the imaging device and.

a storing unit for storing information on the set area of image data to be extracted for the motion detecting process and information on the set area of an image sensing area of the imaging device.

17. The terminal device according to claim 16, further comprising;

a display unit for displaying a panoramic image which indicates an image sensing range of the imaging device, and

wherein said setting unit sets the area of image data to be extracted for the motion detecting process and the image sensing range of an imaging device on the panoramic image.

18. A method for monitoring an image output from an imaging device, comprising the steps of:

changing an area of image data to be extracted for motion detecting process corresponding to changing set of the image sensing area of the imaging device; and

detecting motion of an object on the basis of the changed area of image data to be extracted for motion detecting process.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of:

setting the area of image data to be extracted for the motion detecting process and an image sensing range of the imaging device on a panoramic image which indicates the image sensing range of the imaging device.

20. A storage medium which stores program code to execute a method for monitoring an image output from an imaging device, the method comprising the steps of:

changing an area of image data to be extracted for motion detecting process corresponding to changing set of the image sensing area of the imaging device; and

detecting motion of an object on the basis of the changed area of image data to be extracted for motion detecting process.

21. The storage medium according to claim 20, wherein the method further comprises the step of setting the area of image data to be extracted for the motion detecting process and an image sensing range of the imaging device on a panoramic image which indicates the image sensing range of the imaging device.