Systems and methods for monitoring people

Abstract

A monitoring system and method for detecting the location of at least one person in a monitoring area using a monitoring system, wherein the monitoring system comprises at least one sensor device (101, 201, 301, 302, 303, 304) comprising at least one sensor, measuring electronic equipment, and a processor configured to process sensor data, wherein the sensor is a radar-based sensor such as a frequency-modulated continuous-wave MIMO radar-based sensor that monitors the presence, location, movement and / or attitude of at least one person in the monitoring area, and the system uses at least one sensor device to detect the location of at least one person in a monitoring area. The system identifies the presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person (402, 403, 404, 405) within the monitoring area (200, 401), and transmits information regarding the presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person (402, 403, 404, 405) within the monitoring area (200, 401) to a portable device, such as a mobile phone or tablet (400, 500), which then displays the identified presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person (402, 403, 404, 405) within the monitoring area on a map or plan view of the monitoring area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a monitoring system and a monitoring method using a sensor device that can be used, for example, under dangerous situations and during evacuation of an area or a building.

Background Art

[0002] Various systems for guiding people in an emergency to the emergency exits of various buildings or ships are known. These systems include, for example, various emergency exit lighting systems and emergency exits marked with reflective paint or tape.

[0003] For example, separate guiding lights designed for use in emergency exits are known, in which case the light sources are continuously attached in the form of a strip. The light sources on the strip are arranged to light up in an emergency, guide people, and illuminate the exit. For many applications such as shopping malls, stores, hotels, passenger ships, etc., an evacuation route in an emergency that people should follow in an evacuation situation is specified. In an emergency, people often do not act as planned and do not follow a predetermined exit route. There can be many reasons for this. People may not recognize the emergency exit route and related signs. In the case of a fire, the signs may be covered by smoke and become invisible. In addition, in an emergency, people prefer to use a route they are familiar with. On the other hand, in the case of a fire, a predetermined escape route may be impossible to use due to the location of the threat (e.g., fire, flood, water damage, violence, etc.) that caused the need to escape, and thus, known solutions may even lead people in the wrong direction or towards the threat.

[0004] Despite emergency guidance systems, emergency personnel must check an area, for example, in a fire situation, in which case the area must be checked by searching for remaining people in the area, either by personnel or, for example, by firefighters. This is dangerous and difficult, for example, in a fire situation, because smoke obstructs visibility and the area is dangerous due to heat and collapsing structures.

[0005] The objective of the present invention is to provide a completely new type of solution that reduces the shortcomings of known solutions. [Overview of the Initiative]

[0006] The objective of the solution according to the present invention is to eliminate the problems of the prior art and enable a monitoring system that can be used, for example, in hazardous situations and during the evacuation of an area or building. The monitoring method according to the present invention is characterized by what is referred to in the feature portion of claim 1. The monitoring method according to the present invention is further characterized by what is referred to in claims 2 to 11. The system according to the present invention is characterized by what is referred to in the feature portion of method claim 12. The system according to the present invention is also characterized by what is referred to in the feature portion of method claim 13.

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method for detecting the location of at least one person in a monitoring area using a monitoring system. The monitoring system comprises at least one sensor device comprising at least one sensor, measuring electronic equipment, and a processor configured to process sensor data, wherein the sensor is a radar-based sensor, such as a frequency-modulated continuous-wave MIMO radar-based sensor, which monitors the presence, location, movement, and / or attitude of at least one person in a monitoring area, and the system uses the at least one sensor device to identify the presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person in a monitoring area. The system transmits information regarding the presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person in a monitoring area to a portable device, such as a mobile phone or tablet. The device displays or presents the identified presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person in a monitoring area on a map or plan view of the monitoring area.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system and / or device locates the location of the device, and the location of the device is presented on a map or plan of the monitoring area, along with the identified presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person within the monitoring area.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the location of the device is determined by an indoor positioning system and / or obtained by the GPS positioning function of the device.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the map of the monitoring area includes an indoor map or floor plan of the monitoring area.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the map of the monitoring area includes the location of at least one radar-based sensor and / or sensor device within the map of the monitoring area.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one sensor of the sensor device is located on the floor, wall and / or ceiling of the area to be monitored, and / or the measurement range of at least one sensor device and / or all sensor devices essentially covers the area to be monitored.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the sensor device comprises a plurality of radar-type sensors, for example, 2 to 4 radar-type sensors, which are arranged in the same structure as each other and / or configured to measure in different directions.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system and the device include communication means for communicating with each other, the device includes software, and a map or plan view is stored in the system and / or software.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system comprises or is connected to an electronic price tag system, the electronic price tag system stores the location of a product or a price tag linked to a product, and the monitoring system or electronic price tag system collects customer product selection event information for a specific product based on the determined location of a person within the monitoring area and identified purchase and / or location information from the electronic price tag system.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, a fire detector, a smoke detector, and / or a flame detector are arranged in relation to at least one radar-based sensor, for example, within the same housing and / or structure that includes the radar-based sensor.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system includes means for guiding people, such as a remote control display, a dynamic sign or a light strip, and the system uses means for guiding people to guide people, at least partially based on the display of fire, smoke and / or flame detectors in a monitoring area and the identified location of people, for example, so that people are guided away from the location of a fire detector that has detected a fire.

[0018] The present invention also relates to a surveillance system for detecting the location of at least one person within a surveillance area. The surveillance system comprises at least one sensor device comprising at least one sensor, measuring electronic equipment, and a processor configured to process sensor data, wherein the sensor is a radar-based sensor, such as a frequency-modulated continuous-wave MIMO radar-based sensor, configured to monitor the presence, location, movement, and / or orientation of a person within a surveillance area. The system is configured to use the at least one sensor device to identify the presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person within a surveillance area. The system is configured to transmit information regarding the presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person within a surveillance area to a portable device, such as a mobile phone or tablet. The device is configured to show or present the determined presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person within a surveillance area on a map or plan view of the surveillance area.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system is configured to carry out any method according to any embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer program that includes instructions causing a computer to execute any method according to any embodiment of the present invention when executed by the computer.

[0021] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer-readable medium containing a computer program according to the present invention.

[0022] The monitoring system and method according to the present invention have several important advantages. This solution allows authorities or other personnel to be effectively notified about people in an area and their location without being forced to enter and search the dangerous area. In this way, authorities, emergency personnel or other stakeholders can continuously monitor the situation in the dangerous area and rescue people who are still in that area. This is a far more effective and safer way to rescue people from a dangerous area than conventional solutions in which authorities and / or emergency personnel must search the entire area to find the remaining persons, which is extremely difficult, for example, during a fire when visibility is minimal. The solution of the present invention can also combine different functionalities in one system. This is because the monitoring of people can also be used for different purposes, for example, to show emergency personnel that a person is present in an area and where that person is located, and also to monitor the behavior and routes of people in an area in normal circumstances, for example, in a retail environment. The solution of the present invention can improve the safety of the monitoring area and at the same time provide additional functionality while keeping installation and hardware costs low.

[0023] Based on the following detailed explanation, various other advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0024] The terms “first,” “second,” and “third” are used herein to distinguish one element from another and do not, unless otherwise expressly stated, give them any special priority or order.

[0025] Typical embodiments of the invention presented herein are not to be construed as limiting the applicability of the appended claims. The verb “equipped with” is used herein as an open limitation that does not exclude the existence of unenumerated features. The features enumerated in accordance with the claims are freely combinable with each other unless otherwise explicitly stated.

[0026] The novel features considered to be characteristic of the present invention are particularly set out in the appended claims. However, the invention itself, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 using examples.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] [Figure 1] An exemplary embodiment of a sensor device disposed in a store environment is shown in a simplified manner. [Figure 2] One exemplary embodiment in a store environment as viewed from above is shown in a simplified manner. [Figure 3] One exemplary embodiment in a store environment as viewed from above is shown in a simplified manner. [Figure 4] A mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention and an application operating on the mobile device in a fire situation are shown. [Figure 5] A mobile device according to an embodiment of the present invention and an application operating on the mobile device in a fire situation are shown. [Figure 6] An operation of a monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention in a situation where an area should evacuate is shown in a simplified diagram.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0029] Figure 1 shows a simplified exemplary embodiment relating to a sensor device 101 placed in a store environment. In this exemplary embodiment, the sensor device 101 is positioned above the aisles between shelves in a store so that the sensor device can measure the area between shelves where people are moving and / or detect people from these areas. The sensors of the sensor device may be positioned so that they are pointed straight down or slightly tilted. The sensor device 101 may comprise one or more sensors, which may be connected to a control unit 110 that controls the operation of the sensor device 101. The sensor device may comprise at least one sensor, measuring electronics, and a processor configured to process sensor data. The sensor of the sensor device is a radar-based sensor, such as a frequency-modulated continuous-wave MIMO radar-based sensor. In one embodiment of the present invention, the measuring electronics and / or processor may be provided in the control unit and / or sensor.

