Computer system with motion-triggered alarm procedure

• US 6,359,560 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Peterson, Eric, Long, Paul, Armour, Mark, Sperling, David P., Scheussler, Robert W., Budge, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/439,639
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 358/135, 358/136, 340/506, 340/507, 340/541, 340/565, 340/825.06
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19602 Image analysis to detect motion of the intruder, e.g. by frame subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19667 Details realated to data compression, encryption or encoding, e.g. resolution modes for reducing data volume to lower transmission bandwidth or memory requirements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19676 Temporary storage, e.g. cyclic memory, buffer storage on pre-alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1968 Interfaces for setting up or customising the system
• 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 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/144 Movement detection for video coding H04N19/503; analysis of motion in general G06T7/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A computer system includes a video input device that generates video data representing a field of view in front of the video input device. The computer system further includes a buffer and a video processing module. The buffer is configured to record a video clip of the field of view in front of the video input device. The video processing module is connected to the buffer and the video input device. The video processing module includes a video capture device to encode the video data, and a signal processing module. The signal processing module processes the encoded video data in order to calculate an average value of the video data indicative of motion within the field of view in front of the video input device. The signal processing module generates an alarm if the average value is above a predetermined threshold value.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a video input device to generate video data representing a field of view in front of the video input device;

a computer connected to the video input device, the computer comprising;

a buffer configured to record a video clip of the field of view in front of the video input device; and

a video processing module connected to the buffer and the video input device, the video processing module comprising a video capture device to encode the video data in consecutive frames of varying size, and a signal processing module, the signal processing module configured to process the encoded video data in order to calculate an average value of the size of the encoded video data, and to generate an alarm signal if the average value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the alarm signal indicating that sufficient motion has been detected in front of the video input device.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the video processing module further comprises a controller configured to control a transfer of the encoded video data from the buffer upon generation of the alarm signal.

3. The computer system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to control the buffer to record the field of view for a predetermined period of time after the alarm signal, the video clip including a first recording before the alarm signal and a second recording after the alarm signal.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the first recording is about one-third of the video clip and the second recording is about two-thirds of the video clip.

5. The computer system of claim 4, further comprising a storage device configured to store the video data transferred from the buffer.

6. The computer system of claim 4, further comprising an interface module configured to connect the computer to an external communications line, the interface module connected to the video processing module.

7. The computer system of claim 6, wherein the signal processing module and the interface module are configured to generate and send a predetermined notification message to the communications line.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined notification message is an electronic mail message addressed to a predetermined address.

9. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined notification message is an electronic mail message, including the video clip, addressed to a predetermined address.

10. The computer system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined notification message is a telephone call directed to a predetermined number.

11. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of generating and sending a predetermined notification message to an external communications line.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined notification message is an electronic mail message addressed to a predetermined address.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined notification message is an electronic mail message, including the video clip, addressed to a predetermined address.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined notification message is a telephone call directed to a predetermined number.

15. A method of detecting motion in a field of view in front of a video input device connected to a computer system, comprising the steps of:

receiving encoded video data from a video capture device, the encoded video data representing a field of view in front of a video input device, and including frames of variable lengths, the length of a frame depending on motion within the field of view;

calculating an average value for the variable lengths of the frames;

comparing the average value with a predetermined threshold value which defines a state of no motion within the field of view; and

generating an alarm signal if the average value is greater than the predetermined threshold value, the alarm signal indicating that the motion within the field of view is higher than in the state of no motion.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of storing the encoded video data in a buffer.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of transferring the encoded video data form the buffer upon generation of the alarm signal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of storing includes recording the field of view for a predetermined period of time after the alarm signal, the recording creating a video clip including a first recording before the alarm signal and a second recording after the alarm signal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first recording is about one-third of the video clip and the second recording is about two-thirds of the video clip.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of transferring the encoded video data includes transferring the encoded video data to a storage device configured to store the video clip.

21. A motion-detection system that detects motion in a field of view, the motion-detection system configured to process encoded video data from the field of view to determine when sufficient motion exists in the field of view, the motion-detection system comprising:

a video camera that generates a series of video frames that represent a field of view in front of the video device;

a video encoder in communication with the video frames, the video encoder configured to process the video frames to generate encoded video frames wherein the size of the encoded video frames vary based on the amount of motion in the field of view; and

a computer in communication with the encoded video frames, the computer comprising;

a threshold value stored in a computer accessible storage medium; and

a processor in communication with the encoded video data and the threshold value, the processor configured to process the encoded video frames to determine a weighted average of at least a portion of the encoded video frames, the processor further configured to detect motion when the weighted average exceeds the threshold value.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the processor generates a notification message when the processor detects motion.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the processor is further configured to communicate the notification message to the interface module.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the interface module is configured to transfer the notification message to a remote location via a communications connection.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the notification message is an electronic mail message.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the notification message comprises a portion of the encoded video data.

