CA2423510A1 - Monitoring apparatus and monitoring program - Google Patents
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- CA2423510A1 CA2423510A1 CA002423510A CA2423510A CA2423510A1 CA 2423510 A1 CA2423510 A1 CA 2423510A1 CA 002423510 A CA002423510 A CA 002423510A CA 2423510 A CA2423510 A CA 2423510A CA 2423510 A1 CA2423510 A1 CA 2423510A1
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Abstract
To provide a monitoring apparatus and monitoring program capable of transmitting monitored contents to a monitoring person more rapidly. The monitoring apparatus comprises a CCD camera 2, a detector 3, a notification destination database 11 for storing an e-mail address of a mobile phone 7 of a monitoring person in advance therein, a monitored information database 12 for storing monitored information on the basis of a detection result of the detector 3 therein, an image database 13 for storing images captured by the CCD camera 2 therein, a monitored information recording means 14 for recording the monitored information on the basis of the detection result of the detector 3 in the monitored information database 12, an image recording means 15 for recording the images captured by the CCD camera 2 in the image database 13, a notifying means 16 for transmitting an e-mail containing the monitored information on the basis of the detection result of the detector 3 and an identifier for accessing an image in the image database 13 to the e-mail address in the notification destination database 11 via the Internet, and an information providing means 17 for providing the image in the image database 13 in response to a request on the basis of the identifier from the mobile phone 7.
Description
MONITORING APPARATUS AND MONITORING PROGRAM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a monitoring apparatus and a monitoring program using a communication network.
Conventionally, monitoring systems have been provided for homes, buildings, and apartments by security companies. In the conventional types of monitoring systems, various sensors and operating panels provided in homes or t o the like are connected to a monitoring center via a communication network.
With such systems, when a sensor operates, abnormality is automatically notified to the monitoring center, so that damage by illegal intruders or the like can be prevented by rapid and appropriate measures by the security company.
Further, in recent years, a system has been proposed in which a monitored image by a monitoring camera provided in a home or the like can be checked by a remote personal computer, a mobile phone, or the like via the Internet.
For example, in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No.
2002-16521 l, a security monitoring system is disclosed in which a security sensor monitors for any abnormality and, when the sensor operates, an image captured by a monitoring camera is stored in a database. Furthermore, in this security monitoring system, when a portable terminal is called via the Internet or the like and a response is made, a user authentication is performed so that the captured image or the like is distributed if the user is verified.
Further, in "Internet camera @Bell Shop Corporation", (online), Bell Shop Corporation, 2001 (searched on 28 August, 2002), Internet <URL:
http://www.bellshop-web.co.jp/cyber/index/html>, a monitoring system is disclosed in which various sensors or cameras are connected to a terminal so that remote monitoring can be accomplished via the Internet. With this monitoring system, an image captured by the camera is first transmitted from the terminal to a server at the monitoring center via the Internet and notified to a mobile phone or the like of a monitoring person by e-mail via the server, and the monitoring person views the monitored image by accessing the server.
In the security system disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-165211, the procedures such as calling, responding, user authentication and distributing have to be followed when distributing the captured image to the monitoring person, requiring time for the monitoring person to view the image.
Further, in the monitoring system disclosed in "Internet camera @Bell Shop Corporation", the images of the cameras for a plurality of monitoring persons are subject to central control in the server at the monitoring center and each monitoring person accesses the server to view the image from each camera, t 5 which requires some time when demands on the server are excessive.
It is important for a monitoring system to transmit monitored contents to a monitoring person more rapidly, but usually an inordinate amount of time is required with the conventional monitoring systems described above.
2o SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a monitoring apparatus and monitoring program capable of transmitting monitored contents to a monitoring person more rapidly.
25 A monitoring apparatus according to the present invention comprises a detector and an imaging device, a notification destination database for storing an e-mail address of a portable terminal of a monitoring person in advance therein, an image database for storing images captured by the imaging device therein, an image recording means for recording the images captured by the imaging device in the image database, a notifying means for transmitting an e-mail containing monitored information on the basis of a detection result of the detector and an identifier for accessing an image in the image database to the e-mail address in the notification destination database via a communication network, and an information providing means for providing the image in the image database in response to a request on the basis of the identifier from the portable terminal.
According to the monitoring apparatus of the present invention, when an t0 abnormality occurs, the e-mail containing the monitored information on the basis of the detection results of the detector and the identifier for accessing the image captured by the imaging device and recorded in the image database is transmitted to the e-mail address of the portable terminal of the monitoring person stored in the notification destination database in advance via the communication network.
~ 5 Thus, the monitoring person can directly know the contents of the abnormality that occurred in the monitored place through the monitored information contained in the e-mail received by the portable terminal. Further, the monitoring person requests the image captured by the imaging device in the monitoring apparatus on the basis of the identifier contained in the e-mail received by this portable 2o terminal, so that the monitoring person can directly receive the image in the image database provided in the monitoring apparatus and view it on the portable terminal.
Another monitoring apparatus according to the present invention comprises a detector and an imaging device, a notification destination database for 25 storing an e-mail address of a portable terminal of a monitoring person in advance therein, an image database for storing images captured by the imaging device therein, an image recording means for recording the images captured by the imaging device in the image database, and a notifying means for transmitting an e-mail containing monitored information on the basis of a detection result of the detector and an image in the image database to the e-mail address in the notification destination database via a communication network.
According to this monitoring apparatus, when an abnormality occurs, the e-mail containing the monitored information on the basis of the detection results of the detector and the image captured by the imaging device and recorded in the image database is transmitted to the e-mail address of the portable terminal of the monitoring person stored in the notification destination database in advance via 1 o the communication network. Thus, the monitoring person can directly know the contents of the abnormality that occurred in the monitored place by the monitored information and image contained in the e-mail received by the portable terminal.
