TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention concerns in general the technical field of access control solutions. More particularly, the invention concerns a monitoring of people flow.

BACKGROUND

In various situations there is a need to monitor people flow and control access in a space, such as in a building. There are a great number of access control solutions in which it is monitored if a person is authorized to access a gate or a door. The access control may be based on pre-shared credentials or identification means, such as tags or similar, which are checked at the access point, and if the provided information in one of the manners complies with authorization information, a right to access is granted.

The above described access controlling may also be used for deriving awareness of people count in a space, such as in a building. Simply, the information on a number of persons accessed through the access point is maintained and, as a result, the piece of information is available as such for other needs.

However, the above described solution for people counting based on some authorization means is applicable only if persons have the authorization means. This means that the solution is limited and not applicable for situations in which an access is free in nature i.e. the person does not need any authorization means as such to access the space in question.

Moreover, in some situations there is a need to keep on track on the number of persons inside the space e.g. for guaranteeing social distance, e.g. for health grounds. This may apply to restaurants, nightclubs, and similar. Hence, there is a need to introduce novel approaches for monitoring people flow and based on that to determine a number of occupants in a space.

SUMMARY

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 object of the invention is to present a system, a method, a control unit, and a computer program product for generating an estimation of a number of occupants in a space.

The objects of the invention are reached by a system, a method, a control unit, and a computer program product as defined by the respective independent claims.

According to a first aspect, an access monitoring system for generating an estimation of a number of occupants in a space is provided, the access monitoring system comprises: at least one access point of the space; at least one sensor configured to generate measurement data at least in response to a detection that an occupant is in an operational area of the at least one sensor at the at least one access point; at least one control unit configured to: receive the measurement data from the at least one sensor; determine, based on the measurement data, a direction of motion of the occupant at the at least one access point of the space; and generate an indication for updating an estimation representing a number of occupants in the space in accordance with the determination of the direction of motion of the occupant.

For example, the access point of the space may be implemented as a frame structure, the frame structure configured to house the at least one sensor. On the other hand, the at least one sensor may be at least one of: a photoelectric sensor, an image capturing device, a reader device.

Further, the access point may comprise an access control device being implemented by one of: a turnstile, a revolving door, a gate, and a door.

The access monitoring system may further comprise a display for displaying the estimation representing the number of occupants in the space.

Alternatively or in addition, the access monitoring system may further comprise a wireless terminal communicatively connected with the control unit for receiving the estimation representing the number of occupants in the space.

Still further, the control unit may be configured to: receive measurement data from a plurality of the access points, each access point comprising at least one sensor; and generate the indication for updating an estimation representing a number of occupants in the space in accordance with detections received from the plurality of access points.

Also, at least one access point may be configured to be used for accessing in the space and at least one other access point may be configured to be used for accessing from the space. The configuration of access directions may be arranged with the access control device.

According to a second aspect, a method for generating an estimation of a number of occupants in a space is provided, the method, performed by a control unit, comprises: receiving measurement data from at least one sensor at at least one access point of the space; determining, based on the measurement data, a direction of motion of the occupant at the at least one access point of the space; and generating an indication for updating an estimation representing a number of occupants in the space in accordance with the determination of the direction of motion of the occupant. The method may further comprise a step of generating a control signal for displaying the estimation representing the number of occupants in the space on a display.

Further, the method may further comprise a step of generating a control signal for delivering the estimation representing the number of occupants in the space to a wireless terminal communicatively connected with the control unit.

The method, performed by the control unit, may also comprise: receiving measurement data from a plurality of the access points, each access point comprising at least one sensor; and generating the indication for updating an estimation representing a number of occupants in the space in accordance with detections received from the plurality of access points.

According to a third aspect, a control unit for generating an estimation of a number of occupants in a space is provided, the control unit is configured to perform the method according to the second aspect as defined above.

