Method and apparatus for identifying objects depicted in a videostream
First Claim
1. A method of segmenting at least two image frames depicting at least one common object of interest comprising the steps of:
- receiving at least two image frames that each depict at least a single common object of interest;
applying a fuzzy logic color filter to said at least two images frames to segment as separate image portions from said at least two image frames each region that contains a group of pixels all having a common color set; and
identifying each of said separate image portions as potentially depicting said single common object of interest.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus for rapidly analyzing frame(s) of digitized video data which may include objects of interest randomly distributed throughout the video data and wherein said objects are susceptible to detection, classification, and ultimately identification by filtering said video data for certain differentiable characteristics of said objects. The present invention may be practiced on pre-existing sequences of image data or may be integrated into an imaging device for real-time, dynamic, object identification, classification, logging/counting, cataloging, retention (with links to stored bitmaps of said object), retrieval, and the like. The present invention readily lends itself to the problem of automatic and semi-automatic cataloging of vast numbers of objects such as traffic control signs and utility poles disposed in myriad settings. When used in conjunction with navigational or positional inputs, such as GPS, an output from the inventative systems indicates the identity of each object, calculates object location, classifies each object by type, extracts legible text appearing on a surface of the object (if any), and stores a visual representation of the object in a form dictated by the end user/operator of the system. The output lends itself to examination and extraction of scene detail, which cannot practically be successfully accomplished with just human viewers operating video equipment, although human intervention can still be used to help judge and confirm a variety of classifications of certain instances and for types of identified objects.
146 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of segmenting at least two image frames depicting at least one common object of interest comprising the steps of:
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receiving at least two image frames that each depict at least a single common object of interest;
applying a fuzzy logic color filter to said at least two images frames to segment as separate image portions from said at least two image frames each region that contains a group of pixels all having a common color set; and
identifying each of said separate image portions as potentially depicting said single common object of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a computer system, a computer-readable storage media storing:
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at least one computer program that operates to segment a plurality of digitized image frames that each contain a common object of interest by performing for each digitized image frame the steps of;
receiving at least two image frames that each depict at least a single common object of interest;
applying a fuzzy logic color filter to said at least two images frames to segment as separate image portions from said at least two image frames each region that contains a group of pixels all having a common color set; and
identifying each of said separate image portions as potentially depicting said single common object of interest. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer system for segmenting a plurality of digitized image frames that each contain a common object of interest:
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a frame buffer that stores at least two frames of a digital image, each of said at least two frames containing a common object of interest and being represented in a single color space;
a fuzzy logic color filter operably connected to said frame buffer to generate a value output signal in response to each pixel of each frame of said digital image in said frame buffer signals that is determined by location in said single color space; and
a computer processing system operably connected to said fuzzy logic color filter and said frame buffer that determines whether said value output signals correspond to a set of mathematically described colors representing a color set associated with said common object of interest and, in response, segmenting pixels into a group of pixels representing an image portion of each of said frames that is associated with said common object of interest. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification