Virtual Mask for Static Motion Filtering in Auto-Tracking Cameras
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated video tracking systems in surveillance cameras often issue false alarms due to static movement, such as flags waving or trees swaying, which can confuse the system and lead to inefficiencies in tracking actual suspicious targets, as existing systems fail to effectively filter out static motion when using motion masks.
Innovation Solution
A surveillance camera system that employs a virtual mask to identify and filter out static movement, allowing for a flexible and transformable masking system that reduces the impact of static motion on object tracking, enabling accurate tracking of moving objects of interest by modifying the motion mask with a virtual mask defined over areas of static motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a motion mask is used to identify moving objects in the field of view, then the system can automatically track objects, but the system issues false alarms when detecting static movement such as flags waving or trees swaying
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the field of view into multiple zones or regions, allowing the system to treat different areas differently. By segmenting the motion mask into distinct zones, the system can identify static movement patterns in specific regions (such as flags or trees in known locations) and exclude them from triggering false alarms, while still detecting actual moving objects of interest.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis by comparing current images with stored reference images or historical data to identify areas that normally exhibit static movement patterns. By pre-characterizing these static movement zones, the system can filter them out during real-time tracking, preventing false alarms before they occur.
2Productivity
If the camera field of view is adjusted to track objects, then the system can maintain focus on moving objects, but the presence of static movement causes inefficiency and confusion in tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing layer between the camera and the tracking algorithm. This intermediary component (the enhanced motion mask system) acts as a filter that processes raw motion data and removes static movement artifacts before the tracking algorithm receives the data, thereby preventing time-consuming interruptions caused by static movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors tracking performance and uses feedback mechanisms to detect when static movement is interfering with object tracking. When interference is detected, the system adjusts the motion mask parameters or triggers a re-evaluation of the tracking target, thereby correcting efficiency losses in real-time.
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed mask shape is used for privacy masking, then the implementation is simple, but the mask cannot adapt to dynamic camera movements and zooming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed mask shape into a dynamic structure that automatically adjusts its position, size, and shape parameters in response to camera movements. The mask system incorporates PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) camera parameters to dynamically recalculate and reposition the mask boundaries, ensuring continuous adaptability to changing camera views without complex manual reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The enhanced mask system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides privacy masking, identifies static movement zones, and adapts to camera movements. By making the mask system multi-functional and universally applicable across different camera states, the patent eliminates the need for separate fixed mask implementations while maintaining simplicity in the overall system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
A surveillance camera system includes a camera that acquires images and that has an adjustable field of view. A processing device is operably coupled to the camera. The processing device allows a user to define a virtual mask within the acquired images. The processing device also tracks a moving object of interest in the acquired images with a reduced level of regard for areas of the acquired images that are within the virtual mask.