SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING INFORMATION COLLECTED IN MOBILE MANNER, AND METHOD OF SURVEILLANCE

The invention relates to a system for surveillance, comprising: at least one stationary camera for recording visual information, a central space connected to the camera and having means for processing the collected information, and control means for influencing the information displayed in the control room. The invention also relates to a method of surveillance.

The application of cameras for recording information, and more particularly visual information, is generally known. The use of camera surveillance has expanded enormously in recent times in order to allay a sense of insecurity and to increase safety. Use is generally made for this purpose of a number of different cameras, the images from which are transmitted to a control room. In the communications room the operator (security guard) normally views some of the provided images. Such systems are applied in, among others, city centres, industrial estates, stadiums and so on. Existing information-collecting systems have the drawback that they only show a limited view of reality; the number of positions from which information is supplied is limited, and it is often possible to only limited extent to later group or to search information, or to combine, group or compare the various parts of the information.

The invention therefore has for its object to provide an improved system for collecting and processing information, and a method of visual surveillance with which particularly the flexibility of the surveillance can be improved, as well as to provide an improved system for storing collected information in organized and searchable manner.

The invention provides for this purpose a system of the type stated in the preamble, characterized in that the system is also provided with at least one mobile detector for recording information, which mobile detector is provided with communication means for transmitting to the control room at least a part of the information collected by the mobile detector. The prior art surveillance systems make use of image material which is collected with stationary cameras and viewed in a control room by surveillance personnel (security guards). If desired, the surveillance personnel can sometimes influence the observed images by for instance zooming in or rotating (orienting) a

camera. Wholly separately of the surveillance system, surveillance can also be carried out by surveillance staff. With the present invention both methods of surveillance can be mutually integrated, whereby the quality of the surveillance can increase considerably without this having to result in considerably higher operational costs.

In an advantageous embodiment variant the mobile detector comprises a camera. With such a mobile camera a member of surveillance staff can also record image material where there are no stationary cameras. This increases the flexibility of the surveillance options and can also result in an increased degree of safety for the member of surveillance staff.

Alternatively or in combination with the camera, the mobile detector can however also comprise at least one non-visual information-collecting sensor. If this is given a stationary form, it is desirable that the sensor is connected to the control room, and if the sensor is given a mobile form it is desirable that it be provided with communication means for transmitting to the control room at least a part of the information collected by the sensor. The sensor can for instance be embodied as a detection sensor (presence sensor), a temperature-sensitive sensor, a movement-detecting sensor, a sound-detecting sensor (for instance a microphone), a smoke detector, a moisture detector, a gas detector and so on.

For exchange of the data detected in mobile manner the mobile detector can be provided with communication means for wireless communication with the control room. A permanent or a batch-wise communication between the mobile detector and the control room can be envisaged here. The data recorded by the mobile detector can thus be transmitted to the control room via an optionally permanent data connection. Information can however also be sent in reverse direction, from the control room to the mobile detector. The great advantage of wireless communication between the mobile detector and the control room is that the mobile recording of data can continue while information can still also be exchanged. The data detected in mobile manner can thus also be transmitted to the control room very quickly (and vice versa). Alternatively, it is however also possible that the mobile detector can be read by establishing a physical contact between the control room and the mobile detector, for instance by placing this detector in a read unit.

For storing of detected data it is desirable that the mobile detector is provided with a memory. It thus becomes possible to detect data in mobile manner for some time and transmit the data in batches to the control room. The cost of communication between the control room and the detector can thus be reduced considerably.

In order to link the location at which the mobile detector records data to the target location, it is advantageous if the mobile detector is also provided with position- determining means. In the transmission of data to the control room from the mobile detector, which is optionally provided with one or more other sensors, the position at which these data have been collected can thus also be reported to the control room. Furthermore, the location at which a determined mobile detector is situated can thus also be transmitted to the control room.

