Automated Entrance Permit Validation via Computer Vision

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional entrance permit control methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially in large venues, and often require manual validation, which can slow down the entry process and divert attention from security and other welcoming aspects.

Innovation Solution

A system that uses computer vision to remotely monitor an entrance region, detect, and track entrance permits carried by individuals, allowing for automated validation without the need for mechanical gates, by projecting visual feedback indicating validation success or failure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual inspection or scanning of entrance permits is used, then validation accuracy is maintained, but entrance processing speed decreases and labor intensity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveentrance processing speedVSAvoidtime for validation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical inspection and scanning processes with an automated optical system using imaging devices and computer vision algorithms. The system captures images of entrance permits, automatically detects and validates codes through image processing, and provides automated feedback, eliminating the need for manual scanning while maintaining validation accuracy and significantly improving processing speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If manual validation is performed, then security monitoring is possible, but entrance hosts are diverted from security and welcoming tasks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveentrance host availability for security tasksVSAvoidautomation of validation process
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service validation where the entrance permit itself serves as the validation target. The automated imaging and recognition system processes permits without requiring entrance host intervention, allowing hosts to focus entirely on security monitoring and welcoming tasks while the system handles validation autonomously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If mechanical gates with scanning stations are used, then automated validation is achieved, but entry process becomes rigid and slower

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveentrance throughputVSAvoidmechanical gate infrastructure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the validation function from the mechanical gate infrastructure. Instead of requiring permits to be validated at fixed scanning stations integrated into gates, the system uses portable imaging devices that can validate permits anywhere in the entrance region, removing the constraint of fixed mechanical infrastructure and enabling more flexible, faster processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of operation

If traditional scanning stations are required, then validation accuracy is ensured, but entrance region becomes crowded and less seamless

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseamlessness of entry processVSAvoidcrowding at entrance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a linear, station-based validation approach to a spatially distributed validation system. Multiple imaging devices positioned at different locations and angles capture images of permits throughout the entrance region, allowing validation to occur in three-dimensional space rather than at fixed one-dimensional scanning points, thereby reducing crowding and improving seamlessness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3859690B1Entrance permit control
Publication Date: 2024.08.07 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3859690B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3859690B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3859690B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A system for entrance permit control is configured to monitor individuals (1) in an entrance region (100) that includes an entrance (110) to a restricted area. The system performs a monitoring method to enable a seamless entrance experience for the individuals (1). The system receives a stream of digital images of the entrance region (100), and processes the received stream of digital images for detection of a machine-readable code, MRC, displayable on an entrance permit (10) carried by an individual (1) in the entrance region (100). The system further tracks, based on the received stream of digital images, a location of the MRC (12) within the entrance region (100), initiates a validation of the MRC (12), and provides, in dependence of the validation and position data generated by the tracking, a visual indication (14) of a result of the validation on at least one of the entrance permit (10) and the individual (1).