[0030] Figure 2 shows a simplified exemplary embodiment relating to the placement of a sensor device in a store as viewed from above. In this example, the sensor device 201 is positioned above the aisles between the shelves 210 of the store so that the sensor device's sensors can measure the area between the shelves where people move. In this embodiment, the measurement area of ​​all sensor devices 201 placed in the store covers essentially all areas 200 where people can move.

[0031] The monitoring system uses at least one sensor device to identify the presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person within the monitoring area. In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one sensor of the sensor device is placed on the floor, wall, and / or ceiling of the area to be monitored, and / or the measurement range of at least one sensor essentially covers the area to be monitored. The system can combine the measurement results from multiple sensors and / or sensor devices to achieve reliable positioning of people within the monitoring area.

[0032] The system transmits information regarding the identified presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person within a monitoring area to a portable device, such as a mobile phone or tablet. The device indicates or presents the identified presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person within the monitoring area, for example, on its display, on a map or floor plan of the monitoring area, and / or as directional symbols such as arrows indicating the location of at least one person and / or the distance between the device and at least one person. In one embodiment of the present invention, the map of the monitoring area includes an indoor map or floor plan of the monitoring area. In one embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a store shelf map.

[0033] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system and the device include communication means for communicating with each other, the device includes software, and a map or plan view is stored in the system and / or software.

[0034] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system and / or device determines the location of the device, and the location of the device is presented on a map or plan of the monitoring area, along with the determined presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person within the monitoring area. In one embodiment of the present invention, the location of the device is determined by an indoor positioning system and / or obtained by the GPS positioning function of the device.

[0035] In one embodiment of the present invention, the map of the monitoring area includes the location of at least one radar-based sensor within the map of the monitoring area.

[0036] In one embodiment of the present invention, the sensor device comprises a plurality of radar-type sensors, for example, 2 to 4 radar-type sensors, which are arranged in the same structure as each other and / or configured to measure in different directions. In an exemplary embodiment, one sensor can measure an object up to a distance of 15 to 20 meters from the sensor. In one embodiment of the present invention in which a plurality of sensors are used, for example, if there are two sensors measuring in opposite directions, together they can measure an area of, for example, 30 meters. In this case, having a measurement area that covers the measured space can be achieved by the sensors such that the sensors are installed at intervals of 30 meters.

[0037] There are many different types of fire detectors that can be used with the solutions of the present invention. One widely used type is a smoke detector, which transmits a signal to a control system of smoke generation typical of a fire. Temperature-responsive detectors are also known. Often, the fire detectors used have the characteristics of both a smoke detector and a heat detector. Such fire detectors provide signals for both smoke generation and a temperature that has reached a certain setpoint. In the case of a fire, smoke spreads over a wide area, so typically several smoke detectors within the fire detector will emit an alarm, i.e., a signal. A heat detector, on the other hand, reacts only when the flame is close to the detector, i.e., it reacts to flames more locally than a smoke detector. In one embodiment of the present invention, the fire detector, smoke detector and / or flame detector are arranged together with at least one radar-based sensor, for example, in a housing and / or structure with a radar-based sensor.

[0038] In one embodiment of the present invention, monitoring of people's movements includes monitoring the locations where people move, the locations where they remain still, and / or how long people remain still in a particular location.

[0039] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system comprises or is connected to an electronic price tag system, the electronic price tag system stores the location of a product or a price tag linked to a product, and collects customer product selection event information for a particular product based on the identified location of a person in a monitoring area and identified purchase and / or location information from an electronic labeling system.

[0040] In one embodiment (and as shown in Figure 3), the base station of the electronic price tag system may be located in the same location and / or within the same structure as the sensor device. Thus, installation in a store environment is easy because wiring and installation for both the sensor device and the base station of the electronic price tag system can be done in one location. This solution allows the system to collect the location and / or route of people within the store, as well as the location and / or route of electronic price tags. This device can be installed, for example, on the ceiling of a monitoring area.

