Exit guard system

• US 6,154,133 A
• Filed: 01/21/1999
• Issued: 11/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CheckVideo, LLC (Kastle Systems International LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ross & Baruzzini, Inc. (Integral Group Inc.)
• Inventors: Garoutte, Maurice V., McGhee, David W., Thomason, Rick D., Ross, Donald K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US09/234,688
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/944, 340/925, 340/917, 340/933, 340/905, 340/901, 340/937, 340/429, 340/573.1, 340/540, 348/148, 348/149, 348/143, 348/155, 348/154, 348/153
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19643 wherein the cameras play different roles, e.g. different resolution, different camera type, master-slave camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves

Abstract

An exit guard system automatically detects movement of a subject along an exit path in an unauthorized direction. A first video camera is positioned for video imaging movement of a subject along the path, while a second video camera images the subject for identification. Multiple video motion detectors operate in conjunction with the first video camera to determine direction of movement of a subject along the path. A CPU operates with the video motion detectors under an exit guard program to provide a watching mode, during which frames of the second video camera are continuously grabbed and saved. Audible and/or visual alarm signaling devices are operated by the CPU in an alarm mode in response to traffic of a subject in the unauthorized direction. A video monitor displays modes of operation of the system, and control devices allow operator selection and control of modes of operation of the system. Remote access to the system for control, monitoring or other purposes is provided by data modem feature.

Method of using such system for guarding movement of a subject along the path is disclosed.

Claims

1. An exit guard system for automatically detecting movement of a subject along an exit path in an unauthorized direction, comprising at least one video camera positioned for video imaging of at least a portion of the exit path, at least one video motion detector operating in conjunction with the video camera, by which the video camera monitors exit lane pedestrian traffic, a central processing unit interconnected with the video motion detector, the central processing unit operating under an exit guard software program to provide a watching mode, during which video frames of pedestrian traffic in and along the path are continuously grabbed and saved, and audible and/or visual alarm signaling devices, wherein the detection of the subject along the exit path in the unauthorized direction is made by the video motion detector and causes the central processing unit to enter an alarm mode in which it causes the audible and/or visual alarm signaling devices to signal such unauthorized direction movement, a video monitor for displaying modes of operation of the system, and control devices for allowing selection and control of modes of operation of the system.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 including a video frame grabber controlled by the central processing unit such that, during alarm mode occurrence, at least the last few seconds of video frames are saved, and are caused to be displayed by the video monitor in cyclic looping intervals of several seconds in duration as, in effect, a movie of sequentially grabbed frames.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a saturation detector capable of detecting above-normal pedestrian traffic levels within the path, the exit lane, i.e., and exit path, being monitored by the camera, the saturation detector operating such that when above-normal traffic levels are detected, a saturation alarm of the system is activated, indicating that detection zones are too busy, so that the possibility of undetected intrusion is higher than normal.

4. A system as set forth in claim 3 wherein the exit guard program provides function states including a home state in which the system is yet to start watching the exit path, a watching state in which the exit path is watched for movement in the unauthorized direction, an alarm state in which there is detection of movement in the unauthorized direction, an acknowledged state in which an operator has acknowledged the alarm state by responding to an alarm, a looping state in which grabbed frames are displayed on the video monitor, and a shunted state in which operation of the alarm signaling devices are altered to signify the shunted state, the shunted state permitting movement of an authorized subject in the unauthorized direction.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4 wherein a first video camera images a subject moving in the exit lane in the unauthorized direction by imaging along an axis inclined relative to horizontal, and whereby provides an image of the subject for identification purposes, and a second video camera over the exit lane images a subject moving in the exit lane in the unauthorized direction by imaging along an axis orthogonal to horizontal and whereby is responsive to the direction of movement of the subject.

9. A system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the first video camera is mounted over the exit lane for imaging movement in the exit lane in the unauthorized direction by imaging along an axis orthogonal to horizontal and whereby is responsive to the direction of movement of the subject the second video camera images a subject moving in the exit lane in the unauthorized direction by imaging along an axis inclined relative to horizontal, and whereby provides an image of the subject for identification purposes.

10. A system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising a remote access circuitry for allowing a telephone or other dedicated line connection to the system, the remote access circuitry including at least one dedicated data modem with appropriate security and access protocols to permit remote dial-in or other remote accessing of the system by an authorized user, so as to enable remote access to system software or hardware for remote control, downloading/uploading or reporting as may be required by system operator(s) or for purposes otherwise useful for implementing intended usage of the system and/or enhancing its reliability.

