Abstract: A system, method and device for providing communications with an in-home system at a residence of a user are provided.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a mobile electronic device includes a light-emitting unit and a control unit. The light-emitting unit emits light. The control unit performs control such that a predetermined operation is executed when a variation between first information and second information is greater than a threshold. The first information and the second information are obtained with respect to an area to which the light-emitting unit emits the light.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a face detector configured to detect a face based on a taken image, and an output processor configured to have a function to execute privacy-mask processing for privacy protection for an image of a face detected by the face detector or an image of a background of the face. The output processor includes a function to separately output an image of a face detected by the face detector and an image of a background of the face which are each subjected to or not subjected to the privacy-mask processing.

Abstract: Pre-image-acquisition information is obtained by a digital camera and transmitted to a system external to the digital camera. The system is configured to provide image-acquisition settings to the digital camera. In this regard, the digital camera receives the image-acquisition settings from the external system and performs an image-acquisition sequence based at least upon the received image-acquisition settings. Accordingly, the determination of image-acquisition settings can be performed remotely from the digital camera, where data-processing resources can greatly exceed those within the digital camera.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed. The system includes an user security portal operable to access live video feeds of areas of interest taken by a video camera. The user security portal includes an user interface operable to display an evaluation cycle. The evaluation cycle includes a security display window which displays the live video feeds of the monitored areas. In addition, the security display window includes evaluation parameters associated with the monitored areas and contingency action parameters which list action items to be taken in the event of a security breach of at least one evaluation parameters.

Abstract: A dummy security device that includes some means of drawing attention to itself using a visual and/or audible means to thereby draw attention to the presence of the dummy security device, wherein the fact that the device is not a real security device is hidden from view, wherein the dummy security device is relatively inexpensive to purchase to thereby promote installation of many of the devices, and wherein an active detection means may be employed to enable the dummy security device to provide a visual and/or audible indication that the presence of a person has been detected.

Abstract: An audio-video communication system comprises a wireless exterior module located proximate an entrance, a computerized controller running a software application, and a remote peripheral device. The wireless exterior module includes a proximity sensor for detecting a person at the entrance, a video camera for recording an image of the person at the entrance, a microphone for recording the person at the entrance, a speaker for playing audio to the person at the entrance, a transmitter for communicating sounds and images of the person at the entrance, and a receiver for receiving communications at the wireless exterior module. The computerized controller is disposed in wireless electronic communication with the wireless exterior module via the transmitter and the receiver of the wireless exterior module. The remote peripheral device is configured to electronically communicate with the computerized controller for viewing an image from the video camera communicated from the wireless exterior module.

Abstract: In order to appropriately detect abnormalities for the purpose of surveillance with it being possible to prevent an unnecessary increase in data amount of the monitoring images, a monitoring system includes an image capturing section that captures a moving image of a monitored area, a variation reduced image generating section that generates a variation reduced image by reducing a temporal variation in an image, based on a plurality of moving-image making-up images included in the moving image captured by the image capturing section, a condition storing section that stores thereon a condition which is required to be satisfied by a variation reduced image which is generated by using a plurality of moving-image making-up images included in a moving image which is judged to show an abnormality, a satisfaction judging section that judges whether the variation reduced image generated by the variation reduced image generating section satisfies the condition, an output moving image generating section that, when the

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and program includes a behavior processing system for capturing a three-dimensional movement of a monitored user within a particular environment monitored by a supervising user, wherein the three-dimensional movement is determined by using at least one image capture device aimed at the monitored user. The behavior processing system identifies a three-dimensional object properties stream using the captured movement. The behavior processing system identifies a particular defined adverse behavior of the monitored user represented by the three-dimensional object properties stream by comparing the identified three-dimensional object properties stream with multiple adverse behavior definitions.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, it is possible to visually show both of information which is originally visually recognizable and information which is originally not seen that have been provided from equipment on the same image, so that it is possible to grasp the content of information and the source of providing the information corresponding to or in association with each other. Furthermore, it is possible to view information difficult to visually recognize together with visually recognizable information, and it is possible to clearly grasp, in addition to information which can be visually obtained at the place where a user currently stays, information related to the visually obtained information, from an image visually indicating the association.

Abstract: An entity detection method and system are provided for monitoring an area. The method comprises providing an illuminated band extending continuously along an extremity of the area; providing an optical detector having an image sensor adapted to capture an image, the illuminated band being viewable by the image sensor and being capturable in the image, a space between the band and the image sensor being part of the area; storing a detection threshold; analyzing the image to detect a discontinuity in the continuous illuminated band apparent on the image, comparing the detected discontinuity to the detection threshold; and indicating a status of the area to be one of a presence of an entity and an absence of the entity based on the comparing.