According to a fourth aspect, a computer program product for generating an estimation of a number of occupants in a space is provided which computer program product, when executed by at least one processor, cause a control unit to perform the method according to the second aspect as defined above.

The expression "a number of” refers herein to any positive integer starting from one, e.g. to one, two, or three.

The expression "a plurality of” refers herein to any positive integer starting from two, e.g. to two, three, or four.

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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates schematically a system according to an example.

Figure 2 illustrates schematically an access point according to an example.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically an implementation according to an example.

Figure 4 illustrates schematically a method according to an example.

Figure 5 illustrates schematically an implementation according to another example.

Figure 6 illustrates schematically a control unit according to an example.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLIFYING EMBODIMENTS

The specific examples provided in the description given below should not be construed as limiting the scope and/or the applicability of the appended claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given below are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.

Figure 1 illustrates schematically, as a non-limiting example, an environment into which an access monitoring system according to an example of the present invention is implemented to. The environment in this context may refer to a space, such as a building or premises, into which occupants may access though one or more access points 110. In the non-limiting example of Figure 1 there is illustrated only one access point 110 which may be used by the occupants to enter the space 100 and exit therefrom. The access point 1 10 of the access monitoring system may be implemented as a frame structure 120 equipped with at least one access control device 130. The access control device 130 is implemented preferably so that it may be used for limiting a passage through the access point 110 so that only one occupant may go through the access point 110 at a time. Some non-limiting examples of applicable access control devices 130 may be a turnstile, a revolving door, a gate, and a door. Moreover, the access point 110 comprises at least one sensor 140 configured to generate measurement data at least in response to a detection that an occupant is in an operational area of the at least one sensor 140 at the at least one access point 110. In other words, the at least one sensor 140 is arranged at the access point 1 10 so that it generates measurement data at least when an occupant goes through the access point 1 10 i.e. to the space 100 or out from there. The measurement data of the at least one sensor 140 may be delivered to a control unit 150 which comprises necessary hardware and/or software means for performing a computation for generating an estimation of a number of occupants in the space 100 in a manner as is described in the forthcoming description.

As mentioned, the access point 1 10 may be implemented as a frame structure 120 through which the occupants need to go through when entering or exiting the space 100. The frame structure 120 may be arranged to house, at least partially, at least one access control device 130 and at least one sensor 140. In accordance with some example embodiments the frame structure 120 may also house the control unit 150, but it may also reside distinctly to the frame structure 120 as shown in Figure 2. The term housing shall be understood as an implementation in which respective entity is in full inside the frame structure 120 or in part therein. Moreover, in some implementations the term housing also covers that the respective entity is associated to, e.g. by using an applicable fixing mechanism, on an outer surface of the frame structure 120. Alternatively or in addition to above, the frame structure 120 may comprise one or more input/output devices. Some non-limiting examples of input devices may be one or more keys or buttons, a keyboard, a touchscreen, or a touchpad, etc. Correspondingly, some non-limiting examples of output devices may be a display and a touchscreen. In the implementation of Figure 2 a display 210 is included in the frame structure which display 210 may be used for outputting information to occupants and/or workers in the premises where the space locates, for example. Moreover, the access monitoring system may comprise an entity into which it is possible to establish a wireless communication connection for receiving data from one or more entities of the system and/or for transmitting data to one or more entities of the system. The entity into which capabilities of the wireless communication connection are established may be the control unit 150, for example. By arranging the wireless communication connection in the access monitoring system a wireless terminal 220, such as a display device, may be communicatively connected to the system. The wireless terminal 220 may e.g. output information derived from the system e.g. through a computation performed by the control unit 150.

