Surveillance Camera Sensor Data Encoding via Image Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrating surveillance camera systems with advanced analytics functionality poses challenges in propagating information between different systems, deploying additional sensing capabilities, and managing data and power connections for heterogeneous sensors in various environments.
Innovation Solution
A system where surveillance cameras generate image data, and sensors detect environmental, security, or business information, encoding it within the image data for analysis by an integrated analytics system, eliminating the need for traditional data connections and enabling metadata generation and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sensors are deployed in scenes to detect additional information, then analytics capabilities are enhanced, but device complexity and data connection requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The surveillance camera system is designed to perform multiple functions: capturing image data and simultaneously receiving encoded sensor data through the same image data stream. This multi-functionality allows the system to enhance analytics capabilities without adding separate data connection infrastructure for sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
An encoding mechanism serves as an intermediary that translates sensor data into a format that can be transmitted through the existing image data communication channel. This mediator enables sensor information to be conveyed without requiring new data connections, reducing system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If heterogeneous sensors are deployed to provide additional data, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to data and power connection requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a universal communication channel (image data stream) to carry both visual information and sensor data. This eliminates the need for separate data connection infrastructure when deploying various types of sensors, significantly easing operational deployment.
3Measurement precision
If separate analytics systems are used to analyze image data, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional systems and messaging overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The analytics functionality is integrated directly into the surveillance camera system, merging the image capture and sensor data reception functions into a single unified system. This eliminates the need for separate analytics systems and reduces messaging overhead while maintaining analysis precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for monitoring sensors via surveillance cameras is disclosed. In the system, surveillance cameras generating image data of scenes, where the sensors are included in the scenes. The sensors detect information concerning the scenes and encode the information so that it can be derived from the image data. Preferably, the sensors encode the information concerning the scenes by modulating a visible light source, the signals of which are captured within the image data by the cameras. An analytics system then analyzes the image data and decodes the information from the sensors encoded within the image data. Preferably, an integrated analytics system of the cameras executes the analysis. Exemplary sensors include sensors for detecting temperature, moisture, audio/voice, and product selection in a retail premises.