Closed Circuit Television Center Monitoring System

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of monitoring systems.

More particularly, the present invention relates to video-based monitoring systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are many techniques and systems designed for video monitoring, using a multiplicity of video cameras installed in strategic locations. There are various camera functions that can scan a predefined area or that can automatically shift to various angles and positioning to scan various areas of various locations.

[0003] Many systems known in the art enable transmission of video cameras' images, movies and frames (defined herein as "video data") through network channels either by recording throughout a predetermined time interval, storing the video data and then transmitting the data, or by online transmission of the video data.

[0004] To survey a large area, monitoring may be carried out using closed-circuit television systems that facilitate in monitoring a multiplicity of areas and locations and a multiplicity of video cameras. Each camera transmits video data to a monitoring system that analyzes and displays the data.

[0005] The problem in monitoring a large area through a single video camera or a multiplicity of video cameras is that the operator or observer has to shift between viewing a bigger area through the screen and zooming in to view a smaller area span.

In some known systems, a multiplicity of screens is used, where each screen may be connected to a different camera and each camera can zoom in and out to allow choosing of the viewing area size. Unfortunately, these systems are quite cumbersome

and require many screens and a non-intuitive shifting from one camera to the other. Furthermore, viewing through a multiplicity of screens limits the observer's ability to see the entire mapping of the. area that all the cameras cover in .terms of monitoring. [0006] A pending patent by Kawai Tomoaki, Tsujimura Kazuko and Oya Takashi ("Tomoaki, Kazuko and Takashi"), number US 2002067412, discloses a camera controlling system "for displaying a video image inputted from a plurality of cameras, wherein in order to easily control each camera, a map showing position of cameras is prepared. Along with the map, icons indicating the positions of cameras are displayed on the map so that the direction of cameras can be identified on the map." [Tomoaki, Kazuko and Takashi, Abstract].

[0007] Tomoaki, Kazuko and Takashi disclose displaying a map that indicates the locations of the cameras installed in the area. However, Tomoaki, Kazuko and Takashi do not disclose a method or a system that can facilitate in easily viewing the video data simultaneously arriving from all the cameras as well as viewing of the map and the location of the camera. Tomoaki, Kazuko and Takashi do not disclose a method or a system that enable easy shifting and switching between various screen positions, where those positions may be, for example, viewing the locations of all the cameras on the map as well as viewing at least some of the video images and movies from the video streams.

[0008] A patent by Kato Eiji and Kawai Tomoaki ("Eiji and Tomoaki") number JP9289607, discloses "a window display system capable of simultaneously displaying plural map windows." [Eiji and Tomoaki, Abstract]. Similarly to the patent by Tomoaki, Kazuko and Takashi, although Eiji and Tomoaki disclose a system that allows displaying a plurality of maps as well as the cameras' related information such as the cameras' angle, zooming position etc., Eiji and Tomoaki do not disclose a

system or a method to facilitate in shifting from the viewing of the map or maps to viewing of the video images or stream. Furthermore, Eiji and Tomoaki do not enable viewing both the video images, and the maps in a. single screen. [0009] To establish an efficient operation of a complex closed-circuit television system - enhanced graphic tools and an intuitive man-machine interface may be required to facilitate in controlling and monitoring a multiplicity of video streams and various functions of the cameras such as zooming and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention discloses novel system and method that facilitate the controlling, manipulating and displaying of a multiplicity of video streams within an overview map.

[0011] A video stream is defined hereinafter as the presentation of video data on the screen, where the presentation may be constructed of video frames. The video data is transmitted from a video camera via a video channel.

[0012] The system may provide a graphical interface consisting of one or more camera icons located on a two dimensional (2D) overview map of the monitored area.

The camera icons may be located on the map in relative to the cameras' physical position.

[0013] According to embodiments of the present invention, the overview map may be a graphical representation of at least part of the physical area monitored by the system.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the invention, the system may enable viewing the overview map of the area that includes the locations of the cameras represented by icons, the video streams of the cameras, and / or a combined graphical representation of the video streams and the overview map. The combined graphical representation may be displayed on a single screen. Additionally, the system may further enable zooming in and out of the combined graphical display of the map and the video streams and shifting between viewing the map, the combined display and the video streams.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the invention, a pointing device such as, for example, a computer mouse may enable facilitate a user to intuitively scroll around the overview map and zoom in and out of selected areas.

[0016] The following document may specifically refer to a mouse as the default- pointing device. Nevertheless, the pointing device may be any device that is known in the art such as, for example, a mouse, a joystick, a control box, and the like. [0017] The zoom-in and zoom-out may be operated by the mouse scroll- wheel. Scrolling the mouse wheel clockwise, may operate a zoom-in and anticlockwise may operate a zoom-out, thereby expanding or diminishing the map's scales correspondingly. Additionally, the system may enable zooming-out down to a point where the video streams are replaced with the original camera icons. The cameras icons may be located on the display map representing the cameras' physical locations in the mapped area.

