Graffiti detection system and method of using the same

• US 20040075561A1
• Filed: 07/24/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Traptec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Traptec Corporation
• Inventors: Johnson, Randy E., Roberts, Donald L., Devine, Arthur J., Lerg, George H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,064,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/009 having wheels on a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/06 Signalling devices actuated by deformation of the tyre , e.g. tyre mounted deformation sensors or indirect determination of tyre deformation based on wheel speed, wheel-centre to ground distance or inclination of wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/063 Generating directly an audible signal by deformation of the tyre by touching the ground B60C23/085
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons

Abstract

The present invention involves a system and method for detecting a graffiti-making act such as the spray of a spray paint can, the writing with a felt-marker pen on a surface, and the scratching with an abrasive instrument on a surface. The system includes one or more sensors adapted to sense the graffiti-making act and transmit a signal representative of the graffiti-making act, and a base unit including electronics adapted to process the signal and determined whether the signal represents a graffiti-making act, and a communication device coupled to the electronics and adapted to communicate to one or more entities that a graffiti-making act has been detected. The method includes sonically detecting the graffiti-making act, and initiating an alarm indicating that the graffiti-making act took place.

Claims

1. A method of detecting a graffiti-making act, comprising:

sonically detecting the graffiti-making act;

initiating an alarm indicating that the graffiti-making act took place.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sonically detecting the graffiti-making act includes sonically detecting the spraying noise of a spray can.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein sonically detecting the graffiti-making act includes sonically detecting the sound made by writing with a felt-marker pen on a surface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sonically detecting the graffiti-making act includes sonically detecting the sound made by scratching an abrasive instrument on a surface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the abrasive instrument is a member from the group consisting of a stone, a gem, a screwdriver, and a glass cutter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sonically detecting the graffiti-making act includes sonically detecting the graffiti-making act with a sensor selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric sensor, a dynamic sensor, an electret sensor, a carbon sensor, a bolometer sensor, an optical reflection sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sound sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein sonically detecting the graffiti-making act includes detecting the sound spectrum pattern of the graffiti-making act.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein sonically detecting the graffiti-making act further includes sonically focusing sound produced from the graffiti-making act.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein sonically focusing sound produced from the graffiti-making act includes sonically focusing the sound with a member selected from the group consisting of phase arrays, reflectors, and lenses.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein sonically focusing sound produced from the graffiti-making act includes de-selecting other similar sounds that may effect a false alarm.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein de-selecting includes baffling sound.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein sonically detecting includes filtering sound spectral characteristics of sound from said graffiti-making act.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein sonically detecting includes filtering using a technique from the group consisting of duration and time coding of the sound, digital code quantitization, digitized algorithm analysis, and Fourier Transform analysis.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the alarm is a member from the group consisting of a bell, a light, a horn, a speaker, a marking means, a camera to record the activity, a camera to monitor the activity, a photo process, a phone device, a wireless communication device, a cage, a trap, and a disabling means.

15. The method of claim 1, further including confirming that a graffiti-making act took place with one or more additional sensors.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more sensors are a member from the group consisting of a motion detector and a heat detector.

33. The method of claim 18, wherein communicating to one or more entities includes communicating to a security system center.

17. A method of detecting a graffiti-making act of spraying with a spray paint can, comprising:

sonically detecting a spraying noise made from the spray paint can using one or more sonic sensors;

communicating that a graffiti-making act has been detected to one or more entities.

18. A method of detecting a graffiti-making act, comprising:

detecting a graffiti-making act using one or more sensors;

communicating that a graffiti-making act has been detected to one or more entities.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein detecting a graffiti-making act includes sensing an odor spectrum pattern of the graffiti-making act with an olfactory sensor, and using electronic spectral analysis to determine that a graffiti-making act occurred.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein detecting a graffiti-making act includes sonically sensing a sound spectrum pattern of the graffiti-making act with a sonic sensor, and using electronic spectral analysis to determine that a graffiti-making act occurred.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the graffiti-making act includes spraying with a spray paint can, and sonically sensing includes sonically sensing a spraying noise of the spray paint can.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the graffiti-making act includes spraying with a spray paint can, and sonically sensing includes sonically sensing a rattling noised caused by shaking the spray paint can to mix paint inside the spray paint can.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the graffiti-making act includes writing with a felt-marker pen on a surface, and sonically sensing includes sonically sensing a sound made by writing with a felt-marker pen on a surface.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the graffiti-making act includes scratching with an abrasive instrument on a surface, and sonically sensing includes sonically sensing the sound made by scratching with an abrasive instrument on a surface.

25. The method of claim 18, further including confirming that a graffiti-making act took place with at least one motion detector to detect movement of a perpetrator of the graffiti-making act.

26. The method of claim 18, further including confirming that a graffiti-making act took place with at least one heat detector to detect body heat of a perpetrator of the graffiti-making act.

27. The method of claim 18, further including confirming that a graffiti-making act took place with at least one sonic detector to detect a sound of the graffiti-making act.

28. The method of claim 18, further including confirming that a graffiti-making act took place with at least one olfactory detector to detect an odor of the graffiti-making act.

29. The method of claim 18, wherein detecting a graffiti-making act includes amplifying a signal from said at least one sensor to a distinguishable level, combining the signal with a predetermined signature signal, reducing signal noise, and determining whether the resulting signal includes a spectrum pattern matching a predetermined spectrum pattern of one or more graffiti-making acts for a predetermined period of time.

30. The method of claim 18, wherein communicating to one or more entities includes communicating to a police dispatcher.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein communicating to one or more entities includes communicating to one or more police officers on patrol in a general area of the graffiti-making act.

32. The method of claim 18, wherein communicating to one or more entities includes communicating to an owner of a property where the graffiti-making act took place.

34. The method of claim 18, wherein communicating to one or more entities includes dialing one or more predetermined phone numbers.

35. The method of claim 18, wherein communicating to one or more entities includes communicating one or more of the following:

a graffiti-marking act has been detected, the location of the graffiti-marking-act, the type of graffiti-marking act, the time the graffiti marking act took place.

36. The method of claim 18, wherein detecting a graffiti-making act includes detecting a graffiti-making act using one or more sensors and a base unit powered by a battery, the method further including communicating to one or more entities that the battery is low and needs to be replaced.

37. The method of claim 18, wherein said one or more sensors communicate wirelessly with a base unit, and detecting a graffiti-making act includes transmitting a signal representative of the graffiti-making act to the base unit for processing of the signal.

38. The method of claim 18, wherein detecting the graffiti-making act includes detecting one or more different graffiti-making acts with one or more different types of sensors.

39. The method of claim 18, wherein detecting the graffiti-making act includes detecting multiple graffiti-making acts with a single sensor.

40. A graffiti detection system for detecting a graffiti-making act, comprising:

one or more sensors adapted to sense the graffiti-making act and transmit a signal representative of the graffiti-making act; and

a base unit including

electronics adapted to process the signal and determine whether the signal represents a graffiti-making act; and

a communication device coupled to the electronics and adapted to communicate to one or more entities that a graffiti-making act has been detected.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein said one or more sensors include one or more olfactory sensors adapted to sense an odor spectrum pattern of the graffiti-making act and transmit a signal representative of the odor spectrum pattern of the graffiti-making act, and said electronics adapted to process the signal to determine if the odor spectrum pattern represents a graffiti-making act.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein said one or more sensors include one or more sonic sensors adapted to sense a sound spectrum pattern of the graffiti-making act and transmit a signal representative of the sound spectrum pattern of the graffiti-making act, and said electronics adapted to process the signal to determine if the sound spectrum pattern represents a graffiti-making act.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein said one or more sonic sensors are adapted to sense a spraying noise of a spray can.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein said one or more sonic sensors are adapted to sense a rattling noised caused by shaking a spray paint can to mix paint inside the spray paint can.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein said one or more sonic sensors are adapted to sense the sound made by writing with a felt-marker pen on a surface.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein said one or more sonic sensors are adapted to sense a sound made by scratching with an abrasive instrument on a surface.

