Patents by Inventor Robert P. Loce

Robert P. Loce has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9378421
    Abstract: A method for detecting sitting behavior includes acquiring a sequence of frames capturing a scene-of-interest at an overhead view. The method includes detecting at least one empty seat within the scene-of-interest and associating the seat as being unoccupied and the frame as a reference frame. The method includes extracting reference features describing a region of the unoccupied seat in the reference frame and quantifying the reference features to form a reference feature vector. The method includes extracting features describing the region in a given frame and quantifying the features to form a current feature vector. The method includes measuring a change in a feature vector over time using the reference feature vector and the current feature vector. The method includes and determining a status of the seat in the given frame as being one of occupied and unoccupied based on the change in the feature vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert P. Loce, Waqas Sultani, Hao Wu, Beilei Xu
  • Publication number: 20160148058
    Abstract: A method for detecting a vehicle running a stop signal positioned at an intersection includes acquiring a sequence of frames from at least one video camera monitoring an intersection being signaled by the stop signal. The method includes defining a first region of interest (ROI) including a road region located before the intersection on the image plane. The method includes searching the first ROI for a candidate violating vehicle. In response to detecting the candidate violating vehicle, the method includes tracking at least one trajectory of the detected candidate violating vehicle across a number of frames. The method includes classifying the candidate violating vehicle as belonging to one of a violating vehicle and a non-violating vehicle based on the at least one trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Orhan Bulan, Aaron M. Burry, Robert P. Loce
  • Patent number: 9330297
    Abstract: A system and method of video-based chew counting by receiving image frames from a video camera, determining feature points within the image frames from the video camera, generating a motion signal based on movement of the feature points across the image frames from the video camera, and determining a chew count based on the motion signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Beilei Xu, Robert P. Loce, Graham Pennington
  • Publication number: 20160110999
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring parking and identifying vehicles by monitoring a parking region based on video data of the parking region received from a video camera, detecting a parking event associated with a vehicle in the parking region, adjusting a view of the video camera based on the parking event, physically tracking the vehicle using the video camera, capturing an image of a license plate of the vehicle, and resuming monitoring the parking region after capturing the image of the license plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Orhan Bulan, Edgar A. Bernal, Yao Rong Wang, Robert P. Loce
  • Patent number: 9317752
    Abstract: A method for detecting parking occupancy includes receiving video data from a sequence of frames taken from an associated image capture device monitoring a parking area. The method includes determining at least one candidate region in the parking area. The method includes comparing a size of the candidate region to a size threshold. In response to size of the candidate region meeting and exceeding the size threshold, the method includes determining whether the candidate region includes one of at least one object and no objects. The method includes classifying at least one object in the candidate region as belonging to one of at least two vehicle-types. The method further includes providing vehicle occupancy information to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Orhan Bulan, Wencheng Wu, Yao Rong Wang, Robert P. Loce
  • Publication number: 20160096506
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a method and system to detect a predefined activity, e.g., vandalism, loitering, trespass, etc., associated with a parked vehicle. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method includes capturing video of a parking area and processing the video to detect vandalism and/or loitering with respect to a region of interest associated with the parked vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew Adam Shreve, Yao Rong Wang, Robert P. Loce, Michael R. Furst
  • Publication number: 20160093214
    Abstract: A system for estimating parking occupancy includes a vehicle-detection device including an adjustable mast supporting an image capture device at a select height. The image capture device acquires video of a current parking area. A computer processor in communication with the image capture device is configured to receive the video data and define a region of interest in the video data. The processor is further configured to perform a spatial transform on the ROI to transform the ROI to a normalized geometric space. The processor is further configured to apply features of a detected object in the normalized geometric space to a vehicle classifier—previously trained with samples acquired from a normalized camera perspective similar to the normalized geometric space—and determine the occupancy of the current parking area using an output of the classifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Wencheng Wu, Hao Wu, Yao Rong Wang, Robert P. Loce, Graham S. Pennington
  • Publication number: 20160092734
    Abstract: A method for detecting settle-down time in a space includes acquiring a sequence of frames capturing a select space from a first camera. The method includes determining an initial time for computing a duration it takes for an associated occupant to settle into a seat in the select space. The method includes determining one or more candidate frames from the sequence of frames where one or both of a sitting behavior and seat occupancy is observed at the seat. The method includes determining a final frame and a final time associated with the final frame from the one or more candidate frames. The method includes computing the settle-down time using the initial and the final times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Robert P. Loce, Waqas Sultani, Hao Wu, Beilei Xu, Thomas F. Wade, Mary Ann Sprague, Patricia Swenton-Wall, Megan Clar, Eric Harte
  • Publication number: 20160089073
    Abstract: A system and method for assessing patient movement for Parkinson's disease includes capturing a video of a subject performing a finger tapping sequence comprising a predetermined number of open and close periods. According to an exemplary embodiment, a system and method includes extracting a region of interest for each frame of the video and generating a projection of the region of interest for each frame of the video using perpendicular vector projections in a direction or plurality of directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Faezeh Tafazzoli, Beilei Xu, Hao Wu, Robert P Loce
  • Publication number: 20160092733
    Abstract: A method for detecting sitting behavior includes acquiring a sequence of frames capturing a scene-of-interest at an overhead view. The method includes detecting at least one empty seat within the scene-of-interest and associating the seat as being unoccupied and the frame as a reference frame. The method includes extracting reference features describing a region of the unoccupied seat in the reference frame and quantifying the reference features to form a reference feature vector. The method includes extracting features describing the region in a given frame and quantifying the features to form a current feature vector. The method includes measuring a change in a feature vector over time using the reference feature vector and the current feature vector. The method includes and determining a status of the seat in the given frame as being one of occupied and unoccupied based on the change in the feature vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Robert P. Loce, Waqas Sultani, Hao Wu, Beilei Xu
  • Publication number: 20160078306
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting a seat belt violation in a vehicle. The method may include receiving an image including a region of interest where a seat belt is visible if the seat belt is buckled. One or more first features may be extracted from the image. The one or more first features may be compared to one or more second features extracted from a plurality of sample images. It may be determined whether the seat belt is buckled in the image based upon the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Yusuf Artan, Orhan Bulan, Robert P. Loce, Peter Paul
  • Patent number: 9286516
    Abstract: This disclosure provides methods and systems of classifying a vehicle using motion vectors associated with captured images including a vehicle. According to an exemplary method, a cluster of motion vectors representative of a vehicle within a target region is analyzed to determine geometric attributes of the cluster and/or measure a length of a detected vehicle, which provides a basis for classifying the detected vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Orhan Bulan, Edgar A. Bernal, Robert P. Loce
  • Patent number: 9275289
    Abstract: A method for removing false foreground image content in a foreground detection process performed on a video sequence includes, for each current frame, comparing a feature value of each current pixel against a feature value of a corresponding pixel in a background model. The each current pixel is classified as belonging to one of a candidate foreground image and a background based on the comparing. A first classification image representing the candidate foreground image is generated using the current pixels classified as belonging to the candidate foreground image. The each pixel in the first classification image is classified as belonging to one of a foreground image and a false foreground image using a previously trained classifier. A modified classification image is generated for representing the foreground image using the pixels classified as belonging to the foreground image while the pixels classified as belonging to the false foreground image are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Qun Li, Edgar A. Bernal, Matthew Shreve, Robert P. Loce
  • Patent number: 9275286
    Abstract: A method for detecting a vehicle running a stop signal positioned at an intersection includes acquiring a sequence of frames from at least one video camera monitoring an intersection being signaled by the stop signal. The method includes defining a first region of interest (ROI) including a road region located before the intersection on the image plane. The method includes searching the first ROI for a candidate violating vehicle. In response to detecting the candidate violating vehicle, the method includes tracking at least one trajectory of the detected candidate violating vehicle across a number of frames. The method includes classifying the candidate violating vehicle as belonging to one of a violating vehicle and a non-violating vehicle based on the at least one trajectory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Orhan Bulan, Aaron M. Burry, Robert P. Loce
