Security systems

Abstract

A vehicle detection system for detecting the presence of at least part of a vehicle in image data, the system comprising: an interface configured to receive image data; an identifier module configured to identify a plurality of linear regions in an image represented by the image data; a comparator configured to compare at least one of the number, cumulative size, and density of the linear regions with a respective threshold value; and an output configured to issue a signal indicating the detection of a vehicle based on the results of the comparison.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A tracking and identity association system comprising:
 an antenna configured to receive a signal from a radio communication system including a unique or substantially unique identifier associated with the radio communication system;   an identity information source configured to determine information of potential relevance to the identity of a user of the radio communication system; and   a database adapted to store information determined by the identity information source in association with the unique or substantially unique identifier received by the antenna.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the identity information source comprises at least one identity information source selected from the group consisting of: an automatic number plate recognition system; a fingerprint recording device; a camera; a facial recognition system; and an iris recognition system. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the radio communication system has a range which is substantially equal to a range of the identity information source. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a signal from the radio communication system is discounted if the strength of the signal is such that the identity information is unlikely relevant to the user of the radio communication system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the radio communication system has a typical range of less than 100 m. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the radio communication system has a typical range of less than 50 m. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the radio communication system has a typical range of less than 10 m. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the radio communication system has a typical range of less than 1 m. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a correlation module configured to correlate the information stored in the database to identify patterns in the information. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the correlation module is configured to analyze information determined by the identity information source in relation to a first unique or substantially unique identifier and to collect the information which is common to a plurality of records for the first unique or substantially unique identifier. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the correlation module is configured to analyze information determined by the identity information source in relation to a first unique or substantially unique identifier and to compare the information with information collected in relation to a second unique or substantially unique identifier. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein information of potential relevance to the identity of a user comprises a unique or substantially unique identifier forming part of a signal from another radio communication system. 
     
     
         13 . A tracking and identity association method comprising:
 receiving at an antenna a signal from a radio communication system including a unique or substantially unique identifier associated with the radio communication system;   determining information of potential relevance to the identity of a user of the radio communication system from an identity information source; and   storing in a database information determined by the identity information source in association with the unique or substantially unique identifier received by the antenna.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the identity information source comprises at least one identity information source selected from the group consisting of: an automatic number plate recognition system; a fingerprint recording device; a camera; a facial recognition system; and an iris recognition system. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the radio communication system has a range which is substantially equal to a range of the identity information source. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a signal from the radio communication system is discounted if the strength of the signal is such that the identity information is unlikely relevant to the user of the radio communication system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the radio communication system has a typical range of less than at least one of the group consisting of: 100 m; 50 m; 10 m; and 1 m. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising correlating the information stored in the database to identify patterns in the information using a correlation module. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein correlating includes analyzing information determined by the identity information source in relation to a first unique or substantially unique identifier and collecting the information which is common to a plurality of records for the first unique or substantially unique identifier. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein correlating includes to analyzing information determined by the identity information source in relation to a first unique or substantially unique identifier and comparing the information with information collected in relation to a second unique or substantially unique identifier. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein information of potential relevance to the identity of a user comprises a unique or substantially unique identifier forming part of a signal from another radio communication system.