Monitoring blind spot using moving objects

• US 9,992,454 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2014
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KT Corporation
• Original Assignee: KT Corporation
• Inventors: Park, Se-Zoo, Park, Chul-Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jay
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATT, MARNIE A
• Application Number:
  US14/454,920
• Publication Number:
  US 20150042815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Provided is a method of monitoring a blind spot of stationary monitoring devices in a target monitoring area using at least one moving object. The method may include detecting at least one moving object located near to a blind spot of stationary monitoring devices in a target monitoring area upon generation of a predetermined initiation event, and monitoring the blind spot of the stationary monitoring devices using a monitoring device mounted on the detected at least one moving object.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a blind spot of stationary monitoring devices in a target monitoring area using a moving object in the target monitoring area by a service server, the method comprising:

monitoring the target monitoring area using the stationary monitoring devices and collecting information on moving objects in the target monitoring area based on first monitoring result of the stationary monitoring devices and signals from the moving objects;

upon generation of a predetermined initiation event, detecting one from the moving objects based on the collected information and the signals, wherein the detected one is a moving object that has a predetermined monitoring device and is located in or within a predetermined distance from the blind spot of the stationary monitoring devices in the target monitoring area; and

monitoring a target object in the blind spot of the stationary monitoring devices using the predetermined monitoring device mounted on the detected one moving object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring and collecting comprises:

detecting the target object entering the target monitoring area using the stationary monitoring device;

obtaining information on the target object based on images captured by the stationary monitoring devices and signals from the target object, and collecting images of the target monitoring area from the stationary monitoring devices at a predetermined interval;

comparing the captured images of the target monitoring area to find the target object in the captured images based on the obtained information; and

determining the generation of the predetermined initiation event based on the comparing result.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the generation of the predetermined initiation event is determined when the target object is located at the blind spot of the stationary monitoring device based on analysis of images captured by the stationary monitoring devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein

the generation of the predetermined initiation event is determined when a predetermined signal generated from the target object is detected based on analysis of images captured by the stationary monitoring devices.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the comparing comprises:

finding the target object in the captured images by comparing the captured images and analyzing the obtained information of the target object; and

determining the target object is located in the blind spot of the stationary monitoring device when the target object is not in at least one of the captured images after the target object enters the target monitoring area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting comprises:

extracting current location information of the moving objects from the collected information;

determining a distance from the blind spot of the stationary monitoring devices to each of the moving objects; and

detecting, from the moving objects, one that includes the predetermined monitoring device and located within a predetermined distance from or in the blind spot.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the collected information on the moving objects include information on at least one of identification, a current location, a monitoring device, and an operation status.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring comprises:

transmitting a monitoring signal to the detected moving object;

receiving monitoring results from the detected moving object in response to the monitoring signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the monitoring signal includes information on the target object to monitor, a target blind spot to monitor, a monitoring time duration, and a destination to provide monitoring results.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the monitoring results include at least one of images, moving images, audio data, temperature data, and vibration data, captured and sensed through various devices of the detected moving object.

11. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving the monitoring result from the detected moving object; and

outputting the received monitoring result through constituent elements of the service server.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving the monitoring result from the detected moving object; and

transmitting the received monitoring result to a designated device through a communication network.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring comprising:

transmitting, to the detected moving object, a signal to control a camera of the detected-moving object to capture images of activities occurring in the blind spot of the stationary monitoring devices; and

receiving images captured by the camera of the detected moving object and transmitted from the detected moving object in response to the signal.

14. The method of claim 1, comprising, after the monitoring;

determining whether a predetermined activity of the target object occurs in the blind spot based on the monitoring result from the detected moving object.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the determining whether a predetermined activity occurs comprises:

analyzing images of activities of the target object occurring in the blind spot, captured by a camera of the detected moving object and transmitted from the detected moving object.

16. A method of monitoring, by a service server, a blind spot of stationary monitoring device in a target monitoring area by using a moving object in the target monitoring area, the method comprising:

detecting a moving object within a predetermined distance from a blind spot of the stationary monitoring device;

monitoring the blind spot of the stationary monitoring devices in the target monitoring area in response to a signal from the service server for monitoring the target monitoring area; and

transmitting the monitoring result to a designated device,

wherein the monitoring comprises;

receiving a monitoring signal from the service server;

obtaining monitoring information from the received monitoring signals; and

controlling a camera mounted on the detected moving object to capture images of activities occurring in the blind spot based on the obtained monitoring information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the monitoring comprising:

receiving a control signal from the service server;

obtaining controlling information from the received control signal; and

controlling at least one constituent element of the detected moving object based on the obtained controlling information.

18. The method of claim 16, comprising:

establishing a communication link to the service server when the moving object enters the target monitoring area associated with the service server; and

transmitting information on the detected moving object to the service server.