System and Method for Spatial Division Multiplexing Detection
A system and method for detecting and monitoring one or more targets uses surveillance monitors that are selectively aligned in pre-determined directions to form an integrated field of view (IFOV). The IFOV or portions thereof may be illuminated using a scanning laser beam. Information provided by the surveillance monitors is selectively processed in an order determined based on a pre-determined target search and monitoring algorithm. Embodiments are directed to increasing efficiency of detecting or monitoring targets and, in particular, multiple moving targets.
1 . A system for detecting or monitoring one or more targets comprising:
a plurality of surveillance monitors, each surveillance monitor selectively aligned in a pre-determined direction; and
a processor running software for the processing of information provided by said surveillance monitors;
wherein the fields of view of said surveillance monitors form an integrated field of view that is substantially equal to a sum of the fields of view of said surveillance monitors.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the fields of view of said surveillance monitors are aligned such as to form a contiguous integrated field of view.
3 . The system of claim 2 wherein the adjacent fields of view of said surveillance monitors overlap one another by pre-determined margins.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein said surveillance monitors are operated simultaneously.
5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the data processor is adapted to process the information in an order defined based on a pre-determined target search and monitoring algorithm of said system.
6 . The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a laser adapted to illuminate one or more targets; and
an apparatus adapted to scan a beam of the laser in at least a portion of said integrated field of view.
7 . The system of claim 6 wherein:
said apparatus is adapted to scan said laser in a region of said integrated field of view designated by a targeting algorithm implemented in said software running on said processor;
wherein said software is adapted to selectively process information provided by the surveillance monitor having the field of view containing the target.
8 . The system of claim 7 further comprising:
a sensor adapted to identify a surveillance monitor having a field of view being scanned by said laser beam.
9 . The system of claim 8 wherein:
said apparatus comprises a substantially reflective mirror having a calibrated leak of laser radiation through material of the minor; and
said sensor is adapted to identify the surveillance monitor based on analysis of the leaked laser radiation.
10 . The system of claim 1 wherein said surveillance monitors are selected from the group consisting of video recording devices, telescopes, detectors of visible, infra-red (IR), or ultra-violet (UV) light, and detectors of X-rays or ionizing radiation.
11 . The system of claim 10 wherein said video recording devices are digital video cameras.
12 . A method for detecting or monitoring one or more targets comprising the steps of:
(a) selectively aligning the fields of view of a plurality of surveillance monitors such as to form an integrated field of view substantially equal to a sum of fields of view of said surveillance monitors;
(b) operating said surveillance monitors; and
(c) processing information provided by the surveillance monitors.
13 . The method of claim 12 wherein said surveillance monitors are selected from a group consisting of video recording devices, telescopes, detectors of visible, infra-red (IR), or ultra-violet (UV) light, and detectors of X-rays or ionizing radiation.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein said video recording devices are digital video cameras.
15 . The method of claim 12 wherein the adjacent fields of view of said surveillance monitors overlap by pre-determined margins.
16 . The method of claim 12 wherein step (a) further comprises the step of:
aligning the fields of view of said surveillance monitors such as to form a contiguous integrated field of view
17 . The method of claim 12 wherein step (c) further comprises the step of:
processing the information in an order determined based on a target search and monitoring algorithm.
18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein step (b) further comprises the step of:
scanning at least a portion of the integrated field of view with a laser adapted to illuminate one or more targets identified by said target search and monitoring algorithm.
19 . The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:
scanning said laser in a region defined based on said target search and monitoring algorithm; and
selectively processing information provided by the surveillance monitor having a field of view containing the target.
20 . The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of:
scanning said laser using a substantially reflective minor having a calibrated leak of laser radiation through material of the minor.
21 . The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of
identifying a surveillance monitor having a field of view being scanned by said laser based on analysis of the leaked laser radiation.
22 . A system using the method of claim 12 .
23 . A method for detecting or monitoring one or more targets comprising the steps of:
defining boundaries of a controlled region;
identifying in the controlled region a plurality of controlled sub-regions; and
monitoring the controlled region using surveillance monitors each having a field of view substantially equal to a controlled sub-region, each of said surveillance monitors being selectively aligned in a pre-determined direction to define one of said controlled sub-regions.
24 . The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of:
aligning fields of view of said surveillance monitors to form a contiguous integrated field of view.
25 . The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of:
operating the surveillance monitors simultaneously.
26 . The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of:
processing data provided by the surveillance monitors in an order defined by a target search and monitoring algorithm.
27 . The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of:
scanning at least a portion of said controlled region using a laser adapted to illuminate the one or more targets;
identifying a surveillance monitor having a field of view being scanned by said laser; and
selectively processing information provided by said identified surveillance monitor.
28 . The method of claim 23 wherein said surveillance monitors are selected from a group consisting of video recording devices, telescopes, detectors of visible, infra-red (IR), or ultra-violet (UV) light, and detectors of X-rays or ionizing radiation.
29 . A system using the method of claim 23 .
30 . The method of claim 17 wherein said target search and monitoring algorithm is implemented as software stored on a computer readable medium.