METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ENHANCING READ ACCURACY IN AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER SYSTEMS

• US 20110084126A1
• Filed: 10/08/2009
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Fleming, Patrick R., Dahlin, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US12/575,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20110084126A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/1895 Licence number plates
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0297 including a machine-readable marking, e.g. a bar code digitally marked record carriers in general G06K19/00

Abstract

The systems, methods, and apparatuses of the present disclosure generally describe the use of one or both of human-readable information and machine-readable information printed on, adhered to, or adjacent to an object (e.g., a license plate or sticker), where at least a portion of the machine-readable information performs or assists in performance of at least one of the following functions: (a) correlating to license plate information stored in a remote lookup table; and (b) duplicating information about the license plate.

Claims

1. An object comprising:

human-readable information and machine-readable information; and

at least a portion of the machine-readable information used to perform least one of (a) correlation to information stored in a lookup table; and

(b) duplication of information in, on, or about the object.

2. The object of claim 1, wherein the human-readable information and the machine-readable information is printed on, adhered to, or adjacent to at least a portion of the object.

3. The object of claim 1, wherein the human-readable information includes one or more of alphanumeric characters and designs.

4. The object of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable information includes one or more of a bar code, a 2D bar code, a geometric symbol, and the like.

5. A sticker capable of attachment to a license plate including human-readable information, the sticker comprising:

machine-readable information, at least a portion of which is used to perform at least one of (a) correlation to license plate information stored in a lookup table; and

(b) duplication of information in, on, or about the license plate.

6. The sticker of claim 5, wherein the human-readable information and the machine-readable information is printed on, adhered to, or adjacent to at least a portion of the license plate.

7. The sticker of claim 5, wherein the human-readable information includes one or more of alphanumeric characters and designs.

8. The sticker of claim 5, wherein the machine-readable information includes one or more of a bar code, a 2D bar code, a geometric symbol, and the like.

9. A license plate, comprising:

human-readable information and machine-readable information; and

at least a portion of the machine-readable information used to perform at least one of (a) correlation to license plate information stored in a lookup table; and

(b) duplication of information in, on, or about the license plate.

10. The license plate of claim 9, wherein the human-readable information and the machine-readable information is printed on, adhered to, or adjacent to at least a portion of the license plate.

11. The license plate of claim 9, wherein the human-readable information includes one or more of alphanumeric characters and designs.

12. The license plate of claim 9, wherein the machine-readable information includes one or more of a bar code, a 2D bar code, a geometric symbol, and the like.

13. An ALPR system, comprising:

(1) a license plate comprising;

human-readable information and machine-readable information, wherein at least a portion of the machine-readable information is used to perform at least one of (a) correlating to license plate information stored in a remote lookup table; and

(b) duplicating information about the license plate;

(2) a machine capable of reading the machine-readable information; and

(3) a processing unit that detects the performs the at least one of (a) and (b).

14. A method of enhancing the accuracy of license plate readings, comprising:

(1) providing a license plate including human-readable information and machine-readable information;

(2) reading at least one of the human-readable information and machine-readable information; and

(3) using the machine-readable information to effect at least one of

(a) correlating to license plate information stored in a remote lookup table; and

(b) duplicating information about the license plate.