MOVING OBJECT DETECTION

• US 20100073475A1
• Filed: 11/30/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Signal Analysis, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Innovative Signal Analysis, Inc.
• Inventors: Gibbs, Daniel P., Bailey, Weldon T., Kniffen, Stacy K., Dean, Jordan S., Becker, Michael F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,803,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/135
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/12 Picture reproducers H04N9/11 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting moving objects are provided. Systems illustratively include an image acquisition component, an image processing component, and a display component. Image acquisition components capture image data over a wide spatial area. Image processing components have dedicated algorithms for change detection and receive captured image data from image acquisition components. Image processing components utilize the captured data and the dedicated algorithms to perform image change detection. Display components receive processed image data from image processing components and provide visual indications that items of interest have been detected. Methods illustratively include obtaining first and second images covering a wide field-of-view. The second image is registered to and compared to the first image. Based at least in part on the comparison, a moving object within the wide field-of-view is detected. An indication of the moving object is provided.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a moving object, the method comprising:

obtaining images from an imaging device, the images having fields of view that include multiple pixels in the horizontal direction and multiple pixels in the vertical direction;

stitching together the images to form a first image covering a wide field-of-view and a second image covering the wide field-of-view;

registering the second image to the first image;

comparing the second image to the first image;

detecting, based at least in part on the comparison, the moving object within the wide field-of-view; and

providing an indication of the moving object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the moving object is a visual mark on a display screen.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the display screen includes a graphical representation of the wide field-of-view, and wherein providing an indication of the moving object includes highlighting the moving object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the moving object is an audible alarm.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking the moving object.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

classifying the moving object.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting is further based at least in part on a region of interest.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting is further based at least in part on a known size.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting is further based at least in part on a known shape.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing comprises a linear independence test.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing comprises a vectorized test.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the vectorized test includes a Wronskian vector change detection algorithm.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing comprises an edge motion test.

14. A system for detecting a moving object, the system comprising:

an image acquisition component that captures images of a wide spatial area, each image of the wide spatial area being made of multiple other images, each of the multiple other images having a plurality of pixels in both the vertical and the horizontal directions;

an image processing component that has dedicated algorithms for change detection, the image processing component receiving the captured image data from the image acquisition component and performing image change detection utilizing the captured image data and the change detection dedicated algorithms; and

a display component that receives processed image data from the image processing component and that provides a visual indication that an item of interest has been detected.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the change detection dedicated algorithms comprise registering frames of the captured image data and comparing successive frames.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the image processing component further has dedicated algorithms for target classification, the image processing component performing target classification utilizing the captured image data and the target classification dedicated algorithms.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a storage component that stores the processed image data.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the stored image data is retrievable based upon a time at which the image data was acquired.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the stored image data is retrievable based upon a spatial position of the image data.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the visual indication includes a visual identifier that overlays the item of interest.