RTLS Video Mapping for Visual Asset Tracking Context
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to effectively integrate Real-Time Location System (RTLS) technology with video surveillance technology to provide visual confirmation and situational context for asset tracking, particularly in environments like hospitals, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
Combining RTLS with video surveillance by mapping camera fields of view into a grid format, routing asset locations to appropriate cameras, and using bounding boxes or spatial indicators to visually represent asset positions, even if obscured, while integrating customizable analytics zones and context-awareness techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If RTLS technology is integrated with video surveillance technology, then visual confirmation and situational context for asset tracking are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines RTLS technology with video surveillance technology into an integrated system. The RTLS platform determines asset locations while the video surveillance platform captures images, and these two subsystems are merged through a management platform that correlates location data with visual data to provide comprehensive asset tracking with visual confirmation.
Solution Approach 2:
A management platform acts as an intermediary between the RTLS platform and video surveillance platform. This intermediary component receives data from both subsystems, processes the information, and generates alerts or notifications when assets enter or exit defined zones, thereby managing the complexity of integrating two different technological systems.
2Measurement precision
If camera fields of view are mapped into grid format and routed to appropriate cameras, then asset location accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-maps camera fields of view into grid formats and establishes routing rules before assets are tracked. Analytics zones are defined in advance, and the management platform is pre-configured with the spatial relationships between cameras and grid cells, enabling rapid determination of asset locations without real-time complex calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The surveillance area is segmented into a grid format with defined analytics zones. Each grid cell is associated with specific camera coverage areas, allowing the system to quickly determine which camera should capture images of assets in particular zones without processing the entire surveillance area.
3Loss of information
If bounding boxes or spatial indicators are used to represent asset positions, then user awareness is improved, but false alarms may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different visual indicators (bounding boxes, spatial indicators) to different asset locations and contexts. Analytics zones are defined with specific qualities and characteristics, allowing the system to provide tailored visual information about asset positions while maintaining contextual awareness to reduce false alarms.
4Adaptability or versatility
If customizable analytics zones are integrated, then event management capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The management platform provides universal event management capabilities that work across different asset types, locations, and scenarios. The same platform infrastructure supports multiple analytics zones with different configurations, enabling versatile event management without requiring separate systems for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for performing, by a management platform operatively connected to both a video surveillance platform and a positioning platform via network connectivity, at least one among image processing and video analytics on obtained images or video related to a detected asset tag to provide user awareness related to a location or movement of the asset tag in a defined environment.