Traffic violation detection, recording and evidence processing system
First Claim
1. A traffic violation or event detection, recording and processing system, comprising:
- at least one camera for monitoring a region under surveillance;
means for supplying independently sourced and verifiable time, date and location data to provide an indication of the time, date and location of a violation;
a storing means for continuously storing images taken by the at least one camera;
a non-intrusive violation detection means for detecting vehicle presence and movement through the region and for providing an indication of a violation; and
processing means for identifying images stored in the storage means and which relate to a violation detected by the violation detection means so that images associated with a violation are identifiable and can be processed to provide evidence of the violation and also identify the vehicle associated with the violation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A traffic violation or event detection, recording and processing system and method is disclosed which includes a wide angle camera (20) and a plurality of narrow angle cameras (30). The cameras capture images of traffic in a region to be monitored, and images are stored in a memory. The images are processed to determine by image processing a change in the status of traffic lights from a green light to a red light so that the red light period can be determined, and images are analysed to determine if there is a change in images during the red light period indicative of a vehicle presence in the imaged region to thereby identify a violation. The narrow angle camera obtains information relating to the vehicle number plate and driver if required, and the wide angle camera obtains images of the vehicle and red light as evidence of the violation. Speed violation is determined by a non-intrusive speed detection system such as a Doppler radar or laser system, and the cameras are used to identify the vehicle and if necessary the driver and the violation in the same manner as described above. Accident events may be determined also with a noise detection mechanism and the cameras used to provide a visual record of the accident event in the same manner as described above. Finally, evidence of violations recorded by the system may be stored on a central database or databases with real-time interactivity afforded to authorized users who access the violation processing system using any computer with Internet connectivity to perform various evidence management or review tasks according to their particular, user-defined roles.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A traffic violation or event detection, recording and processing system, comprising:
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at least one camera for monitoring a region under surveillance;
means for supplying independently sourced and verifiable time, date and location data to provide an indication of the time, date and location of a violation;
a storing means for continuously storing images taken by the at least one camera;
a non-intrusive violation detection means for detecting vehicle presence and movement through the region and for providing an indication of a violation; and
processing means for identifying images stored in the storage means and which relate to a violation detected by the violation detection means so that images associated with a violation are identifiable and can be processed to provide evidence of the violation and also identify the vehicle associated with the violation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A traffic violation detection, recording and evidence processing system, including:
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at least one camera for monitoring a region under surveillance and for viewing a traffic signal which includes traffic lights which change, to control flow of traffic through the region;
temporary storage means for continuously storing images taken by the at least one camera;
processing means for processing images taken by the at least one camera to determine changes in traffic lights of the traffic signal to determine the commencement and end of a traffic phase of the traffic signal to define a violation period; and
processing means for determining that a violation has occurred from the images captured by the at least one camera and for identifying those images in the temporary storage means which are associated with the violation so that those images associated with the violation can be processed to provide evidence of the violation and to identify the vehicle associated with the violation. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of detecting a traffic violation, including the steps of:
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monitoring a region of a roadway with at least one camera;
monitoring vehicle presence and movement through the region using a non-intrusive vehicle detection means storing images taken by the at least one camera continuously in a storage means;
detecting a traffic violation in the region under surveillance;
determining images stored by the storage means and which relate to the traffic violation so that images can be used as evidence of the violation and also to identify the vehicle associated with the violation; and
stamping the images with time, date and location data which is independently sourced to provide the time, date and location of the violation. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of detecting a traffic violation including the steps of:
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detecting a region of a roadway and a traffic signal by at least one camera;
continuously capturing images of the region and signal and temporarily storing those images;
detecting from the images changes in the traffic signal so that the commencement and end of a particular light traffic phase can be determined to define a violation period; and
detecting a traffic violation in the violation period and identifying the stored images associated with the violation so that the stored images can be processed to provide evidence of the violation and identify the vehicle associated with the violation.
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39. A method of storing and managing evidence of traffic violations and events which are detected by a plurality of violation detection and recording systems comprising the steps of:
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continuously communicating evidence of traffic violations and events to at least one server;
providing real-time communications between all violation detection and recording systems and the server(s);
providing a database containing information relating to violations detected by the violation detection and recording systems;
dividing the database according to the different access requirements of different categories of authorised users with each user'"'"'s level of access and functionality being automatically defined by their unique password and log-in process;
allowing browser-based access to information held in the database or databases at a pre-defined level of authority for any authorised user using a computer with Internet connectivity;
allowing interactive access to and operation of the violation processing system for individual users to perform evidence management tasks required by the authorities operating the system.
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40. A system of detecting and recording an event comprising:
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a sound monitor for continuously capturing ambient sound of a region under surveillance to detect a defined event;
processing means for processing the ambient sound and comparing the captured ambient sound with a pre-determined sound profile indicative of the event;
at least one camera for continuously capturing images of the region;
storage means for temporarily storing the images; and
identifying means for identifying the stored images which are associated with the event so that the stored images can be processed to provide evidence of the event. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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44. A method of detecting an event including the steps of;
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continuously capturing and analysing ambient sound of a region under surveillance to detect a defined event monitoring a region by at least one camera;
continuously capturing images of the region and temporarily storing those images; and
detecting the event from the captured sound and identifying the stored images associated with the event so that the stored images can be processed to provide evidence of the event.
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Specification