IP Library Granted Patent US 9,946,936
Granted Patent B2
US 9,946,936 · App. 15/096,483 · Granted Apr 17, 2018

Automated video based ingress/egress sensor reset for truck stop occupancy detection

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,946,936
App. No.
15/096,483
Granted
Apr 17, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system for parking occupancy detection comprises collecting video of the parking facility with a video capturing device, counting an occupancy of a parking facility using at least one sensor to establish a sensor occupancy count, classifying each of a plurality of parking spots as occupied or vacant with a classifier according to the classification threshold in order to establish a video occupancy count, determining a difference between the sensor occupancy count and the video occupancy count, and setting the sensor occupancy count to equal the video occupancy count if the difference between the sensor occupancy count and the video occupancy count exceeds a difference threshold.

Claims (78)

1. A method for parking occupancy detection comprising:

collecting video of a parking facility with a video camera;

counting an occupancy of said parking facility using at least one sensor to establish a sensor occupancy count;

classifying each of a plurality of parking spots as occupied or vacant with a classifier according to a classification threshold in order to establish a video occupancy count;

determining a difference between said sensor occupancy count and said video occupancy count; and

setting said sensor occupancy count according to said difference between said sensor occupancy count and said video occupancy count.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein classifying each of a plurality of parking spots as occupied or vacant further comprises:

identifying a region of interest for each of said plurality of parking spots;

randomly distorting said region of interest for each of said plurality of parking spots;

calculating region of interest features for each of said plurality of parking spots wherein said region of interest features indicate if said parking spot is occupied or vacant; and

classifying each or said plurality of parking spots as occupied or vacant based on at least one value for said region of interest features compared to a classification threshold.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

assigning said classification threshold wherein said classification threshold is dependent on said sensor occupancy count.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein assigning a classification threshold further comprises:

establishing an ROC curve for said parking facility;

determining a current sensor occupancy count; and

selecting a threshold value on said ROC curve associated with said current sensor occupancy count.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

logging said sensor occupancy count on a set time interval;

logging said video occupancy count on said set time interval; and

averaging said difference between said sensor occupancy counts and said video occupancy counts over a set time interval for each or said logged sensor occupancy counts and logged video occupancy counts.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said classifier comprises a computer vision classifier comprising at least one of:

a support vector machine classifier; and

a random forest classifier.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor comprises an ingress sensor configured at an entry to said parking facility and an egress sensor configured at an exit to said parking facility.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein establishing an ROC curve for said parking facility further comprises:

generating an independent ROC curve for each of said plurality of parking spots; and

generating an independent ROC curve for each of a plurality of video cameras.

9. A system for parking occupancy detection comprising:

a video camera for collecting video of a parking facility;

a sensor for counting an occupancy of said parking facility used to establish a sensor occupancy count;

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-usable medium embodying computer code executable by said processor, said computer code configured for:

classifying each of a plurality of parking spots as occupied or vacant with a classifier according to a classification threshold in order to establish a video occupancy count;

determining a difference between said sensor occupancy count and said video occupancy count; and

setting said sensor occupancy count according to said difference between said sensor occupancy count and said video occupancy count.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein classifying each of a plurality of parking spots as occupied or vacant further comprises:

identifying a region of interest for each of said plurality of parking spots;

randomly distorting said region of interest for each of said plurality of parking spots;

calculating region of interest features for each of said plurality of parking spots wherein said region of interest features indicate if said parking spot is occupied or vacant; and

classifying each or said plurality of parking spots as occupied or vacant based on at least one value for said region of interest features and a classification threshold.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said computer code is further configured for:

assigning said classification threshold wherein said classification threshold is dependent on said sensor occupancy count.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein assigning a classification threshold further comprises:

establishing an ROC curve for said parking facility;

determining a current sensor occupancy count; and

selecting a threshold value on said ROC curve associated with said current sensor occupancy count.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said computer code is further configured for:

logging said sensor occupancy count on a set time interval;

logging said video occupancy count on said set time interval; and

averaging said difference between said sensor occupancy counts and said video occupancy counts over a set time interval for each or said logged sensor occupancy counts and logged video occupancy counts.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said classifier comprises a computer vision classifier comprising at least one of:

a support vector machine classifier; and

a random forest classifier.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein said at least one sensor comprises an ingress sensor configured at an entry to said parking facility and an egress sensor configured at an exit to said parking facility.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein establishing an ROC curve for said parking facility further comprises:

generating an independent ROC curve for each of said plurality of parking spots; and

generating an independent ROC curve for each of a plurality of video cameras.

17. A method for parking occupancy detection comprising:

collecting video of a parking facility with a video camera;

counting an occupancy of said parking facility using at least one sensor to establish a sensor occupancy count;

assigning a classification threshold wherein said classification threshold is dependent on said sensor occupancy count;

establishing an ROC curve for said parking facility;

determining a current sensor occupancy count;

selecting a threshold value on said ROC curve associated with said current sensor occupancy count;

classifying each of a plurality of parking spots as occupied or vacant with a classifier according to said classification threshold in order to establish a video occupancy count;

determining a difference between said sensor occupancy count and said video occupancy count; and

setting said sensor occupancy count according to said difference between said sensor occupancy count and said video occupancy count.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein classifying each of a plurality of parking spots as occupied or vacant further comprises:

identifying a region of interest for each of said plurality of parking spots;

randomly distorting said region of interest for each of said plurality of parking spots;

calculating region of interest features for each of said plurality of parking spots wherein said region of interest features indicate if said parking spot is occupied or vacant; and

classifying each or said plurality of parking spots as occupied or vacant based on at least one value for said region of interest features and said classification threshold.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

logging said sensor occupancy count on a set time interval;

logging said video occupancy count on said set time interval; and

averaging said difference between said sensor occupancy counts and said video occupancy counts over a set time interval for each or said logged sensor occupancy counts and logged video occupancy counts.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said at least one sensor comprises an ingress sensor configured at an entry to said parking facility and an egress sensor configured at an exit to said parking facility.

Assignments (10)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2024
From: CONDUENT BUSINESS SERVICES, LLC; CONDUENT STATE & LOCAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: MODAXO ACQUISITION USA INC. N/K/A MODAXO TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT USA INC.
Reel/Frame 069110/0888 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 2, 2024
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: CONDUENT BUSINESS SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 067302/0649 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY
To: CONDUENT BUSINESS SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 067305/0265 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2024
From: MODAXO TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT USA INC.
To: BANK OF MONTREAL
Reel/Frame 067288/0512 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2021
From: CONDUENT BUSINESS SERVICES, LLC
To: U.S. BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057969/0445 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2021
From: CONDUENT BUSINESS SERVICES, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 057970/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: CONDUENT BUSINESS SERVICES, LLC; CONDUENT STATE & LOCAL SOLUTIONS, INC.; CONDUENT TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS, INC.; ADVECTIS, INC.; CONDUENT COMMERCIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC; CONDUENT BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, LLC; CONDUENT CASUALTY CLAIMS SOLUTIONS, LLC; CONDUENT HEALTH ASSESSMENTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 057969/0180 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 23, 2019
From: CONDUENT BUSINESS SERVICES, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 050326/0511 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2017
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CONDUENT BUSINESS SERVICES, LLC
Reel/Frame 041542/0022 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2016
From: MIZES, HOWARD A.; KULKARNI, RAKESH S.; PAUL, PETER
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038414/0229 →