System for identifying visitors using CCTV camera and home computer

• US 5,995,139 A
• Filed: 09/25/1996
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Transpacific Avartar, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lee, Chang-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): RAO, ANAND SHASHIKANT
• Application Number:
  US08/719,376
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 379/167, 379/103, 379/56, 379/58, 348/155, 348/156, 348/143, 348/149, 348/150, 348/151, 348/13, 348/14, 348/20, 348/157, 340/539, 340/531, 340/825.3, 340/517, 340/330, 340/541
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

A system for identifying visitors using a closed-circuit television camera to generate image data by reading images of visitors and a microphone to convert the sound waves received from visitors into electric waves. A door-bell button has a call-bell function available for when a visitor calls and as well as a switch function for operating a computer while the computer is in a hibernation state. The computer system controls and stores the signals and image data from the CCTV camera, the microphone, and the call-bell button while a monitor which displays the image data. This system identifies visitors by storing the visitor'"'"'s image sensed from an identification device while the owner a user is absent and reconfirms after by using a general purpose home computers; the system has a hibernation function and is inexpensive.

Claims

1. A system for identifying visitors, comprising:

a closed-circuit television camera for generating image data obtained by reading images of the visitors;

a microphone for receiving and converting sound waves from the visitors into electrical signals;

a computer functionally connected to receive said image data and said electrical signals;

a call-bell button for providing a call-bell function when a visitor calls, operatively connected to a hibernation control circuit for outputting a resume signal for driving said computer to terminate a hibernation state by storing and processing said image data from said closed-circuit television camera and said electrical signals from said microphone; and

a monitor for displaying visual video representations of said image data;

said computer comprising;

a means for starting a process of inactivating the computer when a timer for a power management system checks a bus operation during regular hours;

a means for inputting an on-signal to an uninterruptible power supply in response to interruption of electric power into the power management system;

said hibernation control circuit producing and outputting a hibernation signal to said computer;

a means for checking and storing a present state of hardware of said computer;

a means for storing the present operation state of said computer in a memory;

a means for transmitting a power-off-signal to a switching mode power supply;

a means for determining whether an interruption of electric power to said computer has occurred;

a means for turning the power of a battery off by the switching mode power supply if it has been determined that an interruption of electric power has occurred;

a means for turning a main power off and supplying the battery with power if it has been determined that an interruption of electric power has not occurred; and

a means for subsequently maintaining said computer in a hibernation state.

2. A system for identifying visitors, comprising:

a closed-circuit television camera for generating image data obtained by reading images of the visitors;

a microphone for receiving and converting sound waves from the visitors into electrical signals;

a computer functionally connected to receive said image data and said electrical signals;

a call-bell button for providing a call-bell function when a visitor calls, operatively connected to a hibernation control circuit for outputting a resume signal for driving said computer to terminate a hibernation state by storing and processing said image data from said closed-circuit television camera and said electrical signals from said microphone; and

a monitor for displaying visual video representations of said image data;

said computer system comprising;

a means for inputting a wake-up source signal to said computer;

a means for ending a countdown of a schedule timer of said computer;

a means for restoring contents of a memory of said computer from an auxiliary storage device;

a means for restoring a previously stored former state of said computer;

a means for determining whether an interruption of electric power to said computer has been canceled;

a means for operating said computer continuously in a former state of hibernation if the interruption of electric power has been canceled; and

a means for identifying the wake-up source and executing a reserved program module if the interruption of electric power has not been canceled.

3. A method of operating an identifying module of a system for identifying visitors, comprising the steps of:

determining whether a wake-up signal has been inputted;

initiating functional operation of a computer in response to said wake-up signal;

making a determination of whether said wake-up signal is a signal from a call-bell button;

capturing image and sound data from the visitors after determining that said wake-up signal is from said call-bell button;

converting the computer to a suspend mode after completion of said capturing of said image and said sound data;

turning the computer off and supplying a battery with power if it has been determined that an interruption of electric power has not occurred; and

subsequently maintaining the computer in a hibernation state;

said converting step comprising the steps of;

starting process of inactivating the computer when a timer for a power management system checks a bus operation during regular hours;

inputting an on-signal to an uninterruptible power supply in response to an interruption of electric power into the power management system;

producing and outputting a hibernation signal to the computer;

checking and storing a present state of hardware of the computer;

storing the present operational state of the computer in a memory;

transmitting a power-off-signal to a switching mode power supply;

determining whether an interruption of electric power to the computer has occurred;

turning the power of a battery off by the switching mode power supply if it has been determined that an interruption of electric power has occurred;

turning a main power off and supplying the battery with power if it has been determined that an interruption of electric power has not occurred; and

subsequently maintaining the computer in a hibernation state.

4. A method of operating an identifying module of a system for identifying visitors, comprising the steps of:

determining whether a wake-up signal has been inputted;

initiating functional operation of a computer in response to said wake-up signal;

making a determination of whether said wake-up signal is a signal from a call-bell button;

capturing image and sound data from the visitors after determining that said wake-up signal is from said call-bell button;

converting the computer to a suspend mode after completion of said capturing of said image and said sound data;

turning the computer off and supplying a battery with power if it has been determined that an interruption of electric power has not occurred; and

subsequently maintaining the computer in a hibernation state;

said resuming step comprising the steps of;

inputting a wake-up source signal to a computer;

ending a countdown of a schedule timer of the computer;

restoring contents of a memory of the computer from an auxiliary storage device;

restoring a previously stored former state of the computer;

determining whether an interruption of electric power to said computer has been canceled;

operating said computer continuously in a former state of hibernation if the interruption of electric power has been canceled; and

identifying the wake-up source and executing a reserved program module if the interruption of electric power has not been canceled.