Patent Publication Number: US-2016232765-A1

Title: Intelligent Observation and Identification Database System

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation Application from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/546,223 filed Nov. 18, 2014, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,318,009 on Apr. 19, 2016, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. This application is also a Continuation Application from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/033,014 filed Sep. 20, 2013, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,890,655, on Nov. 18, 2014, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. This application is also a Continuation Application from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/706,824 filed Dec. 6, 2012, U.S. Pat. No. 8,542,096 as issued on Sep. 24, 2013, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. This application is also a Continuation Application from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/479,724 filed May 24, 2012, U.S. Pat. No. 8,330,599 as issued on Dec. 11, 2012, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. This application is also a Continuation Application from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/041,593 filed Mar. 7, 2011 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,188,861 on May 29, 2012, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. This application is also a Continuation Application from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/254587, filed Oct. 20, 2008 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,902,978, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein; which is a Continuation Application from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/646,853, filed Aug. 22, 2003, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,439,847, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein; which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Applications 60/405,592 and 60/405,379, both filed Aug. 23, 2002 the contents all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the past law enforcement officers, surveillance, or security personnel attempting to identify vehicles and/or occupants of vehicles have observed a license plate without the use of a camera or an optical input device other than eyeglasses. An officer or security guard was thereby required to be sufficiently close to a vehicle to observe the license plate. The presence of the officer was thereby often revealed to the occupant of the vehicle under investigation. The failure to use optical input devices has slowed down or delayed the timing for vehicle identification as well as the identification of the vehicle owner and make or model for the vehicle. In addition the communication of information to an officer or guard as to the criminal history of the likely driver or registered owner of the vehicle was also delayed. 
     In the past upon the identification of a license plate an officer frequently manually entered the license plate number into a keypad to initiate access to a database which distracted the officer&#39;s attention from the vehicle. An officer was thereby less likely to observe erratic or otherwise suspicious driving characteristics for the vehicle. The safety to the officer and/or to other individuals was thereby reduced. It is desirable to identify the ownership of a vehicle, in that, rental vehicles may have a higher probability of including an explosive device. 
     In the past following entry of a license plate number into a keypad, a communication link was required to access a database to retrieve desired information such as the make, model, registration, listed owner, status of license tabs, insurance status, outstanding violations, individual identification, outstanding warrants, or other information. The data link permitted the display of the retrieved information onto a screen mounted for observation by an officer or guard. The officer or guard was then required to view the screen to become advised of the desired information, again distracting the officer from a vehicle or occupant under investigation. No processor was known to intelligently and/or automatically evaluate or filter information retrieved from a database in real time, to identify a potentially dangerous condition or a necessity to implement a more detailed inquiry related to a vehicle. No warning signal was known to automatically warn an officer as to the existence of a potentially dangerous situation or a condition requiring further investigation. 
     Some squad vehicles, checkpoints, and/or guard stations include photographic equipment such as cameras and/or video recorders to assist in the observation of vehicles or license plates for vehicles. Generally this type of optical equipment is expensive and not available for all police or emergency vehicles or restricted access locations. In addition the use of cameras, video equipment, or optical visual assist devices continues to require an officer or guard to manually enter a license plate number into a keypad duplicating the disadvantages as identified above. A need therefore exists for a device and method to intelligently and automatically observe a license plate for conversion into a digital format for comparison in real time to a database to identify information related to the vehicle and/or the vehicle occupant. 
     Following the retrieval of information from a database, an officer, security, or surveillance personnel normally cleared the information from a vehicle display. In the past, generally no record of any access or prior investigation was made or stored for future reference by the law, security, or surveillance personnel and/or officers. In the past, it has not been known to make an environmentally specific database for a security zone of vehicles to identify the number and identity of each vehicle within the security zone which may include, but is not necessarily limited to, a garage, hospital, school, and/or an airport parking lot any particular point in time. 
     No system was known which identified vehicle license plates and vehicles, created a database, and tracked the vehicles within a specific security zone. 
     No system has also been known which enables an operator to search or screen a specifically accumulated database for a security zone for vehicles falling within a particular sub-class or group for implementation of a more detailed investigation by a security, surveillance, or law enforcement officer. In addition, no system is known which enables a security, surveillance, or law enforcement officer to either select one of many pre-programmed inquiries based upon profiles, searches, or screening functions in real time to implement a specific customized inquiry of the accumulated database to identify a specific target group of vehicles to receive further investigation. 
     In the past mirrors as mounted on an elongated handle or rolling mechanism have been used for positioning under a vehicle to enable inspection of the undercarriage of a vehicle. Generally the use of mirrors for inspection of the undercarriage of a vehicle have failed to provide the opportunity for a complete and detailed inspection of the vehicle. Alternatively individuals have placed themselves on hands and knees to attempt to look under a vehicle to perform an inspection to identify the presence of explosive devices. 
     As is known terrorists have secreted explosive devices within the undercarriage of a vehicle to perform a terrorist attack. In addition, in the past, a terrorist has attempted to hide the existence of an explosive or bomb under a cover as attached to the undercarriage of a vehicle. The existence of a cover alters the appearance of an undercarriage as compared to the appearance of a standard undercarriage for an identical vehicle. No intelligent and automatic method of recognizing the existence of an explosive, or the alteration of an undercarriage to hide an explosive, is known to detect the existence of an attempted terrorist attack. 
     Further, no device has been known to identify and track a person within a security zone absent affirmative actions by the person, or use of a trackable device by the person, such as a personalized keycard. 
     All US patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief description of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention are set forth below. Additional details of the described embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below. 
     A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided as well, only for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72. The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. 
     BRIEF OR GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The Intelligent Observation and Identification Database Alert System generally identifies, recognizes and provides real time information concerning a vehicle, group of vehicles, person or group of persons under investigation, where a processor screens a database to identify and name persons or vehicles to receive the highest priority of investigation. Vehicle information is immediately retrieved upon the activation of a camera, digital camera, video or audio recording device, or optically assisted recognition device as directed to a vehicle license plate. Real time information is thereby provided to an officer to assist in law enforcement or surveillance activities. 
     In one embodiment the present invention provides for the recognition of patterns within an accumulated continuously evolving database to access and initiate an investigation profile for vehicles located within, or adjacent to a security zone, where a lower priority category of vehicles are assigned based upon regular and recurring patterns of presence of the vehicle within a security zone. 
     In one embodiment the present invention provides for the identification and searching of vehicle license plates to identify and compare recorded optical images against previously stored data representative of the make, model, type, and description of the vehicle to verify the accuracy of the observed images as compared to the pre-stored data. 
     In one embodiment the present invention tracks entry and exit times of vehicles and/or persons entering and exiting a predetermined zone, and for entry of appropriate tracking information into a continuously evolving database. 
     In one embodiment the present invention learns over a period of time the typical entry and exit times of persons and/or vehicles and, under predetermined circumstances, alert security personnel as to changes in a routine. 
     These and other embodiments which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention and its advantages, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described various embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       A detailed description of the invention is hereafter described with specific reference being made to the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of an intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts an actual installation of an intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2A  depicts an embodiment of the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  depicts a mobile intelligent observation and identification database system according to the present invention. 
         FIGS. 4 and 4A  depict a comparison of vehicle undercarriage images. 
         FIG. 5  depicts a mobile vehicle undercarriage observation and identification database system. 
         FIGS. 6 and 6A  depict a comparison of vehicle side profiles. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a mobile intelligent observation and identification database system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  depicts an environmental view of a room equipped with an intelligent observation and identification database system according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated. 
     For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated. 
     In general, the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system is utilized within a particular defined security zone or zones to track the entry, exit and location of vehicles and individuals, and to identify acceptable profile parameters for the vehicles within the security zone. The intelligent system is utilized to flag discrepancies related to information accessible and processed from a stored and accumulated continuously evolving database of information in order to warn security, surveillance, and/or law enforcement officers as to the existence of a condition warranting further investigation to minimize risk of danger, such as illegal activity or terrorist attacks. 
