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US 2016/0278558 A1Published application
Smart Postal Mailbox Device
AssigneeTarik Ansari
InventorTarik ANSARI
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A smart postal mailbox device is disclosed that incorporates a camera and an imaging processing capability. When the device is in place inside a postal mailbox and is activated by a content element being placed in, or removed from, the mailbox, the camera obtains an image of the interior of the mailbox, which it then analyzes by first using pre-processing to correct for geometric distortion. The image is then decomposed using vision related algorithms into a discreet information dataset. This discrete data set is compared to previous data sets using a neural decision tree. If appropriate, the device transmits a message informing a remote user of the current state of the mailbox.
Claims10
1:
- A smart mailbox device, comprising:
- a camera;
- a microprocessor functionally connected to said camera and to a source of power and to a communications channel;
- a software module, operable on said microprocessor;
- a result of an image analysis performed by said software module on an image obtained using said camera when located within a mailbox;
- and
- a message, transmitted by said microprocessor via said communications channel, if said result of said image analysis indicates a change in a status of said mailbox, and if said change of status exceeds a predetermined level of importance.
4 more elements
2:
- The smart mailbox device of claim 1 further comprising:
- a housing having a housing outer, upper housing surface sized and shaped to conform to an inside, upper surface of said mailbox;
- a mounting device located on said outer, upper housing surface for attaching said device to said inside upper surface of said mailbox;
- a motion sensor, functionally connected to said microprocessor and said source of power, and located within said housing such that when a content element is placed in, or removed from, said mailbox, said motion sensor waits a predetermined length of time of at least one-second after a last sensed motion, and then provides a content-altered signal to said microprocessor;
- a flashlight functionally connected to said microprocessor and said source of power, and located within said housing such that when said housing is attached to said inside upper surface of said mailbox, and said camera receives said content-altered signal, said flashlight illuminates an interior of said mailbox and said camera provides a current interior image of the illuminated interior of said mailbox;
- a wireless communications module, located within said housing and functionally connected to said source of power, and functionally connected to said microprocessor;
- a wireless message, comprising an electromagnetic signal comprising a digital encoding of said current interior image, emitted by said wireless communications module if said result of said image analysis performed by said software module on said image obtained using said camera indicates a change in a status of said mailbox, and if said change of status exceeds a predetermined level of importance.
4 more elements
3:
- The smart mailbox device of claim 2 further comprising an electromagnetic antenna located on an exterior of said mailbox and functionally connected to said wireless communications module.
4:
- The smart mailbox device of claim 2 further comprising a solar panel located on an exterior of said mailbox and functionally connected to said source of power.
5:
- The smart mailbox device of claim 2 wherein said motion sensor comprises a photo-diode, and wherein detection of a content element being placed in, or removed from said, mailbox is determined by a signal from said photo-diode exceeding a predetermined threshold.
6:
- The smart mailbox device of claim 1 wherein said image processing module further comprises an optical character recognition module.
7:
- The smart mailbox device of claim 1 wherein said image processing module further comprises a neural network.
8:
- The smart mailbox device of claim 2 wherein said motion sensor further comprises a make/break switch activated by the opening or closing of a mailbox access door.
9:
- The smart mailbox device of claim 2 wherein said wireless message further comprises a status alert selected from the group of statuses consisting of a new mail alert, a low battery alert and an unusual hour of opening alert.
10:
- The smart mailbox device of claim 1 wherein there is a delay of a least 1 second between obtaining said image and sending said message.