Security system for notification of an undesired condition at a monitored area with minimized false alarms
First Claim
1. A method for notifying at least one security post of an undesired condition at a monitored area, the method including the steps of:
- A. creating a first image of said monitored area at a first time point, said first image divided into a plurality of first image blocks using a predefined grid;
B. creating a second image of said monitored area at a second time point, said second image divided into a plurality of second image blocks using said predetermined grid;
C. comparing a said first image block with a corresponding said second image block by performing the steps of calculating a first average pixel value of said first image block;
calculating a second average pixel value of said corresponding second image block;
calculating a first standard deviation pixel value of said first image block;
calculating a second standard deviation pixel value of said corresponding second image block;
calculating a first x-coordinate pixel massive center of said first image block;
calculating a second x-coordinate pixel massive center of said corresponding second image block;
calculating a first y-coordinate pixel massive center of said first image block;
calculating a second y-coordinate pixel massive center of said corresponding second image block; and
D. sending a fax of said second image to said at least one security post if said corresponding second image block is substantially different from said first image block, wherein said first image block is substantially different from said corresponding second image block if said first average pixel value is substantially different from said second average pixel value or if said first standard deviation pixel value is substantially different from said second standard deviation pixel value or if said first x-coordinate pixel massive center is substantially different from said second x-coordinate pixel massive center or if said first y-coordinate pixel massive center is substantially different from said second ycoordinate pixel massive center.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a security monitoring system which effectively monitors a large number of areas in a cost effective manner using already existing communications infrastructure. More specifically, the method and apparatus of the present invention warns at least one security post of an undesired condition at a monitored area by sending a fax of an image of the monitored area via a phone line and/or by sending an E-mail of a color image via a global telecommunications network such as the Internet. Generally, the present invention includes a camera for creating a first image of the monitored area at a first time point and for creating a second image of the monitored area at a second time point. In addition, a data storage device stores the first image and the second image, and an image processor, coupled to the data storage device, compares the first image with the second image. A modem, coupled to the image processor, sends a fax of the second image to the at least one security post if the second image is substantially different from the first image. The present invention may further send via the modem a JPEG color image of the second image as an electronic mail to a predetermined security post if the second image is substantially different from the first image.
48 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for notifying at least one security post of an undesired condition at a monitored area, the method including the steps of:
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A. creating a first image of said monitored area at a first time point, said first image divided into a plurality of first image blocks using a predefined grid;
B. creating a second image of said monitored area at a second time point, said second image divided into a plurality of second image blocks using said predetermined grid;
C. comparing a said first image block with a corresponding said second image block by performing the steps of calculating a first average pixel value of said first image block;
calculating a second average pixel value of said corresponding second image block;
calculating a first standard deviation pixel value of said first image block;
calculating a second standard deviation pixel value of said corresponding second image block;
calculating a first x-coordinate pixel massive center of said first image block;
calculating a second x-coordinate pixel massive center of said corresponding second image block;
calculating a first y-coordinate pixel massive center of said first image block;
calculating a second y-coordinate pixel massive center of said corresponding second image block; and
D. sending a fax of said second image to said at least one security post if said corresponding second image block is substantially different from said first image block, wherein said first image block is substantially different from said corresponding second image block if said first average pixel value is substantially different from said second average pixel value or if said first standard deviation pixel value is substantially different from said second standard deviation pixel value or if said first x-coordinate pixel massive center is substantially different from said second x-coordinate pixel massive center or if said first y-coordinate pixel massive center is substantially different from said second ycoordinate pixel massive center. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
sending a JPEG color image of said second image as an electronic mail to a predetermined security post if said corresponding second image block is substantially different from said first image block.
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3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
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detecting a remote request for a requested fax of an image of said monitored area;
accepting a fax number to which said requested fax is to be sent; and
sending a fax of said image of said monitored area to said accepted fax number.
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4. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:
repeating steps A, B, C, and D every predetermined time period.
