Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This application is based upon and claims priority of Japanese Patent Applications No. 2000-399503 filed on Dec. 27, 2000, No. 2000-399504 filed on Dec. 27, 2000, No. 2000-399505 filed on Dec. 27, 2000, and No. 2000-399506 filed on Dec. 27, 2000, the contents being incorporated herein by reference.  
           [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The invention relates to a watching system, and more particularly to a watching system for avoiding the calamity in a house.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    In this field of the art, various types of watching system have been proposed for a home security.  
           [0006]    There have been proposed various improvements in the field of watching system, such as in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Applications No. 9-224238, No. 2000-40196, and No. 2000-222658. However, there have been problems and disadvantages still left in the related arts.  
           [0007]    For example, a watching system is proposed to be connected to a television set and a home video tape recorder. Such a watching system, however, dose not provide any management for user to avoid a danger detected by the watching system.  
           [0008]    A watching system on the other hand is proposed to be connected to a mobile phone by means of a public call. However, this costs users considerably.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    In order to overcome the problems and disadvantages, the invention provides an watching system comprising a watching camera that takes pictures of a field to output image data and a disk recorder that records conventional broadcast program data in a disk memory. The watching system further comprises a controller that controls the disk recorder to record the image data into the disk memory. This feature is quite advantageous to compose the watching system with a low cost.  
           [0010]    The invention further provides a watching system comprising a mobile terminal and a watching camera. The mobile terminal is capable of a first wireless communication on the public call and a second wireless communication on an internal call. The watching camera takes pictures of a field to output image data. The watching system further comprises a remote communication equipment capable of transmitting the image data to the mobile terminal through one of the first and second wireless communications. This feature is quite advantageous for the mobile terminal to get information from the watching camera.  
           [0011]    According to another feature of the invention, a watching system comprises a mobile terminal capable of a first wireless communication on the public call and a second wireless communication on an internal call and a watching camera that takes pictures of a field to output image data. The watching system further comprises a remote communication equipment capable of responding to the watching camera to transmit a signal to the mobile terminal through one of the first and second wireless communications.  
           [0012]    According to still another feature of the invention, a watching system comprises a watching camera that takes pictures of a field to output image data and a monitor that displays conventional broadcast program. The watching system further comprises a controller that controls the monitor to display the image data and a management information against a danger. This feature makes it easy for a user to avoid a danger.  
           [0013]    According to further feature of the invention, a watching system comprises a watching camera that takes pictures of a field to output image data and an acquisition equipment that acquires information relating to time. The watching system further comprises a controller that carries out a management against a danger depending on the image data and the information. This feature makes it possible to avoid a danger.  
           [0014]    According to still further feature of the invention, a watching system comprises a watching camera that takes pictures of a field to output image data and a detector that detects whether or not anyone is at home. The watching system further comprises a controller that carries out a management against a danger depending on the image data of the watching camera and the detection by the detector. This feature makes it possible to avoid a danger automatically.  
           [0015]    Other features and advantages according to the invention will be readily understood from the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 represents a block diagram of a watching system.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 represents a flowchart of the main function of Set Top Box.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 represents a flowchart showing the function of STB for controlling hard disk recorder.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 represents a display on the television monitor for showing an example of icons and file names for the stored image data.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 represents a flowchart showing the function of STB for the above mentioned “television control” relating to the control of television set.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 represents a display on the television monitor for showing an example of the indication of the menu.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 represents a flowchart showing the function of STB for controlling mobile phone.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 represents a flowchart showing the function of mobile phone for controlling STB.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 represents a flowchart showing the function of STB for the alarm control. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 represents a block diagram of a watching system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The watching system is for the home security. Set Top Box (herein after referred to as “STB”)  701  is for receiving signals from any place inside and outside the home. STB  701  also serves as a central controller for various digital electrical appliances in the home. Alternatively, such a central controller may be prepared outside STB  701  in digital communication therewith. Watching camera  702  is connected to STB  701  so as to work in accordance with conditions set in STB  701 . Through the connection with STB  701 , watching camera  702  can cooperate with digital electrical appliances controlled by STB  701  to achieve various sophisticated functions.  
