DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments with respect to the rejections of claims 1-19 under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection.
Response to Amendment
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
4. The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this section can be found in a prior Office action.
5. Claims 1, 5-7, 11-13, and 17-19 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bart (US Patent 10,200,621), in view of Sumitomo (US Publication 2003/0185419), and further in view of Tchernihovski et al. (US Patent 5,693,943) and Rechsteiner et al. (US Patent 6,246,321).
Regarding claim 1, Bart discloses a method of surveillance executed by a computer, the method comprising:
controlling a camera for covering an event regarding first sensing data, in response to receiving the first sensing data from a sensor (Bart, col. 2 lines 53-60, controlling the movement of a camera by orienting the camera towards the location of a sensor in response to receiving data from the sensor so that the camera can capture video of events of potential interest to the user);
controlling the camera to change a view for covering the event regarding the first sensing data and an event regarding second sensing data in response to receiving the second sensing data by the sensor after the camera is controlled by the first sensing data, the controlling the camera to zoom out being based on event related data of detected events, wherein the event regarding the first sensing data and the event regarding the second sensing data are at different locations (Bart, col. 2 lines 5-7, the camera can be a pan and tilt and zoom (PTZ) camera that can be used in monitoring and surveillance operations; Bart, col. 8 lines 1-46, the camera control system 200 can coordinate PLZ cameras based on priority schemes. In these implementations, multiple sensors may trigger at a particular time (or within a relatively short time window, such as within one second) and the camera control system 200 evaluates the priority schemes to coordinate movement of the multiple cameras in a manner that best captures the multiple potential events of interest in accordance with the priority schemes. For instance, the priority schemes may define a ranked list of sensor triggers and the camera control system 200 coordinates movement of the multiple cameras based on the ranked list. In this regard, if a camera detects multiple sensor triggers in different locations, the camera reorients toward the sensor trigger ranked highest in the ranked list of sensor triggers, even it that results in moving away from a lower ranked event of potential interest. Also, the camera control system 200 may identify, from among the multiple cameras, a first camera with the best view of the highest ranked sensor trigger and, based on the identification, control the first camera to pan and/or tilt toward the highest ranked sensor trigger. Then, the camera control system 200 may identify, from among the multiple cameras other than the first camera, a second camera with the best view of the next ranked sensor trigger and, based on the identification, control the second camera to pan and/or tilt toward the next ranked sensor trigger while the first camera captures images of a location of the highest ranked sensor trigger. In this case, the second camera is used for the lower ranked sensor trigger, even if the first camera has a better view of the next ranked sensor trigger than the second camera. The priority schemes may account for any variables described throughout this disclosure including the types of sensor triggers, the locations of the sensor triggers relative to the cameras, the quality of the cameras, the field of view of the cameras, image quality, etc.; Bart, col. 8 line 58 through col. 9 line 6, the camera control system 200 may anticipate potential events of interest and use the anticipated events to control camera movement. In these examples, the camera control system 200 may have a set of anticipated potential events that occur shortly after another potential event of interest. For example, if an intruder enters through a window, the intruder is expected to leave through the back door. In this example, the camera control system 200 defines an anticipated event of back door exit that is anticipated to occur after detection of a window opening or breaking and control one or more cameras to orient to the back door based on detection of a window or glass break sensor indicating that the window has been opened or broken. The camera control system 200 may track potential events of interest over time and derive anticipated events based on the tracking; obviously, a first event can be detected in response to a first sensor data and a second event, following the detected first event, can be detected in response to a second sensor data, and the camera system can reorient the camera to change the view for covering the event regarding the first sensing data and an event regarding second sensing data in response to receiving the second sensing data by the sensor after the camera is controlled by the first sensing data).
Bart discloses the camera is a pan and tilt and zoom camera but does not explicitly disclose:
controlling the camera to change a view comprises controlling the camera to zoom out;
wherein the sensor is configured to sense a first range wavelength, the first range of wavelength being different from a second range of wavelength which is sensed by the camera.
Sumitomo discloses controlling the camera to change a view comprises controlling the camera to zoom out (Sumimoto, para’s 0073-0079, controlling the camera for image enlargement/magnifying).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate Sumitomo’s features Bart’s invention for effectively performing surveillance operation by providing larger images of a monitored object.
Bart-Sumitomo does not explicitly disclose wherein the sensor is configured to sense a first range wavelength, the first range of wavelength being different from a second range of wavelength which is sensed by the camera.
Tchernihovski discloses wherein the sensor is configured to sense a first range wavelength (Tchernihovski, col. 5, lines 14-16, sensor 12 is preferably responsive to infrared radiation in a wavelength range of between approximately 7 micrometers and approximately 14 micrometers).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate Tchernihovski’s features into Bart-Sumitomo’s invention for effectively performing surveillance operation by using infrared sensors for detecting, identifying, and tracking events.
