Introduction
About SASSC
Facilities maintenance, traffic tracking, crowd analytics, and metropolitan security are a few of the applications where surveillance footage is gaining traction. Despite growing requirements for closed-circuit television (CCTV) as well as associated infrastructures in public settings, there is still a significant shortage of easily adaptable automatic monitoring systems. This has created the need for the system for automated screening of security cameras (SASSC). The patent provides relevant information concerning SASSC and the present applications in making CCTV systems more effective. Notably, SASSC involves current technology that relates to a device for automatically screening closed-circuit televisions (CCTV) camera systems in major and micro size surveillance systems such as car parks (Garoutte, 2014). The technology consists of six main software components; each serves a distinct purpose within the surveillance system’s functioning to enable smart camera combination for controllers culminating in a significant reduction in user fatigue in a surveillance network. The SASSC is a system that ensures more effective working of CCTV systems in both small and large organizations through activities such as real-time tracking of events, easing fatigue of operators and automatically selecting images or videos that can be viewed for the purposes of decision-making.
The novel technology possesses a solitary pass of a camera frame provides a terrain mapping with features describing the film’s content allowing enabling real-time visual evaluation of captured images. The system can determine which cameras the user should see depending on the existence and activities of cars and individuals, as well as distinguishing traffic movement from human movement, using the terrain image’s features (Garoutte, 2014). The technology is flexible and interoperable with current surveillance cameras (closed circuit television) devices allowing for easy incorporation and updates.
An overarching function, functionality, and added benefit of the current innovation is that a surveillance system constructed in conformance to the current principles is adept to automatically make choices as to which surveillance cameras must be observed and which must therefore be ignored, predicated on the footage material of each such video recorder, such as by using video motion sensors in conjunction to numerous different functionalities of the currently creative digital component to form a processor-controlled screening (PCS) and tracking solution (Garoutte, 2014). The PCS device allows fully automated determinations as to which CCTV surveillance points of view should be presented on a CCTV monitor screen and therefore seen by management staff as well as which video recording points of view must be overlooked. The choice is predicated on processor-implemented analysis of the material of the clip obtainable from at least a collective of video surveillance all through the surveillance network.
Advantages of SASSC
SASSC comes with different advantages to both small and large security systems. Based on the ideas of the inventor, Garoutte (2014) asserts that one of the standout advantages of the system is its ability to lead to a significant decrease in the CCTV operator fatigue because it has six primary software elements that perform individual and unique functions within the operation of security systems to provide intelligent camera selection for operators. With the automatic screening of the CCTV cameras as provided by each of the parts of the system, it becomes easier for operators to manage their respective CCTV stations and footages. Reduced fatigue on the part of the operator means that they are able to analyze respective images better and make more appropriate decisions at any given instant.
Another advantage of SASSC is that it leads to real-time image analysis of the video data. With SASSC, detailed pieces of the video or data therein cannot be easily lost because of the real-time ability to capture each element. The real-time image analysis comes with the production of a terrain map that has parameters illustrating the contents of the video (Garoutte, 2014). The real time capture and analysis of the video also provides an opportunity for analysis and relevant decision-making by the concerned parties about activities of vehicles and even pedestrians. Therefore, there is more convenience with SASSC because of the ability of videos to capture real-time and facilitate the analysis.
System for Automated Screening of Security Cameras Technical Tree about SASSC
Table 1: Technical Tree about SASSC
Characteristics Applications Pros Cons Comparison
The current concept relates to a method for automatically filtering closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera networks in major and micro level safety systems such as parking areas.
The technology consists of six main software components, each of which serves a distinct purpose within the surveillance system’s functioning to enable smart video selections for users, culminating in a significant reduction in human fatigue in a CCTV setup.
A solitary pass of a video sequence provides a terrain mapping with features describing the film’s content, allowing enabling real-time visual examination of video sequences.
The technology can determine which video a user should see determined by the existence and movement of cars and people, as well as distinguishing vehicular traffic from foot traffic, using the terrain map features.
The technology is scalable and adaptable with current CCTV systems allowing easy incorporation and updates.
