IP Library Granted Patent US 12683903
Granted Patent B2
US 12683903 · App. 16/649,981 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators

Inventors: Masaki Hikichi (Tokyo, JP); Kiyotaka Watanabe (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
H04L47/2416B66B1/3446B66B5/0031B66B5/02B66B5/022B66B13/02G06T1/0007G06T5/90G06T7/0002H04N1/2133H04N7/181H04N7/188G06T2200/16G06T2207/30168
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12683903
App. No.
16/649,981
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators that can reduce network load is provided. A monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to the present invention includes: an event input section ( 17 ) configured to receive input of a signal indicating an event occurring in connection with an elevator; an image management section ( 18 ) configured to select an image at a specific time point or during a specific time period with respect to a timing at which the signal is received by the event input section ( 17 ), in an image shot by a camera installed in at least one of a car or a hall of the elevator, in accordance with an image selection rule; and an image transmission section ( 20 ) configured to transmit the image selected by the image management section ( 18 ) to an image analysis server ( 16 ) over a network ( 15 ).

Claims (24)

1 . A monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators, comprising:

processing circuitry

to receive input of a signal indicating an event occurring in connection with an elevator;

to select an image at a specific time point or during a specific time period with respect to a timing at which the signal is received, in an image shot by a camera installed in at least one of a car or a hall of the elevator, in accordance with an image selection rule; and

to transmit the image to an image analysis server over a network,

wherein the processing circuitry is configured to modify the image selection rule based on a result of image analysis performed by the image analysis server.

2 . The monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry does not transmit an image not selected to the image analysis server in an image always shot by the camera.

3 . The monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry transmits the image to the image analysis server that outputs a result of an image analysis for controlling operation of the elevator.

4 . The monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to claim 2 , wherein the specific time point or during the specific time period is after the timing at which the signal is received.

5 . The monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry selects the image in accordance with the image selection rule that varies depending on a type of the event indicated by the signal.

6 . The monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry changes image quality of the image to be selected depending on a type of the event indicated by the signal.

7 . The monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry

determines a transmission timing depending on a type of the event indicated by the signal, and

transmits the image to the image analysis server at the transmission timing.

8 . The monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry receives an output signal from at least one of a weight sensor and a door sensor of the elevator.

9 . The monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry receives a signal indicating that at least one of an in-car button or a hall button of the elevator is operated.

10 . The monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry receives a signal indicating that an emergency button of the elevator is operated.

11 . The monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry receives an output signal from an earthquake detector of the elevator.

12 . The monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to claim 1 , wherein the image selection rule defines a specific moment for selecting a still image from a moving image shot by the camera.

13 . The monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to claim 1 , wherein the image selection rule defines a specific time range for selecting a moving image from a moving image shot by the camera.

14 . The monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry selects a plurality of still images as analysis targets by cutting out a plurality of different moments from a moving image shot by the camera based on the image selection rule.

15 . The monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to claim 1 , wherein the image selection rule is preset and stored in a database to which the processing circuitry refers.

16 . The monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to claim 1 , wherein the specific time point defined by the image selection rule is a time point within 10 seconds after the signal is received.

17 . The monitoring image transmission apparatus for elevators according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry modifies the image selection rule by changing a moment at which a still image to be an analysis target is cut out from a moving image shot by the camera.