Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling access from a first area to a second area includes receiving an identity signal from an identifier input device, and checking for stored data indicating that the identity represented by the identity signal is registered as present in the first area. If a predetermined access requirement is fulfilled, then a pass signal at the first access controller is generated. To control access from the second area to a third area, an enter message is sent to a second controller with at least the identity and data indicating that the identity is present in an access area of the second controller. An exit message is sent to a third controller controlling access to the first area, including at least the identity and data indicating that the identity is not present in an access area of the third controller.

Abstract: A method for compensating hardware misalignments in a camera is presented. The camera includes a maneuverable part and a fixed part, and the maneuverable part is controlled by a steering motor system. In a first step of the method mechanical coordinates from the steering motor system is received, wherein the mechanical coordinates correspond to a pan and tilt position, the pan and tilt position having a complementary pan and tilt position. Next, pre-determined calibration data corresponding to the received mechanical coordinates is read from a memory wherein the pre-determined calibration data describes a relationship between a pan and tilt position and a complementary pan and tilt position, and then compensated coordinates are determined based upon the received mechanical coordinates and the pre-determined calibration data.

Abstract: A processor and associated methodology employ a SIMD architecture and instruction set to efficiently perform video analytics operation on images. The processor contains a group of SIMD instructions used by the method to implement video analytic filters that avoid bit expansion of the pixels to be filtered. The filters hold the number of bits representing a pixel constant throughout the entire operation, conserving processor capacity and throughput when performing video analytics.

Abstract: A method for buffering an alarm video sequence includes receiving input image frames from an input video stream comprising full image frames and differential image frames, storing the received input image frames, and generating an output alarm video sequence by combining at least one full image frame with the input image frames stored in the buffer. The full image frame may be inserted as a first image frame in the output alarm video sequence.

Abstract: An integrated Internet camera includes, as embedded components contained within the camera body and controlled by a microcontroller, at least a network interface device for connecting to the Internet, a transport control device for packetizing according to Internet protocols, a file transfer device for communicating with a destination user directory on the Internet, and a transmission initiating device for initiating the connection and transfer operations of the file transfer device and transport control device. The network interface device may be a modem, network adapter, or adapter for connection to the Internet. Upon capturing the digital image, the camera initiates a connection to the Internet, connects to the destination user directory, and uploads the digital images. Thereafter, the digital images are available to authorized (or any) user having access to the Internet.

Abstract: A method and a camera provide an estimation of a mean signal to noise ratio value for an output image comprising a number of pixels, wherein each pixel of the output image has a pixel value. An image histogram divided into bins, the image histogram having information regarding the distribution of pixel values among the pixels of the output image. Each bin has a set of pixels having pixel values within a predetermined range. For each bin of the image histogram, a signal to noise ratio value of that bin may be attributed and weighted with the number of pixels in the set of pixels of that bin. The weighted signal to noise ratio values of the bins are summed, and the sum may then be divided by the total number of pixels of the output image or the total number of pixels in the bins of the image histogram.

Abstract: A method for facilitating color balance synchronization between a plurality of video cameras within a system of video cameras includes detecting an object in a video sequence captured by a video camera in the system, determining an object color histogram for the detected object, updating a camera specific reference color histogram using the determined object color histogram, and determining one or more camera specific color histogram compensation coefficients by comparing the camera specific reference color histogram with a system reference color histogram. A system for facilitating color balance synchronization between a plurality of video cameras includes a video camera being connectable to a network of video cameras.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a camera for determining an image adjustment parameter. The method includes receiving a plurality of images representing an image view, detecting from the plurality of images events of a specific event type, identifying a location within the image view where the event of the specific type is present, determining a presence value of each of the identified locations, and determining an image adjustment parameter based on data from an adjustment location within the image view. The adjustment location is determined based on the presence value in each location of a plurality of locations within the image view.

Abstract: A method for determining a tilt of an image sensor surface plane in a camera in relation to a lens reference plane of the camera includes sending light onto the image sensor, receiving light reflected from the image sensor, identifying an interference pattern in the reflected light, identifying a feature of the interference pattern, and determining the tilt of the image sensor surface plane based on a position of the feature identified in the interference pattern.

Abstract: An integrated Internet camera includes, an infrared sensor, an optical system for forming an image on the infrared sensor and lenses formed from infrared transmitting material, an image capturing circuit, for capturing digital images from the infrared sensor; a network interface device connectible to a computer network for transmission of the digital images, as digital image files, across the computer network. A file transfer device of the camera communicates, via the network interface device, with a destination computer at a selected network address on the computer network, and transfers the digital image files to the destination computer according to a predetermined file transfer protocol. A transport control device of the camera controls addressing of the digital image files to the selected network address. The camera self-initiates a connection with the computer network and a connection with the destination computer at the selected network address.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes recording units for recording sequences of monitoring data and a system control station. In the system control station, timing information related to each sequence of monitoring data recorded by the recording units is obtained. The timing information indicates a start time and a stop time for each sequence. A recording unit selection signal is received that indicates a selected recording unit. The timing information is processed together with the recording unit selection signal, and a graphic representation of the start and stop times for a subset of the sequences of monitoring data is displayed using a first graphic characteristic. Further, a graphic representation of the start and stop times for each sequence of monitoring data recorded by the selected recording unit is displayed using a second graphic characteristic that is different from the first graphic characteristic.