In addition, data relating to a person operating or carrying the mobile detector can be recorded. This can take place in that identification means, such as a name, a number or a function of the person inputting the data, are co-transmitted with the data, or in that the person must identify him/herself before recording or transmitting the data, for instance in that he/she must enter a user name and/or password, or in that the mobile detector is linked to a determined person.

The mobile detector is preferably also provided with input means for input by a user of additional data such as detected incidents or facts. The images fed to the control room can hereby be provided with commentary and additional data, so that the images can later be interpreted and classified more easily. It is not inconceivable here for the detected data, expressed as text, to be sent to the control room without accompanying images.

In yet another variant of the system the mobile detector is provided with a display for displaying data transmitted to the mobile detector by the control room. The manner in which the mobile detector records data can for instance be influenced by means of the information sent to the mobile detector. It is also desirable that the mobile detector can be operated manually. Such a small and easily displaceable mobile detector has very great application potential.

The display can further be used to display data entered or images recorded by the mobile detector. The observer can thus monitor which data he/she transmits to the control room. For the purpose of obtaining a very compact and therefore easily handled device, the display can be more particularly embodied as touchscreen, wherein fields displayed on the screen and serving as keys must be touched in order to input data.

According to a particular preferred embodiment, the mobile detector is adapted for input therein of the detected incidents ordered according to categories. The incidents can hereby be incorporated in a database more easily and in more structured manner.

The input of the incidents into the detector preferably takes place by means of a tree structure, wherein a predetermined menu structure can be followed via touching of the screen so as to simplify the input.

The provision of such a menu structure results in particular advantages. Firstly, the situations or incidents which must or can be reported are displayed in structured manner for a person operating the detector, which can be of great importance, particularly in an emergency or panic situation in which rapid action is required.

In these cases the use of an options menu results in the advantage that corresponding reports also result in identical information being sent to the control room. More particularly, the information sent can be linked to a determined time, a determined location at which the detection took place, or a determined person who sent the information.

On the basis of the transmitted information it can then be determined, for instance statistically, that there is a high level of noise nuisance around community centre A or that the use of drugs in area B involves mainly soft drugs, or that local police officer C encounters pickpocketing with great regularity, or that local resident D or private security guard E often record attempts at car theft in good time.

In an embodiment the database in which information sent to the control room is stored can be provided with a link to a web server, which is provided with means for

displaying the transmitted information. These means can comprise a web portal on which persons authorized to do so can consult statistics relating to the collected information. It may also be the case that the web portal further comprises a user interface with the same or a similar menu structure with which information can be supplied via the internet to the central database. In this manner the information from the mobile detector can be fed to the database, or information can be fed to the database via a computer connected to the internet.

The invention also provides a method for surveillance which makes use of a system as described above, wherein the mobile detector is operated by a member of surveillance staff. It is desirable here that the control room is also manned by at least one member of surveillance staff. The advantages as described above with reference to the system for surveillance according to the present invention can be realized with such a method.

A specific preferred embodiment provides the measure that the detector is formed by the 'personal digital assistant'; these are after all usually already provided with a camera and are particularly suitable for rapid input of data by means of a menu structure. Such devices can however also be applied without camera.

The present invention will be further elucidated on the basis of the non-limitative exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures. Herein:

Figure 1 shows a top view of a surveillance system according to the invention;

- Figure 2a shows a table of a first menu structure which can be followed via the mobile detector; - Figure 2b shows a table of an example of following the first menu structure of

Figure 2a.

Figure 3a shows a table of a first menu structure which can be followed via the mobile detector;

- Figure 3b shows a table of an example of following the first menu structure of Figure 3a.

- Figure 4 shows an example of a sequence of operations, entered on a mobile detector, with a menu structure displayed thereon.

