Method and apparatus for interpreting images in temporal or spatial domains

• US 7,869,621 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2007
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aydin Arpa, Gianni Arcaini
• Original Assignee: Aydin Arpa, Gianni Arcaini
• Inventors: Arcaini, Gianni, Arpa, Aydin
• Primary Examiner(s): PERUNGAVOOR, SATHYANARAYA V
• Application Number:
  US11/759,638
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 382/104
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/57 for vehicles or trains, e.g. trackside supervision of train conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/54 of traffic, e.g. cars on the road, trains or boats

Abstract

This is a method and apparatus to create and interpret images in a temporal or spatial domain, which will be helpful with any moving objects. The images are captured and stored in a database. The video images can be viewed in a panoramic fashion or dissected into individual frames or pictures to make the searching of particular objects or events easier.

Claims

1. A system for interpreting images in temporal or spatial domains for a train, comprising:

a. a train;

wherein the train is comprised of a series of train cars;

wherein said train cars are of predetermined dimensions;

wherein said train cars are connected together;

b. cameras;

wherein a plurality of cameras are positioned at predetermined locations to capture an image of a moving object;

wherein the cameras capture video images of passing objects;

wherein the cameras capture images of individual train cars;

c. software;

wherein software captures and integrates temporal image information from the cameras;

wherein dissection of the video images is provided by the software;

wherein optical recognition software is integrated into the software;

wherein said optical recognition is performed for each train car;

wherein the optical flow of the object is measured by the software;

wherein said optical flow measures the pixel flow in the scene;

wherein environmental parameters are included in the software;

wherein background analysis is provided by the software;

d. database;

wherein the video images including the time of the video capture are stored in the database;

wherein a time of image capture is provided for each train car;

wherein said time of image capture for each image is recorded in the database;

e. presentation;

wherein a linear panorama is provided for display;

wherein individual video images may be displayed;

wherein the panorama can extend a larger time frame to detect and provide a wider view of the train;

f. remote facility;

wherein the presentation is fed to a remote facility.

2. The system as described in claim 1 wherein the cameras are infrared sensitive.

3. The system as described in claim 1 wherein the cameras are color sensitive.

4. The system as described in claim 1 wherein the cameras are color cameras.

5. The system as described in claim 1 wherein objects are identified and stored in the database.

6. The system as described in claim 1 wherein a plurality of remote facilities can view the same images in real time.