         [0026]    According to the third embodiment, STB  701  is connected with hard disk (HD) recorder  704 , television set  705 , audio set  706 , and telephone set  707 . STB is further in wireless connection with mobile phone  708 , and capable of communicate with security company  710  and outside server computer  709 . Thus, STB  701  can report an emergency to security company  710  directly or by way of telephone set  707 .  
         [0027]    In detail, the connection of watching camera  702  to STB  701  is through wireless communication system  703  on Bluetooth by means of coupling watching camera  702  to wireless communication system  703  at a connector. Thus, watching camera  702  and STB  701  communicate with each other on Bluetooth. Mobile phone  708  also includes wireless communication system  708   a  on Bluetooth in addition to public mobile phone communication system  708   b  for communicate with STB  701  on either system. However, a simplified modification of the embodiment may be possible, in which any element such as HD recorder  704  would be omitted if the system need not the element.  
         [0028]    According to the watching system in FIG. 1, the images taken by watching camera  702  is recorded in HD recorder  704  for a proof or an inspection. HD recorder  704  is originally provided for the purpose of recording conventional broadcast program received by television set  705 . Such a common use of HD recorder  704  makes it unnecessary to prepare any additional HD recorder for the exclusive use in watching system.  
         [0029]    HD recorder  704  has a buffer memory with a capacity of temporarily storing a given length of the latest movie image data, which is continuously substituted by the current image data from watching camera  702 . When a suspected person is detected, an image data of a predetermined period back is transmitted from the buffer memory to HD recorder  704  at once with the succeeding image data from watching camera  702  also is being recorded in HD recorder  704 . Thus, the continuous action of the suspected person before and after the detection is recorded in HD recorder  704 . In a modification of the embodiment, the function of the buffer memory is replaced by a capacity of HD recorder  704  itself to omit the adoption of the buffer memory.  
         [0030]    If there will be no more room left in capacity of HD recorder  704  to continue the recording of the image data from watching camera  702 , the image data is transmitted to outside server computer  709  through the telecommunication network. Such a transmission of the image data from watching camera  702  to outside server computer  709  is also available in case HD recorder  704  is occupied by a task of recording a broadcast program from television set  705 . Alternatively, HD recorder  705  may prefer the recording of the image data from watching camera  702  with the recording of the broadcast program intermitted. Or, HD recorder  705  may simultaneously record both the image data from watching camera  702  and broadcast program from television set  705  in a dual image mode.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 2 represents a flowchart of the main function of STB  701 . The flow is always in operation as long as watching camera  702  is effective.  
         [0032]    In step S 91 , it is checked whether or not a signal is received from watching camera  702  reporting that a suspected person is detected. If the signal is received, the flow advances to step S 92 . On the other hand, step S 91  is repeated unless the signal is received.  
         [0033]    The flow beginning from step S 92  is for carrying out various counteractions to be taken depending on various settings in case a suspected person is detected. In step S 92 , it is checked whether or not a time dependence setting has been made. According to the time dependence setting, the counteraction to be taken differs depending on the time when a suspected person is detected. For example, “television control” to be explained later is carried out if a suspected person is detected within a period from 8:00 a.m. till 10:00 p.m., while an instant report to security company  710  or the police is carried out if a suspected person is detected within the other period of the day. The customer at home has made such a time dependence setting.  
         [0034]    If it is determined in step S 92  that the time dependence setting has been made, the flow advances to step S 93 . On the other hand, the flow goes to step S 95  in case of no time dependence setting. In step S 93 , the current time is recorded, and a counteraction to be taken is determined in step S 94  in dependence on the time recorded in step  93  is made.  
         [0035]    For example, if the time recorded in step S 93  is 11:00 a.m., STB  701  determines “television control” on the image data. On the other hand, STB  701  determines to instantly report to security company  710  if the time recorded in step S 93  is 11:00 p.m. The difference in the above counteractions depends on the possibility of suspicion against a person visiting home in the daytime or the nighttime. In other words, there would be less suspicion against a person visiting home by day, such as a mail carrier or a newspaper deliverer. In contrast to that, a higher possibility of suspicion would be caused against a parson visiting home at late night. Further, it is possible in daytime to quickly report to security company  710  on necessity after confirming a visitor through “television control”. But, such a confirmation or quick action would not be possible at late night when family is all sleeping.  
