Site monitoring systems and methods

• US 8,253,786 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: She, Ta-Lun
• Primary Examiner(s): SERRAO, RANODHI N
• Application Number:
  US12/570,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20100271469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 348/77, 348/78, 340/575, 382/115
• 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 computer connected with an electronic device applicable for a sleeping baby in a crib sets a first threshold value and sets a second threshold value. The computer receives an acceleration value of the motion of the crib from the electronic device and activates the electronic device to capture an image if the acceleration value exceeds the first threshold value. The computer 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 computer 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 computer in communication with an electronic device positioned in a crib, the electronic device comprising a camera, an acceleration sensor, and a processor, the computer comprising:

a setup module setting 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 receiving an acceleration value of the motion of the crib from the acceleration sensor;

a switch module sending 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 defining a face zone of a captured image from the camera and to locate an eye area in the face zone;

an analysis module calculating 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;

a command module instructing the electronic device to dial a predefined warning number automatically upon determining the baby is awake; and

at least one processor that executes the setup module, the receiving module, the switch module, the recognition module, the analysis module, and the command module.

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

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

4. The computer 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 computer 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 computer 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 being executed by a processor of a computer for site monitoring, the computer connected with an 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 a baby in the crib 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, by said processor, 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 non-transitory 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 a crib and setting a second threshold value to determine whether a baby in the crib is awake;

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

instruct a camera of an electronic device 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.