EP3424000A1

EP3424000A1 - Method for making a description of a piece of luggage and luggage description system

Info

Publication number: EP3424000A1
Application number: EP16797921.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gerhard HAGER; Jürgen HOHLWEGLER; Bengt Mueck; Ilian Pashov; Jörg ROTTLAND
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 2016-03-02
Filing date: 2016-11-17
Publication date: 2019-01-09
Also published as: HK1256134A1; CA3016217A1; CN108701287A; WO2017148550A1; EP3214590A1; US20190095744A1; CA3016217C

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for making a description of a piece of luggage (18). In order to detect a plurality of features of a piece of luggage (18), it is proposed that the piece of luggage (18) is detected by means of a visual detection device (4), by which an image of the piece of luggage is produced, wherein visual features (20) of the piece of luggage (18) can be extracted from the image of the piece of luggage, and wherein a description of the piece of luggage can be generated from the extracted visual features (20) of the piece of luggage (18).

Description

A method of creating a description of a baggage and baggage description system

The invention relates to a method for producing a description of a piece of luggage.

In the case of air travel, a checked baggage item is usually provided with a baggage tag in order to be able to sort the baggage item during the transport or to be able to allocate it (eg to a transport and / or owner information). Usually, the barcode is read ^¬ to perform the sorting / assignment in the course of transportation. The barcode codes the luggage number, for which in turn the flight number and further transport information are stored.

Often, a baggage tag is damaged during transport of the baggage item (for example during transport via conveyor belts or conveyor belts, during loading of the aircraft and / or during unloading of the aircraft). It may even happen that a luggage tag of a piece of luggage is lost. In these cases, an assignment of the luggage is very expensive, takes time and there is an increased expenditure on staff ^¬ wall. In particular, if the baggage tag is lost, must be tried by hand, z. For example, by name tags on the luggage, to obtain information on the owner of the luggage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method by which a plurality of features of the item of luggage can be detected so that an assignment of the item of luggage can be made more efficient.

This object is achieved by a method for creating a description of a piece of luggage at in which the item of luggage is detected by means of at least one visual detection device, if appropriate also by means of several detection devices, by means of which at least one piece of luggage image or in the case of several detection devices multiple piece of luggage images is or will be generated from the at least one piece of luggage image or the plurality of baggage images visual features of the item of luggage are extracted and a piece of baggage description is created from the extracted visual features of the item of luggage.

The invention is based on the consideration that the detection of the item of luggage and the creation of luggage description ^¬ an efficient way, in particular a quick and labor-saving way, is to describe the bag. Furthermore, the possibility of the bag, this results in particularly efficient and fast staff spa ^¬ rend assign and / or to sort. At least ei ^¬ NEN - - In particular, the item of luggage by means of the visual is detecting means detects visually. The item of luggage can be, for example, a suitcase, a travel bag, a bulky item of luggage, a sports equipment or any other piece of luggage.

Preferably, the - at least one - piece of luggage image comprises at least a partial section of the item of luggage. The luggage piece ^¬ imaging can be produced in the form of a pixel image of a latching Erbil ^¬ of and / or the like. Further, the overall can päckstückabbild a 2D image, 3D image and / or trans ^¬ of finished image to be.

As "extracting" visual features of the item of luggage from the piece of luggage image, it can be understood that the visual features are obtained from the item of luggage image.

For example, visual features of the item of luggage may be determined by an evaluation and / or an analysis of the at least one item of luggage. NEN luggage image or more Gepäckstückabbil ^¬ countries are obtained.

For example, a dimension (or size) of the luggage piece suitably determined by a combination of several Gepäckstückabbildern of several visual detection devices, such as multiple cameras, the ^¬. Here, it is particularly expedient if an accurate Po ^¬ sition of each of the plurality of visual detection means or each camera is known. That is, they are "fixed" visual capture devices, such as fixed cameras.

Additional information such as those about a focal length of a lens of the visual detection device and pixel pitches of sensors are further here, i. For the extraction of visual features or the dimensions, also expedient, it is possible - as in the case of a stereo camera - to "estimate" an object / luggage piece dimension or size.

If the plurality of pieces of luggage images only show partial sections of the item of luggage, a transport speed of the item of luggage and image recording frequencies of the plurality of visual recording devices or cameras are further useful information that can be used to determine visual characteristics or the dimensions.

With at least one piece of luggage image from the at least one visual detection device, for example a single handheld camera, the determination of the size of the item of luggage can be estimated on the basis of dimensions of known objects in the at least one piece of luggage, eg a luggage label is about 50mm wide - and made ^¬ so bright light on the dimension or the size of the luggage ^¬ tee. Further, the baggage description may be created by summarizing the extracted visual features of the bag. The baggage description may be of any shape, e.g. Example, the Gepäckstückbeschrei ^¬ environment to be created in the form of a vector or in the form of descriptive text.

Advantageously, the piece of luggage image is automatically detected by means of the visual detection device. In particular, the visual detection can be carried out at least partially automatically. In this case, the visual detection ^device focusses the ^item of luggage on its own and / or triggers the detection on its own initiative. In a partially automatic detection, a sub-step of the detection can be performed otherwise than by the detection device itself, for example by a person acting.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the visual detection device is a hand-held device, in particular a hand-held camera and / or a hand-held scanner. Further, the visual detection device may be a hand-held laser camera and / or a hand-held laser scanner. In the case that the visual detection means is a means Handerfassungs-, is usefully a substep of He ^¬ abstract, z. As the positioning of the hand-held device executed by a person acting.

Furthermore, the piece of luggage image can be detected fully automatically by means of the visual detection device, in particular without manual intervention of a person. For example, the visual detection device can be a fully automatic camera and / or a fully automatic scanner. Furthermore, the piece of luggage image can be generated automatically, in particular by means of the visual detection device. Furthermore, the visual characteristics of the baggage can be extracted automatic ^¬ table from the piece of luggage image, par- by means of a data processing unit. In addition, the piece of baggage description can be automatically created from the extracted visual features of the luggage, and in particular ^¬ sondere means of the data processing unit.

