Monitoring system, method for monitoring object entering room, and computer readable storage medium

• US 9,041,811 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2009
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kanda, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAIR, DOUGLAS B
• Application Number:
  US12/391,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20090213221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,282 Days
• Field of Search: 348/156, 348/143, 348/159
• US Class Current: 348/156
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/186 Video door telephones

Abstract

An entry monitoring system to monitor an object entering a room includes a door control apparatus configured to control opening of a door, and a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor the object entering the room by an image capturing apparatus. The door control apparatus controls the door to open when the image capturing apparatus completes preparation for capturing images of the object entering the room.

Claims

1. An entry monitoring system to monitor an object entering an area, the entry monitoring system comprising:

a door control apparatus configured to control opening of a door;

a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor the object entering the area by one of a plurality of image capturing apparatuses; and

a determination unit configured to determine whether an image capturing apparatus selected from the plurality of image capturing apparatuses is prepared to capture the object,

wherein the door control apparatus controls the door to open the door when the image capturing apparatus selected from the plurality of image capturing apparatuses that have not been capturing the object completes preparation for capturing the object entering the area.

2. The entry monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the door control apparatus opens the door upon completion of the preparation for capturing the object entering the area.

3. The entry monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein, when the door is locked, the door control apparatus unlocks the door upon completion of the preparation for capturing the object entering the area.

4. The entry monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an instruction apparatus configured to instruct the door control apparatus to open the door,

wherein the instruction apparatus instructs the monitoring apparatus to capture the object entering the area with the image capturing apparatus when the door is opened, and instructs the door control apparatus to open the door when notified of completion of the preparation for capturing the object entering the area by the monitoring apparatus.

5. The entry monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the preparation for capturing the object is completed when the image capturing apparatus completes pan tilt zoom control concerning capturing the object entering the area.

6. The entry monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the preparation for capturing the object is completed when the image capturing apparatus completes automatic focusing control concerning capturing the object entering the area.

7. The entry monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the preparation for capturing the object is completed when the image capturing apparatus completes automatic exposure control for capturing the object entering the area.

8. The entry monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of objects are entering the area, the door control apparatus controls the door to open the door upon completion of the preparation for capturing the plurality of objects.

9. The entry monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring apparatus determines the image capturing apparatus for capturing the object entering the area according to a predetermined priority.

10. A door control apparatus configured to control opening of a door, the door control apparatus comprising:

a determination device configured to perform a determination as to whether an image capturing apparatus selected from a plurality of image capturing apparatuses capturing a first object in an area has completed preparation for capturing a second object entering the area; and

a control device configured to control opening of the door in response to the determination by the determination device.

11. The door control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control device opens the door upon completion of the preparation for capturing the second object entering the area.

12. The door control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, when the door is locked, the control device unlocks the door upon completion of the preparation for capturing the second object entering the area.

13. The door control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when a plurality of objects are entering the area, the control device controls the door to open the door upon completion of preparation for capturing the plurality of objects.

14. An entry monitoring system comprising:

a door opening instruction apparatus;

a door control apparatus;

a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor an object entering an area with one of a plurality of image capturing apparatuses; and

a determination unit configured to determine whether an image capturing apparatus selected from the plurality of image capturing apparatuses is prepared to capture the object,

wherein the door opening instruction apparatus is configured to instruct the door control apparatus to open a door, and the door control apparatus is configured to control opening of the door in response to a door opening instruction from the door opening instruction apparatus, and wherein the door opening instruction apparatus comprises;

a capturing instruction device configured to instruct the monitoring apparatus to capture the object entering the area; and

a door opening instruction device configured to instruct the door control apparatus to open the door after notification of completion of preparation from the monitoring apparatus of an image capturing apparatus selected from the plurality of image capturing apparatuses capturing the object in the area for capturing a second object entering the area by the image capturing apparatus.

15. A method for controlling an entry monitoring system having a door control apparatus configured to control opening of a door, and a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor an object entering an area by one of a plurality of image capturing apparatuses, the method comprising:

determining whether the image capturing apparatus has completed preparation of an image capturing apparatus selected from the plurality of image capturing apparatuses capturing a first object in the area for capturing a second object entering the area by the image capturing apparatus; and

controlling the door to open the door when it is determined that preparation for capturing the second object has been completed.

16. A method for controlling a door control apparatus that controls opening of a door, the method comprising:

determining whether an image capturing apparatus selected from a plurality of image capturing apparatuses capturing a first object in an area has completed preparation for capturing a second object entering the area; and

controlling the door to open the door when it is determined that preparation for capturing the second object has been completed.

17. A method for controlling a door opening instruction apparatus in an entry monitoring system, the entry monitoring system having the door opening instruction apparatus configured to instruct a door control apparatus to open a door, the door control apparatus being configured to control opening of the door in response to a door opening instruction from the door opening instruction apparatus, and a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor an object entering an area with one of a plurality of image capturing apparatuses, the method comprising:

instructing the monitoring apparatus to capture the object entering the area;

determining whether an image capturing apparatus selected from the plurality of image capturing apparatuses capturing the object in an area has completed preparation for capturing a second object entering the area; and

instructing the door control apparatus to open the door after notification of completion of preparation of an image capturing apparatus selected from the plurality of image capturing apparatuses capturing the object in the area for capturing the second object entering the area by the image capturing apparatus.

18. A non-transitory storage medium storing computer-executable instructions executed by a door control apparatus configured to control opening of a door, the storage medium comprising:

computer-executable instructions for determining whether an image capturing apparatus selected from the plurality of image capturing apparatuses capturing a first object in an area has completed preparation for capturing a second object entering the area; and

computer-executable instructions for controlling the door to open the door when it is determined that preparation for capturing the second object has been completed.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions executed by a door opening instruction apparatus in an entry monitoring system, the entry monitoring system having the door opening instruction apparatus configured to instruct a door control apparatus to open a door, the door control apparatus being configured to control opening of the door in response to a door opening instruction from the door opening instruction apparatus, and a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor an object entering an area by one of a plurality of image capturing apparatuses, the computer readable storage medium comprising:

computer-executable instructions for instructing the monitoring apparatus to capture the object entering the area;

computer-executable instructions for determining whether an image capturing apparatus selected from the plurality of image capturing apparatuses capturing the object in an area has completed preparation for capturing a second object entering the area; and

computer-executable instructions for instructing the door control apparatus to open the door after notification of completion of preparation of an image capturing apparatus selected from the plurality of image capturing apparatuses capturing the object in the area for capturing the second object entering the area by the image capturing apparatus.