Systems and methods of object identification and database creation

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are generally directed to systems and methods of object identification. Exemplary embodiments can scan, by an optical reader, a machine-readable identifier associated with an original object. Exemplary embodiments can capture an image of the original object at a first orientation using an image capture device. Exemplary embodiments can transmit the machine-readable identifier and the image of the original object to an image database to store an association between the image of the original object and the machine-readable identifier. Exemplary embodiments can receive a subsequent object having a subsequent machine-readable identifier that is unavailable or incapable of being scanned. Exemplary embodiments can capture an image of the subsequent object with the image capture device. Exemplary embodiments can execute an image recognition function that outputs object identification information for the image of the subsequent object based on the machine-readable identifier associated with the image of the original object.

1 . A method of identifying objects using image recognition, comprising:
 scanning, by a reader, a machine-readable identifier associated with an original object;   capturing a first image of the original object at a first orientation using a first image capture device, and capturing a second image of the original object at a second orientation using a second image capture device, the first and second image capture devices disposed remotely from the reader;   transmitting the machine-readable identifier and the first and second images of the original object to an image database to store an association between the first and second images of the original object and the machine-readable identifier;   receiving a subsequent object having a subsequent machine-readable identifier that is unavailable or incapable of being scanned;   capturing an image of the subsequent object with at least one of the first and second image capture device; and   identifying the subsequent object in response to execution of an image recognition function that receives as input the image of the subsequent object, compares the image of the subsequent object to other images in the image database to identify similar images, the similar images including at least the first and second images of the original object, and that outputs object identification information for the image of the subsequent object based on the machine-readable identifier associated with the image of the original object, the object identification information identifying the subsequent object relative to the other images in the image database,   wherein scanning the machine-readable identifier associated with the original object with the reader actuates the first and second image capture devices to automatically capture the first and second images of the original object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reader is at least one of a barcode scanner or a radio-frequency identification scanner. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable identifier of the original object is at least one of a barcode or a radio-frequency identification. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second image capture devices each comprise one or more cameras. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second orientations are different. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising transmitting the first and second images of the original object to a server, and further comprising transmitting the first and second images of the original object from the server to the image database. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising associating the object information data of the original object obtained from scanning the machine-readable identifier associated with the original object with the first and second images of the original object in the image database. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the object identification information comprises at least one of an object name, an object description, or an object cost. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising displaying the object identification information at a graphical user interface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first image and the second image are captured by the first and second image capture devices substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
         11 . A system for synchronized imaging of objects and machine-readable identifiers associated with the objects, the system comprising:
 a reader, the reader being configured to read a machine-readable identifier associated with an object;   a first image capture device configured to capture a first image of the object at a first orientation, the first image capture device is disposed remotely from the reader;   a second image capture device configured to capture a second image of the object at a second orientation, the second image capture device is disposed remotely from the reader;   a processing device operatively coupled to the reader and the first and second image capture devices, wherein the processing device controls the reader and the first and second image capture devices to synchronize reading of the machine-readable identifier by the reader and capturing of the first and second images of the object by the first and second image capture devices to automatically capture the first and second images of the object;   wherein reading of the machine-readable identifier associated with the object with the reader actuates the first and second image capture devices to automatically capture the first and second images of the object.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , comprising an image database configured to store the first and second images of the object. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the image database is configured to store an association between the first and second images of the object and the machine-readable identifier associated with the object. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first and second image capture device is configured to capture an image of a subsequent object, the subsequent object having a subsequent machine-readable identifier that is unavailable or incapable of being scanned. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the processing device is configured to execute an image recognition function that receives as input the image of the subsequent object, compare the image of the subsequent object to other images in an image database to identify similar images, the similar images including at least the first and second images of the object, and outputs object identification information for the image of the subsequent object based on the machine-readable identifier associated with the first and second images of the object, the object identification information identifying the subsequent object relative to the other images in the image database. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , comprising a graphical user interface configured to display the object identification information for the image of the subsequent object. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second orientations are different. 
     
     
         18 . A system for synchronized imaging of objects and machine-readable identifiers associated with the objects, the system comprising:
 a reader, the reader being configured to read a machine-readable identifier associated with an original object;   a first image capture device configured to capture a first image of the object at a first orientation, the first image capture device is disposed remotely from the reader;   a second image capture device configured to capture a second image of the object at a second orientation, the second image capture device is disposed remotely from the reader, at least one of the first and second image capture device configured to capture an image of a subsequent object, the subsequent object having a subsequent machine-readable identifier that is unavailable or incapable of being read;   an image database configured to store an association between the first and second images of the original object and the machine-readable identifier associated with the original object;   a processing device operatively coupled to the reader, the first and second image capture devices and the image database, wherein the processing device is configured to execute an image recognition function that receives as input the image of the subsequent object, compares the image of the subsequent object to other images in the image database to identify similar images, the similar images including at least the first and second images of the original object, and that outputs object identification information for the subsequent image based on the machine-readable identifier associated with the first and second images of the original object, the object identification information identifying the subsequent object relative to the other images in the image database:   wherein reading the machine-readable identifier associated with the original object with the reader actuates the first and second image capture devices to automatically capture the first and second images of the original object.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the reader comprises a handheld or portable optical reader. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the first and second image capture devices is incorporated into the handheld or portable optical reader.