Abstract: A method and system for a programmable camera for a configurable security and surveillance system are provided. A programmable sensor agent for video surveillance may comprise a network interface, a processor, an image processor, and an image sensor. The image processor may comprise at least one configurable device. A device programming file may be received by the network interface from a system manager and may be programmed into at least one configurable device in the image processor via a JTAG interface in the processor. The processor may also verify that the programming has been completed successfully. The programmable sensor agent may also comprise a display interface. The device programming file may be selected via the system manager and/or via the display interface in the programmable sensor agent. The programmable sensor agent may also comprise a battery for backup power, a wireless processor, and/or a global positioning system (GPS) processor.

Abstract: A method and system for a configurable security and surveillance system are provided. A configurable security and surveillance system may comprise at least one programmable sensor agent and/or at least one programmable content analysis agent. A plurality of processing features may be offered by the configurable security and surveillance system by programming configurable hardware devices in the programmable sensor agents and/or the programmable content analysis agents via a system manager. Device programming files may be utilized to program the configurable hardware devices. The device programming files may be encrypted and decryption keys may be requested to enable the programming of different processing features into the programmable sensor agents and/or the programmable content analysis agents. The device programming files and/or the decryption keys may be received via a network transfer and/or via a machine-readable media from an e-commerce vendor.

Abstract: A method and an image sensor circuit (2) for providing a bit stream pulse modulated signal at a controlled bit rate. The image sensor circuit (2) has a two-dimensional array of pixel signal pulse frequency modulators (22) each having a photodiode (32) for converting incident light into a varying signal voltage and a frequency-to-digital converter which generates a pulse frequency modulated signal from the varying signal voltage. The circuit 2 also has a sampling unit (24) which samples the pulse frequency modulated signal to generate the bit stream pulse modulated signal at said controlled bit rate. An arithmetic unit (26) is coupled to an output of the sampling unit (24) for performing stochastic processing on the bit stream pulse modulated signal.

Abstract: A programmable sensor array (1) having a plurality of programmable cells (2). Each of the cells (2) comprises a programmable module (4) and a sensor element(6) operatively coupled to the programmable module. There is also an analogue module (8), typically an analogue to digital converter, that provides the operatively coupling of the sensor element (6) to the programmable module (4). The sensor element (6), programmable module (4) and analogue module (8) are in a stacked relationship.

Abstract: A method (S100) for dynamic range compression of output channel data from an image sensor (2) comprising an array of sensor cells. The method (S100) comprises selecting a window (S130) in the channel data, the window having a reference pixel value and a plurality of nearby pixel values. The reference pixel value originates from a reference cell that is one of the sensor cells and the nearby pixel values originate from the sensor cells that are in close proximity to the reference cell. There is a step of multiplying (S140) the pixel values, in the window, by a respective weight value to provide weighted pixel values and then adding (S150) the weighted pixel values to provide a convolution value. Thereafter, there is a step of providing (S160) a dynamic range compression value for the window from a selected one of the pixel values and said convolution value and then an assigning step (S170) assigns the dynamic range compression value to a selected pixel location comprising part of an image.

Abstract: A programmable sensor array (1) having a plurality of programmable cells (2). Each of the cells (2) comprises a programmable module (4) and a sensor element(6) operatively coupled to the programmable module. There is also an analogue module (8), typically an analogue to digital converter, that provides the operatively coupling of the sensor element (6) to the programmable module (4). The sensor element (6), programmable module (4) and analogue module (8) are in a stacked relationship.

Abstract: A method and an image sensor circuit (2) for providing a bit stream pulse modulated signal at a controlled bit rate. The image sensor circuit (2) has a two-dimensional array of pixel signal pulse frequency modulators (22) each having a photodiode (32) for converting incident light into a varying signal voltage and a frequency-to-digital converter which generates a pulse frequency modulated signal from the varying signal voltage. The circuit 2 also has a sampling unit (24) which samples the pulse frequency modulated signal to generate the bit stream pulse modulated signal at said controlled bit rate. An arithmetic unit (26) is coupled to an output of the sampling unit (24) for performing stochastic processing on the bit stream pulse modulated signal.

Abstract: A method (S100) for dynamic range compression of output channel data from an image sensor (2) comprising an array of sensor cells. The method (S100) comprises selecting a window (S130) in the channel data, the window having a reference pixel value and a plurality of nearby pixel values. The reference pixel value originates from a reference cell that is one of the sensor cells and the nearby pixel values originate from the sensor cells that are in close proximity to the reference cell. There is a step of multiplying (S140) the pixel values, in the window, by a respective weight value to provide weighted pixel values and then adding (S150) the weighted pixel values to provide a convolution value. Thereafter, there is a step of providing (S160) a dynamic range compression value for the window from a selected one of the pixel values and said convolution value and then an assigning step (S170) assigns the dynamic range compression value to a selected pixel location comprising part of an image.