FR2961933A1 - LOCAL DEVICE FOR MONITORING A PERSON BY OBSERVING ITS USE OF AN AUDIO / VIDEO SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

Local device (1) for monitoring a person by observing their use of an audio / video system (2-4) which includes at least one interface (5) providing control signals from that audio system / video ; this device comprising: - means (11) for coupling this device (1) to an interface (5) providing control signals coming from this audio / video system; means (11) for detecting control signals of this audio / video system (2-4), provided with this interface (5); and means (11) for sending a notification to a central monitoring device (21), this notification indicating at least one control signal detected by the means for detecting control signals.

Description

Local device for monitoring a person by observing their use of an audio / video system

The invention relates to a local device for monitoring a person requiring monitoring (child, elderly or frail) by observing its use of an audio / video system. Such a surveillance system makes it possible to detect whether a person, alone in his home, has unusual behavior, while he is not under direct supervision. Such a system can also be used for audience measurement purposes. US 2005/0286686 discloses a system for monitoring the health of a person by observing its use of various services. It is applicable in particular to the television distributed by the telephone network, on a link ADSL (Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line, in English). it includes means for collecting information from the service provider. This information is analyzed in particular by comparing the current information with that stored in a history reflecting the usual feature of the person being monitored, as regards its use of the service in question. In the event of an anomaly, the system contacts the person being monitored to check his health status. If it does not respond satisfactorily, the system alerts a third party. This known system has the disadvantage of being able to observe only few characteristics of the use of television, since it is limited to what is observable at the service provider: the switching on / off of the residential gateway which connects the TV to a fixed telecommunication network, channel changes, and video-on-demand download orders. The system is not suitable for observing the use of terrestrial television (analogue or digital), and does not control whether the program is actively watched (television off, or its cut). The object of the invention is to propose a better solution.

The object of the invention is a local device for monitoring a person by observing his use of an audio / video system which comprises at least one interface providing control signals from this audio / video system; characterized in that it comprises: - means for coupling this device to an interface providing control signals from this audio / video system; means for detecting control signals of this audiolvideo system, provided with this interface; and means for sending a notification to a central monitoring device, this notification indicating at least one control signal detected by the means for detecting control signals. The device thus characterized allows a more detailed monitoring because it makes it possible to signal to the central device the least of the commands applied to the audio / video system, for example the simple fact of modifying the sound volume adjustment, because said means for detecting control signals make it possible to absolutely detect all the commands applied to this audio / video system as soon as it comprises an interface making it possible to supply the monitoring device with control signals of this audio / video system. In preferred embodiments, the device according to the invention may include one or more of the following features: The means for sending a notification includes means for sending a notification whenever a control signal has been detected by the means for detecting control signals. Or the means for sending a notification comprises means for sending a notification when it receives, from a central monitoring system, an order requesting to send a notification. Or the means for sending a notification include means for periodically initiating the sending of a notification.

The local monitoring device may further comprise at least one presence detector capable of determining whether the user is actually in the vicinity of the audio / video system, and means for notifying, to the central device, the presence / absence of the user.

Or the local monitoring device may further comprise at least one presence detector capable of determining whether a user is actually in the vicinity of the audio / video system, and to determine the identity of this user and means for notifying the central device the presence / absence of this user, and the identity of this user.

The invention will be better understood and other characteristics will become apparent with the aid of the description below and the accompanying figures. FIG. 1 represents the block diagram of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention. FIG. 2 represents the block diagram of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.

The first embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, comprises, in the same housing 1 intended to be placed in the person to be monitored. A conventional residential gateway 10 for receiving and decoding a digital television / radio signal supplied by a provider 20, via a telecommunications network N to access the lnternet. A detection and notification module 11 for informing a remote central monitoring device 21 when a television / radio usage characteristic has changed.

The housing 1 is connected to a television 2 by a link 5 to provide the television 2 with a video / audio signal, and to exchange control signals with it. A television 2 is considered here, but the device according to the invention is also active when the television is used as a radio receiver, or when the television is replaced by a simple radio receiver without the ability to display a video signal.