Abstract: An imaging intrusion detection method combines condensing lenses with a plurality of light sources to form and illuminate a plurality of collimated light beams to a security area as dot lighting. A dot image of the security area to which the dot lighting is illuminated by an intrusion monitoring camera is obtained and stored in a memory as reference dot information. When an input image is obtained by periodically photographing the security area, dot information is extracted from the input image to compare the dot information with the reference dot information, and it is determined whether there is an intrusion in the security area according to a change of a dot based on a result of comparison.

Abstract: A surveillance system and method for rapid set up and activating communication between 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 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, thereby providing a secure surveillance system having wireless communication for monitoring a target environment.

Abstract: A safety monitoring system for a workspace area. The workspace area related to a region having automated moveable equipment. A plurality of vision-based imaging devices capturing time-synchronized image data of the workspace area. Each vision-based imaging device repeatedly capturing a time synchronized image of the workspace area from a respective viewpoint that is substantially different from the other respective vision-based imaging devices. A visual processing unit for analyzing the time-synchronized image data. The visual processing unit processes the captured image data for identifying a human from a non-human object within the workspace area. The visual processing unit further determining potential interactions between a human and the automated moveable equipment.

Abstract: A system of remotely locatable sentries or watchtowers operate as part of a network of such sentries or towers for securing a border or perimeter over a wide area. A sensor array, including particularly an array of video cameras, provides for detection, tracking and identification of a target. The sentry or watch towers include non-lethal, sound-based instrumentalities for discouraging entry into and passage through a secured zone of the target.

Abstract: System and method for central managing of network and storage resources by dynamically receiving over a network bit rate parameters related to video processing units of one or more edge devices and dynamically adjusting a bit rate of one of the processing units based on required bit rates of the processing units and bandwidth limitations of the network. The system and method may further include dynamically receiving storage parameters related to internal storage units of the edge devices and to external storage units coupled to the edge devices and instructing one of the edge devices where to store the video data based on the storage parameters and bandwidth limitations of the network.

Abstract: Faults resulting in reception of a still, but unknown, frame are recognized by comparing each received frame of the video signal with its predecessor, incrementing a counter in the event that the difference between the frames falls below a threshold; and generating an alarm signal in the event that the count of the counter exceeds a predetermined count. Other types of fault such as loss of signal (i.e. reception of just noise) are recognized by incrementing the counter whenever the difference exceeds a threshold. Similar results may be obtained by instead the monitoring quantization step size and/or number of transmitted bits of a digitally coded signal, and noting that it falls below, or exceeds, a threshold. A preferred option is to compute a complexity measure, being a monotonically increasing function (e.g the product) of the quantization step size and of the number of coded bits and compare this with the threshold value.

Abstract: A video and data capturing system and method includes a mobile unit having an image sensor and motion sensing equipment connected to a microprocessor. The mobile unit is installed in an object for detecting visual images and motion data associated with the object. The mobile unit communicates with a base unit capable of analyzing the image and motion data and correcting the image data so it is level with the horizon. A foot unit may be used in conjunction with the mobile unit for detection of an athlete's foot acceleration for determining when the athlete's foot comes in contact with the ground. A field unit may be used in conjunction with the mobile unit and foot unit to determine the location of the foot unit on a playing surface to assist in determining whether an athlete is in or out of bounds, or their location on the playing surface.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus such as a monitor system for executing image processing to present a suspicious object effectively. An object detecting unit detects an object contained in an image, an associating unit associates a plurality of objects detected with the object detecting unit, with each other, and an evaluating unit evaluates (e.g., evaluation as being suspicious) an object detected by the object detecting unit, and an association evaluating unit evaluates another object associated by the associating unit with the object evaluated by the evaluating unit, in accordance with the evaluation made by the evaluating unit.

Abstract: The system and method uses video to assist in access control to determine if a person is displaying a position indicating that he/she needs assistance, such as carrying a box, or displaying a position indicating that potential unauthorized entry, such as tailgating, is occurring. The system takes a digital video image and compares the image to a library of images of potential interest. The system takes appropriate action which can include automatically opening the door or notifying an operator, such as a security officer, of the situation.

Abstract: An automated theater warning technique makes use of a digital cinema projection system to provide a display of a visual message indicative of an emergency condition. Upon receipt of a trigger generated in response to an emergency condition, the digital cinema projection system automatically switches from displaying the feature presentation to displaying the visual message. The digital cinema projection system can advantageously display different messages responsive to different conditions.