     The intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system will search and/or screen all vehicles entering into a security zone to identify information such as the license plate number, make, model, and type of vehicle along with a facial recognition optical image of vehicle occupants, the recording of the time, date, and place of entry into the secured zone and exit from the secured zone, and personal information concerning driver&#39;s license numbers, criminal records, driving records, and/or a comparison of a photographic image from a driver&#39;s license compared to the optical image obtained by the facial recognition camera. 
     The accumulation and storage of the information of the type identified above will be stored within particular continuously updated and evolving files to create a database for future reference to enable law enforcement, surveillance, and/or security officers to implement profile searches to identify classes of vehicles warranting further investigation to minimize risk of terrorist attacks. For instance, on a given day, a law enforcement, surveillance, and/or security officer could access the accumulated database to inquire as to the identity and location of all vehicles within a security zone which had been driven and/or occupied by individuals having a particular nationality and/or ethnic background. The processor associated with the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system will then search the available database and identify all vehicles which fall within the class of vehicles under investigation. The processor associated with the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system will then advise the law enforcement, surveillance, or security officers as to the location of each vehicle under investigation. The intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system may also be utilized in recognition of pedestrians. 
     The tracking of vehicles within the security zone is accomplished through the use of a plurality of optical devices which may be cameras, digital cameras, and/or other types of recording devices which are either mounted in a static and/or active position for recording of a specific field adjacent to, or within, the security zone. Each of the devices are preferably linked to a continuously evolving database to record information which may be processed and retrieved for use by security personnel. It is anticipated that a sufficient number of optical devices will be utilized such that the observation fields for each individual optical device overlap to provide continuous observation of all desired areas within the security zone. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the intelligent observation and identification database system  10  generally comprises an optical input device  12 , such as a camera, a computer  22 , including a processor, a database  30 , which may be an evolving database, which may be located inside the computer  22 , and an output device  40 , such as a monitor. 
     The system  10  may also include other input devices  18 , such as fingerprint scanners, palm scanners, microphones, retinal scanners, and the like. The various other input devices  18  and optical input devices  12  may be classified into zones  50 . The computer  22  thus may receive input from a plurality of zones  50 . Further, each zone  50  may include its own computer  22  and evolving database  30 . Each database  30  may contain predetermined information, such as license plate registration date, vehicle history and warrant data, standard images and descriptions of vehicles including front, side and rear profile and undercarriage images, vehicle specifications such as height, width, length, total unloaded weight, and any other available vehicle data, warrant data with respect to persons, personal identification information such as facial images and profile images of persons, fingerprint images, palm print images, voice samples and the like. Each evolving database  30  is also capable of being updated according to data saved by the system. Optionally, a plurality of computers  22  in a plurality of zones  50  may be in communication with each other, and also may be in communication with a mainframe computer  60  or server, which may have a mainframe database  62 . When a number of zones  50  are linked to a mainframe computer  60 , each zone  50  could alternatively be classified as a sub-zone, with the system  10  zone being the entire perimeter of all combined sub-zones. 
     An overview of the method utilized with the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  initiates with the identification of a security zone  50 . Next, individuals identify the positioning of optical assist and/or recording devices  12  to establish fields of observation to completely enclose the identified security zone  50 . Individuals next place the optical input devices  12  in accordance with the identified desired positions for the optical input devices  12  to observe the security zone  50 . 
     The optical input devices  12  are next connected to a network and computer  22  which may be centrally located within a security zone  50 . Software is preferably loaded onto the computer  22  for creation of individual files representative of vehicles  70  and/or individuals  56 . Access software is used to communicate with internal databases  30 ,  62  or external or remote databases, and comparison software is used to review data as related to the external and/or internal databases  30 ,  62 . Sensitivity software is also used to establish thresholds and to issue/trigger investigation signals, which may be displayed on the output device or monitor  40 , and category software is used to divide data within individual files or images captured by the input devices  12 ,  18  into coherent segments. In addition, any other software as desired by security and/or law enforcement personnel may be utilized. Individuals will next verify the operational status and accuracy of the computer  22  operation for the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  to insure functioning prior to implementation. The computer  22  will then be connected to the individual security zone  50  network of optical input devices  12  for testing as to an operational status. Next, the computer  22  will be connected to a network comprised of a plurality of security zones  50  to insure operational communication therebetween. 
     Next the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10 , including the optical input devices  12  and other input devices  18 , will be initiated. The computer  22  will then accumulate data and build a database  30 ,  62  for observed vehicles  70  and individuals  56  within the individual security zone  50 . 
     The optical input devices  12  will then observe vehicles  70  and individuals  56  where the computer  22  will access internal databases  30 ,  62  and external databases to identify the make and model of the vehicle, facial recognition of driver  56  and passengers, driver&#39;s license number, driving record, criminal history, expected load, and any other information related to the vehicle  70  and/or individual  56 . 
     The computer  22  may next implement either standard or customized queries or searches for defined profiles related to individuals  56  and/or vehicles  70  within the accumulated database  30 ,  62  for the security zone  50 . Upon identification of individuals  56  and/or vehicles  70  which satisfy the profile criteria, a communication signal will be generated to advise law enforcement, surveillance, or security zone  50  officers as to the status and location of the individuals  56  and/or vehicles  70  under investigation. 
     The computer  22  may then additionally access the network of the plurality of security zones  50  for transmission of search requests and/or information as related to a current condition within the initial security zone  50 . These inquiries may be global, or may be limited to specific periods of time or other specific conditions. 
       FIG. 2  depicts an entry point or security checkpoint  52 , which may comprise a zone  50 . The intelligent observation and identification database system  10  preferably utilizes an observation post or checkpoint  52  at an entrance or an exit to a secured zone  50  to optically observe and input, at both the entrance and the exit, information to record and store within the database  30  for identification of regular and repetitive conduct of specific vehicles  70  or individuals  56  within the security zone  50 . In addition, other types of recognition such as facial recognition, fingerprint recognition, palm print recognition, voice print recognition, eye scan, and/or signature recognition may be coupled to the input devices  12 , 18  for recording of data to be automatically accessed and stored by the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10 . 
     As a vehicle  70  approaches the checkpoint  52 , the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  desirably employs a plurality of input devices  12 ,  18  to record images related to the vehicle  70  and its occupants  56 . Optical input devices  12  may include cameras, digital cameras and charge-coupled devices such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,647 to Chang, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, video cameras, scanners and any other appropriate devices to record an image. The optical input device  12  desirably records a digital image for analysis by the computer  22 . If the optical input device  12  does not record a digital image, the system  10  desirably includes a digital converter to convert the image to a digital format. 
     The computer  22  for the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  preferably is sufficiently sophisticated for tracking of a vehicle  70  and/or individual  56  as the vehicle  70  and/or individual  56  passes through a plurality of independent optical input devices  12  or other input devices  18  as previously discussed. In this regard, the computer  22  receives data independently from one or more input devices  12 ,  18  for analysis against pre-stored and/or prerecorded data in the database  30  related to the vehicle  70  and/or individual  56 . In this regard, it is not required that the first optical input device  12  observe all relevant data related to a vehicle  70  and/or individual  56 . For example, a first optical input device  12  may recognize a license plate  54 , but due to the alignment of the vehicle  70  with the optical input device  12 , the side profile of the vehicle  70  may not be readily ascertained. As the vehicle  70  approaches and passes into the viewing area of additional optical input devices  12 , a perpendicular observation alignment may occur where the side profile and loading of the vehicle  70  may be readily ascertained. It is therefore anticipated that the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  simultaneously and continuously receives data from all input devices  12 ,  18  for processing for identification, observation, tracking, and identifying an individual  56  or vehicle  70 . All input data may further be stored within a continuously evolving database  30 . 
     Optical input devices  12  are desirably arranged to record images of the vehicle  70  license plate  54  and of the face of the driver  56  and passengers. The devices  12  may also record images related to the front, rear, and side profiles of the vehicle  70 . 
