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

• US 9,210,365 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2014
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US14/468,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20140363140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 video, the method comprising:

recording, by an image recorder, a video that includes a location of a radio frequency identification tag; and

marking, by the image recorder, the location of the radio frequency identification tag on the video, resulting in the marked video, wherein the marking is performed by overlaying the location of the radio frequency identification tag identified on the video, wherein the image recorder 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 image recorder 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 video 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 image recorder includes the location of the radio frequency identification tag; and

positioning the image recorder so that the field of view of the image recorder includes the location of the radio frequency identification tag in response to determining that the field of view of the image recorder 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 image recorder 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 an 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 image recorder includes the location of the radio frequency identification tag and the additional radio frequency identification tag; and

positioning the image recorder so that the field of view of the image recorder 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 image recorder 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 image recorder is a video camera.

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

an image recorder for recording a video that includes a location of a radio frequency identification tag and for marking the location of the radio frequency identification tag on the video, resulting in the marked video, wherein the marking is performed by overlaying the location of the radio frequency identification tag identified on the video, 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 image recorder.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is attached to an object and the signal includes data about the object.

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

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

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

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

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is attached to an object, for causing the image recorder to focus on the object.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

the image recorder for 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

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

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

the image recorder for determining prior to the recording if a field of view of the image recorder includes the location of the radio frequency identification tag and the additional radio frequency identification tag, and for positioning the image recorder so that the field of view of the image recorder 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 image recorder does not include the location of the radio frequency identification tag and the additional radio frequency identification tag.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the image recorder is a video camera.

18. A tangible computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor of an image recorder, cause the processor to perform operations for providing a marked video, the operations comprising:

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

marking the location of the radio frequency identification tag on the video, resulting in the marked video, wherein the marking is performed by overlaying the location of the radio frequency identification tag identified on the video, wherein the video is recorded by the image recorder 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 image recorder 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.

19. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the radio frequency identification tag is attached to an object and the first signal includes data about the object.

20. The tangible computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the marking further includes overlaying an image of the object on the video at the location, wherein the overlaying at the location of the radio frequency identification tag is responsive to the data about the object.