SEMI-AUTOMATIC DIMENSIONING WITH IMAGER ON A PORTABLE DEVICE

• US 20100202702A1
• Filed: 01/12/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Laffargue, Franck, Benos, Virginie, Bessettes, Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 8,908,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/02 for measuring length, width or thickness G01B11/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/005 with electric or electronic computing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10004 Still image; Photographic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10041 Panchromatic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20104 Interactive definition of region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/62 of area, perimeter, diameter or volume

Abstract

A method of operating a dimensioning system to determine dimensional information for objects is disclosed. A number of images are acquired. Objects in at least one of the acquired images are computationally identified. One object represented in the at least one of the acquired images is computationally initially selected as a candidate for processing. An indication of the initially selected object is provided to a user. At least one user input indicative of an object selected for processing is received. Dimensional data for the object indicated by the received user input is computationally determined.

Claims

1. A method of operating a dimensioning system to determine dimensional information for objects, the method comprising:

acquiring a number of images;

computationally identifying objects in at least one of the acquired images;

computationally initially selecting one object represented in the at least one of the acquired images as a candidate for processing;

providing an indication to a user indicative of the initially selected object;

receiving at least one user input indicative of an object selected for processing; and

computationally determining dimensional data for the object indicated by the received user input.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving at least one user input indicative of an object selected for processing includes receiving a user selection that confirms the initially selected one object as the object for processing.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein computationally determining dimensional data for the object indicated by the received user input includes determining a dimensional weight based on an estimated perimeter of the initially selected one object as represented in the acquired image.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving at least one user input indicative of an object selected for processing includes receiving a user selection that indicates an object other than the initially selected one object as the object for processing.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein computationally determining dimensional data for the object indicated by the received user input includes determining a dimensional weight based on an estimated perimeter of the object indicated by the received user selection as the object is represented in the acquired image.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing an indication to the user indicative of a currently selected object, the indication visually distinguishing the currently selected object in a display of the acquired image from any other object represented in the display of the acquired image.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving at least one user input indicative of an object selected for processing includes receiving a user selection that indicates at least a portion of a new perimeter for the object for processing.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein computationally determining dimensional data for the object indicated by the received user input includes computationally determining dimensional data based on the new perimeter of the object represented in the acquired image.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein providing an indication to a user indicative of the initially selected object includes displaying the acquired image and visually distinguishing the initially selected object in the display of the acquired image from any other objects represented in the display of the acquired image.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein visually distinguishing the initially selected object in the display of the acquired image from any other objects represented in the display of the acquired image includes displaying a border about at least a portion of the initially selected object in the display of the acquired image.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein receiving at least one user input indicative of an object selected for processing includes receiving at least one signal representing a position in the image that indicates a position of at least a portion of a new perimeter for the object for processing.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein visually distinguishing the initially selected object in the display of the acquired image from any other objects represented in the display of the acquired image includes displaying a draggable border about at least a portion of the initially selected object in the display of the acquired image.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein receiving at least one user input indicative of an object selected for processing includes receiving at least one signal representing a dragging of the draggable border to a new position that indicates at least a portion of a new perimeter for the object for processing.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein computationally determining dimensional data for the object indicated by the received user input includes computationally determining a dimension of at least one of a box, a package, a parcel, a pallet or a document represented in the acquired image.

15. A method of operating a dimensioning system to determine dimensional information for objects, the method comprising:

acquiring a number of images;

computationally identifying objects or spaces in at least one of the acquired images;

determining dimensional data for at least one object or space; and

receiving at least one user input indicative of an object or space selected for processing.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

computationally determining dimensional data for the object or space selected by the received user input.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein computationally determining dimensional data for the object or space selected by the received user input includes determining a dimensional weight based on an estimated perimeter of the initially selected one object as represented in the acquired image.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein computationally determining dimensional data for the object or space selected by the received user input includes determining a dimensional data based on an estimated perimeter of the initially selected one space as represented in the acquired image.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein computationally determining dimensional data for the object or space selected by the received user input includes computationally determining dimensional data based on the new perimeter of the object or space represented in the acquired image in response to the received user input.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

computationally revising the determined dimensional data for the at least one object or space in response to the received user input.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein receiving at least one user input comprises receiving at least one user input in the form of at least one of a keyboard entry, a computer mouse entry, a touch-screen device entry, a voice command, an audible command, and a bar code reading.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein receiving at least one user input indicative of an object or space selected for processing includes receiving a user selection that confirms the initially selected one object or space as the object for processing.