1. The Security Systems use on a Micro Scale.
A minimal CCTV system might comprise a handful of cameras and a screen panel for every unit, for instance. A solitary safety controller can have a constant viewing of all the screens allowing evaluating odd events in a matter of minutes while viewing the screens or at the very minimum while attentively monitoring the screens. Even in a small network, it is challenging, if not inconceivable, for one individual to repeatedly observe the same video or sequences. After some moments of staring at the same thing, what’s known as focus loss kicks in. After a few moments on shift, the screens become simply another piece of background obstructions for the security guard.
As a result, the operator's vigilance and capacity to detect unwanted events, which may sometimes be visible on the display screens, is harmed or lost.
- The security systems use on a massive scale of surveillance.
The tiredness element is important for security staff who must view a proportionally significant amount of screen displays in a massive surveillance camera with multiple cameras. Traditional CCTV control mechanisms have been presented, with the capacity of rotating cameras and displays. With a sufficient number of displays, controllers can watch every camera in the network on a regular basis. 1. Higher cost-effectiveness over every prior CCTV system of equal size. - Readiness of being used in combination with huge, traditional CCTV systems that are fully operational.
- Reduced user tiredness in a CCTV system by a significant amount.
- Security guarantee in car parks, garages, and other locations with vehicle and human activity.
- Capability of directing video camera data to a single or more display device screens solely when anything logically relevant for a user to see is present.
- Improvement of the provider's focus and concentration and ability to evaluate occurrence.
- A higher level of facilities protection at a modest cost.
- A high degree of dependable trust on CCTV security devices and their performance to a degree not previously encountered. 1. The adoption of these kinds of capabilities, according to specialists in security and intelligent systems, is laden with technological challenges, as is often the case with AI (Vincent, 2018). The fact that machines cannot comprehend the environment as well as people is a technical issue (Vincent, 2018).
- The technology also faces ethical challenges. It becomes an ethical issue when individuals believe they could and allow them to make judgments for them (Vincent, 2018). In a car park, a video surveillance system with several video cameras typically lacks an accompanying technology to make smart decisions as to which image to display on a screen. However, according to the current discovery, choices as to which video to observe as well as which to disregard could be made depending on the contents of the footage, and automated auxiliary circuits might be used to make smart judgments as to which camera to observe on one or more designated screen displays.
Problem Statement and Need for a Complex System
Surveillance footage is an important part of contemporary urban safety, especially once combined with computational analytics. It may provide a wealth of additional features such as facial identification, motion sensors, traffic, population tracking, and automatic danger alerts. In essence, advances in computational techniques and advanced analytics have empowered the digitization of a broad range of pragmatic assessments on multimedia content input data; more sophisticated device intelligence technologies are also progressively effective in fulfilling conventionally human-controlled activities that require real-time complex judgment, such as introducing traffic mitigation plans or transmitting urgent assistance (Cheong et al., 2019). Computerized continuous monitoring reduces the necessity for round-the-clock manual system resulting in lower staff demands.
Most nations have deployed closed-circuit television video equipment as a vital tool for boosting precautionary actions and assisting post-incident examinations as a consequence of the increased requirement for security. The security cameras and procedures now in use are inefficient. Based on unfounded or concurrent warnings and an insufficient time to playback and analyze all potentially significant video feeds in real-time tracking modes, an occurrence may easily go unreported (Gorodnichy & Mungham, 2008). The difficulty of video information storage as well as management in archived mode renders post-incident analysis extremely challenging. Even the CCTV cameras set in place by organizations have not made it easier for organizations to retrieve and utilize the most important information in the management of security situations. It is extremely problematic for a person to analyze visual information in a brief period of time owing to the temporal aspect of video streams. The development of Smart Video Surveillance technologies that can do automatic video information assessment is the remedy to these issues. It is critical that organizations have a system that makes it easier to analyze information to make notable decisions in the areas for improvement.
Once fully assembled and administered as component of a surveillance network in the facilities where parking structure administrators have a responsibility to prevent robberies or other damages or accidents that could otherwise happen, CCTV cameras can be an effective security management instrument (Garoutte, 2014). Car parks are ideal locations for CCTV surveillance since people are more prone to be solitary and defenseless compared to high-traffic areas (Garoutte, 2014). Security officers must examine the camera systems continuously at all hours for a CCTV network to function properly.