Advantageously, the data processing unit is directed to a ^¬, for example by a corresponding lauffähi ^¬ ges computer program running on the data processing unit to extract visual features of the item of luggage from the luggage piece of image and / or to create the Gepäckstückbe ^¬ scription from the extracted visual features of the luggage ,

The invention and / or the further developments described can be realized-at least partially-both in software and in hardware, for example using a special electrical circuit.

Furthermore, an implementation of the invention and / or a described development - at least partially - possible by a computer-readable storage medium on which the computer program is stored, which the invention or training - at least partially - performs. Also, the invention and / or the described developments - at least partially - be realized by a computer program product, which has a storage medium on ^¬ on which the computer program is stored, wel ^¬ Ches the invention and / or the developments - at least partially - executes.

The visual features of the item of luggage can luggage ^¬ stückabmaß, a piece of luggage shape, a piece of luggage color, a piece of baggage screening, a piece of luggage logo and / or an overall päckstückmarkennamen include. The baggage allowance may include a length of the bag, a width of the bag, and / or a height of the bag. Next, the luggage ^¬ piece logo z. B. an emblem of a luggage manufacturer, a Include image brand of luggage manufacturer and / or a Designele ^¬ ment of the luggage manufacturer.

The baggage description is expediently created in the form of a description vector. Next loading ^¬ write-vector can be one-dimensional or multidimensional. Preferably, the vector comprises a plurality of description Vek ^¬ torfelder. In addition, each vector field may comprise a visual feature, in particular in the form of text and / or numbers.

Furthermore, the baggage description can be created in the form of a descriptive text.

An additional element can be arranged on the item of luggage. The additional element can, for. B. be an identification element. Next, the additional element z. As a luggage label, also called baggage label or banderole, a sticker

and / or include a trailer. The trailer may be, for example, an airline trailer, an airport trailer and / or a personal trailer.

Preferably, the additional element is releasably connected to the luggage. In addition, the additional element may be removable from the luggage. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the additional element arranged on the item of luggage is detected by means of the visuel ^¬ len detection device. Appropriately, an additional image is generated by means of the detection device. From the additional image, visual features of the additional element can be extracted. Next a Zusatzbeschrei ^¬ environment can be created from the extracted visual features of the additional element. Conveniently, the Zusatzbe ^¬ description together with the luggage description an expanded baggage description. In this way, an expanded piece of luggage description is created from the extracted visual features of the additional element and from the extracted features of the item of luggage. The piece of luggage image and the additional image can each be a subarea of a common image. Alternatively, the piece of baggage image and the additional image may be a partial area in images different in each case at least ^¬.

The visual features of the additional element may include a shape of the additional element, a color of the additional element, a pattern of the additional element, a dimension of the additional element and / or a logo of the additional element. The dimension of the additional element may comprise a length of the additional element to a width of the set ^¬ elements and / or a level of the additional element. Next, the logo of the additional element z. As an emblem, ei ^¬ ne picture mark and / or a design element. The piece of luggage may include a Informati ^¬ onssatz in the form of plain text an additional element. The additional element may be the aforementioned additional element. Preferably, in the visual detection of the information set is at least partially detected visually. Furthermore, at least part of the information record can be recognized by means of an optical text recognition, in particular by means of OCR ("optical character recognition").

The recognized part of the information record can be stored, for example, as an information record description. Furthermore, the recognized part of the information ^record (eg as an information ^record description) can be stored in the extended baggage item description and / or in addition to the extended baggage item description.

Preferably, the information set comprises additional infor mation ^¬ such. B. Transport and / or ^{Eigentinformatio ¬} NEN. For example, the information set, a baggage number, an owner name, also called passenger name, flight number, an intermediate airport code and / or a target ^¬ airport code, in particular as a transport and / or ^{self-¬-owner} information, include. Further, the information set may include processing information. In particular, you can Processing information processing instructions, such as. B. "short connection time" ( "Short connection time"), "before ^¬-ranking Treatment" ( "handle with priority") and / or "Caution risk of fracture" ( "handle with care FRAGILE"). Further, processing information may include security information.

Conveniently, the piece of luggage is automatically sorted using the recognized portion of the information set. In this way, the recognized part of the information set is automatically taken into account in the sorting.

"Sort luggage" can be understood as "Assign luggage". In particular, when sorting a piece of luggage, a transport, owner and / or processing ^information can be assigned. Further, "sorting luggage" may, for example, include one or more transport steps of the ^item of luggage corresponding to the assignment Preferably, the sorting takes place in an airport By recognizing a part of the ^item of information, for example, the ^{item of} luggage may be a destination be assigned, to be transported to wel ^¬ chem the bag. in this case the destination may, for example, a particular gate, a certain te loading zone, a particular aircraft, a particular luggage ^¬ means of transport (in particular, a certain baggage carousel), a destination airport, a baggage band a destination airport or the like. by using a part of the information set is detected, can take a special sorting path at ^¬ play the piece of luggage for example, the piece of baggage a Sortierstre ^¬ blocks assume, in which the luggage is transported rapidly to the target site and / or in the. the luggage essentially no Ers is exposed to chil-

Advantageously, the extraction of visual Merk ^¬ paint, in particular of visual characteristics of the luggage takes place and / or visual features of the additional element, using prior knowledge and / or using trainable systems. For example, the data processing unit typical layouts, that get stored as knowledge typical visual features of Zusatzelemen ^¬ th, in particular luggage labels, learn and / or. In this way, conclusions can be drawn from recognized and / or extracted visual features of the additional element for further information, such as transport and / or processing information. For example, due to certain visual features of the

Additional element to a specific airline be closed ^¬ sen. In this way, a sorting / allocation is enabled and / or improved.

It is expedient to store the item of baggage description (or extended item of baggage description) created in the case of visual detection of the item of luggage as a comparative description. For example, the comparative description can be at a delivery of luggage and / or check-in vomit ^¬ chert. Preferably, the comparison description is stored in a database. In particular, the United ^¬ same description can be stored in a data set. The data record can contain additional information, such as transport, owner and / or processing information, in addition to the comparative description. In particular, the data record-in addition to the comparative description-may include a baggage number, an owner name, a flight number, an inter-airport code or name, a destination airport code or name, and / or a destination as further information.

Furthermore, there is the possibility of keeping the comparison description anonymous or anonymizing, which then expediently does not include owner information, in particular no owner name. Advantageously, the storage of the Vergleichsbe ^¬ scription or the data set automatically. Furthermore, the comparison description or the data record can be stored for a limited time.

Furthermore, the luggage description may (or extended baggage description), in particular as Vergleichsbe ^¬ scription, made available, in particular at any location ( "Where"), and at any time ( "when"), (for any person "for whom" ) and for any purpose ("where ^¬ for").

The piece of luggage may be a piece of luggage. The comparative description is preferably made available to other airports or also to all airports involved in the transport of the luggage. Involved in the transport of luggage participate Flight ^¬ ports such can. B. a departure airport, an intermediate airport and / or a destination airport of the baggage be. In particular, the data set in which the comparative description is stored is made available to all the transport of luggage participating interests ^¬ gen airports. In this way, all airports involved in the transport of the baggage can access the comparative description or the data record. For example, the comparison description can be transmitted to all participating in the transport of the baggage airports. For example, the comparison description or the data record can be stored locally in a respective database of the respective airport. Furthermore, the Vergleichsbe ^¬ scription or the data in a distributed database can be stored, have to which the airports involved reached to ^¬.

Since the baggage description is created from the extracted visual features of the baggage, the baggage item description is conveniently specific to the baggage item. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method is used in a test. Advantageously, it is checked during the check whether the item of baggage description (or the extended piece of baggage description) agrees with a description of the description. The comparative description may be the aforementioned comparison description. Further, the comparison description may be another comparison description stored in the database. Conveniently, the test is carried out at a later time point than ^¬ storing Vergleichsbe ^¬ scription. The comparison ^description can be stored in a first detection of the luggage by means of the visual detection ^¬ device. In particular, at the first detection of the item of luggage, a first Gepäckstückab ^¬ image can be generated. Furthermore, a first piece of luggage description can be generated from the first piece of luggage image. The first piece of luggage description can be stored as a comparison description.

The test is expediently carried out at or after a second detection of the item of luggage, wherein the second detection takes place after the first detection. Furthermore, one or more transport and / or sorting step (s) may lie between the first detection and the second detection. In particular, in the second Erfas ^¬ solution of the luggage, a second piece of baggage image can be generated. Furthermore, a second piece of luggage description can be generated from the second piece of luggage piece image. In the audit can be examined in particular whether the second luggage ^¬ piece description matches the description comparison. In other words, the luggage ^item description checked during the check may be a second item of luggage description, which has in particular the same properties and features as the first or first item of luggage description.

Appropriately, the check is carried out automatically, in particular by means of the data processing unit. The database may include multiple comparison descriptions. Preferably, the plurality of comparison descriptions include the above-mentioned comparison description. The multiple comparison descriptions can each be stored in a data record. Conveniently, the plurality Ver ^¬ same descriptions will be (at least partially) in succession with the baggage item description (or the extended piece of luggage description) compared.

The method can be used in another test. Upon further examination is preferably examined comprising wel ^¬ surface comparative descriptions of the database, the best match for the piece of baggage description (or expanded screened baggage description). Next to be tested during the further review / certified Gepäckstückbe ^¬ scription may be the second piece of luggage description or the second extended baggage description. Appropriately, the further check is carried out automatically, in particular by means of the data processing unit.

To check the greatest agreement (in the further examination) the baggage item description to be checked can be, for. B. are successively compared with each of the comparison descriptions stored in the database. For each individual comparison, for example, a degree of agreement can be determined. The comparison description in which the highest degree of agreement is reached can be selected. Next, the information of the data set, in which the selected Vergleichsbeschrei ^¬ environment is stored, to be used, in particular the Ge ^¬ checked luggage to assign Sort /.

Preferably, the method is used to identify a piece of luggage. An identification of the baggage ^¬ piece can be done for example by an unambiguous assignment of the baggage to a record. Especially At least one of the aforementioned tests may lead to the identification of the item of luggage.

The identification may be followed by ER during the transport process, particularly to a destination of the baggage to it ^¬ forward. Furthermore, the identification of detected items of luggage can be done, in particular the owner of a ge ^¬ fundenen baggage to be determined. An advantage of identifying the baggage item is that the baggage claim can be used directly to obtain information about the baggage item. The processing of the luggage is possible without a barcode, a Ge ^¬ päcknummer and / or a baggage tag.

Conveniently, the method is used for an assignment. The description of the item of luggage can be used to associate information, in particular transport, owner and / or processing information, with the item of luggage.

The assignment of information can be done directly from the baggage description. If, for example, a certain piece of luggage allowance is found in the description of the baggage, which indicates that the baggage is bulky, the item of baggage may e.g. B. be treated separately, in particular be passed over a specific sorting line.

Furthermore, the assignment of information about the identification of the item of luggage can take place. In this case, a piece of luggage can be uniquely assigned to the item of luggage, from which the information (s) can be read. In this way, the luggage z. For example, a baggage number, a flight number, a destination and / or an owner name can be assigned. For example, the method can be used to identify an owner of a found piece of luggage. Furthermore, the method can be used to image the piece of luggage. When creating an image, an image of the item of luggage can be created from the item description. In particular, the image of the item of luggage is an image of the item of luggage, a schematic representation of the item of luggage, a 2D model of the item of luggage and / or a 3D model of the item of luggage. The imaging can be done by means of the data processing unit. Furthermore, the method for finding a missing piece of luggage can be used. Specifically, the method can be used to locate a missing piece of luggage ^¬ to by an image of the item of luggage is created from the Gepäckstückbe ^¬ scription.

For example, a missing piece of luggage a Eigentü ^¬ mers can be found. For this is sought, for example, in data banks ^¬ for the owner name and / or after the luggage number, and the record for the missing piece of luggage found overall. From the record of the missing piece of luggage, in particular from the comparison description to the missing piece of luggage, which is preferably stored in the record of the missing piece of luggage, an image of the missing piece of luggage can be created. Furthermore, it can be stored in the data set for the missing piece of luggage at which collection point the missing piece of luggage is located. Using the image created of the missing luggage may be searched at the collection point for the missing piece of luggage, in particular by all located at the meeting point of luggage with the image of the missing luggage are ver ^¬ equalized. In this way, the missing luggage ^¬ pieces can be found.

Furthermore, the method for finding a missing piece of luggage can be used by comparing the data record for the missing piece of luggage and / or the comparison description for the missing piece of luggage with other data sets. The other records can be in the same database be stored and / or in another database z. B. another airport.

The image of the overall päckstücks created from the luggage description can be compared with a comparison image ^¬ to. The comparison can be made automatically, in particular by means of the data processing unit, and / or manually. The comparison image can be created from a comparison description, in particular by means of the data processing unit. In particular, the comparative ^description can be the comparative ^{description given} above.

In addition, the method can be used in a baggage check. Appropriately, it is checked in the luggage piece check whether an appearance of the bag has changed, in particular whether the bag was damaged (eg., During transport and / or sorting). If the baggage check reveals that the bag has changed, in particular that the bag has been damaged, the baggage inspection may further examine the extent to which the appearance of the bag has changed. The luggage item check can be carried out automatically, in particular by means of the data processing unit, and / or manually.

For example, the baggage check may be done using the created image. In particular, it can be checked during the luggage item check whether the image of the item of luggage created from the item of luggage description differs from the comparison image. It can further be tested in the Ge ^¬ päckstücküberprüfung to what extent the image of the item of luggage created from the luggage description differs from the comparative image, ie which sub ^¬ ences best between the erstell- from the luggage description th image of the luggage and the comparison image ^¬ hen. Further, the baggage check may be done using the baggage description. In particular, it can be checked in the luggage piece check, whether the baggage description differs from the comparative description. WEI ter can be checked in the baggage check to what extent the luggage description differs from the comparative description, ie what are the differences Zvi ^¬ rule of luggage description and comparison description. In particular, the baggage item description checked in the baggage check may be the second baggage item description.

If the baggage check reveals that the baggage has changed, in particular that the baggage has been damaged, it may be further checked during baggage inspection in which transport steps the change / damage has occurred. For this purpose, the item of luggage is expediently recorded several times in the course of its transport at ^different baggage description systems in the manner described above. Conveniently, a piece of luggage description is created in each of the surveys. Each of the created baggage item descriptions of the item of luggage is preferably used in common, for. B. stored with an identification number of the baggage description system, in particular in the database. For example, a record for the item of luggage may include a plurality of item descriptions of this item of luggage and possibly the associated identification numbers of the respective item description system. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the method is used in a variety of luggage, preferably for each of the luggage a luggage ^¬ piece description is created. Furthermore, the method can be used for the statistical evaluation of visual features of luggage, in particular if the method is used in a large number of items of luggage. Appropriately, be in the statistical evaluation of visual characteristics, at least a part of the recorded visual features of the luggage statistically evaluated. For example, the statistical evaluation of the luggage ^¬ piece dimensions (for a variety of luggage) for transport optimization, in particular for optimizing the loading of a trolley and / or an aircraft used. Furthermore, for example, the statistical evaluation of the luggage piece shape, color and / or mark can be used for a product design and / or for advertising purposes.

The statistical evaluation can, for example, according to bestimm ^¬ th criteria, such. B. after the departure airport, for a country of departure, after one season, for a family of the owner of the luggage and / or the like SUC ^¬ gen. For example, the statistical analysis for meh ^¬ eral seasons, z. B. for summer and winter, be carried out separately. In this way it can be examined whether at least part of the recorded visual features, eg. B. a color of the luggage, different for different ^years .

Furthermore, the invention relates to a luggage description system, which according to the invention comprises a visual detection device and a data processing unit for carrying out the aforementioned method. In particular, the He ^¬ invention relates to a luggage Description system with a visual detection means for visual detection of the item of luggage as baggage image, and a data processing unit for Ex ^¬ traction visual features of the baggage from the baggage item image and to create a piece of luggage description from the extracted visual features of the luggage. The baggage handling system may be used to carry out the method described above. Consequently, the elements of the luggage system description can be in the above-mentioned to ^¬ connexion with the process elements. The description of advantageous embodiments of the invention given hitherto contains numerous features which are reproduced in some detail in the individual subclaims. However, these features can expediently also be considered individually and combined into meaningful ^further combinations. In particular, these features can be combined individually and in any suitable combination with the method according to the invention and the luggage description system according to the invention. Thus, process features as property correspond ^¬ the baggage sorting system formulated objectively to see the and vice versa.

Even if some of the terms are respectively used in the singular or in conjunction with a numeral in the description and in the claims, the scope of the invention for these terms shall not be restricted to the singular or each ^¬ stays awhile numeral.

The above-described characteristics, features and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more clearly understood in connection with the following description of the embodiment, which will be described in detail in conjunction with the drawings. The embodiment is illustrative of the invention and does not limit the invention to the combination of features set forth therein, including functional features. Appropriate features of the embodiment can be considered to also explicitly isolated, are removed from the embodiment and / or combined with a ^¬ be arbitrary of the claims.

