Monitoring apparatus

• US 7,225,111 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2005
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Kaoru, Yoshimi, Takashi, Kikuiri, Nobutaka, Matsuhira, Nobuto, Yamamoto, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff; Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charioui; Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US11/110,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 702/122, 702/123, 702/177, 702/178, 702/185, 702/187, 702/188, 340/506, 340/511, 340/521, 340/531, 340/540, 340/541, 340/573.1, 340/545.1, 348/143, 348/152, 348/154
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45084 Service robot
• 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 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range

Abstract

In a monitoring apparatus, a target-object to be monitored is observed by an observing unit and a countermeasure is applied depending on an observed situation. The knowledge and information on the general feature relating to the target-object, the observing method and the countermeasure method are prepared in the storing unit of the monitoring apparatus. The individual knowledge and information relating to the target-object are registered by the user in the storing unit by utilizing the general monitor-knowledge. In the monitor-plan executing unit, the observing method and the countermeasure method of the target-object are planned in accordance with the situation by utilizing the general monitor-knowledge and the individual monitor-knowledge, and the plan is executed.

Claims

1. A monitoring apparatus for monitoring an abnormality of target-objects and executing a countermeasure for preventing an incident in accordance with an abnormal situation of the target-object, comprising:

first storing unit configured to store general monitor knowledge and information on a general feature of the target-objects, a general observing method of the target-objects and a general executing method relating to the target-objects;

input unit configured to input individual monitor knowledge and information on the respective target-objects with utilizing the general monitor knowledge and information;

second storing unit configured to store the individual monitor knowledge and information;

planning unit configured to plan observing and countermeasure programs relating to the abnormal situation of the target-object based on the general and individual monitor-knowledge and information;

observing unit configured to observe the target-object in accordance with an observing program to generate a situation information; and

executing unit configured to execute a countermeasure program in accordance with the situation information from the observing unit.

2. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring apparatus corresponds to a household guard apparatus for detecting an abnormality and executing a countermeasure for preventing a crime in the general household.

3. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the target-object is a door or a window, and the observing apparatus detects an abnormality of the door or the window.

4. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the target-object is a room door, the observing unit includes an opening-closing sensor mounted to the room door.

5. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the input unit includes an input device that permits the user to input the information on the location of the target-object to be monitored by designating a coordinate on a display screen.

6. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the individual monitor information includes information denoting a kind of the target-object and input unit includes a displaying unit configured to displaying kinds of the target-object for selecting one of the kinds.

7. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the individual monitor-knowledge and information includes a name of the target-object, which permits individually identifying the target-object and the type of the target-object, which permits identifying the kind of the target-object to be monitored.

8. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the planning unit includes a third storing unit configured to store situation data of time information and the situation information from the observing unit, the situation and time information relating to past incidences produced in the target-object at respective times, wherein the planning unit judges the abnormal situation of the target-object from the situation data.

9. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the situation information on the target-objects includes:

change of locations of the target-objects.

10. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the general monitor knowledge and information includes information on locations of the observing unit.

11. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the observing unit includes a camera monitoring the target-objects.

12. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the observing unit is mounted on a movable guarding robot, configured to communicate via a wireless link to a base station and configured to be charged by a charging unit.

13. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target-objects include doors and windows.

14. A method of monitoring an abnormality of target-objects and executing a countermeasure for preventing a crime in accordance with an abnormal situation of the target-objects, comprising:

storing general monitor knowledge and information on a general feature of the target-objects, a general observing method of the target-objects and a general executing method relating to the target-objects;

inputting individual monitor knowledge and information on the respective target-objects with utilizing the general monitor knowledge and information;

storing the individual monitor knowledge and information;

planning observing and countermeasure programs relating to the abnormal situation of the target-object based on the general and individual monitor-knowledge and information;

observing the target-object in accordance with an observing program to generate a situation information; and

executing a countermeasure program in accordance with the situation information from the observing the target-object.

15. The monitoring method according to claim 14, wherein the individual monitor-knowledge and information includes a name of the target-object, which permits individually identifying the target-object and the type of the target-object, which permits identifying the kind of the target-object to be monitored.

16. The monitoring method according to claim 14, wherein the planning includes storing situation data of time information and the situation information from the observing unit, the situation and time information relating to past incidences produced in the target-object at respective times, wherein the abnormal situation of the target-object is judged from the situation data.

17. The monitoring method according to claim 14, wherein the monitoring method corresponds to a household guard method of detecting an abnormality and executing a countermeasure for preventing a crime in the general household.

18. The monitoring method according to claim 14, wherein the target-object is a door or a window, and the observing includes detecting an abnormality of the door or the window.

19. The monitoring method according to claim 14, wherein the target-object is a room door, the observing includes sensing an opening and closing of the room door.

20. The monitoring method according to claim 14, wherein the inputting includes permitting the user to input the information on the location of the target-object to be monitored by designating a coordinate on a display screen.

21. The monitoring method according to claim 14, wherein the individual monitor information includes information denoting a kind of the target-object and input unit includes a displaying unit configured to displaying kinds of the target-object for selecting one of the kinds.

22. The method of monitoring an abnormality of target-objects according to claim 14, wherein the situation information on the target-objects includes:

change of locations of the target-objects.

23. The method of monitoring an abnormality of target-objects according to claim 14, wherein the general monitor knowledge and information includes information on locations from where the observing is performed.

24. The method of monitoring an abnormality of target-objects according to claim 14, wherein the observing is performed with a camera monitoring the target-objects.

25. The method of monitoring an abnormality of target-objects according to claim 14, wherein the observing is performed from a movable guarding robot, configured to communicate via a wireless link to a base station and configured to be charged by a charging unit.

26. The method of monitoring an abnormality of target-objects according to claim 14, wherein the target-objects include doors and windows.