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5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
selecting one of a plurality of cameras for comparing said first image block and said corresponding second image block from said selected one of said plurality of cameras to detect said undesired condition at a respective monitored area of said selected one of said plurality of cameras.
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6. A method for notifying at least one security post of an undesired condition at a monitored area, the method including the steps of:
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A. creating a first image of said monitored area at a first time point, said first image divided into a plurality of first image blocks using a predefined grid;
B. creating a second image of said monitored area at a second time point, said second image divided into a plurality of second image blocks using said predetermined grid;
C. comparing a said first image block with a corresponding said second image block, said step of comparing further including the steps of;
calculating a first average pixel value of said first image block;
calculating a second average pixel value of said corresponding second image block;
calculating a first standard deviation pixel value of said first image block;
calculating a second standard deviation pixel value of said corresponding second image block;
calculating a first x-coordinate pixel massive center of said first image block;
calculating a second x-coordinate pixel massive center of said corresponding second image block;
calculating a first y-coordinate pixel massive center of said first image block; and
calculating a second y-coordinate pixel massive center of said corresponding second image block;
wherein said first image is substantially different from said second image if said first average pixel value is substantially different from said second average pixel value or if said first standard deviation pixel value is substantially different from said second standard deviation pixel value or if said first x-coordinate pixel massive center is substantially different from said second x-coordinate pixel massive center or if said first y-coordinate pixel massive center is substantially different from said second y-coordinate pixel massive center;
D. sending a fax of said second image to said at least one security post if said second image is substantially different from said first image;
E. sending a JPEG color image of said second image as an electronic mail to a predetermined security post if said second image is substantially different from said first image;
F. detecting a remote request for a requested fax of an image of said monitored area;
G. accepting a fax number to which said requested fax is to be sent;
H. sending a fax of said image of said monitored area to said accepted fax number; and
I. repeating steps A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H every predetermined time period.
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7. An apparatus for notifying at least one security post of an undesired condition at a monitored area, the apparatus comprising:
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a camera for creating a first image of said monitored area at a first time point and for creating a second image of said monitored area at a second time point, said first image divided into a plurality of first image blocks using a predefined grid and said second image divided into a plurality of second image blocks using said predefined grid;
a data storage device for storing said first image blocks and said second image blocks;
an image processor, coupled to said data storage device, for comparing a said first image block with a corresponding said second image block, wherein said image processor, when comparing said first image block with said corresponding second image block, calculates the following parameters, a first average pixel value of said first image block;
a second average pixel value of said corresponding second image block;
a first standard deviation pixel value of said first image block;
a second standard deviation pixel value of said corresponding second image block;
a first x-coordinate pixel massive center of said first image block;
a second x-coordinate pixel massive center of said corresponding second image block;
a first y-coordinate pixel massive center of said first image block; and
a second y-coordinate pixel massive center of said corresponding second image block; and
a modem, coupled to said image processor, for sending a fax of said second image to said at least one security post if said corresponding second image block is substantially different from said first image block, wherein said first image is substantially different from said second image if said first average pixel value is substantially different from said second average pixel value or if said first standard deviation pixel value is substantially different from said second standard deviation pixel value or if said first x-coordinate pixel massive center is substantially different from said second x-coordinate pixel massive center or if said first y-coordinate pixel massive center is substantially different from said second y-coordinate pixel massive center. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
a dual tone multi-frequency detector for detecting a remote request via a phone line for a requested fax of an image of said monitored area and for accepting a fax number entered via a phone line to which said requested fax is to be sent, and wherein said image processor sends a fax of said image of said monitored area to said accepted fax number.
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10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said image processor repeats comparing another first image to another second image every predetermined time period.
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11. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:
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a plurality of cameras, each camera generating a respective first image at said first time point and a respective second image at said second time point to be compared for detecting said undesired condition at a respective monitored area; and
an I/O controller for selecting one of said plurality of cameras for analyzing the respective first image and the respective second image from said selected one of the plurality of cameras for detecting said undesired condition at said respective monitored area.
