Method and system for light-based intervention

• US 9,357,183 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2011
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Cordero Group
• Original Assignee: The Cordero Group
• Inventors: Cordero, Jose
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Christopher S
• Assistant Examiner(s): PICON-FELICIANO, ANA J
• Application Number:
  US13/050,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20110228086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/140, 348/142, 348/152, 348154-155, 342/62
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19636 pertaining to the camera
• 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 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A method and system are provided in which a device having one or more illumination sources and may receive information for a target location through a network connection. The information may be based on video captured by a surveillance camera. The device may adjust a projection position of one of the illumination sources based on the target location information and may project a light beam generated by the illumination source onto the target location when the projection position is adjusted. The light beam may project a pattern onto the target location, which may comprise an image, a letter, a word, a symbol, or a combination thereof. The device may receive an indication of a type of situation taking place at the target location and may utilize the indication to select an illumination source and/or a type of pattern to project onto the target location.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

in a device comprising an illumination source operable to generate a light beam having an associated light beam spot;

receiving information for a target location, the target location identifying a location of an activity detected from video captured by a surveillance camera, the information being generated by the surveillance camera or by a server in communication with the surveillance camera from coordinates obtained by the surveillance camera of the location of the detected activity, and the coordinates including an estimate of a distance between the surveillance camera and the location of the detected activity;

adjusting a projection position of the illumination source based on the received information for the target location;

receiving an indication of a type of detected activity taking place at the target location through a network connection, the indication being based on the video captured by the surveillance camera;

selecting, based on the received indication of the type of detected activity, a type of spatial pattern produced by the light beam spot that the light beam is to project onto the target location, wherein the type of spatial pattern for the light beam is selected from a first type of spatial pattern and a second type of spatial pattern supported by the illumination source, the first type of spatial pattern being configured to indicate monitoring by law enforcement or security personnel to deter or stop illegal or criminal activity at the target location, the second type of spatial pattern being different from the first type of spatial pattern by having the illumination source generate light beams with different characteristics for the first type of spatial pattern and for the second type of spatial pattern, and the second type of spatial pattern being configured to indicate to an injured person or someone in a desolate area that law enforcement or security personnel is monitoring the area and assistance is on its way or readily available; and

projecting, after the projection position of the illumination source is adjusted and the type of spatial pattern is selected, the light beam generated by the illumination source onto the target location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the projected light beam projects the selected type of spatial pattern produced by the light beam spot onto the target location by modifying one or more of the characteristics of the light beam according to the type of detected activity at the target location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the selected type of spatial pattern produced by the light beam spot comprises an image, a letter, a word, a symbol, or a combination thereof, associated with a type of detected activity at the target location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises an additional illumination source, the method comprising:

selecting a source from among the illumination source and the additional illumination source based on the received indication and on types of spatial patterns produced by each source, wherein the selected source is to apply the selected type of spatial pattern to a light beam generated by the selected source;

adjusting a projection position of the selected source based on the received information for the target location; and

projecting, after the projection position of the selected source is adjusted and the type of spatial pattern is selected, the light beam generated by the selected source onto the target location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the light beam is a first light beam, the illumination source being operable to project the first light beam with the first type of spatial pattern by modifying one or more of the characteristics of the first light beam; and

the device comprises an additional illumination source operable to generate a second light beam and project the second light beam with the second type of spatial pattern by modifying one or more characteristics the second light beam, and the method comprising;

selecting a source from among the illumination source and the additional illumination source based on the selected type of spatial pattern;

adjusting a projection position of the selected source based on the received information for the target location; and

projecting, after the projection position of the selected source is adjusted and the type of spatial pattern is selected, a light beam generated by the selected source onto the target location.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising synchronizing movements of the illumination source to movements of the surveillance camera to track changes in a capture position of the surveillance camera.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving the information for the target location through a network connection.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving information for the target location from the surveillance camera through a network connection.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting a projection position of the illumination source based on the received information generated from coordinates obtained by the surveillance camera of the location of the detected activity comprises adjusting the projection position through a series of preset projection positions for the illumination source at designated times to synchronize the series of preset projection positions with a corresponding series of preset capture positions for the surveillance camera.

9. A method, comprising:

in a device comprising an illumination source operable to generate a light beam having an associated light beam spot, the device being operable to receive information for a target location identifying a location of an activity detected from video captured by a surveillance camera and an indication of a type of detected activity taking place at the target location through a network connection, the indication being based on the video captured by the surveillance camera, the information being generated by the surveillance camera or by a server in communication with the surveillance camera from coordinates obtained by the surveillance camera of the location of the detected activity, the coordinates including an estimate of a distance between the surveillance camera and the location of the detected activity, the device being further operable to select, based on the received indication of the type of detected activity, a type of spatial pattern produced by the light beam spot that the light beam is to project onto the target location, wherein the type of spatial pattern for the light beam is selected from a first type of spatial pattern and a second type of spatial pattern supported by the illumination source, the first type of spatial pattern being configured to indicate monitoring by law enforcement or security personnel to deter or stop illegal or criminal activity at the target location, and the second type of spatial pattern being different from the first type of spatial pattern by having the illumination source generate light beams with different characteristics for the first type of spatial pattern and for the second type of spatial pattern, and the second type of spatial pattern being configured to indicate to an injured person or someone in a desolate area that law enforcement or security personnel is monitoring the area and assistance is on its way or readily available, and the device being further operable to adjust a projection position of the illumination source based on the received information;

receiving a projection schedule for other target locations;

adjusting the projection position of the illumination source based on the received projection schedule; and

projecting, after the projection position of the illumination source is adjusted for each of the other target locations and the type of spatial pattern is selected, the light beam generated by the illumination source onto the respective one of the other target locations.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising receiving a new projection schedule through a network connection.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the device is operable to receive information for the one or more target locations through a network connection.

24. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting a projection position of the illumination source based on the received information generated from coordinates obtained by the surveillance camera of the location of the detected activity comprises adjusting the projection position through a series of preset projection positions for the illumination source at designated times to synchronize the series of preset projection positions with a corresponding series of preset capture positions for the surveillance camera.

12. A system, comprising:

a device comprising an illumination source operable to generate a light beam having an associated light beam spot, and the device being operable to;

receive information for a target location, the target location identifying a location of an activity detected from video captured by a surveillance camera, the information being generated by the surveillance camera or by a server in communication with the surveillance camera from coordinates obtained by the surveillance camera of the location of the detected activity, and the coordinates including an estimate of a distance between the surveillance camera and the location of the detected activity;

adjust a projection position of the illumination source based on the received information for the target location;

receive an indication of a type of detected activity taking place at the target location through a network connection, the indication being based on the video captured by the surveillance camera;

selecting, based on the received indication of the type of detected activity, a type of spatial pattern produced by the light beam spot that the light beam is to project onto the target location, wherein the type of spatial pattern for the light beam is selected from a first type of spatial pattern and a second type of spatial pattern supported by the illumination source, the first type of spatial pattern being configured to indicate monitoring by law enforcement or security personnel to deter or stop illegal or criminal activity at the target location, and the second type of spatial pattern being different from the first type of spatial pattern by having the illumination source generate light beams with different characteristics for the first type of spatial pattern and for the second type of spatial pattern, and the second type of spatial pattern being configured to indicate to an injured person or someone in a desolate area that law enforcement or security personnel is monitoring the area and assistance is on its way or readily available; and

project, after the projection position of the illumination source is adjusted and the type of spatial pattern is selected, the light beam generated by the illumination source onto the target location.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the projected light beam projects the selected type of spatial pattern produced by the light beam spot onto the target location by modifying one or more of the characteristics of the light beam according to the type of detected activity at the target location.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the selected type of spatial pattern produced by the light beam spot comprises an image, a letter, a word, a symbol, or a combination thereof, associated with a type of detected activity at the target location.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the device comprises an additional illumination source and is operable to:

select a source from among the illumination source and the additional illumination source based on the received indication and on types of spatial patterns produced by each source, wherein the selected source is to apply the selected type of spatial pattern to a light beam generated by the selected source;

adjust a projection position of the selected source based on the received information for the target location; and

project, after the projection position of the selected source is adjusted and the type of spatial pattern is selected, the light beam generated by the selected source onto the target location.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the light beam is a first light beam, the illumination source being operable to project the first light beam with the first type of spatial pattern by modifying one or more of the characteristics of the first light beam;

the device comprises an additional illumination source operable to generate a second light beam and project a second light beam with the second type of spatial pattern by modifying one or more characteristics of the second light beam; and

the device is operable to;

select a source from among the illumination source and the additional illumination source based on the selected type of spatial pattern;

adjust a projection position of the selected source based on the received information for the target location; and

project, after the projection position of the selected source is adjusted and the type of spatial pattern is selected, a light beam generated by the selected source onto the target location.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the device is operable to synchronize movements of the illumination to movements of the surveillance camera to track changes in a capture position of the surveillance camera.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the device is operable to receive the information for the target location through a network connection.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the device is operable to receive the information for the target location from the surveillance camera through a network connection.

20. A system, comprising:

a device comprising an illumination source operable to generate a light beam having an associated light beam spot, and the device being operable to;

receive information for a target location, the target location identifying a location of an activity detected from video captured by a surveillance camera and an indication of a type of detected activity taking place at the target location through a network connection, the indication being based on the video captured by the surveillance camera, the information being generated by the surveillance camera or by a server in communication with the surveillance camera from coordinates obtained by the surveillance camera of the location of the detected activity, and the coordinates including an estimate of a distance between the surveillance camera and the location of the detected activity;

select, based on the received indication of the type of detected activity, a type of spatial pattern produced by the light beam spot that the light beam is to project onto the target location, wherein the type of spatial pattern for the light beam is selected from a first type of spatial pattern and a second type of spatial pattern supported by the illumination source, the first type of spatial pattern being configured to indicate monitoring by law enforcement or security personnel to deter or stop illegal or criminal activity at the target location, the second type of spatial pattern being different from the first type of spatial pattern by having the illumination source generate light beams with different characteristics for the first type of spatial pattern and for the second type of spatial pattern, and the second type of spatial pattern being configured to indicate to an injured person or someone in a desolate area that law enforcement or security personnel is monitoring the area and assistance is on its way or readily available,

adjust a projection position of the illumination source based on the received information;

receive a projection schedule for other target locations;

adjust the projection position of the illumination source based on the received projection schedule; and

project, after the projection position of the illumination source is adjusted for each of the other target locations and the type of spatial pattern is selected, the light beam generated by the illumination source onto the respective one of the other target locations.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the device is operable to receive a new projection schedule through a network connection.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the device is operable to receive information for the one or more target locations through a network connection.

25. A method, comprising:

in a device comprising a first illumination source and a second illumination source coupled together with the first illumination source, the first illumination source being operable to generate a first light beam having an associated first light beam spot, the second illumination source being operable to generate a second light beam having an associated second light beam spot, the first illumination source and the second illumination source being configured to have substantially the same projection positions, the first illumination source supporting a first type of spatial pattern produced by the first light beam spot, and the second illumination source supporting a second type of spatial pattern produced by the second light beam spot;

receiving information for a target location, the target location identifying a location of an activity detected from video captured by a surveillance camera, the information being generated by the surveillance camera or by a server in communication with the surveillance camera from coordinates obtained by the surveillance camera of the location of the detected activity, and the coordinates including an estimate of a distance between the surveillance camera and the location of the detected activity;

receiving an indication of a type of detected activity taking place at the target location through a network connection, the indication being based on the video captured by the surveillance camera;

selecting, based on the received indication of the type of detected activity, a type of spatial pattern that is to be projected onto the target location, wherein the type of spatial pattern is selected from the first type of spatial pattern and the second type of spatial pattern, the first type of spatial pattern being configured to indicate monitoring by law enforcement or security personnel to deter or stop illegal or criminal activity at the target location, the second type of spatial pattern being different from the first type of spatial pattern by having characteristics of the first light beam be different from characteristics of the second light beam, and the second type of spatial pattern being configured to indicate to an injured person or someone in a desolate area that law enforcement or security personnel is monitoring the area and assistance is on its way or readily available;

adjusting the projection positions of the first illumination source and the second illumination source based on the received information for the target location; and

projecting, after the projection positions of the first illumination source and the second illumination source are adjusted and the type of spatial pattern is selected, a light beam having the selected type of spatial pattern generated by the respective illumination source onto the target location.