Multi-dimensional virtual beam detection for video analytics

1. A method of monitoring whether an object of interest is passing through an area within a field of view of a scene observed by a video camera, the method comprising:

receiving video data representing the field of view of the scene observed by the video camera;

using video analytics to track the object of interest represented in the video data;

configuring a detection zone within the area, the detection zone including an entrance side and an exit side positioned opposite to each other and thereby defining opposite sides of the detection zone and corresponding to a volume of space defined by a three-dimensional virtual beam superimposed on an image represented by the video data; and

signaling an occurrence of an event when the tracked object of interest is continually present in the detection zone during a period beginning when the tracked object of interest enters the detection zone on the entrance side and ending when the tracked object of interest leaves the detection zone from the exit side.

2. The method of claim 1 , in which the signaling of an occurrence of an event is performed for an object of interest exhibiting a specified physical characteristic.

3. The method of claim 2 , in which the physical characteristic is a color of the object of interest.

4. The method of claim 2 , in which the physical characteristic is a speed of motion of the object of interest.

5. The method of claim 2 , in which the physical characteristic is a height of the object of interest.

6. The method of claim 2 , in which the physical characteristic is a height of the object of interest within the virtual beam detection zone.

7. The method of claim 2 , in which the height of the object of interest is capable of being configured by a height value set by a user.

8. A method of monitoring whether an object of interest is passing through an area within a field of view of a scene observed by a video camera, the method comprising:

receiving video data representing the field of view of the scene observed by the video camera;

using video analytics to track an object of interest represented in the video data;

configuring a detection zone within the area, the detection zone including an entrance side and an exit side positioned opposite to each other and thereby defining opposite sides of the detection zone; and

signaling an occurrence of an event when the tracked object of interest is continually present in the detection zone during a period beginning when the tracked object of interest enters the detection zone on the entrance side and ending when the tracked object of interest leaves the detection zone from the exit side and after detection of a specified period of time elapsed from a time the object of interest entered through the entrance side and left through the exit side of the detection zone.

9. A method of monitoring whether an object of interest is passing through an area within a field of view of a scene observed by a video camera, the method comprising:

receiving video data representing the field of view of the scene observed by the video camera;

using video analytics to track an object of interest represented in the video data;

configuring a detection zone within the area, the detection zone including an entrance side and an exit side positioned opposite to each other and thereby defining opposite sides of the detection zone;

monitoring an output signal of an external sensor; and

signaling an occurrence of an event when the tracked object of interest is continually present in the detection zone during a period beginning when the tracked object of interest enters the detection zone on the entrance side and ending when the tracked object of interest leaves the detection zone from the exit side and upon indication of a predetermined value of the output signal of the external sensor.

10. A method of monitoring whether one or more objects of interest are passing through an area within a field of view of a scene observed by a video camera, the method comprising:

receiving video data representing the field of view of the scene observed by the video camera;

using video analytics to track the one or more objects of interest represented in the video data;

configuring a detection zone within the area, the detection zone including an entrance side and an exit side positioned opposite to each other and thereby defining opposite sides of the detection zone;

signaling an occurrence of an event when a tracked object among the one or more objects of interest is continually present in the detection zone during a period beginning when the tracked object of interest enters the detection zone on the entrance side and ending when the tracked object of interest leaves the detection zone from the exit side, wherein the one or more objects of interest are people present in a retail establishment;

performing a count of the people; and

using the count of people to monitor retail establishment customer traffic patterns.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising generating a report illustrating the customer traffic patterns.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the report is based on one or more of a time of day, a season of year, or a comparison of customer traffic flow among multiple retail locations.