Pitney Bowes Inc.

The Boeing Company

Other

David K Lee

Frederick W Ryan, Jr

Leon A Pintsov

Robert A Cordery

David W Riley

Monroe A Weiant, Jr

Steven J Pauly

Richard W Heiden

Perry A Pierce

Peter C DiGiulio

Walter J Baker

Paul Robert Davies

Peter C Di Giulio

Thomas P Weismuller

Joseph L Gargiulo

Linda V Gravell

Frank M D'Ippolito

David Leonard Caballero

Frederick W Ryan

Ronald P Sansone

Kevin D Hunter

Richard A Sloan, Jr

James L Harman

Gary G Hansen

Gary M Heiden

Kathryn V Lawton

Feliks Bator

Ian A Siveyer

Louis J Loglisci

Anthony F Violante

Nathan Rosenberg

Frederick W Ryan Jr

Gabriel Joseph Evans

Matthew E Sanchez

Thomas Weismuller

Paul R Davies

Linda A Gravell

A method of aligning reference frames for an augmented reality display is provided. The method comprises receiving three or more target images positioned at predefined physical reference points in a specified physical space, wherein the physical reference points are part of a reference frame of the physical space. Distances between the physical reference points of the target images are calculated and compared with distances between virtual reference points comprising a reference frame of a three-dimensional virtual model to create a number of distance comparisons. The physical reference points are correlated with virtual reference points according to the distance comparisons. The reference frame of the physical space is then aligned with the reference frame of the three-dimensional virtual model according to the correlation of the physical reference points and virtual reference points.

3D point cluster correlation for content alignment on augmented reality platforms

Embodiments herein describe tracking the location and orientation of a target in a digital image. In an embodiment, this tracking can be used to control navigation for a vehicle. In an embodiment, a digital image can be captured by a visual sensor is received. A first array including a plurality of binary values related to the pixel velocity of a first plurality of pixels in the digital image as compared to corresponding pixels in a first one or more prior digital images can be generated. A second array including a plurality of values related to the standard deviation of pixel intensity of the first plurality of pixels in the digital image as compared to corresponding pixels in a second one or more prior digital images can be further generated. A plurality of thresholds relating to the values in the second array can be determined. A plurality of target pixels and a plurality of background pixels can be identified in the digital image, based on the first array, the second array, and the plurality of thresholds. A binary image related to the digital image, based on the identified plurality of target pixels and the identified plurality of background pixels, and identifying at least one of a location and an orientation of the target in the digital image based on the binary image, can be generated. In an embodiment, a command can be transmitted to a navigation system for a vehicle, to assist in navigating the vehicle toward the target, based on the identified at least one of a location and an orientation of the target.

Cluttered background removal from imagery for object detection

A system includes an alignment tool and an augmented-reality (AR) imaging device. The alignment tool has a pointer and a fiducial marker, and is carried by an operator within a physical workspace. The AR imaging device tracks the fiducial marker in the physical workspace using one or more sensors, and determines positional coordinates of the pointer at physical reference locations within the physical workspace based on a position and orientation of the fiducial marker. The physical reference locations are associated with different virtual reference points within a virtual model. The AR imaging device generates a transfer function to fit positional coordinates of the virtual reference points with the positional coordinates of the associated physical reference locations, and displays virtual content on a display according to the transfer function such that the virtual content is spatially-registered with the physical workspace.

Systems, methods, and tools for spatially-registering virtual content with physical environment in augmented reality platforms

One or more systems, methods, routines and/or techniques for automated frame of reference calibration for augmented reality are described. One or more systems, methods, routines and/or techniques may allow for calibration of an Augmented Reality (AR) system, for example, by automatically calibrating the frames of reference of virtual objects and/or a camera. One example calibration routine and/or technique may determine and/or calculate a mapping or transform from a frame of reference of a virtual object (e.g., a CAD model) to a coordinate frame associated with the tracking system. Another example calibration routine and/or technique may determine and/or calculate a mapping or transform from a camera lens frame of reference to a frame of reference of the whole camera as determined by a tracking system. These routines and/or techniques may calibrate an AR system to provide rapid, precise alignment between virtual content and a live camera view of a real scene.

Automated frame of reference calibration for augmented reality

A method and apparatus for tracking a special service delivery by a carrier of a mail item created by an office worker. The method utilizes one or more special service indicators on the mail item to ensure that the office worker can obtain information about the status of the mail item by the simple placement of one of the special service stickers on the mail item.

Method and apparatus for tracking a special service delivery of a mail item created by an office worker

A system and method include means for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality. A register means is provided and means for adjusting the register means to account for services when the cryptographic certificate is processed. In accordance with another aspect, a system and method include a register means for storing funds. Means are provided for processing a digital token providing proof of postage payment and means are also provided for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality. Means debit funds stored in the register means when the digital token is processed and when the cryptographic certificate is processed. Processing the cryptographic certificate may involve many functions such as providing security services and/or certificate management functions (including generating and verifying cryptographic certificates) and/or key management functions and/or access to any needed private keys to perform security services. Processing the digital token may include generating the digital token or issuing the digital token.