[0041] Figure 3 shows a simplified exemplary embodiment relating to the placement of at least a portion of the solution of the present invention in a store. Each sensor device 301, 302, 303, 304 comprises four radar-based sensors, e.g., MMW radar, configured to detect human movement. The sensor device can have a 360-degree field of view of the monitoring area due to the presence of multiple radar-based sensors. The unit with the radar-based sensors is positioned above the aisles between the shelves 310 of the store so that the sensors can measure the area between the shelves where people are moving. The sensors may be positioned so that they are pointed straight down or slightly tilted. The sensor device may be connected to a control unit that controls the operation of the sensor device and / or a base station for, for example, an electronic price tag system. Figure 3 also presents point cloud data from the radar-based sensors of sensor device 301 as an example corresponding to a person moving in the corridor.

[0042] In one embodiment, the sensor device may be positioned in relation to a base station of the electronic price tag system. In arrival detection mode, the base station can send a command to the electronic price tag to transmit a signal to the base station, for example, a Constant Tone Extension (CTE) signal. The base station may be equipped with an antenna array, and the direction of arrival of the signal from the electronic price tag can be determined from the base station's antenna array. Using three base stations, the location of the price tag can be determined.

[0043] In one embodiment of the present invention, the locations of detected people may be displayed in a software application. The application can automatically display evacuation routes when evacuation from a building is initiated and the application is open or opened.

[0044] Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention in which device 400 displays a floor plan 401 of a building by software or an installed application. The floor plan may, for example, show furniture within the building and / or the layout and / or structure of the building. The software can also be used to display detected persons or groups of persons 402, 403, 404, 405 and their locations on the map or floor plan. In this way, emergency personnel or authorities can monitor the situation under dangerous conditions, for example, during a fire, and people still within the monitoring area can be evacuated by the personnel based on their indicated location on the display of a portable device, such as a tablet, telephone, or device with a display.

[0045] One embodiment of the present invention also relates to an exit guidance system. The system comprises a portable device, or the system is connected to a portable device such as a mobile phone, and the system and the device comprises means for communicating with each other. The portable device comprises software, and a floor plan of a building is stored in the system and / or software. The system is configured to perform guidance of people, such as emergency exit guidance, by an application installed on the portable device. The floor plan may include location information of objects and / or structures within the building, such as location information of shelves in a store.

[0046] In one embodiment of the present invention, an exit guidance system is adapted to send an exit command to a device, and in response to the command, the device is adapted to initiate exit guidance using software shown on the device's display. The exit command may include information related to exit guidance, such as an exit route, an exit door, and / or the location of a fire.

[0047] In one embodiment of the present invention, an exit guidance system and / or software is adapted to guide the user of the device out of a building, for example, to the nearest exit door or other building exit and / or emergency exit. Using software within the device, the system can guide people based on the display of a fire detector in the building, for example, at a distance from the location of the fire detector that detected the fire. The system and / or device and / or software may utilize various known positioning systems and technologies, such as indoor positioning systems or technologies, to locate the device and / or to modify and adapt the guidance based on the device's location.

[0048] In one embodiment of the present invention, an exit guidance system and / or software is adapted to generate guidance by displaying a route to an exit on a device's display, the route being adapted to be depicted as a sequence of consecutive and / or adjacent symbols such as lines and / or dots or circles. Guidance can be performed by creating a sequence of consecutive and / or adjacent symbols "travel," for example by changing their color and / or making the symbols smaller and / or larger. A symbol may have two states, a normal state and a guided state, and the impression of movement is created by controlling the symbols in a group such that when the appearance of the next symbol enters the guided state, for example by changing its color and / or making the symbol smaller and / or larger, the appearance of the preceding symbol enters the normal state.

[0049] One embodiment of the present invention also relates to an exit guidance method that may be used in an exit guidance system comprising a portable device, or the system is connected to a portable device such as a mobile phone, and comprises communication means for the system and the device to communicate with each other, the portable device comprises software, and a building map or floor plan is stored in the system and / or software. The method performs guidance of people, such as emergency exit guidance, by an application installed on the portable device in the system.