Preferably, the monitoring apparatus according to the present invention further comprises a monitored information database for storing monitored information on the basis of the detection result of the detector, and a monitored information recording means for recording monitored information on the basis of the detection result of the detector in the monitored information database.
Thus, the monitored information on the basis of the detection result of the detector is sequentially recorded in the monitored information database, so that it is possible 2o to refer to the monitored information stored in the monitored information database later.
Preferably, the monitoring apparatus according to the present invention further comprises a plurality of the detectors, wherein the notifying means transmits the monitored information after complex analysis of respective detection results of the plurality of detectors. Thus, even when one of the detectors erroneously detects the abnormality, the monitored information is not transmitted to the monitoring person's portable terminal as far as other detectors do not detect the abnormality and it is not determined after complex analysis of the respective detection results of a plurality of detectors that any abnormality truly occurred.
Preferably, the image recording means stores the images captured by the imaging device in the image database with operation of the detector as a trigger.
s Thus, the captured image synchronized with the operation of the detector can be obtained. When the detector is provided in a doorbell, it is possible to obtain an image of a visitor when the doorbell is activated or goes into operation.
A monitoring program according to the present invention is directed for causing a computer to which a detector and an imaging device are connected to 1o function as a notification destination database for storing an e-mail address of a portable terminal of a monitoring person in advance therein,. an image database for storing images captured by the imaging device therein, an image recording means for recording images captured by the imaging device in the image database, a notifying means for transmitting an e-mail containing monitored information on is the basis of a detection result of the detector and an identifier for accessing an image in the image database to the e-mail address in the notification destination database via a communication network, and an information providing means for providing the image in the image database in response to a request on the basis of the identifier from the portable terminal.
20 Another monitoring program according to the present invention is directed for causing a computer to which a detector and an imaging device are connected to function as a notification destination database for storing an e-mail address of a portable terminal of a monitoring person in advance therein, an image database for storing images captured by the imaging device therein, an image recording 2s means for recording images captured by the imaging device in the image database, and a notifying means for transmitting an e-mail containing monitored information on the basis of a detection result of the detector and an image in the image database to the e-mail address in the notification destination database via a conununication network.
The above monitoring program is executed on the computer to which the detectors and the imaging device are connected, so that the computer can function similarly to the above monitoring apparatus according to the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a monitoring system according t 0 to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a personal computer which functions as a monitoring apparatus;
Fig. 3 is a diagram showing appearances of a remote control of monitoring operation by a monitoring person's mobile phone;
Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of notification of a fire alarm operation as monitored information;
Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of notification of a glass alarm operation as monitored information;
Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of notification of an electronic lock release at an entrance as monitored information; and Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of notification of pushing of a doorbell of a door phone as monitored information.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
G
In Fig. 1, the monitoring system according to the present embodiment comprises a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as "PC") 1 which is installed inside a building to be monitored and functions as a monitoring apparatus by execution of a monitoring program, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera 2 as an imaging device, detectors 3 which detect various statuses, such as a door phone 3a, a gas sensor 3b, a heat sensor 3c, a smoke sensor 3d and a door/window sensor 3e, a modem device 4, and a telephone 5.
The CCD camera 2, the various detectors 3 (the door phone 3a, the gas sensor 3b, the heat sensor 3c, the smoke sensor 3d, the door/window sensor 3e, 1 o and the like), the modem device 4, and the telephone 5 are connected to the PC 1.
The PC 1 is connected to an Internet 6 as a communication network via the modem device 4. Further, the monitoring system according to the present embodiment utilizes a mobile phone 7, a hand-held computer (hereinafter, referred to as "HC") 8, or the like as a portable terminal held by a monitoring I S person.
The door phone 3a comprises a doorbell, a microphone, a speaker, and the like to detect pushing of the doorbell. The door phone 3a may incorporate the CCD camera 2 therein. The gas sensor 3b is directed for detecting gas leakage.
The heat sensor 3c is directed for detecting heat generation due to fire or the like.
2o The smoke sensor 3d is directed for detecting generation of smoke due to fire or the like. The door/window sensor 3e is directed for detecting opening/closing, vibration, breaking, and the like of doors and windows.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the PC 1 functioning as a monitoring apparatus.
25 As shown in Fig. 2, the PC 1 comprises various databases (hereinafter, referred to as "DB") including a notification destination DB 11, a monitored information DB 12, and an image DB 13, a monitored information recording means 14, an image recording means 15, a notifying means 16, and an information providing means 17.
The notification destination DB 11 stores an e-mail address of the monitoring person's mobile phone 7 in advance as a notification destination to s which detection results and the like by the various detectors 3 are notified. The e-mail address registered in the notification destination DB 11 can be arbitrarily set by the monitoring person through the PC 1. In addition, an e-mail address of the HC 8 can be registered other than the e-mail address of the mobile phone ?
as an e-mail address of the notification destination.
to The monitored information DB 12 stores monitored information on the basis of the detection results by the respective detectors 3 therein. The monitored information includes a monitoring result analyzed on the basis of the detection result by each detector 3 in addition to the detection result itself of each detector 3. The image DB 13 stores images captured by 'the CCD camera 2 t 5 therein.
The monitored information recording means 14 is a means for sequentially recording the monitored information on the basis of the detection results of the respective detectors 3 in the monitored information DB 12. The image recording means 15 is a means for sequentially recording the images captured by the CCD
2o camera 2 in the image DB 13. The image recording means 15 has a function of storing the images captured by the CCD camera 2 in the image DB 13 with operation of the detector 3 as a trigger, such as detection of pushing of the doorbell by the door phone 3a.
