Method and system for image information processing and analysis

• US 20050010808A1
• Filed: 04/23/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arrowsight Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Arrowsight Incorporated
• Inventors: Bradley, Joseph, Jetly, Lalita, Gulyansky, Alex, Krishnamurthy, Jambu, Aronson, Adam, Shimshack, Julie, Wixson, Lambert, Bottum, Roger, Vitelli, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,843,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/26
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A method and system for remote surveillance information processing by an end user to ensure the safety of personnel, facilities and property. The user remotely accesses video streams from one or more cameras at each of a set of stores, facilities or other locations. After reviewing video streams for a specific audit item or guard tour stop, the user can input into the computer a classification of the audited video stream according to a set of predefined criteria. The user then generates a report summarizing the reviewed items and their classifications, which is transmitted to designated recipients. The present invention also includes a networked computer system for generating, performing and modifying audits and guard tours, creating guard audit reports, and providing access to the images that support the conclusions contained in the reports.

Claims

1. A method for electronically facilitating review of image information, the method comprising:

obtaining image information from an image recording device for recording images from at least one location;

reviewing the image information; and

classifying the reviewed image information according to predetermined criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a report, including information describing the at least one location and the classification; and

transmitting the report to at least one designated recipient.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the report is a summary report for a plurality of items.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of items is selected from a group consisting of location, time period, audit type, guard tour type, and guard tour stop.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the image information is selected from a group consisting of real-time video information, delayed video information, still video information, and downloaded video information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining from the image information a first subset of still images at predetermined intervals for a time period;

reviewing the first subset of still images;

focusing the first time period to a second time period based on the review; and

obtaining from the first subset a second subset of still images at second predetermined intervals for the second time period.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising downloading complete image information for the second time period.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the location is an audit item.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the location is a guard tour stop.

10. A method for performing remote video audits, the method comprising:

creating an audit spreadsheet containing a plurality of audit items;

selecting at least one of the plurality of audit items;

obtaining video information regarding the selected audit item; and

entering a classification for the selected audit item based on reviewing the video information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the classification is accompanied by a predefined note.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the obtained video information is video stills obtained via a spreadsheet hyperlink.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the obtained video information is video clips obtained via a spreadsheet hyperlink.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of audit items is selected from a group consisting of location, time interval, camera, and device mapping to camera.

15. A method for performing remote video audits, the method comprising:

selecting an audit item from an audit spreadsheet;

obtaining video information regarding the selected audit item; and

entering a classification for the selected audit item based on reviewing the video information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the classification is accompanied by a predefined note.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the video information comprises video stills.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the video information comprises video clips.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising selecting a next audit item from the audit spreadsheet.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

generating a report, including information describing the at least one audit item and the classification; and

transmitting the report to at least one designated recipient.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the report is a summary report for a plurality of items.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the classification is selected form a group consisting of Pass, Fail, Not Audited, Don'"'"'t know, and No Video.

56. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

obtaining from the image information a first subset of still images at predetermined intervals for a time period;

reviewing the first subset of still images;

focusing the first time period to a second time period based on the review; and

obtaining from the first subset a second subset of still images at second predetermined intervals for the second time period.

19. (Canceled).

24. A system for electronically facilitating review of image information, the system comprising:

means for obtaining image information from an image recording device for recording images from at least one location;

means for reviewing the image information; and

means for classifying the reviewed image information according to predetermined criteria.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

means for generating a report, including information describing the at least one location and the classification; and

means for transmitting the report to at least one designated recipient.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the report is a summary report for a plurality of items.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the image information is selected form a group consisting of real-time video information, delayed video information, still video information, and downloaded video information.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the location is an audit item.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the location is a guard tour stop.

30. A method for performing remote video guard tours, the method comprising:

selecting a guard tour from a list of available guard tours;

obtaining image information for a next stop on the selected guard tour;

reviewing the image information; and

entering a classification for the guard tour stop based on the review.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the classification is accompanied by a predefined note.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising selecting a next guard tour from the list of available guard tours.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

generating a report, including information describing the at least one guard tour and the classification; and

transmitting the report to at least one designated recipient.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the report is a summary report for a plurality of items.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the classification is selected form a group consisting of Pass, Fail, Not Audited, Don'"'"'t know, and No Video.

36. A system for electronically facilitating processing of image information, the system comprising:

at least one image recording device for recording image information from at least one location;

at least one repository for storing the recorded image information; and

at least one processor for processing requests from a user for performing operations on the stored recorded image information,

wherein the stored recorded image information is reviewed by the user, and

wherein the stored recorded image information is classified by the user according to predetermined criteria.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the processor is housed on a terminal.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the terminal is selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, a minicomputer, a microcomputer, and a hand-held device.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the processor is housed on a server.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the server is selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, a minicomputer, a microcomputer, and a hand-held device.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the server is coupled to a network.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the requests are received via the network.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the network is the Internet.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the server is coupled to the network via a coupling.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the coupling is selected from a group consisting of a wired connection, a wireless connection, and a fiberoptic connection.

46. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having control logic stored thereon for causing a computer to provide interactive assistance with performing review of image information by an end user, the control logic comprising:

first computer readable program code means for obtaining image information from an image recording device for recording images from at least one location;

second computer readable program code means for reviewing the image information; and

third computer readable program code means for classifying the reviewed image information according to predefined criteria.

47. The computer program product of claim 46, further comprising:

fourth computer readable program code means for generating a report, including information about the at least one location and the classification; and

fifth computer readable program code means for transmitting the report to at least one designated recipient.

48. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein the image information is selected form a group consisting of real-time video information, delayed video information, still video information, and downloaded video information.

49. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein the location is an audit item.

50. The computer program product of claim 46, wherein the location is a guard tour stop.

51. A method for electronically facilitating report generation based on a review of image information, the method comprising:

selecting an item from a list of items;

obtaining image information for the item;

classifying the selected item according to predetermined criteria based on the image information; and

generating a report for the selected item and the classification.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the item is an audit.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the item is a guard tour.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the report is a periodic report.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein the report is a summary report for a plurality of items.