6. An exit guard system for automatically detecting movement of a subject along an exit path in an unauthorized direction, comprising a first video camera positioned for video imaging of at least a portion of the exit path to image movement of pedestrian subjects along the path, a second video camera positioned for video imaging of the pedestrian subjects for identification, a plurality of video motion detectors operating in conjunction with the first video camera, wherein the detection of the subject along the exit path in the unauthorized direction is made by the video motion detectors, a central processing unit interconnected with the video motion detectors, the central processing unit operating under an exit guard software program to provide a watching mode, during which frames of the second video camera are continuously grabbed and saved, and audible and/or visual alarm signaling devices, the video motion detectors being responsive to pedestrian traffic in the unauthorized direction and causing the central processing unit to enter an alarm mode in which it causes the audible and/or visual alarm signaling devices to signal such unauthorized direction movement, a video monitor for displaying modes of operation of the system, and control devices for allowing selection and control of modes of operation of the system.

7. A system as set forth in claim 6 including a video frame grabber controlled by the central processing unit such that, during alarm mode occurrence, at least the last few seconds of video frames are saved, and are caused to be displayed by the video monitor in cyclic looping intervals of several seconds in duration as, in effect, a movie of sequentially grabbed frames.

8. A system as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a saturation detector capable of detecting above-normal pedestrian traffic levels within the path as monitored by the first video camera, the saturation detector comprising a further video motion detector and the saturation detector operating such that when above-normal traffic levels are detected, a saturation alarm of the system is activated, indicating that detection zones are too busy, so that the possibility of undetected intrusion is higher than normal.

15. A system as set forth in claim 6 and further comprising a remote access circuitry for allowing a telephone or other dedicated line connection to the system, the remote access circuitry including at least one dedicated data modem with appropriate security and access protocols to permit remote dial-in or other remote accessing of the system by an authorized user, so as to enable remote access to system software or hardware for remote control, downloading/uploading or reporting as may be required by system operator(s) or for purposes otherwise useful for implementing intended usage of the system and/or enhancing its reliability.

11. A guard system for automatically detecting movement of a subject along a path in an unauthorized direction, comprising at least one video camera positioned for video imaging of at least a portion of the path, at least one video motion detector operating in conjunction with the video camera, by which the video camera monitors lane traffic, a central processing unit interconnected with the video motion detector, the central processing unit operating under a guard program to provide a watching mode, during which video frames of a subject along the path are continuously grabbed and saved, and at least one alarm signaling device, wherein the detection of the subject along the exit path in the unauthorized direction is made by the video motion detector and causes the central processing unit to enter an alarm mode in which it causes the alarm signaling device to signal such unauthorized direction movement, and at least one video monitor for displaying at least the image of the subject moving in the unauthorized direction, and control devices for allowing control of operation of the system.

12. A method of guarding a path for unauthorized direction of movement along the path by automatically detecting movement of a subject along the path in the unauthorized direction, comprising positioning a first video camera for video imaging of at least a portion of the path to image movement of a subject along the path in an unauthorized direction, positioning a second video camera for video imaging of the a subject for identification during movement in the unauthorized direction, and operating video motion detector means in conjunction with the first video camera, wherein the detection of the subject along the path in the unauthorized direction is made by the video motion detector means, and using a central processing unit interconnected with the video motion detector means while operating the central processing unit under a guard program to provide a watching mode, during which frames of the second video camera are continuously grabbed and saved, and causing the video motion detector to respond to traffic of a subject in the unauthorized direction such that the central processing unit is caused to enter an alarm mode signaling movement of the subject in the unauthorized direction, and actuating during said alarm mode audible and/or visual alarm signaling devices to signal such unauthorized direction movement, while using a video monitor to display modes of operation of the system and using control devices for allowing selection and control of modes of operation of the system.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 including operating the guard program to provide function states including a home state in which there is readiness to start watching the path, a watching state in which the path is watched for movement in the unauthorized direction, an alarm state in which there is detection of movement in the unauthorized direction, an acknowledged state in which an operator has acknowledged the alarm state by responding to an alarm, a looping state in which grabbed frames are displayed on the video monitor, and a shunted state in which operation of the alarm signaling devices are altered to signify the shunted state, the shunted state permitting movement of an authorized subject in the unauthorized direction.

14. A method as set forth in claim 12 including using remote access circuitry for allowing a telephone or other dedicated line connection including a data modem with appropriate security and access protocols to enable remote dial-in or other remote accessing of the system by an authorized user, so as to permit remote access to system software or hardware to allow changing of settings, problem or fault detection, monitoring and trouble-shooting, as well as such other remote control, downloading/uploading or reporting as may be required by system operator(s) or may otherwise be useful for implementing intended usage of the system and/or enhancing its reliability.