Crowdsourced Surveillance Platform Image Revisit Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surveillance methods, including unmanned vehicles and satellites, face challenges such as high costs, limited revisit rates, and susceptibility to weather conditions, making it difficult to obtain frequent and reliable images of target locations.
Innovation Solution
A crowdsourced surveillance platform that utilizes mobile communication devices to capture images while in transit, transmitting them to a remote server for aggregation and updating, using path-based scheduling and image correction models to ensure consistent and weather-resistant image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If unmanned vehicles or satellites are used for surveillance, then image capture capability is improved, but operational cost increases and revisit rate is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling mobile communication devices (smartphones, tablets) to perform surveillance functions in addition to their primary communication and computing purposes. This multi-functional approach allows widespread deployment of image capture devices without requiring dedicated surveillance equipment, thereby increasing the number of available sensors and improving revisit rates while maintaining cost-effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs copying by using consumer-grade image sensors in mobile devices as substitutes for expensive dedicated surveillance satellites or unmanned vehicles. These consumer devices create copies of surveillance functionality at a fraction of the cost, enabling frequent image capture and high revisit rates through crowdsourced data collection
2Measurement precision
If unmanned vehicles or satellites are used for surveillance, then image capture capability is improved, but susceptibility to weather conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the surveillance function across numerous distributed mobile devices rather than relying on a single satellite or unmanned vehicle. This distribution strategy ensures that if weather conditions prevent image capture from one location, other devices in different locations can still capture images, thereby reducing overall system susceptibility to weather conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by leveraging the existing infrastructure of mobile communication devices that users already carry and operate. These devices have their own power sources, processing capabilities, and communication interfaces, eliminating the need for vulnerable external surveillance infrastructure that would be directly exposed to weather conditions
3Productivity
If mobile communication devices are used for crowdsourced surveillance, then operational cost is reduced and revisit rate is improved, but image consistency and quality control become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a quality control system where the server receives images from mobile devices, evaluates them against predefined criteria, and provides feedback to users about image quality. This feedback mechanism enables continuous improvement of image consistency while maintaining high revisit rates through crowdsourced participation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by adjusting image capture parameters (such as resolution, format, and metadata requirements) based on the specific surveillance task and device capabilities. The server can request different parameter sets for different devices, optimizing image consistency across diverse hardware while maintaining flexibility in revisit frequency
4Productivity
If mobile communication devices capture images while in transit, then on-demand surveillance with short revisit intervals is achieved, but power consumption and device resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing scheduled image capture intervals rather than continuous operation. Mobile devices capture images at predetermined time intervals or when specific conditions are met (such as entering a geographic fence), reducing power consumption while maintaining effective surveillance coverage through strategic periodic sampling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements discarding and recovering by selectively capturing and transmitting only images that meet quality criteria or contain relevant surveillance information. Devices can discard low-quality or redundant images to conserve power and bandwidth, while recovering and transmitting valuable data when conditions are favorable, optimizing resource usage
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for performing task assignment, completion, and management within a crowdsourced surveillance platform. A remote server may identify targets for image capture and may assign capture tasks to users based on travel plans of the user. Users may be assigned task to capture image of target locations lying along a travel path. The remote server may aggregate data related to the captured images and use it to update a map and log changes to the target location over time.