Evaluating image values

• US 9,786,101 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2015
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Ackley, H. Sprague
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Vu
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOLDEMARIAM, AKLILU K
• Application Number:
  US14/715,916
• Publication Number:
  US 20160343176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 382101, 382141, 382154, 382173, 382195, 382254
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/02 for measuring length, width or thickness G01B11/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/62 of area, perimeter, diameter or volume
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/224 of printed characters having additional code marks or containing code marks
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00661 Sensing or measuring mailpieces weighing G01G19/00

Abstract

Images of items are evaluated. A first image of the item, having a view of two or more of its surfaces, is captured at a first time. A measurement of at least one dimension of one or more of the surfaces is computed and stored. A second image of the item, having a view of at least one of the two or more surfaces, is captured at a second time, subsequent to the first time. A measurement of the dimension is then computed and compared to the stored first measurement. The computed measurement is evaluated based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating whether an image of an item may be suitable for computing accurate dimension measurements, the method comprising the steps of:

capturing a first image of the item at a first time, the first image comprising a view of two or more surfaces of the item and of one or more surface features;

computing a first measurement of at least one dimension of at least one of the surface features based on the first captured image;

capturing a second image of the item at a second time, which is subsequent to the first time, the second image comprising a view of at least one of the two or more surfaces and of at least one of the one or more surface features;

computing a second measurement of the at least one dimension of the at least one of the surface features based on the second captured image;

comparing the computed second measurement to the computed first measurement;

evaluating whether the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement may be suitable for computing accurate dimension measurements;

capturing at least a third image of the item at a corresponding time, which occurs between the first time and the second time, the at least a third image comprising a view of the at least one of the two or more surfaces;

computing at least a third measurement of at least one dimension of at least one of the two or more surfaces based on the captured at least a third image;

comparing the at least a third measurement computed in relation to the captured at least a third image to the computed first measurement and/or to the computed second measurement;

approving the at least a third measurement, computed in relation to the captured at least a third image, based on the comparison to the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement; and

computing a mean value based on the computed first measurement, and/or the computed second measurement, and the approved at least a third measurement.

2. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the evaluating step comprises, selectively, accepting or rejecting the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement.

3. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the evaluating step comprises, selectively, accepting or rejecting the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement.

4. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the at least one dimension corresponds to at least one boundary about a periphery of at least one of the surface features item.

5. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more surface features relate to a corresponding chromatic characteristic.

6. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more surface features comprise at least one of a logo or a bar code pattern.

7. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the one or more surface features relate to at least one of a text based, alphanumeric, ideographic, or pictographic symbol.

8. The method as described in claim 7, wherein the symbol comprises at least one of handwritten or preprinted writing.

9. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the comparing step comprises computing a duration of an interval between the second time and the first time.

10. The method as described in claim 9, wherein the evaluating step comprises establishing an identity between a representation of the item in the second image with a representation of the item in the first image.

11. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

delineating a boundary about a periphery of the one or more surface features in the first captured image;

mapping the delineated boundary to corresponding locations in a coordinate system;

storing data corresponding to the mapped boundary;

recognizing the surface feature in the captured second image;

surveying data corresponding to the boundary in relation to the recognized surface feature;

comparing the surveyed boundary data to the stored boundary data; and

basing the evaluating step, at least in part, on the step of comparing the surveyed boundary data to the stored boundary data.

12. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

correcting the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement based on the computed mean value.

13. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the two or more surfaces of the item comprise at least three surfaces.

14. The method as described in claim 1, wherein the capturing the first image step comprises recording the view of the two or more surfaces of the item from a perspective associated with a first position of the item.

15. The method as described in claim 14, wherein the capturing the second image step comprises recording the view of the at least one of the two or more surfaces from a perspective associated with a second position of the item, which is displaced relative to the first position.

16. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising certifying, based on the evaluating step, a charge for a commercial transaction relating to one or more of storing or transporting the item.

17. The method as described in claim 1, further comprising certifying, based on the evaluating step, a dimensioner for a commercial use.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when read and executed by a computer processor are operable for performing, controlling, or causing a process for evaluating whether an image of an item may be suitable for computing accurate dimension measurements, the process comprising:

capturing a first image of the item at a first time, the first image comprising a view of two or more surfaces of the item and of one or more surface features;

computing a first measurement of at least one dimension of at least one of the surface features based on the first captured image;

capturing a second image of the item at a second time, which is subsequent to the first time, the second image comprising a view of at least one of the two or more surfaces and of at least one of the one or more surface features;

computing a second measurement of the at least one dimension of the at least one of the surface features based on the second captured image;

comparing the computed second measurement to the computed first measurement;

evaluating whether the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement may be suitable for computing accurate dimension measurements;

capturing at least a third image of the item at a corresponding time, which occurs between the first time and the second time, the at least a third image comprising a view of the at least one of the two or more surfaces;

computing at least a third measurement of at least one dimension of at least one of the two or more surfaces based on the captured at least a third image;

comparing the at least a third measurement computed in relation to the captured at least a third image to the computed first measurement and/or to the computed second measurement;

approving the at least a third measurement, computed in relation to the captured at least a third image, based on the comparison to the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement; and

computing a mean value based on the computed first measurement, and/or the computed second measurement, and the approved at least a third measurement.

19. A computer system, comprising:

a bus component;

a processor component coupled to the bus component and operable for processing data; and

a non-transitory storage component coupled to the bus component and comprising instructions, which when read and executed by the processor component are operable for performing, controlling or causing a process for evaluating whether an image of an item may be suitable for computing accurate dimension measurements, the process comprising;

capturing a first image of the item at a first time, the first image comprising a view of two or more surfaces of the item and of one or more surface features;

computing a first measurement of at least one dimension of at least one of the surface features based on the first captured image;

capturing a second image of the item at a second time, which is subsequent to the first time, the second image comprising a view of at least one of the two or more surfaces and of at least one of the one or more surface features;

computing a second measurement of the at least one dimension of the at least one of the surface features based on the second captured image;

comparing the computed second measurement to the computed first measurement;

evaluating whether the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement may be suitable for computing accurate dimension measurements;

capturing at least a third image of the item at a corresponding time, which occurs between the first time and the second time, the at least a third image comprising a view of the at least one of the two or more surfaces;

computing at least a third measurement of at least one dimension of at least one of the two or more surfaces based on the captured at least a third image;

comparing the at least a third measurement computed in relation to the captured at least a third image to the computed first measurement and/or to the computed second measurement;

approving the at least a third measurement, computed in relation to the captured at least a third image, based on the comparison to the computed first measurement and/or the computed second measurement; and

computing a mean value based on the computed first measurement, and/or the computed second measurement, and the approved at least a third measurement.