Monitoring system, monitoring method, and program

Abstract

To provide a monitoring system, a monitoring method, and a program for reducing false alarms.SOLUTION: A monitoring system 10 is a system for monitoring target persons within a facility. The monitoring system 10 includes a detection unit 7 and a control unit 11. The detection unit 7 detects an abnormality of a target person. The control unit 11 executes confirmation processing for confirming whether or not the target person responds when the detection unit 7 detects an abnormality of the target person, and determines whether or not alarm notification processing for notifying an external device 20 of the abnormality of the target person according to whether or not the target person responds on the confirmation processing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a surveillance system, a surveillance method, and a program, and more particularly to a surveillance system, a surveillance method, and a program for monitoring a subject within a facility. [Background technology]

[0002] A monitoring system using a human presence sensor is described in Patent Document 1. The monitoring system described in Patent Document 1 is configured by connecting a server device, a human presence sensor installed in the home of a person to be monitored, and a smartphone owned by a person involved in the monitoring via an external communication network. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-218697 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the monitoring system (surveillance system) described in Patent Document 1, there is a possibility of false alarms due to erroneous detection by the human presence sensor.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a monitoring system, a monitoring method, and a program capable of reducing false alarms. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A monitoring system according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a monitoring system for monitoring a subject in a facility. The monitoring system includes a detection unit and a control unit. The detection unit detects an abnormality in the subject. When the detection unit detects the abnormality in the subject, the control unit executes a confirmation process to confirm whether or not the subject responds, and determines whether or not to execute a reporting process to report the abnormality in the subject to an external device depending on whether or not the subject responds in the confirmation process.

[0007] A monitoring method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a monitoring method for monitoring a subject in a facility. The monitoring method includes a detection step, a confirmation step, and a determination step. In the detection step, an abnormality in the subject is detected. In the confirmation step, when the abnormality in the subject is detected in the detection step, whether or not the subject responds is confirmed. In the determination step, it is determined whether or not to report the abnormality in the subject to an external device depending on whether or not the subject responds in the confirmation step.

[0008] A program according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a program for causing one or more processors to execute the monitoring method. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to a monitoring system, a monitoring method, and a program according to an aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce false alarms. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a monitoring system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an application example of the above monitoring system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above monitoring system. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a monitoring system according to the second embodiment. [Diagram 5]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a monitoring system according to the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, a monitoring system, a monitoring method, and a program according to embodiments 1 to 3 will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings referred to in the following embodiments 1 to 3 are schematic drawings, and the sizes and thicknesses of the components in the drawings do not necessarily reflect the actual dimensions, and the size ratios and thickness ratios between the components do not necessarily reflect the actual dimensional ratios.

[0012] (Embodiment 1) (1) Overview First, an overview of a monitoring system 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0013] The monitoring system 10 according to the first embodiment is, for example, a system for monitoring a subject P1 (see FIG. 2) in a facility F1 (see FIG. 2). The facility F1 is, for example, a residential facility such as a detached house or each dwelling unit in an apartment building, or a non-residential facility such as an office, a store, a school, or a nursing home. In the present embodiment, as an example, the facility F1 is a detached house. Therefore, the subject P1 in the facility F1 is a resident of the detached house (particularly, an elderly person or a child).

[0014] 1 and 2, the monitoring system 10 according to the first embodiment includes a detection unit 7 and a control unit 11. The detection unit 7 detects an abnormality in the subject P1. When the detection unit 7 detects the abnormality in the subject P1, the control unit 11 executes a confirmation process to confirm whether or not there is a response from the subject P1, and determines whether or not to execute a reporting process to report the abnormality of the subject P1 to the external device 20 depending on whether or not there is a response from the subject P1 in the confirmation process.

[0015] In the monitoring system 10 of embodiment 1, whether or not to execute an alarm process is determined depending on whether or not the subject P1 responds to the confirmation process, making it possible to reduce false alarms even if the detection by the detection unit 7 is an erroneous detection.

[0016] (2) Details Next, the configuration of the monitoring system 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0017] 1, a monitoring system 10 according to the first embodiment includes a controller 1, a server 2, a plurality of sensors (three in the illustrated example) (a first sensor 31, a second sensor 32, and a third sensor 33), and an imaging device 4. As described above, the monitoring system 10 is a system for monitoring a subject P1 in a facility F1.

[0018] (2.1) Controller The controller 1 includes a control unit 11, a first communication unit 12, a second communication unit 13, an input unit 14, an output unit 15, and a storage unit 16.

[0019] The controller 1 is realized, for example, by a computer system having one or more processors and one or more memories. That is, the one or more processors execute a program recorded in the memory, thereby realizing the functions of the control unit 11. The program may be pre-recorded in the memory, may be provided via a telecommunication line such as the Internet, or may be provided by recording it on a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card.

[0020] The control unit 11 performs overall control of the controller 1. The control unit 11 is electrically connected to each of the first communication unit 12, the second communication unit 13, the input unit 14, the output unit 15, and the storage unit 16. The control unit 11 controls the first communication unit 12 to cause the first communication unit 12 to perform wired communication with a communication unit 22 of the server 2, which will be described later. The control unit 11 controls the second communication unit 13 to cause the second communication unit 13 to perform wireless communication with each of the first sensor 31, the second sensor 32, the third sensor 33, and the imaging device 4, which will be described later. The control unit 11 acquires an input signal (for example, an operation signal indicating that the push button 141 has been pressed) from the input unit 14. The control unit 11 controls the output unit 15 to output, for example, a voice message, which will be described later, to the output unit 15. The control unit 11 controls the storage unit 16 to store information in the storage unit 16 and to read information from the storage unit 16.

[0021] The first communication unit 12 includes a communication interface for communicating with the communication unit 22 of the server 2. The first communication unit 12 performs, for example, wired communication with the communication unit 22. The first communication unit 12 transmits an alert signal to the communication unit 22 by communicating with the communication unit 22. The alert signal includes, for example, information indicating that the subject P1 in the facility F1 is abnormal. "The subject P1 is abnormal" includes the subject P1 losing consciousness and collapsing in the facility F1, the subject P1 escaping the facility F1 and wandering around, and the subject P1's activity level in the facility F1 decreasing. In addition, "the subject P1's activity level decreasing" includes, for example, the subject P1's movement level in the facility F1 decreasing, and the subject P1's stay time in the same area (for example, living room R1) in the facility F1 becoming longer. Here, when a human presence sensor such as a first sensor 31 described later is installed, since the time during which the subject P1 is detected by the human presence sensor is longer than a first time, it is possible to know that the movement amount of the subject P1 within the facility F1 is decreasing and the time during which the subject P1 stays in the same area within the facility F1 is increasing. Also, since the time during which the subject P1 is not detected by the human presence sensor is longer than a second time, it is possible to know that the subject P1 has left the facility F1 and is wandering around.

[0022] The second communication unit 13 includes a communication interface for communicating with each of the first sensor 31, the second sensor 32, the third sensor 33, and the imaging device 4. The second communication unit 13 performs wireless communication with each of the first sensor 31, the second sensor 32, the third sensor 33, and the imaging device 4. The second communication unit 13 acquires information on the presence / absence of the target person P1 (hereinafter referred to as "first sensor information") through communication with the first sensor 31. Furthermore, the second communication unit 13 acquires information on the opening / closing of a window provided in the facility F1 (hereinafter referred to as "second sensor information") through communication with the second sensor 32. Furthermore, the second communication unit 13 acquires information on the temperature and humidity in the facility F1 (hereinafter referred to as "third sensor information") through communication with the third sensor 33. Furthermore, the second communication unit 13 acquires an image of a predetermined area in the facility F1 (living room R1 in the facility F1 in FIG. 2) through communication with the imaging device 4.

[0023] The input unit 14 includes an input interface that accepts input from the subject P1. The input unit 14 has a push button 141 as shown in FIG. 1. The push button 141 is provided on the upper surface of the housing 101 of the controller 1 as shown in FIG. 2. The input unit 14 outputs an operation signal indicating that the push button 141 has been pressed to the control unit 11 as the input signal to the control unit 11. In this embodiment, the push button 141 corresponds to a physical button. That is, the monitoring system 10 according to the first embodiment further includes a physical button (push button 141) that is pressed by the subject P1.

[0024] The output unit 15 includes, for example, a speaker. The output unit 15 outputs a voice message such as "Are you OK? If you are OK, press the button" from the speaker in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 11. The voice message may be stored in the storage unit 16 in advance, or may be acquired from the server 2 through communication with the server 2.

[0025] The storage unit 16 is, for example, a memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). The storage unit 16 stores, for example, the above-mentioned program that realizes the functions of the control unit 11. The storage unit 16 also stores the sensor information (first sensor information, second sensor information, third sensor information) of the first sensor 31, the second sensor 32, and the third sensor 33, as well as the captured image of the imaging device 4. If the surveillance system 10 includes a plurality of controllers 1, the storage unit 16 may store identification information (for example, an address) individually assigned to each controller 1.

[0026] The control unit 11 also executes a confirmation process. The confirmation process is a process for confirming the presence or absence of a response from the subject P1 when the detection unit 7 (the first sensor 31, the second sensor 32, the third sensor 33, and the imaging device 4) detects an abnormality in the subject P1. In the confirmation process, the control unit 11 causes the speaker of the output unit 15 to output the above-mentioned voice message. In response to this, if the subject P1 is normal, the push button 141 is pressed by the subject P1, and if the subject P1 is abnormal, the push button 141 is not pressed.

[0027] Specifically, if the push button 141 is pressed during a confirmation period from the start of the confirmation process until a predetermined time (e.g., 5 minutes) has elapsed, the control unit 11 determines that the subject P1 has responded. If the push button 141 is not pressed during the confirmation period, the control unit 11 determines that the subject P1 has not responded.

[0028] Furthermore, the control unit 11 determines whether or not to execute an alert process depending on whether or not there is a response from the subject P1 in the confirmation process. The alert process is a process of notifying the external device 20 of an abnormality in the subject P1. If there is no response from the subject P1 in the confirmation process, the control unit 11 can determine that the subject P1 is abnormal, and therefore executes the alert process. On the other hand, if there is a response from the subject P1 in the confirmation process, the control unit 11 can determine that the subject P1 is normal, and therefore does not execute the alert process.

[0029] (2.2) Server The server 2 is, for example, a server device of a security company that provides a monitoring (watching) service using the monitoring system 10. The server 2 includes a control unit 21, a communication unit 22, and a storage unit 23. In the present embodiment, the server 2 is, for example, an external device 20.

[0030] The server 2 is realized, for example, by a computer system having one or more processors and one or more memories. That is, the one or more processors execute a program recorded in the memory, thereby realizing the functions of the control unit 21. The program may be pre-recorded in the memory, may be provided via a telecommunication line such as the Internet, or may be provided by recording it on a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card.

[0031] The control unit 21 performs overall control of the server 2. The control unit 21 is electrically connected to each of the communication unit 22 and the storage unit 23. The control unit 21 controls the communication unit 22 to cause the communication unit 22 to perform wired communication with the first communication unit 12 of the controller 1. The control unit 21 controls the storage unit 23 to store information in the storage unit 23 and to read information from the storage unit 23.

[0032] The communication unit 22 includes a communication interface for communicating with the first communication unit 12 of the controller 1. The communication unit 22 performs, for example, wired communication with the first communication unit 12. The communication unit 22 receives the above-mentioned alarm signal from the first communication unit 12 through communication with the first communication unit 12. The communication unit 22 may also receive detection results of the detection unit 7 (the first sensor 31, the second sensor 32, the third sensor 33, and the imaging device 4) through communication with the first communication unit 12.

[0033] The storage unit 23 is, for example, a memory such as a ROM, a RAM, or an EEPROM. The storage unit 23 stores, for example, the above-mentioned program that realizes the functions of the control unit 21. The storage unit 23 may also store the detection results of the detection unit 7. Furthermore, when the monitoring system 10 includes multiple controllers 1, the storage unit 23 may store identification information (for example, an address) individually assigned to each controller 1.

[0034] (2.3) Sensors The first sensor 31 is, for example, an infrared human sensor. The first sensor 31 is attached to, for example, the ceiling of the living room R1 of the facility F1 as shown in Fig. 2. The first sensor 31 transmits a first detection signal including first sensor information (information regarding the presence / absence of the target person P1) to the controller 1 by wireless communication with the second communication unit 13 of the controller 1.

[0035] The second sensor 32 is, for example, a window sensor installed on a window in the facility F1. Although not shown, the second sensor 32 is attached to one or more windows in the facility F1. The second sensor 32 transmits a second detection signal including second sensor information (information regarding opening and closing of a window installed in the facility F1) to the controller 1 by wireless communication with the second communication unit 13 of the controller 1.

[0036] The third sensor 33 is, for example, a temperature and humidity sensor that measures the temperature and humidity in the facility F1. Although not shown, the third sensor 33 is installed at a predetermined position in the facility F1 (for example, a position not exposed to direct sunlight and away from air conditioners and humidifiers). The third sensor 33 transmits a third detection signal including third sensor information (information regarding the temperature and humidity in the facility F1) to the controller 1 by wireless communication with the second communication unit 13 of the controller 1.

[0037] (2.4) Imaging device The imaging device 4 is, for example, a camera. More specifically, the imaging device 4 is, for example, a still camera capable of capturing still images. As shown in FIG. 2, the imaging device 4 is attached to the ceiling of the living room R1 of the facility F1. The imaging device 4 is oriented so as to include the entire living room R1 in its imaging range. The imaging device 4 transmits a fourth detection signal including a plurality of captured images to the controller 1 through wireless communication with the second communication unit 13 of the controller 1.

[0038] In this embodiment, the first sensor 31, the second sensor 32, the third sensor 33, and the imaging device 4 correspond to a detection unit 7 that detects abnormalities in the subject P1. That is, the detection unit 7 includes at least one of sensors (the first sensor 31, the second sensor 32, the third sensor 33) that sense information within the facility F1, and the imaging device 4 that captures an image of a predetermined area within the facility F1. In this embodiment, the detection unit 7 includes both the above sensors and the imaging device 4.

[0039] (3) Monitoring method Next, the monitoring method according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0040] The monitoring method according to the first embodiment is a monitoring method for monitoring a subject P1 (see FIG. 2) in a facility F1 (see FIG. 2). The monitoring method includes a detection step, a confirmation step, and a decision step. In the detection step, an abnormality in the subject P1 is detected. In the confirmation step, if an abnormality in the subject P1 is detected in the detection step, it is confirmed whether or not the subject P1 has responded. In the decision step, it is determined whether or not to report the abnormality in the subject P1 to the external device 20 depending on whether or not the subject P1 has responded in the confirmation step.

[0041] In the monitoring method of embodiment 1, whether or not to issue a report regarding the presence or absence of an abnormality in the subject P1 is determined depending on whether or not the subject P1 responds in the confirmation step, making it possible to reduce false alarms even if a false detection occurs in the detection step.

[0042] Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing a monitoring method according to the first embodiment. The monitoring method according to the first embodiment has steps ST1 to ST5 shown in Fig. 3. Note that the flowchart shown in Fig. 3 is an example, and the order of the steps may be changed as appropriate, or any step may be omitted. In addition, in the first embodiment, the monitoring method is executed by the above-mentioned monitoring system 10. For this reason, hereinafter, the monitoring method according to the first embodiment will be described as the operation of the monitoring system 10.

[0043] The detection unit 7 (the first sensor 31, the second sensor 32, the third sensor 33, and the imaging device 4) of the monitoring system 10 detects whether or not there is an abnormality in the subject P1 sitting in a chair in the living room R1 of the facility F1 (step ST1). In other words, step ST1 in which the detection unit 7 detects the abnormality in the subject P1 corresponds to the detection step.

[0044] If the detection unit 7 does not detect an abnormality in the subject P1 (step ST1: No), the detection step by the detection unit 7 is repeated. On the other hand, if the detection unit 7 detects an abnormality in the subject P1 (step ST1: Yes), the control unit 11 executes a confirmation process (steps ST2 and ST3). In the confirmation process, if there is no response from the subject P1 to the voice message output from the output unit 15, that is, if the push button 141 is not pressed by the subject P1 (step ST2: No), the control unit 11 determines whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the confirmation process (step ST3). If the predetermined time has not elapsed (step ST3: No), the control unit 11 repeats the confirmation process. On the other hand, if the predetermined time has elapsed (step ST3: Yes), the control unit 11 transmits an alert signal to the server 2 since the push button 141 has not been pressed until the predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the confirmation process (step ST5). In the confirmation process, if the subject P1 responds to the voice message output from the output unit 15, that is, if the subject P1 presses the push button 141 within a predetermined time period after the start of the confirmation process (step ST2: Yes), the control unit 11 does not transmit an alert signal to the server 2 (step ST4). In other words, the step in which the control unit 11 executes the confirmation process (steps ST2 and ST3) corresponds to the confirmation step. Also, the step in which the control unit 11 decides whether or not to transmit an alert signal to the server 2 (steps ST4 and ST5) corresponds to the decision step.

[0045] When the server 2 receives the alarm signal from the controller 1, it notifies a mobile terminal (e.g., a smartphone) owned by at least one security guard that the target person P1 in the facility F1 is abnormal. The security guard who receives this notification heads to the facility F1 to check the condition of the target person P1 in the facility F1. Here, if a speaker capable of outputting sound from the server 2 is installed in the facility F1, the security guard may try to call the target person P1 before heading to the facility F1.

[0046] (4) Effects In the monitoring system 10 according to the first embodiment, whether or not to execute an alarm process to notify that the subject P1 is abnormal is determined depending on whether or not the subject P1 responds in a confirmation process to confirm whether or not the subject P1 responds. This makes it possible to reduce false alarms even if the detection by the detection unit 7 is an erroneous detection. More specifically, if the subject P1 responds in the confirmation process, it can be determined that the subject P1 is not abnormal (i.e., normal), so it is possible to reduce false alarms by not executing the alarm process.

[0047] In the surveillance system 10 according to the first embodiment, the detection unit 7 includes a first sensor 31, a second sensor 32, and a third sensor 33 that sense information within the facility F1, and an imaging device 4 that images a predetermined area within the facility F1. This makes it possible to obtain information within the facility F1 (including information regarding the subject P1).

[0048] The monitoring system 10 according to the first embodiment further includes a push button (physical button) 141 to be pressed by the subject P1. If the push button 141 is pressed within a predetermined time period after the start of the confirmation process, the control unit 11 determines that the subject P1 has responded. This makes it possible to determine that the subject P1 has responded when the push button 141 is pressed.

