Camera Tracking via Path Prediction and Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Security systems with multiple cameras often fail to track subjects that move beyond the visible range of individual cameras, leading to blind spots and missed recordings due to occlusion or increased distance, which compromises security and surveillance effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A camera system that predicts a subject's moving path and sends a discovery signal to neighboring cameras, allowing for direct connection and continuous recording by selecting a target camera capable of Wi-Fi communication to ensure uninterrupted tracking and recording.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single camera is used to monitor an area, then the device complexity is reduced, but the tracking reliability deteriorates when the subject moves beyond visible range or is occluded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring area is divided into multiple zones covered by different cameras. Each camera monitors its own field of view, and when a subject moves from one camera's view to another, the system segments the tracking task across multiple camera devices, ensuring continuous monitoring without relying on a single camera

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple cameras are combined into a coordinated surveillance system where cameras work together to track subjects. The system merges data from multiple camera sources, including location information and capability information, to maintain continuous tracking of subjects as they move across different camera fields of view

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the camera automatically moves with the object, then the tracking capability is improved within visible range, but the tracking reliability deteriorates when the object moves beyond visible range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking reliabilityVSAvoidadaptability to subject movement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the active camera based on subject movement. When a subject moves beyond one camera's visible range, the system dynamically switches to another camera that has the subject within its field of view, ensuring continuous tracking adaptability throughout the entire monitoring area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from subject location information to determine which camera should be actively tracking. The camera controller receives feedback about the subject's position relative to each camera's field of view and automatically switches cameras based on this feedback, maintaining reliable tracking as the subject moves

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If multiple cameras are deployed to cover the area, then the measurement precision of subject location is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to manual configuration requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubject location precisionVSAvoidease of system configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The camera system performs self-service through automatic camera switching based on subject location. The controller automatically determines which camera should track the subject by calculating the subject's position relative to each camera's field of view, eliminating the need for manual configuration or intervention by operators

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Measurement precision

If the camera switches to track the object manually, then the tracking precision is maintained, but the productivity deteriorates due to user intervention requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking precisionVSAvoidtracking efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical camera switching with an automated electronic control system. The controller automatically calculates subject location, determines the optimal camera for tracking, and switches cameras electronically without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining tracking precision while significantly improving operational efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3238442B1Method and apparatus for operating a security system
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3238442B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2a
  • EP3238442B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~3
  • EP3238442B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a sensor network, Machine Type Communication (MTC), Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication, and technology for Internet of Things (IoT). The present disclosure may be applied to intelligent services based on the above technologies, such as smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car, connected car, health care, digital education, smart retail, security and safety services. Methods and apparatuses are provided for operating a camera in a security system. A video is recorded. A subject from the video is identified. A moving path of the subject is predicted. At least one neighboring camera corresponding to the moving path is discovered. At least one target camera is selected from among the at least one neighboring camera. A recording command including information about the subject and the moving path is transmitted to the at least one target camera.