         [0036]    In step S 95 , it is checked whether or not a responsible member of family is at home. A switch to be manually operated by the family may be located at the home entrance for generating information of presence or absence for the purpose of the check in step S 95 . Alternatively, a sensor may be located at the home entrance to automatically generate the information of presence or absence. Even in a case of a presence of a child who cannot properly respond to a suspected person, it should be determined in step S 95  that no responsible member is not at home. The manual switch or the automatic sensor is designed to fulfil this requirement.  
         [0037]    If it is determined in step S 95  that a responsible member is at home, the flow advances to step S 96 . On the other hand, the flow goes to step S 97  in case of no responsible member at home.  
         [0038]    In step S 96 , a counteraction to be taken with a responsible person at home is determined. On the other hand, a counteraction to be taken with no responsible person at home is determined in step S 97 . For example, in step S 96 , STB  701  determines “television control” on the image data. On the other hand, STB  701  determines to instantly report to security company  710  in step S 97 . The difference in the above counteractions depends on the capability of the counteraction. In other words, it is possible for someone at home to confirm a suspected person, while such a confirmation is impossible in the case of no one at home.  
         [0039]    In step S 98 , the counteraction is finally determined in view of the combination of the determination in steps S 94 , S 96  and S 97 . And, the finally determined counteraction is carried out. In addition to the above mentioned “television control” and the instant report to the security company, the final determination on the counteraction includes various operations, the details of which will be described later.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 3 represents a flowchart showing the function of STB  701  for controlling HD recorder. In step S 101 , it is checked whether or not the determination in steps S 94 , S 96  and S 97  in FIG. 2  includes a request for HD recorder  704  to record the image signal when a suspected person is detected by watching camera  702 . If it is determined in step S 101  that the determination includes the request, the flow advances to step S 102 . On the other hand, the flow goes to the end of the flow in case of no request.  
         [0041]    In step S 102 , it is checked whether or not HD recorder  704  is available. For example, it is determined that HD recorder  704  is not available if there is no more room left in capacity of HD recorder  704  or HD recorder  704  is occupied by a task of recording a broadcast program or the like. If it is determined that HD recorder is available, the flow advances to step S 103 , in which an image data in the buffer memory is transmitted to HD recorder  704  with the recording by HD recorder  704  of the succeeding image data from watching camera  702  started.  
         [0042]    The image data from watching camera  702  is recorded so as to be easily distinguished from the ordinary image data of the broadcast program. For example, a file name with characters suggesting the watching camera is given to the recorded image data or the icon for the watching camera data is differentiated from that for the ordinary broadcast program data. FIG. 4 represents a display on the television monitor for showing an example of icons and file names for the stored image data, in which icons and file names for the watching data are easily distinguishable from those for the ordinary broadcast program data. This is advantageous in finding or retrieving a desired image data of the watching camera among the recorded files in HD recorder  704  even if it stores a great number of ordinary broadcast image files. For convenience, it is recommendable to record a series of plurality of image data successively taken by watching camera  702  as the form of a single file.  
         [0043]    If it is determined in step S 102  in FIG. 3 that HD recorder is not available, the flow advances to step S 104 , in which STB  701  connects a predetermined server computer through telephone set  707 . And, in step S 105 , an image data in the buffer memory is transmitted to the server computer with the recording by the server computer of the succeeding image data from watching camera  702  started.  
