Method and apparatus of automated optical container code recognition with positional identification for a transfer container crane

A method providing container code recognition from a transfer container crane of a container identified by a container code to a container inventory management system, comprising the steps of:

• generating an optical characteristic of said container code based upon at least one video imaging device mechanically coupled to said transfer container crane;
• generating a positional identification of said container;
• and
• sending said optical characteristic of said container code and said positional identification of said container to said container inventory management system;
• wherein the step generating said optical characteristic of said container code is comprised of the steps of:
• acquiring at least one container code image of a container representation of said container code imaged from said video imaging device;
• and
• applying an optical character recognition process to said container code image to create an estimated container code;
• acquiring a first container code image from said video imaging device of said container representation of said container code;
• and
• compressing said first container code image to create said container code image;
• wherein said video imaging device belongs to a collection comprising at least a video camera, a digital video camera, and a charged coupled array;
• wherein the step generating said positional identification of said container is further comprised of at least one member of the collection comprising the steps of:
• generating a loading-operation designation for said container;
• generating a storage-location designation for said container;
• and
• generating a terminal location for said transfer container crane;
• wherein the step generating said loading-operation is further comprised of at least one member of the collection comprising the steps of:
• receiving a locking indication from a programmable logic controller within said transfer container crane;
• and
• determining said locking indication from a relay network within said transfer container crane;
• wherein the step generating said loading-operation is further comprised of at least one member of the collection comprising the steps of:
• determining a container hoist position based upon sensing a gray-coded hoist shaft in said transfer container crane;
• and
• determining said container hoist position based upon sensing an ultrasonic transponder;
• and
• wherein the step generating said loading-operation is further comprised of the step of:
• generating said loading-operation designation based upon at least one member of the collection comprising said locking signal indication and said container hoist position.

An optical characteristic system providing container code recognition from a transfer container crane of a container identified by a container code to a container inventory management system, comprising:

• a computer communicatively coupled to at least one video imaging device and controlled by a program system comprising program steps residing in a memory accessibly coupled to said computer;
• said video imaging device is mechanically coupled to said transfer container crane, for each of said video imaging devices;
• wherein said program system is further comprised of the program steps of:
• generating an optical characteristic of said container code based upon at least one of said video imaging devices;
• generating a positional identification of said container;
• and
• sending said optical characteristic of said container code and said positional identification of said container to said container inventory management system;
• wherein the program step generating said optical characteristic of said container code is comprised of at least one member of the collection comprising the program steps of:
• acquiring at least one container code image of a container representation of said container code imaged from said video imaging device;
• applying an optical character recognition process to said container code image to create an estimated container code;
• acquiring a first container code image from said video imaging device of said container representation of said container code;
• and
• compressing said first container code image to create said container code image;
• wherein said video imaging device belongs to a collection comprising at least a video camera, a digital video camera, and a charged coupled array;
• wherein the program step generating said positional identification of said container is further comprised of at least one member of the collection comprising the program steps of:
• generating a loading-operation designation for said container;
• generating a storage-location designation for said container;
• and
• generating a terminal location for said transfer container crane;
• wherein the program step generating said loading-operation is further comprised of at least one member of the collection comprising the program steps of:
• receiving a locking indication from a programmable logic controller within said transfer container crane;
• and
• determining said locking indication from a relay network within said transfer container crane;
• wherein the program step generating said loading-operation is further comprised of at least one member of the collection comprising the program steps of:
• determining a container hoist position based upon sensing a gray-coded hoist shaft in said transfer container crane;
• and
• determining said container hoist position based upon sensing an ultrasonic transponder;
• and
• wherein the program step generating said loading-operation is further comprised of the program step of:
• generating said loading-operation designation based upon at least one member of the collection comprising said locking signal indication and said container hoist position.

A method providing container code recognition from a transfer container crane of a container identified by a container code to a container inventory management system, comprising the steps of:

• generating an optical characteristic of said container code based upon at least two video imaging devices mechanically coupled to said transfer container crane;
• generating a positional identification of said container;
• and
• sending said optical characteristic of said container code and said positional identification of said container to said container inventory management system;
• wherein the step generating said optical characteristic of said container code is comprised of the steps of:
• acquiring at least one container code image of a container representation of said container code imaged from said video imaging device;
• and
• applying an optical character recognition process to said container code image to create an estimated container code;
• acquiring a first container code image from said video imaging device of said container representation of said container code;
• and
• compressing said first container code image to create said container code image;
• wherein each of said video imaging devices belongs to a collection comprising at least a video camera, a digital video camera, and a charged coupled array;
• wherein the step generating said positional identification of said container is further comprised of at least one member of the collection comprising the steps of:
• generating a loading-operation designation for said container;
• generating a storage-location designation for said container;
• and
• generating a terminal location for said transfer container crane;
• wherein the step generating said loading-operation is further comprised of at least one member of the collection comprising the steps of:
• receiving a locking indication from a programmable logic controller within said transfer container crane;
• and
• determining said locking indication from a relay network within said transfer container crane;
• wherein the step generating said loading-operation is further comprised of at least one member of the collection comprising the steps of:
• determining a container hoist position based upon sensing a gray-coded hoist shaft in said transfer container crane;
• and
• determining said container hoist position based upon sensing an ultrasonic transponder;
• and
• wherein the step generating said loading-operation is further comprised of the step of:
• generating said loading-operation designation based upon at least one member of the collection comprising said locking signal indication and said container hoist position;
• wherein the step sending said optical characteristic and said positional identification, is comprised of the steps of:
• sending a packet from a network to create a received packet;
• and
• creating said packet from at least part of at least one member of a sending-data collection;
• wherein said sending-data collection is comprised of said optical characteristic of said container code and said positional identification of said container;
• wherein said network employs at least one member of a physical transport collection in communicating from said transfer container crane to container inventory management system;
• wherein said physical transport collection is comprised of at least one wireline physical transport layer and at least one wireless physical transport layer.