Secure user certification for electronic commerce employing value metering system

A method of reissuing digital tokens in an open system meter includes the steps of calculating a digital token using the predetermined postal information including addressee information, postage amount and piece count; debiting postal funds by the postage amount; issuing the digital token for generation of an indicia; storing the digital token and the predetermined postal information as part of a transaction record in a transaction record file indexed according to addressee information; determining that an indicia generated from the digital token has not been successfully printed on a mailpiece for a particular addressee; and reissuing the digital token from the transaction record in the transaction file to generate the indicia for another attempt to print the indicia on the mailpiece.

Method for reissuing digital tokens in an open metering system

A method and apparatus for protecting against a replay attack in a database system makes use of customer records including a counter, and freshness records that include the customer counters and a freshness record counter. The counter from the customer records, the customer records in the freshness records, and the freshness record counter are used by a cryptographic device together with a cryptographic device counter to verify the freshness of the customer record prior to updating the customer record with respect to a recent transaction.

Architecture and method to secure database records from tampering in devices such as postage value dispensing mechanisms

A transaction evidencing system includes a personal computer (PC) comprising a processor, memory and hard drive, with a plurality of non-metering application programs that selectively run on the PC. An unsecured printer is operatively coupled to the PC for printing in accordance with the non-metering application programs. A portable vault card that is removably coupled to the PC is programmed to generate tokens generation and perform transaction accounting. An application interface module in the PC, which interfaces with the non-metering application programs, issues a request for digital tokens in response to requests for indicia from a non-metering application program. A secure communications module in the PC, which securely communicates with the vault card when the vault card is coupled to the PC, sends the request for digital token to the vault card and receives a digital token generated by the vault card. An indicia bitmap generation module generates an indicia bitmap in the PC from the digital token and stores it in memory. The indicia bitmap is accessed by the non-metering application program when a print indicia operation is selected. A transaction capture module in the PC stores on the hard drive a transaction record corresponding to each issued digital token and associated postal data. The application interface module, the secure communications module, the indicia bitmap generation module and the transaction capture module are part of a dynamic link library module in the PC.

PC-based open metering system and method

A system and method include means for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality. A register means is provided and means for adjusting the register means to account for services when the cryptographic certificate is processed. In accordance with anther aspect, a system and method include a register means for storing funds. Means are provided for processing a digital token providing proof of postage payment and means are also provided for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality. Means debit funds stored in the register means when the digital token is processed and when the cryptographic certificate is processed. Processing the cryptographic certificate may involve many functions such as providing security services and/or certificate management functions (including generating and verifying cryptographic certificates) and/or key management functions and/or access to any needed private keys to perform security services. Processing the digital token may include generating the digital token or issuing the digital token.

A transaction evidencing system includes a plurality of computer systems operatively configured to form a network with one of the computer systems functioning as a server and the remaining computer systems functioning as clients. Each of the computer systems includes a processor, memory and storage media. At least some of the storage means includes non-metering application programs that are selectively run on the client computer systems. An unsecured printer is operatively coupled to at least one of the computer systems for printing in accordance with the non-metering application programs. A portable vault card, which is removably coupled to the server computer system, includes digital token generation and transaction accounting processing. The client computer systems issue requests for digital tokens to the server computer system in response to requests for indicia from the non-metering application programs. The requests for digital tokens include predetermined information required by the token generation processing. The server computer system communicates with the vault card when the vault card is coupled to the server computer system, sending the requests for digital tokens to the vault card and receiving from the vault card the generated digital tokens. The server computer system sends each digital token to the client computer system that requested the digital token. The requesting client computer system generates an indicia bitmap from the digital token. The server computer system receives from the vault a transaction record that includes the digital token and the predetermined information and stores the transaction record in its storage media.

Network open metering system

A postage metering system includes a plurality of computers operatively connected as part of a computer network and operating as client computers on the computer network. At least one postal security device (PSD) is coupled to at least one of the client computers (local client computer). The PSD includes unique identification the ability to store postal value and generate digital signatures. The client computers function as a postage metering network wherein a client computer other than the local client computer (remote client computer) requests evidence of postage payment from the PSD for concluding a postage metering transaction. The local client computer functions as a meter server and the remote client computer functions as a meter client on the postage metering network. The remote client computer initiates a postage metering transaction in the PSD by sending a request for evidence of postage payment to the local client computer. The local client computer sends the request for the evidence of postage payment to the PSD, receives transaction information from the PSD and sends the evidence of payment to the remote client computer for subsequent printing.

System for printing on a local printer coupled to a meter server postage requested from a remote computer

Growing community of inventors

Monroe, CT, United States of America

David K Lee