Abstract: A security storage container securely retains an item of merchandise and typically includes a base and lid. An alarm system in the container is activated when the container is locked and deactivated when the container is unlocked. The alarm system may include a flashing LED, an EAS tag for activating a security gate, and a sound-emitting device which may emit a loud alarm upon an attempt to pry the lid from the base or upon the container entering into proximity of a security gate.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system, a device, an apparatus, a method, and a computer program product. An embodiment provides a system that includes an imaging device operable to capture an image depicting a member of a class of subjects that may have a temporal presence in an area. The system also includes an anonymization device having a selector circuit operable to select an anonymization policy. The anonymization policy includes obscuring a property of the class of subjects depicted in the captured image. The system further includes a broadcast device operable to display a human-perceivable indication of the selected anonymization policy to at least a portion of the area. The system also includes an anonymization circuit operable to generate an anonymized image by applying the selected anonymization policy to an image captured by the imaging device and depicting a member of the class of subjects.

Abstract: An image pickup device that acquires images is controlled by an image pickup device controller that accepts image acquisition requests from multiple application programs, and an application scheduler selects application programs to be executed. Information indicative of the image data volumes and image data acquisition rates required for each of the multiple application programs is stored and used to select multiple concurrently executable application programs on the basis of the image data volumes and image data acquisition rates. An image acquisition scheduler determines the timing and intervals at which the multiple executable application programs repeat receiving image data from the image pickup device, without overlapping in terms of time. In addition, an operations section, which explicitly presents concurrently executable application programs to a user and commands the startup of these programs, is displayed on a navigation screen menu.

Abstract: A surveillance system and method having at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, and a security key for ensuring or denying access, including the steps of providing 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, permitting or prohibiting data transmission and/or access if the security key is connected to the system components, thereby providing a secure surveillance system having wireless communication for monitoring a target environment.

Abstract: An energy conserving remote viewing system comprising an instantaneous analog video transmission camera, an analog video receiver that receives and transmits a video image to a video monitor and a remote transmitter that activates the analog video transmission camera. The remote camera device is normally in a low power, sleep mode that has a minimal power drain. The system includes a battery powered camera requiring a first voltage to operate and an RF transmitter to send an activation signal to the camera. The activation signal has a duration. A camera power circuit includes a normally sleeping signal receiving circuit and a first timer. The first timer periodically activates the signal receiving circuit to check for the presence of the activation signal and turns off the signal receiving circuit if the activation signal is not present and turns on the camera if the activation signal is present, and wherein the time the signal receiving circuit sleeps is less than the activation signal duration.

Abstract: A target moving object tracking device takes a time series of picture images of a target moving object, and track a movement of the moving object in the picture images for displaying an enlarged view of the moving object. The device includes a template memory storing a template image which is compared with each one of time-series outline images given from the picture images to determine a partial area in match with the template image for each of the outline images and extract the partial areas as a moving object outline image. The template image is constantly updated by being replaced with a combination of the previous moving object outline images to accurately reflect the moving object.

Abstract: A method and a system for calibrating a camera in a surveillance system. The method and system use a mathematical rotation between a first coordinate system and a second coordinate system in order to calibrate a camera with a map of an area. In some embodiments, the calibration can be used to control the camera and/or to display a view cone on the map.

Abstract: A communication system for multiple users whereby an automatic indication of away status is prompted immediately upon a user's departure from the vicinity of a computer or other medium. In a preferred embodiment, this is accomplished, in an instant messaging environment, via a video camera arrangement whereby, upon there being a detection of a user's absence from the immediate vicinity, an automatic prompt is made to indicate away status for the user.

Abstract: Binarization is performed using a threshold image obtained by multiplying a variation in each pixel value of an input image with a coefficient. Although the variation is time-averaged based on an update coefficient for each pixel, the update coefficient is switched depending on whether or not a relevant pixel belongs to the object. Subsequently, from the binary image, an initial detection zone is formed and a spatial filtering process is performed thereto. The spatial filtering process includes at least one of skeleton analysis processing, object mask processing, morphology processing, and section analysis processing. For a tracking zone, the temporal positional change thereof is tracked, and the noise is reduced. Some of the tracking zones are removed, and the remaining zones are integrated into a cluster, and furthermore the cluster selection is performed based on the dimensions in real space.

Abstract: A vehicle periphery monitoring device is operable to report a high contact possibility between a vehicle and an object at an appropriate time or frequency according to the type of the object. When the object is determined to be a human being and the position of the object in real space is contained in a first contact determination area, a high contact possibility between the vehicle and the object is reported. On the other hand, when the object is determined to be a quadruped animal and the real spatial position of the object is contained in a second contact determination area, the corresponding report is made. The second contact determination area has an overlapped area that overlaps with the first contact determination area, and an overflowed area that has at least a part thereof overflowing from the first contact determination area.

