Tracking people and objects using multiple live and recorded surveillance camera video feeds

• US 9,087,386 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ascvid IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: VidSys Incorporated
• Inventors: Morris, Stephen Jeffrey, Clarkson, Richard Casey, Colon, Louis M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/690,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20140152836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 348/169, 348/159, 348/152, 348/153, 348/154, 348/155, 348/143, 386/224, 386/226, 386/228, 386/230, 386/248, 386/322, 386/323
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20092 Interactive image processing based on input by user
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30196 Human being; Person
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30232 Surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/292 Multi-camera tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19608 Tracking movement of a target, e.g. by detecting an object predefined as a target, using target direction and or velocity to predict its new position
• 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

Abstract

Tracking a target across a region is disclosed. A graphical user interface is provided that displays, in a first region, video from a field of view of a main video device, and, in a plurality of second regions, video from a field of view of each of a plurality of perimeter video devices (PVDs). The field of view of each PVD is proximate to the main video device'"'"'s field of view. A selection of one of the plurality of PVDs is received. In response, video from a field of view of the selected PVD is displayed in the first region, and a plurality of candidate PVDs is identified. Each candidate PVD has a field of view proximate to the field of view of the selected PVD. The plurality of second regions is then repopulated with video from a field of view of each of the plurality of identified candidate PVDs.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a target across a surveillance region using a plurality of video devices, comprising:

identifying a tracking location based on an area of interest in the surveillance region;

computing, from a plurality of available video cameras in the surveillance region, a set of perimeter video cameras based on the identified tracking location, the set of perimeter video cameras based on calculating a distance and direction from the tracking location to fields of view of the plurality of available video cameras;

rendering, on a graphical user interface (GUI), a field of view corresponding to each of the computed set of perimeter video cameras, the field of view of each perimeter video camera being proximate to the tracking location, each of the perimeter fields of view defining a position based on a camera pointing direction and on static or dynamic movement of the perimeter video camera independent of an actual location of the perimeter video camera;

selecting a successive tracked location in the surveillance region; and

iteratively repeating the selection of perimeter video cameras based on the tracking location using the selected successive tracked location as the identified tracking location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting the successive tracked location further comprises:

selecting a field of view of one of the perimeter video cameras; and

employing a location of the selected one of the proximate video cameras as the tracking location.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising rendering a field of view of the tracking location in a first region of the GUI, the tracking location corresponding to a video camera;

and

rendering a field of view of the proximate video cameras in a second region of the GUI.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

rendering a map of the surveillance area indicative of the tracking location in a first region of the GUI; and

rendering a field of view of the proximate video cameras in a second region of the GUI.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

rendering a map of the surveillance area indicative of the tracking location in a first region of the GUI; and

rendering an indication of proximate security assets in a second region of the GUI.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the proximate security assets include at least one of a camera, microphone, door or other portal, lock, security personnel or vehicle.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the rendered field of view of the tracking location is based on a field of view of a video camera.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the tracking location is a tour indicative of a series of locations in the surveillance region.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising identifying a sequence of locations as a tour, each of the locations corresponding to a video camera.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

iteratively displaying fields of view corresponding to the sequence of locations, each successive location defining the tracking location, further including;

rendering a field of view of the tracking location in a first region of the GUI; and

rendering a field of view of the proximate video cameras in a second region of the GUI.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising overriding a perimeter video camera in the set of computed perimeter video cameras with another of the video cameras from the plurality of available video cameras.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

identifying a user from which the override selection was received; and

confirming privileges with a privilege database for performing the override.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing a perimeter video camera in the set of computed perimeter video cameras with another of the video cameras from the plurality of available video cameras.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving a selection from the GUI indicative of one of the computed perimeter video cameras;

identifying a user from which the override selection was received; and

confirming privileges with a privilege database for performing the override.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising relocating a perimeter video camera in the set of computed perimeter video cameras to another of the video cameras from the plurality of available video cameras.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the tracked location is independent of an indicated breach or tracked subject.

16. A video surveillance server comprising:

a processor;

a plurality of interfaces to a surveillance area, the processor operable to invoke the plurality of interfaces for tracking a target across a surveillance region using a plurality of video devices, comprising;

identifying a tracking location based on an area of interest in the surveillance region;

computing, from a plurality of available video cameras in the surveillance region, a set of perimeter video cameras based on the identified tracking location, the set of perimeter video cameras based on calculating a distance and direction from the tracking location to fields of view of the plurality of available video cameras;

rendering, on a graphical user interface (GUI), a field of view corresponding to each of the computed set of perimeter video cameras, the field of view of each perimeter video camera being proximate to the tracking location, each of the perimeter fields of view defining a position based on a camera pointing direction and on static or dynamic movement of the perimeter video camera independent of an actual location of the perimeter video camera;

selecting a successive tracked location in the surveillance region; and

iteratively repeating the selection of perimeter video cameras based on the tracking location using the selected successive tracked location as the identified tracking location.

17. A computer program product having instructions encoded on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform a method of tracking a target across a surveillance region using a plurality of video devices, comprising:

identifying a tracking location based on an area of interest in the surveillance region;

computing, from a plurality of available video cameras in the surveillance region, a set of perimeter video cameras based on the identified tracking location, the set of perimeter video cameras based on calculating a distance and direction from the tracking location to fields of view of the plurality of available video cameras;

rendering, on a graphical user interface (GUI), a field of view corresponding to each of the computed set of perimeter video cameras, the field of view of each perimeter video camera being proximate to the tracking location, each of the perimeter fields of view defining a position based on a camera pointing direction and on static or dynamic movement of the perimeter video camera independent of an actual location of the perimeter video camera;

selecting a successive tracked location in the surveillance region; and

iteratively repeating the selection of perimeter video cameras based on the tracking location using the selected successive tracked location as the identified tracking location.