In a car park, a video surveillance system with several surveillance cameras typically lacks an auxiliary component to generate smart selections as to which cameras should be displayed on projection screens. However, according to the current revelation, selections as to which image to examine and which to disregard might be made depending on the contents of the footage, and electrical auxiliary networks might be used to make smart selections as to which video to observe solely on a single or even more designated projection screens (Garoutte, 2014). The intelligent technology would also be consistent with modern surveillance equipment.
Even though car parks are essentially unsafe, they are simply one instance of a location where surveillance systems are used to prevent robberies, thefts, accidents, or even other undesirable events. Illegal entrance is just one form of an unwanted event (also known as an incident), and instances of unauthorized intrusion include automotive and human motion in the wrong directions or via an unapproved gateway, area, route, or channel. Protected facilities are defined as any location, whether corporate, federal, organizational, or personal, where the invention’s security features, security equipment, or equipment would be used (Garoutte, 2014). The technology can therefore be applied in a variety of locations and facilities.
There has always been a need for the complex systems. Security-related challenges around the globe during the past couple of decades have made infrastructure developments noticeable. As a result of the rising requirement for protection, video-based monitoring becomes an area of attention. By using electronic devices, a Smart CCTV System monitors the activity, events, or altering details of individuals, automobiles, or just about any entities from a range of distance (Rai et al., 2019). Artificial graphics processing abilities are competent of aspects such as avoidance, identification, and response that have contributed to the implementation of genuine and reliable camera monitoring solutions (Rai et al., 2019). Sophisticated video-based screening can be defined as a smart graphics processing approach that aids security agents by giving dependable real-time signals and facilitating efficient video examination for surveillance systems (Rai et al., 2019). Complex systems are also helpful in capturing images, especially because of their real-time nature of recording and analyzing videos. Organizations will find it easier to work with complex systems because of the efficiency in the analysis of videos of all types that may not be done by simple systems used across many different organizations in the meantime (Garoutte, 2014). With such capabilities it becomes easier to ensure high security through sophisticated surveillance systems. The capacity of the automated system to capture videos real-time and ease the work of operators is as illustrated in the figure below;
Figure 1: Real-time Working of the Automated System
Source: (Gorodnichy & Mungham, 2008)
The Components of the System
The Terrain Map
The fundamental imagery evaluation methods of the current invention are centered on a Terrain Map examination. In most cases, a Terrain Mapping is created from one passing of a video sequence yielding unique information about the film’s contents. Terrain Mapping generates a file containing descriptive collected data on every one of the 22 kernels of pixels in an incoming buffer, which includes 6 bytes of memory indicating the connection of each of 16 pixels in a 44 kernel enclosing the 2*2 kernels (Garoutte, 2014). The dimensions of the Terrain Map are as illustrated in the figure below;
Figure 2: Dimension of the Terrain Map
Source: (Garoutte, 2014)
The Terrain Map is therefore an integral component of the automated system, especially because of the role it plays in the analysis of the videos within those systems. With the Terrain Map, it is easier to identify the components of the video that are a key to security analysis.
The Variables for Additional Imagery Evaluation
All visual assessment methods of the current invention are based on the informative material of the footage produced by the Terrain Mapping, which results in the development of many variables for additional imagery evaluation (Garoutte, 2014). The mean altitude, slope degrees, slope directions, the horizontal smoothness, the vertical smoothness, jaggyness, color level, and the color orientation are the variables.
In the 282 kernels, the feature ‘Average Altitude’ generates a mean result of 4 pixels. The ’Degree of Slope’ variable determines the percentage variation from the greatest and least mean value obtained by Average Altitude (Garoutte, 2014). The ‘Direction of Slope’ variable determines the slope’s orientation using the maximum and minimum average values obtained by ‘Average Altitude’. The metric ‘Horizontal Smoothness’ measures the uniformity of horizontal shift from the lowest to the topmost pixel (Garoutte, 2014). ‘Vertical Smoothness,’ like ‘Horizontal Smoothness,’ analyzes the uniformity of shift in vertical orientation from the bottom to the highest pixel (Garoutte, 2014).
