Image processing device, image processing method, image pickup apparatus, and program storage medium that calculates a matching degree between an estimated target of interest and tracked feature points, then selects a feature point to which tracking is continued according to the matching degree

An image processing apparatus comprising:

• a memory storing instructions;
• and
• a processor executing the instructions causing the image processing apparatus to:
• acquire an image,
• extract feature points of the image,
• track the feature points in an image region of a specific subject over a plurality of images to be acquired,
• estimate a target of interest in an image including the image region of the specific subject,
• calculate a matching degree indicating a matching degree between the estimated target of interest and the tracked feature points, and
• select feature points to which tracking is continued from the feature points according to the matching degree.

An image pickup apparatus comprising:

• an image pickup unit;
• a memory storing instructions;
• and
• a processor executing the instructions causing the image processing apparatus to:
• acquire an image from the image pickup unit,
• extract feature points of the image,
• track the feature points,
• estimate a target of interest in the image,
• calculate a matching degree indicating a degree of matching between the estimated target of interest and the tracked feature points, and
• select a feature point to which tracking is continued from the feature points according to the matching degree.

A method for an image processing apparatus to execute tracking of feature points, the method comprising:

• extracting feature points of the image;
• estimating a target of interest in the image;
• calculating a matching degree indicating a degree of matching between the estimated target of interest and tracking feature points that are tracking targets;
• and
• selecting a feature point to which tracking is continued from the feature points according to the matching degree.

A method for an image processing apparatus to execute tracking of feature points for a plurality of images, the method comprising:

• extracting feature points of the plurality of images;
• estimating a target of interest in an image including an image region of a specific subject;
• calculating a matching degree indicating a degree of matching between the estimated target of interest and tracking feature points that are tracking targets;
• determining a feature point that is a tracking target according to the matching degree and controlling the tracking feature point;
• and
• tracking the feature point determined as the tracking target.

A non-transitory storage medium on which a computer program for making a computer to execute a method in an image processing apparatus, the method comprising:

• extracting feature points of the image;
• estimating a target of interest in the image;
• calculating a matching degree indicating a degree of matching between the estimated target of interest and tracking feature points that are tracking targets;
• and
• selecting a feature point for which tracking will continue from the feature points according to the matching degree.

A non-transitory storage medium on which a computer program for making a computer to execute a method in an image processing apparatus, the method comprising:

• extracting feature points of the plurality of images;
• estimating a target of interest in an image including an image region of a specific subject;
• calculating a matching degree indicating a degree of matching between the estimated target of interest and feature points that are tracking targets;
• determining a feature point that is a tracking target according to the matching degree and controlling the tracking feature point;
• and
• tracking the feature point determined as the tracking target.