[0050] Figure 5 shows a portable device according to one embodiment of the present invention and an application that operates on the portable device in a fire situation. The solution shown in Figure 5 corresponds in other respects to the solution shown in Figure 4, except that in the solution of Figure 5, the software or installed application does not show the location of people in the area and guides the person using the device to an exit. Thus, Figure 5 shows a device 500 that displays a floor plan 501 of the building by software or an installed application. The floor plan may show, for example, furniture in the building and / or the layout and / or structure of the building. The software can be used to show the route to exit 503, as well as the location of the first exit 505 and the second exit 506 and / or the location of people and / or devices 504 in the building. In one embodiment of the present invention, the location of people in the area may also be shown in the emergency guidance view.

[0051] In one embodiment of the present invention, the device can indicate both the specific location of people within a monitoring area and at least one route to an exit.

[0052] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system comprises means for guiding people, such as a remotely controlled display, a dynamic sign, or a light strip, and the system guides people using means for guiding people, at least partially based on the display of fire, smoke, and / or flame detectors in a monitoring area and the determined location of people, for example, so that people are guided away from the location of a fire detector that has detected a fire. The monitoring system and / or guidance system connected to the monitoring system can, in dynamic guidance, utilize the identified location of people in a monitoring area and / or the number of people in a particular part of the area for guidance purposes, for example so that people are guided away from a hazardous area so that guidance does not cause or minimizes congestion. This can be made possible by using guidance means to lead people to different exits based on the number of people detected and the location of people.

[0053] Figure 6 is a simplified diagram showing the operation of a monitoring system according to one embodiment of the present invention in the event of a fire in an area. Fire detectors are installed in buildings such as shops, which may have both smoke detection and heat detection functions. Guidance means can be installed in the monitoring area, for example, on the edge of a shelf. The building shown in Figure 6 has two exits 601 and 602.

[0054] Guidance means can be positioned to guide people to the nearest available exit. Arrows in the figure indicate the direction of guidance by the guidance means. In Figure 6, the guidance means on shelf 611 guides upward in the figure, i.e., to the part of building 600 where exit 601 is located. Guidance means positioned on shelves 610 and 612 arranged around the perimeter of the building guide horizontally in the figure, directly toward the first exit 601. Guidance means positioned on the other shelves 613, 614, 615, 616, and 617 guide people to the part of the building where the second entrance / exit 602 is located.

[0055] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system is adapted to blink the light sources of adjacent guide means. By controlling the light sources of guide means in groups, an impression of motion can be created. The control of the light sources can be implemented, for example, so that when the light source of the next guide means is switched on, the light source of the preceding guide means is switched off. In one embodiment of the present invention, the control of the light sources can be implemented so that the light sources of several groups of guide means (e.g., two or three groups of guide means) are switched on, and the light sources of the preceding group of guide means are switched off.

[0056] In one embodiment of the present invention, the induction effect is generated by the light sources of adjacent induction means. Such a solution can be used, for example, when the induction means has only one light source. When the induction means includes multiple light sources, the induction effect, i.e., the impression of motion, can be generated by the light source of one induction means and / or jointly by the light sources of adjacent induction means.

[0057] In one embodiment of the present invention, the light source of the induction means may have at least two modes, namely a static mode and a dynamic mode in which the light source is switched on and off to create the impression of motion. In this embodiment, the light source of the induction means can be controlled to switch between the dynamic mode and the static mode.

[0058] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system is adapted to guide using substantially all guidance means within a building.

[0059] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system is configured to turn on at least some of the light sources in a monitoring area based on, for example, an indication from a fire detector, and to keep those light sources lit when it is necessary to evacuate the building.

[0060] In one embodiment, in addition to or instead of the aforementioned guidance means, an arrow may be added to the display to indicate the direction of the exit. In one embodiment, the display or the arrow pattern may be illuminated.

[0061] An example of how to create a guiding effect is described below. In this technique, the light sources of a series of guiding means are controlled to form a guiding effect in which the light sources of adjacent guiding means indicate the desired direction of an exit within a building, so that people can follow that direction when they need to exit urgently. Thus, a person viewing the impression of movement produced by the light sources of the guiding means is guided in the direction of the “movement” of the light sources of the guiding means. Typically, the impression of movement is obtained by controlling the light sources in a group, and the movement is indicated by turning on the next light source and turning off the preceding light source. In this way, the impression of movement is created using light sources, i.e., the impression of movement is created by “flow” light. The “moving” light produced by the light sources of the guiding means can typically be formed from a group of three light sources, for example, where the light from one light source of the guiding means is turned on and the other two are turned off. The movement occurs when the light source of the next guiding means is turned on and the light source of the preceding guiding means is turned off. The impression of movement can also be created by alternately switching on and off the light sources of a group of several guiding means. The speed of motion induced by light can be adjusted as needed, and its direction can also be changed. If the induction means has several light sources, it is also possible to create motion by controlling several light sources of the same induction means, that is, by illuminating adjacent light sources of a single induction means as described above. In one embodiment of the present invention, the impression of motion can be created by flashing the light source of a single induction means and / or by flashing the light of the light sources of the induction means.

