IT202100007784A1 - CONTROL SYSTEM OF A FLOW OF IMAGES RELATING TO A MONITORING SUBJECT - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Attached to a patent application for INDUSTRIAL INVENTION having the title

?Control system of a flow of images relating to a monitorable subject?

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to a system for controlling the flow of images relating to a subject to be monitored.

In particular, the present invention relates to a system for controlling the flow of images relating to a subject inside a closed environment.

NOTE TECHNIQUE

Systems for detecting people based on the detection of the exoskeleton of the person to determine the position of the person are known.

The disadvantage of these systems? the? high complexity? computational.

Purpose of the present invention? overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

Particular purpose of the present invention? carry out a detection of a subject with a little complex processing.

Another purpose of the present invention ? ensure simple use of a subject tracking system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention describes a system for controlling an image flow of a subject to be monitored, according to what is described in claim 1.

Advantageous aspects are described in the dependent claims from 2 to 14. In a second aspect, the invention describes a method of controlling a flow of images relating to a subject to be monitored, according to what is described in claim 15.

The invention allows you to control a subject at a distance without manual intervention and with high efficiency.

The invention achieves the following technical effects:

- detection activation independent of human intervention;

- not complex implementation;

- low complexity computational;

- simplicity? of operation and use.

Will the technical effects/advantages mentioned and other technical effects/advantages of the invention be more? in detail from the description, given hereinafter, of an embodiment given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 ? a schematic view of a portion of the system for controlling an image flow relating to a subject, according to the invention.

Figure 1A ? a detail view of an element of figure 1.

Figure 2A ? a schematic view of a first embodiment of a system for controlling a flow of images relating to a subject, according to the invention.

Figure 2B ? a schematic view of a second embodiment of a control system of a flow of images 1 relating to a subject, according to the invention.

Figures 3A, 3B and 3C represent possible graphic outputs generated by the video camera of the previous figures, according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a first aspect, the invention describes a system for controlling an image flow of a subject.

The system comprises a camera 10 for detecting and processing an image stream FI of a subject S within an environment A, as shown in figure 1.

The video camera 10 comprises a lens 11 arranged to shoot a flow of images FI of room A.

In particular, the detected FI image stream will contain? the images of the subject S moving inside the environment A.

The video camera 10 also comprises a movement sensor 12 arranged to detect a movement of the subject S within the environment A.

Preferably, the television camera 10 also comprises an infrared sensor 13 for detecting the presence of a subject S even at night, and configured to detect the movement of the subject S.

The system of the invention comprises a unit? processing electronics 14 configured to process the detected image stream F1.

Preferably the unit? processing electronics ? a raspberry single board computer.

In a first embodiment of the system according to the invention, as shown in figure 2A, the unit? processing electronics 14, configured to process the detected image stream FI, ? connected to the video camera 10 but located outside it.

In a second embodiment of the system according to the invention, as shown in figure 2B, the unit? processing electronics 14, configured to process the detected image stream FI, ? integrated in the camera 10.

For all embodiments, throughout the present description and in the subsequent claims, the unit? processing electronics 14 ? logically divided into distinct functional modules (memory modules or operating modules) which perform the described functions.

This unit? processing electronics 14 pu? be constituted by a single electronic device, suitably programmed to perform the functions? described, and the different modules can correspond to entities? hardware and/or software routines that are part of the programmed device. Alternatively or in addition, these features? can be performed by a plurality? of electronic devices on which the aforementioned functional modules can be distributed.

The unit processing electronics 14 pu? make use, moreover, of one or more? processors for executing the instructions contained in the memory modules; the aforesaid functional modules can also be distributed on different computers locally or remotely based on the architecture of the network in which they reside.

With particular reference to figure 1A, in all embodiments, the unit? processing electronics 14, in particular a reception module 141, ? configured to receive a motion detected signal S1 from motion sensor 12.

The unit processing electronics 14, in particular a control module 142, ? further configured for S2 to command the lens 12 to resume the flow of images F1 after having framed the subject S as a function of the detected movement signal S1.

The unit processing electronics 14, in particular a reception module 143, ? configured for S3 to receive image stream FI taken.

The unit processing electronics 14, in particular a first processing module 144, ? configured for S4 to process the image flow FI by carrying out the step of S41 identifying the subject S by generating a closed line L containing the subject S superimposed on the image flow FI.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the closed line L comprises an ellipse enclosing the subject S framed by the lens 11.