Abstract: A motion detecting apparatus and method which comprises a plurality of area-sensors each generating or modifying an electrical signal in response to a stimulus, and thereafter monitoring the signal to locate the object and its relative position, moment to moment.

Abstract: A surveillance method periodically detects an image of the area, identifies and tracks each moving object in a succession of the detected images, detects radio frequency emissions from the area and correlates an identified object with a detected radio frequency emission. The method detects events in the tracking of the moving object. The method stores corresponding data optionally including image data in non-volatile memory upon detection of a combination of an event and a corresponding radio frequency emission. The method triggers an alarm such as an audible alarm, a visual alarm, an email, a short text message or a telephone call detection of a combination of an event and a corresponding radio frequency emission.

Abstract: A security system includes at least first and second monitoring units, each having a motion sensor for detecting motion, a camera for obtaining visual data, a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor in data communication with the motion sensor, camera, transmitter, and receiver. The security system includes means for outputting visual data from the first unit camera when the first unit motion sensor detects motion more recently than the second unit motion sensor detects motion. The security system includes programming for outputting the visual data from the second unit camera when the second unit motion sensor detects motion more recently than the first unit motion sensor detects motion. The system includes a telephone interface for transmitting visual data captured by a respective camera. A unit's camera is only activated when its associated motion detector detects motion and is deactivated when another unit's motion detector detects motion more recently.

Abstract: A method and system for coordinated tracking of objects is disclosed. A plurality of images is received from a plurality of nodes, each node comprising at least one image capturing device. At least one target in the plurality of images is identified to produce at least one local track corresponding to each of the plurality of nodes having the at least one target in its field of view. The at least one local track corresponding to each of the plurality of nodes is fused according to a multi-hypothesis tracking method to produce at least one fused track corresponding to the at least one target. At least one of the plurality of nodes is assigned to track the at least one target based on minimizing at least one cost function comprising a cost matrix using the k-best algorithm for tracking at least one target for each of the plurality of nodes. The at least one fused track is sent to the at least one of the plurality of nodes assigned to track the at least one target based on the at least one fused track.

Abstract: An automatic in-car video recording apparatus includes a first and a second image acquiring units, an image processing unit, a control unit, an image access unit, a detecting unit, and a power supply unit. The first and second image acquiring units are synchronized to acquire images of road conditions in front of the car and images of driving conditions inside the car, respectively. The image processing unit integrates the two images on a split screen, and saves the images in the image access unit. The image access unit includes an externally connected memory unit. The control unit periodically stores part of the image data saved in the image access unit on the memory unit. When the detecting unit detects any abnormal condition, the control unit will also copy the image data saved in the image access unit to the memory unit. Therefore, driving conditions of the car are automatically recorded.

Abstract: A multi-perspective context sensitive behavior assessment system includes an adaptive behavior model builder establishing a real-time reference model that captures intention of motion behavior. It operates by modeling outputs of multiple user defined scoring functions with respect to multiple references of application specific target areas of interest. The target areas have criticality values representing a user's preference regarding the target areas with respect to one another. The outputs of the scoring functions are multiplied by the critically values to form high level sequences of representation that are communicated to the user.

Abstract: A system for and method of generating a notification regarding post office box contents. The system comprises at least one indicator transmitter arranged to generate and transmit a notification signal regarding contents of the post office box responsive to an operator actuation, and at least one receiver/network interface communicatively coupled with the at least one indicator transmitter and arranged to transmit a first signal responsive to receipt of the notification signal from the at least one indicator transmitter. The method comprises generating a notification signal responsive to an operator actuation responsive to a change of the contents of a post office box, and transmitting the generated notification signal to a client device.

Abstract: A background image is generated based on a captured image. A data cluster is formed in pixel blocks of the background image using at least one feature of pixels in the pixel blocks. A data cluster formed in each pixel block includes a data distribution having a mean value and a standard deviation from the mean value. After generating the background image, each pixel of a subsequent captured image is compared with the data cluster of a pixel block of the background image to generate a first discrepancy value. A pixel of a subsequent image is compared with a data distribution of another adjacent pixel block of the background image to generate a second discrepancy value. Based on the discrepancy values, the pixels of the subsequent image are regarded as background or foreground pixels in a binary map, in which connected foreground pixels are marked to form a foreground object.

