Sarnoff Technology Pinpoints Location of Suspicious Activity, Merges Intelligence Data With Live Video

Combines Video with GIS Coordinates, Site Context, Alerts, Other Information for Homeland Security and Surveillance Systems

PRINCETON, N.J., Dec. 16, 2002 -- New capabilities developed by Sarnoff Corporation (www.sarnoff.com) promise better response to emergencies and homeland security threats by combining live surveillance video with stored site models and adding GIS location information and intelligence data, all in real time.

Sarnoff is licensing the technology to system providers in homeland security, emergency management, and corporate security.

These video intelligence capabilities quickly clarify a situation by:

- Creating and storing a 3-D video-based site model that gives surveillance staff the full context of any scene under observation

- Superimposing live video from the scene onto the model;

- Letting observers "fly" around and through the scene as events unfold, and zoom in on points of interest;

- Incorporating GIS coordinates to pinpoint the location of the activity, right down to a specific floor of a building;

- Adding real-time intelligence and sensor data to insure better situational awareness;

- Storing video and data for later review and analysis; Many of these functions can also be extended into consumer products.

"It sounds like Hollywood special effects, but it's not," said Dr. Peter Burt, Sarnoff's Senior Technical Director, Vision Technologies. "Our technology is a major advance in C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence) capabilities that lets homeland security and emergency management centers detect, assess, and respond to threats and disasters faster and more effectively. It creates a comprehensive view that agencies and field teams can share to coordinate their response to a dangerous situation."

Instant Understanding Equals Fast Response

Most video intelligence systems require hours of processing before they can integrate images and intelligence.

By contrast, the Sarnoff capabilities allow display of live video, computer-generated contextual background, and other information as the action unfolds. The information can all be presented in an intuitive display that immerses the viewer in the scene and provides data to aid in understanding the tactical situation.

The "fly-through video" capability, for example, is a crucial element in giving the viewer the whole picture in a timely manner. "It's like a video game," said Dr. Burt. "Using a joystick, the surveillance official can see a whole scene, zoom down to observe an action, and move from one part of a facility to another, wherever there's a video camera, as if flying through the space."

The scene can also be stored for later playback. The viewer can then get different camera angles to determine the nature and significance of an activity, the way instant replay referees review a play on the football field.

Intelligence data for use with the video display can be retrieved from commercial or proprietary databases. Sensors can be added to the system to alert surveillance officials to unusual activity, such as chemical vapors, excessive heat or smoke, unauthorized movements, and more.

	   --30--kk/ny*

    CONTACT: Sarnoff Corporation
             Tom Lento, 609/734-3178 
             Fax: 609/734-2040
             tlento@sarnoff.com