EP1659551A1 - Electronic registration system for detecting traffic violations - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a control system (2) which processes, stores and protects images captured by video cameras (6), when non-authorized passage i.e. passage at red light, of vehicles is detected. The non-authorized passage is detected by an output signal of magnetic coils placed on a roadway. The images are stored on a PC-digital video recorder (1) that has a capacity to store 80000 image sequences.

Description

The invention, product and process, is an electronic device that, within a more general process of traffic census, is able to independently identify events that the computer has programmed as violations of traffic rules. traffic on the road: infringements are documented by a film tape recorded on digital media.

The recorded film consists of two image sequences: the first series provides the panoramic of the crossing with the sight of the lantern of the lights; the other, provides a greater detail of the characteristics of the vehicle giving rise to the offense (registration number, model and mark, etc.).

Both win information about the locality, the intersection of the intersection, the direction of the direction of travel, until the date and time of the "unauthorized" passage.

In particular, in the image-sequence that frames the crossing's panorama, the time (expressed in seconds and decimals of seconds) elapsed at the beginning of the red fire phase and the moment of the passage-infraction is reported. On the left side of the image, we find the times of other vehicles passed with red light.

The document produced represents a certain "proof" which is not refutable, especially in relation to how much time has elapsed since the outbreak of the red light (we can, therefore, evaluate will and / or guilt) and in relation to the rules of prudence and security.

• d'ailleurs, le système présente son autorégulation selon les variations apportées à la programmation (externe) temporelle des feux.

The invented equipment starts and stops according to the original programming of the lights:

• Moreover, the system presents its self-regulation according to the variations made to the temporal (external) programming of the fires.

The system has two operating modes : Intermittent and Continuous .

• Feu Jaune: trois secondes avant que se termine la phase-jaune, se déclenche la mise en mémoire des données-image, soit pour la séquence panoramique que pour celle de détail ;
• Feu Rouge: les capteurs de détection, installés sur les spires magnétiques, s'activent par un « ordre » automatique de l'ordinateur : pendant cette phase, le système continue l'enregistrement et on peut avoir deux cas possibles :
  • a) aucune infraction ne s'est vérifiée. L'enregistrement s'arrête trois secondes après le début de la phase-rouge et, ainsi, effacé. Sitôt après, démarre un nouvel enregistrement, de la durée de trois secondes.
  • b) cas d'infraction. Dans ce cas, le système a mesuré le temps écoulé à partir de la phase-rouge jusqu'au moment du passage sur les spires (c'est à dire, le passage-infraction) : ce temps-là est envoyé à la vidéo-caméra pour être enregistré sur les images reprises.

The first mode, " Intermittent ", saves image-sequences of the duration not less than 3 (three) seconds, centered on the event passage-red fire, according to the following phases:

• Yellow light : three seconds before the end of the yellow phase, triggers the storage of the image data, for both the panoramic sequence and the detail sequence;
• Red light : the detection sensors, installed on the magnetic turns, are activated by an automatic "order" of the computer: during this phase, the system continues the recording and one can have two possible cases:
  • (a) no offense has occurred. The recording stops three seconds after the beginning of the red phase and thus is erased. Soon after, starts a new recording, lasting three seconds.
  • (b) an offense. In this case, the system measured the elapsed time from the red phase until the passage on the turns (that is, the passage-offense): this time is sent to the video camera to be recorded on the images taken.

The recording ends three seconds after the red traffic light of the car part and the film tape concerned is stored.

• Feu Vert : la série d'enregistrement s'arrête et le système reste dans l'attente de la nouvelle phase- jaune.

In the case where there are several cars passing at the red light during the three seconds of recording, this ends just three seconds after the passing of the last infringing car.

• Green light : the recording series stops and the system remains waiting for the new yellow phase.

The mode named " Continuous " it records sequences-image of the duration equal to that of the phase of the red light, increased of 6 (six) seconds (or other programmable measure): the apparatus archives the only images which present at least an offense.

