Systems and methods for using multiple radar sensors to track targets over extended ranges
OwnerAlexei Khazan, Tomer Zimmerman +3inventors
InventorsAlexei Khazan, Tomer Zimmerman, Idan Einav, Shir Shem Tov, Benjamin Hirsch
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Abstract
Systems and methods for tracking targets by a network of radar sensors each monitoring targets in a portion of an extended range. Each radar sensor characterizes and identify the detected targets and communicates metadata with neighboring sensors such that the identified targets may be uniquely identified and continuously tracked as they move between different portions of the extended monitored region. In a retail environment, customer behavior may be monitored with a customer journey generated indicating a path taken by each identified customer.
Claims20
A method for tracking targets by multiple radar sensors over an extended region, the method comprising:
- providing a network of the radar sensors, each of the radar sensors configured to monitor movement of the targets within an associated portion of the extended region, each radar sensor comprising:
- a radar transmission unit having an array or radio frequency transmitter antennas connected to an oscillator and configured to transmit electromagnetic waves into the associated monitored portion of the extended region,
- a radar receiving unit having an array or radio frequency receiver antennas configured to receive the electromagnetic waves reflected by objects within the associated monitored portion of the extended region and operable to generate raw data,
- a processor configured to receive the raw data from the radar receiving unit and operable to characterize and identify the targets based upon the received raw data, and generate metadata associated with the identified targets to communicate to neighboring sensors, and
- a communicator operable to transmit said metadata to neighboring sensors and to receive different metadata from the neighboring sensors;
- at each radar sensor of the network:
- transmitting the electromagnetic waves into the associated monitored portion;
- receiving the reflected electromagnetic waves and generating the raw data;
- receiving, via the communicator, the metadata from the neighboring sensors;
- and
- if a detecting radar sensor from the network of the radar sensors detects a target within the associated monitored portion based on the generated raw data, then the detecting radar sensor performs the steps of:
- characterizing the detected target;
- assigning a unique identification code to the detected target;
- tracking movement of the detected target;
- generating new metadata regarding the detected target;
- and
- broadcasting the new metadata to the neighboring sensors.
A system for tracking targets by multiple radar sensors over an extended region, the system comprising a network of the radar sensors, each of the radar sensors configured to monitor movement of the targets within an associated portion of the extended region, each radar sensor comprising:
- a radar transmission unit having an array or radio frequency transmitter antennas connected to an oscillator and configured to transmit electromagnetic waves into the associated monitored portion of the extended region;
- a radar receiving unit having an array or radio frequency receiver antennas configured to receive the electromagnetic waves reflected by objects within the associated monitored portion of the extended region and operable to generate raw data;
- a processor configured to receive the raw data from the radar receiving unit and operable to characterize and identify the targets based upon the received raw data, and generate metadata associated with the identified targets to communicate to neighboring sensors;
- and
- a communicator operable to transmit said metadata to the neighboring sensors and to receive different metadata from the neighboring sensors,
- wherein each radar sensor is configured to detect a target within the associated monitored portion based on the generated raw data, characterize the detected target, assign a unique identification code to the detected target, track movement of the detected target, generate new metadata regarding the detected target, and broadcast the new metadata to the neighboring sensors.
A system for monitoring customer behavior within a retail environment, the system comprising:
- an inventory map indicating locations of items of merchandise within the retail environment;
- a network of radar sensors, each of the radar sensors configured to monitor movement of customers within an associated portion of the retail environment, each radar sensor comprising:
- a radar transmission unit having an array or radio frequency transmitter antennas connected to an oscillator and configured to transmit electromagnetic waves into the associated monitored portion of the retail environment,
- a radar receiving unit having an array or radio frequency receiver antennas configured to receive the electromagnetic waves reflected by the customers within the associated monitored portion of the retail environment and operable to generate raw data, and
- a processor configured to receive the raw data from the radar receiving unit and operable to characterize and identify the customers based upon the received raw data, and generate metadata associated with the identified customers to communicate to neighboring sensors, and
- a communicator operable to transmit the metadata to the neighboring sensors and to receive different metadata from the neighboring sensors;
- a customer tracking database operable to record a customer journey for each identified customer indicating a path taken through the retail environment by the associated identified customer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.