Method and apparatus for extending video content analysis to multiple channels

• US 20030031343A1
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uniloc 2017 LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Brodsky, Tomas, Gutta, Srinivas, Cohen-Solal, Eric, Lyons, Damian
• Granted Patent: US 6,985,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19602 Image analysis to detect motion of the intruder, e.g. by frame subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19693 using multiple video sources viewed on a single or compound screen

Abstract

A video content analysis system extends content analysis capability of one system to multiple channels by providing for the spatial multiplexing of the multiple channels and appropriately analyzing the spatially multiplexed video signal. The resulting system may be lower in cost that present systems and permit the system to work with ancillary equipment such as video recorders. The system also preserves the real-time information inherent in the multiple source signals.

Claims

1. A method of analyzing content in video data, comprising the steps of:

multiplexing said video data such that video of multiple scenes are distributed in a single video stream, at least part of each of said video data being apportioned to a respective part of a moving image defined by a resulting multiplexed moving image;

analyzing content of said multiplexed video image such that data in others of said each of said video data is ignored to produce an analysis particular to one of said multiple scenes.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said at least part of each of said video data is a subsampled moving image.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein said first step of flowing includes measuring a volume flowrate through said filter and determining a duration of said first interval responsively to a result of said measuring said volume flowrate.

4. A method as in claim 3, further comprising recording said multiplexed moving image.

5. A method as in claim 2, further comprising recording said multiplexed moving image.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said first step of flowing includes measuring a volume flowrate through said filter and determining a duration of said first interval responsively to a result of said measuring said volume flowrate.

7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising recording said multiplexed moving image.

8. A method of analyzing multiple video channels, comprising the steps of:

multiplexing multiple video data sets at said multiplexer to produce a spatially multiplexed moving image;

analyzing at least a first portion of said spatially multiplexed moving image, said first portion corresponding to a first of said channels;

said step of analyzing including ignoring data in said multiplexed moving image corresponding to channels other than said first of said channels.

9. A method as in claim 8, further comprising recording said multiplexed moving image on a video recorder.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein said step of analyzing includes spatially demultiplexing said multiplexed moving image such as to produce multiple moving images, each corresponding to a respective one of said channels.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein said spatially multiplexed moving image contains multiple frames, each divided into spatially separate parts, each part corresponding to a respective one of said channels.

12. A method as in claim 9, wherein said spatially multiplexed moving image contains multiple frames, each divided into spatially separate parts, each part corresponding to a respective one of said channels.

13. A method as in claim 8, wherein said step of analyzing includes spatially demultiplexing said multiplexed moving image such as to produce multiple moving images, each corresponding to a respective one of said channels.

14. A method as in claim 8, wherein said spatially multiplexed moving image contains multiple frames, each divided into spatially separate parts, each part corresponding to a respective one of said channels.

15. A device for analyzing video content on multiple channels, comprising:

an input adapted to receive spatially multiplexed video data;

a controller programmed to select spatially distinct portions of said video data, each of said portions respective of a particular video data channel;

said controller being further programmed to analyze content of said spatially distinct portions such that data from one does not interfere with the analysis of another.

16. A device as in claim 15, wherein said spatially multiplexed video data contains frames, each of which is divided into separate subframes, each of said subframes each corresponding to a different scene imaged by a respective camera.