# US 12,493,678 B2 · Authentication-based tracking

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- Number: US 12,493,678 B2
- Document ID: US12493678B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/456,294
- Filed: 2023-08-25
- Published: 2023-12-21
- Granted: 2025-12-09
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-19
- Assignees: Alitheon, Inc.
- Applicants: Alitheon, Inc.
- Inventors: David Justin Ross; Scot E. Land
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12493678B2

## CPC

- G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
- G06F 16/5838: {using colour}
- G06F 16/5854: {using shape and object relationship}
- G06T 7/248: {involving reference images or patches}
- G06T 7/292: Multi-camera tracking
- G06V 20/52: Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects (recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69)
- G06V 20/80: Recognising image objects characterised by unique random patterns
- G06F 2221/2111: Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
- G06Q 30/018: Certifying business or products
- G06T 2200/28: involving image processing hardware
- G06T 2207/30112: Baggage; Luggage; Suitcase
- G06V 10/62: relating to a temporal dimension, e.g. time-based feature extraction; Pattern tracking
- G06V 2201/07: Target detection
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Methods and systems integrate digital fingerprint authentication-based identification and location tracking into a single, continuous process in which an authentication-integrated tracking system is simultaneously aware of both the identity and location of each physical object at all times as they move along a conveyance system. Insertion or removal of an object is quickly detected and reported. Rapid reestablishment and continuation of authentication-integrated tracking is enabled in the event of any temporary interruption or failure of tracking in the system. An exemplary system comprises plural tracking units networked together, each tracking unit including a camera or scanner to observe a corresponding field of view, the tracking units arrange to realize a continuous field of view of a physical conveyance system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of tracking a physical object by a tracking system that includes a plurality of tracking units arranged along a path and arranged to form a system field of view that covers at least a portion of the path, the method comprising:
authenticating the physical object by the plurality of tracking units to continuously track the physical object as the physical object travels along the portion of the field of view;
receiving first digital image data of a portion of a physical object;
creating, based on the first digital image data, a first digital fingerprint that uniquely identifies and authenticates the physical object based on a plurality of features extracted from the first digital image data;
storing the digital fingerprint in a datastore;
continuously tracking the physical object as it moves within a field of view of a plurality of tracking units of a tracking system, the plurality of tracking units including a first tracking unit and a second tracking unit;
determining a loss of positive control of the physical object;
receiving, subsequent to the determination of the loss of positive control, from the second tracking unit of the plurality of tracking units, second digital image data of the portion of the physical object;
creating, based on the second digital image data received from the second tracking unit, a second digital fingerprint that uniquely identifies the physical object based on a plurality of features extracted from the second digital image data; and
re-authenticating, based on a matching between the second digital fingerprint and the first digital fingerprint, the physical object after the loss of positive control.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first digital image data is received from the first tracking unit of the plurality of tracking units.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the loss of positive control is based on receiving an indication that the physical object has passed through an uncontrolled area on its way from the first tracking unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the uncontrolled area includes an area outside a field of view of the tracking units of the tracking system.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the loss of positive control is based on receiving an indication that the physical object is received at the second tracking unit outside of a tolerance limit of an arrival time.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the loss of positive control is based on receiving an indication that multiple physical objects are received at the second tracking unit within an arrival time range allowed to the physical object.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the loss of positive control of the physical object prevents the tracking system from determining at least one of a timing of the physical object along a path that passes through the field of view, a location of the physical object in the field of view, or an identity of the physical object.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the loss of positive control is one of a jam of a component of the tracking or and a failure of a tracking unit of the plurality of tracking units.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
identifying locations of interest in the first digital image data, wherein each location of interest in the first digital image data corresponds to a respective location on a surface of the physical object;
extracting the plurality of features from the first digital image data for one or more of the identified locations of interest in the first digital image data, wherein each identified location of interest of the identified locations of interest corresponds to a respective location on the surface of the physical object, with each feature being inherent to the physical object;
storing each extracted feature as a feature vector; and
creating the first digital fingerprint from the stored feature vectors.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein continuously tracking the physical object as it moves within a field of view of a plurality of tracking units of a tracking system includes continuously tracking the physical object as it moves along an assembly line.

### Claim 11

A system comprising:
a plurality of tracking units arranged along a path, the plurality of tracking units including first tracking unit and a second tracking unit, wherein the plurality of tracking units are arranged to form a system field of view that covers a least a portion of the path, and wherein each of the plurality of tracking units is arranged to provide authentication of the physical object along the portion of the path as the physical object travels along the portion of the path to continuously track a physical object along the portion of the path;
one or more processors;
one or more memories storing executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
receive first digital image data of a portion of the physical object;
create, based on the first digital image data, a first digital fingerprint that uniquely identifies and authenticates the physical object based on a plurality of features extracted from the first digital image data;
store the digital fingerprint in a datastore;
continuously track the physical object as the physical object travels along the portion of the path, the continuous tracking being based on authentication of the physical object by comparison of digital fingerprints generated from digital image data captured by the at least a portion of the plurality of tracking units as the physical object moves within the system field of view of the plurality of tracking units;
determine a loss of positive control of the physical object;
receive, subsequent to the determination of the loss of positive control, from the second tracking unit of the plurality of tracking units, second digital image data of the portion of the physical object;
create, based on the second digital image data received from the second tracking unit, a second digital fingerprint that uniquely identifies the physical object based on a plurality of features extracted from the second digital image data; and
re-authenticate, based on a matching between the second digital fingerprint and the first digital fingerprint, the physical object after the loss of positive control.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the first digital image data is received from the first tracking unit of the plurality of tracking units.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein determining the loss of positive control is based on receiving an indication that the physical object has passed through an uncontrolled area on its way from the first tracking unit.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the uncontrolled area includes an area outside a field of view of the tracking units of the tracking system.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein determining the loss of positive control is based on receiving an indication that the physical object is received at the second tracking unit outside of a tolerance limit of an arrival time.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein determining the loss of positive control is based on receiving an indication that multiple physical objects are received at the second tracking unit within an arrival time range allowed to the physical object.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the loss of positive control of the physical object prevents the tracking system from determining at least one of a timing of the physical object along a path that passes through the field of view, a location of the physical object in the field of view, or an identity of the physical object.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the loss of positive control is one of a jam of a component of the tracking system or a failure of a tracking unit.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, further cause the system to:
identify locations of interest in the first digital image data, wherein each location of interest in the first digital image data corresponds to a respective location on a surface of the physical object;
extract the plurality of features from the first digital image data for one or more of the identified locations of interest in the first digital image data, wherein each identified location of interest of the identified locations of interest corresponds to a respective location on the surface of the physical object, with each feature being inherent to the physical object;
store each extracted feature as a feature vector; and
create the first digital fingerprint from the stored feature vectors.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein continuously tracking the physical object as it moves within a field of view of a plurality of tracking units of a tracking system includes continuously tracking the physical object as it moves along an assembly line.