     The intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  desirably records an image of the license plate  54  for storage of the license plate  54  number, the time and date of the recording, and digital images representative of the vehicle  70 , driver  56  and passengers, including appearance characteristics. 
     The optical input device  12  may include a flash for proper image recording in low light conditions, such as at night or within a building enclosure. The optical input devices  12  desirably will include exposure control sensors, such as antiblooming and antismear sensors to prevent blooming and smearing of images, for example as may be caused by headlights. 
     Often it is desirable to keep the input devices  12 ,  18  hidden from view of the motorists. The input devices  12 ,  18  may be disguised or hidden from view within various enclosures. For example,  FIG. 2  depicts an input device  12  positioned to record a vehicle  70  license plate  54  that is mounted in the ground, having only a small dome protruding above the road surface. 
     When the input devices  12 ,  18  are hidden, or when the use of a visible flash is undesirable, the system  10  may make use of IR flashes, which generally produce light not visible to the human eye and can include an IR bandpass filter to completely remove visible light. The optical input devices  12  should be adapted to record images based from the IR light and adjust the recorded image to be visible by the human eye, or to adjust the exposure control as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,161 to Auty et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     When an image of the vehicle  70  license plate  54  is recorded, the computer  22  may analyze the image to determine the license plate  54  number. Desirably, the computer  22  performs an optical character recognition (OCR) to extract the data pertaining to license plate  54  characters from the digital image and convert the data into standard alphanumeric characters, such as ASCII text. An example of OCR is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,261 to Fitzpatrick et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Once the license plate  54  has been converted to computer  22  readable characters, the computer  22  will access the evolving database  30  information to allow for verification of the make, model, vehicle type and the registered driver  56 . Further, the computer  22  is able to check the criminal history and driving history related to the license plate  54 . Thus, as a vehicle  70  approaches a checkpoint  52 , the license plate  54  may be read, and the computer  22  may display the expected driver  56  and vehicle information on the monitor  40  for security personnel. Further, if the database  30  search reveals any warrants on the vehicle  70  or expected driver  56 , the computer  22  may alert security personnel. 
     It should be noted that the license plate  54  image and character recognition portion of the system  10  may alternatively be utilized as a portable apparatus, for example within a police or security vehicle, as depicted in  FIG. 3 . As such, the portable apparatus may comprise a portable license plate  54  recognition and information retrieval apparatus  80 . The security or police personnel will then have a complete automatic description of the vehicle  70  associated with the license plate  54 , and any history associated with the vehicle  70  and registered owner or of the vehicle  70 . The database  30  may be located within the patrol vehicle, while a wireless connection  58  may be utilized to facilitate communication with a mainframe computer  60  or mainframe database  62 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2  and a security checkpoint  52 , the system  10  may also include one or more optical input devices  12  positioned beneath the vehicle  70  in order to record an image of the vehicle undercarriage. The undercarriage optical input devices  12  may be mounted beneath the road surface, flush with the road surface or protruding from the road. Desirably, protrusion above the ground will be kept to a minimum. The undercarriage optical input devices  12  may be coupled to lights or IR lights to illuminate the areas to be observed. The under-vehicle input devices  12  may comprise scanners  14  to scan an image which more closely represents a scale image of the undercarriage, without perspective skewing of the image. In either case, the computer  22  may include software to stretch and skew the recorded undercarriage image to match a predetermined scale. Further, the system  10  may include a speed determining device  24 , such as a radar gun, to actively evaluate the rate of displacement of the vehicle  70  during recording of the image, so that the computer  22  may adjust the recorded information to produce an accurate scaled image. 
       FIGS. 4 and 4A  depict two similar vehicle undercarriages. The computer  22 , upon the receipt of information concerning the make and model of the vehicle  70 , as provided by the license plate  54  reader, may access the database  30  for retrieval of a pre-recorded undercarriage image  34  representative of the blueprint or undercarriage of the identified make and model for the vehicle  70 . The input device  12  preferably stores the observed undercarriage image  36  of the inspected vehicle  70  within memory as a file related to the undercarriage of the vehicle  70  under investigation. The computer  22  may then display both the pre-recorded undercarriage image  34  and the observed undercarriage image  36  on the monitor  40  for comparison by security personnel. 
     Alternatively, the computer  22  may automatically compare the observed undercarriage image  36  of the vehicle  70  to the pre-recorded undercarriage image  34  of a standard vehicle of the identical make and model. 
     Automatic image comparing by the computer may be accomplished by any method known in the art, desirably by probabilistic analysis such as thresholding of color and intensity of pixels, shape-plus-texture methods, Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and Eigenvector or Eigenspace decomposition analysis. Example methods of image analysis are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,055 to Wang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,992 to Turk et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,710,833 to Moghaddam et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,074 to Fujimoto et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,893 to Luo et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,805 to Koike et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,155 to Funayama et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,400,828 to Covell et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     In the event that the observed undercarriage image  36  of the vehicle  70  matches the pre-stored image  34  for the vehicle  70  within predetermined tolerances, then the computer  22  may issue a pass signal to an officer, indicating that the system  10  has determined from the undercarriage image that the vehicle  70  matches the license plate  54 , and that the system  10  has not detected suspicious items from the undercarriage image. Alternatively, in the event that differences are identified between the observed undercarriage  36  of the vehicle  70  and the prerecorded image  34  for the undercarriage of the vehicle, then the computer  22  may immediately communicate to a law enforcement, surveillance, or security officer a hold, warning or instruction to investigate signal. 
     In the event that the observed undercarriage image  36  of the vehicle  70  does not match the pre-stored image  34  for the vehicle within predetermined tolerances, the computer  22  may be programmed to react differently under various circumstances. If the images  34  and  36  are substantially similar except for a concentrated area of dissimilarity  32 , as depicted in  FIG. 4A , the computer  22  may issue an alert signal to security personnel to investigate the dissimilarity  32 . Such a dissimilarity  32  may be due to an explosive device, hiding persons or other smuggled materials. 
     If substantial portions of the images  34  and  36  do not match, especially when there are multiple discrepancies detected both fore and aft of the floor pans  38 , then the computer  22  may indicate that the vehicle determination according to the license plate  54  (the prerecorded image  34 ) does not match the actual vehicle  70  as observed. Thus, the computer  22  can initiate an investigation as to the type of vehicle  70  and accompanying license plates  54 . 
     The computer  22  may also initiate a search of the database  30 ,  62  and attempt to identify the vehicle  70  by matching the observed undercarriage  36  with one or more of the prerecorded vehicle undercarriage images stored in the database  30 ,  62 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, a computer  22  may combine observed recorded images  36  for the undercarriage of a vehicle  70  where no pre-screening of the license plate  54  has occurred. In this embodiment the computer  22  will directly search all available data representative of undercarriages of vehicles in the database  30  to attempt to match a previously stored database image  34  to the observed undercarriage image  36  as described above. The computer  22  may then communicate to a security or law enforcement officer the make and/or model representative of the match between the recorded image  36  of the vehicle  70  undercarriage to the pre-stored database image  34  for the vehicle undercarriage, whereupon the security officer may visually verify the make and model for the vehicle  70 . In the event of a discrepancy the law enforcement or security officer may then initiate further investigation of the vehicle  70 . In this embodiment, such as depicted in  FIG. 5 , the system may be portable and comprise a portable vehicle undercarriage identification and screening system  82 . 
     In such a portable system  82 , it is desirable to record an observed undercarriage image  36  and have the computer  22  scan the database  30  for likely matches. The computer  22  may then select the most likely prerecorded undercarriage image  34  match for comparison. Alternatively, the computer may display a predetermined number of likely but differing matches, for example different makes or models of vehicles, in order of rank according to probability of the match, thus allowing an operator or security person to select the actual vehicle and corresponding prerecorded undercarriage image  34  for use in comparing to the observed undercarriage image  36 . The computer  22  may then proceed with a comparison as described above. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  preferably includes a database which will include any number of pre-stored images representative of undercarriage and front, side and rear profiles of different models, makes, and years of vehicles. Thus, the optical input devices  12  may record front, rear and/or side profile images of the vehicle  70  under investigation for comparison to prerecorded images stored in the database  30  of front, rear and/or side profile images. Thus, similarly to the method of comparison described above, the system  10  may determine an expected vehicle based upon the license plate  54  identification, and compare a prerecorded profile image from the database  30  to an actual profile image of the vehicle  70 . Thus, the system  10  may either verify that the make and model of the actual vehicle  70  matches the expected vehicle make and model as determined from the license plates  54 , or indicate a discrepancy and alert security personnel. 
