Method and a system for preserving intrusion event/s captured by camera/s

A system and a method for preserving intrusion event/s captured by camera/s. A method includes determining a first event and switching a camera from a first mode to a second mode based on the first event. The method further includes detecting a second event and capturing the second event based on the detection. The method also includes transmitting a copy of the captured second event to one or more devices.

FOREIGN PRIORITY

This application claims priority to Indian Patent Application No. 201911051256, filed Dec. 11, 2019, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. § 119, the contents of which in its entirety are herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to video surveillance systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a system and a method for preserving intrusion event/s captured by the video surveillance systems.

BACKGROUND

For monitoring and surveillance purpose, cameras are installed at various places such as home, banks, offices, malls, colleges, hospitals and/or roads for monitoring and surveillance purpose. Such cameras capture images/videos of several activities (such as movement of people, traffic etc.) going on at various places. Further, the cameras are connected wirelessly or through wires with router/s so that they can transmit captured images/videos to a system where a personnel may be watching the captured images/videos.

However, an intruder or a burglar can disconnect or destroy the routers resulting in disconnection of the cameras with the router/s. This would prevent the cameras from transmitting the captured images/videos to a system. Moreover, the intruder can also damage the cameras to erase or destroy the captured images/videos of any activity of the intruder stored inside the cameras. Thus, it would be difficult for an authority or any person to track and identify such an intruder. Existing solutions provide a solution by transmitting an alarm signal to a person in case of disconnection of the cameras with the router. Also, other existing solutions use multiple channels to communicate between the router and the camera or involve an additional cost by requiring to store the captured images/videos in separate storage hard-disks which requires manual intervention.

In view of the afore-mentioned problems in the existing solutions, there is a need of an efficient and effective system and a method for preventing erasal of images/videos of any suspicious activity of an intruder. There is also a need to provide a cost-effective solution for an automatic prevention of images/videos capturing the suspicious activity of an intruder without manual intervention. In order to solve the problems in the existing solutions, a system and a method are disclosed.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the invention describe a system for preserving intrusion event/s captured by video surveillance system/s. The system comprises a determination unit adapted to determine a first event. The system also comprises a camera adapted to switch from a first mode to a second mode based on the first event. Further, the camera comprises a detection unit adapted to detect a second event and a recording unit adapted to capture the second event based on the detection by the detection unit. A communication unit of the camera is adapted to transmit a copy of the captured second event to one or more devices. The one or more devices are adapted to receive the copy of the captured second event from the camera.

In an embodiment of the invention, the camera is connected to a router through a cellular network or a WiFi network in the first mode.

In a different embodiment of the invention, the camera is disconnected from a router in the second mode.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first event corresponds to the disconnection of the camera with the router.

In another embodiment of the invention, the camera detects the second event when the camera receives a signal from one or more sensors.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the second event corresponds to an intrusion event by an intruder.

In another embodiment of the invention, the camera, the one or more devices and the one or more sensors are installed inside a premises. Also, the camera and the one or more devices are connected via a cellular connection or a WiFi connection.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the one or more devices corresponds to a user device, a smoke detector or a fire detector.

In a different embodiment of the invention, the one or more devices transmit the copy of the captured second event to a cloud.

Various embodiments of the invention describe a method for preserving intrusion event/s captured by video surveillance system/s. The method comprises steps of determining a first event and switching a camera from a first mode to a second mode based on the first event. The method further comprises steps of detecting a second event and capturing the second event based on the detection and transmitting a copy of the captured second event to one or more devices.

In an embodiment of the invention, the camera is connected to a router through a cellular network or a WiFi network in the first mode.

In a different embodiment of the invention, the camera is disconnected from a router in the second mode.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first event corresponds to the disconnection of the camera with the router.

In another embodiment of the invention, the camera detects the second event when the camera receives a signal from one or more sensors.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the second event corresponds to an intrusion event by an intruder.

In another embodiment of the invention, the camera, the one or more devices and the one or more sensors are installed inside a premises.

In still another embodiment of the invention, the one or more devices corresponds to a user device, a smoke detector or a fire detector.

In a different embodiment of the invention, the one or more devices transmit the copy of the captured second event to a cloud.

In another different embodiment of the invention, a computer readable medium is disclosed for preserving intrusion event/s captured by video surveillance system/s. The computer readable medium comprises one or more processors and a memory is coupled to the one or more processors, the memory stores instructions executed by the one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to determine a first event and switch a camera from a first mode to a second mode based on the first event. The one or more processors are further configured to detect a second event and capturing the second event based on the detection and transmit a copy of the captured second event to one or more devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein is the technology with a system and a method for preserving intrusion event/s captured by video surveillance system/s. A camera may be installed at a premises and may operate in two modes i.e. a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the camera may be connected to a router and may operate normally by detecting and capturing second event/s (i.e. intrusion event/s) conducted by any intruder inside the premises. Also, the camera may transmit the captured second event/s to a server or a cloud through a network.

When a first event is determined, the camera may switch from the first mode to the second mode. In particular, the first event may correspond to a disconnection of the camera with the router. In the second mode, the camera may detect and capture the second event/s (i.e. intrusion event/s) conducted by the intruder inside the premises. Then, the camera may transmit a copy of the captured second event/s to one or more devices instead of the server or the cloud as the camera is disconnected with the router.

As used herein, the camera may determine the first event and/or the second event. The camera may comprise, but is not limited to, a communication unit, a recording unit, a detection unit, a battery, a memory and/or a processor. Such a camera may be a closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera, a smart camera or any such camera that is understood by a person skilled in the art.

As used herein, the premises may be a room, building, home, banks, offices, malls, colleges, hospitals, roads and/or or any such premises where the camera can be installed. Further, the router and/or the one or more detectors may also be located or positioned in the premises near the camera.

As used herein, the one or more devices may be connected with the camera through a network. The one or more devices may or may not be located or positioned in the premises near the camera. The one or more devices may be user devices, smoke detectors, fire detectors, smart lights, smart fans, smart geysers or any such smart device. Example of the user devices include a desktop, workstation PC, a laptop, a smart phone, a tablet, a wearable device and the like.

As used herein, the server has processing capabilities as disclosed further in the specification. The server may be a cloud storage, a remote database, or any such storage known in the art.

As used herein, the network may refer to a wired network, a cellular network (such as Global System for Mobile (GSM) network, a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, a code-division multiple access (CDMA) network, a narrow-band internet of thing (NB-IoT) technique or category M1 technique)), a WiFi network, a ZigBee network or any such network/technique that is known in the art.

Throughout the specification, reference numeral110depicts one or more devices. The reference numerals110A,110B,110C . . .110F each may be considered as a single device. Likewise, throughout the specification, reference numeral112depicts one or more sensors. The reference numerals112A and112B each may be considered as a single sensor.

FIG. 1Adepicts an exemplary system architecture100A with a camera106operating in a first mode according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As depicted inFIG. 1A, the camera106may be installed inside a premises102and is operating in a first mode. In this first mode, the camera106may be connected with a router108. The router108may also be installed or positioned in the premises102. Also, the camera106and the router108may be connected through a wired network, a cellular network or a WiFi network. In an exemplary embodiment, when an intruder104enters the premises102, the camera106may itself detect presence of the intruder104in the premises102by analyzing real-time feed of the camera106. In another exemplary embodiment, when the intruder104enters the premises102, one or more sensors112installed/positioned in the premises102may sense presence of the intruder104in the premises102. Then, the one or more sensors112may transmit a signal to the camera106for informing the camera106regarding the presence of the intruder104in the premises102. Also, the intruder104may perform or do an intruder activity/event (i.e. second event) such as destruction inside the premises102, stealing objects placed in the premises102or any such activity. Moreover, the camera106and the one or more sensors112may be connected through a network such as a wired network, a cellular network or a WiFi network. As used herein, the one or more sensors112may be ultrasonic sensors, thermal sensors, microwave detectors, pyroelectric human presence sensors, infra-red sensors or any such sensor that can detect presence and/or movement of the intruder104in the premises102.

On detecting presence of the intruder104in the premises102, the camera106may detect the second event (i.e. the intruder activity/event). For this, the camera106may analyze activities of the intruder104in the real-time feed of the camera106. Based on the analysis of the activities of the intruder104, the camera106may decide if the activities of the intruder104in the real-time feed of the camera106are dangerous or harmful. For an instance, if the intruder104in the real-time feed is or trying to break a lock of the premises102, damaging the premises102, destroying objects present in the premises102, stealing objects present in the premises102and/or performing any such activity, then the camera106may detect/classify/consider such activities as the second event. Alternatively, if the activities of the intruder104in the real-time feed is not dangerous or harmful, then the camera106may not detect/classify/consider such activities as the second event. For detecting second event/s, the camera106may employ or use artificial intelligence technique or machine learning techniques.

When the camera106detects/classifies/considers such activities as the second event, the camera106may capture or record the second event. Then, the camera106may use a router108placed/installed in the premises102to transmit a copy of the captured second event to a server116through a network114. In an alternative embodiment, the camera106may record the second event without detecting/classifying/considering such activities as the second event and may continuously transmit a copy of the captured second event to the server116. An owner of the premises102, security personnel of the premises102or any other authorized person may access the captured second event from the server116. Such captured second event may be used as an evidence and may also help in tracking as well as identifying the intruder104.

FIG. 1Bdepicts an exemplary system architecture100B with a camera106operating in a second mode according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. When a first event is determined, the camera106may switch from a first mode to a second mode. The first event may be determined when the camera106gets disconnected from a router108. Moreover, the first event may be determined by a determination unit. Such a determination unit214may reside inside the camera106or may reside outside the camera106and may be communicably coupled with the camera106. In an exemplary embodiment, the camera106gets disconnected with the router108when an intruder104turns-off the router108. In another exemplary embodiment, the camera106gets disconnected with the router108when the intruder104destroys/damages the router108. In a different exemplary embodiment, the camera106gets disconnected from the router108when the intruder104switches-off a power button of the router108. This embodiment of the present invention provides a technical advantage of automatically detecting the first event and providing information to the camera106to switch from first mode to the second mode.

In an exemplary embodiment, when the intruder104enters the premises102, the camera106may itself detect presence of the intruder104in the premises102by analyzing real-time feed of the camera106. In another exemplary embodiment, when the camera106is in the second mode, the camera106may receive a signal from one or more sensors112through a network such as a wired network, or a wireless network such as a cellular network or a WiFi network when the intruder104enters the premises102. On detecting the presence of the intruder104in the premises102, the camera106may detect the second event (i.e. the intruder activity/event) as explained above inFIG. 1A. When the camera106detects/classifies/considers activities of the intruder104as the second event (i.e. the intrusion event), the camera106may capture or record the second event. Also, the camera106may establish a cellular connection using a cellular network or a WiFi connection using a Wi-Fi network with one or more devices110installed in the premises102. Then, the camera106may create a copy of the captured second event and may transmit the copy of the captured second event to the one or more devices110installed in the premises102through the cellular connection or the WiFi connection. In an exemplary embodiment, the camera106may identify one or more devices110installed within a pre-defined distance (say, 5 meters) of the premises102for transmitting the copy of the captured second event. In another exemplary embodiment, the camera106may identify one or more devices110which are already pre-configured in the camera106by an owner of the premises102, a security personnel of the premises102or by any other person to transmit the copy of the captured second event.

By transmitting the copy of the captured second event to the one or more devices110, a back-up of the captured second event may be created and such back-up can be used as an evidence even when the intruder104has damaged the camera106. Also, by creating a back-up of the captured second event, the evidence capturing the intruder's activity may be preserved. This embodiment of the present invention provides a technical advantage of fail-safe mechanism by saving multiple copies of the captured second event in several devices110.

When the copy of the captured second event is transmitted, the one or more devices110may receive the copy of the captured second event and may also store the copy of the captured second event in a memory of the one or more devices110. In an exemplary embodiment, the owner of the premises102, the security personnel of the premises102or any other person may retrieve the copy of the captured second event from the memory of the one or more devices110. In another exemplary embodiment, the one or more devices110may transmit the copy of the captured second event to a server/cloud116using a network. And, the owner of the premises102, the security personnel of the premises102or any other person may retrieve the copy of the captured second event from the server/cloud116using a network. In a different exemplary embodiment, the one or more devices110may be a user device (or a mobile device) of the owner of the premises102, or of the security personnel of the premises102or of any other person that receives the copy of the captured second event and may also store the copy of the captured second event in its memory. This embodiment of the present invention provides a technical advantage of providing users a copy of the captured second event stored in multiple devices110.

