Graffiti detection system and method of using the same

• US 7,064,664 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2003
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Traptec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Traptec Corporation
• Inventors: Johnson, Randy E., Roberts, Donald L., Devine, Arthur J., Lerg, George H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/627,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20040075561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/541, 340/539.22, 340/539.26, 340/573.1, 340/679, 340/605, 340/627, 340/632, 340/636.1, 340/566
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/009 having wheels on a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/06 Signalling devices actuated by deformation of the tyre , e.g. tyre mounted deformation sensors or indirect determination of tyre deformation based on wheel speed, wheel-centre to ground distance or inclination of wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/063 Generating directly an audible signal by deformation of the tyre by touching the ground B60C23/085
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons

Abstract

The present invention involves a system and method for detecting a graffiti-making act such as the spray of a spray paint can, the writing with a felt-marker pen on a surface, and the scratching with an abrasive instrument on a surface. The system includes one or more sensors adapted to sense the graffiti-making act and transmit a signal representative of the graffiti-making act, and a base unit including electronics adapted to process the signal and determined whether the signal represents a graffiti-making act, and a communication device coupled to the electronics and adapted to communicate to one or more entities that a graffiti-making act has been detected. The method includes sonically detecting the graffiti-making act, and initiating an alarm indicating that the graffiti-making act took place.

Claims

1. A graffiti detection system for detecting a graffiti-making act, comprising:

one or more sonic sensor adapted to ultrasonically sense sound of the graffiti-making act and transmit a signal or signals in response to the sound of the graffiti-making act;

electronics adapted to process the signal or signals in response to the sound of the graffiti-melting act, at least one of the one or more sensors and the electronics to determine whether a sound is representative of a graffiti-making act;

a camera adapted to obtain one or more images of a perpetrator of a graffiti-making act; and

a communication device adapted to transmit the one or more images of the perpetrator of the graffiti-making act to one or more remote entities if a graffiti-making act has been detected.

2. The graffiti detection system of claim 1, wherein the camera is a video camera.

3. The graffiti detection system of claim 2, wherein the video camera is an infrared video camera.

4. The graffiti detection system of claim 2, wherein the video camera is a monitoring video camera.

5. The graffiti detection system of claim 2, wherein the video camera is a recording video camera.

6. The graffiti detection system of claim 1, wherein the graffiti-making act is the spraying noise of a spray can.

7. A graffiti detection system for detecting a graffiti-making act, comprising:

means for ultrasonically sensing sound of the graffiti-making act and transmitting a signal or signals in response to the sound of the graffiti-making act;

means for processing the signal or signals in response to the sound of the graffiti-making act;

means for obtaining one or more images of a perpetrator of the graffiti-making act; and

means for transmitting the one or more images of the perpetrator of the graffiti-making act to one or more remote entities if at least one of the sonically sensing means and processing means determine a sound representative of a graffiti-making act took place.

8. The graffiti detection system of claim 7, wherein the graffiti-making act is the spraying noise of a spray can.

9. A method of sonically detecting a graffiti-making act, comprising:

providing a graffiti-making act detection system to ultrasonically detect a graffiti-making act and a camera to obtain one or more images of a perpetrator of the graffiti-making act;

locating the graffiti-making act detection system and the camera near a structure prone to receiving graffiti;

ultrasonically detecting with said graffiti-making act detection system a graffiti-making act and obtaining one or more images of the perpetrator of the graffiti-making act;

transmitting the one or more images of the perpetrator of the graffiti-making act to one or more remote entities.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the camera is a video camera.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the video camera is an infrared video camera.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the perpetrator of the graffiti-making act is monitored using the camera.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the perpetrator of the graffiti-making act is recorded using the camera.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more images of the perpetrator of the graffiti-making act are transmitted to the one or more remote entities over the internet and the one or more entities include at least one of an internet phone and an internet device for receiving and viewing the transmitted one or more images of the perpetrator of the graffiti-making act.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the graffiti-making act is the spraying noise of a spray can.