IP Library Granted Patent US 12,638,849
Granted Patent B2
US 12,638,849 · App. 18/248,876 · Granted May 26, 2026

Information processing device, information processing system, method, and program

Inventors: Xi Chen (Tokyo, JP); Hiroshi Miyagawa (Tokyo, JP); Hiroshi Kawashima (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
G05D1/0246G01C21/3415G05D1/0212
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,638,849
App. No.
18/248,876
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tracking target position estimation unit and a tracking target search unit that searches for a tracking target are included. The tracking target search unit calculates one or more search routes connecting a current position of the mobile device and a position where the tracking target can exist, generates a search route list in which the calculated one or more search routes are arranged from the top in order of proximity to a tracking target estimated position, and selects a search route in order from the top of the generated search route list, and moves the mobile device according to the selected search route to search for the tracking target. It is determined whether or not the tracking target has been detected based on an image captured by a camera mounted on the mobile device, and in a case where the tracking target has been detected, tracking processing is resumed.

Claims (64)

1 . An information processing device comprising:

processing circuitry configured to:

calculate a tracking target estimated position that is an estimated position of a tracking target to be tracked by a mobile device; and

search for the tracking target, including:

calculating a plurality of search routes connecting a current position of the mobile device and a position where the tracking target can exist, generating a search route list in which the calculated plurality of search routes are arranged from a top in order of proximity to the tracking target estimated position,

selecting a search route in order sequentially from the top of the generated search route list, moving the mobile device according to the selected search route to search for the tracking target, and

in response to not detecting the tracking target along the selected search route,

selecting a next search route in the order from the search route list, and

moving the mobile device according to the next selected search route to search for the tracking target.

2 . The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein

when moving the mobile device according to the selected search route to search for the tracking target, the processing circuitry is configured to determine whether or not the tracking target has been detected by inputting an image captured by a camera mounted on the mobile device.

3 . The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to calculate the tracking target estimated position by inputting a captured image that is a past image captured by a camera mounted on the mobile device and in which the tracking target is captured.

4 . The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to calculate the tracking target estimated position by applying a motion model corresponding to a type of the tracking target.

5 . The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the current position of the mobile device is estimated by the mobile device.

6 . The information processing device according to claim 5 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to calculate the current position of the mobile device by simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) processing.

7 . The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein

the mobile device includes a sensor configured to detect the tracking target, and

the processing circuitry is configured to execute the search for the tracking target in a case where the tracking target is not detected by the sensor.

8 . The information processing device according to claim 7 , wherein the sensor includes a camera.

9 . The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein

the information processing device includes a sensor configured to detect the tracking target,

in a first state in which the tracking target is detected by the sensor, tracking processing of the tracking target is executed according to detection information of the sensor, and

in a second state in which a period during which the tracking target is not detected by the sensor has occurred for a first prescribed time or in a third state in which the second state has continuously occurred for a second prescribed time, the processing circuitry is configured to execute the search for the tracking target.

10 . The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to calculate the one or more search routes connecting the current position of the mobile device and the position where the tracking target can exist with reference to map information.

11 . The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing device is provided in the mobile device.

12 . The information processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing device is capable of communicating with the mobile device.

13 . An information processing system comprising:

a mobile device; and

an information processing device capable of communicating with the mobile device, wherein

the information processing device includes processing circuitry configured to:

calculate a tracking target estimated position that is an estimated position of a tracking target to be tracked by the mobile device, and search for the tracking target, including:

calculating a plurality of search routes connecting a current position of the mobile device and a position where the tracking target can exist,

generating a search route list in which the calculated plurality of search routes are arranged from a top in order of proximity to the tracking target estimated position, and

selecting a search route in order sequentially from the top of the generated search route list, the mobile device is configured to move according to the search route selected by the information processing device to search for the tracking target, and

in response to not detecting the tracking target along the selected search route, the processing circuitry selects a next search route in the order from the search route list, and

the mobile device moves according to the next selected search route to search for the tracking target.

14 . The information processing system according to claim 13 , wherein

when moving according to the search route selected by the information processing device to search for the tracking target:

the mobile device is configured to input an image captured by a camera mounted on the mobile device and transmit the captured image to the information processing device, and

the processing circuitry is configured to determine whether or not the tracking target has been detected on a basis of the captured image received from the mobile device.

15 . An information processing method executed in an information processing device, the method comprising: calculating a tracking target estimated position that is an estimated position of a tracking target to be tracked by a mobile device; and

searching for the tracking target, including: calculating a plurality of search routes connecting a current position of the mobile device and a position where the tracking target can exist, generating a search route list in which the calculated plurality of search routes are arranged from a top in order of proximity to the tracking target estimated position,

selecting a search route in order sequentially from the top of the generated search route list, moving the mobile device according to the selected search route to search for the tracking target, and

in response to not detecting the tracking target along the selected search route,

selecting a next search route in the order from the search route list, and

moving the mobile device according to the next selected search route to search for the tracking target.

16 . An information processing method executed in an information processing system including a mobile device and an information processing device capable of communicating with the mobile device, the method comprising:

by the information processing device:

calculating a tracking target estimated position that is an estimated position of a tracking target to be tracked by the mobile device,

calculating a plurality of search routes connecting a current position of the mobile device and a position where the tracking target can exist,

generating a search route list in which the calculated plurality of search routes are arranged from a top in order of proximity to the tracking target estimated position, and

selecting a search route in order sequentially from the top of the generated search route list;

by the mobile device, moving according to the search route selected by the information processing device to search for the tracking target: and

in response to not detecting the tracking target along the selected search route

by the information processing device, selecting a next search route in the order from the search route list, and

by the mobile device, moving according to the next selected search route to search for the tracking target.

17 . A non-transitory computer readable mediums medium storing a program for causing an information processing device to execute an information processing method, the method comprising:

calculating a tracking target estimated position that is an estimated position of a tracking target to be tracked by a mobile device,

calculating a plurality of search routes connecting a current position of the mobile device and a position where the tracking target can exist,

generating a search route list in which the calculated plurality of search routes are arranged from a top in order of proximity to the tracking target estimated position,

selecting a search route in order sequentially from the top of the generated search route list, moving the mobile device according to the selected search route to search for the tracking target, and

in response to not detecting the tracking target along the selected search route,

selecting a next search route in the order from the search route list, and

moving the mobile device according to the next selected search route to search for the tracking target.

Assignments (2)
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 17, 2025
From: KAWASHIMA, HIROSHI
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072364/0809 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2023
From: CHEN, XI; MIYAGAWA, HIROSHI
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063309/0819 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-175830 · Oct 20, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230400863A1 · Dec 14, 2023
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