Figure 1 shows a top view of a surveillance system 1 according to the invention. System 1 is more particularly adapted for surveillance of a public space 2 such as for instance a square. System 1 comprises for this purpose a control room 3 provided with a member of surveillance staff 4. Communications room 3 is provided with two stationary cameras 5. Disposed in communications room 3 is a central computer 6 which is coupled to cameras 5 and which can be operated by the member of surveillance staff 4. Computer 6 comprises a keyboard 7 for data input, a screen 8 for displaying information, a control unit 9 and a storage medium 10, such as for instance a hard disc and/or a memory module. The information recorded by cameras 5 can be stored on storage medium 10 and processed by control unit 9. The information recorded by cameras 5 can then be displayed at least partially on screen 8 in either processed or non-processed form. Using keyboard 7 the member of surveillance staff 4 can individually control the orientation of the cameras. System 1 also comprises a first mobile detector 11. The first mobile detector 11 comprises a vehicle 12 provided with a camera 13 for recording visual information. Vehicle 12 is moreover provided with a sound sensor 14 for recording auditive information. Camera 13 and sound sensor 14 are both linked to a mobile computer 15 for storing, processing, editing and transmitting the recorded information. Mobile computer 15 comprises for this purpose a storage medium 16 for storing the recorded information, a control unit 17 (or processor) for processing the information, a screen 18 for optionally selective display of the information, and a keyboard 19 for data input, for instance for the purpose of processing the recorded information. Computer 15 is connected to first transmitting/receiving means 20 for wireless transmission in optionally secure manner of at least a part of the recorded information to control room 3. Control room 3 is provided for this purpose with central transmitting/receiving means 21 for receiving the information transmitted wirelessly by first mobile detector 11. Since transmitting/receiving means 20, 21 are adapted to both receive and transmit information, it is also possible with the system according to the invention to send information from control room 3 to first mobile detector 11. In order to enable further improvement of the surveillance of public space 2 the system 1 according to the invention also comprises a second mobile detector 22. Second mobile detector 22 takes a portable form and is here operated by a peripatetic member of surveillance staff 23. Second mobile detector 22 comprises a camera 24 for digital recording of visual information, and a screen 25 for displaying information recorded by camera 24. Screen 25 is here also embodied as touchscreen, whereby the member of surveillance staff 23

can operate camera 24 via touchscreen 25. Second mobile detector 22 comprises second transmitting/receiving means 26 to enable transmission of the recorded information to control room 3, where the information can be stored and processed. Because transmitting/receiving means 26 are applied, second mobile detector 22 is also adapted to receive information, which may for instance come from control room 3 and/or first mobile detector 11. Using the system 1 according to figure 1 the quality of surveillance of a public space 2, and thereby the security of this public space, can increase substantially without this having to result in considerably higher operational costs.

Figure 2a shows a table of a first menu structure 100 which can be followed via the mobile detector. The menu structure comprises a numbered sequence of detectable incidents or facts. Each detectable fact comprises a number of more precise specifications which are indicated with a letter, and some more precise specifications comprise an even more precise specification indicated with Roman numerals.

Figure 2b shows a table of an example of following the first menu structure of Figure 2a, wherein "Alcohol" is selected as first fact. "Drinking Alcohol" is more specifically detected, and even more specifically "From Bottle".

Figure 3a shows a table of a second menu structure 200 which can be followed via the mobile detector. The menu structure comprises a numbered sequence of detectable facts. Each detectable fact comprises a number of more precise specifications which are indicated with a letter, and some more precise specifications comprise an even more precise specification indicated with Roman numerals.

Figure 3b shows a table of an example of following the first menu structure of Figure 3a, wherein "Loitering Youths" is selected as first fact. "Non-threatening" is more specifically detected, and even more specifically "Short duration".

Figure 4 shows an example of a sequence of operations entered on a mobile detector, with a menu structure displayed thereon. The mobile detector is formed by a PDA 400. A user of the PDA can log in by means of screen 405 in order to identify him/herself. After logging in, a first options screen 410 for detections, also referred to as incident groups, is shown, wherein a choice can be made from various predefined possible

detections or incident groups. After making a choice a second options screen 420 appears, in which a choice of a more detailed description of the detection, or an incident type, can be made. After making the more detailed choice an additional comment can be entered in an input field 430 for free entry of text. An action for follow-up to the incident can also be indicated in action input screen 440. Finally, the registration of the incident can be completed in registration screen 450.