System and method of detecting, recognizing, and tracking moving targets

A program storage device readable by computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said computer to perform a method of tracking moving targets in video images, said method comprising:

• retrieving a plurality of reference video frames each comprising arrays of digital pixels;
• computing a first averaged image for each of said plurality of reference video frames, wherein each pixel value of said first averaged image comprises an average pixel intensity value associated with all corresponding pixel values in said plurality of reference video frames;
• computing a second averaged image for a second set of said plurality of reference video frames, wherein each pixel value of said second averaged image comprises an average pixel intensity value associated with all corresponding pixel values in said plurality of reference video frames;
• viewing an input video frame comprising arrays of digital pixels, wherein said input video frame is sequenced consecutively after said plurality of reference video frames;
• subtracting said input video frame from the first and second averaged images separately to form two difference images;
• and
• combining said difference images to form a change map.

A system for tracking moving targets in video images, said system comprising:

• means for retrieving a plurality of reference video frames each comprising arrays of digital pixels;
• means for computing a first averaged image for each of said plurality of reference video frames, wherein each pixel value of said first averaged image comprises an average pixel intensity value associated with all corresponding pixel values in said plurality of reference video frames;
• means for computing a second averaged image for a second set of said plurality of reference video frames, wherein each pixel value of said second averaged image comprises an average pixel intensity value associated with all corresponding pixel values in said plurality of reference video frames;
• means for viewing an input video frame comprising arrays of digital pixels, wherein said input video frame is sequenced consecutively after said plurality of reference video frames;
• means for subtracting said input video frame from the first and second averaged images separately to form at least two difference images;
• and
• means for combining said difference images to form a change map.