The pixel mismatch between odd and even sectors for a specific target separated from a video sequence is measured by the ‘Jaggyness’ variable. After that, the variance is utilized to calculate how rapidly and in which direction an object is travelling (Garoutte, 2014). In principle, jaggyness refers to the degree of interpolate distortions induced by movement between the odd and even sectors of a video sequence. The term ‘Color Degree’ refers to how much a color deviates from monochrome (Garoutte, 2014). 255 are the same as totally white or entirely black, while zero is the same as entirely white or fully black. Depending on two-dimensional color assessments (B-R and G-R), ‘Color Direction’ creates a color information equivalent to hues (Garoutte, 2014). The two-dimensional assessment lowers the number of floating-point computations by a factor of 2 when compared to hue computations or three-dimensional RGB computations, and it is a component in attaining real-time measurements. Color Direction would be the measurement of the color intensity in principle (Garoutte, 2014). The Maintain Background is a second visual assessment technique that separates background from shifting objects by calculating the average parts of frames with no shifting objects (Garoutte, 2014). The shifting object is further examined in order to distinguish between automotive as well as other movements and human mobility. The working of the Terrain Map and the respective distinction of colors is as illustrated in figure below;
Figure 3: Working of the Terrain Map
Source: (Garoutte, 2014).
The Processor-Controlled Selection and Control Mechanism (PCS Mechanism)
For regulating the selections of surveillance cameras, the innovation has a processor-controlled selection and control mechanism (PCS mechanism), which is a significant aspect of the total surveillance framework. The PCS setup is used to allow fully automated selections as to which CCTV surveillance viewpoints must be presented on a CCTV security monitor screen and therefore seen by staffs, as well as which CCTV surveillance viewpoints must be overlooked, all predicated on processor-implemented analysis of the composition of the footage obtainable from at least a collective of surveillance cameras throughout the network. The PCS setup is made up of 6 major software applications, all of which were created utilizing Microsoft as well as Intel resources and a mix of Visual Basic as well as C++ computer languages (Garoutte, 2014). These include the analysis worker, video supervisor, video worker, node manager, set rules graphical user interface, and the arbitrator.
Surveillance camera footage is initially transmitted to a Video Worker that collects images of footage and has different attributes, procedures, and occurrences that make interaction with the Video Supervisor easier (Garoutte, 2014). Each image catcher has its own Video Supervisor. The Analysis Workers analyze the image data acquired through the Video Worker and then give feedback to the Video Supervisor on their findings (Garoutte, 2014). The Analysis Workers have a variety of attributes and techniques including occurrences that make interaction with the Video Supervisor easier.
The Possible Effect of the System on Surveillance Effectiveness
The possible effect of the system on the surveillance effectiveness lies in the use of artificial intelligence in choosing which video sequences the security personnel ought to watch and which ones to ignore, therefore reducing tiredness when it comes to the observation and analysis of the security footage. The current invention relates to a network for conveniently filtering surveillance cameras in major and micro level surveillance systems such as in parking areas (Garoutte, 2014). The system consists of software components, each of which serves a distinct purpose across the surveillance system’s functioning to enable smart camera selections for users, leading to a decline in human tiredness in a surveillance network. A solitary pass of a video sequence provides a terrain map with parameters describing the film’s content and allowing enabling real-time visual examination of video sequences (Garoutte, 2014). The system can determine which video a user should see depending on the existence and activities of cars and individuals, as well as distinguishing vehicular traffic from foot traffic, using the terrain map features (Garoutte, 2014). The technology is flexible and interoperable with conventional surveillance cameras systems, allowing for easy incorporation and updates.
The automated system offers a high level of surveillance effectiveness because of the support it gives to operators to continuously monitor displays through the real-time interpretation of images. According Dadashi et al. (2013), the automatic system has led to a greater effectiveness in surveillance compared to traditional CCTV technologies that did not generally provide real-time interpretation of images. The operators of the CCTV technologies cannot easily lose sight of the events that occur within the locations that the cameras are installed because of the real-time nature of surveillance. Dadashi et al. (2013) state that the models that exhibit behaviors within the context constructed and compared to similar data derived from the recent or real-time sequences is the requirement for effective surveillance. Importantly, the surveillance effectiveness as illustrated by the real-time capture of events or images involves the detection of the object, recognition of the object, tracking, behavior, and ultimately the analysis of the activity (Dadashi et al., 2013). Overall, the system has a high level of surveillance effectiveness because it gives operators an easier time with image analysis because of the real-time capture of the expected information.
