IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,786,101
Granted Patent B2
US 9,786,101 · App. 14/715,916 · Granted Oct 10, 2017

Evaluating image values

Inventor: H. Sprague Ackley (Seattle, WA)
Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
G07B17/00661G01B11/00G01B11/02G06K9/00G06K9/18G06K9/4604G06K9/4652G06K9/52G06T7/62
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 9,786,101
App. No.
14/715,916
Granted
Oct 10, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Images of items are evaluated. A first image of the item, having a view of two or more of its surfaces, is captured at a first time. A measurement of at least one dimension of one or more of the surfaces is computed and stored. A second image of the item, having a view of at least one of the two or more surfaces, is captured at a second time, subsequent to the first time. A measurement of the dimension is then computed and compared to the stored first measurement. The computed measurement is evaluated based on the comparison.

Claims (63)

1. A method for evaluating whether an image of an item may be suitable for computing accurate dimension measurements, the method comprising the steps of:

capturing a first image of the item at a first time, the first image comprising a view of two or more surfaces of the item and of one or more surface features;

computing a first measurement of at least one dimension of at least one of the surface features based on the first captured image;

capturing a second image of the item at a second time, which is subsequent to the first time, the second image comprising a view of at least one of the two or more surfaces and of at least one of the one or more surface features;

computing a second measurement of the at least one dimension of the at least one of the surface features based on the second captured image;

comparing the computed second measurement to the computed first measurement;

evaluating whether the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement may be suitable for computing accurate dimension measurements;

capturing at least a third image of the item at a corresponding time, which occurs between the first time and the second time, the at least a third image comprising a view of the at least one of the two or more surfaces;

computing at least a third measurement of at least one dimension of at least one of the two or more surfaces based on the captured at least a third image;

comparing the at least a third measurement computed in relation to the captured at least a third image to the computed first measurement and/or to the computed second measurement;

approving the at least a third measurement, computed in relation to the captured at least a third image, based on the comparison to the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement; and

computing a mean value based on the computed first measurement, and/or the computed second measurement, and the approved at least a third measurement.

2. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the evaluating step comprises, selectively, accepting or rejecting the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement.

3. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the evaluating step comprises, selectively, accepting or rejecting the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement.

4. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the at least one dimension corresponds to at least one boundary about a periphery of at least one of the surface features item.

5. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the one or more surface features relate to a corresponding chromatic characteristic.

6. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the one or more surface features comprise at least one of a logo or a bar code pattern.

7. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the one or more surface features relate to at least one of a text based, alphanumeric, ideographic, or pictographic symbol.

8. The method as described in claim 7 , wherein the symbol comprises at least one of handwritten or preprinted writing.

9. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the comparing step comprises computing a duration of an interval between the second time and the first time.

10. The method as described in claim 9 , wherein the evaluating step comprises establishing an identity between a representation of the item in the second image with a representation of the item in the first image.

11. The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

delineating a boundary about a periphery of the one or more surface features in the first captured image;

mapping the delineated boundary to corresponding locations in a coordinate system;

storing data corresponding to the mapped boundary;

recognizing the surface feature in the captured second image;

surveying data corresponding to the boundary in relation to the recognized surface feature;

comparing the surveyed boundary data to the stored boundary data; and

basing the evaluating step, at least in part, on the step of comparing the surveyed boundary data to the stored boundary data.

12. The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

correcting the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement based on the computed mean value.

13. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the two or more surfaces of the item comprise at least three surfaces.

14. The method as described in claim 1 , wherein the capturing the first image step comprises recording the view of the two or more surfaces of the item from a perspective associated with a first position of the item.

15. The method as described in claim 14 , wherein the capturing the second image step comprises recording the view of the at least one of the two or more surfaces from a perspective associated with a second position of the item, which is displaced relative to the first position.

16. The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising certifying, based on the evaluating step, a charge for a commercial transaction relating to one or more of storing or transporting the item.

17. The method as described in claim 1 , further comprising certifying, based on the evaluating step, a dimensioner for a commercial use.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when read and executed by a computer processor are operable for performing, controlling, or causing a process for evaluating whether an image of an item may be suitable for computing accurate dimension measurements, the process comprising:

capturing a first image of the item at a first time, the first image comprising a view of two or more surfaces of the item and of one or more surface features;

computing a first measurement of at least one dimension of at least one of the surface features based on the first captured image;

capturing a second image of the item at a second time, which is subsequent to the first time, the second image comprising a view of at least one of the two or more surfaces and of at least one of the one or more surface features;

computing a second measurement of the at least one dimension of the at least one of the surface features based on the second captured image;

comparing the computed second measurement to the computed first measurement;

evaluating whether the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement may be suitable for computing accurate dimension measurements;

capturing at least a third image of the item at a corresponding time, which occurs between the first time and the second time, the at least a third image comprising a view of the at least one of the two or more surfaces;

computing at least a third measurement of at least one dimension of at least one of the two or more surfaces based on the captured at least a third image;

comparing the at least a third measurement computed in relation to the captured at least a third image to the computed first measurement and/or to the computed second measurement;

approving the at least a third measurement, computed in relation to the captured at least a third image, based on the comparison to the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement; and

computing a mean value based on the computed first measurement, and/or the computed second measurement, and the approved at least a third measurement.

19. A computer system, comprising:

a bus component;

a processor component coupled to the bus component and operable for processing data; and

a non-transitory storage component coupled to the bus component and comprising instructions, which when read and executed by the processor component are operable for performing, controlling or causing a process for evaluating whether an image of an item may be suitable for computing accurate dimension measurements, the process comprising:

capturing a first image of the item at a first time, the first image comprising a view of two or more surfaces of the item and of one or more surface features;

computing a first measurement of at least one dimension of at least one of the surface features based on the first captured image;

capturing a second image of the item at a second time, which is subsequent to the first time, the second image comprising a view of at least one of the two or more surfaces and of at least one of the one or more surface features;

computing a second measurement of the at least one dimension of the at least one of the surface features based on the second captured image;

comparing the computed second measurement to the computed first measurement;

evaluating whether the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement may be suitable for computing accurate dimension measurements;

capturing at least a third image of the item at a corresponding time, which occurs between the first time and the second time, the at least a third image comprising a view of the at least one of the two or more surfaces;

computing at least a third measurement of at least one dimension of at least one of the two or more surfaces based on the captured at least a third image;

comparing the at least a third measurement computed in relation to the captured at least a third image to the computed first measurement and/or to the computed second measurement;

approving the at least a third measurement, computed in relation to the captured at least a third image, based on the comparison to the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement; and

computing a mean value based on the computed first measurement, and/or the computed second measurement, and the approved at least a third measurement.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2015
From: ACKLEY, H. SPRAGUE
To: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 035668/0701 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160343176A1 · Nov 24, 2016