Method and apparatus supporting container identification for multiple quay cranes
First Claim
1. A apparatus updating a container inventory management system for a container handled by a quay crane, for each of at least N of said quay cranes, comprising:
- a computer communicatively coupled with at least one camera on said quay crane, for each of said quay cranes, and with said container inventory management system;
said computer accessibly coupled to a memory;
said computer interactively coupled with a human operator;
wherein said computer is at least partly controlled by a program system including program steps residing in said memory;
wherein said program system is comprised of the program steps of;
providing said human operator at least one image frame sequence for said container viewed from said camera on said quay crane during a transfer operation, for each of said quay cranes;
receiving from said human operator, a response based upon said image frame sequence, to create said container code for said container handled by said quay crane, for each of said quay cranes; and
sending said container code for said container to said container inventory management system, for each of said quay cranes;
wherein said transfer operation is a member of a transfer operation collection comprising a loading operation and an unloading operation;
wherein said N is at least two.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of the invention include a container code recognition system and method for each of at least two quay cranes. At least one image frame sequence for a container viewed by a camera, on each of the quay cranes, is provided to a human operator. The human operator responds to the image frame sequence for the container. Receiving the human response creates a container code for the container handled by each quay crane. The human response may be through use of a keyboard, pointing device, acoustic interface, and/or eye movement.
The invention further includes at least one image frame of the image frame sequence, as well as, the container code for the container as products of the invention'"'"'s process. Further, the process products may include an identification of the quay crane and/or a time-stamp. The time-stamp may either be when the quay crane transfer occurs and/or when the human operator responds.
A container inventory management system may receive one or more of the invention'"'"'s process products, which may be used to update the system.
Archival items generated by the invention'"'"'s process include the container code, the image frame, further preferably include the quay crane identification and at least one time-stamp.
54 Citations
36 Claims
-
1. A apparatus updating a container inventory management system for a container handled by a quay crane, for each of at least N of said quay cranes, comprising:
-
a computer communicatively coupled with at least one camera on said quay crane, for each of said quay cranes, and with said container inventory management system;
said computer accessibly coupled to a memory;
said computer interactively coupled with a human operator;
wherein said computer is at least partly controlled by a program system including program steps residing in said memory;
wherein said program system is comprised of the program steps of;
providing said human operator at least one image frame sequence for said container viewed from said camera on said quay crane during a transfer operation, for each of said quay cranes;
receiving from said human operator, a response based upon said image frame sequence, to create said container code for said container handled by said quay crane, for each of said quay cranes; and
sending said container code for said container to said container inventory management system, for each of said quay cranes;
wherein said transfer operation is a member of a transfer operation collection comprising a loading operation and an unloading operation;
wherein said N is at least two. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of updating a container inventory management system for a container handled by a quay crane, for each of at least N of said quay cranes, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a human operator at least one image frame sequence for said container viewed from at least one camera on said quay crane during a transfer operation, for each of said quay cranes;
receiving from said human operator, a response based upon said image frame sequence, to create said container code for said container handled by said quay crane, for each of said quay cranes; and
sending said container code for said container involved in said transfer operation to said container inventory management system, for each of said quay cranes;
wherein said N is at least two;
wherein said transfer operation is a member of a transfer operation collection comprising a loading operation and an unloading operation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
Specification