     Further, some embodiments of the system  10  may use observed front, rear and/or side profile images in determining the appropriate prerecorded undercarriage image  34  to select for comparison with an observed undercarriage image  36 . 
     Other embodiments may include programming for the computer  22  to initially attempt to identify the make, model, and year for a vehicle  70  prior to the retrieval of pre-stored images  34  representative of the undercarriage for the target vehicle  70 . The computer  22  then may verify the observed image  36  and prerecorded image  34  for the undercarriage of the vehicle  70  to issue a pass, hold, and/or warning signal to a security officer. The computer  22  may alternatively select any number of options of variations for the undercarriage of a particular make and model of vehicle to expedite the comparison between the observed and recorded image to the information as stored within the computer  22  database. For example, some vehicles have optional features that change the undercarriage and profile views of the vehicle  70 . Desirably, the database will contain prerecorded images  34  for all factory variations of all vehicles available for sale in the United States. 
     The intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may analyze a profile image of a vehicle  70 , desirably a side or rear view profile image, to determine probable overloading of the vehicle  70 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 6A , the computer may compare a prerecorded profile  44  of a vehicle  70  in the database  30  to the actual observed profile  46  of the vehicle  70  being investigated. The system may determine probable overloading of a vehicle  70  based upon discrepancies between the prerecorded profile  44  and the observed profile  46 , such as a deflected profile line  88 , a reduced wheel clearance  90  or a reduced ground clearance  92 . Indication of increased loading of a vehicle  70  could indicate the presence of contraband, persons or explosive devices within the vehicle  70 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may include a scale platform  86 , or other apparatus for determining the actual weight of the vehicle  70 . The actual recorded weight is desirably compared to the typical weight of a stock vehicle, which is desirably contained in the database  30 . If the actual weight is higher than the typical stock weight by a predetermined amount, the system  10  may signal to security personnel to investigate. 
     In some embodiments, as described below, the system  10  may have the capability of determining the number of visible vehicle occupants  56  and identifying the occupants  56 . When this information is available to the system  10 , the computer  22  may be programmed to account for the expected weight of each detected occupant. Thus, the predetermined amount of weight differential between the actual weight and the typical stock weight may be increased according to the expected weight of the vehicle occupants  56 . 
     Upon detection of any threshold discrepancies related to the vehicle  70  itself, the computer  22  for the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  will issue a flag to a security officer to stop, hold, and/or investigate the vehicle  70  and to temporarily refuse entrance into the security zone  50 . The optical input devices  12  and scale  86  thereby provide enhanced safety to the security zone  50  functioning as a proactive automatic screening system to prohibit and to apprehend potential criminals and terrorists prior to entry into a secured location or zone  50 . 
     The intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may include optical input devices  12  arranged to record an image of the vehicle occupants  56 . Desirably the input devices  12  are positioned to record a front view and/or a side profile of the various occupants  56 . The system  10  may also include other input devices  18  to record input data from the driver  56  and passengers. For example, an other input device  18  may be a fingerprint scanner, palm scanner, retinal scanner, microphone, etc.  FIG. 7  depicts an embodiment of a system  10  which may include an input unit having an optical input device  12 , and other input devices such as a microphone  19  and a thumbprint scanner  20 . Such an embodiment of a system  10  may be useful at a remote checkpoint  52 . 
     Personal data recorded from the vehicle occupants  56 , such as photo images, finger or thumbprints, palm prints, retinal scans and voice captures, may be compared to similar prerecorded files stored in the database  30  in order to verify and/or identify the vehicle occupants  56 . Thus, it is desirable for the database  30  to contain relevant information of all persons who regularly pass through the zone  50 , as well as identification information, especially fingerprints and facial images or mug shots of known criminals, suspects, terrorists or any other individuals  56  that should not be admitted into the security zone  50 . 
     Further, all data prerecorded into a database  30 ,  62  or subsequently stored in a database  30 ,  62  by the system  10  may be classified within the database  30 ,  62  or by any of the computers  22 ,  60 . Thus, vehicle information may be classified by make and model, vehicle year, vehicle size or even frequency of the queries that the specific data file receives. Personal data may be grouped according to any standard in order to facilitate searching, such as facial size, skin tone, male/female, eye location, and the like. 
     In addition to the image analysis methods previously discussed, U.S. Pat. No. 6,111,671 to Bahuguna et al. discloses a fingerprint sensor and verification system; U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,669 to Shanley et al. discloses a retinal scan and verification system; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,396,954 to Kondo discloses voice recognition, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Thus, the system  10  may be capable of automatically identifying vehicle occupants  56  and other personnel  56  entering into the security zone  50  and recording the entry time and location. 
     The system  10  may be used to compare the prerecorded personal information contained in a database  30 ,  62  or an external database related to the identified license plate  54  with the observed information to verify the accuracy of the observed information. In addition, visual facial recognition images may be used to verify a driver&#39;s license photo associated with a detected license plate  54 . In this regard, the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  constructs an individualized database  30  for a security zone  50  which is customized, in real time, to automatically detect a discrepancy and to flag observed criteria to facilitate safety and security for a desired zone  50  or checkpoint  52 . 
     The intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  is preferably sufficiently accurate to compare observed data to previously stored data to identify discrepancies such as whether or not a license plate  54  for a vehicle  70  has been switched with another vehicle, an automobile has been stolen, the drivers  56  of vehicles  70  do not match previously stored data, and/or whether or not the driver  56  satisfies profile criteria to warrant further investigation. 
     Further, separate zones  50  within the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may be in communication with each other. For example, a building may have a first zone  50  defined as the exterior perimeter and parking structure, a second zone  50  for the building lobby, and an additional zone  50  for each floor of the building. 
     Additionally, separate intelligent video/audio observation and identification database systems  10  may be connected together, for example via the internet, for communication with one another. Separate intelligent video/audio observation and identification database systems  10  may be located in adjacent areas within the same building, in separate adjacent buildings, or even in another city or country. 
     The computer  22  for the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may include an interface between any number of application specific databases  30 ,  62 , which in turn may be coupled with screening and/or searching functions to identify vehicles  70  and/or individuals  56  within the United States. For example, a city such as Washington D.C. may have any number of government buildings and offices, including airports, each containing an intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10 . A first preliminary screening inquiry may identify a vehicle  70  with a falsified license plate  54  and simultaneously a facial recognition system may identify an ethnic background for an individual  56 . A second inquiry may search facial recognition data as stored within the FBI, CIA, INTERPOL, and/or other law enforcement databases for identification of the individual  56 . A computer  22  for the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may simultaneously send a message to all government buildings or other systems  10  to flag a database  30  search for a particular license plate  54  or facial or personal data recognition features. The vehicle  70  containing the matching license plate  54  or suspect individual  56  may thereby be tracked by the system  10  or various systems  10  recording each recognition occurrence as the vehicle  70  or individual  56  attempts to engage in reconnaissance activities around additional government buildings within a city. Upon recognition of a flagged condition, a signal may be sent to a surveillance, security, or law enforcement personnel as to the location of the vehicle  70  or individual  56  relative to government buildings within the city. The coupling of numerous intelligent video/audio observation and identification database systems  10  thereby facilitates investigation, interrogation, and apprehension of suspects located within or adjacent to security zones  50 . 
