Method and apparatus for remote monitoring

• US 9,511,495 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Shetty, Krishna
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, ABBY YEE
• Application Number:
  US13/786,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20130245827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/023 including video camera means
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1697 Vision controlled systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A monitoring control method in an electronic device is provided. The method includes displaying an area map for monitoring, and determining a virtual boundary on the area map. The area map is a specific space of the indoor or outdoor and displays objects or articles that are within the specific space of the indoor or outdoor. The virtual boundary constitutes a movement area for a monitoring target therewithin.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring in a monitoring robot device, the method comprising:

obtaining and transmitting, by the monitoring robot device, an area map to an electronic device communicating with the monitoring robot device;

receiving, from the electronic device, a boundary on the area map for monitoring whether a monitored target is located within the boundary, wherein the boundary is drawn on the transmitted area map by a user'"'"'s touch input via a screen of the electronic device;

in response to receiving the boundary on the area map, automatically moving the monitoring robotic device, by the monitoring robotic device, to a corresponding location of the area map having the boundary and determining whether the monitored target is inside the boundary on the area map, wherein the monitored target comprises at least one target identified based on a list including one or more predetermined monitored targets;

when the monitored target is not located within the boundary on the area map, transmitting an alarm event to the electronic device; and

in response to receiving an instruction from the electronic device, tracking the monitored target and providing a caring service to the monitored target within the boundary on the area map.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining a monitoring video via a camera, wherein the area map is obtained from the monitoring video.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the area map is generated using at least one sensor of the monitoring robot device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a monitoring video associated with the area map to the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an access to a monitoring video associated with the monitored target to a user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the boundary is drawn on the area map by the user'"'"'s touch input using a finger or an electronic pen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the alarm event comprises at least one of vibration, a pop up message, or an alarm sound.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the alarm event comprises an instruction of giving an appropriate service to the monitored target.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitored target comprises a human.

10. A monitoring robot device comprising:

a camera;

a sensor module unit;

a communication module configured to communicate with an electronic device; and

a controller configured to;

obtain and transmit, by the monitoring robot device, an area map to the electronic device communicating with the monitoring robot device;

receive, from the electronic device, a boundary on the area map for monitoring whether a monitored target is located within the boundary, wherein the boundary is drawn on the transmitted area map by a user'"'"'s touch input via a screen of the electronic device;

in response to receiving the boundary on the area map, automatically move the monitoring robot device to a corresponding location of the area map having the boundary and determine whether the monitored target is inside the boundary on the area map, wherein the monitored target comprises at least one target identified based on a list including one or more predetermined monitored targets;

when the monitored target is not located within the boundary on the area map, transmit an alarm event to the electronic device; and

in response to receiving an instruction from the electronic device, track, with the monitoring robot device, the monitored target and provide a caring service to the monitored target within the boundary on the area map.

11. The monitoring robot device of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the area map to the electronic device.

12. The monitoring robot device of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to obtain a monitoring video via the camera, wherein the area map is obtained from the monitoring video.

13. The monitoring robot device of claim 10, wherein the area map is generated using at least one sensor of the monitoring robot device.

14. The monitoring robot device of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to transmit a monitoring video, associated with the area map, to the electronic device.

15. The monitoring robot device of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to provide an access to a monitoring video associated with the monitored target to a user.

16. The monitoring robot device of claim 10, wherein the boundary is drawn on the area map by the user'"'"'s touch input using a finger or an electronic pen.

17. The monitoring robot device of claim 10, wherein the alarm event comprises at least one of vibration, a pop up message, or an alarm sound.

18. The monitoring robot device of claim 10, wherein the alarm event comprises an instruction of giving an appropriate service to the monitored target.

19. The monitoring robot device of claim 10, wherein the monitored target comprises a human.