Patent Application
20220415108
The invention concerns in general the technical field of visual indication. Especially the invention concerns systems for generating visual indication.
Typically, gate devices, such as security gates, may comprise access control. The access control enables that only authorized users may have access through the gate device. The access control may be based on using keycards; tags; identification codes, such as personal identity number (PIN) code, ID number; and/or biometric technologies, such as fingerprint, facial recognition, iris recognition, retinal scan, voice recognition, etc.
Typically, two or more gate devices may be arranged next to each other. At least one of the gate devices may be wider that the other gate devices. The at least one wider gate device may be reserved for a specific use, e.g. for users moving with a wheelchair or a parcel. This reservation may typically be permanently marked causing a minor other use of the wider gate device when the special use is not required.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide basic understanding of some aspects of various invention embodiments. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of exemplifying embodiments of the invention.
An objective of the invention is to present an indication system and a method for generating an indication. Another objective of the invention is that the indication system and the method for generating an indication enables an on-demand indication of a gate device allocated for a special use.
The objectives of the invention are reached by an indication system and a method as defined by the respective independent claims.
According to a first aspect, an indication system for generating an indication is provided, wherein the system comprises: at least one indication device, at least one detection device configured to monitor at least one area inside a building to provide monitoring data, and a control unit configured to: detect based on the monitoring data obtained from the at least one detection device at least one predefined object with a specific need, and control the at least one indication device to generate a visual indication comprising guidance information to a gate device allocated for the detected at least one predefined object in response to the detection of the at least one predefined object.
The operation of the at least one detection device may be based on object recognition or pattern recognition.
The at least one indication device may comprise one or more displays on which the visual indication may displayed and/or one or more or projector devices configured to project the generated visual indication on a floor in a vicinity of the allocated gate device.
The monitored at least one area may comprise an area surrounding at least the allocated gate device on at least one side of the allocated gate device.
The object with the specific need may be a wheelchair, rolling walker, stroller, luggage, trolley, a parcel delivery, and/or a specific outfit.
The allocated gate device may have a widened passageway.
The allocated gate device may further be configured to: identify a user associated with the detected at least one predefined object, and allow access via the allocated gate device in response to identification of the user associated with the detected at least one predefined object.
Moreover, the identification may be based on a keycard, a tag, an identification code, and/or a biometric technology.
Alternatively or in addition, the allocated gate device may be configured to instruct an elevator control system to generate an elevator call to allocate an elevator car for said user associated with the detected at least one predefined object in response to identification of the user associated with the detected at least one predefined object.
The monitoring may comprise tracking movements of the detected object within at least one monitoring area.
According to a second aspect, a method for generating an indication is provided, wherein the method comprises: monitoring, by at least one detection device, at least one area inside a building to provide monitoring data; detecting, by a control unit, at least one predefined object with a specific need based on the monitoring data obtained from the at least one detection device; and controlling, by the control unit, at least one indication device to generate a visual indication comprising guidance information to a gate device allocated for the detected at least one object in response to the detection of the at least one predefined object.
The operation of the at least one detection device may be based on object recognition or pattern recognition.
The visual indication may be displayed on one or more displays and/or projected on a floor in a vicinity of the allocated gate device.
The monitored at least one area may comprise an area surrounding at least the allocated gate device on at least one side of the allocated gate device.
The object with the specific need may be a wheelchair, rolling walker, stroller, luggage, trolley, a parcel delivery, and/or a specific outfit.
The allocated gate device may have a widened passageway.
The method may further comprise: identifying a user associated with the detected at least one predefined object, and providing access via the allocated gate device in response to identification of the user associated with the detected at least one predefined object.
Moreover, the identification may be based on a keycard, a tag, an identification code, and/or biometric technologies.
Alternatively or in addition, the method may further comprise instructing an elevator control system to generate an elevator call to allocate an elevator car for said user associated with the detected at least one predefined object in response to identification of the user associated with the detected at least one predefined object.
The monitoring may comprise tracking movements and the detected object within at least one monitoring area.
Various exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention both as to constructions and to methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
The verbs “to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of unrecited features. The features recited in dependent claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an”, i.e. a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.
The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.
The control unit 108 may be external entity or it may be implemented as a part of one or more other entities of the indication system. In the example of
The at least one detection device 104 is configured to monitor at least one area 109a, 109b inside a building in which the indication system resides in order to provide the monitoring data. The monitored at least one area 109a, 109b may comprise an area surrounding at least an allocated gate device 102a, on at least one side of the allocated gate device 102a. The meaning of the allocated gate device 102a will be described later in this application. In addition, the monitored at least one area 109a, 109b may comprise an area surrounding the plurality of gate devices 102a-102b on at least one side of the plurality of gate devices 102a-102d. In other words, the monitored at least one are 109a, 109b may comprise a first area 109a on a first side of the plurality of gate devices 102a-102d and/or a second area 109b on a first side of the plurality of gate devices 102a-102d. According to an example, the monitored at least area 109a, 109b may comprise at least part of a lobby area of the building. In the example of
The at least one detection device 104 may comprise at least one optical imaging device, e.g. at least one camera. The at least one detection device 104 may enable detection and/or tracking of an object 110 and/or a user 112 at a distance away from the at least one detection device 104. The distance may be e.g. between 0 to 10 meters from the at least one detection device 104 and preferably between 1 to 2 meters, 1 to 3 meters or 1 to 5 meters. The at least one detection device 104 may be arranged to a wall, a ceiling and/or to a separate support device arranged within the at least one monitored area. In the example of
The at least one detection device 104 is configured to provide the monitoring data to the control unit 108. The control unit 106 is configured to detect at least one predefined object 110 with a specific need. The detection of the at least one predefined object 110 with the specific need is based on the monitoring data obtained from the at least one detection device 104. The control unit 108 may utilize machine vision in the detection of the at least one predefined object 110 with the specific need. The object 110 with the specific need may be e.g. a wheelchair, rolling walker, stroller, luggage, trolley, a parcel delivery, and/or a specific outfit, e.g. a delivery company uniform. The specific need may comprise, but is not limited to, large size and/or slow speed.
The control unit 108 is configured to control the at least one indication device 104 to generate a visual indication 114 comprising guidance information to a gate device 102a allocated for the detected at least one predefined object 110 in response to the detection of the at least one predefined object 110. This enables an on-demand indication of the gate device 102a allocated for a special use, i.e. for the detected at least one predefined object 110 with the special need. The on-demand indication of the allocated gate device 102a enables releasing the allocated gate device 102a for other use when the special use is not required. This in turn improves the use capacity of the allocated gate device 102a.
According to an example, the visual indication 114 may be generated, e.g. projected, on the floor in front of the allocated gate device 102a as shown in the example
The gate device 102a allocated for the specific use has a widened passageway. As shown in the example of
According to an example embodiment of the invention, the at least one indication device 106 may comprise one or more displays, on which the visual indication may be displayed. Alternatively or in addition, the at least one indication device 106 may comprise one or more projector devices configured to generate, e.g. project, the generated visual indication 114 on the floor in a vicinity of, i.e. in front of, the allocated gate device 102a as shown in the examples of
The visual indication 114 may be indicated during a predefined period of time. The predefined period of time may be such that the user 112 associated with the at least one predefined object 110 has time to see the visual indication, for example, but not limited to, the predefined period of time may be between 5 to 60 seconds. Alternatively, the visual indication 110 may be indicated until the detected at least one predefined object 110 has passed through the allocated gate device 102a.
According to an example embodiment of the invention, the monitoring may comprise tracking movements of the at least one predefined object 110 within the at least one monitoring area 109a, 109b. The tracking of the movement of the at least one predefined object 110 within the monitoring area 109a,109b may enable providing one or more further operations that requires locating of the at least one predefined object 110 and/or the user associated with the at least one predefined object 110 within the monitoring area 109a,109b.
According to an example embodiment of the invention, the allocated gate device 102a may further be provided with the access control operation to enable that only authorized users may have access via the gate device 102a. Only the users that are identified as authorized users are allowed to access via the allocated gate device 102a. Thus, the allocated gate device 102a may be configured to identify the user 112 associated with the detected at least one predefined object 110. The identification may be based on e.g. keycards; tags; identification codes, e.g. PIN code, ID number, barcodes, QR codes; and/or biometric technologies, e.g. fingerprint, facial recognition, iris recognition, retinal scan, voice recognition, etc. In response to identification of the user 112 associated with the detected at least one predefined object 110, the allocated gate device 102a may allow access via the allocated gate device 102a for the user 112 associated with the detected at least one predefined object 110.
The gate device 102a may comprise a barrier device, such as door panel(s), turnstile, boom or any other barrier device, for preventing access of unidentified users via the gate device 102a. Alternatively or in addition, the gate device 102a may comprise one or more alarm devices, e.g. visual and/or audio alarm devices, for generating an alarm, if an unidentified user attempts to pass through the gate device 102a. The gate device 102a may be by default at a state allowing an unrestricted access via the gate device 102a. In other words, the gate device 102a is maintained at the state allowing the unrestricted access via the gate device 102a. If the user is not identified, the gate device 102a, e.g. a control unit of the gate device 102a, may be configured to control the barrier device to prevent, i.e. restrict, the access via the gate device 102a, e.g. by closing the barrier device of the gate device 102a. Alternatively or in addition, the gate device 102a, e.g. a control unit of the gate device 102a, may be configured to control the one or more alarm devices to generate an alarm to indicate an access of an unauthorized user, if the user is not identified. Alternatively, the gate device 102a may be by default at a state preventing, i.e. restricting, the access of the users via the gate device 102a, i.e. the gate device 102a may be in a closed state. If the user is identified, the gate device 102a, e.g. a control unit of the gate device 102a, may be configured to control the barrier device to provide the access via the gate device 102a, e.g. by opening the barrier device of the gate device 102.