The unit processing electronics 14, in particular a first comparison module 145, ? configured for S42 to compare the shape of the loop L with a shape of a reference loop L1_ref representative of a ?drop position? of the subject S in the environment A.

In figure 3B ? shown is a view of room A taken by the camera in which the closed line L represents a positive detection of the subject's fall; the ellipse, in fact ? arranged parallel to the floor of room A and at the same height as the floor.

The unit processing electronics 14, in particular a second processing module 146, ? configured for S43, generate an attention signal SPAL representative of a potential dangerous situation for the subject S, if the shape of the closed line L ? similar to the shape of the reference closed line L1_ref.

According to the invention, the shape of said closed line L? similar to the shape of a reference closed line L1_ref when the closed line L has the same shape as the reference closed line L1_ref and the same inclination with respect to a common reference, for example the base/floor of room A.

The second processing module 146 ? further configured to perform a step of repeating the step S42 of comparing the shape of the closed line with the reference closed line L1_ref if S44 the shape of the closed line L is not? similar to the shape of the reference closed line L1_ref.

The second processing module 146 ? furthermore configured to execute at a predefined timing interval ?T the steps of S41 identifying the subject S by generating a closed line L containing the subject S superimposed on the flow of images FI and of S42 comparing the shape of the closed line L with a shape of a reference closed line L1_ref representative of the ?drop position? of the subject S in the environment A. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the timing interval ?T predefined ? between 1 and 4 seconds, preferably 2 seconds.

In other words, at a predefined time interval, the unit? processing electronics 14 checks that the subject is in a correct position, not representative of a fall position.

In figure 3A ? shown is a view of room A taken by the camera in which the closed line L represents a negative detection of the subject's fall; the ellipse, in fact ? arranged not parallel to the floor of room A.

According to the invention, only upon repeated detection of a representative fall position on several? successive ?T timing intervals, the drop position ? considered real and a real alarm signal SAL is generated.

In other words, the second processing module 146 ? further configured for:

S44 increasing an alarm value ContAL at each generation of the attention signal SPAL, representative of a potential dangerous situation for the subject S;

S45 compare the alarm value ContAL with a preset alarm threshold value Cont_TH;

S46 to generate an effective alarm signal SAL, representative of a real dangerous situation for the subject S, when the alarm value ContAL exceeds the pre-established alarm threshold value Cont_TH.

According to the invention, ? It is also important to establish which detections of the closed line L may represent false positives that are not representative of a fall position of subject S.

In figure 3B ? shown a view of room A taken by the camera in which the closed line L represents a false positive detection of subject fall; the ellipse, in fact ? arranged parallel to the floor of room A but not at the same level as the floor; in particular, this position pu? be representative of the subject in a lying position in bed.

The unit processing electronics 14, in particular a third processing module 147, ? further configured for:

prior to step S4 of processing the image stream FI, performing a step S40A of identifying a fixed element 20, 30, 40 in the image stream FI, for example detecting a chair 20 or a sofa 30 or a table 40, and carry out a step S40B of marking the fixed element 20, 30, 40 as a potential false positive generator.

The third processing module 147, ? further configured to, during step S4 of processing the image flow FI and in the event that the shape of the closed line L is similar S43 to the shape of a reference closed line L1_ref, calculate a safety distance ?D between the shape of the closed line L and the fixed element 20, 30, 40 identified.

If the safety distance ?D ? greater than a threshold safety distance ?D_TH, then the third processing module 147 generates the attention signal SPAL.

In other words, upon detection of a SPAL attention signal, does the invention verify that it is not a false positive? figure 3C ? but of a real positive? Figure 3B before acknowledging the attention signal SPAL.

If during the phase S4 of processing the image stream FI, the safety distance ?D1 ? smaller than the threshold safety distance ?D_TH, the?unit? processing electronics 14 commands a return to the step S41 to identify the subject S.

In other words, if the detection ? a false positive, the unit? processing electronics 14 continues in the control of the subject S, as if everything were regular.

According to the invention, the unit? processing electronics 14 ? further configured to deactivate the camera 10 if the motion sensor 12 and / or the infrared sensor 13 detect a movement of a plurality? of subjects S within the environment A.