As discussed, the access point may comprise one or more sensors 140 for generating measurement data indicative of a by-pass of an object, such as an occupant, of the access point 1 10. More specifically, the at least one sensor 140 may be positioned within the access point 110 so that its operational area extends to an area, or a space, from which it is obtainable measurement data being indicative of the by-pass of the object with a desired accuracy. For example, a mounting of the at least one sensor 140 may be performed to the frame structure 120 of the access point 110, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 in a non-limiting manner. In accordance with example embodiments, applicable sensor 140 may be a photoelectric sensor or an image capturing device. The photoelectric sensor may be one that transmits applied electromagnetic radiation from a transmitter and a receiver of the electromagnetic radiations is arranged so that the object moves between the transmitter and the receiver. In other words, when the object resides in between the transmitter and the received, the path of the electromagnetic radiation is blocked at least in part which may be detected from the measurement data obtained from the receiver. The type of electromagnetic radiation may be any applicable, but using coherent light, i.e. a laser light, in the detection is advantageous due to its accuracy and unobtrusive nature. On the other hand, the access monitoring system may be equipped with the image capturing device, such as a digital camera, which may be configured to obtain image data at the access point 110 so that by performing an applicable image analysis, such as by applying pattern recognition, it is possible to generate data indicative of a by-pass of the object of the access point 110. In some further example embodiments, the at least one sensor 140 may be a reader device which may interact with a device carried by an occupant so as to generate a signal indicating of the occupant is allowed to access the space or not. The reader device may e.g. be a card reader, RFID reader, QR code reader, or anything similar. This kind of approach may increase safety in the space as the access is controlled in the described manner. Similarly, data obtained with the image capturing device may also processed so that a face recognition procedure is applied to the data in case an access is dependent on an identification of the occupant. For sake of clarity it is worthwhile to mention that in some implementations a plurality of different sensor types may be included to the frame structure 120 of the access point so as to offer a plurality of access mechanisms e.g. for different occupant categories.

In accordance with an embodiment in which the access point 110 is used for bi-directional traffic, i.e. the occupant’s access both directions through the access point 110, the implementation of the sensors 140 shall be made to serve it. In other words, the sensor implementation shall be done so that it is possible to determine the direction the occupant travels through the access point 1 10 from the measurement data generated by the at least one sensor 140. In case the sensor 140 applied in the system is the image capturing device the determination of the direction may be performed by analyzing consecutive images captured during a situation an occupant moves through the access point 110. Based on the analysis of the consecutive images it is possible to determine, on a basis of time stamps of the images, the direction the occupant moves. On the other hand, if the sensor 140 is implemented with the photoelectric sensor, the implementation shall be performed so that the direction of the movement may be determined. One implementation may be that there are arranged two sensor 140 implementations in the access point so that they are distinctly positioned so as to generate two sets of measurement data from distinct positions. Such an implementation is schematically illustrated in Figure 3. According to a non-limiting example, the sensors 140 may be positioned so that a first sensor 140A is arranged on a first side of the frame structure 120 of the access point whereas the second sensor 140B is arranged on a second side of the frame structure 120. Both the first sensor 140A and the second sensor 140B comprise both the transmitter and the receiver as shown in Figure 3 so that the sensors 140A, 140B form a simple light curtain at a planar direction. Now, when occupant enters the access point from one of the sides i.e. moves through the access point 110 in one of the directions of the movement, as shown with the arrow in Figure 3, one of the sensors 140A, 140B generate a detection before the other due to their positioning. In response to a receipt of the measurement data from both of the sensors 140A, 140B the control unit may perform a decision on the direction of the movement. The decision may e.g. be performed so that the occupant moves from the sensor 140A, 140B generating the first detection towards the sensor 140A, 140B generating the second detection being later than the first detection.

In an implementation of the access monitoring system where the access point 110 is allowed to be passed by to only one direction the implementation may comprise only one sensor 140, which is configured to generate measurement data at least when an occupant blocks the electromagnetic radiation between the transmitter and the receiver. Since the direction of the movement is limited, or defined, at each access point 110, a respective decision on the direction of the movement of the occupant may be made based on the measurement data. The same applies with a detection based on the image data captured with an image capturing device. This may e.g. be arranged so that the image capturing device is arranged to capture the image at the side of the access point 110 into which the occupant is allowed to move through the respective access point 110.