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12. An apparatus for notifying at least one security post of an undesired condition at a monitored area, the method including the steps of:
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a camera for creating a first image of said monitored area at a first time point and for creating a second image of said monitored area at a second time point, said first image divided into a plurality of firs image blocks using a predefined grid and said second image divided into a plurality of second image blocks using said predefined grid;
a data storage device for storing said first image blocks and said second image blocks;
an image processor, coupled to said data storage device, for comparing a said first image block with a corresponding said second image block;
a modem, coupled to said image processor, for sending a fax of said second image to said at least one security post if said corresponding second image block is substantially different from said first image block;
wherein said modem sends a JPEG color image of said second image as an electronic mail to a predetermined security post if said corresponding second image block is substantially different from said first image block;
a dual tone multi-frequency detector for detecting a remote request via a phone line for a requested fax of an image of said monitored area and for accepting a fax number entered via a phone line to which said requested fax is to be sent, and wherein said image processor sends a fax of said image of said monitored area to said accepted fax number;
and wherein said image processor repeats comparing another first image to another second image every predetermined time period;
and wherein said image processor when comparing said first image block with said corresponding second image block calculates the following parameters;
a first average pixel value of said first image block;
a second average pixel value of said corresponding second image block;
a first standard deviation pixel value of said first image block;
a second standard deviation pixel value of said corresponding second image block;
a first x-coordinate pixel massive center of said first image block;
a second x-coordinate pixel massive center of said corresponding second image block;
a first y-coordinate pixel massive center of said first image block; and
a second y-coordinate pixel massive center of said corresponding second image block;
and wherein said first image is substantially different from said second image if said first average pixel value is substantially different from said second average pixel value or if said first standard deviation pixel value is substantially different from said second standard deviation pixel value or if said first x-coordinate pixel massive center is substantially different from said second x-coordinate pixel massive center or if said first y-coordinate pixel massive center is substantially different from said second y-coordinate pixel massive center.
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13. An apparatus for notifying at least one security post of an undesired condition at a monitored area, the apparatus comprising:
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means for creating a first image of said monitored area at a first time point and for creating a second image of said monitored area at a second time point, said first image divided into a plurality of first image blocks using a predefined grid and said second image divided into a plurality of second image blocks using said predefined grid;
means for storing said first image blocks and said second image blocks;
means for comparing a said first image block with a corresponding said second image block, wherein said means for comparing, when comparing said first image block with said corresponding second image block, calculates the following parameters, a first average pixel value of said first image block;
a second average pixel value of said corresponding second image block;
a first standard deviation pixel value of said first image block;
a second standard deviation pixel value of said corresponding a second image block;
a first x-coordinate pixel massive center of said first image block;
a second xcoordinate pixel massive center of said corresponding second image block;
a first y-coordinate pixel massive center of said first image block; and
a second y-coordinate pixel massive center of said corresponding second image block; and
means for sending a fax of said second image to said at least one security post if said corresponding second image block is substantially different from said first image block, wherein said first image is substantially different from said second image if said first average pixel value is substantially different from said second average pixel value or if said first standard deviation pixel value is substantially different from said second standard deviation pixel value or if said first x-coordinate pixel massive center is substantially different from said second x-coordinate pixel massive center or if said first y-coordinate pixel massive center is substantially different from said second y-coordinate pixel massive center. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
means for sending a JPEG color image of said second image as an electronic mail to a predetermined security post if said corresponding second image block is substantially different from said first image block.
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15. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
means for detecting a remote request via a phone line for a requested fax of an image of said monitored area and for accepting a fax number entered via a phone line to which said requested fax is to be sent, and wherein said image processor sends a fax of said image of said monitored area to said accepted fax number.
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16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
means for selecting one of a plurality of cameras for comparing a respective first image and a respective second image from said selected one of said plurality of cameras to detect said undesired condition at a respective monitored area of said selected one of said plurality of cameras.
Specification