Method for evaluation and stabilization over time of classification results

• US 20070036428A1
• Filed: 09/03/2004
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Simon, Stephan, Voelz, Henning, Lindner, Sebastian
• Granted Patent: US 7,796,820 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/159
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

Classification methods are described that proceed in computer-assisted fashion, and in particular a method for evaluation and stabilization over time of classification results is described in which objects to be classified are sensed using sensors over a period of time, and are repeatedly classified with the inclusion of specific quality parameters for each object class. To ensure better classification reliability, the following steps may be carried out: a) increasing the value of the confidence parameter if a subsequent classification confirms the result of a previous classification; b) decreasing the value of the confidence parameter if a subsequent classification does not confirm the result of a previous classification; and c) generating a final classification result including the confidence parameters that have been increased or decreased in value.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method for evaluation and stabilization over time of classification results from a classification method which proceeds in computer-assisted fashion, the method comprising:

sensing objects to be classified using sensors over a period of time;

repeatedly classifying the objects using specific quality parameters for each object class;

increasing a value of a confidence parameter calculated from the quality parameters if a subsequent classification confirms a result of a previous classification;

decreasing the value of the confidence parameter if a subsequent classification does not confirm the result of a previous classification; and

generating a final classification result including the confidence parameters that have been increased or decreased in value.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the increasing of the value is performed as a function of an absolute quality of the confidence parameter.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the decreasing in the value is performed as a function of an absolute quality of the confidence parameter.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein an absolute quality of respective individual results of the classification method is included in at least one of the increase in the value of the respective confidence parameters, and the decrease in the value of the respective confidence parameter, in weighted fashion with reference to individual object classes.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

limiting a permissible value range for the confidence parameters increased or decreased in value.

16. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

evaluative analyzing the calculated confidence parameter to determine a final, detailed classification result.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

evaluating an alternation of the classification results between specific object classes as a classification into a higher-order class than those object classes.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

evaluating an alternation of the classification results between dissimilar object classes as a rejection of a classification of the object.

19. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

evaluating classification results of the classification method for objects in surroundings of a vehicle.

20. A computer-assisted vehicle information system, comprising:

connection interfaces to vehicle sensor devices for sensing objects in surroundings of a vehicle; and

a control circuit configured to analyze and classify the sensed objects the control circuit configured to perform the following;

sensing objects to be classified using sensors over a period of time;

repeatedly classifying the objects using specific quality parameters for each object class;

increasing a value of a confidence parameter calculated from the quality parameters if a subsequent classification confirms a result of a previous classification;

decreasing the value of the confidence parameter if a subsequent classification does not confirm the result of a previous classification; and

generating a final classification result including the confidence parameters that have been increased or decreased in value.

21. The vehicle information system as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

interfaces connected to actuator devices on the vehicle.