Patent Application
20080075327
Features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description with reference to the drawings. Understanding that the drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting in scope, the invention will be described with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following detailed description, embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
The present invention relates to a method and system for object characterization based on image volumetric determination. The method and system address the problem of frequent false alarms that occur at remote secure locations because of animals in the wild or wind movement on landscaping that triggers an alarm. The method and system can be used to determine the volume of a moving object such as an animal, plant, or human so that false alarms can be minimized.
The present method generally comprises capturing frames of image data for a moving object in an area from at least two different angles. The later occurring frames of image data are subtracted from previous occurring frames of image data for each of the different angles to obtain object movement information. The object movement information is correlated from the different angles over the area, and a volume of the object is determined from the object movement information. Objects out of bounds of volumes within human range can be rejected before an alarm is triggered.
The multiple camera angles provided by video cameras 110 are used to triangulate on and capture an image of an object 120. Video subtraction and volumetric approximations from correlated data are then used to determine if the object is potentially human. For example, each video camera 110 records frames of image data that are subtracted from previous frames so that only moving objects are highlighted. The moving information is then correlated between the different video cameras over the same area. As shown in
A computing device 140, such as a personal computer or digital signal processors, can be in operative communication with video cameras 110 so that the image data can be processed and analyzed as described above. A means for determining distance to the moving object from the video cameras can also be used, such as one or more range finders. The range finders can be employed in conjunction with video cameras 110, and can be used to aide in sizing the object in the video cameras.
Instructions for carrying out the various process tasks, calculations, control functions, and the generation of signals and other data used in the operation of the system and method described herein can be implemented in software, firmware, or other computer readable instructions. These instructions are typically stored on any appropriate computer readable media used for storage of computer readable instructions or data structures. Such computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or processor, or any programmable logic device.
Suitable computer readable media may comprise, for example, non-volatile memory devices including semiconductor memory devices such as EPROM, EEPROM, or flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; CDs, DVDs, or other optical storage disks; nonvolatile ROM, RAM, and other like media. Any of the foregoing may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, specially-designed application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a computer, the computer properly views the connection as a computer readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed a computer readable medium. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer readable media.
The method of the invention can be implemented in computer readable instructions, such as program modules or applications, which are executed by a data processor. Generally, program modules or applications include routines, programs, objects, data components, data structures, algorithms, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. These represent examples of program code means for executing steps of the method disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executable instructions or associated data structures represents examples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions described in such steps.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is therefore indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
