Method of controlling a function of a device and system for detecting the presence of a living being

1. Method of controlling a function of a device, including:

obtaining a sequence ( 19 ; 34 ; 48 ) of digital images taken at consecutive points in time using a camera;

selecting at least one measurement zone ( 25 ) including a plurality of image points;

for at least one measurement zone ( 25 ),

obtaining a signal ( 30 ; 41 ; 55 ) representative of at least variations in a time-varying value of a combination of pixel values at at least a number of the image points, and

determining at least one characteristic of the signal ( 30 ; 41 ; 55 ) within at least a range of interest of its spectrum relative to comparison data, the determination comprising at least one of:

(i) determining whether the signal ( 30 ; 41 ; 55 ) has a spectrum with a local maximum at a frequency matching a comparison frequency to a certain accuracy; and

(ii) determining whether at least a certain frequency component of the signal ( 30 ; 41 ; 55 ) is in phase with a comparison signal to a certain accuracy; and

controlling the function in dependence on whether the determination is positive, wherein the method is unobtrusive to a living being present in a field of view of the camera, and wherein the living being can be in motion.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein

the sequence ( 19 ; 34 ; 48 ) of digital images is caused to be captured by the camera ( 2 ) upon completion of an initialization phase, the initialization phase including:

measuring periodic intensity fluctuations in at least parts of images acquired by the camera ( 2 ) whilst camera settings are varied, and

selecting values of the camera settings at which measured periodic intensity fluctuations in at least a range of frequencies are determined to be minimal.

3. Method according to claim 1 , including

determining a correction signal corresponding to a time-varying value of a combination of pixel values at at least a number of image points in an image part other than a measurement zone ( 25 ), and

for each measurement zone ( 25 ), decorrelating at least one of the pixel data of the images in at least the measurement zone and the time-varying value of a combination of pixel values at at least a number of the image points in the measurement zone ( 25 ) from the correction signal.

4. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the comparison data is selected from the group consisting of heart rate and respiration rate.

5. Method according to claim 1 , wherein

the comparison data are based on at least one signal ( 30 ; 41 ; 55 ) representative of at least variations in a time-varying value of a combination of pixel values at at least a number of image points of a further selected measurement zone.

6. Method according to claim 5 , wherein each further selected measurement zone is one of a number of measurement zones in a grid laid over the images.

7. Method according to claim 5 , wherein

the determination of whether at least a certain frequency component of the signal ( 30 ; 41 ; 55 ) is in phase with a comparison signal to a certain accuracy is only carried out if the signals ( 30 ; 41 ; 55 ) obtained for the measurement zone and at least one further measurement zone spaced apart therefrom have spectra with respective local maxima at a frequency common to the measurement zone and the at least one further measurement zone to a certain accuracy.

8. Method according claim 1 , wherein the device includes at least one device ( 8 , 10 - 12 ) for providing a perceptible output, and wherein the method includes controlling the device to provide spatially targeted output differentiated by spatial target in dependence on whether a determination made for a measurement zone ( 25 ) corresponding to a target is positive.

9. Method according to claim 8 , wherein, for at least one measurement zone ( 25 ) corresponding to a target, the perceptible output is adapted in dependence on a value of the frequency of the local maximum.

10. Method according to claim 1 , wherein

at least one device is made operative in dependence on whether the determination is positive.

11. Method according to claim 10 , wherein

the device of which the function is controlled is included in a conditional access system ( 3 , 13 ).

12. System for detecting the presence of a living being, including:

a data processing device ( 3 ) having a processor ( 5 ) configured to obtain a sequence ( 19 ; 34 ; 48 ) of digital images taken at consecutive points in time by a camera, the data processing device configured to:

select at least one measurement zone ( 25 ) including a plurality of image points;

for at least one measurement zone ( 25 ),

to obtain a signal ( 30 ; 41 ; 55 ) representative of at least variations in a time-varying value of a combination of pixel values at at least a number of the image points, and

to determine at least one characteristic of the signal ( 30 ; 41 ; 55 ) within at least a range of interest of its spectrum relative to comparison data, the determination comprising at least one of:

(i) determining whether the signal ( 30 ; 41 ; 55 ) has a spectrum with a local maximum at a frequency matching a comparison frequency to a certain accuracy; and

(ii) determining whether at least a certain frequency component of the signal ( 30 ; 41 ; 55 ) is in phase with a comparison signal to a certain accuracy; and to adapt its output in dependence on whether a determination is positive, wherein the system is unobtrusive to a living being present in a field of view of the camera, and wherein the living being can be in motion.

13. System according to claim 12 , wherein

the sequence ( 19 ; 14 ; 48 ) of digital images is caused to be captured by the camera ( 2 ) upon completion of an initialization phase, the initialization phase including:

measuring periodic intensity fluctuations in at least parts of images acquired by the camera ( 2 ) whilst camera settings are varied, and

selecting values of the camera settings at which measured periodic intensity fluctuations in at least a range of frequencies are determined to be minimal.

14. System according to claim 12 , including

determining a correction signal corresponding to a time-varying value of a combination of pixel values at at least a number of image points in an image part other than a measurement zone ( 25 ), and

for each measurement one ( 25 ), decorrelating at least one of the pixel data of the images in at least the measurement zone and the time-varying value of a combination of pixel values at at least a number of the image points in the measurement zone ( 25 ) from the correction signal.

15. System according to claim 12 , wherein the comparison data is selected from the group consisting of heart rate and respiration rate.

16. System according to claim 12 , wherein

the comparison data are based on the at least one signal ( 30 ; 41 ; 55 ) representative of at least variations in a time-varying value of a combination of pixel values at at least a number of image points of a further selected measurement zone.

17. System according to claim 16 , wherein each further selected measurement zone is one of a number of measurement zones in a grid laid over the images.

18. System according to claim 16 , wherein

the determination of whether at least a certain frequency component of the signal ( 30 ; 41 ; 55 ) is in phase with a comparison signal to a certain accuracy is only carried out if the signals ( 30 ; 41 ; 55 ) obtained for the measurement zone and at least one further measurement zone spaced apart therefrom have spectra with respective local maxima at a frequency common to the measurement zone and the at least one further measurement zone to a certain accuracy.

19. System according claim 12 , wherein the system includes at least one device ( 8 , 10 - 12 ) for providing a perceptible output, and wherein the system includes means for controlling the device to provide spatially targeted output differentiated by spatial target in dependence on whether a determination made for a measurement zone ( 25 ) corresponding to a target is positive.

20. System according to claim 19 , wherein, for at least one measurement zone ( 25 ) corresponding to a target, the perceptible output is adapted in dependence on a value of the frequency of the local maximum.

21. System according to claim 19 , wherein

at least one device is made operative in dependence on whether the determination is positive.

22. System according to claim 19 , wherein

the device of which the function is controlled is included in a conditional access system ( 3 , 13 ).