The notifying means 16 is a means for transmitting m e-mail containing 2s the monitored information on the basis of the detection result of each of the above detectors 3 and URL (Uniform Resource Locator) as an identifier for accessing the image in the image DB 13 or the image information itself in the image DB
to the e-mail address registered in the notification destination DB 11 via the Internet 6.
Furthermore, the notifying means 16 has a function of transmitting the monitored information only when it is determined after complex analysis of the respective detection results of a plurality of the detectors 3 that an abnormality truly occurred. Here, the URL for accessing the image in the image DB 13 is directed for performing an information providing request from the mobile phone to the information providing means 17 described below.
The information providing means 17 is directed for providing the image in to the image DB 13 in response to the information providing request on the basis of the URL from the mobile phone 7. Further, the information providing means 17 has a function of providing not only the image in the image DB 13 but also details of the monitored information stored in the monitored information DB 12 in response to the request from the mobile phone 7.
Next, an example of monitoring by the monitoring system having the above configuration will be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 7.
When monitoring by the monitoring system according to the present embodiment is performed, at first, a monitoring program is executed on the PC
to initiate monitoring operation. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 3, it is possible 2o to remotely control ON/OFF of the operations of the respective detectors 3 by connecting to the PC 1 via the Internet 6 and the modem device 4 by the monitoring person's mobile phone 7.
During monitoring by the monitoring apparatus, the CCD camera 2 is capturing images at a predetermined timing at any time, and the image recording means 15 is sequentially recording the images captured by the CCD camera 2 in the image DB 13. Alternatively, the image recording means 15 may be configured to store the images captured by the CCD camera 2 in the image DB 13 with the detection operation of each of the detectors 3 as a trigger.
When each of the detectors 3 detects an abnormality, the monitored information recording means 14 records the monitored information on the basis of the detection result by the detectors 3 in the monitored information DB 12.
Then, s the notifying means 16 transmits an e-mail containing the monitored information in the monitored information DB 12 and the URL for accessing the image in the image DB 13 to the e-mail address of the mobile phone 7 registered in the notification destination DB 11 via the Internet 6.
Fig. 4 shows an example of notification of a fire alarm operation as the 1 o monitored information. When a temperature not less than the temperature which is determined as fire is detected by the heat sensor 3c, the e-mail in Fig. 4 is transmitted to the mobile phone 7 by the notifying means 16. A detection result by the heat sensor 3c and a telephone number 21 to contact a fire station, security company, or the like as a suggested response thereto are described in this e-mail.
15 Further, a link button 22 attached on the URL for accessing the image captured by the CCD camera 2 and stored in the image DB 13 is embedded in this e-mail. When this link button 22 is designated by the mobile phone 7, an information providing request on the basis of the URL of the link button 22 is made from the mobile phone 7 to the PC 1. The PC 1 performs processing by 2o the information providing means 17 on the basis of this request.
In response to the information providing request on the basis of the URL
from the mobile phone 7, the information providing means 1 ~~ provides the image in the image DB 13 and a Web page (not shown) indicating details of the monitored information stored in the monitored information I)B 12 to the mobile 25 phone 7. The latest image captured by the CCD camera 2 and stored in the image DB 13 is displayed on the web page.
Fig. 5 shows an example of notification of a glass alarm operation as the monitored information. The e-mail in Fig. S is transmitted to the mobile phone by the notifying means 16 when breaking of a window is detected by the door/window sensor 3e and an intruder is detected by an infrared sensor as the detector 3. A detection result by the door/window sensor 3e and a contact telephone number 31 for a police station, the family, or the like as a suggested response thereto are described in this e-mail.
Further, a link button 32 attached on the URL for accessing the image captured by the CCD camera 2 and stored in the image DB 13 is embedded in this e-mail. When the link button 32 is designated by the mobile phone 7, an l0 information providing request on the basis of the URL of the link button 32 is made from the mobile phone 7 to the PC 1. The PC 1 performs processing by the information providing means 17 on the basis of this request.
In response to the information providing request on the basis of the URL
from the mobile phone 7, the information providing means 17 provides the image in the image DB 13 and a Web page 33 indicating details of the monitored information stored in the monitored information DB 12 to the mobile phone 7.
The latest image (not shown) captured by the CCD camera 2 and stored in the image DB 13 is displayed in the Web page 33.
As shown in Fig. 5, the detection results by a plurality of the detectors 3 2o (the door/window sensor 3e, the infrared sensor) are displayed in the Web page 33.
In the example in Fig. 5, the notifying means 16 transmits the monitored information to the mobile phone 7 after complex analy:>is of the respective detection results of a plurality of the detectors 3. In this manner, in the present system, even when one of the detectors 3 erroneously detecta an abnormality, the monitored information is not transmitted to the monitoring person's mobile phone 7 as far as other detectors do not detect the abnormality and it is not determined that the abnormality truly occurred as a result of complex analysis of the respective detection results of a plurality of the detectors 3, so that erroneous information can be prevented from being transmitted to the mobile phone 7.
Fig. 6 shows an example of notification of an electronic lock release at an entrance as the monitored information. The e-mail in Fig. 6 is transmitted to the mobile phone 7 by the notifying means 16 when the electronic lock release at the entrance is detected by an electronic lock sensor as the detector 3. A
detection result by the electronic lock sensor is described in the e-mail.
