System and Method of Translating Road Signs

• US 20090285445A1
• Filed: 06/11/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Vasa, Yojak Harshad
• Application Number:
  US12/137,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20090285445A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/582 of traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A camera-equipped wireless communication device captures images of traffic signs that are unfamiliar to a user. A controller in the device analyzes the captured image and generates information that allows the user to identify the traffic sign.

Claims

1. A camera-equipped wireless communication device comprising:

a camera configured to capture an image of a traffic sign;

a processor configured to analyze the captured image to generate information about the traffic sign; and

an output device to output the information so that the user can identify the traffic sign.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a memory configured to store data representing the traffic sign and corresponding information associated with a traffic sign that is familiar to the user.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the processor is further configured to:

compare the generated information to the data representing the traffic sign stored in the memory based on a current location of the device; and

retrieve the corresponding information associated with the data if a match is found.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the corresponding information comprises an image of a traffic sign that is familiar to the user, and wherein the output device displays the image to the user.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein the corresponding information comprises an audio file, and wherein the output device renders the audio file as audible sound to the user.

6. The device of claim 2 further comprising a short-range interface to establish a short-range communication link with a vehicle, and wherein the processor is further configured to send the corresponding information to the vehicle for output to the user.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to generate a translation request message to include the captured image of the traffic sign, and further comprising a cellular transceiver to transmit the translation request message to a network server.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the transceiver is configured to receive the information associated with the traffic sign from the network server.

9. A method of translating traffic signs for a user of a camera-equipped wireless communication device, the method comprising:

capturing an image of a first traffic sign using a camera associated with a wireless communication device, wherein the first traffic sign is unfamiliar to a user;

analyzing the captured image to generate information about the first traffic sign; and

outputting the information corresponding to a second traffic sign that is familiar to the user so that the user can identify the first traffic sign.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising storing data representing the first traffic sign, and the second traffic sign, in memory.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein analyzing the traffic sign in the captured image comprises:

determining a current location for the camera-equipped wireless communication device;

comparing the generated information to the data representing the first traffic sign stored in the memory based on the current location; and

retrieving the data corresponding to the second traffic sign if a match is found.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein outputting the information to the user comprises displaying an image of a traffic sign that is familiar to the user.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein outputting the information to the user comprises rendering an audio file identifying the traffic sign in the captured image to the user.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein outputting the information to the user comprises sending the information to an output device associated with a vehicle via a short-range communication link established between the camera-equipped wireless communication device and the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein analyzing the traffic sign in the captured image comprises:

generating a translation request message to include the captured image of the traffic sign;

transmitting the translation request message to a network server; and

receiving the information corresponding to the second traffic sign from the network server.