Method for suspect identification using scanning of surveillance media

• US 20040001142A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kumhyr, David Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 6,975,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• 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: G06V 20/625 License plates
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 2201/08 Detecting or categorising vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A method, program and apparatus for criminal suspect identification are provided. The invention comprises monitoring and recording video information at a location, and responsive to an event trigger analyzing the video in real time for identifying physical characteristics of any persons in the video. The invention compiles an identification profile for each person in the video, wherein the identification profile includes distinguishing physical characteristics extracted from the video information. The identification profiles are then transmitted to law enforcement authorities. The invention further comprises scanning previously stored video information of the location and comparing, by means of image recognition, physical characteristics in the identification profiles with images in the stored video. The invention determines any matches between identification profiles and images in the stored video, updates the identification profiles with additional information from matched images and transmits the updated identification profile to the authorities.

Claims

1. A method for criminal suspect identification, comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

monitoring and recording video information at a location;

responsive to an event trigger, in real time, analyzing the video for identifying physical characteristics of any persons in the video;

compiling an identification profile for each person in the video, wherein the identification profile includes distinguishing physical characteristics extracted from the video information; and

transmitting the identification profiles to security agents.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

scanning previously stored video information of the location, wherein the stored video information was recorded within a specified length of time preceding the event trigger;

comparing, by means of image recognition, physical characteristics in the identification profiles with images in the stored video;

calculating matches between identification profiles and images in the stored video;

updating the identification profiles with additional information extracted from matched images in the stored video; and

transmitting the updated identification profile to security agents.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the event trigger is activation of an security alarm.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the event trigger is manual activation.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification profile transmitted to security agents may include at least one of the following formats:

live action video;

static images; and

textual descriptions.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying physical characteristics may include at least one of the following:

facial features;

estimated height;

estimated weight;

scars;

tattoos;

skin color;

eye color;

hair color;

clothing color and description;

jewelry and accessories;

movement patterns;

vehicle description;

license plate number;

handheld objects; and

weapons.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identification profile further comprises estimated direction of travel from the location.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the identification profile further comprises global positioning system data of responding security agents, wherein the security agents may vector toward fleeing suspects.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing the video record for identifying physical characteristics further comprises distinguishing between known and unknown persons.

10. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for use in a data processing system, for criminal suspect identification, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for monitoring and recording video information at a location;

second instructions, responsive to an event trigger, in real time, for analyzing the video for identifying physical characteristics of any persons in the video;

third instructions for compiling an identification profile for each person in the video, wherein the identification profile includes distinguishing physical characteristics extracted from the video information; and

fourth instructions for transmitting the identification profiles to security agents.

11. The computer program product according to claim 10, further comprising:

fifth instructions for scanning previously stored video information of the location, wherein the stored video information was recorded within a specified length of time preceding the event trigger;

sixth instructions for comparing, by means of image recognition, physical characteristics in the identification profiles with images in the stored video;

seventh instructions for calculating matches between identification profiles and images in the stored video;

eighth instructions for updating the identification profiles with additional information extracted from matched images in the stored video; and

ninth instructions for transmitting the updated identification profile to security agents.

12. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein the event trigger is activation of an security alarm.

13. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein the event trigger is manual activation.

14. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein the identification profile transmitted to security agents may include at least one of the following formats:

live action video;

static images; and

textual descriptions.

15. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein the identifying physical characteristics may include at least one of the following:

facial features;

estimated height;

estimated weight;

scars;

tattoos;

skin color;

eye color;

hair color;

clothing color and description;

jewelry and accessories;

movement patterns;

vehicle description;

license plate number;

handheld objects; and

weapons.

16. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein the identification profile further comprises estimated direction of travel from the location.

17. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein the identification profile further comprises global positioning system data of responding security agents, wherein the security agents may vector toward fleeing suspects.

18. The computer program product according to claim 10, wherein the step of analyzing the video record for identifying physical characteristics further comprises distinguishing between known and unknown persons.

20. The system according to claim 17, further comprising:

an archive search component that scans previously stored video information of the location, wherein the stored video information was recorded within a specified length of time preceding the event trigger;

an image recognition component that compares physical characteristics in the identification profiles with images in the stored video;

a matching component that calculates matches between identification profiles and images in the stored video;

an appending component that updates the identification profiles with additional information extracted from matched images in the stored video; and

a second communication component that transmits the updated identification profile to security agents.

19. A system for criminal suspect identification, comprising:

video devices that monitor and record video information at a location;

a biometrics component, responsive to an event trigger, in real time, that analyzes the video for identifying physical characteristics of any persons in the video;

a biometrics profiling component that compiles an identification profile for each person in the video, wherein the identification profile includes distinguishing physical characteristics extracted from the video information; and

a first communication component that transmits the identification profiles to security agents.