As discussed in the foregoing description the control unit 150 may be configured to perform a computation for generating an estimation of a number of occupants in a space the system is arranged to monitor. Figure 4 illustrates schematically, as a flow chart, an example of a method for generating the estimation of the number of occupants in the space. First, the control unit 150 may be configured to receive 410 the measurement data from the at least one sensor 140, 140A, 140B. The receipt of the measurement data may be continuous or the sensor 140, 140A, 140B may be configured to transmit the measurement data upon a detection by the sensor 140, 140A, 140B. In response to the receipt of the measurement data 410 the control unit 150 may be configured to perform an analysis in which it is determined 420, based on the measurement data, a direction of motion of the occupant at the at least one access point 110 of the space 100. The determination 420 of the direction of the motion may be performed by evaluating the measurement data e.g. in the manner as described in the foregoing description. In other words in case the implementation comprises a plurality of sensors 140, 140A, 140B of photoelectric type, the direction of the movement may be determined based on the measurement data received at different instants of time from the plurality of sensors 140, 140A, 140B. Correspondingly, the determination of the direction of the movement may be made from consecutive images with an applicable image data analysis. Furthermore, in case the access point 110 is implemented so that the respective access point 1 10 is allowed to be accessed in one direction only and the detection is made with a number of sensors 140, 140A, 140B, such as with one sensor 140, 140A, 140B, the determination of the direction of the motion may be performed by associating the receipt of the measurement data with the piece of information defining the direction of the motion allowed through the respective access point 110. In response to the determination of the direction of the motion the control unit 150 may be configured to generate 430 an indication for updating an estimation representing a number of occupants in the space in accordance with the determination of the direction of motion of the occupant. In other words, if the determination 420 of the direction of the motion of the occupant is inwards, i.e. to the space 100 under monitoring, the indication may be a data value increasing the estimation, such as a total value, representing the number of occupants in the space 100. In an implementation the estimation value may be a numerical value, which is increased with 1 indicating an increase of the occupants in the space 100. Correspondingly, if the determination 420 of the direction of the motion of the occupant is outwards, i.e. from the space 100 under monitoring, the indication may be a data value decreasing the estimation, such as a total value, representing the number of occupants in the space 100. For example, the estimation value may be a numerical value, which is decreased with 1 indicating a decrease of the occupants in the space 100.

Furthermore, in an implementation in which there are a plurality of access points in the space 100, as shown e.g. in Figure 5, a control unit 150 may be configured to receive measurement data from the plurality of sensors 140, 140A, 140B residing in the plurality of access points 110. In the implementation as shown in Figure 5 the access points 110 are reserved to be accessed to one direction only. This may be achieved e.g. by selecting the access control devices 130 so that they allow access only to one direction. As shown in Figure 5 a detection of an access through the respective access point 110 by an occupant generates a respective indication, i.e. increase or decrease with a predefined value, such as with one, performed by the control unit 150 which is configured to cause an update of an estimation representing a number of occupants in the space 100. In other words, the control unit 150 may maintain data record representing the estimation e.g. with an applicable counter and update it in accordance with entrance or exit of occupants from the space 100. In accordance with an example embodiment the control unit 150 may be configured to communicate the estimation by generating a respective control signal to one or more devices, such as to a wireless terminal 220 or to any other display device or similar. Alternatively or in addition, the control unit 150 may be configured to perform control actions with respect to the estimation. For example, the control unit 150 may be configured to generate a control signal to at least one access point 110, and e.g. especially to the access control device 130 therein, to prevent access to the space 100. This may e.g. be implemented so that a predefined limit value is set for the number of occupants in the space 100 at the same time, and the estimation may be compared to that, e.g. in response to each update, and if the estimation reaches the limit value, the described control signal is generated towards the access control device 130 causing that the access control device 130 do not allow access to the space 100, but e.g. exit from the space 100 may be allowed. Correspondingly, in response to a detection of a decrease of occupants through the access point 110, and having the respective update in the estimation, the estimation value may go below the limit value. In response to such a detection the control unit 150 may be configured to generate another control signal to the access point 110 causing a release of the access point 110 to allow entrance in the space 100 again. In this manner, the control unit 150 may be configured to control the number of occupants in the space 100, and e.g. to guarantee a necessary social distance in the space 100 as well as to establish an automatic access monitoring system.