• Feu Jaune : trois secondes avant que se termine la phase du jaune, se déclenche la mise en mémoire des images-photogramme relatifs aux deux séquences.
• Feu Rouge : les capteurs de relevé du passage s'activent, et l'enregistrement commencé pendant la phase jaune elle continue. Au moment où il y a l'infraction, on mesure le temps écoulé (début phase du feu rouge- moment de l'infraction) : ce temps-là est envoyé à la vidéo-caméra pour être enregistré sur les images reprises, et la même opération est effectuée pour chaque voiture suivante en infraction.
• Feu Vert : l'enregistrement s'arrête trois secondes après le déclenchement de la phase feu-vert : la bande filmée est archivée seulement dans le cas où on a repéré des infractions (passages avant que démarre le feu vert), sinon la bande est effacée. Le système reste dans l'attente de la nouvelle phase- jaune.

The phases of this way of functioning are:

• Yellow light : three seconds before the end of the yellow phase, triggers the storage of the photogram images relating to the two sequences.
• Red light : the pass survey sensors are activated, and the recording started during the yellow phase continues. At the moment of the infraction, we measure the elapsed time (beginning phase of the red light - moment of the offense): this time is sent to the video-camera to be recorded on the images taken, and the same operation is performed for each subsequent car in violation.
• Green light : the recording stops three seconds after the start of the green-light phase: the filmed tape is archived only in the case where one has detected infractions (passages before the start of the green light), otherwise the band is deleted. The system is waiting for the new yellow phase.

Each documentary containing the offense is stored as an electronic file (file) called with the chronological elements of the offense (day of the week, month, day, year and hour [with minutes and seconds]): this file is added to the inside a folder called with today's date. It is obvious that the folder will only exist if offenses have been found.

The same folder, in turn, is inserted into another folder with the name of the intersection or the street, in order to facilitate the search and interpretation of the data by the affected staff, especially when it is located remote ( remote ).

The recorded sequences can therefore be downloaded directly from a PC-Client (that is to say a computer location placed at a distance from the installed system), by means of a "Point-Point" connection (via Wi-Fi or GPRS, or via a cable) between the same PC-Client and this one of the system.

At the discretion of the user administration, all sequences can be taken directly from the device.

Again, one can foresee the modality of sending the data automatically to the PC-Client by e-mail.

The equipment consists of several parts: some are enclosed in a metal box, while others are external.

1. 1) PC-DVR (PC-Enregistreur) [FIG.1]
2. 2) système de contrôle [FIG. 2]
3. 3) EEPROM [FIG. 3]
4. 4) UPS [FIG. 4]
5. 5) alimentateur de source électronique [FIG. 5]
6. 6) Vidéo-caméras [FIG. 6]
7. 7) Lanterne des Feux [FIG. 7]
8. 8) Grille électronique de gestion-spires magnétiques [FIG.8]
9. 9) Microphone [FIG.9]

The pieces are therefore called (see Drawing 1 ):

1. 1) PC-DVR (PC-Recorder) [FIG.1]
2. 2) control system [FIG. 2]
3. 3) EEPROM [FIG. 3]
4. 4) UPS [FIG. 4]
5. 5) electronic source feeder [FIG. 5]
6. 6) Video cameras [FIG. 6]
7. 7) Lantern of Fires [FIG. 7]
8. 8) Electronic grid of management-magnetic turns [FIG.8]
9. 9) Microphone [FIG.9]

CAMERAS

The system uses a couple of video-cameras (color), high resolution (480 TV lines) and PAL standard, with 1/2 "CCD sensors with high resolution and sensitivity.There is also a D / N device at the end. to improve visibility during the evening and night hours.

A television camera is equipped with varifocal lens, 3,5-8 mm., Able to completely frame the area of the junction and / or street of interest (including lantern of lights and stop line, as expected usually in the legislative texts).

Another video-camera is equipped with varifocal lens 12-50 mm., Autoiris, able to frame the entire car in violation, the purpose of identifying (brand, model, license plate, ...) .

The cameras are connected to the Recorder / Recorder by two BNC connectors placed on the same Recorder's box.

The system can also be equipped with a third video camera on the opposite side - for example, beyond a crossroads - attached to the control device via a cable placed below the roadway.

This camera is used in the case of a crossroads and / or street with very high traffic intensity, and provides subsequent data about passages-offense (and also in case of car accidents, emergency, burglaries ...).

RECORDER / RECORDER

The recorder is essentially a special configuration PC, so that it can work as a DVR (Digital Video Recorder).

The model is realized with the motherboard FIC of card with Pentium 4 of 2,8 Ghz and FSB 400 Mhz, as well as RAM-RAM 256 Mb (DDR) and HD 80 Gb (possibility to record about 80,000 images in sequence ).

Two video-capture cards work up to 704x576 resolution points.

A software, entirely realized in Visual Basic with a supplement of OCX, runs on a Windows XP operating system and it acts - bidirectionally - with the Controller (by serial means).

The recorded images contain: information about the locality, the intersection set by the lights, the direction of the walk, the time, the date and finally the indication (in the panoramic square) of the time elapsed from from the start of the red light until the time of the offense.

CONTROLLER / CONTROL SYSTEM

The control system (see Drawing 2 ) is a technical interface that manages the PC-DVR, the car-passage detection electronics (turns) and the operating status of the lantern-fire: it operates the recorder-recorder according to magnetic turns and the lantern.

Indeed, the control system performs the startup, the stop of the recorder, has the management of the worst (cancellation and new start of the electronics) and it is connected to an external memory on which are archived the number of recorded infringements , crossing / street information and technical data necessary for monitoring the operation of the device.

All events of interest are recorded on a Recorder-Recorder file so that a record of the operation of the equipment can be made.

Depending on the condition of the fire, the control system starts or stops the PC-DVR (Digital Video Recorder), it starts, it controls and blocks the function of storage of data, it manages the signals of the turns concerning the passages .

The controller measures the synchronization times with the lantern phases, beyond measuring the time that passes from the beginning of the red phase to the time of the infraction, while at the same time performing the traffic survey.

The Controller works in "symbiosis" with the recorder: the two interface and control each other via a two-way communication system.

The system is powered by the 220Vac grid: there is also an independent power supply (UPS) for the case of lack of voltage (power supply with batteries or "group of continuity of energy").

If the recorder software hangs, then the controller executes the system shutdown for three times; if this does not start, then it will go out and a fault signal is sent to the control grid. Moreover, the blocking of the system is easily noted also by the number of repeated connection steps that have failed.

The Controller is equipped with an alphanumeric screen displaying active operation, number of offenses, status of the lantern-fire, registration and model.

In addition, this system is equipped with management keys that allow the choice of the way of operation, the erasure and restart of the number of offenses and the entire system.

FOOD-BALLAST AND ELECTRONICS SPIERS

The system is powered by a couple of feeders: one feeds the PC-DVR, the other feeds the Controller and the electronics of the management of turns. If the street object of the technological installation is single direction, there will be a grouping with a turn only; if the street is two-way, the appliance will be equipped with two turns. These will be, in addition, in programmed sequence: this to signal only the passages that occur in the direction of the planned march; thus, passages in the opposite direction (because of urgency, or turning of large vehicles, ...) are not reported.

EEPROM

The Eeprom device connected to the Controller provides any data relating to you at the road intersection, beyond keeping the number of infractions and other data necessary for the operation of the system.

This, without the external eeprom, can not start and remains blocked: the anomaly is reported.

Practically, it is the external eprom that "specializes" the system to work on the chosen intersection.

The whole system is feasible in series, but the external eeprom is to be programmed, by software provided with equipment.

VISUALIZATION SYSTEM

The system is complemented by a film management software, provided as equipment to the client (for example, Office of the Police Officers), where the image sequences can be located, according to the "intermittent" or "continuous" mode: by this means that the necessary administrative evaluation will be made to decide what the offenses are in relation to the detected "unauthorized" passages.

The software represents a double image (panoramic and detail), beyond the temporal indications of the infringement, in all similar to the software of preview positioned in situ.

In the lower part of the screen, two windows are displayed that display two photos (panoramic and detail), extracted from the images on film: they are useful for providing documentary proof (for example, by printing a copy), with a purpose administrative, judicial, insurance, ... There is also the function "mute", which neutralizes the audio data that accompany the sequence-image.

