Security apparatus and method

Abstract

A security apparatus. A service is supplied to a user while maintaining the security of the service. A person discrimination section discriminates the user to be supplied the service. A user situation decision section decides whether the user is under a situation to use the service. An infringement situation decision section detects whether a non-user intrudes into a use area of the service in order to decide whether the security of the service is infringed. A service control section supplies the service to the user in case the person discrimination section discriminates the user, and controls a supply of the service if the use situation decision section decides the user is not under the situation to use the service or the infringement situation decision section decides that the security of the service is infringed.

1. A security apparatus for a device supplying a service to a user in a service use area surrounding the user, comprising:
 image input means for continuously inputting an image to monitor the service use area;  
 person discrimination means for continuously recognizing a person in the input image, and for registering the person as a user allowed to use the service if the person is recognized as an authorized user;  
 use situation decision means for deciding that the user is not under a situation to use the service in case the user is not recognized in the input image;  
 infringement situation decision means for deciding that a security of the service use area is infringed in case at least one person other than the authorized user is recognized in the input image; and  
 service control means for supplying the service to the authorized user and for controlling a supply of the service if said use situation decision means decides that the user is not under the situation to use the service or if said infringement situation decision means decides that the security of the service use area is infringed.  
 
     
     
       2. The security apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said service control means finishes the supply of the service in case said use situation decision means decides the user is not under the situation to use the service. 
     
     
       3. The security apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said service control means interrupts the supply of the service until the infringement situation is relieved in case said infringement situation decision means decides the security of the service is infringed.  
 
     
     
       4. The security apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said service control means decides whether work of the user for the service is completed or not in case said use situation decision means decides the user is not under the situation to use the service.  
 
     
     
       5. The security apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein said service control means finishes the supply of the service in case the work of the user for the service is completed, interrupts the supply of the service in case the work of the user for the service is not completed, and relieves an interruption of the supply of the service in case said use situation decision means decides the user is under the situation to use the service again.  
 
     
     
       6. The security apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said person discrimination means recognizes the user by referring to a person comparison dictionary to recognize persons allowed to use the service.  
 
     
     
       7. The security apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said person discrimination means generates a person comparison dictionary to recognize unspecified users allowed to use the service, and recognizes the unspecified person by referring to the person comparison dictionary while the unspecified person is a user.  
 
     
     
       8. The security apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said service control means sends a warning to the user when said infringement situation decision means decides the security of the service is infringed.  
 
     
     
       9. The security apparatus according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein said service control means controls the supply of the service in accordance with an indication of the user being warned.  
 
     
     
       10. The security apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said service control means controls the supply of the service in accordance with security degrees preset in a unit of the service information for the service.  
 
     
     
       11. The security apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said service control means detects movement of the visual line or a direction of the face of the user and controls the supply of the service in accordance with the movement of the visual line or the direction of the face of the user.  
 
     
     
       12. The security apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said service control means detects movement of the visual line or a direction of the face of the non-user and controls the supply of the service in accordance with the movement of the visual line or the direction of the face of the non-user.  
 
     
     
       13. A security apparatus for a device supplying a service to a user, comprising:
 person discrimination means for recognizing a user requesting the service;  
 use situation decision means for deciding whether the user is under a situation to use the service;  
 infringement situation decision means for detecting whether a non-user intrudes into a use area of the service to decide whether the service is infringed; and  
 service control means for supplying the service to the user in case said person discrimination means recognizes the user, and for controlling a supply of the service if said use situation decision means decides the user is not under the situation to use the service or if said infringement situation decision means decides that the security of the service is infringed,  
 wherein said service control means decides whether work of the user for the service is completed or not in case said use situation decision means decides the user is not under the situation to use the service,  
 wherein said service control means finishes the supply of the service in case the work of the user for the service is completed, interrupts the supply of the service in case the work of the user for the service is not completed, and relieves an interruption of the supply of the service in case said use situation decision means decides the user is under the situation to use the service again, and  
 wherein said service control means finishes the supply of the service in case said use situation decision means decides the user is not under the situation to use the service within a predetermined time during the interruption of the supply of the service.  
 
     
     
       14. A security apparatus for a device supplying a service to a user, comprising:
 person discrimination means for recognizing a user requesting the service;  
 use situation decision means for deciding whether the user is under a situation to use the service;  
 infringement situation decision means for detecting whether a non-user intrudes into a use area of the service to decide whether the service is infringed; and  
 service control means for supplying the service to the user in case said person discrimination means recognizes the user, and for controlling a supply of the service if said use situation decision means decides the user is not under the situation to use the service or if said infringement situation decision means decides that the security of the service is infringed,  
 wherein said service control means sends a warning to the user when said infringement situation decision means decides the security of the service is infringed,  
 wherein said service control means controls the supply of the service in accordance with an indication of the user being warned, and  
 wherein said service control means controls the supply of the service in accordance with predetermined control information in case of a non-response of the user within a predetermined time after warning of the infringement.  
 
     
     
       15. A security method associated with supplying a service to a user in a service use area surrounding the user, comprising the steps of:
 continuously inputting an image to monitor the service use area;  
 continuously recognizing a person in the input image;  
 registering the person as a user allowed to use the service if the person is recognized as an authorized user;  
 supplying the service to the authorized user;  
 deciding that the user is not under a situation to use the service in case the user is not recognized in the input image;  
 deciding that a security of the service use area is infringed in case at least one person other than the authorized user is recognized in the input image; and  
 controlling the supply of the service if the user is not under the situation to use the service or if the security of the service use area is infringed.  
 
     
     
       16. A computer readable memory containing computer-readable instructions to supply a service to a user in a service use area surrounding the user, comprising:
 instruction means for causing a computer to continuously input an image to monitor the service use area;  
 instruction means for causing a computer to continuously recognize a person in the input image;  
 instruction means for causing a computer to registor the person as a user allowed to use the service if the person is recognized as an authorized user;  
 instruction means for causing a computer to supply the service to the authorized user;  
 instruction means for causing a computer to decide that the user is not under a situation to use the service in case the user is not recognized in the input image;  
 instruction means for causing a computer to decide that a security of the service use area is infringed in case at least one person other than the authorized user is recognized in the input image; and  
 instruction means for causing a computer to control a supply of the service if the user is not under the situation to use the service or if the security of the service use area is infringed.  
 
     
     
       17. A security control apparatus for controlling a supply of a service to a user in a service area, comprising:
   a monitor unit configured to continuously input images of the service area;        a recognition unit configured to recognize the user as an authorized user from the input images, and to recognize at least one person other than the authorized user from the input images; and        a service control unit configured to supply the service to the authorized user when the user is recognized in the input images, and to control the supply of the service to the authorized user when the person other than the authorized user is recognized in the input images.     
     
     
       18. The security control apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said service control unit interrupts the supply of the service when the user is not recognized in the input images. 
     
     
       19. The security control apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said service control unit interrupts the supply of the service when the person other than the authorized user is recognized in the input images. 
     
     
       20. The security control apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said service control unit decides whether work of the user for the service is completed when the user is not recognized in the input images. 
     
     
       21. The security control apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein said service control unit finishes the supply of the service if the work of the user for the service is completed, interrupts the supply of the service if the work of the user for the service is not completed, and relieves an interruption of the supply of the service when the user is recognized in the input images again. 
     
     
       22. The security control apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said recognition unit recognizes the user by referring to a person comparison dictionary to recognize persons allowed to use the service. 
     
     
       23. The security control apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said recognition unit generates a person comparison dictionary to recognize an unspecified person allowed to use the service, and recognizes the unspecified person as the user by referring to the person comparison dictionary. 
     
     
       24. The security control apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said service control unit sends a warning to the user when the person other than the authorized user is recognized in the input images. 
     
     
       25. The security control apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein said service control unit controls the supply of the service in accordance with an indication of the user being warned. 
     
     
       26. The security control apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said service control unit controls the supply of the service in accordance with a security degree preset to each kind of the service. 
     
     
       27. The security control apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said service control unit detects a movement of the visual line or a direction of the face of the user, and controls the supply of the service in accordance with the movement of the visual line or the direction of the face of the user. 
     
     
       28. The security control apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said service control unit detects a movement of the visual line or a direction of the face of the nonuser, and controls the supply of the service in accordance with the movement of the visual line or the direction of the face of the non user. 
     
     
       29. A security control apparatus for controlling a supply of a service to a user in a service area, comprising:
   a person recognition unit configured to recognize a user requesting the service;        a use situation decision unit configured to decide whether the user is under a situation to use the service in accordance with recognition result of said person recognition unit;        an intrusion situation decision unit configured to decide whether a non user intrudes into the service area in accordance with recognition result of said person recognition unit; and        a service control unit configured to supply the service to the user when said person recognition unit recognizes the user, and to control a supply of the service when said use situation decision unit decides the user is not under the situation to use the service or when said intrusion situation decision unit decides the non user intrudes into the service area.     
     
     
       30. The security control apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein said service control unit interrupts the supply of the service when said use situation decision unit decides the user is not under a situation to use the service. 
     
     
       31. The security control apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein said service control unit interrupts the supply of the service when said intrusion situation decision unit decides the non user intrudes into the service area. 
     
     
       32. The security control apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein said service control unit decides whether work of the user for the service is completed or not when said use situation decision unit decides the user is not under the situation to use the service. 
     
     
       33. The security control apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein said service control unit finishes the supply of the service if the work of the user for the service is completed, interrupts the supply of the service if the work of the user for the service is not completed, and relieves an interruption of the supply of the service when said use situation decision unit decides the user is under the situation to use the service again. 
     
     
       34. The security control apparatus according to  claim 33 , wherein said service control unit finishes the supply of the service when said use situation decision unit decides the user is not under the situation to use the service within a predetermined time during the interruption of the supply of the service. 
     