     Further, the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  as coupled to other systems  10  integral to distant security zones  50  may, upon the flagging of a vehicle  70  or individual  56 , initiate an inquiry to other security zones  50  of the network, such as other government buildings or other types of high security areas to request transmittal of information related to the flagged vehicle  70  and/or individual  56 . Acknowledgment signals may thereby be passed and information transferred concerning dates, times, images, priority classification, and other prior recorded information as to the presence of the suspect vehicle  70  and/or individual  56  within other the security zones  50 . The transmittal of information from remote security zones  50  in response to an inquiry may then be automatically processed for provision of a signal to a law enforcement, surveillance, or security officer to stop, interrogate, and/or implement additional searching related to a vehicle  70  and/or individual  56 . 
     The intelligent video/audio observation, identification and database system  10  thereby provides a real time network of transmitted information for verification of data related to a vehicle  70  and/or individual  56  adjacent to or within a security zone  50 . In real time officers are provided with the opportunity to apprehend and/or interrogate suspect individuals  56  and/or vehicles  70  on a significantly expedited basis. 
     Security zones  50  which may use the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may include, but are not necessarily limited to, areas such as airports, embassies, hospitals, schools, government buildings, commercial buildings, power plants, chemical plants, garages, and/or any other location for which the monitoring of vehicle  70  or individual  56  traffic and/or security is desirable. 
     An intelligent observation and identification database system  10  may be arranged to learn the expected times for arrival and departure of individuals  56  and vehicles  70  from various zones  10 . Each time an individual  56  or vehicle  70  enters or exits a security zone  50 , the system  10  may record in the database  30  the time and location of the arrival or exit. Thus, over time, the system  10  may learn the expected arrival and departure times based upon the average of a predetermined number of instances, or by the most common of a range of predetermined times, such as normal shift times. Thus, if a vehicle  70  of individual  56  attempts to enter or exit a zone  50  at a time other than the learned expected time of entry or exit, the system  10  may alert security personnel to initiate an investigation. 
     A more detailed method of accumulation of security zone  50  database  30  information and network communication within a plurality of security zones  50  initiates upon further occurrences of observation and identification of vehicles  70  and license plates  54 , as well as individuals  56 . 
     The computer  22  may then store information within the database  30  pertaining to the vehicle  70  or individual  56  based any desired classification system, such as by license plate  54 , and other retrieved identification information. 
     The computer  22  may record the time, date, license plate  54  number, facial or other type of recognition of the driver  56  and/or passengers or individuals, recorded images of the front, back, and sides of the vehicle  70  as well as the make, and model for storage within the database  30 . 
     The computer  22  may also access pre-stored database  30  information to retrieve information related to the make, model, year, status, likely driver  56 , driving record, criminal record, employment information and other personal information including a photo identification from a drivers license for a targeted vehicle  70  for display upon a monitor  40 . 
     The computer  22  will next compare the observed data to the prerecorded and stored data to implement a search for any discrepancies. 
     If any threshold discrepancy is identified, a signal will be communicated to a security, surveillance, or law enforcement officer to initiate a more detailed investigation. 
     Further, if the computer  22  discovers any alerting information resulting from the database  30  search, such as an arrest warrant, the system may issue an alert to security personnel, as well as display all available image and recorded data pertaining to that person  56  or vehicle  70  upon a monitor  40 , a plurality of monitors  40  in predetermined zones  50 , or all monitors  40  within the system  10 . The system may additionally issue an audible alert and a supplemental visual alert, such as a flashing light. 
     The intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may also retrieve pre-recorded images or other data from the database  30  concerning a subject vehicle  70  or person  56  which has been tracked within the security zone  50 . This tracking feature allows security, surveillance, and/or law enforcement personnel to input as a query search for information concerning a suspect vehicle  70  or individual  56 , resulting in the display of all available description information pertaining to the vehicle  70  or individual  56  for implementation of a search. 
     It is anticipated that the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  will obtain vehicle information at a security zone  50  entry station for the identification, storage of information within the database  30  and tracking of each and every recognized and/or unrecognized person  56  and every vehicle  70 . 
     The information related to regular employees, such as vehicle  70  license plate  54 , make and model, facial image recognition, and all other stored information is anticipated to be automatically verified at an entry station  52  for a security zone  50  by the input devices  12 ,  18  coupled to the computer  22  based upon database  30  searches and file comparisons. The information relative to a regular employee may be assigned a low level priority during profile searching, which in turn expedites and facilitates retrieval of information about vehicles  70  or individuals  56  which are unknown, or should otherwise be subject to a profile inquiry or investigation. 
     The intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may alert security personnel as to tasks that should be attended to, such as investigating a suspicious vehicle  70  or identifying an unknown person  56 . Thus, the system  10  may generate a task log which may be displayed upon a monitor  40 . The individual tasks within the task log may be automatically removed from the task log by the system  10  upon performance of the task, if the task is one that the system  10  is capable of sensing the completion of, such as entering a vehicle make and model. Further, all tasks may be manually removed from the task list by authorized personnel. 
     The intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may rank tasks in order of importance and priority. Desirably, a task list will be updated according to predetermined intervals of time, or whenever a task is added to or deleted from the list. 
     In this regard, the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may have pre-programmed flags and/or thresholds for triggering of the provision of tasks or signals to a law, security, and/or surveillance officer. The computer  22  may be programmed to assess a point system or flag upon the recognition of certain images and/or profile characteristics relative to a vehicle  70 , individual  56 , and/or pedestrian being examined. The computer  22  will record and/or track the number of points or flags assigned to a particular vehicle  70 , occupant  56 , and/or pedestrian. When a certain number of flags and/or points have been assigned, according to a previously stored profile, then the computer  22  will emit or issue a signal to an officer, which may be ranked against other tasks in order of importance. An officer receiving the signal will desirably perform tasks according to the associated priority level, such as high priority, intermediate priority, low priority, or normal investigative priority to respond to the signal. The computer  22  may store any information or data collected pertaining to the task, as well as the instruction for the task itself in the database  30 , for example in a subject file related to the vehicle  70 , occupant  56 , and/or pedestrian the task was associated with. 
     Further, priority levels with respect to tasks, and the threshold levels at which tasks are grouped into priority categories, may be adjusted by authorized personnel. Thus, stored data of previous officer priority assessments will be available for retrieval and analysis in order to adjust and/or recalculate a flag or point threshold for future contacts. For example, if a vehicle  70  has a certain number of flags and/or the occupant  56  has a certain number of flags according to a pre-programmed profile threshold, then the computer  22  may signal an officer. If the officer elects to assign a high priority, then the point or flag threshold for the vehicle  70  or individual  56  for future reference may be retained at the current level or reduced for more frequent inquiry. If the officer elects to assign a low priority, then the point or flag threshold for the vehicle  70  or occupant  56  may be increased to reduce the frequency of submission to an officer for a review of the priority selection. 
     In addition, it is anticipated that each optical input device  12  will be further electrically coupled to, and may be in communication with, a facial recognition system which may be integral to and/or independent of the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10 . The communication between the facial recognition system and the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  thereby facilitates the accumulation of further data related to a vehicle  70 , vehicle occupants  56 , and/or individuals  56  such as pedestrians. The computer  22  for the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  may therefore efficiently and expeditiously signal a security and/or law enforcement officer when an unrecognized individual  56  is operating a particular motor vehicle  70 . 
     The currently available computer  22  hardware and software enable the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  to identify and track vehicles  70  and/or individuals  56  within a security zone  50  and compare the observed data in real time to previously stored data to assess the risk of criminal activity. 
     It is anticipated that the software as integral to the computer  22  for the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  will include processing capability from static optical devices  12  such as cameras, where the software may be used to track a person  56  or vehicle  70  within a zone  50 . Such software will establish particular detail boxes and/or zones within a visualized image or group of images, such that the detail boxes will follow and track the transition of a specific object across a viewing zone. Tracking may be accomplished according to deciphering of image data as disclosed above. A vehicle  70  or group of vehicles  70  under investigation may therefore be specifically located within a security zone  50  and/or tracked to an unauthorized location. Upon the identification of an unpermitted presence of a vehicle  70  or group of vehicles  70  within an unauthorized section of a zone  50 , the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may immediately signal a law enforcement or security individual as to an unauthorized presence of a vehicle  70 , group of vehicles  70 , pedestrian, and/or individual  56  proximate to a restricted access zone  50 . 
