System and method for detecting and identifying traffic law violators and issuing citations
First Claim
1. A mobile digital imaging device to be used by non-governmental personnel for identifying traffic violators comprising:
- a camera mounted on a mobile platform and having a first lens and a second lens aimed in different directions for recording digital images of a target vehicle;
a memory component for storing the recorded images from the first and second lenses;
a global position satellite receiver for determining the location and speed of the mobile digital imaging device;
an information transmission system for sending the recorded images to an analysis center; and
means at the analysis center for receiving the images and for calculating the speed of the target vehicle based on the received images and the speed of the mobile digital imaging device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a mobile or stationary traffic monitoring system for detecting violations of speed limits or other traffic laws by vehicle operators and issuing citations to an operator and/or vehicle owner suspected of a violation using a digital camera to capture images of the operator and/or the vehicle, transmitting the captured images and other relevant data to an analysis center where the images and data are analyzed to determine whether to issue a citation and, if so, to issue the citation or take other appropriate law enforcement measures. The invention is also directed to a method for capturing images of a vehicle and /or vehicle operator suspected of a traffic violation, determining the time and geographic location of the suspected violation, transmitting the images and other data to an analysis center, issuing citations to violators and deriving revenue therefrom.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A mobile digital imaging device to be used by non-governmental personnel for identifying traffic violators comprising:
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a camera mounted on a mobile platform and having a first lens and a second lens aimed in different directions for recording digital images of a target vehicle;
a memory component for storing the recorded images from the first and second lenses;
a global position satellite receiver for determining the location and speed of the mobile digital imaging device;
an information transmission system for sending the recorded images to an analysis center; and
means at the analysis center for receiving the images and for calculating the speed of the target vehicle based on the received images and the speed of the mobile digital imaging device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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- 8. A traffic control system for determining a suspected traffic violation by an operator of a target vehicle comprising a mobile digital imaging device having first and second lenses aimed independently of one another for capturing front and rear images of the target vehicle, a global position satellite receiver for determining the geographic location and speed of the mobile digital imaging device, a traffic violation analysis center, a cellular telephone system for transmitting target vehicle information to the analysis center, said information including the images of the target vehicle and the geographic location and speed of the mobile digital imaging device, means at the analysis center for receiving the target vehicle information, for determining the speed of the target vehicle relative to the digital imaging device and for calculating the actual speed of the target vehicle based on the speed of the mobile digital imaging device and the speed of the target vehicle relative to the mobile digital imaging device, and means at the analysis center for issuing a citation if the operator of the target vehicle has committed a traffic violation.
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14. A method of determining whether an operator of a target vehicle has committed a traffic violation comprising the steps of:
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providing a digital imaging device having forward and rearward facing lenses and being mounted on a mobile platform;
recording a front image of an approaching target vehicle using the rearward facing lens as the target vehicle moves toward the rearward facing lens;
recording a rear image of the target vehicle using the forward facing lens as the target vehicle moves away from the forward facing lens;
transferring the images recorded by the forward and rearward facing lenses to an analysis center;
calculating a distance traveled by the target vehicle using an object of known dimensions on the target vehicle as a reference dimension and comparing the reference dimension in a first image of the object to a corresponding dimension in a successive image of the object to determine the change in dimension of the object between the dimensions in the first and successive images; and
calculating the speed of the target vehicle from the distance traveled and the difference in time between the first and successive images of the target vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22)
determining a geographic location where the images are recorded using a global positioning satellite receiver;
determining the speed limit for the geographic location; and
issuing a citation to the registered owner of the target vehicle if the calculated speed of the target vehicle exceeds the speed limit for the geographic location.
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17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:
- recording an image of the face of the operator and an image of the license plate number of the target vehicle;
retrieving from a database of photographic images of registered vehicle owners a photographic image of the registered owner of the target vehicle based on the recorded license plate number of the target vehicle;
comparing the image of the operator'"'"'s face with the photographic image of the registered owner; and
determining whether the image of the operator'"'"'s face matches the photographic image of the registered owner.
- recording an image of the face of the operator and an image of the license plate number of the target vehicle;
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18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:
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determining a geographic location where the images are recorded using a global positioning satellite receiver;
determining the speed limit for the geographic location; and
issuing a citation to the registered owner of the target vehicle if the image of the operator'"'"'s face matches the photographic image of the registered owner and the calculated speed of the target vehicle exceeds the speed limit for the geographic location.
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21. The method of claim 14, wherein the method is practiced by non-governmental personnel.
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22. The method of claim 14, further comprising a global positioning satellite receiver for determining the speed of the digital imaging device, wherein the actual speed of the target vehicle is calculated by determining the speed of the target vehicle relative to the digital imaging device and incorporating the speed of the digital imaging device to determine the actual speed of the target vehicle.
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19. A method of determining whether an operator of a target vehicle has committed a traffic violation comprising the steps of:
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recording a front image of an approaching target vehicle using a first digital camera;
recording a rear image of the target vehicle using a second digital camera as it moves away from the second digital camera;
transferring the images recorded by the first and second cameras to an analysis center;
isolating an image of a license plate of the target vehicle at the analysis center;
determining the dimensions of the license plate of the target vehicle based on the jurisdiction of registration of the target vehicle;
calculating the distance traveled by the target vehicle using a known dimension of a license plate from the jurisdiction of the target vehicle as a reference dimension by comparing the reference dimension in a first image of the license plate to the reference dimension in a successive image of the license plate to determine the change in the reference dimension between the first and successive images; and
calculating the speed of the target vehicle from the distance traveled and the difference in time between the first and successive images of the license plate. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification