Vehicle Number Recognition for Lawful Intercept Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for law enforcement to track vehicles are inefficient, particularly in hilly regions, crowded places, and areas without GPS installation, as they require direct line of sight, physical effort, or rely on GPS devices that may not function due to battery issues or coverage problems, and lack location trail derivation without GPS.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a Lawful Intercept (LI) system using cameras on connected and autonomous vehicles to detect and match vehicle numbers with a list provided by law enforcement, sending location and time information to LI servers via LI APIs, enabling tracking even without GPS devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GPS devices are used for vehicle tracking, then location information can be obtained, but GPS may not function due to battery issues or coverage problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cameras mounted on connected and autonomous vehicles as intermediary devices to capture vehicle numbers. These cameras act as mediators between the tracking system and the target vehicle, enabling identification without relying on GPS devices in the tracked vehicle itself. The captured images are processed to extract vehicle numbers, which are then matched against databases to provide location information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electronic GPS-based tracking system with an optical recognition system using cameras. Instead of relying on electronic signals and GPS satellites, the system uses visual capture of vehicle numbers through cameras, followed by image processing and pattern recognition algorithms to identify and track vehicles.
2Reliability
If direct line of sight methods are used for vehicle tracking, then vehicles can be monitored, but physical effort is required and it is difficult in hilly regions and crowded places
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from direct line-of-sight visual tracking to multi-dimensional surveillance using networks of cameras mounted on vehicles. Instead of requiring a single observer to maintain visual contact, the system distributes multiple camera units across the vehicle network, capturing data from various positions and angles. This creates a multi-dimensional tracking capability that overcomes terrain and crowd obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces automated image processing and pattern recognition algorithms as intermediaries between the camera capture and tracking decision-making. These computational intermediaries automatically process captured images, extract vehicle numbers, and match them against databases, eliminating the need for human operators to maintain direct visual contact with tracked vehicles.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cameras on connected vehicles are used to detect vehicle numbers, then tracking can be achieved without GPS, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the existing multi-functional cameras on connected and autonomous vehicles, which already serve purposes such as obstacle detection, navigation, and environmental monitoring. By adding vehicle number recognition functionality to these existing cameras, the system achieves GPS-independent tracking without requiring dedicated tracking hardware, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the inherent connectivity and processing capabilities of connected and autonomous vehicles to perform tracking functions. The vehicles themselves provide the surveillance capability through their mounted cameras and onboard processors, eliminating the need for separate dedicated tracking infrastructure. The vehicles serve their primary functions while simultaneously contributing to the tracking system.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods are disclosed for providing Lawful Intercept (LI) for vehicles. In one embodiment the method includes providing, to at least one autonomous vehicle, at least one vehicle number of a vehicle being tracked and using a camera of the at least one autonomous vehicle, determining a vehicle number of the a vehicle the autonomous vehicle has encountered. The method further includes comparing the vehicle number of the vehicle the autonomous vehicle encountered to the vehicle number of the vehicle being tracked, and when the vehicle number of the vehicle the autonomous vehicle encountered matches the vehicle number of the vehicle being tracked, sending a message to law enforcement that the vehicle being tracked has been encountered.