Telecom Asset Localization via Street-View Object Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Telecom companies face challenges in accurately managing their on-ground and under-ground assets due to labor-intensive and resource-intensive manual surveys, leading to incomplete and inaccurate data, which delays network upgrades and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A processor-implemented method using street-view images and object recognition models, such as Faster RCNN, to detect and localize telecom assets, reducing the need for manual surveys by estimating real-world locations through triangulation methods, thereby validating GPS coordinates and improving inventory management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual surveys are used to manage telecom assets, then comprehensive asset data collection is attempted, but the process becomes labor-intensive and resource-intensive, leading to incomplete and inaccurate data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical surveying processes with automated computer vision systems. Street-view images are processed through object recognition models to automatically detect and localize telecom assets, eliminating the need for labor-intensive manual surveys while improving both accuracy and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses street-view images as visual copies of the physical environment to identify and locate telecom assets. Instead of physically visiting each location, the system creates a digital representation through images and extracts asset information from these visual copies, significantly reducing field survey requirements
2Reliability
If manual surveys are conducted to update asset inventory, then asset location data is collected, but the process delays network upgrades and increases costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary asset detection and localization using existing street-view images before network upgrade planning. By pre-identifying and validating asset locations through automated image analysis, the system prepares accurate inventory data in advance, eliminating delays caused by manual surveys during the upgrade process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces time-consuming manual survey processes with automated computer vision analysis. The system processes street-view images through object recognition models to rapidly identify and validate asset locations, reducing the time required for inventory updates from weeks to minutes
3Measurement precision
If GPS location coordinates are used for telecom assets, then asset positioning is obtained, but the coordinates may be inaccurate without validation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces street-view images as an intermediary validation mechanism for GPS coordinates. The object recognition model detects assets in images and estimates their real-world locations, serving as an independent verification source to validate or correct GPS coordinate data without requiring additional complex validation equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex physical validation methods with automated image-based verification. Instead of using additional surveying equipment or manual verification processes, the system uses computer vision to validate GPS coordinates by comparing detected asset positions in street-view images with reported GPS locations
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates generally to telecom inventory management, and more particularly to telecom inventory management via object recognition and localization using street-view images. In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining street-view images of a geographical area having telecom assets. The telecom assets are associated with corresponding GPS location coordinates. An object recognition model is applied to the street-view images to detect the telecom assets therein. Detecting the telecom assets includes associating the telecom assets with corresponding asset labels. A real-world location of the telecom assets is estimated in the geographical area by applying triangulation method on a set of multi-view images selected from the street-view images. The set of multi-view images are captured from a plurality of consecutive locations in vicinity of the telecom asset in the geographical area. The GPS location coordinates of the telecom assets are validated based at least on the estimated real-world location.