Method and system for determining the relative occupancy of a space via analysis of the video stream

• US 20020036691A1
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Published: 03/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Richard Alexander Franklin
• Original Assignee: Richard Alexander Franklin
• Inventors: Franklin, Richard Alexander
• Application Number:
  US09/916,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20020036691A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25891 being end-user preferences retrieval of video data in a video database based on user preferences G06F16/739; arrangements for recognizing users' preferences H04H60/46; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44218 Detecting physical presence or behaviour of the user, e.g. using sensors to detect if the user is leaving the room or changes his face expression during a TV program methods or arrangements for recognising human body or animal bodies or body parts G06V40/10; methods or arrangements for acquiring or recognising human faces, facial parts, facial sketches, facial expressions G06V40/16; methods or arrangements for recognising movements or behaviour G06V40/20; arrangements for identifying users in broadcast systems H04H60/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to transactions over a system of networked computers, such as the Internet. More specifically, the present invention relates to novel methods for determining the relative occupancy of a space through analysis of streamed video and or images, over a system of networked computers.

Claims

1. A method for determining the relative occupancy of a space via analysis of a video stream.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the space is one of a restaurant, a nightclub, a bar, a highway, a freeway, a beach, a tunnel, a bridge, or a public park.

3. A computer system for determining the relative occupancy of a space comprising:

a network computer system connected to the internet and comprising a connection to or having connected thereto a graphics card for capturing a video stream,

a camera for providing said video stream,

a software program for analizing said video stream and determining a baseline image or sequence of images thereby providing relative occupancy information,

an internet location for providing said relative occupancy information to the public.