In other words, the camera is deactivated as soon as there are more people in the environment. subjects and therefore there is no need? to monitor the subject S. The technical effect achieved? energy and bandwidth savings.

How already? mentioned, with particular reference to figure 2A, ? shown a first embodiment of the control system of a flow of images of a subject S.

The system, in addition to the camera 10, as previously described, comprises a processing device 50 located remotely with respect to the camera 10 and in data connection with the unit? processing electronics 14.

According to the invention, the unit? processing electronics 14 ? configured to send the effective alarm signal SAL, representative of a real dangerous situation for the subject S, to the processing device 50. With particular reference to figure 2B, ? shown a second embodiment of the control system of a flow of images of a subject S in which the unit? processing electronics 14 ? integrated in the camera 10.

In both embodiments of the system for controlling an image stream of a subject S, the processing device 50 comprises a smartphone, a tablet PC, a PDA or the like.

Preferably the processing device 50 ? a device supplied to the caregiver of the subject S.

In both embodiments, the unit? processing electronics 14 ? configured to send the actual alarm signal SAL to the processing device 50, and also transmit to the processing device 50 in real time the image stream FI of the subject S within the environment A.

According to the invention, the image stream FI ? sent to the caregiver so that the latter can ascertain, only when the actual SAL alarm signal arrives, if ? a false positive or a real fall.

The technical effect achieved? a further energy and bandwidth saving as the images are sent only if it detects an effective alarm signal.

In a second aspect, the invention describes a computer-implemented method of controlling an image stream of a subject S to be monitored comprising the steps of:

providing at least one video camera 10 for detecting and processing an image stream FI of a subject S within an environment A, wherein the video camera 10 comprises:

an 11 lens set up to shoot an FI image stream of the environment A;

a movement sensor 12 arranged to detect a movement of the subject S within the room A;

wherein the system also includes:

receiving a detected motion signal S1 from the motion sensor 12;

commanding S2 to said objective 12 to resume the flow of images F1 after having framed the subject S as a function of the detected movement signal S1;

S3 receiving said image stream F1;

S4 to process said image stream FI by carrying out the steps of:

S41 identify the subject S by generating a closed line L containing the subject S superimposed on the image flow FI, S42 compare the shape of the closed line L with a shape of a reference closed line L1_ref representative of a ?fall position? of the subject S in the environment A;

S43 if the shape of the closed line L ? similar to the shape of a reference closed line L1_ref, then generate a SPAL attention signal representative of a potentially dangerous situation for the subject (S)

A system and a method of controlling a flow of images of a subject within an environment have been described.

The invention makes it possible to detect a subject that can be monitored remotely without manual intervention and with high efficiency.

The invention achieves the following technical effects:

- detection activation independent of human intervention;

- not complex implementation;

- low complexity computational;

- simplicity? of operation and use.

Claims (15)