According to an example embodiment of the invention, the allocated gate device 102a may be configured to instruct the elevator control system of the elevator to generate an elevator call to allocate an elevator car for said user 112 associated with the detected object in response to identification of the user 112 associated with the detected at least one predefined object 110.
Next an example of the method according to the invention is described by referring to
At a step 302, the at least one detection device 104 monitors at least one area inside the building in order to provide the monitoring data. The monitored at least one area 109a, 109b may comprise an area surrounding at least the allocated gate device 102a, on at least one side of the allocated gate device 102a. In addition, the monitored at least one area 109a, 109b may comprise an area surrounding the plurality of gate devices 102a-102b on at least one side of the plurality of gate devices 102a-102d. In other words, the monitored at least one are 109a, 109b may comprise a first area 109a on a first side of the plurality of gate devices 102a-102d and/or a second area 109b on a first side of the plurality of gate devices 102a-102d. According to an example, the monitored at least area may comprise at least part of a lobby area of the building. The at least one detection device 104 provides the monitoring data to the control unit 108.
At a step 304, the control unit 106 detects at least one predefined object 110 with a specific need. The detection of the at least one predefined object 110 with the specific need is based on the monitoring data obtained from the at least one detection device 104. The control unit 108 may utilize machine vision in the detection of the at least one predefined object 110 with the specific need. The object 110 with the specific need may be e.g. a wheelchair, rolling walker, stroller, luggage, trolley, a parcel delivery, and/or a specific outfit, e.g. a delivery company uniform. The specific need may comprise, but is not limited to, large size and/or slow speed.
At a step 306, the control unit 104 controls the at least one indication device 104 to generate a visual indication 114 comprising guidance information to a gate device 102a allocated for the detected at least one predefined object 110 in response to the detection of the at least one predefined object 110. This enables an on-demand indication of the gate device 102a allocated for a special use, i.e. for the detected at least one predefined object 110 with the special need. The on-demand indication of the allocated gate device 102a enables releasing the allocated gate device 102a for other use when the special use is not required. This in turn improves the use capacity of the allocated gate device 102a. The guidance information may comprise e.g. text- and/or figure-based guidance information.
The gate device 102a allocated for the specific use has a widened passageway. The allocated gate device 102a is wider, i.e. has wider passageway in the width direction, than the at least some of the other gate devices 102b-102d to enable easier access of the objects with the specific needs via the gate device 102a. If the plurality of gate devices 102a-102d comprises more than one gate device with the widened passageway for the specific use, one of the more than one gate devices may be selected as the allocated gate device 102a, e.g. based on traffic flow via the gate devices 102a-102d.
According to an example embodiment of the invention, the visual indication 114 may be displayed on one or more displays. Alternatively or in addition, the visual indication 114 may be generated, e.g. projected, by one or more or projector devices on the floor in a vicinity of, e.g. in front of, the allocated gate device 102a as shown in the examples of
The visual indication 114 may be indicated during a predefined period of time. The predefined period of time may be such that a user 112 associated with the at least one predefined object 110 has time to see the visual indication, for example, but not limited to, the predefined period of time may be between 5 to 60 seconds. Alternatively, the visual indication 110 may be indicated until the detected at least one predefined object 110 has passed through the allocated gate device 102a.
According to an example embodiment of the invention, the monitoring may comprise tracking movements of the at least one predefined object 110 within the at least one monitoring area 109a, 109b. The tracking of the movement of the at least one predefined object 110 within the monitoring area 109a,109b may enable providing one or more further operations that requires locating of the at least one predefined object 110 and/or the user associated with the at least one predefined object 110 within the monitoring area 109a,109b.
According to an example embodiment of the invention, the method may further comprise identifying, e.g. the gate device 102a, the user 112 associated with the detected at least one predefined object 110. This enables that only the users that are identified as authorized users are allowed to access via the allocated gate device 102a. The identification may be based on e.g. keycards; tags; identification codes, e.g. PIN code, ID number, barcodes, QR codes; and/or biometric technologies, e.g. fingerprint, facial recognition, iris recognition, retinal scan, voice recognition, etc. In response to identification of the user 112 associated with the detected at least one predefined object 110, the allocated gate device 102a may allow access via the allocated gate device 102a for the user 112 associated with the detected at least one predefined object 110.
According to an example embodiment of the invention, in response to identification of the user 112 associated with the detected at least one predefined object 110, the method may further comprise instructing the elevator control system of the elevator to generate an elevator call to allocate an elevator car for said user 112 associated with the detected object.
The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the applicability and/or the interpretation of the appended claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given above are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/FI2020/050248 | Apr 2020 | US |
| Child | 17903533 | US |