[0049] (5) Variations The first embodiment is merely one of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Various modifications of the first embodiment are possible depending on the design and the like, as long as the object of the present disclosure can be achieved. Furthermore, a function similar to that of the monitoring method according to the first embodiment may be embodied in a monitoring system 10, a (computer) program, or a non-transitory recording medium on which a program is recorded. Furthermore, a program according to one aspect is a program for causing one or more processors to execute the above-mentioned monitoring method. According to this program, it is possible to reduce false alarms by executing the above-mentioned monitoring method.

[0050] Below, we will list some modified examples of the embodiment 1. The modified examples explained below can be applied in appropriate combinations.

[0051] The execution subject of the monitoring system 10 or the monitoring method in the present disclosure includes a computer system. The computer system is mainly composed of a processor and a memory as hardware. The processor executes a program recorded in the memory of the computer system, thereby realizing the function of the execution subject of the monitoring system 10 or the monitoring method in the present disclosure. The program may be pre-recorded in the memory of the computer system, may be provided through an electric communication line, or may be provided by being recorded in a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card, an optical disk, or a hard disk drive that can be read by the computer system. The processor of the computer system is composed of one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or a large scale integrated circuit (LSI). The integrated circuits such as IC or LSI referred to here are called by different names depending on the degree of integration, and include integrated circuits called system LSI, VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration), or ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration). Furthermore, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) that is programmed after the manufacture of the LSI, or a logic device that can reconfigure the connection relationship inside the LSI or reconfigure the circuit partition inside the LSI, can also be adopted as a processor. The electronic circuits may be integrated in one chip or distributed among multiple chips. The chips may be integrated in one device or distributed among multiple devices. The computer system referred to here includes a microcontroller having one or more processors and one or more memories. Thus, the microcontroller is also composed of one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit or a large-scale integrated circuit.

[0052] Furthermore, it is not essential for the monitoring system 10 that multiple functions are concentrated in one housing, and the components of the monitoring system 10 may be distributed across multiple housings. Furthermore, at least some of the functions of the monitoring system 10, for example, some of the functions of the controller 1, may be realized by the cloud (cloud computing) or the like.

[0053] Conversely, in the first embodiment, at least some of the functions of the monitoring system 10 that are distributed among multiple devices may be consolidated in one housing. For example, some of the functions of the monitoring system 10 that are distributed among the controller 1 and the server 2 may be consolidated in one housing.

[0054] In the first embodiment, the presence or absence of the response of the subject P1 is confirmed by pressing the push button 141 provided on the controller 1, but the presence or absence of the response of the subject P1 may be confirmed based on, for example, a plurality of captured images captured by the imaging device 4. When the detection unit 7 detects an abnormality in the subject P1, the control unit 11 causes the output unit 15 to output a voice message such as, for example, "Are you OK? If you are OK, please wave to the camera." In response to this, if the subject P1 performs a motion of waving his / her hand toward the imaging device 4 within a predetermined time period after the start of the confirmation process, the control unit 11 determines that the subject P1 has responded because the motion of the subject P1 waving his / her hand is included in the plurality of captured images captured by the imaging device 4. In other words, the control unit 11 determines that the subject P1 has responded if a predetermined motion (here, a motion of waving his / her hand) of the subject P1 is included in the plurality of captured images captured by the imaging device 4 within a predetermined time period after the start of the confirmation process. This makes it possible to determine whether or not the subject P1 responds simply by the subject P1 performing a predetermined action toward the imaging device 4.

[0055] In the first embodiment, the detection unit 7 includes both the sensors (the first sensor 31, the second sensor 32, and the third sensor 33) and the imaging device 4, but the detection unit 7 may include, for example, only the sensors or only the imaging device 4. That is, the detection unit 7 may include at least one of the sensors and the imaging device 4.

[0056] In addition, in embodiment 1, the monitoring system 10 is equipped with three sensors (first sensor 31, second sensor 32, and third sensor 33), but the monitoring system 10 may be equipped with, for example, one or two sensors, or four or more sensors.

[0057] In addition, the information from the sensor is not limited to the above-mentioned first sensor information, second sensor information, and third sensor information, but may be, for example, location information of a mobile terminal (e.g., a smartphone) owned by the subject P1. This makes it possible to identify the location of the subject P1.

[0058] In embodiment 1, the control unit 11 of the controller 1 executes the confirmation process and the alarm process, but for example, the control unit 21 of the server 2 may execute at least one of the confirmation process and the alarm process, or the cloud may execute at least one of the confirmation process and the alarm process.

[0059] In the first embodiment, the server 2 is the external device 20, but the external device 20 is not limited to the server 2 and may be, for example, a mobile terminal (e.g., a smartphone) owned by another resident of the facility F1. In this case, the controller 1 transmits (issues) a notification to the mobile terminal informing that the subject P1 in the facility F1 is abnormal.

