Systems and methods for automated cloud-based analytics and 3-dimensional (3D) display for surveillance systems in retail stores

• US 9,426,428 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2015
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Fire & Security GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Smartvue Corp. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Renkis, Martin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sath V
• Assistant Examiner(s): AYNALEM, NATHNAEL B
• Application Number:
  US14/845,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20150381946A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 348/159, 348/47, 348/143
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• 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: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/275 from 3D object models, e.g. computer-generated stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Systems and methods for cloud-based surveillance in a retail store is disclosed. At least two input capture devices and at least one user device are communicatively connected to a cloud-based analytics platform. The cloud-based analytics platform generates 3-Dimensional (3D) visual representation based on received 2-Dimensional (2D) video and/or image inputs, perform advanced analytics based on input data and generated 3D visual representation, and generates a graphical representation based on analytics data from advanced analytics. In one embodiment, the graphical representation is a heat map, which is an overlay of the 3D visual representation of the entire retail store.

Claims

1. A cloud-based surveillance system for a target surveillance area, comprising:

at least two input capture devices (ICDs), a cloud-based analytics platform having a processor and a memory, and at least one user device having a display with a user interface;

wherein the cloud-based analytics platform is constructed and configured in network-based communication with the at least two ICDs and the at least one user device;

wherein each of the at least two ICDs has at least one visual sensor and is operable to capture and transmit input data to the cloud-based analytics platform;

wherein the cloud-based analytics platform is operable to;

generate 3-Dimensional (3D) visual representation of the target surveillance area based on the captured input data from the at least two ICDs;

perform analytics based on the captured input data and generated 3D visual representation;

generate a graphical representation of analytics data obtained from the analytics;

wherein the at least one user device is operable to display the graphical representation of the analytics data and 3D visual representation of the target surveillance area via the user interface;

wherein the 3D visual representation of the target surveillance area is overlaid with the graphical representation of analytics data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the captured input data are selected from live streaming video, real-time images and/or audio, previously recorded video, previously captured images and/or audio, and combinations thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the target surveillance area is a retail store, wherein the analytics comprises people counting and demographic analysis within the retail store, wherein the graphical representation of analytics data comprises a heat map of customer density within the retail store over a period of time.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the graphical representation of analytics data further comprises another heat map illustrating frequency of items being touched by customers.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the analytics further comprises optimizing store management and providing business intelligence.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one user device is operable to access the cloud-based analytics platform for the target surveillance area with an authorized account via the user interface.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one user device is selected from the group consisting of smart phones, tablets, personal computers, laptops, and head-mounted displays.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the 3D visual representation includes 3D playback for a predetermined period of time.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the 3D visual representation includes real-time or near-real-time streaming.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the 3D visual representation is interactive.

11. A cloud-based surveillance method, comprising:

communicatively connecting at least two input capture devices (ICDs) and at least one user device having a display with a user interface to a cloud-based analytics platform having a processor and a memory via communication network;

wherein each of the at least two ICDs has at least one visual sensor;

the at least two ICDs capturing and transmitting input data to the cloud-based analytics platform;

the cloud-based analytics platform generating 3-Dimensional (3D) visual representation of the target surveillance area based on the captured input data from the at least two ICDs;

the cloud-based analytics platform performing analytics based on the captured input data and generated 3D visual representation;

the cloud-based analytics platform generating a graphical representation of analytics data obtained from the analytics;

the at least one user device displaying the graphical representation of the analytics data and 3D visual representation of the target surveillance area via the user interface;

wherein the 3D visual representation of the target surveillance area is overlaid with the graphical representation of analytics data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the captured input data are selected from live streaming video, real-time images and/or audio, previously recorded video, previously captured images and/or audio, and combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the target surveillance area is a retail store, wherein the analytics comprises people counting and demographic analysis within the retail store, wherein generating a graphical representation of analytics data comprises generating a heat map of customer density within the retail store over a period of time.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein generating a graphical representation of analytics data further comprises another heat map illustrating frequency of items being touched by customers.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein performing the analytics further comprises optimizing store management and providing business intelligence.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one user device is operable to access the cloud-based analytics platform for the target surveillance area with an authorized account via the user interface.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one user device is selected from the group consisting of smart phones, tablets, personal computers, laptops, and head-mounted displays.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the 3D visual representation includes 3D playback for a predetermined period of time.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the 3D visual representation includes real-time or near-real-time streaming.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the 3D visual representation is interactive.