Patent Publication Number: US-2015077554-A1

Title: Addressable monitoring system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an addressable monitoring system, and more particularly, to an addressable monitoring system that has an image comparison function and an image module corresponding to a specific identification code. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A door monitoring system provided by the prior art utilizes magnetism reed switches to execute monitoring operation. However, the magnetism reed switches have following disadvantages: first, the magnetism reed switches require to install different elements (such as an independent power line and a data line) separately, so installation of the magnetism reed switches are inconvenient; second, the magnetism reed switch is enabled through magnetic induction, so, locations of the magnetism reed switches first need to be calibrated when installing the magnetism reed switch, resulting in sensing ability being deteriorated due to deviation of the locations of the magnetism reed switches; third, when installing the magnetism reed switches, a number of power lines and data lines will be increased with increase of a number of sensors of the magnetism reed switches, resulting in the indoor decorations being destroyed due to drill holes caused by the power lines and the data lines; fourth, the prior art cannot monitor the magnetism reed switches through built-in identification codes, respectively; and fifth, doors or windows installed with the magnetism reed switches need to be airtight, thus making the indoor environment improper ventilated. 
     Therefore, magnetism reed switches provided by the prior art are not a good choice for a user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention provides an addressable monitoring system. The addressable monitoring system includes at least one image module and a control module. Each image module of the at least one image module has an identification code, and includes a lens unit, an encoder and a first transceiver unit. The lens unit is used for capturing an image according to a control signal. The encoder is used for modulating the identification code into the image to generate a modulation signal. The first transceiver unit is used for transmitting the modulation signal. The control module includes a signal generation unit, a second transceiver unit, a decoder and a comparison unit. The signal generation unit is used for generating the control signal. The second transceiver unit is used for receiving the modulation signal. The decoder is used for decoding the modulation signal to generate a decoded image corresponding to the image and the identification code. The comparison unit is used for comparing the decoded image with a reference image, and determining whether the decoded image matches the reference image. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention provides an addressable monitoring system. The addressable monitoring system includes at least one image module and a control module. Each image module of the at least one image module has an identification code, and the image module includes a lens unit, a comparison unit and a first transceiver unit. The lens unit is for capturing an image according to a control signal. The comparison unit is used for comparing the image with a reference image, and determining whether the image matches the reference image. When the image does not match the reference image, the comparison unit generates and transmits an alarm signal. The first transceiver unit is used for transmitting the alarm signal and the identification code. The control module includes a signal generation unit, a second transceiver unit and a notification unit. The signal generation unit is used for generating the control signal. The second transceiver unit is used for receiving the alarm signal and the identification code. The notification unit is used for transmitting the alarm signal and the identification code to a portable device. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention provides an addressable monitoring system. The addressable monitoring system includes at least one image module. Each image module of the at least one image module has an identification code, and the image module includes a lens unit, a comparison unit and an alarm unit. The lens unit is used for capturing an image. The comparison unit is used for comparing the image with a reference image, and determining whether the image matches the reference image. When the image does not match the reference image, the comparison unit generates and transmits an alarm signal. The alarm unit is used for generating a combination of flicker light and special sound according to the alarm signal. 
     The present invention provides an addressable monitoring system. The addressable monitoring system utilizes each image module to capture an image including at least one monitored object, and then compares the image including at least one monitored object with a reference image to determine whether the at least one monitored object is unusual. Hence, compared with the prior art, the present invention includes the following advantages: first, since each image module has a corresponding identification code, the user can be quickly aware of which monitored object of the at least one monitored object is unusual; second, since each image module of the addressable monitoring system is coupled to the same power line, and unitizes the same power line to transmit a signal including an identification code of each image module of the addressable monitoring system, the present invention has simple arrangement and will not affect indoor decoration; third, the user can be aware of which monitored object of the at least one monitored object is unusual in real-time through the portable device; fourth, since each of the image modules of the addressable monitoring system is capable of monitoring one or multiple objects according to the user&#39;s requirement, the present invention is more flexible to be designed; and fifth, since the present invention determines whether a monitored object of the at least one monitored object is unusual through image comparison, the at least one monitored object does not need to be airtight to keep the indoor environment to be well ventilated. 
