APPARATUS AND METHOD OF STORING AND SEARCHING FOR IMAGE

• US 20130093896A1
• Filed: 10/15/2012
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanwha Vision Company Limited (Hanwha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd. (Hanwha Corporation)
• Inventors: JEON, Ki-Yong
• Granted Patent: US 9,055,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/152
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

An apparatus and method of storing and searching for an image are provided. The apparatus includes: a first signal processor which receives location information about an object detected by a sensor, generates and transmits a camera control signal to a camera based on the location information so that the camera performs a surveillance in a direction according to the camera control signal, and receives from the sensor an alarm signal notifying an intrusion of the object into a preset area; a second signal processor which receives a surveillance image of the intruding object received from the surveillance of the camera; and a control unit which stores the surveillance image in a storage unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for storing and searching for an image, the apparatus comprising:

a first signal processor which receives location information about an object detected by a radar sensor, generates and transmits a camera control signal to a camera based on the location information so that the camera performs a surveillance in a direction according to the camera control signal, and receives from the radar sensor an alarm signal notifying an intrusion of the object into a preset area;

a second signal processor which receives a surveillance image of the intruding object received from the surveillance of the camera; and

a control unit which stores the surveillance image in a storage unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage unit stores location and time information of the object corresponding to the intrusion along with the surveillance image of the object.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera control signal controls the camera in the direction using at least one of a pan value, tilt value and a zoom value.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit, upon receiving the location information of the object, switches the apparatus from a standby mode to a surveillance mode in response to the location information of the object so that the first signal processor generates the camera control signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit receives from a user an image request indicating a portion of a surveillance range which is initially covered by the radar sensor and the camera before the camera control signal is generated, and searches for the stored surveillance image in response to the image request.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intrusion of the object into the preset area is determined by the radar sensor, and

wherein the preset area is a portion of a surveillance range which is initially covered by the radar sensor and the camera before the camera control signal is generated.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of the radar sensor, the camera, the storage unit and a display unit,

wherein the display unit allows a user to input an image request comprising a search condition related to a user-designated location information, and the control unit searches the storage unit and outputs the stored surveillance image in response to the image request.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the radar sensor,

wherein the sensor determines that the intrusion of the object when a distance between the radar sensor and the object is within a predetermined intrusion distance, and generates the alarm signal.

9. An apparatus for storing and searching for an image, the apparatus comprising:

a signal processor which receives location information about an object detected by a radar sensor and a surveillance image of the object, from a camera that performs a surveillance in a direction according to the location information received from the radar sensor, and the signal processor receives from the radar sensor an alarm signal notifying an intrusion of the object into a preset area; and

a control unit which stores the surveillance image in a storage unit after receiving the alarm signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the storage unit stores location and time information of the object corresponding to the intrusion along with the surveillance image of the object.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit, upon receiving the location information and the surveillance image of the object, switches the apparatus from a standby mode to a surveillance mode.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit, upon receiving an image request according to a search condition related to a user-designated location information, searches the storage unit and outputs the stored surveillance image in response to the image request.

13. A method of storing and searching for an image, the method comprising:

receiving location information about an object detected by a radar sensor;

generating and transmitting a camera control signal to a camera based on the location information so that the camera performs a surveillance in a direction according to the camera control signal;

receiving from the sensor an alarm signal notifying an intrusion of the object into a preset area;

receiving a surveillance image of the intruding object received from the surveillance of the camera; and

storing the surveillance image in a storage unit.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the storing comprises storing location and time information of the object corresponding to the intrusion along with the surveillance image of the object.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the camera control signal controls the camera in the direction using at least one of a pan value, tilt value and a zoom value.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving an image request according to a search condition related to a user-designated location information;

and

searching the storage unit and outputting the stored surveillance image in response to the image request.

17. A method of storing and searching for an image, the method comprising:

receiving location information about an object detected by a radar sensor and a surveillance image of the object, from a camera that performs a surveillance in a direction according to the location information received from the radar sensor;

receiving from the sensor an alarm signal notifying an intrusion of the object into a preset area; and

storing the surveillance image in a storage unit after receiving the alarm signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the storage unit stores location and time information of the object corresponding to the intrusion along with the surveillance image of the object.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the control unit, upon receiving the location information and the surveillance image of the object, switches the apparatus from a standby mode to a surveillance mode.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the control unit, upon receiving an image request according to a search condition related to a user-designated location information, searches the storage unit and outputs the stored surveillance image in response to the image request.