     The intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  may further be arranged to track vehicles  70  or individuals  56  as they move from zone  50  to zone  50 . If a low level tracking priority is assigned to the vehicle  70  or individual  56 , tracking may be accomplished by recording the location and time for each instance when the system  10  identifies the vehicle  70  or individual  56 . Thus, a low level tracking priority may normally generate a log of when and where a vehicle  70  or individual  56  was seen. Over time, the system  10  may learn typical paths, times and zones  50  where specific vehicles  70  and individuals  56  spend their time. The system  10  may then issue an alert when a vehicle  70  or individual  56  deviates from their normal path. For example, if a person  56  normally may be found on second floor, and they occasionally pass through first floor, but have never gone to the fourth floor, then the system  10  may alert security personnel  56  if the person is identified by the system  10  on fourth floor. 
       FIG. 8  depicts a room having multiple input devices  12 ,  18 . The other input device  18  shown may be a palm reader. A plurality of cameras  12  may be located within a room. Another camera  12   a  may be mounted to observe activity outside the depicted room. Thus, the cameras  12  and  12   a  may be arranged to allow the system  10  to track a person  56  as the person approaches and enters the room, and as the person moves around within the room. 
     If a high level tracking priority is assigned to the vehicle  70  or individual  56 , then continuous active tracking via software analysis of video image feeds is desirable. As such, the system may continually pinpoint the zone  50 , and even the exact location of a person  56  within the zone  50 . 
     The computer  22  for the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  preferably includes software to search for discrepancies from previously normalized data representative of historic actions related to an individual  56  and/or a vehicle  70 . The computer  22  for the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  implements the recording of data to build vehicle  70 /individual  56  specific files or histories, including images representative of activity within a security zone  50 . The computer  22  may therefore compare current vehicle  70  or individual  56  activity against previously stored and recorded activity data to establish standard deviations or thresholds which may, in turn, trigger a signal or warning if current conduct is outside acceptable parameters and warrants further investigation by surveillance, security, and/or law enforcement officers. 
     A computer  22  may further track vehicles  70  or individuals  56  within the security zone  50  to identify the at rest position of the vehicle  70  or location of the individual  56  within the security zone  50 . In addition, the computer  22  will track the subsequent repositioning of a vehicle  70  or individual  56  within a security zone  50 . 
     The computer  22  may then implement a software sub-routine which searches for one or more pre-stored profile searches as related to vehicles  70  and/or individuals  56  within the security zone  50 . 
     In the event that a vehicle  70  and/or individual  56  is identified as satisfying any pre-established or customized profile parameters, then the computer  22  will track the vehicle  70  and/or individual  56  while simultaneously issuing a signal to security, surveillance, and/or law enforcement personnel to initiate an investigation. In addition, the computer  22  will initiate a communication to be received by other computers  22  as part of the security zone  50  network to establish a priority search for the targeted vehicle  70  and/or individual  56 . The computer  22  will track a vehicle  70  and/or individual  56  through each zone  50  through various passive input devices  12 ,  18 . Alternatively, the optical input devices  12  may include one or more active devices to track the motion of the vehicle  70  and/or individual  56  through rotation of the optical input device  12 . 
     The computer  22  for the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  enables surveillance, security, or police officers to select a desired period of time for searching in order to narrow initial investigations and facilitate expedited apprehension of terrorists/criminals. For example, if a death were to occur within a garage setting, and a time of death is established within an acceptable range, then the computer  22  for the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  would identify each and every vehicle  70  and person  56  within a given zone  50  or group of zones  50  during the proscribed period of time, which in turn may identify any witnesses and/or the perpetrator of the crime. 
     Preferably, the computer  22  automatically initiates comparisons to search for discrepancies between observed and stored data as related to a variety of thresholds to issue a warning signal upon automatic detections of discrepancies. Alternatively, an individual security or law enforcement officer may issue a query to identify and/or tag a specific vehicle  70  or individual  56  for communication within the network of linked security zones  50  to advise all network locations to initiate a search for a particular vehicle  70  or individual  56 , and/or prerecorded data related to a specific individual  56  or vehicle  70 . 
     Similarly, the remote security zones  50  as part of the security zone  50  network may implement individual searches, desirably within the individual stored databases, for communication of information back to an originating computer  22 . Alternatively, the computers  22  for the remote security zones  50  may initiate a search sub-routine to attempt to identify vehicles  70  and/or individuals  56  which have been previously flagged by another computer  22  as a member of the security zone  50  network. The identification and/or apprehension of vehicles  70  and/or individuals  56  is thereby enhanced through a network of computers  22  as related to individual security zones  50  within a geographic area such as a floor, building or even a city. 
     An individual user may implement a query and/or a search based upon customized parameters occurring within the security zone  50  within any previously recorded period of time. The computer  22  will generally assign differing levels of priority for the data to be stored and accumulated within the database  30 . For example, a regular routine such as for an employee will be assessed a relatively low search priority, whereas instances of individual occurrences of conduct or presence may be assessed a relatively high search priority. The computer  22  will then filter, screen, and search groups of data within each priority classification to identify vehicles  56  and/or individuals  56  which satisfy the profile parameters. For example, a profile parameter may include all rental vehicles located within a security zone  50  during a particular period of time. In this instance, the computer  22  will assign a very low search priority to vehicles  70  driven by regular employees within the security zone  50 . Further, the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may in real time advise an officer that within the subject class under investigation, certain vehicles  70  and/or individuals  56  are located and are present within historically recorded and observed locations, while other particularly identified vehicles  70  and/or individuals  56  are not currently present or located at previously observed locations. An officer may thereby prioritize to expedite additional investigation as necessary. 
     The computer  22  may further implement a query to identify the current placement of all vehicles  70  and/or individuals  56  which have satisfied the profile search parameters. The computer  22  will then communicate to a security, surveillance, or law enforcement officer the location of the individuals  56  and/or vehicles  70  which satisfy the profile parameters within the security zone  50 . In addition, the computer  22  may issue a detain signal to a security zone  50  check point and/or exit to prohibit and/or detain the departure of a targeted vehicle  70  and/or individual  56  from the security zone  50 . The computer  22  may further communicate different levels of signals, for example signals to investigate, perform detailed investigation, temporarily detain, and/or prohibit exit from a security zone  50 . The level of signal to be generated by the computer  22  may be established by a customized input from a security and/or law enforcement officer having preauthorized access to implement a more restrictive enforcement signal, or by traditional preset levels of importance. The optical input devices  12  as incorporated into a security zone  50  exit or checkpoint  52  may also identify the approach of a targeted vehicle  70  to an exit. A computer  22  for the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  will then identify the exact location of the vehicle  70  and issue a position location signal to law enforcement, surveillance, and/or security personnel to facilitate the repositioning of the officers to the location of the targeted vehicle  70 . 
     When the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  is utilized in conjunction with a government structure such as an embassy, the computer  22  may further include sub-routines to identify and issue immediate investigation and/or warning signals upon the stoppage of certain types of vehicles  70  adjacent to an embassy. In addition, a timing sensitivity sub-routine may be incorporated into the software for the computer  22  to trigger a warning and/or investigation signal to an officer when a vehicle  70  is stopped adjacent to an embassy during certain periods of time. It is anticipated that the computer  22  for the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  will additionally search for discrepancies between database  30  data and current observed data, in order to initiate the automatic communication of a warning or investigation signal to a surveillance, security, or law enforcement officer in appropriate situations. In this regard, the system  10  is desirably arranged to learn and recognize repetitive patterns within the accumulated database  30 . Therefore, the computer  22  may assess a low query priority to repetitive and/or regular patterns, and implement a more expedited search related to non-regular pattern data as stored within the accumulated database  30 . Any parameters may be selected for the recognition of patterns within a security zone  50  dependent upon individual environmental conditions and customized needs at each independent security zone  50 . For example, six days of repetitive actions may be required to establish a regular pattern of conduct within a first security zone  50  where two months of repetitive conduct may be required to establish a regular pattern within a second security zone  50 . 
