Apparatus and method of storing and searching for image

• US 9,055,201 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2012
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanwha Vision Company Limited (Hanwha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd. (Hanwha Corporation)
• Inventors: Jeon, Ki-Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr., William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, EILEEN M
• Application Number:
  US13/651,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20130093896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

An apparatus and method of storing and searching for an image are provided. The apparatus includes: a first signal processor which receives location information about an object detected by a sensor, generates and transmits a camera control signal to a camera based on the location information so that the camera performs a surveillance in a direction according to the camera control signal, and receives from the sensor an alarm signal notifying an intrusion of the object into a preset area; a second signal processor which receives a surveillance image of the intruding object received from the surveillance of the camera; and a control unit which stores the surveillance image in a storage unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for storing and searching for an image, the apparatus comprising:

a first signal processor which receives location information about an object detected by a radar sensor, generates and transmits a camera control signal to a camera based on the location information about the object so that the camera performs a surveillance in a direction according to the camera control signal, and receives from the radar sensor an alarm signal notifying an intrusion of the object into a preset area;

a second signal processor which receives a surveillance image of the object received from the surveillance of the camera; and

a control unit which stores the surveillance image in a storage unit,

wherein the camera performs the surveillance in a preset method when the apparatus is in a standby mode, and the control unit switches the apparatus from the standby mode to a surveillance mode in response to the receiving the location information about the object so that the first signal processor generates the camera control signal, and

wherein the control unit matches and stores, in the storage unit, the surveillance image of the object and location and time information about the object corresponding to the intrusion, in response to the receiving the alarm signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera control signal controls the camera in the direction using at least one of a pan value, tilt value and a zoom value.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit receives from a user an image request comprising a search condition indicating a portion of a surveillance range which is initially covered by the radar sensor and the camera before the camera control signal is generated, and searches for the stored surveillance image in response to the image request.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intrusion of the object into the preset area is determined by the radar sensor, and

wherein the preset area is a portion of a surveillance range which is initially covered by the radar sensor and the camera before the camera control signal is generated.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of the radar sensor, the camera, the storage unit and a display unit,

wherein the display unit allows a user to input an image request comprising a search condition related to a user-designated location information, and the control unit searches the storage unit and outputs the stored surveillance image in response to the image request.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the radar sensor,

wherein the sensor determines the intrusion of the object when a distance between the radar sensor and the object is within a predetermined intrusion distance, and generates the alarm signal.

7. An apparatus for storing and searching for an image, the apparatus comprising:

a signal processor which receives location information about an object detected by a radar sensor and a surveillance image of the object, from a camera that performs a surveillance in a direction according to the location information about the object received from the radar sensor, and the signal processor receives from the radar sensor an alarm signal notifying an intrusion of the object into a preset area; and

a control unit which stores the surveillance image in a storage unit after receiving the alarm signal,

wherein the camera performs the surveillance in a preset method when the apparatus is in a standby mode, and the control unit switches the apparatus from the standby mode to a surveillance mode in response to the receiving the location information about the object so that the camera performs the surveillance in the direction according to the location information about the object, and

wherein the control unit matches and stores, in the storage unit, the surveillance image of the object and location and time information about the object corresponding to the intrusion, in response to the receiving the alarm signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the control unit, upon receiving an image request according to a search condition related to a user-designated location information, searches the storage unit and outputs the stored surveillance image in response to the image request.

9. A method of storing and searching for an image using a surveillance apparatus for controlling a camera, the method comprising:

receiving location information about an object detected by a radar sensor;

switching, in response to the receiving the location information about the object, the surveillance apparatus from a standby mode to a surveillance mode, wherein the camera performs the surveillance in a preset method when the surveillance apparatus is in the standby mode;

generating and transmitting a camera control signal to the camera based on the location information about the object so that the camera performs a surveillance in a direction according to the camera control signal;

receiving from the sensor an alarm signal notifying an intrusion of the object into a preset area;

receiving a surveillance image of the intruding object received from the surveillance of the camera; and

matching and storing, in a storage unit, the surveillance image of the object and location and time information about the object corresponding to the intrusion, in response to the receiving the alarm signal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the camera control signal controls the camera in the direction using at least one of a pan value, tilt value and a zoom value.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving an image request according to a search condition related to a user-designated location information;

and

searching the storage unit and outputting the stored surveillance image in response to the image request.

12. A method of storing and searching for an image using a surveillance apparatus for controlling a camera, the method comprising:

receiving location information about an object detected by a radar sensor and switching, in response to the receiving the location information about the object, the surveillance apparatus from a standby mode to a surveillance mode, wherein the camera performs a surveillance in a preset method when the surveillance apparatus is in the standby mode;

receiving a surveillance image of the object, from a camera that performs the surveillance in a direction according to the location information about the object received from the radar sensor when the surveillance apparatus is in the surveillance mode;

receiving from the sensor an alarm signal notifying an intrusion of the object into a preset area; and

matching and storing, in a storage unit, the surveillance image of the object and location and time information about the object corresponding to the intrusion, in response to the receiving the alarm signal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

upon receiving an image request according to a search condition related to a user-designated location information, searching the storage unit and outputting the stored surveillance image in response to the image request.