System and method for storage, retrieval and display of information relating to marine specimens in public aquariums

• US 6,256,401 B1
• Filed: 03/03/1998
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keith W. Whited
• Original Assignee: Keith W. Whited
• Inventors: Whited, Keith W
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jayanti K.
• Application Number:
  US09/033,892
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/110, 382/305, 382/218, 382/224, 382/260, 382/307, 382/318, 382/162, 382/181, 382/203, 382/214, 707/1, 707/3-5, 707/100, 707/104, 379/88.13, 345/326-335, 43/1, 43/4, 119/200, 119/207, 119/216, 119/245, D21/599, D21/131, D21/133, D30/101
• US Class Current: 382/110
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/003 Aquaria; Terraria A01K63/04, A01K63/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition

Abstract

A system and method for the storage, retrieval, and display of information enhances the viewing experience of visitors to marine aquariums. The system includes one or more viewing stations in which the visitor can select a specimen in the aquarium by indicating its position by a cursor on a video display, or by a three-dimensional mouse-laser pointer combination. The system then optically scans the indicated location, and compares the video image to a database of information stored within a computer network to which each viewing station is connected. A number of different graphic identification techniques are used to compare the scanned image to the data within the database, including bulk size-shape filtering, color filtering, and pattern analysis. Once the specimen has been identified, the database provides name, habitat, size, habits, diet, history, and other such demographic information to a various output devices at the viewing station, including text and graphic outputs to visual displays, audio outputs, and hard-copy output devices such as printers. The textual outputs are translated into different languages automatically by computer program methods, in the form of both text and sounds.

Claims

1. A system for storage, retrieval, and display of information relating to specimens in public aquariums comprising:

means for determining the location of a specimen under investigation (SUI) in an aquarium;

means for indicating the location of the SUI within a field of view;

means for optically scanning a restricted area around said location, creating an image thereby;

means for storing a database of specimens comprising identification information and demographic information;

means for bulk-shape comparing the images with the database;

means for comparing color filtered images with the database;

means for comparing aspect-ratio filtered images with the database;

means for recording control fields of view without specimens;

means for comparing the field of view with the control fields of view;

means for spectral analysis of images;

means for selecting a specimen of the database as a result of said comparisons and analysis; and

means for outputting the demographic information corresponding to the specimen selected,

so that each of the elements recited above either receives data from one of the previous elements, or creates data for one of the other elements.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more viewing stations, each of which comprises;

said means for determining the location of the SUI;

said means for capturing the video image of the SUI; and

means for displaying the demographic information corresponding of the specimen, and

a computer network connected to each of the viewing stations, and comprising;

said means for storing a database of specimens;

said means for comparing the video image to the database; and

said means for selecting a specimen of the database.

3. A method for storage, retrieval, and display of information relating to specimens in public aquariums comprising:

determining the location of a specimen under investigation (SUI) in an aquarium;

indicating the location of the SUI within a field of view;

optically scanning a restricted area around said location;

storing a database of specimens comprising identification information and demographic information;

bulk-shape-comparing of the images;

comparing color filtered images;

comparing aspect-ratio filtered images;

recording control fields of view without specimens;

comparing fields of view with the control fields of view;

spectral analysimg of images;

selecting a specimen of the database as a result of said comparison; and

outputting the demographic information corresponding of the specimen.

4. The method of claim 3, whereby the indicating the location of the SUI comprises using a means selected from the group consisting of a mouse, a track ball, and a joy stick.

5. The method of claim 4, whereby the outputting the demographic information comprises using one or more means selected from the group which consists of:

video display terminal displays;

audio loudspeakers;

audio earphones; and

printers.

6. A system for storage, retrieval, and display of information relating to specimens in aquariums comprising:

(a) means for specifying the location of the approximate center of a specimen under investigation (SUI);

(b) means for optically scanning a field of view around said SUI center, producing a scanned image thereby;

(c) means for storing a database of specimens comprising three-dimensional image identification information and demographic information for said specimens,

(d) means for comparing the scanned image with the identification information;

urther comprising;

(i) means for comparing bulk-shape filtered images;

(ii) means for comparing color filtered images; and

(iii) means for comparing aspect-ratio filtered images, and

(e) means for outputting the demographic information corresponding of the specimen.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the means for comparing the scanned image with the identification information further comprises means for spectral analysis of images.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the means for comparing the scanned image with the identification information further comprises means for recording control fields of view without specimens, and means for comparing fields of view with the control fields of view.

9. The system of claim 6, whereby the means for specifying the location of the approximate center of a SUI is selected from the group consisting of a mouse, a track ball, and a joy stick.

10. The system of claim 9, whereby the means for outputting the demographic information comprises one or more means selected from the group which consists of:

video display terminal displays;

audio loudspeakers;

audio earphones; and

printers.