The visualization is characterized for a very simple use, based on the vision and intuitive method, of the part of the Office that exploits the system: it is the case, in particular, of the general row of the offenses, which is implementation in an automatic way, either at the chronological level or the name of the road zone.

The analysis thus carried out is therefore highly specialized, in the sense that allows to advance the film by successive photograms, by selecting the most important aspects for understanding the best of recorded events.

STATE OF THE CURRENT TECHNIQUE. AND SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS.

The system is characterized, and in this lies its dimension of innovation , for the fact that it is not a simple camera that produces two photos.

Rather, V-RED , producing the filmed tape, allows to analyze for a long time zones and courses in dynamic version: consequently, the events are interpreted in an exhaustive and more concise way (some places would not be easily verifiable by the traditional means of photos), beyond its image-sequence storage capabilities.

1. 1. par le système traditionnel à photo, c'est nécessaire qu'il y ait quelqu'un présente physiquement sur le site au but de retirer le rouleau à développer. Dans le cas du V-RED cette conduite est inutile, car la transmission de données arrive directement au système de exploitation et gestion du Client, soit par expédition électronique soit par accès remote (du Client au système, avec l'afflux des images).
2. 2. le vieux système implique de périodes plutôt longues et coûts ajoutés, à cause du retrait du dit rouleau et aussi à cause du nombre élevé des photos à développer.
3. 3. le système à photo présente l'inconvénient d'être un équipement avec un seul rouleau dedans, ce qu'oblige à son rechange chaque série de 24/36 photogrammes : il s'agit d'une difficulté évidente, surtout dans les heures nocturnes ou le jours fériés, ou encore avec mauvais temps. Le système vidéo ici présenté, au contraire, permet de stocker et transmettre entre 20.000 et 50.000 couples, panoramique et détail, de séquences-image (dans la fonction intermittente et selon les caractéristiques du disc-dur). De plus, l'appareil-photo est empeché, dans la plupart des cas, à travailler le nuit, car il manque d'un système flash, tandis que V-RED exploite l'équipement dans toute condition météorologique.
4. 4. dans le système des appareils-photo, si par hasard le rouleau est épuisé, l'équipement ne peut pas produire aucune documentation de possibles infractions, sans que l'utilisateur puisse en avoir perception : par le système-vidéo ici présenté, cet inconvénient n'existe pas.
5. 5. dans le V-RED, est prévue une couple de disc dur : l'un des deux contient exclusivement les images relatives à les infractions, tandis que l'autre est consacré au fonctionnement du système. Quand le premier n'a plus de capacité de stockage, c'est possible la substitution et au même temps l'archiver pour raison de documentation.
6. 6. par rapport à l'absence de dynamisme et à 1' « information » réduite d'un photogramme traditionnel, la bande-filmée sortante du système numérique donne la possibilité d'exploiter les images également pour d'autres buts (qui nécessitent de vérifier endroits, espaces, mouvements,...) de la part de l'Autorité publique, à bénéfice surtout d'évaluations en cas d'accidents de voiture, calamité, événements criminels,... Aussi pour ces buts spécifiques, le système est équipé de l'instrumentation audio en appui.

Innovation, also residing in the binding of all the technical components with the The new numerical functions and in the capacity of development and general management of the system by the Controller, presents other aspects which make the system new, useful and susceptible of industrial application:

1. 1. by the traditional photo system, it is necessary that there is someone physically present on the site in order to remove the roller to develop. In the case of the V-RED this is unnecessary because the data transmission comes directly to the operating system and management of the Customer, either by electronic shipping or remote access (from the client to the system, with the influx of images).
2. 2. the old system involves rather long periods and added costs, because of the withdrawal of said roll and also because of the large number of photos to develop.
3. 3. the photo system has the disadvantage of being an equipment with a single roller in it, which forces to its spare each series of 24/36 photograms: this is an obvious difficulty, especially in the hours at night or on holidays, or in bad weather. The video system presented here, on the contrary, makes it possible to store and transmit between 20,000 and 50,000 pairs, panoramic and detail, of image sequences (in the intermittent function and according to the characteristics of the disc-hard). In addition, the camera is prevented, in most cases, from working at night because it lacks a flash system, while V-RED operates the equipment in any weather condition.
4. 4. in the camera system, if by chance the roll is exhausted, the equipment can not produce any documentation of possible infringements, without the user being able to perceive: by the video system presented here, inconvenience does not exist.
5. 5. In the V-RED, a pair of hard discs is provided: one of the two contains exclusively the images relating to the offenses, while the other is dedicated to the operation of the system. When the first one has no more capacity of storage, it is possible the substitution and at the same time the archiving for reason of documentation.
6. 6. With regard to the absence of dynamism and the reduced "information" of a traditional photogram, the outgoing film-tape of the digital system gives the possibility of exploiting the images also for other purposes (which require check locations, spaces, movements, ...) from the Public Authority, especially for evaluations in case of car accidents, calamity, criminal events, ... Also for these specific purposes, the system is equipped with audio instrumentation in support.

Claims (9)

Multifunction digital visual registration system on a digital base for detecting violations of road traffic rules and for vehicle traffic recording, comprising a measuring unit placed in a box along a lane or a junction , characterized in that each unit comprises a detector of unauthorized passages (switching to a red light) of vehicles, by a signal emerging from magnetic turns on pavement, which is triggered by a control system, the development and implementation in memory of certain image sequences already taken on a film tape and captured by two or three video cameras, band activated - according to two modalities - according to the programming of a lantern of the lights, all managed by the electronic control system that provides the link between the components. System according to Claim 1, characterized in that the housing contains: a micro control system that connects the lantern of the lights, a grid of electronic management of the magnetic turns, an eeprom and a PC-DVR (Recorder); a UPS and a ballast-support power supply to the said PC-DVR, to which are connected two or three video cameras and a microphone. System according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the method of recording the shooting is triggered, in automatic order of the control system, in two choice modes ("Intermittent" and "Continuous"), account sequence of the lights (yellow, red, green), where the images of the film are erased in the case that no offense exists or is archived in the case of infringement, on the basis of the signals of the magnetic turns indicating an unauthorized passage (while the red light is started) and "intelligent" development of these data, from the control system. System according to Claim 3, characterized in that in the "Intermittent" mode the control system starts the image recording phase 3 seconds before the end of the yellow light, and up to 3 seconds after the initial fire red, followed by a second film, this even the duration of 3 seconds if there are no infringements, otherwise the duration of the original film extends three seconds after the detection of the offense, and this cyclically until in the green phase; in the case of "Continuous" mode, the control system starts the recording phase 3 seconds before the end of the yellow light, and up to 3 seconds after the initial green light. System according to Claim 4, characterized in that each passage through red light the recorder archives the image sequence of the offense, as well as the data relating to the vehicle, using video cameras, while the control system measures the elapsed time from the start of the red light until time of the offense and this is displayed and recorded on the filmed tape. System according to Claim 5, characterized in that the film-images which constitute the infringement document are archived in a coded file (which provides the chronological elements of the event), inserted in a folder indicating the current date, content in another folder with the indication of the locality of the road, thus making it easier to locate data with the public officials in charge when the images themselves are sent by connection and discharge Point-Point (via Wi-Fi or GPRS), in access remote, or by email automatically, where they can also extract couple of photos (pan and detail), from the sequence-images. System according to Claim 6, characterized in that the image sequences are taken by a pair of digital video cameras (one panoramic, the other of detail) ½-CCD Type D / N (in order to guarantee the night vision) to better identify the road area and the vehicle, and a third video camera (panoramic type) can be placed on the opposite side of the housing to get the full view of the lane or crossing, while the film-image is developed and possibly recorded by the combined bi-directional control-recorder system (PC-DVR), up to a storage capacity of about 80,000 filmstrips. System according to Claim 7, characterized in that the recording apparatus is powered by the electrical network (220 VAC) and is equipped with an autonomous power supply ballast for the cases of lack of energy, whereas there is a block of the recorder software the control system performs three times the equipment shutdown, and if this does not start a "failure" signal is sent. System according to Claim 8, characterized in that an eeprom device is connected to the control system, so that the programming of the traffic data on the eeprom device confers the equipment to work on the locality from which the data has been introduced. , which allows to reuse the equipment in new places after a new re-programming of the eeprom.

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