The detection and notification module 11 comprises: an interface circuit 33 for coupling it to the link 5 supplying control signals coming from the television set 2; a detection circuit 32 for detecting control signals from the television 2 via this interface circuit; and a notification circuit 31 for sending a notification to the central monitoring device 21, when a control signal has been detected by the control signal detection circuit, identifying the case 1 and identifying the nature of your order

The television 2 comprises: a selection module 12, making it possible to select an audio-video signal source; - A remote control receiver 13 connected to the selection module 12, and allowing a user to remotely control the entire audio / video system by means of a remote control 8; An audio and video amplification module 14 connected to outputs of the selection module 12, and which can receive a video signal and a multichannel audio signal selected by this selection module 12; a screen 15 connected to an output of the audio and video amplification module 14 for receiving a video signal adapted to display an image on this screen 15 one or more speakers 16-17 connected to the audio outputs of the amplification module 25 14.

The selection module 12 is conventional, it is connected to: - the remote control receiver 13; the housing 1 by the link 5; 30 - to an external reader 3 by a link 6, this reader 3 for pulling digital media (CD, DVD, Blue-Ray, USB key, ...}, audio or video - to an external multimedia server 4, by a link 7, this server storing photos, videos, your music, to an internal media player 24, which can be connected to external file storage devices via Ethernet or USB link.

In other exemplary embodiments, the device according to the invention can be associated with various gateways intended to receive: analogue radio or digital terrestrial radio (RNT), analogue television, or digital television, in particular TNT; these two types of television signals may also include other information o Teletext data for analogue television, o interactive data for your digital television (HbbTV protocol being evaluated in France). The links 5, 6, 7 are high definition multimedia interface links, also called HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface). They make it possible to exchange control signals between all the elements of the audio / video system 2-4, in particular between the selection module 12 and the housing 1. The user sends commands to the selection module 12 with the remote control 6 The selection module 12 retransmits these commands to the destination element (the TV 2, for example) via your HDMI 5-7 connections using the audio / video system control protocol called CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) because is the transport protocol for the 25 controls used in TV 2, for this exemption. These commands are broadcast to all elements 2, 3, 4 of this audio / video system 2-4, and to the housing 1. On the other hand, the selection module 12 selects an audio / video source by establishing a circuit for a signal audio / video between the TV and a source selected from the player 3, the server 4, and the box The CEC protocol is a standardized communication protocol and commonly used with the HDMI interface. Its goal is to provide the user with overall control of their audio / video system, reducing the number of remotes and creating automated control sequences. An interface is provided on a "main" diffuser, for example a TV, on which all HDMI CEC equipment is directly or indirectly connected. For your broadcasting commands, the audio / video system can then be compared to a computer tree, where the main diffuser is the "root", where the interconnected elements are your "branches" (switches, amplifiers, recorders, etc.). and where the different audio / video sources are "sheets" DVD / HD player, game console, digital terminal, camcorder, etc.). In practice, your system components must come from the same manufacturer to be able to accept the same orders. If this is the case, a user can insert a DVD disc in the player 3, press the "Play" button on your remote control 6, and the CEC protocol does the rest. Namely: turn on TV 2 (if it was in standby only) and switch to the input corresponding to the player 3. The CEC protocol allows to chaining and dialogue up to ten audio / video devices.

The selection module 12 can also receive, via these links 5-7, information on commands given directly to these elements 2-4 by means of buttons. In particular, he is informed of the powering up of one of these elements. Similarly, it is informed whether the user: - modifies the sound volume adjustment by acting, directly or by remote control 8, on the TV 2; changes the choice of the television channel viewed on the television 2; - play a disc on player 3; - starts playing an audio / video file on the multimedia server 4. Whenever the module 12 detects a command applied to the audio / video system 2-4, sends a notification message to the central monitoring device 21. This message indicates the identity of your detected command. The central device 21 stores this information and exploits it to monitor the user. This information is analyzed in particular by comparing your current information with those stored in a history reflecting the usual behavior of the person being monitored, as regards its use of the audio / video system considered. In the event of an anomaly, the central device 21 contacts the person being monitored to check his state of health. If it does not respond satisfactorily, the central device 21 alerts a third party.

In this exemplary embodiment, the detection and notification module is integrated in the same housing 1 as the residential gateway 10 which makes it possible to receive the television via a telecommunications network N.

In other exemplary embodiments, can be integrated with a television, or other element of an audio / video system.

