Camera Security Zones Using Polygon Boundaries and Auto Segmentation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing security systems face challenges in efficiently creating and maintaining precise and accurate zone geometries for image capture devices, leading to processing errors and resource inefficiencies due to the need for rectangular bounding boxes and discontinuous zone boundaries.

Innovation Solution

Implementing user-friendly zone graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that allow users to define zones of any shape, including irregular polygons, and utilizing automatic image segmentation techniques to create and adjust zones, along with autonomous zone creation and adjustment based on image history and device movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If rectangular bounding boxes are used to define zones, then the system is simpler to implement, but the zone geometry precision and accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvezone definition complexityVSAvoidzone geometry precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the image into multiple zones using irregular polygonal boundaries instead of single rectangular bounding boxes. This segmentation allows precise definition of multiple distinct areas (e.g., different rooms or regions) with accurate geometric boundaries, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and precision by using structured zone division.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from one-dimensional rectangular bounding boxes to two-dimensional irregular polygonal zones defined by multiple vertices. This dimensional enhancement allows zones to conform to actual geometric boundaries in the image, achieving precise zone geometry while maintaining systematic implementation through vertex coordinate specifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If continuous zone boundaries are implemented, then the zone accuracy improves, but the processing complexity and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvezone boundary accuracyVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments continuous zone boundaries into discrete vertex points that define irregular polygons. By representing zones as collections of vertices rather than continuous curves, the system achieves accurate zone boundaries while enabling efficient digital processing through discrete coordinate data, thus resolving the contradiction between accuracy and processing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses digital vertex coordinate representations to copy and store zone geometries. This allows precise zone boundaries to be defined once and then efficiently processed, transmitted, and applied multiple times without requiring continuous boundary data, reducing resource consumption while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Extent of automation

If manual zone definition is used, then the system requires less automation, but the time and effort to create and maintain zones increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvezone creation automationVSAvoidzone configuration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the system to automatically define zones by detecting features in images and autonomously creating irregular polygonal zone boundaries. The system serves itself by automatically identifying regions of interest, calculating vertex coordinates, and generating zone definitions without manual intervention, thus resolving the contradiction between automation level and time investment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary automated zone definition based on image analysis before monitoring begins. By pre-processing images to identify and define zones automatically, the system eliminates the need for manual zone configuration and maintenance, reducing time loss while implementing comprehensive automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If irregular polygonal zones are allowed, then the zone accuracy and applicability improve, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvezone shape flexibilityVSAvoidzone definition system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments complex irregular polygonal zones into simplified vertex coordinate representations. By defining zones as ordered collections of vertices rather than complex geometric shapes, the system achieves high adaptability for any zone shape while maintaining relatively simple data structures and processing logic, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4555498B1Security device zones
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 SIMPLISAFE INC
  • EP4555498B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4555498B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4555498B1 patent drawingFigure 4A

AI summary

A method is provided. The method includes receiving, from a monitor interface implemented by a first computing device, input specifying a zone within a field of view of an image capture device; storing, in response to reception of the input, a record defining the zone; receiving, from the image capture device, an image acquired within the field of view by the image capture device; and rendering, via a customer interface implemented by a second computing device distinct from the first computing device, the image with a representation of the zone overlaid upon the image.