Server-Based Lost Property Detection Using Image Distance Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing left-behind object/lost property notification systems require attaching IC tags to objects, which is time-consuming and inefficient, and cannot detect lost objects without tags.
Innovation Solution
An information processing apparatus with an image acquisition unit, person detection unit, abnormality detection unit, and lost property determination unit that uses image data from cameras to detect lost objects by calculating the distance between a person and an object over time, determining if the object is lost without the need for an IC tag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If IC tags are attached to each held object for lost property notification, then the reliability of lost property detection is improved, but the time and effort required for tagging increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the identification function from the physical IC tags attached to objects and relocates it to a centralized server that processes image data. The server identifies objects and tracks their positions across multiple images without requiring any attachment to the objects themselves, thus eliminating the tagging time and effort while maintaining detection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of imaging devices and a server that mediate between the observer and the objects. Instead of objects carrying their own identification (IC tags), the system uses images captured by imaging devices and processed by the server to track objects and detect loss, eliminating the need for direct object tagging.
2Reliability
If IC tags are attached to each held object for lost property notification, then the reliability of lost property detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex IC tag attachment and communication components from each object and consolidates the identification function into a centralized server. The server processes image data and tracks objects using algorithmic recognition rather than physical tags, significantly reducing the complexity at the object level while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses optical copies (images) of objects instead of physical identification tags attached to objects. The server processes these image copies to identify and track objects, eliminating the need for physical IC tags and their associated hardware complexity while maintaining the ability to detect lost property.
3Reliability
If IC tags are used for lost property notification, then objects with tags can be detected, but objects without tags cannot be monitored for loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal monitoring system where the server processes images of all objects in the environment, regardless of whether they have IC tags or not. The system identifies objects through image recognition and tracks their positions across multiple images, providing lost property detection capability for any object that enters the monitoring area, making the system universally applicable to all objects without requiring selective tagging.
Data Source
AI summary
A server apparatus (information processing apparatus) includes: an image acquisition unit configured to acquire an image captured by a camera (imaging device); a person detection unit configured to detect a person from the image acquired by the image acquisition unit; an object detection unit (abnormality detection unit) configured to detect an object separated from the person detected by the person detection unit; a distance calculation unit configured to calculate a distance between the person detected by the person detection unit and the object detected by the object detection unit; and a lost property determination unit configured to determine that, when the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit is equal to or greater than a threshold over a predetermined time or longer, the object is lost property.