MONITORING SYSTEM, METHOD FOR MONITORING OBJECT ENTERING ROOM, AND COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM

• US 20090213221A1
• Filed: 02/24/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kanda, Kenji
• Granted Patent: US 9,041,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/156
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• 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: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

An entry monitoring system to monitor an object entering a room includes a door control apparatus configured to control opening of a door, and a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor the object entering the room by an image capturing apparatus. The door control apparatus controls the door to open when the image capturing apparatus completes preparation for capturing images of the object entering the room.

Claims

1. An entry monitoring system to monitor an object entering a room, the entry monitoring system comprising:

a door control apparatus configured to control opening of a door; and

a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor the object entering the room by an image capturing apparatus,

wherein the door control apparatus controls the door to open the door when the image capturing apparatus completes preparation for capturing images of the object entering the room.

2. The entry monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the door control apparatus opens the door upon completion of the preparation for capturing images of the object entering the room.

3. The entry monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, when the door is locked, the door control apparatus unlocks the door upon completion of the preparation for capturing images of the object entering the room.

4. The entry monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an instruction apparatus configured to instruct the door control apparatus to open the door,

wherein the instruction apparatus instructs the monitoring apparatus to capture images of the object entering the room with the image capturing apparatus when the door is opened, and instructs the door control apparatus to open the door when notified of completion of the preparation for capturing images of the object entering the room by the monitoring apparatus.

5. The entry monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the preparation for capturing images is completed when the image capturing apparatus completes pan tilt zoom control concerning capturing images of the object entering the room.

6. The entry monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the preparation for capturing images is completed when the image capturing apparatus completes automatic focusing control concerning capturing images of the object entering the room.

7. The entry monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the preparation for capturing images is completed when the image capturing apparatus completes automatic exposure control for capturing images of the object entering the room.

8. The entry monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of objects are entering the room, the door control apparatus controls the door to open the door upon completion of the preparation for capturing images of the plurality of objects.

9. The entry monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring apparatus determines the image capturing apparatus for capturing images of the object entering the room according to a predetermined priority.

10. A door control apparatus configured to control opening of a door, the door control apparatus comprising:

a determination device configured to perform a determination as to whether an image capturing apparatus has completed preparation for capturing images of an object entering a room; and

a control device configured to control opening of the door in response to the determination by the determination device.

11. The door control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control device opens the door upon completion of the preparation for capturing images of the object entering the room.

12. The door control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, when the door is locked, the control device unlocks the door upon completion of the preparation for capturing images of the object entering the room.

13. The door control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when a plurality of objects are entering the room, the control device controls the door to open the door upon completion of preparation for capturing images of the plurality of objects.

14. An entry monitoring system having:

a door opening instruction apparatus;

a door control apparatus; and

a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor an object entering a room with an image capturing apparatus,

wherein the door opening instruction apparatus is configured to instruct the door control apparatus to open a door, and the door control apparatus is configured to control opening of the door in response to a door opening instruction from the door opening instruction apparatus, and wherein the door opening instruction apparatus comprises;

a capturing instruction device configured to instruct the monitoring apparatus to capture images of the object entering the room; and

a door opening instruction device configured to instruct the door control apparatus to open the door after notification of completion of preparation for capturing images of the object from the monitoring apparatus.

15. A method for controlling an entry monitoring system having a door control apparatus configured to control opening of a door, and a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor an object entering a room by an image capturing apparatus, the method comprising:

determining whether the image capturing apparatus has completed preparation for capturing images of the object entering the room; and

controlling the door to open the door when it is determined that preparation for capturing images has been completed.

16. A method for controlling a door control apparatus that controls opening of a door, the method comprising:

determining whether an image capturing apparatus has completed preparation for capturing images of an object entering a room; and

controlling the door to open the door when it is determined that preparation for capturing images has been completed.

17. A method for controlling a door opening instruction apparatus which is a part of an entry monitoring system, the entry monitoring system having the door opening instruction apparatus configured to instruct a door control apparatus to open a door, the door control apparatus being configured to control opening of the door in response to a door opening instruction from the door opening instruction apparatus, and a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor an object entering a room with an image capturing apparatus, the method comprising:

instructing the monitoring apparatus to capture images of the object entering the room; and

instructing the door control apparatus to open the door after notification of completion of preparation for capturing images of the object by the monitoring apparatus.

18. A storage medium storing computer-executable instructions executed by a door control apparatus configured to control opening of a door, the storage medium comprising:

computer-executable instructions for determining whether an image capturing apparatus has completed preparation for capturing images of an object entering a room; and

computer-executable instructions for controlling the door to open the door when it is determined that preparation for capturing images has been completed.

19. A computer readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions executed by a door opening instruction apparatus which is included in an entry monitoring system, the entry monitoring system having the door opening instruction apparatus configured to instruct a door control apparatus to open a door, the door control apparatus being configured to control opening of the door in response to a door opening instruction from the door opening instruction apparatus, and a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor an object entering a room by a image capturing apparatus, the computer readable storage medium comprising:

computer-executable instructions for instructing the monitoring apparatus to capture images of the object entering the room; and

computer-executable instructions for instructing the door control apparatus to open the door after notification of completion of preparation for capturing images of the object by the monitoring apparatus.