Abstract: A method for decreasing the risk of monitoring data failing to be stored includes periodically sending a test message from the monitoring device to a Networked Storage Device, NSD, generating an NSD fail signal in the monitoring device if events following the sending of the test message indicates that the NSD is not operating properly, and sending, in response to the NSD fail signal, a fail message from the monitoring device for detection outside housing of monitoring device.

Abstract: Performance control of a video monitoring system (100) is described. The system (100) comprises system units including at least one camera (114) and a performance control station (120). A method comprises providing, in the performance control station (120), a visual output signal. Image data that have been recorded by a first camera (114) are then obtained, and the obtained image data is analyzed in relation to the visual output signal. The analysis results in a performance indicator for the system (100). Depending on the performance indicator, a performance control action associated with the system (100) is then performed by the performance control station (120).

Abstract: A method for configuring a plurality of networked cameras includes sending a request to the plurality of networked cameras requesting information relating to enabled storage type of each networked camera, receiving a response from networked cameras. The response includes information relating to storage type enabled in networked camera. The method further includes determining storage type to use for each networked camera that are enabled to autonomously store images at a storage means, where the determining of storage type is performed based on the information relating to enabled storage types received from these networked cameras, and sending a storage instruction to each camera for which a storage type has been determined. The storage instruction instructs a camera to store captured images on a storage means of a specific type.

Abstract: A method is used for encoding digital video data corresponding to a sequence of original input video frames. The method comprises: encoding a first original input video frame into an INTER-frame; decoding and reconstructing said INTER-frame into a reference frame; creating an INTRA input frame comprising information from both a second original input video frame and said reference frame; and encoding said INTRA input frame into an INTRA-frame. A digital video encoder system is used for encoding digital video data corresponding to a sequence of original input video frames by encoding the sequence of original input video frames using INTRA- and INTER-mode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including cameras and computer program products, implementing and using techniques for determining a temperature of a distant object in several temperature measurement points. A thermal image sensor measures thermal radiation from a distant object in several thermal measurement points on the object. A distance determination device includes an image sensor and calculates a distance to the object in several distance measurement points. A thermal image indicating an amount of thermal radiation from each thermal measurement point on the object is captured by the thermal image sensor. Reflected light from the object is captured by the image sensor. Several distances are calculated using the captured light. Each distance indicates a distance from the image sensor to a distance measurement point on the object. The data from the thermal image and the calculated distances are combined to determine a temperature in several temperature measurement points on the object.

Abstract: A method for restricting access to media data generated by a camera comprising: setting a non-public initial user key, KICU, in the camera, providing a user client with the initial user key, KICU, establishing an authenticated relation between the user client and the camera by sending an authentication message including information based on the initial user key, KICU, from the user client to the camera, checking if an operational user key (KOCU) is set in the camera, and performing, in response to the act of checking if the operational user key (KOCU) is set in the camera, the acts a)-d) only if the operational user key (KOCU) is not set: a) acquiring an operational user key (KOCU), b) setting the operational user key (KOCU) in the camera, c) sending the operational user key (KOCU) to the user client, and d) indicating in the camera that the operational user key (KOCU) is set.

Abstract: An illumination device and method for illuminating a scene monitored by a camera uses a plurality of light emitting elements and an illumination control unit. The illumination control unit is arranged to individually control the output intensity of the plurality of light emitting elements based on a camera view direction setting, such that illumination is provided in a view direction of the camera.

Abstract: A pan-tilt camera is arranged to include a camera head, a stationary unit, an intermediate member arranged between the camera head and the stationary unit, a first rotary joint rotatably connecting the camera head to the intermediate member, and a second rotary joint, rotatably connecting the intermediate member to the stationary unit. A communication path is provided between the camera head and the stationary unit, including an optical waveguide arranged between the camera head and the stationary unit. The optical waveguide has a first end positioned at the first rotary joint to receive light from the camera head through the first rotary joint. The other end of the waveguide is positioned at the second rotary joint and is arranged to send light to the stationary unit through the second rotary joint.

Abstract: A dome window for a surveillance camera device includes a first section and a second section. The first section is joined to the second section along a joint in which a joint end of the first section is attached to a joint end of the second section. A light absorber is arranged in or on the joint.