Patent Description:
Many security systems utilize pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras to provide video images of events that occur within a space that is monitored by the security system. Because PTZ cameras have an adjustable field of view (FOV), a single PTZ camera may be used to cover two or more different areas, such as down a first hallway and down a second hallway, for example. If an event occurs within the first hallway while the PTZ camera has its FOV focused down the second hallway, the PTZ camera may not capture the event occurring in the first hallway. A need remains for improved methods of controlling PTZ cameras in order to capture relevant events within a space.

<CIT> discloses a network camera and a method for tracking an object detected by a motion detection sensor for a PTZ camera having at least one motion detection sensor and a pan and tilt operation.

<CIT> discloses a surveillance system interface that includes a displayed wide-angle image and a contemporaneously displayed narrower-angle image. The interface permits a user to select a view within the wide-angle image to indicate a region of interest. The narrower-angle image may then be made to correspond to the indicated region of interest.

<CIT> discloses a surveillance method that monitors a monitored area using a monitoring station. The monitoring station in electronic communication with an actuator, an image capture device, and a plurality of motion sensors. The presence of motion in the monitored area is detected in real-time using the motion sensors.

The preceding summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the features of the present disclosure and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the disclosure can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.

The disclosure may be more completely understood in consideration of the following description of various illustrative embodiments of the disclosure in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:.

It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit aspects of the disclosure to the particular illustrative embodiments described.

The following description should be read with reference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements. The drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some of the figures, elements not believed necessary to an understanding of relationships among illustrated components may have been omitted for clarity.

It is noted that references in the specification to "an embodiment", "some embodiments", "other embodiments", etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is contemplated that the feature, structure, or characteristic may be applied to other embodiments whether or not explicitly described unless clearly stated to the contrary.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative security system <NUM>. The illustrative security system <NUM> includes a PTZ camera <NUM>. The PTZ camera <NUM> is configured to have an adjustable field of view by changing one or more of a pan setting, a tilt setting and a zoom setting. While a single PTZ camera <NUM> is shown, it will be appreciated that the security system <NUM> may include a plurality of PTZ cameras <NUM>, with each of the PTZ cameras <NUM> having a particular FOV. In some cases, the PTZ camera <NUM> may have just one or two of a pan setting, a tilt setting and a zoom setting (e.g. P, T, Z, PZ, PT, TZ, etc.).

As shown in <FIG>, the PTZ camera <NUM> is operably coupled with a detector <NUM> that is within an area 14a, a detector <NUM> that is within an area 16a, a detector <NUM> that is within an area 18a and a detector <NUM> that is within an area 20a. While the areas 14a, 16a, 18a and 20a are schematically shown as being rectilinear in shape, it will be appreciated that this is merely illustrative. In some cases, each of the areas 14a, 16a, 18a and 20a may represent portions of a larger space, such as a factory floor, for example. In some cases, one or more of the areas 14a, 16a, 18a and 20a may have a different shape, depending on what the actual physical space looks like. For example, the area 14a and the area 16a may each be offices while the area 18a represents a hallway extending between the two offices, or perhaps in front of the two offices. While each of the areas 14a, 16a, 18a and 20a are shown with a single detector <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, it will be appreciated that depending on the size of a particular area and/or the shape of the particular area, some or all of the areas 14a, 16a, 18a and 20a may include two detectors, or even three detectors or more.

The detectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may each be any of a variety of different types of object and/or motion detectors. In some cases, at least some of the detectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may be PIR (passive infra-red) motion detectors. If one of the detectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> senses motion in their respective area, the detector sensing motion can notify the PTZ camera <NUM> accordingly. In some instances, the PTZ camera <NUM> can adjust one or more of its pan, tilt and zoom settings in order to change its FOV so that the particular area in which a detector detected motion can be viewed by the PTZ camera <NUM>. In some cases, each of the detectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may be connected to the PTZ camera <NUM> via a wired or wireless network.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an illustrative security system <NUM>. The illustrative security system <NUM> includes a PTZ camera <NUM>. The PTZ camera <NUM> is configured to have an adjustable field of view by changing one or more of a pan setting, a tilt setting and a zoom setting. While a single PTZ camera <NUM> is shown, it will be appreciated that the security system <NUM> may include a plurality of PTZ cameras <NUM>, with each of the PTZ cameras <NUM> having a particular FOV. As shown, the security system <NUM> is configured to monitor a first pathway <NUM> and a second pathway <NUM>. The first pathway <NUM> may be a hallway extending north within a building while the second pathway <NUM> may be a hallway extending west from one end of the north-extending hallway, for example. In some instances, the first pathway <NUM> may be a sidewalk extending along a south side of a building while the second pathway <NUM> may be a sidewalk extending along the east side of the building.

In some cases, one of the pathways <NUM> and <NUM> may have a relatively higher priority assigned to it while the other of the pathways <NUM> and <NUM> may have a relatively lower priority assigned to it. As shown, the first pathway <NUM> has a priority level of two (<NUM>) assigned and the second pathway <NUM> has a priority level of one (<NUM>) assigned, where a priority level of one (<NUM>) is considered a higher priority than a priority level of two (<NUM>). In some cases, the second pathway <NUM> may have higher security offices located along the second pathway <NUM>, for example. In some cases, the second pathway <NUM> may be more heavily trafficked.

Accordingly, if there is motion detected along the first pathway <NUM>, but no motion detected along the second pathway <NUM> (e.g. by respective motion detectors), the PTZ camera <NUM> may changes its FOV to be able to see the motion along the first pathway <NUM>, even though the first pathway <NUM> has a lower priority level. If motion is detected along both the first pathway <NUM> and the second pathway <NUM>, and the relative position of the motion along each of the pathways <NUM> and <NUM> is positioned such that the PTZ camera <NUM> is not able to hold both sources of motion within its FOV, the PTZ camera <NUM> will be directed on the second pathway <NUM> because the second pathway <NUM> has a higher priority level (e.g. priority level of one).

The illustrative security system <NUM> includes a number of motion detectors, including motion detectors <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> disposed along the first pathway <NUM> and motion detectors <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> disposed along the second pathway <NUM>. Each of the motion detectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may communicate with the PTZ camera <NUM> via a wired or wireless network, for example. In some cases, the PTZ camera <NUM> may also be configured to adjust one or more of its pan, tilt and zoom settings in order to capture motion along other pathways as well. In some cases, one or more of the motion detectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may include one or more of a PIR detector, a microwave detector, an ultrasonic detector, a tomographic detector, a beam break detector and/or any combination thereof. In some cases, one or more of the motion detectors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may include a beam break detector, wherein the beam break detector uses a LiFi encoded beam. A monitored region may include a plurality of light fixtures for lighting the monitored region, and one or more of the motion detectors may be incorporated into one or more of the plurality of light fixtures. These are just examples.

<FIG> is a flow diagram showing an illustrative method <NUM> for controlling a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera (such as the PTZ camera <NUM> or the PTZ camera <NUM>) with a controllable field of view (FOV). The method <NUM> includes detecting a first detection event by a first detector located at a first location that is along a first path in a monitored region, the first detection event corresponding to the first detector detecting a first object in a first detection region along the first path, as indicated at block <NUM>. In response to the first detection event, the PTZ camera is automatically controlled such that the FOV of the PTZ camera includes at least part of the first detection region along the first path in the monitored region, as indicated at block <NUM>. In some cases, automatically controlling the PTZ camera includes zooming in the FOV of the PTZ camera in order to capture a closer-up view of the first object in the first detection region (e.g. face).

A second detection event is detected by a second detector located at a second location that is along the first path in the monitored region, wherein the second location is spaced from the first location. In this example, the second detection event corresponds to the second detector detecting the first object in a second detection region along the first path, wherein the second detection region is spaced from the first detection region, as indicated at block <NUM>. In response to the second detection event, the PTZ camera is automatically controlled such that the FOV of the PTZ camera includes at least part of the second detection region along the first path in the monitored region, as indicated at block <NUM>. In some cases, automatically controlling the PTZ camera includes zooming in the FOV of the PTZ camera in order to capture a closer-up view of the first object in the second detection region.