[0060] Furthermore, the external device 20 may be, for example, a patrol lamp installed outside the facility F1. This makes it possible to inform the outside of the facility F1 that the target person P1 is abnormal. In this case, for example, a voice message or an alarm sound may be output to the effect that the target person P1 is abnormal.

[0061] In the first embodiment, the first sensor 31 is an infrared motion sensor, but may be, for example, an ultrasonic motion sensor, a visible light motion sensor, or a motion sensor combining two or more of infrared, ultrasonic, and visible light. In the first embodiment, the second sensor 32 is a window sensor, but may be, for example, a door sensor, or both a window sensor and a door sensor. In the first embodiment, the third sensor 33 is a temperature and humidity sensor, but may be, for example, a temperature sensor that measures only temperature, or a humidity sensor that measures only humidity. In the first embodiment, the imaging device 4 is a still camera, but may be, for example, a movie camera that can capture moving images.

[0062] (Embodiment 2) A monitoring system 10A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Regarding the monitoring system 10A according to the second embodiment, the same components as those in the monitoring system 10 according to the first embodiment (see Figs. 1 and 2) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0063] The monitoring system 10A according to the second embodiment differs from the monitoring system 10 according to the first embodiment in that a voice capture device 5 is provided instead of the push button 141 (see FIG. 1) of the input unit 14 of the controller 1.

[0064] The monitoring system 10A according to the second embodiment includes a controller 1A, a server 2, a first sensor 31, a second sensor 32, a third sensor 33, an imaging device 4, and a sound capturing device 5, as shown in FIG.

[0065] The controller 1A includes a control unit 11, a first communication unit 12, a second communication unit 13, an output unit 15, and a storage unit 16. That is, the controller 1A according to the second embodiment does not include the input unit 14 (see FIG. 1). The server 2 includes a control unit 21, a communication unit 22, and a storage unit 23.

[0066] The voice acquisition device 5 acquires the voice of the subject P1 in the facility F1. The voice acquisition device 5 includes, for example, a microphone and a communication unit that transmits voice data acquired via the microphone. The voice acquisition device 5 transmits the voice data of the subject P1 acquired via the microphone to the controller 1A via the communication unit.

[0067] During the confirmation period, when the control unit 11 acquires voice data from the voice acquiring device 5 through wireless communication between the communication unit of the voice acquiring device 5 and the second communication unit 13, the control unit 11 determines that there has been a response from the subject P1. The confirmation period is a period from the start of a confirmation process for confirming whether or not there has been a response from the subject P1 until a predetermined time (e.g., 5 minutes) has elapsed. In other words, the control unit 11 determines that there has been a response from the subject P1 if the voice acquiring device 5 acquires the voice of the subject P1 within the predetermined time elapsed from the start of the confirmation process.

[0068] If there is a response from the subject P1 within the confirmation period, the control unit 11 does not execute the alert process of transmitting an alert signal to the server 2. If there is no response from the subject P1 within the confirmation period, the control unit 11 executes the above-mentioned alert process to the server 2. The alert signal includes information indicating that the subject P1 in the facility F1 is abnormal.

[0069] The monitoring system 10A according to the second embodiment can reduce false alarms, similarly to the monitoring system 10 according to the first embodiment. Moreover, the monitoring system 10A according to the second embodiment can determine that the subject P1 has responded by the voice capturing device 5 capturing the voice of the subject P1.

[0070] In the monitoring system 10A according to the second embodiment, the input unit 14 including the push button 141 is omitted, but it does not have to be omitted. That is, the controller 1A may be provided with the input unit 14 including the push button 141.

[0071] (Embodiment 3) A monitoring system 10B according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Regarding the monitoring system 10B according to the third embodiment, the same components as those in the monitoring system 10 according to the first embodiment (see Figs. 1 and 2) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0072] The monitoring system 10B according to the third embodiment differs from the monitoring system 10 according to the first embodiment in that a mobile terminal 6 is provided instead of the push button 141 (see FIG. 1) of the input unit 14 of the controller 1.

[0073] A monitoring system 10B according to the third embodiment includes a controller 1B, a server 2, a first sensor 31, a second sensor 32, a third sensor 33, an imaging device 4, and a mobile terminal 6, as shown in FIG.

[0074] The controller 1B includes a control unit 11, a first communication unit 12, a second communication unit 13, an output unit 15, and a storage unit 16. That is, the controller 1B according to the third embodiment does not include the input unit 14 (see FIG. 1). The server 2 includes a control unit 21, a communication unit 22, and a storage unit 23.