FIG. 2depicts a block diagram of different components of a camera106according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The camera106may comprise of, but is not limited to, a communication unit202, a recording unit204, a detection unit206, a battery208, a memory210and/or a processor210. Also shown is a determination unit214associated with the camera106. In an exemplary embodiment, the camera106may comprise the determination unit214. In another exemplary embodiment, the camera106may be communicably coupled with the determination unit214. The determination unit214may be adapted to determine a first event, wherein the first event corresponds to a disconnection of the camera106with a router108as explained above. When the determination unit214detects the first event, the determination unit214may also be adapted to communicate the first event to the camera106. Accordingly, the camera106may be adapted to switch from a first mode to a second mode. The detection unit206may be adapted to detect a second event, wherein the second event corresponds to an intrusion event performed by an intruder104as explained above. When the detection unit206detect the second event, the detection unit206may also be adapted to communicate the second event to the recording unit204. The recording unit204may be adapted to capture the second event and may create a copy of the captured second event. Then, the recording unit204may be adapted to communicate the copy of the captured second event to the communication unit202. The communication unit202may be adapted to transmit the copy of the captured second event to one or more devices110through a network. In an exemplary embodiment, the communication unit202may be a transceiver. The battery208may be adapted to provide power to the camera106to perform operation/s as described herein. The memory210may be adapted to store the copy of the captured second event and identifiers of each the one or more devices110etc.

Moreover, the communication unit202, the recording unit204, the detection unit206, the battery208, the memory210and/or the determination unit214may be communicably coupled with the processor212. The different units described herein are exemplary. The invention may be performed using one or more units. For example, the tasks executed by the communication unit202, the recording unit204, the detection unit206, the battery208, the memory210, the determination unit214and/or the processor212may be performed by a single unit. Alternatively more number of units as described herein may be used to perform the present invention.

FIG. 3depicts a flowchart outlining the features of the invention in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The method flowchart300describes a method being for preserving intrusion event/s captured by video surveillance system/s. The method flowchart300starts at step302.

At step304, a determination unit214may determine a first event as explained above inFIG. 1B. The first event may corresponds to a disconnection of a camera106with a router108.

At step306, the camera106may switch from a first mode to a second mode based on the first event as explained above inFIG. 1AandFIG. 1B.

At step308, the camera106may detect a second event as described above inFIG. 1AandFIG. 1Babove. In an exemplary embodiment, the camera106may detect the second event. The second event may correspond to an intrusion event performed by an intruder104. In an exemplary embodiment, when an intruder104enters a premises102, the camera106may detect presence of the intruder104in the premises by analyzing real-time feed of the camera106. In another exemplary embodiment, when the intruder104enters the premises102, the camera106may receive signal from one or more sensors112for informing the camera106regarding the presence of the intruder104in the premises102. Then, the camera106may capture the second event based on the detection of the second event and may create a copy of the captured second event.

At step310, the camera106may transmit the copy of the captured second event to one or more devices110as explained inFIG. 1Babove. Then, the method flowchart300may end at312.

The present invention is applicable in various industries/fields such as, but not limited to, banking industry, hospitality industry, housing industry, building/construction industry, offices, universities, hospitals, colleges, homes and any such industry/field that is well known in the art and where the cameras are used for surveillance and monitoring purpose.

The embodiments of the invention discussed herein are exemplary and various modification and alterations to a person skilled in the art are within the scope of the invention.

In one embodiment of the invention, the invention can be operated using the one or more computer readable devices. The one or more computer readable devices can be associated with a camera106. A computer readable medium comprises one or more processors and a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory stores instructions executed by the one or more processors. The one or more processors configured to determine a first event and switch by a camera106from a first mode to second mode based on the first event. The one or more processors configured to detect a second event and capturing the second event based on the detection. The one or more processors also configured to transmit a copy of the captured second event to one or more devices110.

Exemplary computer readable media includes flash memory drives, digital versatile discs (DVDs), compact discs (CDs), floppy disks, and tape cassettes. By way of example and not limitation, computer readable media comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media are tangible and mutually exclusive to communication media. Computer storage media are implemented in hardware and exclude carrier waves and propagated signals. Computer storage media for purposes of this invention are not signals per se. Exemplary computer storage media include hard disks, flash drives, and other solid-state memory. In contrast, communication media typically embody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and include any information delivery media.

Although described in connection with an exemplary computing system environment, examples of the invention are capable of implementation with numerous other general purpose or special purpose computing system environments, configurations, or devices.

Examples of the invention may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices in software, firmware, hardware, or a combination thereof. The computer-executable instructions may be organized into one or more computer-executable components or modules. Generally, program modules include, but are not limited to, routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Aspects of the invention may be implemented with any number and organization of such components or modules. For example, aspects of the invention are not limited to the specific computer-executable instructions or the specific components or modules illustrated in the Figures/Tables and described herein. Other examples of the invention may include different computer-executable instructions or components having more or less functionality than illustrated and described herein. Aspects of the invention transform a general-purpose computer into a special-purpose computing device when configured to execute the instructions described herein.