FIG. 2 represents the block diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention, integrated in a housing 1 'similar to the housing 1, but the television 2 is replaced by several separate elements: - a device 18 making it possible to to switch and amplify audio signals and video signals; a screen (or a video projector) 15 'connected to an output of the device 18; 5 and two speakers 16'-17 'respectively connected to two audio outputs of the device 18.

The device 18 for switching and amplifying audio signals and video signals comprises: 2 - a selection module 12 'controllable to select one of several audio / video sources; a remote control receiver 13 'integrated in the housing of the device 18 and connected to the selection module 12'; An audio and video amplifier module 14 'which can receive a video signal and two audio signals supplied by the selection module 12', and which can reproduce an amplified video signal on the screen 15 ', and two amplified audio signals; to speakers 16'-17 '.

The selection module 12 'is connected to the remote control receiver 13'; - to box 1 by the HDMI 5 connection; To an external reader 3 via an HDM link 6, this reader 3 making it possible to read digital media (CD, DVD, Blue-Ray, USB key, etc.), audio or video-to an external multimedia server 4, by an HDMI link 7, this server storing photos, videos, music and a personal computer 19 constituting an additional source of video signals and audio signals, connected to an input of the device 18.

The use of a dedicated device 18 for switching and amplifying audio signals and video signals has the advantage of allowing the use of a larger number of sources, thanks to a larger number of HDMI jacks and to more elaborate switching means.

In other examples, where the audio / video system under consideration essentially comprises a personal computer, the monitoring device may be constituted by software means executed on this computer, to fulfill the functions of the detection and notification module 11. The video card and the sound card of this computer then fulfill the functions of the device 18 to switch and amplify audio signals and video signals. In other exemplary embodiments, the set of elements 2-4 of the audio-video system, and the housing 1, may use a command transport protocol different from the CEC protocol.

If the audio / video system in question has connectors of a type different from the HDMI type, for conveying control signals, the monitoring device comprises means adapted to be coupled to these connectors, and for detecting control signals carried by these connectors.

Optionally, the local monitoring device may further comprise at least one presence detector 23 (infrared motion sensor, weight sensor in a bed or an armchair, etc.) capable of determining whether the user is actually located. near the audio / video system. The notification circuit 31 of the detection and notification module 11 is connected to this sensor 23. It notifies this presence / absence to the central monitoring device 21. This presence / absence information makes it possible to detect a behavior anomaly, in the case where the audio / video system operates for a long time without the user facing it. Optionally this presence detector 23 may be further able to identify the user. This may for example be a biometric recognition device (face recognition ...) or a recognition system of a device worn by the user (MD chip, badge bar code ...). Thus the local monitoring device can be used to make an audience measurement in a place where several users are likely to use the same audio / video system. In order to make the audience measurement, the notification circuit module 31 must, of course, transmit the identity of the radio / television program and the identity of the user who becomes present / absent, in the message notifying a change of program.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS. 1) Local device (1) for monitoring a person by observing its use of an audio / video system (2-4) which comprises at least one interface (5) providing control signals from this system audio / video; characterized in that it comprises: - means (11) for coupling this device (1) to an interface (5) providing control signals from this audio / video system; means (11) for detecting control signals of this audio / video system (2-4), provided with this interface (5); and means (11) for sending a notification to a central monitoring device (21), said notification indicating at least one control signal detected by the means for detecting control signals. 2) A local monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said means (11) for sending a notification comprises means for sending a notification whenever a control signal has been detected by the means for detecting control signals. 3) Local monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said means (11) for sending a notification comprises means for sending a notification when it receives, from a central monitoring system (21), an order requesting send a notification. 4) local monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said means (11) for sending a notification comprise means for periodically triggering the sending of a notification. 5) Local monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one presence detector (23) able to determine if the user is actually in the vicinity of the audio / video system, and means (11) for notifying, at the central device (21), the presence / absence of the user. 10 2961933 He 6) A local monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one presence detector (23) able to determine if a user is actually in the vicinity of the audio / video system, and to determine the identity of the user. this user; and means (11) for notifying the central device (21) of the presence / absence of that user, and the identity of that user. 7) A local monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said means (11) for coupling said device (1) to an interface (5) providing control signals from said audio / video system are adapted to be coupled to an HDM link (5) - 8 Local monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said means (11) for detecting control signals of said audio / video system (2-4), provided said interface (5), are adapted to detect command signals conforming to the CEC protocol.