Video Analytics Module for Emergency Exit Blockage Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing video surveillance systems lack effective methods to identify and notify users of blockages in emergency exits and escape routes within buildings, which is crucial for ensuring safety during emergencies.

Innovation Solution

A video surveillance system equipped with a video analytics module that uses stereoscopic video cameras to capture and analyze video streams, defining regions of interest around emergency exits and detecting stationary objects blocking these areas, and notifies users via mobile devices with real-time alerts and images of the blockage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If video surveillance systems use traditional monitoring methods, then system complexity is reduced, but the ability to detect blockages in emergency exits is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblockage detection capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a video analytics module as an intermediary component between the video camera and the monitoring system. This module automatically analyzes video feeds to detect blockages in emergency exits, transforming raw video data into actionable alerts without requiring complex manual monitoring procedures. The intermediary module handles the complexity of blockage detection internally while presenting a simple alert-based interface to users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The video analytics module performs self-service by automatically detecting blockages and generating notifications without human intervention. The system autonomously processes video streams, identifies obstructions in emergency exits, and sends alerts to appropriate personnel, eliminating the need for continuous manual surveillance while maintaining high detection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If video surveillance systems implement real-time blockage detection, then safety monitoring is improved, but response time requirements increase system demands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety monitoringVSAvoidnotification delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The video analytics module operates continuously, processing video feeds in real-time without interruption. This continuous monitoring ensures that blockages are detected immediately upon occurrence, maintaining constant safety surveillance. The system processes every frame of the video stream, ensuring no blockage event goes undetected, thereby eliminating notification delays while maintaining reliable safety monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If video surveillance systems use stereoscopic cameras and video analytics, then blockage detection precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblockage detection precisionVSAvoidcamera and analytics complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs stereoscopic video cameras that capture video feeds from multiple dimensions or angles. By utilizing depth information and spatial relationships from multi-dimensional video data, the system achieves precise blockage detection. The video analytics module processes these multi-dimensional feeds to accurately identify obstructions, leveraging dimensional information to enhance detection precision while managing the complexity through specialized analytics algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12177758B2Systems and methods for identifying blockages of emergency exists in a building
Publication Date: 2024.12.24 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • US12177758B2 patent drawing
  • US12177758B2 patent drawing
  • US12177758B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods and systems for monitoring blockages of emergency escape routes and emergency exits of a building include capturing a plurality of images which may correspond to an emergency escape route and/or an emergency exit of a building. The plurality of images may be analyzed to determine when a stationary object is present and at least partially blocking the emergency escape route and/or the emergency exit. If a blockage is detected, a user may be notified of the blockage.