Patent Grant
7791466
The present invention generally relates to event detection in surveillance systems. Specifically, aspects of the present invention address a need for event detection and alert generation based upon physical location and sensor based surveillance.
Theft and shoplifting significantly impact the profitability of retail establishments. Thus, detecting malefactors pursuing such activities is of paramount importance, as the competitive landscape in retail sales has grown significantly more challenging in recent years. Also, events in the last decade have demonstrated the need for improved surveillance and detection of suspicious activities to deter violent attacks. Current surveillance systems do not adequately address these requirements. In view of the foregoing, there exists a need for a solution that solves at least one of the deficiencies of the related art.
In general, the present invention provides a smart security system in which a data input stream from one or more sensors (e.g., cameras) is received and recorded. Based on a specified rule, an event in the data input stream can be detected. The detection of the event is performed substantially contemporaneously with the receipt of the data input stream from the one of the one or more sensors, or based upon receipt of the data input stream from playback of the recordable medium. Based on the detection of the event, an alert can be generated. This alert can comprise identifying the particular sensor from which the data input stream was received (e.g., depicting its location on a map). The specification of the rule can comprise marking an annotation (e.g., a boundary line) on the data input stream.
A first aspect of the present invention provides a method for detecting an event, comprising receiving at least one data input stream from one or more sensors, selecting a data input stream from one of the one or more sensors, recording the data input stream on a recordable medium, specifying a rule comprising an event in the data input stream, and detecting at least one event in the data input stream based upon the rule.
A second aspect of the present invention provides a system for detecting an event, comprising means for receiving at least one data input stream from one or more sensors, means for selecting a data input stream from one of the one or more sensors, means for recording the data input stream on a recordable medium, means for specifying a rule comprising an event in the data input stream, and means for detecting at least one event in the data input stream based upon the rule.
A third aspect of the present invention provides a method for deploying a system for detecting an event, comprising providing a computer infrastructure being operable to receive at least one data input stream from one or more sensors, select a data input stream from one of the one or more sensors, record the data input stream on a recordable medium, specify a rule comprising an event in the data input stream, and detect at least one event in the data input stream based upon the rule.
A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a program product stored on a computer readable medium for detecting an event, the computer readable medium comprising program code for causing a computer system to: receive at least one data input stream from one or more sensors, select a data input stream from one of the one or more sensors, record the data input stream on a recordable medium, specify a rule comprising an event in the data input stream, and detect at least one event in the data input stream based upon the rule.
These and other features of this invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements.
As indicated above, the present invention provides a smart security system in which a data input stream from one or more sensors (e.g., cameras) is received and recorded. Based on a specified rule, an event in the data input stream can be detected. The detection of the event is performed substantially contemporaneously with the receipt of the data input stream from the one of the one or more sensors, or based upon receipt of the data input stream from playback of the recordable medium. Based on the detection of the event, an alert can be generated. This alert can comprise identifying the particular sensor from which the data input stream was received (e.g., depicting its location on a map). The specification of the rule can comprise marking an annotation (e.g., a boundary line) on the data input stream.
Element 120 shows an expanded summary of alerts that have occurred in the system. Each alert is represented by a different colored bar, thus allowing the user to visually assess the type of alerts that occur frequently and the pattern in which alerts occur, for example, yellow followed by green, followed by red may indicate that these they alerts typically fire in a sequence. Element 130 shows a thumbnail taken from each of the cameras connected to the Smart Surveillance System (a.k.a “S3”). Below each camera view (a.k.a. data input stream) are buttons which allow the user to select the camera, and launch the alert configuration tool. Also, data input streams may be recorded on a recordable medium.
The present invention reduces the risk of loss in key retail areas such as cashier fraud and returns fraud. The invention compares video stream with transaction telemetry:
Overall retail store management capabilities are significantly enhanced in several areas:
While shown and described herein as an event detection method, it is understood that the invention further provides various alternative embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides a computer-readable/useable medium that includes computer program code to enable a computer infrastructure to detect events. To this extent, the computer-readable/useable medium includes program code that implements each of the various process of the invention. It is understood that the terms computer-readable medium or computer useable medium comprises one or more of any type of physical embodiment of the program code. In particular, the computer-readable/useable medium can comprise program code embodied on one or more portable storage articles of manufacture (e.g., a compact disc, a magnetic disk, a tape, etc.), on one or more data storage portions of a computing device, such as memory and/or a storage system (e.g., a fixed disk, a read-only memory, a random access memory, a cache memory, etc.), and/or as a data signal (e.g., a propagated signal) traveling over a network (e.g., during a wired/wireless electronic distribution of the program code).
In another embodiment, the invention provides a business method that performs the process of the invention on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service provider, such as a Solution Integrator, could offer to detect events. In this case, the service provider can create, maintain, support, etc., a computer infrastructure that performs the process of the invention for one or more customers. In return, the service provider can receive payment from the customer(s) under a subscription and/or fee agreement and/or the service provider can receive payment from the sale of advertising content to one or more third parties.
In still another embodiment, the invention provides a computer-implemented method for detecting events. In this case, a computer infrastructure can be provided and one or more systems for performing the process of the invention can be obtained (e.g., created, purchased, used, modified, etc.) and deployed to the computer infrastructure. To this extent, the deployment of a system can comprise one or more of: (1) installing program code on a computing device from a computer-readable medium; (2) adding one or more computing devices to the computer infrastructure; and (3) incorporating and/or modifying one or more existing systems of the computer infrastructure to enable the computer infrastructure to perform the process of the invention.
As used herein, it is understood that the terms “program code” and “computer program code” are synonymous and mean any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a computing device having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; and/or (b) reproduction in a different material form. To this extent, program code can be embodied as one or more of: an application/software program, component software/a library of functions, an operating system, a basic I/O system/driver for a particular computing and/or I/O device, and the like.
A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing program code can be provided hereunder and can include at least one processor communicatively coupled, directly or indirectly, to memory element(s) through a system bus. The memory elements can include, but are not limited to, local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories that provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage during execution. Input/output or I/O devices (including, but not limited to, keyboards, displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers.
Network adapters also may be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled to other data processing systems, remote printers, storage devices, and/or the like, through any combination of intervening private or public networks. Illustrative network adapters include, but are not limited to, modems, cable modems and Ethernet cards.
The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously, many modifications variations are possible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.
The present application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 60/884,867, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVENT DETECTION UTILIZING SENSOR BASED SURVEILLANCE, filed Jan. 12, 2007, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5400246 | Wilson et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20080252448 A1 | Oct 2008 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60884867 | Jan 2007 | US |
