Active Video Surveillance Resolution Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-resolution digital cameras in surveillance systems face limitations due to bandwidth constraints, as they cannot transmit full video data at high frame rates, leading to potential loss of important video data during transmission and processing.
Innovation Solution
An automated active video surveillance system that selectively allocates resolution based on content importance, using pattern recognition techniques for judicious sub-sampling of video frames, allowing for high-resolution image capture and efficient data transmission by prioritizing areas of interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high resolution digital cameras are used in surveillance systems, then image quality and detail are improved, but data transmission bandwidth requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating resolution requirements across different spatial regions and temporal moments in the video stream. High-resolution capture is applied selectively to regions containing objects of interest (people, vehicles, license plates), while other regions are captured at lower resolution. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining high image quality only where necessary, thereby reducing overall data volume while preserving critical surveillance information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the video data processing into multiple stages: initial low-resolution screening to identify regions of interest, followed by high-resolution capture only of those segmented regions. This segmentation approach allows the system to handle high-resolution data only for relevant portions of the scene, resolving the bandwidth constraint while maintaining measurement precision for important targets.
2Speed
If full video data is transmitted at high frame rates, then temporal resolution is improved, but transmission bandwidth requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by alternating between low-resolution full-frame capture and high-resolution capture of regions of interest. The system periodically screens the entire scene at lower resolution to detect new objects, then switches to high-resolution mode for those specific regions. This periodic switching maintains temporal resolution for detecting events while significantly reducing the average data transmission rate required.
3Quantity of substance
If data compression is applied to reduce bandwidth, then data transmission is improved, but loss of video information may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing low-resolution screening and object detection before high-resolution capture. This preliminary step identifies which regions require detailed documentation, ensuring that high-resolution data is captured proactively for regions containing objects of interest. This prevents information loss by ensuring critical data is captured at full resolution before compression or transmission occurs.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated electronic video surveillance system enables a high-resolution mega-pixel camera to capture high quality, detailed, magnified images at multiple locations, simultaneously with an overview of the whole scene. A preferred embodiment requiring no moving parts provides full 360-degree continuous viewing with up to 5× all-digital zoom capability. The system performs continuous surveillance and active resolution allocation in the form of a feedback control subsystem that dynamically allocates resources so that important details within a scene receive appropriate scrutiny, while uninteresting areas are imaged at a lower resolution.