Camera Tampering Detection via Video Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Security cameras are vulnerable to tampering, which can result in the loss of critical footage and identification data, as adversaries may destroy or disable them to prevent capture and review of evidence.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses video analysis to detect potential tampering by determining the likelihood of camera interference based on factors like approaching individuals, their direction, speed, and concealment, and promptly uploads relevant data to a server before the camera is compromised.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If security cameras are deployed to monitor properties, then security and safety are enhanced, but the cameras become vulnerable to tampering and destruction by adversaries

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity camera reliabilityVSAvoidtampering vulnerability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting approaching individuals and predicting potential tampering events before they occur. When a person approaches the camera within a certain distance and time threshold, the system proactively transmits stored video data to the server in advance, ensuring evidence preservation before the camera can be tampered with or destroyed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring video feeds for approaching individuals, calculating risk scores based on distance and time parameters, and adjusting data transmission actions accordingly. The feedback loop enables the system to respond dynamically to potential threats by transmitting critical evidence when tampering risk exceeds predetermined thresholds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of information

If the camera continuously uploads video data, then evidence is preserved, but network bandwidth and energy are consumed continuously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevidence preservationVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous uploading, the system employs periodic action by transmitting data only at specific intervals triggered by detected events. Video data is uploaded periodically when approaching individuals are detected and risk thresholds are exceeded, rather than continuously, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption and network bandwidth usage while preserving critical evidence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The camera system performs self-service by autonomously determining when data transmission is necessary based on its own detection capabilities. The camera analyzes approaching individuals, calculates risk scores, and independently decides when to upload data without requiring constant external commands, optimizing energy usage while ensuring evidence preservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If the system transmits data in real-time when tampering is detected, then evidence is preserved, but transmission may be too slow if the camera is destroyed immediately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveevidence retentionVSAvoiddata transmission speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary data transmission actions before the camera is destroyed by detecting approaching individuals and proactively uploading stored video data to the server in advance. This preliminary action ensures that critical evidence is already preserved on the server before the camera becomes inoperative, overcoming the limitation of slow real-time transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

When potential tampering is detected, the system rushes through the data transmission process by prioritizing and accelerating the upload of critical video evidence to the server. This rushed transmission approach ensures that essential data is transmitted as quickly as possible before the camera can be destroyed, mitigating the speed limitation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

4Measurement precision

If the system analyzes video data to predict tampering, then accuracy of detection is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the most critical and relevant features from video data for analysis, such as distance of approaching individuals, time thresholds, and basic motion patterns. By taking out only these essential parameters rather than analyzing complete video content, the system maintains high detection accuracy while significantly reducing processing time and computational resource requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by focusing analysis on specific measurable variables like distance, time, and approach speed rather than comprehensive video analysis. These parameter changes enable the system to achieve accurate tampering prediction with reduced computational complexity and faster processing speeds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3999967B1Notifications for camera tampering
Publication Date: 2023.12.27 ALARM COM INC
  • EP3999967B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3999967B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3999967B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a storage device, are disclosed. A system includes one or more processors and one or more computer storage media storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more processors, to cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising: obtaining, by the system, video of a scene captured by a camera; determining a likelihood that the camera will be tampered with based on the video of the scene; determining that the likelihood that the camera will be tampered with satisfies criteria; and transmitting data generated from the video.