Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-17
2003-07-29
Tong, Nina (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S573100, C340S541000, C340S565000, C340S566000, C340S621000, C340S683000, C340S691100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06600417
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to sonic detection systems and methods, and, in particular, to graffiti detection systems and methods.
2. Related Art
The following description of the background of the invention is intended to aid in the understanding of the invention, but is not admitted to describe or constitute prior art to the invention.
Every day, countless acts of graffiti are being committed to public and private property throughout the world. The property damage resulting from graffiti is estimated to be in the billions of dollars annually. Further, graffiti tends to be a recurring problem. For example, if a structure surface such as a wall is tagged with graffiti, to eliminate the graffiti, the property owner may have the graffiti removed by, for example, power washing the surface, or, more likely, will paint over the graffiti with a paint that is the same or similar to that on the rest of the surface. However, removing graffiti is frequently a temporary cure because the removed graffiti creates, in effect, a new canvas for the tagger, and invitation for another round of graffiti.
Catching the tagger is difficult because the graffiti-making act usually occurs late at night, at no-light or low-light locations, and/or at remote locations. Thus, there is often no witnesses of a graffiti-making act, allowing the tagger to get away without consequence. Even if witnesses exist, they may be too intimidated to report the tagger for fear of retaliation. If a witnesses exists, by the time the witness reports the tagger, the tagger may be long gone when the police arrive. As a result, most graffiti-related crimes go unsolved and unpunished.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, an aspect of the present invention involves the recognition that a need exists for a graffiti detection system and method that is capable of detecting and reporting a graffiti-making act as it occurs. Such a system and method may give the police or property owner the head start they need to catch a tagger in the act, or if the police do not arrive in time to catch a tagger in the act, give the police the probable cause they need to detain and question any suspicious characters in the vicinity of the reported crime.
An additional aspect of the invention involves a method of detecting a graffiti-making act. The method includes sonically detecting the graffiti-making act, and initiating an alarm indicating that the graffiti-making act took place.
Implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above may include one or more of the following. Sonically detecting the graffiti-making act includes sonically detecting the spraying noise of a spray can. Sonically detecting the graffiti-making act includes sonically detecting the sound made by writing with a felt-marker pen on a surface. Sonically detecting the graffiti-making act includes sonically detecting a the sound made by scratching an abrasive instrument on a surface. The abrasive instrument is a member from the group consisting of a stone, a gem, a screwdriver, and a glass cutter. Sonically detecting the graffiti-making act includes sonically detecting the graffiti-making act with a sensor selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric sensor, a dynamic sensor, an electret sensor, a carbon sensor, a bolometer sensor, an optical reflection sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sound sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor. Sonically detecting the graffiti-making act includes sensing the sound spectrum pattern of the graffiti-making act. Sonically detecting the graffiti-making act further includes sonically focusing sound produced from the graffiti-making act. Sonically focusing sound produced from the graffiti-making act includes sonically focusing the sound with a member selected from the group consisting of phase arrays, reflectors, and lenses. Sonically focusing sound produced from the graffiti-making act includes de-selecting other similar sounds that may effect a false alarm. De-selecting includes baffling sound. Sonically detecting includes filtering sound spectral characteristics of sound from the graffiti-making act. Sonically detecting includes filtering using a technique from the group consisting of duration and time coding of the sound, digital code quantitization, digitized algorithm analysis, and Fourier Transform analysis. The alarm is a member from the group consisting of a bell, a light, a horn, a speaker, a marking means, a camera to record the activity, a camera to monitor the activity, a photo process, a phone device, a wireless communication device, a cage, a trap, and a disabling means. The method further includes confirming that a graffiti-making act took place with one or more additional sensors. The one or more sensors are a member from the group consisting of a motion detector and a heat detector.
Another aspect of the invention involves a method of detecting a graffiti-making act of spraying with a spray paint can. The method includes sonically detecting a spraying noise made from the spray paint can using one or more sonic sensors, and communicating that a graffiti-making act has been detected to one or more entities.
Another aspect of the invention involves a method of detecting a graffiti-making act of spraying with a spray paint can. The method includes detecting a graffiti-making act using one or more sensors, and communicating that a graffiti-making act has been detected to one or more entities.
Implementations of the aspect of the invention described immediately above may include one or more of the following. Detecting a graffiti-making act includes sensing an odor spectrum pattern of the graffiti-making act with an olfactory sensor, and using electronic spectral analysis to determine that a graffiti-making act occurred. Detecting a graffiti-making act includes sonically sensing a sound spectrum pattern of the graffiti-making act with a sonic sensor, and using electronic spectral analysis to determine that a graffiti-making act occurred. The graffiti-making act includes spraying with a spray paint can, and sonically sensing includes sonically sensing a spraying noise of the spray paint can. The graffiti-making act includes spraying with a spray paint can, and sonically sensing includes sonically sensing a rattling noised caused by shaking the spray paint can to mix paint inside the spray paint can. The graffiti-making act includes writing with a felt-marker pen on a surface, and sonically sensing includes sonically sensing a sound made by writing with a felt-marker pen on a surface. The graffiti-making act includes scratching with an abrasive instrument on a surface, and sonically sensing includes sonically sensing the sound made by scratching with an abrasive instrument on a surface. The method further includes confirming that a graffiti-making act took place with at least one motion detector to detect movement of a perpetrator of the graffiti-making act. The method further includes confirming that a graffiti-making act took place with at least one heat detector to detect body heat of a perpetrator of the graffiti-making act. The method further includes confirming that a graffiti-making act took place with at least one sonic detector to detect a sound of the graffiti-making act. The method further includes confirming that a graffiti-making act took place with at least one olfactory detector to detect an odor of the graffiti-making act. Detecting a graffiti-making act includes amplifying a signal from the at least one sensor to a distinguishable level, combining the signal with a predetermined signature signal, reducing signal noise, and determining whether the resulting signal includes a spectrum pattern matching a predetermined spectrum pattern of one or more graffiti-making acts. Communicating to one or more entities includes communicating to a police dispatcher. Communicating to one or more entities includes communicating to one or more police officers on patrol in a general area of the graffiti-making act. Communicating to one or more enti
Devine Arthur J.
Johnson Randy E.
Lerg George H.
Roberts Donald L.
Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
Tong Nina
Traptec Corporation
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