Object trackability via parametric camera tuning

• US 20050093984A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fernando Martins, Wei Sun
• Original Assignee: Fernando Martins, Wei Sun
• Inventors: Sun, Wei, Martins, Fernando
• Granted Patent: US 7,453,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7864 T.V. type tracking systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus are described for improving object trackability via parametric camera tuning. In one embodiment, a determination is made as to whether the camera settings loaded cause saturation of a video image and hue differences between objects and between the objects and a background of the video image. If the saturation and hue differences do not exceed the threshold, a search of camera settings is performed to increase saturation and hue differences between objects and between the objects and a background of the video image.

Claims

1. A method of improving trackability of an object within a video image, comprising:

determining whether camera settings cause saturation of the video image and hue differences between objects to be tracked and between the objects and a background of the video image to exceed a threshold; and

if the saturation and hue differences do not exceed the threshold, searching the camera settings to find a setting that causes saturation and hue differences between objects and between the objects and the background of the image to exceed the threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera settings comprise prior camera settings if the prior camera settings are available.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera settings comprise a plurality of predetermined camera settings, if the prior camera settings are not available.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera settings comprise saturation, hue, brightness and white balance.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of predetermined camera settings are loaded, the loading of the camera settings comprising:

reading a user selection describing lighting conditions; and

selecting one of the plurality of predetermined camera settings responsive to the user selection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the searching of the camera settings comprises:

selecting one of the plurality of predetermined camera settings;

selecting a range of the camera settings near a selected predetermined camera setting;

performing a full search of a selected range of camera settings; and

saving results of the full search.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the selecting one of the plurality of predetermined camera settings is based on the camera settings causing saturation and hue differences between objects and between the objects and a background of the video image to exceed a threshold.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the selecting of the range of the camera settings is based on the settings causing saturation and hue differences between objects and between the objects and the background of the video image to exceed a threshold.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the performing of the full search comprises testing the camera settings within the range to find the camera setting that causes saturation and hue differences between objects and between the object and a background of the video image to exceed a threshold.

10. A system comprising:

a storage device having stored therein one or more routines for improving trackability of an object within a video image; and

a processor coupled to the storage device to execute the one or more routines to improve the trackability of the object within the video image, the processor to

determine whether camera settings cause saturation of the video image and hue differences between objects to be tracked and between the objects and a background of the video image to exceed a threshold; and

if the saturation and hue differences do not exceed the threshold, searching the camera settings to find settings that cause saturation and hue differences between objects and between the objects and the background of the image to exceed the threshold.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the camera settings comprise prior camera settings if the prior camera settings are available.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the camera settings comprise a plurality of predetermined camera settings, if the prior camera settings are not available.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the camera settings comprise saturation, hue, brightness and white balance.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of predetermined camera settings are loaded, wherein the processor when the loading of the camera settings is further to:

read a user selection describing lighting conditions; and

select one of the plurality of predetermined camera settings responsive to the user selection.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further to:

select one of the plurality of predetermined camera settings;

select a range of the camera settings near a selected predetermined camera setting;

perform a full search of a selected range of camera settings; and

save results of the full search.

16. A machine readable medium having stored thereon data representing sets of instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

determine whether camera settings cause saturation of a video image and hue differences between objects to be tracked and between the objects and a background of the video image to exceed a threshold; and

if the saturation and hue differences do not exceed the threshold, search the camera settings to find a setting that causes saturation and hue differences between objects and between the objects and the background of the image to exceed the threshold.

17. The machine readable medium of claim 16, wherein the camera settings comprise prior camera settings if the prior camera settings are available.

18. The machine readable medium of claim 16, wherein the camera settings comprise a plurality of predetermined camera settings, if the prior camera settings are not available.

19. The machine readable medium of claim 16, wherein the camera settings comprise saturation, hue, brightness and white balance.

20. The machine readable medium of claim 19, wherein the plurality of predetermined camera settings are loaded, wherein the loading of the camera settings further causes the machine to:

read a user selection describing lighting conditions; and

select one of the plurality of predetermined camera settings responsive to the user selection.