Information processing system and method, information processing apparatus, image-capturing device and method, recording medium, and program

An object detection method, comprising:

• detecting an object with a first sensor;
• determining whether the object is coming close to or going away from a second sensor;
• supplying power, by a power supply control unit, to the first sensor without supplying power to the second sensor, under a normal condition in which the first sensor detects that the object is not present;
• supplying power, by the power supply control unit, to the second sensor, when the first sensor detects that the object is present;
• starting a power supply, by the power supply control unit, to a third sensor, when the second sensor has detected that the object is coming close to the second sensor, the third sensor including a video camera, a microphone, or a combination thereof;
• and
• preventing the power supply, by the power supply control unit, to the third sensor, when the second sensor determines that the object is going away from the second sensor.

A computer-readable medium encoded with computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, comprising:

• detecting an object with a first sensor;
• determining whether the object is coming close to or going away from a second sensor;
• supplying power, by a power supply control unit, to the first sensor without supplying power to the second sensor, under a normal condition in which the first sensor detects that the objection is not present;
• supplying power, by the power supply control unit, to the second sensor, when the first sensor detects that the object is present;
• starting a power supply, by the power supply control unit, to a third sensor, when the second sensor has detected that the object is coming close to the second sensor, the third sensor including a video camera, a microphone, or a combination thereof;
• and
• preventing the power supply, by the power supply control unit, to the third sensor, when the second sensor determines that the object is going away from the second sensor.

An object detection apparatus, comprising:

• a first sensor configured to detect an object;
• a second sensor configured to determine whether the object is coming close to or going away from the second sensor;
• a third sensor including a video camera, a microphone, or a combination thereof;
• a power supply unit configured to supply power to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor;
• and
• a power supply control unit configured to supply power to the first sensor without supplying power to the second sensor under a normal condition in which the first sensor detects that the object is not present, to supply power to the second sensor when the first sensor detects that the object is present, to control a power supply to the third sensor to be started when the second sensor has detected that the object is coming close to the second sensor, and to control the power supply to the third sensor to be prevented when the second sensor determines that the object is going away from the second sensor.