         [0044]    In any case, it is checked in step S 106  whether or not a manual operation is made to stop recording the image data of watching camera  702 . If it is determined that the manual operation to stop is made, the flow advances to step S 107 , in which the recording is stopped. On the other hand, the flow goes to step S 108  if it is checked in step S 106  that no operation to stop is manually made. In step S 108 , it is checked whether or not watching camera  702  reports that the suspected person disappears. If it is determined that the suspected person disappears, the flow goes to step S 107  to automatically stop the recording. On the other hand, the flow goes back to step S 102  if the suspected person is still detected. Thus, the recording by HD recorder  704  or by the server computer is continued unless the manual operation to stop is made or the suspected person disappears.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 5 represents a flowchart showing the function of STB  701  for the above mentioned “television control”, relating to the control of television set  705 . In step S 201 , it is checked whether or not the determination in steps S 94 , S 96  and S 97  in FIG. 2  includes the television control, in which television set  705  is requested to display on its monitor the image data form watching camera  702  when a suspected person is detected. If it is determined in step S 201  that the determination includes the television control, the flow advances to step S 202 . On the other hand, the flow goes to the end of the flow in case of no inclusion of the television control.  
         [0046]    In step S 202 , television set  705  is automatically turned on if it has been in off state. Such a sudden activation of the television set  705  with a voice or music from its speaker would call attention to the family at home. The voice or music raised by television set  705  would mislead the outside suspected person as if the family is at home even if the family is really not at home, which would discourage the suspected person from illegally coming into the house.  
         [0047]    On the other hand, the monitor display is forcibly switched from the ordinary broadcast program to the watching camera view if television set  705  has already been watched by the family at home.  
         [0048]    In step S 203 , television set  705  further generates an alarm sound from its speaker to call an additional attention to either family inside or the suspected person outside.  
         [0049]    In step S 204 , a menu of selective counteractions is indicated on the monitor of television set  705  in addition to the image from watching camera  702 . FIG. 6  represents a display on the television monitor for showing an example of the indication of the menu.  
         [0050]    Among the counteractions in the menu in FIG. 6 , “Unlocking the Door” is the counteraction to be selected if the person taken by watching camera  702  is identified as a safe familiar one on the monitor of television set  705 . In response to the selection of this counteraction, the door is actually unlocked. “Communication” is the counteraction to be selected if the family feel a necessity to talk to the person taken by watching camera  702 . “Report” is the counteraction to be selected if the family feel a necessity to report to security company  710  or the police of the suspected person taken by watching camera  702 . “Lighting” is the counteraction to be selected if the family feel a necessity of turning on a strong light at the entrance. “Alarm” is the counteraction to be selected if the family feel a necessity to turn on the alarm located at watching camera  702 . “Lighting” and “Alarm” are for discouraging the suspected person from committing a possible crime. Finally, “Stopping Record” is the counteraction to be selected if the family feel no necessity to continue recording the image data form watching camera  702  since the person is identified with no suspicion. The selection among the above mentioned counteractions is made by pushing one of predetermined channel buttons on the television remote controller.  
         [0051]    In step S 205 , it is checked whether or not the selection of the counteraction is made within a predetermined time period starting from the indication of the menu in step S 204 . If the selection is made, the flow advances to step S 206 , in which the selected counteraction is carried out with television set  705  returned into the original condition on the termination of the counteraction. On the other hand, if no selection is manually made within the predetermined time period, the flow goes to step S 207 , in which the report to a predetermined security company or the police is automatically made.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 7 represents a flowchart showing the function of STB  701  for controlling mobile phone  708 . In step S 301 , it is checked whether or not the determination in steps S 94 , S 96  and S 97  in FIG. 2  includes a request for STB  701  to report to mobile phone  708  when a suspected person is detected by watching camera  702 . If it is determined that the determination includes such a request, the flow advances to step S 302 . On the other hand, the flow goes to the end of the flow in case of no inclusion of the request.  
         [0053]    In step S 302 , STB  701  tries an “internal call” to mobile phone  708 . The “internal call” means a call not through the public mobile phone communication system  708   b , but through personal wireless communication system  708   a  on Bluetooth or a wireless home local area network (LAN). If such an internal call is successful, a high speed and high reliability data communication is possible without charge.  
         [0054]    In step S 303 , it is checked whether or not the internal call is successful. If it is determined in step S 303  that the internal call finally resulted in failure, the flow instantly advances to step  304 . In step S 304 , STB  701  makes a public call to mobile phone  708  through public mobile phone communication system  708   b  as the second priority try. On the other hand, step S 304  is omitted if it is determined in step S 303  that the internal call as the first priority try is successful.  
         [0055]    In step S 305 , it is finally checked whether or not the call to mobile phone  708  is successful in any way. If it is determined that STB  701  successfully connects with mobile phone  708 , the flow advances to step S 306 . On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 305  that the call to mobile phone  708  finally resulted in failure, the flow goes to step S 309 , in which the report to a predetermined security company or the police is automatically made. In step S 305 , even a successful connection to the answerphone is considered as the failure in connection. This is because a connection to the answerphone would not lead to a proper counteraction in case of emergency.  
         [0056]    In step S 306 , STB  701  transmits to mobile phone  708  the image data from watching camera  702  as well as the menu of selective counteractions as in FIG. 6, which are indicated by mobile phone  708  on its LCD monitor.  
         [0057]    In step S 307 , it is checked whether or not the selection of the counteraction is made within a predetermined time period starting from the indication of the menu in step S 306 . If the selection is made, the flow advances to step S 308 , in which the selected counteraction is carried out with mobile phone  708  disconnected on the termination of the counteraction. On the other hand, if no selection is manually made within the predetermined time period, the flow goes to step S 309 , in which the report to the security company or the police is automatically made.  
         [0058]    STB  701  can be designed to simultaneously make the same report of the image data from watching camera  702  with the menu of counteractions to a plurality of monitors, such as of television set  705  and of mobile phone  708 . In this case, once the selection among the menu of counteractions is made on one of the monitors, the report to other monitors is instantly terminated.  
         [0059]    The personal wireless communication system of mobile phone  708  in the above embodiment is not limited to Bluetooth, but any other types of wireless home local area network (LAN) is possible. Further a plurality of personal wireless communication systems may be adopted and suitably selected. The order of priority on such a plurality of communication systems can be preset according to a system such as IEEE802.11e with the possible emergency and cost taken into consideration.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 8 represents a flowchart showing the function of mobile phone  708  for controlling STB  701 . In addition to accepting information from STB  701  as in FIG. 7 it is possible for mobile phone  708  to make a call to STB  701  for getting information.  
         [0061]    In step S 311 , mobile phone  708  tries an “internal call” to STB  701 . In step S 312 , it is checked whether or not the internal call is successful. If it is determined in step S 312  that the internal call finally resulted in failure, the flow instantly advances to step  313 . Instep S 313 , mobile phone  708  makes a public call to STB  701  through public mobile phone communication system  708   b  as the second priority try. On the other hand, step S 313  is omitted if it is determined in step S 312  that the internal call as the first priority try is successful.  
         [0062]    In step S 314 , it is finally checked whether or not the call to STB  701  is successful in any way. If it is determined that mobile phone  708  successfully connects with STB  701 , the flow advances to step S 315 . In step S 315 , STB  701  transmits to mobile phone  708  the image data from watching camera. After the transmission of the image data the flow goes to the end of the flow. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 314  that the call to STB  701  finally resulted in failure, the flow directly goes to the end of the flow.  
         [0063]    FIG. 9  represents a flowchart showing the function of STB  701  for the alarm control. In step S 401 , it is checked whether or not the determination in steps S 94 , S 96  and S 97  in FIG. 2 includes the request of generating an alarm when a suspected person is detected by watching camera  702 . If it is determined in step S 401  that the determination includes the request of alarm, the flow advances to step S 402 . On the other hand, the flow goes to the end of the flow in case of no inclusion of such a request of alarm.  
         [0064]    In step S 402 , a preset alarm or a combination of alarms is generated. The alarm preset may be possible by selecting one or combination of a plurality of alarm menu, such as the lighting at entrance, generation of sound at the watching camera  702 , and generation of sound by audio set  706  or the like. In step S 403 , it is checked whether or not a manual operation to stop the alarm is made. If the operation is made, the flow goes to step S 404  to stop the alarm. On the other hand, the flow goes back to step S 402  to continue the alarm unless it is determined in step S 403  that the manual operation is made.

Technology Category: h