Show it:

1 shows a luggage description system with a visual detection device and a data processing unit; 2 shows a baggage logo and a baggage tag name;

3 shows a first additional element of the item of luggage;

4 shows a second additional element of the luggage item;

5 shows a third additional element of the item of luggage; and FIG. 6 shows a database which is stored in a cloud

is.

1 schematically shows a baggage description system 2 with a visual detection device 4 and a data processing unit 6. The visual detection device 4 is designed as a camera. Next 6 comprises the Datenverarbei ^¬ processing unit, a database 8 and a computer program 10. The computer program 10 runs on the data processing unit 6 from ^¬.

The visual detection means 4 and the Datenverarbei ^¬ processing unit 6 are connected by a data transfer connection 12th The data transfer connection 12 may, for. B. be a cable. Next, the data transfer connection 12 z. B. be a wireless connection.

Next, a luggage belt 14 is shown in FIG 1, which runs over rollers 16. The directions of movement of the rollers 16 and the luggage belt 14 are shown by arrows. On the luggage belt 14 is a piece of luggage 18, in particular a piece of luggage. In principle, the baggage item 18 could also be z. B. on luggage trays and / or other luggage transport means to be transported. The piece of luggage 18 has a plurality of visual features 20 of the Ge ^¬ päckstücks 18th At the baggage piece 18, a Zusatzele ^¬ ment 22 is attached, wherein the additional element 22 releasably connected to the Baggage 18 is connected. The additional element 22 has a plurality of visual features 24 of the additional element 22.

The item of luggage 18 is detected by means of the visual detection device 4. Furthermore, a piece of luggage piece image is generated by means of the visual detection device 4. The luggage ^¬ piece image comprises an upper side of the baggage item 18 and is in the form of a pixel image. In addition, 18 visual features 20 of the luggage 18 be extracted from the piece of luggage image, in particular by means of Datenverarbeitungsein ^¬ integrated. 6

In this example, the extracted visual features of the item of luggage 18 are a baggage allowance, particularly a length and width of the item of luggage, a bag shape, a baggage color, a baggage item design, a baggage logo 26, and a baggage tag name 28.

Further, a piece of luggage description is created from the extracted visual features 20 of the piece of luggage 18, in particular ^¬ sondere in the form of a description vector. The descrip ^¬ bung vector comprises a plurality of vector fields, each field vector comprises a visual feature 20 of the luggage 18th All steps (visual detection, creation of the piece of luggage image, extraction of the visual features 18 and creation of the baggage description) are done fully automatically in this embodiment, ie without manual intervention of a person.

In principle, it would also be possible that the visual Erfas ^¬ sungseinrichtung is a hand-held camera, so that the visual He ^¬-making would take place semi-automatically. For example, the shape of the baggage description may be as follows: [Length of the piece of baggage, the width of the item of luggage, luggage ^¬ piece shape, color luggage, baggage screening, luggage logo 26, piece of luggage brand name 28].

In particular, the baggage description may be as follows:

[60 cm, 40 cm, rectangular, RGB 139/69/19, 0, L 221, Kofferma ^¬ cher].

The luggage description includes numbers and letters. The visual features 20 of the luggage 18 can be oriented shouted ^¬ ben be shortened and / or coded. Furthermore, the lack of a visual feature can be understood even as a visual shopping ^¬. For example, the baggage item 18 is missing a baggage sample - that is, the item of baggage 18 is not milled (visual characteristic 20: "no baggage pattern") - and a zero is entered in the corresponding vector field "baggage sample".

The additional element 22 arranged on the item of luggage 18 is likewise detected by means of the visual detection device 4, by means of which an additional image is produced. From the additional image visual features 24 of the additional element 22 are extracted and from the extracted visual features 24 of the additional element 22 an additional description is created, in particular by means of the data processing unit 6. The additional description is in the form of a vector. Furthermore, the additional description made an extended Gepäckstückbeschrei ^¬ environment together with the luggage description.

The additional element 22 may, for. B. be shown in FIG 3, in FIG 4 or in FIG 5 additional element 22.

The additional element 22 comprises a set of information 30 in the form of plain text 30 (see FIGS. 3-5). In the visual detection of the information set 30 is at least partially detected visually and at least a portion of the information set 30 by means of an optical text recognition, in particular mit- means of OCR ( "optical character recognition") detected. The detected part of the information set 30 may be in the Zusatzbe ^¬ letters and / or in an information record description be at least partially stored (see FIGS. 3-5). The information record description is in the form of a vector in front.

The extraction of visual features 20, 24 is done using prior knowledge and trainable systems.

In the data processing unit 6, the knowledge is vomit ^¬ chert. For example, as a prior knowledge various luggage ^¬ piece logo templates and baggage brand name templates are stored. Next are the stored baggage logo templates z. B. assigned identification numbers. Corresponds to an extra piece of luggage ^¬ hiertes Logo substantially a Gepäckstücklo ^¬ go template, the extracted piece of luggage logo is encoded in the description item of luggage with the corresponding identification number of the corresponding item of luggage logo template. (See also FIG. 2)

Furthermore, the data processing unit 6, in particular a computer program 10 of the data processing unit 6, is a trainable system. For example, a baggage logo will be associated with a baggage logo template even if the baggage logo is changed to a predetermined extent, e.g. Example, if the piece of baggage logo has a scratch when the piece of baggage logo is contaminated when a color of the Ge ^¬ päckstücklogos is changed in a predetermined extent and / or the like.

Furthermore, visual knowledge 24 of additional elements 22 can be stored as prior knowledge. Further details are described in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The piece of luggage or description generated in the visual detection of the luggage piece 18 extended Gepäckstückbeschrei ^¬ exercise is stored as a comparative description, insbesonde- in the database 8. The database 8 comprises a data record, which in turn comprises the comparative description. In addition, the data record contains further information and / or the information record description. In particular, the record comprises a baggage number, an owner name, a flight number, a destination airport and so on.

