A Method and Apparatus for Swimmer Tracking

A system having a processor, the processor being adapted to perform the steps of:

• obtaining a first multiplicity of images taken by at least one overhead capture device overlooking a body of water having a surface;
• detecting a swimmer in at least some images from the first multiplicity of images, wherein the swimmer is outside the body of water or separated from other swimmers in at least some of the first multiplicity of images;
• determining a first descriptor and a second descriptor of the person, based on the at least some images from the first multiplicity of images,
• wherein the first descriptor is related to a portion the swimmer that is outside the body of water,
• wherein the second descriptor is related to a portion of the swimmer that is inside the body of water,
• the first descriptor and the second descriptor are determined based on visual characteristics extracted from the at least some images;
• obtaining a second multiplicity of images taken by the at least one overhead capture device;
• and
• tracking the swimmer in the second multiplicity of images, wherein said tracking comprises detecting the swimmer using at least one of the first descriptor and the second descriptor, wherein said detecting the swimmer is performed with respect to at least one image in which the swimmer is at least one image from the second multiplicity of images in which the swimmer is at least partially occluded by other swimmers or adjacent to other swimmers.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium retaining program instructions, which instructions when read by a processor, cause the processor to perform:

• obtaining a first multiplicity of images taken by at least one overhead capture device overlooking a body of water having a surface;
• detecting a swimmer in at least some images from the first multiplicity of images, wherein the swimmer is outside the body of water or separated from other swimmers in at least some of the first multiplicity of images;
• determining a first descriptor and a second descriptor of the person, based on the at least some images from the first multiplicity of images,
• wherein the first descriptor is related to a portion the swimmer that is outside the body of water,
• wherein the second descriptor is related to a portion of the swimmer that is inside the body of water,
• the first descriptor and the second descriptor are determined based on visual characteristics extracted from the at least some images;
• obtaining a second multiplicity of images taken by the at least one overhead capture device;
• and
• tracking the swimmer in the second multiplicity of images, wherein said tracking comprises detecting the swimmer using at least one of the first descriptor and the second descriptor, wherein said detecting the swimmer is performed with respect to at least one image from the second multiplicity of images in which the swimmer is at least partially occluded by other swimmers or adjacent to other swimmers.