Object identification and inventory management
First Claim
1. A machine-implemented method comprising:
- recognizing a structural feature of an object;
selecting a region of the object based on the structural feature;
provisioning a database coupled to a network for communications;
capturing a first image of the selected region so as to form first image data, wherein the first image has sufficient resolution to show at least one fingerprint feature;
processing the first image data to extract a first feature vector expressing the fingerprint feature, wherein the first feature vector comprises a first set of numeric values, each of the numeric values responsive to light intensity in a corresponding sub-region of the first image; and
storing the first feature vector in the database in association with a unique identifier associated with the object;
after said storing, performing a process with respect to an article, the process comprising;
selecting a region of an article, the selected region of the article corresponding to the selected region of the object;
capturing a second image of the selected region of the article, so as to form second image data, wherein the second image has substantially the same resolution as the first image;
processing the second image data to extract a second feature vector, wherein the second feature vector comprises a second set of numeric values, the second set of numeric values responsive to the same respective sub-regions of the second image as the first set of numeric values are to the first image;
querying the database using the identifier of the object as an index to access the first feature vector;
comparing the second feature vector to the stored first feature vector, by comparing the first set of numeric values to the second set of numeric values to determine difference values;
responsive to the comparison, augmenting or modifying a difference between the first and second feature vectors, the augmenting or modifying comprising at least one of reducing at least one of said difference values or increasing at least one of said difference values;
calculating a match correlation value responsive to the augmenting or modifying; and
identifying a match between the object and the article in the case that the match correlation value exceeds a predetermined threshold.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method/apparatus for identifying an object based on a pattern of structural features located in a particular region wherein the pattern comprises at least one fingerprint feature. The region may be recognized and used to identify the object. A first feature vector (FV) may be extracted from a first image of the pattern and may be mapped to an object identifier. To authenticate the object, a second FV may be extracted from a second image of the same region. The FVs may be compared and difference(s) determined. A match correlation value (MCV) may be calculated based on the difference(s). The difference(s) may be dampened if associated with expected wear and tear reducing the impact of the difference(s) on the MCV. The differences may be enhanced if associated with changes that are not explainable as wear and tear increasing the impact of the difference(s) on the MCV.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A machine-implemented method comprising:
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recognizing a structural feature of an object; selecting a region of the object based on the structural feature; provisioning a database coupled to a network for communications; capturing a first image of the selected region so as to form first image data, wherein the first image has sufficient resolution to show at least one fingerprint feature; processing the first image data to extract a first feature vector expressing the fingerprint feature, wherein the first feature vector comprises a first set of numeric values, each of the numeric values responsive to light intensity in a corresponding sub-region of the first image; and storing the first feature vector in the database in association with a unique identifier associated with the object; after said storing, performing a process with respect to an article, the process comprising; selecting a region of an article, the selected region of the article corresponding to the selected region of the object; capturing a second image of the selected region of the article, so as to form second image data, wherein the second image has substantially the same resolution as the first image; processing the second image data to extract a second feature vector, wherein the second feature vector comprises a second set of numeric values, the second set of numeric values responsive to the same respective sub-regions of the second image as the first set of numeric values are to the first image; querying the database using the identifier of the object as an index to access the first feature vector; comparing the second feature vector to the stored first feature vector, by comparing the first set of numeric values to the second set of numeric values to determine difference values; responsive to the comparison, augmenting or modifying a difference between the first and second feature vectors, the augmenting or modifying comprising at least one of reducing at least one of said difference values or increasing at least one of said difference values; calculating a match correlation value responsive to the augmenting or modifying; and identifying a match between the object and the article in the case that the match correlation value exceeds a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A machine-implemented method comprising:
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capturing a first digital image of a first selected region of an object, wherein the first digital image has sufficient resolution to show an area in the first selected region comprising a first pattern of features; processing the first digital image to generate a first feature vector comprising data corresponding to the first pattern of features of the object; and storing the first feature vector and the first digital image in a database in association with an object identifier; after said storing, performing a process with respect to an article, the process comprising; selecting a second selected region of the article, the second selected region of the article corresponding to the first selected region of the object; capturing a second digital image of the second selected region of the article, wherein the second digital image has sufficient resolution to show an area comprising a second pattern of features; processing the second digital image to generate a second feature vector comprising data corresponding to the second pattern of features of the article; comparing the first feature vector with the second feature vector to determine difference values; responsive to the comparison, augmenting or modifying a difference between the first and second feature vectors, the augmenting or modifying comprising at least one of reducing at least one of said difference values or increasing at least one of said difference values; determining a match confidence that the data corresponding to the second pattern of features matches the data corresponding to the first pattern of features responsive to the augmenting or modifying; comparing the match confidence to a predetermined threshold; and in the case that the match confidence exceeds the predetermined threshold, indicating that the article is the object. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A system, comprising:
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one or more processors configured to; capture a digital image of a region of an item, the region including an identifiable structure; extract data representing at least one fingerprint feature from the digital image of the region of the item; and store fingerprint feature data in a first feature vector in memory; after said storing, select a region of an article, wherein the selected region of the article corresponds to the region of the item; capture a digital image of the selected region of the article; process digital image data of the digital image of the selected region of the article to extract a second feature vector; compare the feature vectors to determine difference values and determine whether to augment or modify a difference between the first and second feature vectors; in response to determining to augment or modify the difference between the first and second feature values, reduce at least one of said difference values or increase at least one of said difference values to generate a first match correlation value; and in response to determining to not augment or modify the difference between the first and second feature values, generate a second match correlation value that is different than the first match correlation value. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification