Video tracking system and method
First Claim
1. A video tracking system comprising:
- a video camera having a field of view, said camera being selectively adjustable wherein adjustment of said camera varies the field of view of said camera; and
at least one processor operably coupled to said camera wherein said processor receives video images acquired by said camera and selectively adjusts said camera;
said processor programmed to detect a moving target object in said video images and adjust said camera to track said target object, said processor adjusting said camera at a plurality of varied adjustment rates.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A video tracking system and method which includes a video camera having a selectively adjustable panning orientation, tilting orientation and focal length. A processor receives video images acquired by the camera. The processor is programmed to detect target objects in the images and selectively adjust the camera to track the target object. The camera is adjusted at variable rates which are selected as a function of a property, such as the velocity, of the target object. The focal length of the camera is selectively adjusted as a function of the distance of the target object from the camera. The images acquired by the camera are geometrically transformed to align images having different fields of view to facilitate the analysis of the images and thereby allowing the camera to be continuously adjustable for the production of video images having relatively smooth transitional movements.
215 Citations
65 Claims
-
1. A video tracking system comprising:
-
a video camera having a field of view, said camera being selectively adjustable wherein adjustment of said camera varies the field of view of said camera; and
at least one processor operably coupled to said camera wherein said processor receives video images acquired by said camera and selectively adjusts said camera;
said processor programmed to detect a moving target object in said video images and adjust said camera to track said target object, said processor adjusting said camera at a plurality of varied adjustment rates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A video tracking system comprising:
-
a video camera having a field of view, said camera being selectively adjustable wherein adjustment of said camera varies the field of view of said camera; and
at least one processor operably coupled to said camera wherein said processor receives video images acquired by said camera and selectively adjusts said camera;
said processor programmed to detect a moving target object in said video images and estimate a target value, said target value being a function of a property of said target object, said processor adjusting said camera at a selected adjustment rate, said selected adjustment rate being a function of said target value. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A video tracking system comprising:
-
a video camera having a field of view, said camera being selectively adjustable wherein adjustment of said camera varies the field of view of said camera; and
at least one processor operably coupled to said camera wherein said processor receives video images acquired by said camera and selectively adjusts said camera;
said processor programmed to detect a moving target object in said video images and adjust said camera and track said target object and wherein during tracking of the target object said processor communicates a plurality of commands to said camera, said camera being continuously and variably adjustable in accordance with said commands without an intervening stationary interval. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A video tracking system comprising:
-
a video camera having a field of view, said camera being selectively adjustable wherein adjustment of said camera varies the field of view of said camera; and
at least one processor operably coupled to said camera wherein said processor receives video images acquired by said camera and selectively adjusts said camera;
said processor programmed to detect a moving target object in said video images and adjust said camera and track said target object wherein said processor consecutively analyzes first, second and third images acquired by said camera, each of said images recording a different field of view, said processor communicating to said camera a first command selectively adjusting said camera and a second command selectively adjusting said camera;
said camera being adjusted in accordance with said first command during at least a portion of a first time interval between acquisition of said first and second images, said camera being adjusted in accordance with said second command during at least a portion of a second time interval between acquisition of said second and third images and wherein said camera is continuously adjusted between acquisition of said first image and said third image. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
-
-
32. A method of tracking a target object with a video camera, said method comprising:
-
providing a video camera having a field of view, said camera being selectively adjustable wherein adjustment of said camera varies the field of view of said camera; and
adjusting said camera at a selectively variable adjustment rate to track a target object. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
-
-
42. A method of tracking a target object with a video camera, said method comprising:
-
providing a video camera having a field of view, said camera being selectively adjustable wherein adjustment of said camera varies the field of view of said camera;
detecting a target object in images acquired by said camera;
estimating a target value which is a function of at least one property of the target object; and
adjusting said camera at a selectively variable rate wherein said adjustment rate of said camera rate is selected as a function of said target value. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
-
-
51. A method of tracking a target object with a video camera, said method comprising:
-
providing a video camera having a field of view, said camera being selectively adjustable wherein adjustment of said camera varies the field of view of said camera; and
adjusting said camera to track a target object wherein said adjustment of said camera includes selectively and variably adjusting at least one adjustment parameter and wherein said camera is continuously adjustable during said selective and variable adjustment of said at least one adjustment parameter. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
-
-
57. A method of tracking a target object with a video camera, said method comprising:
-
providing a video camera having a field of view, said camera being selectively adjustable wherein adjustment of said camera varies the field of view of said camera;
detecting a target object in images acquired by said camera;
acquiring first, second and third images, each of said first, second and third images recording a different field of view;
communicating a first command to said camera selectively adjusting said camera;
communicating a second command to said camera selectively adjusting said camera; and
continuously adjusting said camera between acquisition of said first image and acquisition of said third image wherein said camera is adjusted in accordance with said first command during at least a portion of a first time interval between acquisition of said first image and acquisition of said second image and said camera is adjusted in accordance with said second command during at least a portion of a second time interval between acquisition of said second image and acquisition of said third image. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61)
-
-
62. A video tracking system comprising:
-
a video camera having a selectively adjustable focal length; and
at least one processor operably coupled to said camera wherein said processor receives video images acquired by said camera and selectively adjusts the focal length of said camera;
said processor programmed to detect a moving target object in said video images and adjust the focal length of said camera as a function of the distance of the target object from the camera. - View Dependent Claims (63)
-
-
64. A method of automatically tracking a target object with a video camera, said method comprising:
-
providing a video camera having a selectively adjustable focal length; and
adjusting the focal length of the camera as a function of the distance of the target object from the camera. - View Dependent Claims (65)
-
Specification