Brand recognition system

• US 20050217590A1
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nickel Brand Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nickel Brand Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Martinez, Loretta A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,593,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 119/51.20
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/005 Branding or tattooing devices for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1419 Wax containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]

Abstract

Computer software for and method of determining livestock ownership comprising inputting an image of a livestock brand whose ownership is to be determined, automatically determining one or more computed closest fits to the image from a database of livestock brands, and outputting owner information from the database of livestock brands concerning one or more of the one or more computed closest fits.

Claims

1. A method of determining livestock ownership, the method comprising the steps of:

inputting an image of a livestock brand whose ownership is to be determined;

automatically determining one or more computed closest fits to the image from a database of livestock brands; and

outputting owner information from the database of livestock brands concerning one or more of the one or more computed closest fits.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the inputting step comprises inputting a digital photographic image.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the inputting step comprises a user inputting a drawing.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises providing the image to one or more of a set of one or more trained neural networks.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the determining step additionally comprises performing feature extraction on the image.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein results of the feature extraction determines which of the set of one or more trained neural networks to which the image is provided.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the outputting step comprises presenting a plurality of brands from the database to a user and permitting the user to choose one or more of the plurality for ownership information output.

8. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of inputting one or more user-extracted features prior to the determining step.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the one or more user-extracted features determines which of the set of one or more trained neural networks to which the image is provided.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the method is performed at least in part via personal digital assistant hardware.

11. Computer software aiding in identification of livestock ownership, said software comprising instructions stored on a media, said instructions comprising:

instructions permitting input of an image of a livestock brand whose ownership is to be determined;

instructions automatically determining one or more computed closest fits to the image from a database of livestock brands; and

instructions outputting owner information from the database of livestock brands concerning one or more of the one or more computed closest fits.

12. The computer software of claim 11 wherein said instructions permitting input comprise instructions permitting input of a digital photographic image.

13. The computer software of claim 11 wherein said instructions permitting input comprise instructions permitting a user to input a drawing.

14. The computer software of claim 11 wherein said determining step instructions provide the image to one or more of a set of one or more trained neural networks.

15. The computer software of claim 14 wherein said determining instructions additionally comprise instructions performing feature extraction on the image.

16. The computer software of claim 15 additionally comprising instructions employing results of the feature extraction to determine which of the set of one or more trained neural networks to which the image is provided.

17. The computer software of claim 11 wherein said outputting instructions comprise instructions presenting a plurality of brands from the database to a user and permitting the user to choose one or more of the plurality for ownership information output.

18. The computer software of claim 11 additionally comprising instructions permitting input of one or more user-extracted features prior to execution of the determining instructions.

19. The computer software of claim 18 additionally comprising instructions employing the one or more user-extracted features to determine which of the set of one or more trained neural networks to which the image is provided.

20. The computer software of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of said instructions are performed on personal digital assistant hardware.