Method and apparatus processing container images and/or identifying codes for front end loaders or container handlers servicing rail cars
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising at least one member of the group consisting of:
- an optical characteristic system configured to couple to a container handler configured to transfer a container to/from a rail car and configured to create at least one member of the optical group consisting ofa container image of at least part of at least one face of said container,an optical characteristic derived from said container image,a container code estimate of a container code on said face,a rail car identifier of said rail car, anda container chassis identifier of a container chassis holding said container;
a server interface configured to receive at least one member of said optical group to create at least one member of the group consisting ofanother of said member of said optical group,a manifest for at least said rail car,a confirmation of said manifest, andan insurance record for said container; and
a container inventory management system configured to receive at least one member of the group consisting ofsaid container code estimate of said container based upon at least one of said members of said optical group created by said optical characteristic system,said manifest of said rail car,said confirmation of said manifest, andsaid insurance record for said container;
wherein said container handler is a member of the group consisting of a front end loader, a reach stacker, and a gantry crane;
wherein said container is at least twenty feet long;
wherein said insurance record is created using at least one of said container images for each of at least one member of the face group of said container, said face group consisting of a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a back face, a left face and a right face, each of said container; and
wherein said optical characteristic derived from said container image includes an optical enhancement of said container image;
wherein said optical characteristic system comprisesa processor communicatively coupled to at least one camera configured to create said container image of said container being transferred to/from said rail car; and
said processor communicatively coupled to a means for communicating to send at least one member of said optical group; and
wherein said server interface comprisesa second processor communicatively coupled to a second means for communicating to receive said member of said optical group; and
wherein said server interface further comprises at least one member of the group consisting ofsaid second processor configured to create at least one member of the group consisting ofsaid optical characteristic from said container image;
said container code estimate from at least one member of the group consisting of said container image and said optical characteristic,said manifest for said rail car,said confirmation of said manifest, andsaid insurance record for said container.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical characteristic system configured to couple to a container handler for transferring a container to/from a rail car. A server interface configured to receive from at least one container handler. An optical characteristic system configured to couple to a front end loader. A container handler configured to transfer at least one container to/from a rail car and to report its container image, optical characteristic, container code estimate of the container, a rail car identifier estimate and/or a container chassis identifier estimate. A rail kiosk configured to receive the container image, etc from at least one container handler to create the optical characteristic, the container code estimate, manifest for the rail car, confirmation of the manifest and/or an insurance record for the container. A method operating at least one of the server interface, the rail kiosk and a container inventory management system and the products of those operations.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising at least one member of the group consisting of:
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an optical characteristic system configured to couple to a container handler configured to transfer a container to/from a rail car and configured to create at least one member of the optical group consisting of a container image of at least part of at least one face of said container, an optical characteristic derived from said container image, a container code estimate of a container code on said face, a rail car identifier of said rail car, and a container chassis identifier of a container chassis holding said container; a server interface configured to receive at least one member of said optical group to create at least one member of the group consisting of another of said member of said optical group, a manifest for at least said rail car, a confirmation of said manifest, and an insurance record for said container; and a container inventory management system configured to receive at least one member of the group consisting of said container code estimate of said container based upon at least one of said members of said optical group created by said optical characteristic system, said manifest of said rail car, said confirmation of said manifest, and said insurance record for said container; wherein said container handler is a member of the group consisting of a front end loader, a reach stacker, and a gantry crane; wherein said container is at least twenty feet long; wherein said insurance record is created using at least one of said container images for each of at least one member of the face group of said container, said face group consisting of a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a back face, a left face and a right face, each of said container; and wherein said optical characteristic derived from said container image includes an optical enhancement of said container image; wherein said optical characteristic system comprises a processor communicatively coupled to at least one camera configured to create said container image of said container being transferred to/from said rail car; and said processor communicatively coupled to a means for communicating to send at least one member of said optical group; and wherein said server interface comprises a second processor communicatively coupled to a second means for communicating to receive said member of said optical group; and wherein said server interface further comprises at least one member of the group consisting of said second processor configured to create at least one member of the group consisting of said optical characteristic from said container image; said container code estimate from at least one member of the group consisting of said container image and said optical characteristic, said manifest for said rail car, said confirmation of said manifest, and said insurance record for said container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus, comprising:
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an optical characteristic system configured to couple to a container handler configured to transfer a container to/from a rail car to create at least one member of the optical group consisting of a container image of at least part of at least one face of said container, an optical characteristic derived from said container image and an container code estimate of a container code on said face, where said container handler is a front end loader, wherein said front end loader is a member of the group consisting of a top handler and a side picker; wherein said container is at least twenty feet long; wherein said optical characteristic derived from said container image includes an optical enhancement of said container image; wherein said optical characteristic system comprises said processor communicatively coupled to at least one camera configured to create said container image of said container being transferred to/from said rail car; and said processor communicatively coupled to a means for communicating to send at least one member of said optical group. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus, comprising at least one member of the group consisting of:
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a container handler configured to transfer at least one container to/from a rail car and configured to report at least one member of the optical group consisting of a container image of at least part of at least one face of said container, an optical characteristic derived from said container image and an container code estimate of a container code on said face; and a rail kiosk configured to receive said at least one member of said optical group from at least one of said container handler to create at least one member of the group consisting of another of said members of said optical group, a manifest for at least said rail car, a confirmation of said manifest, and an insurance record for said container; and a container inventory management system configured to receive at least one member of the group consisting of said container code estimate of said container based upon at least one of said members of said optical group created by said container handler, said manifest of said rail car, said confirmation of said manifest, and said insurance record for said container. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method, comprising the step of:
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operating a rail kiosk to receive at least one member of an optical group from at least one container handler and an optical characteristic system coupled to said container handler, said container handler configured to transfer a container, to create at least one member of the group consisting of another of said members of said optical group, a manifest for a rail car involved with said transfer of said container, a confirmation of said manifest, and an insurance record for said container, with said optical group consisting of a container image of at least part of at least one face of said container, an optical characteristic derived from said container image, an container code estimate of a container code on said face, a rail car identifier estimate of a rail car identifier on said rail car, and a container chassis identifier estimate of a container chassis identifier of a container chassis holding said container during at least part of said transfer; operating a server interface to receive at least one member of said optical group from said container handler transferring said container to/from said rail car to create at least one member of the group consisting of another of said member of said optical group, a manifest for at least said rail car, a confirmation of said manifest, and an insurance record for said container; and operating a container inventory management system to receive, from said at least one of said rail kiosk and said server interface, at least one member of the group consisting of said container code estimate of said container based upon at least one of said members of said optical group, said manifest of said rail car, said confirmation of said manifest, and said insurance record for said container. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification