Abstract: The filtering tasks that are conventionally applied in a video monitoring application, to distinguish images that may be relevant to the application, are distributed to the image source, or near-source devices. Source devices, such as cameras and playback devices, and near-source devices, such as video concentrators and streaming devices, are configured to include video processing tools that can be used to pre-filter the image data to identify frames or segments of frames that include image information that is likely to be relevant to the receiving video monitoring application. In this manner, the receiving processor need not spend time and resources processing images that are pre-determined to be irrelevant to the receiving application.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting personal distress and gesture commands in security video are provided. Some methods can include receiving a sequence of images from a video device monitoring a secured area, analyzing the sequence of images to detect a presence of a human in the sequence of images, when the presence of the human is detected in the sequence of images, analyzing the sequence of images to detect one of a plurality of contexts that requires an action in the sequence of images, and when the one of the plurality of contexts that requires the action is detected in the sequence of images, transmitting a signal to execute the action. Each of the plurality of contexts can include a respective act performed by the human or a respective condition of the human irrespective of the human being in motion or being stationary.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a system for automatic configuration of cameras in a Building Information Model (BIM) comprising a programmed BIM processing system. A plurality of input ports are distributed at select locations in the building. A database stores a network location map identifying locations of the input ports. The BIM processing system is operated to detect a camera connected to one of the input ports and reading camera image data; determine possible building areas in the camera's field of view based on location of the one of the input ports and extracting features from the stored building models for the determined possible building areas, and establishing mapping between the camera image data and the extracted features to determine actual location of the camera in the building and store camera location data in the database.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting personal distress and gesture commands in security video are provided. Some methods can include receiving a sequence of images from a video device monitoring a secured area, analyzing the sequence of images to detect a presence of a human in the sequence of images, when the presence of the human is detected in the sequence of images, analyzing the sequence of images to detect one of a plurality of contexts that requires action in the sequence of images, and when the one of the plurality of contexts that requires the action is detected in the sequence of images, transmitting a signal to execute the action. Each of the plurality of contexts can include an act performed by the human or a condition of the human irrespective of the human being in motion or being stationary.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a security system are provided. The method includes the steps of the security system monitoring a secured area, a video camera obtaining images of the secured area, detecting at least one person within the obtained images and identifying a predetermined context associated with the identified at least one person within the obtained images.

Abstract: The filtering tasks that are conventionally applied in a video monitoring application, to distinguish images that may be relevant to the application, are distributed to the image source, or near-source devices. Source devices, such as cameras and playback devices, and near-source devices, such as video concentrators and streaming devices, are configured to include video processing tools that can be used to pre-filter the image data to identify frames or segments of frames that include image information that is likely to be relevant to the receiving video monitoring application. In this manner, the receiving processor need not spend time and resources processing images that are pre-determined to be irrelevant to the receiving application.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting tampering at an automatic teller machine includes detecting start and end indicators of a transaction. A representation of a scene at the teller machine, prior to the start of the transaction can be compared to a representation of the scene after the end of the transaction. Variations therebetween can indicate tampering at the machine.

Abstract: The filtering tasks that are conventionally applied in a video monitoring application, to distinguish images that may be relevant to the application, are distributed to the image source, or near-source devices. Source devices, such as cameras and playback devices, and near-source devices, such as video concentrators and streaming devices, are configured to include video processing tools that can be used to pre-filter the image data to identify frames or segments of frames that include image information that is likely to be relevant to the receiving video monitoring application. In this manner, the receiving processor need not spend time and resources processing images that are pre-determined to be irrelevant to the receiving application.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for updating a user profile in a recommendation system for a given user based on auditory or gestural feedback information provided by the user. The auditory or gestural feedback is detected using audio or video processing techniques, or both, and includes, for example, auditory or gestural commands or facial expressions indicating the strength of the user's preferences. The auditory or gestural feedback can be explicit or implicit. Once predefined behavioral feedback is identified, the present invention updates the corresponding user profile, in an appropriate manner.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a system for automatic configuration of cameras in a Building Information Model (BIM) comprising a programmed BIM processing system. A plurality of input ports are distributed at select locations in the building. A database stores a network location map identifying locations of the input ports. The BIM processing system is operated to detect a camera connected to one of the input ports and reading camera image data; determine possible building areas in the camera's field of view based on location of the one of the input ports and extracting features from the stored building models for the determined possible building areas, and establishing mapping between the camera image data and the extracted features to determine actual location of the camera in the building and store camera location data in the database.