     These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an addressable monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an image module and a control module. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an image captured by a lens unit. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an open state of a window. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an addressable monitoring system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an addressable monitoring system according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1 , which is a diagram illustrating an addressable monitoring system  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The addressable monitoring system  100  includes image modules  102 - 112  and a control module  114 . Each image module of the image modules  102 ,  104 ,  106  and  108  are used to monitor windows  132 ,  134 ,  136  and  138  of a room  130 , respectively. The image module  110  and  112  are used to monitor doors  140  and  142  of the room  130 , respectively. Further, the image modules  102 - 112  and the control module  114  can be coupled to the same power line  144 . However, the present invention is not limited to the image modules  102 - 112  and the control module  114  being coupled to the same power line  144 . That is to say, the image modules  102 - 112  and the control module  114  can be coupled to different power lines. As shown in  FIG. 1 , each image module of the image modules  102 - 112  is used for monitoring a window or a door. However, the present invention is not limited to each image module of the image modules  102 - 112  being used for monitoring an object (such as a window or a door). That is, each image module of the image modules  102 - 112  can monitor more than one object. Moreover, the present invention does not limit relative positions of the image modules  102 - 112 , the windows  132 - 138  and the doors  140  and  142  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the image module  102  and the control module  114 .  FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an image  103  captured by a lens unit  1022 . Because each image module of the image modules  104 - 112  are the same as the image module  102 , and will be omitted for brevity. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the image module  102  has a specific identification code IDC and the image module  102  includes the lens unit  1022 , an encoder  1024  and a first transceiver unit  1026 . The identification code IDC is burned to the image module  102  before or after the image module  102  is shipped. After the identification code IDC is burned to the image module  102 , a user can still update the identification code IDC of the image module  102  according to his requirement. Further, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the control module  114  includes a signal generation unit  1142 , a second transceiver unit  1144 , a decoder  1146 , a comparison unit  1148 , and a notification unit  1150 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the lens unit  1022  is used for capturing the image  103  according to a control signal CS generated by the control module  114 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , since the image module  102  is used for monitoring the window  132  of the room  130 , the image  103  relates to a current state of the window  132 . However, if the image module  102  monitors more than one object, the image  103  will include current states of multiple objects. The encoder  1024  is used for compressing the image  103  and modulate the identification code IDC into the image  103  to generate a modulation signal MS. The encoder  1024  can utilize a JPEG algorithm or an MPEG algorithm to compress the image  103 . However, the present invention is not limited to the encoder using a JPEG algorithm or an MPEG algorithm to compress the image  103 . That is, the encoder  1024  can use other existing techniques to compress the image  103 . For example, the encoder can compress the image  103  through a hybrid video coding algorithm based on blocks (such as MPEG-X, H.26X), or utilizes a method of motion compensated prediction (MCP) and a transforming coding (such as discrete cosine transform (DCT)). The first transceiver unit  1026  is used for transmitting the modulation signal MS to the second transceiver unit  1144  of the control module  114 . The first transceiver unit  1026  transmits the modulation signal MS to the second transceiver unit  1144  through a wireless local area network (WLAN), a Zigbee (IEE 802.15.4) standard, a Bluetooth, a wireless wide area network (WLAN), a global system for mobile communications (GSM), a general packet radio service (GPRS), a third generation (3G) technique, a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) antenna, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (Wimax) or an actor network theory+(Ant+) technique. However, in another embodiment of the present invention, the first transceiver unit  1026  transmits the modulation signal MS to the second transceiver unit  1026  in a wired manner. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the signal generation unit  1142  is used for generating the control signal CS in real-time or regularly, and then transmit the control signal CS to the image module  102  through the second transceiver unit  1144 . Hence, the lens unit  1022  inside the image module  102  can capture the image  103  in real-time or regularly according to the control signal CS. When the second transceiver unit  1144  receives the modulation signal MS transmitted from the first transceiver unit  1026 , the decoder  1146  is used for decoding the modulation signal MS to generate a decoded image DI corresponding to the image  103  and the identification code IDC of the image module  102 . A decoding method of the decoder  1146  needs to correspond to a coding method of the encoder  1024 , and the decoded image DI relates to a current state of the window  132 . After the decoder  1146  generates the decoded image DI of the image  103  and the identification code IDC of the image module  102 , the comparison unit  1148  can be used for comparing the decoded image DI and a reference image, and determine whether the decoded image DI matches the reference image. The reference image is stored in memories of the control module  114  (not shown in  FIG. 2 ), and the reference image relates to a predetermined state of the window  132  (a closed state of the window  132  shown in  FIG. 3 ). The comparison unit  1148  utilizes the signature method to capture a plurality of (such as 5) characteristics to describe features of the window  132 . The present invention is not limited to the comparison unit  1148  using the signature method to capture the features of the window  132 . That is, the comparison unit  1148  can utilize other existing techniques to describe the features of the window  132 . After the comparison unit  1148  utilizes the signature method to determine the features of the window  132 , the comparison unit  1148  can use a direct comparison method to compare the decoded image DI and the reference image. However, the present invention is not limited to the comparison unit  1148  using the direct comparison method to compare the decoded image DI and the reference image. That is, the comparison unit  1148  can utilize comparison methods provided by other existing techniques to compare the decoded image DI with the reference image. When the comparison unit  1148  determines that the decoded image DI does not match the reference image (e.g., the window  132  is opened in  FIG. 4 ), the notification unit  150  generates and transmits an alarm signal AS to a portable device  116 . The notification unit  1150  transmits the alarm signal AS and the identification code IDC of the image module  102  to the portable device  116  through a wireless local area network, a Zigbee standard, a Bluetooth, a wireless wide area network, a global system for mobile communications, a general packet radio service, a third generation technique, a wireless fidelity antenna, a worldwide interoperability for microwave access or an actor network theory+ technique. The portable device  116  can be a cell phone, a tablet, or a personal digital assistance. Hence, the user can be aware of whether the window  132  has an unusual state (e.g. the window  132  is damaged by an external force) according to the identification code IDC and the alarm signal AS of the image nodule  102 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 5 , which is a diagram illustrating an addressable monitoring system  500  according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , an image module  502  of the addressable monitoring system  500  includes a lens unit  5022 , a comparison unit  5024 , and a first transceiver unit  5026 . A control module  504  of the addressable monitoring system  500  includes a signal generation unit  5042 , a second transceiver unit  5044 , and a notification unit  5046 . The image module  502  has an identification code IDC. Hence, the difference between the addressable monitoring system  500  and the addressable monitoring system  100  is that the image module  502  has the comparison unit  5024  but does not have an encoder, and the control module  504  has the notification unit  5046  but does not have a decoder and a comparison unit. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the lens unit  5022  is used for capturing an image  503  according to a control signal CS. The comparison unit  5024  is used for comparing the image  503  with a reference image (the reference image is stored in memories of the control module  504  (not shown in FIG.  5 )), and determine whether the image  503  matches the reference image. When the image  503  does not match the reference image, the comparison unit  5024  generates and transmits an alarm signal AS. The first transceiver unit  5026  is used for transmitting the alarm signal AS and the identification code IDC to the second transceiver unit  5044  of the control module  504 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the signal generation unit  5042  is used for generating the control signal CS in real-time or regularly, and transmitting the control signal CS to the image module  502  through the second transceiver unit  5044 . After the second transceiver unit  5044  receives the alarm signal AS and the identification code IDC, the notification unit  5046  is used for transmitting the alarm signal AS and the identification code IDC to the portable device  116 . Further, the present invention is not limited to the addressable monitoring system  500  only including the image module  502 . That is, the addressable monitoring system  500  may include at least one image module. Moreover, rest operation principles of the addressable monitoring system  500  are the same as those of the addressable monitoring system  100 , and will be omitted for brevity. 
     Please  FIG. 6 , which is a diagram illustrating an addressable monitoring system  600  according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. The addressable monitoring system  600  includes an image module  602 , and the image module  602  includes an identification code IDC. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the image module  602  of the addressable includes a lens unit  6022 , a comparison unit  6024 , and an alarm unit  6026 . Hence, the difference between the addressable monitoring system  600  and the addressable monitoring system  500  is that the image module  602  has the alarm unit  6026  but does not have a first transceiver unit. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the lens unit  6022  is used for capturing an image  603 . The comparison unit  6024  is used for comparing the image  603  with a reference image (the reference image is stored in memories of the image module  602  (not shown in FIG.  6 )), and determine whether the image  603  matches the reference image. When the image  603  does not match the reference image, the comparison unit  6024  generates and transmits an alarm signal AS. When the comparison unit  6024  generates and transmits the alarm signal AS, the alarm unit  6026  is used for generating flicker light, special sound, or a combination of flicker light and special sound to alarm the user. Moreover, rest operation principles of the addressable monitoring system  600  are the same as those of the addressable monitoring system  500 , and will be omitted for brevity. 
     In view of above, the present invention provides an addressable monitoring system. The addressable monitoring system utilizes each image module to capture an image including at least one monitored object, and then compares the image including at least one monitored object with a reference image to determine whether the at least one monitored object is unusual. Hence, compared with the prior art, the present invention includes the following advantages: first, since each image module has a corresponding identification code, the user can be quickly aware of which monitored object of the at least one monitored object is unusual; second, since each image module of the addressable monitoring system is coupled to the same power line, and unitizes the same power line to transmit a signal including an identification code of each image module of the addressable monitoring system, the present invention has simple arrangement and will not affect indoor decoration; third, the user can be aware of which monitored object of the at least one monitored object is unusual in real-time through the portable device; fourth, since each of the image modules of the addressable monitoring system is capable of monitoring one or multiple objects according to the user&#39;s requirement, the present invention is more flexible to be designed; and fifth, since the present invention determines whether a monitored object of the at least one monitored object is unusual through image comparison, the at least one monitored object does not need to be airtight to keep the indoor environment to be well ventilated. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.