[0062] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system is configured to guide people, such as to an emergency exit, by flashing the guidance light source of a single remotely controlled display so that the flashing creates the impression of movement. In this case, the remotely controlled display, such as an electronic price tag, has several light sources for guidance. In another embodiment of the present invention, the system is configured to guide people, such as to an emergency exit, by flashing the light sources of adjacent remotely controlled displays, such as electronic price tags, so that the flashing of the light sources creates the impression of movement. In this case, the emergency guidance display or the remotely controlled display, such as an electronic price tag, may have one or more light sources used for guidance. In another embodiment of the present invention, the guidance function may be implemented as a combination of the above examples.

[0063] The light source of the induction means can be controlled by a monitoring system or a control system connected thereto, and the monitoring system and / or control system can receive signals from one or more fire detectors connected thereto, typically installed in many buildings or structures.

[0064] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system guides people out of a building to an exit and / or emergency exit, such as the nearest exit door, by flashing the light source of a guidance means. The system can guide people using the light source of the guidance means based on the display of a fire detector in the building, which is located far from the location of the fire detector that detected the fire. The light sources of the guidance means, which are arranged side by side, can be controlled based on signals from at least one fire detector. In one embodiment of the present invention, the guidance function of the system can be activated manually from the system, for example, by a user of the system. In one embodiment of the present invention, the same exit route can be displayed on a device present in the area, such as the display of a mobile device.

[0065] In one embodiment, the system according to the present invention is configured to activate a guidance function provided by the light source of the guidance means when two or more fire detections are received from detectors located in the same building as the guidance means. The activated guidance function can then enter a guidance mode, such as a static guidance mode and / or a dynamic guidance mode. When a dynamic guidance mode is used, the guidance effect can be adapted to guide people towards the appropriate exit by, for example, changing the state of the light source to create the impression of “flowing light.” In one embodiment of the present invention, a similar type of guidance can be displayed on a device present in the area, such as the display of a mobile device.

[0066] In one embodiment, the electronic price tag system can be installed, for example, in a monitoring area within a store or similar retail building. The electronic price tags can be affixed to shelves within the building. The electronic price tag display is configured to display product-related information such as price, product name, and possibly other product-related information. The electronic price tags can communicate with the rest of the system via a base station.

[0067] The body of the electronic price tag may be made of rigid or elastic and flexible materials and structure. The electronic components of the electronic price tag may be located inside or adjacent to the body of the price tag. The display of the electronic price tag may be provided with display segments or pixels. The electronic price tag may have an opening or other mounting means for attaching the electronic price tag to a desired location, for example, the edge of a shelf.

[0068] An electronic price tag system according to one embodiment of the present invention may include, in addition to electronic price tags, communication means such as a central unit with at least communication means, which can transmit and receive updated price information and other control information for the electronic price tags via a base station in the system. Furthermore, a scanner at the checkout counter that is connected to the register system to scan products may also be connected to the system, so that the register system and the electronic price tags always have the same up-to-date product price information. The central unit may be further connected to other control and support systems.

[0069] An electronic price tag used in a system according to one embodiment of the present invention is equipped with communication means, which allows the electronic price tag to communicate with an electronic price tag system and / or a monitoring system.

[0070] In one embodiment of the present invention, the customer product selection information identified in the solution of the present invention may include information relating to a specific location in a store, for example, a specific shelf, the number of products sold during a specific time, for example, an hour and / or a day, and / or how a particular product was sold relative to other products.

[0071] Using the sensors employed in the solution of the present invention, it is possible to provide "heatmap" type images at different times, from which it is possible to see how many customers are moving through a particular area and corridor at a particular time. This information can be used, for example, for targeted marketing and pricing. In one embodiment of the present invention, the sensor device is used to detect when a particular product is taken off a shelf and / or returned to a shelf, and / or in this way, heat mapping data for a particular shelf can be determined and / or provided.