As mentioned in the foregoing description the apparatus referred as a control unit 150 configured to perform at least some portions of the operation may be any suitable computing device, such as a computer, a plurality of computers, or a server. Figure 6 illustrates schematically as a block diagram a non-limiting example of the apparatus applicable to perform at least some portions of the method. The block diagram of Figure 6 depicts some components of a device that may be employed to implement an operation of the apparatus 150. The apparatus comprises a processor 610 and a memory 620. The memory 620 may store data and computer program code 625. The apparatus may further comprise communication means 630 for wired and/or wireless communication with other entities, such as with the sensors 140, 140A, 140B and other entities of the access point 110 and the access monitoring system in general. Furthermore, I/O (input/output) components 640 may be arranged, together with the processor 610 and a portion of the computer program code 625, to provide a user interface for receiving input from a user and/or providing output to the user of the system when necessary. In particular, the user I/O components may include user input means, such as one or more keys or buttons, a keyboard, a touchscreen, or a touchpad, etc. The user I/O components may include output means, such as a display or a touchscreen. In some example embodiment the I/O components 640 may correspond to the display device 210 as shown in Figure 2. The components of the apparatus may be communicatively connected to each other via a bus 650 that enables transfer of data and control information between the components.

The memory 620 and a portion of the computer program code 625 stored therein may be further arranged, with the processor 610, to cause the apparatus to perform at least some portions of the method as described in the foregoing description. The processor 610 may be configured to read from and write to the memory 620. Although the processor 610 is depicted as a respective single component, it may be implemented as respective one or more separate processing components. Similarly, although the memory 620 is depicted as a respective single component, it may be implemented as respective one or more separate components, some or all of which may be integrated/removable and/or may provide permanent / semi-permanent / dynamic / cached storage.

The computer program code 625 may comprise computer-executable instructions that implement functions that correspond to steps of the method when loaded into the processor 610. As an example, the computer program code 625 may include a computer program consisting of one or more sequences of one or more instructions. The processor 610 is able to load and execute the computer program by reading the one or more sequences of one or more instructions included therein from the memory 620. The one or more sequences of one or more instructions may be configured to, when executed by the processor 610, cause the apparatus to perform the method be described. Hence, the apparatus may comprise at least one processor 610 and at least one memory 620 including the computer program code 625 for one or more programs, the at least one memory 620 and the computer program code 625 configured to, with the at least one processor 610, cause the apparatus to perform as described.

The computer program code 625 may be provided e.g. a computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable non-transitory medium having the computer program code 625 stored thereon, which computer program code 625, when executed by the processor 610 causes the apparatus to perform as described. The computer-readable non-transitory medium may comprise a memory device or a record medium such as a CD-ROM, a DVD, a Blu-ray disc, or another article of manufacture that tangibly embodies the computer program. As another example, the computer program may be provided as a signal configured to reliably transfer the computer program.

Still further, the computer program code 625 may comprise a proprietary application, such as computer program code for executing the control of the access in the manner as described.

Any of the programmed functions mentioned may also be performed in firmware or hardware adapted to or programmed to perform the necessary tasks.

For sake of completeness, the control unit 150 as described as the apparatus in the description above may reside at the space 100 wherein the at least one access point 110 resides, or remotely to the space 100 e.g. in a data center configured to perform the monitoring at least in part. In some examples, the control unit 150 may be arranged to provide its service in a plurality of access monitoring systems.

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.