• The KIPS Transactions:PartD
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• v.10D no.6
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• pp.1041-1048
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• 2003

This paper implements a remote image based metering(IBM) system which capture meter image, recognizes number automatically, and send the data wirelessly through PCS data network. We use existing gas/water meter and get NTSC camera image by installing small monochrome CMOS camera on the meter closely. For remote data transfer, we use SMS (short message service) that is provided by commercial PCS network. We developed DVR(digital video recorder) for capturing meter image and character recognition algorithm. In addition, hardware and software for SMS and meter selector were developed.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.737-747
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• 2012

Recently, in order to support automatic meter reading for conventional metering devices, an image processing-based approach of recognizing the number meter data in the captured meter images has attracted many researchers' interests. Numerical character segmentation is a very critical process for successful recognition. In this paper, we propose an efficient numeric character segmentation method which can segment numeric characters well for any metering device types under diverse illumination environments. The proposed method consists of two consecutive stages; detection of number area containing all numbers as a tight ROI(Region of Interest) and segmentation of numerical characters in the ROI. Detection of tight ROI is achieved in two steps: extraction of rough ROI by utilizing horizontal line segments after illumination enhancement preprocessing, and making the rough ROI more tight through clipping utilizing vertical and horizontal projection about binarized ROI. Numerical character segmentation in the detected ROI is stably achieved in two processes of 'vertical segmentation of each number region' and 'number segmentation in the each vertical segmented number region'. Through the experiments about a homegrown meter image database containing various meter type images of low contrast, low intensity, shadow, and saturation, it is shown that the proposed numeric character segmentation method performs effectively well for any metering device types under diverse illumination environments.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.6-13
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• 2002

In this paper, we propose an image processing based method to measure red-time and green-time backward moving shockwave speed automatically at signalized intersections. Shockwave means the discontinuous boundary line between different vehicle traffic flows, and its moving speed is called shockwave speed which is obtain from the slope of boundary line. In this paper, we compose distance-time diagram for measuring shockwave speed automatically. By global vehicle tracking, we draw all of the vehicle moving path on distance-time diagram. We analyze the slope change pattern of curved moving path line, and compute red-time and green-time backward moving shockwave speed. We obtain the measurement result of shockwave speed, when applying above mentioned proposed method to experiment at signalized intersections, Once we can measure the shockwave speed, we could apply the result to highway ramp metering and automatic signal control at intersections effectively since we know the situation of frontal congestion easily.