System and method of keeping track of normal behavior of the inhabitants of a house

• US 6,856,249 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Diederiks, Elmo M. A., Lee, Mi-Suen, Verberkt, Mark Henricus, Strubbe, Hugo, van de Sluis, Bartel Marinus
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LAM P
• Application Number:
  US10/093,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20030169171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 340/540, 340/556, 379 37- 51
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0423 detecting deviation from an expected pattern of behaviour or schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0476 Cameras to detect unsafe condition, e.g. video cameras

Abstract

A home control system for automatic detection and warning of abnormal behavior includes a unit for observing behavior in a predetermined area under surveillance, a unit for processing an output of observed behavior from the unit for observing, and a pattern recognition module for recognizing whether the observed behavior is associated with predefined normal behaviors. The detection of predetermined normal behavior in progress leads to a provision of an anticipatory action. Upon recognition that the observed behavior is abnormal, an alarm signal is triggered to remind the user.

Claims

1. A method for automatically detecting the abnormal behavior of a person, the method comprising the steps of:

tracking a series of actions performed by said person to determine the behavior of said person in a predetermined area under surveillance;

comparing said determine behavior with at least one of a plurality of predetermined normal behaviors to establish a behavior match;

if a match is established, determining whether at least one action from said matched predetermined normal behavior is omitted by said person; and

,

transmitting an alarm signal when at least one action from said matched predetermined normal behavior is omitted.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said alarm signal comprises one of a conversational content, an informative content, and a reminder content.

3. The method of claim 1, farther comprising the step of transmitting said alarm signal comprises the step of notifying a pre-designated person when at least one action from said matched predetermined normal behavior is omitted.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the plurality of said predetermined normal behaviors in a memory medium.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of tracking the series of actions performed by the person further comprises the step of obtaining at least a partial image of the face of said person.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

if a match is established, anticipating at least one action from said matched predetermined normal behavior to be performed by said person; and

,

performing said anticipated action automatically.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said anticipated action includes activating at least one electronic device provided in the area under surveillance.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the behavior of said person is tracked with cameras.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the behavior of said person is tracked with sound sensors.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the predetermined normal behaviors includes recognizing when a plurality of individuals enters the area under surveillance.

11. A method for automatic detection of an abnormal behavior, the method comprising the steps of:

observing a series of actions performed by a person to determine the behavior of said person in a predetermined area under surveillance;

identifying whether said determine behavior is associated with at least one of a plurality of predetermined normal behaviors by comparing said determine behavior with a plurality of predetermined behavioral patterns stored in a normal behavior module; and

,

transmitting an alarm signal to said person when at least one of a predetermined behavior patterns in said normal behavior module is not performed, further comprising the steps of anticipating and performing at least one action from said predetermined normal behaviors to be performed by said person when said determined behavior is associated with at least one of the plurality of said predetermined normal behaviors.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said anticipated action includes activating at least one electronic device provided in the area under surveillance.

13. A system for automatic detection of an abnormal behavior, comprising:

means for observing a series of actions performed by a person to determine the behavior of said person in a predetermined area under surveillance;

means for analyzing output data from said observing means to determine whether said observed behavior is associated with at least one of a plurality of predetermined normal behaviors comprised of a plurality of actions;

means for storing said predetermined normal behaviors; and

,

means for transmitting an alarm signal to said person when at least one of said plurality of predetermined normal behaviors is omitted, further comprising means for anticipating at least one action from said predetermined normal behaviors to be performed by said person when said observed behavior is associated with at least one of the plurality of said predetermined normal behaviors.

14. The system of claim 13, further includes means for activating at least one electronic device provided in the area under surveillance.