Methods and systems for enhancing read accuracy in an automated license plate reader system

• US 9,025,828 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Karel, Gerald L., Dahlin, Thomas J., Fleming, Patrick R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BHATNAGAR, ANAND P
• Application Number:
  US13/885,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20130272580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/103, 382/105, 270/52.02
• US Class Current: 382/105
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/625 License plates
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/63 Scene text, e.g. street names
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules

Abstract

One embodiment of the apparatuses, methods, and systems of the present disclosure is a license plate, sticker, or ALPR system having enhanced or increased accuracy. At least one of the license plate, sticker, or ALPR system includes useful information that is transmitted over a first channel and checking information that is transmitted over a second channel. The second channel is devoted solely to transmitting the checking information (e.g., the second channel does not transmit useful information). In other words, the license plates, stickers, and ALPR systems of the present disclosure include at least one channel that is devoted solely to transmitting checking information.

Claims

1. A license plate, comprising:

a license plate blank to which is attached a reflective sheeting; and

a machine readable element including useful information accessible through a first channel and checking information only to verify the accuracy of the transmission of the useful information transmitted via the first channel without duplicating or replicating useful information accessible through a second channel, wherein the second channel is devoted solely to the transmission of checking information, and wherein the first channel and the second channel are separated by at least one of;

wavelength, time, position, or medium.

2. The license plate of claim 1, wherein the checking information is printed on, adhered to, or adjacent to at least a portion of the license plate.

3. The license plate of claim 1, wherein the machine readable element includes a barcode.

4. The license plate of claim 1, wherein the checking information is in the form of a barcode.

5. The license plate of claim 3, wherein the barcode is a 2D barcode.

10. An ALPR system, comprising:

the license plate according to any of claims 1-5;

an apparatus capable of reading the useful information through a first channel;

a machine capable of reading the machine readable information through a second channel that differs from the first channel; and

a processing unit that processes the useful information and uses the checking information to verify the accuracy of the reading of the useful information.

13. The license plate of claim 4, wherein the barcode is a 2D barcode.

6. A sticker capable of attachment to at least one of a license plate, a vehicle, and a license plate frame, the sticker comprising:

a machine readable element including useful information accessible through a first channel; and

checking information only to verify the accuracy of the transmission of the useful information transmitted via the first channel without duplicating or replicating useful information accessible through a second channel, wherein the second channel is devoted solely to the transmission of checking information, and wherein the first channel and the second channel are separated by at least one of;

wavelength, time, position, or medium.

7. The sticker of claim 6, wherein the checking information is encoded in a barcode.

8. The sticker of claim 7, wherein the barcode is a 2D barcode.

9. The sticker of claim 6, for use in an ALPR system.

11. An ALPR system, comprising:

a license plate including useful information;

a sticker according to any of claims 6-9;

an apparatus capable of reading the useful information through a first channel;

a machine capable of reading the machine readable information through a second channel that differs from the first channel; and

a processing unit that processes the useful information and uses the checking information to verify the accuracy of the reading of the useful information.

12. A method of enhancing the accuracy of license plate readings, comprising:

providing a license plate including useful information;

providing checking information only to verify the accuracy of the transmission of the useful information transmitted via the first channel without duplicating or replicating useful information;

reading the useful information through a first channel; and

reading the checking information through a second channel that differs from the first channel and using the checking information to verify the accuracy of the reading of the useful information, wherein the first channel and the second channel are separated by at least one of;

wavelength, time, position, or medium.