Further, a link button 41 attached on the URL for accessing the image captured by the CCD camera 2 and stored in the image DB 13 is embedded in this 1o e-mail. When the link button 41 is designated by the mobile phone 7, an information providing request on the basis of the URL of the link button 41 is made from the mobile phone 7 to the PC 1. The PC 1 performs processing by the information providing means 17 on the basis of this request. The processing by the information providing means 17 is performed as described above.
t s Fig. 7 shows an example of notification of pushing of the doorbell of the door phone 3a as the monitored information. The monitored information recording means 14 stores the image captured by the CCD camera 2 in the image DB 13 with the detection of pushing of the doorbell of the door phone 3a as a trigger. At this time, the notifying means 16 transmits an e-mail containing the 2o monitored information indicating that the doorbell of the door phone 3a has been pushed and the URL for accessing the image stored in the image DB 13 to the mobile phone 7. When the first e-mail is transmitted to the mobile phone 7 by the notifying means 16, the image itself in the image DB 1.3 may be attached to the e-mail instead of transmitting the e-mail containing the I:JRL for accessing the 25 image stored in the image DB 13.
In response to an information providing request on the basis of the URL
contained in the e-mail, the information providing means 17 provides the image in the image DB 13 and a Web page 51 indicating details of the monitored information stored in the monitored information DB 12 to the mobile phone 7.
A latest image 52 captured by the CCD camera 2 and stored in the image DB 13 is displayed in the Web page 51.
Furthermore, in the monitoring system according to the present embodiment, it is possible to respond to the pushing of the doorbell of the door phone 3a by the mobile phone 7 (refer to Figs. 7(a) and 7(b)). When responding by the mobile phone 7, the mobile phone 7 and the telephone S are connected.
The telephone S is connected to the PC 1 to be connected to the microphone and to the speaker of the door phone 3a via the PC 1, so that a call can be made between the mobile phone 7 and the door phone 3a.
Here, when the monitoring person wants to check the past visitors by the mobile phone 7 (refer to Fig. 7(c)), an information request is made from the mobile phone 7 to the PC 1. The information providing means 7 in the PC 1 refers to the monitored information DB 12 and the image DB 13 on the basis of the request from the mobile phone 7 and provides the monitored information and the image at the time the doorbell of the door phone 3a was pushed to the mobile phone 7.
As described above, the monitoring person can directly know the contents of the abnormality occurred in the monitored place by the monitored information contained in the e-mail received by the mobile phone 7. Additionally, the monitoring person requests the image captured by the CCI) camera 2 into the PC
1 on the basis of the link button 22 attached on the URL contained in the e-mail received by the mobile phone 7, so that the monitoring person can directly receive the image in the image DB 13 provided in the PC 1 and view it on the mobile phone 7.
Therefore, in the monitoring system according to the present embodiment, when an image is captured for the monitoring person, the monitored information, the image, or the like is directly transmitted from the PC 1 to the monitoring person's mobile phone 7 without following the processes of calling, responding, user authenticating, and distributing that are required in the conventional systems, s so that the monitoring person can obtain the information in a short time.
Furthermore, the images by the cameras of a plurality of monitoring persons are no longer subjected to central control in the server of the monitoring center, but the images by the CCD camera 2 and the respective sensors 3 are controlled by the individual PC 1 of each monitoring person and the information is transmitted 1o from the PC I to the monitoring person's mobile phone 7. Accordingly, time loss for information acquisition due to excessive accesses does not occur.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only 15 by the appended claims.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a monitoring apparatus and a monitoring program using a communication network.
Conventionally, monitoring systems have been provided for homes, buildings, and apartments by security companies. In the conventional types of monitoring systems, various sensors and operating panels provided in homes or t o the like are connected to a monitoring center via a communication network.
With such systems, when a sensor operates, abnormality is automatically notified to the monitoring center, so that damage by illegal intruders or the like can be prevented by rapid and appropriate measures by the security company.
Further, in recent years, a system has been proposed in which a monitored image by a monitoring camera provided in a home or the like can be checked by a remote personal computer, a mobile phone, or the like via the Internet.
For example, in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No.
2002-16521 l, a security monitoring system is disclosed in which a security sensor monitors for any abnormality and, when the sensor operates, an image captured by a monitoring camera is stored in a database. Furthermore, in this security monitoring system, when a portable terminal is called via the Internet or the like and a response is made, a user authentication is performed so that the captured image or the like is distributed if the user is verified.
Further, in "Internet camera @Bell Shop Corporation", (online), Bell Shop Corporation, 2001 (searched on 28 August, 2002), Internet <URL:
http://www.bellshop-web.co.jp/cyber/index/html>, a monitoring system is disclosed in which various sensors or cameras are connected to a terminal so that remote monitoring can be accomplished via the Internet. With this monitoring system, an image captured by the camera is first transmitted from the terminal to a server at the monitoring center via the Internet and notified to a mobile phone or the like of a monitoring person by e-mail via the server, and the monitoring person views the monitored image by accessing the server.
In the security system disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-165211, the procedures such as calling, responding, user authentication and distributing have to be followed when distributing the captured image to the monitoring person, requiring time for the monitoring person to view the image.
Further, in the monitoring system disclosed in "Internet camera @Bell Shop Corporation", the images of the cameras for a plurality of monitoring persons are subject to central control in the server at the monitoring center and each monitoring person accesses the server to view the image from each camera, t 5 which requires some time when demands on the server are excessive.
It is important for a monitoring system to transmit monitored contents to a monitoring person more rapidly, but usually an inordinate amount of time is required with the conventional monitoring systems described above.
2o SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a monitoring apparatus and monitoring program capable of transmitting monitored contents to a monitoring person more rapidly.
25 A monitoring apparatus according to the present invention comprises a detector and an imaging device, a notification destination database for storing an e-mail address of a portable terminal of a monitoring person in advance therein, an image database for storing images captured by the imaging device therein, an image recording means for recording the images captured by the imaging device in the image database, a notifying means for transmitting an e-mail containing monitored information on the basis of a detection result of the detector and an identifier for accessing an image in the image database to the e-mail address in the notification destination database via a communication network, and an information providing means for providing the image in the image database in response to a request on the basis of the identifier from the portable terminal.
According to the monitoring apparatus of the present invention, when an t0 abnormality occurs, the e-mail containing the monitored information on the basis of the detection results of the detector and the identifier for accessing the image captured by the imaging device and recorded in the image database is transmitted to the e-mail address of the portable terminal of the monitoring person stored in the notification destination database in advance via the communication network.
~ 5 Thus, the monitoring person can directly know the contents of the abnormality that occurred in the monitored place through the monitored information contained in the e-mail received by the portable terminal. Further, the monitoring person requests the image captured by the imaging device in the monitoring apparatus on the basis of the identifier contained in the e-mail received by this portable 2o terminal, so that the monitoring person can directly receive the image in the image database provided in the monitoring apparatus and view it on the portable terminal.
Another monitoring apparatus according to the present invention comprises a detector and an imaging device, a notification destination database for 25 storing an e-mail address of a portable terminal of a monitoring person in advance therein, an image database for storing images captured by the imaging device therein, an image recording means for recording the images captured by the imaging device in the image database, and a notifying means for transmitting an e-mail containing monitored information on the basis of a detection result of the detector and an image in the image database to the e-mail address in the notification destination database via a communication network.
According to this monitoring apparatus, when an abnormality occurs, the e-mail containing the monitored information on the basis of the detection results of the detector and the image captured by the imaging device and recorded in the image database is transmitted to the e-mail address of the portable terminal of the monitoring person stored in the notification destination database in advance via 1 o the communication network. Thus, the monitoring person can directly know the contents of the abnormality that occurred in the monitored place by the monitored information and image contained in the e-mail received by the portable terminal.
Preferably, the monitoring apparatus according to the present invention further comprises a monitored information database for storing monitored information on the basis of the detection result of the detector, and a monitored information recording means for recording monitored information on the basis of the detection result of the detector in the monitored information database.
Thus, the monitored information on the basis of the detection result of the detector is sequentially recorded in the monitored information database, so that it is possible 2o to refer to the monitored information stored in the monitored information database later.
Preferably, the monitoring apparatus according to the present invention further comprises a plurality of the detectors, wherein the notifying means transmits the monitored information after complex analysis of respective detection results of the plurality of detectors. Thus, even when one of the detectors erroneously detects the abnormality, the monitored information is not transmitted to the monitoring person's portable terminal as far as other detectors do not detect the abnormality and it is not determined after complex analysis of the respective detection results of a plurality of detectors that any abnormality truly occurred.
Preferably, the image recording means stores the images captured by the imaging device in the image database with operation of the detector as a trigger.
s Thus, the captured image synchronized with the operation of the detector can be obtained. When the detector is provided in a doorbell, it is possible to obtain an image of a visitor when the doorbell is activated or goes into operation.
A monitoring program according to the present invention is directed for causing a computer to which a detector and an imaging device are connected to 1o function as a notification destination database for storing an e-mail address of a portable terminal of a monitoring person in advance therein,. an image database for storing images captured by the imaging device therein, an image recording means for recording images captured by the imaging device in the image database, a notifying means for transmitting an e-mail containing monitored information on is the basis of a detection result of the detector and an identifier for accessing an image in the image database to the e-mail address in the notification destination database via a communication network, and an information providing means for providing the image in the image database in response to a request on the basis of the identifier from the portable terminal.
20 Another monitoring program according to the present invention is directed for causing a computer to which a detector and an imaging device are connected to function as a notification destination database for storing an e-mail address of a portable terminal of a monitoring person in advance therein, an image database for storing images captured by the imaging device therein, an image recording 2s means for recording images captured by the imaging device in the image database, and a notifying means for transmitting an e-mail containing monitored information on the basis of a detection result of the detector and an image in the image database to the e-mail address in the notification destination database via a conununication network.
The above monitoring program is executed on the computer to which the detectors and the imaging device are connected, so that the computer can function similarly to the above monitoring apparatus according to the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a monitoring system according t 0 to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a personal computer which functions as a monitoring apparatus;
Fig. 3 is a diagram showing appearances of a remote control of monitoring operation by a monitoring person's mobile phone;
Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of notification of a fire alarm operation as monitored information;
Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of notification of a glass alarm operation as monitored information;
Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of notification of an electronic lock release at an entrance as monitored information; and Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of notification of pushing of a doorbell of a door phone as monitored information.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
G
In Fig. 1, the monitoring system according to the present embodiment comprises a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as "PC") 1 which is installed inside a building to be monitored and functions as a monitoring apparatus by execution of a monitoring program, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) camera 2 as an imaging device, detectors 3 which detect various statuses, such as a door phone 3a, a gas sensor 3b, a heat sensor 3c, a smoke sensor 3d and a door/window sensor 3e, a modem device 4, and a telephone 5.
The CCD camera 2, the various detectors 3 (the door phone 3a, the gas sensor 3b, the heat sensor 3c, the smoke sensor 3d, the door/window sensor 3e, 1 o and the like), the modem device 4, and the telephone 5 are connected to the PC 1.
The PC 1 is connected to an Internet 6 as a communication network via the modem device 4. Further, the monitoring system according to the present embodiment utilizes a mobile phone 7, a hand-held computer (hereinafter, referred to as "HC") 8, or the like as a portable terminal held by a monitoring I S person.