     
       35. The security control apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein said service control unit sends a warning to the user when said intrusion situation decision unit decides the non user intrudes into the service area. 
     
     
       36. The security control apparatus according to  claim 35 , wherein said service control unit controls the supply of the service in accordance with an indication of the user being warned. 
     
     
       37. The security control apparatus according to  claim 36 , wherein said service control unit controls the supply of the service in accordance with predetermined control information in case of a non response of the user within a predetermined time after warning of the intrusion. 
     
     
       38. A security method for controlling a supply of a service to a user in a service area, comprising the steps of:
   continuously inputting images of the service area;        recognizing the user as an authorized user from the input images;        recognizing at least one person other than the authorized user from the input images;        supplying the service to the authorized user when the user is recognized in the input images; and        controlling the supply of the service to the authorized user when the person other than the authorized user is recognized in the input images.     
     
     
       39. A computer readable memory containing computer readable instructions to control a supply of a service to a user in a service area, comprising:
   an instruction unit to continuously input images of the service area;        an instruction unit to recognize the user as an authorized user from the input images;        an instruction unit to recognize at least one person other than the authorized user from the input images;        an instruction unit to supply the service to the authorized user when the user is recognized in the input images; and        an instruction unit to control the supply of the service to the authorized user when the person other than the authorized user is recognized in the input images.     
     
     
       40. A security apparatus for supplying a service to a user in a service use area, the security apparatus comprising:
   image input means for continuously inputting an image to monitor the service use area;        person discrimination means for continuously recognizing a person in the input image means and for registering the person as an authorized user of the service if the person is recognized;        use situation decision means for deciding whether the authorized user is under a situation to use the service;        infringement situation decision means for deciding that a security of the service use area is infringed in case at least one person other than the authorized user is recognized in the input image; and        service control means for supplying the service to the authorized user and for controlling a supply of the service when the infringement situation decision means decides that the security of the service use area is infringed while the use situation decision means has decided that the authorized user is under the situation to use the service.     
     
     
       41. A security apparatus for supplying a service to a user, the security apparatus comprising:
   person discrimination means for recognizing a user requesting the service;        use situation decision means for deciding whether the user is under a situation to use the service;        infringement situation decision means for detecting when a non - user intrudes into a use area of the service;        service control means for supplying the service to the user in case the person discrimination means recognizes the user and for controlling a supply of the service when the infringement situation decision means detects a non - user intruding into the use area of the service while the use situation decision means has decided that the user is under the situation to use the service, wherein the service control means;        decides whether work of the user for the service is completed when the use situation decision means decides the user is not under the situation to use the service,        finishes the supply of the service in case the work of the user for the service is completed, interrupts the supply of the service when the infringement situation decision means detects the non - user intrusion into the use area in case the work of the user for the service is not completed, and relieves an interruption of the supply of the service in case the use situation decision means decides the user is under the situation to use the service again, and        finishes the supply of the service in case the use situation decision means decides the user is not under the situation to use the service within a predetermined time during the interruption of the supply of the service.     
     
     
       42. A security apparatus for supplying a service to a user, comprising:
   person discrimination means for recognizing a user requesting the service;        use situation decision means for deciding whether the user is under a situation to use the service;        infringement situation decision means for detecting whether a non - user intrudes into a use area of the service; and        service control means for supplying the service to the user in case the person discrimination means recognizes the user, and for controlling a supply of the service when the infringement situation decision means decides the non - user intrudes into the use area of the service while the use situation decision means has decided the user is under the situation to use the service, wherein the service control means;        sends a warning to the user when the infringement situation decision means detects the non - user intrusion into the user area of the service,        controls the supply of the service in accordance with an indication of the user, and        controls the supply of the service in accordance with predetermined control information in case of a non - response of the user within a predetermined time after the warning.     
     
     
       43. A security method associated with supplying a service to a user in a service use area, the security method comprising:
   continuously inputting an image to monitor the service use area;        continuously recognizing a person in the input image;        registering the person as an authorized user allowed to use the service if the person is recognized;        supplying the service to the authorized user;        deciding that the authorized user is under a situation to use the service;        deciding that a security of the service use area is infringed in case at least one person other than the authorized user is recognized in the input image; and        controlling a supply of the service when the security of the service use area is infringed while the authorized user is under the situation to use the service.     
     
     
       44. A computer readable memory having computer-readable instructions to supply a service to a user in a service use area, the computer readable memory comprising:
   means for instructing a computer to continuously input an image of the service use area;        means for instructing the computer to continuously recognize a person in the input image;        means for instructing the computer to register the person as an authorized user allowed to use the service if the person is recognized;        means for instructing the computer to supply the service to the authorized user;        means for instructing the computer to decide that the authorized user is under a situation to use the service;        means for instructing the computer to decide that a security of the service use area is infringed in case at least one person other than the authorized user is recognized in the input image; and        means for instructing the computer to control a supply of the service when the security of the service use area is infringed while the authorized user is under the situation to use the service.