Binary Beacon Signaling for Spoof-Resistant Video Surveillance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video surveillance systems face challenges in reliably identifying beacons in complex, real-world environments due to noise and computational demands, and are vulnerable to signal spoofing and replication.
Innovation Solution
A video surveillance system that uses beacons emitting a binary signal with separate identification and verification sub-packets, employing Fibonacci coding and jitter in the actuation sequence, to enhance reliability and security while reducing computational burden.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a pure repeating signal is used for beacon identification, then the computational task is simple, but the system is vulnerable to spoofing and replication
Solution Approach 1:
The binary signal is segmented into two distinct sub-packets: a repeating identification sub-packet for simple recognition and a varying verification sub-packet for security. This segmentation allows the system to maintain both ease of identification and security against spoofing by combining the simplicity of repeating patterns with the complexity of varying verification codes.
Solution Approach 2:
The verification sub-packet changes its parameters (binary sequence) between different beacons and over time, while the identification sub-packet maintains repeating parameters. This parameter differentiation enables the system to distinguish between legitimate beacons and spoofed signals while keeping the identification process computationally simple.
2Reliability
If a changing signal system is used for secure verification, then security against spoofing is improved, but the computational burden increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the signal into identification and verification sub-packets, the computational burden is distributed: the identification sub-packet uses simple pattern matching while the verification sub-packet uses changes detection. This segmentation prevents the need to process entirely changing signals for both identification and verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses partial action by only changing the verification sub-packet while keeping the identification sub-packet repeating. This partial variation provides sufficient security without the excessive computational burden that would result from making the entire signal constantly changing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple beacons are tracked simultaneously in real-world environments, then system versatility is improved, but noise and environmental factors reduce identification reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The segmentation into identification and verification sub-packets allows the system to process multiple beacons simultaneously by handling their signals in distinct computational stages. The repeating identification pattern enables robust detection even in noisy environments, while the verification sub-packet confirms authenticity.
Solution Approach 2:
The verification sub-packet provides feedback about the beacon's authenticity and environmental conditions. When verification fails or the environment is too noisy, the system can request re-transmission or use alternative verification methods, maintaining reliability while tracking multiple beacons.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides secure and efficient beacon identification in noisy environments, allowing for simultaneous processing of multiple cameras and reducing the risk of signal spoofing, with the ability to track movements across zones.
Implementation Method 1
at least one beacon comprising at least one light emitting element and a controller providing an actuation sequence to the light emitting element such that it emits a binary signal comprising sequential on/off flashes
Data Source
AI summary
A video surveillance system is disclosed. The system includes: at least one camera to observe a surveillance field and provide resulting video data; at least one beacon comprising at least one light emitting element and a controller providing an actuation sequence to the light emitting element such that it emits a binary signal comprising sequential on/off flashes; and a video analytics system comprising a processor configured to receive video data captured by the, at least one camera and analyse the video for the presence of light emissions from a beacon. The binary signal may consist of a plurality of transmission packets, each repeating an encoded set of data. Each transmission packet may comprise a plurality of functional sub packets, for example, a first sub-packet comprising a fixed code and a second sub-packet which changes between transmission packets. The video analytics system processor is configured to identify the sequence corresponding to the first sub-packet to determine a beacon identification and verify the authenticity of the beacon using the second sub-packet. A method of video surveillance monitoring is also disclosed.