Object Tracking via Time-Segmented Location Data and Image Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information processing methods struggle to accurately track and manage the location of objects moved by mobile devices, such as forklifts and manual pallet jacks, within warehouses, especially when the current location is lost due to the lack of cameras on these devices.
Innovation Solution
An information processing method and apparatus that acquire location information by associating identification, location, and time data, and use image processing to track objects in captured moving images, starting from specific time points before and after movement, to determine the current location of objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If location management information is stored with time information, then the accuracy of object location tracking is improved, but the complexity of data management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments location management into discrete time-point records, where each record captures location information at a specific moment. This segmentation allows the system to manage location data as a series of independent snapshots rather than continuous complex data streams, improving trackability while maintaining manageable data structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by capturing and storing location information at specific time points before movement occurs. By pre-capturing location data at defined intervals, the system establishes a baseline for tracking without requiring complex real-time processing, thus improving accuracy while managing complexity through proactive data collection.
2Productivity
If image processing is used to track objects in captured moving images, then the speed of location acquisition is improved, but the computational resources required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by processing only the portions of captured moving images that are necessary for object tracking, rather than processing entire image sequences. By focusing computational resources on specific regions and time intervals relevant to object movement, the system achieves fast location acquisition while reducing overall computational consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous tracking by processing captured moving images in a continuous manner, extracting location information at each time point without interruption. This continuous action ensures that location data is always available and up-to-date, improving productivity while the systematic approach to processing reduces redundant computational efforts.
3Loss of time
If the object is tracked in a part of the captured moving image starting from a specific time point, then the time required for location tracking is reduced, but the completeness of movement data may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary capture of location information at specific time points before the object movement begins. By pre-establishing baseline location data, the system can start tracking from a known reference point, reducing the time needed to analyze movement while ensuring that the starting conditions are fully documented, thus maintaining data completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent skips unnecessary processing by directly accessing and analyzing specific time points in captured moving images where object location is needed, rather than sequentially processing the entire image sequence. This selective approach reduces tracking time while the systematic selection of time points ensures that critical movement data is not lost.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing method for acquiring location information of an object includes acquiring location information of the object based on location management information in which identification information of the object, the location information of the object, and time information indicating an acquisition time of the location information are associated; acquiring the time information associated with the acquired location information as time information indicating a time before movement of the object starts, based on the location management information; tracking, by image processing, the object in a captured moving image of surroundings of the object based on the location information of the object; and acquiring current location information of the object at an end of the movement based on a result of the tracking. In the tracking, the object is tracked in a part of the captured moving image starting from a moving image time corresponding to the acquired time information.