Surveillance system

• US 20060139162A1
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Flynn, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,250,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/521
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1609 using active vibration detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19615 wherein said pattern is defined by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data

Abstract

A surveillance system is provided. The system includes at least one target detection sensor, a plurality of adjustable identification sensors and a system controller. The syste controller is coupled to the at least one target detection sensor and the plurality of adjustable identification sensors. The system controller processes data from the plurality of target detection sensors, applies threat criteria, and, when a target is identified as a threat, the system controller selects at least one of the plurality of adjustable identification sensors and adjusts a sensing input of the selected one of the plurality of adjustable identification sensors to capture information on the identified target. The system also includes a monitoring station that is adapted to receive signals from the selected one of the adjustable identification sensors and to display the captured information.

Claims

1. A surveillance system, comprising:

at least one target detection sensor;

a plurality of adjustable identification sensors;

a system controller, coupled to the at least one target detection sensor and the plurality of adjustable identification sensors, wherein the system controller processes data from the plurality of target detection sensors, applies threat criteria, and, when a target is identified as a threat, the system controller selects at least one of the plurality of adjustable identification sensors and adjusts a sensing input of the selected one of the plurality of adjustable identification sensors to capture information on the identified target; and

a monitoring station adapted to receive signals from the selected one of the adjustable identification sensors and to display the captured information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one target detection sensor comprises at least one of radar, sonar, acoustic and optical detection sensors.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of adjustable identification sensors comprise at least one of video cameras, thermal imaging cameras, night vision cameras, and parabolic listening devices.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one target detection sensor and the plurality of adjustable identification sensors each include a wireless network interface to communicate with the system controller.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring station includes a graphical user interface that is adapted to display information from the selected one of the plurality of adjustable sensing devices.

6. The system of claim 1, and further including a receiver, coupled to the system controller, that is adapted to receive identification signals from targets.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the monitoring station is adapted to display information from the identification signals.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of adjustable identification sensors comprise adjustable cameras; and

the system controller controls the pan, tilt and zoom of the adjustable cameras based on information from the at least one target detection sensor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the threat criteria comprise at least one of location, speed, bearing of the target and time of day.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system controller applies user configurable prioritization rules to prioritize among a plurality of simultaneous targets that are identified as threats.

12. The system of claim 1 and further including a receiver coupled to the system controller that is adapted to receive target identification data.

11. A surveillance system for an installation, comprising:

at least one radar sensor disposed in a location, the radar sensor is adapted to generate data that identifies targets relative to the installation;

a plurality of adjustable cameras;

a system controller, coupled to the at least one radar device and the plurality of adjustable cameras over a communication network, wherein the system controller includes;

a radar server that processes data from the at least one radar sensor and applies threat criteria, and, when a target is identified as a threat, selects at least one of the plurality of adjustable cameras to acquire visual images of the threat and generates control signals for the selected one of the adjustable cameras; and

a camera server that adjusts the selected one of the plurality of adjustable cameras based on the control signals generated by the radar server to capture visual images of the selected target and that controls recording of the visual images from the selected one of the plurality of adjustable cameras; and

a monitoring station adapted to receive signals from the selected one of the plurality of adjustable cameras and displaying information based on the received signal.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the radar server uses the information from the receiver to determine whether a target is a threat.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the radar server generates pan, tilt and zoom values for targets identified as threats.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the radar server generates the control signals by looking up preset values based on the generated pan, tilt and zoom values.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the radar server further generates an alarm when a threat is identified.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the radar server includes:

a radar manager that processes the data from the at least one radar sensor; and

an adapter, coupled between the radar manager and the at least one radar sensor, that conditions the data for the radar manager.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the radar server prioritizes between targets based on user configurable criteria.

19. A system controller for a surveillance system with at least one radar sensor and a plurality of adjustable cameras, the system controller comprises:

a radar server that processes data from the at least one radar sensor and applies threat criteria, and, when a target is identified as a threat, selects at least one of the plurality of adjustable cameras to acquire visual images of the threat and generates control signals for the selected one of the adjustable cameras; and

a camera server that adjusts the selected one of the plurality of adjustable cameras based on the control signals generated by the radar server to capture visual images of the selected target and that controls recording of the visual images from the selected one of the plurality of adjustable cameras;

20. A method for providing video surveillance, the method comprising:

identifying a target in a guard zone with a target detection sensor having a long range detection capability;

determining whether a detected target is a threat based on established threat criteria; and

adjusting an adjustable sensor with classification and identification capability to gather additional information on the target.

21. The method of claim 20, and further comprising receiving input from an operator to define the guard zone.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the target detection sensor generates tracked target messages when a target is identified in the guard zone.

23. The method of claim 20, and further receiving threat criteria from an operator.

24. The method of claim 20, and further comprising generating pan, zoom and tilt values for the adjustable sensor.

25. The method of claim 24, and further including looking up preset values for the adjustable sensor based on the generated pan, zoom, and tilt values.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein determining whether a detected target is a threat comprises analyzing location, speed, and bearing of the target and the time of day.

27. The method of claim 20, and further including receiving identification signals from the target.

28. The method of claim 27, and further using the identification signals to determine whether the target is a threat.

29. The method of claim 20, and further comprising prioritizing among multiple targets based on user selected criteria.

30. A method for controlling a video surveillance system, the method comprising:

receiving messages from a detection sensor having a long range detection capability, the messages identifying a target;

determining whether the target is a threat based on established threat criteria; and

generating control signals to adjust an adjustable sensor with classification and identification capability to gather additional information on the threat.

31. The method of claim 30, and further including when more than one threat is identified, prioritizing between the identified threats based on configurable criteria.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein generating control signals includes looking up preset values in a look-up table.

33. A machine-readable medium having instruction stored thereon for a method for controlling a video surveillance system, the method comprising:

receiving messages from a detection sensor having a long range detection capability, the messages identifying a target;

determining whether the target is a threat based on established threat criteria; and

generating control signals to adjust an adjustable sensor with classification and identification capability to gather additional information on the threat.

34. The machine-readable medium of claim 33, and further including when more than one threat is identified, prioritizing between the identified threats based on configurable criteria.

35. The machine-readable medium of claim 33, wherein generating control signals includes looking up preset values in a look-up table.

36. A method for deploying a video surveillance system, the method comprising:

installing at least one detection sensor with high quality detection capability over a large area;

determining a number of adjustable sensors with classification and identification capability needed to cover at least the same area as the at least one detection sensor;

installing the number of adjustable sensors;

establishing a monitoring station;

establishing a communication link between the monitoring station and the at least one detection sensor and the adjustable sensors; and

establishing threat and prioritization criteria for use in controlling the adjustable sensors to track targets identified by the at least one detection sensor.

37. An apparatus for controlling a video surveillance system, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving messages from a detection sensor having a long range detection capability, the messages identifying a target;

means for determining whether the target is a threat based on established threat criteria; and

means for generating control signals to adjust an adjustable sensor with classification and identification capability to gather additional information on the threat.