Method and device for identifying and extracting images of multiple users, and for recognizing user gestures

A device for identifying and extracting images of multiple users in an interactive environment scene comprising:

• a video camera for capturing an image from the scene;
• a depth perception device for providing depth information about said scene;
• at least one computer processor for processing said depth information and said image information, wherein:
• said device comprises means for using individual volume of interest from said scene for each user;
• said video camera comprises means for obtaining an image of said scene in a form of a corresponding array of pixel values;
• said depth perception device comprises means for obtaining a depth map of said scene, said depth map and said image being registered to one another;
• said at least one computer processor comprises means for coordinate transforming said depth map and said image to obtain a corresponding array of points containing 3D positions in a real-world coordinates system and pixel values at said 3D positions;
• said at least one computer processor also comprises means for grouping said points according to their relative positions, by using a clustering process so that each group contains points that are in a same region of space and correspond to a respective user location;
• said at least one computer processor further comprises means for defining individual volumes of interest, each volume of interest corresponding to one of said user locations;
• said means for using said individual volumes of interest comprises means for selecting, from said array of points containing the 3D positions and pixel values, the points located in said volumes of interest for obtaining segmentation masks for each user;
• and
• said means for using said individual volumes of interest further comprises means for applying said segmentation masks to said image for extracting images of said users.