Systems and methods for location identification and tracking using a camera

Abstract

Systems and methods for location identification and tracking of a person, object and/or vehicle. The methods involve: obtaining, by a computing system, a video of a surrounding environment which was captured by a portable camera coupled to the person, object or vehicle; comparing, by the computing system, first images of the video to pre-stored second images to identify geographic locations where the first images were captured by the portable camera; analyzing, by the computing system, the identified geographic locations to verify that the person, object or vehicle is (1) traveling along a correct path, (2) traveling towards a facility for which the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter, or (3) traveling towards a zone or secured area internal or external to the facility for which the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter; and transmitting a notification from the computing system indicating the results of the analyzing.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for location identification and tracking of a person, object and/or vehicle, comprising:
 obtaining, by a computing system, a video of a surrounding environment which was captured by a portable camera coupled to the person, object or vehicle;   comparing, by the computing system, first images of the video to pre-stored second images to identify geographic locations where the first images were captured by the portable camera;   analyzing, by the computing system, the identified geographic locations to verify that the person, object or vehicle is (1) traveling along a correct path, (2) traveling towards a facility for which the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter, (3) traveling towards a zone or secured area internal or external to the facility for which the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter, or (4) located in or in proximity to a facility, zone or secured area for which the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter; and   transmitting a notification from the computing system indicating the results of the analyzing.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising allowing the person, object or vehicle to enter the facility, zone or secured area when it is verified that the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter the same. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising commanding a lock to unlock when it is verified that the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter the facility or secured area. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein a unique identifier for the portable camera is used an electronic key for unlocking the lock. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising notifying security personnel that the person, object or vehicle is authorized to enter the facility, zone or secured area when it is verified that the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter the same. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing notification to security personnel when it is not verified that the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter the facility, zone or secured area. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising taking measures to prevent the person, object or vehicle from entering the facility, zone or secured area when it is not verified that the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter the same. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the measures comprise locking a lock. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein a unique identifier of the portable camera is used as an electronic key for locking the lock. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising using a unique identifier of the portable camera to determine an access or clearance level of the person, object or vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising using a unique identifier of the portable camera to facilitate authentication of the person, object or vehicle to which the portable camera is coupled. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising using a unique identifier of the portable camera to facilitate keyless access control into or out of the facility or secured area. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising using at least one of Global Positioning System (“GPS”) data, inertial navigation data, beacon data and sensor data in conjunction with the video to identify the geographic locations, to verify that the identified geographic locations are correct, to detect a path of travel, or to verify that the path of travel is correct. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising using the portable camera to capture on image of a mirror reflection of the person, object or vehicle to facilitate access control. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the computing system comprises at least one of the portable camera and a computing device remote from the portable camera. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising using the identified geographic locations to generate a path of travel of the person, object or vehicle through the surrounding environment. 
     
     
         17 . A system, comprising:
 a computing system having hardware and software configured to
 obtain a video of a surrounding environment which was captured by a portable camera coupled to a person, object or vehicle, 
 compare first images of the video to pre-stored second images to identify geographic locations where the first images were captured by the portable camera, 
 analyze the identified geographic locations to verify that the person, object or vehicle is (1) traveling along a correct path, (2) traveling towards a facility for which the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter, (3) traveling towards a zone or secured area internal or external to the facility for which the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter or (4) located in or in proximity to a facility, zone or secured area for which the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter, and 
 transmit a notification indicating the results of the analyzing. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the person, object or vehicle is allowed to enter the facility, zone or secured area when it is verified that the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter the same. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the computing system further causes a lock to unlock when it is verified that the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter the facility or secured area. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein a unique identifier for the portable camera is used an electronic key for unlocking the lock. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the computing system further provides a notification to security personnel that the person, object or vehicle is authorized to enter the facility, zone or secured area when it is verified that the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter the same. 
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the computing system further provides a notification to security personnel when it is not verified that the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter the facility, zone or secured area. 
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the computing system causes measures to be taken to prevent the person, object or vehicle from entering the facility, zone or secured area when it is not verified that the person, object or vehicle has authorization to enter the same. 
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the measures comprise locking a lock. 
     
     
         25 . The system according to  claim 24 , wherein a unique identifier of the portable camera is used an electronic key for locking the lock. 
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein a unique identifier of the portable camera is used to determine an access or clearance level of the person, object or vehicle. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein a unique identifier of the portable camera is used to facilitate authentication of the person, object or vehicle to which the portable camera is coupled. 
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein a unique identifier of the portable camera is used to facilitate keyless access control into or out of the facility or secured area. 
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein at least one of Global Positioning System (“GPS”) data, inertial navigation data, beacon data and sensor data is used in conjunction with the video to identify the geographic locations, to verify that the identified geographic locations are correct, to detect a path of travel, or to verify that the path of travel is correct. 
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the portable camera is used to capture on image of a mirror reflection of the person, object or vehicle to facilitate access control. 
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the computing system comprises at least one of the portable camera and a computing device remote from the portable camera. 
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the identified geographic locations is used to generate a path of travel of the person, object or vehicle through the surrounding environment. 
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the video and notification is encrypted prior to be communicated between devices in the system.