Camera layout determination support device

• US 8,817,102 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2011
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Industry & Control Solutions, Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Saeki, Takashi, Yumiba, Ryo, Itoh, Masaya, Sukegawa, Takao, Suda, Yasuhiro, Miyoshi, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sath V
• Assistant Examiner(s): SULLIVAN, TYLER
• Application Number:
  US13/170,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20110317016A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/154
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33045 Selforganizing network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19613 Recognition of a predetermined image pattern or behaviour pattern indicating theft or intrusion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19639 Details of the system layout
• 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 13/19652 Systems using zones in a single scene defined for different treatment, e.g. outer zone gives pre-alarm, inner zone gives 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: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/921 Layout, e.g. circuit, construction

Abstract

A device which can support a determination of a camera layout by automatically preparing the camera layout that satisfies a customer request based on the customer request including a surveillance layout. Specifically, a need table that is a data set of a plurality of arrangement candidate cameras satisfying the customer request is prepared from the customer request including the surveillance layout. An arrangement of the plurality of the arrangement candidate cameras on a map is calculated based on the need table using a clustering method and a temporary layout of cameras is prepared. Then, an arrangement layout of the cameras in the surveillance layout is determined based on the temporary layout.

Claims

1. A camera layout determination support device for supporting a determination of a layout of cameras that conduct surveillance on a surveillance area, comprising:

a need table preparation unit that generates a need table which is a data set including data of candidate cameras to be arranged, desired camera functions satisfying customer requests, and customer-defined small areas into which the surveillance area is divided; and

a clustering unit that clusters data sets including the need table, and generates temporary position data of the candidate cameras to be arranged, wherein

the need table preparation unit

receives data of a surveillance layout including the customer-defined small areas, divides the surveillance area into blocks using grids, and generates a map in which each of the customer-defined small areas is divided into a plurality of the blocks; and

receives data of customer requests including desired camera functions for each of the small areas,

generates a customer request table that is data concerning whether or not each of the desired functions is necessary for each of the small areas, associates the customer request table with the map, and calculates a number of necessary cameras to be arranged according to the customer request table and the map in order to generate the need table; and

the clustering unit receives the data sets including the map and the need table, labels the block using an area vector described using a fuzzy set, and clusters the data sets including the map and the need table, in order to generate the temporary position data of the candidate cameras to be arranged.

2. The camera layout determination support device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a temporary layout adjustment unit that determines an arrangement layout of the cameras in the surveillance layout based on a predetermined rule including at least a camera direction rule and the temporary layout.

3. The camera layout determination support device according to claim 1,

wherein the clustering unit is configured to use a self organization map comprising two types of feature vectors that are an updatable reference vector and a non-updatable reference vector.

4. The camera layout determination support device according to claim 3,

wherein the feature vectors express the desired function as the updatable reference vector and an area on the surveillance layout as the non-updatable reference vector.

5. The camera layout determination support device according to claim 3,

wherein in the self organization map, the non-updatable reference vector of a competitive layer is expressed with a form reflecting characteristics of a boundary between the areas including a wall in the surveillance layout.

6. The camera layout determination support device according to claim 3,

wherein the clustering unit is configured, at an initial stage to use for the updatable reference vector, the self organization map expressed by a randomly set value, and to use for the non-updatable reference vector, the self organization map expressed by the value reflecting the surveillance layout.

7. The camera layout determination support device according to claim 1,

wherein the clustering unit is configured to use a self organization map which has a function to intentionally form a block that is easy to win by modifying data on a shape of a neighborhood area during learning.

8. The camera layout determination support device according to claim 1,

wherein the clustering unit is configured to use a self organization map which has a function to intentionally control the arrangement of the cameras by limiting a selection rule of a winner node during learning.

9. The camera layout determination support device according to claim 1,

wherein the clustering unit is configured to perform vector quantization of two types of feature vectors that are the updatable reference vector and the non-updatable reference vector.

10. The camera layout determination support device according to claim 1,

wherein when a plurality of the arrangement of candidate cameras having different visual coverages are arranged, the clustering unit changes a learning condition of the clustering unit with time.

11. The camera layout determination support device according to claim 1,

wherein the clustering unit is configured to update position data of the candidate cameras to be arranged on the map, while changing a learning condition during repetitive learning.

12. The camera layout determination support device according to claim 2,

wherein the temporary layout adjustment unit feedbacks a recommended number of the cameras or effectiveness of the camera layout to a customer by evaluating the arrangement layout based on a covering area of the cameras.

13. The camera layout determination support device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a surveillance system cost calculation unit that calculates a total cost of a surveillance system from the arrangement layout and camera specifications in order to feedback the total cost to a customer.

14. The camera layout determination support device according to claim 1,

wherein the customer request includes at least one of a resolution of camera image, the number of the cameras and the cost.

15. The camera layout determination support device according to claim 1,

wherein the desired function is at least one of motion detection, face detection staying detection, mischief detection, a video recording, a voice recognition function, a sensor function, and an authentication function.

16. The camera layout determination support device according to claim 1,

wherein the need table preparation unit calculates the number of the arrangement of candidate cameras that can cover the surveillance layout and prepares data sets of the arrangement of candidate cameras equal to the number of the arrangement of candidate cameras.

17. The camera layout determination support device according to claim 1,

wherein the customer request includes the number of the cameras, and the need table preparation unit prepares data sets of the arrangement of candidate cameras equal to the number of the cameras set in the customer request.