Multiple object tracking system
First Claim
1. An automated system for following the movement of one and more objects within a predefined area using an energy source that emits energy at least including a narrow band of tracking energy, the system comprising:
- one and more marks placed upon the one and more objects that reflect only the narrow band of tracking energy;
one and more tracking detectors placed throughout the predefined area that receive the reflected narrow band of tracking energy; and
a computer system responsive to the detectors that analyzes the narrow band of tracking energy received by the detectors and creates a database of movement information related to the one and more marks placed upon the one and more objects.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system 100 for tracking the movement of multiple objects within a predefined area using a combination of overhead X-Y filming cameras 25 and tracking cameras 24 with attached frequency selective filter 24f. Also employed are perspective Z filming cameras 25 and tracking 24 cameras with filter 24f. Objects to be tracked have been marked to include some form of frequency selective reflective material, such as an ink. Marked objects such as patches 7r and 7l, sticker 9 and tape 4a have been specified and are attachable to said multiple objects. System 100 radiates selected energy 23a throughout the predefined area of tracking that is specifically chosen to reflect off said reflective materials used to mark said objects. Reflected energy such as 7m, 9a and 4b is then received by tracking cameras 24 while all other ambient light is blocked by filter 24f. Local Computer System 60 continuously captures images from said tracking cameras 24 which include only the minimum information created by said reflected energy. System 60 efficiently locates said markings on said multiple objects and uses this location information to analyze synchronously captured unfiltered images from filming cameras 25. Using said location information along with pre-knowledge concerning said multiple objects maximum rate of speed and maximum size as well as calculated information such as the vectors of direction, acceleration and velocity based upon previous movements, system 60 is able to efficiently find and extract the background the portion of the unfiltered images that represents said multiple objects.
290 Citations
77 Claims
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1. An automated system for following the movement of one and more objects within a predefined area using an energy source that emits energy at least including a narrow band of tracking energy, the system comprising:
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one and more marks placed upon the one and more objects that reflect only the narrow band of tracking energy;
one and more tracking detectors placed throughout the predefined area that receive the reflected narrow band of tracking energy; and
a computer system responsive to the detectors that analyzes the narrow band of tracking energy received by the detectors and creates a database of movement information related to the one and more marks placed upon the one and more objects. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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28. An automated system for following the movement of one and more objects within a predefined area using an energy source that emits energy at least including a narrow band of non-visible tracking energy, the system comprising:
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one and more flat embedded marks placed upon the one and more objects that reflect only the narrow band of non-visible tracking energy;
one and more first tracking detectors placed throughout the predefined area that receive the narrow band of non-visible tracking energy; and
a computer system responsive to the first tracking detectors that analyzes the narrow band of non-visible tracking energy received by the detectors and creates a database of movement information related to the one and more marks placed upon the one and more objects. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. An automated system for following the movement of one and more objects within a predefined area using an energy source that emits energy at least including a narrow band of non-visible tracking energy, the system comprising:
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one and more flat embedded marks of one and more various shapes placed upon one and more objects that constantly reflect only the narrow band of non-visible tracking energy, wherein at least one of the marks placed on each object bears indicia uniquely identifying that object and is located upon a top surface of the object;
one and more tracking cameras arranged in a grid formation overhead of the predefined area that constantly receive the narrow band of non-visible tracking energy; and
a computer system responsive to the overhead tracking cameras that analyzes the narrow band of non-visible tracking energy received by the cameras and creates a database of movement information related to the one and more marks placed upon the one and more objects. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method for following the movement of one and more objects within a predefined area that contains visible energy for viewing the movement and non-visible energy for tracking the movement, comprising the steps of:
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placing one and more marks that only reflect the non-visible tracking energy upon the objects to be tracked before the objects enter the predefined area;
placing one and more detectors capable of receiving the non-visible tracking energy throughout the predefined area before the objects enter the predefined area;
receiving the reflected non-visible tracking energy off the one and more marks with one or more of the one and more tracking detectors placed throughout the predefined area;
analyzing the received reflections of the non-visible tracking energy with a computer attached to the detectors to determine the movement and orientation information of each mark individually; and
determining the movement and orientation of each individual object by associating the determined information relating to each individual mark with that of all other all marks attached to the same object. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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Specification