MULTICOLOUR RECTANGULAR PHOTO MARKERS AND METHODS OF USING THEREOF

• US 20200134276A1
• Filed: 07/19/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nir Hazan
• Original Assignee: Nir Hazan
• Inventors: HAZAN, NIR
• Granted Patent: US 10,977,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0614 the marking being selective to wavelength, e.g. color barcode or barcodes only visible under UV or IR methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers using a selected wavelength, see G06K7/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1417 2D bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1443 locating of the code in an image
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1456 determining the orientation of the optical code with respect to the reader and correcting therefore
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1469 using sub-pixel interpolation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/90 Determination of colour characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/63 Scene text, e.g. street names
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 2201/09 Recognition of logos
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 2201/10 Recognition assisted with metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/10 Character recognition

Abstract

A multicolor 2D-photo-marker including a rectangular matrix of data pixels, framed by a contrasting matrix locator, wherein the rectangular matrix of data pixels includes at least one orientation data pixel that carry photo-marker orientation information and is located at a pre-selected location, and wherein a unique color and location combination of the multiple data pixels encodes identification information of the object with which the multicolor 2D-photo-marker is coupled with. Preferably, the rectangular matrix of data pixels further includes color reference pixels, each located at a pre-selected location, designated to serve as dictionary hue pixels. Preferably, the pre-selected location of each color reference pixels is at a corner of the rectangular matrix of data pixels. An orientation data pixel may also serve as a color reference pixel.

Claims

1. A multicolor 2D-photo-marker comprising a rectangular matrix of data pixels, framed by a contrasting matrix locator comprising two substantially concentric frames having contrasting colors, wherein said rectangular matrix of data pixels further comprises at least one orientation data pixel having photo-marker orientation information and located at a pre-selected location, and wherein a unique color and location combination of said matrix of data pixels is configured to encode identification information of an object with which the multicolor 2D-photo-marker is coupled, said multicolor 2D-photo-marker preconfigured to be displayed on the object in a standing or a lying position.

2. The 2D-photo-marker as in claim 1, wherein said data pixels are stretched sideways to compensate for at least some of the narrowing down effect of said data pixels horizontal dimension, caused by a horizontal angle formed between the optical axis of the camera and the surface plane of the 2D-photo-marker.

3. The 2D-photo-marker as in claim 1, wherein said data pixels have at least one chosen from the list including:

two colors, three colors, four colors, and black-and-white.

5. The 2D-photo-marker as in claim 3, wherein said data pixels have three colors and where said colors comprise a first color, a second color and a third color, the third color composed of dithering of said first color and said second color.

6. The 2D-photo-marker as in claim 1, wherein said pre-selected location of said at least one orientation data pixel is at a corner of said rectangular matrix of data pixels.

7. The 2D-photo-marker as in claim 1, wherein said rectangular matrix of data pixels comprises two orientation pixels having contrasting colors.

8. The 2D-photo-marker as in claim 1, wherein said rectangular matrix of data pixels includes color reference pixels, each color reference pixel located at a pre-selected location, designated to serve as dictionary hue pixels.

9. The 2D-photo-marker as in claim 8, wherein said pre-selected location of each of said color reference pixels is at a corner of said rectangular matrix of data pixels and wherein said orientation data pixel is a color reference pixel.

13. An identification system for identifying at least one person or object, the at least person or object having an identity uniquely encoded in a multicolor rectangular data matrix of pixels of a 2D-photo-marker as in claim 1, the system comprising:

a. a camera, being a still cameral or a video camera; and

b. a processing unit,

wherein said identification system is configured to analyze an image frame containing at least one 2D-photo-marker, said at least one 2D-photo-marker coupled with a participant of an event with mass participation;

wherein said image frame is acquired such that the optical axis of said camera was not normal to the plane of said 2D-photo-marker and distal therefrom;

wherein said processing unit is configured to correct the orientation of said reflection of said at least one 2D-photo-marker;

wherein said processing unit is configured to determine the colored data pixels of said rectangular data matrix of pixels and the respective pixels locations within said rectangular data matrix; and

wherein said processing unit is configured to extract said identity information identifying the person/object.

16. A method for identification of an object or a person, whose identity is uniquely encoded in a multicolor rectangular data matrix of pixels of a 2D-photo-marker, as in claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

a. acquiring an image frame containing a reflection of at least one said 2D-photo-marker,

b. locating said multicolor rectangular data matrix of pixels using said matrix locator;

c. locating said at least one orientation data pixel;

d. validating the orientation of said 2D-photo-marker and correcting as needed;

e. locating the dictionary hue pixels;

f. setting data pixels color and location, using said dictionary hue pixels;

g. providing a list of valid color-pixel and location combinations; and

h. decoding said data matrix to thereby extract said identity information identifying the person/object.

17. The object identification method as in claim 16, wherein said at least one orientation data pixel is the darkest corner pixel of said multicolor rectangular data matrix of pixels.

18. The object identification method as in claim 17, wherein said validating of the orientation of said 2D-photo-marker includes verifying that said darkest corner pixel is at the expected corner of said multicolor rectangular data matrix of pixels.

19. The object identification method as in claim 18, wherein upon determining that said darkest corner pixel is not at the expected corner of said multicolor rectangular data matrix of pixels, said correcting the orientation of said 2D-photo-marker includes rotating said 2D-photo-marker until said darkest corner pixel is located at the expected corner of said multicolor rectangular data matrix of pixels.

20. The object identification method as in claim 16 further including a step of sanity check, after said setting of said data pixels color and location.

21. The object identification method as in claim 20, wherein said sanity check comprises validating that the lightest corner pixel is located at the expected corner of said multicolor rectangular data matrix of pixels.

22. The object identification method as in claim 20, wherein said sanity check comprises validating that the shade difference between the lightest pixel and the darkest pixel is larger than a preconfigured threshold.

23. The object identification method as in claim 20, wherein said sanity check comprises validating that the brightness of the brightest pixel is higher than a a preconfigured threshold.

24. The object identification method as in claim 20, wherein said sanity check comprises validating that the darkness of the darkest pixel higher than a preconfigured threshold.

25. The object identification method as in claim 16, wherein said acquiring of said image frame is performed distally from said at least one said 2D-photo-marker.

27. The object identification method as in claim 16, wherein said image frame contains multiple said 2D-photo-markers.

29. The object identification method as in claim 16, wherein the image acquisition device is pointed towards multiple objects and wherein at least one object displays said 2D-photo-marker.

4. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

28. (canceled)