Patents Assigned to Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
  • Publication number: 20190010750
    Abstract: Techniques for an autonomous mobile unmanned machine such as an unmanned aerial vehicle or drone or a robot to access a closed door are described. The techniques include programming the autonomous mobile unmanned machine to pass through a particular location within a facility that has one or more doors, and sense by the autonomous mobile unmanned machines a beacon signal emanating from a beacon deployed in proximity to a first one of the one or more doors in the facility, by receiving the beacon signal by a receiver device on the autonomous mobile unmanned machines. The techniques send a message to either a server or an access control system when the autonomous mobile unmanned machines determines that it needs access through the door at the specified location identified by the beacon and receives a message from either the server or the access control system that the door has been unlocked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Allessandro Scanu, Ania Vinogradova, James Murphy, Christopher Cianciolo
  • Patent number: 10162043
    Abstract: Systems and methods for uniquely identifying areas within a facility for location services. The methods involve: operating a plurality of beacons disposed within the facility; emitting, from a first beacon of the plurality of beacons, a first beam having a first beamwidth in a manner so as to communicate at least a unique identification code associated with a first physical area of the facility; changing a value for a beamwidth parameter to modify an area of coverage for the first beacon; and emitting, from the first beacon, a second beam having a second beamwidth in a manner so as to communicate at least the unique identification code associated with the first area of the facility, where the second beamwidth is different from the first beamwidth. The changing is performed autonomously by the first beacon or in response to the first beacon's reception of a command from a remote beacon receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-Michel G. Simon, Michael Sansur
  • Patent number: 10158550
    Abstract: An access control system and method for monitoring an access point are disclosed. Preferably, a positioning unit of the system includes a primary antenna and a directional antenna that determine close proximity of users to the access point while also allowing the system to continuously monitor the locations of the users. The primary antenna preferentially receives wireless signals sent from user devices (e.g. mobile phones, fobs) of the users while the directional antenna receives the wireless signals within a threshold area of the access point. The system authorizes users to enter each access point by matching user information of the users extracted from the wireless signals to locally stored user information for the users, and determining that the matched user information is referenced within locally stored authorization information indicating which users can access the access point. The system can pre-authorize the users as they approach the threshold area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: James Trani
  • Patent number: 10152860
    Abstract: A surveillance system and method with at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, including the steps of providing the base system; at least one user accessing the DIR via user interface either directly or remotely; the DIR and/or ICD searching for signal from the ICD(s) and establishing communication with them, and the system providing for input capture and data transmission prioritization, thereby providing a secure surveillance system having wireless communication for monitoring a target environment with prioritization capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatics Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Martin A. Renkis
  • Patent number: 10097795
    Abstract: A video recorder cluster for use in a video surveillance system includes multiple recorder nodes that can each participate in processing of user-specified operations such as playback, recording, and analysis of the video streams. The video recorder cluster determines the required resources for processing the video data of streams, determines the available resources on each of the recorder nodes, and forwards the video data of the streams to recorder nodes that either include the required resources or include a preferred set of available resources in accordance with the required resources. The video recorder cluster presents a single cluster address for client user devices to access the resources of the video recorder cluster, thereby enabling the video recorder cluster to appear as a single virtual network video recorder to clients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: James Trani
  • Patent number: 10070077
    Abstract: A system and method for automated operation of a camera system is disclosed. A positioning system moves the camera system to a field of view to search for objects or events of interest to track. If objects or events of interest are detected prior to the expiration of a dwell timer, the dwell timer is interrupted and tracking of the objects or events of interest is initiated. To prevent the security camera from being distracted indefinitely by unimportant objects, the positioning system changes the field of view of the security system upon expiration of a track timer. Alternatively, if the security camera does not identify an object to track prior to expiration of a dwell timer, then the positioning system changes the field of view of the camera system to search for other objects or events of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Ian Westmacott
  • Patent number: 10057546
    Abstract: Systems and methods for virtualized computing or cloud-computing network with distributed input devices and at least one remote server computer for automatically analyzing received video, audio and/or image inputs for providing social security and/or surveillance for a surveillance environment, surveillance event, and/or surveillance target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Martin A. Renkis
  • Patent number: 10044932
    Abstract: A wide angle, e.g., fisheye, surveillance, e.g., security, camera comprises an offsetting mechanism for offsetting a center of the image sensor relative to an optical axis of the fisheye lens system. Often when fisheye cameras are wall mounted a substantial area of the image may be dedicated to looking at sky or ceiling. A similar situation can arise when a fisheye camera is ceiling mounted next to a wall or other structure. Portions of the image will be unchanging and of little value for surveillance. The camera provides the capability to offset the lens system relative to the image sensor. In examples, this offset is performed as a factory manufacture or calibration step. In other examples, the offset is performed as an adjustment in the field at the time of installation or thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Walter A. Martin
  • Patent number: 10043105
    Abstract: A method and system for analyzing video data in a security system. An analysis compares a current frame to a background model. The analysis system compares the background model to the current frame to identify changed pixel patches. The analysis system uses morphological image processing to generate masks based on the changed pixel patches. Next, the analysis system applies the masks to the background model and the current frames to determine whether the changed pixel patches are characteristic of abandoned or removed objects within the video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Changchun Li, Ian Westmacott, Mirko Ristivojevic, Matthew A. Gruenke
  • Patent number: 10038833
    Abstract: The present invention provides a video surveillance system, having a video camera; a motor operable to move the video camera; and a processor monitoring a value of a signal provided to the motor, the processor terminating the signal to the motor when the monitored signal value exceeds a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time. A network may be coupled to the processor for communication of the signal termination. The processor may reinitiate a signal transmission to the motor sufficient to maintain a position of the motor after a predetermined period of time, and the processor may monitor the signal transmission and adjust at least one of a zoom setting and focus setting of the video camera based at least in part on the monitored signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas F. Berkey, Lawrence R. Mills