     The computer  22  for the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  may be arranged to continuously compare each observed encounter to the collection of previously stored data to identify patterns and deviations from the patterns as previously recorded. If no discrepancy is identified then the observed instance may be assigned a relatively low priority during profile query and/or searching. 
     During pattern learning, the computer  22  sensitivity may be established by the initial creation of a file and/or data pertaining to an individual. Next, the input of a desired amount of data representative of repeated actions may be required. The number or amount of data may represent  20 ,  50 ,  100 , or  200 , repetitive occurrences. The occurrences may be required to be within a certain classification, such as all within a certain zone  50 , or all within a certain period of time during the day, such as between 3 and 4 o′clock p.m. The computer  22  may then calculate a mean value based upon the recorded data. Alternatively, the recorded data may be divided into more than one segment and a mean may be calculated for each desired segment. The computer  22  will generally continue to store data, and therefore update the pattern, as detected by the input devices  12 ,  18 . The computer  22  is preferably designed to recalculate a mean for the data following each additional data entry. The computer  22  may include sensitivity trigger software which will identify a desired threshold deviation from the calculated mean which may be more or less than one standard deviation from the calculated mean. Alternatively, the sensitivity trigger may be established at a certain percentage for deviation from the calculated mean. The computer  22  continually compares the observed occurrence information to the calculated mean data to determine if investigation signals are required to be communicated to law enforcement and/or security officers. In this respect, the computer  22  is engaged in updating activities becomes smarter and more efficient in analyzing risk situations over time. 
     The intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  may also be simultaneously coupled to an audio recognition system  48  within a structure or at a guard station or checkpoint  52 . The audio recognition system  48  may be included within the computer  22 . Initially, the audio recognition system  48  comprises a plurality of transducers as electrically coupled to the computer  22  which has access to the database  30 , which desirably contains stored data representative of vocal or other sounds, words, patterns of words, and/or phrases. The audio recognition system  48  may be an initial supplemental verification system for identification of an individual  56  who is a pedestrian or an occupant  56  of a vehicle  70 . In addition, certain types of vehicles  70  may have unique engine or sound characteristics which may be compared to pre-recorded sound data to supplement visual identification and/or verification. The audio recognition system  48  may be further coupled to other verification systems for an individual  56  such as fingerprint, palm print, and/or eye scanners as previously disclosed. 
     The audio recognition system  48  may interpret vocal commands and input the commands into the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10 , which may be in communication with building control systems  64 . Thus, the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  may be coupled to the operational systems for a structure, such as locking systems for doors, lighting systems, air conditioning systems, and/or heating systems. Thus, various building control systems  64  may be activated by authorized personnel through voice recognition of vocal commands through the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  as received by the transducer and verified with respect to pre-stored data for the authorized person, or which may be automatically opened or activated based upon a signal generated by the computer  22  following the audio recognition of the authorized person, which may have occurred in the same zone  50  or at a previous checkpoint or verification location. 
     The intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  may also be coupled to sensors as disposed about a structure. The system may then build a database  30  with respect to temperature sensors within specific locations, pressure sensors, motion detectors, phone number identifiers, sound transducers, and/or smoke or fire detectors. Recorded data as received from various sensors may be used to build a database  30  for normal parameters and environmental conditions for specific zones  50  of a structure for individual periods of time and dates. The computer  22  may continuously receive readings/data from remote sensors for comparison to the prestored or learned data to identify discrepancies therebetween. In addition, the filtering, flagging and threshold procedures as earlier identified may be substantially duplicated with any desired adjustment to assigned points or flags for environmental area to indicate a threshold discrepancy to signal an officer to initiate an investigation. The reassignment of priorities and the storage and recognition of the assigned priorities occurs at the computer  22  to automatically recalibrate the assignment of points or flags for further comparison to a profile prior to the triggering of a signal representative of a threshold discrepancy. 
     The intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  may also be coupled to various infrared or ultraviolet sensors used for security/surveillance within a structure to assist in the early identification of an unauthorized individual  56  within a security zone  50  or the presence of an intruder without knowledge of the intruder. 
     The intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  as coupled to sensors and/or building control systems  64  for a structure which may be based upon audio, temperature, motion, pressure, phone number identifiers, smoke detectors, fire detectors and fire alarms is based upon automatic storage, retrieval and comparison of observed/measured data to prerecorded data, in further comparison to the threshold profile parameters to automatically generate a signal to a surveillance, security, or law enforcement officer. 
     It is anticipated that the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  will track a vehicle  70  satisfying a profile within the security zone  50  as the vehicle  70  passes from one field of observation to another as related to individual optical devices  12  or other input devices  18 . It is further anticipated that the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  will screen, and eliminate from a priority classification vehicles  70  having a regular pattern within the security zone  50 . A regular pattern within the security zone  50  will likely be representative of an employee. Information is stored in the database  30  as related to vehicles  70  driven by employees, and/or employees are preferably assigned a low priority when searching is implemented in order to more rapidly identify a particular profile and/or classification of vehicles  70  or individuals  56  under investigation in the security zone  50 . 
     It is anticipated that a security guard, surveillance individual, and/or guard station  52  will include or have access to a plurality of optical devices as positioned adjacent to an entry guard house, and an exit from the security zone  50 , to monitor the entry and exit of vehicles  70  for tracking purposes. In addition, the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  will assist a security guard in the surveillance and/or tracking of a vehicle  70  within a security zone  50  where the vehicle  70  is either intentionally and/or inadvertently passing into an unauthorized location or zone  50 . For example, a security guard assigned to an entry may issue a temporary pass and advise a vehicle  70  to park in Lot B. The optical devices  12  of the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may then track the vehicle  70  which passes through Lot B and approaches a restricted area concerning Lot C. The intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may then trigger a visible, audible, and/or other signal to the law enforcement, surveillance, or security guard as to the unauthorized position of the vehicle  70  having a temporary pass outside of Lot B, whereupon additional investigation and/or assistance may be initiated to return the wayward vehicle  70  to the designed parking area. 
     The intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  preferably includes a plurality of prerecorded profile searches which may be selected for initiation by a law enforcement, surveillance, and/or security personnel. The computer  22  of the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  upon identification of a vehicle  70  satisfying the implemented search profile will then track the vehicle  70  within individual optical fields or input device  12  line of sight, and through adjacent optical fields, to automatically monitor the location of the vehicle  70  within the security zone  50 . The original identification of the vehicle  70  subject to investigation is preferably provided by the computer  22  comparing an observed vehicle  70  having information assigned from a standardized database  62 , for comparison to the accumulated environmentally specific security zone  50  to identify discrepancies for assessment of risk to individuals and/or property. 
     The intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  through the utilization of pre-set profile screening provides to law enforcement, surveillance, and/or security personnel early warning as to discrepancies between a vehicle  70 /individual  56  and previously accessible databases  30 ,  62  to minimize risk of terroristic activities. In addition, the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may be customized for real time profile screening for the provision of a warning to a law enforcement and/or security individual upon retrieval of a calculated or identified discrepancy between standardized data and observed data within the accumulated database  30 . 
     It is anticipated that the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  at any given time may identify all vehicles  70  and all individuals  56  present within a security zone  50 . The computer  22  for the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  automatically searches for patterns and deviations from patterns with respect to the accumulated database  30  for the triggering of an advisory signal to a law enforcement, surveillance, or security officer to initiate further investigation. The intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  is preferably proactive and is continuously screening and comparing data being input from the input devices  12 ,  18  for comparison to the previously stored records within the accumulated database  30  to identify patterns for specific vehicles  70  and/or individuals  56  and to verify information related to the vehicles  70  and individuals  56  occupying the vehicles  70 . 
     A desired number of vehicle  70  contacts and point or flag thresholds for individuals  56  and/or vehicles  70  may be adjusted to fulfill the level of security desired within a particular zone  50 . During the entire evaluation and storage processing, the computer is recording not only images and data relative to a vehicle  70 /individual  56 , but also desirably recording data related to the sensitivity of the security level to be assigned to the particular vehicle  70  and/or individual  56 . In this regard, the computer  22  becomes more intelligent when a variation in previously recognized parameters is not satisfied. For example, if a vehicle driver  56  is identified to be different from the typical driver as defined by a number of previously recorded consistent occurrences, then a high priority flag or a large number of points may be assigned to the observed vehicle  70 , in real time, to advise a surveillance, security, and/or law enforcement officer to initiate a priority investigation. The computer  22  may store data in tables, and group files within set folders having similar priority thresholds. In this regard, the computer  22  may implement filters of all files, and/or folders to screen and organize an ordered search to satisfy a particular desired profile. Therefore, the longer the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  is utilized within a specific security zone  50 , the more customized the system  10  becomes to addressing the requirements of the specific zone  50  to provide a desired level of security. In addition, an optical assist system as a portion of the intelligent audio/video observation and identification database system  10  may recognize images for processing within a computer to automatically formulate tables, filters, and/or thresholds for a particular vehicle  70  within a security zone  50  based upon observed and recognized patterns without officer input. For example, the computer  22  may be programmed to automatically evaluate the number of points, and/or flags to trigger officer intervention based upon the desired number repetitive occurrences. In this regard, the system automatically may establish customized thresholds, filters, and/or tables for a security zone  50  minimizing officer input. 
     The use of pre-stored profile queries in conjunction with manual customized queries enhances the performance of the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  for apprehension and deterrence of terrorist acts within a safety zone  50 . The use of pre-stored and/or customized profiles expedites the searching of vehicles  70  and/or facial recognition data by narrowing investigation to priority classifications of individuals  56  and/or vehicles  70 . Any group of vehicles  70  and/or individuals  56  which have been targeted as fulfilling the requirements of the profile search may then be targeted for identification of the location of the targeted vehicles  70  due to the previous tracking features of the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10 . Apprehension efforts are thereby facilitated prior to and following an event. 
     The intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  includes a vehicle  70  tracking function and software to specifically identify the location of all vehicles  70  within a security zone  50 . In addition, the intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system  10  may be coupled to an input device  12 ,  14  integral to a facial recognition system, fingerprint system, palm print system, and/or voice or handwriting identification system to facilitate the identification and tracking of individuals  56  and/or vehicles  70  within a security zone  50 . 
     The intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  is preferably designed to track the presence of all employees within a particular security zone  50 . In addition, the computer  22  of the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  evaluates and compares matters which occurred yesterday, to matters currently unfolding during today, in conjunction with the use of filters to minimize errors with respect to the identification of classifications and/or groups of vehicles  70  or individuals  56  to receive further investigation. In addition, a particular profile may be established for a group of vehicles  70  such as a motorcade. An additional filter may search and detect an authorized vehicle  70  within an observed motorcade. In addition, a processor/controller may search optical images observed at a specific checkpoint  52  to identify a particular group of vehicles  70  such as a motorcade. If any deviation in the number or type or other factors as related to the group of vehicles  70  is detected, then the computer  22  may issue an immediate warning signal to a surveillance, security, and/or law enforcement officer as to the necessity for an immediate investigation or warning. In addition, a particular group of optical devices  12  as in communication with a computer  22  may recognize the deviation of a group of vehicles  70  from a pre-planned or normal travel route to issue an investigation and/or warning signal to an officer. Generally, the filter sensitivity for the computer  22  of the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  will involve one standard deviation from the normal data as previously stored for a particular vehicle  70 , individual  56 , group of vehicles  70 , and/or occupants  56  of vehicles  70 . Therefore, in the event that observed data for a particular vehicle  70  having an identifiable license plate  54  statistically insignificantly deviates from the prerecorded data, then the computer  22  will not issue a communication to initiate additional investigation into the presence of the vehicle  70  within the security zone  50 . However, in an example wherein an employee having normal work hours of 8 to 5, Monday through Friday as recorded data within the database  30  is identified as being adjacent to a secured area at 3:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning, then the computer  22  for the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  will automatically issue a warning signal to initiate immediate appropriate investigation based upon a weighted signal generated by the computer  22 . 
     The intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  may be used in conjunction with a government structure such as an embassy. In this example, a plurality of optical recording devices  12  may be positioned to observe, identify, and record the passage of vehicles  70  past the embassy. The intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  generally creates a file for each individual vehicle  70  which passes the embassy. The vehicle  70  license plate  54  number, make, model, observed load, and time and date are generally stored within the individual vehicle  70  file. The computer  22  for the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  may separate the data within a particular vehicle file into categories which may include occurrences which have been observed between 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. as a first category and noon to midnight as a second category. Any number of time or other confirmed categories may be established to satisfy the requirements of a customized application. The computer  22  for the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  will then calculate a mean value with respect to time of passage of an embassy for the identified vehicle  70  within each category, and will further calculate the mean observed appearance of the vehicle  70  with respect to load. Sensitivity software may be incorporated into the computer  22  for the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  which is designed to trigger a warning and/or flag in the event that observed data exceeds a calculated mean value by a selected percentage or value. For example, if a vehicle  70  is observed to be approaching an embassy at 3:30 in the morning where the calculated mean values for the first category are 7:45 a.m. and for the second category 5:45 p.m. then a signal may be communicated to a law enforcement, surveillance, or a security officer to trigger heightened security for the embassy. In addition, the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  may observe a vehicle  70  approaching an embassy to compare the observed vehicle  70  appearance with respect to load to pre-stored data and/or a pre-calculated observed mean with respect to the vehicle  70  as related to load. In the event that the vehicle  70  appearance exceeds the observed mean value with respect to load, and/or the standard database value with respect to load, by an amount of five percent or more, then a signal will be generated for communication to a law enforcement, surveillance, and/or security officer to exercise heightened security measures for the embassy. 
     The types of applications identified herein is intended as supplemental intelligent information gathering and automatic analysis for use in conjunction with the intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  with respect to vehicles  70 , occupants  56 , and/or pedestrians as described herein. 
     The intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  may also be a method for identifying security investigations comprising:
         a) establishing a security zone;   b) positioning at least one optical input device to observe the security zone;   c) connecting the optical input devices to a computer;   d) observing occurrences within the security zone and communicating the observed occurrences to the computer;   e) storing the observed occurrences within the computer to create a database for the security zone;   f) processing the observed occurrences within the computer as compared to stored or retrieved data available to the computer; and   g) issuing a signal to a security officer to investigate an occurrence.       

     The intelligent audio/visual observation and identification database system  10  may also be an apparatus for identifying a vehicle and likely driver comprising: 
     an optical input device; 
     a computer; 
     a database containing information; 
     and a display; 
     wherein said computer receives an image of an approaching vehicle&#39;s license plate from said optical input device, said computer searches said database and identifies information relevant to the license plate and identifies an expected driver of the vehicle; 
     and wherein said computer receives an actual driver image of said vehicle&#39;s actual driver from said optical input device, said computer compares said actual driver image with a prerecorded image of the expected driver and determines whether the actual driver image is substantially similar to said expected driver image. 
     Enclosed herewith and incorporated by reference herein are the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 6,400,828; 6,396,954; 6,389,155; 6,181,805; 6,121,898; 6,111,671; 6,081,206; 6,072,893; 6,035,053; 6,035,055; 6,035,074; 5,948,038; 5,946,417; 5,875,261; 5,831,155; 5,809,161; 5,734,337; 5,710,833; 5,568,406; 5,381,155; 5,359,669; 5,182,647; 5,164,992; and 4,368,979. 
     The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to”. Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims. 
     Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, for purposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within the jurisdiction (e.g. each claim depending directly from claim  1  should be alternatively taken as depending from all previous claims). In jurisdictions where multiple dependent claim formats are restricted, the following dependent claims should each be also taken as alternatively written in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependency from a prior antecedent-possessing claim other than the specific claim listed in such dependent claim below. 
     This completes the description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.