Abstract: A solution for monitoring an area while accounting for camera motion and/or monitoring tasks is provided. For example, a physical area corresponding to a new field of view can be estimated for a camera for which motion is detected. The physical area can be estimated using a set of reference images previously captured by the camera, each of which comprises a unique field of view previously captured by the camera. Based on the physical area, a status for a monitoring task of the camera (e.g., an alert) can be updated and/or a location of an area for the monitoring task within an image captured by the camera can be updated. Further, based on the update(s), a field of view for a second camera can be automatically adjusted and/or a status for the monitoring task on the second camera can be automatically updated.

Abstract: A solution for monitoring an area is provided. At least one image of a physical area corresponding to a line is obtained and a set of hypotheses are evaluated based on the image(s). For one or more hypotheses, an estimated length of the line is extracted, and an estimated line length is generated based on the estimated length(s) and the corresponding evaluation(s) of the set of hypotheses. In this manner, a length of a line of people, customers, vehicles, and/or the like, can be estimated. The estimation can be stored for later use, utilized to generate one or more alerts, and/or the like. The invention also provides for the use of a single camera to monitor multiple lines and/or perform other monitoring functions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the measurement of attributes of a queue.

Abstract: The present invention provides an item scanning system in which an appearance of an item is received (e.g., at checkout). The appearance is captured with an image capture device (e.g., still frame camera, video camera, etc.) that can be collocated with a barcode scanner. In being collocated, the image capture device can be positioned proximate (e.g., near, attached to, etc.) the bar code scanner, integrated within a common housing/unit with the barcode scanner, etc. In any event, a search engine will then search a database of items based on the appearance to identify a set of items that potentially match the item. When one of the set of items is selected (e.g., by the checkout clerk), the selection will be received and stored for future investigation/auditing.

Abstract: A novel system and method of treating the output of moving cameras, in particular ones that enable the application of conventional “static camera” algorithms, e.g., to enable the continuous vigilance of computer surveillance technology to be applied to moving cameras that cover a wide area. According to the invention, a single camera is deployed to cover an area that might require many static cameras and a corresponding number of processing units. A novel system for processing the main video sufficiently enables long-term change detection, particularly the observation that a static object has been moved or has appeared, for instance detecting the parking and departure of vehicles in a parking lot, the arrival of trains in stations, delivery of goods, arrival and dispersal of people, or any other application.

Abstract: Demographic and transaction data are presented in a report usable for marketing-related purposes and other applications using a camera apparatus to capture customer image data at a point-of-sale location and sends the image data to a customer image database where the image data is stored. Demographic data (such as gender, age group, height) are extracted from the customer image data and sent to the customer image database. Point-of-sale transaction data is collected and sent to a transaction database where the transaction data is stored. A computer processes customer image data, transaction data, and attributes relating to the customer image data and transaction data, to correlate extracted demographic data to transaction data. The correlated data is preferably sent to a target marketing database and used to generate a market research report.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, system, and program product for presenting electronic surveillance data. One method according to the invention includes identifying a point to be surveyed; establishing a schedule at which the point will be surveyed; capturing a first image of the point; storing the first image; capturing a second image of the point; storing the second image; highlighting a difference between the first and second images; and presenting the first and second images to a user.

Abstract: A novel system and method of treating the output of moving cameras, in particular ones that enable the application of conventional “static camera” algorithms, e.g., to enable the continuous vigilance of computer surveillance technology to be applied to moving cameras that cover a wide area. According to the invention, a single camera is deployed to cover an area that might require many static cameras and a corresponding number of processing units. A novel system for processing the main video sufficiently enables long-term change detection, particularly the observation that a static object has been moved or has appeared, for instance detecting the parking and departure of vehicles in a parking lot, the arrival of trains in stations, delivery of goods, arrival and dispersal of people, or any other application.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method, system, and program product for detecting an event that includes receiving at least one data input stream from one or more sensors, selecting a data input stream from one of the one or more sensors, recording the data input stream on a recordable medium, specifying a rule comprising an event in the data input stream, and detecting at least one event in the data input stream based upon the rule.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide a solution for resolving an occlusion in a video image. Specifically, an embodiment of the present invention provides an environment in which portions of a video image in which occlusions have occurred may be determined and analyzed to determine the type of occlusion. Furthermore, regions of the video image may be analyzed to determine which object in the occlusion the region belongs to. The determinations and analysis may use such factors as pre-determined attributes of an object, such as color or texture of the object and/or a temporal association of the object, among others.

Abstract: A system, method and program product for providing a video surveillance system that enhances object detection by utilizing feedback from a tracking system to an object detection system. A system is provided that includes: a moving object detection system for detecting moving objects in a video input; an object tracking system for tracking a detected moving object in successive time instants; and a tracker feedback system for feeding tracking information from the object tracking system to the moving object detection system to enhance object detection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the measurement of human activities through video, particularly in retail environments. A method for measuring retail display effectiveness in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: detecting a moving object in a field of view of an imaging device, the imaging device obtaining image data of a product display; tracking the object in the field of view of the imaging device to obtain a track; and obtaining statistics for the track with regard to the product display.

Abstract: An approach that manages moving surveillance cameras is described. In one embodiment, there is a system for managing images generated from a movable camera. In this embodiment, the system comprises a motion estimation component configured to determine camera motion. A camera motion alert component is configured to generate an alert in response to a determination that the camera has moved or the camera has ceased moving.

Abstract: An improved solution for detecting events in video is provided, in which a region of interest within a series of video images of the video is monitored. An object at least partially visible within the series of video images is tracked and a fiducial region of the object is identified. The fiducial region is one or more points and/or area(s) of the object, which are relevant in determining whether an alert should be generated. The fiducial region is monitored with respect to the region of interest and a restricted behavior. When the restricted behavior is detected with respect to the region of interest, an alert is generated.

Abstract: Demographic and transaction data are presented in a report usable for marketing-related purposes and other applications using a camera apparatus to capture customer image data at a point-of-sale location and sends the image data to a customer image database where the image data is stored. Demographic data (such as gender, age group, height) are extracted from the customer image data and sent to the customer image database. Point-of-sale transaction data is collected and sent to a transaction database where the transaction data is stored. A computer processes customer image data, transaction data, and attributes relating to the customer image data and transaction data, to correlate extracted demographic data to transaction data. The correlated data is preferably sent to a target marketing database and used to generate a market research report.

Abstract: The system and method obscures descriptive image information about one or more images. The system comprises a selector for selecting the descriptive image information from one or more of the images, a transformer that transforms the descriptive information into a transformed state, and an authorizer that provides authorization criteria with the image. In a preferred embodiment, the transformed state is the respective image encoded with the descriptive information. The descriptive information can be obscured so that the descriptive information in the transformed state can be decoded only if one or more authorization inputs satisfy the authorization criteria.

Abstract: A system and method reduces the amount of variation in a fingerprint image due to distortion from elastic deformation of the finger surface and projection onto a planar coordinate system. The amount and extent of distortion is estimated, and the process is inverted in a systematic way, so that the amount of distortion is minimized, and the distortion present is consistent, so that different images of the same print will have very similar distortion and thus matching of the fingerprints will be reliable and unaffected by the distortion.

Abstract: A system and method use computer image processing for setting the parameters for an image acquisition device of a camera. The image parameters are set automatically by analyzing the image to be taken, and setting the controls according to the subject matter, in the same manner as an expert photographer would be able to. The system can run in a fully automatic mode choosing the best image parameters, or a “guided mode” where the user is prompted with choices where a number of alternate settings would be reasonable.