Method, system and apparatus for monitoring loading of a payload into a load carrying container
First Claim
1. An image signal generator apparatus for producing an image signal to facilitate monitoring of loading of a payload into a load carrying container, the apparatus comprising:
- a camera operably configured to acquire at least one image of a load transfer container during operation of said load transfer container by a first operator to load the payload into the load carrying container;
an image signal transmitter operably configured to wirelessly transmit an image signal representing said at least one image to permit reception and display of said at least one image for viewing by a second operator to facilitate monitoring of the loading of the payload by said second operator;
a control signal transmitter; and
a controller operably configured to;
receive a position signal, said position signal indicating a location of the load carrying container;
determine a location of said load transfer container; and
cause said control signal transmitter to transmit a control signal encoded with configuration information for configuring a receiver associated with the load carrying container to receive said image signal when a distance between the load carrying container and said load transfer container meets a criterion;
wherein said image signal has first transmission characteristics for preventing interference with a second image signal produced by a second load transfer container having second transmission characteristics and wherein said control signal is encoded with information representing said first transmission characteristics for configuring the receiver associated with the load carrying container to receive said image signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus and system for monitoring loading of a payload into a load carrying container is disclosed. The method involves acquiring at least one image of a load transfer container during operation of the load transfer container by a first operator to load the payload into the load carrying container, and wirelessly transmitting an image signal representing the at least one image. The method also involves receiving the image signal and producing a display signal for causing the at least one image to be displayed for viewing by a second operator to facilitate monitoring of the loading of the payload.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. An image signal generator apparatus for producing an image signal to facilitate monitoring of loading of a payload into a load carrying container, the apparatus comprising:
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a camera operably configured to acquire at least one image of a load transfer container during operation of said load transfer container by a first operator to load the payload into the load carrying container; an image signal transmitter operably configured to wirelessly transmit an image signal representing said at least one image to permit reception and display of said at least one image for viewing by a second operator to facilitate monitoring of the loading of the payload by said second operator; a control signal transmitter; and a controller operably configured to; receive a position signal, said position signal indicating a location of the load carrying container; determine a location of said load transfer container; and cause said control signal transmitter to transmit a control signal encoded with configuration information for configuring a receiver associated with the load carrying container to receive said image signal when a distance between the load carrying container and said load transfer container meets a criterion; wherein said image signal has first transmission characteristics for preventing interference with a second image signal produced by a second load transfer container having second transmission characteristics and wherein said control signal is encoded with information representing said first transmission characteristics for configuring the receiver associated with the load carrying container to receive said image signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for monitoring loading of a payload into a load carrying container, the system comprising:
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an image signal transmitter apparatus for use with an image signal processing system, the image signal processing system including a camera operably configured to acquire at least one image of a load transfer container during operation of said load transfer container by a first operator to load a payload into the load carrying container, the image signal processing system having an image signal output for producing an image signal, the image signal transmitter apparatus comprising an input for receiving said image signal from said image signal output, said image signal transmitter being operably configured to wirelessly transmit; a control signal encoded with information representing first transmission characteristics of said image signal and a location of said load transfer container; and an image signal representing said at least one image; a display signal generator comprising an image signal receiver operably configured to wirelessly receive the image signal representing said at least one image of the load transfer container, said image signal receiver being operably configured to produce a display signal for causing said at least one image to be displayed for viewing by the second operator to facilitate monitoring of the loading of the payload, said display signal generator comprising; a control signal receiver for receiving said control signal; a controller operably configured to; determine a location of the load carrying container; and cause said image signal receiver to be configured to receive said image signal in accordance with said first transmission characteristics when a distance between the load carrying container and said load transfer container meets a criterion. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for monitoring loading of a payload into a load carrying container, the system comprising:
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an image signal transmitter apparatus for use with an image signal processing system, the image signal processing system including a camera operably configured to acquire at least one image of a load transfer container during operation of said load transfer container by a first operator to load a payload into the load carrying container, the image signal processing system having an image signal output for producing an image signal, the image signal transmitter apparatus comprising an input for receiving said image signal from said image signal output, said image signal transmitter being operably configured to wirelessly transmit an image signal representing said at least one image; a display signal generator comprising an image signal receiver operably configured to wirelessly receive the image signal representing said at least one image of the load transfer container, said image signal receiver being operably configured to produce a display signal for causing said at least one image to be displayed for viewing by the second operator to facilitate monitoring of the loading of the payload, said display signal generator comprising a controller in communication with said image signal receiver, said controller being operably configured to; cause said image signal receiver to periodically attempt to establish a communications link with image signal transmitters in range of said first receiver, each image signal transmitter being associated with one of a plurality of load transfer containers; and select one of said image signal transmitters for receiving said image signal when a communications link between said one of said transmitters meets a quality-of-service criterion. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification