VIDEO SENSOR AND ALARM SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH OBJECT AND EVENT CLASSIFICATION

1 . A method for detecting an intrusion into a protected area, the method comprising:

capturing image data;

processing the captured image data to create a reduced image dataset having a lower dimensionality than the captured image data;

transmitting the reduced image dataset to a centralized alarm processing device; and

processing the reduced image dataset at the centralized alarm processing device to determine an alarm condition.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein processing the captured image data comprises:

separating foreground objects in the image data from background objects; and

removing the background objects from the image data.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein processing the captured image data further comprises extracting salient features from the foreground objects.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein processing the reduced image dataset comprises:

classifying salient features contained in the reduced image dataset to identify a corresponding object;

tracking a motion of each identified object in the reduced image dataset;

recording a series of events associated with the motion of each identified object;

classifying each associated series of events as at least one behavior associated with the identified object;

comparing each behavior to a set of predetermined behavior rules; and

determining the existence of an alarm condition based on the comparison of the at least one behavior to the predetermined behavior rules.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein processing the reduced image dataset comprises:

extracting the salient features from a foreground object included in the reduced image dataset prior to classifying all salient features.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein processing the reduced image dataset comprises:

receiving at the centralized alarm processing device, a plurality of reduced image datasets;

combining the plurality of reduced image datasets into a combined image dataset; and

processing the combined image dataset.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the combined image dataset includes a composite image of the protected area.

8 . An intrusion detection system comprising:

at least one video sensor, the video sensor:

capturing image data,

processing the image data to produce a reduced image dataset having a lower dimensionality than the captured image data, and

transmitting the reduced image dataset; and

an alarm processing device communicatively coupled to the at least one video sensor, the alarm processing device:

receiving the transmitted reduced image dataset, and

processing the reduced image dataset to determine an alarm condition.

9 . The intrusion detection system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one video sensor includes:

an image capturing device, the image capturing device capturing image data;

a sensor processor communicatively coupled to the image capturing device, the processor:

separating foreground objects in the image data from background objects;

removing the background objects from the image data; and

extracting salient features from the foreground objects to produce the reduced image dataset; and

a communications interface communicatively coupled to the processor, the communications interface transmitting the reduced image dataset to the alarm processing device.

10 . The intrusion detection system of claim 9 , wherein the sensor processor is at least one of a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, and a field programmable gate array.

11 . The intrusion detection system of claim 9 , wherein the communications interface communicates using at least one of Zigbee, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi communication protocols.

12 . The intrusion detection system of claim 8 , wherein the alarm processing device includes:

a communication interface, the communication interface receiving the reduced image dataset from the at least one video sensor; and

a processor communicatively coupled to the communication interface, the processor:

classifying salient features contained in the reduced image dataset to identify a corresponding object;

tracking a motion of each identified object in the reduced image dataset;

recording a series of events associated with the motion of each identified object;

classifying each associated series of events as at least one behavior associated with the identified object;

comparing each behavior to a set of predetermined behavior rules; and

determining the existence of an alarm condition based on the comparison of the at least one behavior to the predetermined behavior rules.

13 . The intrusion detection system of claim 12 , wherein the processor is one of a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, and a field programmable gate array.

14 . The intrusion detection system of claim 12 , wherein the behavior rules are derived by tracking events over time to create models of behaviors of objects and events.

15 . The intrusion detection system of claim 12 , wherein the communication interface communicates using at least one of Zigbee, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi communication protocols.

16 . The intrusion detection system of claim 12 , wherein there are a plurality of video sensors, wherein the communication interface further receives a reduced image datasets from each of the plurality of video sensors; and

wherein the processor further:

combines the plurality of reduced image datasets into a combined image dataset, and

processes the combined image dataset.

17 . A video sensor comprising:

an image capturing device, the image capturing device capturing image data;

a processor communicatively coupled to the image capturing device, the processor processing the captured image data to produce a reduced image dataset having a lower dimensionality than the captured image data; and

a communication interface communicatively coupled to the processor, the communication interface transmitting the reduced image dataset.

18 . The video sensor of claim 17 , wherein processing the image data comprises:

separating foreground objects in the image data from background objects;

removing the background objects from the image data; and

extracting salient features from the foreground objects to produce the reduced image dataset.

19 . The video sensor of claim 17 , wherein the processor is one of a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, and a field programmable gate array.

20 . The video sensor of claim 17 , wherein the communications interface communicates using at least one of Zigbee, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi communication protocols.