Method and apparatus for placing sensors using 3D models

• US 20050002662A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation (SRI International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Samarasekera, Supun, Arpa, Aydin, Hanna, Keith J., Kumar, Rakesh, Sawhney, Harpreet Singh
• Granted Patent: US 7,259,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/120
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Method and apparatus for dynamically placing sensors in a 3D model is provided. Specifically, in one embodiment, the method selects a 3D model and a sensor for placement into the 3D model. The method renders the sensor and the 3D model in accordance with sensor parameters associated with the sensor and parameters desired by a user. In addition, the method determines whether an occlusion to the sensor is present.

Claims

1. Method for dynamic sensor placement comprising:

positioning at least one sensory device in a scene of a 3D model; and

rendering dynamically said sensor within a scene of said 3D site model in accordance with sensor parameters associated with said at least one sensory device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said rendering step renders an area covered by said sensor in accordance with said sensor parameters.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting at least one of a 3D image, sensory parameters, and a view point for viewing said at least one sensory device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensory device comprises at least one of a camera, a motion sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and an infrared sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said positioning occurs automatically in accordance with at least one of a minimization of an occluded area, a maximization of a coverage area, and said sensory parameters.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said rendering further comprises:

determining whether an occlusion exists within an area covered by said at least one sensory device.

7. A method for dynamic sensor placement comprising:

selecting a 3D site model;

selecting a sensor for placement into said 3D site model; and

rendering said sensor within a scene of said 3D site model in accordance with sensor parameters associated with said sensor.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said rendering step renders an area covered by said sensor in accordance with said sensor parameters.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

selecting a viewpoint for viewing said scene.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing a graphical user interface, for each of said selecting steps.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said rendering step, further comprises:

positioning automatically said sensor in accordance with at least one of one of a minimization of an occluded area, a maximization of a coverage area, and a sensor parameter.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining whether an occlusion exists within an area covered by said sensor.

13. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps comprising of:

positioning at least one sensory device in a scene of a 3D model; and

rendering dynamically said sensor with a scene of said 3D site model in accordance with sensor parameters associated with said sensor, wherein said rendering renders an area covered by said sensor in accordance with said sensor parameters.

14. The computer-readable medium claim 13, further comprising:

selecting a viewpoint for viewing said scene.

15. The computer-readable medium claim 13, wherein said positioning step automatically positions said at least one sensory device in a scene of a 3D model in accordance with at least one of a minimization of an occluded area, a maximization of a coverage area, and a sensor parameter.

16. The computer-readable medium claim 13, further comprising:

determining whether an occlusion exists within an area covered by said sensor.

17. Apparatus for dynamic sensor placement comprising:

means for positioning at least one sensory device in a scene of a 3D model; and

means for rendering dynamically said sensor within a scene of said 3D site model in accordance with sensor parameters associated with said at least one sensory device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for selecting at least one of said 3D model, sensory parameters, and a viewpoint for viewing said at least one sensory device.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

means for determining whether an occlusion exists within an area covered by said sensor.