SITE MONITORING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20100271469A1
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Foxconn Communication Technology Corp. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: SHE, TA-LUN
• Granted Patent: US 8,253,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/77
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/49 Segmenting video sequences, i.e. computational techniques such as parsing or cutting the sequence, low-level clustering or determining units such as shots or scenes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A site monitoring system and a method connected with a electronic device applicable for a sleeping baby in a crib are disclosed. The electronic device includes a camera, an acceleration sensor, and a processor. The system sets a first threshold value to detect a motion of the crib and sets a second threshold value to determine whether the baby is awake. The system receives an acceleration value of the motion of the crib from the acceleration sensor and activates the camera to capture an image if the acceleration value exceeds the first threshold value. The system detects a face zone of a captured image and locates an eye area in the face zone then calculating a ratio of height and width of the eye area and compares the ratio to the second threshold value. The system instructs the electronic device to dial a predefined warning number automatically if the ratio of height and width of the eye area exceeds the second threshold value.

Claims

1. A site monitoring system in communication with a electronic device positioned in a crib, the electronic device comprising a camera, an acceleration sensor, and a processor, the system comprising:

a setup module operable to set a first threshold value to detect motion of the crib and a second threshold value to determine whether the baby is awake;

a receiving module operable to receive an acceleration value of the motion of the crib from the acceleration sensor;

a switch module operable to send a switch instruction to instruct the camera to capture an image of the baby if the acceleration value received from the acceleration sensor exceeds the first threshold value;

a recognition module operable to define a face zone of a captured image from the camera and to locate an eye area in the face zone;

an analysis module operable to calculate a ratio of height and width of the eye area, compare the ratio to the second threshold value, and determine the baby is awake if the ratio of height and width of the eye area exceeds the second threshold value; and

a command module operable to instruct the electronic device to dial a predefined warning number automatically upon determining the baby is awake.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setup module sets a sensitivity level of the acceleration sensor.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the acceleration sensor is a G-sensor.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recognition module defines the face zone according to a skin-color algorithm, a Sobel algorithm and a Snake algorithm.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the command module sends at least one communication instruction to the electronic device to dial the predefined warning phone number automatically if the recognition module is unable to define the face zone of the captured image.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the analysis module determines the baby is asleep if the calculated ratio is smaller than the second threshold value.

7. A computer-implemented method for site monitoring, applicable for a computer and the computer connected with a electronic device installed in a crib, the electronic device comprising a camera, an acceleration sensor, and a processor, the method comprising:

setting a first threshold value to detect a motion of the crib and setting a second threshold value to determine whether the baby is awake;

receiving an acceleration value of the motion of the crib from the acceleration sensor;

instructing the camera to capture an image of the baby if the received acceleration value exceeds the first threshold value;

receiving a captured image of the baby from the camera of the electronic device;

detecting a face zone of the captured image and locating an eye area in the face zone;

calculating a ratio of the height and width of the eye area, comparing the ratio to the second threshold value, and determining the baby is awake if the ratio of height and width of the eye area exceeds the second threshold value; and

instructing the electronic device to dial a predefined warning number automatically upon determining the baby is awake.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

setting a sensitivity level of the acceleration sensor.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step of detecting the face zone of the captured image and locating the eye area in the face zone is executed according to a skin-color algorithm, a Sobel algorithm and a Snake algorithm.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

instructing the electronic device to dial a predefined warning phone number automatically if the analysis module is unable to detect the face zone of the captured image.

11. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:

determining the baby is asleep if the calculated ratio is smaller than the second threshold value.

12. A storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for site monitoring, the method comprising:

set a first threshold value to detect a motion of the crib and setting a second threshold value to determine whether the baby is awake;

receive an acceleration value of the motion of the crib from the acceleration sensor;

instruct the camera to capture an image of the baby if the received acceleration value exceeds the first threshold value;

receive a captured image of the baby from the camera of the electronic device;

detect a face zone of the captured image and locating an eye area in the face zone;

calculate a ratio of the height and width of the eye area, comparing the ratio to the second threshold value, and determining the baby is awake if the ratio of height and width of the eye area exceeds the second threshold value; and

instruct the electronic device to dial a predefined warning number automatically upon determining the baby is awake.

13. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprising:

set a sensitivity level of the acceleration sensor.

14. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the step of detect the face zone of the captured image and locate the eye area in the face zone is executed according to a skin-color algorithm, a Sobel algorithm and a Snake algorithm.

15. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprising:

instruct the electronic device to dial a predefined warning phone number automatically if the analysis module is unable to detect the face zone of the captured image.

16. The storage medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprising:

determine the baby is asleep if the calculated ratio is smaller than the second threshold value.