[0075] The mobile terminal 6 is, for example, a smartphone owned by the subject P1 in the facility F1. The mobile terminal 6 has a function of accepting a predetermined operation by the subject P1. The predetermined operation includes, for example, an operation of tapping a push button displayed on a display screen of the smartphone. The push button is a button for checking whether or not the subject P1 has responded. When the push button is tapped by the subject P1, the mobile terminal 6 transmits an operation signal indicating that the push button has been tapped to the controller 1B through wireless communication with the second communication unit 13 of the controller 1B.

[0076] During the confirmation period, when the control unit 11 receives an operation signal from the mobile terminal 6 through wireless communication between the communication unit of the mobile terminal 6 and the second communication unit 13, the control unit 11 determines that there has been a response from the subject P1. The confirmation period is a period from the start of a confirmation process to check whether or not there has been a response from the subject P1 until a predetermined time (e.g., 5 minutes) has elapsed. In other words, the control unit 11 determines that there has been a response from the subject P1 if the mobile terminal 6 accepts a predetermined operation before the predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the confirmation process.

[0077] If there is a response from the subject P1 before the confirmation period has elapsed, the control unit 11 does not execute the alert process of transmitting an alert signal to the server 2. If there is no response from the subject P1 before the confirmation period has elapsed, the control unit 11 executes the alert process to the server 2. The alert signal includes information indicating that the subject P1 in the facility F1 is abnormal.

[0078] The monitoring system 10B according to the embodiment 3 can reduce false alarms, similarly to the monitoring system 10 according to the embodiment 1. Moreover, the monitoring system 10B according to the embodiment 3 can determine whether or not the subject P1 has responded depending on whether or not a predetermined operation has been performed on the mobile terminal 6.

[0079] In the monitoring system 10B according to the third embodiment, the input unit 14 including the push button 141 is omitted, but it does not have to be omitted. That is, the controller 1B may be provided with the input unit 14 including the push button 141. In addition, in the monitoring system 10B according to the third embodiment, the mobile terminal 6 is a smartphone, but the mobile terminal 6 is not limited to a smartphone and may be, for example, a notebook computer or a tablet terminal. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 6 may be a terminal dedicated to the monitoring system 10B.

[0080] (Aspect) The present specification discloses the following aspects.

[0081] The monitoring system (10; 10A; 10B) according to the first embodiment is a monitoring system (10; 10A; 10B) that monitors a subject (P1) in a facility (F1). The monitoring system (10; 10A; 10B) includes a detection unit (7) and a control unit (11). The detection unit (7) detects an abnormality in the subject (P1). When the detection unit (7) detects an abnormality in the subject (P1), the control unit (11) executes a confirmation process to confirm whether or not there is a response from the subject (P1), and determines whether or not to execute a reporting process to report the abnormality of the subject (P1) to an external device (20) depending on whether or not there is a response from the subject (P1) in the confirmation process.

[0082] According to this aspect, whether or not to execute the alarm process is determined depending on whether or not there is a response from the subject person (P1) in the confirmation process, so that it is possible to reduce false alarms.

[0083] In the monitoring system (10; 10A; 10B) according to the second embodiment, in the first embodiment, the control unit (11) executes an alert process when there is no response from the subject person (P1) in the confirmation process.

[0084] According to this embodiment, if there is no response from the subject (P1) in the confirmation process, it can be determined that the subject (P1) is abnormal, and a report can be sent to the external device (20).

[0085] In the monitoring system (10; 10A; 10B) according to the third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the control unit (11) does not execute the alarm process when there is a response from the subject person (P1) in the confirmation process.

[0086] According to this embodiment, if there is a response from the subject (P1) in the confirmation process, it can be determined that there is nothing abnormal with the subject (P1), and by not executing the alarm process, it is possible to reduce false alarms.

[0087] In a surveillance system (10; 10A; 10B) according to a fourth aspect, in any one of the first to third aspects, the detection unit (7) includes at least one of a sensor (31, 32, 33) that senses information within the facility (F1) and an imaging device (4) that images a predetermined area within the facility (F1).

[0088] According to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain information regarding the condition of the subject (P1) by at least one of the sensors (31, 32, 33) and the imaging device (4).

[0089] The monitoring system (10) according to a fifth aspect is any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising a physical button (141) to be pressed by the subject (P1). If the physical button (141) is pressed within a predetermined time period after the start of the confirmation process, the control unit (11) determines that there has been a response from the subject (P1).

[0090] According to this embodiment, it is possible to determine that there has been a response from the subject (P1) when the physical button (141) is pressed.

[0091] A monitoring system (10A) according to a sixth aspect is any one of the first to fifth aspects, further comprising a voice acquisition device (5) that acquires the voice of the subject (P1). If the voice acquisition device (5) acquires the voice of the subject (P1) within a predetermined time period after the start of the confirmation process, the control unit (11) determines that the subject (P1) has responded.

[0092] According to this embodiment, it is possible to determine that there is a response from the target person (P1) by the voice capturing device (5) capturing the voice of the target person (P1).

