System and method for tracking positions of objects in space, time as well as tracking their textual evolution
First Claim
1. A system for monitoring objects at a plurality of locations, comprising:
- a plurality of cameras, including at least one of the cameras at each one of the locations, wherein at least one of the cameras is positioned to view at least some of the objects; and
the cameras are each equipped with a filter for filtering out colors that are unnecessary to observe and for filtering out sufficient light so that human forms are substantially invisible to the cameras;
a unique identifier that utilizes an ink that normally is substantially invisible to humans on or in each respective one of the objects, for being viewed by at least one of the cameras;
a center having receiving means to receive monitor signals from the plurality of cameras regarding the unique identifiers;
wherein the center also has recording means for recording times and the locations of sightings of each of the unique identifiers.
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Abstract
A system and method including cameras for monitoring objects such as documents, at multiple locations, and for recording the objects'"'"' movement through space and time. The objects are marked with unique identifiers, and the invention is adaptable for recording and recognizing the objects'"'"' development using character recognition. A center receives the information from the cameras, and that information is searchable. Advantageously, the unique identifiers are printed with ink that is invisible unless it fluoresces or phosphoresces, the digital cameras include an ultraviolet flash to cause the identifiers to fluoresce or phosphoresce at a certain wavelength, and the cameras are equipped with filters to filter out wavelengths other than the certain wavelength. Packages or pads of pre-marked blank paper are adaptable for use with the present invention.
75 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for monitoring objects at a plurality of locations, comprising:
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a plurality of cameras, including at least one of the cameras at each one of the locations, wherein at least one of the cameras is positioned to view at least some of the objects; and
the cameras are each equipped with a filter for filtering out colors that are unnecessary to observe and for filtering out sufficient light so that human forms are substantially invisible to the cameras;a unique identifier that utilizes an ink that normally is substantially invisible to humans on or in each respective one of the objects, for being viewed by at least one of the cameras; a center having receiving means to receive monitor signals from the plurality of cameras regarding the unique identifiers; wherein the center also has recording means for recording times and the locations of sightings of each of the unique identifiers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of monitoring objects at a plurality of locations, comprising the steps of
photographing unique identifiers on the objects using at least one digital camera at each of the plurality of locations; -
sending to a center the unique identifiers that are on each of the respective objects; recording, at the center, times and the locations of sightings of each of the unique identifiers; capturing content of each of the objects using the digital cameras; sending said content to the center for recordation in coordination with a respective one of the unique identifiers; searching the content recorded at the center; using an infrared or ultraviolet flash that causes the unique identifiers to luminesce in a certain range of the visible spectrum; filtering out light outside the certain range; and filtering out sufficient light so that human forms are substantially invisible to the cameras.
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18. A system for monitoring objects at a plurality of locations, comprising:
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a plurality of cameras, including at least one of the cameras at each one of the locations, wherein at least one of the cameras is positioned to view at least some of the objects; a unique identifier on or in each respective one of the objects, for being viewed by at least one of the cameras; a center having receiving means to receive monitor signals from the plurality of cameras regarding the unique identifiers; wherein the center also has recording means for recording times and the locations of sightings of each of the unique identifiers; wherein each of the cameras is a digital camera including an infrared or ultraviolet flash, for capturing images at regular intervals using the flash; wherein the unique identifiers comprise material that is invisible to humans at least between the flahes; wherein the unique identifiers emit light in a certain range of the spectrum when exposed to the flash; wherein the cameras are each equipped with a filter for filtering out light that is outside the certain range, and for filtering sufficient light so that human forms are substantially invisible to the cameras.
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Specification