System and method for an imaging system for a container security system

• US 20070133980A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Globaltrak LLC (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: System Planning Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Roy, Meyers, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,853,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/429
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1961 Movement detection not involving frame subtraction, e.g. motion detection on the basis of luminance changes in the image
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy

Abstract

A system for visually capturing and monitoring the contents and events surrounding a cargo container is provided. The system includes an image capture device, a control device, and an image processing device. This system may be used for both visible and infrared images. The image capture device may be situated on the container door, and record images at a more frequent rate if it is determined that an event has occurred based on comparison of successive images. Image compression techniques may also be used to transmit captured and computed images back to a central monitoring station where they can be viewed and further analyzed.

Claims

1. An imaging system for monitoring contents of and events surrounding a cargo container, the system comprising:

an image capture device;

a control element for controlling an image capture function and analyzing received image data; and

an image processing element that executes algorithms, the execution of the algorithms providing a machine interpretation of the captured image data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the image capture device comprises a CCD (charge coupled device), a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor).

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the image capture device captures images in the visible light spectrum with wavelengths from approximately 700 nanometers to 400 nanometers.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the image capture device captures images in the infrared light spectrum with wavelengths from approximately at values greater that 700 nanometers to approximately 1 millimeter.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control element comprises:

a micro-processor element;

a non-volatile memory storage element capable of storing multiple images captured by the image capture device;

a communications element capable of receiving command messages, and reporting events, status, and captured images to other control or communications components outside the image capture system.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the control element functions may be performed on a device which is shared among other multiple control and processing functions for the container monitoring and security system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the image processing element comprises a digital signal processor element capable of performing simple image processing.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the image processing functions may be performed on the same physical device as the control element.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the image capture device is mounted on the interior side of the container door.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the control element and image processing element are co-located by the image sensor, or situated in a area with other electronics for the container monitoring and security system.

11. A method for capturing images in a container system comprising:

placing a container imaging system in standby mode;

implementing a control element for commanding an image capture device to capture and store images on a periodic basis relatively infrequently;

if the image capture device senses a change in the visible or infrared light which exceeds a predetermined threshold over a fixed period of time, transitioning into alarm mode and implementing the control element to command the image capture device to capture and store images at a more frequent rate for a relatively short period of time.

12. A method for comparing successive captured images in a container security system during a standby mode comprising:

comparing and correlating successively captured images with an image processing device to determine if image pixel averages exceed a predetermine gradient threshold;

if the gradient threshold has been exceeded, sending a report from the image processing device back to a control element indicating an alarm condition has occurred, and reporting back a resultant image representing specific areas of view where the gradient threshold has been exceeded.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the method is performed for both visible and infrared captured images.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising compressing images to render the images suitable for transmission over a narrowband communication channel.