1. Control system of an image stream of a subject(s) to be monitored comprising: at least one video camera (10) for detecting and processing an image flow (FI) of a subject (S) within an environment (A), wherein said video camera (10) comprises: a lens (11) arranged to shoot a flow of images (FI) of said environment (A); a movement sensor (12) arranged to detect a movement of said subject (S) within said environment (A); wherein said system further comprises: a?unit? processing electronics (14) configured for: receiving a detected motion signal (S1) from said motion sensor (12); commanding (S2) to said lens (12) to resume said flow of images (FI) after having framed said subject (S) according to the detected movement signal (S1); (S3) receiving said imaged image stream (FI); (S4) processing said image stream (FI) by carrying out the steps of: (S41) identifying said subject (S) by generating a containment closed line (L) of said subject (S) superimposed on said image stream (FI), (S42) comparing the shape of said closed line (L) with a shape of a reference closed line (L1_ref) representative of a ?drop position? of said subject (S) in said environment (A); (S43) if the shape of said closed line (L) ? assimilable to said shape of a reference closed line (L1_ref), then generate an attention signal (SPAL) representative of a potential dangerous situation for said subject (S) 2. System according to claim 1, wherein it dictates a unit? processing electronics (14) ? configured to perform a phase of: (S44) if the shape of said closed line (L) is not ? assimilable to said shape of a reference closed line (L1_ref), then repeating the step (S42) of comparing the shape of said closed line with said reference closed line (L1_ref). 3. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a unit? processing electronics (14) ? configured to execute these phases at a predefined timing interval (?T): (S41) identifying said subject (S) by generating a containment closed line (L) of said subject (S) superimposed on said image stream (FI), (S42) comparing the shape of said closed line (L) with a shape of a reference closed line (L1_ref) representative of ?drop position? of said subject (S) in said environment (A); 4. System according to claim 3, wherein it dictates a unit? processing electronics (14) ? configured for: (S44) incrementing an alarm value (ContAL) at each generation of said attention signal (SPAL); (S45) comparing said alarm value (ContAL) with a predetermined alarm threshold value (Cont_TH); (S46) generating an effective alarm signal (SAL) representative of a real danger situation for said subject (S) when said alarm value (ContAL) exceeds said predetermined alarm threshold value (Cont_TH). 5. System according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said closed line (L) comprises an ellipse enclosing said subject (S) framed by said lens (11). 6. System according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said shape of said closed line (L) ? assimilable to said shape of a closed reference line (L1_ref) when said closed line (L) has the same shape as said closed reference line (L1_ref) and same inclination with respect to a common reference. 7. System according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said unit? processing electronics (14) ? further configured for: prior to said step (S4) of processing said image flow (FI), (S40A) identifying a fixed element (20, 30, 40) in said image stream (FI); (Sofa) (S40B) marking said fixed element (20, 30, 40) as a potential false positive generator; during said step (S4) of processing said image flow (FI), if said shape of said closed line (L) ? comparable (S43) to said shape of a closed reference line (L1_ref), calculating a safety distance (?D) between said shape of said closed line (L) which can be assimilated to said shape of reference closed line (L1_ref) and said fixed element (20, 30, 40) identified; if said safety distance (?D1) ? greater than a threshold safety distance (?D_TH), then generating said attention signal (SPAL). 8. System according to claim 7 wherein said unit? processing electronics (14) ? further configured for, during said phase (S4) to process said image stream (FI), go back to the step (S41) of identifying said subject (S) if said safety distance (?D1) ? less than a threshold safety distance (?D_TH). 9. System according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said unit? processing electronics (14) ? further configured to deactivate said camera (10) if said motion sensor (12) detects a movement of a plurality? of subjects (S) within said environment (A); 10. System according to any one of the preceding claims comprising an infrared sensor (13) for detecting the presence of a subject (S) even during the night, configured to detect the movement of said subject (S). 11. System according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said unit? processing electronics (14) ? integrated in said camera (10). A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein further comprising: - a processing device (50) located remotely from said video camera (10) and in data connection with said unit? processing electronics (14), in which said unit? processing electronics (14) ? configured to send said effective alarm signal (SAL) representative of a real danger situation for said subject (S) to said processing device (50). 13. A control system according to claim 12 wherein said unit? processing electronics (14) ? configured to send said effective alarm signal (SAL) to said processing device (50), and transmit to said processing device (50) in real time also said image stream (FI) of said subject (S) at the ? inside of said environment (A). The control system according to claim 13 or 14 wherein said processing device (50) comprises a smartphone, a tablet PC, a PDA or the like. 15. Computer-implemented method of controlling an image flow of a subject (S) to be monitored comprising the steps of: providing at least one television camera (10) for detecting and processing an image flow (FI) of a subject ( S) within an environment (A), in which said television camera (10) comprises: a lens (11) arranged to shoot a flow of images (FI) of said environment (A); a movement sensor (12) arranged to detect a movement of said subject (S) within said room (A); wherein said system further comprises: receiving a detected motion signal (S1) from said motion sensor (12); commanding (S2) to said lens (12) to resume said flow of images (FI) after having framed said subject (S) according to the detected movement signal (S1); (S3) receiving said imaged image stream (FI); (S4) processing said image stream (FI) by carrying out the steps of: (S41) identifying said subject (S) by generating a containment closed line (L) of said subject (S) superimposed on said image stream (FI), (S42) comparing the shape of said closed line (L) with a shape of a reference closed line (L1_ref) representative of a ?drop position? of said subject (S) in said environment (A); (S43) if the shape of said closed line (L) ? assimilable to said shape of a reference closed line (L1_ref), then generate an attention signal (SPAL) representative of a potential dangerous situation for said subject (S)