  • Patent number: 9224278
    Abstract: An automated method and system for detecting the presence of a smoking product utilizing a near infrared video-processing unit in real time. One or more near infrared (NIR) video capturing units can be configured to capture a video feed. The video feed can be processed by the video-processing unit in order to detect a smoking product (e.g., a lit cigarette) within a field of view of the video capturing unit. A near infrared video sequence can be read and analyzed for the presence of a “hot spot” of a predetermined size based on pixel color information. In some cases, the motion of the hot spot can be tracked in response to the detection of the hot spot. An alarm signal can also be triggered in some cases, if the pattern of motion is consistent with that of a cigarette being smoked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Edgar A. Bernal, Robert P. Loce, Graham Pennington, Wencheng Wu
  • Patent number: 9213900
    Abstract: A system and method of monitoring a customer space including obtaining visual data comprising image frames of the customer space over a period of time, defining a region of interest within the customer space, the region of interest corresponding to a portion of the customer space in which customers relocate objects, monitoring the region of interest for at least one predefined clutter condition, and generating a notification when the at least one predefined clutter condition is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edgar A. Bernal, Robert P. Loce, Wencheng Wu
  • Publication number: 20150332097
    Abstract: A method for detecting a vehicle running a stop signal positioned at an intersection includes acquiring a sequence of frames from at least one video camera monitoring an intersection being signaled by the stop signal. The method includes defining a first region of interest (ROI) including a road region located before the intersection on the image plane. The method includes searching the first ROI for a candidate violating vehicle. In response to detecting the candidate violating vehicle, the method includes tracking at least one trajectory of the detected candidate violating vehicle across a number of frames. The method includes classifying the candidate violating vehicle as belonging to one of a violating vehicle and a non-violating vehicle based on the at least one trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Orhan Bulan, Aaron M. Burry, Robert P. Loce
  • Publication number: 20150332588
    Abstract: A method for detecting a vehicle running a stop signal includes acquiring at least two evidentiary images of a candidate violating vehicle captured from at least one camera monitoring an intersection. The method includes extracting feature points in each of the at least two evidentiary images. The method includes computing feature descriptors for each of the extracted feature points. The method includes determining a correspondence between feature points having matching feature descriptors at different locations in the at least two evidentiary images. The method includes extracting at least one attribute for each correspondence. The method includes determining if the candidate violating vehicle is in violation of running the stop signal using the extracted attribute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Orhan Bulan, Aaron M. Burry, Robert P. Loce
  • Patent number: 9183746
    Abstract: When performing video-based speed enforcement a main camera and a secondary RGB traffic camera are employed to provide improved accuracy of speed measurement and improved evidentiary photo quality compared to single camera approaches. The RGB traffic camera provides sparse secondary video data at a lower cost than a conventional stereo camera. The sparse stereo processing is performed using the main camera data and the sparse RGB camera data to estimate a height of one or more tracked vehicle features, which in turn is used to improve speed estimate accuracy. By using secondary video, spatio-temporally sparse stereo processing is enabled specifically for estimating the height of a vehicle feature above the road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wencheng Wu, Edgar A. Bernal, Robert P. Loce, Thomas F. Wade, Abu Islam
  • Patent number: 9183619
    Abstract: When restoring a scanned halftone image of a damaged document, parameters of the halftone structure (geometry) are estimated, as is an intended contone gray level for damaged portions of the image. Locations of halftone cell tiles in the scanned image are determined based on the halftone structure, and a halftone profile model is generated using the estimated halftone parameters and contone information. Image segments are aligned using global features for coarse alignment and halftone structure for fine alignment, such as in cases where the scanned halftone image contains unconnected fragments. Missing parts of the damaged document image are filled in using the halftone profile model and estimated contone values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shen-ge Wang, Edgar A. Bernal, Robert P. Loce