47. The system of claim 40, further including a motion detecting sensor adapted to detect movement of a perpetrator of the graffiti-making act for confirming that a graffiti-making act took place.

48. The system of claim 40, further including a heat detecting sensor adapted to detect body heat of a perpetrator of the graffiti-making act for confirming that a graffiti-making act took place.

49. The system of claim 40, further including an olfactory detector adapted to detect an odor of the graffiti-making act for confirming that a graffiti-making act took place.

50. The system of claim 40, further including a sonic detector adapted to detect a sound of the graffiti-making act for confirming that a graffiti-making act took place.

51. The system of claim 40, wherein said electronics include a pre-amplifier adapted to amplify the signal from said at least one sensor to a distinguishable level, a mixer adapted to combine the signal with a predetermined signature signal, a low-pass filter and a precision rectifier adapted to reduce signal noise, and a time domain characterization mechanism adapted to determine whether the resulting signal represents a graffiti-making act for a predetermined period of time.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein said time domain characterization mechanism includes a charge pump.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein said time domain characterization mechanism includes a quantitative characterization device such as a microprocessor to determine whether the resulting signal includes a spectrum pattern matching a predetermined spectrum pattern of one or more graffiti-making acts for a predetermined period of time.

54. The system of claim 40, wherein said communication device is adapted to communicate with a police dispatcher.

55. The system of claim 40, wherein said communication device is adapted to communicate with one or more police officers on patrol in a general area of the graffiti-making act.

56. The system of claim 40, wherein said communication device is adapted to communicate with an owner of the property where the graffiti-making act took place.

57. The system of claim 40, wherein said communication device is adapted to communicate with a security system center.

58. The system of claim 40, wherein said communication device is adapted to dial one or more predetermined phone numbers.

59. The system of claim 40, wherein said base unit is adapted to be powered by a battery, and said communication device is adapted to communicate to one or more entities that the battery is low and needs to be replaced.

60. The system of claim 40, wherein said one or more sensors are adapted to communicate wirelessly with said base unit.

61. The system of claim 40, wherein said one or more sensors are adapted to communicate with said base unit through wired means.

62. The system of claim 40, wherein said one or more sensors are integral with said base unit.

63. The system of claim 40, wherein said one or more sensors include one or more different types of sensors adapted to sense one or more different types of graffiti-making acts.

64. The system of claim 40, wherein said one or more sensors are one or more sonic sensors adapted to sense a broad range of sound frequencies.

65. The system of claim 40, wherein said one or more sensors are one or more sonic sensors adapted to sense sound frequencies or a sound frequency that is the same as or similar to that of the sound of one or more specific graffiti-making acts.

66. The system of claim 40, wherein said one or more sensors include a single sensor adapted to sense more than one different types of graffiti-making acts.

67. The system of claim 40, wherein said one or more sensors include one or more of the following types of sensors:

a piezoelectric sensor, a dynamic sensor, an electret sensor, a carbon sensor, a bolometer sensor, an optical reflection sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sound sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor.

68. The system of claim 40, wherein said one or more sonic sensors are adapted to sense the sound of a graffiti-making act up to a distance of 400 feet.

69. The system of claim 40, wherein said one or more sonic sensors are adapted to send either a 900 megahertz or a spread spectrum signal.

70. The system of claim 40, wherein said electronics are adapted to filter sound using a technique from the group consisting of duration and time coding of the sound, digital code quantitization, digitized algorithm analysis, and Fourier Transform analysis.

71. The system of claim 40, wherein said base unit includes an alarm selected from the group consisting of a bell, a light, a horn, a whistle, a speaker, a marking means, a camera to record the activity, a camera to monitor the activity, sprinkler, a cage, a trap, and a disabling means.

72. A graffiti detection system for detecting a graffiti-making act, comprising:

means for sensing a graffiti-making act and transmitting a signal representative of the graffiti-making act; and

a base unit including

means for determining whether the signal represents a graffiti-making act; and

means for communicating to one or more entities that a graffiti-making act has been detected.