Video-file based citation generation system for traffic light violations

• US 6,754,663 B1
• Filed: 11/22/1999
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Traffic Solutions Incorporated (Verra Mobility Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Nestor, Inc.
• Inventors: Small, Steven I., Sybel, Randall T., Johnson, Greg D., Coimbatore, Lalitha R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Greta
• Assistant Examiner(s): DODDS, HAROLD E
• Application Number:
  US09/447,032
• Time in Patent Office: 1,674 Days
• Field of Search: 180/167-168, 340/910-917, 340/929-937, 342/28, 382/103, 382/104, 382/190, 382/209, 382/253, 382/263, 396/263, 701/116-119, 707/1, 707/3, 707/100, 707/102, 707/500-501, 707/526, 345/716, 345/723-726, 345/838, 346/263, 715/500, 715/500.1, 715/501.1, 715/526
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/06 Arrangements for road pricing or congestion charging of vehicles or vehicle users, e.g. automatic toll systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system for generating a traffic violation citation, which operates using at least one image data file including digitized video data. The image data file includes multiple images of an intersection during a red light violation. The image data file is, for example, derived from the output of one or more video cameras positioned to record respective views of an intersection being monitored for red light violations. The disclosed system provides a user with an interface including at least one image display window. The image display window is used to display portions of the image data file. Where the image data file includes multiple video clips, such clips may be displayed simultaneously in respective ones of multiple display windows. The system further includes a selection interface that permits a user to select at least one image from the image data file, for example a current image being displayed in an image display window. The system generates a citation associated with the traffic violation, including a copy of the selected image.

Claims

1. A system for generating a traffic light violation citation for a traffic light violation, said traffic light violation occurring when a vehicle crosses over a stop line and into an intersection during a red light phase of a traffic control light for a lane in which said vehicle is traveling at said intersection, comprising:

a processor for generating said traffic light violation citation, said processor operative to;

receive at least one image data file, said image data file including image data showing a plurality of independent views of said traffic light violation, each of said independent views including at least a portion of said vehicle, wherein said at least one image data file includes a plurality of image sequences, each one of said image sequences including digitized video information providing an associated one of said plurality of independent views of said traffic light violation, and wherein each of said image sequences includes a video clip;

display a plurality of image display windows, said image display windows for simultaneously displaying said plurality of image sequences in said image data file, wherein each of said plurality of image display windows displays a corresponding one of said independent views of said traffic light violation, and wherein said plurality of image sequences are synchronized such that they provide simultaneous views of said traffic violation;

display a selection interface for permitting a user to select at least one image from said plurality of image display windows, wherein said plurality of image display windows and said selection interface are embodied within a graphical user interface (GUI); and

said processor further operative to execute a citation generation process for generating a citation associated with said traffic light violation, wherein said citation includes said at least one selected image, and wherein said citation indicates that said traffic light was in said red light phase at a time said at least one selected image was captured.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said selection interface is operable to control the temporal direction of images displayed in at least one of said plurality of image display windows.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said selection interface is operable to control a speed at which images are displayed in said plurality of image display windows.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said selection interface includes a forward button, a reverse button, and a stop button.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said selection interface further comprises a region, in which said at least one selected image may be moved and displayed.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said selection interface is operable to zoom into and extract images displayed in said plurality of image display windows.

7. A method of generating a traffic light violation citation, for a traffic light violation, said traffic light violation occurring when a vehicle crosses over a stop line and into an intersection during a red light phase of a traffic control light for a lane in which said vehicle is traveling at said intersection, comprising:

receiving at least one image data file, said image data file including image data showing a plurality of independent views of a traffic light violation, each of said independent views including at least a portion of said vehicle, wherein said at least one image data file includes a plurality of image sequences, each one of said image sequences including digitized video information providing an associated one of a plurality of independent views of said traffic light violation, and wherein each of said image sequences includes a video clip;

displaying a plurality of image display windows, said image display windows simultaneously displaying said plurality of image sequences, wherein each of said plurality of image display windows displays a corresponding one of said independent views of said traffic light violation, said plurality of image sequences being synchronized such that they provide simultaneous views of said traffic violation;

receiving a selection from a user, through a selection interface, said selection indicating at least one image from said plurality of image display windows, wherein said plurality of image display windows and said selection interface are embodied within a graphical user interface (GUI); and

generating a citation associated with said traffic light violation, wherein said citation includes said at least one selected image, and wherein said citation indicates that said traffic light was in said red light phase at a time said at least one selected image was captured.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising providing an interface for controlling the temporal direction of images displayed in at least one of said plurality of image display windows.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing an interface for controlling a speed at which images are displayed in at least one of said plurality of image display windows.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said providing said interface for controlling said speed at which images are displayed in at least one of said plurality of image display windows includes providing a forward button, a reverse button, and a stop button.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying said at least one selected image in a region of a graphical user interface (GUI).

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising providing zooming and extracting capability with regard to images displayed in at least one of said plurality of image display windows.