Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Philips Electronics North America Corporation

Robert Boschgmbh

Bosch Security Systems, Inc.

Damian M Lyons

Eric Cohen-Solal

Srinivas Gutta

Miroslav Trajkovic

Antonio Colmenarez

Thomas G Murphy

Tomas Brodsky

Robert A Cohen

Sezai Sablak

David Nathan Katz

Michael D Bolotine

Daniel J Reese

Frank C Guida

Soumitra Sengupta

Antonius Hendriks

A video tracking system and method are provided for tracking a target object with a video camera.

Video tracking system and method

A method for reacquiring a target in an automated video tracking system is provided. The method includes the steps of: selecting a desired target to be tracked; switching the automated video tracking system to an automatic mode to initiate a tracking sequence to automatically track the selected desired target; switching the automated video tracking system from an automatic mode to a manual mode if the automated video tracking system encounters a period of difficulty in tracking the desired target; reacquiring the desired target in manual mode; and switching the automated video tracking system to the automatic mode for automatic tracking of the reacquired desired target without initiating a new tracking sequence. An apparatus and automated video tracking system for carrying out the methods of the present invention are also provided.

Method for assisting an automated video tracking system in reaquiring a target

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.

Method and apparatus for extending video content analysis to multiple channels

A method and apparatus are disclosed for tuning the content of information presented to an audience, for example, on a large display screen or an information kiosk. A disclosed content selection and driving system (i) extracts relevant characteristics about the audience, (ii) analyzes the characteristics, (iii) modifies the presented content based on the analysis, and (iv) records relevant statistics for reporting. An audio/visual analyzer derives audience characteristics and other information on the public reaction to the presented advertising or information by analyzing audio or video information, or both. The derived characteristics are utilized to tune the content of the presented advertising or information to the characteristics of the current audience. A reporting module receives real-time audience statistics and an indication of the selected content. Reports can be generated for the content provider, such as advertisers, that indicate the exposure of various population segments to the presented content and the reaction of the audience to the presented content.

Method and apparatus for tuning content of information presented to an audience

A method for selecting a target in an automated video tracking system. The method including the steps of: displaying video image data of a scene having a target to be tracked; freezing the video image data to display a frame thereof; and selecting a desired target in the frame of the video image data. Also provided is an apparatus for selecting a target in an automated video tracking system and an automated video tracking system employing such methods and apparatus.

Method for selecting a target in an automated video tracking system

A security monitoring system including; an exit and entrance camera located at the exit and entrance of a structure; a detector for detecting the exit or entry of an individual; an image recording system for stroring images from the exit and entrance cameras; and a computer vision system for analyzing the stored images using a predetermined criteria to determine if the exiting and entering individuals are the same. In a preferred implementation, the system also includes a database for storing face image data for each authorized individual of the structure; and a face recognition system for comparing the stored images from the entry and entrance camera with the stored image data in the database and for determining if the exiting and entering individual is one of the authorized individuals.

Apparatus and methods for resolution of entry/exit conflicts for security monitoring systems

A tracking system that provides high resolution images and a low tracking dropout rate is disclosed. The system uses a camera equipped with a dual-angle lens (or another dual-angle focusing system) to obtain both a wide-angle image and a narrow-angle image of a scene. The narrow-angle image provides a high resolution view of the scene. If the object being tracked moves out of the field of view of the narrow-angle image, the wide-angle image is used to find the object. The aim of the camera is then adjusted so that the object will once again appear in the narrow-angle image.

Tracking camera using a lens that generates both wide-angle and narrow-angle views

A system and method that detects and identifies an event from a sequence of images received. The system comprises a control unit that receives and processes the sequence of images from the camera. The control unit identifies at least one stationary image prior to the event and one stationary image subsequent to the event. The control unit compares one or more representations corresponding to one or more edges in the first stationary image with one or more representations corresponding to one or more edges in the second stationary image to determine whether an object has been deposited or removed during the event.