The effect of the automatic systems on surveillance effectiveness is also seen in the roles they play in ensuring accurate surveillance video summaries. Chen et al. (2021) explain that the most normal CCTV camera footage mainly reflects benign activities. Consequently, the automated surveillance systems work as an additional monitoring with video summarization capabilities that provide short but accurate summaries of the long video. The operators of the CCTV cameras do not have to waste a lot of time going through lengthy videos because of the accurate summaries provided by the automated system surveillance for CCTV (Chen et al., 2021). The process of summarization of the video using the automated systems entails the determination of the set of the video regions that contain dynamic and moving objects. The next step is the detection of the desired activities and actions labelled by the operators, and finally the summary is developed from the video regions of interest from the raw CCTV (Chen et al., 2021). Thus, with the automated systems, there is more accuracy in summarizing videos that capture only important items and actions.
Lastly, there is more effectiveness in surveillance by the automated system because of the quick processing of monitor query-based searches. Chen et al (2021) affirm that the automated systems have artificial neural networks made up of a number of quantitative neurons nodes in layered setups. The large neural networks play a vital role in the improvement of the performance of various computer vision tasks including the detection, identification, and recognition of the target action. Cheong et al. (2019) add that a three-step processing pipeline is used for the incoming video frames. These steps include the application of brightness and color-correction filters, which also include the reduction of noise, the computation of a background subtraction mask, and ultimately identification and segmentation of the masked image (Cheong et al., 2019). Overall, there is more effectiveness with the quick processing that comes with the automated systems in CCTV surveillance. The simplified neural network is as demonstrated below;
Figure 4: Simplified Neural Network
Source: (Chen et al., 2021)
Patent Summary
The patent is titled “System for Automated Screening of Security Cameras.” The application of the patent is a divisional of the U.S. patent application serial number 12/625,719 filed on November, 25, 2009. Currently, it is referred to as Patent Number 8,345,923 (Garoutte, 2014). The patent was adopted at the backdrop of an important invention, which is concerned with the surveillance of security systems. According to Garoutte (2014), the new invention on security systems is made up of methodologies and apparatus for automated screening of security cameras. An example is the application in large-scale CCTV systems in different contexts.
As summarized in the patent, security systems are generally needed in different contexts, and parking garages are some of the most dominant areas where they apply. There is a need for installed security systems to consistently monitor actions such as the parking or departure of vehicles (Garoutte, 2014). The installation of security systems is an implicit acknowledgement of the need for a system that is reliable and dependable to the establishment. The need to assure the public of continued safety demands stronger systems to support the ordinary CCTV installations at places such as parking garages. The capacity to track activities such as crimes is helpful and assures the users of spaces about their own security. The patent also articulates that CCTV systems have to be effective to perform their duty of security surveillance.
The automated screening of security systems is applicable to CCTV systems, both small-scale security systems and large-scale security systems. According to Garoutte (2014), it is the role of the proprietor to continuously watch scenes of the happenings within the establishments for small-scale security systems. However, there is a need for automation within the small-scale establishments because one person cannot easily follow-up all the scenes, especially the longer ones. In the large-scale security systems, there are hundreds of CCTV cameras that have to be monitored. Regardless of the number of operators, the large-scale systems lead to operators suffering from fatigue because of the review of scenes. Again, the automated screening systems are necessary within the large-scale security establishments because of the significant impact they have on easing the summarization of videos and real-time monitoring of different scenes.
The patent also illustrates the vital components of the invention. The Terrain Map is one of the illustrated components critical to the functioning of the automated screen surveillance system. The Terrain Map, as explained by Garoutte (2014), stands out as the primary image analysis technique. The Terrain Map is derived from a single pass of a video frame, which leads to the generation of the characteristic information related to the content of the video. The Terrain Map is vital in helping in image analysis because it provides a clear summary of the video or the images captured while the CCTV is in use. The parameters that influence the working of the Terrain Map are diverse and include horizontal smoothness, vertical smoothness, average altitude, degree of slope, direction of slope, jaggyness, color direction, and color degree (Garoutte, 2014). Another component illustrated in the patent is the additional image analysis function called Maintain Background. As per the explanation by Garoutte (2014), Maintain Background separates the background from moving targets by making it easier for the system to focus on such images. Ultimately, there is the PCS system made up of six key software components such as video supervisor, set rules graphical user interface, analysis workers, video worker, arbitrator, and node managers (Garoutte, 2014). Overall, all these components work together for the best outcomes of the system.