In some instances, the first detector and the second detector may both be motion detectors that are part of a plurality of motion detectors. The method <NUM> may further include automatically controlling the PTZ camera in accordance with one or more preset non-event settings when no events are detected by any of the plurality of motion detectors. Examples of the one or more preset settings include one or more of a pan setting, a zoom setting, a tilt setting, a resolution setting, a frame rate setting and a bit rate setting. In some cases, the PTZ camera may change the preset non-event settings in accordance with a preset non-event schedule, causing the PTZ camera to scan over time both the first detection region and the second detection region.

In some cases, the method <NUM> may further include automatically changing one or more of the preset non-event settings to one or more event settings when one or more events are detected by one or more of the plurality of motion detectors and automatically controlling the PTZ camera in accordance with the one or more event settings when one or more events are detected by one or more of the plurality of motion detectors.

In some cases, the illustrative method <NUM> may further include concurrently detecting two or more objects along the first path in the monitored region, the two or more objects including the first object, and in response to detecting the two or more objects along the first path, automatically controlling the PTZ camera such that the FOV of the PTZ camera includes each of the two or more objects if possible. Automatically controlling the PTZ camera such that the FOV of the PTZ camera includes each of the two or more objects may include zooming out the FOV of the PTZ camera to includes each of the two or more objects.

<FIG> is a flow diagram showing an illustrative method <NUM> for controlling a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera (such as the PTZ camera <NUM> or the PTZ camera <NUM>) with a controllable field of view (FOV). The illustrative method <NUM> includes detecting a first detection event by a first detector located at a first location that is along a first path in a monitored region, the first detection event corresponding to the first detector detecting a first object in a first detection region along the first path, as indicated at block <NUM>. In response to the first detection event, the PTZ camera is automatically controlled such that the FOV of the PTZ camera includes at least part of the first detection region along the first path in the monitored region, as indicated at block <NUM>. In some cases, automatically controlling the PTZ camera includes zooming in the FOV of the PTZ camera in order to capture a closer-up view of the first object in the first detection region. Automatically controlling the PTZ camera may also include increase the resolution, the frame rate (Frames-Per-Second, FPS) and/or bit rate of the PTZ camera.

In the illustrative method, a second detection event is detected by a second detector located at a second location that is along the first path in the monitored region, wherein the second location is spaced from the first location. The second detection event corresponds to the second detector detecting the first object in a second detection region along the first path, wherein the second detection region is spaced from the first detection region, as indicated at block <NUM>. In response to the second detection event, the PTZ camera is automatically controlled such that the FOV of the PTZ camera includes at least part of the second detection region along the first path in the monitored region, as indicated at block <NUM>. In some cases, automatically controlling the PTZ camera includes zooming in the FOV of the PTZ camera in order to capture a closer-up view of the first object in the second detection region. Automatically controlling the PTZ camera may also include increase the resolution, the frame rate (Frames-Per-Second, FPS) and/or bit rate of the PTZ camera.

In some cases, the method <NUM> may further include automatically controlling the FOV of the PTZ camera to track the first object from the first detection region to the second detection region along the first path. In some instances, the method <NUM> may further include ceasing to automatically control the FOV of the PTZ camera to track the first object from the first detection region to the second detection region along the first path when a second object is detected along a second path that has a higher priority than the first path, and starting to track the second object along the second path, as indicated at block <NUM>.

In some cases, the illustrative method <NUM> may further include automatically changing one or more of the preset non-event settings to one or more event settings when one or more events are detected by one or more of the plurality of motion detectors and automatically controlling the PTZ camera in accordance with the one or more event settings when one or more events are detected by one or more of the plurality of motion detectors.