Bart-Sumitomo-Tchernihovski does not explicitly disclose but Rechsteiner discloses wherein the first range of wavelength being different from a second range of wavelength which is sensed by the camera (Rechsteiner, col. 1, lines 46-49, the range of wavelengths of image sensor can be between 0.5 and 1.5 micrometers).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate Rechsteiner’s features Bart-Sumitomo-Tchernihovski’s invention for effectively performing surveillance operation by using standard image sensors for detecting, identifying, and tracking events.
Regarding claim 5, Sumitomo-Tchernihovski-Rechsteiner discloses the method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving predetermined information for controlling the camera to zoom out, wherein the controlling the camera to zoom out is based on the predetermined information (Bart, col. 2 lines 5-7, the camera can be a pan and tilt and zoom (PTZ) camera that can be used in monitoring and surveillance operations; Bart, col. 8 lines 1-46, the camera control system 200 can coordinate PLZ cameras based on priority schemes. In these implementations, multiple sensors may trigger at a particular time (or within a relatively short time window, such as within one second) and the camera control system 200 evaluates the priority schemes to coordinate movement of the multiple cameras in a manner that best captures the multiple potential events of interest in accordance with the priority schemes. For instance, the priority schemes may define a ranked list of sensor triggers and the camera control system 200 coordinates movement of the multiple cameras based on the ranked list. In this regard, if a camera detects multiple sensor triggers in different locations, the camera reorients toward the sensor trigger ranked highest in the ranked list of sensor triggers, even it that results in moving away from a lower ranked event of potential interest; Sumitomo, para’s 0079 and 0088, switching monitoring cameras between enlargement and wide area, and zooming images of an intruder as a static or a dynamic image are considered predetermined information).
The motivation to combine the references and obviousness arguments are the same as claim 1.
Regarding claim 6, Bart-Sumitomo-Tchernihovski-Rechsteiner discloses the method according to claim 1, wherein the second sensing data is next acquired after the first sensing data (Bart, col. 8 lines 1-46, the camera control system 200 can coordinate PLZ cameras based on priority schemes. In these implementations, multiple sensors may trigger at a particular time (or within a relatively short time window, such as within one second).
Regarding claims 7, 11-13, and 17-18, these claims comprise limitations substantially the same as claims 1 and 5-6; therefore, they are rejected for the same reasons set forth. Bart-Sumitomo-Tchernihovski-Rechsteiner further discloses processors, memory, and computer-readable medium (see Bart, col. 12 lines 21-59).
Regarding claim 19, Bart-Sumitomo-Tchernihovski-Rechsteiner discloses the method according to claim 1, wherein the first range of wavelength is not visible (Sumitomo, para. 0083, intruder may be detected by an infrared sensor).
The motivation to combine the references and obviousness arguments are the same as claim 1.
6. Claims 2-4, 8-10, and 14-16 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bart-Sumitomo-Tchernihovski-Rechsteiner, as applied to claims 1, 7 and 13 above, in view of Itani et al. (US Publication 2013/0197853).
Regarding claims 2 and 4, Bart-Sumitomo-Tchernihovski-Rechsteiner discloses the control system according to claim 1 further comprising infrared sensor(s) (Sumitomo, para. 0073, intruder may be detected by an infrared sensor).
Bart-Sumitomo-Tchernihovski-Rechsteiner does not explicitly disclose but Itani discloses wherein the sensor is configured to detect thermal information; and wherein the sensor is positioned at a place, the place being different from a camera position in which the camera is positioned (Itani, para. 00026, thermal event module 420 may enable thermal detection system 120 to receive thermal event data, from sensor devices 110, corresponding to thermal activity occurring within detection zone; thermal sensors and other sensors cane be positioned at different place than the camera positioned).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate Itani’s feature into Bart-Sumitomo-Tchernihovski-Rechsteiner’s invention for enhancing surveillance operation by using a wide range of sensors.
Regarding claim 3, Bart-Sumitomo-Tchernihovski-Rechsteiner-Itani discloses the control system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor includes an infrared sensor (Sumitomo, para. 0083, intruder may be detected by an infrared sensor).
The motivation to combine the references and obviousness arguments are the same as claim 2.
Claims 8-10, and 14-16 are rejected for the same reasons set forth in claims 2-4.
Conclusion
7. Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
8. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LOI H TRAN whose telephone number is (571)270-5645. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00AM-5:00PM PST FIRST FRIDAY OF BIWEEK OFF.
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/LOI H TRAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2484
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