PICTOGRAM AND ISO SYMBOL DECODER SERVICE

• US 20110033121A1
• Filed: 08/04/2009
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: EVANITSKY, EUGENE S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,682,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/218
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/58 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/583 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/242 Division of the character sequences into groups prior to recognition; Selection of dictionaries

Abstract

This invention provides an instantaneous method for a user or traveler to obtain a meaning of a symbol that is unfamiliar to said user. The symbol is captured in a format that is easily transmitted to a remote database server. Together with the symbol, the GPS coordinates of the location of the symbol must be sent to the server. The server performs an image matching search, and then uses the location information (GPS) to resolve multiple matches and to determine the meaning of the symbol and instantaneously transmits in the language of their choice the meaning to the user requesting the search.

Claims

1. A method of identifying symbols including traffic pictograms which comprises:

a user capturing the image or symbol to be identified by an imaging device selected from the group consisting of cell phone camera, digital camera, wi-fi camera, scanner or computer file,

transmitting to a database server information including said image from said imaging device and user'"'"'s GPS location where symbol exists,

processing in said server the information transmitted including said image or symbol and said user'"'"'s location re GPS coordinates to determine a meaning of said symbol within said location where said user captured said image,

comparing said symbol imaged and transmitted with symbols in said GPS indicated location to determine the meaning of said symbol, and

in a short time transmitting from said database server to said user device said meaning of said symbol in the location identified by said GPS.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said image is cleaned up to be clearer prior to transmission by said user to said database server.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said database server utilizes image recognitions, categorizing software and said GPS to search said database.

4. The method of claim 1 where images that are not present in said database server are added to said database to update said database for enhanced future usage.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said database comprises a collection of pictograms and iso-symbols each existing with precise meanings within various locations identifiable by GPS coordinates.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said image acquisition is produced in a digital format for searching in said database.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said database has symbols categorized by the GPS locations where they exist, said GPS locations matched with a requested search to determine symbol meaning.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said database server is configured to respond to said user in a short time via oral communication to a user cell phone.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said database is upgraded by each search where a symbol within said GPS cannot be located in the database.

10. A method for recognizing the meaning of a symbol including traffic pictograms which comprises:

a user capturing a pictorial or image of said symbol,

converting said pictorial to a form easily transmitted to and read by a database server,

determining the geographic location of said symbol via its GPS coordinates,

transmitting information including said symbol and said GPS location to said database server,

said database server processing said information to compare symbol, its geographic location and a meaning of said symbol to obtain thereby a search result, converting said search result to a format to be transmitted to said user,

transmitting from the server a transmission of said symbol meaning to said user or, in the alternative, informing said user that said symbol was not part of said database but would be entered therein for future inquiries,

said transmission from said server to said user conducted within seconds or a short time said symbol meaning.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said image is cleaned up to be clearer prior to transmission by said user to said database server.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said database server utilizes image recognitions, categorizing software and said GPS to search said database.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein said database comprises a collection of pictograms and iso-symbols each existing with precise meanings within various locations identifiable by GPS coordinates.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said image acquisition is produced in a digital format for searching in said database.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein said database server is configured to respond to said user in a short time via oral communication to a user cell phone.