Video image capture and identification of vehicles

Abstract

An automated vehicle video capture system comprising capturing an orbital moving image of a vehicle in various orientations relative to the imaging means and storing, sorting and displaying the video based on a unique identifier that is externally visible to the imaging means during image capture, such as the vehicle licence plate or registration number. Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) may be used that includes validating algorithms with a plurality of results extracted at varying angular positions of the vehicle to increase accuracy confidence levels. The ANPR algorithm may reject or downgrade numbers perceived to be below a size threshold. Vehicle ID extraction may be performed independently of the vehicle imaging such that the next vehicle can be imaged whilst extraction and encoding of the previous vehicle is ongoing. The vehicle may be positioned on a rotating turntable to capture 360° exterior views of the vehicle. Vehicle details may be downloaded from a commercial database so that the vehicle video, registration number details and full vehicle specification may all be uploaded to a remote website, such as a car dealers website for retrieval by potential buyers.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to the field of video capture, in particular to vehicle video image capture for presentation via a website. Background technique [0002] Vehicle franchisees are known to use websites to display information about the vehicles they are selling. The purpose is to attract customers by enabling potential customers to view stock vehicles. This information may include text and / or digital photographs describing and showing each vehicle, although it has become increasingly common to provide video clips. [0003] In US 2009 / 0160930 a method for recording digital images of a motor vehicle mounted on a vehicle turntable from various angles is shown. Each recorded image is then stored in digital data storage in conjunction with a unique vehicle identifier (e.g., vehicle chassis number) before the recording process begins, such that at the end of the recording session, recorded frames do not relate to the same vehicle. Another such ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0012] However, a considerable amount of time and effort is required by the technician to perform the process of: positioning the vehicle at the beginning of each capture session, synchronizing the rotation of the turntable with the operation of the camera, stopping the rotation and image capture, switching on and / or switching off at the appropriate time Necessary lighting and positioning of the vehicle to move away from the turntable

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