Monitoring system of specific area

• US 20050275720A1
• Filed: 10/28/2002
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Denaro Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Denaro Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Noguchi, Naohei
• Application Number:
  US10/531,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20050275720A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/152
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19623 Arrangements allowing camera linear motion, e.g. camera moving along a rail cable or track
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19667 Details realated to data compression, encryption or encoding, e.g. resolution modes for reducing data volume to lower transmission bandwidth or memory requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6581 Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A monitoring system of a specific area comprising monitor terminals each having an image pickup unit and disposed to move on a moving means in an area being monitored, and a monitor which can display at least a monitor image picked up by the image pickup unit. The monitoring system of a specific area further comprises a monitor image switching means for receiving monitor images from the monitor terminals and transmitting the monitor images to the monitor, and a proximity detecting means provided in the monitor terminal for detecting other monitor terminal existing in close proximity on the same or adjacent moving path. When the proximity detecting means detects other monitor terminal, the monitor terminal transmits detection information of other monitor terminal to the monitor image switching means which switches the image being transmitted to the monitor to the monitor image of other monitor terminal based on the received detection information thereof.

Claims

1. A monitoring system of a specific area, comprising:

monitor terminals, which have a monitoring device having at least an image pickup unit, a communication device for transmitting monitor information of the monitoring device to an external monitor, and a moving device for moving within the area to be monitored, which is made up of a moving cart moving in the moving path that is installed in said area to be monitored; and

a monitor, which is data-communicably connected to said monitor terminals and has a display device that receives the monitor information transmitted from the monitor terminal and is capable of displaying at least a monitor image by said image pickup unit, and an operating device for operating the movement of said monitor terminals, in which the monitoring system performs remote monitoring of the area to be monitored where said monitor terminals are installed, by said monitor, wherein

said monitoring system includes a monitor image switching device that switches monitor images from a plurality of said monitor terminals and transmits the images to the monitor, in which

said monitor terminals have a proximity detecting device for detecting another monitor terminal existing in close proximity on a same moving path or an adjacent moving path by moving, the monitor terminal transmits the detection information of another monitor terminal to said monitor image switching device when the proximity detecting device detects another monitor terminal, and

said monitor image switching device switches an image to be transmitted to said monitor to the monitor image of another monitor terminal existing in close proximity based on the received detection information of the monitor terminal.

2. The monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said monitor image switching device switches and transmits the image of said monitor terminal, which came close to the another monitor terminal by moving, to the monitor to which said another monitor terminal has transmitted the monitor image.

3. The monitoring system of a specific area according to claim 1, wherein said monitor terminal is made up of a moving unit that is provided with said image pickup unit and moves within said area to be monitored, and a fixed unit that is capable of non-contact communication with the moving units and provided with said communication means.

4. The monitoring system of a specific area according to claim 1, wherein said moving path has a feeding section for supplying electric power to said moving carts or said moving units.

5. The monitoring system of a specific area according to claim 2, wherein said monitor terminal is made up of a moving unit that is provided with said image pickup unit and moves within said area to be monitored, and a fixed unit that is capable of non-contact communication with the moving units and provided with said communication device.

6. The monitoring system of a specific area according to claim 2, wherein said moving path has a feeding section for supplying electric power to said moving carts or said moving units.

7. The monitoring system of a specific area according to claim 3, wherein said moving path has a feeding section for supplying electric power to said moving carts or said moving units.