Abstract: A video interface kernel with a defined application program interface includes each of a plurality of core functions for interfacing with video equipment and video processing subsystems. The core functions include such functions as video capture and video output, video recording and playback, and event notification. Functions of the video interface kernel also include video analysis functions and/or interfaces to analysis subsystems, as well as interfaces to point-of-sale terminals, access control systems, and location tracking systems. An intelligent video management module facilitates managing the interactions among the other modules of the kernel, further simplifying the application level interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a security system. The method includes the steps of the security system monitoring a secured area, a video camera obtaining images of the secured area, detecting at least one person within the obtained images and identifying a predetermined context associated with the identified at least one person within the obtained images.

Abstract: A stereo camera system including: a stereo imaging system such as two or more cameras or a camera and a set of angled mirrors, for outputting at least one stereo image; a recognition system for locating an object of interest in the field of view of the stereo imaging system and at least one of a distance of the object of interest from the stereo imaging system and the size of the object of interest; and an adjustor for automatically changing at least one system parameter which affects the spatial resolution of the object of interest based on at least one of the located distance of the object of interest from the stereo imaging system and the size of the object of interest.

Abstract: To calibrate images from an overhead camera, two equal-length reference lines at different heights relative to the floor plane are imaged. By comparing the resultant image-width of each of these lines in the view provided by the camera, the effective focal point of the camera is determined. In a preferred embodiment, a doorframe is used to provide equal-length lines at different heights parallel to the floor. The threshold of the doorway at the floor plane is used as a reference plane, and a parallel calibration line at a known/measured height in the doorway is defined. The image produced by a vertically oriented camera of these two equal length lines will show a longer line at the elevated position, the different widths of the images of these lines being dependent upon the camera's effective focal point. From these two projections of the equal-length lines at different heights, the camera's focal point distance from the reference floor plane is determined.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting tampering at an automatic teller machine includes detecting start and end indicators of a transaction. A representation of a scene at the teller machine, prior to the start of the transaction can be compared to a representation of the scene after the end of the transaction. Variations therebetween can indicate tampering at the machine.

Abstract: An image processing system (250) and method (300) are disclosed for correcting a head pose in a video phone image, so that a frontal view is presented on a display. A disclosed head pose corrector (250) estimates the orientation of a head pose and adjusts the orientation of the head pose, if necessary, to present a frontal view. The orientation of the head pose is adjusted by generating a three dimensional model of the face surface and adjusting the orientation of the three dimensional face model to provide the desired frontal view. The head pose corrector (250) may be included in a video phone (100) to correct the head pose of transmitted or received images (or both) or may be included in a server on a network to automatically adjust the head shots of one or more participants to a video phone communication.

Abstract: A surveillance system allows a user to characterize the user's environment and/or the user s surveillance application, via a selection from among a variety of predefined environments and/or applications. Preferably, the selection is from among a variety of scene configurations, such as the expected number and type of targets in a typical scene, the lighting conditions of the scene, and so on. The selected environments and/or applications effect a determination of the parameters that are used in the various algorithms and processing modules within the surveillance system. Because the selection is preferably from a variety of common scene configurations, no technical skills are required to effect an optimization of the performance of the surveillance system for a particular environment.

Abstract: A video processing and analysis system is coupled to a building management and control system. The video processing system provides traffic, occupancy, and other information derived from video images of sections of the building and its environs to the building management and control systems. The building systems use this information in a variety of business management applications, including maintenance scheduling, asset replacement, elevator dispatching, HVAC and lighting control, and so on, to reduce operational or maintenance costs, expedite emergency procedures, improve service levels of building facilities, and regulate the building's environmental conditions.

Abstract: A surveillance system allows a user to characterize the user's environment and/or the user's surveillance application, via a selection from among a variety of predefined environments and/or applications. Preferably, the selection is from among a variety of scene configurations, such as the expected number and type of targets in a typical scene, the lighting conditions of the scene, and so on. The selected environments and/or applications effect a determination of the parameters that are used in the various algorithms and processing modules within the surveillance system. Because the selection is preferably from a variety of common scene configurations, no technical skills are required to effect an optimization of the performance of the surveillance system for a particular environment.

Abstract: A surveillance system allows a user to characterize the user's environment and/or the user s surveillance application, via a selection from among a variety of predefined environments and/or applications. Preferably, the selection is from among a variety of scene configurations, such as the expected number and type of targets in a typical scene, the lighting conditions of the scene, and so on. The selected environments and/or applications effect a determination of the parameters that are used in the various algorithms and processing modules within the surveillance system. Because the selection is preferably from a variety of common scene configurations, no technical skills are required to effect an optimization of the performance of the surveillance system for a particular environment.