Event driven video tracking system

• US 6,791,603 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Lazo, Philip A., Comoglio, Rick F.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHILIPPE, GIMS S
• Application Number:
  US10/308,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20040105006A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 348/169, 348/170, 348/143, 348/144, 348/148, 348/154, 348/159, 348/36, 348/207.99, 348/147, 348/161, 340/572.1, 340/933, 342/70
• US Class Current: 348/169
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7864 T.V. type tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/251 of input or preprocessed data
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/44 Event detection
• 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: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A system that tracks and electronically identifies assets from surveillance zone to surveillance zone within a controlled area is provided. A triggering event, which can be the output of an RFID reader, or other event, initiates video tracking of the asset that is associated with the RFID tag or other trigger. The video surveillance continues from zone to zone, as the image of the asset is handed-off from camera to camera. The image of the asset can be selectively displayed and recorded, along with the identity of the asset. The system is flexible and programmable for use in a plurality of different environments and surveillance zones, using a plurality of different triggering sensors and video cameras.

Claims

1. An event driven video tracking system, comprising:

at least one zone sensor for sensing a preselected event, said preselected event having a location disposed within a first zone;

a first video surveillance camera having video coverage within said first zone, said first video surveillance camera responsive to said zone sensor, said zone sensor activating said first video surveillance camera in response to said preselected event, wherein said first video surveillance camera monitors an image associated with said preselected event, said first video surveillance camera including means for tracking said image within said first zone; and

,

a second video surveillance camera having video coverage within a second zone, said first zone and said second zone having an overlapping portion, said second video surveillance camera having means for acquiring said image within said overlapping portion, and including means for tracking said image within said second zone.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising asset database means for associating said preselected event with preselected information relevant to said preselected event.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said preselected information includes the identity of an asset and the zones in which the asset is authorized to be located.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said preselected event includes reading an RFID tag.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a video recorder.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a video display.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of said zone sensors, a plurality of video surveillance cameras defining a plurality of zones.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for tracking said image within said first zone and said means for tracking said image within said second zone include a predictive algorithm for predicting the speed and direction of said image.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for acquiring said image within said overlapping portion includes means for translating coordinates of said image from said first zone to said second zone.

10. A method for tracking a video image initiated by an event, comprising:

sensing the occurrence of a preselected event within a first zone within the video coverage of a first video surveillance camera;

activating said first video surveillance camera in response to said preselected event, monitoring an image associated with said preselected event, and tracking said image within said first zone; and

acquiring said image with a second video surveillance camera within an overlapping portion of a second zone and said first zone, said second zone within the video coverage of said second video surveillance camera, and tracking said image within said second zone.