IP Library Granted Patent US 10,630,944
Granted Patent B2
US 10,630,944 · App. 16/030,033 · Granted Apr 21, 2020

Method and system for door status detection and alert generation

Inventor: Harshavardhan Magal (Bangalore, IN)
Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
H04N7/188G06K9/00718G06K9/00771G06K9/6256G08B21/18G06K2009/00738
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 10,630,944
App. No.
16/030,033
Granted
Apr 21, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are methods and systems such as an imaging assembly that may include a variety of components, such as, but not limited to, a two-dimensional (2D) camera configured to capture 2D image data, a three-dimensional camera configured to capture three-dimensional (3D) image data, and an evaluation module executing on one or more processors. The 2D camera may be oriented in a direction to capture 2D image data of a first field of view of a container loading area, and the 3D camera may be oriented in a direction to capture 3D image data of a second field of view of the container loading area at least partially overlapping with the first field of view. The evaluation module may be configured to detect a status event in the container loading area based on 2D image data.

Claims (36)

1. An imaging assembly for use in container loading, the imaging assembly comprising:

a housing;

a two-dimensional (2D) camera housed within the housing and configured to capture 2D image data, the 2D camera oriented in a direction to capture the 2D image data from a first field of view of a container loading area;

a three-dimensional (3D) camera housed within the housing and configured to capture 3D image data, the 3D camera oriented in a direction to capture the 3D image data from a second field of view of the container loading area at least partially overlapping with the first field of view; and

an evaluation module executing on one or more processors, the evaluation module being configured to detect a status event in the container loading area based on the 2D image data to determine if a container door is open,

wherein, responsive to the evaluation module determining that the container door is open, the evaluation module is further configured to transmit a door-open status to a server, and

wherein, responsive to the server receiving the door-open status and responsively generating a 3D-image-capture signal and transmitting the 3D-image-capture signal to the 3D camera, the imaging assembly is configured to cause the 3D camera to capture the 3D image data and transmit the 3D image data to the one or more processors.

2. The imaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the server is remote from the imaging assembly.

3. The imaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the evaluation module is further configured to detect an alert event in the container loading area based on the 2D image data to determine if at least one of a safety guideline violation and a medical emergency in the container loading area and, responsive to detecting the alert event, generating and transmitting the alert event to the server.

4. The imaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors is configured to process the 3D image data received from the 3D camera to determine a location of a package wall within the container loading area.

5. A system for use in container loading, comprising:

a server; and

an imaging assembly communicatively coupled to the server, the imaging assembly including:

a housing;

a two-dimensional (2D) camera housed within the housing and configured to capture 2D image data, the 2D camera oriented in a direction to capture the 2D image data from a first field of view of a container loading area;

a three-dimensional (3D) camera housed within the housing and configured to capture 3D image data, the 3D camera oriented in a direction to capture the 3D image data from a second field of view of the container loading area at least partially overlapping with the first field of view; and

an evaluation module executing on one or more processors, the evaluation module being configured to detect a status event in the container loading area based on the 2D image data to determine if a container door is open,

wherein, responsive to the evaluation module determining that the container door is open, the evaluation module is further configured to transmit a door-open status to the server, and

wherein, responsive to the server receiving the door-open status and responsively generating a 3D-image-capture request and transmitting the 3D-image-capture request to the imaging assembly, the imaging assembly is configured to cause the 3D camera to capture the 3D image data and transmit the 3D image data to the server.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the server is remote from the imaging assembly.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the evaluation module is further configured to detect an alert event in the container loading area based on the 2D image data to determine if at least one of a safety guideline violation and a medical emergency in the container loading area and, responsive to detecting the alert event, generating and transmitting the alert event to the server.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more processors is configured to process the 3D image data received from the 3D camera to determine a location of a package wall within the container loading area.

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein the direction of orientation of the 2D camera is such that the first field of view extends in a first generally horizontal direction allowing the 2D camera to capture 2D images of a distal upright wall of a trailer docked within the container loading area, and

wherein the direction of orientation of the 3D camera is such that the second field of view extends in a second generally horizontal direction allowing the 3D camera to capture 3D images of an interior of the trailer docked within the container loading area.

10. A system for use in container loading, comprising:

a server; and

an imaging assembly communicatively coupled to the server, the imaging assembly including:

a housing;

a two-dimensional (2D) camera housed within the housing and configured to capture 2D image data, the 2D camera oriented in a direction to capture the 2D image data from a first field of view extending in a first generally horizontal direction allowing the 2D camera to capture 2D images of a distal upright wall of a trailer docked within a container loading area;

a three-dimensional (3D) camera housed within the housing and configured to capture 3D image data, the 3D camera oriented in a direction to capture the 3D image data from a second field of view extending in a second generally horizontal direction allowing the 3D camera to capture 3D images of an interior of the trailer docked within the container loading area, the second field of view at least partially overlapping with the first field of view; and

an evaluation module executing on one or more processors, the evaluation module being configured to detect a status event in the container loading area based on the 2D image data to determine if a container door is open,

wherein, responsive to the evaluation module determining that the container door is open, the evaluation module is further configured to transmit a door-open status to the server, and

wherein, responsive to the server receiving the door-open status and responsively generating a 3D-image-capture request and transmitting the 3D-image-capture request to the imaging assembly, the imaging assembly is configured to cause the 3D camera to capture the 3D image data and transmit the 3D image data to the server.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the server is remote from the imaging assembly.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the evaluation module is further configured to detect an alert event in the container loading area based on the 2D image data to determine if at least one of a safety guideline violation and a medical emergency in the container loading area and, responsive to detecting the alert event, generating and transmitting the alert event to the server.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors is configured to process the 3D image data received from the 3D camera to determine a location of a package wall within the interior of the trailer docked within the container loading area.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST - 364 - DAY Recorded Mar 5, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; LASER BAND, LLC; TEMPTIME CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056036/0590 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2020
From: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; LASER BAND, LLC; TEMPTIME CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053841/0212 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 3, 2019
From: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049674/0916 →
MERGER Recorded Jan 16, 2019
From: ZIH CORP.
To: ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048470/0848 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2018
From: MAGAL, HARSHAVARDHAN
To: ZIH CORP.
Reel/Frame 046424/0056 →