27. The system of claim 21 further comprising a buffer memory which is configured to store a portion of the encoded video data obtained after to the detection of motion.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the buffer memory is configured to store a portion of the encoded video data obtained prior to the detection of motion.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the processor transfers a portion of said encoded video data in the buffer to a computer accessible recording medium.

30. A motion-detection apparatus comprising:

a series of video segments configured to vary in size based on movement in a field of view; and

a processor configured to process at least a portion of the video segments to determine an average, the processor further configured to detect motion when the average exceeds a threshold.

31. An article of manufacture comprising a signal processing module stored in a computer accessible storage media and executable in a processor, the signal processing module configured to calculate an average of multiple video segments that vary in size based on movement in a field of view, the signal processing module further configured to detect motion when the average exceeds a threshold.

32. A motion-detection apparatus comprising:

a series of video segments configured to vary in size based on movement in a field of view; and

a means for processing at least a portion of the video segments to determine an average, the means also detecting motion when the average exceeds a threshold.

33. A method of detecting motion comprising the acts of:

generating video data that represent a field of view;

encoding the video data to generate encoded video segments that vary in size based on the amount of motion in the field of view;

determining a weighted average of at least a portion of the encoded video segments; and

detecting motion when the weighted average equals or exceeds a threshold.

34. A method of detecting motion comprising the acts of:

receiving video segments that vary in size based on movements in a field of view;

calculating an average of at least a portion of the video segments; and

detecting motion when the average exceeds a threshold.

35. A motion-detection system that transfers video segments stored in a buffer to a computer accessible storage medium when motion is detected in a field of view, the motion-detection system comprising:

a video camera with a field of view, the video camera configured to generate video data about the field of view;

a video encoder configured to process the video data to generate video segments that vary in size based on the amount of motion in the field of view;

a buffer which stores a portion of the video segments occurring prior to a detection of motion and a portion of the video segments occurring after the detection of motion; and

a processor configured to locate in the buffer the oldest encrypted video segment which independently defines an image within the field of view, the processor further configured to transfer the oldest encrypted video segment and subsequent encrypted video segments from the buffer to a computer accessible storage medium.

36. A motion-detection apparatus comprising:

a buffer that stores video segments which vary in size based on movement in a field of view; and

a processor that is configured to locate in the buffer a prior video segment occurring before the detection of motion, the processor further configured to transfer the prior video segment and subsequent video segments from the buffer to a computer accessible storage medium.

37. A motion-detection apparatus comprising:

a first means for temporarily storing video segments which vary in size based on movement in a field of view; and

a second means for locating in the buffer a prior video segment occurring before the detection of motion, the second means transferring the prior video segment and subsequent video segments from the buffer to a computer accessible storage means.

38. An article of manufacture comprising:

a buffer module stored in a computer accessible storage media and executable in a processor, the buffer module configured to temporarily store video segments which vary in size based on movement in a field of view; and

a signal processing module stored in a computer accessible storage media and executable in a processor, the signal processing module configured to locate in the buffer module a prior video segment occurring before the detection of motion, the processor further configured to transfer the prior video segment and subsequent video segments from the buffer to a computer accessible storage medium.

39. A method of detecting motion comprising the acts of:

generating video data that represent a field of view;

encoding the video data to generate encoded video segments that vary in size based on the amount of motion in the field of view;

storing in a buffer, at least a portion of the video segments occurring prior to a detection of motion and at least a portion of the video segments occurring after the detection of motion;

locating in the buffer the oldest encrypted video segment which independently defines an image within the field of view; and

transferring the oldest encrypted video segment and subsequent encrypted video segments from the buffer to a computer accessible storage medium.

40. A method of storing video data comprising the acts of:

storing in a buffer, video segments which vary in size based on movement in a field of view;

locating in the buffer a prior video segment occurring before the detection of motion; and

transferring the prior video segment and subsequent video segments from the buffer to a computer accessible storage medium.