Surveillance Anomaly Detection via Utility Function Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surveillance data analysis methods face a bottleneck in efficiently analyzing large volumes of video data to determine agent intent and identify anomalous behavior, particularly in security applications where manual analysis is time-consuming and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A computer-based method that analyzes the costs of agent behaviors by storing and processing data to derive a resolving utility function, comparing observed behavior sequences to determine anomalous actions, and utilizing tracking systems to estimate optimal paths and detect suspicious behavior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual analysis of surveillance video data is used, then measurement precision of agent intent and behavior can be achieved, but productivity and time efficiency deteriorate significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveagent intent analysis accuracyVSAvoidsurveillance data analysis throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical analysis with automated computational systems that process surveillance data through algorithms. The system automatically tracks agent movements, analyzes behavior patterns, and identifies anomalies without human intervention, thereby maintaining measurement precision while dramatically improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically analyzing surveillance data, generating reports, and identifying anomalies without requiring manual operations. The automated behavior analysis system processes data independently, eliminating the need for human analysts to manually review footage while maintaining analytical accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If computational automated analysis is implemented, then productivity and processing speed improve, but measurement precision and accuracy of behavior analysis deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurveillance data processing throughputVSAvoidbehavior analysis accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where computational analysis results are continuously refined through iterative processing. The behavior analysis system uses feedback loops to verify and correct automated detections, ensuring high measurement precision while maintaining high productivity through automated operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs parameter changes by dynamically adjusting analysis parameters and thresholds based on the surveillance data being processed. The system adapts its computational parameters in real-time to optimize both processing speed and measurement precision, resolving the contradiction between automated efficiency and analytical accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If detailed behavior analysis is performed to identify anomalous actions, then measurement precision of suspicious behavior detection improves, but device complexity and computational resources required increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanomalous behavior detection accuracyVSAvoidanalysis system computational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the complex behavior analysis task into distinct modular components: tracking module, behavior analysis module, anomaly detection module, and reporting module. This segmentation allows detailed analysis of anomalous behaviors while maintaining manageable system complexity through independent, specialized components that can be processed sequentially.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-processing surveillance data to identify and filter out normal behaviors before detailed analysis. The system performs preliminary screening to isolate only the most suspicious actions for in-depth examination, reducing the computational burden while maintaining high detection precision for anomalous behaviors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8959042B1Methods and systems for estimating subject cost from surveillance

Publication Date: 2015.02.17 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A computer-based method for analyzing the costs of agent's behaviors is described. The method includes storing data relating to a previously observed behavior of at least one of an agent of interest and at least one agent that can be assumed to hold similar utilities to the agent of interest, such that an agent class is defined, deriving with a processing device and based on the stored data, a resolving utility function, and observing a sequence of behavior of the agent of interest. The method also includes inputting the observed behavior sequence to an analyzer, deriving with a processing device and based on the observed sequence of behavior, a set of costs that the agent of interest incurred for their observed behavior, and comparing the resolving utility function derived from stored data to the set of costs derived from the observed sequence of behavior to determine anomalous behavior.