Tracking and Counting Wheeled Transportation Apparatuses

• US 20140244366A1
• Filed: 05/02/2014
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cloudparc, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cloudparc, Inc.
• Inventors: Nerayoff, Steven David, Wong, Thompson S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,878,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/22 Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/02 involving a neutral party, e.g. certification authority, notary or trusted third party [TTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10004 Still image; Photographic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30236 Traffic on road, railway or crossing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30264 Parking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/292 Multi-camera tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/90 Determination of colour characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/54 of traffic, e.g. cars on the road, trains or boats
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/593 Recognising seat occupancy
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/62 : Text, e.g. of license plates, overlay texts or captions on TV images
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/625 : License plates
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/224 : of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/23 : Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 : Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 : taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/24 : for parking meters
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/00 : Traffic control systems for road vehicles arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00 ; automatic vehicle control B62D
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 : identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 : by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 : with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/056 : with provision for distinguishing direction of travel
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/133 : within the vehicle ; Indicators inside the vehicles or at stops
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 : indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/142 : external to the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/143 : inside the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/144 : on portable or mobile units, e.g. personal digital assistant [PDA]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/146 : where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/148 : Management of a network of parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 : Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 : Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 : Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/80 : Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 : Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Tracking and counting wheeled transportation apparatuses is disclosed. Initially, three or more first images are received from a first camera having a first field of view, where the three or more first images show multiple wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing a portion of a roadway. Next, first and second static characteristics and first and second dynamic characteristics of a first of the multiple wheeled transportation apparatuses are determined. It is then determined that the second static characteristic is approximately equal to the first static characteristic and that the second dynamic characteristic is approximately equal to the first dynamic characteristic. Next, it is determined that the first wheeled transportation apparatus is traversing the portion of the roadway based on the comparisons. A count of the number of wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing the portion of the roadway is then incremented. Finally, the count is indicated.

Claims

1. A method of tracking and counting wheeled transportation apparatuses, the method comprising:

receiving three or more first images from a first camera having a first field of view, the three or more first images showing multiple wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing a portion of a roadway;

determining, based on one of the three or more first images, a first static characteristic of a first of the multiple wheeled transportation apparatuses;

determining, based on another of the three or more first images, a second static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determining, based on two of the three or more first images, a first dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determining, based on another two of the three or more first images, a second dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

comparing the second static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus to the first static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determining, in response to the comparison of the second static characteristic and the first static characteristic, that the second static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus is approximately equal to the first static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

comparing the second dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus to the first dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determining, in response to the comparison of the second dynamic characteristic and the first dynamic characteristic, that the second dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus is approximately equal to the first dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determining, in response to the approximate equivalence between the second static characteristic and the first static characteristic and the approximate equivalence between the second dynamic characteristic and the first dynamic characteristic, that the first wheeled transportation apparatus is traversing the portion of the roadway; and

incrementing, based on the determination that the first wheeled transportation apparatus is traversing the portion of the roadway, a count of the number of wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing the portion of the roadway; and

indicating information based on the count of the number of wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing the portion of the roadway,

wherein the steps of receiving, determining, comparing, incrementing and indicating are performed by one or more processors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wheeled transportation apparatus is a first vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wheeled transportation apparatus is a four-wheeled transportation apparatus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wheeled transportation apparatus is a two-wheeled transportation apparatus.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus and the second static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus are characteristics of the first wheeled transportation apparatus that do not change over time; and

the first dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus and the second dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus are characteristics of the first wheeled transportation apparatus that change over time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus and the second static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus are alphanumeric symbols of the license plate of the first wheeled transportation apparatus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus is one or more of a make, a model, a year, a color, an outline, a size, and a dimension; and

the second static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus is one or more of a make, a model, a year, a color, an outline, a size, and a dimension.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus is one or more of a speed of travel, a lane identifier, and a direction of travel; and

the second dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus is one or more of a speed of travel, a lane identifier, and a direction of travel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating the information based on the count of the number of wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing the portion of the roadway comprises indicating the total number of wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing the portion of the roadway over a predetermined time period.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined time period is one or more predetermined dates.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating the information based on the count of the number of wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing the portion of the roadway comprises indicating traffic light control information based on the count of the number of wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing the portion of the roadway.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating the information based on the count of the number of wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing the portion of the roadway comprises indicating construction requirements based on the count of the number of wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing the portion of the roadway.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein indicating the information based on the count of the number of wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing the portion of the roadway comprises indicating the number of wheeled transportation apparatuses having a predetermined static or dynamic characteristic that traverse the portion of the roadway.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined static characteristic is one or more of a make, a model, a year, a color, an outline, a size, and a dimension.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined static characteristic is a size or type.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the type is a sport utility vehicle, a truck, a car, or a motorcycle.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined dynamic characteristic is one or more of a speed of travel, a lane identifier, and a direction of travel.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined dynamic characteristic is a direction of travel, a direction of entry, or a direction of exit.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging, based on the determination that the first wheeled transportation apparatus is traversing the portion of the roadway, a toll to an account associated with the first wheeled transportation apparatus.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a type of the first wheeled transportation apparatus traversing the portion of the roadway;

determining that the type of the first wheeled transportation apparatus matches a predetermined type of wheeled transportation apparatus; and

charging, in response to the determination that the type of the first wheeled transportation apparatus matches the predetermined type of wheeled transportation apparatus, a fee to an account associated with the first wheeled transportation apparatus.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the three or more first images show at least one destination location for the first wheeled transportation apparatus, the method further comprising:

determining, based on at least one of the three or more first images, that the first wheeled transportation apparatus is stopped within the at least one destination location at a first time;

determining, based on at least another of the three or more first images, that the first wheeled transportation apparatus has left the at least one destination location at a second time that is after the first time;

indicating that the first wheeled transportation apparatus began use of the at least one destination location at the first time; and

indicating that the first wheeled transportation apparatus completed use of the at least one destination location at the second time.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining a cost for the first wheeled transportation apparatus to occupy the at least one destination location from the first time to the second time; and

charging the cost to an account associated with the first wheeled transportation apparatus.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining a cost for the first wheeled transportation apparatus to occupy the at least one destination location from the first time to the second time; and

receiving payment information for the cost from a third-party parking payment system.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

obtaining payment information for the at least one destination location from a third-party parking payment system, the payment information specifying a period of time for which payment was received by the third-party parking payment system for use of the at least one destination location;

determining that the use of the at least one destination location by the first wheeled transportation apparatus from the first time to the second time is outside of the period of time received from the third-party parking payment system; and

providing, in response to the determination that the use of the at least one destination location by the first wheeled transportation apparatus from the first time to the second time is outside of the period of time received from the third-party parking payment system, data comprising a unique identifier of the first wheeled transportation apparatus, the period of time received from the third-party parking payment system, an identifier of the at least one destination location, the first time, and the second time.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

obtaining a description of one or more restrictions for use of the at least one destination location;

determining that the use of the at least one destination location by the first wheeled transportation apparatus from the first time to the second time violates at least one of the one or more restrictions; and

indicating the at least one of the one or more restrictions violated by the first wheeled transportation apparatus.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving three or more second images from a second camera having a second field of view, the three or more second images showing the first wheeled transportation apparatus, the second camera being different from the first camera, and the second field of view being different from the first field of view;

determining, based on at least one of the three or more second images, a third static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determining, based on at least two of the three or more second images, a third dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

comparing the third static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus to the second static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determining, in response to the comparison of the third static characteristic and the second static characteristic, that the third static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus is approximately equal to the second static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

comparing the third dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus to the second dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determining, in response to the comparison of the third dynamic characteristic and the second dynamic characteristic, that the third dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus is approximately equal to the second dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus; and

determining, in response to the approximate equivalence between the third static characteristic and the second static characteristic and the approximate equivalence between the third dynamic characteristic and the second dynamic characteristic, that the first wheeled transportation apparatus is present in the second field of view of the second camera.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the three or more second images show at least one destination location for the first wheeled transportation apparatus, the method further comprising:

determining, based on at least one of the three or more second images, that the first wheeled transportation apparatus is stopped within the at least one destination location at a first time;

determining, based on at least another of the three or more second images, that the first wheeled transportation apparatus has left the at least one destination location at a second time that is after the first time;

indicating that the first wheeled transportation apparatus began use of the at least one destination location at the first time; and

indicating that the first wheeled transportation apparatus completed use of the at least one destination location at the second time.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the second field of view of the second camera partially overlaps with the first field of view of the first camera.

29. A system for tracking and counting wheeled transportation apparatuses, the system comprising one or more processors connected to at least one storage device, the system being configured to:

receive three or more first images from a first camera having a first field of view, the three or more first images showing multiple wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing a portion of a roadway;

determine, based on one of the three or more first images, a first static characteristic of a first of the multiple wheeled transportation apparatuses;

determine, based on another of the three or more first images, a second static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determine, based on two of the three or more first images, a first dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determine, based on another two of the three or more first images, a second dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

compare the second static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus to the first static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determine, in response to the comparison of the second static characteristic and the first static characteristic, that the second static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus is approximately equal to the first static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

compare the second dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus to the first dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determine, in response to the comparison of the second dynamic characteristic and the first dynamic characteristic, that the second dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus is approximately equal to the first dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determine, in response to the approximate equivalence between the second static characteristic and the first static characteristic and the approximate equivalence between the second dynamic characteristic and the first dynamic characteristic, that the first wheeled transportation apparatus is traversing the portion of the roadway; and

increment, based on the determination that the first wheeled transportation apparatus is traversing the portion of the roadway, a count of the number of wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing the portion of the roadway; and

indicate information based on the count of the number of wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing the portion of the roadway.

30. A storage device storing a computer program for tracking and counting wheeled transportation apparatuses, the computer program comprising one or more code segments that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:

receive three or more first images from a first camera having a first field of view, the three or more first images showing multiple wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing a portion of a roadway;

determine, based on one of the three or more first images, a first static characteristic of a first of the multiple wheeled transportation apparatuses;

determine, based on another of the three or more first images, a second static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determine, based on two of the three or more first images, a first dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determine, based on another two of the three or more first images, a second dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

compare the second static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus to the first static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determine, in response to the comparison of the second static characteristic and the first static characteristic, that the second static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus is approximately equal to the first static characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

compare the second dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus to the first dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determine, in response to the comparison of the second dynamic characteristic and the first dynamic characteristic, that the second dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus is approximately equal to the first dynamic characteristic of the first wheeled transportation apparatus;

determine, in response to the approximate equivalence between the second static characteristic and the first static characteristic and the approximate equivalence between the second dynamic characteristic and the first dynamic characteristic, that the first wheeled transportation apparatus is traversing the portion of the roadway; and

increment, based on the determination that the first wheeled transportation apparatus is traversing the portion of the roadway, a count of the number of wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing the portion of the roadway; and

indicate information based on the count of the number of wheeled transportation apparatuses traversing the portion of the roadway.