Camera Management System for Wide-Area Target Tracking

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image capture systems with multiple cameras face challenges in efficiently identifying and tracking the same imaging target across a wide area due to increased search time and misalignment of the angle of view as the camera's wide-angle range expands, leading to prolonged target detection times.

Innovation Solution

A camera management system comprising a network of cameras, a server, and image display apparatus that performs image analysis, coordinates camera operations, and adjusts the search range based on image analysis results to efficiently identify and track targets by setting initial pan, tilt, and zoom values, and updating camera angles to ensure accurate target capture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the camera's imaging range is widened using wide-angle lenses, then the range that can be captured by a single camera becomes wider, but the searching time before image capturing starts increases and the angle of view becomes misaligned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging rangeVSAvoidsearching time

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the wide imaging area into multiple smaller search regions and assigns different cameras to monitor specific regions. This segmentation allows each camera to focus on a smaller area, reducing the searching time within that region while maintaining overall wide coverage through the combination of multiple cameras.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calibration of camera positions and angles before actual operation. By pre-establishing the spatial relationships and search regions for each camera, the system eliminates the need for real-time searching across the entire wide area, significantly reducing searching time during actual target acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Area of stationary object

If the camera's imaging range is widened using wide-angle lenses, then the range that can be captured by a single camera becomes wider, but the angle of view becomes misaligned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging rangeVSAvoidangle of view alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the positions and angles of multiple cameras and adjusts their settings based on feedback from the central control unit. This feedback mechanism ensures that even with wide-angle lenses, the angle of view remains properly aligned by making real-time corrections to camera positions and orientations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calibration of camera positions and angles before actual operation. By pre-establishing the spatial relationships and search regions for each camera, the system eliminates the need for real-time searching across the entire wide area, significantly reducing searching time during actual target acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Area of stationary object

If multiple cameras are used to cover a wider area, then the imaging coverage increases, but the time required to find the same imaging target increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging coverageVSAvoidtarget detection time

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the wide imaging area into multiple smaller search regions and assigns different cameras to monitor specific regions. This segmentation allows each camera to focus on a smaller area, reducing the searching time within that region while maintaining overall wide coverage through the combination of multiple cameras.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calibration of camera positions and angles before actual operation. By pre-establishing the spatial relationships and search regions for each camera, the system eliminates the need for real-time searching across the entire wide area, significantly reducing searching time during actual target acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2851880B1Method, system and storage medium for controlling an image capture device, in particular of a door station

Publication Date: 2019.10.09 CANON KK

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AI summary

In an image capture system having a first image capture apparatus (100) and a second image capture apparatus (200), in a case where an analysis result of analysis processing on a captured image captured by the first image capture apparatus does not satisfy a predetermined condition, controls an imaging range of the second image capture apparatus so that the imaging range of the second image capture apparatus becomes wider than in a case where the analysis result satisfies the predetermined condition (S404).