Object identification and inventory management
First Claim
1. A machine-implemented method comprising:
- selecting a region of interest on an object;
capturing a first image of the selected region of interest so as to form first image data, wherein the first image has sufficient resolution to show at least one fingerprint feature that is innate to the object itself, a result of a manufacturing process, a result of external processes, or of any other random or pseudo random process;
processing the first image data to form a first feature vector expressing the fingerprint feature, wherein the first feature vector comprises a first set of numeric values based on the first image data, and the feature vector does not express a unique serial number of the object;
storing the first feature vector in a database record;
after said storing, performing a process with respect to an article, the process comprising;
selecting a region on the article, the selected region of the article corresponding to the region of interest of the object;
capturing a second image of the selected region of the article, so as to form second image data;
processing the second image data to form a second feature vector, wherein the second feature vector comprises a second set of numeric values based on the second image data, and the second feature vector does not express a serial number or other identifier of the article;
searching the database using the second feature vector for search criteria to find potentially matching records;
for each potentially matching record in the database, accessing a feature vector stored in the corresponding record;
comparing the stored feature vector to the second feature vector, by comparing the first set of numeric values to the second set of numeric values to determine difference values;
identifying a match between the object and the article in the case that the difference values are below a predetermined threshold; and
generating a result message indicating that the article matches a record previously stored in the database.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method/apparatus for identifying an object based on a pattern of structural features located in a region of interest wherein the pattern of features comprises at least one fingerprint feature. The region may be recognized and used to identify the object. A first feature vector may be extracted from a first image of the pattern and may be mapped to an object identifier. To authenticate the object, a second feature vector may be extracted from a second image taken of the same region later in time than the first image. The two feature vectors may be compared and differences between one or more feature vector values determined. A match correlation value may be calculated based on the difference(s). The differences may be dampened if associated with expected wear and tear. Thus the impact on the match correlation value of such differences may be reduced. The differences may be enhanced if associated with changes that are not explainable as wear and tear. Thus the impact on the match correlation value of such differences may be increased.
160 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A machine-implemented method comprising:
-
selecting a region of interest on an object; capturing a first image of the selected region of interest so as to form first image data, wherein the first image has sufficient resolution to show at least one fingerprint feature that is innate to the object itself, a result of a manufacturing process, a result of external processes, or of any other random or pseudo random process; processing the first image data to form a first feature vector expressing the fingerprint feature, wherein the first feature vector comprises a first set of numeric values based on the first image data, and the feature vector does not express a unique serial number of the object; storing the first feature vector in a database record; after said storing, performing a process with respect to an article, the process comprising; selecting a region on the article, the selected region of the article corresponding to the region of interest of the object; capturing a second image of the selected region of the article, so as to form second image data; processing the second image data to form a second feature vector, wherein the second feature vector comprises a second set of numeric values based on the second image data, and the second feature vector does not express a serial number or other identifier of the article; searching the database using the second feature vector for search criteria to find potentially matching records; for each potentially matching record in the database, accessing a feature vector stored in the corresponding record; comparing the stored feature vector to the second feature vector, by comparing the first set of numeric values to the second set of numeric values to determine difference values; identifying a match between the object and the article in the case that the difference values are below a predetermined threshold; and generating a result message indicating that the article matches a record previously stored in the database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19)
-
-
14. A machine-implemented method comprising:
-
capturing a first digital image of a first selected region of an object, wherein the 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; storing the first feature vector and the first digital image in a database in association with an object identifier; and 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)
-
Specification