<FIG> and <FIG> are flow diagrams that together show an illustrative method <NUM> for controlling a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera (such as the PTZ camera <NUM> or the PTZ camera <NUM>) with a controllable field of view (FOV). The illustrative method <NUM> includes detecting a first detection event by a first detector located at a first location that is along a first path in a monitored region, the first detection event corresponding to the first detector detecting a first object in a first detection region along the first path, as indicated at block <NUM>. In response to the first detection event, the PTZ camera is automatically controlled such that the FOV of the PTZ camera includes at least part of the first detection region along the first path in the monitored region to capture the first object, as indicated at block <NUM>. In some cases, automatically controlling the PTZ camera includes zooming in the FOV of the PTZ camera in order to capture a closer-up view of the first object in the first detection region.

A second detection event is detected by a second detector located at a second location that is along the first path in the monitored region, wherein the second location is spaced from the first location. The second detection event corresponds to the second detector detecting the first object in a second detection region along the first path, wherein the second detection region is spaced from the first detection region, as indicated at block <NUM>. In response to the second detection event, the PTZ camera is automatically controlled such that the FOV of the PTZ camera includes at least part of the second detection region along the first path in the monitored region, as indicated at block <NUM>. In some cases, automatically controlling the PTZ camera includes zooming in the FOV of the PTZ camera in order to capture a closer-up view of the first object in the second detection region.

In this illustrative method, and continuing on <FIG>, a third detection event is detected by a third detector located at a third location that is along a second path in the monitored region. The third detection event corresponds to the third detector detecting a second object in a third detection region along the second path, wherein the second path has a higher priority than the first path, as indicated at block <NUM>. In response to the third detection event, the PTZ camera is no longer automatically controlled in response to the first detection event and/or the second detection event, and instead is automatically controlled such that the FOV of the PTZ camera includes at least part of the third detection region along the second path in the monitored region to capture the second object, as indicated at block <NUM>.

A fourth detection event is detected by a fourth detector located at a fourth location that is along the second path in the monitored region. The fourth detection event corresponds to the fourth detector detecting the second object in a fourth detection region along the second path, as indicated at block <NUM>. In response to the fourth detection event, the PTZ camera is automatically controlled such that the FOV of the PTZ camera includes at least part of the fourth detection region along the second path in the monitored region, as indicated at block <NUM>.

In some instances, the first detector and the second detector may both be motion detectors that are part of a plurality of motion detectors. The method <NUM> may further include automatically controlling the PTZ camera in accordance with one or more preset non-event settings when no events are detected by any of the plurality of motion detectors. Examples of the one or more preset settings include one or more of a pan setting, a zoom setting, a tilt setting, a resolution setting, a frame rate setting and a bit rate setting. In some cases, the PTZ camera may change the preset non-event settings in accordance with a preset non-event schedule, causing the PTZ camera to scan over time both the first detection region, the second detection region, the third detection region and the fourth detection region.

In some cases, the method <NUM> may further include concurrently detecting two or more objects along the first path in the monitored region, the two or more objects including the first object, and in response to detecting the two or more objects along the first path, automatically controlling the PTZ camera such that the FOV of the PTZ camera includes each of the two or more objects if possible. Automatically controlling the PTZ camera such that the FOV of the PTZ camera includes each of the two or more objects may include zooming out the FOV of the PTZ camera to includes each of the two or more objects.

<FIG> is a flow diagram showing an illustrative method <NUM> for controlling a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera (such as the PTZ camera <NUM> or the PTZ camera <NUM>) with a controllable field of view (FOV). The illustrative method <NUM> includes detecting via one or more motion detectors a first object in a first area of a monitored region, as indicated at block <NUM>. In response to detecting the first object in the first area, the PTZ camera is automatically controlled such that the FOV of the PTZ camera tracks the first object, as indicated at block <NUM>. A second object is detected in a second area of the monitored region via one or more motion detectors, wherein the second area has a higher priority than the first area, as indicated at block <NUM>. In response to detecting the second object in the second area, the PTZ camera is no longer controlled such that the FOV of the PTZ camera tracks the first object, and instead is automatically controlled such that the FOV of the PTZ camera tracks the second object in the second area, as indicated at block <NUM>.

