Method and system for rear status detection

• US 10,339,392 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2017
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Seaman, Conrad Delbert, Kuhn, Derek John, West, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Nakhjavan, Shervin K
• Application Number:
  US15/624,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20180365501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/002 for parking purposes, e.g. for warning the driver that his vehicle has contacted or is about to contact an obstacle warning arrangements in garages E04H6/42
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/01 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0295 Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/245 by locating a pattern; Special marks for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/00 Traffic control systems for road vehicles arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 ; automatic vehicle control B62D
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles

Abstract

A method for identifying a loading bay at a facility to which a vehicle is reversing, the method including determining, at a sensor apparatus connected with the vehicle, that the vehicle is reversing; capturing an image of the loading bay; and determining, from the image, the loading bay at the facility to which the vehicle is reversing.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a loading bay at a facility to which a vehicle is reversing, the method comprising:

determining, at a sensor apparatus connected with the vehicle, that the vehicle is reversing;

capturing, at the sensor apparatus, an image of the loading bay; and

determining, from the image, an identity of the loading bay at the facility to which the vehicle is reversing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the identity of the loading bay comprises processing the image.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the processing comprises using image recognition to identify at least one marking on the loading bay.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one marking is selected from the group consisting of letters, numbers or code.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the processing further comprises utilizing supplementary information during the processing.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising sending results of the processing to a server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the identity of the loading bay comprises sending the image to a server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sending the image further comprises sending supplementary information along with the image.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a location of the vehicle based on the determined loading bay.

10. A sensor apparatus connected with a vehicle configured for identifying a loading bay at a facility to which the vehicle is reversing, the sensor apparatus comprising:

a processor;

an image capture sensor; and

a communications subsystem,

wherein the sensor apparatus is configured to;

determine that the vehicle is reversing;

capture an image of the loading bay; and

determine, from the image, an identity of the loading bay at the facility to which the vehicle is reversing.

11. The sensor apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor apparatus is further configured to determine the identity of the loading bay by:

processing the image at the sensor apparatus; and

signaling results of the processing to a server.

12. The sensor apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sensor apparatus is further configured to process by using image recognition to identify at least one marking on the loading bay.

13. The sensor apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one marking is selected from the group consisting of letters, numbers or code.

14. The sensor apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sensor apparatus is further configured to process by utilizing supplementary information during the processing.

15. The sensor apparatus of claim 12, wherein the supplementary information includes at least one information element selected from the group of:

a last position fix for the vehicle;

stored information regarding types of markings on loading bays at the facility;

stored information regarding location of markings on loading bays at the facility;

physical characteristics of the facility;

or a bearing the loading bay is facing.

16. The sensor apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor apparatus is further configured to determine the identity of the loading bay by sending the image to a server.

17. The sensor apparatus of claim 16, wherein the sending the image further comprises sending supplementary information along with the image.

18. The sensor apparatus of claim 17, wherein the supplementary information includes at least one information element selected from the group of:

a last position fix for the vehicle;

stored information regarding types of markings on loading bays at the facility;

stored information regarding location of markings on loading bays at the facility;

physical characteristics of the facility;

or a bearing the loading bay is facing.

19. The sensor apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor apparatus is further configured to determine a location of the vehicle based on the determined loading bay.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing instruction code, which when executed by a processor on a sensor apparatus connected with a vehicle cause the sensor apparatus to identify a loading bay at a facility to which the vehicle is reversing, the instruction code configured to:

determine that the vehicle is reversing;

capture an image of the loading bay; and

determine, from the image, an identity of the loading bay at the facility to which the vehicle is reversing.