Abnormality detection and surveillance system

Abstract

A surveillance system having at least one primary video camera for translating real images of a zone into electronic video signals at a first level of resolution. The system includes means for sampling movements of an individual or individuals located within the zone from the video signal output from at least one video camera. Video signals of sampled movements of the individual is electronically compared with known characteristics of movements which are indicative of individuals having a criminal intent. The level of criminal intent of the individual or individuals is then determined and an appropriate alarm signal is produced.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention generally relates to surveillance systems, and more particularly, to trainable surveillance systems which detect and respond to specific abnormal video and audio input signals.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Today's surveillance systems vary in complexity, efficiency and accuracy. Earlier surveillance systems use several closed circuit cameras, each connected to a devoted monitor. This type of system works sufficiently well for low-coverage sites, i.e., areas requiring up to perhaps six cameras. In such a system, a single person could scan the six monitors, in “real” time, and effectively monitor the entire (albeit small) protected area, offering a relatively high level of readiness to respond to an abnormal act or situation observed within the protected area. In this simplest of surveillance systems, it is left to the discretion of security personnel to determine, first, if there is any abnormal event in progress within the protected area...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]It is another object of this invention to provide a surveillance system which can cull out real-time events which indicate criminal intent using a weapon, by resolving the low temperature of the weapon relative to the higher body temperature and by recognizing the stances taken by the person with the weapon.

[0013]It is yet another object of this invention to provide a surveillance system which eliminates or reduces the number of TV monitors and guards presently required to identify abnormal events, as this system will perform this function in near real time.

Problems solved by technology

These improvements flow fewer personnel to adequately supervise the monitors to cover the larger protected area.

These improvements, however, still require the constant attention of at least one person.

The above described multiple-image / single screen systems suffered from poor resolution and complex viewing.

Eventually, it was recognized that human personnel could not reliably monitor the “real-time” images from one or several cameras for long “watch” periods of time.

As discussed above, it is the human link which lowers the overall reliability of the entire surveillance system.

The surveillance system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,847 does remove some of the monitoring responsibility otherwise placed on human personnel; however, such a system can only determine an intruder's “intent” by his presence relative to particular zones.

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