Methods, computer program products, and systems for providing automated video tracking via radio frequency identification

• US 8,816,855 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2008
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kreiner, Barrett, Reeves, Jonathan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahase, Pameshanand
• Application Number:
  US12/255,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20100097221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/5.82, 382/100, 382/103, 348/335, 700/211
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/82 wherein continuous-type signals are transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10079 the collision being resolved in the spatial domain, e.g. temporary shields for blindfolding the interrogator in specific directions
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1097 Optical sensing of electronic memory record carriers, such as interrogation of RFIDs with an additional optical interface
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/02 Editing, e.g. varying the order of information signals recorded on, or reproduced from, record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/10 Indexing; Addressing; Timing or synchronising; Measuring tape travel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication

Abstract

Methods, computer program products and systems for providing video tracking. The method includes receiving a first signal from a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. A location of the RFID tag is determined in response to the first signal. An image that includes the location of the RFID tag is recorded. The location of the RFID tag is marked on the image, resulting in a marked image.

Claims

1. A method for providing a marked image, comprising:

recording an image that includes a location of a radio frequency identification tag; and

marking the location of the radio frequency identification tag on the image, resulting in the marked image, wherein the marking is performed by overlaying the location of the radio frequency identification tag identified on the image, wherein the image is recorded by a full spectrum camera that recognizes a first signal emitted from the radio frequency identification tag, wherein the first signal comprises an ultraviolet signal and the marking is performed by the full spectrum camera based on the first signal, wherein the first signal is emitted by the radio frequency identification tag when the radio frequency identification tag receives a radio frequency signal from a radio frequency identification emitter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is attached to an object and the first signal includes data about the object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the marking further includes overlaying an image of the object on the image at the location, wherein the overlaying at the location of the radio frequency identification tag is responsive to the data about the object.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining prior to the recording if a field of view of the full spectrum camera includes the location of the radio frequency identification tag; and

positioning the full spectrum camera so that the field of view of the full spectrum camera includes the location of the radio frequency identification tag in response to determining that the field of view of the full spectrum camera does not include the location of the radio frequency identification tag.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is attached to an object, and the method further comprises focusing the full spectrum camera on the object.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an additional signal from an additional radio frequency identification tag, the radio frequency identification tag and the additional radio frequency identification tag making up a constellation; and

determining a location of the additional radio frequency identification tag, wherein the image that is recorded further includes the location of the additional radio frequency identification tag.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining prior to the recording if a field of view of the full spectrum camera includes the location of the radio frequency identification tag and the additional radio frequency identification tag; and

positioning the full spectrum camera so that the field of view of the full spectrum camera includes the location of the radio frequency identification tag and the additional radio frequency identification tag in response to determining that the field of view of the full spectrum camera does not include the location of the radio frequency identification tag and the additional radio frequency identification tag.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the full spectrum camera is a video camera.

9. A system for providing a marked image, the system comprising:

a full spectrum camera for recording an image that includes a location of a radio frequency identification tag and for marking the location of the radio frequency identification tag on the image, resulting in the marked image, wherein the marking is performed by overlaying the location of the radio frequency identification tag identified on the image, wherein the marking is performed in response to receiving a signal from the radio frequency identification tag, wherein the signal is an ultraviolet signal, wherein the signal is emitted by the radio frequency identification tag when the radio frequency identification tag receives a radio frequency signal from a radio frequency identification emitter.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is a passive tag and the system further comprises:

the radio frequency identification emitter to activate the radio frequency identification tag, the activating causing the radio frequency identification tag to transmit the signal to the full spectrum camera.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is attached to an object, the signal includes data about the object, and the marking further includes overlaying an image of the object on the image at the location, wherein the overlaying at the location of the radio frequency identification tag is responsive to the data about the object.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a positioning mechanism for determining prior to the recording if a field of view of the full spectrum camera includes the location of the radio frequency identification tag; and

positioning the full spectrum camera so that the field of view of the full spectrum camera includes the location of the radio frequency identification tag in response to determining that the field of view of the full spectrum camera does not include the location of the radio frequency identification tag.

13. A tangible computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor of a full spectrum camera, cause the processor to perform operations for providing a marked image, the operations comprising:

recording an image that includes a location of a radio frequency identification tag; and

marking the location of the radio frequency identification tag on the image, resulting in the marked image, wherein the marking is performed by overlaying the location of the radio frequency identification tag identified on the image, wherein the image is recorded by the full spectrum camera that recognizes a first signal emitted from the radio frequency identification tag, wherein the first signal comprises an ultraviolet signal and the marking is performed by the full spectrum camera based on the first signal, wherein the first signal is emitted by the radio frequency identification tag when the radio frequency identification tag receives a radio frequency signal from a radio frequency identification emitter.

14. A full spectrum camera for providing a marked image, comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

recording an image that includes a location of a radio frequency identification tag; and

marking the location of the radio frequency identification tag on the image, resulting in the marked image, wherein the marking is performed by overlaying the location of the radio frequency identification tag identified on the image, wherein the image is recorded by the full spectrum camera that recognizes a first signal emitted from the radio frequency identification tag, wherein the first signal comprises an ultraviolet signal and the marking is performed based on the first signal, wherein the first signal is emitted by the radio frequency identification tag when the radio frequency identification tag receives a radio frequency signal from a radio frequency identification emitter.