System and method for enhanced alertness and efficient distributed management for video surveillance

• US 6,985,079 B1
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magnetic Joints, LLC
• Original Assignee: Magnetic Joints, LLC
• Inventors: Pinter, Marco, Paden, Bradley E., Gaston, Fiona M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US10/309,986
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 340/575, 340/576, 340/573.1, 340/540, 434/236, 434/258, 434/326, 434/362, 600/300, 600/558
• US Class Current: 340/575
• 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: G08B 13/19693 using multiple video sources viewed on a single or compound screen
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A system is provided for testing and enhancing the alertness of operators who monitor video surveillance imagery. Alertness is tested by displaying any of a variety of visual elements on top of or near the video imagery, and receiving input from human operators in response to the visual elements, via one or more input devices. The system further allows for economic management of human operators by transmitting imagery from many video sources to any number of operators. Video feeds are automatically switched, via software, away from an operator who wishes to take a break or has poor alertness. In this fashion, the system maximizes operator vigilance while also maximizing workflow for all available operators.

Claims

1. A system for testing or enhancing alertness of a human while performing a visually-oriented job function, comprising:

a computer;

said computer having a visual display; and

programming associated with said computer for presenting visual stimuli on said display and determining if feedback is received in response to said visual stimuli;

wherein said visual display is a primary interface for performing said visually-oriented job function;

wherein said visual stimuli are overlaid on a visual work area on said display or displayed adjacent to a visual work area on said display; and

wherein said stimuli and feedback are used for testing or enhancing the alertness of said human while performing said visually-oriented job function.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising programming associated with said computer for:

increasing a failures value by one integer for each visual stimulus to which correct and timely feedback is not received.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, further comprising programming associated with said computer for:

re-assigning the visually-oriented job function to another human if the failures value exceeds a predetermined value.

4. A system as recited in claim 2, further comprising programming associated with said computer for:

setting the failures value equal to zero if feedback is received.

5. A system as recited in claim 2, further comprising programming associated with said computer for:

notifying a manager if the failures value exceeds a predetermined value.

6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said visually-oriented job function comprises monitoring video surveillance imagery on said display.

7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said visual stimuli include geometric areas of discoloration on said display which are intended to be located by said human and selected by a pointing device.

8. A system as recited in claim 1:

wherein the visual stimuli appear in random locations on said display; and

wherein said locations are chosen in such a way to keep the human'"'"'s eyes generally focused on appropriate areas of the visual display.

9. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual stimuli includes pre-recorded video surveillance segments having alarm situations.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the prerecorded video surveillance segments are randomly inserted into the video surveillance imagery.

11. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the time before presentation of a visual stimulus is inversely proportional to a prior response time.

12. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said computer is connected to a network.

13. A system for testing and enhancing the alertness of a human while performing a visually-oriented job function, comprising:

at least one computer network;

at least one operator computer connected to the computer network; and

programming associated with the system for

presenting visual stimuli at the operator computer, each visual stimulus requiring feedback at the operator computer;

determining if fed back is received for each visual stimulus;

increasing a failures value by one integer for each visual stimulus to which correct and timely feedback is not received; and

re-assigning the visually-oriented job function to another human if the failures value exceeds a predetermined value.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, further comprising programming associated with the system for:

setting the failures value equal to zero if feedback is received.

15. A system as recited in claim 13, further comprising programming associated with the system for:

notifying a manager if the failures value exceeds a predetermined value.

16. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the programming associated with the system resides in a system server.

17. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the programming associated with the system resides in the operator computer.

18. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the operator computer is the primary interface used by the human for performing the visually-oriented job function.

19. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein the job function is the monitoring of video surveillance imagery.

20. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the visual stimuli are overlaid on the video surveillance imagery.

21. A system as recited in claim 20, wherein some of the visual stimuli include geometric areas of discoloration of the underlying normal visual display, which are intended to be located and selected by a pointing device.

22. A system as recited in claim 20, wherein the visual stimuli appear in random locations which are chosen in such a way to keep the users eyes generally focused on appropriate areas of the visual display.

23. A system as recited in claim 20, wherein the visual stimuli includes prerecorded video surveillance segments having alarm situations.

24. A system as recited in claim 23, wherein the pro-recorded video surveillance segments are randomly inserted into the video surveillance imagery.

25. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the time before presentation of a visual stimulus is inversely proportional to a prior response time.

26. A system as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

at least one manager computer; and

programming associated with the system for;

allowing a manager to communicate with an operator; and

allowing a manager to monitor an operator.