Concepts for asset identification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9805529-B2
Application number	US-201314036811-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2013
Priority date	Oct 12, 2012
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for identifying assets (e.g., mobile assets and/or personnel assets). In one embodiment, a mobile asset can be uniquely identified from RFID tags. In another embodiment, mobile assets and personnel assets can be identified from captured image data. After identification, it can be determined whether the asset (e.g., mobile asset and/or personnel asset) is authorized for one or more activities and a corresponding perceivable indication can be generated.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for identifying an asset, the method comprising:
receiving, via one or more processors, image data captured of the asset comprising a vehicle located in a lane of traffic;
after capturing the image data of the asset, identifying, via the one or more processors, the asset based at least in part on the captured image data;
determining, via the one or more processors, whether the asset is authorized for one or more activities associated with access to one or more areas, the determination based at least in part on detecting a predefined alphanumeric identifier of the vehicle in the captured image data, wherein the predefined alphanumeric identifier is visible on an exterior of the vehicle; and
after a determination that the asset is authorized for the one or more activities, generating, via the one or more processors, (a) an instruction to one or more perceivable indicators to initiate a perceivable indication that the asset is authorized for the one or more activities and (b) one or more electronic preclearance documents for a custom clearance of the asset prior to the asset crossing a border of a customs area of the areas.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after a determination that the asset is not authorized for the one or more activities, generating an instruction to the one or more perceivable indicators to initiate a perceivable indication that the asset is not authorized for the one or more activities.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more activities are selected from the group consisting of (a) crossing one or more borders, (b) entering or exiting a staging area, and (c) entering or exiting a checkpoint.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image data is captured based on one selected from the group consisting of a periodic basis, a regular basis, and a continuous basis.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image data is captured after the vehicle enters or exits a geofenced area.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the perceivable indicators are selected from the group consisting of (a) illuminating a light, (b) illuminating a beacon, (c) generating a specific sound, (d) providing visual instructions, (e) a locking gate, and (f) a boom barrier gate.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the asset is a mobile asset.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the mobile asset is identified based at least in part on a mobile asset identifier from the image data that uniquely identifies the mobile asset.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the asset is a personnel asset.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the mobile asset is identified based on facial features of a personnel asset from the image data that uniquely identifies the personnel asset.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the image data of the asset comprises capturing the image data in an instance in which the vehicle is traveling at a predetermined speed, or the vehicle is traveling below the predetermined speed or the vehicle is stopped.

12. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
receive image data captured of an asset comprising a vehicle located in a lane of traffic;
after capturing the image data of the asset, identify the asset based at least in part on the captured image data;
determine whether the asset is authorized for one or more activities, the determination based at least in part on detecting a predefined alphanumeric identifier of the vehicle in the captured image data, wherein the predefined alphanumeric identifier is visible on an exterior of the vehicle; and
after a determination that the asset is authorized for the one or more activities associated with access to one or more areas, generate (a) an instruction to one or more perceivable indicators to initiate a perceivable indication that the asset is authorized for the one or more activities and (b) one or more electronic preclearance documents for a custom clearance of the asset prior to the asset crossing a border of a customs area of the areas.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to, after a determination that the asset is not authorized for the one or more activities, generate an instruction to the one or more perceivable indicators to initiate a perceivable indication that the asset is not authorized for the one or more activities.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the one or more activities are selected from the group consisting of (a) crossing one or more borders, (b) entering or exiting a staging area, and (c) entering or exiting a checkpoint.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the image data is captured based on one selected from the group consisting of a periodic basis, a regular basis, and a continuous basis.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the image data is captured after the vehicle enters or exits a geofenced area.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the perceivable indicators are selected from the group consisting of (a) illuminating a light, (b) illuminating a beacon, (c) generating a specific sound, (d) providing visual instructions, (e) a locking gate, and (f) a boom barrier gate.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the asset is a mobile asset.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the mobile asset is identified based at least in part on a mobile asset identifier from the image data that uniquely identifies the mobile asset.

20. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the asset is a personnel asset.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the mobile asset is identified based on facial features of a personnel asset from the image data that uniquely identifies the personnel asset.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:
receive the image data captured of the asset by capturing the image data in an instance in which the vehicle is traveling at a predetermined speed, or the vehicle is traveling below the predetermined speed or the vehicle is stopped.

23. A computer program product for identifying an asset, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:
an executable portion configured to receive image data captured of the asset comprising a vehicle located in a lane of traffic;
an executable portion configured to, after capturing the image data of the asset, identify the asset based at least in part on the captured image data;
an executable portion configured to determine whether the asset is authorized for one or more activities, the determination based at least in part on detecting a predefined alphanumeric identifier of the vehicle in the captured image data, wherein the predefined alphanumeric identifier is visible on an exterior of the vehicle; and
an executable portion configured to, after a determination that the asset is authorized for the one or more activities associated with access to one or more areas, generate (a) an instruction to one or more perceivable indicators to initiate a perceivable indication that the asset is authorized for the

Assignees

• United parcel service america inc

Inventors

• Skonberg Carl M
• Pyzocha Jr Ernest J
• Hill Iii Andrew J
• Mcfarland Bobby J

Classifications

• G07C9/28 Primary

  the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence · CPC title

• G07C9/00111 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic