IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,248,879
Granted Patent B2
US 10,248,879 · App. 15/629,048 · Granted Apr 2, 2019

Item tracking using a dynamic region of interest

Inventor: Todd M. Schimmel (Annandale, VA)
Assignee: United States Postal Service
G06K9/3233G06K9/00744G06K9/00771G06Q10/087G06Q10/0833G06T7/11H04N5/23203H04N5/23238H04N7/181
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,248,879
App. No.
15/629,048
Filed
Jun 21, 2017
Granted
Apr 2, 2019
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2665
USPC
382/103
Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for monitoring items in a defined physical area can include a primary camera configured to detect a region of interest within a defined physical area and the coordinates of the region of interest in the defined physical area. A plurality of secondary cameras can positioned throughout a defined physical area. One of the secondary cameras can be selected to capture an image of a region of interest based on the coordinates of the region of interest.

Claims (33)

1. A system for sorting an item comprising:

a primary camera having a field of view comprising a portion of a defined physical area, the primary camera in communication with a central unit, and where the primary camera is configured to identify an item within the defined physical area;

a plurality of secondary cameras in communication with the central unit, each of the plurality of secondary cameras having a field of view comprising a section of the defined physical area; and

wherein the central unit comprises one or more processors configured to:

determine spatial coordinates of a region of interest located on the item within a defined physical area, based on image data received by the primary camera;

identify one or more of the plurality of secondary cameras having a field of view including the determined spatial coordinates;

and cause the identified one or more of the plurality of secondary cameras to capture an image of the region of interest.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to process an image of the region of interest to extract machine readable information located within the region of interest.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the information comprises an intended delivery destination for the item.

4. The system of claim 3 , the one or more processors are further configured to identify a location within the defined physical area for placement of the item based on the intended delivery destination for the item.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising one or more indicators configured to provide an indication of the determined location within the defined physical area for placement of the item.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the region of interest comprises a segment of an item, wherein the machine-readable information comprises one or more of information associated with identifying the item, tracking the item, a destination of the item, a source or sender of the item, sorting data, and routing information regarding the item.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the potential region of interest comprises a segment of an item, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

provide instructions to one or more of the primary camera and the plurality of secondary cameras to capture image data related to the movement of the item having the potential region of interest; and

determine if the item having the potential region of interest is deposited in a container.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to store data associating an item with a container in which the item is deposited.

9. A method for tracking items comprising:

detecting, via a primary camera, a potential region of interest located on an item within a defined physical area;

determining spatial coordinates within the defined physical area of the potential region of interest;

determining a secondary camera of a plurality of secondary cameras to capture an image of the potential region of interest based at least in part on the determined spatial coordinates; and

capturing an image of the potential region of interest by the determined secondary camera.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising extracting machine-readable information from in the region of interest.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining a location within the defined physical area for placement of the item based on the information extracted from the region of interest; and

indicating the determined location within the defined physical area for placement of the item.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising capturing image data related to the movement of the potential region of interest; and

processing the captured image data related to the movement of the potential region of interest to determine information regarding the location of the potential region of interest.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein processing the captured image data related to the movement of potential region of interest comprises determining that the item was deposited in a container located within the defined physical area.

14. A system for capturing images in a defined physical area, the system comprising:

means for detecting a potential region of interest located on an item within a defined physical area;

means for determining spatial coordinates within the defined physical area of the potential region of interest;

means for determining a secondary camera of a plurality of secondary cameras to capture an image of the potential region of interest based at least in part on the determined spatial coordinates; and

means for capturing an image of the potential region of interest by the determined secondary camera.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2019
From: SCHIMMEL, TODD M.
To: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
Reel/Frame 048339/0445 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62353431 · Jun 22, 2016
Related Publication 20170372159A1 · Dec 28, 2017
Cited By (3)
US 12,354,031 US 12,654,326 US 12,670,461