MOTION DETECTION SYSTEM

A system for detecting motion in a video image is provided wherein the video image is processed into a statistical array in which the array elements are derived from overlapping portions of the image. The elements of the statistical array are compared with corresponding array elements derived from an earlier image. The overlapping nature of the statistical array elements allows any detected changes in the image to be correlated with a portion of the image that is smaller than the area from which the statistical quantities are derived. Such spatial correlation of detected image changes is accomplished by thresholding and/or Boolean comparisons among the elements of the statistical array. A motion detection system in accordance with this invention can be used with a video multiplexing system so that motion can be detected at a plurality of remote locations.