[0093] A surveillance system (10) according to a seventh aspect is any one of the first to sixth aspects, further comprising an imaging device (4) that images a predetermined area in a facility (F1). A control unit (11) determines that a response from the subject (P1) has been made when a predetermined action of the subject (P1) is included in a plurality of captured images captured by the imaging device (4) until a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of a confirmation process.

[0094] According to this embodiment, it is possible to determine whether or not the subject (P1) responds simply by the subject (P1) performing a predetermined action with respect to the imaging device (4).

[0095] A monitoring system (10B) according to an eighth aspect is any one of the first to seventh aspects, further comprising a mobile terminal (6) that accepts a predetermined operation from a target person (P1). If the mobile terminal (6) accepts the predetermined operation within a predetermined time period after starting a confirmation process, the control unit (11) determines that a response from the target person (P1) has been received.

[0096] According to this embodiment, it is possible to determine whether or not the subject (P1) has responded depending on whether or not a predetermined operation has been performed on the mobile terminal (6).

[0097] The monitoring method according to the ninth aspect is a monitoring method for monitoring a subject (P1) in a facility (F1). The monitoring method includes a detection step (ST1), confirmation steps (ST2, ST3), and a decision step (ST4, ST5). In the detection step (ST1), an abnormality in the subject (P1) is detected. In the confirmation steps (ST2, ST3), when an abnormality in the subject (P1) is detected in the detection step (ST1), the presence or absence of a response from the subject (P1) is confirmed. In the decision steps (ST4, ST5), it is decided whether or not to report the abnormality in the subject (P1) to an external device (20) depending on the presence or absence of a response from the subject (P1) in the confirmation steps (ST2, ST3).

[0098] According to this aspect, whether or not to execute the alarm process is determined depending on the presence or absence of a response from the subject (P1) in the confirmation steps (ST2, ST3), so that it is possible to reduce false alarms.

[0099] A program according to a tenth aspect is a program for causing one or more processors to execute the monitoring method according to the ninth aspect.

[0100] According to this aspect, whether or not to execute the alarm process is determined depending on the presence or absence of a response from the subject (P1) in the confirmation steps (ST2, ST3), so that it is possible to reduce false alarms.

[0101] The configurations according to the second to eighth aspects are not essential components of the monitoring system (10; 10A; 10B) and can be omitted as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0102] 4. Imaging device 5. Audio capture device 6. Mobile Devices 7. Detection Unit 10, 10A, 10B Monitoring system 11 Control section 20 External device 31 First sensor (sensor) 32 Second sensor (sensor) 33 3rd Sensor (Sensor) 141 Push button (physical button) F1 Facilities P1 Target ST1 step (detection step) ST2, ST3 steps (confirmation steps) ST4, ST5 steps (decision steps)

Claims

1. A surveillance system for monitoring a subject within a facility, comprising: A detection unit that detects an abnormality in the subject; and a control unit that, when the detection unit detects the abnormality of the subject, executes a confirmation process to confirm whether or not the subject responds, and determines whether or not to execute a notification process to notify an external device of the abnormality of the subject depending on whether or not the subject responds in the confirmation process. Surveillance system.

2. The control unit executes the alert process when there is no response from the subject person in the confirmation process. The monitoring system of claim 1 .

3. The control unit does not execute the alert process when there is a response from the target person in the confirmation process. The monitoring system of claim 1 .

4. The detection unit is A sensor that senses information within the facility; and an imaging device that images a predetermined area within the facility. The monitoring system of claim 1 .

5. a physical button pressed by the subject; The control unit determines that the subject has responded if the physical button is pressed within a predetermined time period after the start of the confirmation process. The monitoring system of claim 1 .

6. A voice capture device for capturing the voice of the subject is further provided, The control unit determines that the subject has responded when the voice capture device captures the subject's voice within a predetermined time period after starting the confirmation process. The monitoring system of claim 1 .

7. Further comprising an imaging device for imaging a predetermined area within the facility, The control unit determines that the subject has responded when a predetermined action of the subject is included in a plurality of captured images captured by the imaging device until a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the confirmation process. The monitoring system of claim 1 .

8. The device further includes a mobile terminal that accepts a predetermined operation by the subject, The control unit determines that the target person has responded when the mobile device accepts the predetermined operation within a predetermined time period after starting the confirmation process. The monitoring system of claim 1 .

9. 1. A method for monitoring a subject in a facility, comprising: A detection step of detecting an abnormality in the subject; a confirmation step of confirming whether or not the subject responds when the abnormality of the subject is detected in the detection step; and a determination step of determining whether or not to notify an external device of the abnormality of the subject depending on the presence or absence of the response of the subject in the confirmation step. Monitoring method.

10. A program for causing one or more processors to execute the monitoring method according to claim 9.

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