Systems and methods for image based tamper detection

• US 9,355,579 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B.I. Incorporated (Geo Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: B.I. Incorporated (Geo Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Buck, James J. Jr., Newell, Joseph P., Brooks, Cady Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): MOYER, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US14/486,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20150078622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30232 Surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/248 involving reference images or patches
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19602 Image analysis to detect motion of the intruder, e.g. by frame subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/046 prevention of tampering with detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0376 using a special technique to detect tampering, e.g. by ultrasonic or optical means

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for monitoring movement, and in particular to systems and methods for monitoring monitor targets, and more particularly, to systems and methods for using images in relation to tamper detection.

Claims

1. A monitoring system, the monitoring system comprising:

a monitor device attachable to a monitor target, wherein the monitor device includes;

a non-image based tamper detection circuit operable to detect tampering with the monitor device and to provide a first tamper indicator;

an image based tamper detection circuit operable to detect tampering with the monitor device based at least in part upon image comparison, and to provide a second tamper indicator, and wherein the image based tamper detection circuit forms an image of the size of a human bone around which the monitor device is attached; and

wherein the monitor device indicates a tamper occurrence when at least one of the first tamper indicator and the second tamper indicator indicate the occurrence of a tamper condition.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the image based tamper detection circuit includes an image sensor operable to obtain an initial image and an update image of the monitor target.

3. The monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the imaging sensor uses Terahertz radiation to form the initial image and the update image.

4. The monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the monitor device is encapsulated by a plastic case, and wherein the initial image is captured through the plastic case.

5. The monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the initial image is taken at a first time and the update image is taken at a second time, and wherein the image based tamper detection circuit is further operable to compare the update image with the initial image to yield an image comparison result.

6. The monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the initial image is captured upon attaching the monitor device to the monitor target.

7. The monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the initial image is a leg of the monitor target, and the update image is the leg of the monitor target.

8. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the monitor device is further operable to log an image state corresponding to a detection status.

9. The monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the detection status is selected from a group consisting of:

an untampered status indicating no tamper was detected, and a tampered status indicating a tamper was detected.

10. The monitoring system of claim 2, wherein the monitor device includes a strap, and wherein the initial image is captured upon connection of the strap.

20. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the non-image based tamper detection circuit is a continuity based tamper detection circuit, and wherein the first tamper indicator indicates the occurrence of a tamper condition when a discontinuity is detected.

21. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the non-image based tamper detection circuit is a proximity based tamper detection circuit, and wherein the first tamper indicator indicates the occurrence of a tamper condition when an increased distance is detected.

22. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the image based tamper detection circuit forms an image of a human extremity looking through fabric.

11. A method for device tamper detection, the method comprising:

providing a monitor device operable to identify a location of a monitor target, and including;

an image based tamper detection circuit, and a non-image based tamper detection circuit;

determining whether the monitor device is attached to a monitor target using the non-image based tamper detection circuit to yield a first tamper indicator;

capturing an initial image of the monitor target using the image based tamper detection circuit at a first time;

capturing an update image of the monitor target using the image based tamper detection circuit at a second time, wherein the update image is an image of the size of a human bone around which the monitor device is attached;

comparing the update image with the initial image to yield an image comparison result; and

providing a second tamper indicator based upon the image comparison result; and

indicating a tamper condition based at least in part on the combination of the first tamper indicator and the second tamper indicator.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the image based tamper detection circuit includes an image sensor operable to obtain an initial image and an update image of the monitor target.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the imaging sensor uses Terahertz radiation to form the initial image and the update image.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the monitor device is encapsulated by a plastic case, and wherein the initial image is captured through the plastic case.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein capturing the initial image of the monitor target is done upon attaching the monitor device to the monitor target.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the initial image is a leg of the monitor target, and the update image is the leg of the monitor target.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

logging an image state corresponding to a detection status.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the detection status is selected from a group consisting of:

an untampered status indicating no tamper was detected, and a tampered status indicating a tamper was detected.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the monitor device includes a strap, and wherein the initial image is captured upon connection of the strap.