Method for assisting an automated video tracking system in reaquiring a target

• US 20020140814A1
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Trajkovic, Miroslav, Cohen-Solal, Eric, Lyons, Damian M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,173,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/172
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/785 using adjustment of orientation of directivity characteristics of a detector or detector system to give a desired condition of signal derived from that detector or detector system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7865 using correlation of the live video image with a stored image

Abstract

A method for reacquiring a target in an automated video tracking system is provided. The method includes the steps of: selecting a desired target to be tracked; switching the automated video tracking system to an automatic mode to initiate a tracking sequence to automatically track the selected desired target; switching the automated video tracking system from an automatic mode to a manual mode if the automated video tracking system encounters a period of difficulty in tracking the desired target; reacquiring the desired target in manual mode; and switching the automated video tracking system to the automatic mode for automatic tracking of the reacquired desired target without initiating a new tracking sequence. An apparatus and automated video tracking system for carrying out the methods of the present invention are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for reacquiring a target in an automated video tracking system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a desired target to be tracked;

(b) switching the automated video tracking system to an automatic mode to initiate a tracking sequence to automatically track the selected desired target;

(c) switching the automated video tracking system from an automatic mode to a manual mode if the automated video tracking system encounters a period of difficulty in tracking the desired target;

(d) reacquiring the desired target in manual mode; and

(e) switching the automated video tracking system to the automatic mode for automatic tracking of the reacquired desired target without initiating a new tracking sequence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises centering the desired target in a display of a scene including the desired target.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises releasing control of an input device used to select the desired target.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises controlling an input device used to select the desired target.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises centering the desired target in a display of a scene including the desired target.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises releasing control of an input device used to reacquire the desired target.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

calculating a confidence level indicating how well the tracked target matches the selected desired target; and

warning an operator if the confidence level falls below a predetermined threshold.

8. An apparatus for reacquiring a target in an automated video tracking system, the apparatus comprising:

selecting means for selecting a desired target to be tracked;

mode switching means for switching the automated video tracking system to and from one of an automatic mode to initiate a tracking sequence after target selection to automatically track the selected desired target and a manual mode;

reacquiring means for reacquiring the desired target in manual mode if the automated video tracking system encounters a period of difficulty in tracking the desired target;

wherein after reacquiring the desired target the automated video tracking system is switched back to automatic mode without initiating a new tracking sequence.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the selecting means comprises an input device for centering the desired target in a display of a scene including the desired target.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a video camera for capturing video image data of a scene including the desired target;

pan and tilt camera motors for controlling a pan and tilt, respectively of the video camera; and

a video display for displaying the video image data;

wherein the input device is a joystick operatively connected to the pan and tilt motors such that movement of the joystick controls the movement of the camera through the pan and tilt motors.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mode selecting means comprises an input device where the automated video tracking system is switched to automatic mode by controlling an input device used to select the desired target and the automated video tracking system is switched to manual mode by releasing control of the input device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a video camera for capturing video image data of a scene including the desired target;

pan and tilt camera motors for controlling a pan and tilt, respectively of the video camera; and

a video display for displaying the video image data;

wherein the input device is a joystick operatively connected to the pan and tilt motors such that movement of the joystick controls the movement of the camera through the pan and tilt motors.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the reacquiring means comprises an input device for centering the desired target in a display of a scene including the desired target.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a video camera for capturing video image data of a scene including the desired target;

pan and tilt camera motors for controlling a pan and tilt, respectively of the video camera; and

a video display for displaying the video image data;

wherein the input device is a joystick operatively connected to the pan and tilt motors such that movement of the joystick controls the movement of the camera through the pan and tilt motors.

16. The automated video tracking system of claim 15, wherein the selecting means comprises an input device for centering the desired target in the display.

17. The automated video tracking system of claim 16, wherein the input device is a joystick operatively connected to the pan and tilt motors such that movement of the joystick controls the movement of the camera through the pan and tilt motors.

18. The automated video tracking system of claim 15, wherein the mode selecting means comprises an input device where the automated video tracking system is switched to automatic mode by controlling an input device used to select the desired target and the automated video tracking system is switched to manual mode by releasing control of the input device.

19. The automated video tracking system of claim 18, wherein the input device is a joystick operatively connected to the pan and tilt motors such that movement of the joystick controls the movement of the camera through the pan and tilt motors.

20. The automated video tracking system of claim 15, wherein the reacquiring means comprises an input device for centering the desired target in a display of a scene including the desired target.

21. The automated video tracking system of claim 20, wherein the input device is a joystick operatively connected to the pan and tilt motors such that movement of the joystick controls the movement of the camera through the pan and tilt motors.

15. An automated video tracking system for tracking and reacquiring a target, the automated video tracking system comprising:

a video camera for capturing video image data of a scene including a desired target;

pan and tilt camera motors for controlling a pan and tilt, respectively of the video camera;

a video display for displaying the video image data;

selecting means for selecting the desired target to be tracked;

mode switching means for switching the automated video tracking system to and from one of an automatic mode to initiate a tracking sequence after target selection to automatically track the selected desired target and a manual mode;

reacquiring means for reacquiring the desired target in manual mode if the automated video tracking system encounters a period of difficulty in tracking the desired target;

wherein after reacquiring the desired target the automated video tracking system is switched back to automatic mode without initiating a new tracking sequence.