Multi-Camera GPS Target Tracking via Coordinate Handoff

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional GPS-based target tracking systems have limited tracking range since they cease tracking when the target moves out of the camera's monitoring range, restricting the system's ability to follow targets across broader areas.

Innovation Solution

A GPS-based target tracking system and method that employs multiple cameras, where the first camera determines and sends GPS coordinates of the target to a second camera, allowing the second camera to adjust its angle and continue tracking the target, thereby extending the tracking range through a network of cameras.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a single camera is used for target tracking, then the system structure is simple, but the tracking range is limited to the camera's monitoring range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking rangeVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the large-area monitoring task into multiple smaller monitoring zones, each covered by a separate camera. Each camera tracks targets within its own monitoring range, and the server coordinates between cameras to achieve comprehensive coverage of the entire area, thus resolving the contradiction between tracking range and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple cameras into a unified tracking system managed by a central server. The server integrates data from multiple cameras and coordinates their work together, merging individual camera monitoring ranges into a comprehensive tracking system that covers a much larger area while maintaining manageable complexity through centralized control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Duration of action of moving object

If target tracking ceases when the target moves out of camera range, then the system operates simply within its range, but the tracking continuity is broken

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking continuityVSAvoidcoordination mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server continuously receives monitoring data from multiple cameras and uses this feedback to determine when a target exits one camera's range and should be picked up by another. This feedback mechanism enables seamless tracking continuity by dynamically coordinating camera switching based on real-time target position information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-establishes coordination relationships between adjacent cameras and defines handover protocols before tracking begins. When a target approaches the boundary of one camera's range, the server proactively prepares the next camera to take over, ensuring continuous tracking without interruption or loss of the target.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3855346B1GPS-based target tracking system, method and dome camera
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 HANGZHOU HIKVISION DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP3855346B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3855346B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3855346B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Disclosed are GPS-based target tracking system, method and dome camera. The system comprises: a first camera and a second camera. The first camera obtains GPS coordinate of a target during the tracking of the target and sends the GPS coordinates to the second camera. The second camera adjusts a shooting angle of the second camera according to the GPS coordinates, and tracks the target after detecting the target in a second monitoring image shot by the second camera. Therefore, in the scheme, if the target moves out of the monitoring range of the first camera, the second camera continues to track the target, namely the tracking range of the target is expanded through linkage of the plurality of cameras.