Patent ID: 8009870
Filing Date: 2011-08-30
Classification: G06K,G08G

Abstract:
1. A system for alerting an operator of a surveillance vehicle moving in a first lane, with respect to (a) a first license plate on a first target vehicle traveling in the first lane in front of the surveillance vehicle, (b) a second license plate on a second target vehicle traveling in a second lane to the left of the surveillance vehicle, (c) a third license plate on a third target vehicle traveling in a third lane to the right of the surveillance vehicle, and (d) a fourth license plate on a fourth target vehicle traveling in the first lane behind the surveillance vehicle, comprising: at least a first camera mounted on the surveillance vehicle, collectively configured to autonomously capture images of each of the license plates; and at least one processor carried by the surveillance vehicle that autonomously applies character recognition to the images to determine corresponding license plate numbers, and to autonomously alert the operator when any one of the license plate numbers matches an entry in a database relating to a possible law enforcement-related problem.