Method and device for identifying and extracting images of multiple users, and for recognizing user gestures

• US 20130190086A1
• Filed: 03/04/2013
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alterface S.A.
• Original Assignee: Alterface S.A.
• Inventors: Maison, Benoit, Sohy, Xavier
• Application Number:
  US13/815,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20130190086A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/27 characterised by a large display in a public venue, e.g. in a movie theatre, stadium or game arena
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/56 Computing the motion of game characters with respect to other game characters, game objects or elements of the game scene, e.g. for simulating the behaviour of a group of virtual soldiers or for path finding
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6607 for animating game characters, e.g. skeleton kinematics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6623 for animating a group of characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8023 the game being played by multiple players at a common site, e.g. in an arena, theatre, shopping mall using a large public display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10028 Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30196 Human being; Person
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/11 Region-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/174 involving the use of two or more images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/215 Motion-based segmentation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/254 involving subtraction of images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/50 Depth or shape recovery
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/426 Graphical representations
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/103 Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition

Abstract

A method identifies and extracts images of one or more users. The method obtains an array of pixel values that constitutes a scene image and a corresponding array of depth values that constitutes a depth map. The depth map and the image are registered. The method obtains an array containing the 3D positions of the pixel value points in real-world coordinates by coordinate transformation of the depth map and image. The method then clusters the points into groups according to their relative positions so each group contains points in the same region of space and corresponds to a user location. The method defines individual volumes of interest around each user location. The method selects points from the array of 3D positions located in the volumes of interest to obtain segmentation masks for each user. The segmentation masks are then applied to the image to extract images of the users.

Claims

1. A method for identifying and extracting images of one or more users in an interactive environment comprising the steps of:

obtaining a depth map (7) of a scene in the form of an array of depth values, and an image (8) of said scene in the form of a corresponding array of pixel values, said depth map (7) and said image (8) being registered;

applying a coordinate transformation to said depth map (7) and said image (8) for obtaining a corresponding array (15) containing the 3D positions in a real-world coordinates system and pixel values points;

grouping said points according to their relative positions, by using a clustering process (18) so that each group contains points that are in the same region of space and correspond to a user location (19);

defining individual volumes of interest (20) each corresponding to one of said user locations (19);

selecting, from said array (15) containing the 3D positions and pixel values, the points located in said volumes of interest for obtaining segmentation masks (35) for each user;

applying said segmentation masks (35) to said image (8) for extracting images of said users.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of determining said individual volumes of interest (20) by determining individual volumes of interest bounds (16′

) separating said groups.

3. A method according to claim 2 for identifying and segmenting one or more users in an interactive environment for providing an interactive virtual reality game wherein a plurality of users are separated from each other and from a background.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein gestures and/or body poses of individual users are recognized and used for controlling said game.

5. A method according to claim 1 for identifying and segmenting one or more users in an interactive environment for providing an interactive virtual reality game wherein a plurality of users are separated from each other and from a background.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein gestures and/or body poses of individual users are recognized and used for controlling said game.

7. A device for identifying and extracting images of multiple users in an interactive environment scene comprising:

a video camera for capturing an image from the scene;

a depth perception device for providing depth information about said scene;

at least one computer processor for processing said depth information and said image information;

wherein said device comprises means for using individual volumes of interest from said scene for each user.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the device comprises means for obtaining adaptive volumes of interest for each user.

9. A device, according to claim 7, for identifying and segmenting one or more users in an interactive environment for providing an interactive virtual reality game wherein a plurality of users are separated from each other and from a background.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein gestures and/or body poses of individual users are recognized and used for controlling said game.

11. A device, according to claim 8, for identifying and segmenting one or more users in an interactive environment for providing an interactive virtual reality game wherein a plurality of users are separated from each other and from a background.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein gestures and/or body poses of individual users are recognized and used for controlling said game.