The door phone 3a comprises a doorbell, a microphone, a speaker, and the like to detect pushing of the doorbell. The door phone 3a may incorporate the CCD camera 2 therein. The gas sensor 3b is directed for detecting gas leakage.
The heat sensor 3c is directed for detecting heat generation due to fire or the like.
2o The smoke sensor 3d is directed for detecting generation of smoke due to fire or the like. The door/window sensor 3e is directed for detecting opening/closing, vibration, breaking, and the like of doors and windows.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the PC 1 functioning as a monitoring apparatus.
25 As shown in Fig. 2, the PC 1 comprises various databases (hereinafter, referred to as "DB") including a notification destination DB 11, a monitored information DB 12, and an image DB 13, a monitored information recording means 14, an image recording means 15, a notifying means 16, and an information providing means 17.
The notification destination DB 11 stores an e-mail address of the monitoring person's mobile phone 7 in advance as a notification destination to s which detection results and the like by the various detectors 3 are notified. The e-mail address registered in the notification destination DB 11 can be arbitrarily set by the monitoring person through the PC 1. In addition, an e-mail address of the HC 8 can be registered other than the e-mail address of the mobile phone ?
as an e-mail address of the notification destination.
to The monitored information DB 12 stores monitored information on the basis of the detection results by the respective detectors 3 therein. The monitored information includes a monitoring result analyzed on the basis of the detection result by each detector 3 in addition to the detection result itself of each detector 3. The image DB 13 stores images captured by 'the CCD camera 2 t 5 therein.
The monitored information recording means 14 is a means for sequentially recording the monitored information on the basis of the detection results of the respective detectors 3 in the monitored information DB 12. The image recording means 15 is a means for sequentially recording the images captured by the CCD
2o camera 2 in the image DB 13. The image recording means 15 has a function of storing the images captured by the CCD camera 2 in the image DB 13 with operation of the detector 3 as a trigger, such as detection of pushing of the doorbell by the door phone 3a.
The notifying means 16 is a means for transmitting m e-mail containing 2s the monitored information on the basis of the detection result of each of the above detectors 3 and URL (Uniform Resource Locator) as an identifier for accessing the image in the image DB 13 or the image information itself in the image DB
to the e-mail address registered in the notification destination DB 11 via the Internet 6.
Furthermore, the notifying means 16 has a function of transmitting the monitored information only when it is determined after complex analysis of the respective detection results of a plurality of the detectors 3 that an abnormality truly occurred. Here, the URL for accessing the image in the image DB 13 is directed for performing an information providing request from the mobile phone to the information providing means 17 described below.
The information providing means 17 is directed for providing the image in to the image DB 13 in response to the information providing request on the basis of the URL from the mobile phone 7. Further, the information providing means 17 has a function of providing not only the image in the image DB 13 but also details of the monitored information stored in the monitored information DB 12 in response to the request from the mobile phone 7.
Next, an example of monitoring by the monitoring system having the above configuration will be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 7.
When monitoring by the monitoring system according to the present embodiment is performed, at first, a monitoring program is executed on the PC
to initiate monitoring operation. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 3, it is possible 2o to remotely control ON/OFF of the operations of the respective detectors 3 by connecting to the PC 1 via the Internet 6 and the modem device 4 by the monitoring person's mobile phone 7.
During monitoring by the monitoring apparatus, the CCD camera 2 is capturing images at a predetermined timing at any time, and the image recording means 15 is sequentially recording the images captured by the CCD camera 2 in the image DB 13. Alternatively, the image recording means 15 may be configured to store the images captured by the CCD camera 2 in the image DB 13 with the detection operation of each of the detectors 3 as a trigger.
When each of the detectors 3 detects an abnormality, the monitored information recording means 14 records the monitored information on the basis of the detection result by the detectors 3 in the monitored information DB 12.
Then, s the notifying means 16 transmits an e-mail containing the monitored information in the monitored information DB 12 and the URL for accessing the image in the image DB 13 to the e-mail address of the mobile phone 7 registered in the notification destination DB 11 via the Internet 6.
Fig. 4 shows an example of notification of a fire alarm operation as the 1 o monitored information. When a temperature not less than the temperature which is determined as fire is detected by the heat sensor 3c, the e-mail in Fig. 4 is transmitted to the mobile phone 7 by the notifying means 16. A detection result by the heat sensor 3c and a telephone number 21 to contact a fire station, security company, or the like as a suggested response thereto are described in this e-mail.
15 Further, a link button 22 attached on the URL for accessing the image captured by the CCD camera 2 and stored in the image DB 13 is embedded in this e-mail. When this link button 22 is designated by the mobile phone 7, an information providing request on the basis of the URL of the link button 22 is made from the mobile phone 7 to the PC 1. The PC 1 performs processing by 2o the information providing means 17 on the basis of this request.
In response to the information providing request on the basis of the URL
from the mobile phone 7, the information providing means 1 ~~ provides the image in the image DB 13 and a Web page (not shown) indicating details of the monitored information stored in the monitored information I)B 12 to the mobile 25 phone 7. The latest image captured by the CCD camera 2 and stored in the image DB 13 is displayed on the web page.
Fig. 5 shows an example of notification of a glass alarm operation as the monitored information. The e-mail in Fig. S is transmitted to the mobile phone by the notifying means 16 when breaking of a window is detected by the door/window sensor 3e and an intruder is detected by an infrared sensor as the detector 3. A detection result by the door/window sensor 3e and a contact telephone number 31 for a police station, the family, or the like as a suggested response thereto are described in this e-mail.