23. The method of claim 15 wherein receiving at least one user input indicative of an object or space selected for processing includes receiving a user selection that indicates an object or space other than the initially selected one object or space as the object or space for processing.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein computationally determining dimensional data for the object or space selected by the received user input includes determining a dimensional weight based on an estimated perimeter of the object selected by the received user selection as the object is represented in the acquired image.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein computationally determining dimensional data for the object or space selected by the received user input includes determining a dimensional data based on an estimated perimeter of the space selected by the received user selection as the space is represented in the acquired image.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

providing an indication to the user indicative of a currently selected object or space, the indication visually distinguishing the currently selected object or space in a display of the acquired image from any other object or space represented in the display of the acquired image.

27. The method of claim 15 wherein receiving at least one user input indicative of an object or space selected for processing includes receiving a user selection that indicates at least a portion of a new perimeter for the object or space for processing.

28. A dimensioning system to determine dimensional information for objects, the dimensioning system comprising:

an imager configured to acquire images;

a user input/output system configured to display images and to receive user input; and

a processor configured to;

identify objects in the acquired images, initially select one of the identified objects for processing, cause the acquired images to be displayed via the user input/output system along with an indication indicative of the initially selected one object, and computationally determine dimensional data for an object indicated by at least one user input received via the user input/output system.

29. The dimensioning system of claim 28 wherein the processor is configured to determine a dimensional weight based on an estimated perimeter of the initially selected one object as represented in the acquired image in response to at least one user input confirming the initially selected one object as the object to be processed.

30. The dimensioning system of claim 28 wherein the processor is configured to computationally determine a dimensional weight based on a new perimeter of the initially selected one object represented in the acquired image in response to at least one user input indicative of the new perimeter.

31. The dimensioning system of claim 28 wherein the processor is configured to determine a dimensional weight based on an estimated perimeter of an object represented in the acquired image other than the initially selected one object in response to at least one user input selecting the other object as the object to be processed.

32. The dimensioning system of claim 28 wherein the processor is configured to determine a dimensional weight based on a user identified perimeter of an object represented in the acquired image other than the initially selected one object in response to at least one user input selecting the other object as the object to be processed and identifying at least a portion of the user identified perimeter.

33. The dimensioning system of claim 28 wherein the processor is configured to cause acquired images to be displayed via the user input/output system along with an indication indicative of the initially selected one object by displaying a draggable border about at least a portion of the initially selected object in the display of the acquired image.

34. The dimensioning system of claim 28 wherein the processor is further configured to cause acquired images to be displayed via the user input/output system along with an indication indicative of a user selected object by displaying a draggable border about at least a portion of a user selected object in the display of the acquired image.

35. The dimensioning system of claim 28 wherein the user input/output system includes a touch-sensitive display.

36. The dimensioning system of claim 28 wherein the processor is further configured to cause the user input/output system to display dimensional data for one or more objects in the acquired images.

37. A dimensioning system to determine dimensional information for confined empty spaces, the dimensioning system comprising:

an imager to acquire images;

a user input/output system to display images and to receive user input; and

a processor configured to;

identify spaces in the acquired images, initially select one of the identified spaces for processing, cause the acquired images to be displayed via the user input/output system along with an indication indicative of selection of the initially selected space, and computationally determine dimensional data for a space indicated by at least one user input received via the user input/output system.

38. The dimensioning system of claim 37 wherein the processor is configured to computationally determine the dimension data based on an estimated perimeter of the initially selected space as represented in the acquired image in response to at least one user input confirming the initially selected space as the space to be processed.

39. The dimensioning system of claim 37 wherein the processor is configured to computationally determine the dimensional data based on a new perimeter of the initially selected space represented in the acquired image in response to at least one user input indicative of the new perimeter.

40. The dimensioning system of claim 37 wherein the processor is configured to computationally determine the dimensional data based on an estimated perimeter of a space represented in the acquired image other than the initially selected space in response to at least one user input selecting the other space as the space to be processed.

41. The dimensioning system of claim 37 wherein the processor is configured to computationally determine the dimensional data based on a user identified perimeter of a space represented in the acquired image other than the initially selected space in response to at least one user input selecting the other space as the space to be processed and identifying at least a portion of the user identified perimeter.

42. The dimensioning system of claim 37 wherein the processor is configured to cause acquired images to be displayed via the user input/output system along with an indication indicative of the initially selected space by displaying a draggable border about at least a portion of the initially selected space in the display of the acquired image.

43. The dimensioning system of claim 37 wherein the processor is further configured to cause acquired images to be displayed via the user input/output system along with an indication indicative of a user selected space by displaying a draggable border about at least a portion of a user selected space in the display of the acquired image.

