Image monitoring apparatus for remote monitoring of an elevator

• US 7,823,704 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2009
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Amano, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US12/468,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20090223750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 187/247, 187380-388, 187391-393
• US Class Current: 187/392
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 5/0012 Devices monitoring the users of the elevator system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/91 Elevator

Abstract

In an image monitoring apparatus for an elevator, an image recording unit records an image in a car photographed by a camera, and monitors, based on the image in the car, whether or not there is a violent behavior of a passenger in the car. The image recording unit makes a recording density of the image in the car higher than usual when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected. The operation control unit homes the car to a predetermined floor when the violent behavior of the passenger in the car is detected by the image recording unit.

Claims

1. An image monitoring apparatus for an elevator, comprising:

operation control means for controlling operation of a car;

remote monitoring means for monitoring a control state of operation of the car, which is controlled by the operation control means, and transmitting, over a public network, information on the control state to a remote monitoring center, the remote monitoring center monitoring, in a centralized manner, a plurality of elevators installed in a plurality of locations; and

image recording means for recording an image in the car photographed by a camera, and monitoring, based on the image in the car, whether or not there is a violent behavior of a passenger in the car, wherein

the remote monitoring means receives a violent behavior detection signal from the image recording means and reports detection of the violent behavior of the passenger in the car to the remote monitoring center when receiving the violent behavior detection signal from the image recording means.

5. The image monitoring apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote monitoring means is arranged in an administrative room in a building, and a plurality of image recording means and a plurality of operation control means, which are installed in the building, are connected to the remote monitoring means.

2. An image monitoring apparatus for an elevator, comprising:

operation control means for controlling operation of a car;

remote monitoring means for monitoring a control state of operation of the car, which is controlled by the operation control means, and transmitting, over a public network, information on the control state to a remote monitoring center, the remote monitoring center monitoring, in a centralized manner, a plurality of elevators installed in a plurality of locations; and

image recording means for recording an image in the car photographed by a camera, and monitoring, based on the image in the car, whether or not there is a violent behavior of a passenger in the car, wherein

the remote monitoring means transmits the image in the car of the passenger in the car to the remote monitoring center only when the violent behavior is detected by the image recording means.

3. A method of monitoring an elevator, comprising:

controlling operation of a car;

monitoring a control state of operation of the car;

transmitting, over a public network, information on the control state to a remote monitoring center, the remote monitoring center monitoring, in a centralized manner, a plurality of elevators installed in a plurality of locations;

recording an image in the car photographed by a camera;

monitoring, based on the image in the car, whether or not there is a violent behavior of a passenger in the car;

receiving a violent behavior detection signal; and

reporting detection of the violent behavior of the passenger in the car to the remote monitoring center when receiving the violent behavior detection signal.

4. A method of monitoring an elevator, comprising:

controlling operation of a car;

monitoring a control state of operation of the car;

transmitting, over a public network, information on the control state to a remote monitoring center, the remote monitoring center monitoring, in a centralized manner, a plurality of elevators installed in a plurality of locations;

recording an image in the car photographed by a camera;

monitoring, based on the image in the car, whether or not there is a violent behavior of a passenger in the car; and

transmitting the image in the car of the passenger in the car to the remote monitoring center only when the violent behavior is detected.