Abstract: A system and method for automatically determining the camera field of view in a camera network. The system has a plurality of spatially separated cameras and direction sensors, carried on respective cameras, configured to measure the angle directions of the field of views of the cameras. Elevation sensors are operably coupled to respective cameras to measure the elevation angles of thereof. A controller is configured to process direction and elevation measurement signals transmitted from the cameras to automatically determine the cameras' fields of views. One or more cameras having a field of view containing or nearby an event of interest can be selected from the determined field of views and indicated to a user via a graphical user interface. Selected cameras which are rotatably mounted can be rotated if need be to automatically bring the event of interest into the field of views of the selected cameras.

Abstract: A system to identify targets comprising a camera module to track a target and to generate a relatively stable image of the target while the target moves with respect to the camera module, sensors to sense a movement of the camera module and to generate sensor data, a memory storing a database of possible targets and a programmable processor communicatively coupled to each of the memory, the camera module and the sensors. The programmable processor receives signals comprising information indicative of the image from the camera module and executes instructions in an instruction module. The instructions comprise exponentially stabilizing control laws based at least in part on the sensor data. The programmable processor executes instructions in the instruction module to determine a pattern match between the stable image of the target and one of the possible targets in the database.

Abstract: A method for automatically estimating the spatial positions between cameras in a camera network utilizes unique identifying signals, such as RFID signals, transmitting between nearby cameras to estimate the relative distances or positions between cameras from received signal strength (RSS), time of arrival (TOA), or time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements to thereby determine the neighboring relationship among the cameras. A discover-locate process can be used to discover, from the estimated relative distances, unknown cameras in the vicinity of at least three cameras at known locations. Absolute locations of the discovered unknown cameras can then be calculated using a geometric calculation. The discover-locate process can be cascaded throughout the network to discover and locate all unknown cameras automatically using previously discovered and located cameras.

Abstract: A method to dynamically stabilize a target image formed on an image plane of an imaging device located in a moving vehicle. The method includes setting an origin in the image plane of the imaging device at an intersection of a first axis, a second axis and a third axis, imaging a target so that an image centroid of the target image is at the origin of the image plane, monitoring sensor data indicative of a motion of the vehicle, and generating pan and tilt output to stabilize the image centroid at the origin in the image plane to compensate for vehicle motion and target motion. The pan and tilt output are generated by implementing exponentially stabilizing control laws. The implementation of the exponentially stabilizing control laws is based at least in part on the sensor data.

Abstract: A system for autonomous object tracking with static camera arrangements. Each camera arrangement may minimally have a pan-tilt-zoom camera and a range or depth sensor. Imaging may provide coordinates and depth information of a tracked object. Measurements of an image centroid position and width may be obtained with processing. Maintaining an image at the center of a camera screen may be attained at a pixel width of the image. Estimation and prediction of object size and position may be processed for providing pan, tilt and zoom rates for the camera. Pan, tilt and zoom latency may be accounted for in the system. There may be a number of camera arrangements where tracking of the object may be handed off by one camera arrangement to another.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for risk management in energy services. A plurality of cost components and a set of interrelationships among the plurality of cost components can be compiled. Thereafter, the plurality of cost components and set interrelationships among the plurality of cost components can be provided to a large scale linear module. The cost components and interrelationships among the cost components can be processed utilizing the large scale linear module in order to provide data indicative of one or more optimal decisions for establishing a baseline for contracting dialogues between a consumer and a utility company in favor of the consumer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for interpreting spectral data in an optical sensor for a variety of uses, such as the manufacture of paper. A probe is inserted into paper pulp during the manufacturing process. The probe emits light into the pulp which is then reflected back and received. This reflected light is segmented into N different wavelengths over the visible spectrum. An N signal array is created which is used in a mathematical model to accurately depict a brightness and consistency of the paper pulp.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for normalizing spectral data for an optical sensor. The sensor is comprised of a probe, a color sensor, a series of reflective targets, and a data processing means. Before the sensor is put into operation, a model is created, the use of which can normalize spectral data output by the color sensor for a variety of defined parameters. During operation of the sensor, the model maybe updated by rotating the targets individually in front of the probe. The targets have known reflectivities and the difference between the actual reflectivity and the spectral data is used to update the model.