Method and system for tracking images

• US 7,822,227 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2006
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Walton, Carol S., Ramanujam, Ram N., Barnes, Thomas H., Dunsmoir, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu; Tom Y
• Application Number:
  US11/348,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20070183763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: 382/103, 382/104, 348/169
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 41/00 Special techniques not covered by groups G03B31/00 - G03B39/00; Apparatus therefor

Abstract

A method for image tracking includes receiving a plurality of images of a first object at points along a predetermined route at least two spaced apart cameras including a first camera and a second camera, calibrating the cameras based on the received images of the first object and the predetermined route, receiving at least one image of a second object at the calibrated cameras, and determining a position of the second object based on one of the received images of the second object at the first camera. A method of image tracking includes associating at least one object with a unique identifier and receiving a plurality of images of the object moving in a field of view of at least two spaced apart cameras. The method further includes determining a position of the object based on the unique identifier and generating a position information based on the determination.

Claims

1. A method of image tracking, the method comprising:

associating at least one object with a unique identifier, wherein the unique identifier is provided by a ticket machine;

receiving at a computer the unique identifier from the ticket machine;

receiving at two or more spaced apart cameras a plurality of images of the object moving in a field of view of the two or more spaced apart cameras;

determining by a computer a position of the object based on the unique identifier;

generating a position information based on the determination

comparing the position information to at least one profile, wherein the position information is vehicle position information;

determining a behavior information based on the comparison, wherein the behavior information is vehicle behavior information; and

providing a behavior notification directly or indirectly to a driver based on the determination.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the position of the object is determined based on one image.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the position of the object is determined based on a first image from a first camera and a second image from a second camera, the first image and second image taken at substantially the same time.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request associated with the unique identifier; and

providing the position information based on the request.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing the unique identifier to a user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein vehicle behavior information is parking in multiple parking spaces.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the position information to at least one profile comprises:

comparing position information to a profile of parking at a non-optimal angle and a profile of parking while occupying multiple parking spaces.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle position information is used to guide a driver to an open parking spot by generating a route to an available parking space.

9. A computer readable medium selected from the group consisting of a semiconductor memory, a solid-state memory, a magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory, read-only memory, a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk including computer readable code for image tracking comprising:

computer readable code for associating at least one object with a unique identifier, wherein the unique identifier is provided by a ticket machine;

computer readable code for receiving the unique identifier from the ticket machine;

computer readable code for receiving a plurality of images of the object moving in a field of view of at least two spaced apart cameras;

computer readable code for determining a position of the object based on the unique identifier;

computer readable code for generating a position information based on the determination;

computer readable code for comparing the position information to at least one profile, wherein the position information is vehicle position information;

computer readable code for determining a behavior information based on the comparison, wherein the behavior information is vehicle behavior information; and

computer readable code for providing a behavior notification directly or indirectly to a driver based on the determination.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 further comprising:

computer readable code for receiving a request associated with the unique identifier; and

computer readable code for providing the position information based on the request.