Remote observation system and method thereof

• US 20060061657A1
• Filed: 04/19/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Rew, Ho-Seon, Woo, Chu-Kyu
• Application Number:
  US11/108,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061657A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/151
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A remote observation system and a method thereof includes: a robot cleaner for capturing images from the surroundings of a preset patrol path while traveling the preset patrol path and outputting image signals of the images captured from the surroundings when a mode of the robot cleaner is switched to the patrol mode by user'"'"'s input signal; and a network connection device for transmitting the image signals outputted from the robot cleaner to user equipment through a communications network.

Claims

1. A remote observation system comprising:

a robot cleaner for capturing images from the surroundings of a preset patrol path while traveling the preset patrol path and outputting image signals of the images captured from the surroundings; and

a network connection device for transmitting the image signals outputted from the robot cleaner to user equipment through a communications network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the robot cleaner captures images from the surroundings of the preset patrol path in real-time or at certain time intervals while traveling the preset patrol path.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the patrol path is previously set by the user'"'"'s selection and designation.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the robot cleaner comprises:

a camera for capturing images of the preset patrol path according to control signals generated from the robot cleaner in the patrol mode and outputting image signals of the images captured from the surroundings;

a first storing means for storing the image signals outputted from the camera and the preset patrol path;

a moving means for moving the robot cleaner to the preset patrol path;

a wireless communication means for wirelessly transmitting the image signals outputted from the camera to the network connection device; and

a microcomputer for outputting the control signals and transmitting the image signals outputted from the camera to the wireless communication means upon receiving the image signals.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the microcomputer compares a reservation time for patrol mode and the current time, and switches the mode of the robot cleaner to the patrol mode when values of a comparison result coincide with each other.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the first storing means stores map information on a specific area and the reservation time for patrol mode.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the first storing means stores the image signals of the images from the surroundings of the patrol path by the camera.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the wireless communication means is an RF (Radio Frequency) transceiver.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the wireless communication means is a wireless local area network.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the wireless communication means is a blue tooth module.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the wireless communication means is a wireless mobile communication module for converting the image signals into wireless mobile communication protocols and transmitting the converted wireless mobile communication protocols to a wireless communications network or the Internet network.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the network connection device comprises:

an RF receiver receiving the image signals outputted from the robot cleaner; and

a CPU (Central Processor Unit) for converting the received image signals into transfer protocols for network communications.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the network connection device further comprises a storing means for backing up the image signals outputted from the robot cleaner.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the network connection device comprises:

a wireless communication receiving means receiving the image signals from the robot cleaner; and

a CPU (Central Processor Unit) for converting the received image signals into transfer protocols for network communications.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the network connection device further comprises a storing unit for backing up the image signals outputted from the robot cleaner.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the network connection device comprises:

a blue tooth module receiving the image signals outputted from the robot cleaner; and

a CPU (Central Processor Unit) for converting the received image signals into transfer protocols for network communications.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the network connection device further comprises a storing means for backing up the image signals outputted from the robot cleaner.

18. A remote observation method comprising:

switching a mode of a robot cleaner to a patrol mode;

capturing images of the surroundings of a preset patrol path while travelling the preset patrol path;

outputting image signals of the images from the surroundings; and

transmitting the outputted image signals to user equipment through a communications network.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

converting the image signals to wireless mobile communication protocols; and

transmitting the converted wireless mobile communication protocols to the user equipment through the communications network.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein, in the step of switching a mode of a robot cleaner to a patrol mode, the mode of the robot cleaner is switched to the patrol mode by user'"'"'s input.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein, in the step of switching a mode of a robot cleaner to a patrol mode, the mode of the robot cleaner is switched to the patrol mode if a comparison of a reservation time for patrol previously set by the user with the current time shows that values of the result comparison are identical to each other.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the outputting the image signals comprises converting the image signals captured by a camera installed at the robot cleaner into RF signals by an RF transceiver.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the outputting the image signals comprises converting the image signals captured by the camera installed at the robot cleaner into wireless communication signals through a wireless local area network.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the outputting the image signals comprises converting the image signals captured by the camera installed at the robot cleaner into blue tooth communication signals through a blue tooth communication module.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the transmitting the outputted image signals to user equipment comprises converting the outputted image signals into transfer protocols for network communications.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the transmitting the outputted image signals to the user equipment comprises backing up the image signals in order to preserve the image signals for a certain amount of time.

27. The method of claim 18, wherein the transmitting the outputted image signals to user equipment further comprises:

a step in which when a comparison of the previously captured image signals with currently captured signals shows that they are different from each other, the currently captured image signals and a message indicating the difference are transmitted to the user equipment; and

a step in which when a comparison of the previously captured image signals with currently captured signals shows that they are identical to each other, the currently captured image signals are not transmitted to the user equipment.

28. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

a step in which the user presets the patrol path by selecting and designating the patrol path.

29. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

a step in which the user can determine whether the robot cleaner captures images from the surroundings of the preset patrol path in real time or at certain time intervals while travelling the preset patrol path.