Effortless Navigation Across Cameras and Cooperative Control of Cameras

• US 20130010111A1
• Filed: 03/25/2011
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fortem Software Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fortem Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Laforte, Christian, Cossette-Pacheco, Alexandre, Laforte, Guillaume, Koopferstock, Joshua
• Granted Patent: US 9,544,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19639 Details of the system layout
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

This application discloses a system and related methods (called Fast Track) to effortlessly navigate across multiple cameras, e.g. video surveillance cameras distributed in a facility. Fast Track simplifies the act of following a suspicious individual roaming in a facility, e.g. by eliminating the need for security operators to memorize camera placement and coverage, and to manually control pan-tilt-zoom (hereinafter “PTZ”) cameras, and by simplifying the process to reduce the risk of operator error. Combinations of novel scoring and control methods generally provide an automatic identification of optimal cameras and pre-emptive re-direction of PTZ cameras. Extensions to these methods enable two new capabilities: Cooperative PTZ Control (e.g. coordinating PTZs to cover a 3D map viewport optimally) and Self-Healing Perimeters, to automatically reassign and redirect multiple PTZ cameras to fill gaps in a security perimeter.

Claims

1. ) A method for navigating across a plurality of cameras, the method comprising:

a) for each of the plurality of cameras, calculating a per-camera score with respect to a point;

b) performing an action based on the per-camera scores.

2. ) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of calculating a per-camera score comprises extrapolating a plurality of sample points along an extrapolated distribution shape generated around the point.

3. ) The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the step of calculating a per-camera score comprises calculating a per-sample score for each of the sample points, and combining the per-sample scores to produce the per-camera score.

4. ) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the per-camera scores are further calculated with respect to at least one path along a network of navigation points.

5. ) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the point is specified by a user.

6. ) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the per-camera scores are further calculated with respect to a direction.

7. ) The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the direction is specified by a user.

8. ) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of performing an action comprises assigning the camera with the highest per-camera score to a camera viewport.

9. ) The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of performing an action comprises changing a direction and/or a zoom of at least one of the plurality of cameras.

14. ) A computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions for performing any one of the methods as claims in claims 1 to 13.

15. ) A system having a computer system adapted to perform any one of the as claims in claims 1 to 13.

10. ) A method for cooperative control of a plurality of cameras, the method comprising:

a) distributing weighted sample points on at least one area to be monitored by at least a subset of the plurality of cameras, wherein each of the sample points is being assigned a weight relative to its importance;

b) changing, if necessary, a direction and/or a zoom of each camera of the subset of the plurality of cameras such that each camera of the subset of the plurality of cameras covers at least some of the weighted sample points and such that most of the weighted sample points are covered by at least one of the cameras of the subset of the plurality of cameras.

11. ) The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of distributing the weighted sample points comprises distributing the weighted sample points in a pattern projected from a viewport.

12. ) The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of distributing the weighted sample points comprises distributing the weighted sample points along at least one geometric shape such as to approximate a security perimeter.

13. ) The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a) for each of the cameras of the subset of the plurality of cameras, calculating a per-camera score with respect to the sample points;

b) assigning the camera with the highest score to cover a first subset of the sample points;

c) repeating steps a) and b) while ignoring already assigned cameras and already covered sample points.