[0018] Additionally, whenever a zoom-in operation is conducted, the system may display the cameras' real-time video streams and the increase of the video streams' frame rate and window size. Zooming out of the selected area causes the reduction of frame rate and the window size, accordingly. Increasing the video stream's frame rate may demand valuable hardware resources and affect system response time. Therefore, zooming into a selected area might not always result in the increasing of video stream's frame rate, and remains optional.

[0019] According to embodiments of the invention, zooming in and out of the display of the overview map may enable automatic operation of the cameras' zoom in and out focusing options.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The subject matter regarded as the invention will become more clearly understood in light of the ensuing description of embodiments herein, given by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the present invention only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

Fig 1 is a schematic illustration of a positioning of video cameras within a 2D overview map, according to some embodiments of the present invention. Fig 2 is illustrating the positioning of video streams within a 2D map, according to some embodiments of the present invention. Fig 3 is illustrating a zoom-in to one of the video streams, selected by the mouse-typed pointing device, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig 4 is illustrating a video stream of a selected camera, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig 5 is illustrating the basic graphic interface functionality, initiated by a mouse-typed pointing device, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig 6 is a flow diagram of the system basic functionality initiated by the mouse-type pointing device, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic illustration of a monitoring system, according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0021] The drawings together with the description make apparent to those skilled in the art how the invention may be embodied in practice.

[0022] An embodiment is an example or implementation of the inventions. The various appearances of "one embodiment," "an embodiment" or "some embodiments" do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiments. Although various features of the invention may be described in the context of a single embodiment, the features may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination. Conversely, although the

invention may be described herein in the context of separate embodiments for clarity, the invention may also be implemented in a single embodiment.

DETAKED DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE

INVENTION

[0023] The present invention discloses a system and a method for controlling, manipulating and displaying video streams 10 arriving from at least one camera 105. [0024] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the monitoring system comprises at least one camera 105 located in a physical area that may be represented on an overview map 100, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Camera 105 may be a video camera 105 that may digitally and /or analogically transmit video data to a central unit such as, for example, a computerized control unit 110. The monitoring system may display video streams 10 and overview map 100 within the same display screen, where a user may be allowed to zoom in and out of the display screen and by that to control the display features of map 100 and windows displaying video streams 10.

[0025] While the description below contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of the preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other possible variations that are within its scope. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

[0026] Reference in the specification to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "some embodiments" or "other embodiments" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least one embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the inventions. It is understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is not to be construed as limiting and are for descriptive purpose only.

[0027] The principles and uses of the teachings of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the accompanying description, figures and examples. It is to be understood that the details set forth herein do not construe a limitation to an application of the invention. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out or practiced in various ways and that the invention can be implemented in embodiments other than the ones outlined in the description below.

[0028] It is to be understood that the terms "including", "comprising", "consisting" and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude the addition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers or groups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifying components, features, steps or integers. The phrase "consisting essentially of, and grammatical variants thereof, when used herein is not to be construed as excluding additional components, steps, features, integers or groups thereof but rather that the additional features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed composition, device or method.

[0029] If the specification or claims refer to "an additional" element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element. It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to "a" or "an" element, such reference is not be construed that there is only one of that element. It is to be understood that where the specification states that a component, feature, structure, or characteristic "may", "might", "can" or "could" be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included.

[0030] Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may be used to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to those diagrams or to the

corresponding descriptions. For example, flow need not move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the same order as illustrated and described. [0031] Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing or completing manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selected steps or tasks. The term "method" refers to manners, means, techniques and procedures for accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, those manners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readily developed from known manners, means, techniques and procedures by practitioners of the art to which the invention belongs. The descriptions, examples, methods and materials presented in the claims and the specification are not to be construed as limiting but rather as illustrative only.

[0032] Meanings of technical and scientific terms used herein are to be commonly understood as by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs, unless otherwise defined. The present invention can be implemented in the testing or practice with methods and materials equivalent or similar to those described herein. [0033] Any publications, including patents, patent applications and articles, referenced or mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in the description of some embodiments of the invention shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.

[0034] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a monitoring system, according to some embodiments of the present invention. The system may comprise:

- at least one video camera 105 that can transmit video data through at least one channel;

- a control unit 110 that enables receiving video data from cameras 105, storing and analyzing of data and controlling over the cameras' features and the display of the data;

- a display unit 130 that may enable graphic displaying of the data such as, for example, display of overview map 100 ant of video streams 10;

- and a pointing device 140 to allow the user to control zooming features of the cameras 105 as well as zooming features of the display.

