Dashcam ANPR for Amber Alert Vehicle Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for Amber alerts do not effectively utilize dashcams for automated vehicle detection, leading to missed opportunities for quickly identifying and responding to suspicious vehicles.

Innovation Solution

Implementing advanced number plate recognition (ANPR) on dashcams with integrated processing circuits to continuously capture and analyze vehicle and license plate information, store historical data, and transmit relevant information to users and authorities upon Amber alert notifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If traditional Amber alert methods (text messages, radio, television) are used to broadcast suspicious vehicle information, then information can be disseminated to the public, but drivers cannot effectively utilize this information due to distraction and inability to memorize license plate details

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloss of suspicious vehicle informationVSAvoiddriver's ability to process and respond to alert information

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously capturing and storing license plate information from the environment before an Amber alert is issued. When an alert is received, the system immediately searches the pre-captured data for matches, enabling rapid response without requiring the driver to manually process alert information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The dashcam system acts as an intermediary between the Amber alert information and the driver. Instead of requiring the driver to directly process and remember license plate details from alerts, the system automatically captures, stores, and searches for matching plates, mediating the information flow and eliminating the need for driver memorization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If manual monitoring of Amber alert information by drivers is used, then drivers can potentially identify suspicious vehicles, but the process is inefficient and leads to missed detection opportunities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of suspicious vehiclesVSAvoidspeed of suspicious vehicle identification

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically capturing license plate information, storing it in historical data, and searching for matches when an Amber alert is received. This eliminates the need for manual driver intervention in the detection process, significantly improving both reliability and speed of suspicious vehicle identification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical process of manual driver monitoring and memorization with an automated electronic system. The dashcam and processing circuit automatically capture, store, and search license plate information, substituting human cognitive processes with machine-based automation to improve detection efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Extent of automation

If advanced number plate recognition is implemented on dashcams with continuous capture and historical storage, then automated detection of Amber alert vehicles becomes possible, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated Amber alert vehicle detectionVSAvoiddashcam system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dashcam system is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a standard dashcam for general use and as an automated Amber alert detection system. By integrating license plate capture, historical storage, and automated search capabilities into a single device, the system achieves high automation without requiring separate dedicated hardware for each function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11854277B1Advanced number plate recognition implemented on dashcams for automated amber alert vehicle detection

Publication Date: 2023.12.26 AMBARELLA INT LP

AI summary

An apparatus includes a camera and a processing circuit. The camera may be configured to capture images of an environment around a vehicle. The processing circuit may be configured to (i) perform automated number-plate recognition using the images, (ii) store a history of detected license plates, and (iii) search the history of detected license plates in response to receiving a request from a communication device of a vehicle user for information matching the request.