Methods and apparatus for extraction and tracking of objects from multi-dimensional sequence data

A computer-based method of generating an optimized search function for use in segmenting a set of data elements into one or more groups of data elements representing one or more objects, the method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining two or more search functions;
• evaluating the two or more search functions to determine which one of the two or more search functions substantially meets a particular match function criterion;
• and
• identifying the search function which substantially meets the criterion as the optimized search function for use in segmenting a set of data elements into one or more groups of data elements representing one or more objects.

Apparatus for segmenting a set of data elements into one or more groups of data elements representing one or more objects, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor operative to:
• (i) generate an optimized search function;
• (ii) apply the optimized search function to the data elements of the set of data elements so as to prune a search space associated with the set of data elements;
• and (iii) apply a match function to the pruned search space so as to segment the set of data elements into the one or more groups of data elements representing the one or more objects.

Apparatus for generating an optimized search function for use in segmenting a set of data elements into one or more groups of data elements representing one or more objects, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor operative to:
• obtain two or more search functions;
• (ii) evaluate the two or more search functions to determine which one of the two or more search functions substantially meets a particular match function criterion;
• and (iii) identify the search function which substantially meets the criterion as the optimized search function for use in segmenting a set of data elements into one or more groups of data elements representing one or more objects.

An article of manufacture for segmenting a set of data elements into one or more groups of data elements representing one or more objects, the article comprising a machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:

• generating an optimized search function;
• applying the optimized search function to the data elements of the set of data elements so as to prune a search space associated with the set of data elements;
• and
• applying a match function to the pruned search space so as to segment the set of data elements into the one or more groups of data elements representing the one or more objects.

An article of manufacture for generating an optimized search function for use in segmenting a set of data elements into one or more groups of data elements representing one or more objects, the article comprising a machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:

• obtaining two or more search functions;
• evaluating the two or more search functions to determine which one of the two or more search functions substantially meets a particular match function criterion;
• and
• identifying the search function which substantially meets the criterion as the optimized search function for use in segmenting a set of data elements into one or more groups of data elements representing one or more objects.

An object tracking system for segmenting a set of data elements into one or more groups of data elements representing one or more objects, the system comprising:

• at least one processor operative to:
• (i) generate an optimized search function;
• (ii) apply the optimized search function to the data elements of the set of data elements so as to prune a search space associated with the set of data elements;
• and (iii) apply a match function to the pruned search space so as to segment the set of data elements into the one or more groups of data elements representing the one or more objects;
• and
• memory, coupled to the at least one processor, for storing at least one of the set of data elements to be segmented and the one or more groups of data elements representing the one or more objects.