MOBILE DEVICE POSITIONING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20110285842A1
• Filed: 07/29/2011
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Davenport, David Michael, Bhotika, Rahul, Shaffer, Glenn Robert, Mendonca, Paulo Ricardo
• Application Number:
  US13/194,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20110285842A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/116
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/04 for monitoring the mechanical state of the route
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/40 Handling position reports or trackside vehicle data
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/53 for trackside elements or systems, e.g. trackside supervision of trackside control system conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 27/57 for vehicles or trains, e.g. trackside supervision of train conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/246 using feature-based methods, e.g. the tracking of corners or segments
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/74 involving reference images or patches
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A method that relates to mobile platform positioning through landmark recognition. The method includes receiving a captured image of a landmark, wherein the captured image was captured from an onboard camera system located on the mobile platform. A comparison of the captured image to a plurality of stored images, that are images of landmarks at known locations is made. The method recognizes the captured image based on the comparison and then determines the location of the mobile platform, based on the recognition. The method may be employed with a locomotive. A system and computer program product for mobile device positioning is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a captured image of a landmark, wherein the captured image was captured from an onboard camera system located on a mobile platform;

comparing the captured image to a plurality of stored images, wherein the plurality of stored images comprise images of landmarks at known locations;

recognizing the captured image based on the comparing; and

determining a location of the mobile platform, based on the recognizing.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising capturing an image of a landmark with the onboard camera system located on the mobile platform.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the landmark is not artificially illuminated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile platform comprises a locomotive.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the landmark is unaffiliated with a railroad system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying the location with a global positioning system.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a speed of the mobile platform, based on video analysis of objects passing by the mobile platform.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the video analysis comprises measuring a time interval between railroad ties.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the landmark comprise at least one of a bridge, a tunnel, a tower, a pole, a building, and a structure.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the landmark comprises signage.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the landmark comprises a natural element.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the landmark comprises an element adjacent the railroad system.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying an operator of the mobile platform of the location.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising exporting the location to a third party.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a notification of a wayside structure based on the determining the location.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the landmark further comprises a source of illumination.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the source of illumination comprises non-visible light.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising triggering on the source of illumination based on the determining of the location of the mobile platform.

19. A computer program product for providing positioning of a mobile platform in a computer environment, the computer program product comprising a storage radium readable by a processing circuit and storing instruction for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising:

receiving a captured image of a landmark, wherein the captured image was captured from an onboard camera system located on a mobile platform;

comparing the captured image to a plurality of stored images, wherein the plurality of stored images comprise images of landmarks at known locations;

recognizing the captured image based on the comparing; and

determining a location of the mobile platform, based on the recognizing.

20. A system for a mobile platform comprising:

an imaging device at the mobile platform for capturing images of landmarks;

a landmark database for storing a plurality of images, wherein the plurality of stored images comprise images of landmarks at knowned locations; and

a processor for;

comparing the captured images to the plurality of images and recognizing the captured images, based on the comparing; and

determining a location of the mobile platform, based on the recognizing.