USING COMPUTER VIDEO CAMERA TO DETECT EARTHQUAKE

• US 20110292220A1
• Filed: 05/25/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Omori, Keisuke, Georgis, Nikolaos
• Granted Patent: US 8,391,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/01 Measuring or predicting earthquakes

Abstract

Images from the video camera of a computer are compared over time, e.g., every few milliseconds, to determine from the pixel data if motion of the computer matches template motion associated with an earthquake P-wave. If so, a warning is generated, uploaded to a communication network, and propagated over the network to other computers.

Claims

1. Computer comprising:

housing;

processor in the housing;

video camera coupled to the housing and communicating with the processor, the processor executing logic to use first image information generated by the video camera at a first time and at least second image information generated by the video camera at a second time to render a motion output and based at least in part on the motion output, selectively generating an earthquake detection signal (EDS) indicating that an earthquake is impending.

2. The computer of claim 1, wherein the processor generates the EDS responsive to a determination that the comparison indicates oscillating motion within a predetermined time period.

3. The computer of claim 1, wherein responsive to a determination that the motion output indicates an earthquake, the processor uploads the EDS to a communication network for transfer thereof to other computers.

4. The computer of claim 3, wherein the computer is a first computer, the EDS is a first EDS, and an earthquake alarm is generated in response to the first EDS only if at least a second computer generates a second EDS within a predetermined period of the first EDS to validate the first EDS.

5. The computer of claim 1, wherein the motion output is compared to a template and the EDS is generated responsive to a determination of a substantial match between the motion output and the template.

6. The computer of claim 1, wherein the motion output represents horizontal motion relative to the Earth'"'"'s surface.

7. The computer of claim 1, wherein the motion output represents vertical motion relative to the Earth'"'"'s surface.

8. The computer of claim 1, wherein the motion output is derived from subpixel motion estimation.

9. Method comprising:

generating a video image;

using a first computer, determining motion within the image;

determining whether the motion within the image fits at least one earthquake criterion; and

presenting on a computer display an indication that an earthquake is impending responsive to a determination that the motion within the image fits the at least one earthquake criterion.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the act of presenting is undertaken only if the determination that the motion within the image fits the at least one earthquake criterion is verified by at least a second computer different from the first computer.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether the motion within the image fits at least one earthquake criterion is undertaken by comparing the motion within the image to a template, the indication that an earthquake is impending being generated responsive to a determination of a substantial match between the template and the motion within the image.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the motion within the image represents horizontal motion relative to the Earth'"'"'s surface.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the motion within the image represents vertical motion relative to the Earth'"'"'s surface.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the motion within the image is derived from subpixel motion estimation.

15. Computer comprising:

processor receiving image signals from a video camera;

non-transitory computer storage medium accessible to the processor and bearing logic to cause the processor to;

selectively determine an earthquake is impending responsive to motion of at least one object in the image signals; and

generate an earthquake detection signal (EDS) responsive to a determination that an earthquake is impending.

16. The computer of claim 15, wherein the EDS is used to generate a text message.

17. The computer of claim 15, wherein the EDS is used to generate an audible or visual alarm presented on the computer.

18. The computer of claim 15, wherein the image signals are compared to a template and the EDS is generated responsive to a determination of a substantial match therebetween.

19. The computer of claim 15, wherein the processor selectively determines an earthquake is impending responsive to motion of at least one object in the image signals using subpixel motion estimation.