Method for fusing overhead imagery with automatic vessel reporting systems
First Claim
1. A method for identifying a vessel in a satellite image, said vessel having imagery position data in said image, said method comprising the steps of:
- A) defining an Area of Interest (AOI) and a Time of Interest (TOI) for said satellite image;
B) defining a predetermined time window around said TOI;
C) enlarging said AOI according to said predetermined time window and an assumed maximum speed for said vessel;
D) retrieving vessel position data from a database for all vessels within said enlarged AOI;
E) comparing said vessel position data from said step D) to said imagery position data from said step A); and
,F) assigning an identity to said imaged vessel when said step E) meets a predetermined probability threshold.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for processing satellite imagery include a satellite, a processor, a database of vessel position data and a computer readable storage medium. The methods process satellite imagery by fusing the imagery with information from the database to automatically identify ships. The methods include the steps of defining an Area of Interest (AOI) and Time of Interest (TOI) for the image and enlarging the AOI according to a time window that brackets the TOI and an assumed vessel maximum speed. Vessel position data from the database for all vessels within the enlarged AOI and the time window is accessed, and fused to imagery position data using Chi-Squared probability analysis. If the analysis meets predetermined probability threshold criteria, the vessel position is assigned to the satellite image to identify the vessel. Otherwise, the operator is alerted that imaged vessels do not correlate to vessel reporting data, or vice versa.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for identifying a vessel in a satellite image, said vessel having imagery position data in said image, said method comprising the steps of:
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A) defining an Area of Interest (AOI) and a Time of Interest (TOI) for said satellite image; B) defining a predetermined time window around said TOI; C) enlarging said AOI according to said predetermined time window and an assumed maximum speed for said vessel; D) retrieving vessel position data from a database for all vessels within said enlarged AOI; E) comparing said vessel position data from said step D) to said imagery position data from said step A); and
,F) assigning an identity to said imaged vessel when said step E) meets a predetermined probability threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for processing satellite imagery, comprising:
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a satellite for generating satellite images a processor connected to said satellite; a data remote from said processor; and
,a computer readable storage medium installed on said processor, said medium storing instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to perform a method for processing said overhead images from said satellite to automatically identify ships, said method comprising the steps of; A) defining an Area of Interest (AOI) and a Time of Interest (TOI) for said satellite image, said satellite image having at least one imaged vessel, each said vessel having imagery position data; B) defining a predetermined time window around said TOI; C) enlarging said AOI according to said predetermined time window and an assumed maximum speed for said vessel; D) retrieving vessel position data from a database for all vessels within said enlarged AOI; E) fusing said vessel position data from said step C) to imagery position data from said step A); and
,F) assigning an identity to said vessel when said step E) meets a predetermined probability threshold. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification