Multipass data integration for automatic detection and classification of objects

A method, comprising:

• receiving first pass image information;
• detecting a potential target within the first pass image information and determining a plurality of features forming a feature set associated with the potential target, wherein the detecting is based upon one or more of at least some of the determined features and a location of the potential target;
• storing said determined plurality of features in a detection database;
• receiving second pass image information;
• detecting a new location of the potential target within the second pass image information;
• comparing the new location of the potential target with contents of the detection database to determine whether the new location of the potential target is within a predetermined range of the location of an element in the detection database;
• using a single-pass classifier configured to (a) receive the potential target's feature set, if the potential target is not within said predetermined range of the location of an element in the detection database, (b) classify the potential target according to received potential target's feature set, and (c) transmit the location, the feature set and the classification of the potential target to the detection database;
• combining and comparing the feature sets of the potential target corresponding to the new location of the potential target to determine fused multi-pass features of the potential target if the new location of the potential target is within said predetermined range of the location of an element in the detection database;
• and
• using a multi-pass classifier configured to (a) receive the potential target's feature set and said determined fused multi-pass features, if the new location of the potential target is within said predetermined range of the location of an element in the detection database, (b) classify the potential target according to the received potential target's feature set and fused multi-pass features, and (c) transmit the location, the feature set, the fused multi-pass features and the classification of the potential target to the detection database.

An apparatus, comprising:

• means for receiving first pass image information second pass image information;
• means for detecting a potential target within the first pass image information and second pass image information, and determining a plurality of features forming a feature set associated with the potential target and a new location of the potential target within the second pass image information, wherein the detecting is based upon one or more at least some of the determined features and a location of the potential target;
• detection storage means configured to store at least a location, features, fused multi-pass features and a classification of the potential target;
• means for comparing the new location of potential target with contents of the detection database means to determine whether the location of the potential target is within a predetermined range of the location of an element in the detection storage means;
• mean for (a) receiving the potential target's feature set, if the new location of the potential target is not close to the location of an element in the detection database means, (b) classifying the potential target according to received potential target's feature set, and (c) transmitting the location, the feature set and the classification of the potential target to the detection storage means;
• means for determining fused multi-pass features of the potential target, if the potential target is within a predetermined range of the location of an element in the detection storage means;
• and
• means for (a) receiving the potential target's feature set and said determined fused multi-pass features, if the new location of the potential target is within said predetermined range of the location of an element in the detection database (b) classifying the potential target according to the received potential target's feature set and fused multi-pass features, and (c) transmitting the location,the feature set, the fused multi-pass features and the classification of the potential target to the detection storage means.

A method for detection and classification of objects, the method comprising:

• detecting a potential target within a first pass image information obtained via scanning an area of interest, by determining a plurality of first features and a first location of the potential target;
• determining whether said area of interest has been scanned prior to obtaining the first pass image information
• when said area of interest has been scanned prior to obtaining the first pass image information, comparing the first location of the potential target with an old location of the potential target detected prior to obtaining the first pass image information to determine whether the new location is within a predetermined range of said location;
• extracting a plurality of first features for the potential target at the first location, when the first location is within a predetermined range of old location;
• combining the first features with old features extracted from the potential target detected prior to obtaining the first pass image information to classify the potential target;
• and
• when the first location is not within a predetermined range of said old location, using said old features to classify the potential target.