[0072] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the examples described above and may therefore vary within the scope of the claims set forth below. Where necessary, the features presented herein, together with other features, may be applied separately to one another.

Claims

1. A method for detecting the location of at least one person within a monitoring area using a monitoring system, The monitoring system comprises at least one sensor device (101, 201, 301, 302, 303, 304) comprising at least one sensor, measuring electronic equipment, and a processor configured to process sensor data, wherein the sensor is a radar-based sensor, such as a frequency-modulated continuous-wave MIMO radar-based sensor, that monitors the presence, position, movement and / or posture of at least one person within the monitoring area. The system uses the at least one sensor device to identify the presence, location, and / or movement of the at least one person (402, 403, 404, 405) within the monitoring area (200, 401), The system transmits information regarding the presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person (402, 403, 404, 405) within the monitoring area (200, 401) to a device (400, 500), such as a mobile phone or tablet. The devices (400, 500) indicate the identified presence, location, and / or movement of the at least one person (402, 403, 404, 405) within the monitoring area on a map or plan view of the monitoring area. A method characterized by the following:

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the system and / or the devices (400, 500) identify the location of the devices (400, 500), and the location of the devices, along with the identified presence, location, and / or movement of the at least one person (402, 403, 404, 405) in the monitoring area, is presented on the map or plan view of the monitoring area.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the location of the devices (400, 500) is determined by an indoor positioning system and / or obtained using the GPS positioning function of the devices (400, 500).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the map of the monitoring area includes an indoor map or a floor plan of the monitoring area.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the map of the monitoring area includes the location of the at least one radar-based sensor and / or the sensor device (101, 201, 301, 302, 303, 304) within the map of the monitoring area.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one of the sensor devices (101, 201, 301, 302, 303, 304) is positioned on the floor, wall and / or ceiling of the area to be monitored, and / or the measurement range of the at least one sensor device and / or all sensor devices essentially cover the area to be monitored.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sensor device (301, 302, 303, 304) comprises a plurality of radar-type sensors, for example, two to four radar-type sensors, which are arranged in the same structure as one another and / or configured to measure in different directions.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the system and the devices (400, 500) are provided with communication means for communicating with each other, the devices are provided with software, and a map or plan view is stored in the system and / or the software.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the system comprises or is connected to an electronic price tag system, the electronic price tag system stores the location of a product or price tags linked to a product, and the monitoring system or the electronic price tag system collects customer product selection event information for a particular product based on the identified location and / or determined purchase and / or location information of a person (402, 403, 404, 405) in the monitoring area from the electronic price tag system.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a fire detector, a smoke detector, and / or a flame detector are arranged in relation to the at least one radar-based sensor, for example, within the same housing and / or structure as the radar-based sensor.

11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the system comprises means for guiding people, such as a remotely controlled display, a dynamic sign or a light strip, and the system guides people using means for guiding people, at least partially based on the display of the fire, smoke and / or flame detectors in the monitoring area and the identified location of the people, for example, so that the people are guided away from the location of a fire detector that has detected a fire.

12. A surveillance system for detecting the location of at least one person within a surveillance area, The monitoring system comprises at least one sensor device (101, 201, 301, 302, 303, 304) comprising at least one sensor, measuring electronic equipment, and a processor configured to process sensor data, wherein the sensor is a radar-based sensor, such as a frequency-modulated continuous-wave MIMO radar-based sensor, configured to monitor the presence, position, movement, and / or posture of a person within the monitoring area. The system is configured to identify the presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person within the monitoring area using at least one sensor device (101, 201, 301, 302, 303, 304). The system is configured to transmit information regarding the presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person (402, 403, 404, 405) within the monitoring area to a device (400, 500), such as a mobile phone or tablet. The devices (400, 500) are configured to indicate the identified presence, location, and / or movement of at least one person (402, 403, 404, 405) within the monitoring area on a map or plan view of the monitoring area. A monitoring system characterized by the following features.

13. The system according to claim 12, configured to carry out the method described in any one of claims 2 to 11.

14. A computer program that includes instructions causing a computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 when executed by the computer.

15. A computer-readable medium containing the computer program described in claim 14.

Images