Drone-Supported Video Surveillance for Coverage Gap Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video surveillance systems face gaps in coverage due to incidents occurring outside the field of view of fixed cameras, interference from objects, or temporary camera outages, necessitating methods to supplement coverage with mobile video cameras.
Innovation Solution
Integration of mobile video cameras, such as drones, with fixed video cameras to provide comprehensive surveillance, including dynamic adjustment and coordination of camera views, and utilization of a mesh network for communication and resource management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If fixed video cameras are installed around a surveillance area, then video coverage is provided at fixed locations, but gaps in coverage occur between cameras and incidents may be obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces mobile video cameras mounted on drones that can dynamically reposition themselves to fill coverage gaps between fixed cameras. The mobile cameras move to strategic locations to capture incidents that would otherwise be obscured or outside the field of view of stationary cameras, thereby eliminating coverage blind spots while maintaining systematic surveillance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a third dimension to the surveillance system by deploying aerial drones that operate above the ground plane. This vertical dimension provides overhead views of incidents that may be obscured by objects on the ground level, such as vehicles or structures, and creates overlapping coverage areas that eliminate blind spots between fixed ground-based cameras.
2Loss of information
If mobile video cameras such as drones are deployed, then surveillance coverage gaps are filled, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary component that coordinates between fixed cameras, mobile cameras, and the central monitoring system. The controller manages camera selection, video stream routing, and coordination between multiple camera types, thereby simplifying the overall system complexity by providing a dedicated management layer rather than requiring direct complex interactions between all system components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the mobile video camera system to perform multiple functions: it can survey for incidents, provide live video feeds, replace fixed cameras during maintenance, and capture incidents from aerial perspectives. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized systems and simplifies the overall surveillance infrastructure by using a versatile mobile platform that can adapt to various surveillance needs.
3Reliability
If multiple video cameras are used to ensure coverage, then incident detection improves, but the number of video streams to manage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors video feeds from multiple cameras and automatically determines which cameras are best positioned to capture current incidents. The controller receives feedback about incident locations and dynamically selects and prioritizes video streams from cameras that have the best view of active incidents, thereby managing multiple streams efficiently based on real-time conditions rather than managing all streams equally.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a strategy where the mobile video camera selectively activates and transmits video streams only when and where needed to capture incidents. Rather than continuously managing all possible camera streams, the system uses the mobile camera to supplement fixed camera coverage only in areas or times when coverage gaps are detected, thereby reducing the overall burden of video stream management while maintaining reliable incident detection.
Data Source
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AI summary
A surveillance system includes fixed video cameras and mobile security devices. Each mobile security device includes a mobile video camera, a memory, a transceiver and a controller that is configured to receive instructions from a surveillance system controller to fly to a particular location at which an incident is believed to be occurring and to instruct the mobile video camera to capture video of the incident. In some cases, the controller of the mobile security device is configured to solicit and receive one or more video streams from fixed video cameras that are determined to meet predetermined criteria with respect to the incident, and store the one or more received video streams in the memory. The controller of the mobile security device may subsequently transmit the collected video streams to the surveillance system controller.