Voice-controlled infant monitoring system

Abstract

This system provides infant monitoring that allows parents, whose hands are full with household chores, to adjust the camera's orientation and settings according to the infant's situation without having to physically operate the monitoring device. [Solution] The infant monitoring system is configured to have a voice recognition function on a dedicated monitor terminal 2, and to control the operation (pan, tilt, zoom, etc.) of the remote monitoring device 1 based on the input voice commands.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to an infant monitoring system that can operate a remote monitoring device by voice input.

Background Art

[0002] Monitoring of infants is often carried out in parallel with housework such as cooking, washing, and cleaning. When engaged in these housework tasks, the caregiver's hands are often occupied or wet and dirty, making it difficult to operate the monitoring device, such as adjusting the camera angle or zooming, using physical switches or touch panels.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism that allows a caregiver to operate the device non - contactably so that the caregiver can continuously and appropriately grasp the state of the infant via the monitor even when the hands are occupied during housework or the like.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] The infant monitoring system of the present invention is composed of a monitoring device and a dedicated monitor terminal equipped with a voice recognition function. It analyzes voice instructions such as "turn to the right" and "play a lullaby" input from the sound collection part of the dedicated monitor terminal, and remotely controls the camera driving part and the lullaby function of the monitoring device.

Effects of the Invention

[0005] According to the present invention, even when the hands are occupied during housework, the monitoring device can be operated only by voice, so the safety of the infant can be continuously confirmed without interrupting the housework. This reduces the psychological and physical burden in the parallel operation of childcare and housework, and greatly contributes to preventing accidents to infants.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006] [Figure 1]This figure shows the overall configuration of the system and the flow of voice operation of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] Figure 1 shows the overall configuration of an infant monitoring system according to one embodiment of the present invention. This system consists of a monitoring device (1) installed in the infant's room or the like, and a dedicated monitor terminal (2) for the guardian to operate and check from their hand. The dedicated monitor terminal (2) has a built-in sound pickup unit (microphone) for inputting voice and a voice recognition processor that analyzes the input voice and extracts specific control commands ("right," "left," "magnify," etc.).

[0008] For example, if a parent is cooking and their hands are full, and the infant moves out of the frame, the parent can say "Turn the camera to the right" to the dedicated monitor terminal (2). The dedicated monitor terminal (2) recognizes this voice and sends a control signal to the monitoring device (1) to rotate the camera's drive unit to the right. The monitoring device (1) changes the orientation of the camera (11) based on the received signal. This allows the parent to keep the infant within the frame at all times without touching it. [Industrial applicability]

[0009] This invention can be widely used in the manufacturing and sales of monitoring devices for infants and young children in the home. It can also be applied to monitoring the elderly in care settings, and as a remote monitoring system in workplaces where both hands are occupied (such as kitchens and factories). [Explanation of symbols]

[0010] 1. Monitoring device 2. Dedicated monitor terminal 11. Sound collection unit (microphone) 21 Speech Recognition Conversion Unit

Claims

[Claim 1] An infant monitoring system comprising a monitoring device equipped with a camera for photographing infants, and a dedicated monitor terminal equipped with a display unit for displaying video from the monitoring device and a sound receiving unit for inputting audio, wherein the dedicated monitor terminal is equipped with voice recognition means for recognizing specific operation commands from input audio, and transmits control signals to control the operation of the monitoring device based on the recognized operation commands.

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