US 6,185,314 B2 · System and method for matching image information to object model information

Abstract

A tracking system and method for evaluating whether image information for a region cluster of a video frame of a scene represents an hypothesis of an object to be tracked, such as a person. At least one real-world feature of a region cluster corresponding to an object to be tracked is generated. For example, the at least feature is at least one possible location of a predetermined portion of an object represented by the region cluster is determined based on a viewing angle of the scene of the video camera. A distance from the video camera to the object corresponding to the region is determined in real-world coordinates for each possible location of the predetermined portion of the region cluster. Real-world size and location information for the region cluster is determined based on the distance. The real-world size and location information for the region cluster is compared with statistical information for the particular type of object to determine a confidence value representing a measure of confidence that the region cluster represents the particular type of object.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method for evaluating region cluster image information obtained from a scene to determine whether the region cluster represents an object to be tracked, the method comprising steps of:

generating at least one real-world feature for each region cluster that represents a characteristic of the region cluster in a real-world space comprising steps of:
(i) determining at least one possible location of a predetermined portion of the region cluster based on a viewing angle of the scene by a video camera which views the scene:
(ii) determining a distance from the video camera to the object corresponding to the region cluster in real-world coordinates for each possible location of the predetermined portion determined for the region cluster;
and (iii) generating real-world size and location information for the region cluster based on the distance;
and
comparing the real-world size and location information for the region cluster with statistical information to generate a confidence value for each region cluster that represents a likelihood that the region cluster represents an object to be tracked.

3 more elements

A system for evaluating region cluster image information obtained from a scene to determine whether the region cluster represents an object to be tracked, comprising:

(a) a video camera for viewing a scene;
(b) a frame grabber coupled to the video camera for generating video frames representing image information for the scene;
(c) a processor coupled to the frame grabber, the processor being programmed to:
generate at least one real-world feature for each region cluster that represents a characteristic of the region cluster in a real-world space by (i) determining at least one possible location of a predetermined portion of the region cluster based on a viewing angle of the scene by the video camera;
(ii) determining a distance from the video camera to the object corresponding to the region cluster in real-world coordinates for each possible location of the predetermined portion determined for the region cluster;
and (iii) generating real-world size and location information for the region cluster based on the distance;
and
compare the real-world size and location information for the region cluster with statistical information to determine a confidence value for each region cluster that represents a likelihood that the region cluster represents an object to be tracked.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for matching image information to object model information

Life of this patent

System and method for matching image information to object model information

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12