Generally, the patent is illustrative of the fact that there is a need to protect the original idea of automated systems for security surveillance. The reliability on CCTV cameras across organizations has also come with the heavy responsibility of making organizations accountable for any form of security infringement. Despite the effectiveness of CCTV cameras to capture relevant images and even videos of events, they still require an automated system to ease monitoring of such events. Based on the patent, the automated system for security surveillance is a solution to enhancing the effectiveness of CCTV cameras in both small and large organizations.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the System
The system has numerous advantages. Nevertheless, there has been a limited discussion about the disadvantages associated with the automated system. The advantages and disadvantages are discussed as below.
Advantages
The first advantage of the automated system is cost-effectiveness compared to any other CCTV system. Every organization always looks forward to save costs while at the same time getting quality services related to security. The automated system offers exactly this expectation, as it helps cut down costs while maximizing the benefits of security. Chen et al. (2021) are of the view that the primary expected outcome of the system lies in the cost, personnel, and time savings for agencies. The ability to summarize videos and also reduce the need for a heavy workload makes it easier to the system to work with reduced costs. In another study, Cheong et al. (2019) point to data processing as one of the areas where the system helps with cost savings. The system eases costs of data processing in organizations especially in situations where there are varied video streams that share compute time. Consequently, organizations benefit from the system through cost-savings.
The second advantage of the system as illustrated in the patent a capability to significantly reduce operator fatigue. For large organizations, CCTV operators generally have to go through various footages from the CCTV cameras (Garoutte, 2014). For traditional CCTV systems, the operators have to go through the footages one-by-one and gradually sort them in the analysis of the images. However, with the automated systems, there are components such as the Terrain Map that help with the easier analysis and summary of the images that are captured by the CCTV cameras (Garoutte, 2014). The real-time functioning of the automated system and the capability to capture the target images also simplifies the work of operators reducing fatigue. With reduced fatigue, operators always have an easier time working in the delivery of quality images and videos for analysis.
The third advantage of the system is an easiness to use even in tandem with the large conventional CCTV systems operating at full capacity. The system is judged as advantageous if it is able to operate under different situations. For the automated system, it has been established that it can easily operate in conjunction with the large conventional CCTV systems operating at their optimum levels (Garoutte, 2014). The capacity to operate in the large CCTV systems is anchored on the capacity of the entire system. Particularly, the system is capable of working in conjunction with the large CCTV systems operating at full capacity because of the real-time recording and analysis of images. There is also an easier opportunity to monitor behaviors, movements, and activities with the availability of the system to any given organization (Rai et al., 2019). Hence, there is an advantage of the flexibility of the system to fit into any CCTV security system, whether large or small. The figure below illustrates the capacity of the automated surveillance system to monitor different locations, of cars in the garage (garage 1, garage 2, and garage 3) while at the same time providing the desirable level of safety.
Figure 5: Multiple Tasks by Automated Systems
Source: (Garoutte, 2014)
The fourth advantage of the system is that it has the capacity to greatly improve security at parking garages and other premises that have vehicular or pedestrian traffic in the premises. Controlling traffic, either vehicle or pedestrian, is always a challenge. A normal CCTV system will monitor the direction of the traffic, but may not offer the real-time analysis that triggers immediate actions to control the traffic or any form of crime (Garoutte, 2014). However, the automated systems have the capacity to function in real-time, and this explains why it is the best system when it comes to improving the security not only in parking garages but also in other premises that need to consistently monitor human traffic. In matters related to controlling traffic, the system is efficient because it helps video operators to distinguish vehicular and human traffic. The distinction plays a key role in eliminating any errors that could be linked to the judgment of the vehicular or pedestrian traffic within the premises. Generally, such a high-level security is attained at the lowest cost possible because of reduced human resources needed to run the system.
