Event detection system

• US 20060261979A1
• Filed: 05/05/2004
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Damink, Paulus Henricus Antonius, Draaijer, Maurice Herman Johan, Colak, Sel Brian, Stassen, Maurice Leonardus Anna
• Application Number:
  US10/555,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20060261979A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/937
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors

Abstract

An event detection system (100) comprises: a communication network of interconnected nodes (10) and a central control station (200), each node being capable of communicating to at least one adjacent node and/or to the central control station, each node comprising: at least one microphone (11); a GPS receiver (12, 13) providing information regarding its location and providing time information; a processing circuit (17), capable of processing the microphone signals, the processing circuit being designed to detect the occurrence of predetermined characteristic sound patterns, and if the occurrence of a predetermined characteristic sound pattern is detected, to communicate the detected event to the central station, together with information regarding location of the node and time of detection; wherein the central station is designed to process the information received from the nodes and to determine the location of the audio source and the occurrence time of the event.

Claims

1. Event detection system (100), comprising:

a communication network of interconnected and cooperating nodes (10) and a central control station (200), each node being capable of communicating to at least one adjacent node and/or to the central control station, each node comprising;

at least one microphone (11) arranged for receiving outdoor sound;

location means (12) providing information regarding its location;

clock means (13) providing time information;

a processing circuit (17), capable of processing the output signals of the corresponding microphone (11), the processing circuit (17) being designed to detect the occurrence of predetermined characteristic sound patterns, and if the occurrence of a predetermined characteristic sound pattern is detected, to communicate the detected event to the central station (200), together with information regarding location of the node and time of detection;

wherein the clock means (13) of all nodes are accurately synchronised;

and wherein the central station (200) is designed to process the information received from a plurality of nodes and to determine the location of the event and the occurrence time of the event.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein each node comprises a GPS receiver (12, 13) receiving GPS signals, containing accurate position information and accurate time information.

3. System according to claim 1, wherein the central station (200) is designed, when calculating the location of the event, to take into account the propagation speed of sound waves.

4. System according to claim 3, wherein the propagation speed of sound waves is taken to be constant.

5. System according to claim 3, wherein the central station (200) is designed to compensate for deviations of propagation speed.

6. System according to claim 5, further comprising at least one wind sensor (22) capable of generating a signal indicative of wind direction and wind speed.

7. System according to claim 5, further comprising at least one loudspeaker (31) capable of generating a pilot tone.

8. System according to claim 1, wherein the nodes are arranged in an array at mutual distances in the order of 10-100 m.

9. System according to claim 1, wherein the nodes are associated with street lighting armatures (6) or lamp posts.

10. System according to claim 1, wherein the nodes are designed for communication over optical links.

11. System according to claim 1, wherein each node comprises a buffer (16) having a size sufficient for storing a predetermined amount of input signal, for instance corresponding to 30 seconds of sound.

12. System according to claim 1, wherein each node further comprises a video camera (14).

13. System according to claim 12, wherein the video camera (14) of a node (10) is activated by the central station (200) in response to detecting an event.

14. System according to claim 12, wherein the processing device (17) is provided with image processing software.

15. System according to claim 14, wherein the image processing software is capable to recognize events such as, for example, speeding, ignoring red traffic lights, or possible criminal activity.

16. System according to claim 14, wherein the image processing software is capable to read registration plates.

17. System according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the processing device (17) is designed to send one or more video images to the central station (200).

18. System according to claim 16, wherein the central station (200) is designed to communicate wanted registration numbers to the nodes (10), and wherein the processing devices (17) are designed to compare a registration number of a camera image with the wanted registration numbers.

19. System according to claim 1, the nodes (10) further comprising at least one sensor from the group comprising a temperature sensor (21), a wind sensor (22), a rain sensor (23), a seismic detector (24), a barometric sensor, a humidity sensor.

20. System according to claim 19, wherein the processing circuit (17) is designed to monitor the said sensors for events which may have an influence on traffic safety, and to communicate such event to the central station.

21. System according to claim 1, wherein the nodes are adapted for communication with individual cars.

22. System according to claim 21, wherein the nodes are designed to communicate weather information to the passing cars.

23. Vehicle, adapted for communication with a node of a system of claim 1.

24. Vehicle, adapted for communication with a node of a system (100), comprising:

a communication network of interconnected and cooperating nodes (10) and a central control station (200), each node being capable of communicating to at least one adjacent node and/or to the central control station, each node comprising;

at least one microphone (11) arranged for receiving outdoor sound;

location means (12) providing information regarding its location;

clock means (13) providing time information;

a processing circuit (17), capable of processing the output signals of the corresponding microphone (11), the processing circuit (17) being designed to detect the occurrence of predetermined characteristic sound patterns, and if the occurrence of a predetermined characteristic sound pattern is detected, to communicate the detected event to the central station (200), together with information regarding location of the node and time of detection;

wherein the clock means (13) of all nodes are accurately synchronised;

and wherein the central station (200) is designed to process the information received from a plurality of nodes and to determine the location of the event and the occurrence time of the event, comprising a control device adapted to automatically switch ON or OFF apparatus like heating equipment, airconditioning equipment, windscreen wipers, etc. in response to receiving weather information from a node of a system of claim 17.

25. Vehicle according to claim 23, comprising one or more weather sensors, adapted to communicate readings of its weather sensors to a node (10).