Method of digital video surveillance utilizing threshold detection and coordinate tracking

• US 20040061781A1
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Fennell, Darius K., Stephany, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US10/245,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20040061781A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/169
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19602 Image analysis to detect motion of the intruder, e.g. by frame subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19608 Tracking movement of a target, e.g. by detecting an object predefined as a target, using target direction and or velocity to predict its new position
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19652 Systems using zones in a single scene defined for different treatment, e.g. outer zone gives pre-alarm, inner zone gives alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A security system for tracking suspicious characteristics, the system includes first and second cameras each for monitoring and capturing images in a predefined area; and a computer electrically connected to the each camera and which computer is programmed to identify one or more movements that exceeds a predetermined threshold that is predefined as suspicious movement; wherein, when suspicious movement is detected by the first camera, the computer communicates to the second camera coordinates at which the suspicious movement will enter the predefined area of the second camera so that tracking is maintained within a larger predefined area.

Claims

1. A security system for tracking suspicious characteristics, the system comprising:

(a) first and second cameras each for monitoring and capturing images in a predefined area;

(b) a computer electrically connected to the each camera and which computer is programmed to identify one or more movements that exceeds a predetermined threshold that is predefined as suspicious movement;

wherein, when suspicious movement is detected by the first camera, the computer communicates to the second camera coordinates at which the suspicious movement will enter the predefined area of the second camera so that tracking is maintained within a larger predefined area.

2. The security system as in claim 1, wherein, when the movement is below the threshold for a predetermined time, the first or second camera currently doing the tracking terminates tracking of the suspicious movement and scans for other movement above the threshold.

3. The security system as in claim 2, wherein either the first or second camera captures an image before scanning for other movement above the threshold.

4. The security system as in claim 1, wherein either or both of the first and second cameras are either digital or analog cameras.

5. The security system as in claim 1, wherein the first or second cameras that captures both digital and film-based images, and a film based image is captured when a predefined timeout tracking period is exceeded.

6. The security system as in claim 1, wherein a position of the suspicious movement is determined by using the Pythagorean:

X=R′

cos θ

Y=R′

sin θ

Z=R″

sin φ

X=R″

cos φ

.

7. A method for tracking suspicious characteristics, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing first and second cameras each for monitoring and capturing images in a predefined area;

(b) providing a computer electrically connected to the each camera and which computer is programmed to identify one or more movements that exceeds a predetermined threshold that is predefined as suspicious movement;

wherein, when suspicious movement is detected by the first camera, the computer communicates to the second camera coordinates at which the suspicious movement will enter the predefined area of the second camera so that tracking is maintained within a larger predefined area.

8. The method as in claim 7 further comprising the step of, when the movement is below the threshold for a predetermined time, terminating tracking of the suspicious movement by the first or second camera currently tracking, and the tracking camera scans for other movement above the threshold.

9. The method as in claim 8 further comprising the step of providing either the first or second camera capturing an image before scanning for other movement above the threshold.

10. The method as in claim 7 further providing the step of providing either or both of the first and second cameras as either digital or analog cameras.

11. The method as in claim 7 further comprising the step of providing the first or second cameras capturing both digital and film-based images, and a film based image is captured when a predefined timeout tracking period is exceeded.