Further, the comparison description is provided at arbitrary locations ("Where"), at arbitrary times ("When"), for any persons ("For whom") and for any purposes ("For what"). Specifically, the matching description is wide ^¬ ren or made available to all the transport of luggage 18 participating interests ^¬ gen airports. In this case, the data record in which the comparison description is stored is made available to the further or the airports participating in the transport of the item of luggage 18. In this example, the data set or the comparative description is transmitted to all airports involved in the transport of the item of luggage 18 and the data record or the comparison description is stored locally in the database 8 of the airport.

The visual detection (by means of the visual detection means 4) for storing the comparison description is in this case a first visual detection. Furthermore, a first piece of luggage description is stored as comparison description.

In the course of transportation of the baggage 18, the Ge ^¬ checked luggage 18 comes to an identical second Gepäckbeschrei- collection system 2, where the piece of luggage 18 is detected a second time, providing a second bag description (or a second extended luggage description). The two ^¬ te baggage description or the second extended baggage description are hereinafter referred to only as a second baggage item description.

Next is checked in an examination, if the second baggage ^¬ piece description with a comparative description, which is stored in particular in the database 8, agrees ^¬ . The comparison description may be the aforementioned comparison description or another comparison description stored in the database 8. The test is automatically performed by the data processing unit 6, in particular by means of the computer program ^¬ sondere 10th ^¬ purpose advantageously comprises the database 8, a plurality Vergleichsbe ^¬ descriptions, including the first-mentioned Vergleichsbe ^¬ sensitive. For example, the second baggage description may be compared with each of the multiple comparison descriptions in turn.

In this example, the second baggage description does not match any of the multiple comparison descriptions, e.g. B. because the bag was damaged on the transport.

In addition, it is checked in a further check, which of the comparison descriptions of the database 8 has the greatest agreement with the second baggage description. The comparison description that best matches the second item of baggage description is assigned to the item of luggage 18. By comparing the second item of luggage description with that of comparative description which best matches with the second piece of luggage description, it can be checked whether and changing an appearance of the piece of luggage 18 in how far has, in particular ^¬ sondere whether and damage the piece of luggage 18 in the extent WUR ^¬ de. In addition, that record is associated with the item of luggage 18 which includes the comparison description that best matches the second item of luggage description. In this way, the method for identifying the item of luggage 18 is used. From the record, which was assigned to the second piece of luggage description, then further information is read - ie the information is the second piece of luggage description and thus the bag 18 assigned. For example, the identification during the process can be carried out Trans ^¬ port, in particular, a destination of the Ge ^¬ päckstücks 18 to be determined. Further, the item of luggage 18 may be a found item of luggage 18 - ie the Identifizie ^¬ tion can be made for a found piece of luggage 18, in particular to determine the owner of a found baggage item 18. In this way, the method is used for an assignment ^¬ set, the second piece of luggage description is used to the luggage piece of information - in particular from the record, which summarizes the matching comparative description - assign.

For example, the item of luggage 18 is assigned a transport, owner and / or processing information, in particular a luggage number, a flight number, a destination and / or an owner name. For example, the method may be used to identify an owner of a found item of luggage 18.

Further, the baggage item 18 can be assigned information directly from the second baggage item description. Is the second bag description the extended second bag description so can be found in the second luggage description and visual features 24 of the additional element 22. In ^¬ play as can be noted on the additional element 22 Verarbeitungsin ^¬ formations such. B. on the additional element 22 of FIG 4. Due to the detected and extracted visual features 24 of the additional element 22 and / or the recognized part of the information set 30, the baggage item 18 ge ^¬ special treated, in particular, the baggage item 18 is passed over a certain sorting distance.

In principle, it is possible that the item of luggage 18 several additional elements 22, z. B. two of the shown in Figures 3-5 or all of the additional elements 22 shown in Figures 3-5.

Further, the method is used to create an image of the item of luggage 18, wherein an image of the item of luggage is created 18 from the second piece of luggage ^¬ description 6. particular by means of the data processing unit The Ab ^¬ image of the baggage 18 is z. B. a 2D model of the luggage ^¬ piece 18th

The image of the item of luggage 18 will be compared with a comparison image, which comparison image is created from the comparative description. Next luggage check is performed in which the image of the luggage 18 with the comparison image is compared to see if and an appearance of the luggage has changed 18 to what extent, in particular whether and to what extent the luggage ^¬ piece (eg. B. during transport and / or sorting) was damaged.

In principle, an image of the item of luggage 18 can also be created from the first piece of luggage description in the method for creating an image. In particular, a missing piece of luggage 18 can be found in this way. For example, the missing piece of luggage 18 of an owner can be found. For this purpose, the database 8 searches for the owner name and / or the luggage number, for example, and finds the data record for the missing piece of luggage 18. From the data set to be the missing piece of luggage 18, in particular from the comparative description of the missing piece of luggage 18, which is preferably stored in the record to the missing piece of luggage 18, an image of the miss ^¬ th item of luggage 18 can be created. Further, in the be stored on the missing piece of luggage 18 Since ^¬ cost rate at which the collection point is the missing piece of luggage 18 is located. With the help of the created image of the missing piece of luggage 18, it is possible to search for the missing piece of luggage 18 at the collection point, in particular by manually Point located luggage with the image of the missing piece of luggage 18 are compared. In this way, the missing piece of luggage 18 can be found. Further, a missing piece of luggage 18 may be found by comparing the record of the missing piece of luggage 18 and / or the comparative description of the missing piece of luggage 18 with other records. For example, the other records may be stored in another database, e.g. B. another airport.

