Video preprocessing of image information for character recognition
First Claim
1. A method for processing video information related to a scene which may contain characters of interest, the method comprising:
- (a) acquiring a video signal comprising a plurality of horizontal lines containing the video information related to the scene;
(b) processing the video signal to detect whether characters of interest are present in the scene;
(c) embedding indicator information into one or more of the horizontal lines of the video signal, where the indicator information indicates the presence of the characters of interest in the scene;
(d) converting the video signal with the embedded indicator information into digital image data representing the scene;
(e) extracting the indicator information from the digital image data;
(f) determining based on the indicator information that characters of interest are present in the scene; and
(g) processing the digital image data to determine the characters of interest.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus processes video signals containing video information related to a scene which may contain a vehicle license plate. The apparatus includes a video camera having a video imaging device for viewing the scene and generating a first video signal. A character detector in the video camera processes the first video signal to detect a license plate within the scene and to generate location information indicating the location of the license plate. A line detector in the camera determines a particular video line of the first video signal into which the location information is to be embedded. An insertion circuit in the camera embeds the location information into the particular video line of the first video signal to form a second video signal. The apparatus may also include a video capture device for receiving the second video signal from the video camera and converting the second video signal into digital image data. A processor extracts the location information from the digital image data, determines the location of the license plate characters within the scene based on the location information, and processes the digital image data to read the license plate characters.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for processing video information related to a scene which may contain characters of interest, the method comprising:
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(a) acquiring a video signal comprising a plurality of horizontal lines containing the video information related to the scene; (b) processing the video signal to detect whether characters of interest are present in the scene; (c) embedding indicator information into one or more of the horizontal lines of the video signal, where the indicator information indicates the presence of the characters of interest in the scene; (d) converting the video signal with the embedded indicator information into digital image data representing the scene; (e) extracting the indicator information from the digital image data; (f) determining based on the indicator information that characters of interest are present in the scene; and (g) processing the digital image data to determine the characters of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for processing a video signal comprising a plurality of horizontal lines containing video information related to a scene containing characters of interest, the method comprising:
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(a) acquiring the video signal from a video camera viewing the scene; (b) processing one or more frames of the video signal to determine a location of characters of interest within the scene; (c) generating location coordinates indicating the location of the characters of interest within the scene, wherein the location coordinates are values referenced to a top or bottom of the one or more frames, or are X-Y coordinate values; and (d) embedding the location coordinates in one or more of the horizontal lines of the video signal.
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9. An apparatus for processing video information related to a scene which may contain characters of interest, the apparatus including a video camera comprising:
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a video imaging device for viewing the scene and generating a first video signal comprising a plurality of horizontal lines; a character detector for processing the first video signal to detect characters of interest present in the scene; an insertion circuit for embedding indicator information within one or more of the horizontal lines of the first video signal to form a second video signal, the indicator information indicating that the characters of interest are present in the scene; a camera housing for enclosing the video imaging device, the character detector and the insertion circuit; and a video output connector on the camera housing for providing electrical connection to the second video signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification