Image Comparison Officer Location Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing officer monitoring systems face issues with vandalism and durability of media used for location identification, as well as limitations with GPS in indoor environments, necessitating a solution that does not rely on permanently mounted media.

Innovation Solution

The system employs image comparison techniques using portable wireless devices with cameras and image comparison software to confirm officer identity and location visits, utilizing reference images and live previews to ensure accurate data collection without the need for mounted media.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If permanently mounted media (barcodes, magnetic strips, RFID tags) are used for location identification, then location verification can be performed, but the media are vulnerable to vandalism, destruction, and cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability of location mediaVSAvoidvandalism and destruction of media

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses visual copies of locations (photographs, images, or video) stored in the portable device's memory instead of physical media mounted at locations. The portable device captures images of locations during guard tours and compares them with stored reference images to verify visits, eliminating the need for vulnerable physical media at each location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical media system (barcodes, magnetic strips, RFID tags mounted on walls) with an optical/electronic system using cameras and image processing. The portable device's camera captures visual data of locations, and image comparison algorithms verify identity, substituting physical identification media with digital image-based verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If GPS positioning system is used to verify location visits, then no mounted media are needed, but GPS does not work inside most structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation verification without mounted mediaVSAvoidGPS functionality in indoor environments

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses visual copies (reference images) of indoor locations stored in the portable device to verify visits. Instead of relying on GPS satellite signals that cannot penetrate structures, the system compares captured images of indoor locations with pre-stored reference images to confirm the officer has visited the correct location, enabling reliable verification inside buildings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces visual images as an intermediary between the officer and the location verification system. The reference images serve as mediators that enable identification and verification of locations without requiring direct line-of-sight to external references or reliance on GPS signals, allowing the system to function effectively in indoor environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If ruggedized media are used for location identification, then durability is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability of location mediaVSAvoidcost of ruggedized media

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive ruggedized physical media with digital image copies stored in the portable device's memory. Instead of purchasing and installing costly ruggedized media at each location, the system uses software-based image comparison to verify visits, significantly reducing material costs while maintaining or improving reliability through digital durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses inexpensive digital image data stored in the portable device's memory instead of expensive ruggedized physical media. The reference images can be easily updated and replaced in software without requiring physical replacement of costly media components, reducing overall system cost while maintaining verification reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS10339174B2Automated location visit verification for officer monitoring systems

Publication Date: 2019.07.02 TIMEKEEPING SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

A method of using image comparison techniques to identify locations to be visited by an officer during a guard tour is disclosed. A reference image is created for each location to be visited by the officer during the guard tour. When the officer is at a location to be visited during a guard tour, the officer utilizes a portable wireless device, such as a smartphone, to display the reference image of the location and the live preview image of the location produced by the smartphone superimposed on one another. Image comparison software analyzes the live preview image being produced by the smartphone relative to the reference image. If the image comparison software determines that the live preview image of the guard tour location being produced by the smartphone and the reference image of the particular guard tour location identify the same location, a picture is automatically captured by the software and saved along with the date, time, and other information indicating that a visit was made by the guard tour officer to the particular location.