Method and apparatus to distinguish deposit and removal in surveillance video

A security monitoring system including: an alarm system having detectors for detection of an alarm in a structure; at least one camera for capturing image data inside and/or outside the structure; a processor for selecting a subset of the image data upon the occurrence of the alarm based on a predetermined criteria; and a modem for transmitting the subset of image data to a remote location. The processor ranks each video frame from the image data according to how well each video frame meets the predetermined criteria and the modem transmits a predetermined number of video frames having the best rank to the remote location.

Method and apparatus to select the best video frame to transmit to a remote station for CCTV based residential security monitoring

A security monitoring system including: an alarm system having detectors for detecting an unauthorized individual in a structure; at least one camera for capturing first image data of the unauthorized individual; a memory for storing second image data of at least one individual authorized to be in the structure; and a data link for transmitting third image data to a remote location upon the detection of the unauthorized individual. The third image data including at least portions of the first and second image data for comparison at the remote location. In a preferred implementation, the first image data includes image data of more than the face of the unauthorized individual and the system further includes a computer vision system for detecting the face of the unauthorized individual from the first image data. In such an implementation, the first and second image data are face images and are arranged in a picture having the unauthorized individual at a top portion of the picture and the authorized individuals arranged along a bottom row of the picture.

Method and apparatus to reduce false alarms in exit/entrance situations for residential security monitoring

A security monitoring system including: an alarm system having detectors for detection of an alarm in a structure; at least one camera for capturing image data inside and/or outside the structure; a processor for selecting a subset of the image data upon the occurrence of the alarm based on a predetermined criteria; and a modem for transmitting the subset of image data to a remote location. Preferably, the processor ranks each video frame from the image data according to how well each video frame meets the predetermined criteria and the modem transmits a predetermined number of video frames having the best rank to the remote location.

The invention provides for the automation of a multiple camera system based upon the location of a target object in a displayed camera image. The preferred system provides a nearly continuous display of a figure as the figure moves about throughout multiple cameras' potential fields of view. When the figure approaches the bounds of a selected camera's field of view, the system determines which other camera's potential field of view contains the figure, and adjusts that other camera's actual field of view to contain the figure. When the figure is at the bounds of the selected camera's field of view, the system automatically selects the other camera. The system also contains predictive location determination algorithms. By assessing the movement of the figure, the system selects and adjusts the next camera based upon the predicted subsequent location of the figure.

Automated camera handoff system for figure tracking in a multiple camera system

The system displays on a screen a set of options that are selectable by a user. The user standing in front of the screen points at a desired option and a camera of the system takes an image of the user while pointing. The system calculates from the pose of the user in the image whether the user is pointing to any of the displayed options. If such is the case, that particular option is selected and an action corresponding with that option is executed.

Method, system, and program for gesture based option selection

A vacuum cleaner is provided that is adapted to detect and display and/or avoid obstacles. In such vacuum cleaners the driving wheels and/or castor wheels that determine the direction of travel may be actively controlled to achieve, at the point in time of obstacle touch or obstacle sensing, a resultant velocity away from obstacles in the path of the cleaning apparatus.

Vacuum cleaner with obstacle avoidance

A system and method for constructing three-dimensional images using camera-based gesture inputs of a system user. The system comprises a computer-readable memory, a video camera for generating video signals indicative of the gestures of the system user and an interaction area surrounding the system user, and a video image display. The video image display is positioned in front of the system users. The system further comprises a microprocessor for processing the video signals, in accordance with a program stored in the computer-readable memory, to determine the three-dimensional positions of the body and principle body parts of the system user. The microprocessor constructs three-dimensional images of the system user and interaction area on the video image display based upon the three-dimensional positions of the body and principle body parts of the system user. The video image display shows three-dimensional graphical objects superimposed to appear as if they occupy the interaction area, and movement by the system user causes apparent movement of the superimposed, three-dimensional objects displayed on the video image display.

Growing community of inventors

Putnam Valley, NY, United States of America

Damian M Lyons