The image created from the piece of luggage description of Ge ^¬ päckstücks 18 can be compared with a comparison image. The comparison image can be created from a comparative description. In particular, the comparison ^¬ description may be the aforementioned comparative description.

The method shown is used in a variety of Gepäckstü ^¬ CKEN 18, wherein each piece of luggage 18 male visual noticeably comprising twentieth In addition, each item of luggage 18 may have one or more additional elements (s) 22. Further, a part of the detected visual features 20 of the pieces of luggage 18 be evaluated sta ^¬ tistisch. For example, the luggage allowance can be statistically evaluated in order to optimize the loading of transport wagons and / or aircraft. Next, the bag color in the summer season can be statistically evaluated ^¬ , z. For example, to use the most commonly used in the summer luggage color for a product design. Furthermore, part of the detected visual features 24 of the additional elements 22 can be statistically evaluated. In ^¬ example, the frequency of certain processing ^¬ information can be evaluated, z. B. to determine a utilization of a particular sorting distance.

2 shows exemplary the luggage logo 26 of the luggage ^¬ tee 18 of FIG 1. The luggage logo 26 is oval, gray colored and contains the symbol of a suitcase as well as Ge ^¬ päckstückmarkenname 28 "trunk maker".

In the data processing unit 6 of FIG. 1, various baggage piece logo templates and baggage tag name templates are stored as prior knowledge. The extracted luggage ^¬ logo piece 26 substantially corresponds to a Gepäckstücklo ^¬ go template which is associated with "221 L" by the identification number, and is coded in the item of luggage with the description corresponding to the identification number.

3 shows by way of example a first possible additional element 22 of the item of luggage 18 from FIG. 1. The additional element 22 is designed as a sticker on the item of luggage 18. Furthermore, the additional element 22 comprises an information record 30 in the form of plain text 30.

The visual detection device 4 from FIG. 1 detects the additional element 22 with the item of luggage 18 in a common pixel image. Ie. the auxiliary image is a portion of the Pi ^¬ xelbildes and the piece of baggage is another image Teilbe ^¬ region of the pixel image.

From the captured additional image is - as already explained in Figure 1 - created an additional description.

For example, the form of the additional description may be as follows:

[Length of the additional element 22, width of the additional element 22, shape of the additional element 22, color of the additional element 22, Mus ^¬ sion 32 of the additional element 22, plain text 30, color of the clear ^¬ text 30, position of the plain text 30].

In particular, the additional description may read as follows:

[8 cm, 8 cm, star-shaped, RGB 255/255/255, thin strips RGB 0/0/0 with strip spacing 0.8 cm, "007", RGB 0/0/0, centered]. That is, here, for example, the information sentence 30 in the form of plain text 30 is included in the additional description. FIG. 4 shows by way of example a second possible additional element 22 of the item of luggage 18 from FIG. 1. The additional element 22 can be designed as a sticker or as a trailer.

The visual detection device 4 from FIG. 1 detects the additional element 22 with the item of luggage 18 in a common pixel image.

The additional element 22 has as pattern 32 a red border with a line width of 0.5 cm. Furthermore, the additional element 22 comprises an information record 30 in the form of plain text 30. The information sentence 30 in the form of plaintext 30 includes processing information. The plaintext 30 is written in red. For example, the form of the additional description may be as follows:

[Length of the additional element 22, width of the rider element 22, the form of the additional element 22, color of the additional element 22, Mus ^¬ esterification of the additional element 22, plaintext 30, color of the plain text 30, position of the plain text 30].

In particular, the additional description may read as follows:

[25 cm, 4 cm, rectangular, white, red border with a line width of 0.5 cm, yes, red, center]. In the data processing unit of FIG. 1, various additional element templates are stored as prior knowledge. The visual features "red border with a line width of 0.6 cm" and "red plain text" are assigned "as prior knowledge" the processing information "treat separately". Furthermore, the data processing unit has already learned 6 that the lines ^¬ wide of the rim in the area can vary ± 0.2 cm. Accordingly, the data processing system assigns the processing information "treat separately" to the item of luggage 18 and Päckstück 18 is on a specific sorting gelei ^¬ tet.

Furthermore, at least part of the information set 30 can be recognized in the form of plain text 30 by means of text recognition. For example, might know part of the information ^¬ set is recorded in an information record description 30, which is as follows: [ "HANDLE WITH PRIORITY"] In the data processing unit 6 is vomit ^¬ chert as knowledge that the text "HANDLE WITH PRIORITY" irrespective of case / Lower case means that the item of luggage 18 should be routed over a certain sorting distance. The detected information set 30 consequently also leads to a corresponding sorting, so that the item of luggage 18 is passed over the specific sorting path.

5 shows by way of example a third possible additional element 22 of the item of luggage 18 from FIG. 1. The additional element 22 is designed as a luggage label.

The visual detection device 4 from FIG. 1 detects the additional element 22 and the item of luggage 18.

For example, the form of the additional description may be as follows:

[Length of the additional element 22, width of the additional element 22, shape of the additional element 22, color of the additional element 22, pattern 32 of the additional element 22, plain text 30, color of the clear text ^¬ 30, position of the plain text 30].

In particular, the additional description may read as follows:

[5 cm, 20 cm, rectangular, white, green stripes with a stroke thickness of 0.5 cm, yes, black, several].

Furthermore, at least part of the information record 30 is recognized in the form of plain text 30 by means of text recognition. In addition, the additional element 22 comprises a bar code 34, which if detected. The recognized part of the information set 30 is detected (together with the detected bar code 34) at least partially in an information record description which has, for example, the following form:

[decoded bar code 34, luggage number 36, owner name 38, destination airport code 40, flight number 42, inter captain airport 44, flight number 46, flight date 48, issue date 50] The detected information set is as follows:

[0220 123456, 0220 123456, Mr A Mustermann, DXB, LH 550, flight number FRA, LH 610, 31, 31DEC08]

In the data processing unit 6 of FIG 1 Various ^¬ ne additional element templates are stored as knowledge. The visual feature, "green stripes""with a line thickness of 0.5 cm", is given as prior knowledge, "baggage was abandoned in the Schengen area" and the airline is Lufthansa ", too ^¬ ordered. Furthermore, the data processing unit 6 has already learned that the green tone can vary in its brightness and its yellow component. Accordingly, the data processing system assigns baggage information "baggage has been abandoned in Schengen space."

