Identification using mobile device signatures and cameras

Abstract

A mesh of existing infrastructures is usable to identify user identities and communications devices with physical objects (e.g., transportation vehicles, apparel, etc.). A system can receive image data representative of images of physical objects captured (e.g., by a camera) at locations. The system can also receive signal data representative of signals from communications devices. Based on time data and location data associated with the image data and the signal data, the system can, after multiple iterations, determine whether one of the physical objects is correlated with one of the communications devices. In response to a correlation, the system can store in a record data (e.g., a container, database, etc.) data elements representative of the physical object and a second data element associated with the communications device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a system comprising a processor, image data representative of images of a physical object captured at locations at times by public image capturing devices;   based on respective time-stamped location data representative of respective time-stamped locations of communication devices, identifying, by the system, a communication device of the communication devices at the locations at the times; and   assigning, by the system, the communication device to the physical object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the public image capturing devices comprise a traffic camera. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the public image capturing devices comprise a security camera. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the physical object is a vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the physical object is a bicycle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the physical object is an apparel item. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the physical object is a wearable accessory. 
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 obtaining image data representative of images of a physical object captured at locations at times by public cameras; 
 based on respective time-stamped location data representative of respective time-stamped locations of mobile devices, detecting a mobile device of the mobile devices at the locations at the times; and 
 associating the mobile device with the physical object. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the public cameras comprise a traffic camera. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the public cameras comprise a security camera. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the public cameras comprise a tollbooth camera located at a tollbooth that captures vehicle image data. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the physical object is a motor vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the physical object is a clothing item. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the physical object is an accessory item. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 acquiring image data representative of images of a physical object captured at locations at times by cameras;   based on respective time-stamped location data of user communication devices, recognizing a user communication device of the user communication devices at the locations at the times; and   linking the user communication device with the physical object.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the cameras comprise an outdoor camera. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the cameras comprise an indoor camera. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the cameras comprise a store security camera. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the physical object is a wearable item. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the physical object is a carriable accessory.