Further, a link button 32 attached on the URL for accessing the image captured by the CCD camera 2 and stored in the image DB 13 is embedded in this e-mail. When the link button 32 is designated by the mobile phone 7, an l0 information providing request on the basis of the URL of the link button 32 is made from the mobile phone 7 to the PC 1. The PC 1 performs processing by the information providing means 17 on the basis of this request.
In response to the information providing request on the basis of the URL
from the mobile phone 7, the information providing means 17 provides the image in the image DB 13 and a Web page 33 indicating details of the monitored information stored in the monitored information DB 12 to the mobile phone 7.
The latest image (not shown) captured by the CCD camera 2 and stored in the image DB 13 is displayed in the Web page 33.
As shown in Fig. 5, the detection results by a plurality of the detectors 3 2o (the door/window sensor 3e, the infrared sensor) are displayed in the Web page 33.
In the example in Fig. 5, the notifying means 16 transmits the monitored information to the mobile phone 7 after complex analy:>is of the respective detection results of a plurality of the detectors 3. In this manner, in the present system, even when one of the detectors 3 erroneously detecta an abnormality, the monitored information is not transmitted to the monitoring person's mobile phone 7 as far as other detectors do not detect the abnormality and it is not determined that the abnormality truly occurred as a result of complex analysis of the respective detection results of a plurality of the detectors 3, so that erroneous information can be prevented from being transmitted to the mobile phone 7.
Fig. 6 shows an example of notification of an electronic lock release at an entrance as the monitored information. The e-mail in Fig. 6 is transmitted to the mobile phone 7 by the notifying means 16 when the electronic lock release at the entrance is detected by an electronic lock sensor as the detector 3. A
detection result by the electronic lock sensor is described in the e-mail.
Further, a link button 41 attached on the URL for accessing the image captured by the CCD camera 2 and stored in the image DB 13 is embedded in this 1o e-mail. When the link button 41 is designated by the mobile phone 7, an information providing request on the basis of the URL of the link button 41 is made from the mobile phone 7 to the PC 1. The PC 1 performs processing by the information providing means 17 on the basis of this request. The processing by the information providing means 17 is performed as described above.
t s Fig. 7 shows an example of notification of pushing of the doorbell of the door phone 3a as the monitored information. The monitored information recording means 14 stores the image captured by the CCD camera 2 in the image DB 13 with the detection of pushing of the doorbell of the door phone 3a as a trigger. At this time, the notifying means 16 transmits an e-mail containing the 2o monitored information indicating that the doorbell of the door phone 3a has been pushed and the URL for accessing the image stored in the image DB 13 to the mobile phone 7. When the first e-mail is transmitted to the mobile phone 7 by the notifying means 16, the image itself in the image DB 1.3 may be attached to the e-mail instead of transmitting the e-mail containing the I:JRL for accessing the 25 image stored in the image DB 13.
In response to an information providing request on the basis of the URL
contained in the e-mail, the information providing means 17 provides the image in the image DB 13 and a Web page 51 indicating details of the monitored information stored in the monitored information DB 12 to the mobile phone 7.
A latest image 52 captured by the CCD camera 2 and stored in the image DB 13 is displayed in the Web page 51.
Furthermore, in the monitoring system according to the present embodiment, it is possible to respond to the pushing of the doorbell of the door phone 3a by the mobile phone 7 (refer to Figs. 7(a) and 7(b)). When responding by the mobile phone 7, the mobile phone 7 and the telephone S are connected.
The telephone S is connected to the PC 1 to be connected to the microphone and to the speaker of the door phone 3a via the PC 1, so that a call can be made between the mobile phone 7 and the door phone 3a.
Here, when the monitoring person wants to check the past visitors by the mobile phone 7 (refer to Fig. 7(c)), an information request is made from the mobile phone 7 to the PC 1. The information providing means 7 in the PC 1 refers to the monitored information DB 12 and the image DB 13 on the basis of the request from the mobile phone 7 and provides the monitored information and the image at the time the doorbell of the door phone 3a was pushed to the mobile phone 7.
As described above, the monitoring person can directly know the contents of the abnormality occurred in the monitored place by the monitored information contained in the e-mail received by the mobile phone 7. Additionally, the monitoring person requests the image captured by the CCI) camera 2 into the PC
1 on the basis of the link button 22 attached on the URL contained in the e-mail received by the mobile phone 7, so that the monitoring person can directly receive the image in the image DB 13 provided in the PC 1 and view it on the mobile phone 7.
Therefore, in the monitoring system according to the present embodiment, when an image is captured for the monitoring person, the monitored information, the image, or the like is directly transmitted from the PC 1 to the monitoring person's mobile phone 7 without following the processes of calling, responding, user authenticating, and distributing that are required in the conventional systems, s so that the monitoring person can obtain the information in a short time.
Furthermore, the images by the cameras of a plurality of monitoring persons are no longer subjected to central control in the server of the monitoring center, but the images by the CCD camera 2 and the respective sensors 3 are controlled by the individual PC 1 of each monitoring person and the information is transmitted 1o from the PC I to the monitoring person's mobile phone 7. Accordingly, time loss for information acquisition due to excessive accesses does not occur.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only 15 by the appended claims.
Claims (11)
1. A monitoring apparatus comprising:
a detector and an imaging device;
a notification destination database for storing an e-mail address of a portable terminal of a monitoring person in advance therein;
an image database for storing images captured by the imaging device therein;
an image recording means for recording the images captured by the imaging device in the image database;
a notifying means for transmitting an e-mail containing monitored information on the basis of a detection result of the detector and an identifier for accessing an image in the image database to the e-mail address in the notification destination database via a communication network; and an information providing means for providing the image in the image database in response to a request on the basis of the identifier from the portable terminal.
a detector and an imaging device;
a notification destination database for storing an e-mail address of a portable terminal of a monitoring person in advance therein;
an image database for storing images captured by the imaging device therein;
an image recording means for recording the images captured by the imaging device in the image database;
a notifying means for transmitting an e-mail containing monitored information on the basis of a detection result of the detector and an identifier for accessing an image in the image database to the e-mail address in the notification destination database via a communication network; and an information providing means for providing the image in the image database in response to a request on the basis of the identifier from the portable terminal.
2. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a monitored information database for storing the monitored information on the basis of the detection result of the detector; and a monitored information recording means for recording the monitored information on the basis of the detection result of the detector in the monitored information database.
a monitored information database for storing the monitored information on the basis of the detection result of the detector; and a monitored information recording means for recording the monitored information on the basis of the detection result of the detector in the monitored information database.
3. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said information providing means provides the monitored information in the monitored information database in response to a request from the portable terminal.
4. A monitoring apparatus comprising:
a detector and an imaging device;
a notification destination database for storing an e-mail address of a portable terminal of a monitoring person in advance therein;
an image database for storing images captured by the imaging device therein;
an image recording means for recording the images captured by the imaging device in the image database; and a notifying means for transmitting an e-mail containing monitored information on the basis of a detection result of the detector and an image in the image database to the e-mail address in the notification destination database via a communication network.
a detector and an imaging device;
a notification destination database for storing an e-mail address of a portable terminal of a monitoring person in advance therein;
an image database for storing images captured by the imaging device therein;
an image recording means for recording the images captured by the imaging device in the image database; and a notifying means for transmitting an e-mail containing monitored information on the basis of a detection result of the detector and an image in the image database to the e-mail address in the notification destination database via a communication network.
5. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:
a monitored information database for storing the monitored information on the basis of the detection result of the detector; and a monitored information recording means for recording the monitored information on the basis of the detection result of the detector in the monitored information database.
a monitored information database for storing the monitored information on the basis of the detection result of the detector; and a monitored information recording means for recording the monitored information on the basis of the detection result of the detector in the monitored information database.
6. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising an information providing means for providing the monitored information in the monitored information database in response to a request from the portable terminal.
7. The monitoring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein:
a plurality of said detectors are provided, and said notifying means transmits the monitored information after complex analysis of respective detection results of the plurality of detectors.
a plurality of said detectors are provided, and said notifying means transmits the monitored information after complex analysis of respective detection results of the plurality of detectors.
8. The monitoring apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the image recording means stores the images captured by the imaging device in the image database with operation of the detector as a trigger.
9. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the detector is provided in a doorbell.
10. A monitoring program for causing a computer to which a detector and an imaging device are connected to function as:
a notification destination database for storing an e-mail address of a portable terminal of a monitoring person in advance therein;
an image database for storing images captured by the imaging device therein;
an image recording means for recording the images captured by the imaging device in the image database;
a notifying means for transmitting an e-mail containing monitored information on the basis of a detection result of the detector and an identifier for accessing an image in the image database to the e-mail address in the notification destination database via a communication network; and an information providing means for providing the image in the image database in response to a request on the basis of the identifier from the portable terminal.
a notification destination database for storing an e-mail address of a portable terminal of a monitoring person in advance therein;
an image database for storing images captured by the imaging device therein;
an image recording means for recording the images captured by the imaging device in the image database;
a notifying means for transmitting an e-mail containing monitored information on the basis of a detection result of the detector and an identifier for accessing an image in the image database to the e-mail address in the notification destination database via a communication network; and an information providing means for providing the image in the image database in response to a request on the basis of the identifier from the portable terminal.
11. A monitoring program for causing a computer to which a detector and an imaging device are connected to function as:
a notification destination database for storing an e-mail address of a portable terminal of a monitoring person in advance therein;
an image database for storing images captured by the imaging device therein;
an image recording means for recording the images captured by the imaging device in the image database; and a notifying means for transmitting an e-mail containing monitored information on the basis of a detection result of the detector and an image in the image database to the e-mail address in the notification destination database via a communication network.
a notification destination database for storing an e-mail address of a portable terminal of a monitoring person in advance therein;
an image database for storing images captured by the imaging device therein;
an image recording means for recording the images captured by the imaging device in the image database; and a notifying means for transmitting an e-mail containing monitored information on the basis of a detection result of the detector and an image in the image database to the e-mail address in the notification destination database via a communication network.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2002309863A JP2004145652A (en) | 2002-10-24 | 2002-10-24 | Monitoring device and monitoring program |
| JP2002-309863 | 2002-10-24 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2423510A1 true CA2423510A1 (en) | 2004-04-24 |
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ID=32455547
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002423510A Abandoned CA2423510A1 (en) | 2002-10-24 | 2003-03-26 | Monitoring apparatus and monitoring program |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP2004145652A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2423510A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP4994299B2 (en) * | 2008-05-26 | 2012-08-08 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Security system and program thereof |
| JP6251944B2 (en) * | 2014-05-13 | 2017-12-27 | パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 | Monitoring device and program |
| JP5866540B1 (en) * | 2014-11-21 | 2016-02-17 | パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 | Monitoring system and monitoring method in monitoring system |
| JP2017039574A (en) * | 2015-08-19 | 2017-02-23 | 東芝エレベータ株式会社 | Elevator use information providing system |
-
2002
- 2002-10-24 JP JP2002309863A patent/JP2004145652A/en active Pending
-
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- 2003-03-26 CA CA002423510A patent/CA2423510A1/en not_active Abandoned
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| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JP2004145652A (en) | 2004-05-20 |
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