44. The dimensioning system of claim 37 wherein the user input/output system includes a touch-sensitive display.

45. The dimensioning system of claim 37 wherein the processor is further configured to cause the user input/output system to display dimensional data related to one or more objects.

46. A processor-implemented method of selecting an object from at least one object in an image to process information about the selected object, the method comprising:

providing an image of the at least one object;

selecting a first object of the at least one object in the image;

updating the image to indicate the selection of the first object;

receiving an input related to the selection of the first object;

updating the image to indicate the input; and

computationally determining dimensional data related to one of the at least one object using the input.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein updating the image to indicate the selection of the first object comprises updating the image to indicate an estimated perimeter around the first object.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein receiving an input related to the selection of the first object comprises receiving the input selecting a second object of the at least one object that is different than the first object.

49. The method of claim 46 wherein receiving an input related to the selection of the first object comprises receiving the input to modify an aspect related to the indication of the selection of the first object.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein receiving the input to modify an aspect related to the indication of the selection of the first object comprises receiving the input to modify an estimated perimeter of the first object.

51. The method of claim 46 wherein receiving an input related to the selection of the first object comprises receiving the input as a user selection on a portion of a touch-screen device to select a second object of the at least one object.

52. The method of claim 46 wherein receiving an input related to the selection of the first object comprises receiving the input as a boundary drawn on a touch-screen device around an image of a second object of the at least one object to select the second object.

53. The method of claim 46 wherein receiving an input related to the selection of the first object comprises detecting a number of contacts at a number of positions on a touch-screen device, the contacts indicative of a number of corners of the first object.

54. The method of claim 46 wherein receiving an input related to the selection of the first object comprises receiving at least one user input indicative of a new position of a corner of the first object in the image displayed on a touch-screen device.

55. The method of claim 46 wherein receiving an input related to the selection of the first object comprises receiving at least one user input indicative of a perimeter of one of the at least one object on a touch-screen device indicative of a selection of the one of the at least one object.

56. The method of claim 46 wherein determining dimensional data related to one of the at least one object using the input comprises determining a dimensional weight of the one of the at least one object based on a computationally determined estimated perimeter of the one of the at least one object.

57. The method of claim 46 wherein determining dimensional data related to one of the at least one object using the input comprises determining a dimensional weight of the one of the at least one object based on a user identified perimeter of the one of the at least one object.

58. A processor-implemented method of selecting an object from at least one object in an image to process information about the selected object, the method comprising:

displaying the image of the at least one object;

selecting a first object of the at least one object in the image;

updating the image to indicate the selection of the first object;

receiving an input related to the selection of the first object; and

updating the image to indicate the input.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein updating the image to indicate the selection of the first object comprises updating the image to indicate an estimated perimeter around the first object.

60. The method of claim 58 wherein receiving an input related to the selection of the first object comprises receiving the input selecting a second object of the at least one object that is different than the first object.

61. The method of claim 58 wherein receiving an input related to the selection of the first object comprises receiving the input to modify an aspect related to the indication of the selection of the first object.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein receiving the input to modify an aspect related to the indication of the selection of the first object comprises receiving the input to modify an estimated perimeter of the first object.

63. The method of claim 58 wherein receiving an input related to the selection of the first object comprises receiving the input as a user selection on a portion of a touch-screen device to select a second object of the at least one object.

64. The method of claim 58 wherein receiving an input related to the selection of the first object comprises receiving the input as a boundary drawn on a touch-screen device around an image of a second object of the at least one object to select the second object.

65. The method of claim 58 wherein receiving an input related to the selection of the first object comprises detecting a number of contacts at a number of positions on a touch-screen device, the contacts indicative of a number of corners of the first object.

66. The method of claim 58 wherein receiving an input related to the selection of the first object comprises receiving at least one user input indicative of a new position of a corner of the first object in the image displayed on a touch-screen device.

67. The method of claim 58 wherein receiving an input related to the selection of the first object comprises receiving at least one user input indicative of a perimeter of one of the at least one object on a touch-screen device indicative of a selection of the one of the at least one object.

68. The method of claim 58 wherein receiving an input comprises receiving an audible command from a user.

69. The method of claim 58 wherein receiving an input comprises receiving a verbal command from a user.

70. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

computationally determining dimensional data related to one of the at least one object using the input.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein determining dimensional data related to one of the at least one object using the input comprises determining a dimensional weight of the one of the at least one object based on a computationally determined estimated perimeter of the one of the at least one object.

72. The method of claim 70 wherein determining dimensional data related to one of the at least one object using the input comprises determining a dimensional weight of the one of the at least one object based on a user identified perimeter of the one of the at least one object.