IP Library Granted Patent US 9,594,290
Granted Patent B2
US 9,594,290 · App. 14/160,819 · Granted Mar 14, 2017

Monitoring apparatus for controlling operation of shutter

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,594,290
App. No.
14/160,819
Granted
Mar 14, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A monitoring apparatus is connected to a shutter which opens and closes to limit a capturing area of an image capturing device. The monitoring apparatus includes an information obtaining section, configured to obtain information, an existence determiner, configured to determine whether a person exists or not in a predetermined area in accordance with the information obtained by the information obtaining section, and a shutter control unit, configured to control the shutter to be opened in response that the existence determiner determines that the person does not exist in the predetermined area.

Claims (55)

1. A monitoring apparatus to be connected to a shutter which opens and closes to limit a capturing area of an image capturing device, the monitoring apparatus comprising:

a memory that stores instructions; and

a processor that, when executing the instructions stored in the memory, performs operations comprising:

obtaining information from a visiting and leaving management system that manages visiting and leaving of persons to and from a predetermined area, based on a detection of an integrated circuit card of each person;

determining whether or not a person is present in the predetermined area in accordance with the information obtained from the visiting and leaving management system; and

controlling the shutter to be opened when it is determined that no person is present in the predetermined area, wherein

a sensor terminal is installed inside or outside of the predetermined area, and detects that the integrated circuit card of each person approaches the sensor terminal,

a door is provided at the predetermined area, and

the sensor terminal unlocks the door when the integrated circuit card of each person approaches the sensor terminal.

2. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor, when executing the instructions stored in the memory, further performs operations comprising:

controlling the shutter to be closed when it is determined that a person is present in the predetermined area.

3. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the information includes presence information which indicates whether or not a person is present in the predetermined area, and

it is determined whether or not a person is present in the predetermined area in accordance with the presence information.

4. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor, when executing the instructions stored in the memory, further performs operations comprising:

obtaining information which indicates a current time, and

determining that no person is present in the predetermined area when the obtained current time is in a given time zone.

5. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor, when executing the instructions stored in the memory, further performs operations comprising:

determining whether a registrant, who is previously registered, is present in the predetermined area,

controlling the shutter to be opened when it is determined that no registrant is present in the predetermined area.

6. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor, when executing the instructions stored in the memory, further performs operations comprising:

determining whether a registrant, who is previously registered, is present in the predetermined area, and

controlling the shutter to be closed when it is determined that a registrant is present in the predetermined area.

7. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor, when executing the instructions stored in the memory, further performs operations comprising:

determining whether a person other than a registrant, who is previously registered, is present in the predetermined area, and

controlling the shutter to be opened when it is determined that a person other than the registrant is present in the predetermined area.

8. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor, when executing the instructions stored in the memory, further performs operations comprising:

registering information of a monitoring target, and

determining that the monitoring target is not present in the predetermined area when the information from the visiting and leaving management system does not contain information indicating that the registered monitoring target is present in the predetermined area.

9. The monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor, when executing the instructions stored in the memory, further performs operations comprising:

obtaining first information from the visiting and leaving management system,

obtaining second information from a sensor device that senses whether or not a person is present in the predetermined area, and

controlling the shutter to be opened when it is determined that a number of people in the predetermined area calculated from the first information is different from a number of people in the predetermined area calculated from the second information.

10. A monitoring system comprising:

an image capturing device;

a shutter which opens and closes to limit a capturing area of the image capturing device; and

a monitoring apparatus which is connected to the shutter and controls an operation of the shutter, wherein

the monitoring apparatus comprises:

a memory that stores instructions; and

a processor that, when executing the instructions stored in the memory, performs operations comprising:

obtaining information from a visiting and leaving management system that manages visiting and leaving of persons to and from a predetermined area, based on a detection of an integrated circuit card of each person;

determining whether or not a person is present in the predetermined area in accordance with the information obtained from the visiting and leaving management system; and

transmitting an instruction signal to open the shutter when it is determined that no person is present in the predetermined area, wherein

the shutter enters an open state based on the instruction signal,

a sensor terminal is installed inside or outside of the predetermined area, and detects that the integrated circuit card of each person approaches the sensor terminal,

a door is provided at the predetermined area, and

the sensor terminal unlocks the door when the integrated circuit card of each person approaches the sensor terminal.

11. A monitoring method in a monitoring apparatus to be connected to a shutter which opens and closes to limit a capturing area of an image capturing device, the monitoring method comprising:

determining whether or not a person is present in a predetermined area in accordance with information obtained from a visiting and leaving management system that manages visiting and leaving of persons to and from a predetermined area, based on a detection of an integrated circuit card of each person; and

controlling the shutter to be opened when it is determined that no person is present in the predetermined area, wherein

a sensor terminal is installed inside or outside of the predetermined area, and detects that the integrated circuit card of each person approaches the sensor terminal,

a door is provided at the predetermined area, and

the sensor terminal unlocks the door when the integrated circuit card of each person approaches the sensor terminal.

12. The monitoring method according to claim 11 , wherein

the information from the visiting and leaving management system is obtained from an external source.

Assignments (9)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 16, 2023
From: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
To: I-PRO CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063101/0966 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Mar 16, 2023
From: I-PRO CO., LTD.
To: I-PRO CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063102/0075 →
MERGER Recorded Dec 31, 2020
From: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
To: PSP HOLDINGS CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 054883/0201 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 31, 2020
From: PSP HOLDINGS CO., LTD
To: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054883/0234 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Dec 31, 2020
From: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054883/0248 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2019
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 051369/0172 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 9, 2014
From: ENOMOTO, HIROFUMI; WADA, JYOUJI; FUJIWARA, YASUHIRO
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032854/0561 →