Abstract: A video surveillance equipment for detecting a change of an object in a monitoring area based on input images captured by an image capturing device, the equipment comprising: an area detection apparatus for detecting a second image area being stationary for a predetermined time in a first image area which is an area differing between a reference image used as a reference in image processing and the input images; a memory apparatus for storing image of the detected second image area; and an image comparison apparatus for performing comparison processing a plurality of times between the stored image and image in the second image area included in the input images.

Abstract: An unattended sensor is provided for use in a surveillance system. The sensor is generally comprised of: a detector; a signal processor; a radio transceiver; a power source; and a controller which configures the sensor in either a sensor mode or a relay mode. When configured in the sensor mode, the detector and signal processor are operational and the transceiver is non-operational. When configured in the relay mode, the transceiver is operational but the detector and signal processor are non-operational. In an alternative approach, the detector and the signal process may remain operational in the relay mode.

Abstract: A method and a system for tracking the motion of moving objects accurately on the entirety of a wide-angle video is disclosed. The method includes using a non-uniform scaling to selectively enhance pixel density, preferably in preparation for other image processing. In preferred embodiments, the further image processing (such as motion detection, object recognition, or tracking, etc.) functions better with the enhanced pixel density or distribution.

Abstract: A human body identification method includes a monitoring target region capturing step of obtaining a range image of a monitoring target region using a range image camera, a normal vector image calculation step of calculating a normal vector image, a template preparation step of preparing, as a template, a normal vector image from a range image captured so as to include at least a head portion of a human body, a template scaling step of scaling the size of each template based on range information that is a pixel value, a human body corresponding region estimation step of estimating at least one region corresponding to a human body, and a number-of-persons determination step of determining the number of human bodies based on a logical sum of the at least one region estimated as corresponding to a human body.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring events includes defining alert events based on primitive event types in an environment monitored by monitoring devices. Alert parameters are set for each alert event, and alert events are combined to create a composite alert event based on a plurality of alert events. A plurality of engines is monitored to determine if multiple events comprising the composite alert event have occurred.

Abstract: A technique of efficiently extracting and synthesizing an object image from a plurality of images captured at different image magnifications. An image processing method of the present invention includes the steps of generating a first background image corresponding to a first image captured at a predetermined image magnification, extracting a first object image from the first image, generating a second background image corresponding to a second image captured at an image magnification higher than the predetermined image magnification, based on the first background image and the first object image, and extracting a second object image from the second image and the second background image.

Abstract: An audio device management system (ADMS) manages remote audio devices via user selections in video links. The system enhances audio acquisition quality by receiving and processing human suggestions, forming customized two-way audio links according to user requests, and learning audio pickup strategies and camera management strategies from user operations. The ADMS control interface for a remote user provides a multi-window GUI that provides an overview window and selection display window. The ADMS provides users with more flexibility to enhance audio signals according to their needs and makes it more convenient to form customized two-way audio links without requiring users to remember a list of phone numbers. The ADMS also automatically manages available microphones for audio pickup based on microphone sound quality and the system's past experience when users monitor a structured audio environment without explicitly expressing their attentions in the video window.

Abstract: The present invention provides a monitoring system enabling efficient determination of code amounts for respective cameras according to the movement of an object.

Abstract: A compound eye camera module according to the present invention includes a lens array including at least two lenses; an imaging element having two imaging areas corresponding to the two lenses; a light shielding block having a light shielding wall for separating optical paths of light transmitted through the two lenses; an optical filter for transmitting light of a specific wavelength range among the light transmitted through the two lenses; and a substrate having an opening larger than the optical filter. The imaging areas and the optical filter are located at a position corresponding to the opening. The imaging element is fixed to a face of the substrate opposite to the side of the lens array. The imaging element is in contact with a face of the optical filter which faces the imaging element. The light shielding block is fixed to a face of the optical filter which faces the light shielding block.

Abstract: A microscope image pickup system is one having a microscope apparatus enabled to change an observation state by driving one or more optical members, which comprises: an image pickup unit for picking up an image of an observation object; an image process unit for applying an image process to an image picked up by the image pickup unit; an input unit for inputting a process factor of the image process unit, wherein an observation state of the microscope apparatus and/or an image pickup condition of the image pickup unit are set up and an image is picked up so as to pick up an image of an image quality being equal to, or better than, that of an image to which an image process is applied on the basis of the process factor input from the input unit.

Abstract: A surveillance system having at least one primary video camera for translating real images of a zone into electronic video signals at a first level of resolution. The system includes means for sampling movements of an individual or individuals located within the zone from the video signal output from at least one video camera. Video signals of sampled movements of the individual is electronically compared with known characteristics of movements which are indicative of individuals having a criminal intent. The level of criminal intent of the individual or individuals is then determined and an appropriate alarm signal is produced.