System for uniquely identifying subjects from a target population

Abstract

The system for uniquely identifying individual subjects from a group of subjects by storing a plurality of records, wherein each record corresponds to one or more individual subjects and includes at least one feature of one or more characteristics of the corresponding one or more individual subjects; obtaining a digital image of a current subject that captures a current feature of the one or more characteristics of the current subject; comparing the current feature of the current subject and one or more of the plurality of records; and identifying one or more aspects of the current subject based on the comparison.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for uniquely identifying individual subjects from a group of subjects, the method being implemented in a computer that includes one or more processors programmed with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, program the one or more processors to perform the method, the method comprising:
 storing, by the one or more processors, in an electronic memory, a plurality of records, wherein each record corresponds to one or more individual subjects and includes at least one feature of one or more characteristics of the corresponding one or more individual subjects;   obtaining, by the one or more processors, a digital image of a current subject that captures a current feature of the one or more characteristics of the current subject;   comparing, by the one or more processors, the current feature of the current subject and one or more of the plurality of records; and   identifying, by the one or more processors, one or more aspects of the current subject based on the comparison.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the digital image of the current subject comprises:
 obtaining, by the one or more processors, the digital image from an image capture device communicatively linked to the one or more processors, wherein the image capture device is configured to capture the digital image of the current feature of the one or more characteristics of the current subject.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 causing, by the one or more processors, the current subject to be deposited into an exit apparatus, wherein the current subject is able to exit through the exit apparatus.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more aspects comprise a gender of the current subject, a species of the current subject, and/or an identification of the current subject. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more characteristics include one or more of overall size; color; color, spot, and/or stripe features; overall patterning; size and/or shape of physical features; features of horns, tusks, and/or antlers; indications of maturity and/or age; scars; or deformities. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein comparing the current feature of the current subject and one or more of the plurality of records comprises:
 comparing, by the one or more processors, the current feature of the current subject and the at least one feature stored in each record of the plurality of records for each of the plurality of records.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising:
 responsive to a determination that the current feature captured in the digital image matches a first feature of a first record, updating, by the one or more processors, the first record based on the digital image.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein updating the first record based on the digital image comprises:
 processing, by the one or more processors, the digital image to obtain one or more measurements, separate from the current feature, of the current subject; and   updating, by the one or more processors, the first record based on the one or more measurements.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the measurements include a size of the current subject and/or a weight of the current subject. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein updating the first record based on the digital image comprises:
 obtaining, by the one or more processors, additional data associated with the current subject; and   updating, by the one or more processors, the first record based on the additional data.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the additional data includes a date associated with the digital image, a time associated with the digital image, and/or a location associated with the digital image. 
     
     
         12 . A system configured to uniquely identify individual subjects from a group of subjects, the system comprising:
 one or more processors programmed with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, program the one or more processors to:
 store in an electronic memory, a plurality of records, wherein each record corresponds to one or more individual subjects and includes at least one feature of one or more characteristics of the corresponding one or more individual subjects; 
 obtain a digital image of a current subject that captures a current feature of the one or more characteristics of the current subject; 
 compare the current feature of the current subject and one or more of the plurality of records; and 
 identify one or more aspects of the current subject based on the comparison. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors further to:
 obtain the digital image from an image capture device communicatively linked to the one or more processors, wherein the image capture device is configured to capture the digital image of the current feature of the one or more characteristics of the current subject.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors further to:
 cause the current subject to be deposited into an exit apparatus, wherein the current subject is able to exit through the exit apparatus.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more aspects comprise a gender of the current subject, a species of the current subject, and/or an identification of the current subject. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more characteristics include one or more of overall size; color; color, spot, and/or stripe features; overall patterning; size and/or shape of physical features; features of horns, tusks, and/or antlers; indications of maturity and/or age; scars; or deformities. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors further to:
 compare the current feature of the current subject and the at least one feature stored in each record of the plurality of records for each of the plurality of records.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors further to:
 responsive to a determination that the current feature captured in the digital image matches a first feature of a first record, update the first record based on the digital image.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more processors further to:
 process the digital image to obtain one or more measurements, separate from the current feature, of the current subject; and   update the first record based on the one or more measurements.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the measurements include a size of the current subject and/or a weight of the current subject.