Video Group Detection for Social Distance Alerting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems struggle to effectively identify and manage groups of people in video sequences, particularly in dynamic environments, and fail to take appropriate automated actions based on predefined criteria.

Innovation Solution

An analysis system that utilizes image and object tracking engines to detect and group people in video frames, applying machine learning-based threshold criteria to determine when groups should be formed or dispersed, and performs automated actions such as alerts or guidance when predefined conditions are met.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If automated actions are performed based on group detection, then operational efficiency and security are enhanced, but false alerts may occur when people naturally cluster together

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of group detectionVSAvoidcomplexity of analysis system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by training the machine learning model with historical video data before actual group detection. The model learns patterns of natural clustering versus actual group formation in advance, enabling it to distinguish between these scenarios during runtime without requiring complex real-time analysis rules

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback mechanisms where the machine learning model continuously improves its group detection accuracy by learning from detected patterns. The model adjusts its parameters based on feedback from training data, enabling it to differentiate between natural clustering and actual groups that require alerts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If machine learning-based criteria are used to determine group formation, then detection accuracy improves, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of group identificationVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs computationally intensive machine learning model training in advance before actual group detection operations. By pre-processing and learning from historical data beforehand, the system reduces real-time processing requirements while maintaining high detection precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a trained machine learning model that has learned from copies of historical video data. Instead of analyzing raw video data in real-time, the system applies the pre-trained model which has captured the essential patterns, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If the system monitors all people in video sequences, then comprehensive security coverage is achieved, but difficulty in distinguishing actual groups from natural clusters increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of automated actionsVSAvoiddifficulty of group distinction
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual or rule-based group detection mechanisms with a machine learning-based automated system. The machine learning model automatically learns to distinguish between natural clustering and actual groups by analyzing patterns in video data, eliminating the need for complex manual detection rules and improving both efficiency and accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4154170B1Group identification and monitoring
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 ALARM COM INC
  • EP4154170B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4154170B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4154170B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for group identification and monitoring. The methods, systems, and apparatus include actions of determining, using one or more first frames of a video sequence, that two people each of whom is depicted in at least one of the first frames satisfy a grouping criteria that indicates that the two people should be grouped for video analysis, determining, using one or more second frames of the video sequence at least some of which were captured after the one or more first frames and which depict at least one of the two people, that the two people satisfy a degrouping criteria that indicates that the two people should not be grouped for video analysis, determining that a physical distance between the two people violates a distance criteria, and providing an alert that the distance criteria is violated.