Traffic violation detection, recording, and evidence processing systems and methods

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting and recording an event, e.g., a traffic accident, using a sound monitor configured to capture ambient sound of a region under surveillance. The ambient sound is processed and compared with a pre-determined sound profile indicative of the event. At least one camera is configured to capture images of the region and a storage means temporarily stores the images. An identifying means identifies stored images associated with the event so that the stored images can be processed to provide evidence of the event. Events may be communicated in real-time between violation detection and recording systems and a server. A database stores information related to the events, and the database may be accessed interactively according to different access preferences of different categories of authorized users and according to a user's level of access and defined functionality.

1 . A system of detecting and recording a traffic event comprising:
 a sound monitor configured to receive ambient sound of a roadway region under surveillance;   at least one camera configured to repetitively capture images of the roadway region under surveillance;   a storage device configured to store the images; and   a processor coupled to the sound monitor and configured to:
 compare the ambient sound with a pre-determined sound profile indicative of the traffic event; 
 determine, based on the comparing, an occurrence or absence of the traffic event; and 
 in response to the occurrence of the traffic event, provide an indication to retain images captured contemporaneously with, and showing at least a portion of, the traffic event. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sound monitor is a microphone. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the microphone comprises a directional microphone configured to be mounted outdoors atop a traffic signal pole. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the traffic event is a traffic accident. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage device comprises a temporary storage device, and the system further comprises:
 a secondary storage device configured to receive from the temporary storage device a series of retained images relating to the traffic event, wherein the series of retained images include at least an image captured prior to the traffic event, and at least an image captured after the traffic event.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the roadway region comprises an intersection. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pre-determined sound profile indicative of the traffic event comprises pre-recorded traffic event sound samples. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 in response to the absence of the traffic event, provide an indication to delete the images.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera comprises a wide angle camera configured to capture images of multiple lanes of the roadway region under surveillance. 
     
     
         10 . A system of detecting and recording an event comprising:
 a sound monitor for continuously capturing ambient sound of a region under surveillance to detect a defined event;   processing means for processing the ambient sound and comparing the captured ambient sound with a pre-determined sound profile indicative of the event;   at least one camera for continuously capturing images of the region;   storage means for temporarily storing the images; and   identifying means for identifying the stored images which are associated with the event so that the stored images can be processed to provide evidence of the event.   
     
     
         11 . A method of detecting a traffic event, the method comprising:
 repetitively capturing images of a roadway region under surveillance;   temporarily storing the captured images;   capturing ambient sound of the region;   detecting in the captured ambient sound, the traffic event; and   identifying from the stored images, a stored image associated with the traffic event.   
     
     
         12 . The method  claim 11 , further comprising:
 retaining the stored image associated with the traffic event for evidence of the traffic event in subsequent proceedings.   
     
     
         13 . The method  claim 11 , wherein the traffic event comprises a traffic accident. 
     
     
         14 . The method  claim 11 , further comprising:
 transferring the stored image associated with the traffic event from temporary storage to a hard disk storage device.   
     
     
         15 . The method  claim 11 , wherein the step of detecting the traffic event comprises:
 comparing the captured ambient sound with pre-recorded sound patterns of vehicle crashes.   
     
     
         16 . The method  claim 15 , further comprising:
 ignoring a temporarily recorded traffic event that is inconsistent with the pre-recorded sound patterns of vehicle crashes; and   deleting stored data associated with the temporarily recorded traffic event.   
     
     
         17 . The method  claim 11 , further comprising:
 capturing location, date, and time information corresponding to the stored image associated with the traffic event.   
     
     
         18 . The method  claim 11 , wherein the captured images are contemporaneously processed to determine red light violations. 
     
     
         19 . The method  claim 11 , wherein the captured images are contemporaneously processed to determine speed violations. 
     
     
         20 . A method of storing and managing evidence of traffic violations and events which are detected by a plurality of violation detection and recording systems comprising the steps of:
 continuously communicating evidence of traffic violations and events to at least one server;   providing real-time communications between all violation detection and recording systems and the server(s);   providing a database containing information relating to violations detected by the violation detection and recording systems;   dividing the database according to the different access preferences of different categories of authorized users with each user's level of access and functionality being automatically defined by their unique password and log-in process;   allowing browser-based access to information held in the database or databases at a pre-defined level of authority for any authorized user using a computer with Internet connectivity; and   allowing interactive access to and operation of the violation processing system for individual users to perform evidence management tasks specified by the authorities operating the system.