Furthermore, it can be stored as prior knowledge in the data processing unit 6 that each element which has a bar code 34 is a baggage tag. It can further be stored in the data processing unit 6 ^¬ as prior knowledge which form of information set 30 has a baggage label and the position at which the baggage tag to find the information of the information set.

The item of luggage 18 is automatically sorted using the recognized visual features 20 and using the recognized portion of the information set 30. Accordingly, the luggage 18 z. B. transported on a corresponding baggage belt, transported with a corresponding baggage belt, transported to a corresponding loading zone, transported to a ent ^¬ speaking gate and / or transported to a corresponding baggage output belt. 6 shows a database 52, which represents an alternative to the database 8 shown in FIG. The database 52 shown in FIG 6 is ge ^¬ stores (and thus not in the data processing unit of Figure 1) in a cloud 54th The database 52 includes the record of the Ge ^¬ päckstücks 18 comprising the comparative description. Each airport 56 involved in the transportation of baggage 18 may access database 52. In particular, the database 52 comprises a plurality of data sets, including the above-mentioned data record, wherein each of the data records comprises a comparison description. While the invention has been further illustrated and described in detail by the preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

Reference sign list

2 luggage description system

4 detection device

6 data processing unit

8 database

10 computer program

12 data transfer connection

14 luggage belt

16 roll

18 pieces of luggage

20 characteristic

22 additional element

24 characteristic

26 piece of luggage logo

28 baggage brand name

30 information set, plain text

32 pattern

34 barcode

36 luggage number

38 owner name

40 destination airport code

42 flight number

44 inter-city airport code

46 flight number

48 flight date

50 issue date

52 database

54 cloud

56 airport

Claims

claims

1. A method for producing a description of a piece of luggage (18), in which

the piece of luggage (18) is detected by means of a visual detection device (4) by means of which a piece of luggage piece image is generated,

- From the luggage piece image visual features (20) of the Ge ^¬ luggage piece (18) are extracted and

- From the extracted visual features (20) of the item of luggage (18) a piece of luggage description is created.

2. The method according to claim 1,

characterized in that

include the visual characteristics (20) of the luggage piece (18), a luggage ^¬ stückabmaß and / or a piece of luggage shape and / or a piece of luggage color and / or a piece of luggage screening and / or a piece of luggage logo (26) and / or a Gepäckstückmarkenna ^¬ men (28).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that

the baggage description is created in the form of a description vector and / or in the form of a descriptive text.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the visual detection means (4) means a Handerfassungs-, in particular a hand-held camera and / or a hand scanner ^¬ is.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

an additional element (22) arranged on the item of luggage (18) is detected by means of the visual detection device (4), by means of which an additional image is generated, wherein from the additional image visual features (24) of the additional element (22) extracted and from the extracted visual features (24) of the additional element (22) an additional description is created, which forms an expanded piece of luggage description together with the baggage description.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the item of luggage (18) has an additional element (22) with an information set (30) in the form of plain text (30) and in the visual detection of the information set (30) is detected at least partially visually and at least a part of the in ^¬ formation rate (30) is detected by means of an optical text recognition.

7. The method according to claim 6,

characterized in that

the item of luggage (18) using the detected portion of the information set (30) is automatically processed, and in particular ^¬ sondere sorted is.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the extraction of visual features (20, 24) is done using prior knowledge and / or using trainable systems.

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the piece of baggage description created during the visual detection of the item of luggage (18) is stored as a comparison description, in particular in a database (8, 52).

10. The method according to claim 9,

characterized in that

the piece of luggage (18) is a piece of baggage and the comparison description is made available to other airports (56) involved in the transport of the item of luggage (18).

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, used in a test, wherein it is checked whether the Gepäckstückbe ^¬ description with a comparison description, which in particular in a database (8, 52) is stored agrees.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, used in an examination,

characterized in that

a database (8, 52) summarizes several comparative descriptions implement and is checked when examining which of the Ver ^¬ equal descriptions of the database (8, 52) has the greatest correspondence with the piece of baggage description.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, used to identify a piece of luggage (18).

14. Method according to one of the preceding claims, used for an assignment,

wherein the luggage item description is used to assign the Ge ^¬ checked luggage (18) information.

15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, used for an imaging of the baggage item (18),

wherein an image of the item of luggage (18) is created from the piece of luggage description, wherein the image of the item of luggage (18) an image of the item of luggage (18), a schematic Dar ^¬ position of the luggage piece (18), a 2D model of the luggage ^¬ piece ( 18) and / or a 3D model of the item of luggage (18).

16. The method of claim 15, used to find a missing piece of luggage (18).

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16,

characterized in that

the created from the piece of luggage description image of the Ge ^¬ päckstücks (18) which is created from a comparison description is compared with a comparison image.

18. Method according to one of the preceding claims, used in a baggage check,

wherein checked whether an appearance of the piece of luggage (18) has changed, especially if the luggage piece (18) was beschä ^¬ damaged.

19. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, used in a plurality of pieces of luggage (18), wherein for each of the pieces of luggage (18) a piece of luggage description is created.

20. The method according to claim 19, used for the statistical evaluation of visual features (20) of luggage (18), in which

at least a portion of the detected visual features (20) of the luggage (18) are statistically evaluated.

21. luggage description system (2) with a visual detection device (4) and a data processing unit (6) for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims.