US Patent 10366586 Video analysis-based threat detection methods and systems

Threat detection methods and systems serve to alert persons of potential dangers. According to one exemplary method, a video processing system (VPS) receives video data in real time or near real time from at least one camera positioned to capture images of a video capture area proximate a person. The video data includes data representing a series of time-sequenced video frames. The VPS determines whether data representing a first video frame includes data representative of one or more predefined patterns. If so, the VPS commences tracking of the predefined pattern(s) within the video data to produce one or more tracked patterns. After pattern tracking has begun, the VPS determines whether data representing one or more subsequent video frames includes data representative of the tracked pattern(s). If so, the VPS determines whether the tracked pattern(s) is/are positioned suspiciously relative to a position of the person and, if so, alerts the person.