[0035] Cameras 105 may transmit video data to control unit 110. Control unit 110 may be able to identify the channel of each camera 105 and display the cameras' 105 position on map 100, using display unit 130. Additionally to displaying the cameras' 105 positions on map 100, the system may further enable displaying the video streams 10 of. each camera 105 together with displaying map 100 - so that video streams 10 may be displayed within map 100 at the location of the cameras 105. Depending on the viewing resolution, controlled by the user, the system may display camera icons 50 instead of video streams 10 at the cameras' 105 locations on map 100, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

[0036] Control unit 110 may be any computerized software and / or hardware system known in the art.

[0037] Additionally and optionally, the system may further comprise a user interface 150 to allow the user to control other display and cameras' features.

[0038] According to some embodiments of the present invention, pointing device

140 may facilitate the user in controlling the display features, as schematically illustrated in Fig.- 2. Pointing device 140 may be a computer mouse, where scrolling the mouse's scroll-wheel 26, for example, may activate a zooming operation. A simple movement of the mouse in any of the directions 21 may enable to scroll the 2D area map accordingly. By clicking on the mouse right button 24, the system may present the selected camera's 105 features window. The features window may provide camera relevant information and allow viewing video stream 10 in a full-sized screen, for example. Clicking on the mouse left button 22 may, for example, cause the selection of a specific video stream 10. When a specific video stream 10 is selected, the system may automatically resize the stream's window and change its frame rate. Rolling the mouse's scroll wheel 26 may affect the stream window size and frame rate. Rolling mouse's scroll wheel 26 clockwise 28 may increase the stream's frame rate and enlarge its window size, enabling to focus on the selected video stream 10 and get a clearer and more detailed view (higher resolution). Rolling mouse's scroll wheel 26 anti-clockwise 29 may decrease the stream's frame rate and diminish its window size.

[0039] Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a display position in which the user may view map 100 of an area and the locations of cameras 105 represented by camera icons 50. The location of icons 50 on map 100 may be relative to the physical locations of cameras' 105 in the physical area in which they are seated.

[0040] Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 schematically show that interface 150 may enable to simultaneously view one or more video streams 10 along with map 100. Each of these video streams 10 may be located within a small window, positioned on map 100 in relative to the physical position of camera 105 that produces video stream 10.

Whenever the user, using pointing device 140, conducts a zoom-in operation - map

100 scales may increase and a more detailed display of the selected area may be provided., where the detailed and enlarged display may be of map 100 - zooming in and viewing an enlarged display of a smaller area and of one or more video streams 10 - zooming in cameras 105 that produce video streams 10 enabling an enlarged display of the zoomed-in video streams 10.

[0041] Additionally and optionally, the system may automatically control cameras' 105 features such as, for example, the frame rate of each camera 105. For example, whenever the user zooms in to view larger windows of video streams 10, as illustrated in Fig. 6, a higher frame rate may be required to achieve substantially the same viewing spatial resolution of video stream 10 and vise versa — if the user chooses a overview showing small video streams' 10 windows - a low resolution may be required. Controlling the frame rates of the video streams 10 may facilitate in controlling the amount and timing of data transmission to allow faster shifting between one display position to another. Controlling the frame rates of the video streams 10 may further produce an efficient image-processing.

[0042] The system may enable to scroll intuitively between video streams 10 and allow zooming in and out of a selected stream 10. By selecting one of the video streams 10 with the mouse-typed pointing device 140, the system allows to zoom in or out of the selected video stream 10, using the mouse scroll wheel device. Fig. 6 illustrates zooming in to a selected video stream 10. According to this example, video stream's 10 window is resized and the frame rate is automatically increased, thereby allowing a clearer and more detailed view of the selected area. [0043] As illustrated in Fig. 6, according to embodiments of the invention, the system may enable to obtain a full-sized screen view of video stream 10. Such full-

sized screen can be acquired using, for example, the zoom-in operation of pointing device 140, or through the properties camera functionality.

[0044] Fig 7 is- a flow chart representing the pointing device's 140 effect upon the display of map 100, video streams' 10 windows and their sizes. Moving the mouse in any direction 70 may cause map 100 scrolling in that direction 71. Once the system detects a scrolling motion 72 - the system may, for example, identify 74 a clockwise scrolling as a zoom in order 76 and a counterclockwise scrolling as a zoom out order

75. If no scrolling is detected, the system may display the last display view 73.

[0045] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the resizing of map's 100 may automatically change video streams' 10 window size and /or frame rate. Once map 100 is zoomed out for example, to the maximum size- meaning the entire physical area is represented — the video streams' 10 windows may be diminished to their minimum and turn from video streams 10 to icons 50.

[0046] While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplifications of some of the preferred embodiments.

Those skilled in the art will envision other possible variations, modifications, and applications that are also within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited by what has thus far been described, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.