Active object identification and data collection

• US 7,079,023 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Haller, Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US10/307,498
• Publication Number:
  US 20040075549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/568.1, 340/666, 340/522, 340/506, 340/5.92, 340/870.11, 340/870.16, 34053922-53925, 348/161, 235/385, 235/487, 235/435, 700/115, 700/116, 705/28, 406/25, 283/74, 177/25.11, 177/25.12, 177/25.1, 209/576, 209/592
• US Class Current: 340/522
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Implementations are disclosed for operating a multi-sensor system. A plurality of sensors each output data, via a common interface, to a resolver that is also communicating with the interface. The resolver groups the output data with respect to a particular object, and aggregates the output data according to rules and information stored about the object in a database. In this way, the multi-sensor system may obtain information about the object, such as its identity, status, or location. The multi-sensor system is extremely accurate and reliable, since it can infer accuracy from a plurality of independent sensors, and is operable even when one or more sensors fails or malfunctions. Moreover, the multi-sensor system is flexible, and can activate, de-activate, or adjust any one of the sensors depending on, for example, a need for or cost of the sensor. Additional sensors can easily be added on an as-needed basis, due to the common interface and the flexible nature of the resolver and the database.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting, at a first sensor, a first information set related to an object;

detecting, at a second sensor, a second information set related to the object;

aggregating the first information set and the second information set to obtain an aggregated information set by associating the first information set and the second information set with the object based on a first time at which the first information set was detected and a second time at which the second information set was detected; and

comparing the aggregated information set to an expected information set for the object and providing an identity of the object based on the comparing of the aggregated information set to the expected information set for the object.

2. The method of claim 1 in which aggregating the first information set and the second information set comprises:

determining that a first portion of the first information set is redundant to a second portion of the second information set; and

discarding the second portion.

3. The method of claim 1 in which aggregating the first information set and the second information set comprises:

determining a malfunction of the first sensor; and

discarding the first information set.

4. The method of claim 1 in which aggregating the first information set and the second information set comprises applying a predetermined set of aggregation rules to the first information set and the second information set.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the aggregation rules dictate a priority of the first information set over the second information set.

6. The method of claim 1 in which comparing the aggregated information set comprises detecting a conflict between the aggregated information set and the expected information set.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising performing a conflict resolution for removing the conflict.

8. The method of claim 7 in which performing the conflict resolution comprises:

determining an inconsistency between the first information set and the second information set; and

discarding the first information set, based on a predetermined rule that prioritizes the second information set over the first information set.

9. The method of claim 7 in which performing the conflict resolution comprises performing a human inspection of the object.

10. The method of claim 7 in which performing the conflict resolution comprises discarding the object.

11. The method of claim 1 in which comparing the aggregated information set comprises determining that additional information is required.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

activating a third sensor;

detecting, at the third sensor, a third information set;

including the third information set within a modified aggregated information set; and

comparing the modified aggregated information set to the expected information set.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

adjusting the first sensor;

detecting, at the first sensor, a modified first information set;

including the modified first information set within a modified aggregated information set; and

comparing the modified aggregated information set to the expected information set.

14. A system comprising:

a first sensor operable to sense an object and output a first information set related to the object;

a second sensor operable to sense the object and output a second information set related to the object;

an interface operable to input the first information set and the second information set;

a database containing characterization data characterizing the object; and

a resolver operable to input, via the interface, the first information set and the second information set, aggregate the first information set and the second information set into an aggregated information set, compare the aggregated information set to the characterization data, and provide an identity of the object based on the comparing of the aggregated information set to the characterization data, the resolver including a sensor control system operable to control an operation of the first sensor.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the resolver further comprises a sensor behavior system operable to track sensor information regarding an accuracy and reliability of the first sensor and the second sensor.

16. The system of claim 14 in which the resolver is further operable to associate the first information set and the second information set with the object based on a first time at which the first information set was detected and a second time at which the second information set was detected.

17. The system of claim 14 in which the resolver is further operable to determine that a first portion of the first information set is redundant to a second portion of the second information set, and thereafter discard the second portion.

18. The system of claim 14 in which the resolver is further operable to determine a malfunction of the first sensor, and thereafter discard the first information set.

19. The system of claim 14 in which the resolver is further operable to apply a predetermined set of aggregation rules to the first information set and the second information set.

20. The system of claim 19 in which the aggregation rules dictate a priority of the first information set over the second information set.

21. The system of claim 14 in which the resolver is further operable to detect a conflict between the aggregated information set and the expected information set.

22. The system of claim 21 in which the resolver is further operable to perform a conflict resolution for removing the conflict.

23. The system of claim 22 in which the resolver performs the conflict resolution by:

determining an inconsistency between the first information set and the second information set; and

discarding the first information set, based on a predetermined rule that prioritizes the second information set over the first information set.

24. The system of claim 22 in which the resolver performs the conflict resolution by requesting a removal of the object for a human inspection thereof.

25. The system of claim 22 in which the resolver performs the conflict resolution by outputting an instruction to discard the object.

26. The system of claim 14 in which the resolver, in comparing the aggregated information set to the characterization data, determines that additional information is required.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a third sensor operable to detect a third information set, wherein the resolver is further operable to include the third information set within a modified aggregated information set, and compare the modified aggregated information set to the expected information set.

28. The system of claim 26 in which the resolver is further operable to:

output instructions for adjusting the first sensor;

input, via the interface, a modified first information set from the first sensor;

include the modified first information set within a modified aggregated information set; and

compare the modified aggregated information set to the expected information set.

29. An apparatus comprising a storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions including:

a first code segment for inputting multiple data sets from a plurality of sensors;

a second code segment for associating the multiple data sets with an object;

a third code segment for applying a set of aggregation rules to the multiple data sets, to thereby obtain an aggregation set;

a fourth code segment for comparing the aggregation set to an expected data set associated with the object and determining that additional data is required based on the comparing of the aggregation set to the expected data set associated with the object;

a fifth code segment for detecting a conflict between the aggregation set and the expected data set;

a sixth code segment for performing a conflict resolution for removing the conflict;

a seventh code segment for determining an inconsistency between a first data set output by a first sensor from among the plurality of sensors and a second data set output by a second sensor from among the plurality of sensors; and

an eighth code segment for discarding the first data set, based on a predetermined rule that prioritizes the second data set over the first data set.

30. The system of claim 29 in which the sixth code segment comprises a ninth code segment for outputting an instruction to discard the object.

31. The system of claim 29 further comprising:

a ninth code segment for inputting an additional data set from a sensor not from among the plurality of sensors;

a tenth code segment for including the additional data set within a modified aggregation set; and

an eleventh code segment for comparing the modified aggregation set to the expected data set.

32. An apparatus comprising a storage medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions including:

a first code segment for inputting multiple data sets from a plurality of sensors;

a second code segment for associating the multiple data sets with an object;

a third code segment for applying a set of aggregation rules to the multiple data sets, to thereby obtain an aggregation set;

a fourth code segment for comparing the aggregation set to an expected data set associated with the object and determining that additional data is required based on the comparing of the aggregation set to the expected data set associated with the object;

a fifth code segment for outputting instructions for adjusting a first sensor from among the plurality of sensors;

a sixth code segment for inputting a modified first data set from the first sensor;

a seventh code segment for including the modified first data set within a modified aggregation set; and

an eighth code segment for comparing the modified aggregation set to the expected data set.