In some instances, automatically controlling the PTZ camera such that the FOV of the PTZ camera tracks the first object includes zooming in the FOV of the PTZ camera to capture a closer up view of the first object. In some cases, for at least part of a time that the PTZ camera is automatically controlled such that the FOV of the PTZ camera tracks the first object, the FOV of the PTZ camera does not capture at least part of the second area.

In some instances, the one or more motion detectors include one or more of a PIR detector, a microwave detector, an ultrasonic detector, a tomographic detector, a beam break detector and/or any combination thereof. In some cases, the one or more motion detectors includes a beam break detector, wherein the beam break detector uses a LiFi encoded beam. A monitored region may include a plurality of light fixtures for lighting the monitored region, and one or more of the motion detectors may be incorporated into one or more of the plurality of light fixtures.

<FIG> is a flow diagram showing an illustrative series of actions <NUM> that may be carried out by one or more processors that are executing instructions that are stored on a non-transient computer-readable storage medium. The one or more processors are caused to receive a first detection event corresponding to a first object in a first area of a monitored region, as indicated at block <NUM>. The one or more processors are caused to, in response to receiving the first detection event, automatically send control commands for use by a PTZ camera such that the FOV of the PTZ camera tracks the first object, as indicated at block <NUM>. The one or more processors are caused to receive a second detection event corresponding to a second object in a second area of the monitored region, wherein the second area has a higher priority than the first area, as indicated at block <NUM>. The one or more processors are caused to, in response to receiving the second detection event, automatically send control commands for use by the PTZ camera such that the FOV of the PTZ camera ceases to track the first object and starts tracking the second object in the second area, as indicated at block <NUM>.

In some cases, automatically sending control commands for use by a PTZ camera such that the FOV of the PTZ camera tracks the first object includes one or more control commands to zoom in the FOV of the PTZ camera to capture a closer up view of the first object. As an example, the first object may be a person, and the closer up view includes a face of the person. The first object may be a vehicle, and the closer up view may include a driver, or perhaps a license plate of the vehicle. Automatically sending control commands to the PTZ camera may also include increase the resolution, the frame rate (Frames-Per-Second, FPS) and/or bit rate of the PTZ camera. In some cases, for at least part of a time that the PTZ camera is tracking the first object, the FOV of the PTZ camera does not capture at least part of the second area.

Claim 1:
A method for controlling a pan-tilt-zoom, PTZ, camera (<NUM>) with a controllable field of view, FOV, the method comprising:
detecting a first detection event by a first detector (<NUM>) located at a first location that is along a first path (<NUM>) in a monitored region, the first detection event corresponding to the first detector (<NUM>) detecting a first object in a first detection region along the first path (<NUM>);
in response to the first detection event, automatically controlling the PTZ camera (<NUM>) such that the FOV of the PTZ camera (<NUM>) includes at least part of the first detection region along the first path (<NUM>) in the monitored region;
detecting a second detection event by a second detector (<NUM>) located at a second location that is along the first path (<NUM>) in the monitored region, wherein the second location is spaced from the first location, the second detection event corresponding to the second detector (<NUM>) detecting the first object in a second detection region along the first path (<NUM>), wherein the second detection region is spaced from the first detection region; and
in response to the second detection event, automatically controlling the PTZ camera (<NUM>) such that the FOV of the PTZ camera (<NUM>) includes at least part of the second detection region along the first path (<NUM>) in the monitored region;
wherein the monitored region includes a LiFi source (<NUM>) for emitting a LiFi encoded optical signal (<NUM>); and
wherein the first detector (<NUM>) includes a beam break detector that detects a beam break caused by the first object in the LiFi encoded optical signal (<NUM>), and communicates corresponding signals for use by the LiFi source (<NUM>) to identify that the first object is in the first detection region along the first path (<NUM>).