Trespass detecting system and method

• US 20060069463A1
• Filed: 08/30/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Sang-Yun
• Application Number:
  US11/213,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20060069463A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/04 Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0085 adapted for special purposes not related to cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves

Abstract

A trespass detecting system includes a motion detector installed at a specific area, detecting motion and generating a motion detect signal, and transmitting the generated motion detect signal A mobile robot photographs the specific area based on the motion detect signal and transmits the photographing image signal. A network connector transmits the motion detect signal and the image signal to a user terminal through an Internet network. A specific area of a house is monitored on a real time basis, and when a trespasser is detected in the specific area, the specific area is quickly photographed and the photographed image is transmitted to the user. Thus, an enhanced security function can be performed.

Claims

1. A trespass detecting system comprising:

a motion detector installed at a specific area, detecting motion and in response generating a motion detect signal, and transmitting the generated motion detect signal;

a mobile robot for photographing the specific area based on the motion detect signal and transmitting the photographed image signal; and

a network connector for transmitting the motion detect signal and the image signal to a user terminal through a network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile robot is a robot cleaner.

3. A trespass detecting system comprising:

a motion detector installed in an area, detecting motion and in response generating a motion detect signal, and transmitting the generated motion detect signal;

a mobile robot for photographing a specific area with a camera, the mobile robot photographing the specific area based on the motion detect signal, and transmitting an image signal of the photographed specific area; and

a network connector for transmitting the motion detect signal and the image signal to a mobile terminal of a user through a wireless network.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the mobile robot is a robot cleaner.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the motion detector comprises:

first and second infrared ray transceivers for detecting whether motion of a trespasser is present in the specific area;

a controller for generating the motion detect signal when motion of the trespasser is detected by the first and second infrared ray transceivers; and

a first wireless communicating unit for converting the motion detect signal output from the controller into a wireless communication signal and transmitting the converted wireless communication signal.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first infrared ray transceiver is installed at a position of the motion detector that corresponds to a height of the mobile robot and the second infrared ray transceiver is installed at a position higher than the position of the first infrared ray transceiver.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein if motion is detected by the second infrared ray transceiver or motion is detected simultaneously by the first and second infrared ray transceivers, the controller generates the motion detect signal.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the first wireless communicating unit comprises an RF signal generator for converting the motion detect signal into an RF motion detect signal and transmitting the converted RF motion detect signal.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the first wireless communicating unit comprises a wireless LAN communicating unit.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the first wireless communicating unit comprises a bluetooth communicating unit for converting the motion detect signal into a bluetooth communication signal and transmitting the converted bluetooth communication signal.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the robot cleaner is configured to be switched to a trespass detection mode by a user when the user.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein the mobile robot comprises:

a second wireless communicating unit for receiving the motion detect signal;

a controller that generates a control signal for photographing the specific area based on the motion detect signal; and

a camera for photographing the specific area based on the control signal and outputting an image signal of the photographed specific area,

wherein, the controller outputs the image signal to the second wireless communicating unit, and the second wireless communicating unit converts the image signal into a wireless communication signal and transmits the converted wireless communication signal to the network connector.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second wireless communicating unit comprises an RF communicating unit for receiving the motion detect signal transmitted from the motion detector, converting the image signal into an RF image signal, and transmitting the converted RF image signal to the network connector.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the second wireless communicating unit comprises a wireless LAN communicating unit for receiving the motion detect signal transmitted from the motion detector, converting the image signal into a wireless LAN communication signal and transmitting the converted wireless communication signal.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the second wireless communicating unit comprises a bluetooth communicating unit for receiving the motion detect signal transmitted from the motion detector, converting the image signal into a bluetooth communication signal and transmitting the converted bluetooth communication signal.

16. The system of claim 4, wherein the network connector is installed at a charging station that provides power to the robot cleaner and receives power from the charging station.

17. The system of claim 3, wherein the network connector comprises:

a third wireless communicating unit for receiving the motion detect signal and the image signal;

a CPU for converting the motion detect signal and the image signal into a transfer protocol for the wireless network, and transmitting the converted signals to the mobile terminal of the user through the wireless network; and

a memory for storing the image signal.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the third wireless communicating unit comprises an RF communicating unit.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the wireless communicating unit comprises a wireless LAN communicating unit.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the wireless communicating unit comprises a bluetooth communicating unit.

21. A trespass detecting system comprising:

a motion detector including infrared ray transceivers for detecting whether motion of a trespasser is present in a specific area, a controller for generating a motion detect signal when motion of the trespasser is detected by at least one of the infrared ray transceivers, and a first wireless communicating unit for converting the motion detect signal output from the controller into a wireless communication signal and transmitting the converted wireless communication signal;

a robot cleaner including a second wireless communicating unit for receiving the motion detect signal, a control mechanism for generating a control signal for photographing the specific area, and a camera for photographing the specific area based on the control signal and outputting an image signal of the photographed specific area; and

a network connecting unit including a third wireless communicating unit for receiving the motion detect signal and the image signal from the second wireless communicating unit, a CPU for converting the motion detect signal and the image signal received through the third wireless communicating unit into a transfer protocol for a wireless network and transmitting the converted image signals to a mobile terminal of a user through the wireless network, and a memory for storing the image signal received through the third wireless communicating unit,

wherein the control mechanism transmits the image signal output from the camera to the second wireless communicating unit and the second wireless communicating unit transmits the image signal output from the microcomputer to the network connecting unit through wireless communication.

22. The trespass detecting system of claim 21, in which the wireless network comprises a CDMA network.

23. The trespass detecting system of claim 21, in which the wireless network comprises a GSM network.

24. A trespass detecting method using a robot cleaner comprising:

switching a mode of the robot cleaner to a trespass detection mode;

detecting motion of a trespasser, who is trespassing in a specific area, through an infrared ray transmitter/receiver and, in response, generating a motion detect signal;

photographing the specific area with a camera of the robot cleaner based on the motion detect signal and outputting an image signal of the photographed specific area; and

transmitting the image signal to a mobile terminal of a user through a wireless network.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the motion detect signal and the image signal are converted into a transfer protocol of the wireless network.

26. A trespass detecting method for use with a mobile robot, comprising:

detecting motion of a trespasser in an area;

generating a motion detect signal in response to the detecting;

transmitting the motion detect signal to the mobile robot;

photographing the area with a camera of the mobile robot, based upon the motion detect signal;

outputting an image signal based upon the photographing; and

transmitting the image signal and the motion detect signal, via a CDMA network, to a terminal of a user.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising receiving instructions to switch a mode of the mobile robot to a trespass detection mode.

28. A trespass detecting mobile robot system comprising a mobile robot, the system comprising:

a receiver that receives a motion detect signal generated in response to detection of a trespasser in a monitored area;

a camera that photographs the monitored area in response to receiving the motion detect signal;

a signal generator that generates an image signal based upon the photographing; and

a CDMA transmitter that transmits the image signal to a user terminal via a CDMA network.

29. The mobile robot system of claim 28, in which the CDMA transmitter is within a network connector that receives the image signal from a mobile robot transmitter.

30. The mobile robot system of claim 29, in which the mobile robot transmitter further transmits the motion detect signal to the network connector, and in which the CDMA transmitter further transmits the motion detect signal to the user terminal via the CDMA network.

31. The mobile robot system of claim 28, in which the mobile robot comprises a robot cleaner.

32. A trespass detecting method for use with a mobile robot, comprising:

detecting motion of a trespasser in an area;

generating a motion detect signal in response to the detecting;

transmitting the motion detect signal to the mobile robot;

photographing the area with a camera of the mobile robot, based upon the motion detect signal;

outputting an image signal based upon the photographing; and

transmitting the image signal and the motion detect signal, via a GSM network, to a terminal of a user.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising receiving instructions to switch a mode of the mobile robot to a trespass detection mode.

34. A trespass detecting mobile robot system comprising a mobile robot, the system comprising:

a receiver that receives a motion detect signal generated in response to detection of a trespasser in a monitored area;

a camera that photographs the monitored area in response to receiving the motion detect signal;

a signal generator that generates an image signal based upon the photographing; and

a GSM transmitter that transmits the image signal to a user terminal via a GSM network.

35. The mobile robot system of claim 34, in which the GSM transmitter is within a network connector that receives the image signal from a mobile robot transmitter.

36. The mobile robot system of claim 35, in which the mobile robot transmitter further transmits the motion detect signal to the network connector, and in which the GSM transmitter further transmits the motion detect signal to the user terminal via the GSM network.

37. The mobile robot system of claim 34, in which the mobile robot comprises a robot cleaner.

38. A trespass detecting method for use with a mobile robot, comprising:

detecting motion of a trespasser in an area;

generating a motion detect signal in response to the detecting;

transmitting the motion detect signal to the mobile robot;

photographing the area with a camera of the mobile robot, based upon the motion detect signal;

outputting an image signal based upon the photographing; and

transmitting the image signal and the motion detect signal, via an wireless network, to a terminal of a user.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising receiving instructions to switch a mode of the mobile robot to a trespass detection mode.

40. The method of claim 38, in which the wireless network comprises a UMTS network.

41. The method of claim 38, in which the wireless network comprises a TDMA network.

42. The method of claim 38, in which the wireless network comprises a GPRS network.

43. The method of claim 38, in which the wireless network comprises an EDGE network.

44. The method of claim 38, in which the wireless network comprises a W-CDMA network.

45. The method of claim 38, in which the wireless network comprises a WiMax 802.16 network.

46. A trespass detecting mobile robot system comprising a mobile robot, the system comprising:

a receiver that receives a motion detect signal generated in response to detection of a trespasser in a monitored area;

a camera that photographs the monitored area in response to receiving the motion detect signal;

a signal generator that generates an image signal based upon the photographing; and

a wireless transmitter that transmits the image signal to a user terminal via a wireless network.

47. The mobile robot system of claim 46, in which the wireless transmitter is within a network connector that receives the image signal from a mobile robot transmitter.

48. The mobile robot system of claim 47, in which the mobile robot transmitter further transmits the motion detect signal to the network connector, and in which the wireless transmitter further transmits the motion detect signal to the user terminal via the wireless network.

49. The mobile robot system of claim 46, in which the mobile robot comprises a robot cleaner.

50. The mobile robot system of claim 46, in which the wireless network comprises a UMTS network.

51. The mobile robot system of claim 46, in which the wireless network comprises a TDMA network.

52. The mobile robot system of claim 46, in which the wireless network comprises a GPRS network.

53. The mobile robot system of claim 46, in which the wireless network comprises an EDGE network.

54. The mobile robot system of claim 46, in which the wireless network comprises a W-CDMA network.

55. The mobile robot system of claim 46, in which the wireless network comprises a WiMax 802.16 network.

56. The mobile robot system of claim 46, in which the wireless network comprises a CDMA2000 network.