Television – Special applications – Observation of or from a specific location
Reexamination Certificate
1995-12-15
2004-04-20
Rao, Andy (Department: 2613)
Television
Special applications
Observation of or from a specific location
C348S143000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06724421
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates generally to video surveillance systems. More particularly, it relates to a video surveillance system in which a pilot camera controls the operation of one or more slave cameras.
Known video surveillance systems often monitor relatively large areas by means of several video cameras or “domes.” A dome may include one or more cameras, the operation of which can be remotely controlled. A camera in such a dome is typically equipped with a zoom lens which has a limited field of view. The camera can also be panned and tilted by remote control. The extent to which a particular camera or dome is able to monitor an area is limited by the field of view of its lens and the extent to which it can be panned and tilted. It is therefore possible for an intruder to avoid detection by a surveillance system if he can dodge the movement of the camera and keep out of its field of view. Thus, in order to minimize this problem, particularly when the monitored area is large, a system of the prior art uses a large number of domes operating under program control to cover the entire area. However, such systems do not eliminate the risk that an intruder will be undetected. In addition, such systems require a large number of cameras and a relatively complex control program in order to minimize the opportunity for intruders to escape detection.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a video surveillance system for monitoring an area. The system is made up of a pilot camera for monitoring the area and a slave camera for monitoring at least part of the area. The pilot camera produces a signal representative of the area. Means are provided for determining the location of a moving object in the area monitored by the pilot camera from the signal representative of the area and for producing a signal representing the location of the object. Means are also provided for causing the slave camera to track the moving object based on the signal representing the location of the object.
In the preferred embodiment the pilot camera is stationary and the slave camera is moveable. The pilot camera has a field of view wider than that of the slave camera. To that end the pilot camera is provided with a fisheye lens. The signal containing the fisheye image produced by the camera can be compressed and transmitted over a communications channel to a remote monitoring station. The location of the object is determined by detecting the motion of the object.
The invention also includes a method of monitoring an area comprising the steps of monitoring the area by means of a pilot camera, thereby producing a signal representative of the area; processing the video output to determine the location of a moving object in the area and producing a signal representative of the location of the object; and controlling a slave camera such that the slave camera tracks the moving object based on the signal representative of the location of the object.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5091780 (1992-02-01), Pomerleau
patent: 5111288 (1992-05-01), Blackshear
patent: 5164827 (1992-11-01), Paff
patent: 5185667 (1993-02-01), Zimmermann
patent: 5200818 (1993-04-01), Neta et al.
patent: 5270811 (1993-12-01), Ishibashi et al.
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patent: 5384588 (1995-01-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5517236 (1996-05-01), Sergeant et al.
patent: 5521634 (1996-05-01), McGary
patent: 5526041 (1996-06-01), Glatt
Takano et al., Intruder Detection System by Image Processing, Oct. 12, 1994, pp 31-33.
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