  • Patent number: 10013826
    Abstract: An identity token based access control system and method is disclosed. A distributed security system that manages access to business and/or governmental entities creates an identity credential for a user and obtains or generates a globally unique identity token for the user, and loads the identity credential and the identity token onto a user device. The user then presents the user device including the identity credential and the identity token to an access control system (ACS) of the security system of the business entity that generated the identity token to obtain access to its security system, or to an ACS of a security system of one or more third party business entities that support the use of identity tokens to obtain access to the security systems of the third party business entities. The identity tokens are preferably random numbers or strings. The identity credentials typically include biometric information for users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Jason M. Ouellette
  • Patent number: 9986010
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling video and/or audio streams between a client and server over a communications channel is disclosed that utilizes an application layer streaming communications protocol that includes features of current pull and push style application layer streaming protocols. Using the streaming protocol, client applications on user devices such as web browsers send request messages for streams, where the request messages specify a variable number of data packets of the streams for the server to send. Each of the data packets include one or more frames, or frame data, of the streams. The streaming server then “pushes” the requested number of data packets of the streams, and the client application can adjust the number of data packets for the server to send in subsequent stream request messages to optimize the bandwidth of the communications channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: James Trani, Andrew Furtado, Teresa J. Seeley
  • Patent number: 9965680
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring sensors via surveillance cameras is disclosed. In the system, surveillance cameras generating image data of scenes, where the sensors are included in the scenes. The sensors detect information concerning the scenes and encode the information so that it can be derived from the image data. Preferably, the sensors encode the information concerning the scenes by modulating a visible light source, the signals of which are captured within the image data by the cameras. An analytics system then analyzes the image data and decodes the information from the sensors encoded within the image data. Preferably, an integrated analytics system of the cameras executes the analysis. Exemplary sensors include sensors for detecting temperature, moisture, audio/voice, and product selection in a retail premises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Burke, Kenneth Miller
  • Patent number: 9965684
    Abstract: A system and method for analyzing queues in frames of video enables operators to preferably draw three regions of interest overlaid upon the video as short, medium, and long queue regions that form a notional queue area within the video. The regions are drawn with knowledge of, or in anticipation of, foreground objects such as individuals and vehicles waiting for service in a queue. Examples include retail point of sale locations or for automated teller machine (ATM) transactions. In conjunction with a video analytics system that analyzes the movement of the foreground objects relative to the queue regions, the system determines the number of objects occupying each queue region, length of the queue, and other queue-related statistics. The system can then create reports and send messages that include the queue analysis results for directing operators to change their staffing resources as part of a real-time queue servicing and optimization response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Ian Westmacott, Changchun Li
  • Patent number: 9955073
    Abstract: A system providing a graphical user interface incorporating fisheye image data captured by a first camera using a fisheye lens is provided. The system includes a buffer configured to receive the fisheye image data corresponding to a monitored area. A processor is in communication with the buffer. The fisheye image data is transformed into panoramic view data corresponding to a panoramic view of the monitored area using a panoramic transformation process. The fisheye image data is transformed into virtual view data corresponding to a partial view of the panoramic view using a virtual view transformation process different from the panoramic view transformation process. The panoramic view data and the virtual view data are encoded for display in the graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence R. Mills
  • Patent number: 9947155
    Abstract: An access control system and method for monitoring a public access point are disclosed. The system includes a positioning unit that tracks locations of users carrying user devices relative to the public access point, where the user devices transmit user information identifying the users via wireless signals. The system determines whether the users are authorized to pass through the access point based on the wireless signals from the user devices. Public access points include security checkpoints at government buildings, airports, amusement parks, and universities, in examples. In embodiments, biometric identifiers are obtained from the users when the users are preferably located within a threshold area of the public access points, and the system confirms the identity of the authorized users via the biometric identifiers to enable the users to pass through the public access points. Additionally, the system can assist in evacuation of users based on their tracked locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: James Trani
  • Patent number: 9886634
    Abstract: An analytical device is disclosed that analyzes whether a first image is similar to (or the same as) as a second image. The analytical device analyzes the first image by combining at least a part (or all) of the first image with at least a part (or all) of the second image, and by analyzing at least a part (or all) of the combined image. Part or all of the combination may be analyzed with respect to the abstraction of the first image and/or the abstraction of the second image. The abstraction may be based on a Bag of Features (BoF) description, based on a histogram of intensity values, or based on other types of abstraction methodologies. The analysis may involve comparing one or more aspects of the combination (such as the entropy or randomness of the combination) with the one or more aspects of the abstracted first image and/or abstracted second image. Based on the comparison, the analytical device may determine whether the first image is similar to or the same as the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Kuntal Sengupta, Ian Westmacott, Serdar Ince
  • Patent number: 9881216
    Abstract: An integrated surveillance system combining video surveillance and data from other sensor-based security networks is used to identify activities that may require attention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher J. Buehler
  • Patent number: 9865144
    Abstract: A system and method for video recognition of users in a frictionless access control system are disclosed. The access control system includes a positioning unit that tracks locations of users carrying user devices relative to an access point of a premises, where the user devices transmit user information identifying the users via wireless signals. The system determines whether the users are authorized to pass through the access point based on the wireless signals from the user devices. One or more video cameras also capture video data of the users when the users are preferably located within a threshold area of the access point. Then, the system confirms the identity of each authorized user by comparing video identification information of the user determined from the video data, such as facial recognition information, to stored video identification information for each user. Confirmed users can then pass through the access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: James Trani
  • Patent number: D833899
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Randy Zirk, Gopal Chandramowle