Method and apparatus for subject physical position and security determination

• US 7,106,885 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mary ANN Winter And Associates, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Carecord Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Winsor, Niels K., Osterweil, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Jingge
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, CHONG R
• Application Number:
  US09/946,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20020044682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 382/103, 382/154, 382/291, 382/104, 382/106, 340/573.1, 340/573.7, 340/573.2, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 340/573.5, 340/573.6, 348/135, 348/136, 348/139, 348/143, 348/152, 348/153, 348/154, 348/155, 348/159
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/50 Depth or shape recovery
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/55 from multiple images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/593 from stereo images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/043 detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0476 Cameras to detect unsafe condition, e.g. video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/158 Switching image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/207 using a single 2D image sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors

Abstract

Method and apparatus for analyzing an orientation of a subject. An image of an area that includes a subject to be monitored is captured, so that a model can be produced. A consistency test is then performed on the produced model to determine predetermined features of the subject. In response to a predetermined result of the consistency test, an undesired orientation of the subject is indicated.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring an orientation of a subject in a predetermined volume, comprising:

an image capture device that captures an image of the predetermined volume;

a processing device that processes said captured image of the predetermined volume to produce a three-dimensional model that is analyzed for indications that a predetermined feature of the subject in the three-dimensional model of the predetermined volume is within a certain range of dimensional limits corresponding to a fallen subject; and

a notification device that provides a notification when the processing device determines that said predetermined feature of the subject represents the fallen subject.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an audio capture device that captures sounds emitted by the subject.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said processing device additionally analyzes said emitted sounds to derive cues pertaining to a position of the subject.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said processing device derives said cues from at least one of a voice recognition of said emitted sounds and a voice stress analysis of said emitted sounds.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said predetermined feature of the subject comprises at least one of a face and a waist.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said notification device and said processing device are located in different locations.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processing device analyzes past movements of the subject in said predetermined volume to anticipate a fallen condition of the subject.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said image capture device comprises a stereoscopic sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said image capture device comprises a plurality of sensors.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a visual display device that provides a visual image of the subject when said notification device provides said notification that said predetermined feature of the subject represents the fallen subject.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the notification device and said visual display device additionally provides supplemental information related to the fallen subject.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said notification device provides an intruder notification when said processing device determines that a non-authorized subject has entered said predetermined volume.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pattern generator that irradiates at least a substantially featureless portion of the predetermined volume with a distinctive marking that assists said processing device in determining a three-dimensional position of the subject in said three-dimensional model.

14. A method for monitoring an orientation of an subject in a predetermined volume, comprising:

capturing an image of the predetermined volume;

processing the captured image of the predetermined volume to produce a three-dimensional model that is analyzed for indications that a predetermined feature of the subject in the three-dimensional model of the predetermined volume is within a certain range of dimensional limits corresponding to a fallen subject; and

providing a notification when the predetermined feature of the subject is determined to correspond to the fallen subject.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising capturing sounds emitted by the subject.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising analyzing the emitted sounds to derive cues pertaining to the position of the subject.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein analyzing the emitted sounds comprises deriving the cues from at least one of a voice recognition of the emitted sounds and a voice stress analysis of the emitted sounds.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined feature comprises at least one of a face and a waist of the subject.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising analyzing past movements of the subject in the volume to anticipate a fallen condition of the subject.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein capturing an image comprises using a stereoscopic sensor to capture an image of the predetermined volume.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein capturing an image comprises using a plurality of sensors to capture an image of the predetermined volume.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a visual image of the subject when the subject is determined to be substantially horizontal.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing supplemental information related to the subject.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a notification when a non-authorized subject is determined to have entered the predetermined volume.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein providing a notification comprises providing a verbal notification.

26. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

enabling a verbal communication with the subject when the notification has been provided; and

enabling the subject to respond to the verbal communication.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein enabling the subject to respond to the verbal communication allows the subject to modify the notification.

28. The method of claim 14, further comprising irradiating at least a substantially featureless portion of the predetermined volume with a distinctive marking that assists in the analysis of indications that the subject is within the certain range of dimensional limits corresponding to the fallen subject by determining a three-dimensional position of the subject in the three-dimensional model.