Security data management system

• US 7,242,295 B1
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Schweiz AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: VistaScape Security Systems Corp. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Milinusic, Tomislav F., Papacharalampos, Demetrios, Danileiko, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, LAM P
• Application Number:
  US10/236,819
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/506, 340/520, 340524-525, 340/825.06, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/511, 348/113, 348/143, 348148-152
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19689 Remote control of cameras, e.g. remote orientation or image zooming control for a PTZ camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/632 for displaying or modifying preview images prior to image capturing, e.g. variety of image resolutions or capturing parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A sensor unit for use in a surveillance system is provided. The sensor unit interfaces with a sensor device to receive sensor data from the sensor device. The sensor unit is configured to generate an event record based upon received sensor data. The event record is of a predetermined format and is output to a data unit.

Claims

1. A sensor unit for utilization in a surveillance system, wherein the sensor unit comprises:

a processor, the processor being configured to receive raw sensor data from at least one sensor device, wherein the raw sensor data is used by the processor in order to determine if there is a detected activity in an area under surveillance,

further, the processor generates an event record in response to the received raw sensor data and upon a determination that there is detected activity in an area under surveillance, wherein the event record comprises data relating to the location of the detected activity within the area under surveillance; and

a sensor unit controller, the sensor unit controller being configured to receive raw sensor data from the at least one sensor device and further being configured to transmit control commands to the sensor device.

2. The sensor unit of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises object and activity classification reference data.

3. The sensor unit of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to utilize the raw sensor data and the activity classification data to classic the activity that is detected within an area under surveillance.

4. The sensor unit of claim 3 wherein the processor is further configured to utilize the raw sensor data in conjunction with the object classification data to classify an object that is detected within an area under surveillance.

5. The sensor unit of claim 4, wherein the sensor unit controller is configured to receive and transmit control signals from an exterior control unit to the sensor device.

6. The sensor unit of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to determine environmental factors of a location that a sensor device is situated and further to correct for any effects the environmental factors may have had upon the raw sensor data.

7. The sensor unit of claim 6, wherein the processor transmits the generated event record to a data unit.

8. The sensor unit of claim 7, wherein the sensor unit comprises at least one sensor device.

9. The sensor unit of claim 8, wherein the sensor device comprises a video camera.

10. The sensor unit of claim 9, wherein the video camera is responsive to infrared radiation.

11. The sensor unit of claim 6, wherein the sensor unit controller transmits the generated event record to a data unit.

12. A method for collecting and processing surveillance data within a sensor unit, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving raw sensor data from a sensor device, wherein the raw sensor data represents data gathered from a monitored area under surveillance;

analyzing the raw sensor in order to determine if the sensor data indicates that an activity has occurred in the area under surveillance;

generating an event record that includes data regarding the activity if a determination has been made that an activity has occurred, wherein the event record comprises data relating to the location of the activity within the area under surveillance;

transmitting the event record to a data unit; and

transmitting control commands to the sensor device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of classifying detected objects that are identified as being detected within the area under surveillance.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of generating an event record further comprises the step of utilizing data regarding the classified detected objects if a determination has been made that an activity has occurred.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of analyzing the raw sensor data to determine if an activity has occurred comprises the step of determining if there has been any motion detected within an area under surveillance.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of classifying detected objects further comprises the step of classifying the detected objects based upon known object types.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of transmitting control commands to the sensor device comprises configuring a sensor unit controller to receive and transmit control signals from an exterior control unit to the sensor device.

18. A computer program product that includes a computer readable medium useable by a processor, the medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to execute the steps of:

receiving raw sensor data from a sensor device, wherein the raw sensor data represents data gathered from a monitored area under surveillance;

analyzing the raw sensor in order to determine if the sensor data indicates that an activity has occurred in the area under surveillance;

classifying detected objects based upon known object-types objects that are identified as being detected within the area under surveillance;

generating an event record that includes data regarding the activity and the classified detected object if a determination has been made that an activity has occurred, wherein the event record comprises data relating to the location of the detected activity within the area under surveillance;

transmitting the event record to a data unit; and

transmitting control commands to the sensor device.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the step of analyzing the raw sensor data to determine if an activity has occurred comprises the step of determining if there has been any motion detected within an area under surveillance.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the step of classifying detected objects further comprises the step of classifying the detected objects based upon known object types.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the step of transmitting control commands to the sensor device comprises configuring a sensor unit controller to receive and transmit control signals from an exterior control unit to the sensor device.