Therefore, the system is advantageous because it increases efficiency by automatically making decisions about the videos that need to be watched and ones that should be ignored based on the content. In the analysis of CCTV videos, operators at organizations always have to go through a process of identifying what would be relevant in explaining a security breach. Moreover, operators have to distinguish the videos and select the ones that may help investigations (Garoutte, 2014). With the automated system, there is more efficiency and time-saving because they provide a guideline on the videos necessary for the operators to watch. They do not have to waste time going through the different videos before selecting the appropriate ones. Therefore, video operators get an easier time to make relevant decisions on the security situation of the premises based on the videos recommended by the system and on the content they possess.
Disadvantages
No direct disadvantages of the SASSC have been discussed. Nevertheless, some implicit disadvantages have been developed in regard to automated surveillance systems. One of the disadvantages of the automated systems is that it is always regarded a “one-fit-all” solution, when it actually is not. According to Gorodninchy and Mungham (2008), there has been an increasing misconception that the automated system is a one-fit-all solution to problems related to security. Nevertheless, the system may not fully provide solutions because of the diversity of scenarios and environmental constraints that it may be exposed to. Therefore, the system is disadvantageous because it does not offer all the solutions that it is purported to offer security-wise.
Another disadvantage of the technology is that, as much as it provides better video data, it does not necessarily guarantee better video intelligence. Gorodninchy and Mungham (2008) opine that there has been a misconception that the automated systems automatically provide video intelligence with their real-time and quality data. The provided videos do not necessarily lead to strong forensic evidence because they may not be intelligent as required. More expectations have been placed on the system to ensure that it delivers videos used as solutions to security situations, and this may not always be the outcome regardless of the video data. Hence, there is a disadvantage based on the misconception that has led to the belief that the system automatically leads to solutions through the videos it provides. Therefore, the video data that comes out of the system is not always an assurance of a solution to a potential security issue being probed.
Conclusion
Review Summary
Conclusively, the system for automated screening of security cameras entails current technology for automatically screening closed-circuit televisions (CCTV). With the technology evolution, both small and large organizations adopt SASSC for effective CCTV surveillance. The CCTV systems in organizations are designated to offer security solutions, but may not always be reliable if not automatically surveilled. In this term paper, the focus has been provided on the specific aspects of the SASSC and how it applies to the overall security situation of organizations, especially parking garages or vehicular or pedestrian traffic. The technical tree has provided relevant characteristics, applications, pros, cons, and comparisons of the system. Some of the applications pointed out include the capacity to automatically filter out the CCTV images, possession of six software components that perform independent and unique roles, and the ability of the system to be scalable and adaptable to both large and small organizations. The applications identified in the tree diagram include the use in microscale contexts and also ability to be used in large scale contexts. In comparison, the functioning of the automated system is greater because of the capacity to select videos that can be watched for the purposes of making notable decisions that relate to the security situation in those contexts.
It was established that the SASSC has crucial components that facilitate the surveillance and, hence, better working of the CCTV system. For instance, from the patent, it was established that the SASSC has such components as the Terrain Map that helps it function effectively in the delivery of quality videos or images related to situations in the organization. There is also an additional image analysis function referred to as the Maintain Background that leads to proper working of the system through which images are analyzed in greater detail. The additional image analysis process helps discriminate vehicular and pedestrian traffic leading to better analysis. The third aspect is the PCS system that has six key components such as the Analysis Workers, Video Supervisors, Node Managers, set rules GUI, Arbitrator, and video workers that make it a more effective system.
The advantages and disadvantages of the system were also explored in the paper. It was established that the system generally offered a lot of advantages to users. The advantages include relieving operators from fatigue, being cost-effective, automatically selecting videos that can be watched based on content, great security improvement by distinguishing vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and easiness to use as it works alongside large-scale CCTV installations. However, the system has also been characterized by disadvantages such as not being able to offer all the solutions as expected of it, and its video data not necessarily translating to the needed forensic evidence. The patent sets ground for the protection of the invention that goes a long way to ensure CCTV systems work more efficiently. Therefore, the patent is important because it acknowledges the work of the developer and preserves it as required.