Method and Apparatus to Facilitate Using a Camera As Pertains to a Self-Storage Facility
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- at a self-storage facility having a plurality of self-storage units that are each accessible via a corresponding movable barrier, wherein access to given ones of the self-storage units by corresponding end users is controllable by an end user;
providing dim lighting in a given area that is monitored by a camera;
processing images from the camera to detect motion in the given area;
in response to detecting the motion in the given area, automatically providing an increased level of lighting in the given area, wherein the increased level is at least sufficient to permit capturing a clear and distinct image in the given area with the camera;
using the camera and the increased level of lighting to capture at least one clear and distinct image in the given area.
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Abstract
Dim lighting can be provided in a given area that is monitored by a camera. Though such lighting is not bright enough to ensure capturing an image that can in turn be used with assurance to, for example, recognize the visage of a person in this given area, this dim lighting is nevertheless sufficient to permit using the camera'"'"'s captured images for motion detection purposes. Accordingly, images from this camera are processed to detect motion in the given area. In response to detecting such motion, these teachings then provide for automatically providing an increased level of lighting in the given area that is sufficient to permit capturing a clear and distinct image in the given area with this camera.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
at a self-storage facility having a plurality of self-storage units that are each accessible via a corresponding movable barrier, wherein access to given ones of the self-storage units by corresponding end users is controllable by an end user; providing dim lighting in a given area that is monitored by a camera; processing images from the camera to detect motion in the given area; in response to detecting the motion in the given area, automatically providing an increased level of lighting in the given area, wherein the increased level is at least sufficient to permit capturing a clear and distinct image in the given area with the camera; using the camera and the increased level of lighting to capture at least one clear and distinct image in the given area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method comprising:
at a self-storage facility having a plurality of self-storage units that are each accessible via a corresponding movable barrier, wherein access to given ones of the self-storage units by corresponding end users is controllable by the end user; providing dim lighting in a given area that is monitored by a camera; processing images from the camera to detect if the dim lighting is adequate to support using the camera for motion detection; when the dim lighting is not adequate to support using the camera for motion detection, automatically increasing light intensity. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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providing dim lighting in a given area that is monitored by a camera; processing images from the camera to detect motion in the given area; in response to detecting the motion in the given area, automatically providing an increased level of lighting in the given area, wherein the increased level is at least sufficient to permit capturing a clear and distinct image in the given area with the camera. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. An apparatus comprising:
at a self-storage facility having a plurality of self-storage units that are each accessible via a corresponding movable barrier, wherein access to given ones of the self-storage units by corresponding end users is controllable by an end user; a camera positioned to monitor a given area; dim lighting in the given area; a controller operably coupled to the camera and being configured to; process images from the camera to detect motion in the given area; in response to detecting the motion in the given area, automatically provide an increased level of lighting in the given area, wherein the increased level is at least sufficient to permit capturing a clear and distinct image in the given area with the camera; use the camera and the increased level of lighting to capture at least one clear and distinct images in the given area. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus comprising:
at a self-storage facility having a plurality of self-storage units that are each accessible via a corresponding movable barrier, wherein access to given ones of the self-storage units by corresponding end users is controllable by the end user; a camera positioned to monitor a given area; dim lighting in the given area; a controller operably coupled to the camera and being configured to; process images from the camera to detect if the dim lighting is adequate to support using the camera for motion detection; when the dim lighting is not adequate to support using the camera for motion detection, automatically increase light intensity in the given area. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus comprising:
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a camera positioned to monitor a given area; dim lighting in the given area; a controller operably coupled to the camera and being configured to; process images from the camera to detect motion in the given area; in response to detecting the motion in the given area, automatically provide an increased level of lighting in the given area, wherein the increased level is at least sufficient to permit capturing a clear and distinct image in the given area with the camera. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification